Misconceptions about Atomic Models Amongst the Chemistry Students

Bohr’s model is a semi-classical model which involves both classical and quantum principles. Although more sophisticated Schrödinger model has been presented to students, the residual picture in their minds persists to consider Bohr’s model to be the closest to the physical reality. We included few questions about Bohr’s model in tests to assess the students’ understandings of realistic atomic models in general-chemistry courses offered for freshmen in two universities in the Middle-East (namely, Yarmouk University at Irbid, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates University at Al-Ain, UAE, from both a statistical sample of 687 students was collected). The results reveal the existence of huge misconceptions amongst a large portion of the students’ sample (i.e., ≥ 85%). Alternative solutions are discussed and suggested to draw a strategy to better dissimilate the knowledge in order to overcome the existing learning difficulties

CONFIRMATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS FOR TESTING THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF AN INTERNAL CAPABILITY AND LOGISTICS OUTSOURCING MEASUREMENT SCALE

This study aims to develop and validate a measurement scale for internal capability and logistics outsourcing. Regarding the goal of this study, data were obtained from 180 respondents who are currently performing logistics outsourcing in different fields in Sudan (oil industry, telecommunications, logistics services and manufacturing). Depending on the questioner technique, a total of 36 items and 5 subscales were generated based on the literature. The study uses a five-point Likert-style response scale (ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree). The scale was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for determining the validity and reliability of the study dataset. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient (α) of the scale was reported to be 0.88. Findings of the study indicate that the resulting internal capability and Logistics outsourcing measurement scale can serve as a valuable tool for measuring the Logistics outsourcing drivers, namely time-related drivers, cost-related drivers, flexibility-related drivers, and quality-related drivers

Traffic Safety Factors in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia

This study investigates the factors that affect traffic safety in the Qassim region. A questionnaire was developed on the basis of the Handbook of road safety and consisted of 85 items measuring seven dimensions: area-wide traffic calming (22 items), vehicle design and protective devices (26 items), road design (24 items), road maintenance (three items), traffic education (four items), police campaigns and sanctions (three items), and post-accident care (three items). A sample encompassing 1,500 Qassim University students, and visitors was randomly selected to collect data. A total of 1,500 questionnaires were distributed to students, and visitors of which 1,053 were retrieved. The elimination of data outliers resulted in a sample of 909 subjects. The results pointed out a moderate level of traffic safety in the Qassim region. Furthermore, 10 leading causes of road traffic accidents emerged, namely, excess speed, irregular bypasses, irregular rotations, lack of prioritization of other drivers, irregular stops, lack of road readiness, driver carelessness, use of a mobile phone while driving, noncompliance with traffic signals, and, finally, nonuse of seat belts. On the basis of these results, conclusions and policy implications were provided

Influential factors of loyalty and disloyalty of travellers towards traditional-resorts

With emergence of digital travel platforms, traveler online reviews have become a source of rich information which has a significant role in their perception of the services that influences consumer’s demand for resorts. This study aims to identify and rank influential factors of loyalty and disloyalty of travelers through customer online reviews in traditional resorts using Latent Sentiment Analysis (LSA). Our results indicate factors that creating loyalty and disloyalty toward traditional resorts are different and some of these factors are more significant and different from previous studies in the context of other types of hotels. This study signifies the importance of travellers’ online reviews to the resorts managers and contributes to them to improve loyalty factors and alleviate disloyalty factors

Wpływ wyszczuplenia łańcuchów dostaw na produktywność saudyjskich firm produkcyjnych w regionie Al-Qassim

The objective of this study is to identify the contribution of the lean supply chain (LSC) to manufacturing firms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Out of the population of the study, 150 firms were selected from the Al-Qassim region to encompass the sample of the study. Four variables include waste elimination, cost reduction, manufacture–supplier relationship, and manufacture–customer relationships were constructed as predictors of productivity. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect the study variables. A total of 75 questionnaires were distributed in the sample, of which 69 were returned. All of them were valid for the statistical analysis. The results of the study confirmed the hypotheses that the constructed predictors could predict the productivity of the manufacturing firms in the Al-Qassim region. That is, there were statistically significant impacts of LSC dimensions on the productivity. The study contributes to the body of supply chain (SC) literature by providing evidence on the positive impact of LSC on productivity in an Arabian context, particularly in KSA. However, the study was conducted in one industrial region in the KSA, therefore the generalization of the findings may not be applicable to other firms in the same country or other countries.Artykuł przedstawia wpływ wyszczuplenia łańcuchów dostaw w regionie Al-Qassim na produktywność. Dla celów badawczych przyjęto cztery zmienne: usuwanie odpadów, redukcję kosztów, relację producenci-dostawcy oraz relację producenci-klienci. Badaniem objęto 69 firm i poddano je analizie statystycznej. Otrzymane wyniki potwierdziły sformułowaną przez autorów hipotezę. Oznacza to, że występuje znaczący wpływ stopnia, w jakim zastosowano wyszczuplenia łańcuchów dostaw na produktywność. Badanie stanowi przyczynek do dalszych badań w tym obszarze

E-commerce drivers and barriers and their impact on e-customer loyalty in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMES)

The aim of this paper is threefold: first to explore the factors that significantly and positively affect the adoption of e-commerce in SMEs; second, to determine the factors that hinder the adoption of e-commerce in these enterprises; and, finally, to investigate the impact of e-commerce-related factors on e-customer loyalty. Two samples were used for the purpose of the current study, the first of which comprised 163 managers of SMEs while the second consisted of 213 customers. Data were collected via electronic questionnaires sent to the study participants. The results identified 10 drivers of e-commerce, which are customer preferences, e-commerce perceived value, partner readiness, e-commerce cost, technical expertise, customer trust, employee knowledge and experience, top management support, perceived ease of use, and organizational culture, and 7 barriers to e-commerce adoption, which are employee technology knowledge, telecommunications, connectivity cost, technical expertise, technology cost, internet security, and legal barriers. Furthermore, the results highlighted that e-commerce ethics, information quality, customer trust, user interface quality, and customer satisfaction, respectively, are the main predictors of e-customer loyalty. Basically, organizations are called to adopt e-commerce to increase their customer loyalty. However, organizations should consider the drivers of and barriers to e-commerce adoption found in the current study

Factors affecting the organizational performance of manufacturing firms

Numerous studies have been conducted to explore the individual effects of organizational culture (OC) and supply chain management (SCM) practices on organizational performance (OP) in different settings. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of OC and SCM on OP. The sample of the study consisted of 93 manufacturing firms in Jordan. Data were collected from employees and managers from different divisions using a reliable and valid measurement instrument. The findings confirm that both OC and SCM practices significantly predict OP. The current study is significant in reliably testing the relationship between SCM practices and OP; however, it is necessary to consider cultural assumptions, values and beliefs as the impact of OC on OP is greater than the impact of SCM practices. Based on the results, future studies should consider the moderating and mediating role of OC on the relationship between SCM practices and OP

Critical success factors of small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia: Insights from sustainability perspective

The aim of this study is to explore the critical success factors (CSFs) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed using 28 factors/indicators identified from the previous researches. From 500 respondents, a total of 347 questionnaires were returned. By conducting exploratory factors analysis, these indicators were categorized into six factors, namely: Individual factors, business characteristics, management factors, business support, capital availability and business environment. Using IBM SPSS and AMOS, the results indicated that business support was the most critical factor that significantly affects the success of SMEs in Saudi Arabia, followed by individual factors, capital availability, and management factors. They also indicated that business characteristics and business environment factors had no significant impacts on the success of these enterprises