bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unesco and the years ahead
Authors: Batisse Michel
Published: June 2007

Against a background of global change and major demographic, social, economic, political and technological trends, this article explores the future role of Unesco. Considering these major trends, this article first examines three global scenarios: optimistic liberal; pessimistic liberal; and sustainable human development. Building on the discussion of these scenarios, a possible future for Unesco is sketched out in terms of both priorities for action and management methods. The aim for this UN organization is not to set out a medium‐term strategy nor undertake a programming exercise but rather to ask often ignored questions and enliven debate on future world governance.
Materials in the making
Authors: Cahill Eamon , Hernández Hector , Bellido Felix
Published: June 2007

Materials and materials technologies are recognized to be key underpinning and critically enabling areas of R&D. Most industrial sectors and fields of technology application depend upon them. Materials research can provide new solutions capable of optimizing the application of current technologies, minimizing their negative side effects and reducing production costs. However, the long development time and slow return on materials research investments make industry reluctant to take on the associated risks. This alone suggests that policy initiatives to sustain long‐term research efforts are necessary. This article considers the policy findings of national foresight initiatives in the area of materials and material technologies.
Caught in the Web: the public interest and the battle for control of China’s information superhighway
Authors: Zhao Yuezhi
Published: June 2007

Analyses the evolution of China’s telephone and cable systems, in terms of the public interest, discussing current bureaucratic conflicts and policy debates over convergence, and construction of an independent broadband cable network. Looks in depth at China’s problems and the different problems for its citizens with regard to poverty levels and access to the Web.
Wireless technologies and infrastructures for subscriber access
Authors: Task Group 3 Technology
Published: June 2007

Addresses the current state of the art of wireless technologies and infrastructures, projects where the field will be in the next decade, and discusses some of the challenges that must be met. Elaborates on the established major areas of commercial wireless access technology in the USA, ranked by deployment extent, which are: terrestrial mobile wireless access; terrestrial broadband wireless access; and mobile satellite service.
Broad bandwidth through DSL
Authors: Task Group 4 Technology
Published: June 2007

Based on the work of TTG‐4, which defined and identified the various configurations, characteristics and patterns of deployment of broad bandwidth through DSL technology. Looks at tactical matters, implications of higher bandwidth services, home gateway products, and wireless as an increasing threat to profitable deployment of DSL.
The world in 2010: the all fibre scenario
Authors: McAdams Alan K.
Published: June 2007

Creates a future history of the evolution of the US telecommunications network infrastructure, by combining a scenario approach with the tool of concept mapping to explain how optical fibre technologies became the dominant technologies in that infrastructure.
Laissez faire or pluralism: telecommunications infrastructure in 2010
Authors: McIntyre Bernice K.
Published: June 2007

Discusses relative merits and demerits of two scenarios developed for the IEEE‐USA/Cornell workshop. Gives the public’s view and warns against underestimating the need for regulatory oversight. Concludes critical factors are the political will of the body politic, human psychology, as reflected in individual decisions and corporate actions, and the efficiency of traditional regulation in enabling the vision.
The EU’s 1999 communication review: an American perspective
Authors: Damro Chad
Published: June 2007

Highlights selected issues, co‐ordination costs, information, radio spectrum and universal service, and goes on to assess the impact of the EU’s Review on international competition and convergence. Summarizes that the future outlined in the review obliges continuing efforts to harmonize national information collection.
Access and interconnection
Authors: Scott Peter
Published: June 2007

Addresses the issues of access and interconnection and establishes that their regulation is designed to ensure interoperability and effective competition, and therefore a new regulatory framework would contain common, but flexible, principles across all communications infrastructure. Uses a table to aid in giving added emphasis to the article.
Are spectrum auctions ruining our grandchildren’s future?
Authors: Cave Martin , Valletti Tommaso
Published: June 2007

Considers the case for auctioning spectrum and evaluates the charges made by Nicholas Negroporte against the British Government, regarding taxing Internet technology. Argues that the size of the licence fee does not affect prices, and disputes the various attempts made to refute the argument. Posits the lesson to be learned by the Government is better auction design, plus rigorous competition policy implementation.
Hey presto! how to turn monopoly money into real money with a wave of the magic merger wand
Authors: Curwen Peter
Published: June 2007

Sets out to debate the declaration “contest is king” in the context of the bid for Mannesmann by Vodafone AirTouch, discussing the somewhat imprecise concepts of convergence and multimedia. Concentrates also, on a previously unanswered question – with regard to rate of exchange between a cyberspace based company and a real economy company.
Scenarios for Europe’s media industry: employment trends and changing skills
Authors: Ducatel K. , Burgelman J.‐C. , Bogdanowicz M.
Published: June 2007

