bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outsourcing extra-curricular activities: a management strategy in a time of neoliberal influence
Authors: Ng Shun Wing , Chan Tsan Ming Kenneth , Yuen Wai Kwan Gail 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on an exploratory study designed to illuminate the complexity of outsourcing extra-curricular activities (ECAs) in primary schools in a time of neoliberal influence and to examine the views of teaching professionals on the reasons, issues and considerations of outsourcing ECAs such as the dynamic relations between ECA coordinators and service providers, and between teachers and parents.

Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative research that informs this paper is conceptualized within the interpretive paradigm since it aims at understanding the thoughts of 20 teaching professionals including 16 teachers and four principals with regard to the outsourcing of ECRs in times of promoting other learning experiences in schools. This interpretive paradigm emphasizes naturalistic methods of inquiry.

Findings
Two major themes which demonstrated the driving forces for outsourcing educational activities as well as the dynamic relationship between teaching professionals and service providers arising in the process of outsourcing emerged from the interview data. This paper illustrates that the neoliberal impact on the implementation and quality of ECAs needs to be understood as a much more complicated process shaped by the local context.

Research limitations/implications
A major limitation is the small number of samples in primary schools in this qualitative study. Another area of possible investigation is the noticeable extension of the study area to the sectors of kindergartens and secondary schools.

Practical implications
From management perspectives the finding carries the implication that outsourcing must be carefully planned have explicit goals and systematically implemented.

Social implications
The finding enriches the understanding of how neoliberal thinking creeps into management of outsourcing ECAs in schools.

Originality/value
The study does not aim at generalization of the findings but it attempts to illuminate the phenomenon of outsourcing ECAs in primary schools in Hong Kong. To support the empirical findings of the present qualitative study, it is recommended that follow-up quantitative studies be conducted, with larger sample sizes and more diverse sample groups included in the population.
Service quality and student/customer satisfaction in the private tertiary education sector in Singapore
Authors: Khoo Susie , Ha Huong , McGregor Sue L.T. 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper focuses on students’ perceptions of the quality of non-academic services received in higher education. While the important role played by expectations and perceptions in students’ evaluations of such services has been discussed in much of the service quality literature, there is insufficient work in the private tertiary educational sector (PTES). Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between service quality, student satisfaction, and behavioural intentions in the PTES, using Singapore as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted quantitative research to address the research questions. Primary data were collected from 324 valid responses from a survey conducted in two private tertiary educational institutes (PTEIs) in Singapore.

Findings
The results suggested that perceived service quality is positively correlated to satisfaction; perceived service quality and satisfaction are positively correlated to favourable behavioural intentions; and the relationships among perceived service quality and loyalty and paying more for a service are mediated by satisfaction.

Originality/value
This study is significant as the results provide better insights for Singaporean administrators in PTEIs, which is an under-researched area. Generally, the results will have far-reaching implications for all stakeholders in the delivery and consumption of education services in PTEIs, within and beyond Singapore.
Optimization of casting process through reliability approach
Authors: Kumar Amit , Ram Mangey , Rawat Rohit Singh 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The quality of production is an essential factor for the performance measure of a system; a casting process is the same section. It is a type of metal-forming practice in which the required shape of metal is acquired by pouring molten metal into the mold cavity and allowing it to solidify. Casting is done to provide strength and rigidity to the parts of a system for bearing mechanical impacts. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the various aspects which affect the casting process in the foundry industry, in order to optimize the quality of casting, with the assumption that sufficient repair facility is always available.

Design/methodology/approach
The considered casting system can have many defects such as the mold shift defect, blowhole defect, defect of shrinkage and porosity, defect of inclusion, defect of cold shut and much more. The studied system can be in three states during the process, namely, good state, failed state and degraded state. The system can repair after minor failures as well as a major failure. The average failure rates of various defects of the system considered as constant and repairs follow the general time distribution. The system is analyzed with the help of the supplementary variable technique and the Laplace transformation for evaluating its various performance measures in order to improve its performance/production.

Findings
This work provides a strong understanding of the casting industry, that which failure affects the production of casting and how much. For better understanding, the results have been demonstrated with the help of graphs.

