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1 – 10 of 25Che Keung Cheung, Shuang Geng, Kong Bieng Chuah, Yiu Chung Chau and Kar Fai Kwong
This paper aims to present the result of the pilot run of a research project which aims at evaluating the applicability of project-based action learning (PAL) to shop floor…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present the result of the pilot run of a research project which aims at evaluating the applicability of project-based action learning (PAL) to shop floor organizational learning (OL) component in a manufacturing company in Dongguan, China. How the PAL framework was introduced and implemented is described. The factors that influence PAL implementation are examined in this pilot implementation. The implications and effectiveness are discussed. The findings shed light on the modifications needed in the PAL framework for shop floor implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a longitudinal case research which is conducted in a case company (APT) located in Dongguan, China. PAL framework was introduced and implemented in APT. A wave-like approach was used to repeat launching PAL projects in cycles. Data of learning and work performances were collected for review during each phase and each cycle of the project. The result presented here is from the early round of the pilot PAL implementation.
Findings
Result indicated that the PAL framework is applicable in the shop floor level OL. Learning and performance have been found to have improved in all the PAL groups participating in the pilot run. Result also shows that the PAL implementation framework needs some fine tuning to meet the needs of the unique shop floor environment particularly with regard to performance measure and evaluation.
Originality/value
No such case study has been conducted in shop floor level before. The research study will be valuable experience and example for other organizations to implement OL in shop floor level.
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Rui Cao, Kong Bieng Chuah, Yiu Chung Chau, Kar Fai Kwong and Mo Yin Law
This paper addresses the importance of a more proactive role of organizational learning (OL) facilitators, learning motivation reinforcer, through a two‐part longitudinal study in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper addresses the importance of a more proactive role of organizational learning (OL) facilitators, learning motivation reinforcer, through a two‐part longitudinal study in a case company. The first part of this study aims to investigate and analyze some unexpected challenges in the project action learning‐driven (PAL) OL implementation in the case company, and the second part seeks to discuss an enhanced role of OL facilitators to cope with the new challenges.
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal case study supplemented with a series of carefully choreographed field research activities, e.g. interviews, on‐site observations, survey tests, was conducted to achieve the research purpose. In the first part of this study, the feedbacks regarding PAL implementation were collected from different PAL stakeholders to identify the problems and barriers that undermined the effectiveness of PAL implementation. In its second part, the proposed facilitator's interventions were introduced in the case company. The results were examined through a controlled group experiment conducted with an on‐going round of PAL implementation.
Findings
The study found that adverse changes in business circumstances and organizational restructurings could dampen staff's motivation toward organization's OL initiatives which would further reduce the OL effectiveness. To redress the situation, a set of facilitator's interventions was developed to reinforce OL members' learning motivation. Study results indicate that the proposed interventions can positively influence the learning motivation of the PAL members in the case company.
Practical implications
This paper describes the difficulties encountered in a real life OL journey and the role OL facilitators could take on to help overcome them. It provides empirical evidence of how the learning motivation and commitment of OL members can be positively influenced by OL facilitation.
Originality/value
The authors believe such longitudinal case based OL research is rare and valuable to OL theorists and practitioners.
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Chung Yim Edward Yiu and Ka Shing Cheung
The repeat sales house price index (HPI) has been widely used to measure house price movements on the assumption that the quality of properties does not change over time. This…
Abstract
Purpose
The repeat sales house price index (HPI) has been widely used to measure house price movements on the assumption that the quality of properties does not change over time. This study aims to develop a novel improvement-value adjusted repeat sales (IVARS) HPI to remedy the bias owing to the constant-quality assumption.
Design/methodology/approach
This study compares the performance of the IVARS model with the traditional hedonic price model and the repeat sales model by using half a million repeated sales pairs of housing transactions in the Auckland Region of New Zealand, and by a simulation approach.
Findings
The results demonstrate that using the information on improvement values from mass appraisal can significantly mitigate the time-varying attribute bias. Simulation analysis further reveals that if the improvement work done is not considered, the repeat sales HPI may be overestimated by 2.7% per annum. The more quality enhancement a property has, the more likely it is that the property will be resold.
Practical implications
This novel index may have the potential to enable the inclusion of home condition reporting in property value assessments prior to listing open market sales.
