Mona Taghavi, Hamed Taghavi and Milad Taghavi
Due to the increased research funding which academic institutions receive to perform advanced R&D, there is an indispensable need to have a systematic approach for selecting…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to the increased research funding which academic institutions receive to perform advanced R&D, there is an indispensable need to have a systematic approach for selecting competent academicians capable of leading such projects. This paper aims to propose an approach to develop a system for Research Project Leadership Stipulation in finding such academicians.
Design/methodology/approach
The system was developed using a decision tree model for leader selection and a neural network model for leader performance prediction, and validated through quantitative and empirical analysis by exercising it on a Research University's Human Resource dataset.
Findings
In contrast with common perception, the results showed that the level of an academic leadership expertise does not alone determine R&D project success. Managerial and intellectual competencies complemented by soft skills are more influencing factors on the success of a research project.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comparative analysis of selection criteria and influencing factors on research project leader's performance in terms of their hard and soft skills. The developed system by this research, selects and intelligently predicts the performance of an academician who possesses optimum ability to lead projects with a high confidence level of successful delivery.
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Mona Taghavi, Kaveh Bakhtiyari, Hamed Taghavi, Vahhab Olyaee Attar and Aini Hussain
This research work aims to investigate the recent status of the information and communication technology (ICT) services industry in Iran. It proposes a systemic applicable…
Abstract
Purpose
This research work aims to investigate the recent status of the information and communication technology (ICT) services industry in Iran. It proposes a systemic applicable approach at policymaking level and appropriate strategic planning steps to enlighten developing countries toward achieving their target objectives of an information society.
Design/methodology/approach
Largely based on existing literature and usage statistics in ICT services, global technology trends and results from a survey to obtain consistent and up-to-date information about current issues of ICT services in the public and private sectors in Iran.
Findings
This study elaborates on all issues, points and best practices relevant to the ICT services industry in Iran which is addressed by recommending some documented policies.
Research limitations/implications
Majority of the experts who attended the workshop and responded to the questionnaire were service consumers rather than service providers.
Practical implications
This paper discusses some of the implications for the development of this ICT services strategy and provides policy recommendations.
Social implications
To enhance the information society with the most advanced ICT services for accelerating human development.
Originality/value
This study provides a government refining process policy to address the common gaps in the ICT services industry in these developing countries and emphasizes a formidable policy foundation before implementing and monitoring of the Flagship ICT projects.
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Hamed Golizadeh, M. Reza Hosseini, David John Edwards, Sepehr Abrishami, Nasrin Taghavi and Saeed Banihashemi
Extant literature extensively articulates the advantages of using remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in a myriad of construction activities. Yet, the barriers that hinder their…
Abstract
Purpose
Extant literature extensively articulates the advantages of using remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in a myriad of construction activities. Yet, the barriers that hinder their wider adoption on construction projects have received scant academic attention. This study aims at addressing this gap in the literature.
Design/methodology/approach
This study reviews 59 papers published on the use of RPAs for construction activities and offers an evaluation of barriers to widespread adoption throughout the sector.
Findings
Barriers are identified, collated and categorized into five thematic groups, namely, technical difficulties, restrictive regulatory environment, site-related problems, weather and organizational barriers.
Practical implications
The paper contributes to knowledge by: signposting a need for reordering priorities when defining future research on RPAs, suggesting measures to address the barriers identified and providing pragmatic guidance for construction companies intending to use RPAs on their projects.
Originality/value
Using the task–technology fit theory, the study uncovers that current RPA technology is an under-fit match for construction activities and represents a prominent barrier to adoption. This is a dissenting finding, given that past studies on RPAs have primarily focused upon addressing public acceptance, concerns and societal consequences. Enablers of the identified barriers are also collated from extant literature and contemporary practice and encapsulated in a conceptual model.
