bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissolution of copper on Sn‐Ag‐Cu system lead free solder
Authors: Izuta Goro , Tanabe Tsuyoshi , Suganuma Katsuaki
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The paper's purpose is to provide a solution to a problem on dissolution and disappearance of copper electrodes in solder bath in lead free soldering on printed circuit board (PCB).

Design/methodology/approach

The influence of the copper concentration, temperature, and flowing velocity of molten solder on the copper dissolution have been estimated, and it has been found that the dissolution rate of copper electrodes in Sn‐3.0Ag‐xCu solder alloys is defined by temperature and copper concentration in solder.

Findings

It was found that increasing the copper concentration to 1.5 mass% in Sn‐3.0Ag‐xCu solder could lower the rate of copper dissolution to the equivalent level as that of the conventional Sn‐Pb eutectic alloy at the temperature of 560 K.

Research implications/implications

In this paper, a dissolution phenomenon has been studied on Sn‐Ag‐Cu system alloys. It is interesting about the effect of other elements for controlling the dissolution.

Practical implications

The method to control the copper electrode dissolution in wave soldering is clarified. The copper dissolution rate for Sn‐3.0Ag‐1.5Cu solder can be lowered to the equivalent level as that of conventional Sn‐Pb eutectic solder, even at 560 K.

Originality/value

In this paper, a dissolution phenomenon has been evaluated by flowing molten solder which is close to one in a practical soldering. It is the most different point from earlier study.
Economizing in differentiated distribution networks: a transvection approach
Authors: Hulthén Kajsa
Published: September 2007

Purpose

To provide a framework for understanding and analyzing economizing in differentiated distribution networks.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual and reviews and develops some of the concepts and ideas provided by Wroe Alderson. The developed framework is then used in combination with some principle empirical examples from the PC industry to illustrate how the framework can be used in order to understand economizing in differentiated distribution networks. The paper also brings forward some methodological concerns regarding the use of the transvection concept in an empirical setting.

Findings

The paper concludes that by using a transvection approach three key concepts with regard to economizing in differentiated distribution networks can be identified; crossing points, sorting, and uniformity. These are interrelated and together they provide insight with respect to the logic of economizing in these kinds of networks.

Originality/value

The paper brings forward some “old” Aldersonian concepts in a “modern” setting and shows how these concepts can be used to understand economizing in differentiated distribution networks. The transvection is reintroduced as a useful concept for analyzing distribution structures, and the author found, in particular, that the concept is highly useful for understanding today's modern distribution arrangements.
Artificial neural network‐based prediction of aesthetic and functional properties of worsted suiting fabrics
Authors: Behera B.K. , Mishra Rajesh
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate an alternative approach that can predict non‐linear relations.

Design/methodology/approach

An engineered approach to fabric development is described in which a radial basis function network is trained with worsted fabric constructional parameters to predict functional and aesthetic properties of fabrics. An objective method of fabric appearance evaluation with the help of digital image processing is introduced. The prediction of fabric properties by the network with changing basic fibre characteristics and fabric constructional parameters is found to have good correlation with the experimental values of fabric functional and aesthetic properties.

Findings

The radial basis function network can successfully predict the fabric functional and aesthetic properties from basic fibre characteristics and fabric constructional parameters with considerable accuracy. The network prediction is in good correlation with the actual experimental data. There is some error in predicting the fabric properties from the constructional parameters. The variation in the actual values and predicted values is because of small sample size. Moreover, the properties of worsted fabrics are greatly influenced by the finishing parameters which are not taken into consideration in the training of the network. Prediction performance can be further improved by including these parameters as input, during the training phase. In few cases, the network has predicted contradictory trends, which are found difficult to be explained.

Originality/value

The paper describes a radial basis function neural network model that can be used for the prediction of the fabric appearance values and comfort properties using fabric constructional parameters and some primary fibre mechanical properties as input parameters of the network.
Assessing insulating fabric performance for extremely cold weather
Authors: Seames Wayne , Ficek Ben , Line William
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the quantification of the thermal conductivities and thermal resistances of 12 insulating fabrics extracted from commercial clothing products under static, simulated sweating, and simulated wind chill conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Triplicate coded (blind test) samples of each fabric were tested in a modified ASTM 1518‐85 test apparatus enclosed in a cold box capable of temperatures as low as −85°C to determine thermal conductivity and thermal resistance. Sweat and wind chill were also simulated and evaluated.

