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Book part
Publication date: 5 May 2017

Amitava Mitra

Processes, in practice, may involve more than one quality characteristic that are of interest. It is quite possible for such quality characteristics to not be independent of each…

Abstract

Processes, in practice, may involve more than one quality characteristic that are of interest. It is quite possible for such quality characteristics to not be independent of each other since the magnitude of one of the characteristics may influence the magnitude of the other characteristics. Under this setting, it is of interest to determine the optimal settings of the process parameters (usually the process mean and the process standard deviation of each quality characteristic) under various objectives. Some of the objectives may be conflicting to each other. In general, it may be possible for the decision-maker to prioritize the objectives. Using such a prioritized scheme, it is of interest to determine the optimal settings of the process mean and standard deviation for each quality characteristic that is being monitored. Such solutions could be labeled as “satisficing” solutions. Sensitivity analyses of the decision variables to the chosen objectives and parameter values are also investigated.

Article
Publication date: 16 November 2018

Masatoshi Muramatsu and Takeo Kato

The purpose of this paper is to propose the selection guide of the multi-objective optimization methods for the ergonomic design. The proposed guide enables designers to select an…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose the selection guide of the multi-objective optimization methods for the ergonomic design. The proposed guide enables designers to select an appropriate method for optimizing the human characteristics composed of the engineering characteristics (e.g. users’ height, weight and muscular strength) and the physiological characteristics (e.g. brain wave, pulse-beat and myoelectric signal) in the trade-off relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focuses on the types of the relationships between engineering or physiological characteristics and their psychological characteristics (e.g. comfort and usability). Using these relationships and the characteristics of the multi-objective optimization methods, this paper classified them and constructed a flow chart for selecting them.

Findings

This paper applied the proposed selection guide to a geometric design of a comfortable seat and confirmed its applicability. The selected multi-objective optimization method optimized the contact area of seat back (engineering characteristic associated with the comfortable fit of the seat backrest) and the blood flow volume (physiological characteristic associated with the numbness in the lower limb) on the basis of each design intent such as a deep-vein thrombosis after long flight.

Originality/value

Because of the lack of the selection guide of the multi-objective optimization methods, an inappropriate method is often applied in industry. This paper proposed the selection guide applied in the ergonomic design having a lot of the multi-objective optimization problem.

Details

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, vol. 17 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1726-0531

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 June 2020

Minjung Cho

This paper examines residential satisfaction in welfare housing facilities exclusively built for low-income single-mother households in South Korea. The main objective is to…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines residential satisfaction in welfare housing facilities exclusively built for low-income single-mother households in South Korea. The main objective is to identify predictors from among various domains such as sociodemographic and psychological characteristics of residents, as well as objective and subjective characteristics of their residential environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method field study evaluates data obtained via structured questionnaires administered to 233 low-income single mothers in 23 residential welfare facilities across South Korea, supplemented by facility observations and interviews with housing staff from 16 facilities.

Findings

Residential satisfaction was found to be a multidimensional construct predicted by a number of variables, with psychological characteristics being dominant. Significant predictors were also identified among physical and sociospatial environmental characteristics, such as plan type, management and service and personal space.

Practical implications

The results of this study highlight the significance of the human aspects of management and the sociospatial quality of housing unit spaces to provide a sense of protection and privacy for the residents, which emphasizes the importance of management, design and policy improvements to increase satisfaction in welfare facility residents.

Originality/value

Currently, data for special housing conditions of female-headed households in unstable housing affordability are relatively few and outdated. A critical examination of the physical and sociospatial quality of short-term subsidized public housing for low-income single-mother households in South Korea expands the current knowledge in this field to various sociodemographic and cultural contexts.

Details

Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 14 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 September 2023

Khadidja El-Bahdja Djebbar and Abderahemane Mokhtari

This study aims to examine the awareness of the inhabitants regarding energy consumption in relation to comfort in Tlemcen and analyze the paths of influence and the effects of…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the awareness of the inhabitants regarding energy consumption in relation to comfort in Tlemcen and analyze the paths of influence and the effects of individual objective and subjective characteristic factors. This determines the factors' level of perception of the importance of energy retrofitting.

Design/methodology/approach

As part of an exploratory empirical study, this paper further discusses accompanied survey data from a sample of 208 properties, through a triangulation of in-depth qualitative studies and quantitative studies developed and analyzed by SPSS software (the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).

