Journal of Educational Technology Systems, Oct 17, 2019
Memorization is essential when new knowledge is based on association with existing knowledge. It ... more Memorization is essential when new knowledge is based on association with existing knowledge. It is key in acquiring logographic languages, such as Chinese and Japanese. Such languages present challenges to students possessed of alphabet-based mother tongues. To meet these challenges, we discuss a technology-enhanced learning method to address the needs of second language learners and support the development of appropriate logographic skills. Our novel approach facilitates the memorization of pictograms through the augmented method of loci. We detail augmented method of loci, discuss its wide impact in a range of disciplines, and provide a case study of its application.
This paper considers how a biologics manufacturer took the lagging data expressed in nonconforman... more This paper considers how a biologics manufacturer took the lagging data expressed in nonconformance data to build a system of analysis with the aim of prioritizing improvements in terms of risk management to facilitate meeting the challenges of a consent decree. Nonconformance or deviation data were grouped into a hierarchy of categories, culminating in FDA compliance system categories. Statistical process control charts were generated to understand the performance of critical control processes within the manufacturing process of the biologic. Risk indicator operational definitions were developed to classify the control point process performance in terms of the risk that control point posed to both the donor and recipient of the biologic. A 5 × 5 risk matrix was developed to merge the performance of the process to the risk indicators. A color schematic was applied to the risk matrix to facilitate the actions warranted to assigned risk priorities within the matrix in terms of process performance and risk indicator. The management of this process required both a computer application and continued human intervention for its success. To date, the risk matrix has assisted the organization under study in allocating resources to specific higher-risk areas to minimize the possibility of regulatory censure.
International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Economy, May 20, 2022
In this article we analyze the measures against pollution in river basins that follow the Europea... more In this article we analyze the measures against pollution in river basins that follow the European Water Framework Directive (European Commission, 2000) and propose a methodology for assessing their economic effectiveness. Compared to other similar studies (Berbel et al., 2018), the presented methodology has been developed and tested in rivers where water pollution is a result of mining activities. In terms of economic theory, the methodology can be summarized as follows: The cost effectiveness analysis used to select the optimal mix of costs is integrated into the cost-benefit analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of the proposed measures. The methodology has been tested on a case study of the East Aegean Region and recommendations for the region have been made for the next five-year period of the Directive.
This work presents a novel multifaceted approach for facilitating education in data analytics. Th... more This work presents a novel multifaceted approach for facilitating education in data analytics. This novel approach is necessary as this new and growing discipline warrants understanding within diverse organizational arenas while recognizing that students are likely non-traditional, usually already employed in various fields and having different level of preparation. Elements of the approach are applied at the State University of New York (SUNY) – one of the largest university systems in the world.
Open educational resources (OER) are seen as means to decrease the cost of higher education and c... more Open educational resources (OER) are seen as means to decrease the cost of higher education and close the educational divide between different society groups. At the same time, studies show that collaborative learning is very beneficial for the students. The effective organization of collaborative learning activities is, however, a complex task that requires both properly structured instructional materials and an appropriate collaboration management system. In this paper we discuss the design and development of a free-to-use software system that stimulates the employment 56 The BRC Academy Journal of Business Vol. 9, No. 1 of OER in the preparation of collaborative learning materials for mobile devices or lab computers. The system is web-based and enables instructors to coordinate the collaborative learning process more effectively. It also collects data for assessment of student attainments and employs mark up and tagging for tracking and rights management. The system focuses on interactions based on gap filling activities and is particularly suitable for learning in small groups, e.g., group learning about case studies in business classes. Observations and comments regarding the use of the system in an operations management course environment are summarized in the end of this work.
The BRC journal of advances in education, Mar 15, 2014
Digital applications are increasingly being used in the classroom, and this exploratory study, wh... more Digital applications are increasingly being used in the classroom, and this exploratory study, which involved two sections of a business communications course, focuses on the use of digital tools to improve business writing. In one section, the professor used traditional pedagogy. In the other section, another professor used traditional pedagogy augmented with two digital business writing applications. As assessed by the university's approved rubric for writing, the students whose learning included the augmented digital tools demonstrated greater improvement in their business writing than did students who experienced traditional business writing instruction. Based on the findings, it was recommended that future research should determine the reliability of the rubric prior to its use as well as minimize professor variation by having the same professor teach both sections.
