bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing an integrated emergency response programme for facilities: The experience of Public Works and Government Services Canada
Authors: Renaud Richard , Phillips Sarah
Published: June 2007

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is the federal department responsible for housing over 190,000 Canadian federal public servants. During Y2K preparations, it became apparent that a single source or form of integrated, emergency response information at the infrastructure level did not exist. A process had to be created and developed that would serve as a single vehicle and source for building‐based emergency response. These preparations for Y2K saw the creation of the Infrastructure Continuity Unit (ICU) and a system for the creation, validation, and maintenance of Infrastructure Continuity Plans (ICPs). An ICP is an event‐management document that contains a series of procedures and protocols to be used during a building‐based incident or disruption of services. The ICU is supported nationally by a network of Regional Coordinators who oversee the gathering of information needed to create ICPs for their own parts of the country. This paper demonstrates how this system, along with the ICU’s recent certification by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) to the ISO 9000 standard, have contributed to the ICU’s success. This paper takes the reader through an in‐depth exploration of the ICU’s processes, methodologies and procedures and demonstrates why, in a post‐September 11th world, the ICU has begun to attract international attention.
The art of the successful organisational move
Authors: Capasso Anthony M.
Published: June 2007

This paper offers an in‐depth guide to the soft skills and techniques required to address the human component of a major organisational move. It discusses the communication tips, tactics and techniques to be used with team members, employees, vendors and customers. In doing so, it will convey an understanding of the human factors that must be addressed to achieve fully the objective of meeting and exceeding employee expectations.
The Private Finance Initiative ‐ What opportunities for facilities management?
Authors: Baldwin Ed
Published: June 2007

Within the UK the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) has developed into a mature process for the procurement of improved infrastructure and associated facilities management (FM) service delivery. The role of FM within this process provides enormous opportunity to ensure maximum value is provided in terms of both value and performance of the final design and delivery of support services. As the first wave of PFI schemes are now becoming operational, this paper aims to explore these opportunities and identify what, if any, lessons have been learnt for the future development and success of the PFI and the value it can provide to both the taxpayer and private investor.
Using a Risk Breakdown Structure in project management
Authors: Hillson David
Published: June 2007

Risk identification often produces nothing more than a long list of risks, which can be hard to understand or manage. The list can be prioritised to determine which risks should be addressed first, but this does not provide any insight into the structure of risk on the project. Traditional qualitative assessment cannot indicate those areas of the project which require special attention, or expose recurring themes, concentrations of risk, or ‘hot‐spots’ of risk exposure. The best way to deal with a large amount of data is to structure the information to aid comprehension. For risk management, this can be achieved with a Risk Breakdown Structure )RBS) a hierarchical structuring of risks on the project. The RBS can assist in understanding the distribution of risk on a project or across a business, aiding effective risk management. Just as the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is an important tool for projects because it scopes and defines the work, so the RBS can be an invaluable aid in understanding risk. The WBS forms the basis for many aspects of the project management process; similarly, the RBS can be used to structure and guide the risk management process. This paper presents the concept of the RBS, and gives a number of examples drawn from different project types and industries. Although not necessarily based in FM, the concepts and experience can be applied to any project. The benefits of using the RBS are then outlined, including as an aid for risk identification or risk assessment, comparison of projects, providing a framework for cross‐project risk reporting, and structuring lessons to be learned for future projects. This paper shows how to use the RBS to gain these benefits.
Tracing workplace knowledge in ‘network service organisations’
Authors: Tuomela Antti
Published: June 2007

Centralised workplace and decentralised facilities management organisations combine several interacting functions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the workplace service environment from a ‘network organisation’ perspective comprising workplace knowledge‐holder roles that have both formal and informal connections. This paper proposes that the core business customers, in‐house and outsourced service providers, and the contract managers have a similar need to interact and learn from each other and presents a framework for ‘network service organisations’ to describe their changing collaborative roles. First, the customer interfaces of workplace networks are identified. Secondly, a theoretical framework for a network service organisation is presented, followed by a section on creating centres of excellence for workplace knowledge. Thirdly, a generic governance model for network collaboration is introduced. The aim of the paper is to increase knowledge about understanding and managing network relations in the new workplace environment. The paper ends with a discussion on limitations to formal cooperation and the need for further research on informal relationships within these networks.
What owners want from architects ‐ and how to ensure that expectations are met
Authors: Winters Peter M.
Published: June 2007

