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1 – 5 of 5Introduction: The current study provides a conceptual base for big data analytics in the insurance industry that might be useful for academics, researchers, and practitioners…
Abstract
Introduction: The current study provides a conceptual base for big data analytics in the insurance industry that might be useful for academics, researchers, and practitioners conducting future studies in the respective field.
Purpose: This study intends to investigate the transformative impact of big data analytics in the insurance industry. It elaborates on how advanced data analytics techniques are reshaping the insurance landscape, from customer acquisition and retention to risk modeling, pricing, and claims management.
Methodology: The current study incorporates a thorough review of existing literature, industry reports and academic articles related to big data analytics in the insurance sector. The aim is to develop an in-depth comprehension of the subject by synthesizing key insights and trends.
Findings: The findings underscore the evolutionary potential of the insurance sector through big data analytics, emphasizing its role as a catalyst for innovation, efficiency, and growth. Embracing data-driven strategies is essential for insurers to adapt to evolving market dynamics, meet customer expectations, and maintain a competitive edge in the digital age.
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Gavin Ford and Jonathan Gosling
The construction industry has struggled to deliver schemes on time to budget and right-first-time (RFT). There have been many studies into nonconformance and rework through…
Abstract
Purpose
The construction industry has struggled to deliver schemes on time to budget and right-first-time (RFT). There have been many studies into nonconformance and rework through quantitative research over the years to understand why the industry continues to see similar issues of failure. Some scholars have reported rework figures as high as 12.6% of total contract value, highlighting major concerns of the sustainability of construction projects. Separately, however, there have been few studies that explore and detail the views of industry professions who are caught in the middle of quality issues, to understand their perceptions of where the industry is failing. As such, this paper interrogates qualitative data (open-ended questions) on the topic of nonconformance and rework in construction to understand what industry professionals believe are the causes and suggested improvement areas.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach is adopted for this research. An industry survey consisting of seven open-ended questions is presented to two professional working groups within a Tier 1 contractor, and outputs are analysed using statistic software (NVivo 12) to identify prominent themes for discussion. Inductive analysis is undertaken to gain further insight into responses to yield recurrent areas for continuous improvement.
Findings
Qualitative analysis of the survey reveals a persistent prioritisation of cost and programme over quality management in construction project. Furthermore, feedback from construction professionals present a number of improvement areas that must be addressed to improve quality. These include increased training and competency investment, overhauling quality behaviours, providing greater quality leadership direction and reshaping the way clients govern schemes.
Research limitations/implications
There are limitations to this paper that require noting. Firstly, the survey was conducted within one principal contractor with varying levels of knowledge across multiple sectors. Secondly, the case study was from one major highways scheme; therefore, the generalisability of the findings is limited. It is suggested that a similar exercise is undertaken in other sectors to uncover similar improvement avenues.
Practical implications
The implications of this study calls for quality to be re-evaluated at project, company, sector and government levels to overhaul how quality is delivered. Furthermore, the paper identifies critical learning outcomes for the construction sector to take forward, including the need to reassess projects to ensure they are appropriately equip with competent personnel under a vetted, progressive training programme, share collaborative behaviours that value quality delivery on an equal standing to safety, programme and cost and tackle the inappropriate resource dilemmas projects finding themselves in through clear tendering and accurate planning. In addition, before making erratic decisions, projects must assess the risk profiling of proceed without approved design details and include the client in the decision-making process. Moreover, the findings call for a greater collaborative environment between the construction team and quality management department, rather than being seen as obstructive (i.e. compliance based policing). All of these must be driven by leadership to overhaul the way quality is managed on schemes. The findings demonstrate the importance and impact from open-ended survey response data studies to enhance quantitative outcomes and help provide strengthened proposals of improvement.
Originality/value
This paper addresses the highly sensitive area of quality failure outcomes and interrogates them via an industry survey within a major UK contractor for feedback. Unique insights are gained into how industry professionals perceive quality in construction. From previous research, this has been largely missing and offers a valuable addition in understanding the “quality status quo” from those delivering schemes.
