Personal Knowledge Management to Enhance the Effectiveness of Teacher Learning Management in Lao PDR

This study was intended to search the vital factors and indicators of personal knowledge management and the effectiveness of teacher learning management for primary school teachers in Lao PDR. A survey research design was employed to 600 teachers with the purpose of testing the goodness-of-fit of the identified vital factors and indicators with the empirical data. The results revealed that an entire of 30 indicators were recognized from 10 vital factors. The structural relationship model of personal knowledge management to enhance the effectiveness of teacher learning management indicators was found to be in parallel to the empirical data, with χ2 =382.319, df=342, χ 2/df=1.117, CFI=0.997, TLI=0.996, RMSEA=0.030, and SRMR=0.030. The results contribute significantly to knowledge with orientation to recommending a measurement model which can be referred by primary school teachers in Lao PDR in particular on how to utilize personal knowledge management skills to enhance their learning management capabilities

Effectiveness of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Major Projects in Abu Dhabi’s Oil And Gas Industry: End-User’s Perspective

Even though project management discipline is gearing towards the improvement of project effectiveness, traditional project management is responding slowly due to either false preconceptions or ineffective communication among project parties. A research study is needed to contribute to knowledge and practice on the effectiveness of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracting strategy and consequently increase the chance of achieving product success at the site level. The objective of the research presented herein is to assess the effectiveness of EPC contracting strategy in meeting product objectives, from the end user’s perspective. Required data are collected using an online survey questionnaire targeting end-users working in six major oil and gas projects in Abu Dhabi. The questionnaire data are analyses using the structural equation modeling (SEM) statistical technique. Research findings reveal statistical significant correlations between the “effectiveness” concept and its respective factors. Being the first known research evaluating the influence of both “end-user’s engagement” and “alignment of objectives” criteria on project effectiveness, it provides several contributions to literature and practice. These contributions are particularly illustrated as 1) the development of a conceptual measurement model for the “effectiveness” phenomenal concept, which could be applicable to researchers interested in examining such concept,( 2) the identification of possible factors shaping the conceptual domain of “end-user’s engagement” and “alignment of objectives” criteria in the oil and gas industry, (3) the operationalization of the conceptual measurement model based on measurement instruments verified by both literature and industry experts, and (4) the assessment of the strengths of influence of the causal factors on the effectiveness of EPC as well as the statistical significance of these relationships. The present research raises the awareness of oil and gas industry practitioners towards the influencing factors of “effectiveness”, “engagement” and “alignment” concepts. The generated SEM model thus serves as a motivation tool for acknowledging the end-users participation in various project phases and maintaining a proper alignment between project objectives and product objectives for the purpose of improving the project effectiveness

Effectiveness of Engineering, Procurement And Construction (EPC) Major Projects in Abu Dhabi\u27s Oil And Gas Industry: End User’s Perspective

Even though project management discipline is gearing towards the improvement of project effectiveness, traditional project management is responding slowly due to either false preconceptions or ineffective communication among project parties. A research study is needed to contribute to knowledge and practice on the effectiveness of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracting strategy and consequently increase the chance of achieving product success at the site level. The objective of the research presented herein is to assess the effectiveness of EPC contracting strategy in meeting product objectives, from the end user’s perspective. Required data are collected using an online survey questionnaire targeting end-users working in six major oil and gas projects in Abu Dhabi. The questionnaire data are analyses using the structural equation modeling (SEM) statistical technique. Research findings reveal statistical significant correlations between the “effectiveness” concept and its respective factors. Being the first known research evaluating the influence of both “end-user’s engagement” and “alignment of objectives” criteria on project effectiveness, it provides several contributions to literature and practice. These contributions are particularly illustrated as 1) the development of a conceptual measurement model for the “effectiveness” phenomenal concept, which could be applicable to researchers interested in examining such concept,( 2) the identification of possible factors shaping the conceptual domain of “end-user’s engagement” and “alignment of objectives” criteria in the oil and gas industry, (3) the operationalization of the conceptual measurement model based on measurement instruments verified by both literature and industry experts, and (4) the assessment of the strengths of influence of the causal factors on the effectiveness of EPC as well as the statistical significance of these relationships. The present research raises the awareness of oil and gas industry practitioners towards the influencing factors of “effectiveness”, “engagement” and “alignment” concepts. The generated SEM model thus serves as a motivation tool for acknowledging the end-users participation in various project phases and maintaining a proper alignment between project objectives and product objectives for the purpose of improving the project effectiveness

Performance measurement of the portuguese police force using the balanced scorecard

As a result of reforms brought about by the New Public Management (NPM) movement, public organizations have felt the need to develop adequate information systems to improve the policy process decision-making and to introduce resource allocation based on outputs and outcomes. The objective is to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and the quality of the public service with improved management costs. What is the role of the BSC in the performance measurement of the Portuguese Police System? And to extent are police agents willing to comply with BSC requirements? The first study of its kind in Portugal, this paper proposes to analyze the BSC´s place in the police management and police predisposition to apply the BSC as a performance measurement system in the Portuguese Police. Using a unique data set assembled by way of a nationwide survey sent to all the police chiefs of the four branches of the Portuguese police, we estimate an ordered logit regression model. We find that prior knowledge of the BSC, as well as the impact of the NPM issues, are important determinants of the predisposition to apply the BSC.Center for Research in Public Policy and Administration (NEAPP).Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)

Aligning IT To Business In Complex Multinational Corporations: The Case Of The U.N. Secretariat

