Radio frequency identification and time-driven activity based costing: RFID-TDABC

This thesis extends the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) data for accounting of warehouse costs and services. Time Driven Activity Based Costing (TDABC) methodology is enhanced with the real-time collected RFID data about duration of warehouse activities. This allows warehouse managers to have an accurate and instant calculations of costs. The RFID enhanced TDABC (RFID-TDABC) is proposed as a novel application of the RFID technology. Application of RFID-TDABC in a warehouse is implemented on warehouse processes of a case study company. Implementation covers receiving, put-away, order picking, and despatching. RFID technology is commonly used for the identification and tracking items. The use of the RFID generated information with the TDABC can be successfully extended to the area of costing. This RFID-TDABC costing model will benefit warehouse managers with accurate and instant calculations of costs. Although the study is limited in the scope to applying presented RFIDTDABC model only to warehouse operations of a SME company, RFIDTDABC concept will be of value to both academics and practitioners by showing how warehouse costs can be accurately measured by using this approach. Providing better understanding of incurred costs may result in a further optimisation of warehousing operations, lowering costs of activities, and thus provide competitive pricing to customers

Radio frequency identification : tool for teaching

Orientador: Hugo Enrique Hernandez-FigueroaTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de ComputaçãoResumo: Novos métodos de ensino devem ser inseridos nos cursos de graduação para motivar, capacitar e fundamentar os conhecimentos dos alunos. A relação entre a tecnologia e a educação deve ser o mais intrínseca possível, de forma que os ensinamentos sejam atrativos, eficazes e concretos. O sistema Identificação por Radiofrequência (Radio Frequency Identification - RFID) é um sistema complexo que envolve hardware e software. Para o seu correto funcionamento diversos conceitos técnicos devem ser empregados, principalmente, os que são abordados nos cursos de graduação de Engenharia Elétrica. Portanto, este sistema pode ser utilizado como ferramenta de aprendizagem, ou seja, pode ser considerado como um minilaboratório com vários conteúdos abordados nos cursos de Engenharia Elétrica em um único produto. RFID como uma ferramenta de ensino relaciona a tecnologia e a educação, atrai os alunos para aprenderem as ciências envolvidas e, enfim, contribui para uma aprendizagem mais lúdicaAbstract: New teaching methods should be included in undergraduate courses to motivate, enable and support knowledge. The relationship between technology and education should be more intrinsic as possible, so that the teachings for the modern student are attractive and effective. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system is a complex system involving hardware and software. For it works correctly several technical concepts should be employed, especially those that are covered in undergraduate courses of Electrical Engineering. So this system as a learning tool can be considered as a mini-lab containing various contents covered in Electrical Engineering courses on a single product. This tool for teaching makes a solid relationship between technology and education, attracts students to learn science involved and, consequently, contributes to a different learning experienceDoutoradoTelecomunicações e TelemáticaDoutora em Engenharia Elétric

Assuming Data Integrity and Empirical Evidence to The Contrary

Background: Not all respondents to surveys apply their minds or understand the posed questions, and as such provide answers which lack coherence, and this threatens the integrity of the research. Casual inspection and limited research of the 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), included in the dataset of the World Values Survey (WVS), suggested that random responses may be common. Objective: To specify the percentage of cases in the BRI-10 which include incoherent or contradictory responses and to test the extent to which the removal of these cases will improve the quality of the dataset. Method: The WVS data on the BFI-10, measuring the Big Five Personality (B5P), in South Africa (N=3 531), was used. Incoherent or contradictory responses were removed. Then the cases from the cleaned-up dataset were analysed for their theoretical validity. Results: Only 1 612 (45.7%) cases were identified as not including incoherent or contradictory responses. The cleaned-up data did not mirror the B5P- structure, as was envisaged. The test for common method bias was negative. Conclusion: In most cases the responses were incoherent. Cleaning up the data did not improve the psychometric properties of the BFI-10. This raises concerns about the quality of the WVS data, the BFI-10, and the universality of B5P-theory. Given these results, it would be unwise to use the BFI-10 in South Africa. Researchers are alerted to do a proper assessment of the psychometric properties of instruments before they use it, particularly in a cross-cultural setting

Leading Towards Voice and Innovation: The Role of Psychological Contract

Background: Empirical evidence generally suggests that psychological contract breach (PCB) leads to negative outcomes. However, some literature argues that, occasionally, PCB leads to positive outcomes. Aim: To empirically determine when these positive outcomes occur, focusing on the role of psychological contract (PC) and leadership style (LS), and outcomes such as employ voice (EV) and innovative work behaviour (IWB). Method: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, using reputable questionnaires on PC, PCB, EV, IWB, and leadership styles. Correlation analyses were used to test direct links within the model, while regression analyses were used to test for the moderation effects. Results: Data with acceptable psychometric properties were collected from 11 organisations (N=620). The results revealed that PCB does not lead to substantial changes in IWB. PCB correlated positively with prohibitive EV, but did not influence promotive EV, which was a significant driver of IWB. Leadership styles were weak predictors of EV and IWB, and LS only partially moderated the PCB-EV relationship. Conclusion: PCB did not lead to positive outcomes. Neither did LS influencing the relationships between PCB and EV or IWB. Further, LS only partially influenced the relationships between variables, and not in a manner which positively influence IWB