Search results
1 – 10 of over 1000Martin Sexton, Jack Goulding, Xiaonan Zhang, Mike Kagioglou, Ghassan Aouad, Rachel Cooper and Peter Barrett
The purpose of this paper is to identify interdependent barriers to the search and selection of new technologies by design engineers at industry, organisation and individual…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify interdependent barriers to the search and selection of new technologies by design engineers at industry, organisation and individual levels. A “proof of concept” HyCon tool is presented to demonstrate the role of information technology design support tools in supporting designers to overcome these inhibitors, in this case for hybrid concrete, by providing immersive and interactive, information‐rich environments to explore design solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
The HyCon tool was developed through a prototyping methodology encompassing a testing, analysis, design and coding iterative cycle. This was supported by case studies and industry workshops.
Findings
The results of a collaborative research project are presented, which describes the HyCon design support tool to promote the understanding and use of hybrid concrete in structural frames. This tool is built around a knowledge creation, application, storage, and retrieval cycle to envision and support the use of this new technology.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an identified need to integrate technology management and design process considerations within the context of an information technology design support tool, and offers a “proof of concept” HyCon tool to demonstrate key issues and potential utilities and applications.
Details
Keywords
After shining the guiding light on virtually every major reengineering project undertaken in the last three years, the consulting industry finds itself managing some change and…
Abstract
After shining the guiding light on virtually every major reengineering project undertaken in the last three years, the consulting industry finds itself managing some change and growth of its own. It's occurring on three fronts in particular—the consultant's need to integrate business consulting with information technology system (IT) design, the increasingly global nature of clients' businesses, and what many call the commoditization of basic reengineering.
Joni Salminen, João M. Santos, Soon-gyo Jung and Bernard J. Jansen
The “what is beautiful is good” (WIBIG) effect implies that observers tend to perceive physically attractive people in a positive light. The authors investigate how the WIBIG…
Abstract
Purpose
The “what is beautiful is good” (WIBIG) effect implies that observers tend to perceive physically attractive people in a positive light. The authors investigate how the WIBIG effect applies to user personas, measuring designers' perceptions and task performance when employing user personas for the design of information technology (IT) solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
In a user experiment, the authors tested six different personas with 235 participants that were asked to develop remote work solutions based on their interaction with a fictitious user persona.
Findings
The findings showed that a user persona's perceived attractiveness was positively correlated with other perceptions of the persona. The personas' completeness, credibility, empathy, likability and usefulness increased with attractiveness. More attractive personas were also perceived as more agreeable, emotionally stable, extraverted and open, and the participants spent more time engaging with personas they perceived attractive. A linguistic analysis indicated that the IT solutions created for more attractive user personas demonstrated a higher degree of affect, but for the most part, task outputs did not vary by the personas' perceived attractiveness.
Research limitations/implications
The WIBIG effect applies when designing IT solutions with user personas, but its effect on task outputs appears limited. The perceived attractiveness of a user persona can impact how designers interact with and engage with the persona, which can influence the quality or the type of the IT solutions created based on the persona. Also, the findings point to the need to incorporate hedonic qualities into the persona creation process. For example, there may be contexts where it is helpful that the personas be attractive; there may be contexts where the attractiveness of the personas is unimportant or even a distraction.
Practical implications
The findings point to the need to incorporate hedonic qualities into the persona creation process. For example, there may be contexts where it is helpful that the personas be attractive; there may be contexts where the attractiveness of the personas is unimportant or even a distraction.
Originality/value
Because personas are created to closely resemble real people, the authors might expect the WIBIG effect to apply. The WIBIG effect might lead decision makers to favor more attractive personas when designing IT solutions. However, despite its potential relevance for decision making with personas, as far as the authors know, no prior study has investigated whether the WIBIG effect extends to the context of personas. Overall, it is important to understand how human factors apply to IT system design with personas, so that the personas can be created to minimize potentially detrimental effects as much as possible.
Details
Keywords
To highlight the IT skills shortage in Britain and examine ways of combating it.
Abstract
Purpose
To highlight the IT skills shortage in Britain and examine ways of combating it.
Design/methodology/approach
Presents the advantages of carrying out a training needs analysis, psychological and skill‐based tests to identify an employee's current ability and willingness to embrace the training programme, and the advantages that blended learning can offer over other training methods.
Findings
Too many organizations rely on recruiting skilled IT people from outside, rather than cultivating the IT skills of their own employees. Highlights the advantages of the latter approach and suggests that blended learning can be a useful solution.
