bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Selecting the best strategic practices for business process redesign
Authors: Hanafizadeh Payam , Moosakhani Morteza , Bakhshi Javad 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a methodology which defines best strategic practices for business process redesign (BPR).Design/methodology/approachA total of 29 best practices are studied and evaluated from the literature. The philosophy of TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method is applied in recognizing the alignment of best practices with the organization strategy. The indicators of cost, time, quality and flexibility are used as the criteria to measure the degree of alignment of best practices with organization strategy. The proposed method is tested in a case study of the registration process at a university.FindingsThe recent investment failures in BPR projects show that the relation between best practices and organization strategies should be highly considered. It is indicated that process redesign can meet organization strategies through recognizing and implementing best strategic practices.Research limitations/implicationsConsidering the fact that pundits working in the field of BPR are not accessible, the previous published findings and results have been used in this research.Practical implicationsOwing to the limitations on budget and time, organizations are able to consider only those best practices which play a critical vote in helping them to achieve their goals. Best strategic practices list provides managers and business analysts with a precious resource in BPR projects.Originality/valueThis paper presents a new methodology for introducing best strategic practices for BPR. A strategic best practice is a new term in the BPR literature.
Measuring employee satisfaction in new offices – the WODI toolkit
Authors: Maarleveld Maartje , Volker Leentje , van der Voordt Theo J.M. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a toolkit to measure employee satisfaction and perceived labour productivity as affected by different workplace strategies. The toolkit is being illustrated by a case study of the Dutch Revenue Service.Design/methodology/approachThe toolkit has been developed by a review of literature and tools for data‐collection. The toolkit has been tested and explored further in a number of case studies.FindingsThe toolkit includes a working environment diagnostic tool for an indicative or diagnostic evaluation, a list of key performance indicators that can be used for benchmarking purposes, and a space utilization monitor to measure the occupancy of workplaces. Data collected with the tool provides organizations with a clear picture of user experience of the working environment on its own, in comparison to other organizations and in comparison to the goals of the organization. Employees are also asked to rank the issues in order of importance to overall satisfaction and perceived productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThe modules on economic added value and costs to explore the facility costs effects of different office concepts have not been tested yet.Practical implicationsThe toolkit and the data from case studies can be used by managers to support decision making on interventions with regard to the organizations' accommodation policy, re‐designing or adaptation of the present building, or moving to another building. Scientifically, the data from case studies and cross case analyses can be used to explore and test hypotheses about the best possible fit between people, processes and place.Originality/valueAlthough a number of data collection tools have been developed earlier, the strength of the present toolkit is its integral approach and is applicability to both traditional and innovative offices.
An audit of the content and quality in briefs for Swedish healthcare spaces
Authors: Elf Marie , Malmqvist Inga 
Published: July 2009

PurposeInitial briefs (programs) were examined in order to obtain an overview of current practice in documenting the briefing process for new health care buildings in Sweden.Design/methodology/approachAn audit instrument was developed and used to examine briefs for the content and quality of information and to determine whether and to what extent the information was comprehensive and patient‐oriented.FindingsThe results indicate that few strategic briefs make use of evidence to support their statements. Moreover, few briefs had an explicitly patient‐focused goal for the project or measurable outcomes.Originality/valueThis new audit approach can be applied in various organisations and over time to improve the briefing process and create clearer goals and guidelines.
