Job satisfaction, academic motivation, and organizational citizenship behavior among lecturers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-national comparative study in Japan and Malaysia

Ghasemy, Majid,Elwood, James A. 서울대학교 교육연구소 2023 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.24 No.3

Job satisfaction and its antecedents and outcomes are important areas of focus in the social sciences research, and higher education is no exception. The importance of this issue has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, using a cross-national study conducted in Malaysia and Japan, we collected data on lecturers’ job satisfaction and two of its outcomes, namely, academic motivation and individual-level organizational citizenship behavior (OCBI) to test our evidence-based theoretical model, which explains the relationships between these variables. We also added age, gender, and tenure as covariates to our model. Our partial least squares structural equation modeling estimation results at the aggregate and country levels showed that the efect of job satisfaction on OCBI was mainly transmitted through academic motivation. We also observed that Malaysian and Japanese lecturers did not show a statistical diference in terms of the relationships described between the variables in our model. Additionally, the relationship between academic motivation and OCBI was nonlinear based on the data from the Malaysian sample, and we explained this phenomenon from both theoretical and practical/policy perspectives. Moreover, our results showed that age plays an important role in the model when it is estimated using data from the Malaysian higher education system. We discussed our fndings in detail in terms of theoretical and practical implications.

Being satisfied and serving communities as outcomes of servant leadership in the academic context: policies based on a multi-level structural equation model

Ghasemy, Majid,Akbarzadeh Mahdi,Gaskin, James Eric 서울대학교 교육연구소 2022 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.23 No.1

There is a great emphasis on the importance of serving communities and the need to study servant leadership in recent higher education literature. Yet, academics’ community citizenship behavior has not been examined through applied research. To address these issues, our study aims at investigating the effects of two dimensions of servant leadership (behaving ethically and helping subordinates grow and succeed) on job satisfaction and community citizenship behavior. The context of our multi-level study is the Malaysian higher education. To estimate our theoretical model, we employed the EQS 6.4 statistical package and analyzed the data collected from 1876 lecturers from 120 departments using a multi-level structural equation modeling (MSEM) methodology. Our results revealed two completely different model structures at both lecturer and department levels. More specifically, while both the predictors were useful for explaining the outcome variables at the lecturer level, we observed that only behaving ethically was a significant predictor of community citizenship behavior at the department level. We discuss the findings in detail and elaborate on the implications of the findings with respect to policy and practice, theory, and methodology. We also address limitations and make recommendations for future research.

Academic leadership capability framework: a comparison of its compatibility and applicability in Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia

Majid Ghasemy,Sufean Hussin,Megat Ahmad Kamaluddin Megat Daud 서울대학교 교육연구소 2016 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.17 No.2

Previous studies have shown that leadership capabilities and managerial competencies are related to leadership performance effectiveness, i.e., higher capabilities and competencies are associated with higher performance effectiveness, and vice versa. Among the studies focusing on these qualities in academic settings, two recent studies in Australia and New Zealand in 2008 and 2012 may be stated which were guided by a conceptual framework known as the Academic Leadership Capability Framework. This framework became the basis for the construction of a survey instrument in order to assess five vital components of university leadership. The framework and the survey instrument were employed for a similar study in Malaysian public and private universities. In performing descriptive analysis, the results of the three studies were compared. This analysis revealed interesting similarities and differences among academic leaders within the three countries which can be used as a base for further policy making, and characterizing effective leadership in higher education. In addition, inferential statistics techniques were employed to detect the impact of the University Type and Previous Experience outside higher education on capabilities, competencies, and performance of the Malaysian academic leaders.

