bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of COVID-19 on UK higher education students: experiences, observations and suggestions for the way forward
Authors: Khan Muzammal Ahmad
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the experiences of UK higher education students and the impact that emergency-imposed changes had on their learning, teaching and assessment (LTA) during the lockdown. It reflects on the views of students on how these changes impacted their education and personal circumstances. It makes suggestions, based on student observations, on how educators might support students’ LTA learning experiences more effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses an anonymous online questionnaire, imposed by lockdown and closure of universities, to gather the views of HE students across the UK on how COVID-19 and lockdown affected their education and personal circumstances. Using a cross-sectional study, participants were asked to complete several questions, providing quantitative and qualitative data which is analysed for the study. A total of 349 participants took part in the questionnaire and data were analysed descriptively.

Findings

Key findings suggest that the use of online virtual classrooms as a substitute for traditional face-to-face LTA has its positives and its negatives. The most significant positives are the “flexible assessments” and “digital content” and, in contrast, one of the significant drawbacks is the lack of interactions, this being true for both male and female students. However, as compared to females, males found to be missing “the campus life” more during the lockdown. Finally, the majority of student felt that there was a lack of support from the university and teaching staff during the lockdown. Universities’ governance must take control of how this issue is driven forward and learn from the experience of students.

Originality/value

The study makes three contributions: firstly, using students’ views to open a fresh debate on LTA approaches during the pandemic; secondly, examining the impact on student experiences due to the changes introduced because of lockdown; and finally, suggesting strategies to be implemented by HE management based on the opinions of participating students.
Workplace happiness as a trinomial of organizational climate, academic satisfaction and organizational engagement
Authors: Ravina-Ripoll Rafael , Romero-Rodríguez Luis M. , Ahumada-Tello Eduardo
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The present research aims to study the correlations among organizational climate, academic satisfaction and organizational commitment as factors that influence happiness at work by applying a structural equation model to Spanish National Police cadets.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive, quantitative, correlational, exploratory and cross-sectional empirical study was carried out. A measurement instrument was applied to a target population of 397 student-inspectors enrolled for the 2018–2020 academic year on the executive scale at the National Police School (EPN) in Spain. A sample of 190 surveys was obtained, of which 33 were open competition, 52 were competitive examinations and 105 were selective seniority.

Findings

Structural equation modeling shows that academic satisfaction, organizational climate and practical organizational commitment are recommended variables for assessing happiness within organizations. On the other hand, there is a bit of a positive relationship between happiness and practical organizational commitment. The same is not true for the parameters of academic satisfaction and organizational climate.

Originality/value

This study fills a gap in the literature on the analysis of governance models in public administration. This is particularly relevant in professions that require a high degree of engagement with citizens, such as police officers. According to the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first works to analyze corporate governance in police cadet schools in Spain under the happiness management approach. It contributes by offering a better understanding of the psychosocial variables that affect the existence of good governance.
A Hausdorff fractal Nizhnik-Novikov-Veselov model arising in the incompressible fluid
Authors: Khan Yasir
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Nizhnik–Novikov–Veselov system (NNVS) is a well-known isotropic extension of the Lax (1 + 1) dimensional Korteweg-deVries equation that is also used as a paradigm for an incompressible fluid. The purpose of this paper is to present a fractal model of the NNVS based on the Hausdorff fractal derivative fundamental concept.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-scale transformation is used to convert the proposed fractal model into regular NNVS. The variational strategy of well-known Chinese scientist Prof. Ji Huan He is used to generate bright and exponential soliton solutions for the proposed fractal system.

Findings

The NNV fractal model and its variational principle are introduced in this paper. Solitons are created with a variety of restriction interactions that must all be applied equally. Finally, the three-dimensional diagrams are displayed using an appropriate range of physical parameters. The results of the solitary solutions demonstrated that the suggested method is very accurate and effective. The proposed methodology is extremely useful and nearly preferable for use in such problems.

