Performance Of Operations Research Articles

Innate Versus Acquired: A Review of Predictive Technical Aptitude Assessments in Surgical Trainee Selection.

The evaluation and selection process of similarly qualified applicants for surgical residency positions in the United States (US) is challenging. Technical aptitude assessments may provide an opportunity to improve the selection process by offering insight into a candidate's technical skills. The use of these assessments prompts consideration of the degree to which technical aptitude in surgery is innate versus acquired. In this narrative review, we review the state of these assessments and the limitations of developing and validating these instruments. Recent evidence suggests that technical aptitude can be quantified in medical students prior to selection for surgical training; however, both technical aptitude and dedicated practice of technical skills influence operative performance. In the US, technical aptitude assessments are inconsistently used in selecting candidates for surgical residency. Internationally, few countries have implemented standardized technical aptitude assessments in their surgical trainee selection processes. The development of technical aptitude assessments is ongoing worldwide. Technical aptitude assessments may help identify individuals particularly well-suited for a surgical career or those who might benefit from additional practice or remediation. The potential role of technical aptitude assessments in the selection process for surgical trainees remains uncertain. Consideration of these instruments requires an understanding of meaningful outcomes associated with particular technical assessments as well as the assessments' limitations.

Operative Performance and Autonomy Across Training Years: Does a Preliminary Year Matter?

Preliminary surgery positions are associated with a negative stigma, and this stigma may persist for those residents who later go on to obtain a categorical position. However, it is currently unknown if general surgery residents who complete a preliminary year perform differently than their categorical peers throughout training. To examine these potential differences, we compared operative performance and autonomy across all 5 years of training for those who completed a nondesignated preliminary training year with those who did not. Faculty ratings of categorical general surgery residents were collected from the Society for Improving Medical and Professional Learning (SIMPL) application. Residents were categorized based on the completion of a nondesignated preliminary year ("Previous Prelim" [PP]) or not ("Traditional Categorical" [TC]). Operative performance and autonomy ratings were tracked over 5 training years and analyzed using generalized mixed effects models. Performance and autonomy outcomes were dichotomized: "not competent" or "competent" and "no meaningful autonomy" or "meaningful autonomy", respectively. Fixed effects included cohort group, academic month, case complexity, resident level (junior [PGYs 1 and 2] vs senior [PGYs 3, 4, and 5] residents), and an interaction term between cohort group and resident level, while random effects included resident, faculty, program, and procedure. Operative performance and autonomy ratings were collected from the SIMPL application between 2015 and 2023. A total of 89 general surgery residency programs, which encompassed 1,108 categorical general surgery residents. A total of 42,416 evaluations were analyzed. Of these, 809 evaluations were from PP residents. Faculty ratings of PP vs TC residents revealed no significant differences in adjusted probabilities of achieving a "competent" rating as a junior (5.6%, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.7%-11.1% vs 3.0%, 95% CI 2.4%-3.7%, p = 0.28) or senior (23.7%, 95% CI 12.2%-41% vs 34.1%, 95% CI 29.1%-39.5%, p = 0.59) resident. Similarly, no significant differences were identified in adjusted probabilities of achieving a "meaningful autonomy" rating between PP and TC junior (9.0%, 95% CI 5.4%-14.6% vs 8.1%, 95% CI 6.9%-9.5%, p = 0.97) or senior (42.3%, 95% CI 28.7%-57.1% vs 49.6%, 95% CI 44.9%-54.2%, p = 0.76) residents. PP and TC residents may have similar operative performance and autonomy ratings throughout their residency training. Although further study of more senior residents is warranted, these initial findings could help combat the negative stigma associated with a preliminary year of training.