The facility manager has selected an architect. He/she might be getting ready to start a great project ‐ but perhaps not. Facility managers are often put into the position of selecting and negotiating contracts for architecture services. This paper is based upon research sponsored by the American Institute of Architects. From input gathered at an owners’ forum last year, this paper focuses on potential improvement areas for architects. It also assists the facility manager to prepare and negotiate a contract that will help ensure the delivery of expectations. This is accomplished by: understanding what to put into the architect’s contract to protect an organisation’s interests and realise expectations; developing a contractual format that will minimise surprises; learning what many owners think are the most common shortcomings of an architect. The facility manager must learn how important it is to select the most suitable architect for their organisation and consolidate the learning by negotiating a contract that will protect the company’s interests and help to achieve the desired results.
The cost of ‘best value’ construction
Authors: Kashiwagi Dean , Savicky John
Published: June 2007

One of the major objectives of facility owners is to get the ‘best value’ in construction, renovation or maintenance of facilities. Owners are reluctant to pay more for best value if they do not understand what the value is. Research now proposes that the use of best value procurement can actually reduce the first costs of delivering the construction. The research looks at the transaction costs or the first costs of construction. The research uses the procurement of roofing in the State of Hawaii because of the availability of data on both the low‐bid and best value procurements. The State of Hawaii used transaction cost analysis to identify the cost of best value construction. The costs considered were planning and programming, design, procurement, construction management and inspection costs. Owing to the number of projects and the access to budget figures, construction cost figures, design costs and construction times, the State was able to identify the relative transaction costs and performance for both processes. The first costs or transaction costs of the best value procurements were lower than the transaction costs of the traditional design‐bid‐build costs. The actual performances of the roofing systems procured, which included warranty period, performance of the contractor and performance of the roofing systems, were far superior. The result was an increase in value for a lower cost.
Six Sigma: Its implementation in Ford’s facility management and maintenance functions
Authors: Holtz Robert , Campbell Paul
Published: June 2007

If readers have picked up any of a number of business periodicals within the past five years, they have probably heard
of Six Sigma. They have read about it or heard someone talking about the great successes that resulted from applying Six
Sigma. The intent of this paper is not to teach the reader all there is to know about Six Sigma. Instead, it aims to provide a
brief overview of Six Sigma (for anyone not familiar with it), explain how Ford Motor Company has approached its
implementation and how it has been applied in facility management and maintenance activities.
Outsource or in‐house facilities management: The pros and cons
Authors: Usher Neil
Published: June 2007

The question of the merits of outsourcing facilities management remains relevant. This paper attempts to determine a clear distinction between out tasking and outsourcing, and then to provide a model to explain the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of this strategy by analysing the wants of both the client and supplier. Finally, it offers some guidance to assist with remedying the divergence identified.
Reducing energy costs through the ENERGY STAR Building Program: Case study of the Ohio Building Authority
Authors: Lancashire Doug
Published: June 2007

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR Buildings Program was established in the early 1990s as a means for building owners and managers to improve the energy performance of their facilities, while simultaneously reducing the amount of pollution emitted into the atmosphere from power plants. The programme outlines a five‐stage approach to improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings to help control rising energy costs. The five stages include lighting upgrades, building tune‐up, load reductions, air distribution system upgrades and HVAC plant upgrades. Each stage is designed to build on the success of the previous stages. Today, the EPA recognises buildings that perform in the top 25 per cent in terms of energy efficiency through the ENERGY STAR Label for Buildings. This paper describes the five‐stage ENERGY STAR Buildings strategy as well as how a building achieves the status of being ENERGY STAR labelled. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates the potential of the ENERGY STAR Buildings Program through a case study of four office buildings, owned and operated by the Ohio Building Authority. These buildings have each been upgraded, following the EPA’s five‐stage strategy, and each has received the ENERGY STAR Label for Buildings.
Performance matters: How the high performance business unit leverages facilities management effectiveness
Authors: Rogers Paul A.
Published: June 2007