Practical implications

The research study of the soliton theory has already played a pioneering role in modern nonlinear science. It is widely used in many natural sciences, including communication, biology, chemistry and mathematics, as well as almost all branches of physics, including nonlinear optics, plasma physics, fluid dynamics, condensed matter physics and field theory, among others. As a result, while constructing possible soliton solutions to a nonlinear NNV model arising from the field of an incompressible fluid is a popular topic, solving nonlinear fluid mechanics problems is significantly more difficult than solving linear ones.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time in the literature, this study presents Prof. Ji Huan He's variational algorithm for finding and studying solitary solutions of the fractal NNV model. The reported solutions are novel and present a valuable addition to the literature in soliton theory.
A recipe for sustainable development: assessing transition of commercial foodservices towards the goal of the triple bottom line sustainability
Authors: Bui Hien Thu , Filimonau Viachaslau
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to critically evaluate the factual triple bottom line (TBL) sustainability performance of commercial foodservices as featured in peer-reviewed academic publications.

Design/methodology/approach

The commercial foodservices’ sustainability performance-related articles were collected for a systematic review. An inductive thematic analysis was applied to the eligible articles.

Findings

The contribution of the commercial foodservice sector to the TBL sustainability is highlighted through eight themes: food waste management; food safety and hygiene; food allergy management; provision of healthy meals; local food use; employment of the disadvantaged; well-being of (non)managerial personnel; and noise level management.

Originality/value

The critical evaluation of the actual TBL sustainability measures adopted by commercial foodservice providers highlights the feasibility of the measures, thus calling for their broader industry uptake. Research gaps and issues for future investigations are accentuated for scholars to support the industry in its progress towards the goals of the TBL sustainability.
“Find a flight for me, Oscar!” Motivational customer experiences with chatbots
Authors: Jiménez-Barreto Jano , Rubio Natalia , Molinillo Sebastian
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Drawing on the self-determination theory, the assemblage theory and customer experience literature, this paper aims to develop a framework to understand motivational customer experiences with chatbots.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a multimethod approach to examine the interaction between individuals and airlines’ chatbots. Three components of self-determined interaction with the chatbot (competence, autonomy and relatedness) and five components of the customer–chatbot experience (sensory, intellectual, affective, behavioral and social) are analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively.

Findings

The findings confirm the direct influence of self-determined interaction on customer experience and the direct effects of these two constructs on participants’ attitudes toward and satisfaction with the chatbot. The model also supports the mediating roles of customer experience and attitude toward the chatbot.

Practical implications

This paper offers managers a broad understanding of individuals’ interactions with chatbots through three elements: motivation to use chatbots, experiential responses and individuals’ valuation of whether the interactions have amplified (or limited) the outcomes obtained from the experience.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the hospitality and tourism literature with a hybrid approach that reflects on current theoretical developments regarding human- and interaction-centric interpretations of customer experience with chatbots.
Are export earnings from India’s bilateral intra-industry trade with the US and China robust enough?
Authors: Bagchi Sagnik , Bhattacharyya Surajit
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore whether India’s export basket in the bilateral intra-industry trade (IIT) with two of its top trading partners characterize robust export earnings or not. This is pertinent for two reasons. First, India has a persistent problem of current account deficit for over decades now. Second, whether India’s export diversification strategy by participating in global value chains to improve export share in the world market led to the problem of the fallacy of composition.

Design/methodology/approach

This study considers bilateral trade data between India-USA and India-China at the HS-6 digit level over the period 1990–2018. The magnitude of total IIT is computed using the Grubel and Lloyd (1971) index. This paper then uses the unit value dispersion criterion to disentangle the magnitude of total IIT into horizontal and vertical IIT. Through a stepwise econometric exercise, this paper explores the attributes of exported goods in the IIT basket in terms of the directions of ToT, export share and export-price elasticity.

Findings

Across the two country pairs, the major contributors to the upsurge in IIT are five manufacturing industry groups of chemical, plastics and rubber, textiles, base metals and machinery and mechanical appliances. Across the industry groups, the dominant form of IIT has been low vertical IIT. Most of the industry groups do not characterize robust export earnings as the commodity groups have an elastic demand and an increasing trend of Terms of Trade (ToT). The exceptions are the industry groups of chemicals and textiles in India-China and India-USA, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The concern of slim export earnings in most industry groups offers scepticism in maintaining the sustainability of the current account. The problem of the fallacy of composition also cannot be ruled out given the dominance of low vertical IIT. This study argues that these industry groups need to engage in labour market reforms and require access to easy credit to achieve competitiveness in the world market.

