bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A programme of testing to evaluate a passive approach to whole‐house ventilation
Authors: McEvoy Mike , Southall Ryan
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a programme of research into an innovative approach to whole‐house ventilation with heat reclaim. In order to save energy, houses are now required to be constructed to a high level of air tightness. This poses potential problems of indoor air quality, condensation and mould growth, with implications for human health. Adequate and controlled ventilation is a necessity, and in Europe the adoption of mechanical systems incorporating heat reclaim has become the preferred technology. The relatively mild climate of the UK undermines the efficiency of these fan‐driven solutions. The programme of research has been to test the viability of an engineered system of natural ventilation for use in temperate regions.

Design/methodology/approach

The system works by the combination of “supply air” windows and passive stacks. The windows have an air path for incoming ventilation that passes between panes of glass, the pressure drop across the windows to induce the air flow through them is provided by the passive stacks in kitchens and bathrooms. Passive stacks are an alternative to the use of extract fans; they have been included in the building regulations since their efficacy was proven by research carried out at the Building Research Establishment in the 1980s. “Supply air” windows are manufactured in Finland, and have also been researched in Canada. The research described in this paper is the first to combine “supply air” windows and passive stacks to form a system that is completely natural and operates without the use of electricity. It has been carried out over the course of a number of projects. Beginning with laboratory studies that established the design dimensions for the windows, followed by test cell measurements, and then installation in real buildings monitored, both empty and occupied. Each stage was validated in relation to simulation models.

Findings

It was demonstrated that window U‐values of down to 0.6 W/m2/°C can be achieved. It has been demonstrated in real building applications that a reduction in overall household heating consumption of 20 per cent is attained in dwellings where the system has been installed. User approval, which was the focus of the later projects carried out in Norwich, has also been high.

Originality/value

The windows have no special installation requirements and passive stacks are a catalogue component. The windows are designed as two separate sashes that are locked together by catches that can be undone to clean the space between the panes. The system is an alternative to mechanical ventilation heat reclaim systems, it is a simple low maintenance, low‐cost method that offers good indoor air quality as well as energy advantages, which has been shown to be particularly suited to the typical winter climate conditions in the UK.
Understanding construction competitiveness: the contribution of system dynamics
Authors: Dangerfield Brian , Green Stuart , Austin Simon
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Construction sector competitiveness has been a subject of interest for many years. Research too often focuses on the means of overcoming the “barriers to change” as if such barriers were static entities. There has been little attempt to understand the dynamic inter‐relationship between the differing factors which impinge upon construction sector competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to outline the benefits of taking a systems approach to construction competitiveness research.

Design/methodology/approach

The system dynamics (SD) modelling methodology is described. This can provide practitioners with “microworlds” within which they can explore the dynamic effects of different policy decisions. The data underpinning the use of SD was provided by interviews and case study research which allowed an understanding of the context within which practitioners operate.

Findings

The over‐riding conclusion is that the SD methodology has been shown to be capable of providing a means to assess the forces which shape the sustained competitiveness of construction firms. As such, it takes the assessment of strategic policy analysis in the construction sector onto a higher plane. The need to collect data and make retrospective assessments of competitiveness and strategic performance at the statistical level is not now the only modus operandi available.

Originality/value

The paper describes a novel research methodology which points towards an alternative research agenda for construction competitiveness research.
Reducing earthquake risk to non‐engineered buildings in Indonesia
Authors: Winarno Setya , Griffith Alan , Stephenson Paul
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential for reducing earthquake risk to non‐engineered buildings. “Non‐engineered” buildings are, in simple terms, arbitrarily designed and inadequately built structures. Such buildings are indigenous and widespread within Indonesia, and are particularly susceptible to damage and destruction from earthquake events. A range of technical and social elements are significant to reducing earthquake risk to this building type and need to be appreciated within the context of current regulatory, design, and construction practices in Indonesia. A greater awareness for, and better understanding of, both the technical and human elements which impact on the planning, design, and construction of non‐engineered buildings will enable more effective earthquake risk reduction measures to be implemented within building practices throughout Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

Research used a triangulated approach collating qualitative and quantitative data acquired by multiple collection methods of a questionnaire survey, structured and semi‐structured interviews, case studies, and professional practice and local‐community workshops. Quantitative data were collated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to provide inferential ranking and correlation of responses. Qualitative data were processed using NVivo software to code prominent patterns in the views and opinions of the respondents.

