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The Moratuwa Woodworking Industry Cluster (MWIC) is a geographically concentrated cluster of over 1,600 small-to-medium scale wood-based manufacturing and retail facilities in Sri Lanka. Firms include furniture manufacturers, carpentry shops, sawmills, and integrated sawmills. The concept of industrial symbiosis explores the synergies between industrial facilities to exchange energy, water, by-products, and waste to achieve a higher efficiency in resource utilization. This research was undertaken to address the lack of quantitative information on wood residues generated within the MWIC. A survey of 180 primary and secondary wood product manufacturers was undertaken to quantify MWIC firm by-product production and consumption of wood residues to establish a baseline for possible end use and waste synergies. The total population of enterprises generating wood waste is 730; retail facilities are not included. Sawmills produce approximately 66% of the 6,490 MT of MWIC's monthly wood residue generation, with the balance produced by carpentry and integrated enterprises. Teak (Tectona grandis) and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) are the dominant species used in the MWIC, accounting for most of the wood waste. Three main types of wood waste were identified in the survey: sawdust (76.5%), boards with significant wane (16.5%) unusable for further products, and offcuts (6.9%). Only 55% of the wood waste generated in MWIC is currently used; the remaining 45% is taken to landfills or disposed of in other ways, such as discarded in waterways or other nonapproved locations. Improved wood waste sorting by type at the mill level and aggregated wood waste within the MWIC was determined to increase the usability of wood waste as potential inputs in other wood manufacturing sectors in the MWIC.

Prosopis juliflora is an invasive plant species rapidly expanding in the Asian and African continents. Invasion of P. juliflora in Bundala Ramsar Wetland (BRW) in Sri Lanka has created a number of biodiversity and conservation issues. This study was conducted to assess the possibility to utilize this invasive plant as a fuel source for local industries. The moisture content, wood density, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon content, biomass/ash ration and calorific value of P. juliflora were measured and compared with Leucaena leucocephala, which is a widely used fuelwood source in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. P. juliflora, performed better than L. leucocephala for most of these parameters. Ash content was comparatively higher in P. juliflora than that of L. leucocephala; however, biomass to ash ratio of P. juliflora was significantly lower (at 0.05 level of significance) than that of L. leucocephala, suggesting its suitability as a fuelwood source. Further, the Fuel Value Index (FVI) of P. juliflora (3,276) was slightly lower than that of L. leucocephala (3,336), a non-significant difference. P. juliflora and L. leucocephala reached Fiber Saturation Point values within drying periods of 24 and 27 days, respectively. According to our estimates of energy properties, 1 Kg of P. juliflora could be used to substitute 0.5 L of diesel and furnace oil as well as 5 kWh (5 units) of electricity. As such, we recommend harvesting P. juliflora from BRW as a potential fuelwood energy source for local industries.

The significance of wood and paper products originating from certified sustainable sources has been increasing worldwide during the last two decades paralleling overall interest and concern for global sustainability issues. Forest certification is a voluntary verification tool that has been gaining importance not only as an independent verification tool in the wood processing industry but also as an influencer in private and public purchasing policies and as a component of emerging wood harvesting and trade legality schemes. There are two main types of certification, forest certification for forest management and chain-of-custody (CoC) certification which tracks certified wood through the manufacturing supply chain. This study focuses on the chain-of-custody component. A multinational survey of CoC certificate holders in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia was conducted to identify the general understanding of certification concepts as environmental, economic and social tools, to determine incentives for CoC certification implementation by companies, and to identify difficulties in existing certified wood product supply chains. Results indicate that respondents demonstrated a high level of understanding of the chain of custody certification concept. Respondents also link forest certification mainly to the issues of legality, tracing the origin source of supply and prevention from illegal logging. The main expected benefits are linked to the improvement of external company image followed by business performance factors such as penetrating new markets, increase of sales volume, expanded market share and the increase of profit margin. The key problems connected to certified supply chains relate to the overpricing of certified material inputs, while respondents reported none or minimum price premiums for their certified products over non-certified alternatives.

