Browsing by Author "Konara, KMGK"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11

item: Conference-Abstract
The Applicability of performance based employee share ownership plans for the motivation of junior management level employees in service sector organizations in Sri Lanka
Ekanayakc, EMKS; Rajini, PAD; Konara, KMGK
The contribution of workforce management professionals has become increasingly important with the growing ascendancy of Human Resources Management (HRM) in its various symptoms. People having different intentions so employers can get best from their employees while providing effective benefits. Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a form of employee financial participation that presents on the right of employees to share in the capital of the company and, right to exercise some degree of control over company affairs. Researchers’ approaches seem to be more descriptive and confined within the limits of implementation ESOPs in difference industries. Most of them mainly, addressed ESOP concepts and the applications of ESOPs in different economic conditions. However, minimum attention has been given to the necessity of use of ESOP as a motivational tool to enhance its productivity. Thus, this study explored the applicability of performance based ESOP to the motivation of junior management level employees in organizations in Sri Lankan. This research problem was approached through case studies of three sendee sector organizations, which have implemented ESOP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts and questionnaire survey was carried out during the data collection. According to the findings, only senior employees get benefits from ESOP and the used criteria for ESOP were not rational therefore, its contribution for enhancing employee performance is less.
item: Conference-Abstract
The Applicability of performance based employee share ownership plans for the motivation of junior management level employees in service sector organizations in Sri Lanka
Ekanayake, EMKS; Rajini, PAD; Konara, KMGK
The contribution of workforce management professionals has become increasingly important with the growing ascendancy of Human Resources Management (HRM) in its various symptoms. People having different intentions so employers can get best from their employees while providing effective benefits. Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a form of employee financial participation that presents on the right of employees to share in the capital of the company and, right to exercise some degree of control over company affairs. Researchers‟ approaches seem to be more descriptive and confined within the limits of implementation ESOPs in difference industries. Most of them mainly, addressed ESOP concepts and the applications of ESOPs in different economic conditions. However, minimum attention has been given to the necessity of use of ESOP as a motivational tool to enhance its productivity. Thus, this study explored the applicability of performance based ESOP to the motivation of junior management level employees in organizations in Sri Lankan. This research problem was approached through case studies of three service sector organizations, which have implemented ESOP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts and questionnaire survey was carried out during the data collection. According to the findings, only senior employees get benefits from ESOP and the used criteria for ESOP were not rational therefore, its contribution for enhancing employee performance is less.
item: Conference-Full-text
Applicability of reliability centered maintenance approach for thermal power plants in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2014-06) Kalpage, GK; Konara, KMGK; Sandanayake, YG; Fernando, NG; Karunasena, GI
More than 70% of entire power demand in Sri Lanka mainly caters through thermal power and oil base thermal power plants contributes to cater more than 55% of demand in the country. Even though plant reliability and efficiency should be maintained at higher value to cater this demand, sudden island wide power cuts and Ceylon electricity board (CEB) statistics has been revealed the prevailing plant performance issues of thermal power plants. Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) approach has been adopted successfully for wide range of industries including thermal power industry in considerable number of countries to overcome plant performance issues while reducing maintenance cost. Therefore the focus of this research is to study applicability of RCM approach for maintenance planning of thermal power plants in Sri Lanka to overcome current issues relating to maintenance operation. Comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore RCM concept. Through the preliminary survey current maintenance practices, issues that directly related with maintenance practice, currently available resources that necessary for RCM base analysis and attitude of industry practitioner towards RCM implementation were identified. Streamline Reliability Centered Maintenance (SRCM) was identified as ideal type of RCM analysis method for thermal power plants in Sri Lanka through findings of literature review and preliminary survey. Findings of single case study revealed criticality evaluation criteria and applicable maintenance strategies for critical and non-critical components of typical thermal power plants. A comprehensive maintenance plan was developed for fuel pre pressure system using currently available physical and human resources. Considering findings, the research suggests that thermal power industry in Sri Lanka should initiate SRCM base maintenance program to overcome existing performance issues using existing resources.
