bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Key performance indicators: Are they worth it?
Authors: Keppler Keith
Published: July 2024

Key performance indicators (KPIs) and the red-headed stepchild, dashboards, are the current bright shiny objects of the real estate industry. The unusual nature of real estate — all the variables, everything negotiable, lead times and lag times, and a vocabulary that does not relate to the balance of the business — contributes to a mystical quality of the profession that is understood only by those who are fully engaged. But the profession needs to be able to communicate with the rest of management in its companies and needs to engage with their business demands, understand their needs and be able to anticipate what will be required. The current tools of choice to help with this communication are KPIs and the purpose of this paper is to add a perspective to the content necessary for cred­ible tools that can inform the broader audience within companies and raise awareness of the challenges involved in creating useful results. It begins with the contrarian view that raises the question: ‘Is it really worth it?’, because KPIs are rife with challenges and opportunities to find fault. The paper then goes into a discussion of the role of data because data integrity is essential to the credibility of the indicators. Many have experienced the executive who looks at a sheet of numbers and sees one that he knows is not correct because: ‘I only have four open rec's not five’, or ‘26 people in Minneapolis, not 27’, and he then has prejudiced the entire presentation. This is followed by observations that indicate the metrics — ie the measurables — are changing. The fundamental rules of occupancy are being challenged by the way in which people are beginning to occupy space and, while there are no clear solutions, the issue needs to be addressed. The paper concludes with an approach to what the author believes are good KPIs. Some boundaries and some parameters are drawn, and the paper considers how to prepare KPIs in a way that will result in not only good communication but also consistency moving forward.
AI revolutionising customer experience through personalisation and intelligent experiences
Authors: Maxim Benjamin
Published: July 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) has existed in some fashion for almost seven decades, but its advancement has been limited to large companies and prestigious universities due to the cost of computing power. With the ubiquity of modern computing creating 97 zettabytes of data in the world by the end of 2022, companies are tapping into this new commodity to deliver a seamless, omnichannel customer experience using AI to compete above their weight class. The surge in online interactions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated consumer expectations, giving them more exposure to the personalisation practices of e-commerce leaders and raising the bar for everyone else. From web to mobile and in-person interactions, consumers now view personalisation as the default standard for engagement, making personalisation matter more than ever before as three-quarters of consumers switched to a new store, product or buying method during the pandemic. This paper sets out to highlight companies that are using AI to produce a stellar customer experience and discusses pitfalls that have been discovered along the way.
Taking a big data/NoSQL approach to digital asset management
Authors: Turner Matt
Published: July 2024

Providing easy, open access to assets and asset information across an organisation is a universal goal for digital asset management systems. When a digital asset management team is charged with delivering access to assets to various teams — all with different requirements — within an organisation where assets and information about the assets are in many different systems, many organisations turn to one of several traditional technology approaches. These all have drawbacks, however, and can be inflexible, complex and time-consuming. For such a complex assignment, a ‘big data’ approach can be taken, as the data being addressed have volume, variety and velocity (constant change). A new generation of database technology, NoSQL, allows a digital asset management team to take advantage of the big data approach and to create in a matter of weeks the actual database and data structures that will be used to power the application. Users of the application, including editorial, product development, management and asset curation teams, are able to see information across the organisation in a single interface and can make decisions based on asset information.
The experiences of online learning for undergraduate bioscience students
Authors: Higgins Kieran , Calvert Alison , Doherty Simon
Published: July 2024

The rapid shift to online education prompted by the global COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on biosciences students at a UK university. This study explores their experiences throughout an academic year, focusing on the misalignment between initial perceptions and eventual realities. Through interviews with 13 third-year biosciences undergraduates, the findings reveal evolving perspectives from apprehension to acceptance. Students valued the flexibility of online learning but expressed concerns about practical skill loss and social interaction. Engagement hinged on educator proficiency with digital tools and communication. As the year progressed, self-regulation challenges emerged, affecting motivation and metacognitive awareness. The study recommends enhancing educator digital skills, implementing effective communication strategies, and integrating engagement-focused approaches for optimal remote or blended learning. The findings contribute to understanding bioscience pedagogy in contemporary higher education and underscore the need for continuous staff development and student support in evolving educational landscapes. Further research is recommended on the broader impacts of online learning on student well-being and academic performance.
The keys to social media success in a professional environment: Develop shareable content and build brand ambassadors
Authors: Carlton Jason
Published: July 2024

