bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How traditional banks are innovating the basics to provide customers with an Uber-like mobile banking experience
Authors: Johnson Meaghan , Verdegaal Mark
Published: July 2024

The mobile space is evolving rapidly as banks in the developed world are taking a ‘mobile-first’ approach to digital development. The need to take a mobile-first approach is driven by a handful of factors, one of which is that the mobile device is increasingly being used as a channel to consume goods and services. From buying a flight ticket to booking a household cleaner, there is an app for almost everything. These apps are changing customers' expectations as they expect a seamless experience, minimal points of friction and value from engaging with the app. Time and time again, Uber-like organisations are cited as the apps that have and will change the app-based economy, and banks are using the success of this app as guidance for developing great mobile banking experiences. As banks look to Uber-like organisations to improve the experience, it is tempting to roll out new, untested experiences in an attempt to ‘revolutionise’ the mobile banking space. However, this paper will demonstrate that banks should instead focus on fixing the basics and create an Uber-like experience within core banking functionality. Although it is worth noting that the distinction between mobile and internet is blurring, and some argue that one can use internet banking through mobile devices, we believe there are clear benefits to investing in apps. First, looking at distribution, customers will look for a brand in various ways and whether a bank decides to serve these customers around HTML, web and others. It is important to ensure customers can find the solution in their respective app store, search engine and the public website. The second is the development of native technology. HTML, hybrid technologies and native code have improved significantly over the last couple of years and each has its respective advantages and disadvantages which means today there is no such a thing as one solution fits all. Notwithstanding some potential disadvantages such as increased cost (build for iOS, Android and Windows Phone), we wanted to highlight the fact that native code allows for certain additional layers of security on the device (eg device registration) that are not yet fully possible in HTML and hybrid.
Assessment of the mobile money sector development in Lesotho
Authors: Sekantsi Lira Peter
Published: July 2024

This paper first assesses the structure of the mobile money sector, mobile money use cases and the associated usage trends in Lesotho. Second, it highlights the regulation of mobile money. Third, it discusses the challenges constraining adoption and usage of mobile money services and provides key policy and/or regulatory initiatives undertaken by all stakeholders in the ecosystem to break up the uptake and usage barriers. Finally, it concludes that mobile money has a potential to improve financial inclusion in Lesotho and therefore, provides policy recommendations, which the service providers and other stakeholders should exploit to further increase access and usage of mobile money services with a view to increase financial inclusion in Lesotho.
Building CEE’s largest banking partnership ecosystem
Authors: Wolf Christian , Imamovic Tanja , Arateanu Catalina , Obetkova Miriam
Published: July 2024

Digital platforms and ecosystems represent a phenomenon that has emerged from recent dynamics on the market such as global digitalisation and demographic and behavioural changes. In particular, the banking industry is undergoing a revolution based on a combination of technological progress, changing customer behaviour and new regulatory standards, all of which lead to a fundamental transformation of financial services. The paper discusses the shift in value generation, the transition of business priorities from traditional to digital environments and the move to cross-industry and beyond banking solutions. Industry incumbents are pressured to revise their traditional closed business models and base their new strategies on open innovation and collaboration. The authors of this article reflect on these challenges and share concrete steps that RBI undertakes in order to successfully transform the organisation on three levels: being alert to emerging customer needs, urging for new organisational capabilities and overcoming technical barriers of the existing IT foundation.
Delivering quality services — Austin style
Authors: Badawi Ghizlane
Published: July 2024

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) serves an external customer base of passengers as well as internal customers consisting of employees and business partners. ABIA's committed leadership uses different management tools to focus, plan and execute; empowers staff at all levels to take action, keeping them focused, holding them accountable and incentivising them; and engages all the airport community in improving service quality. ABIA continues to grow its brand around a quality customer experience, providing passengers with exceptional facilities and services and improving workflow processes. ABIA has a character and feel that is truly reflective of Austin, a city known for its hospitality and music, and the airport delivers a standard of service that passengers rate among the best in the USA. This paper describes the key factors in ABIA's success.
Virtual asset trading platforms: An assessment of the stability risks and the potential for self-regulation
Authors: Copeland Rory
Published: July 2024

