Strategies For Improving Performance Research Articles

Research progress in performance improvement strategies and sulfur conversion mechanisms of Li-S batteries based on Fe series nanomaterials

Research progress in performance improvement strategies and sulfur conversion mechanisms of Li-S batteries based on Fe series nanomaterials

Application of microbial fuel cell‐based biosensor in environmental monitoring – A critical review

AbstractMicrobial Fuel Cells (MFCs) represent an innovative approach for transforming biomass energy directly into electricity, which showed great promise in various applications beyond energy generation and wastewater treatment. The use of MFCs as biosensors for in‐situ and online monitoring has garnered increasing interest. These biosensors stand out for their compactness, ease of operation, affordability, and portability. They have proven effectively in the detection of various water quality indicators, including organic matter, nitrogen, heavy metals, pH levels, and dissolved oxygen. This comprehensive review aims to provide a critical analysis of the current research landscape and the latest advancements in MFC technology, with special emphasis on the challenges encountered in its application for wastewater and water quality monitoring. Moreover, strategies for performance improvement, such as the adoption of miniaturized structures, the exploration of innovative materials, and the application of mathematical modelling for analysis, are also discussed. The review also explores potential avenues for future research, especially in the realm of detecting mixed pollutants. Thus, it provides insightful perspectives on the evolving field of biosensor technology based on MFCs.

Investigation on spray combustion modeling for performance analysis of future low- and zero-carbon DI engine

Global warming issues and fossil fuel depletion crisis have forced transportation industry to seek clean engine fuels both liquid and gaseous. Dual-fuel mode with high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) has been recognized as mainstream method in developing flexible-fuel internal combustion engines (ICEs). But flexible-fuels’ physicochemical properties and spray combustion characteristics under HPDI have changed a lot. Unfortunately, there is currently no universal model for predicting spray combustion behaviors and analyzing performance of flexible-fuel ICEs. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a novel spray combustion model and provide optimal injection and combustion strategies for performance improvement of low- and zero-carbon HPDI ICEs. Based on balance of momentum change and vortex ring drag force, the jet spray effective injection velocity is obtained. Then the jet spray penetration under varying injection rate is solved. Finally, the developed model is established and validated experimentally, with the spray combustion characteristics of various fuels investigated. The results show that the developed model has a good accuracy and robustness for flexible-fuels’ characteristic analysis. Meanwhile, multiple-injection could increase the combustion efficiency (CE) over 10.27 % than single-injection, and CE increases with dwell time. Moreover, CE of H2 in nitrogen-oxygen (N2–O2) atmosphere is 10.15 % higher than that in argon-oxygen (Ar–O2) atmosphere.

Analysis of the indoor thermal environment of traditional residents in the South Sichuan China region in summer and plum rainy seasons—taking Baiyang village in Yibin city as an example

ABSTRACT In hot summer and cold winter areas, the humid and sultry summer and rainy season problems have long affected the health of residents. Through a questionnaire survey and site measurements, the indoor thermal environment of typical southern Sichuan village houses was investigated. The average indoor humidity of the old traditional dwelling (85–95%) in the rainy season was much greater than that of the new rural house (70–80%), both of which are outside the standard thermal comfort range of the human body. In summer, the situation is slightly better but still uncomfortable. The APMV evaluation results reveal that in the rainy season, the new residential house is more comfortable than the traditional residential house, while in summer, the opposite situation occurs. The measurements show that the thermal inertia index of the old stone masonry house is large, which indicates that the house has a strong ability to resist temperature fluctuations. Therefore, we discussed different performance improvement strategies for these two types of rural residences. This study is conducive to improving the thermal environment of local residential buildings and provides a reference for the future design of rural ecological residential buildings.

Integrated Strategic Analytical Framework for Analysing and Improving A Bank’s Market Performance during Periods of Disruptive Competition

