QMS external quality auditors’ education framework: findings from an iterative Delphi study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roslina Ab Wahid ◽  
Nigel Peter Grigg
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Accreditation Body ◽  
Delphi Panel ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Curriculum Framework ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Audit Performance

PurposeThe paper aims to describe the development of an open curriculum framework of external quality auditors (EQAs) education. The study was commissioned by accreditation body JAS-ANZ, with the objective of improving EQA audit performance, resulting in more effective audits that can add value to client organisations.Design/methodology/approachThe key sets of knowledge, skills and attributes that auditors should possess were identified from the literature and an initial survey, and validated through several rounds of experts' opinion using the Delphi technique. The Delphi panel consisted of: top managers; quality practitioners; academicians; quality auditors, consultants and managers; a financial auditor and other managers. Kendall's coefficient of concordance (Kendall's W) was used to measure the level of agreement of the experts' ranking scores.FindingsPanelists believed there is a need for EQAs to be more broadly grounded in certain knowledge, skills, and attributes. The knowledge requirements for EQAs were: audit principles, process and methods; quality management principles, system, and standards; risk management; business process and operations management; applicable legal, regulatory and contractual requirements; strategic planning; and performance measurement. EQAs need strong skills in communication, auditing, people relations, critical thinking, report writing, leadership, coaching and coordination. The attributes considered essential are objectivity, integrity, ethics and professionalism; being observant, perceptive, articulate and confident; having good judgement; being flexible, adaptive, diplomatic, fair and open-minded. Based on these outcomes, the curriculum framework of EQAs was developed.Originality/valueThis study highlights the core elements required in a syllabus to prepare EQAs for value-added auditing in the present and future. The educational framework can be adopted by accreditation and certification bodies to evaluate and improve their auditors' audit performance.

Intellectual capital and performance of listed companies: empirical evidence from Italy

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Celenza ◽  
Fabrizio Rossi
Keyword(s):  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accounting Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The One ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate performance and Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAICTM) on the one hand, and the relationship between the variations in market value and the variations in VAIC on the other hand. Design/methodology/approach – Starting from the VAIC model, 23 Italian listed companies were examined with the aim of investigating the relationship between VAIC and the performance of the firms in the sample. The analysis was divided into two stages. In the first stage, eight models of linear regression were estimated to verify the presence of a positive and statistically significant relationship between M/BV and VAIC and between accounting performance indicators (ROE, ROI, ROS) and the VAIC. In the second stage, six other models were tested, considering as an independent variable the variations in VAIC and the variations in profitability indicators. Findings – The outcomes of the application stress the importance of VAIC in the explanation of the variations in MV and its role as “additional coefficient” in the analysis of equity performance. Originality/value – This methodology highlights some very interesting aspects. In particular, whereas the relationship between M/BV and VAIC and between profitability indicators (ROI, ROE, ROS) and VAIC is statistically insignificant, the subsequent analysis highlights the importance of VAIC as a variable capable of increasing the explanatory power of the regression in a cross-sectional perspective.

The contingency role of business strategy on the relationship between operations practices and performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 690-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayanth Jayaram ◽  
Keah Choon Tan ◽  
Tritos Laosirihongthong
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Competitive Edge ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the direct influence of three types of operations management practices, namely total quality management (TQM), lean manufacturing (LEAN), and supply chain management (SCM) on operational performance. Design/methodology/approach – Cluster analysis is used to classify data collected from Thai manufacturing firms into three business strategy clusters of cost leadership, differentiation, and focussed strategy. Next, multiple-regression analysis was used to test the relationships between operations management practices and performance in each of the three strategy clusters. Findings – Results show that all three operations management practices were significantly associated with performance including the interaction of TQM and SCM. Also, the interaction of LEAN and SCM significantly affected performance for firms pursuing focussed business strategy. Practical implications – Manufacturers in developing nations can use this result to deploy appropriate operations management practices to enhance their competitive edge. Originality/value – This study explores the cross-functional alignment between strategies and practices, which have been transferred from developed to developing countries.

The factors and criteria for prioritization of GIS utilization by libraries

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roya Pournaghi ◽  
Fahimeh Babalhavaeji
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Delphi Panel ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
Five Factors ◽  
Interdisciplinary Nature ◽  
Different Dimensions

