Knowledge transfer processes in PFI/PPP: critical success factors

Successful knowledge transfer is an important process which requires continuous improvement in today’s knowledge-intensive economy. However, improving knowledge transfer processes represents a challenge for construction practitioners due to the complexity of knowledge acquisition, codification and sharing. Although knowledge transfer is context based, understanding the critical success factors can lead to improvements in the transfer process. This paper seeks to identify and evaluate the most significant critical factors for improving knowledge transfer processes in Public Private Partnerships/Private Finance Initiatives (PPP/PFI) projects. Drawing upon a questionnaire survey of 52 construction firms located in the UK, data is analysed using Severity Index (SI) and Coefficient of Variation (COV), to examine and identify these factors in PPP/PFI schemes. The findings suggest that a supportive leadership, participation/commitment from the relevant parties, and good communication between the relevant parties are crucial to improving knowledge transfer processes in PFI schemes. Practitioners, managers and researchers can use the findings to efficiently design performance measures for analysing and improving knowledge transfer processes

Knowledge transfer processes in PFI: identification of barriers and enablers

Increasingly, the UK’s Private Finance Initiative has created a demand for construction companies to transfer knowledge from one organization or project to another. Knowledge transfer processes in such contexts face many challenges, due to the many resulting discontinuities in the involvement of organisations, personnel and information flow. This paper empirically identifies the barriers and enablers that hinder or enhance the transfer of knowledge in PFI contexts, drawing upon a questionnaire survey of construction firms. The main findings show that knowledge transfer processes in PFIs are hindered by time constraints, lack of trust, and policies, procedures, rules and regulations attached to the projects. Nevertheless, the processes of knowledge transfer are enhanced by emphasising the value and importance of a supportive leadership, participation/commitment from the relevant parties, and good communication between the relevant parties. The findings have considerable relevance to understanding the mechanism of knowledge transfer between organizations, projects and individuals within the PFI contexts in overcoming the barriers and enhancing the enablers. Furthermore, practitioners and managers can use the findings to efficiently design knowledge transfer frameworks that can be used to overcome the barriers encountered while enhancing the enablers to improve knowledge transfer processes

Management of Diabetic End-stage Renal Disease: Role of Hemodialysis

Diabetes mellitus is now the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) all across the globe, including India. In view of the alarming rise in numbers, renal failure due to type 2 diabetes has been termed a “medical catastrophe of worldwide dimensions.” When a patient develops uremic symptoms he needs renal replacement therapy. The renal replacement therapies available for all patients with ESRD are: hemodialysis, chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD) and renal transplantation. Kidney transplantation is the best option for patients with diabetic ESRD. The 5-year survival of transplant patients of 75-85% is far superior to the 5-year survival rate of around 25% on dialysis

Intelligent Engine Systems: Alternate Fuels Evaluation

The performance and gaseous emissions were measured for a well-stirred reactor operating under lean conditions for two fuels: JP8 and a synthetic Fisher-Tropsch fuel over a range of equivalence ratios from 0.6 down to the lean blowout. The lean blowout characteristics were determined in LBO experiments at loading parameter values from 0.7 to 1.4. The lean blowout characteristics were then explored under higher loading conditions by simulating higher altitude operation with the use of nitrogen as a dilution gas for the air stream. The experiments showed that: (1) The lean blowout characteristics for the two fuels were close under both low loading and high loading conditions. (2) The combustion temperatures and observed combustion efficiencies were similar for the two fuels. (3) The gaseous emissions were similar for the two fuels and the differences in the H2O and CO2 emissions appear to be directly relatable to the C/H ratio for the fuels

Psychotherapeutic Praxis in India: Incorporation and Application of Indigenous Worldviews

This research aims to gain insight into the incorporation of indigenous worldviews on mental health. Unstructured interviews were used on 16 counsellors who practised in Bangalore following the phenomenological paradigm. The interviews were audio- recorded and transcribed following which it underwent the 4 stages in Giorgi’s method. The revelatory themes obtained from this study were that clients viewed counsellors as authority figures, they experienced shame and guilt, lack of social support, ostracism, isolation, faced language barriers, feared diagnosis and medication and so on. The main conduit of religion and culture, the family, is influenced by class, education, rural or urban origin, joint or nuclear setup and so on. Counsellors developed the skills and sensitivity to respond to these demands

Management of Diabetic End-stage Renal Disease: Role of Hemodialysis

Diabetes mellitus is now the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) all across the globe, including India. In view of the alarming rise in numbers, renal failure due to type 2 diabetes has been termed a “medical catastrophe of worldwide dimensions". When a patient develops uremic symptoms he needs renal replacement therapy. The renal replacement therapies available for all patients with ESRD are: hemodialysis, chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and renal transplantation. Kidney transplantation is the best option for patients with diabetic ESRD. The 5-year survival of transplant patients of 75-85% is far superior to the 5-year survival rate of around 25% on dialysis.&nbsp

Management of Diabetic End-stage Renal Disease: Role of Hemodialysis 18

Diabetes mellitus is now the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) all across the globe, including India. In view of the alarming rise in numbers, renal failure due to type 2 diabetes has been termed a “medical catastrophe of worldwide dimensions.” When a patient develops uremic symptoms he needs renal replacement therapy. The renal replacement therapies available for all patients with ESRD are: hemodialysis, chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and renal transplantation. Kidney transplantation is the best option for patients with diabetic ESRD. The 5-year survival of transplant patients of 75-85% is far superior to the 5-year survival rate of around 25% on dialysis