Karunamunige Sandun Madhuranga Karunamuni, Ekanayake Mudiyanselage Kapila Bandara Ekanayake, Subodha Dharmapriya and Asela Kumudu Kulatunga
The purpose of this study is to develop a novel general mathematical model to find the optimal product mix of commercial graphite products, which has a complex production process…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to develop a novel general mathematical model to find the optimal product mix of commercial graphite products, which has a complex production process with alternative sub-processes in the graphite mining production process.
Design/methodology/approach
The network optimization was adopted to model the complex graphite mining production process through the optimal allocation of raw graphite, byproducts, and saleable products with comparable sub-processes, which has different processing capacities and costs. The model was tested on a selected graphite manufacturing company, and the optimal graphite product mix was determined through the selection of the optimal production process. In addition, sensitivity and scenario analyses were carried out to accommodate uncertainties and to facilitate further managerial decisions.
Findings
The selected graphite mining company mines approximately 400 metric tons of raw graphite per month to produce ten types of graphite products. According to the optimum solution obtained, the company should produce only six graphite products to maximize its total profit. In addition, the study demonstrated how to reveal optimum managerial decisions based on optimum solutions.
Originality/value
This study has made a significant contribution to the graphite manufacturing industry by modeling the complex graphite mining production process with a network optimization technique that has yet to be addressed at this level of detail. The sensitivity and scenario analyses support for further managerial decisions.
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Prabhugouda Mallanagouda Patil, Bharath Goudar and Ebrahim Momoniat
Many industries use non-Newtonian ternary hybrid nanofluids (THNF) because of how well they control rheological and heat transport. This being the case, this paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Many industries use non-Newtonian ternary hybrid nanofluids (THNF) because of how well they control rheological and heat transport. This being the case, this paper aims to numerically study the Casson-Williamson THNF flow over a yawed cylinder, considering the effects of several slips and an inclined magnetic field. The THNF comprises Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 nanoparticles because they improve heat transmission due to large thermal conductivity.
Design/methodology/approach
Applying suitable nonsimilarity variables transforms the coupled highly dimensional nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) into a system of nondimensional PDEs. To accomplish the goal of achieving the solution, an implicit finite difference approach is used in conjunction with Quasilinearization. With the assistance of a script written in MATLAB, the numerical results and the graphical representation of those solutions were ascertained.
Findings
As the Casson parameter
Originality/value
There is no existing research on the effects of Casson-Williamson THNF flow over a yawed cylinder with multiple slips and an angled magnetic field, according to the literature.
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Olusegun Emmanuel Akinwale and Olusoji James George
The mass exodus of the professional healthcare workforce has become a cankerworm for a developing nation like Nigeria, and this worsens the already depleted healthcare systems in…
Abstract
Purpose
The mass exodus of the professional healthcare workforce has become a cankerworm for a developing nation like Nigeria, and this worsens the already depleted healthcare systems in underdeveloped nation. This study investigated the rationale behind medical workers' brain-drain syndrome and the quality healthcare delivery in the Nigerian public healthcare sector.
Design/methodology/approach
To stimulate an understanding of the effect of the phenomenon called brain drain, the study adopted a diagnostic research design to survey the public healthcare personnel in government hospitals. The study administered a battery of adapted research scales of different measures to confirm the variables of interest of this study on a probability sampling strategy. The study surveyed 450 public healthcare sector employees from four government hospitals to gather pertinent data. The study used a structural equation model (SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) to analyse the collected data from the medical personnel of government hospitals.
Findings
The findings of this study are significant as postulated. The study discovered that poor quality worklife experienced by Nigerian medical personnel was attributed to the brain-drain effect and poor healthcare delivery. The study further demonstrated that job dissatisfaction suffered among the public healthcare workforce forced the workforce to migrate to the international labour market, and this same factor is a reason for poor healthcare delivery. Lastly, the study discovered that inadequate remuneration and pay discouraged Nigerian professionals and allied healthcare workers from being productive and ultimately pushed them to the global market.
Originality/value
Practically, this study has shown three major elements that caused the mass movement of Nigerian healthcare personnel to other countries of the world and that seems novel given the peculiarity of the Nigerian labour market. The study is original and novel as much study has not been put forward in the public healthcare sector in Nigeria concerning this phenomenon.