item: Conference-Abstract
Building post occupancy evaluation frame work
(2016-09-20) Konara, KMGK; Sandanayake, YG
Buildings facilitate organizational performance by creating a comfortable and stable internal environment for the occupants. Traditionally, micro level criteria have been used by the building professionals in understanding how well a building is satisfying user or functional requirements. However ever increasing expectations and requirements of building occupiers and owners for cost effective and value added facilities have lead the global industries towards the concept of total building performance. Among the variety of Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) techniques available in the industry, the application of Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) has been justified throughout the research as a successful BPE technique. However, lacking a generic framework in order to carry out a POE has prevented gaining optimum benefits of POE. Thus, this paper presents a generic framework for POE using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) tool to fill this research gap. Questionnaire survey approach was used to identify BPE criteria and building performance indicators, and to develop the conceptual and generic POE frameworks. Major survey findings revealed that internal environmental comfort as the most important criterion and three times more important than energy performance and sustainability parameters which obtained least importance level. Visual comfort and indoor environmental quality indicators were most significant building performance indicators in evaluating the building performance using POE. POE conducted in a systematic way using the developed framework will allow fine-tuning a facility and the lessons learned from the failures and successes of BP can applied to the design of future buildings.
item: Conference-Abstract
Evaluation of guest requirements on hotel building facilities in Sri Lanka
(2016-09-21) Premarathne, W; Sandanayake, YG; Konara, KMGK
Tourism is one of the major economic areas in the Sri Lankan Policy Framework, with a vision to make Sri Lanka the foremost leisure destination in the South Asian Region. After ending the 30 years of ethnic war, the tourism industry has gained an immense level of significance as a potential mode of investment and attracting foreign currency to the economy. Sri Lanka recently has achieved the ambitious post war target of 600,000 tourist arrivals showing a 73 percent growth with compared to the previous year. Sri Lankan government therefore focuses on fast emerging tourism sector with the central focus of providing low cost holidays with high quality hotel accommodation. The government is committed to develop tourist sector with targeted room capacity of 30,000 by 2015. In order to achieve aforementioned targets, it is essential to identify and evaluate guest requirements and their preferences. The main aim of this study is therefore to identify and evaluate guest requirements in Sri Lankan structured questionnaire hotel sector. Literature review and preliminary survey were used to identify guest requirements. Structured questionnaire survey was used to collect data and Analytic Hierarchy Process tool was applied to analyse and prioritise guest requirements. According to the survey findings, 'location' is the most important guest requirement followed by 'room facilities', 'entertainment and recreational facilities' and 'appearance '. Survey further identified, 'Value added facilities' and 'building services and supplementary facilities' as least important guest requirements in jive-star hotels in Sri Lanka. The aforementioned jindings of this study can be used to improve the hotel building facilities in order to achieve guest satisfaction.
item: Conference-Abstract
Evolution of building performance evaluation techniques : synthesizing current knowledge towards a future research agenda
(2016-09-21) Konara, KMGK; Sandanayake, YG
Buildings provide infrastructure and logistical support for core business functions and present comfortable and stable internal environment to the occupants. Buildings, however, are not static over time; they change, evolve and often adapt in response both to external and internal factors. This dynamic nature has profound impact on building performance. Building performance plays a major role in articulating the expectations of building designers, owners, occupants and operators. Traditionally, cost centered performance evaluation criteria have been used by the building professionals in understanding how well a building is satisfying its users or functional requirements. The improved match between expectations and fulfillment is considered as an important target for the building in providing better value for the customer. However, advancements in expectations, standards and requirements of building occupiers and owners for cost effective and value added facilities have led the global industries towards the emergence of the concept of Building Performance Evaluation (BPE). This paper critically reviews the literature on the evolution of BPE frameworks and techniques since 1960s and presents current developments in systematic building performance evaluation. The paper concludes by highlighting the dearth of multidimensional framework and a holistic approach for BPE and provides recommendations for future research aimed at developing a more integrated BPE research agenda. This paper will be valuable to scholars working in BPE, who wish to understand how the field has been developed as well as those who are interested in avenues for future research.
