Idea Transcript
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Abstracts of Selected Articles
ECONOMICS Foreign Direct Investments .......................................................................................... 1 NR & SR Production ................................................................................................... 1 Rubber Industry - India ................................................................................................ 1 Rubber Industry - Malaysia ......................................................................................... 2 Rubber Prices ............................................................................................................... 2 Tyre Industry................................................................................................................ 3
HEVEA Clones-Protein Differential Expression ...................................................................... 3 Drought Stress .............................................................................................................. 4 Fertilizers ..................................................................................................................... 4 Genetically Modified Rubber ...................................................................................... 5 Hydroxynitrile Lyase ................................................................................................... 5 Lactificer Cells-Identification ...................................................................................... 5 Natural Rubber – Alternatives ..................................................................................... 5 Rubber Biosynthesis .................................................................................................... 6 Rubber Seeds – Metabolism ........................................................................................ 7 Tapping Systems – Thailand ........................................................................................ 7
LATEX CHEMISTRY & TECHNOLOGY Glycolipids .................................................................................................................. 7 Latex Allergy ............................................................................................................... 8 Latex Industry-Impact of Climate Change .................................................................. 8 Latex Films .................................................................................................................. 8
RUBBER CHEMISTRY & TECHNOLOGY Carbon Dioxide Emissions .......................................................................................... 9 EPDM/NR Blends ........................................................................................................ 9 Friction ......................................................................................................................... 10 Peptisers ....................................................................................................................... 10 Polymer Composites .................................................................................................... 10 Rubber Reinforcement ................................................................................................. 11 Rubber Recycling......................................................................................................... 11 TPO Roofing Membrane.............................................................................................. 11
Compiled by Library, UPP Malaysian Rubber Board May 2011
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Abstracts of Selected Articles TYRES Design .......................................................................................................................... 12 Innovation .................................................................................................................... 12 Radial Tyres ................................................................................................................ 12
OTHERS Biotechnology .............................................................................................................. 13 Furniture Industry - Canada ......................................................................................... 13 Innovation – Lead-User Research ................................................................................ 13 Leadership .................................................................................................................... 14 Management ................................................................................................................. 14 Mentoring ..................................................................................................................... 15
Fauziah A. Rahman Chief Librarian UPP 30st May 2011
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Abstracts of Selected Articles ECONOMICS
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS Sharifah Zohra Jabeen. Malaysian scene : big FDI inflow boosts energy Rubb. Asia 2011 25(2) p. 89-90 (1) Various measures and initiatives are undertaken by the Malaysian Government to ensure that the country maintains its magnetism as a preferred investment destination and remains on track to achieve a developed and high-income economy by 2020.
NR & SR PRODUCTION Anon. Rubber trends Rubb. Chem. Review XL(3) p. 15 (2) The production of natural rubber (NR) in the country during September 2010 increased to 77,500 tonnes compared to 74,300 tonnes during September 2009. The cumulative production during the first half of 2010-11 was 375,250 tonnes compared to 348,625 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year, registering a growth of 7.6 per cent, due to favourable weather conditions. The production estimated for October 2010 was 82,000 tonnes. RUBBER INDUSTRY – INDIA Abraham, K. India rubber industry : excellent growth over the years Rubb. Asia (India Rubber Expo Special) 2011 p. 51-52 (3) The history of rubber cultivation in India from colonial times up to the present is described. Venugopal, P. Guiding growth plans Polym. & Tyres Asia 2011 2(2) p. 68-69 (4) India‘s Rubber Board, the federal government institution the oversea the overall development of the rubber industry, has a new person at its helm. Sheela Thomas, an officer belonging to the country‘s elite administrative service, has taken over as its Chairperson. She is working on policies to rejuvenate and further develop the plantation sector to face the challenges of the global market place. As she gets down to address the issues facing NR production and decline in production amid soaring demand and prices.
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Abstracts of Selected Articles RUBBER INDUSTRY-MALAYSIA Anon. Malaysia : The return of ―rubber planting‖ focus The Rubb. Int. Mag. 2011 13(5) p. 20-21 (5) In the past two decades, Malaysia has faded away from rubber planting, and rather focuses on the palm oil production as well as developing the downstream of rubber products. However, with the recent skyrocketing price of rubber, Malaysia repositions and returns to rubber plantation again in a hope to gain advantage from this lucrative market.
