Dr Tillal Eldabi

Invited keynote speech for SIMULTECH 2020

PurposeOver the last few decades, microfinance industry is argued to have played a constructive role in alleviating poverty level and providing the underprivileged with access to financial services. Statistics from the World Bank reveal that, currently, only 4% of the underprivileged have been served out of the 3 billion+ potential clients. Such results are due to several claims, particularly the operational and financial challenges faced by microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the constant flux inviting more attentions towards its performance. While explicit attention is given by many researchers towards mobile banking and information and communication technology (ICT) in improving the MFIs’ performance, the study on how social media, as a rapidly growing online phenomenon, can impact on the MFIs’ performance remains scarce. As such, this study aims to investigate this impact based on four dimensional performance indicators: efficiency, financial sustainability, portfolio quality and outreach.Design/methodology/approachA model is proposed and tested to ascertain the relationship between social media applications and organisational performance. In so doing, web-based questionnaires have been used to collect data from MFI employees in developing countries. Results reveal a significant influence of the social media over the MFIs’ performance, offering valuable insights into both researchers and practitioners in the domain of microfinance, as well as social media—conforming that the adoption of social media as marketing, advertising and communication tools may significantly improve the MFIs’ performance.FindingsThe results demonstrate that there is a positive and significant impact of social media use within microfinance on the key indicators of MFIs. They also show that the highest impact of social media usage within the microfinance is on the portfolio quality. In addition, it was found that marketing and advertising; communication and sales and distribution are the main areas where social media is able to support while social networking websites are the most popular platforms employed in MFIs.Originality/valueThis study adds to the existing literature few theoretical and practical aspects. First, this study developed a model for assessing the value of social media as a new phenomenon within this type of organisation. Second, it offers microfinance sponsors, managers and policy makers with a frame of reference to understand what social media platform can be deployed for each purpose. Third, with the identification of the main MFIs’ performance indicators, this research provided a reference of performance measurement guide for microfinance industry when assessing different technological employment.

A project to take simulation and modelling techniques to healthcare practitioners in the form of a 'selection tool' is reported. We describe the processes by which a tool to enable decision-makers to select appropriate methods has been conceived, prototyped, and taken to a variety of users. Findings are drawn from a variety of sources including the internal discussion among the teams from the five collaborating universities, the observational findings as healthcare practitioner users set about using the tool and the results of internal conferences with stakeholders. While the project to produce a robust and reliable tool requires considerably more time and resource, the preliminary findings indicate that there is still a robust discussion over which methods to include on the menu list of such a tool, and that there is an appetite for an accessible introduction to modelling methods. Moreover, it appears that different stakeholders are looking to specify their problem in different ways. Nonetheless, there is evidence of an emerging interest in using such tools more widely and routinely.

The process of evaluation of IT projects often seems to cease just as quantifiable results start to become available—in Operational Use (OU). This paper investigates OU IT evaluation and contrasts it with the evaluation undertaken during the specification, construction, and testing of IT projects; which we choose to call Prior Operational Use (POU) to distinguish it from OU. Analysis of 123 usable responses from the FTSE 500 companies, show that many companies appear not to undertake OU evaluation. However, where OU evaluation was conducted, it appears to be of clear value to the organisations. Benefits claimed include the ability to assess deviations from their original plans, and to provide a basis for validating the original methods used (in their POU evaluations).

