Business Commons^™

Understanding Policy Change Using A Critical Junctures Theory In Comparative Context: The Cases Of Ireland And Sweden, Paul Donnelly, John Hogan

Articles

Utilizing a new theory for examining critical junctures, we seek to better understand the nature of industrial policy change in Ireland during the 1950s and macroeconomic policy change in Sweden in the 1980s. Did these policy changes constitute critical junctures, or something less, and if so why? The theory consists of three elements – economic crisis, ideational change, and the nature of the policy change – that must be identified for us to be able to declare with some certainty if a policy change constitutes a critical juncture. Herein, we will be examining the roles of a variety of change …

A Case Study Investigation On Purchasing Green Transport And Logistics Services, Pietro Evangelista, Maria Huge-Brodin, Karin Isaksson, Edward Sweeney

Conference papers

In the context of green supply chain management, green purchasing has received increased attention over the past decade and the strategic importance of introducing green aspects into purchasing practices has been recognised. Despite this growing importance, little has been written in relation to purchasing green transport and logistics services. Considering the strong environmental impact associated with transport and logistics activities, much remains to be learned concerning buyer’s practices when sourcing more sustainable services from third party logistics companies (3PLs). The aim of this paper is to explore practices of buying green transport and logistics services in three different European countries …

Putting Supply Chain Management (Scm) Theory Into Practice: The Role And Importance Of The People Dimension, Edward Sweeney

Practitioner Journals

This article deals with a number of supply chain management (SCM) issues:

• SCM’s “Big Idea” – integration
• Divergence of Theory and Practice - the limitations of “hard-wiring”
• The “Human Chain”
• The Way Forward – asking the right question?

How Professional Service Firms Internationalise: Resource Commitments And Competencies For Internationalisation, Deirdre Mcquillan, Pamela Sharkey Scott, Vincent Mangematin

Conference papers

Departing from traditional economic and behavioural approaches, this study adopts a resource based lens to examine an area exhibiting exceptional growth, the internationalisation of professional service firms (PSFs). An in-depth qualitative study of the internationalisation process of five architectural firms expanding to multiple international markets was conducted. The paper’s main contribution is the identification of the interplay between PSF competencies and the firm’s approach to internationalisation. We reveal how these PSFs can be classified along a continuum ranging from artistic to engineering orientation depending on the firm’s relative emphasis on technical or management competencies when internationalising. Implications for PSFs when …

The Winding Stair Offset Menu, March 10th., 2012, Winding Stair Restaurant

Menus of the 21st Century

The Winding Stair Restaurant is located at 40, Lower Ormond Quay Dublin on the north side of the river Liffey beside the Ha’penny Bridge. The proprietor is Elaine Murphy. The Winding Stair started life as a bookshop and café which was a popular meeting spot in Dublin during the 1970s and 1980s. The café closed in 2005 and in 2006 the current proprietor re-opened it as a restaurant.

“The bookshop, located on the ground floor, was retained as were many of the old bookshelves, photos and memories. The room retains its timeless charm with stripped wood tables and floors, and …

A Utility Based Approach To Energy Hedging, Jim Hanly, John Cotter

Articles

A key issue in the estimation of energy hedges is the hedgers’ attitude towards risk which is encapsulated in the form of the hedgers’ utility function. However, the literature typically uses only one form of utility function such as the quadratic when estimating hedges. This paper addresses this issue by estimating and applying energy market based risk aversion to commonly applied utility functions including log, exponential and quadratic, and we incorporate these in our hedging frameworks. We find significant differences in the optimal hedge strategies based on the utility function chosen.

Assessing Aviation E-Marketplaces: A Mmulti-Criteria Approach., Emilio Esposito, Pietro Evangelista, Michele Mastroianni, Renato Passaro, Edward Sweeney, Claudia-Maria Wagner

Books/Book chapters

After a proliferation of logistics e-Marketplaces during the dot.com boom of 1998-2000, there has been a high rate of failure and survivals are developing much more slowly than expected. This is the case in the aviation industry where a large number of B2B e-Marketplaces emerged according to the focus of aviation companies’ strategies on electronic B2B in the late 1990s. However, the current use of e-Marketplaces in the industry is low and many of them have ceased trading. The traditional e-Marketplaces model has been characterised by poor quality portals and a lack of technical standards. Such an approach is unsustainable …