Corporate leaders often view innovation as a key contributor to superior profits, market sharing, and competitive positioning. However, confusion regarding the definition of innovation, how to create it, and how to implement it remains. In countries that are recent European Union members, little research has been done on innovation and how innovation is related to corporate management activities. In this study, the linkages were examined in the Croatian furniture industry. The first part of the study was to deconstruct innovation into three components: product innovation, production process innovation, and human resource innovation. The second part of the study evaluates the relationships between these innovation components and four company management activities/factors (research and development investments, company flexibility, export activity, and the Internet usage) were examined. Scale testing resulted in valid deconstruction measures of innovation. Hypothesized correlations between innovation components and company management factors were supported, although the results were not fully consistent with those of previous studies.

The value of aggregate forest product exports to India has increased from about $1.5 billion in 2003 to about $5.4 billion in 2013. Although many of the forest product resources can be sou...

In the area of recycling of spent chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood, most studies to date have focused on methods of removing/extracting the residual preservative from the wood matrix. It is well recognized that exposure of CCA-treated wood to an acid solution can reverse the CCA fixation process thereby converting the CCA elements into their water-soluble form. The economic viability of the process is enhanced because it can be integrated with other technologies and products (e.g., “green” spray foam insulation, etc.). The market for the “green” CCA is the same as for traditional CCA-the wood treating industry, principally utility poles and pilings. A market research study was conducted to determine the suitability of spent CCA-treated wood as a source for recycled, “green” CCA for manufacturing “green” spray-foam insulation. Specifically, we wanted to discern the attitudes and overall perspectives of buyers/sellers (i.e., utilities and wood treating companies) of CCA preservatives and treated wood products, disposal methods and costs for decommissioned CCA-treated wood, and understand perceptions of and willingness-to-pay for “green” CCA preservatives extracted from the technologies used in this research. Results show that 60% of wood preservative treating respondents and 60% of electric utility company respondents are somewhat or greatly interested in using out-of-service utility poles as feedstock for “green insulation” as part of a new potential business venture.

In this study, barriers to internationalization for wood processing and wood trading firms in Slovakia are identified. Specifically, the perceptions of 62 Slovak firms were examined regarding entry into European Union markets. In addition to competitive issues, the influence of previous experience with international business and firm size on perceptions of barriers to enter foreign markets was examined. Results suggest that foreign competition is considered to be the most significant barrier due to a low level of innovation from domestic companies. In addition, the need to invest in promotional activities and limited access to capital are also significant barriers to entry into EU markets. Firm size was not found to be correlated with market barriers and no significant differences in perception of barriers was found between firm owners and managers.

The wood industries in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina (BiH) and Macedonia have a long tradition of producing a wide range of products. BiH and Macedonia have similar forest sectors and both countries have experienced similar problems in the manufacturing, sale and use of wood-based products in recent years due to the global financial crisis and resulting national economic challenges. Despite having a long and prosperous history, over the past two decades, the wood products sectors in these four countries have faced a steady decline in profitability, the ability to add value through downstream manufacturing, and overall competitiveness. Engineered wood products (EWPs) are structural building materials that have been used since the early 1980s as replacements for, or in conjunction with, concrete and steel. In this study, we compare architect attitudes, awareness and preferences regarding the use of EWPs between these four countries. The study is based on a sample of 373 architects using on-line surveys. Results suggest that there is a positive perception regarding the use of wood in general in all countries, with the majority of respondents believing that wood use will increase in the future. However, specific to EWPs, differences were found in familiarity and knowledge of potential applications in timber-based construction. Results provide indicators of knowledge gaps between respondents and, conversely, where awareness and willingness to use EWPs exist. These findings can have implications for market opportunities, identifying barriers to EWPs adoption, and content for workshops, seminars, and other outreach mechanisms for architects.

