Perspectives Of Consultants Research Articles

Examining Innovation through Technology Management in Manufacturing Firms: Empirical Insights

In today’s interconnected global scene, the importance of technology management in defining the modern economy, especially within industrial businesses, cannot be overemphasized. These companies continually invest in and incorporate new technology, encouraging innovation in both product creation and manufacturing processes. This deliberate use of technology is a tried-and-true technique for increasing operational efficiency and effectiveness while also strengthening global competitiveness by managing the risks associated with changing market demands. This study delves deeply into the complex elements that influence innovation and technology management practices in manufacturing businesses, with a particular emphasis on the Ethiopian setting. Despite the global demand for innovation, Ethiopian manufacturing enterprises have struggled to build a notable reputation in their field for pioneering inventions. This paper includes the perspectives of scholars, industry experts, consultants, and direct involvement from manufacturing firms. A cross-sectional methodology is used to collect data from several stakeholders at a certain point in time. The Pareto chart’s analytical capabilities are used to condense meaningful findings, allowing for the discovery and prioritization of impediments to manufacturing innovation. The study’s findings highlight formidable barriers to innovation in manufacturing firms, including a lack of well-defined innovation strategies, an absence of innovative leadership, a scarcity of qualified and creative talent, limited access to innovation funding, and a general lack of awareness about technological advancements and innovative best practices. These insights provide a substantial contribution to expanding the innovation environment within industrial enterprises, increasing resilience and global competitiveness.

BIM implementation in the middle east construction: Evaluating the prospects and challenges

This research explores the potential benefits and challenges associated with the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM), a rapidly evolving global trend, within the construction industry of the Middle East. The study is underpinned by a comprehensive literature review on the global and Middle Eastern usage of BIM. A methodical empirical survey was employed to collect quantitative data, comparing the perspectives of Clients, Contractors, and Consultants. Key impediments to BIM adoption in the Middle East were identified as a scarcity of BIM-skilled subcontractors, the lack of industry standards, substantial initial costs, and organizational structures that do not support BIM. On the other hand, the advantages of BIM include improved construction planning, enhanced project quality, an elevated organizational image, and streamlined communication. The study provides crucial recommendations for local governments, policymakers, construction companies, and stakeholders to encourage comprehensive BIM adoption and its utilization in construction projects, while also discussing the practical implications of the findings.

Factors Affecting the Cost Management of Iraqi Construction Firms

Cost management refers to the procedures that must be followed to ensure that the project is accomplished on time and on budget. The goal of this study is to identify the main factors that affect cost compliance and to assess how relevant these factors are from the perspectives of clients, contractors, and consultants in construction firms in Iraq. For the purpose of this study, 100 structured questionnaires were distributed to clients, contractors, and consultants on building sites throughout the study area by using the survey approach. The Relative Importance Index (RII) technique was used for the analysis. It has been determined that the factors potentially affecting cost management in construction firms should be taken into consideration during the planning, design, tendering, and construction stages to accomplish the project within the specified time and cost. Twenty factors that affected the performance of construction firms in Iraq were identified. The results revealed the most affecting factor was poor management/poor coordination between the contracting company and the authorities involved, followed by the nationality of workers, structural materials damaged during storage, the absence of places designated for storing materials, lack of personnel specializing in devices and equipment, changing labor and material prices as a result of political changes, lack of technical staff, length of the project period, mismatch designs with execution works in site, and changes in orders. The study concludes by stating that there is not an efficient procedure in Iraq to control cost management.

