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1 – 10 of 141Mohammad Reza Sarkar Arani, Yoshiaki Shibata, Kim-Eng Christine Lee, Hiroyuki Kuno, Masami Matoba, Fong Lay Lean and John Yeo
The purpose of this paper is to reveal the cultural script of the teaching of a lower secondary science lesson on the topic “Classification of Non-living Things” in Singapore…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reveal the cultural script of the teaching of a lower secondary science lesson on the topic “Classification of Non-living Things” in Singapore through the eyes of Japanese and Singaporean researchers and teachers. In particular, the study analyzes the structural content, i.e. organization of learning activities of a lower secondary science lesson of Singapore and the culture of teaching, i.e. views about teaching held as tacit knowledge of science teachers. It focusses on students’ inquiry skills in a participative and problem-driven science lesson in the Singapore classroom.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory study adopts a cultural approach of viewing teaching and learning and compares classroom practice in two countries – Japan and Singapore. Contextually, the cultural differences in beliefs and values define how educators learn about what is “good” teaching.
Findings
The cultural script of teaching of the science lesson case values the setting of learning tasks that encourage a variety of ideas. It also sets a tone of inquiry-based learning where students are open to questioning, the formulation of ideas and the presentation of solutions. In the science lesson case, the teacher aimed at providing opportunities for students to think for themselves and to engage in group discussion. This study identifies key aspects of the science lesson for revealing the teaching script based on a cross-cultural lesson analysis. Figure 1 summarizes such facets of teacher teaching and student learning in detail as a result of the lesson analysis. Furthermore, it draws attention to recognizing areas of the lesson script which the Japanese team found effective/ineffective as well as identifying the Singaporean team's reflections on feedback from Japanese educators.
Research limitations/implications
Through this study, the research team raises the following questions. Are there common practices that make for effective learning and if so what are these? From the perspectives of Japanese and Singaporean researchers and educators, what might be the different elements of teaching that will bring about better student learning?
Originality/value
An important avenue for inquiry in teaching is how to create teaching-learning processes that nurture students’ ability to deal with the unexpected as well as their application skills – competencies that are required of students to function in the twenty-first century. The research team suggests a cross-cultural analysis approach for future research investigating the cultural script of teaching.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states in 2018 that safeguarding “civil liberties is critical” to their official duties. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties…
Abstract
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states in 2018 that safeguarding “civil liberties is critical” to their official duties. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within DHS, as its website explains,
reviews and assesses complaints from the public in areas such as: physical or other abuse; discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability; inappropriate conditions of confinement; infringements of free speech; violation of right to due process … and any other civil rights or civil liberties violation related to a Department program or activity.
My chapter tracks the centrality of deportability in shaping the civil liberties and rights that DHS is tasked with enforcing. Over the course of the twentieth century, people on US soil saw an expanding list of civil liberties and civil rights. Important scholarship concentrates on the role of the courts, state and federal governments, advocacy groups, social movements, and foreign policy driving these constitutional and cultural changes. For instance, the scholarship illustrates that coming out of World War I, the US Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment did not protect something the Justices labeled “irresponsible speech.” The Supreme Court soon changed course, opening up an era ever since of more robust First Amendment rights. What has not been undertaken in the literature is an examination of the relationship of deportability to the sweep of civil liberties and civil rights. Starting in the second decade of the twentieth century, federal immigration policymakers began multiplying types of immigration statuses. A century later, among many others, there is the H2A status for temporary low-wage workers, the H2B for skilled labor, and permanent residents with green cards. The deportability of each status constrains access to certain liberties and rights. Thus, in 2016, when people from the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within DHS act, they are not enforcing a uniform body of rights and liberties that applies equally to citizens and immigrants, or even within the large category of immigrants. Instead, they do so within a complicated matrix of liberties and rights attenuated by deportability, which has been shaped by the history of the twentieth century.
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Mujahed Thneibat, Motasem Thneibat and Bader Al-Tamimi
This study aims to lay the groundwork for the potential application of value management (VM) in construction projects. This paper presents a critical review on the status of VM in…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to lay the groundwork for the potential application of value management (VM) in construction projects. This paper presents a critical review on the status of VM in a developing country and highlights the role of perceptions on critical success factors (CSFs) for the phases of VM studies, as the participants in a VM study should consider CSFs tailored to the local context.
Design/methodology/approach
A series of interviews and a questionnaire were conducted to understand the drivers, perceptions, barriers, and CSFs of VM in the Jordanian construction industry. Although descriptive statistics were used to analyze the status of VM, a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was adopted to highlight the interrelationships between perceptions and the CSFs of the three phases of VM (i.e. pre-workshop, workshop, and implementation).
Findings
The descriptive analysis revealed conflicting viewpoints for perceptions and drivers. Most practitioners acknowledged little awareness of VM phases, and the SEM results indicated that perceptions of VM, in terms of its capacity in improving the scope and objectives of the project, and reducing overall costs, most strongly influenced the CSFs of the implementation phase in terms of support and clear plan for implementation, and had the least influence on the pre-workshop phase. Further, the perceptions had a moderate effect on the CSFs of the workshop phase and it tended to be positive, highlighting the importance of function analysis in this phase.
