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1 – 10 of 187
Article
Publication date: 23 April 2024

Raewyn Lesley Hills, Deborah Levy and Barbara Plester

Meetings with colleagues are an essential activity in workplace collaboration. The iterative nature of collaborative work demands spaces that team members can access quickly and…

Abstract

Purpose

Meetings with colleagues are an essential activity in workplace collaboration. The iterative nature of collaborative work demands spaces that team members can access quickly and easily. Creating suitable meeting spaces will become more critical if the hybrid work model continues and the workplace environment becomes the hub for face-to-face collaborative time, learning and training. Workspace and fit-out is expensive so it is crucial that the investment in meeting spaces supports employees’ collaboration activities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a case study of a corporate organisation undertaken in New Zealand to investigate how employees from two business units use their workspace to collaborate within their own team and across other teams in their organisation. The study uses ethnographic techniques, including participant observation and in-depth face-to-face interviews.

Findings

The findings show that the frequency and nature of small group work in collaboration was underestimated in the initial planning of the new workspace. Although participants found the design and fit-out of the formal meeting rooms supportive of collaborative work, the meeting rooms were in high demand, and it was difficult to find a room at short notice. The breakout spaces were confusing because they lacked key design attributes identified by the participants as conducive to small group work. Design shortfalls together with fit-out features perceived as supportive of collaborative work are identified.

Originality/value

The research reports on employees’ perceptions and experiences across two functionally diverse business units, reflecting their different needs and concerns.

Details

Property Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 July 2023

Meenal Kumar and Smita Khan

This study attempts to conduct a post-occupancy assessment of the primary technical, functional and behavioral features in a student housing facility at the Visvesvaraya National…

Abstract

Purpose

This study attempts to conduct a post-occupancy assessment of the primary technical, functional and behavioral features in a student housing facility at the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology campus in Nagpur, India to see if the students are satisfied with the residential hostel's environs and facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study reviews knowledge areas pertinent to the technical, functional and behavioral performance of student housing facilities by looking at the body of accessible literature. Even though the literature review gave a thorough overview of the broad issues, it was essential to learn about the situation as it is and addresses the specific issues brought up to undertake a thorough evaluation, just as every in-depth study depends on a reliable methodology. Therefore, a methodology appropriate for the research was developed, which helped in identifying relevant attributes for the questionnaire to be used for the survey. This aided in analyzing the building's performance evaluation through the sole users of the hostel which are the students. The survey data is analyzed by statical methods using SPSS software to identify the key determinants of satisfaction in students' residential hostels and if these are affected by the gender of the students.

Findings

The survey results were examined to determine the level of satisfaction with the selected performance aspects, and the major determinants governing it. The findings concluded that most of the technical and functional determinants of satisfaction in hostels are identified the same by both genders, except for some of the attributes in behavioral elements. The research looked at how well key success elements in the student housing facility had been implemented.

Research limitations/implications

Research is carried out in CFTI only wherein architecture is one of the branches.

Originality/value

Planning professionals, architects, housing managers and facility managers involved in the design, construction and management of student housing facilities might benefit from feedback from a post-occupancy evaluation. The post-occupancy study can therefore aid in continually enhancing the standard and effectiveness of the facilities for planning, constructing, managing and maintaining student residential housing.

Details

Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-6862

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 26 December 2023

Daniel Magnusson, Hendry Raharjo and Petra Bosch-Sijtsema

Sustainability is regarded as a core value that the coworking movement aspires to. However, most sustainability efforts focus on the providers’ perspective while neglecting the…

Abstract

Purpose

Sustainability is regarded as a core value that the coworking movement aspires to. However, most sustainability efforts focus on the providers’ perspective while neglecting the coworking members’ role. Therefore, this paper aims to explore sustainable coworking from the members perspective by focusing on sustainable behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a flexible pattern matching approach. Theoretical patterns are identified using literature on coworking space and sustainable behavior while matching them with the empirical data. Data were collected from three different coworking spaces in Sweden through interviews and observations.

