bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crime and harassment in Jamaica: consequences for sustainability of the tourism industry
Authors: Ajagunna Ibrahim
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aims of this paper are to examine how violent crimes and harassment have impacted the tourism and hospitality industry in Jamaica, and to evaluate the approaches that the government has employed in reducing the level of crimes and harassment against tourists on the island.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was employed as the focus for this study. Surveys of residents, business entrepreneurs, and tourists at two resort areas in Jamaica were sources of data for this paper.

Findings

The findings suggest that moving towards sustainability of the tourism industry in Jamaica requires immediate, radical changes in attitudes, values and practices of the business community, the government and the media, as well as cooperation from local residents.

Research limitations/implications

The city of Kingston, which is considered to be highly prone to violent crimes, was not considered in this study. The time frame of the study did not allow for this, and so the research focus was more on resort areas.

Practical implications

With the problems of crime and harassment being reported in both the local and foreign news, the tourism industry in Jamaica has suffered not only from bad publicity but also from the perception of Jamaica as a dangerous destination.

Originality/value

The paper concludes that, while the tourism industry has been impacted negatively as a result of the increase in the number of violent crimes and harassment, less attention has been paid to both the immediate and remote causes of these problems.
The reputation of the UK licensee: an attempt to offer a balanced view
Authors: Pratten J.D.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the value of the British pub to stakeholders and then to examine how its image can be improved in the light of criticisms of the existing “drinks culture”.

Design/methodology/approach

These objectives are achieved by examining already published material relating to the pub as a social centre, an employer and an earner of government revenue. The problems of alcohol and criticisms of licensees are presented and considered in the light of other studies seeking solutions to the problem.

Findings

The study suggests that real change will not come from the licensees alone, but by a concerted effort by the majority of society to achieve responsible attitudes to alcohol consumption.

Research limitations/implications

The work relies on secondary sources, and would benefit from more studies of the attitudes of the stakeholders.

Practical implications

The article looks at the benefits of a responsible licensed trade and shows that criticisms of this trade in general will do nothing to solve the problems of excessive alcohol consumption. That requires a far more concerted movement from the nation as a whole. This does not, however, spare individual licensees from potential criticism for irresponsible service.

Originality/value

The paper may offer some comfort to the licensee, who is receiving much criticism at the moment. It may also make the rest of society more aware of its responsibilities.
From satisfaction to delight: a model for the hotel industry
Authors: Torres Edwin N. , Kline Sheryl
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This article seeks to develop a managerial model that will aid in the effective management of customer relations. This study explains in detail the concepts of satisfaction and delight; their antecedents and potential outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive review of existing customer delight literature reveals the key concepts necessary for customer delight to occur.

Findings

Customer delight is a better measure of customer relationship management than customer satisfaction. Delight is likely to generate positive business results such as word‐of‐mouth communications, loyalty and increased profitability. Using existing literature a model is developed.

Practical implications

The proposed model can be used by managers to achieve customer delight in their organizations. It can also be used to gain a better understanding of the process of managing customer relations.

Originality/value

In the last few years the concept of customer delight has been taking precedence over the concept of satisfaction. Despite such emphasis, there are few published articles relating to this topic in the hotel industry. The study uses customer delight literature from various industries and attempts to apply such knowledge to the hospitality industry.
Effects of disposition on hospitality employee job satisfaction and commitment
Authors: Silva Paula
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of job attitudes to personality traits in a hospitality setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses a questionnaire at two hotel chains in the western US to ascertain the variables. Employees that are surveyed are all non‐management personnel.

Findings

The author finds that job attitudes, specifically, organizational commitment and job satisfaction are significantly related to the personality traits, the big five and locus of control.

Research limitations/implications

The number of hotel employees studied is 159. A larger sample size could increase the validity of the findings.

Practical implications

This paper encourages hotel management to consider the use of personality tests in the selection of hotel employees as the results suggest that certain traits are related to an employee's job satisfaction and organizational commitment.

