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Article
Publication date: 27 November 2019

Kay Emblen-Perry

This paper aims to present a novel pedagogical approach to education for sustainability within the business curriculum that adopts a sustainability audit of a fictional company…

700

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a novel pedagogical approach to education for sustainability within the business curriculum that adopts a sustainability audit of a fictional company presented as a case study as the focus of learning, teaching and assessment. It evaluates the user’s ability to provide the active learning called for in education for sustainability literature and hands-on learning that business management students prefer.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explores students’ qualitative and quantitative responses to pre- and post-module surveys and module evaluations to establish the effectiveness of focussing learning, teaching and assessment on a sustainability audit. The study, undertaken over a two-year period, adopts four indicators of learning and teaching effectiveness to synthesise, evaluate and present the findings as follows: development of sustainability knowledge and skill, employment skills, career and life skills and engagement.

Findings

The study finds that a sustainability audit can develop students’ knowledge and skills in all four indicators of learning and teaching effectiveness. In addition, the findings suggest it can raise students’ learning awareness and recognition of their role in the learning process.

Research limitations/implications

This paper reports the findings of a small scale, two-year study. As such, it presents indicative findings rather than generalised conclusions.

Practical implications

Designing a pedagogical approach to education for sustainability within the business curriculum around the completion of a sustainability audit can offer hands-on learning experiences that meet students’ preferences for interactive, experiential and collaborative learning within real-world environments, employers’ demands for employment-ready graduates and educators’ hopes for sustainability advocates.

Originality/value

This study builds on the existing pedagogic discourse of pedagogic means and methods for education for sustainability within the business curriculum. It provides insight into effective hands-on education for sustainability within the business curriculum and offers experience-based guidance to educators seeking to develop immersive, active and experiential, real-world pedagogical approaches.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 20 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 January 2022

Sarah McGrew and Ira Chinoy

College students need more support learning to effectively search for and evaluate online information. Without such skills, students are vulnerable to mis- and disinformation that…

801

Abstract

Purpose

College students need more support learning to effectively search for and evaluate online information. Without such skills, students are vulnerable to mis- and disinformation that may appear in their search results, Web browsing and social media feeds. This study investigated four short instructional modules four short instructional modules that were developed to be delivered asynchronously to teach effective approaches to online search and evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study analyzed pre- and post-tests that students in two journalism courses completed before and after the modules. A total of 29 students completed written versions of the pre- and post-tests and 8 students participated in interviews in which they thought aloud while completing the pre- and post-tests. Written and oral responses were analyzed to understand students’ search and evaluation strategies and how, if at all, these shifted from pre- to post-test.

Findings

From pre- to post-test, students showed evidence of using strategies that were introduced in the modules to search for and evaluate online content. On the post-test, more students engaged in lateral reading to evaluate unfamiliar websites, used search operators and tools and more critically evaluated elements of the search engine results page.

Originality/value

This study provides initial, positive evidence for the efficacy of embedding short, asynchronous modules in college courses to improve students’ approaches to online searches and evaluations. College students need such support and modules like the ones investigated in this study may be one way to provide it.

Details

Information and Learning Sciences, vol. 123 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5348

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 January 2009

Wei Pan and Alistair G.F. Gibb

Offsite is one of the main innovative techniques employed in the contemporary UK construction sector. Building maintenance accounts for over 5 percent of the UK's gross domestic…

1720

Abstract

Purpose

Offsite is one of the main innovative techniques employed in the contemporary UK construction sector. Building maintenance accounts for over 5 percent of the UK's gross domestic product of which bathrooms are regarded as a critical area, with potential high risks and defects. However, the importance of its maintenance has been largely underestimated and research into this area appears to be limited. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating the maintenance performance of offsite and in situ bathrooms for student accommodation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines 732 maintenance records over three years of 216 precast concrete modules, 84 Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) modules and 96 traditionally‐built in situ bathrooms.

Findings

The research found that offsite modules outperformed in situ bathrooms in terms of maintenance. GRP modules created the least maintenance problems, compared to precast modules and in situ bathrooms. The maintenance of in situ bathrooms was more complex than offsite modules, and involved more diverse problematic areas. The main causes of the problems included inappropriate design; poor build workmanship, lack of quality of component materials and improper usage by occupants. This supports a parallel study that found that the costs associated with maintenance were significantly higher for in situ bathrooms than for the equivalent offsite solutions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to understanding the problems of offsite bathroom modules requiring maintenance in comparison with in situ bathrooms and their possible causes. Key aspects of offsite bathrooms including drainage, toilets, vents and sinks should be improved. Quality of component materials used for in situ bathrooms should be ensured. These improvements can only be achieved through better design for maintenance with clients' aspiration embodied. The findings should assist in design decision making of selecting bathrooms for residential buildings. However, a balanced approach, taking into account other factors for such selection, is open for future investigation.