In response to recent reports by influential financial regulatory bodies, this paper aims, firstly, to outline the financial, operational and systemic risks affecting the stability of virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs). It highlights risk management techniques that can be used to mitigate them. Some of these risks are applicable to trading platforms in general, and some are unique to Blockchain technology. Second, it makes the case for international self-regulation by VATPs and outlines the measures that platforms can adopt in order to build market stability and enhance client security. It argues that self-regulation can align platform and client interests, reduce systemic risk in the virtual assets market and act as a viable alternative to regulation from national or international bodies.
The integrity of the price: Issues for securities fraud plaintiffs and defendants in US class actions
Authors: Holloway Daniel E.
Published: July 2024

Under US law, class actions are generally forbidden for fraud claims, because individual issues of reliance predominate over class-wide issues. In securities fraud cases, however, the US courts have permitted class actions by employing the ‘fraud-on-the-market’ doctrine. This paper focuses on one limiting aspect of the fraud-on-the-market doctrine, which is under-appreciated but potentially significant in many US securities fraud class actions.The fraud-on-the-market doctrine creates a rebuttable presumption that each investor indirectly relied on the allegedly misleading statements or omissions. The doctrine thus applies rebuttable presumptions; first, that each investor relied on ‘the integrity of the price’ of the security and, second, that in an efficient market any misleading information was impounded into, and distorted, the price.Defendants may reduce the size of the plaintiff class by developing evidence that many investors did, or were willing to, purchase the security despite known, substantial risks of undisclosed fraud — that is, that they did not rely on ‘the integrity of the price’. Such investors often include large index or quantitative investment funds and, in cases of multiple fraud disclosures, investors who buy securities between disclosures of possible fraud, while the issuing company remains under a cloud of suspicion.
Wheels of change: Migrating platforms and streamlining workflows
Authors: Bright Jessica , Mancuso Lindsay , Santiago David , Taliceo Nadia
Published: July 2024

The Revs Institute is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit museum, library and archive. This case study describes five large-scale changes made by the institution based on a strategic plan for its library and archive. One of the largest changes was deciding to streamline library workflows in order to bring one of the most resource-intensive projects, digitisation and the resulting digital library, from subsidised to self-sustaining. The other large-scale changes dealt with creating a more effective image sales system, enhancing library and archive visibility, promoting use of the collections, and connecting the library’s systems for ease of patron use. While this case study focuses on Revs, an automotivefocused institution, it is essentially about an institution strategising to enhance its overall sustainability, self-sufficiency and visibility. The case study concludes that the best way for an institution to ensure its durability is to be as efficient, purpose-driven and user-focused as possible.
Academic continuity planning in higher education
Authors: Regehr Cheryl , Nelson Sioban , Hildyard Angela
Published: July 2024

Crisis planning in institutions of higher learning has focused largely on emergency management, physical safety and technology recovery. While these are clearly important, many aspects of planning for continuity have largely been ignored, including planning for the post-secondary education sector’s core business, that is, the delivery of graduate and undergraduate academic programmes. Use of the term ‘academic continuity’ as a component of institutional planning is relatively new in higher education. Discussions on academic continuity have often centred on the use of technology-enhanced education and online teaching in the event of crisis or disaster affecting campuses. However, online approaches are only one aspect of academic continuity planning. Using examples of two different crisis situations encountered at a large urban university spanning three campuses, this paper presents an approach to academic continuity planning that can potentially serve as a model for other institutions.
The influence of systemic importance indicators on banks’ credit default swap spreads
Authors: Cetina Jill , Loudis Bert
Published: July 2024

This paper examines the relationship between banks’ observed credit default swap (CDS) spreads and possible measures of systemic importance. The authors use five-year CDS spreads from Markit with an international sample of 71 banks to investigate whether market participants are giving them a discount on borrowing costs based on the expectation that governments would consider them ‘too big to fail’. They find a consistent, statistically significant negative relationship between five-year CDS spreads and nine different systemic importance indicators using a generalised least squares (GLS) model. The paper finds that banks perceived as too big to fail have CDS spreads 44–80 basis points lower than other banks, depending on the asset-size threshold and controls used. Additionally, the study suggests that market participants pay more attention to asset size than to a more complex measure, such as designation as a globally systemically important bank (G-SIB), that includes additional factors, such as substitutability and interconnectedness. Lastly, the model suggests that asset size acts as a threshold effect, rather than a continuous effect with the best fitting models using asset-size thresholds of US$50bn–150bn.
Why and how to embrace entity resolution and contextual monitoring
Authors: Wolf Aaron
Published: July 2024

