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Abstract. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been proposed as excellent materials for the construction of new, precisely tailored ultrafiltration membranes and as promising fibres for the construction of new, stronger composite materials. In this paper classical molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the potential use of CNTs in these applications. Functional groups have been covalently attached to the walls of CNTs to provide more extensive interactions between these new fibres and a polymer matrix. We examine the effects of these attachments on the mechanical properties of the tubules. The diffusive molecular flow of methane, ethane and ethylene through single tubules at room temperature are also studied. The simulations predict normal-mode molecular diffusion for methane. However, diffusion that is intermediate between normal-mode and single-file diffusion is predicted for ethane and ethylene. These diffusion results are found to be similar to results predicted for molecular diffusion in zeolites.

Interactions between proximal probe tips composed of carbon nanotubules (CNTs) and diamond and graphene surfaces are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations reveal the mechanisms of buckling, bending, slipping, and elastic recovery of the CNT tips on these surfaces and suggest that they will not wear out when crashed as conventional tips often do unless the surface is highly reactive. The simulations also show how the deformation mechanism changes as a function of tubule length and the effect of these changes on the buckling force is discussed quantitatively. [S0031-9007(98)07108-7]

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to investigate the effect of TQM principles on organisational performance in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Indian Auto Component Sector. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on survey data collected from quality heads of 120 Auto component SMEs in India and uses correlation and regression analysis to test the relationships between quality management principles and organizational performance. Findings The study provides evidence that application of TQM principles such as ‘Process Approach’, ‘Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationship’ and ‘Factual Approach to Decision-Making’ has a positive influence on the performance of Indian Auto component SMEs. Practical implications This study presents a number of managerial implications, specifically for quality managers in Indian Auto component SMEs. The focus of these organizations should be on strengthening the supply chain and operations. The quality managers need to align processes and resources based on factual approach to decision making for achieving higher organizational performance. Management of the organizations should also analyse why the soft aspects of TQM namely, Involvement of People, Customer Focus and Leadership are not contributing to the organizational performance in Indian Auto component SMEs. Originality/value This paper identifies the key quality management principles that can influence organizational performance in SMEs in the Indian Auto component sector whereas most existing studies have focussed only on Tier-1 organization in this sector. Unlike previous studies on this subject, the present study highlights the significant impact of predominantly hard factors of TQM such as ‘Process Approach’ and ‘Factual Approach to Decision-Making’ with only one soft factor of TQM namely, ‘Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationship’ being significant.

The influence of leadership style on employee commitment for the organisation has not been adequately addressed in the Parastatal companies in South Africa. A need therefore exists for greater understanding of the relationship between the leadership style and work-related attitudes (such as employee commitment) in order to develop a leadership style that will encourage organisational commitment. This study examined the relationship between leadership style, and employee commitment. Managers and their subordinates participated in the study. 348 questionnaires were distributed, 58 to managers and 290 to their subordinates. Final data for analysis included responses from 197 participants (34 managers, and 163 subordinates). 163 respondents rated their managers leadership behaviour on Bass and Avolios (1997) multi-factor leadership questionnaire (MLQ) and Meyer and Allens (1997) organisational commitment questionnaire (OCQ). A series of statistical procedures were followed to analyse the data. Hypotheses were tested on two levels. First, correlations among managers and subordinates with regard to the MLQ, and then the MLQ versus the OCQ. Results revealed a weak positive yet significant relationship between transformational leadership and affective commitment, normative commitment and continuance commitment. Transactional leadership had a weak but significant positive correlation with normative commitment, and Laissez-faire results indicated a weak negative yet significant correlation to affective commitment and normative commitment. Overall findings from this study suggest that leadership styles do play important roles in determining levels of affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment. This study contributes to the bank of findings relating to the development of leadership and organisational commitment, not only in South Africa, but within the Parastatal organisations in particular.

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of Organisational Culture (OC) on total quality management (TQM) implementation in Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the auto component sector. Specifically; it attempts to propose a model linking OC and TQM for this sector. Design/methodology/approach – Survey method was used for data collection by targeting the whole population of 482 Indian auto component SMEs drawn from Auto Component Manufacturers Association members’ database. Out of 482, 150 completely filled questionnaires were taken for data analysis. Proposed relationships among identified dimensions of OC and TQM interventions have been validated through parameter estimation statistics and goodness-of-fit statistics using path analysis technique of structural equation modelling using AMOS 18.0. Findings – Based on the results, a culture influenced TQM model has been developed. The model demonstrates a linkage between cultural dimensions and TQM interventions, thereby suggesting that OC characterised by “openness”, “confrontation”, “trust”, “authenticity”, “proaction”, “autonomy”, “collaboration” and “experimentation” has a significant and positive impact on TQM implementation. Practical implications – The study presents many practical implications, specifically for quality managers in Indian auto component SMEs. The study has developed a culture influenced TQM model which identifies dimensions of OC that promote TQM implementation. The study also identifies various interventions of TQM in their order of significance, which can be used by SMEs in mapping the critical links between OC and TQM through this model. Thus, findings of the present study will help SMEs in this sector to move up the value chain and sustain their global competitiveness. Originality/value – The study provides a culture influenced TQM model which would assist managers in quality implementation in Indian auto component SMEs.

The objectives of this study were to determine the current level of e-commerce adoption and factors that motivates the adoption by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Pretoria East. A structured questionnaire survey was distributed to 200 randomly selected small and medium enterprises and 48 valid responses were obtained. The results indicate that 67 percentage of SMEs in the sample in Pretoria East have somewhat embraced the adoption of e-commerce. Retail is the largest industry sector in the sample followed by Service industry with 45.8percentage and 35.4 percentage respectively. The results also indicates that Service sector was at adoption level 2 followed by Retail and others. The results show that only three independent factors namely (relative advantage, competitive pressure, IT knowledge) were statistically significant. Relative advantage emerged as the most important factor influencing the adoption of e-commerce among SMEs in terms of relative importance. The Chi-square test indicates that the type of business, occupation level, numbers of employees in the company and academic qualification did influence the adoption levels amongst SMEs whilst how long as owner/manager and gender did not influence the adoption level. Keywords:Adoption, E-commerce, Small and medium enterprise, Pretoria. INTRODUCTIONAccording to SME Survey (2012), the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector in South Africa accounts to 40% of GDP and 60% of the workforce in the formal employment. The World Wide Worx Report indicates that more than R2 billion was spent on online shopping in South Africa in 2010 but the rate of e-commerce adoption on SME is still rather low.Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) has been predicted to be a new driver of economic growth for developing countries (Humphrey et al.2004:31). Adopting e-commerce has not been easy for SMEs world-wide (Jones et al., 2011) partly because of the everchanging field of information systems and the varying needs of local and global business in general. The adoption of e-commerce in SMEs remains a critical area of investigation in information systems research (Parker and Castleman, 2009;MacGregor, 2004). Previous studies of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and e-commerce adoption report that SMEs in developing countries generally have not capitalised on the power of the Internet to extend their business beyond traditional borders (Bai et al., 2008;Molla and Licker, 2005a;Humphrey et al. 2004) except in the application of simple technologies such as electronic mail (Mpofu and Watkins-Mathys, 2011). Some of the reasons put forward from the literature include: cost of acquiring and operating ICT, lack of ICT and e-commerce knowledge, owner/manager low literacy levels, inability to perceive e-commerce benefits, unfriendly regulatory policy and requirements, cultural issues and dependence on customer or supplier preferences. According to Cragg, Caldeira and Ward (2011), a low level of 1 Corresponding author EJISDC (2015) 68, 7, 1-23 The Electronic Journal ...