Abstract Background: Over the last few years, the principle of cross-docking has prominently spreadthrough the companies in which they try hard to make their supply chain channels efficientand achieve higher demands of the society. Studies claimed that inventory management remains to be challenge for professionals of supply chain as long-term processing times may result in considerable financial losses for firms. Aim: This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Hub-and-Spoke cross-dockingstrategy in inventory management by understanding the impact, outcomes or efficacy of its implementation. Methodology: This research has adopted qualitative research method to generate extensive data and deep insights to underlying factors behind organizations' decisions and behavior on the implementation of cross-docking concept. The interviews have been chosen as the main data collection method of this research because it has been used successfully in order to produce rich and detailed information about the participants in the supply chain management.The total sample size of the participants is 10. For instance, the research conducted interviews via In-person, Zoom and WhatsApp video calls. The researcher recruited supply chain managers including companies’ representatives, supply chain practitioners, logistic managers,inventory managers and related stakeholders responsible for executing and overviewing inventory management approaches within their firms operating in Sweden. Thus, individuals can offer useful information related to supply planning, implementing and optimising cross-docking operations within their organisations. Findings and Conclusion: The research has, however, led to the impact of the organizational culture on the sustainable Hub-and-Spoke cross-docking strategy with the participants, all agreeing on the role that culture plays in shaping the structure of the strategy in the long-term. Finally, organizational culture was considered to be the cornerstone system,emphasizing the values of innovation, collaboration, transparency, and employee empowerment that serve as the driving force for its application. Participants highlighted the significance of facilitating discussions on various levels, recognizing the importance of collaborations and teams, establishing training and development systems, creating the culture of continuous improvement, and empowering employees as key measures utilized in dealing with the organizational culture challenges in cross-docking implementation and sustainability. KPIs for the cross-dock's level of success and effectiveness include order fulfillment rates,inventory turnover and customer satisfaction, compliance, employee satisfaction, operational efficiency, and the practice of ethical business conduct and corporate values. Thus, thisresearch proves the connection between the organizational culture and best productivity ,results of cross-docking. This makes it clear that a supportive environment is important for a continued performance in cross-docking operations.

Learners in disadvantaged environments are less likely to do well at school. Yet some of the most successful schools operate in such environments. The purpose of this study was to establish the relative influence of various determinants of school success in disadvantaged environments. To this end literature study was done in two phases. The first resulted in a taxonomy of success factors, which was then used to guide the second in-depth phase. Thereafter an empirical study was done, involving qualitative field work at four successful schools in disadvantaged environments. Empirically it was discovered that there is no single most important success factor because all success factors are interrelated and interdependent. The over-arching success factor discovered in this study which was involvement of all stakeholders. / Education / M.Ed.

The principles of Total Quality Management (TQM), initially designed to effect continuous improvement in the business sector, have been successfully applied in educational settings. Hence, this study was undertaken to explore educator participation in the implementation of a TQM Strategy at selected academically underperforming secondary schools in the Moses Kotane Area to address shortfalls. A literature review on TQM provided a conceptual framework for the empirical inquiry. Special attention was given to the role of educators in TQM implementation. The empirical study used qualitative research methods to explore the use of TQM in fifteen schools selected by purposive sampling. Observation, document analysis and focus group interviews were used to gather data. The findings indicate that educators regard TQM as an improvement tool; however, they hold negative and positive views about TQM. Finally, recommendations were made to enhance the implementation of TQM in underperforming secondary schools in the Moses Kotane Area. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The dissertation aims to obtain an integrated and comprehensive perspective on measurement issues that play a strategic role in organisations that aim at continuous quality improvement through TQM. The multidimensional definition of quality is proposed to view quality holistically. The definition is dynamic, thus dimensions are subject to evolution. Measurement of the quality dimensions is investigated. The relationship between quality and cost, productivity and profitability respectively is examined. The product quality dimensions are redefined for processes. Measurement is a strategic component ofTQM. Integration of financial measures with supplier-; customer-; performance- and internal process measurement is essential for synergism. Measurement of quality management is an additional strategic quality dimension. Applicable research was integrated. Quantitative structures used successfully in industry to achieve quality improvement is important, thus the quality management maturity grid, cleanroom software engineering, software factories, quality function deployment, benchmarking and the ISO 9000 standards are briefly described. Software Metrics Programs are considered to be an application of a holistic measurement approach to quality. Two practical approaches are identified. A framework for initiating implementation is proposed. Two strategic software measurement issues are reliability and cost estimation. Software reliability measurement and modelling are introduced. A strategic approach to software cost estimation is suggested. The critical role of data collection is emphasized. Different approaches to implement software cost estimation in organisations are proposed. A total installed cost template as the ultimate goal is envisaged. An overview of selected software cost estimation models is provided. Potential research areas are identified. The linearity/nonlinearity nature of the software production function is analysed. The synergy between software cost estimation models and project management techniques is investigated. The quantification aspects of uncertainty in activity durations, pertaining to project scheduling, are discussed. Statistical distributions for activity durations are reviewed and compared. A structural view of criteria determining activity duration distribution selection is provided. Estimation issues are reviewed. The integration of knowledge from dispersed fields leads to new dimensions of interaction. Research and practical experience regarding software metrics and software metrics programs can be successfully applied to address the measurement of strategic indicators in other industries. / Business Management / D. Phil. (Operations Research)

