An Overview of Work Contentment: A Social Analysis of Lebanese and US Workers

This paper studies and investigates workers in USA and Lebanon, their observed mood of work satisfaction as well as their occupation in both service and manufacturing businesses. The outcomes demonstrate unanticipated divergences and resemblances in the workers’ replies. Hypotheses, founded on Hofstede’s Individualism (IDV), foresees that national variances in Lebanon and USA would lead to a greater insight into work contentment of workers in USA vs. their counterparts in Lebanon

Automated Online Questionnaire Development

Online questionnaire is an integrated survey management system that includes a range of technology to meet your survey and research needs. From target list integration to real-time feedback for respondents and automated analysis and reporting, Survey Suite provides a comprehensive solution to most survey requirements. This system developed the traditional questionnaire for researchers to increase the benefits of the system. Nunamaker method 1991 will be taken as the development procedure of this system. Rely on evaluation process the researcher found that, the researchers who using online questionnaire system were pleased and satisfied; the effectiveness of using online questionnaire system is so useful. The researcher considers that, the online questionnaire system as one of the education processes is important to help researchers to get easy way to the evaluation

An investigation of the strategic decision making process in SMEs

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Changes in the environment are a major area of concern to any firm in its strategic decision making process (SDMP). SDMP is considered to be an important component in the success of firms in the strategic management literature. This includes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the electronic, telecom and information technology (IT) sector which are subjected to frequent and extremely dynamic environments both internally and externally, unlike many other industries. A lack of prior studies supporting an understanding of the SDMP in SMEs is evident, and coupled with the extremely volatile environmental conditions that compound the problem, makes SMES dealing in electronic, telecom and IT products and services highly vulnerable to closure. An immediate investigation into the SDMP in SMEs is needed and long overdue. This research seeks to address this gap in the knowledge. In order to address the gap this research used synoptic formalism and incrementalism to develop an understanding on how SMEs in the electronic, telecom and IT sector make decisions and what is the nature of these decisions. A Strategic Decision Making Process (SDMP) model was developed based on prior research. Decision magnitude of impact acted as the input to the SDMP, rationality and intuition acted as the process component, and decision process output as the output component. Thus these three concepts acted as the three components of a process (input-process-output) configuration. The model facilitated the development of an understanding of the functioning of decision magnitude of impact as a decision characteristic factor, its relationship to SDMP and process dimensions (rationality in decision making and intuition) as an antecedent (and hence as a predictor) of decision output variables (decision process effectiveness, quality of the decision process output through the mediation of decision dimensions. In line with the need to understand the SDMP in SMEs data were collected from managers of a large number of SMEs belonging to electronic, telecom and IT sector. The territory chosen was the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates) as this region provides a rich source of such SMEs and the environment is highly dynamic. A self-administered questionnaire was developed by adapting previously validated questionnaire scales. Pre-testing and pilot surveys were used to ensure that the contents, format and scales were appropriate. A range of decision makers in those SMEs were targeted. 464 valid questionnaires were returned, representing a response rate of over 50%. The data was coded and analysed using SPSS/AMOS, two widely used statistical software tools. The data analysis steps included reliability and validity testing (Cronbach’s alpha and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, respectively). The entire model was tested using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Using SEM it was possible to identify the model, test the parsimonious nature of the model, determine whether the identified model makes theoretical sense and examine the fitness of the model to the data. The predictability of decision process output by decision magnitude of impact was analysed using path analysis as part of the SEM. The research outcome showed that in the electronic, telecommunication and information technology sector, where the environment is dynamic, decision magnitude as an important independent variable influences rationality in decision making directly and decision effectiveness, quality of decision process output and firm commitment indirectly. Rationality in decision making was found act as an important medicating variable in the strategic decision making process. In the same vein it was found that intuition is not affected by decision magnitude of impact. Further, dynamism in the industry and firm performance were also seen to influence decision effectiveness, quality of decision process output and firm commitment although the influence of dynamism in the industry on firm commitment was found to be very low. Thus the main contribution of this research is the development of an understanding of the relationship between decision magnitude of impact as input to the SDMP and hence as predictor of decision process output and the SDMP process output. Furthermore, the research has advanced current knowledge on the influence of rationality in decision making and intuition as mediators between decision magnitude of impact and decision process output variables. These two aspects have been tested in an SME sector that is affected seriously by dynamism in the industry and with varying firm performance as a contextual feature. The comprehensive research outcome can be of benefit to the SMEs in the electronic, telecom and IT sector and support them in overcoming potential vulnerabilities by making strategic decisions whose magnitude of impact on the firms is high and a decision process that is rational. In addition from the point of view of methodology this research has used SEM in understanding the nature and functioning of the model as well as the operationalisation of the variables. The outcome of this research is expected to benefit the SMEs in the electronic, telecom and IT sector in their SDMP and has opened up a new area of research for other researchers and academics

EFFECTIVENESS OF SOURSOP LEAF EXTRACT (Annona muricata .L.) ON THE MORTALITY OF GRAYCOOL CATERPRISES (Spodoptera litura)

