1,720,978 research outputs found
Thematic elements underlying the delivery of services in high-contact public service encounters
No full textEarlier research alludes to the fact that enhanced information and systems (IS/IT) functionalities coupled with a lower degree of interaction with customers, the so-called zero- touch, real- time, self-service enhance services engagement. In this article, utilising a series of thematic elements drawn from two exploratory case studies, the authors suggest that the real enhancement of service delivery and increase in customer satisfaction, especially in frontline public service encounters, are not necessarily achieved through infusions of IS/IT, but from the adoption of a service philosophy which allows such organisations to de-emphasise IS/IT and instead focus on significant organisational factors in the area of enhanced human interaction
Learning and teaching challenges in project management
No full textThis paper seeks to examine how considerations of future pedagogy will impact on the student experience. This examination utilises data gathered from a survey of students studying projectmanagement. The data are analysed using CATPCA in order to establish the key components of students' experiences. Overall, two key components emerged from the data (representing students' perceptions of what is significant in their projectmanagementlearning experiences). The first component, transferable skills, addresses parameters such as interpersonal skills, time management, curriculum coherence, critical thinking and communicating. The second component is virtual learning which includes the quality of e-resources and how relevant and accessible information is managed online. We conclude that the effective use of virtual learning environments is more crucial for students who are less skilful at managing their studies independently. This study brings an important contribution to literature on teaching and learning project management as traditionally studies have either focused on teaching and learning (within project management) or students' experiences relating to pedagogic factors generally. What research has not done is link these two concepts together
Modelling of Hampshire adult services: gearing up for future demands
No full textThis paper describes a study to investigate future demand from older people for social care services in Hampshire, UK. The study used system dynamics to explore the significant challenges of an ageing population in the context of budget limitations. The results show that as anticipated, the numbers requiring care will increase considerably over the next 5 years. The effects of two possible interventions to reduce the impact of this are explored
Project management learning: a comparative study between engineering students’ experiences in South Africa and the United Kingdom
Full text linkThis study explores how engineering studentsstudying project management perceivetheir learning experiences. To facilitatean understanding of the constituent componentsof engineering students’ experiencesand to understand how these experiencesinfluence preferred learning styles, a comparativestudy of university students studyingengineering in South Africa and theUnited Kingdom is conducted. The studyfinds no significant demographic differencesin learning experiences across the two studentcohorts. However, the South Africancohort reports higher levels of overall experiences.They also report higher usage ofonline learning materials but lower levelsof blended learning and individual criticalevaluation skills experiences
Managing competition risk: a critical realist philosophical exploration
No full textResearch tends to put forward the notion that firms adapt solely to meet the challenges brought about by their competitive environments and ensuring risk. At the same time, earlier perceptual and objective critics of how firm adapt to competition have assumed that firms respond in a uniform way to risk. We use philosophical thesis of critical realism, in line with risk literatures to explore important ontological and epistemological issues surrounding ‘competition risk’. Blending a risk ontology framed within critical realism, our findings draw inspiration from military theory and practice. We argue that firms still have a lot to learn from the military on how to develop appropriate techniques for dealing with both ‘regular’ and ‘irregular’ forms of ‘competition risk’
An analysis of interrelationships between project management and student experience constructs
No full textThis article seeks to explore through the utilisation of correlational analysis how parameters that impact on the student experience may be interrelated. We find that theexperiences of students studying project management appear to be heavily influenced by eresource provisions and the actual experiences the students are subjected to when using virtual learning environments. This study contributes to the existing discourse on teaching and learning in project management
An examination of 'irregular competition' between corporations and NGOs
No full textThe purpose of this article is to develop a theory which frames the demands of civil society in such a way as to better enable corporate subjects to manage and navigate ‘irregular’ engagement from activist organizations. Activist NGOs engage in advocacy at times by mounting, facilitating or encouraging popular social campaigns and actions against targeted corporations. In many cases, radical ‘direct action’ tactics are adopted, taking such approaches, NGOs may capitalise on the broader, more ethically diverse strategic possibilities open to them than are available to their corporate adversaries. We employ institutional theory to map out this asymmetric distribution of strategic possibility. We theorise NGOs and corporate subjects as effectively ‘competing’ with one another to maximise their own strategic possibilities and to minimise those of their opponents, in the perennial battle for hearts and minds that plays out between NGOs, corporate subjects, and broader civil society actors who ultimately determine boundary rules for NGOcorporate conflict. Within this context we explore the normative challenge arising from the possibility that corporate subjects might seek to tip the competitive balance by learning from how the military has adapted to successfully engage with ‘irregular’ adversaries through what is often termed ‘asymmetric’ or ‘irregular’ warfare. Should corporations follow a similar adaptive process, by mirroring the ‘irregular’ strategies of activist groups? Drawing evidence from the military experience, we suggest—perhaps counter intuitively—that such adaptations can create new opportunities for conflict resolution and for building sustainable cooperation between former adversaries
Assessing risk dimensions in dry port projects: prioritization, interdependence and heterogeneity
No full textPurpose We identify and further aggregate the most commonly engaged risk factors in dry port projects into dimensions. Noting the importance of developing a multi-perspective view of risk, we further assess the priority, interdependency and heterogeneity of the identified risk dimensions. Design/methodology/approach We identified 44 risk factors from the literature, which were aggregated via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) into 8 major risk dimensions. We employ a fuzzy-based decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) relationship map to articulate various relationships among the risk dimensions. Findings “Cost” emerged as the most important risk influencing the success of the dry port project, followed by “location,” “accessibility,” “infrastructural” and “operational,” which were also ranked prominently. Originality/value This study offers significant insight into the management of risk in dry port projects. By aggregating key risk factors into distinct dimensions, we develop a structured framework for effective risk assessment and management. The insights gleaned from the study extend globally, as it serves as a concrete knowledge base to understand potential barriers to successful dry port projects
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