Search results

1 – 10 of 16
Per page
102050
Citations:
Loading...
Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 10 October 2024

Umar Haruna, Mohammed Alhaji Mohammed and Yusuff A. Ajibade

Building operations and human activities indoors continuously affect air quality, contaminating the air and sometimes exceeding permissible limits which can be health threatening…

42

Abstract

Purpose

Building operations and human activities indoors continuously affect air quality, contaminating the air and sometimes exceeding permissible limits which can be health threatening either in the short or long time. This implies a need for strict awareness and compliance with air quality standards, particularly in workplaces prone to air contaminants emissions. This study aims to evaluate printing-related pollutant concentrations and their effects on indoor air quality (IAQ). The study investigated a printing press's total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used mainly an experimental research design supported by physical assessment by identifying the major printing-related pollutants, assessing the existing situation and measuring pollutant concentration levels using literature reviews, walkthrough inspections and experiments, respectively. The measurements were conducted in two scenarios: with and without printing activities, and the results were compared with relevant standards and guidelines.

Findings

The outcomes indicate that TVOC concentration reaches 120 ppb during printing and binding activities, exceeding the 75 ppb acceptable limit based on the time-weighted average. The PM2.5 concentrations reach 49 µg/m3 and PM10 up to 150 µg/m3, exceeding acceptable levels given by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are 35 µg/m3 and 150 µg/m3 for PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. These high concentrations of TVOC and PM indicate a significant risk to the health of building occupants, particularly those with respiratory conditions. PM concentrations do not exceed permissible levels when no printing or bookbinding occurs, suggesting that printing-related activities can contribute to elevated TVOC and PM concentrations.

Social implications

The social implication of the study lies in its ability to promote awareness among workers and improve their well-being which in turn relates to productivity. The study outcome could also encourage businesses to adopt more responsible environmental and social practices as part of corporate social responsibility practices.

Originality/value

The study's findings, which highlight the need for improved ventilation in printing halls, have the potential to significantly benefit building system designers, facility managers, policymakers and decision-makers. By providing information and theoretical support, the research can help integrate policies that regulate IAQ by reducing pollutant concentrations. This protects workers' health and helps update and enforce stricter IAQ regulations for industrial operations.

Details

Facilities , vol. 42 no. 13/14
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 15 July 2019

Kris M.Y. Law and K.B. Chuah

Since the late 1980s, the concepts of organizational learning (OL) and learning organization (LO) has prospered and been advocated as an effective strategy for organizational…

216

Abstract

Purpose

Since the late 1980s, the concepts of organizational learning (OL) and learning organization (LO) has prospered and been advocated as an effective strategy for organizational excellence. However, there was a lack of systematic documentation or cases reported proving the sustaining effect of OL. The purpose of this paper is to present a successful 15-year OL case in China, with which to prove PAL is a sustainable vehicle for OL.

Design/methodology/approach

This study documents a 15-year successful journey of a project-based action learning (PAL) driven OL setting in a multinational high-tech manufacturing company in China. The case study has been focusing on the progress of the four pillars in the PAL framework (i.e. policy and strategy; learning facilitation; resources and technology; and performance management) throughout the 15-year journey. Besides secondary data collection, on-site interviews with participants and the management of the company were carried out.

Findings

From this longitudinal case study, it can be seen that the four pillars form a very robust infrastructure supporting PAL for driving OL within the company. Each pillar is indispensable and evolves according to the needs of the others. Both management and learning team members perceived that PAL is an effective tool to drive OL within the case company.

Originality/value

This paper presents a unique15-year longitudinal examination of a successful OL story in a high-tech company in China, through the adoption of the PAL driven framework and the evolutionary road of the associated parts. While successful, this paper is considered as a “stage” summary of the long range road of OL adoption, with PAL proven to be a sustainable OL vehicle.

Details

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. 27 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1934-8835

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 5 June 2017

Bala Haruna, K. Kiran and Muzammil Tahira

This study aims to empirically validate the LibWebSQ measurement scale. In addition, it investigates the relationship between perceived web-based service quality and three other…

1363

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to empirically validate the LibWebSQ measurement scale. In addition, it investigates the relationship between perceived web-based service quality and three other latent constructs, namely, user satisfaction, service value and user loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey design was used to collect the data. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the influence of web-based service quality on the three latent constructs. The respondents were students, academic staff and non-academic staff from two federal universities in the North-western zone of Nigeria.