As the Caribbean financial market becomes increasingly competitive as a result of the increasingly more innovative fintech companies and other revolutionary traditional banks’ activities, a critical analysis of the internal and external variables and changes that can undermine a bank’s effective market performance is essential for discerning the improvement strategies that must be adopted. However, the challenge has often arisen from lack of the accurate approach for accomplishing such internal and external analysis. To fill such a gap, this study uses integrative review as one of the techniques of qualitative-content analysis to evaluate different banking performance improvement strategies and strategic management theories. Through such analysis, the study aimed to discern the integrated strategic analytical framework that can be extracted and suggested to the banking executives for analysing and improving a bank’s market performance during periods of disruptive competition. To improve a bank’s effective market performance during periods of enormous disruptions, social construction and re-construction of the merging findings imply that the accurate analysis and response to the unfolding changes in the external trends will require the banking executives to use the three frameworks’ strategic analysis to inform the competitive course of directions that the bank can undertake. The Three-Frameworks’ Strategic Analysis will require the banking executives to evaluate the stage of its industry growth stages in conjunction with the use of Porter’s “Five Forces of Industry Analysis” and Porter’s “Four Corners of Competitors’ Analysis”. Following the accurate understanding of the industry and market dynamics, findings suggest the bank executives can then craft and apply the strategies for leveraging their competitiveness whilst also countering disrupters. Such strategies would require increasing the investment in R&D to introduce novel digital banking technologies as well as the introduction of novel digital financial products/services that respond or even exceed the unfolding customer expectations. Other critical strategies would require the assimilation or nurturing and integrating the most disruptive fintech companies as part of the essential business partners. Once these strategies are being executed, it is essential the banking executives must also analyse the impacts of such strategies on the improvement of a bank’s liquidity and profitability. Basing on such insights, the study enriches the existing theories by offering the Integrated Strategic Analytical Framework that the contemporary banking executives can adopt for analysing and improving a bank’s market performance during periods of disruptive competition. However, future research can still explore how improving employees’ creativity bolsters a bank’s innovativeness to catalyse its effective market performance during periods of disruptive competition.

Effect of Transformational Leadership Behaviour on Employees’ Career Development in Zenith International Bank (ZIB) Plc, North East 3 Zone, Adamawa State, Nigeria: Post COVID-19 Pandemic Experience

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as a global pandemic. The pandemic has left organisations with a number of challenges, including decreased revenue, decreased consumer spending, poor marketing outcomes, firm closures, reduced staff motivation, virtual working, increasing unemployment, and changes in service delivery and lifestyle. However, due to the rapid growth in global competition, advancements in technology, innovativeness, and growing demands for better customer service, organisational leaders were challenged to devise performance-improvement strategies in order to survive the challenges posed by COVID-19, particularly in Deposit Money Banks (DMBs). Against this backdrop, this study investigates the impact of transformational leadership (TL) behaviours on employee career development (i.e. employee mentoring and coaching). This study conceptualised TL behaviours as idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration, while career development as career coaching and career mentoring. The study used an explanatory survey research approach with a sampl of 130 employees from four (4) branches of Zenith International Bank Plc North East 3 Zone, Adamawa State. This study's data were collected via questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and correlation were used in analysing the data collected, while study's hypotheses were tested using the multiple regression technique. The regression results show that TL behaviours such as inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration have favourable significant effect on career development (Mentoring and coaching). While idealised influence has significant adverse effects on career development in both career mentoring and coaching. Overall, the findings indicate that TL positively and strongly predicts career development (i.e. career mentoring and coaching). As a result, this study concludes that TL actions are critical for organisational development and should be supported by managers since they improve employees' career progression within the organisation and have significant effects on numerous employee outcomes.

Organizational Performance Improvement Strategies Through Organizational Learning and Employee Empowerment: Organizational Commitment as Mediation

Purpose – Organizational performance is heavily influenced by human resources in government administration, including resource allocation for individual work in all organizations. Organizational performance can be improved by ensuring that each level in the organization meets the job requirements and has a clear plan to support the achievement of organizational goals. Methodology/approach – This research uses quantitative research and uses structural equation modeling analysis (SEM) with Partial Least Squares (PLS) software. The study has a population of 50 officials who support the planning and performance measurement of the regional government unit of the province of Banten. Findings – The result is that learning organization has a direct impact on organizational commitment, while learning organization has no impact on organizational performance. Employee empowerment affects organizational commitment and organizational performance. Organizational commitment influences organizational performance. Organizational commitment does not mediate between learning organization and organizational performance, but may mediate between employee empowerment and organizational performance. Novelty/value – Learning organization and employee empowerment promote sustainable improvement, innovation, and adaptability, and empower employees to make the right decisions and contribute to organizational goals. It fosters commitment, emotional attachment, and productivity, enabling organizations to adapt and maintain competitive advantage.