The objective of the study was to quantify the evolving scope of quality management as practiced in a sample of companies in South Afiica, and to correlate this with corporate profitability. The empirical data in this study suggests that a more extensive scope of application and practice of quality management and related management practices is related to better organisational profitability. The significant correlations which were demonstrated are: • A focus on results by companies is inversely correlated with Operating Profit Margin. • Quality training, employee communications and internal coordination correlates positively with Net Profit Margin. • The rigorous use of quality standards correlates positively with Net Profit Margin. • Quality control and monitoring correlates positively with Return on Equity. Recommendations flowing from this study include that a broader paradigm of quality management is required, expressed as an integrated model for innovation and change which is holistic rather than fragmented. / Economics / M. Com. (Business Economics)

published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

U.S. companies have implemented just-in-time purchasing (JITP) and total quality management (TQM) techniques to improve their global competitive position. The lack of empirical research on these techniques with firm's performance is the reason to explain further their strategic values as management innovations in different types and sizes of organizations. From a theoretical foundation on the relations between innovation, strategy and performance, the following research questions were generated: (1) Are JITP and TQM positively related to the firm's performance?, (2) Do the combination/sequence of implementing JITP and TQM have a relation with the firm's performance?, and (3) Is the relationship between JITP and TQM to the firm's performance moderated by any of industry type, firm size,firm type and/or duration of JITP and TQM techniques? A model is developed and hypotheses are proposed. A survey is mailed to firms operating in the U.S. that have implemented one or both techniques. Questionnaire items measuring JITP, TQM, performance, and moderating variables - industry type, firm size,firm type, and duration of JIT purchasing and TQM techniques— are either developed or borrowed from other studies. From rosters of the American Society for Quality Control and the National Association of Purchasing Management, 1884 target respondents result in a 20.3 percent response rate. Reliability and factor analysis of the constructs are established. The research model is tested by canonical correlation analyses before a separate hierarchical regression analysis of sets is run for each of the three performance factors: financial and market, time-based quality and material productivity. The extent of JITP and TQM implementation positively and significantly relate with firm's performance. Furthermore, the relation between JITP and financial and market performance is higher in industries that face high foreign competition. Firm size, firm type and duration of JITP and TQM techniques are nonsignificant moderators. An improved research model is offered.

Denna uppsats är skriven i intresse av nystartade Åbymässan AB i Göteborg angående hur de kan kvalitetssäkra och förbättra deras interna kommunikationsprocess. Företaget ingår i Easyfairs Group och är ett tjänsteföretag inom evenemangs- och mässbranschen. Studien redovisas skriftligen genom denna rapport för kursen Examensarbete i industriell teknik (1TG277) vid Uppsala Universitet vårterminen 2019. Syftet med denna rapport är att ge konkreta förbättringsförslag för Åbymässan AB:s interna kommunikation. Arbetet är därför centrerat kring frågeställningen om hur Åbymässan AB kan kvalitetssäkra sin interna kommunikation. Problemet i dagsläget är att det inte finns några bestämda förhållningssätt till hur den kommunikationen bör ske. För att lyckas komma fram till konkreta förbättringsförslag till företaget har kvalitetsverktyg så som TQM, ISO 9001:2015, SWOT-analys och Johari-fönster använts tillsammans med datainsamlingsmetoder i form av tidigare kunskap och forskning på området organisationskommunikation, dokumentinsamling, observationer och intervjuer. Utifrån de valda metoderna visade resultatet på att den interna kommunikationen i nuläget har många brister som framför allt handlar om otydlighet, att tillgänglig information inte finns i rätt tid och att osäkerhet råder om vem eller vilka som ansvarar för att rätt information förmedlas. De konkreta förbättringsförslagen innefattar därför analys med hjälp av Johari-fönster för att se hur medarbetarna egentligen kommunicerar med varandra. Förslag på hur de fysiska kommunikationskanalerna kan kvalitetssäkras har gjorts genom bland annat skriftliga protokoll, e-post och anteckningar på anslagstavla. De dokument som upprättas följer förslagsvis kvalitetsledningssystemet ISO 9001:2015. Slutsatserna är att Åbymässan AB har stor potential att växa och har mycket engagerade medarbetare. De flesta på företaget är öppna för nya förändringar och försöker se utmaningar istället för hinder. Denna studie kommer troligen inte bara gynna medarbetarna och de interna kunderna på anläggningen utan även visa sig ha en stor positiv inverkan på den externa kommunikationen med externa kunder. / This thesis is written in the interest of the newly started Åbymässan Ltd in Gothenburg regarding how they can quality assure and improve their internal communication process. The company is part of Easyfairs Group and is a service company in the event and exhibition industry. The project is presented in this written report for the course Degree Project in Industrial Engineering and Management (1TG277) at Uppsala University, Spring term 2019. The purpose of this report is to provide concrete improvements for the internal communication of Åbymässan Ltd. The work is therefore centred on the issues of how Åbymässan Ltd can quality assure its internal communication. The current problem now is that there is no definite approach to how it should be done. To succeed in finding concrete improvement proposals for the company, quality tools such as TQM, ISO 9001:2015, SWOT analysis and Johari window have been used together with data collection methods in the form of previous knowledge and research in the field of organizational communication, document collection, observations and interviews. Based on the chosen methods, the results showed that the internal communication at present has many shortcomings which primarily deals with ambiguity. This means that information is not available at the right time and there is uncertainty about who is responsible for the correct information being conveyed. The concrete improvement proposals, therefore, include analysis using the Johari window to see how employees communicate with each other. Suggestions on how the physical communication channels can be quality assured have been made by including written protocols, e-mails and notes on the bulletin board. The documents that will be created are suggested to follow the quality management system ISO 9001:2015. The conclusions are that Åbymässan Ltd has great potential to grow and has very committed employees. Most of the company employees are open to new changes and try to see them as challenges instead of obstacles. This study will probably not only benefit the employees and the internal customers of the facility but also provide a great positive impact on external communication with external customers as well.