Originality/value

The paper is original in the sense that prior work has mainly focused on the employee job attitude in relation to how the employee perceives the workplace. There have been limited investigations into the relationship between personality and job attitudes. This paper suggests that dispositions may play a role in the attitude of the employee.
Reporting and reflecting on corporate social responsibility in the hospitality industry
Authors: Jones Peter , Comfort Daphne , Hillier David
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to offer a preliminary case study exploration of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues being addressed and reported by the UK's top ten pub operators.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a short discussion of the characteristics and origins of CSR and this is followed by a brief outline of pubs and pub operators within the UK. The paper draws its empirical material from the CSR reports and information posted on the worldwide web by the leading pub operators.

Findings

The findings reveal that each of the leading operators has its own approach to CSR and that there are substantial variations in the nature and the extent of reporting. More specifically the paper focuses upon four sets of CSR issues namely those relating to the marketplace; the workplace; the environment; and the community and then provides some reflections on the commitment to these issues at both corporate and individual pub levels.

Research implications/limitations

CSR in the pub sector of the hospitality industry has received relatively little attention from academics but the case study suggests a number of fertile grounds for future enquiry and research. That said the current case is a preliminary exploration of CSR issues as reported on the worldwide web and more in depth work will be needed before more definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Practical implications

The paper offers a number of CSR action points for both the companies and the individuals who are involved in running pubs.

Originality/value

The paper provides an accessible review of the CSR issues and agendas being reported by the UK's leading pub operators and as such it will interest academics and practitioners working in the licensed trade and those professionals who work with the licensed trade.
Performance measurement in tourism: a value chain model
Authors: Yılmaz Yıldırım , Bititci Umit S.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The tourism industry consists of various players and tourism demand is met by the joint efforts of these players. However, it seems that there is no attempt in the tourism management literature proposing frameworks or models, which can assist the tourism companies, evaluate and control the overall tourism value chain. This paper attempts to show the usability of value chain concept in the tourism industry to manage and measure the value chain processes.

Design/methodology/approach

A tourism value chain model with four stages; win order, pre‐delivery support, delivery, and post‐delivery support, is developed. A value chain performance measurement model for the tourism industry is suggested according to the value chain model developed.

Findings

There is an opportunity to study the tourism industry as a value chain and to develop a value chain oriented performance management and measurement framework that would allow various players to communicate and coordinate their processes and activities in a more mature manner. Therefore, it becomes critical to measure and manage the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the tourism product and services from a value chain management perspective. The framework has some implications for both practitioners and researchers.

Practical implications

The tourism companies can use the suggested model as a guide to evaluate their performance in terms of customer and internal dimensions through the value chain perspective. Mapping of existing thinking on performance measurement against the proposed tourism value chain model reveals gaps for further research, such as: the need to study the tourism industry as an end‐to‐end value chain; the need for understanding and measuring the performance of front‐end win‐order and pre‐delivery‐support processes; and the need for managing the delivery process as a whole rather than as two or three unrelated services. The model is intended to be useful for the practitioners when designing and implementing a framework who search for the whole tourism chain effectiveness using both internal and customer related metrics.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the need to evaluate the overall tourism value chain through the customer and internal dimensions and suggests a unique model for this aim.
Does quality impact on hotel performance?
Authors: Claver Enrique , José Tarí Juan , Pereira Jorge
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to study the reasons for the adoption and certification of quality systems and the subsequent impacts on performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology selected is a study based on the perceptions of two hotel managers in Spain.

Findings

On the one hand, the results show that the most important reasons to adopt and certify quality systems are internal and, on the other hand, that although positive effects on performance can be identified, the impact on financial performance is low.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in that it provides the perceptions of hotel managers for others who wish to know the reasons leading to the implementation and certification of a quality system and the subsequent impacts on performance.
Determinants of successful vendor managed inventory relationships in oligopoly industries
Authors: Dorling Kim , Scott John , Deakins Eric
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To identify the key determinants of successful vendor managed inventory (VMI) and strategic supply chain relationships for industries characterised by oligopolistic competition.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used action research in the New Zealand (NZ) food industry supported by a literature review, triangulation and case studies from other industries and countries.

Findings

Seven key industry‐level factors impacting the success of VMI and strategic supply chain relationships were identified. These were integrated into a step‐wise framework that provides a path for practitioners to follow when establishing VMI and strategic supply chain relationships in the NZ food industry.