Risk assessment in sustainable food supply chains: A holistic approach by using HOR-SWOT-ANP/AHP to ensuring performance improvement

The global food supply chain plays an essential role in economic development while addressing environmental and social issues in its business system. However, this complex network is exposed to various risk factors related to sustainability that can disrupt the supply chain performance. CV. XYZ is a food manufacturer that produces jackfruit chips in Indonesia. During the supply chain process, this company needs to manage the various risks across the supplier, manufacturer, and retailer stages. By identifying and evaluating risks at each stage, mitigation and improvement strategies can be proposed. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the supply chain risk mitigation and performance improvement strategies for maintaining supply chain stability and performance. House of Risk (HOR) was applied to analyze the mitigation strategies, while SWOT with analytical networking process (ANP) or analytical hierarchy process (AHP)/ (i.e., SWOT-ANP/AHP method)was used for analyzing performance improvement strategies by considering the weight of each factor. The result shows that twelve mitigation strategies are needed to mitigate the fourteen risk agents that focus on improving production activities and human resources. Moreover, eleven strategies have been proposed to improve sustainable supply chain performance in the future, focusing more on marketing activities and enhancing human resource capabilities.

Marketing performance improvement strategy in lending KUR at ABC bank XYZ branch office

Marketing performance is one of the important indicators of the success of companies including the banking industry in achieving the expected goals and targets. Increasingly fierce business competition in the industry has an impact on the difficulty in achieving the targets set at Bank ABC XYZ Branch Office, especially in the distribution of People's Business Credit in the region. The purpose of this study is to design strategies to improve marketing performance in KUR lending at Bank ABC XYZ branch. This research uses a mix method approach. Quantitative approach to analyze the relationship of the 7P marketing mix to marketing performance in KUR lending. While the qualitative method is designing marketing strategies through SWOT analysis. Sampling using census and purposive sampling. The census technique was used in the quantitative method, namely all employees of the KUR credit marketing section, totaling 65 people. Meanwhile, the purposive sampling technique was used in the qualitative test by interviewing two informants who served as managers and worked for more than 3 years in the KUR distribution section. The quantitative data analysis method was tested statistically using Smart PLS with a P-Value criterion ≤ 0.05. Meanwhile, the qualitative data analysis was tested descriptively qualitative. The results showed that Place; Promotion; People; Process; and Phsycal evidence had a significant effect on marketing performance. However, Product and Price proved to have no effect on marketing performance. The results showed that the strategic position in KUR lending is in quadrant 1, namely the company must carry out an aggressive strategy. Aggressive strategies that need to be carried out are by improving digital-based services that are more flexible both in simplifying the credit process and the potential customer feeder process; providing training, development and digitization to employees; conducting socialization and training on digital technology to customers and prospective customers at the work unit location; optimizing the KUR distribution quota to MSMEs through internal marketing communications including company groups and external parties; and building KUR corners for education and promotion in markets and keluharan offices that have not been reached.

Interplay of Product and Technological Innovation Strategies for Performance Improvement among Government Parastatals in Kenya

Many Kenyan parastatals struggle with financial challenges, including EPZA Athiriver. This study explores how effective innovation strategies can improve performance and address declining revenue issues. The purpose of this paper was to assess the influence of product and technological innovation strategies on the performance of government parastatals. A descriptive research design employed structured questionnaires administered to a stratified random sample of 109 employees from Finance, Human Resources, and Marketing departments, of government parastatals in Kenya. The findings of the regression analysis revealed statistically significant positive relationships between Product Innovations and Performance (β=0.48, p-value=0.0137), highlighting the critical role of product innovation in driving performance improvements, as well as technological Innovations and Performance (β=0.41, p-value=0.0235), affirming technological innovation as a crucial factor in enhancing performance. The study affirms that both product and technological innovation strategies significantly impact the performance of government parastatals. These findings emphasize the transformative potential of strategic innovation for government parastatals and offer valuable insights for revitalizing their financial health.

Super capacitor and SSSC-based coordinated strategy for performance improvement of diverse source interconnected power system

In this work, the dynamical behavior of the dual area thermal-hydro-wind (DATHW) model of the interconnected power system (IPS) is investigated. For analysis, the area-1 of the DATHW system is laid with a disturbance in step load (SLD) of 10%. The investigation is carried out on the DATHW system under the supervision of the fractional order proportional-integral-derivative-filter (FOPIDN) controller optimized with the water cycle algorithm (WCA). However, the dominance of FOPIDN in regulating the DATHW system performance deviations is validated by other regulators. To get the research near practicality, the DATHW system is deliberated with communication time delays (CTDs). The CTDs is the inherit nature of the communication peripherals that are employed in the IPS network for providing the data exchange among various devices. Further, the supplementary control approach of super capacitors (SC) and static synchronous series compensators (SSSC) is adopted with the DATHW system for performance improvement. The supplementary control is implemented by integrating the SC in the control areas and the SSSC with the tie-line. Finally, we conducted the sensitivity test to reveal the efficacy of the suggested controller mechanism in this work.

