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An accurate estimation of project costs is always a great challenge for a construction company, particularly when there is a commitment with the owner to achieve a project at a given price. It is thus essential to develop technical and logistic solutions (TLS) ensuring a good organisation and improving the productivity. These improvements are not yet well assessed because relevant models are not available at the right time. This paper presents a new approach for assessing productivity by using an analytical cost model and indicators widely used to measure the site productivity. A case study is described to validate the cost and indicator model. They can be used in a decision making process consisting of a comparative study of different TLS in order to select, in a predicted term, the TLS ensuring the best productivity. A decision support system for generating different alternatives to be compared is currently under development.

This study investigates the short-run and long-run impacts of agricultural credit on Vietnam's agricultural GDP over the period 2004:Q4–2016:Q4, with the incorporation of agricultural labor, public investment and rainfall as important determinants of agricultural GDP.

This study applies the indicator saturation (IS) break tests and the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test with structural breaks to examine the credit–agricultural performance nexus. The causal relationships among variables are explored through the Toda–Yamamoto Granger causality test.

The results indicate that agricultural credit positively influences agricultural GDP in both the short-run and long-run. A unidirectional causal relationship running from credit to agricultural GDP is confirmed. The results also discover the positive and significant effects of labor and rainfall on agricultural GDP in the long-run.

The results imply that the government should focus on expanding agricultural credit as well as enhancing the efficiency of agricultural credit. Furthermore, formal credit institutions should be encouraged to work closely with farmers and agricultural enterprises to offer flexible lending periods and amounts to meet the real situation of agricultural production.

This study is the first to examine the credit–agricultural performance relationship at the macro-level in Vietnam. Based on the empirical results, the study provides crucial implications for policymakers to optimize the effectiveness of agricultural credit and enhance nationwide agricultural performance.

The paper aims to apply Buckingham Pi dimensional analysis method for assessing direct evaporative cooler performance with a cooling pad made of banana midrib and ramie fiber. The saturation efficiency acted as the indicator performance of the evaporative cooler.

The paper describes an experimental study of the direct evaporative cooler with a cooling pad made of banana midrib and rami fiber. There were six parameters in the experiment: absorbed water as a dependent variable was affected by independent parameters such as air velocity and temperature, cooling pad cross-section area and thickness. Based on these variables, we arranged three dimensionless numbers and their correlation.

The paper provides three calculated dimensionless numbers plotted on a curve with a specific correlation. The curve trends for 30 mm and 50 mm pad thickness were almost similar. The range of Reynolds number for 10 mm pad was narrower than other pad thicknesses. The thicker the cooling pad, the more extensive was the calculated Reynolds number range. A new curve exhibited the relationship between the evaporation rate with the μA/t number. The broader cooling pad cross-section, the thinner pad thickness, and the lower pad temperature were factors that increased the evaporation rate, even though the increase was less significant.

A new material in cooling pad from banana midrib fiber was tested and compared to ramie fiber and conventional cooling pad.

The study aims to explore the case study method with the formation of questions, data collection procedures and analysis, followed by how and on which position the saturation is achieved in developing a centralized Shariah governance framework for Islamic banks in Bangladesh.

Using purposive and snowball sampling procedures, data have been collected from 17 respondents who are working in the central bank and Islamic banks of Bangladesh through face-to-face and semi-structured interviews.

The study claims that researchers can form the research questions by using “what” question mark in qualitative research. Besides, the qualitative research and case study could explore the answers of “what” questions along with the “why” and “how” more broadly, descriptively and extensively about a phenomenon. Similarly, saturation can be considered attaining the ultimate point of data collection by the researchers without adding anything in the databank. Overall, this study proposes three stages of saturation: First, information redundancy. Second, referring the respondents (already considered in the study) without knowing anything about the data collection and their responses. Third, through the NVivo open coding process due to the decrease of reference or quotes in a certain position or in the saturation position as a result of fewer outcomes or insufficient information. The saturation is thus achieved in the diversified positions, i.e. three respondents for regulatory, nine for Shariah scholars and officers and five for the experts concerning the responses and respondents.

The study has potential implications on the qualitative research method, including the case study, saturation process and points, NVivo analysis and qualitative questions formation.

This research defines a case study with the inclusion of “what” and illustrates the saturation process in diverse positions. The qualitative research questions can also be formed with “what” in addition “why” and “how”.

The purpose of this paper is to derive the relationship between color schemes and emotion to serve for designers and consumers.

The three attributes of hue, brightness and saturation of the selected sample color are analyzed, and the Semantic Differential (SD) method is used for the emotional evaluation of color schemes, and data obtained from the emotional evaluation of color schemes is analyzed by using Excel software for mean statistics and SPSS software for factor analysis and cluster analysis.

From the results of the factor analysis, three main factors that affect the feeling of the color scheme can be extracted: “personality”, “gender” and “fashion”. Color emotions can be achieved by changing the level of color saturation and brightness, the cold and warmth of the hue and the way of color combination.

Since it takes a long time to fill out the questionnaire, the number of valid questionnaires collected is a little less and the research data is limited. In addition, some problems are not taken into account such as geography and so on, so the results of the statistical analysis are not very precise and further research is needed.

It can provide information of emotional color schemes for designers and consumers, and based on the SD method, an emotional color matching questionnaire is designed and statistical analysis is conducted to establish the relationship between emotion and color schemes.