Originality/value

The framework of strategies developed should improve the innovative design of bathrooms manufactured offsite and help maintain them for better lifecycle performance.

Details

Construction Innovation, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 March 2017

Debalina Sengupta, Yinlun Huang, Cliff I. Davidson, Thomas F. Edgar, Mario R. Eden and Mahmoud M. El-Halwagi

Sustainable manufacturing may be defined as the creation of manufactured products that use processes that are non-polluting, conserve energy and natural resources, and are…

Abstract

Purpose

Sustainable manufacturing may be defined as the creation of manufactured products that use processes that are non-polluting, conserve energy and natural resources, and are economically sound and safe for employees, communities and consumers. Recently, there have been several industrial and governmental endeavors to launch sustainable manufacturing initiatives. To support such initiatives and to prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers, academic institutions have a responsibility to introduce educational programs and tools in the area of sustainable manufacturing. The purpose of this paper is to report on the approach, progress and contributions of a US National Science Foundation-sponsored project titled: “The Sustainable Manufacturing Advances in Research and Technology Coordination Network (SMART CN)”.

Design/methodology/approach

The project aims to bridge the gap between the academic knowledge discovery and industrial technology innovation for sustainable manufacturing. Toward this goal, various research and educational activities have been undertaken to introduce Sustainable Manufacturing Case Studies for use by academic instructors to a diverse group of undergraduate, graduate and industry professionals.

Findings

In this paper, the need for education on sustainable manufacturing has been focused upon, followed by approaches toward addressing these needs, concluding with examples of case studies developed through the SMART-CN project framework.

Originality/value

This work provides the engineering community with structured modules for introducing the topic of sustainable manufacturing in the curriculum.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 November 2009

Yong Lin, Li Zhou, Yongjiang Shi and Shihua Ma

The purpose of this paper is aimed at understanding and identifying the context, capability requirements, and configurations (3Cs) of modular supply networks in the Chinese…

2558

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is aimed at understanding and identifying the context, capability requirements, and configurations (3Cs) of modular supply networks in the Chinese automotive industry.

Design/methodology/approach

In an attempt to specify the main elements of modular supply networks, a case study and 3C framework approach analyze different network contexts. The framework considers not only the capabilities of product design, production, inbound logistics, and information sharing, but also the configuration of the role structure, process structure, and information structure that helps achieve these capabilities.

Findings

This paper analyzes two types of modular supply network, directly reflecting the degrees of involvement in the modularity logic of the module supplier and the automaker, which largely depend on their corporate strategy toward technology innovation. In a fully integrated module supply network, the module supplier needs sufficient capability for upstream supply network integration and modularization, whereas in the partly integrated module supply network, a third‐party logistics provider plays an important role with regard to production capability.

Research limitations/implications

This paper investigates four modules. The practical tools for configuring the modular supply network can be specified in more detail in further research.

Originality/value

The 3C framework described herein contributes to theory in the fields of supply chain management and modularity, and it assists in further expanding the theory of SCM.

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 20 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 1979

R.E. Owen

The Department of Business and Management Studies at Dewsbury and Batley Technical and Art College is perhaps an average‐sized department in an averaged‐sized college. It has a…

Abstract

The Department of Business and Management Studies at Dewsbury and Batley Technical and Art College is perhaps an average‐sized department in an averaged‐sized college. It has a history of recruiting between 20 and 25 students a year on the former Certificate in Office Studies (COS) full‐time course, with a slightly less number on the day release and evening course. With the appointment of a new Head of Department in January 1978, and the prospect of Business Education Council General level courses replacing COS courses from September 1978, the opportunity was taken to investigate the needs of local industry and to examine the structure and content of future courses to be offered at that level. This article describes how it was carried out, with particular regard to the full‐time Diploma course for the Business Studies Board, and how it has progressed. The case‐study can conveniently be divided into five stages:

Details

Education + Training, vol. 21 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0040-0912

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2005

Keizo Sato, Akira Ohtaguro, Makoto Nakashima and Tetsuro ITO

A method for improving the retrieval effectiveness of a search engine by employing a website directory, e.g., Yahoo! Japan directory or Google directory, as a concept dictionary…

Abstract

A method for improving the retrieval effectiveness of a search engine by employing a website directory, e.g., Yahoo! Japan directory or Google directory, as a concept dictionary is proposed. A user can examine the results of a search engine from the top rank as usual except that he/she is assisted by a suggestion about which webpages are worthy of examination. To make a suggestion the conceptual closeness of an unexamined webpage to a query or to each of the webpages that a user has been interested in is calculated via a website directory. The proposed method was evaluated on the search results of Japanese Excite.