Criminal activity is an unfortunate constant in life. Some criminals are highly sophisticated, others not so much. The common objective of each criminal, regardless of the level of sophistication, is to stay at least one step ahead of the system of controls in place to prevent, detect and report their illicit activity. From a transaction monitoring perspective, criminals had a significant advantage for some time with the ineffective rules-based transaction monitoring (RBTM) that most banks utilise. The scale is beginning to tip back in our favour with the advent of new and improved technologies, such as entity resolution and contextual monitoring (ER/CM). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the clear advantages of ER/CM and what you as practitioners should consider when deciding if you should make the switch and what to consider when implementing the technology.
`Homo heuristicus` in the financial world: From risk management to managing uncertainty
Authors: Neth Hansjörg , Meder Björn , Kothiyal Amit , Gigerenzer Gerd
Published: July 2024

What — if anything — can psychology and decision science contribute to risk management in financial institutions? The turmoils of recent economic crises undermine the assumptions of classical economic models and threaten to dethrone Homo oeconomicus, who aims to make decisions by weighing and integrating all available information. But rather than proposing to replace the rational actor model with some notion of biased, fundamentally flawed and irrational agents, we advocate the alternative notion of Homo heuristicus, who uses simple, but ecologically rational strategies to make sound and robust decisions. Based on the conceptual distinction between risky and uncertain environments this paper presents theoretical and empirical evidence that boundedly rational agents prefer simple heuristics over more flexible models. We provide examples of successful heuristics, explain when and why heuristics work well, and illustrate these insights with a fast and frugal decision tree that helps to identify fragile banks. We conclude that all members of the financial community will benefit from simpler and more transparent products and regulations.
Naked short sales and fails-to-deliver: An overview of clearing and settlement procedures for stock trades in the USA
Authors: Putniņš Tālis J.
Published: July 2024

This paper outlines the process of clearing and settlement for stock trades in the USA. It pays particular attention to what happens when the seller of a stock fails to deliver that stock at settlement and describes the mechanisms to resolve delivery failures. Fails-to-deliver can occur for a number of reasons, such as human error, administrative delays and the controversial practice of naked short selling. This paper helps understand the implications of naked short selling for trade counterparties and, more generally, the effects of naked short selling on the clearing and settlement system.
That VIP feeling: Activation, measurement techniques and best practices in sport sponsorship
Authors: Wellington Spencer C. , Apostolopoulou Artemisia , Synowka David P.
Published: July 2024

The primary goal of this research was to examine current trends in sport sponsorship, particularly in the areas of goal setting, sponsorship activation and assessment of sponsorship effectiveness. The secondary goal was to identify best practices in sport sponsorship. Sponsorship executives representing North American professional sport properties, corporate partners and third-party agencies participated in in-depth interviews. Data was content analysed to produce information in three main areas of interest: sponsorship goals, activation strategies and evaluation processes and measures. The results highlight the value of customising sponsorship agreements to fit the business goals of individual sponsors as well as the strong presence of social media in sponsorship activation strategies. Greater sponsor expectations in terms of return on investment measurement and the increased role of analytics in the evaluation of sponsorship effectiveness are also uncovered. A number of best practices in sport sponsorship, practical implications and directions for future research are discussed at the conclusion of this paper.
Local economic growth and Local Enterprise Partnerships: A perspective from the UK National Audit Office
Authors: Murphie Aileen
Published: July 2024

Increasing local economic growth is critical to both deficit reduction and local government financial sustainability. The UK Government reshaped the funding and structures for local growth post 2010 and a key part of this was setting up the 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships. A well-functioning and high-achieving LEP is important to local authorities in an area, to businesses and nationally in pursuit of strong and sustainable growth, more evenly shared across the country. The question for the NAO is how far these key organisations and their operation reflect the components of value for money which taxpayers might expect. Over the last few years, the NAO has reported frequently on the progress and value for money of a variety of initiatives to encourage local economic growth and we have looked for evidence of the themes we pursue in our value-for-money work in those initiatives. Our view is that the Department for Communities and Local Government needs to think through the levers and measurement criteria it needs to understand whether value for money is being achieved by LEPs and from the newly forming landscape with devolution deals, combined authorities and locally elected mayors.
The human cost of being a ‘first responder’
Authors: Rabjohn Arthur
Published: July 2024

It is curious that among all the literature published on emergency planning and business continuity, the impact on those individuals tasked with dealing with the human cost of disasters is rarely considered. Emergency service personnel are certainly considered a vital component of any response; heroes when outcomes are successful, valiant when they do their best but fail, and occasionally incompetent when the media think it makes a good story. This paper argues that human suffering carries a cost for both responders and society.
Moving from good to great: Using smart benchmarking to improve airport performance
Authors: Goulmy Moira , Stern Sebastian , Eggenkamp Gerritjan
Published: July 2024