Based on the fashion color sample and color harmony theory, the color matching rules and color matching schemes are designed independently.

Qualitative researchers have been criticised for not justifying sample size decisions in their research. This short paper addresses the issue of which sample sizes are appropriate and valid within different approaches to qualitative research.

The sparse literature on sample sizes in qualitative research is reviewed and discussed. This examination is informed by the personal experience of the author in terms of assessing, as an editor, reviewer comments as they relate to sample size in qualitative research. Also, the discussion is informed by the author’s own experience of undertaking commercial and academic qualitative research over the last 31 years.

In qualitative research, the determination of sample size is contextual and partially dependent upon the scientific paradigm under which investigation is taking place. For example, qualitative research which is oriented towards positivism, will require larger samples than in-depth qualitative research does, so that a representative picture of the whole population under review can be gained. Nonetheless, the paper also concludes that sample sizes involving one single case can be highly informative and meaningful as demonstrated in examples from management and medical research. Unique examples of research using a single sample or case but involving new areas or findings that are potentially highly relevant, can be worthy of publication. Theoretical saturation can also be useful as a guide in designing qualitative research, with practical research illustrating that samples of 12 may be cases where data saturation occurs among a relatively homogeneous population.

Sample sizes as low as one can be justified. Researchers and reviewers may find the discussion in this paper to be a useful guide to determining and critiquing sample size in qualitative research.

Sample size in qualitative research is always mentioned by reviewers of qualitative papers but discussion tends to be simplistic and relatively uninformed. The current paper draws attention to how sample sizes, at both ends of the size continuum, can be justified by researchers. This will also aid reviewers in their making of comments about the appropriateness of sample sizes in qualitative research.

The selection of lime mortars for masonry structures can be an important component of a repair or new build project. This selection is considered difficult due to the number of variables to consider during the decision‐making process and the perceived inherent complexity of the materials. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the selection process for determining suitable natural hydraulic lime repair mortars for masonry.

The paper presents a conceptual and practical framework for the determination of suitable lime mortars for repair and construction of masonry structures, drawing and building on relevant, literature and existing best practice guidance on specification.

The use of various relatively newly produced data sets pertaining to durability can aid in the appropriate selection of lime mortars. These determinants must however, be correlated with traditional evaluation of exposure levels, building detailing and moisture handling performance. Building condition survey of the existing fabric is essential to enable refinement of the selection process of these mortars. The adjustment of the initially identified mortars highlighted in the best practice guide may potentially benefit from modification based on the aforementioned factors.

Whilst data exist to help the practitioner select hydraulic lime mortars they have never been correlated with the tacit and expressed protocols for survey and the evaluation of the performance of structures.

The purpose of this paper is to uncover the relationship between flows and real estate investment at open-ended real estate funds (OEREFs).

The study employs fixed-effects panel regressions, relying on data from the Hungarian fund managers’ trade association. First, the effect of lagged flows on allocation to real estate is assessed. Second, the paper studies how this relationship changes as the cyclical position of CRE market advances using two proxies.

Flows are found to affect funds’ real estate holdings if they occurred 12–18 months earlier. Inflows (outflows) in the preceding six months demonstrably lower (increase) funds’ real estate holdings ratio. Beyond this relationship, findings do not suggest that less funds are channelled to real estate as “CRE heat” intensifies.

In an environment marked by strong cash inflows, the investment lag can translate into a significant drop in funds’ exposure to real estate. The share of real estate at Hungarian funds in the sample, for example, fell from 79 to 50 per cent on average over the period of 2011–2017. Measures designed to limit inflows are in the interest of those existing investors who wish to avoid a dilution of the core investment strategy.

The paper adds to the literature on OEREFs which has been particularly scarce on liquidity transformation during non-crisis times and on non-German funds.

Studies of entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) have become increasingly common, informed usually by Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Although the TPB postulates that beliefs determine EIs, the contents of the beliefs have not been properly studied, leaving EIs’ cognitive underpinnings and cognitive approaches to influencing EIs unclear. To clarify the TPB/EI-belief nexus, the study examines the conceptual background of entrepreneurial cognitions and elicits the beliefs of a group of nascent micro entrepreneurs (NMEs) to compare them with their TPB attitudes and EIs, facilitating assessing their mutual consistency as implied by the TBP.

The respondents are entrepreneurial novice clients of a micro business advisory organisation. Their TPB attitudes and EIs were measured using standard TPB/EI methods. Comparative causal mapping (CCM) combined with semi-structured interviewing was used to reveal the NMEs’ typical belief systems, presented as aggregated cause maps.

The NMEs have uniform, relatively detailed belief systems about entrepreneurship and micro business. The belief systems are consistent with theory- and context-based expectations and logically aligned with the NMEs’ expressed TPB attitudes and EIs. CCM provides an accessible method for studying contents of entrepreneurial cognitions.

It was not possible to study “entrepreneurship-negative” respondents or the intensity or origins of some specific beliefs.

Diagnosing and better understanding beliefs can benefit entrepreneurship education and development, in general or connected with TPB/EI studies.

The study reveals entrepreneurial belief systems systematically, evidently not done before generally or in terms of “everyday” micro entrepreneurship or TPB. It clarifies and supports the TPB notion that beliefs underpin actors’ attitudes and intentions.