How transformational leadership and advanced technologies foster radical innovation : the role of advanced training, organisational learning, innovative climate and capabilities in large firms

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Business.Radical innovation is a key enabler to sustained competitive advantage and long-term success of firms. Despite its importance, there is lack of understanding of what components of a firm are able to best promote this type of innovation in dynamic market environments. Drawing on the dynamic capability theory, this study investigates how transformational leadership as a ‘human factor’ and advanced technology as a ‘machinery factor’ can ‘in parallel’ encourage radical innovation. This study proposes a conceptual framework and empirically tests path-dependent influences of: transformational leadership, advanced technology, advanced training, organisational learning, innovative climate and innovation capability on radical innovation within the specific sphere of large Saudi firms. To fulfil the purpose of this study, a deductive approach was used, and the unit of analysis was at the individual level to examine the hypothesised relationships between factors. Focus group discussions and a pilot-test are applied to ensure content appropriateness and validity of the measurement items in the tested model. The sample for this study consists of seven large firms in four different sectors. The target population includes only employees working in innovative activities in large firms who have first-hand knowledge of organisational features that contribute to the innovation processes. Data were collected via an online survey from seven large Saudi firms in four different sectors, resulting in 237 usable responses for analysis. The hypotheses were examined by employing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with the statistical software program AMOS version 24. The conceptual framework of the study was affirmed and supported by empirical results. The results indicate that both transformational leadership and advanced technology are two significant determiners for successful radical innovation in large firms. The findings reveal that both transformational leadership and advanced technology enhance the positive effects of organisational learning and advanced training on innovative climate. An improved innovative climate then has a direct positive influence on innovation capability, which promotes radical innovation. This study contributes to the existing body of the innovation literature by explicating the parallel effect of transformational leadership and advanced technology on cultivation of the innovation capabilities necessary for radical innovation. It enriches the existing literature by explaining how transformational leadership and advanced technology influence organisational learning, advanced training, and innovative climate to create innovation capabilities respectively. Moreover, it contributes to the innovation literature by identifying and addressing that innovative climate is a significant mediating factor on the relationship between both of advanced training and organisational learning on innovation capability. The findings of this study offer a set of implications for practitioners and executives to assist them to support radical innovation outcomes through, for instance, recruiting for and/or developing a preferred leadership style, how technology might be deployed, and ways to configure these in order to produce a more innovative climate in the organisation. Finally, the current study provides a number of avenues for future research on similar topics, including the suggestion to replicate this study within different settings, including other Arabian Gulf and Middle Eastern countries

Screening for trisomies by cell-free DNA testing of maternal blood: consequences of a failed result

Objectives: First, to report the distribution of fetal fraction and the rate of failed result in trisomies 21, 18 and 13 , by comparison with pregnancies unaffected by these trisomies, secondly, examine the possible effects of maternal and fetal characteristics on the fetal fraction and thirdly, consider the options for the further management of pregnancies with failed cfDNA result. Methods: This was a cohort study of 10,698 singleton pregnancies undergoing screening for fetal trisomies 21, 18 and 13 by cfDNA testing at 10 14 weeks’ gestation There were 160 cases of trisomy 21, 50 of trisomy 18, 16 of trisomy 13 and 10,472 unaffected by these trisomies. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine significant predictors of fetal fraction and failed result amongst maternal and fetal characteristics. Results: Fetal fraction decreased with increasing body m ass index and maternal age, was lower in women of South Asian racial origin than in Caucasians and in assisted than natural conceptions, and increased with fetal crown rump length, serum PAPP A and free hCG. The median fetal fraction was 11.0% (IQR 8.3-14.4%) in the unaffected group, 10.7% (IQR 7.8-14.3%) in trisomy 21, 8.6% (IQR 5.0-10.2%) in trisomy 18 and 7.0% (IQR 6.0-9.4%) in trisomy 13. There was a failed result from cfDNA testing after first sampling in 2.9% of the unaffected group, 1.9% of trisomy 21, 8.0% of trisomy 18 and 6.3% of trisomy 13. In the cases of failed result, 7% of women had invasive testing, mainly because of high risk from the combined test and/or presence of sonographic features suggestive of trisomies 18 and 13. All cases of trisomies were detected prenatally. Conclusions: In cases of failed cfDNA test the rate of trisomies 18 and 13, but not trisomy 21, are higher than in those with a successful test. In the management of such cases, the decision in favor of invasive testing sh ould depend on the risk of prior screening and the results of detailed ultrasound examination

