scholarly journals Lessons learnt from the use of relationship-based procurement methods in Australia: clients’ perspectives

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farshid Rahmani ◽  
Malik M A Khalfan ◽  
Tayyab Maqsood
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
State Government ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Public Projects ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
The Future ◽  
Sector Decision ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
High Level

This paper aims to review the use of various construction procurement systems and present the development of Relationship-Based Procurement (RBP) Methods currently in use within the Australian construction industry. Therefore, this paper provides the historical development of procurement briefly and then focuses on the adoption of Relationship-Based Procurement (RBP) approaches in the Australian construction industry to investigate the future direction of the collaborative project procurement arrangements. Semi-structured interviews with high-level managers in the Australian state government organizations have been conducted to answer the research question. A discussion has been presented about the potential future tendency of the industry in adopting a RBP. The findings suggest that even though relationship based procurement systems offer significant benefits; they are not popular among the public sector decision makers because of inability to demonstrate Value for Money (VfM) propositions for public projects. Other reasons which may cause a move away from using RBPs in the future include the need for managers to fully engage throughout the project, and the lack of collaborative environment within the construction industry in general. 

Procurement Analytics: Enabling Data Architectures in the Age of Big Data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Goul ◽  
T. S. Raghu ◽  
Ziru Li
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Data Space ◽  
Prescriptive Analytics ◽  
Data Architecture ◽  
The Future ◽  
High Level ◽  
Area Data

As procurement organizations increasingly move from a cost-and-efficiency emphasis to a profit-and-growth emphasis, flexible data architecture will become an integral part of a procurement analytics strategy. It is therefore imperative for procurement leaders to understand and address digitization trends in supply chains and to develop strategies to create robust data architecture and analytics strategies for the future. This chapter assesses and examines the ways companies can organize their procurement data architectures in the big data space to mitigate current limitations and to lay foundations for the discovery of new insights. It sets out to understand and define the levels of maturity in procurement organizations as they pertain to the capture, curation, exploitation, and management of procurement data. The chapter then develops a framework for articulating the value proposition of moving between maturity levels and examines what the future entails for companies with mature data architectures. In addition to surveying the practitioner and academic research literature on procurement data analytics, the chapter presents detailed and structured interviews with over fifteen procurement experts from companies around the globe. The chapter finds several important and useful strategies that have helped procurement organizations design strategic roadmaps for the development of robust data architectures. It then further identifies four archetype procurement area data architecture contexts. In addition, this chapter details exemplary high-level mature data architecture for each archetype and examines the critical assumptions underlying each one. Data architectures built for the future need a design approach that supports both descriptive and real-time, prescriptive analytics.

Managing Humanitarian Aid

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-34
Author(s):  
Ame Khin May-Kyawt
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Government Organizations

This article contributes to an overall understanding of the challenges faced by humanitarian aid international non-government organizations (INGOs) in specific culturally context-sensitive regions of Myanmar. This research is based on a review of literature, relevant case study analysis, and on ten semi-structured interviews with the humanitarian activists of the Myanmar Diaspora in Canada. The author investigates the following research question: To what extent does “cultural context” play a crucial role in managing humanitarian aid during disaster response operations in a given affected area, and how does it consequently link to the challenges of humanitarian aid INGOs in Myanmar? Based on the findings, a culturally appropriate framework will be introduced for the efficacy of humanitarian aid INGOs when implementing disaster response operations in Myanmar.

scholarly journals Factors for Time and Cost Overrun in Public Projects

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-254
Author(s):  
Shehryar Idrees ◽  
Muhammad Tariq Shafiq
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Cost Overrun ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Public Projects ◽  
Public Facilities ◽  
Technical Errors ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Project Delays

