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 Demographics, Activities, and Environmental Factors Impact Burnout in a National Survey of Emergency Medicine Residents

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Battaglioli ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Medical School ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
System Level ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Burnout in emergency medicine and in residency training has been well-described. The impact of demographic, individual, and programmatic factors on burnout have not previously been determined in a national survey of emergency medicine residents. This study aimed to identify personal and environmental factors impacting resident burnout in a national sample of emergency medicine residents. Methods: A prospective Emergency Medicine Resident Wellness Survey was administered in 2017. We surveyed Respondents on demographic, personal, and environmental factors; each Respondent also completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey. Linear regressions were used to identify variables associated with the Maslach Burnout Inventory’s subscales of burnout (depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and personal achievement). Results: The survey was completed by 1,522 of 7,186 (21.2%) eligible EM residents. Respondents represented 193 of 247 (78.1%) Emergency Medicine residency programs. Increased levels of depersonalization were associated with graduation from a US medical school, female gender, and increase in respondent age. Trainees who were parents and who graduated from an osteopathic (vs. allopathic) medical school were found to have decreased levels of depersonalization. Emotional exhaustion was decreased in respondents who took breaks while on shift and who engaged in regular studying. Conclusion: While some individual characteristics impact burnout, environmental factors also play a significant role, and should be a target of system-level interventions to improve trainee well-being.

scholarly journals How did the publication of the book The Machine That Changed The World change management thinking? Exploring 25 years of lean literature

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 1386-1407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Samuel ◽  
Pauline Found ◽  
Sharon J. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Process Improvement ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Unit Of Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Improvement Methodologies ◽  
Generic Description ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Management Thinking

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to take a critical, analytical approach to explore the growth and spread of Lean through the academic and practitioner community over the last 25 years to understand the impact of the book The Machine that Changed the World on management thinking. Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive and systematic review of the extant literature of lean was undertaken and analysed critically to observe patterns and trends that could explain the acceptance of Lean as an operations management philosophy. The review spans from 1987 to 2013. To enable us to effectively manage and understand the diffusion of this literature a database, the Lean Publications Database, was constructed. The number of publications has been adjusted to compensate for growth in the total number of articles published in the same period. Findings – Lean has evolved to be one of the best-known, yet fiercely debated, process improvement methodologies. It emerged during a proliferation of such methodologies in the business and management literature. Lean has developed from a generic description of Toyota Production System (TPS) to a particular type of organisational and management intervention focused on best practice and process improvement methodologies. Research limitations/implications – This paper provides the first comprehensive review of the Lean literature, from the perspective of Lean as the unit of analysis. It covers both sides of the academic debate and categorises the progression of Lean from its origins as a generic description of TPS to a movement that has changed management systems in many and diverse sectors. Practical implications – This paper demonstrates how Lean research, application and thinking has evolved over 25 years from its origins in Japanese auto-manufacturing to a holistic value system that is applicable to all business sectors, both private and public. Originality/value – In most empirical studies on Lean, the unit of analysis is the organisation. In this study, the unit of analysis is the Lean phenomenon itself. This paper examines the impact of The Machine that Changed the World on management thinking. In addition, it presents a step to developing an underpinning theory by linking Lean to the Theory of Swift, Even Flow. As such it is of interest to academics in the field of operations management and offers a contribution to knowledge. It is also likely to be of interest to policy makers. Considerable amounts of public money have been spent, and continue to be spent, on promoting Lean. Taxpayers and policymakers are likely to be interested in whether that expenditure is justifiable. 25 years of publications have been analysed to provide clarity around this popular approach to organisational improvement.

Physical and cognitive demands of work in building construction

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 745-764
Author(s):  
Franciscsa S. Rodriguez ◽  
Jan Spilski ◽  
Felix Hekele ◽  
Nils Ove Beese ◽  
Thomas Lachmann
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Construction Work ◽  
Specialized Knowledge ◽  
Cognitive Demands ◽  
Physical Demands ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Investigating demands within an occupational context has always been an essential endeavor to guarantee worker well-being and performance efficiency. In blue-collar occupations, the physical demands of manual labor have always been the major focus, but recent technological changes may come with higher demands on the intellectual capacities of workers. For this reason, the purpose of this paper is to assess physical and cognitive demands that construction workers face. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a quantitative study using standardized research instruments. Construction workers of three German construction companies were asked to volunteer to participate in interviews (n=35) and a survey (n=30) that assessed the extent of physical demands and a variety of cognitive demands experienced by construction workers. Findings The results suggest that construction work is demanding in physical terms as well as in perceptual, psychomotor, social and cognitive terms. Using and updating specialized knowledge, giving advice and providing consultation, friendliness, assertiveness and reliability are important demands among construction workers. Research limitations/implications Construction workers face an undervalued level of demands in their everyday work environment. As high demands can affect well-being and mental health, construction companies would greatly benefit from investing efforts into evaluating the multi-component demands profile of their workers and the impact on their health, in particular through the strongly increasing cognitive demands due to the ongoing digitization of the sector. Originality/value The study identified essential demands in construction work that are relevant for the workers’ productivity and well-being.