A quick look at social media can leave the user overwhelmed. There is a lot of stuff – otherwise known as content – being thrown on to the web. Getting one’s message through the clutter can be a daunting task when faced with the competition. Nevertheless, taking the time to think differently about one’s content and deliver the right message in a way that will hit the right audience on the right platform will build brand awareness and position one’s organisation as a main player in its respective industry. But beyond developing content, it is vital to identify and nurture brand ambassadors – both internal and external – that will help spread these messages to their respective audiences and thus increase reach. The following case study examines the efforts of a team of communication experts from Intermountain Medical Center as they coordinate social media efforts (in addition to numerous other marketing and communication strategies and tactics) to build brand awareness of the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute among other physicians and researchers in the cardiology space.
Cyber security for smart cities: End-to-end cyber security strategy for IoT connected services
Authors: Cissé Moh
Published: July 2024

A smart city is an urban agglomeration which capitalises on information technologies (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI) facilities to offer special services to its community and visitors. These range from more complex services such as energy production, road traffic management, civil security and territorial administration, to simpler services such as household waste management or free Internet in parks, libraries, shopping centres and other public places. To achieve this integration of management, an important step is to install sensors that are essential for collecting data. The collection of information to manage sensitive infrastructure via IT services comes with security risks, however. The impact of cyber security breach risks linked to these data collection activities and storage can be dramatic, depending on the type of service: power plants, water management systems, automated or driverless trains, vehicle traffic management systems, etc. These types of service, due to IT and AI evolution, are increasingly the victim of attacks by cyber criminals, especially the industrial control system (ICS)/supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and smart grid networks. These networks are nowadays prime targets for professional hackers, cybercriminal organisations, or even competitors who want access to inside privileged information. To support interest in this type of attack for these networks, we can cite malicious programs such as Stuxnet, Dragonfly and BlackEnergy3, which damaged the Ukraine SCADA network with major consequences for energy production and distribution. Ukrainian energy private companies were victims of the attack, which resulted in total blackouts in at least eight regions of the country. Stuxnet has also been used to destroy a large part of the centrifuges fleet used by Iran for its uranium enrichment programme, etc. The rise of electric vehicle (EV) smart cities is based on smart grid infrastructure and IT — a combination that can lead to increased cyber security risks to the electricity network as well as for fast-charging stations. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most sensitive systems in smart cities, describe potential risks associated with these systems, and propose mitigation mechanisms to reduce associated cyber security risks.
Senior Year Experience: More alumni engagement requires more student engagement
Authors: Cox Jimmy
Published: July 2024

In order to build an effective alumni engagement programme, the efforts must begin with students. Purdue Alumni has conducted outreach to students for over 20 years. In 2005 Purdue Alumni started a new student-alumni group called Purdue Alumni Student Experience (PASE) and it quickly became the largest student group on campus with over 8,000 paid members. Recognising the need to do more, the association created the Senior Year Experience in 2015, which strategically focuses on students in their final year on campus. This programme celebrates a student’s final year and prepares them for life as an alumnus. These programmes geared towards students set up relationships that extend beyond graduation and are the foundation for strong alumni engagement.
Diversifying donor bases for higher education institutions
Authors: Lobato Milagro ‘Misa’
Published: July 2024

In 2020, institutions of higher education grappled with a new urgency around addressing diversity and inclusion on their campuses as the US processed the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted profound inequities both on campus and off. Much of this work has focused on diversity of the student and faculty populations, as well as the content of curriculum. In this paper, we argue that addressing the diversification of the donor base to these institutions is just as critical and urgent, though has perhaps not been as central a focus as other aspects of diversity on campus. This paper will touch on the biased systems and fundraising infrastructure that have perpetuated the cultivation of homogenous groups of donors to colleges and universities. We will also provide potential next steps available to colleges and universities that would support the diversification of a donor base. This includes collecting demographic information about donors, building cultural competence among fundraisers and developing quantitative measures around this work.
Parallel, rather than ‘shadow’, banking system
Authors: Batchvarov Alexander
Published: July 2024

The articles raises questions relating to the ongoing review of the parallel, rather than ‘shadow’, banking system and the attempts to potentially regulate it. The author argues that the starting point for the public discussion should be a neutral (rather than negatively biased) review of the need for and the utility of the parallel banking system, the degree of its interaction with the traditional banking system and the empirical evidence of its role in recent financial market developments, rather than the negatively biased and empirically unjustified starting point adopted to-date. The author emphasises the need for a properly functioning parallel banking system and raises questions about the regulatory objectives and approaches in its monitoring and supervision.
The alignment of corporate real estate performance to enterprise needs Part Two: The business management view compared with CRE practice
Authors: Varcoe Barry
Published: July 2024

