OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open access peer-reviewed journal
Business Accelerator Network: A Powerful Generator of Strategic Emerging Industries
Huojie Ye a, Shuhua Zhong b
a, b College of Public Administration,
Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road, Wuhan, China
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 11-24, 2012
Abstract: Technological innovation becomes increasingly important in the age of new economy. Therefore, service system for innovation has been in continually organizational change in order to improve innovation efficiency. For example, Technology Park, industrial laboratory, business incubator and business accelerator, are all serve for technological innovation. It could be foreseen that new organizational model for innovation service will emerge. In recent decades, the system shows the characteristics of professional, modularity and integration by network. This paper noted the newly founded organization in Southeast Michigan which is called Business Accelerator Network, and think it is an effective and productive organization for providing innovation resources. Development of Technology and economics makes business accelerator upgraded, while fostering emerging industries of strategic importance requires great support from business accelerator network (BAN). BAN, which integrates modularized professional service and participates in horizontal industrial division, is an important producer service that boosts emerging industries and perfects innovation environment. Centralized model, distributed model and mixed model are typical governance structure of BAN. Different model encounters different stage of innovation service market. In detail, Centralized model fits for the early market stage; mixed model fits for the developing market stage; and distributed model fits for mature market. The three models provide a practical path, for developing countries or region facing economic transition and technological change, to foster BAN.
Keywords: Business Accelerator Network; Organization of innovation service; modularity; networked; governance structure
Local Agenda 21 Program Effectiveness in Seberang Perai Municipal Council, Penang, Malaysia
Zainal Md Zan a, Kamaruddin Ngah b
a, b Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 25-30, 2012
Abstract: Local Agenda 21 (LA21) is a program for the community, the local authority and the private sector work together in planning for local areas to meet sustainable development. Through LA21, local communities can participate to identify the local issues of sustainable development and finally develop appropriate action plans to address issues that arise. In Malaysia, the LA21 program was started in 2000 involving four local authorities as a pilot project and its now expand to other Local Authority. However, the implementations of LA21 in Malaysia are still at an unsatisfactory level. This is because of a few factors that limit the involvement of stakeholders such as lack of trust between the parties involved, lack of commitment, lack of knowledge and awareness, lack of finance and staffing aspects to implement the LA21 (Mariana 2008, Hardev 2009). The purpose of this paper is to present the study results done in Penang, Malaysia by making the Seberang Perai Municipal Council as the case study. The study’s purpose is to analyse the effects of the LA21 program’s implementation executed by the Seberang Perai Municipal Council to the community by analysing several items such as the respondents’ perception on the KASA changes that are Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, Aspirations as well as Behavioural improvement.
Keywords: Effectiveness, Local Agenda 21, Local Authority, Malaysia, Sustainable Development
Dynamics Of Limnological Features of a Man Made Lake and a Waterfall in Relation to Prawn Abundance
Omoniyi, I.T a, Oyekanmi, F.B.b, Akegbejo-Samsons. Y. a
a, Department of Aquaculture of Fisheries Management, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
b Department of Agricultural Science, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria.
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 31-38, 2012
Abstract: Limnological features in relation to prawn catch at Asejire Lake and Erin-Ijesa waterfalls were studied from 2007 to 2009. The preponderance of M.vollenhovenii and C. africana in their natural habitats with intent towards acculturation was investigated. Sampling of each site for prawn abundance was bi- weekly. Prawns were collected with properly baited traps and scoop nets. Catches obtained from the two sites were isolated and conveyed in ice chest boxes to the laboratory for examination. Water samples were collected for physical and chemical water quality parameters assessment. Data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and where differences in mean existed Duncan Multiple Range test was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Abundance in terms of number, sex and age were more during the wet season with a peak in August. Both adults and juveniles showed a progressive increase from late dry season to mid-rainy season (August). The results of physical and chemical parameters revealed that the mean water Temperature, Transparency, Depth, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Alkalinity, Total Dissolved Solid, Conductivity, Nitrate and phosphate were 27.52±2.050C, 1.5 ± 0.44m, 3.16±1.3m, 6.70±0.82mg/l, 7.28 ± 0.55, 144.17 ± 30.05mg/l, 388.46± 211.48mg/l, 82.90±1.60µohms/cm, 4.62±0.79mg/l and 0.27± 0.04mg/l respectively at Asejire lake which were not significantly different (P>0.05) from the values of Erin-Ijesa waterfalls which were 27.77 ± 2.270C, 1.71 ± 0.39m, 1.43±0.22m,6.21±0.77mg/l,7.25±0.68, 136.62±41.6mg/l,402.13±253.25mg/l,83.40±1.86µohms/cm,4.76±0.76mg/l and 0.28±0.05mg/l respectively. Both water bodies exhibited features that are typical of tropical environment, as almost similar limnological factors were recorded which fell within the range that can support aquatic life. High value in Condition factor for both species under investigation shows the total well being of the prawns and suitability of their environment for sustainability.
