scholarly journals Impact of COVID19 on Operational Activities of Manufacturing Organizations—A Case Study and Industry 4.0-Based Survive-Stabilise-Sustainability (3S) Framework

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1900
Author(s):  
Mutahhar A. Dar ◽  
Bartlomiej Gladysz ◽  
Aleksander Buczacki
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Normal Functioning ◽  
Manufacturing Organizations ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Operational Activities ◽  
Present Case Study

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is spreading rapidly and threatening lives all over the globe. Due to the pandemic, economies all over the world are in deep distress due to disruption in work and operations across all sectors. The present case study was performed for a private Indian manufacturing company that has been affected to a great extent due to this pandemic, as India has the second highest number of SARS-CoV-2 cases after the USA. The deeply troubled company’s current predicament is very complex, as various factors are responsible for the crisis. In order to restore the company back to normal functioning, these factors were studied and evaluated. A diagnostic survey was conducted to obtain data about current working conditions of company. Data from the survey were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively to identify and evaluate the disruptive factors. Based on this analysis, problems in operational activities were identified and appropriate improvement actions (best practices) were proposed. Furthermore, the proposed improvement actions were assessed from a sustainability perspective to check their feasibility. The best practices framework was generalized to a three-step continuous improvement framework oriented around preparedness for future pandemic-like disruptions. The proposed framework may constitute an indication and set of best practices for consideration by other manufacturing companies that find themselves in a similar situation to the analyzed case study.

Integrating problem- and project-based learning into sustainability programs

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnim Wiek ◽  
Angela Xiong ◽  
Katja Brundiers ◽  
Sander van der Leeuw
Keyword(s):  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
The World ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Ultimate Objective ◽  
Sustainability Problems ◽  
Faculty Surveys

Purpose – The article aims to describe the problem- and project-based learning (PPBL) program and the institutional context at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability (SOS), with the goal of offering experience-based guidance for similar initiatives in sustainability programs around the world. Design/methodology/approach – This case study presents the diverse PPBL activities that SOS offers on the undergraduate and the graduate levels and examines the institutional structures in place that support these activities. Data were collected through literature and document reviews, observations, interviews, student evaluations and faculty surveys. Findings – The review of the PPBL program at SOS illustrates a case of successfully inaugurating a PPBL program in sustainability at a major university in the USA. Yet, a key challenge for this program and similar programs around the world is how to maintain the institutional momentum and make advances after the initial takeoff. SOS is attempting to address this issue by developing greater program cohesion and coordination, synthesizing past products and learning, monitoring and evaluating impacts, and developing PPBL training programs for faculty and graduate students. Practical implications – The experiences and findings presented can help other programs to articulate the benefits of a PPBL initiative, anticipate implementation challenges and successfully support their own PPBL initiatives through adequate institutional structures. The review points to the fact that the major impact on both student learning and outcomes for partner organizations is achieved through a concerted effort by the organization as a whole. Successful PPBL programs require both top-down commitments from the administration and bottom-up drive from interested faculty and students. Originality/value – This case study discusses the PPBL program at SOS. The findings can inform and support the ongoing transformation in sustainability education with the ultimate objective to build students’ capacities to address and solve wicked sustainability problems in the real world, competently collaborating with partners from government, business and civil society.

Water in the Time of Drought II: Lessons from Droughts around the World

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphaëlle Ortiz ◽  
Anamaría Núñez ◽  
Corinne Cathala ◽  
Ana R. Rios ◽  
Mauro Nalesso
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Institutional Frameworks ◽  
The World ◽  
Relevant Case ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
Successes And Challenges

This technical note is an update to the previous "Water in the Time of Drought: Lessons from Five Droughts Around the World", published in 2018. It explores drought situations and policies in Spain (including the Canary Islands), Chile, Mexico, the dry corridor between Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, Brazil, and South Africa. Each of these countries has recently dealt with droughts and/or developed long-term solutions to manage them. HydroBID, a tool developed by the IDB, will be presented through relevant case studies. After defining drought experiences and institutional frameworks in each country, the brief will explore the successes and challenges of national drought and water management policies. Best practices and lessons learned will be extracted from each case study to help policymakers better prepare for droughts.

