Exploring employee perceptions of identity and culture : a case study of Shell Nigeria

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Exploring employee perceptions of identity and culture: A case study of Shell Nigeria

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Cutting cost in service systems: Are you running with scissors?

A rigorous link between the domains of cost estimation, systems theory and accident investigation reveals fundamental epistemological limitations of commonly employed cost models when dealing with the characteristics of systems, particularly service systems, which may hinder the ability to take appropriate action for cost reductions.Key points:1.The ability to take action, in particular related to cost reductions in service systems, is strongly influenced by the understanding (epistemological assumptions) underlying a decision-support tool, in this case a cost estimate.2.There is a conflict in the underlying epistemological assumptions about what is and can be known in such a socio-technical system as a service system.3.A managerial perspective of cost estimation which neglects the essential characteristics of service systems may drive behaviour which is locally optimised but creates tension or failure at the system level.4.Cost cutting decisions that are based on a flawed understanding of the situation can lead to counter-intuitive outcomes for organisations; hence practical guidance is needed to help managers consciously consider the underlying epistemological assumptions in a given situation

A through-life costing methodology for use in product-service-systems

Availability-based contracts which provide customers with the use of assets such as machines, ships, aircraft platforms or subsystems like engines and avionics are increasingly offered as an alternative to the purchase of an asset and separate support contracts. The cost of servicing a durable product can be addressed by Through-life Costing (TLC). Providers of advanced services are now concerned with the cost of delivering outcomes that meet customer requirements using combinations of assets and activities via a Product Service System (PSS). This paper addresses the question: To what extent are the current approaches to TLC methodologically appropriate for costing the provision of advanced services, particularly availability, through a PSS? A novel methodology for TLC is outlined addressing the challenges of PSS cost assessment with regard to 'what?' (cost object), 'why/to what extent?' (scope and boundaries), and 'how?' (computations). The research provides clarity for those seeking to cost availability in a performance-orientated contractual setting and provides insight to the measures that may be associated with it. In particular, a reductionist approach that focuses on one cost object at a time is not appropriate for a PSS. Costing an advanced service delivered through a PSS is a problem of attributing the value of means to the economic activities carried out for specific ends to be achieved. Cost results from the interplay between monetary and non-monetary metrics, and uncertainties thereof. Whilst seeking to ensure generality of the findings, the application of TLC examined here is limited to a military aircraft platform and subsystems. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Retail sales in the downturn: understanding patterns and trends

This article considers the impact of the developing financial crisis on retail sales values up to 2008. It also examines the divergence between the official estimates of retail activity and the British Retail Consortium retailing indicator. It focuses on the value measure of retail sales and analyses recent trends in retailing activity by examining consumer behaviour and other economic factors affecting the value of retail sales. It is the first of two articles on retailing activity in the UK over the last three years. The second will follow later in 2009 and focus on the volume measure of retail sales, including discussions on the impact of chain-linking on the volume series. Economic & Labour Market Review (2009) 3, 17–23; doi:10.1057/elmr.2009.40

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THALLIUM IN TAMAR ESTUARY

The aqueous and sedimentary distribution of thallium, its fractionation in sediment matrixes and bioaccessibility to sediment dwelling animals in the Tamar Estuary was investigated. 17 water (W1-W17) and 11 sediment (S1-S11) samples were collected from Tamar Bridge (~23715 m from Gunnislake weir) to ~568 m upstream of the Gunnislake weir on 27 May and on 17 July (S10 and S11). Samples were analysed after treatment with ICP-MS and/or ICP-OES. Water sample treatments involved vacuum filtering of 100 mL of each sample followed by acidification of 30 mL of each filtered sample with 100μL 8.0M HNO3, as well as aqua regia digestion of filters for the determination of suspended particulate thallium. SPM concentrations were calculated from volume of filter water and the difference between pre and post filter weight, while in-situ measurements of pH, salinity and conductivity were carried out using Hanna electrodes. Surface water varied intermittently and pH ranged from ≤7.66 to 8.10 while surface water salinity and conductivity decreased steadily up the estuary and ranged from 0.01 to 29.70‰ and 0.21 to 43.58 mS respectively. SPM concentrations ranged from 0.50 to 152.0 mg L-1 with two distinctive maxima: 103.0 mg L-1 (0.1‰, W14) and 152.0 mg L-1 (2.4‰, W10). Salinity influence on SPM distribution was not significant. Dissolved and suspended particulate Tl concentrations were low: <DL to 11.0 ng L-1 and 0.25 to 48.67 ng L-1 respectively; ~33 to 100% of total aqueous Tl occurred in the particulate phase. The behaviour of dissolved Tl was non-conservative and was controlled principally by suspended particulate matter. Nearly uniform distribution and low sediment Tl concentrations (0.084 to 0.220 mg kg-1) were obtained following aqua regia digestion and sample analysis, with distribution suggested to be controlled by sediment dynamics. Three-step sequential extraction with the BCR protocol indicated that sedimentary Tl were mostly non-exchangeable and were held by Mn hydroxides (reducible) (~45 to 70%), and the residual fractions (~16 to 37%). Experiment with serum bovine albumin showed that thallium was mostly not bioaccessible in the sediment possible due to competitions from K ions.Faculty of Scienc

The impact of the recession on retail sales volumes

This is the second of two articles on retailing activity in the current economic downturn. This article considers how the changing structure of the economy over the last decade has impacted on retail sales volumes. It compares the pattern of retail sales in the current recession to that observed in the recession of the 1990s. Notably, it examines why non-food stores appear to have (so far) performed better than food stores in the current recession.It concludes that the observed growth in retail sales has been supported by falling retail prices and a flexible labour market that has limited the effect of unemployment on household consumption. It also identifies two factors that explain why non-food stores have performed more strongly than food stores in the recession: the changing structure of UK store types and relative price changes. Economic & Labour Market Review (2009) 3, 22–28; doi:10.1057/elmr.2009.140

Baseline limnological investigation of the Utor River in Esan Southeast, Edo State, Southern Nigeria: I. Physical and chemical hydrology

The Utor River is a pristine ecosystem remote from the current wave of urbanization and industrialization. This baseline study of a 2.5km stretch of the river describes its physical and chemical environment. The Utor River is oligotrophic, relatively acidic, well oxygenated, and low in solids, conductivity, cations and heavy metals. All the physical and chemical conditions except water level and iron (Pb) were significantly similar in the four sampling stations. The environmental conditions studied have been discussed in relation to the drainage characteristics, rainfall regime, potability, equivalent ecosystems and general water quality standards.Keywords: Utor River, water quality, seasonal dynamicsTropical Freshwater Biology 2003/2004 Vol. 12/13: 45-6

Measuring defence

Describes current methods, based on staff numbers and other inputs, and sets out proposals for improvements to these measuresThis article describes current methods for measuring defence in the UK National Accounts, based on staff numbersand other inputs. It sets out proposals for improvements to these measures, making better use of information on the composition of military staffing and spending. It also discusses some innovative proposals for the direct measurement of defence output. One such measure could be based on activities, for example, the proportion of Armed Forces personnel engaged in military operations or training. Another measure could be of ‘capabilities’ based on the quality and readiness for use of personnel and equipment. Economic & Labour Market Review (2009) 3, 44–52; doi:10.1057/elmr.2009.8