Findings

The findings highlight the following: the reasons why earthquake‐related building codes are not applied more readily to non‐engineered buildings; elements of practice where problems occur and where change could improve the use of building codes in their application to non‐engineered buildings; actions for change to improve planning regulation, design, and construction of non‐engineered buildings; and practical and effective methods of disseminating the research to industry, academic, and community stakeholders.

Originality/value

The application of the research findings is unquestionably significant and valuable to Indonesia as any measures which can reduce earthquake risk have: the potential to improve the quality and sustainability of buildings; the ability to enhance the protection of property; and the real capability to save lives. Moreover, knowledge and capabilities developed there are highly relevant to earthquake‐vulnerable zones within the wider Asia‐Pacific region.
UK construction industry site health and safety management
Authors: Rawlinson Fred , Farrell Peter
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine and evaluate current directions in construction site health and safety management by examination of large UK industry contractors' web sites, revealing the motivators that are potentially informing and driving these directions.

Design/methodology/approach

A desk study approach examined 20 large UK contractor web sites. Subsequent hermeneutic content analysis established current industry direction, enabled comparison to comparable government and academic directions, and also revealed potential motivators and influences behind recent innovations.

Findings

Large UK contractors have readily adopted corporate social responsibility and placed health and safety under this remit. Industry direction correlates with current government approaches, however academia appears to influence industry through government, rather than direct conduits. Bespoke safety management programmes have been a key innovation, but the influence of marketing was clear and may have led to focus on easily promotable goals, rather than the processes and methods needed to achieve them.

Practical implications

Marketing may overtake practicality in the direction of health and safety management on construction sites; industry innovation focused on the promotable rather than the practical, could stagnate. The lack of direct influence of academia on industry direction indicates a requirement for relationships to be better established in order to inspire continuous improvement.

Originality/value

A holistic review of large industry contractor approaches to site health and safety management has not previously been undertaken. Neither has the use of promotional web‐based data been examined; thereby providing a unique insight into the direction of current efforts within industry.
The art of the entrepreneurial marketer
Authors: Fillis Ian
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The focus of this paper is the interrogation of an artistic approach with the purpose of understanding entrepreneurial marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper although the evaluation is grounded in prior quantitative and qualitative research in entrepreneurial marketing, creativity and art.

Findings

An artistic approach to understanding entrepreneurial marketing matches the way in which the owner/manager behaves in practice by constructing a personalised approach to doing marketing.

Research limitations/implications

The paper calls for more creative ways of understanding entrepreneurial marketing. This involves more experimentation in research methodology. The experimental approach also mirrors entrepreneurial marketing practice.

Practical implications

The outcomes address existing theory versus practice gaps so that a more meaningful understanding of entrepreneurial marketing practice can be obtained through the re‐imagining of the entrepreneurial marketer as an artist.

Originality/value

This is an under‐utilised approach to understanding entrepreneurial marketing. The approach matches the wider calls for artistic methods in the wider management academy.
Strategic orientation of niche firms
Authors: Toften Kjell , Hammervoll Trond
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to better understand how strategic orientation guides the marketing strategy and marketing efforts of niche firms, by addressing the questions of which strategic orientation niche firms apply and how managers in niche firms handle the potential problems associated with different strategic orientations. Based on these findings, managerial implications are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research in terms of in‐depth interviews of key informants in six niche firms in the seafood and wine industries.

Findings

The niche firms appear to be product oriented and customer oriented at the same time. They overcome the potential problems related to the respective strategic orientations by focusing on their product‐related strengths, while benefiting from their close and few customer relationships.

Practical implications

Managers in niche firms should focus on high‐quality products, specific product concepts and the continuous improvement of these. In addition, they should initiate and develop close and long‐term relationships with a few trusted business customers.

