Search results
1 – 10 of over 112000Antonio Lerro, Francesca A. Iacobone and Giovanni Schiuma
Companies coping with global business are called more and more to lead their transformation into intelligent organizations, i.e. organizations able to leverage their intellectual…
Abstract
Purpose
Companies coping with global business are called more and more to lead their transformation into intelligent organizations, i.e. organizations able to leverage their intellectual capital to achieve their business objectives and envision new development paths. This paper, assuming that the organizational intellectual capital corresponds to the knowledge assets attributed to a company, aims to discuss the organizational value, the processes, the approaches and the evaluation architectures of the knowledge asset assessment strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
On the basis of a literature review, first the sub‐processes of the assessment are discussed, highlighting the main features of the assessment of knowledge assets as well as the twofold nature of the knowledge asset assessment, distinguishing between stock and flow perspective of the evaluation. Second, the managerial reasons at the basis of the implementation of measurement systems for disclosing organizational knowledge resources are discussed. Finally, according to a distinction between the assessment approaches and the evaluation architectures, four main knowledge asset assessment strategies are defined.
Findings
Despite a number of models to assess intellectual capital being proposed, they highlighted a need for clarification of their strategic focus. With the aim of filling this gap, the main finding of the paper is to clarify relevant issues providing an organic, literature review‐based and coherent framework about the knowledge assets assessment strategies.
Originality/value
The identification of these strategies not only contributes to advance the theory of knowledge asset assessment, but also provides insights to managers to better define and implement models and approaches for measuring organizational knowledge resources. Especially they support managers in choosing and arranging critical information for defining the most suitable decisions and actions concerning the effective management and development of a company's intellectual capital.
Details
Keywords
The aim of this paper is to describe how academic institutions that focus improvement of student learning do much better than those that focus on compliance and assessment.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to describe how academic institutions that focus improvement of student learning do much better than those that focus on compliance and assessment.
Design/methodology/approach
A reflective observation of institutional interaction with the North Central Association Higher Learning Commission, especially the 264 colleges and universities that have participated in the Commission's assessment workshops, provides insight into the characteristics that make the most positive difference.
Findings
The paper finds that academic institutions do better when: assessment is best understood as the means and student learning itself as the end; shared responsibility and collective capacity are intentionally developed; internal leaders, of different types, are identified and developed; collaborative processes that actively engage people replace concerns about buy‐in; institutions jump in and learn as they go along; program review becomes an area of shared faculty/administration interest; changed, parallel or separate core processes permit attention to enduring issues; and institutions begin wherever they chose to begin and from there develop the means to complete a full cycle of outcomes assessment. Another more recent emphasis is the need to inform the public and other stakeholders about what students are learning.
Originality/value
This paper draws on the insights of those who work at the Higher Learning Commission, who share the unusual perspective of having experience of dealing with hundreds of academic institutions.
Details
Keywords
Fabiana Pirola, Chiara Cimini and Roberto Pinto
Given the challenges that Industry 4.0 poses, the purpose of this paper is to propose a comprehensive assessment model suitable for evaluating small- and medium-size enterprises’…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the challenges that Industry 4.0 poses, the purpose of this paper is to propose a comprehensive assessment model suitable for evaluating small- and medium-size enterprises’ (SMEs) digital readiness levels, discuss the results of an assessment of 20 manufacturing SMEs using the proposed model and highlight priorities needed to undertake a successful journey towards Industry 4.0.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts an empirical approach using multiple case studies. Starting with a literature review about maturity and readiness-assessment models for Industry 4.0, the study’s model has been built and validated through two pilot case studies, with the final model used in an extensive case studies research with 20 enterprises.
Findings
The SMEs used in this research present an intermediate readiness level with respect to Industry 4.0. They are aware of the phenomenon, but management is still taking the first steps towards identifying the most appropriate strategy to approach this Fourth Industrial Revolution. Companies need to exploit all opportunities that data availability provides in terms of knowledge creation and decision-making support, in all forms, through investments in people skills and expertise and through an infrastructure that can support data gathering, analysis and sharing.
Originality/value
The Italian industrial landscape comprises mainly SMEs, mostly needing support to understand their path towards Industry 4.0. Therefore, the proposed model specifically focuses on SMEs, given its modularity, ease of understanding and fit to SMEs’ organisational structure. Furthermore, insights from 20 Italian SMEs are examined, and a list of priorities is highlighted.
