scholarly journals The game changes: “Disaster Prevention and Management” after a quarter of a century

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Human Mobility ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Disaster Prevention ◽  
25Th Anniversary ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Road Map ◽  
The Future ◽  
And Migration

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of Disaster Prevention and Management. It reviews the modern-day challenges facing researchers, scholars and practitioners who work in the field of disaster risk reduction (DRR). Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews key issues in DRR, including the relationship between capital and labour and its influence on vulnerability, the role of human mobility and migration in disaster vulnerability and the definition of welfare. Findings – There is a need for a major revision in the body of disaster theory so that it can take account dynamic changes in the modern world. In the future, climate change and migration may radically alter the bases of vulnerability, risk and impact. The ways in which this will occur are not yet clear, but indications can be gained from current trends and the state of foment in which the world presently exists. Research limitations/implications – Prediction of future developments is always subject to the caveat that unexpected influences may change the expected course of events. However, the authors need to anticipate developments in order to produce theory, policies and practical solutions that are well-thought-out and viable. Practical implications – Disaster theory must adapt to new conditions if it is to remain the “road-map” that clarifies complex realities and enables disasters to be managed and abated. Social implications – Huge changes in the stability, expectations and vulnerabilities of populations are underway. These need to be understood much more fully in terms of their ability to influence disaster risks and impacts. Originality/value – Presently, few analyses of the dynamism of global society are able to present a clear picture of the future needs of theory generation, scholarship and research.

A systematic review of Karen refugee health

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Hoffman ◽  
Cheryl L. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Karen Refugees ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive perspective of the documented physical and mental health issues Karen refugees from Burma face as a result of war and refugee trauma, and migration. The review will address the question: What is the impact of trauma and migration on the physical and mental health of Karen refugees? Design/methodology/approach – A total of 18 articles were systematically selected for inclusion in the final review. The focal content for included articles includes qualitative and quantitative research representative of the health and migration experiences of Karen refugees. Findings – The findings of this review demonstrate significance for health providers from a public health standpoint as programs and services are targeted to meet the specific health needs of the Karen community. It also highlights the contribution of the Karen forced migration experience to the complexity of individual and community health needs, particularly as a result of the protracted conflict. Originality/value – This critical appraisal of the body of literature describing the health experiences of Karen refugees from Burma, with a particular focus on outcomes relevant to resettlement, demonstrates value as programs are developed with an integrated refugee perspective.

The nexus of aging in family businesses

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cagri Bulut ◽  
Serpil Kahraman ◽  
Emir Ozeren ◽  
Sobia Nasir
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Future

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the preferences of parent founders within family businesses in selecting a suitable successor with the increase in life expectancy. Design/methodology/approach The study presents alternative decision-making preference models of a suitable succession for parent founders based on the models of microeconomic theory in the context of family businesses. Findings The theories and models of economics in the current study illustrate that the increase in the life expectancy of the parent founders with their decisions toward the preference of a suitable successor under the age constraint may restrict the sustainability of their family businesses. As a result, the opportunity cost theory appears as to be at the ahead of the other theories in microeconomics in order to support the decision making of parent founders on selecting the suitable successor for the future of the family business. Research limitations/implications The paper illustrates the models on the preferences of the parent founder for the future of the family businesses with their perception toward the increase in overall life expectancy. The current study is limited to the perspectives of founder entrepreneurs toward an effective succession decision. Future research may consider the perspectives of in-family as well as non-family successors. Originality/value In the light of alternative preference decision-making models for parent founders for choosing a suitable successor under the age constraint, this study will make a noteworthy contribution to the sustainable growth of their family businesses. The approach of this study through the microeconomics not only methodologically contributes to the body of knowledge in aging and employment in general, but also to the intergenerational relationships of parent founders, especially their succession-related plans at their early stages of career.

