bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards improved labour standards for construction of minor works in low income countries
Authors: Cotton A.P. , Sohail M. , Scott R.E. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe construction industry is one of the largest employment providers in the developing world. It is also one of the least safe industries, with a high frequency of accidents resulting in financial losses, injuries, disabilities and deaths. Decent working conditions and resulting improved worker satisfaction are key to sustainable productivity in the industry. International standards safeguarding construction workers are abundant and ratified by most low‐income countries. This paper aims to examine if these standards are adequately reflected in contracts for construction works; and if they not, how contract clauses can be improved and put into operation.Design/methodology/approachBased on research undertaken in Ghana, India and Zambia from 2000 to 2003, this paper explores the aforementioned points. The paper comprises analysis of contract clauses from the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) and developing country contracts, along with case study findings.FindingsThis paper finds that more legislation is not the urgent issue; incorporating existing legislation into construction contracts and making clauses operational is a priority. This paper identifies practical and cost‐effective procedures for bringing stakeholders together to implement and monitor labour standards, with the aim of contributing to the overall goal of providing “decent work” for all workers in the construction industry.Originality/valueThis paper explores issues around implementing labour standards in construction of minor infrastructure works in low income countries and concludes with suggestions on how best to put contract clauses into operation through a process approach.
Estimating as a profession in UK construction
Authors: Hackett James A. , Hicks Carolyn M. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeBoth quantity surveyors (QSs) and estimators have pivotal roles in the profitability of construction contracts; however, only the QS is classified as a professional. Preliminary examination of the responsibilities of the estimator and the level of qualification required in comparison with the QS suggests that the current failure to recognise estimating as a profession may be an anomaly. The purpose of this inquiry is to consider the role of the estimator relative to the accepted criteria attaching to professional status.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this, available definitions of a profession were distilled into core criteria which were then used to compare QSs and estimators in terms of remuneration, education and professional representation.FindingsA statistical analysis on each of these criteria suggested that there was no significant difference in terms of salary offered or education required by employers. Further investigation, however, did reveal a considerable difference in educational and professional opportunities available to QSs. With regard to the key defining criteria of a profession and the consideration given by employers, the results indicate that there is no difference between the two groups.Originality/valueGiven the information revealed by this research it may therefore be the case that the current standing of estimators should be reconsidered with the purpose of upgrading estimating to a professional status.
Construction duration of residential building projects in Germany
Authors: Stoy Christian , Dreier Frank , Schalcher Hans‐Rudolf 
Published: January 2007

PurposePlanning the construction duration is an important consideration in any construction project. Indicators that permit an early forecast of the duration provide the basis for such planning. To date, such a basis has been lacking in the German‐speaking area. This paper aims to discuss this matter.Design/methodology/approachIndicators are identified that enable a forecast of the construction duration. In addition, a simple regression model is provided to assist in selecting construction speed indicators. This empirical analysis relies on the data, collected on a uniform basis, from 115 German residential buildings.FindingsProject size (measured in m2 gross external floor area) and project standard (measured in € building construction cost/m2 gross external floor area) are found to be significant drivers of construction speed. It appears that project size, in contrast to the project standard, is positively correlated with construction speed.Originality/valueAn expansion of the data pool is required for more extensive study. On the one hand, this means including relevant drivers that have only been insufficiently considered to date, such as project complexity, project environment, management‐related attributes. On the other hand, the data pool must also be expanded to include other types of use.
Plant managers' perceptions of plant security systems
Authors: Carmichael R. , Edwards D.J. , Holt G.D. 
Published: January 2007

PurposePlant theft represents a serious and growing problem for the construction sector, with the present value of UK losses estimated to be in excess of £1 million per week. Along with other stakeholders, plant managers play a key role in helping to counteract this problem, for example, by employing plant security systems (PSSs). PSSs use a variety of mechanisms to provide differing levels of protection and represent an equally diverse range of cost alternatives. In view of this diversity, this paper aims to survey a sample of plant managers to obtain their perceived importance of PSS appraisal criteria.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire elicited the perceptions of managers regarding the importance of seven generic PSS groupings by reference to six PSS assessment criteria. Data were analysed using (importance and rank) derived weighting indices to develop a PSS importance matrix.Findings“Level of deterrent” (offered by a PSS) was consistently considered a key criterion as was “resistant attack time”. Maybe surprisingly, cost was only found to be a superlative criterion for one of the six PSSs considered. The overriding indication is that plant managers afford more importance to “practical” PSS assessment criteria than they do to financial ones.Originality/valueIt is proffered, that PSS manufacturers should be mindful of these observed perceptions concerning the relationship of system functionality versus cost, in striving to deliver into the plant market (and encourage use of) “optimal” security systems.
