Rafiq Ahmad and Muhammad Rafiq
The purpose of the paper was to outline the
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper was to outline the
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on the review of relevant literature.
Findings
The study provides a broader overview of the role community libraries (CLs) can play in extending their role to a more vibrant perspective.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the paper is the first of its kind that provides an overview regarding extension of the role of CLs towards digital preservation.
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Rafiq Ahmad and Muhammad Rafiq
The purpose of this study is to present some critical digital preservation strategies that are important for the preservation of digital information.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present some critical digital preservation strategies that are important for the preservation of digital information.
Design/methodology/approach
From review of the related studies, this paper presents critical digital preservation techniques that are vital for small libraries to ensure the accessibility of the digital collections of enduring value.
Findings
This paper comprehends major digital preservation strategies and possibilities for small libraries through which they can overcome the financial, technological, expertise and policy constraints to implement their digital preservation program.
Originality/value
This paper covers the major strategies that were collated during literature review and instrumentation process for the PhD study of the first author on this topic.
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Rafiq Ahmad and Muhammad Rafiq
The digital contents (d-contents) are vulnerable to various threats either natural or manmade. Digital preservation is the plethora of a wide array of strategies necessary for the…
Abstract
Purpose
The digital contents (d-contents) are vulnerable to various threats either natural or manmade. Digital preservation is the plethora of a wide array of strategies necessary for the long-term preservation of digital objects. This study was carried out to assess the digital preservation practices for information resources in university libraries of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative survey based on a structured questionnaire was carried out to conduct the study. The questionnaire containing two sets of strategies (general and technical) was distributed amongst the whole population and received 90% response rate.
Findings
Overall, progressive implementation of general digital preservation practices was noted in these libraries like checking the digital collections for viruses, keeping the digital media in fire/water/theft proof locations, restricting unauthorized access, maintaining ideal humidity and temperature, and checking the digital media for functionality. Amongst the technical practices, only replication was in practice at a progressive rate, followed by metadata recording and media refreshing that was sometimes practiced in these libraries. The other technical practices were rarely or never practiced in these libraries. Significant variances in general and technical digital preservation practices were noted based on their physical locations (regional distribution).
Research limitations/implications
The study contributes a comprehensive set of digital preservation practices divided into general and technical types to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world.
Practical implications
The findings stress the need for national and institutional policies, funding streams and skill enhancement of library staff.
Originality/value
The study fills the literature gap and contributes a comprehensive set of digital preservation practices divided into general and technical types to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world.
Peer review
The peer-review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-02-2023-0074
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Yuxuan Zhang, Jingwen Wang, Rafiq Ahmad and Xinming Li
In response to increasing demand for a fully customized and individualized home environment, mass customization (MC) has been suggested as an effective strategy to fulfill the…
Abstract
Purpose
In response to increasing demand for a fully customized and individualized home environment, mass customization (MC) has been suggested as an effective strategy to fulfill the customer’s customization needs while keeping production cost-effectiveness. However, in current practice, the implementation of the MC in the industrialized housing industry has not achieved an ideal level. Little effort was devoted to customer value generation and achieving lean production in a multi-disciplinary MC environment. In this concern, a highly efficient and flexible production information system is expected to capture accurately the customer’s demand and efficiently perform work planning for encouraging customer involvement and mass efficiency production.
Design/methodology/approach
To gain an insight into the development of the MC production information system for the housing industry and to depict the interaction among system modules, this study used a design science research methodology for a case study of customized cabinet production information system development.
Findings
A prototype of the production information system was proposed in this paper, supported by three information technologies to facilitate the MC implementation in the millwork manufacturer. A focus group discussion method was carried out for evaluating the system feasibility and the subsequent survey analysis on the virtual reality (VR) interface experiment. The evaluation process results showed that the VR interface is an effective medium for design information communication and encourages customer involvement. Most participants believed that the proposed production information system could generally benefit the MC implementation and improve production efficiency.
Originality/value
This study integrated lean production principles along with building information modelling, VR and discrete-event simulation in the production information system to assist the manufacturer in effectively handling variant product information and enabling quicker reactions in response to diverse customer requirements in housing industries. The coordination among system modules and the managed information flow could be a valuable reference for future MC production system development in housing industries.
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Ayed A. Alwraikat and Fayez A. Simadi
Examines the relationship between some socio‐demographic factors and modernity in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Looks at 630 subjects from Jordan and 209 from the UAE…
Abstract
Examines the relationship between some socio‐demographic factors and modernity in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Looks at 630 subjects from Jordan and 209 from the UAE and uses multiple regression to examine the role of these factors in explaining their attitudes to modernity. Includes predictor variables such as: educational attainment, place of living, age, income, occupation, nationality and gender. Concludes that the Jordanians had a more modern orientation and that education, place of living, age and income were the most influential factors.
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Suhaib Hussain Shah, Lei Pei and Tianyu Chen
The field of library and information sciences (LIS) is crucial to our educational system. Across the globe, the LIS systems operate at varying levels and rates of efficiency. One…
Abstract
Purpose
The field of library and information sciences (LIS) is crucial to our educational system. Across the globe, the LIS systems operate at varying levels and rates of efficiency. One of the developing nations is Pakistan, which has LIS systems in all of its colleges, universities and schools. This multimethod study aims to identify and quantify elements that are detrimental to LIS progress as well as evaluate the faculty and infrastructure profiles of universities that offer LIS undergraduate and graduate level programmes.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from the study's participants, who were mainly LIS professionals and faculty at 17 different universities, using survey questionnaires and in-person interviews. This study used a descriptive survey methodology, gathering information through a Google Survey and filling it out with a premade survey proforma. The survey responses were examined using content analysis. The development of LIS instructional and scholarly output is influenced by a variety of factors, which were investigated using a generalized linear model (GLM). To determine whether there was a statistically significant difference in opinion between faculty members and working professionals, as well as between men and women, the outcomes of an independent sample t-test were examined.