Research limitations/implications

This research was conducted using action research in the NZ food industry; hence, the research findings may need to be modified and further adapted before applying to other, less concentrated, industries.

Practical implications

A step‐wise framework provides a path for practitioners to follow when establishing VMI and strategic supply chain relationships in the NZ food industry. Detailed practical guidelines are provided for practitioners who wish to improve the profitability of their supply chain.

Originality/value

The key outcome was a working model that identifies the key determinants of successful VMI and strategic supply chain relationships in the NZ food industry, at an industry‐level. A secondary outcome was the contribution to knowledge from an action research perspective.
Real options: applications to logistics and transportation
Authors: Tibben‐Lembke Ronald S. , Rogers Dale S.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Changes over the last 30 years have given companies increased flexibility and control over their logistics activities. During this same period of time, financial markets have embraced stock options, which allow buyers the right but not the obligation to purchase a stock at a specified price in the future. Recent technological developments could enable the trading of formalized options around transportation and logistics services. This paper aims to propose a framework for enabling managers to extend the use of options to the future use of logistics resources.

Design/methodology/approach

Presents a conceptual model that is based on research within the field.

Findings

This paper presents a framework for using transportation options in a similar manner to stock or commodity options: a shipper would buy a transportation option from a carrier, or a carrier's agent, which would give the shipper the right but not the obligation to send a shipment in a particular freight lane at a specified future time, for a specified future cost.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new method for structuring future logistics shipments.
A supply chain study of technology trust and antecedents to technology internalization consequences
Authors: Lippert Susan K. , Forman Howard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

User uncertainty and risk are inherent in any technology adoption due to the perceived long‐term consequences (LTC) associated with the internalization process. This study seeks to investigate antecedents of technology trust (TT) and perceived LTC associated with using a technology in order to understand the underlying attitudes and beliefs influencing supply chain members' trust in a specific information technology (IT).

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model was tested through a survey of 449 supply chain members using an IT innovation for part‐level visibility along the entire first‐tier of a major US automotive supply chain.

Findings

Empirical results confirm the basic structure of the model, including the role of TT impacting users' perceptions of LTC relative to internalizing the technology. Results also identify several uncertainty reducing antecedents of TT and perceived LTC including satisfaction with the existing system, task‐technology fit, and prior similar experiences.

Research limitations/implications

The study, although significant in terms of its power and the industry from which it is drawn, focuses on one‐tier of a US automotive supply chain. It would be useful for future research in this area to include multi‐tier supply chain members.

Originality/value

This study represents an important first step in examining the relationship between uncertainty reduction relating to incorporating technology in the supply chain context.
The potential for reducing empty running by trucks: a retrospective analysis
Authors: McKinnon Alan C. , Ge Yongli
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aim is to examine the recent trend in empty running by trucks in the UK and assesses the potential for a further reduction in empty running in the food supply chain using a new technique.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from the UK Government's main road freight survey and other studies are used to investigate the causes of the decline in empty running. Previous attempts to quantify opportunities for backloading are reviewed. The 2002 KPI Survey in the UK food supply chain created a large multi‐fleet database of over 20,000 trips, which permitted retrospective analysis of backloading opportunities. A method was devised to screen these opportunities against four selection criteria and assess the overall potential for cutting empty truck‐kms.

Findings

Suitable backloads were found for only 2.4 per cent of the empty journey legs, representing 2 per cent of empty truck‐kms. The analysis highlights the operational constraints on backloading in a sector characterised by short average trip length, tight scheduling and variable use of refrigeration.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis provides a more accurate and realistic assessment of backloading potential than previous studies, though is still deficient in several respects. The main shortcomings relate to the sampling method and structure of the Transport KPI Survey. The analytical framework requires further development to refine backload search areas, incorporate commercial data and permit sensitivity analysis.

Originality/value

The paper shows how retrospective analysis of road deliveries made over a short period (48 hour) can identify opportunities for backloading at a sectoral level. It combines government statistics and original survey data to provide both a macro‐ and micro‐level perspective on the empty running problem.
Values‐based service brands: narratives from IKEA
Authors: Edvardsson Bo , Enquist Bo , Hay Michael
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a model for values‐based service brands grounded in values‐based service management. In undertaking this task, the paper addresses two research questions: “What is the role of values in creating customer value and corporate identity?” and “How can values and corporate identity be communicated to customers and thus contribute to customer‐perceived service value?”.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on five narratives from a value‐driven company, IKEA, the paper proposes a model of values‐based service brands in action. The model is based on interpretations of how IKEA manages and communicates values in practising values‐based service management.

