The impact of quality management systems on construction performance in the North West of England

As the total construction output in the North West of England (NWE) is forecast to rise by an average of 2.5% over the next five years. It is imperative for organizations in the region to improve their overall construction performance, particularly if they are to hit the targets presented by UK Government in the construction 2025 report. Despite the known benefits of quality management systems (QMS) its implementation in relation to construction performance is very limited, particularly in the UK. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether QMS can affect construction performance in the NWE. A pragmatic mixed method approach of sequential explanatory strategy was adopted to conduct this research. This initially involved a quantitative approach of questionnaire surveys to gain opinions and views of a representative sample of industry professionals based in the NWE. The quantitative results were analyzed to discover relationships in the data and further formulate the questions for the qualitative interviews. Three interviews with leading industry professionals were then conducted and the data was analyzed using a thematic approach. The themes identified in the interviews were then cross-referenced with the data discovered in the questionnaire survey and literature review. The findings provide a clear indication that the implementation of a QMS has a positive effect on construction performance in the NWE. Immediate improvements in efficiency of a construction organization when implementing a QMS were discovered, including greater managerial control and the recording and reduction in defects. Long term effects of changing company attitude by setting out company requirements and responsibilities through highlighting the significance of quality, and furthermore encouraging a culture of co-operation and teamwork, were also proven to increase construction performance as time progresses. To further enhance this research the focus could be on the whole of the UK. However, a greater amount of time would be required to gain the required representative sample. Furthermore, although the questionnaire survey was distributed equally within the selected sample, a greater number of respondents working for contractors responded. Therefore, the respondents of the questionnaire survey were not equal in terms of organization (client, contractor, sub-contractor, project manager). According to the best knowledge of the authors and through searching many sources, there are no specific studies examining QMS and their effect on construction performance in the UK and particularly in the NWE. Therefore, it is believed the study is the first of its kind. The study discovered many findings that can be considered as a contribution to practice and theory. Moreover, it can be considered as a fundamental base for future studies in this research area. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Deux édifices triconiques de Normandie : Saint-Saturnin de Saint-Wandrille et Saint-Germain de Querqueville (Varia)

International audienceIl ne reste que fort peu des nombreux édifices bâtis à Saint-Wandrille depuis le VIle siècle, avant la construction de l’actuel édifice gothique. Parmi ces vestiges, à quelques centaines de mètres de l’abbaye, sise au creux d’un vallon boisé qui débouche sur la vallée de la Seine, au bord d’une petite rivière, la Fontenelle, se dresse la curieuse petite chapelle triconque de Saint-Saturnin qui, maintenant encore, ne cesse d’intéresser les historiens de l’art par les problèmes qu’elle pose. Pour tenter de les résoudre, il nous faut revenir brièvement à l’histoire mouvementée de Saint-Wandrille de Fontenelle [...

Methodology for Implementing Document Management Systems to Support ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems

AbstractA Methodology for implementing Document Management Systems to support ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems requirements is proposed in this paper. This methodology consists of six steps that executed in a cycle allows to obtain the optimal Document System. The proposal begins with the definition of ISO 9001:2008 document requirements; followed by the evaluation of the existing Document Management System in the organization; the identification of document strategies; the design of the Document Management System; its implementation, and finally the definition of the continuous improvement plan to guarantee the fulfillment of the initially detected requirements

Singapore’s Financial Cluster in Light with Internal and External Forces

新加坡共和國(以下簡稱新加坡)長期以來致力推動該國金融產業的自主性發展，並強化該產業成為國家經濟動能的要角。 本論文擬深度剖析新加坡獨特的銀行與金融法規，並分析新加坡在金融業經營管理人才的教育培訓、伊斯蘭金融體系的崛起、人民幣國際化等政策面向所做的努力，以彌補現有學術領域對該國金融業研究的不足和缺口。 本文所採用的分析期間從新加坡啟動金融業自由化開始的1999年，截至2014年為止；而在分析架構方面，我們採用Michael Porter的產業鑽石模型來勾勒出新加坡金融業的產業競爭優勢。 此外，我們藉由檢驗已取得的原始資料與當地市場的條件分析，進一步評估存在於新加坡金融體系的潛在風險和成功要素。 從本文分析結果顯示，新加坡金融業仍缺乏於其競爭對手-香港所擁有的關鍵性經濟規模；此外，該國在金融業經營管理人才的培訓成效上仍然不足。 儘管新加坡政府宣稱將推動該國成為人民幣的境外金融中心，然而該政策僅著重在中華人民共和國的市場開發，並非擴展及整個東南亞區域。The Republic of Singapore has long had a voluntary policy of developing its financial sector, and making it an essential part of its economy. This thesis aims at filling in the gaps of the current knowledge about Singapore’s financial cluster, through an in-depth analysis of Singapore’s unique set of banking and financial regulations, and recent developments that include the education of financial managers, the rise of Islamic finance, and the internationalization of the Renminbi. The time frame used to analyze it spans from the liberalization of Singapore’s financial and banking sector, which started in 1999, till 2014. The framework of Porter’s ‘Diamond model’ has been used to outline the strength, and weaknesses of the financial cluster. Shortcomings and successes of Singapore’s financial cluster have been evaluated by analyzing primary sources available, and by examining the local environment. Singapore’s financial cluster still lacks critical mass in comparison to that of its rival, Hong Kong. Furthermore, weaknesses remain in regards to the educational level of financial and banking managers. The recent developments to set Singapore as an offshore Renminbi center can only be acclaimed, however its main focus on the People’s Republic of China, needs to be broadened, to include the overall Southeast Asian region