scholarly journals Fire and rescue service community safety initiatives: measuring impact

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Simpson ◽  
Dan Wheatley ◽  
Vivienne Brunsden ◽  
Rowena Hill
Keyword(s):  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rescue Service ◽  
Safety Work ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss methods of capturing the impact of fire and rescue service (FRS) community safety work which directly aims to reduce the occurrence of specific incidents. Design/methodology/approach – The impact assessment method described focuses on addressing one of the major problems with regards to attributing outcomes to FRS community safety work; the influence of external factors. This paper looked to assess the incident trends within a case study UK FRS within the context of the following external data sets: first, incident trends within other UK FRSs; second, demographic trends; and third, incident data from other public services. Findings – There were instances, either across the whole region served by the case study FRS, or within specific districts, where evidence suggested a strong likelihood of the community safety work of the case study FRS contributing towards an observed reduction in incidents. These findings were established through filtering the impact of widespread external factors, which could impact upon incident figures. Research limitations/implications – The utility of this impact assessment relies upon FRS consistently recording the specific aims and focus of individual community safety activity, so that any positive outcomes can be attributed to a particular group of community safety initiatives. Originality/value – This paper discusses how an evaluation process, to determine the likelihood of community safety impacting upon incident numbers, can be practically applied to a FRS.

What is value? Impact assessment of cultural heritage

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-436
Author(s):  
Guillermo S. Reher
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Research Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThere are currently various methodologies used for carrying out impact assessments of cultural heritage. This paper aims to critically explore the reasons for this diversity and ascertain their varying consistency.Design/methodology/approachThe paper does a comparative analysis of the methodologies used, exploring how they measure up to the theoretical underpinnings of the ecosystem services approach and the cultural values model, considered to be the most comprehensive strategies for assessing the impact of cultural heritage.FindingsThe study reveals that there are few methodologies, and they only inconsistently work upon the theoretical perspectives mentioned earlier. In addition, from the public policy perspective, surprisingly few areas endowed with cultural heritage have been, in one way or another, assessed for impact, perhaps in part due to the lack of adequate methodologies.Research limitations/implicationsThe methods analysed are those that have been made public, which can be found in English. Also, they may be exploratory themselves, so some of the conclusions reached here may have also been found by the analysts themselves. This research serves to provide some scientific groundings for developing a more comprehensive impact assessment method.Practical implicationsThe results of this paper highlight certain glaring absences from current methodologies which invite the development of more definitive cultural impact assessment models. This is possible given the current state of the art, and further research and practice are necessary to develop a more comprehensive cultural values model–based research assessment.Social implicationsBy focussing on the absence of certain indicators on behalf of impact assessment methodologies, this paper sheds light on the overlooked (or under-measured) benefits derived from cultural heritage. Many of the benefits derived from this type of resource find an opportunity to come out in the open, greatly affecting researchers, cultural heritage planners and local communities.Originality/valueThis paper also serves to substantiate a glaring absence within the ecosystem services framework, which is the lack of practical methodologies for measuring some of these service values.

scholarly journals E-university delivery model: handling the evaluation process

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1633-1646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasha Ismail ◽  
Fadi Safieddine ◽  
Ashraf Jaradat
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Evaluation Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Evaluation ◽  
Brick And Mortar ◽  
Online Distance Learning ◽  
Online Distance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The setting up of e-university has been slow-going. Much of e-university slow progress has been attributed to poor business models, branding, disruptive technologies, lack of organisational structure that accommodates such challenges, and failure to integrate a blended approach. One of the stumbling blocks, among many, is the handling of evaluation process. E-university models do not provide much automation compared to the original brick-and-mortar classroom model of delivery. The underlining technologies may not have been supportive; however, the conditions are changing, and more evaluation tools are becoming available for academics. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper identifies the extent of current online evaluation processes. In this process, the team reviews the case study of a UK E-University using Adobe Connect learning model that mirrors much of the physical processes as well as online exams and evaluation tools. Using the Riva model, the paper compares the physical with the online evaluation processes for e-universities to identify differences in these processes to evaluate the benefits of e-learning. As a result, the models can help us to identify the processes where improvements can take place for automating the process and evaluate the impact of this change. Findings The paper concludes that this process can be significantly shortened and provide a fairer outcome but there remain some challenges for e-university processes to overcome. Originality/value This paper examines the vital quality assurance processes in academia as more universities move towards process automation, blended or e-university business models. Using the case study of Arden University online distance learning, the paper demonstrates, through modelling and analysis that the process of online automation of the evaluation process is achieved with significant efficiency.