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Sophia Brink, Gretha Steenkamp and Aletta Odendaal
International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 15 required credit card rewards programmes (CCRPs) to reconsider their accounting practices. While Brink and Steenkamp (2023a…
Abstract
Purpose
International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 15 required credit card rewards programmes (CCRPs) to reconsider their accounting practices. While Brink and Steenkamp (2023a, 2023b) developed a theoretical accounting model for CCRP transactions after the effective date of IFRS 15, this model should be validated and finalised as an accounting framework. Thus, the purpose of the present paper was to examine the validity of Brink and Steenkamp’s (2023b) model by interviewing CCRP managers and obtaining the opinions of experts in the field, and then develop a framework for accounting for CCRP transactions after the effective date of IFRS 15.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative exploratory approach within an interpretive paradigm was applied. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with South African CCRP managers, after which the Delphi technique (with 22 experts) was used. All data collected were analysed using thematic analysis, after which the CCRP accounting framework was finalised.
Findings
The study confirmed parts of the theoretical model, updated the model for what was evident in practice (e.g., not identifying interest as a relevant revenue stream, not differentiating between an open-loop and closed-loop structure and not including interest in the interchange fee) and improved the model by including alternative accounting treatments and additional guidance (e.g., to determine how the CCRP transaction should be viewed and to determine the value of award credits without an observable value).
Practical implications
The CCRP accounting framework provides practical guidelines for CCRP accounting and will assist managers of CCRPs in their decision-making processes and the application of judgement.
Originality/value
The study developed a CCRP accounting framework embedded in a decision tree and included all possible alternatives for accounting for CCRP transactions, which is a novel contribution to the field.
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Waleed M. Al-Ahdal, Faozi A. Almaqtari, Dheya A. Zaid, Eissa A. Al-Homaidi and Najib H. Farhan
This study aims to investigate the impact of corporate characteristics on leverage in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) non-financial listed firms.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of corporate characteristics on leverage in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) non-financial listed firms.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample comprising a balanced panel for eight years from 2009–2016 for four Gulf countries is used. In total, 85 non-financial listed companies have been selected using a non-probability sampling technique. Corporate characteristics are represented by return on assets (ROA), return on equity, return on capital employed, market value-added, Tobin-Q, liquidity and firm size. The study used fixed and random effect models to estimate the results.
Findings
The findings of the study revealed that both ROA and FSIZE have a significant negative effect on leverage. However, market value-added, return on capital employed and Tobin-Q exhibited a statistically significant positive effect on leverage. Further, the results indicated that Qatar is better than kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Oman and the UAE. In addition, evidence noted that KSA is better than both UAE and Oman in terms of the overall impact of corporate characteristics on the leverage. However, this effect is not statistically significant.
Practical implications
This study provides an open insight for managers, bankers, financial analysts in the GCC countries and some other developing economies by highlighting the relationship between corporate characteristics and leverage in an emerging market.
Originality/value
The current study provides an important insight into corporate characteristics and leverage. By so doing, it provides an attempt to identify the factors influencing corporate financing behavior taking into consideration different issues such as different proxies of firms’ profitability, market capitalization, market value added and liquidity, which provides original evidence from Gulf countries emerging markets. These countries are characterized by low tax rates and high liquidity. High liquidity may reduce the cost of borrowing and debt financing may not be a huge burden on firms’ profits. This makes the investigation of leverage and corporate characteristics, particularly, firms’ profitability and liquidity, very important. Therefore, the study tries to bridge an existing gap in the body of literature of capital structure and debt financing in Gulf countries emerging markets.
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Petros Kalantonis, Christos Kallandranis and Marios Sotiropoulos
The goal of this paper is twofold. First, to examine the role of expectations in shaping agents' behaviour within an extended time frame which incorporates a prolonged harsh…
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this paper is twofold. First, to examine the role of expectations in shaping agents' behaviour within an extended time frame which incorporates a prolonged harsh downturn of economic activity. Therefore, the authors allow for an indirect impact of economy-wide expectations operating via their coexistence with firms' balance sheet factors. Second, it is tested whether the behaviour of listed firms as regards to debt follows the pecking order theory.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use the panel data methodology in the estimation of the financial structure models since unobservable heterogeneity is an important determinant towards the target leverage. A fixed effects estimation procedure, with robust intercepts allowed to vary across firms, was employed to examine the relationship between leverage and performance.
