Emerging international markets are frequently characterized by high levels of economic and political uncertainty. Such inherent uncertainties render established ideas of competitive positioning problematic. An alternative perspective is developed which focuses on the day-to-day enactment of strategy through the medium of narrative. Narrative interviews with senior managers from Turkish international contracting firms provide insights into the contested storylines of strategy making. The plot structures mobilized are seen to comprise strategy making "in flight". Senior managers are further held continuously to test emergent narratives against different audiences for the purposes of enhancing their persuasiveness. The aim is to instil an overall sense of coherence and direction among those with whom they interact. The temporal narratives mobilize epic plot structures from the past for the purposes of ascribing Turkish contractors with heroic identities in their quest for a desirable future. Yet the shared narratives also serve as a means of identity work through which the narrators strive to position themselves within their networks as acknowledged strategy makers. The espoused plot structures are further seen to coalesce to form a narrative infrastructure with direct implications for the future enactment of strategy. The research focus on the essential temporality of strategy narratives has important implications beyond the specific context of enquiry.

Reviewed by: Entre versos y notas: canción de autor en español ed. by Francisca Noguerol and Javier San José Lera Stuart Green Entre versos y notas: canción de autor en español. Ed. by Francisca Noguerol and Javier San José Lera. Kassel: Reichenberger. 2021. vi+278 pp. €39. ISBN 978–3–967280–22–7. In late 2015, as my colleague Isabelle Marc and I finalized our edited volume The Singer-Songwriter in Europe (London and New York: Routledge, 2016), we decided not to mention that betting companies had for some years been touting Bob Dylan as a potential winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Instead, we opted to mention his award in 1990 of the title of Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture to exemplify the cultural prestige of the singer-songwriter figure. Six months after our book appeared in print the following March, the Nobel Committee announced its decision to give him the prize, triggering a heated public debate about the validity of Dylan’s award. The lines of argument employed in this debate are outlined usefully in Alba Agraz Ortiz and Sheila Pastor’s chapter here on responses to the news in the Spanish media. Besides protestations that it was a publicity stunt, that others deserved it more, or that it should celebrate the achievements of someone not already a world-famous figure, two other questions sit at the core of the volume edited by Francisca Noguerol and Javier San José Lera: can song be considered literature and can popular song achieve the status of good literature? Answering both in the affirmative, this collection looks exclusively at the canción de autor as that musical form deemed to possess a ‘calidad literaria, que explica la posibilidad de estudiar las letras desde el costado filológico’, as Noguerol explains in her Introduction (p. 5). This facet of the canción de autor, and the figure of the singer-songwriter more generally, is explored in the first two chapters, open-endedly in the case of Javier García Rodríguez’s reflections on its place in contemporary Spanish letters, more categorically in Emilio de Miguel’s first chapter (‘Es lenguaje elaborado con voluntad de estilo y con mérito objetivo. Es literatura’, p. 35). The literary analysis of song lyrics dominates many of the chapters that follow. Most interesting among them are chapters by Rocío Rodríguez Ferrer and Sabrina Riva on the musical adaptations of the poems of Miguel Hernández by artists such as Víctor Jara and Joan Manuel Serrat. Here, the authors provide detailed studies of the transformations undergone by Hernández’s verse and the often subtle meanings to which such changes give rise, highlighting the crucial significance of transnational dialogues facilitated by this process. Little recognition is given to the musical settings of these poems, however. Likewise, Lorena Peña Jiménez and Carmen Rodríguez Martín’s examination of how Cecilia challenged dominant models of femininity in late Francoism pays virtually no attention to how the power of her words might be strengthened—and even carried—by other unique aspects of her [End Page 409] artistry, such as her voice and orchestral instrumentation. Even a chapter as illuminating and rigorous as de Miguel’s second chapter—a typology of what he calls the metacanción (metasong)—centres exclusively on the various ways this is done through lyrics—songs about songwriting, intertextual references—and does not discuss how this might also be achieved by other means. The question of musical performance is one which those of us working in language disciplines ought to embrace for a fuller comprehension of song, ideally in collaboration with those approaching popular music from other disciplinary perspectives, most obviously music studies and musicology. Such an approach might be used, for example, to challenge the foundations of this volume on the canción de autor and its characteristic literary quality in order to nuance some of its arguments. Meta-love songs abound in genres other than the canción de autor. Take That’s ‘A Million Love Songs’ quickly comes to mind...

