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Article
Publication date: 1 September 2000

E. Dockey, W.E. Herbert and K. Taylor

Discusses the agency issues underlying corporate governance, refering to research on managerial attitudes/incentives for maximizing shareholder value and pressures to align the…

4104

Abstract

Discusses the agency issues underlying corporate governance, refering to research on managerial attitudes/incentives for maximizing shareholder value and pressures to align the interests of directors and shareholders. Reports a survey of finance executives in 175 large firms in 7 EU countries to analyse their strategies and the influence of pressure groups on strategy choice. Shows that market leadership and increased operating margins are the most successful operating strategies; changing productive capacity, generating new/better products and buying business with complementary products are the best investment strategies; and a leveraged buyout is the most effective capital strategy to maximize shareholder returns. Adds that UK managers (like US managers) have a shorter term focus than other European managers, perhaps because their relationships with institutional investors are less close.

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Managerial Finance, vol. 26 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0307-4358

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Book part
Publication date: 19 March 2024

Kevin M. Esterling and Cesunica E. Ivey

In this chapter, the authors envision a new framework for technology-enabled local engagement. This framework would exploit web-based collaboration technology in order to create…

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors envision a new framework for technology-enabled local engagement. This framework would exploit web-based collaboration technology in order to create local engagement panels that represent a cross section of ordinary residents. For concreteness, the authors illustrate the framework in a proposed study called “Clearing the Air” would enable residents in the areas of Southern California that are most impacted by the logistics industry to have substantive and constructive opportunities to engage local officials on the complex economic and environmental matters related to logistics and emissions in the Southern California region. The authors propose methods to evaluate best practices in the use of collaboration technology, in particular, to learn whether the technology enables and empowers the engagement panels to participate in air quality governance at a high level and helps local officials better understand the considered opinions of residents on these important matters. If successful, this framework would integrate the policy views of individual residents alongside those of organized stakeholders, experts, and agency officials in the policy process.

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Technology vs. Government: The Irresistible Force Meets the Immovable Object
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83867-951-4

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Book part
Publication date: 28 March 2023

Asif Mahmood, Sharlin Mahmood and Shah Saquib

Plastic has been a very useful material which is very cheap, easy to carry and is resilient to biodegradation. That is why plastic has been used, sometimes reused, and overused…

Abstract

Plastic has been a very useful material which is very cheap, easy to carry and is resilient to biodegradation. That is why plastic has been used, sometimes reused, and overused due to the reasons mentioned above. As a result, landfills and oceans are full of plastic. But if we consider all the negative health effects, environmental / ecological effects it has in present times, we can understand that it is environmentally very expensive to use plastic. Bangladesh is a relatively young country with dense population and limited resource. Proper management of plastic remains an issue with the country. Considering these, this chapter focuses on how plastic is used, how it is treated as waste and what can be possible solutions in reducing the amount of plastic in Bangladesh.

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Socially Responsible Plastic
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-987-1

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Article
Publication date: 7 September 2010

Elizabeth S. Meagher and Christopher C. Brown

The paper aims to cover the institutional decision‐making processes behind the decision to add machine readable cataloging records to the library catalog that link to hundreds of…

996

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to cover the institutional decision‐making processes behind the decision to add machine readable cataloging records to the library catalog that link to hundreds of thousands of URLs with freely available web content, the management processes making this possible, as well as other more philosophical concerns.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study conducted at the University of Denver, Penrose Library.

Findings

Implementing a URL tracking system, combined with a philosophical decision to follow a proactive URL maintenance approach rather than a reactive one, has resulted in an improved error rate for URL click‐throughs.

Originality/value

The paper addresses URL maintenance issues, staffing solutions, and error rates not addressed elsewhere in the literature.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 28 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

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Article
Publication date: 12 February 2019

Kurt Azevedo and Daniel B. Olsen

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the altitude at which construction equipment operates affects or contributes to increased engine wear.

248

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the altitude at which construction equipment operates affects or contributes to increased engine wear.

Design/methodology/approach

The study includes the evaluation of two John Deere PowerTech Plus 6,068 Tier 3 diesel engines, the utilization of OSA3 oil analysis laboratory equipment to analyze oil samples, the employment of standard sampling scope and methods, and the analysis of key Engine Control Unit (ECU) data points (machine utilization, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and engine sensor data).

