bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of real estate interventions on organisational performance
Authors: de Vries Jackie C. , de Jonge Hans , van der Voordt Theo J.M. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeReal estate is increasingly used as a “fifth” resource to improve the performance of organisations by a positive image, cost reduction, increased employee satisfaction and increased labour productivity. A clear conceptual framework and standardised key performance indicators (KPIs) are needed to understand and monitor the effects of real estate interventions. This paper aims to explore the added value of real estate interventions to organisational performance, theoretically and empirically, including unforeseen positive and negative side‐effects.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual framework was based on an extensive literature survey and has been empirically used in a survey among 47 Institues of Higher Professional Education in The Netherlands and additional in‐depth interviews at nine institutes. The effects of real estate interventions were studied by conducting time series analyses of changing organisational performance using several KPIs.FindingsThe research has shown that real estate interventions actually improve organisational performance. However, the effects are not always as positive as expected, nor are they always clearly visible when using the present KPIs for organisational performance. And in addition, some effects are temporary.Practical implicationsThe conceptual framework and the suggested KPIs can be used to support managers in effectively steering on organisational performance by means of real estate interventions, formulating targets in a SMART way, setting priorities with regard to their organisation's main objectives, and monitoring the effects.Originality/valueThe conceptual framework integrates know‐how from various studies and fields and was empirically used in educational settings.
Editors' introduction to the European Foresight Monitoring Network
Authors: Butter Maurits , Brandes Felix , Keenan Michael , Popper Rafael 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to provide an introduction to the special issue of foresight, dedicated to the European Foresight Monitoring Network (EFMN).Design/methodology/approachThe paper sets out the project's rationale and its scope and approach.FindingsThe paper presents some of the achievements of the EFMN, as well as some of its limitations.Originality/valueThe paper considers how the EFMN might be sustained and further developed over the longer term. It also provides a brief description of the main papers in the special issue.
Comparing foresight “style” in six world regions
Authors: Keenan Michael , Popper Rafael 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe paper sets out to explore the nature and degree of variation in foresight “style” across six world regions. The underlying hypothesis is that differences in regional context – in terms of political, socio‐economic, and cultural conditions – will affect foresight “style”. At the same time, a secondary hypothesis acknowledges that policy tool transfer and international learning might soften the influence of contextual conditions.Design/methodology/approachUsing the data collected for more than 800 foresight exercises in six world regions, the paper considers eight different dimensions of foresight “style”, including domain coverage, time horizon, target groups, and methods used. It interprets regional differences (and similarities) with reference to dominant political and economic traditions in each region. In so doing, it tests the hypothesis that foresight “style” is influenced by regional context.FindingsThe analysis suggests that some foresight “style” dimensions vary between regions more than others. For example, there is marked variation in the domain areas covered by foresight across the world, while some regions appear to prefer particular methods over others. Time horizons also vary. For other dimensions, such as participation levels and the identity of target groups, there is a good deal of similarity. Thus, some dimensions of “style”, at least at the aggregate level, seem to be more influenced by regional context than others.Originality/valueThe paper is unique in being the first publication to survey such a large sample of foresight activity across a wide part of the globe.
Foresight versus FP7: comparing innovations in healthcare
Authors: Butter Maurits , Hoogendoorn Joost 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe EU Framework Programme and the foresight community are both focusing on future developments in innovation. This paper seeks to answer the questions: How much can they learn from one another to enhance their visions on the future? Are both perspectives aligned?Design/methodology/approachThis research used the Dynamo approach, which analyses the match and mismatch of innovation entities by characterising both by a codified taxonomy on innovation. This taxonomy is based on the experience of TNO in innovation. In total, 140 flagship foresight activities from the EFMN database are analysed, as well as the Working Programmes 2007‐2008 from FP7 Cooperation.FindingsThe findings show that the perspectives of FP7 and the foresight community on innovations in health are highly aligned. Some interesting mismatches are identified that can be taken up by FP8 and the foresight community. Only a limited number of innovation themes are not addressed by both perspectives.Practical implicationsThese results can help the foresight community to focus on important innovation themes in health not generally addressed and give input to the new FP7 working for 2009‐2013.Originality/valueThe results of the study show a more detailed insight into what innovation topics foresight and FP7 are mentioning/addressing.
How are foresight methods selected?