Originality/value
This is the first study to reveal the status of VM in Jordan in terms of adoption, drivers, perceptions, barriers and CSFs; no prior studies have investigated how perceptions can affect the CSFs of each phase of VM and the endorsement of VM by the construction industry. The contributions of this study include linking the perceptions of construction professionals with the CSFs of VM.
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Emmanuel Itodo Daniel and Christine Pasquire
The purpose of this paper is to present the current knowledge surrounding social value (SV) and show how lean approach supports SV realisation in the delivery of construction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the current knowledge surrounding social value (SV) and show how lean approach supports SV realisation in the delivery of construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
A critical literature review was adopted, to gather the current knowledge surrounding SV from mainstream management sciences, construction management and lean literature. A total of 70 studies were critically reviewed.
Findings
The study establishes that the current level of awareness on SV is still low and there is a dearth of scholarly publications on SV especially in the construction management literature. The investigation reveals the potentials of lean approach in supporting the delivery of SV on construction projects.
Social implications
This study conceptualises the community and the physical environment around where the construction project is executed as customers using lean production approach. It shows that the transformation, flow and value view supports smooth workflow, which enhances the achievement of SV objectives. This creates a new insight into how SV can be realised in construction project delivery.
Originality/value
This study extends the on-going debate around the need for SV in construction project delivery and contributes to construction management and lean construction literature on SV. Future studies could build on this to obtain empirical data and develop an approach/method that would support the evidencing of SV delivery on construction projects.
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Information technology (IT) is a powerful communication and computing tool in today’s business environment. The role of IT in shaping business operations is a crucial one. IT can…
Abstract
Information technology (IT) is a powerful communication and computing tool in today’s business environment. The role of IT in shaping business operations is a crucial one. IT can redesign and transform a low technology industry into a high technology industry. The printing and publishing industry is one such case. Two local printing companies in Singapore, namely Superskill Graphics and Xpress Print, had won the national IT awards in 1990 and 1994 respectively for their innovative use of IT. Aims to examine how both companies deploy IT to transform their printing processes from a low technology, labour‐intensive environment with local clientele in the 1970s to a high technology environment with global clientele in the 1990s.
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The strategic management literature emphasizes the concept of business intelligence (BI) as an essential competitive tool. Yet the sustainability of the firms’ competitive…
Abstract
The strategic management literature emphasizes the concept of business intelligence (BI) as an essential competitive tool. Yet the sustainability of the firms’ competitive advantage provided by BI capability is not well researched. To fill this gap, this study attempts to develop a model for successful BI deployment and empirically examines the association between BI deployment and sustainable competitive advantage. Taking the telecommunications industry in Malaysia as a case example, the research particularly focuses on the influencing perceptions held by telecommunications decision makers and executives on factors that impact successful BI deployment. The research further investigates the relationship between successful BI deployment and sustainable competitive advantage of the telecommunications organizations. Another important aim of this study is to determine the effect of moderating factors such as organization culture, business strategy, and use of BI tools on BI deployment and the sustainability of firm’s competitive advantage.
This research uses combination of resource-based theory and diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory to examine BI success and its relationship with firm’s sustainability. The research adopts the positivist paradigm and a two-phase sequential mixed method consisting of qualitative and quantitative approaches are employed. A tentative research model is developed first based on extensive literature review. The chapter presents a qualitative field study to fine tune the initial research model. Findings from the qualitative method are also used to develop measures and instruments for the next phase of quantitative method. The study includes a survey study with sample of business analysts and decision makers in telecommunications firms and is analyzed by partial least square-based structural equation modeling.
The findings reveal that some internal resources of the organizations such as BI governance and the perceptions of BI’s characteristics influence the successful deployment of BI. Organizations that practice good BI governance with strong moral and financial support from upper management have an opportunity to realize the dream of having successful BI initiatives in place. The scope of BI governance includes providing sufficient support and commitment in BI funding and implementation, laying out proper BI infrastructure and staffing and establishing a corporate-wide policy and procedures regarding BI. The perceptions about the characteristics of BI such as its relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, and observability are also significant in ensuring BI success. The most important results of this study indicated that with BI successfully deployed, executives would use the knowledge provided for their necessary actions in sustaining the organizations’ competitive advantage in terms of economics, social, and environmental issues.
This study contributes significantly to the existing literature that will assist future BI researchers especially in achieving sustainable competitive advantage. In particular, the model will help practitioners to consider the resources that they are likely to consider when deploying BI. Finally, the applications of this study can be extended through further adaptation in other industries and various geographic contexts.
