Search results for: corporate performance
12388 Assessment of the Impact of CSR on the Business Performance of Australian Banks
Authors: Montoya C.A., Erina J., Erina I.
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The purpose of this research is to assess the performance and impact of CSR on business in the banking sector in Australia by applying the financial indicators of 20 ASX banks for the period from 2016-2017. The authors carried out CSR assessment in several stages of research: 1) gathering the nonfinancial and financial indicators of 20 ASX listed banks (available were only 16) from the annual reports of Australian banks for 2016 and 2017; 2) calculation of bank performance indicators using such financial indicators as return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), efficiency ratio and net interest margin; 3) analysis of financial data using cross-sectional regression and answers to the research questions. Based on the obtained research results, the authors obtained answers to the initially raised research questions and came to a conclusion that Q1 - Insignificant positive coefficient result - slight positive relationship between CSR disclosure and business performance 2016; Q2 - Insignificant negative coefficient result - slight negative relationship between CSR disclosure and business performance 2017; Q3 - Insignificant positive coefficient result - slight positive relationship between CSR disclosure and business performance.Keywords: Australia, banks, business performance, CSR
Procedia PDF Downloads 6512387 The Mechanical Strength and Durability of High Performance Concrete Using Local Materials
Authors: I. Guemidi, Y. Abdelaziz, T. Rikioui
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In this work, an experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the mechanical and durability properties of high performance concretes (HPC) containing local southwest Algerian materials. The mechanical properties were assessed from the compressive strength and the flexural strength, whilst the durability characteristics were investigated in terms of sulphate attack. The results obtained allow us to conclude that it is possible to make a high performance concrete (HPC) based on existing materials in the local market, if these are carefully selected and properly mixed in such away to optimize grain size distribution.Keywords: durability, high performance concrete, high strength, local materials, Southwest Algerian, sulphate attack
Procedia PDF Downloads 37912386 The Development of Speaking Using Folk Tales Based on Performance Activities for Early Childhood Student
Authors: Yaowaluck Ruampol, Suthakorn Wasupokin
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The research on the development of speaking using folk tales based on performance activities aimed to (1) study the development of speaking skill for early- childhood students, and (2) evaluate the development of speaking skill before and after speaking activities. Ten students of Kindergarten level 2, who have enrolled in the subject of the research for speaking development of semester 2 in 2013 were purposively selected as the research cohort. The research tools were lesson plans for speaking activities and pre-post test for speaking development that were approved as content validity and reliability (IOC=.66-1.00,α=0.967). The research found that the development of speaking skill of the research samples before using performance activities on folk tales in developing speaking skill was in the normal high level. Additionally, the results appeared that the preschoolers after applying speaking skill on performance activities also imaginatively created their speaking skill.Keywords: speaking development, folk tales, performance activities, early-childhood students
Procedia PDF Downloads 33112385 The Effect of Sustainable Supply Chain Management on Performance of Agricultural Firms in Nigeria
Authors: Haruna Daddau
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This study investigates the effect of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) on the performance of agricultural firms in Nigeria. Green packaging, product design, waste reduction and supply chain design were examined. The ecological modernization theory, which suggests the economic benefit of the environment, was used to underpin the study. The research is quantitative in nature, and a survey research method was adopted where information was obtained using questionnaires distributed directly to the top managers of 6 agricultural firms in Nigeria. STATA and SPSS were used for the data analysis, and regression analysis was used to examine the effects. Findings showed that SSCM positively improves the performance of the firms. Also, detailed information about the study’s selected variables' effect on performance was provided. Additionally, the significant role of SSCM in accelerating the firms’ performance was highlighted. It is recommended that SSCM should be given serious attention by integrating it into the overall firm's business strategy.Keywords: sustainable supply chain management, green packaging, product design, waste reduction, supply chain design and performance
Procedia PDF Downloads 1112384 Performance Analysis of Photovoltaic Solar Energy Systems
Authors: Zakariyya Hassan Abdullahi, Zainab Suleiman Abdullahi, Nuhu Alhaji Muhammad