Reports on a scenario exercise regarding the impact of digitisation on European media content industries, focusing on employment trends and changing skills. Concludes that the Internet will profoundly restructure but not destroy, existing industries. Highlights the needs for multidisciplinary and multimedia training programmes for the new digital age.
Harmonization and globalization: UMTS and the single market
Authors: Lembke Johan
Published: June 2007

Provides an interesting illustration of the changing relationships between the European single market, on the one hand, and globalization on the other. States the development of mobile communications in Europe reflects an overall joint objective to maintain Europe’s position in the international division of labour.
Opening the broadband cable market: a new Kingsbury commitment
Authors: Carter Donahue Hugh
Published: June 2007

Profiles broadband communications, wondering whether AOL Time Warner will keep its side of the bargain that promises to provide a universal telephone service, in exchange for accepting regulations regarding monopoly. Recommends that only by quality of service monitoring can AOL Time Warner be seen to be keeping its side of the bargain. Concludes that quality of service monitoring is a timely approach in the USA with regard to broadband communications systems.
The silent subversive: ICANN and the new global governance
Authors: Lleinwächter Wolfgang
Published: June 2007

Puts ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) into a broader political and legal context, and asks whether the new Internet corporation could be seen as a political pilot project which explores the feasibility of a global management and decision‐making system, based on a co‐regulatory model of a “new trilateralism”. Concludes the global knowledge‐based information society is dawning – but nobody can predict the future – the feeling of excitement spreads intangibly.
Non‐state governance and the Internet: civil society and the ICANN
Authors: McDowell Stephen D. , Steinberg Philip E.
Published: June 2007

Explores a number of the debates and justification used to support and advance non‐state governance of the Internet in the USA. Reviews public reports released leading up to the formation of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Concludes that the scope herein is restricted to the jurisdictions and reasoning stated in the policy papers leading to the formation of the ICANN.
Number portability in Central America
Authors: Garcia‐Murillo Martha A.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to identify policy strategies for the implementation of number portability in Central America. It attempts to determine why carriers have generally been opposed to the implementation of this service and what regulators in the region can do to allow for the provision of this service.

Design/methodology/approach

Using secondary data this paper provides an analysis of the economic and regulatory circumstances prevailing in Central America that will affect their number portability decisions.

Findings

The conceptual piece of this paper identifies the negative economic incentives such as scale economies and revenue losses that will motivate carriers to delay implementation or increase switching costs for users through fees, long‐term contracts, and quality deterioration of telecommunication services.

Research limitations/implications

Given the economic circumstances of the telecommunications sector in Central America, it is recommended that the region begin with national implementations with plans for a regional deployment. User switching fees should be kept low and number portability should be required of both wired and wireless providers.

Originality/value

Several original ideas are presented in the paper. First, it identifies the economic disincentives that carriers have to implement number portability. Second, it focuses on a region that receives little scholarly attention in spite of the fact that many things can be learned from their experiences and third, it suggest a regional implementation of number portability which has not been done anywhere else in the world.
Mobile number portability on customer switching behavior: in the case of the Korean mobile market
Authors: Shin Dong H. , Kim Won Y.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

This study seeks to investigate the effect of mobile number portability (MNP) on mobile subscribers in Korea by focusing on subscribers' perception and behavior related to MNP.

Design/methodology/approach

The study collected data on subscribers who had changed mobile carriers between the beginning of MNP (July 2003) and December 2005. The data were analyzed by statistical analyses such as ANOVA and logistic regression.

Findings

Statistical analyses in this study reveal that subscribers perceive the switching barrier still as high, discouraging subscribers from switching carriers. While MNP lowered switching costs considerably, a significant level of switching costs still remains despite MNP. Carriers develop new subscriber lock‐in strategies that make them stay with current carriers. In addition, there are hidden costs other than MNP that should burden subscribers with number portaling.

Research limitations/implications

The findings imply that the MNP has directly affected the industries to a greater extent than subscribers, which suggests implications for both regulators and industries: how to effectively enforce MNP to achieve the intended goals and how to achieve competitive advantage with MNP.

