A knowledge management framework for global project development based on Tai Chi principles and practices

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 624-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Elizabeth Swain ◽  
James Earl Lightfoot
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Project Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Global Project

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how Tai Chi (or T’ai Chi ch’uan) philosophy might be used in global project development. Collected case studies support a Tai Chi-based framework for global project teams to reduce stress and improve decision making through exercises, storytelling, and martial arts practices. The authors first proposed a model or procedural framework based on experiential knowledge from practicing Tai Chi while managing projects. Design/methodology/approach – Analyzing case studies from knowledge managers, project managers, and executive leaders, the researchers collected data on applying the framework from a retrospective case study and from two observational case studies during project development. Tai Chi-based communications and exercises were shown to support critical thinking, knowledge sharing, and problem solving. The proposed framework and four-step procedure build on a global perspective to cultural awareness, creativity, and motivation as well as specific Tai Chi-based tactics, techniques, and operations for knowledge management. This preliminary study looks at improving collaboration in a competitive environment while supporting health, wellness, and work-life enjoyment. Findings – Early research results suggest that teams and individuals working on projects and practicing Tai Chi might develop more cohesive strategies and improve soft skills during their integration of Eastern and Western philosophies. Research limitations/implications – Used case studies methodology, which provided examples of using Tai Chi during projects. Qualitative data used to develop the proposed framework. Also, interviews and discussion reviews conducted for additional validation collected on framework. Practical implications – It is a pioneering, preliminary study. Future research with outcomes-based data from project managers using Tai Chi recommended. Originality/value – The integration of Eastern and Western philosophies into a framework for team project and knowledge management was shown to support cohesive strategies, improve soft skills, and strengthen decision making.

Leading the way: how project manager strengths can influence team resilience

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Project Manager ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Signature Strengths ◽  
Team Resilience ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings The study takes empirical data from three case studies of projects that have faced setbacks to explore the impact of project manager signature strengths on team resilience and finds that four signature strengths, leadership, open-mindedness, persistence and hope, were present in project managers across all three case studies. Originality The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Integration between knowledge management and business process management and its impact on the decision making process in the construction sector: a case study of Jordan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Wasef Abuezhayeh ◽  
Les Ruddock ◽  
Issa Shehabat
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Business Process Management ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate and explain how organizations in the construction sector can enhance their decision-making process (DMP) by practising knowledge management (KM) and business process management (BPM) activities. A conceptual framework is developed that recognises the elements that impact DMP in terms of KM and BPM. The development of this framework goes beyond current empirical work on KM in addition to BPM as it investigates a wider variety of variables that impact DMP. Design/methodology/approach A case study is undertaken in the context of the construction industry in Jordan. A theoretical framework is developed and assessment of the proposed framework was undertaken through a questionnaire survey of decision-makers in the construction sector and expert interviews. Findings The outcomes of this research provide several contributions to aid decision-makers in construction organizations. Growth in the usage of KM and BPM, in addition to the integration between them, can provide employees with task-related knowledge in the organization’s operative business processes, improve process performance, promote core competence and maximise and optimise business performance. Originality/value Through the production of a framework, this study provides a tool to enable improved decision-making. The framework generates a strong operational as well as theoretical approach to the organizational utilization of knowledge and business processes.

Knowledge Management of E-Business Initiatives Within Two Global Organizations

2008 ◽  
pp. 1780-1794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahesh S. Raisinghani
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Global Organizations ◽  
Critical Part ◽  
Global Corporations ◽  
Business To Consumer ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Business To Business

The concept of Knowledge Management concerns the creation of structures that combine the most advanced elements of technological resources and the indispensable input of human response and decision making. This chapter addresses a very interesting topic—Knowledge Management (KM) and e-business initiatives within global organizations. It compares and contrasts the experiences of two global corporations as they have conceived and implemented KM initiatives. After in-depth secondary research on the subject, both companies developed their own KM in e-business strategy. The two case studies discussed in this chapter highlight Business-to-Business (B2B), Business-to-Consumer (B2C), and Business-to-Employee (B2E) initiatives at these two global organizations. This provides concepts and viewpoints related to the drivers of KM, the hurdles to KM in an organization, the elements of KM philosophy and process, how KM can come to be understood as a critical part of a company’s competitive strategy, and how to deploy a sustainable KM system that suits the business needs of an organization.

