bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design, manufacture and construct procurement model for volumetric offsite manufacturing in the UK housing sector
Authors: Charlson Jennifer , Dimka Nenpin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to gain insight into procurement routes and forms of contract used for volumetric offsite manufacturing (VOSM) in the housing sector of the UK West Midlands. Seminal literature and government reports have established the potential of offsite technologies to improve the supply of quality housing in the UK. However, the lack of a structured procurement route, common to manufacturing approaches in construction, has significantly contributed to delays in large scale adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the research intention, an exploratory study was undertaken. A literature review of seminal literature and government papers was conducted to establish and benchmark current trends in context. Data was collected using focus groups and interviews with a housing association and housing VOSMs. Grounded theory was used to analyse data and inductively generate themes leading to an original procurement model. The issues identified in the delivery of volumetric housing were categorised into three themes.

Findings

The findings suggest a limited familiarity with offsite manufacturing (OSM) by housing providers. Albeit, a willingness to adopt these technologies to deliver housing were demonstrated by trial attempts. However, due to limited knowledge, the approach to procurement is by adapting existing procurement models, which are not ideal and obstruct the potential benefits of using offsite technologies primarily because of the significant difference in processes. Also, geographical location influenced procurement decisions when comparing cost with conventional procurement and the dearth of specific government incentives to deliver housing using offsite technologies. This study proposes a procurement model for VOSM.

Practical implications

The results have implications for decisions about procurement routes and contractual terms used by housing providers delivering volumetric offsite manufactured housing at scale. Although this study focussed on the West Midlands region, most of the issues identified were not geographically unique.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on potential barriers to the adoption of OSM in the housing sector of the UK. The findings will be of value to stakeholders involved in delivering housing and offers a useful contextual basis for future research.
Classification of electrocardiogram signal using an ensemble of deep learning models
Authors: Pandey Saroj Kumar , Janghel Rekh Ram
Published: February 2021

Purpose

According to the World Health Organization, arrhythmia is one of the primary causes of deaths across the globe. In order to reduce mortality rate, cardiovascular disease should be properly identified and the proper treatment for the same should be immediately provided to the patients. The objective of this paper was to implement a better heartbeat classification model which will work better than the other implemented heartbeat classification methods.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the ensemble of two deep learning models is proposed to classify the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database into four different classes according to ANSI-AAMI standards. First, a convolutional neural network (CNN) model is used to classify heartbeats on a raw data set. Secondly, four features (wavelets, R-R intervals, morphological and higher-order statistics) are extracted from the data set and then applied to a long short-term memory (LSTM) model to classify the heartbeats. Finally, the ensemble of CNN and LSTM model with sum rule, product rule and majority voting has been used to identify the heartbeat classes.

Findings

Among these, the highest accuracy obtained is 98.58% using ensemble method with product rule. The results show that the ensemble of CNN and BLSTM has offered satisfactory performance compared to other techniques discussed in this study.

Originality/value

In this study, we have developed a new combination of two deep learning models to enhance the performance of arrhythmia classification using segmentation of input ECG signals. The contributions of this study are as follows: First, a deep CNN model is built to classify ECG heartbeat using a raw data set. Second, four types of features (R-R interval, HOS, morphological and wavelet) were extracted from the raw data set and then applied to the bidirectional LSTM model to classify the ECG heartbeat. Third, combination rules (sum rules, product rules and majority voting rules) were tested to ensure the accumulated probabilities of the CNN and LSTM models.
Forecasting trading volume in local housing markets through a time-series model and a deep learning algorithm
Authors: Lee Changro , Park Keith Key-Ho
Published: February 2021

Purpose

It is important to forecast local trading volumes as well as global trading volumes because the real estate market is always characterized as a localized market. The house trading volume at the local level is forecast through appropriate models to enhance the predictive accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

Four representative housing submarkets in South Korea are selected, and their trading volumes are forecast. A well-established time-series model and a deep learning algorithm are employed: the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and the recurrent neural network (RNN), respectively. The trading volumes in adjacent areas are utilized as covariates, and an ensemble prediction is applied additionally to improve the model performance.