Constructing construction careers: the case for the building trades

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-213
Author(s):  
Gerard Callanan ◽  
David Perri
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Building Trades ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Individual

PurposeThis paper discusses the well-publicized labor shortages in the building trades, reviews the causes for the deficiencies, and presents prescriptions for how career counselors and schools can play a critical role in encouraging young adults to consider construction occupations.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from government agencies, trade organizations, and scholarly publications, this paper describes the categories of the building trades as well as their employment trends and compensation prospects. It also reviews the personal and environmental factors that could lead to the “construction of a construction career.”FindingsThis article documents the reasons for the labor shortages in the construction industry and then offers recommendation on how younger adults could be encouraged to consider the building trades as viable career alternatives.Social implicationsLabor shortages in the construction industry have a direct and indirect deleterious effect on the economic well-being of every country. This article provides suggestions on how to inspire young adults to consider the building trades as worthwhile career pursuits.Originality/valueThere is a limited amount of scholarly attention given to career decision making related to occupations that do not require a college degree, including the building trades. This paper attempts to fill this gap in the literature by focusing on the individual characteristics and environmental factors that might prompt consideration of a career in the building trades. It also describes the educational, governmental, and corporate initiatives that work to encourage individuals, working in conjunction with their career counselors, to consider careers in the construction industry.

The role of maqasid al-Shariʿah in applying fiqh muamalat into modern Islamic banking in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2137-2154
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shahrul Ifwat Ishak ◽  
Fathullah Asni
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Advisory Council ◽  
Islamic Finance ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Floating Rate ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Banking Operations

Purpose This paper aims to explore the practical role of maqasid al-Shari’ah in applying fiqh muamalat to the reality of modern banking practices. As the modern financial environment is complicated and not too conducive for Islamic banking operations, a special approach based on maqasid al-Shari’ah is needed to harmonize between revelation and reality. Design/methodology/approach The data of this study are obtained through literature and empirical data. As for the empirical, the exploratory qualitative approach is applied in which three members of the Shari’ah Advisory Council (SAC) of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) as well as three Shari’ah committees (SC) of Islamic Finance Institutions are selected as interviewees. As a result, several themes are defined from the interview data before they are analyzed based on the concept of maqasid al-Shari’ah. Findings The findings reveal that several practices are prevalent in developing Islamic banking products, including replicating conventional products to be Islamic ones, imposing wa’ad (unilateral promise) to strengthen the combination of different contracts into one product, and adopting floating rate with ibra’ (rebate) for financing price, which are needed to sustain this industry in modern financial system. In this regard, maqasid al-Shari’ah is applied to reconcile between rulings in fiqh muamalat and banking environments, so that these rulings can be adopted pragmatically without compromising Shari’ah principles. Research limitations/implications This study has its limitations, as it focuses on the extent of the role of the maqasid al-Shari’ah in Islamic banking operations, excluding other segments of Islamic finance such as Islamic capital markets and Islamic insurance. Moreover, as data are collected from only six interviewees from SAC and SC of Malaysia, the results cannot be represented for the whole Islamic banking practices of this country. Practical implications This study provides several policy recommendations regarding the practice of the maqasid al-Shari’ah in Islamic banking. These may be useful for all Islamic finance players, including regulators and bankers in introducing policies and products in this area. Social implications This study has the potential to enhance the confidence of the Muslim community, particularly in Islamic banking to support its existence and practices. The impact of such optimism will lead to an increase in demand for Islamic banking products, hence encouraging Islamic banking to sustain and update its activities in line with maqasid al-Shari’ah. Originality/value This paper offers a practical approach as regards to how the maqasid al-Shari’ah can play a significant role in sustaining the Islamic banking industry, particularly in circumstances that are not favorable to its progress. It is indispensable to prevent the Islamic rulings from being diverted in the name of human well-being and to avoid basing them on a literal textual approach. Moreover, as it provides empirical studies on the issue of replication, wa’ad, floating rate and ibra’, the discussion on this subject becomes more practical.

The impact of servitization on firm performance: a meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1562-1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijiao Wang ◽  
Kee-Hung Lai ◽  
Yongyi Shou
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quantitative Review ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Servitization has been recognized as an effective means for manufacturers to achieve superior performance. However, the servitization-performance relationship is controversial since prior empirical studies have provided inconsistent and even contradictory results. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to provide a quantitative review on the servitization-performance relationship based on research findings reported in the extant literature. Design/methodology/approach Studies from 41 peer-reviewed journal articles were sampled and analyzed. A meta-analytic approach was adopted to conduct a quantitative review on the relationship between servitization and firm performance. Findings The results confirm a positive servitization-performance relationship. In addition, the results reveal that the observed servitization-performance relationship is influenced by the operationalization of constructs (servitization and performance) and control variables (industry and region). Originality/value As the first meta-analysis on the servitization-performance relationship, this study contributes to the servitization literature and provides future research directions.

