Analyzing the Stressors for Frontline Soldiers Fighting Against Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

This study aimed to analyze stressors to which medical staff is vulnerable due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It also imposes a hierarchy on complex relations among stressors for excavating underlying structure and builds a model of interrelationships contrasting reality. The design of this study comprises a literature survey, data collection from primary sources, and analysis. Stressors have been explored from within current published/unpublished literature and validated by experts through approval vote. Data were collected from the focus group (panel of experts), and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) was used as the research methodology. Findings of ISM are avowed through “cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification” (MICMAC) analysis. As a result of the literature survey, a list of stressors was generated, and a total of 19 stressors qualified as representative of the phenomenon. The results of ISM show that two stressors (i.e., “unavailability of proper personal protective equipment (PPE)” and “lack of proper communication”) emerged as the most critical stressors since they occupy the bottom of the model, whereas, four stressors (i.e., “anxious about isolation/quarantine,” “subject to violent crimes,” “feeling frustrated and powerless,” and “exhausting shifts/hours without clear end”) are relatively less critical since they occupy the top of the model. The rest of the stressors occupy the middle of the model and therefore, have moderate-severe effects on frontline soldiers. The results of MICMAC show that the stressor “subject to violent crimes” is classified in the dependent cluster and the remaining fall in the linkage cluster but no stressor falls in independent and autonomous. Overall results indicate that all stressors are relevant to the phenomenon under this study, but they are currently not settled. This study is invaluable for policymakers, frontline soldiers, researchers, the international community, and society since it provides a lot of new information that is helpful in refining strategies and combating influential stressors.

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Analyzing the Underlying Structure of Online Teaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period: An Empirical Investigation of Issues of Students

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.605138 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Zeeshan Shaukat ◽

Abdul Aziz Khan Niazi ◽

Tehmina Fiaz Qazi ◽

Abdul Basit

Keyword(s):

Online Teaching ◽

Structural Model ◽

Contemporary Literature ◽

Matrix Multiplication ◽

Underlying Structure ◽

Online Classes ◽

Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽

Overall Design ◽

Micmac Analysis ◽

Critical Issues

The aim of the study is to reveal the underlying structure of issues of university students taking online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The overall design of the study includes a review of contemporary literature and field survey for data collection and analysis. Discourse of literature coupled with expert opinion has been employed for identification of issues. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is used for the determination of intra-issue relationships and analyzing the underlying structure. Cross impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC analysis) is used as a technique for classifying issues on the basis of driving–dependence power. Results of the literature show that there are 21 major issues faced by the students taking online classes. ISM shows that lack of institutional guidelines, lack of regulators’ guidelines, stress of pandemic situation, and abrupt (not planned) start of online classes are the most critical issues. MICMAC analysis reveals that there is no autonomous issue, 4 (i.e., connectivity issue, shy to use technology, lack of institutional guidelines, and stress of pandemic situation) are independent, 6 other issues are dependent, and the remaining 11 are linking. This is a valuable study having practical implications for regulators, students, parents, and society to understand the current problem. It is an original attempt that contributes toward literature in the form of a structural model and a diagram of classification of issues.

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The aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic period: barriers in implementation of social distancing at workplace

Library Hi Tech ◽

10.1108/lht-03-2021-0113 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Kashif Abbass ◽

Abdul Aziz Khan Niazi ◽

Tehmina Fiaz Qazi ◽

Abdul Basit ◽

Huaming Song

Keyword(s):

Health Workers ◽

Matrix Multiplication ◽

Review Of Literature ◽

Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽

Content Type ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Employees With Disabilities ◽

Data Collection And Analysis ◽

Research Findings ◽

Practical Implications

PurposeThe study aims to investigate the barriers in implementing social distancing at the workplace as an aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic period.Design/methodology/approachStudy design consists of a review of literature, data collection and analysis. It encompasses identification, verification and analysis of the relationships among the barriers. Data have been collected from a panel of experts on matrix-type questionnaires from workplaces. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) augmented with “Matrice d' Impacts Croise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (Cross Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification)” (MICMAC) for structural analysis.FindingsThe literature has identified twenty major barriers to implementing social distancing at the workplace. The research findings reveal/show that the barrier “matter of disrespect” occupies the bottom level in the ISM model. Therefore, it is the most critical barrier; whereas, employees with disabilities and “herding culture” are crucial as they occupy the next lowest level, therefore, are crucial. Moreover, there are ten barriers positioned in the middle of the model having moderate-severe effects, and seven falls on the top level of the model having relatively less severe effects. Results of MICMAC affirm and avow the results of ISM.Research limitations/implicationsThe study will have profound theoretical and practical implications for stakeholders since it provides lot of new useful and valuable information, gives relational insights and determines priorities subject to usual limitations of survey research.Originality/valueIt is an original attempt to make some sense of practicability of social distancing for stakeholders including policymakers, frontline health workers and public at large.

