Northeast India has a good deposit of sub-bituminous tertiary coal. The northeast Indian coals have unusual physico-chemical characteristics such as high sulfur, volatile matter and vitrinite content, and low ash cont...Northeast India has a good deposit of sub-bituminous tertiary coal. The northeast Indian coals have unusual physico-chemical characteristics such as high sulfur, volatile matter and vitrinite content, and low ash content. In addition, many environmental sensitive organic and mineral bound elements such as Fe, Mg, Bi, AI, V, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Mn etc. remain enriched in these coals. Such characteristics are associated with more severe environmental impacts due to mining and its utilization in coal based industries. Environmental challenges include large scale landscape damage, soil erosion, loss of forest ecosystem and wildlife habitat, air, water and soil pollution. Several physical and chemical methods are reported in literature for the removal of mineral matter, total sulfur and different forms of sulfur from high sulfur coal in northeast India. This paper may help different researchers and stakeholders to understand current state of research in the field. Initiatives may be taken towards sustainable use of coal resources by adopting innovative clean technologies and by implementing effective control measures and regulatory policies.展开更多
Engineering facilities subjected to natural hazards(such as winds and earthquakes) will result in risk when any designed system(i.e.capacity) will not be able to meet the performance required(i.e.demand).Risk might be...Engineering facilities subjected to natural hazards(such as winds and earthquakes) will result in risk when any designed system(i.e.capacity) will not be able to meet the performance required(i.e.demand).Risk might be expressed either as a likelihood of damage or potential financial loss.Engineers tend to make use of the former(i.e.damage).Nevertheless,other non-technical stakeholders cannot get useful information from damage.However,if financial risk is expressed on the basis of probable monetary loss,it will be easily understood by all.Therefore,it is necessary to develop methodologies which communicate the system capacity and demand to financial risk,Incremental dynamic analysis(IDA) was applied in a performance-based earthquake engineering context to do hazard analysis,structural analysis,damage analysis and loss analysis of a reinforced concrete(RC) frame structure.And the financial implications of risk were expressed by expected annual loss(EAL).The quantitative risk analysis proposed is applicable to any engineering facilities and any natural hazards.It is shown that the results from the IDA can be used to assess the overall financial risk exposure to earthquake hazard for a given constructed facility.The computational IDA-EAL method will enable engineers to take into account the long-term financial implications in addition to the construction cost.Consequently,it will help stakeholders make decisions.展开更多
This paper reports on part of the findings of a large-scale study exploring the viewpoints of Chinese ELT stakeholders(students,teachers and administrators)on native speakerism in order to find out whether current EFL...This paper reports on part of the findings of a large-scale study exploring the viewpoints of Chinese ELT stakeholders(students,teachers and administrators)on native speakerism in order to find out whether current EFL education in China is still affected by this chauvinistic ideology.The analysis of data via a critical lens reveals that the vast majority of the participants conferred upon NS products(teacher,language,culture and teaching methodology)a status superior to that granted to the NNS counterparts and failed to see linguacultural and epistemological inequalities between the English speaking West and traditional NNS countries,inter alia,China.These findings suggest that the three participant groups as an entirety succumb to native speakerism,and by extension that ELT in China is still haunted to a great degree by this ideology.Given that this study treats each participant group separately,future studies are expected to explore inter-group interactions in ideology.展开更多
This study proposes a Watershed-based Adaptive Knowledge System(WAKES) to consistently coordinate multiple stakeholders in developing sustainable partnerships for ecosystem management.WAKES is extended from the instit...This study proposes a Watershed-based Adaptive Knowledge System(WAKES) to consistently coordinate multiple stakeholders in developing sustainable partnerships for ecosystem management.WAKES is extended from the institutional mechanism of Payments for Improving Ecosystem Services at the Watershed-scale(PIES-W).PIES-W is designed relating to the governance of ecosystem services flows focused on a lake as a resource stock connecting its inflowing and outflowing rivers within its watershed.It explicitly realizes the values of conservation services provided by private land managers and incorporates their activities into the public organizing framework for ecosystem management.It implicitly extends the "upstream-to-downstream" organizing perspective to a broader vision of viewing the ecosystems as comprised of both "watershed landscapes" and "marine landscapes".Extended from PIES-W,WAKES specifies two corresponding feedback:Framework I and II.Framework I is a relationship matrix comprised of three input-output structures of primary governance factors intersecting three subsystems of a watershed with regard to ecosystem services and human stakeholders.Framework II is the Stakeholder-and-Information structure channeling five types of information among four stakeholder