Competency Assessment of General Surgery Trainees: A Perspective From the Global South, in a CBME-Naive Context

Before proceeding with local implementation of competency-based medical education-related assessment practices designed and evaluated in the Global North, we sought to challenge the assumption that this would be perceived as both necessary and acceptable in our context where training and assessment is based on a traditional, knowledge-focused approach. The aim of this study was to determine the perspectives of general surgery trainees and consultants towards the assessment of competence, how this has been achieved previously, and how it should be performed in the future at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with consultants and trainees. Interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using a Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach. Ten consultants (5 senior and 5 junior) and 10 trainees (5 South African and 5 international) from the Division of General Surgery at UCT in August 2022. Five unique themes were developed: (1) Assessment of competence is essential, (2) competence includes multiple domains of practice, (3) a surgeon must be able to operate, (4) previously used methods were inadequate to assess competence, and (5) frequent assessment with feedback is desired. The themes were considered in the context of Situated Learning Theory, particularly Communities of Practice and their role in the training for, and authentic assessment of, competence in general surgery trainees. Participants described a need to develop and implement a new competency assessment program for general surgery training in this context, which is aligned with described competency-based medical education principles. Thoughtful integration of the formative and summative use of direct observation in the workplace, with a clear emphasis on procedural ability and the provision of high-quality feedback, may enhance the successful implementation of a strategy for competency-based assessment in general surgery training programs.

Perspectives of Adult Cardiology Consultants Regarding Practice of Clinical Cardiology in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Q Methodology Study

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has drastically changed lives, challenging all to adapt new norms and survive. Safety guidelines for physician have been set, yet fear for health and safety hounds the physician. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to segment cardiologists’ viewpoints according to perceived stressors and coping mechanisms in their clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and to draw implications to coping in the light of the model of salutogenesis. METHODS: Q methodology, a mixed-method type of research, was used after approval from the UST Hospital Research Ethics Committee. Using convenience sampling, 30 adult cardiologists were included in this study. Following an informed consent to participate, they ranked-order 33 statements that answer the questions: “What are the stressors has this COVID-19 pandemic brought in your clinical practice of cardiology? How did you cope?” This was done on a Q grid with two “most agree” statements and two “most disagree” statements (Q-sort). A short interview followed the sorting to understand their most agree and most disagree statements. Q-sorting and interview were done via teleconferencing and in person. The Q sorts were then entered into a web-based PQMethod software (http://schmolck.org/qmethod/downpqdos.htm). Typologies were generated through inductive approach. RESULTS: Three typologies were generated: the profession-driven cardiologists, the protocol driven cardiologists, and the faith-driven cardiologists. CONCLUSION: This study painted different personas of cardiologists as they conduct their practice in this pandemic. These typologies enabled the formulation of individual and group salutogenic measures that can help health care providers cope in this COVID-19 pandemic. KEYWORDS: cardiology, clinical practice, coping, COVID-19, Q methodology

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian national team athletes' mental performance and mental health: The perspectives of mental performance consultants and mental health practitioners.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has led to significant disruptions in the lives of high-performance athletes, including the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the cancellation of many international and national competitions, and drastic changes in athletes' daily training environment. The purpose of this research was to examine the interplay between the mental health and mental performance of Canadian national team athletes and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these variables from the perspective of mental performance consultants and mental health practitioners. Twelve individuals working in these roles with national team athletes participated in focus groups and interviews during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Findings from the inductive reflexive thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (a) factors impacting athlete mental health (i.e., social and environmental, psychological, and public health restrictions), (b) consequences of COVID-19 for athletes (low mood symptoms, anxiety and stress symptoms, maladaptive behaviors, time for life outside of sport, rest, and recovery), and (c) impact of the pandemic on practitioners (roles, preparation and resources, gaps, and well-being). Interestingly, athletes with prior good mental performance skills were perceived to be more equipped to cope with challenges related to the pandemic, which concurrently seemed to facilitate good mental health throughout the pandemic. Furthermore, even though the pandemic had several debilitative consequences on athletes' mental health, it imposed a break from training and competition that allowed them to rest and enjoy their life outside of sport. Finally, participants discussed the need for more mental health resources and better access to practitioners supporting mental performance and mental health in the Canadian sport system.

Wearable Exoskeletons on the Workplaces: Knowledge, Attitudes and Perspectives of Health and Safety Managers on the implementation of exoskeleton technology in Northern Italy.