Originality/value

This research is particularly interested in investigating the effect of the introduction of MNP on subscribers' behaviors and perceptions, and therefore their motivations for changing or remaining with mobile carriers (operators) with the introduction of MNP. Although there have been many studies looking at the effect of number portability on competition at the industry level, little attention has been shown on the individual level such as subscribers' behavior or perception.
Telecoms transition in Sri Lanka: a model for small countries
Authors: Selvarajah Kidnapillai
Published: June 2007

Discusses Sri Lanka’s deregulation of its telecommunication sector and how its government opened doors for private sector participation. Uses 7 Tables to aid in further explanation of how conditions were in helping the private sector operators, foreign investment, cellular mobile telephone operators, fixed access network operators and the interconnections of networks. Concludes Sri Lanka’s telecoms network needs major upgrading and development, but even so Sri Lanka is well on its way to being the Asia‐Pacific’s more progressive market member.
Has Telecom Italia broken the mould of European capitalism?
Authors: Curwen Peter
Published: June 2007

Sets out to question whether massive restructuring of the Telecoms sector in Europe will happen and what, if any, effect this would have, based on the takeover battle for Telecom Italia, involving both domestic and foreign bidders. Concludes by analysing winners and losers in the takeover’s aftermath with mainland Europe’s possible consequences.
The German cellular market: a case of involuntary competition?
Authors: Nattermann Philipp M.
Published: June 2007

Examines empirical evidence of firm behaviour over time in Germany’s cellular market. Shows operators concentrated initially on product characteristics competition, to avoid price competition. Posits decreasing degrees of product differentiation, not increasing operator numbers, was the chief cause of price decline.
The role of information and communication technologies in democratic government
Authors: Souter David
Published: June 2007

Looks at two possibilities outcomes for information and communication technology (ICT) in the world. Argues ICT’s development potential is undervalued but its potential is increasing as technology becomes cheaper and diversifies. States ICTs offer important tools to empower the less‐well‐off communities, reducing inequalities.
Will competitors be allowed to compete? The regulation of long‐term contracts in the telecommunications industry
Authors: Kleit Andrew N. , Weisman Dennis L.
Published: June 2007

Elaborates on forthcoming change in the US telecoms industry. Wonders how competitors will be allowed to compete. Urges that regulators must focus on protecting competition and not competitors. In conclusion, reckons that consumers are best served by laws and regulations that protect the competitive process – not the competitors themselves.
Achieving consistency in grading adverse clinical incidents: does Doing Less Harm do the job?
Authors: Cowan Jane
Published: June 2007

The new National Patient Safety Agency (NPS) has set itself (and NHS organisations) an ambitious agenda. The success of the new reporting system will depend not only on concerned staff’s awareness about what constitutes an adverse incident but also on the convergence of their individual judgements of what grading to apply to those incidents. Medical Protection Society (MPS) experience indicates that raising staff awareness alone is a monumental task. Achieving convergence in the grades they assign to such incidents is likely to present even greater difficulties. Draft guidance was published in August 2001, but it does not address the crucial issue of consistency within and across organisations. The system, as envisaged, would also discourage organisations from allocating “red” codes to more serious incidents.
The significance of the tendering contract on the opportunities for clients to encourage contractorled innovation
Authors: Sidwell A.C. , Budiawan D. , Ma T.
Published: June 2007

During the tendering process for most major construction contracts there is the opportunity for bidders to suggest alternative innovative solutions. Clearly clients are keen to take advantage of these opportunities, and equally contractors want to use their expertise to establish competitive advantage. Both parties may very well benefit from the encouragement of such innovation and the availability of cheaper methods of construction than have been contemplated by the tendering authority. However recent developments in common law have raised doubts about the ability of owners to seek alternative tenders without placing themselves at risk of litigation. This common law has recognised the existence of the so‐called “tendering contract” or “process contract”. Since the tendering process is inherently price competitive, the application of the tendering contract concept is likely to severely inhibit the opportunity for alternative tenders. The “tendering contract” is automatically brought into being upon the timely submission of a conforming tender. This is contrary to the traditional view that an invitation to tender was considered to be no more than an invitation to treat, therefore submission of a tender creates obligations for neither party. Under the “tendering contract”, the owner becomes obliged to treat all tenderers equally and fairly. This paper is primarily based on the literature review. The aim of this paper is to highlight the problems with the competitive tendering process in relation to contractor‐led innovation and explore ways in which owners can develop procurement procedures that will allow and encourage innovation from contractors.
Construction scheduling using 3‐D CAD and walk‐thru
Authors: Songer Anthony D. , Diekmann James E. , Rasheed Khaled‐Al , Hays Benjamin
Published: June 2007