The BRC journal of advances in education, Mar 15, 2014
Digital applications are increasingly being used in the classroom, and this exploratory study, wh... more Digital applications are increasingly being used in the classroom, and this exploratory study, which involved two sections of a business communications course, focuses on the use of digital tools to improve business writing. In one section, the professor used traditional pedagogy. In the other section, another professor used traditional pedagogy augmented with two digital business writing applications. As assessed by the university's approved rubric for writing, the students whose learning included the augmented digital tools demonstrated greater improvement in their business writing than did students who experienced traditional business writing instruction. Based on the findings, it was recommended that future research should determine the reliability of the rubric prior to its use as well as minimize professor variation by having the same professor teach both sections.
The BRC academy journal of education, Mar 15, 2017
This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (... more This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control), was used to diagnose and improve the inventory management process at a local dental practice which was operating at a loss. The analytics was done as part of a capstone
Almost half of full-time, first-time undergraduate students fail to finish their course of study ... more Almost half of full-time, first-time undergraduate students fail to finish their course of study within four years. To increase retention and graduation rates, a greater emphasis on academic advising is in order. The positive influence of an effective advising program on student success is well documented in the literature; however, there has not before been a systematic method of identifying the key drivers of an effective advising process suitable to a given college. This study applies "Quality Function Deployment," a method widely used in industry to provide high quality goods and services according to the customers' specifications and the producers' limitations, to advising in a business department at a public university. Our methodology can easily be emulated by other colleges to improve the advising of their own students. Introduction When students begin college, they likely expect to graduate within four years. Yet the National Center for Education Statistic...
This case study focused on the extent to which business management students who engaged in a serv... more This case study focused on the extent to which business management students who engaged in a service-learning experience as part of an undergraduate operations management course gained an understanding of quality management practices. Students reported that the service-learning experience provided them with a greater understanding of quality management techniques and that they were better able to engage in problem solving, more likely to seek data to evaluate issues, and feel more confident in their knowledge of operational issues. Further, students indicated in their future careers, they would identify opportunities for improvement in their work, seek to be part of problem-solving teams in the workplace, and adopt a systematic approach to solving work-related problems. In addition, the client of the service-learning project provided positive feedback about the recommendations that resulted from output of the project and started to implement the recommendations.
Recent years have seen an increase in interest with regard to offering music industry undergradua... more Recent years have seen an increase in interest with regard to offering music industry undergraduate programs at institutes of higher learning. Such programs typically cover a mix of courses in both music and business areas. An emerging trend in the music industry is the rising application of digital technologies in all business aspects. This makes it necessary to enhance the curriculum with opportunities that familiarize students with various digital technologies and the possibilities they offer, so graduates are well-prepared for their future careers. This paper presents a case study conducted at the State University of New York—Fredonia. It revealed a need to enhance the school’s Music Industry program, in terms of course content, with information and communication technologies. A proposal of novel courses to enhance music industry student acquisition of technology competencies resulted from the study. Additionally, opportunities for the possible enrichment of existing courses wit...
The revised ISO 9001:2015 quality management standard requires that organizations take a risk-bas... more The revised ISO 9001:2015 quality management standard requires that organizations take a risk-based approach to operations within the scope of this accreditation. One important aspect of risk evaluation is the organization's supplier management process, as suppliers provide critical inputs impacting final product or service output integral to ISO Clause 8.4, "Control of Externally Provided Products and Services." The management of risk in supply chains has recently increased in importance, owing to several industry trends. To achieve accreditation and better manage their risks, organizations can benefit from a tool to categorize suppliers in terms of risk. Although the Supplier Positioning Matrix (also known as a Kraljic Matrix) relates the cost of purchasing to the total risk, it does not account for historical knowledge that organizations may have of their suppliers through previous relationships. This case study describes how the Kraljic Matrix was adapted by the
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
In all areas of human activity, decision-making based on data analysis is very important. As the ... more In all areas of human activity, decision-making based on data analysis is very important. As the availability of data grows, it becomes critical to educate not only traditional students but also those individuals who are now in the workforce, as many of them are expected to manage the complex data streams and to provide evidence and guidance for organizational action. We consider several technological tools that prepare the learners with data analytic skills. Among them are data analysis and visualization tools, Six Sigma, and operations research methods. We provide a survey of respective software systems suitable for a broad audience.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate a subject accounting firm’s existing workflow... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate a subject accounting firm’s existing workflow processes for preparing individual tax returns with an emphasis on identifying predominant areas of waste. Design/methodology/approach Specific Quality and Lean tools were applied to qualitative data secured from on-site visits to the firm. Quantitative data analysis of productivity measures was performed to identify additional sources of muda (waste) as well as validate the findings from the qualitative analysis. Corrective actions were recommended as applicable. Findings This case study of the subject firm identifies predominant wastes in the individual tax return process as defects and waiting. The authors propose that these categories of waste (waiting and defect) may indeed be the predominant forms of waste in service organizations and require further research. Research limitations/implications At least two limitations exist. The first was the inability to capture exact cycle times...