FIFA 2019 France Women"s World Cup: Analysis of the South Korean Women"s National Football Team"s Performance and Training Improvement Strategies

FIFA 2019 France Women"s World Cup: Analysis of the South Korean Women"s National Football Team"s Performance and Training Improvement Strategies

Optimal super twisting sliding mode control strategy for performance improvement of islanded microgrids: Validation and real-time study

It is essential to improve optimal control for an autonomous microgrid operation. This paper presents a novel application of an artificial hummingbird algorithm for achieving optimal control of an autonomous microgrid. It also suggests a comparative analysis for the optimal super-twisting sliding mode control with both optimal fuzzy logic control and optimal proportional-integral control. The proposed super-twisting sliding mode controller parameters are adequately designed by using the AHA optimization method; meanwhile, the FLC and PI controllers are designed by using the African vultures and the Gorilla troops optimization algorithms, respectively. A MATLAB/Simulink environment is used to verify the effectiveness of the suggested microgrid control methods. The overall system detailed approaches for modeling, designing, and controlling are introduced. The investigation of the ST-SMC approach is also tested in a real-time setting. OPAL-RT 4510 rapid control prototyping and OPAL-RT 8660 data acquisition are used to implement the suggested controller. The verification results prove the superiority of the ST-SMC based on the AHA optimization technique compared with other optimal control techniques.

Effect of Stress Management Techniques on Employees’ Performance: A Case Study of Microfinance Institutions in Buea, South-west Region of Cameroon

Work stress is on the rise in Buea microfinance institutions due to a variety of factors, such as poor working conditions, political uncertainty, unfavorable environmental conditions, and high levels of poverty. The crisis in Cameroon's South-West and North-West regions has aggravated the situation. These institutions' management has implemented stress management techniques to address this issue and improve employee performance. The primary goal of this research was to investigate the effect of these techniques on employee performance in a sample of microfinance institutions in Buea, Cameroon. Stress management training, flextime arrangements, psychological support, relaxation, and counseling were all considered stress management techniques. The descriptive survey research design was used, and data were collected through questionnaires from 220 employees of 30 microfinance institutions in Buea. Purposive sampling was used in this study. The data were analyzed with the Ordinary Least Squares regression model. The study's findings revealed that stress management training, flextime arrangements, and counseling had a positive and significant effect on employee performance. Psychological support and relaxation, on the other hand, had little or no impact. Based on these findings, it is suggested that management in these institutions prioritize stress management training, flextime arrangements, and counseling as effective stress-reduction and performance-improvement strategies. Other techniques can be enhanced and developed further.

Observer‐based residual‐driven dynamic compensation strategy for performance improvement of grid‐forming inverter

SummaryGrid‐forming (GFM) inverters offer stable frequency support for microgrid systems, even in the absence of synchronous generators. However, the GFM inverters have low inertia and vulnerability to system uncertainties and external disturbances. The conventional dual‐loop proportional integral (PI) control strategy, while widely used for its simplicity and robustness, suffers from poor dynamic performance. Motivated by this, this paper presents an observer‐based residual‐driven dynamic compensation (RDDC) strategy based on the coprime factorization technic and the Youla parameterization theory to achieve the primary control of the GFM inverter. The observer‐based RDDC strategy comprises four components: a PI controller for tracking control, a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller for dynamic adjustment, a residual generator based on the Kalman filter for state estimation and residual generation, and a residual compensation controller designed using model matching theory and solved through linear matrix inequality (LMI) methods for disturbance suppression. Simulation and experiment results consistently demonstrate that the observer‐based RDDC strategy ensures system robustness, enhances the dynamic and steady‐state performance of the GFM inverter system, and strengthens the ability of the GFM inverter to suppress disturbances.