Originality/value

This research paper is one among very few papers that present findings related to niche firms and their choice of marketing strategy. This paper of strategic orientation can contribute to a better understanding of how niche firms prioritize, allocate resources and choose strategies.
Opportunity entrepreneurship in the rural sector: evidence from Greece
Authors: Zampetakis Leonidas A. , Kanelakis George
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Although previous research acknowledges that the process of entrepreneurship is also a regional and a peripheral activity, empirical evidence concerning the personal and contextual factors affecting business start‐ups due to the identification of opportunities in rural contexts is limited. The purpose of the present research is to verify whether prior entrepreneurship theories conducted in urban contexts are useful for predicting entrepreneurial activities in rural contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

A short, self‐report questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 81 business owners located at a small town in southern Crete, Greece. Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis and logistic regression analysis were the main analytical tools used.

Findings

Results suggest that entrepreneurs' personality, prior knowledge, expectation of future social status, and level of education are significant predictors of opportunity entrepreneurship.

Research limitations/implications

The reported research relied on self‐reports and on a sample from the Greek public sector. Moreover, data are cross‐sectional. Future research should be multinational and longitudinal to test the assumptions of the present study.

Originality/value

The present study provides evidence about the utility of existing opportunity entrepreneurship theories in rural contexts. Results could be of value to policy makers focusing on the development of small businesses and entrepreneurship and the promotion of entrepreneurial and innovative capabilities in rural contexts.
Entrepreneurial marketing and the Web 2.0 interface
Authors: Jones Brian
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to analyse the relationship between marketing and entrepreneurship. It looks at the way in which Web 2.0 technologies are changing the marketing and entrepreneurial landscapes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the impact of Web 2.0 social media for entrepreneurial marketing. It looks at social media as a marketing tool and considers the positive and negative effects it has for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Findings

Web 2.0 plays a central part in the functioning and delivery of marketing and entrepreneurship. It empowers individual consumers and provides additional communication channels for comment, feedback, and involvement in shaping product and service development and experience. It is also a tool for human empowerment, liberation and advancing the cause of freedom, including the freedom to start a business.

Originality/value

The paper discusses issues of “real‐world” relevance, which entrepreneurs, small business owners and marketing practitioners can use to inform and develop their practice. It argues that Web 2.0 can be used to liberate and further emancipate consumers and further the cause of entrepreneurship.
York's Best Ice Cream Company: building a regional brand
Authors: Woodall Jefrey R. , Azriel Jay A. , Patnode Gerald
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study about a young entrepreneur who is attempting to build a regional ice cream empire, similar to that of the Good Humor Company in the twentieth century.

Design/methodology/approach

The case was developed through interviews with the owner, and through secondary research articles on this and related topics.

Findings

The case describes the start‐up of York's Best Ice Cream, and the challenges encountered by a young entrepreneur, who is still building business knowledge and financial credibility. After several years, Devon, the owner, has choices to make about if and how to continue the growth of this company.

Originality/value

The case is well suited for use in undergraduate or graduate courses in entrepreneurship, new venture creation, new venture management, entrepreneurial marketing, or marketing courses such as brand development and management.
Corneal foreign body management in an A&E department
Authors: Feizerfan A. , Winchester S. , Maryosh J. , Liyanage S.E.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The aim of this audit was to assess the effect of guidelines on the management of corneal foreign bodies by accident & emergency staff.

Design/methodology/approach

A prospective case note review was performed to assess local practice in the management of corneal foreign bodies. Changes in practice included the production of a guideline using locally‐agreed standards. The audit loop was continued by a further prospective case note review.

Findings

A total of 101 records were audited over a two‐month period. Prior to changes in practice, the department performed well in two criteria. Introduction of the guideline resulted in improvement in the majority of criteria.

Originality/value

Corneal foreign bodies commonly present to accident and emergency departments. Inadequate experience and training may lead to reduced clinical outcomes, with unnecessary referral or follow‐up. This audit highlights the difficulties in providing good clinical care in the management of CFBs and shows its effectiveness as a tool for improving clinical practice.
Designing public web information systems with quality in mind
Authors: Birnbaum David , Jeanne Cummings M. , Guyton Kara M. , Schlotter James W. , Kushniruk André
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to describe evolution of a new public information web site, through evaluation‐refinement prototyping cycles.

Design/methodology/approach

An expanding range of participants is being engaged in formal evaluations as the site design evolves. The Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level Score is applied to assess ease of reading in the wording used; the National Quality Forum guideline statements are applied to determine whether the prototyping design process is meeting performance expectations; and then Nielsen's heuristics are applied to evaluate ease of use of the latest prototype.

