6,656 research outputs found
Becoming an HR strategic partner: tales of transition
No full textThis paper aims to bridge the gap between previous examinations of HR strategic partnership from a role perspective (Truss et al. 2002; Caldwell 2003) and an emerging interest in the social construction of identity (Alvesson et al. 2008). I consider ‘strategic partner’ as a local, flexible social construction framed by the broader occupational context. Based on a year-long ethnographic study, I examine the experiences of HR practitioners ‘becoming’ strategic partners, considering the themes of becoming strategic, becoming a partner and remaining a generalist. Practitioners depict becoming strategic as a ‘release’ from previous constraints, with becoming a partner positioned as filling a gap created by clients’ deficiencies in people management. Meanwhile, tensions develop as strategic partners attempt to retain a say in transactional issues. I reflect on the resulting practical issues while also considering the role of HR practitioners in “the dynamic and socially complex nature of HRM” (Francis 2003: 323)
Estuarine Muds manual
No full textThis report is an update of the working manual part of 'The hydraulic engineering characteristics of estuarine muds' Report No SR77, December 1986, made in the light of research conducted at Hydraulics Research Ltd (HR) and invited comments received from end users in the industry. A considerable research programme has been undertaken by HR since the publication of Report No SR77 and valuable information has been gained in respect of the behaviour of mud during tidal cycles (Ref 2), the deposition of sediment from flowing water (Ref 20), the consolidation of weak mud beds (Ref 26), the effect of sand on the consolidation and erosion processes (Ref 27) and the response of mud beds under waves (Refs 32 and 33). These findings have been incorporated into this revised manual. Report No SR77 was widely circulated to consulting engineers, contractors, academics and staff at HR, with a request for their views on the reports technical content, style and usability. Approximately half of the recipients replied with helpful and, in many cases detailed comments. Overall, the general impression was positive and encouraging. This report has been drafted with these comments taken into account wherever possible. This report summarises, in an engineering form, the main processes of cohesive sediment behaviour, namely, deposition, consolidation and erosion. The data presented are intended to show the practicing engineer which parameters are important in each of the processes and to enable broad estimates of the rates of deposition, consolidation and erosion to be made based on a limited knowledge of the field conditions. The behaviour of cohesive sediment does vary considerably in quantitative terms from one source to another. Therefore, it is crucial that the engineer appreciates that estimates based on the data presented herewith may well be in error by half an order of magnitude. For most serious engineering problems involving cohesive sediment it would be essential to undertake a detailed study. This would involve some of the following techniques: field measurements, laboratory testing of sediment, numerical modelling of hydrodynamics and sediment transport and physical modelling of hydrodynamics
Impact of the use of HR internet applications on managers' satisfaction with the HR function
No full textThis thesis explores the impact of the use of Internet applications, provided by the
Human Resource (HR) ftinction as an internal supplier, on its internal customers'
satisfaction at the managerial level with the HR function, using role theory to underpin
the research. From a review of the literature on role, and the relevant fields of HR,
internal marketing, and information and communication technology (ICT), a conceptual
framework was developed. The study set out to fill a gap in knowledge and addresses
the under-development in the HR field regarding HR's relationship with its customers,
its use of technology to provide services, and the impact this has on customer
satisfaction with the HR function. An exploratory theory building research methodology
was adopted.
The study follows a realist approach to social enquiry. Seeking to explain internal
customer satisfaction, it is necessary to understand perspectives and social relationships
between the key actors involved as customers and suppliers of HR Internet services. An
exploratory case study was undertaken in a single organisation operating in the
telecommunications industry. Sixty interviews, evenly divided between HR customers
and HR suppliers, were conducted with middle/senior level managers. During the
analysis phase the research sought out possible contrasts within the single case setting to
highlight theoretical constructs. In addition, quantitative content analysis of the
qualitative data was carried out to identify trends in data and to provide a more rounded
understanding of the phenomena under investigation.
This research identifies three overarching factors from the data which appear to be
important for improving the level of manager satisfaction with both the HR Internet
application (HRIA) and the HR function. The first is the quality of HR leadership,
followed by effective communication, and the management of expectations which
encompass the relationship management process between HR and its internal customers.
