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Item Investigating the Quality Combined Effect of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in Quality Management in Manufacturing Firms(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-11) ALBLOOSHI, ROUDHA KHALID ABDULLA; Professor Alaa A-AmeerThe escalating demand for energy-efficient lighting solutions has propelled LED High Bay lights to the forefront of the lighting industry. However, ensuring product quality and reliability remains a critical challenge. This research delves into the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma DMAIC methodologies to optimise the manufacturing process of LED High Bay lights within a Golf Country-based factory. The study aimed to identify and address the root causes of product defects, primarily focusing on electrical surge protection issues. Data were collected from various departments to analyse failure rates, customer complaints, and process inefficiencies. By employing tools such as flowcharts, fishbone diagrams, and statistical analysis, the research pinpointed the inadequate 4KV surge protection as a primary defect contributor. Implementing a 6KV surge protector for higher-wattage lights significantly reduced defect rates by 0.5%. This improvement led to decreased warranty claims, cost reductions, and enhanced product longevity, ultimately reinforcing the company's commitment to delivering high-quality products that exceed the customer's expectations. Such products need to be manufactured more often if companies want to survive in the Middle East as consumers will not settle for anything less. Refined production line layouts and automated key assembly stages alongside lean production principles are crucial to eliminate non-value activities. This can enhance the production of desired products in the companies. The findings underscore the efficacy of TQM and Six Sigma in driving operational excellence and customer satisfaction within the lighting industry.Item The Impact of Game-Based Learning (GBL) on Students’ Motivation and Productive Skills Ways and Challenges of Integrating Games within the EFL Classroom(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-07) AMARA, NOAMEN; Dr Tendai CharlesGame-based learning has become an integral part of modern educational strategies. It has revolutionised the students’ learning experiences. This innovative approach harnesses the power of games to create dynamic and engaging learning environments. Unlike traditional academic methods, game-based learning captivates students’ interest and fosters genuine motivation. Through the inherent appeal of games, students are actively engaged in the learning process, leading to enhanced productivity and motivation. Moreover, game-based learning encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills among students. It provides a conducive environment for holistic skill development, including time management and adaptability. Additionally, game-based learning transforms the classroom atmosphere. It promotes interactive and collaborative learning experiences. This study has investigated the impact of game-based learning on EFL students’ motivation and productive skills. It provides evidence-based recommendations for educators and curriculum designers to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Despite its limitations, this research sheds light on the transformative potential of game-based learning in modern education. For this research, a survey was conducted among 41 school teachers. This survey aimed to ascertain their involvement in game-based learning implementation in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. On the other hand, 6 education leaders were selected for interview. In addition, a focus group interview was conducted with six parents of students to explore their perceptions regarding the effect of Game-based learning on their children’s engagement, motivation, and development of productive skills. The interviews and survey sought to gather firsthand perspectives from participants regarding the influence of game-based learning on students’ motivation and productivity. Data analysis revealed that integrating games within the EFL classroom effectively enhanced students’ motivation and productive skills.Item Investigating Perceptions and Practice of Teacher Leadership in Somaliland’s Public Primary Schools(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-09) HUSSEIN, HINDA JIRDEH; Professor Abdulai AbukariSomaliland is facing mounting pressure to improve its education system. As a rule, the development of the education system of a country depends on a strong and reliable investment in teacher development. The country implemented a number of reforms as part of the Education Sector Strategies over the last ten years (2012-2016; 2017-2021), coinciding with the National Development Plans I and II of the corresponding periods, respectively. The main purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions and practice of teacher leadership in primary public schools. The study focuses on nine primary public schools in the city of Hargeisa in Somaliland. This study’s theoretical framework was based on distributed leadership, transformational leadership and symbolic leadership. The main data collection methods used in these sequential explanatory mixed methods included teacher leadership school survey (TLSS), document review of national education development strategies, and semi-structured interviews of selected teachers and principals. The most important finding of this study is that teachers take on teacher leadership roles inside and outside the classroom. Most teachers identified these roles as beneficial to their schools, though overwhelming for teachers as they lack training, resources and time. Furthermore, teachers have a low level of perception about the system’s commitment to teacher leadership and development due to lack of adequate voice in influencing educational policy and decision-making.Item Strategic Alignment to Net-zero Green Building Construction: Evaluating UAE Laws and Proposing International Benchmarks(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-03) ALHOSANI, MARIAM IBRAHIM; Dr Abba KoloThis dissertation explored the legal frameworks, regulations, and standards governing net-zero green building construction with a particular emphasis on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Employing a comparative analysis, the study encompassed both international and regional laws, regulations, and standards from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) where relevant. In the UAE, attention is directed towards the Federal Environmental Law, Federal Civil Transactions Law, Administrative Resolutions, governmental policies, the Al Sa'fat regulations, and the Estidama rating system. In the UK, the exploration encompassed the Building Act 1984, Building Regulations 2010, Code for Sustainable Homes, and