scholarly journals Compensating Qualitative Rating Distortion of User Experience Evaluation Based on Prospect Theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 6815
Author(s):  
Min Chul Lee ◽  
Jaehyun Park
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prospect Theory ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Cognitive Distortion ◽  
Model Fit ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Measurement Results ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
User Value

Psychophysical assessment may be affected by cognitive distortion. Although the theory was originally developed to revise decision making in uncertain situations, prospect theory can be applied to psychophysical measurements, which was verified in a previous preliminary study. Two case studies were used to validate the utilization of prospect theory in psychophysical measurements. Affective satisfaction dimensions were rated by participants for an experimental device using a 0–100 scale. Performance of affective satisfaction models increased with the application of prospect theory-based compensation. Hundreds of participants evaluated the user value of their own devices via an online questionnaire. Although model fit performance increased slightly with transformed data, more case studies are needed to investigate the utility of prospect theory on user value or on a range of target constructs. The application of prospect theory in various situations of psychophysical measurement can be expected to improve and compensate for measurement results.

Optimizing time–cost in generalized construction projects using multiple-objective social group optimization and multi-criteria decision-making methods

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 2287-2313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duc Hoc Tran
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Multiple Objective ◽  
Cost Curve ◽  
Multi Criteria Decision Making ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Time Cost ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Group Optimization

PurposeProject managers work to ensure successful project completion within the shortest period and at the lowest cost. One of the main tasks of a project manager in the planning phase is to generate the project time–cost curve, and furthermore, to determine the most appropriate schedule for the construction process. Numerous existing time–cost tradeoff analysis models have focused on solving a simple project representation without regarding for typical activity and project characteristics. This study aims to present a novel approach called “multiple-objective social group optimization” (MOSGO) for optimizing time–cost decisions in generalized construction projects.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, a novel MOGSO to mimic the time–cost tradeoff problem in generalized construction projects is proposed. The MOSGO has slightly modified the mechanism operation from the original algorithm to be a free-parameter algorithm and to enhance the exploring and exploiting balance in an optimization algorithm. The evidential reasoning technique is used to rank the global optimal obtained non-dominated solutions to help decision makers reach a single compromise solution.FindingsTwo case studies of real construction projects were investigated and the performance of MOSGO was compared to those of widely considered multiple-objective evolutionary algorithms. The comparison results indicated that the MOSGO approach is a powerful, efficient and effective tool in finding the time–cost curve. In addition, the multi-criteria decision-making approaches were applied to identify the best schedule for project implementation.Research limitations/implicationsAccordingly, the first major practical contribution of the present research is that it provides a tool for handling real-world construction projects by considering all types of construction project. The second important implication of this study derives from research finding on the hybridization multiple-objective and multi-criteria techniques to help project managers in facilitating the time–cost tradeoff (TCT) problems easily. The third implication stems from the wide-range application of the proposed model TCT.Practical implicationsThe model can be used in early stages of the construction process to help project managers in selecting an appropriate plan for whole project lifecycle.Social implicationsThe proposal model can be applied to multi-objective contexts in diversified fields. Moreover, the model is also a useful reference for future research.Originality/valueThis paper makes contributions to extant literature by: introducing a method for making TCT models applicable to actual projects by considering general activity precedence relations; developing a novel MOSGO algorithm to solving TCT problems in multi-objective context by a single simulation; and facilitating the TCT problems to project managers by using multi-criteria decision-making approaches.

A new model for knowledge management

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 42-44
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Knowledge Economy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Market Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Model ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – We are, as we are constantly reminded, in a knowledge economy, and as such are liable to succumb to different market forces and variations than in previous paradigms. However if this is true, there is a central irony to our development of business activities in this area, in that there seems to be somewhat of a vacuum of knowledge about the knowledge economy. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Development of a defect monitoring system (DMOSYS) for building maintenance at polytechnic

Facilities ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 403-422
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Bin Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Conventional Method ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Facility Management ◽  
Maintenance Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Building Maintenance ◽  
Application Paper ◽  
Information And Communication