groups in order to enable the feedbacks mechanism of Framework I.WAKES identifies the rationales behind three fundamental information transformations,illustrated with the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and the Strategic Action Program of the Bermejo River Binational Basin.These include(1) translating scientific knowledge into public information within the Function-and-Service structure corresponding to the ecological subsystem,(2) incorporating public perceptions into political will within the Serviceand-Value structure corresponding to the economic subsystem,and(3) integrating scientific knowledge,public perceptions and political will into management options within the Value-and-Stakeholder structure corresponding to the social subsystem.This study seeks to share a vision of social adaptation for a global sustainable future through developing a network to adopt contributions from and forming partnerships among all ecosystem stakeholders.展开更多
Yarsagumba(Ophiocordyceps sinensis), an endemic species to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, is one of the most valuable medicinal mushrooms in the world. In Nepal, it is distributed largely in isolated patches of al...Yarsagumba(Ophiocordyceps sinensis), an endemic species to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, is one of the most valuable medicinal mushrooms in the world. In Nepal, it is distributed largely in isolated patches of alpine grasslands of 3,000-5,000 m elevation. Although it is reported from 27 northernmost districts of Nepal, the local distribution pattern of this species is largely unknown.Furthermore, the collection system and local management regime of this species are not well documented. We conducted a field survey at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve(DHR) among the different stakeholders in January-June 2012 to assess collection sites, patterns and trends and to understand the management regime. We estimated that about 75 kg of Yarsagumba is collected every year from DHR and the amount has been declining since 2008. To manage the resource, locals have initiated regulating the collection by issuing permits, taxing to the collectors, and monitoring the activities of harvesters with the help of park authorities. The revenue generated at local level from the permits has been used for community developmental activities.展开更多
The three surgical patient safety events, wrong site surgery, retained surgical items (RSI) and surgical fires are rare occurrences and thus their effects on the complex modern operating room (OR) are difficult to stu...The three surgical patient safety events, wrong site surgery, retained surgical items (RSI) and surgical fires are rare occurrences and thus their effects on the complex modern operating room (OR) are difficult to study. The likelihood of occurrence and the magnitude of risk for each of these surgical safety events are undefined. Many providers may never have a personal experience with one of these events and training and education on these topics are sparse. These circumstances lead to faulty thinking that a provider won't ever have an event or if one does occur the provider will intuitively know what to do. Surgeons are not preoccupied with failure and tend to usually consider good outcomes, which leads them to ignore or diminish the importance of implementing and following simple safety practices. These circumstances contribute to the persistent low level occurrence of these three events and to the difficulty in generating sufficient interest to resource solutions. Individual facilities rarely have the time or talent to understand these events and develop lasting solutions. More often than not, even the most well meaning internal review results in a new line to a policy and some rigorous enforcement mandate. This approach routinely fails and is another reason why these problems are so persistent. Vigilance actions alone havebeen unsuccessful so hospitals now have to take a systematic approach to implementing safer processes and providing the resources for surgeons and other stake-holders to optimize the OR environment. This article discusses standardized processes of care for mitigation of injury or outright prevention of wrong site surgery, RSI and surgical fires in an action-oriented framework illustrating the strategic elements important in each event and focusing on the responsibilities for each of the three major OR agents-anesthesiologists, surgeons and nurses. A Surgical Patient Safety Checklist is discussed that incorporates the necessary elements to bring these team members together and influence the emergence of a safer OR.展开更多
Uttarakhand state in India is well known for its mountainous ecosystems, traditional communities and a variety of ecotourism destinations. Among various tourism activities, River Rafting along the banks of the Ganges ...Uttarakhand state in India is well known for its mountainous ecosystems, traditional communities and a variety of ecotourism destinations. Among various tourism activities, River Rafting along the banks of the Ganges River has increased tremendously for two decades, and has had unprecedented impacts on the traditional communities and the bio-diversity. Therefore, it is meaningful to do a comprehensive study on the various impacts associated with river rafting so as to suggest the pathways to achieve the environmental sustainability in this region. In this study, we collected primary data from randomly selected population units across all stake holders such as local people (n = too), and camp personnel (n = 22), through a pre-tested questionnaire survey between August 2009 and May 2010. The questionnaire contains issues on culture, social, economic, institutional