This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (... more This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control), was used to diagnose and improve the inventory management process at a local dental practice which was operating at a loss. The analytics was done as part of a capstone
This exploratory study sought to understand the perceptions of students and a community-client wh... more This exploratory study sought to understand the perceptions of students and a community-client when an academic service-learning project was introduced into a capstone strategic management course using a constructivist pedagogy. Surveys were administered to the students in the course as well as to the community-client. The student surveys provided an understanding of the extent to which the students perceived the academic service-learning project as valuable to the community and the academic service-learning approach as a valuable instructional method, while community-client survey provided an understanding of the extent to which the community-client perceived the academic service-learning project as valuable. The results of the study suggest that the use of the
This case study focuses on how the operational tool of interrelationship matrix of Quality Functi... more This case study focuses on how the operational tool of interrelationship matrix of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) tool was used by a group of operations management students to design an on-campus branch of a national professional organization, specifically the American Society for Quality (ASQ). To develop the QFD interrelationship matrix, secondary research was conducted to establish the Voice of the Customer (VoC) requirements in terms of potential future employers of business students. Because these requirements were derived from secondary sources, the weights of the importance of the requirements were considered uniform, as the research sources did not identify emphasis of any one requirement in preference of another. Primary research was also conducted by use of a business student focus group to identify the types of activities students would find desirable, thereby encouraging their alignment with the ASQ student group. Such activities constituted the design requirements of the group. These requirements were further weighted by the focus group and correlated to the VoC requirements to determine the specific student group activities that would be most advantageous to facilitate future employment opportunities for business students. The two key pursuits identified through the QFD process were live consulting projects and technical workshops. The results are useful for advisors and leaders of professionally-linked student groups in any profession as well as university career development offices.
Journal of Educational Technology Systems, Oct 17, 2019
Memorization is essential when new knowledge is based on association with existing knowledge. It ... more Memorization is essential when new knowledge is based on association with existing knowledge. It is key in acquiring logographic languages, such as Chinese and Japanese. Such languages present challenges to students possessed of alphabet-based mother tongues. To meet these challenges, we discuss a technology-enhanced learning method to address the needs of second language learners and support the development of appropriate logographic skills. Our novel approach facilitates the memorization of pictograms through the augmented method of loci. We detail augmented method of loci, discuss its wide impact in a range of disciplines, and provide a case study of its application.
This paper considers how a biologics manufacturer took the lagging data expressed in nonconforman... more This paper considers how a biologics manufacturer took the lagging data expressed in nonconformance data to build a system of analysis with the aim of prioritizing improvements in terms of risk management to facilitate meeting the challenges of a consent decree. Nonconformance or deviation data were grouped into a hierarchy of categories, culminating in FDA compliance system categories. Statistical process control charts were generated to understand the performance of critical control processes within the manufacturing process of the biologic. Risk indicator operational definitions were developed to classify the control point process performance in terms of the risk that control point posed to both the donor and recipient of the biologic. A 5 × 5 risk matrix was developed to merge the performance of the process to the risk indicators. A color schematic was applied to the risk matrix to facilitate the actions warranted to assigned risk priorities within the matrix in terms of process performance and risk indicator. The management of this process required both a computer application and continued human intervention for its success. To date, the risk matrix has assisted the organization under study in allocating resources to specific higher-risk areas to minimize the possibility of regulatory censure.
International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Economy, May 20, 2022
In this article we analyze the measures against pollution in river basins that follow the Europea... more In this article we analyze the measures against pollution in river basins that follow the European Water Framework Directive (European Commission, 2000) and propose a methodology for assessing their economic effectiveness. Compared to other similar studies (Berbel et al., 2018), the presented methodology has been developed and tested in rivers where water pollution is a result of mining activities. In terms of economic theory, the methodology can be summarized as follows: The cost effectiveness analysis used to select the optimal mix of costs is integrated into the cost-benefit analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of the proposed measures. The methodology has been tested on a case study of the East Aegean Region and recommendations for the region have been made for the next five-year period of the Directive.
