The demand for executive skills

We use a unique corpus of job descriptions for C-suite positions to document skills requirements in top managerial occupations across a large sample of firms. A novel algorithm maps the text of each executive search into six separate skill clusters reflecting cognitive, interpersonal, and operational dimensions. The data show an increasing relevance of social skills in top managerial occupations, and a greater emphasis on social skills in larger and more information intensive organizations. The results suggest the need for training, search and governance mechanisms able to facilitate the match between firms and top executives along multiple and imperfectly observable skills

Exploración de la relación entre TQM y la productividad del software

Introduction: This publication is the product of research, carried out in the field of management in year 2018-19, which supports the work of a PhD in Business Management at Chandigarh University.  The purpose of this research is to explore the relation between Total Quality Management (TQM) constructs and productivity in the IT industry. This study has been conducted for organizations operating in the Tricity (Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali) and NCR (Noida, Gurgaon and Delhi) regions. Problem: The control of rising operational costs in any organization has become a challenge and is a major aspect in the sustainability of an organization. Implementation of TQM may reduce these costs by improving productivity in the software development process. Objective: The objective of the research is to explore if there any relationship exists between TQM and productivity in software development organization and whether TQM positively impacts productivity. Methodology: The study is based on a descriptive research design. A total of 206 respondents were selected using convenient sampling while 90 responded back on the survey. Exploratory factor Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression techniques were applied to obtain the results. Results: Out of 4 elements of TQM considered in this study, Customer Focus and Continuous improvement were found to be positively related to productivity while Total Management Commitment was found to not be related to productivity.  The hypothesis related to People Management was abandoned because it was highly correlated to other TQM elements. Conclusion: TQM positively impacts productivity in software development organizations. Originality: This study tried to create a causal mathematical model between TQM variables and productivity. Limitations: Sample size and TQM elements were limited based on availability of time and resources.Introducción: este artículo es producto de una investigación realizada en el campo de la gestión en el año2018-2019, que respalda el trabajo de un doctorado en gestión empresarial en la Universidad de Chandigarh. Objetivo:  explorar la relación entre las construcciones de Gestión de Calidad Total (TQM) y la productividad en la industria de TI. Este estudio se realizó para organizaciones que operan en las regiones de Tricity (Chandigarh, Panchkula y Mohali) y NCR (Noida, Gurgaon y Delhi). Problema: el control del aumento de los costos operativos en cualquier organización se ha convertido en undesafío y es un aspecto importante en la sostenibilidad de una organización. La implementación de TQM puede reducir estos costos al mejorar la productividad en el proceso de desarrollo de software. Metodología: el estudio se basa en un diseño de investigación descriptivo. Un total de 206 encuestados fueron seleccionados mediante un muestreo conveniente, mientras que 90 respondieron a la encuesta. Se aplicaron técnicas de análisis factorial exploratorio y de regresión lineal múltiple para obtener los resultados. Resultados: de los cuatro elementos de TQM considerados en este estudio, se encontró que el enfoque al cliente y la mejora continua están relacionados positivamente con la productividad, mientras que el compromisototal de gestión no está relacionado con la productividad. La hipótesis relacionada con la gestión de personasse abandonó porque e taba altamente correlacionada con otros elementos TQM. Conclusión: TQM impacta positivamente la productividad en las organizaciones de desarrollo de software. Originalidad: este estudio trató de crear un modelo matemático causal entre las variables TQM y la productividad. Limitaciones: el tamaño de la muestra y los elementos TQM se limitaron en función de la disponibilidad detiempo y recursos

Empirical Evidence Justifying the Adoption of a Model-Based Approach in the Course Web Applications Development

With the ever-increasing role of business people in software development there is a growing need for business schools to offer courses in e-business and e-commerce applications development. This paper presents the results of a student survey evaluating the applications development skills acquired by business students exposed to two different approaches to teaching the course E-business applications development. The first group was taught using a model-based approach, while the second one was taught using a traditional code-based approach. In the model-based approach the environment model of evaluation was used to introduce the basic programming constructs. The UML Web Modeler profile and statecharts were employed to abstract from the intricacies and the distributed nature of Webbased information systems. A major constituent of this approach was the development of a system model. The underlying assumption was that adopting a model-based approach would enhance students' ability to think and reason formally about, develop rigorously, and program better E-business applications. The contention was that learners would perceive coding as yet another view in the system model. It was believed that having defined the components ' interfaces, students would be bound to experience fewer difficulties when writing the code. In the code-based approach students are exposed to Web programming without being required to develop a system model

The Relationship Between Game Art Students’ Achievement and Their Perceived Quality of Assessment