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Hamed Maleki and Mohammad Taghi Taghavi Fard
The time required for a certain task to be performed normally reduces on its frequent completion, as more units are produced over time, it is expected to have an increase in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The time required for a certain task to be performed normally reduces on its frequent completion, as more units are produced over time, it is expected to have an increase in the total worker’s output performance. Learning curve (LC) is a mathematical representation to estimate the time of tasks which occurs repeatedly. The parameter prediction is considered a major disadvantage from which LC suffers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate grey systems theory as a method for the standard time.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed method starts with data which are obtained by traditional time study and then, models LC for an assembling activity of Electrogen Company. The paper studies the grey evaluation method based on triangular whitenization weight functions which includes two classes: endpoint triangular whitenization functions and center-point triangular whitenization functions. The grey system results are compared with those of the LC.
Findings
The results show that the standard time given by grey systems theory is closer than the standard time given by LC to standard time with 100 per cent performance level.
Originality/value
Scheduling problems are complex and uncertain, and it is very rare for such systems to be exactly determined in all their complexity. According to grey systems theory, the job processing time can be considered as the object that extension is definite but intension is uncertain. Consequently, grey systems theory with its focus on the uncertainty problems of small samples and incomplete information is proposed in the paper.
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The purpose of this paper is to illustrate an uncertain programming model for scheduling of preventive maintenance (PM) actions. The PM scheduling, in which PM actions are…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate an uncertain programming model for scheduling of preventive maintenance (PM) actions. The PM scheduling, in which PM actions are performed under fixed intervals, is solved by grey systems theory.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper applied the grey evaluation method based on triangular whitenization weight functions which includes two classes: endpoint evaluation method and center-point evaluation method.
Findings
Two methods give the same results based on endpoint and center-point triangular whitenization weight functions. For validation, the results were compared by Cassady’s method.
Originality/value
The scheduling of PM is crucial in reliability and maintenance engineering. Hundreds of parts compose complex machines that require replacement and/or repairing. It is helpful to reduce the outage loss on frequent repair/replacement parts and avoid lack of maintenance of the equipment by controlling the equipment maintenance frequency.
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Mansour Soufi, Mehdi Fadaei, Mahdi Homayounfar, Hamed Gheibdoust and Hamidreza Rezaee Kelidbari
The construction industry contributes to economic development by providing physical equipment and infrastructures. However, it also generates some undesirable outputs such as…
Abstract
Purpose
The construction industry contributes to economic development by providing physical equipment and infrastructures. However, it also generates some undesirable outputs such as waste and environmental pollution, especially in developing countries. Due to the importance of the green supply chain management (GSCM) philosophy, for solving these problems, the current study aims to evaluate the drivers of GSCM adoption in the construction industry of Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
This research uses a descriptive and practical methodology. The participated experts in the study include senior managers of the construction department in Rasht municipality who had relevant academic education and suitable experiences in urban and industrial construction. The experts took part in both qualitative and quantitative phases of the research, namely verification of the drivers extracted from literature and ranking them in ascending order. In the quantitative phase, Step-Wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) as a new multi-criterion decision-making (MCDM) method is used to evaluate the drivers of GSCM adoption using MATLAB software.
Findings
The results show that environmental management systems, green product design and innovational capability with weights of 0.347, 0.218 and 0.143 are the most significant sub-drivers, respectively. The less important factor is an investment in environmental technology.
Originality/value
This study evaluated the motivational factors of GSCM in the construction industry. The findings help governments, companies and green supply chain (GSC) managers to improve their knowledge about GSCM and make the best decisions to decrease environmental pollution.
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Hamed Golizadeh, M. Reza Hosseini, Igor Martek, David Edwards, Masoud Gheisari, Saeed Banihashemi and Jingxiao Zhang
Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems have emerged as an established tool within the construction industry. Concurrent with this trend has been the rise in research on RPA…
Abstract
Purpose
Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems have emerged as an established tool within the construction industry. Concurrent with this trend has been the rise in research on RPA, establishing this as a new field of study within the construction management domain. What is needed now is an assessment of the current state of research in this emerging discipline – its strengths and weaknesses – by which future research on RPA in construction may be guided. The purpose of this paper is to address this need.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 59 peer-reviewed journal articles covering RPAs within the construction domain were systematically reviewed using a mixed-methods approach, utilizing qualitative-scientometric analyses techniques.
