Leadership and Top Management Influence on Total Quality Management Implementation in the Ghanaian Construction Industry

This study aims to determine the key and underlying Leadership and Top Management (LTM) factors that have a significant impact on sustaining the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) within the construction industry in Ghana. The research methodology employed in this study was a quantitative technique. Questionnaires were distributed to 641 participants within construction industry in Ghana. Questionnaires retrieved for the analysis were 536. Three steps approached were used for the data analysis. These include Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. After conducting the EFA and CFA, SEM was also used to analyze the construct validity. The SEM analysis helps to determine four key indicator variables for the leadership and top management construct. These include Leadership/Top Management approach to employees’ management, Leadership/Top Management understanding of TQM, Leadership/Top Management empowerment of employees to resolve quality issues, and Leadership/Top Management endorsement of TQM. All the four indicator variables were found to be good of fit and closely associated with the dependent variable. The study adds to the body of knowledge by using EFA, CFA and SEM techniques to establish key leadership and top management factors affecting TQM implementation in Ghana’s construction industry. The findings in general suggested that leadership and top Management factors identified have a direct positive impact on sustaining TQM implementation in the Ghanaian construction industry. Consequently, the leadership and top management factors identified in this study can help improve TQM in the Ghanaian construction industry.

Countermeasures and Suggestions for Strengthening Human Resource Management in China’s Pharmaceutical Industry

Objective To provide reference and enlightenment for the development of human resource management in China’s pharmaceutical industry and to put forward some suggestions to promote the further development of pharmaceutical industry.Methods The method of literature review was used to analyze the current situation and existing problems of human resource management in China’s pharmaceutical industry.Results and Conclusion Only by continuously improving the human resource management skills and innovating management methods can pharmaceutical enterprises achieve long-term benefits with sustainable development.The formulation of human resource management strategy in pharmaceutical industry must be conducive to the realization of the business goals of enterprises.To achieve this overall goal,the human resources management department of enterprises must make the plan from a strategic perspective,formulate talent strategic planning which serves the overall strategic goal of the enterprise.As a result,human resource management will play an important role in the development of China’s pharmaceutical industry.

Construction of a Multi-Level Strategic System for Cultivating Cultural Industry Management Talents in Colleges and Universities

Through SWOT(strengths,weaknesses,opportunities,and threats)and PEST(political,economic,social,and technological)analysis,this study discusses the construction of a multi-level strategic system for the cultivation of cultural industry management talents in colleges and universities.First of all,based on SWOT analysis,it is found that colleges and universities have rich educational resources and policy support,but they face challenges such as insufficient practical teaching and intensified international competition.External opportunities come from the rapid development of the cultivation of cultural industry management talents and policy promotion,while threats come from global market competition and talent flow.Secondly,PEST analysis reveals the key factors in the macro-environment:at the political level,the state vigorously supports the cultivation of cultural industry management talents;at the economic level,the market demand for cultural industries is strong;at the social level,the public cultural consumption is upgraded;at the technological level,digital transformation promotes industry innovation.On this basis,this paper puts forward a multi-level strategic system covering theoretical education,practical skill improvement,interdisciplinary integration,and international vision training.The system aims to solve the problems existing in talent training in colleges and universities and cultivate high-quality cultural industry management talents with theoretical knowledge,practical skills,and global vision,so as to adapt to the increasingly complex and diversified cultural industry management talents market demand and promote the long-term development of the industry.

The Application of Knowledge Management(KM)by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises(SME)in Manufacturing Industry

To accelerate the digital transformation of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises(SMEs),this study delves into the primary challenges encountered in adopting knowledge management(KM)within these organizations and identifies the essential methods for successful implementation.The objective is to provide practical recommendations for the effective adoption of KM.This research suggests that enterprises should promote knowledge management through three key approaches:enhancing employees’cognitive understanding,standardizing knowledge systems,and tailoring business scenarios to meet diverse needs.These findings offer valuable insights into the digital transformation of SMEs in the manufacturing sector,ultimately helping these businesses to remain competitive and innovative in a rapidly changing market.By addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by SMEs,this study aims to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of how knowledge management can be leveraged to drive digital transformation and improve overall business performance.