Findings

The findings of the path analysis indicate that perceived web-based service quality and service value exhibit no statistically significant direct influence on user loyalty. However, user satisfaction has a direct positive influence on user loyalty, and it also mediates the relationship between web-based service quality and user loyalty to the library.

Research limitations/implications

The LibWebSQ is a reliable and valid scale to be used in Nigerian university libraries for web-based service quality measurement. User loyalty in academic libraries can be modelled as a result of service quality and user satisfaction

Practical implications

This study provides a means of assessing web-based library service quality and further improving the policy and practice in university libraries.

Originality value

This is the first attempt to assess web-based library service quality using the LibWebSQ measurement scale. A satisfactory model fit is obtained, which allows the measurement model to be integrated with service value, user satisfaction and user loyalty. The study contributes to the conceptualization of web-based library service quality.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 35 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 1 August 2023

Hope Ameh and Jessica Lamond

The purpose of this paper is to explore flood-prone area residents' preferences of flood-resilient housing technologies (HTs), to understand the factors influencing their choices…

74

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore flood-prone area residents' preferences of flood-resilient housing technologies (HTs), to understand the factors influencing their choices. Flood-resilient HTs can reduce damage and disruption at a household level, particularly in areas where large-scale community schemes are not available or feasible. People’s perception of floods and their preferences of flood-resilient HTs are among many very important factors influencing the adoption of these technologies. Therefore, these perceptions and preferences must be well understood before implementation of these technologies can occur. However, studies on these two important factors are lacking in literature, particularly in the sub-Saharan African context.

Design/methodology/approach

Nigerian residents’ preferences of flood-resilient HTs were explored by focusing on five frequently flooded areas around the Niger and Benue river basins in Kogi State, Nigeria. Thirty-eight chat, video and voice call interviews were conducted with participants across five case study areas: Lokoja, Idah, Bassa, Ajaokuta and Koton Karifi. The interviews, informed through an illustrated brochure, covered residents’ experiences and perceptions of floods. This was done to gain an understanding of the factors influencing the choice of flood-resilient HTs adopted and those preferred.

Findings

This study confirms that residents in these five focus areas show similar characteristics to other floodplain residents as encapsulated in protection motivation theory. The flood-resilient HTs discussed in this study include flood-avoidance, flood-recoverability and flood-resistance strategies, as well as neighbourhood-scale approaches. Flood-resistance and flood-recoverability strategies rated highly in terms of suitability and envisaged efficiency in mitigating flooding in Kogi State. Although the measures were mostly agreed to be potentially effective and successful on a household scale, there were concerns as to flood mitigation on a neighbourhood scale.

Research limitations/implications

Pre-existing flood-resilient HTs were not extensively discussed in the literature review but were included to have a sense of the participants’ mitigation behaviour, as well as their potential to adopt (or not) new measures after adopting previous ones.

Originality/value

The results provide supporting evidence of the factors influencing the choice of and/or intention to adopt flood-resilient HTs, highlighted in literature. Results also contribute to literature by providing further insight into flood-resilient measures already adopted by residents, as well as their preferred HTs from the options presented. The implications of these findings and methodological considerations in this research are fully discussed in this paper.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 25 June 2024

Ifeyinwa Juliet Orji and Francis I. Ojadi

Extreme weather events are on the rise around the globe. Nevertheless, it is unclear how these extreme weather events have impacted the supply chain sustainability (SCS…

151

Abstract

Purpose

Extreme weather events are on the rise around the globe. Nevertheless, it is unclear how these extreme weather events have impacted the supply chain sustainability (SCS) framework. To this end, this paper aims to identify and analyze the aspects and criteria to enable manufacturing firms to navigate shifts toward SCS under extreme weather events.

Design/methodology/approach

The Best-Worst Method is deployed and extended with the entropy concept to obtain the degree of significance of the identified framework of aspects and criteria for SCS in the context of extreme weather events through the lens of managers in the manufacturing firms of a developing country-Nigeria.