Climate change and adaptation on selected crops in Southern Philippines

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Durio Zibethinus ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Estimation

Purpose – This paper aims to assess the vulnerability of the farmer-respondents in Southern Philippines, specifically Region XI and XII, to climate change. Design/methodology/approach – This study conducted an empirical analysis of the impact of climate change on maize (Zea mays), banana (Musa sapientum) and durian (Durio zibethinus) production. Furthermore, it estimated the determinants of adaptation to climate change and its corresponding effect on farm productivity. The analysis used primary data from 541 farmer-respondents producing maize, banana and durian in the 6 provinces and 18 municipalities of the sample areas. Findings – Based on the probit estimate results, farmers adaptation decisions were influenced by information about future climate change conditions, social capital, access to formal extension and farmer-to-farmer extension. The author found from the stochastic frontier estimation in the production function that climate change adaptations exerted a significant impact on farm productivity. It helped in coping with the adverse effects and risk of climate change while increasing agricultural productivities of the farmer-respondents. Originality/value – This research paper will be an addition to the body of knowledge on the socioeconomic aspects on the climate change and adaptation on the production of maize, banana and durian in the case of a developing country like Southern Philippines. This will bring more insights into the adaptation strategies that are crucial to cope with climatic variability and change.

Digital skin of the construction site

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruwini Edirisinghe
Keyword(s):  
Progress Monitoring ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Hierarchical Classification ◽  
The Body ◽  
Acceptance Testing ◽  
Context Aware ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future

PurposeThe future construction site will be pervasive, context aware and embedded with intelligence. The purpose of this paper is to explore and define the concept of the digital skin of the future smart construction site.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a systematic and hierarchical classification of 114 articles from both industry and academia on the digital skin concept and evaluates them. The hierarchical classification is based on application areas relevant to construction, such as augmented reality, building information model-based visualisation, labour tracking, supply chain tracking, safety management, mobile equipment tracking and schedule and progress monitoring. Evaluations of the research papers were conducted based on three pillars: validation of technological feasibility, onsite application and user acceptance testing.FindingsTechnologies learned about in the literature review enabled the envisaging of the pervasive construction site of the future. The paper presents scenarios for the future context-aware construction site, including the construction worker, construction procurement management and future real-time safety management systems.Originality/valueBased on the gaps identified by the review in the body of knowledge and on a broader analysis of technology diffusion, the paper highlights the research challenges to be overcome in the advent of digital skin. The paper recommends that researchers follow a coherent process for smart technology design, development and implementation in order to achieve this vision for the construction industry.

Distinctive ethical challenges in qualitative research with migrant children

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-303
Author(s):  
Diego Castillo Goncalves
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
The Body ◽  
Ethical Challenge ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Choices ◽  
Qualitative Work ◽  
And Migration

PurposeThis paper describes distinctive ethical challenges encountered in qualitative research with migrant children. It brings attention to how the exploratory nature of qualitative research, intersected with the multifaced realities of migrant children, shapes stances towards these ethical challenges.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is developed through conceptual and reflective contributions. It narrates distinctiveness within ethical challenges via the literature. It then illustrates these, through the author's experiences of negotiating such tensions on a project with a category of migrant children, namely, separated children.FindingsEthical choices are made throughout the research processes. These choices need to be matched to distinctive childhood and migration intersections, and methodological frameworks must reflect these, including when applied to standardised ethical guidelines. Transparency, reflexivity and positionality influence these choices, and researchers have enhanced responsibility to minimise harm in how they research migrant children.Research limitations/implicationsFindings relate to work in development, where sensitivities regarding research conduct are still present. The scope is therefore on particular challenges of dealing with ethical codes and practices. The intention of the author is for this to be a reflective discussion producing paper, but not a practice guide.Originality/valueIts value is centred on taking generalised ethical challenges in qualitative work with children and systematically contextualising these regarding factors specific to migrant children, arguing that the way which migrant children are represented is in itself a key ethical challenge. It further contributes to the body of knowledge by describing procedures of a qualitative study which address some of this distinctiveness.

scholarly journals Comparisons of students’ perceptions on BIM practice among Australia, China and UK

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1899-1923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruoyu Jin ◽  
Patrick Xiaowei Zou ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Poorang Piroozfar ◽  
Noel Painting
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
3D Visualization ◽  
Influence Factors ◽  
The Body ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
The Government ◽  
Future Work