Optimization of Corporate Financial Management from the Perspective of Industry-Finance Integration

Enterprises can enhance their financial management by integrating their business and financial departments,facilitating the seamless sharing of information and resources.This integrated management model not only aids in lowering operating costs but also boosts market competitiveness.In the contemporary,highly competitive business landscape,the amalgamation of business and finance has become a prerequisite for corporate development.This article delves into the significance of industry-finance integration in corporate financial management,scrutinizes existing challenges in corporate financial management,and puts forth tailored solutions to optimize the overall system.

Analysis and Suggestions on Management Strategies in Eco-industrial Parks in China

In the research, management strategies and problems of eco-industrial parks were mainly analyzed and some suggestions were proposed based on eco-industrial park, circular economy and ecologization of industrial park in China, providing references for ecologicalization policy design of industrial parks in China.

Big data management in the mining industry

The mining industry faces a number of challenges that promote the adoption of new technologies.Big data,which is driven by the accelerating progress of information and communication technology,is one of the promising technologies that can reshape the entire mining landscape.Despite numerous attempts to apply big data in the mining industry,fundamental problems of big data,especially big data management(BDM),in the mining industry persist.This paper aims to fill the gap by presenting the basics of BDM.This work provides a brief introduction to big data and BDM,and it discusses the challenges encountered by the mining industry to indicate the necessity of implementing big data.It also summarizes data sources in the mining industry and presents the potential benefits of big data to the mining industry.This work also envisions a future in which a global database project is established and big data is used together with other technologies(i.e.,automation),supported by government policies and following international standards.This paper also outlines the precautions for the utilization of BDM in the mining industry.

Analysis of Information Sharing Mechanism in the Food Industry Green Supply Chain Management and Operation Process

In order to effectively address the issues of environmental pollution and food safety in food industry,the green supply chain management should be used in the food industry.However,information sharing is the basis of supply chain management.For this purpose,on the basis of describing the connotation of food industry green supply chain management,the paper introduces the contents and the effects of information sharing mode in detail.It focuses on the barriers of the implementation of information-sharing mechanisms in the food industry green supply chain management and operation process and analyzes the necessity of using information sharing mechanism among the members of the food industry green supply chain management mode by game theory,so as to strengthen the competitiveness of enterprises through supply chain management.

Blockchain and IIoT Enabled Solution for Social Distancing and Isolation Management to Prevent Pandemics

Pandemics have always been a nightmare for humanity,especially in developing countries.Forced lockdowns are considered one of the effective ways to deal with spreading such pandemics.Still,developing countries cannot afford such solutions because these may severely damage the country’s econ-omy.Therefore,this study presents the proactive technological mechanisms for business organizations to run their standard business processes during pandemic-like situations smoothly.The novelty of this study is to provide a state-of-the-art solution to prevent pandemics using industrial internet of things(IIoT)and blockchain-enabled technologies.Compared to existing studies,the immutable and tamper-proof contact tracing and quarantine management solution is proposed.The use of advanced technologies and information security is a critical area for practitioners in the internet of things(IoT)and corresponding solutions.Therefore,this study also emphasizes information security,end-to-end solution,and experimental results.Firstly,a wearable wristband is proposed,incorporating 4G-enabled ultra-wideband(UWB)technology for smart contact tracing mechanisms in industries to comply with standard operating procedures outlined by the world health organization(WHO).Secondly,distributed ledger technology(DLT)omits the centralized dependency for transmitting contact tracing data.Thirdly,a privacy-preserving tracing mechanism is discussed using a public/private key cryptography-based authentication mechanism.Lastly,based on geofencing techniques,blockchain-enabled machine-to-machine(M2M)technology is proposed for quarantine management.The step-by-step methodology and test results are proposed to ensure contact tracing and quarantine management.Unlike existing research studies,the security aspect is also considered in the realm of blockchain.The practical implementation of the proposed solution also obtains the results.The results indicate the successful implementation of blockchain-enabled contact tracing and isolation management using IoT and geo-fencing techniques,which could help battle pandemic situations.Researchers can also consider the 5G-enabled narrowband internet of things(NB-IoT)technologies to implement contact tracing solutions.