Findings
The results reveal a field of study in its fledgling stage, with a limited number of experts operating somewhat in isolation, from a limited number of institutions. Key publication outlets are identified, with the main focus of research being in the technical areas of remote sensing, photogrammetry and image processing.
Practical implications
The study benefits researchers and industry practitioners alike. For researchers, the identified gaps reveal areas of high priority in future research. For construction companies, particularly small to medium-sized businesses, the study raises awareness of the latest developments and potential applicability of RPAs in the industry.
Originality/value
The study exposes what is missing from current research: a broader consideration of organizational adjustments needed to accommodate RPA usage, economic analyses and impediments to wider acceptance.
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Andi Syathir Sofyan, Ega Rusanti, Nurmiati Nurmiati, Syaakir Sofyan, Robert Kurniawan and Rezzy Eko Caraka
This study aims to determine research performance in Islamic business ethics and explore future research directions from leading articles and scholars.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine research performance in Islamic business ethics and explore future research directions from leading articles and scholars.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used bibliometric and content analysis to analyze 250 articles from reputable Scopus and Web of Sciences journals.
Findings
To date, the normative style still dominates Islamic business ethics research. Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia are the center of discussion on Islamic business ethics. This study also suggests that researchers and academics study aspects of the economy that Islamic values have not touched, such as the theme of art, artificial intelligence for labor relations, workers' rights and language.
Research limitations/implications
This research aims to contribute knowledge to Muslims as a reference guide for ethical business behavior. Non-Muslim managers can use this paper as a guide in forming a global company that is pluralistic and respectful of religious communities.
Originality/value
This research makes a scholarly contribution by providing a comprehensive exploration and detailed future research directions in each subtheme of Islamic business ethics.
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Evangelos L. Psomas, Dimitrios P. Kafetzopoulos and Christos V. Fotopoulos
The purpose of this paper is to develop an instrument that measures the effectiveness of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS), based on its components, meaning the ISO…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an instrument that measures the effectiveness of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS), based on its components, meaning the ISO 9001 objectives; and to validate this instrument in the food manufacturing sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Bearing in mind the definition of “ISO 9001 effectiveness”, the ISO 9001 objectives and their indicators are identified in the literature. Based on these indicators, a measurement instrument is developed and then empirically validated through collecting preliminary data from 335 Greek food manufacturing small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). After testing the assumptions of multivariate analysis, exploratory factor analysis as well as first and second order confirmatory factor analysis are applied.
Findings
The data collected reveal, as identified in the literature, the three‐dimensional nature of the ISO 9001 objectives (continuous improvement, prevention of nonconformities and customer satisfaction focus). The responding food manufacturing SMEs demonstrate a high level of achievement of these objectives. Further analysis of the data also reveals a valid latent factor reflecting the successful achievement of the ISO 9001 objectives, namely “ISO 9001 effectiveness”.
Research limitations/implications
The present study focuses on food manufacturing SMEs. Therefore, it is worth validating the measurement instrument on large food manufacturing companies, food service companies, companies of specific food sub‐sectors, non‐food companies and finally on companies operating in different economic conditions to Greece.
Practical implications
This measurement instrument can be used by a food manufacturing SME as a self assessment tool and a benchmarking tool. In doing so, suitable strategies can be selected in order for a food SME to improve quality, gain competitive advantage and overcome the current downturn.
Originality/value
In this paper, a measurement instrument is developed and validated in food manufacturing SMEs, based on measures describing the ISO 9001 objectives; in other words, ISO 9001 effectiveness.