Background:Exoskeleton technology (ExT) has potential to significantly improve occupational health and safety. However, studies on stakeholders’ perspectives are lacking. To facilitate the implementation of ExT on the workplaces, a study was undertaken exploring specific knowledge, attitudes and perspectives (KAP) of Health and Safety Consultants (HSC).Methods:An online survey with quantitative and qualitative components was conducted with HSC participating to a series of qualification courses focusing on new technologies in occupational settings. Respondents rated whether they would use or recommend an exoskeleton, being assessed regarding their knowledge on ExT through a specifically designed knowledge test. Design features (n = 16) and expected benefits (n = 12) were rated and compared in terms of their importance. Regression analysis was used to identify factors significantly affecting the propensity towards the implementation of ExT.Results.A total of 59 HSC participated to the survey (participation rate, 90.8%): of them, 20 (33.9%) were somehow favorable towards the use of ExT on the workplaces. The most highly rated reason for potential use/recommendation of ExT was reducing the stress on joints and tendons (74.6%), followed by reducing muscle fatigue (71.2%). Among design features, higher ratings were identified for: comfort (4.53 ± 0.68), ease of setup (4.37 ± 0.72), portability (4.32 ± 0.97), minimization of falls risk (4.31 ± 0.93), ease of putting on/taking off the device (4.12 ± 1.16), and amount of physical energy needed for use (4.14 ± 0.92). Overall knowledge of ExT was quite low (knowledge score 43.2% ± 18.2), with high rate of false beliefs on the protective role of ExT on musculoskeletal disorders and physical efforts, positive effects on productivity. In multivariate analysis, age < 50 years and being an internal HSC were identified as significant effectors for a positive attitude towards ExT.Conclusions.This study emphasizes the opportunity to spread better knowledge of actual ExT features among potential stakeholders. Moreover, design of future exoskeleton should focus on devices comfortable, highly portable, ease to setup, with a reduced risk of falls. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Nephrologists' Perspectives of the Potential Utilization of Home Hemodialysis in Saudi Arabia.

Home hemodialysis (HD) is an attractive renal replacement modality that has been shown to provide several benefits to the patient and health-care system. However, home HD programs have not been well-established in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to explore the perspectives of adult nephrology consultants in Saudi Arabia about the potential utilization of home HD via a survey-based cross-sectional study. The survey was distributed via email to all adult nephrology consultants practicing in Saudi Arabia and registered in the Saudi Society of Nephrology and Transplantation. Out of 236 invited consultants, 151 (64%) participated in the study. Half of the participants defined home HD as a trained patient who can independently perform his/her HD sessions at home. Eighty-one (54%) consultants have never managed a patient on home HD during their nephrology training period. More than 70% of participants believed that home HD provides advantages over in-center HD, and that its utilization in Saudi Arabia would be feasible. Although 40% of participants worked in centers with no accredited nephrology training program, most of the remaining participants believed that the local training program did not provide enough teaching about home HD to trainees. Patients' refusal, the nephrologists' lack of motivation and experience, a lack of administrative support, and the lack of infrastructure and nursing support were identified by most participants as the major barriers to the utilization of home HD in Saudi Arabia. Addressing these barriers would be the first step to facilitate initiatives aiming to establish home HD programs in this country.

Cost Performance for Residential Building Projects

The construction industry is one of the main sectors that play basic role in the urban and rural development of a society. It provides important ingredients for the development of an economy. However, many construction projects experience extensive cost overrun. This study is conducted to: (1) reveal the magnitude and direction of cost overrun in building construction projects implemented in the West Bank - Palestine over the years 2013 to 2018, (2) develop prediction models for predicting project cost overrun based on the contract price value, (3) identify the causes of cost overrun in building construction contracts in the West Bank – Palestine, (4) test the importance of cost overrun causes from consultants and contractors’ perspective. To achieve the study objectives, two methods are followed: (1) Field data collection for 102 building construction projects implemented in the West Bank during the period 2013 and 2018, (2) A questionnaire survey was conducted to identify and rank cost overrun causes from the perspectives of contractors and consultants. The findings reveal that100% of projects suffer from cost overrun with average of 34.58%, ranging from 15% to about 88%. The results show that cost overruns for building projects increased with contract prices. The questionnaire survey reveals that the top five cost overrun causes from combined view are: experience in contracts, insufficient time for estimate, incomplete drawings, materials’ price fluctuation, and political situation. It is hoped that the findings will guide efforts to improve the performance of construction industry in Palestine and other developing countries.