Keywords: Limnology, Asejire Lake, Erin-Ijesa waterfalls, Caridina africana, Macrobrachium vollenhovenii.
Building Maintenance Achievement in High Rise Commercial Building: A Study in Klang Valley, Malaysia
Mohamad Ridzuan Yahya a, Md Najib Ibrahim b
a Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
b Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia.
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 39-46, 2012
Abstract: The value of buildings depends on the achievement of the maintenance invested in them. Building maintenance management engages getting maximum benefit from the investment made on the maintenance activities. Building maintenance in high rise commercial buildings in Malaysia is on the increase regardless of size, type, location, and ownership. This paper aims to develop a maintenance achievement index (MAI) to benchmark the performance of building maintenance from a number of key performance indicators (KPIs). Eleven high rise office buildings were investigated through randomly selection in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The research collected 110 respondents from in-house building maintenance personnel and outsourced consultant as well as contractors with managing and operating building maintenance activities experience of high rise commercial buildings through unstructured interviews. In addition, a maintenance achievement equation was formulated from the primary components analysis to generate a multiple score so as to show the level of achievement of building maintenance management. The findings of study had shown that building maintenance practitioners believe quality, safety, time, cost, functionality, and environmental friendliness can be considered as KPIs for building maintenance activities. A single index can also be computed from the maintenance achievement equation to apply different weightings to the respective KPI with different significance such that the performance of building maintenance managements can be compared. The idea of achievement remains unclear among building maintenance practitioners, which makes it complicated to measure whether the performance of a building maintenance management is accomplishment or failure. This research establishes the need to develop a MAI which can be a tool in order to measure and value on the whole performance of the building maintenance activities and compute the success model in a scientific approach in order to ensure the consistency of quality, safety, time, cost, functionality, and environmental friendliness to building stakeholders all the time.
Keywords: Building Maintenance; Maintenance Achievement Index
Estimation of Crop Coefficient of Rice at Rupandehi District of Nepal
Govinda Bhandari a, Rijan Bhakta Kayastha b
a, b Department of Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 47-54, 2012
Abstract: This study is carried out to estimate the Crop coefficient (Kc) for Rice. A lysimeter is installed to estimate potential evapotranspiration (PET) at the experimental farm of Agricultural Research Center of Bhairahawa, which is located in western part of Nepal. The Blaney-Criddle formula is used to estimate the Kc for rice. The estimated values of Kc for rice at the four crop growth stages (initial, crop development, mid season/reproductive and late season/maturity) were 2.92, 1.85, 0.43 and 0.12. Average value of Kc for Rice is 1.33, which is estimated from measured crop PET and using temperature data. Aridity index (AI), the ratio of precipitation to PET, is an important parameter to determine the dryness of a region. The value of AI at the Rice growing season (August to November, 2010) in Bhairahawa is 1.16, and is classified as a more humid region.