Elucidating the Potential Strategies for Performance Improvement of CBTSSe‐Based Solar Cells: A Pathway Toward 20% Efficiency

Cu2BaSnS4−xSex (CBTSSe) has recently attracted substantial attention as an emerging chalcogenide material due to its abundant constituent elements and reduced antisite disorders compared to the Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe). In this work, recently reported Mo/CBTSSe/Cd:ZnS Zn1−xCdxS/i‐Mg:ZnO (ZMO)/Al:ZnO (AZO) cell structure with the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.17% is used to develop the baseline model. Afterwards, device performance parameters are fine‐tuned by investigating the effect of (a) absorber thickness and defect density, (b) absorber/buffer conduction band offset, (c) absorber/buffer interface defect density, (d) anti‐reflection coating at the front layer, and (e) back contact optimization. The device with the optimized parameter values of absorber thickness: 1.2 μm, absorber defect density: 1015 cm−3, and alternate buffer layer of WS2, interface defect density:1010 cm−2, resulting in the PCE of 12.94%. Introducing an anti‐reflective coating (ARC) at the front contact further improves the PCE to 17.87%. Finally, introducing Ni as a back contact instead of Mo enhances the PCE to 20.70%. These results provide insight into possible techniques to improve the performance of CBTSSe‐based solar cells.

A SCOR-based Performance Measurement of Indonesia’s Kayumas Specialty Coffe Supply Chain

Performance evaluation is essential in defining supply chain strategies because by taking measurements, companies can find out how the business processes in the supply chain are running and formulate strategic policies to improve supply chain performance. Specialty coffee is a premium coffee with a unique aroma and flavour originating from a specific region, and it is easy to trace its origin from the farm to the consumer. This study aims to evaluate the performance of the Kayumas specialty coffee supply chain using the SCOR-ANP method and determine performance improvement strategies using ANP analysis. The research results can be concluded that (1) Kayumas specialty coffee supply chain consists of farmers, farmer groups, distributors/resellers, and consumers. (2) The performance position of Kayumas specialty coffee is inferior (3) The performance improvement strategy needed to improve product quality is a partnership between supply chain members to reach a price agreement.

Timber-Based Strategies for Seismic Collapse Prevention and Energy Performance Improvement in Masonry Buildings

This study investigates the effectiveness of a range of timber-based solutions for the seismic and energy retrofitting of existing masonry buildings. These solutions are designed not only to prevent structural collapse during earthquakes but also to create integrated interventions that enhance thermo-physical performance and reduce emissions in existing buildings. Various case scenarios were considered and both mechanical and energetic behaviour post-intervention were evaluated. Timber-engineered products serve as foundational components for the retrofit approach, encompassing one-dimensional vertical elements (strong-backs) and various types of panels (cross-laminated timber panels, laminated veneer lumber panels, and oriented strand board panels). The analyzed retrofit techniques share a common principle involving the attachment of these timber-based elements to the building’s wall surfaces through mechanical point-to-point connections. The proposed solutions integrate strong-backs and timber panels with membranes and insulation layers, yielding cohesive, and highly effective interventions. Finite element modeling was employed to analyze the mechanical and thermal responses of the retrofitted walls. A comprehensive comparative analysis of various techniques was conducted to determine the most effective solution for each specific scenario.

Microstress for metal halide perovskite solar cells: from source to influence and management.

The power conversion efficiency of metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has increased dramatically in recent years, but there are still major bottlenecks in the commercial application of such materials, including intrinsic instability caused by external stimuli such as water, oxygen, and radiation, as well as local stress generated inside the perovskite and external stress caused by poor interlayer contact. However, some crucial sources of instability cannot be overcome by conventional encapsulation engineering. Among them, the tensile strain can weaken the chemical bonds in the perovskite lattice, thereby reducing the defects formation energy and activation energy of ion migration and accelerating the degradation rate of the perovskite crystal. This review expounds the latest in-depth understanding of microstrain in perovskite film from the thermodynamic sources and influences on the perovskite physicochemical structure and photoelectric performance. Furthermore, it also summarizes the effective strategies for strain regulation and interlayer contact performance improvement, which are conducive to the improvement of photovoltaic performance and internal stability of PSCs. Finally, we present a prospective outlook on how to achieve more stable and higher efficiency PSCs through strain engineering.

Contact-electro-catalysis under natural and industrial conditions: mechanisms, strategies, and challenges

The competition between electron transfer and ion transfer at the solid–liquid interface is summarized and the performance improvement strategies of contact-electro-catalysis under natural or industrial conditions are given.