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Article
Publication date: 9 August 2024

Oluwatobi Nurudeen Oyefusi, Victor Adetunji Arowoiya and Melissa Chan

The construction industry in developed countries is witnessing a paradigm shift towards modular construction methods, driven by the need for efficiency, sustainability, and…

Abstract

Purpose

The construction industry in developed countries is witnessing a paradigm shift towards modular construction methods, driven by the need for efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. However, the realization of these benefits in the context of developing countries is hindered by numerous barriers. Against this backdrop, this study seeks to contribute insights into the barriers hindering the adoption of modular construction in developing countries, specifically Nigeria, and further formulate effective strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

A thorough review of existing literature was conducted to identify the multifaceted barriers hindering the adoption of modular construction and the corresponding strategies. Subsequently, a panel of 13 experts were invited to utilize the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) approach to systematically evaluate these barriers based on their impact. Furthermore, the experts implored the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach to select and prioritize the most suitable strategies to mitigate these barriers.

Findings

The study revealed that the most critical barriers to modular construction are Client resistance to change and innovation, Limited experience in module installation, and Transportation constraints. Additionally, the study prioritizes 13 strategies, with the Development of effective guidelines, standards, and policies ranked highest. The insights from the ranking using the FAHP and TOPSIS approach were adopted to develop a framework for modular implementation in developing countries.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to Nigeria due to its status as the country with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa, and it is considered a suitable representation of the region as most of the countries in Africa are categorized as developing nations.

Practical implications

By highlighting the most critical barriers and prioritizing effective strategies, the study provides actionable insights for overcoming obstacles to modular construction adoption. Decision-makers can use this information to develop targeted policies and training programs to promote the adoption of modular construction in developing countries.

Originality/value

The research provides valuable insights by not only identifying critical barriers but also presenting prioritized strategies, distinguishing itself from previous studies, and establishing itself as a novel resource for developing countries. This adopt a novel hybrid MCDM approach for modular construction in developing countries such as Nigeria which can serve as reference point to other developing countries seeking to adopt modular construction and leverage its numerous benefits.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2025

Justin Rogers, Ian Thomas and Philip Mendes

This study explores the experiences of care-experienced people living in supported housing provided by the Rees Foundation in England. This study aims to understand the challenges…

Abstract

Purpose

This study explores the experiences of care-experienced people living in supported housing provided by the Rees Foundation in England. This study aims to understand the challenges faced by those over 25 who have aged out of statutory support and explores how the Rees Foundation’s services help address these challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with five tenants and five staff members from the housing project. Thematic analysis identified key themes related to homelessness, safety, stability and the importance of relationships with outreach workers.

Findings

The findings reveal that care leavers often face a “cliff edge” when statutory support ends, resulting in risks such as homelessness and social isolation. The Rees Foundation’s approach, which includes ongoing emotional and practical support, plays a crucial role in fostering safety, stability and hope among tenants.

Originality/value

This study offers original insights into the effectiveness of sustained support for care-experienced people beyond the age of 25, an age group that has been largely overlooked in existing research. By focusing on a population often neglected in care leaver studies, it highlights the need for extended support services to prevent long-term adverse outcomes, contributing to the broader understanding of post-care transitions.

Details

Journal of Children's Services, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-6660

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 11 December 2024

Azwindini Isaac Ramaano

The study aimed to outlay the substantial relationship to information and studies on sustainable tourism, environmental sustainability and local resource governance issues. It…

Abstract

Purpose

The study aimed to outlay the substantial relationship to information and studies on sustainable tourism, environmental sustainability and local resource governance issues. It further contextualizes the essence of natural biodiversity, ecotourism and residents integrated subsistence. Meanwhile, delving into the community’s sustainability and climate change perceptions within the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province of South Africa’s Musina Municipality.

Design/methodology/approach

The municipality’s circumstances for managing its natural and tourism resources were investigated through a general review of the literature, document reviews, focus groups and field observations. The data analysis procedure was finished with manual sorting, central tendencies and frequency distribution.

Findings

It was discovered that there is a negative correlation between activities that have the potential to contribute to climate change and the environmental consequences of rural ecotourism. Sustainable ecotourism management can lead to sustainability accomplishments when tourism activities follow the principles of ethical and sustainable travel, enhancing public leadership and livelihood values.