Purpose University students are the future driving forces in and leaders of the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry advancement. Although BIM pedagogical studies have been performed in different institutions, there has not been sufficient research providing a global perspective of BIM education and students’ perceptions toward BIM practice and application following their learning progress. The purpose of this paper is to adopt student samples from Swinburne University of Technology (SUT, Australia), Wenzhou University (WZU, China) and University of Brighton (UK) as three case studies to investigate the BIM practice and application-related perceptions and motivations. Design/methodology/approach Based on the thorough understanding of the BIM pedagogical delivery including teaching contents and assessment methods among the three institutions, a questionnaire survey approach was adopted to collect AEC students’ perceptions of BIM. Within each selected case, statistical analysis was conducted to investigate both the overall sample and subgroup differences regarding students’ opinions on BIM’s functions (e.g. as a 3D visualization tool) and BIM usefulness in various industry professions, their motivation in BIM-related jobs and their perceptions of challenges encountered in BIM practice and application. Multiple factors influencing BIM learners’ perceptions were discussed, such as pedagogical assessment approach, and individual factors (e.g. disciplines). Findings The results showed that students were able to discern the latest industry practices and critical thinking in BIM movements. For example, SUT students perceived more challenges from the government legislation or incentive policies, which was consistent with Australia’s BIM policy movement. WZU students tended to have less positive views on BIM usefulness. The results also indicated fewer differences regarding perceived challenges among students from these three institutions. Originality/value This study contributed to the body of knowledge in managerial BIM by focusing on learners’ perceptions from the perspective of students’ understanding, motivation and individual views of BIM, which were insightful to both BIM educators and employers. By initiating the framework of BIM learning process and its influence factors, the current study serves as a point of reference to continue the future work in strengthening the connection between institutional BIM education and industry practical needs worldwide.

Barriers to implementing reverse logistics in South Australian construction organisations

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Chileshe ◽  
Raufdeen Rameezdeen ◽  
M. Reza Hosseini ◽  
Steffen Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Reverse Logistics ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
The Body ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Industrial Sectors

Purpose – This paper aims to present a survey of the perceptions of the barriers to implementing reverse logistics (RL) practices in South Australian (SA) construction organisations. Despite the extensive research on forward logistics and RL, there is a paucity of studies that examine the barriers to implementing RL particularly within the Australian construction industry. This study builds on the ongoing research being undertaken by the authors, entitled “Designing for reverse logistics (DfRL) within the building life cycle: practices, drivers and barriers”, which is examining the best practices and drivers that could be used as a “road map” for developing appropriate solutions for the successful implementation of RL. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected by utilising a triangulated data collection approach, a literature review and 49 questionnaires. The review of the literature identified 16 barriers to implementing RL. The quantitative survey data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics with correlation analysis to examine the relationships between different pairs of variables comprising RL’s critical barriers. Findings – The following barriers were indicated as most significant: lack of incorporation of salvaged materials by designers; regulation restrictions to usage of recovered materials and components; potential legal liabilities; higher costs; and longer-time association with deconstructing buildings. The least ranked barriers were mostly drawn from the operational and industrial categories as being: organisational lack of support for deconstruction due to incompatible design; lack of organisational support for deconstructing buildings due to higher health and safety risks; and inadequate skills and experience for deconstruction (operational). The industrial barrier was related to “higher costs of salvaged materials in comparison to virgin products”. Research limitations/implications – First, the reported findings are focussed on one study that used questionnaire surveys within the construction industry; therefore, the results may not be generalisable to other contexts. Further, studies should be conducted and extended to other industrial sectors beyond the construction industry. Second, the quantitative study (n = 49) used a smaller sample, and the survey items were based on the review of the literature. Practical implications – The identified barriers could be used as a “road map” for the development of appropriate solutions for the successful implementation of RL, and to improve the environment-related decision-making processes of contractors. Originality/value – This study makes a contribution to the body of knowledge on the subject of RL within a previously unexplored SA context. In addition, the study provides some insights on the contributory effects of the barriers to the implementation of RL. It is the first work undertaken to determine the barriers to the adoption of RL within the SA construction industry.

The intelligent social change journey

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-300
Author(s):  
Alex Bennet ◽  
David Bennet ◽  
Arthur Shelley ◽  
Theresa Bullard ◽  
John Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
The Body ◽  
Phase Changes ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Future

