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Compiled by K.G.B. Bakewell covering the following journals published by MCB University Press: Facilities Volumes 8‐17; Journal of Property Investment & Finance Volumes 8‐17; Property Management Volumes 8‐17; Structural Survey Volumes 8‐17.

Public involvement is essential in the creation of effective local strategies for the development of a sustainable built environment, yet there has been little research on stakeholder motivation and engagement in the creation of infrastructure-project value, in the entire life cycle of a given project, while different markets show that overlooking stakeholders can negatively affect the success of an infrastructure project. The purpose of this paper is to fill the theory-practice gap that has been discerned, and thus study how early public involvement determines the success of an infrastructure project, which is identified with its value creation (effectiveness, sustainability and utility).

This research entails a combination of methods. A case study analysis allowed observation of the role the stakeholders play and of how the relationships, perspectives, expectations and risks, along with other soft issues, continue to affect projects. The case study required comprehensive examination of project documentation and conduction of interviews. To collect data, focused group interviews and semi-structured interviews were used, supported with direct questionnaire surveys.

The study provides evidence that early public engagement can contribute to infrastructure-project value (effectiveness, sustainability and utility). Practically speaking, the stakeholder analysis performed allowed proposal of a general stakeholder analysis framework for infrastructure projects. It can be implemented at each investment phase of the project life cycle, since stakeholders and their motivation may develop and/or change over time, which necessitates development of proper managerial strategies. The findings highlight the opportunities and the challenges faced by stakeholder management.

The limitation of this study derives from the fact that the sample size was small, which was necessary for an in-depth qualitative research and application of the case study method. The observations were made on a selected case study, within a limited period of time, thus the context of the analysis as well as the stakeholder perception was subject to possible change. The research limitations concern the provisional nature of the information obtained, the cross-sectional nature of the analysis itself, and, finally, the inability to predict all future events. Ultimately, stakeholder mapping was performed for the operational phase of the investment exclusively, while the analysis was limited to identification and classification of the stakeholders, including their relationship with the project.

The research conclusions provide useful input for future research on development of effective strategies for management of the shareholders that are related to a given infrastructure project, in order to achieve project success. Simultaneously, from a property perspective, the research has contributed to a better understanding of the importance of infrastructure, on the part of real estate stakeholders.

Application of the approach proposed in the study may contribute to early development and implementation of appropriate trust-building processes. The building of relationships between stakeholders enables checks and balances, promotes short- and long-term project benefits, and increases the value of a project.

The novelty of the research consists in the connection, as part of infrastructure projects, of the theory of consumption values and the concept of an investment cycle with the framework of stakeholder analysis.

The adoption of several basic financial management practices is examined for a group of New York dairy farms. The study provides estimates of the extent to which various business analysis and control, investment analysis and decision making, and capital acquisition practices have been adopted. Many practices, such as net present value analysis, are not widely adopted by farmers. The relationship between the adoption of financial management practices and farm profitability is also examined. Results suggest that the adoption of financial management practices, such as using investment analysis techniques, significantly impacts farm financial performance.

The purpose of this study is to examine how financial analysts deal with cybersecurity information in their investment analysis process and whether they find cybersecurity disclosures in companies’ financial reports useful.

Investment managers/financial analysts and chief information security officers (CISOs) at seven institutional investors were interviewed.

Not all financial analysts consider cybersecurity risk in their investment analyses. Those who do look at company strategy, how the company integrates cybersecurity into its processes and whether it has certified its cybersecurity information. The financial analysts use this qualitative information to adjust the results of their quantitative analysis. They do not find boilerplate or cursory cybersecurity information in financial reports to be useful. In fact, they view it as unreliable and prefer drawing on other information sources to assess the company’s cybersecurity risk.

The results of this study highlight to securities regulators that reported cybersecurity information is of limited usefulness. Regulators are challenged to revisit their disclosure requirements. Companies wishing to improve the usefulness of their cybersecurity information should provide more company-specific information.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to look at financial analysts’ perception of cybersecurity-related information. It complements findings from prior market studies by adding new insights into the way influential market participants deal with this information in their investment analysis process.