and associated perceived impacts on pollution and biodiversity including views for sustainability. Secondary information was also collected from various sources and government records to supplement and strengthen the analysis. The impacts were analyzed qualitatively through a ranking mechanism to facilitate the decision making process. The perception of the interviewee about the various possible impacts of rafting was discussed with mitigating mechanism. The ranking analysis as percollected data reveals that economy and education of local community was improved significantly; however aquatic and terrestrial fauna, social cohesion and pollution (water, air, land) were significantly deteriorated. The results show that the existing practices are not sufficient to address the adverse impacts. Improvement in practices is necessary, mainly in the policy regime. Based on the analysis, some measures are recommended on how to protect community interest and environment with the development of river rafting as an ecotourism opportunity.展开更多
Value is the internal driving force for any corporate to obtain profits. The key issue of making profit lies on whether the corporate can truly appreciate the needs and combination of stakeholders' value, and establi...Value is the internal driving force for any corporate to obtain profits. The key issue of making profit lies on whether the corporate can truly appreciate the needs and combination of stakeholders' value, and establish a successful management of value exchange system. This paper starts with the theories of the employee and customer value measurement and management, followed by the value exchange system of employee-customer-organization. Therefore, it explains the status and role of employee-customer-organization in terms of value exchange. This work concludes that customers' satisfaction is determined by employees' satisfaction, and on that basis, customers would provide the promoted value to the organization.展开更多
Smart cities initiatives are developing all over the world, due to their support in favouring a better provision of services, in connection with the aim of achieving efficiency in cities management. More and more big ...Smart cities initiatives are developing all over the world, due to their support in favouring a better provision of services, in connection with the aim of achieving efficiency in cities management. More and more big corporations are interested in this topic to develop their businesses, as several issues are linked to these projects, like environment, water management, energy policies, education, culture, and so on. In literature these issues, known as drivers, were also related to sustainability aims which could be reached through the accomplishment of better performances within environment, economy, and society. This study synthesizes all the different drivers identified by scholars and industry players in a model, in order to use it as a framework to depict the linkages among the various smart cities projects. Since transport resulted as one of the most considered drivers in the analyzed contributions, the research questions were delineated to describe its role in the different phases of smart initiatives, and to understand if it could encourage and enable the other drivers' development. The multiple case study was chosen as the fittest methodological approach and it was conducted with the selection of three smart cities, one for each of the most cited platform models developed by industry players, which had started transport initiatives at least three years ago: Singapore (IBM), Amsterdam (Accenture), and San Francisco (Microsoft). The analysis of the official documents set up by city departments and by the industry players showed transport as a driving force in smart cities projects which conveys a smart approach to different domains, especially energy savings, environment, and safety. The results also showed smart mobility as a pivot in stimulating investments and citizens' participation on different city drivers, especially as it concerns environment and services to both citizens and businesses. Smart transport initiatives, hardware and software infrastructures, technological devices, and people participation to smartization were closely interrelated in smart cities projects and they could be successfully used to achieve sustainability aims for different stakeholders.展开更多
Modern corporate situations, characterized by the globalisation of the markets and of the information, highlight the need to link the potential of a not transient growth to the adequate reconciliation of all the expec...Modern corporate situations, characterized by the globalisation of the markets and of the information, highlight the need to link the potential of a not transient growth to the adequate reconciliation of all the expectations converging around the entrepreneurial formula and not only of those attributable to shareholders. In such a defined context, corporate governance tends to evolve from a situation of primary care for the expectations of shareholders (shareholder's view) and for the correlated financial responsibility, to a wide consideration of all the stakeholders (stakeholder's view) and related responsibilities (financial, environmental, social, administrative). The correct carrying out of governance processes requires, therefore, a clear focus on sustainable development and on the related assumption of a concept of global responsibility. The decisions made by the governing bodies must be driven by the purpose to create value in the long term according to conditions of fairness and sustainable development. To sum up, this research aims to deepen the existing connections between corporate governance, sustainable