RUBBER PRICES Anon. Futures for price discovery Polymers & Tyre Asia 1(6) p. 45, 50 (6) Indian tyre manufacturers are still wary of the futures market in rubber and their sceptism has become stronger with rising prices and high duties on imports. But Anil Mishra, CEO of Ahmadabad-based National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd, the pioneer in electronic commodity trade, says many tyre makers are realizing futures‘ advantages. Anon. Natural rubber prices upswing for how long? Rubb. Chem. Review XL(3) p. 25-28 (7) The upward trends in natural rubber prices in recent times with record breaking values continue to be a hot issue. The trend is being watched with bated breath by the suppliers and consumers alike for contrasting reasons. Experts and stakeholders of the industry unanimously rule out a major slide and are of the view that prices are likely to stay high till the next few years with intermittent dips. Nayar, K. S. Rubber prices spike punctures industry Polymer & Tyre Asia 1(6) p. 42-43,47-49 (8) The scorching rubber prices are grievously hurting the Indian and international tyre industry. Prices have gone up by nearly next 7-3 years, the projected rubber shortage is about 500,000 tonnes. Sourcing rubber pricing of tyres have become great challenges, both for the producers and consumers.
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Abstracts of Selected Articles TYRE INDUSTRY Abraham, K. World tyre industry : an exciting phase of development Rubb. Asia (India Rubber Expo Special) 2011 p. 61-65 (9) Tyre is a high technology product, an amalgam of several otherwise incompatible materials like natural rubber, synthetic rubber, steel, nylon, carbon black, rubber chemicals etc. It absorbs shock, rolls freely, distorts in shape while cornering, braking and crossing obstacles, yet regains the shape quickly, provides road grip and offers driving comfort. Tyre making needs multidisciplinary technology involving physics, chemistry, engineering, metallurgy, textile technology and polymer science. The global tyre market in 2009 was worth around US$100 billion with the car tyre output around 260 million and truck tyre production around 12 million units. Anon. Fighting uphill task Polymer & Tyre Asia (10) India‘s tyre industry is going through testing times. Amid ballooning prices of raw materials, particularly rubber, it is trying to cater to the demand of the surging auto industry by expanding production capacities. It is still awaiting Government decision on regular rubber imports and even moved the court for redressal of grievances, says Rajiv Budhraja, Director General Automotive Tyre Manufactures‘ Association (ATMA). Taylor, P. It‘s fantasy that rules tyre business Rubb. Asia 25(2) p. 25-26 (11) For those of us capable of thinking back a few decades, it was the abiding fear of the larger tyre makers that their first fitment customers, the car manufacturers, would start marketing their own brands of tyres, thus undermining the more profitable replacement market. It is common knowledge that first fitment or original equipment tyres, as they are more commonly known here in Europe, are sold at very sharp prices in expectation that the owner of the new vehicle will eventually replace them like for like. Well, that is the theory.
HEVEA
CLONES-PROTEIN DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION Li, H.L., et al Protein differential expression in the latex from Hevea brasiliensis between self-rooting juvenile clones and donor clones 3
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Abstracts of Selected Articles Acta Physiol. Plant p. 1-7 (12) To better understand molecular mechanism underlying the difference between self-rooting juvenile clones and donor clones, a proteomic approach was used to profile protein changes in the latex between self-rooting juvenile clones and donor clones. Total soluble proteins were extracted from latex in self-rooting juvenile clones and donor clones. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to identify proteins that were differentially expressed in self-rooting juvenile clones and donor clones and image analysis was used to determine which proteins were up- or down-regulated.
DROUGHT STRESS Chen, J-W., et al Gas exchange and hydraulics in seedlings of Hevea brasiliensis during water stress and recovery Tree Physiology p. 1-10 (13) The response of plants to drought has received significant attention, but far less attention has been given to the dynamic response of plants during recovery from drought. Photosynthetic performance and hydraulic capacity were monitored in seedlings of Hevea brasiliensis under water stress and during recovery following rewatering. Leaf water relation, gas exchange rate and hydraulic conductivity decreased gradually after water stress fell below a threshold, whereas instantaneous water use efficiency and osmolytes increased significantly.
