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1 – 10 of 22Dalia Birani-Nasraldin, Ronit Bogler and Anit Somech
Relying on the principles of the social exchange theory, the current study is aimed at investigating the impact of team-member exchange relationships (TMX) among school management…
Abstract
Purpose
Relying on the principles of the social exchange theory, the current study is aimed at investigating the impact of team-member exchange relationships (TMX) among school management team (SMT) members on school outcomes (organizational citizenship behavior [OCB], job satisfaction and innovation) via the mediating role of leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships between principals and SMTs.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from multiple sources in 86 elementary and junior high schools to avoid one-source bias: 86 principals, 357 SMT members and 683 schoolteachers who were not members of the management teams.
Findings
The results revealed a positive relationship between TMX and teachers' job satisfaction and OCB, but no significant link between TMX and innovation. LMX partially mediated the relationship between TMX and OCB and between TMX and teachers' job satisfaction. Full mediation was found in TMX-innovation relationship.
Practical implications
The findings carry a message for school principals and policymakers regarding the importance of developing and maintaining high-quality horizontal and vertical exchange relationships among the SMT members for their positive influence on school outcomes.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine the link between TMX and LMX as a team phenomenon, and specifically in the educational setting. The finding that there is a positive link between the two constructs may imply that SMTs contribute to school success not only directly by exhibiting high-quality TMX but also indirectly through the high-quality LMX.
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Dalia Birani-Nasraldin, Anit Somech and Ronit Bogler
Previous studies have examined the empowerment of individual teachers, while neglecting the fact that such a phenomenon might grow within a team. Building on the crossover model…
Abstract
Purpose
Previous studies have examined the empowerment of individual teachers, while neglecting the fact that such a phenomenon might grow within a team. Building on the crossover model and social exchange theory, the aim of this study is to explore whether team empowerment among school management teams (SMTs), is transmitted to the school level and affects schoolteachers' job satisfaction and thereby schoolteachers' organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Furthermore, we explored whether those relationships are moderated by team-member exchange (TMX) relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 86 principals, 357 SMT members and 683 schoolteachers from 86 schools.
Findings
Results confirmed the mediating role of schoolteachers' job satisfaction, showing a positive relationship between SMT empowerment and schoolteachers' job satisfaction, and between job satisfaction and OCB. The moderation of TMX and the overall moderated mediation hypotheses were not supported.
Research limitations/implications
The nature of data collected in the current study precludes any inference concerning the direction of casual links among the study constructs. Therefore, longitudinal studies could be designed, aimed at confirming the direction of links among the variables.
Practical implications
The findings reinforce the impact of schoolteachers' job satisfaction on achieving OCBs. Hence, SMT members carry the responsibility to cultivate satisfied schoolteachers through schools' support mechanisms and guidance in order to achieve schoolteachers' OCB.
Originality/value
The study identifies SMT empowerment as a key factor that may indirectly encourage schoolteachers to invest in OCBs through positive attitudes of schoolteachers' job satisfaction.
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Bingyi Li, Songtao Qu and Gong Zhang
This study aims to focus on the surface mount technology (SMT) mass production process of Sn-9Zn-2.5Bi-1.5In solder. It explores it with some components that will provide…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to focus on the surface mount technology (SMT) mass production process of Sn-9Zn-2.5Bi-1.5In solder. It explores it with some components that will provide theoretical support for the industrial SMT application of Sn-Zn solder.
Design/methodology/approach
This study evaluates the properties of solder pastes and selects a more appropriate reflow parameter by comparing the microstructure of solder joints with different reflow soldering profile parameters. The aim is to provide an economical and reliable process for SMT production in the industry.
Findings
Solder paste wettability and solder ball testing in a nitrogen environment with an oxygen content of 3,000 ppm meet the requirements of industrial production. The printing performance of the solder paste is good and can achieve a printing rate of 100–160 mm/s. When soldering with a traditional stepped reflow soldering profile, air bubbles are generated on the surface of the solder joint, and there are many voids and defects in the solder joint. A linear reflow soldering profile reduces the residence time below the melting point of the solder paste (approximately 110 s). This reduces the time the zinc is oxidized, reducing solder joint defects. The joint strength of tin-zinc joints soldered with the optimized reflow parameters is close to that of Sn-58Bi and SAC305, with high joint strength.
Originality/value
This study attempts to industrialize the application of Sn-Zn solder and solves the problem that Sn-Zn solder paste is prone to be oxidized in the application and obtains the SMT process parameters suitable for Sn-9Zn-2.5Bi-1.5In solder.
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Nechama Nadav, Pascale Benoliel and Chen Schechter
This study examines the relationship of principals’ systems thinking (PST) to student outcomes of academic achievement and school violence. The investigation relies on the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the relationship of principals’ systems thinking (PST) to student outcomes of academic achievement and school violence. The investigation relies on the contingency theory, according to which effective leadership is contingent on the nature of the situational influences to which managers are exposed. Specifically, the study investigates the influence of school structure – bureaucratic vs organic – on the relationship between PST and student outcomes of academic achievement and school violence after accounting for students’ socioeconomic backgrounds and principals' demographics.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-source survey design with self-reported and non-self-reported data was used, with a sample of 423 participants from 71 elementary schools in Israel. The sample included senior management team members and teachers. The data were aggregated at the school level of analysis.
