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Article
Publication date: 19 September 2024

Philipp Loacker, Siegfried Pöchtrager, Christian Fikar and Wolfgang Grenzfurtner

The purpose of this study is to present a methodical procedure on how to prepare event logs and analyse them through process mining, statistics and visualisations. The aim is to…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present a methodical procedure on how to prepare event logs and analyse them through process mining, statistics and visualisations. The aim is to derive roots and patterns of quality deviations and non-conforming finished products as well as best practice facilitating employee training in the food processing industry. Thereby, a key focus is on recognising tacit knowledge hidden in event logs to improve quality processes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied process mining to detect root causes of quality deviations in operational process of food production. In addition, a data-ecosystem was developed which illustrates a continuous improvement feedback loop and serves as a role model for other applications in the food processing industry. The approach was applied to a real-case study in the processed cheese industry.

Findings

The findings revealed practical and conceptional contributions which can be used to continuously improve quality management (QM) in food processing. Thereby, the developed data-ecosystem supports production and QM in the decision-making processes. The findings of the analysis are a valuable basis to enhance operational processes, aiming to prevent quality deviations and non-conforming finished products.

Originality/value

Process mining is still rarely used in the food industry. Thereby, the proposed method helps to identify tacit knowledge in the food processing industry, which was shown by the framework for the preparation of event logs and the data ecosystem.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 August 2024

Arthur Rocha-Gomes, Alexandre Alves da Silva and Tania Regina Riul

The purpose of this study is to nutritionally evaluate dams exposed to caloric restriction or cafeteria diets during the lactation period.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to nutritionally evaluate dams exposed to caloric restriction or cafeteria diets during the lactation period.

Design/methodology/approach

Twenty-four female Wistar rats (n = 8/group) and their respective litters received during lactation: Control (CTRL) – received standard chow; Caloric restriction (CR) – received 50% of the ratio of the CTRL group; Cafeteria diet (CAF) – received cafeteria diet. Weighing of the mother rats and their respective litters occurred weekly and the diets were daily. At weaning, levels of glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides were evaluated. Abdominal adipose tissue was removed and weighed. Liver tissue was removed to determine the lipid profile.

Findings

CR dams showed lower food (p < 0.01), caloric (p < 0.01) and all macronutrients (p < 0.01) intake. This group also observed intense weight loss (p < 0.01), in addition to low litter weight (p < 0.01). CAF dams had higher caloric intake (p < 0.05) and increased consumption of lipids (p < 0.01). The CAF group also reported greater accumulation of abdominal adipose tissue (p = 0.01), elevated levels of LDL (p < 0.01) and hepatic lipids (p < 0.01), as well as a litter with higher weaning weight (p < 0.01).

Originality/value

Few studies have evaluated the effects of different models of malnutrition focusing on dams. CR dams showed severe weight loss, which may have caused their pups to be underweight. On the other hand, the CAF diet during lactation led to a higher consumption of lipids and accumulation of adipose tissue, which generated a high weight of the litter.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 September 2024

Dg Nooremah Ag Said, Rose Irnawaty Ibrahim, Azman Ab Rahman and Hafidzi Hamdan

This paper aims to view the tradition of the Prophet in zakat payment, especially the attributed measurements, and adapt these measures to current zakat measurement practices.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to view the tradition of the Prophet in zakat payment, especially the attributed measurements, and adapt these measures to current zakat measurement practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is designed with an exploratory sequential mixed method where qualitative data were collected from historical archives and also from the measurement of available ṣāʿ صاع and mud_ مد. These standard measures were collected from Malaysia and other Muslim countries and calibrated at the National Measurement Standards Laboratory (currently carried out by the National Metrology Institute of Malaysia). The volume of the ṣāʿ were tabulated, charted, analyzed and determined.

Findings

Prophet Muḥammad ordered for zakat al-fiṭr زكاة الفطر to measure the crops using ṣāʿ (gallon: volume measure), not raṭl رطل (pound: standard weight). This paper recommends a reference volume for the ṣāʿ, and from this value, the volume for the smaller measure mud and much larger measure wasq وسق were calculated. The agricultural niṣāb (5 wasq) is one of the key parameters in ṣāʿ volume analysis.