Findings
According to our data, the factors that have the biggest impact on the caliber and output of LIS research are “poor writing skills” (3.43), “lack of journal publication fees” (3.51) and “lack of research skills” (3.78). The top GLM model identified poor writing skills, a lack of publication fees and a lack of research expertise as bottleneck characteristics for producing high-quality LIS research. The aforementioned factors were 3.62, 2.41 and 2.19 times more significant than the average factor, respectively, to put it another way.
Originality/value
This study’s analysis revealed that there is no real distinction between the two groups' viewpoints. The results of this study can be applied to problems and challenges associated with LIS education in Pakistani educational institutions.
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Bharti Pandya, BooYun Cho and Louise Patterson
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of digital infrastructure in higher education surged. This study aims to analyze how a country’s digital capabilities influence…
Abstract
Purpose
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of digital infrastructure in higher education surged. This study aims to analyze how a country’s digital capabilities influence pedagogical transitions in business schools and compare the impacts between digitally advanced and advancing countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied the job demands–resources model and the IMD World Digital Competition Ranking 2021 to analyze the impact of nations’ digital capabilities on the pedagogical transitions experienced by 121 business faculty members from 20 nations. The countries were categorized into digitally advanced countries and advancing countries. The snowball sampling method was used to gather data through an online survey consisting of 24 items. SPSS was used to statistically analyze the data in two stages using paired t-test and group comparison.
Findings
Significant shifts between face-to-face and online lectures occurred in both groups. Advanced countries witnessed positive shifts in discussions, presentations, oral assessment, independent learning opportunities, online teaching methods, technical support and faculties’ readiness, whereas advancing countries mainly noted alterations in professional development and communication technologies.
Originality/value
This study offers insights into optimizing digital capabilities and enhancing business schools’ readiness for effective pedagogical shifts during crises. Both the theoretical contribution and the findings will benefit national education policies, higher education institution leaders, scholars and educators.
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Denise Bedford, Ira Chalphin, Karen Dietz and Karla Phlypo
Aamir Hassan and Javed Ahmad Bhat
Concrete-filled double skin tube (CFDST) columns are considered one of the most effective steel-concrete composite sections owing to the higher load carrying capacity as compared…
Abstract
Purpose
Concrete-filled double skin tube (CFDST) columns are considered one of the most effective steel-concrete composite sections owing to the higher load carrying capacity as compared to its counterpart concrete-filled tube (CFT) columns. This paper aims to numerically investigate the performance of axially loaded, circular CFDST short columns, with the innovative strengthening technique of providing stiffeners in outer tubes. Circular steel hollow sections have been adopted for inner as well as outer tubes, while varying the length of rectangular steel stiffeners, fixed inside the outer tubes only, to check the effect of stiffeners in partially and full-length stiffened CFDST columns.
Design/methodology/approach
The behaviour of these CFDST columns is investigated numerically by using a verified finite element analysis (FEA) model from the ABAQUS. The behaviour of 20-unstiffened, 80-partially stiffened and 20-full-length stiffened CFDST columns is studied, while varying the strength of steel (fyo = 250–750 MPa) and concrete (30–90 MPa).
Findings
The FEA results are verified by comparing them with the previous test results. FEA study has exhibited that, there is a 7%–25% and 39%–49% increase in peak-loads in partially stiffened and full-length stiffened CFDST columns, respectively, compared to unstiffened CFDST columns.
Originality/value
Enhanced strength has been observed in partially stiffened and full-length stiffened CFDST columns as compared to unstiffened CFDST columns. Also, a significant effect of strength of concrete has not been observed as compared to the strength of steel.
Yu-Ting Huang and Sharyn Rundle-Thiele
The purpose of this paper is to synthesise internal marketing measures in two service settings across both Western and Eastern backgrounds. Well established views of internal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to synthesise internal marketing measures in two service settings across both Western and Eastern backgrounds. Well established views of internal marketing have emerged with more than 200 papers on the topic. To date, no clear accepted measure for the concept has emerged. The developed scale provides a new way of thinking drawing together a diverse range of measures to deliver a practical measure offering marketing managers a diagnostic tool to measure the degree that internal marketing has been applied (or not) inside their organisation.
Design/methodology/approach
Conceptual and operational definitions of internal marketing were analysed to generate an item pool for testing. Generated items were then tested in one higher education organisation (n = 205) and in the tourism and hospitality industry with Australian and Taiwanese employees (n = 458) using both English and Traditional Chinese survey versions. The data were analysed with SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 19.0. Reliability analysis was first undertaken to assess the hypothesised internal marketing factor structure followed by confirmatory factor analysis.
Findings
A 16-item, three-factor structure was obtained for internal marketing. This research suggests that internal marketing practice is a three-dimensional concept ideally consisting of internal market research, training and communication activities. The findings suggest that further research may be warranted to further expand academic definitions of internal marketing to encompass the varied activities undertaken by practising internal marketers.
Originality/value
This study provides a new measure of internal marketing practice for use in future that captures the majority of the activities undertaken by internal marketing practitioners.