Annona muricata extract with a concentration of 20% during the day showed an average value of 29%, the afternoon 1:14%, whereas 40% at a concentration of 29% the morning, during the day 86%, and afternoon 1.14%. Concentration of 60% and 1.14% morning, afternoon and evening 1.43% 1.14%. Results of Kruskal-Wallis statistics on mortality of Spodoptera litura showed a significant difference between the P values ​​indicated by early spraying time (0.317), noon (0.254), and late (1,000). With treatment A.muricata extract statistical results Kruskal-Wallis P value <0.05. A.muricata extract treatment given to the mustard plant as much as 10 ml each spraying. Based on the observation and analysis of the data it can be concluded that the extract of A. muricata at a concentration of 20%, 40%, and 60% can affect the mortality of Spodoptera litura

THE INFLUENCE OF INTEGRATED GUID INQUIRY LEARNING MODEL TECHNOLOGICAL PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE CONCEPT ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS OF LIVING THINGS ON METACOGNITIVE SKILLS AND CRITICAL THINKING ABILITY OF STUDENTS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (SMP) BURU

The guided inquiry learning model integrated with Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge is a combination of learning models and approaches that utilize technology in the learning process. This study aims to improve students metacognitive skills and critical thinking skills. The material taught in this study is the system of living organizations (cells). This research was conducted in February 2021 in Buru District, Maluku Province. This research was conducted in three schools namely SMP Negeri 5 Buru, SMP Negeri 9 Buru and SMP Negeri 16 Buru, by using a quasi-experimental design type. The populations of this study were VII.a and VII.b at SMP Negeri 5 Buru, SMP Negeri 9 Buru and SMP Negeri 16 Buru, each with a total of 66 students. Data analysis used the Non-Parametric test with the Chi-Square test. The results of this study indicate that, in the metacognitive study there was no effect on SMP Negeri 5 Buru experimental and control classes and experimental class SMP Negeri 9 Buru with a sig > 0.05, while in the control class SMP Negeri 9 Buru and experimental and control classes at SMP Negeri 16 Buru the sig <0.05 it can be concluded that it has an effect. On critical thinking skills at SMP Negeri 5 Buru, SMP Negeri 9 Buru and at SMP Negeri 16 Buru in the experimental and control class the value is sig <0.05. Based on these data, it can be concluded that there is an influence of the guided inquiry learning model integrated with Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge on students' critical thinking skills. &nbsp

Assessment of Waste Heat Recovery in the Steel Industry

A considerable portion of the energy consumed in the steel industry is rejected as waste heat from the electric arc furnace. Capturing this energy impacts the efficiency of production significantly by reducing operating costs and increasing the plant’s productivity. It also presents great opportunities to increase the industry’s competitiveness and sustainable operation through a reduction in emissions. This work presents an assessment of steel manufacturing and demonstrates the potential of thermal energy storage systems in recovering heat from the high-temperature exhaust fumes of the electric arc furnace. Our investigation entails mapping the material and energy requirements of one of two-phase of the current steel production method, i.e. natural gas reforming for syngas production, direct reduction of the iron ore, and secondary refining to obtain the steel in the electric arc furnace. Analysis of an obtained electric arc furnace off-gas temperature and flow rate profiles are then used as a basis for the development of a waste heat recovery model. Simulation results from the waste heat recovery module reveal that in a period of 4 days, an output power of 2108 kW per tap-to-tap cycle can be achieved from a continuous charge electric arc furnace. This can be harnessed and used either internally or externally in the steel manufacturing process. This is inevitably coupled with a reduction in CO2 emissions, which works to actively address climate change

Electricity and Water Cogeneration Utilizing Aluminium Furnaces Waste Heat Integrating Thermal Storage Organic Rankine Cycle

High energy-intensive industries, including steel, chemicals, cement, and aluminium, contribute to about 75% of the industrial emissions of carbon dioxide globally and expelling large amounts of unrecovered waste heat into the atmosphere. Yet, there has been a challenge of studies that are conducted on recovering waste heat in the aluminium industry, especially in cast-house facilities, due to technical difficulties such as energy fluctuations in mass flow rate and temperature. In this study, the waste heat to power system is designed to generate power and freshwater in a cast-house facility with 18 furnaces by evaluating three methods in which the temporal waste heat from holding furnaces can be damped and exploited. These methods are: (1) implementing a temporal air injection, (2) optimising furnaces operation time shift, and (3) integrating sensible thermal heat storage. Organic Rankine Cycle is used for the waste heat to power conversion. The appropriate thermal energy storage design and a thermodynamic model of an Organic Rankine Cycle are investigated using temporal flue gas data that are collected on site from three furnaces. Reverse Osmosis technology is applied to produce water using the generated electricity. Results show that sensible heat thermal energy storage is the most suitable technology for damping the fluctuations of waste heat. By utilising waste heat from 18 remelting furnaces, a net power output of 323 kW can be produced to operate a Reverse Osmosis plant supplying 2419 m3 of fresh water daily, saving up to 2000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This study gives a comprehensive approach to deal with temporal waste heat in aluminium furnaces for smooth cogeneration