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Barriers to Knowledge Management in the Health Sector of Pakistan

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10114155 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 4155 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jawad Karamat ◽

Tong Shurong ◽

Naveed Ahmad ◽

Abdul Waheed ◽

Shahbaz Khan

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Management ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Matrix Multiplication ◽

Health Sector ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Healthcare Industry ◽

Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽

Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽

Knowledge Assets ◽

Effective Implementation

Knowledge management (KM) is the source for creating a sustainable competitive advantage, and it helps the organizations to retain, develop, organize and utilize their knowledge. Due to globalization, the organizations must maintain their knowledge assets to survive. Many organizations have realized the potential of KM and are applying it. Since the healthcare industry is growing significantly, it is continuously generating a wealth of knowledge. This knowledge can be recorded, communicated and used by many health care professionals with the help of KM. There is a wealth of research on KM in healthcare of developed countries, but very few studies regarding KM implementation can be found in developing countries i.e., Pakistan. Pakistan is now looking towards the implementation of KM; it is in its initial stages. The implementation of KM in the healthcare of Pakistan is affected by different barriers. In this study, the barriers will be identified and analyzed. An interrelationship between the barriers will be determined, and how the different barriers support each other (driving power), and how they influence each other (dependence power). The results of interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and MICMAC (Matrice d’Impacts croises-multipication appliqué an classment i.e., cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) approach show that lack of support from top management, insufficient strategic planning and lack of support from organizational structure are the main barriers to KM adoption in the healthcare of Pakistan. This study provides a solution in determining the main barriers that need to be solved first, and to ensure effective implementation of KM in the healthcare of Pakistan.

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Coronavirus - Crisis Communication in Croatia

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.063 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

M Grbic ◽

D Stimac Grbic ◽

L Stimac ◽

Z Sostar

Keyword(s):

Child Protection ◽

Crisis Communication ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Public Concern ◽

Basic Principles ◽

The Public ◽

New Information ◽

The World ◽

The Government ◽

The One

Abstract Introduction The coronavirus outbreak has set off alarms around the world, leading to border closures, trade controls, travel bans and other measures. The Wuhan coronavirus epidemic continues to spread globally to the new European hotspot in Italy. New information about the epidemic and the virus is changing rapidly as the virus spreads and appears in parts of the world. Although official announcements by the Croatian Government and Crisis Staff calmed the public with pictures and data on the disease, it showed something else that heightened public concern and caused two conflicting phenomena among citizens - on the one hand, the majority showed understandable doubt about the information that could have raised the concern for their own health while the rest of the population ignored the facts. The market showed complete unwillingness to cope with this epidemic and a chronic shortage of protective equipment (masks, disinfectants...) emerged. Most of the citizens' queries and concerns were moving in the direction of personal protection, child protection and justification for holding large gatherings. Results By March 8, 2020, twelve COVID-19 patients were recorded in Croatia, of which 5 were patients in Rijeka, 3 in Zagreb and 4 in VaraÅ¾din. The first sick person is a Croatian citizen from Zagreb who became infected during his stay in Italy (Milan, Lombardy province). Conclusions In this crisis, several basic principles of crisis communication with the public have been forgotten: The first source of communication often becomes the source against which everyone else is measured.Accuracy is crucial to credibility.Emotion cannot be countered by facts. People must first know that the government cares.The public should regain a sense of control over circumstances beyond control.A lack of public respect in a crisis undermines trust.Honesty is fundamental to maintaining trust. Key messages Accuracy is crucial to credibility. Emotion cannot be countered by facts.

