John Sinclair and Alastair Arthur
Corporate culture plays a key role in the adoption and maintenance of acontinuous improvement environment. Yet the role that culture does playand its nature tend to be overlooked…
Abstract
Corporate culture plays a key role in the adoption and maintenance of a continuous improvement environment. Yet the role that culture does play and its nature tend to be overlooked or simplified so as to be almost meaningless. Overviews aspects of corporate culture and uses a case study of a professional company to show how they went about developing a continuous improvement environment. The key lessons from the case study include the need for “ownership” of jobs, self‐esteem as a driving force for continuous improvement, importance of activities related to customers, achievement requiring teamwork, function replaced by process and understanding through involvement in quality improvement programmes.
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Alastair Orr, Jason Donovan and Dietmar Stoian
Smallholder value chains are dynamic, changing over time in sudden, unpredictable ways as they adapt to shocks. Understanding these dynamics and adaptation is essential for these…
Abstract
Purpose
Smallholder value chains are dynamic, changing over time in sudden, unpredictable ways as they adapt to shocks. Understanding these dynamics and adaptation is essential for these chains to remain competitive in turbulent markets. Many guides to value chain development, though they focus welcome attention on snapshots of current structure and performance, pay limited attention to the dynamic forces affecting these chains or to adaptation. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper develops an expanded conceptual framework to understand value chain performance based on the theory of complex adaptive systems. The framework combines seven common properties of complex systems: time, uncertainty, sensitivity to initial conditions, endogenous shocks, sudden change, interacting agents and adaptation.
Findings
The authors outline how the framework can be used to ask new research questions and analyze case studies in order to improve our understanding of the development of smallholder value chains and their capacity for adaptation.
Research limitations/implications
The framework highlights the need for greater attention to value chain dynamics.
Originality/value
The framework offers a new perspective on the dynamics of smallholder value chains.
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Alastair Orr and Jason Donovan
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new conceptual framework for smallholder value chains based on complex adaptive systems.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new conceptual framework for smallholder value chains based on complex adaptive systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors review the application of the framework to three case studies and explore their implications. The authors reflect on the value of a framework based on complex adaptive systems compared to alternative frameworks.
Findings
The authors argue that the dynamics of smallholder value chains have received insufficient attention.
Research limitations/implications
By focusing on these dynamics and on the capacity for adaptation among value chain actors the framework provides a new perspective on smallholder value chains.
Originality/value
Complex adaptive systems provide a useful framework for analyzing value chain dynamics.
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Abstract
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Introduction Belfast in the 1970s became synonymous with terrorism, violence and civil disturbance. Yet, as the capital of Northern Ireland, it is the regional centre for shopping…
Abstract
Introduction Belfast in the 1970s became synonymous with terrorism, violence and civil disturbance. Yet, as the capital of Northern Ireland, it is the regional centre for shopping and office development. The city centre has traditionally been the focus of the capital's commercial and administrative activities. Yet recent office developments in suburban locations have begun to challenge this focus.
MANY LIBRARIANS collect books. I collect authors' dedications. I find this a fascinating pastime. Skim through any shelf of books that takes you fancy, and you will be surprised…
Abstract
MANY LIBRARIANS collect books. I collect authors' dedications. I find this a fascinating pastime. Skim through any shelf of books that takes you fancy, and you will be surprised how many dedications even so casual a search will reveal. You will be surprised too how varied they can be.
Joseph Bashouri and Glen William Duncan
This theoretical paper aims to develop a model of how best to facilitate projects knowledge sharing within architectural firms to learn from lessons and improve the firm…
Abstract
Purpose
This theoretical paper aims to develop a model of how best to facilitate projects knowledge sharing within architectural firms to learn from lessons and improve the firm innovation capabilities, knowledge and skills.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual framework is developed by reviewing the literature in the fields of knowledge management (KM), the project-based organisation and communities of practice (CoPs) and linking these to the literature on the architectural firm.
Findings
In the architectural firm, KM strategy needs to be linked to the overall business strategy determining the balance of codification/personalisation. The firm needs to be structured as a double-knit organisation connecting projects with CoPs. This structure creates a social network that allows sharing the useful and innovative knowledge created through the design process. Success depends on building a knowledge environment, providing organisational support and building a learning architecture within projects. A balanced combination of information and communication technologies, lessons-learned, storytelling, conversational learning and dialogue are needed as knowledge sharing methods.
Originality/value
This paper's originality is in constructing a conceptual framework or model for knowledge sharing within the architectural firm with CoPs at the heart of that model. This paper is valuable to any architectural practice that aims to protect its reputation, improve its performance and increase its innovative knowledge base. It is also valuable to the construction industry by helping to minimise design mistakes and the consequent cost of construction rework.
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Stephen Roulac, Alastair Adair, Stanley McGreal, Jim Berry, Louise Brown and George Heaney
Seeks to explore recent studies in corporate real estate and to provide a comparative analysis of industrial corporations in Ireland and those in the non‐industrial sector with…
Abstract
Purpose
Seeks to explore recent studies in corporate real estate and to provide a comparative analysis of industrial corporations in Ireland and those in the non‐industrial sector with respect to their corporate real estate management objectives.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical investigation reports on a study undertaken in Ireland and compares results from companies in the industrial sector with companies in the non‐industrial sector. The methodology is based on a behavioural questionnaire targeted at the top 150 companies operating in Ireland and classified on the basis of number of employees.
Findings
The findings indicate that significant differences are apparent between companies in the industrial sector and companies not in the industrial sector in the use of real estate assets. In particular companies in the industrial/manufacturing sectors have weakly developed corporate real estate strategies.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitations derive from a relatively small sample size, a function of targeting the survey at senior executives. There are implications for companies in the under‐utilisation of real estate assets and the effects of this on corporate balance‐sheets requires further investigation.
Originality/value
Highlights that companies in Ireland, notably those in the industrial sector, have some significant way to go in utilising their corporate real estate assets more effectively.
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Paul Blyton, Edmund Heery and Peter Turnbull
Presents 35 abstracts from the 2001 Employment Research Unit Annual conference held at Cardiff Business School in September 2001. Attempts to explore the theme of changing…
Abstract
Presents 35 abstracts from the 2001 Employment Research Unit Annual conference held at Cardiff Business School in September 2001. Attempts to explore the theme of changing politics of employment relations beyond and within the nation state, against a background of concern in the developed economies at the erosion of relatively advanced conditions of work and social welfare through increasing competition and international agitation for more effective global labour standards. Divides this concept into two areas, addressing the erosion of employment standards through processes of restructuring and examining attempts by governments, trade unions and agencies to re‐create effective systems of regulation. Gives case examples from areas such as India, Wales, London, Ireland, South Africa, Europe and Japan. Covers subjects such as the Disability Discrimination Act, minimum wage, training, contract workers and managing change.
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Mr. Derek Kingsbury, 55, has been appointed group chief executive of Fairey Holdings with effect from April 5 and chairman of the group subsidiaries, Fairey Automation, Fairey…
Abstract
Mr. Derek Kingsbury, 55, has been appointed group chief executive of Fairey Holdings with effect from April 5 and chairman of the group subsidiaries, Fairey Automation, Fairey Engineering, Fairey Hydraulics, Fairey Marine, Fairey Nuclear, Faircy Winches and the Fairey Filtration Division. He is joining the Fairey group from the Dowty Group which he joined in 1976 as a director and deputy chief executive.