Authors: Popper Rafael 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis paper addresses a challenging topic, which in both academic and professional literatures has been widely discussed but mainly from one single angle – that is, how to select foresight methods. From that point of view researchers and consultants promote (even if unintentionally) the use of particular methods. Here the question of selection is raised from a different perspective: how are foresight methods selected?Design/methodology/approachThe guiding “theory” is that a better understanding of the fundamental attributes of foresight methods and their linkages to the core phases of a foresight process, together with the identification of possible patterns in the selection of methods, will provide useful insights as to how the selection of methods is carried out.FindingsSo far the selection of foresight methods has been dominated by the intuition, insight, impulsiveness and – sometimes – inexperience or irresponsibility of practitioners and organisers. This paper reveals that the selection of foresight methods (even if not always coherent or systematic) is a multi‐factor process, and needs to be considered as such.Practical implicationsThe results can be utilised by lecturers and students to describe and understand better the use of foresight methods, and by organisers of foresight (including practitioners) to better inform decisions during the design of (hopefully) more coherent methodological frameworks.Originality/valueThe paper combines practical concepts and frameworks (such as the Foresight Process and the Foresight Diamond) with innovative analyses to represent and visualise better the combination of methods in 886 case studies, for example introducing the Methods Combination Matrix (MCM) to examine the dynamics of a mix of methods.
Detecting and analysing emerging science and technology issues: the EFMN Issue Analysis
Authors: Rijkers‐Defrasne Sylvie , Amanatidou Effie , Braun Anette , Pechmann Agnes 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the contribution of the EFMN Issue Analysis to the identification of key emerging science and technology issues of high relevance for European policies, as well as to the development of future European science and technology policy priorities. As such, it describes the experience of the past three EFMN Issue Analyses (2005 to 2007), which focused on “Cognitive Science” (2005), “Healthy Ageing” (2006) and “Emerging Knowledge‐based Economy and Society” (2007).Design/methodology/approachThe annual EFMN Issue Analysis aims at selecting and analysing one key emerging science and technology issue that is relevant for European Union policies. The selection is based on the screening and analysis of recent international foresights along a set of predefined criteria.FindingsThe paper highlights future socio‐economic perspectives and S&T developments coming along with the topics “Cognitive Science”, “Healthy Ageing” and “Emerging Knowledge‐based Economy and Society”, as well as policy recommendations as emerged from the respective expert workshop discussions. The paper also reflects on the methodology used, and experience of, and the lessons learned from the last three Issue Analyses.Practical implicationsThis paper is of interest for foresight practitioners and policy‐makers at European level, as well as at national or regional level in European Member States.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the role of the EFMN Issue Analysis in providing the basis for well‐informed (science and technology) policy‐making.
Editorial: Process and IT
Authors: Koskela Lauri , Dave Bhargav 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis paper's aim is to provide a fresh perspective on how to address process improvement and information technology (IT) in an integrated fashion in order to improve the efficiency of the construction process.Design/methodology/approachThis paper looks at the problems associated with the “conventional” way of addressing IT within construction, and suggests improvements based on integrating three core organisational resources: people, process and technology.FindingsThe existing view that IT on its own brings organisational benefits leads to only marginal improvements in organisational efficiency if not resulting in negative impact. However, by correctly integrating people, process and IT initiatives, significant benefits can be achieved.Originality/valueThis paper provides value by providing a conceptualisation for addressing people, process and technology within the construction sector.
A superiority and inferiority ranking model for contractor selection
Authors: Marzouk Mohamed 
Published: October 2008

PurposeContractor selection is carried out in order to choose a competent and capable contractor to do the work. To help in this selection, baselines are established to ensure that the contractors have the required skills, resources, and abilities to execute the project. Contractor selection is a multiple criteria decision making wherein several criteria are required to be evaluated simultaneously. This paper aims to propose a decision‐making model.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed model utilizes superiority and inferiority ranking (SIR) method and it provides six preference structures in order to compare the performance of alternatives' criteria. As such, it can represent discrete or continuous criteria. The preference structures utilize indifference and preference thresholds to capture the characteristics of functions that represent the specified criteria. The model provides two aggregation procedures (simple additive weighting and technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution) to generate superiority and inferiority flows.FindingsThe proposed model is generic and can be used as a tool to evaluate alternatives in several applications such as value engineering, optimum organization structure, and constructability analysis. It enables its users to define the criteria that are deemed important for evaluation.Originality/valueThe proposed multiple criteria decision making (SIR method) is novel to construction. This ranking method can be utilized as a successful tool in contractor selection problem.