Abstract The construction industry in Pakistan is experiencing a surge in public sector projects due to major investments in infrastructure projects. Project delays and cost overrun are common features in public sector construction projects in Pakistan. Therefore, an understanding of the causes of time and cost overrun in public projects is essential. This paper investigates delay and cost overrun factors within the context of public sector projects in Pakistan. This study identifies 48 potential factors from existing literature and semi-structured interviews were used to refine the identified factors into ten categories. A questionnaire survey was used to establish a hierarchy of factors using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the major causes of time overruns in public projects were (1) legal issues, such as court stay orders, land acquisition, relocation of public facilities; (2) technical errors leading to low-quality drawings, rework, and errors at bidding stage; and (3) Poor project management. The findings of this research contribute to understanding the causes of project delays in public sector projects in Pakistan.

scholarly journals Barriers to Automation and Robotics in Construction

10.29007/1shp ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Trujillo ◽  
Eric Holt
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Research Question ◽  
The Body ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Technical Aspects ◽  
Global Industry ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
And Robotics ◽  
Insight Into

Automation and robotics have been widely adopted across many industries, but the construction industry has not achieved the same level of diffusion. Construction is a critical global industry that is challenged to address issues of productivity, safety, quality, and profitability. Automation and robotics have a tremendous potential impact on all these fronts. The objective of this study is to identify barriers to the adoption of automation and robotics in the construction industry as perceived by industry experts and answer the research question: What are the barriers to automation and robotics in construction? We gain understanding through exploratory interviews with industry practitioners and automation and robotics researchers. Semi-structured interviews around construction technologies, implementation and development, perceived barriers, and future trends and opportunities provide insight into those barriers. We expected to find that implementation would be related to company revenue and openness to technology as it is in countries like South Korea and Japan. We found that barriers could be categorized into culture, teams, and technical aspects. Our research contributes to the body of knowledge by addressing the topic beyond just technical aspects providing the perspective of practitioners and researchers who are engaged in innovation. The research indicates that the construction industry, educators, and owners should do more to facilitate the adoption of automation and robotics and address the barriers which are more cultural than technical.

The Characteristics, Responsibilities and Future of Chief Information Officers in the Public Sector

2011 ◽  
pp. 258-272
Author(s):  
Rachel Lawry ◽  
Dianne Waddell ◽  
Mohini Singh
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
State Government ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Career Advancement ◽  
Chief Information Officers ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mapping Strategy ◽  
Future Direction

This chapter presents a model which depicts the critical factors and assists in understanding the demands and effectiveness of Chief Information Officers (CIO) in public sector organisations. The chapter explores the literature on public sector CIO addressing personal and professional characteristics. It also reviews the literature pertaining to the responsibilities and career advancement and future directions in Government departments. The authors adopt a qualitative methodology by which semi-structured interviews are conducted with CIO representatives from a State Government in Australia. From collation of the interview results, utilising a ‘mind mapping’ strategy, the chapter identifies a model that adequately reflects the critical factors required for a public sector CIO. The chapter concludes that there are certain unique characteristics and responsibilities that a public sector CIO must possess yet a private sector CIO does not require. The chapter also acknowledges the importance of outlining a future direction of the role; something which is neglected by the literature.

The Characteristics, Responsibilities, and Future of Chief Information Officers in the Public Sector

2012 ◽  
pp. 274-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Lawry ◽  
Dianne Waddell ◽  
Mohini Singh
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
State Government ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Career Advancement ◽  
Chief Information Officers ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mapping Strategy ◽  
Future Direction

This chapter presents a model that depicts the critical factors and assists in understanding the demands and effectiveness of Chief Information Officers (CIO) in public sector organisations. The chapter explores the literature on public sector CIO addressing personal and professional characteristics. It also reviews the literature pertaining to the responsibilities, career advancement, and future directions in government departments. The authors adopt a qualitative methodology, by which semi-structured interviews are conducted with CIO representatives from a State Government in Australia. From collation of the interview results, utilising a mind mapping strategy, the chapter identifies a model that adequately reflects the critical factors required for a public sector CIO. The chapter concludes that there are certain unique characteristics and responsibilities that a public sector CIO must possess yet a private sector CIO does not require. The chapter also acknowledges the importance of outlining a future direction of the role, something that is neglected by the literature.

