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Article
Publication date: 24 July 2023

Leander Luiz Klein, José Moyano-Fuentes, Kelmara Mendes Vieira and Diego Russowsky Marçal

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the causal relationship between Lean practices and team performance. Specifically, the authors tried to demonstrate which practices act as…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the causal relationship between Lean practices and team performance. Specifically, the authors tried to demonstrate which practices act as enablers of continuous improvement and waste elimination and what is their impact on team performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Southern Brazil. The authors obtained a sample of 785 respondents. The data analysis procedures involved confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling.

Findings

The results of the research provided support for the positive influence of continuous improvement on waste elimination and of these two practices on team performance. In addition, empirical support was obtained for the effect of leadership support, employee involvement and internal process customers on continuous improvement.

Research limitations/implications

Data collection was carried out online, so we were not able to maintain full control of the research respondents. This research generates relevant insights for decision-makers in the HEI environment, especially concerning Lean practices and team performance. The effects analyzed are even more relevant given the pandemic context.

Practical implications

This study shows how some higher education Lean practices can positively affect continuous improvement and better team performance. The results raise important insights for decision-makers to offer better higher education public services, especially given the context and changes imposed by the pandemic situation.

Originality/value

This paper initiates the discussion about enablers of continuous improvement and waste elimination in HEI and demonstrates their impact on team performance.

Details

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-4166

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 January 2024

Torbjørn Hekneby and Trude Høgvold Olsen

This paper aims to conceptualize the role of leadership in organizational learning processes in multinational companies (MNCs). The authors present a model describing how managers…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to conceptualize the role of leadership in organizational learning processes in multinational companies (MNCs). The authors present a model describing how managers in an MNC facilitated transitions between sub-processes of organizational learning at several organizational levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from the plants of a global process company in Norway, Brazil and China. Observation, in-depth interviews and archival material enabled one to reconstruct the organizational learning process over a period of 30 years as the company developed its own tailor-made improvement programme.

Findings

Based on the data, the authors describe the role of leadership in linking the sub-processes of organizational learning as orchestration, sponsoring and persistence. Orchestration included creating faith and optimism and designing the organization to allow close cooperation between operators and managers in the sub-process of experimenting. This eased transferring and institutionalizing in the global organization. Sponsoring included structural changes to support transferring and the demonstration of dedication to improvement programme values. These factors were important for institutionalizing. Persistence involved the continuous focus on adjustment of the improvement programme, which then facilitated further experimenting.

Originality/value

Firstly, this study suggests that activities and decisions in one sub-process have important implications for the following sub-processes. Secondly, this study indicates that leaders’ role in facilitating the transitions between sub-processes extend beyond their individual traits and behaviour, which previous research had focused on, and includes decisions concerning organizational structure and culture that help link social and organizational learning.

Details

The Learning Organization, vol. 31 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-6474

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 February 2024

Alesia Gerassimenko, Lieven De Moor and Laurens Defau

The current literature has not investigated the perceived value of energy efficiency by households, regardless of financial benefits. Furthermore, there is a severe lack of…

Abstract

Purpose

The current literature has not investigated the perceived value of energy efficiency by households, regardless of financial benefits. Furthermore, there is a severe lack of research that investigates the effectiveness of the current format of EPC-labels. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is twofold: to study how households value energy efficiency in the housing market, regardless of price effects.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses multiple hedonic regression models to analyse 706,778 Flemish properties for sale or rent between 2019 and 2023. The data is provided by Immoweb – the largest online real estate platform in Belgium. Given that the selling market is driven by different mechanisms than the rental market, the data set was divided in sold (522,164 listings) and rented properties (184,614 listings).

Findings

The ambiguous results of the A-label in the selling market indicate that the “class evaluation effect” found in related markets which use labels (e.g. household appliances) is also present in the housing market. However, the results of the other (lower) labels clearly show that owners do value energy improvements within labels, and this effect becomes stronger as the EPC-label becomes better. The rental market shows the opposite results. Energy improvements are only valued if they translate into a financial benefit. Taking these findings into account, the second part of this research shows that rescaling the EPC-label creates an incentive for improvements within labels.

Originality/value

This paper provides novel insights by studying the perceived value of energy efficiency in the absence of financial benefits and critically studying the effectiveness of the EPC-labels in their current shape. By investigating both the sales and rental market, the authors are able to make a comparison which creates valuable insights for academia, governments and real estate professionals.

