Causes of high variance in building conservation tenders in Malaysia

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lim Yoke Mui ◽  
Yahaya Ahmad ◽  
Faezeh Nabavi
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Uncertain Information ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conservation Projects ◽  
Building Conservation ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Construction Works

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the reasons for the variance among tenders for conservation projects in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interview approach was adopted because this method allows for effective probing of issues. The interviews are conducted with experienced conservation contractors. The interviews are transcribed and the data are analysed using thematic analysis. Coefficient of variation (CV) measure was also used to determine the level of variance that occurs in tenders for conservation projects. Findings – The study found that contractors faced difficulty in pricing competitively due to the following four factors, namely, uncertain information on the actual work on site, inexperience in conservation construction works, information in the bill of quantities is incomplete and uncertain labour and material cost. The study of 22 tenders also ascertains that there is a high variance among the tenderers for building conservation projects. This is determined by the CV analysis where conservation works has a mean CV of 25.5 per cent as compared to 6.5 per cent for new build works. Research limitations/implications – While the interviews managed to draw out insights into the reasons for the high variance among the tender amounts, a definitive conclusion cannot be drawn on the level of variance in tendering for conservation projects due to the limited data that is available for analysis. Originality/value – The paper offers an insight into the reasons why tenders for conservation projects usually have a higher variance than the norm.

“Give it a Try”: experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic young men in a prison-based offender personality disorder service

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-26
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hunter ◽  
Eleanor Craig ◽  
Jake Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Minority Ethnic ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose Within the current offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway in the UK, black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) populations are underrepresented. Fewer BAME offenders are engaging with services despite being proportionately identified for inclusion and referred on to the pathway. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study explored the experiences of 11 BAME men engaged in a prison-based OPD service for young offenders to identify the highlights and challenges of engagement within the service and to what extent they experienced a sense of inclusion/belonging. Findings Thematic analysis was used to identify three overarching themes and sub-themes. Why am I going to be an Outcast? describes the barriers to engagement encountered by the participants; and Give it a Try and Nothing but Respect describe the process of overcoming these barriers. Barriers revolved around the experiences of judgement, alienation and hopelessness. These were overcome through peer encouragement, developing relationships with staff and freedom to regulate levels of engagement. Practical implications Practice and policy implications are considered to support similar services in addressing the barriers to engagement faced by BAME individuals. Areas for future research are also recommended. Originality/value Currently, no research has directly explored the under-representation of young BAME offenders with emerging personality disorder in the OPD pathway. The findings provided an insight into some of the difficulties these young BAME offenders faced when accessing this service, alongside aspects which maintained their engagement.

Becoming a PI: agency, persistence and some luck!

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn McAlpine ◽  
Gill Turner ◽  
Sharon Saunders ◽  
Natacha Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Mixed Mode ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Principal Investigator ◽  
Narrative Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Perspective ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Cross National

Purpose This paper aims to examine the experience of gaining research independence by becoming a principal investigator (PI) – an aspiration for many post-PhD researchers about whom little is known. It provides insight into this experience by using a qualitative narrative approach to document how 60 PIs from a range of disciplines in one European and two UK universities experienced working towards and achieving this significant goal. Design/methodology/approach Within the context of a semi-structured interview, individuals drew and elaborated a map representing the emotional high and low experiences of the journey from PhD graduation to first PI grant, and completed a biographic questionnaire. Findings Regardless of the length of the journey from PhD graduation to first PI grant, more than a third noted the role that luck played in getting the grant. Luck was also perceived to have an influence in other aspects of academic work. This influence made it even more important for these individuals to sustain a belief in themselves and be agentive and persistent in managing the challenges of the journey. Originality/value The study, unusual in its cross-national perspective, and its mixed mode data collection, offers a nuanced perspective on the interaction between agency and an environment where the “randomness factor” plays a role in success. The function of luck as a support for sustained agency and resilience is explored.