Quantitative risk analysis as a supporting tool for safety protocols at multi‐functional urban locations
Authors: Visscher Henk , Suddle Shahid , Meijer Frits 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to provide insight into how to deal with safety issues during construction projects at multi‐functional urban locations.Design/methodology/approachA case study comprising several construction projects for high‐rise buildings over a motorway in The Hague provided insight into the complexity of the safety management. A process model was designed of moments of influence of safety measures. This was combined with quantitative risk analyses of some alternative safety measures using failure mode and effect analysis and Bayesian networks.FindingsIt is essential to put safety management on the agenda at a very early stage in the planning process for construction projects at multi‐functional urban locations. The erection of heavy structural elements when building activities are being carried out above a motorway is an important risk factor. Structural measures appear to be more cost‐effective than closing off the road.Research limitations/implicationsThe methods used to develop insight into the cost‐effectiveness of different safety measures can also be applied to construction processes at multi‐functional urban locations. This might lead to different conclusions on which measures are preferable.Originality/valueThere is very little literature or general knowledge on how to deal with these safety issues. This paper provides a method that can be applied in the development of safety protocols at multi‐functional urban locations.
Pathways to enhanced value creation from the international technology transfer process in Thai construction projects
Authors: Waroonkun Tanut , Stewart Rodney A. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeInternational technology transfer (TT) initiatives are essential for developing the necessary infrastructure which underpins the sustainable development of economics and living standards in newly industrialised and developing countries. However, these initiatives have rarely translated into enhanced capabilities and competitiveness within host country firms, resulting in a sustained reliance on foreign firms. With few clues as to how to effectively manage the TT process, many stakeholders from the construction sectors of developing countries lack direction on how to more rapidly diffuse best‐practice technology. This paper aims to address the issues.Design/methodology/approachIn an attempt to better understand, the international TT process on Thai construction projects a path model was developed and later implemented. The path model development stage utilised the questionnaire survey response of 162 Thai construction and engineering professionals that had exposure to construction projects which incorporated international TT initiatives. A rigorous statistical analysis process which employed ANOVA, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling was followed to formulate the robust path model. The path model implementation stage utilised a series of case studies to validate the significant path equations in the developed model. This stage solicited questionnaire survey responses from 47 Thai construction and engineering professionals working for five domestic firms which were contractually involved with foreign partners on four large construction projects.FindingsThe findings provide evidence that transferors must have appropriate characteristics (i.e. willingness, knowledge base, experience, management, etc.) for establishing solid relationships with the transferee. Moreover, relationship building (RB) between the transferor and transferee (i.e. trust, understanding, communication, etc.) is the key enabler to TT induced value creation for the host construction sector.Originality/valueThe developed model empirically explains interactions between TT process enablers and outcome factors in the construction context. The model can assist government and private sector organisations from developing and newly industrialised countries to better evaluate the TT induced value creation process for the host construction sector. In this context, improved TT evaluation can help such organisations to devise targeted strategies for accelerating rates of TT, which will ultimately decrease their reliance on foreign firms when procuring large‐scale infrastructure projects.
Evaluation on indoor environment quality of dense urban residential buildings
Authors: Chan Edwin H.W. , Lam K.S. , Wong W.S. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the indoor environmental quality among residential buildings in dense urban living environment, after the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which called for a review on the relationship between health issues and the authors' built facilities.Design/methodology/approachEnvironmental tests include thermal comfort, noise, daylight and air quality inside the residence of typical housing units were carried out. Based on inferences drawn from test results, the paper developed systematic conclusions.FindingsIt was observed that most of the occupants (over 70 per cent of 125 households) were tolerating the higher air temperature and dimmer daylight inside their residence, which was proven to fall behind Hong Kong Standard. On the contrary, people reflected that they were also trying to abate noise and dust concentration in their daily life.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to the flat occupants' exclusive property rights in law, there were limited access to the residents' flats and only 32 occupants out of 125 allowed us to conduct the survey. Yet, the data set was justified.Practical implicationsThe results provides practical guidance for the design of future housing to enhance health and comfort of occupants.Originality/valueOriginality of the findings is based on on‐site data collected in dense urban housing condition. Rating data were also collected from the occupants concerned about their habituation conditions in Hong Kong after the outbreak of SARS, which was a major crisis that called for fundamental review of the authors' built facilities.