Originality/value
In the present paper, a mathematical model based on the casting process in manufacturing industry has been developed.
Reliability test plan for a series system with variable failure rates
Authors: Bajeel P.N. , Kumar Mahesh 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper considers a series system consisting of n different components having unknown and variable failure rates, where the lifetime of components follow exponential distribution having non-constant failure rates. Moreover, the failure rates are bounded by above and are dependent on environmental factors such as temperature, pressure, through linear relationship. The purpose of this paper is to design a component reliability test plan for such a series system with an unknown variable failure rate.

Design/methodology/approach
The reliability of the system is estimated with the help of the unbiased estimator of failure rate. The testing procedure is stopped when a fixed number of failures occur for each component.

Findings
An optimal reliability test plan is designed and the resultant non-linear integer optimization problem is formulated satisfying the constraints of producer’s and consumer’s risks. The obtained results are compared with the results available in the literature. Some examples are considered to illustrate the approach.

Originality/value
It is observed that use of prior information in the form of an upper bound and incorporation of environmental factors have the advantage of savings in the total testing cost.
Optimal (N, F) policy for queue-dependent and time-sharing machining redundant system
Authors: Shekhar Chandra , Jain Madhu , Raina Ather Aziz , Iqbal Javid 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the performance metrics of redundant repairable machining system which is applicable in various systems like computer and communication system, manufacturing and production system, etc.

Design/methodology/approach
In the present investigation, the authors develop Markov model for the system consisting of identical active operating machines which are prone to breakdown. The operating machines are under the care of one permanent repair facility that provides time-sharing basis repair services. The maintenance is facilitated with the provision of standby machines of mixed type and permanent as well as additional repair facility. From the economic point of view, F-policy and N-policy to control the service and arrival of failed machines effectively are included.

Findings
For the performance analysis of the system in long run, the authors compute steady-state probabilities using product-type solution method recursively. Sensitivity analysis is performed numerically for various parameters by developing code in MATLAB.

Social implications
The performance prediction done may be helpful for the system designers and decision makers for the improvement of the existing machining systems in various industries.

Originality/value
Markovian model for the performance prediction of fault tolerant multi-identical operating and standby machines redundant system is developed in generic frameworks by incorporating many noble features which were not all taken together by other researchers working on the same lines. The key concepts incorporated for the modeling of the concerned system is: F-policy, N-policy, time-sharing, and sensitivity analysis of availability and cost function.
Sensitivity analysis of a three-unit series system under k-out-of-n redundancy
Authors: Goyal Nupur , Ram Mangey , Amoli Shubham , Suyal Alok 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reliability measures, namely, availability, reliability, mean time to failure and expected profit. The authors also analyse the sensitivity of these reliability measures.

Design/methodology/approach
Depending upon the real industrial relevance, a generalized system which is easily repairable, extremely reliable and of high quality is expected by the rapid growth of the digital economy. Considering reliability, as one of the performance measure, the authors have designed a complex system which consists of three subsystems, namely, A, B and C in series configuration. The subsystem A consists of n numbers of units which are arranged in parallel configuration, subsystem B consists of two sub-subsystems X and Y align parallel to one another, where X is a type of 1-out-of-n:F. Failure and repair rates are assumed to be follow the general distribution.

Findings
The system is deeply studied by the usage of the supplementary variable technique, Laplace transformation and Markov’s law. Various conclusive results such as availability and reliability of the system, mean time to failure, cost and sensitivity analysis have been discussed further.

Originality/value
Through the systematic view of reliability measures of the proposed system, performance of the system can be enhanced under high profit.
Computations of the signature reliability of the coherent system
Authors: Kumar Akshay , Singh S.B. 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compute the signature reliability of the coherent systems.

Design/methodology/approach
The considered k-out-of-n coherent system consists of n number of elements connected in series. With the help of these systems, the authors have evaluated a mathematical structure using universal generating function.

Findings
Using the universal generating function technique, the authors evaluate tail signature, Barlow-Proschan index, expected lifetime and expected cost.