Keywords: aridity index, crop coefficient, lysimeter, Nepal, Rice
Improving the Standard of English Language and Communication amongst SQU Students in Oman: Challenges and Suggestions
Mohammed Al-Hadhrami a, Ismail Hussein Amzat b
a Department of Education Foundation and Administration, college of Education,
Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman.
b Department of Psychology, UCSI University, Malaysia
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 55-70, 2012
Abstract: English language has become a global means of communication and interaction. It is a universal language used in certain functions such as business and notably in teaching and learning science and technology. Mastering English language doesn’t only facilitate the process of learning but also an essential requirement in most of the occupations, employment and market. In Omani context, English language has been the main condition in job applications for both the governmental and the private sectors. Therefore, this research investigates the challenges facing English language and its level of usage among the students as medium of communication at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) since it’s the only public university in the Sultanate of Oman. Besides, it examines to what level English language has been used in the campus and its development. The study provides some scientific approaches and empirical suggestions that the standard of the English can be enhanced and developed at SQU. It shed a light for the University management at SQU on how to improve English usage amongst students and the mechanism that can be used as a motivator as well as how to instigate students to speak or use English as a second language. For research methods, this research has used qualitative research by conducting interview with the academic staff at SQU and the analysis was done using interview protocol to generate the “themes” and solutions to the problem. In addition to this, it analyzed some students’ assignments and reports using “Content Analysis” to generate the similarities and contrasts. Looking into findings, the research revealed that the inadequacy practice of English language outside the classroom from the part of the students is the main reason behind the low improvement of English among SQU students. Lack of abilities in mastering English grammar rules and lack of public speaking have constituted to the problem. Besides, lack of classroom expression and presentation found to be one of the major problems for students poor English. As a suggestion for overcoming these problems and implication, a culture of reading and writing most take place personally amongst students by showing their initiatives. Strong emphasis on English language for new students and at foundation level; additional English course for existing students, establishing public speaking and debate as well as student’s conference in English.
Keynotes: Communication; English Language, Oman; Sultan Qaboos University.
Sustainable Strategy of Health and Safety Assessment in High Rise Commercial Buildings
Mohamad Ridzuan Yahya a, Md Najib Ibrahim b
a Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
b Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 71-76, 2012
Abstract: In Malaysia scenario, various obstacles have to be faced by the building maintenance teams controlling all activities related to the high rise office building and its system. The crucial issue is to face serious problems with health and safety aspect of the building. This study aims to evaluate the health and safety performance of high rise office buildings, using a basic assessment method. An assessment method based on a hierarchy of building performance indicators concerning the quality of design factor and management factor with five attributes such as architectural design, building services design, the surrounding environment, operation and maintenance, and facilities management. Eleven high rise office buildings were randomly selected in Klang Valley, Malaysia and assessed through site inspections, desk searches, and interviewed facilities management personnel (FM), outsourced contractors/consultants (OS), building owners (BO) as well as (T) tenants. A performance analysis was conducted to examine and compare the overall health and safety performance of the buildings. The results had shown that there were significant variations in health and safety conditions across buildings, although they are situated within a single locality. After describing the current situation and problems, this paper concludes that most of the variations in building health and safety conditions were attributed to differences in building management systems rather than building designs. It is envisaged that further research can be conducted to investigate the relationship between building performance and extraneous factors, such as building age, management structure, and scale of development.
Keywords: Health; High Rise Office Building; Safety
Effective Communication System between Building Occupants and Maintenance Management: A Study in High Rise Office Building, Klang Valley, Malaysia
Mohamad Ridzuan Yahya a, Md Najib Ibrahim b
a Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
b Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia.
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 77-84, 2012
Abstract: An effective communication in building management depends on the quality, safety and service of its system between maintenance management and building occupants particularly on the operation and maintenance activities. The crucial issue in building management is to develop communication system between maintenance management and building occupants in order to support value aspect in the building. Study on communication in the maintenance management has generally concentrated on the briefing process and the maintenance process. This research identified three attributes of the existing condition of communication system in maintenance management specifically safety practice, management quality and professionalism in operation and maintenance management. Eleven high rise office buildings in Klang Valley, Malaysia have been randomly selected for the study which involving two groups of respondents. In-house maintenance management personnel (MM) and outsourced contractors/consultants (OS) are in maintenance management group whereas building owners (BO) and tenants (T) as the building occupant group have been unstructured interviewed based on the value aspects of communication factors. The results had shown that unsafe practice, inadequate management and unprofessional maintenance management which effected from miscommunication among them in the whole level tasks. In addition, major issues of maintenance management tools: unavailable building policy, poor management of documents, also weak monitoring toward maintenance activities contributed to the insufficient communication system in maintenance management. The paper concludes that a systematic communication system between maintenance management group and building occupant group does not exist yet in high rise office buildings.