Details
Keywords
Alastair Walker, Tom McBride, Gerhard Basson and Robert Oakley
The assessment of COBIT process maturity levels is fraught with a number of problems regarding the objectivity of the assessment results. Unlike ISO/IEC 15504, COBIT does not…
Abstract
Purpose
The assessment of COBIT process maturity levels is fraught with a number of problems regarding the objectivity of the assessment results. Unlike ISO/IEC 15504, COBIT does not define an assessment model. The purpose of this paper is to align the behavioural aspects of the six COBIT process attributes with achievement results defined for the nine process attributes associated with the ISO/IEC 15504‐2 measurement scale. The authors believe that this alignment permits a translation of the ISO/IEC 15504 assessment data into an objective COBIT process maturity rating.
Design/methodology/approach
The tables presented in the paper identify the COBIT process attributes, the applicable ISO/IEC 15504 process attribute achievement results and the aggregated rating that pertains to the selected achievement results. A final table lists the derived COBIT process maturity level in terms of the ratings for the ISO/IEC 15504 process attribute achievement results for an assessed process.
Findings
The objectivity of the aggregated result (COBIT process maturity level) appeals strongly to end‐users of this measurement result, particularly where contractual obligations must be satisfied.
Practical implications
The method is useful where measurement rigour must be demonstrated in the computation of the COBIT process maturity levels.
Originality/value
This assessment and computational method was developed and trialled in the second half of 2010 in the context of the assessment of 13 information technology (IT) service management processes at two different customer sites. The material is of special value to service managers in companies that have outsourced IT service management processes to external IT service providers.
Details
Keywords
Elham Abbas Aljaaly and Nahlaa Khalifa
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the quality and sustainability of dietetic practice in the scope of anthropometry for adolescents at Jeddah hospitals care setting.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the quality and sustainability of dietetic practice in the scope of anthropometry for adolescents at Jeddah hospitals care setting.
Design/methodology/approach
An evaluation survey to define and critic dietetic practice concerning anthropometric assessment for adolescent group in Jeddah governmental and private operating hospitals with bed capacity of more than 150 beds and has at least four employed dietitians.
Findings
Only 10 percent of dietitians in Jeddah hospitals are members with the National Saudi Dietetic Association (SDA). Hospitals were mostly following international Standards of Practice (SOP) for anthropometry (60 percent), compared to national standards (10 percent). SOP is not unified or governed by the national organization body. Regularly (80 percent) of the practicing dietitians identify their individual scope of practice, the use of growth charts and reference data in assessing the growth status of their young clients. Similarly to other international countries, sustainability and resilience to all aspects of nutrition and dietetics practice should be ensured and maintained by SDA when guiding and standardizing all practices.
Originality/value
The study highlights the importance of standardizing the practice of anthropometric assessment among adolescent group. The study is also a call for the SDA to emphasize its role in governing and defining guidelines in all scopes of dietetics practice.
Details
Keywords
Young‐Ha Hwang, Dong‐Young Kim and Myong‐Kee Jeong
The purpose of this paper is to discuss a self‐assessment scheme and processes that are developed for and applied to a R&D organization based on ISO 9004:2000. The presented…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss a self‐assessment scheme and processes that are developed for and applied to a R&D organization based on ISO 9004:2000. The presented self‐assessment has been performed during internal audits based on quality management system in Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in Korea.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to enhance the reliability of the self‐assessment, the preliminary works such as training, workshop, case study and pre‐assessment rating are performed in advance before self‐assessment. Furthermore, this paper evaluates the reliability of self‐assessment results using Cohen's Kappa coefficient and the observed agreement index.
Findings
The results of this paper present that an organization's performance maturity level evolves sustainably through self‐assessment scheme and processes.
Practical implications
These results and lessons learned will be very useful to the organization that intends to enhance the performance of its R&D projects and processes and improve its processes continuously.
Originality/value
ISO 9004:2000 presents the guidelines of self‐assessment for the organization that intend to continually improve its performance considering the effectiveness and efficiency of a quality management system. According to ISO 9004, the range and depth of self‐assessment should be planned in relation to the organization's objectives and priorities. This paper discusses a self‐assessment scheme and processes that are developed for and applied to a R&D organization based on ISO 9004:2000.
