Khalizani Khalid, Khalisanni Khalid and Ross Davidson
The purpose of this paper is to identify the factor structure of safety culture construct among engineering students at university context and to examine the measurement…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the factor structure of safety culture construct among engineering students at university context and to examine the measurement invariance of this instrument across different socio-demographic groups in a sample of engineering students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory online questionnaire was completed by 770 undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students across the UAE. Data were analyzed using a diversified multi-group and a robust and sophisticated cross-validation testing strategy. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test factor structures identified in previous studies. Multi-group invariance testing was conducted to determine the extent to which factor structure is comparable across groups (i.e. gender, educational and experiential background).
Findings
Three-factor model was preferred for its parsimony. The results showed that the level of safety awareness and attitude is relatively satisfactory, whereas safety behaviour is inadequate. No significant difference was showed in multi-group invariance between demographic groups.
Research limitations/implications
This research is a cross-sectional study and limited to the views of engineering students (informal group). The study would benefit from both informal and formal groups in assessing safety culture at university for a robust empirical evidence. The research highlights relevant implications for policy and program development, by pointing to the need to promote safety culture and mitigate safety-related accidents among engineering students.
Originality/value
This paper offers insight into benefit of understanding the level of safety culture among engineering students and extend knowledge of informal group involvement in safety-related accidents at university level.
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Maryam Ahmed Ekaabi, Khalizani Khalid, Ross Davidson, Ahmad Haifeez Kamarudin and Christopher Preece
This study evaluates a multidimensional hierarchical scale of smart policing service quality.
Abstract
Purpose
This study evaluates a multidimensional hierarchical scale of smart policing service quality.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative and quantitative analysis tools were used to develop a smart policing service quality scale based on the integrative psychometric scale development methodology. A multidimensional hierarchical structure was proposed for smart policing service quality; a group of preliminary items selected from literature was used for the qualitative analysis. For data collection, users of smart policing services were selected through the United Arab Emirates (UAE) research centre. Several statistical methods were employed to verify reliability and validity of the construct and nomological validity of the proposed scale.
Findings
A smart policing service quality scale of 23 items was developed based on a hierarchical factor model structure. Nomological testing indicated that overall smart policing service quality is positive and significant, thus contributing to user satisfaction, intention to continue using the system and enhanced quality of life.
Practical implications
This study enables managers to evaluate types of policing quality and effectively implement strategies to address security and sustainability issues that exist currently in smart services.
Originality/value
Previous studies on policing service quality have not sufficiently addressed the role of smart policing service quality; the nature of discussion in this area is primarily based around concepts. The development of the smart policing service quality scale provides a measurement tool for researchers to use to enhance the understanding of smart policing service quality.
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Bader Alhammadi, Khalizani Khalid, Syed Zamberi Ahmad and Ross Davidson
This paper aims to adopt the dynamic capabilities view to investigate the relationship between managerial ties (i.e. business and political ties), dynamic capabilities and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to adopt the dynamic capabilities view to investigate the relationship between managerial ties (i.e. business and political ties), dynamic capabilities and innovation climate on ambidextrous innovation (i.e. balanced and combined ambidextrous innovation), in the renewable and sustainable energy context. It also examines the mediating effects of dynamic capabilities between managerial ties and ambidextrous innovation (i.e. balanced and combined ambidextrous innovation), and moderating effects between dynamic capabilities and ambidextrous innovation relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Multilevel analyses conducted using AMOS 26 on 288 employees working in 47 UAE energy firms.
Findings
Results found that business ties influences balanced and combined ambidextrous innovation indirectly, whereas political ties only impact combined ambidextrous innovation indirectly through dynamic capabilities. Dynamic capabilities insignificantly mediated managerial ties–ambidextrous innovation and political ties–balanced ambidextrous innovation relationships, with stronger indirect effect on combined than on the balanced dimension. Findings also indicate that innovation climate is the crucial moderator between dynamic compatibilities and ambidextrous innovation, as well as balanced and combined ambidextrous innovation, with stronger effect on balanced dimension than the combined.
Originality/value
This study addresses recent calls by highlighting the role of dynamic capabilities, an important yet underexplored organizational capabilities in the innovation and ambidexterity literature. Also, this study advances insight into how balanced and combined exploration–exploitation innovation and dynamic capabilities are connected and enhances the understanding into how organizational factors stimulate dynamic capabilities leading to superior innovation.
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Mohmaed Almazrouei, Khalizani Khalid and Ross Davidson
The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a safety climate scale for measuring the safety climate in the oil and gas industry.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a safety climate scale for measuring the safety climate in the oil and gas industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The scale developed through conducting a literature review about the safety climate and constructing a question pool. The number of items was reduced to 51 after performing a screening process. Explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to examine the scale’s construct validity.
Findings
CFA loadings were statistically significant. All Cronbach’s alpha (a) and composite reliability values support the construct reliability. The outcomes showed acceptable convergent and discriminant validity: AVEs showed acceptable values, and the square roots of AVE values showed higher values than the construct correlation values. Furthermore, all factor loadings exceeded 0.50, and the t-values were statistically significant. CFA loadings were statistically significant.
Originality/value
The safety climate measuring scale of 43-instrument items produced in this study is reliable and valid for the oil and gas industry.
