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This study explores the use of Blockchain technology as a new solution to many current problems in construction information management. The study shows that Blockchain has the potential to address several issues such as confidentiality, provenance tracking; monitoring channel and ledger metrics; disintermediation; non-repudiation; change tracing; multiparty aggregation; traceability inter-organizational recordkeeping; and data ownership.

A systematic analysis of a paper published, “Potentials of Blockchain Technology for Construction Management,” is offered. The structured results are provided for the purpose of contributing to the discussion of the topic.

The results of this study shows that the suitable position for the integration of Blockchain is the interface-points of the transaction processing component of the Building Information Modeling server. This technology also can help in controlling and fingerprinting all information exchanges and communication. The conclusion drawn from the study provides a foundation from which further research can be developed.

The findings of this study will help construction project managers and senior executives with a deeper understanding of Blockchain technology and its long-term implications for the construction industry; coupled with knowledge of its relationship to other emerging technologies such as BIM. Propositions for smart contracts deployment and further research are suggested.

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

Viewpoint.

Fisher reports an increase in mobile and work-at-home jobs occurred in 2013. This trend is expected to continue as companies strive to be more competitive on a global scale. Service-oriented firms are not the only ones to benefit from supply chain flexibility strategies. Apple and Dell are both wildly successful and are considered highly flexible firms. One general complaint from all virtual workers is connectivity issues. This is inherent with the position. Locations in third world countries are more susceptible to online issues. If a constant source of electricity or internet availability is an issue, it goes without saying that workers’ productivity will be affected. So far, this potential downfall has not proven a major problem for companies. Will other companies follow the leader and begin using more remote access positions within their firms? If they value the knowledge from benchmarking, then yes. Rather they should, as long as they possess the needed resources.

The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations.

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.

The purpose of this paper is to extend the developing body of knowledge on supply chain performance by addressing the impact of resource commitment (RC), product route efficiency (PRE), and manufacturing flexibility (MF) on a firm’s financial performance (FP) has a direct impact on supply chain operations.

Survey questionnaires were developed in conjunction with literature guidance. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used in conjunction with structural equation modeling to give a robust analysis of the problem setting.

Discoveries herein indicate that committing resources in itself is insufficient to adequately increase FP over the long term. However, the mediating variables of MF and PRE were found to significantly improve a firm’s bottom line.

Prior research has been somewhat lacking and inconsistent with regards to the nature of causal and mediating relationships found between RC, PRE, MF, and a firm’s financial performance. Given the increasing global nature of competition, understanding the relationships between potential factors that could positively impact a firm’s FP has a large potential direct impact and benefit on supply chain operations.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between stereotypes, in-group favoritism, and in-group bolstering effects across generations.

Based on the trends found in a qualitative study on generational stereotypes, questions on work ethic, work-life balance, and use of technology were administered to 255 participants identified as Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. Hypotheses predicted that with a strong stereotype, traditional in-group favoritism will not be found; however, an in-group bolstering effect will emerge. In the absence of a strong stereotype, traditional in-group favoritism is expected.

Generally, there was a strong stereotype that Baby Boomers are worse at technology than Generation X and Generation X is worse than Millennials. There was also a strong stereotype that Millennials do not do what it takes to get the job done as much as other generations. In the presence of these stereotypes, traditional in-group favoritism was not found, but in-groups bolstered themselves by rating themselves more favorably than other groups rated them. Although these findings did not hold for every item studied, there was moderate support for all three hypotheses.

As employees become aware of their biases, they can collaborate better with employees who are different than they are. Practical recommendations are suggested.

The paper applies theory of in-group favoritism to the perceptions of generational cohorts.

This paper has two purposes. First, to provide insight into the formation of completely online small groups, paying special attention to how their work practices develop, and how they form identity. Second, to pursue conceptual development of a more multi‐level view of completely online group experience, which can be made visible through analysis of the unique interaction logging system used in this study.

The authors conduct a mixed methods study that integrates interviews, grounded theory analysis, case study methods and social network analysis to build a multi‐layered view of completely online group and community development.