Originality/value

The analysis performed in this paper attempts to integrate the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis in the context of IIT. Empirical evidence to such an issue is not profound.
How big data analytics can help manufacturing companies strengthen supply chain resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bag Surajit , Dhamija Pavitra , Luthra Sunil , Huisingh Donald
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In this paper, the authors emphasize that COVID-19 pandemic is a serious pandemic as it continues to cause deaths and long-term health effects, followed by the most prolonged crisis in the 21st century and has disrupted supply chains globally. This study questions “can technological inputs such as big data analytics help to restore strength and resilience to supply chains post COVID-19 pandemic?”; toward which authors identified risks associated with purchasing and supply chain management by using a hypothetical model to achieve supply chain resilience through big data analytics.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypothetical model is tested by using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique on the primary data collected from the manufacturing industries.

Findings

It is found that big data analytics tools can be used to help to restore and to increase resilience to supply chains. Internal risk management capabilities were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic that increased the company's external risk management capabilities.

Practical implications

The findings provide valuable insights in ways to achieve improved competitive advantage and to build internal and external capabilities and competencies for developing more resilient and viable supply chains.

Originality/value

To the best of authors' knowledge, the model is unique and this work advances literature on supply chain resilience.
Green intellectual capital, green HRM and green social identity toward sustainable environment: a new integrated framework for Islamic banks
Authors: Ali Muhammad , Puah Chin-Hong , Ali Anum , Raza Syed Ali , Ayob Norazirah
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The role of green human resource management in Islamic banking remains relatively unexplored. This study focuses on how green human resource management plays a part using intellectual capital and how green human resource improves employee commitment, eco-friendly behavior and environmental performance in Islamic banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper integrated two well-established theoretical frameworks, namely, intellectual capital-based view theory and social identity theory. A survey-based research instrument was employed to collect sample data of 231 respondents. To test hypotheses, we considered partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)-based approach using SmartPLS.

Findings

The results indicate that green human capital, green structural capital and green relational capital significantly influenced green human resource management. Similarly, green human resource management showed a significant positive impact on employee commitment, eco-friendly behavior and environmental performance. Moreover, this study found significant positive results on the interrelationship between employee commitment, eco-friendly behavior and environmental performance. The outcomes recommend that Islamic bank HR managers and top management should strengthen green human resource management policies. Additionally, the Islamic bank HR department should consider bank intellectual capital and employee social identity while making environment-friendly policies.

Originality/value

This study provides novel contributions by offering some useful guidelines to Islamic bank managers and practitioners. In addition, our research aids general green human resource literature and adds value to promoting a sustainable organization.
Looking for meanings at work: unraveling the implications of smart working on organizational meaningfulness
Authors: Palumbo Rocco , Flamini Giulia , Gnan Luca , Pellegrini Massimiliano Matteo
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to shed light on the ambiguous effects of smart working (SW) on work meaningfulness. On the one hand, SW enables people to benefit from greater work flexibility, advancing individual control over organizational activities. On the other hand, it may impair interpersonal exchanges at work, disrupting job meaningfulness. Hence, the implications of SW on work meaningfulness are investigated through the mediating role of interpersonal exchanges at work.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors investigate both the direct and indirect effects of SW on employees’ perceived meaningfulness at work. Secondary data come from the sixth European Working Conditions Survey. The study encompasses a sample of 30,932 employees. A mediation model based on ordinary least square regressions and bootstrap sampling is designed to obtain evidence of SW’s implications on meaningfulness at work through the mediating role of interpersonal relationships (IR).

Findings

The research findings suggest that SW triggers a positive sense of the significance of work. However, it negatively affects IR with peers and supervisors, entailing professional and spatial isolation. Impaired IR twists the positive implications of SW on organizational meaningfulness (OM), curtailing the employees’ sense of significance at work.

Practical implications

SW is a double-edged sword. It contributes to the enrichment of OM, enhancing the individual self-determination to shape the spatial context of work. However, its side effects on interpersonal exchanges generate a drift toward organizational meaninglessness. Tailored management interventions intended to sustain IR at work are needed to fit the design of SW arrangements to the employees’ evolving social needs.

Originality/value

The paper pushes forward what is currently known about the implications of SW on OM, examining them through the mediating role of IR at work.
Foreign subsidiaries’ relational strategic emphasis and performance implications amid environmental turbulence
Authors: Thoumrungroje Amonrat , Racela Olimpia C. , Zhang Man
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Grounded in strategic choice and resource-based views, this study aims to investigate the antecedents and consequences of relational strategic emphasis of foreign subsidiaries operating in Thailand. Four types of relational strategies were identified with associated differential performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected via self-administered surveys from a diverse sample of 168 foreign subsidiaries were analyzed in two stages. First, multinomial logistic regression was used to test whether resource-bridging capability, nonmarket-based assets and market-based assets were significant predictors of relational strategy type. Then, multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine whether the four relational strategy types differed in their strategic performance and financial performance.