Findings
Hierarchical regression analyses showed that organic school structure moderates the relationship between PST and student academic achievement, and bureaucratic school structure moderates the relationship between PST and school violence beyond the impact of students’ socioeconomic backgrounds.
Originality/value
This study provides important evidence for the benefits of aligning PST with school structure for improving student outcomes beyond the impact of students’ socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition, the study suggests principal system thinking leadership to achieve effective student outcomes that circumvent the effects of inequality on disadvantaged student groups.
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Wen Wang, Roger Seifert and Matthew Bamber
This study examines potential ways to break the inequality reproduction circle faced by ethnic minority health workers and sustained by key performance indicators (KPIs)-centred…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines potential ways to break the inequality reproduction circle faced by ethnic minority health workers and sustained by key performance indicators (KPIs)-centred management in the National Health Service (NHS) in England. It does so through the lens of signalling theory.
Design/methodology/approach
Three years panel data for 2018–2020 covering 207 hospitals was compiled from the annual NHS staff survey and matched with relevant administrative records. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed hypotheses at the organisational level.
Findings
The moderated mediating model reveals that persistent racial discrimination by managers and coworkers can disadvantage the career progression of ethnic minority health workers, which in turn reinforces and reproduces economic and health inequalities among them. More importantly, we show how the collective agreement that the senior management team acts (SMTA) on staff feedback can break this vicious circle.
Research limitations/implications
While our research focuses on the not-for-profit health care sector, it opens important opportunities to extend the proposed model to understand organisational inequality and how to address it.
Practical implications
Perceived SMTA can send strong signals to reduce deep-rooted discrimination (race, gender, age, etc.) through resource allocations and instrumental functions. This is also a way to address the current staff burnout and shortage issues in the healthcare sector.
Social implications
This article reveals why the purpose of organisations that provide public service to reduce social inequality was comprised during their business-like operations and more importantly, how to reflect their foundational purpose through management practice.
Originality/value
This study offers a way forward to resolve one of the unintended consequences of KPI-centred management in the not-for-profit sector through unpacking the process of inequality reproduction and, more importantly, how it is possible to break this vicious circle.
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Abood Khaled Alamoudi, Rotimi Boluwatife Abidoye and Terence Y.M. Lam
The smart sustainable cities (SSC) concept has a wide acknowledgement amongst governments and societies that deal with emerging technology and help in developing better urban…
Abstract
Purpose
The smart sustainable cities (SSC) concept has a wide acknowledgement amongst governments and societies that deal with emerging technology and help in developing better urban communities. However, the fact that citizens' participation (CP) is not adherent to the current policies and governance often boosts their aspirations of decision-making to become smart cities. This paper aims to identify SSC variables and, more importantly, rank, categorise and discuss the factors towards implementing SSC by engaging, empowering and enabling citizens to participate in the urban development of SSC.
Design/methodology/approach
A comprehensive literature review identified 38 factors in the CP process. Those factors were used to design an online questionnaire administered to the respondents. A total of 164 valid responses were collected. A two-stage statistical analysis was adopted. First, the Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to rank and prioritise the importance of the factors that affect the current policies and agenda. Second, factor analysis was utilised to categorise and group those factors.
Findings
This study founds four significant factors that help in implanting SSC: “knowledge of smart sustainable cities”, “awareness of smart sustainable cities”, “willingness of the citizens to participate” and “opinion on the current agenda of the government's role”.
Research limitations/implications
This study has a few limitations which can be considered in future studies. First, the response rate of the participant is relatively low (163), so sampling a larger segment will support the broader perception of the citizens.
Practical implications
The outcome of this paper underlines the need for the successful implementation of smart cities by adopting CP in the process of impacting policies and governance. Particularly, it identifies factors that help cities and policymakers in engaging CP in developing new policies and revising existing policies for promoting SSC.
Originality/value
There is a need to investigate the most critical factors that influence CP for implementing SSC. These factors have not been adequately examined in extant literature.
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Solomon Olusegun Oyetola, Nurudeen Adeniyi Aderibigbe and Bolaji David Oladokun
Academic libraries may become obsolete in the twenty-first century unless they begin to harness new technology and improve information and service delivery. This paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Academic libraries may become obsolete in the twenty-first century unless they begin to harness new technology and improve information and service delivery. This paper aims to examine the emergence of social media technologies (SMTs) with their implications to academic library services in developing countries in the world. It is believed that a growing number of libraries of all types are starting to use SMTs to enhance their service delivery, similar to other institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
The research, which was conducted on a desk, examined how the implementation of SMTs may affect library services and operations. The study emphasizes that many academic libraries in developing countries have not yet adopted and implemented SMTs despite the potential that they hold for libraries.