Findings

The results indicate no significant difference in prediction performance between the ARIMA model and the RNN, which can be attributed to the insufficient amount of data used. It is discovered that the spillover effects of trading volumes across the study areas can be exploited to improve the predictive accuracy, and that the diversity of the predicted values from the candidate models can be used to increase the forecasting accuracy further.

Originality/value

Whereas property prices have been investigated extensively, the discussion on forecasting trading activity of properties is limited in the literature. The results of this study are expected to promote more interest in adopting a local perspective and using a diversity of predicted values when forecasting house trading volumes.
Health promoting universities: effective leadership for health, well-being and sustainability
Authors: Dooris Mark , Powell Susan , Parkin Doug , Farrier Alan
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper reports on a research study examining opportunities for and characteristics of effective leadership for whole university approaches to health, well-being and sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-method qualitative approach was used: semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with vice chancellors (n = 12) and UK Healthy Universities Network members (n = 10) and online questionnaires were completed by non-UK network coordinators (n = 6) and non-UK health promoting university coordinators (n = 10), supplemented with two interviews.

Findings

A total of two overarching themes emerged: opportunities to secure and sustain effective senior-level leadership and characteristics of effective senior-level leadership. Sub-themes under “Opportunities” included aligning work with core business so that health and well-being becomes a strategic priority, harnessing the personal qualities and values of senior-level advocates and using charters and policy drivers as levers to engage and catalyse action. Sub-themes under “Characteristics” included commitment to whole university/whole system working; an understanding that health underpins core business and is a strategic priority; enabling effective coordination through appropriate resourcing; balancing top-down and distributed leadership models and complementing strategic leadership with cultural change.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to explore leadership in relation to health promoting universities. Drawing on the findings, it presents a guide to developing and securing effective leadership for health promoting universities – of value to researchers, practitioners and policymakers worldwide.
“You are not as localised as I need”: employability of Chinese returning graduates
Authors: Tran Ly Thi , Blackmore Jill , Rahimi Mark
Published: February 2021

Purpose

International student employability has been accorded increased emphasis in the internationalisation agendas, especially in major destination countries as it shapes universities' attractiveness to prospective international students. Having insights into returning graduates' employability in their home country has become critical given that a majority of international graduates return home after their overseas study. This study responds to this critical need by examining how foreign credentials are valued by employers in the field of accounting in China, based on in-depth interviews with employers, alumni and policymakers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on a qualitative approach involving literature review and in-depth interviews with 28 key stakeholders: employers, returning graduates and policymakers in China and India. The key research question of the study is how foreign credentials are valued by employers in the field of accounting in China and India. This article focuses on the Chinese context. In-depth interviews with employers and policymakers focused on eliciting nuanced socio-cultural understandings as to perceptions and decisions associated with desirable graduate attributes and the relative value of credentials. Interviews with returning graduates aimed to understand how different capitals were mobilised to gain employment in the Chinese labour market.

Findings

The empirical findings of the study show that Chinese returning graduates could be seen to lack the localised knowledge needed to work in Chinese companies and ability to adapt to the local environment. However the possible development of a dual local and international guanxi through overseas study can be regarded as a marker of distinction in the home labour market. The associated value of such a dual guanxi signals the importance for Chinese international students to develop transnational networks while simultaneously maintaining their kinship, social and business networks locally during their overseas education.