How to assess the impact of commercially reused immovable cultural heritage on local, sustainable development in a holistic way?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdzisława Elżbieta Niemczewska
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Sustainability ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Local Sustainable Development

PurposeThe paper is to propose a tool for holistic impact assessment of commercially reused immovable cultural heritage resources on local, sustainable development along with the possibility to ensure the cultural sustainability of these assets themselves. The paper contains a case study using the proposed tool. The case study concerns a historic object in the form of a Polish manor house located in rural areas in Poland adapted for commercial purposes – restaurant, painting gallery and renovation of antique furniture.Design/methodology/approachThe author proposes a holistic approach based on aspects, to impact assessment of given heritage resources on the economic, social, cultural and environmental pillars of sustainable development and the sustainable use of heritage assets themselves. Above that, the approach proposes to use the assumptions of EMAS or ISO 14001 systems for assessment of environmental aspects in case of reused cultural heritage assets.FindingsThe test study showed that the proposed tool allows determining whether, how and to what extent the contemporary commercial function of a given element of immovable cultural heritage contributes to local sustainable development and whether and to what extent the cultural sustainability of a given cultural heritage is ensured.Research limitations/implicationsIn the proposed approach, very detailed quantitative data cannot be included because of the need to simplify the research.Practical implicationsThe proposed tool can be used by owners of reused historic buildings, local authorities, services responsible for the protection of cultural heritage and financing institutions to determine whether a given contemporary commercial function of cultural heritage resources contributes to local sustainable development in holistic approach and whether this function ensures the preservation of its cultural sustainability.Social implicationsThe use of the proposed tool will give the opportunity to take appropriate actions to increase the impact of historic objects on local sustainable development including social aspects. Moreover, it will be possible to increase the cultural sustainability of these objects.Originality/valueThere are not many studies and tools that provide a possibility to assess a holistic impact of reused cultural heritage on local sustainable development. Research usually concerns one or two pillars: social and economic. Above that, the study of the cultural appreciation in two different groups: direct users and the local community is a novelty in the perception of contribution to cultural development. It may contribute to the different way of measurement of appreciation of cultural heritage and its contribution to social and cultural development. In addition, to study the environmental pillar, the author proposes an approach used in environmental management (ISO 1400 and EMAS), i.e. the application of activities related to eliminating the potentially harmful impact of a new function of the historic resource on the natural environment.

A local case study of the crime decline

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-114
Author(s):  
Garner Clancey
Keyword(s):  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Crime Decline ◽  
Local Case ◽  
Case Study Site ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the local dimensions of the “crime decline”. Design/methodology/approach – Two focus groups and 15 semi-structured interviews with local practitioners. Findings – Some offences have fallen significantly in the case study site in the last ten to 12 years. Local practitioners tended to explain these declines with reference to local services and programmes. These declines have potentially contributed to the reduction in crime prevention infrastructure and there is concern that funding will be reduced as crime falls. Research limitations/implications – The findings have been generated from a single case study site. While aspects of the findings resonate beyond the case study area, there are some characteristics of the site that limit the application of the findings to other areas. Practical implications – The findings from this research have few practical implications. The research sought to understand dimensions of local crime and the impact on local activities. Social implications – This research provides some insights into crime trends and local responses to crime. The findings will be of interest to crime prevention and community safety practitioners and policy makers. Originality/value – There has been little analysis of the impact of the “crime decline” on local communities and community safety infrastructure. Therefore this paper is original and adds to the growing knowledge of the “crime decline”.

scholarly journals Transforming fire prevention: a case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Higgins ◽  
Mark Taylor ◽  
Hulya Francis ◽  
Mark Jones ◽  
Deb Appleton
Keyword(s):  
Social Groups ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Fire Prevention ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rescue Service ◽  
Prevention Activities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to examine the transformation of fire prevention processes via improved targeting of fire prevention interventions over a four-year period. Design/methodology/approach – A four-year case study of the transformation of fire prevention processes involving a UK fire and rescue service, local council, National Health Service primary care trust and a police force was undertaken. Findings – Understanding the socio-economic causal factors underlying unintentional dwelling fires, and the need to work in collaborative partnerships to achieve change in such factors can support more targeted and effective fire prevention activities. Research limitations/implications – Analysis of underlying causal factors and their relationships, together with population segmentation and working in coordinated collaborative partnerships, can support enhanced fire risk assessment and community safety. This supported more pro-active early intervention fire risk management. Practical implications – Analysis of socio-economic causal factors and socio-economic groups associated with unintentional dwelling fires can assist in targeting fire prevention activities in a more effective and efficient manner. This enabled the fire and rescue service to target fire prevention to social groups most at risk of dwelling fires and the types of fires (for example, kitchen fires) relevant to the different social groups. Social implications – Collaborative public sector partnerships can achieve change in the socio-economic circumstances of at-risk individuals to support fire prevention. This enables the social- and health-related factors underlying fire risk to be addressed by the relevant partner health or social services agencies. Originality/value – The detailed analysis of the transformation of fire prevention activities that led to an implemented approach to enhance community safety. In particular, the analysis and evaluation of the move to collaborative multi-agency partnerships to support and improve fire prevention activities.

