International Journal of Knowledge and Learning (13 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Learning Paradigm, Derived Analogically from Japanese Economic Policy "Abenomics"  
  by Toyohide Watanabe 
  Abstract: The current learning environment or learning means is far from the traditional classroom-based learning style: in anytime and anywhere any one can learn individually, referring to desirable/preferred learning contents through mobile devises. The evolutional information technologies have been contributed such learning environments and means drastically. The word ubiquity is adjust consistent to the borderless learning activity without any exceptions. However, it is not always assured or verified how to apply or use various kinds of systems, functions, tools or devises, developed by IT (Information Technology) with a view to making the learning activity more effectual.rn In this paper, we address the advanced learning paradigm in IT society. As one of approach viewpoints, we focus on the framework on the basis of Abenomics, promoted as one of to break free from deflation means in Japanese economic policy. It seems that the viewpoint to be discussed cognitively in Abenomics is straightly applied to our current learning environment with various kinds of pedagogic problems. The most important concept transition from deflation to inflation in Abenomics is analogically corresponded to the trend extension from centralized classroom to distributed personal learning space. Under the understanding of such situation, we investigate our advanced learning paradigm on the basis of Abenomics.rn
  Keywords: Abenomics; Worth of money and article price; monetary policy; fiscal policy; growth strategy; learning paradigm; IT-based functionality; knowledge composition; knowledge acquisition; knowledge understanding; knowledge resources and learning curriculum.
  
  
• Identification, Assessment and Ranking Agile Software Development Critical Success Factors A Factor Analysis Approach  
  by Vinay Kukreja, Amitoj Singh, Sachin Ahuja 
  Abstract: In the fast-changing global business, software development is an important aspect. This is not a perfect process. Agile software development (ASD) methods have emerged as an innovative and diverse way of developing software as compared to the traditional methodologies that are having high project failure, higher cost and more time to complete the project, customer dissatisfaction, etc. The current study is conducted to identify and assess critical success factors along with discovering the perceived level of success factors for ASD to overcome the drawbacks of the traditional methods. An exploratory survey study is conducted and the respondents are chosen from amongst software companies that are using agile practices and methods. After performing factor analysis on the primary data collected, variables are grouped into different factors and a theoretical framework has been proposed. Initially, 39 variables have been identified and finally, 31 variables have been loaded into five factors that lead to success factors and further how these factors are related to perceived level of success factor that is again a cluster of further 4 identified variables (Time, Cost & Efforts, Quality and Scope & Requirements). The importance index is used to rank the factors along with the variables of the explored factors. Surprisingly, the most important factor that came out was project factor followed by organization, technical, people and process factors respectively. The software industries can improve project success by giving attention to the identified factors based on their rank
  Keywords: Agile Methods; Critical Success Factors; Agile Software Development; Software Development; Validation.
  
  
• A study of cross-cultural variations of metaphor aptness and their implications in foreign language teaching  
  by Zahra Eskandari, Hooshang Khoshsima 
  Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate cross-cultural variations of metaphor aptness and their implications in foreign language teaching. Two groups of English and Persian native speakers were selected for this study. Three tests were administered. In each item of test one, participants produced a parallel relation for a given relation. In each item of test two, participants made judgment on the acceptability of a metaphor. In test three, participants made judgment on the acceptability of parallel relations. The results indicated that degree of aptness of a metaphor had a significant positive correlation with the number of corresponding parallel relations for that metaphor. Furthermore, degrees of aptness of some metaphors were different for English and Persian native speakers. It is suggested that cultural dimensions of the concepts that are involved in parallel relations in the base and target of a metaphor could affect degree of aptness of that metaphor.
  Keywords: cross-cultural variations; metaphor aptness; structure-mapping.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2021.10036834
   
  
• Improving the retention of employees through organisational learning culture: The mediating role of learning agility and the moderating role of gender  
  by Aastha Tripathi, Raja Sankaran 
  Abstract: This study explores the role of learning agility (LA) as a mediator in the relationship between organisational learning culture (OLC) and employee retention (ER) in an organisation and has also examined the role of gender as a moderator in the relationship between LA and ER. A hypothesised model has been proposed to test the relationships between OLC, LA and ER. SEM has been utilised using AMOS (version18) on a valid sample of 326 information technology (IT) employees of entry-level and middle level from five different software firms located in Eastern, Western and Northern India. The findings of this study exhibit that the two dimensions of OLC significantly influence ER and also LA indirectly influences employee retention (ER) inside the organisation with the help of learning culture. Between LA and ER, gender significantly moderates the relationship. This study can improve an organisation by creating a knowledge-learning platform to make it successful in the market.
  Keywords: organisational learning culture; learning agility; employee retention; information technology; India.
  
