Eleni Sfakianaki

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• Doctor of Engineering
• Professor at Hellenic Open University

Purpose Acknowledging the importance of both lean thinking (LT) and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) for successful business performance and organisational success, the present study investigates the critical success factors (CSFs) for the concurrent implementation of both approaches, a field not yet significantly explored. Design/methodology/approach The stud...

Purpose This paper aims to identify the readiness factors (RFs) required for the deployment of lean initiatives within the context of higher education (HE), a field not yet significantly explored. Design/methodology/approach This research employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to thoroughly identify and consolidate all relevant scholarly li...

The integration of Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) within healthcare systems presents an opportunity to improve operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and the quality of patient care. This study examines healthcare professionals’ initial perceptions of GLSS adoption in their work environments, especially in the context of Industry 4.0, t...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate perceptions of primary education (PE) teachers with respect to evaluation within the framework of Total Quality Management (TQM) and their readiness to engage in the process of quality improvement. Within this context, a relevant measurement instrument is developed and empirically validated. Desi...

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the application of TQM in primary education (PE) by exploring teachers’ views and, more specifically, by examining the impact of their demographic data on their attitude towards TQM. A study was conducted among teachers in Greek public primary schools with the aim being to investigate their views on seven T...

Purpose Primary education (PE) forms the foundation of high-quality education systems, but it is often underestimated. This paper aims to develop and empirically validate a measurement instrument to study the current stage of total quality management (TQM) implementation in PE. Design/methodology/approach This study developed a seven-dimensional a...

This study investigates the quality of higher education institutes' (HEIs') administrative services by assessing student satisfaction in the context of Total Quality Management (TQM). Differences between students' perceptions and expectations of administrative service quality are examined and discussed. A questionnaire survey was developed employin...

Education is a valuable asset that contributes much to economic growth and social development. Due to the economic downturn of the last decade, education is under increased pressure to deliver quality, improve efficiency and reduce costs, while adhering to stakeholders’ expectations. Lean thinking (LT) is an approach that aims to improve processes...

Total quality management (TQM) in primary and secondary education (P&SE) is of fundamental importance to improving the quality of an educational system. Although the service sector has adapted and implemented TQM, there has been little evidence of its use in P&SE, despite the importance of this approach to higher education and the overall well-bein...

Environmental issues have attracted increasing attention over the last 40 years with environmental legislation gradually attracting more interest. The business sector has not remained unaffected by the enforcement of environmental legislation and policy. Small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are considered key players with an extremely influent...

In recent years, sustainability reports have been gradually adopted by businesses and organizations in order to enhance their preparedness, competitiveness, and ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The aim of this study was to assess the comprehensiveness of 44 Greek companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports published in 201...

Total Quality Management (TQM) practices are well established in higher education. However, their application in primary and secondary schools is less well established. This study aimed to critically review and discuss different applications of TQM in primary and secondary schools by presenting critical perspectives from the literature. The study a...

Total quality management (TQM) in primary and secondary education (P&SE) is of fundamental importance to improving the quality of an educational system. Although the service sector has adapted and implemented TQM, there has been little evidence of its use in P&SE, despite the importance of this approach to higher education and the overall well-bein...

Purpose Primary and secondary education (P&SE) is fundamentally important for achieving a high-quality education system. P&SE delivers more extensive social returns than higher education and is perhaps the most important locus where core values are established and the foundation for educational super-systems. The purpose of this paper is to develo...

This study investigates the quality of administrative services and student (customer) satisfaction—an important dimension of Total Quality Management (TQM)—provided in higher education institutions (HEI). A questionnaire survey, developed using the well-known service quality model SERVQUAL, was used to explore its five dimensions, namely, reliabili...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to respond to the increasing demands that education currently faces and develop a structured approach for the implementation of lean thinking (LT) in primary and secondary education (P&SE) and empirically validated it. Design/methodology/approach An extended literature review was conducted of studies on LT in...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the motives for obtaining an ISO 9000-certified quality management system in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and whether such motives differ between large companies and SMEs. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a qualitative approach, using multiple case studies. The primary res...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the association between ISO 9000 certification and business performance for small-to-medium enterprises in the Food & Beverage (F&B) industry. Design/methodology/approach The research employed a qualitative approach based on case studies to investigate in depth how companies perceive ISO 9001. More...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to synthesize and evaluate the available literature with respect to critical success factors (CSFs) for sustainable construction (SC). Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review (SLR) was undertaken to assist in the identification of the most pertinent papers from three publishers: Emerald,...

Several studies have analysed obstacles to ISO 9001 certification, however there remains a clear need for empirical research, particularly for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). This paper explores the obstacles to ISO 9001 certification for SMEs in the Greek food and beverage (F&B) industry. This study was done using a qualitative approach, appra...

This paper aims to investigate an important aspect of quality management in education-teacher leadership styles-as practiced by Greek secondary education teachers. A survey questionnaire was used based on a model developed by Giannias and Sfakianaki in 2016, which progresses the research originally undertaken by Blake and Mouton. A sample of 138 te...

This paper aims to investigate an important aspect of quality management in education - teacher leadership styles - as practiced by Greek secondary education teachers. A survey questionnaire was used based on a model developed by Giannias and Sfakianaki in 2016, which progresses the research originally undertaken by Blake and Mouton. A sample of 13...

The objective of this paper is to map the published literature with respect to the factors that are likely to influence distance learning implementation. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify relevant publications using as a source for the review the following three databases: Emerald, Elsevier (Science Direct), and Wiley....

