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1 – 6 of 6Hassan Hassan Umar, Mohammed Alhaji Mohammed and Rashid Kanu
This study used post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to assess the performance and effectiveness of student housing by examining occupants’ satisfaction with the facility across three…
Abstract
Purpose
This study used post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to assess the performance and effectiveness of student housing by examining occupants’ satisfaction with the facility across three performance elements: technical, functional and behavioral. This study aims to address a significant gap in the existing research concerning the POE of university student housing facilities, particularly in understanding how well these facilities fulfill occupant needs across the aforementioned three elements.
Design/methodology/approach
This study assesses the existing literature, examines the dormitory’s physical parameters through walkthrough inspections and measures occupant satisfaction through surveys and focus group sessions. The study analyzed questionnaire responses using a four-point Likert scale, using Microsoft Excel software to determine the weighted average response for each performance element.
Findings
The analysis indicated that students were satisfied with most housing condition parameters. However, noise management, lighting control, air circulation, washroom facilities, cleanliness, power sockets for equipment and several study rooms and furnishings require improvement to enhance student well-being and performance.
Originality/value
This study provides significant information to aid in making informative decisions on building maintenance, retrofitting and facility upgrading. It also contributes to enhancing the field’s knowledge about POE in student housing facilities. It emphasizes the importance of using physical building attributes and user-centric features to fulfill students’ needs and expectations regarding facilities.
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Ndaru Nuridho Alfian, Rashid Kanu and Mohammed Alhaji Mohammed
Mosques are built with dome-shaped ceilings for communal worship with common architectural styles worldwide for prayer. Since the acoustics of worship buildings are just as…
Abstract
Purpose
Mosques are built with dome-shaped ceilings for communal worship with common architectural styles worldwide for prayer. Since the acoustics of worship buildings are just as significant as their aesthetics, they should enhance people’s sense of hearing. This study evaluates the speech intelligibility of a small mosque with multiple domes to determine the space acoustic conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The investigation involved extensive literature reviews to collect relevant data to model the case study. The Enhanced Acoustics Simulator for Engineers (EASE) software program was used to integrate critical parameters such as the absorption coefficient of materials, dome shapes and the number of domes in the simulation. The study employed speech intelligibility parameters such as C50, S.T.I. and %ALcons to assess the acoustic conditions. The assessment model was validated through statistical analysis and a paired t-test.
Findings
The study discovered that varying shapes of the multiple domes showed no significant impact on speech intelligibility. However, different multiple domes materials resulted in significant disparities in speech intelligibility. Applying high-absorption materials in multiple dome designs achieved the most effective acoustic performance. Except for C50 in some circumstances and receiver positions, all other alternatives met the optimal value for overall speech intelligibility because the sound was not sufficiently diffused early on, suggesting that the early reflection sounds were either weak or insufficient.
Originality/value
This study not only helps to determine the multiple-dome effect on mosque acoustics but also empowers archaeoacoustics and historic conservation by documenting these significant places of worship. The findings advocate using high-absorption materials in multiple dome designs and offer practical insight into mosque design material selection. By enhancing the understanding of the acoustic conditions in small-scale mosques, this study equips architects, engineers and builders with the knowledge to create spaces prioritizing speech clarity and intelligibility.
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Usman Musa, Mastura Jaafar and Faraziera Mohd Raslim
This study attempts to examine the factors that influence user intention to adopt e-procurement in the Nigerian public sector.
Abstract
Purpose
This study attempts to examine the factors that influence user intention to adopt e-procurement in the Nigerian public sector.
Design/methodology/approach
A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 278 procurement and information technology (IT) departments’ officials of key federal government ministries and agencies. The technology acceptance model (TAM) model was adopted and extended with security-related factors, namely perceived trust and perceived security. A partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to test and validate the model.
Findings
The results indicated that perceived usefulness is the best predictor of users’ intention to adopt e-procurement, followed by perceived security and perceived trust. In contrast, however, perceived ease of use was found to have a significant negative effect on the intention to adopt e-procurement.
Originality/value
This study is among the first in the Nigerian public sector context to evaluate users’ perceptions on e-procurement adoption with the use of a distinctive research model (TAM). The study's findings contribute to a better understanding of the factors influencing the adoption of e-procurement in the Nigerian public sector.
