Employee attitudes as a mediator between HRM and organizational performance

Attitude is a power that controls human behaviour. When employee Attitude is positive, it can give impact positive to organization performance. A proper human resource management (HRM) managed by organization, the employee attitude will be affected. HRM practices influence employee attitude positively and there is a mediating role of employee attitude between training and development dimension of HRM practices and organizational performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore employee atttiude as a mediator between HRM and organizational performance. A sample of this study was 219 respondents from employee construction in Libya. The data was analyzed using structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. This study showed that employee attitudes is a full mediator between relationship HRM and organizational performance. Therefore, HRM practices influence employee attitude and its give impact to organizational performance for more effective and efficient in achieving organization goal

Examining risk as guideline in design stage for green retrofits projects: a review

Green buildings have generally been adopted as strategy towards sustainable development to reduce greenhouse gas. The implementation of green concept recently has widely spread over the year. However, the positive impact to the environment is still low due to heavily focus on new construction project as compare with retrofitting the existing building. A retrofit practice is not only regaining overall existing building appearance, but the improvement towards energy efficiency is remarkably significant at the expense of huge challenges and risk. As a consequence, retrofit practitioner is confronting an assortment of risks at the early stage of the project. Given that, green retrofit concept is emerging research area to Malaysia construction industry which motivates to determining the risk involve in design stage. This paper aims to review risk in design stage for green retrofit project for commercial buildings through gathering comprehensive literature review. As a result, two main category risks in design stage (technical/quality risk and financial management risk) is determined and extracted to identify risk. These risks are then quantified through analysis to enhance design performance within costbenefit. The proposed conceptual framework model is expected to assist retrofit practitioner to identify risk and obtain feasible retrofit strategy

Control of Triple Link Inverted Pendulum on Two-Wheeled System Using IT2FLC

A triple link inverted pendulum is dynamic and highly unstable system. In this paper, an intense comparison is demonstrated in order to stabilize triple link inverted pendulum on two wheels system based on fuzzy logic controls. The model of triple link inverted pendulum on wheels is developed using SimWise 4D CAD software environment and the model is integrated with Matlab/Simulink for control purpose. Each link is controlled by fuzzy controller to maintain in the upright position on two wheel system. The performance of each links is observed in terms of peak undershoot, peak overshoot, settling angle, and steady state angle. The result shows that Interval Type-2 fuzzy logic control (IT2FLC) is superior and give better performance compared to Type-1 fuzzy logic control (T1FLC)

Benefits for public healthcare buildings towards Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs): initial reviews

NZEBs concept has received incrementing attention especially since European Union Parliament are progressively moving towards regulation in which all new buildings to be “nearly Zero-Energy” Buildings by 2020. Even though this concept delivers promising benefits, previous studies found that the benefit of NZEB is still in vague to the Malaysian construction industry, mostly for healthcare buildings. The NZEBs concept implementation is critical in healthcare building as it seen as a key part of the needed transition towards sustainable development. This paper aims to define benefits of NZEBs practices through initial investigation among architects. Several existing energies works of literature and pilot studies by using semi-structured interviews were conducted. The findings divulge that, although the term ‘NZEBs design strategies’ is not being used largely across construction industry in Malaysia, some sustainable practices related to the design stage of construction has been implemented. The findings are also promising in growing awareness, practices and implementation of NZEBs design strategies by the practitioner in Malaysia. It is foreseen that the paper will provide a straightforward knowledge for future research in NZEBs design strategies practices for healthcare buildings construction in Malaysia

Two-wheeled wheelchair stabilization using interval type-2 fuzzy logic controller

In this paper, an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Control (IT2FLC) is proposed to control a two-wheeled wheelchair system which mimics double-links inverted pendulum and known as highly nonlinear, unstable and complex system. The control structures of the two-wheeled wheelchair is based on IT2FLC for balancing and maintaining stability of two-wheeled wheelchair system in the upright position. This paper is aimed to develop a 3-Dimensional (3D) model of two-wheeled wheelchair using a SimWise 4D (SW4D) software, which replace a complex mathematical representation that is obtained using long equation and derivation. The movement of the system is visualized using the SW4D as it is integrated with Matlab Simulink. Simulation results show that the IT2FLC give a good performance in term of tilt angle at zero degree in the upright position

An assistive and research framework methodology for ships’ upkeep and repair organisational learning performance

The Omani Dockyard (OD) requires the development of a research methodology, which encompasses an assistive framework to maintain the research boundary to support a research framework. A research framework is developed to understand the behaviour of variables. A deductive/quantitative – survey questionnaire is employed in the main research to statistically understand the ‘mindsets/opinions’ of a large population and an inductive/qualitative – semi-structured interview using selected senior managers for the total research. Another questionnaire was used to critically learn from the agreement of the senior managers if the proposed contributions were in line with the ships’ upkeep and repair ‘organisational performance’. The initial and most definitive requirement is also to understand the strength of independent and mediation constructs applicability for the enhancement of performance. The problem is in the area of ‘enhancement of organisational learning on knowledge and competencies’ to underpin ships’ upkeep and repair support performance for better availability of operational ships. This research methodology was designed for a ‘major piece of research’ involving a doctorate dissertation in ships’ support performance. The conclusion and recommendation for a ‘major piece of research’ formulated the framework/model to underpin performance. This study concentrates on the research methodology that was used for ships’ upkeep and repair performance of the Omani dockyard with a compressive description of the total results, which can be generalized for other studies