A Survey Based Analysis Of It Adoption And 3pls’ Performance, Pietro Evangelista, Riccardo Mogre, Alessandro Perego, Antonino Raspagliesi, Edward Sweeney

Articles

Purpose – In today’s competitive scenario, effective supply chain management is increasingly dependant on third party logistics (3PL) companies’ capabilities and performance. The dissemination of information technology (IT) has contributed to change the supply chain role of 3PL companies and IT is considered an important element influencing performance of modern logistics companies. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between IT and 3PLs’ performance, assuming that logistics capabilities play a mediating role in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach – Empirical evidence based on a questionnaire survey conducted on a sample of logistics service companies operating in the Italian …

The Dynamic Role Of Entrepreneurs In Destination Development, Theresa Ryan, Ziene Mottiar, Bernadette Quinn

Articles

This article explores the significant role that entrepreneurs play in destination development. It contends that while the influence of entrepreneurs is discussed in the literature, scant attention has been paid to the dynamic, catalytic and longstanding nature of this influence. This research shows that entrepreneurial activity is dynamic and creative, and has the ability to influence the creation of a culture for tourism that underpins tourism development over long periods of time. Employing a qualitative case study approach, the research investigates Killarney, Co. Kerry, a developed tourism area in Ireland. It identifies not only the way in which entrepreneurs can …

Payment Procedures Under The Riai Form Of Contract And The Public Works Contract Where The Employer Provides The Design: A Comparative Study, Tony Cunningham

Other Resources

Cashflow is very important to any construction business and its effective management is a key function of quantity surveyors. This study explains the administrative procedures and components involved in compiling valuations for the various Architect’s Certificates / Employer’s Representatives certificates required under the RIAI (2002) Standard Form of Building Contract and the Public Works Contract for Building Works Designed by the Employer (2007). The study discusses how the contractor may recover full reimbursement as allowed for under the two contracts, and describes the steps the consultants should take to ensure the client’s position is safeguarded.

The argument suggests that the …

Avoiding The Mistakes Of The Past, Tom Dunne

Articles

Tom Dunne explores the long term drivers of dysfunction in Ireland's housing markets and what a more sustainable housing system would look like.

Developing The External Engagement Process In Higher Education Through Effective Change And Technology, Irene Sheridan, Colm Barry-Murphy, Heather Madden

Reports

Engagement with external organisations and enterprises is increasingly part of the higher education mission and the contribution of universities to local and regional economic and social development remains an important, but difficult to evidence, metric for Higher Education Institutions (HEI). This paper explores the implementation of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to support external engagement and to build business intelligence in one higher education institution in Ireland.

Building on the findings of the Roadmap for Employment-Academic Partnership (REAP) project, through a structured process towards a professional case management approach to interactions this project focuses on the introduction of a …

Slimplexity: A Glimpse Inside The Hive Mind Of Snohetta, Noel Brady

Articles

Simplexity is an interview with Craig Dykers cofounder of Snohetta. The firm has a unique structure in Architecture circles with a Hive Mind like structure. In addition its parallel interests in Architecture and Landscape Design has meant that both professional strands have equal parity in the firms operation.

Ard Bia@Nimmo's Set Menu, Autumn, 2012, Ard Bia

Menus of the 21st Century

Ard Bia @ Nimmo's is located in the Spanish Arch, Long Walk, Galway. The restaurant is located beside the river Corrib, under the Spanish Arch and across from the Musuem.The proprietor is Aoibheann McNamara.

One of Galway’s most enduring restaurant operations which is now housed in one of the city’s most iconic restaurant spaces, Ard Bia has always placed as much emphasis on community experiences and aesthetic stimulation as on serving great food in a fun environment. We believe in having roots in a place whilst having an identity that transcends location and takes inspiration from around the world.

Ard …

Shaken Not Stirred – The Evolution Of The Cocktail Shaker, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

The paper 'Shaken not Stirred – The Evolution of the Cocktail Shaker' was presented at the 1st Dublin Gastronomic Symposium which was held at the DIT, College of Arts & Tourism in 2012.