Findings

The three resource-based motives are significant predictors of relational strategy. Firms adopting the “dual-relational” strategy tend to have the highest level of resource-bridging capability and nonmarket-based assets while firms pursuing the “business-oriented” strategy are likely to possess a higher level of market-based assets. Extensive reliance on relational ties enables foreign subsidiaries to achieve a much higher level of strategic and financial performance than those that chose to only rely on transactional or contractual relations.

Practical implications

Foreign subsidiaries operating in emerging markets characterized by an unstable market environment have to establish good relationships with buyers, suppliers and distributors, as well as government agents.

Originality/value

Using a juxtaposition of political and business ties, a typology of the relational strategy was conceptualized. This study extends non-market strategy research by investigating the relationship between resource and capability in the choice of relational strategy. Diverse degrees of political and business ties show different impacts on strategic and financial performances.
Organized crime, corruption and the challenges of economic growth in the economic community of West African states
Authors: Mohammed Mallam Isgogo , Hossein Abbsinejad , Nwokolo Chukwudi C.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine organized crime, corruption and their challenges to the economic growth of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Organized crime and corruption can have a grossly negative impact on the economic growth process of every system, but the extent of damage they have needs to be measured to determine the policy implications to the region.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the fixed effects model and the feasible generalized least square known also as the random-effects model with the pooled ordinary least square as a control on the defined objectives using secondary time series data that covers the period 2000 to 2019 for 11 countries in the ECOWAS region. The panel nature of the data set provides a rich degree of freedom with 220 (20 years for 11 countries – 20*11 = 220) observations.

Findings

Results show among others that organized crime does not have a significant impact on economic growth, whereas corruption significantly reduces economic growth.

Research limitations/implications

Unavailability of data affected the scope of the study in the areas of a number of countries selected and years chosen for the study. The implication is that it would have given the study better degrees of freedom.

Practical implications

The practical implication of this study has exposed corruption hinders economic growth in West Africa.

Social implications

The social implication of the study is that it has exposed that though the organized crime was a bad phenomenon it does not retard economic growth significantly in West Africa.

Originality/value

This study is original and of immense importance as its the first study to focus on organized crime and corruption’s influence on economic growth among West African states.
The influence of outsourcing activities on the perception of service quality. An empirical study based on online reviews by hotel customers
Authors: Espino-Rodríguez Tomás F. , Rodríguez-Díaz Manuel
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of the outsourcing of hotel departments on service quality measured through online customer reviews.

Design/methodology/approach

Three models were developed, considering three important online tourism reputation websites, to establish the relationship between the outsourcing of hotel activities and service quality.

Findings

The results show that in the three databases, hotel outsourcing has a negative influence on online reputation. A higher level of outsourcing reduces service quality, the percentage of recommendations and the value perceived by customers who carry out online reviews of these hotels. In addition, different models were established for each type of department.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper presents the first empirical study to analyse the relationship between the impact of process outsourcing and customers’ online reviews. It is also the first empirical research to consider the relationship between outsourcing and ratings by hotel end-customers as a performance measure.
Dynamic diversification benefits of Sukuk and conventional bonds for the financial performance of MENA region companies: empirical evidence from COVID-19 pandemic period
Authors: Ghaemi Asl Mahdi , Rashidi Muhammad Mahdi
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the spillover between the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) stock index and several security indices, including Sukuk and conventional bond, and ultimately compare the hedge effectiveness of Sukuk and conventional bond.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses VAR (1)-asymmetric Baba, Engle, Kraft and Kroner-multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (1,1) model to analyze the volatility and shock and asymmetric shock spillover between Sukuk index and several bond indices in the MENA region including, Bond, All Bond, High Yield Bond and Bond and Sukuk and MENA stock market index and ultimately compare the hedging capabilities of Sukuk and conventional bonds by calculating the optimal portfolio weights for securities indices and stock portfolios and hedge effectiveness of security indices.