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In this paper, a thorough review of photovoltaic and photovoltaic thermal systems is done on the basis of its performance based on electrical as well as thermal output. Photovoltaic systems are classified according to their use, i.e., electricity production, and thermal, Photovoltaic systems behave in an extraordinary and useful way, they react to light by transforming part of it into electricity useful way and unique, since photovoltaic and thermal applications along with the electricity production. The application of various photovoltaic systems is also discussed in detail. The performance analysis including all aspects, e.g., electrical, thermal, energy, and energy efficiency are also discussed. A case study for PV and PV/T system based on energetic analysis is presented.Keywords: photovoltaic, renewable, performance, efficiency, energy
Procedia PDF Downloads 50112383 Performance Comparison of Reactive, Proactive and Hybrid Routing Protocols in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Kumar Manoj, Ramesh Kumar, Kumari Arti, Kumar Prashant
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Routing protocols have a central role in any mobile ad hoc network (MANET). There are many routing protocols that exhibit different performance levels in different scenarios. In this paper we compare AODV, DSDV, DSR and ZRP routing protocol in mobile ad hoc networks to determine the best operational conditions for each protocol. We analyses these routing protocols by extensive simulations in OPNET simulator and show that how pause time and the number of nodes affect their performance. In this study, performance is measured in terms of control traffic received, control traffic sent, data traffic received, data traffic sent, throughput, retransmission attempts.Keywords: MANET, AODV, DSDV, DSR, ZRP
Procedia PDF Downloads 66312382 Critical Factors of IFRS Adoption in Bank Industries In Middle East Countries
Authors: Benjamin Bae
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This study investigates the relationship between the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the performance of banks in a number of Middle East countries. We examine whether performance levels and audit qualities play any role in adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Middle East banks. This study hypothesizes that, in general, banks with high performance and audit quality measures tend to adopt the IFRS than low-performing banks, as the adoption of a new standard takes lots of time and expenses, which could be an additional burden to them. The results show that three hypotheses are strongly supported whereas the cultural factor hypothesis is not. Banks with high ROA and ROE tend to adopt IFRS than low-performing banks. Big banks are also more likely to adopt IFRS than small or medium-sized banks. Contrary to the hypothesis, the Islamic bank status as a cultural factor has some positive impact on the adoption of the banks in the region. Overall, this research adds to our understanding of the bank’s performance. First, evidence on the relationship between the adoption of IFRS and the bank’s performance should be useful to investors. Second, the findings of this study provide financial statement users with useful information about the bank’s performance measures.Keywords: IFRS, financial performance, audit quality, culture, firm size
Procedia PDF Downloads 3112381 Investigation of the Effects of Sampling Frequency on the THD of 3-Phase Inverters Using Space Vector Modulation
Authors: Khattab Al Qaisi, Nicholas Bowring
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This paper presents the simulation results of the effects of sampling frequency on the total harmonic distortion (THD) of three-phase inverters using the space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) and space vector control (SVC) algorithms. The relationship between the variables was studied using curve fitting techniques, and it has been shown that, for 50 Hz inverters, there is an exponential relation between the sampling frequency and THD up to around 8500 Hz, beyond which the performance of the model becomes irregular, and there is an negative exponential relation between the sampling frequency and the marginal improvement to the THD. It has also been found that the performance of SVPWM is better than that of SVC with the same sampling frequency in most frequency range, including the range where the performance of the former is irregular.Keywords: DSI, SVPWM, THD, DC-AC converter, sampling frequency, performance
Procedia PDF Downloads 47412380 [Keynote Speaker]: Enhancing the Performance of a Photovoltaic Module Using Different Cooling Methods
Authors: Ahmed Amine Hachicha
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Temperature effect on the performance of a photovoltaic module is one of the main concern that face this renewable energy, especially in the hot arid region, e.g United Arab Emirates. Overheating of the PV modules reduces the open circuit voltage and the efficiency of the modules dramatically. In this work, water cooling is developed to enhance the performance of PV modules. Different scenarios are tested under UAE weather conditions: front, back and double cooling. A spraying system is used for the front cooling whether a direct contact water system is used for the back cooling. The experimental results are compared to a non-cooling module and the performance of the PV module is determined for different situations. A mathematical model is presented to estimate the theoretical performance and validate the experimental results with and without cooling. The experimental results show that the front cooling is more effective than the back cooling and may decrease the temperature of the PV module significantly.Keywords: PV cooling, solar energy, cooling methods, electrical efficiency, temperature effect
Procedia PDF Downloads 48812379 Role of Organizational Culture in Building Sustainable Employee’s Performance in Organizations: A Case Study of Zenith Bank PLC Jalingo Taraba State Nigeria
Authors: Jerome Nyameh