Findings

The study distinguishes four types of “values” in the example of IKEA: economic, social, environmental, and communication‐based. These are incorporated into the model.

Originality/value

This is the first study of the role of values‐based service brands in creating value in use for customers.
The role of private branding in improving service quality
Authors: Herstein Ram , Gamliel Eyal
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the potential contribution of private branding to the service sector, and to integrate private branding into the SERVQUAL model.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 300 customers of a health maintenance organization (HMO) were asked about the five dimensions of the service‐quality model and about several aspects of their HMO's private brand.

Findings

The study finds that satisfaction with service quality among subjects who were aware of the HMO's private brand was higher than that of unaware subjects when asked directly. In addition, a positive relationship was found between the perceptions of service quality in the HMO and the evaluation of a private brand in the HMO those customers who were aware of the private brand. The data analysis suggests that private branding constitutes an additional (sixth) dimension in the SERVQUAL model.

Research limitations/implications

This research was conducted during the initial stages of the market penetration of the HMO's private brand.

Practical implications

HMOs, and other service providers, should consider private branding as a pivotal strategy in reinforcing service quality.

Originality/value

This research is of importance for service providers because it identifies private branding strategy as having significant marketing potential for improving service quality.
A finite element model of the squeeze casting process
Authors: Lewis Roland W. , Postek Eligiusz W. , Han Zhiqiang , Gethin David T.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To present a numerical model of squeeze casting process.

Design/methodology/approach

The modelling consists of two parts, namely, the mould filling and the subsequent thermal stress analysis during and after solidification. Mould filling is described by the Navier‐Stokes equations discretized using the Galerkin finite element method. The free surface is followed using a front tracking procedure. A thermal stress analysis is carried out, assuming that a coupling exists between the thermal problem and the mechanical one. The mechanical problem is described as an elasto‐visco‐plastic formulation in an updated Lagrangian frame. A microstructural solidification model is also incorporated for the mould filling and thermal stress analysis. The thermal problem is solved using enthalpy method.

Findings

During the mould‐filling process a quasi‐static arbitrary Lagrangian‐Eulerian (ALE) approach and a microstructural solidification model were found to be applicable. For the case of the thermal stress analysis the influence of gap closure, effect of initial stresses (geometric nonlinearity), large voids and good performance of a microstructural model have been demonstrated.

Research limitations/implications

The model can also be applied to the simulation of indirect castings. The final goal of the model is the ability to simulate the forming of the material after mould filling and during the solidification of the material. This is possible to achieve by applying arbitrary contact surfaces due to the sliding movement of the cast versus the punch and die.

Practical implications

The presented model can be used in engineering practice, as it incorporates selected second‐order effects which may influence the performance of the cast.

Originality/value

During the mould‐filling procedure a quasi‐static ALE approach has been applied to SQC processes and found to be generally applicable. A microstructural solidification model was applied which has been used for the thermal stress analysis only. During the thermal stress analysis the influence of gap closure and initial stresses (geometric nonlinearity) has been demonstrated.
Finite element modeling of the lost foam casting process tackling back‐pressure effects
Authors: Houzeaux Guillaume , Codina Ramon
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To develop a numerical methodology to simulate the lost foam casting (LFC), including the gas back‐pressure effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Back‐pressure effects are due to the interactions of many physical processes. The strategy proposed herein tries to model all these processes within a simple formula. The main characteristic of the model consists of assuming that the back‐pressure is a known function of the external parameters (coating, temperature, gravity, etc.) that affects directly the heat transfer coefficient from the metal to the foam. The general framework of the simulation is a finite element model based on an arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) approach and the use of level set function to capture the metal front advance.

Findings

After experimental tunings, the model provides a way to include the back‐pressure effects in a simple way.

Research limitations/implications

The method is not completely predictive in the sense that a priori tuning is necessary to calibrate the model.