scholarly journals Nanowire spintronics for storage class memories and logic

2011 ◽  
Vol 369 (1948) ◽  
pp. 3214-3228 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Hrkac ◽  
J. Dean ◽  
D. A. Allwood
Keyword(s):  
Data Storage ◽  
Domain Walls ◽  
Random Access ◽  
Magnetic Nanowires ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Efficient Operation ◽  
The Future ◽  
Magnetic Nanowire ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
High Level

Patterned magnetic nanowires are extremely well suited for data storage and logic devices. They offer non-volatile storage, fast switching times, efficient operation and a bistable magnetic configuration that are convenient for representing digital information. Key to this is the high level of control that is possible over the position and behaviour of domain walls (DWs) in magnetic nanowires. Magnetic random access memory based on the propagation of DWs in nanowires has been released commercially, while more dynamic shift register memory and logic circuits have been demonstrated. Here, we discuss the present standing of this technology as well as reviewing some of the basic DW effects that have been observed and the underlying physics of DW motion. We also discuss the future direction of magnetic nanowire technology to look at possible developments, hurdles to overcome and what nanowire devices may appear in the future, both in classical information technology and beyond into quantum computation and biology.

scholarly journals GI expectations in the Hungarian fruit industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 107-112
Author(s):  
Áron Török
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Geographical Indications ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Important Quality ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Eu

In the agrifood policy of the European Union (EU), Geographical Indications (GI) are considered as one of the most important quality indicators. The European system consists of two parallel classifications: Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). The main beneficiaries of the system are the Mediterranean countries of the EU, both in terms of number of registered products and their economic importance. On the other hand, Central and Eastern European countries have remarkable lag. In Hungary, most of the GI products have very limited economic value and though the products usually have wide reputation, they are rather confined to the domestic market.Soon two Hungarian cherries will be registered in the EU GI system, one PDO (Szomolya cherry) and one PGI (Nagykörű cherry). The aim of the paper is to analyse the expectations of the Hungarian cherry industry regarding the GI recognition. In order to have an ex-ante examination of the research question, 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with all the stakeholders (producers, GI consortiums, policy makers and other related experts). Results suggest that the possible success of these products stands on the strong cooperation among the producers and the high level of domestic reputation. In short term, a more stable market share; while on long term increasing prices and export possibilities are expected. However, it also became clear that the benefits of the GI recognition can only be expected if additional improvements in infrastructure (e.g. storing and processing capacities) and in marketing (e.g. using the PDO/PGI label) are also carried out.  

Rational Choice of Information Form Converters for Automated Systems in Construction

2020 ◽  
pp. 60-65
Keyword(s):  
Rational Choice ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Correct Choice ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Digital Code ◽  
Automated Control ◽  
Sigma Delta ◽  
Processor Core ◽  
Building Monitoring ◽  
High Level

In automated control systems for technical processes, the conversion of a continuous signal into a digital code and vice versa from a digital code to a continuous (analog) value is widely used. For direct type converters often used the term ADC, the reverse - DAC. The characteristics of the converters often dramatically affect the parameters of the entire automated system. The importance of the correct choice of ADCs and DACs has especially increased recently in connection with the mass introduction of microcontrollers MC. Indeed, in addition to the ADC and DAC, it is necessary to place the processor core in the microcontroller's crystal, I/O interfaces and many other elements necessary for the functioning of the MC. The use of information converters in the construction industry imposes additional requirements on converters: for example, in building monitoring systems, precision ADCs with extremely high accuracy are often required (while performance may be low), in other applications it is necessary to provide the necessary parameters at a high level of industrial interference, etc. This article explores issues related to the rational choice of ADCs and DACs, taking into account current trends in the IT field and the specifics of work in the construction industry. Sigma-Delta converters are noted as the most promising models of direct type converters.

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