Emergency preparedness and disaster recovery in the US post 9/11
Authors: Hardy Victoria , Roper Kathy O. , Kennedy Suzanne 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine how facility managers currently plan for emergencies and disaster recovery. Although preparation and drills have been demonstrated to improve lifesaving and business recovery capabilities, many organisations still do not have these plans. The scope of unpreparedness and reasons for lack of preparation were key issues, along with preferred methods to gain support for setting up plans.Design/methodology/approachOnline surveys sent to members of facility management (FM) groups within the USA were utilised. Qualified FM professionals made them relevant survey groups.FindingsWith 78 percent of respondents responsible for their organisation's emergency preparedness planning, only 87 percent in 2007 and 92 percent in 2008 actually have these plans in place. Reasons for lack of plans included “other priorities taking precedence” and “lack of personnel to address the issue”. Provision of sample or boilerplate templates could result in improved performance.Research limitations/implicationsUS FM professionals were surveyed. Results in non‐US locations may provide different information; locations with strong mandates for emergency/disaster plans would be expected to have better results. Industry types were not identified in this initial research data; however, future research could help to align specific industries' needs.Practical implicationsDespite 11 September and other tragedies, many organisations are still delaying or not understanding the importance of emergency/disaster recovery plans for their employees and business continuity.Originality/valueDirect feedback from FM professionals was utilised to understand emergency preparedness/disaster recovery planning. This is the first survey to report details of the many organisations still lacking these critical plans.
Risk management system implemented at the US Army Medical Command
Authors: Kashiwagi Jacob , Sullivan Kenneth , Kashiwagi Dean T. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeTo describe the implementation of the Performance Information Risk Management System (PIRMS) to indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) general contractors in the US Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) 26 sites, 150 projects/year, and $250m/year maintenance and repair construction program.Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypothesis that facility owner management, control, and decision making is a source of risk, and that the transfer of risk and control to the contractors will minimise the risk.FindingsInclude minimising construction management by 33 percent, motivated contractors to regulate their own contracts, minimised unresolved issues by 50 percent, minimised contractor generated change orders by 20 percent, and moving from doing quality control to quality assurance.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors see no constraints in the implementation of PIRMS in other organisations. This paper reflects the perceptions of the Arizona State University research team, and publicly available test results, and not the views or policy of the USA Medical Command.Originality/valueIncludes the use of dominant performance/risk information from the contractor's weekly risk reports to create accurate performance and risk information on all ongoing projects, the IDIQ contractors, and on the client's/buyer's personnel. Risk information is being used to streamline a large organisation's organisational structure, minimising decision making and transactions, and transferring risk and control to the party who can minimise the technical risk.
Facilities management: factors influencing the role of Nigerian estate surveyors
Authors: Adewunmi Yewande , Ajayi Cyril , Ogunba Olusegun 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe paper examined the factors influencing the role of estate surveyors in facilities management (FM).Design/methodology/approachThe study administered questionnaires on 247 practicing estate surveyors within Lagos metropolis, Nigeria in 2006. These were selected through alphabetic systematic sampling of estate surveyors from the list of financial members with designations (2004/2005) of the Lagos state branch of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. The survey achieved a total response rate of 85 percent. Statistical tools employed in analyzing data were relative importance indices and factor analysis.FindingsThe findings suggest that training in FM and type of business of the organisation managed by the estate surveyor were significant factors that influence surveyors' participation in areas of core competence in FM.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to time constraints, authors have only studied one location. No urban area can be representative of all cities in the country. Nevertheless, the results of the study should at least apply to the majority because most of the estate surveyors in Nigeria are based in Lagos.Originality/valueThe paper introduces an empirical approach to the discussion on role of estate surveyors in FM in Nigeria.
The effectiveness of the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization
Authors: Varella Marcelo D. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of World Trade Organization (WTO) performance, between 1995 and 2007, as well as to discuss the main proposals for its improvement.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the paper presents the legal predictability of the system; compliance with its procedural stipulations in regard to its proposed timeframes; and the participation of different groups of States within this system. The timeframes are compared with those that really happened. Thus, there is an analysis of the effectiveness of its decisions and the necessity to induce compliance and retaliation. Finally, the main proposals to change the system are discussed.FindingsIt is concluded that most of legal procedures are accomplished as previewed by DSB, but the system itself is highly dependent of the action of States, who need time to negotiate. It is also possible to conclude that there is a high level of effectiveness and States prefer to respect the decisions of DSB and maintain the legitimacy of the system as a whole than keep advantages in specific matters.Originality/valueWhen the WTO was founded, there was an effort to generate a system guided by legal rules. The DSB has made efforts to maintain a high level of legal preciosity. However, it is clear that this system is still very limited by the traditional method of negotiation among States. The implementation of a rule‐oriented system contributes to greater democratization of access to justice and, of course, in a limited way, the principle of sovereign equality of States. Finally, the majority of proposed changes attempt to apply the logic of domestic courts to an international body, assuming a level of organization of the international community as a whole that still does not exist. Others proposals suggest increasing the politicization of the system, which is also not appropriate.
