Papers by Eileen Van Aken
Engineering Management Journal
International Journal of Engineering Education, 2016
This paper describes the use of a targeted event, Material Handling and Logistics Classroom Day, ... more This paper describes the use of a targeted event, Material Handling and Logistics Classroom Day, to enhance appreciation,knowledge, and interest in the fields related to material handling and logistics. Classroom Day is designed to provideengineering, technology, and business students with an opportunity to participate in a material handling and logisticstradeshow, network with other students and professionals, learn about the industry, and apply knowledge gained at thetradeshow to a case study design competition. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Classroom Day,which includes multiple experiential activities. The hypothesis is that Classroom Day will enhance student appreciation,knowledge, and interest in the field of material handling and logistics. A survey instrument is used to assess outcomes fromthe perspective of the 160 student attendees. Student survey results show that Classroom Day, as a targeted experientiallearning event, increased student appreciation, knowledge, and interest in the field of material handling and logistics. Asimilar approach may be adapted by other engineering education disciplines to engage students and attract talent to relatedindustries.
Journal of Engineering Education, Oct 20, 2021
Background: Increasing the persistence of engineering transfer students can help meet the US nati... more Background: Increasing the persistence of engineering transfer students can help meet the US national priority of increasing the number of engineering graduates. Many transfer students experience a decrease in their grade point average (GPA) at their receiving institution, known as transfer shock, which can lead to them leaving the institution. This GPA decrease is found to be more prevalent in engineering transfer students. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to analyze a single institutional dataset to determine when transfer shock occurs, how it differs among engineering transfer student subgroups, and if transfer shock is a predictor of graduation within 4 years in engineering. Design/Method: A 10-year dataset with 789 engineering transfer students was used in this study, and the engineering transfer students were split into four subgroups. Multiple statistical analyses were conducted, including Welch's F-test, chi-square, and logistic regression, to understand differences in transfer shock during the first three terms of enrollment as well as 4-year graduation rates among each subgroup. Results: Transfer shock extends through the first three post-transfer terms, resulting in transfer norming. The engineering transfer student subgroups experience different levels of transfer norming; however, the subgroups were not predictors of graduation. The predictors were the transfer GPA and the transfer norming in the first three post-transfer terms of enrollment. Conclusions: Engineering transfer students are not a homogeneous population; there are key differences between lateral and vertical transfer students. More strategic, longitudinal programming and decision-making should be considered by institutions.
The Quality Management Journal, 2002
Examiner scores for tuo y ea rs of a stale quality asoard uere analyzed by sec/or /0 estimate in/... more Examiner scores for tuo y ea rs of a stale quality asoard uere analyzed by sec/or /0 estimate in/mater reliability. The in/rae/ass correlation coefficients (ICC) , ICC(1 ,I) and cco.n.were chosen as thestatistics /0 estimate rel iability /0 enable the researchers to generalize results from specific examiner learns /0 the larger pool of examiners, thus p rovidi ng an assessment of the ooeratt scoring efJeclitleness in the stat e quality ascard. These forms of ICC address interchangeability of examiners-s-that is, tbeyprotide an estimate of the reliability of tbepool of examiners no mailer which individual examiners uere selected /0 evaluate applicants. tnterrater reliability, as sbou-n by ICCvalues, rangedjrom lou' /0 moderate, with significant oatues ranging from 0./8 10 0.58. These low correlation coefficient i alues were likely due 10 the injeren/iallimi/a/i ons oj Ihefield data usedas much asany lack oj consistency among examiners.
International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Aug 1, 2016
Purpose The aim of this paper is to synthesize and assess the published literature relating to cr... more Purpose The aim of this paper is to synthesize and assess the published literature relating to critical success factors for continuous improvement projects (CIPs). Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to obtain the most relevant papers from four platforms: EBSCOhost, Engineering Village, ProQuest and Web of Science. The literature was assessed and synthesized based on analysis of characteristics relating to publications, authors and the content of publications. Findings From the SLR, 98 publications were identified and analyzed. One primary finding is that this research area appears to demonstrate characteristics of an emerging field, not yet well established across all relevant aspects. Second, a comprehensive set of 53 factors were extracted from the publications identified. These factors were analyzed according to frequency in the published literature. This set of factors can be used in future empirical research to develop a more complete understanding of the relative contribution of each to influencing CIP success. Research limitations/implications The SLR methodology does not guarantee that all of the publications related to a given research area will be identified; however, the researchers took different actions to mitigate this limitation. Further, not all relevant information from the publication set could be included in this work because of space constraints. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this paper presents the most comprehensive list of factors, and associated definitions, relevant to CIP success.
