This paper aims to propose a new format to present the cost of building conservation works which will better reflect the actual cost components and have a higher relevance to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a new format to present the cost of building conservation works which will better reflect the actual cost components and have a higher relevance to building conservation works.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the study's aim of presenting a new format suitable for building conservation works, a total of 16 conservation projects were selected and work items of the highest frequency were identified and aggregated into the relevant elemental component to formulate a new elemental cost format.
Findings
Work items of the highest frequency identified are partitions, doors and ironmongeries, followed by roof finishes and rainwater goods, floor finishes, external walls and windows. In addition to the usual building works, new work items such as scientific analysis, archaeology excavation and temporary roof are also found to be important.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed format has yet to be tested in the local industry, which is necessary to ensure compatibility with industry needs.
Practical implications
This new cost analysis format includes a list of work items that are specific to building conservation works, which may guide the quantity surveyor in preparing a budget/cost estimate with higher accuracy by reducing the risk of omitted work items that are pertinent in building conservation works.
Originality/value
Owing to the lack of cost data information for building conservation works, estimating and controlling the cost in this area of work is very challenging. The proposed new format of elemental cost analysis designed for building conservation works seeks to fill this void by providing a guide in estimating costs for building conservation.
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Phuong D. Le, Hui Xun Teo, Augustine Pang, Yuling Li and Cai-Qin Goh
Scholars have discouraged using silence in crises as it magnifies the information vacuum (see Pang, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to argue for its viability and explore the…
Abstract
Purpose
Scholars have discouraged using silence in crises as it magnifies the information vacuum (see Pang, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to argue for its viability and explore the type of silence that can be used.
Design/methodology/approach
Eight international cases were analyzed to examine how silence was adopted, sustained and broken.
Findings
The findings uncovered three intention-based typologies of strategic silence: delaying, avoiding and hiding silences. Among such, avoiding/hiding silence intensified crises and adversely affected post-silence organizational image when forcefully broken, while delaying silence helped preserve/restore image with primary stakeholders if successfully sustained and broken as planned.
Research limitations/implications
First, these findings may lack generalizability due to the limited number of cases studied. Second, local sentiments may not be fully represented in the English-language news examined as they may be written for a different audience. Finally, a number of cases studied were still ongoing at the time of writing, so the overall effectiveness of the strategy employed might be compromised as future events unfold.
Practical implications
A stage-based practical guide to adopting delaying silence is proposed as a supporting strategy before the execution of crisis response strategies.
Originality/value
This is one of the few studies to examine the role of silence in crisis communication as silence is not recognized as a type of response in dominant crisis theories – be it the situational crisis communication theory or the image repair theory (An and Cheng, 2010; Benoit, 2015; Benoit and Pang, 2008; Xu and Li, 2013).
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Sheau-Ting Low, Li-Ting Neo, Weng-Wai Choong, Razlin Mansor, Siaw-Chui Wee and Jing-Ying Woon
The world population over the age of 60 is expected to increase from 900 million in 2015 to two billion by 2050. Retirement homes have emerged as a prominent housing alternative…
Abstract
Purpose
The world population over the age of 60 is expected to increase from 900 million in 2015 to two billion by 2050. Retirement homes have emerged as a prominent housing alternative and become a trend for the older adults; however, older population in Malaysia could have a negative view of retirement homes. Different generations could have different perceptions of the value of retirement homes. This study aims to explore the value of retirement homes across diverse age cohorts in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach is adopted for this study. Thematic analysis is used to analyse the interview transcripts obtained from semi-structured interviews.
Findings
The results indicated that baby boomers tend to have more negative values towards retirement homes, whereas Generations X and Y demonstrated more favourable and positive values for retirement homes.
Originality/value
This study serves as a useful reference for housing developers, policymakers and the management of retirement homes to better understand how different age cohorts value retirement homes, thereby encouraging relevant housing strategies to enhance the quality and support systems of retirement homes in society.
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Ken Farnes, Neville Hurst, Woon-Weng Wong and Sara Wilkinson
The purpose of this study was to explore and critique the benefits and disbenefits that transport orientated development (TOD) brings to neighbourhoods in proximity to public…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore and critique the benefits and disbenefits that transport orientated development (TOD) brings to neighbourhoods in proximity to public transport hubs.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an exploratory study that may also be described as a rapid review that aims to provide coverage of the available literature in a systematic process that is simplified to produce information in a timely manner. Due to the relatively small number of available studies from peer-reviewed sources, the variety of methods and data used and the constrained time available for this study, the study did not immediately lend itself to a more thorough systematic literature review.
Findings
The literature shows the discourse on TOD upholds its promise to create a high-density mixed-use walkable neighbourhood supported by transport infrastructure, increasing accessibility, minimising vehicle dependency, reducing traffic congestion, moderating urban sprawl and reducing pollution. There are few articles on the negative aspects of TOD, particularly concerning social exclusion, crime, sustainability and concerns about gentrification of neighbourhoods.
Research limitations/implications
The study did not immediately lend itself to a more thorough systematic literature review due to the relatively small number of available studies, the variety of methods and data used and the constrained time available for this study.
Originality/value
This study allows social investigators, policymakers and developers understand the benefits and disbenefits of TOD including policy implications regarding potential criminogenic factors.
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Seungjong Sun, Jang Hyun Kim, Kwan Min Lee and Dongyan Nan
Massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are representative metaverse games that are thriving in academia and the industry. This study aims to develop an integrated…
Abstract
Purpose
Massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) are representative metaverse games that are thriving in academia and the industry. This study aims to develop an integrated model based on Yee's motivations and the Proteus effect to explore individuals' intentions of playing MMORPGs.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were gathered by conducting an online survey (n = 441) for the players of World of Warcraft, an MMORPG. The collected data were analyzed with a structural equation model.