Originality/value

The study provides fresh insights into a marked shift in China, with less of a preference for Western credentials, as compared to 10 years ago when overseas credentials were often regarded more favourably. Even though overseas study generally provides Chinese graduates with an exposure to international practices and global perspectives, whether such an overseas exposure and foreign language competency would be an advantage also depends on the business needs and sometimes the business model of organisations.
Remediation of the challenges of reporting corporate scandals in governance
Authors: Hilton Sam Kris , Arkorful Helen
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The barrage of corporate scandals has become pervasive such that it collapsed high-profile organizations worldwide. Prior studies show that reporters of corporate scandals encounter a number of challenges which discourages them from disclosing wrongful acts to appropriate authorities to effect action. Thus, this study aims to examine the remediation of the challenges of reporting corporate scandals in governance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used cross-sectional survey design. Primary data was obtained from 400 employees of selected organizations and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques in Statistical Package of Social Science.

Findings

The results confirm that reporters of corporate scandals are confronted with challenges such as victimization, fear, suspension/dismissal, sideline and high power distance. However, these challenges can be remediated through award, code of conduct, free expression, participation/consultation and safeguard regulations to encourage and protect reporters of corporate scandals.

Practical implications

The findings imply that there should be an award scheme for reporters, and this must be made known to all employees. Furthermore, code of conduct for employees should include reporting of scandals together with its associated benefits and sanctions. Also, organizations would have to practice consultative/participatory governance system to minimize the effect of high power distance. Finally, regulations should be enacted and enforced to safeguard reporters of corporate scandals.

Originality/value

This research consolidated the challenges associated with reporting corporate scandals and provides remedies to curtail such challenges so as to encourage employees to report corporate scandals.
Analysis of the impact of information communication technology on economic growth: empirical evidence from Asian countries
Authors: Kurniawati Meta Ayu
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study examines the causal relationship between information communication technology (ICT) and economic growth in high-income and middle-income Asian countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilises a high-quality data from 25 Asian countries from 2000 to 2018. This study presents the robustness results by employing panel cointegration and estimation procedures to account for the endogeneity and cross-sectional dependence issues.

Findings

The results illustrate that high-income Asian countries have achieved positive and significant economic development from high Internet penetration. Additionally, the middle-income countries have started to benefit from ICT Internet. The findings show that the telephone line and mobile phone penetration is highly capable of promoting economic growth in middle-income Asian countries.

Practical implications

In high-income Asia countries, an appropriate ICT infrastructure policy will support feasible ICT penetration, which may drive the processes of economic development and innovation that contribute to economic growth. Moreover, in middle-income Asian countries, the establishment of better-quality ICT service and infrastructure is more critical. Policymakers should accommodate sufficient support to establish the ICT infrastructure and expand ICT penetration.

Originality/value

This study reveals that high-income Asian countries have been more proactive and effective than middle-income countries in embracing ICT to foster economic growth. Examining the case of high-income and middle-income Asian countries provides comprehensive insight for policymakers regarding the relevance of ICT in boosting economic growth through the advantages of technology expansion.
Plagiarism in higher education across nations: a case of language students
Authors: Farahian Majid , Avarzamani Farnaz , Rezaee Mehrdad
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Many scholars have recognized the cultural dependency of the concept of plagiarism and have investigated the influence of cultural attitude on university students' plagiarism; however, since the findings are inconsistent and because plagiarism is a major concern in academic institutions in Asia, we were motivated to examine the understanding and prevalence of plagiarism among Canadian and some Asian language students.

Design/methodology/approach

To elicit the data, the questionnaire developed by Maxwellet al.(2008) was adapted for this study. The scale included three sections. In the initial section, the students' background information was inquired. Section two included 10 scenarios, all of which consisted of two levels; understanding and experience. Section three of the scale consisted of five open-ended questions. In fact, the questions intended to complement the survey findings. Finally, in the fourth section, five yes/no questions were asked. Because the respondents could evade answering some open-ended questions, we developed five questions with yes/no answers in order to probe deeper into the participants' answers.

Findings

The results showed significant differences among the participants concerning both understanding and prevalence of plagiarism. Most of the differences were between Canadian and Asian students in that Canadians had a higher level of understanding. They also enjoyed a lower rate of incidence of plagiarism. Nevertheless, further analyses revealed that the students' academic misconduct is probably influenced by other factors including lack of proper education rather than cultural differences.