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, predictive correlational study is to analyze the relationship between Game Art students’ perceptions of quality of assessment practices in higher education and their achievement of learning. Assessment in higher education has become increasingly significant due to accreditation and regulatory requirements around accountability of student outcomes. Institutions must commit a high level of resources toward appropriate assessment practices in order to answer tough questions about the value of higher education. This work has been met with adversity by students and educators, often resulting in overextended departments and poor-quality assessment practices. Questions pertaining to the benefits of assessment are normal on college campuses. Of particular concern is the influence of assessment on students, particularly game art students whose work is more complex to assess. This study included a convenience sample of 70 undergraduate game art students from a small art college in Southern California. Perception of assessment was measured via the Students’ Perceptions of Assessment Quality Questionnaire survey and achievement of learning was measured via the results of advancement portfolio reviews completed by faculty. Multiple regression analysis results concluded the overall model was significant, therefore the null hypothesis was rejected at the 95% confidence level. Two predictors (effectiveness of assessment and conditions of assessment) were significant, two (fairness of assessment and authenticity of assessment) were trending toward significance, and two (interpretation of assessment and credibility of assessment) were not significant. This study supports that there is a predictive relationship between Game Art students’ perceptions of quality of assessment practices in higher education and their achievement of learning, building a foundation for further research. Findings imply that if assessment practices are designed to elicit more positive student perceptions, achievement of learning outcomes will improve

Employing Quality Management Principles To Improve The Performance Of Educational Systems: An Empirical Study Of The Effect Of Iso 9001 Standard On Teachers And Administrators Performance In The Indonesian Vocational Education System

ISO 9001 has been world widely implemented in both manufacturing and service organizations. A lot of studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of ISO 9001 implementation on the performance of these organizations. Most of these studies show that ISO 9001 implementation realized positive operational improvements and financial success. Building on the merits of successful implementation of ISO 9001 quality management system in manufacturing and service, educational institutions have been attempted to adopt it in their operations. Even though there are studies relating ISO implementation to education, no research has been done to investigate the effects of ISO 9001 at the individual level. The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of ISO 9001 quality management implementation on the performance of administrators and teachers. The Indonesian vocational education system is selected as a case example as there is a significant number of such institutions in Indonesia that attempt to achieve ISO certification and there is a national need to improve the performance of vocational education. It is a challenge to assess objectively the degree of ISO 9001 implementation in this specific educational context because of the size and diversity. This study relies on survey that measures the respondents’ perception. Hence, this study applies a self-reported survey based performance measurement. The questionnaires are developed based on extensive literature review. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLSSEM) has been used to examine the relationships between the different elements of quality management systems, quality culture; administrator and teacher performances. The study is able to examine multiple interrelated dependence and subsequent relationships simultaneously among examined factors such as teacher and administrator performance, existing iv quality culture and ISO principles; and to incorporate variables that cannot be directly measured, such as leadership, for example. The findings of this study show that ISO 9001 implementation has positive significant effect on the performance of the vocational school administrator and teacher. The study also identifies key influencing elements of the ISO quality management system and examines their direct and indirect relationships with teacher and administrator performances. This study is expected to improve the current practices in implementing ISO and quality culture in any educational settings, specifically in the case of vocational educational system

The mediating effect of soft TQM on the relationship between lean practices and innovation skills in Lebanese hospitals

The main objective of this research is to study the mediating effect of soft total quality management on the relationship between lean practices and innovation skills among the staff of Lebanese hospitals. Lean practices are essential to eliminate wastes and advance the quality of healthcare services through the standardization and continuous improvement strategies of Total Quality Management (TQM). However, there is a need to sustain the effectiveness of such strategies by developing the innovation skills of employees and placing greater emphasis on the soft side of TQM. Thus, a theoretical framework was developed based on the theory of constraints and the resource based view theory. After identifying the gaps of previous literature, a quantitative methodology was applied by surveying 352 employees from public and private hospitals in Lebanon. Primary data collected by self-administered questionnaires was found to be valid and reliable when analyzed through SPSS and AMOS software. Based on the SEM analysis, six hypotheses were accepted while four were rejected. Lean practices through its two dimensions; lean strategies and standardization have shown a significant and positive influence on innovation skills. However, soft TQM has a non-significant influence on innovation skills. On the other hand, lean practices have a significant and positive influence on soft TQM through standardization but not through lean strategies. As for the mediating effect, it was proven that soft TQM mediates the relationship between lean practices and innovation skills at the level of standardization but not of lean strategies. This study contributes by offering good implications for healthcare practitioners at the Lebanese hospitals and healthcare organizations in general, to invest more efforts in implementing lean tools and soft TQM. Finally, future researches are suggested to extend this study at geographical factors and different methodological procedur

Validating the theoretical underpinnings of the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system standard : a multi-country study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

