Realistic project scheduling and control are critical for running a profitable enterprise in the construction industry. Finance-based scheduling aims to produce more realistic schedules by considering both resource and cash constraints. Since the introduction of finance-based scheduling, its literature has evolved from a single-objective model to a multi-objective model and also from a single-project problem to a multi-project problem for a contractor. This study investigates the possibility of cooperation among contractors with concurrent projects to minimize financial costs. Contractors often do not use their entire credit and may be required to pay a penalty for the unused portions. Therefore, contractors are willing to share these unused portions to decrease their financing costs and consequently improve their overall profits. This study focuses on the partnering of two contractors in a joint finance-based scheduling where contractors are allowed to lend credit to or borrow credit from each other at an internal interest rate. We apply this approach to an illustrative example in which two concurrent projects have the potential for partnering. Results show that joint finance-based scheduling reduces the financing cost for both contractors and leads to additional overall profits. Our further analyses highlight the intricate dynamics impacting additional net profit, revealing optimal scenarios for cooperation in complex project networks.
This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of a mechanics course delivered through a Learning Management System (LMS) on the creativity of prospective physics teachers at a teacher training college in Mataram, Indonesia. The study was conducted in the post-pandemic era. Using a pretest-posttest one-group design, the researchers evaluated changes in creativity across three domains: figural, numeric, and verbal. The results showed significant improvements in overall creativity, with the most critical gains observed in the figural domain. Further analysis revealed that fluency was the creative indicator with the most enhancement. In contrast, other indicators displayed varying degrees of improvement. These findings highlight the potential of LMS-based instruction in fostering creativity among future physics educators, particularly in the figural, numeric, and verbal domains. This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting technology integration into teacher education, especially during times of crisis. Future research should explore more targeted instructional strategies within LMS environments and utilize comprehensive creativity assessment methods further to enhance creative learning experiences for prospective physics teachers.
This study investigates the career expectations of individuals in Thailand’s emerging economy, emphasizing the critical factors that shape these expectations within the context of a rapidly evolving labour market in the digital era. A quantitative approach was employed, collecting data from 1230 Thai respondents through convenience sampling, utilizing a structured survey as the primary research instrument. Data analysis involved the use of percentages, means and logistic regression to provide a comprehensive understanding of the findings. The results indicate that factors such as gender, age, monthly income, professional identity, values, culture and technology usage (including devices like laptops, social media platforms, home internet access and usage hours) significantly influence career expectations. Understanding these influential factors is crucial for developing targeted strategies to enhance career satisfaction, preparedness and overall competitiveness in an increasingly globalized and digital economy. By addressing the unique needs and aspirations of the Thai workforce, particularly in this digital age, stakeholders can cultivate a more responsive and adaptive professional environment, ultimately contributing to national economic growth in the digital era.
The quality of indoor classroom conditions influences the well-being of its occupants, students and teachers. Especially the temperature, outside acceptable limits, can increase the risk of discomfort, illness, stress behaviors and cognitive processes. Assuming the importance of this, in this quantitative observational study, we investigated the relationship between two environmental variables, temperature and humidity, and students’ basic emotions. Data were collected over four weeks in a secondary school in Spain, with environmental variables recorded every 10 minutes using a monitoring kit installed in the classroom, and students’ emotions categorized using Emotion Recognition Technology (ERT). The results suggest that high recorded temperatures and humidity levels are associated with emotional responses among students. While linear regression models indicate that temperature and humidity may influence students’ emotional experiences in the classroom, the explanatory power of these models may be limited, suggesting that other factors could contribute to the observed variability in emotions. The implications and limitations of these findings for classroom conditions and student emotional well-being are discussed. Recognizing the influence of environmental conditions and monitoring them is a step toward establishing smart classrooms.
This study explored the relationships between green market orientation and competitive advantage, with a particular focus on the mediating role of green sustainable innovation. The research utilized a structured questionnaire to gather data from managers involved in environmental protection and professionals working in the manufacturing sectors of computers, electronics, optical products, and electrical equipment. The survey targeted respondents from key regions in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Qassim, and the Eastern Province, resulting in a total of 273 responses. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM), a robust statistical technique that allows for the examination of complex relationships between variables. The findings confirmed a mediational model where green sustainable innovation—comprising both green product and green process innovation—served as a critical intermediary linking green market orientation to competitive advantage. Furthermore, the study validated direct effects of green market orientation on both green sustainable innovation and competitive advantage. These results emphasize the dual pathways through which green market orientation influences business performance. The research concludes by offering actionable insights for Saudi managers, highlighting strategies to maximize profitability and competitiveness through the adoption and implementation of green sustainable innovation practices.
The objectives of this study were to 1) examine the impact of strategic management accounting (SMA) that influences business sustainability by integrating comprehensive internal information and external business environment to formulate strategic decision-making to enhance competitiveness, and 2) investigate the serial mediating role of business strategies and competitive advantages. Data were collected from a total of 168 samples of listed companies in the Stock Exchange of Thailand and analyzed by using partial least squares structural equation model. The results showed that strategic management accounting had a positive direct impact on innovation-oriented strategy, efficiency-oriented strategy, and sustainable performance. Innovation-oriented strategy and competitiveness was found to have serial mediating effect on strategic management accounting and performance sustainability. However, both efficiency-oriented strategy and competitiveness had no serial mediating effect on strategic management accounting and sustainable performance. The implications in this present study confirm that strategic management accounting plays a significant role in determining effective business strategies; therefore, executives need to focus on related resources to foster the strategic management accounting which in turn enhances the firm’s competitiveness and sustainable performance.
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