Construction management researchers are too often subservient to the accepted orthodoxy of construction sector policy. They thereby abrogate their academic responsibility to challenge taken-for-granted assumptions. Policy is seen to be formulated and enacted through the medium of narrative. The constituent storylines are further shaped and conditioned by the meta narratives which characterise the political economies within which they are embedded. Published policy reports hence comprise rich empirical data sources which lend themselves to critical deconstruction through narrative analysis. Insights can be gained not only from the content of such reports, but also from the way in which they are scripted. Research of this nature holds policy makers to account for their actions. It is contended that the supposed ‘dysfunctional’ nature of the construction sector can often be ascribed to the unintended consequences of previous policy initiatives. Particular attention is given to the topical narrative of modern methods of construction (MMC).

Making Sense of Construction Improvement provides a critical evaluation of the construction improvement debate from the end of the Second World War through to the modern era. The book offers unique insights into the way the UK construction sector is continuously shaped and re-shaped in accordance with changes in the prevailing political economy. This second edition brings the book up to date by including coverage of key trends from 2010–2023. The book has been substantially revised and reworked to include new material relating to the 'age of austerity' and the subsequent period of political uncertainty initiated by the Brexit referendum. Changes in the political economy are positioned alongside the rise of the sustainability agenda and the advent of 'zero carbon'. Particular attention is paid to the ongoing skills crisis and the over-hyped advocacy of modern methods of construction (MMC) as the latest supposed panacea of industry improvement. Coverage includes the Farmer (2016) report Modernise or Die and the Construction Playbook (HM Government, 2020). However, perhaps the most important addition is a focus on the Grenfell Disaster (2017) and the subsequent revelations from the public enquiry. Further intermediate milestones include Building a Safer Future (Hackitt, 2018) and the Construction Sector Deal (HM Government, 2018). The emerging consensus points towards a systemic failure involving not only the construction sector but also the entire system of regulation and compliance. Tracing the failings back over time and scrutinising the role played by previous generations of policymakers, Stuart Green ultimately argues that Grenfell was a disaster entirely foretold. The insightful and critical analysis of the industry contained within these pages is essential and timely reading for anyone who wants to understand how the construction sector arrived at where it is today, and with that knowledge, give further thought to where it might go next.

Pencil beam scanning is an effective form of proton radiotherapy for cancer treatment. Small beams of protons are magnetically deflected in order to conform to a tumour shape, and exploiting the Bragg peak in order to minimise dose deposited in healthy tissues. Compared to other therapy modalities, it presents many dosimetric challenges requiring new methods of quality-assurance to ensure the best patient outcome possible. Position Sensitive Detectors (PSD) made from Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology offer one such solution for in-situ and in-vivo dosimetry, with ongoing developments towards high resolution imaging panels that are tolerant to high levels of ionising radiation. After confirming the linearity of the detector using a pulsed laser system, the suitability of CMOS technology, the vM2428 detector, a large-format CMOS device with 50 mu m pixel pitch, was investigated at the University College Hospitals London NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) proton beam centre using a 220 MeV proton beam at clinical beam currents. The shape of the proton beam was intentionally distorted, enabling the comparison of the vM2428 detector and EBT3 film spot shapes in a fault-finding scenario for QA purposes. For stationary beams, it was found that the vM2428 detector was capable of acquiring 1D and 2D beam profiles comparable to EBT3 film within a single frame (approximate to 4 ms). The detector was then exposed to laterally displaced beams of the same spot size ("spot scanning") that emulates a clinical beam delivery and was found able to record the beam displacement in real time. The spot-to-spot separation was measured to be 5.35 +/- 0.03 mm, in agreement with the planned 5.356 mm. These results highlight the versatility and potential of large-format CMOS detectors to proton beam therapy.

The dominant narrative of project risk management pays homage to scientific rationality while conceptualizing risk as objective fact. Yet doubts remain regarding the extent to which the advocated quantitative techniques are used in practice. An established counternarrative advocates the importance of intuition and subjective judgment. New insights are developed by conceptualizing risk as a narrative construct used for the purposes of identity work. Project-based practitioners are seen to mobilize resources from competing narratives to meet the transient expectations of those with whom they interact. Ultimately, they tend to emphasize approaches that sustain their ascribed identities as custodians of rationality.

