Abstract: This study focuses on teamwork in Finnish working
life. Through a wide cross-section of teams the study examines the
causes to which team members attribute the outcomes of their teams.
Qualitative data was collected from 314 respondents. They wrote 616
stories to describe memorable experiences of success and failure in
teamwork. The stories revealed 1930 explanations. The findings
indicate that both favorable and unfavorable team outcomes are
perceived as being caused by the characteristics of team members,
relationships between members, team communication, team
structure, team goals, team leadership, and external forces. The types
represent different attribution levels in the context of organizational
teamwork.
Abstract: Today, Higher Education in a global scope is subordinated to the greater institutional controls through the policies of the Quality of Education. These include processes of over evaluation of all the academic activities: students- and professors- performance, educational logistics, managerial standards for the administration of institutions of higher education, as well as the establishment of the imaginaries of excellence and prestige as the foundations on which universities of the XXI century will focus their present and future goals and interests. But at the same time higher education systems worldwide are facing the most profound crisis of sense and meaning and attending enormous mutations in their identity. Based in a qualitative research approach, this paper shows the social configurations that the scholars at the Universities in Mexico build around the discourse of the Quality of Education, and how these policies put in risk the social recognition of these individuals.
Abstract: Information Technology (IT) projects are always
accompanied by various risks and because of high rate of failure in
such projects, managing risks in order to neutralize or at least
decrease their effects on the success of the project is strongly
essential. In this paper, fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) is
exploited as a means of risk evaluation methodology to prioritize and
organize risk factors faced in IT projects. A real case of IT projects, a
project of design and implementation of an integrated information
system in a vehicle producing company in Iran is studied. Related
risk factors are identified and then expert qualitative judgments about
these factors are acquired. Translating these judgments to fuzzy
numbers and using them as an input to FAHP, risk factors are then
ranked and prioritized by FAHP in order to make project managers
aware of more important risks and enable them to adopt suitable
measures to deal with these highly devastative risks.
Abstract: Antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts of Ardisia
japonica Blume., Ageartum conyzoides Linn., and Cocculus hirsutus
Linn Diels. leaves was determined qualitatively and quantitatively in
this research. 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical
solution was used to investigate free radical scavenging activity of
these leaves extracts. Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) was used as the
standard. In the present investigation, it is found that all of these
extracts have remarkable antioxidant activities. The EC50 values of
these ethanolic extracts were 12.72 μg/ml for A. japonica, 15.19
μg/ml for A. conyzoides, 10.68 μg/ml for C. hirsutus respectively.
Among these Myanmar medicinal plants, C. hirsutus showed higher
antioxidant activities as well as free radical scavenging activity than
black tea (Camellia sinensis), the famous antioxidant, and A.
japonica and A. conyzoides showed a rather lower antioxidant
activity than tea extracts. According to results from bioassay with
carrot discs infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, all extracts
showed anti-tumor activity after 3 weeks of incubation. No gall was
detected in carrot disks treated with C. hirsutus and A. japonica
extracts in the dose of 100ppm and in carrot discs treated with A.
conyzoides extract in the dose of 1000 ppm. Therefore, the research
clearly indicates that these weedy plants of dry farm land are
exceptionally advantageous for human health.
Abstract: The purpose of this research is: a) to investigate how
the HR practices influence psychological contracts, b) to examine the
influence of psychological contracts to individual behavior and to
contribute individually, c) to study the psychological contact through
leadership. This research using mixed methods, qualitative and
quantitative research methods were utilized to gather the data
collected using a qualitative method by the HR Manager who is in
charge of the trainings from the staffs and quantitative method
(survey) by using questionnaire was utilized to draw upon and to
elaborate on the recurring themes present during the interviews. The
survey was done to 400 staffs of the company. The study found that
leadership styles supporting the firm’s HR strategy is the key in
making psychological contracts that benefit both the firm and its
members.
Abstract: Boon Rawd Brewery is a beer company based in
Thailand that has an exemplary image, both as a good employer and a
well-managed company with a strong record of social responsibility.