Bioremediation Technology Potential for Management of Soil and Water Pollution from Anticipated Rapid Industrialization and Planned Oil and Gas Sector in Uganda: A Review

Oil exploitation in many African countries is associated with litigation and conflicts to water and soil pollution. It is because of inadequate planning for management of oil spills and industrial effluents in environmentally sustainable manner. Uganda’s natural resources such as soils and water bodies are threatened by contamination due to rapid industrialization and rural-urban migration in established Industrial Business Parks and planned oil and gas production at Albertine Graben Region. The low level of compliance to industrial effluents discharge standards relevant to specific environmental receptors and activities within oil and gas sector development pose a big question of how to sustain the biodiversity and natural resource management. Experiences from elsewhere have shown bioremediation as a viable and proven option to provide potentially manageable solutions to resulting pollution as a substitute to modern well-known remediation methods, for it is relatively cheaper, more efficient and minimal toxic byproducts after treatment. The most used bioremediation agents in different studies reviewed are bacterial species especially Pseudomonas and Bacillus, followed by Aspergillus a fungi species, microalgae and aquatic plants such as duckweed, macrophytes and pteridophytes. Regardless of the waste produced in either oil and gas sector or industries, these agents have shown greater biodegradation rates. Pseudomonas sp. has a degradation efficiency of oil compounds ranging from 90% - 100%, and Aspergillus sp. 75% - 95%. Some aquatic plants can thrive in created wetlands with relatively still water such as Phragmites australis which can degrade hydrocarbons especially Aromatic compounds with benzene ring up to 95%. It can thrive in salty water with high pH range of 4.8 - 8.2. With industrial wastewater, algae is the most dominant with the degradation rates varying from 65% -100% and bacteria at 70% - 90%. Most of the reported results are in the developed country context. In developing countries, duckweed is reported as the commonest aquatic plant in wastewater treatment for removal of heavy metals because it is more tolerant to a wide range of environmental conditions and produce biomass faster. It has a removal rate of heavy metals between 90% and 100%. Basing on literature data analysis, bacteria are more suitable for treating water from oil pollution using Pseudomonas sp. Phragmites australis is suited for cleaning up oil in both water and soil. Duckweed is the best in treating water polluted with industrial effluents. This paper presents the different bioremediation methods that Uganda can potentially apply to mitigate the increased risk of environmental pollutions from planned industrialization and oil and gas development in the Albertine Graben Region.

Intelligent Multi-Agent Based Information Management Methods to Direct Complex Industrial Systems

In recent years, the increasingly complexity of the logistic and technical aspects of the novel manufacturing environments, as well as the need to increase the performance and safety characteristics of the related cooperation, coordi-nation and control mechanisms is encouraging the development of new information management strategies to direct and man- age the automated systems involved in the manufacturing processes. The Computational Intelligent (CI) approaches seem to provide an effective support to the challenges posed by the next generation industrial systems. In particular, the Intelligent Agents (IAs) and the Multi-Agent Systems (MASs) paradigms seem to provide the best suitable solutions. Autonomy, flexibility and adaptability of the agent-based technology are the key points to manage both automated and information processes of any industrial system. The paper describes the main features of the IAs and MASs and how their technology can be adapted to support the current and next generation advanced industrial systems. Moreover, a study of how a MAS is utilized within a productive process is depicted.

