Formal Management Systems Research Articles

Social Media in Higher Education: A Study on Use of Social Media by New Entrants at the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, SRI LANKA, during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The transition to online education prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on educational institutions globally, especially in developing countries. The absence of formal online learning management systems (LMS) in many of these institutions presented significant challenges. In response, many educators and higher educational institutions turned in to social media platforms and other digital tools to continue providing education and support the learning process. The present study attempts to understand social media behaviour of new entrants to the faculty of Dental Sciences of University of Peradeniya, more specifically for fulfilling their information need related to academic programs during the CORONA outbreak. The study was carried out at the Faculty of Dental Sciences during the library orientation program for new entrants. Although 117 undergraduates registered with the dental library for the academic year 2022/2023, only 112 students participated in the survey. An online questionnaire made with Google Forms was administered among the research sample.According to key findings, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Research Gate were the most popular social media platforms used by Dental Science new entrants for the purpose of academic information during the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, 65% of them had been used these online platforms as a tool of searching scientific and academic information related to their academic programs. There were some positive impacts of using social media for academic purposes. One significant benefit was that social media helped them to maintain better relationships with their peers during the CORONA pandemic, facilitating peer support and collaboration etc. However, the students have perceived some negative impacts of social media as well i.e. students found social media to be quite time-consuming. Despite the potential of educational benefits of social media, the study indicated a gap in awareness and utilization of them for academic purposes. A significant proportion of students, about 35%, were not aware of the educational potential of social media. The majority of respondents appeared to prioritize using social media for entertainment rather than accessing educational content or utilizing academic features available on these platforms. On top of these findings, it can be recommended that educational institutions and policymakers in Sri Lanka consider strategies to harness the educational potential of social media for undergraduates. By raising awareness and encouraging the use of social media for academic purposes, they could enhance the learning experience and make better use of digital tools to support education in the context of ongoing and future disruptions.

Comparative analysis of the effectiveness and efficiency of formal and informal waste collectors in urban waste management system

Effective and efficient waste collection and management is critical to achieving sustainable cities and communities, public health, and sustainable development. This notwithstanding, the rapid and ever-increasing rate of urban waste generation in developing countries has led to the emergence of a dual system of formal and informal waste collection schemes with unclear effectiveness and efficiency. This study compared the operational effectiveness and efficiency of formal and informal waste collectors in the urban waste management system in Ghana. A case study research design is employed with a focus on households and waste collectors in the Suame Municipality in the Ashanti of Ghana. Data were collected through questionnaire administration and interviews, waste quantification, and field measurements. The findings reveal that 61.5 % of households rely on informal waste collectors, 35 % on formal waste collectors and 3.5 % use indiscriminate dumping. The formal waste collectors were more effective serving 111 households and collecting 11.239 tonnes of waste per trip but utilises 62 % of their collection capacity while the informal sector collects 846.67 kg per trip and uses 106 % of their collection capacity. Formal waste collectors were also more efficient with the use of time. The study unveils an opportunity to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in municipal waste management in low- and middle-income countries with reforms and practices that build upon existing waste management practices and integrate informal waste collectors into formal waste management systems.

Ten years of walk the line

AbstractWhile the process safety principles conduct of operations, operational discipline, and operational readiness, have been a part of risk‐based process safety since the inception, recognizing the need for a formal management system connecting them and optimizing their value is a more recent concept introduced around 2010 with Walk the Line. Conduct of operations is concerned with how work is done in a manufacturing unit to produce consistent results. The philosophy behind Walk the Line is that to successfully produce consistent results, there are elements of leadership identifying the right tools, operators executing tasks correctly, and technical people monitoring results and changing the tools for continuous improvement. Each of these disciplines, management, operational, and engineering should be in place to ensure consistent performance and repeatable results. This paper reflects on the last 10 years of Walk the Line and highlights features of the conduct of operations model that supports a sustainable management system, continuous improvement, and reduction of process safety incidents.