Findings
The findings offer evidence of patterns of pecking order behaviour and thus for the necessity of internal financing over external debt. The authors also extended the set of determinants by investigating the effect of macroeconomic conditions on the debt decision of firms. Contrary to the authors’ expectations, short-run beliefs of economic agents appear to play a negative role in leverage.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature in a number of ways. First, following the growing literature of loan dynamics, the findings provide useful insights into corporate capital structure decisions in an economy in which businesses were almost excluded from external financing for over a decade. Second, in order to better understand corporate financing decisions, it is necessary to consider the overall economic framework in which companies and especially the listed ones operate.
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Olusegun Emmanuel Akinwale, Owolabi Lateef Kuye and Olayombo Elizabeth Akinwale
Brain-drain insurgency has become pervasive amongst professionals and the last option for everyone in the country to realise a sustainable quality of work-life (QWL). All youths…
Abstract
Purpose
Brain-drain insurgency has become pervasive amongst professionals and the last option for everyone in the country to realise a sustainable quality of work-life (QWL). All youths now in the country have perceived migrating to the international workspace as a noble idea. This study investigates the incidence of brain-drain and QWL amongst academics in Nigerian universities.
Design/methodology/approach
To sparkle a clearer understanding concerning factors preventing the QWL amongst Nigeria's lecturers, this study utilised a cross-sectional research design to survey the participants across all departments in federal institutions through an explanatory research approach. This study applied an array of adapted scales to evaluate members of academic staff track of what provoked the incidence of brain-drain amongst Nigerian lecturers and possible influence on their QWL. The study surveyed 431 members of academic staff in Nigerian universities to collect useful data and employed a structural equation model (SEM) to analyse the obtained data.
Findings
The outcome of this study highlights that there is a horrible condition of service amongst Nigerian lecturers, a poor compensation system, poor academic research funding and lack of autonomy are bane to the QWL experienced in Nigerian tertiary institutions today. This study indicates that poor staff development and inadequate university funding are part of the justification that provoked brain-drain insurgence, and allowed the government to lose their skilled and competent egg-heads in the university to other foreign nations of the world.
Originality/value
This study demonstrated that brain-drain has become part of Nigeria's national life given that all professionals are seeking better life where their skills, competence and energy would be valued. Brain-drain was not common until these days amongst academics and fewer studies were noted but this study showed a novel paradigm regarding the QWL and brain-drain trajectory.
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Muhammad Riaz, Shu Jinghong and Muhammad Nadeem Akhtar
The main goal of this study is to analyze how monetary debt effects firm behavior of 167 registered manufacturing companies in G-7 countries.
Abstract
Purpose
The main goal of this study is to analyze how monetary debt effects firm behavior of 167 registered manufacturing companies in G-7 countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample of the present study is taken from the listed firms in G-7 countries. For the building companies, the yearly financial statements of 2007–2018 have been taken from world stock exchange and Thomson Reuters Data Stream. In this study, regression analysis are directed with panel data over the period of 2007–2018 using ordinary least square summary statistics, correlation matrix and generalized method moments. Data were analyzed by employing E Views and Stata 13 software.
Findings
The significant findings of the current study indicated that fixed assets, tangible assets, taxes, net cash and profitability have positive association with debt level.
Research limitations/implications
The current work include only registered manufacturing firms in G-7 countries. Moreover, ownership types are not accounted for in this study.
Practical implications
The current analysis is an empirical investigation of antecedents of debt regarding G-7 countries with up-to-date data. Various regression inquires have been made to design the models using different measures of debt and measure of firm performance indicators. These works will assist G-7 countries firms to know the effects of identified factors on time raising debt level.
Originality/value
The current work has been finalized using genuine data of yearly reports and database. This study incorporated antecedents of debt, which have limited discourse in prior literature. Furthermore, this study explores the connection between debt level and firm performance of G-7 countries.