Findings

One fabric, Vaetrex0, was clearly found to be superior under all conditions to the other 11 fabrics tested. The performance of many of the other fabrics varied when exposed to simulated sweat.

Practical implications

An objective evaluation of fabrics that can assist manufacturers in fabric selection for cold weather clothing manufacture.

Originality/value

The paper provides an extension of the ASTM 1518‐85 method to cold conditions and a unique blind comparison test of commercial clothing fabrics under these extreme conditions.
An approach to predicting bra cup dart quantity in the 3D virtual environment
Authors: Ping Wang Jian , Yuan Zhang Wei
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore a method of predicting the amount of personalized bra cup dart in the 3D virtual environment for supporting the made‐to‐measure research of the optimum fitted brassiere pattern design.

Design/methodology/approach

Very useful enhanced FFD (free‐form‐deformation) techniques used in both computer animation and geometric modeling were skillfully transplanted to the female breast model deformation. Meanwhile, on the basis of 3D scan and surface modeling technologies, the realization approach of the abstract female breast model library focusing on the individual variations of shapes and sizes was presented. Then according to the principle of isometric area and flabellate segments, the personalized bra cup dart quantity and its distributive information were provided by 3D‐2D transformation.

Findings

The paper finds that personalized female breast shapes and various aesthetic breast forms sculpted by different bras could be interactively simulated. Accordingly, the amount of corresponding individual bra cup dart and its distributive information were provided. The cup darts were mainly distributed below the bust line. Moreover, dart shapes were curvy.

Research limitations/implications

The principles of virtual breast library construction and 3D‐2D transformation are also suitable for other parts of the human body such as buttocks, abdomen and, etc. for intimate apparel research.

Originality/value

The method of predicting the personalized bra cup dart quantity based on the 3D virtual breast model library was delivered for the first time. The novel findings provided an important guideline for designers to improve the well‐fitted bra pattern design technique. Furthermore, it would reduce the manufacturing cost without keeping physical dummies.
Perceived justice and consumption experience evaluations
Authors: Aurier Philippe , Siadou‐Martin Béatrice
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role of perceived justice in service consumption/purchase experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

In an initial study, using the critical incident method, the authors show that customers are strongly concerned by perceived injustice. Their judgments involve the three components of justice described in organizational and service marketing literature: distributive, procedural and interactional justice. They also identify a macro‐level justice factor which characterizes the perception of collective practices at the industry level. In an experiment applied to the dining experience, the authors manipulate distributive, procedural and interactional justice perception to study their impact on service evaluation (quality, value), satisfaction and relationship quality (trust, commitment).

Findings

Contrary to the satisfaction literature, the authors observe a slight direct effect of justice on satisfaction, but rather indirect impacts through perceived quality (outcome and interaction) and value. Moreover, perception of justice has substantial effects on trust (credibility and benevolence) but not on commitment.

Originality/value

The paper studies the impact of justice in the context of a customer experience evaluation (service delivery) which is not limited to service recovery. It examines the entire evaluation process, including service evaluation (quality, value), satisfaction and relationship quality (trust, commitment).
Changing roles of customers: consequences for HRM
Authors: Graf Albert
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to provide researchers and practitioners with an understanding of the implications and consequences of changes in customer roles and involvement on human resource management (HRM) within a service context.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is conceptual and the approach adopted is analytical. Extant research and concepts have been used to analyse customer roles and customer involvement and their effects on employees. Based on these insights, managerial and research implications are discussed.

Findings

The insights from this study provide conceptual support for including customers as a relevant reference and/or extension of HRM beyond the organisational boundaries. Customers can actually significantly influence the success of a company's HRM.

Research limitations/implications

Analysis of the interrelatedness of customer involvement and HRM is limited to services than encompass emotional and communicative aspects. It is argued that an extension of HRM concepts by considering customers' influence provides great potential for future research opportunities.

Practical implications

The paper discusses the contribution of central HRM functions in increasing the customer orientation of employees and companies, reducing role conflicts and role ambiguity, and creating added value for customers. The aspects described here have the potential to contribute to a more sophisticated understanding of HRM and to increase the added value of the HRM function to the organisation.

