The Inland Container Transportation Problem with Separation Mode Considering Carbon Dioxide Emissions

This paper investigates the Inland Container Transportation (ICT) problem with carbon dioxide emissions. The separation mode that the tractor and semi-trailer could be detached and it permits multitasking to reduce fuel and carbon emission costs. A mixed-integer programming model with Full-Empty container integration has been built. An improved ant colony optimization with two-dimensional variable matrix encoding and Infeasible-Arc filtration strategy has been proposed. Numerical experiments with different scales and characteristics are simulated and validated in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The comparison result indicates the excellent stability for our approach with different task characteristic distribution.

Task Technology-Fit of a Village Financial System (Siskeudes) to Increase Officers’ Performance

Village Financial System (Siskeudes) is an information system that assists village governments in reporting financial reports transparently and accountably. On the other hand, Siskeudes cannot be optimal, moreover various problems found in this system such as the delay of financial reporting and error recording. One of the factors of the problems is the incompatibility of tasks in operating the application. This study aims to analyze the causes and consequences of task mismatches by using task technology-fit model. The respondents in this research are thirty village officers who used Siskeudes from eleven villages in Cirebon. This study was analyzed using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The method of this study used Partial Least Square (PLS) using SmartPls 3.0. Moreover, the results of this study indicated that task of the technology-fit model had a significant influence on Performance Impact. Villages that had tasks that are in accordance to Siskeudes operations, in this case the finance department who had a knowledge in the financial sector) had better levels of performance. However, the task characteristics do not have a significant effect on task technology-fit because task characteristic of the government are based on the regulations and the law. Keywords: Performance Impact, Task Characteristic, Task Technology-Fit, Village Financial System

PERCEIVED TASK CHARACTERISTICS AND ITS EFFECT ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AT PRIVATE COLLEGES IN SARAWAK

This study examines five perceived task characteristics variables (decision-making autonomy, task variety, task significance, task identity, feedback from job) and its effect on employee engagement at six private college employees in Sarawak. Despite extensive research on employee engagement, very little empirical research has examined this area of study specifically in the context of Sarawak private colleges. A survey questionnaire was employed to collect the data. A total of 284 responses were analysed using SPSS version 22.0. The results of this study revealed that only feedback from job, task identity and decision-making autonomy are significantly and positively associated with employee engagement. Task significance and task variety were not significantly related to employee engagement. Most importantly, decision-making autonomy was perceived as a dominant task characteristic for employee engagement; it was associated with significant improvements on private colleges’ employee engagement. This study contributes to a better understanding of the effect of perceived task characteristics on employee engagement among private colleges in Sarawak. The implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Virtual Reality-Based Exercise with Exergames as Medicine in Different Contexts: A Short Review

There is enough evidence that, nowadays, the sedentary lifestyle is one of the major health problems worldwide, linked to many chronic diseases, including mental comorbidities, systemic hypertension, metabolic dysregulation, and cancer. Although health societies recommend engagement to physical activities, there is an overwhelming number of people remaining sedentary, even knowing the health benefits of regular exercises. One of the main factors that justifies this scenario is the lack of motivation, which is a barrier to people intended to start new habits for health. Considering this previous information, new alternatives for exercises may help people engage in a healthier lifestyle. Technology has contributed to this with devices that allow movements based on virtual reality approaches, including the exergames. These are games available even in commercial devices, as video-games, that allow people to work with different physical components. Furthermore, exergames add cognitive gain through its dual-task characteristic. Moreover, due to the combination of these benefits, they are feasible to acquire, and easy to use. Exergames are not only a potential strategy to reduce sedentary lifestyle but also a good method to improve health gains and rehabilitation in different populations and pathological conditions: older adults, stroke survivors, and Parkinson’s disease. In this review, we aim to demonstrate some conditions that literature supports the intervention with exergames due to its physical and cognitive benefits. Furthermore, at the end of this review, we also explore the neurobiological mechanisms behind virtual-reality based exercises.

The Importance of Task Complexity When Rewarding Nonfinancial Performance

ABSTRACT In this study, I investigate whether the effectiveness of rewarding performance of nonfinancial measures varies across levels of task complexity. I use a multi-period experiment where participants are assigned a highly or moderately complex task and an incentive contract where only financial measures or both financial and nonfinancial measures are rewarded. I find that in a moderately complex task, individuals perform better when only the financial measures are rewarded in the incentive contract. However, in a highly complex task, individuals perform better when both financial and nonfinancial measures are rewarded. Collectively, the results identify task complexity as an important task characteristic that impacts the effectiveness of incentives on nonfinancial measures of performance.

Task Technology Fit in Online Transaction Through Apps

The purpose of this chapter is to examine what aspects of task-technology characteristics are most relevant to fit, satisfaction, and continuance intention of using apps in mobile banking transactions. Applying the SEM approach to a sample of 250 Malaysians, the findings of this chapter imply that the task characteristic of transaction-based apps is more relevant than technology characteristics. The results suggest that degree of fit is highly associated with mobile apps user satisfaction. Furthermore, the higher the degree of fit, the higher is the continuance intention to use apps for online transactions. Surprisingly, the findings show that the task characteristics are not relevant to continuous intention to use apps for online transactions.