Findings

The page wordings started at a high reading grade level to be technically correct, with a strategy to progressively reduce levels without losing meaning. Reading level was reduced to an average of two and as much as six grades through editing between the third and fourth‐generation prototypes. None of the National Quality Forum principles were found missing from the development process. The prototype web site was ranked at the middle compared to official public web sites of seven other States' healthcare‐associated infection programs, some of which had been open to the public for more than a year. Many of the heuristic violations that weighed against the prototype were described as being minor and easily fixed. Collaboration between a State health department and a university to advance this evaluation‐refinement process was valuable to both parties, enhancing the ability to produce a new public information web site that is more likely to meet the needs of its intended audience.

Practical implications

In response to increasing expectations of transparency and accountability, a growing number of public web sites are displaying hospital performance data. Washington State's mandatory public reporting of healthcare‐associated infection rates is a recent example of this trend. The Department of Health is required by law to launch a public information web site by December 2009. The research was based on an evidence‐based approach to understand and meet the information needs of the public.

Originality/value

Although few studies have evaluated the usage and impact of hospital comparison web sites, these studies uniformly show relatively low usage and disappointing impact. Using the research literature, issues thought to account for poor usage and low impact, and developed design principles that address this poor past performance were identified. Throughout 2008 and 2009, successive prototypes were developed for the web site structure guided by those principles and refined each generation of prototype through focus group evaluations. This paper explains the approach, and summarizes results from the evaluations, leading to improvements before the final design first opens to the general public.
The implications of the introduction of a dedicated plastic surgery trauma list on waiting times and NHS spending
Authors: Exton Rebecca , Schreuder Fred
Published: October 2010

Purpose

NCEPOD (1990) states that we must ensure that all emergency patients have prompt access to theatres, critical care facilities, and appropriately trained staff 24 hours/day, every day of the year. Hospitals providing emergency services must provide a dedicated emergency theatre. Our previous study highlighted potential savings and reduced waiting times, leading to the introduction of a dedicated weekly half‐day list. This purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the extra list on both waiting times and spending.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on a prospective audit of emergency surgery (Lister Hospital, Stevenage) from October‐December 2006. Delay times from booking time to time of operation were calculated. This was assessed based on a standard of a day surgery unit, where the ideal maximum is a half‐day wait. Findings were compared with data prior to the introduction of a dedicated list.

Findings

There were 186 operations performed. The mean wait for surgery was 0.7 days/patient, compared with 1.3 days/patient prior to the dedicated list. Assuming that the ideal waiting time is a maximum of half a day, 55 per cent of patients achieved this, compared with 22 per cent prior to the introduction of the list.

Originality/value

The introduction of a dedicated day surgery plastic surgery trauma list led to a significant reduction in patient wait time. The dedicated list also achieved a potential reduction of 900‐bed days/annum, thus saving £180,000/annum for the trust.
Delays to appendicectomy within a split‐site hospital
Authors: Ward Stephen Thomas , Strong Sean , Goodchild Rachael Louise , Zafar Zaidi Ahsan
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Patients undergoing emergency appendicectomy incur various delays from the time of symptom onset to the time of discharge from hospital. The centralisation of hospital services over recent years has resulted in some patients who attend hospital as an emergency requiring transfer to a different site. An additional delay by way of transfer is thus incurred. The aim of this study was to test for association between various characterised delays with disease and patient outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data were used to identify all patients admitted over a one‐year period undergoing appendicectomy. Demographic and time data were extracted from hospital databases and case notes.

Findings

A total of 247 patients were identified from HES data; 25 per cent of patients presented to hospital E necessitating transfer to hospital H. There was no evidence of an association between patient delays, surgeon delays or theatre delays with advanced pathology and complicated appendicitis was not associated with a longer post‐operative hospital stay. The delay to be seen by the surgeons was significantly longer if transferred from one hospital to another, but this did not contribute to a significant difference between the overall delay from admission to operation, overall length of stay or advanced pathology.