FERTILIZERS Chen, B., et al. Development and implementation of site-specific fertilizer recommendation model based on nutrient balance for rubber plantation Agronomy Journal 103(2) p. 469-471 (14) Fertilization is one of the key inputs to ensure healthy growth of rubber trees [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg.] and maintain the nutrient balance of a rubber plantation. The main objective of this study was to develop and implement a nutrient balance based model to recommend fertilizer for individual rubber trees. We reviewed the theory of nutrient balance, then developed a model to integrate with geographic information system technology, and subsequently provided a detailed description of aboveground nutrient consumption (used for tree growth and latex production) and soil-supplied nutrient estimation, which was the key step in the model.
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Abstracts of Selected Articles GENETICALLY MODIFIED RUBBER Venugopal, G. NR shortage : India to pursue GM rubber Rubb. Asia 25(2) p. 57-60 (15) Concerned ove the growing demand-supply gap in natural rubber, the government of India has given the go-ahead to the Indian Rubber Board to conduct field trials of GM rubber. But in view of the opposition in some quarters to the introduction of GM rubber, the Government has clarified that commercial cultivation of GM rubber will be undertaken only if the field trials give positive results and after evolving a consensus on the issue.
HYDROXYNITRILE LYASE Cui, F-C.; Pan, X-L.; Liu, J-Y. Catalytic mechanism of Hydroxynitrile Lyase from Hevea brasiliensis : a theoretical investigation J. Phys. Chem. 114 p. 9622-9628 (16) Density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the hybrid functional B3LYP have been performed to investigate the catalytic mechanism of hydroxynitrile lyase from Hevea brasiliensis (Hb-HNL). This enzyme catalyzes the cleavage of acetone cyanohydrin to hydrocyanic acid plus acetone. Two models (A and B) of the active site consisting of 105 and 155 atoms, respectively, were constructed on the basis of the crystal structure. Good consistency between the two models provides a verification of the proposed mechanism.
LATICIFER CELLS--IDENTIFICATION Tan, D.; Sun, X.; Zhang, J.; Histochemical and immunohistochemical identification of laticifer cells in callus cultures derived from anthers of Hevea brasiliensis Plant Cell. Rep. p. 1-8 (17) Laticifer are highly specialized cells present in over 20 plant families. They are well defined in planta. In vitro development of laticifers was also observed in some plants, but uncertain in the callus cultures of rubber tree, one of the most economically important latex producing plants.
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Abstracts of Selected Articles NATURAL RUBBER – ALTERNATIVES Anon. Concerns over future Polymer & Asia 1(6) p. 60,64 (18) The demand to find alternatives to Hevea brasiliensis grown in South East Asia is mounting amid soaring natural rubber prices, voracious demand from China and India and growing unpredictability of supplies of the critical raw material for the tyre industry. Jan van Beilin of Universite de Lausanne (Switzerland), a key organiser of the just concluded European Union-based Production and Exploitation of Alternative Rubber and Latex Sourcesn (PEARLS) conference held in Montpellier, France, says it is imperative to study alternative sources of natural rubber. Chakravarthy, S.N. Natural Rubber – Alternate possibilities Rubb. Chem. Review XXXX(3) p. 29-33 (19) Natural ruber, obtained almost exclusively from the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), is a unique biopolymer of strategic importance that, in many of its most significant applications, cannot be replaced by synthetic rubber alternatives. Several pressing motives lead to the search for alternative sources of natural rubber. Natural rubber has unique properties and as such it cannot be replaced in the manufacture of rubber products. Finlay, M.R. Search for alternatives Polymer & Tyre Asia 1(6) p.62,66 (20) Rising rubber prices only steeled the determination of researchers and policymakers to look at alternatives to Hevea brasiliensis grown in South East Asia, source of 80% of the world production of natural rubber. Uncertainties of bioterrorism, South American Leaf Blight that could wipe out plantations and climate change that has already led to cut in production, point to the need to develop alternatives. As distinguished historian Mark R Finlay says many uncertainties remain. Finding alternative crops requires a complex suite of science, technology, capital, and markets.