Best practice facility management operations share several common traits, and two in particular stand out above the rest: outstanding leadership and clarity of purpose. Achieving the balance between minimum levels of service and minimum cost requires quality information, great planning and, above all, a well‐led, talented and focused team of motivated facilities managers (specialists and generalists) operating from a clear purpose of intent. This paper examines the benefits of taking a ‘high performance business unit’ approach to facility department management using a smarter mixture and application of skill sets and process management which ensures the best value service delivery outcomes are achieved and that clarity of purpose becomes the norm.
Coming of age: Strategic asset management in the municipal sector
Authors: Jolicoeur Pierre W. , Barrett James T.
Published: June 2007

The application of strategic asset management in the municipal sector is of growing concern and importance. Increasingly, municipalities are faced with shrinking facility budgets while, at the same time, having to provide the most suitable properties in support of core service delivery requirements. The focus of municipal asset management is to support local decision making related to the acquisition, remediation or disposal of property. In light of the fact that local government is the closest level of government to the public, the framework for strategic asset management must be transparent and beyond reproach. This paper legitimises the application of strategic asset management in the municipal sector and proffers a unique, empirical approach to the rationalisation of property in support of service delivery.
Professional sustainability in facility management
Authors: Pratt Keith , Kaplan Audrey
Published: June 2007

We live in a world of constant change. Sustaining careers for those who practise the profession of managing facilities is therefore increasingly becoming a challenge. In addressing the issues, we all think that we are rethinking what we do, but with so many other day‐to‐day pressures, do we really give it our best shot? This paper provides a practical tool kit in the form of series of common‐sense steps which will enable practitioners at any stage of their careers, to focus on what they have achieved. It addresses the review of skills and competencies that they have accumulated and where such skill sets can be put to use elsewhere. It also looks at the direction being taken during their career and what training may be necessary to enhance future career choices. The paper also considers the support gained from professional bodies and other networking organisations and the contribution that individuals make in return. It concludes with an examination of the consequences of inaction and the steps necessary to move forward. While the paper presents the co‐authors’ views of what the future may hold and is based on professional experience in this field, the predictions are only those of the authors.
Assessing the performance of construction projects: Implementing earned value management at the General Services Administration
Authors: Alvarado Carlos M. , Silverman Robert P. , Wilson David S.
Published: June 2007

There are many potential measures of performance for evaluating the success of a construction project. All address performance in three key areas: scope, schedule and budget. In a performance measurement framework where senior management wishes to minimise the numberof performance measures it employs, while ensuring maximal coverage or visibility into the programme, having a tool that captures each of the three areas would be ideal. Project managers have used Earned Value Management (EVM) for over 40 years to track actual schedule progress and actual costs against project plans. Earned Value Management has traditionally been applied to individual projects on which the manager is accountable for both schedule and cost variances. This paper proposes methods to apply EVM principles to allow: (1) analysis of portfolios of construction projects; (2) incorporation of the analysis into an innovative pay‐for‐performance human resources practice; and (3) use of regression analysis to develop baseline earned value curves. These extensions fit the needs of many government managers, who oversee a range of projects by multiple contractors, and whose cost risk is primarily due to schedule slips and change orders. Earned Value Management is described in the context of project oversight, and a dashboard system of performance measures is proposed for quickly assessing individual projects and portfolios. A method of generating standardised planned value curves is then specified, based on data from previous and ongoing projects. The paper concludes by showing how the US General Services Administration’s Public Buildings Service is using these methods to analyse and oversee its portfolio of new construction and major repair and alteration projects.
Bringing strategic efficacy to facility management through CAFM tools
Authors: Keller Jennifer W. , Keller Chris
Published: June 2007

Most larger companies and corporations who own or lease multiple locations face challenges in designing, tracking and managing property. The following case study examines the work of the Facilities Design and Planning Group at Dow Jones & Co. The study follows the group’s efforts to improve the strategic efficacy of its operations by expanding its implementation of its computer‐aided facility management (CAFM) system and by developing some novel CAFM tools. These technologies are intended to reduce management costs by creating a central and comprehensive resource of facilities information. Both facilities professionals and those seeking facilities‐related information can then use this resource. These tools support day to day facilities operations, from master planning to project design and budgeting, from construction to lease management. Such technology increases accuracy through data validation, but remains flexible in reporting and inquiry. This paper documents both the evolution of these tools, and the decisions that guided their development. It aims to describe in detail the particular business circumstances that influenced Dow Jones’ efforts as well as expose the setbacks in using and expanding various aspects of the technology.
Using activity‐based costing to implement behavioural cost initiatives successfully
Authors: Kaszubski Michael A. , Ebben Steve
Published: June 2007