In addition, two groups of factors were identified as being important to the nature of
participants' expectations and feelings of satisfaction. The first was found to influence
expectations and included organisational context, current role, personal characteristics
and experience, while the second group of factors could also be used by the HR
leadership both to align HR customer and supplier expectations and to make them more
realistic. A model illustrating the findings was developed, together with propositions for
testing the model in later research
River regime based on sediment transport concepts
No full textRational regime relationships for the width, depth and slope of a river in equilibrium are developed using the Ackers and White sediment transport formula and the White, Paris and Bettess friction relationships, together with a principle of maximum sediment transporting capacity. This concept of maximising the sediment transporting capacity is shown to be equivalent to minimising the slope of the river. The relationships which are developed show good agreement with other empirically derived regime relationships and data from sand channels. Some comparisons are made with data from gravel rivers and the difficulties in applying regime concepts to these rivers are discussed
A New General Method for Predicting the Frictional Characteristics of Alluvial Streams
No full textA new method for predicting the frictional resistance of alluvial channels is developed using experimental data. The method is exhaustively tested on an extensive range of field and flume data and compared with the three existing methods due to Einstein and Barbarossa, Engelund and Raudkiv
A Competence-based System for Recommending Study Materials from the Web (CBSR)
No full textA pedagogically-informed approach to the design of an e-learning system is important since an effective learning system requires teaching activities that match the students’ learning requirements. Currently some e-learning systems are based on adaptive educational hypermedia. User modelling is one of the components of adaptive hypermedia. However, currently designed user models are inconsistent in estimating learner’s knowledge level, are not pedagogically designed,and do not satisfactorily incorporate the achieved learning of the learner. The paper proposes a competency-based system for recommending study materials from the Web to learners (CBSR), and explores the benefits of a competency model for an improved pedagogical approach to e-learning and a more consistent profile of learners’ competences which can persist though their learning life. A competences structure is represented as a directed acyclic graph (DAG), and the paper considers the processing of a competence structure to identify learners’ existing/desired competences and provide appropriate study materials from the Web
Wave overtopping of seawalls, design and assessment manual
No full textThis manual draws together and summarises previous research into the overtopping performance of seawalls. Data is re-analysed to provide a set of consistent design techniques, representing the most reliable approach to the assessment of seawall overtopping by wave action. The manual consists of five principal sections. Following introductory sections 1 and 2, the third deals with the estimation of mean overtopping discharges. The fourth deals with the estimation of the number of overtopping waves and the peak individual overtopping discharges. The fifth section then examines the concept of a tolerable overtopping discharge and its potential application in design practice. The manual is intended to be used by flood and coastal defence engineers responsible for the design of new seawalls or the assessment and possible remediation of existing structures
London Gateway Port: Scheme Refinement - Port frontage - interim and final scenarios: Hydraulic studies and assessment of environmental significance
No full textHR Wallingford were commissioned by London Gateway to advise on marine and coastal processes and in particular are responsible for the modelling of the impacts of the marine works to enable an understanding of impact to be developed. They have been involved in the project since 2001. The modelling, analysis and interpretation described in this report is based on the methodologies originally employed in the hydraulic studies undertaken to support the EIA. The physical impacts of the two refined scenarios "interim" and "final" have been assessed and contrasted with the "original" scenario as assessed in the EIA. The main findings are as follows: * At an estuary wide scale, no significant changes to predictions of impact on upstream tidal propagation or extent of impact of the works as a result of scheme refinements. * Minor changes to flow regime compared to original scheme. * Siltation on Mucking Flats less than for original scheme * Maintenance (mud deposition) in the original scenario was 1.7 Mm3/year: - initial refined scenario is predicted to be 2.0 Mm3/year - final refined scenario is predicted to be 1.3 Mm3/year * In neither scenario would there need to be a change to the approach to future maintenance dredging requirements as outlined in the EIA. * Maintenance (mud deposition) at nearby berths for both refined schemes is predicted to be similar to that predicted for the original scheme. It can be inferredd from these results that if the interim scheme were modified to a scenario where three container berths had been built, there would be no further change to the flow regime at the adjacent downstream berth.London Gatewa
Discourses of HR: Towards an Emergent Model of HR Strategy Formulation and Implementation
No full textThis study uses a social constructivist epistemology and a compatible
methodology to look at models of HR in three disparate organisational contexts:
a British public sector organisation, an entrepreneurial European private sector
company in high growth mode, and the Asian operation of the same company
in the lead up to a major acquisition, providing an opportunity to examine an
organisation in a time of considerable change and upheaval.
The study originated in a dissatisfaction with the ability of current models of HR
to explain the diversity of approaches to HR found in organisations, most
notably theories of SHRM, best practice and best fit approaches and
contextually based HR. It attempts to develop a new descriptive research
model of HR which incorporates the discrete RBV and neo-institutional
frameworks of HR into a flexible model which can explain the operation of HR
in a variety of organisations.
The social constructivist perspective allows the model to take a view of strategy
formulation and implementation which gives weight to the profound influence of
the actors on HR strategy and its deployment.
The conclusion of this study is that a viable descriptive research model can be
produced, which utilises contextually based HR as a diagnostic, but gives
substantial weight to the influence of the organisational actors. Further
research is, however, required in order to fully test the model and resolve
several areas about which the projects in this study raised questions
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