Purpose This paper aims to share key ideas forwarded in the five-book series focused on the Intelligent Social Change Journey (ISCJ) reflecting the latest research in the Consciousness Series supported by the Mountain Quest Institute and collaborators. This review is based on five separate books released as Part I (Laying the Groundwork), Part II (Learning from the Past), Part III (Learning in the Present), Part IV (Co-Creating the Future) and Part V (Living the Future) of The Profundity and Bifurcation of Change. Design/methodology/approach Reflecting the consilience approach taken by this in-depth research, the review of ideas provided in this paper tap into a deep array of research in knowledge and learning, with specific reference to recent neuroscience understanding that is emerging, and looks to psychology, physics, cell biology, systems and complexity, cognitive theory, social theory and spirituality for their contributions. The five books are heavily referenced (look to the larger work for these references) and, considering the individual as an intelligent complex adaptive learning system (Bennet et al., 2015b), entangle materials from science to philosophy, facts to psychology, management to poetry and words to pictures. This much shorter review can only partially represent this approach. Findings At this point in the history of humanity ? in the midst of a conscious expansion of our human capacity and understanding ? the rules are changing. As we move away from predictable patterns susceptible to logic, we are increasingly reliant on our ?gut? instinct, an internal sense of knowing that can tap into the intuitional plane. Yet, this knowing can only serve us if we ?know? what to do with it, how to act. Development of our mental faculties is essential to acting. We are on a developmental journey of the body, mind and heart, moving from the heaviness of cause-and-effect linear extrapolations, to the fluidity of co-evolving with our environment, to the lightness of breathing our thought and feelings into reality. Grounded in development of our mental faculties, these are phase changes, each building on and expanding previous learning in our movement toward intelligent activity. Originality/value This review lays the groundwork for the ISCJ, exploring consciousness through the lens of the cause-and-effect logic of Phase 1 (Learning from the Past), the co-evolving of Phase 2 (Learning in the Present) and the creative leap of Phase 3 (Co-Creating the Future). This research connects the expansion of consciousness to development of the human knowledge system.

The significance of the contribution of children to conceptualising the destination of the future

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 544-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugues Seraphin ◽  
Sarah Green
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
The Body ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Adopted Children ◽  
Purchase Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Metaphorical Thinking ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Tourism Experience ◽  
The Future

Purpose As there is a growing demand of cutting-edge technology as part of the tourism experience from the digital native population and because little is known about this group as tourism consumers despite the fact they will be the core tourism spender of tomorrow, the purpose of this paper is to give children an opportunity to share their vision of the destination of the future. Design/methodology/approach From a methodological point of view, a qualitative approach is adopted. Children were asked to draw, communicate and display their view on their Winchester of the future. The data collected are used to formulate an innovative, smart-based future-fit management approach for products and services design. Findings To fully meet the needs and expectation of the coming generation of tourists, Winchester (city located in the South of England, and surrounded by some of the most visited UK destinations, namely London, Oxford and Cambridge) will have to adopt an ambidextrous management approach when developing products and services for customers of the future. This ambidextrous management approach will balance metaphorical thinking and objective thinking in product and service design. Originality/value There is a scarcity of studies on children in tourism research despite the fact the industry and academics recognise the value and impact of children, and more specifically, their role in purchase decisions. Equally important, this research is also going to contribute to the body of knowledge on smart management of destinations.

SpaceX Hyperloop: a future technology disruption of the transportation system?

foresight ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley L. Harris ◽  
Jarunee Wonglimpiyarat
Keyword(s):  
Past Research ◽  
The Body ◽  
Transportation Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Technology ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Future ◽  
Paradigmatic Change ◽  
Classical Economic ◽  
The Right

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the possibility that Hyperloop using air levitation technology would create a revolution in the future industry of transportation. It also analyses the financing dimension in bringing Hyperloop technology towards full-scale commercialisation. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a case study of SpaceX Hyperloop. The analyses if Hyperloop would bring about a paradigmatic shift in the transportation industry are based on the classical economic theories of technology S-curves (Utterback and Abernathy, 1975; Fisher and Pry, 1971) and Schumpeter’s model of economic development (Schumpeter, 1939, 1967). The three factors influencing a paradigmatic change (a shift in technoeconomic paradigm) according to Freeman and Perez (1988) are also explored. Findings The analyses of findings have shown that Hyperloop has not yet met three factors influencing a paradigmatic change. However, the Hyperloop technology has the potential to create a new market of mass transportation. In terms of technology financing, SpaceX needs the right financing infrastructure – corporate venture arm, the crowdfunding platform, initial coin offering, as well as debt and equity financing to accelerate the process of commercialisation. As the project moves forward, Hyperloop technology would create a market for itself (innovation to create the demand and not demand to create innovation).v Originality/value Although the body of literature on technology management is already voluminous, there has been a scarcity of past research devoted to elucidating the technology disruption and technology financing. This research study has applied the concepts of technology S-curves to better understand if SpaceX Hyperloop would bring about a paradigm shift or revolution in the future of the transportation industry. The research findings would help fill an identified knowledge gap in the body of research in technology disruption and financing.

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