Three‐dimensional (3‐D) CAD and walk‐thru are promising technologies in design and construction. While gaining widespread acceptance in design, the use of 3‐D and walk‐thru during the construction phases of projects is evolving slowly. One significant barrier to acceptance includes lack of documented cost/benefit analysis. Experimental results reported herein provide quantitative evidence of the advantages of 3‐D CAD and walk‐thru for planning construction projects. The results provide strong evidence of the practical benefits and appropriate areas of application for 3‐D CAD and walk‐thru technology.
Towards implementing integrated building product libraries
Authors: Owolabi A.A. , Anumba C.J. , El‐Hamalawi A.
Published: June 2007

Electronic product catalogues and brochures are gaining popularity, but there is little agreement on content, format, and searching methods. This limits their usability and integration with existing construction software tools. This paper examines a product‐modelling approach to delivering building product information and describes a proposed multi‐tier client‐server environment. ISO/STEP and IAI/IFC building product models are considered to facilitate representation, exchange, and sharing of product information. The proposed architecture incorporates scalability with middleware components that would
provide single or few points of entry to integrated product information. This paper is part of a research project that builds on the results of related projects including Construct IT Strategy, PROCAT‐GEN, Active Catalog, COMBINE, and ARROW, towards implementing the required software components.
Design management in practice: testing a training initiative to deliver tools and learning
Authors: Bibby Lee , Bouchlaghem Dino , Austin Simon
Published: June 2007

Drives to improve industry performance are being hindered by difficulties in managing the construction design process, preventing the UK construction industry from delivering projects on time, to budget and to the specified quality. This paper reports on a research project at a major UK civil and building design and construction company to develop and deploy a training initiative capable of making significant improvements to its design management performance and deliver benefits to many project stakeholders. It describes the development, content and trailing of the training material and a suite of 21 design management tools to drive change throughout the organization. The paper is likely to be of interest to those involved in design management and the development of tools and practices to help the industry improve design management performance.
An examination on the sustainable competitive advantage of private finance initiative projects
Authors: de Lemos Teresa , Almeida Luis , Betts Martin , Eaton David
Published: June 2007

The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is a long‐term concession of services used by the UK Government to capture private capital to fund public projects. This model is being increasingly applied in Portugal and the assessment of its competitive advantage is very important to Portugal. The empiric study undertaken both in Portugal and the UK has permitted some conclusions to be drawn already. PFI has developed the way the construction industry is managed, and has increased the competitive advantage of UK construction industry acting in the four vectors of competitive advantage: innovation, quality, efficiency and attention to the client. Innovation occurred through new designs that were more efficient and cost effective through the project’s whole life cycle. There is the widespread use of management tools: whole life cycle costing, risk management and benchmarking. PFI also improved communication in the UK construction industry, forcing interaction and feedback from all stakeholders in a project.
Improving existing delay analysis techniques for the establishment of delay liabilities
Authors: Ng S.T. , Skitmore M. , Deng M.Z.M. , Nadeem A.
Published: June 2007

When construction delays occur, it is necessary to ascertain the liabilities of the contracting parties and to direct the appropriate amount of resources to recover the schedule. Unfortunately, delay analysis and schedule compression are normally treated as separate or independent aspects. This paper examines the feasibility of integrating the delay analysis and schedule compression functions into a broad‐scoped two‐stage process. The main issue is shown to be the kind of delay analysis required for each stage of the process and seven existing techniques are illustrated for use in conjunction with schedule compression. Since the current form and assumptions of delay analysis techniques are unlikely to provide the necessary level of feedback reliability for recovering delays, it is necessary to modify these techniques by incorporating some means of delay type scrutiny, excusable delays updating, and treatment of concurrent delays. The modified delay analysis techniques can serve as a basis for negotiation between the client and contractor and hence improve the interdisciplinary relations.
Improving project processes: best practice case study
Authors: Sarshar M. , Haigh R. , Amaratunga D.
Published: June 2007