Tax Facts, Tom Dunne

Articles

Tom Dunne Clarifies the issues surrounding different forms of property tax

Reducing Recidivism Through Entrepreneurship Programmes In Prisons, Thomas Cooney

Articles

Prison systems are facing significant challenges from overcrowding and a ‘revolving door’ routine. Reducing recidivism would help alleviate both these problems and would also assist in breaking the cycle of career criminality. However, one of the primary causes of recidivism is a lack of employment opportunities for people who have spent time in prison, thereby causing them to return to crime. Given the dearth of entrepreneurship research on ex-prisoners, this paper examines a ‘Start Your Own Business’ programme delivered inside a prison. Based on interviews with the participants, the author examines whether such programmes offer a realistic opportunity for reducing …

Is There A Future / Career For Tourist Guides?, Detta Melia, Josephine Rice

Conference papers

Tourist guides are the essential interface between a tourism destination and its visitors, and are very much responsible for the overall impression and satisfaction offered by a destination. However, despite the prominent role that tourist guides play in the system of tourism, fairly scant scientific attention has been paid to them to date. Tourist Guides create a link between the visitor and the host country. Yet, of the small amount of literature devoted to them, very few studies have asked tourist guides their views and opinions, and have built up a profile of the tourist guide. This paper is an …

The Winding Stair Set Lunch Menu, September 24th-30th., 2012, Winding Stair Restaurant

Menus of the 21st Century

The Winding Stair Restaurant is located at 40, Lower Ormond Quay Dublin on the north side of the river Liffey beside the Ha’penny Bridge. The proprietor is Elaine Murphy. The Winding Stair started life as a bookshop and café which was a popular meeting spot in Dublin during the 1970s and 1980s. The café closed in 2005 and in 2006 the current proprietor re-opened it as a restaurant.

“The bookshop, located on the ground floor, was retained as were many of the old bookshelves, photos and memories. The room retains its timeless charm with stripped wood tables and floors, and …

Ard Bia@Nimmo's Lunch Menu, 2012, Ard Bia Restaurant

Menus of the 21st Century

Ard Bia @ Nimmo's is located in the Spanish Arch, Long Walk, Galway. The restaurant is located beside the river Corrib, under the Spanish Arch and across from the Musuem.The proprietor is Aoibheann McNamara.

The story so far...

One of Galway’s most enduring restaurant operations which is now housed in one of the city’s most iconic restaurant spaces, Ard Bia has always placed as much emphasis on community experiences and aesthetic stimulation as on serving great food in a fun environment. We believe in having roots in a place whilst having an identity that transcends location and takes inspiration from …

The Winding Stair Sample Special Value Dinner Menu, 2012, Winding Stair Restaurant

Menus of the 21st Century

The Winding Stair Restaurant is located at 40, Lower Ormond Quay Dublin on the north side of the river Liffey beside the Ha’penny Bridge. The proprietor is Elaine Murphy. The Winding Stair started life as a bookshop and café which was a popular meeting spot in Dublin during the 1970s and 1980s. The café closed in 2005 and in 2006 the current proprietor re-opened it as a restaurant.

“The bookshop, located on the ground floor, was retained as were many of the old bookshelves, photos and memories. The room retains its timeless charm with stripped wood tables and floors, and …

The Winding Stair Value Menu, 2012, Winding Stair Restaurant

Menus of the 21st Century

The Winding Stair Restaurant is located at 40, Lower Ormond Quay Dublin on the north side of the river Liffey beside the Ha’penny Bridge. The proprietor is Elaine Murphy. The Winding Stair started life as a bookshop and café which was a popular meeting spot in Dublin during the 1970s and 1980s. The café closed in 2005 and in 2006 the current proprietor re-opened it as a restaurant.

“The bookshop, located on the ground floor, was retained as were many of the old bookshelves, photos and memories. The room retains its timeless charm with stripped wood tables and floors, and …

Mulberry Garden Seasonal Dinner Menu, 22nd – 24th March. 2012, Mulberry Gardens

Menus of the 21st Century

Mulberry Garden is located in Mulberry Lane, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 opposite the Bang and Olufsen Store in Donnybrook where Morehampton Road meets Donnybrook Road. The proprietor is John Wyer. It opens three evenings a week Thursday to Saturday. The menu changes every week with a choice of two starters, two main courses, a pudding and a cheese plates. The cost is €40 per person.

