Abstract One of the advantages of data envelopment analysis (DEA) is to determine benchmarks for ... more Abstract One of the advantages of data envelopment analysis (DEA) is to determine benchmarks for inefficient decision making units (DMUs). However, determination of the benchmarks is the result of past performance of DMUs. In other words, the benchmarks do not provide any recommendation for improvement of future efficiency of DMUs. On the other hand, in dynamic DEA models often no DMU gets the efficiency score of unity. In this case, although we can rank the DMUs, we cannot introduce an efficient DMU and benchmarks. To overcome these shortcomings we propose a dynamic ideal DMU using dynamic DEA and scenario-based model of robust. A case study showing the model in use provided.
Objective This study examines the relationships between job satisfaction and organisational justi... more Objective This study examines the relationships between job satisfaction and organisational justice during a time of transformational change. Methods Data collection occurred immediately before a major regional hospital’s move to a greenfield site. Existing measures of job satisfaction and organisational justice were used. Data were analysed (n = 316) using descriptive, correlation and regression methods together with interactions between predictor variables. Results Correlation coefficients for satisfaction and organisational justice variables were high and significant at the P < 0.001 level. Results of a robust regression model (adjusted R2 = 0.568) showed all three components of organisational justice contributed significantly to employee job satisfaction. Interactions between the predictor variables showed that job satisfaction increased as the interactions between the predictor variables increased. Conclusions The finding that even at a time of transformational change staff ...
Research into students' first-year university experiences suggests that student perceptions d... more Research into students' first-year university experiences suggests that student perceptions during the transition period in the first semester at university may be critical in their decision to continue or discontinue tertiary studies. Understanding what enables successful transition informs and provides insights into student experiences, expectations and outcomes. The research uses a pragmatic approach with mixed methods. Firstly, through qualitative research, students' perceptions are obtained by in-depth interviews and focus groups that capture the first and second-order perspectives of existing students at the end of first-year studies. The second stage uses the themes emerging from interviews and focus groups to develop and inform an 80-item questionnaire. The instrument developed is used to collect data from students (n=771) in a large first-year core business course during the first few weeks of students' university life. Key findings from the research are the identification of seven enabling factors that fall into two main groups, intrinsic or student-centred and extrinsic or university-led. Identifying enablers of transition as multi-dimensional provides universities with the opportunity to concentrate on extrinsic elements in order to assist successful transition to higher education.
Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 2008
This research investigates how a Japanese philosophy for life, the 5S concept, has been applied t... more This research investigates how a Japanese philosophy for life, the 5S concept, has been applied to achieve business improvement in Japan, the UK and the US. An exploratory study into an under-researched area, the research utilises frameworks provided by Osada (1989, 1991) and Hirano (1995, 1996). A quantitative content analysis approach of the websites of 217 businesses is used. Lexical
... culture of permanent employment and retention, the key is a strategy of improving communicati... more ... culture of permanent employment and retention, the key is a strategy of improving communicationchannels, such as ... the organisation is to take care of employees who then, in turn, provide service to the guests. ... A critical evaluation of organizational commitment and identification ...
Lymphoscintigraphy (LS) is often performed before sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) for breas... more Lymphoscintigraphy (LS) is often performed before sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) for breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether routine LS enhances rate of identification of sentinel nodes (SN), and if findings on LS alter either the SLND procedure or the subsequent patient management. LS using technetium-99m sulfur colloid (99mTc) was performed in 136 consecutive patients undergoing SLND for invasive breast cancer. Three equal aliquots of 99mTc were injected peritumorally, and LS images were obtained at 60 to 120 min after 99mTc injection. Data were collected on the success of LS to visualize SN. Information regarding body mass index (BMI), biopsy type (core vs excisional), tumor location (medial vs lateral), and SN positivity were recorded and comparison was made with success of operative SN identification. In all SLND cases, 1% lymphazurin blue dye was used in addition to the 99mTc. LS failed to identify an SN in 9 of 136 cases (6.6%). Failed mappings did not correlate with biopsy type, tumor location, or SN positivity. There was a positive correlation between increased BMI and failed LS (p = &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001). Failed LS did not predict operative SLND failure, as an SN was identified in 100% of cases (136/136), including the 9 with a failed LS. In 67% (6/9) of the failed LS, the SN was both hot and blue at operation. Internal mammary (IM) drainage was observed in 4% (6/136) of LS. Positive SN were found in 26% (35/136) of patients. Findings on LS did not affect adjuvant treatment decisions in any patient. There was a correlation between failed LS and BMI, but no correlation with biopsy type or tumor location. Drainage to extraaxillary sites was rare. LS findings did not enhance success of intraoperative identification of SN or alter the postoperative management of patients with early stage breast cancer.
