Dynamic weighted idle time heuristic for flowshop scheduling

The constructive heuristic of Nawaz, Enscore and Ham (NEH) has been introduced in 1983 to solve flowshop scheduling. Many researchers have continued to improve the NEH by adding new steps and procedures to the existing algorithm. Thus, this study has developed a new heuristic known as Dynamic Weighted Idle Time (DWIT) method by adding dynamic weight factors for solving the partial solution with purpose to obtain optimal makespan and improve the NEH heuristic. The objective of this study are to develop a DWIT heuristic to solve flowshop scheduling problem and to assess the performance of the new DWIT heuristic against the current best scheduling heuristic, ie the NEH. This research developed a computer programming in Microsoft Excel to measure the flowshop scheduling performance for every change of weight factors. The performance measure is done by using n jobs (n=6,10 and 20) and 4 machines. The weight factors were applied with numerical method within the range of zero to one. Different weight factors and machines idle time were used at different problem sizes. For 6 jobs and 4 machines, only idle time before and in between two jobs were used while for 10 jobs and 20 jobs the consideration of idle time was idle time before, in between two jobs and after completion of the last job. In 6 jobs problem, the result was compared between DWIT against Optimum and NEH against Optimum. While in 10 jobs and 20 jobs problem the result was compared between DWIT against the NEH. Overall result shows that the result on 6 and 10 jobs problem the DWIT heuristic obtained better results than NEH heuristic. However, in 20 jobs problem, the result shows that the NEH was better than DWIT. The result of this study can be used for further research in modifying the weight factors and idle time selections in order to improve the NEH heuristic

Factors influencing behavioral intention to use m-learning and the mediation role of user satisfaction

The rapid development of mobile technologies has resulted in a phenomenal growth in the number of youth using the mobile devices for their learning in Malaysia. An understanding on the influence of mobile technologies and its intention to use for learning are crucial. However, there is still a lacking of attention being given by researchers related to this area. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing intention to use m-learning among students at Malaysian technical universities. The research model has been adopted by combining two related theoretical models, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), and the IS success model. A total of 400 sets of data were collected from four Malaysia technical universities using purposeful structured random sampling and self-administrated survey questionnaire. The SPSS AMOS software has been used to test the model of its goodness of fit and the relationships between the variables. The results revealed that the performance expectancy, perceived playfulness, and self-management of learning have a positive significant influence to predict behavioral intention to use m-learning, while social influence and effort expectancy show a negative impact on the behavioral intention. The performance expectancy, self-management of learning and effort expectancy are positively significantly related to user satisfaction while the social influence, and perceived playfulness are negatively significantly related to user satisfaction. It was also found that user satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between performance expectancy and behavioral intention to use m-learning, and the relationship between factors influencing learning and behavioral intention to use m-learning. However, user satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between effort expectancy and behavioral intention to use m-learning

Mobile technology for learning satisfaction among students at Malaysian technical universities (MTUN)

Mobile technology has heralded new learning experience and advent changes on the way we are learning in our life. Higher education institutions around the world will need to consider how to make the most of these new opportunities to stay competitive in the marketplace. Learning environment requires universities to examine teaching and learning practices as these advent changes will have a significant phenomenon effect on higher education. Most previous studies have been focusing on intention to use m-learning at the higher institution while there is a lacking on finding out of user’s satisfaction on the use of mobile technologies for learning. Thus, the current study has been carried out to investigate the use of mobile technology for learning satisfaction among the students at the Malaysian technical universities. The research model was formulated using the constructs used in IS success model. A total of 400 duly completed survey questionnaires was collected via purposeful structured random sampling and self-administrated survey questionnaire. The hypotheses formulated were tested using SPSS AMOS. The result revealed that the mean tendency of perceived usefulness, information quality, system quality, learning interaction were scored at a high level. Perceived usefulness, information quality and learning interaction have positive relationships respectively with user satisfaction while system quality indicated negative relationship towards user satisfaction. Findings of this study add new understandings with regard to the factors of m-learning and the levels of these respective factors that influence students’ learning satisfaction through mobile technology

Information system key success factors and student behavioral intention to use M-learning

Key success factor is a planning tool use in designing information system that meet the need of user. Mobile technologies for learning is an emerging tools in education evolution where the learning process occurs through integration of electronic learning and mobile technologies. Higher education institutions around the world will need to consider how to make the most of these new opportunities to be competitive in the market. Most previous studies have been focusing on social factors that influence behavioral intention to use m-learning while there is a lacking on finding technological factors such as system quality and information quality on behavioral intention to use m-learning. Thus, the current study was carried out to investigate technological factors that influence behavioral intention to use m-learning among students at the Malaysian technical universities. The research model was formulated using the constructs used in IS success model. A total of 400 duly completed survey questionnaires was collected via purposeful structured random sampling and self-administrated survey questionnaire. The hypotheses formulated were then tested using SPSS AMOS. The result revealed that the mean tendency of perceived usefulness, information quality, system quality, learning interaction was scored at high levels. Perceived usefulness and learning interaction have positive influence on behavioral intention to use m-learning, while information quality and system quality indicated negative relationship towards behavioral intention to use m-learning. Findings of this study add new understanding as regard to technological factors of m-learning and the level that it influences student learning behavioral intention to use m-learning among higher education students

Causes of organizational cynicism and its consequence on teaching staff in Malaysia

Cynicism reveals itself as a new pattern in employer and employee relations. Now academicians are realising the effect that cynicism can have on organizations. This phenomenon has widespread in various kinds of organizations. This study considering a systematized view in which organizational cynicism measured as a negative behaviour, mainly in the educational sector. Current study aimed to endeavours to analyse the mediator role of organizational cynicism on the relationship among workplace incivility, psychological contract violation, with the outcome of organisational citizenship behaviour among teaching staff of the public secondary schools of Malaysia. The current study emphasises the value of working environment and personal characteristics of employees in determining organisational cynicism and will suggest the causes and consequences of cynicism