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The need to establish key performance indicators for facilities management (FM) is well recognised. However, difficulties in establishing universally‐accepted definitions of the FM function and its management process continue to confound the identification and application of a generic set of performance parameters. This paper describes the process of developing a management‐by‐variance tool for monitoring the performance of the FM function of a major financial services company. The dual problems of the absence of a standardised set of key performance indicators (KPIs) and the lack of existing data for performance evaluation were addressed using a Delphi group. The principle of management‐by‐variance is based on the monitoring and analysis of performance trends, which is done by monitoring changes in performance using a bespoke (rather than generalised) set of performance indicators. This paper describes the process of creating the pilot version of a management‐by‐variance tool in sufficient detail to allow the process to be replicated to create other sets of bespoke KPIs. The process and outcomes of the exercise to short‐list, rank, and weight a finalised list of 23 KPIs are discussed. The KPIs are analysed in the context of the method of their selection, prioritisation and weighting for their intended custom application.

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer in the world, and mastectomies to remove tumors are still common. An external breast prosthesis (EBP) can be used to minimize the asymmetry, due to the ablation. Some governments do not cover costs of that assistive technology, and women end up using socks and fabric pockets filled with seeds, to simulate the volume lost in the surgery. This study aims to offer to those women a decent solution, ergonomic, but still affordable.

The authors interviewed 20 mastectomized Brazilian women, listened to their relate and 3D scanned them, to give rise to personalized external lightweight breast prostheses. The authors used free software for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, and low-cost 3D printers. From the strategy of bespoke products, this study generalized the method, to conceive mass customized prostheses, in a compromise solution that reduces personalization, conserving the best features of design.

This study achieved a method to manufacture ergonomic, bespoke external breast prostheses, using low-cost technology. Previous literature made them using expensive scanners, software and printers.

The authors validated this method during pandemic, which restricted the number of patients the authors could have access to. This impacted authors’ possibility to work on matching the color of the final product and real skin. The authors understood, though, that precision of color, in the final product, is challenging, because of the peculiar aspects of human skin.

Using the method the authors proposed, personalized external breast prostheses can be manufactured using low-cost resources, democratizing better quality of life for more breast cancer survivors.

Opportunity real estate funds are an important style of real estate investing for institutional investors seeking nonlisted real estate exposure. Importantly, institutional investors have sought exposure to the China real estate market, often via opportunity real estate funds. This has been by a pure China opportunity real estate fund (100% China opportunity real estate) or by a pan-Asia opportunity real estate fund where China opportunity real estate was part of this pan-Asia opportunity real estate portfolio. Using two bespoke China opportunity real estate indices developed by the authors, this paper aims to assess the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of China opportunity real estate in a mixed-asset portfolio over 2008–2020. It also highlights critical issues for institutional investors going forward to factor into their real estate investment decision-making for effective China real estate exposure.

This paper develops two bespoke China opportunity real estate fund performance indices to assess the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of China opportunity real estate funds in a mixed-asset portfolio over 2008–2020. An asset allocation diagram is used to assess the role of China opportunity real estate in a mixed-asset portfolio via both the non-listed and listed real estate investment channels.

Over 2008–2020, China opportunity real estate exposure via pan-Asia opportunity real estate funds were seen to outperform pure China opportunity real estate funds. In both formats, China opportunity real estate funds were seen to have a significant role in a China mixed-asset portfolio across most of the portfolio risk spectrum; particularly compared to listed real estate exposure in China. On-going issues regarding real estate risk management in China will take on increased importance for institutional investors seeking China real estate exposure.

Opportunity real estate funds are an important style of real estate investing, often used by institutional investors to gain non-listed real estate exposure in a developing real estate market. This style of real estate investing has been popular with institutional investors seeking exposure to China real estate as part of the China economic growth dynamic. The results of this research highlight the importance of opportunity real estate investing in China, both via a pure China opportunity real estate fund and via a pan-Asia opportunity real estate fund. Based on this empirical analysis, China opportunity real estate exposure is seen to be more effective via a pan-Asia opportunity real estate fund than a 100% China opportunity real estate fund. A range of practical China real estate investment issues are also highlighted for the effective delivery of China real estate exposure for institutional investors going forward; this particularly relates to the on-going risk management for real estate investment in China.

This paper is the first empirical research analysis of the risk-adjusted performance of China opportunity real estate and its role in a mixed-asset portfolio. Using bespoke China opportunity real estate fund indices developed by the authors, this research enables empirically-validated, more informed and practical opportunity real estate investment decision-making regarding the strategic role of China opportunity real estate in an institutional investor's portfolio. It also highlights the importance of various facets of real estate risk management in China going forward.

Despite the pervasiveness of teen-targeted food advertising on social media, little is known about the persuasive elements (or power) found within those ads. This research study aims to engage with the concept of “visual style” to explore the range of visual techniques used in Instagram food marketing to teenagers.

A participatory study was conducted with 57 teenagers, who used a specially designed mobile app to capture images of the teen-targeted food marketing they encountered for seven days. A visual thematic analysis was used to assess and classify the advertisements that participants captured from Instagram and specifically tagged with “visual style”.

