GEORGE OFORI and GU GANG
The construction management literature discusses the benefits which companies derive from having their operations certified to the ISO 9000 series of quality management systems…
Abstract
The construction management literature discusses the benefits which companies derive from having their operations certified to the ISO 9000 series of quality management systems (QMS). In Singapore, quality has been a topical issue in the construction industry for the past decade. ISO 9000 certification, which has been a major part of the construction quality development programme, is now mandatory for large construction contracting and consultancy organizations wishing to register to undertake public‐sector projects. This paper reports on a study on the role which ISO 9000 implementation plays in the quality development of Singapore's construction industry by ascertaining the perceptions, objectives, motivations and experiences (including benefits and problems) relating to quality in general, and to ISO 9000 certification and implementation in particular. A questionnaire‐based survey of large construction companies was conducted. It was found that construction firms benefit from QMS certification, and face no significant problems with it. Recommendations are made for enhancing the benefits of ISO 9000 and ensuring that it has a positive long‐term impact on the development of Singapore's construction industry.
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David Pyrooz, Scott Decker and Mark Fleisher
This article examines a range of issues associated with gangs in incarcerated settings. We begin by examining the similarities and differences between street and prison gangs, and…
Abstract
This article examines a range of issues associated with gangs in incarcerated settings. We begin by examining the similarities and differences between street and prison gangs, and differentiating them from other types of criminal groups. Next, we focus on the emergence and growth of gangs in prison, including patterns and theoretical explanations. Importantly, we draw theoretical linkages between differing perspectives on gang emergence and gang violence. We also present administrative and official responses to gangs in prison. Finally, we discuss the movement from prison to the street, examining the difficulties that former prisoners face when re‐entering communities.
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Yuanhang Yang, Gang Feng, Yanhong Gu, Jie Zhao and Jian Liang
Aluminum alloy is susceptible to chloride ion attack in sea water, resulting in pitting damage and hence serious security risks for the related applications. To improve the…
Abstract
Purpose
Aluminum alloy is susceptible to chloride ion attack in sea water, resulting in pitting damage and hence serious security risks for the related applications. To improve the corrosion resistance of Al alloy, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technology has been developed to produce a protective dense oxide layer on top of Al alloy. However, the mechanism of MAO-induced corrosion resistance is still not fully understood, particularly on local corrosion issue. This paper aims to focus on comprehensively studying the corrosion-resistance mechanism by a series of technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
The corrosion behavior of samples was studied by open circuit potential (OCP), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrode impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and localized electrode impedance spectroscopy (LEIS) tests in NaCl solution.
Findings
The MAO-coated Al alloy shows a more positive corrosion potential and a higher corrosion current density compared to the untreated counterpart, indicating a significantly enhanced corrosion-resistance. The study of surface morphology and structure also suggest significantly enhanced corrosion-resistance due to the MAO treatment.
Originality/value
Based on the results, a new corrosion model was proposed to describe the influence of MAO treatment on the corrosion process and corrosion mechanism of Al alloy, providing insights on the design of the corrosion-resistance coating for metallic alloys in marine applications.
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Gang Ma, Rui Yang, Aarren Minneyfield, Xieting Gu, Yinghui Gan, Lin Li, Sixia Liu, Wenjun Jiang, Weiguo Lai and Yihua Wu
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature of blended learning by practically implementing best practices in employee training.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature of blended learning by practically implementing best practices in employee training.
Design/methodology/approach
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, an organization had modified its training procedures over the course of three years to improve employee and organizational outcomes. Employee candidates who were onboarded into sales positions during the years 2019–2021 were given the opportunity to learn the content in an online format and subsequently evaluated prior to their in-person training and final evaluation to provide them with a self-paced blended learning experience. Both evaluation scores, along with the length it took to complete the trainings, were used to determine the trainings effectiveness and efficiency respectively.
