Professor Rodney Howes, 1943–2005

Strategic IT implementation decisions for major construction projects in Hong Kong are subject to various forces or factors identified in previous research—such as external forces, technological factors and organizational factors. The aim of this research was to examine the relationship (if any) between these families of forces and evaluate their impact, individually and collectively. A complex combination of several families of forces/factors that affect decision making was found to be ‘temporal’ with respect to project teams on major projects in Hong Kong. The research was underpinned by a broad questionnaire survey to establish ‘current practice’ before in‐depth analysis of the forces by means of a case study followed by interviews with industry leaders to confirm the results. It was found that respondents (n = 33) ordered cost, security and confidentiality as the most influential factors affecting IT implementation. A difference was found in the perceptions of ‘hired‐in’ project‐based staff in joint ventures and ‘permanent staff’ of single companies, the former evaluating IT performance more highly but evaluating the strategic use of, and user satisfaction with, IT significantly lower. The major constraint on IT implementation was found to be lack of budget, not cost per se. It is concluded that the temporal factors that apply to implementing innovative IT technology in project teams are relevant to different team members at different stages in the project life cycle and these factors are conditioned by a set of business conditions applying to project‐specific coalition organizations that are different from those that apply to single‐entity organizations.     

结构技术主动渗透下的建筑空间整合设计

论文探讨了在结构技术主动参与和积极渗透下的建筑空间整合设计问题。论文从创新设计方法和思维的角度出发,分别从建筑内部、外部、界面等空间要素层面研究结构技术的动作、作为以及可能的贡献,并归纳和总结了结构表达方向和建筑整合设计策略。     

Innovative Work Behaviour: The Impact of Comprehensive HR System Perceptions and the Role of Work–Life Conflict

Human resource (HR) systems have the potential to both foster innovative work behaviour (IWB) and reduce work–life conflict (WLC)—enabling employees to engage in IWB. We investigate the proposed relationships between comprehensive HR systems, WLC and IWB using variance-based structural equation modelling. We found that HR systems that are perceived as comprehensive significantly enhance IWB and decrease feelings of WLC. Contrary to our expectation, we found a significant yet positive effect of WLC on IWB. Employees may respond to WLC constructively by being innovative, improving their environment and making the work–life interface manageable. By promoting IWB, HR systems might also help employees to deal with residual—and, perhaps, unavoidable—levels of WLC.     

Patterns of Innovation Capabilities in KIBS Firms: Evidence from the 2003 Statistics Canada Innovation Survey on Services

The aim of this paper is to shed light on complementarities and substitutions between various types of innovation capabilities in knowledge-intensive-based service (KIBS) firms. The data used in this study are the responses of 2,625 innovative firms to the 2003 Statistics Canada Innovation Survey on services. The empirical results suggest the presence of three patterns of complementary innovation capabilities, one pattern of substitute activities and finally, four patterns of innovation capabilities that are independent from each other. Hence, the results suggest the presence of complementarities: first, between internal R&D, external R&D, acquisition of equipment and machinery, and marketing activities; second, between external R&D, acquisition of equipment and machinery, acquisition of external knowledge and marketing activities; third, between acquisition of equipment and machinery, acquisition of external knowledge and marketing activities. Such complementarities lead to the conclusion that, in practice, managers of KIBS firms consider the consolidation of these capabilities jointly instead of separately. The paper also discusses issues related to patterns of capabilities that are substitutes and independent from each other. The results of this study also show significant heterogeneity in the determinants of the different patterns of innovation capabilities.     

Do the Performances of Innovative Firms Differ Depending on Market-oriented or Technology-oriented Strategies?

Despite a perception to the contrary, the performances and values of innovative firms can differ. While people are preconditioned to believe that these firms perform well and have high valuations, this is not always the case. In order to explain this phenomenon, we adopt a lens of strategic orientations that influence innovation: market orientation and technology orientation. By using 10-year panel data, and a content analysis examining the relative orientations of our sample firms, we find that the market-oriented and technology-oriented tendencies of innovative firms influence firm performance and value. Relatively market-oriented innovative firms can guarantee instant performance by offering customers new products and services that they want. However, customers may not be loyal to one particular innovative firm. By contrast, relatively technology-oriented innovative firms are not subject to customers' fastidious choices and have higher firm values. Furthermore, environmental uncertainty negatively influences the relatively market-oriented innovative firms' value as well as sales performance.     

高校思想政治理论课创新思维教学模式研究

新时期高校思想政治理论课课程和教材的改革调整,要求研究和建构创新思维教学模式.高校思想政治理论课创新思维教学首先要实现理念创新,树立创新思维教学观,经过“明确目标、激思质疑——自主探研、出新创意——发散思维、激荡整合——延伸拓展、强化训练”四个环节,并运用创新教学方法以充分发挥思想政治理论课的功能价值.     

Shock absorption performance of a motorbike helmet with honeycomb reinforced liner

The enhancement of the energy absorption properties of motorbike helmets could significantly improve the safety of riders. This study reports a novel concept of helmet design, which consists in the use of aluminium honeycomb as reinforcement material of the helmet liner. A modified version of a commercial helmet is presented, in which aluminium honeycombs are used in the energy absorbing liner. The ECE 22.05 standard tests were performed on both the prototype helmets and their commercial counterparts (presenting same dimensions, geometry, material properties and weight), and the dynamic responses were compared. The results showed that the prototype helmets provided better protection to the head from impacts against the kerbstone anvil. More limited improvements were also observed in some of the impacts on flat anvil, although other results indicated to some extent the limitations of the strategy adopted in our research.     

The relationship between perceptions of an innovative environment and creative performance in an online synchronous environment

This study focused on the relationship between perceptions of an innovative environment and creative performance in a web-based synchronous environment. A total of 160 sophomores and juniors from the National Taiwan Normal University participated in a learning activity consisting of a pretest and posttest quasi-experimental design. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used in data analysis. Results indicated a positive correlation between personal creative performance and a free, supportive, and innovative environment. Team support and organizational obstruction had less influence on personal creative performance. Compared with a traditional classroom, a synchronous environment added to innovative essence and helped learners do better in terms of novelty, feasibility, value, and creative product design overall.     

机械创新设计的研究

论述了创新技术设计的概念、发展前景及其涉及的技术内容和方法。     

人工智能与大学数学教育相融合的创新教学研究

人工智能领域有许多优秀算法,其中遗传算法、神经网络、自动学习等算法均应用了高等数学知识,如线性代数、矩阵论等。基于两者的关系,将人工智能融入数学教育具有诸多的好处。基于此,文中在简要分析融合教学优势的基础上,探究了如何在具体的数学内容中进行融合创新教学。