Originality/value

To date, HRM and customer roles generally have been investigated separately. The analysis of the interrelatedness of these two worlds is likely to trigger and encourage innovative research designs and alternative methodological approaches to new research problems, leading to the added potential of novel research findings with important implications for practice.
The effectiveness of hospitality service operations: measurement and implementation concerns
Authors: Gomes Carlos F. , Yasin Mahmoud M. , Lisboa João V.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a systematic approach to measuring, tracking, monitoring and continuously improving service efficiency, availability and quality in hospitality operational settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed measure of service operational effectiveness (SOE) consists of three indicators. They include the availability indicator, the quality indicator, and the efficiency indicator.

Findings

The paper finds that the proposed operational performance approach based on the SOE is consistent with the themes of performance measures and measurement reported in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, the proposed service operational effectiveness approach represents a serious attempt at quantifying the key facets of service effectiveness in hospitality operational settings. The validation of this performance assessment and measurement approach is worthy of future research.

Practical implications

The paper sees that the approach advocated by the SOE has operational and strategic relevance to decision‐makers of hospitality organizations. Field interviews with hospitality operating managers in different operating base cultures confirmed this.

Originality/value

This paper presents a practical, systematic approach to the problem of enhancing service operational effectiveness in hospitality organizations. Relevant implementation issues associated with the proposed approach are also addressed. Interviews with operational managers representing different types and sizes of hospitality organizations in different operational cultures were utilized to provide initial validation of the proposed approach and to shed some light on relevant practical implementation issues.
Applying the “cloak of invisibility” technology to security and privacy in the hotel industry
Authors: Goh Carey K.L. , Law Rob
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to bring a new scientific theory into practice in the hotel industry.

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth open‐ended interviews were used with eight hospitality practitioners, consumers, and academic researchers.

Findings

The article lays out current practices of security and privacy measurements in the hospitality industry and points out the related limitations. More importantly, it provides insights to hotel operators on possible future applications of a new scientific invention and how it could help alleviate the limitations found in the existing security and privacy measures.

Practical implications

The paper raises the awareness of a new scientific breakthrough that sheds new lights to security and privacy strategies in hotel operations. Hotels, which are able to react quickly to gain the first‐mover‐advantage in leading the industry on the application of such technology, will certainly gain tremendous publicity, and more importantly will be the first to create a new level of confidence in the market on security and privacy strategies implemented in their daily hotel operations.

Originality/value

This paper communicates a recent scientific development and its possible applications in the hotel industry. In this way, it bridges the gap between a scientific invention and its real‐world application. It is expected to provide insights for hoteliers who are interested in technology applications.
Gender differences within 360‐degree managerial performance appraisals
Authors: Millmore Mike , Biggs David , Morse Laura
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of gender on the performance assessments of managers arising from the 360‐degree scheme operated within the UK headquarters of a large multi‐international financial services organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire approach was used to collect data on 66 managers (33 males and 33 females) against four broad capabilities on the 360‐degree appraisal system. Data were gathered on each of the 66 managers from eight different sources including the individual being appraised, three of their peers, three of their direct reports (subordinates) and their manager (supervisor).

Findings

Performance ratings were either gender neutral or higher for female than for male managers. Within the case company there was no evidence of unfavourable discrimination against female managers, if anything the reverse with female managers showing superior performance compared to their male counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

As with all cross‐sectional research causality cannot be confirmed and difficulties in accessing 360‐degree appraisal information for a large number of managers led to constraints on research methodology.

Practical implications

The implication for human resource management is that the 360‐degree appraisal system did not necessarily fulfil the degree of objectivity claimed by its adherents and that possible adverse influence may be inherent within the 360‐degree rating system of managers particularly.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights into gender differences within 360‐degree managerial performance appraisals.
Managerial women and the work‐home interface: does age of child matter?
Authors: Moore Sarah , Sikora Patricia , Grunberg Leon , Greenberg Edward
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether empirical support exists for two commonly held beliefs about the work‐home interface: women, and particularly managerial women, are prone to “super‐mother” or “super‐manage” in an effort to balance both career and child‐rearing, and these demands diminish markedly when children reach school age.