Findings

Analysis of the results of the survey shows that the respondents have a level of awareness on comfort linked to energy savings but they lack guidance and recourse to specialists. The conclusion is that resident awareness is crucial and beneficial and that the key socio-demographic characteristics to determine the perception factors are related to age, occupation, household size and time lived in the house.

Originality/value

By exploring some of the key insights from the survey, this research improves residents' perception of the importance of energy retrofitting in the residential sector, highlighting the importance of priorities. This influences public attitudes and contributes to raising awareness in order to provide useful results for developing, in future studies, motivational strategies for these inhabitants. The present research is expected to add value to existing studies academically and methodologically and provide policy guidance to policy makers and other energy efficiency (EE) practitioners in the Maghreb region and beyond.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 September 2017

Sjur Børve, Asbjørn Rolstadås, Bjorn Andersen and Wenche Aarseth

Due to observed problems in real-life projects stemming from the lack of a unified definition, the purpose of this paper is to formulate a new definition of project partnering…

1966

Abstract

Purpose

Due to observed problems in real-life projects stemming from the lack of a unified definition, the purpose of this paper is to formulate a new definition of project partnering (PP) through documenting the specific characteristics researchers attribute to this approach.

Design/methodology/approach

PP definition phrases extracted from a literature review were sorted into a basic framework of who, what, how, when and where. In a web-based survey, a group of experts marked the phrases from the literature review as being specific, generic, or irrelevant to PP. The expert group comprised highly ranked and experienced PP researchers. Based on the survey results, a new definition was formulated. The new definition specifies the participants, the objectives and the knowledge, skills, tools and techniques applied to pursue the objectives in PP. A verification survey of the expert group gave a 78-96 per cent combined approve and support score for each element of the new definition.

Findings

PP and a partnering project are defined by a framework encompassing three basic dimensions: participants, objectives, knowledge, skills, tools and techniques applied to pursue the objectives. The new definition is: “project partnering is a relationship strategy whereby a project owner integrates contractors and other major contributors into the project”. Through commitment to mutual project objectives, collaborative problem solving and a joint governance structure, partners pursue collaborative relationships, trust and improved performance. The new definition indicates that PP neither varies with early contractor involvement nor gain and pain share, but varies with the degree of mutual project objectives, collaborative problem solving and joint governance structure.

Originality/value

PP is a complex concept with no widely accepted definition. The basic framework applied to the formulation of the definition in this project can also be applied to define and implement a partnering project and to define and distinguish between other relationship-based procurement forms.

Details

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8378

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 October 2006

Karise Hutchinson, Barry Quinn and Nicholas Alexander

The purpose of this research is to specifically explore the role of management characteristics in the international development of SMEs.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to specifically explore the role of management characteristics in the international development of SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Since the intention of this study was to build theory from an unexplored area of research, a multiple case approach was deemed most appropriate. In doing so, this paper responds to recent calls in the literature for in‐depth case research (e.g. Westhead et al., 2002; Doherty, 2003).

Findings

This paper highlights the importance of objective and subjective characteristics as factors which impact not only the initial decision to expand and the support of overseas operations, but the subsequent path and pace of international development.

Research limitations/implications

While this paper confirms the pivotal role of the owner manager in the international decision‐making of retail SMEs, it is recommended that future research examines the role of management characteristics in SMEs based in other industries.

Practical implications

The findings from this empirical study have important implications for both managers of SMEs and private and public sector organisations, and these recommendations are discussed in the conclusions of this paper.

Originality/value

While the effect of management decisions upon the internationalisation of SMEs is at a relatively developed stage in the literature, one of the less studied aspects is the role of decision‐maker characteristics. Given the manufacturing focus of research contributions in the field, this paper yields new insights into SME foreign development and the role of management in the context of the retail sector and the broader service industry.