Originality/value

The individual delays along the clinical pathway in a patient presenting to hospital with acute appendicitis have been characterised. Patients with acute appendicitis can be safely assessed at one hospital‐site and transferred to another with emergency surgery provision without affecting the delay to operation.
Exploiting grid computing, desktop grids and cloud computing for e‐science
Authors: Mustafee Navonil
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine three different, but related, distributed computing technologies in the context of public‐funded e‐science research, and to present the author's viewpoint on future directions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a critical look at the state‐of‐the‐art with regard to three enabling technologies for e‐science. It forms a set of arguments to support views on the evolution of these technologies in support of the e‐science applications of the future.

Findings

Although grid computing has been embraced in public‐funded higher education institutions and research centres as an enabler for projects pertaining to e‐science, the adoption of desktop grids is low. With the advent of cloud computing and its promise of on‐demand provisioning of computing resources, it is expected that the conventional form of grid computing will gradually move towards cloud‐based computing. However, cloud computing also brings with it the “pay‐per‐use” economic model, and this may act as stimulus for organisations engaged in e‐science to harvest existing underutilised computation capacity through the deployment of organisation‐wide desktop grid infrastructures. Conventional grid computing will continue to support future e‐science applications, although its growth may remain stagnant.

Originality/value

The paper argues that there will be a gradual shift in the underlying distributed computing technologies that support e‐science applications of the future. While cloud computing and desktop grid computing will gain in prominence, the growth of traditional cluster‐based grid computing may remain dormant.
Exploring the importance of citizen participation and involvement in e‐government projects
Authors: Axelsson Karin , Melin Ulf , Lindgren Ida
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate if, and in that case, how and what the e‐government field can learn from user participation concepts and theories in general information systems (IS) research. It aims to contribute with further understanding of the importance of citizen participation and involvement within the e‐government research body of knowledge and when developing public e‐services in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis in the paper is made from a comparative, qualitative case study of two e‐government projects. Three analysis themes are induced from the literature review; practice of participation, incentives for participation, and organization of participation. These themes are guiding the comparative analysis of our data with a concurrent openness to interpretations from the field.

Findings

The main results in this paper are that the e‐government field can get inspiration and learn from methods and approaches in traditional IS projects concerning user participation, but in e‐government, methods are also needed to handle the challenges that arise when designing public e‐services for large, heterogeneous user groups. Citizen engagement cannot be seen as a separate challenge in e‐government, but rather as an integrated part of the process of organizing, managing, and performing e‐government projects. Analysis themes of participation generated from literature; practice, incentives and organization can be used in order to highlight, analyze, and discuss main issues regarding the challenges of citizen participation within e‐government. This is an important implication based on this paper that contributes both to theory on and practice of e‐government.

Practical implications

Lessons to learn from this paper concern that many e‐government projects have a public e‐service as one outcome and an internal e‐administration system as another outcome. A dominating internal, agency perspective in such projects might imply that citizens as the user group of the e‐service are only seen as passive receivers of the outcome – not as active participants in the development. By applying the analysis themes, proposed in this paper, citizens as active participants can be thoroughly discussed when initiating (or evaluating) an e‐government project.

Originality/value

The paper addresses challenges regarding citizen participation in e‐government development projects. User participation is well researched within the IS discipline, but the e‐government setting implies new challenges that are not explored enough.
“Monotonized administrators” and “personalized bureaucrats” in the everyday practice of e‐government
Authors: Giritli Nygren Katarina
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse everyday practices in e‐government from a labour perspective in order to understand how administrative rationalization and citizen service become connected in the organizational restructuring of the labour process, namely job codification and specification and rule observation.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis applies an organizational e‐government implementation perspective and labour process theory to an analysis of a Swedish municipality's implementation of e‐government, using both qualitative and quantitative data.

Findings

The main finding is the formulation of two distinct types of ideal employee – “monotonized administrators” and “personalized bureaucrats” – who carry e‐government work in different directions according to administrative rationalization and the service offered citizens.

Originality/value

The paper extends our knowledge of everyday practices in e‐government from a labour perspective. It offers practitioners as well as researchers new insights by analysing the transformation of practice as an ongoing process, characterized by micro‐political translation processes amongst actors, actions, and meanings in both rhetoric and practice.
Value of people's participation for good governance in developing countries
Authors: Waheduzzaman
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The objective of this research is to find out the barriers to people's participation for good governance in developing countries. The specific objective is to explore the attitude of stakeholders responsible for ensuring people's engagement with local development programs.