Keywords: Building Occupant; Communication; Maintenance Management
A Positive Analysis on the Performance of National S&T Programs: from the Perspectives of Inputs and Outputs
Lu Cui a, Shuhua Zhong b
a, b College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,
Luoyu Road, Hongshan district, Wuhan, China
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 85-98, 2012
Abstract: In China, the National S&T Programs (NSTP) include the National Natural Science Foundation（NNSF）, the National Key Technologies R&D Program, National High Technology Research and Development Program (the National 863 Program), and the National Basic Research Program (the National 973 Program). During 2001-2009, the investment of NSTP kept increasing. And in its funded programs, the amount of published papers and patent were also increasing year by year. In detail, the fund of investment in NNSF kept increasing with an average annual growth rate of 19%. The amount of published papers in international journals in those funded programs kept increasing with an annual average growth rate of 17.55%. The National Key Technologies R&D Program has gained 25.483 billion yuan total finance allocations; During 2002-2009, the amount of published papers in international journals has summed up to 20,617, the foreign patent applications have reached 897 and the foreign patent authorizations have hit 189. The National 863 Program gained 33.872 billion yuan total finance allocations, a 14.8% average annual growth rate；in its funded projects, the number of published papers in international journals has totaled 66,612, and the foreign patent applications were 2,166, 497 of which gained the foreign patent authorization during 2002-2009. As to the National 973 Program, the total finance allocations added up to 11.483 billion yuan, a 20.12% annual average growth rate；from2002 to 2009 , the number of published papers in international journals in National 973 Program funded projects has reached 97,323, and in the 459 foreign patent applications, 133 of them have been authorized.
Keywords: China; National Natural Science Foundation; National Key Technologies R&D Program ; National 863 Program ; National 973 Program; National Key Technologies
Preliminary Study on the Potential of Gracilaria Sp. as Bioremediator of Metals Contamination: The Dark-Adapted Quantum Yield and Chlorophyll A Content
Abu-Bakar a, H. Ahamad-Zakeri b
a, b Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology,
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
Volume 04, Issue 06, Pg. 99-104, 2012
Abstract: Algae-based biotechnologies for metals pollution control provide an attractive bioremoval method due to their ability to concentrate and tolerate high metal levels. This study is a preliminary study on the potential use of Gracilaria sp. as bioremediator of marine metals pollution. The effects of three metals (i.e. copper [Cu], lead [Pb], mercury [Hg]) on the dark-adapted quantum yield (i.e. Fv/Fm) and chlorophyll a (chl a) content of G. edulis and G. manilaensis were studied. The algae were exposed to 1 mg/mL of each of the metals individually for 8 h. The Fv/Fm of the algae was measured using a handheld fluorometer, AquaPen AP-P 100 (PIS, Czech Republic). Chl a of the algae were extracted in darkness at 4°C with dimethylformamide. Fv/Fm of both algae was decreased after the treatments except for G. manilaensis in Pb where it was unaffected. Fv/Fm of G. edulis was reduced significantly the most by Hg (48% of untreated algae), followed by Pb and Cu with more than 30%. Fv/Fm of G. manilaensis was reduced by both Cu and Hg with more than 23%. Interestingly, Cu and Pb did not have an effect on the chl a of G. edulis but a significant decrease of 34% was observed with Hg. A decrease in chl a was also observed in Cu for G. manilaensis. However, an increase in chl a was found in Pb and Hg for this alga. A reduction in Fv/Fm indicates that the algae were under metal stress except for G. manilaensis in Pb. The presence of Pb also seems to have a positive effect on G. manilaensis by increasing the chl a. An increase in chl a may also be an adaptive strategy of the alga to cope with the stress. Hg and Cu may have a phytotoxic effect on the chl a of G. edulis and G. manilaensis, respectively, which is confirmed by the Fv/Fm reduction. Further analysis would be done to confirm the results obtained in this study.
Keywords: Chlorophyll a, Fv/Fm, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria manilaensis, Heavy Metals.