Completely online group formation is explicated as a socio‐technical system. The paper identifies themes of tool uptake and use, and patterns of interaction that accompany group formation and development of completely online group practices. These patterns show little respect for the boundaries of space and time. It then shows how groups who are paired together for two non‐sequential activities develop a common internal structural arrangement in the second activity, and are viewable as groups in the larger course context in four of six cases.

The time bounded nature of the group and community, combined with the educational context limit the generalizability of these findings.

The study shows how completely online group development can be made visible. Managers of work teams and teachers who work with classrooms in completely online contexts need to recognize the dynamic structure and interaction practices of completely online teams.

First, little research has been conducted on completely online group formation. Second, a conceptual understanding of how group members relate to one another and how groups interact with other groups in the same socio‐technical context is not explored in prior work. Third, the paper performs this analysis including data from rich, contextualized usage logs, which enables greater insight into online group interactivity than prior research.

For students who are blind or visually impaired, technology enables greater access to the educational curriculum, immediate and independent access to information, and full participation in community and citizenship. This chapter reviews research on technology use by students with visual impairments, and highlights effective practices, promising developments, and ongoing challenges. The authors discuss the implications of these advancements on policy, instruction, professional development, and future research.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a holistic and comprehensive historical perspective of the evolution of value management, and to illustrate the impact that value analysis can have on innovation within organizations.

A review of published material from credible sources describing the evolution of the value management methodology, and a desktop analysis of 35 documented value management case studies illustrating the role of value management in innovation.

Published descriptions of the evolution of value management are incomplete and fragmented. A holistic and comprehensive historical perspective of value management as a value-adding methodology is provided. Mapped against a model for innovation, value management is shown to contribute substantially to innovation within organizations across a variety of contexts. Value management is currently evolving into a powerful approach to strategic planning.

This paper illustrates the contribution of value management to innovation across a variety of industries and contexts.

The paper provides a holistic and comprehensive historical perspective of the evolution of value management as a methodology, and demonstrates by mapping selected case studies onto a model of innovation impact, that the method is a powerful and versatile approach to obtaining innovative solutions to organizational problems.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of race and social class on wage differentials between Black and White employees.

A survey with four possible conditions (white/black target who was lower/middle class) was used in the study to examine the interaction between race and social class on compensation decisions.

The paper finds that there was a significant interaction between race and social class when predicting the percentage of pay increase given to employees. Specifically, there was a significant negative correlation between perceptions of social class and percentage of increase when the target was Black, but there was no such correlation when the target was White.

The sample was 95.6 percent White and did not consist of managerial employees in actual compensation decisions; however, it shows evidence that people are affected by their perceptions of social class and race when making such decisions.

Policy makers should not forget that perceived social class might interact with race to influence discriminatory decisions in workplaces. This research suggests that Black employees who are perceived to be middle class are discriminated against more than those who are perceived to be lower class. Businesses need to be aware of unintentional biases that may be plaguing their managers and train them to avoid such biases.

This paper contributes new insight into the literature on the wage gap between Black and White employees by showing the interaction between race and perceived social class when predicting pay increases.

States that the major reasons for difficulties in cross‐cultural communication stem from the fact that actors from different cultures have different understandings regarding the interaction process and different styles of dialogue. Suggests that better understanding of communication within other cultures is the key to success. Uses past literature to suggest a number of cultural variability constructs concerning preferred interaction behaviours and the common themes they share. Presents three case studies to illustrate this.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model regarding adolescent adjustment issues overseas.

Using previous literature on expatriate adjustment and in‐depth interviews with students currently living abroad, a model of expatriate teens' adjustment is developed.

Interviews found that although some issues of adolescent adjustment are similar to expatriate and spouse issues, several were unique. In addition, the interviews suggested that the effective adjustment of the adolescent might lead the expatriate to stay abroad longer than originally planned.

Small sample size and limited generalizability form the main limitations of the exercise.

Effective predeparture training for all family members is imperative for expatriate success.

The papers represent the first comprehensive look at the issues that affect the adjustment of expatriate teens.