A total of 142 food advertisements from Instagram were tagged with visual style, and classified into five main styles: Bold Focus, Bespoke, Absurd, Everyday and Sensory.

This study contributes to an improved understanding about how the visual is used as a marketing technique to capture teenagers’ attention, contributing to the persuasive power of marketing messages.

Food marketing is a significant part of the young consumer’s marketplace, and this study provides new insight into the sophisticated nature of such marketing – revealing the visual styles used to capture the attention of its brand-aware audience.

Whereas the Minister of Labour (hereafter in this Order referred to as “the Minister”) has received from the Retail Bespoke Tailoring Wages Council (England and Wales) the wages regulation proposals set out in the Schedule hereto;

The purpose of this paper is to identify the extent to which Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is understood and applied within higher education institutions across the UK and identify users’ perceptions of its efficacy.

A mixed methodology was applied to this research. Part one consisted of an online survey intended to generate an overview of the extent of POE use across the sector. The second phase, intended to develop greater insight and understanding of users’ perceptions of POE, relied upon in-depth interviews with a smaller sample drawn those who had completed the survey in part one.

Differing models of POE are used within higher education institutions with varying degrees of complexity. Models exist that are based on standard structures and templates, whilst entirely bespoke options have been developed by some institutions. The work found that there is a clear preference for applying bespoke methods rather than standardised ones.

The research is based on a sample of Directors of Estates (DOEs) from UK Universities. The conclusions relate specifically to that sector and context. The extent for broader generalisation is limited by the research sample.

The work shows that POE is understood to have differing purpose and effectiveness in individual Universities. As a result there has been a proliferation in the number of models developed and applied. This leads to the conclusion that more coherent and consistent understanding should be promoted within the sector.

The work has implications for the effective management of university buildings to support user satisfaction.

This paper indicates that there is prevalence of applying POE processes in higher education institutions and that specific models have been developed for the sector. However, the extent to which the process is valued and understood is highly variable.

Discusses the disadvantages of CD‐ROMs and the Web from the perspective of professional information distributors and proposes an alternative solution. CD‐ROMs cannot easily be updated in a timely and cost‐effective way, whereas the Web compromises quality of graphics, sound and video. The information bottleneck caused by the Internet is predicted to get worse, adding to the problem. Bespoke hybrid CDs which allow updating of some CD‐ROM files by downloading from the Internet on to the local hard disk also have limitations. A new software product, SoftCD, overcomes the problems of bespoke hybrid CD‐ROMs, while retaining their advantages. It is identified as useful and cost‐effective for situations where there is a relatively high volume of volatile data. Potential markets are seen as remote business support, business‐to‐business reference information and computer‐based training updates.

The purpose of this paper is to describe how the customer‐service centre at Fairbairn Private Bank (FPB) was transformed by a training initiative that led to a string of awards.

Details the origins of the training initiative, how it was delivered and the training outcomes.

Reveals that the training has enabled FPB to exceed targets for reducing serious justified complaints, financial errors and account closures. New accounts are being opened at almost twice the rate seen in 1999. A client survey has shown 98 percent of respondents are more than satisfied with the standard of service, and 99 percent with the speed of answering telephones. Client referrals now account for 80 percent of business introductions and new accounts outnumber closures four to one.

Highlights the powerful combination of in‐house expertise and external trainers to design and deliver training in the financial‐services sector.

Emphasizes the importance of bespoke training in an area where no appropriate accreditation was available and the bank had to chart its own progress.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the simulation of garments with various combinations of shape and size using a parametric pattern design method.

The approach of this study is to design garment patterns using a text‐based script language and assemble them on a deformable virtual body model to evaluate the appearance and fit of the resulting garment to facilitate the garment design process.

In this study, various garment patterns are designed parametrically by an expandable script language and simulated directly on a deformable body model.

The size and shape of parametrically generated garment patterns are all different for each garment and therefore a full‐texture mapping technique cannot be applied.

This method may reduce the time required to evaluate the appearance and fit of bespoke garments by replacing the trial‐and‐error based traditional procedures.

The integration of a script‐based parametric pattern design method into the garment drape simulation system is one of the most useful applications for the practical garment design process.

NORSACA (Nottingham Regional Society for Adults and Children with Autism) provide specialist education and support for children with autism under the title of Sutherland House Children's Services. This is a ‘non‐maintained’ (ie. independent) special school with 84 students ranging from four to 19 years of age, which is set across five sites in Nottinghamshire. There has been significant investment by the school in its ICT infrastructure, implementation and support including the introduction of a specialist ICT role in 2005. The author of this article (and ICT specialist at the school) has developed the use of ICT hardware and software across the whole school as well as developing schemes of work, designing and creating bespoke software for students and producing a number of student developmental tracking systems alongside his teaching commitment to all key stages.Fundamental to the success of the sessions has been the introduction of Smartboards into the classroom setting and the individualisation of software so that it is relevant to the scheme of work and appealing to each student. This article gives an overview of how ICT sessions are planned and structured for children at the school, explores the software that has been developed and presents key design guidelines for developing ICT for children with autism, recommended by the author.