The importance of organisational slack as an unexplored determinant of firm level innovation and performance in the construction context

Construction literature forwards innovation as a desirable objective for firms. Innovation is argued to; improve the firm s performance, increase market share, establish a competitive advantage, and ultimately ensure firm survival. Literature has overlooked the role of organisational slack within construction firms as a determinant of innovation despite the concept being well developed within the general management literature. This research uncovers and examines the impact of organisational slack on firm-level innovation as a determinant of innovation within the construction sector. This work forwards organisational slack as an unexplored firm level determinant of innovation within the construction context. Using the resource-based view of the firm, as a framework for firms, the thesis develops links between previously established firm level determinates of innovation to and slack to support its proposal as a determinant of innovation. Following this traditional measures of innovation argued fail to accurately capture innovation in the construction context, with patents represent inventions, while R&D expenditure is not applicable within the construction. Due to these failures of traditional approaches to measuring innovation, firm level performance is forwarded as a proxy measure for innovation outcomes. Developing existing slack literature, this thesis develops hypotheses proposing inverse U-shaped () and U-shaped () relationships between the level of slack and innovation outcomes. The thesis presents mixed method research. Study 1 adopts a deductive research strategy, incorporating statistical analysis to test the hypothesised relationships. The Research Design develops and Archival analysis research method; mirroring the approaches of econometric research found in slack literature. The data analysis explores two contexts: construction and manufacturing, allowing a comparative baseline to be established. The analysis of data from this study reveals that discrepancies in the R2 between the contexts is largely the result of the inability of control variables (Age, Size and Number of employees), to explain variation in firm performance (as a proxy for innovation outcomes) in a construction context, rather than the unsuitability of slack in the construction context. In construction firms, Unabsorbed Slack and Financial Slack demonstrated statistically significant results supporting an inverse U-shaped relationship with firm performance () supporting Hypothesis 1a and 1b. Contrary to this Absorbed Slack and Human Resource Slack demonstrated statistically significant results demonstrating a U-relationship () between slack and performance supporting hypothesis 2b (H2b). Study 2 adopts a deductive research strategy, incorporating semi-structured interviews as a source of primary data in order to explore the slack-innovation relationship in greater depth. Primarily, this study provided evidence to suggest that construction firms do not directly measure innovation. Instead, firms choose to measure outcomes of changes within the firm, typically in terms of measure relating to firm financial performance. Evidence from this study supports the proposal of firm financial performance as a viable proxy for innovation outcomes in Study 1. In addition to this when faced with changes to their environment, participants responses typically supported a positive linear relationship between the level of organisational slack and the firm. This research is the first to examine the impact of organisational slack on construction firm financial performance (as a proxy for innovation). This relationship is curvilinear in nature, however, the results are inconclusive if it is inverse U shaped () or U shaped () based upon conflicting evidence from different slack variables. What can be ascertained however, is that the level of slack impacts firm level performance and theoretically impacts firm level innovation

ZnO processing for integrated optic sensors

ZnO thin films were sputter deposited onto oxidized silicon wafers. The film quality increased with increasing applied r.f. power. Characterization of the films was performed by measurements of the attenuation of the transverse electric TE0 optical guided mode. For an applied r.f. power of 2000 W, the deposition rate was 220 nm min−1, resulting in a mode attenuation of only 1.6 dB cm−1 for a film 0.8 μm thick.\ud \ud The refractive indices of the films were 99.5% (ordinary index) and 99.8% (extraordinary index) of the single-crystal values.\ud \ud The step coverage on etched SiO2 profiles appeared to be very smooth, which simplifies the creation of waveguiding channels. The optical behaviour of multilayered waveguides consisting of ZnO and SiO2 films was studied. A prototype of a mode coupler in such a multilayer showed the feasibility of efficient electro-optic modulation in ZnO-based waveguides

Simple measuring method for electro-optic coefficients in poled polymer waveguides

A simple measuring technique for the linear electro-optic coefficients in electro-optic waveguides is described. The method is based on the direct evaluation of synchronous angle measurements obtained by prism coupling. No waveguide or electrode patterning is required. A model has been developed in order to simulate the relation between change in synchronous angle and applied electric field across the electro-optic waveguide. The measured values of the electro-optic coefficients in poled polymer waveguides are reported

Detection of inflammatory bowel disease: diagnostic performance of cross-sectional imaging modalities

Different cross-sectional imaging techniques can be used as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this report the diagnostic performances of ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in the detection of IBD and the evaluation of known IBD are described, together with a short update on patient preparation and imaging technique of the respective modalities discussed

Closing the Perception-Reality Gap for Sustainable Fresh Food Plastic Packaging

The global discourse surrounding plastics has been marked by a profound perceptual schism, also for plastic packaging in the fresh food industry. The public opinion expresses mounting concerns in terms of such plastic packaging solutions. However, in many cases the unique material properties and the well-established methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) actually demonstrate the environmental advantage of plastics for food packaging. This paper delves into the chasm between the two perspectives, leveraging empirical evidence to resolve the divide. While performing both a consumer analysis and LCA, this paper underscores the potential for innovative, yet practical design solutions to harmonise the public opinion with counterintuitive positive environmental impacts. A transformative design solution that centres around the concept of shape and material renewal is proposed. It demonstrates how a simple, yet effective redesign can enhance both the environmental impact and consumer acceptance in the industry for mass-produced fresh food packaging. It emphasises the role of LCE in design, with a focus on the pre-consumer phase. The findings provide a practical approach, emphasising the need to reconcile theory with consumer desires, to forge a sustainable path forward in packaging design.</p

Ileal Crohn's disease: MRI with endoscopic correlation

International audienceTo evaluate activity staging of Crohn's disease (CD) measured with MR-enterography using ileoscopy as reference standard.Materials and methods: A prospective study was made of 61 patients with CD. All patients underwent MR-enterography and ileoscopy. MRI activity was measured by means of an ad hoc developed score, as well as by analysis of the imaging findings, and was compared with the SES-CD score obtained via ileoscopy. Examinations were performed using a 1.0 Tesla scanner

Quasi-Phase Matched Surface Emitting Second Harmonic Generation In Poled Polymer Waveguides

Quasi-phase matched (QPM) surface emitting second harmonic generation was demonstrated with nonlinear/linear multilayer waveguides in poled polymer based devices. The nonlinear/linear multilayer film was fabricated with a 4-dimethylamino-4\u27-nitrostilbene (DANS) side chain polymer and a cross-linkable clear polymer. Large efficiency improvement was observed with a combination of QPM and strong field parallel poling