BUILDING SHOWCASE PLATFORM

Abstract : Formal project management is not widespread in SMEs. Most of the office work and normal business activities are looked by the staff in an informal manner and in most cases without any project management training. This is not to say that their projects are not successful. Many SMEs handle projects well and are successful. This could be due to their tactical knowledge and the individuals involved rather than a conscious effort. But these companies could be falling short of their potential and may perform better if they follow a proper formal system of project management practices. Management, produces a degree of predictability, focuses on systems, relays on control, organizes and staffs, accepts the status quo and motivates people to comply with standards. This project aims to study the approach of small and informal construction firms towards construction management and the various techniques adopted by them and thereby suggest systems and methods in project management to improve their performance. A startup construction firm that did not have formal project management systems and techniques in place was identified and upon discussion with their owners and employees regarding their practices, they were willing to let us assist them in their projects by setting up a project management function there by analyzing their work. During the course of the study, significant improvements were observed in the system adopted by the firm in various aspects like quality control, project monitoring & tracking and safety. It can thus be concluded that introduction of project management techniques even though on a small but systematic way can help bring improvement in the performance of the firm and contribute to the organization’s growth in the long run. IndexTerms – Web-Based Application, Modern structure.

Benchmarking medical laboratory performance on a global scale.

Laboratory performance as a relative concept needs repetitive benchmarking for continuous improvement of laboratory procedures and medical processes. Benchmarking as such establishes reference levels as a basis for improvements efforts for healthcare institutions along the diagnosis cycle, with the patient at its center. But while this concept seems to be generally acknowledged in laboratory medicine, a lack of practical implementation hinders progress at a global level. The aim of this study was to examine the utility of a specific combination of indicators and survey-based data collection approach, and to establish a global benchmarking dataset of laboratory performance for decision makers in healthcare institutions. The survey consisted of 44 items relating to laboratory operations in general and three subscales identified in previous studies. A global sample of laboratories was approached by trained professionals. Results were analyzed with standard descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis. Dimensional reduction of specific items was performed using confirmatory factor analysis, resulting in individual laboratory scores for the three subscales of "Operational performance," "Integrated clinical care performance," and "Financial sustainability" for the high-level concept of laboratory performance. In total, 920 laboratories from 55 countries across the globe participated in the survey, of which 401 were government hospital laboratories, 296 private hospital laboratories, and 223 commercial laboratories. Relevant results include the need for digitalization and automation along the diagnosis cycle. Formal quality management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 15189 etc.) need to be adapted more broadly to increase patient safety. Monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs) relating to healthcare performance was generally low (in the range of 10-30% of laboratories overall), and as a particularly salient result, only 19% of laboratories monitored KPIs relating to speeding up diagnosis and treatment. Altogether, this benchmark elucidates current practice and has the potential to guide improvement efforts and standardization in quality & safety for patients and employees alike as well as sustainability of healthcare systems around the globe.

Opportunities and challenges for circular economy in the Maldives: A stakeholder analysis of informal E-waste management in the Greater Malé Region

In the Maldives, the contribution of the informal sector to e-waste management is significant as a formal e-waste management system is not yet established. The opportunities for advancing the circular economy in the Maldives’ e-waste sector rely on the possibility of its formalization. This study aimed to examine the current and anticipated situations of e-waste management in the Greater Malé Region of the Maldives, with a specific focus on formalizing the informal sector. Interviews and questionnaire-based surveys were conducted followed by statistical analysis of the data. The t-test performed for the consumer survey data (n = 202) suggests that formalization encourages consumers to engage with the informal sector, resulting in increased resource recovery. Thematic analysis of interviews conducted with both formal and informal sector stakeholders (n = 17) revealed that the informal sector plays a substantial role in managing e-waste. It also underscored the need for government assistance to enhance safety and productivity in this sector. Various opportunities and challenges for establishing a circular economy in the country were identified, such as the rise in e-waste generation, the presence of an active informal workforce, the lack of sufficient government support, and prevailing stereotypes among consumers regarding informal workers. These findings provide a fresh perspective on the solutions for waste management in the Maldives and open the door to further explore the significance of the informal sector and feasible formalization initiatives. This study could contribute to the literature on the role of the informal sector in waste management in the Maldives and other small island developing states.