Details

International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8270

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 24 October 2023

Mary Margaret Crowdle, Olivia McDermott and Anna Trubetskaya

This study aimed to bridge the gap between the financial measurement of process improvement ideas and Lean Six Sigma measurements. It was required to increase employee engagement…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to bridge the gap between the financial measurement of process improvement ideas and Lean Six Sigma measurements. It was required to increase employee engagement in process improvement initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Through both a practical and theoretical application of the Design for Lean Six Sigma methodology, the researcher was able to design a process and a benefit measuring methodology that was acceptable by finance and aligns with the benefits expected from the elimination of the Lean wastes.

Findings

The project found that benefit measurement methodology is not understood by most employees, which leads to a lack of engagement in working on improvements. The result of the study was a model for employees to identify and quantify these benefits. This has resulted in a model for cost-benefit analysis aligning financial costs with non-value add waste costs and cost of poor-quality costs resulting in increased process improvement ideas and activity.

Research limitations/implications

While this study was limited to one company, applying this methodology could benefit any company experiencing the same difficulties.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to try and cost the benefits of LSS projects both from an organisational and generic viewpoint.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. 35 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 November 2022

Sharifah Norzehan Syed Yusuf, Nur Hanida Sanawi, Erlane K. Ghani, Rifqi Muhammad, Dalila Daud and Eley Suzana Kasim

This study aims to examine the factors influencing the effectiveness of zakat distribution to university students. Specifically, it examines technology improvement, procedural…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the factors influencing the effectiveness of zakat distribution to university students. Specifically, it examines technology improvement, procedural application and governance on Sarawak university students’ zakat distribution effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the questionnaire as a research instrument and divided it into five parts. Part A gathers demographic information of respondents. Part B measures the respondent’s opinion on current technology improvement. Part C measures university students’ opinion on zakat application procedures. Part D measures the governance concept of the zakat institution. Part E measures the effectiveness of zakat distribution.

Findings

This study found technology improvement and governance significantly influence the effectiveness of zakat distribution to university students. This study provides no significant influence of the procedural application on zakat distribution’s efficacy to university students.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggested that technology plays an essential role in zakat distribution effectiveness by providing faster data processing, easier retrieval of information and time reduction to complete a task. The enforcement of good governance by zakat institutions allows them to be competitive, meets the stakeholders’ demand and serves them better.

Practical implications

This study provides understanding to the zakat institutions in developing appropriate zakat distribution strategies and strengthening their management and governance system.

Originality/value

This paper integrates technology improvement, procedural application and governance in zakat distribution.

Details

International Journal of Ethics and Systems, vol. 40 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9369

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 April 2023

Hesham Metwalli Mousli, Iman El Sayed, Adel Zaki and Sherif Abdelmonem

This study intends to improve the quality of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis practices including proper VTE risk assessment and the appropriate prophylaxis measures for…

Abstract

Purpose

This study intends to improve the quality of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis practices including proper VTE risk assessment and the appropriate prophylaxis measures for surgical urology patients.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied the Six-Sigma define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) improvement methodology in a pre–post interventional study that involved all adult patients above 18 years old indicated and scheduled for urology surgical interventions including endoscopic urological surgeries in a urology specialized 60-bed hospital. The pre-intervention sample included all patients meeting the inclusion criteria over a period of six months. Post-intervention sample included all patients meeting the inclusion criteria over a period of six months. The improvement areas included both the VTE risk assessment as well as the VTE prophylaxis prescription.

Findings

DMAIC methodology has achieved a substantial sustained improvement in surgical urology VTE prophylaxis practices with an average of 70% on both levels; VTE risk assessment practices and VTE prophylaxis prescribing practices were statistically significant. The post-intervention results also showed a statistically controlled process with no special cause variations. Based on the study results, the Six-Sigma DMAIC methodology can be considered of high value when applied in healthcare clinical practice improvement projects.

Research limitations/implications

The project study includes some pitfalls that can be addressed as follows: 1. The lack of VTE rate incidence tracking. This limitation can be partly refuted when the authors conduct a literature review and explore that the VTE prophylaxis effectiveness had been proven with sufficient evidence to an extent that pushed several scientific societies to develop their own guidelines to support VTE prophylaxis. (Algattas et al., 2018). 2. Another limitation of this study can be that it handled only surgical patients and more specifically surgical urology patients. Of course, VTE prophylaxis is a crucial life-threatening problem not only for the surgical admitted patients but also for all the medical admitted patients either in hospital wards or ICUs. However, the prediction that surgical patients especially surgical urology patients are more prone to VTE development risk as they have -in several cases-two or three main additive risk factors which are age, procedure duration and malignancy in elderly men. (Tikkinen et al., 2014). So, the authors consider the study project to be a prototype that hopefully can be utilized for future study projects that will manage both other surgical specialty patients and medical patients on the national level and can track accurately and effectively report the VTE incidence rates.