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Mohmaed Almazrouei, Khalizani Khalid, Salam Abdallah and Ross Davidson
This paper aims to assess the ways through which the concept of health, safety and environment (HSE) is perceived by workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oil and gas…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to assess the ways through which the concept of health, safety and environment (HSE) is perceived by workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oil and gas industry. The study focused on different aspects of the HSE culture and how employees with and without leadership responsibilities differed in their conceptualization of HSE culture.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted for 30 staff of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the UAE. The interviewees were purposively selected which included both those in leadership and non-leadership roles.
Findings
The findings revealed that the interviewees viewed HSE culture as a descriptive term, a causal phenomenon, a systemic approach or a legal requirement/obligation. Interviewees in the production and maintenance units mentioned safety most often. Employees and managers exhibited negligible differences in their usage of the HSE culture concept. Managers predominantly featured in the narratives as important drivers of HSE culture. Physical conditions, behavior and procedures, management, competence and collaboration emerged as important components of a sound HSE culture.
Originality/value
To enable better communication and subsequent improvement of the HSE culture, an analogical HSE culture “vehicle” was developed in the study. The vehicle is a novel illustration based on the key roles of managers and employees, as well as the main components of a sound HSE culture.
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Alanood Alkaabi, Jacob Poopada Cherian and Ross Davidson
This study aimed to explore the relationships between school cost, school quality, and students' achievement in private schools in the UAE. Moreover, it also aimed to determine…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to explore the relationships between school cost, school quality, and students' achievement in private schools in the UAE. Moreover, it also aimed to determine the extent to which socio-economic factors influence student outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative survey research design was employed by distributing a survey to students' parents in private schools (n = 400) who were selected randomly. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Therefore, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, linear regression, and multiple regression analysis were used to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between the variables.
Findings
A significant positive association was found between school costs and school quality. Furthermore, parents reported that their children's outcomes were significantly associated with the costs that they paid to schools. Additionally, school quality had a significant impact on students' achievement and explained approximately 38% of the variation in students' achievement. The results also demonstrated a significant association between school cost, parents' income, and students' outcomes.
Originality/value
This study explores the relationships between school cost, school quality, and students' achievements. Additionally, it examines the influence of socioeconomic factors on the relationships between the study variables. The context of this study is the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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Hasan AlShemeili, Ross Davidson and Khalizani Khalid
This paper aims to critically evaluate the impact of empowering leadership on safety behavior and safety climate during safety monitoring at a nuclear power plant (NPP) in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to critically evaluate the impact of empowering leadership on safety behavior and safety climate during safety monitoring at a nuclear power plant (NPP) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using questionnaires filled out by 500 participants from the UAE nuclear sector. The relationships among the variables were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results indicated that empowering leadership has a positive impact on safety behavior, and a positive safety climate leads to increased levels of safety behavior (compliance and participation). The results also showed that safety climate partially mediates the relationship between empowering leadership and safety behavior.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing knowledge regarding empowering leadership, safety monitoring, behavior and climate. Because limited information is available on this topic, this study extends the research on the relationship between empowering leadership and safety research at an NPP. Specifically, it outlines that safety monitoring partially mediates the relationship between empowering leadership and safety behavior. This research enables NPPs worldwide to incorporate empowering leadership to enhance safety monitoring and ensure better safety behavior and climate.
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RFD Ltd., manufacturer of aircraft recovery systems and lifesaving equipment for both the aviation and marine industries, has announced an important management appointment.
Zhizhong Kang, Shixing Ding, Zhi-ang Shuai and Baomin Sun
This paper aims to shows the ability of the EDC model with a global reaction mechanism to describe reactions in the Eulerian simulation of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to shows the ability of the EDC model with a global reaction mechanism to describe reactions in the Eulerian simulation of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB).
Design/methodology/approach
The eddy dissipation concept (EDC) model is embedded in an Eulerian-Eulerian approach to simulate homogeneous reactions.
Findings
EDC_G is better than ED_FR in describing chemical reactions. The reaction of CH4 with O2 is faster than that of CO with O2, and NH3 is more liable to be converted than HCN. The combustion rate is higher than the Boudouard reaction rate of coal particles.N2O is mainly reduced by carbon, and NO is mainly converted by carbon into N2 and CO2.
Originality/value
The EDC model with a global reaction mechanism is embedded in a multi-fluid Eulerian approach to simulate the homogeneous reactions in the coal combustion in a CFB, including combustion of volatile gases, desulfurizing reactions and NOx reactions.
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This paper suggests that BoP producer businesses provide greater potential positive impact on poverty alleviation than BoP consumer businesses. With this purpose, the authors…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper suggests that BoP producer businesses provide greater potential positive impact on poverty alleviation than BoP consumer businesses. With this purpose, the authors explore the positive short‐term and long‐term economic effects of BoP producer businesses on the poor and compare these effects with those from BoP consumer businesses.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper applies several economic and organizational theories to BoP businesses to shed light on the value each creates for the poor.
Findings
It is argued that BoP producer businesses create more economic value for the poor by providing these societies with access to markets, capital and capabilities, and organizational advantages they currently lack.
Practical implications
Implications for the poor, businesses considering opportunities at the BoP, and future research are discussed.
Originality/value
With the help of economic theories, this paper describes the ways in which access to markets, well‐established organizations, and technology help remedy poverty. This paper also contributes to the BoP literature by focusing upon BoP producer businesses. By comparing BoP consumer and producer businesses, the authors highlight several advantages of production at the BoP.