Professional Certifications Propelling the Project Economy

The concept of project economy has always been associated with the concept of turning ideas into reality, focusing on creating long-term values, and ensuring alignment to value streams through successful project completion. Nations all over the world are embracing new business practices, shifting organisational structures around project portfolios in order to provide greater flexibility to their stakeholders. The Project Economy has indeed arrived

Forecasting Portfolio Risk Estimation by Using Garch And Var Methods

Risk management or risk predicting are closely related with the market volatility which affect the return of portfolio estimation. Portfolio managers around the world concerned with risk estimation because portfolio risk management is part of their decision-making process.  According to Hull (2006), VaR is widely used by fund managers “to provide a single number summarizing the total risk in a portfolio of financial assets.”  Motivates from this, we conducted an analysis to compare the effectiveness of VaR analysis and GARCH method in forecasting risk estimation.  Risk manager can used the best methods in reducing their customers risk volatility and rank the risk level. Keywords: Forecasting, Value at Risk, GARCH, Portfolio estimation, Risk

Development of Neural Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease

Neural stem cell (NSC)-based therapies, such as cell transplantation, are an emerging strategy for restoring neuronal function in Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is characterized by a profound and selective loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Advanced researches on the microenvironment of grafted cells will promote clinical applications of NSCs for neurological disorders. A novel cell culture model of the neurovascular network was therefore devised to investigate autocrine, paracrine, and juxtacrine signaling in the neurovascular unit generated by NSCs and vascular endothelial cells. Preclinical studies using cutting-edge technologies, including cellular reprogramming, advancement in scaffolds for brain tissue engineering, image-guided injection, and noninvasive monitoring of tissue regeneration will pave the way for successful clinical trials of NSC-based therapies for PD. Once the implanted or regenerated DA neurons are integrated into the existing nigrostriatal DA pathway, the symptoms of PD can potentially be alleviated by reversing characteristic neurodegeneration

Project Management Performance and Its Influence on Malaysian Building Projects

Working environment and safety behavior are the primary concern in construction projects which in the long run are part of the yardstick in measuring project management performance. Construction safety and performance should be thoroughly investigated empirically by illustrating the current state of accident and performance in construction industries. Entrenched in the Malaysian construction industry experience, three dimensions of the project management performance (resolve cost, schedule, and quality) can buffer the contractor’s and project manager’s performance in building projects. Following organizational control theory, this research investigated the effects project management performance (resolve cost, schedule, and quality) on construction projects among G-7 contractors operating in Kuantan Malaysia construction industries through a personally administered questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) opined that schedule and quality have positive and significant influence, while resolve cost has a significant negative influence on Malaysia construction projects.   Keywords: project management performance, building project, contractor, projectmanagers, client, constriction industries, PLS-SEM

Risk attitudes and the big five personality traits: A study on construction project practitioners in Malaysia

Risk management often applies in any decision making process to ensure success of an objective. However, many organizations fail to realize the importance of such knowledge, especially in high risk and complex industries in construction. The decision made while taking uncertainty into account varies among individuals based on their attitudes. Hence, their perspectives towards uncertainty may be the determinant to ensure success in a project. As risk attitudes and perception varies among individuals, so does personality. Henceforth, this study aims to investigate the relationship of the factors in the Big Five theory in influencing risk attitude, by using the Big Five Inventory (BFI) model and the Domain Risk-attitude scale, in order to determine individuals’ personality based on the five dimensions for both categories. The proposed model was tested on 70 decision makers, particularly project practitioners specialize in the construction industry in Malaysia. Partial Least Squared Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to investigate both variables based on the objectives. The results showed that all variables but one has a significant effect towards risk attitude, where extraversion has the most effect towards risk attitude. All factors of the Big Five except neuroticism reacts positively towards risk attitude. The study of relationship between personality traits and risk taking will signify the vast variations of how every decision maker will choose to respond to uncertainty depending on their respective human behaviour. Such understanding helps in the development of a comprehensive risk management plan

A systematic review on identifying factors influencing total quality management implementation

In the era of globalization and advanced international trade, the importance of using total quality management (TQM) in the manufacturing companies is growing rapidly. This paper systematically reviews previous literature on the factors influencing total quality management implementation. While introducing TQM, previous studies have measured critical success factors. A systematic review of previous literature was performed from 2007-2020 and the analysis of 153 studies revealed that there are 10 key dimensions of TQM that are widely used as a measurement. Our examination shows that, despite having a shared relationship with its customers and "consumer attention/satisfaction" being unmistakably recognized as one of the major CSFs of TQM. The linkages between TQM Critical success factors, TQM and leadership and promotion, have received minimal research so far. People are the most important emphasis of business, even though consumer happiness may be thought of as the Quality management philosophy's main goal. Positive results are anticipated when cultures and quality management systems attempted to demonstrate are taken into account together. TQM literature from the past has noted that systemic behavior results either via the creation of an attitude or through the primary aspect of the quality management system. Businesses invest in cultural and structural resources to provide the right environment for TQM

Determinants of Total Quality Management and Institutional Pressure towards Project Performance: A Review of Literature

The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature published on various aspects of project performance. This paper highlights the importance of total quality management (TQM) with respect to project success. The study is based on secondary information collected through the review of existing literature. It was found that TQM factors are important factor in the organization's performance and improved efficiency. It is crucial since concentrating on the execution and success of the project helps the organisation, employers, and project managers. Project managers can make better decisions, recognise their rights and obligations, and comprehend and manage risk when TQM is combined with suitable governance. This study provides theoretical framework that includes TQM factors, institutional elements, project governance and project performance. Based on the comprehensive review of literature it is suggested that future research should aim on confirming the developed framework for project performance and success

Investigating factors affecting project performance moderated by project governance

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the impact of total quality management, institutional pressure, and organizational citizenship behavior on project performance moderated by project governance in ongoing construction projects. Empirical data were collected from 162 respondents engaged in ongoing construction projects in Oman using a self-administered questionnaire. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to analyze the data. The findings show that TQM significantly impacts project performance. In contrast, organizational citizenship behavior did not mediate between total quality management and project performance. Project governance partially moderated the impact of total quality management on project performance. This study offers practical implications for the construction industry that wants to improve its project performance. This paper recognizes the significance of TQM practices by developing an industry-wide culture of successful project performance. It is vital to support the ongoing efforts of the project managers to promote and apply quality management principles, particularly in the construction industry

A Simple Model for Cavity Enhanced Slow Lights in Vertical Cavity Surface Emission Lasers

We develop a simple model for the slow lights in Vertical Cavity Surface Emission Lasers (VCSELs), with the combination of cavity and population pulsation effects. The dependences of probe signal power, injection bias current and wavelength detuning for the group delays are demonstrated numerically and experimentally. Up to 65 ps group delays and up to 10 GHz modulation frequency can be achieved in the room temperature at the wavelength of 1.3 $\mu$m. The most significant feature of our VCSEL device is that the length of active region is only several $\mu$m long. Based on the experimental parameters of quantum dot VCSEL structures, we show that the resonance effect of laser cavity plays a significant role to enhance the group delays