RUBBER BIOSYNTHESIS Chiang, C.K. et al. Unraveling the mystery of natural rubber biosynthesis. Pt.l: Rubber Chemical Technology 2011 84 (21) Monitoring the growth of in vitro natural rubberwas accomplished by high resolution size exclusion chromatography,SEC. Washed rubber particles isolated from H. brasiliensis latex, containing the rubber transferase enzyme, were used to catalyze the polymerization of synthetic isopentenyl pyrophosphate monomer in the presence of farnesyl pyrophosphate initiator. The high-resolution SEC was able to detect the 6
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Abstracts of Selected Articles formation of new rubber. Changes in the low molecular weight fraction were also detected. Gravimetric analysis revealed 30% mass gain after the in vitro synthesis. The overall gel content was found to be reduced, which further supported the formation of new rubber. This is the first report that utilizes high-resolution SEC to monitor the in vitro NR growth without the use of radio labeling. RUBBER SEEDS – METABOLISM Silva Bonome, L.T., et al Metabolism of carbohydrates during the development of seeds of the Brazilian rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (willd. Ex Adr. De Juss) Muell.-Arg.] Acta Physiol Plant 33 p. 211-219 (22) This work aimed at the assessment of the metabolism of carbohydrate during the development of the seeds of Brazilian rubber trees. The enzymatic activity of the acid invertase, neutral invertase and sucrose synthase (SuSy) and the levels of total soluble sugars (TSS), reducing sugars (RS) and sucrose were evaluated separately in each part of the fruit and seed—pericarp, seed coat, embryo and endosperm—on different days after the pollination (DAP).
TAPPING SYSTEMS– THAILAND Chantuma, P., et al. An Innovative tapping system, the double cut alternative, to improve the yield of Hevea brasiliensis in Thai rubber plantations Field Crops Research p. 1-7 (23) In Thailand, the continuous decrease in the size of rubber plantations has led to the general adoption of intensive tapping systems which may lead to over harvesting, high rates of tapping panel dryness (TPD), short life-cycles of the plantations, and low labour productivity. In Thailand, farmers use a half-spiral downward tapping systems (S/2) or a one third-spiral (S/3) with a tapping frequency of once two days (d2) or more. To increase productivity, it is difficult to reduced tapping frequencies, even with ethylene stimulation, as this would result in days without work for tappers. The purpose of this study was to characterise the behaviour of the Hevea latex yield under the double cut alternative tapping system (DCA).
LATEX CHEMISTRY & TECHNOLOGY
GLYCOLIPIDS Liengprayoon, S., et al. Glycolipid composition of Hevea brasiliensis Phytochemistry p. 1-12 (24) 7
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Abstracts of Selected Articles Glycolipids of fresh latex from three clones of Hevea brasiliensis were characterized and quantified HPLC/ESI-MS. Their fatty acyl and sterol components were further confirmed by GC/MS after saponification. The four detected glycolipid classes were steryl glucosides (SG), esterified steryl glucosides (ESG), monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (MGDG) and digalactosyl diacylglycerols (DGDG). Sterols in SG, EGS and total latex unsaponifiable were stigmaterol, ᵦ-sitosterol and ∆5-avenaterol. The latter was found instead of fucosterol formerly described.
LATEX ALLERGY Ott, H., et al. Microarrays of recombinant Hevea brasiliensis proteins : a novel tool for the componentresolved diagnosis of natural rubber latex allergy J. Investig. Allergol. Clin. Immunol 2010 20(2) p. 128-138 (25) The panel of microarrayed allergen components was shown to represent a comprehensive repertoire of clinically relevant NRL proteins. NRL-specific lgE recognition patterns and sensitization rates determined by microarray analysis were similar to those obtained by conventional FEIA. The diagnostic sensitivity rates of combined single-component data were not significantly different for the respective recombinant test system, whereas the sensitivity level of extract-based FEIA analysis was markedly higher. LATEX INDUSTRY – IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE Ouseph, T. Centrifuged latex industry : Climate change a major challenge Rubb. Asia (India Rubber Expo Special) 2011 p. 99-101 (26) Centrifuged latex has several applications in processes such as dipping, foaming, moulding and extrusion. Loss of tapping days as well as fall in output consequent on climate change is the present challenge to the latex industry.