Findings
The findings for the study showed that the organization was successfully able to improve upon the efficiency of the training by reducing training length and the effectiveness by improving employee outcomes.
Research limitations/implications
The study’s design was limited to the probation process, which resulted in issues drawing conclusions for employee outcomes that were relevant to their long-term organizational success. This emphasizes the importance of comprehensive investigations for future practical studies.
Practical implications
The findings allow for the improvement of blended learning models within real-world organizational contexts that provide organizations with the opportunity to improve employee outcomes while reducing time costs.
Originality/value
This study provides data from applied blended learning procedures that were validated using empirical findings, which contributes to the practicality of blended learning in workplace training.
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Jibao Gu, Gang Wang, Hefu Liu, Derun Song and Changqing He
The present study aims to examine how and when authoritarian leadership affects employee creativity. Based on social exchange theory and team identification literature, the…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aims to examine how and when authoritarian leadership affects employee creativity. Based on social exchange theory and team identification literature, the present research attempts to simultaneously explore how leader–member exchange (LMX) and team identification serve as two important mediating processes in the relationship between authoritarian leadership and employee creativity. Furthermore, this research uncovers the mechanism under which conditions the effects of authoritarian leadership will be magnified or minimized.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey has been conducted in China by using a questionnaire to collect data. The study sample consisted of 325 employees. LISREL 8.7 and SPSS 18.0 were used to test the mediating and moderating effects, respectively.
Findings
Results from 325 employees revealed that both LMX and team identification mediated the negative relationships between authoritarian leadership and employee creativity. Specifically, the relationship between two mediators was that LMX was positively related to team identification. In addition, the relationship between authoritarian leaderships and LMX and team identification was moderated by power distance, such that the negative relationships will be weaker with high power distance and stronger with low power distance.
Practical implications
First, firms and managers should recognize and take actions to reduce the negative effects of authoritarian leadership, such as effective selection system and interventional mechanisms because authoritarian leadership is important in influencing employee creativity. Second, managers are suggested to take specific actions, such as increasing communications and team-building activities, to promote LMX and team identification, thereby enhancing employee creativity. Third, managers should engage in behaviors that motivate employee creativity, such as empowerment behaviors, other than authoritarian leadership, when the employee has low power distance.
Originality/value
The primary contribution of this research is that two psychological processes (i.e. LMX and team identification) have been identified through which authoritarian leadership is related to employee creativity. Meanwhile, this study explores the relationship between LMX and team identification. Moreover, the current research deepens our understanding of power distance by empirically examining the moderating effect of power distance. Overall, the findings extend our understanding about the relationship between authoritarian leadership and employee creativity and contribute to literature on authoritarian leadership and creativity.
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Chi Meng Chu, Michael Daffern, Stuart D.M. Thomas and Jia Ying Lim
Gang affiliation is strongly associated with youth crime. Although gang prevention, intervention and suppression programmes have been used to reduce affiliation and manage youth…
Abstract
Purpose
Gang affiliation is strongly associated with youth crime. Although gang prevention, intervention and suppression programmes have been used to reduce affiliation and manage youth gang‐related activities, the effectiveness of these approaches is questionable. Further, comprehensive programmes supporting disengagement from gangs that also address the actual criminal behaviours of gang‐affiliated youth are rare. Arguably, these are necessary if the goal of intervention is to reduce criminal behaviour and support disengagement from gangs. This paper aims to address these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This study sought to elucidate the criminogenic needs of gang‐ and nongang‐affiliated youth offenders (n=165) using two commonly used risk/need assessment instruments, the structured assessment of violence risk in youth (SAVRY) and the youth level of service/case management inventory (YLS/CMI).
Findings
The results revealed that gang‐ and nongang‐affiliated youth offenders had similar criminogenic need profiles except for one difference on an item measuring peer delinquency.