Mindfulness training in the workplace: exploring its scope and outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 341-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen R. Johnson ◽  
Sunyoung Park ◽  
Sanghamitra Chaudhuri
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Distributed Information ◽  
Mindfulness Practices ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Purpose As the concept of mindfulness gains popularity in the workplace, there is a need to understand the extent to which mindfulness-related practices are integrated into training and development activities and the impact of these practices on employees and organizations. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the scope of mindfulness as an intervention in the workplace and to identify outcomes of mindfulness-related training activities at the individual, job/work, team/group and organizational levels. Design/methodology/approach Torraco (2005) and Briner and Denyer's (2012) four steps (search, selection, analysis and synthesis) for conducting an integrative literature review were used for this study. This method enabled us to compare and contrast relevant articles, integrate distributed information, create new knowledge and provide research directions on mindfulness practices in work settings. Findings Through a revision of 28 empirical studies, the authors found that mindfulness-based training is an effective intervention for organizations to improve mental health, wellbeing and performance of employees. A total of 51 significant outcomes of mindfulness-related training categorized at the individual (23), job/work (17), group/team (7) and organizational (4) levels were identified. Practical implications Despite the benefits of mindfulness training, according to the research, only a handful of organizations have rolled-out this program for employees. The authors recommend that industry leaders and managers take a proactive approach and incorporate mindfulness-related practices as part of their professional development training for employees at all levels to improve personal and professional growth and performance. Originality/value This paper extends the emerging literature on mindfulness by providing a comprehensive summary of the consequences of mindfulness training at a multilevel context within the human resource development domain.

The impact of internal control requirements on profitability of Saudi shareholding companies

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. Al-Thuneibat ◽  
Awad S. Al-Rehaily ◽  
Yousef A. Basodan
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Return On Assets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Return On Equity ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the compliance of Saudi shareholding companies with the requirements of internal control as set by the Saudi standard on internal control and its impact on the profitability of these companies. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was used to collect data about the compliance with internal control requirements, and four measures of profitability including earnings per share (EPS), return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and profit margin (PM) for profitability were calculated using data from the financial statements of these companies. Then, Multiple Regression and t-test were used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. Findings – The results of the study revealed that the degree of compliance with all components of internal control is very high. It also appears from the analysis that the effect of internal control and its components on ROA and ROE is significant and positive, while the effect on EPS and PM is positive but statistically insignificant. Practical implications – Corporate managements should review the effectiveness of the implementation of internal control requirements, especially those related to control environment, information and communication and monitoring. Social implications – The findings of the study shed light on the relevance of internal control systems of the Saudi shareholding companies in improving the financial performance of the these companies, which is expected to help in safeguarding the interests of all interest groups and improve the society’s well-being. Originality/value – The paper provides new evidence about the relationship between internal control and profitability in the Saudi Arabian environment. The findings of the study add good contribution to the literature because they direct our attention to the expected effect of the environment on the relationship between internal control and performance. The results may suggest that there is a need to expand this study using other methodologies to delve into the depths and understand this phenomenon within its context.

scholarly journals Internet Use and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: a Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
A.A. Bochaver ◽  
S. Dokuka ◽  
E.V. Sivak ◽  
I.B. Smirnov
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

The introduction of digital technologies in everyday practices and the reduction of the age of children's access to the Internet creates the need to reflect on the potential benefits and risks associated with digitalization. The article summarizes the main data on the impact of the Internet, in particular social networks, on life satisfaction indicators and symptoms of depression in adolescents. The results of empirical studies conducted in different countries are ambiguous and do not allow to speak about universal effects that apply to all children and adolescents. We assume that the lack of unambiguous conclusions about the impact of digital technologies is due to the nonlinearity and differential effects. In particular, the power of influence depends on the individual characteristics, the intensity of the use of technology, socio-economic characteristics of the child's environment. This review shows the need for a differentiated approach to research the impact of digitalization on the well-being of children and to the practices of supporting the child in his development of the Internet.

scholarly journals A meta-analysis of the impact of privatization on firm performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Bachiller
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Offerings ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
The Common ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Despite the vast literature on privatization, the relationship between change of ownership and performance is not clear. The purpose of this paper is to understand why divergences are found between the empirical results of papers analyzed. Design/methodology/approach The author applies a meta-analysis to a sample of 60 empirical studies that analyze the performance of privatized companies. The author checks whether different results on performance can be explained by the method of privatization and the level of development of the country of privatized companies. Findings The findings indicate that companies privatized by public offerings obtain a better performance than companies privatized using other methods, such as private sale or voucher privatization, and do not support the common-place assumption that privatization in developing countries does not improve financial performance. Originality/value The study contributes to the literature on privatization because it adds new empirical evidence about the privatization programs and it first applies a meta-analysis to a sample about privatization on state-owned companies. The author discusses theoretical and managerial implications and offers suggestions for future research on privatization.

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