Corporate real estate (CRE), embracing facilities management, provides organisations with their physical working environments. A literature review of current CRE performance practice and corresponding business management suggests that the practices used in measuring and managing CRE performance tend to be narrowly focused and insular. Aligned to this is a commonplace organisational perspective that at best tends to consider CRE as a tactical component of the overall business enterprise model. This has resulted in the identification of relationships between key performance variables, both within CRE and between CRE and business, based on assumption and received wisdom rather than explicit proof. This paper is the second of two. It documents a literature review of the business management view of CRE, compares this with the findings of a CRE performance practice review (see previous paper) and considers the resulting conclusions and implications of this research.
Mitigating risk before, during and after a revenue cycle conversion
Authors: Kay-Bonetti Julie
Published: July 2024

This paper reviews the common issues organisations face when implementing new revenue cycle software and how to adequately prepare for the inevitable disruption that accompanies such an implementation. While it is easy to assume that the focus of an organisation’s revenue cycle would fall to patient access and patient financial services, this paper also outlines the importance of participation and cohesion that spans the entire healthcare organisation. The considerations in this paper are designed to identify areas where process improvement is needed to ultimately help mitigate risk before, during and after a revenue cycle conversion.
A methodology for actively managing tail risks and uncertainties
Authors: Broeders Dirk , Loman Herwin , Toor Joris Van
Published: July 2024

Tail risks and uncertainties have a significant negative impact on financial institutions and the financial system. Their probability of occurrence is low (tail risk) or cannot be determined (uncertainty). One may believe that tail risks and uncertainties are unavoidable; however, this is too simplistic a view. Financial institutions and supervisory agencies can in many cases actively manage the likelihood and impact of tail risks and uncertainties. This active approach benefits from a structured methodology. The three main components of that methodology are identification, assessment and mitigation. The methodology outlined in this paper is based on the experience of risk managers across different financial institutions, supervisory agencies and non-financial institutions.
Framing business continuity to achieve lasting focus
Authors: Zawada Brian , Perry Morgan
Published: July 2024

Business continuity programmes frequently suffer from two core problems. First, many programmes fail to focus on what is critically important to the organisation and its stakeholders. Secondly, many programmes fail to engage programme participants to achieve preparedness goals. Both problems impact the programme’s strategic direction, scope and performance. The frame process described here provides a detailed method for business continuity practitioners to engage with top management and other key stakeholders to determine and then address what is most important to the organisation. This process was developed to address the lack of programme focus regardless of industry or organisation size and has been used to build high-performing programmes and improve focus for mature programmes. Beginning with answering the four questions described in this paper, programme management is equipped to effectively establish programme objectives and priorities, inform stakeholders of key business continuity concepts, and allow for issues resolution prior to the implementation of key programme activities. Lasting programme focus requires clearly defined and articulated priorities and direction. This paper provides a detailed summary of the process that can be used by programme management to ensure that business continuity programmes are implemented and maintained in alignment with the strategic direction of the organisation.
File delivery automation: The final frontier?
Authors: Lennon Chris , Smith Clyde
Published: July 2024

This paper examines one of the final areas desperately in need of automation – the delivery of content files by those who produce and distribute them, to media organisations. This paper addresses developing solutions to current problems and issues that impact interoperability in file-based workflows, issues coming to the industry that are driving a need for scale and automation, as well as future needs that will increasingly introduce complexity and threaten interoperability in existing workflows. It also describes work currently being undertaken by a technical committee consisting of members of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the North American Broadcasters Association, the Digital Production Partnership and other industry partner organisations to resolve them.
Move fast, save money, increase engagement: Why live video should be in every marketer’s toolkit
Authors: Faus Ashley
Published: July 2024

Periscope came online and fundamentally changed the world of video marketing. Now, long-form live streaming like Facebook Live and YouTube live-stream capabilities have been rolled out. Short-form live videos are available on Instagram, and more platforms add live or native video capabilities every quarter! How do you utilise live-stream broadcasts to connect with your community? What are the pros and cons of choosing a live-streaming app over a traditional video, webinar or podcast? What kinds of stories can you tell with these new platforms? In this paper you will see examples of live-stream success from brands across several industries and will learn how to create and execute your own live-stream strategy. In this paper, you will learn how to utilise live streaming with tips for filming, hosting styles, and video ideas. You’ll also learn how to choose the right channel for your video content, and engage your social community.
Managing digital rights with rights expression languages
Authors: Hess Demian
Published: July 2024

