1811 research outputs found
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THE ADAPTION OF BIM IN THE ALBANIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Full text linkAs a process in evolution, AEC has started its project drafts with the use of two-dimensional (2D) drawings, later evolving with the three-dimensional (3D) drawings and space projection, with the very helpful tool, of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) (Kong et. al 2020). The purpose of this paper is to examine the adaption of Building Information Modeling in the Albanian construction industry. Albania has been introduced to BIM in these recent years and has started its application in architecture and construction in several major projects. Yet, the aim of this study is to examine the incisive effect that BIM has in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, coming up with specific conclusions about its influence and effectiveness throughout the whole process of the project. Such qualitative observation will be taken from interviews with architectural, construction companies and BIM professionals. Also, the goal is to conduct a set of questionnaires providing deeper and factual responses. It is to be found whether the application of BIM has been beneficial, which are its risks and how can they be improved taking into consideration three existing buildings in Albania. The aim of this research is therefore to identify barriers that affect the adoption of BIM technology in Albania, where the disciplinary users will be included, project lifecycle stages, digital visualizations–including software utilization—and organizational issues such as scheduling and sequencing. Also, BIM is being used in the Albanian industry, from a majority of private sectors. Our aim is to come up with a proposal for a BIM pilot project, related to the public sector, emphasizing the benefits and barriers that have to do with Cost, Time and Quality. The conclusions define that BIM's beneficial aspects are a key step toward the future of the AEC industry after the pandemic time. According to the respondents, the use of BIM during the pandemic period helped a lot in terms of project management, and coordination and improved the workflow in architectural and engineering companies. They seem to be quite positive about BIM's impact on future projects
NJË QASJE E KULTURËS POLITIKE NË PROGRESIN E DEMOKRATIZIMIT NË SHQIPËRI
No full textThis study has a modest contribution in the discourse of democratization process for
the post-communist countries from a perspective of political culture. Through the empirical
analyses and findings in this research, I intend to find out the correlation that political
culture has on the development of democratization process in Albania.
Albania is an yuncommon icase istudy for istudying idemocratic iconsolidation since
the icountry has a idistinct ipolitical ihistory, ia isui igeneris icase. This indicates that the
icountry's ihistory over the iprevious few idecades has been imarked by multiple
igovernment itransitions from iautocratic to idemocratic, with each losing idemocratic
qualities and so ifailing to iconsolidate idemocracy.
Furthermore, I am convinced that in order to proceed toward a consolidated
democracy, we must first identify the variables that have the potential to influence the
process. My objective is to focus solely on Albania's progress over these years of transition
in order to expose variables such as political culture
Analysis of the treatment of the police informer in different legal systems
Full text linkIncreasingly, the use of different means of investigation is enabling the authorities to clarify the facts and to arrest the perpetrator of the crime more quickly and effectively, within the different means of investigation available to police authorities, one of which and the most common in all countries is the police informer, being a person of particular importance during the police investigation, as he or she provides confidential and essential information in order to learn important facts about the crime and its perpetrators. The problem with this research tool is that it is not uniform in its treatment, in different countries, the informant is treated differently, and as a result of this, the product or the investigation that is offered to the judges, as a result of these confidences, is different. Likewise, when working with police informants, it is very important to take into account a series of precautions so as not to violate any human rights, as well as not to being manipulated by the informer. As an example of the above, this article studies the treatment of police informants in different countries, considering the legislation of each one, sentences and documents that establish the guidelines for the use of police informants
The culture of modern public administration. The case of Greece.
