In current competitive environment of the construction industry, continuous quality improvement is becoming a need of the day. One important tool for continuous quality improvement is PDCA cycle (plan, do, check, and act) which can be effectively used for quality improvement and subsequently improvement in the performance by the construction firms. The objectives of the study were to identify the extent to which the firms are utilizing the PDCA cycle, and its effects on the firm performance in the context of small scale construction firms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Measure were adapted from previous sources to develop a survey questionnaire and through convenience sampling, responses were generated from staff from 20 selected small scale construction firms (n=157). Descriptive statistics indicate that the level of utilization of PDCA cycle among the sample firm is moderate level. Further, the three stages of PDCA cycle including plan, do, and act is having positive and significant effects on the firm performance. Based on the findings, it is recommended that small scale construction firms should focus on greater utilization of the PDCA cycle.

Despite numerous studies have placed the emphasis on an examination of individual differences in humor styles, the investigation of this topic in Thai context has been overlooked and needs to be explored. As a consequence, the objective of this present study was to examine individual differences including gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) in humor style of Thai managers in real estate companies. Seventy-nine managers in all hierarchical levels of two real estate firms listed in Stock Exchange of Thailand were gathered for data collection by using Humor Style Questionnaire (HSQ) as the instrument. The result of independent sample t-test showed that male managers had a higher score on the use of self-defeating humor style than female managers (t = 2.806, p = 0.007). In addition, the result of KruskalWallis H test demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference in selfenhancing humor between the different age groups (χ2 (3) = 8.731, p = .033). Nonetheless, results of Kruskal-Wallis H test indicated no statistically significant differences in all four humor styles between the different BMI groups. Discussion and recommendations for further studies were also discussed.

This study assessed private property developer‟s involvement in urban development decision in metropolitan Kano. It is commonly acknowledged that private property developers provides over 90% of the properties in Nigeria, but despite this massive strides they are not involved in decisions making regarding urban development. Primary data for the study was acquired through administration of questionnaire to 127 property developers in Kano metropolis comprising of 114 private individuals and 13 corporate respondents. The major findings of the study reveals extreme negligible involvement of developers in almost all the aspects of urban development decisions such as access to land, infrastructural provision and housing finance. Respondents suggested involvement in the form of empowerment, collaboration, consultation, information sharing and active involvement by the government and urban managers. The study concludes by recommending collaboration between the government and private sector in order to boost the activities of private property developers in the spirit of Private-Public Partnership.

Every Society has her value system they cherish and these systems of norms and behavioural regulation must be strictly adhere and transmitted for the purpose of progressive and continuity of the society. Socialization is a complex process by which everybody or individual come together to learn and perform an attitude expected of them by the society. As societies become more sophisticated and diversified, some certain societal roles are assigned for a specialized body. The school system is one of such specialized body assign for a specific function which she carries through various subject areas of which Physical Education is one of them. The school must therefore be encouraged and supported to perform this task of socialization.

The main objectives of the study are to further explore the connection between conceptual metaphor and the language expression structures through the comparative analysis of the conceptual metaphor in the commencement speeches of universities between English and Chinese. It also studies the meaning, cultural characteristics, similarities and differences of the two languages so that it can give a proper interpretation of how the cultural factors works on the language structure and semantic expressions. The conceptual metaphor was regards as a system of human conceptualization. Speeches addressed on graduation ceremonies by great people who are admired by the university students play a vital role in their lives. So the comparative study of conceptual metaphor in Chinese and American commencement speeches is necessary.

The significance of effective leadership and management for the successful operation of schools and colleges has been increasingly acknowledged in the 21st century. The trend towards self-management in the United Kingdom and in many other parts of the world has led to an enhanced appreciation of the importance of managerial competence for educational leaders. Today, leadership is seen as central and essential to delivering the changes, improvement and performance that community increasingly expects of all organizations including schools. The changing manner of school management has undoubtedly created reforms in the field of education with change expressed in the evolution from exterior supervision of school work to the empowerment of school’s staff, principal’s and teacher’s roles. This study was initiated to look into the leadership style among school principals in governing school systems in Peninsular Malaysia. Secondary data consisting of various leadership styles used in administering teachers, transformational and transactional leadership and the correlation between leadership styles and organizational variables, relationship between value systems and school principal’s principles were performed. Numerous researches have highlighted the fact that leadership behavior is a predictor of its efficacy and leads to the examination of leadership evolution. In this study, leaders with a high moral value system tend to lean towards a transformational leadership style in governing school systems in Peninsular Malaysia and acknowledges a positive correlation between leadership styles and value systems in school administration.

The fishing community is fisherman patorani community that specifically captures the parent and fish eggs "Torani" (flying fish). The fishing community estimated patorani born since the 17th century and operate locally around the Sulawesi Sea, and catch fish species Torani and even other fish species. Since the birth until the early 20th century are still relying on the screen (Sombala) as a boat towing machine and rely on wind power. This study focused on social change traditional fishermen to fishers patorani. This study used qualitative methods descriptive, and data retrieval preliminary observation, interviews and documentation. Informants consisted patorani fishermen, boat owners and owners of capital. The research found that social change occurs due to the internal state of the orientation of the needs and dynamics of the owners of capital, while externally caused by the influence of the market on the fishing community by promising greater income and special one species of fish and fish eggs Torani. Changes it, then forcing the fishermen to make fundamental changes include a shift in social relations that were once family-oriented and then turn to the professional relationship and the contractual and binding.