This paper describes SPICE (Structure Process Improvement for Construction Enterprises), which is a process improvement framework for construction organizations. SPICE is a five level step by step maturity framework. It assesses an organization’s performance against levels of process maturity, identifies their strengths and weaknesses and highlights their improvement priorities. SPICE was developed in close collaboration with the construction industry and tested on real projects. This allowed the framework to take into account practical industrial needs. This paper provides an outline of the SPICE framework. It focuses on a best practice case study of SPICE implementation on a partnering relationship between a major client and a major contractor. The paper details the SPICE assessment and fact finding process. Based on this assessment, it identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the partnering operation and provides specific guidelines for project improvement. Main strengths of the partnering included: (1) close physical proximity of client, design and project management teams; (2) top level commitment to improve productivity; and (3) adoption of manufacturing philosophies and methods in order to deliver improvements. Main weaknesses included: (1) lack of integration between systems and processes of the partnering organizations; (2) presence of cultural and incentive differences between the partnering organizations, which led to fragmentation of the project teams; and (3) little evidence of process evaluation and improvement efforts by the teams. Based on these, some recommendations are made for future improvements.
An IFC‐based space analysis for building accessibility layout for all users
Authors: Wu S. , Lee A. , Koh W.W.I. , Aouad G. , Fu C.
Published: June 2007

An accessible or inclusive building design does not disable any user; it should enable the independent and equal use of a facility by all. With the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), the consideration of issues such as access and inclusive design become even more important. Space analysis is an important aspect of the current accessibility assessment. Existing space analysis techniques, such as space syntax, have tackled the local and global accessibility of a building layout using graph theory. However, there are difficulties in the automatic transfer of design information from architectural drawings into a space analysis tool. With the recent development of the building information model and Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs), it is now possible to automate the transfer process. This paper demonstrates the automation process and how it can be used in accessibility analysis.
4DCAD‐Safety: visualizing project scheduling and safety planning
Authors: Chantawit Damrong , Hadikusumo Bonaventura H.W. , Charoenngam Chotchai , Rowlinson Steve
Published: June 2007

Safety planning in construction project management is separated from other planning functions, such as scheduling. This separation creates difficulties for safety engineers to analyse what, when, why and where safety measures are needed for preventing accidents. Another problem occurs due to the conventional practice of representing project designs using two‐dimensional (2D) drawings. In this practice, an engineer has to convert the 2D drawings into three‐dimensional (3D) mental pictures which is a tedious task. Since this conversion is already difficult, combining these 2D drawings with safety plans increases the difficulty. In order to address the problems, 4DCAD‐Safety is proposed. This paper discusses the design and development of 4DCAD‐Safety application and testing its usefulness in terms of assisting users in analysing what, when, where and why safety measures are needed.
Defining, collecting and using property performance indicators: The UK higher education sector experience
Authors: Hedley Christopher , Smith Andrew , Whelan Jim
Published: June 2007

The Higher Education Funding Councils in the UK are working with higher education institutions (HEIs) to develop a reliable, accurate and relevant set of Key Estate Ratios (KERs). A successful pilot study was carried out in 1998/99, with a national project ‐ including full data collection from all HEIs ‐ currently under way. The project has developed 14 ‘critical’ estate ratios for senior managers, which have been endorsed by the sector. The current national project has collected data from all HEIs for the last two years to enable the 14 KERs to be produced for each institution. In addition, the project has refined certain of the definitions which have been subject to consultation with the sector. The KERs ‐ and supporting data ‐ have been welcomed by senior managers and are being used actively across the sector. The structure of the underlying system, and the results that emerge, have considerable potential benefits to other property sectors.
The impact of minimising specifications and management at the University of Hawaii
Authors: Kashiwagi Dean , Parmar Darshit , Savicky John
Published: June 2007

The University of Hawaii was searching for modifications to their construction delivery process that would increase the value and performance of construction and the efficiency of their project management group. The university had been plagued by poor construction performance (not on time, not on budget, and not meeting quality expectations). Their goal was to do more construction (with fewer project managers) and minimise the risk of construction non‐performance. The university wanted to study the impact of specifications, construction management, inspections and the existing low‐bid process on construction performance. The Performance Information Procurement System (PIPS) was selected due to its documented results in delivering high performance. There were two objectives for implementing the PIPS process. The first objective was to determine whether the university could procure higher quality construction projects by minimising management, regulations, qualifications, user specifications and inspections. The second objective of the test would be to document the impact of the PIPS process and satisfaction level of the different parties (contractors, designers, procurement personnel, lawyers, facilities engineers and university leaders) involved in this process.
Whole life cost of post offices in Japan, based on a survey of actual conditions and consideration of investment correction
Authors: Minami Kazunobu
Published: June 2007