Originality/value
The novel IVARS index can help gauge house price movements with housing quality changes.
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Kwong Wing Chau, Siu Kei Wong and Chung Yim Yiu
In Hong Kong, a balcony is often perceived as a “green” provision in modern residential buildings. However, how the market values the benefits of balconies is seldom studied due…
Abstract
In Hong Kong, a balcony is often perceived as a “green” provision in modern residential buildings. However, how the market values the benefits of balconies is seldom studied due to the difficulty in separating such benefits from other associated effects such as view enjoyment and security concerns. This paper attempts to study the implicit value of a balcony, the green effects of balconies on the prices of residential properties, and the effect of security concerns on balconies situated on lower floors. A sample of transactions in a private housing estate in Hong Kong has been studied. The sample contains apartments with and without balconies. A balcony is found to have a positive effect on the value of a property irrespective of the quality of the view. The negative effects of air and noise pollution on property prices are also found to be highly significant. Although security concerns are found on the low stories of a building, the provision of a balcony does not aggravate the hazard. Finally, the log‐linearity assumption in the empirical price model is relaxed by applying the Box‐Cox transformation to the continuous variables.
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Edwin Chan, Chung Yim Yiu, Andrew Baldwin and Grace Lee
After the outbreak of the disease of “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)” in Asia in 2003, a healthy living environment is a major concern. The purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
After the outbreak of the disease of “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)” in Asia in 2003, a healthy living environment is a major concern. The purpose of this paper is to study the value of healthy building parameters by the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), which gives a direct appraisal of the occupants' value.
Design/methodology/approach
Healthy building parameters were identified in previous studies. Questionnaires are distributed to residents of a large‐scale high‐rise private housing estate in Hong Kong to find out their willingness to pay (WTP) for individual healthy building parameters.
Findings
The results suggest that most residents are willing to pay for healthy building parameters, each with a different value.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is limited to studying the eight identified building parameters for healthy buildings. The sample of the study is confined in a private housing estate only and all the occupants are middle class citizens of Hong Kong. The results of the study can be further validated by carrying out similar research with the support of the government or quasi‐government bodies to cover a larger sample size for a better return rate.
Practical implications
The findings have practical implications on cost‐and‐benefit analysis of housing design.
Originality/value
Housing price is commonly regarded as the total value of a bundle of housing quality and environmental characteristics. The implicit price of individual quality and characteristic is often identified by the hedonic pricing model. However, its validity depends on a lot of econometric assumptions. The study is the first to be conducted after the outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong to gauge the opinions of residents on health/economy issues
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Daniel Chi‐wing Ho, Yung Yau, Siu‐kei Wong, Alex King‐chung Cheung, Kwong‐wing Chau and Hing‐fung Leung
There has been a growing public concern over the importance of building management in apartment buildings. However, people's views toward the effects of building management on…
Abstract
Purpose
There has been a growing public concern over the importance of building management in apartment buildings. However, people's views toward the effects of building management on building performance have long been divergent due to a lack of empirical study. This study aims to empirically test the relationship between building management regimes and the conditions of private apartment buildings in Hong Kong.
Design/methodology/approach
An assessment scheme was developed to assess the health and safety conditions of 134 apartment buildings. Multiple regression models were then applied to analyze the effect of building management regimes on building conditions. The optimal functional form of the regression models was selected using Box‐Cox transformation.
Findings
The empirical results suggested that the presence of incorporated owners and property management agents (PMA) are significant factors in enhancing building conditions.
Research limitations/implications
The sample was confined to single block buildings located in one particular district in Hong Kong. Further research is needed to validate the findings in estate‐type developments as well as those in other districts.
Practical implications
The empirical results assisted building owners in determining which management regimes to adopt should they want better building conditions. The government may also consider giving more support to owners by incorporating them and employing PMAs to create a pleasant living environment for society.
Originality/value
Our study is the first in the literature to provide an empirical test reconciling the divergent views toward the effects of building management with the conditions of buildings.
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The purpose of this paper to identify the asymmetric effect of real interest rate on housing return.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper to identify the asymmetric effect of real interest rate on housing return.