development and value creation on the basis of the empirical analysis of a limited number of listed Italian companies afferent to the public utilities sector. The paper, based on a deductive approach, is composed of two distinct but strictly connected parts: the first theoretical and the second empirical. The empirical research consists of a content analysis of the most recent documents (sustainability reports and annual reports) worked out by the selected companies. The results obtained about the degree respect of sustainable development conditions by each company are linked to the related value dimension (social, economic, competitive and environmental performance) aimed at verifying if the assumption of a corporate governance approach inspired by sustainability is susceptible of favouring the company development in a medium long term. From the delivered research it emerges how public utilities that promote behaviours in line with the sustainability conditions are marked out by stable growth paths. Conversely, the companies that assume a vision mainly addressed to the economic dimension, neglecting the other areas are generally compromised in the performance realized.展开更多
This paper aims to overview BIM (building information modeling) implementation in Singapore and to clarify the problems concerned with BIM in Singapore and Japan. The Singapore BIM Roadmap and related policies devel...This paper aims to overview BIM (building information modeling) implementation in Singapore and to clarify the problems concerned with BIM in Singapore and Japan. The Singapore BIM Roadmap and related policies developed by BCA (Building and Construction Authority) are introduced at first along with the background and environment in Singapore. Despite of the assessment from Japan, BIM implementation in Singapore is not always perfect and well-equipped according to the authors' interviews to Japanese general contractors operating in Singapore. Japanese general contractors have ability to produce and coordinate design drawings and shop drawings by hiring in-house architects and engineers. The client and the architects can reduce project risk concerning design and drawings by transferring it to the general contractor. The authors discuss the problems on project management to show the strategy to develop the new version of BIM, hoping to share the value with all of the stakeholders of the project.展开更多
This paper reflects on the theme of sustainability and territorial social responsibility, which, in this context, is defined as a pathway promoted by a plurality of public and private actors, for- and non-profit, who ...This paper reflects on the theme of sustainability and territorial social responsibility, which, in this context, is defined as a pathway promoted by a plurality of public and private actors, for- and non-profit, who find that social cohesion and the relationships that are cultivated in the place from which these diverse "protagonists" come, are the drivers in the construction of shared territorial governance. The efficacy of such processes in the local context (communal, provincial, and regional) is predicated on the culture and on the values that the diverse, networked stakeholders-actors accumulate in their territory (meso level). In developing this theme, the paper is divided into several parts. The first part describes the theoretical context, which is illustrated by an enumeration of experiences realized at the local level in Italy. We then focus our analysis on the experience of territorial govemance promoted in the Marches Region. This project was selected as a case study, because it is emblematic of the Italian context; the territory is characterized by the diffuse presence of small businesses in the soeio-economic fabric and by the proactive role of the local government. The case allows us to evaluate this paper's fundamental proposition, that the policies of the European Commission [EC] and the Government of Italy for promoting Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability are not concretely effective when they are not fostered by regional authorities together with local private actors. Furthermore, public initiatives, to be effective, should take into consideration the influence of local culture, the social milieu, and economic factors shaping the environment in which public-private networks arise.展开更多
The research project "BIM--Potentials and Barriers" aims to analyze existing BIM practice and the barriers to the implementation of the approach in Germany. Overseen by an "advisory board" with high-profile field,...The research project "BIM--Potentials and Barriers" aims to analyze existing BIM practice and the barriers to the implementation of the approach in Germany. Overseen by an "advisory board" with high-profile field, public-authority and AEC (architecture, engineering and construction market) association representatives, a set of hypotheses has been drawn up and subjected to evaluation by means of a detailed survey. The survey, having identified the relevant stakeholders, first attempts to discover how BIM (building information modeling) is currently used. The potentials of the application of BIM in the different processes and target groups are also determined, as well as the barriers and constraints. Enhancement of the considered areas is an important project solution approach: Besides technological aspects, the analysis also focuses on contracting, norms and processes, as well as education, knowledge and role perception.展开更多