Highlights Modern methods of construction (MMC) comprise a value-laden and highly flexible discourse. Nevertheless, the constituent narratives have long-lasting consequences for the material fabric of the built environment. Current policy sources can be seen to possess an embedded pro-innovation bias that offsets any appetite for evidence-based research, especially that which relates to the mistakes of the past. Many policy narratives in favour of MMC are further characterised by an exaggerated sense of hubris, with an in-built institutionalised preference for disruptive innovation. Liberalised economies are especially prone to technological optimism, with a tendency to cast regulation as a barrier to be overcome. The Grenfell Tower tragedy provides a stark reminder of the limitations of viewing regulation solely through the lens of innovation. Hence, it illustrates how the prevailing built environment research–policy consensus has failed the civil society which it purportedly serves. These failings should be of concern to those who privilege evidence-based research as a means of negating the alarming onset of the post-truth society. Research is required that looks beyond the imperatives of narrowly defined productivity. It is essential that policy narratives such as MMC are fully explored in terms of their short-, medium- and long-term implications.

Vitiligo is mediated by T cells targeting melanocyte antigens. Depigmentation in vitiligo-prone mice can be accelerated or delayed by oral antibiotics in vitiligo-prone, but not in healthy mice. We questioned whether lifestyle factors influence microbiome composition and the development of human vitiligo. Patients and controls matched for age, sex and skin type were consented before administering dietary and lifestyle questionnaires, collecting skin and stool samples and evaluating clinical parameters related to vitiligo. Five-20 individuals per group were included per parameter. Patient VASI, BSA and VitiQol were measured. The NHANES validated dietary questionnaire (DHQII) provided nutritional data that were analyzed using R. DNA isolated from skin and stool samples was subjected to 16SrRNA and shotgun sequencing. No significant differences between patient and control groups were found for skin care parameters, household composition, occupation or diet. However, significant reductions in the % Parabacteroides and a trend towards reduced Bacteroides were observed in patient stool. Correlation analysis revealed biologically and statistically significant differences in dietary composition between patients with active or stable disease. Notable differences include elevated carbohydrate, total fat and cholesterol consumption and caffeine intake among patients with stable disease. These patients also consumed more fruit. Importantly, stable disease was associated with 80% increased dietary intake of vitamin B2 and Ca2+, each associated with a healthy gut. Meanwhile a strong trend towards increased energy derived from dietary alcohol was found among patients with active disease. We tentatively propose that reduced stress combined with increased dietary calcium and riboflavin can support a healthy gut and disease stabilization in vitiligo.

Report Prepared for the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency

The global policy challenge of responding to climate change comprises a ‘super-wicked’ problem which consistently defies solution. Despite the UK government’s commitment to zero carbon by 2050, there is little clarity on how this ambitious target is going to be achieved. Even at the level of individual buildings there is a perennial risk of unintended consequences if top-down targets are pursued in isolation of other considerations. The quest for zero carbon is hence embedded within ongoing processes of narrative contestation, and inextricably intertwined with issues of professional identity. It is contended that design is an inherently social process which continues throughout a building’s lifecycle. It is within this context that designers seek to accommodate zero-carbon targets alongside a multiple of other priorities. Hence, any radical shift in the nature of educational provision may well prove to be counter-productive. Yet, much more could undoubtedly be done during education to incubate the quest for low carbon as an essential component of professional identity. There is a need for professionals continuously to hold others to account on the basis of the plausibility of their zero-carbon narratives. Of equal importance is the need to ensure that built-environment professionals continue to respond to the changing policy landscape. Policy relevanceThe global policy challenge of responding to human-induced climate change defies technological solution. While the aspiration of zero-carbon buildings has been applauded by the built-environment professions, it remains unclear how this ambitious target is going to be realised in practice. Designers are routinely required to accommodate zero-carbon targets alongside multiple other priorities. Hence, any focus on the single criterion of zero carbon in isolation of other considerations risks being untenable. Built-environment professionals will hence limit their ability to influence if they allow themselves to become single-issue activists. This remains true irrespective of the severity of the pending climate crisis. But there are positive steps that can be taken. University educators could do much more to encourage students to embrace the quest for zero carbon as an essential part of their professional identity, and to encourage them to project this identity by continuously challenging the status quo.