Components and Process of Performance Appraisal of Teaching Faculty

Abstract In the field of medical and health professions education, performance appraisal has been regarded as one of the crucial aspects to improve the effectiveness and efficiency. Performance appraisal has to be a systematic and well-thought plan, wherein even inputs from the faculty members have been taken for the overall improvement of the existing or novel system. We must remember that performance appraisal is a formal management system that serves the purpose of evaluating the performance of a faculty member or any employee in a wide range of domains in an organization. In conclusion, performance appraisal should not be looked upon as a method to find shortcomings, rather as an opportunity to have a constructive dialog with the faculty to bring about improvement in their performance.

GIS-based approach for optimizing biowaste collection services in rural small sized municipalities

Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishes the obligation for Member States to ensure, by 31 December 2023, that biowaste is separated and recycled at source or collected selectively. As this is a responsibility of the municipalities, studies to evaluate the best solutions and to ensure the rationality of the investments to be made to fulfill these objectives is of particular importance. Bearing in mind the new municipality’s responsibility, this article aims to demonstrate the applicability of GIS in supporting planning and decision of a new service provided to the population. The solutions found must be economically sustainable and feasible for small size municipalities, especially for those with no formal biowaste management system implemented and with reduced resources. It is therefore proposed an approach to analyze vehicle route optimization for the selective collection and transportation of biowaste in markedly rural municipalities with a strong forestry component, equating solutions that allow their recovery, as well as the promotion of the management of forest spaces. The Network Analyst extension of the ArcGIS® software was used to answer questions related to travel time route optimization, optimal location selection and definition of service areas. The analysis performed allowed to identify and evaluate the main factors that minimize the costs associated with the undifferentiated and selective collection and transportation of biowaste in the study area (Oleiros-Amieira parish, Portugal). It was determined the need to distribute the service through 3 different routes, as well as optimizing the location of a biomass plant fed by forest remnants deposited in community containers spread across the study area. Developing simpler and cost-effective instruments for reducing waste transport costs for small forest owners and municipalities, such as the proposed one, is essential to ensure a successful implementation of Directive (EU) 2018/851.

Role of Community-Based Organizations (CBO) in Formalizing the Informal E-waste Dismantling Sector of India: An Opinionated Perspective

The informal e-waste dismantling community consists of individuals who recycle and dismantle electronic waste (e-waste) outside of formal regulations. This informality is due to a lack of knowledge about proper waste handling, complex formalization procedures, competition from the formal sector, and economic challenges. Community-based organizations (CBOs) play a vital role in addressing these issues. CBOs support the formalization of informal dismantlers by providing licensed workspaces, access to recycling technologies, and assistance in transitioning to the formal economy. Formalizing the informal e-waste dismantling community through CBOs ensures compliance with regulations, promotes sustainability, and provides economic opportunities and social benefits. Case study analysis revealed that E-waste dismantler communities formed Community level, Sub-provincial Level, and Provincial level representatives partnered with local government bodies and organizations to attain socio-economic stability. They also contribute to capacity building, collaboration, and access to resources, and markets, supporting the transition to a formal sustainable e-waste management system.

Influence of strategic HRM and entrepreneurial orientation on dynamic capabilities and innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises

In small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), adopting a strategic human resource management (SHRM), approach can improve dynamic capabilities and promote greater innovation. However, most research on this topic is theoretical and focuses on large firms with well-established formal and mature human resource management systems and access to significant resources. Using a resource-based view framework, we investigate how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) enhances the SHRM–dynamic capabilities relationship in SMEs. Using time-lagged data from 456 SMEs in Australia, our results confirm that SHRM has an indirect positive association with innovation through its impact on dynamic capabilities. Additionally, EO has an indirect positive association with innovation through its impact on dynamic capabilities. Our results also show that EO moderates the positive relationship between dynamic capabilities and innovation such that the relationship becomes stronger as EO increases. This study’s results have theoretical and practical implications for the role of SHRM and EO in developing dynamic capabilities and innovation in SMEs.