scholarly journals Impact Assessment in Not-for-Profit Organizations: The Case of a Foundation for the Development of the Territory

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9755
Author(s):  
Guido Giovando ◽  
Alessia Mangialardo ◽  
Enrico Sorano ◽  
Alberto Sardi
Keyword(s):  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Venture Philanthropy ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Impact Assessment Method ◽  
The Impact

The paper describes the impact assessment method of new projects and investments in a foundation for the development of the territory based on a venture philanthropy approach. It compares the method identified with the main procedures included in the scientific literature. The paper highlights a qualitative case study carried out through three steps: (a) case study selection, (b) data collection, and (c) data analysis. Data were analyzed by three techniques: understanding the context, within-case study, and cross-case study. The result identifies an impact assessment method of new projects and investments used by a foundation for the development of the territory. It highlights a qualitative impact assessment method used for internal reporting purposes. This method is based on an ex-post evaluation with high feasibility, which allows for significant time saving. However, it does not allow for an in-depth cost analysis and presents low credibility. This assessment method can be used to justify contributions to projects and investments.

Impacts of high-speed railway on the industrial pollution emissions in China

Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 2713-2735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaomin Fan ◽  
Yingzhi Xu ◽  
Yongqing Nan ◽  
Baoli Li ◽  
Haiya Cai
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Industrial Pollution ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
High Speed Railway ◽  
Central Cities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pollution Emissions ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of high-speed railway (HSR) on industrial pollution emissions using the data for 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2004 to 2016. Design/methodology/approach The research method used in this paper is the multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model, which is an effective policy effect assessment method. To further address the issue of endogeneity, the DID integrated with the propensity score matching (PSM-DID) approach is employed to eliminate the potential self-selection bias. Findings The results show that the HSR has significantly reduced industrial pollution emissions, which is validated by several robustness tests. Compared with peripheral cities, HSR exerts a greater impact on industrial pollution emissions in central cities. In addition, the mechanism test reveals that the optimised allocation of inter-city industries is an important channel for HSR to mitigate industrial pollution emissions, and this is closely related to the location of HSR stations. Originality/value Previous studies have paid more attention to evaluating the economic effects of HSR, however, most of these studies overlook its environmental effects. Consequently, the impact of HSR on industrial pollution emissions is led by using multi-period DID models in this paper, in which the environmental effects are measured. The results of this paper can provide a reference for the pollution reduction policies and also the coordinated development of economic growth and environmental quality.

How do social skills enable nascent entrepreneurs to enact perseverance strategies in the face of challenges? A comparative case study of success and failure