The most famous of the company’s products is Singha beer. To study
the company’s marketing strategy, a case study analysis was
conducted together with qualitative research methods. The study
analyzed the marketing strategy of Boon Rawd Brewery before the
liberalization of the liquor market in 2000. The company’s marketing
strategies consisted of the following: product line strategy, product
development strategy, block channel strategy, media strategy, trade
strategy, and consumer incentive strategy. Additionally, the company
employed marketing mix strategy based on the 4Ps: product, price,
promotion and place (of distribution).
Abstract: Light is one of the most important qualitative and
symbolic factors and has a special position in architecture and urban
development in regard to practical function. The main function of
light, either natural or artificial, is lighting up the environment and
the constructional forms which is called lighting. However, light is
used to redefine the urban spaces by architectural genius with regard
to three aesthetic, conceptual and symbolic factors. In architecture
and urban development, light has a function beyond lighting up the
environment, and the designers consider it as one of the basic
components. The present research aims at studying the function of
light and color in architectural view and their effects in buildings.
Abstract: The study was a case study analysis about Thai Asia
Pacific Brewery Company. The purpose was to analyze the
company’s marketing objective, marketing strategy at company level,
and marketing mix before liquor liberalization in 2000. Methods used
in this study were qualitative and descriptive research approach
which demonstrated the following results of the study demonstrated
as follows: (1) Marketing objective was to increase market share of
Heineken and Amtel, (2) the company’s marketing strategies were
brand building strategy and distribution strategy. Additionally, the
company also conducted marketing mix strategy as follows. Product
strategy: The company added more beer brands namely Amstel and
Tiger to provide additional choice to consumers, product and
marketing research, and product development. Price strategy: the
company had taken the following into consideration: cost,
competitor, market, economic situation and tax. Promotion strategy:
the company conducted sales promotion and advertising. Distribution
strategy: the company extended channels its channels of distribution
into food shops, pubs and various entertainment places. This strategy
benefited interested persons and people who were engaged in the beer
business.
Abstract: Batch adsorption of recalcitrant melanoidin using the abundantly available coal fly ash was carried out. It had low specific surface area (SBET) of 1.7287 m2/g and pore volume of 0.002245 cm3/g while qualitative evaluation of the predominant phases in it was done by XRD analysis. Colour removal efficiency was found to be dependent on various factors studied. Maximum colour removal was achieved around pH 6, whereas increasing sorbent mass from 10g/L to 200 g/L enhanced colour reduction from 25% to 86% at 298 K. Spontaneity of the process was suggested by negative Gibbs free energy while positive values for enthalpy change showed endothermic nature of the process. Non-linear optimization of error functions resulted in Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson isotherms describing sorption equilibrium data best. The coal fly ash had maximum sorption capacity of 53 mg/g and could thus be used as a low cost adsorbent in melanoidin removal.
Abstract: A new design of a planar passive T-micromixer with fin-shaped baffles in the mixing channel is presented. The mixing efficiency and the level of pressure loss in the channel have been investigated by numerical simulations in the range of Reynolds number (Re) 1 to 50. A Mixing index (Mi) has been defined to quantify the mixing efficiency, which results over 85% at both ends of the Re range, what demonstrates the micromixer can enhance mixing using the mechanisms of diffusion (lower Re) and convection (higher Re). Three geometric dimensions: radius of baffle, baffles pitch and height of the channel define the design parameters, and the mixing index and pressure loss are the performance parameters used to optimize the micromixer geometry with a multi-criteria optimization method. The Pareto front of designs with the optimum trade-offs, maximum mixing index with minimum pressure loss, is obtained. Experiments for qualitative and quantitative validation have been implemented.
Abstract: The struggle between modern and postmodern
understanding is also displayed in terms of the superiorities of
quantitative and qualitative methods to each other which are
evaluated within the scope of these understandings. By way of
assuming that the quantitative researches (modern) are able to
account for structure while the qualitative researches (postmodern)
explain the process, these methods are turned into a means for
worldviews specific to a period. In fact, process is not a functioning
independent of structure. In addition to this issue, the ability of
quantitative methods to provide scientific knowledge is also
controversial so long as they exclude the dialectical method. For this
reason, the critiques charged against modernism in terms of
quantitative methods are, in a sense, legitimate. Nevertheless, the
main issue is in which parameters postmodernist critique tries to
legitimize its critiques and whether these parameters represent a point
of view enabling democratic solutions.