Originality/value
Argues the case for IT training as an ongoing part of an organization's operations, rather than a panic reaction to an immediate skill shortage.
Details
Keywords
Hamilton Standard dates back to 1919 when the Standard Steel Propeller Company was formed in Pittsburgh, Pa. Standard Steel is best known for the propeller it designed and built…
Abstract
Hamilton Standard dates back to 1919 when the Standard Steel Propeller Company was formed in Pittsburgh, Pa. Standard Steel is best known for the propeller it designed and built for Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis.
Rhoden Partners has won a design award for the automated assembly machine for linear bearing cages which it designed and manufactured for Firsteel Metal Products. Anna Kochan…
Adebukola E. Oyewunmi and Robert Ebo Hinson
This paper examines the dark side of mentoring, its far-reaching effects and organizational interventions for navigating it.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the dark side of mentoring, its far-reaching effects and organizational interventions for navigating it.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature review and narrative analysis are adopted to achieve the objective of the paper.
Findings
Review of extant literature highlights the multiple consequences of the dark side of mentoring. Recommendations include specialized training interventions, period appraisals of formal mentoring arrangements, zero-tolerance ethical frameworks and employee assistance programmers.
Originality/value
A substantive portion of literature on mentoring has lauded its benefits for career progression and competitive advantage. This viewpoint explores its limitations and liabilities in an organization.
Details
Keywords
This chapter aims to explore the Shari’ah governance rules applied in the Malaysian Islamic banking arena and the effect of Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 on it.
Abstract
Purpose
This chapter aims to explore the Shari’ah governance rules applied in the Malaysian Islamic banking arena and the effect of Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 on it.
Design/Methodology/Approach
This is a legal exploratory study primarily focused on library research.
Findings
Shari’ah governance is a concept that has been developed and applied gradually in Malaysia and the new Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 has taken it to the next level. However, this does not mean that it has resolved the problems in Shari’ah governance that existed before the enactment of the act.
Originality/Value
Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 is a new statute that repealed Islamic Banking Act 1983. As such, not many have reviewed this new piece of legislation. This chapter will give insight into the evolution of Shari’ah governance as part of corporate governance of Islamic banks in Malaysia and will help explain the most recent developments in this arena along with the challenges.
Details
Keywords
At Haier, one of the world’s largest suppliers of kitchen appliances, an initiative successfully transformed a culinary innovation into a novel ?ecosystem brand? ? a rapidly…
Abstract
Purpose
At Haier, one of the world’s largest suppliers of kitchen appliances, an initiative successfully transformed a culinary innovation into a novel ?ecosystem brand? ? a rapidly emerging economic model that is disrupting industries from entertainment and electronics to aviation and IT.
Design Methodology Approach
In addition to attracting and engaging users/ customers and employees, the brand must now be effective with a third stakeholder group: ecosystem partners.
Findings
Without a brand that attracts ecosystem partners an ecosystem will not exist.
Practical Implications
Ecosystems use a variety of mechanisms and processes to encourage adherence to a consistent brand.
Originality Value
Because ecosystem companies can continuously customize their offering by configuring the individual value of ecosystem partners in new ways they can compete. in a new way
This paper discusses two recent studies of mental health professionals who have experience of mental distress, one in the USA and one in Australia. The purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper discusses two recent studies of mental health professionals who have experience of mental distress, one in the USA and one in Australia. The purpose of this paper is to highlight different experiences, first of largely concealing their experience, and second of disclosing and using it.
Design/methodology/approach
The Australian study examined the barriers experienced by mental health professionals, including trainees, in relation to seeking help. The USA study reported on a sample of mental health professionals who were doing well, including leaders of services, despite current or past mental distress.
Findings
Both studies included more psychologists than other mental health professionals. Australian mental health professionals reported similar fears and barriers to those found in other studies, in addition to concern about their colleagues’ duty to report impairment to the regulating body. Professionals in the USA-based study were described as potentially helpful in reducing stigma about mental distress because their achievements demonstrated that recovery is possible. However, many of them were also cautious about who they disclosed to, and wanted further reduction in stigma and discrimination.
Originality/value
The Australian study highlighted specifically that the requirement to report impairment to the regulator deterred people from disclosing distress at work, making it less likely that they would get help. The USA-based study was ground-breaking in documenting achievements of a substantial sample of mental health professionals with experience of mental distress. Potentially more professionals being “out and proud” might help increase recovery and social inclusion for service users more generally.
Details