Supplier Selection Fuzzy Model in Supply Chain Management:Vietnamese Cafe Industry Case

Supplier selection is a vital part of the supply chain and is also a current issue that concerns businesses today as supplier quality directly affects the operations of the organization.Choosing the right supplier can help businesses increase productivity,competitiveness in the market,and profits without having to lower the quality of the products.However,choosing a supplier is not a simple matter,it requires businesses to consider many aspects about their suppliers.Therefore,the goal of this study is to propose an integrated model consisting of two models:Fuzzy Analytics Network Process(Fuzzy-ANP)model and Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment(WASPAS)to solve the problem above.The Fuzzy-ANP model was developed to evaluate the weightings of the supplier selection criteria,and the WASPAS Model was used to rank the suppliers.An example of supplier selection in the coffee industry in Vietnam was studied to validate the model,namely 5 main criteria,with 16 sub-criteria,and 7 suppliers.The model test results show that the Fuzzy ANP and WASPAS integration model was suitable.In future,these developing models can apply to other industries or integrate with other models.

Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Readiness Assessment of Project Managers in Tanzania

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is transforming the way we live, learn, work, and relate to one another. However, there is still an awareness inadequacy of the 4IR among project managers and the society in Tanzania, thus low readiness to conceptualize, implement and manage 4IR-related projects in the country. This study aimed to assess the 4IR readiness of project managers in Tanzania. The assessment is made in the frame of 4 readiness dimensions: strategy and governance structure, technology awareness, human capital digital skills development, and social-economic impact. The research used a quantitative method with the diffusion of innovations theory perspective, and data were collected mainly through an online survey questionnaire. The survey aimed at answering the research question concerning the project managers’ readiness for the 4IR. The 50 valid samples were completed by project managers from various industries such as agriculture, finance, consulting, construction, education and training, government, healthcare, Information Technology, and manufacturing. Data were analysed using SPSS. The results revealed that despite the generally low awareness of 4IR, several project managers in Tanzania have some varying awareness of 4IR technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, blockchain, robotics, cryptocurrency, chatbots, drones, and other digital transformation platforms. The results also indicated that project managers in Tanzania had little extent in readiness to initiate, develop and implement 4IR products and services due to inadequate 4IR-related awareness, strategy and governance structure, human capital digital skills development, and social economic impact. Consequently, some recommendations are made in the frame of the four assessed readiness dimensions for improvement. The value of this research is mainly to provide the state of 4IR readiness of project managers and associated recommendations to policymakers, practitioners, academia, donors, business industry and youth in digital innovation. The study also contributes to the body of knowledge on 4IR, project management and digital transformation.

The Management Problem of the Industrialization of Water Resources and Its Countermeasures

Water is the material basis of man＇s living. It cannot be substituted. In addition, it is the life line of agriculture even the national economy. However, water resources face very serious situation in our country. It is shown that wafer resources are in short and the water pollution is benumbing more and more serious day by day. The reason for the problem of water resources is the management problem of water resources. Besides. the per capita water resource is low because the population is increasingly serious. The industrialization of water resources is a new conception presented due to the deepening of the social labor division and the demands of the mitigating contradiction of water resources. This paper analyzes the present situation of water resources in our country and the reasons for the problems, It expounds the important significance of the industrialization of management of water resources. Then it puts forward some saggesnons for the management of the industry of water resources, and some measure to solve those problems.

New Basle Capital Agreement and Risk Management of China＇s Banking Industry

Adjustment of Basle Capital Agreement will influence the risk management and capital arrangement demand of the banks with different scales, operation level and environment. It will have widespread and profound effect on the competition strength of every country＇s banks in the global market. Starting with illustration of the present cond（tion of risk management in China＇s banks, the paper analyzes the major problems existing in the risk management system of China＇s banking industry, then puts forward some clues and suggestions to improve and better the risk management system of China＇s banking industry.

An overview on industrial waste management in China

The article is a summary of the industrial waste management in China during the recent years.An overall description of industrial waste was given from generation; treatment, disposal and emission and comprehensive utilization. In spite of the serious situation of industrial waste,China has realized it and made great progress in establishing corresponding legislation system, taking a series of administrative measures and developing effective treatment and disposal technologies.However, there still exist many problems , and it is of great urgency to take countermeasures in industrial waste management.

