Influence of Information System Factors to Operational Performance Sustainability of UAE Manufacturing Sector

This paper presents an assessment of information system factors that influence the operational performance sustainability of UAE manufacturing sector. The study was conducted using quantitative approach where data was collected through the questionnaire survey and analysed statistically. A total of 41 factors of information system extracted from literature review and clustered into 4 domains namely transaction processing system; operation information system; decision support system and financial manager's workbench. The survey distributed 250 questionnaires among operations staff of UAE manufacturing industries. However, only 200 datasets were considered valid for further analysis. Ranking of factors were conducted using mean score and standard deviation. The results found that the most influential domain is decision support system having mean value of 4.19. The findings from this study give an indicator on the importance of information system toward the sustainable operational performance of   the UAE manufacturing secto

Influence of organizational culture in the relationship between information system and operational performance on manufacturing sector in UAE

The manufacturing industry plays a very vital role in the economic growth and development of many countries including UAE. One of the important performance criteria in manufacturing is organizational performance (OP), which relates to the utilization of all resources (people/assets/time) to deliver lower cost and higher quality products, services to the customers in the shortest time possible. The operational performance depends on information system (IS) in many ways, such as through industrial technology applications or/and through its multiple administrative applications such as measuring the return on investment (ROI) and return on assets (ROA), relative profitability, economic input and outputs, total revenue and others. The literature review indicates that there is no much researches on the role of IS on operational performance and also its roles to lead to operational performance in the UAE manufacturing industry. Hence, this research aimed at investigating the role of Information System on the Operational Performance of Manufacturing Companies in the UAE. The study adopted a quantitative approach where the data was collected by administering questionnaires to 250 operation staff of Abu Dhabi manufacturing companies. However, 205 of the questionnaires were returned, and only 200 are valid which indicates a response rate of 80%. The collected data was analysed descriptively using SPSS and AMOS software to determine the critical factors of information system dimensions and also in operational performance. Ultimately the data was used to develop the relationship between information system dimensions and operational performance together with the organizational culture as mediators in the relationship. The findings from the descriptive analysis showed that the most critical factor for information system dimensions is the ease of use, and for operational performance is flexibility. While for multivariate analysis found that TPS has positive but not significant effect to OP; OIS has positive but not significant effect to OP; FMW has a positive and significant effect on OP; DSS has a negative and not significant effect to OP and OP has positive but not significant effect OC. For the path relationship between the four exogenous variables (TPS, OIS, DSS, and FMW) and the mediator variable (OC), the results are TPS has positive and significant effect to OC; OIS has positive but not significant effect to OC; FMW has positive and significant effect to OC and DSS has positive and not significant effect to OC. Collectively, the five exogenous constructs (TPS, OIS, DSS, FMW and OC) explained 89% variation in operational performance and 86% of the variation in organisational culture. However, for a mediator, it was found that OC has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between TPS and OP; OC has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between OIS and OP; OC has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between DSS and OP and OC has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between FMW and OP. It can be concluded that there is a positive relationship between information system dimensions and operational performance. However, organizational culture has no contributing any mediating effect to the relationship, which shows that manufacturing companies in the UAE need to pay more attention to improve IS, since it is more essential than OC to improve OP. These findings have contributed to the body of knowledge and could be shared among the UAE manufacturing practitioners

Empirical Differences between UAE and Finland of Strategic Foresight Implementation

Strategic foresight is a structured and systematic way of using ideas to anticipate and better prepare for change in the future. Therefore, the main aim of the study is to ascertain whether there is difference between UAE and Finland strategic foresights implementation. This study employed quantitative methodology where questionnaire was used as a means for data collection. The data was analysed using SPSS software to ascertain the difference between the means across the strategic foresight dimensions between the two countries. The result findings revealed that that there is statistically significant difference between UAE and Finland’s in the areas of Information use and method sophistication of the two countries’ strategic foresights. Specifically, UAE and Finland differs on information use in their strategic foresights. Similarly, the two countries differ on method sophistication in their strategic foresight. However, there is no significant difference between UAE and Finland on people and network, organisation and culture in their strategic foresights. This specify that the respondents from Finland and UAE had agreed almost similar factors in strategic foresight for the public policy making. Hence if taking Finland as a benchmark, the results indicate that UAE is also having the same interest in strategic foresight implementation