Leadership, “communityship,” and “the good folk”

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Mintzberg ◽  
Cam Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Leadership ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Community Action ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Leadership ◽  
Public Leaders ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify critical challenges to public leaders in troubled times, based on the experience and thoughts of an accomplished and world-renowned academic in the field of strategy and leadership. The authors have also included it on the original paper, which is attached. Design/methodology/approach A semi-structured interview was conducted based on a series of questions that are considered pertinent to the challenges facing public leaders. Findings The key findings suggest that individualism and egos are too dominant, that there is an absence of effective ethical leadership which, together, overshadows the need for community action. Originality/value This summary of the short interview provides a unique insight into the challenges facing public leadership.

Instructor and peer influence on college student use and perceptions of Wikipedia

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-257
Author(s):  
John C. Garrison
Keyword(s):  
College Student ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Student Behavior ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Student Behaviors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This study aims to investigate how undergraduate students are influenced by instructors and peers in the ways that they use and think about Wikipedia for academic work. It examines the positive (encouraging the use of Wikipedia) and negative (discouraging the use of Wikipedia) influences of others and how these affect student behavior and attitudes. Design/methodology/approach Sixteen undergraduates participated in two meetings each with the principal investigator, each meeting consisting of a structured interview and a brief survey. Recorded interviews were analyzed by the investigator for patterns to compare participants’ responses. Findings Participants were more frequently and strongly influenced by instructors than by peers about Wikipedia, and this influence was for the most part perceived to be negative. However, the ways in which student behaviors and attitudes changed in response to this influence varied. Three categories or “influence types” emerged in the ways influence was manifested: receptive, independent and conflicted. Practical implications The findings of this study will aid instructors of undergraduate students by describing the likely reactions of those students to various ways of talking about Wikipedia. This information can help inform methods for teaching different kinds of students about the website. Originality/value Previous studies have shown how students use Wikipedia, as well as the attitudes of faculty toward Wikipedia. This study serves to bridge the gap between these areas, providing insight into how faculty and classmates’ attitudes influence student use of Wikipedia.

scholarly journals Unlocking hospitality managers career transitions through applying Schein’s career anchors theory

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 578-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
David McGuire ◽  
Giovana Polla ◽  
Britta Heidl
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Career Planning ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Career Transitions ◽  
Career Anchors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Career Motivations ◽  
Career Needs ◽  
Hospitality Managers ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This paper seeks to unlock the career transitions of hospitality managers through applying Schein’s career anchors theory. It seeks to understand how Schein’s Career Anchors help explain the career transitions of managers in the Scottish hospitality industry. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a non-sequential multi-method design. All 22 hospitality managers who participated in the study completed an online version of Schein’s Career Anchors containing 40 items covering all eight career anchors. The career histories of participants were then gathered through use of a semi-structured interview. Comparisons were then drawn across the career anchor classification and the data on career transitions collected from participants. Findings The results highlight the continued relevance of Schein’s career anchors theory and indicate that Schein’s career anchors theory may constitute a useful tool for understanding hospitality managers’ career needs and engaging in meaningful career planning. Originality/value The study provides a useful insight into hospitality managers’ career motivations, and knowledge of career anchors will help hospitality organisations more effectively engage, recruit and retain hospitality managers.

Service users’ initial hopes, expectations and experiences of a high security psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE)

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice L. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Referral Process ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Security ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore service-users’ hopes and expectations of a psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE) located in the high-security prison estate. Design/methodology/approach – A semi-structured interview was used to explore the hopes and expectations of five male Category A PIPE prisoners. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings – Analysis resulted in two overall themes: “Progression” and “Being Part of a Community”. Relevant sub-themes were considered to portray processes within these two wider themes. Practical implications – In applying these findings to practice, this study provides evidence that places value on the current referral process which ascertains prisoners’ motivations to attend the PIPE. Originality/value – This is the first known study that explores service-users’ hopes and expectations of the pilot PIPE service. The PIPEs are included within the recently introduced Offender Personality Disorder Pathway.