Over the past decade, renewable energy has accounted for approximately nine percent of the energy usage in the United States. Of this, biomass has consistently been about 50 percent of this, or 4.5 percent of the nation’s total. In Canada, the contribution of renewable energy has been much less with hydro-power being the primary power source. In recent years, the landscape has changed, not so much in domestic demand for wood-based energy, but rather in the arena of manufacturing of wood pellets for export. To a lesser degree, wood-based agricultural-based cellulosic biofuels have become a prominent part of North American policies, programs and even mandates. Wood-based bioenergy is potentially an important integral part of renewable energy portfolios in the U.S. and Canada. The growth of this sector globally has been driven by demand in Europe, Japan, and other countries. European policies have been the driver for a change in the global pellet sector. The goal in Europe of creating a 20 percent renewable energy share of energy consumption by 2020 has created a burgeoning wood pellet manufacturing sector in many countries. The U.S. and Canada have increased pellet production capacity to over three billion tons. The sector is concentrated in the Southern region of the U.S. Demand, again, primarily in Europe, has been driven by the desire to transition to non-fossil fuel energy. However, the reality has been a mix of great anticipation as well as disappointment with where wood fits into the renewable equation. A number of European countries are revising their incentives and subsidies that have allowed the pellet industry to flourish. The incentives are costly and have resulted in high consumer electricity prices in these countries. Currently, the underpinnings of the global renewables sector, particularly wood-based energy, is in a state of instability. This presentation will cover an overview of where wood currently stands in addition to a discussion of successes, challenges, pitfalls, and the overall reality of the future. Keywords: Renewable energy, Bioenergy, Wood pellet

A better understanding on relationships between future behavioural intentions and its antecedents allow ecotourism operators to manipulate their ecotourism products to optimize customer satisfaction, and improve marketing efforts. Although the relationship between previous visits and future behavioural intentions have been previously studied, less attention has been given on understanding the process of how previous visits interact with other key determinants of behavioural intentions such as trip quality, perceived value, and satisfaction to form future behavioural intentions. This study proposes a model to examine the role of previous visits in predicting future behavioural intentions to participate in ecotourism, and the relationship between previous visits and future behavioural intentions is modelled in a quality-satisfaction domain. Results suggest previous visits, trip quality, satisfaction and perceived value as important predictors of ecotourists’ intention to revisit and recommend the destination, as well as their propensity to engage in ecotourism in the future. Trip quality was the most important determinant of future ecotourism behavioural intentions. Implications of the study are discussed in the perspective of ecotourism marketing.

The financial crisis that started in mid-2008 has led to a subsequent economic recession. Although officially declared over, global financial degradation may result in a “double-dip” recession with no substantive relief in the near future. Consequently, fundamental shifts within global forestry and the forest industry sectors have taken place with disruptions, dislocations, and uncertainties felt through the entire chain from the forest to markets. This is the worst downturn for forest products markets since the first oil crisis in the 1970s. Manifestations have included decreased demand, fluctuating prices and changed exchange rates, increased competition, overcapacity, low profitability, wood supply problems, and competition for raw materials exacerbated by the emerging bio-based energy sector. Although the ability of the forest sector as a whole to experience strong growth during the recession and when recovery begins is doubtful, there are many actions that individual companies can take to cr...

The tourism industry plays a key role in regional and destination development. As negative environmental and socio-cultural impacts of mass tourism become more common, the appeal of alternative forms of tourism, especially ecotourism, continues to increase. With rising demand, ecotourism operators are facing the task of meeting expectations of diverse consumers of ecotourism products. Accordingly, the need to define and distinguish ecotourists from other types of tourists has become important. The importance of using a behavioral approach to distinguish ecotourists from other types of tourists is emphasized by tourism scholars. This study developed distinct motivational and behavioral profiles of visitors to forest-based ecotourism sites in Sri Lanka. Results identified four different types of tourists based on their behavioral and motivational characteristics: ecotourists, picnickers, egoistic tourists, and adventure tourists. Broad implications of visitor profiling are also discussed. This approach can ...

In this paper, we compare consumer perceptions and attitudes in the wood products sectors in Slovenia and Croatia presenting them on the basis of a random sample of Slovenian and Croatian citizens between the age of 25 and 65. Data were collected using the computer assisted telephone interviewing method (CATI). The results suggest that, generally, there is a positive perception regarding the use of wood in both countries. The study results can potentially be a good basis for creating awareness-raising campaigns on the advantages of using wood in both countries.