This work presents a novel multifaceted approach for facilitating education in data analytics. Th... more This work presents a novel multifaceted approach for facilitating education in data analytics. This novel approach is necessary as this new and growing discipline warrants understanding within diverse organizational arenas while recognizing that students are likely non-traditional, usually already employed in various fields and having different level of preparation. Elements of the approach are applied at the State University of New York (SUNY) – one of the largest university systems in the world.
Open educational resources (OER) are seen as means to decrease the cost of higher education and c... more Open educational resources (OER) are seen as means to decrease the cost of higher education and close the educational divide between different society groups. At the same time, studies show that collaborative learning is very beneficial for the students. The effective organization of collaborative learning activities is, however, a complex task that requires both properly structured instructional materials and an appropriate collaboration management system. In this paper we discuss the design and development of a free-to-use software system that stimulates the employment 56 The BRC Academy Journal of Business Vol. 9, No. 1 of OER in the preparation of collaborative learning materials for mobile devices or lab computers. The system is web-based and enables instructors to coordinate the collaborative learning process more effectively. It also collects data for assessment of student attainments and employs mark up and tagging for tracking and rights management. The system focuses on interactions based on gap filling activities and is particularly suitable for learning in small groups, e.g., group learning about case studies in business classes. Observations and comments regarding the use of the system in an operations management course environment are summarized in the end of this work.
The BRC journal of advances in education, Mar 15, 2014
Digital applications are increasingly being used in the classroom, and this exploratory study, wh... more Digital applications are increasingly being used in the classroom, and this exploratory study, which involved two sections of a business communications course, focuses on the use of digital tools to improve business writing. In one section, the professor used traditional pedagogy. In the other section, another professor used traditional pedagogy augmented with two digital business writing applications. As assessed by the university's approved rubric for writing, the students whose learning included the augmented digital tools demonstrated greater improvement in their business writing than did students who experienced traditional business writing instruction. Based on the findings, it was recommended that future research should determine the reliability of the rubric prior to its use as well as minimize professor variation by having the same professor teach both sections.
The BRC journal of advances in education, Mar 15, 2014
Digital applications are increasingly being used in the classroom, and this exploratory study, wh... more Digital applications are increasingly being used in the classroom, and this exploratory study, which involved two sections of a business communications course, focuses on the use of digital tools to improve business writing. In one section, the professor used traditional pedagogy. In the other section, another professor used traditional pedagogy augmented with two digital business writing applications. As assessed by the university's approved rubric for writing, the students whose learning included the augmented digital tools demonstrated greater improvement in their business writing than did students who experienced traditional business writing instruction. Based on the findings, it was recommended that future research should determine the reliability of the rubric prior to its use as well as minimize professor variation by having the same professor teach both sections.
The BRC academy journal of education, Mar 15, 2017
This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (... more This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control), was used to diagnose and improve the inventory management process at a local dental practice which was operating at a loss. The analytics was done as part of a capstone
Almost half of full-time, first-time undergraduate students fail to finish their course of study ... more Almost half of full-time, first-time undergraduate students fail to finish their course of study within four years. To increase retention and graduation rates, a greater emphasis on academic advising is in order. The positive influence of an effective advising program on student success is well documented in the literature; however, there has not before been a systematic method of identifying the key drivers of an effective advising process suitable to a given college. This study applies "Quality Function Deployment," a method widely used in industry to provide high quality goods and services according to the customers' specifications and the producers' limitations, to advising in a business department at a public university. Our methodology can easily be emulated by other colleges to improve the advising of their own students. Introduction When students begin college, they likely expect to graduate within four years. Yet the National Center for Education Statistic...
This case study focused on the extent to which business management students who engaged in a serv... more This case study focused on the extent to which business management students who engaged in a service-learning experience as part of an undergraduate operations management course gained an understanding of quality management practices. Students reported that the service-learning experience provided them with a greater understanding of quality management techniques and that they were better able to engage in problem solving, more likely to seek data to evaluate issues, and feel more confident in their knowledge of operational issues. Further, students indicated in their future careers, they would identify opportunities for improvement in their work, seek to be part of problem-solving teams in the workplace, and adopt a systematic approach to solving work-related problems. In addition, the client of the service-learning project provided positive feedback about the recommendations that resulted from output of the project and started to implement the recommendations.