As a social activity, accounting has the potential to affect the behaviour of individuals in organizations. Habermasian colonization theory has been used to investigate the way in which accounting affects these organizational micro-practices. The aim of this study is to develop the understanding of Habermasian accounting colonization and to critically evaluate its impact on the schools’ sector. Qualitative field studies at three secondary schools were used to gather empirical detail in the form of interview data and documentary evidence. The research approach was underpinned by a theoretical perspective drawn from Habermasian colonization theory. The findings reveal that accounting can have both immediate and subtle effects on organizational micro-practices. These effects can be more complex than is suggested by much of the existing literature. Contrasting accounting disturbances lead to variation in the prevalence of the organizational symptoms of accounting colonization; those that are constitutive-transactional and external to the organization have the greatest impact on behaviour. The findings suggest that absorbing groups, headteacher type and the cumulative effect of exposure to multiple accounting disturbances are also influential. As well as the effect of accounting on organizational micro-practices, this study also provides insights into its broader impact on policy in the schools’ sector. A closer alignment with Habermas’s social ontology and the organizational symptoms of Habermasian accounting colonization is presented than is found in the existing body of research. Such alignment contributes to the understanding and development of Habermasian accounting colonization as a theoretical framework. A deeper comprehension of the impact of accounting on behaviour is enabled by the application of a developed model of accounting colonization. Knowledge of how accounting affects organizational micro-practices also has practical implications for both the development of policy and the work of accounting professionals.

Innovation is invariably accepted as a central component of construction sector competitiveness. Yet, there remains a paucity of empirical research, which explores the gap between the way innovation is promoted in the policy discourse and how it is interpreted in practice. We follow the "narrative turn" in organization studies to explore the ways in which senior executives in the UK construction sector ascribe themselves with informal roles while advocating the cause of innovation. Empirical data is derived from narrative interviews with 32 senior executives who self-identify as "innovation champions". When talking about innovation, the respondents were found to oscillate between performative narratives of innovation and more personalized stories derived from their own experience. The narratives were invariably pre-rehearsed often to the point of being monotonous. In contrast, the personalized stories tended to be engaging and emotionally laden. The tendency for senior executives to oscillate between narratives and stories is seen as an important means through which they search for meaning while at the same time legitimizing their self-identities as "innovation champions". Of particular note is the way in which senior managers self-ascribe themselves with informal roles which are notably at odds with those described in more formalized narratives.

Current debates about building performance evaluation often emphasize the ?performance gap? between how buildings perform in practice and how performance was envisaged during the design stage. While such debates continue to be dominated by energy considerations, increasing attention is directed towards the subjective experiences of building users in terms of thermal comfort and wellbeing. The latter trends are undoubtedly to be welcomed, but buildings continue to be conceptualized as fixed physical objects rather than entities that are enacted in practice. With the aim of challenging current assumptions, research is described which sought to reclaim the concept of building appraisal as practised by the pioneering architectural practice DEGW. The concept of building appraisal differs from current notions of building performance evaluation in that the point of departure is not the supposedly fixed entity of the building, but the essential fluidity of the occupying organization and their aspirations in terms of space. Empirical data are derived from archival sources and through extensive interaction with the DEGW diaspora, many of whom remain active at the leading edge of international practice. It is concluded that the continued fixation with the ?performance gap? reinforces long-since discredited assumptions of environmental determinism.

The construction management (CM) research community makes limited use of archival sources. A plethora of archival sources exist in the form of documents and visual representations and are often found within project or organisational records. Such artefacts tend to be cast as ?secondary data? which are seen as complementary to supposed ?primary data? such as that derived from interviews. Despite the increasing recognition of archival sources, there remains a paucity of reflexive dialogue on archival methodology within the CM research community. In particular, the issue of emplotment as it relates to the creation of archives and their subsequent interpretation requires methodological attention. Examples are drawn from the current DEGW archive project which seeks to pilot the concept of a 'living archive'. Curation is proposed as an archival research method to address the issue of emplotment. A reflexive account of emplotting archival sources is offered based on two empirical vignettes. It is contended that CM researchers should heed the call of organisational historians for methodological reflexivity which goes beyond taking documentary sources at face value.

This book focuses on both construction and development issues, and examines how we can transition to a sustainable future by the year 2050—bringing together leading research and practice at building, neighbourhood, and city levels. It deftly analyses how emerging socio-economic, technological, and environmental trends will influence the built environment of the future. The book covers a broad spectrum of interests across the scales of buildings, communities and cities, including how professional practice will need to adapt to these trends. The broader context is provided by an analysis of emergent business models and the changing requirements for expert advice from clients.