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E‐commerce has been much hyped as a potentially transformational force in many industries, and financial services is an industry where its impact is expected to be particularly strong. In this qualitative research four case studies have been developed, from a series of in‐depth interviews, to investigate the way some UK financial services organisations have responded to this innovation. By taking a broad perspective, from a range of managers across a number of disciplines, this study particularly focuses on the application of marketing principles, on an organisation wide basis, to the new challenges presented by e‐commerce. E‐commerce can be seen to present considerable structural and cultural challenges for large established organisations. It is also potentially changing a number of aspects of customer management. Significant areas for further research are identified.

Community informatics can be defined as a strategy or discipline that focuses on the use of information and communication technologies by territorial communities. This paper analyzes the emerging community informatics evaluation literature to develop an understanding of the indicators used to gauge project impacts in community networks and community technology centers. This study finds that community networks and community technology center assessments fall into five key areas: strong democracy; social capital; individual empowerment; sense of community; and economic development opportunities. The paper concludes by making recommendations for future community informatics evaluations.

Newly appointed as director of technology for the Aerospace & Defence group of Smiths Industries is Nigel Hughes, who joins the company from the Defence Research Agency. Mr. Hughes succeeds John Hollington, who retires at the end of September after 36 years service, a period which has seen a considerable enhancement in the company's reputation as a leader in technological development.

In the previous issue, Mr John Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Industrial Training at the Manchester Polytechnic, examined some of the problems faced by colleges in running Introductory Courses for Training Officers and suggested possible developments in the light of recent comments. Over the last twelve months, articles and letters have appeared in the professional press expressing the views both of experienced training staff and of academics running such courses, but in the main the consumers have not joined the debate. The author's intention here is to express one such view, a purely personal view from the third side of the triangle comprising academic staff — sponsor firm — course member. The view is based on experience of the course run in the spring of 1970 by the Department of Management Studies at Manchester Polytechnic. The comments made are generalisations from the particular, but this is perhaps permissible, since it is certain general features of the introductory course, and not its particular form at Manchester, which merit debate.

This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/14664100010343890. When citing the article, please cite: Pam Enderby, Alexandra John, Anthony Hughes, Brian Petheram, (2000), “Benchmarking in rehabilitation: comparing physiotherapy services”, British Journal of Clinical Governance, Vol. 5 Iss: 2, pp. 86 - 92.

The information which has hitherto appeared in the daily press as to the evidence laid before the Departmental Committee which is inquiring into the use of preservatives and colouring matters can hardly have afforded pleasant reading to the apologists for the drugging of foods. It is plainly the intention of the Committee to make a thorough investigation of the whole subject, and the main conclusions which, in the result, must bo forced upon unbiassed persons by an investigation of this character will be tolerably obvious to those who have given serious attention to the subject. At a later stage of the inquiry we shall publish a full account of the evidence submitted and of the Committee's proceedings. At present we may observe that the facts which have been brought forward fully confirm the statements made from time to time upon these matters in the BRITISH FOOD JOURNAL, and amply justify the attitude which we have adopted on the whole question. Representatives of various trade interests have given evidence which has served to show the extent to which the practices now being inquired into are followed. Strong medical evidence, as to the dangers which must attach to the promiscuous and unacknowledged drugging of the public by more or less ignorant persons, has been given; and some medical evidence of that apologetic order to which the public have of late become accustomed, and which we, at any rate, regard as particularly feeble, has also been put forward. Much more will no doubt be said, but those who have borne the heat and burden of the day in forcing these matters upon the attention of the Legislature and of the public can view with satisfaction the result already attained. Full and free investigation must produce its educational effect ; and whatever legal machinery may be devised to put some kind of check upon these most dangerous forms of adulteration, the demand of the public will be for undrugged food, and for a guarantee of sufficient authority to ensure that the demand is met.

From these and similar clinical experiments, together with the results of animal experimentation, it may be said that most modern authorities include xerophthalmia and night blindness among the diseases resulting from deficient diet. Night blindness, in fact, is considered to be a delicate test of vitamin A deficiency.