Digital asset managers need to track and act on the rights attached to digital assets. Rights expression languages (RELs) can help manage rights by capturing terms in a machine-readable format that can be exchanged between information systems. Although RELs vary widely in their syntax and complexity, they share common concepts that provide a framework for understanding and assessing each language. This paper discusses the concepts that underlie RELs and examines four specific languages to show how these concepts have been used in practice. The RELs examined are: Creative Commons Rights Expression Language (ccREL); Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS); Motion Picture Experts Group, Standard 21, Part 5 (MPEG-21/5); and Open Digital Rights Language (ODRL).
Adjusting to the new normal: Challenges of the food sector in the wake of COVID-19
Authors: Kumar Vikas
Published: July 2024

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 180 countries around the globe causing severe business disruptions. Lockdown in many countries has led to panic buying and shortages of food, medicines, personal protective equipment, raw materials, basic goods, etc. As a result, while some businesses have benefited from this sudden spike in demand, many have already collapsed and many others are on the brink unless and until rescued by governments or private investors. In particular, the food sector, which relies heavily on global supply chains to meet the demands of local consumers, is working around the clock to maintain an adequate flow of food products to feed the nations. Countries that have taken strict measures such as full lockdown, however, are struggling to balance their demand and supply as in-country and cross-border supply has been severely affected. Stock-outs were much more common in the early phase of the crisis due to panic buying that influenced the vertical supply chain. To meet the changing food demand, grocery retailers have started working more closely with local farmers for the essential supply of food items, thus realising the benefits of short food supply chains. This paper attempts to explore the way the food sector is dealing with the current unprecedented situation and proposes some potential risk-mitigating pathways.
On the use of internal thermal insulation systems for the retrofit of buildings' exterior walls
Authors: Corvacho Helena , Ferreira Tiago
Published: July 2024

In this paper, a quantitative analysis of internal thermal insulation systems (ITIS) is made based on three basic requirements: thermal bridges minimisation; control of temperature variations within the exterior wall; and the need for at least a minimum thermal mass. This study relies on computer simulation using different tools depending on the purpose of the calculation. The selected software applications were in compliance with the available European standards, namely for thermal bridges and dynamic parameters. The effect of different outdoor climate conditions was evaluated, taking also into account the typical indoor hygrothermal characteristics of Portuguese residential buildings such as common temperatures and ventilation rates. The results of this study quantitavely show that, for the analysed requirements, the ITIS option should not be disregarded, provided that some proper measures are guaranteed. It can be an interesting solution for retrofitting exterior walls as long as thermal bridges are corrected whenever needed; that temperature variation within the exterior wall (which depends greatly on the colour of its outer surface and on the location of thermal insulation, and less on its thickness) are compat-ible with its resistance (with or without reinforcement measures); and that the availability of a minimum thermal mass is assured.
The PBCore metadata standard: A decade of evolution
Authors: Rubin Nan
Published: July 2024

In less than ten years, broadcasting has been completely transformed from an analogue, tape-based medium to a production and distribution environment that is digital from end to end. Early in the transition, the public broadcasting system recognised the need for a single, unified descriptive metadata schema able to deliver digital content across multiple platforms. The Public Broadcasting Metadata Dictionary Project (PBMD), comprising representatives from both public radio and public television, was convened by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2001, and spent several years analysing metadata standards and collecting user requirements to create PBCore, based in large part on Dublin Core. PBCore v1.0 was released in 2005, and since then, it has been widely adopted not only by broadcasters, but also by media archives as the preferred scheme for descriptive and technical metadata. During several years of dormancy, PBCore was maintained by a loyal group of users, but with the planning of the new American Archive project, CPB is once again supporting PBCore, and Version 2.0 was released early in 2011. Beyond public radio and television stations, the standard has been found to be popular for time-based media, and the community of user institutions has expanded rapidly to include audio, video and film archives. Although PBCore is proving to be very valuable in meeting its original goal as a standard for rich media that is extensible, scalable, flexible and easy to understand, it continues to need support for its ongoing maintenance and improvement and to expand its adoption.
Places to belong : Practical considerations for creating inclusive and impactful places of work
Authors: Anderson Ryan , Jong Jolene De , White Joseph
Published: July 2024