When conducting an experimental study in healthcare systems, two problems are faced, those of uncertainty and complexity. Uncertainty is related to identifying variables for data collection (particularly if there are time and cost constraints on the modelling exercise). Complexity is related to the existence of many interacting variables (including treatment paths for patients, patient illnesses, side effects of treatments, etc.), each of a stochastic nature. This paper reports the usefulness of discrete event simulation modelling in exploring these issues. It focuses on the use of this form of simulation in supporting decision making in a randomised clinical trial (RCT). The objective of using simulation modelling is to help health economists identify the key factors active in the RCT through the development of a model of the healthcare related processes being studied by the RCT. This approach provides an opportunity to allow users to understand the role of these factors in the RCT. This research is carried out in the context of the Adjuvant Breast Cancer RCT.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to develop a generic framework for hybrid (integrated deployment of system dynamics and discrete event simulation) simulation which can be applied in the healthcare domain.Design methodology approach - As hybrid simulation in an organisational context is a new topic with limited available data on deployment of hybrid simulation in organisational context, an inductive approach has been applied. On the basis of knowledge induced from literature, a generic conceptual framework for hybrid simulation has been developed. The proposed framework is demonstrated using an explanatory case study comprising an accident and emergency (A&E) department.Findings - The framework provided detailed guidance for the development of a hybrid model of an A&E case study. Findings of this case study suggest that the hybrid model was more efficient in capturing behavioural impact on operational performances.Research limitations implications - The framework is limited to only SD and DES; as agent-based is another simulation method which is emerging as a promising tool for analysing problems such as spread of infectious diseases in healthcare context, inclusion of this into the framework will enhance the utility of the framework.Practical implications - This framework will aid in the development of hybrid models capable of comprehending both detail as well as dynamic complexity, which will contribute towards a deeper understanding of the problems, resulting in more effective decision making.Social implications - It is expected that this research will encourage those engaged in simulation (e.g. researchers, practitioners, decision makers) to realise the potential of cross-fertilisation of the two simulation paradigms.Originality value - Currently, there is no conceptual framework which provides guidance for developing hybrid models. In order to address this gap, this paper contributes by proposing a conceptual framework for hybrid simulation for the healthcare domain.

Physicians strive to reconcile decisions with social capital (SC) within virtual communities explained by Social Capital Theory (SCT)'s dimensions - identity, social interaction ties, and shared language. This study's model with six hypotheses, assesses trust's moderation between SC and knowledge sharing. Knowledge sharing enhances the quality of decision-making. A questionnaire got 204 response from US virtual community physicians. Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling revealed that identity negatively influences shared language, interaction ties cannot influence knowledge sharing, though this behaviour enhances the quality of decision-making. Trust positively influences identity and quality in shared knowledge, but negatively influences this behaviour and shared language. Quality in shared knowledge partially mediates identity and quality of decision-making and fully mediates shared language and quality of decision-making. Theoretical and practical implications are reported in this first of its kind study assessing trust moderation and knowledge sharing mediation between SCT and quality of decision-making.

•The potential role of knowledge management and sharing in contributing to the success of organizations is significant.•Despite acknowledging universities and academics as repositories for knowledge sharing and dissemination, managing and sharing knowledge in the academic world often faced number of challenges.•This study aims to examine the role of organizational climate on knowledge sharing among academics in higher education institutions.•By utilizing the Theory of Planned Behaviour, an explanatory quantitative approach targeting 257 academics participated in this study.•Organizational climate, subjective norms, leadership and organizational trust were found to have strong influence on academics’ knowledge sharing practices. Organizations have often implemented Knowledge Management programs to connect employees better and promote knowledge sharing (KS). In the context of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), this is particularly valid as knowledge creation and dissemination direct their mission and vision. Academics are one of the pillars of HEIs, where knowledge is created and shared. Nonetheless, as HEIs strive to promote academics’ knowledge sharing culture, the actual behaviour of academics might remain inhibited by numerous issues, namely the organizational. Prior research has been focused primarily on individual, technological and scarce aspects of organizational elements. Therefore, this study assesses the role of organizational climate operationalized by organizational leadership and trust in academics’ KS in HEIs. Partial Least Square (PLS) method where variance-based Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied in this study. Results from 257 surveyed academics indicate that organizational climate has an exceptionally strong influence on academics’ KS practices. Additionally, organizational leadership and trust had a positive relationship with academics’ KS behaviour. These findings indicate that it is necessary to consider organizational elements and their interactions when understanding and fostering academics’ knowledge sharing behaviour in HEIs context.

This paper provides a systems-based approach to the exploration of the relationship and integration between Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) factors as part of a Sustainable Operations Management (SOM) agenda. The authors have chosen electronic procurement (e-Procurement) as a suitable context in this light. Through a review of extant literature, a Systems Archetype (SA) model was developed (based on the 'Accidental Adversaries' archetype) and findings from a quantitative pilot study exploring key factors pertinent to e-Procurement SRM were gathered, and hence evaluated against SOM factors. The objective of this research was to describe and visualise the causal interrelationships involved in SRM-SOM through the application of a SA (as an Operations Research tool). The authors believe that this research also provides a unique approach to developing and harnessing the useful and unique properties of Systems Thinking (ST), by attempting to reduce and organise the (generally ad hoc and wide-ranging) sequence of subjective perspectives commonly experienced in causal mapping experiments. The paper builds upon the extant literature, and provides further basis for continuing research in the areas of ST, SAs and the application of operational research to plan sustainable operations.

