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Article
Publication date: 11 July 2024

Nawaf AlGhanem and John Mendy

Despite some academic recognition that leadership is particularly significant in reshaping the oil and gas industry’s contributions to global economic development and the…

Abstract

Purpose

Despite some academic recognition that leadership is particularly significant in reshaping the oil and gas industry’s contributions to global economic development and the sustainability of global energy supplies at affordable prices (Sharma et al., 2022), the attendant problem of how the industry’s leadership contributes towards the preservation of global environment and the maintenance of ecosystems’ balance, among other sustainability challenges, remains an academic lag. This calls for the urgent need for oil and gas companies to practice effective sustainable leadership approach at multiple organisational levels to address global environmental, economic and social challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts an interpretivist/constructivist philosophical stance, where findings have been extracted from in-depth thick descriptive qualitative research in Bahrain oil and gas industry. Companies operating within Bahrain oil and gas industry were identified as the unit of analysis. Empirical data are gathered through semi-structured interviews from senior management and analysed using thematic analysis. This paper is structured as follows: introduction, contextualisation of the UNSDGs in the oil and gas industry, literature on network leadership, research methods used to gather and analyse data from Bahrain oil and gas industry findings, contributions, limitations and trajectories for further studies.

Findings

The study’s participants argued that the emergence of transformational and Sustainable Network Leadership is essential to successfully and sustainably implementing the UN SDGs. In other words, the Sustainable Network Leadership is a contribution to the single, leadership competences approach of previous scholarship (Weber et al., 2022; Kumalo and Scheepers, 2021) partly because it evolves around the notion of positioning different network and change actors based on their capacity to lead, exchange their knowledge, effectively communicate the need to comply with SDGs and the skills to establish high density within a complex network of actors.

Research limitations/implications

This study recognises its limitations in the sense that it is based on the single context of Bahrain oil and gas, and data were collected from senior management and executives only. Gathering data from a broader swathe of employees may have provided greater levels of leadership and organisational member nuances in both single and collective differences of leadership attributes.

Practical implications

Transformational and Sustainable Network Leadership provides a new construct in the perception (the “what”), instrumentalisation (the “how”) and theoretical re-conceptualisation of leadership within organisational change settings needing radical rethink for sustainable and successful change. The practical implications of transformational and Sustainable Network Leadership expose the way a variety of highly challenged organisational change contexts are interconnected to highlight not only their different sets of challenges but also their opportunities and the resolution mechanisms they present for organisational leaders and staff alike.

Originality/value

This paper identified the single, leadership competence approach as the dominant discourse in organisational change, leadership studies and presented an alternative collective set of leaders’ attributes. The less utilised network leadership concept was drawn upon to contribute network leadership attributes as a way of addressing the challenges faced by Bahraini oil and gas company leaders. Therefore, this study contributes to both network leadership, transformational leadership by expanding both domains to include organisational transformation and the leadership-of-risky change. This was done by identifying attributes and characteristics of Sustainable Network Leadership, then showing their significance as an approach to successfully and sustainably implementing the UNSDGs.

Details

Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0953-4814

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 June 2024

Layin Wang, Rongfang Huang and Xiaoyu Li

China is a large country with different regions due to regional differences and project characteristics, and the selection of prefabricated building technology according to local…

Abstract

Purpose

China is a large country with different regions due to regional differences and project characteristics, and the selection of prefabricated building technology according to local conditions is the key to its sustainable development in China. The purpose of this paper is to develop the suitability evaluation system of prefabricated building technology from the perspective of the suitability concept and to analyze the selection path of prefabricated building technology and to provide a reference for selecting and developing prefabricated building technology schemes that meet regional endowments.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on relevant literature, technical specifications, and standards, this paper constructs an index system for analyzing the technical suitability of prefabricated buildings. It includes 23 indicators, 7 dimensions, and 3 aspects through the semantic clustering method. Following this, the comprehensive weight of each index is determined using the order relation method (G1) and the continuous ordered weighted averaging (COWA). The selection of technical schemes is comprehensively evaluated using Visekriterjumska Optimizacija Ikompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method.

Findings

 (1) The technical suitability of prefabricated buildings is influenced by 7 core factors, such as adaptability of resources and environment, project planning and design level, and economic benefit; (2) When selecting the appropriate technology for prefabricated buildings, economic suitability should be considered first, followed by regional suitability, and then technical characteristic; (3) The prefabricated building technology suitability evaluation model constructed in this paper has high feasibility in the technical suitability selection of the example project.