Practical implications

Provides more realistic results than classical models.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a theoretical framework of a finite element method for the simulation of LFC process. The method uses an ALE method on a fixed mesh and a level‐set function to capture metal front advance. It proposes an original formula for the heat transfer coefficient that enables one to include back‐pressure effects.
Linear tetrahedral finite elements for thermal shock problems
Authors: Fachinotti Víctor D. , Bellet Michel
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper seeks to present an original method for the numerical treatment of thermal shocks in non‐linear heat transfer finite element analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The 3D finite element thermal analysis using linear standard tetrahedral elements may be affected by spurious local extrema in the regions affected by thermal shocks, in such a severe ways to directly discourage the use of these elements. This is especially true in the case of solidification problems, in which melted alloys at very high temperature contact low diffusive mould materials. The present work proposes a slight modification to the discrete heat equation in order to obtain a system matrix in M‐matrix form, which ensures an oscillation‐free solution.

Findings

The proposed “diffusion‐split” method consists basically of using a modified conductivity matrix. It allows for solutions based on linear tetrahedral elements. The performance of the method is evaluated by means of a test case with analytical solution, as well as an industrial application, for which a well‐behaved numerical solution is available.

Originality/value

The proposed method should be helpful for computational engineers and software developers in the field of heat transfer analysis. It can be implemented in most existing finite element codes with minimal effort.
On iterative solvers for non‐Newtonian flow equations
Authors: Iliev Oleg , Linn Joachim , Moog Mathias , Niedziela Dariusz , Starikovicius Vadimas
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study proposes to develop and investigate different iterative solvers for non‐Newtonian flow equations.

Design/methodology/approach

Existing approaches for the time discretization of the flow equation and for an iterative solution of the discrete systems are discussed. Ideas for further development of existing preconditioners are proposed, implemented and investigated numerically.

Findings

A two‐level preconditioning, consisting of a transformation of the original system in the first step and subsequent preconditioning of the transformed system is suggested. The GMRES iterative method, which usually performs well when applied to academic problems, showed dissatisfactory performance for the type of industrial flow simulations investigated in this work. It was found that the BiCGStab method performed best in the tests presented here.

Research limitations/implications

The iterative solvers considered here were investigated only for a certain class of polymer flows. More detailed studies for other non‐Newtonian flows should be carried out.

Originality/value

The work presented in this paper fills a gap related to the usage of efficient iterative methods for non‐Newtonian flow simulations.
An enthalpy method for moving boundary problems on the earth's surface
Authors: Voller V.R. , Swenson J.B. , Kim W. , Paola C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To present a novel moving boundary problem related to the shoreline movement in a sedimentary basin and demonstrate that numerical techniques from heat transfer, in particular enthalpy methods, can be adapted to solve this problem.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem of interest involves tracking the movement (on a geological time scale) of the shoreline of a sedimentary ocean basin in response to sediment input, sediment transport (via diffusion), variable ocean base topography, and changing sea level. An analysis of this problem shows that it is a generalized Stefan melting problem; the distinctive feature, a latent heat term that can be a function of both space and time. In this light, the approach used in this work is to explore how previous analytical solutions and numerical tools developed for the classical Stefan melting problem (in particular fixed grid enthalpy methods) can be adapted to resolve the shoreline moving boundary problem.

Findings

For a particular one‐dimensional case, it is shown that the shoreline problem admits a similarity solution, similar to the well‐known Neumann solution of the Stefan problem. Through the definition of a compound variable (the sum of the fluvial sediment and ocean depths) a single domain‐governing equation, mimicking the enthalpy formulation of a one‐phase melting problem, is derived. This formulation is immediately suitable for numerical solution via an explicit time integration fixed grid enthalpy solution. This solution is verified by comparing with the analytical solution and a limiting geometric solution. Predictions for the shoreline movement in a constant depth ocean are compared with shoreline predictions from an ocean undergoing tectonic subsidence.

Research limitations/implications

The immediate limitation in the work presented here is that “off‐shore” sediment transport is handled in by a “first order” approach. More sophisticated models that take a better accounting of “off shore” transport (e.g. erosion by wave motion) need to be developed.

