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An overview of digitalisation in conventional supply chain management
Get PDFRapidly growing technology and a digitally focused world have opened the door for a new wave of automation to enter the work force in the industry. Industry 4.0 plays a vital role in Supply chain management (SCM) which requires constant research and improvements due to high demand to meet their global competitive markets. As part of achieving this high demands, SCM has been incorporating the latest evolving technologies by digitalizing and automating themselves to increase their financial profits and competitiveness in the market. This paper aims to have a review on Supply Chain Management (SCM) and latest technologies in Industry 4.0 revolution
The effect of TQM practices on organisational performance in the UAE public service organisations: the moderating role of organisational culture
Get PDFOne of the most pivotal factors that firms need in order to survive in the competitive and everexpanding
global market is quality as it determines the firms’ success economically and is
integral in determining the competitive edge that the firms can gain which enables them to
increase their market share which directly impacts the performance of the firm. Total Quality
Management (TQM) is developed to address the pressure caused by the global competition.
TQM is a holistic management approach which intends to provide continuous improvement,
customer satisfaction, human resource management and process management.
The purpose of this research was to examine the TQM-organisational performance relationship
by considering the moderating effect of organisational culture in the context of the UAE public
service organisations. Motivated by the fact that despite the extensive work focused on the
impact of TQM and organisational culture and organisational performance, the empirical
results are mixed and the integrated effect of organisational culture and TQM on organisational
performance is lacking. To address this, the study focused on addressing the research objectives
of systematically examining the effect of TQM practices on organisational performance in the
UAE public sector service organisations; critically examining the effect of TQM’s dimensions
on organisational performance in the UAE public sector service organisations; systematically
investigating the moderating role of organisational culture on the relationship between TQM
practices and organisational performance in the UAE public sector service organisations;
investigating the moderating role of organisational culture on the relationship between TQM’s
dimensions and organisational performance in the UAE public sector service organisations,
critically assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the application of TQM in the UAE
public sector service organisations and determining the challenges and opportunities of the
application of TQM in the UAE public sector service organisations.
To fulfil the aim and to address the research questions, the study adopted the realist research
philosophy, employed abductive reasoning and utilised both qualitative and quantitative
research methods. As the research strategy, this study employed concurrent triangulation,
employed both secondary and primary data collection and conducted surveys with 150
employees of the UAE public sector organisations and in-depth interviews with 14 leaders/
senior officers of the organisations subject to study. To address the research objectives,
quantitative and qualitative methods used for the analysis of data.
The results of this study revealed that TQM and its dimensions were positive and have also
been proven to be significant predictors of organisational performance. More importantly, the
results have also confirmed the moderating effect of organisational culture on the relationships
between TQM and its dimension from one side and organisational performance on the other
side. This research has established the determinant role of organisational culture in the
successful implementation of TQM. In order words, this study also supported the premises of
the resource-based view theory by reaffirming the importance of the supportive TQM and OC
for any successful strategy implementation in enhancing organisational performance through
the implementation of innovative practices in service sector. However, the findings also
showed that, the concept of TQM and its models have been failing to produce much-desired
results in the UAE due to short-termism and short-sightedness of the leaders/implementers
since the main concern so far is the quality of service
Ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete as strengthening material
Get PDFThe safety of structures is of high importance affecting people’s lives. Structural evaluation, and possibly intervention, is considered necessary for old structures, structures which have been affected by accidental actions and also for structures in high seismic risk areas. Research should now focus on the development of new sustainable techniques which increase the safety of existing structures, and at the same time minimize the necessary to build new structures and to consume new materials and resources. The present research investigates the effectiveness of an advanced material, such as Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC), for the strengthening of existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures. For this reason, an extensive experimental study on the properties of the material and the application for strengthening of RC beams has been conducted. More specifically, parameters such the effect of fiber content on the performance, the workability and the cost of the material have been investigated first. Based on the analysis, an optimum mixture design has been selected and has been applied for strengthening of RC beams using different configurations. The results indicated that the strengthening with UHPFRC is a well promising technique and the performance of the strengthened elements has been increased in all the examined cases
Social frailty: the importance of social and environmental factors in predicting frailty in older adults.
