Abstract: The Green Urban Lab took the form of public
installations that were placed at various locations in four cities in
Cyprus. These installations - through which a series of events,
activities, workshops and research took place - were the main tools in
regenerating a series of urban public spaces in Cyprus. The purpose
of this project was to identify issues and opportunities related to
public space and to offer guidelines on how design and participatory
democracy improvements could strengthen civil society, while
raising the quality of the urban public scene. Giant inflatable
structures were injected in important urban fragments in order to
accommodate series of events. The design and playful installation
generated a wide community engagement. The fluid presence of the
installations acted as a catalyst for social interaction. They were
accessed and viewed effortlessly and surprisingly, creating
opportunities to rediscover public spaces.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the factor
structure and psychometric properties (i.e., reliability and convergent
validity) of the Employee Trust Scale, a newly created instrument by
the researchers. The Employee Trust Scale initially contained 82
items to measure employees’ trust toward their supervisors. A sample
of 818 (343 females, 449 males) employees were selected randomly
from public and private organization sectors in Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, Malaysia. Their ages ranged from 19 to 67 years old with a
mean of 34.55 years old. Their average tenure with their current
employer was 11.2 years (s.d. = 7.5 years). The respondents were
asked to complete the Employee Trust Scale, as well as a managerial
trust questionnaire from Mishra. The exploratory factor analysis on
employees’ trust toward their supervisor’s extracted three factors,
labeled ‘trustworthiness’ (32 items), ‘position status’ (11 items) and
‘relationship’ (6 items) which accounted for 62.49% of the total
variance. Trustworthiness factors were re-categorized into three sub
factors: competency (11 items), benevolence (8 items) and integrity
(13 items). All factors and sub factors of the scales demonstrated
clear reliability with internal consistency of Cronbach’s Alpha above
.85. The convergent validity of the Scale was supported by an
expected pattern of correlations (positive and significant correlation)
between the score of all factors and sub factors of the scale and the
score on the managerial trust questionnaire, which measured the same
construct. The convergent validity of Employee Trust Scale was
further supported by the significant and positive inter-correlation
between the factors and sub factors of the scale. The results suggest
that the Employee Trust Scale is a reliable and valid measure.
However, further studies need to be carried out in other groups of
sample as to further validate the Scale.
Abstract: The aim of optimization of store management is not
only designing the situation of store management itself including its
equipment, technology and operation. In optimization of store
management we need to consider also synchronizing of
technological, transport, store and service operations throughout the
whole process of logistic chain in such a way that a natural flow of
material from provider to consumer will be achieved the shortest
possible way, in the shortest possible time in requested quality and
quantity and with minimum costs. The paper deals with the
application of the queuing theory for optimization of warehouse
processes. The first part refers to common information about the
problematic of warehousing and using mathematical methods for
logistics chains optimization. The second part refers to preparing a
model of a warehouse within queuing theory. The conclusion of the
paper includes two examples of using queuing theory in praxis.
Abstract: Public participation in recycling domestic waste is still
very low in Malaysia. Only 10.5% of solid waste was recycled up to
now which is far below than of in developed countries. Therefore,
understanding public motivations towards recycling domestic waste
are important to improve current recycling rate. Thus, this study
attempts to identify what are the possible motivations and hindrances
for the public to recycle. Open-ended questions format were
administered to 484 people in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Two
specific questions we asked to explore their general determinants and
barriers in practicing recycling: “What motivates you to recycle?”
and “What are the barriers you encountered in doing recycling
activities?” Thematic was conducted on the open-ended questions in
which themes were created with the raw comments. It was found that
the underlying recycling motivations are (i) awareness’ towards the
environment; (ii) benefits to the society and individual; and (iii)
social influence. Non participations are influence by (i) attitudes; (ii)
commitment; (iii) facilities; (iv) knowledge; (v) inconvenience; and
(vi) enforcement.
Abstract: Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) can be
considered among one of the most important service facilities in the
banking industry. The investment in ATMs and the impact on the
banking industry is growing steadily in every part of the world. The
banks take into consideration many factors like safety, convenience,
visibility, and cost in order to determine the optimum locations of
ATMs. Today, ATMs are not only available in bank branches but
also at retail locations. Another important factor is the cash
management in ATMs. A cash demand model for every ATM is
needed in order to have an efficient cash management system. This
forecasting model is based on historical cash demand data which is
highly related to the ATMs location. So, the location and the cash
management problem should be considered together. This paper
provides a general review on studies, efforts and development in
ATMs location and cash management problem.
