bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Military construction projects: comparison of project delivery methods
Authors: McWhirt Darren , Ahn Junyong , Shane Jennifer S. , Strong Kelly C. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeDesign‐build project delivery will likely yield benefits when it is a rational choice by a program director or owner's construction manager. It is not well understood whether those benefits translate to construction programs where design‐build is mandated for the vast majority of project types. Such a determination for military construction (MILCON) is the purpose of this paper.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology for the research involved a comparison of mean performance metrics for design‐build and design‐bid‐build MILCON projects. Once an appropriate sample of projects was identified, project data were corrected for project location, size and time‐value‐of‐money.FindingsMilitary design‐build projects did experience a lower total cost of change orders as well as a reduced change order cost associated with field changes. Also, statistical analysis demonstrated no significant difference in project performance metrics based on facility type. These results indicate that design‐build project delivery method can work equally well on all types of MILCON projects and is an effective system for cost and scope control, but that some of the expected schedule performance gains underlying the decision to use design‐build will be difficult to achieve on all MILCON projects.Originality/valueThe paper presents advantages and disadvantages of utilising design‐build to MILCON projects by facility types.
Measuring the performance of office buildings maintenance management in Malaysia
Authors: Elyna Myeda Nik , Nizam Kamaruzzaman Syahrul , Pitt Michael 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the key aspects of performance measurement for maintenance management of office buildings, in order to enhance maintenance service delivery.Design/methodology/approachA mixed method was adopted with the selection of five buildings as the case studies. In total, 1,230 questionnaires were distributed to the end‐users of the buildings.FindingsThis paper proposes a performance measurement system that is proved to be practical and suitable to measure the effectiveness of maintenance service delivery of office buildings.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could focus on developing a performance measurement system from a strategic approach.Practical implicationsThe proposed performance measurement system is anticipated to facilitate the evaluation process for maintenance providers, as it has taken into account the key elements of a maintenance management system.Originality/valueThe outcomes of this research are significant in their own right but also serve as a platform for future research in this area.
Impact of the Doha round negotiation on Bangladesh agriculture
Authors: Deb Uttam , Al Amin Muhammad 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to quantify the potential impact of the latest World Trade Organization (WTO) agricultural draft modalities circulated on December 2008 on the economy of Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachThe study conducted simulation exercise using partial equilibrium model – Agricultural Trade Policy Simulation Model – to estimate the likely impact of the Doha round negotiation on Bangladesh agriculture.FindingsOne of the major findings of the study is that the world prices of agricultural commodities are likely to increase by 5 per cent if proposed modalities are implemented. The estimated results reveal that Bangladesh is likely to lose a considerable amount of economic welfare. This is due to a larger amount of loss (consumer surplus and government revenue) compared with a smaller amount of (producer surplus) gain. However, the study estimates that aggregate production of agricultural commodities, and production and export of most of the agricultural commodities will increase. On the other hand, import of agricultural commodities will decrease.Practical implicationsThe study puts forward a number of suggestions with regard to Bangladesh's negotiating strategy for advancing its interests in the ongoing WTO negotiations on agriculture.Originality/valueThis study is the first ever attempt that has identified a number of negotiation strategies for Bangladesh using partial equilibrium modelling technique with respect to the latest WTO agricultural draft modalities.
The trade‐labour and trade‐environment linkages: together or apart?
Authors: González‐Garibay Montserrat 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to challenge the common wisdom that environmental and labour concerns have been treated in a similar way by the multilateral trade regime by assessing the two subjects' patterns of inclusion in regional trade agreements and in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).Design/methodology/approachAn historical overview of the institutional developments at the regional and the bilateral level is provided. The selected analytical perspective focuses primarily on institutional change rather than on a normative analysis of the righteousness of linkage.FindingsThe article finds that the common knowledge placing both labour and the environment in the same position at the WTO originates from the alliances between organised labour and environmentalists during the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations. However, that alliance did not translate into the inclusion of both subjects at the WTO, which incorporated the environment while rejecting labour.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings make clear that more academic attention should be paid to the differential treatment to non‐trade issues by the WTO by raising questions on the political factors that influenced the WTO Member States' decisions.Originality/valueThe article's added value lies in its comparative approach and its focus on WTO policies. So far, the degree of penetration of non‐trade subjects at the WTO has not been comparatively assessed, and the academic debate on non‐trade issues at the WTO has been dominated by speculative approaches that underplay the importance of actual political dynamics.