Findings

At 250 h of engine oil use, the engine operating at 3,657 meters above sea level (MASL) had considerably more wear than the engine operating at 416 MASL. The leading and earliest indicator of engine wear was a high level of iron particles in the engine oil, reaching abnormal levels at 218 h. The following engine oil contaminants were more prevalent in the engine operating at the higher altitude: potassium, glycol, water and soot. Furthermore, the engine operating at higher altitude also presented abnormal and critical levels of oil viscosity, Total Base Number and oxidation. When comparing the oil sample analysis with the engine ECU data, it was determined that engine idling is a contributor for soot accumulation in the engine operating at the higher altitude. The most prevalent DTCs were water in fuel, extreme low coolant levels and extreme high exhaust manifold temperature. The ECU operating data demonstrated that the higher altitude environment caused the engine to miss-fire and rail pressure was irregular.

Practical implications

Many of the mining operations and construction projects are accomplished at mid to high altitudes. This research provides a comparison of how construction equipment engines are affected by this type of environment (i.e. higher altitudes, cooler temperatures and lower atmospheric pressure). Consequently, service engineers can implement maintenance strategies to minimize internal engine wear for equipment operating at higher altitudes.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper will help construction equipment end-users, maintenance engineers and manufacturers to implement mitigation strategies to improve engine durability for countries with operating conditions similar to those described in this research.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 25 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

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Article
Publication date: 12 June 2017

Farshad Hashemi Rezvani, Behrouz Behnam, Hamid Reza Ronagh and M. Shahria Alam

The purpose of this paper is to determine the failure progression resistance of the steel moment-resisting frames subjected to various beam-removal scenarios after application of…

171

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the failure progression resistance of the steel moment-resisting frames subjected to various beam-removal scenarios after application of the design earthquake pertinent to the structure by investigating a generic eight-story building.

Design/methodology/approach

The structure is first pushed to arrive at a target roof displacement corresponding to life safety level of performance. To simulate the post-earthquake beam-removal scenario, one of the beam elements is suddenly removed from the structure at a number of different positions. The structural response is then evaluated by using nonlinear static and dynamic analyses.

Findings

The results show that while no failure is observed in all of the scenarios, the vulnerability of the upper stories is much greater than that of the lower stories. In the next step, the structural resistance to such scenarios is determined. The results confirm that for the case study structure, at most, the resistance to failure progression in upper stories is 58 percent more than that of lower stories.

Originality/value

Failure and fracture of beam-to-column connections resulting in removal of beam elements may lead to a chain of subsequent failures in other structural members and eventually lead to progressive collapse in some cases. Deficiency in design or construction process of structures when combined by application of seismic loads may lead to such an event.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

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Article
Publication date: 26 May 2023

Ricardo Sbragio and Marcelo Ramos Martins

The purpose of this work is to present a procedure for determining the wind drift factor through two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the wind acting…

50

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this work is to present a procedure for determining the wind drift factor through two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the wind acting on a wavy sea surface, such that the subjectivity of its estimation is reduced.

Design/methodology/approach

The wind drift factor was determined by two-dimensional CFD analyses with open-channel condition. The characteristic wave was determined by the Sverdrup–Munk–Bretschneider (SMB) method. The uncertainty analysis is based on convergence studies using a single parameter refinement (grid and time step).

Findings

This procedure allows the estimation of the wind drift factor in a fetch-limited domain. The domain's value in the analyzed region is 0.0519 ± 4.92% which is consistent with the upper values of the wind drift factors reported in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

The use of a three-dimensional domain was impractical with the available computational resources because of the fine mesh required for wave modeling. The uncertainty analysis consisted only of a verification procedure. Validation against real data was not possible because of the lack of measured data in the analyzed region.

Originality/value

The wind drift factor is usually estimated based on either experience or random sampling. The original contribution of this work is the presentation of a CFD procedure for estimating the wind drift factor, in which the domain inlet is subjected to a wave boundary condition and to a wind velocity.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 40 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Article
Publication date: 19 December 2024

Albert Kobina Mensah, Apori Samuel Obeng, Prince Addai, Alexander Owusu-Ansah and De-Graft Emmanuel Johnson Owusu-Ansah

Potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in the soil at gold mining sites can endanger the health and sustainability of the local community. We examined the potential health risks…

22

Abstract

Purpose

Potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in the soil at gold mining sites can endanger the health and sustainability of the local community. We examined the potential health risks associated with the presence of PHEs (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Sb, Se and Ti) in the soils of active, closed/abandoned/former and profile gold mine sites in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

We collected 102 soil samples from these mine sites, analysed them for their total element contents and calculated the geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination factor and pollution load index (PLI) (Igeo). We calculated the risks to human health by utilizing the hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ) for adult males, adult females and children who may ingest contaminated soil particles.