Business-IT strategic alignment grows in importance as organizations strive to link business and technology in light of the internationalization of their businesses. This positivistic research method uses a field survey design to examine (a) the role of knowledge management processes in the relationship between contextual factors and alignment in the U.N. Secretariat, and (b) the role of IT projects in the relationship between alignment and the performance and effectiveness of the U.N. Secretariat. Structural equation modeling techniques are conducted to analyze data collected through a sample of 166 IT managers and 97 business managers from 50 offices in the U.N. Secretariat. The measurement model exhibited a fairly good fit. The results of the study have at least four implications to leaders in the U.N. Secretariat and in multinational corporations (MNCs). A theoretical and practical perspective of business-IT strategic alignment in the U.N. Secretariat is provided. The study draws upon the strategic alignment model and the typology of MNCs to propose and test an IT strategic alignment model for MNCs (mSAM). The business-IT strategic alignment implementation model for MNCs (mSAIM) is the model for application proposed as the critical recommendation of the research study

Developing the EBS Management Model to Assist SMEs to Evaluate E-Commerce Success

In the literature, a lack of strong consensus or well-known theoretical research framework exists to defining and evaluating e-commerce success among small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Exploring more effective methods to describe and evaluate e-commerce success becomes a challenging task. This research seeks to help fill the gap by proposing a new model to evaluate e-commerce success from a business perspective. This measure has been termed e-commerce business satisfaction (EBS). A total of 2401 surveys were successfully sent to SMEs. The usable response rate for the surveys was 7.54%. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation method was then adopted within the factor analysis. Using the 15 critical success factors (CSFs) obtained from previous research as a foundation, an EBS management model was finally simply developed to assist SMEs business managers in effectively adopting e-commerce systems or evaluating e-commerce success, which was categorised into five components including Marketing, Management Support and Customer Acceptance, Website Effectiveness and Cost, Managing Change and Knowledge and Skills. Further research is needed to determine the weighting of each CSF so that a yardstick measurement method might be further developed to assist SMEs in adopting e-commerce successfully

Design activity modelling : a performance viewpoint

Design activity modelling has received significant attention in research over the last 30 years with a focus on both descriptive and prescriptive models. This has resulted in the development of models offering different viewpoints of the design process, such as the description of the process in terms of activities/stages, the cognitive nature of design as described by Smithers and those relating design within an overall model of product development. These models focus primarily on the activities required to create a design solution, i.e. design activities, in isolation of the activities involved in managing the process by which that solution is developed, i.e. design management activities, and the relationship between them. This paper presents a novel formalism describing activities focused both on the design and its development, i.e. the design development process. The model describes how outputs of design and design management activities are evaluated within a model of performance measurement and management in design development

Performance management at design actvity level

The overriding aim of much of the engineering design research is to improve the performance of the design process, and consequently the product development process. Much has been written within the product development literature on the performance of the product development process. This work has been largely focused on the analysis of performance at the project or program level. The ability to relate the different research and draw generic lessons from the results has been stifled by the lack of consistency on the meaning of performance both at a generic level [2] and more specifically in design/development [3]. For example, although product and process performance have been distinguished within existing work we are unclear on how these relate or may be managed effectively. This paper begins with a brief review of research in the area of performance, with particular emphasis on design/product development, highlighting the main weaknesses in work to date. A fundamental and generic model of performance, related to knowledge based activities in design, is then presented. The model describes performance in terms of its key elements, efficiency and effectiveness, and provides a basis for modelling performance across different process levels, i.e. project, program, etc

Global Human Resource Metrics

[Excerpt] What is the logic underlying global human resources (HR) measurement in your organization? In your organization, do you measure the contribution of global HR programs to organizational performance? Do you know what is the most competitive employee mix, e.g., proportion of expatriates vs. local employees, for your business units? (How) do you measure the cost and value of the different types of international work performed by your employees? In the globalized economy, organizations increasingly derive value from human resources, or “talent” as we shall also use the term here (Boudreau, Ramstad & Dowling, in press). The strategic importance of the workforce makes decisions about talent critical to organizational success. Informed decisions about talent require a strategic approach to measurement. However, measures alone are not sufficient, for measures without logic can create information overload, and decision quality rests in substantial part on the quality of measurements. An important element of enhanced global competitiveness is a measurement model for talent that articulates the connections between people and success, as well as the context and boundary conditions that affect those connections. This chapter will propose a framework within which existing and potential global HR measures can be organized and understood. The framework reflects the premise that measures exist to support and enhance decisions, and that strategic decisions require a logical connection between decisions about resources, such as talent, and the key organizational outcomes affected by those decisions. Such a framework may provide a useful mental model for both designers and users of HR measures

Development of a project level performance measurement model for improving collaborative design team work

This research explored a new direction of improving collaborative design by performance measurement. More specifically, a novel 3-dimensional performance measurement model is developed and the purpose of this model is to help project managers improve team collaboration by indicating strengths and weaknesses of team members during the project development process. Considering the complexity of collaborative design work, a multiple criteria model is proposed to reflect the design dynamics, which highlights five performance indicators: efficiency, effectiveness, collaboration, management skills and innovation. These five indicators are mostly influenced by role-based performance measurement criteria (the second dimension). Design and development process (time) is also considered (the third dimension). This 3D model allows all involved design participants to measure work performance at any time during the product development process. In order to develop this model, the role-based task analysis and industrial survey methods were utilized. Three groups of role-based product design and development performance measurement criteria were identified for measuring design performance of the top managers, middle managers and individual designers in a project team. A 3-dimensional performance measurement method was proposed to calculate final performance scores from a performance measurement matrix. The proposed model was evaluated as a tool which can support project managers to reduce potential design and collaboration risks and increase confidence in decision-making process. The model has been discussed on implementing in a web-based application for measuring design performance throughout the product design and development proces