Organisational change management for the implementation of collaboration environments

Although emerging technologies offer the construction industry many opportunities for IT-enabled collaboration environments, the companies adopting these technologies usually fail. in achieving the full benefits from their implementations. The reason for this is found as focusing too much on the technical factors and ignoring or underestimating the factors related to change, implementation, human and organizational factors, and the roles of the management and end-users. Each new information technology implementation involves some change for the organization and the employees, and is therefore a source of resistance and confusion unless special attention is paid to managing this change. This research aims to find how to introduce collaboration environments to construction organizations and how to manage the changes required in order to obtain the full benefits from their implementation. In order to achieve this aim, the theoretical concepts and previous work on collaboration environment implementations in construction industry, and change management with a focus on organizational change management are reviewed. The perspective of the construction organizations on the implementation of collaboration environments are investigated conducting case studies. Based on the findings from the literature review and the case studies, an organizational change management framework is developed for implementing collaboration environments. A computer based prototype is also developed in order to automate the framework. The framework and the prototype are evaluated by the industry professionals.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Competitive Aggressiveness of Contractors: A Study of Indonesia

AbstractHigh level of competition are consideredto be a major challenge for contractors. As such, ‘winning the competition’ is an important goal for contractors in running their businesses. Contractors need to be aggressive in competition to respond to their competitors’ actions and gain competitive advantage against their business rivals for survival and growth. This study aims to clarify the issue of competitive aggressiveness of contractors by identifyingits key factors. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 19 top managers of contracting companies in Indonesia, in order to explore the concept of contractors’ competitive aggressiveness. The qualitative data collected during the interviews were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis method. The analysis resulted in identifying five key factors of contractors’competitive aggressiveness: 1) acting as a problem solver for clients; 2) being different compared to competitors; 3) building and maintaining clients’ confidence in the company's trustworthiness and reliability; 4) maintaining good relationships with clients; and 5) positioning on markets that are concerned about quality. Based on these findings, contractors will be able to establish an appropriate strategy to allow them to be aggressive in competition

Using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to Understand the Relationships among Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for Stakeholder Management in Construction

Purpose Stakeholder management plays a significant role in successfully delivering construction projects. However, being able to carry out effective stakeholder management in construction is contingent upon understanding the interrelationships among critical success factors (CSFs) for stakeholder management in construction and how they are related to project success (PS). This would enable the persons responsible for stakeholder management to know the logical process for addressing the CSFs in order to get stakeholder management right. The understanding of this relationship has not been addressed. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the interrelationships between the CSFs for stakeholder management and PS in construction. Design/methodology/approach From an extensive literature review, 23 CSFs for stakeholder management in construction were identified. A conceptual structural equation model (SEM) of the relationships between CSFs was developed (including measurement and structural models) using the groupings of the CSFs for stakeholder management in construction. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from construction industry practitioners. The data so collected were analysed using SEM in analysis of moment structures (AMOS). Findings The SEM analysis of data collected resulted in the best fitting measurement model comprising 16 CSFs as indicators of four latent variables, namely, stakeholder characteristics and project characteristics (SCPC); stakeholder analysis (SA); stakeholder dynamics (SD); and stakeholder engagement/empowerment (SE). Furthermore, it was found that only SE has a direct positive impact on PS. The other three constructs SCPC, SA and understanding SD collectively impact on PS through the construct, SE. Research limitations/implications The research reported in this paper was carried out in the UK; hence, the findings may have portrayed the UK construction professionals’ opinion. However, the theoretical principles on which the research was based are general and similar research could be replicated in different countries whose construction procurement processes and industries are structured like those of the UK or otherwise. Practical implications The main contribution of this study to existing knowledge is an empirical evidence of the interrelationships among the CSFs for stakeholder management in construction through their latent variables which is portrayed in the best fitting structural model showing the relationships between the constructs of CSFs for stakeholder management and PS. This should serve as a guide to construction project management team or responsible professionals for undertaking stakeholder management in construction projects. Originality/value The paper contributes to theory by empirically identifying the interrelationships among the CSFs for stakeholder management linking to PS which will serve as a guide to construction professionals. </jats:sec

Antiprotozoal activity and cytotoxicity of Lycopodium clavatum and Lycopodium complanatum subsp. chamaecyparissus extracts