The Effects of Multipath on the Performance of High Rate Digital QAM and OFDM Wireless Link Operating in Tunnels

The Effects of Multipath on the Performance of High Rate Digital QAM and OFDM Wireless Link Operating in Tunnels

How Accurate Are Surgeons at Assessing the Quality of Their Critical View of Safety During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

IntroductionObtaining the critical view of safety (CVS) is considered an important step to reduce bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). However, existing literature suggests that few surgeons obtain adequate CVS when LC videos are directly evaluated by experts. This discrepancy calls for effective, standardized CVS teaching methods. While self-assessment (SA) remains the principal tool utilized by practicing surgeons for performance improvement, its effectiveness is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare surgeon SAs of repeated LC performance and attainment of the CVS with that of expert raters. MethodsMulti-institutional study of surgeon members from the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons who volunteered to participate. All surgeons were asked to submit an LC video and complete a SA of the CVS quality using the Strasberg scale (0-6 score with ≥5 score indicating appropriate CVS). The same videos were reviewed by two blinded expert raters, members of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons safe cholecystectomy task force, who had received prior rater training. Surgeon self-ratings and expert ratings were compared with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. ResultsTwenty-five surgeon-participants were recruited, 13 of whom submitted an LC video. Surgeons did not achieve adequate CVS in their first submitted video based on expert ratings. Surgeons in the SA group overestimated their performance across all four scales: Operative Performance Rating System (z = −0.36, P = 0.715), Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (z = −0.37, P = 0.712), Strasberg (z = −1.84, P = 0.066), and Competency Assessment Tool (z = −0.73, P = 0.465). Surgeons in the coaching group overestimated their performance on each scale as well: Operative Performance Rating System (z = −0.67, P = 0.500), Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (z = −1.48, P = 0.138), Strasberg (z = −1.07, P = 0.285), and Competency Assessment Tool (z = −1.21, P = 0.225). ConclusionsOur study confirms that an adequate CVS is infrequently obtained during LC in a small but national sample of general surgeons. It further adds to the existing body of literature that suggests that SA alone may be inadequate for performance improvement. Effective teaching methods such as expert or artificial intelligence coaching are needed to improve the use of appropriate CVS by surgeons that may help decrease bile duct injury risk.

REDUCING LOST TIME DUE TO SHIFT CHANGES FROM 7.00 HOURS TO 4.60 HOURS FOR THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY – JULY 2024 TO INCREASE PRODUCTION ACHIEVEMENT AND OVERBURDEN PRODUCTIVITY OF PC2000 AT PT ANTAREJA MAHADA MAKMUR JOBSITE MIFA BERSAUDARA

The mining industry is facing the dual challenge of meeting the demand for raw materials while minimizing environmental impact and ensuring sustainable practices. As urbanization accelerates, the industry is increasingly adopting advanced technologies and methodologies to enhance efficiency and reduce waste. The purpose of the research is to analyze and implement strategies that minimize the downtime associated with shift changes in order to enhance overall production efficiency and productivity of the PC2000 machinery at the specified jobsite. The study aims to quantify the impact of reducing shift change time on production outcomes and overburden productivity, ultimately contributing to improved operational performance within the defined timeframe. The research contributes to the field of operational efficiency by providing empirical insights into the relationship between reduced shift change times and enhanced production performance in heavy machinery operations. The findings may serve as a valuable reference for similar industries aiming to optimize shift management and improve overall operational productivity, thus contributing to best practices in resource management and efficiency enhancement. Furthermore, comparative studies with other mining operations that have successfully implemented similar changes could provide a broader perspective on best practices and innovative strategies, contributing to the overall advancement of the mining industry.

The socio-economic and security issues of night landings and arrangements at the port of Owendo: The example of the mineral terminal