A complete enumerative study was made of the operating and maintenance costs of the 1,255 delivery post offices throughout Japan in 2000, in order to grasp the characteristics of the whole life costs of post office buildings. The operating and maintenance cost of five standard post offices were also monitored for 20 years. This paper demonstrates how the acquired knowledge of the whole life costs is used for the decision making of the facility investment. After analysing the relationship between the rebuilding cycle, and rebuilding, repair and improvement costs, by changing the present rebuilding at age 40 to building additions at age 40 and rebuilding at age 60, it became apparent that a significant reduction in facilities investment costs could be expected.
Energy management: How to deliver cost savings in a time of rising rates
Authors: Moran Mike , Berman Marc , Morasch Launa
Published: June 2007

Keeping energy costs contained during a time of rising rates takes ingenuity, coordination, perseverance and educated staff. Facility managers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory did not invent something new, they simply took advantage of resources that were already available to lower energy and water consumption. This case study shows how their efforts over the past few years have provided cost savings to the company and national recognition of their efforts. Overall, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has reduced energy consumption per square foot by 33 per cent in office buildings and by 42 per cent in laboratory buildings.
Adapting security operating procedures to threat levels
Authors: Patterson David G.
Published: June 2007

This paper provides readers with an in‐depth look at the steps that must be taken to provide the proper planning for the implementation of physical security measures at various threat levels. Readers will be provided with techniques for developing security operational concepts for various threat levels, developing alarm response procedures for security personnel, developing security patrol response procedures, maintaining operational procedures, and training security staff. This paper is designed for the security or facility manager who wants to confirm that their physical security programme meets their facility’s security needs and is consistent with the threat analysis for each facility. Readers will also receive instruction on how to improve their security systems by concentrating on how the security personnel will use the security systems to mitigate the risks. This paper will be useful for managers who already have physical security systems in place or who are planning to install or upgrade a security system.
An examination of the stages of change construct for health promotion within organizations
Authors: Berry Tanya R. , Plotnikoff Ronald C. , Raine Kim , Anderson Donna , Naylor P.J.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the organizational stages of change construct of the transtheoretical model of behavior change.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on organizational and individual stages of change for tobacco reduction, physical activity promotion, and heart healthy eating promotion were collected from service provider, senior management, and board level members of provincial health authorities across three data collection periods.

Findings

Results revealed significant correlations between individual and organizational stages of change for management level respondents, but inconsistent relationships for service providers and no significant correlations for board level respondents. There were no significant differences between respondent levels for organizational stage of change for any of the promotion behaviors. In general, changes in stage failed to predict whether there was a belief in an organization's capability of addressing any of the health promotion activities. There was also a large amount of variance between individual respondents for most health authorities in their reported organizational stages of change for physical activity and healthy eating.

Practical implications

Based on the results of the present study it is concluded that there is little evidence that the organizational stages of change construct is valid. The evidence indicates that assessing individual readiness within an organization may be as effective as asking individuals to report on organizational stages of readiness.

Originality/value

This paper reports on the validity of the organizational stages of change construct in a health promotion context and provides information for those who are considering using it.
Fault‐lines between policy and practice in local partnerships
Authors: Marks Linda
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore gaps between policy and practice in relation to the involvement of voluntary and community sector (VCS) members in local strategic partnerships (LSPs), using the example of inequalities in health.

Design/methodology/approach

Documentary analysis; semi‐structured interviews with VCS representatives from a sample of LSPs in one region of England; semi‐structured interviews with key researchers and national stakeholders.

Findings

National policy imperatives to expand the role of the VCS in decision‐making and to make LSPs an important avenue for addressing inequalities in health are not always translated into practice. VCS members are at the sharp end of tensions in LSPs between thematic and neighbourhood approaches, local views and strategic priorities and between democratic and participatory approaches to decision‐making. Effective engagement in addressing inequalities in health requires a strategic approach across the LSP which is reflected in the priorities of each of the constituent partnerships.

Research limitations/implications

This is a snapshot of LSPs at one point in time and local interviews are restricted to one region of England.

Practical implications

The article illustrates good practice and barriers to VCS involvement in addressing inequalities in health through LSPs. This is relevant to a range of public health partnerships.

Originality/value

The views of VCS members on addressing inequalities in health through LSPs have not previously been researched, despite their key role. Lessons are relevant for multi‐agency strategic partnerships with a public health focus in England and internationally.
Bridging the gap?
Authors: South Jane
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The creation of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) was part of a range of measures to make the NHS more patient‐centred. The purpose of this paper is to present a critical analysis of PALS through examining the impact on major stakeholder groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper starts by examining the drivers for reform and the significance of PALS in the wider policy context. Key issues for implementation are then discussed including access to information, independence, cultural change in the health service and relationships with the voluntary sector. Research literature on the provision of advice in health care settings is drawn on.