Interactions between formal and informal institutions governing community and small-scale timber enterprises: The case of the Ampiyacu river basin in the Peruvian Amazon

Community-based and small-scale forestry enterprises (CSFEs) are heavily promoted as organizations for poverty reduction and deforestation. CSFEs are required to comply with formal laws, policies, and official programs, yet they also operate in informal spaces, with communities following traditional ways of managing their resources. Based on a case study of the Ampiyacu basin in the Peruvian Amazon, we analyzed how the interaction between formal and informal timber management systems has evolved over time, and how this interaction has affected tenure, forest management, forest monitoring and timber commercialization. Using qualitative research methods, including interviews with key informants and community members, our findings show that formal and traditional systems interact in diverse, complex and even contradictory ways. Informal community rules regulate timber use as much or more than the state, and can be more effective because they are more diverse, flexible and specific. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to a reflective debate on the recognition of local and Indigenous institutions, highlighting the importance of strengthening Indigenous peoples' autonomy.

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing and the changing landscape of gamete donor conception: key issues for practitioners and stakeholders

Research questionWhat effect does direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTCGT) have on information finding and sharing in relation to gamete donor conception? DesignThis study used in-depth qualitative interviews with parents through donor conception, donors, the relatives of donors and donor-conceived people who have used, or considered using, DTCGT. Interviews were conducted between September 2021 and February 2023. Sixty people defined themselves as having been affected by donor conception and DTCGT. Fifty-seven of these were resident in the UK at the time of interview. The final sample included 19 (spermatozoa, egg or embryo) donors, 25 donor-conceived people, 20 parents through donor conception and two relatives of donors. Five participants occupied more than one of these roles. ResultsThe rise of DTCGT is affecting how information about donor conception is managed: it shifts patterns of knowledge about donor conception; increases flexibility regarding the age of access to information about donor relatives; can lead to a growing role for non-professionals, including wider family members, in gatekeeping information about donor conception; accentuates the effect of donor conception for donors’ and the relatives of donor-conceived people; and shapes, and is shaped, by the formal regulatory donor information management systems. ConclusionFertility professionals should inform people using, or considering, donor conception, or (potential) donors, about the different ways DTCGT can affect sharing information about donor conception. Support is needed for those affected by these changes.

Circularity in cities: A comparative tool to inform prevention of plastic pollution

Cities bear a large burden of plastic management and pollution, which is not consistently recognized. The ‘circular economy’ has become an aspiration for reducing pollution and increasing sustainability, though quantification and monitoring methods are not consistent. We compare data from six cities participating in the Urban Ocean® program that utilized the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP) in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Panama, and Vietnam. CAP is a standardized methodology used to quantify circular materials management and collect community-level data to inform decision-making. Results show that plastic items and packaging represent over 90% of fast-moving consumer goods, 78% of to-go items, and 69% of all litter items, presenting challenges to local formal and informal waste management systems. These results support solutions that meet an individual city's needs and reflect the materials and challenges present. City-level data facilitates knowledge exchange between communities, which can lead to an effective network of more circular cities worldwide.

Stemming the tide: Does climate risk affect M&A performance?

AbstractWe examine the effect of climate change risks (CCR) on firms' decision of engaging in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and M&A performance. In this study we use the responses by firms on ‘climate change‐related risks and opportunities’ of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) survey and 1372 deals of US listed firms during 2010–2020. Consistent with risk vulnerability theory, our evidence indicates that firms with higher CCR have a lower probability of engaging in M&As. After controlling for possible endogeneity, our results also indicate that if acquirers with higher climate change risks choose to engage in M&A, it significantly reduces the announcement returns. These findings suggest that extant measures of climate change risks should be rethought when evaluating M&A efficiency. More broadly, our paper provides causal evidence that managers need to integrate CCR into their formal risk management systems to avoid unsuccessful M&As.