LATEX FILMS Hill, D. Latex film forming : its all complex and hard to understand Rubb. Asia 2011 25(3) p. 57-59 (27) Latex film forming – it is fundamental to the whole area of latex dipping. But how much of the process of film forming is understood? The answer it seems is both ―a lot‖ and ―very little‖. If you carry out a literature search on polymer latex film forming, you will find a mass of publications researching the fundamentals of the process, many equations describing the force acting on latex particles during film forming and several competing theories proposed and debated. But when I look at the factories, on the dipping 8
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Abstracts of Selected Articles lines, in the process control and development laboratories, I have found very little understanding of what exactly happens when that wet film of latex converts to a continuous, strong film of the elastomer.
Hill, D. Nanotechnology has potential applications in latex dipping Rubb. Asia 25(2) p. 29-31 (28) The use of nano-fillers in rubber latex is a subject of considerable potential which as yet does not appear to have been realized outside of a few specific instances. It is an area of the technology to be watched with interest over the next few years.
RUBBER CHEMISTRY & TECHNOLOGY
CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS Anon. India has miles to go Polymer & Tyre Asia 1(6) p. 22 & 26 (29) The market for all kinds of vehicles is also booming with latest statistics showing sales going up 17.81% to 1,221,981 units in November as against 1,037,232 in the same month last year. The high growth in demand is leading to massive rates of greenhouse gas emissions because India‘s transportation sector alone accounts for 7% of the country‘s GHG emissions by 2020.
EPDM / NBR BLENDS Manoj, K.C., et al. Transport of aromatic hydrocarbons through EPDM / NBR blends J. of Elastomer and Plastics 43(1) p. 65-84 (30) The effect of blend ratio on the cure and transport characteristics of EPDM/NBR blends has been investigated. Cure studies showed that the maximum torque values increased with increase of the percentage of NBR in the blend system. As the percentage of NBR in the blends increased, the penetrant transport has been found to be decreased. The experimental observations have been correlated with the morphology of the blends; attested by SEM photographs. The equilibrium sorption with respect to the nature of penetrant has been observed to follow the order: benzene > toluene > xylene for a given blend ratio. A minor deviation from Fickian trend has been observed for the mechanism of transport. The experimental observations have been compared with the existing theoretical models. 9
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FRICTION Smith, R.H. Measuring rubber friction forces individually Rubb. World 243(4) P. 20-23 (31) The current de facto standard engineering equation for elastomeric friction calculations – formulated for practical application to sliding tires in 1966 - incorporates three dynamic rubber friction forces: (1) Adhesion; (2) a hysteretic force arising from bulk deformation of rubber in contact with a macroscopically rough surface; and (3) physical wear of the rubber, or cohesion loss. The existence of a fourth basic rubber friction force, surface deformation hysteresis, or microhysteresis generated by adhesive interaction of the eleastomer‘s surface with the microroughness of the contacted material, had been posited in 1965.
PEPTISERS Majumdar, S. Chemistry of peptizers in elatomers The Rubb. Int. 2011 13(5) p. 39-46 (32) Use of peptizer in rubber began with the use of higher volume of NR for higher level of production in the industry. Since the viscosity range of NR is higher, may fall between 80-120 (ML 1+4 @100°C) or higher, higher productivity was found extreamly difficult unless the mixing time was reduced considerably and hence the use of peptising chemicals.
POLYMER COMPOSITES Poompradub, S., et al. Improving oxidation stability and mechanical properties of natural rubber vulcanizates filled with calcium carbonate modified by gallic acid Polym. Bull. 66 p. 967-977 (33) A novel technique to modify the surface of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles, used as antioxidant and reinforcing filler, by gallic acid is disclosed. The new properties of the modified CaCO3 could make it more useful and practical for the rubber industry. Thermal gravimetric (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that the gallic acid was bound onto the surface of CaCO3. 10
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RUBBER REINFORCEMENT Le, H.H., et al. Time-dependent reinforcement effect of nanoclay in rubber nanocomposites J. Material Sci. 46 p. 1685-1696 (34) The time-dependent reinforcement of rubber–clay composites was characterized by means of stress relaxation experiments combined with a new evaluation method based on the two-component model. The total reinforcement effect of clay in rubber composites was considered as the sum of several stress components, which are originated by different networks. By means of this new experimental strategy a structural characterization of the stress relaxation behavior was performed by taking into account the effect of the degree of clay dispersion.