Facilitating knowledge pull to deliver innovation through knowledge management
Authors: Maqsood Tayyab , Walker Derek H.T. , Finegan Andrew D. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss how knowledge‐pull from external knowledge sources could systemise knowledge exchange as a knowledge management (KM) initiative and to argue how it could contribute to successful application of innovative techniques.Design/methodology/approachSoft System Methodology (SSM) used to carry out a case study on a specific innovation diffusion initiative within an organisation.FindingsConstruction organisations need to actively participate in knowledge activities possibly organised through universities or other research bodies. This interaction bridges the gap between research and its practical implementation. Much useful academic research goes unnoticed because of a lack of interest by construction organisations in attending knowledge events such as conferences, symposiums or run joint research programs with the academia.Research limitations/implicationsStudy recommendations have specific relevance to the organisation under study rather than being more widely generalisable. Only one innovation diffusion example was focused on. However, the SSM approach is generalisable in the study of problems and issues raised and to identify a proposed solution.Practical implicationsThis research highlights the gap that exists between academic knowledge and its practical use by construction organisations. Construction organisations and external knowledge sources (e.g. academia) need to think positively about how to make collaboration more practically useful to organisations.Originality/valueThe research provides a template of how one major construction contractor benefited from its approach to participating in external knowledge activities and explains using SSM how it successfully used knowledge‐pull for delivering significant benefit from diffusing an externally developed innovation.
Risk and maximum acceptable discount levels
Authors: Drozdenko Ronald , Jensen Marlene 
Published: January 2007

PurposeStudies on optimal discount levels have sometimes yielded contradictory results, leaving practitioners with unclear direction. This paper proposes clarifying the optimum discount levels.Design/methodology/approachThis study asked 453 consumers to choose their own optimal discount levels (from 0‐80 percent) for eight product categories across two distribution channels (physical store and online merchant). Then they were asked if the reason if they did not always select the deepest discount.FindingsOnly 13 percent selected the 80 percent discount level for each product and each channel, despite seeing the exact price they would pay at each level. In support of attribution theory, 88 percent of the consumers attributed at least one cause for the deepest discounts. Most frequently cited were concerns about quality problems, damaged goods, or stolen goods. Consumers also opted for lower discount levels from the online merchant than from the physical store. There was a wide divergence by product category, with consumers selecting smaller discounts on tires and cereal and the deepest discounts on shirts.Research limitations/implicationsGiven the divergence across product categories, it is unknown how consumers would respond to categories not studied.Practical implicationsThis paper has revealed strong consumer perceptions about discount risks and the tradeoffs consumer make between risk and financial benefit across different product categories, both online and off – which can help marketing practitioners in setting discount levels.Originality/valueBy allowing consumers to select their own preferred discount levels, it is shown that most customers attribute some risk to them.
Online consumer communities and their value to new product developers
Authors: Pitta Dennis A. , Fowler Danielle 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo explore an emerging area in internet practice that has implications for new product developers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper integrates concepts including a range of recently published (1993‐2004) theoretical works and ongoing case developments in internet practice.FindingsProvides information and action approaches to new product developers that may increase the success and accuracy of resulting new products. Outlines the benefits of monitoring and participating in online consumer communities and offers practical suggestions for maximizing their value in the product development process.Research limitations/implicationsThe theoretical concepts that form the foundation of the paper appear to have a significant application to the product development process but have not been tested empirically.Practical implicationsUncovers a previously unrecognized source of direct consumer input and cooperation in the design and valuation of new products.Originality/valueThis paper describes the nature and application of online consumer communities to an important marketing process. It offers the potential of improving the success of new products in the marketplace reducing significant waste.
