Katherine Ibbotson and Peter Farrell
Low carbon solutions in infrastructure have been well documented and promoted in most areas of the UK except in the context of public sector Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk…
Abstract
Purpose
Low carbon solutions in infrastructure have been well documented and promoted in most areas of the UK except in the context of public sector Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) infrastructure. With the UK Government providing £2.5bn capital investment to reduce risk of flooding and coastal erosion between 2015 and 2020, the carbon impact of this construction programme will have a significant impact on the UK’s carbon targets. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive literature review focusing on the effect of carbon on climate change, the role of UK public sector FCERM construction and organisational cultural challenges in promoting low carbon.
Design/methodology/approach
An electronic survey of practising professionals in a leading government agency that procures major FCERM construction projects has been undertaken. The survey covers participants from the whole value chain within the project life cycle, since many authoritative sources call for integration, and for change to be implemented in partner organisations.
Findings
The survey shows that although carbon is considered, it is not yet at the level of importance nor is it prioritised to the extent at which cost is. This is for both public and private sector supply chain organisations. Low carbon, although included in discussions, does not feature as prominently throughout all project stages.
Research limitations/implications
The utilisation of a survey for this research is limited as it merely supports current industry findings, albeit having focused on a specific infrastructure area. Further qualitative research is required to fully explore the findings within the survey, and to establish whether the implementation of a new whole life carbon calculator within FCERM construction will have an impact on the organisational culture and future successful implementation of low carbon construction.
Practical implications
The results of this research identify the specific areas in which industry practitioners involved in promoting and prioritising low carbon could focus on to facilitate the change required to fully embed low carbon into FCERM construction.
Social implications
This research supports industry knowledge specifically for public sector FCERM construction, and the changes to organisational culture required to fully embed low carbon solutions in public sector construction. These changes may have an impact on the amount of carbon being used, which can positively affect climate change as a whole.
Originality/value
The literature review shows that carbon has a clear impact on climate change, and organisational culture and leadership can facilitate the successful implementation of new initiatives. However, previous attempts to embed low carbon into infrastructure construction practice have had limited success to date. The survey findings support the view that organisational culture and leadership can influence the successful embedding of low carbon solutions, and why this has been a challenge.
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David K. Whynes, Katherine Clarke, Zoë Philips and Mark Avis
To identify women's sources of information about cervical cancer screening, information which women report receiving during Pap consultations, information they would like to…
Abstract
Purpose
To identify women's sources of information about cervical cancer screening, information which women report receiving during Pap consultations, information they would like to receive, and the relationships between perceived information needs, personal characteristics and information sources.
Design/methodology/approach
Logistic regression analysis of questionnaire data obtained from 408 screen‐eligible women resident in east central UK.
Findings
Programme documentation and the Pap consultation represent the main sources of information, although a sizeable proportion rely on other sources (e.g. mass media). The range and frequency of information services which women report receiving during their Pap consultations are variable, and around one‐sixth of women report never receiving information. “Always wanting information” is predictable from subject characteristics, which do not map precisely, owing to the variation in frequency of information being supplied. Age and women's main sources of information are significant predictors of perceived information shortfall, and such shortfalls are associated with dissatisfaction with the screening programme.
Originality/value
Covers all aspects of women's attitudes towards satisfactory or unsatisfactory availability of external information in the matter of screening for cervical cancer in the UK.
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International property investments are being considered by manyinstitutional investors as an alternative investment media. Although anew concept for many, some investors…
Abstract
International property investments are being considered by many institutional investors as an alternative investment media. Although a new concept for many, some investors (particularly the British and Dutch) have historically held overseas property as part of their investment portfolios. Examines results from 43 international investors who completed a survey exploring the decision‐making process used by international property investors, including investment techniques; motivating factors and the major problems often associated with making overseas investments; and in particular the investors′ attitudes towards currency risk. With little research, investors operate in a vacuum –unaware of attitudes and strategies used by others. Responses detailed provide information not only on how this asset class is perceived by those who are actively holding overseas investments but also by numerous firms who are contemplating the asset class and those who have decided against overseas property investments.