The impact of early failures on maintenance costs: an empirical study in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo E. Peimbert-García ◽  
Jesús Isaac Vázquez-Serrano ◽  
Jorge Limón-Robles
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Electric Utility ◽  
Opportunity Costs ◽  
Current Transformers ◽  
Maintenance Costs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Early Failures ◽  
The Impact

PurposeLiterature shows that the economics of early failures in maintenance and electric utilities have not been deeply analyzed. This study aims to focus on quantifying the economic impact that early failures in current transformers have on total maintenance costs. The empirical study is conducted in a regional transmission division of an electric utility located in Mexico.Design/methodology/approachThe utility's database was accessed to collect 219 maintenance records. Clustering techniques were used to identify early failures from a bimodal distribution of failures. Confirmatory goodness-of-fit procedures followed the analysis, and finally, direct and opportunity costs were estimated by adapting the cost-of-quality (PAF) Model.FindingsAround 11% of all maintenance activities are triggered by early failures, and they account for up to US$2.2m during the eight-year period under study, which represents 16% of total maintenance costs. Additionally, opportunity costs represent close to two-thirds of the total costs due to early failures. This was obtained after finding and validating a clear-cut border of 3.5 months between early failures and the rest.Originality/valueFailures in energy grids and power transmission can have a large economic impact on the power industry and the society in general. Thus, the maintenance function in equipment such as current transformers is a crucial entry of the budget of any electric utility. This study is one of the very few that highlights the magnitude and importance of direct and opportunity costs derived from early failures.

Virus may force Egypt to turn to external support

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Slow Rate ◽  
External Support ◽  
Portfolio Investment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mass Influx ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Official Data

Significance Egypt has already suffered severe economic impact, with tourism closed down and portfolio investment in full flight. The government has imposed a partial lockdown, while allowing construction and some manufacturing to continue, in an effort to mitigate the impact on the economy. Impacts The relatively slow rate of the pandemic’s spread in Egypt raises questions about the accuracy of official data. The health system would struggle to cope with a mass influx of potentially infected Egyptian workers from the Gulf. Egypt’s relatively youthful demographic profile may make the trajectory of the epidemic different than Europe’s.

Epidemic may shake Chad's government

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Impact ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
Oil Prices ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mission Operation

Subject COVID-19 impact on Chad. Significance Chad has a relatively low number of confirmed COVID-19 cases but appears quite vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic, especially the economic impact. The country’s highly rural and youthful demography may help to slow the spread and keep the death rate low. Yet low oil prices, a return to recession and a new wave of sector-specific protests could pose major challenges for the government. Impacts Chad's epidemic appears unlikely to affect France’s Sahel counterterrorism mission Operation Barkhane, headquartered in Chad. A bottom-up revolution appears unlikely, and no major rebel challengers appear poised to take advantage of COVID-19 and associated crises. President Idriss Deby's government appears unlikely to fall in the short term -- French backing will continue to ensure his survival.

The role of internationalization in entrepreneurial orientation-performance link: empirical study of SMEs in a developing nation perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaynab Dadzie ◽  
Ahmed Agyapong ◽  
Abdulai Suglo
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Developing Nation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to examine the mediating role of internationalization in the relationship between the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and performance, empirical study of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in a developing nation. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a sample of 158 exporting SMEs based in the sub-Saharan developing economy, Ghana. The use of hierarchical regression (ordinary least square analysis) was used by the researcher to assess the suggested model of the study. Findings Largely supporting the conjectural predictions, the study indicates that EO positively and significantly influences performance; internationalization fully mediates the relationship between innovativeness and performance of export firms; internationalization fully mediates the relationship between risk-taking and performance of export firms; and finally, internationalization partially mediates the relationship between competitive aggressiveness and performance of export firms. Managers are, therefore, encouraged to strategically develop both their EO and internationalization, as the study has confirmed that EO has both a direct and indirect relationship with performance. Originality/value This study integrated a resource-based view of the firm and international entrepreneurship theory as a theoretical foundation. Theoretically, internationalization’s mediating role reveals the relevance of this construct in the linkage between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. Furthermore, the study extends the entrepreneurial orientation concept to the international business literature by estimating and testing models of the mediating link between entrepreneurial orientation and performance. Moreover, the study seeks to broaden the knowledge of entrepreneurial orientation and its relationship with performance in small and medium businesses. The study further extends the limited studies on performance, driven by entrepreneurial orientation and internationalization in a developing nation (Ghanaian) context. This paper besides seeks to highlight the impact of entrepreneurial orientation on performance when channeled through internationalization. The study also reveals the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to be important antecedents of internationalization, in attempts at unearthing the critical predictors of firm performance, especially those of international characteristics.