Airports worldwide are increasingly struggling to earn a return on investment in an industry where it is tough to find levers to create sustainable value. Attempts to benchmark the industry so far have not provided a workable solution due to industry complexity and lack of comparability. In this paper, the authors describe a method that has demonstrated its impact in the field. Part of the success of this approach lies in the emphasis placed on adjusting airports by statistically meaningful factors, before comparing them with optimal performance outcomes. Another important insight is that benchmarking different parts of the airport business requires very different methodologies. These are illustrated, first, by describing the overarching process and, secondly, by showing two methodologies for different airport value drivers, one for airport regulation and the other for commercial revenues.
The consumer in lockdown: Consumer—merchant payments in a mobility-constrained environment
Authors: Kerigan Nick
Published: July 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a broad-ranging response from governments across the world. A common theme of those responses is to lock down consumers, largely confining them to their homes. This paper explores what the COVID-19 lockdown could mean for consumer behaviours, and therefore by implication, for payments. In this period of lockdown, consumer needs do not go away — but how those needs are met and how those solutions are accessed could change radically. This situation will favour digital business models with delivery services, over physical stores, restaurants and other venues. Payment providers are likely to see a rapid change in the mix of payments towards contactless and e/m-commerce payments. This paper argues that it is important not to lose sight of the strategic implications of what could be a profound change in how we live our lives and our relationship with digital technology.
Brownfield redevelopment versus greenfield investment: Is Serbia on the way to integrated land management?
Authors: Peric Ana , Maruna Marija
Published: July 2024

The paper discusses the possibilities and practices of brownfield and greenfield investment within the Serbian urban development framework. First, a broader context of brownfield regeneration and greenfield investment in transition countries is described. After this introduction, the current urban tendencies and conditions of urban transformation in Serbia are shown. The central part of the paper illustrates a comparative analysis of both positive and negative effects of brownfield and greenfield development. The main parameters for the analysis are determined according to the principal aspects of sustainable development — economic, social, and environmental. An example used to explain the benefits of greenfield investment is that of the Ecka industrial site in Zrenjanin, Serbia. The analysis presents a critical evaluation of the current urban tendencies, and aims to estimate the extent of integration between the development processes. The last part of the paper draws out implications for similar complex urban issues.
Re-imagine retail: Why store innovation is key to a brand's growth in the ‘new normal’, digitally-connected and transparent world
Authors: Aubrey Chris , Judge David
Published: July 2024

In five years’ time, the retail environment for brands and consumers will be very different. Consumer behaviour is changing as a growing number of smarter, digitally-connected, price-conscious consumers exploit multiple shopping channels to get the product they want at the right price. Brands are under increasing pressure to keep costs down and deliver value. Against this backdrop, there is a huge opportunity for brands to re-invent the physical store so that it actively drives growth. Instead of seeing ecommerce as a threat to their traditional retail networks, brands need to build an etail operation that works alongside and supports the physical channel, as part of an integrated ‘omnichannel ecosystem’. There is also huge potential for stores to be a vital part of a more efficient, consumer-focused logistics network. The in-store environment can also be used to retail a brand's point of difference, and drive consumer preference in the face of generic, price-led, internet-only competition, and ultimately add value to the brand. Innovation, based on consumer insight and focused around store function and format, is crucial if brands want to meet the challenges of tomorrow's retail market head-on.
How Bang & Olufsen moved from the darkness to the light with influencer marketing
Authors: Edwards Alexei
Published: July 2024

Bang & Olufsen has been working with influencers for a relatively long time, although it is only in recent years that this has been done with any degree of maturity. The journey toward change commenced in mid-2019 when the company scrutinised how influencer marketing was being approached across the business. One of the initial observations was that the data trail was very limited, which made it impossible to quantify the value, if any, it was having on the business. In response to this discovery, the organisation formalised a workflow to tighten its influencer marketing efforts. Since then, Bang & Olufsen has taken a far more effective approach to working with influencers across local markets, developing guidelines as well as more stringent review and reporting processes. This has been designed with the intention to test, learn and evolve. This paper discusses this journey, outlining some of the key learnings acquired along the way.
Medical practice office location analysis and operational metric assessment using spatial data visualisation tools
Authors: Lingerfelt Dave , Dockins James
Published: July 2024

