David Glew, Melanie B. Smith, Dominic Miles-Shenton and Christopher Gorse
The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed appraisal of the quality of domestic retrofits.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed appraisal of the quality of domestic retrofits.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents the results of technical surveys on 51 retrofits undertaken before, during and after the retrofits.
Findings
Failures are observed to be endemic and characterised into five themes: 72 per cent showed moisture issues pre-retrofit, 68 per cent had moisture risks post-retrofit, 62 per cent did not adopt a whole house approach, 16 per cent showed inadequate quality assurance protocols and 64 per cent showed evidence of insufficient design detailing. Each theme is further subcategorised with a view to identifying implications for future policy.
Research limitations/implications
The findings suggest the 10 per cent Ofgem retrofit failure rates predictions are an underestimate and so there may be a need for additional investigations to understand the trend across the UK.
Practical implications
Recommendations to reduce the failure rates may include making changes to the current inspection regime, widening understanding among installers; providing standard repeatable designs for repeated features; and empowering occupants to trigger inspections.
Social implications
The sample is representative of a substantial proportion of the homes in the UK suggesting that retrofit quality may in many instances be below the required standards.
Originality/value
Risks of moisture issues and underperformance in domestic retrofit are a concern for government industry and households. This research shows that many installation failures are the result of not implementing existing guidelines and a change to the enforcement of standards may be needed to enact a fundamental change in installer practice and process control.
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This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer, who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
The paper fidns that “Some people just never learn” and “Will they ever learn?” are among those expressions of exasperation usually uttered when someone has caused trouble or pain by ignoring the lessons of previous mistakes.
Practical implications
The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.
Originality/value
The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.
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Jessica Mesmer‐Magnus, David J. Glew and Chockalingam Viswesvaran
The benefits of humor for general well‐being have long been touted. Past empirical research has suggested that some of these benefits also exist in the work domain. However, there…
Abstract
Purpose
The benefits of humor for general well‐being have long been touted. Past empirical research has suggested that some of these benefits also exist in the work domain. However, there is little shared understanding as to the role of humor in the workplace. The purpose of this paper is to address two main gaps in the humor literature. First, the authors summarize several challenges researchers face in defining and operationalizing humor, and offer an integrative conceptualization which may be used to consolidate and interpret seemingly disparate research streams. Second, meta‐analysis is used to explore the possibility that positive humor is associated with: employee health (e.g. burnout, health) and work‐related outcomes (e.g. performance, job satisfaction, withdrawal); with perceived supervisor/leader effectiveness (e.g. perceived leader performance, follower approval); and may mitigate the deleterious effects of workplace stress on employee burnout.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examine the results of prior research using meta‐analysis (k=49, n=8,532) in order to explore humor's potential role in organizational and employee effectiveness.
Findings
Results suggest employee humor is associated with enhanced work performance, satisfaction, workgroup cohesion, health, and coping effectiveness, as well as decreased burnout, stress, and work withdrawal. Supervisor use of humor is associated with enhanced subordinate work performance, satisfaction, perception of supervisor performance, satisfaction with supervisor, and workgroup cohesion, as well as reduced work withdrawal.
Research limitations/implications
Profitable avenues for future research include: clarifying the humor construct and determining how current humor scales tap this construct; exploring the role of negative forms of humor, as they likely have different workplace effects; the role of humor by coworkers; a number of potential moderators of the humor relationships, including type of humor, job level and industry type; and personality correlates of humor use and appreciation.
Practical implications
The authors recommend caution be exercised when attempting to cultivate humor in the workplace, as this may raise legal concerns (e.g. derogatory or sexist humor), but efforts aimed at encouraging self‐directed/coping humor may have the potential to innocuously buffer negative effects of workplace stress.
Originality/value
Although psychologists have long recognized the value of humor for general well‐being, organizational scholars have devoted comparatively little research to exploring benefits of workplace humor. Results underscore benefits of humor for work outcomes, encourage future research, and offer managerial insights on the value of creating a workplace context supportive of positive forms of humor.
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This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
Researchers have commented that “despite the enduring nature of humor, it has seldom been taken seriously by organizational scientists”. But successful businesses have been built on phrases like “have fun, make money”. Indeed, some use measures of humor within their selection systems and report impressive results. For instance, Southwest Airlines screens for a “light‐hearted attitude”, declaring that this leads to greater employee camaraderie and performance, as well as enhancing customer satisfaction. Humor has been part of every culture throughout history, with sayings along the lines of “laughter is the best medicine”. So can it make a difference to how well an organization works, or to how well individuals get on at work?
Practical implications
The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.
Originality/value
The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.
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Donald J. Rudawsky, David C. Lundgren and Anthony F. Grasha
This study examined the impact of interpersonal and intrapersonal factors upon the use of competitive and collaborative conflict resolution strategies in response to negative…
Abstract
This study examined the impact of interpersonal and intrapersonal factors upon the use of competitive and collaborative conflict resolution strategies in response to negative feedback Male and female college students were asked to recall instances of interpersonal conflicts where they received negative feedback from peers. Different factors predicted competition and collaboration. Greater negative affect led to more competition, while feedback on more important topics within closer relationships led to more collaboration. Gender had indirect effects on both of these assertive strategies, with women being more likely to both compete and collaborate. Several implications for further research are discussed.