Social implications

The findings lead us to argue that cultural differences may not be the main source of the prevalence of plagiarism across nations and that Asian language university students plagiarize mainly due to a lack of understanding of the principles of plagiarism. Therefore, Asian universities should take measures to make sure that they promote language students' understanding regarding the misconduct.

Originality/value

Apart from a few studies, no other study has scrutinized plagiarism across cultures. As such, our study attempted to shed more light on the student, especially language students' plagiarism across different nations.
The added value of smart stadiums: a case study at Johan Cruijff Arena
Authors: van Heck Simon , Valks Bart , Den Heijer Alexandra
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The objective of stadium owners is to attract visitors to their stadiums and by this optimally use their business potential. Stadiums face increasing competition from home-viewing options, with which especially aging stadiums have trouble competing. This paper aims to study the concept of smart stadiums as a solution to this problem, adding the corona age as an additional challenge.

Design/methodology/approach

First, (smart) stadium literature and theories are reviewed. Then, a case study is conducted, consisting of document review, observations and semi-structured interviews with specialists. The case that is studied is the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam – the stadium has the ambition to be the most innovative stadium in 2020.

Findings

Nine different smart tools were identified in the case study, which supports the optimization of various processes in the stadium such as ticketing and crowd control. The findings from this case study showed the potential of the smart stadium concept and how it can add value for the stadium’s stakeholders. The use of smart tools can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of stadium operations, and it can be used to improve the visitors’ experience. However, concrete numbers of progress were difficult to obtain because the smart tools were only recently implemented.

Originality/value

As seen in the past few years, more and more stadiums are branding themselves as a smart stadium. However, research on this subject is still scarce: existing research focused on other types of real estate. By exploring the work done in theory and practice, the authors hope to increase research on the subject of smart stadiums.
The road to evidence based applicable policies for regional entrepreneurial ecosystems
Authors: von Bloh Johannes
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EES) is among the fastest growing entrepreneurship research topics. With even greater vigour, the non-scientific world of economic development agencies, administrations and policymakers has adopted the construct and applies it widely “in the field”, often lacking a solid empirical foundation and pursuing sub-optimal approaches. Improving policy instruments for EES development requires a data driven approach to first understand an EES of a specific region before making any attempts to change it. The paper showcases an empirical approach to create empirically rooted EES policy implications, contributing to closing the gap for insight in regional EES data of sub-national regions.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploring a mixed method design, utilising quantitative Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data and combining it with EES stakeholder interviews, focusing on dysfunctions, redundancies, power asymmetries and cut off elements as well as in-layer division and public organisation behaviour.

Findings

One finding is, that regional economic development agencies (EDA), as a main public instrument to foster regional entrepreneurial activity, seem to bring the potential of a negative impact on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems bottom-up development and the ability to become self-sustained if they assume the role of competitors towards private organisations and businesses.

Research limitations/implications

As other work on EES, the approach used in this paper only sub-optimally covers temporal system dynamics.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to future EES support policies being rooted in an empirical foundation.

Originality/value

This paper not only progresses the empirical basis for research on regional EES but also lays the foundation for specific policy implications for a sub-national level entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Identification of critical success factors (CSFs) for real estate developers (REDs) in India
Authors: Singla Harish Kumar , Samanta Pradeepta Kumar
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) at an individual level for real estate developers (REDs) in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Fifteen individual-level CSFs are identified from literature review. These CSFs are moderated through expert opinion, and they are customized for the real-estate sector. Five-point scale questionnaire is developed and furnished to REDs to understand the importance of these 15 CSFs. Fifty-six REDs responded to the survey. Using the responses from the survey, relative importance index is created for all 15 factors. These factors are also grouped in broad categories using exploratory factor analysis and the groups are further validated through confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

The study finds that leadership quality, man-management skill, disputes resolution skill, ability to take risk and knowledge about construction and finance are the top five CSFs for REDs in India. The exploratory factor analysis resulted in five groups and they are named as “liaising with government,” “relationship management,” “knowledge management,” “skill management” and “ability.” The groups exhibit reasonable reliability and validity.