The triple bottom line is on the agenda of many companies around the world, which have been incre... more The triple bottom line is on the agenda of many companies around the world, which have been increasingly implementing sustainable practices to both comply with government regulations and attend to the demands of customers and non-governmental organizations. Indeed, the concept of sustainability has been seen as a new opportunity for improving business performance and creating competitive advantage. Therefore, the adoption of sustainability practices can change in different ways how companies measure their performance. This paper aims to investigate how these practices affect performance measurement systems. Two cases studies were conducted in companies that are ranked in sustainability within Brazil. Although the performance measurement system in one company seems to be more affected than the other, case study empirical findings demonstrate changes to the performance measurement system in both companies. Specifically, these changes have occurred in three performance measurement system elements: performance indicators, how the companies communicate their results, and the process of information management.
Systems Engineering, Sep 13, 2022
Model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) is an increasingly accepted practice in the Systems Engine... more Model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) is an increasingly accepted practice in the Systems Engineering (SE) community, however, little has been done to empirically show that MBSE provides value. Furthermore, as the industry continues in the direction of digital transformation, MBSE will become a critical component of the larger Digital Engineering (DE) approach. This paper presents a measurement framework for selecting and developing appropriate metrics to assess the value/benefits of MBSE and subsequently DE. Utilizing expected benefits identified in a review of MBSE literature, a causal map was hypothesized to show how expected benefits (potential metrics) influence and relate to each other. This was done in order to systematically determine which benefits would be the most impactful to measure. The hypothesized causal model was presented for feedback to subject‐matter experts from a working group developing the first DE measurement framework. This group is a joint effort with industry, academia, and the USA government to develop DE metric standards. Once the causal map was finalized, a case study was used to partially validate the causal model. Based on the causal map and subsequent analysis, we can recommend the first metrics to be employed for DE/MBSE based on the most influential nodes of the causal model. The potential metric candidates include: system quality, defects, time, rework, ease of making changes, system understanding, Effort, accessibility of information, collaboration, project methods/processes, and use of DE/MBSE tools. We believe a concerted effort across the industry to focus on measuring these variables is the most effective way to establish proof of the value of MBSE and DE.
Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 2021
The last ten years have seen a plethora of organisational studies related to nonprofit organisati... more The last ten years have seen a plethora of organisational studies related to nonprofit organisations (NPOs). Regarding performance measures, the initial approach of NPOs is to adapt models and proc...
Administrative Sciences, 2022
Recent research on management control and performance measurement and management (PMM) points tow... more Recent research on management control and performance measurement and management (PMM) points towards a concern to provide suitable systems in nonprofit organizations (NPOs). However, few attempts have been made to understand these organizations and how their peculiarities influence this process. This research empirically discusses NPOs’ features through the lens of performance measurement and how these features influence performance measurement system’ design, the first step for an iterative PMM. A case study with two NPOs in the United States of America and Brazil provides valuable insights into the design factors. Results indicate that various factors related to purpose, stakeholders, and management influence the design of the performance-measurement system. Their unique organizational characteristics impact the usability and viability of the application of performance-measurement systems.
The development of a "Next Generation Manufacturing System " is currently an active are... more The development of a "Next Generation Manufacturing System " is currently an active area of research worldwide. The research described in this dissertation addresses one subelement within this research area; namely, the demonstration of a decentralized, automated production architecture. The goal of the work is to increase the ability of a manufacturing enterprise to respond to rapid technological and market change in the post-2000 global economy. The research is comprised of three objectives; definition of a decentralized organizational structure of autonomous production activities, implementation of the defined organization in a real world manufacturing environment, and a comparison of historical (centralized architecture) performance data and decentralized performance data. To accomplish these objectives, the proposed production architecture is implemented at a real world manufacturing site and performance data are acquired and tested against a stated hypothesis. The re...
International Journal of Engineering Education, 2016
This paper describes the use of a targeted event, Material Handling and Logistics Classroom Day, ... more This paper describes the use of a targeted event, Material Handling and Logistics Classroom Day, to enhance appreciation,knowledge, and interest in the fields related to material handling and logistics. Classroom Day is designed to provideengineering, technology, and business students with an opportunity to participate in a material handling and logisticstradeshow, network with other students and professionals, learn about the industry, and apply knowledge gained at thetradeshow to a case study design competition. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Classroom Day,which includes multiple experiential activities. The hypothesis is that Classroom Day will enhance student appreciation,knowledge, and interest in the field of material handling and logistics. A survey instrument is used to assess outcomes fromthe perspective of the 160 student attendees. Student survey results show that Classroom Day, as a targeted experientiallearning event, increased student app...
The system template is a tool for enhancing process management and improvement. It is the product... more The system template is a tool for enhancing process management and improvement. It is the product of a systems mapping session that typically lasts several hours. At the session a representative team identifies the major high-level systems or branches..