Research limitations/implications

This study covers standard measures acquired from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom (traceable to India). Several empirical data are attained from previous studies from Saudi Arabia and North Africa. Also, some theoretical data are obtained from kitab tafsir, hadith and kitab turath (books and records written by early scholars). A concern in this study is the ratio of de-husked grains currently approximated at half of un-hulled grains. This might not necessarily be accurate and may differ by different types of grains.

Practical implications

After the introduction of the modern measurement system known as the International System of Units (SI) in 1971, ṣāʿ became obsolete, leaving each state in Malaysia to define and convert ṣāʿ to SI units variously. This paper contributes to standardizing the conversion to one value with an appropriate SI unit, that has traceability to the Prophet’s ṣāʿ. This national reference standard ṣāʿ is essential for zakat al-fiṭr measurement, important for zakat centers and impacting every Muslim in Malaysia. Often overlooked, ṣāʿ is more crucial as a basis in determining and standardizing the seasonal crops niṣāb, unfolding the reasons why the poor are paying the paddy zakat in Malaysia.

Social implications

The Prophet’s tradition for ablution is to use water not more than one mud, this is aligned with the 12th Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations which promoted the responsible consumption of water. Considering half (adults) of the 1.9 billion Muslims in the world, multiplied by 5 times of prayer, the Muslims will at least use 4.75 billion muds of water for ablution alone in 1 day. This is approximately 3.5 billion liters of water daily, and if they limit their water usage to 1 mud for each ablution, they collectively will save at least four times more water (about 14 billion liters) daily than performing ablution from a running tap. Though for ablution, accuracy is not an issue, the mud impact on all Muslims is vital on a daily basis, literally by volume.

Originality/value

Ṣāʿ is essential in measuring food for the annually obligated zakat al-fiṭr and more crucial as a basis in determining the seasonal crops niṣāb. This paper contributes to the development of a national reference standard ṣāʿ for Malaysia that has traceability to the Prophet’s ṣāʿ.

Details

Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-0817

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 January 2023

Olatoyese Zaccheus Oni, AbdulLateef Olanrewaju and Soo Cheen Khor

The construction industry has been recording a high number of accidents without any sign of abating, the majority of which have been linked to poor health and safety practices. To…

Abstract

Purpose

The construction industry has been recording a high number of accidents without any sign of abating, the majority of which have been linked to poor health and safety practices. To reduce this menace, this study aims to evaluate the factors affecting health and safety practices on construction sites to improve health and safety practices.

Design/methodology/approach

First, this study reviewed previous studies to derive the factors affecting health and safety practices on construction sites, and based on the literature review, the 50 factors identified were used in developing the questionnaire that was administered to construction professionals. The returned questionnaire was then analysed using fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE).

Findings

According to the FSE results, inadequate safety planning has the highest critical value, followed by management failure, inadequate safety promotion, safety ignorance, poor supervision and enforcement, a casual attitude towards safety and insufficient experience. The analysis showed that the overall criticality of the factors to the Malaysian construction industry is high, suggesting that if addressed, the health and safety practices of the industry will be improved.

Originality/value

The study provides a holistic approach to the factors affecting health and safety practices in the construction industry using a method that has not been used by previous researchers. The findings will furnish decision makers in the construction industry with practical approaches to adapt and reinforce in the industry to improve health and safety practices.

Details

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

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 6 August 2024

Abhisheck Kumar Singhania and Nagari Mohan Panda

This study aims to examine the influence of Audit Committee (AC) composition on Firm Performance (FP) by measuring AC composition (ACC) with a composite score based on the varying…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of Audit Committee (AC) composition on Firm Performance (FP) by measuring AC composition (ACC) with a composite score based on the varying effect of each composition-characteristic.

Design/methodology/approach

Partial Least Squares- Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique is used to weigh ACC characteristics. Based on 133 companies and covering five years from 2016 to 2020, the study analyses data after controlling endogeneity through the Gaussian Copula approach.