Full text linkThe period stretching from 1974 till now has been characterized as the most stable period of the political and administrative history of Greece. However, the appropriate organizational culture which can contribute to the creation of a strategic vision for Greek public administration has not yet been shaped. Therefore, the public sector is not efficient and productive. On the contrary, bureaucratic pathogenies are particularly prevalent. These pathogenies have been rendered even more intense during the economic crisis and the recent pandemic. It is necessary that the modern culture of public administration be focused on effective cooperation, the satisfaction of both citizens and administrative executives’ expectations, respect for the individuality and development of public sector executives, the enhancement of public services’ good reputation, assessment, communication and finally the implementation of the principles of ethics, integrity and legitimacy. The culture of a modern public administration should be based on the principles of new public management and electronic government. This article is based on the study of secondary sources, more specifically institutional texts, international and national organizations’ reports, studies, historical texts, as well as civil servants’ views. The conclusions are particularly significant and can spark off the change of the organizational culture in public administration
THE INFLUENCE OF NATIONAL CULTURE ON TASK AND RELATIONSHIP- ORIENTED LEADERSHIP IN ALBANIAN HEALTHCARE SECTOR
No full textThe balance between task-oriented or relationship-oriented styles of leadership is of
constant concern regarding the efficiency of organizations, whether their focus is business,
education, religious, profit or non-profit, public or private, local, national or international,
to name a few. Whatever the organization’s social environment or concern, behavioral
scientists note the significant degree to which culture impacts the organizations. Thus,
previous research emphasizes that effective managers should consider cultural influence on
leadership styles.
This research investigates the influence that national culture has on the task-oriented and
relationship- oriented leadership style in the private healthcare sector in Albania. The six dimensional national culture model developed by Geert Hofstede is used to measure the
cultural influences in the private healthcare system. The convenience sampling used in this
study is from American Hospital and International Hospital Hygeia, located in Tirana,
Albania. These two hospitals are the largest and most prominent in the country and own a
considerable share of the private health care market. A quantitative methodology, using a
structured, scaling technique questionnaire is the empirical basis of this study. Data was
compiled based on employee responses across different hospital categories.
Findings related with the identification of Albanian cultural dimensions, based on the six dimensional models developed by Hofstede, show that cultural values scores have moved
from the original measured position, toward more negative or positive poles.iv
Findings related with the perceived leadership style in the Albanian healthcare institutions,
show a balance between values of Task- and Relationship- Oriented Leadership style. In
terms of the influence of national culture on leadership styles, the most important cultural
dimension affecting both leadership styles is Uncertainty Avoidance.
About originality and contribution, given the lack of such studies in Albania, the research
is of great value to the field where the study is conducted, for all those who deepen in the
discourse of national culture and leadership style correlation. By using a combined
theoretical and empirical analysis carried out by analyzing previous studies related to this
field and the data collected from questionnaires, this thesis provides a clear picture of the
national culture impact on leadership style
SMEs’s potentials of Research and Development and the European Union Prospective. A Literature Review
Full text linkSME-s role in the economic development and economic structure is changing drastically, as it is gaining new dimensions the role they have as social agents. This becomes particularly present in the paradigm shift of the EU funding schema and priorities, for member and candidate states, indicating that from catalysts of development they are now considered as important and active agents of Innovation by their R&D potential. The article provides a comprehensive literature review on different aspects of R&D processes in SMEs under the support of the funding programs of European Union collected from the reputed publications. The purpose is to provide an outline on the structure and dynamics of R&D in SMEs to highlight its role in the performance of these businesses in particular and in national and regional economies at the macro level. This paper aims to contribute to current discussions within the field of innovation by further exploring how EU R&D funding policies work in practice
Ajdukiewicz and the Notion of Conceptual Apparatus
Full text linkThe Polish philosopher Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz adopted the notion of “conceptual apparatus”, which is very similar to the idea of “conceptual scheme” put forward by Donald Davidson, Willard V. Quine, Nicholas Rescher and others. Ajdukiewicz’s theses are, in this regard, very important although less known, and he treated cognitive processes as inseparably connected with language
No Capitalism Without Nationalism
Full text linkMost theories of nationalism labelled as ‘modernist’ tend to overlook the fact that the phenomenon to which they vaguely refer as ‘Modernity’ is defined by a single, very precise and consistent socio-economic system, that of capitalism. However, this fact makes nationalism and capitalism, rather than nationalism and ‘Modernity’, practically congruent. From this perspective, the essential question that arises is whether the emergence of these two was a spontaneous but compatible and useful coincidence, or nationalism was capitalism’s deliberate invention? In the capitalist era, society has become merely a resource whose existence enables functioning of the market. Such a society must destroy all traditional communal ties on which the maintenance of traditional society was based, so that the principles of reciprocity and solidarity be replaced by the procedures of asymmetric economic exchange. Once the procedures of asymmetric economic exchange become the central principle of human relations, society stops functioning as a whole and becomes sharply divided into two parts – a well-organised and tightly-structured network of self-interested individuals permanently striving for perpetual economic gain and a shapeless mob of socially dislodged labour permanently striving for mere survival. The incessant widening of the gap between the two strata makes capitalism’s essential principle of endless accumulation of capital socially unsustainable. For, rapidly urbanised masses, forced into selling their labour below the minimal price, contain a permanently present insurrectionary potential that might threaten stability of the entire system. So, bridging that gap without actually changing the structure of society becomes the paramount task for the system trying to preserve its mechanism of incessant exploitation of labour and limitless accumulation of capital. Therefore, the system has to introduce a social glue that is tailored to conceal, but also to cement, the actual polarisation of society. At the same time, this glue is designed to compensate the uprooted masses for the loss of their authentic identities by replacing these with a single artificial one. This multi-purpose invention is an abstract concept of absolute social unity, named “the nation”, based on the assumption that those who are located on both sides of the gap, no matter whether they are on the exploiting or exploited side, automatically share the same equal rights, same common interests, and same identity
Playing across the social zone - Animal Crossing, gaming communities and connectedness in a time of crisis.