Theory and practice of Design Thinking: perspectives of designers and business consultants

ABSTRACT The job of designers and business consultants features undeniable commonalities: focus on complex organizational problems, nearly constant exposure to ambiguity, difficulty in measuring performance and need to leverage knowledge and other intangible assets. Synergies between the disciplines of design and business consulting have increased in the last couple of decades. Design Thinking has emerged as an approach to solve business problems by thinking like a designer to leverage creativity and innovation. Despite its success, this has also raised some criticism: a diffused skepticism toward a public relation term that entails expensive invoices to simply apply old-fashioned creative thinking. What do the real protagonists think of Design Thinking and its application in the business world? We explored the perceptions of designers and business consultants on the theory and practice of Design Thinking. We interviewed 11 such professionals and our findings identified significant differences in perceptions around the essence, practicality and value of Design Thinking. Our research supports calls in the literature for establishing stronger connections between the principles of designerly thinking and the practice of Design Thinking in business.

The Major Causes of Construction Delays Identified Using the Delphi Technique: Perspectives of Contractors and Consultants in Thailand

At present, in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area of Thailand, numerous construction projects are in process or have recently been brought to completion. In pursuing this work, contractors regularly face construction delay problems, many of which are likely to have been avoidable. The research objective is to survey and prioritize the factors leading to construction delays from the perspective of both the consultants and the contractors. Data were collected via a survey instrument and the Delphi technique was used as the research methodology. To identify the factors that lead to construction delays relevant to the study context, a panel of experts comprising 18 construction public company leaders and 17 project engineers and 17 project consultants, 1 from each of the largest construction contractor and consultant companies in Thailand, and 20 academics in the field of construction were invited to share their opinions. Eventually, 13 factors leading to construction delays were identified from the data collected from the expert panel. A questionnaire was generated using a Likert scale with a range of 1–5 based on the factors suggested by the experts’ opinions. A total of 17 respondents from the contractor companies and 17 respondents from the consultant companies responded to the questionnaire. The numeric value of the responses was computed using the Delphi technique. The responses reached constancy at the second round of data collection. According to the statistical analysis, a Shortage of qualified labor was the most important factor leading to construction delays, according to both the contractors’ and the consultants’ perspectives with a mean value of 4.65 and 4.53, respectively. Change orders made by owners were the second most important factor according to both the contractors and the consultants with a mean value of 4.24 and 4.28, respectively. In addition, insufficient financial liquidity on the part of the contractor ranked as the third most important reason according to both the contractors and the consultants with a mean value of 4.18 and 4.12, respectively. The outcomes are applicable to the causes of construction delay in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area of Thailand, but may not be applicable to other settings. A review of the literature suggests significant differences in relation to such matters as the regulatory environment, societal practices and expectations, economic considerations, the environment, technology, and religion across settings may have an impact on what causes construction delays.

Ripple effect of a clinical teaching fellow programme in an Australian paediatric hospital.

Bedside teaching performed by experienced clinicians is an expected component of medical student training. As clinicians often have high clinical demands and a lack of formal training in teaching methods, clinical teaching fellowships have been established. In clinical teaching fellowships, clinicians with an interest and expertise in medical education provide medical students with standardised teaching. Studies about the impact of clinical teaching fellowships have demonstrated benefits for both clinical teaching fellows (CTFs) and medical students. However, studies have not evaluated the impact of these fellowships on other clinicians or learning relationships within the institution. In this study, we aimed to address this gap by gathering data on the perspectives of CTFs, medical students and hospital consultants. A mixed-method design was used, utilising a combination of surveys for CTFs, medical students and hospital consultants and semi-structured telephone interviews for CTFs. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained. The combination of data from CTFs, medical students and consultants enabled a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the CTF programme within the institution. Although benefits were identified for CTFs and medical students, the consultant group noted that they were less involved in teaching medical students and that the CTFs were not well integrated into the ward team. This research highlights the importance of considering not only direct outcomes of teaching and learning but broader influences on more implicit teaching opportunities and relationships within hospital teams.