Continuing budget pressure is forcing facilities groups to re‐think their current service delivery models and develop initiatives that reduce cost and increase efficiency. Making this task more difficult is the fact that many costs incurred by the facilities department are the result of behaviour patterns of non‐facilities employees. To assist in this task one facilities organisation turned to activity‐based costing (ABC) as a solution. ABC has allowed the facilities group to identify internal and external behaviour changes that affect the cost of delivering services. Once identified, plans of actions are developed in conjunction with the various departments to address equipment and facilities usage, service level requirements and operational process improvements. The execution of these plans allows the facilities group specifically to identify cost drivers that can be eliminated, thus avoiding the traditional arbitrary budget reduction process. Readers will be introduced to the application of the ABC model and how behaviour modification initiatives, using ABC, provide supporting data for the development of the annual budget. In addition, readers will learn how the development of behaviour change initiatives can place the responsibility for corrective maintenance cost control on the end user.
Document management: A case study
Authors: Loesch James E. , Theodori Judith
Published: June 2007

In the course of constructing, maintaining, operating or upgrading facilities, Facility Managers generate and collect many documents. Their offices become repositories for plans, manuals, contracts, etc. These documents then begin to take on a life of their own. Stories about documents locked in drawers or cabinets for years flourish and are now legendary. Many documents accumulate on desktops, collecting dust, and others reside on local computers with no global access to their data. Software licensing, obsolescence, and incompatibility and lack of organisation are major problems. Crucial information is lost, misplaced or just hard to find. Organisational effectiveness suffers, and documents begin to lose their value as institutional assets. What are the best ways to collate and share existing information? How can a facility truly manage its documents? Which entity within an organisation has the expertise to undertake such a project? This case study reveals that existing resources within an organisation can help resolve the problem. At The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the library personnel have the required expertise in organising, cataloguing, indexing and managing both existing and future documents and are currently in the process of creating an electronic infrastructure for sharing institutional facilities data.
Facilities management outsourcing in the UK: Avoiding ’elephant traps‘ in the legal jungle
Authors: Reid‐Thomas Duncan , Phillips Richard
Published: June 2007

The UK has in recent years seen considerable growth of facilities management (FM) outsourcing across a range of industries. This paper considers the legal problems and risks inherent in FM outsourcing. It also suggests ways to facilitate the transactional negotiating process and discusses the methods by which business and legal risks can be fairly apportioned (between the user and the provider), how to ensure good contract management and, importantly, managing risks on contract termination and exit. The paper is relevant to both users and providers in terms of best negotiating practice and risk management. From a legal perspective, both the UK (and the European Union) are more highly regulated jurisdictions for FM deals than are the US and Canadian markets, and this paper focuses on UK (and European) issues. Cross‐border legal issues are also considered.
Building optimisation with life cycle costs – the influence of calculation methods
Authors: Pelzeter Andrea
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the result of an optimisation via life cycle costs (LCC) depends on the assumptions made throughout the process of calculating LCC.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework is used to structure the assumptions made in the process of calculating LCC. These include the following three pairs: technical versus economic life‐span, static versus dynamic calculation method or costs only versus income minus costs. In a broader sense, these LCC are referred to as the life cycle economy (LCE). Two case studies form the basis for the LCC calculations. Using different assumptions, the LCC of virtual design variations of these buildings are compared to each other.

Findings

The rankings drawn from the calculations differ according to the chosen calculation method, i.e. the chosen variation for the optimisation of a building is not consistent.

Research limitations/implications

This is essentially an exploratory study and the prognosis of future cash flow in relation to certain design variations requires further research.

Practical implications

The credibility of life cycle costing should improve with a greater transparency of assumptions in the context of the outlined framework.

Originality/value

All players in facilities management who support their decisions with LCC will benefit from this quantification of the impact of different calculation methods. The extension of LCC to LCE will help planners, investors and owners of real estate in evaluating building options with respect to quality, image, flexibility or comfort.
Performance‐based maintenance partnering: a promising concept
Authors: Straub Ad
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Performance‐based maintenance partnerships promise benefits compared to traditional tendering of maintenance projects. The paper aims to give process models and examples of performance requirements and measurement methods for buildings and facilities managers.