Design/methodology/approach

Two rural development projects in each of three local government institutions in Bangladesh were selected for this research study. Qualitative methods were used to investigate how actors related to these projects valued people's participation while implementing and using outcomes of these projects.

Findings

The findings showed that the meaning of the notion of good governance through effective people's participation that has been imported from the developed democratic economies through international aid agencies remains somewhat unclear and ambiguous in a country such as Bangladesh.

Practical implications

This study has revealed that one of the major barriers to people's participation in local government affairs is the traditional attitude of related stakeholders. This study thus, unlocked the practical knowledge about making people's participation effective in implementing development programs, specifically in the developing countries.

Originality/value

This paper offers originality and new insight into the participatory governance in developing countries.
Landmines and international business community: a political ecology perspective
Authors: Singh Satyendra
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The two decades of civil war have left Angola plagued with about ten millions landmines, causing destructions to human conditions and communities. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to create awareness of the landmine‐related problems among the business community and propose strategies to tackle them.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the theory of political ecology – an approach that represents an ever‐changing dynamic tension between ecology and human change, and between diverse communities within society – this paper analyzes the political environment that led to the plantation of landmines and examines how the collective action of governments, nongovernmental organizations and businesses communities can create awareness, rehabilitate victims and support new technologies.

Findings

The findings suggest the following strategies to business communities to alleviate the problem of landmines: create landmine awareness in society and the business community; provide economic assistance to landmine victims for rehabilitation; and donate landmine excavators.

Practical implications

The practical implications for managers are that they can implement the strategies to improve the prevailing human conditions of the communities in Angola.

Originality/value

This study originally contributes in that it highlights the problems associated with landmines and brings them to the attention of international business community and proposes a three‐pronged strategy to deal with them.
Fish traders in artisanal fisheries on the Kenyan coast
Authors: Allan Degen A. , Hoorweg Jan , Wangila Barasa C.C.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Marine fisheries are one of the few economic activities present everywhere along the Kenyan coastline. The local population is involved mainly in artisanal fishing which uses small non‐motorized fishing crafts that stay close to shore. Some of the catch is destined for local consumption but most is for sale. The purpose of this paper is to question whether fish traders in artisanal fisheries along the Kenyan coast earn enough money from only fish trading to support a household.

Design/methodology/approach

Fish traders were surveyed at two landing sites at each of five coastal tracts. Structured questionnaires, informal interviews and participatory observations were used in collecting data.

Findings

Average income for the fish traders from only fish trading was Ksh 1,268 per week; only 20.3 percent of the households was at or above the poverty line. However, there was a large difference between male and female traders in earning. Men earned Ksh 1,693 per week and women Ksh 795 per week. The poverty line for households was reached by 30.8 percent of the male traders but only by 8.8 percent of the female traders.

Originality/value

Livelihood diversification could greatly help improve the income. It was estimated that when earnings other than from fish trading (from the traders or someone else in the household) were added to that of fish trading, 27.4 percent of the households was at or above the poverty line. For men traders, it was 54 percent of the households but for women it was only 15 percent.
Reinventing the railroad suburb: community conflict in the new suburbia
Authors: Bartling Hugh
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which suburban governments contend with market and citizen pressures to influence land use policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes a comparative case study approach by analyzing primary documents and conducting open‐ended interviews.

Findings

It can be argued that the historical context of suburban development, the cultural conceptions of suburbia, and the extent of civil society's participation in decision making are important factors in understanding how suburbs are dealing with growth challenges.

Practical implications

The cases studied here likely have attributes that are typical of other suburbs in North America.

Originality/value

The paper emphasizes the importance of cultural conceptions of the landscape in influencing stakeholder attitudes – an element often neglected in public policy analysis.
Ultra‐Orthodox recycling narratives: implications for planning and policy
Authors: Yoreh Tanhum
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Recycling facilities are not available in most Ultra‐Orthodox (Haredi) Jewish neighborhoods in Israel. Servicing Ultra‐Orthodox communities would offer significant relief for rapidly bloating landfills. Haredi communities have highly religious lifestyles, very large families and tend to cluster together in communities, posing significant challenges in urban planning and policy. With careful planning and education these communities have the potential to be high‐yield recyclers, as the act of recycling plastic, paper and glass is not religiously prohibited. The purpose of this paper is to determine the feasibility of installing recycling facilities in two Ultra‐Orthodox neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by administering a short questionnaire to neighborhood residents and asking them questions about recycling behavior as well as demographic information.