Abstract: With the increasing population and intensive land use,
huge traffic demand is generating worldwide both in developing and
developed countries. As a developing country, Bangladesh is also
facing the same problem in recent years by producing huge numbers
of daily trips. As a matter of fact, extensive traffic demand is
increasing day by day. Also, transport system in Dhaka is
heterogeneous, reflecting the heterogeneity in the socio-economic
and land use patterns. Trips produced here are for different purposes
such as work, business, educational etc. Due to the significant
concentration of educational institutions a large share of the trips are
generated by educational purpose. And one of the major percentages
of educational trips is produced by university going students and
most of them are travelled by car, bus, train, taxi, rickshaw etc. The
aim of the study was to find out the university students’ perception on
public transit ridership. A survey was conducted among 330 students
from eight different universities. It was found out that 26% of the
trips produced by university going students are travelled by public
bus service and only 5% are by train. Percentage of car share is 16%
and 12% of the trips are travelled by private taxi. It has been
observed from the study, students those who prefer bus instead of
other options, 42 percent of their family resides outside Dhaka. And
those who prefer walking, of them, over 40 percent students’ family
reside outside of Dhaka and of them over 85 percent students have a
tendency to live in a mess. On the contrary, students travelling by car
represents, most of their family reside in Dhaka. The study also
revealed that the most important reason that restricts students not to
use public transit is poor service. Negative attitudes such as
discomfort, uneasiness in using public transit also reduces the usage
of public transit. The poor waiting area is another major cause of not
using public transit. Insufficient security also plays a significant role
in not using public transit. On the contrary, the fare is not a problem
for students those who use public transit as a mode of transportation.
Students also think stations are not far away from their home or
institution and they do not need to wait long for the buses or trains. It
was also found accessibility to public transit is moderate.
Abstract: The market competition is moving from the single
firm to the whole supply chain because of increasing competition and
growing need for operational efficiencies and customer orientation.
Supply chain management allows companies to look beyond their
organizational boundaries to develop and leverage resources and
capabilities of their supply chain partners. This creates competitive
advantages in the marketplace and because of this SCM has acquired
strategic importance. Lean Approach is a management strategy that focuses on reducing
every type of waste present in an organization. This approach is
becoming more and more popular among supply chain managers. The supply chain application of lean approach is not frequent. In
particular, it is not well studied which are the impacts of lean
approach principles in a supply chain context. In literature there are
only few studies aimed at understanding the qualitative impact of the
lean approach in supply chains. Therefore, the goal of this research
work is to study the impacts of lean principles implementation along
a supply chain. To achieve this, a simulation model of a threeechelon
multi-product supply chain has been built. Kanban system (and several priority policies) and setup time
reduction degrees are implemented in the lean-configured supply
chain to apply pull and lot-sizing decrease principles respectively. To
evaluate the benefits of lean approach, lean supply chain is compared
with an EOQ-configured supply chain. The simulation results show
that Kanban system and setup-time reduction improve inventory
stock level. They also show that logistics efforts are affected to lean
implementation degree. The paper concludes describing
performances of lean supply chain in different contexts.
Abstract: This paper tries to answer to the questions whether or
not trade openness causes economic growth and trade policy changes
are good for Turkey as a developing country in global economy
before and after 1980. We employ Johansen co-integration and
Granger causality tests with error correction modeling based on
vector autoregressive. Using WDI data from the pre-1980 and the
post-1980, we find that trade openness and economic growth are cointegrated
in the second term only. Also the results suggest a lack of
long-run causality between our two variables. These findings may
imply that trade policy of Turkey should concentrate more on extra
complementary economic reforms.
Abstract: The research explores the relationship between
management responsibility and corporate governance of listed
companies in Kazakhstan. This research employs firm level data of
selected listed non-financial firms and firm level data “operational”
financial sector, consisted from banking sector, insurance companies
and accumulated pension funds using multivariate regression analysis
under fixed effect model approach. Ownership structure includes
institutional ownership, managerial ownership and private investor’s
ownership. Management responsibility of the firm is expressed by the
decision of the firm on amount of leverage. Results of the cross
sectional panel study for non-financial firms showed that only
institutional shareholding is significantly negatively correlated with
debt to equity ratio. Findings from “operational” financial sector
show that leverage is significantly affected only by the CEO/Chair
duality and the size of financial institutions, and insignificantly
affected by ownership structure. Also, the findings show, that there is
a significant negative relationship between profitability and the debt
to equity ratio for non-financial firms, which is consistent with
pecking order theory. Generally, the found results suggest that
corporate governance and a management responsibility play
important role in corporate performance of listed firms in
Kazakhstan.
Abstract: Radical technological innovations enable companies
to reach strong market positions and are thus desirable. On the other
hand, the innovation process is related to significant costs and risks.