This paper is designed to help corporate real estate (CRE) leaders create spaces that improve employee experiences and the impact of their workplace on organisational outcomes. With heightened interest in the role of post-pandemic corporate offices, home workspaces, flex spaces and other environments for supporting and connecting employees, now is an opportune time for CRE leaders to elevate the role of their workplace strategy by focusing on belonging. The paper draws upon years of research and exploration conducted by MillerKnoll brands and our customers. If desired, the foundational elements listed within it can be directly imported into an organisation’s existing workplace strategy while using this paper as a guide and catalyst to help team members, consultants and end users better understand the impact of the workplace in strengthening community, promoting a positive culture, and ensuring equitable opportunities for all employees to succeed.
The Michigan State Parks Photo Ambassadors programme: A case study
Authors: Yancer Stephanie M.
Published: July 2024

This paper discusses how the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Division used Instagram to create a community of volunteers, known as the Michigan State Parks Photo Ambassadors. By means of a case study, the paper shows both why and how the department uses this social media strategy. It describes how the framework for the programme was developed, how the ambassadors were solicited, their responsibilities and the steps taken to make the programme what it is today. Lessons learned and changes that have been made since the beginning of the programme are also discussed, in addition to how the Instagram account has grown since the inception of the programme in 2020.
The psychological effectiveness of logos for public relations performance: A Hispanic student-level marketing approach
Authors: Lim Young Joon , Lemanski Jennifer
Published: July 2024

This study examines, from a marketing perspective, the psychological impact of logos among the Hispanic population, with particular focus given to measures of public relations performance. Data were collected via an online survey (n = 167) and analysed using hierarchical multiple regression. The results indicate that logos play a key role in public relations performance, and may be used to enhance image, reputation and customer loyalty.
Adaptive analytics: Surfacing the organic pulse of today’s consumers
Authors: Panzarella Joseph
Published: July 2024

The 2016 US election upended both traditional political discourse and people’s faith in the ability of polls to capture national sentiment accurately. Right up until and throughout election day, poll after poll forecasted a different electoral outcome than the one witnessed that night. Pollsters and commentators alike need to reassess their predictions and gain a better understanding of the underlying reasons, not only for post-mortem analysis, but for future campaigns, presidential or otherwise. Are there better methods and approaches pundits and data-driven marketers can embrace to truly understand consumer behaviour, both proactively and in the moment? Traditionally, the management and assessment of marketing campaigns have been linear: create, execute and observe. This ‘rear-view mirror’ approach, hiding under the cloak of optimisation, can be modernised for today’s analytical and technical environment. This paper draws on three very public case studies and offers prescriptive instructions for data-driven marketers using an emerging technique known as adaptive analytics. At its core, adaptive analytics reroutes observed results immediately into the insights and analytical processes, while campaigns are still in-market, thus improving a brand’s chance achieving business goals.
Building a closed loop supply chain for a customer-centric and circular economy
Authors: Bont Stef De
Published: July 2024

This paper discusses three trends which are having a substantial impact on how the supply chain bridges companies that offer products to customers in today’s global marketplace. Direct-to-customer commerce, the subscription and share economy, and the circular economy affect the supply chain by virtue of the fact that these trends involve a relatively new phenomenon: product returns. Product returns require companies to engage with customers who return a product. Returned products need to be received and preferably be injected into a new supply chain to avoid value depreciation.
Reading between the lines: Uncovering customer insights to deliver exceptional customer experiences
Authors: Strachan Chun Gaynor , Greenstein M. A. , Kornfeld Sarah
Published: July 2024

Customer insights are critical in the quest to deliver an exceptional customer experience. There is, however, a science and an art to uncovering insights that can get lost in a data-centric world. This paper discusses five cogent facts that can act as a guide to ensure the whole brain approach (balancing data with human-centric skills) to uncover the insights necessary to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Determinants of bank loan syndication structures for emerging market borrowers
Authors: Godlewskiy Christophe J.
Published: July 2024

This paper investigates loan, borrower and country-level characteristics that influence bank loan syndicate structures lending to borrowers from emerging countries. It finds that main syndication motives such as loans portfolio diversification, regulatory pressure and management costs affect the structure of syndicates in a manner which is consistent with the benefits of syndication. Syndicates also adapt their structure to the banking environment of the borrower country and to mitigate potential agency problems stemming from the syndication process. Banking structure, regulation and financial development are the main drivers of the structuring of syndicates lending to borrowers from emerging markets. Structure is also sensitive to the legal environment in order to mitigate agency problems and re-contracting risk in case of borrower distress.
A tactical guide to implementing a custom event strategy for mobile apps and games
Authors: Pearlman Andrew
Published: July 2024