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Bonnie Lee, Jason Solowoniuk and Mary Fong
Trauma and adverse childhood events are found in the pre‐immigration histories of a cohort of four Chinese Canadian pathological gamblers. The nature of their traumatic…
Abstract
Trauma and adverse childhood events are found in the pre‐immigration histories of a cohort of four Chinese Canadian pathological gamblers. The nature of their traumatic experiences, consisting of loss and abandonment, neglect and deprivation, physical and emotional abuse, socioeconomic and political oppression, is elucidated and described. The impact of pre‐immigration trauma and its relationship to the development of pathological gambling post‐immigration are discussed. Upon further corroboration of the existence of pre‐immigration trauma among Chinese and Asian immigrants in future studies, training of counsellors to incorporate an in‐depth pre‐immigration history in the assessment and treatment protocol of immigrants manifesting pathological gambling is recommended.
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Atul Kumar Sahu, Prabhu M. and K.T. Vigneswara Rao
The occurrence of COVID-19 has impacted the wide-reaching dimensions of manufacturing, materials, procurement, management, etc., and has loaded disruptions in the wide range of…
Abstract
Purpose
The occurrence of COVID-19 has impacted the wide-reaching dimensions of manufacturing, materials, procurement, management, etc., and has loaded disruptions in the wide range of supply chain (SC) activities. The impact of COVID-19 has twisted supplier performance and influenced stakeholders’ thinking towards selecting supplier sources and making strategic sourcing decision for convinced arrangement of construction management (CM) resources. Nowadays, suppliers are intently evaluated by stakeholders in post-COVID-19 phase to induce agile availability of CM resources. Accordingly, this paper aims to demonstrate competent CM dimensions under post COVID-19 scenario for ease managing construction projects by the stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have implicated Grey Sets Theory along with decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique for understanding significant outcomes. Varieties of diverse decision aspects responsible for strategically influencing supplier sourcing decision is projected under post COVID-19 scenario for handling construction projects by the stakeholders.
Findings
This study investigated sustainable construction management dimensions (SCMD) at the stage of resource deliveries and client aspirations under post COVID-19 situation. The study demonstrated “Lead time” as the most crucial, “Product Range” as the second and “Customers dealings and relationship” as the third crucial aspect considering by the stakeholders for selecting supplier sources based on the attainment of performance score of 0.1338, 0.1273 and 0.1268, respectively. It is found that high lead time stimulates the stakeholders to divert their orders to other competent supplier sources holding a low degree of lead time as compared.
Research limitations/implications
The present study rollovers its existence by serving critical thinking, conceptual modelling, criteria identification and evaluation under CM domain for drafting effectual strategies by the suppliers. The study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on stakeholders’ decision-making and enlisted SCMD that strategically stimulated them in choosing supplier sourcing decision.
Originality/value
The present study realizes the insights of stakeholders in the post COVID-19 scenario related to the supplier sources based on performance score. The study quantified sustainable supplier attribute for construction work and practices. The study analysed the expectations of the stakeholders purchasing different varieties of construction materials from supplier sources for civil works in the post COVID-19 scenario.
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Amit Kumar Arya and Suraj Choudhary
This study aims to represent Kaizen implementation in a machine vice manufacturing company. Kaizen has shown tremendous impacts on the production techniques and lead times. A…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to represent Kaizen implementation in a machine vice manufacturing company. Kaizen has shown tremendous impacts on the production techniques and lead times. A large number of small-scale industries have shown their existence in India. It has been difficult for small industries to survive due to tough competition among them. All are facing problems like low production and poor-quality products.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology applied to implement Kaizen in Indian small-scale industry. Fishbone diagrams have been used to represent cause and effects. The result has been shown as savings in terms of money and time.
Findings
Inventory access time is reduced up to 87 per cent and total distance travelled and total time taken by product is reduced up to 43.75 and 46.08 per cent, respectively. A habit to maintain a clean workplace has been developed in workers.
Research limitations/implications
ISO could be integrated with Kaizen for more improvements.
Practical implications
The paper should assist those practitioners and consultants who have the desire to understand a better way of Kaizen implementation in small-scale industries of India.
Originality/value
This paper yields lots of values for practitioners to understand the need, impacts and significance of Kaizen implementation in small-scale industries of India. Also, it bridges the gap between theory and practice of Kaizen implementation in real working conditions in Indian industries.
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Huynh Thi Thuy Giang and Luu Tien Dung
The purpose of the present study is to examine the direct impact of transformational leadership on non-family employee intrapreneurial behaviour and through a mediating role of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present study is to examine the direct impact of transformational leadership on non-family employee intrapreneurial behaviour and through a mediating role of corporate adaptive culture and psychological empowerment in family-owned firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The study’s sample consisted of 368 key role non-family employees at 109 family export and import firms in the Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam. The data is analysed using a partial least square–structural equation model (PLS-SEM).
Findings
This paper shows that transformational leadership had a positive and significant influence on non-family employee intrapreneurial behaviour directly and via adaptive corporate culture and psychological empowerment as a mediating influence mechanism.
Practical implications
Family-owned firms might balance the need to maintain traditional core values and requires innovation through the development of human capital with non-family employee intrapreneurship.
Originality/value
This paper grants a unique approach to studying intrapreneurial behaviour in the context of the family-owned business.
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