Hence, the knowledge of the factors that influence success is crucial
for technology driven companies. Taking a previously developed
framework of Critical Success Factors for radical technological
innovations as a reference model, we conducted a structured and
focused literature review of eleven standard books within the field of
technology and innovation management. With this approach we aim
to evaluate, expand, and clarify the set of Critical Success Factors
detailed in this framework. Overall, the set of factors and their
allocation to the main categories of the framework could be
confirmed. However, the factor organizational home is not
emphasized and discussed in most of the reviewed literature. On the
other hand, an additional factor that has not been part of the
framework is described to be important – strategy fit. Furthermore,
the factors strategic alliances and platform strategy appear in the
literature but in a different context compared to the reference model.
Abstract: This paper highlights an innovative and nontraditional
violence prevention program that is making a noticeable impact in
what was once one of the country’s most violent communities. With
unique and tailored strategies, the Operation Peacemaker Fellowship,
established in Richmond, California, combines components of
evidence-based practices with a community-oriented focus on
relationships and mentoring to fill a gap in services and increase
community safety. In an effort to highlight these unique strategies
and provide a blueprint for other communities with violent crime
problems, the authors of this paper hope to clearly delineate how one
community is moving forward with vanguard approaches to invest in
the lives of young men who once were labeled their community’s
most violent, even most deadly, youth. The impact of this program is
evidenced through the fellows’ own voices as they illuminate the
experience of being in the Fellowship. In interviews, fellows describe
how participating in this program has transformed their lives and the
lives of those they love. The authors of this article spent more than
two years researching this Fellowship program in order to conduct an
evaluation of it and, ultimately, to demonstrate how this program is a
testament to the power of relationships and love combined with
evidence-based practices, consequently enriching the lives of youth
and the community that embraces them.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship
between organizational commitment which is defined as a strong
belief in and acceptance of the organization’s goals and values, and
burnout syndrome and organizational cynicism. Accordingly, a field
research based on survey method was conducted on the employees of
a health institution operating in the province of Konya. The findings
of the research show that there is a positive statistically significant
relationship between organizational cynicism and burnout while
there is a negative statistically significant relationship between
organizational commitment and burnout. Furthermore, it has been
also realized that there is a negative and statistically significant
relationship between organizational commitment and organizational
cynicism.
Abstract: The purpose of this theoretical literature review is to
study the relevant academic literature on lack of cardiorespiratory
fitness and its effects on children. The total of thirty eight relevant
documents were identified and considered for this review which
nineteen of those were original research articles published in peer
reviewed journals. The other nineteen articles were statistical
documents. This literature review is structured to examine 5 effects
in deficiency of cardiorespiratory fitness in school aged children (A)
Relative Age Effect (RAE), (B) Obesity, (C) Inadequate fitness level
(D) Unhealthy life style, and (E) Academics. The categories provide
a theoretical framework for future studies where results are driven
from the literature review. The study discusses that regular physical fitness assists children
and adolescents to develop healthy physical activity behaviors which
can be sustained throughout adult life. Conclusion suggests that
advocacy for increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary
behaviors at school and home are necessary.
Abstract: In this talk, we introduce a newly developed quantile
function model that can be used for estimating conditional
distributions of financial returns and for obtaining multi-step ahead
out-of-sample predictive distributions of financial returns. Since we
forecast the whole conditional distributions, any predictive quantity
of interest about the future financial returns can be obtained simply
as a by-product of the method. We also show an application of the
model to the daily closing prices of Dow Jones Industrial Average
(DJIA) series over the period from 2 January 2004 - 8 October 2010.
We obtained the predictive distributions up to 15 days ahead for
the DJIA returns, which were further compared with the actually
observed returns and those predicted from an AR-GARCH model.
The results show that the new model can capture the main features
of financial returns and provide a better fitted model together with
improved mean forecasts compared with conventional methods. We
hope this talk will help audience to see that this new model has the
potential to be very useful in practice.
Abstract: In this study, it has been studied to determine the
relationship between business performance and strategic flexibility,
which is defined to be the strategic choice that provides the ability of
rapidly responding the changes of the dynamic environment of the
companies, for having competitive advantages. In this context a field
study has been conducted over 56 companies, which are active in
informatics and electronics sectors in TEKNOKENT. As a result of
the study it has been determined that; strategic flexibility has an
effect on business performance and there is a positive and
statistically significant relationship between strategic flexibility and
business performance.
Abstract: Construction industry plays a vital role in the
economy of the world. However, due to high uncertainty and
variability in the industry, its performance is not as efficient in terms
of quality, lead times, productivity and costs as of other industries.