Research limitations/implications

Despite useful results, study being exploratory in nature is limited because of a small sample size. Despite best efforts, authors find reluctance from REDs to respond to the survey.

Practical implications

The findings of the study are important for REDs and success of their business. The business of REDs can improve if they exhibit leadership quality, man-management skill and disputes resolution skill. The ability of the developers to take risk and their knowledge about construction and finance can also be vital for the success of their business.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to identify CSFs for REDs in India.
Building adaptive management capability: the contribution of heutagogy to management development in turbulent times
Authors: Stoten David William
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the benefits to both organisations and individuals in adopting heutagogy within management education and development.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper is based on a systematic review of the literature relating to heutagogy and learning theory.

Findings

This paper calls for the adoption of heutagogic learning within management development. It provides several practical examples of how heutagogy may be implemented.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the literature related to new forms of management development and, in particular, heutagogy.

Originality/value

This paper is an original contribution to the discourse on management development and the contribution that heutagogy may make to the professional development of individuals.
An empirical investigation of maintenance practices for enhancing manufacturing performance in small and medium enterprises of northern India
Authors: Sidhu Simranjit Singh , Singh Kanwarpreet , Ahuja Inderpreet Singh
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the contributions of maintenance practices and extract various significant factors that influence the implementation of maintenance practices in northern Indian small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In the current study, 216 north Indian SMEs have been extensively surveyed to assess the contributions of different maintenance practices implementation dimensions and manufacturing performance attributes through different statistical techniques. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to statistically validate the hypotheses, while Levene’s experiment and Wilk–Shapiro tests were used to confirm ANOVA’s assumptions. Finally, the discriminating validity test extracts highly successful and moderately successful organizations.

Findings

The present research aims to evaluate the contributions of different maintenance practices implementation dimensions on SMEs’ manufacturing performance attributes. The study highlights that strategic maintenance practices such as corrective maintenance (CM), general maintenance issues, preventive maintenance (PM) issues and predictive maintenance (Pd.M) initiatives have enhanced overall equipment effectiveness, overall business performance, quality, cost optimization, safety, delivery and morale in SMEs.

Originality/value

The study validates the capabilities of maintenance practices toward significant improvements of various implementation dimensions such as breakdown maintenance issues, general maintenance issues, PM issues, Pd.M issues, CM issues, computer maintenance management system issues, maintenance scheduling issues and total productive maintenance issues. The study reveals significant implications for SMEs for realizing significantly improved manufacturing performance through strategic maintenance initiatives.
The black crow of science and its impact: analyzing Sci-Hub use with Google Trends
Authors: Behboudi Emad , Shamsi Amrollah , Bueno de la Fuente Gema
Published: February 2021

Purpose

In 2016, Bohannon published an article analyzing the download rate of the top ten countries using the illegal Sci-Hub website. Four years later, this study approaches the search behavior of these ten countries as they query about Sci-Hub in Google's search engine, the world's most widely used search engine. The authors also tracked the possible consequences of using Sci-Hub, such as plagiarism.

Design/methodology/approach

The search terms “Sci-Hub”, “Plagiarism” and “Plagiarism Checker” were explored with Google Trends. The queries were performed globally and individually for the ten target countries, all categories and web searches. The time range was limited between 1/1/2016 (after the date of publication of Bohannon's work) and 29/03/2020. Data were extracted from Google Trends and the findings were mapped.

Findings

Searching for the word Sci-Hub on Google has increased nearly eightfold worldwide in the last four years, with China, Ethiopia and Tunisia having the most searches. Sci-Hub's search trends increased for most of the T10C, with Brazil and Iran having the highest and lowest average searches, respectively.