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The most valuable asset in the existence of organization is the employees and their ability in maintain appreciable level of performance which support the goal of the organization and the ability to do that depend largely on the organizational culture and culture has been considered most currently as the factor that relate positively to organizational excellence and sustainable employee’s performance over the period of time An employee engagement program will not go far without first establishing the organizational culture that is required to support sustainability. This means integrating sustainability into the overall employee’s performance, with clear vision, goals and metrics. It means having strong culture and a collaborative governance structure that has been develop as a ways of doing things in the organization for decision making and resource allocation. It requires a rewards and recognition program to support and reinforce sustainability behaviors. With such a culture in place, organization will be able to develop a strategy that fully engages employees, while fully realizing the benefits of their contributions. The study investigated empirically the role of organizational culture building sustainable employee’s performance using Zenith bank PLC a model where organizational culture will build sustainable employees performance strategy for a lasting actualization of organizational was developed. In order to achieve the research objectives of (i) to assess how organizational culture can build sustainable employee’s performance (ii) to analyze the gap that exists between organizational culture and sustainable employee’s performance in the organization, a survey questionnaires of 20 items was administered to sixty respondents. The findings of this study have practical implications for organizational leaders, managers and employees, and their organizations, particularly commercial banks in Nigeria, besides offering scope for further research in the area of organizational culture and sustainable employee’s performance. It will also show a significance and positive relationship that exist between organizational culture and sustainable employee’s performance, as means of building viable organization with cultural uniqueness and excellence performance in the world of competition.Keywords: organizational culture, sustainable employee’s performance, organizations, Zenith Bank PLC Nigeria
Procedia PDF Downloads 50712378 Acoustic Performance and Application of Three Personalized Sound-Absorbing Materials
Authors: Fangying Wang, Zhang Sanming, Ni Qian
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In recent years, more and more personalized sound absorbing materials have entered the Chinese room acoustical decoration market. The acoustic performance of three kinds of personalized sound-absorbing materials: Flame-retardant Flax Fiber Sound-absorbing Cotton, Eco-Friendly Sand Acoustic Panel and Transparent Micro-perforated Panel (Film) are tested by Reverberation Room Method. The sound absorption characteristic curves show that their performance match for or even exceed the traditional sound absorbing material. Through the application in the actual projects, these personalized sound-absorbing materials also proved their sound absorption ability and unique decorative effect.Keywords: acoustic performance, application prospect personalized sound-absorbing materials
Procedia PDF Downloads 17812377 Data-Driven Performance Evaluation of Surgical Doctors Based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Processes
Authors: Yuguang Gao, Qiang Yang, Yanpeng Zhang, Mingtao Deng
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To enhance the safety, quality and efficiency of healthcare services provided by surgical doctors, we propose a comprehensive approach to the performance evaluation of individual doctors by incorporating insights from performance data as well as views of different stakeholders in the hospital. Exploratory factor analysis was first performed on collective multidimensional performance data of surgical doctors, where key factors were extracted that encompass assessment of professional experience and service performance. A two-level indicator system was then constructed, for which we developed a weighted interval-valued spherical fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to analyze the relative importance of the indicators while handling subjectivity and disparity in the decision-making of multiple parties involved. Our analytical results reveal that, for the key factors identified as instrumental for evaluating surgical doctors’ performance, the overall importance of clinical workload and complexity of service are valued more than capacity of service and professional experience, while the efficiency of resource consumption ranks comparatively the lowest in importance. We also provide a retrospective case study to illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of our quantitative evaluation model by assigning meaningful performance ratings to individual doctors based on the weights developed through our approach.Keywords: analytic hierarchy processes, factor analysis, fuzzy logic, performance evaluation
Procedia PDF Downloads 4712376 Analysis of Performance-Emission Characteristics of a Single Cylinder Diesel Engine Fueled with Coconut Oil
Authors: Purna Singh, Vaibhav Tripathi, Vinayak Kalluri, Sumit Roy
