Postulates the metaphor of a “video camera” to discuss the way old structures accumulate physical signs of the events through which they have existed. Outlines the nature and…
Abstract
Postulates the metaphor of a “video camera” to discuss the way old structures accumulate physical signs of the events through which they have existed. Outlines the nature and purpose of the RCHME, its constitution, size, and its objectives of: survey, curating and making available its archives, and recording of “threatened buildings”. Suggests why the past is regarded as significant and how historical research operates by piecing together evidence. Explains how old structures contribute their stored evidence to this process.
Describes how RCHME carries out surveys of old buildings in order to explain not only their present state, but the past stages of their development, and how this helps in…
Abstract
Describes how RCHME carries out surveys of old buildings in order to explain not only their present state, but the past stages of their development, and how this helps in understanding the past. Outlines how the archetypal stages of any survey (client’s requirements; inspection; documentary research; survey report) apply to surveys of this type. Describes how documentary research, vital in this type of survey, is used and explains the extent to which modern technology contributes; includes case examples. Concludes with some brief relevant anecdotes.
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There has always been a need for the opportunity to extend the chartered building surveyor's inspection into those areas of a building structure which are concealed or…
Abstract
There has always been a need for the opportunity to extend the chartered building surveyor's inspection into those areas of a building structure which are concealed or inaccessible. In recent years, the rapid development of fibre optic probes has resulted in a most interesting application of these instruments to the field of building surveying. This development means that a small but important part of the structure, previously impossible to examine beyond a surface inspection, is within the surveyor's capability to observe, once equipped with the latest surveying devices.
MARGARETA BJURKLO and GUNNEL KARDEMARK
Qualification is the competence that is required for tasks related to wage work. Competence is all the forms of knowledge possessed by the staff as well as their personal…
Abstract
Qualification is the competence that is required for tasks related to wage work. Competence is all the forms of knowledge possessed by the staff as well as their personal abilities. When qualification is related to competence, possible competence deficiencies become apparent. This can be done in our model for controlling the improvement of competence. The first step in the process of describing competence deficiency is to operationalize the concept of qualification. This is achieved by means of social tests, which can be considered as relevant data. Empirical data are used to develop social tests relating to qualification for two staff categories, Front staff and Departmental managers. Finally, we take a further step and suggest how the empirical content of the concept can be used in a model for controlling the improvement of competence.
Postulates the metaphor of a “video camera” to discuss the way old structures accumulate physical signs of the events they have existed through. Outlines the nature and purpose of…
Abstract
Postulates the metaphor of a “video camera” to discuss the way old structures accumulate physical signs of the events they have existed through. Outlines the nature and purpose of the RCHME, its constitution, size, and its obje ctives of: survey, curating and making available its archives, and recording of “threatened buildings”. Suggests why the past is regarded as significant and how historical research operates by piecing together evidence. Explains how old structures contribute their stored evidence to this process.
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Purpose – The integration of librarians and technologists to deliver information services represents a new and costly organizational challenge for many library administrators. To…
Abstract
Purpose – The integration of librarians and technologists to deliver information services represents a new and costly organizational challenge for many library administrators. To understand how to control the costs of integration, this study uses structural contingency theory to study the coordination of librarians and technologists within the information commons.
Design/methodology/approach – This study tests the structural contingency theory expectation that an organization will achieve higher levels of performance when there is a positive relationship between the degree of workflow interdependence and the complexity of coordinative structures necessary to integrate these workflows. This expectation was tested by (a) identifying and collecting a sample of information common; (b) developing and validating survey instruments to test the proposition; and (c) quantitatively analyzing the data to test the proposed contingency theory relationship.
Findings – The contingency theory expectations were confirmed by finding both a positive relationship between coordination and interdependence and a positive relationship between perceptions of performance and degree of congruency between interdependence and coordination.
Limitations – The findings of this study are limited to both the context of an information common and the structures tested. Future research should seek to both broaden the context in which these findings are applicable, and test additional structural relationships as proposed by contingency theory
Practical implications – This study contributes to the library profession in a number of ways. First, it suggests that managers can improve IC performance by matching coordination structures to the degree of interdependence. For instance, when librarians and technologists are strictly co-located, managers should coordinate workflows using less resource-intensive policies rather than meetings. Second, the instruments developed in this study will improve the library manager's ability to measure and report unit interdependence and coordination in a valid and reliable manner. Lastly, it also contributes to the study of structural contingency theory by presenting one of the first empirical confirmations of a positive relationship between interdependence and coordination.