Details

International Journal of Web Information Systems, vol. 1 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1744-0084

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 June 2017

Manda Broekhuis, Marjolein van Offenbeek and Monique Eissens-van der Laan

The purpose of this paper is to explore how functional and appropriateness arguments influence the adoption of modularity principles during the design of a professional service…

1021

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how functional and appropriateness arguments influence the adoption of modularity principles during the design of a professional service architecture.

Design/methodology/approach

Action design research was conducted to examine the design process of a modular service architecture for specialised elderly care by a multi-professional group. Data collection methods included, partly participatory, observations of the interactions between professionals during the design process, interviews and document analysis. Data analysis focussed on the emerging design choices and the arguments underlying them.

Findings

A wide range of both functional and appropriateness considerations were enlisted during the design process. The three core modularity principles were adapted to varying degrees. In terms of the design outcome, the interdependencies between the modularity principles necessitated two trade-offs in the modular design. A third trade-off occurred between modularity and the need for professional inference where services were characterised by uncertainty. Appropriateness was achieved through the professionals reframing and translating the abstract modularity concept to reconcile the concept’s functionality with their professional norms, values and established practices.

Originality/value

The study adds to service modularity theory by formulating three trade-offs that are required in translating the core modularity principles into a functional set of design choices for a multi-professional service environment. Moreover, the inherent intertwinedness of the core modularity principles in professional services requires an iterative design process. Finally, the authors saw that the ambiguity present in the service modularity concept can be used to develop a design that is deemed appropriate by professionals.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 37 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 May 2023

Andrew Ebekozien and Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa

The dynamic nature of the built environment and trending smart construction project complexities demand proactive needs tailored towards architecture, engineering and construction…

Abstract

Purpose

The dynamic nature of the built environment and trending smart construction project complexities demand proactive needs tailored towards architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) education. It is a task for the built environment professionals (BEP) to prepare for the future, including the quantity surveying (QS) profession. Studies are scarce in preparing QS education from Nigeria’s stakeholders’ perspective regarding digital technology. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate how to improve QS education by continually updating curriculum digitalisation to meet the construction industry requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were sourced from elite virtual interviews across Nigeria. A total of 40 key stakeholders knowledgeable in QS education, advocating a future template for the advancement of QS education in higher institutions, were engaged, and saturation was achieved.

Findings

Findings show that improving QS education through continually updating curriculum digitalisation to meet industry requirements cannot be over-emphasised in the 21st-century-built environment industry. The outcomes of the results led to the conclusion that the current QS education curriculum was not meeting the expectations of other BEP stakeholders. Thus, for competitiveness in the future, the QS education curriculum needs to infuse more related-digital technology modules/courses to assist in the sustainability and relevance of the profession within the BEP.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focussed on improving Nigeria’s QS education using digital technologies via a qualitative approach. Future study is needed via a quantitative approach for broader coverage and validation.

Practical implications

The research revealed the need for designing QS programmes to provide for industry demands with emphasis on digital technologies modules/courses. Nigeria’s QS education stakeholders have been stirred up to embrace the curriculum review and make the profession digitalised and relevant within the BEP. The built environment sector is trending towards digitalisation, and the QS programmes cannot afford to be behind.

Originality/value

This research identified the current gap regarding digitalisation of the curriculum. This study will stir QS educational providers and regulators to improve future programmes via digital technologies. It would encourage the use of digital technologies with the right enabling environment. The outcome would mitigate the gap and improve Nigeria’s QS education in the future.

Details

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology , vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1726-0531

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 April 2019

Ida Gremyr, Aku Valtakoski and Lars Witell

This study aims to investigate service modularization in a manufacturing firm, identifies service modularization processes and examines how these processes change the service…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate service modularization in a manufacturing firm, identifies service modularization processes and examines how these processes change the service module characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a longitudinal case study (2008-2017) of a manufacturing firm. The development of six service modules was analyzed using data from interviews with key informants, informal meetings and internal documentation.

Findings

This study suggests five service modularization processes, and that service module characteristics, such as standardization and interconnectedness, change in different ways depending on the service modularization processes used. It further identifies two service modularization routes that each combine the service modularization processes in unique ways with replication as a key process to improve both standardization and customization.

Practical implications

This study elaborates a framework for service modularization, which can serve as a guideline for developing service modules. It also highlights the differences between product and service modularization, suggesting that the role of service module characteristics such as standardization and customization is specific for services.

Originality/value

This longitudinal case study (2008-2017) provides empirical evidence on service modularization and extends existing knowledge on service modularization processes and how they influence service module characteristics.

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