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The present experimental work was carried out to investigate performance and emission characteristics of single cylinder diesel engine operating under dual-fuel mode with coconut oil blended with diesel. Coconut oil is one of the edible oil which is abundant in tropical countries and has properties like diesel. To this end, performance and emission parameters of diesel-coconut oil blends were reported in the current study. The results were drawn at different load steps of engine operation with 10% and 20% of coconut oil linearly blended with diesel. From the results, it was evident that coconut oil can be successfully replaced up to 20% of diesel without hampering the performance-emission characteristics of the existing diesel engine.Keywords: coconut oil, alternative fuel, emissions, dual-fuel
Procedia PDF Downloads 18612375 Enhancing Nursing Teams' Learning: The Role of Team Accountability and Team Resources
Authors: Sarit Rashkovits, Anat Drach- Zahavy
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The research considers the unresolved question regarding the link between nursing team accountability and team learning and the resulted team performance in nursing teams. Empirical findings reveal disappointing evidence regarding improvement in healthcare safety and quality. Therefore, there is a need in advancing managerial knowledge regarding the factors that enhance constant healthcare teams' proactive improvement efforts, meaning team learning. We first aim to identify the organizational resources that are needed for team learning in nursing teams; second, to test the moderating role of nursing teams' learning resources in the team accountability-team learning link; and third, to test the moderated mediation model suggesting that nursing teams' accountability affects team performance by enhancing team learning when relevant resources are available to the team. We point on the intervening role of three team learning resources, namely time availability, team autonomy and performance data on the relation between team accountability and team learning and test the proposed moderated mediation model on 44 nursing teams (462 nurses and 44 nursing managers). The results showed that, as was expected, there was a positive significant link between team accountability and team learning and the subsequent team performance when time availability and team autonomy were high rather than low. Nevertheless, the positive team accountability- team learning link was significant when team performance feedback was low rather than high. Accordingly, there was a positive mediated effect of team accountability on team performance via team learning when either time availability or team autonomy were high and the availability of team performance data was low. Nevertheless, this mediated effect was negative when time availability and team autonomy were low and the availability of team performance data was high. We conclude that nurturing team accountability is not enough for achieving nursing teams' learning and the subsequent improved team performance. Rather there is need to provide nursing teams with adequate time, autonomy, and be cautious with performance feedback, as the latter may motivate nursing teams to repeat routine work strategies rather than explore improved ones.Keywords: nursing teams' accountability, nursing teams' learning, performance feedback, teams' autonomy
Procedia PDF Downloads 25612374 Effect of Reflective Practices on the Performance of Prospective Teachers
Authors: Madiha Zahid, Afifa Khanam
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The present study aims to investigate the effect of reflective teaching practices on prospective teachers’ performance. Reflective teaching practice helps teachers to plan, implement and improve their performance by rethinking about their strengths and weaknesses. An action research was conducted by the researcher. All prospective teachers of sixth semester in a women university’s teacher education program were the population of the study. From 40 students, 20 students were taken as experimental group, and the rest of 20 students were taken as control group. During the action research a cyclic process of producing a module, training teachers for the reflective practices and then observing them during their class for reflective practice was done by the researchers. The research used a set of rubrics and checklists for assessing prospective teachers’ performance during their class. Finally, the module was modified with the help of findings. It was found that the training has improved the performance of teachers as they revised and modified their teaching strategies through reflective practice. However, they were not able to train their students for reflective practice as per expectation. The study has implications for teacher training programs to include reflective practice modules as part of their course work for making them better teachers.Keywords: reflective practices, prospective teacher, effect, performance
Procedia PDF Downloads 17012373 Diversity and Intensity of International Technology Transfer and their Impacts on Organizational Performance
Authors: Seongryong Kang, Woonjin Kim, Sungjoo Lee
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Under the environment of fierce competition and globalized economy, international technology collaboration has gained increasing attention as a way to improve innovation efficiency. While international technology transfer helps a firm to acquire necessary technology in a short period of time, it also has a risk; embedding external technology from overseas partners may cause a transaction cost due to the regional, cultural and language barriers, which tend to offset the benefits of such transfer. Though a number of previous studies have focused on the effects of technology in-transfer on firm performance, few have conducted in the context of international technology transfer. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate the impact of international technology in-transfer on firm performance – both innovation and financial performance, with a particular emphasis on the diversity and intensity of such transfer. To do this, we adopted technology balance payment (TBP) data of Korean firms from 2010 to 2011, where an intermediate regression analysis was used to identify the intermediate effects of absorptive capacity. The analysis results indicate that i) the diversity and intensity of international technology transfer influence innovation performance by improving R&D capability positively; and ii) the diversity has a positive impact but the intensity has a negative impact on financial performance through the intermediation of R&D intensity. The research findings are expected to provide meaningful implications for establishing global technology strategy and developing policy programs to facilitate technology transfer.Keywords: diversity, intensity, international technology acquisition, performance, technology transfer
Procedia PDF Downloads 35512372 Evolution of Performance Measurement Methods in Conditions of Uncertainty: The Implementation of Fuzzy Sets in Performance Measurement
Authors: E. A. Tkachenko, E. M. Rogova, V. V. Klimov
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One of the basic issues of development management is connected with performance measurement as a prerequisite for identifying the achievement of development objectives. The aim of our research is to develop an improved model of assessing a company’s development results. The model should take into account the cyclical nature of development and the high degree of uncertainty in dealing with numerous management tasks. Our hypotheses may be formulated as follows: Hypothesis 1. The cycle of a company’s development may be studied from the standpoint of a project cycle. To do that, methods and tools of project analysis are to be used. Hypothesis 2. The problem of the uncertainty when justifying managerial decisions within the framework of a company’s development cycle can be solved through the use of the mathematical apparatus of fuzzy logic. The reasoned justification of the validity of the hypotheses made is given in the suggested article. The fuzzy logic toolkit applies to the case of technology shift within an enterprise. It is proven that some restrictions in performance measurement that are incurred to conventional methods could be eliminated by implementation of the fuzzy logic apparatus in performance measurement models.Keywords: logic, fuzzy sets, performance measurement, project analysis
Procedia PDF Downloads 37012371 Reliability of Intra-Logistics Systems – Simulating Performance Availability
Authors: Steffen Schieweck, Johannes Dregger, Sascha Kaczmarek, Michael ten Hompel
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Logistics distributors face the issue of having to provide increasing service levels while being forced to reduce costs at the same time. Same-day delivery, quick order processing and rapidly growing ranges of articles are only some of the prevailing challenges. One key aspect of the performance of an intra-logistics system is how often and in which amplitude congestions and dysfunctions affect the processing operations. By gaining knowledge of the so called ‘performance availability’ of such a system during the planning stage, oversizing and wasting can be reduced whereas planning transparency is increased. State of the art for the determination of this KPI are simulation studies. However, their structure and therefore their results may vary unforeseeably. This article proposes a concept for the establishment of ‘certified’ and hence reliable and comparable simulation models.Keywords: intra-logistics, performance availability, simulation, warehousing
Procedia PDF Downloads 44712370 Parental Expectations and Student Performance in Secondary School Mathematics Education
Authors: Daya Weerasinghe
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Parental expectations often differ to that of their children and the influence and involvement of parents, at home, may affect the student performance in the classroom. This paper presents results from a survey of Asian and European background secondary school mathematics students (N=128) in Melbourne, Australia. Student responses to survey questions were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, followed by t-tests and ANOVA. The aim of the analysis was to identify similarities and differences in parental expectations in relation to ethnicity, gender, and the year level of the students. The notable findings from the analysis showed no significant difference (at 0.05 level) in parental expectations and student performance, in relation to ethnicity or gender. Conversely, there was a significant difference in both parental expectations and student performance between year 7 and year 12 students. Further, whilst there was a significant difference in parental expectations between year 7 and year 11 students, the students’ performances were not significantly different. The results suggest further research may be needed to understand the parental expectations and student performance between the lower and upper secondary school mathematics students.Keywords: ethnic background, gender, parental expectations, student performance, year level
Procedia PDF Downloads 30712369 A General Framework for Measuring the Internal Fraud Risk of an Enterprise Resource Planning System
Authors: Imran Dayan, Ashiqul Khan