Practical implications

Several recommendations can be extracted from the research project that is summarized in the following points: Paying focused attention to continuous healthcare quality improvement initiatives and projects as a main approach for healthcare improvement especially for the public health-related problems. This might be achieved through periodic region-specific or specialty-specific focus groups from which public health problems could be addressed and prioritized to be considered as a part of country healthcare campaigns regarding cost-utility and feasibility studies. The adoption of a system thinking approach in dealing with the improvement strategies; all efforts and resources are to be employed to achieve a common objective. This includes the generation of a national-wide electronic health information system that can aid in healthcare resource allocation and direct the healthcare efforts towards the most important, high-priority public health problems. Electronic national-wide health record is really an effort, and resources consuming activity, but actually, it's worth exerting efforts, and its valuable outcomes may be seen several years later. 3. Development of unified national specialized VTE prophylaxis pathways to standardize the patient-specific VTE prophylaxis plans. Standardization of healthcare pathways enables healthcare professionals to follow an evidence-based practice which will be reflected on the improvement of healthcare quality level, cost-effectiveness enhancement, and timely patient care on all levels especially in high critical areas like ER and ICU. 4. Incorporation of VTE prophylaxis costs in the universal health insurance diagnosis-related group (DRG) insurance packages and service pricing. Universal health insurance is a nationwide strategy that is aiming to cover all Egypt residents by the year 2030. Universal health insurance is being following the DRG reimbursement policy that is thought to control all the healthcare-associated costs so, the VTE prophylaxis costs shall be added as the main cost item to encourage all healthcare facilities to follow an evidence-based VTE prophylaxis pathway taking into consideration the high-risk patient categories who will definitely represent a high-cost burden on the long run if they suffer a VTE event.

Originality/value

DMAIC improvement methodology applications in healthcare are still relatively limited, especially on the clinical level. The study can be considered one of a kind in Egypt dealing with a comprehensive DMAIC methodology application on the clinical level.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. 36 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 July 2023

Arnaldo Camuffo and Alberto Poletto

The paper tests if and to what extent lean management system adoption generates abnormal profitability, and how it accrues over time. Configurational approaches to lean management…

Abstract

Purpose

The paper tests if and to what extent lean management system adoption generates abnormal profitability, and how it accrues over time. Configurational approaches to lean management systems and “S-curve” effects in lean implementation are used to ground the paper's hypotheses and interpret its findings.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the emerging view of lean as enterprise-wide management systems, this quasi-experimental study uses a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the abnormal profitability (ROIC) attributable to lean management system adoption. The paper leverages a unique data set of lean adopters nested in a panel data set (19 years) of 2,088 industrial firms matched by industry and firm size. It applies a variety of regression methods (two-way fixed effect panel estimator, propensity score matching, instrumental variable two-stage-least squares) to estimate the size of the abnormal profitability attributable to lean management systems, addressing endogeneity issues related to non-random sampling, omitted variable bias and reverse causation. It also analyzes the cross-firm variability of such abnormal profitability and how it accrues over time.

Findings

For the average non-adopter in the sample (44.3 million euro revenues), lean adoption generates abnormal ROIC ranging from 1.4% to 3.9%. These results come into effect approximately three years after starting lean adoption and peak after eight years. While the average abnormal profitability attributable to lean adoption is sizable, it varies significantly across firms and over time. This significant variation is compatible with firms' diverse ability to understand the complex inner workings of lean systems, and to design and implement them so that they improve profitability.

Research limitations/implications

The conceptualization of lean as enterprise-wide management system can be further refined to more effectively categorize the components of lean systems and investigate the nature of their relationships. Lean system adoption measurement can be fine-tuned to better capture cross-firm and longitudinal heterogeneity. Future work can explore other dependent variables of interest to different stakeholders including shareholders' value, employment and environmental and social sustainability.

Practical implications

The financial benefits of adopting lean can be reaped to the extent to which managers embrace lean as a philosophy and implement it pervasively in the organization. A firm can use the study's estimates as a basis for making calculations about the returns of investment in lean adoption. The paper also shows that “getting the lean system right” makes a significant difference in terms of abnormal profitability, which is twice as large for the best lean adopters..

Social implications

Compared with the promises of many lean proponents and supporters, the paper provides a more realistic view of what to expect from lean adoption in terms of profitability. Adopting lean as a comprehensive, enterprise-wide management system is not a universal panacea, but a complex endeavor, characterized by multiple complex decisions that require considerable capabilities, coordinated efforts and consistency of action.

