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Article
Publication date: 7 March 2023

Samuel Soledayo Babatola

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the perceptions of food business operators (FBOs) in Kirklees Council in relation to the importance of official food inspection…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the perceptions of food business operators (FBOs) in Kirklees Council in relation to the importance of official food inspection of food premises, performed by the local authority.

Design/methodology/approach

A semi-structured questionnaire was developed to survey the opinions of FBOs in Kirklees Council in relation to the significance and consistency of official food control. The business types included were retailers, commercial restaurants, schools, care homes, pub, bars and cafes.

Findings

Based on the total of 236 respondents, the results show that 45.8% of the respondents opined that official food control has considerably improved their food hygiene practices and that official inspection is their only source of information about the latest food safety legislation. Moreover, another 168(71.2%) believed that the instructions given by the inspectors are clear and easily understandable. However, some respondents, especially the small and medium-sized businesses believed that remedying noncompliance caused them financial burden. In addition, significant positive correlations exist between the bigger FBOs and high frequencies of negotiating noncompliance with the inspectors due to the high cost of capital that will be needed to remedy the spotted noncompliance by an officer during control (Kruskal–Wallis r = 0.034, p < 0.003).

Research limitations/implications

As with most studies, it is important to borne in mind that the design of the current study is subject to limitations and these limitations could be addressed in future research. The self-reported data collection employed in this study is limited by the fact that it rarely can be independently verified. In other words, the self-reported data used in this study might be subject to (1) selective memory: respondents might remember or not able to remember all the details of the inspections that occurred at some point in the past, however, inspections are often documented, and businesses usually have a copy of every inspection reports. (2) exaggeration: respondents might over or underrepresent outcomes of inspections and (3) attribution: respondents might attribute positive events and outcomes to their own agency but attribute negative events and outcomes to external forces. Nonetheless, the strength of this study lies in its large sample size and high response rate which makes it easier to assess the representativeness of the sample and to generalise the results.

Originality/value

The behaviour of the FBOs towards food control and the opinion of the FBOs about food safety may have an important effect on the organisation of official food control in Kirklees Council, but there is no scientific data to back it up. Furthermore, the perceptions of FBOs and the role of food control in food safety in Kirklees Council have not been investigated, which makes this research a novelty.

Abstract

Details

Teaching in England Post-1988: Reflections and Career Histories
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-509-0

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2023

Hao Wang, Hamzeh Al Shraida and Yu Jin

Limited geometric accuracy is one of the major challenges that hinder the wider application of additive manufacturing (AM). This paper aims to predict in-plane shape deviation for…

Abstract

Purpose

Limited geometric accuracy is one of the major challenges that hinder the wider application of additive manufacturing (AM). This paper aims to predict in-plane shape deviation for online inspection and compensation to prevent error accumulation and improve shape fidelity in AM.

Design/methodology/approach

A sequence-to-sequence model with an attention mechanism (Seq2Seq+Attention) is proposed and implemented to predict subsequent layers or the occluded toolpath deviations after the multiresolution alignment. A shape compensation plan can be performed for the large deviation predicted.

Findings

The proposed Seq2Seq+Attention model is able to provide consistent prediction accuracy. The compensation plan proposed based on the predicted deviation can significantly improve the printing fidelity for those layers detected with large deviations.

Practical implications

Based on the experiments conducted on the knee joint samples, the proposed method outperforms the other three machine learning methods for both subsequent layer and occluded toolpath deviation prediction.

Originality/value

This work fills a research gap for predicting in-plane deviation not only for subsequent layers but also for occluded paths due to the missing scanning measurements. It is also combined with the multiresolution alignment and change point detection to determine the necessity of a compensation plan with updated G-code.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 30 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 February 2023

Laurence Ferry, Khalid Hamid and Paula Hebling Dutra

The aim of this paper is to compare the audit and accountability arrangements of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) internationally.