Critical success and moderating factors effect in Indonesian Public Universities' business incubators

This study aims to examine the effect of critical success and moderating factors in Indonesian public universities' business incubators. The study of business incubators benefits university professors in their roles as managers and advisors, university faculty entrepreneurs and start-ups/tenants in the knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship learning processes, and government officials in effective policy making. For the universities, the incubators serve as a platform for the commercialization of their research efforts. The incubators assist the universities' stakeholders in fulfilling their newly identified responsibilities towards building the nation's economy and giving the faculty members and graduate students the chance to conduct research. Regarding the economic environment, the incubators help create job opportunities, increase the country's economic value, and reduce poverty. This research employed the quantitative method approach, and the data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 23 and Smart PLS version 3 statistical software packages. The samples of this research were comprised of 31 business incubator managers from Indonesian public universities. Although there have been previous models about critical success and moderating factors for business incubators in other countries, this study is the first that was conducted in Indonesia and found direct and indirect relationships between critical success factors and moderating success factors for Indonesian Public University Business Incubators. The results of the research demonstrated that good system and infrastructure showed a strong direct relationship with success factors and that information technology showed a strong relationship with the moderating factors, namely age and quality of facilities. Furthermore, mentoring and networking showed a strong relationship with the moderating factors good system and infrastructure and that university regulation had a strong relationship with moderating factor credit and rewards. Entry criteria, exit criteria, and funding support showed strong direct relationships to success factors. These findings could improve the management of business incubators in Indonesian Public Universities and allow them to more successful

Innovation and knowledge management as the catalyst of small medium enterprise’s performance: a conceptual paper

Malaysia is now moving towards becoming a developed nation, targeting on the high-income nation by 2020. In order to execute this intention, Malaysia needs to develop and strengthen the economic growth. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are acknowledged have a significant role in Malaysian economic growth and expected to contribute 41% of GDP by 2020. However, there are a few factors hinder SMEs to maximize their growth and it has been reported that SMEs contributions to the country’s economy are still comparatively low compared with the contributions of SMEs in many developed and developing countries. Innovation is one of the important factors to remaining competitive in this globalization world. Therefore, SMEs need to focus on innovation activities to increase contribution and remain competitive. Knowledge management is one of the most effective strategies that may help to stimulate innovations and enable innovation activities into the business. Hence, the main aim of this study is to investigate the role of innovation in the relationship between knowledge management practices and SMEs Performance. This study proposed to investigate innovation activities at SMEs manufacturing sector focusing in food and beverages industry. Specifically, innovation types that will be focused in this study are product, process and management innovation. The result hopefully will become an empirical evidence that confirmed innovation is crucial to increase SMEs competitive ability and increase organizational performance. In addition, the result also expectantly prove knowledge management practices have an impact on innovation. Lastly, this study will help Malaysian Government to strategies the policy to overcome difficulties and more importantly in ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of Malaysian SMEs

The role of knowledge management in facilitating innovation for sustainable SMEs performance

This paper formulates a framework postulated innovation as mediator of the relationship between knowledge management practices and SMEs Performance. Knowledge management and innovation are believed have an important impact on sustainability and organizational performance. Thus, analyzing these concepts is critical for creating competitive advantage for an organization's survival. Management team or governing bodies require to have strategies to generate, modify, and manage knowledge in order to continue their innovation capability, thus boost organizational performance. Hence, the main aim of this study is to examine the relationship between effective knowledge management strategies with technological and organizational innovation in sustaining SMEs performance. This study is important for organization desire to increase innovation capabilities, especially small, developing and geographically disconnected countries that have traditionally seen innovation through early adoption as opposed to active involvement. Particularly in Malaysia, Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have a very high potential in supporting nations' economic development and wealth creation. Despite all the governments' supports, SMEs experience difficulties at the early stage of their organizational growth. Therefore, the SME needs to evaluate survival ability, and improving their current strategy in innovation to compete and sustain in the market. Thus, this study proposes to investigate the relationship between knowledge management and innovation in Malaysian SMEs. This study also will propose a conceptual model to further understand factors contribute to success in innovation capabilities

Exploring knowledge types and knowledge protection in organizations

Knowledge management has emerged as an area of enquiry for managing organizational knowledge. It is a key driver for organizational effectiveness and competitive advantage and an effective way to address economic problems including losses related to high turnovers and retiring workforce. It also has been considered an important weapon for maximizing the potential of knowledge for sustainable performance for public and private organizations. Knowledge is a critical resource for organizations, and the knowledge resources need to be properly recognized and used for achieving organizational goals. Knowledge has limited value if it is not shared within the organization. The aim of the chapter is to examine the relationship between knowledge types and knowledge protection. It will also identify several approaches (i.e. tools and programs) or mechanisms for protecting the knowledge from loss