This study uses structural equation modeling to test a model hypothesizing the impacts of overloa... more This study uses structural equation modeling to test a model hypothesizing the impacts of overload and non-participation on job strain, turnover and commitment of urban transit drivers. The study sample comprises 331 responses from transit drivers from bus companies in Australia. The results show that non-participation has a direct and negative impact on organizational commitment while role overload has a direct and positive influence on intent to leave. An unexpected finding is that while overload and non-participation have significant positive impacts on job strain, there is no significant relationship between strain and organizational commitment. The implications are that work-related stressors appear to influence the organizational commitment and intent to leave of transit drivers directly rather than indirectly through job strain. Role overload and non-participation have not often been considered in the context of the commitment and intent to leave in stressful occupations such...
Early proponents of the problem-solving workshop cast it as a method of research to study the phe... more Early proponents of the problem-solving workshop cast it as a method of research to study the phenomenon of social conflict, not only as a method of practice. As a research technique, problem-solving workshops can serve as both a forum for applying and testing concepts and models about conflict, and as a laboratory for inductive theorizing based on information provided by participants. Workshops can also be useful for identifying the typical barriers that hamper effective negotiation and for proposing ways to overcome these resistances. As a form of action research, workshops constitute a social intervention and serve as the central element in a program of activities directed toward social change through conflict resolution. Unfortunately, both the potential of workshops as a research method and the need for evaluating them as interventions are inadequately addressed by current practice.
The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 2008
ABSTRACT paper reports on a study of how internal labor markets, operating in a multi-national ho... more ABSTRACT paper reports on a study of how internal labor markets, operating in a multi-national hotel chain, may impact on workers in traditionally low paid jobs. The quality of jobs has been linked to pay, with lower paid jobs tending to be regarded as being of lower quality. The study examines the effect of three main dimensions of internal labor markets: job security, training, and opportunities for advancement; on the key organizational outcomes of job satisfaction, organizational commitment and intention to leave. A range of human resource management actions in the operation of the hotel&#39;s internal labor market are discussed. Data from a world-wide organizational survey are analyzed in order to examine the links between the internal labor market variables and the key organizational outcomes. The paper concludes that the operation of an internal labor market, underpinned by effective human resource policies and actions, leads to improved quality of jobs as measured by increased job satisfaction and organizational commitment, together with reduced intention to leave. Yes Yes
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 2007
PurposeThe paper seeks to demonstrate an intrapreneur‐led three‐phase model of innovation based o... more PurposeThe paper seeks to demonstrate an intrapreneur‐led three‐phase model of innovation based on understanding the relationships between service delivery and product development thought, and the application of intrapreneurial‐focused teams in the healthcare and manufacturing industries.Design/methodology/approachThe research proposes a model that starts with effective teambuilding within an intrapreneurial context, then encompasses the relationship between service and product as a platform for the development of more effective innovation. A two‐part qualitative case study provides insight and understanding of the model's application within both service and manufacturing environments.FindingsInvestigating service delivery shortfalls with effectively developed intrapreneurial teams leads to new and/or improved services. New service developments in turn lead to the development of new products. An action research model based on Deming's PDSA (plan, do, study, act) cycle determ...
PurposeThere are a number of factors that are essential to understanding the pedagogy, learning a... more PurposeThere are a number of factors that are essential to understanding the pedagogy, learning and knowledge requirements of developing virtual platforms for delivering effective course interaction using the World Wide Web (the web). The purpose of this paper is to focus on web‐based group work amongst undergraduate management students, during a two‐year study investigating the development of virtual groups as an important problem‐solving and learning‐enhancement process.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the identification of successful groups undertaking undergraduate management courses, where group work is a compulsory component of the course assessment. Focus groups are used to collect a broad qualitative understanding of perceptions of students in relation to success factors. Lexical analysis is then used to analyse data.FindingsLexical analysis provides four clear clusters that the subjects consider are essential to group learning and performance. The outcomes ...
