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1 – 10 of 13
Article
Publication date: 7 October 2014

Derrick C.K. Tam, Eilo W.Y. Yu and Anise M.S. Wu

Elder mistreatment is a neglected issue in the Macao elder policy. The purpose of this paper is to review the current elder policy as well as legislation on the prevention and…

Abstract

Purpose

Elder mistreatment is a neglected issue in the Macao elder policy. The purpose of this paper is to review the current elder policy as well as legislation on the prevention and management of elder mistreatment in Macao and providing practical suggestions to improve the situation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews government documents and statistics on elder services and policy of Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government. The authors interviewed frontline social workers for the phenomenon of elder mistreatment in Macao as well as the issues and problems in handling abuse cases.

Findings

This paper argues that the MSAR government has paid attention to financial aid to its senior citizens. In terms of elder care services, the government outsources various elder care services to nonprofit organizations and other private bodies. However, this public-private partnership approach cannot adequately coordinate service providers to prevent and manage elder mistreatment. Furthermore, Macao-mainland integration has encouraged more and more elders to stay in mainland China. Stronger government initiatives are needed to collaborate with Macao society, as well as mainland authorities, regarding the mistreatment of Macao elders.

Research limitations/implications

It is only a review on elder mistreatment in Macao. Further research is needed to survey the extent of mistreatment of elder people in Macao (quantitatively and qualitatively). Besides, more effort has to be paid on the problem and difficulty of frontline social workers handling elder mistreatment.

Practical implications

This paper suggests practical methods and measures to Macao government to manage and prevent elder mistreatment which is a neglect issue in the society.

Social implications

There are very few studies on elder mistreatment in Macao. This paper aims to draw the attention of Macao government and public as well as academic to the issue.

Originality/value

Many scholars and academics studying Macao elders have been directing to the government focus and keep their eye on the pension system and social security for the elderly. Very limited studies have examined the elder care and mistreatment. This paper is a breakthrough of Macao elder studies that serving as a pilot study of elder mistreatment and hence shifting public attention to the intangible need of Macao elder.

Details

The Journal of Adult Protection, vol. 16 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1466-8203

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 December 2023

Md Rokonuzzaman, Abdullah Alhidari, Ahasan Harun, Audhesh Paswan and Derrick D'Souza

Hoping to increase the productivity of their employees, firms provide and expect their employees to use approved mobile apps. However, despite an intuitive appeal, the…

Abstract

Purpose

Hoping to increase the productivity of their employees, firms provide and expect their employees to use approved mobile apps. However, despite an intuitive appeal, the relationship between information technology usage and productivity is still seen as paradoxical. This study examines the relationship between employees' experience and engagement with business mobile apps provided by employers and its effects on employee work productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from respondents who use employer-provided business apps were used to test the hypotheses. Measurement-corrected latent scores extracted from the PLS measurement evaluation were used in regression-centric assessment using PROCESS.

Findings

Results indicate that employee-users’ experience-based attributions of the business app, i.e. customization, performance quality and compatibility, have positive effects on productivity mediated by participation intensity. Further, work type (retail vs non-retail) and the depth of the employee user’s experience moderate experience-based attributions' indirect effects on productivity.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies delving into this topic, this study focuses solely on the mediation and moderation effects for hypothesis testing. Specifically, this study investigates effects conditional on work type (retail vs non-retail), which the authors believe has significant implications for retailing. These findings have interesting implications for both future research and managers.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 124 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2018

Visvanathan Naicker and Derrick Barry Van Der Merwe

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence the adoption of mobile technology by considering the information technology (IT) managers’ perception. The…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence the adoption of mobile technology by considering the information technology (IT) managers’ perception. The research identified the key challenges managers faced and whether management would adopt mobile technology or not.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was used for this research, whereby an explanatory research was utilised. Questionnaires were developed and distributed to respondents who were in management and leadership positions and who were responsible for IT within their organisations. Demographic variables of age, gender differences, level of education, level of experience and culture were tested for association to the perceived factors and adoption. A χ2 of association was used to test the association between demographic variables and mobile technology adoption.

Findings

The results found that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived complexity and perceived cost are important factors for adoption. However, perceived risk was a key factor in the adoption of mobile technology. Mobile strategy adoption must consider perceived risk factors central to the adoption. The younger generation (20 to 40) years found it easier to adopt technology than the older generation of 41 years and older. Individuals with a post matriculation level of education understood the importance of risk and cost required for adoption.

Research limitations/implications

Purposive sampling from a single industry (Life Insurance) was used. Limited literature was available regarding managers perception of mobile technology adoption in the Life Insurance industry.

Practical implications

The research offers managers insight into the important factors that need to be considered in adopting mobile technology.

Originality/value

With mobile technology being pervasive, the research seeks to provide managers with the insight in managing the adoption of the technology.