DFT Study of Half Sandwich of Vanadium (IV) Cyclopentadienyl Complexes

A novel new vanadium (IV) complexes incorporating the chelating diamido cyclopentadienyl {ArN(CH2)3NAr)}2-((ηn-Cp)Cp)} (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3)(Cp = C5H5 and n = 1,2,3,4 and 5) have been studied with calculation of the properties of species involved in various of cyclopentadienyl reaction. These were carried out under investigation of density functional theory (DFT) calculation, and comparing together. Other methods, explicitly including electron correlation, are necessary for more accurate calculations; MB3LYP (Becke) (Lee–Yang–Parr) level of theory often being used to obtain more exact results. These complexes were estimated of electronic energy for molecular system, because it accounts for all electron correlation interactions. The optimised of [V(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl(η5-Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3 and Cp= C5H5) was found to be thermally more stable than others of vanadium cyclopentadienyl. In the meantime the complex [V(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl(η1-Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3 and Cp= C5H5) which is showed a low thermal stability in case of the just one carbon of cyclopentadienyl can be insertion with vanadium metal centre. By using Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model, as a basis of the molecular orbital (MO) analysis and showed the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest occupied molecular orbital LUMO

DFT Study of Half Sandwich of Vanadium (IV) Cyclopentadienyl Complexes

A novel new vanadium (IV) complexes incorporating the chelating diamido cyclopentadienyl {ArN(CH2)3NAr)}2-((ηn-Cp)Cp)} (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3)(Cp = C5H5 and n = 1,2,3,4 and 5) have been studied with calculation of the properties of species involved in various of cyclopentadienyl reaction. These were carried out under investigation of density functional theory (DFT) calculation, and comparing together. Other methods, explicitly including electron correlation, are necessary for more accurate calculations; MB3LYP (Becke) (Lee–Yang–Parr) level of theory often being used to obtain more exact results. These complexes were estimated of electronic energy for molecular system, because it accounts for all electron correlation interactions. The optimised of [V(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl(η5-Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3 and Cp= C5H5) was found to be thermally more stable than others of vanadium cyclopentadienyl. In the meantime the complex [V(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl(η1-Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3 and Cp= C5H5) which is showed a low thermal stability in case of the just one carbon of cyclopentadienyl can be insertion with vanadium metal centre. By using Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model, as a basis of the molecular orbital (MO) analysis and showed the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest occupied molecular orbital LUMO

DFT Study of Half Sandwich of Vanadium (IV) Cyclopentadienyl Complexes

A novel new vanadium (IV) complexes incorporating the chelating diamido cyclopentadienyl {ArN(CH2)3NAr)}2-((ηn-Cp)Cp)} (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3)(Cp = C5H5 and n = 1,2,3,4 and 5) have been studied with calculation of the properties of species involved in various of cyclopentadienyl reaction. These were carried out under investigation of density functional theory (DFT) calculation, and comparing together. Other methods, explicitly including electron correlation, are necessary for more accurate calculations; MB3LYP (Becke) (Lee–Yang–Parr) level of theory often being used to obtain more exact results. These complexes were estimated of electronic energy for molecular system, because it accounts for all electron correlation interactions. The optimised of [V(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl(η5-Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3 and Cp= C5H5) was found to be thermally more stable than others of vanadium cyclopentadienyl. In the meantime the complex [V(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl(η1-Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3 and Cp= C5H5) which is showed a low thermal stability in case of the just one carbon of cyclopentadienyl can be insertion with vanadium metal centre. By using Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model, as a basis of the molecular orbital (MO) analysis and showed the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest occupied molecular orbital LUMO

