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Commercial buildings, which include office buildings, are one of the three major energy-consuming sectors, alongside industrial and transportation sectors. The vast increase in the number of buildings is a positive sign of the rapid development of Malaysia. However, most Malaysian government office buildings tend to consume energy inefficiently due to lack of energy optimization. Most of the previous studies focused on the performance of green buildings in fulfilling the green development guidelines. As such, it is essential to study the energy performance of existing government office buildings that were constructed before most energy-efficient standards were implemented to mitigate energy wastage due to the lack of energy optimization. This study aims to analyse the energy performance of existing non-green Malaysian government office buildings and the factors that influence building energy consumption, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of the existing energy conservation measures.

This study was conducted by a literature review and case study. The chosen buildings are six government office building blocks located in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. In this study, a literature review has been conducted on the common factors affecting energy consumption in office buildings. The energy consumption data of the buildings were collected to calculate the building energy intensity (BEI). The BEI was compared to the MS1525:2019 and GBI benchmarks to evaluate energy performance. SketchUp software was utilized to illustrate the solar radiation and sun path diagram of the case study buildings. Finally, recommendations were derived for retrofit strategies based on non-design factors and passive design factors.

In typical government office buildings, the air-conditioning system consumed the most energy at 65.5%, followed by lighting system at 22.6%, and the remaining 11.9% was contributed by office appliances. The energy performance of the case study buildings is considered as satisfactory as the BEI did not exceed the MS1525:2019 benchmark of 200 kWh/m2/year. The E Block recorded the highest BEI of 183.12 kWh/m2/year in 2020 due to its north-east orientation which is exposed to the most solar radiation. Besides, E Block consists of rooms that can accommodate large number of occupants. As such, non-design factors which include higher occupancy rate and higher cooling demand due to high outdoor temperature leads to higher energy consumption. By considering passive design features such as building orientation and building envelope thermal properties, energy consumption can be reduced significantly.

This study provided a comprehensive insight into the energy performance of Malaysian government office buildings, which were constructed before the energy-efficient standards being introduced. By calculating the BEI of six government office buildings, it is found that the energy performance of the case study buildings fulfils the MS1525 benchmark, and that all their BEIs are below 200 kWh/m2/year. Malaysia's hot and humid climate significantly affects a building's cooling load, and it is found the air-conditioning system is the major energy consumer of Malaysian government office buildings. This study discusses the efficacy of the energy-saving measures implemented in the case study buildings to optimize energy consumption. Recommendations were derived based on the non-design factors and passive design factors that affected the energy consumption of the case study building. It is envisioned that this study can provide practical strategies for retrofit interventions to reduce energy consumption in Malaysian office buildings as well as for office buildings that are in a similar climate.

Managers’ willingness to proceed with right action can be diminished by the need for approval and feeling the negative emotions that often accompany ethical challenges. This paper seeks to describe Balanced Experiential Inquiry (BEI), a learning activity designed to help managers develop sustained moral performance.

Using their past experiences for reflective learning, managers engage in BEI to understand what promotes and curtails their ability to respond to ethical issues.

A field study showed that managers engaging in BEI perceived less need for praise from others and experienced a reduction in negative emotions.

Future research evaluating BEI should use a control group, diverse sample, and a longitudinal design that tracks outcomes over time.

Application of BEI is a promising mechanism to help organizations bolster managers’ internal desires to stay on an ethical decision‐making path.

The paper shows that shared reflection and dialogue are needed to help foster responsibility and build ethical strength in organizational settings.

Voricort der Redaktion: Dr. J. Charvát hat den nachstehenden Aufsatz mit besonderem Blick auf das Heilbäderwesen verfasst. Nachdem die Ausführungen jedoch einen allgemeingltigen Überblick über den aktuellen Stand der Kosten‐Nutzen‐Diskussion im Tourismus vermitteln, möchten wir sie mit dem Abdruck in unserer Zeitschrift einem breiteren Kreis zugänglich machen.

The purpose of this study is to measure differences on the business ethics index (BEI) between respondents of different political affiliations (i.e. democrats, republicans and independents). The BEI was originally developed as an indicator of consumers’ sentiments toward the ethicality of business practices.

Data collection was conducted by ORC International Telephone CARAVAN®. The study was conducted using two probability samples of 1,008 adults (18 years old and older) living in the continental United States.

The data demonstrate that republicans feel more positive on all three components (i.e. personal/past, vicarious/past, and future) and on the overall BEI compared to democrats and independents.

The limitations of the study include that the data include political affiliation and not actual voting behavior. One can assume there is a high correlation between the two; however, many US voters do not actually take the time to vote might attenuate this relationship. A future application of the BEI will attempt to capture real voting patterns and not only political affiliation.

The data confirm the political and ideological schism evident in the US at the present time. At a time where almost all the centers of political power (Presidency, Senate and Parliament) are being controlled by the GOP, republican voters are more optimistic about the future ethical behavior of businesses.

Beyond political ideology, ethical behavior by business is crucial to the integrity of the economic system both at the national and international level.

This is the first time that consumers’ ethical perceptions, as measured by the BEI, were associated with people’s political affiliations.

The unethical behavior of businesses toward their customers is thought to contribute to a loss of trust and confidence in the integrity of American corporations. Distrust between the two parties in the marketplace inhibits business transactions. The business ethics index (BEI) was established to formally and continuously measure the consumer sentiments of the ethical behavior of American businesses. This paper aims to measure the effect of political affiliation on consumers’ ethical perceptions of businesses.

The BEI was originally developed as an indicator of consumers’ sentiments toward the ethicality of business practices. The current research uses the BEI once again to evaluate consumers’ perceptions of business ethics in the era of President Donald Trump and his administration. The BEI was therefore extended with the question: “Do you believe that because of the new president Donald Trump, businesses will behave: ‘more ethically’, ‘about the same’ or ‘more unethically’?”.