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2014

Qian Hu and Thomas Bryer

Social networking sites (SNSs) have established an important presence in our daily lives and at work. This study explores how public service professionals use SNSs and how they…

Abstract

Social networking sites (SNSs) have established an important presence in our daily lives and at work. This study explores how public service professionals use SNSs and how they perceive the potential of SNSs. This study further examines the relationship between the use of SNSs and social trust and civic participation. Last, this study identifies the challenges and opportunities facing public administration practitioners who use SNSs to build collaboration and promote public interests. Based on the nationwide survey results, this study provides a broader understanding of SNS use among public service professionals. Furthermore, it also provides management recommendations on how public service professionals can make full use of SNSs to facilitate their interactions with other public service professionals and citizens, and foster collaboration to pursue public interests.

Details

International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, vol. 17 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1093-4537

Article
Publication date: 1 August 1906

It is an ill wind that blows nobody good, and the British public may be congratulated on the salutary, if rude, awakening which the gale raised in Chicago has given them…

Abstract

It is an ill wind that blows nobody good, and the British public may be congratulated on the salutary, if rude, awakening which the gale raised in Chicago has given them. Peacefully slumbering, and content for years to accept as gospel truths the asseverations of all sorts and conditions of food‐fakers, both of home and foreign growth, the “Britisher” has suddenly received a shock from which it will take him a long time to recover. The abominable crime of milk‐adulteration—striking as it does at helpless infancy and at the vitality of the infirm and the weak; the “doctoring” of food products with a variety of pernicious drugs on the pleas of “preservation” and of meeting “public wants,” but in reality done for the sake of sordid gain; the gigantic meat and butter frauds, whereby largely the agricultural interest of this country has been brought to its present pass; the faking of beer and the wholesale arsenical poisoning which was one of its direct consequences; the denaturing of other foods by abstraction, substitution, and sophistication—all these things have been regarded by the “man in the street” with a sort of languid interest; have, at most, called forth passing comment from the lay press, and cheap sneers about faddery and faddists from various ignorant scribblers; while a succession of lethargic and feeble administrations have shelved the reports of their own Committees and Commissions, and, except under rare and abnormal pressure, have been content to adopt a policy of laissez faire.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 8 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Article
Publication date: 5 June 2020

Christoph Sydora, Zhen Lei, Ming Fung Francis Siu, SangHyeok Han and Ulrich Hermann

Heavy industrial construction often relies on large mobile cranes to erect equipment and pre-assembled modules. Engineering calculations are required for the lifting analysis…

Abstract

Purpose

Heavy industrial construction often relies on large mobile cranes to erect equipment and pre-assembled modules. Engineering calculations are required for the lifting analysis where lifting capacity is analyzed to ensure the feasibility of the lifting scenarios. Such engineering calculations are often presented in static formats, e.g. two-dimensional or three-dimensional models. However, it is difficult to help practitioners (e.g. lifting engineers, site crews and operators) understand the complexity of the lifting process and thus operational decisions are often made intuitively. Therefore, this paper aims to introduce a game-based simulation system to allow for interactive analysis of the lifting process to improve lifting efficiency and safety.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed method treats the mobile crane as a robot with degree-of-freedoms, and the movements are simulated in the Unity game environment. The lifting capacity is calculated dynamically based on the lifting object weight, rigging weight and lifting radius.

Findings

Compared with the four-dimensional visualization, this development has added a dimension of real-time interactive simulation; this allows the users to understand the complexity and feasibility of the lifting process.

Originality/value

The developed prototype has been tested and validated using a real case study from a heavy industrial project with the possibility of generalizing crane lifting configurations.

Article
Publication date: 4 July 2022

Sumit Kumar Banshal, Manoj Kumar Verma and Mayank Yuvaraj

The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive analysis of the current status and development of the digital journalism field from 1987 to 2021 using the Dimensions…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive analysis of the current status and development of the digital journalism field from 1987 to 2021 using the Dimensions database.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Dimensions.ai database, 1734 articles were identified through search strategies which were published from 1987 to 2021. The downloaded results were analysed using specific parameters with the help of bibliometric and science mapping tools: Biblioshiny, VOSviewer and CiteSpace. The key contributions of the present comprehensive bibliometric study of the digital journalism field can be seen in terms of the following aspects: (1) Publication analysis from the perspectives of publication growth, key journals, contributing authors, institutions and countries done through Biblioshiny package. (2) Citation network analysis from the perspective of co-citation structure of papers, authors, countries and institutions done through VOSviewer. (3) Timeline analysis and keywords burst detection to identify hotspots and research trends in digital journalism with the help of CiteSpace.

Findings

The first paper with the keyword digital journalism was published in the year 1989. From 2011 onwards, there has been growth in digital journalism literature. The most popular journal in digital journalism studies is Digital Journalism, Journalism, Journalism Practice, Journalism Studies. Lewis, S.C. has contributed the most number of papers in digital journalism. Further, authors from the countries the USA, Spain, Brazil and UK have contributed immensely. The citation network of authors, institutions and countries contributing to digital journalism studies has also been explored in the study. Through burst analysis, hot topics in digital journalism were identified.