This research paper analyses the impact of knowledge creation process on Mauritian business from a case study perspective. The knowledge creation process is a dynamic one since it comes from diverse areas. Firstly, the university or any training institution develops business courses that would help students benefit from job opportunities in firms which expected them to apply their knowledge at work. On the other hand, the knowledge creation process might come from the firm that urges the graduate to develop his knowledge and capabilities that should directly impact on the business. There is also a new approach whereby the university develops courses by integrating the student with the industry in a programme tailor-made for the organisation. This paper states that knowledge creation process should be developed in a dynamic way that integrates and addresses business needs in today‟s fast changing environment. Through a case study approach in three selected situations, using Nanoko‟s Taxonomy of knowledge creation as a framework, it reveals that the knowledge creation process is a two-fold dynamic practice and that its success depends on the inter-relationship between tacit and explicit knowledge.

Education has been directly equated with the overall development process of any human society. Basic or primary education being the foundation, is necessary not only for the sake of basic literacy and numeracy, but because it prepares children or human for future challenges. The more adequate and qualitative the primary education is given to children, the more equipped and industrious the children would become in the future. Therefore, good administrative planning and provision of primary level of education is crucial in achieving educational development. This paper examines Universal Basic Education (UBE) as a programme designed to provide primary education, outline it`s policy thrust and nature of implementation as well as assessing the ways through which the scheme can tackle the educational challenges facing the country, for an achieved sustainable development. Secondary data was used comprising the UBE documents and various litratures written by scholars on education and development in order to analyse and assess the relationship between basic (primary) education and sustainable development in Nigeria.

Workplace stress is one of the most challenging issues in many institutions. Recently due to the competitive nature of many institutions in this global age, employers have placed more demands on employees work especially in the private educational sector. This has brought excessive pressure which is beyond employees‟ abilities and their capacity hence inhibiting individual functioning, productivity and performance. The increase level of this stress has led to a change in the behavior of employees and their attachment with the work. Stress is therefore seen to be detrimental to the health of employees, health of organization and its performance. This research examines the studies on workplace stress and its effects on performance and how these effects can be managed in the organization. The objective of the research was to identify the stressors at the workplace, to examine the effect of workplace stressors on employees‟ performance and lastly, to identify strategies used in handling stress at the workplace. Both primary and secondary data collection method were used. The total population for the study was 100 and the sample size used was 50 whereas systematic sampling technique was employed. It was found that workload, longer working hours, not designing job to meet employees strength, weakness and their pressure point were workplace stressors. It was recommended that the management needs to know the employees strength, weakness and their pressure point, balancing work life, with better social support in order to reduce stress and to improve performance.

Scientific discoveries put forth new trends in the education during modern times. These trends influenced all aspects of human society. Scienticism is considered modern day religion, ideology and are more relevant and applicable for contemporary society. The perception, all matter being composed of small, indivisible particles called atoms is the base of matter, from which every object has its existence. From its earliest in the second century of the hijra, kalam has always been enthralled with the theory of atoms. In this paper an attempt has been made to discuss, elaborate and analysis with certain divergence the issue of atomism. The broad theory was generally endorsed by both the Mu‟tazilite‟s and Ash‟arites and their views, difference of opinion on the said issue, along with other medieval Muslim Scholars will be discussed at length. Their concept about the role of atom in matter formation in early Muslim scholar writings will serve the base for this paper.

In this age of information explosion no library is able to satisfy all the needs of its users due to various constraints. It is because of this phenomenon that the concept of library IMS has developed. To achieve this, those who are responsible for the libraries should take into account their active and passive users. Furthermore, not only the academicians who make use of the libraries but also those who do not make use of them should be considered. It is against this background that this study main purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of opens source Integrated Management Information Systems (MIS) in Libraries, Strathmore University as a case. The objectives of the study were: to determine the effectiveness of open source integrated information management system in use at Strathmore university library, to find out the users’ attitudes towards the integrated management information system at Strathmore University Library’, to find out the challenges facing the integrated management systems in Strathmore university and suggest recommendations that would help in improving the use of Koha at Strathmore University Library. The study utilized a case study and was carried out within Strathmore University. The study found out that the integration of information management system in the provision of library service is to a great degree perceived to be effective. However, there was need for improvement. The findings further revealed that, most members of staff and students have positive attitudes towards the use of Koha at the Strathmore University library. This implies that they would appreciate being trained to use it and support any efforts to improve the system. The study concluded that there were still enormous challenges in integration of the management information system in Libraries due some reasons for instance the constant change of software, internet failure and the lack of technology know how among some clients. The study recommended that there is need for continuous training to students and staff to keep then abreast of the technological changes of integrated information systems and innovative strategies of dealing with the challenges associated with Koha.

Information plays a key role in helping the recovery of patients of alcohol and drug abuse (ADA). In the rehabilitation centres, ADA patients are engaged in a treatment programme and are expected to integrate back to the society and become productive people. Alongside other medical procedures, information plays an important role in helping in the recovery of patients of alcohol and drug abuse. This study aims to evaluate the access and use of information services to patients of alcohol and drug abuse in Nairobi County, the case of Asumbi Treatment Centre and to suggest ways in which they can be enhanced. The objectives of this study were: to determine the information needs ADA patients in the rehabilitation centre; to establish information seeking habits of ADA patients; to find out how ADA patients use information; to assess the existing information services available to ADA patients; to find out the challenges faced by ADA patients in accessing and using information, and to suggest ways of enhancing provision of information services to ADA patients in rehabilitation centres. This research adopted a case study design and the approach was mixed, having both qualitative and qualitative approaches. The findings revealed that ADA patients have their unique information needs and they experience challenges of accessing and using information. The study identified inadequate facilities for ADA patients to access and use information services in the rehabilitation centre. Among the major recommendations in this study is that ADA rehabilitation centres should establish information centres, and in addition, offer bibliotherapy services to its patients.