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the impressive factors on choosing the type of the libraries and information centers and determining their significance and prioritizing them and finally determining the priority of each type according to the identified factors to implement geographic information system (GIS) in the library researches. Design/methodology/approach – A combination of documentary, Delphi and analytic methods was used in the current study. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the topic in mind, different dimensions of the issue were firstly identified through reviewing the research literature. Then, the Delphi panel was formed and the factors and indices for choosing and prioritizing the libraries were extracted and finally the analytic-hierarchy and Topsis method was used for analyzing and ranking the data which were collected through a questionnaire. In this way, the instrument was devised by the researcher and the population under the study consisted of the professors in two fields of LIS and the GIS. The criteria include the “access to the library”, “being active”, “the number of sources”, “the size and space of the place”, “the library equipment”, “compatibility” each one include eight, seven, five, five, two and five factors, respectively. Findings – In the Delphi study, six factors including 32 indices were determined for prioritizing the libraries to implement the GIS in the library researches. The analytic-hierarchy method was applied to compare the factors correspondingly in terms of the degree of their significance. In this way, “access to the library sources”, “being active”, “the number of sources”, “the size and space of the place”, “the library equipment” and “compatibility” were identified as the factors on choosing the library type with the values of 0.39, 0.24, 0.16, 0.08, 0.07 and 0.06, respectively. Then, several types of the libraries were ranked and the findings show that academic libraries are prioritized as the first one for conducting the GIS projects. Originality/value – Employing the factors resulted from the conducted researches is recommended for choosing the libraries to implement the GIS, so that the researches in this interdisciplinary field become more organized. To extend the current study, the extracted factors and indices can be sent to the professors of the LIS from the other countries to elicit their insights and thereby, designing a standard international checklist for choosing the libraries and information centers in the GIS projects.

Managerial competencies and organizational structures

2014 ◽  
Vol 114 (6) ◽  
pp. 922-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karmen Verle ◽  
Mirko Markič ◽  
Borut Kodrič ◽  
Annmarie Gorenc Zoran
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Structure ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
Structure Type ◽  
Management Competencies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Competencies ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
And Performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine whether there is a relationship among leadership, action, social, and personal competencies of managers in modern organizational structure types and whether a relationship exists between a company's organizational structure and performance. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was carried out among top managers in Slovene mid- and large-sized companies. The relationship among managerial competencies, the choice of organizational structure type and the company effectiveness were measured with a value-added approach. The method of structural models was used for establishing the affect among individual variables. Findings – The results support the hypothesized effect of managerial competencies on a company's organizational structure type. The effect of a modern, horizontal organizational structure on a company's performance and growth on the market facilitates the achievement of higher value added as well as has a direct impact of managerial competencies on a company's performance. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to mid- and large-sized companies in Slovenia. Only top managers were included in the study as they are the ones that are responsible and have the largest influence in creating a company's organizational structure. Practical implications – The paper includes implications to those organizations in the process of restructuring and for those companies that are prepared to modify traditional principles of management participation. Originality/value – To the authors knowledge no research studies were found that examined the affect and relation of top management competencies with respect to different organizational structures.

The effect of strategic alignment on purchasing management

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 1175-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Alfonso Rodríguez-Escobar ◽  
Javier González-Benito
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Strategic Alignment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Companies ◽  
And Performance

Purpose This research aims to establish the role of the purchasing function’s strategic alignment in the relationship between well-established practices and performance in that function. It is argued that the strategic alignment of purchasing may have effects (direct, mediating and moderating effects) on the purchasing function’s operating performance. Design/methodology/approach The hypotheses derived from key studies about strategic and advanced purchasing practices are tested with data from 156 industrial companies using structural equation modelling methodology. Findings The results suggest that the effect of strategic alignment on the role of purchasing consists of mediated effects on purchasing performance through implementation of certain advanced practices. It was also concluded that strategic alignment – as well as the implementation of these advanced purchasing practices – fosters the implementation of differentiation strategies based on quality, dependability and flexibility rather than on the implementation of cost leadership strategies. Research limitations/implications Although it is a common practice in operations management research, the use of perceptual measures obtained from a single informant constitutes a noteworthy limitation. Future research should make an effort to combine different sources of information and to identify and use more objective indicators. Practical implications Top managers should take into account the need to involve the purchasing function in the firm’s strategic planning process. Originality/value The results not only confirm findings from previous literature as to the purchasing function’s strategic relevance but also help clarify the mechanisms that make this integration important.

Value added: West Virginia University’s approach to innovative experiential learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 599-609
Author(s):  
Naomi E. Boyd ◽  
Gulnara R. Zaynutdinova ◽  
Michael Burdette ◽  
Nathan Burks
Keyword(s):  
Experiential Learning ◽  
West Virginia ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Financial Education ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Investment Fund ◽  
West Virginia University ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to expand the domain of experiential learning by sharing the experiences of establishing and developing student managed investment fund (SMIF) at West Virginia University (WVU). Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses the structure and performance of the SMIF at WVU within the context of experiential learning literature in financial education. Findings The adopted structure and coordination of SMIF appears to be effective in bridging the gap between classroom and the professional world, while significantly enhancing student experiential learning opportunities, engagement and professional preparedness. Originality/value The paper presents experience of launching and operating a SMIF at WVU, which has recently joined the ranks of R1 research universities. While the importance of research productivity has been on the rise, the significance of strengthening student experiences has also been growing and maintaining the balanced approach can be challenging. Enrollment in WVUs undergraduate finance program grew 33 percent over the past three years. With growing enrollment and competitiveness of finance degree programs, experiential learning opportunities like WVU’s SMIF are an essential for an evolving curriculum.