  
• Effect of empowering leadership on knowledge sharing: mediating roles of psychological empowerment and psychological capital  
  by Muhammad Anwar Ul Haq, Mirza Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaista Khalid, Muhammad Usman 
  Abstract: Current study aims to find out the effect of empowering leadership on knowledge sharing behaviour directly and through the mediating effects of psychological empowerment and psychological capital. Dyadic data were collected from supervisor-subordinate dyads. The available responses for analysis, after screening, were 223. The respondents for this research hailed from diverse sectors such as leather factories, sports goods industry, and surgical goods manufactures. Data were analysed by applying SEM in AMOS. Results confirmed our proposed model. Apart from the direct linkage, the mediating effects were also validated. These findings advance literature in the streams of empowering leadership, knowledge sharing, psychological capital, and psychological empowerment. Important implications, theoretical and practical, have also been discussed at the end.
  Keywords: empowering leadership; knowledge sharing; psychological capital; psychological empowerment.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2021.10037891
   
  
• A Critical Study of the Teaching Attitudes of Teachers at Primary school Level in Pakistan  
  by ARIF ULLAH 
  Abstract: The research was conducted on the topic of critical study of the teaching attitudes of teachers at primary level in government girls Primary schools in (KPK) Pakistan. The main objectives of the study were to find out positive aspects of teachers teaching attitudes, to explore negative aspects of teachers teaching attitudes and to provide suggestions for improving teaching attitudes. For this purpose the descriptive type research was carried out. There are total 175 Primary Schools for girls in (KPK) Pakistan are selected. All students of class five which make a total of 1560 students; came under the population of the present study. The study was delimited to 100 government girls primary schools, 500 students were the sample size of the study. Five students of class 5th were randomly selected from each school. A structured questionnaire was used for the purpose of data collection from the respondent students. Each question of the questionnaire was having three answers i.e. Yes, No and Somewhat. The data collected from the field was analyzed through a Computer Software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science). After analysis the data was presented in form of tables. From each table major findings were executed. Conclusion was made on the basis of these findings. From the study, it was concluded that the teachers teaching attitudes of government girls primary schools in Pakistan is positive except that they do not encourage co curricular activities in their schools. This shows the weak area of teachers teaching attitude. It is, therefore, suggested that the teachers should need more awareness about the importance of co curricular activities in teaching learning process and there should be proper training programs for teachers about how to plan, organize, manage, coordinate and conduct the co curricular activities inside and outside the schools.
  Keywords: Teaching Attitudes; Primary school; Teaching method Characteristics of Attitudes; social interaction.
  
  
• New Architecture of Enterprise Social Networks for Knowledge Sharing within Engineering School.  
  by Hamza Ladeg, Rachid Chalal 
  Abstract: Enterprise social networks (ESN) are considered as technology tools or platforms that improve collaboration among employees capture and share knowledge and KNOW-HOW through creating link connection among employees to increase creativity and innovation. However, the content generated through ESN must undergo a lifting such as the quality control of the products or services developed in the organization for its customers. This quality control of the exchanges between ESN users must focus on the quality of the shared knowledge for knowledge capitalization purposes. To do this we have proposed on the basis of an empirical study to incorporate within ESN a knowledge manager to certify the knowledge before sharing. This new ESN architecture has been validated by the success measurement model of knowledge management systems.
  Keywords: Enterprise Social Networks; Knowledge Sharing; Knowledge Management System Success.
  
  
• Micro-learning with technology and employee performance: role of employee competencies in emerging countries  
  by Ghulam Muhammad, Shabana Shamsuddin, Muttahir Ahmed Khan 
  Abstract: The main objective of this study is to explore the link between micro-learning through technology and employee performance by focusing on the mediating role of employee competencies. Data for the study was gathered through five points Likert scale questionnaire from 182 respondents working in chemical firms of Pakistan. The structural model assessment was used to analyse the relationship between exogenous and endogenous variables by using Smart PLS v.3.2.8. The results revealed that micro-learning and employee competencies have a significant relationship with employee performance. Similarly, the results found a positive and significant relationship between micro-learning and employee competencies. The research also found that employee competencies have a mediating role between micro-learning and employee performance. Empirical research on micro-learning and employee performance by using employee competencies as a mediator is not available in the literature.
  Keywords: employee competency; employee performance; micro-learning; technology; smart PLS.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2021.10039069
   
  
• NOT EVERYONE IS AN ENTREPRENEUR, BUT ENTREPRENEURS ARE EVERYWHERE  
  by Laura Vall-llosera Casanovas, Rodolfo De Castro 
  Abstract: As entrepreneurship drives economic development, researchers and governments are becoming increasingly interested in the fundamental role higher education might play in fostering entrepreneurial behavior. Using a multiple correspondence analysis, we have obtained three types of entrepreneur competency profiles that have been related to gender, study path, scopes of talent and areas of study. The results show that we can find entrepreneurial skills everywhere and that they are transferable. These findings allow us to make some useful recommendations to develop more effective policies to improve competences and to better prepare future professionals.
  Keywords: competence profiles; talent; compulsory studies; entrepreneurship.
  
