MEASURING STRATEGIES FOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN LIBYAN TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY: STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING

The purpose of this research is to measure the strategies for knowledge management and organisational performance in Libya using an approach to structural equation modelling (SEM). The research method of this analysis is a quantitative method only, where the total sample size is assumed to be 453 using simple random sampling. The structural model for this analysis showed the relationships between the variables. The results show that the framework of knowledge management is significantly related to the strategy of knowledge management, while knowledge management practise is significantly related to the strategy of knowledge management. However, the framework of knowledge management was found not to be very positively linked to organisational performance. Unexpectedly, in terms of significantly related to organisational performance, knowledge management activity has also not been considered relevant. Knowledge management approach, on the other hand, is positively linked to organisational performance and to the reciprocal relationship between the system of knowledge management and the practise of knowledge management. By offering an empirically validated model that could be used to forecast organisational performance as a whole, this study has added to established knowledge. JEL: L10; L25; L91 Article visualizations

DETERMINANTS OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN LIBYAN TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY

The aim of this study is to identify the determinants of knowledge management strategies in the Libyan transportation industry for organizational performance. This study began to propose the research method through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), after proposing a testable conceptual framework, where the items of further research can have some light to move forward. For this analysis, the sample size was 529 and simple random sampling was employed. The results of this research indicate that the main aspects of organizational performance in the Libyan Transportation Industry are the knowledge management system, knowledge management process, knowledge management strategy, organizational performance. Through proposing an empirically validated research model that could be an important implementation tool for the success of the performance of the Transportation Industry, this research has added to established knowledge. JEL: L10; L25; L91 Article visualizations

A CONCEPTUALIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY TOWARD ORGANIZATION PERFORMANCE IN THE LIBYAN TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY

This conceptual paper aims to examine the relationship between the knowledge management strategy and organizational performance in Libya transportation industry. Libya’s government policy proposals for public organisation reform have largely failed to encourage the development of information. The transport industry is suffering from a shortage of backward-integrated equipment. Most Arab nations have inherited their transparent authoritative practises from their previous founder legacies. This is despite the way in which the region needs knowledge management as never before due to the evolving way of global aggression. Also, the introduction and use of different information technologies in an enterprise will be the key to conducting knowledge management activities in the transport industry. The promotion of trust among members of intra- and inter-organizational teams is of primary concern for the establishment of a strong and sound knowledge base. It takes some time to establish a desired knowledge culture for the sharing of knowledge and exchange of knowledge. However, only a small section of the public would appreciate gains and any aspect of it could be overlooked by the rest. It should strive to develop the academic resources of the general public and involve people in basic leadership in general. JEL: L10; L25; L91 Article visualizations

Intelligent agent simulator in massive crowd

Crowd simulations have many benefits over real-life research such as in computer games, architecture and entertainment. One of the key elements in this study is to include elements of decision-making into the crowd. The aim of this simulator is to simulate the features of an intelligent agent to escape from crowded environments especially in one-way corridor, two-way corridor and four-way intersection. The addition of the graphical user interface enables intuitive and fast handling in all settings and features of the Intelligent Agent Simulator and allows convenient research in the field of intelligent behaviour in massive crowd. This paper describes the development of a simulator by using the Open Graphics Library (OpenGL), starting from the production of training data, the simulation process, until the simulation results. The Social Force Model (SFM) is used to generate the motion of agents and the Support Vector Machine (SVM) is used to predict the next step for intelligent agent

Factors associated with discharge against medical advice from Emergency Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre

Patients who self-discharge against medical advice (DAMA) are susceptible to life-threatening consequences. By understanding the factors associated with DAMA, healthcare centres can build strategies to assist patients to receive optimal medical care and prevent unfavourable outcome. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with DAMA from the Emergency Department (ED) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). This was a prospective unmatched case control study conducted over a 4-month period. For every DAMA episode, two patients who were admitted on the same day were randomly selected as control. Following patient consent, data was collected using a standardized questionnaire. Patients were contacted by the investigator for information regarding hospitalization within two weeks of DAMA. Ninety three patients were recruited; 31 DAMA patients and 62 admitted patients. Payment method was significantly associated with DAMA (OR 3.17 95% CI 1.29-7.98; p=0.01). The likelihood of self-paying patients to take DAMA was three times higher than those who had a guarantor letter from their employer or insurance provider. Other factors which influence DAMA were family obligations (OR 4.08 95% CI 1.09-15.26; p = 0.03) and work problems (OR 3.83 95% CI 1.13-12.94; p=0.03). A total of 19.4% of DAMA patients left following symptomatic pain relief. A total of 80.6% DAMA patients were admitted to hospital within two weeks of the DAMA episode. Payment method significantly influences DAMA. Payment planning, social welfare services, non-governmental organization funds and the introduction of a national health policy scheme may aid hospital payment, alleviate financial limitation of patients and reduce DAMA episodes