Exploring flexible home arrangements – an interview study of workers who live in vans

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 747-761
Author(s):  
Angus J. Duff ◽  
Scott B. Rankin
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Life Domains ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
First Time ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the lived experience of workers who live in vans to explore how work and non-work interact when one's living environment is mobile.Design/methodology/approachIn this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 18 participants. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts, coded while listening to each interview recording, provided a rich account of the interaction of work and non-work life domains.FindingsSeveral themes were identified, including seeing the van as a home, hidden or disclosed identity stemming from living in a van, financial freedom, career freedom and work/non-work synchronization. Overall, findings suggest that flexible home arrangements, the relocation of one's home to adapt to work, aligned work and non-work domains to positively impact their overall work and non-work satisfaction, providing career freedom and expanded career opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsThe understanding of workers who live in vans broadens one’s understanding of mobile work and the work/non-work interface, providing insight into the dual alignment of work and home to accommodate each other, which the authors term work/non-work synchronization.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to consider van living from a work and career perspective and for the first time conceptualizes the notion of flexible home arrangements.

Confucian thinking and the implications for sustainability in HRM

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mak ◽  
Lenis Cheung ◽  
Amy Mak ◽  
Loretta Leung
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Confucian Values ◽  
Two Cities ◽  
Western Perspective ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a concise introduction of sustainability in human resource management (HRM) from the western perspective. With a review of Confucian thinking, it argues that the application of sustainability in HRM is more effective and efficient under the influence of Confucian values. Therefore, Chinese companies are likely ready to embrace the concept of sustainability and implement sustainable people management practices. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is mainly theoretical in perspective. It also draws on semi-structured interview data derived from a study conducted in companies that operated in two cities in China: Guangzhou and Beijing to support the discussion of synergies between Confucian values and the western concept of sustainability in HRM. Findings – In the interviews, it was evident that the interviewees were adhered to Confucian values, although they did not make the connection explicit. The interview data also showed how Confucian values (e.g. Ren, Yi, Li) affect Chinese management of human resources. Research limitations/implications – The number of interviewees involved was not sufficient to allow a conclusive comparison between groups. Further research is needed to develop comparisons. Practical implications – The paper suggests a favourable application of Confucian values in sustainable people management practices. Originality/value – The interview data provide insight into how Confucian values lend support to sustainability in HRM.

scholarly journals Bidding for UK city of culture

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Cunningham ◽  
Louise Platt
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
The Other ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
European Capital Of Culture ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The UK city of culture (UKCoC) scheme developed out of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008 and is synonymous with urban renewal. The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges of bidding for this scheme. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with bid team members from four out of the five short-listed cities for the 2021 award. Respondents were situated across the country and, at the time, finalising their Stage 2 bids. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the responses. Findings The UKCoC scheme is a top-down scheme which is delivered “in place”. The danger of the top-down vision is that local people cannot often conceptualise what it might mean within the context of their own locality. The findings here suggest that bid team members are attempting to do this despite obvious time pressures. The research presented here suggests that cities are reconciling the top-down, criteria-led nature of the scheme with a real reflection on how to make that work for their locality which is distinctive. Social implications The UKCoC scheme has proved to galvanise communities to reflect on the nature of their places and think about what makes them unique in comparison to the other bidding cities. The bidding teams acknowledge the challenges of bidding but there is a sense that competing is worth the investment. Originality/value This paper offers a unique insight into a recent competitive placemaking scheme and reflects on how placemaking can potentially be reconciled as both top-down and place-based.

Rethinking bibliographic utilities for library consortia

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 7-9
Author(s):  
Israel Odede
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Distributed Network ◽  
Network Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Consortia ◽  
Individual Ownership ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The paper aims to critically examine the bibliographic utility as a roadmap to increase library consortia and provide an insight into a new library consortia strategy that integrates librarians into a system of sharing both resources and knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a literature review approach with a focus on bibliographic utility as a necessary prerequisite for effective library consortia, which is a paradigm shift from the concept of individual ownership to a collective access of distributed network resources and knowledge. Findings The reviewed literature indicated that significant bibliographic utilities and integrated library systems are factors that shaped and developed consortia activities in libraries. Originality/value The bibliographic utility has limited literature, and a few published scholarly studies have combined bibliographic utility and library consortia as strategies to share resources and knowledge

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