Design/methodology/approach

Via a survey mailed to their home, 1,103 managerial and non‐managerial men and women completed measures of work‐home and home‐work conflict, work‐related stress and strain, and reported their number of work, domestic, and leisure hours per week.

Findings

Somewhat consistent with the popular beliefs, the authors found that managerial women reported working significantly more in the home; measures of conflict and strain, however, while showing some effect were not impacted to the degree that managerial women's combined number of work and home hours per week might suggest. The authors also found that measures of hours, conflict, and strain did not diminish abruptly when children entered school, due perhaps in part to manager's increased work hours and managerial women's renewed work emphasis when children entered school. Measures of hours, conflict, and strain did show some reduction for parents of teenaged children, although they were still significantly higher than those of nonparents.

Originality/value

Aside from being one of the few empirical papers to examine the impact of child rearing on managerial women, our data show how these demands are not confined to working parents of preschoolers.
Symptom and problem focused coping strategies of business women expatriates and their socio‐cultural adjustment in Hong Kong
Authors: Selmer Jan , Leung Alicia S.M.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore coping strategies of female business expatriates and to examine how these strategies are associated with the women's international adjustment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through mail surveys to western female business expatriates in Hong Kong regarding their coping strategies and adjustment.

Findings

As predicted, the results showed that the female expatriates more often used problem focused than symptom focused coping strategies. Surprisingly, there was no association between problem focused coping strategies and socio‐cultural adjustment. However, as expected, symptom focused coping strategies were negatively related to adjusting in socio‐cultural terms. As presumed, there was no relationship between any of the coping strategies and psychological adjustment.

Research limitations/implications

The special contextual circumstances in Hong Kong could have contributed to the unanticipated findings that there was no association between problem focused coping strategies and any type of adjustment studied. Through cross‐cultural training, female business expatriates could benefit from being informed that applying symptom focused coping strategies may make them less well adjusted to a host location.

Originality/value

Women still represent a relatively untapped source for expatriation and the research on female business expatriates is still inadequate in many respects. An important issue examined by this study is how women cope with the stress of international assignments and how that may affect their international adjustment.
Comply! Resistance is futile
Authors: Lazarides Themistokles
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The goal of the paper is to detect any gaps in the legislator's and practitioner's approaches in information systems design and implementation and to evaluate their impact on an organizational and managerial level.

Design/methodology/approach

Basic information system requirements are presented for compliance with the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act. These requirements are compared with the provisions made by the vendors (like SAP, Microsoft, etc.) to address the issues raised by the legislators and the OECD's corporate governance principles and guidelines to provide a holistic approach to the problem of corporate governance system alignment.

Findings

The questions raised by the author are: did the legislators encapsulate the real essence of the OECD principles and did the ES designers manage to fully cover the letter and the spirit of the law or find a legalist‐normative solution to the problem of compliance (not alignment) with the laws and principles leading to a deviation from the original principles? It is shown that the latter is the case in a number of systems or modules designed to address the issue.

Practical implications

Practitioners, academics and developers‐vendors may alter their perspective of how an information system is placed within the context of the firm.

Originality/value

A new approach in designing information systems is needed in order to comply with the new legal‐regulatory framework and market needs.
Toward viable information security reporting systems
Authors: Olav Sveen Finn , Sarriegi Jose M. , Rich Eliot , Gonzalez Jose J.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

This research paper aims to examine how incident‐reporting systems function and particularly how the steady growth of high‐priority incidents and the semi‐exponential growth of low‐priority incidents affect reporting effectiveness. Social pressures that can affect low‐ and high‐priority incident‐reporting rates are also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors reviewed the incident‐reporting system literature. As there are few studies of information security reporting systems, they also considered safety‐reporting systems. These have been in use for many years and much is known about them. Safety is used to “fill in the gaps”. The authors then constructed a system dynamics computer simulation model. The model is used to test how an incident‐reporting system reacts under different conditions.

Findings

Incident reporters face incentives and disincentives based on effects on through‐put but have limited knowledge of what is important to the organization's security. Even if a successful incident‐reporting policy is developed, the organization may become the victim of its own success, as a growing volume of reports put higher pressure on incident‐handling resources. Continuously hiring personnel is unsustainable. Continuously improving automated tools for incident response promises more leverage.

