The ingredients of motivation lie within us all. Circumstances and situations will determine the stimulus which will generate response – to drive forward, to withdraw or to wait…
Abstract
The ingredients of motivation lie within us all. Circumstances and situations will determine the stimulus which will generate response – to drive forward, to withdraw or to wait for a further signal. Once the response is decided, the degree of general purpose enthusiasm evoked will control the momentum. For people in the workplace, their employers set the targets and the strategies for achieving them, provide the resources, including all maintenance and operating costs, and expect the desired results. Compliance will follow, but not necessarily commitment. Commitment is a voluntary response which cannot be mandated, but it will be the outcome of relationships which create a shared purpose.
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If communication means transfer of meaning and is defined as the lifeblood of organisations and relationships why is it so frequently blocked by the clots of obfuscation…
Abstract
If communication means transfer of meaning and is defined as the lifeblood of organisations and relationships why is it so frequently blocked by the clots of obfuscation? Communication breakdown is perhaps the greatest destroyer of human relationships at all levels from interpersonal to international. Someone once said “The limits of my language are the limits of my world” (An e‐mail addict?). Acceptance of this is to confess inadequacy. Michelangelo's motto “Ancora Imparo” – Always I am learning – suggests that by asking, listening and responding with words and feelings one can remove misunderstandings, and no one is diminished. Are we in serious danger of losing the human interactions?
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Globalisation and technological developments are creating uncertainty in both the private and public sectors. There are calls on all sides for increased productivity. Measures for…
Abstract
Purpose
Globalisation and technological developments are creating uncertainty in both the private and public sectors. There are calls on all sides for increased productivity. Measures for improving productivity involve staff retention and support and the development of an organisational culture that focuses on incentives and recognition.
Design/methodology/approach
Identifies and discusses the linkages which unify an organisation and suggests ways of strengthening them and significantly raising productivity.
Findings
That optimum gain can be achieved when total organisational activity is coordinated and that the outcomes of extra effort are appropriately recognised.
Originality/value
High potential but dependent upon interpretation and acceptance.
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The purpose of this paper is to consider leadership in an organisational setting, where the role of the one responsible for the work of others is more of a guide than a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider leadership in an organisational setting, where the role of the one responsible for the work of others is more of a guide than a pace‐setter who leads from the front.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper demonstrates that the outcomes of the work completed and the motivation shown are the evidence of their value in meeting current and future expectations of customers/clients,
Findings
The paper finds that the role of the leader is to identify the objectives and to inspire others to achieve and maintain them.
Originality/value
The paper endeavours to show that leadership is embedded in the culture of an organisation and whether it is dormant or active will be dependent on the philosophy and purpose that drive it – that is the barometer of effectiveness.
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This paper seeks to reinforce an awareness that the forces driving the business world today have changed quite dramatically in the last few years. Training must respond to this…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to reinforce an awareness that the forces driving the business world today have changed quite dramatically in the last few years. Training must respond to this and become more actively involved in the quest for higher productivity. The article also aims to introduce a new factor into long‐range planning.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper identifies and describes these changes and discusses possible reactions.
Findings
This article expresses a concern that if short‐course programs continue to focus on resolving procedural issues the needs of wider issues today may be down‐played.
Originality/value
The paper reiterates that the outcome of a training program should demonstrate the skill/knowledge gain and enhance the motivation to extend it.
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The purpose of this paper is to consider whether secondary school education is adequately preparing young people for entering into the workplace.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider whether secondary school education is adequately preparing young people for entering into the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper seeks to match the expectations of the employee with the qualities which might be expected in school‐leaver appointees.
Findings
The paper suggests there are gaps, but accepts that to date this has not been challenged. Recommends consideration of some components for bridging this area.
Originality/value
Implementation would require some new thinking of teaching and presentation, but the benefits could be significant.
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THE effective little conference of the London and Home Counties Branch of the Library Association at Brighton gave clear proof of the value of and desire for such gatherings. This…
Abstract
THE effective little conference of the London and Home Counties Branch of the Library Association at Brighton gave clear proof of the value of and desire for such gatherings. This experience, we are confident, will be understood by our Council and a national conference should be possible in 1946. At Brighton, amongst many good things, from the public lecture by Charles Morgan to the excellent symposium by the Service members, there was the important statement by Mr. Goldsack, Chairman of the National Book League and a well‐known publisher, on the state of British stocks of books. A census made by publishers and booksellers had revealed that some 50,000 basic books, which are required continuously by libraries, schools and the general reading world, are out‐of‐print. It may be recalled that forty years ago James Duff Brown asserted “of real, living works of literary and human interest, there are perhaps not more than 20,000 in the English language,” and if more than twice that number of books are unavailable the condition would seem to be parlous. Of course the quotation we have made is not acceptable today nor is the statement unqualified in the Berwick Sayers' editions of Brown's Manual, but Mr. Goldsack's figures give us furiously to think. We are bound to keep in every town and county a representative collection of books of every age and we do know that there is the insistent demand for current books; for some readers, indeed, this means current fiction; lacking that we are labelled as “useless” by the most vocal part of the community of readers.
The future construction site will be pervasive, context aware and embedded with intelligence. The purpose of this paper is to explore and define the concept of the digital skin of…
Abstract
Purpose
The future construction site will be pervasive, context aware and embedded with intelligence. The purpose of this paper is to explore and define the concept of the digital skin of the future smart construction site.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides a systematic and hierarchical classification of 114 articles from both industry and academia on the digital skin concept and evaluates them. The hierarchical classification is based on application areas relevant to construction, such as augmented reality, building information model-based visualisation, labour tracking, supply chain tracking, safety management, mobile equipment tracking and schedule and progress monitoring. Evaluations of the research papers were conducted based on three pillars: validation of technological feasibility, onsite application and user acceptance testing.
Findings
Technologies learned about in the literature review enabled the envisaging of the pervasive construction site of the future. The paper presents scenarios for the future context-aware construction site, including the construction worker, construction procurement management and future real-time safety management systems.
Originality/value
Based on the gaps identified by the review in the body of knowledge and on a broader analysis of technology diffusion, the paper highlights the research challenges to be overcome in the advent of digital skin. The paper recommends that researchers follow a coherent process for smart technology design, development and implementation in order to achieve this vision for the construction industry.