Stress is considered to be a contributing factor to worker’s performance in the healthcare settin... more Stress is considered to be a contributing factor to worker’s performance in the healthcare setting. In particular, nurses in Emergency Department (ED) settings experience excessive stress due to the need to respond to various situations promptly. Many studies focus only on the physiological causes and detrimental effects of stress. Under a multi-level ergonomics perspective, the aim of this study is to understand the causes of nurses’ stress in specific contexts. A semi-structured interview protocol was developed and five participants were recruited from a local hospital in the southeastern United States. Participants were asked questions related to every sub-system within the ED: technical, personnel, environment, and managerial structures. Also they were asked to provide opinions of possible improvements. Each interview lasted approximately 30 minutes. Based on interview responses, a task analysis was conducted. Interview transcriptions were then analyzed using thematic analysis. ...
Measuring Business Excellence, 2021
Purpose This study aims to conduct a literature review on factors that influence the implementati... more Purpose This study aims to conduct a literature review on factors that influence the implementation and design of performance measurement systems in nonprofit organizations. Design/methodology/approach The research strategy is conceived through a literature review focused on the analysis of authorship, supported by bibliometric techniques such as citation, co-citation and co-authorship social networks. Findings Models and theories proposed for measuring performance in non-profit organizations are being researched, starting to form an intellectual structure related to performance measurement systems and nonprofits. Three main research topics have been given more attention: strategic performance and public service performance, health-care performance and nonprofit operations strategy and performance measurement. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to scientific journal papers and could benefit from the addition of new sources of information such as conference papers...
Journal of Engineering Education, 2021
BackgroundIncreasing the persistence of engineering transfer students can help meet the US nation... more BackgroundIncreasing the persistence of engineering transfer students can help meet the US national priority of increasing the number of engineering graduates. Many transfer students experience a decrease in their grade point average (GPA) at their receiving institution, known as transfer shock, which can lead to them leaving the institution. This GPA decrease is found to be more prevalent in engineering transfer students.Purpose/HypothesisThe purpose of this study is to analyze a single institutional dataset to determine when transfer shock occurs, how it differs among engineering transfer student subgroups, and if transfer shock is a predictor of graduation within 4 years in engineering.Design/MethodA 10‐year dataset with 789 engineering transfer students was used in this study, and the engineering transfer students were split into four subgroups. Multiple statistical analyses were conducted, including Welch's F‐test, chi‐square, and logistic regression, to understand differen...
Frontiers in Psychology, 2020
Performance measurement systems (PMS) in Non-profit Organizations (NPOs) are more complex than in... more Performance measurement systems (PMS) in Non-profit Organizations (NPOs) are more complex than in for-profit organizations. NPOs have an orientation toward social mission and values, and they consider not only organizational efficiency and viability, but also the social impact of the organization. This research provides a comprehensive synthesis of PMSs in NPOs. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a literature review, supported by bibliometric and network analyses. A paper set of 240 articles related to this research field is examined. Topics that are the most prevalent in this research area and their interrelationships are identified, presenting an outline of current efforts. Findings: Despite the descriptive analyses for the paper set, a framework is proposed for organizing the design-implementation factors of PMSs in non-profit organizations, identifying the main requirements for their successful development. Originality/Value: Investigation on performance measurement in non-profit organizations is still in its early stages of development with many opportunities to further develop the field. Conceptual frameworks and models, as well as specific theories, are being generated for this field of research, and the process of adapting models from the general field of performance measurement is taking place. The meta-framework that organizes the main research topics of PMS in non-profit organizations and the framework that consolidates factors that influence the design-implementation of PMSs in non-profit organizations developed represents this paper contribution.
The TQM Journal, 2018
Purpose Evidence suggests that hospitals are having problems achieving continuous improvement pro... more Purpose Evidence suggests that hospitals are having problems achieving continuous improvement project (CIP) goals or sustaining their results. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify those critical success factors (CSFs) most strongly related to CIP success in hospitals (Lean-Kaizen project, Lean Six Sigma project, Six Sigma projects, and Quality Improvement projects). Design/methodology/approach A retrospective survey was applied to any CIP leaders/facilitators from hospitals that conducted at least one CIP during the last two years. Findings Three main findings were obtained from the 116 valid responses. First, the level of importance of 47 out of 53 CSFs to achieve CIPs success in hospitals was assessed as very important or higher (4 or higher on a six-point scale). Second, there are important differences between the CSFs to achieve CIP success in hospitals in this research and previous investigations. Third, the type of CIP affects the level of importance of 16 out o...
Uploads
Papers by Eileen Van Aken