item: Conference-Abstract
Framework for multidimensional evaluation of building performance
(2016-09-21) Konara, KMGK; Sandanayake, YG; Oduoza, CF
Buildings Performance Evaluation (BPE) plays a major role in determining the level of satisfaction of building designers, owners, occupants and operators. The improved match between expectations and fulfillment is considered as important target for the building to become more client driven, to provide better value for the customer. The traditional view of performance measurement heavily relied on financial and accounting data of a building, which highlighted a cost centered building performance bench-marking. Previous researchers have developed BPE frameworks in the healthcare and educational sectors in order to present an overview of total" performance of the buildings. Among the BPE frameworks developed, the application of Post Occupancy Evaluation (FOE) has been justified throughout the industry as a successful technique reflecting good practice. While most organizations across the world accept benefits of evaluating performance of the buildings, there is no generic framework established with relevant Building Performance Indicators (BPI) to conduct BPE in a structured and systematic manner. The lack of a generic framework for BPE has led organizations to conduct BPE in their chosen customized ways and thereby prevent gaining optimum benefits. The aim of this study therefore, is to present a generic and multidimensional framework for evaluation of Building Performance (BP). Structured interviews with industry practitioners were used to identify BPE criteria and BPIs. The findings were useful in developing a conceptual model and ultimately the generic and multidimensional BPE framework. Results obtained from the survey so far showed that, 'internal environment comfort 'followed by 'health, safety and security' are the most important criteria among the seven BPE criteria studied Overall, survey findings revealed 'visual comfort' followed by 'indoor environmental quality' as the most critical key BPIs and 'non-toxic pest control' as the least important indicator. This generic framework therefore can be used in bench marking as well as fine-tuning the - performance of facilities available in both existing and future buildings.
item: Conference-Abstract
Multidimensional framework for procurement selection criteria for warehouse management in Sri Lanka
Konara, KMGK; De Zoysa, TS; Rajini, PAD; Vijerathne, MGTD
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. In order to retain the effectiveness and efficiency of a Supply Chain (SC), each segment or the link of the SC require to perform their portion, effectively and efficiently. Modern organisations are in a process of creating innovative concepts and practices in order to obtain the competitive edge among the competitors. Warehouse Management (WM) is one such concept that has been introduced to improve the performance of SC. It plays a major role as the most commonly procured business function over the years, whereas world class companies has identified it as an enabler for improving logistics. However irrespective of the worldwide revolutionary achievements gained by SC and WM, procurement of WM within the Sri Lankan context is still lagging behind. Therefore this research is mainly intended to develop framework which enable evaluating procurement options of WM within the Sri Lankan context. To achieve the aforementioned aim literature survey and questionnaires survey were used as main data collection tools while Relative Importance Index (RII) method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) multi-criterion decision making tool were used to analyse data. The scope of the framework extends to both micro and macro environments of the related industry. Thus it comprises the criteria of economic, geographical, technological, quality related, service level, legal and social environment. The findings revealed that there are mainly three procurement methods presence in Sri Lankan WM industry namely in house option, outsource option and semi outsource option out of which outsourcing been the widely accepted method. Economic and geographical criteria became the mainly considered criteria when selecting a WM. the developed framework can be used as a guideline for decision making when procuring WM services for an orgnisation within the Sri Lankan context.