Forest biomass has great potential as a biofuel feedstock, but information on forest owner perceptions of using forest biomass to produce bioenergy is lacking. In this case study, we surveyed 3500 small to medium private forest landowners in southwestern Louisiana to better understand their attitudes and perceptions towards harvesting forest biomass for bioenergy production. Results indicate that landowners: 1) were positive about utilizing biomass for bioenergy, 2) believe viable biomass conversion technologies exist, 3) had antagonistic or neutral attitudes towards some technological, economic, and policy issues associated with using forest biomass for bioenergy due in part to lack of information or knowledge, and 4) felt biomass is a low-value product compared to traditional products. Landowners’ perceptions of participating in bio-based activities and markets vary among age and ownership size, and 51% of forest landowners were willing to participate in management activities specifically geared for bioenergy production.

The Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines innovation as (1) the introduction of something new or (2) a new idea, method, or device. Many empirical studies suggest that innovation is an important driver for developing or maintaining firm competitiveness. Innovation has been linked to improving products, production processes, supply chain efficiencies, market research, customer retention, business systems, relationships with exchange partners, profitability, and competitiveness. But how does it work? How can innovation be measured? In this study, we examined innovation in the US furniture industry. First, we deconstructed innovation into three broad categories: product, production processes, and company culture. Second, we examined relationships between the innovation subcomponents and the internal/external demographic characteristics of company size, company location population, age of employees, and education level of employees. Results show that although we were able to develop the three innovation constructs, only 25 percent of their hypothesized relationships to demographic factors followed hypothesized patterns of significance or directionality.

As part of an ongoing research program, the Louisiana forest products industry is surveyed every five years to identify salient issues, challenges, and opportunities. In this paper, we compare results from two studies conducted on the primary and secondary sectors in Louisiana. In the past, we generated two manuscripts based on research results, one for the primary and one for the secondary sector. However, this paper compares results for common questions asked in both surveys. Louisiana’s forests represent an important resource for the state, both in terms of income to landowners and as inputs to the forest products industry. Both primary and secondary respondents indicate an interest in increasing their workforce in the next five years. The issues that drive company expansion fall into four areas: the overall attractiveness of the business climate of the community and state, labor productivity, costs and supply, and financing. Introduction “Lumber industry hit hard” was the caption in The Baton Rouge Advocate, daily newspaper (Calder 2008). It was referring to the housing slump that saw the lowest number of new housing starts since 1959 (US Census Bureau 2008). Housing is a major driving force of wood markets where 70 percent of wood building materials, primarily softwood lumber and structural panels, are used in residential construction including both new construction and remodeling (UNECE/FAO 2008). With such a downturn in the housing industry, production and prices of wood building materials have collapsed. According to Random Lengths (2009), overall softwood production was down 27 percent in 2008 compared to 2005, and prices for framing lumber were down 38 percent from their 2004 peak. Panel production suffered similar market turns, dropping 25 percent from 2005 and composite structural panel prices plunged 37 percent from 2004 (Random Lengths 2009). As of early 2009, prices have been even weaker and many mills are curtailing production and/or downsizing (IBIS World 2009, Wood Digest 2008). In August 2005, two Category 5 hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast of the United States. Hurricane Katrina made landfall with a direct hit to New Orleans causing catastrophic levee failure and widespread flooding. One month later, Hurricane Rita hit the West Louisiana/East Texas border. Combined, they damaged over 4.4 billion board feet of standing timber and wiped out the equivalent of more than two years’ worth of pine sawtimber harvest and more than 11 years’ worth of hardwood sawtimber harvest for the entire state (Chang 2006). The closest timber loss Louisiana faced, up to then, was the southern pine beetle outbreaks of 1985-86, with a loss of 1.1 billion board feet (Mistretta and Bylin 1987). In this paper, we present a brief history of the forest sector in Louisiana and then discuss results of a study which offers a perspective on the state of the forest products industry in Louisiana three years after the hurricanes hit the state. Louisiana’s forest products industry The development of the lumber industry in Louisiana began in the period following the Civil War. There was a great demand for lumber to rebuild the war-torn areas of the South as well as to supply the industrial revolution taking place in the North (Maxwell 1973, Quarterman and Keever 1962, Foster 1912). Longleaf yellow pine was abundant throughout the state. The chief demand for lumber was for construction, telegraph poles, railroad ties, and furniture manufacturing (Maxwell 1973). In addition to pine, Louisiana sawmills also cut oak, ash, gum, and cypress as well as many other woods. The milling of cypress had significant economic importance to the southeastern region of the state where it was used principally for manufacturing of shingles and cisterns (Kellogg 1909).