Findings

Taking a critical perspective, the paper argues that the current model of PALS can never succeed in bridging the gap between users and the health service and will end up merely defending service interests. It concludes by arguing for an alternative model of development based on fostering strong partnerships with the community and voluntary sector.

Practical implications

This paper highlights critical issues for service development and delivery, including examining the impact on service users and the voluntary sector.

Originality/value

PALS is a very significant development in the health care provision, operating at the interface between the service and the public and yet its development has attracted little critical comment. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the new service and proposes an alternative model of development.
Organizational leadership and its relationship to regional health authority actions to promote health
Authors: Barrett Linda L. , Plotnikoff Ronald C. , Raine Kim
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine organizational leadership and its relationship to regional health authority actions to promote health.

Design/methodology/approach

Through use of four previously developed measures of Perceived Organizational Leadership for Health Promotion, this paper focused on leadership as a distributed entity within regional health authority (RHA) jurisdictions mandated to address the health of the population in the province of Alberta, Canada.

Findings

First, examination of differentials between organizational levels (i.e. board members, n=30; middle/senior management, n=58; and service providers, n=56) on ratings of the four leadership measures revealed significant differences. That is, board members tended to rate leadership components significantly higher than service providers and middle/senior managers: from across all 17 RHAs; and in low health promotion capacity and high health promotion capacity RHAs. Second, regression analyses identified that the leadership measures “Practices for Organizational Learning” and “Wellness Planning” were positively associated with health authority actions on improving population heart health (heart health promotion). The presence of a “Champion for Heart Health Promotion” and the leadership measures “Workplace Milieu” and “Organization Member Development” were also positively associated with health authority actions for health promotion. A subsidiary aim revealed low to moderate positive relationships of the dimensions of Leadership, Infrastructure and Will to Act with one another, as proposed by the Alberta Model on “Organizational Capacity Building for Health Promotion.”

Originality/value

This paper, conducted on the baseline dataset (n=144) of the “Alberta Heart Health Project's Dissemination Phase”, represents a rare effort to examine leadership at a collective organizational level.
Once the cat is out of the bag: Whether the doctrine of selective waiver applies to preserve privilege when information is voluntarily disclosed to the SEC or other government agencies
Authors: Raylesberg Alan
Published: June 2007

The passage of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act has heightened awareness of the importance for companies to conduct internal investigations in appropriate circumstances when wrongdoing is suspected. When such an investigation is conducted, the challenges faced by the company may include whether to disclose voluntarily the results of the internal investigation to governmental agencies and regulators, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Department of Justice, who are investigating the suspected wrongdoing and potentially threatening civil or criminal charges against the company. The decision as to whether to disclose such results is riddled with potential pitfalls, including the concern that disclosing information in this manner will waive the attorney‐client privilege or work product protection with respect to third parties, opening the door to a wave of potential lawsuits. This article discusses the doctrine of selective waiver, which allows a company to disclose privileged information to the government without waiving the privilege as to third parties. Some case law, including some recent district court opinions, supports the notion of selective waiver, at least in circumstances where the privileged information has been disclosed pursuant to an appropriately crafted confidentiality agreement. The majority view, however, is that once privileged information is disclosed to anyone, the privilege is lost and waiver therefore occurs with respect to all third parties, irrespective of whether a confidentiality agreement exists. Recognizing the conundrum posed by this unsettled area of law, the SEC recently has proposed
Does the SEC focus on the right things?
Authors: Cohen Saul S.
Published: June 2007

This article presents an argument that the SEC, in its attempts to control corporate information disclosure, too often focuses on discrete bits of information as the driving source of investment determinations, and in doing so runs the danger of overlooking the fluid and constantly changing nature of the economy, information flow, and investors’ methods for assessing their risks and making investment decisions. The author questions whether the SEC provides value for money; and whether its greatest strength ‐ the channeling of information for the use of investors through an agreed process of corporate reports and public releases ‐ may be its greatest flaw and sometimes may lead it to focus on the wrong things.
Regulation FD ‐ What the SEC’s recent enforcement actions teach about avoiding liability
Authors: David Todd R. , Holley Oni A.
Published: June 2007