In today’s business environment leaders are often challenged with complex business decisions necessary to maintain profitable organisations and efficiently meet the needs of customers. Patient travel distance to healthcare service locations can affect utilisation and access. Organisations are turning to geographic information systems (GIS) and creating spatial data visualisation outputs using desktop data visualisation software packages to facilitate improved decision-making. These software tools can be useful when assessing current and future medical practice office locations. Investigators reviewed how data visualisation tools were used to examine a data set from a speciality medical care provider with multiple clinical locations across a major metropolitan area for better understanding and conceptualisation of key operating metrics and select future office locations.
A journey towards human-centric and AI-augmented marketing?
Authors: Lignell Malin
Published: July 2024

We are in the midst, or perhaps even the beginning, of transforming how banking relationships are being built and developed over time. At Handelsbanken, we took the first steps in digitisation in the 1960s. We were early to introduce Internet banking to customers in the 1990s and have, like the financial market at large, focused on digitalisation in recent decades. The activities that could previously only be done at a branch are becoming more and more accessible via digital channels, processes are being automated, yet there is still more to be done. This paper will demonstrate how a 150-year-old bank, which closed its marketing function in the 1970s and has essentially grown mainly through word of mouth, might approach using AI in marketing. In the discussion, the paper draws on previous experiences of introducing AI in other domains within the bank, performed by the Digitalisation and Innovation team in collaboration with other parts of the organisation. As always, the introduction of new technology, including in marketing and sales, starts with business principles, data, ethics, company purpose and values, rather than with the technology itself. It is still early days for the bank when it comes to AI in marketing, and until there is such a thing as attentive algorithms, humans will be very much involved in the process — especially if the aim is to continue being human-centric in our approach, where the outcome of an activity is beneficial for customers, the bank and society at large. And the meaning of ‘customer-centric’ needs to be defined as making the system work with the customer at the centre: cross-channel, relevant, timely and based on in-depth customer understanding. The paper will show that the rationale for closing the bank’s marketing function back in the 1970s might not be so different from the rationale to do things differently today.
A new model for brand leadership and loyalty
Authors: Thompson Anne Bahr
Published: July 2024

Brand citizenship is a new, emerging model for marketing and brand development. Sitting at the intersection of brand leadership, loyalty and ethical business practices, it emphasises equally quality product and service delivery, fair value for pricing, and connecting people to larger communities and something more meaningful than themselves. Conveying the learning from Onesixtyfourth's multi-methodology CultureQ research, this paper details the attributes that define brand leadership, loyalty and good corporate citizenship. It demonstrates that a deep faithfulness comes to brands that integrate themselves into consumers’ routines, make daily life easer and more productive, help people achieve their goals and enrich everyday living. It further illustrates how brand citizenship acts as a unifying principle for marketing, communications, product development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Introducing a 360-degree orientation for implementation that includes organisation, product, experience and service, along with examples, the paper ultimately demonstrates how brand citizenship creates a shared sense of responsibility between a corporation, its various stakeholders and consumers. In democratising CSR activities, brand citizenship strengthens reputation, enhances brand equity and increases the return on investment on CSR activities.
Housing as a driver for economic growth: Lessons learned from Birmingham City Council
Authors: Skidmore Clive
Published: July 2024

The development of new housing has the potential to make a huge contribution to the UK economy, boost GDP and deal with the shortages of housing that affect many parts of the UK. Development risk is the key deterrent facing the private sector in bringing forward new supply, and public-sector landowners can play a key role in de-risking sites and incentivising development. This case study shows how ‘build now, pay later’ models can be highly successful in de-risking development and getting the private sector to get back to building new homes. This paper sets out how one local authority has proactively incentivised private-sector developers to build homes for sale in challenging areas with a weak housing market.
Managing political risk in advanced economies
Authors: Wilkin Sam
Published: July 2024

Research in political psychology suggests that people who are angry at political conditions tend towards greater political participation and to disregard economic consequences of their choices. These characteristics can be found in voting outcomes associated with the wave of popular discontent sweeping North America and Europe. If this discontent is indeed related to inequality, as many presume, political risks in advanced economies could escalate significantly in the years ahead. Banks can address these risks by augmenting the political expertise of country risk teams, addressing political risks operationally and responding to rising risk as citizens.
Getting controls under control
Authors: Piracci Jamila , Beckmann Christopher
Published: July 2024

