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This study aims to demonstrate empirically the varied mechanisms through which supply chain practices of indigenous Chinese companies are influenced by foreign‐owned multinational companies (MNCs) operating within China. It also provides empirical evidence of how the foreign‐owned MNCs are influenced by the coercive pressures arising from the local cultural norms and begins an exploration of the mechanisms through which isomorphic pressures operate between industries.

The study adopts a multi‐disciplinary approach by applying institutional theory from the field of organisational studies. The study is based on 27 in‐depth interviews in matched pairs of firms consisting of an indigenous Chinese firm and a foreign‐owned MNC in three industries. The interviews also include suppliers and third‐party logistics providers and hence the study extends beyond the dyad.

The findings show a “startling homogeneity” between the SCM practices of the paired firms and across the three industries studied. They also provide empirical evidence of the rich and varied mechanisms through which isomorphic pressures operate, and demonstrate that the pressures affect the foreign‐owned MNCs as well as the Chinese firms.

The study identifies a wide range of mechanisms that firms can use to model their SCM practices on those of other firms. The study also identifies a range of implications for policy.

To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to explore empirically the rich and varied mechanisms through which isomorphic pressures operate.

Explores issues surrounding the recent evolution of benchmarking in the UK public sector with particular regard to local authorities. Argues that what is being done in the name of benchmarking in UK local authorities is fundamentally different to the current understanding of benchmarking practice in the private sector. Despite these differences, and somewhat ironically, the development of benchmarking in the public sector pre‐dates its popularity in the private sector. In the public sector, benchmarking is frequently in response to central government requirements, or is used for defensive reasons rather than striving for performance gains. These themes are captured in two new benchmarking typologies: compulsory and voluntary models of benchmarking. Concludes that: the reasons for benchmarking in the public sector are confused; pressures for accountability in the public sector may militate against real performance improvement; and an appropriate balance between the use of benchmarking for control and improvement purposes is yet to be achieved.

This bibliography contains references to papers, conference proceedings, theses and books dealing with finite strip, finite prism and finite layer analysis of structures, materially and/or geometrically linear or non‐linear.

This article examines, elementary leveled graphic history, a genre of literature relatively untouched by research. Due to graphic nonfiction’s growing popularity in the realm of children’s literature and its potential benefits for young readers, teachers may want to incorporate this genre of literature into their social studies curriculum. Despite the genre’s appeal, educators should be careful when introducing graphic histories to their students, as nonfiction texts of any kind can possibly contain inaccuracies and biases that might foster misconceptions. In this study, we used a critical content analysis approach to investigate both images and text in four graphic histories on the Battle of the Alamo. We found these books contain several instances of factual errors and biased perspectives. After our analyses, we discussed implications for using these types of books in the classroom to help students enhance critical literacy skills. We connected recommended critical literacy activities to Common Core State Standards for informational texts and writing.

A C° continuous finite element higher‐order displacement model is developed for the dynamic analysis of laminated composite plates. The displacement model accounts for non‐linear distribution of inplane displacement components through the plate thickness and the theory requires no shear correction coefficients. Explicit time marching schemes are adopted for integration of the dynamic equilibrium equation and a diagonal ‘lumped’ mass matrix is employed with a special procedure applicable to Lagrangian parabolic isoparametric elements. The parametric effects of the time step, finite element mesh, lamination scheme and orthotropy on the transient response are investigated. The effect of the coupling on the transient response is also investigated. Numerical results for deflections and stresses are presented for rectangular plates under various boundary conditions and loadings and compared with results from other sources.

This study aims to examine the mediating role of innovation capability in the relationship between digital transformation strategy and innovation performance of microfinance institutions in Ethiopia.

Survey data were collected from 12 microfinance institutions in Ethiopia through self-administered questionnaires. Statistical analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling with AMOS and SPSS. Covariance-based structural equation modeling was used to test the study hypotheses.

Digital transformation strategy indicators such as (digitization vision, information technology integration, information technology agility and flexibility of information technology) directly affect innovation performance. The innovation capability mediates the relationship between digital transformation strategy indicator (information technology agility) and innovation performance. However, innovation capability does not have mediation effect in the relationship between digital transformation strategy remaining indicators (digitization vision, information technology flexibility and information technology integration) and innovation performance.

The study affirmed the importance of dynamic capability theory and presents noteworthy conclusions applicable to managers, stakeholders, and policymakers. It illuminates how innovation capability serves as a crucial link between digital transformation strategies and innovation performance within microfinance institutions in Ethiopia. This research enhances the current understanding of innovation capability, digital transformation strategy and innovation performance in the literature.

The paper describes research designed to improve automatic pre‐coordinate term indexing by applying powerful general‐purpose language analysis techniques to identify term sources in requests, and to generate variant expressions of the concepts involved for document text searching.

Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied for the linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic analyses of basic structural elements from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. The range of applications of FEMs in this area is wide and cannot be presented in a single paper; therefore aims to give the reader an encyclopaedic view on the subject. The bibliography at the end of the paper contains 2,025 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with the analysis of beams, columns, rods, bars, cables, discs, blades, shafts, membranes, plates and shells that were published in 1992‐1995.

A unified approach is presented for the pseudo‐transient (static) linear and geometrically non‐linear analyses of composite laminates. A finite element idealization with a four‐noded linear and a nine‐noded quadrilateral isoparametric elements, both belonging to the Lagrangian family are used in space discretization. An explicit time marching scheme is employed for time integration of the resulting discrete ordinary differential equations with the special forms of diagonal fictitious mass and/or damping matrices. The accuracy of the formulation is then established by comparing the presnt pseudo‐transient analysis results with the present static Newton‐Raphson method results and other available analytical closed‐form two dimensional and finite element solutions. The usefulness and effectiveness of this approach is established by comparing computational time required by this approach and Newton‐Raphson's approach.