Details

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1462-6004

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2003

Susan J. Linz

Are Russian workers satisfied with their jobs? If not, why does it matter and what can be done? Empirical evidence based on studies of US workers suggests that job satisfaction…

15121

Abstract

Are Russian workers satisfied with their jobs? If not, why does it matter and what can be done? Empirical evidence based on studies of US workers suggests that job satisfaction tends to correlate positively with labor productivity and negatively with labor turnover, both of which influence firm performance. Improving firm performance without substantially increasing costs is uppermost in the minds of many Russian managers. This paper analyzes the nature and scope of job satisfaction among Russian workers, using survey data to: identify the level of job satisfaction expressed by 1,200 survey participants in response to questions about satisfaction with the job and satisfaction with the work that is done in the job; investigate the variation in job satisfaction explained by differences in worker characteristics – both objective characteristics (age, gender, education, work experience, supervisory responsibilities, unemployment experience, marital status, recent change in workplace, number of jobs held at the time of the interview, for example) and subjective characteristics (attitude toward work); ascertain the link between job satisfaction and select intrinsic and extrinsic job characteristics; and evaluate the extent to which job satisfaction is correlated with alternative measures of organizational commitment. While endogeneity and simultaneity preclude establishing causality, these cross section data do permit evaluation of factors highly correlated with job satisfaction. The specific aim of the paper is to identify factors that increase the probability that a worker will express a high level of job satisfaction. The results will prove useful in designing effective reward structures and/or reducing turnover, as well as establishing management‐training programs to promote more effective teamwork.

Details

International Journal of Manpower, vol. 24 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7720

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 3 December 2013

Instructional design involves the identification of strong learning objectives and the selection of instructional methods to accomplish them. In this chapter, we consider how to…

Abstract

Instructional design involves the identification of strong learning objectives and the selection of instructional methods to accomplish them. In this chapter, we consider how to write online course objectives that will serve as a foundation for future redesign decisions. Strong learning objectives are observable, measurable, attainable, and specific. They are focused on the needs of our target audience and should fit with our instructional philosophy as reflected by our metaphor. We explore how individual differences, such as demographics, personality, past performance, and expectations can affect learner needs and preferences, which should inform learning objectives and instructional methods. We structure the design process around decisions related to four essential activities that instructional methods should facilitate: the sharing of information, the demonstration of skills, the ways for learners to practice skills, and the means to ensure learning has happened. We concentrate on selecting general methods of instruction, which we will later refine and adapt for online delivery. We walk through the DeSIGN process in detail, determining strong objectives and exploring how to use them in identifying instructional methods. Intersections between these decisions and future redesign considerations are also discussed.

Article
Publication date: 17 October 2008

Huang Xianfeng, Shao Dongguo and Gu Wenquan

To solve the water resources deployment problem which is a multi‐objective nonlinear problem with the characteristic of space‐time variability, involving many factors, such as…

407

Abstract

Purpose

To solve the water resources deployment problem which is a multi‐objective nonlinear problem with the characteristic of space‐time variability, involving many factors, such as economy, society, ecology, environment and projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Coupling the characteristic of multi‐objective with chaotic optimization, a multi‐objective chaotic optimization algorithm (MCOA) is proposed for optimal water resources deployment. The algorithm magnifies the chaotic series generated by logistic mapping to the feasible region, and seeks the best results by iterative comparison which can avoid the difficulties that objective functions and the constraints should be continuous and differentiable. MCOA is a global optimization method and has high efficiency.

Findings

The proposed algorithm is applied to the optimal deployment of water resources in a certain river basin. The rationality of results is verified by the entropy change theory. The results indicate that the optimal water resources deployment can be realized using the proposed algorithm in a more rational way.

Research limitations/implications

The numbers and the bounds of variables are the main limitations which the algorithm will be applied.

Practical implications

A very useful optimization algorithm for optimal water resources deployment.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the new optimization algorithm for optimal water resources deployment due to the MCOA.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 37 no. 9/10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 1994

Charles R. Duke

Standard approaches to price decisions are normally illustrated asstep‐by‐step developments that try to group pricing issues loosely intosome format. These current approaches do…

15953

Abstract

Standard approaches to price decisions are normally illustrated as step‐by‐step developments that try to group pricing issues loosely into some format. These current approaches do not emphasize the interaction of consumer characteristics with the competitive environment of each market. Describes a modified version of the Tellis Price Strategy Matrix to enable coordinated market issues and company strategies by directing emphasis on pricing issues and techniques that are appropriate and effective, given the consumers′ (or segment′s) as well as the company′s objectives, as constrained by the competitive nature of the product′s market. By using this type of matrix as a guide, product managers can quickly evaluate the appropriate issues of concern for a given pricing decision and then progress toward a pricing decision with more confidence.

Details

Journal of Product & Brand Management, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1061-0421

Keywords

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