Findings

Based on the theoretical patterns, three constructs for sustainable coworking were identified, namely, productive behavior, prosocial behavior and responsible space sharing behavior. Through the empirical data, the constructs were further concretized to understand their different aspects. The findings uncovered a new layer of complexity where members can show the same behavior and be perceived differently.

Originality/value

This study offers a more holistic understanding of sustainable coworking by highlighting the members’ role and identifying different member perceptions on sustainable coworking behaviors.

Details

Journal of Corporate Real Estate , vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-001X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 September 2023

Teresa Atkinson and Rebecca Oatley

The purpose of this paper is to present the views of people living with dementia in extra care housing (ECH). This is a model of housing with care and support aiming to support…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the views of people living with dementia in extra care housing (ECH). This is a model of housing with care and support aiming to support older people, including those with dementia, to live independently. Previous research identifies benefits but is predominantly derived from third-party accounts, with the voices of those living with dementia in ECH significantly absent.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative approach conducting 100 interviews across 8 ECH schemes in England. Over half of the interviews were conducted with people living with dementia and their families with the remainder involving staff and commissioners.

Findings

Findings suggest there are a range of benefits including owning your own home, having a safe, age friendly location with flexible support, social interaction and continuing to live as a couple. Challenges included availability of staff, flexible resourcing, loneliness and the advancing symptoms of dementia.

Research limitations/implications

Despite efforts to create an inclusive, diverse sample, the participants were all White British. Participants involved were identified by gatekeepers, which may present some bias in the selection.

Practical implications

Whilst ECH offers benefits to people living with dementia, addressing the challenges is essential for effective dementia care. Improving staff training, promoting person-centred care and fostering an inclusive community are critical for enhancing residents’ well-being and quality of life.

Originality/value

This paper explored the lived experiences of residents and family members, providing new insight into the advantages and disadvantages of ECH for people living with dementia.

Details

Working with Older People, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-3666

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 February 2024

Chern Li Liew and Victoria Passau

Online/Digital cultural heritage platforms have the potential to serve as empowering sites and tools for democratic participation, and for promoting social cohesion, acting as…

Abstract

Purpose

Online/Digital cultural heritage platforms have the potential to serve as empowering sites and tools for democratic participation, and for promoting social cohesion, acting as convergence points for diverse societal groups. They enable the gathering of multiple voices, including those of minorities and groups often marginalised in mainstream cultural heritage documentation. This research paper examines the ways in which these aspirations of cultural heritage platforms as meeting, learning and dialogic spaces for connecting and empowering online communities have been realised.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative design, interviews were conducted with users of New Zealand’s Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online Cenotaph. Participants shared their experiences with the platform, perceptions of it as a collective social history resource and views on its role as a participatory space for online communities. They also discussed their expectations for its development as an online space for collective memorialisation.

Findings

Interviews revealed that users value Online Cenotaph for placing personal, publicly contributed memories and narratives alongside primary military sources. Participants expressed feelings of civic responsibility, social awareness and a sense of identity and connection through their use and contribution to this online commemorative space. The shift from a one-way flow of information from the Museum towards embracing public contribution embodying a high-trust approach, was a notable finding.

Originality/value

This research underscores the evolving role of museums and other GLAM institutions in recognising the importance of inclusivity, diversity and community participation. It provides insights into how digital cultural heritage social platforms can contribute towards these goals and promote social cohesion. This research is also a starting point for further studies on crowdsourcing and social Web activities on digital cultural heritage platforms as sites of community building through public participation and engagement in historical/cultural heritage narratives.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 December 2022

Angeliki Garoufali and Emmanouel Garoufallou

With the technological innovation dominating higher education, the university libraries, as physical spaces, continue to play a crucial role in connecting students with knowledge…