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An ISM approach for the barrier analysis in implementing sustainable supply chain management

Management Decision ◽

10.1108/md-12-2016-0898 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 (8) ◽

pp. 1824-1850 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mahmood Movahedipour ◽

Jianqiu Zeng ◽

Mengke Yang ◽

Xiankang Wu

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chain Management ◽

Qualitative Analysis ◽

Matrix Multiplication ◽

Future Research ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽

Chain Management ◽

Content Type ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Purpose Sustainability has been on the executive agenda for years and it is now one of the fastest growing supply chain management trends. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the barriers for the adoption and implementation of the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) concept. Design/methodology/approach This study has been divided into two phases such as identification of barriers and qualitative analysis. First, to identify the most influential barriers, the authors offer a systematic literature review, taking 188 papers published from 2010 to November 2016 into account. The investigation phase led to the selection of 15 barriers based on the literature in consultation with industrial experts and academicians. Second, the interpretive structural modeling qualitative analysis was used to find out the mutual influences between the 15 barriers by a survey. Findings Further, the authors propose and illustrate the cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification analysis to test a framework that extrapolates SSCM barriers and their relationships. “Inadequate information technology implementation” has been identified as the most important barrier that may force organizations to implement SSCM practices to ensure their business sustainability. Research limitations/implications The authors presented some limitations in their research in some fields which could allow new researchers and practitioners to conduct the future research to grow in different dimensions. Practical implications Practitioners or policymakers usually are not familiar with these types of research works; that is why most of these surveys remain theoretical and conceptual. Future investigation needs to be done in practical application domain instead of merely giving opinions. Originality/value Based on the authors’ research, the researchers have more attention to work in conceptual analysis due to other fields, but the authors believe that even with the implementation of SSCM, many remarkable areas still exist for future research which could help in development. The authors also provide more details in this paper.

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Detection of COVID-19 in a Vulvar Lesion

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1713665 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (11) ◽

pp. 1183-1184

Author(s):

Stephanie A. Sansone ◽

Elizabeth S. Rubin ◽

Adi Hirshberg ◽

Elizabeth G. Clement ◽

Sindhu K. Srinivas

Keyword(s):

Health Care Workers ◽

Genital Tract ◽

Clinical Implications ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

New Information ◽

Lower Genital Tract ◽

Care Workers ◽

Key Points ◽

Vaginal Secretions ◽

Upper Respiratory

As new information about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rapidly discovered, clinicians are better equipped to make informed decisions for their patients. While current research suggests COVID-19 viral antigen is not found in vaginal secretions, its detectability in the female lower genital tract may have clinical implications for obstetric and gynecologic care for women. We present a case of a woman at 31 weeks' gestation with simultaneous upper respiratory symptoms and vulvovaginitis. She was found to have a vulvar lesion positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome-COVID by viral swab. This case shows that COVID-19 is detectable in the vulva. This may have implications for health care workers' exposure and personal protective equipment needs. While vertical transmission has largely not been reported, the presence of detectable virus in the female lower genital tract makes this a continued possibility and area of study. Key Points

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TISM for analysis of barriers affecting the adoption of lean concepts to electronics component manufacture

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma ◽

10.1108/ijlss-09-2018-0100 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1141-1173

Author(s):

Senthil Kumar D. ◽

S. Vinodh

Keyword(s):

Structural Model ◽

Matrix Multiplication ◽

Change Agents ◽

Practical Case ◽

Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽

Content Type ◽

Management Commitment ◽

Top Management Commitment ◽

Component Manufacturing ◽

Selection Of

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the analysis of barriers affecting the adoption of lean concepts to electrical and electronics component manufacturing. Design/methodology/approach Lean concepts are being increasingly applied by electrical and electronics component manufacturers to enhance product value through streamlined process. To facilitate smooth adoption of lean concepts, barriers need to be analyzed and prioritized. In this context, a structural model of 24 barriers is developed through total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach. Findings ‘Changing governmental policies,’ ‘poor selection of change agents and improvement teams,’ ‘lack of top management commitment understanding and support of the system,’ ‘lack of team autonomy,’ ‘lack of flexibility and versatility’ and ‘lack of customer focus/involvement’ are found to be the dominant barriers based on TISM study. Interpretation statements are being derived from TISM model. Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification analysis is conducted. Research limitations/implications In the present paper, 24 barriers are considered. In future, additional barriers could be considered to deal with managerial advancements. Practical implications The paper reports the practical case of analysis of barriers to lean adoption in electronics component manufacture. Hence, the inferences have practical relevance. Originality/value The development of structural model for the analysis of barriers to lean implementation in electronics component manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises is the original contribution of the authors.