the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). On the other hand, the US search included the California Green Building Standard Code, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), International Green Construction Code (IgCC), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The research findings highlighted the importance of the enforcement mechanism including issuing green construction-related laws and standards, and defining the non-compliance criteria and consequences. Moreover, the technical aspects addressed in this research within the fields of engineering and environment revealed limitations in existing standards, particularly in CO2 emission compliance urging the need for more robust and comprehensive guidelines. Recommendations include strengthening regulations, revising environmental laws, and adding provisions to the Civil Transactions Law. Further, the importance of a dedicated budget and employing green development strategies are stressed, proposing the enhancement of financial incentives and training programmes to encourage compliance with green construction standards. Overall, the dissertation advocates for a more integrated approach to enhance the legal framework to reach net-zero emissions in the construction sector in the UAE.Item The Implementation of Adaptive Governance of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector in the UAE(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-05) ALAWADHI, KHALID MAHMOUD; Professor BaderObeidatArtificial intelligence (AI) has been constantly progressing, with a recent hype lead by developments in artificial neural networks, such as large language models, that resulted in the evolution of generative AI solutions. Today, AI use cases are widely spread across different sectors, and governments are no exception. One example is the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has put tremendous efforts into sustaining the implementation of AI in the public sector, including implementing AI in public services. As AI implementation is highly affected and steered by its governance style, this study explores the use of adaptive governance (AG) for the implementation of AI in public services in the UAE. It utilises an exploratory qualitative research approach to investigate the challenges of AI implementation in public services in the UAE, the set of AG principles applicable to the context, and the factors that either support or constrain the implementation of such principles. The study results show that all challenges fall within the challenge categories previously identified in the literature. Also, five principles of AG were identified, which are efforts to mobilize internal and external capabilities, continuous adjustments to deal with uncertainty, wider participation to spot and internalise developments, ambidexterity, and knowledge dissemination among stakeholders. Also, eighteen factors were identified and categorized into five themes, which are organisational capabilities, stakeholders’ relations, situational awareness, enabling environment, and public welfare. Finally, a conceptual framework is developed to explain the implementation of AG of AI in public services in the UAE.Item The Sustainability Inclusion in Project Contracts and its Impact on the Performance of UAE Public Sector Projects(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-05) ALAJAMI, SAEED; Dr Waris KhanSustainable project management practices considering the triple bottom line remain vital for the efficient execution of the project activities and the overall success and performance of projects. This requires careful and controlled planning and monitoring of the project activities, controlling the execution to ensure compliance with sustainable practices throughout by including relevant clauses in the contracts for efficient project delivery across the overall project management life cycle. The research aims to investigate the impact of the influence of sustainability in project contracts and its impact on the performance of UAE public sector projects. The research has been developed with the consideration of positivism philosophy, deductive approach and explanatory design. The research has integrated primary data collection sources thereby collecting information from online surveys. The analysis of the data has been conducted with the inclusion of descriptive analysis and inferential analysis. However, concerning inferential analysis, tests of regression and correlation have been integrated to facilitate hypothesis testing. The survey included feedback from 100 respondents who have been from public sector projects in the UAE. The descriptive analysis reflected that sustainability inclusion has been essential for public sector projects as it improved the performance and quality of the same. The project managers have been found to integrate three kinds of sustainability such as economic, social and environmental. The inferential analysis further reflected that there has been a direct relationship between the performance of the projects and sustainability inclusion. The government policy makers need to establish guidelines based on sustainability legislation to improve the environmental performance of the public sector construction projects in the UAE. Worker training is an effective strategy for improving sustainability practices with the use of contracts. Government agencies require proactiveness in spreading awareness about the significance of sustainability and using it for determining the viability of the tenders and awarding the projects to the contractors. Keywords: sustainability, contract, construction, public sector projects, UAE, triple bottom line etc.Item Predicting and Interpreting Student Performance Using Machine Learning in Blended Learning Environments in a Jordanian School Context(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 0024-06) SALIM, MAHA JAWDAT; Professor Khaled ShaalanThe rise of the Internet has led to the widespread adoption of digital learning platforms, revolutionising the creation, access, and delivery of digital educational resources. These platforms enhance academic performance by fostering collaborative learning environments and generating extensive data from every user interaction. Machine learning algorithms can process large and complex datasets to identify patterns and trends that may not be immediately apparent. By analysing the data generated from these learning platforms with ML techniques, we can uncover detailed insights into student performance. Accurately predicting student performance can help educators tailor teaching methods and interventions to individual needs. This study focuses on predicting and interpreting student performance in a blended learning environment using ML in a Jordanian school context. The primary aim of this research is to employ machine learning models and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) to predict and understand