Organisational decision making related to compliance programmes often centres around the costs of compliance. Instead, compliance leaders within organisations should reframe the discussion around value. This paper discusses mechanisms to measure and capture the value of compliance through a tailored set of controls. It seeks to define compliance controls, discuss the consequences of ineffective controls, and describe examples of effective controls related to staffing, testing and technology, which can guide compliance leaders in updating their compliance programmes. Further, the paper proposes the development of a return-on-investment metric for compliance controls and considers how this may materialise in practice.
Modern methods of construction
Authors: Rushton Trevor
Published: July 2024

Modern methods of construction (MMC) is an umbrella term describing non-traditional building methods and materials. Innovations are often born of political necessity; a profound housing shortage, labour shortages, climate change all combine to create a high demand for construction methods that enable rapid delivery, lest waste, economic benefits and carbon reduction. For many reasons, adoption has been slow; factors such as building failures, prejudice, economic barriers, lack of performance data and customer concerns all need to be addressed. Improvements in warranty provision and a greater demand will help, but changes will also be required to building regulations to reflect matters such as fire safety and building performance. Properly designed and constructed buildings using MMC can yield significant benefits, but there are serious pitfalls, particularly if basic construction principles are ignored. This paper sets out to consider some of the benefits and risks associated with MMC and some reasons for slow adoption. Practical case studies are used to illustrate potential problem areas and to explain how modern construction does not mean that the tried-and-tested methods can be ignored. Modern methods of construction do pose challenges, but with care and persistence the rewards are there to be realised.
Using neuroscience to improve ad impact: How new research tools can advance cultural marketing
Authors: Stipp Horst
Published: July 2024

Advances in neuroscience and neuromarketing research finally allow us to assess non-cognitive processes, such as emotions, that have long been suspected to be crucial drivers of advertising effects. As we are experiencing rapid changes in technology, media usage, shopping options, consumer behaviour, and society, effective, fact-based decisions on marketing strategies are becoming more important and also more difficult. As a result, we need better, more precise tools that allow us to bring science-based evidence to our decision making. This paper reviews these new tools, the evidence for their effectiveness, and demonstrates how they can be — and why they should be — employed to improve marketing and advertising to multi-cultural and multi-lingual consumers in the USA and other countries.
AI, marketing technology and personalisation at scale
Authors: Tinkler Allan
Published: July 2024

From increased consumer demand for privacy and the deprecation of third-party cookies to expectations for more relevant and personalised advertising, the dynamics of the digital advertising industry are quickly evolving. Marketing technology today is challenged with bringing the digital ecosystem together responsibly, aligning what consumers want with what brands can offer in real time. Artificial intelligence (AI) has proven to be an effective tool for synthesising the data needed to accomplish these tasks and deliver results. How exactly is AI bridging the gap between attitudes about privacy and the need for personalisation at scale? What role do deterministic and probabilistic data have in creating a more trustworthy and relevant digital experience? And how can marketers use AI to respond to real-time events and shifts in consumer preferences? This paper will address how AI can help marketers achieve scale without third-party cookies, and why consumer preferences, varied types of data and real-time measurement are central to achieving personalisation in advertising today.
Housing disrepair: Is there a role for experts?
Authors: Reddin Patrick
Published: July 2024

Housing disrepair is viewed as a separate area of the law but it is in reality merely another forum for the subject of dilapidations. The law of Landlord and Tenant has always envisaged a liability on one of the parties to repair the premises. The extent of repair and the penalties for failing to repair vary as does the extent of work required. In common parlance, however, dilapidations appears to be limited to the commercial world and housing disrepair to a separate world of dwellings. The ‘Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales: Legal Aid Remuneration — Experts’ Fees’, set out in April 2011, describe the aim of the modern legal aid scheme: ‘to provide equality of access, and the right to representation before the law … There is a compelling case for going back to first principles in reforming legal aid, to ensure access to public funding in those cases that really require it, the protection of the most vulnerable in our society and the efficient performance of our justice system.’
Residents’ satisfaction with urban renewal projects in south-western Nigeria
Authors: Yoade Adewale O. , Onifade Victor A. , Jimoh Haruna O.
Published: July 2024