Pivotal qualities for effective university leadership on the basis of a modified Australian model: the application of FIMIX-PLS and IPMA in the Malaysian academic context

Majid Ghasemy,Sufean Bin Hussin,Megat Ahmad Kamaluddin Bin Megat Daud,Ahmad Zabidi Bin Abdul Razak,Mohd Jamil Bin Maah 서울대학교 교육연구소 2017 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.18 No.4

This study was undertaken to determine the extent to which leadership capabilities and managerial competencies explain leadership performance in Malaysian Higher Education context. Data were collected from academic leaders in 25 public and private universities and colleges using a few previously developed scales in Malaysian context. Next, the collected data through 368 surveys were screened thoroughly prior to the main analysis. A variance-based structural equation modeling approach was adopted and SmartPLS 3 was used to analyze the data, followed by running finite mixture segmentation and importance-performance map analysis. The results did disclose unobserved heterogeneity within the data. Through the study, two models namely low-current-tenure leaders and high-current-tenure leaders models were developed. Moreover, role-specific competency and change-oriented capability were identified as the major areas of improvement to be addressed by managerial activities based on low-current-tenure leaders and high-current-tenure leaders models, respectively.

Zn (II) removal by amino-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles: Kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamic aspects of adsorption

Nahid Ghasemi,Maryam Ghasemi,Saleh Moazeni,Parisa Ghasemi,Njud S. Alharbi,Vinod Kumar Gupta,Shilpi Agarwal,Irina V. Burakova,Alexey G. Tkachev 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.62 No.-

In this study, a novel adsorbent, dioctylphetalate triethylenetetraamine magnetic nanoparticles (DOP-TETA-MNP) via a solvent-free procedure were synthesized for the removal of Zn (II) ions from aqueous solution. The morphological and anatomical characterization was investigated by various analytical techniques such as FTIR and SEM. Experimental data from evaluation of various influential parameters such as initial pH (2–7), initial ion concentration (5–20 mg/L), adsorbent dose (0.005–0.040 g), contact time (5–120 min) and temperature (308–333 K) of the solution were carried out using a batch adsorption method. DOP-TETA-MNP can be simply separated from aqueous solution with magnetic separations at low magnetic field. The kinetic data of Zn (II) ions were found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the equilibrium data of ions sorption were well described by Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum monolayer sorption capacity of Zn (II) was estimated to be 24.21 mg/g at temperature of 333 K. Thermodynamic analyses show that the adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous.

An Investigation on the Fatigue Fracture of P/M Al-SiC Nanocomposites

Ghasemi Yazdabadi, H.,Ekrami, A.,Kim, H. S.,Simchi, A. Springer Science + Business Media 2013 Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physi Vol.44 No.6

Surprising Incentive: An Instrument for Promoting Safety Performance of Construction Employees

Ghasemi, Fakhradin,Mohammadfam, Iraj,Soltanian, Ali Reza,Mahmoudi, Shahram,Zarei, Esmaeil Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2015 Safety and health at work Vol.6 No.3

Background: In comparison with other industries, the construction industry still has a higher rate of fatal injuries, and thus, there is a need to apply new and innovative approaches for preventing accidents and promoting safe conditions at construction sites. Methods: In this study, the effectiveness of a new incentive system-the surprising incentive system-was assessed. One year after the implementation of this new incentive system, behavioral changes of employees with respect to seven types of activities were observed. Results: The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the new incentive system and the safety performance of frontline employees. The new incentive system had a greater positive impact in the first 6 months since its implementation. In the long term, however, safety performance experienced a gradual reduction. Based on previous studies, all activities selected in this study are important indicators of the safety conditions at workplaces. However, there is a need for a comprehensive and simple-to-apply tool for assessing frontline employees' safety performance. Shortening the intervals between incentives is more effective in promoting safety performance. Conclusion: The results of this study proved that the surprising incentive would improve the employees' safety performance just in the short term because the surprising value of the incentives dwindle over time. For this reason and to maintain the surprising value of the incentive system, the amount and types of incentives need to be evaluated and modified annually or biannually.