Findings

The results show that extreme weather preparedness and economic aspects take center stage and are most critical for overcoming the risk of unsustainable patterns within manufacturing supply chains under extreme weather events in developing country.

Originality/value

This study advances the body of knowledge by identifying how extreme weather events have become a significant moderator of the SCS framework in manufacturing firms. This research will assist decision-makers in the manufacturing sector to position viable niche regimes to achieve SCS in the context of extreme weather events for expected performance gains.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 9 February 2023

Howard Chitimira and Oyesola Animashaun

Banditry and terrorism constitute serious security risks in Nigeria. This follows the fact that Nigeria is rated as one of the leading states in the world that is plagued by…

3608

Abstract

Purpose

Banditry and terrorism constitute serious security risks in Nigeria. This follows the fact that Nigeria is rated as one of the leading states in the world that is plagued by terrorism. Terrorists and bandits usually embark on predicate crimes such as kidnapping, smuggling, narcotics trade, and similar trades to finance their terrorist enterprises in Nigeria. The funds realized by criminals from nefarious sources such as sales of narcotics and ransom from kidnapping are usually laundered to make their criminal enterprises self-sustaining. Thus, all “dirty” money is laundered so as not to attract the attention of law enforcement agents. The funds realized through receipt of ransom from kidnapping, smuggling or funds from sponsors are laundered through channels such as bureau de change, which are difficult to monitor by the Nigerian authorities due, in part, to flaws and loopholes in the current anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist laws. This paper aims to adopt a doctrinal and qualitative desktop research methodology. In this regard, the current anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist laws are discussed to explore possible measures that could be adopted to remedy the flaws and loopholes in such laws and combat money laundering and financing of terrorism in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The article analyses the regulation and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing activities in Nigeria. In this regard, a doctrinal and qualitative research method is used to explore the flaws in the Nigerian anti-money laundering laws so as to recommend possible remedies in respect thereof.

Findings

It is hoped that policymakers and other relevant persons will use the recommendations provided in this article to enhance the curbing of money laundering and terrorist financing activities in Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications

The article is not based on empirical research.

Practical implications

This study is important and vital to all policymakers, lawyers, law students and regulatory bodies in Nigeria and other countries globally.

Social implications

The study seeks to curb money laundering and terrorist financing activities in Nigeria.

Originality/value

The study is based on original research which is focused on the regulation and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing activities in Nigeria.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 26 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 10 April 2017

Nneji Ifeyinwa Umeokeke, Victor Olusegun Okoruwa and Temitayo Adenike Adeyemo

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of e-wallet on farmer’s welfare in Nigeria.

1014

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of e-wallet on farmer’s welfare in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were used to collect information on 81 users and 123 non-users of e-wallet system. Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) analysis was used to profile farmer’s poverty status, while propensity score matching (PSM) was used to assess the impact of e-wallet on welfare using per capita expenditure as its proxy.

Findings

The FGT analysis shows that poverty incidence, depth, and severity were found to be higher among non-users of e-wallet than its users. The PSM analysis showed that e-wallet had a positive impact on welfare; Rosenbaum sensitivity analysis revealed that the findings are sensitive to hidden bias due to unobserved characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

The relevance of matching method depends on data availability for the specific policy problem. Hence, the study is limited to the use of the PSM because of the limitation of household data availability to only a sample of farmers in Oyo State.

Originality/value

This paper examines the impact of the new system of input distribution (e-wallet) on farmer’s welfare.

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 44 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 8 August 2016

Abiodun Elijah Obayelu, Aisha O. Arowolo, Shakirat Bolatito Ibrahim and Caroline Oluwakemi Oderinde

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the socioeconomic determinants of profitability of fresh fish marketing in Ogun State, Nigeria.

2075

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the socioeconomic determinants of profitability of fresh fish marketing in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was a cross-sectional survey of 120 fresh fish marketers selected randomly from four major fish markets in Ado-Odo Local Government area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaire which was designed to solicit information on the marketers’ socioeconomic and marketing characteristics, operating costs and returns, and problems associated with fish marketing in the study area. A combination of descriptive statistics, marketing margin, budgetary and ordinary least square regression analyses were employed to analyze the study data.