Structural Mediation Model of Information System and Sustainable Performance of UAE Manufacturing Sector

This study intends to find out the mediating effect of organisational culture on the relationship between information system and sustainable performance of manufacturing sector in UAE. This study used AMOS-SEM software to develop mediation model that linking the mediating relationships between Information System, Organisational Culture and Sustainable operation Performance. Data was collected through questionnaire survey among the operation staff of Abu Dhabi manufacturing companies. A total 250 questionnaires were distributed however 205 were returned and only 200 are valid which indicates a response rate of 80%. The analysis found that TPS has positive but not significant effect to SP; OIS has positive but not significant effect to SP; FMW has a positive and significant effect on SP; SDS has a negative and not significant effect to SP and SP has positive but not significant effect OC. For the path relationship between the four exogenous variables (TPS, OIS, SDS, and FMW) and the mediator variable (OC), the results are TPS has positive and significant effect to OC; OIS has positive but not significant effect to OC; FMW has positive and significant effect to OC and SDS has positive and not significant effect to OC. Collectively, the five exogenous constructs (TPS, OIS, SDS, FMW and OC) explained 89% variation in operational performance and 86% of the variation in organisational culture. However, for a mediator, it was found that OC has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between TPS and SP; OC has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between OIS and SP; OC has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between SDS and SP and OC has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between FMW and SP. it can be concluded that there is a positive relationship between information system dimensions and operational performance. However organizational culture has no contributing any mediating effect to the relationship. These findings have contributed to the body of knowledge and could be shared among the UAE manufacturing practitioners&nbsp

The role of innovative approach on employees’ job performance: a study of government sector in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Transformation of the public sector driven by global competition towards improving services and facilities has been the focus of the UAE government in the recent decade. Hence, this study uncovered the effect of innovations on employees’ job performance in the government sector. The study adopted quantitative approach where data was collected through questionnaires survey and analysed statistically. Questionnaire was designed based on the literature review where the main content of the questionnaire are factors on innovations and employees’ job performance in the government sector. The survey utilized simple random sampling methods among employees in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development UAE. The respondents were staffs from management, human resource, employee relations, operations and training departments. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed randomly and 265 were returned. Collected data have undergone data screening and found 258 responses were valid for further analysis. At the initial stage, the collected data were analysed using descriptive and univariate approach in SPSS software. It was found that five most significant factors affecting the oil and gas company performance are rewards and recognition, low employee turnover, effective behaviour, assuring job security and effective support system. The collected data was used to developed and assessed PLS-SEM model of casual relationship between the factors affecting oil and gas company performance using SmartPLS software. The model has two components which are measurement component and structural component. Measurement component is the relationship between the factor/variable/item and the independent/latent construct. It was been assessed with three criteria which are indicator reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity. The results indicate that each of assessment criteria has achieved with the stipulated guidelines for PLS model assessment. While structural model is the relationship of independent construct with the dependent construct. The model was assessed based on five criteria which included path coefficients (β), coefficient of determination (R2 value), effect size (f2), and predictive relevance (q2). Results of the assessment found that the model has substantial explaining power in representing the impact of the five groups of factors affecting the oil & gas company performance. In term of path analysis, Leadership and Job satisfaction groups of factors have significant relationship with the company performance. In term of effect size and predictive relevance, the model showed that only two group of factors which are Leadership and Job satisfaction were having small effect or relevant to company’s performance while other groups have no effect size. Even though some of the results are not as expected as the hypotheses but it can be concluded that the structural model has been validated statistically. The data was to develop mediation model in SEM-AMOS software which comprises of innovation dimensions as independent constructs, job performance as dependent construct and mediates by technology construct. The model was assessed at two levels where at the measurement level was to ensure that the variables are in the respective construct using confirmatory factor analysis and at structural level to determine path relationship between the constructs. The overall results indicate that the innovation dimensions have positive effect on employees’ job performance. Unfortunately, the technology has no mediation effects to the relationship between innovation dimensions and employees’ job performance. It is hoped that this study will be a viable tool for improving job performance in the UAE government sector