In this respect, the scientific knowledge covered in Turkish media
as a means through which ordinary people have access to scientific
knowledge will be evaluated by means of content analysis within a
new objectivity conception.
Abstract: Every organization is continually subject to new damages and threats which can be resulted from their operations or their goal accomplishment. Methods of providing the security of space and applied tools have been widely changed with increasing application and development of information technology (IT). From this viewpoint, information security management systems were evolved to construct and prevent reiterating the experienced methods. In general, the correct response in information security management systems requires correct decision making, which in turn requires the comprehensive effort of managers and everyone involved in each plan or decision making. Obviously, all aspects of work or decision are not defined in all decision making conditions; therefore, the possible or certain risks should be considered when making decisions. This is the subject of risk management and it can influence the decisions. Investigation of different approaches in the field of risk management demonstrates their progress from quantitative to qualitative methods with a process approach.
Abstract: Considering today-s increasing speed of change,
radical and innovative improvement - Kaikaku, is a necessity parallel
to continuous incremental improvement - Kaizen, especially for
SME-s in order to attain the competitive edge needed to be profitable.
During 2011, a qualitative single case study with the objective of
realizing a kaikaku in production has been conducted. The case study
was run as a one year project using a collaborative approach
including both researchers and company representatives. The case
study was conducted with the purpose of gaining further knowledge
about kaikaku realization as well as its implications. The empirical
results provide insights about the great productivity results achieved
by applying a specific kaikaku realization approach. However, it also
sheds light on the difficulty and contradiction of combining
innovation management and production system development.
Abstract: This study adopts a qualitative approach, which
engages in the dialectical discussion on two levels of dyad opposite
views. The first level of the dyad opposite views is the Western
strategic perspective and the Eastern Tai-Chi thinking. The second
level of the dyad opposite views is resource-based view and resource
dependence theory. This study concludes the resource-oriented actions
for competitive advantage as the metaphor of Tai-Chi consisted of yin
and yang. This study argues that the focal firm should adopt bridging
strategy during the core competence development period because its
core competence development is likely to meet its competitor’s needs
of exploring strategy during the competitor’s external resource
development stage. In addition, the focal firm should adopt buffering
strategy during the external resource development period to prevent its
competitor’s the exploiting strategy from attack during the
competitor’s core competence development stage. Consequently, this
study takes a significant first step toward a novel contextualize
understanding of resource development based on strategic perspective
and Tai-Chi thinking providing more fully sustainable strategy for
competitive advantage.
Abstract: If an unsteady heat transfer or heat impulse happens in
part of the cryogenic pipeline system of large space environment
simulation equipment while running in vacuum environment, it will
lead to abnormal flow of the cryogenic fluid in the pipeline. When the
situation gets worse, the cryogenic fluid in the pipeline will have phase
change and a gas block which results in the malfunction of the
cryogenic pipeline system. Referring to the structural parameter of a
typical cryogenic pipeline system and the basic equation, an analytical
model and a calculation model for cryogenic pipeline system can be
built. The various factors which influence the thermal resistance of a
cryogenic pipeline system can be analyzed and calculated by using the
qualitative analysis relation deduced for thermal resistance of pipeline.
The research conclusion could provide theoretical support for the
design and operation of a cryogenic pipeline system
Abstract: The development of One Tambon One Product
(OTOP) became the policy of the government in 1997 after the
former Prime Minister had been in power. The strategy of sections is
currently set for the policy. OTOP has become the part of the way of
community lives around the country. OTOP may be developed under
changing into ASEAN economic community in 2015 because of the
flow of capitals, productions, and many workers in the region. All
sectors are improved for the change. The purposes of study were to
study the strength and weakness of the OTOP-creating process via its
policy and to lead to the strategy to be able to apply before changing.
The methodology is qualitative to study its policy including
document and to interview experienced persons. The findings showed
that the effort of improvement of all sectors obviously involves with
OTOP development. Particularly, the strategic administration of
OTOP is in every level of the state, central sector, region, and
community.