Benchmarking operation and maintenance costs of luxury hotels
Authors: Lai Joseph H.K. , Yik Francis W.H. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeTourism is a pillar of the service industries in Hong Kong. Its growth entails quality hotel accommodations where cost‐effective operation and maintenance (O&M) of their facilities are essential. A benchmarking study was carried out on ten luxury hotels with the aim of identifying the significance and performance of various O&M cost elements.Design/methodology/approachA benchmarking club was set up for the practitioners participating in the study. A template was piloted and then refined for use in collecting data, which include the hotels' characteristics, their expenditures on maintenance and project works, in‐house manpower and payroll, contract maintenance costs, and utilities costs and consumptions.FindingsEnergy cost dominates the O&M expenditure of hotels. The cost for maintaining lifts and escalators constitutes a major part of contract maintenance costs. Larger hotels can enjoy a lower unit O&M cost.Research limitations/implicationsQuality, age and occupancy rate of hotels are factors which warrant further work to investigate their effects on O&M costs. It is also necessary to study what cost‐sensitive parameters are appropriate for use in normalising the costs of different trades of O&M work.Practical implicationsIt has been shown how a benchmarking curve can be constructed for identifying the performance of utilities cost. This approach can be taken to develop similar curves for benchmarking other cost elements, as well as other aspects including processes and values of O&M works.Originality/valueSensitive O&M cost data are seldom disclosed. The study has overcome the difficulties with their collection and the cost benchmarks presented are useful references for hotel practitioners.
Workforce ownership of space in a space sharing environment
Authors: Pitt Michael , Bennett James 
Published: October 2008

PurposeTechnological innovations and continuing IT developments, together with the now widespread use of innovative space planning techniques, such as hot‐desking have been hailed as the remedy for the demand for a more intensive and efficient use of space in offices. Although most organisations have attempted to simultaneously provide for human needs and requirements, most, if not all have fallen short. This paper aims to investigate whether an optimum balance can be struck between commercial requirements of flexibility, in terms of office design, while at the same time ensuring that the human needs of privacy, identity, status and personal control are not compromised.Design/methodology/approachThe paper considers current thought and provides a literature review in the area. The paper aims to establish that new work methods can have a potentially negative effect on employee performance in companies as the implementation of new ways of working does not always take into account the importance of employee satisfaction and empowerment. New work methods and innovative space planning techniques are compared and contrasted to case study observations at the offices of Drivers Jonas LLP, Chartered Surveyors, in Manchester.FindingsInnovative space planning concepts and recent technological innovations are examined including how they impact on the employee, in terms of behaviour and work satisfaction. A case study identifies how the unique culture of openness and sharing that is present at Drivers Jonas LLP can successfully integrate human requirements with physical requirements so that optimal employee performance and satisfaction is achieved.Originality/valueThe paper establishes that the culture of an organisation is the most important element in determining whether a workforce can own their own space in a space sharing environment. In terms of increasing workplace satisfaction which is directly linked to “better business performance”, the paper will identify that all innovative space planning techniques and methods will fall at the first hurdle, if an organisation does not have the right culture to support its ideas.
Facility management practices in higher education buildings
Authors: Lavy Sarel 
Published: October 2008

PurposeFacility management (FM) is important to the business success of companies and organizations. Nowadays, teaching FM is often spread over several disciplines, including architecture, management, business, and construction. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study completed by a team of three graduate students in the course “Introduction to Facility Management,” offered by a large southern university in the USA in the spring 2007 semester.Design/methodology/approachThe students studied several aspects of FM, such as strategic and tactical planning, space allocation, maintenance and repair, operations and energy management, benchmarking and condition assessment, and life cycle costs, in buildings on the university's campus. Assisted by the Office of the Vice President for Facilities and using software contributed by an external commercial engineering and construction company, the students collected the data and conducted the analyses shown in this paper as part of their tasks for the course.FindingsStructured and organized FM has the potential to improve the physical performance and appearance of a building and its systems, as well as to increase the users' level of satisfaction, and to improve the efficiency with which the building is maintained and operated.Practical implicationsThis course offered the students an opportunity to encounter real problems and dilemmas that facility managers witness on a daily basis. Students were asked to offer creative solutions to these dilemmas.Originality/valueThe concepts of teaching FM are discussed in this paper, and demonstrated through real life cases.