ACHIEVING MANUFACTURING FLEXIBILITY: THE ROLE OF PEOPLE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

2010 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 161-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
HAIRULLIZA MOHAMAD JUDI ◽  
ROGER BEACH
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Technology Innovation ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Manufacturing Flexibility ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Electric Sector ◽  
Multiple Case

This study examines the contribution of a pair of opposite factors: technology versus people, and innovation vs. continuous improvement to obtain manufacturing flexibility. These factors are opposing as they play different roles in TQM and BPR. An exploratory multiple case study was conducted that involves three Malaysian manufacturing companies from electronic and electric sector. The results show that flexibility could not be achieved through technology solely, but by combining technology with people, the required outcome is attainable. By applying innovation and continuous improvement simultaneously, it will yield better flexibility than if only one of them was used. The contribution of these factors in the selected manufacturing setting could guide practitioners to obtain flexibility and verify the research model that could be tested further in a survey.

Is Client Retention more Important than Employee Retention - A Case Study on Indian PR Agency

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saumya Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Employee Retention ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Extreme Pressure ◽  
Client Retention ◽  
The World ◽  
New Employee ◽  
Fierce Competition

In the world of paradigm shift, both employee and employer are under tremendous pressure to perform. There is fierce competition not only in the industry but also across categories. This new liberalized cutting edge technology driven environment has made client and employee retention –a mind-boggling process. The fast pacing change across the globe has made the new employee and employer relationship irreversible. Core Ltd., India’s premier Public relation agency, is facing a problem of employee retention. The employee working on DC (Core’s client) resigns frequently. In the last ten months, since the time DC has come, all the employees who have been assigned to DC have resigned from the job. This research paper is a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the problems that contribute to employee loss in Core Ltd. and solution it seeks to uncover best practices for preventing loss of key talent. Present paper explores concept of client retention, employee retention, major problems and issues of employees working under extreme pressure conditions and their solutions.

Rethinking and revaluating UNESCO World Heritage Sites

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Louis Stiefel
Keyword(s):  
World Heritage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
World Heritage Sites ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
Common Heritage ◽  
World Heritage List ◽  
The World ◽  
Outstanding Universal Value ◽  
The Usa

Purpose Having more than 1,000 sites on the World Heritage List raises questions regarding what world heritage means. The re-evaluation of heritage sites within the USA will be conducted as a case study, where similar issues of historical designation has taken place. Within recent decades there has emerged a policy of revisiting designations that occurred prior to 1990, when the nomination process was less rigorous. These re-evaluations do not necessarily remove the property from heritage designation, but the process has been valuable from a qualitative standpoint because a better understanding of significance has been achieved. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach Within recent decades there has emerged a policy of revisiting designations that occurred prior to 1990 in the USA, when the nomination process was less rigorous. Should a similar approach or policy be made to the properties placed on the World Heritage List during the first decades, since the expectations for demonstrating outstanding universal value have since increased? The result could be that we end up with a more robust World Heritage List that provides a better definition of what the common heritage of humanity is. Findings The way we approach and conceptualize World Heritage needs to evolve accordingly, considering how much it has evolved since the Convention in 1972. The experiences of re-evaluating historic places in the USA since the 1990s has much to offer. Research limitations/implications Only the perspective of the USA is given, as a case study. Contributions from practitioners in other countries experienced in heritage site re-evaluation best practices would be meaningful. Practical implications Re-evaluating World Heritage Sites is something to consider as a management prospect for places on or under consideration for the World Heritage List since it could bring a more comprehensive understanding of outstanding universal value. This type of re-evaluation may help in addressing the meaning of place(s), contextualization of multiple locations of common heritage, and the political elitism of the World Heritage List, where some countries are over represented due to sites listed through a less-experienced process from earlier decades. Social implications Revisiting the World Heritage List in respect to policy and the meaning of world heritage may be in order. For example, should every nation be entitled to list at least one property to the list regardless of its heritage value? Originality/value Since the 1970s, coinciding with the establishment of the World Heritage List through the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the USA has dealt with dynamic and complex logistical problems regarding the recognition and interpretation of its cultural heritage.

