Proceedings on Engineering Sciences

8

Authors: Akeem Tunde Nafiu, Acholo Moses Ugbeda, Halilu Uba

This study aimed at ICT adoption for e-learning in the higher institutions of Kogi State. The study adopted descriptive research design. The study's target population comprised of the Higher Institutions in Kogi State. Multistage random sampling technique was adopted. Data were gathered and analysed Multiple Regression and Principal Component Analysis. Finding revealed that ICT adoption for e-learning has significantly weak effect on the academic performance of students in the higher institutions of Kogi State. The study concluded that information technology is cardinal to improved performance. The study recommended that higher institutions should be adequately funded by the government to be able to cope with cost of IT subscription; users of e-learning technologies should be well trained in respect of the nature of technology in use; anxiety for e-learning should be minimized through constant orientations, and the perception of users towards the use e-learning technologies should be through seminars and programmes.

8

Authors: Ahmed Hassan Ali Ibrahim Bisho, Mohd Fazli Bin Mohd Sam

Quality involved offering products that were superior to customers. The growing competition in the globalized world made every industry as well as organizations did their best to survive by finding ways to be at competitive advantage over their rivals. As a result, people viewed quality in relation to different criteria based on the roles in the production-service value chain. The aim of the study was to determine the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) in the improvement of organizational performance working towards its success by investigating a link between performance and TQM principles that centered on customer satisfaction, process orientation and continuous improvement. An analysis using literature review of individual dimension and unique contribution of each to organizational performance has been made. The role of managers to implement TQM principles and practices has been analyzed as well as factors contributing to failures as a check list of what managers must avoid in order to implement TQM effectively. Qualitative research technique utilizing secondary data collection from empirical studies and literature reviews has been used in the study. The outcome of the research serves as a guide to policy makers as they are doing continuous improvement initiatives on the organizations.

10

Authors: Islam Kanatbekuli, Dmitriy Pokamestov, Yakov Kryukov, Eugeniy Rogozhnikov, Serafim Novichkov

Sparse Code Multiple Access (SCMA) is a non-orthogonal multiple access scheme, which improves spectrum efficiency. SCMA codebooks determine the bit error rate (BER) performance. There are various methods of constructing codebooks, but most of them are based on the formation of a mother constellation (MC). In this paper, we propose two methods to construct mother constellations with good characteristics, such as minimum Euclidian distance (MED) and peak-factor (PAPR). Also, we propose the method for optimizing user operators based on the Gradient Ascent Algorithm (GAA) to maximize the MED between superimposed codewords and superimposed constellation points. We consider the MCs built on various principles: rotation of the base constellation and interleaving; mapping of the golden angle modulation (GAM) points; mapping of the constellation points of existing modulation methods with interleaving The BER performance of the proposed methods outperforms existing codebook design schemes in uncoded SCMA systems. The proposed optimization method can be applied to arbitrary MC. The proposed methods for designing and optimizing codebooks can be used to build SCMA codebooks of different sizes with good characteristics.

10

Authors: Tryson Yangailo

Studies that have empirically investigated the impact of total quality management practices on organization productivity have presented both positive and negative results. This study attempted to investigate the impact of total quality management practices using important innovation as a predictor variable and quality results as a moderating variable to comprehensively understand their impact on productivity in the railway sector by gathering sample data from employees in management of Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority. Model fit, reliability and validity were checked using Principal Component Analysis, Regression Analysis, and Factor Analysis with the help of Jamovi software. The results present a positive significant association between important innovation and productivity. The results also indicate that quality results moderate the relationship between quality results and productivity. The results of this study presents a great theoretical contribution to literature as there has been no study in any sector that attempted to empirically test this relationship using quality results as a moderating variable. Decision makers in organizations are strongly recommended to ensure that they focus and pay attention to quality results at all time in order to encourage innovations that foster higher productivity in their organizations. I hope that this study will be replicated to other industries and that future studies will include other practices of total quality management as mediating and moderating variables to further bring more insights on this association.

12

Authors: T S Nanjundeswaraswamy, Swamy D R, Rashmi S, Vallipuram Kanagasingam

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the functioning of all sectors of the economy. With no exception, the education sector's functioning has also been significantly affected due to the rapid outbreak of COVID-19. It has resulted in a drastic surge to deliver pedagogy using online methods. In this uncertain worldwide environment, educational institutions have been forced to continue educating students through the remote teaching process due to the emergency lockdown declaration. With due consideration for the prevailing conditions, the government and policymakers of educational institutions had to promote online education. Even many Higher Educational Technical Institutions (HETIs) may be likely to continue teaching online once this pandemic has passed. It is essential to review and examine students' perceptions about the online learning process to improve online education's quality and standard to the next higher level. In this context, the present study aimed to develop and validate a measuring instrument to evaluate students' online learning perceptions. Data was collected from 1632 students using a structured questionnaire Using EFA, CFA, and SEM. The designed instrument is validated. The developed instrument addresses a total variance of 63.47% with Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient value 0.942. The final validated instrument consisted of seven factors, Capability of Online Learning (COL), On-line Learning Difficulties (OLD), Course Faculty Capability in online learning (CFC), Online Learning System (OLS), On-line Learning Assessment (OLA), Online Platform and Communication for Learning (OPCL) and Conventional Learning and Communication (CLC).

12

Authors: Vitaliy Kobets

Paper describes the creation of algorithm for automated assessment of investment portfolio attractiveness. Portfolios selection procedure (algorithm) are considered. Comparison of multiple criteria evaluation methods and comparison of the prioritization ranking of different investment projects (portfolios) following changes to the requirement weights are introduced. Evolving of robo-advisor systems for portfolio management is described. Research goal is development of algorithm for automated assessment of investment attractiveness of portfolios using investment criteria. Ex-ante (predict) and ex-post (assess) evaluation are compered for project evaluation. Research methods include algorithms for assessing the investment attractiveness of portfolios using finance criteria. To integrate these criteria scoring system for selection of investment portfolios was implemented with transformation model from quantitative criteria to qualitative ones. Scoring method was applied for different investment portfolios with cryptocurrencies to choose most attractive for investors.

12

Authors: Ronald Palandi Cardoso, José Salvador da Motta Reis, Nilo Antonio de Souza Sampaio, José Glenio Medeiros de Barros, Luís César Ferreira Motta Barbosa, Gilberto Santos

In this study, the sustainable development and quality management scenario is studied by means of a bibliometry on the Scopus database. During the bibliometry, the models used to practice sustainable quality were catalogued. These models had their functions defined, and their area of action related to the Triple Bottom Line pointed. The 30 most cited articles in the bibliometry had their research opportunities pointed out, in case there is future research, and also their challenges were catalogued to assist in future research in the sustainable development and quality management scenario.