Abstract: Work-life balance has been acknowledged and
promoted for the sake of employee retention. It is essential for a
manager to realize the human resources situation within a company to
help employees work happily and perform at their best. This paper
suggests knowledge management and critical thinking are useful to
motivate employees to think about their work-life balance. A
qualitative case study is presented, which aimed to discover the
meaning of work-life balance-s meaning from the perspective of Thai
knowledge workers and how it affects their decision-making towards
work resignation. Results found three types of work-life balance
dimensions; a work- life balance including a workplace and a private
life setting, an organizational working life balance only, and a worklife
balance only in a private life setting. These aspects all influenced
the decision-making of the employees. Factors within a theme of an
organizational work-life balance were involved with systematic
administration, fair treatment, employee recognition, challenging
assignments to gain working experience, assignment engagement,
teamwork, relationship with superiors, and working environment,
while factors concerning private life settings were about personal
demands such as an increasing their salary or starting their own
business.
Abstract: The objective of this paper is twofold: (1) discuss and
analyze the successful case studies worldwide, and (2) identify the
similarities and differences of case studies worldwide. Design
methodology/approach: The nature of this research is mainly method
qualitative (multi-case studies, literature review). This investigation
uses ten case studies, and the data was mainly collected and
organizational documents from the international countries. Finding:
The finding of this research can help incubator manager, policy
maker and government parties for successful implementation.
Originality/value: This paper contributes to the current literate review
on the best practices worldwide. Additionally, it presents future
perspective for academicians and practitioners.
Abstract: Data warehousing success is not high enough. User
dissatisfaction and failure to adhere to time frames and budgets are
too common. Most traditional information systems practices are
rooted in hard systems thinking. Today, the great systems thinkers
are forgotten by information systems developers. A data warehouse
is still a system and it is worth investigating whether systems
thinkers such as Churchman can enhance our practices today. This
paper investigates data warehouse development practices from a
systems thinking perspective. An empirical investigation is done in
order to understand the everyday practices of data warehousing
professionals from a systems perspective. The paper presents a
model for the application of Churchman-s systems approach in data
warehouse development.
Abstract: Ontology-based modelling of multi-formatted
software application content is a challenging area in content
management. When the number of software content unit is huge and
in continuous process of change, content change management is
important. The management of content in this context requires
targeted access and manipulation methods. We present a novel
approach to deal with model-driven content-centric information
systems and access to their content. At the core of our approach is an
ontology-based semantic annotation technique for diversely
formatted content that can improve the accuracy of access and
systems evolution. Domain ontologies represent domain-specific
concepts and conform to metamodels. Different ontologies - from
application domain ontologies to software ontologies - capture and
model the different properties and perspectives on a software content
unit. Interdependencies between domain ontologies, the artifacts and
the content are captured through a trace model. The annotation traces
are formalised and a graph-based system is selected for the
representation of the annotation traces.
Abstract: It is the living conditions in the cities that determine the future of our livelihood. “To change life, we must first change space"- Henri Lefebvre. Sustainable development is a utopian aspiration for South African cities (especially the case study of the Gauteng City Region), which are currently characterized by unplanned growth and increasing urban sprawl. While the reasons for poor environmental quality and living conditions are undoubtedly diverse and complex, having political, economical and social dimensions, it is argued that the prevailing approach to layout planning in South Africa is part of the problem. This article seeks a solution to the problem of sustainability, from a spatial planning perspective. The spatial planning tool, the urban development boundary, is introduced as the concept that will ensure empty talk being translated into a sustainable vision. The urban development boundary is a spatial planning tool that can be used and implemented to direct urban growth towards a more sustainable form. The urban development boundary aims to ensure planned urban areas, in contrast to the current unplanned areas characterized by urban sprawl and insufficient infrastructure. However, the success of the urban development boundary concept is subject to effective implementation measures, as well as adequate and efficient management. The concept of sustainable development can function as a driving force underlying societal change and transformation, but the interface between spatial planning and environmental management needs to be established (as this is the core aspects underlying sustainable development), and authorities needs to understand and implement this interface consecutively. This interface can, however, realize in terms of the objectives of the planning tool – the urban development boundary. The case study, the Gauteng City Region, is depicted as a site of economic growth and innovation, but there is a lack of good urban and regional governance, impacting on the design (layout) and function of urban areas and land use, as current authorities make uninformed decisions in terms of development applications, leading to unsustainable urban forms and unsustainable nodes. Place and space concepts are thus critical matters applicable to planning of the Gauteng City Region. The urban development boundary are thus explored as a planning tool to guide decision-making, and create a sustainable urban form, leading to better environmental and living conditions, and continuous sustainability.