Flexural strengthening of continuous unbonded post-tensioned concrete beams with end-anchored CFRP laminates

Ghasemi, Saeed,Maghsoudi, Ali A.,Bengar, Habib A.,Ronagh, Hamid R. Techno-Press 2015 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.53 No.6

This paper provides the results of an experimental investigation into the flexural behavior of continuous two-span unbonded post-tensioned high strength concrete (HSC) beams, strengthened by end-anchored CFRP laminates of different configurations in the hogging region. Implementing two different configurations of end-anchorage systems consisting of steel plates and bolts and carefully monitoring the development of strains throughout the load history using sufficiently large number of strain gauges, the response of beams including the observed crack propagations, beam deflection, modes of failure, capacity enhancement at service and ultimate and the amount of moment redistribution are measured, presented and discussed. The study is appropriate in the sense that it covers the more commonly occurring two span beams instead of the simply supported beams investigated by others. The experiments reconfirmed the finding of others that proper installation of composite strengthening system is most important in the quality of the bond which is essential for the internal transfer of forces. It was also found that for the tested two span continuous beams, the capacity enhancement is more pronounced at the serviceability level than the ultimate. This is an important finding as the design of these beams is mostly governed by the serviceability limit state signifying the appropriateness of the suggested strengthening method. The paper provides quantitative data on the amount of this capacity enhancement.

Reliability analysis of circular tunnel with consideration of the strength limit state

Ghasemi, Seyed Hooman,Nowak, Andrzej S. Techno-Press 2018 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.15 No.3

Probability-based design codes have been developed to sufficiently confirm the safety level of structures. One of the most acceptable probability-based approaches is Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD), which measures the safety level of the structures in terms of the reliability index. The main contribution of this paper is to calibrate the load and resistance factors of the design code for tunnels. The load and resistance factors are calculated using the available statistical models and probability-based procedures. The major steps include selection of representative structures, consideration of the limit state functions, calculation of reliability for the selected structures, selection of the target reliability index and calculation of load factors and resistance factors. The load and resistance models are reviewed. Statistical models of resistance (load carrying capacity) are summarized for strength limit state in bending, shear and compression. The reliability indices are calculated for several segments of a selected circular tunnel designed according to the tunnel manual report (Tunnel Manual). The novelty of this paper is the selection of the target reliability. In doing so, the uniform spectrum of reliability indices is proposed based on the probability paper. The final recommendation is proposed based on the closeness to the target reliability index.

Sulfur-Emission-Free Process of Molybdenum Carbide Synthesis by Lime-Enhanced Molybdenum Disulfide Reduction with Methane

Ghasemi, Samad,Abbasi, Mohammad Hasan,Saidi, Ali,Kim, Jae Yul,Lee, Jae Sung American Chemical Society 2011 INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH - Vol.50 No.23

<P>To investigate a sulfur-emission-free process of molybdenum carbide synthesis from molybdenite, the reaction pathways of MoS<SUB>2</SUB> reduction with methane in the presence of lime (CaO) have been studied. A mixture of MoS<SUB>2</SUB> + 2CaO was reduced isothermally with CH<SUB>4</SUB> in a microreactor, and the composition of effluent gases and the reduced fraction were determined as a function of reaction time. Analysis of the solid phase at different reaction times at 800 °C showed the formation of CaMoO<SUB>4</SUB> as an intermediate phase. Hence, the reaction pathways proposed for reduction of MoS<SUB>2</SUB> + CaO with CH<SUB>4</SUB> involves the direct reduction of MoS<SUB>2</SUB> with CH<SUB>4</SUB> to form Mo<SUB>2</SUB>C and sulfur-containing gases. The sulfur-containing gases are captured by CaO to form CaS, CO(g), CO<SUB>2</SUB>(g), and H<SUB>2</SUB>O(g). The unreacted MoS<SUB>2</SUB> is oxidized by CO<SUB>2</SUB>(g) and H<SUB>2</SUB>O(g) to form MoO<SUB>3</SUB>(g), which reacted with CaO to form CaMoO<SUB>4</SUB> on CaO particles. Finally, CaMoO<SUB>4</SUB> and remaining MoS<SUB>2</SUB> are further reduced with CH<SUB>4</SUB>. Characterization of solid samples was carried out by XRD, CHN, and FE-SEM equipped with EDS, providing results consistent with the proposed reaction pathways. Carbon content of solid sample increased with reduction time, and in fully reduced sample at 800 °C it was well above the stoichiometric amount indicating considerable excess carbon deposition due to CH<SUB>4</SUB> cracking.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/iecred/2011/iecred.2011.50.issue-23/ie201860h/production/images/medium/ie-2011-01860h_0010.gif'></P>