Challenges and opportunities for parliamentary libraries during COVID-19: A case study of the National Assembly of Quebec Library

IFLA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 034003522110230
Author(s):  
Carolyne Ménard
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Information Support ◽  
National Assembly ◽  
The World ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Virtual Services

Parliamentary libraries play a crucial role in providing information support to decision-makers around the world. These institutions have faced an unprecedented situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have had to modify their practices considerably to keep serving their users. This article explores how the National Assembly of Quebec Library has responded to this issue and redefined its services during the pandemic. The author presents the challenges and opportunities met while adapting virtual services, redefining document handling and improving team communication, and foresees future obstacles for the institution. This case study shares best practices and the lessons learned in the hope of informing and advising similar institutions facing challenges during this pandemic.

scholarly journals Inclusive Policymaking Tools: A COVID-19 Pandemic Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ans Irfan ◽  
Ankita Arora ◽  
Christopher Jackson ◽  
Celina Valencia
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Equity And Inclusion

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates indicate the United States of America has the highest novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) burden in the world, with over 5 million confirmed cases and nearly 165,000 associated deaths as of August 14th, 2020 (WHO 2020). As the COVID-19 mortality and morbidity has disproportionately impacted populations who experience vulnerabilities due to structural issues such as racism (Laurencin and McClinton 2020; Lin II and Money 2020; Martin 2020; Kim et al. 2020), it has become increasingly necessary to take this opportunity and intentionally codify diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in the policymaking process. To encourage and facilitate this, we synthesize existing literature to identify best practices that can not only be used to inform COVID-19-related public policy activities but will also continue to inform inclusive policymaking processes in the future. We identify specific tools for policymakers at all levels of government to better operationalize the DEI framework and enact inclusive, equitable public policies as a result.

scholarly journals Service operations in DMV (division of motor vehicles) offices of the USA - a comparative study

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-523
Author(s):  
James B. Martin ◽  
Joyendu Bhadury ◽  
James Cordeiro ◽  
Melissa L. Waite ◽  
Kwasi Amoako-Gyampah
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
The Usa

Purpose Division of motor vehicle (DMV) offices serve a wide swath of Americans in all states and can therefore serve as excellent vehicles to study the quality of public services in the country. However, relatively little attention has been devoted in the academic literature to studying operations in DMV offices, especially as it relates to service quality and productivity. In an attempt to address the same, this paper aims to present the results of a study of DMV offices across the USA through a nationwide survey about vehicle titling and registration services, that received response from 31 of the 50 states and District of Columbia. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a mixed methods approach – a sequential unequal weight mixed methods approach starting with a quantitative analysis of DMV operational data followed by a qualitative case study approach. The primary data collected for this study were with a nationwide survey of the highest DMV office in each state, conducted through the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Out of the 50 states, 31 states and District of Columbia responded to the survey. In addition to descriptive statistical analysis performed to glean nationwide findings, Data Envelopment Analysis was used to determine efficiency of operations. Finally, extensive in-person interviews with senior managers of DMV offices in Ohio and Indiana were conducted to get more in-depth information for case studies and identification of best practices. Findings States exhibit significant variations in labor and capital productivity and based on Data Envelopment Analysis, Texas and Minnesota DMVs are the most efficient in terms of using their labor and capital inputs to maximize the number of transactional services rendered. The authors also find that while operational performance of vehicle titling and registration services is monitored by most DMV offices across the nation, assessment of customer satisfaction received much less attention. Among the states that do well on both are Indiana and Ohio; the case studies presented based on interviews with their officials that also identify best practices. Research limitations/implications This research was limited to the USA as are its findings. Additionally, it focuses only on vehicle titling and registration at DMV offices because that represents the bulk of services performed by a DMV and the output is standard across all states. Nonetheless, a future study should be extended to other DMV services. Practical implications Given the finding that assessment of customer satisfaction is not widely practiced in DMV offices, DMV officials should address this by putting appropriate systems in place. Additionally, practitioners and state officials can use the findings of this study to develop best practices for their operations and also determine the most appropriate ways to structure the provision of those services that result in enhanced efficiencies and customer satisfaction. Social implications DMV services are among the most widely used services offered by the government in the USA and the overall size and scope of services provided by them across the country is immense. Thus, any improvements in productivity and service quality has significant implications in terms of improving public satisfaction with government services. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first nationwide comparative study of DMV offices in the USA that focuses on service quality and analyzes productivity across the states. Additionally, the case study provided at the end of the paper identifies best practices from two states that have received national recognition for service quality which could be adopted by all DMV offices across the USA. The findings also conform/strengthen numerous hypotheses espoused in existing models and theories from service operations literature by providing evidence in their favor.