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Malik Brakni, Hélène Gorge and Nil Ozcaglar-Toulouse
This study aims to understand the progressive marketization of health data collection and use, through a study of its historical development in France, from the 1930s to the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the progressive marketization of health data collection and use, through a study of its historical development in France, from the 1930s to the present day.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected a set of legal, institutional, political and media data. These came from the INA (National Audiovisual Institute), the French national newspaper websites and the websites legifrance.gouv.fr and vie-publique.fr. The authors then conducted a thematic content analysis.
Findings
The study results highlight the changes in the health-care system related to the increased use of data in France over three major periods. The first period – 1930s to 1980s – is marked by the creation of the French social security system to collect large sets of data to better manager people’s health care. The second period – 1980s to 2000s – is characterized by the adoption and assimilation of tools to manage patient data through several national and European regulations. The last period – 2000s to the present – saw the introduction of measures in favor of the digitalization of health care, and consequently of data, in parallel with the advancement of digital technologies in general. The institutional dynamics in healthcare have evolved with the nature of the actors and their practices, in connection with new perceptions about health data.
Originality/value
This research sheds light on the historical transformation of health data collection and use in France, revealing the involvement of diverse stakeholders, the discourses driving data development and the need for regulation. It exposes the dual nature of health data collection and use, initially sanctioned by the state and public entities but later exploited for private interests.
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Maya Elizabeth Sharma, Elizabeth Paddock and Katy A. Jones
Since the criminalisation of coercive control (CC), there have been a growing number of cases in the UK; however, there continues to be minimal research, understanding and…
Abstract
Purpose
Since the criminalisation of coercive control (CC), there have been a growing number of cases in the UK; however, there continues to be minimal research, understanding and education about this type of abuse. Hence, it is unsurprising that young people are at the highest risk of CC as they enter their first intimate relationships with limited awareness of the risks. The aim of this study is to explore how 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK understand CC in intimate relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 young people to explore their knowledge of CC, sources of knowledge and learning opportunities. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to examine the interviews.
Findings
A total of 14 participants had heard of CC. Participants attributed victims and perpetrators behaviour to individual and environmental factors, including societal and gendered expectations. Young people explained that their knowledge came from experiences, online sources and family and friends. However, participants recognised the importance of credible messengers and sources, and some were sceptical of information shared online. Most had not learnt about CC in formal education but expressed the importance of incorporating it into the secondary curriculum.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore how young people understand CC in the UK. The findings highlight the need for better understanding and formal education around CC, provide a platform for future work and encourage the incorporation of young voices in developing interventions.
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Jiaojiao Qu, Mingwei Liu, Shuming Zhao, Yixuan Zhao and Xia Cao
The function of cognitive diversity has not yet been studied to a sufficient degree. To address this gap, the current study aims to answer the questions of how and when team…
Abstract
Purpose
The function of cognitive diversity has not yet been studied to a sufficient degree. To address this gap, the current study aims to answer the questions of how and when team cognitive diversity fosters individual creativity by integrating the intellectual capital view and the inclusion literature.
Design/methodology/approach
With a paired and time-lagged sample consisting of 368 members and 46 leaders from Chinese high-tech organizations, a multilevel moderated mediation model was developed to test the hypothesized relationships using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Team cognitive diversity is positively related to individual creativity via team intellectual capital, but this positive indirect effect is obtained only when the inclusive team climate is high.
Research limitations/implications
Team intellectual capital serves as an alternative mechanism for translating team cognitive diversity into favorable outcomes, and an inclusive team climate plays a pivotal role in harvesting the benefits of team cognitive diversity. Future research could extend our study by adopting a multiwave longitudinal or experimental design, examining the possibility of curvilinearity, considering the changes in patterns over time, and conducting cross-cultural studies.
Practical implications
Managers should take the initiative to assemble a team featuring cognitive diversity when facing creative tasks, and should proactively cultivate an inclusive culture when leading such a team.
Originality/value
This study is among the first to consider the mediating role of team intellectual capital in the cross-level effect of team cognitive diversity on individual creativity and to examine the boundary role of an inclusive team climate with respect to this indirect effect.
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