•Hybrid simulation is a new but rapidly growing area in operational research.•The main application areas are healthcare, manufacturing and supply chains.•There are many technical and methodological challenges.•Major research opportunities in conceptual modelling and validation.•This paper presents a life-cycle based framework to guide modellers and authors. Hybrid simulation (defined as a modelling approach that combines two or more of the following methods: discrete-event simulation, system dynamics, and agent-based simulation) has experienced near-exponential growth in popularity in the past two decades. However, a large proportion of the academic literature on hybrid simulation is found in computer science and engineering journals. Given the importance of this emerging area and its relevance to operational research, this paper provides a review of the topic from an OR perspective. The results of a review of the hybrid simulation literature are presented, using a novel framework based on the simulation lifecycle that will be useful for future modellers and authors alike. Promising areas for future research are identified: these include the development of new methods for conceptual modelling and for model validation. Currently the main application areas are healthcare, supply chain management and manufacturing, and the majority of published models combine discrete-event simulation and system dynamics.

The benefits of Hybrid Simulation (HS) are well recorded in academic literature. It offers deeper insights into the real-life system as it allows modelers to assess its inherent problems from different dimensions. As a result HS has recently generated more attention from within the Modeling and Simulation arena. HS comes in many shapes and forms. For example, by linking two or more simulation models; linking simulation models with facilitative models; or linking simulation models with analytical models. This paper aims to explore several concepts related to HS modelling and design.

The advent of COVID-19 has shaken the whole world to its core. With many decision makers at all levels trying to tackle the spread of the disease and the economic ramification, the modeling and simulation is of paramount importance as part of this effort. Given the intricacy and interconnectedness of the problem, hybrid simulation (HS) seems to provide better support for modelers given its ability to connect multiple decision categories. However, HS models are known to take longer to build while requiring multiple expertise, which does not match the rapid impacts of COVID-19. To allow for faster means for developing such models, in this paper, we call for the establishment of a hub for rapid HS model development through global collaboration of simulation modelers. In the lack of such hubs, we demonstrate how a HS model could be built using publicly available single-method models.

Undoubtedly, due to the increasingly competitive pressures and the stride of varying demands, volatility and disturbance have become the standard in today’s global markets. The spread of Covid-19 is a prime example for that. Supply chain managers are urged to rethink their competitive strategies to make use of Big Data Analytics (BDA), due to the increasing uncertainty in both demand and supply side, the competition among the supply chain partners and the need to identify ways to offer personalised products and services. With many supply chain executives recognising the need of “improving with data”, supply chain businesses need to equip themselves with sophisticated BDA methods/techniques to create valuable insights from big data, thus, enhancing the decision-making process and optimising the efficiency of Supply Chain Operations (SCO). This paper proposes the building blocks of a theoretical framework for understanding the impact of BDA on SCO. The framework is based on a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on BDA and SCO, underpinned by Task-Technology-Fit theory and Institutional Theory. The paper contributes to the literature by building a platform for future work on investigating factors driving and inhibiting BDA impact on SCO.

Purpose With the ever-expanding online shopping, electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) has become a significant factor affecting the consumer decision-making behaviour. This is specially the case when considering Generation Y (Millennials), who are old enough to be independent buyers and young to be almost immersed in online living. This article aims to assess the impact of eWOM on purchase intention by developing a conceptual model of hypotheses encompassing a multitude of factors that may be associated with this relationship. Design/methodology/approach The researcher investigates what factors impact eWOM credibility and make the consumer may adopt it when making a purchase. To examine our research model, a quantitative approach is employed for this purpose using a sample through online survey from Thailand – where there is a large number portion Generation Y consumer base. Findings It was found that source style as a visual attribute information is the most significant factor that may impact eWOM credibility in addition to source credibility, argument quality and source homophily, respectively. Practical implications From a practical point of view, it helps firms to understand what needs to be taken into consideration when building their marketing strategy. Originality/value This is believed to add significant insights into the eWOM literature by identifying its route of impact toward the purchase intention on Generation Y.