Findings

The study showed that female (85.8 percent) dominated fresh fish marketing. The percent marketing margin of fresh fish was 34.55 percent. The percent marketing investment of 20,906.03, 20,453 per month and 1.43 were realized, respectively. The result of the regression analysis revealed that profit from fresh fish was significantly determined by education, proportion of household members involved in fresh fish marketing, marketers experience, capital, number of sales outlet and purchase price.

Research limitations/implications

The findings was based on information supplied by the fresh fish marketers in the study area based on the authors memory recall since most of the respondents do not have diary where records of activities were kept before the survey.

Practical implications

This study contributes to the existing literature in fish marketing and will provide empirical information to policy makers in the formulation of appropriate policies. It will also serve as a guide to practicing and prospective fresh fish marketers and to researchers who may investigate further into the subject matter.

Social implications

The social implications from the findings on the return on investment of 1.43 implies that for every one naira invested by fresh fish marketers, a return of 1.43 and a profit of 0.43 were obtained. The study concludes that fresh fish marketing is an economically rewarding and profitable venture in the study area. It also recommends the need to provide credit facilities to finance storage facilities of this group of marketers.

Originality/value

The study is original in nature and revealed the economic status of fresh fish marketing in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 43 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 9 August 2021

Heydar Esmaeili, Alireza Isfandyari-Moghaddam and Mehdi Alipour Hafezi

This paper aims to draw a roadmap for the presence of Iranian academic libraries in the cloud infrastructure.

384

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to draw a roadmap for the presence of Iranian academic libraries in the cloud infrastructure.

Design/methodology/approach

This research attends an applied-development one that is a part of developmental research due to its conceptual expansion, foresight and roadmap for the presence of cloud-based academic libraries and finally, becoming cloud libraries. Because of providing a roadmap template, the presence of academic digital libraries in the cloud and becoming a cloud library is applied research. Because of providing a roadmap template, academic digital libraries’ presence in the cloud and becoming a cloud library is one of the applied research areas. The statistical population of this research includes all Iranian digital academic libraries. There were 64 digital libraries out of which 59 libraries participated in completing the questionnaire.

Findings

Preliminary results from used Delphi method’s first round which was considered by 59 experts were identified typically and descriptive after appropriate component classification and editing. After identifying these factors, each of the roadmap levels in the third stage and the degree of relevance approved by the experts were reviewed and the most critical and relevant factors were identified as key components of the roadmap for the presence of cloud-based academic libraries and becoming cloud libraries. At this stage, they were selected as 24 factors, including seven factors for the first layer, eight factors for the second layer and nine factors for the third layer.

Originality/value

By introducing a roadmap for the presence of academic digital libraries in the cloud context, they will promote more and better interaction between academic libraries to offer services to users anytime and anywhere.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. 71 no. 6/7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 19 January 2024

Ummi Ibrahim Atah, Mustafa Omar Mohammed, Abideen Adewale Adeyemi and Engku Rabiah Adawiah

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model that will demonstrate how the integration of Salam (exclusive agricultural commodity trade) with Takaful (micro-Takaful – a…

1208

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model that will demonstrate how the integration of Salam (exclusive agricultural commodity trade) with Takaful (micro-Takaful – a subdivision of Islamic insurance) and value chain can address major challenges facing the agricultural sector in Kano State, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted a thorough and critical analysis of relevant literature and existing models of financing agriculture in Nigeria to come up with the proposed model.

Findings

The findings indicate that measures undertaken to address the major challenges fail. In view of this, this study proposed Bay-Salam with Takaful and value chain model to solve a number of challenges such as poor access to financing, poor marketing and pricing, delay, collateral requirement and risk issues in order to avail farmers with easy access to finance and provide effective security to financial institutions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is limited to using secondary data. Therefore, empirical investigation can be carried out to strengthen the validation of the model.

Practical implications

The study outcome seeks to improve the productivity of the farmers through enhancing their access to finance. This will increase their level of production and provide more employment opportunities. In addition, it will boost financial inclusion, income generation, poverty alleviation, standard of living, food security and overall economic growth and development.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study lies in the integration of classical Bay-Salam with Takaful and value chain and create a unique model structure which the researchers do not come across in any research that presented it in Nigeria.

Details

Islamic Economic Studies, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1319-1616

Keywords

1 – 10 of 16
Per page
102050