This paper contains research on strategic decision-making in a local government. In a profit-oriented organization, the option that maximizes profits tends involve reaching an agreement between stakeholders. However, ...This paper contains research on strategic decision-making in a local government. In a profit-oriented organization, the option that maximizes profits tends involve reaching an agreement between stakeholders. However, there is tendency for stakeholders to differ in their beliefs as to what is desirable particularly in a non-profit organization. In a local government, it is especially difficult for the interests of a stakeholder group to be completely in agreement. This research considers the use of the analytical hierarchy process (Saaty, 1971) as a solution for one of the difficulties of decision-making in a local government. This research is a case study to explore the strategy of a local Japanese healthcare management organization. The conclusion was drawn to decide which strategic option should be taken by using the analytical hierarchy process. Also, it was found what to work on a countermeasure that prevents the negative effects that are generated by selecting the strategic option.展开更多
The purpose of this paper is to discuss corporate failure issues in the context of the global financial crisis. After considering some key issues, the paper shows how relevant these issues are relevant in the present ...The purpose of this paper is to discuss corporate failure issues in the context of the global financial crisis. After considering some key issues, the paper shows how relevant these issues are relevant in the present financial fiasco. It is clear that corporate failure brings untold hardships to all stakeholders. Again the problem of predicting corporate failure in the midst of the financial contagion could be overcome with sound risk management structure in place. The discussion mainly focuses on corporate failure within the context of the global financial distress. To the best of our knowledge this study is the first of its kind, which provides conceptual insights on predicting corporate failure and the global financial distress.展开更多
文摘Northeast India has a good deposit of sub-bituminous tertiary coal. The northeast Indian coals have unusual physico-chemical characteristics such as high sulfur, volatile matter and vitrinite content, and low ash content. In addition, many environmental sensitive organic and mineral bound elements such as Fe, Mg, Bi, AI, V, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Mn etc. remain enriched in these coals. Such characteristics are associated with more severe environmental impacts due to mining and its utilization in coal based industries. Environmental challenges include large scale landscape damage, soil erosion, loss of forest ecosystem and wildlife habitat, air, water and soil pollution. Several physical and chemical methods are reported in literature for the removal of mineral matter, total sulfur and different forms of sulfur from high sulfur coal in northeast India. This paper may help different researchers and stakeholders to understand current state of research in the field. Initiatives may be taken towards sustainable use of coal resources by adopting innovative clean technologies and by implementing effective control measures and regulatory policies.
基金Project(2011CB013804) supported by the National Basic Research Program of ChinaProject(50925828) supported by the National Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholars of China
文摘Engineering facilities subjected to natural hazards(such as winds and earthquakes) will result in risk when any designed system(i.e.capacity) will not be able to meet the performance required(i.e.demand).Risk might be expressed either as a likelihood of damage or potential financial loss.Engineers tend to make use of the former(i.e.damage).Nevertheless,other non-technical stakeholders cannot get useful information from damage.However,if financial risk is expressed on the basis of probable monetary loss,it will be easily understood by all.Therefore,it is necessary to develop methodologies which communicate the system capacity and demand to financial risk,Incremental dynamic analysis(IDA) was applied in a performance-based earthquake engineering context to do hazard analysis,structural analysis,damage analysis and loss analysis of a reinforced concrete(RC) frame structure.And the financial implications of risk were expressed by expected annual loss(EAL).The quantitative risk analysis proposed is applicable to any engineering facilities and any natural hazards.It is shown that the results from the IDA can be used to assess the overall financial risk exposure to earthquake hazard for a given constructed facility.The computational IDA-EAL method will enable engineers to take into account the long-term financial implications in addition to the construction cost.Consequently,it will help stakeholders make decisions.
文摘This paper reports on part of the findings of a large-scale study exploring the viewpoints of Chinese ELT stakeholders(students,teachers and administrators)on native speakerism in order to find out whether current EFL education in China is still affected by this chauvinistic ideology.The analysis of data via a critical lens reveals that the vast majority of the participants conferred upon NS products(teacher,language,culture and teaching methodology)a status superior to that granted to the NNS counterparts and failed to see linguacultural and epistemological inequalities between the English speaking West and traditional NNS countries,inter alia,China.These findings suggest that the three participant groups as an entirety succumb to native speakerism,and by extension that ELT in China is still haunted to a great degree by this ideology.Given that this study treats each participant group separately,future studies are expected to explore inter-group interactions in ideology.