There are many ways to write a custom event strategy for a mobile application or game. This paper outlines a process designed to avoid three common tracking errors which can cause behavioural data to be unusable. These errors comprise: (a) communicating event tracking methodology across departments to avoid misinterpretation; (b) organising the implementation and testing of events to ensure details do not slip through the cracks; and (c) using strong naming conventions to make analysis easier and more consistent. By creating a centralised reference workbook called an ‘event dictionary’, any employee can feel confident about how to interpret metrics without the assistance of an analyst. Although this instructional guide has been drafted for someone who has never written an analytics strategy before, it also provides tips and tricks that experienced analysts can incorporate to hone their current approach.
Achieving speed, spread, scalability and sustainability in life plan communities: Two case studies
Authors: Johnson Ray , Chittenden Bruce , Fetyko Stephen P.
Published: July 2024

The aim of this paper is to show how a focused 100-day workout will develop middle managers to become more accountable in achieving margin improvement of 0.5–1 per cent or greater. The reader will take away strategic questions that can be asked of the executive team.
Blind spots in current risk management practices: Measurement error
Authors: Bar-Or Yuval D.
Published: July 2024

While significant progress has been made in the field of risk management over recent decades, much work remains. One area requiring further attention and rigour is ‘measurement error’. In contrast to the physical sciences, financial measures of risk, especially credit risk, are rarely reported with error bars. The implication of this deficiency is that decision makers fail to recognise imprecision in reported numbers, leading to suboptimal decisions.
Fixing the brand radar: Brand trackers should be used for management not market research
Authors: Schillewaert Niels
Published: July 2024

Brand trackers have lost their credibility — they lack relevance, do not provide actionable insights, and can be problematic in terms of governance. The reason for this is simple: they are being used to the wrong ends. Brand trackers are tools for management, not for conducting research studies. They should function as a radar to detect competitive action in the marketplace so that executives can identify and solve issues before they become a problem. This paper proposes five measures to address this issue: (1) aligning the tracker with brand strategy; (2) measuring the content of topical creatives and events; (3) assessing the composition, effectiveness and efficiency of marketing mix touch points; (4) making the tracker adaptive and modular; and (5) mashing it up with the voice of the customer.
The value of an intelligent network: A bill-payment case study
Authors: Hall Gidget
Published: July 2024

The successful development of a robust online bill-payment industry has delivered the promised benefits to all participants: consumers get control, convenience and payment velocity; bill-payment originators lower their costs and optimise relationships with their customers; and billers reduce costs and improve posting speed. Consumer adoption of online bill payment has been a key driver in the dramatic decline of cheque volumes in the USA. Critical mass has been achieved, and electronic volume will only expand. In fact, the share of payments made online at banks' or billers' websites is predicted to double from 14 to 28 per cent between 2006 and 2010. At the same time, however, this success has created an entirely new set of challenges that require an entirely new set of solutions. The sheer volume of electronic payments that has been achieved makes even a small percentage of error unacceptable. For originators and billers processing millions or hundreds of thousands of payments a month, the costs of even a 1 per cent error rate can be crippling to profitability. To maintain the hard-won efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of electronic payments, MasterCard RPPS, a division of MasterCard Worldwide, has chosen a strategy that employs intelligent network solutions to optimise the ever-growing electronic volume. As this case study demonstrates, an intelligent network whose capabilities have been optimised for the unique challenges of bill payments can bring the same level of efficiency and cost-effectiveness to preventing payment exceptions and resolving payment errors that the electronic model has brought to payments in general.
Interactive dependency curves for resilience management
Authors: Petit Frédéric , Wallace Kelly , Phillip Julia
Published: July 2024

Physical dependencies are a fundamental consideration when assessing the resilience of an organisation and, ultimately, the resilience of a region. Every organisation needs specific resources for supporting its operations. A disruption in the supply of these resources can severely impact business continuity. It is important to characterise dependencies thoroughly when seeking to reduce the extent an organisation is directly affected by the missions, functions and operations of other organisations. The general protocol when addressing each critical resource is to determine the use for the resource, whether there are redundant services providing the resource, and what protections, backup equipment and arrangements are in place to maintain service. Finally, the criticality of the resource is determined by estimating the time it will take for the facility to experience a severe impact once primary service is lost and what percentage of facility operations can be maintained without backup service in place, as well as identifying whether any external regulations/policies are in place that require shutdown of the facility because of service disruption owing to lack of a critical resource. All of this information can be presented in the form of interactive dependency curves that help anticipate and manage the effect(s) of a disruption on critical resources supply.
Merchant acceptance of cash and credit cards at the point of sale
Authors: Fung Ben , Huynh Kim P. , Nield Kerry , Welte Angelika
Published: July 2024