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Internal corporate fraud, which is fraud carried out by internal stakeholders of a company, affects the well-being of the organisation just like its external counterpart. Even if such an act is carried out for the short-term benefit of a corporation, the act is ultimately harmful to the entity in the long run. Internal fraud is often carried out by relying upon aberrations from usual business processes. Business processes are the lifeblood of a company in modern managerial context. Such processes are developed and fine-tuned over time as a corporation grows through its life stages. Modern corporations have embraced technological innovations into their business processes, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems being at the heart of such business processes is a testimony to that. Since ERP systems record a huge amount of data in their event logs, the logs are a treasure trove for anyone trying to detect any sort of fraudulent activities hidden within the day-to-day business operations and processes. This research utilises the ERP systems in place within corporations to assess the likelihood of prospective internal fraud through developing a framework for measuring the risks of fraud through Process Mining techniques and hence finds risky designs and loose ends within these business processes. This framework helps not only in identifying existing cases of fraud in the records of the event log, but also signals the overall riskiness of certain business processes, and hence draws attention for carrying out a redesign of such processes to reduce the chance of future internal fraud while improving internal control within the organisation. The research adds value by applying the concepts of Process Mining into the analysis of data from modern day applications of business process records, which is the ERP event logs, and develops a framework that should be useful to internal stakeholders for strengthening internal control as well as provide external auditors with a tool of use in case of suspicion. The research proves its usefulness through a few case studies conducted with respect to big corporations with complex business processes and an ERP in place.Keywords: enterprise resource planning, fraud risk framework, internal corporate fraud, process mining
Procedia PDF Downloads 32512368 Monitoring Cellular Networks Performance Using Crowd Sourced IoT System: My Operator Coverage (MOC)
Authors: Bassem Boshra Thabet, Mohammed Ibrahim Elsabagh, Mohammad Adly Talaat
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The number of cellular mobile phone users has increased enormously worldwide over the last two decades. Consequently, the monitoring of the performance of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in terms of network coverage and broadband signal strength has become vital for both of the MNOs and regulators. This monitoring helps telecommunications operators and regulators keeping the market playing fair and most beneficial for users. However, the adopted methodologies to facilitate this continuous monitoring process are still problematic regarding cost, effort, and reliability. This paper introduces My Operator Coverage (MOC) system that is using Internet of Things (IoT) concepts and tools to monitor the MNOs performance using a crowd-sourced real-time methodology. MOC produces robust and reliable geographical maps for the user-perceived quality of the MNOs performance. MOC is also meant to enrich the telecommunications regulators with concrete, and up-to-date information that allows for adequate mobile market management strategies as well as appropriate decision making.Keywords: mobile performance monitoring, crowd-sourced applications, mobile broadband performance, cellular networks monitoring
Procedia PDF Downloads 38912367 Predictive Analytics of Student Performance Determinants
Authors: Mahtab Davari, Charles Edward Okon, Somayeh Aghanavesi
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Every institute of learning is usually interested in the performance of enrolled students. The level of these performances determines the approach an institute of study may adopt in rendering academic services. The focus of this paper is to evaluate students' academic performance in given courses of study using machine learning methods. This study evaluated various supervised machine learning classification algorithms such as Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, Decision Tree, K-Nearest Neighbors, Linear Discriminant Analysis, and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis, using selected features to predict study performance. The accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score obtained from a 5-Fold Cross-Validation were used to determine the best classification algorithm to predict students’ performances. SVM (using a linear kernel), LDA, and LR were identified as the best-performing machine learning methods. Also, using the LR model, this study identified students' educational habits such as reading and paying attention in class as strong determinants for a student to have an above-average performance. Other important features include the academic history of the student and work. Demographic factors such as age, gender, high school graduation, etc., had no significant effect on a student's performance.Keywords: student performance, supervised machine learning, classification, cross-validation, prediction
Procedia PDF Downloads 11512366 The Influence of Gender and Harmful Alcohol Consumption on Academic Performance in Spanish University Students
Authors: M. S. Rodríguez, F. Cadaveira, M. F. Páramo