This article introduces a comprehensive product development strategy to transform ideas into commercial products. Although there is abundant literature on product development tools and innovation theory, the inconsistency of results in previous studies in innovation theory has not produced compatible theories that can be put into practice. To help overcome this problem, grounded theory was used to build a novel and holistic strategy that connects and relates current product development tools with marketing research, value chain, business process management, and innovation theory. The resulting strategy combines a series of product development tools that can help practitioners to easily identify customer requirements, to develop ideal solutions, and to deploy solutions. The proposed strategy was applied in the wood products industry with successful results. It is expected that this product development strategy will help researchers and practitioners better integrate theory and practice in innovation research.

Primary wood processing and secondary furniture production are strategic sectors in most western Balkan countries with regard to contribution to gross domestic product, exports, and employment. After abandoning a socialist business system in the post-Yugoslavia era, all countries in the region have developed transitional reforms to become free-market economies. Some of these reforms include changes in ownership structure, recapitalization and modernization, adapting to meet import standards of developed countries, and developing strategic linkages with supply-chain counterparts in developed countries. This article contains the results of research conducted on the current situation in primary wood processing and furniture industries in seven western Balkan countries. A common characteristic of these sectors across all countries is the century-long tradition of forestry and forest utilization. The development of these sectors will require sustainable management of the region's rich forest resources, political and economic systems that are transparent and market driven, as well as investments in production technology and employee training.

Data collected regarding homeowner preferences for various Formosan Subterranean termite control methods were analyzed using ordered probit and exploded logit models. Ordered probit model for first, second and fourth preferences had similar variables significant, although the first preference model had many significant variables. The most important variable, in terms of significance, across all preferences was the perception that a respondent thinks that termite existence is a problem in their neighborhood. The results from the exploded logit model indicated that a control option with liquid treatment option and more visits by a pest control agency is a less preferred treatment option. This paper was presented at the 2004 Research Modeling Association World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling in Melbourne, Australia.

Nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners own the majority of timberlands in the southern United States. As forest certification becomes more prevalent, it is important to understand the implications for NIPF landowners. This study, conducted in 2005–2006, reveals how well NIPF landowners in Louisiana and Mississippi understand forest certification, willingness to pay to become certified, and general perceptions about the certification process and implementation requirements. We surveyed 1,200 randomly selected NIPF landowners from each state that owned 10 ac or more of timberland in 2005. A total of 591 usable surveys resulted in an overall adjusted response rate of 30%. Forty percent of respondents believe certification is necessary on public lands. However, their lowest level of agreement is with the need for certification on private forestlands. Respondents believe certification in the United States is driven by environmental nongovernmental organizations rather than by demand in the marketplace. Private landowner organizations and approved professional foresters are the most trusted entities to administer and monitor certification. Results also suggest that respondents are generally not averse to having certifiers monitor their forest management activities; however, a majority are unwilling to bear the cost of certification.

Since its inception nearly 15 years ago, environmental certification has become an important issue in the wood products industry. One research question that has been examined is the potential willingness for supply chain participants to pay a premium for certified products or raw materials to offset certification costs. This study examines stated willingness to pay for four wood products from the perspective of U.S. consumers. Data was collected in 1995 and 2005 from the population of U.S. residential consumers to detect changes in willingness to pay for certified wood products along time and increase the statistical strength of the model. Results of an ordered probit model suggest that higher probabilities of paying a premium are associated to consumers who seek out certified products and who believe certification can lessen environmental impacts such as tropical deforestation. There is also a strong relationship between respondent income and willingness-to-pay. Despite the current industry structure in the U.S. that has adopted a mass-certification strategy that does not place price premiums on certified products, results suggest that such premiums may exist for imported certified tropical wood products. Analysis of marginal effects suggests consumers' willingness to pay a 10% premium for three of the four certified items studied. Niche markets may potentially be exploited in the U.S. and price premiums captured by wood products manufacturers in tropical regions and/or American importers.