RUBBER RECYCLING Fereira, C.A.; Serrano, C.L.R.; Kuyven, P.S. Use of analysis of variance and linear regression as prediction tool for mechanical performance of SBR Plastics, Rubber and Composites 40(1) p. 40-45 (35) Statistical methodology analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression were applied to predict the mechanical performance of the styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) containing a residue of the elastomer originated from shoe sole cuttings. A basic formulation was developed to which three different contents of SBR residue were added. Compositions were also prepared with three different concentrations of silica to compare the performance of the filler, as well as to verify the existence of any interaction between the components. Using of ANOVA have permitted the validation of the results of the mechanical properties stress rupture, elongation and tearing resistance. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that silica and SBR residue concentrations have an effect on the mechanical properties and this relationship can be expressed through behaviour models, which can be represented graphically. It was possible to predict a mechanical behaviour model including intermediate concentrations not experimentally measured within the observed limits of the sample.
TPO ROOFING MEMBRANE Sangrungsri, P. TPO roofing membrane: Supreme innovation for buildings The Rubb. Int. Mag. 2011 13(5) p. 20-21 (36) 11
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Abstracts of Selected Articles TPO Roofing Membrane is a water-resistant material widely used in Europe, the US and China. It can be variedly used in both houses and factories‘ structures, such as roof deck, terrace and wall. The material is resistant against the changing temperature and has a high elasticity of 400%. It can reflect heat and UV, thereby saving energy up to 80%. TYRES
DESIGN Krishnan, RNK. Design for competitive advantage Polymers & Tyre Asia 1(6) p. 96 (37) Design has played a fundamental role in the success of the world‘s leading companies. Research has shown that most firm now use design to improve their brand strength and product and service offerings. Whether it is a consumer product company or tyre manufacturer, it makes good commercial sense in spending money on building a world-class design team.
INNOVATION Anon. Innovative to survive Polym. & Tyre Asia 2011 2(2) p. 20-21, 25 (38) There are three challenges that the tyre industry will face in the coming five years: Cost, electronics and regulations, says Marc Junio, General Director of the Goodyear Innivation Centre in Luxenbourg, the company‘s largest R&D centre in Europe and the second worldwide after the one at its Akron headquarters. He believes that the pnuematic tyres as we knowof it today might continue to stay that way for a while, but it
RADIAL TYRES Majumdar, S. Development of radial tyres Rubb. Chem. Review XXXX(3) p. 35-50 (39) The basic concept of radial ply structure, as innovated by Micheline Company, was aimed at separating as far as practically possible some basic factor of the cushioning effect, much better than that of a bias trye. The design which should reflect the better spring effect influencing comfort and better ground contact.
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OTHERS
BIOTECHNOLOGY Meyer, H-P. Sustainability and Biotechnology Organic Process Research & Develoment 2011 15 (1) p. 180 – 188 (40) Granted, biofuels annd biobased bulk chemicals are low hanging fruits (technically speaking), but the economic and ecological impact of biotechnology is estimated to be more effective with higher-value and more complex molecules. The ―buzzworld― biotechnology has led to different priorities, often without considering longterm socio-economic costs. Even so, biotechnology holds some very promising solutions to some of our problems with benign synthesis, smart products, and waste recycling. The commercial potential of biotechnology us huge, a colossal 1000 billion U.S. dollars, or about an order of magnitude more than today! In order not to dissappoint investors and tx prayers, however, we need to develop our tools further, especially for complex molecules for various applications. FURNITURE INDUSTRY – CANADA Anon. Potential for Malaysian furniture in the Canadian market Maskayu 2011 2 p. 24-27 (41) The Canadian furniture industry comprises household furniture including mattresses (37%), office and institutional furniture (44%), wooden kitchen cabinets and counter tops, (16%) and blinds and shades (3%). The industry is made up of a number of sub-sectors: furniture and related product manufacturing. Products included in furniture and product related manufacturing are wooden, metal, contrast, office, household, kitchen, upholstrered (sofas & armchairs), living room, dining room, non-upholstered seats (chairs), bedroom, beds, wardrobes, outdoor, ready-to-assemble furniture, seat parts and parts of furniture. INNOVATION – LEAD-USER RESEARCH Eisenberg, Ivy. Lead – user research for breakthrough Innovation Research Technology Management 2011 p. 50-58 (42) 13
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Abstracts of Selected Articles The best companies often work closely with their customers to uncover needs and wants that can be translated into new or improved product or service offering. The leaduser research method goes a step further, looking not only to the typical customer, but to those users whose needs and preferences lead the market. These lead users, as they called, will modify products or use them in unforeseen ways to meet their needs. The lead-user research method was developed as a systematic way to mine the insights and innovations of these lead users. Since it was pioneered in late 1990s., the lead-user method has evolved and grown. This paper offers an update on the use of the method and on adaptions to increase its efficiency using online search and communities as well as an overview of lessons learned from experiences on more 20 lead-user projects.