Originality/value

Access to the research literature is required to the progress of research, but it should not be obtained illegally. Given the increasing incidence of these problems in countries at any level of development, it is important to pay attention to ethics education in research and establish ethics committees. A comprehensive review of the research process is required to reduce the urge to circumvent copyright laws and includes training and educating research stakeholders in copyright literacy. To address these goals, national and international seriousness and enthusiasm are essential.
ORCID education: a departmental approach
Authors: Droog Alissa , Bredahl Laura M.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a case study of an ORCID promotion at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, providing context for the importance of education in ORCID outreach.

Design/methodology/approach

The three-month ORCID promotion used workshops and individual appointments to educate faculty about ORCID, identity management systems and research impact and scholarly communications.

Findings

A targeted and personal approach to ORCID promotion focused on education about why you might use this author disambiguation system resulted in 80% of the faculty within the School of Optometry and Vision Science signing up for, or using ORCID. Scaling an ORCID implementation to a larger group would likely benefit from a dedicated project group, and integration with existing institutional systems such as a requirement of an ORCID for internal grant applications.

Originality/value

Although time consuming, this small-scale ORCID promotion with one department reveals that a departmental approach to ORCID education may lead to larger conversations about scholarly communications and a stronger relationship between faculty and the library.
Public views on a new library project: a content analysis 2014–2019
Authors: Xie Jingzhen , Sun Lili
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the local residents viewed a new public library project in Macao through the analysis of newspaper articles published in 2014–2019 and how these views have changed the decision-makers in selecting a different site for the new library.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis was used to analyze public views. 569 newspaper articles on the new library project published in local major newspapers from January 2014 to August 2019 were coded and analyzed. Percentage agreement for the two coders and Cohen's Kappa were used to calculate the inter-rater reliability.

Findings

The top 5 factors discussed in the newspaper articles were the general decision-making process (38.65%), location (18.20%), selection of the Old Court Building as the new library site (15.07%), budget (13.5%) and new library services (6.85%). The local residents tended to raise questions on the high cost, the appropriateness of the selected library site, the preservation of the local heritage buildings, and the role that the government should play in this project.

Research limitations/implications

This study only collected and analyzed the data from the articles published in the major newspapers in Macao. Other types of media from sources such as Facebook were not included in this study. Articles containing similar information but from different newspapers were all counted as individual entries for data collection. The voices/options were not divided by groups. For further analysis, the articles could be separated by voices from politicians, librarians and other special interest groups. The chosen categories in this study were based on Voyant Tools and the authors' interpretation/focus of the research question. The categories could be subdivided for further study. For example, the overall support of the project could be broken into full support, support with some minor reservations, support with major reservations, etc. And some articles currently in the neutral category with some degrees of support might fit into one of the above new sub-categories.

Originality/value

The case carries new references for any communities embarking on similar projects.
The role of public libraries in the development of social capital in local communities – a theoretical study
Authors: Wojciechowska Maja Dorota
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Social capital, understood as intangible community values available through a network of connections, is a factor in the development of societies and improving quality of life. It helps to remove economic inequalities and prevent poverty and social exclusion, stimulate social and regional development, civic attitudes and social engagement and build a civic society as well as local and regional identity. Many of these tasks may be implemented by libraries, which, apart from providing access to information, may also offer a number of services associated with social needs. The purpose of this paper is to present the roles and functions that libraries may serve in local communities in terms of assistance, integration and development based on classical social capital theories.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the classical concepts of social capital in the context of libraries. It analyses the findings of Pierre-Félix Bourdieu, James Coleman, Francis Fukuyama, Robert Putnam, Nan Lin, Ronald Stuart Burt, Wayne Baker and Alejandro Portes. Based on their respective concepts, the paper analyses the role of the contemporary library in the social life of local communities. In particular, it focuses on the possible new functions that public libraries may serve.

Findings

A critical review of the concept of social capital revealed certain dependencies between libraries and their neighbourhoods. With new services that respond to the actual social needs, libraries may serve as a keystone, namely they may integrate, animate and engage local communities. This, however, requires a certain approach to be adopted by the personnel and governing authorities as well as infrastructure and tangible resources.