Recent data show that the use of credit cards in Canada has been increasing, while the use of cash has been declining. At the same time, only two-thirds of small or medium-sized enterprises accept credit cards. To better understand the future development of this trend, it is important to study whether a change in merchant fees will increase credit card acceptance and thus further reduce cash use. To this end, this paper calculates the level of merchant fee where a merchant would be indifferent to accepting a credit card or cash payment, using the merchant indifference test. The study finds that the results are sensitive to the underlying assumptions. The paper also discusses the key issues of applying such a methodology to Canada.
Best practices for aligning university brands with fundraising campaigns
Authors: Sevilla Ed
Published: July 2024

For a higher education institutional brand to most effectively position the institution and drive missionand business-critical results, it must effectively convey distinctive institutional attributes to three important audiences: students, alumni and donors. Institutions that are able to foster alignment of the brand and positioning among these three audiences are more likely to see investments in brand development result in improvements in market positioning and revenue generation. Two case studies demonstrate best practices. University of Toronto adopted its CAN $2bn ‘Boundless’ campaign as its brand across academic and administrative units. Georgia State’s US$300m ‘Burning Bright’ campaign leverages its main brand attribute — student success.
If you launch it, they will come: Bridging global and local marketing to extract the greatest value from that rare product launch
Authors: Stojanovic Alex , Van Der Meulen Robbert
Published: July 2024

If you launch it, they will come. That might have been the thinking ten years ago — it was certainly the case for Viagra, among others, which due to global brand awareness and strong media attention had a relatively smooth path to blockbuster status — but not today, and certainly not tomorrow. With changes in the market environment — from budget crises in Europe to emerging markets around the world — the pharmaceutical industry faces the need to bridge global and local marketing, and extract the greatest value from a rare product launch. This paper has attempted to cite a few examples of how implementation of the right people, processes, and tools can enable the constant flow of information from local markets to a global R&D project and prepare those rarely-launched products for commercial success.
Preventing cryptocurrency theft: Learning from the past to secure the future
Authors: Kater Amos , Jamieson Andrew
Published: July 2024

With the rise of cryptocurrencies, we have seen a rise in systems designed to protect these assets. However, without a formalised market or evaluation process, many such solutions are making avoidable mistakes in their implementation. This article discusses how we can learn from the past of payment security, to assist with securing the payments of tomorrow.
Building emergency public information structures for response: Lessons learned from New York City
Authors: Silvestri Nancy
Published: July 2024

For an effective response, emergency public information operations should be structured to facilitate the provision of timely, accurate, accessible information to the public. A frequent challenge in building a public information structure is identifying the potential staff to allow the operation to get big enough, fast enough. A plan for managing public information operations should define roles to fulfil basic functions (responding to media enquiries, writing materials, disseminating information, media and social media monitoring, community engagement and identifying and addressing rumours). This paper will offer tips for developing a plan and concept of operations for quickly assembling and maintaining public information operations. It will also describe the public information principles implemented during recent incidents in New York City, including the 2015 visit of Pope Francis to New York City. Having a coordinated, flexible model; a trained network of public information officers who are ready to staff public information roles as needed; and a structure that embeds social media into overall public information operations, will leave public information officers and their organisations more prepared to deal with the challenges and opportunities of communicating with the public during emergencies of varying types and sizes.
The three Ps of third-party risk
Authors: Sangster Mark
Published: July 2024