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to compare the audit and accountability arrangements of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) internationally.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on a theorisation of regulatory space, extended by new audit spaces of public audit, the scope of the research is the 196 SAIs that are full members of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). The study is based on documentation review, workshops with a steering panel, a survey of all SAIs (response rate of 64%, being 125 of 196 members), workshops with the seven regions of INTOSAI and discussion at Congress.

Findings

The paper suggests that the audit and accountability arrangements for SAIs is underpinned by INTOSAI's global voice, a country's regulatory space and a SAIs organization, capacity and scope that are themes used to structure the comparison. The results show there is diversity in the organization, capacities and scope of SAIs, but also an opportunity for recognising the positive potential of INTOSAI in fulfilling its global voice leveraged from the results of its work with its regions and members.

Originality/value

This is the most comprehensive research study of SAIs and the research underpinning this study enables SAIs to compare themselves regionally and internationally.

Details

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, vol. 35 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1096-3367

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 June 2023

Matthew Philip Masterton, David Malcolm Downing, Bill Lozanovski, Rance Brennan B. Tino, Milan Brandt, Kate Fox and Martin Leary

This paper aims to present a methodology for the detection and categorisation of metal powder particles that are partially attached to additively manufactured lattice structures…

58

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a methodology for the detection and categorisation of metal powder particles that are partially attached to additively manufactured lattice structures. It proposes a software algorithm to process micro computed tomography (µCT) image data, thereby providing a systematic and formal basis for the design and certification of powder bed fusion lattice structures, as is required for the certification of medical implants.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper details the design and development of a software algorithm for the analysis of µCT image data. The algorithm was designed to allow statistical probability of results based on key independent variables. Three data sets with a single unique parameter were input through the algorithm to allow for characterisation and analysis of like data sets.

Findings

This paper demonstrates the application of the proposed algorithm with three data sets, presenting a detailed visual rendering derived from the input image data, with the partially attached particles highlighted. Histograms for various geometric attributes are output, and a continuous trend between the three different data sets is highlighted based on the single unique parameter.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel methodology for non-destructive algorithmic detection and categorisation of partially attached metal powder particles, of which no formal methods exist. This material is available to download as a part of a provided GitHub repository.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 29 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Poverty and Prosperity
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-987-4

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 July 2023

Henry Jarva and Teresa Zeitler

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on internal auditing as the pandemic forced individual internal auditors and audit teams to…

2507

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on internal auditing as the pandemic forced individual internal auditors and audit teams to conduct the work remotely.

Design/methodology/approach

Five in-depth semi-structured interviews of internal audit experts that work in German retail and manufacturing industry were conducted between February and April 2021.

Findings

The authors find that the importance of audit technologies did not change significantly due to the pandemic, as audit technologies were already an integral part of internal audits. Interestingly, the transition to remote audits occurred with remarkable speed and efficiency. The presence of well-functioning information and communication technologies emerges as a critical facilitator for effective remote communication, collaboration and data exchange. However, audit technologies can only partially replace physical on-site examinations and human interaction. The main challenges of remote audits are related to the auditing of non-digitalized processes and the inherent limitations of auditee interviews and interactions.

Research limitations/implications

The authors' interview approach does not allow to cover variations between industries and between countries. While internal audit experts provided notably consistent responses during the interviews, acknowledging that the sample size is very small is important.

Practical implications

The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a catalyst for increased digitalization and technology adoption within the realm of internal auditing. A hybrid approach combining the benefits of on-site and remote audits is expected to prevail in the future.

Originality/value

The paper is among the first to document the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work of internal auditing using field-based research methods.

Details

Journal of Applied Accounting Research, vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0967-5426

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 April 2023

Prasanta Kr Chopdar and Justin Paul

From the signaling theory perspective, the current study explores various drivers of brand transparency and its effect on users' interactions with food delivery apps.