Findings

Results indicate that there is no shock, volatility and asymmetric shock spillover between the Sukuk index and MENA stock index, implying that Sukuk indices behave independently from MENA stock indices; however, there is shock and asymmetric shock spillover between MENA stock indices and security indices that include conventional bonds. The result of optimal portfolio weights and corresponding hedge effectiveness indicate that Sukuk is the most significant asset among other security indices in diversifying and hedging stock MENA portfolios. Moreover, the hedge effectiveness of Sukuk shows persistent trends during both the normal and crisis periods.

Practical implications

The study suggests that MENA stock market investors and investment managers should add Sukuk instead of the conventional bond to their portfolio to hedge their portfolio against investment risks during both normal and crisis periods.

Originality/value

Although many studies compare many aspects of Sukuk and conventional bonds, this is the first study that compares the hedge effectiveness of Sukuk and conventional bond based on the time-varying optimal portfolio weights strategy.
The impact of COVID-19 on Islamic banks in Bangladesh: a perspective of Marxian “circuit of merchant’s capital”
Authors: Miah Mohammad Dulal , Suzuki Yasushi , Uddin S. M. Sohrab
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the probable impact of COVID-19 on the Islamic banking system in Bangladesh. More specifically, it attempts to test the hypothesis that Islamic banks are exposed to increased risk because of their role as a provider of “merchant capital” including financing for trade, commerce and working capital, which are believed to be severely disrupted by the COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws upon the Marxian tradition on the identification of the circuit of “merchant capital” separated from the circuit of “interest-bearing capital.” Moreover, the research adopts the balance sheet approach to trace the sectoral distribution of investment as well as sources of income of Islamic banks.

Findings

The research supports the hypothesis that the investment pattern of Islamic banks is skewed toward the trade and merchant’s financing. More than two-third of Islamic banks’ investment, and income thereof, is concentrated on working capital and trade finance. As these sectors are largely vulnerable to the economic shock resulting from COVID-19, Islamic banks in Bangladesh are likely to be affected through this channel.

Research limitations/implications

The research focuses only on Islamic banks in Bangladesh. Further study can assess the impact of COVID-19 on conventional and Islamic banks in other countries to find similarities and differences with the findings of the current research.

Practical implications

The finding of this research will be useful for bank managers, policymakers and users of financial services. In particular, this study provides important information useful for regulators in devising appropriate policies which aim to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that attempts to examine the impact of COVID-19 on Islamic banking system in Bangladesh, a country where Islamic banks occupy one-third of the total banking system’s assets.
Motivational, emotional and memorable dimensions of non-Muslim tourists’ halal food experiences
Authors: Sthapit Erose , Björk Peter , Piramanayagam Senthilkumaran
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore non-Muslim tourists’ general halal food preferences, motivations for tasting halal food during their recent trips, positive and negative emotions and memorable dimensions associated with their recent halal food experiences after returning from holiday.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using the authors’ personal networks and Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) using a questionnaire. An email containing a link to the questionnaire was sent to the authors’ personal networks and posted on MTurk in January 2021.

Findings

Of the 311 non-Muslim respondents, more than half considered themselves as food neophiliacs and considered halal food experiences as imperative whilst travelling. However, tasting halal food was not a major travel motivation. Novelty and taste were the two main motivations for tasting halal food whilst at a tourism destination. Emotions elicited by halal food experiences focussed on “joy” and “love”. The proposed conceptual framework for memorable halal food experiences comprises several dimensions: taste, spending time with family and friends, novelty, quality and safety, hospitality, ambience (setting/servicescape) and experiencing others’ culture through food.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to explore non-Muslim tourists’ motives, emotions and memorable dimensions of halal food experiences.
Innovative performance of project teams: the role of organizational structure and knowledge-based dynamic capability
Authors: Gonzalez Rodrigo Valio Dominguez
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between knowledge-based dynamic capability and organizational structure on team innovative performance in Brazilian industrial companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on data from a survey of 262 respondents from 65 companies in the Brazilian industrial sector with project teams and followed the partial least squares approach to model the structural equation that was used for data analysis.

Findings

The results of the study show that mechanical structures with a high degree of formalization and centralization have a negative impact on knowledge-based dynamic capability and integration has a positive relationship with dynamic capability. Moreover, the research shows that project team innovative performance is directly affected by knowledge generation and combination capability; however, knowledge acquisition/absorption does not interfere with project team innovative activity.

Practical implications

This study contributes to the managers of firms in the industrial sector by analyzing how the characteristics of organizational structure impact dynamic capability and project team innovative performance. The results of this study indicate that more mechanical structures have more difficulty in developing knowledge-based dynamic capability in the context of project teams.

