N.E. Cook, W.L. Hall, W.R. Thompson, J. Landeau, H. Wiester, D. Horstmann and A. Gordet
The hot dip galvanising process is a well‐established means of rust‐proofing iron and steel. In Western Europe 78,000 tons of zinc are used every year for galvanising sheet and…
Abstract
The hot dip galvanising process is a well‐established means of rust‐proofing iron and steel. In Western Europe 78,000 tons of zinc are used every year for galvanising sheet and strip. In the U.S.A., where galvanised sheet is widely used, the figure is 132,000 tons p.a. Galvanisers on both sides of the Atlantic can learn much from each other and last month about 200 experts from Britain, the Continent and America met at Oxford for an International Conference on Hot Dip Galvanising under the auspices of the Zinc Development Association. The subjects discussed ranged from the galvanising of wire to an incentive wages scheme for galvanising workers. Here are summaries of some outstanding papers.
Corrosion is one of the chief factors contributing to the wear of the cylinders and piston rings of an automotive engine. It is caused by acids formed in the combustion process…
Abstract
Corrosion is one of the chief factors contributing to the wear of the cylinders and piston rings of an automotive engine. It is caused by acids formed in the combustion process, particularly those resulting from the combination of certain gases with water condensed on the cylinder walls in low‐temperature operation. In this article the author discusses the mechanism of corrosive cylinder wear, together with the factors influencing it, and reviews some of the methods of mitigating the attack.
Maren Maal and Mark Wilson-North
The use of social media in crisis communication is growing and spreading in an instantaneous speed. The social media technology enables immediate information sharing reaching…
Abstract
Purpose
The use of social media in crisis communication is growing and spreading in an instantaneous speed. The social media technology enables immediate information sharing reaching millions of users on various social media platforms. This paper has gathered lessons learnt from the experiences of the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service in the UK, the Oslo Police Operation Center in Norway, and from an extensive literature review on social media and crisis communication. This empirical and theoretical information was the basis of the 18 guidelines or “do’s” and “don’ts” on how to use social media in crisis communication. The purpose of this paper was to gather best practices that can help crisis managers when attempting to use social media as a crisis communication tool.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper had two cases with semi-structured interviews with representatives from two crisis management organizations (Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service in the UK dealing with safety and Oslo Police Operation Center in Norwa dealing with security). The empirical data were complemented by documentary analysis of the most up-to-date articles on social media in crisis communication.
Findings
The paper provides empirical insights about how to use social media as a crisis communication tool. The two case studies provide different ways to use social media (one-way communication tool and as a two-way information share). This empirical and theoretical information was the basis of the 18 guidelines or “do’s” and “don’ts” on how to use social media in crisis communication. The “do’s” and “don’ts” are best practices that can help crisis managers when attempting to use social media as a crisis communication tool. Some of the main “do’s” include building a relationship with the public prior to a crisis; being courteous, honest and transparent; being factual, accurate and credible; being timely in your messages during a crisis, etc. Some of the main “don’ts” include do not speculate; do not post personal opinions; do not post anything that could bring the organization into disrepute etc.
Research limitations/implications
Because of the chosen research approach with two case studies complemented by a literature review, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the guidelines provided and to further find other case studies.
Practical implications
The guidelines including 18 “do’s” and “don’ts” are best practices that can help crisis managers when attempting to use social media as a crisis communication tool.
Originality/value
This paper fulfills an identified need to study how social media technology can play a major role in the response efforts of the crisis management community during a crisis. It also reveals the potential of using social media as an “information harvesting” tool and a tool for “rumor management”.
Details
Keywords
Sandrine Roginsky and Sally Shortall
During recent years, the concept of civil society, particularly global civil society, has come to the fore in both academia and policy circles. A key component of recent…
Abstract
Purpose
During recent years, the concept of civil society, particularly global civil society, has come to the fore in both academia and policy circles. A key component of recent theoretical and policy research is the attempt to do international comparative research on the meaning of civil society. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the language and the terminology used to describe the agents of civil society are reflective of cultural and historical contexts of societies, have distinct meanings and cannot be used interchangeably.
Design/methodology/approach
In different national contexts, the key agents of civil society are referred to differently; nonprofit sector, voluntary and community sector, third sector and social economy. In comparative studies, scholars often list these concepts to indicate that they recognise that the agents of civil society are referred to differently in different societies. The article offers a socio‐historical analysis of each concept. It is concluded that teasing out the differences, as well as the similarities, between the nonprofit sector, voluntary and community sector, third sector and social economy, is crucial to robust comparative research on civil society.
Findings
This paper exposes a number of limitations of each of the terminologies used to describe civil society. They all present a much more limiting notion of civil society than that proposed by the founding fathers. None seem to capture the range of civil associations in any society. Yet, assumptions are made that the terminologies used have similar meanings rather than attempting to clarify and define exactly what is being written or described. This is exacerbated by the interchangeable usage of nonprofit/third sector/community and voluntary sector/social economy. In order to progress beyond culturally specific understandings of civil society, it is necessary to examine the terminology used and how it emanates from a specific cultural and political context. Having a clear understanding of the language used and what it signifies is crucial to robust cross‐national comparative research.
Originality/value
This paper examines context specific understandings of civil society and the terminology used to define it; a question not previously addressed. It is hoped that this article will generate much needed further debate on cross‐national meanings of civil society.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims at retracing changing attitudes toward Islamic financial products in international markets over the past three decades, thereby providing an account of their…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims at retracing changing attitudes toward Islamic financial products in international markets over the past three decades, thereby providing an account of their “unexpected” expansion outside of the Muslim world.
Design/methodology/approach
This conceptual paper builds on an archival research
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969 news articles published in the UK from 1985 to 2014. Although emphasis is put on the decade of fast changing attitudes toward Islamic finance (IF) in global markets (2001-2011), the years prior to (1985-2000) and following (2012-2014) the target period are also investigated.
Findings
Starting as an obscure set of practices often associated with religious fundamentalism before the mid-1990s, IF had become a “mainstream” alternative by the turn of the century. A second interpretive break then emerged with the advent of the subprime crisis in 2007-2008, which increasingly conferred to IF an ethical component. Interestingly, both narratives still exist concurrently in the media, even in post-crisis discussions.
Social implications
The discussion in this paper allows us to explain the findings of the most recent surveys on this topic, which put forward the complex, and sometimes even contradictory, understandings of what IF stands for in global markets.
Originality/value
This is the first archival research on the topic of IF in international markets. Besides bringing to the discussion an interesting historical perspective, it also draws attention to the growing importance of Islam-based financial products in traditionally secular markets.