ISO 9000 family of quality management system (QMS) standards — particularly ISO 9001, which stipulates QMS requirements for compliance — have received a great deal of attention by academia and practitioners. Every year, thousands of organisations obtain ISO 9001 certification worldwide, and a plethora of studies have examined the effectiveness of ISO 9001 implementation, empirically or otherwise. One existing knowledge gap is the absence of a comprehensive study that examines the theoretical validity of ISO 9001. Another is ascertaining how ISO 9001 compliance requirements are accepted across countries and regions, given that ISO 9001 is meant for sociotechnical systems. Using responses received from 240 ISO 9001 certified manufacturing companies in five countries, this study empirically examined the theoretical validity of ISO 9001:2015, which is claimed to underpin Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) at the overall QMS level. The theoretical model of the study which posited that “Leadership Driven QMS Planning (LDQMSP) (reflected via clauses 04 through to 07 of the standard) leads to implementing the planned processes (reflected via clause 08), and checking the effectiveness of these processes (reflected via clause 09) and taking appropriate action (reflected via clause 10) leads to QMS Results” was found to be a good fit to data, based on goodness of fit criteria used in partial least squares structural equation modelling. As regards national culture effects and regional effects (Australasia, South Asia, and Greece), the empirical test results found that national culture (or region) plays only a very minor role in making ISO 9001 based continual improvement (PDCA) of the QMS being more acceptable to certain cultures than to others; power distance (PDI) and individualism (IDV) showed positive and negative effects (but small) respectively on Plan (LDQMSP), Do, Check, Act, and QMS Results as hypothesised. However, uncertainty avoidance (UAI) failed to show a significant effect (α = 0.05). Similarly, the mean scores of Plan (LDQMSP), Do, Check, Act, and QMS Results of South Asia were found to be higher than those of Australasia, although these effects were small. Thus, the findings support the universal relevance and acceptance of the standard, although the study was limited to ISO 9001 certified manufacturing firms of five selected countries. Contributions of the findings were highlighted, and further research directions were suggested

Examining Regression Analysis Beyond the Mean of the Distribution using Quantile Regression: A Case Study of Modeling the Internal Bond of Medium Density Fiberboard using Multiple Linear Regression and Quantile Regression with an Example of Reliability Methods using R Software

The thesis examines the causality of the central tendency of the Internal Bond (IB) of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) with predictor variables from the MDF manufacturing process. Multiple linear regression (MLR) models are developed using a best model criterion for all possible subsets of IB for four MDF thickness products reported in inches, e.g., 0.750”, 0.625”, 0.6875”, and 0.500”. Quantile Regression (QR) models of the median IB are also developed. The adjusted coefficient of determination (R2 a) of the MLR models range from 72% with 53 degrees of freedom to 81% with 42 degrees of freedom, respectively. The Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE) range from 6.05 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) to 6.23 p.s.i. A common independent variable for the 0.750” and 0.625” products is “Refiner Resin Scavenger %”. QR models for 0.750” and 0.625” have similar slopes for the median and average but different slopes for the 5th and 95th percentiles. “Face Humidity” is a common predictor for the 0.6875” and 0.500” products. QR models for 0.6875” and 0.500” indicate different slopes for the median and average with different slopes for the outer 5th and 95th percentiles. The MLR and QR validation models for the 0.750”, 0.625” and 0.6875” product types have coefficients of determination for the validation data set ( R2validation ) ranging from 40% to 60% and RMSEP ranging from 26.5 p.s.i. to 27.85 p.s.i.. The MLR validation model for the 0.500” product has a R2validation and RMSEP of 64% and 23.63 p.s.i. while the QR validation model has a R2validation and RMSEP of 66% and 19.18 p.s.i. The IB for 0.500” has departure from normality that is reflected in the results of the validation models. The thesis results provide further evidence that QR is a more defendable method for modeling the central tendency of a response variable when the response variable departs from normality. The use of QR provides MDF manufacturers with an opportunity to examine causality beyond the mean of the distribution. Examining the lower and upper percentiles of a distribution may provide significant insight for identifying process variables that influence IB failure or extreme IB strength. Keywords

Quality Management in Systems Development: An Organizational System Perspective

We identify top management leadership, a sophisticated management infrastructure, process management efficacy, and stakeholder participation as important elements of a quality-oriented organizational system for software development. A model interrelating these constructs and quality performance is proposed. Data collected through a national survey of IS executives in Fortune 1000 companies and government agencies was used to test the model using a Partial Least Squares analysis methodology. Our results suggest that software quality goals are best attained when top management creates a management infrastructure that promotes improvements in process design and encourages stakeholders to evolve the design of the development processes. Our results also suggest that all elements of the organizational system need to be developed in order to attain quality goals and that piecemeal adoption of select quality management practices are unlikely to be effective. Implications of this research for IS theory and practice are discussed