Abstract: Large volumes of fingerprints are collected and stored
every day in a wide range of applications, including forensics, access
control etc. It is evident from the database of Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) which contains more than 70 million finger
prints. Compression of this database is very important because of this
high Volume. The performance of existing image coding standards
generally degrades at low bit-rates because of the underlying block
based Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) scheme. Over the past
decade, the success of wavelets in solving many different problems
has contributed to its unprecedented popularity. Due to
implementation constraints scalar wavelets do not posses all the
properties which are needed for better performance in compression.
New class of wavelets called 'Multiwavelets' which posses more
than one scaling filters overcomes this problem. The objective of this
paper is to develop an efficient compression scheme and to obtain
better quality and higher compression ratio through multiwavelet
transform and embedded coding of multiwavelet coefficients through
Set Partitioning In Hierarchical Trees algorithm (SPIHT) algorithm.
A comparison of the best known multiwavelets is made to the best
known scalar wavelets. Both quantitative and qualitative measures of
performance are examined for Fingerprints.
Abstract: This paper provides a key driver-based conceptual framework that can be used to improve a firm-s success in commercializing technology and in new product innovation resulting from collaboration with other organizations through strategic alliances. Based on a qualitative study using an interview approach, strategic alliances of entrepreneurs in the food processing industry in Thailand are explored. This paper describes factors affecting decisions to collaborate through alliances. It identifies four issues: maintaining the efficiency of the value chain for production capability, adapting to present and future competition, careful assessment of value of outcomes, and management of innovation. We consider five driving factors: resource orientation, assessment of risk, business opportunity, sharing of benefits and confidence in alliance partners. These factors will be of interest to entrepreneurs and policy makers with regard to further understanding of the direction of business strategies.
Abstract: In this research, heat transfer of a poly Ethylene
fluidized bed reactor without reaction were studied experimentally
and computationally at different superficial gas velocities. A multifluid
Eulerian computational model incorporating the kinetic theory
for solid particles was developed and used to simulate the heat
conducting gas–solid flows in a fluidized bed configuration.
Momentum exchange coefficients were evaluated using the Syamlal–
O-Brien drag functions. Temperature distributions of different phases
in the reactor were also computed. Good agreement was found
between the model predictions and the experimentally obtained data
for the bed expansion ratio as well as the qualitative gas–solid flow
patterns. The simulation and experimental results showed that the gas
temperature decreases as it moves upward in the reactor, while the
solid particle temperature increases. Pressure drop and temperature
distribution predicted by the simulations were in good agreement
with the experimental measurements at superficial gas velocities
higher than the minimum fluidization velocity. Also, the predicted
time-average local voidage profiles were in reasonable agreement
with the experimental results. The study showed that the
computational model was capable of predicting the heat transfer and
the hydrodynamic behavior of gas-solid fluidized bed flows with
reasonable accuracy.
Abstract: The objectives of this research paper were to study the
influencing factors that contributed to the success of electronic
commerce (e-commerce) and to study the approach to enhance the
standard of e-commerce for small and medium enterprises (SME).
The research paper focused the study on only sole proprietorship
SMEs in Bangkok, Thailand. The factors contributed to the success
of SME included business management, learning in the organization,
business collaboration, and the quality of website. A quantitative and
qualitative mixed research methodology was used. In terms of
quantitative method, a questionnaire was used to collect data from
251 sole proprietorships. The System Equation Model (SEM) was
utilized as the tool for data analysis. In terms of qualitative method,
an in-depth interview, a dialogue with experts in the field of ecommerce
for SMEs, and content analysis were used.
By using the adjusted causal relationship structure model, it was
revealed that the factors affecting the success of e-commerce for
SMEs were found to be congruent with the empirical data. The
hypothesis testing indicated that business management influenced the
learning in the organization, the learning in the organization
influenced business collaboration and the quality of the website, and
these factors, in turn, influenced the success of SMEs. Moreover, the
approach to enhance the standard of SMEs revealed that the majority
of respondents wanted to enhance the standard of SMEs to a high
level in the category of safety of e-commerce system, basic structure
of e-commerce, development of staff potentials, assistance of budget
and tax reduction, and law improvement regarding the e-commerce
respectively.