Practical implications
Gang‐affiliated youth offenders have comparable criminogenic needs to other youth offenders. These needs require intervention if a reduction in crime is desired, and since gang‐affiliated youth offenders are more likely to re‐offend than those that are nongang‐affiliated, these results also suggest that there may be additional needs, beyond those assessed by the SAVRY and YLS/CMI, which should be investigated and considered in rehabilitation programmes.
Originality/value
Few studies have directly compared the risk and needs profiles between gang‐ and nongang‐affiliated youth offenders using standardised risk assessment measures; this study may be relevant to professionals working in the juvenile justice and offender rehabilitation arenas.
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With the analysis of the causes of corruption, this study aims to investigate specific anti-corruption measures that can be implemented to reform the political system and the…
Abstract
Purpose
With the analysis of the causes of corruption, this study aims to investigate specific anti-corruption measures that can be implemented to reform the political system and the social climate of China.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examines 97 severe corruption cases of high-ranking officials in China, which occurred between 2012 and 2015. As this insinuates that both institutional and social corruption are major problems in China, the analysis delves into multiple facts of corruption, including different types, four primary underlying causes, and suggestions regarding the implementation of three significant governmental shifts that focus on investigation, prevention tactics and legal regulations.
Findings
China’s corruption is not only individual-based but also it has developed into institutional corruption and social corruption. Besides human nature and instinct, the causes of corruption can be organised into four categories, namely, social customs, social transitions, institutional designs and institutional operations. For the removed high-ranking officials, the formation of interest chains was an important underlying cause behind their corruption.
Originality/value
This study makes a significant contribution to the literature because this study provides a well-rounded approach to a complex issue by highlighting the significance of democracy and the rule of law as ways to regulate human behaviour to combat future corruption.
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Sixia Liu, Gang Ma, Promise Tewogbola, Xieting Gu, Peng Gao, Bin Dong, Dantong He, Weiguo Lai and Yihua Wu
This study aims to examine how incorporating gamification elements into an offline training program influences learner engagement and learning outcomes in a non-academic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine how incorporating gamification elements into an offline training program influences learner engagement and learning outcomes in a non-academic, organizational setting.
Design/methodology/approach
A randomized pretest–posttest control group experiment was designed to investigate participants’ levels of affective, behavioral and cognitive engagement (learner engagement), as well as their scores on a knowledge and skills assessment (learning outcomes) under two training conditions – traditional instructional strategy (TI) and gamification instructional strategy (GL). Training content, which was the same in both groups, included disease-related information, diagnostic expertise and product operational assistance. Participants (N = 98) were medical sales representatives from a multinational company.
Findings
Participants in the treatment group had higher levels of learner engagement in comparison to those in the control group. Additionally, participants in the GL group had outperformed their counterparts in the control group on the knowledge and skills assessment.
Originality/value
This is one of the first studies demonstrating how incorporating gamification elements into corporate training can improve medical sales representatives' learner engagement and learning outcomes.
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Luai Jraisat, Lana Jreisat and Christine Hattar
The purpose of this paper is to identify the relative importance of factors affecting quality. This is important where great expenditures of time, money, and resources are wasted…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the relative importance of factors affecting quality. This is important where great expenditures of time, money, and resources are wasted each year due to inefficient or non-existent quality levels.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory approach is employed. After a literature review, six interviews are initially conducted with construction experts and then a simple survey of 328 questionnaires was administrated through structured personal interviews among contractors and architects in the Jordanian housing sector.
Findings
The findings suggest that contractors and architects combined agreed that the highest important factors affecting quality are: human resource management, customer satisfaction, and construction specific factors. The findings also suggest that strategic planning, continuous improvement, resources are the lowest important factors. A conceptual framework encompassing the key quality factors is also developed.
Research limitations/implications
This research has important implications for different level managers at construction companies. By understanding the quality factors, managers can focus on the highest factors and catch up with their lowest important factors in order to maintain a balanced and integrated quality approach.
Originality/value
This is one of few studies that investigate the importance of quality factors. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper providing empirical evidence of the quality factors in construction management in a developing country.