Findings

We find a significant positive influence of ACC on Firm Performance. Among the ACC characteristics, the absence of executive directors has the highest positive weight on ACC to influence FP, followed by AC size and Gender diversity. AC independence and members' accounting and financial expertise have no significant weight on its composition.

Practical implications

Apart from the theoretical contribution, the study reveals that each ACC characteristic has a varying effect on AC effectiveness to influence the FP that needs to be considered by regulators while framing regulations on ACC and by BOD while constituting AC for a company.

Originality/value

The study claims originality by being pioneering to reveal that AC composition, with a synergy of its disparate characteristics, positively impacts FP. It highlights that the absence of executive directors and gender diversity in AC (characteristics overlooked by the extant literature) significantly and positively influence FP. Methodologically, it introduces the use of the PLS-SEM algorithm to weigh the characteristics in governance studies. Further, these findings remain relevant amid recent Indian legal reforms, offering contemporary insights for policy consideration.

Details

Asian Journal of Accounting Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2459-9700

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 February 2024

Evangelia Panagiotidou, Panos T. Chountalas, Anastasios Ι. Magoutas and Fotis C. Kitsios

This study aims to dissect the multifaceted impact of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, specifically within civil engineering testing and calibration laboratories. To achieve this, it…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to dissect the multifaceted impact of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, specifically within civil engineering testing and calibration laboratories. To achieve this, it intends to explore several key objectives: identifying the prominent benefits of accreditation to laboratory performance, understanding the advantages conferred through participation in proficiency testing schemes, assessing the role of accreditation in enhancing laboratory competitiveness, examining the primary challenges encountered during the accreditation process, investigating any discernible adverse effects of accreditation on laboratory performance and evaluating whether the financial cost of accreditation justifies the resultant profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with 23 industry professionals—including technical managers, quality managers, external auditors and clients. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-stage paradigm, was utilized to interpret the data, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the accreditation’s impact.

Findings

Findings reveal that accreditation significantly enhances operational processes, fosters quality awareness and facilitates continuous improvement, contributing to greater client satisfaction. In addition, standardized operations and rigorous quality controls further result in enhanced performance metrics, such as staff capability and measurement accuracy. However, the study also uncovers the challenges of accreditation, including high resource costs and bureaucratic hurdles that can inhibit innovation and slow routine operations. Importantly, the research underscores that the impact of accreditation on profitability is not universal, but contingent upon various factors like sector-specific regulations and market demand. The study also highlights sector-specific variations in the role of accreditation as a marketing tool and differing perceptions of its value among clients. It further emphasizes the psychological stress of high-stakes evaluations during audits.

Originality/value

This study represents the first in-depth investigation into the impact of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation on civil engineering testing and calibration laboratories, directly contributing to the enhancement of their quality and operational standards. Providing actionable insights for laboratories, it underscores the importance of weighing accreditation costs and benefits and the necessity for a tailored approach to the unique market and regulatory landscapes they operate in.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 September 2024

Yafei Feng, Yongqiang Sun, Nan Wang and Xiao-Liang Shen

Sharing co-owned information on social network platforms has become a common and inevitable phenomenon. However, due to the uniqueness of co-owned information, the privacy…

Abstract

Purpose

Sharing co-owned information on social network platforms has become a common and inevitable phenomenon. However, due to the uniqueness of co-owned information, the privacy calculus theory based on a single information owner cannot explain co-owned information disclosure. Therefore, this study tries to investigate the underlying mechanism of users’ co-owned information disclosure from a collective privacy calculus perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a survey of 740 participants, covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) was used to verify the proposed model and hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that personal benefit, others’ benefit and relationship benefit promote users’ co-owned information disclosure by positively affecting personal distributive fairness and others’ distributive fairness perception. Meanwhile, personal privacy risk and others’ privacy risk prevent users’ co-owned information disclosure by negatively affecting personal distributive fairness and others’ distributive fairness perception. Besides, others’ information ownership perception enhances the positive effect of others’ distributive fairness perception on co-owned information disclosure intention. Furthermore, others’ information ownership strengthens the mediating role of others’ distributive fairness.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study enrich the research scope of information disclosure and privacy calculus theory and help social network platform developers design collective privacy protection functions.