Design/methodology/approach

Case studies of housing associations' current procurement and outsourcing methods have been performed, including an examination of initiatives for performance‐based partnerships. Purchasers and technical managers of housing associations and directors of medium‐sized maintenance contractors were interviewed, asking about the objectives, expected benefits and drawbacks of maintenance partnering. Maintenance performance requirements and measurement methods for the exterior envelope of housing estates were developed, based on the functions of building components. The maintenance partnering process has been modelled in three partnership forms, based on the case studies and interviews.

Findings

The process models and the decisive maintenance performance requirements for building components are interesting concepts for buildings and facilities managers, changing their orientation from cost of services to value and performance.

Research limitations/implications

The process models were discussed with clients and maintenance contractor. Its validity is being tested in practice. Clients fear that price competition will be affected by entering into long‐term co‐operative arrangements with maintenance contractors and service providers. Thus, there is a need for studies that investigate the direct and indirect cost savings from performance‐based maintenance partnering.

Originality/value

Long‐term performance‐based maintenance partnering for the entire exterior envelope is something new. It focuses on re‐design, construction, and maintenance by the maintenance contractor.
Incentivising project performance in the construction of new facilities
Authors: Bryde David James , Joby Roger
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to outline a method for reporting project performance that can be used to provide incentives to both clients and contractors to share risks and opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual foundation of the paper is two‐fold: firstly, a review of the literature highlights the limitations of fixed price, fixed unit price and variable (fee for service) type contracts and hence the need for contracts that incentivise project clients and contractors to act in mutually beneficial ways; secondly, the earned‐value method (EVM) is discussed as a means of reporting project progress via a single value‐based metric that is applicable to both client and contractor. The integrating of these two elements provides the basis for the method for reporting project performance described in this paper.

Findings

The paper presents the co‐operative incentivised negotiation budget (COIN). The COIN budget uses the concept of the variable (fee for service) type contract. In addition, it utilises the EVM to report project progress in a simple, easy‐to‐understand manner that enables both parties to share in the beneficial outcomes of better than planned performance and to share in the negative results of under‐performance.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is conceptual and, although reporting elements of best practice, further research is needed in the following areas: firstly, the benefits, costs and limitations of, and the barriers to, using EVM‐based approaches in projects in general, and facilities projects in particular; secondly, the effectiveness of incentivising contracts in terms of addressing issues that lead to poor performance, such as poor communication and lack of trust between the parties.

Practical implications

The COIN budget is a means by which the client and contractor can easily monitor performance in terms of the value earned in providing the agreed project deliverables. Whilst enabling the contractor to earn a cost plus margin, it enables both parties to have a common goal through the sharing of the positive and negative consequences associated with project opportunities and risks.

Originality/value

The paper makes an original contribution by integrating elements of best practice in the areas of contract selection and monitoring of project performance.
Using the fuzzy‐analytic‐hierarchical‐process to select the optimum mechanism for developing accounting standards
Authors: Bayou Mohamed E. , de Korvin Andre , Reinstein Alan
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Recent corporate failures such as Enron, WorldCom, Global Crossing and K‐Mart and auditing failures such as Arthur Andersen have sparked great public concern, including the passage of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002. This paper aims to address the development of accounting standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to use the fuzzy‐analytical‐hierarchical‐process (FAHP), recently developed by de Korvin and Klyele. Uncertainty in assigning priorities and the use of semantic variables lead naturally to the inclusion of fuzzy sets in the structure of the AHP paradigm. The hierarchy of decisions, constructed sequentially, consists of three levels of attributes.

Findings

The paper shows that applying the highly sophisticated mathematical FAHP model is needed to select the optimum mechanism for establishing accounting and auditing standards. The FAHP application results lead to a rational ranking of the four bases to develop accounting standards.

Originality/value

This paper helps to explain the ambiguous and vague nature of the attributes of financial reporting and to apply a recently developed mathematical methodology to help accounting policy makers select the optimum mechanism for developing accounting standards.
The equity premium puzzle: an artificial neural network approach
Authors: Wong Shee Q. , Hassan Nik R. , Feroz Ehsan
Published: June 2007

Purpose

In recent years, equity premiums have been unusually large and efforts to forecast them have been largely unsuccessful. This paper presents evidence suggesting that artificial neural networks (ANNs) outperform traditional statistical methods and can forecast equity premiums reasonably well.