Findings

The average total Cd concentration in the soils was above the global average of 0.2 mg/kg for abandoned (2.86 mg/kg), active (3.93 mg/kg) and profile (4.04 mg/kg) areas. Mercury was detected at elevated concentrations in the soil of active mines (0.92 mg/kg), profiles (0.89 mg/kg) and abandoned mines (0.87 mg/kg). In the active, abandoned and profile soils, titanium concentrations were 14.18, 6.74 and 4.82 mg/kg, respectively, in several folds above the global average of 0.57 mg/kg. The majority of the sites were contaminated with Cd, Hg and Ti based on the calculated PLI values (active = 2.04, abandoned = 1.77 and profile = 2.7). Cadmium, mercury, lead and titanium in mine spoils were found to be correlated with aluminium, iron, manganese, pH, total carbon, clay content and phosphorus in a multivariate analysis using correlation and principal component analysis.

Research limitations/implications

Both natural and anthropogenic processes contributed to the elevated metal contents in the mining sites, as indicated by the investigation’s results. The children’s hazard index values exceeded the threshold of 1.0, indicating the presence of non-carcinogenic risks.

Practical implications

Green space technology (e.g. revegetation) may thus be critical for preserving public health and reviving the ecological integrity of the contaminated sites.

Originality/value

This study highlights health risks to local communities in southwest Ghana by investigating the presence of potentially harmful elements in soils from gold mining sites for the first time. It assesses non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks using a methodology recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency for soil-to-human health risk assessment, especially for children. The study highlights how contamination has been found, making green space technology essential for preserving ecological integrity and protecting public health. The inclusion of geospatial distribution mapping of PTEs offers a visual depiction of the spread of contamination at both active and closed mining sites.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 36 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

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Article
Publication date: 23 February 2021

Mosab Alrashed, Theoklis Nikolaidis, Pericles Pilidis, Soheil Jafari and Wael Alrashed

Recent advancements in electrified transportation have been necessitated by the need to reduce environmentally harmful emissions. Accordingly, several aviation organisations and…

360

Abstract

Purpose

Recent advancements in electrified transportation have been necessitated by the need to reduce environmentally harmful emissions. Accordingly, several aviation organisations and governments have introduced stringent emission reduction targets for 2050. One of the most promising technologies proposed for achieving these targets is turboelectric distributed propulsion (TeDP). The objective of this study was to explore and identify key indicators for enhancing the applicability of TeDP in air transportation.

Design/methodology/approach

An enhancement valuation method was proposed to overcome the challenges associated with TeDP in terms of technological, economic and environmental impacts. The result indicators (RIs) were determined; the associated performance indicators (PIs) were analysed and the key RIs and PIs for TeDP were identified. Quantitative measurements were acquired from a simulated TeDP case study model to estimate the established key PIs.

Findings

It was determined that real-world TeDP efficiency could be enhanced by up to 8% by optimising the identified key PIs.

Originality/value

This study is the first to identify the key PIs of TeDP and to include a techno-economic environmental risk analysis (TERA) based on the identified key PIs. The findings could guide developers and researchers towards potential focus areas to realise the adoption of TeDP.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. 71 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

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Article
Publication date: 13 May 2019

Alexander Rosado-Serrano, Teresa Longobardi and Justin Paul

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether operating countries influence restaurant franchising system performance and what would be an optimal international franchise…

622

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether operating countries influence restaurant franchising system performance and what would be an optimal international franchise proportion.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors observed ten publicly traded franchise firms that operated between 1995 and 2015. Data analysis is conducted through a generalized linear model (GLM) of panel data.

Findings

The model confirms a curvilinear U-shaped relationship between international franchise expansion and firm performance, similar to domestic franchising. The authors found that international franchisors have a higher optimal franchise proportion than domestic franchisors. The authors did not find that operating countries influence firm performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to franchising literature by expanding limited empirical studies on international franchising. It provides practitioners with a new optimal franchise proportion at the international level.

Details

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, vol. 47 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-0552

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