Abstract

Purpose

With the technological innovation dominating higher education, the university libraries, as physical spaces, continue to play a crucial role in connecting students with knowledge. The emergence of the “Learning Commons” serves as a catalyst in the design of library spaces, renewing libraries’ roles and missions and making them popular to Millennials for new reasons. This study aims to record Greek librarians' views on the current situation in Greek academic libraries regarding physical space design, services provided and the existence of the “Learning Commons” model characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted through an online survey structured questionnaire (closed-ended, five-point Likert scale, multiple-choice and statements questions). This study population comprised librarians working in 37 academic institutions and colleges. The collected data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The research questions were answered using variables creation and the tests, t-test, ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis. The groups of questions were tested for their reliability using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient.

Findings

In total, 186 librarians responded to this study. The responses revealed that participants were willing and ready to accept and support a different approach to academic library physical spaces use, according to the shared learning spaces model. However, this requires changes in the organization's vision, further growth and evolution. Although recently most Greek academic libraries have made significant progress in developing their services to function as information and digital hubs, they do not function as learning collaborative hubs, since the “Learning Commons” model is not reflected in their buildings.

Originality/value

The creation of new academic libraries according to the “common” model is a rapidly evolving issue that affects Greek libraries. This paper highlights the characteristics of libraries that should be adopted in the modern era, the new roles of academic librarians and the importance of an appropriate design of the physical space to achieve optimal learning outcomes. At the same time, this paper is one of the few that illustrates librarians', and not users', perceptions of these changes. This paper is a good research example, and the methodology for measuring this type of context could be used by other future research approaches in other countries.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 August 2023

Emad Noaime and Mohammed M. Alnaim.

The study examines the residential facades of the Al-Jadida neighborhood, focusing on the use of geometry and proportion in Aleppo's architectural history during the late Ottoman…

Abstract

Purpose

The study examines the residential facades of the Al-Jadida neighborhood, focusing on the use of geometry and proportion in Aleppo's architectural history during the late Ottoman era. The analysis sheds light on the city's past and provides insights into the way residents utilized space and interacted with their surroundings.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involves collecting primary and secondary sources, including historical documents, photographs, and drawings. Visual analysis is employed to examine the facades overlooking the courtyard, with a focus on windows, doors, balconies, and other distinctive features that contribute to the overall courtyard design.

Findings

The findings reveal that traditional Aleppine architecture is centered around the courtyard and incorporates decorative openings and windows reflecting Islamic principles. Stone decorations are used with unique designs based on geometry and composition, contributing to Aleppo's cultural identity.

Research limitations/implications

Including more samples for studying facades allows for the identification of changes in architectural styles and the influence of different cultural influences on the city's architecture over time. Moreover, conducting further studies is crucial for preserving this important part of Aleppo's history for future generations.

Originality/value

This research analyzes architectural facades in late Ottoman Aleppo, offering insights for future studies and understanding architectural design development. It also informs preservation efforts for historic buildings, enhancing understanding of architectural features and characteristics.

Details

Open House International, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0168-2601

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 3 February 2022

Simon Lind Fischer and Maartje Roelofsen

This paper explores how Airbnb hosts' experiences with and responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis may differ according to their motivations to host and…

2333

Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores how Airbnb hosts' experiences with and responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis may differ according to their motivations to host and to the type and spatial layout of their Airbnb accommodation. Based on these insights, the paper reflects on the lessons that are learned for the future of short-term rentals.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative multi-method small-scale case study, which relies on in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion carried out with a group of hosts affiliated to the Airbnb Host Community in Aarhus, Denmark. Informed by an interpretivist approach, the study aims to make sense of people's subjective experiences with hosting on the Airbnb platform, and how they have continued and adapted their hospitality practices during the pandemic.