Design/methodology/approach

This study replicates out‐of‐sample estimates of regression using ANN with economic fundamentals as inputs. The theory states that recent large equity premium values cannot be explained (the equity premium puzzle).

Findings

The dividend yield variable was found to produce the best out‐of‐sample forecasts for equity premium.

Research limitations/implications

Although the equity premium puzzle can be partly explained by fundamentals, they do not imply immediate policy prescriptions since all forecasting techniques including ANN are susceptible to joint assumptions of the techniques and the models used.

Practical implications

This result is useful in capital asset pricing model and in asset allocation decisions.

Originality/value

Unlike the findings from previous research that are unable to explain equity premium behavior, this paper suggests that equity premium can be reasonably forecasted.
Life cycle effect on the value relevance of common risk factors
Authors: Xu Bixia
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The expected rate of return for individual firms is determined by multiple firm‐specific factors. There is no evidence on how firm life cycle contributes to the determination of the expected rate of return. This study explores how life cycle stage affects the expected rate of return.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression analysis is applied to observe the effect of life cycle. Expected rate of return is dependent variable. Life cycle measures are interacted with commonly identified risk factors. Empirical data was collected for publicly traded firms from COMPUSTAT.

Findings

The major finding of this study is the significant impact of life cycle stage. Results indicate that the value relevance of risk factors is conditional on firm life cycle stage. Findings suggest that capital markets do realize and incorporate information conveyed in firm life cycle stage when interpreting risk factors.

Research limitations/implications

Future research can explore effects of life cycle stage on share return volatility as investors trade off between return and risk.

Originality/value

This study targets a major aspect (i.e. what determine the expected rate of return in the finance literature) to shed light on the limited understanding of what contribute to individual firms’ risk premium. This study has implications for investor risk assessment and corporate risk management.
Seasonal affective disorder and the pricing of IPOs
Authors: Dolvin Steven D. , Pyles Mark K.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

It has been found that stock market returns vary seasonally with the amount of daylight, and they attribute this effect to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a psychological condition that causes depression and heightened risk aversion during the fall and winter months. The goal of this study is to examine whether this effect also manifests itself in the pricing of initial public offerings (IPOs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct an empirical analysis on IPO data collected over the period 1986‐2000. Specifically, we examine potential pricing differences between IPO that go public during the fall and winter months, relative to other issues. The paper begins by exploring differences on a univariate basis (i.e. testing via t‐statistics), subsequently extending the analysis by controlling for firm and offer characteristics in a multiple regression framework.

Findings

The paper finds that IPOs experience higher levels of underpricing in both the fall and winter months and that offer price revisions are higher during the winter months. Both of these results are consistent with SAD influencing the IPO pricing process.

Originality/value

The results suggest that behavioral issues (i.e. the emotions of buyers) may have as much of an effect on the pricing of IPOs as more traditional characteristics. Further, the results imply that firms with flexible issuance schedules should avoid going public during months affected by SAD, thereby potentially reducing the cost of issuance.
Contesting the dominance of emotional labour in professional nursing
Authors: McClure Robert , Murphy Christine
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The main intension of this paper is to challenge the dominance of emotional labour in professional nursing.

Design/methodology/approach

The article begins by evaluating the central conceptual and definitional aspects of emotional labour, emotion work and emotional work. The purpose of this discussion is to argue against the false public and private dichotomy that has plagued emotional labour and emotion work. Second, it is proposed that the central and helpful defining aspects of emotional labour and emotion work are Marx's concepts of exchange‐value and use‐value. These defining attributes are used in conjunction with other re‐conceptualisations, which unite these terms in order to create more encompassing constructs that are useful for focusing on the waged and unwaged aspects of professional nurses' emotional work response behaviours. Finally, the use of emotional labour in professional nursing is contested on the grounds that the construct has limited theoretical and empirical utility for researching the complex nature of professional nurses' emotional work response behaviours.

Findings

It is recommended that a more robust encompassing concept needs to be developed, which accurately reflects the nature and complexity of professional nurses' waged and unwaged emotional work response behaviours, as they are important overlooked facets of behaviour that can be theoretically related to professional nurses' contextual performance.