Global economic competition is leading companies to improve their competitiveness by increasing production and eliminating the main obstacles to the process of making products available. This approach concerns both SMEs and SMIs as well as multinationals. Thus, the Compagnie Minière de l’Ogooué (COMILOG), a subsidiary of the French group ERAMET, which until recently had a monopoly on manganese mining in Gabon, must now face competition from Asian operators. To export its ore, COMILOG must first transport it by rail for nearly 650 km, from the Moanda site (south-east of the country) to the port of Owendo. However, port operations, which until then took place exclusively during the day, limited the company’s export capacities and the profits made, while increasing the stopover time of ships and their operating costs. To remedy this, the French company introduced nighttime docking and departures. This work addresses the challenges of the performance of port operations at the Owendo ore terminal and the security and natural risks of night manoeuvres. The general objective of the study is to assess the impact of these night services on ship traffic, on the one hand, and to identify the related socio-economic and security issues, on the other hand. Data collection was carried out using documentary research in libraries and research centres, consultation of websites, semi-directed interviews, questionnaire surveys and participatory observation. The sample of 50 people surveyed took into account management staff, supervisors and line managers, integrating the diversity of actors involved in the processing of ships calling at the port of Owendo. Finally, the surveys attest to a clear reduction in the time spent by ships at the Owendo Ore Port and an increase in their number calling. They also confirm the improvement in tonnages embarked and the improvement in turnover achieved by COMILOG. This study led to the conclusion that the introduction of night manoeuvres at the port of Owendo allowed COMILOG to increase its exports and the number of ore carriers received in stopover and then improve its turnover.

Predicting Willow Planting Events by Conventional Machine Learning from GPS Data: Accuracy, Generalization Ability, and Potential for Improvement

Willow cultivation is an important activity that can provide greater amounts of cleaner and renewable energy. To support the development of this farming sector, data is required on the spatial distribution of planted plots, as well as on the performance of operations typically required in willow crop management. Unfortunately, this kind of data is largely unavailable, while documenting it is a challenging task. GPS data, which may be feasibly collected during operations, may be a good carrier of information not only to document the spatial location of plots, but also to learn about the frequency of typical events as specific to willow operational management. Based on a GPS dataset characterizing two plots, which was collected during planting operations and labelled manually (8,385 observations), a neural network was used in this study to spatially classify events such as driving (hereafter called D), maneuvering (hereafter called M), planting (hereafter called P), and being stopped (hereafter called S). Three models were trained and validated based on features such as GPS speed (hereafter called model S), GPS speed and leg length (hereafter called model S&L), and GPS speed, leg length, and heading (hereafter called model S&L&H), respectively. Classification performance was found to be impressive, with an overall accuracy of 92.0 (S), 92.1 (S&L), and 93.3% (S&L&H), respectively. The quality of the models was then checked visually using a dataset containing unseen data characterizing two plots of different cardinal orientation, indicating an acceptable generalization ability. The methods described in the paper may be useful when dealing with large datasets and limited resources and expertise in labelling the data manually, as they provide location and event specific data with high accuracy. Improvements in accuracy are possible by integrating the raw data in deep learning, an approach that should be explored further.

Aspects of TBM cutterhead design and performance in very hard rock mass

AbstractTunnel boring machines (TBMs) have revolutionized underground excavation, offering efficient, and cost‐effective solutions for tunneling projects worldwide. With an increasing demand for tunnels in geologically challenging or very hard and abrasive conditions, understanding the critical aspects of cutterhead design and its impact on TBM performance is crucial for successful tunneling operations. Little experience is documented on the performance and durability of TBM operating in “very hard” rock conditions. An unbiased performance quantification is established based on a shared understanding of hard rock conditions. The actual design of TBMs demands can only cover certain aspects of TBM–rock mass interaction, demanding further adoption and improvements of primary and secondary wear.

An Assessment of the Performance and Emissions of an Otto Power Generator Group Operating with Wet Ethanol at a High Volumetric Compression Ratio

This work presents an experimental study of the performance and emissions of an internal combustion engine operating in the Otto cycle with a high volumetric compression ratio (17:1). The engine was initially fueled with the standard ethanol used in Brazil, with 7% distilled water (E93W07); we then studied the effects of using different ethanol-in-water mixtures, or ‘wet ethanol’, with 17%, 27%, 37%, and 47% distilled water concentrations. The tests were carried out with power loads of 5.0–25.0 kW at 5.0 kW intervals and with power loads of 27.5–35.0 kW at 2.5 kW intervals, whether by adding up the loads or by taking them away. The ignition timing was changed to evaluate each load imposed on the engine to avoid knocking. Specific fuel consumption (SFC), brake thermal efficiency (BTE), carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and total hydrocarbon content (THC), as well as the internal pressure in the cylinder and the heat release rate, were measured, and the results are compared. The results show a reduction in CO and NOx and an increase in THC emissions. However, there were no significant changes in CO2 emissions when the distilled water percentage in ethanol increased. Regarding the brake thermal efficiency, it was observed that it remained approximately constant for all blends, with the same load being applied to the engine shaft, reaching a maximum value of 35%. The results obtained confirm the technical feasibility of operating an internal combustion engine in the Otto cycle with a high volumetric compression ratio using ethanol with up to 47% distilled water without significant loss of performance.