This study explores the effectiveness of an intervention involving formative assessment in a firs... more This study explores the effectiveness of an intervention involving formative assessment in a first‐year core business subject. Students were invited to receive feedback on a draft of their first written assessment during the early weeks of the semester. Consideration is given to the economic and ethical issues raised by the intervention. A multi‐method approach of qualitative and quantitative data collection
A design for a solar coronagraph substantially free from chromatic image defects is presented. Th... more A design for a solar coronagraph substantially free from chromatic image defects is presented. This design features a Mangin mirror used as both a color correcting element and a collimating lens to achieve accurate achromatic performance with good imaging properties. A computer evaluation is also presented.
As a representative of many emerging economies, BRICS’ economies have been greatly developed in r... more As a representative of many emerging economies, BRICS’ economies have been greatly developed in recent years. Meanwhile, the proportion of energy consumption of BRICS to the whole world consumption has increased. Therefore, it is significant to analyze and compare the energy efficiency among them. This paper firstly utilizes a Super-SBM model to measure and calculate the energy efficiency of BRICS, then analyzes their present status and development trend. Further, Bootstrap is applied to modify the values based on DEA derived from small sample data, and finally the relationship between energy efficiency and carbon emissions is measured. Results show that energy efficiency of BRICS as a whole is low but has a quickly increasing trend. Also, the relationship between energy efficiency and carbon emissions vary from country to country because of their different energy structures. The governments of BRICS should make some relevant energy policies according to their own conditions.
... Azimi Hj. Hamzah, Dr. Raja Ahmad Tajuddin Shah, Dr. Sulaiman Yassin, Dr. Maimilllah Ismail, a... more ... Azimi Hj. Hamzah, Dr. Raja Ahmad Tajuddin Shah, Dr. Sulaiman Yassin, Dr. Maimilllah Ismail, and Puan Junainah Abd. Manan for their moral encouragement and assistance ... members, my adopted father, Mr Sahr Mansa-Musa and Miss Francess Koroma for their ...
Abstract One of the advantages of data envelopment analysis (DEA) is to determine benchmarks for ... more Abstract One of the advantages of data envelopment analysis (DEA) is to determine benchmarks for inefficient decision making units (DMUs). However, determination of the benchmarks is the result of past performance of DMUs. In other words, the benchmarks do not provide any recommendation for improvement of future efficiency of DMUs. On the other hand, in dynamic DEA models often no DMU gets the efficiency score of unity. In this case, although we can rank the DMUs, we cannot introduce an efficient DMU and benchmarks. To overcome these shortcomings we propose a dynamic ideal DMU using dynamic DEA and scenario-based model of robust. A case study showing the model in use provided.
Objective This study examines the relationships between job satisfaction and organisational justi... more Objective This study examines the relationships between job satisfaction and organisational justice during a time of transformational change. Methods Data collection occurred immediately before a major regional hospital’s move to a greenfield site. Existing measures of job satisfaction and organisational justice were used. Data were analysed (n = 316) using descriptive, correlation and regression methods together with interactions between predictor variables. Results Correlation coefficients for satisfaction and organisational justice variables were high and significant at the P < 0.001 level. Results of a robust regression model (adjusted R2 = 0.568) showed all three components of organisational justice contributed significantly to employee job satisfaction. Interactions between the predictor variables showed that job satisfaction increased as the interactions between the predictor variables increased. Conclusions The finding that even at a time of transformational change staff ...
Research into students' first-year university experiences suggests that student perceptions d... more Research into students' first-year university experiences suggests that student perceptions during the transition period in the first semester at university may be critical in their decision to continue or discontinue tertiary studies. Understanding what enables successful transition informs and provides insights into student experiences, expectations and outcomes. The research uses a pragmatic approach with mixed methods. Firstly, through qualitative research, students' perceptions are obtained by in-depth interviews and focus groups that capture the first and second-order perspectives of existing students at the end of first-year studies. The second stage uses the themes emerging from interviews and focus groups to develop and inform an 80-item questionnaire. The instrument developed is used to collect data from students (n=771) in a large first-year core business course during the first few weeks of students' university life. Key findings from the research are the identification of seven enabling factors that fall into two main groups, intrinsic or student-centred and extrinsic or university-led. Identifying enablers of transition as multi-dimensional provides universities with the opportunity to concentrate on extrinsic elements in order to assist successful transition to higher education.
Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 2008
This research investigates how a Japanese philosophy for life, the 5S concept, has been applied t... more This research investigates how a Japanese philosophy for life, the 5S concept, has been applied to achieve business improvement in Japan, the UK and the US. An exploratory study into an under-researched area, the research utilises frameworks provided by Osada (1989, 1991) and Hirano (1995, 1996). A quantitative content analysis approach of the websites of 217 businesses is used. Lexical
... culture of permanent employment and retention, the key is a strategy of improving communicati... more ... culture of permanent employment and retention, the key is a strategy of improving communicationchannels, such as ... the organisation is to take care of employees who then, in turn, provide service to the guests. ... A critical evaluation of organizational commitment and identification ...
Lymphoscintigraphy (LS) is often performed before sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) for breas... more Lymphoscintigraphy (LS) is often performed before sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) for breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether routine LS enhances rate of identification of sentinel nodes (SN), and if findings on LS alter either the SLND procedure or the subsequent patient management. LS using technetium-99m sulfur colloid (99mTc) was performed in 136 consecutive patients undergoing SLND for invasive breast cancer. Three equal aliquots of 99mTc were injected peritumorally, and LS images were obtained at 60 to 120 min after 99mTc injection. Data were collected on the success of LS to visualize SN. Information regarding body mass index (BMI), biopsy type (core vs excisional), tumor location (medial vs lateral), and SN positivity were recorded and comparison was made with success of operative SN identification. In all SLND cases, 1% lymphazurin blue dye was used in addition to the 99mTc. LS failed to identify an SN in 9 of 136 cases (6.6%). Failed mappings did not correlate with biopsy type, tumor location, or SN positivity. There was a positive correlation between increased BMI and failed LS (p = &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001). Failed LS did not predict operative SLND failure, as an SN was identified in 100% of cases (136/136), including the 9 with a failed LS. In 67% (6/9) of the failed LS, the SN was both hot and blue at operation. Internal mammary (IM) drainage was observed in 4% (6/136) of LS. Positive SN were found in 26% (35/136) of patients. Findings on LS did not affect adjuvant treatment decisions in any patient. There was a correlation between failed LS and BMI, but no correlation with biopsy type or tumor location. Drainage to extraaxillary sites was rare. LS findings did not enhance success of intraoperative identification of SN or alter the postoperative management of patients with early stage breast cancer.
This study uses structural equation modeling to test a model hypothesizing the impacts of overloa... more This study uses structural equation modeling to test a model hypothesizing the impacts of overload and non-participation on job strain, turnover and commitment of urban transit drivers. The study sample comprises 331 responses from transit drivers from bus companies in Australia. The results show that non-participation has a direct and negative impact on organizational commitment while role overload has a direct and positive influence on intent to leave. An unexpected finding is that while overload and non-participation have significant positive impacts on job strain, there is no significant relationship between strain and organizational commitment. The implications are that work-related stressors appear to influence the organizational commitment and intent to leave of transit drivers directly rather than indirectly through job strain. Role overload and non-participation have not often been considered in the context of the commitment and intent to leave in stressful occupations such...
Early proponents of the problem-solving workshop cast it as a method of research to study the phe... more Early proponents of the problem-solving workshop cast it as a method of research to study the phenomenon of social conflict, not only as a method of practice. As a research technique, problem-solving workshops can serve as both a forum for applying and testing concepts and models about conflict, and as a laboratory for inductive theorizing based on information provided by participants. Workshops can also be useful for identifying the typical barriers that hamper effective negotiation and for proposing ways to overcome these resistances. As a form of action research, workshops constitute a social intervention and serve as the central element in a program of activities directed toward social change through conflict resolution. Unfortunately, both the potential of workshops as a research method and the need for evaluating them as interventions are inadequately addressed by current practice.