Research limitations/implications

The challenges in safety may not be the same as those in information security. However, the model does provide a starting‐point for further enquiries into information security reporting systems.

Originality/value

An examination of basic factors that affect information security reporting systems is provided. Four different policies are presented and examined through simulation scenarios.
Availability analysis of a generalized maintainable three‐state device parallel system with human error and common‐cause failures
Authors: Dhillon B.S. , Shah Aashish S.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the combined effect of human error, common‐cause failure, redundancy, and maintenance policies on the performance of a system composed of three‐state devices.

Design/methodology/approach

Generalized expressions for time‐dependent and steady state availability of a generalized maintainable three‐state device parallel system subjected to human errors and common‐cause failures are developed in the paper under two maintenance policies: Type I repair policy (i.e. only the completely failed system is repaired); and Type II repair policy (i.e. both partially and completely failed system is repaired). The Markov method is used to develop general and special case expressions for state probabilities, and system time‐dependent and steady state availabilities.

Findings

In the case of three‐state devices, it is demonstrated that by increasing the number of redundant devices in parallel do not necessarily lead to the improvement in the system availability. In fact, the availability of the system depends significantly on the dominant failure mode of the devices (i.e. short‐mode or open‐mode). When comparing the effect of maintenance policies on the system availability, it is observed that the Type II repair policy does not lead to an improvement in the system availability. Furthermore, it is observed that both human error and common‐cause failure independently lead to lower system availability.

Practical implications

This study will help maintenance engineers and reliability practitioners to become aware of the combined impact of redundancy, human error, common‐cause failure, and maintenance policies on the performance of the three‐state device systems. Consequently, they will make better maintenance related decisions in organizations such as oil refineries and power stations that use three state devices quite extensively.

Originality/value

Most of the past models have independently studied the effects of redundancy, human error, and common‐cause failure on maintainable system made up of three‐state devices. This effort is one of the first attempts to study the combined effects of all these factors in a parallel system composed of three state devices.
Managing vision and the brand within the creative industries
Authors: Powell Shaun , Dodd Chris
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to help answer “To what degree can creative employees be encouraged or motivated to align with a leader's creative vision and what issues may be faced along the way?” The management and communication of vision in relation to the organisational brand within the creative industries can face many unique challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

As much of the existing creativity literature at an organisational level is not empirically based, a rigorous, inductive and exploratory case study approach was employed to explore emergent issues relating to the management and communication of the brand within creative small to medium‐sized organisations. Recent research attempts to uncover the link between organisational creativity and the brand are reviewed. The inductive case study approach undertaken is discussed. This incorporates interviews and thematic analysis with the aid of various qualitative data software packages.

Findings

The inductively generated themes uncover interrelating issues of relevance to owners and managers relating to: vision and alignment; creative growth; creative evaluation and rewards. The themes also help to draw attention to some of the potential barriers to achieving a desired or effective creative brand.

Originality/value

It can be argued that by taking an exploratory and inductive approach, a wide number of potential effects on creativity and the ensuing brand have been identified. Practitioners within the creative industries can potentially benefit from the observations because they are empirically based rather than being purely theoretical, and focus on both employees and clients. These also appear to go beyond the themes identified within previous studies within these same creative industry sectors. The investigation and reflections may act as a useful starting‐point for further research into the formation and management of a creative brand.
Winning the information wars
Authors: Kennedy Anthony
Published: September 2007

Purpose

Recognising that financially related, personal information is the raw material of successful asset recovery investigations, the paper aims to examine the mechanisms which investigators may use to gather such information and the legal barriers to information gathering.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the author's own practical experience of involvement in criminal asset recovery proceedings in the UK.

Findings

It is the State's obligation to deliver criminal asset recovery in the most efficient and cost‐effective way, consistent with privacy rights and obligations, providing value for money in what is delivered by law enforcement. Doing so will require making better use of financial information held by public sector agencies. There must be no form of financial information which is beyond the reach of an investigator in an appropriate case. If there is, criminals will utilize that weakness to place criminal assets where information in respect of those assets cannot be obtained. If asset recovery is to be successful, it is essential that – to use the metaphor of financial information as “dots” – investigators are able to collect the dots, connect the dots and share the dots.