Originality/value

This study advances the concept of knowledge-based dynamic capability from the firm level to the project team level. This study accesses a research gap that characterizes organizational structure as an antecedent of dynamic capability, analyzing the impact of organizational structure on the dimensions of dynamic capability and of the latter on project team innovative performance.
A systematic review of the literature on supply chain agility
Authors: Patel Bharat Singh , Sambasivan Murali
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to critically examine the scholarly articles associated with the diverse aspects of supply chain agility (SCA). The review highlights research insights, existing gaps and future research directions that can help academicians and practitioners gain a comprehensive understanding of SCA.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study has adopted author co-citation analysis as the research methodology, with a view to thoroughly investigating the good-quality articles related to SCA that have been published over a period of 22 years (1999-2020). In this study, 126 research papers on SCA – featuring diverse aspects of agility – from various reputed journals have been examined, analysed and assimilated.

Findings

The salient findings of this research are, namely, agility is different from other similar concepts, such as flexibility, leanness, adaptability and resilience; of the 13 dimensions of agility discussed in the literature, the prominent ones are quickness, responsiveness, competency and flexibility; literature related to SCA can be categorised as related to modelling the enablers, agility assessment, agility implementation, leagility and agility maximisation. This research proposes a more practical definition and framework for SCA. The probable areas for future research are, namely, impediments to agility, effective approaches to agility assessment, cost-benefit trade-offs to be considered whilst implementing agility, empirical research to validate the framework and SCA in the domain of healthcare and disaster relief supply chains.

Practical implications

This paper provides substantial insights to practitioners who primarily focus on measuring and implementing agility in the supply chain. The findings of this study will help the supply chain manager gain a better idea about how to become competitive in today’s dynamic and turbulent business environment.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is in: comprehensively identifying the various issues related to SCA, such as related concepts, definitions, dimensions and different categories of studies covered in literature, proposing a new definition and framework for SCA and identifying potential areas for future research, to provide deeper insights into the subject and highlight areas for future research.
Is “character” the link between organizational learning and learning organization? An interview with Mary M. Crossan
Authors: Mishra Bijaya , Reddy Jagan Mohan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an overview of the Organization Learning and Learning Organization concepts obtaining the perspectives of Professor Mary M. Crossan and presents an evolution of her immense contribution to the field over the past two decades.

Design/methodology/approach

A conversation with thought-leader, Professor Mary M. Crossan.

Findings

How different “character configurations” and “processes” enhance organization learning across levels in the organization.

Originality/value

The discussion with Professor Mary M. Crossan reveals her take on the evolution of the organizational learning framework and the significant role of the “Leader’s Character” in shaping organizational learning. Exploring this evolution provides the context and impetus to researchers and practice leaders to verify.
Multi-constraints based predictive current control of simplified neutral point clamped inverter
Authors: Tariquzzaman Md , Habibullah Md , Podder Amit Kumer
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Maintaining a balanced neutral point, reducing power loss, execution time are important criteria for the controlling of neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter. However, it is tough to meet all the challenges and also supplying the load current within the harmonic limit. This paper aims to maintain load current quality within the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 519 standard and meet the above-mentioned challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

The output load current of a three-level simplified neutral point clamped (3 L-SNPC) inverter is controlled in this paper using model predictive control (MPC). The 3 L-SNPC inverters is considered because fewer semiconductor devices are used in this topology; this will enhance the reliability of the system. MPC is used as a controller because it can handle the direct current-link capacitors’ voltage balancing problem in a very intuitive way. The proposed 3 L-SNPC yields similar current total harmonic distortion (THD), transient and steady-state responses, voltage stress and over current protection capability as the conventional NPC inverter. To reduce the computational burden of the proposed SNPC system, two simplified MPC strategies are proposed, namely, single voltage vector prediction-based MPC and selective voltage vector prediction-based MPC.

Findings

The system shows a current THD of 2.33% at 8.96 kHz. The overall loss of the system is reduced significantly to be useful in medium power applications. The required execution times for the simplified MPC strategies are tested on the hardware dSPACE 1104 platform. It is found that the single voltage vector prediction-based MPC and the selective voltage vector prediction-based MPC are computationally efficient by 8.28% and 62.9%, respectively, in comparison with the conventional MPC-based conventional NPC system.