How can very small SMEs make the time for training and development: skill charting as an example of taking a scenistic approach
Authors: Lyons Paul , Mattare Marty 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to make clear some of the issues and problems that confront the small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) when it comes to the training and development of employees. The paper aims to present a training methodology specifically for the small business.Design/methodology/approachThe scenistic method, which involves trainees directly in the creation of strategies to improve performance in some domain, has been introduced in prior literature, and is proposed as particularly appropriate for the small business environment.FindingsVery small enterprises provide workplace training in a significantly different manner than do larger organizations. Usually, the owner‐manager conducts whatever training there is and the training provided addresses only what is needed at the moment rather than be part of an overall training strategy. Workplace training correlates with employee satisfaction and lower turnover. However, often the very small enterprise does not have the resources to provide such a training program. This paper proposes an on‐the‐job training model for very small organizations.Practical ImplicationsThe scenistic method provides an inexpensive training opportunity that is tailored to specific needs. It may be conducted on site. It is flexible. Both the owner/manager and the employees play key roles in the training experience. It is experiential and hands on. And, it provides a model that is adaptable across several skill needs.Originality/valueThis paper introduces a training method to SMEs that can be easily adopted and used. Training and development of employees matters. Studies show that competitive advantage is compromised if employees are not adequately trained. Competition is demanding enough but when employees of the SME are less well equipped per knowledge and skills than their counterparts in larger businesses, the small firm is likely further disadvantaged. A trained, knowledgeable employee adds value to the firm and helps the firm to be more competitive. The scenistic method will allow the very small SME to effectively address these critical issues.
FDI, economic decline and recovery: lessons from the Asian financial crisis
Authors: Moon Hwy‐Chang , Cheng Joseph L.C. , Kim Min‐Young , Kim Jin‐Uk 
Published: July 2011

PurposeWhile many studies have investigated the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on a host country's economic development, little research has been done on the role of FDI as related to economic decline and recovery. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the economic effects of inward and outward FDI during turbulent times.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a theoretical argument postulating that FDI will have a stabilizing effect on a nation's economic growth during crisis and also at times of recovery. Hypotheses were advanced and tested with data collected from affected economies during the Asian financial crisis using a fixed‐effect panel regression analysis.FindingsResults confirm that both inward and outward FDI stabilizes a country's economic growth during times of a financial crisis. Countries that had higher levels of FDI prior to the crisis experienced a milder recession and a more gradual recovery. This stabilizing effect, however, is found to be more robust for FDI‐stock than for FDI‐flow.Social implicationsThis paper reveals that FDI has a stabilizing rather than an accelerating effect on a country's economy growth during both periods of crisis and recovery. It contradicts the common belief that FDI would help speed up, not stabilize or dampen the uptake of economic activities during the recovery period. This finding will help policy makers educate the public and set realistic expectations about the economic impact of FDI.Originality/valueThis paper makes original contributions by uncovering the complex and unexpected role of FDI as related to a nation's economic decline and recovery during a financial crisis. The findings have important implications for both international business scholars and public‐policy decision makers.
Gravity, the English language and international business
Authors: Hejazi Walid , Ma Juan 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the merits of the view that the English language has emerged as the dominant language in international business. If there is merit to this view, then the ability to speak English and its role as a lingua franca in the global economy would imply that countries which have English as an official language should have a benefit over non‐English‐speaking countriesvis‐à‐vistheir abilities to undertake international business.Design/methodology/approachWithin an augmented gravity model framework, the importance of the English language in explaining bilateral foreign direct investment (FDI) data within the OECD is tested. In addition to English, all other common official languages within the OECD are also tested. Furthermore, the linguistic distance to English is used to test whether closeness of languages to English enhance international business activity.FindingsThe results indicate that English‐speaking countries within the OECD do have a benefit that comes with the English language. Furthermore, countries whose official languages are linguistically close to English benefit from the special role played by the English language. These results therefore highlight the importance of the English language in deploying multinational strategies, even in countries whose official language is not English.Research limitations/implicationsThese results therefore indicate the importance of the English language in international business. As such, having a proficiency with English within any corporation should enhance that corporation's ability to engage in international business.Originality/valueSharing a common language with FDI partners enhances the ability to communicate, and hence enhances FDI between the countries. This paper extends this evidence to show that when the common language is English, the common language effect is strongest.