This study examines United States homeowner perceptions about treated wood products. Regional differences were measured across a number of themes including overall perceptions about treated wood, treated wood relative to alternative building materials, and safety issues. Respondents in the South had the most positive perception of treated wood. The most significant health concerns were related to arsenic and chromium in preservative treatments with no differences across regions. Overall, there is not a strong aversion to using treated wood products per se although the perception of health risks exists. Key words: treated wood, United States, homeowner perceptions, regional differences

Sri Lanka's National Parks (NPs) are becoming prime destinations for both foreign and domestic tourists. With rising heterogeneous demand for nature-based experiences, NP administrators are facing the challenge of re-crafting policy and nature-based use-models to meet the diverse expectations of visitors while achieving conservation goals. As such, an understanding of NP visitor perspectives is essential in making sound management decisions to effectively accommodate conservation and recreational uses. This study explores visitor perceptions of roles, functions, policies and best uses of NPs in Sri Lanka. On-site interviews from 682 visitors to two highly-visited NPs revealed that a majority of respondents view "ecological protection" as the most important role of NPs. Recreation and commercial development-related roles were ranked lower in overall importance. Factor analysis and subsequent ANOVA comparisons further identified core belief constructs that ultimately supported the notion of NP policy should be more protection-oriented rather than accommodating to recreation. This is not to say that recreation should not be one of the multiple uses of NPs from the respondents' viewpoint. Although non-consumptive activities were rated most appropriate, visitors also desire that park infrastructure and visitor services to be developed and maintained at an acceptable level in order for them to satisfactorily experience the destination.

This paper presents a discussion of a proposed research study that will examine differences between Extranet and non-Extranet business structures. The study will look at both business applications as well as how buyer/seller relationships are influenced by this computer-based linkage.

This study compares eBusiness capabilities of the forest products industries in the United States and Canada. Structural and functional factors limiting or encouraging eBusiness development, attitudes and perceived value of eBusiness, concerns and possible impacts of eBusiness on traditional business practices were studied. Results indicate that high potential exists for eBusiness to flourish in the forest products sectors in both these countries. However, the study indicated that Canadian respondents were further along in Internet implementation in 1998 relative to their U.S. counterparts. In addition, Canadian respondents had a higher degree of satisfaction in achieving the desired benefits of using the Internet, had fewer concerns, and faced fewer impediments. Key words: eBusiness, Internet, forest products, United States, Canada

Extranets are extended intranets connecting organizations, which may include personnel, customers, suppliers and strategic partners. An extranet is one way in which a firm can improve their offering and remain competitive. This paper explores extranet linkages and examines how extranets impact business practices and business relationships. Also explores traditional relationship constructs function in an extranet context.

Reports on a study conducted in 1998 at the Louisiana State University College of Agriculture on using technology in the classroom environment. Results indicate that students are generally computer literate with 80 per cent either owning or planning to purchase a personal computer in the next year. Eighty‐five per cent prefer computer‐supported teaching that includes the Internet and multimedia classroom technologies. Sixty‐five per cent of students believe that computer‐based technology in the classroom is very important regarding future competitiveness in the job market. Finally, significant gaps were found between student proficiency and desire to learn more about many technologies including databases, presentation graphics, video presentations and Web page design.