Originality/value – This study represents one of the first empirical confirmations of the structural contingency theory expectations of both a positive relationship between workflow interdependence and coordination, and a positive relationship between performance and coordination's fit to workflow interdependence. These findings are of value to both organizational theorists and to administrators of information commons.
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Pavel Štrach and André M. Everett
The purpose of this research is to explore the practical implications of brand management decisions, particularly those involving the combination of luxury and mass‐market brands…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to explore the practical implications of brand management decisions, particularly those involving the combination of luxury and mass‐market brands within the same organization through merger or acquisition. The aim of the paper is to expand brand theory by linking it to administrative heritage in the context of the increasingly integrated global automobile industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Integrated case studies of Jaguar, Mercedes‐Benz, and Saab illustrate the effects of brand extension and dilution through the lenses of brand development, luxury brands, and administrative heritage theories. The recent history of acquisitions and mergers involving luxury automobile brands provides background to the in‐depth examination of these three specific instances. Conclusions are reached by comparing and contrasting the experiences of these firms relative to their mass‐market siblings.
Findings
The blending of luxury and mass‐market automobile brands in one corporate portfolio engages advantages of scale and scope economies, but induces potentially fatal brand corrosion. Consumer perceptions of luxury brands are influenced by the degree of commonality with the associated mass‐market brands, independent of whether the luxury brand or the mass‐market brand is the dominant corporate vehicle.
Originality/value
The paper provides insights useful to practitioners as well as academic researchers. The novel juxtapositioning of the concepts of luxury brands, administrative heritage, and global strategic management through mergers/acquisitions demonstrates the unintended consequences of complex interactions in a dynamic industry. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research.
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The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on how perspectives and assumptions embedded in the complexity paradigm contribute to make logistics management research better aligned…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on how perspectives and assumptions embedded in the complexity paradigm contribute to make logistics management research better aligned with real-life logistics. This is necessary, due to increasing supply chain complexity caused by an increasing request for sustainable development (SD).
Design/methodology/approach
The research is exploratory and based on a narrative literature review of logistics and supply chain management (SCM) from a complexity science perspective. Qualitative research interviews have been conducted with 12 logistics and supply chain managers in international companies and have focussed on their daily experiences and the underlying assumptions related to their actual work.
Findings
Logistics and SCM research is embedded in the functionalistic paradigm with reductionistic assumptions as the dominant logic. These do not sufficiently align with the complexity related, for example, to the daily work of SD in logistics management practice.
Research limitations/implications
It is proposed that the inclusion of complexity-based assumptions in logistics management research can increase realism in the advancement of the discipline. A key result is that the recognition of logistics as complex means inclusion of human and social aspects – which is apparent in any logistics process or phenomenon – in logistics knowledge creation processes.
Practical implications
Increased realism in logistics management research by addressing complexity, instead of merely reducing it, will provide logistics and supply chain managers with increased understanding and appropriate knowledge when they deal with emerging challenges such as SD.
Originality/value
Based on Boulding’s levels of complexity, this paper challenges the underlying assumptions of logistics management in research and practice, and provides reflective frameworks for advancing the discipline and aligning it to the complexity of contemporary challenges in logistics management.
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Simon Reay Atkinson, Amanda Goodger, Nicholas Caldwell and Liaquat Hossain
Competition for resources appears to be increasing at a time of political, security (including energy, food and climate) and economic change; leading to potential collapse. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Competition for resources appears to be increasing at a time of political, security (including energy, food and climate) and economic change; leading to potential collapse. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to examine the impact of policies exercised at the macro level on methods and processes applied at the micro level through, for example, performance management. It looks at the impact at the micro level on the macro and upon industry, innovation and the generation of productive wealth. It contrasts the techno‐socio application of Lean with the socio‐techno dynamics of agility as impacted by the info‐techno‐socio and emerging socio‐info‐techno systems.
Design/methodology/approach
From collaborative doctoral level research and an extensive literature review – integrating the three cultures (the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities) – macro/global and local/micro cross level thematic complex systems models were identified and modelled across their connecting political, security and economic ecologies. Connecting models were designed considering “trust” and “risk” as applied to socio, techno and info‐techno systems. These systems were then considered in terms of lean and agility and their impact “in the extreme” and “over time” on complex political, security economic models.
Findings
Lean in the extreme can lead to vertical polarisation; causing conditions for competition leading to hyper‐competition.
Originality/value
Complex models are considered and explained by historical reference and story‐telling so as to enable access across different disciplines and to explain and potentially inspire researchers, managers, consultants and workers to consider alternative less competitive and more agile, collaborative and adaptive futures.