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1 – 10 of 79Alumni provide a valuable marketing conduit for educational institutions to not only share program highlights but to illustrate the competencies learned that are positively…
Abstract
Purpose
Alumni provide a valuable marketing conduit for educational institutions to not only share program highlights but to illustrate the competencies learned that are positively impacting organizations. Alumni who are interested in giving back need a vehicle through which they can remain connected to their alma maters. Institutions can benefit greatly from building such bridges. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Capella University has created a virtual chapter affiliated with the International Society for Performance Improvement where alumni, learners, and faculty can network in meaningful ways to address the interests and needs of all parties. Five key considerations and 12 purposeful activities that have proven to be critical to the success of the collaborative, virtual chapter site are presented.
Findings
Providing a virtual site where collaborative partners can work on meaningful projects that address mutual needs has proven to be beneficial to all parties involved. The university has clearly benefited from the authentic advertising that alumni provide. Alumni have benefitted from opportunities to work with the university in meaningful ways that enhance their vitaes. Learners are motivated to persist in their academic programs. And faculty are inspired to witness the impact of their work via the alumni. The virtual chapter site has been a valuable resource that facilitates a positive return for all involved.
Originality/value
Virtual chapters that connect alumni, learners, and faculty fill a critical need in an economy where budgets tighten as competition increases in higher education.
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Anne Pemberton, Jerome Hoskins and Caitlin Boninti
The purpose of this paper is to outline a useful model for identifying and addressing employee performance issues in academic libraries, specifically in a Learning Commons.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to outline a useful model for identifying and addressing employee performance issues in academic libraries, specifically in a Learning Commons.
Design/methodology/approach
The Human Performance Technology (HPT) model created by the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) was used to identify employee performance issues in a newly created Learning Commons at a mid‐size academic library.
Findings
Applying the HPT model to a Learning Commons enabled the authors to identify organizational and employee performance issues and identify solutions to these issues. The HPT model was deemed a useful tool for addressing performance issues.
Research limitations/implications
Little research has been published using the HPT model in libraries and more research should be performed to determine the suitability of this model for libraries. It should be acknowledged that the model is used to identify weaknesses and any organization using this model will likely uncover areas for improvement.
Practical implications
The HPT model provides a method to identify measurable performance indicators which could be used to set standards of performance for employees. Setting such standards can help achieve and maintain levels of high quality for any library service. This model is particularly useful when employees at one service point may include a combination of student workers, paraprofessionals, and librarians.
Originality/value
The study could identify only one article in the relevant literature addressing the use of the HPT model in a library setting. This paper more broadly introduces HPT to the field of librarianship as an assessment tool.
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This article aims to describe the state of the art of bibliographic identifiers used in digital libraries.
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to describe the state of the art of bibliographic identifiers used in digital libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
A model with seven layers is used to define the scope of the identifiers that exist within the digital library field.
Findings
Based on an analysis of the identifiers a conclusion is drawn that many new identifiers must be developed in order to cater to the growing needs of libraries and other organisations involved with creation and dissemination of publications. Also, traditional identifiers must be modified in order to make them more suitable to the needs of electronic publishing.
Originality/value
A useful overview of the work of international standards bodies in the area of identification of digital objects.
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Narendrasinh Jesangbhai Parmar and Ajith Tom James
The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for the safety performance measurement of belt conveyor systems.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for the safety performance measurement of belt conveyor systems.
Design/methodology/approach
A structural methodology of graph theory and matrix approach is used for developing a framework for safety performance measurement of belt conveyor systems.
Findings
The development of a framework for safety performance measurement of belt conveyor systems is essential for ensuring plant safety. For this, safety performance factors, including design and operating contextual factors of belt conveyor systems, are identified. The factors along with their interrelations are modeled using digraph. An equivalent matrix of the digraph provided safety performance function (SPF) of belt conveyor systems, leading to the development of a safety performance index (SPI).
Practical implications
The developed framework will enable the designers for evaluating and comparing alternative designs of conveyor systems from the safety viewpoint. The plant operators can make inferences from the SPI to identify the weak contextual factors in the plant and develop action plans for its mitigation.
Originality/value
The paper is novel and employs graph theory and matrix approach for safety performance measurement. The methodology helps in the quantitative evaluation of the safety performance of belt conveyor systems.
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Louise Ellison and Patrick Brown
The purpose of the paper is to establish a common framework for measuring and reporting sustainability for commercial property assets.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to establish a common framework for measuring and reporting sustainability for commercial property assets.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a review of a series of benchmarking tools and company reports plus workshop consultation with industry.
Findings
The paper produces an initial list of common metrics for the measurement and monitoring of key sustainability indicators for commercial property. The complexity presented by the heterogeneity of property assets is discussed and suggested means of normalising for particular buildings types is provided.
Research limitations/implications
The research draws largely from desk research of existing tools and company reports. It does not attempt to produce additional reporting methods, rather to draw on and simplify those already in place. The work is largely UK focused.
Practical implications
The work has significant practical implications in that it makes recommendations for a common approach to sustainability reporting at the building level for industry to adopt. This will aid decision making as it will enhance understanding of the sustainability performance of assets relative to their peer group whilst also supporting higher corporate‐level reporting and hence transparency.