Abstract: Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is one of the most
widely used technique for evaluating the relative efficiency of a set
of homogeneous decision making units. Traditionally, it assumes that
input and output variables are known in advance, ignoring the critical
issue of data uncertainty. In this paper, we deal with the problem
of efficiency evaluation under uncertain conditions by adopting the
general framework of the stochastic programming. We assume that
output parameters are represented by discretely distributed random
variables and we propose two different models defined according to a
neutral and risk-averse perspective. The models have been validated
by considering a real case study concerning the evaluation of the
technical efficiency of a sample of individual firms operating in
the Italian leather manufacturing industry. Our findings show the
validity of the proposed approach as ex-ante evaluation technique
by providing the decision maker with useful insights depending on
his risk aversion degree.
Abstract: User-Centered Design (UCD), Usability Engineering (UE) and Participatory Design (PD) are the common Human- Computer Interaction (HCI) approaches that are practiced in the software development process, focusing towards issues and matters concerning user involvement. It overlooks the organizational perspective of HCI integration within the software development organization. The Management Information Systems (MIS) perspective of HCI takes a managerial and organizational context to view the effectiveness of integrating HCI in the software development process. The Human-Centered Design (HCD) which encompasses all of the human aspects including aesthetic and ergonomic, is claimed as to provide a better approach in strengthening the HCI approaches to strengthen the software development process. In determining the effectiveness of HCD in the software development process, this paper presents the findings of a content analysis of HCI approaches by viewing those approaches as a technology which integrates user requirements, ranging from the top management to other stake holder in the software development process. The findings obtained show that HCD approach is a technology that emphasizes on human, tools and knowledge in strengthening the HCI approaches to strengthen the software development process in the quest to produce a sustainable, usable and useful software product.
Abstract: One of the most important areas of knowledge management studies is knowledge sharing. Measured in terms of number of scientific articles and organization-s applications, knowledge sharing stands as an example of success in the field. This paper reviews the related papers in the context of the underlying individual behavioral variables to providea direction framework for future research and writing.
Abstract: The availability of water in adequate quantity and
quality is imperative for sustainable development. Worldwide,
significant imbalance exists with regards to sustainable development
particularly from a water and sanitation perspective. Water is a
critical component of public health, and failure to supply safe water
will place a heavy burden on the entire population. Although the 21st
century has witnessed wealth and advanced development, it has not
been realized everywhere. Billions of people are still striving to
access the most basic human needs which are food, shelter, safe
drinking water and adequate sanitation. The global picture conceals
various inequalities particularly with regards to sanitation coverage in
rural and urban areas. Currently, water scarcity and in particular
water governance is the main challenge which will cause a threat to
sustainable development goals. Within the context of water,
sanitation and health, sustainable development is a confusing concept
primarily when examined from the viewpoint of policy options for
developing countries. This perspective paper aims to summarize and
critically evaluate evidence of published studies in relation to water,
sanitation and health and to identify relevant solutions to reduce
public health impacts. Evidently, improving water and sanitation
services will result in significant and lasting gains in health and
economic development.
Abstract: Consumer behaviour analysis represents an important
field of study in marketing. Particularly strategy development for
marketing and communications will be more focused and effective
when marketers have an understanding of the motivations, behaviour
and psychology of consumers. While materialism has been found to
be one of the important elements in consumer behaviour, compulsive
consumption represents another aspect that has recently attracted
more attention. This is because of the growing prevalence of
dysfunctional buying that has raised concern in consumer societies.