Design/methodology/approach
It tests empirically the impacts of positive and negative real interest rate on housing return in Hong Kong by time series regression analyses on series from 1984Q1 to 2009Q2, keeping other macroeconomic factors constant.
Findings
It shows that negative real interest rate imposes a much stronger, negative and significant effect on housing return than a positive one.
Research limitations/implications
The results imply that the two housing bubbles in Hong Kong could be largely explained by the negative real interest rate. Although it is theoretically sound, empirical evidence on this asymmetric effect of real interest rate on housing return has seldom been found, because negative real interest rate is very rare in other countries in the past.
Practical implications
It provides a good signal for housing bubbles in the future and helps understand the underlying causes of housing bubbles.
Originality/value
The currency board arrangement in Hong Kong enables the first empirical study on this issue.
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Maoliang Bu, Shuwen Zhai, Jie Zhang and Wenping Zheng
The central debate on pollution havens concerns whether the level of environmental regulation in developing countries influences foreign investment location decisions. Most…
Abstract
The central debate on pollution havens concerns whether the level of environmental regulation in developing countries influences foreign investment location decisions. Most empirical studies are based on aggregate data, while micro-level evidence is relatively lacking in the literature. To fill this research gap, this paper tests for the existence of intracountry pollution havens in China by estimating the determinants of foreign investment flows based on a large firm-level panel dataset. Evidence from this study supports the existence of pollution havens within China in certain industries. However, the sensitivity of foreign investment to environmental regulation varies significantly across industries with different pollution characteristics. Furthermore, when the impact of government subsidies on foreign investment is accounted for, the results show that subsidies can compensate for pollution treatment costs in provinces with stricter environmental regulation.
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Eddie C.M. Hui, Joe T.Y. Wong and Janice K.M. Wan
The long‐standing urban decay problem in Hong Kong continues to receive attention from the government and concerned organisations. However, little attention is paid to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The long‐standing urban decay problem in Hong Kong continues to receive attention from the government and concerned organisations. However, little attention is paid to the financial benefits that can be achieved after old buildings are rehabilitated. This study seeks to evaluate and quantify the value enhancement of aging buildings resulting from rehabilitation.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the direct sales comparison method, the study critically examines over 80 sample buildings across Hong Kong. Residential properties with rehabilitation completed in the public sector are chosen as samples for numerical analysis.
Findings
The results show that: the capital value of the sample buildings after rehabilitation increased by an average of 35.6 percent; the overall appreciation rate of the sample buildings (35.6 percent) exceeds that of other buildings in the same district (20.8 percent); the average price increase of the sample buildings (25.7 percent after adjustment) is greater than that of Type B (40‐69.9 square meters) buildings (18.9 percent) in Hong Kong; positive growth in transaction volume is evidenced from the sample buildings in four districts; and, on average, the benefit to cost ratio of rehabilitation per unit is 10.9 and the net benefit per square foot is HK$461.4 (or US$59.2).
Research limitations/implications
There are potential risks of error arising from the use of assumptions, price adjustments, limited sample size and data from the secondary source.
Practical implications
The analysis is of relevance in confirming the value enhancement arising from rehabilitation and the findings provide a motive for the industry and public for rehabilitation.
Originality/value
The significance of this study is the quantification of the positive effect of rehabilitation.
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Wadu Mesthrige Jayantha and Olugbenga Timo Oladinrin
Hedonic price modeling (HPM) plays an important role in identifying factors affecting the price of goods or services. Many researchers have extensively used this modeling approach…
Abstract
Purpose
Hedonic price modeling (HPM) plays an important role in identifying factors affecting the price of goods or services. Many researchers have extensively used this modeling approach in their research work. However, there has been no bibliometric review that analyses the existing research, which makes use of HPM modeling. This study aims to provide a comprehensive visualized bibliometric and scientometric view of HPM usage in real estate research.
Design/methodology/approach
The Scopus database was used to collect the bibliographic data of 269 publications from 1970 to 2019. CiteSpace software was then used to analyze and visualize the data.
Findings
The results revealed a significant increase in the annual number of HPM study publications. Core authors, participating countries and representative references have been identified. Research hotspots for the HPM studies were identified.
Originality/value
While the study provides a methodological bibliometric review of HPM literature, the findings provide a very good platform for understanding the important elements of HPM usage in real estate research.
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