Moreover, there are continuous conflicts among the different actors
in the construction supply chains in terms of profit sharing. Previous
studies suggested partnership as an important approach to promote
cooperation among the different actors in the construction supply
chains and thereby it improves the overall performance. Construction
practitioners tried to focus on partnership which can enhance the
performance of construction supply chains but they are not fully
aware of different approaches and techniques for improving
partnership. In this research, a systematic review on partnership in
relation to construction supply chains is carried out to understand
different elements influencing the partnership. The research
development of this domain is analyzed by reviewing selected
articles published from 1996 to 2015. Based on the papers, three
major elements influencing partnership in construction supply chains
are identified: ‘Lean approach’, ‘Relationship building’ and ‘E-commerce
applications’. This study analyses the contributions in the
areas within each element and provides suggestions for future
developments of partnership in construction supply chains.
Abstract: Financial inclusion has become a crucially important
factor in debates on economic inequality posing challenges to the
financial systems of countries around the world. Nowadays
governments and banks are concerned about creating products that
allow access to wide sectors of the population. The creation of
banking products by the financial sector for people with low incomes
tends to lead to improvements in the quality of life of vulnerable parts
of the population. In countries with notable social and economic
inequalities, financial inclusion is a key aspect for equitable
economic growth. This study is based on the case of Colombia, which is a country
with a strong record of economic growth over the past decade.
Nevertheless, corruption, unemployment, and poverty contribute to
uncertainty regarding the country’s future growth prospects. This study wants to explain the situation of financial exclusion and
financial inclusion with respect to the Colombian case. Financial
inclusion is going to be studied from the perspective of social
innovation.
Abstract: For schools to be desirable places in which to work, it
is necessary for principals to recognise their teachers’ emotions, and
be sensitive to their needs. This necessitates that principals are
capable to correctly identify their emotionally intelligent behaviours
(EIBs) they need to use in order to be successful leaders. They also
need to have knowledge of their emotional intelligence and be able to
identify the factors and situations that evoke emotion at an
interpersonal level. If a principal is able to do this, then the control
and understanding of emotions and behaviours of oneself and others
could improve vastly. This study focuses on the interpersonal EIBS
of principals affecting the job satisfaction of teachers. The correlation
coefficients in this quantitative study strongly indicate that there is a
statistical significance between the respondents’ level of job
satisfaction, the rating of their principals’ EIBs and how they believe
their principals’ EIBs will affect their sense of job satisfaction. It can
be concluded from the data obtained in this study that there is a
significant correlation between the sense of job satisfaction of
teachers and their principals’ interpersonal EIBs. This means that the
more satisfied a teacher is at school, the more appropriate and
meaningful a principal’s EIBs will be. Conversely, the more
dissatisfied a teacher is at school the less appropriate and less
meaningful a principal’s interpersonal EIBs will be. This implies that
the leaders’ EIBs can be construed as one of the major factors
affecting the job satisfaction of employees.
Abstract: The influence of Islam on arts can be found primarily
in calligraphy, arabesque designs and architecture. Also, geometric
designs were used quite extensively. Muslim craftsmen produced
stunning designs based on simple geometric principles and traditional
motifs which were used to decorate many surfaces. The idea of
interlacing simple rectilinear lines to form the patterns impressed
Arabs. Nomads of Persia, Turks and Mongols were equally
impressed with the designs so they begin to use them in their homes
in carpet weaving. Islamic designs, motifs and colours which were
used became common place and served to influence people’s tastes.
Modern life style and contemporary products have changed the style
of people’s daily lives, however, people still long for the nomadic
way of life. This is clearly reflected in people’s homes. In a great
many Muslim homes, Islamic decorative motifs can be seen along
with traditional ‘Bedouin’ style furnishing, especially in homes of the
Arabian Peninsula.
Abstract: Research has shown that techno-entrepreneurship is
economically significant. Therefore, it is suggested that teaching
techno-entrepreneurship may be important because such programmes
would prepare current and future generations of learners to recognise
and act on high-technology opportunities. Education in technoentrepreneurship
may increase the knowledge of how to start one’s
own enterprise and recognise the technological opportunities for
commercialisation to improve decision-making about starting a new
venture; also it influence decisions about capturing the business
opportunities and turning them into successful ventures. Universities
can play a main role in connecting and networking technoentrepreneurship
students towards a cooperative attitude with real
business practice and industry knowledge. To investigate and answer
whether education for techno-entrepreneurs really helps, this paper
choses a comparison of literature reviews as its method of research.
After reviewing literature related to the impact of technoentrepreneurship
education on self-employment 6 studies which had
similar aim and objective to this paper were. These particular papers
were selected based on a keywords search and as their aim,
objectives, and gaps were close to the current research. In addition,
they were all based on the influence of techno-entrepreneurship
education in self-employment and intention of students to start new
ventures. The findings showed that teaching techno-entrepreneurship
education may have an influence on students’ intention and their
future self-employment, but which courses should be covered and the
duration of programmes, needs further investigation.