Entrepreneurial selling in context

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide a general review of the existing academic and practitioner literatures, pertaining to entrepreneurial selling with a view to articulate major entrepreneurial selling practices, patterns and principles that lead to entrepreneurial success and to propose two four-quadrant matrices.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores commonalities and distinctions in the entrepreneurial selling concepts articulated by Deutsch and Wortmann and Onyemah and Rivera-Pesquera – and relevant writings by Blank as well as Sarasvathy – are explored and analyzed.FindingsIt was found that the early stage entrepreneurial selling activities of founders – as a means of gleaning prospective customer feedback for product prototyping – form the core of contemporary entrepreneurial selling conceptualizations. Two provisional four-quadrant entrepreneurial selling matrices are proposed corresponding to the literature reviewed.Research limitations/implicationsIt is hoped that the two four-quadrant matrices might serve as a springboard for future researchers interested in exploring entrepreneurial selling. The notion of preliminary selling as a valuable form of marketing research is also worthy of future research.Practical implicationsGiven the extent to which the perspectives of entrepreneurship practitioners, clinical professors and consultants are cited and explored, manifold aspects of entrepreneurial selling are put forth. The various approaches to preliminary selling that are explored are of especially high value to practitioners.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to fully explore the commonalities and distinctions across the entrepreneurial selling conceptualizations developed by Deutsch and Wortmann, as well as by Onyemah and Rivera-Pesquera, and the first to propose a conceptual framework focused specifically on entrepreneurial selling.

Survey of rice weed management and public and private consultant characteristics in Southern Brazil

AbstractIdentification of common weeds is fundamental in determining adequate recommendations for management practices. The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of weed management adopted by rice farmers and the perspectives of consultants who work in flooded rice areas in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil. Fifty-three public and 50 private consultants who worked with rice in RS in 2017 and 2018 were interviewed. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Both weedy rice and Echinochloa sp. occurred and escaped more often from chemical control because they remained in the field until harvest in 59% of the area. According to consultants, the main reasons for reduced weed control were related to herbicide resistance and late herbicide application. Fifty-six percent of farmers used imidazolinone herbicides at rates that were greater than those indicated on the label for POST application. The consultants’ main challenges were weed escapes, resistance management, and guidelines on herbicide rates. Survey results show that the use of herbicide rates above label recommendations and consultants’ work on control of weed escapes are directly related to the high occurrence of herbicide resistance.

Understanding the Green Technical Capabilities and Barriers to Green Buildings in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Thailand

Green buildings (GB) have been globally adopted for sustainable development by enhancing the resource efficiency, reducing the operation cost, and improving the building environment for users. However, little research has systematically explored the key issues of GB in developing countries. This study has revealed the green technical capabilities and barriers to GB in Thailand from the perspectives of consultants, architects, and engineers, using a questionnaire survey and a case study. The results show experience in meeting the combined requirements of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the green building rating system that Thailand developed in 2010, Thailand’s Rating of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (TREES), and “skilled in energy systems” to be the top two most important green technical capabilities. Barriers to GB mainly arise from financial pressure, technical limitations, and inadequate promotion. “Lack of motivations from owners” and “high initial cost” are ranked as the top two barriers to green building. The results collectively reveal that market demand and technological advancement are fundamental drivers for the GB industry, and the government, economic conditions, education, and corporate social responsibility are the other stimuli for the industry. The findings can help project participants adopt appropriate strategies to boost GB in emerging markets in developing countries. Future policies should focus on increasing market demand, encouraging green technology innovation, and reducing the cost of development and construction of GB.