Findings

Ultra‐Orthodox communities have a unique recycling narrative which determines the materials they are most likely to recycle. Rabbinical leaders and monetary incentives are instrumental in garnering support for recycling programs.

Research limitations/implications

The findings shed light on demographic variables which influence recycling behavior such as age, gender, household size and religiosity/ethnicity.

Practical implications

The rich data have significant planning and policy implications. As this study relies on statistically significant data, it is highly likely that the conclusions drawn are applicable to other Haredi neighborhoods and beyond.

Originality/value

As a whole, Ultra‐Orthodox attitudes and behaviors exposed in this study reveal, for the first time, a religious ethnography of recycling or a recycling narrative.
Those who stayed loyal
Authors: Rochford Kylie
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Despite the ability of small and medium enterprise (SME) to successfully outsource production to low‐cost labour markets, some SMEs continue to produce in the domestic market. A sharp decline in the number of New Zealand manufacturers of consumer goods has been observed in the last five years. This raises questions regarding the viability of a domestic manufacturing strategy in a global marketplace. The purpose of this paper is to explore the performance of New Zealand manufacturers who continue to pursue a domestic manufacturing strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The contextual background for the research is discussed first followed by the development of seven hypotheses. An overview of the methodology is presented before the results of statistical tests. A discussion of findings and implications precede concluding remarks.

Practical implications

This reasearch suggests that SMEs need not succumb to pressures to shift manufacturing offshore in order to remain competitive in the local market.

Findings

Findings suggest that company size, export strategy, and importance placed on non‐financial goals influence the viability of a domestic manufacturing strategy.

Originality/value

This paper is unique in that it does not argue domestic manufacturing as an optimal strategy, rather it considers the viability of a domestic manufacturing strategy in the consumer goods market. Furthermore, the paper adds insight on manufacturing strategy when faced with a small domestic market.
Customers of place: exploring interregional migrant collectivities
Authors: Kadirov Djavlonbek , Triveni Arti
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The aim of this research is to explore how and why different migrant groups see different values in places they move to. Understanding these values and also the conditions in which these values are shaped will help in targeting marketing effort.

Design/methodology/approach

The hierarchical and K‐means cluster analyses were instrumental in identifying different migrant clusters. Planned contrasts were employed to compare related pairs of clusters. The logistic regression analysis identified several determinants of cluster membership likelihood.

Findings

Four different internal migrant clusters are identified in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. These are Material Success Seekers, Community/Environment Folks, Apathetics, and All‐rounders. The former two express a fragmentalist lifestyle. Material Success Seekers emphasise regional business opportunities while being indifferent to social and natural resources. In contrast, Community/Environment Folks emphasise social and natural resources while maintaining indifference to business opportunities. In turn, the latter two clusters make up a holistic lifestyle: All‐rounders consider all three major characteristics of the region to be important while apathetics totally deemphasise these characteristics. The planned contrasts show that demographics are instrumental in predicting differences between related clusters but not helpful in distinguishing the identified lifestyles.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this investigation is that the important constructs used to cluster migrants are not well calibrated, although the reliability scores appear to be satisfactory. Moreover, the use of four‐point importance scales does not allow attaining a greater level of construct sensitivity. The research method is unique in a sense that the cluster analysis and the planned contrasts are applied to examine contrasting values of migrant collectivities.

Practical implications

A number of specific practical challenges need to be resolved by the regional decision makers in order to enhance place satisfaction by internal migrant collectivities. First, the regional and city councils will need to tailor different services, facilities, and public spaces to appeal to different requirements of migrant clusters. Second, the region's settlement support agency should provide migrants with relevant, focused, and differentiated information about available services and resources to suit their various life goals, aspirations, and values.

Originality/value

This investigation tackles the problem of lacking theoretical and empirical research foundation on internal migration as a marketing phenomenon. Moreover, it is unique in its approach of conceptualising migrant segments as cultural phenomena, that is, interdependent collectivities that form on the basis of contrasting values.
Making sense of place: from cold to warm city marketing
Authors: Hospers Gert‐Jan
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This article seeks to explore the usefulness of city marketing as a method to attract new residents and firms from a geographical perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

To answer the research question, the paper reviews relevant theoretical concepts, empirical data on migration flows and Dutch case examples.