Purpose The current maintenance management method has affected the efficiency of the building facility management at Polytechnics. Many issues such as poor service delivery, inadequate finance, poor maintenance planning and maintenance backlogs have emerged due to the usage of conventional method application (paper-based form and unsystematic database. The purpose of this paper is to review existing literature and case studies project of the technologies in maintenance management at Polytechnic, and subsequently to identify the challenge in improving the current maintenance management technologies. Design/methodology/approach The purpose of this paper is to review existing literature and case studies project of the technologies in maintenance management at Polytechnic, and subsequently to identify the challenges of information and communication technology (ICT) implementation for strategic defect diagnosis and decision-making in improving the current maintenance management technologies. Eight Polytechnics are selected on the basis of the major problems of using the conventional method in the comparison to investigate the maintenance management practices in each Polytechnic. There are around 32 Polytechnics in Malaysia and most are using conventional methods. Findings The findings reveal the need for a more sophisticated maintenance management system that provides guidelines for decision-making processes with the implementation of ICT. The interview results also reveal irregularities within the Malaysian Polytechnics’ maintenance management database. The system architecture and the information system prototype are presented to integrate the information database and maintenance management processes in improving the building diagnosis approach and decision-making process for managing building maintenance. Originality/value This new system is expected to become the successful technology in assisting the maintenance contractors, clients and developer for effective management of maintenance defects at Polytechnic.

Analysis of effective project-based communication components within primary stakeholders in construction industry

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elnaz Safapour ◽  
Sharareh Kermanshachi ◽  
Shirin Kamalirad
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
Design And Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Characteristics

PurposeEffective internal communication facilitates the transfer of data and information among project parties throughout the execution of construction projects. It minimizes the distortion of data and major cost overruns and delays. The aim of this study was to determine main components of the project characteristics that affect quality of internal communication within owners, designers and contractors in construction projects.Design/methodology/approachProject characteristics that significantly affect quality of internal communication were identified through existing literature. Forty case studies associated with national and international construction projects were gathered. Since data regarding other aspects of collected case studies, which were not included in the case study data, were required, a structured survey was developed and distributed to the primary stakeholders. The factor analysis method was adopted to determine the key components of effective internal communication.FindingsThe results demonstrated that project targets, bureaucracy, location and coordination affect the quality of internal communication among owner entities. Additionally, design and technology, clarity of the project’s scope, resources, delivery, construction management and design management affect quality of internal communication within design entities. Qualified field labor, objectives, restrictions, material quality, equipment quality, availability of qualified project managers and equipment turnovers affect the quality of internal communication within contractors.Originality/valueThe findings of this study help project managers evaluate the effectiveness of internal communication of a construction project during the early stages of the project. Additionally, the outcomes guide project managers to allocate sufficient resources to their projects and adopt proactive strategies which prevent/reduce miscommunications and their unintended consequences.

To tell or not to tell?

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-35
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Employees face a considerable dilemma in deciding whether to inform their employer about sensitive personal issues like fertility treatment that might impact on their attendance and performance. If effective policies are created, employees can properly evaluate the issues involved and receive appropriate support to aid their decision-making. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

New spatial decision support systems for sustainable urban and regional development

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrizia Lombardi ◽  
Valentina Ferretti
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Systems ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Spatial Decision Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Support Decision Making ◽  
Regeneration Processes

Purpose – Policy makers are frequently challenged by the need to achieve sustainable development in cities and regions. Current decision-making processes are based on evaluation support systems which are unable to tackle the problem as they cannot take a holistic approach or a full account of actors. The purpose of this paper is to present a new generation of evaluation systems to support decision making in planning and regeneration processes which involve expert participation. These systems ensure network representation of the issues involved and visualization of multiple scenarios. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review is used for both revising existing evaluation tools in urban planning and the built environment and highlighting the need to give stakeholders (industry, cities, operators, etc.) new tools for collaborative or individual decisions and to facilitate scaling up solutions. An overview of the new generation of decision support systems, named Multicriteria Spatial Decision Support Systems (MC-SDSS) is provided and real case studies are analyzed to show their ability to tackle the problem. Findings – Recent research findings highlight that decisions in urban planning should be supported by collaborative and inclusive processes. Otherwise, they will fail. The case studies illustrated in this study highlight the usefulness of MC-SDSS for the successful resolution of complex problems, thanks to the visualization facilities and a network representation of the scenarios. Research limitations/implications – The case studies are limited to the Italian context. Practical implications – These SDSS are able to empower planners and decision makers to better understand the interaction between city design, social preferences, economic issues and policy incentives. Therefore, they have been employed in several case studies related to territorial planning and regeneration processes. Originality/value – This study provides three case studies and a review of the new MC-SDSS methodology which involve the Analytic Network Process technique to support decision-making in urban and regional planning.

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