item: Conference-Abstract
A Study of patient’s requirements on hospital building facilities
(2016-09-21) Sandanayake, YG; Sayani, V; Konara, KMGK
In this era of globalization and fierce competition amongst businesses, customer expectations and perception of facilities of health care buildings have created challenges and significant pressures on healthcare industry. High quality built environment is recognized as an integral part of the patients' satisfaction. Many researchers have studied about patient's satisfaction focusing especially on services provided by the healthcare sector. Moreover, few researchers have suggested that recognition of patient's requirements as a first step in developing a right strategy to maximize their satisfaction. However, patient's requirements and preferences of facilities in hospital buildings have not been identified and evaluated in order to achieve their satisfaction, particularly in Sri Lankan context. The aim of this study is therefore to identify and evaluated in order to requirements related to hospital building facilities in Sri Lankan healthcare sector. Research methodology was comprised 'With literature review, preliminary survey and structured interviews with in-patients and healthcare sector practitioners to identify patient's facility requirements and indicators of hospital buildings. Data collection was limited to in-patient's facility requirements of private sector hospitals located in Colombo in Sri Lanka. Multi-criteria decision making method, which is Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) tool was applied to analyze and priorities patient's requirements and facility indicators under each patient's requirements. According to the survey findings, 'Patient's Room Facility' is the most important patient's requirement followed by 'Security and Safety', 'Indoor Environmental Quality " 'Visual Comfort', 'Internal Accessibility' and 'External Accessibility '. Survey further identified, 'Space Utility' as the least important patient's requirements of hospital buildings in Sri Lanka. "Prioritized. Patient's Facility Requirement Model" developed-in this study can be used as a guideline in planning, decision making and resource allocation in improving the hospital facilities in order to achieve patient's satisfaction in future.
item: Conference-Full-text
Sustainability evaluation framework for energy power plants in Sri Lanka
(2012-06) Sandanayake, YG; Konara, KMGK; Wijesooriya, SD; ; Senaratne, S; Sandanayake, YG
Energy is essential for economic and social development of a country. Ever increasing energy demand forces public and private sector to install energy power plants without giving much attention to the sustainable issues. Existing power plants evaluation mechanisms were limited to few factors such as energy efficiency, economic aspects and quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a multidimensional framework to evaluate sustainability of energy power plants in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive literature review and a preliminary survey were carried out to identify sustainability criteria and indicators. The study identified eight sustainability criteria and 37 indicators. Eight criteria include economic aspects, technological aspects, air quality, water quality, waste management, health, safety and social issues, energy resource, and land, forest and wildlife issues. Structured interviews with industry practitioners were used to prioritise the criterion and indicators. Data was analysed using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) tool and the findings were used to develop a multidimensional framework to evaluate sustainability of energy power plants in Sri Lanka. Results obtained from the survey showed that, ‘economic aspects’ followed by ‘technological aspects’ and ‘air quality’ are the most important criteria and ‘land, forest and wildlife issues’ is the least important criteria among the eight sustainability criteria studied. Survey findings further revealed ‘availability of renewable energy resources’ followed by ‘plant process efficiency’ as the most critical sustainability indicators among the 37 indicators. This multidimensional framework can be used to evaluate the sustainability of energy power plants and also in the approval granting process for the power plant projects in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Abstract
Sustainability evaluation framework for energy power plants in Sri Lanka
(2016-09-21) Wijesooriya, SD; Sandanayake, YG; Konara, KMGK
Energy is essential for economic and social development of a country. Ever increasing energy demand forces public and private sector to install energy power plants without giving much attention to the sustainable issues. Existing power plants evaluation mechanisms were limited to few factors such as energy efficiency, economic aspects and quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a multidimensional framework to evaluate sustainability of energy power plants in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive literature review and a preliminary survey were carried out to identify sustainability criteria and indicators. The study identified eight sustainability criteria and 37 indicators. Eight criteria include economic aspects, technological aspects, air quality, water quality, waste management, health, safety and social issues, energy resource, and land, forest and wildlife issues. Structured interviews with industry practitioners were used to priorities the criterion and indicators. Data was analyzed using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) tool and the findings were used to develop a multidimensional framework to evaluate sustainability of energy power plants in Sri Lanka. Results obtained from the survey showed that, ‘economic aspects’ followed by ‘technological aspects’ and ‘air quality’ are the most important criteria and ‘land, forest and wildlife issues’ is the least important criteria among the eight sustainability criteria studied. Survey findings further revealed ‘availability of renewable energy resources’ followed by ‘plant process efficiency’ as the most critical sustainability indicators among the 37 indicators. This multidimensional framework can be used to evaluate the sustainability of energy power plants and also in the approval granting process for the power plant projects in Sri Lanka.