COVID‐19 effect on patients with noncommunicable diseases: a narrative review

Background and Aims: On March 11, 2020, the WHO has declared COVID‐19 a global pandemic, affecting our day‐to‐day lives. Physical distancing and lockdown made significant obstacles to populations, particularly healthcare systems. Most healthcare workers were reallocated to COVID‐19 facilities. Noncommunicable disease patients were given low priority and are at a higher risk of severe COVID‐19 infection, which disrupted the treatment and disease management of these patients. This review aimed to assess the effect of COVID‐19 on different types of noncommunicable diseases and the severity it may cause to patients. Methods: We have conducted a review of the literature on COVID‐19 and noncommunicable diseases from December 2019 until January 2022. The search was done in PubMed and Cochrane for relevant articles using variety of searching terms. Data for study variables were extracted. At the end of the selection process, 46 papers were selected for inclusion in the literature review. Result: The result from this review found that the COVID‐19 pandemic has affected the efficiency of the patient's treatment indirectly by either delaying or canceling sessions, which solidified the need to rely more on telemedicine, virtual visits, and in‐home visits to improve patient education and minimize the risk of exposure to the patients. The major and most common types of noncommunicable diseases are known to be related to the severe outcomes of COVID‐19 infection. It is strongly recommended to prioritize these patients for vaccinations against COVID‐19 to provide them with the protection that will neutralize the risk imposed by their comorbidities. Conclusion: We recommend conducting more studies with larger population samples to further understand the role of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in this pandemic. However, this pandemic has also affected the efficiency of NCDs treatment indirectly by delaying or canceling sessions and others

Development of Structural Mediation Model of Innovative Strategy, Employees' Job Performance and Technology for UAE Government Sector

This study established a relationship of innovations and employees' job performance in the government sector and also the mediating effect of technology towards the relationship. It adopted quantitative approach where data was collected through questionnaires survey and analyzed statistically. The questionnaire survey utilized simple random sampling methods among UAE government employees. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed randomly and 265 were returned indicates 88.3% response rate. The collected data was then used to develop and assess SEM-AMOS mediation model. The results found that all the direct relationships reported a positive effect. It also found that the innovation dimension constructs and technology mediating construct having explained 84% variation in employees' job performance constructs. For indirect/mediation effect, it was found that technology does not show any mediation effect on the relationship between innovation and job performance constructs.  This implies that technology does not mediate the relationship between innovation strategies and the employees' job performance. It also implies that for an effective employees' job performance core attention to building and managing an innovation approach is required in the UAE government sector. Thus, innovation strategies give more influence to employees' job performance in the government sector through the distinctive capabilities of UAE ministry employees

Construction of Structural Model for Strategic Foresighting and Public Policy

This study was intended to establish a relationship between the strategic foresight dimensions with the public policy attributes of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government. The data was collected through questionnaire survey staffs of UAE government organizations. A total of 397 valid responses were collected and analysed. The collected data was used to develop the relationship using AMOS software. It was found that the measurement model has fulfilled or achieved all the required criteria. For structural model evaluation, it found that the model has achieved all the set criteria of the evaluation. Results of the structural model evaluation found that strategic foresight influence 69 % of the public policy making. It also found that the model has the significant relationship between strategic foresight dimensions and public policy. It was found that the model has 47% predictive relevancy. This result indicates that there is a substantial and direct effect between the strategic foresight and public policy. Hypothesis testing was conducted on the model and found that there is a significant relationship between strategic foresight dimensions and public policy is achieved. This indicates that the model can be applicable to UAE authority and contributes to the body of knowledge for further research

Ranking of Innovation Factors of Employees' Job Performance

This paper presents the ranking of innovation factors affecting employees' job performance of Abu Dhabi government sector. Three hundred questionnaires were distributed among employees in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development UAE.  The respondents were requested to rate 23 identified innovation factors which are clustered into four groups using 5-point Likert scale with scale 5 for extremely significant to scale 1 for not significant. However only 265 valid responses were recovered from the survey. The data collected from the survey was analyzed descriptively using mean score index and standard deviation to determine the ranking of each factor. For product innovation group, the highest rank of factor is product extension through technologically new products; while in marketing innovation the highest rank of factor is improving sales promotion tools; subsequently, in process innovation the highest ranked of factor is develop new and improve production layout and lastly, in organization innovation the highest ranked of factor is effective and efficient work processes. The findings from this study hopefully can benefit the government organization performance