Problems and Countermeasures in the Supply Chain Management of Flower Industry in Yunnan Province

On the basis the elementary theory of supply chain management,the features and problems in the supply-chain management of flowers in Yunnan Province are analyzed.The problems include poor image of flowers caused by low-end package,imperfect supply-chain structure,and weak processing section after harvesting flowers,hard to launch the cold chain transportation and inadequate awareness of enterprises on consumers.The countermeasures are put forward,which include perfecting various kinds of supply chain structure;intensifying the information system management of flowers in Yunnan Province;developing the cold chain logistics and cultivating and supporting the third-party logistics of flower industry in Yunnan Province.

Urban Water Supply Industry Marketization of China in View of Public Water Service and Water Resource Management

Started with the discussions on the value orientation of urban water supply industry marketization,the article points out that the current urban water supply industry marketization reform is inconsistent with the goal of public water service equalization to some extent.The article also analyzes the problems emerged in urban water supply industry marketization reform and various rea-sons in view of efficiency and fairness.An efficiency and fairness oriented management model is built in this article to illustrate how the government should conciliate interests of various communities involved in the process of marketization reform of the urban water supply industry so as to actualize the coordination of efficiency and fairness.At the end,an assumption on urban water price is put forward to help achieve the public water service equalization.

Development of a distribution management system in refinery industry

Developing an information system for managing the product distribution in a refinery demands sophisticated design solutions. First, organization models are created to describe the structural relationships among employees and the ways in which they will use the information system. Second, function models are created to hierarchically describe how sales, transports, deliveries and vehicles are managed. Thirdly, an information model is built to represent the data entities and their dynamic interactions. Based on the system design, a distribution management system is developed and implemented in a refinery, which has considerably increased the distribution management efficiency and effectiveness.

Logistics Management in the Ghanaian Construction Industry

In the field of the construction industry, logistics management has become an issue of concern which needs to be focused on in order to ensure effective, successful and timely execution of projects in the construction industry. Logistics management in construction is a multidisciplinary process which makes sure things are done at the right time, cost and quality as well as material supply and handling, schedule control, site infrastructure and equipment location, site physical flow management, traffic arrangements on and around the construction site, and information management related to all physical and services flow. This paper seeks to identify and evaluate the possible factors that affect logistics management in the construction industry and also to ascertain the current practices of inventory management and the effect on logistics management envisage by construction personnel’s and stake holders. A descriptive survey research was conducted with both structured and unstructured questionnaire and administered both via e-mail and by sending questionnaire link onto a WhatsApp platform groups of the respondents, and out of the 187 respondents that took part in the survey, 22 respondents feedback were incomplete so 165 member respondents results were analyzed representing 88.2% response rate. The survey results were analyzed, displayed and interpreted in the form of tables, bar charts, column chart and pie chart with the use of SPSS software. The research survey respondents were comprised of Project Managers, Project Coordinators, Foremen, Site Managers/ Officers, Logistics Managers, Inventory Managers and Laborers. The survey results revealed that majority of the total respondents are in the capacity or position as Logistics Managers and also have from 5 to 10 years working experience, and as well majority of the respondents have also attained Master’s degree qualification. It was also revealed that logistics management is greatly affected by the inability or the failure to embrace, adopt and integrate new and emerging technology and its approach into the logistics management system. Majority of the respondents also indicated that in general the adequacy of inventory management system was dissatisfied representing 63.8% of the total respondents. The construction industry not only needed to improve its inventory management systems but also to ensure appropriate inventory management techniques for enhancing high degree of accuracy, reduced cycle times and replenishment of stock. This usually accounts for the poor delivery and quality of work, accompanied with delays and other associated losses in project construction. For effective Logistics management to be achieved in the construction industry, the introduction of modern technology to carry out logistics functions in the construction industry should be paramount to the industry players.