Originality/value

Multiple system constraints are considered throughout the paper and also compare the SNPC to the conventional NPC inverter. Proper current tracking, over-current protection, overall power loss reduction especially switching loss and maintaining capacitor voltages balance at a neutral point are achieved. The improvement of execution time has also been verified and calculated using hardware-in-loop of the dSPACE DS1104 platform.
Natural gas consumption and economic performance in selected sub‐Saharan African countries: A heterogeneous panel ARDL analysis
Authors: Foye Victoria Oluwatoyin , Benjamin Oluwasegun Olawale
Published: August 2021

This study analyses the effect of natural gas consumption on economic performance in selected sub‐Saharan African countries between 1998 and 2017. The lag augmented vector autoregressive approach of Toda and Yamamoto to heterogeneous mixed panels illustrated in Emirmahmutoglu and Kose and the dynamic heterogeneous techniques are employed in data analysis. The study finds a significant long‐run relationship between the real gross domestic product and natural gas consumption. The study also reveals that natural gas consumption has a significant positive influence on economic performance in the short run. Furthermore, the results support the conservative hypothesis for the selected sub‐Saharan African countries. Therefore, it is reasonable for the selected sub‐Saharan African countries to formulate and promote cost‐effective and eco‐friendly energy and environmental policies that will enhance the use of natural gas without reducing economic performance in the long run.
Unprecedented Times, a Very Precedented Result: the 2021 Senedd Election
Authors: Awan‐Scully Roger
Published: August 2021

The sixth election to Senedd Cymru/the Welsh Parliament was held in May 2021. The context for the election was heavily shaped by the Covid‐19 emergency, which restricted election campaigning and dominated the political agenda prior to polling. The result saw the continuance of Labour's long‐term hegemony in Welsh politics; Labour benefitted from strong public ratings of the handling of Covid‐19 by the Welsh government and First Minister. However, apparent stability in devolved Welsh politics may be threatened by developments elsewhere in the UK, which could make the ‘devolutionist unionism’ of Welsh Labour more difficult to sustain.
Electrohydrodynamic drying: Can we scale‐up the technology to make dried fruits and vegetables more nutritious and appealing?
Authors: Onwude Daniel I. , Iranshahi Kamran , Martynenko Alex , Defraeye Thijs
Published: August 2021

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying is a promising technology to better preserve the nutritional content and sensory appeal of dried fruits and vegetables. To successfully scale up this technology, we need to rethink the current EHD dryer designs. There is also a significant potential to further enhance the nutritional content and sensory quality of the dried products by optimizing EHD process parameters. This study particularly highlights the current bottlenecks in scaling up the technology and improving nutrient retention and sensory appeal of the dried products. We discuss plausible future pathways to further develop the technology to produce highly nutritious dried products. Particular emphasis has been given to quantifying the residual nutritional and sensory properties of EHD dried products, and possible EHD dryer configurations for farmers and the industry. Concerning the nutritional content, EHD drying preserves vitamins, carotenes, and antioxidants significantly better than convective air drying. From the sensory perspective, EHD drying enhances the color of dried products, as well as their general appearance. With respect to scalability, placing the fruit on a grounded mesh electrode dries the fruit much faster and more uniformly than the grounded plate electrode. Future research should be directed toward simultaneous measurements of multiple food nutrients and sensory properties during EHD drying with a grounded mesh collector. Quantifying the impact of the food loading density on drying kinetics and energy consumption of the EHD drying process should also be a future research goal. Research comparing EHD drying with commercially available drying methods such as freeze‐drying, microwave‐drying, and infrared drying should also be carried out. This study gives promising insight toward developing a scalable novel thermal drying technology tailored to the requirements of the current and future society.
The association between hospital case‐volume and postoperative outcomes after esophageal cancer surgery: A population‐based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kim Bo Rim , Jang Eun Jin , Jo Junwoo , Lee Hannah , Jang Dong Yeon , Ryu Ho Geol
Published: August 2021

Background

Recent advances in esophageal cancer treatment require a reevaluation of the relationship between institutional case‐volume and patient outcome. The aim of this study was to analyze and update the association between surgical case‐volume and both in‐hospital and long‐term mortality after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Methods

Data of all adult patients who received esophageal cancer surgery in Korea between 2004 and 2017 were extracted from the database of the National Health Insurance Service. Hospitals were categorized into three groups according to the average annual number of esophageal cancer surgery: low‐volume (<12 cases/year), medium‐volume (12–48 cases/year), and high‐volume centers (>48 cases/year). Postoperative in‐hospital and 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year mortality were analyzed according to the categorized groups using logistic regression.

