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Advancements in digital technologies have provided significant opportunities to improve the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Owner-operated (AECO) sector’s performance through superior data management, streamlined processes and cooperative working practices. However, whilst academic literature widely espouses these benefits during the design and construction phases of development, research suggests that the operational phase of a building’s lifecycle has yet to fully realise performance improvements available through the application of digital modelling technology. The purpose of this paper is to synthesise extant digital modelling, asset management and emergent digital asset management literature, to report upon the beneficial implications of digitalised asset management and identify obstacles hampering its adoption in industry.

A componential synthesis of future work reported upon in extant literature is organised into thematic categories that indicate potential research avenues and a trajectory for digital asset management research and practice.

Themes identified include: imprecise Building Information Modelling definitions; isolated software development; data interoperability; intellectual property and virtual property rights; and skills and training requirements. Notably, increased environmental performance also arose as a theme requiring further research but received considerably less academic coverage than the other obstacles identified.

The work presents a comprehensive review of digital technologies utilised within the AECO sector and as such provides utility to researchers, policy makers and practitioners to enhance their knowledge capabilities.

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the expectations and requirements contained within the corporate governance code have an impact on how accountability is perceived, understood and practiced by company board members in an emerging economy (Mauritius).

The paper relies on 24 semi‐structured interviews of board members in listed and non‐listed companies and also analyses the accountability implications present in the local code of corporate governance and relevant reports. The analysis is informed by the typologies of board accountability and process developed by Roberts in 2001 (socialising, individualising, sovereign and complementary) and is complemented by Pettigrew and McNulty's 1995 notions of minimalist and maximalist boards.

From a state which can largely be associated to the notion of sovereign governance and a minimalist board, the findings reveal a substantive change in the type of board accountability but it is one which privileges an individualising form of board interactions. A move to a more empowered “maximalist” board is also noted. Notwithstanding, the paper uncovers specific issues with the INED as an accountability mechanism in that there is much fuzziness on his/her role and motivations and whether INEDs can conceivably contribute to a socialising form of board accountability.

The paper responds to calls for more qualitative research on how boards actually operate in emerging economies, at a time when an increasing number of countries have adopted corporate governance requirements drawn primarily from the Anglo‐American model. This paper contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on corporate board processes and dynamics in non‐Western contexts.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse extant literature on POE of a building’s operations and performance as a means of holistically mapping the existing body of knowledge (BOK); identify impediments preventing its wide-scale adoption throughout practice; and develop new theory that seeks to integrate digital technologies (such as building information modelling (BIM)) within facilities management (FM) via a POE feedback mechanism.

An inductive and interpretivist methodological approach is adopted that utilises a mixed methods systematic review to map bibliometric data on the POE, associated underpinning processes and benchmarking facilities. Publication and citation metrics are produced via the software VOSviewer to determine the extent to which POE interrelates with other fields of study (namely, digital technologies and FM).

The BOK accrued illustrates that whilst POE has received comparatively scant academic attention in comparison to other fields of study, interest in the area is growing. The work also identifies that a stronger community of practice (CoP) is needed (that comprises of academics and practitioners) to ensure that a consistent approach to POE implementation is developed and that the barriers to POE implementation are addressed.

Findings presented accentuate the need for design practitioners to reverse engineer POE implementation to inform future design vis-à-vis simply reporting upon an existing building’s performance post construction. Other new theories are also introduced as a means of engendering wider academic discourse in this field of science.

An examination of marketing terms and strategies with copious case histories and examples of firms who have become market leaders in their field or (in some instances) have had their fingers burnt. Concludes by looking at strategic decision making and marketing as a means to gain reasonable returns given the appropriate circumstances.

The phenomenon of product piracy, when examined against different cultural, social and developmental needs, may result in a moderation of traditional moral judgments that have tended to deprecate piracy at every conceivable opportunity. Outlines the magnitude of product piracy, notably in the Asian region, presents a delineation of the relevant terminology, discusses strategies used in preventing product piracy and examines alternative views on the ethics of the practice.

The aim of this study was to devise a simple proforma for reporting staging CT scans of the thorax, to ensure that all essential information is included on the report, in a logical manner, and that a TNM classification and tumour stage is given. Once the design of the proforma had been agreed, its utilisation and effectiveness was audited. In an initial six month period, every proforma filled in had resulted in a TNM classification being given, although in only 20 out of 40 (50 per cent) had a tumour stage been given. In a subsequent six month period, 39 out of 44 patients (89 per cent) with lung cancer undergoing a staging CT scan had proformas completed, and a TNM classification and tumour stage given (95 per cent CI is (0.75, 0.96)). Therefore, a proforma can be a useful aid to reporting staging scans, and is an effective method of ensuring that tumours are staged as fully as possible, radiologically. In addition, relevant information is presented in a clear format that allows accurate collection of data for audit purposes.

Businesses today face a number of difficult challenges that make customer engagement more important than ever. The usual way in which businesses operate makes it difficult to achieve high levels of consumer engagement. Perhaps the main problem with all the bits and pieces of ideas that would promote customer engagement – branding to consumers, internal marketing within the company, and service delivery – is how to fit all these together. The way to implement such models throughout the company is not clear and not easy to understand.

The total engagement model puts everything together into an efficient and effective system. The key is focusing on aligning all activities of the company on a unified plan for customer engagement, including advertising, service, products and the internal culture. An important benefit of the total engagement model is the synergy through total brand strategy alignment throughout the company: the whole (through integration) is greater than the sum of the parts (of which some may already be good and some not so good but they may be fragmented). The proposed model is fairly comprehensive and thereby integrates and clearly explains, with emphasis on actionability, how to design and operationalise a growth plan driven by increasing customer engagement.

The findings of two case studies are presented, which illustrate the model at work.

The approach will be of interest to managers who seek to integrate a comprehensive, actionable brand management model throughout the company in order to maximise growth potential.

The paper outlines an original business model, the “total engagement model,” which, when executed well, can help an organisation to achieve business growth via customer engagement.

Examines the way in which management has denied training and development the prospect of making a full contribution to corporate renewal. Concentrates on the structural obstacles inherent in the internal environment. The organizational climate within firms must alter radically if training and development are to be used effectively as change agents.

Terrorism is not a new phenomenon in human life. It existed during Biblical times when Joseph, the seventeen‐year‐old son of Jacob, was kidnapped and sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Although terrorists have been active throughout history, it is only recently that we have seen an increase in scholarly interest in the phenomenon of terrorism. One reason for this is the fact that terrorist activities have increased dramatically since the 1960s. Everyday we read in the newspapers and hear on radio and television details of the latest terrorist outrage. Many American colleges and universities now offer a course or two on terrorism as a part of their curriculum.