Practical implications

There is a range of rich problems involving the evolution of the earth's surface. Many of the key transport processes are closely related to heat and mass transport. This paper illustrates that this similarity can be exploited to develop predictive models for earth surface processes. Such models are essential in understanding the formation of the earth's surface and could have a significant impact on natural resource (oil reserves) and land (river restoration) management.

Originality/value

For the most part the solution methods developed in this work are extensions of the standard numerical techniques used in heat transfer. The novelty of the work presented rests in the nature of the problems solved, not the method used. The particular novel feature is the time and space dependence of the latent heat function; a feature that leads to interesting analytical and numerical results.
Venus envy: problematizing solidarity behaviour and queen bees
Authors: Mavin Sharon
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to critique solidarity behaviour as a means of advancing women in management; questions the queen bee concept and raises negative relations between women.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual paper which critiques extant research and approaches to advancing women in management identifying alternative perspectives.

Findings

Assumptions of solidarity behaviour set expectations of senior women which cannot be fulfilled. Continued use of the unproblematized queen bee label, without acknowledgement of the embedded gendered context for women in senior management, perpetuates a “blame the woman” perspective as a “one‐woman responsibility”. Emerging from the gendered nature of organization, female misogyny may be a means of exploring negative relations between women to challenge existing gendered organizations which sustain thestatus quo.

Research limitations/implications

Mediates recommendations of senior women as mentors and role models, whilst blaming them for being more male than men, by calling for action to challenge and change the gendered social order which impacts on women in management. Empirical research is required.

Originality/value

Considers the impact of negative relations between women to highlight how the gendered social order encourages and exacerbates differences between women; challenges assumptions of solidarity behaviour and problematizes the queen bee label.
Women and the glass ceiling in South African banks: an illusion or reality?
Authors: Mathur‐Helm Babita
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Present research seeks to examine the reality of the glass‐ceiling phenomenon in South Africa's four major retail banks.

Design/methodology/approach

Investigates women's low numbers in their top management jobs. A total of 40 women managers were interviewed for their in‐depth responses, which were content analyzed.

Findings

Results indicate that the glass ceiling considered a myth by many, is real and is nurtured by the organizational culture, policies and strategies besides women's own inadequacies. Only the most decentralized organizations, characterized by a culture that supports women's top positions, will help in breaking down the glass ceiling, along with women's own efforts to grow, develop and empower themselves through academic and career development.

Research limitations/implications

It is limited to South Africa's four largest retail banks only and provides limited awareness about certain work practices that are insufficient tools to break down the glass ceiling, hence, future research may construct such tools and examine the extent to which the glass ceiling exists in different countries and the influence of the local culture in it is formation.

Practical implications

The paper provides clarity for organizational leaders to identify growth barriers existing in their organizations, leading their women workforce towards a glass ceiling.

Originality/value

It distinguishes between a glass ceiling and a job barrier and recommends organizations to practise cultural change and decentralization to break it down. This is a research paper and clarifies the difference between common career barriers and the glass ceiling by attempting to elucidate the existence of the glass ceiling.
Developing disaster survivor resiliency: the home away from home
Authors: Barnes Joshua
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance of psychological resiliency for evacuated disaster survivors and the possible implementation of a concept known as homes away from home aimed at fostering such resiliency.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the topic of resiliency in evacuated disaster survivors, first an evacuation scenario is explored. The scenario is followed by a discussion of disaster psychology, resiliency, and a development of the homes away from home concept.

Findings

The development of an evacuated disaster survivor's individual and community resiliency shows promise as an effective means of mitigating the psychological damage of a disaster or terrorist attack. The implementation of the homes away from home concept, designed to foster such resiliency in emergency shelters could be effective.

Practical implications

Incorporating accommodations for the development of individual and community psychological resiliency in emergency shelters in emergency operations plans could be more tangible with the homes concept. A shift in sheltering practices is necessary to meet not only the basic needs of survivors but higher needs as well.

Originality/value

The homes away from home concept is new as there are few if any models for emergency shelters that specifically offer direction to local jurisdictions to develop individual and community resiliency.
Fueling the fire
Authors: Neal Mark , Younis Talib
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the organizational antecedents and management of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic in the UK in the 1990s in order to answer the following questions. What organizational factors contributed to the development of the epidemic? How did they do so? What can we learn from the management of BSE that can help us in tackling future epidemics?