Utilizing Robotic Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence in Auditing to Mitigate Audit Risks

Automating repetitive tasks significantly increases the efficiency of operations by identifying repetitive tasks, then choosing the appropriate tools for automation, designing successful workflows, testing, iteration, monitoring the performance of operations continuously, and making the necessary adjustments, which helps auditors accomplish their mission. This research aims to highlight the urgent need to develop the skills of accountants and auditors to maintain alignment with the swift advancements in digital technology in the accounting field to reduce fraud risks and protect stakeholders. The study relied on the applied aspect of 157 questionnaires distributed to a sample of auditors working in auditing firms and Federal Financial Supervision Bureau auditors. We used a five-point Likert scale to answer the questions on the questionnaire and the SPSS V.25 statistical package to look at the data and test our research hypotheses. We used Pearson correlation, simple regression, the coefficient of determination and interpretation R2, and the standard coefficient of regression B. Our research showed that using robotic process automation and artificial intelligence in auditing would make audited financial statements more reliable. Adding auditors' skills, artificial intelligence, and process automation will also significantly mitigate inherent control and detection risks. Furthermore, enhancing the quality of auditing

The Effects of Manufacturing Errors on the Performance of Acoustic Metamaterial Lenses Operating in the MHz Regime

This article explores the use of acoustical metamaterials to design lenses in the megahertz frequency range of relevance to applications in nondestructive testing and medical imaging. In particular, the effect of manufacturing errors on their focusing performance is quantified. A rapid method for including manufacturing errors is described and this is used to perform Monte Carlo simulations of wave pressure fields from lenses with manufacturing errors. In this process, the required time delay distribution for a target focal length is calculated and the acoustical lenses with a chosen unit cell type are designed. Manufacturing errors of the unit cells are then added, considering their statistical properties and a large number of realizations. As an example, an acoustical lens with a focal length of 76 mm at a frequency of 1 MHz is designed using three different unit cell types: steel cross unit cell, resin circular void unit cell, and silicone–resin layered unit cell. Finally, the resulting acoustic pressure fields are computed using a Huygens’ principle model to assess the effects of manufacturing errors on lens performance, i.e., the focal length and the size of the focal spot. It is shown that the performance of lenses consisting of silicone–resin layered units is less affected by the manufacturing errors than for lenses constructed with the other unit cells. This study paves the way for selecting a suitable combination of metamaterial unit cell and manufacturing method to enable acceptable lens imaging performance.

Optimization of short-term energy management for enhancing economic and environmental performance in microgrid operations

Optimization of short-term energy management for enhancing economic and environmental performance in microgrid operations

Preliminary Study of Nuclear Reactor Component Vendor Inspection

To welcome the first nuclear power plant in Indonesia, BAPETEN must prepare regulatory infrastructure at all stages of development and operation of the nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plant regulatory infrastructure during construction has yet to be made available. Manufacturing inspection of NPP component vendors is one form of supervision that must be carried out at the construction stage. Inspection of manufacturing activities is very important because the quality of NPP components produced, especially safety-related components, will affect the safety performance of NPP operations. Therefore, a preliminary study of vendor inspection is needed to support the inspection work unit at BAPETEN in preparing manufacturing inspection capabilities. This study was conducted through a literature study regarding regulations and practices for holding vendor inspections in other countries. The study focuses on vendor inspections' goals/objectives, mechanisms, and inspection check items. The study results show that vendor inspection is substantially quality assurance inspection, which aims to ensure vendors have adequate quality assurance arrangements and implement them to guarantee the quality of products (goods or services) used at the NPP. The main inspection check items are the adequacy of the vendor's Quality Assurance Program and the suitability of its implementation. BAPETEN can prepare a list of inspection check items by referring to practices in other countries, for example, America and Türkiye. BAPETEN also needs to prepare inspection procedures, starting with the planning, preparation (pre-inspection), implementation, and post-inspection stages. Regulations and guidelines that support the implementation of vendor inspections in Indonesia also need to be prepared. Keywords: manufacture, inspection, vendor, NPP component, quality assurance.