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Fish farmers in Africa often operate on small-scale culture units, primarily due to poor access to funding and low technology adoption. Digital innovation platforms seek to…
Abstract
Purpose
Fish farmers in Africa often operate on small-scale culture units, primarily due to poor access to funding and low technology adoption. Digital innovation platforms seek to enhance farmers’ access to finance, production and farmers’ income. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support these claims. Therefore, this study investigated the factors influencing fish farmers’ access to microcredit from digital innovation platforms and the impact of this microcredit on fish farms’ yield and income in Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-methods approach was adopted, and data were gathered from 387 fish farmers through a well-structured questionnaire and focus group discussion. The data were analyzed using probit regression and instrumental variable two-stage least squares regression.
Findings
The results revealed that ownership of smartphones, awareness of digital agricultural innovation platforms, farmers’ education, income, fish farming as a primary occupation, cooperative society and extension contacts positively influenced farmers’ access to microcredit from digital innovation platforms. The age of farmers and household size negatively influenced their access to digital microcredit. Digital microcredit positively and significantly impacted fish farms’ yield and farmers’ income.
Practical implications
Digital microcredit significantly increased fish farm yield and income. Therefore, digital innovation platforms should be encouraged and promoted through the creation of awareness about their ability to solve inadequate financing in agriculture by agricultural extension agents.
Originality/value
This study contributes to our understanding of the influencing factors for farmers accessing digital microcredit and how digital microcredit enhances farm yield and income.
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Ibraheem Saleh Mokbel Al Koliby, Haim Hilman Abdullah and Norazah Mohd Suki
The purpose of this study is twofold: to examine the impact of entrepreneurial competencies and innovation on manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) sustainable…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is twofold: to examine the impact of entrepreneurial competencies and innovation on manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) sustainable performance and to explore the role of innovation as a mediator on the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and manufacturing SMEs' sustainable performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collected from manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia were analysed via the partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach.
Findings
The results reveal that entrepreneurial competencies play a robust and noteworthy role in promoting innovation and the sustainable performance of manufacturing SMEs, respectively. Further, innovation has a partially mediated effect on the link between entrepreneurial competencies and manufacturing SMEs' sustainable performance. Manufacturing SMEs' aspirations to be the first to market with new products are reflected in these SMEs' implementation of positive entrepreneurial competencies or capabilities which enable them to scan the environment to identify high-quality business opportunities and respond through these SMEs' Research and Development (R&D) activities to create products that provide real benefit to customers' needs. Hence, these SME's seize the market opportunities.
Practical implications
Manufacturing SMEs' sustainable performance should be strengthened by linking entrepreneurial competencies with innovation to nurture greater agility to respond quickly to change and market demands. These SMEs should conduct tactical meetings on a regular basis to discuss current projects and assess critical indicators, as well as to identify and test fresh ideas for innovation and new business ventures in order to achieve sustainable performance in challenging business environments.
Originality/value
By applying the resource-based view (RBV) theory and the triple bottom line (TBL) framework into a single framework, this study highlights the role of innovation as a meaningful mediator between entrepreneurial competencies and manufacturing SMEs' sustainable performance. As exploration of this relationship has been very limited, the study makes a novel contribution to the extant literature.
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Drawing on a competency-based approach, this empirical study explores whether art and design students’ entrepreneurship skill sets (technical, managerial and entrepreneurial…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on a competency-based approach, this empirical study explores whether art and design students’ entrepreneurship skill sets (technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills) influence their intention to own a business and whether gender and/or business ownership influence their entrepreneurship skill sets.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 204 respondents were selected using a random sampling technique. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent sample tests and two-way ANOVA.
Findings
The independent samples test revealed interesting results regarding art and design students’ entrepreneurship skill sets, distinguishing between those who own businesses and those who do not. The two-way ANOVA analysis indicated that certain factors significantly affect art and design students’ entrepreneurship skill sets while others do not.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that higher education institutions should reconsider their curricular frameworks to better equip art and design graduates with not only artistic skills but also robust entrepreneurial competencies based on targeted training programs that could be developed to enhance the managerial and entrepreneurial skills among art and design students.
Originality/value
This study addresses a gap in the literature by empirically examining the impact of entrepreneurship skill sets on the art and design students’ business ownership and investigating whether business ownership and/or gender influence their entrepreneurship skill sets, offering valuable insights for educational institutions and policymakers.
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