Recent SEC actions, including its first settlement of an enforcement case, provide specific guidance and some surprising points of emphasis concerning the implementation of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure). Although there is nothing inherently unlawful about one‐on‐one meetings with securities analysts or institutional investors, the SEC’s actions demonstrate the risks associated with one‐on‐one meetings, particularly with sell‐side analysts for public companies and potentially for the analysts themselves. Executives and analysts alike could benefit from consulting with counsel about the best ways to perform the valuable function of discussing a company’s business without violating Regulation FD. Several measures should be considered, including, among others, a review of prior filings, education about what types of information is normally considered material, and a predetermined view about areas that will be “out of bounds” to questions.
Hedge fund marketing by broker‐dealers questions and comments in response to recent developments
Authors: Butowsky Michael R. , Gibbons Michele L.
Published: June 2007

This article discusses the implications of heightened regulatory attention to hedge funds by focusing on the practical questions that are on the minds of many in the hedge fund industry and, possibly, even in the thoughts of the regulators themselves. The primary regulatory condition relevant to the offer and sale of interests in hedge funds is the prohibition on general solicitation or general advertising by the sponsor of the hedge fund. Under NASD rules, brokers must (1) provide balanced disclosures in their promotional efforts; (2) perform reasonable‐basis suitability determinations; (3) perform customer‐specific suitability determinations; (4) supervise associated persons selling hedge funds and funds of hedge funds; and (5) train associated persons regarding the features, risks, and suitability of hedge funds and funds of hedge funds. Internal controls, including supervision and compliance, must include written procedures to ensure that sales of hedge funds and funds of hedge funds comply with all relevant NASD and SEC rules. Promotion of hedge funds must be balanced by a fair presentation of the risks and potential disadvantages of hedge fund investing
Research analyst conflicts of interest: Implementation of the rules
Authors: Winer Samuel J. , Kroll Amy N. , Phillips Arden T.
Published: June 2007

The National Association of Securities Dealers and the New York Stock Exchange recently have adopted and then amended new rules relating to research analyst conflicts of interest. However, open questions remain, and these two self‐regulatory organizations (SROs), in collaboration with the SEC, must provide further guidance on the application of these rules to various day‐to‐day situations such as an analyst receiving a customer inquiry concerning investment banking capabilities, a firm’s participation in an investment banking syndicate after the firm’s analyst has begun research coverage of the issuer, procedures for analysts to conduct due diligence, publishing research reports on an issuer while a firm is engaged in a distribution of the issuer’s securities, and analysts’ limitations during distribution quiet periods.
NASD’s focus on mutual fund abuses
Authors: Goldsmith Barry R. , Gluck Ira D.
Published: June 2007

Investor trust in the mutual fund industry has been undermined seriously in recent months by the wide range of abuses brought to light by federal and state regulators. While NASD does not have jurisdiction or authority over mutual funds or their advisors, it does regulate the sales practices of broker‐dealers that sell mutual funds to investors. It also has jurisdiction over the broker‐dealer affiliates of mutual fund complexes that are part of the underwriting and distribution chain for investment company securities. Accordingly, broker participation in illegal or unethical sales practices is a very direct concern of NASD. The organization has approached these problems on two different fronts. The first is in the area of rulemaking proposals for better and more extensive disclosure. The second is through tough and swift enforcement in the areas of compensation arrangements, revenue sharing, breakpoints, and after‐hours trading and market timing.
Shareownership: The foundation of corporate governance
Authors: Carlson Robert , Valdes Charles , Anson Mark
Published: June 2007

In this article, the authors explore the origins of share ownership and its implications for corporate governance. They trace some of the current problems with governance structure that exist in public companies and what solutions can be applied to correct these problems. The authors also offer some guidance on what it means to be a shareowner. They do not advocate changes to the securities laws and regulations. Rather, they argue for a change in investor attitudes‐a frame of mind that reminds investors of their ownership rights and duties.
Processing swaps: controls, challenges, and considerations
Authors: Corbett Francis P. , Healy Girard M. , Poudrier Kenneth R.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to discuss the business and operational considerations and controls involved when derivatives, specifically swap contracts, are used as investment vehicles. Overall, the paper attempts to provide the baseline for understanding swap processing requirements and guidance to professionals who have compliance and oversight responsibility for these investment products.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach focuses on the core understanding of the swap investment vehicle and the procedures, controls, and operating environment required to process them correctly.

Findings

Historically, firms have addressed the procedures and controls surrounding swap investment vehicles as a reaction to processing errors. Financial services companies and their service providers need to proactively review their portfolios, procedures, and controls in an effort to mitigate and manage the risks associated with the processing of swap contracts.

Originality/value

Based on first‐hand experience working at and/or with asset managers and service providers, the paper has endeavored to present current and thought provoking information for management consideration on this hot‐button issue.