The Role of Information Systems in Enhancing the Implementation of Administrative Decisions

Information systems are currently used in all organizations due to their effectiveness in the implementation of administrative decisions. This study attempted to examine availability of information systems infrastructure, the impact of information systems on enhancing the procedures of the implementation of administrative decisions, and the obstacles that hinder the use of information systems to implement administrative decisions at Tabuk University in Saudi Arabia. In order to achieve these goals, the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach and used the questionnaire instrument in order to collect the data from the research sample. Population of the study comprised all the administrative employees at Tabuk University. The researcher distributed (325) questionnaires on the research sample and (252) questionnaires were put for study. The findings of the study showed that Tabuk University have a good infrastructure of information system that fit the work requirements and that help the employees to get accurate and timely reports. Also, the findings showed that the information systems have a robust role in enhancing the procedures of the implementation of the administrative decisions in terms of the availability of accurate, correct, and timely data to implement the administrative decisions properly. On the other hand, it was shown that there are obstacles for the use of information systems to implement administrative decisions such as the inappropriate organizational structures, lack of training, routine procedures, lack of funds to update the systems regularly, and employees’ resistance. Based on these results, the researcher recommended having a proper organizational structure that support information systems, holding regular training courses for the employees, motivating employees to avoid resistance, and ensuring the allocation of resources to get the new modern systems.

Analyzing Existing and Targeted Culture Typologies in the Light of the Strategy Document in Foundation Universities: The Case of A Foundation University

Universities are multi-cultural, complicated, social education organizations. The presence of academic and administrative employees at these organizations might result in cultural differentiation, which is influenced by changing environmental conditions and social change dynamics. The purpose of this research is to determine the foundation university's dominant current and targeted cultural typologies using a foundation university as an example and to compare them to the university's target culture typology based on an analysis of the university strategy document. This comparison will aid in defining the perspectives of the organization's members through the concept of culture to achieve the university's strategic goals. Also, the examination of the strategy document, mission, the vision of the university and at the same time questioning the organization members’ opinions about this topic fills a hole in the literature in terms of observing two sides of the coin; “rulers” and “ruled”. In addition, we need to start to gain knowledge about foundation universities’ organizational culture because we already know that cultural awareness is crucial for an organization lifetime and this knowledge comes from the analyses of it. Among the different approaches used throughout the world to define organizational culture, Cameron and Quinn's "Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument in Competing Values Framework" was employed in the study. This research was conducted with a multi-modal methodological approach by using both quantitative and qualitative methods together with the questionnaire and document analysis. According to the findings, university organization members' current (market-competition) and targeted (clan-collaboration) organizational culture typology interpretations diverge from the university's strategy on the same subject.

Testing behaviour and positivity for SARS-CoV-2 infection: insights from web-based participatory surveillance in the Netherlands

ObjectivesWe aimed to identify populations at a high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection but who are less likely to present for testing, by determining which sociodemographic and household factors are associated with a lower propensity to be tested and, if tested, with a higher risk of a positive test result.Design and settingInternet-based participatory surveillance data from the general population of the Netherlands.ParticipantsWeekly survey data collected over a 5-month period (17 November 2020 to 18 April 2021) from a total of 12 026 participants who had contributed at least 2 weekly surveys was analysed.MethodsMultivariable analyses using generalised estimating equations for binomial outcomes were conducted to estimate the adjusted ORs of testing and of test positivity associated with participant and household characteristics.ResultsMale sex (adjusted OR for testing (ORt): 0.92; adjusted OR for positivity (ORp): 1.30, age groups<20 (ORt: 0.89; ORp: 1.27), 50–64 years (ORt: 0.94; ORp: 1.06) and 65+ years (ORt: 0.78; ORp: 1.24), diabetics (ORt: 0.97; ORp: 1.06) and sales/administrative employees (ORt: 0.93; ORp: 1.90) were distinguished as lower test propensity/higher test positivity factors.ConclusionsThe factors identified using this approach can help identify potential target groups for improving communication and encouraging testing among those with symptoms, and thus increase the effectiveness of testing, which is essential for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for public health strategies in the longer term.

Investigating the Use of Active Transportation Modes Among University Employees Through an Advanced Decision Tree Algorithm

Now more than ever, the health and economic benefits of active transportation (AT) are evident and several planning efforts and programs are particularly targeted at improving active transportation options for different populations, such as students and seniors. Administrative employees at universities received less attention in the literature than other population groups.This population spends a lot of time doing sedentary activities and behaviors during their working time. Thus, the present study used a C5 decision tree to examine the usage of university employees’ AT modes when they are out of campus to get to work, shopping, and leisure. The effects of the sociodemographic and living environment of employees on their AT mode choice were also examined. According to the results, walking was the most frequently used mode to get to work and leisure and public transport was the most frequently used mode to get to shopping. Transit station conditions (25), sidewalk availability and coverage (36), and bike path availability and coverage (30) were the most important factors in the use of AT modes by employees to get to work, shop, and leisure, respectively. Furthermore, several decision rules were extracted from the C5 tree, which included combinations of multiple factors.KEYWORDS: Active transportation, mode choice, university employees, trip purposes, C5