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 517-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wadid Lamine ◽  
Sarfraz Mian ◽  
Alain Fayolle
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
New Technology ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneurs ◽  
Entrepreneurial Process ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper seeks to advance ongoing research in entrepreneurial perseverance. While the concept of perseverance is not new, few researchers paid attention to behavioural persistence in the entrepreneurial context. The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergence of new technology based firms (NTBF) by focusing on the role of nascent entrepreneurs’ social skills in the meeting the changes of entrepreneurial perseverance. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper the authors study the start-up phase of entrepreneurial process. The authors opted for a longitudinal case study approach in order to enhance the knowledge on entrepreneurs’ social skills and perseverance. For triangulation purpose the data were gathered using four different information sources. The use of Nvivo8 as the data analysis tool helped to impose a discipline and structure which facilitated the extraction of core insights. Findings – This paper contributes to the understanding of the entrepreneurial perseverance in the context of new venture creation. Particularly, reading the entrepreneurial process through the lens of the perseverance strategies model (Van Gelderen, 2012) provided a way to identify and then to assess the impact of the social skills on the overall entrepreneurial perseverance and their combined impact on the performance of NTBF creation process. In doing so, the authors identify the impact of entrepreneurs’ social skills to deal with a series of entrepreneurial problems such as scarcity of resources, uncertainty and ambiguity and consequently their impact on the likelihood of survival for new ventures. The issues that arose mostly reflected the inherent complexity of technology transfer processes, the university and entrepreneurs’ diverging cultures, and the very characteristics of the start-up phase of NTBFs. The findings reveal how social skills impact the entrepreneurial paths and probable outcomes. Research limitations/implications – This paper contributes to the understanding of the entrepreneurial perseverance in the context of NTBF creation. The findings reveal how social skills and perseverance impact the entrepreneurial paths and probable outcomes. Practical implications – The paper has implications for entrepreneurial support mechanisms such as technology business incubators in helping them to improve the efficacy and efficiency of their assistance to entrepreneurs through the development of their skill-sets and perseverance and providing enabling networking. In addition, the research has implications for entrepreneurship education and training. Indeed, there is an urgent need to design and implement courses and programs aiming at developing soft skills in entrepreneurship. Originality/value – In exploring networking and issues of perseverance for nascent entrepreneurs operating in new technology-based sectors, which the authors consider as an under searched area in entrepreneurial literature.

Managing multichannel coordination in retail banking: the influence of customer participation

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 327-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loïc Plé
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Design ◽  
Retail Banking ◽  
Customer Participation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Retail Banks ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depth Interviews

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore the combining of marketing and organizational literature. This paper seeks to evaluate the relationships between multichannel coordination and customer participation, as seen through the lens of potential customer opportunism. It aims at showing the impact of this opportunism on the organizational design of multiple channels structures.Design/methodology/approachThe research reports on an exploratory case study in a French retail bank. A total of 25 in‐depth interviews were conducted, and the use of other sources enabled data triangulation.FindingsThe results show first that an increase in the number of distribution channels is liable to favor customer opportunistic behavior. To counter this, the bank mainly relies on impersonal coordination modes. An emerging result highlights the role of the customer as a “perceptual filter” between the different channels of employees.Research limitations/implicationsCustomer opportunism is studied via channels employees perceptions. An investigation using a customer survey may help to better understand this construct, e.g. to identify its antecedents, and to measure it precisely. Moreover, further qualitative and/or quantitative studies with larger sample sizes are needed to try and generalize these results.Practical implicationsIt is recommended not to forget that customers can facilitate or hinder multichannel coordination. Retail banks have the power to use them conveniently, provided that they are fully conscious of the scope of the “partial employee” role played by the customer.Originality/valueThis paper broadens understanding of how multichannel distribution structures are coordinated, and in a way belies traditional organizational design literature. The emerging result gives birth to the concept of “reversed interactive marketing”, which has interesting theoretical and practical repercussions.

scholarly journals “You would expect the successful person to be the man”

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Jones
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Symbolic Violence ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Multiple Method ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to to explore power and legitimacy in the entrepreneurship education classroom by using Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological and educational theories. It highlights the pedagogic authority invested in educators and how this may be influenced by their assumptions about the nature of entrepreneurship. It questions the role of educators as disinterested experts, exploring how power and gendered legitimacy “play out” in staff–student relationships and female students’ responses to this. Design/methodology/approach – A multiple-method, qualitative case study approach is taken, concentrating on a depth of focus in one UK’s higher education institution (HEI) and on the experiences, attitudes and classroom practices of staff and students in that institution. The interviews, with an educator and two students, represent a self-contained story within the more complex story of the case study. Findings – The interviewees’ conceptualization of entrepreneurship is underpinned by acceptance of gendered norms, and both students and staff misrecognize the masculinization of entrepreneurship discourses that they encounter as natural and unquestionable. This increases our understanding of symbolic violence as a theoretical construct that can have real-world consequences. Originality/value – The paper makes a number of theoretical and empirical contributions. It addresses an important gap in the literature, as educators and the impact of their attitudes and perceptions on teaching and learning are rarely subjects of inquiry. It also addresses gaps and silences in understandings of the gendered implications of HE entrepreneurship education more generally and how students respond to the institutional arbitration of wider cultural norms surrounding entrepreneurship. In doing so, it challenges assertions that Bourdieu’s theories are too abstract to have any empirical value, by bridging the gap between symbolic violence as a theory and its manifestation in teaching and learning practices.

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