Brand sickness and health following major product withdrawals
Authors: Eagle Lynne , Hawkins Jacinta , Kitchen Philip J. , Rose Lawrence C. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe mandatory withdrawal of almost 2,000 complementary and alternative medicines, manufactured under contract on behalf of multiple brand names, primarily in the Australian and New Zealand markets, provides an opportunity to examine the impact on sales levels and both brand and category loyalty of a major product confidence crisis. Sets out to deal with this issueDesign/methodology/approachFocuses on the impact of the events surrounding the recall within both the Australian and New Zealand markets and links the events surrounding the recall with the scant international literature relating to brand management during crisis situations. Then reports on findings from an investigation of New Zealand consumer perceptions of the sector after the recall event.FindingsThe substantial impact on both category and brand loyalty in the face of prolonged non‐availability of some products is revealed, as is the lack of contingency planning across product supply and marketing communications dimensions. Concludes with recommendations for the future management of brands during such events.Practical implicationsLessons that may be learned in relation to brand management during crisis situations are stressed, along with implications for cross‐border brand management.Originality/valueThe dynamics of the complementary and alternative medicines market have not been comprehensively researched. In addition, the extant literature regarding brand management during crisis situations is not extensive. This paper therefore makes a contribution towards the understanding of an under‐researched market sector and also the impact on brand management of major disruption to consumer confidence and product availability.
How do markets behave? The adjustment of price endings
Authors: Aalto‐Setala Ville 
Published: January 2007

PurposeNominal prices are known to have a distinct impact on pricing, which is normally seen in the form of 9‐ending prices. This article aims to study the effect of nominal prices on pricing patterns using data from a real‐life experiment: the currency changeover to the euro.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines quantitatively the impact of the euro changeover on the price endings used in grocery retailing.FindingsThe results show that the length of the price has a marked impact on price endings. The adjustment of price endings is also found to be a very slow process.Research limitations/implicationsThe study examines pricing two different market situations within one industry (grocery retailing) in one country (Finland) and shows that there is a difference between pricing patterns in different market situations. It is clear that more research is needed to obtain a more detailed picture of pricing patterns by studying diverse market situations.Originality/valueThis article gives a better understanding of the effect of price length on price endings based on real‐life data sets from before and after the euro changeover. The results are robust because the studied markets and, thus, the culture remained the same over the study period. Further, this article for the first time examines the adjustment of price endings in a market change caused by a currency changeover.
New product development at Eastern Spice & Flavorings
Authors: Franzak Frank , Pitta Dennis 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide an insight into the spice industry.Design/methodology/approachUses Eastern Spice & Flavorings as a case study and focuses on its international product development group.FindingsDespite the company's origins as a family‐owned small business, it competes in the global marketplace. To compete successfully, it must localize its blends. Until the company can establish new product development (NPD) centers in its major overseas markets, regional teams from Richmond that could travel to foreign markets to aid product development would be a solution to increasing sales.Originality/valueDiscusses Eastern Spice & Flavorings and its new product development.
An empirical examination of brand loyalty
Authors: Møller Jensen Jan , Hansen Torben 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis article aims to measure relative attitude as a latent two‐dimensional second‐order factor and to investigate the relationship between relative attitude and repeat purchasing.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model of attitude‐behaviour consistency and brand loyalty is proposed and empirically tested in the context of frequently purchased consumer goods. Structural equation modelling was used on survey data from 395 households to test the model and corresponding hypotheses.FindingsThe results support the conceptualization of relative attitude as a composite of purchase involvement and perceived brand differences and also support the hypotheses proposed in our research model. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed at the end of the article.Originality/valueSurvey data from 395 households was used to test the model and corresponding hypotheses.
Consumer price knowledge in Turkey – before and after the changeover of the national currency
Authors: Schneider Helmut , Kelemci Schneider Gülpınar 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe first objective of the paper is to determine whether the national currency changeover in Turkey has altered the level of consumer price knowledge. The second objective is to investigate the level of consumer price knowledge in an emerging economy, quite apart from the currency changeover.Design/methodology/approachThe paper looks at price knowledge by comparing consumers' price estimations with actual market prices. Data was collected, designed as a panel interview, at two points of time. The price data contains the actual prices of six selected products, from 27 retail stores in Istanbul. The choice of retail outlets was conducted in such a manner, that they provide a highly representative image of prices in Istanbul. The price estimation was obtained at personal interviews (599 individuals) outside a shopping situation in different parts of Istanbul.FindingsThe analysis suggests that the price knowledge of Turkish consumers has not deteriorated since the currency changeover. On the contrary, it has slightly improved. According to the second objective, the price knowledge of consumers in an emerging economy turned out to be relatively poor, although the level of price differentiation is rather low in the market.Research limitations/implicationsThe first limitation is the context of price data, due to the specific economic infrastructure of an emerging country such as Turkey. The second limitation relates to the investigated product categories and refers to all of the results on the relatively poor price knowledge of Turkish consumers. Regarding further research, it would be useful to establish whether the price knowledge of Turkish consumers will improve in the future on account of the inflation rate, which has been declining noticeably during the past few months. In addition, other methods of measuring price knowledge can be used to determine whether the results for Turkish consumers are stable. Finally, including informal traders could raise the explanatory power of data about the price knowledge of Turkish consumers.Originality/valuePrice knowledge in an emerging economy is poor. The effect of a currency changeover on price knowledge depends on the conversion arithmetic.