Design/methodology/approach

The research involved content analysis of the most extensive documentation of the crisis, the Philips Report, and other official and non‐official sources, to gain a phenomenological understanding of the organizational/departmental/financial contexts in which key decisions were taken.

Findings

The organization of the institutions charged with managing BSE ensured slow, shortsighted and atomized decision‐making, inappropriate to the management of an epidemic. Organization‐ and department‐specific priorities, budgets and boundaries ensured piecemeal, “locally rational” responses to BSE, which cumulatively exacerbated the crisis.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by the fact that it is based upon the Philips Report, and other official and non‐official sources. Further studies could assess these research findings through direct interviews with those involved. The implications of the study are that rapid and appropriate responses to epidemics do not necessarily arise spontaneously from co‐operation between bureaucratic institutions.

Practical implications

Through identifying the organizational reasons for the inadequate responses to BSE, this research clearly shows the need for pan‐ or super‐institutional emergency teams, able to address future epidemics unhindered by localized bureaucratic imperatives.

Originality/value

The phenomenological analysis is new and significant in that it highlights the localized rationality of decision‐making before and during the crisis, and shows how locally rational decisions cumulatively exacerbated the epidemic. The research will be of interest to those involved in the prevention and management of epidemics.
The level of preparedness of the schools for disasters from the aspect of the school principals
Authors: Ozmen Fatma
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose is, depending on the views of principals and teachers, to determine the level of preparedness of primary schools towards prospective earthquakes from the aspect of the effectiveness of school principals; and to develop some recommendations due to the obtained results and the review of the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

In the research, the views of school principals and teachers were taken by a Likert type questionnaire, developed by the researcher herself. The sample of the research comprises all the elementary schools in the city centre of Elazig, a city in the Eastern Anatolian Region. As total 589 subjects responded the questionnaire. The data were computed by means of t‐test, and ANOVA according to parametric or non‐parametric situations.

Findings

The findings have revealed that the preparedness level of the schools are not so well for prospective disasters, and there are significant differences among the views of the subjects. In other words, the school principals were not so effective in achieving high level preparedness and for prospective earthquakes.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited with the views of the teachers and of principals obtained in the city centre of Elazig. Therefore, observation‐based researches may also be complementary for the reflection of the real life situation at schools.

Originality/value

Although Turkey is placed a very seismically active region, the attained literature review has indicated that there have not been any researches done about the preparedness of schools for the earthquakes in Turkey, yet. Therefore, this research is an original one by obtaining the views of school teachers and of principals about the preparedness of schools towards earthquakes.
An integrated approach to natural disaster management
Authors: Lin Moe Tun , Pathranarakul Pairote
Published: July 2006

Purpose

With an aim to develop an integrated approach for effectively managing natural disasters, this paper has three research objectives. First, it provides a framework for effective natural disaster management from a public project management perspective. Second, it proposes an integrated approach for successfully and effectively managing disaster crisis. Third, it specifies a set of critical success factors for managing disaster related public projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed case study of the tsunami was carried out to identify specific problems associated with managing natural disaster in Thailand.

Findings

The investigations reveal that the country lacked a master plan for natural disaster management including prediction, warning, mitigation and preparedness, unspecified responsible governmental authority, unclear line of authority, ineffective collaboration among institutions in different levels, lack of encouragement for participation of local and international NGOs, lack of education and knowledge for tsunami in potential disaster effected communities, and lack of information management or database system.

Research limitations/implications

This study identifies the specific problems associated with natural disasters management based on a detailed case study of managing tsunami disaster in Thailand in 2004.

Practical implications

The proposed integrated approach which includes both proactive and reactive strategies can be applied to managing natural disasters successfully in Thailand.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the importance of having proactive and reactive strategies for natural disaster management.
Technological emergencies expert system (TEES)
Authors: Mohamed Shaluf Ibrahim , Ahamadun Fakhru'l‐Razi
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide the graduate students, researchers, responsible personnel at major hazards installations (MHIs) with background on the technological emergencies, expert system (ES), and technological emergencies expert system (TEES) development.