The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 2008
ABSTRACT paper reports on a study of how internal labor markets, operating in a multi-national ho... more ABSTRACT paper reports on a study of how internal labor markets, operating in a multi-national hotel chain, may impact on workers in traditionally low paid jobs. The quality of jobs has been linked to pay, with lower paid jobs tending to be regarded as being of lower quality. The study examines the effect of three main dimensions of internal labor markets: job security, training, and opportunities for advancement; on the key organizational outcomes of job satisfaction, organizational commitment and intention to leave. A range of human resource management actions in the operation of the hotel&#39;s internal labor market are discussed. Data from a world-wide organizational survey are analyzed in order to examine the links between the internal labor market variables and the key organizational outcomes. The paper concludes that the operation of an internal labor market, underpinned by effective human resource policies and actions, leads to improved quality of jobs as measured by increased job satisfaction and organizational commitment, together with reduced intention to leave. Yes Yes
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 2007
PurposeThe paper seeks to demonstrate an intrapreneur‐led three‐phase model of innovation based o... more PurposeThe paper seeks to demonstrate an intrapreneur‐led three‐phase model of innovation based on understanding the relationships between service delivery and product development thought, and the application of intrapreneurial‐focused teams in the healthcare and manufacturing industries.Design/methodology/approachThe research proposes a model that starts with effective teambuilding within an intrapreneurial context, then encompasses the relationship between service and product as a platform for the development of more effective innovation. A two‐part qualitative case study provides insight and understanding of the model's application within both service and manufacturing environments.FindingsInvestigating service delivery shortfalls with effectively developed intrapreneurial teams leads to new and/or improved services. New service developments in turn lead to the development of new products. An action research model based on Deming's PDSA (plan, do, study, act) cycle determ...
PurposeThere are a number of factors that are essential to understanding the pedagogy, learning a... more PurposeThere are a number of factors that are essential to understanding the pedagogy, learning and knowledge requirements of developing virtual platforms for delivering effective course interaction using the World Wide Web (the web). The purpose of this paper is to focus on web‐based group work amongst undergraduate management students, during a two‐year study investigating the development of virtual groups as an important problem‐solving and learning‐enhancement process.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the identification of successful groups undertaking undergraduate management courses, where group work is a compulsory component of the course assessment. Focus groups are used to collect a broad qualitative understanding of perceptions of students in relation to success factors. Lexical analysis is then used to analyse data.FindingsLexical analysis provides four clear clusters that the subjects consider are essential to group learning and performance. The outcomes ...
This study explores the effectiveness of an intervention involving formative assessment in a firs... more This study explores the effectiveness of an intervention involving formative assessment in a first‐year core business subject. Students were invited to receive feedback on a draft of their first written assessment during the early weeks of the semester. Consideration is given to the economic and ethical issues raised by the intervention. A multi‐method approach of qualitative and quantitative data collection
A design for a solar coronagraph substantially free from chromatic image defects is presented. Th... more A design for a solar coronagraph substantially free from chromatic image defects is presented. This design features a Mangin mirror used as both a color correcting element and a collimating lens to achieve accurate achromatic performance with good imaging properties. A computer evaluation is also presented.
As a representative of many emerging economies, BRICS’ economies have been greatly developed in r... more As a representative of many emerging economies, BRICS’ economies have been greatly developed in recent years. Meanwhile, the proportion of energy consumption of BRICS to the whole world consumption has increased. Therefore, it is significant to analyze and compare the energy efficiency among them. This paper firstly utilizes a Super-SBM model to measure and calculate the energy efficiency of BRICS, then analyzes their present status and development trend. Further, Bootstrap is applied to modify the values based on DEA derived from small sample data, and finally the relationship between energy efficiency and carbon emissions is measured. Results show that energy efficiency of BRICS as a whole is low but has a quickly increasing trend. Also, the relationship between energy efficiency and carbon emissions vary from country to country because of their different energy structures. The governments of BRICS should make some relevant energy policies according to their own conditions.
... Azimi Hj. Hamzah, Dr. Raja Ahmad Tajuddin Shah, Dr. Sulaiman Yassin, Dr. Maimilllah Ismail, a... more ... Azimi Hj. Hamzah, Dr. Raja Ahmad Tajuddin Shah, Dr. Sulaiman Yassin, Dr. Maimilllah Ismail, and Puan Junainah Abd. Manan for their moral encouragement and assistance ... members, my adopted father, Mr Sahr Mansa-Musa and Miss Francess Koroma for their ...
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