Amr S. Allam, Hesham Bassioni, Mohammed Ayoub and Wael Kamel
This study aims to compare the performance of two nature-inspired metaheuristics inside Grasshopper in optimizing daylighting and energy performance against brute force in terms…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to compare the performance of two nature-inspired metaheuristics inside Grasshopper in optimizing daylighting and energy performance against brute force in terms of the resemblance to ideal solution and calculation time.
Design/methodology/approach
The simulation-based optimization process was controlled using two population-based metaheuristic algorithms, namely, the genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The objectives of the optimization routine were optimizing daylighting and energy consumption of a standard reference office while varying the urban context configuration in Alexandria, Egypt.
Findings
The results from the GA and PSO were compared to those from brute force. The GA and PSO demonstrated much faster performance to converge to design solution after conducting only 25 and 43% of the required simulation runs, respectively. Also, the average proportion of the resulted weighted sum optimization (WSO) per case using the GA and PSO to that from brute force algorithm was 85 and 95%, respectively.
Originality/value
The work of this paper goes beyond the current practices for showing that the performance of the optimization algorithm can differ by changing the urban context configuration while solving the same problem under the same design variables and objectives.
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Keywords
Ashraf Sheta, Sandra Wael, Mariam Soliman, Nour Abdallah, Rovan Bahnassy, Zeina Waleed and Zeinab El Safty
• Develop an understanding of how to institutionalize a family business. • Define the dynamics of the family business decision-making process in emerging markets. • Assess the…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
• Develop an understanding of how to institutionalize a family business. • Define the dynamics of the family business decision-making process in emerging markets. • Assess the cultural differences between founders and successors in an emerging markets context. • Identify the role of intergenerational differences in deciding the future strategy of a family business in emerging markets.
Case overview/synopsis
This case addresses El Batraa Manufacturers for Chemicals and Paints S.A.E., a privately owned family business operating in the coloring paste industry in Egypt. The main dilemma of the case is the existence of different visions about the business between the old and new generations. Also, it addresses the importance of understanding family dynamics to resolve existing challenges. The necessity of having governance in a family business is highlighted, together with a clear succession plan to secure family unity and business sustainability. Sandra the main protagonist within the case is trying to arrive to a resolution that can guarantee a motivating environment for her to join the family business. Her main dilemma is whether to choose to join the family business, with all the existing challenges or not. Accordingly, she proposes some steps to make the family business more appealing.
Complexity academic level
Under Graduate and Master of Business Administration level.
Supplementary materials
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Subject code
CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
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This paper aims to examine the association between earnings management and the value relevance of earnings (the latter is operationalized by earnings response coefficient)…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the association between earnings management and the value relevance of earnings (the latter is operationalized by earnings response coefficient). Specifically, this study examines whether opportunistic earnings management has a negative impact on the value relevance of earnings for a sample of firms listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange.
Design/methodology/approach
Different from prior work and due to data limitations in the Egyptian market, this paper first examines for the existence of earnings management based on the whole operating performances of the firms by testing whether firms with low/poor operating performance are more likely to choose income-increasing actions (strategies) than firms with high operating performance. After confirming that low operating performance firms manage earnings upward, the authors then assess whether this opportunistic earnings management by these low operating performance firms reduces the value relevance of earnings. This is performed by estimating a model of the relationship between stock returns and accounting earnings with a dummy variable that allows parameter shifts for earnings of low operating performance firms.
Findings
The results show that discretionary accruals are positive and significantly higher for firms with low operating performance than those for firms with high operating performance. These results indicate that low operating performance firms increase the earnings management practices by probably increasing their reported earnings opportunistically to mask their low performance. Furthermore, the results show that the earnings response coefficient is significantly smaller for earnings of low operating performance firms than that for earnings of high operating performance firms. These results suggest that earnings of firms with low operating performance (that are engaged in opportunistic earnings management strategies) have less value relevance than earnings of firms with high operating performance, i.e. the informativeness of managed earnings is lower than that of non-managed earnings.
Practical implications
Based on these results, it is plausible that the presence of opportunistic earnings management adversely affects the value relevance of accounting earnings.
Originality/value
Consistent with previous results from developed countries, this study shows that earnings management is a significant factor that affects value relevance of earnings in Egypt.
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Considering the crucial role which academic adjustment plays in student success at university, gaining insight into how several factors affect this key metric is important. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Considering the crucial role which academic adjustment plays in student success at university, gaining insight into how several factors affect this key metric is important. This empirical study investigated the impact of value conflict upon the academic adjustment of first-year students at Kuwait University.
Design/methodology/approach
The data for this study were collected using the survey method from a random sample of 627 first-year university students. The data were analyzed using descriptive and regression statistical methods.
Findings
The findings showed that (1) student perceptions regarding the level of value conflict were moderate, with the highest level found in the political domain; (2) student perceptions about the level of academic adjustment were also moderate, with the highest level found in the goal domain; (3) value conflicts are a significant predictor of student academic adjustment, with political value conflicts influencing academic adjustment the most, and (4) value conflict explained 46.5% of the student academic adjustment variation.
Practical implications
These findings imply that college administrations should integrate activities designed to improve student adjustment into co-curricular activities meant for youth development. Relevant recommendations are included.
Originality/value
While significant attention has been given to student academic adjustment in higher education over the last few decades, little attention has been paid to how different factors predict adjustment especially in non-Western cultures such as higher education in Kuwait.