Findings
Given that there has been relatively little study linking SMTs to librarianship, this may be because there is a low degree of awareness of SMTs’ importance in libraries. This study discovered that there are other types of SMTs relevant to academic libraries including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blog among others. This paper reported the implications of SMTs to library services in developing countries.
Originality/value
This study is the original idea from the authors and does not reflect on any copyrighted materials. The study recommended among others that sufficient training and more expertise need to be gained by academic libraries to further facilitate implementation of social networks in the libraries, and adoption of contemporary media technologies such as social media in meeting the needs of the 21st-century library patrons should be prioritized.
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Xiao He, Lijuan Huang, Meizhen Xiao, Chengyong Yu, En Li and Weiheng Shao
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the new technical demands and reliability challenges to printed circuit board (PCB) designs, materials and processes when the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the new technical demands and reliability challenges to printed circuit board (PCB) designs, materials and processes when the transmission frequency increases from Sub-6 GHz in previous generations to millimeter (mm) wave in fifth-generation (5G) communication technology.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach involves theoretical analysis and actual case study by various characterization techniques, such as a stereo microscope, metallographic microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, focused ion beam, high-frequency structure simulator, stripline resonator and mechanical test.
Findings
To meet PCB signal integrity demands in mm-wave frequency bands, the improving proposals on copper profile, resin system, reinforcement fabric, filler, electromagnetic interference-reducing design, transmission line as well as via layout, surface treatment, drilling, desmear, laminating and electroplating were discussed. And the failure causes and effects of typical reliability issues, including complex permittivity fluctuation at different frequencies or environments, weakening of peel strength, conductive anodic filament, crack on microvias, the effect of solder joint void on signal transmission performance and soldering anomalies at ball grid array location on high-speed PCBs, were demonstrated.
Originality/value
The PCB reliability problem is the leading factor to cause failures of PCB assemblies concluded from statistical results on the failure cases sent to our laboratory. The PCB reliability level is very essential to guarantee the reliability of the entire equipment. In this paper, the summarized technical demands and reliability issues that are rarely reported in existing articles were discussed systematically with new perspectives, which will be very critical to identify potential reliability risks for PCB in 5G mm-wave applications and implement targeted improvements.
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Sirilak Ketchaya and Apisit Rattanatranurak
Sorting is a very important algorithm to solve problems in computer science. The most well-known divide and conquer sorting algorithm is quicksort. It starts with dividing the…
Abstract
Purpose
Sorting is a very important algorithm to solve problems in computer science. The most well-known divide and conquer sorting algorithm is quicksort. It starts with dividing the data into subarrays and finally sorting them.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the algorithm named Dual Parallel Partition Sorting (DPPSort) is analyzed and optimized. It consists of a partitioning algorithm named Dual Parallel Partition (DPPartition). The DPPartition is analyzed and optimized in this paper and sorted with standard sorting functions named qsort and STLSort which are quicksort, and introsort algorithms, respectively. This algorithm is run on any shared memory/multicore systems. OpenMP library which supports multiprocessing programming is developed to be compatible with C/C++ standard library function. The authors’ algorithm recursively divides an unsorted array into two halves equally in parallel with Lomuto's partitioning and merge without compare-and-swap instructions. Then, qsort/STLSort is executed in parallel while the subarray is smaller than the sorting cutoff.
Findings
In the authors’ experiments, the 4-core Intel i7-6770 with Ubuntu Linux system is implemented. DPPSort is faster than qsort and STLSort up to 6.82× and 5.88× on Uint64 random distributions, respectively.
Originality/value
The authors can improve the performance of the parallel sorting algorithm by reducing the compare-and-swap instructions in the algorithm. This concept can be used to develop related problems to increase speedup of algorithms.
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Karthik Padamata and Rama Devi Vangapandu
By following the “employee-centric” approach, this study aims at identifying the impact of high-performance work systems (HPWS) on specific employee attitudinal outcomes such as…
Abstract
Purpose
By following the “employee-centric” approach, this study aims at identifying the impact of high-performance work systems (HPWS) on specific employee attitudinal outcomes such as work engagement, job satisfaction and affective commitment in the Indian healthcare industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The target population for this study includes the nurses working in large private multi-specialty tertiary care hospitals in India. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) techniques are used on a sample of 152 nurses working in two large specialty hospitals.
Findings
In the Indian healthcare industry context, the nurse's perception of HPWS has shown a significant positive effect on their attitudinal variables such as work engagement, job satisfaction and affective commitment. When checked for mediation of work engagement and job satisfaction variables in HPWS – affective commitment relationship, nurse's job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship, but nurse's work engagement has shown no mediation effect.
Originality/value
This is one of the pioneering studies conducted in the Indian healthcare industry context, especially on the nurse's sample in identifying the impact of high-performance work systems on their attitudinal outcomes. Underscoring the paucity of HPWS research in the Indian healthcare industry, this study's findings will be an addition to the HPWS literature and also to the nursing research in the Indian healthcare settings.
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