Explorations in course‐casting: podcasts in higher education
Authors: Bryans Bongey Sarah , Cizadlo Gerald , Kalnbach Lynn 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo explore the benefits, challenges, and impact of podcasting in higher education and also to provide educators with anecdotal and practical advice and information on how to create and distribute podcasts.Design/methodology/approachIn support of a traditional college course, a biology professor implemented podcasts to explore the value of coursecasting and its role in student learning. Direct observation, attendance counts, and server statistics supplement a survey that was distributed to 246 students involved in the project. Five survey questions focused on whether the podcasts affected the students' attendance of class, students' preferences for listening to and processing of lecture material, and students' perceptions of the academic impact associated with the podcast availability.FindingsTaken together, the responses to the main questions from the survey and the student self‐reported comments strongly suggest that having podcast lectures available to students does not lead to large declines in class attendance. For the specific courses that were examined by this survey, students overwhelmingly preferred the actual lectures to the recorded podcasts. In addition, the large majority of students were using the podcasts to increase their understanding of material covered in specific lectures. All of these findings seem to indicate that students perceive the podcasts as really useful additional resources available to help them succeed in their courses rather than as a substitute for more traditional methods of learning.Practical implicationsIn addition to research‐based findings on the podcasts' positive impact on the teaching and learning process, this paper provides practical, “how‐to” information on the creation of podcasts.Originality/valueThis study describes experiences and presents original research relating to the podcasting of college biology lectures. Research and observations respond to the question of whether podcasts detract from the educational process. For the prospective podcaster, this paper also shares specific methods, strategies, and how‐to information involved in the creation of an academic podcast.
Creating domain independent adaptive e‐learning systems using the sharable content object reference model
Authors: Watson Jason , Ahmed Pervaiz K. , Hardaker Glenn 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis research aims to investigate how a generic web‐based ITS can be created which will adapt the training content in real time, to the needs of the individual trainee across any domain.Design/methodology/approachAfter examining the various alternatives SCORM was adopted in this project because it provided an infrastructure that makes it possible to deliver personalised learning dynamically using re‐usable learning objects.FindingsThe results show that a system which presents a student with content that is supplementary to an authored course should be accompanied by a tool to help the trainee's navigation. For such a tool, key functionality would be: first, to identify learning objects that would take the student towards the ultimate learning goals; second, to suggest a pathway through the authored course structure and additional learning objects to the student; and finally, to present the student with different choices of pathway, such as fastest, most comprehensive and most popular routes.Originality/valueThis investigation has taken another approach of adapting the course by displaying an adapted set of learning objects to the trainee, instead of using a linear course structure.
Too quick? Log analysis of Quick Links from an academic library website
Authors: Ghaphery Jimmy 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo study the use of “Quick Links”, a common navigational element, in the context of an academic library website.Design/methodology/approachTransaction log files and web server logs are analyzed over a four‐year period to detect patterns in Quick Link usage.FindingsProvides information about what Quick Links have been used over time, as well as the relationship of Quick Link usage to the rest of the library website. Finds generally that Quick Link usage is prevalent, tilted toward a few of the choices, and is drawn largely from the library homepage as referral source.Research limitations/implicationsLog analysis does not include IP referral data, which limits the ability to determine different patterns of use by specific locations including services desks, off‐campus, and in‐house library usage.Practical implicationsThis paper is useful for website usability in terms of design decisions and log analysis.Originality/valueThis paper targets a specific website usability issue over time.