“At Mulberry Garden, we serve one menu based around the finest and freshest seasonal, Irish produce. Our chefs are passionate about using Irish produce and work closely with the best local farmers, butchers, fishermen and artisan …

Cafe Paradiso Dinner Menu August 2012, Cafe Paradiso

Menus of the 21st Century

Cafe Paradiso is located at 16 Lancaster Quay, Cork, Co. Cork just opposite the Lancaster Lodge Hotel on the way out of Cork City. The proprietors are Denis Cotter and Geraldine O'Toole. Opening as a vegetarian restaurant in 1993 its mission is to share the pleasure of real food with skill and passion. The cooking has evolved into a unique, mature and personal style strongly influenced by the producers of local vegetables and cheese.

The early cafe-style dining room design was intended to emphasise the effect of serving top-class food in a casual atmosphere, The restaurant has been refurbished – …

Cherry Tree Restaurant: Set Dinner Menu 27th. November, 2012, Cherry Tree Restaurant

Menus of the 21st Century

The Cherry Tree restaurant was opened by chef/proprietor Harry McKeogh in Ballina, Co. Mayo in 2000. It is a contemporary style restaurant with waterside views. Produce is sourced from the local area where possible and a range of menus are offered from early bird to à la carte. The restaurant has won a number of awards and recommendations

Restaurant website available here

The Use Of Audio Feedback To Develop Deeper Learning In Business Education, Daire Hooper

Conference Papers

It is widely regarded that providing students with feedback is central to their learning (Biggs & Tang, 2007). Traditionally feedback has been given to students either in person or in writing, however, due to advancements in technology, audio is now employed by a small minority of educators in Higher Education (Ice et al., 2007; Merry & Orsmond, 2007; Middleton, 2007; Nortcliffe & Middleton, 2007). Audio feedback is a feedback mechanism whereby feedback is given to students via mp3. To date, research on audio feedback has focused on students’ perceptions of audio as a feedback mechanism, and its ability to increase …

An Exploration Of The Effects Of The Servicescape On Customer And Employee Responses In A Grocery Retail Context, Treasa Kearney, Joseph Coughlan, Aileen Kennedy

Articles

This research investigates the impact of the servicescape on the responses of both the customer and the employee within a retail grocery setting and is exploratory in nature. The paper has its theoretical underpinning in servicescape theory (Bitner, 1992; Homburg and Stock, 2004), physical work environment literature (Davis, 1984; Kuenzi and Schminke, 2009) and the Service Profi t Chain (SPC) (Heskett et al., 1994). Interviews with grocery retail store managers were carried out to contextualise the paper though the main research instrument is a large-scale survey of customers and employees. The fi ndings suggest that almost 50 per cent of …

Interactive Web-Based Simulation For Supply Chain Education, John Crowe, Ayman Tobail, Amr Arisha

Books/Book Chapters

Knowledge economies are based on the concept of knowledge transfer between education institutes and stakeholders. In response, the significant move away from traditional teaching methods to the emerging paradigm of eLearning has become increasingly in evidence across many academic disciplines. To assist in the transition from traditional learning to eLearning, more interactive and virtually orientated teaching aids are needed. This chapter introduces a simulation-based learning framework that integrates web-based simulation and a web content management hierarchy model. Using the complex subject of supply chain management as a case study, the new framework allows users to examine various real-life strategic management …

Reconsidering Community-Based Retailing, Rebecca Maughan, Aidan O'Driscoll

Books/Book Chapters

One of the areas with great potential for economic, social and environmental benefit is community-based retailing. The concept of community based retailing can incorporate a number of different tenets. We suggest that it is retailing that is based close to the community it serves, usually within the town or village centre rather than out-of-town locations, and which is composed of a diverse range of small and medium sized business that are often independently or co-operatively owned. These community-based businesses form part of the social and community infrastructure.

We first of all explore the broad benefits of community-based retailing. We focus …

Working Paper Of Reflections In The Eyes Of A Dying Tiger: Looking Back On Ireland's 1987 Economic Crisis, Brendan O'Rourke, John Hogan

Books/Book Chapters

This work examines the discourses about previous Irish crises , in radio chat interviews with a former finance minister and an economists, during the current Irish economic crise.