Analysis of the E-Master Application as an Effort of Employment Data Processing

This study aimed to analyze the E-Master application as an effort to process personnel data. This research type was descriptive qualitative. The research subjects were 5 people consisting of 2 OTKP teachers and 3 administrative employees at SMKN 10 Surabaya, while 2 administrative employees and 1 Head of Study Program as source triangulation. Data collection techniques were questionnaires and interviews, while data analysis techniques used data condensation, data presentation, drawing conclusions. The results of the study showed: (1) mapping indicators were able to map Civil servant; (2) SKP indicators, could be used as a medium for monitoring the performance of each Civil servant; (3) training analysis indicators, Civil servant could take part in training activities; (4) promotion indicators, making it easier for Civil servant during the promotion process; (5) pension indicator, providing a sufficient period of time in managing pension files; (6) periodic salary indicators, facilitating the finance department in processing periodic salary calculations; (7) Taspen indicator, making it easier for staffing department to process data on retired personnel; (8) Leave indicators, it was easier for staffing officers to print Civil servant attendance lists; (9) Study permit indicator, helping Civil servant if they wanted to continue their education again.

Sustainability in Education: A Scale on Perceptions of Organisational Discipline Related to the COVID-19 Period

Higher education institutions are the most important institutions that form the basis of societies. The devoted students, academic and administrative employees enlighten the future and keep these institutions alive. Employees of higher education institutions have to teach a discipline with the order existing in their organisation and their relations with each other. The purpose of this study is to determine using the “organisational discipline” perceptions of higher education employees in different situations and determine the differences according to their socio-demographic characteristics. In the literature review of this study, no scale related to the perception of organisa-tional discipline was found. For this purpose, a scale consisting of six sub-dimensions that will cover the perception of organisational discipline was prepared. The validity and reliability of the prepared scale were determined by conducting a study. COVID-19 pandemic affected the world in all sectors throughout, a prepared scale was applied to 357 higher education institution academics who has been teaching online for a long time. Forward-looking sustainable higher education strategy, the discipline scale plays an essential role in the organisation. In this period, the perceptions of organisational discipline were tried to be determined by considering their current situation. The data obtained in the research were applied independent sample t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA); T-test, one of the post-hoc tests, was used as further analysis. The study determined that if there is significant difference in perceptions of organisational discipline related to gender, age, nationality, educational status, professional seniority, academic title and working style.

Testing behaviour and positivity for SARS-CoV-2 infection: Insights from web-based participatory surveillance

BackgroundVoluntary testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection is an integral component of an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to identify populations at a high risk for infection but who are less likely to present for testing. Here, we use internet-based participatory surveillance data from the Netherlands to identify sociodemographic and household factors that are associated with a lower propensity to be tested and, if tested, with a higher risk of a positive test result.MethodsMultivariable analyses using generalised estimating equations for binomial outcomes were conducted to estimate the adjusted odds ratios of testing and of positivity associated with participant and household characteristics.ResultsBased on five months (17 November 2020 to 18 April 2021) of weekly surveys obtained from 12,026 participants, males (adjusted odds ratio for testing (ORt): 0.92; adjusted odds ratio for positivity (ORp): 1.30, age-groups <20 (ORt: 0.89; ORp: 1.27) 50-64 years (ORt: 0.94; ORp: 1.06) and 65+ years (ORt: 0.78; ORp: 1.24), diabetics (ORt: 0.97; ORp: 1.06), and sales/administrative employees (ORt: 0.93; ORp: 1.90) were distinguished as lower propensity/higher positivity factors.ConclusionsThe factors identified using this approach can help identify potential target groups for improving communication and encouraging testing among those with symptoms and thus increase the effectiveness of testing, which is essential for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for public health strategies in the longer term.

Performance Motivation and Employees of Different Generations in Slovak Industrial Enterprises

Currently, there are four unique generations of employees on the labour market (Generation BB, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. The individual performance of employees is largely influenced by their motivation to perform. The main aim of the article is to present the results of the research focused on the analysis of the performance motivation of different generations in Slovak industrial enterprises. A standardized psychodiagnostic performance motivation questionnaire (D-M-V) was used for data collection, which was distributed to six industrial enterprises operating in Slovakia. The research sample consisted of N=158 respondents (administrative employees and managers). By evaluating the established research hypotheses, statistically, significant relationships were identified between the monitored variables from the D-M-V questionnaire and perceived age discrimination and the possibility of further education in industrial enterprises. Proven and quantified statistically significant relationships can be used to increase individual employee performance, which contributes to the overall performance of the organization.