Findings

Participants' adaptive practices vary according to their motivations to host and the type of accommodation that they rent out. Although all hosts in this study now implement more intensive cleaning practices, hosts who stay with their guests onsite tend to take stricter preventative measures to avoid contamination and transmission of the virus in their social interactions with guests. On the contrary, hosts who rent out their entire properties and have minimal contact with their guests found themselves less affected by the pandemic's impacts and have had a continued demand for their properties.

Social implications

The COVID-19 pandemic has unevenly affected Airbnb hosts. Hosts who share their homes with guests require different adaptations to their daily behaviour and cleaning practices at home than hosts who do not stay with their guests and rent out entire properties. However, unlike professional hosts who largely or solely rely on Airbnb for their income, occasional home-sharing hosts tend to be more flexible in coping with cancelled or fewer bookings.

Originality/value

This study provides novel insights into the uneven impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants in the platform economies of tourism. It contributes to existing literature on the impacts of the pandemic on Airbnb's operations by showing how hosts' adaptive practices are informed by their subjective living conditions and the type of accommodation they can offer their guests.

Details

Journal of Tourism Futures, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2055-5911

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 June 2023

Ali Ausaf, Haixia Yuan and Saba Ali Nasir

Developed countries control pandemics using smart decisions and processes based on medical standards and modern technologies. Studies on risk-reduction and humantechnology…

Abstract

Purpose

Developed countries control pandemics using smart decisions and processes based on medical standards and modern technologies. Studies on risk-reduction and humantechnology interaction are scarce. This study developed a model to examine the relationship between citizens, pandemic-related technology and official safety practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigated the mediating role of new health regulations and moderating role of safety incentives due to COVID-19 case reduction in pandemic severity control. This study included 407 operations managers, nursing staff conducting pandemic testing and reporting, doctors and security personnel in China. An artificial neural network (ANN) was used to check nonlinear regressions and model predictability.

Findings

The results demonstrated the impact of the introduction of new technology protocols on the implementation of new health regulations and aided pandemic severity control. The safety incentive of case reductions moderated the relationship between new health regulations and pandemic severity control. New health regulations mediated the relationship between the introduction of new technology protocols and pandemic severity control.

Research limitations/implications

Further research should be conducted on pandemic severity in diversely populated cities, particularly those that require safety measures and controls. Future studies should focus on cloud computing for nurses, busy campuses and communal living spaces.

Social implications

Authorities should involve citizens in pandemic-related technical advances to reduce local viral transmission and infection. New health regulations improved people's interactions with new technological protocols and understanding of pandemic severity. Pandemic management authorities should work with medical and security employees.

Originality/value

This study is the first to demonstrate that a safety framework with technology-oriented techniques could reduce future pandemics using managerial initiatives.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 August 2023

Mohammad A. Hassanain, Ibrahim Al-Suwaiti and Ahmed M. Ibrahim

This paper aims to provide an exemplary application of an indicative post-occupancy evaluation (POE) on an organizational multistorey residential apartment building.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an exemplary application of an indicative post-occupancy evaluation (POE) on an organizational multistorey residential apartment building.

Design/methodology/approach

This research comprises of mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches. The methodology commences with a review of the recent literature, identification of performance elements, conduct of walk-through, distribution and collection of users' surveys and the development of short and long-term recommendations, where an adequate sample of users were approached for conducting a focus group interview session.

Findings

The research identifies 74 performance elements that were clustered into technical, namely (thermal, acoustic and visual comforts, indoor air quality and safety and security), functional, namely (design adequacy, finishing, furnishing, fittings and equipment and building surroundings) dimensions and behavioral, namely (apartment building attributes and managerial and logistical support). The questionnaire survey aimed to solicit users' opinions upon the occupied case study residential facility.

Originality/value

The research identifies areas of occupants' satisfaction and dissatisfaction in a typical multistorey residential building, as a part of a community housings for a mega organization, located in Saudi Arabia. The identification of these areas serves as a lesson learned for future developments, design considerations and implications. Hence, improving the well-being and comfort of its employees.

Details

Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-6862

Keywords

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