Eleni Sfakianaki

Resource-efficient construction: rethinking construction towards sustainability

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the topic of sustainable construction and provide an adequate discussion of the current thinking. Achieving a balance between economic, social and ecological aims is a challenge. Managing and implementing sustainability requires the commitment of all stakeholders and new ways of working, thinking and learning. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology of this study consists of a literature review in the research field of sustainable construction and its associated impacts upon the climate, waste production and energy, materials and water usage. The aim is not to provide an in-depth, detailed analysis of specific processes and cases in the construction sector, but to present the need for rethinking sustainable construction in comprehensive terms. Findings – The paper provides insights about the importance of sustainable construction. It suggests that all stakeholders at all stages should commit to sustainability to enable change in perception to start w...

Multicriteria analysis-based total university evaluation: the case of the Greek departments of economics

Different methodologies for the assessment of universities have been developed over the years using criteria such as research, teaching and social input, which have been an issue of controversy. University rankings have received a lot of criticism but are still very popular for a number of parties such as academics, students, parents, funders, employers and society. Greek universities have not been ranked, up to date. The present paper presents a methodology for ranking universities based on research and education and uses the Greek departments of economics as a case study. The results allow the interested party to judge the overall performance (research and education) of the department or the research/education performance accordingly depending on the partys needs.

Regional and Environmental Classifications of the 27 EU Countries

This paper puts forward a theoretical framework for regional classifications and rankings based on the development of environmental indices. This framework can be used to classify European Union countries according to the extent to which they are influenced by supply-side (producer) and demand-side (consumer) responses to their specific bundle of economic and environmental attributes. This kind of classification is useful because it provides information about the relative attractiveness to producers and consumers of the combination of economic and environmental attributes indigenous to each region. It, therefore, has implications for the design and focus of the regional and environmental policies of the European Union. The analysis identifies 4 groups of countries with similar characteristics (high productivity, low productivity, high amenity, low amenity) and the appropriate mix of environmental and regional policies for each one of them.

Obstacles to ISO 9001 certification in SMEs

Several studies have analysed obstacles to ISO 9001 certification, however there remains a clear need for empirical research, particularly for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). This paper explores the obstacles to ISO 9001 certification for SMEs in the Greek food and beverage (F&B) industry. This study was done using a qualitative approach, appraising case studies to investigate in depth how companies perceived the ISO 9001 certification process. Four organisations were examined using in-depth interviews with top and middle managers from these companies. The findings showed that, although they successfully implemented ISO 9001, certified companies in the F&B industry faced a number of obstacles. The most commonly cited of these were bureaucracy, lack of guidance by top management, demands on time and resources and reaction from employees. However, research also threw light onto other drawbacks that are rarely discussed. Interestingly, the obstacles observed in the four companies examined differed somewhat, and they were not perceived in each company with the same intensity. This study may enhance existing knowledge of SMEs and provide useful insight to managers and company owners wishing to pursue ISO 9001 certification and needing assistance in preparing for certification. Using these data, researchers can further their knowledge and acknowledge drawbacks.

University Rankings of Different Academic Positions for the Present and the Future: The Case of Greek Departments of Economics

Abstract University rankings have a long history and have been based on a number of criteria, the most important of which is research output and quality. There is a lot of discussion on the controversy that surrounds all the methods developed and whether research should be the only factor to examine. The present paper presents a methodology for ranking universities based on research using as criterion the different academic positions in a university i.e. professors, assistant professors, and uses the Greek departments of economics as a case study. The results are evaluated in the context of each position but also on a departmental level (all academic positions) producing useful conclusions for the present and future status of the institutes. Decision-makers can use the results as guidance to assess their present status and to identify if and how they want to improve.