Factors impeding the industrialized building system (IBS) implementation of building construction in Malaysia

In Malaysian construction industry, Industrialised Building System (IBS) has been introduced to replace the traditional construction method. While the government has been making significant efforts to encourage the IBS adoption, the uptake of IBS in Malaysia construction projects remains low. This study seeks to identify the barriers to the uptake of IBS and to propose the strategies to enhance the implementation IBS in Malaysian housing construction process from the perspectives of consultants. Interviews were conducted with five selected experienced individuals who were working with consultants (civil and structure engineer and quantity surveyor). The results revealed that, lack of knowledge and insufficient skilled workers are the main factors that impede the IBS uptake in Malaysia. Meanwhile, the most strategy proposed by the interviewees is to increase the facilities and incentives in order to expand research and development in IBS.

ANALYZING THE FACTORS INFLUENCING TRUST IN A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT: EVIDENCE FROM A SINO-GERMAN ECO-PARK IN CHINA

Trust is regarded as a critical feature and a central mechanism in business transactions, especially in the Chinese guanxi network. In this context, the major objective of this research is to explore the key factors influencing trust in different stages of a construction project from the perspectives of owners and consultants involved in a Sino-German eco-park in China. The analytic network process (ANP) was employed to assess which factors are most closely related to trust and to establish four models to meet the objective of this study. According to the ANP results, trust is strongly influenced by factors that are associated with the mutual interests between owners and consultants. In addition, there are certain differences in the priority of the factors influencing initial trust between owners and consultants, but these gaps gradually decrease over time. The weight of guanxi also decreases over time, and the owners’ and consultants’ guanxi transforms from out-group to in-group focused.

Defining Product Lifecycle Management: Comparing the Perspectives of Users and Consultants

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is a strategy that is being leveraged by many companies to improve both the execution of new product development as well as the general operations of the company. Because the breadth of PLM is so wide, many companies struggle with defining PLM. This lack of a definition causes confusion within the company that is confounded by the many definitions supplied by consultants and solution providers. This paper seeks to develop a user centric definition of PLM, and offers guidance for individuals implementing a PLM strategy.

Software traceability in the automotive domain: Challenges and solutions

In the automotive domain, the development of all safety-critical systems has to comply with safety standards such as ISO 26262. These standards require established traceability, the ability to relate artifacts created during development of a system, to ensure resulting systems are well-tested and therefore safe. This paper contrasts general traceability challenges and solutions with those specific to the automotive domain, and investigates how they manifest in practice. We combine three data sources: a tertiary literature review to identify general challenges and solutions; a case study with an automotive supplier as validation for how the challenges and solutions are experienced in practice; and a multi-vocal literature review to identify challenges and solutions specific to the automotive domain. We found 22 challenges and 16 unique solutions in the reviews. 17 challenges were identified in the case study; six remain unsolved. We discuss challenges and solutions from the perspectives of academia, tool vendors, consultants and users, and identify differences between scientific and “grey” literature. We discuss why challenges remain unsolved and propose solutions. Our findings indicate that there is a significant overlap between general traceability challenges and those in the automotive domain but that they are experienced differently.

Assessment of Deficiencies in Design Documents for Large Construction Projects

This paper investigates the significance of the different types of design documents’ deficiencies (DDDs) by both contractors and consultants involved in large construction projects. Sixteen different types of DDDs were identified and classified under six different groups. Based on the significance index of the different types of DDDs, the top five ranked DDDs from the perspectives of contractors and consultants are nonconformance to building codes, design errors, specifications errors, operational issues, and lack of design team coordination. Lack of use of constructability analysis in the production of the design documents was ranked high by consultants. The test of agreement on all types of DDDs between contractors and consultants showed a high level of agreement. The study recommended that building codes should be instituted in Saudi Arabia, and consultants should conduct constructability analysis to reduce the level of deficiencies in the design documents.