No full textFrailty can have multifaceted contributors, including physical, psychological, social and environmental elements. There is a lack of clarity surrounding frailty as it lacks a universal common definition, multiple factors are attributed to frailty and no definitive assessment tool is available. The evidence suggests that there is a lack of research to indicate causal relationships between the various determinants of frailty in ageing individuals. This review discusses the important role that social and environmental factors play in predicting the risk of frailty in older adults, as well as discussing the various signs of frailty. Health professionals in primary and community care settings are well placed to prevent and identify social frailty in the persons they care for
Service user involvement in teaching and learning:student nurse perspectives
Get PDFBackground
Service user involvement in educating healthcare professionals in higher education can help student nurses develop a compassionate approach to care practice. This article explains one university’s initiative, the Patient as Coach Team (PaCT), and presents evaluation results from phase 1. The PaCT strategy involved a service user-led session with student nurses, in small groups, sharing experiences of care from a service user perspective.
Aim
Our aim was to evaluate nursing students’ views of the PaCT session, involving service users in their teaching and learning.
Design
Survey.
Method
Structured questionnaires with a free-text box were completed by student nurses (n = 321). Structured question responses were analysed manually and free-text data thematically. Data collection took place from June 2016 to June 2017.
Results
There were very positive responses to the survey questions, with students perceiving a positive impact on their learning. Five themes emerged from the students’ free-text responses: ‘Usefulness of the session’, ‘Seeing patients’ perspectives’, ‘Inspiring and motivating session’, ‘Good discussions with patient coach’ and ‘Overall views about the PaCT session’.
Conclusion
The PaCT session provides a valid learning strategy, utilising coaching as a technique to enable student nurses to learn from service users’ experiences and perspectives of care. In addition, it contributes to students’ reflective practice about their individual professional practice in care setting
High performance work system (HPWS) and employee performance:Evidence from the Multinational subsidiaries in Bangladesh
Get PDFDespite the growing body of research examining the impact of high-performance work
system (HPWS) and organisational performance, it is still unclear how HPWS practices result
in desirable individual level employee performance, especially in the South Asian context.
Therefore, the purpose of this research is to fill the existing gap by empirically examining the
relationship between high performance work system (HPWS) and employees’ performance,
exploring the mediating role of employees’ attitudes and the moderating role of institutional
context in a high-tech multinational corporation’s multinational corporations (MNCs) in
Bangladesh. The study developed a conceptual model based on the knowledge gap in the
existing literature.
The study has adopted a mixed method research approach to answer the research question,
where a quantitative phase was followed by a qualitative phase. In the quantitative phase of
the study, the conceptual model is tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) with the
help of the IBM SPSS software version 21. The survey was comprised of 320 employee-level
data sets from three selected telecom organisations operating in Bangladesh. The qualitative
phase of the study was used to verify quantitative findings and provide insights that were
difficult to gain by surveys alone. The qualitative phase of the research examines the
manager’s perception of HPWS in the studied organisation based on a sample size of 9 semistructured
interviews. The interview data were analysed through thematic analysis.
Consistent with the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, the findings support that utilization
of HPWS is related to enhanced levels of employee attitudes such as job satisfaction, affective
commitment and trust in management. Furthermore, these attitudinal variables were positively linked
to enhanced employees’ performance. The study also provides insights by demonstrating that the
institutional contexts of a country negatively moderate the relationship between HPWS and
employees’ performance. The findings suggest that high tech telecom organisations operating in
Bangladesh need to devote substantial resources to adapt HPWS to enhance employees’ positive
attitudes, which in turn will positively impact employees’ performance. Equal importance should be
given to the institutional context of a country while executing HPWS because such processes
encourage fair procedures and result in positive employees’ performance
The influence of virtual reality exposure on social and phobic behaviours
Get PDFBackground: For decades, researchers and therapists have attempted to utilize virtual reality (VR)
technologies for therapeutic use, most notably for treatments regarding specific phobias and anxiety
disorders, but implementation of VR-based therapies was largely held back due to factors such as cost,
accessibility, and technological limitations. Modern VR, however, appears to address many of the issues
from older VR models, making the technological medium more affordable, accessible, and powerful than
any previous VR iteration. While modern VR was largely designed for entertainment purposes, the
features inherent in modern VR systems, such as online storefronts, stereoscopic displays, and tracking
capabilities, may prove to be invaluable to advancing the implementation and delivery of VR-based
therapies.
Objective: The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the influence of repeated VR exposure on both phobic
and social behaviours to inform the development of a self-directed VR exposure therapy (VRET) procedure
that appropriates VR programs that were not specifically designed for therapeutic purposes, such as VR
games, for therapeutic purposes.