scholarly journals Enhancing operations management through smart sensors: measuring and improving well-being, interaction and performance of logistics workers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Aloini ◽  
Andrea Fronzetti Colladon ◽  
Peter Gloor ◽  
Emanuele Guerrazzi ◽  
Alessandro Stefanini
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Material Handling ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of the research is to conduct an exploratory investigation of the material handling activities of an Italian logistics hub. Wearable sensors and other smart tools were used for collecting human and environmental features during working activities. These factors were correlated with workers' performance and well-being.Design/methodology/approachHuman and environmental factors play an important role in operations management activities since they significantly influence employees' performance, well-being and safety. Surprisingly, empirical studies about the impact of such aspects on logistics operations are still very limited. Trying to fill this gap, the research empirically explores human and environmental factors affecting the performance of logistics workers exploiting smart tools.FindingsResults suggest that human attitudes, interactions, emotions and environmental conditions remarkably influence workers' performance and well-being, however, showing different relationships depending on individual characteristics of each worker.Practical implicationsThe authors' research opens up new avenues for profiling employees and adopting an individualized human resource management, providing managers with an operational system capable to potentially check and improve workers' well-being and performance.Originality/valueThe originality of the study comes from the in-depth exploration of human and environmental factors using body-worn sensors during work activities, by recording individual, collaborative and environmental data in real-time. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current paper is the first time that such a detailed analysis has been carried out in real-world logistics operations.

scholarly journals The Importance of the Stakeholder in Performance Measurement: Critical Processes and Performance Measures for Assessing and Improving Academic Library Services and Programs

2005 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. Harer ◽  
Bryan R. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measures ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Delphi Panel ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Performance Excellence ◽  
Review Panel ◽  
National Quality ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Library Profession

This Delphi study identified the critical processes and performance measures of quality that can serve as a framework for new measures for assessing quality in academic library services and programs. These critical processes and performance measures were developed utilizing the structure and criteria of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award’s 1999 Education Criteria for Performance Excellence. A panel of experts from the library profession was selected to participate in a Delphi panel to determine the importance of a list of critical processes and performance measures relevant to measuring quality in academic libraries. The processes and performance measures were identified through a review of the literature and in consultation with a review panel of professional librarians. The results of the study showed that a student, faculty, and stakeholder focus was the most important aspect of academic library programs and services for ensuring quality.

Lead firm’s reconfiguration decision and performance of the value chain

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Gelei ◽  
Magdolna Sass
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Consequences ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Lead Firm

Purpose This paper aims to trace the performance consequences of within-lead firm reconfigurations of global value chains with respect to business performance and upgrading. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on two detailed company case studies which are analysed in an organizational design approach. Findings Lead firms systematically separate and internalize high value-added activities in otherwise low value-added processes leading to constant reconfigurations and reorganizations of the production processes in global value chains. The study finds that similar reconfigurations may trigger different changes and changes and performance consequences may differ considerably according to the level of analysis. The two cases help to understand the specific roles of the outsourcing and offshoring decisions in shaping actual global value chain structures. Originality/value The consequences of within-lead firm reconfigurations are rarely analysed in the literature.

The practical relationship between continuous flow and lean construction in SMEs

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 362-380
Author(s):  
Wallace Avelar ◽  
Marcelo Meiriño ◽  
Guilherme Luiz Tortorella
Keyword(s):  
Workforce Planning ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Lean Construction ◽  
Value Stream Mapping ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Value Stream ◽  
Time And Motion ◽  
Motion Studies ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Flow Of Information

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the applicability of lean construction (LC) concepts and tools in necessary, but non-value-added activities (NVAA) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The application of the lean tools in this way facilitates the flow of information and handling material, improving productivity, quality and performance. Finally, practical results motivate a discussion on the real potential of LC principles and on the challenges related to its implementation. Design/methodology/approach The methodology makes use of direct involvement in the environment under study. Some of the activities performed were the value stream mapping and time and motion studies of the company’s process selected, identification of wastes and the proposition of improvements to be implemented. Findings The main findings are related to the benefits of the application of LC not only in value-added activities but in activities that can influence the development and workforce planning, especially for SME businesses. This company should be able to achieve better management decisions and results after implementing the LC principles, overcoming the limited resources. Originality/value This proposed method helps in overcoming the lack of systematic procedures, enabling LC in activities that not add value properly. It has the advantage of integrating existing tools and models effectively, which not only improve the shortcomings of the conventional methods but also result in more convenient calculation and application.

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