Originality/value

This study develops a collective privacy calculus model to understand users’ co-owned information disclosure on social network platforms, confirming the mediating role of collective distributive fairness and the moderating role of others’ information ownership perception in the process of collective privacy calculus.

Details

Internet Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 May 2024

Mohammad A. Hassanain, Turky Suliman Almhbash, Mohammad Sharif Zami, Ahmed M. Ibrahim and Adel Alshibani

This paper aims to review and assess the sustainable design and management considerations affecting workplaces’ productivity in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to review and assess the sustainable design and management considerations affecting workplaces’ productivity in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a mixed approach, commencing with literature review, development and pilot-testing of a structured questionnaire instrument to assess design and management considerations towards productively sustainable workplaces (PSWs). In total, 31 considerations affecting sustainable workplaces’ productivity were identified and clustered under five main directions. A collective group of stakeholders, including architects/engineers (A/E), workplace users and facilities managers, were approached to correlate and compare their individual assessment of the identified PSWs. The relative importance index (RII) for each of the PSW considerations is correlated and discussed.

Findings

A high level of agreement is recognized among the three stakeholder groups for PSWs considerations’ assessed rankings. The provision of sufficient ventilation and illumination levels, availability of occupational health, security and safety, availability of ergonomically oriented technological infrastructure, availability of formal and informal meeting spaces, efficient space utilization and ergonomic workstations are all ranked highest in importance as design considerations towards PSWs.

Originality/value

The study stems from the need to understand how the PSWs’ design and management considerations are perceived by all streams of stakeholders. The findings identify the considerations’ importance for prioritization on PSWs’ investments.

Details

Journal of Corporate Real Estate , vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-001X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 August 2022

Shoayee Dlaim Alotaibi

Be that as it may, BC is computationally costly, has restricted versatility and brings about critical transmission capacity upward and postpones, those seems not to be fit with…

Abstract

Purpose

Be that as it may, BC is computationally costly, has restricted versatility and brings about critical transmission capacity upward and postpones, those seems not to be fit with Internet of Things (IoT) setting. A lightweight scalable blockchain (LSB) which is improved toward IoT necessities is suggested by the authors and investigates LSB within brilliant house setup like an agent model to enable more extensive IoT apps. Less asset gadgets inside brilliant house advantage via any unified chief which lays out common units for correspondence also cycles generally approaching and active solicitations.

Design/methodology/approach

Federated learning and blockchain (BC) have drawn in huge consideration due to the unchanging property and the relevant safety measure and protection benefits. FL and IoT safety measures’ difficulties can be conquered possibly by BC.

Findings

LSB accomplishes fragmentation through shaping any overlaid web with more asset gadgets mutually deal with a public BC and federated learning which assures complete protection also security.

Originality/value

This overlaid is coordinated as without error bunches and reduces extra efforts, also batch leader will be with answer to handle commonly known BCs. LSB joins some of advancements which also includes computations related to lesser weighing agreement, optimal belief also throughput regulatory body.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 July 2024

Jinglin Qi, Zhengbiao Han and Preben Hansen

This study constructed an information search process model based on costs and benefits to reflect different information search processes under different decisions from a…

Abstract

Purpose

This study constructed an information search process model based on costs and benefits to reflect different information search processes under different decisions from a behavioural economics perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a deductive approach to conceptualise the costs, benefits, and uncertainties of the information search process. Subsequently, we constructed an information search process model based on the costs and benefits using graphical reasoning, loss aversion theory, bounded rationality theory, the satisficing theory of behavioural economics, and the uncertainty changes of information search process.

Findings

The model revealed four types of user behaviours in the information search process: (1) avoiding search at the initiation of the search process; (2) exiting in the middle of a search; (3) stopping at the point of satisficing; and (4) continuing the search until experiencing physical discomfort.

Originality/value

The model constructed in this study treats the information search as a process based on costs and benefits with uncertainty. This model integrates information search avoidance and stopping into an information search process model. The model identifies users’ bounded rationality by evaluating ideal and real situations. Moreover, the model explains relative and absolute information overloads and the area beyond the user’s bounded rationality. These findings could help improve users’ information literacy and optimise information systems.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

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