LEADERSHIP Anon. Language of leadership Polym. & Tyre Asia 2011 2(2) p. 48-49 (43) If you aspire to be a CEO, who delivers stunning corporate results, but fears a withering of leadership qualities within, there is a solution. You can unleash the most pivotal quality to be a leader and win folowers. Cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology has unveiled that ‗body language‗ is a crucial factor for building effective leadership. Executive coach Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD, reveals in an exclusive interview how body language enhances or undermines the capacity to lead. Hill, L.A.; Lineback, K. Are you a good boss – or a great one? Harvard Business Review 2011 p. 124 – 131 (44) The whole question of how managers grow and advance is one we‘ve studied, through about, and lived with for years. As a professor working with high potentials MBAs, and executives from around the globe, Linda meets people who want to contribute to their organization and build fulfilling carreers. As an executive, Kent has worked with managers at all levels of both private and public organizations. All our experience brings us to a simple but troubling observation: Most bosses reach a certain level of profiency and stop there – short of what they could and should be.
MANAGEMENT Dattner, B.; Hogan, R. Can you handle failure? Harvard Business Review (45) In the workplace this phenomenon is particularly evident when it comes to underperformance and failure. An outcome than an employee regards as satisfactory may be seen by his boss as entirely unacceptable. When a project is an uniquivocal flop, collegues disagree over the reasons why. These reactions, and their effecy on workplace 14
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Abstracts of Selected Articles relationships, often become more problematic than the original event. As a result, how people respond to negative feedback is of great importance to managers and organizations is a major determinant of career success.
Edmondson, A.C. Strategies for learning from failure Harvard Business Review p. 48-56 (46) The wisdom of learning from failure is incontrovertible. Yet organization that do it well are extraordinarily rare. This gap is not due to a lack of commitment to learning. Managers in the vast majority of enterprises that I have studied over the past 20 years – pharmaceutical, financial services, product design, telecommunications, and constructions, and construction companies; hospitals, and NASA‘s space shuttle program, among others-gunuinely wanted to help their organizations learn from failures to improve future performance. In some cases they and their teams had devoted many hours to afteraction reviews, postmoterms, and the like. But time after time I saw taht these painstaking efforts led to no real change. The reason: Those managers were thinking about failure the wrong way. Gino, F.; Pisano, G.P. Why leaders don‗t learn from success Harvard Business Review 2011 p. 68-74 (47) In this article we argue that success can breed failure by hindering learning at both the individual and the organizational level. We all know that learning from failure is one of the most important capacities for people and companies to develop. Yet surprisingly, learning from success can present even greater challenges – and identify approaches for overcoming them – we will draw from our research and from the work of other scholars in the field of behavioral decision making, and focus on three interrelated impediments to learning.
MENTORING Emelo, R. Creating a new mindset : guidelines for mentorship in today‘s workplace T+D 2011 p. 44-49 (48) Mentoring has proven again and again to be an effective workforce development tool. A 2009 study by Triple Creek looked at the impact of e-mentoring (specifically ―open mentoring―) on productivity and effectiveness. Eight-eight percent of open mentoring users agreed taht their productivity increased due to mentoring, and 97 percent of users who spent at least one hour per month on mentoring were satisfied with their experience. Participants rated ―expanding my network,― ―interpersonal effectiveness,― and ―confidence in role― as the top three areas in which they improved the most as a result of mentoring. 15
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