scholarly journals Post Energy Audit of Two Mosques as a Case Study of Intermittent Occupancy Buildings: Toward more Sustainable Mosques

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10111
Author(s):  
Younness EL Fouih ◽  
Amine Allouhi ◽  
Jamil Abdelmajid ◽  
Tarik Kousksou ◽  
Youssef Mourad
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Rating System ◽  
Energy Audit ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
The World ◽  
Operation Phase

Mosques are buildings with a unique occupancy schedule and special energy and water consumption scheme. Generally, this type of buildings lacks the application of energy efficiency solutions and sustainable guidelines during the conception, construction and the operation phase. Interestingly, these iconic edifices can play a key role in raising awareness for sustainability and promoting cleaner energy technologies. The first aim of this work is to present energy audit results, recommended energy savings solutions for two historical mosques in Marrakech (Morocco). A detailed discussion of the adopted solutions is presented and an economic assessment was performed. Then, a two-year energy savings evaluation was conducted for the two mosques. Conclusions about the adequacy of the proposed solutions is presented. The second part is dedicated to outline some guidelines and sustainable criteria to consider for establishing an international sustainable mosques label. The creation of a such sustainable label will encourage spreading sustainable best practices in mosques and other types of buildings. It will also help to compare sustainable performances of different mosques around the world by establishing an adapted sustainable rating system.

scholarly journals Pacing and Performance Analysis of the World’s Fastest Female Ultra-Triathlete in 5x and 10x Ironman

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1543
Author(s):  
Caio Victor Sousa ◽  
Pantelis T. Nikolaidis ◽  
Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez ◽  
Thomas Rosemann ◽  
Beat Knechtle
Keyword(s):  
Performance Analysis ◽  
New World ◽  
World Record ◽  
Average Speed ◽  
Pacing Strategy ◽  
The World ◽  
The Subject ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Present Case Study

The aim of the present case study was to analyse the performance data of the world’s best female ultra-triathlete setting a new world record in a Quintuple (5xIronman) and Deca Iron (10xIronman) ultra-triathlon, within and between race days, and between disciplines (cycling and running) and races (Quintuple and Deca Iron ultra-triathlon). The subject was an elite female triathlete (52 kg, 169 cm) born in 1983. At the time of her world record in Quintuple Iron ultra-triathlon she had an age of 35 years and at the time of the world record in Deca Iron ultra-triathlon 36 years old. The distribution of time spent in each discipline and transitions was 8.48% in swimming, 51.67% cycling, 37.91% running, and 1.94% transitions. There was no difference between the race days of the average speed neither in cycling nor running. The running pace had a within-day variation larger than the cycling pace, and also varied more between race days. In conclusion, the world’s best female ultra-triathlete adopted a steady (even) pacing strategy for both cycling and running, without substantial variations within- or between race days, for both the world record in a Quintuple and a Deca Iron ultra-triathlon.

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