Originality/value

The social engagement of libraries is usually described from the practical perspective (reports on the services provided) or in the context of research on the impact of respective projects on specific groups of users (research reports). A broader approach, based on original social theories, is rarely encountered. The paper draws on classical concepts of social capital and is a contribution to the discussion on possible uses of those concepts based on an analysis of the role of libraries in social life and in strengthening the social capital of local communities.
How abusive supervision ultimately might enhance performance ratings among silent, neurotic employees
Authors: De Clercq Dirk , Jahanzeb Sadia , Fatima Tasneem
Published: February 2021

Purpose

With a theoretical anchoring in the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study investigates how employees' exposure to abusive supervision ultimately might lead to enhanced supervisor ratings of their job performance because employees react with defensive silence. Employees' neuroticism also might catalyze this process.

Design/methodology/approach

Multi-source, three-wave data were collected from employees and their supervisors in the power-distant, collectivistic country of Pakistan.

Findings

Beliefs about the presence of verbally abusive leaders, somewhat ironically, mitigate the risk of diminished supervisor-rated performance evaluations to the extent that those beliefs prompt employees to engage in self-protective behaviors to avoid confrontations with the abusive leaders. This mediating role of defensive silence is invigorated to the extent that employees' personalities make them more sensitive to stressful work situations.

Practical implications

For practitioners, this study identifies self-protective silence as a key, potentially worrisome mechanism that employees in power-distant, collectivistic countries may use to avoid negative performance ratings by leaders they perceive as abusive, and it reveals how this process tends to vary across different employees.

Originality/value

This research cites a critical, unexplored factor through which verbally abused employees can avoid negative performance evaluations, by engaging in defensive silence, not only as a potentially detrimental solution but also as an effective short-term solution. It further clarifies that this process is more likely to occur among neurotic employees.
The role of ethical leadership in enhancing exploitative and explorative learning simultaneously: what does it matter if employees view work as central?
Authors: Ali Moazzam , Qu Yuanmei (Elly) , Shafique Shoaib , Pham Nhat Tan , Usman Muhammad
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that ethical leadership positively contributes to exploitative learning and explorative learning simultaneously and then examine the moderating role of work centrality in the relationships of ethical leadership with exploitative learning and explorative learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Time-lagged survey data were collected from 257 middle managers and their 257 immediate supervisors in 76 firms in China. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and Hayes' PROCESS macro for SPSS.

Findings

The results revealed that ethical leadership positively contributed to exploitative learning and explorative learning simultaneously. Importantly, the authors found that work centrality strengthened the positive relationships of ethical leadership with both exploitative learning and explorative learning.

Practical implications

The findings can help organizations enhance exploitative learning and explorative learning simultaneously and enable them to gain a sustainable competitive advantage.

Originality/value

Although explorative learning and exploitative learning together constitute fundamental resources for organizations' long-term success, prior research has not looked into whether and when leader behaviors facilitate explorative learning and exploitative learning simultaneously. The study contributed to fill this gap by introducing ethical leadership, signifying its positive role in enhancing both explorative learning and exploitative learning, and establishing work centrality as a moderator to reinforce these two positive relationships.
COVID-19 and Ludhiana’s woolen knitwear industry: way forward
Authors: Mehta Swati , Kaur Manpreet
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges faced by the Ludhiana’s woolen knitwear industry that got accentuated with the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The paper discusses the road map for building capabilities within the industry from the perspective of “system of innovation” approach that would help the industry to comply with the recent call for “AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.”

Design Methodology Approach

The woolen knitwear industry from Ludhiana district of North Indian state, Punjab, was taken as a case to examine the impact of COVID-19. Data was collected online through self-structured questionnaire along with telephonic interviews. Stage I was the period of “total lock-down” and Stage II was conducted after the announcement of “stimulus package” and during the unlocking period. Some local industry associations and labor unions were also interviewed to understand the wider perspectives of different stakeholders. Descriptive statistic was applied to analyze the results of the survey.

