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Reports on the development of system engineering methods specifically for use in the manufacturing environment. Discusses a three stage method, involving: analysis of current methods, definition of requirements, and evaluation of solutions, as well as a framework based on the method. States that these developments are directed towards the production of a modular specification method for manufacturing method systems and further research will address the issue of manufacturing integration.

Reports on a conference staged to bring together all parties concerned with the specification, analysis, design and operation of manufacturing systems. Identifies a business objective approach, an “integration quotient”, and support in terms of computer‐aided software engineering as key issues. Concludes that: available systems methods can be of significant use, although further research is needed to establish the role of methods in manufacturing systems engineering, particularly in the field of integration.

Reports on the background to research into the use of structured methods in the manufacturing domain. Discusses the systems techniques available – SSADM, LBMS, CCTA – and methods such as MASCOT, YSM, and IDEF. Surmises that while use of the above techniques is profitable a number of criticisms can be made: jargon, over‐rigourousness, and neglect of the factory environment the system will become a part of.

This article proposes a conceptual basis upon which to address strategic design as business intellectual capital.

A literature review was carried out on the subjects of strategic design and intellectual capital.

A conceptual basis is derived from the theoretical proposal that strategic design is an intangible, critical factor, which favors organizational competitiveness, when it impacts the betterment of organizational and intellectual capital processes.

On the level of business practice, this article submits a broadened view of design, which may be applied to organizational strategic processes and which transcends its emphasis in the production of goods or services.

In previous literature, strategic design has not been addressed as intellectual capital, which supports the resolution of strategic problems.

The purpose of this article is to suggest that doctoral student socialization is a gendered process.

This article uses a qualitative case study methodology, studying engineering students in one university department.

The author considers how various norms and practices, including competition and hierarchy along with overt objectification of women, point to the masculine nature of the discipline.

Although stage models of socialization are helpful in that they provide an outline of students’ various tasks as they progress through their doctoral programs, they can account neither for the culture of disciplines nor for the identities of students who populate them. The author suggests that students in engineering are prepared to embrace competition and hierarchy, norms that point to a gendered disciplinary culture. Although, certainly, particular interests will lead students to pursue different majors, the discipline serves to reinforce culture.

The purpose of the research is to develop a conceptual framework to anticipate the vulnerability of value of commercial properties towards changing risk of flooding. The existing patterns, themes, and issues associated with property value and their vulnerability towards flooding were identified and used to inform the development of the conceptual model.

Literature review is performed to identify the factors affecting vulnerability of commercial property values to the impact of flood risk in the UK. The review approach was based on related literature contributing to identified themes and sub-themes. The extant literature is summarized into two distinct themes of “vulnerability” and “value” contributing to changing risk of flooding. The synthesised literature is then utilized in developing the conceptual map which further paved the way towards designing the conceptual framework.

The generic conceptual framework presented explores the interaction between different internal and external influencing factors affecting the vulnerability of value of commercial property system. The framework highlighted the importance of space and time within the system. An extensive review of previous studies in both the residential and commercial sectors for different disaster studies reveals that the main research challenge in assessing the vulnerability of property values are the intensive data requirements. The need for data is considered to be the main restrictive factor resulting in lack of empirical studies in this field.

This study brings together two existing research domains of flood vulnerability and property value. Practitioners and researchers will find this study useful in developing an improved understanding of the vulnerability of commercial properties to flooding. The conceptual framework is an important outcome of the research which will encourage further research in this considerably neglected field.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the lived experiences of workplace ill-treatment of administrative and technical staff in the higher education sector, with a particular focus on organisational response.

A qualitative interpretative phenomenological research design was employed. Using non-random, purposive sampling strategies nine self-selecting participants from three of the seven universities in the Republic of Ireland were interviewed in person. Data were analysed thematically employing the Pietkiewicz and Smith’s (2012) four-stage data analysis model.

Thematic analysis yielded four main themes: micro-political nature of bullying, cynicism about the informal response, the formal procedures exacerbate the problem and significant and adverse health impact. Participant narratives engender the lived experience for the reader.

As participants were self-selecting respondent bias is acknowledged.

The findings of this study add to the accumulating evidence that organisations are failing to address workplace bullying.

In failing to protect employees, the adverse health difficulties experienced by targets of bullying are further exacerbated.

While the literature yields much in terms of types of behaviours and impact, and argues for anti bullying policies and procedures in the workplace, what is evident is the selective organisational use of policy and procedures and inherent biases in place which expose a reluctance to effectively protect dignity and respect in the workplace.

The purpose of this study was to assess particular student outcomes when design thinking was integrated into an environmental engineering course. The literature is increasingly promoting design thinking for addressing societal and environmental sustainability engineering challenges. Design thinking is a human-centered approach that identifies needs upfront.

In an undergraduate engineering course, Design for the Environment, students have begun to obtain hands-on experience in applying design thinking to sustainability challenges. This case study investigates the association between the use of design thinking and student creativity with sustainability design solutions. Student perspectives on their own creativity and future sustainable design practices as a result of the course were also investigated.

The findings were favorable for design thinking, being associated with a significant difference and medium-to-large effect with regards to solution novelty. A qualitative analysis showed a positive association between design thinking and students’ perceptions of their creativity and future anticipated sustainability practices. Using a content analysis of reflective writings, students’ application of design thinking was assessed for comprehensiveness and correctness. A two-week introductory design-thinking module and significant use of in-class active learning were the course elements that most notably impacted students’ use of design thinking.

This case study preliminarily demonstrates that application of design thinking within an environmental engineering course may be associated with beneficial outcomes related to creativity and sustainability.

A review of the literature did not uncover studies of the use of design thinking for undergraduate socio-environmental challenges to promote creativity and sustainable-practices outcomes, although the literature has been calling for the marrying of these two areas.

Austin Industries, Inc., and Wyatt Cafeterias Inc., have “bet the ranch” on employee ownership. Through stock ownership plans and participative management, employees at the two Texas‐based companies are playing a more direct role in the decisions that increase productivity and profitability.

The purpose of this paper is to provide awareness of various copyright concerns that may arise by the usage of web 2.0 technology and some answers to possible concerns.

The paper looks at web 2.0 technology which is currently used in libraries against a backdrop of the US Copyright statute, CONTU guidelines, and copyright concerns mentioned in library literature and law reviews.

For libraries to build a community of users, they will need to make their services more interactive. Interactive services increase the chance of patrons violating copyright law. Copyright guidelines need to be developed to assist the patron in avoiding copyright infringement.

This paper looks at library services, such as RSS feeds, wikis, social networking, tagging, and patron reviews, and explores the legal ramifications to making these services more interactive.