Findings

A geographical approach towards city marketing makes clear that residents and firms show spatial self‐preference and do not easily move. This insight questions the usefulness of cold city marketing aimed at attracting newcomers.

Research limitations/implications

The article is largely based on Dutch migration data and cases. More detailed research on other countries is needed to be able to generalize.

Practical implications

Local authorities should shift their focus from cold to warm city marketing: they should invest in existing residents and firms rather than in newcomers. To operationalise this approach, the literature on relationship marketing might be helpful.

Originality/value

City marketing is mostly aimed at attracting new investors, residents or visitors. This geography‐based paper sheds a new light on the topic and provides empirical support to take into account a city's existing population in city marketing.
Satisfaction with neighbors and neighborhood housing prices
Authors: Blair John P. , Larsen James E.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that neighborhoods characterized by satisfying social relationships among residents have higher housing prices than areas where people are less satisfied with their neighbors.

Design/methodology/approach

A semi‐logarithm regression model is used to test whether the extent of satisfaction with neighbors is significantly related to transaction prices of houses in 59 neighborhoods in Dayton, Ohio.

Findings

The results are consistent with, and more specific than, previous studies linking social capital to neighborhood stabilization. Resident satisfaction with their neighbors is found to be an important determinant of property value controlling for housing characteristics.

Practical implications

The findings support stabilization and economic development strategies that seek to enhance social relationships in urban neighborhoods.

Originality/value

This study is the first effort to examine the impact of relations among neighbors on housing prices while controlling for traditional housing characteristics. The paper is an important step in unbundling the social capital concept and points policy makers in directions that can improve community property values.
Tourist destinations and luxury commerce: business opportunities
Authors: Pilar Martínez‐Ruiz María , Martínez‐Caraballo Noemí , Amatulli Cesare
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This work aims to analyze the relationship between a tourist destination and the success of luxury stores. The main objective is to examine whether there is any relationship between different features of a tourist destination and the number of years that a store has been operating there.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes a sample of stores located in Venice. A survey was carried out on luxury goods stores in Venice by personally interviewing their managers.

Findings

The paper identifies a significant relationship between the number of years that the stores have been operating in the tourist destination and their nationality.

Originality/value

Despite the favorable connotations that location in a tourist destination would appear to offer, companies seem to base their general strategy on intangible aspects such as image and brand capital. A number of conclusions and recommendations for managers of luxury stores were obtained from the study. In the light of the minimal impact that contact with other stores and the efforts of local authorities have had so far on the success of these establishments, it may be necessary to make greater efforts in these directions in order to increase their impact. In this respect, both public authorities and private businesses should cooperate in order to provide a coordinated response of town centre management through which the town centre could be better managed and developed.
Liveability, quality and place identity in the contemporary city
Authors: Sepe Marichela
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose PlaceMaker as a method of urban analysis and design which both detects elements that do not feature in traditional mapping and which constitute the contemporary identity of the places, and identifies appropriate project interventions. In order to illustrate the method's potential, the final results of experimentation carried out in the Ramblas in Barcelona are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed method gathers, processes and reconstructs the data deriving from nominal, perceptual, graphic, photographic and video surveys, and compares these data with those provided by an analysis of expectations, an analysis of traditional cartography and two questionnaires administered to local inhabitants. The information collected during the phases of analysis constitutes the basis for constructing guidelines for sustainable design and planning. Two final complex maps – the first of analysis and the second of design – respectively, represent the identity of places and project interventions.

Findings

The design orientations took into account liveability, place identity, safety of this place and user preferences in order to mitigate the impact of globalization and achieve sustainable urban development. The experiment shows that the urban identity emerging in the analysis phases is not entirely sustainable: many factors are contributing to transforming it not only through changes in places, but also in habits and perceptions of the huge flow of people who use the Ramblas. The actions proposed are thus designed to enhance the identity of places, albeit not crystallizing it.

Originality/value

PlaceMaker is an original method which is intended for use as a support tool in integrated sustainable project design targeting place identity and as a tool for dynamic and complex place knowledge. The main potential beneficiaries are administrators, urban planners and designers and, in simplified form, citizens, tourists and place users.