Practical implications

The paper identifies: the need to keep the legal tools used to obtain information under regular review; eight core information skills which investigators must develop for effective asset recovery; and the importance of a multi‐disciplinary approach in analysing financial information.

Originality/value

The paper explores UK criminal asset recovery from an informational perspective.
Countering cross‐border VAT fraud: the Bulgarian experience
Authors: Pashev Konstantin V.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The paper sets out to study value added tax's (VAT's) exposure to missing‐trader or carousel fraud and possible countermeasures, their costs and benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

It studies the modus operandi of network fraud by distinguishing it from individual evasion. Drawing on the experience of Bulgaria, it discusses the costs and benefits of the principle of joint liability and of the VAT account, the latter being tried so far only in Bulgaria.

Findings

The study concludes that the possible solutions are in the field of optimizing risk management and the application of the principle of joint liability rather than through tighter controls at entry and on the conduct of business.

Originality/value

Confronted with the drastic increase of carousel fraud, the European Commission identified the urgent need of a coherent strategy to combat it. Yet, neither the literature nor the practices of tax and law enforcement have addressed the threat adequately. Tax evasion literature is focused on the drivers and deterrents of individual evasion, while studies of VAT network crime rarely consider the preventive instruments' extra compliance costs for taxpayers. In this context, Bulgaria's unique experience with the VAT account provides useful insights to policy makers about its limitations and the application of the joint liability principle.
Monetary policy rules in transition economies: the impact of ambiguity
Authors: Ghatak Subrata , Spanjers Willy
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential benefits of monetary policy rules for transition economies (TEs).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses monetary policy rules, inflation targeting, political risk and ambiguity and monetary policy and ambiguity.

Findings

It is argued that the nominal interest rate may fail to be the appropriate instrument in such rules. One reason is the amount of non‐calculable political and economic risk inherent in TEs. These risks lead to a significant and volatile‐ambiguity premium in the interest rate over and above the normal risk premium, which makes the real equilibrium interest rate difficult to measure. Furthermore, ambiguity of the public regarding the monetary policy leads to an ambiguity premium on inflation.

Originality/value

The paper advocates a simple monetary policy rule based on a monetary aggregate like the money base minimizes the impact of ambiguity. It may therefore be the appropriate monetary policy for TEs.
Transferability of approaches to sustainable development at universities as a challenge
Authors: Adomssent Maik , Godemann Jasmin , Michelsen Gerd
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the particular character of the research and development project “Sustainable University – Sustainable development in the Context of University Remits” which lies both in its integrative perspective on universities and the attempt to transfer its findings onto other higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the testing and further development of transdisciplinary research methods (transformative approach, scenario development) for the purpose of both exploring and testing potentials/capabilities for sustainable development of a single institution (case study: University of Lüneburg, Germany) against the backdrop of sustainability concept; and making this kind of development transferable to other universities. The paper offers additional reinforcement of strategic scope/effectiveness by means of reference to findings of higher education research (e.g. relevance of neo‐institutionalism)

Findings

There is empirical evidence for successful development of transdisciplinary techniques for sustainability in higher education domains (among others management, research, and teaching – cf. other contributions of this issue). Further, dissemination of the “Lüneburg Approach” by establishing an intermediate level of collaboration between sustainability activists within universities and in higher education policy and administration (e.g. constitution of working groups in northern Germany and at the federal level)

Research limitations/implications

There is a need for enhancing research tools for transdisciplinary sustainability science; deliberating on international transferability (current focus: (solely) German academia)

Practical implication

A systemic approach is indispensable: instead of focusing upon isolated sustainability fields of action” (management, research, teaching, etc.), all‐embracing advancement to encompass their strategic relationships and thus synergies.

Originality/value

The paper provides a holistic view of academic organisations addressing the issue of how universities are to be proactive in advancing sustainable development.
Do sustainability projects stimulate organizational learning in universities?
Authors: Albrecht Patrick , Burandt Simon , Schaltegger Stefan
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the preparation of a sustainability report and a large‐scale energy‐saving campaign with regards to their role for organizational learning (OL). Similar processes indicating OL were observed during the implementation of both projects. Along the lines of a theoretical framework of OL these processes will be discussed. Potential of institutional transformation regarding sustainable development is indicated.