Inventory analysis of potential electronic waste generation in Setu, Tangerang Selatan

Electronic waste (E-waste) is currently one of the waste streams with the most significant growth rate due to the incredible technological advancement and greater use of information and telecommunications (IT) technologies. One of the main concerns regarding environmental contamination that people worldwide have is the management of electronic waste. This problem is due to the quickly rising use of technological devices. As a result, electrical and electronic equipment has a finite shelf life and eventually becomes outdated. Lack of knowledge regarding the amount of waste produced and the transit of materials is one of the problems Indonesian governments have while handling e-waste. This study aimed to outline the possibilities of producing electronic waste in Setu, Tangerang Selatan. Online surveys of respondents from households were used as the methodology, but just for appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, televisions, laptops, and mobile phones. Since this problem becomes one of the most challenging parts of gaining the closest data to the actual waste stream, it is thought that this method is an effective way to gather the vast amounts of data required for the government to establish related policies. Fifty-two residences in Setu District, Tangerang Selatan City, were surveyed using a modified UNEP questionnaire. The study’s findings revealed that in terms of quantity-78 units produced as opposed to 244 units of the products listed-mobile phones are the most frequently produced electronic waste. Meanwhile, the refrigerator accounts for the most significant percentage of e-waste in terms of weight, or 40.93%. The findings of this study help policymakers create a formal e-waste management system by allowing them to calculate the amount of e-waste generated in Setu, Tangerang Selatan. Additionally, the approach used can be a valuable, user-friendly tool to produce the closest actual data that are typically required by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, such as to develop a database that becomes a part of Sistem Informasi Pengelolaan Sampah Nasional (SIPSN) or National Waste Management Information System.

The impact of foreign direct investment on China's industrial carbon emissions based on the threshold model.

In recent years, the number of countries concerned about environmental protection continues to increase. With a continuous expansion of economic scale, many emerging markets are also sustainably enhancing their management for industrial carbon emissions in foreign direct investment (FDI). Therefore, the impact of FDI on the host country's industrial carbon emissions has been a hot topic of researches. This study selects panel data of 30 medium and large cities in China from 2006 to 2019. Combined with dynamic panel GMM estimation and panel threshold model, this study empirically analyzes the impact factors of FDI on the host country's industrial carbon emissions. This study is based on the perspective of dual environmental management systems. This study draws the following conclusions: When taking the dual environmental management system factors as threshold variables into the empirical research process, only the FDI in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai shows a certain inhibitory effect on Chinese industrial carbon emissions. The FDI in other cities increases the scale of industrial carbon emissions. At the same time, in the formal environmental management system, FDI has no significant impact on China's industrial carbon emissions. It indicates that the formal environmental management system of each city is not effective in policy formulation or implementation. In addition, the corresponding role of environmental management systems, such as innovation compensation and mandatory emission reduction, is not played. With the exception of Beijing and Shanghai, informal environmental management systems in other cities help curb the scale of industrial carbon emissions brought by FDI.

Waste governance and campus sustainability: formal and informal waste systems at football tailgates in Michigan

PurposeFootball tailgating is a focus of campus sustainability in the United States because it produces large amounts of waste. In states where recyclables can be redeemed for cash, this waste also is a resource for earning income. University officials face the challenge of encouraging proper waste disposal, cleaning up efficiently and coexisting productively with income-earning recyclers. This paper aims to understand how bridging formal and informal actors can yield improved campus waste management outcomes.Design/methodology/approachUsing the institutional analysis and development framework this study combines observational data throughout one football season with semi-structured interviews with informal recyclers, tailgaters and campus officials. Data are analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe case displays interaction between formal and informal waste management actors and between formal and informal rules of interaction. Campus officials have largely succeeded in encouraging proper waste management by tailgaters, who in turn loosely coordinate with income-earning recyclers under unwritten rules. Officials tolerate recyclers, but waste management could be improved with better communication and coordination and more trust between them. Many recyclers conduct their work with a sense of environmental stewardship that could support waste management efforts.Originality/valueUncoordinated coexistence between formal and informal waste management systems is common in the global South. With few studies in the global North, this is the first the authors know of in a campus sustainability context.