Family and television influences on materialism: a cross‐cultural life‐course approach
Authors: Moschis George , Sim Ong Fon , Mathur Anil , Yamashita Takako , Benmoyal‐Bouzaglo Sarah 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine whether the development of materialistic values in early life reflects cultural norms or is the outcome of media and family influences. It seeks to examine the role of family communication and television, which were found to promote materialistic values in individualistic countries, by assessing their effects on youths in four countries that represent the Eastern and Western cultures: Japan, Malaysia, USA, and France.Design/methodology/approachThe study used an anonymous self‐administered survey of young adults aged 18 to 32 years in two diverse Eastern countries: Japan and Malaysia (total n=351); the sample size was approximately the same for the Western countries of USA and France (n=315). The samples were equivalent with respect to demographic characteristics. The Malaysian questionnaires were available in both English and Malay. Measurement scales included in the Japanese questionnaires come from available translated versions. The French questionnaires were subjected to back translation.FindingsThe findings suggest that the influence of the socio‐oriented family communication structure on materialistic attitudes in Western cultures might be indirect by affecting the youth's patterns of television viewing. The findings also suggest that concept‐oriented family communication has no effect on youth's development of materialistic values, regardless of cultural background.Originality/valueThe findings suggest that television might not be as important a socialization agent in the development of materialistic values of youths in collectivistic Eastern countries as it has been in individualistic Western countries
Strategic change and firm performance: the moderating effect of organisational learning
Authors: Vithessonthi Chaiporn , Thoumrungroje Amonrat 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe primary purpose of this research is to review and discuss the potential associations among strategic change, organisational learning, and firm performance, and to propose a conceptual model to investigate such relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe literature on the strategic change‐performance relationship was explored with the emphasis on elaborating the effects of frequency of strategic change on firm performance. In addition, a moderating role of organisational learning on such a relationship is introduced.FindingsFrom the literature review, it is proposed that the relationship between strategic change and firm performance is an inverted U‐shape. Extremely frequent and infrequent strategic changes are deemed to be detrimental to firm performance. However, the research reveals that the strategic change‐performance relationship may alter due to the moderation of organisational learning.Research limitations/implicationsGiven the conceptual nature of this paper, a review of relevant literature and a conceptual model are presented with suggestions for future empirical study. This paper also extends the strategic change‐performance research by advocating an inverted U‐shape relationship as one plausible explanation for inconsistent findings found in past literature.Practical implicationsManagers should try to understand their organisations and implement an appropriate level of strategic change in order to maximise the firm's overall performance. In addition, a significant role of organisational learning in supporting firms to manoeuvre in today's increasingly dynamic and competitive environment is highlighted to managers.Originality/valueThis paper attempts to explain: why firms might attain different levels of performance provided that they undergo various degrees of strategic change (in terms of frequency); and what factors contribute to the variations in organisational performance among firms that have undertaken the same number of strategic changes during a given period of time.
Information theoretic approach for constructing a super data envelopment analysis
Authors: Al‐Nasser Amjad D. , Rahim Y. Al‐Atrash Abdel 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a robust statistical procedure for evaluating and measuring the relative efficiency of multiple decision‐making units. This robust approach is based on the generalized maximum entropy principle.Design/methodology/approachInformation‐theoretic estimation approach is employed in this paper and a comparison is made with the classical relative efficiency (CCR) by using a non‐parametric bootstrap simulation. A real data application on the research performance of faculty members at Yarmouk University is presented.FindingsResults indicate that the relative efficiency based on the generalized maximum entropy estimation approach is more accurate, costs less and is more efficient than the CCR relative efficiency.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to use of Shannon's entropy formulation, it is still critical whether the results also hold with cross entropy or a higher order entropy formulation for modeling additive, multiplicative or partial relative efficiency.Originality/valueA super data envelopment analysis has been introduced for finding superior decision‐making units (DMU) by solving only one nonlinear programming system, which could be considered as a flexible tool for modeling multiple input‐output DMU.