Originality/value
In this paper, the authors have developed a coherent systems based on the universal generating function technique.
Improving quality management: ISO 9001 benefits for agrifood firms
Authors: Wilcock Anne E. , Boys Kathryn A. 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
ISO 9001 can offer users substantial management benefits. For developing country firms, this standard could offer both important management improvements and serve as a quality signal to foreign suppliers and potential buyers. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of ISO 9001 on food manufacturing firms in Guyana.

Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study approach, using interviews with multiple managers, was used to assess the impacts of ISO 9001 in six registered and non-registered firms.

Findings
ISO 9001 offers supply chain management benefits. Non-registered firms reported using the standard to formalize their monitoring procedures and improve planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery efficiency. Registration helped firms formalize their quality management systems; it provided guidance on improving their customer/supplier relationships, and offered tools to monitor internal processes. Registered and non-registered firms reported increased customer satisfaction, market share and inventory turnover, and reduced lead times, rework, waste, and customer complaints.

Research limitations/implications
The number of cases examined in this study is limited. Interview data are based on managers’ perceived experiences; it was not possible to verify this information independently.

Originality/value
The paper examines management benefits of adopting an international quality management standard in developing country agrifood firms.
A decision-making formula for value engineering applications in the Sri Lankan construction industry
Authors: Karunasena Gayani , Rajagalgoda Gamage Kosala 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The construction industry in many developing countries is reluctant to apply value engineering (VE) due to uncertainty of outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the existing practices of VE techniques and make recommendations to organisations and national construction regulatory bodies, to standardise VE practices. A decision-making formula is introduced to determine profitability of VE applications prior to implementation.

Design/methodology/approach
A broad literature review and six case study projects that applied VE were selected. Thirty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data within cases. Six expert interviews were conducted as confirmatory interviews to clarify and validate research outcome. Content analysis and cognitive mapping were used to analyse data among case studies.

Findings
Application, knowledge and experience on VE techniques among construction professionals are unsatisfactory. Recommendations include reducing contractor’s design responsibility, introducing proper VE guidelines and statutory regulations. A framework is introduced to assist authorities to standardise application of VE techniques. A decision-making formula is suggested to determine margins of contractor’s portion due to VE techniques and original profits gained.

Originality/value
The formula can be used as a decision-making tool by construction industry practitioners to determine successfulness of proposed VE techniques, and the proposed framework can be used to guide construction professional bodies to standardise VE practices.
A new framework for time-cost trade-off considering float loss impact
Authors: El-Sayegh Sameh Monir , Al-Haj Rana 
Published: April 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a new framework for time–cost trade-off. The new framework provides the optimum time–cost value taking into account the float loss impact.Design/methodology/approachThe stochastic framework uses Monte Carlo Simulation to calculate the effect of float loss on risk. This is later translated into an added cost to the trade-off problem. Five examples, from literature, are solved using the proposed framework to test the applicability of the developed framework.FindingsThe results confirmed the research hypothesis that the new optimum solution will be at a higher duration and cost but at a lower risk compared to traditional methods. The probabilities of finishing the project on time using the developed framework in all five cases were better than those using the classical deterministic optimization technique.Originality/valueThe objective of time–cost trade-off is to determine the optimum project duration corresponding to the minimum total cost. Time–cost trade-off techniques result in reducing the available float for noncritical activities and thus increasing the schedule risks. Existing deterministic optimization technique does not consider the impact of the float loss within the noncritical activities when the project duration is being crashed. The new framework allows project managers to exercise new trade-offs between time, cost and risk which will ultimately improve the chances of achieving project objectives.
Determinants of construction organisational performance
Authors: Oyewobi Luqman Oyekunle , Windapo Abimbola Olukemi , Rotimi James Olabode Bamidele 
Published: April 2017