Details
Keywords
L. Vercellesi, M. Colombi, M.T. Pesenti, N. Baroni, A. Cambini, P. Coccia, G. Miranda, M.T. Nava, M. Ponti and T. Zorzi
A study was set to define a suitable procedure of quality assurance, aiming to define quality measurements and develop assessment questionnaires. The exercise started with a…
Abstract
A study was set to define a suitable procedure of quality assurance, aiming to define quality measurements and develop assessment questionnaires. The exercise started with a survey of products and services offered by individual centres. The need for a mission statement emerged as a prerequisite to any quality definition. Objectives for a hypothetical drug information centre were drawn. Essential common quality indicators adequate to the full range of products were identified. Specific quality indicators for each product have also been produced. Recommendations on assessment techniques were defined and follow up measures were indicated. Overall assessment of the service was not tackled as resourcing was considered critical for the production; individual parameters were not weighted, as the weakest ring in a quality chain defines the overall quality of the product. The understanding of needs and queries of customers emerged as crucial to the achievement of quality; indications were given as how to proceed in case of a direct contact with end customers being impossible. Drug information professional's responsibilities were also stressed, particularly in the case of a ‘negative’ answer.
Zhen Chen and Sukulpat Khumpaisal
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel decision‐making approach to risks assessment in commercial real estate development against social, economic, environmental, and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel decision‐making approach to risks assessment in commercial real estate development against social, economic, environmental, and technological (SEET) criteria. It therefore aims to describe a multiple criteria decision‐making model based on analytic network process (ANP) theory, and to use an experimental case study on an urban regeneration project in Liverpool to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ANP model.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper commences with a description about risks related to commercial real estate development, and provides a list of risk assessment criteria based on literature review and experience in related areas. The ANP is then introduced as a powerful multicriteria decision‐making method. An experimental case study is finally conducted with scenarios and assumptions based on a real urban regeneration project in Liverpool.
Findings
The paper defines a group of risks assessment criteria against SEET requirements directly related to commercial real estate development. An ANP model is set up with 29 risks assessment criteria, and results from an experimental case study reveal that the ANP method is effective to support decision‐making based on risks assessment to select the most appropriate development plan; and therefore it is applicable in commercial area.
Originality/value
This paper defines SEET criteria for risks assessment in regard to SEET requirements to emphasise sustainable development; while the ANP is introduced to assess risks in commercial real estate development. The ANP model provides a platform for decision makers in commercial real estate development to evaluate different plans based on the degree of interactions among risk assessment criteria.
Details
Keywords
Lidia Hernández López, Petra de Saá Pérez, Jose Luis Ballesteros Rodríguez and Desiderio García Almeida
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the theoretical and practical need for research into the learning conditions that influence a student’s self-assessment of their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the theoretical and practical need for research into the learning conditions that influence a student’s self-assessment of their competences in management education. By means of a theoretical review, the paper introduces a model that integrates various learning conditions related to a student’s affective learning ability and the role of the teacher that may have an influence on a student’s self-assessment of their competences in the field of management.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors describe the analysis of data from questionnaires on the experience of undergraduate students from business administration at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Findings
The results reveal the importance of a student’s motivation for professional development, their self-efficacy as well as the important role of the teacher in a student’s self-assessment of their competences.
Originality/value
The paper fulfils an identified need to study the conditions that influence a student’s self-assessment of their learning.
Details
Keywords
In this paper a systematic and well-defined student participation assessment scheme for college courses is proposed. The scheme supports the involvement of students in a variety…
Abstract
In this paper a systematic and well-defined student participation assessment scheme for college courses is proposed. The scheme supports the involvement of students in a variety of areas of participation within and outside the classroom with the aim of improving their learning. The scheme addresses mostly the challenges related to the practicality of the structure and design of the assessment. It also addresses the subjectivity of grading student participations. Areas of participation are widened to allow the faculty more accurate information about the conduct of each individual student towards more objective assessment. In addition, it provides the faculty with the flexibility to select areas that best fit the learning outcomes, nature of the course, availability of time and resources, and class atmosphere. The proposed scheme is initiated and developed using feedback from the teaching staff of Nizwa College of Technology, (NCT) through a survey and open discussion. The results indicate that over two thirds of the surveyed staff show agreement with the concept of assessing participation and find the scheme design clear and systematic, while 82% of them perceive the scheme as effective in improving the motivation and learning of students.