Research limitations/implications

The comprehensive evaluation model of prefabricated building technology suitability constructed in this paper provides technical selection support for the promotion and development of prefabricated buildings in different regions. In addition, the model can also be widely used in areas related to prefabricated building consulting and decision-making, and provides theoretical support for subsequent research.

Practical implications

This study provides a new decision support tool for prefabricated building technology suitability selection, which helps decision makers to make more rational technology choices.

Social implications

This study has a positive impact on the advancement of prefabricated building technology, the improvement of construction industry standards, and the promotion of sustainable development.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is twofold: (1) Theoretically, this paper provides technical evaluation indicators and guidelines for provincial and regional governments to cultivate model cities, plan industrial bases, etc. (2) In practice, it offers project-level appropriate technology system solutions for the technology application of assemblers in various regions.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 1950

A.L. GARDNER

Introduction THE problem of communication of ideas and results between scientists of different native languages is not new. For many centuries a solution to the problem was found…

Abstract

Introduction THE problem of communication of ideas and results between scientists of different native languages is not new. For many centuries a solution to the problem was found in the use of Latin as the international language of the Church and of the educated classes, but this solution vanished with the passing of Latin as the language of scientists. Since that time there has been an enormous growth and ramification of science and technology, with a corresponding increase in the volume of scientific and technical publication. As the papers of value to the scientist are published in any one of a number of languages, there has been an increasing demand for the services of technical translators; for the scientist cannot afford to ignore foreign work on his subject, and he cannot as a rule read all the languages in which that work is published.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 6 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1949

E.W. PARKER

In the following notes the term ‘Correspondence’ has been broadly interpreted, to cover all the occasional and incidental sources of unpublished information which may be of…

Abstract

In the following notes the term ‘Correspondence’ has been broadly interpreted, to cover all the occasional and incidental sources of unpublished information which may be of service to the technical department of an organization. No attempt has been made to cover such material as laboratory notes, research reports and the like, since these fall normally within the scope of technical records, with which this session is not primarily concerned.

Details

Aslib Proceedings, vol. 1 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0001-253X

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1981

Dorothy Griffiths

The problem of how to weight technical expertise is familiar to anyone concerned with the design and implementation of company job evaluation schemes, and nowhere is this problem…

Abstract

The problem of how to weight technical expertise is familiar to anyone concerned with the design and implementation of company job evaluation schemes, and nowhere is this problem more acute than in Research and Development (R & D) departments. Here, typically, there are large numbers of highly qualified technical specialists who both deserve and demand promotion on the basis of their technical contribution. Yet, because technical staff have relatively few of the kind of responsibilities which carry high weighting on most job evaluation schemes, they rarely warrant higher grading on conventional criteria. And where they are promoted, their excellence as scientists wins them promotion into research management. In a recent study conducted by the author, concerning the reasons why R&D staff in a large UK company sought posts elsewhere in the organisation, the belief that promotion was easier to get outside R&D was one of the most important factors. A dual ladder system may offer a partial solution to this problem. By a dual ladder is meant the establishment of two parallel hierarchies within R & D: a management ladder and a ladder for technical specialists. The two ladders carry different responsibilities but equivalent rewards and status. In theory, at least, a distinction is made between responsibility for resources, located on the management ladder, and responsibility for technical merit, located on the technical ladder.

Details

Personnel Review, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0048-3486

Article
Publication date: 15 February 2008

A. MacLennan

The purpose of this paper is to list and demonstrate areas in which research needs to be carried out, or questions answered, in order to raise the quality of technical education.

1117

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to list and demonstrate areas in which research needs to be carried out, or questions answered, in order to raise the quality of technical education.

Design/methodology/approach

The area of technical education expanded very rapidly in the late 1950s, and there was little comprehensive knowledge regarding the philosophy and practice. Areas of technical education that needed research included: how far does success in a school subject such as English or mathematics correlate with success in a technical subject? For how many and which courses at technical colleges does a student need to have more or less than average intelligence? What techniques can be used to fill any gaps existing in a student's knowledge before he embarks on a technical course? Are all students to receive the same industrial experiences (e.g. operating machines, bench work, drawing office, etc.)?

Findings

The paper lists six main areas in which research into technical education needs to be carried out: selection for courses; variety within classes; co‐ordination with industry; teaching methods; libraries; and technical education as a subject.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the first to suggest that educational research had been hitherto neglected, and that there is a need for research to be carried out into the relatively new area of technical education. The paper lists areas of technical education which need to be investigated in order to raise the quality of the field.

