Matthew Li, David Allinson and Kevin Lomas
The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of traditionally unmonitored energy sources and sinks on assessment of the as-built thermal performance of occupied homes. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of traditionally unmonitored energy sources and sinks on assessment of the as-built thermal performance of occupied homes. The analysis aims to demonstrate the potential scale of uncertainties introduced in a heat balance estimation of the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) when using in-use monitored data.
Design/methodology/approach
Energy flows for two UK homes – one a 1930s dwelling with high heat loss, the second a higher-performing 2014-built home – are predicted using the UK Government’s standard assessment procedure (SAP) and visualised using Sankey diagrams. Selected modelled energy flows are used as inputs in a quasi-steady state heat balance to calculate in-use HTCs as if from measured data sets gathered in occupied homes. The estimated in-use HTCs are compared against SAP-calculated values to illustrate the impact of including or omitting various heat sources and sinks.
Findings
The results demonstrate that for dwellings with low heat loss, the increased proportion of heating demand met by unmetered internal and solar gains informs a greater sensitivity of a heat balance estimation of the HTC to their omission. While simple quasi-steady state heat balance methods may be appropriate for dwellings with very high heat loss, alternative approaches are likely to be required for those with lower heat loss.
Originality/value
A need to understand the impacts of unmetered heat flows on the accuracy with which a building’s thermal performance may be inferred from in-use monitored data is identified: this paper illustrates the scale of these impacts for two homes at opposite ends of the energy performance scale.
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As librarians consider adopting an automated circulation system, early tasks will be to 1) scan the literature, and 2) contact librarians who have already been involved in the…
Abstract
As librarians consider adopting an automated circulation system, early tasks will be to 1) scan the literature, and 2) contact librarians who have already been involved in the process. The literature itself repeatedly urges the value of communicating with other libraries and librarians. For this purpose, most books on turnkey systems append a list of the systems and their installations in particular libraries.
This study explores how companies’ operations and supply networks can induce social impacts such as enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The study focuses on social…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores how companies’ operations and supply networks can induce social impacts such as enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The study focuses on social enterprises’ supply networks and examines the effects of supply network characteristics on the creation and resolution of social–commercial objectives tension.
Design/methodology/approach
A supply network that is divided into five embedded cases, where each case is the supply network of a social enterprise, was studied. Forty-eight interviews at social enterprises, corporate customers, distributors, suppliers, non-governmental organizations and charities were conducted.
Findings
The study highlights how social enterprises use their supply networks to help disadvantaged people gain employment, truly balance DEI and efficiency objectives and manage paradoxical tensions. The results reveal three types of social purpose supply networks, dichotomized, paired and blended, that hybrid and for-profit organizations can adopt to jointly pursue multiple, potentially competing, objectives and resolve the paradoxical tensions in their supply networks. The creation and resolution of tension are also clarified by considering dyadic, triadic and tetradic tie structures.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the literature by extending the analysis of paradoxical tension between commercial and social welfare objectives such as DEI to the supply network level and revealing three social purpose supply network structures that depict social enterprises’ different ways to resolve paradoxical tensions. The study contributes to social network theory by describing the dynamic interaction between strong and weak ties in multi-tie structures.
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Huong Thi Thanh Tran and James Corner
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the distinct effects of different communication channels, particularly interpersonal networks, social media, and mass media on customer…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the distinct effects of different communication channels, particularly interpersonal networks, social media, and mass media on customer beliefs and usage intention in a mobile banking (MB) context.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches with an exploratory sequential research design in two major phases: focus groups; and a large-scale survey among 183 New Zealand young adults.
Findings
The most significant influential factor of usage intention was perceived usefulness, followed by perceived credibility and perceived costs. Face-to-face communication with bank staff and close acquaintances was perceived as the most reliable and persuasive sources of banking-related information. Moreover, mass channels were considered to be more important and trustworthy than social media in the MB sector. The research results revealed that the current status of MB diffusion in New Zealand is in the latter stages (Late Majority and Laggards) of the innovation diffusion cycle.
Practical implications
In light of the research findings, bank marketers can make the right decisions on marketing actions to promote MB effectively as well as develop appropriate communication policies to speed up the consumer decision process. Researchers and allied industries (e.g. mobile commercial services) could also gain benefits from applying these results to understand the impact of communication channels on consumer perceptions and behaviours towards new technology acceptance.
Originality/value
The research outcomes have served to broaden the knowledge into the distinguishing influences of major communication channels on customers’ beliefs and intention to adopt new banking services.
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The purpose of this study is to investigate how a country's competitive tax policy influences its inward foreign direct investments (FDI) in the Asia–Pacific region, even when…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate how a country's competitive tax policy influences its inward foreign direct investments (FDI) in the Asia–Pacific region, even when given particular constraints (e.g., population, public governance, skilled labor, and so on) exist.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the system GMM estimation approach to test the hypothesis. Data on FDI, corporate income tax, and various confounding factors were drawn from Ernst and Young's worldwide corporate tax guide, the World Bank, and other sources to create a panel of 28 economies over the period 2000–2016.
Findings
The present research confirms the negative association between corporate income tax (CIT) and FDI inflows. The effects of other confounding factors on FDI net inflows are also supported (e.g., connectivity, GDP per capita, population, skilled labor, and trade openness). Our results support the argument that foreign investments may be more sensitive to CIT. Therefore, CIT is an effective indicator to observe international tax competition.
Originality/value
The present research uses rich data on statutory CIT and other economic and public governance factors to investigate the relationship between tax competition and FDI inflows in the Asia–Pacific region. The findings add important supplements to the nuanced understanding of the political-economic dynamics in this region, especially when cut-throat tax competition, trade tensions, and stagnant economic growth have been key challenges for global economies.
