David Eaton, Rifat Akbiyikli and Michael Dickinson
This paper identifies the theoretical stimulants and impediments associated with the implementation of PFI/PPP (Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership)projects. A…
Abstract
This paper identifies the theoretical stimulants and impediments associated with the implementation of PFI/PPP (Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership)projects. A current defect of this procurement approach is the unintentional constraint upon the innovations incorporated into the development of PFI projects. A critical evaluation of the published literature has been utilized to synthesize a theoretical model. The paper proposes a theoretical model for the identification of potential innovation stimulants and impediments within this type of procurement. This theoretical model is then utilised to evaluate four previously completed PFI projects. These project case‐studies have been examined in detail. The evaluation demonstrates how ineffective current procedures are. The application of this model before project letting could eliminate unintentional constraints and stimulate improved innovation within the process.The implementation of the model could improve the successful delivery of innovation within the entire PFI/PPP procurement process.
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Zoe Dickinson and Michael Smit
The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges presented by search engine visibility for public libraries. The paper outlines the results of a pilot study investigating…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges presented by search engine visibility for public libraries. The paper outlines the results of a pilot study investigating search engine visibility in two Canadian public libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
The study consists of semi-structured interviews with librarians from two multi-branch Canadian public library systems, combined with quantitative data provided by each library, as well as data obtained through site-specific searches in Google and Bing. Possible barriers to visibility are identified through thematic analysis of the interviews.
Findings
The initial findings of this pilot study identify a complex combination of barriers to visibility on search engines, in the form of attitudes, policies, organizational structures, and technological difficulties.
Research limitations/implications
This paper describes a small, preliminary pilot study. More research is needed before any firm conclusions can be reached.
Practical implications
A review of the literature shows the increasing importance of search engine visibility for public libraries. By delving into the underlying issues which may be affecting libraries’ progress on the issue, this paper may help inform libraries’ decision-making processes and practices.
Originality/value
There has been little original research investigating the reasons behind libraries’ lack of visibility in search engine results pages. This paper provides insight into a previously unexplored area by exploring public libraries’ relationships with search engines.
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James E. Hosking and Robert J. Jarvis
With ageing hospital facilities spanning the USA, the healthcare construction business continues to grow. Today, questions about replacing existing facilities are becoming more…
Abstract
With ageing hospital facilities spanning the USA, the healthcare construction business continues to grow. Today, questions about replacing existing facilities are becoming more common in hospital boardrooms. Given the above situation, TriBrook Healthcare Consultants were recently retained to determine the market, operational and financial impact which facility redevelopment has had on other hospitals and health systems. Out of that effort came this paper. This paper assesses: the factors which are fuelling replacement facility growth; the impact that redevelopment has on market, operational and financial performance; an integrated development process to help organisations determine the feasibility of designing a new facility; and lessons learned working with clients who have pursued a replacement facility strategy. The objective of this effort is to provide hospital executives and board leaders with information that will be useful in reaching a final decision regarding execution of a replacement strategy.
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Insurance and asset holdings are modeled as the jointly determined outcomes of a constrained optimization problem. Consequently, (1) full coverage may be optimal despite limited…
Abstract
Insurance and asset holdings are modeled as the jointly determined outcomes of a constrained optimization problem. Consequently, (1) full coverage may be optimal despite limited premium loading, (2) insurance is normal if insurable assets are normal, (3) insurance cannot be a Giffen good, and (4) insurance is a complement to price‐elastic assets.
Per Erik Eriksson, Michael Dickinson and Malik M.A. Khalfan
The aim of this paper is to investigate how a client's cooperative procurement procedures influence subcontractor involvement, value creation, and innovation in the construction…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to investigate how a client's cooperative procurement procedures influence subcontractor involvement, value creation, and innovation in the construction of complex facilities.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical data were collected through interviews, surveys and participation in workshops during a longitudinal action research case study. The case project was located in Sweden and concerned the construction of plant facilities for manufacturing of pharmaceutical products.
Findings
The case study findings reveal that the client's procurement procedures affect the level of subcontractor involvement and integration, but that this does not necessarily result in increased subcontractor value creation and innovation in the construction process.
Research limitations/implications
Since the empirical results are based on data collected from only one case project, the possibilities for generalisations are limited.
Practical implications
Clients' procurement procedures heavily affect subcontractor involvement, but in order to increase subcontractor contributions to innovation and value creation the actors should adopt a long‐term perspective and actively work to establish an innovation‐friendly climate.
Originality/value
This paper focuses on the often‐neglected importance of subcontractors and their contributions to innovation and value creation.
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Adekunle S. Oyegoke, Michael Dickinson, Malik M.A. Khalfan, Peter McDermott and Steve Rowlinson
The purpose of this paper is to examine different categories of building project procurement routes based on organisational, contractual, financial and technical issues.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine different categories of building project procurement routes based on organisational, contractual, financial and technical issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on review of literature and conditions of contracts. The UK construction industry serves as a general frame of reference. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors survey of Contracts in Use from 1985 to 2004 is used to probe the share and value of contracts along different procurement routes and across different conditions of contracts in the UK. The logic is that the value and the share of contracts will indicate the behaviour of different procurement routes in the UK construction market while the in‐depth analysis of conditions of contracts will show the gaps and relationships between the general definition/categorisation and contractual context (conditions of contracts) of each of the procurement routes.
Findings
The preliminary result of the analysis shows that traditional routes remain the main type of procurement route for the construction project industry sector, within which different management and incentivisation systems are applied for greater efficiency. The conditions of contracts in the UK support this assertion by aligning different procurement routes to different conditions of contracts and additionally specifying different forms of agreements, special provisions and incentivisation in order to increase performance, reduce risks and improve compensation methods.
Research limitations/implications
The study can serve as a learning opportunity for construction project stakeholders internationally, and clients in particular, to differentiate between procurement routes, management‐oriented systems, relational contracting and incentivisation.
Originality/value
The research provides an original assessment of construction procurement which can be used as intervening tool in different levels of private and public procurement strategies.
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Solomon W. Polachek and Konstantinos Tatsiramos
How individuals allocate their time between work and leisure has important implications regarding worker well-being. For example, more time at work means a greater return to human…
Abstract
How individuals allocate their time between work and leisure has important implications regarding worker well-being. For example, more time at work means a greater return to human capital and a greater proclivity to seek more training opportunities. At the same time, hours spent at work decrease leisure and depend on one's home environment (including parental background), health, past migration, and government policies. In short, worker well-being depends on trade-offs and is influenced by public policy. These decisions entail time allocation, effort, human capital investment, health, and migration, among other choices. This volume considers worker well-being from the vantage of each of these alternatives. It contains ten chapters. The first three are on time allocation and work behavior, the next three on aspects of risk in the earnings process, the next two on aspects of migration, the next one on the impact of tax policies on poverty, and finally the last chapter on the role of labor market institutions on sectoral shifts in employment.
PMD have appointed David H. Ormerod to the position of printed circuits products manager as part of their marketing organisation.