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Total Interpretive Structural Modeling (TISM): approach and application

Journal of Advances in Management Research ◽

10.1108/jamr-10-2016-0087 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 162-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

J. Jena ◽

Sumati Sidharth ◽

Lakshman S. Thakur ◽

Devendra Kumar Pathak ◽

V.C. Pandey

Keyword(s):

Design Methodology ◽

Matrix Multiplication ◽

Structural Modeling ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽

Content Type ◽

Mutual Dependence ◽

Step Procedure ◽

Power And Dependence ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the methodology of total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) in order to provide interpretation for direct as well as significant transitive linkages in a directed graph. Design/methodology/approach This study begins by unfolding the concepts and advantages of TISM. The step-by-step methodology of TISM is exemplified by employing it to analyze the mutual dependence among inhibitors of smartphone manufacturing ecosystem development (SMED). Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to the classification analysis is also performed to graphically represent these inhibitors based on their driving power and dependence. Findings This study highlights the significance of TISM over conventional interpretive structural modeling (ISM). The inhibitors of SMED are explored by reviewing existing literature and obtaining experts’ opinions. TISM is employed to classify these inhibitors in order to devise a five-level hierarchical structure based on their driving power and dependence. Practical implications This study facilitates decision makers to take required actions to mitigate these inhibitors. Inhibitors (with strong driving power), which occupy the bottom level in the TISM hierarchy, require more attention from top management and effective monitoring of these inhibitors can assist in achieving the organizations’ goals. Originality/value By unfolding the benefits of TISM over ISM, this study is an endeavor to develop insights toward utilization of TISM for modeling inhibitors of SMED. This paper elaborates step-by-step procedure to perform TISM and hence makes it simple for researchers to understand its concepts. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that analyzes the inhibitors of SMED by utilizing TISM approach.

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Specification Inference and Invariant Generation: A Machine Learning Perspective

10.29007/tx1s ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Aditya Nori

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Program Verification ◽

Linear Structure ◽

Supervised Machine Learning ◽

Machine Learning Techniques ◽

Support Vector ◽

Underlying Structure ◽

New Information ◽

Efficient Program ◽

Via Classification

Computing good specification and invariants is key to effectiveand efficient program verification. In this talk, I will describeour experiences in using machine learning techniques (Bayesianinference, SVMs) for computing specifications and invariantsuseful for program verification. The first project Merlin usesBayesian inference in order to automatically infer securityspecifications of programs. A novel feature of Merlin is that itcan infer specifications even when the code under analysis givesrise to conflicting constraints, a situation that typicallyoccurs when there are bugs. We have used Merlin to infer securityspecifications of 10 large business critical webapplications. Furthermore, we show that these specifications canbe used to detect new information flow security vulnerabilitiesin these applications.In the second project Interpol, we show how interpolants can beviewed as classifiers in supervised machine learning. This viewhas several advantages: First, we are able to use off-the-shelfclassification techniques, in particular support vectormachines (SVMs), for interpolation. Second, we show that SVMs canfind relevant predicates for a number of benchmarks. Sinceclassification algorithms are predictive, the interpolantscomputed via classification are likely to be relevant predicatesor invariants. Finally, the machine learning view also enables usto handle superficial non-linearities. Even if the underlyingproblem structure is linear, the symbolic constraints can give animpression that we are solving a non-linear problem. Sincelearning algorithms try to mine the underlying structuredirectly, we can discover the linear structure for suchproblems. We demonstrate the feasibility of Interpol viaexperiments over benchmarks from various papers on programverification.

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Factors influencing organizational agility in higher education

Benchmarking An International Journal ◽

10.1108/bij-04-2020-0151 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shalini Menon ◽

M. Suresh

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Organizational Structure ◽

Human Resource ◽

Structural Model ◽

Readiness To Change ◽

Matrix Multiplication ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Organizational Agility ◽

Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽

Content Type

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that can facilitate agility in higher education and to analyze the interrelationship between the factors.Design/methodology/approachA structured model of factors facilitating agility in higher education was developed using total interpretive structural modeling (TISM). Cross-impact matrix multiplication (MICMAC) analysis helped in classifying the factors on the basis of their driving and dependency power.FindingsAn extensive literature review and expert opinion helped in identifying eight enablers that can promote agility in higher education. The ability to sense the environment, organizational structure, adoption of ICT, organizational learning, human resource strategies, leadership, readiness to change and collaboration with the stakeholders were the eight factors identified. The structural model revealed leadership as the most crucial enabler followed by human resource strategies and organizational structure.Research limitations/implicationsThe model has incorporated and prioritized all the crucial drivers of agility that can help universities and colleges design, adopt and implement policies and practices that would facilitate agility.Originality/valueSo far, the research on agility in higher education has looked into each factor in isolation. This research provides a comprehensive list of the factors and establishes the interplay between the factors making this study new and original.

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