Abstract

Purpose

From the signaling theory perspective, the current study explores various drivers of brand transparency and its effect on users' interactions with food delivery apps.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a set of precursors of brand transparency of food delivery apps from focus group discussions was identified. Next, an integrated model tests the impact of brand transparency, perceived risk and brand trust on users' ordering frequency. Data collected from 522 users were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method.

Findings

The outcomes showed the effectiveness of brand communications as the strongest indicator of brand transparency. Moreover, brand transparency favorably influences users' brand trust and ordering intention and negatively influences perceived risk. Hygiene rating attenuates the adverse effects of perceived risk.

Originality/value

The current study is a pioneering attempt that offers ways for online food delivery providers to build brand transparency, lessen users' risk perceptions and foster greater use of apps in the post-pandemic scenario.

Details

Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7122

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 July 2023

Seungha Baek and Agnieszka Radziwon

Public food procurement (PFP) plays an important role in establishing agri-food systems. The study explores local food system stakeholders' response to PFP interventions by…

132

Abstract

Purpose

Public food procurement (PFP) plays an important role in establishing agri-food systems. The study explores local food system stakeholders' response to PFP interventions by addressing the question of how PFP transforms agri-food systems and how this new agri-food ecosystem is governed.

Design/methodology/approach

This article presents and discusses a unique case study of Jeonbuk, a rural province in South Korea, which successfully transformed its agri-food system into an ecosystem through its sustainability-oriented innovations (SOIs) among born ecopreneur farmers. This case not only offers insights into a novel way to create value chains through legislative, executive and judicial governance but also extends the body of knowledge on agri-food systems by introducing the concept of an agri-food ecosystem.

Findings

The findings indicate the importance of the ecosystem governance and knowledge exchange among internal and external ecosystem stakeholders. In particular, PFP institutions play a crucial role in facilitating the operation of public meal centers and cooperation among actors.

Practical implications

Taking an ecosystem lens to agri-food systems may offer agricultural cooperatives a wider perspective and better understanding of the governance structures necessary to successfully execute public interventions. Lastly, the Korean case differs from other developing countries, but its role model qualities could help to implement successful school meal programs elsewhere.

Originality/value

This paper reviewed and applied a conceptual framework aimed at identifying the role of PFP institutions in the value chain governance by studying a case study of a South Korean local school meal program. The study further extends the agricultural cooperatives research and contributes to a better understanding of the role of a municipality and an agri-food intermediary in the governance process involving producers and kitchens.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 125 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 November 2023

Dominic Peltier-Rivest

This paper aims to explore the current trends in corruption and investigate the characteristics of corporate gift policies and their role in preventing bribery.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the current trends in corruption and investigate the characteristics of corporate gift policies and their role in preventing bribery.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a descriptive study based on primary data from a recent sample of Canadian companies’ codes of conduct and secondary data from recent corruption surveys published by non-governmental organisations.

Findings

This study shows that 25% of all private and public corruption cases generate financial damages of more than US$1m per case and that 50% of all investigated fraud cases are corruption cases (ACFE, 2022). Furthermore, the Western Europe and EU region is perceived as least corrupt, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa is perceived as the most corrupt region (Transparency International, 2022). However, bribery is fairly common in nine EU countries where 10% or more of public service users bribed public officials to influence their decisions (Transparency International, 2021). Results from primary data show that 9.3% of firms put a total ban on gifts given to governmental officials, whereas 35.2% require a superior’s approval and only 5.5% state a dollar limit for the gift. Results also show that not a single firm prohibits the giving of gifts to non-governmental stakeholders or the receiving of gifts from any type of stakeholder. This paper argues that gifts can bias the recipient’s judgement and improperly influence future business decisions based on the gift’s subjective value, nature and context.

Research limitations/implications

This paper extends previous research by examining the characteristics of corporate gift policies. It also helps organisations improve their gift policies in an effort to reduce corruption.

Originality/value

It is the first paper to investigate the characteristics of corporate gift policies and their role in preventing corruption.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

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