基金financial support of the organizing committee of the International Conference on Salt Lake Research,held during 2014 in Beijing,China
文摘This study proposes a Watershed-based Adaptive Knowledge System(WAKES) to consistently coordinate multiple stakeholders in developing sustainable partnerships for ecosystem management.WAKES is extended from the institutional mechanism of Payments for Improving Ecosystem Services at the Watershed-scale(PIES-W).PIES-W is designed relating to the governance of ecosystem services flows focused on a lake as a resource stock connecting its inflowing and outflowing rivers within its watershed.It explicitly realizes the values of conservation services provided by private land managers and incorporates their activities into the public organizing framework for ecosystem management.It implicitly extends the "upstream-to-downstream" organizing perspective to a broader vision of viewing the ecosystems as comprised of both "watershed landscapes" and "marine landscapes".Extended from PIES-W,WAKES specifies two corresponding feedback:Framework I and II.Framework I is a relationship matrix comprised of three input-output structures of primary governance factors intersecting three subsystems of a watershed with regard to ecosystem services and human stakeholders.Framework II is the Stakeholder-and-Information structure channeling five types of information among four stakeholder groups in order to enable the feedbacks mechanism of Framework I.WAKES identifies the rationales behind three fundamental information transformations,illustrated with the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and the Strategic Action Program of the Bermejo River Binational Basin.These include(1) translating scientific knowledge into public information within the Function-and-Service structure corresponding to the ecological subsystem,(2) incorporating public perceptions into political will within the Serviceand-Value structure corresponding to the economic subsystem,and(3) integrating scientific knowledge,public perceptions and political will into management options within the Value-and-Stakeholder structure corresponding to the social subsystem.This study seeks to share a vision of social adaptation for a global sustainable future through developing a network to adopt contributions from and forming partnerships among all ecosystem stakeholders.
基金the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Office and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Nepal for the financial and logistic support to conduct this study
文摘Yarsagumba(Ophiocordyceps sinensis), an endemic species to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, is one of the most valuable medicinal mushrooms in the world. In Nepal, it is distributed largely in isolated patches of alpine grasslands of 3,000-5,000 m elevation. Although it is reported from 27 northernmost districts of Nepal, the local distribution pattern of this species is largely unknown.Furthermore, the collection system and local management regime of this species are not well documented. We conducted a field survey at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve(DHR) among the different stakeholders in January-June 2012 to assess collection sites, patterns and trends and to understand the management regime. We estimated that about 75 kg of Yarsagumba is collected every year from DHR and the amount has been declining since 2008. To manage the resource, locals have initiated regulating the collection by issuing permits, taxing to the collectors, and monitoring the activities of harvesters with the help of park authorities. The revenue generated at local level from the permits has been used for community developmental activities.
文摘The three surgical patient safety events, wrong site surgery, retained surgical items (RSI) and surgical fires are rare occurrences and thus their effects on the complex modern operating room (OR) are difficult to study. The likelihood of occurrence and the magnitude of risk for each of these surgical safety events are undefined. Many providers may never have a personal experience with one of these events and training and education on these topics are sparse. These circumstances lead to faulty thinking that a provider won't ever have an event or if one does occur the provider will intuitively know what to do. Surgeons are not preoccupied with failure and tend to usually consider good outcomes, which leads them to ignore or diminish the importance of implementing and following simple safety practices. These circumstances contribute to the persistent low level occurrence of these three events and to the difficulty in generating sufficient interest to resource solutions. Individual facilities rarely have the time or talent to understand these events and develop lasting solutions. More often than not, even the most well meaning internal review results in a new line to a policy and some rigorous enforcement mandate. This approach routinely fails and is another reason why these problems are so persistent. Vigilance actions alone havebeen unsuccessful so hospitals now have to take a systematic approach to implementing safer processes and providing the resources for surgeons and other stake-holders to optimize the OR environment. This article discusses standardized processes of care for mitigation of injury or outright prevention of wrong site surgery, RSI and surgical fires in an action-oriented framework illustrating the strategic elements important in each event and focusing on the responsibilities for each of the three major OR agents-anesthesiologists, surgeons and nurses. A Surgical Patient Safety Checklist is discussed that incorporates the necessary elements to bring these team members together and influence the emergence of a safer OR.