Findings
The outcomes of this research reveal that the Proteus effect positively influenced the intentions of the players to play the game via mediations of social, immersion, achievement motivations and enjoyment. Furthermore, the players influenced by the Proteus effect, which enables avatar embodiment and identification, exhibited a stronger intention to play MMORPGs.
Originality/value
This research is one of the first attempts to establish a theoretical framework involving the Proteus effect and Yee's motivations. In addition, the findings of this study imply that the Proteus effect should be considered when investigating the individual experience of metaverse games.
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Zhihao Qin, Menglin Cui, Jiaqi Yan and Jie Niu
This paper aims to examine whether managerial sentiment, extracted from annual reports, is associated with corporate risk-taking in the context of Chinese companies. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine whether managerial sentiment, extracted from annual reports, is associated with corporate risk-taking in the context of Chinese companies. This study expands the vein of literature on overconfidence theory.
Design/methodology/approach
By leveraging textual analysis on Chinese listed companies’ annual reports, the authors construct firm-level managerial sentiment during 2007 and 2021 to examine how managerial sentiment influences corporate risk-taking after control for firm characteristics. Corporate risk-taking is denoted by corporate investment engagements: capital expenditures and net fixed asset investment.
Findings
Results show that incentives for corporate risk-taking are likely to increase with the positive managerial sentiment and decrease with the negative sentiment in companies’ annual reports. Positive managerial sentiment is associated with over-/under-investment and low/high investment efficiency. Further additional tests show that the managerial sentiment effect only holds during low economic uncertain years and samples of private-owned firms. Furthermore, the robust tests indicate that there is no endogenous issue between managerial sentiment and corporate risk-taking.
Research limitations/implications
Annual report textual-based managerial sentiment may not perfectly reflect managers’ lower frequency sentiment (e.g. weekly, monthly and quarterly sentiment). Future studies could attempt to capture managers’ on-time sentiment by using media sources and corporate disclosures.
Practical implications
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first research to provide insights into supervising managers’ corporate decisions by observing their textual information usage in corporate disclosure. Moreover, the approach of measuring managerial sentiment might be a solution to monitoring managerial class.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature on accounting and finance studies, adding another piece of empirical evidence on content analysis by examining a unique language and institutional context (i.e. China). Besides, the paper notes that in line with the English version disclosure, based on Chinese semantic words, managerial sentiment in the Chinese-speaking world has magnitude on corporate decisions. The research provides insights into supervising managers’ corporate decisions by observing their textual information usage in corporate disclosure. Moreover, the approach to measuring managerial sentiment may be a practical solution to monitoring managerial class.
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Behzad Foroughi, Mohammad Iranmanesh, Mahaletchimi Kuppusamy, Yuvaraj Ganesan, Morteza Ghobakhloo and Madugoda Gunaratnege Senali
Gamification applications (apps) are gaining great attention in many contexts and have grown increasingly. Despite their significant role in many settings, prior research mainly…
Abstract
Purpose
Gamification applications (apps) are gaining great attention in many contexts and have grown increasingly. Despite their significant role in many settings, prior research mainly focused on initial adoption, and there are limited studies on the post-adoption stage. This study aims to explore the factors influencing individuals’ continuance intention to use gamified task manager apps, drawing on the technology continuance theory (TCT) by integrating enjoyment, habit and social influence.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were obtained from 318 Malaysian who had prior experience with task management gamified apps and analysed with the partial least squares approach.
Findings
According to the results, confirmation, perceived usefulness (PU) and enjoyment positively influence satisfaction. PU, enjoyment, satisfaction and social influence affect attitude, while the result failed to confirm the association between perceived ease of use and attitude. Furthermore, PU, attitude and habit are strong determinants of users’ continuance intention. Moreover, continuance intention was not predicted by users’ satisfaction and social influence.
Practical implications
The findings provide directions for developers and marketers of gamified task manager apps. Besides the technological and functional benefits of applications, they should also consider social, hedonic and individual factors in the designing and marketing stages.
Originality/value
This study extends the literature by assessing the determinants of continuous intention to use gamified task manager apps; and extending the TCT in the context of gamification by incorporating three contextual factors, namely, perceived enjoyment, social influence and habit.
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Modupe Cecilia Mewomo, Petronella Minehle Ndlovu and Comfort Olubukola Iyiola
Although facilities management (FM) has been advocated in the construction industry to address the issues of facilities in buildings, their adoption is still plagued with…
Abstract
Purpose
Although facilities management (FM) has been advocated in the construction industry to address the issues of facilities in buildings, their adoption is still plagued with barriers. The factors affecting FM practices need detailed investigation. However, few studies have been conducted on the factors affecting FM practices in developing countries such as South Africa. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting effective FM practices in public buildings in South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve this aim, a quantitative survey was carried out using questionnaire to gather relevant data in the study area. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and principal component (factor) analysis. The study was conducted on 39 facilities managers in the Department of Public Works in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
Findings
The descriptive analysis revealed that availability of funds, occupants’ knowledge of FM, absence of policy guiding FM practice, state of deterioration of facilities and design concepts and scope were significant challenges affecting effective FM practices in public buildings in South Africa. The result of the principal component analysis of the factors affecting FM practices were grouped into organisational factors, structural/design errors and end users’ elements.
Research limitations/implications
As it is widely understood that “money” plays a significant role in the performance of any activity or function, administrators/governments of public facilities should strive to plan and make appropriate finances accessible to facilities managers. Participation of facilities managers in the planning stage can also help reduce design flaws and their maintenance implications. In addition, adequate training for professionals can improve FM awareness and productivity.
Originality/value
The paper reveals the structural framework of the factors that can influence the effective facilities management practices in public buildings.