Investigation into the effects of solid lubricant on the surface characteristics of some metals during orthogonal machining
Authors: Ojolo Sunday J. , Damisa Olatunde , Iyekolo Oluwatoyin 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to explore the use of solid lubricant during orthogonal machining of carbon steels. This is a pioneer work in Nigeria. Most works have been on oblique cutting using conventional oil as lubricants.Design/methodology/approachDifferent steels (low, medium and high carbon) were machined at different cutting conditions and tool geometries to determine the effects on surface characteristics while applying solid lubricant.FindingsThe results showed considerable improvement in the surface finish with the use of solid lubricant. There was also a decrease in surface roughness values as compared to wet machining.Research limitations/implicationsFurther works on solid lubricant's effects on cutting force and residual stress could be done.Practical implicationsFrom the findings of this work, solid lubricant use can be advocated as a better alternative to conventional cutting fluid. It is easily recoverable from the chips after machining.Originality/valueSo far, in Nigeria, solid lubricant has not been exploited as coolant during machining. This paper will be a platform for other researches on solid lubricants as coolant during cutting/machining in Nigeria.
Development of digital product catalogue for enabling agility in a manufacturing organisation
Authors: Vinodh S. , Arvind K.R. , Rajanayagam D. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the application feasibility of information technology (IT) for achieving agility in a typical manufacturing organisation.Design/methodology/approachA literature study was conducted. It was found out that IT is not fully utilised for achieving agility in certain traditional manufacturing sectors. An implementation study was conducted in an Indian electronics switches manufacturing organisation to identify the causes of this insufficient utilisation. Finally, a feedback session was conducted to explore the practitioners' views of this research.FindingsThe outcome of this research indicated the feasibility of adopting IT for infusing agility in contemporary manufacturing organisations.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was conducted in only one electronics switches manufacturing organisation situated in India. This may lead to the impression that the findings from this research may not represent all manufacturing organisations. However, the environment prevailing in the above organisation is similar to that which is prevailing in any other contemporary manufacturing organisation. Hence, the outcome of this research could represent other manufacturing organisations situated throughout the world.Practical implicationsThe research reported in this paper has shown the way of adopting IT for achieving agility and examined the hindrances that have to be overcome in future to integrate IT in practical scenarios.Originality/valueSignificant researches have been pursued in agile manufacturing and IT fields. However, no researcher has attempted to examine the practicality of adopting IT for infusing agility in a practical scenario. Hence, this work is original and valuable.
Today's pupils, tomorrow's engineers! Pedagogy and policy: a UK perspective
Authors: Clark Robin 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a critical analysis of UK Government policy in respect of recent moves to attract young people into engineering. Drawing together UK and EU policy literature, the paper considers why young people fail to look at engineering positively.Design/methodology/approachDrawing together UK policy, practitioner and academic‐related literature the paper critically considers the various factors influencing young people's decision‐making processes in respect of entering the engineering profession. A conceptual framework providing a diagrammatic representation of the “push” and “pull” factors impacting young people at pre‐university level is given.FindingsThe discussion argues that higher education in general has a responsibility to assist young people overcome negative stereotypical views in respect of engineering education. Universities are in the business of building human capability ethically and sustainably. As such they hold a duty of care towards the next generation. From an engineering education perspective, the major challenge is to present a relevant and sustainable learning experience that will equip students with the necessary skills and competencies for a lifelong career in engineering. This may be achieved by promoting transferable skills and competencies or by the introduction of a capabilities‐driven curriculum which brings together generic and engineering skills and abilities.Social implicationsIn identifying the push/pull factors impacting young people's decisions to study engineering, this paper considers why, at a time of global recession, young people should select to study the required subjects of mathematics, science and technology necessary to study for a degree in engineering. The paper identifies the long‐term social benefits of increasing the number of young people studying engineering.Originality/valueIn bringing together pedagogy and policy within an engineering framework, the paper adds to current debates in engineering education providing a distinctive look at what seems to be a recurring problem – the failure to attract young people into engineering.