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Haiti was struck by a heavy earthquake in 2010 and international aid poured into the country. News reports in 2011 were not very positive about the results of post-disaster reconstruction: “The relief efforts are only putting Haiti on life-support instead of evolving into the next stage of development”. One of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in Haiti was Cordaid, implementing a ‘transitional shelter strategy’ to support the transformation of neigh-bourhoods from a state of life-support into a state of self-sustaining development. The strategy was implemented in both a rural and an urban area. The main feature of the strategy was the provision of structures that could be adapted from simple shelters to permanent houses. Since the results of the strategy were mixed and ambiguous, a comparative case study was conducted to evaluate the shelter strategy in both areas. The objective was to draw lessons about what has to be taken into account when formulating future urban shelter strategies. The case study is discussed in this article. The main finding from the case study is that producing the intended number of shelters within the financial and time budgets that were set (efficiency), was more difficult in the urban area than in the rural area. But the conditions for linking relief and development (effectiveness) are more favourable in the urban context. NGOs may achieve long-term (effective) results in the urban context when a lower efficiency can be justified. That is why NGOs need to engage in a debate about the extent to which they are able to focus on long-term shelter or housing strategies. The important element in the debate is communication with the donors who are often focused on short-term relief measures. However urban areas cannot be rebuilt with only short-term interventions. The link between relief and development has to be made by a process-orientated approach focusing on capacities of local participants.

In previous research publications the authors combined the available knowledge about obsolescence in a conceptual model for further research on and appliance in the decision making about demolition. Since evidence-based theoretical research references on obsolescence are rare, the model inevitably had an explorative character. The purpose of this paper is to test and elaborate the model.

A series of case studies were conducted in various residential building estates. In each estate the types of obsolescence (according to the model) and their interrelationships were identified.

The model can usefully be applied; it enables the determination of types of obsolescence. The case studies also show that several types of obsolescence occur simultaneously, and that these types can be interrelated. This touches upon the complexity of cause-effect mechanisms as already mentioned in the introduction. One of the weaknesses is that information is sometimes available for only one point in time, and that the availability of information varies with the type of obsolescence.

The study is based on a limited selection of case studies. Further, the causal relationships between the types of obsolescence could not always be revealed.

The current model does not distinguish between causes and effects. For further development of the model, cause-effect processes have to be further analysed.

Actual measurement of the extent of obsolescence per type is not part of this study, but has to be carried out before social implications can adequately be indicated.

The paper presents a conceptual classification of obsolescence that turns out to be workable when tested in practice.

Devotes the entire journal issue to managing human behaviour in US industries, with examples drawn from the airline industry, trading industry, publishing industry, metal products industry, motor vehicle and parts industry, information technology industry, food industry, the airline industry in a turbulent environment, the automotive sales industry, and specialist retailing industry. Outlines the main features of each industry and the environment in which it is operating. Provides examples, insights and quotes from Chief Executive Officers, managers and employees on their organization’s recipe for success. Mentions the effect technology has had in some industries. Talks about skilled and semi‐skilled workers, worker empowerment and the formation of teams. Addresses also the issue of change and the training that is required to deal with it in different industry sectors. Discusses remuneration packages and incentives offered to motivate employees. Notes the importance of customers in the face of increased competition. Extracts from each industry sector the various human resource practices that companies employ to manage their employees effectively ‐ revealing that there is a wide diversity in approach and what is right for one industry sector would not work in another. Offers some advice for managers, but, overall, fails to summarize what constitutes effective means of managing human behaviour.

In this research, we investigate the effect of high-performance work practices (HPWPs) on medical professionals' work outcomes through the mediating effect of perceived organizational support (POS).

The study analyzes the opinions of 218 medical doctors from private hospitals in Bangladesh, employing Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).

We find that HPWPs enhance employee performance and POS and minimize turnover intention. POS also has a substantial influence on both employee performance and turnover intention. Moreover, POS finds a significant mediating effect on HPWPs and performance as well as HPWPs and turnover intention relations.

The current research focuses on medical doctors who are presently working in private hospitals in Bangladesh.

First, the hospital would recognize the role of employee perceived HPWPs. Second, they might understand how HPWPs would utilize and maintain employees effectively via POS that might further improve the healthcare industry. Suggestions for future research indicate the models potential to provide optimal workplace environments that can benefit organizations as well as improve employee performance.

The study would provide a unique insight into the higher-order HPWPs system and its effects on the health care organizations in developing country contexts like Bangladesh. This study also extends the research on POS as a mediator between higher-order HPWPs and employee outcomes in the organization.

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the level at which total quality management (TQM) practices have been implemented in a mining company in Ghana.

The study was undertaken over a six month period and the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 60 employees. The topics for the questions were on senior management commitment to quality, total quality training, customer driven information, and availability of quality data, TQM methods, and supplier involvement. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate percentage distributions and to determine the level of TQM implementation.

The paper reveals that the company has passed through the introductory stage of the TQM training of top and middle level management and is now at the point of transferring the knowledge to the rest of the employees in the company.

The findings present for the first time TQM implementation in the mining industry in Ghana. The study should be of value to managers who are interested in a comprehensive approach to achieving organizational excellence.