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This research evaluates the value-for-money (VFM) obtained from public-private partnership (PPP) schools in Scotland, based on headteachers questionnaires, local authority interviews and Scottish School Estate Statistics. The period covered is 2000-2012, when 395 new schools were commissioned. The PPPs were better in building condition and maintenance standards and conventionally-financed schools were better in terms of teacher access and improvement in staff morale. There was transfer of knowledge whereby the high standards of the PPPs then became the new standards for the conventionally-financed schools. Concerns about PPP VFM relates to the high cost of unitary charges and contract inflexibilities. A higher percentage of headteachers of conventionally-financed schools (63.64%) considered their new schools resulted in good VFM compared to PPP schools (42.86%).

Courses in strategic management should teach future strategists how to react to unexpected strategic events such as the appearance of innovative technologies, proposed mergers, drastic changes in production costs, or major actions by competitors or customers. Strategic events often trigger important changes in strategies, and reactions to strategic events make the difference between long-run success and failure. Courses can teach students about the philosophical and psychological difficulties posed by complex environments and uncertain futures and teach some procedures that help to assure that important issues receive consideration. Research may be able to identify some decision-making heuristics that foster success.

I should like to describe the work of the biological, argricultural and medical information Review Panels and examine their impact on the information scene in these sectors within the U.K.

Outlines the main themes and programmes of recent library and information science (LIS) research, giving examples of individual projects. Discusses how the direction of this research has been, and is likely to continue to be, subject to the forces of both technological change and of organisational change within the major funding bodies. Examines how the findings of such research are disseminated and discusses the role of academic journals and commercial publishers, including their likely future role. Finds the dissemination of research findings for LIS to be less than adequate in terms of meeting user needs, and suggests that Re:source establish a national LIS research register in partnership with commercial publishers.

The Government of Sierra Leone has launched a strategic plan 2019–2022 that includes a large focus on new large infrastructure. This plan includes the Lungi Bridge project, a 7-km bridge for connecting the capital city Freetown with the Lungi airport, procured with a public–private partnership (PPP) model. This study aims to reflect on seven issues regarding the plan implementation and the procurement of the Lungi Bridge project.

This study uses case study analysis (Sierra Leone’s infrastructure plan), in which existing literature and expertise is applied to discuss/reflect the implications for the future.

Among other reflections, this study addresses the benefits and risks of using a PPP option with non-sovereign guarantee, off-balance sheet treatment and a special purpose vehicle for multiple projects; this study also discusses the social risk of misperceiving the bridge as a basic essential transport option (non-voluntary).

The reflective process can contribute significantly to policymakers in Sierra Leone and its neighbour countries, as it is a contextualised analysis for the country.

Many studies have addressed existing PPP projects and contexts for low-income countries. However, to best of the author’s knowledge, the analysis of a single government infrastructure plan has not been addressed. Moreover, for the Sierra Leone’s context, this is unique.

Seeking to equip industrially developing countries with functioning factories and machines, the author first used the concepts, knowledge, and methods of ergonomics. He then discovered that it is also necessary to develop, test, and use other concepts, other knowledge, and other methods, especially by bringing into consideration the human sciences (geography, demography, epidemiology, sociology, economics, linguistics, anthropology, history) for orienting such countries to means of actualizing technical devices. Reflecting this thinking, the present note proposes an anthropotechnological approach to improve international technology transfer.

Public–private partnership (PPP) projects play a pivotal role in fostering infrastructure development in developing countries. This study aims to identify major barriers and critical success factors (CSFs) for PPP projects in Vietnam.

The study initially conducted an extensive literature review and interviewed industry experts to compile a comprehensive list of barriers and success factors. Subsequently, a survey involving 250 construction professionals was conducted to assess these identified factors. The research used both ANOVA test and hierarchical regression analysis to explore the relationship between participants’ characteristics and assessments.

The results could provide a valuable reference for practitioners by assessing barriers and CSFs in PPP projects. Specifically, the ANOVA analysis indicated a positive correlation between barrier assessment and participants’ experience, while the influence of participants’ sector on the evaluation was minor. Furthermore, the hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that participants’ sector did not moderate the relationship between barrier assessment and industry experience.

This research contributes to the existing literature by offering empirical insights into barriers and CSFs specific to PPP projects in a developing country context. The findings highlight the crucial role of experienced professionals in ensuring PPP project success. Moreover, the study provides construction practitioners with a better understanding of the essential factors and supports the development of effective management strategies for future PPP projects.

A course on interpersonal skills training, described in a 1977 issue of ICT, has changed now beyond recognation. The author looks at the changes made and the reasons for such.