student performance. A dataset generated by a digital learning platform used by a private school in Jordan is utilised. Various ML algorithms, such as Support Vector Machines, Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbors, Naïve Bayes, Decision Trees, Random Forest, AdaBoost, Bagging, and Artificial Neural Networks are applied to predict student performance. SHAP values are used to interpret these predictions, offering insights into the factors most impacting student outcomes. Key findings indicate that ensemble methods like Random Forest and Bagging outperform other models in predicting student performance, achieving higher accuracy at 95.90% and 95.48%, respectively, as well as balanced precision and recall, which are crucial for accurately identifying both high- and low-performing students. The findings suggest that using these ensemble methods allows for more reliable predictions and better-informed educational strategies. The analysis reveals that individual features, such as engagement with learning materials and worksheets, significantly influence student performance. By understanding these specific factors and their impacts, educators can tailor interventions more effectively to individual needs, thereby enhancing the educational outcomes and supporting personalised learning. The findings underscore the potential of data-driven strategies to enhance educational outcomes and support personalised learning.Item A Decision Modelling Approach for Perceived and Engaged Immersive Visual Interactive Applications on the Metaverse(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-09) IBRAHIM, SAMAR; Dr Mostafa Al EmranMany researchers have developed and implemented various immersive visual interactive applications that incorporate visualization and interaction techniques, support the visual construct and enhance exploration in the Metaverse. Benchmarking these applications is critical due to the absence of an ideal model, particularly given their varied development criteria. The multiple evaluations, significance, and the data variability of these criteria among various applications present challenges that necessitate using specific multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. This study introduces a new decision modelling approach that extends the fuzzy-weighted zero inconsistency (FWZIC) method with the new Interval-Valued Fermatean Neutrosophic fuzzy sets (IVFN) and combines it with the extended ranking method, Više kriterijumska Optimization I compromise Rešenje (VIKOR) and Gray relational analysis (GRA). The modelling approach benchmarks the most perceived immersive visual interactive applications using the extended VIKOR-GRA method based on a decision matrix of 18 criteria and 29 alternatives for the four visualization scenarios. The new extended IVFN-FWZIC method weighs the criteria for benchmarking the optimal applications based on experts’ judgments. The results illustrate the effectiveness of the modelling approach and indicate that "spatial" and “haptics” are the most significant criteria in evaluating immersive visual interactive applications. The robustness and reliability of the results were validated and evaluated using sensitivity analysis, comparative analysis, and a systematic ranking process. This study offers a vision for decision-makers and stakeholders, contributing to improving visualization and exploration of the Metaverse.Item How Dynamic Capabilities in Maintenance Enable Metal Plants in the UAE Via Big Data Analytic Capabilities Towards Digital Twins Adoption? A Mediation and Moderation Analysis(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-06) SA’ADEH, AREEJ; Dr Sa’Ed SalhiahThe research employed a standardised survey to explore how Dynamic Capabilities (DCs) are influencing the adoption of Digital Twins (DTs) through Big Data Analytics Capabilities (BDAC) as a mediator variable. Furthermore, it also inspects the influence of Digital Leadership (DL) as a moderator variable in above relationship in terms of maintenance in metal plants in United Arab Emirates (UAE). This research reveals a correlation between above indicated variables based on practical responses from maintenance. Results will definitely support the improvement of maintenance performance in metal plants. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using SmartPLS4 to test four hypotheses based on data collected from 183 respondents, comprising managers, engineers and technicians from maintenance departments in various metal plants in UAE. As hypothesised, research findings suggest that BDAC plays a mediating role in relationship between DCs including seizing (SEZ) and transforming (TRF) and adoption of DTs. However, sensing (SEN) has neither a direct nor an indirect relationship with DTs. Additionally, low DL significantly strengthens moderation effect in terms of positive relationship between BDAC and adoption of DTs. These findings confirm need of this research's key predictor variable - DCs, BDAC and moderator variable DL - in driving organisational readiness toward digital transformation. The research is limited and should not be generalised given that it has only focused on analysing collected data from one sector - metal plants industry in the UAE. Future research should focus on analysing how applicable this framework is across other industries while investigating factors for adoption of DTs.Item The Impact of Leadership Roles on Students’ Responsible Behavior: A Study Among Students and Staff in a Private School in Abu Dhabi(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-06) ABURABEA, SAMED; Dr Solomon DavidThis research explores the impact of leadership roles on students’ responsible behaviors within Abu Dhabi's private schools in the United Arab Emirates. Drawing on staff questionnaires and semi-structured interviews addressed to student leaders, the study investigates the motivations, challenges, and impacts of student leadership initiatives within the cultural context of Abu Dhabi on the student’s responsible behavior, as well as the educators’ perception towards the student’s leadership within the educational environment. Findings revealed the multifaceted nature of student leadership, encompassing themes such as student empowerment, leadership styles, institutional support, challenges faced, and societal contributions. Theoretical implications are discussed, highlighting connections with concepts such as transformational leadership, while practical implications offer recommendations for enhancing student leadership initiatives and fostering inclusive practices. The research contributes to ongoing discourse on educational leadership, providing valuable insights for practice, policy, and future research endeavors. Overall, this study underscores the importance of student leadership roles as a catalyst for positive student behavior, personal growth, academic success, and societal advancement within Abu Dhabi's private schools.