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Samuel Mafabi, John Munene and Joseph Ntayi
The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of the mediation effect of innovation in the relationship between knowledge management and organisational resilience.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of the mediation effect of innovation in the relationship between knowledge management and organisational resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a cross‐sectional design to collect data used to carry out mediation analysis.
Findings
Innovation had an effect on organisational resilience. Knowledge management did not have a direct effect on organisational resilience, except through the full mediation of innovation. This suggests that without organisational innovation, parastatal organisations may not improve their level of resilience.
Research limitations/implications
The sample size was small, covering only parastatals. The results may be different in the private sector. The study was cross‐sectional which is limited to trace long‐term effects of knowledge management and organisational innovation on organisational resilience. Therefore, a longitudinal study may be undertaken, subject to resource availability.
Practical implications
Managers in parastatals should carry out organisational innovations as a gateway for knowledge management to build organisational resilience.
Originality/value
The study generates empirical evidence on less studied phenomena in the parastatal sector. The evidence highlights the powerful influence of organisational innovation in building resilience based on knowledge management.
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Derek H.T. Walker, Paulo Vaz Serra and Peter E.D. Love
Price reliability for complex and highly complicated infrastructure projects is problematic. Traditional project delivery approaches generally fail in achieving targeted end cost…
Abstract
Purpose
Price reliability for complex and highly complicated infrastructure projects is problematic. Traditional project delivery approaches generally fail in achieving targeted end cost reliability. However, integrated project delivery (and particularly Alliancing), develop a far more reliable and robust project delivery plan and outturn time-cost targets. This paper aims to explore why this may be the case.
Design/methodology/approach
This case study investigated the project design, planning, cost/time estimation approach and how risk/uncertainty was dealt with. Five senior project delivery experts from an organisation that delivers multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects in Australia were interviewed. These five experts collectively had 100+ cross-disciplinary experience years delivering complex infrastructure projects.
Findings
Alliancing adopts a radically different approach to project design, time/cost planning and risk assessment and management to traditional project delivery approaches. Key findings explain how the project alliance agreement designs-in processes that maximises team integration and collaboration. Analysis concludes that design thinking is used to craft and shape collaborative behaviours and project governance. Additionally, including project owner and facilities operator representatives in the project team adds valuable insights, expertise and knowledge contributing to planning reliability.
Research limitations/implications
This study is exploratory and focussed on complex infrastructure projects so findings cannot be generalised.
Practical implications
We unpack Alliancing processes that develop the target outturn cost plan, comprising a holistic and realistic plan to design a project to meet expected project outcomes. This case study may serve as an exemplar for complex project delivery.
Social implications
This paper illustrates how Alliancing more effectively delivers best value than traditional procurement approaches through its TOC-TAE processes.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the scant existing academic literature analysing these processes. Its novel contribution is explaining how Alliancing treats unexpected events that in traditional delivery forms trigger expensive and time-energy-wasting disputation. This case study may serve as an exemplar for complex project delivery.
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Elham Sharifi-Zahabi, Hadi Abdollahzad, Seyed Mostafa Nachvak, Yahya Pasdar, Amir Bagheri, Badrieh Sahargahi and Behzad Mahaki
Lactose intolerance (LI) is a disturbing gastrointestinal disorder with a high prevalence in all parts of the world, especially in Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Lactose intolerance (LI) is a disturbing gastrointestinal disorder with a high prevalence in all parts of the world, especially in Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of LI in students from Zabol, Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on cluster random sampling method, 887 subjects were selected for the study. Of all, 54.7 per cent of the students were boys. The mean (±SD) of age, weight and body mass index (BMI) for participants were 13.27 ± 1.14 years, 42.12 ± 10.25 kg and 18.7 ± 3.9 kg/m2, respectively. LI was assessed using a validated self-administered questionnaire. After measuring the anthropometric indices, students were asked to ingest 200cc of milk. The questionnaires were completed 2 h after the ingestion of milk.
Findings
In total, 25.8 per cent of the adolescents had LI. Of all, 1, 4.6, 11, 30.2 and 53.2 per cent of affected students had severe, relatively severe, moderate, relatively mild and mild LI, respectively. The association between LI and gender, and BMI was not significant (p > 0.05 for both); however, the association between LI and the history of LI in parents (OR = 2.06; 95 per cent CI: 1.47-2.88; p < 0.001), and breakfast consumption was significant (OR = 1.49; 95 per cent CI: 1.04-2.14; p = 0.028).
Originality/value
Although the prevalence of LI is noticeable, majority of adolescents had mild and relatively mild LI. Parents’ history and breakfast consumption are related to the rate of LI prevalence. Appropriate strategies should be considered to prevent breakfast skipping.
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Since 1997, the Labour Government sought to respond to the dilemmas and consequences of the earlier New Public Management reforms, according to the two principles of joined‐up…
Abstract
Since 1997, the Labour Government sought to respond to the dilemmas and consequences of the earlier New Public Management reforms, according to the two principles of joined‐up government and public service delivery. A key aspect of its reform programme has been the public service agreement (PSA) framework, a target‐based performance regime that acts as a vehicle for the majority of spending and policy decisions across government and on the ground. Analysing its implementation and success, the article suggests that, in theory, the PSA regime provides an important example of steering at a distance as a form of political leadership, wherein the role of the centre is to provide the strategic framework for policy delivery. However, there are several structural constraints that have impeded the effectiveness of the framework, such as the pervading Whitehall departmental culture, and the tensions between top‐down performance management and devolved autonomy on the ground.