Full text linkThis proposal focuses on the multifaceted interplay between video games, connectiveness, and online communities in a time of emergency; COVID-19 has presented challenges for teenagers, forcing them to re-mediate their interactions with peers. Digital entertainment has been frequently accused to be a bearer of negative attitudes and anti-social behaviors, but there is also relevant evidence about how video games can foster bonding and inclusion. Nevertheless, updated lenses are needed for understanding the impact of the pandemic on playing and vice versa; in other words, video games can become a lens through which we can understand how teenagers and young adults experience and see the world around them, especially during these turbulent times. Moreover, video games are increasingly experienced in multiple ways, from watching live shows on Twitch.tv to discussing games on Reddit; as such, this additional layer must be investigated too for situating the impact of gaming practices on social and individual schemes. This article intends to provide a snapshot of how this medium can be used as a catalyst for social research, looking at its consumption but also at the social halo it conveys. More specifically, an ethnographic approach has been chosen for providing an intensive analysis of how the acclaimed video game Animal Crossing was perceived and used as a socializing tool by a teenager
A Cultural Perspectıve to Leadership Practices in Balkans
Full text linkThe question of whether a single leader type will emerge as one of the possible effects of globalization has required research on the subject. In the context of culture, Hofsthede, Brodbeck et al, and GLOBE studies, revealing that different leadership characteristics come to the fore in different geographies with cultural influences, refuting the claim that a uniform leader model will emerge with globalization. Among the aforementioned studies, GLOBE studies went a little further and claimed that leadership is actually a function of culture. Leadership research in the Balkans, which is a tangle of cultures with its complex ethnic structure, is relatively less included in the literature. The main purpose of this article is; Despite this problem arising from the Cold War period, how the leadership styles are in the Balkans is to examine the relationship between Balkan style leadership and culture. At the same time, the article has a secondary purpose that questions whether the claim that “there is not a single Balkans” is also valid for leadership practices when it comes to culture. Literature review and observation method were used in the research. The observations mainly include the observations made in Albania between the years of 2012-2015. On the other hand,the literature review is based on the data obtained primarily from local studies about each country in the Balkans. The results obtained emphasize that when it comes to leadership in the Balkan countries, the first thing is that political leadership is understood, which draws attention to autocratic leadership from the socialist administration period. In the context of business leadership, it shows that autocratic leadership was effective in the 10-year transition period after the Cold War, and that transformational leadership began to come to the fore in the 2000s at varying speed and rate according to institutions and countries. As a result of the investigations, the article shows that quite similar leadership characteristics stand out for the Balkans, the culture of democracy has not yet fully settled in this context, the avoidance of uncertainty in social codes, the autocratic administration still has an important place as a reflection of cultural dimensions such as the distance of power, on the other hand, willingness to change with new generations, more democratic leadership expectations increase and transformational leadership comes to the fore with the change in geography. Although the article has limitations in terms of containing observations specific to one country, it supports the claims in terms of including the local research results of the countries and is considered to contribute to the literature for the Balkans where limited research is available