Present studies and analyses on origins and motivations of
compulsive buying have mainly focused on either individual factors
or groups of related factors and hence a need for a holistic view
exists. This paper provides a comprehensive perspective on
compulsive consumption and establishes relevant propositions
keeping the family life cycle stages as a reference for the incidence of
chronic consumer states and their influence on compulsive
consumption.
Abstract: This paper attempts to discuss the spam issue from the Malaysian e-mail users- perspective. The purpose is to discover how Malaysian users handle the spam e-mail problem. From the experiences we hope to discover the necessary effort needed to be undertaken to face this problem in the context of Malaysia. A survey was conducted to understand how Malaysian individual perceived spam and what they actually do with the spam e-mail they received in their daily life. The findings indicate that the level of awareness on spam issue in action is still low and need some extra effort by government and relevant agencies to increase their level of awareness.
Abstract: The high world interest given to the researches concerning the study of moderately halophilic solvent-tolerant bacteria isolated from marine polluted environments is due to their high biotechnological potential, and also to the perspective of their application in different remediation technologies. Using enrichment procedures, I isolated two moderately halophilic Gram-negative bacterial strains from seawater sample, which are tolerant to organic solvents. Cell tolerance, adhesion and cells viability of Aeromonas salmonicida IBBCt2 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa IBBCt3 in the presence of organic solvents depends not only on its physicochemical properties and its concentration, but also on the specific response of the cells, and the cellular response is not the same for these bacterial strains. n-hexane, n-heptane, propylbenzene, with log POW between 3.69 and 4.39, were less toxic for Aeromonas salmonicida IBBCt2 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa IBBCt3, compared with toluene, styrene, xylene isomers and ethylbenzene, with log POW between 2.64 and 3.17. The results indicated that Aeromonas salmonicida IBBCt2 is more susceptible to organic solvents than Pseudomonas aeruginosa IBBCt3. The mechanisms underlying solvent tolerance (e.g., the existance of the efflux pumps) in Aeromonas salmonicida IBBCt2 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa IBBCt3 it was also studied.
Abstract: This study describes the relationship between motivation factors and academic performance among distance education students enrolled in a postgraduate nursing course. Students (n=96) participated in a survey that assesses student's motivational orientations from a cognitive perspective using a selfadministered questionnaire based on Pintrich-s Motivation Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MLSQ). Results showed students- motivational factors are highest on task value (6.44, 0.71); followed by intrinsic goal orientation (6.20, 0.76), control beliefs (6.02, 0.89); extrinsic goal orientation (5.85, 1.13); self-efficacy for learning and performance (5.62, 0.84), and finally, test anxiety (4.21, 1.37). Weak positive correlations were found between academic performance and intrinsic goal orientation (r=0.13), extrinsic goal orientation (r=0.04), task value (r=0.09), control beliefs (r=0.02), and self-efficacy (r=0.05), while there was weak negative correlation with test anxiety (r=-0.04). Conclusions from the study indicate the need to focus on improving tasks and targeting intrinsic goal orientations of students to courses since these were positively correlated with academic performance and downplay the use of tests since these were negatively correlated with academic performance.
Abstract: This study used Item Analysis, Exploratory Factor
Analysis (EFA) and Reliability Analysis (Cronbach-s α value) to
exam the Questions which selected by the Delphi method based on the
issue of “Socio-technical system (STS)" and user-centered
perspective. A structure questionnaire with seventy-four questions
which could be categorized into nine dimensions (healthcare
environment, organization behaviour, system quality, medical data
quality, service quality, safety quality, user usage, user satisfaction,
and organization net benefits) was provided to evaluate EMR of the
Taiwanese healthcare environment.
Abstract: From the perspective of industrial structure
coordination and based on an explicit definition for the connotation of
industrial structure coordination, the synergetic coefficients are used
to measure the coordination degree between three industries' input
structure and output structure, and then the efficacy function method is
employed to comprehensively evaluate the level of China-s industrial
structure optimization. It is showed that Chinese industrial structure
presented a "v-shaped" variation tendency between 1996 and 2008,
and its industrial structure adjustment got obvious achievements after
2003, with the industrial structure optimization level increasing
continuously. However in 2009, the level of China-s industrial
structure optimization declined sharply due to the decreasing
contribution degree of value added structure and energy structure
coordination and the lower coordination degree of value added
structure and capital structure.