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First year university students comprise one of the groups most likely to indulge in hazardous alcohol consumption. The transition from secondary school to university presents a range of academic, social and developmental challenges requiring new responses that will meet the demands of this highly competitive environment. The main purpose of this research was to analyze the influence of gender and hazardous alcohol consumption on academic performance of 300 university students in Spain in a three-year follow-up study. Alcohol consumption was measured using the Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT), and the average university grades were provided by the Academic Management Services of the University. Analysis of variance showed that the level of alcohol consumption significantly affected academic performance. Students undertaking hazardous alcohol consumption obtained the lowest grades during the first three years at university. These effects were particularly marked in the sample of women with a hazardous pattern of alcohol consumption, although the interaction between gender and this type of consumption was not significant. The study highlights the impact of hazardous alcohol consumption on the academic trajectory of university students. The findings confirm that alcohol consumption predicts poor academic performance in first year students and that the low level of performance is maintained throughout the university career.Keywords: academic performance, alcohol consumption, gender, university students
Procedia PDF Downloads 29812365 Accounting Performance of the Leading Companies in the Construction Sector in Brazil during the Period 2009-2012
Authors: Fabrício José Piacente, Vanessa de Cillos Silva, Thiago Luiz Mello Melato
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The construction industry has been demonstrating increased growth and importance in Brazil’s national economic development. This study aims to evaluate the financial performance of the leading companies in the construction sector in Brazil in the period from 2009 to 2012. An analysis is made of the capital structure, liquidity, and profitability of the six largest companies in the construction sector in Brazil: Brookfield, Cyrela, Gafisa, MRV, PDG and Rossi. The results are then compared with standard industry ratios. It was found that among the companies analyzed, MRV and Cyrela showed the best relative performance in the period under consideration.Keywords: accounting ratios, construction, financial performance, Brazil
Procedia PDF Downloads 42512364 Loading Factor Performance of a Centrifugal Compressor Impeller: Specific Features and Way of Modeling
Authors: K. Soldatova, Y. Galerkin
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A loading factor performance is necessary for the modeling of centrifugal compressor gas dynamic performance curve. Measured loading factors are linear function of a flow coefficient at an impeller exit. The performance does not depend on the compressibility criterion. To simulate loading factor performances, the authors present two parameters: a loading factor at zero flow rate and an angle between an ordinate and performance line. The calculated loading factor performances of non-viscous are linear too and close to experimental performances. Loading factor performances of several dozens of impellers with different blade exit angles, blade thickness and number, ratio of blade exit/inlet height, and two different type of blade mean line configuration. There are some trends of influence, which are evident – comparatively small blade thickness influence, and influence of geometry parameters is more for impellers with bigger blade exit angles, etc. Approximating equations for both parameters are suggested. The next phase of work will be simulating of experimental performances with the suggested approximation equations as a base.Keywords: loading factor performance, centrifugal compressor, impeller, modeling
Procedia PDF Downloads 33812363 Examining the Level of Compliance of Patients’ Rights in Physiotherapy Clinic
Authors: Hokuma Isgandarova, Khalil Aryanfar
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The patient's rights include all care items that the patient has the right to receive. Considering the growing importance of this important issue and its effect on improving treatment results and customer satisfaction, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the level of respect for patient rights in the physiotherapy clinic of the Faculty of Medicine University of Medical Sciences in 2023. In this study, the patients or companions who were referred to the clinic answered questions about the performance status of the clinic with respect to various aspects of the patient's rights. The aspects that were studied: choosing the service provider, having authority, respect, safety, prevention and access were found to have inappropriate performance scores. However, communication and interaction, continuity of service, quality of basic facilities and facilities, timely and immediate attention and trust had appropriate performance. Also, the results of the data analysis showed that there is no significant relationship between the total performance score and any of the demographic variables.Keywords: compliance, patients' rights, physiotherapy clinic, performance level
Procedia PDF Downloads 4912362 A Measuring Industrial Resiliency by Using Data Envelopment Analysis Approach
Authors: Ida Bagus Made Putra Jandhana, Teuku Yuri M. Zagloel, Rahmat Nurchayo
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Having several crises that affect industrial sector performance in the past decades, decision makers should utilize measurement application that enables them to measure industrial resiliency more precisely. It provides not only a framework for the development of resilience measurement application, but also several theories for the concept building blocks, such as performance measurement management, and resilience engineering in real world environment. This research is a continuation of previously published paper on performance measurement in the industrial sector. Finally, this paper contributes an alternative performance measurement method in industrial sector based on resilience concept. Moreover, this research demonstrates how applicable the concept of resilience engineering is and its method of measurement.Keywords: industrial, measurement, resilience, sector