Social implications

The possible and present effects of ecotourism and integrated rural livelihoods on local communities, pertaining to sustainability and climate change, are brought forth with notions for significant enhancement measures for social sustainability.

Originality/value

Within the municipality, the study compares ecotourism, conservation and environmental degradation in terms of sustainability, responsible tourism and sustainable tourism. Moving forward, the essence of tourism-based public leadership within the context of community-based natural resources management and community-based tourism that supports integrated livelihoods and strategies for environmental sustainability is highlighted and can be enhanced by the endorsement of various technologies within the emerging economies.

Details

Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2632-279X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 December 2024

Ellie Norris, Shawgat Kutubi and Glenn Finau

This paper examines the state’s accountability to its citizens, in particular the First Peoples of settler colonial nations such as Australia, and how these responsibilities may…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the state’s accountability to its citizens, in particular the First Peoples of settler colonial nations such as Australia, and how these responsibilities may be enacted via a process of compensatory justice in Native Title claims. We focus on the landmark Timber Creek ruling and the impacts of racialized preconceptions on the accountability outcomes of the case.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on critical race theory to reveal embedded racialised perspectives that perpetuate exclusion and discriminatory outcomes. Court documents including hearing transcripts, case judgements, witness statements, appellant and respondent submissions, expert reports and responses from First Nations leaders, form the basis of our analysis.

Findings

The case highlights how the compensation awarded to Native Title holders was based on racialised assumptions that prioritised neoliberal values, commercial activities and reaching a “socially acceptable” judgement over valuing Aboriginal uses of land. A critical analysis of court documents reveals the pervasiveness of presumed “objectivity” in the use of accounting tools to calculate economic value and the accountability implications of a process based on litigation, not negotiation. These findings reveal the hiding places offered by calculative practices that equate neoliberal priorities with accountability and reaffirm the importance of alternative accountings to resist inequitable distributive outcomes.

Originality/value

Novel insights, drawing on First Nations peoples’ connections to land and their perspectives on accountability and justice, are offered in this study. Our analysis of Native Title holders’ submissions to the courts alongside historical and anthropological sources leads to the conclusion that compensation decisions regarding Native Title land must be approached from the perspective of Aboriginal landowners if accountable outcomes are to be achieved.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 June 2024

Camille Nakhid, Tommy Sokun Long, Mengzhu Fu, Makanaka Tuwe, Zina Abu Ali, Lourdes Vano, Pooja Subramanian, Caryn Yachinta and Claire Farrugia

This paper looks at mainstream lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) support services in Aotearoa New Zealand, which predominantly center…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper looks at mainstream lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) support services in Aotearoa New Zealand, which predominantly center white queer voices and services and fail to account for the intersectional identities of young ethnic queers.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory, qualitative study investigated the social and professional support experienced and responded to by 43 young ethnic queers living in Aotearoa New Zealand, who were between 18 and 35 years of age. Participants identified as queer, non-binary, gay, pansexual, demisexual, gender fluid, non-binary and trans among others and held ethnic heritage from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Persadie and Narain's Mash Up methodological approach (2022) was used to analyze the data. Mash Up allowed us to understand the intersectional spaces of queer ethnic lives in white-dominated spaces, the ways in which young ethnic queers resisted the marginalization of their racialized being and took agency to counter actions and decisions that negated their presence and intersectional identities.

Findings

The findings from the study showed that young ethnic queers responded to the lack of adequate support services by establishing their own voluntary organizations and support networks. The study revealed that ethnic queer young people were critical of the white-dominated LGBTQIA+ support organizations; they created their own transformative spaces where they found “family” and community where they could be open about their queerness without the fear of rejection and stigma, while still advocating for equitable resources and an intersectional approach in queer mainstream services.

Originality/value

This paper provides valuable information on the lack of support for queer ethnic young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. The absence of information on the needs of this group poses a challenge to government departments, which rely on data to inform policy and allocate resources. The limited research and knowledge of this community make them less visible and, consequently, less likely to be given resources. It also means that harmful practices and behaviors toward queer ethnic young people by families and communities are more likely to go unnoticed and unaddressed. The paper also shows that the agency of young ethnic queers to create their own transformative spaces and to challenge the white-centric spaces, which have failed to consider their intersectional identities, has been instrumental to their well-being.

Details

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7149

Keywords

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