PurposeLiterature suggests that there are sets of common variables that are capable of explaining organisational performance differentials. These variables are used to examine performance variance and its contribution to organisation profitability. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of large construction organisations’ performance in South Africa using a partial least squares path analytic method.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines the interrelationship between a number of constructs, namely, organisational characteristics, resources/capabilities, competitive strategies, business environment and performance, using a questionnaire survey to obtain data from 72 large construction organisations in South Africa. Using a path analytic approach, the paper examines the relationship between the constructs discussed in the study.FindingsThe findings from the analysis of the data show that organisational characteristics do indeed influence the performance of organisations, and that the business environment is capable of moderating the relationship between competitive strategies and performance. The results, however, indicate that organisations that combine sustained organisational characteristics and strategy tend to experience high performance over those that do not.Originality/valueThe study findings have implications for management practice, as it could help managers of construction organisations to acknowledge the influence of organisational characteristics, unique resources/capabilities, competitive strategies and business environment as sources of competitive advantage. The study contributes to the current debate on the causes of performance differentials among large construction organisations.
Applying the TOE framework in the Halal warehouse adoption study
Authors: Ngah Abdul Hafaz , Zainuddin Yuserrie , Thurasamy Ramayah 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This study aims to identify the contributing factors to the adoption of Halal warehousing services among Malaysia Halal manufacturers.

Design/methodology/approach
A survey, based on the technology, organization and environment (TOE) framework, was distributed to 200 participants at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2013. Of these, 140 responses were complete, and the data were analyzed using structural equation modelling approach and SMART-PLS 2.0 software.

Findings
Perceived benefits, cost, customer pressure and organizational readiness were found to have a significant relationship with Halal manufacturers’ intention to adopt Halal warehousing services. Perceived benefits, customer pressure and organizational readiness were the drivers of adoption, and cost was a barrier.

Research limitations/implications
This paper examines the factors affecting Malaysian Halal manufacturers’ intention to adopt Halal warehousing services in three industries, food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Practical implications
The results provide insights into the adoption of Halal warehousing among Malaysian Halal manufacturers. The government, Halal warehouse service providers and customers may use these findings to expand the adoption of Halal warehouse services.

Originality/value
Adopting the TOE framework, this study investigates and develops a model for Halal warehouse adoption. The results indicate that the variables from the TOE framework have a significant relationship with the adoption of Halal warehousing activities.
I create, you create, we all create – for whom?
Authors: Kennedy Eric 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This research aims to propose that prompted co-creation from a brand to a consumer will increase the value of the consumer to the brand through an increase in brand commitment and purchase intention. Additionally, the study compares the differences of a social media post made by a brand and a social media post made by a celebrity who is endorsing the brand.

Design/methodology/approach
Two studies were developed. First, a 2 × 2 between-subjects’ experimental design analyzes the effects of prompted and non-prompted co-creation posts by a fictitious brand and celebrity. Study 2 looks to confirm the results of Study 1 using a 2 × 2 between-subjects’ experimental design with a real brand and celebrity for the social media post. Co-creation, brand commitment and purchase intention are the dependent variables in both studies.

Findings
The studies reveal that a prompted co-creation post – which is a post explicitly asking for consumer feedback – from a brand can increase brand commitment and purchase intention from consumers. Also, the study reveals that, when compared to a celebrity-endorsed message, a branded message shows an increase in brand commitment and purchase intention. The results support the general notion of attribution theory.

Research limitations/implications
First, the study focused exclusively on millennial consumers. While this group has significant purchasing power, testing the effects of co-creation messages on a more generalizable sample is warranted. Next, the survey takes place in an online social media setting. With the power of social media and e-commerce, this channel is certainly important to study.

Practical implications
The results of this study bring the co-creation literature into a new area of research. Extending attachment theory and attribution theory into co-creation creates numerous opportunities to further grow the knowledge of the co-creation phenomena. The findings provide insight into the power that a prompted co-creation message can have on a consumer, either from a brand or celebrity endorser source. Practitioners can place a value on prompted and non-prompted co-creation messages originating with a brand. In addition, the research will give practitioners insight into how messages of co-creation are received by millennial consumers.

Originality/value
This research is the first of its kind for co-creation literature. No research to date examines the effect that a brand or celebrity-endorsed co-creation prompt has on the behavior of millennial consumers. Very little, if any, empirical research has been conducted on the co-creation of brand.