Intrapreneurial behaviour: the role of organizational commitment

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Farrukh ◽  
Wei Ying Chong ◽  
Shaheen Mansori ◽  
Sara Ravan Ramzani
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Affective Commitment ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Continuance Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the impact of organizational commitment (OC) on the intrapreneurial behaviour of the employees in higher educational institutes (HEIs) of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach This paper opted the empirical study using the survey approach. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the questionnaires completed the Deans/Head of Schools, professors and associate professors of the 20 public HEIs of Pakistan located in the capital city, Islamabad. In total, 500 structured questionnaires were sent to the Deans/Head of Schools, professors and associate professors. A total of 306 responses were received. Findings Affective commitment (AC) and normative commitment (NC) has a positive and significant impact on the intrapreneurial behaviour while continuance commitment (CC) is negatively associated with the same behaviour. Originality/value This empirical study will contribute to the theoretical knowledge on intrapreneurship and OC in the public sector HEIs, which has been neglected in entrepreneurship research.

Saudi and wider Gulf renewables push will face hurdles

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Energy Subsidies ◽  
Maintenance Costs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Best Offer ◽  
The Impact ◽  
World Records

Significance Energy subsidies are a major blockage to wider adoption of renewable energy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where pricing bids have recently broken world records. The low bid for Saudi Arabia’s first solar project in early October was just 1.79 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) -- down from the previous best offer on a United Arab Emirates (UAE) solar project in 2015. Impacts Local renewables companies could begin to grow their businesses in the GCC. The lack of suitably trained Gulf nationals will limit the impact on private sector activity and employment. The rising cost of debt could increase the price and terms of bids for renewables projects, making them relatively less attractive. If maintenance costs in desert environments turn out to be higher than expected, projects could flounder.

Modeling enablers of supply chain quality risk management: a grey-DEMATEL approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1059-1076
Author(s):  
Anupama Prashar ◽  
Shikha Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Risk Management ◽  
Automotive Supply Chain ◽  
Quality Risk ◽  
Automotive Supply ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to recognize and model the enablers of supply chain quality risk management (SCQRM) through an empirical study in the Indian automotive companies. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted to extract the key enablers of quality management (QM) and risk management in the context of manufacturing supply chains. A grey-based DEMATEL method was employed to identify and model the key enablers of SCQRM. Findings The results of empirical study showed that the effectiveness of QM and risk management systems for automotive supply chain is driven by a set of common enablers that could be employed for developing dedicated SCQRM systems. The common causal factors in the model such as the involvement of top leaders, inter-firm communication and strategic-level alignment between supply chain members on both these issues clearly state that there is a need for a broader policy at an early stage. Practical implications It is crucial for the automotive companies to develop and implement structured systems for SCQRM keeping in view the impact of any unaddressed quality risk on missed production targets, vehicle recalls and safety hazards. Originality/value This study ascertains the key enablers of SCQRM with emblematic focus on automotive industry and identifies if there are commonalities in these enablers.

Achieving higher supply chain performance via business process orientation

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 671-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayvan Miri-Lavassani ◽  
Bahar Movahedi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Supply Chain Performance ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Business Managers ◽  
Process Orientation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which various dimensions of supply chain performance (SCP) can be improved through increased levels of process orientation across different core operational processes. This study aims to provide simple guidelines which are practical for business managers. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual model was developed based on the literature review and it was tested using an empirical study. Various factor analysis techniques are used to construct different components of the research model and test the hypotheses. Findings This study provides two main categories of findings. First, based on the exploratory analysis several constructs were developed. Second, using structural equation modeling the relationships among the constructs were examined. The findings suggest that managers need to take a targeted approach in increasing the levels of process orientation in order to achieve particular SCP goals. Research limitations/implications The result of this study is not indented to be generalized to all businesses; however, the methodology is flexible enough to be utilized in different industries and business scenarios. Practical implications The present study provides specific recommendations for business managers seeking to enhance various aspects of their organizational SCP. The research model can be used for future empirical as well as case studies. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive empirical study that separately measures business process orientation with respect to four core supply chain processes (planning, sourcing, making, and delivering) and assesses the impact of each core process on various dimensions of supply chain performance.