Joachim M. Schafheitle and Nicholas D. Light
The changing demands of consumers, advances in technology and thepressures of the economic climate have led to many changes in cateringover the last two decades. Among other…
Abstract
The changing demands of consumers, advances in technology and the pressures of the economic climate have led to many changes in catering over the last two decades. Among other systems introduced to rationalise large‐scale catering are cook‐freeze and cook‐chill, with the latter becoming increasingly popular due to its advantages in energy saving and food (textural) quality over cook‐freeze. However, the microbiological risks of cook‐chill have always been acknowledged as being higher than those inherent in cook‐freeze and, in a recent survey of operations in the UK, cook‐chill food was regarded only as poor to good by consumers – few “high‐class” caterers were found to be using the system. New systems which utilise vacuum packaging either before or after cooking in combination with the chilling techniques of cook‐chill are becoming more popular and appear to give higher quality food. Sous‐vide cuisine is one of these. In combination with cook‐chill (sous‐vide/cook‐chill), this method is claimed to give rise to a host of benefits yet very little laboratory research work has been published on sous‐vide/cook‐chill. The few research publications on the sous‐vide/cook‐chill method in the context of food safety and the use of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and quality assurance techniques like Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) are discussed. It is argued that sous‐vide/cook‐chill, like standard cook‐chill itself, should be regarded more as food manufacturing methods than catering methods.
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Afolabi Frederick Eleyinmi, Peter Sporns and David C. Bressler
To investigate the potential food, feed and industrial values of some tropical underutilized medicinal plant materials.
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the potential food, feed and industrial values of some tropical underutilized medicinal plant materials.
Design/methodology/approach
Dry‐milled plants, namely: Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina were subjected to chemical analysis to determine their proximate, mineral, elemental, fatty acid and amino acid compositions using standard procedures.
Findings
Results show that the lipid extract, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen free extractives, oxalate, phytate and tannin of the plants are within expected ranges. They however had unexpectedly high crude protein content: 27.20 and 21.69 per cent, respectively. Potassium, phosphorus, calcium and cobalt were the most abundant mineral elements. G. latifolium and V. amygdalina leaf oils are 50.22 and 24.54 per cent saturated; 39.38 and 65.45 per cent polyunsaturated, respectively. Palmitic and oleic acids were the major monounsaturated fatty acids. Degrees of unsaturation are 0.46 and 0.41, respectively. Major essential amino acids are leucine, valine and phenylalanine. Proportions of essential to non‐essential amino acid are 43.37 and 49.84 per cent, respectively.
Originality/value
The nutritional composition of the plant materials suggests that they may find use in food/feed formulation operations and as industrial raw materials.
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This study explores how participation in decision making (PDM) can help employees balance the demands from work and life. Based on Karasek's (1979) job demand–job control model…
Abstract
This study explores how participation in decision making (PDM) can help employees balance the demands from work and life. Based on Karasek's (1979) job demand–job control model, this study hypothesizes that work hours moderate the relationship between PDW and work–life conflict. Using a linked employer and employee two-year survey, this study finds that PDM can reduce work–life conflict, but the reduction only works for employees who work long hours. For those employees who work short hours, PDM increases their work–life conflict.
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Nick Axford, David P. Farrington, Suzy Clarkson, Gretchen J. Bjornstad, Zoe Wrigley and Judy Hutchings
– The purpose of this paper is to describe how and why school-based programmes to prevent or reduce bullying involve parents, and what impact involving parents has on bullying.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe how and why school-based programmes to prevent or reduce bullying involve parents, and what impact involving parents has on bullying.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of relevant literature, in particular systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Findings
The logic of involving parents in school-based bullying prevention programmes is that this increases the likelihood of parents first, telling schools that their child is being bullied, which in turn enables the school to act appropriately, and second, being able to address bullying-related issues effectively at home. Parent involvement is associated with a reduction in bullying but further research is needed to determine if it is a causal factor. Programmes tend not to include a parenting education and support element, despite negative parenting behaviour being associated with children being a victim or a bully/victim.
Practical implications
There is good reason to involve parents in school-based bullying prevention. Given the parenting risk factors for bullying perpetration and victimisation, bullying prevention programmes could also usefully offer parenting education and support.
Originality/value
The paper focuses exclusively on the role of parents in school-based bullying prevention programmes. It articulates the logic of involving parents and summarises the impact of parent involvement.
Nicholas Kingsley Graham and Isaac Owusu
Implementing quality programmes faces challenges and are not able to yield the needed results. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which three key variables…
Abstract
Purpose
Implementing quality programmes faces challenges and are not able to yield the needed results. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which three key variables referred to as employee development, empowerment and participation (EDEP) determine the success of a quality programme of printing firms in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is purely quantitative and data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of workers from printing firms in Ghana. The questionnaire instrument assesses the practices of the firms on development, empowerment and participation of employees. Descriptive, correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to ascertain the contribution and relationship of the variables to quality achievement.
Findings
EDEP is directly and significantly related to print quality achievement. Among the three variables, participation has the greatest effect and contributes significantly to quality achievement. This is followed by empowerment, which has moderate effect on successful quality programme.
Research limitations/implications
The study was unable to evaluate entire Total Quality Management dimensions. More extended research, preferably longitudinal study, is needed to establish how EDEP affect quality achievement in organisations.
Practical implications
Achieving quality printing depends on the level of attention to EDEP. The study suggests that when employees participate fully in quality drive and self-manage their actions and duties, high-quality printing can be assured.
Social implications
The study provides useful information on factors that have been overlooked or given less attention, yet affect quality programmes of the firms.
Originality/value
The study empirically measure critical success factors of a quality in the printing firms.