A decade of operations strategy: research issues and future research directions

Purpose This study aims to systematically review the literature on operations strategy to understand its role in fostering competitive advantage. The literature on operations strategy was summarized using bibliometric analysis, network analysis and content analysis techniques. The bibliometric approaches analyzed 1,070 articles published between January 2013 and December 2023. Additionally, it is supplemented through content analysis by analyzing 60 selected articles in depth. The review identified six major research themes in operations strategy: impact of supply chain integration on operational performance, outsourcing and resource-based view, lean strategy, service operations strategy, operations capabilities and responsive supply chain strategy. The review offers a comprehensive overview of current research and highlights potential areas for future exploration, providing valuable guidance for scholars and practitioners in operations strategy. Also, the review provides insights for operations managers that can be applied to develop effective strategies across various industrial contexts. Design/methodology/approach The main objective of a literature review is to analyze the body of existing knowledge, identify possible research gaps and propose future research avenues (Tranfield et al., 2003). Searching for relevant keywords, discovering pertinent information and then completing the analysis are expected in systematic literature reviews. Tranfield et al. (2003) have provided the guidelines to conduct the literature review in a systematic way, which scholars in the business and management domains increasingly adopt. It consists of three stages as follows: planning the review; conducting the review; and reporting and dissemination. The present study uses these guidelines to organize the literature on operations strategy. Findings This work provides several theoretical and managerial implications by offering a thorough and methodical understanding of the area. It contributes to the corpus of knowledge that provides a frame of reference based on an insightful synthesis of the prior study. It aims to identify future research avenues in the domain of operations strategy. Several research avenues are identified by carefully analyzing the available literature and conducting a robust bibliometric approach combined with network and content analysis techniques. Thus, the current study will be a valuable resource for future scholars interested in learning about and examining this area. Research limitations/implications Continuous research for improvement in the existing system or practice has been the fundamental nature of human beings. Hence, it is pertinent to identify future research avenues for the researchers interested in the area. Despite the extensive studies on operations strategy, certain areas require more investigation. As per the analysis of the literature search of 1,070 articles published in the area, the author suggests future scholars explore the following research avenues: need for conceptual and mixed–method studies; cross-country comparison and generalization; integration with Industry 4.0 technologies; integration with the triple bottom line; and aligning with circular economy. Practical implications A need is created to generate a pathway of aligning operations strategy with the principles of circular economy, requiring future research to address its fundamentals. Potential research questions that could be explored are as follows: How can companies align operations strategy with circular economy principles to minimize waste and improve resource efficiency? How does adopting circular economy practices impact supply chain design and operations strategy? What role do innovation and technology play in integrating circular economy principles into operations strategy? Social implications The proposed research avenues will provide adequate information to operations managers about areas of attention that would fully leverage operations strategy and provide the firm with a competitive advantage. Moreover, integrating their outcomes with Industry 4.0 technologies, particularly emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and the Internet of Things can provide a new direction for operations managers. Furthermore, operations performance can make or break the organization. Performance is not a simple or easy concern; it is multi-faceted in the sense that a single measure can never comprehensively represent it. Several measures will always be needed to evaluate the holistic performance of a firm. Originality/value This work provides several theoretical and managerial implications by offering a thorough and methodical understanding of the area. It contributes to the corpus of knowledge that provides a frame of reference based on an insightful synthesis of the prior study. It aims to identify future research avenues in the domain of operations strategy. Several research avenues are identified by carefully analyzing the available literature and conducting a robust bibliometric approach combined with network and content analysis techniques. Thus, the current study will be a valuable resource for future scholars interested in learning about and examining this area.