  
• Sentiment Analysis of Micro-Blogging Sites using Supervised Learning: A Narrative Review of recent studies  
  by Akanksha Bisht, H.S. Bhadauria, Jitendra Virmani, Annapurna Singh, Kriti  
  Abstract: Sentiment analysis is a task of predicting sentiments from the opinionated data and classifies them as positive, negative, ratings (stars or numerical), thumbs up - thumbs down and so forth. In the present survey, we have covered numerous datasets, methodologies, developments together with indications for advances in the near future. Inspired by the achievements of deep learning, plenty of researchers are utilizing the deep learning models for conducting sentiment analysis. Therefore, we have highlighted some studies regarding the use of machine learning and deep learning models on different micro-blogging sites with the evolution in sentiment analysis. The survey presents a number of suitable illustrations- most prominently, a table that summarizes previous papers along different dimensions such as types of objectives, classification techniques and dataset used.
  Keywords: Sentiment analysis; NLP; machine learning; deep learning; text classification.
  
  
• Motivation theory: an application to Saudi Arabias higher education  
  by Issam Tlemsani, Maram Alghamdi, Luluwa AlRajhi, Ghada Althaaly, Manal Alshehri 
  Abstract: : The main purpose of this research is to contribute to the existing knowledge on motivation theory with an application to Saudi Arabia's higher education. This research is an attempt to find the best theories that can help student performances. The implications of this research is of extreme importance, as it sheds light on one of the most important aspects of a students success; learning how to motivate them will profoundly benefit not only the student but the kingdom as well. This research tests the extent to which the equity and Maslow's theory of motivation can be used in motivating students in Saudi Arabia. The findings of the study show a direct correlation between students performance and the extent to which such theories were implemented. Moreover, it emphasises the underlying reasons why such theories are more beneficial than others as well as how Adams equity theory is not only about analysing inputs/outputs and comparing it with others. And so is Maslows theory of motivation, they are not simply approaches to motivation, but also powerful tools.
  Keywords: motivation theory; higher education; student performances; equity theory; knowledge.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2021.10038368
   
  
• Web ranking performance perspectives of Malaysian higher education institutions stakeholders  
  by Alexander Ugochukwu Ubaka, Baharudin Kadir, Ibrahim Kamal Abdul Rahman, Ilham Sentosa 
  Abstract: The need to analyse the scope and variety of HEIs digital footprints became clearer with the introduction of web ranking initiative. Our previous study highlighted the need for HEIs to assess their past web ranking performances to ensure the promotion of the already acknowledged academic mission (teaching, research, and transfer). Having observed significant variations in the web ranking performance of Malaysian HEIs (especially those whose performance is expected to be at par with other high performing institutes), and most web ranking studies highlighting the need for scholars to have significant web presence, the present study was conducted to explore the views of Malaysian HEIs academics on web ranking. Interviews and surveys were used for data collection from purposively and randomly selected academics. The findings of the current study suggests: 1) the need to communicate and getting the buy-in on the importance of web ranking performance; 2) the need to develop appropriate policies and infrastructure; 3) the need to take strategic view of web ranking performance as a long-term promotional tool.
  Keywords: Malaysia; HEIs; academics; web ranking; web presence.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2021.10039142
   
  
• The effect of microteaching on the enhancement of female mathematics and social studies teachers' skills in the College of Education at Kuwait University  
  by Jasem Altammar, Salwa Aljassar 
  Abstract: Research indicates a mismatch between the existing national demand for qualified teachers in Kuwait and the quality of teacher preparation programs. This research aims to determine the impact of microteaching method in developing students teaching skills in the College of Education at Kuwait University. It is hypothesised that a systematic implementation of microteaching enhances prospective teachers instruction skills, knowledge and self-confidence. In respect of Kuwaits cultural norms of gender segregation amongst student-teachers and across public schools, the research sample include a random selection of 28 female prospective teachers specialised in teaching mathematics and social studies (AY 2019/2020). Itemised observation cards, semi-structured interviews and data analyses methods are applied. Significant findings include higher levels of job readiness amongst prospective teachers that implemented microteaching, especially within three key domains lesson planning, lesson implementation and lesson evaluation. Microteaching was found to be a significant enhancer of the teaching and learning experience. Teachers were more confident and prepared, irrespective of their teaching specialisation.
  Keywords: classrooms; Kuwait University; Mathematics; microteaching; pre-service; skills building; social studies; student teachers.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2021.10039334