Design/methodology/approach

The design and development of an ES is achieved through six recommended phases. The assessment phase represents the problem feasibility and justifications. In TEES, the problem was identified that Malaysia has experienced several technological disasters. The process of acquiring, organizing, and studying knowledge is known as the knowledge acquisition. The qualitative and quantitative knowledge are needed to build the TEES. A general knowledge was obtained from the literature sources. The quantitative knowledge was obtained through a field survey and domain expert interview. The information, which has been obtained from the field survey through the questionnaire, was arranged and coded into software called Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Regression models were derived. The regression models were incorporated into the TEES. wxCLIPs have been used as a medium for the development the ES.

Findings

It provides the background and basis for further research in disaster management in Malaysia. The TEES can be employed to control the major hazards at the MHIs through the identification, control, and mitigation programs. The knowledge, which has been put into the system, can be modified, updated, and reproduced.

Originality/value

The TEES is versatile, portable, reliable and applicable to other emergencies applications. The system can be saved on CD and distributed to MHIs managers and related authority. The system, therefore, can contribute to improve awareness through providing information and knowledge to end‐users. The ES also can be used for classroom instructions.
Sustainable resorts: learning from the 2004 tsunami
Authors: Garcia Renato , Siu‐Yu Lau Stephen , Chau K.W. , Kanitpun Rachadaporn , Shimatsu Yoichi , Grunder Peter , Koo Rosena , Baharuddin
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Given the extensive destruction resulting from the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that destroyed and damaged resort complexes in southern Thailand, the purpose of this research paper is to focus on the planning of architecture of resorts in two layers: the relationship of structures and land use to the natural environment, and the identification of specific design flaws that resulted in the loss of life.

Design/methodology/approach

An international collaborative effort led to site visits by our research team to the hardest‐hit resort areas of Khao Lak, Takua Pa, and Ko Phi Phi on December 29, 2004‐January 6, 2005, and in February 2005. The research team had direct contact with the adverse effects of the tsunami and gained insightful understanding on how structures and faulty architectural designs worsened the disaster and obstructed the process of saving lives. Analysis of these effects were then compiled and used to underpin subsequent proposals for resort reconstruction to minimize future destruction which may result from such calamities.

Findings

Close scrutiny and subsequent analysis of various factors which magnified the destruction and damage caused by the tsunami resulted in action plan proposals for sustainable resort development aimed at avoiding a repeat of the tragedy. These include responses to site, architecture, structures, building services and landscaping. More specifically proposals were made on issues of relocation, modifications of design flaws, introduction of escape routes, safer rooms, restoration of waterways, co‐generation, tree plantation and incorporation of natural landscape.

Research limitations/implications

Most of the information and data were gathered first hand at the location mentioned. More studies are needed to reinforce and further validate the proposed measures as generally applicable in similar locations.

Originality/value

An action plan outlining measures aimed at minimizing damage from such natural disasters could provide a useful resource in future planning of resorts in tsunami prone locations.
Natural hazard mitigation in local comprehensive plans
Authors: Srivastava Rahul , Laurian Lucie
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Natural hazards such as floods, wildfires and droughts disrupt communities, their economies and environments, and cost millions every year. The existing literature on hazard mitigation shows that community resilience is best achieved when mitigation strategies are integrated with land use and comprehensive planning. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of hazard mitigation in local comprehensive plans.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis uses a new plan evaluation protocol that integrates flood, wildfire and drought mitigation to evaluate the plans of the six largest and fastest growing counties in Arizona.

Findings

The study finds that counties do not plan equally well for all hazards, that they tend to plan better for droughts than wildfires and floods, and indicates the need to improve hazard information in plans to support the adoption of mitigation goals, objectives and strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on a small sample of comprehensive plans. It focuses on the content of plans rather than the causes that may explain this content or the implementation of the strategies included in the plans. Future research will thus need to analyze larger numbers of plans to identify the determinants of the degree to which comprehensive plans integrate hazard mitigation; and evaluate whether strategies advanced in plans are integrated with other planning documents and implemented.

Practical implications

The paper makes recommendations to improve the plans evaluated and to guide planners as they develop or revise comprehensive plans in other jurisdictions subject to natural hazards.

Originality/value

The key methodological contribution of the paper is the new plan evaluation protocol designed to assess the wildfire, drought and flood mitigation provisions in comprehensive plans.