Trade in financial services in developing countries: a case of the Bangladesh financial sector
Authors: Masudur Rahman Mohammad , Arjuman Ara Laila 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the opportunities and challenging prospects for liberalizing financial services in various ways under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), in view of Bangladesh's interests and concerns.Design/methodology/approachDifferent tabular and graphical approaches and critical investigation are conducted to analyze the impact of financial liberalization to explore challenges and opportunities of liberalizing financial sector under GATS framework.FindingsThis paper finds that although Bangladesh does not make any commitment under GATS, the rate of liberalization in the financial sector has been quite rapid. As one of the least developed countries (LDCs), Bangladesh should have the flexibility to make commitments as well. From the present status of financial sector liberalization, this paper recommends that Bangladesh should adopt commitments because any non‐commitment sends the wrong signal to the global market and may reduce foreign direct investment.Practical implicationsThe recommendation of this paper is very practical for trade policy for liberalizing financial sector in Bangladesh as well as other developing countries which already made great liberalization of this sector but did not make any commitments under GATS.Originality/valueThis paper is the first attempt to analyze the financial sector liberalization under GATS framework in the LDCs particularly in Bangladesh financial sector.
Philosophical basis of the legal theory underlying international commercial arbitration in the Middle East region
Authors: Abu Sadah Muhammad 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on the regional perceptions of the Middle East region in relation to international commercial arbitration and show how these perceptions influence the attempts to harmonise the modern international law in the Middle East region.Design/methodology/approachLegal positivism as a general philosophy, mainly influenced by John Austin, is used as an analytical tool in order to identify the general trends from Western and Middle East cultural perspectives that relate to international commercial arbitration.FindingsThe paper shows how the Middle East region has different social and legal values between the West and the Middle East region in respect to the primarily three general and important features of the law – namely, normative, institutionalised, and coercive. Positivism legal theory shows that such success in the context of western European commercial law is inappropriate in the Middle East where different cultural norms make its wholesale and unqualified transferability problematic, notwithstanding its acceptance in highly generalised terms.Practical implicationsThe paper generates a proposition that reforms are more likely to succeed if adjustments to the cultural environment are made. Thus, it supports the argument that regional values can add to the global activities of the harmonisation process of international commercial arbitration law.Originality/valueThe paper provides a clear understanding of the guidelines for the reform and development of Middle East international commercial arbitration. Legal culture should be taken into consideration if a successful reform is to be achieved.
Effectiveness of economic cooperation between the EU and the ACP countries
Authors: Evrensel Ayse 
Published: July 2009

PurposeSince the First Yaoundé Convention (1963‐1969), the European Union (EU) has been implementing its development policy in the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the trade and financial flows between the EU and the ACP countries and attempt to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of the EU's development policy during the pre‐Cotonou era (1970‐2000).Design/methodology/approachExtensive trade, governance, and external financing data are gathered about 79 ACP countries during the period 1970‐2004. Using the index of standardized trade performance, diversification indices, and regression analysis, the effectiveness of trade preferences and financial assistance in the ACP countries is quantified.FindingsThe results indicate that the preferential trade arrangements between the EU and the ACP countries had neither substantially increased the ACP countries' exports to the EU nor diversified these countries' export structure. Additionally, even though the ACP countries received substantial external financing, these countries continued suffering from the lack of development‐enhancing political and judicial institutions. The empirical results suggest that governance characteristics such as higher corruption and lower democratic accountability have adversely affected the ACP countries' growth rates.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper focuses on the effectiveness of the economic cooperation between the EU and the ACP countries during the pre‐Cotonou era. The Cotonou agreement that went into effect in 2000 has changed the EU's approach to the ACP countries significantly. However, the recent nature of this agreement imposes restrictions on data availability, which forces us to exclude the Cotonou era from most of our empirical evaluation.Practical implicationsThe empirical results of the paper demonstrate the relevance of governance‐related factors or institutions in developing countries. Neither preferential trade nor financial assistance seems to enhance the growth performance of these countries if they lack political transparency and accountability.Originality/valueThis paper provides empirical evidence that the change in the EU's approach to its economic partnership with the ACP countries is warranted. Because the empirical results suggest that the pre‐Cotonou economic cooperation between the EU and the ACP countries did not contribute to the ACP countries' economic growth, the EU's decision of shifting the focus from trade preferences to governance‐related issues in the ACP countries can be viewed as justified.