In recent years it has been often claimed that quality is one of most critical success factors for organizations. Managers introduced quality‐based programmes – such as total quality management – assuming that performances would improve. However, many quality‐based initiatives failed. There are several reasons that could explain the failure of quality‐based strategies in a number of firms; suggests two causes: the lack of effective decisional tools for evaluating the most effective investment(s) among a set of potential programmes; and the lack of specific goals to be assigned to each investment in order to monitor the actual results of the programmes on time. In small firms these problems are greater because of the limited availability of financial and managerial resources which make more difficult the identification of the most effective decisional solutions. Identifies a conceptual framework aimed at supporting the choice of most effective models for evaluating quality‐related investments in small firms, particularly an approach which balances different decisional needs such as completeness, urgency of evaluation, measurability of output and structural characteristics.

Briefly describes the nature and importance of capital investments and why managers of all functional areas should understand the basics of analysis. Reviews conceptual issues. Develops important perspectives for corporate leaders, managers and analysts. Provides practical guidelines for analysis. Furnishes a useful format for analysis easily adaptable to spreadsheet analysis. Illustrates techniques of analysis using a sample capital project. Interprets the results in a common‐sense manner and in terms of the contribution of the project to shareholder value. Addresses issues at a level appropriate for each professional manager regardless of their area of expertise and functional assignment.

The study invites seminal investigation on potential of investment returns in professional sports leagues. In line with scope of research, the analysis of this study brings into focus the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and franchises pertinent to Pakistan Super League (PSL) for investment appraisal and returns analysis.

The methodical aspect of research deals with financial ratios and sensitivity analysis capturing the potential of returns on investment for target sample of study.

The investment appraisal substantiates the significance of potential returns on sports projects. The returns of investment reports sluggish seasonal returns during initial phase of PSL; however, return on investment (ROI) optimized with the maturity and further capitalization of Pakistan Supper League in more concentrated competitive environment. Sensitivity analysis proves variability of returns with changes in growth prospect of franchises.

The study provides important working knowledge for existing and potential new investors and sports boards to consider the financial investment feasibility through customized investment models and relative orientations of promotion of sports, new talent hunting and re-fabricating the structure of sports in line with new age.

The efficacy of research is ensured through empirical verification of data obtained from reliable sources, and the novelty of research comes from investment appraisal and analysis of growing sports league familiarized as Pakistan Super League. The research approach and target sample are quite unique in context of sports leagues literature.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are arguably one of the CEOs greatest challenges, and there is a critical need to get these decisions right. It is clear that no single theory is adequate to describe or inform how M&A are evaluated in uncertain conditions, but there are several that offer partial explanations or at least contribute toward our understanding of how managers can deal with the uncertain environment and assess the likely risks associated with M&A. The literature suggests how relevant theories might be aggregated to make sense of strategic investment decision and investment appraisal techniques in an organizational context and considers the implications for further research in this important area of M&A. This chapter focuses on strategic investment appraisal, and draws together a variety of theoretical perspectives, especially from the field of psychology, which may be unfamiliar to both scholars in and practitioners.

The purpose of this paper is to get hold of the main influence factors of the investment efficiency of environmental governance and control them to improve its efficiency sensitively and employ full use of the investment of environmental governance.

The assessment index system of the investment efficiency of environmental governance is built. Its investment efficiency is assessed based on data envelopment analysis (DEA). The influence degree on the efficiency between each assessment index is calculated by the grey incidence degree analysis method to find the key influence factors. The efficiency of the investment in the environmental governance can be improved by managing and controlling the key factors.

The results prove that it is available by the data of 14 cities in Shandong Province in 2008. The key influence factors of the investment efficiency of the environmental governance are: total investment in the treatment of environmental pollution (F₁); industrial soot removal (F₃); industrial wastewater meeting discharge standards (F₂); and the volume of garbage disposal (F₉).

The method exposed in the paper can be used to solve investment efficiency problem of the environmental governance of the other provinces, or other years and even other countries.

The paper succeeds in solving investment efficiency problem of the environmental governance by DEA and grey incidence degree analysis method.