文摘Uttarakhand state in India is well known for its mountainous ecosystems, traditional communities and a variety of ecotourism destinations. Among various tourism activities, River Rafting along the banks of the Ganges River has increased tremendously for two decades, and has had unprecedented impacts on the traditional communities and the bio-diversity. Therefore, it is meaningful to do a comprehensive study on the various impacts associated with river rafting so as to suggest the pathways to achieve the environmental sustainability in this region. In this study, we collected primary data from randomly selected population units across all stake holders such as local people (n = too), and camp personnel (n = 22), through a pre-tested questionnaire survey between August 2009 and May 2010. The questionnaire contains issues on culture, social, economic, institutional and associated perceived impacts on pollution and biodiversity including views for sustainability. Secondary information was also collected from various sources and government records to supplement and strengthen the analysis. The impacts were analyzed qualitatively through a ranking mechanism to facilitate the decision making process. The perception of the interviewee about the various possible impacts of rafting was discussed with mitigating mechanism. The ranking analysis as percollected data reveals that economy and education of local community was improved significantly; however aquatic and terrestrial fauna, social cohesion and pollution (water, air, land) were significantly deteriorated. The results show that the existing practices are not sufficient to address the adverse impacts. Improvement in practices is necessary, mainly in the policy regime. Based on the analysis, some measures are recommended on how to protect community interest and environment with the development of river rafting as an ecotourism opportunity.
文摘Value is the internal driving force for any corporate to obtain profits. The key issue of making profit lies on whether the corporate can truly appreciate the needs and combination of stakeholders' value, and establish a successful management of value exchange system. This paper starts with the theories of the employee and customer value measurement and management, followed by the value exchange system of employee-customer-organization. Therefore, it explains the status and role of employee-customer-organization in terms of value exchange. This work concludes that customers' satisfaction is determined by employees' satisfaction, and on that basis, customers would provide the promoted value to the organization.
文摘Smart cities initiatives are developing all over the world, due to their support in favouring a better provision of services, in connection with the aim of achieving efficiency in cities management. More and more big corporations are interested in this topic to develop their businesses, as several issues are linked to these projects, like environment, water management, energy policies, education, culture, and so on. In literature these issues, known as drivers, were also related to sustainability aims which could be reached through the accomplishment of better performances within environment, economy, and society. This study synthesizes all the different drivers identified by scholars and industry players in a model, in order to use it as a framework to depict the linkages among the various smart cities projects. Since transport resulted as one of the most considered drivers in the analyzed contributions, the research questions were delineated to describe its role in the different phases of smart initiatives, and to understand if it could encourage and enable the other drivers' development. The multiple case study was chosen as the fittest methodological approach and it was conducted with the selection of three smart cities, one for each of the most cited platform models developed by industry players, which had started transport initiatives at least three years ago: Singapore (IBM), Amsterdam (Accenture), and San Francisco (Microsoft). The analysis of the official documents set up by city departments and by the industry players showed transport as a driving force in smart cities projects which conveys a smart approach to different domains, especially energy savings, environment, and safety. The results also showed smart mobility as a pivot in stimulating investments and citizens' participation on different city drivers, especially as it concerns environment and services to both citizens and businesses. Smart transport initiatives, hardware and software infrastructures, technological devices, and people participation to smartization were closely interrelated in smart cities projects and they could be successfully used to achieve sustainability aims for different stakeholders.
文摘Modern corporate situations, characterized by the globalisation of the markets and of the information, highlight the need to link the potential of a not transient growth to the adequate reconciliation of all the expectations converging around the entrepreneurial formula and not only of those attributable to shareholders. In such a defined context, corporate governance tends to evolve from a situation of primary care for the expectations of shareholders (shareholder's view) and for the correlated financial responsibility, to a wide consideration of all the stakeholders (stakeholder's view) and related responsibilities (financial, environmental, social, administrative). The correct carrying out of governance processes requires, therefore, a clear focus on sustainable development and on the related assumption of a concept of global responsibility. The decisions made by the governing bodies must be driven by the purpose to create value in the long term according to conditions of fairness and sustainable development. To sum up, this research aims to deepen the existing connections between corporate governance, sustainable development and value creation on the basis of the empirical analysis of a limited number of listed Italian companies afferent to the public utilities sector. The paper, based on a deductive approach, is composed of two distinct but strictly connected parts: the first theoretical and the second empirical. The empirical research consists of a content analysis of the most recent documents (sustainability reports and annual reports) worked out by the selected companies. The results obtained about the degree respect of sustainable development conditions by each company are linked to the related value dimension (social, economic, competitive and environmental performance) aimed at verifying if the assumption of a corporate governance approach inspired by sustainability is susceptible of favouring the company development in a medium long term. From the delivered research it emerges how public utilities that promote behaviours in line with the sustainability conditions are marked out by stable growth paths. Conversely, the companies that assume a vision mainly addressed to the economic dimension, neglecting the other areas are generally compromised in the performance realized.