Recent years have seen an increase in interest with regard to offering music industry undergradua... more Recent years have seen an increase in interest with regard to offering music industry undergraduate programs at institutes of higher learning. Such programs typically cover a mix of courses in both music and business areas. An emerging trend in the music industry is the rising application of digital technologies in all business aspects. This makes it necessary to enhance the curriculum with opportunities that familiarize students with various digital technologies and the possibilities they offer, so graduates are well-prepared for their future careers. This paper presents a case study conducted at the State University of New York—Fredonia. It revealed a need to enhance the school’s Music Industry program, in terms of course content, with information and communication technologies. A proposal of novel courses to enhance music industry student acquisition of technology competencies resulted from the study. Additionally, opportunities for the possible enrichment of existing courses wit...
The revised ISO 9001:2015 quality management standard requires that organizations take a risk-bas... more The revised ISO 9001:2015 quality management standard requires that organizations take a risk-based approach to operations within the scope of this accreditation. One important aspect of risk evaluation is the organization's supplier management process, as suppliers provide critical inputs impacting final product or service output integral to ISO Clause 8.4, "Control of Externally Provided Products and Services." The management of risk in supply chains has recently increased in importance, owing to several industry trends. To achieve accreditation and better manage their risks, organizations can benefit from a tool to categorize suppliers in terms of risk. Although the Supplier Positioning Matrix (also known as a Kraljic Matrix) relates the cost of purchasing to the total risk, it does not account for historical knowledge that organizations may have of their suppliers through previous relationships. This case study describes how the Kraljic Matrix was adapted by the
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
In all areas of human activity, decision-making based on data analysis is very important. As the ... more In all areas of human activity, decision-making based on data analysis is very important. As the availability of data grows, it becomes critical to educate not only traditional students but also those individuals who are now in the workforce, as many of them are expected to manage the complex data streams and to provide evidence and guidance for organizational action. We consider several technological tools that prepare the learners with data analytic skills. Among them are data analysis and visualization tools, Six Sigma, and operations research methods. We provide a survey of respective software systems suitable for a broad audience.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate a subject accounting firm’s existing workflow... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate a subject accounting firm’s existing workflow processes for preparing individual tax returns with an emphasis on identifying predominant areas of waste. Design/methodology/approach Specific Quality and Lean tools were applied to qualitative data secured from on-site visits to the firm. Quantitative data analysis of productivity measures was performed to identify additional sources of muda (waste) as well as validate the findings from the qualitative analysis. Corrective actions were recommended as applicable. Findings This case study of the subject firm identifies predominant wastes in the individual tax return process as defects and waiting. The authors propose that these categories of waste (waiting and defect) may indeed be the predominant forms of waste in service organizations and require further research. Research limitations/implications At least two limitations exist. The first was the inability to capture exact cycle times...
This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (... more This work explains how data analytics within the framework of Six Sigma Quality, known as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control), was used to diagnose and improve the inventory management process at a local dental practice which was operating at a loss. The analytics was done as part of a capstone
This exploratory study sought to understand the perceptions of students and a community-client wh... more This exploratory study sought to understand the perceptions of students and a community-client when an academic service-learning project was introduced into a capstone strategic management course using a constructivist pedagogy. Surveys were administered to the students in the course as well as to the community-client. The student surveys provided an understanding of the extent to which the students perceived the academic service-learning project as valuable to the community and the academic service-learning approach as a valuable instructional method, while community-client survey provided an understanding of the extent to which the community-client perceived the academic service-learning project as valuable. The results of the study suggest that the use of the
This case study focuses on how the operational tool of interrelationship matrix of Quality Functi... more This case study focuses on how the operational tool of interrelationship matrix of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) tool was used by a group of operations management students to design an on-campus branch of a national professional organization, specifically the American Society for Quality (ASQ). To develop the QFD interrelationship matrix, secondary research was conducted to establish the Voice of the Customer (VoC) requirements in terms of potential future employers of business students. Because these requirements were derived from secondary sources, the weights of the importance of the requirements were considered uniform, as the research sources did not identify emphasis of any one requirement in preference of another. Primary research was also conducted by use of a business student focus group to identify the types of activities students would find desirable, thereby encouraging their alignment with the ASQ student group. Such activities constituted the design requirements of the group. These requirements were further weighted by the focus group and correlated to the VoC requirements to determine the specific student group activities that would be most advantageous to facilitate future employment opportunities for business students. The two key pursuits identified through the QFD process were live consulting projects and technical workshops. The results are useful for advisors and leaders of professionally-linked student groups in any profession as well as university career development offices.
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