Design/methodology/approach

Following calls for “unified theory” on OL which can be used for empirical research, an integrative perspective has been proposed. Based on this perspective, two projects are discussed with respect to five dimensions in the process of OL: actors and media as communicative characteristics and triggers, factors as well as results as information processing characteristics.

Findings

The results show the driving role of making data available to the public (transparency as incentive for organizational change) and the need to change structures for cross‐linking information. Furthermore, benefits of creating new networks of actors for reflecting current structures and developing visions for future change are outlined.

Practical implications

Possibilities for transferring the project designs and experiences to other institutions are shown. Need for further research on the mechanisms of OL for promoting structural change toward a stronger role of sustainability in higher education is indicated.

Originality/value

The perspective of OL for sustainability reporting and energy saving offers new perspectives for internal change processes triggered by sustainability related projects. Promising research opportunities on triggers and drivers of such processes evolve.
Developing key competencies for sustainable development in higher education
Authors: Barth Matthias , Godemann Jasmin , Rieckmann Marco , Stoltenberg Ute
Published: September 2007

Purpose

To date, little attention has been given to the circumstances in which the process of developing key competencies for sustainable development may take place. The purpose of this paper is to consider, the possibilities both of formal and informal learning and their relationship to competence development within higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

An explorative, qualitative study based on focus groups was designed using different groups from formal and informal learning settings.

Findings

The development of key competencies is based both on cognitive and non‐cognitive dispositions and asks for multiple contexts. Through combining formal and informal learning settings within higher education – as part of a new learning culture – a variety of contexts can be given and competence development can be enhanced.

Research limitations/implications

While aspects of both formal and informal learning settings could be identified, the interdependencies between them remain elusive.

Practical implications

Based on the findings, some main aspects for acquiring competencies can be pointed out that may be crucial in higher education settings.

Originality/value

The paper analyses the implications for both formal and informal learning settings of new ways of developing key competencies within higher education. Particular attention is given to interdisciplinarity and students' self‐responsibility.
Managing sustainability communication on campus: experiences from Lüneburg
Authors: Franz‐Balsen Angela , Heinrichs Harald
Published: September 2007

Purpose

Sustainability communication is evolving as a new interdisciplinary field of research and professional practice. The purpose of this paper is to point out the advantage of applying theoretical frameworks and related research instruments for an adequate sustainability communication management on campus. It also aims to highlight the normative constraints and challenges (participation) that differentiate sustainability communication from public relations.

Design/methodology/approach

An interdisciplinary theoretical framework and empirical studies (quantitative/qualitative; audience research) were used for the design of a context‐sensitive sustainability communication management concept for the University of Lüneburg‐

Findings

Empirical data clearly showed that disciplinary cultures (including their gender specificity) are highly relevant for sustainability attitudes. Continuous visibility of sustainability efforts on campus is critical for people's attitudes and engagement. Campus community members can be characterized by degrees of “sustainability affinity” vs “sustainability distance”. Too much sustainability‐campaigning is counterproductive, whereas listening to campus community members' ideas and needs seems appropriate.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need for qualitative data to assess “communication culture”

Practical implications

A balanced theoretically, empirically and normatively grounded communication management is recommended in order to establish a participatory communication culture.

Originality/value

The application of sustainability communication theory, including participation research, in the context of higher education for sustainable development is overdue; thesis: sustainability communication wants to initiate structural changes on campus, but is itself dependent on visible structural change in order to be effective.
Planning and implementation of effective collaboration in construction projects
Authors: Shelbourn M. , Bouchlaghem N.M. , Anumba C. , Carrillo P.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The twenty‐first century is now seen as the time for the construction industry to embrace new ways of working if it is to continue to be competitive and meet the needs of its ever demanding clients. Collaborative working is considered by many to be essential if design and construction teams are to consider the whole lifecycle of the construction process. Much of the recent work undertaken on collaborative working has focused on the delivery of technological solutions with a focus on web (extranets), CAD (visualisation), and knowledge management technologies. However, it is now recognised that good collaboration does not result from the implementation of information technology solutions alone, the organisational and people issues, which are not readily solved by pure technical systems, need also to be resolved. This paper aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Work discussed in this paper brings together the benefits provided by technology, with organisational issues, and people issues, in developing a framework to implement effective collaboration. The research uses a literature search, semi‐structured interviews and a questionnaire to gain the industry's requirements for effective collaboration in the construction sector. From these requirements a develop‐test‐refine approach was taken to develop the methodology for effective collaborative working for construction.