Originality/value

The paper provides a complete overview of the growth of digital journalism literature published from 1987 to 2021. The originality of this work lies in the triangulation of Biblioshiny, VOSviewer and CiteSpace software to present various aspects of bibliometric study. Findings of the study can help the researchers to identify areas as well as journals, authors, institutions working actively in the field of digital journalism.

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2014

Aviad Shapira, Sagi Filin and Amit Wicnudel

– This study aims to show how laser scanning data can be utilised to quantitatively assess “blind lifts” with respect to their rate and spatial distribution.

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to show how laser scanning data can be utilised to quantitatively assess “blind lifts” with respect to their rate and spatial distribution.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed time study of crane cycles for quantitative measuring of the crane’s work periods in dead areas and mapping the crane operator’s field of view and developing a model that allows the spatial analysis of blind lifts.

Findings

This study found a discrete geometric laser scan-based model that is capable of locating and quantifying the visible and invisible zones from the crane operator’s cabin; 28 per cent of the analyzed crane’s work area represented by the model were found to be invisible, which corresponds fairly to 35 per cent of the half-cycles measured manually that were found to involve blind lifting; the range of blind lifts duration derived from the spatial information-based model was 50 to 84 per cent, which is in excellent correspondence with the 54 per cent to 82 per cent range obtained from the time unit-based analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The laser-based model and the ensuing analyses are limited to the type of buildings whose envelope can practically be represented by the vertical extrusion of their footprint.

Practical implications

The practical implications of the study are reduction of blind lifts as a factor when selecting the location of the crane and staging areas; more effective preplanning of signallers positioning; and ad hoc consideration of analysed dead space for various lift task-based decision-making during construction.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the ability to capture the geometric relations that characterise the work scene around the tower crane by harnessing the increasingly available laser technology and correlates the results of the manual observations with those obtained from the laser-based model.

Details

Construction Innovation, vol. 14 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2012

Heng Li, Neo K.Y. Chan and Martin Skitmore

Rehearsing practical site operations is without doubt one of the most effective methods for minimising planning mistakes, because of the learning that takes place during the…

Abstract

Purpose

Rehearsing practical site operations is without doubt one of the most effective methods for minimising planning mistakes, because of the learning that takes place during the rehearsal activity. However, real rehearsal is not a practical solution for on‐site construction activities, as it not only involves a considerable amount of cost but can also have adverse environmental implications. One approach to overcoming this is by the use of virtual rehearsals. The purpose of this paper is to investigate an approach to simulation of the motion of cranes in order to test the feasibility of associated construction sequencing and generate construction schedules for review and visualisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes a system involving two technologies, virtual prototyping (VP) and four‐dimensional (4D) simulation, to assist construction planners in testing the sequence of construction activities when mobile cranes are involved. The system consists of five modules, comprising input, database, equipment, process and output, and is capable of detecting potential collisions. A real‐world trial is described in which the system was tested and validated.

Findings

Feedback from the planners involved in the trial indicated that they found the system to be useful in its present form and that they would welcome its further development into a fully automated platform for validating construction sequencing decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The tool has the potential to provide a cost‐effective means of improving construction planning. However, it is limited at present to the specific case of crane movement under special consideration.

Originality/value

This paper presents a large‐scale, real life case of applying VP technology in planning construction processes and activities.

Details

Construction Innovation, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 June 2022

Andrew Thomas Hall, Serdar Durdyev, Kerim Koc, Omer Ekmekcioglu and Laura Tupenaite

Building information modeling (BIM) is a prominent concept to digitalize data collection and analysis processes. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a…

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Abstract

Purpose

Building information modeling (BIM) is a prominent concept to digitalize data collection and analysis processes. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a considerable percentage of the works performed in the construction industry. The adoption rate of BIM by SMEs is still, however, not at the desired level in the New Zealand construction industry. This study aims to evaluate barriers to BIM implementation for SMEs in the New Zealand construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted four-step methodology to evaluate barriers to BIM adoption for SMEs. First, a comprehensive literature review, followed by a focus group discussion was performed to identify barriers to BIM adoption. Then, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to assess identified barriers. Finally, experts’ agreements (both internal and external) were ensured by consistency analysis and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (Kendall’s W) tests.

Findings

The findings indicate that (1) interoperability between software platforms, (2) lack of government mandate on BIM usage at project level, (3) high cost of acquiring the software and licensing required to use BIM and (4) lack of client demand for adopting BIM were the most significant barriers in terms of technological, governmental, resource and cultural categories, respectively. Further investigation of the expert evaluation showed strong consistencies (each expert separately) and agreements (among experts) in each AHP matrix.

Practical implications

Primary focus should be training of local market (particularly SMEs) professionals as the shortage in qualified professionals makes the country-wide adoption challenging. The publicity in the local market can help SMEs understand how BIM is leveraged for further improvements in project performance.

Originality/value

Overall, this research not only provides a roadmap for the widespread adoption of BIM within SMEs in New Zealand through analysis of the barriers encountered but also highlights the power that policymakers hold over the mass adoption of BIM within SMEs.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

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