Gaining Insight into Operative Performance: Analysis of an Automated 360-Degree Feedback Tool Among Perioperative Staff.

Surgery has seen limited adoption of 360-degree feedback tools, and no current tools evaluate intraoperative performance from a technical, nontechnical, or teaching skill perspective. We sought to evaluate the overall findings and perceived value of a novel 360-degree feedback tool for surgeons from their operating room colleagues. The 'intraoperative 360' (i360) combined 3 previously validated scales of surgeon performance. The electronic medical record at a single academic medical center was queried for perioperative staff involvement in recent cases for a cohort of surgeons. Staff with frequent surgeon case involvement were emailed a link to an anonymous i360 survey. Aggregated survey responses were provided to surgeons and surgical leadership. We performed semi-structured interviews with 10 surgeons and 5 surgical leaders. Combined inductive and deductive coding was used to determine their perceptions regarding the utility of and barriers to the i360. Over 2-years, a total of 960 surveys were completed for 88 surgeons. The composite rating of technical skills was 4.87/5 (SD: 0.36); nontechnical skills, 4.65/5 (SD: 0.55); and teaching skills, 2.92/3 (SD: 0.24). There was no difference in mean scores based on gender, age, or years of tenure. Six themes emerged from the interviews: initial reactions, utility, additional needs, other feedback mechanisms, reciprocal feedback, and logistical challenges. A 360-degree feedback tool is feasible, and feedback is perceived as valuable and actionable for surgeons and surgeon leaders. The intraoperative focus provided surgeons with specific feedback on how to improve within the operating room to promote efficiency, teamwork, and patient safety.

Transapical beating heart septal myectomy learning curve and training of future surgeons: an observational study.

Description of the learning curve for transapical beating heart septal myectomy (TA-BSM) helps to understand the potential for wider adaptability. The authors elaborate and examine a competency-based training assessment for TA-BSM that could serve to disseminate septal myectomy expertise. Data on 177 consecutive patients who underwent the TA-BSM for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) between April 2022 and June 2023 was collected prospectively, which was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Using the cumulative sum analysis, the authors identified two distinct learning phases based on the procedural time. Outcomes of procedural success and major complications were also compared between phases. Assessment through a Likert scale competency-based assessment of a myectomy surgeon after on-site TA-BSM training. The cumulative sum analysis of procedural time showed two well-differentiated phases: the initial phase (cases 1-44) and the proficiency phase (cases 45-177). After 44 cases, significant improvements in procedural time were observed (113 vs. 134min; P<0.001). Optimal procedural success (left ventricular outflow tract gradient <30mmHg and mitral regurgitation grade ≤1+ without mortality or median sternotomy conversion) increased in the proficiency phase (93.2 vs. 79.5%; P=0.018), while complications decreased. The assessment of another surgeon showed consistent agreement in operative decision-making and performance for all evaluated domains. Competence in TA-BSM was achieved after 44 cases, without sacrificing guideline-desired outcomes. Appropriate training of other septal myectomy surgeons could further expedite this learning curve. This new technique may represent an option for wider dissemination of HOCM surgery worldwide and improve disease management.

Efficient resource allocation for generative AI workloads in cloud-native infrastructures: A multi-tiered approach

Resource management becomes essential in ensuring that generative AI workloads in cloud-native infrastructures deliver the best results. The architecture described in this article targets such workloads due to their inherent fluctuations in resource usage and the difficulties in scaling them. The proposed framework divides resources into groups to guarantee that applications are given support based on difficulty level. The features of the proposed methodology are the performance assessment of resource distribution effectiveness, taking into account metrics, including latency, throughput, and utilization rates. Furthermore, examples have been provided to support the use of this approach and its efficiency in real-life situations. Based on these, applying the multi-tiered approach to resource management improves the organization's operations performance and minimizes expenses connected with resource provisioning. Such a study also emphasizes the importance of developing flexible and effective resource management tools that can be especially useful in modern generative AI development environments.