Originality/value

The paper provides a better understanding of professional nurses' emotional work response behaviours, which benefit nursing research and practice by drawing on other areas of theory and research.
Strategic behaviour of institutional providers in mental handicapped care in The Netherlands
Authors: Van Harten Willem H. , Veldhuis Marleen J.M. , Hoeksma Bernhard H. , Krabbendam Koos J.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe an inventory of the strategic responses of institutional providers of mental handicapped care to the strengthening of consumer choice through a personal care budget (PCB)

Design/methodology/approach

Semi structured interviews were conducted among 26 providers covering 52 per cent of the total market volume of about 100,000 clients annually.

Findings

A representative number of providers was included; on average a percentage below the national average of PCB users was found to be served. Of the 26 providers, 16 indicated adaption to their strategy in response to expected consumer empowerment. The actual deployment of this response in the organisations seemed not to be very thorough or explicit. Surprisingly, as a growing part of PCB‐clients choose alternative providers, no concerns were raised concerning the possible emergence of new service providers.

Originality/value

Although the market share of PCB users is growing fast and existing providers do not seem to absorb this accordingly, a lack of market analysis and strategic behaviour of the traditional providers in response to this development was found. Based on this research growth of market shares of disruptive service providers can very well be anticipated.
Analyzing impacts of bioenergy expansion in China using strategic environmental assessment
Authors: Owens Gene M.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the several methodologies and activities taken to assess the environmental impacts of a $33 million pilot project undertaken through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) jointly with significant Chinese government investments. The ADB biogas utilization project has supported construction of over 7,500 biogas digesters in more than 140 rural villages. An additional 10,000 biogas digesters are programmed as well as significant investment in biogas production through large‐scale animal agribusinesses. The latter will be supported through investments utilizing the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a longitudinal perspective by: looking at the project's Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) undertaken at appraisal; assessing the ongoing energy and environmental monitoring plan currently under way; and examining the potential for the use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a tool for integrating environmental policy considerations on a regional or provincial level in China.

Findings

Improved technologies for application of renewable energy – in particular successful application and adoption of biogas digesters at the village level – offer the potential to promote sustainable, cost‐effective growth in agriculture with concurrent positive environmental impacts.

Practical implications

Based on the relative success of ongoing efforts to promote the adoption of biomass technologies, a significant expansion of the bioenergy program is under consideration by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Originality/value

The case study suggests that there is potential for use of SEA as a tool for the establishment of regional or provincial environmental priorities by taking account of information on the economic, social and environmental benefits, costs and risks of adopting a national strategy for biomass utilization. SEA is a recent innovation in China and must be adapted to local conditions.
A fuzzy‐analysis‐based method for measuring contractors' environmental performance
Authors: Yao Hong , Shen Li‐Yin , Hao Jianli , Yam Chi‐ho Michael
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a fuzzy‐analysis‐based scoring (F‐EPS) method for measuring contractors' environmental performance during project construction in order to assist contractors in improving their environmental performance during project construction.

Design/methodology/approach

To review relevant literature and conduct practical investigations for establishing the indicators which measure the environmental performance made by contractors. This will be followed by establishing the performance benchmarks for measuring the performance level of the environmental indicators, and presenting a fuzzy‐analysis‐based scoring method for measuring a contractor's environmental performance. A practical case was adopted to demonstrate the procedures of applying the F‐EPS model.

Findings

This paper provides an alternative method, fuzzy‐analysis‐based scoring (F‐EPS) method for assessing contractors' environmental performance. Whilst there are existing methods developed in previous studies for assessing the environmental performance of construction projects, it appears that little study has been conducted to investigate measuring the environmental performance by contractors during the construction process. Shen et al. (2005) suggested measuring contractors' environmental performance by using an environmental performance score (EPS). However, the major weakness of using the EPS model is that the model does not take into consideration the characteristics of the subjective and fuzzy assessment process. The F‐EPS method is thus developed to help mitigate these weaknesses.

Practical implications

F‐EPS model provides a simple and easy‐to‐apply tool to assist contractors in identifying the poor environmental performance areas; thus corrective methods can be used to make improvement. It provides an effective method for contractors' environmental performance to be communicated to involved stakeholders.