文摘This paper aims to overview BIM (building information modeling) implementation in Singapore and to clarify the problems concerned with BIM in Singapore and Japan. The Singapore BIM Roadmap and related policies developed by BCA (Building and Construction Authority) are introduced at first along with the background and environment in Singapore. Despite of the assessment from Japan, BIM implementation in Singapore is not always perfect and well-equipped according to the authors' interviews to Japanese general contractors operating in Singapore. Japanese general contractors have ability to produce and coordinate design drawings and shop drawings by hiring in-house architects and engineers. The client and the architects can reduce project risk concerning design and drawings by transferring it to the general contractor. The authors discuss the problems on project management to show the strategy to develop the new version of BIM, hoping to share the value with all of the stakeholders of the project.
文摘This paper reflects on the theme of sustainability and territorial social responsibility, which, in this context, is defined as a pathway promoted by a plurality of public and private actors, for- and non-profit, who find that social cohesion and the relationships that are cultivated in the place from which these diverse "protagonists" come, are the drivers in the construction of shared territorial governance. The efficacy of such processes in the local context (communal, provincial, and regional) is predicated on the culture and on the values that the diverse, networked stakeholders-actors accumulate in their territory (meso level). In developing this theme, the paper is divided into several parts. The first part describes the theoretical context, which is illustrated by an enumeration of experiences realized at the local level in Italy. We then focus our analysis on the experience of territorial govemance promoted in the Marches Region. This project was selected as a case study, because it is emblematic of the Italian context; the territory is characterized by the diffuse presence of small businesses in the soeio-economic fabric and by the proactive role of the local government. The case allows us to evaluate this paper's fundamental proposition, that the policies of the European Commission [EC] and the Government of Italy for promoting Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability are not concretely effective when they are not fostered by regional authorities together with local private actors. Furthermore, public initiatives, to be effective, should take into consideration the influence of local culture, the social milieu, and economic factors shaping the environment in which public-private networks arise.
文摘The research project "BIM--Potentials and Barriers" aims to analyze existing BIM practice and the barriers to the implementation of the approach in Germany. Overseen by an "advisory board" with high-profile field, public-authority and AEC (architecture, engineering and construction market) association representatives, a set of hypotheses has been drawn up and subjected to evaluation by means of a detailed survey. The survey, having identified the relevant stakeholders, first attempts to discover how BIM (building information modeling) is currently used. The potentials of the application of BIM in the different processes and target groups are also determined, as well as the barriers and constraints. Enhancement of the considered areas is an important project solution approach: Besides technological aspects, the analysis also focuses on contracting, norms and processes, as well as education, knowledge and role perception.
文摘This paper contains research on strategic decision-making in a local government. In a profit-oriented organization, the option that maximizes profits tends involve reaching an agreement between stakeholders. However, there is tendency for stakeholders to differ in their beliefs as to what is desirable particularly in a non-profit organization. In a local government, it is especially difficult for the interests of a stakeholder group to be completely in agreement. This research considers the use of the analytical hierarchy process (Saaty, 1971) as a solution for one of the difficulties of decision-making in a local government. This research is a case study to explore the strategy of a local Japanese healthcare management organization. The conclusion was drawn to decide which strategic option should be taken by using the analytical hierarchy process. Also, it was found what to work on a countermeasure that prevents the negative effects that are generated by selecting the strategic option.
文摘The purpose of this paper is to discuss corporate failure issues in the context of the global financial crisis. After considering some key issues, the paper shows how relevant these issues are relevant in the present financial fiasco. It is clear that corporate failure brings untold hardships to all stakeholders. Again the problem of predicting corporate failure in the midst of the financial contagion could be overcome with sound risk management structure in place. The discussion mainly focuses on corporate failure within the context of the global financial distress. To the best of our knowledge this study is the first of its kind, which provides conceptual insights on predicting corporate failure and the global financial distress.