Findings

The findings reported in this paper are a summary of the results from the semi‐structured interviews and questionnaire used to gain the industry's requirements. They show that a focus on the “softer” issues (business process and an organisations' people) rather than a technology focus is needed to plan and implement collaborative working more effectively in projects. An initial approach is discussed in this paper concerning a structured approach to be developed further in the research to highlight to the industry the issues associated with the planning and implementation of effective collaborative working in projects.

Originality/value

This paper uses a socio‐technical approach to the planning and implementation of effective collaborative working in construction. It combines technology with the people and business aspects of collaborative working to provide an approach which can enable stakeholders in a project to benefit fully from having a collaborative working approach to their projects.
The appropriateness of built environment tertiary education
Authors: Manthe Mark , Smallwood John
Published: September 2007

Purpose

Construction is a complex process which requires the co‐ordination of and co‐operation between stakeholders. Most construction projects require the skills and services of various built environment disciplines and the effective integration of these skills determines the success of the project. However, built environment students continue to receive discipline‐based education. Construction shapes the built environment; therefore knowledge and understanding, to varying degrees of depth and complexity, of an array of subject areas are one required to suitably equip entrants into the built environment arena. Furthermore, the outdated education system is challenged by academics, built environment practitioners, and media reports. The purpose of this study is to question the suitability of built environment tertiary education in terms of current trends, technologies and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire developed from literature related to the diverse content, appropriateness, empowering effect, and delivery methods of built environment education, was used to survey built environment academics and postgraduate students. The questionnaire also aimed at determining the interconnectedness and cohesion between the five disciplines of architecture, quantity surveying, civil engineering, project management, and construction management.

Findings

There is a perceived need for both university of technology and university programmes, built environment tertiary education is relatively diverse in terms of content, there is a perceived need for a common first year and common subjects at other levels, and there is a trend towards perpetuation of traditional technologies, practices and systems within built environment education.

Originality/value

Certain subject areas should form an integral part of all built environment tertiary education programmes, in particular construction science and technology, management theory, information technology, and project management. This conclusion and the percentage responses relative to other subjects highlight the inadequacy of architecture and, to a lesser extent, civil engineering tertiary education.
Antecedents and benefits of 3D and 4D modelling for construction planners
Authors: Khatib J.M. , Chileshe N. , Sloan S.
Published: September 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the antecedents and benefits of 3D and 4D modelling as a construction planning tool in the construction process, and examine why it is not being implemented throughout the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of the literature, questionnaire survey, and a case study including interviews and observations were used to conduct the study. The findings are investigated using appropriate statistical tests.

Findings

This study shows that using 4D modelling will benefit the industry once the lack of confidence amongst contractors, design teams and clients has been overcome. Eventually design teams will provide 3D models, but in the interim contractors wishing to receive the benefits of this technology are using modellers to produce these 3D models which planners can then manipulate to display their construction schedule as a 4D model. Attitude, lack of continuity of similar work, and lack of knowledge rather than cost of producing 4D models are identified as the main barriers impacting on the deployment of this technology among the construction planners. The preferred mode of communicating 3D and 4D awareness was via presentation, whereas the least ranked was through articles.

Research limitations/implications

The cross‐sectional data would make it difficult to generalise the findings.

Practical implications

This technology will provide many benefits to the planning role, resulting in a much more thoroughly planned project which will in turn improve health and safety, shorten contract periods, improve quality and reduce costs. Furthermore, the results have provided a new series of issues and concepts that can help to develop the technology further.

Originality/value

The paper explains how this technology can benefit the planning role. The deployment of the technology results in costs reduction during the construction period and impacts on the securing of future work. The paper stresses that the planner should be involved in the process of adding the 4D modelling to a 3D model.