Originality/value

There are many variables affecting contractors' environmental performance, which present difficulties for measuring the performance efficiently and effectively. This paper has presented a new approach, a fuzzy‐analysis‐based method, for measuring the environmental performance used by contractors through applying the fuzzy analysis principles.
Valuation when bankruptcy is a possibility and taxes matter
Authors: Venezian Emilio C.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

This article aims to report the results of research into the effect of expanding the traditional models for valuation of simple securities to include the effect of taxation of the cash flows from investing and the possibility of bankruptcy of the issuer.

Design/methodology/approach

The models developed use the same techniques as the textbook models but lead to conclusions that are novel.

Findings

In particular, the models suggest that reducing the tax rate on capital gains does not always benefit bondholders and shareholders. For common stock the changes in both market value and realizable value depend not only on the change in tax rate, but also on the growth rate of the dividend stream.

Practical implications

The models presented follow the textbook models, so they assume stationary conditions. Future research should examine the case of conditions that may be mean‐reverting but are not stationary.

Originality/value

The immediate practical implications are in the domain of public policy, where the debate over the effect of tax changes has been based on overly simplified models.
On the use of value at risk for managing foreign‐exchange exposure in large portfolios
Authors: Al Janabi Mazin A.M.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

It is the purpose of this article to empirically test the risk parameters for larger foreign‐exchange portfolios and to suggest real‐world policies and procedures for the management of market risk with the aid of value at risk (VaR) methodology. The aim of this article is to fill a void in the foreign‐exchange risk management literature and particularly for large portfolios that consist of long and short positions of multi‐currencies of numerous developed and emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

In this article, a constructive approach for the management of risk exposure of foreign‐exchange securities is demonstrated, which takes into account proper adjustments for the illiquidity of both long and short trading/investment positions. The approach is based on the renowned concept of VaR along with the innovation of a software tool utilizing matrix‐algebra and other optimization techniques. Real‐world examples and reports of foreign‐exchange risk management are presented for a sample of 40 distinctive countries.

Findings

A number of realistic case studies are achieved with the objective of setting‐up a practical framework for market risk measurement, management and control reports, in addition to the inception of a practical procedure for the calculation of optimum VaR limits structure. The attainment of the risk management techniques is assessed for both long and short proprietary trading and/or active investment positions.

Practical implications

The main contribution of this article is the introduction of a practical risk approach to managing foreign‐exchange exposure in large proprietary trading and active investment portfolios. Key foreign‐exchange risk management methods, rules and procedures that financial entities, regulators and policymakers should consider in setting‐up their foreign‐exchange risk management objectives are examined and adapted to the specific needs of a model of 40 distinctive economies.

Originality/value

Although a substantial literature has examined the statistical and economic meaning of VaR models, this article provides real‐world techniques and optimum asset allocation strategies for large foreign‐exchange portfolios in emerging and developed financial markets. This is with the objective of setting‐up the basis of a methodology/procedure for the measurement, management and control of foreign‐exchange exposures in the day‐to‐day trading and/or asset management operations.
Insurance risk exchange in the presence of background risk and private information
Authors: Lin Wen‐chang , Lu Jin‐ray
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to introduce an insurance risk‐exchange model in the presence of background risk and private information and which solves the optimal insurance and investment decisions simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

The model undertakes a continuous‐time two‐agent framework in which the decisions depend on who can determine the insurance quantity as well as the agents' risk attitudes. The decisions are solved by using dynamic‐programming techniques.

Findings

The results show that the insured may purchase full insurance even if the insurance price is actuarially unfair and the insurance risk and investment risk are uncorrelated. Further, the demand for insurance may be affected by background risk even if the two risks are uncorrelated. If Pareto optimality is impeded by private information, the paper shows that the deadweight loss can be mitigated by forming a hedging demand with respect to the parameter risk.

Originality/value

This study is not only an extension of the existing continuous‐time insurance demand model, but also may be considered a model of “enterprise risk management” for institutional agents.
Input hedging: generalizations
Authors: Alghalith Moawia
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to generalize input‐hedging models.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a general utility function and general probability distributions, the paper extends the Paroush‐Wolf and Alghalith theoretical models by including two risky (hedged) inputs.

Findings

The paper finds that the inclusion of two risky inputs affects the previous theoretical results.

Originality/value

The paper introduces new theoretical and technical contributions. Also, it is intended to be a foundation for future empirical and theoretical studies.