Data from 1,008 telephone interviews in the USA were used to calculate a BEI of 114.5, indicating an overall positive consumer sentiment toward the ethical behavior of business. Respondents’ political affiliation was found to significantly affect their perception of the ethical behavior of businesses.

This is an initial step in studying the connection between governmental policies and business ethics perception.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the competencies of managers in the UK and Taiwan.

A comparative analysis of managers using a behavioural event interviewing (BEI) technique.

Both cultures were highly achievement focussed. However, there were several marked differences in other behaviours which appear to be cultural in nature. UK managers demonstrated more interpersonal awareness, and concern for impact, whereas Taiwanese managers were more likely to demonstrate critical information seeking behaviour.

Interviews in some instances failed to uncover data and this has implications for the use of generic behavioural event interviews internationally.

The research suggests the idea of organisations' employing generic “international” competency models and behavioural event interview techniques is problematic.

The research is able to demonstrate the problems with international competency models through unique access to an organisation's competency model and to managers in two locations.

The purpose of this paper is to apply the (advanced) brand concept maps (BCM) approach to reinvestigate previous findings on feedback effects resulting from brand extension information (BEI) and to explore whether this information affects the structure of a brand’s associative network.

This research builds on the associative network memory model, as well as Keller’s conceptualization of customer-based brand equity, and uses a series of empirical studies with a total of 839 respondents in two different countries.

The findings reveal that BEI has no significant impact on the structure of the parent brand’s associative network at the individual level. Furthermore, key brand image dimensions (i.e. favorability, strength, and uniqueness of brand associations) are not affected.

By applying the (advanced) BCM approach, this paper is able to address shortcomings that are incorporated with the use of Likert scales for measuring a brand’s image and for investigating feedback effects in the field of brand extension. As the results indicate that the identification of feedback effects might be influenced by the approach used to measure a brand’s image, this paper calls for further investigations of feedback effects on a brand’s image.

Data from three empirical studies provide insights into the cognitive processing of BEI and their impact on a brand’s associative network.

Mehr als andere Märkte ist der Markt des Tourismus von Emotionen abhängig. Dies zeigt sich nicht nur an der überproportionalen Konjunktur‐Reagibilität der Nachfrager; auch die Angehotsseite neigt offensichtlich zu einer gewissen Hektik. Zur Zeit ist in alten und neuen Zentren des europäischen Urlaubs‐ und Geschäftsreiseverkehrs ein Investitionsboom zu verzeichnen, der nur schwerlich mit technologischen Umwälzungen oder Gewinnaussichten allein erklärt werden kann.

Due to the different actual construction conditions in different cities, the requirements for community livability may also differ due to different geographical locations and urban construction priorities. The research system in this paper can be applied to study similar old communities in old urban areas. The indicator system would need to be adjusted in different places, based on specific construction situations and higher planning requirements. This process would provide valuable insights for effective construction projects that support the livability of the old communities.

Based on sustainable and people-oriented development principles, this study considered the development of old urban communities during today’s rapid urban renewal and development. Using previous literature and related research experience, this study established an evaluation indicator system to assess the livability of old urban communities. Based on the local resident experience and satisfaction, the study investigated current weaknesses in the construction of livable old urban communities and developed corresponding recommendations for reform based on these. The goal was to provide guidance and recommendations for renewing old communities in during urban development and further promote the sustainable development of the city.

Based on the people-oriented principle and focusing on old urban communities as the research object, this study constructed an evaluation indicator system to evaluate the livability of urban old communities. The goal was to identify the weaknesses in the construction of old urban communities, with a focus on livability. Using the Bei’anmen community in Nanjing as a case study, the AHP method and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method were applied to evaluate the overall target level and specific indicators, with the goal of assessing the level of livability in the Bei’anmen community.[AQ2] The results show that the livability of the Bei’anmen community is “very poor,” with significant room for improvements in community livability. This study also proposed corresponding measures for improving problems related to livability in the old urban community. Establishing the indicator system may help evaluate the livability of similar old communities in Nanjing and the same types of old communities in other cities. Understanding the overall livability of communities under construction can help identify weaknesses in other own construction approaches and may inform appropriate steps to improve the sustainable construction of the community in the wave of continuous urban renewal. This may realize the further development of livability in the community.

The community is an integral part of the city and strengthening the community’s civilization can support a harmonious and stable social environment. In constructing livable communities, improving the community civilization can promote social progress and civilization, promote social harmony and support the harmonious and sustainable development of communities. To strengthen the construction of a livable community, it is important to apply a residential perspective and provide a good platform for managing community participation and interaction. This may include organizing community-level cultural activities and strengthening communication between residents to increase the residents’ affection for the community. This would enhance the residents’ sense of belonging, forming a harmonious and stable atmosphere of community life, mutual help and mutual tolerance.

Im Rahmen eines Forschungsvorhabens für eine Dissertation im Fach Soziologie (vgl. Kellermann 1976) sollte mit einer vergleichenden Untersuchung zum Urlaub in einem neuen Ferienzentrum und in einem herkömmlichen Ferienort ein Beitrag zur Lösung von praktischen Problemen in einem relativ neuen und kaum erforschten Bereich des Fremdenverkehrs in der BRD geleistet werden. Dazu wurde im Sommer 1975 eine Befragung von Urlaubern in einem Ferienzentrum und drei Ferienorten auf der Insel Fehmarn durchgeführt. Im folgenden werden einige wichtige Untersuchungsergebnisse dargestellt und im Hinblick auf ihre Konsequenzen für die Fremdenverkehrsplanung und die Angebotsgestaltung an der schleswig‐holsteinischen Ostseeküste analysiert.