Although research has been conducted that examines certification issues from stakeholder perspectives in temperate forest regions, very little has been done in tropical supplier countries. This study identifies key certification issues in Honduras, a Central American producer and exporter of forest products. Five stake-holder groups were studied: primary wood products manufacturers, secondary manufacturers, government forestry policymakers, non-governmental organizations and consumers. Results indicate that there a general lack of awareness about certification, an increasing willingness-to-pay for certification as one moves from the forest to the consumer, the need for transparency in the process, and the belief that certification should be conducted by the government at a national level. Key words: certification, wood products, Honduras

Global industrialization and the subsequent dwindling of many natural resources have become elements for product differentiation in marketing. Environmental certification programs are increasingly being recognized as significant market‐based tools for linking manufacturing and consumer purchases. This research examines the relationships between intrinsic environmental motivations and the willingness‐to‐pay a premium for environmentally certified wood products. A conceptual model is proposed that captures the effects of perceptions, awareness and price on consumer willingness to purchase and pay a premium for environmentally certified forest products. The data suggest that there are positive correlations between the willingness‐to‐pay and the independent variables in the model, environmental consciousness, certification involvement and perceived importance of certification. A cluster of US consumers was identified that has a proclivity to purchase certified wood products and may be a logical target market.

The purpose of this research is to explore key issues regarding the need to provide jobs for women who are making the transition from welfare to wage work. A traditionally male-dominated industry, the secondary wood products industry, in a ten-parish rural region in northern Louisiana is used as a case study. One goal of the project is to explore barriers to expanding job opportunities for women in this industry, which is located in an economically disadvantaged region of the state. In-depth personal interviews were conducted with employers and business owners in this industry, and focus group discussions were conducted among employees at selected sites. Potential barriers to employing women in this industry are discussed, and recommendations for reducing barriers are made.

Ellis (1996) cites the Business Education Forum Policy Statement Number 53 (McDowell 1993) that states “… business educators must review their instructional goals and strategies in light of advances in technology to ensure that identified student outcomes encompass that technological skills need today and in the future …” To quote Judith Boettcher (1996) “… Providing technology classrooms on our campuses today means thinking substantively about the intersection of teaching and learning processes with the capabilities of information technologies. When you consider the infrastructure and organizational issues surrounding this intersection of teaching and technology, you find that implementing technology classrooms is not for the faint of heart; indeed, it takes deep courage.”

Professor Rodriguez makes an excellent point in reminding us of the importance of the ‘‘identification of student learning styles’’ in designing successful educational strategies. Educators are concerned about how students learn and we need to be flexible in accommodating different learning styles. Novak and Gowin (1984) in their book, Learning How to Learn state, ‘‘We are concerned with helping people learn to educate themselves. We want to help people get better control over the meanings that shape their lives. Educating is powerfully liberating: failures in educating are powerfully oppressive.’’ As academics we all share their concern about helping our students to educate themselves and it is likely that we are quite competent in using traditional teaching methods to help our students educate themselves. The new technologies discussed in the paper present an opportunity to liberate the student learning process. However, we may have to adjust our role in the educating process if the learning is to be liberating for the student. The educational experience has four distinct elements: teacher, learner, curriculum and climate (Schwab 1973, in Novak and Gowin 1984). Teachers set the educational agenda and decide what

Interorganizational information systems (IOS), the computer based communication between buyers and sellers, can improve inventory management and control as well as reduce costs for all participants. However, stable relationships have been found to be disturbed when IOS is implemented. The objective of this study is to refine our understanding of the differences in perceptions and expectations of benefits from developing IOS as well as changes in the relationship structure. Results support previous research that identified gaps in relationship satisfaction between buyers and sellers when IOS technology is implemented.

The adoption of communication technologies that link marketing channel members has modified the way buyers and sellers interact. These technologies, termed interorganizational systems (IOS), are electronic buyer‐seller information exchanges that are implemented to facilitate business transactions and increase efficiency, competitiveness and profitability for participant companies. Shows how differences in buyer and seller perceptions and benefits IOS exist in early stages of implementation. Describes the IOS induced “Relationship Satisfaction Gap” and then offers thoughts and recommendations on how to close this gap. Believes that this gap is minimized when exchange partners are co‐operative and exhibit a high degree of understanding and commitment to the other party as implementation occurs. Additional factors that minimize the gap include trust that has evolved in the relationship over time, the existing mutually accepted power balance, the level of importance that the exchange partner represents from a strategic perspective and the general relationship structure.