Procedia PDF Downloads 26612361 Application of Balance Score Card (BSc) in Education: Case of the International University
Authors: Hieu Nguyen
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Performance management is the concern of any organizations in the context of increasing demand and fierce competition between education institution. This paper draws together the performance management concepts and focuses specifically to Balance Scorecard in the context of education. The study employs semi-structured in-depth interview to explore the measurement items for each of the sub-objectives in the four perspectives. Each of the perspectives’ explored measurement items will then be discussed the role and influence of them towards the perspective and how to improve the measurements to have improved performance management. Finally, the measurements will be put together as a suggested balanced scorecard framework in the case of International University.Keywords: performance management, education institution, balance scorecard, measurement items, four perspectives, international univeristy
Procedia PDF Downloads 40412360 A Long Short-Term Memory Based Deep Learning Model for Corporate Bond Price Predictions
Authors: Vikrant Gupta, Amrit Goswami
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The fixed income market forms the basis of the modern financial market. All other assets in financial markets derive their value from the bond market. Owing to its over-the-counter nature, corporate bonds have relatively less data publicly available and thus is researched upon far less compared to Equities. Bond price prediction is a complex financial time series forecasting problem and is considered very crucial in the domain of finance. The bond prices are highly volatile and full of noise which makes it very difficult for traditional statistical time-series models to capture the complexity in series patterns which leads to inefficient forecasts. To overcome the inefficiencies of statistical models, various machine learning techniques were initially used in the literature for more accurate forecasting of time-series. However, simple machine learning methods such as linear regression, support vectors, random forests fail to provide efficient results when tested on highly complex sequences such as stock prices and bond prices. hence to capture these intricate sequence patterns, various deep learning-based methodologies have been discussed in the literature. In this study, a recurrent neural network-based deep learning model using long short term networks for prediction of corporate bond prices has been discussed. Long Short Term networks (LSTM) have been widely used in the literature for various sequence learning tasks in various domains such as machine translation, speech recognition, etc. In recent years, various studies have discussed the effectiveness of LSTMs in forecasting complex time-series sequences and have shown promising results when compared to other methodologies. LSTMs are a special kind of recurrent neural networks which are capable of learning long term dependencies due to its memory function which traditional neural networks fail to capture. In this study, a simple LSTM, Stacked LSTM and a Masked LSTM based model has been discussed with respect to varying input sequences (three days, seven days and 14 days). In order to facilitate faster learning and to gradually decompose the complexity of bond price sequence, an Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) has been used, which has resulted in accuracy improvement of the standalone LSTM model. With a variety of Technical Indicators and EMD decomposed time series, Masked LSTM outperformed the other two counterparts in terms of prediction accuracy. To benchmark the proposed model, the results have been compared with traditional time series models (ARIMA), shallow neural networks and above discussed three different LSTM models. In summary, our results show that the use of LSTM models provide more accurate results and should be explored more within the asset management industry.Keywords: bond prices, long short-term memory, time series forecasting, empirical mode decomposition
Procedia PDF Downloads 12812359 Performance and Combustion Characteristics of a DI Diesel Engine Fueled with Jatropha Methyl Esters and its Blends
Authors: Ajay V. Kolhe, R. E. Shelke, S. S. Khandare
Abstract:
This study discusses the performance and combustion characteristics of a direct injection diesel engine fueled with Jatropha methyl ester (JME). In order to determine the performance and combustion characteristics, the experiments were conducted at the constant speed mode (1500rpm) under the full load condition of the engine on single cylinder 4-stroke CI engine. The result indicated that when the test engine was fuelled with JME, the engine performance slightly weakened, the combustion characteristics slightly changed when compared to petroleum based diesel fuel. The biodiesel caused reduction in carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions, but they caused to increases in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. The useful brake power obtained is similar to diesel fuel for all loads. Oxygen content in the exhaust is more with JME blend due to the reason that fuel itself contains oxygen. JME as a new Biodiesel and its blends can be used in diesel engines without any engine modification.Keywords: biodiesel, combustion, CI engine, jatropha curcas oil, performance and emission
Procedia PDF Downloads 358