The impact of brand logo identification and brand logo benefit on Indonesian consumers’ relationship quality

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Japutra ◽  
Keni Keni ◽  
Bang Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between brand logo identification and brand logo benefit on Indonesian consumers’ relationship quality. Design/methodology/approach – This study utilizes survey data in Indonesia and structural equation modeling. In total, 282 participants responded to the survey. Findings – Brand logo benefit predicts all three relationship quality constructs, whereas brand logo identification only predicts satisfaction and trust. Out of the two, brand logo benefit is a better predictor of satisfaction, trust, and commitment. Originality/value – This is a first empirical study to examine brand logo identification and brand logo benefit on Indonesian consumer’s relationship quality. In addition, this is the first study to investigate the link between brand logo benefit with satisfaction and trust.

The impact of institutional culture on change initiatives in an electric utility company in Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moses Jumbe ◽  
Cecile N. Gerwel Proches
Keyword(s):  
Electric Utility ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Readiness For Change ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Utility Company ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Change Efforts

Purpose Organisational culture is increasingly being recognised as a critical determinant of the success or failure of organisational change efforts. A power utility company in Africa was undergoing planned change driven by its ambitious vision of becoming one of the top five performing utilities in the world. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the organisation’s culture was impacting on the change initiatives of one of the organisation’s operating units. The study also sought to investigate the robustness of the change model employed to inform the change process. Design/methodology/approach The study employed qualitative research methods for data collection, sampling and analysis. Ten semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with managers, supervisory and non-supervisory staff in the operating unit. Data analysis was by means of thematic analysis. Findings Organisational culture was found to be impacting the operating unit’s change efforts. According to the participants, cultural analysis to determine organisational readiness for change was not adequately undertaken. The cultural factors of, among others, communication, feedback, involvement, and consultations negatively impacted the change efforts. The participants’ perceptions were that leadership failed to connect employees to the vision. Originality/value The paper provides insight into the importance of leadership’s understanding and consideration of organisational culture in change initiatives. Cultural analyses before embarking on change assists leaders in identifying and then strengthening or changing cultural tenets implicated by the change initiatives.

scholarly journals “It's a very different world”: work transition and employability of higher education graduates

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sílvia Monteiro ◽  
Leandro Almeida ◽  
Adela García-Aracil
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Transition ◽  
Dynamic Perspective ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study addresses the specific topic of transition between higher education and the world of work, taking differences naturally inherent to the individual and to the surrounding micro and macro contexts. With a holistic approach, this paper aimed to provide a deeper understanding about the university-to-work transition process in a period of turbulence and continuous changes in the labour market.Design/methodology/approachThe three research questions that guide this qualitative study are as follows: (1) What are the factors that facilitate the transition to the labour market? (2) What are the factors that constrain the transition to the labour market? (3) What are graduates' perceptions of their employability? To answer these questions, eleven graduates were interviewed about facilitators and barriers of the transition process and perceptions of employability. Data collected from the interviews were then related to categories previously defined from the literature review. Version 12.0 of the NVivo software was used to support the process of data analysis.FindingsOverall, participants' discourse refer to a multidimensional and dynamic perspective of factors related with work transition and employability. The obtained results indicate that the lack of career agency during graduation and professional experiences, together with late career exploration processes, represent possible barriers of transition, especially in study fields with targeted job offers. Likewise, experiences promoting the development of competencies through supportive practice from teachers, mentors and colleagues are referred as facilitators of transition.Practical implicationsOne of the most consistent outcomes of the interviews conducted concerns the importance of a stronger focus on developing practical experiences during higher education studies. This empirical study demonstrated how this type of experience can mitigate the impact of the transition from university to the labour market.Originality/valueThis empirical study demonstrated how work being integrated into learning in curricula can mitigate the impact of the transition from university to the labour market. It offers important insights about possible strategies that could be adopted to promote graduates' employability from a perspective of shared responsibility.

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