Designing effective waste management practices in developing economies: The case of Suriname

Local authorities are responsible for the exponential increase of waste, estimated to be about 9 billion tonnes annually. However, developing economies face enormous waste management challenges compared to developed economies, suggesting the lack of effective waste management approaches in most developing economies, including the small island developing states (SIDS). This study explores waste management practices and behavior in Suriname in support of the government's ongoing efforts in developing a framework to integrate sustainable development goals into its national policies and strategies. The current research adopts a two-stage data collection method involving observation and semi-structured interviews. 15 key informants were purposively recruited and interviewed using the semi-structured interview method to understand the current perceptions and behavior towards waste production and management in Suriname. The results show that Suriname lacks a structured and formal waste management system like many other developing countries. Open dumping and uncontrolled incineration are the dominant waste treatment methods in the country. The semi-structured interviews show that many factors, such as the lack of government commitment, ineffective policies and regulations, lack of investment and infrastructure, and citizens' social-economic status, contribute to Suriname's current unsustainable waste management practices. Although the country faces many challenges, people, especially in villages, have positive attitudes towards the environment, enhancing their engagement in managing waste if the right schemes and facilities are installed. The study argued that the government should improve their participation and commitment to waste management, especially through installing, implementing and enforcing effective waste management policies and strategies. The study further demonstrates the need for collaborations between the government and other institutions, especially NGOs and private firms, to improve waste management investment and efforts. Using the ontology perspective, key findings are synthesized to highlight the practical and theoretical implications of the study. Limitations and future research are discussed. • Developing economies face increasing challenges in managing waste production. • The lack of an effective policy and system is a major waste management issue. • Sustainable waste management practices require commitment from the Government. • Designing and installing appropriate systems would address waste problems. • Waste management in Suriname requires Collaboration between all institutions.

Assessing results-based personnel performance system in the Ministry of Home and Child Care, Zimbabwe

A formal performance management (PM) system was adopted and put into place in Zimbabwe in 1995 because of many suggestions made by the Public Service Review Commission (PSRC). However, the human resource management (HRM) period since the 1980s has had flaws that led to the implementation of the Results-Based Personnel Performance System (RBPPS) in 2005, particularly in terms of the Africanisation drive following Zimbabwe's independence and the PM system that followed in 1995. The study's objective is to examine the effectiveness of RBPPS in improving the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) performance in Zimbabwe. Information was gathered and compiled using a qualitative research methodology. The research identified elements that contributed to PM's failure in the MOHCC, including management's lack of commitment, a lack of ongoing training, and flaws in the planning and execution of PM. As a result, the government eventually implemented the RBPPS to improve the PM process. The study considers empirical and scholarly findings that may lead to more significant outcomes for Zimbabwe's public sector.

Performance Appraisal and Service Delivery in Huduma Centres in Nairobi County

Performance appraisal is a formal management system by which the job performance of an employee is examined and evaluated, with the intent of identifying their strengths and weaknesses for improvement in future. In today’s difficult economic context, one of the main challenges for managers is to execute an effective human capital strategy to increase general performance. The aim of this study was to establish the effect of performance appraisal on service delivery in Huduma Centres in Nairobi County. The specific objectives were to determine the effect of appraisal feedback, performance rewards and appraisal method on service delivery in Huduma Centres in Nairobi County. Appraisal Theory, Performance Feedback Theory and Expectancy Theory informed this study. The study carried was out at 5 Huduma Centers in Nairobi County as they serve the highest number of citizens in the country and also because this is the total number of Huduma Centres within Nairobi County. The study adopted a descriptive approach on the 5 Huduma Centres; Huduma GPO, Huduma City Square, Huduma Eastleigh, Huduma Kibra and Huduma Makadara. The sample size was 250 staff members. The study used quantitative methods and the data collection tool was a questionnaire. The data was then analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis. The descriptive statistics included the frequencies and the means. The regression of coefficient results show that appraisal feedback and service delivery is positively and significantly related. The results further indicated that performance rewards and service delivery is positively and significantly related. Lastly, results showed that appraisal method and service delivery is positively and significantly related. The study recommends that supervisors should provide regular and timely feedback to staff. The supervisors should ensure that appraisal feedback is free from errors based on personal bias such as stereotyping to have positive effect on staff delivery. The study recommends that rewards systems used should be regularly reviewed with the changing times. Remuneration of the staff should be reviewed according to human resources policy. Keywords: Appraisal feedback, performance rewards, appraisal method & service delivery