Details

Education + Training, vol. 50 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0040-0912

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 April 2010

Hung‐Fan Chang

The purpose of this study is the analysis of innovation in technology‐intensive industry strategy, by applying scenario analysis (SA) to master the development of the market…

3864

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the analysis of innovation in technology‐intensive industry strategy, by applying scenario analysis (SA) to master the development of the market information and competitive environment. This study will utilize the technical development of the Sony video tape recorder (VTR) as a case study, and then provide more adequate decision information on the technical development strategy (TDS) planning process.

Design/methodology/approach

Scenario analysis (SA) strategy assessment model will construct a future technical development model based on current data. The forecasting model of the cycle period is applied to future market technical innovation. Therefore, applying SA in this study can effectively connect historical information to the analysis of technology development.

Findings

This study used the Sony VTR TDS as a case study that provides a strategy assessment model in a technology‐intensive industry for technical development strategy planning as the basis of decision‐making to aid technical forecasting. Result found that the R&D department is the core lifeline for the development of a company, and TDS is affected by the orientation of customer demand with impact on the development of TLC to form the cycle period of uncertainty.

Originality/value

This model applied the properties of TDS assessment to grasp the development trend in the market, and it can enable the R&D department to integrate technical push and market demands pull. In turn, this results in a gain in the competitive edge for technical innovation through a combination of strategies and regulations.

Details

Business Strategy Series, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-5637

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 February 2008

A.E. Howard

This paper aims to examine technical education in various types of secondary schools, and suggests three levels of technical courses to be taught in secondary schools.

1825

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine technical education in various types of secondary schools, and suggests three levels of technical courses to be taught in secondary schools.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the differences between technical schools and colleges, and vocational technical courses taught in “academic” secondary schools; it recognizes that technical schools also attract students of a high academic quality. With a wider range of abilities, there need to be courses offered in secondary technical schools that suit a range of levels. Three technical courses are suggested here, which are aimed at the different levels of education parallel to secondary schools – for the potential craftsman, for the potential technician, and for the potential technologist.

Findings

It is suggested that great care must be taken to ensure that the vocational subjects develop naturally from more general academic studies – the aim of the courses outlined in this paper is to provide a fundamental general education alongside an understanding of vocational studies. The course for the potential craftsman takes the student towards suitable City and Guilds certificates, and involves some designated time for industrial visits. The course for the potential technician aims for four “O” level subjects in the General Certificate of Education (GCE), and the course for the potential technologist aims for pupils to gain two subjects at “A” level.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a hierarchy of technical courses for integration into secondary schools in the 1950s.

Details

Education + Training, vol. 50 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0040-0912

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 8 August 2017

Sangjun Jeong

This paper explores the pattern of technical change in the Korean economy from 1970 to 2013 and investigates its determinants. We use the Classical growth-distribution schedule to…

Abstract

This paper explores the pattern of technical change in the Korean economy from 1970 to 2013 and investigates its determinants. We use the Classical growth-distribution schedule to show that the labor-saving and capital-using pattern has predominated. For the rationale behind this Marx-biased technical change, we focus on the relationship between technical change and real wage growth via the evolution of labor and capital productivity, and verify the historical direction of technical change against the rise and fall of the working class. Furthermore, we find that the deviation during the post-crisis period from the long-run trend of Marx-biased technical change is not attributable to the vitality of new technological innovations, but rather the reflection of class dynamics over extracting productivity under weaker capital deepening. The results suggest that the recent deterioration of labor share and labor unions in Korea is closely associated with low incentive for technological progress, which contributes to prolonged stagnation.

Details

Return of Marxian Macro-Dynamics in East Asia
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-477-4

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 6 July 2004

Ornella Wanda Maietta and Vania Sena

This paper analyses the mechanisms through which profit-sharing schemes may induce debt constrained firms to improve technical efficiency over time to guarantee positive profits…

Abstract

This paper analyses the mechanisms through which profit-sharing schemes may induce debt constrained firms to improve technical efficiency over time to guarantee positive profits. This hypothesis is first formalised in a partial equilibrium framework and then is tested on a sample of Italian traditional and cooperative firms. Technical efficiency change indexes are computed by DEA. These are regressed on a measure of finance constraints to analyse their impact on firms’ efficiency growth. The results support the hypothesis that a restriction in the availability of financial resources can affect positively the growth in efficiency in firms with profit-sharing schemes.

Details

Employee Participation, Firm Performance and Survival
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-0-76231-114-9

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