Social implications
Greater clarity of reporting for commercial property would be beneficial in reducing the negative impacts of the asset class on the environment and on society.
Originality/value
The paper aims to provide clear guidance in what has become a crowded and complex area. This is of significant value to the sector.
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Saul Carliner, Chantal Castonguay, Emily Sheepy, Ofelia Ribeiro, Hiba Sabri, Chantal Saylor and Andre Valle
This study aims to explore the competencies needed by performance consultants, a particular role identified for training and development professionals. The role was formally named…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the competencies needed by performance consultants, a particular role identified for training and development professionals. The role was formally named and promoted nearly two decades ago. Two ongoing discussions in the field are the competencies needed by training and development professionals and the role of consulting within the field.
Design/methodology/approach
This study identifies the general competencies needed by a performance consultant as reflected in job descriptions for the position. It accomplished this goal by collecting job descriptions for the position from organizations in Canada (the result of a practical arrangement with an organization that would collect the descriptions and remove identifying information before the research team analyzed them), systematically analyzing them using qualitative content analysis techniques and generating a profile of the position, which can be used as a basis for further analysis of the position.
Findings
The job title and competencies sought in the job descriptions differ from those proposed in the literature. Specific areas of difference include the title (none of the job descriptions analyzed explicitly used the title performance consultant), role in needs analysis and client relationships, technology competence (the job descriptions sought little, if any, while the literature suggests broad conceptual knowledge) and qualifications (most job descriptions only require a bachelor’s degree; many training and development professionals have more education).
Research limitations/implications
The profile presented in this paper only represents that used in job descriptions (typically an idealized version) and in a particular national context. But if the results are validated with other methodologies and in other contexts, they suggest that the actual consulting role significantly differs from the one conceptualized in the literature.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that the consultant role conceived in the literature differs from the actual job expected by employers, at least as reflected in job descriptions. Research with incumbents in the job is needed to assess whether the inconsistencies are also reflected in the day-to-day work.
Social implications
Social implications validate the broad concern that trainers have skills and talents to offer organizations that those organizations do not fully utilize.
Originality/value
The paper provides one of the few empirical studies of the job responsibilities of a performance consultant.
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Abstract
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The purpose of the paper is test whether what property companies say they do with respect to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in general and the environment in particular has…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is test whether what property companies say they do with respect to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in general and the environment in particular has an impact on corporate value as expressed by their return on assets (ROA).
Design/methodology/approach
The annual report for any UK‐listed company is a statutory document with its contents prescribed by legislation. This paper is concerned with a comparison of how real estate companies present themselves in their annual reports with their actual performance. To extract that information systematically, word frequency analysis (WFA) was undertaken on the contents of the annual reports of the top 20 UK‐listed property companies by value using a CSR vocabulary of words and phrases. The frequency of each of these was established in each annual report between 2001 and 2010. Two indices were created: a general CSR index based on the occurrence of a CSR vocabulary; and a green index based on the environmental vocabulary. These indices were then modelled against the ROA for each company.
Findings
As expected, ROA is positively related with both indices and is statistically significant in the GREEN equation, suggesting the firms with good performance are likely to invest more in sustainability. The size of firms is positively associated with both indices, indicating larger firms have better defined CSR. Return has a significantly positive coefficient with both indices, suggesting that the “greener” companies outperform others in the stock market.
Originality/value
The research uses new content analysis techniques to identify the relative commitment of property companies to CSR and the environment. The documents analysed are statutory and therefore less likely to be used to present aspiration rather than action. Overall the paper addresses only one aspect of corporate activity and will be best viewed in coordination with other approaches.
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Nolwenn Lapierre, Jean Meunier, Alain St-Arnaud and Jacqueline Rousseau
To face the challenges raised by the high incidence of falls among older adults, the intelligent video-monitoring system (IVS), a fall detection system that respects privacy, was…
Abstract
Purpose
To face the challenges raised by the high incidence of falls among older adults, the intelligent video-monitoring system (IVS), a fall detection system that respects privacy, was developed. Most fall detection systems are tested only in laboratories. The purpose of this paper is to test the IVS in a simulation context (apartment-laboratory), then at home.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is a proof of concept including two phases: a simulation study to test the IVS in an apartment-laboratory (29 scenarios of activities including falls); and a 28-day pre-test at home with two young occupants. The IVS’s sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), accuracy (A) and error rate (E) in the apartment-laboratory were calculated, and functioning at home was documented in a logbook.
Findings
For phase 1, results are: Se =91.67 per cent, Sp =99.02 per cent, A=98.25 per cent, E=1.75. For phase 2, the IVS triggered four false alarms and some technical dysfunctions appeared (e.g. computer screen never turning off) that are easily overcome.
Practical implications
Results show the IVS’s efficacy at automatically detecting falls at home. Potential issues related to future installation in older adults’ homes were identified. This proof of concept led to recommendations about the installation and calibration of a camera-based fall detection system.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the potentialities of a camera-based fall detection system in real-world contexts and supports the use of the IVS to help older adults age in place.
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