Objective: the aim of this study is to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity, the total phenol and flavonoid content and the possible protective effects of commercial propolis on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rabbits. Methods: the in vitro antioxidant activity was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assay, the total phenols content was measured by folin–ciocalteau assay, the flavonoids content by the alcl3 colorimetric method and the renoprotective effects of propolis methanol extract was evaluated in a rabbit model of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The protective effects of propolis on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rabbits were evaluated through biochemical parameter (measuring serum urea and creatinine) and histopathological alterations in kidneys Results: methanol extract of propolis showed a strong antioxidant activity, which is attributed to its high phenolic and flavonoid contents. Oral administration of propolis extract to rabbits at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight significantly protected against histopathological and biochemical alterations induced by gentamicin. Conclusion: the present study demonstrated that commercial propolis is strong antioxidant and is effective for the prevention of gentamicin-induced renal damage in rabbit

Transcriptomics Analysis of Circular RNAs Differentially Expressed in Apoptotic HeLa Cells

Apoptosis is a form of regulated cell death that plays a critical role in survival and developmental homeostasis. There are numerous reports on regulation of apoptosis by protein-coding genes as well as small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs. However, there is no comprehensive investigation of circular RNAs (circRNA) that are differentially expressed under apoptotic conditions. We have performed a transcriptomics study in which we first triggered apoptosis in HeLa cells through treatment with four different agents, namely cisplatin, doxorubicin, TNF-α and anti-Fas mAb. Total RNAs isolated from control as well as treated cells were treated with RNAse R to eliminate the linear RNAs. The remaining RNAs were then subjected to deep-sequencing to identify differentially expressed circRNAs. Interestingly, some of the dys-regulated circRNAs were found to originate from protein-coding genes well-documented to regulate apoptosis. A number of candidate circRNAs were validated with qPCR with or without RNAse R treatment as well. We then took advantage of bioinformatics tools to investigate the coding potential of differentially expressed RNAs. Additionally, we examined the candidate circRNAs for the putative miRNA-binding sites and their putative target mRNAs. Our analyses point to a potential for circRNA-mediated sponging of miRNAs known to regulate apoptosis. In conclusion, this is the first transcriptomics study that provides a complete circRNA profile of apoptotic cells that might shed light onto the potential role of circRNAs in apoptosis

Minimizing the surface effect of PDMS–glass microchip on polymerase chain reaction by dynamic polymer passivation

Polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS)–glass microchip has a very strong surface effect on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), leading to a very poor PCR yield. In the work reported here, practical dynamic passivation of surfaces of PDMS–glass microchip using polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was achieved using a conventional thermocycler. The passivation procedure was cost-effective and easy to conduct. The effects of polymer molecular weight and polymer concentration on tube PCR efficiency were investigated primarily to prescreen out suitable polymers and polymer concentrations in the PCR mixture. The result from tube PCR indicated that both PEG and PVP could affect the performance of Taq polymerase. A final concentration of 0.025% (w/v) or 0.4% (w/v) polymer in the PCR mixture can enhance the tube PCR, while 1% (w/v) polymer was found to inhibit the reaction. PEG was more effective in tube PCR, although PVP performed better in chip PCR. Instead of employing the polymer directly in the PCR mixture, i.e. the conventional in situ passivation approach, another approach of dynamic passivation by pre-injecting polymers into the microchip achieved better performance. The efficiency of pre-passivation was found to follow the order: PVP10000>PVP55000, PEG8000> PEG10000>PEG400. After pre-passivation with PVP10000, PVP55000 and PEG8000, the PCR efficiency can recover to 93%, 86% and 83%, respectively, of that obtained from tube PCR. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical IndustryPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55877/1/1631_ftp.pd

Clinical Study The Comparition of the Efficacy of Two Different Probiotics in Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Children

Objectives. The aim of the study is to compare the clinical effectiveness of the probiotics-Saccharomyces boulardii and Bifidobacterium lactis-in children who had been diagnosed with rotavirus gastroenteritis. Materials and methods. Seventy five patients aged between 5 months-5 years diagnosed as rotavirus gastroenteritis were included in the study. The patients diagnosed as rotavirus gastroenteritis by latex agglutination test in stool were divided into 3 groups of twenty-five patients each: First group was given oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet with Saccharomyces boulardii (spp. I-745), second group was given oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet with Bifidobacterium lactis (spp. B94, culture number: N • 118529) and third group received only oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet. Results. The duration of diarrhea was shorter in the group given oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet with Bifidobacterium lactis and Saccharomyces boulardii than the group given only oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet. Conclusion. Bifidobacterium lactis has a complemental role in the treatment of rotavirus gatroenteritis and other probiotics may also have a beneficial effect in rotavirus gastroenteritis compared with the therapy included only oral rehydration therapy and rapid refeeding with a normal diet