The study described in this paper examined residents’ satisfaction with urban renewal projects in south-western Nigeria. The aim was to provide guidelines that could enhance sustainable urban renewal projects in the study area. Primary data was collected from residents in selected cities in states in south-western Nigeria. The states were categorised into three homogeneous groups: Lagos/Ogun, Oyo/Osun and Ondo/Ekiti. One state was randomly selected from each group, namely Ogun, Osun and Ondo. Thus, the following capital cities where urban renewal projects were concentrated in these states were selected: Abeokuta, Osogbo and Akure. A set of questionnaires targeted at residents was administered to household heads living in one of every 20 houses in the 31 political wards. A total of 1,671 questionnaires were administered, of which 1,555 copies were retrieved for the study. Data collected was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Secondary data included maps of political wards from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), maps from ministries of their respective states, number of residential buildings from National Population Commission (NPC), among others. On average, the condition of renewal projects provided by the governments in the study area is moderately satisfactory. Construction and rehabilitation of roads was adjudged the best (3.9 out of 5). Further, a mean score of 2.8 was obtained for all the projects taken together. This shows that the respondents were fairly satisfied with the urban projects implemented in the study area. The study concluded that low level of involvement of members of the public in the planning and implementation of urban renewal in the study area did not negatively influence their acceptability of the projects executed.
An institutional approach to the custody of crypto assets: The decision making and trade-offs in crypto asset custody
Authors: Brand Thomas , Karhu Ilari
Published: July 2024

The rapid emergence of new asset classes causes many challenges that professional and institutional investors face while considering allocating funds to these assets. With the new asset class — in this case, crypto assets — challenges are often related to regulation and technological implementations. The custody of crypto assets fundamentally differs from how traditional assets — such as equities — are kept safe and sound. Because of this, it is crucial to understand the fundamental difference of crypto asset custody as institutional adoption arises and clarify different strategic, operational and regulative trade-offs between other solutions. This paper discusses different solutions for crypto asset custody and their perceived trade-offs. As the industry and the need for trust grow, it is crucial to have proper and clear regulation frameworks and operating environments for reliable custodians to thrive. To further clarify perceived trade-offs and requirements, one alternative investment fund from the Nordics was interviewed. From the interview, a few simplified assumptions were created related to the decision process of crypto asset custody solution, which institutional actors might need to consider. In addition to various strategic and operational requirements, one of the essential factors in choosing a custody solution for institutional actors (ie in the Nordics) may be the local laws and regulations related to the field of crypto assets. Local regulations may force institutional actors to rely on third-party solutions, which may have different trade-offs compared to other solutions.
So, you want to form a healthcare network - now what?
Authors: Danko-Holsomback Melody
Published: July 2024

Healthcare networks are rapidly developing owing to the rising costs of maintaining independent practice while complying with changing rules and regulations. As groups are looking to create a network, a thorough evaluation completed in preparation for participation will assure their new venture greater success. The experiences of current networks, including those associated with accountable care organisations (ACOs), provide a road map for others. Keystone ACO, LLC has more than eight years of network experience in value-based contracting within the Medicare Shared Savings Program. (Keystone Accountable Care Organization, LLC is a Medicare Shared Savings ACO currently participating in the Basic Track E risk track. Information on Keystone ACO can be found at Keystoneaco.org.) This paper presents experiences of management consideration and staffing structures within Keystone ACO. Observations that are both positive and negative, coupled with policy and regulatory statutes, can assist new networks in selecting participants, evaluating opportunities and providing the staffing resources to create a successful healthcare network. The content of this paper provides examples and thought processes behind building a successful network.
Getting it right first time: Airport privatisation south of the Sahara
Authors: Frankl Thomas
Published: July 2024

Sub-Saharan African airports are struggling to meet the increasing demand for air travel generated by the region's growing economies. With their budgets spread over a range of infrastructure expansion programmes, including airports, governments have started to look at privatisation as an attractive option for shifting airport development and operations to the private sector. This paper describes the options available to airports, looks at how governments can optimise their financial returns, and examines at the advantages and disadvantages of public–private partnerships. The paper is based on the author's presentation at the ACI's World/Africa Annual General Assembly in Marrakech in November 2011.
A room with a view: The Supreme Court and the law of nuisance
Authors: Andrews Kate
Published: July 2024

The Supreme Court has provided a landmark judgment in the law of private nuisance, overturning the decisions of the High Court and Court of Appeal, and being decided by a narrow 3:2 majority to create one of the most captivating judgments handed down in recent times for property litigation. This case concerned the appeal to the Supreme Court from the residents of luxury flats overlooked by the Tate Modern Gallery viewing platform. The viewing platform was once considered one of London’s best free viewpoints; indeed, the Supreme Court Justices describe it as a ‘striking view of London’. It has, however, caused a great deal of controversy with its neighbours over the last six years and their story has generated a remarkable amount of publicity. While it had previously been acknowledged that nuisance need not amount to physical interference, the question of whether there was, or should be, a right to prevent public overlooking had never been considered within the scope of private nuisance before.
Strategic adoption trends for automation across the revenue cycle
Authors: Raymond Amy
Published: July 2024