Job insecurity and motivation among women in Nigerian consolidated banks
Authors: Chovwen Catherine , Ivensor Emilia 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the predictors of perceived job insecurity and motivation among 286 female participants in merged and acquired banks in two capital cities of South West Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe participants in this survey were accidentally sampled for convenience of participants and ease of administration because of the tight work schedule. Data collected were analysed using regression and t‐test statistics.FindingsThe results of the research indicated joint significant influence of job characteristics and organizational justice in women's perceived threat of job loss and motivation. Specifically, organizational justice (procedural justice) exerted a strong influence on the dependent variables for women in both acquired and merged banks.Research limitations/implicationsUse of accidental sampling is a limitation. Further, studies should adopt other sampling techniques that may capture a significant sample of the population.Practical implicationsThese findings implied that unless changes are managed in structured, systematic and constructively in ways perceived by women to be fair, organizations will remain far from realizing the benefits of restructuring and downsizing.Originality/valueThe paper offers insight into job insecurity and motivation among women in the context of Nigerian consolidated banks.
The boardroom gender paradox
Authors: Pesonen Sinikka , Tienari Janne , Vanhala Sinikka 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to research on gender and corporate boards of directors by focusing on how female board professionals construct particular notions of accessing and succeeding in boards.Design/methodology/approachA discursive perspective is offered, based on conceiving gender as something that is “done” in social interaction. In the spirit of critical discourse analysis, the talk of female board professionals, produced in interviews in the Finnish context, is analyzed in‐depth.FindingsTwo discourses are located in the talk of female board professionals: the discourse of competence and the discourse of gender. It is argued that the discourses constitute a boardroom gender paradox, which is characterized by several contradictory elements. By conceptualizing and illustrating this paradox, the study scrutinizes the elusive ideal of women's large‐scale entry into corporate boards.Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies should make use of the insights developed, and apply them to cross‐societal comparative research.Practical implicationsFor corporate decision‐makers, the findings suggest a rethinking of how “competence” is defined and applied.Originality/valueParadox has rarely been addressed in the literature on gender and corporate boards. Understanding how the women interviewed (re)construct a boardroom gender paradox offers a unique contribution to the literature.
Motivational factors in a push‐pull theory of entrepreneurship
Authors: Kirkwood Jodyanne 
Published: July 2009

PurposeEntrepreneurial motivations are often defined as fitting into “push” or “pull” categories. To date, research has focused on the factors motivating men and women separately. What is missing from this research is an analysis of the comparative differences in these motivators of men and women, and an exploration of what this means in terms of push‐pull theory. This paper aims to contribute by applying the existing theory on push and pull factors; and using a gender comparative approach to explore the nature of potential gender differences within entrepreneurial motivations.Design/methodology/approachThis exploratory study uses a gender comparative approach in semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews with 75 entrepreneurs (28 women and 47 men).FindingsFindings suggest that both women and men appeared similarly motivated by a combination of push and pull factors. Three gender differences were found in the incidence of motivations: women were more influenced by a desire for independence; women considered their children as motivators more so than did men; men were influenced more by job dissatisfaction than were women. The discussion focuses on analysing the nature of gender differences rather than merely their incidence.Research limitations/implicationsA number of further research directions and questions are posed as a way of extending the knowledge in this area. Implications for managers and entrepreneurs are also presented.Originality/valueContributes to push‐pull theory by offering a gender comparative approach to advance theory.