Organizational adaption for AMT implementation in the SMIs

Several factors have been identified as important to the implementation of AMT. A key ingredient to the long term benefits of AMT is the implementation of a parallel process of organizational change to match the technological changes taking place. Increased competitiveness and flexibility of the firms can be achieved if there are high levels of integration of the technologies and mutual adaptation of the organization and technology. To analyse the level of AMT integration and the level of adaptation between organization and technology, a study was conducted in the SMIs of Malaysia using survey questionnaires. The use of computers to integrate the various activities and functions in the SMIs were evaluated to determine the levels of automation practiced in the companies. The adaptation between technology and organization for the small and medium scale industries (SMIs) of Malaysia was determined by identifying the organizational factors important for AMT implementation. Using aggregated index of organizational and technological parameters developed from the questionnaire, a Technology (T)-Organization (O) map was drawn. The T-O map describes the patterns of technology and organizations for the companies and used to classify the position of the companies on the T-O map. Results of the study showed that the level of computer usage in integrating the functions were rather low. The regression analysis carried out to establish the ‘best-fit’ model for the aggregated index showed that the best-fit model for T-O is a polynomial regression model of the 4th order with R2 =0.38766. The result indicates that the variability in the organization has been explained by only 39% in the model developed. A greater fit between organization and technology will be achieved only with higher R2 values. Using the T-O map, only seven companies can be classified as high technology, high organization (HT-HO) whereas almost 83% or 113 companies are in the low technology, low organization (LT-LO) classification. The results clearly indicate that there is lack of integration between the technologies and that the companies are practicing the old methods of management not suitable for AMT implementation

Engineering Technology Program In Malaysia: A Market Survey

In line with industrial development which is growing rapidly in Malaysia, the country is in great needs of competent technical workforce able to apply the latest concept of technology, improve equipment and system utilization, optimizing operation and maintenance of equipments. Therefore, an engineering technology program will be introduced in Malaysia education system at higher level. In developing the electrical engineering technology program and designing a curriculum structure in Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), a market survey has been conducted to gather opinion from industries on the relevant subjects, duration of training required and also the career opportunity. The market research survey was conducted by the Committee of Development for Engineering Technology, UTeM in 2011. A total of 110 questionnaires were distributed to local and foreign companies throughoutMalaysia. The scope of the market survey covered the common understanding of the concept of Engineering Technologist,requirements from industry perspective, the relevant focus areas as well as perceptions towards the program. The findings shows that there is a demand for degree programs in Electrical Engineering Technolog

Unsur-unsur takmilah dalam filem Islam / Mohamad Shafiei Ayub … [et al.]

Filem merupakan suatu alat pandang dengar sahaja. Ia mempunyai pengaruh yang hebat hingga dikatakan mampu membentuk sebuah ketamadunan serta sesuatu kebudayaan. Utusan yang datang daripadanya dianggap sebagai peluru ajaib kerana mampu memberi kesan positif atau negatif terhadap penonton. Kesan-kesan ini yang menentukan kedudukan sesebuah filem adakah ia baik ataupun tidak. Sebuah filem Islam yang baik perlu memiliki pengkarya dan karya yang mampu mengajak khayalak kepada mentauhidkan Allah s.w.t. Namun di Malaysia kita ketandusan dalam menghasilkan filem yang boleh menjadi risalah dakwah Islam. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan unsur-unsur takmilah yang bersesuaian dengan sesebuah filem Islam.Kajian ini memilih Teori Takmilah Shafie Abu Bakar sebagai landasan penghasilkan filem Islam. Perbincangan ini penting kerana teori ini menekankan tiga kompenen utama pengkarya, karya dan khalayak. Kajian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif iaitu menggunakan metode perpustakaan, observasi, temubual dan metode analisis kandungan terhadap beberapa filem di Malaysia. Hasil kajian ini mendapati bahawa pengkarya yang baik mestilah seorang yang bertakwa serta arif dengan persoalan karya yang hendak disampaikan. Karya yang terhasil pula perlu mencerminkan kesempurnaan Allah s.w.t. sebagai Tuhan penguasaan alam dan mampu memberi pendidikan kepada khalayak serta menarik mereka untuk mendekatkan dirinya kepada Allah s.w.t

Asthma remodeling: The pathogenic role of matrix metalloproteinase-9

AbstractBackgroundAsthma is an airway inflammatory disease with functional and structural changes, leading to bronchial hyperresponsiveness and airflow obstruction. Pathological repair of the airways leads to these structural changes referred as airway remodeling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular degrading enzymes that play a critical role in the remodeling process.Aim of the studyIs to study matrix metalloproteinase-9 in asthmatic patients, detecting its pathogenic role in airway remodeling.Subjects and methodsSamples of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and bronchoscopic biopsies from 30 asthmatic patients (10 mild, 10 moderate and 10 severe) and 10 healthy volunteers were assessed for the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) total and differential cell count (in BAL fluid), histological airway remodeling changes and immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 (in mucosal biopsies).ResultsBAL and tissue MMP-9 (going hand in hand with airway remodeling changes) were higher in asthmatic patients and it was significantly increased with increased severity. BAL total cell count is higher in asthmatic patients. BAL eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes as well as MMP-9 positive cell count were higher in asthmatic patients and increased with severity. MMP-9 tissue expression was also strongly inversely correlated with the spirometric parameters in asthmatic patients.ConclusionsMMP-9 plays a role in airway inflammation and airway remodeling in asthma. MMP-9 is an important player in airway remodeling in bronchial asthma and may be the link between inflammation and remodeling processes