DFT Study of Half Sandwich of Vanadium (IV) Cyclopentadienyl Complexes

A novel new vanadium (IV) complexes incorporating the chelating diamido cyclopentadienyl {ArN(CH2)3NAr)}2-((ηn-Cp)Cp)} (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3)(Cp = C5H5 and n = 1,2,3,4 and 5) have been studied with calculation of the properties of species involved in various of cyclopentadienyl reaction. These were carried out under investigation of density functional theory (DFT) calculation, and comparing together. Other methods, explicitly including electron correlation, are necessary for more accurate calculations; MB3LYP (Becke) (Lee–Yang–Parr) level of theory often being used to obtain more exact results. These complexes were estimated of electronic energy for molecular system, because it accounts for all electron correlation interactions. The optimised of [V(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl(η5-Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3 and Cp= C5H5) was found to be thermally more stable than others of vanadium cyclopentadienyl. In the meantime the complex [V(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl(η1-Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3 and Cp= C5H5) which is showed a low thermal stability in case of the just one carbon of cyclopentadienyl can be insertion with vanadium metal centre. By using Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model, as a basis of the molecular orbital (MO) analysis and showed the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest occupied molecular orbital LUMO

Feasibility of using ultrasonic pulse velocity to measure the bond between new and old concrete

تظهر الحاجة الى الربط بين الخرسانة الجديدة والقديمة في العديد من التطبيقات العملية، مثل الترميم أو التقوية او تمديد البنايات او العناصر الخرسانية المسلحة، بالاضافة الى استخدامها في المفاصل الانشائية. وتظهر بشكل واضح الصعوبات العملية في كيفية قياس مقدار الربط المتحصل في السطح المشترك بين الخرسانة الجديدة والقديمة. إجراء الفحص الاتلافي للقص على السطح المشترك بين الخرسانة الجديدة والقديمة لا يكون الخيار المناسب في معظم الحالات العملية بسبب طبيعته الاتلافية. لذلك يهدف هذا البحث الى دراسة امكانية استخدام فحص سرعة الموجات فوق الصوتية غير الاتلافي لتقييم الربط المتحصل عند السطح المشترك بين الخرسانة الجديدة والقديمة. تم عمل التجارب المختبرية على 24 نموذجاً من الخرسانة الاعتيادية والعالية المقاومة، وذلك مع أو بدون استخدام عنصر الايبوكسي المحسن للربط بين المادتين. بينت نتائج الفحوصات التجريبية بشكل واضح امكانية استخدام هذه الطريقة لتقييم الربط المتحصل بين الخرسانة الجديدة والقديمة.Connecting new and old concrete is required in many practical situations, such as repairing, strengthening or extending existing reinforced concrete buildings or members. In addition to using this technique at construction joints. It is obvious the practical difficulties to measure the bond attained at the interface surface between the new and old concrete. Doing the destructive shear test at the interface surface is not an option in most practical cases due to its destructive character. So, this paper aims to study the feasibility of using the nondestructive ultrasonic pulse velocity to evaluate the bond attained at the interface surface between new and old concrete. An experimental work has been done to 24 specimens of normal and high strength concrete, with and without using an epoxy bonding agent at the interface that connect the two materials. The results of experiments clearly shown that this method can be used to evaluate the acquired bond between the new and old concrete

Artificial Neural Networks for Microwave Detection

Microwave detection techniques based on the theory of perturbation of cavity resonators are commonly used to measure the permittivity and permeability of objects of dielectric and ferrite materials at microwave frequencies. When a small object is introduced into a microwave cavity resonator, the resonant frequency is perturbed. Since it is possible to measure the change in frequency with high accuracy, this provides a valuable method for measuring the electric and magnetic properties of the object. Likewise, these microwave resonators can be used as sensors for sorting dielectric objects. Techniques based upon this principle are in common use for measuring the dielectric and magnetic properties of materials at microwave frequencies for variety of applications. This thesis presents an approach of using Artificial Neural Networks to detect material change in a rectangular cavity. The method is based on the theory of the perturbation of cavity resonators where a change in the resonant frequencies of the cavity is directly proportional to the dielectric constant of the inserted objects. A rectangular cavity test fixture was built and excited with a monopole antenna. The cavity was filled with different materials, and the reflection coefficient of each material was measured over a wide range of frequencies. An intelligent systems approach using an artificial neural network (ANN) methodology was implemented for the automatic material change detection. To develop an automatic detection model, a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) was designed with one hidden layer and gradient descent back-propagation (BP) learning algorithm was used for the ANN training. The network training process was performed in an off-line mode, and after the training process was accomplished, the model was able to learn the rules without knowing any algorithm for automatic detection