by Li Sau-fan, Elsie. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-76). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.viii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.7 / Definition of Quality --- p.7 / "Selected Approaches to ""Quality""" --- p.8 / W. Edwards Deming --- p.8 / Philip B. Crosby --- p.12 / Deming vs. Crosby: Conflict or Synthesis --- p.15 / Chapter III. --- MODERN APPLICATION OF THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN SERVICE --- p.17 / Applying Statistical Control Philosophies to Service Quality Assessment --- p.18 / Background --- p.18 / A Gap Orientation to Service Quality --- p.23 / An Example --- p.26 / Managerial Implications and Recommendations --- p.29 / Selecting an Appropriate Approach to TQM Implementation --- p.30 / The Organization Alignment Model --- p.32 / Implementation --- p.41 / Chapter IV. --- CASE STUDY --- p.43 / One : Rank Xerox Hong Kong --- p.43 / The Quality Planning Process --- p.44 / Leadership Through Quality Programme --- p.44 / Management Commitment --- p.45 / A Strategic Focus on Internal and External Customers --- p.45 / Problems Encountered and Remedies --- p.46 / Conclusion --- p.47 / Two : American Express --- p.48 / The Magnitude of Quality Service in Amex --- p.48 / Late 1970's: Quality Assurance Programme --- p.49 / Current Approach: Teamwork Approach to American Express Quality Leadership (AEQL) --- p.50 / Chapter V. --- IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION OF TQM --- p.54 / Five Tenets of TQM --- p.54 / A Strategic Approach to Quality --- p.56 / Conclusion --- p.58 / APPENDIX --- p.59 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.74

The study investigated the service quality of the Aga Khan University (AKU) library as an example of an academic library in Kenya using SERVQUAL, a user based assessment tool. Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy formed the basis of the study; a philosophy that is customer oriented and lays great emphasis on enhancing customer satisfaction. The study adopted a survey design and data was collected using a structured selfadministered questionnaire by the name of SERVQUAL. The study sample consisted of nursing and medical faculty; nursing and medical students. A total of 78 (63%) respondents responded to the questionnaire. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17.0. Descriptive statistics was provided and univariate analysis was applied to examine the characteristics of the 2 main variables; perceptions and expectations. The findings of the study established that the expectations of AKU library users are higher than their perceptions. It is also evident from the findings that there are service quality gaps in a number of library services offered by AKU library. This is demonstrated through the gap analysis between the AKU library users‟ perceptions and the users‟ expectations of AKU library. The study recommends that AKU library as well as other academic libraries in Kenya adopt user based assessment tools such as SERVQUAL in the evaluation of library service quality. The study further recommends that AKU library needs to address gaps between the library users‟ perception and the users‟ expectation in order to enhance customer satisfaction through the provision of quality services. The study also recommends that AKU library needs to address the gaps in service attributes such as those relating to AKU library staff, reliability and efficiency of AKU library service delivery. In line with the findings the study further recommends more training for AKU library staff in areas such as customer service skills as well as the need for AKU library to invest more in its physical facility and equipment. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)