Methodology: A systematic review and three experimental studies were conducted as part of the present
thesis. The systematic review examined a total of 88 studies obtained through multiple databases, with
findings from the review serving to inform the efficacy of VRET, application of VR technology in
therapeutic and experimental settings, and the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing VR technologies.
The first experimental study (N = 3) was a case study that examined the effectiveness of a self-directed
VRET in which patients were randomly assigned to either a Pure Self-Help (PSH), Guided Self-Help (GSH),
or Waiting List group. Both PSH and GSH patients were allotted up to 12 1-hour treatment sessions, with
the only difference between the groups being the amount of interaction with the lead experimenter
during the treatment sessions. The second experimental study (N = 21) sought to examine the influence
of repeated VR gaming on cyberaggression, with participants being randomly assigned to either a Violent, Non-Violent, or No Game group. Participants in the Violent and Non-Violent group played a selection of
three games related to their group category over the course of six weekly sessions, with measures for
aggression being conducted through questionnaires and a YouTube commenting task. Lastly, the third
experimental study (N = 20) was conducted to reinforce findings from the second study by evaluating
potential changes in prosocial behaviours. Participants were randomly assigned to either a Violent
Competitive or Non-Violent Cooperative group, each playing a single game over the course of two weekly
sessions, and prosocial behaviours were measured via a questionnaire.
Results: Findings from the first experimental study showed promise towards the effectiveness of self
directed VRET, but with a few caveats. While both the PSH and GSH patients experienced improvements
at the post-treatment phase, the PSH patient was still within the clinical average across each measure for
acrophobia. Objective measures such as heart rate and self-report questionnaires did not appear to
indicate significant improvement for the PSH patient, but the patient believed significant improvement
had been made during post-treatment and 6-month follow-up interviews. As for the experimental studies
regarding VR gaming’s influence on aggression and prosocial behaviours, there were no significant
differences in behaviours between each group.
Contribution to Knowledge: The present thesis has created a foundation to build a self-directed VRET
procedure by appropriating non-therapeutic VR applications for therapeutic use, while also
demonstrating that while repeated exposure to VR experiences can reduce acrophobia-related fear and
anxiety, it cannot amplify or diminish the individual’s aggression and prosocial behaviours, respectively
Navigating the new degree apprenticeships: a facilitator’s perspective.
No full textThe degree apprenticeship was introduced in 2015 and touted as one of the biggest developments in the higher education sector in several decades (Rowe et al., 2016). A key aspect of the rationale for its introduction is the critical need for the UK to produce more commercially aware graduates. This approach is dependent on collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and key stakeholders such as employees, employers and professional bodies. HEIs need to be effective in how they identify potential partners and opportunities; in addition to identifying new partners, the HEI will seek to establish the partnership with the partner organisation, this involves identifying the relevant skills gap (s) and developing the appropriate academic content, material, schedule and platform of learning to meet stakeholder needs.
These challenges have presented HEIs with a number of questions to be considered. In particular, is it the role of the academic staff to identify commercial opportunities and then to build and maintain those relationships? If it is the role of academic staff, then how are they being managed and developed in order to carry out these seemingly less academic but more commercial activities? Through a series of semi-structured interviews with an academic responsible for leading a newly developed Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) at a UK university, the project has sought to investigate some of the opportunities and challenges experienced during programme development and delivery. Respondent feedback suggested that the degree apprenticeship represents a meaningful and dynamic delivery model but that any benefits must be balanced against some of the issues and anxieties potentially experienced by staff when transitioning into their new roles
Reflections on the educational transition of Chinese management students: a summary of observations and insights from both students and staff.
No full textWomen Entrepreneurs and Strategic Decision Making in the Global Economy.
No full textThere has been an increase in women entrepreneurs participating in the growth of local, regional, national, and global economies. While these women showcase crucial skills for strategic leadership and strategy that can advance companies, they face cultural, educational, social, and political barriers that impede their development and participation within the global economy.
Women Entrepreneurs and Strategic Decision Making in the Global Economy is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on understanding the value of women entrepreneurs and the strategies they can use on the economy and examines gender impact on strategic management and entrepreneurship. While highlighting topics such as emotional intelligence, global economy, and strategic leadership, this book is ideally designed for managers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academicians, and students