This paper aims to present the selection process of school heads in primary and secondary education in Greece for the period of 2011–2015 with reference to the law (3848/2010). In interviews with heads, their opinions and suggestions for improving the system were recorded. Seventy-eight people from almost all the Greek regional directorates took pa...

The increasing demand to provide students-and learners in general-with an effective and motivating educational environment has increased the demand for quality management to deliver high-quality results and thereby meet the growing requirements of “customers”. The adoption of total quality management in education is a relatively recent manifestatio...

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the provision of environmental and social performance information have gained momentum over the past decade. In this respect, the practice of organisational accountability has expanded to include aspects of non-financial nature and issues that can enhance the transparency of business activiti...

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the provision of environmental and social performance information have gained momentum over the past decade. In this respect, the practice of organisational accountability has expanded to include aspects of non-financial nature and issues that can enhance the transparency of business activiti...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the topic of sustainable construction and provide an adequate discussion of the current thinking. Achieving a balance between economic, social and ecological aims is a challenge. Managing and implementing sustainability requires the commitment of all stakeholders and new ways of working, thinking an...

HOBA 2015 has brought together nearly 300 delegates from 25 countries. We thank them all for their contribution to a fruitful and unforgettable conference. All participants (authors, attendants, members of the Scientific Committee, and organizers) were exposed to many diverse business administration topics, projects and experiences in a multidiscip...

A large number of old and abandoned buildings are under restoration with a view to accommodate new functions, while some others have already been consolidated and reconstructed. The decision whether to interfere and to what extent to an existing building is a complex issue which should take into consideration the broad range of all sustainability c...

Construction is an important sector in promoting competitiveness and economic growth. It runs high risks and it is vulnerable to internal and external events. The construction industry in Greece has been severely hit by the financial crisis of recent years. Crisis management plans are therefore essential for minimising economic losses and for compa...

Outsourcing is a phenomenon originated in the 1950s, but it was not until the 1980s that was introduced and performed by organizations in various business sectors. Since then the outsourcing strategy is facing a continuous evolution that passed initially through its usage as a powerful tool in order to reduce costs, later on as a tool to provide ex...

Amenities are goods and services that make certain locations attractive for living and working. Quality of life on the other hand can be perceived as an expression of well-being and its importance is demonstrated by a number of publications that have been developed and rank quality of life across cities and states based on their observable characte...

This paper puts forward a theoretical framework for regional classifications and rankings based on the development of environmental indices. This framework can be used to classify European Union countries according to the extent to which they are influenced by supply-side (producer) and demand-side (consumer) responses to their specific bundle of e...

Do organizations certified under the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) effectively discharge their environmental accountability through their statements? Is the EMAS statement a step forward for the transparency of environmental management and the empowerment of organizational stakeholders' decision-making? Drawing from the Greek EMAS registry...

Purpose The aim of the present study is to contribute to the discussion introducing the concept of social capital as a significant parameter influencing students' perceptions concerning greening initiatives in HEIs. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical analysis is presented concerning the possible links of social capital components with stude...

University rankings have been based on a number of criteria, the most important of which is research output and quality. Although there is a lot of discussion on the controversy that surrounds all ranking methods, university evaluations are perhaps even more popular these days with the global economic recession. The present paper presents a methodo...

This article introduces a methodology for conducting feasibility studies for underground railways. The study addresses the factors that determine station location, the attributes that enhance rail use through passenger satisfaction. It incorporates the principles of CBA and financial analysis, presents the social impacts and their requirements for...

University rankings have a long history and have been based on a number of criteria, the most important of which is research output and quality. There is a lot of discussion on the controversy that surrounds all the methods developed and whether research should be the only factor to examine. The present paper presents a methodology for ranking univ...

Awareness of regional economic disparities has been long established. It is clear that regional disparities still play an important role in quality of life. Particularly in Europe and in the European Union, extensive research has been boosted on regional disparities and how they are influenced by the economic integration and the Economic Monetary U...

Different methodologies for the assessment of universities have been developed over the years using criteria such as research, teaching and social input, which have been an issue of controversy. University rankings have received a lot of criticism but are still very popular for a number of parties such as academics, students, parents, funders, empl...

The quantity of waste produced worldwide is constantly increasing. Management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is getting increased attention from local authorities and agencies at national and international level. It is estimated that the municipal solid waste (MSW) produced globally exceeded 2 billion tons per year at the turn of the millennium, al...

Placing a sanitary waste management landfill (SWML) has long been a controversial issue and often creates strong public reactions. It is clear that the spatial variability of components and impacts is inherently connected to the process of site selection. The present research initially aims to provide decision-makers with a spatial methodology for...

An analysis of consumer’s decision making indicates that the weights used for the regional variables considered and included in an index should not vary across regions. Given this, a regional index is computed for the 10 major regions of Greece assuming that all variables incorporated in it are equally weighted. Regional indices are then compared w...

Much attention has been given to land-use, urban environment and its associated development. Such development aims to find methods for assessing and evaluating its environmental impact that will consequently enable the concept of sustainability to expand. Effective planning and management requires data on current conditions and an ability to forese...

This paper describes a geographical information system (GIS)-based prediction and quantification framework for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of road schemes. The key feature of the framework is that it accounts for the spatial variability of environmental components and potential impacts. Spatial impact functions, embedded within a GIS,...