How ecosystems coordinate architectures and AI in humanitarian operations? A configurational view

Recent research in crisis management indicates that business ecosystems are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into humanitarian operations. This integration is designed to coordinate a diverse range of actors and ensure the quick and efficient delivery of aid. One of the key operational issues identified with this undertaking is communal coordination in that the effectiveness of these humanitarian efforts largely hinges on the ability of the actors to foster a sense of community within the architecture of the AI-enabled ecosystem, i.e., a community characterized by trust and cooperation. This architecture is deemed critical for effective humanitarian operations. Yet some studies indicate that AI might impede coordination, potentially obstructing how communal relations develop between actors. Unfortunately, the literature does not adequately explain how ecosystems and architectures should be designed to promote communal coordination among the actors involved. Hence, with this research, we conducted a configurational analysis of humanitarian operations, referencing data from 73 ecosystems observed during the catastrophic floods in China in 2023. Using v4.1 of the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) tool, we identified correlations between the architectures of various AI-enabled ecosystem configurations and the performance of the humanitarian operations they supported. From our research, we identified two exemplary architectures that led to superior humanitarian performance: one featuring loosely coupled coordination within an AI-enabled architecture, and the other emphasizing aligned coordination within more regulated homogeneity. The key distinction between the two architectural models lies in how the AI deployed influences the dynamics of coordination between the community and the governance bodies. This study reveals that, despite AI's significant potential to enhance humanitarian performance, effective communal coordination depends on aligning the ecosystem architecture with AI-driven coordination. This research contributes to the humanitarian literature by clarifying the complicated interactions between AI and ecosystem architectures in humanitarian scenarios.

The Impact of Employee Appreciation Approaches on Job Satisfaction: Empirical Evidence from Air Traffic Controllers of Sri Lanka to Enhance Human

Understanding the dynamics of job satisfaction among Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) is imperative for ensuring the human performance, productivity, efficiency and safety of aviation operations. This study investigates the impact of various employee appreciation methods on the job satisfaction levels to enhance the performance of ATCs in Sri Lanka. Drawing upon existing literature and analysis of the data collected from the current employees, the research is aimed at filling a critical knowledge gap regarding the relationship between employee appreciation and job satisfaction within the ATC sector. The research problem centres on the need to comprehend how different forms of appreciation, ranging from verbal acknowledgements to tangible rewards, influence ATCs' job satisfaction. Through a structured survey utilizing a Likert scale, the study measured the effects of seven appreciation methods on job satisfaction, namely verbal expressions in one-on-one and public settings, electronic notes, written communications, tangible items, monetary bonuses, and the absence of gratitude. Key research questions addressed the specific impacts of each appreciation method on the job satisfaction of ATCs'. By analysing responses from ATCs in Sri Lanka, the study aimed to provide insights for supervisors and managers to tailor appreciation strategies effectively. The findings hold significance in enhancing the work environment, retaining talent, and promoting organisational productivity within the aviation industry. Acknowledging potential limitations such as participant biases and organisational policies, the research adopts measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality. By leveraging a comprehensive approach to data collection and analysis, it enhanced the reliability and credibility of the findings of the study.

Impact of the learning curve on the production performance of shipyard welding workers

ABSTRACT The growth of mechanisation and automation in welding technology has been significant, but welders continue to play an essential role in shipbuilding yards for productivity and health and safety purposes. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between welder performance and experience in manual gas metal arc welding operations in shipbuilding. The study utilises statistical data and discrete event simulation, within the scope of learning curve theory. The study determines how welder experience affects the welding quality and production rate by conducting an independent sample t-test and a single block erection simulation for welders with less experience (2 to 5 years) and highly experienced workers (8 to 17 years) respectively. The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature by providing evidence that welding quality and production rate in manual gas metal arc welding operations are majorly affected by welders’ job experience.