Results

In total, 11, 346 esophageal cancer surgeries in 122 hospitals were analyzed. In‐hospital mortality in the high‐, medium‐, and low‐volume centers were 3.4%, 6.4%, and 11.1%, respectively. In‐hospital mortality was significantly higher in low‐ volume (adjusted odds ratio, 3.91; confidence interval, 3.18–4.80; p < 0.001) and medium volume (adjusted odds ratio, 2.21; confidence interval, 1.80–2.74, p < 0.001) centers compared to high‐volume centers. Patients who received esophageal cancer surgery in a low‐or medium‐volume center also had higher 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year mortality compared to patients who received the surgery in a high‐volume center.

Conclusions

Centers with lower case‐volume showed higher in‐hospital mortality and long‐term mortality after esophageal cancer surgery.
Global burden of thyroid cancer and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Bao Wen‐Qi , Zi Hao , Yuan Qian‐Qian , Li Lu‐Yao , Deng Tong
Published: August 2021

Background

To investigate the burden of thyroid cancer and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories during 30 years.

Methods

We extracted data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database, including incidence, mortality, disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs), and the attributable risk factors of thyroid cancer from 1990 to 2019. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) were calculated to assess the changes in age‐standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age‐standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age‐standardized DALYs rate (ASDR). We also examined the associations between cancer burden and the sociodemographic index (SDI).

Results

The global new cases, death, and DALYs of thyroid cancer in 2019 were 233 847 (95% UI: 211 637–252 807), 45 576 (95% UI: 41 290‐48 775), and 1 231 841 (95% UI: 1 113 585–1 327 064), respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the ASIR of thyroid cancer showed an upward trend (EAPC = 1.25), but ASMR (EAPC = −0.15) and ASDR (EAPC = −0.14) decreased. The burden of thyroid cancer varied at regional and national levels, but the association between ASIR and SDI was positive. We found that the burden of thyroid cancer was mainly concentrated in females and that the age of onset tended to be younger. The proportion of DALYs from thyroid cancer attributable to high body‐mass index was higher in high SDI regions, especially in males.

Conclusions

The global incidence of thyroid cancer has continued to increase in the past three decades. The high body‐mass index as an important risk factor for thyroid cancer deserves greater attention, especially in high SDI regions.
Moving toward patient‐centered care in the emergency department: Patient‐reported expectations, definitions of success, and importance of improvement in pain‐related outcomes
Authors: Flynn Spencer B. , Gordee Alexander , Kuchibhatla Maragatha , George Steven Z. , Eucker Stephanie A.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Musculoskeletal pain is a common emergency department (ED) presentation, and patient‐centered care may improve quality of life, treatment satisfaction, and outcomes. Our objective was to investigate the expectations, definitions of success, and priorities of ED patients with musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of the demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics of adult ED patients (n = 210) with musculoskeletal pain. Patients completed the Patient‐Centered Outcomes Questionnaire to quantify usual, desired, expected, and successful levels of pain and interference with daily activities, fatigue, and emotion from 0 (none) to 100 (worst imaginable). They also reported the importance of improvement in each domain. Cluster analysis identified subgroups by importance ratings. Patients were asked their willingness to try various pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments. Fully completed surveys were analyzed (n = 174).

Results

Most patients desired 100% resolution in each domain and defined treatment success as substantial (median = 63.2%–76.5%) reductions but expected only moderate (median = 45%–53.7%) improvements across all domains. Patients with previous pain episodes had similar desired levels but less stringent definitions of success and expectations for improvement. Cluster analysis identified three patient subgroups by importance ratings of each domain: (1) multiple domains important (n = 118) with high importance attached to all four domains, (2) pain and function important (n = 34) with high importance primarily for pain and interference with daily activities, and (3) only pain important (n = 22). Regardless of subgroup, there was a high willingness to use a variety of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments.

Discussion

ED patients with musculoskeletal pain have expectations and goals that include addressing impairments in function, improving quality of life, and reducing pain.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that: (1) patient subgroups by outcome priorities may exist that could inform multimodal, personalized approaches from the ED and (2) patients are flexible in which treatments they are willing to try to meet their individual goals.