Both qualitative and quantitative techniques are used to gain an understanding of partnering activities in manufacturer-distributor relationships. This article is a meta-analytic summary of data gained from semi-structured interviews conducted by multiple teams of researchers. The process of building theory from case study research is illustrated in the context of business marketing relationships using guidelines developed by Eisenhardt (1989). Based on the results of our analyses, partnering activities are generally geared more toward marketing, planning, and communication between firms. Surprisingly, there were few reported incidences of partnering activities in logistics and information exchange (i.e., electronic access to information between firms).

Many theoretical and empirical articles about channel relationships have been published in the literature. However, Weitz and Jap (1995) highlight the lack of systematic research on the specific activities that comprise a partnering relationship in the business market. This Special Issue represents the programmatic work of many scholars who have addressed this question using a case study approach. In this introduction, background information about the project is provided along with specification of the research domain. The outcome of the issue is the development of a grounded theory (Strauss and Corbin, 1994) of partnership structure as defined by the activities of successful partnering firms in contrast to traditional/typical interfirm relationships.

Consumers are becoming interested in the environmental impacts caused by the production, packaging and disposal of the products they purchase and consume. As a result, environmental certification of forest products and forestry practices, part of the more encompassing green movement, is proliferating globally. In response to these environmental concerns, some environmental organizations, retailers and wood products companies have developed a set of standards for wood products that are intended to encourage consumers to purchase wood originating from certified sustainable forests. These efforts are a response to the perception by the general public that most forest practices involving the harvesting of wood do irreversible damage to the environment Key words: environmental certification, forest products, green marketing, United States

The U.S. has dramatically altered its wood product imports and exports during the past few years,and at present, it is the second largest wood product importer in the world. Hence, an understanding ofmarket structures, factors in selecting foreign suppliers, and the emphasis placed on environmentalissues/certification are critical to understand from the perspective of wood products importers in the U.S.This study provides an analysis of the U.S. wood products import sector with special emphasis on currentand future opportunities for tropical wood products exporters to the U.S. market.In this study, 158 wood products importers in the U.S. were surveyed using a mailingquestionnaire. The adjusted response rate was 40.6 percent. Results indicated that most of the respondentswere small to medium scale firms, but major importers of wood products. According to respondents,wood products to the U.S. mainly come from Brazil, Chile, and China. From the importers’ perspective,Brazilian wood products ranked first for its quality followed by wood products from Chile and Finland.Product quality, long term customer relationships, on-time delivery of orders, fair prices, and supplierreputation were the factors deemed important in selecting overseas suppliers. Majority of respondentswere importing certified wood products. FSC, SFI, and ISO 14000 were the mostly accepted certificationprograms. However, certification was not a major factor in foreign supplier selection criteria. Whenconsidered the U.S. wood products importers’ tendency to diversify their products and species imported,attractive opportunities exist for wood products suppliers from tropical countries.

Home center retailers are adopting interorganizational information system (IOS) technologies to reduce order cycle time and improve inventory management. One such technology is electronic data interchange (EDI). Examines EDI adoption in the wood products supplier – home center buyer channel. Discusses management implications and presents recommendations.

Biomass has a large energy potential. A comparison between the available potential with the current use shows that, on a worldwide level, about two-fifths of the existing biomass energy potential is used. In most areas of the world the current biomass use is clearly below the available potential. Only for Asia does the current use exceed the available potential, i.e. non-sustainable biomass use. Therefore, increased biomass use, e.g. for upgrading is possible in most countries. A possible alternative is to cover the future demand for renewable energy, by increased utilization of forest residues and residues from the wood processing industry, e.g. for production of densified biofuels (Parrika, 2004). If carried out on a large scale, the increased use of agricultural resources for energy will have the effect of raising the prices of most commodity crops and reducing the need for subsidies – with particular benefit for producers of commodity crops in developing countries. An aggressive program of bioenergy development could lead to reductions in government support to farmers without any loss of income. The long-term success of bio-based facilities and markets is dependent in part on the level of commitment of feedstock from forest landowners and farmers. Forest, crop, and animal residues present considerable potential as a biomass feedstock. They are renewable, sustainable, locally available, and often considered carbon-neutral when compared to fossil fuels (Hoogwijk, 2004; Mathews, 2008).