This paper analyses how, while many healthcare organisations are automating portions of the revenue cycle today, there is significant variation in the breadth and depth of automation technology deployed. While robotic process automation (RPA) is helpful, it also has limitations that are easily addressed by more advanced technology, namely artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Identifying best practices for the strategic adoption of advanced revenue cycle automation can help organisations leverage lean processes that reduce the cost to collect, promote strategic customer service tactics and redeploy employees to higher-value tasks that improve the overall patient financial experience.
Does brand logo matter in social media marketing? The moderating role of brand logo and brand equity in brand evaluation
Authors: Lee Sangwon
Published: July 2024

Using standardisation as a benchmark, this paper explores the effects of brand logo adaptation and brand equity on brand evaluation in specific social media settings (eg Facebook advertisements). Employing theoretical underpinnings from processing fluency theory, the study demonstrates that brand logo and brand equity jointly affect global brand evaluations in social media. Individual differences between consumers (eg their involvement) also affect the brand logo effect on global brand evaluation. The results demonstrate that (1) for the higher-value brand, standardisation of the brand logo in social media leads to better brand evaluation compared with adaptation; (2) the impact of the brand logo is more pronounced if consumers are more involved, such that standardisation of the brand logo leads to better brand evaluation compared with adaptation; and (3) information processing is the key driver underlying the interaction effect of brand logo and brand equity on brand evaluation. The managerial implications are manifold. First, depending on the brand value (high versus low), brand logos in social media advertising should be determined strategically to increase positive attitude towards the brand. Secondly, the study provides guidelines on how to influence highly involved customers. Thirdly, the research provides guidelines on how to design social media advertising for better brand evaluation.
Accessible preservation on a budget: One library’ cost-effective approach to producing and preserving quality digital content
Authors: Mindel David
Published: July 2024

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a mid-sized public academic institution that offers digital collections comprising a wide variety of visual materials as well as audio content, all freely available through the internet. Reaching this point, however, has been a multi-year process requiring significant collaboration, innovation and patience. With an emphasis on the relationship between accessibility and digital preservation, this paper explains the processes involved in creating these digital collections. Furthermore, it demonstrates how smaller institutions with limited resources can still participate in a full and balanced digitisation programme without sacrificing access or preservation.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical and travel insurance pricing and fraud risks: An exploratory study
Authors: Naseeb Hala , Diab Ahmed A. , Metwally Abdelmoneim
Published: July 2024

This study investigates how the emergence of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised many concerns in medical and travel insurance, how insurers perceive and react to this pandemic, and the role of governments in this new context, with a particular focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council region (GCC). Data has been collected using archival research and conversations with some chief risk officers (CROs), internal auditors and insurance practitioners. The authors explain how, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the GCC medical and travel insurance industry faces pricing and fraud risks that need specific planning and control. In the GCC, pricing risk is found to represent an immediate risk that is not easy to manage as historical data is not available. This causes the failure of the present risk models in anticipating the probability and severity of the claims. As a response, insurers rely on scenario analysis and brainstorming to anticipate the costs. Fraud risk is harder to manage, as traditional internal controls are inefficient. Further, both risk managers and internal auditors are currently struggling because of the ‘working from home’ situation and the massive digital transformation in all the transactions. Moreover, the time spent in fraud investigation will delay the payment for hospitalised insurance claims, which would raise concerns about the insurer’s reputation. To resolve this conundrum and manage reputational risk, most GCC insurers seek trade-offs and negotiations with the insured. The authors’ observations and analyses revealed that current responses by GCC insurers are insufficient and need enhancements. Therefore, the authors propose some potential policy solutions that would help insurers overcome both pricing and fraud risks. Through explaining medical and travel insurance risks and proposing potential solutions in this emerging market, this paper provides some practical insights for insurance researchers, insurers and CROs who are seeking solutions to pandemic-related risks.
An overview of corporate actions
Authors: Babu Lavanya
Published: July 2024

This paper is aimed at providing an overview of corporate actions, the key participants, the major categories and the flow of associated events. It also throws light on how and when the events take place. The purpose, type and impact of various corporate actions are discussed, and the paper also elaborates on the sequence of activities associated with a corporate action event.