Originality/value

Differently from extant research, this study does not study the correlation between the adoption of lean operation practices and financial performance but focuses on the abnormal profitability generated by the adoption of lean as a pervasive, enterprise-wide management system. Its research design allows to identify the differential profitability attributable to lean adoption and documents that it accrues non-linearly.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 44 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 November 2022

Kanhaiya Kumar Sinha, Chad Saunders and Simon Oliver Raby

This paper aims to provide evidence-based managerial advice for identifying, developing and managing a broad-based innovation system for organizations to reap optimal performance…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide evidence-based managerial advice for identifying, developing and managing a broad-based innovation system for organizations to reap optimal performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The general review is based upon large-scale peer-reviewed academic studies of innovation practices in organizations and their performance outcomes and synthesized here through two illustrative case studies. The first case deals with Brightsquid Secure Communications as they expanded their product-focused innovation practices to include broad-based organizational improvements, while the second case focuses on Trimet Building Products and their use of broad-based innovation to turn around declining revenue.

Findings

Using the SME context, this study outlines an innovation management model that highlights the importance of leadership attention on organization-wide innovation and the interdependence of investments across functions.[AQ2] To enhance their performance, SMEs must implement broad learning programs across the organization that provides formal and informal cross-training and takes a cross-functional approach to innovation and problem-solving.

Originality/value

Reviewing and integrating the literature on different innovation types and outcomes, this study proposes a novel broad-based innovation model that guides firms that overemphasize improvements within a single function. Further, drawing on the learning literature, this paper recommends an organizational learning and collaboration model to achieve organization-wide innovation for optimal outcomes.

Details

Journal of Business Strategy, vol. 44 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0275-6668

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 March 2021

Sheshadri Chatterjee, Nripendra P. Rana and Yogesh K. Dwivedi

The purpose of this article is to identify how the organisations are able to improve their business value through acquisition of business analytics capabilities and by improving…

1915

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to identify how the organisations are able to improve their business value through acquisition of business analytics capabilities and by improving their performance.

Design/methodology/approach

With the help of literature survey, along with standard resource-based view framework, a conceptual model has been developed. These have been statistically tested by collecting the data using the survey questionnaire from 306 selected respondents from various service sector- and product-based organisations in India. To analyse the data we have used partial least square–based structural equation modelling.

Findings

The study highlights that by the help of data acquisition and tool acquisition as two vital components the acquisition of business analytics capabilities could improve the business value of the organisation by strengthening its organisational performance. The findings of this research also indicated that acquisition of business analytics capabilities has a significant influence on an organisation's business process performance and business decision, which in turn significantly influences organisational performance. And organisational performance eventually positively influences its business value. The model was found to provide an explanative power of 71%.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed research model can provide effective recommendations to the management of the organisations to realise the importance of acquisition of effective business analytics capabilities to eventually improve the business value of the organisation.

Originality/value

No specific studies, as yet, have analysed the effects of acquisition of business analytics capabilities for improving organisational performance mediated through business process performance and business decision. Therefore, this research has explored the distinctive effort to empirically validate this understanding.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 37 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2022

Kesavan Manoharan, Pujitha Dissanayake, Chintha Pathirana, Dharsana Deegahawature and Renuka Silva

Sources highlight that lack of systematic labour training components results in low performance and productivity of labour, which leads the construction industry of many countries…

Abstract

Purpose

Sources highlight that lack of systematic labour training components results in low performance and productivity of labour, which leads the construction industry of many countries to face various challenges. This study aims to quantify the variations in the performance and productivity levels of labour in building construction projects through the applications of effective work-based training components.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review and a series of experts’ discussions with action-oriented communication approaches were conducted to develop a set of practices related to labour training, performance assessment and productivity measurements within a framework. The developed practices were applied to around 100 labourers working on nine building construction projects through a construction supervisory training programme.

Findings

The study presents the detailed patterns of the significant changes in labour performance and productivity levels. The majority of trained labourers have grown to perform the work process with some relevant theoretical and operational knowledge and skills. The overall results spotlight the significant behavioural changes that can be observed in workforce operations by improving labour performance, which resulted in implementing effective labour-rewarding practices within a framework.

Research limitations/implications

Although the study findings were limited to the Sri Lankan context, the proposed practices can be applied to the industry practices of the construction sector of other developing countries and the other developing industries in similar ways/scenarios.

Practical implications

The study outcomes contribute to uplifting the work qualities of labourers with life-long learning opportunities and unlocking the potential barriers for expanding the local labour supply while controlling the excessive inclination of the local firms towards foreign labour. This paper describes further implications and future scopes of the study elaborately.

Originality/value

The study provides generalised mechanisms and practices that transform the labour characteristics and add new attributes for strengthening the values of construction supervision practices to obtain well-improved work outputs. The study outcomes reinforce the chain relationships among the training elements, labour performance and productivity levels, leading to upgrading current planning and operational management practices, especially adding constructive mechanisms in resource levelling and productivity benchmarking practices.

Details

Construction Innovation , vol. 24 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

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