Abstract: The relation between taxation states and foreign direct
investment has been studied for several perspectives and with states
of different levels of development. Usually it's only considered the
impact of tax level on the foreign direct investment volume. This
paper enhances this view by assuming that multinationals companies
(MNC) can use transfer prices systems and have got investment
timing flexibility. Thus, it evaluates the impact of the use of
international transfer pricing systems on the states- policy and on the
investment timing of the multinational companies. In uncertain
business environments (with periodical release of news), the
investment can increase if MNC detain investment delay options.
This paper shows how tax differentials can attract foreign direct
investments (FDI) and influence MNC behavior. The equilibrium is
set in a global environment where MNC can shift their profits
between states depending on the corporate tax rates. Assuming the
use of transfer pricing schemes, this paper confirms the relationship
between MNC behavior and the release of new business news.
Abstract: A virtualized and virtual approach is presented on
academically preparing students to successfully engage at a strategic
perspective to understand those concerns and measures that are both
structured and not structured in the area of cyber security and
information assurance. The Master of Science in Cyber Security and
Information Assurance (MSCSIA) is a professional degree for those
who endeavor through technical and managerial measures to ensure
the security, confidentiality, integrity, authenticity, control,
availability and utility of the world-s computing and information
systems infrastructure. The National University Cyber Security and
Information Assurance program is offered as a Master-s degree. The
emphasis of the MSCSIA program uniquely includes hands-on
academic instruction using virtual computers. This past year, 2011,
the NU facility has become fully operational using system
architecture to provide a Virtual Education Laboratory (VEL)
accessible to both onsite and online students. The first student cohort
completed their MSCSIA training this past March 2, 2012 after
fulfilling 12 courses, for a total of 54 units of college credits. The
rapid pace scheduling of one course per month is immensely
challenging, perpetually changing, and virtually multifaceted. This
paper analyses these descriptive terms in consideration of those
globalization penetration breaches as present in today-s world of
cyber security. In addition, we present current NU practices to
mitigate risks.
Abstract: To judge whether the memristor can be interpreted as
the fourth fundamental circuit element, we propose a variable-relation
criterion of fundamental circuit elements. According to the criterion,
we investigate the nature of three fundamental circuit elements and the
memristor. From the perspective of variables relation, the memristor
builds a direct relation between the voltage across it and the current
through it, instead of a direct relation between the magnetic flux and
the charge. Thus, it is better to characterize the memristor and the
resistor as two special cases of the same fundamental circuit element,
which is the memristive system in Chua-s new framework. Finally, the
definition of memristor is refined according to the difference between
the magnetic flux and the flux linkage.
Abstract: The explosion of interest in online gaming and
virtual worlds is leading many universities to investigate
possible educational applications of the new environments.
In this paper we explore the possibilities of 3D online worlds
for teacher education, particularly the field experience
component. Drawing upon two pedagogical examples, we
suggest that virtual simulations may, with certain limitations,
create safe spaces that allow preservice teachers to adopt
alternate identities and interact safely with the “other." In so
doing they may become aware of the constructed nature of
social categories and gain the essential pedagogical skill of
perspective-taking. We suggest that, ultimately, the ability to
be the principal creators of themselves in virtual environments
can increase their ability to do the same in the real world.
Abstract: Internet application in China has maintained a constant
development tendency in the past decade. China is now one of the
most populous countries in terms of internet user population. While
offering enormous opportunities, the dramatic digitalization also
brings about a series of challenges that demand urgent attention.
Digital divide is one of the challenges that affect China as well as other
countries in the world. This paper examines digital divide in the
Chinese context from the perspective of development communication.
Through a case study of a rural township under the backdrop of the
rapid internet development in China, the paper discusses the
economic, psychological and cultural roots of digital divide; and
explores development communication strategies addressing the roots
of digital divide. It is argued that development communication must be
responsive to the potentialities and preferences of the specific society
and serve the purposes of participation and sustainability.