As trusted partners, third-party vendors often become the overlooked or unwitting accomplice in criminal activities. As privacy laws and cyber security regulations continue to increase accountability around data confidentiality and protection, firms are struggling to shift from an in-house security paradigm to gain line of sight that extends to cover their vendors and the entire supply chain. Beyond the umbrella frameworks of NIST,1 ISO 27001 information and security management2 and ISO 27032 guidelines for cyber security,3 two smaller and —perhaps more palatable — guidelines offer simplified elements to frame supply chain risk management. The first, from the New York Department of Finance Cyber Rules NYCRR 500, section 11, provides actionable steps to access and mitigate vendor risk. The second resource comes from the National Cyber Security Centre in the UK, organised as 12 principles to grapple with supply chain risk, including defining risk, establishing mitigation controls, validating assurances and building in continuous improvement. This paper will explore the risks associated with third-party vendors, and how adversaries are leveraging supply chain vulnerabilities. It will also examine research that supports a three-step programme comprising policies (controls, due diligence tools and validation mechanisms), prevention (establishing risks and defining defensive requirements) and promises (contractual obligations, demarcated responsibilities, defined standards and warranties).
The corporate perspective on state and local incentives in North America
Authors: Pollina Brent A.
Published: July 2024

For many corporations, relocating their facilities can provide significant cost savings while improving productivity. This paper focuses on state and local incentives as one critical aspect of the relocation process. The quality and quantity of incentives vary considerably from state to state and community to community across North America. Incentives can include tax abatements and refunds, forgivable loans, job training, cash grants, free or reduced-cost buildings and land, infrastructure improvements, accelerated permitting, and other programmes that are limited only by the imagination of those attempting to attract employers by addressing their individual needs, Many of the statutory programmes can be complicated with extensive applications, documentation and, in some cases, political red tape that varies with each state and agencies within a state. In spite of these complications incentives can provide a very significant reduction in the start-up or expansion costs of a corporation's operations. A well-negotiated and documented set of incentives can assure that all the parties will fulfil their obligations.
EUROCONTROL and airports
Authors: Brenner Frank
Published: July 2024

Air traffic in Europe is starting to grow again. It can, however, be expected that this growth will be constrained by the difficulties in expanding airports and the restrictions on their operating hours. There is a need both to make the most of what there is and to address the environmental concerns that are constraining airports. EUROCONTROL, the pan-European intergovernmental ATM organisation, is involved in a range of initiatives such as airport collaborative decision making, airspace planning, wake vortices, collaborative environmental management and environmental modelling. This paper considers these and, in particular, looks at how airports are becoming more interconnected, both with each other and with the network as a whole, providing more predictability and concrete performance improvements.
Designing and implementing an interdependent resilience culture
Authors: Henry Patrick Knapp
Published: July 2024

Once an emergency occurs, companies find themselves competing for diminishing resources. Companies mired in confusion and debate often fail to obtain the resources necessary for a speedy recovery and fail to meet the expectations of their various interested parties. Unfortunately, it is during these emergencies that the firm is judged. Unfavourable evaluations of a company by customers, the government and/or the general public result in lost future revenue through contracts that are either not renewed or cancelled, as well as disqualification from tenders and lost bids. This paper discusses how an oil field services company implemented an interdependent resilience culture. Development of this culture included paring down complex concepts and theories into simple rules that are continually introduced and reinforced to the company’s leadership. After years of effort, employees from the well head to the corporate boardroom are aligned and aware of everyone’s roles when an incident occurs. In short, because each person can count on the others, the company quickly adapts and overcomes significant issues, adding to its competitiveness. As a reader, you will understand that the results of implementing this new culture come down to a single metric: speed. Responses become faster, decisions faster, communication and the transfer of knowledge faster. Emergencies are dynamic and ever-changing. Information quickly becomes stale and outdated. Installing this culture creates a more nimble company which reacts in a manner that allows for extra time, so all the unplanned delays, pitfalls and breakdowns can occur with little to no meaningful impact.
Improving fraud detection and the customer experience through analytics
Authors: Horan T J
Published: July 2024

We are in the midst of a digital payments revolution. The rapidity of the upheaval provides both an interesting case study in disruption and an overwhelming necessity to battle fraud across a multitude of channels. While some of these fraud-fighting tactics will take place unseen, in the systems businesses use to protect payments processing, others will require action by businesses that place a high priority on customer satisfaction and protection.
Predicting on-time departures: A comparison of static with dynamic Bayesian networks in the case of Newark Liberty International Airport
Authors: Diana Tony
Published: July 2024

This paper proposes to evaluate how a network of interrelated operational variables influence the percentage of on-time gate departures in the case of Newark Liberty International airport (EWR). It compared a static with a dynamic Bayesian network model to determine which one is the most likely to balance bias versus variance, which are two key elements in machine learning. Both models featured high variance and low bias, which limits generalisation beyond the training set. Nevertheless, both models stressed the significance of surface congestion in limiting the percentage of on-time gate departures, even when gate departure times are compared with those in the flight plan.