EDITORIAL
Volume 13, Issue 3, 2018
1. Can Soft Rationing of Energy Transform the UK Non-Domestic Energy Culture?
- Dr Kay Emblen-Perry
It is no longer disputed that as a nation, and as inhabitants of the developed world, we consume too much of the planet's resources, and in particular too much energy, in our homes and in our industries. In the UK and elsewhere there is a verbal alliance to cutting it down, but progress is slow and halting. From the individual point of view, it may seem pointless to save drops in the ocean, vital though that is. For industry, typical practice is to spend more on energy to foster economic growth, and the side-effect of climate change is being tolerated. This paper suggests tackling the problem at cultural level with a scheme of soft rationing for non-domestic use. There could be a regulatory cap with penalties for exceeding this, and incentives to go below it. This might provide motivation to reduce consumption where exhortations to follow voluntary guidelines have failed.
2. Global Operations Strategy Design and Deployment
- Fernando Kevin Vince
The modern day constant need to embrace change makes long-term strategy difficult, but no less important. Strategy needs to follow a pattern that can respond to the market, which involves diagnosing the situation, deciding necessary action and carrying it out. The challenges are structure (e.g. technology), people (e.g. culture) and infrastructure (e.g. quality control). Taking just these examples, advancing technology brings rapid change and the need to keep pace with the competition; cultural diversity brings a need to adapt; quality control in a world of changing demands is difficult. Rigid linear plans will fall apart; but a broad process framework is essential. This paper gives six criteria - sharing global best practice, adopting common process systems, having a global mindset, quality of leadership, using resources effectively, and speedy response to opportunities.
3. Reflections on Retirement
- Mike Bagshaw
Seeing retirement as closing the door on work is a negative outlook. Seeing it as a life of ease is like a diet of jam. There is a strong human need for achievement, and when paid work disappears there is freedom to achieve in different ways, which could be taking a hobby further, taking on voluntary work, learning a new skill, or anything that involves moving forward. In most cases income will fall, so advance planning is necessary, but it also brings new options. If you have enough money to be comfortable, and you spend your time actively (mentally and/or physically), with a purpose, life can be fulfilling. It doesn't matter what the purpose is - to win a big contract, to master the principles of Socratic thought, to cycle to the next town - whether it's in the context of work or retirement, structure, setting goals, prioritising, and achieving goals, give feelings of self-worth and fulfilment.
4. An Analysis of Project Cost Estimation Techniques of KPK Software Industry
- Zohra Saleem & Ayaz Muhammad Hanif
If every project adhered to the original budget and time allowed the workplace would be a better place, but it is commonplace to have surprises, mainly unpleasant surprises, about how much things cost and how long it takes. This has a negative effect not just on finance but on confidence for future projects and willingness of investors. The unpleasant surprise element may be more damaging than the actual cost and time. If clients are told at the outset that the cost will be £1000 and decide to accept that, and the final price is £1000, they are likely to feel satisfied, bring repeat business and recommend that company. But if they have been told optimistically that it could be done for £800, and then it comes in at £1,000 they are likely to be disgruntled, even if they agree that the extra cost is justified. This paper assesses a number of techniques and models for accurate cost estimation.
5. Strategic Marketers Engagement with Privacy and Security Challenges in the New Rooms of a potential Smart Home of 2050
- Raj Sachdev
Smart technology brings great convenience, but it involves collecting data which may be considered private. For example, revealing personal preferences makes it easier for suppliers to predict future desires, but to do that they have to hold personal information. The right balance between privacy and convenience depends on individual feelings, and these may correlate with age. People under 40 have grown up with steady technological advances, and new learning has been added to their existing framework of knowledge bit by bit. Older people have met, often reluctantly, high levels of technology which they need to learn quickly without a strong basis to build on. This leads to resistance and may feel threatening, particularly when asked questions they regard as personal. This is compounded by not knowing how to control the technology and fit it to their own preferences. Those who feel in control (whatever their age) are more likely to accept a level of intrusion for the convenience that comes with it.
ARTICLE TOOLS
Editor's Message
- The International Professional Managers Review has been created to provide academics and practitioners a platform and a Journal for their exploration of new ideas, concepts, techniques and practice.
Our Journal aims to provide steady information about the latest theories and practices, right across the world. Recent issues have ranged from individual employability to global operations strategy, and having contributors from four continents.
Our aim is to achieve a high quality of contribution in the areas of management and business. However, we cannot be complacent. The world is changing, and there is always a need to assess and reassess, to try out new ideas, to discuss the results, and then assess again. For this we need to hear from people who are active in professional management, and in research. Theory and practice are interconnected, and we want to join up the gaps.
We are aiming for a mix of approach, including, interviews, case studies, research with conclusions, exploratory ideas, and student papers. Sometimes we will have a special edition, where different authors explore the same topic from different angles, testing different theories, views from different countries, and so on. This should lead to in-depth discussion, more thought, more research, more articles, and further advance in theory and practice.
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- The International Professional Managers Review has been created to provide academics and practitioners a platform and a Journal for their exploration of new ideas, concepts, techniques and practice.