Findings

It is estimated that the industry would lose about INR 2,000 crores approximately US$282.1m with the monetary loss of man-days nearing INR 157 crores approximately US$22.1m for the total lockdown period of 68 days. This amount is feared to increase with the lackluster re-opening of the industry in the unlocking period. The study reveals that there were some concerns, such as infrastructural bottlenecks, obsolete internal and international connectivity and institutional rigidity with cumbersome rules and regulations that get heightened with the outbreak of COVID-19. The entrepreneurs and workers are skeptic regarding the nature of demand revival in the changing world economic order. The paper suggests a dynamic policy intervention with inbuilt feedback mechanism along with reviving the organizations to infuse enthusiasm among various actors of industry.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first few to conduct surveys at two different stages to assess the impact of COVID-19 from the perspective of micro, small and medium enterprises and workers working therein while taking the case of Ludhiana woolen knitwear industry. The findings of this study will aid the industry and policymakers to take essential steps to make the industry more innovative and competitive in the dynamic world market.
Pathways to job engagement: evidences from the software industry
Authors: Zaman Sumbul , Ansari Amirul Hasan
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to broaden the link between workplace flexibility (WF) and job engagement (JE) while considering quality of work life (QWL) as mediator and the use of knowledge sharing (KS) as moderator. While numerous studies have focused solely on the importance of WF, QWL, KS and JE only exclusively, this study integrates them to delineate their association and to empirically assess the relationships. To advance an in-depth knowledge of these aspects, the study goes beyond the conventional findings.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 378 employees from software firms in India participated in the questionnaire-based survey. It is a cross-sectional study. The proposed conceptual model and hypothesis were analyzed and tested by structural equation modeling and process macro. Drawing on the person environment (P-E) fit theory and social exchange theory, the authors discuss how QWL mediates and KS moderates the association between WF and JE.

Findings

Results indicate a positive association between WF and JE. Furthermore, it was found that QWL mediated and KS moderated this association.

Practical implications

Findings of the study will help the management to comprehend the significance QWL interventions in increasing their JE. This paper may encourage HR managers in the Information Technology (IT) industry to perceive the importance of KS. Moreover, the study accentuates flexible work options as essential phenomenon to positively impinge on the JE of employees in the IT sector.

Originality/value

The present study tries to enrich the extant research on WF and JE while it demonstrates the use of QWL interventions and KS as vital constructs that may significantly and positively influence JE.
The influence of the practices of big data analytics applications on bank performance: filed study
Authors: Al-Dmour Hani , Saad Nour , Basheer Amin Eatedal , Al-Dmour Rand , Al-Dmour Ahmed
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine factors influencing the practices of big data analytics applications by commercial banks operating in Jordan and their bank performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework was developed in this regard based on a comprehensive literature review and the Technology–Environment–Organization (TOE) model. A quantitative approach was used, and the data was collected from 235 commercial banks’ senior and middle managers (IT, financial and marketers) using both online and paper-based questionnaires.

Findings

The results showed that the extent of the practices of big data analytics applications by commercial banks operating in Jordan is considered to be moderate (i.e. 60%). The results indicated that 61% of the variation on the practices of big data analytics applications by commercial banks could be predicated by TOE model. The organizational factors were found the most important predictors. The results also provide empirical evidence that the extent of practices of big data analytics applications has a positive influence on the bank performance. In the final section, research implications and future directions are presented.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to theory by filling a gap in the literature regarding the extent of the practices of big data analytics applications by commercial banks operating in developing countries, such as Jordan. It empirically examines the impact of the practices of big data analytics applications on bank performance.
Disentangling the effect of home ownership on household stockholdings: Evidence from Japanese micro data
Authors: Iwaisako Tokuo , Ono Arito , Saito Amane , Tokuda Hidenobu
Published: February 2021

This study examines the effects of home ownership on household stockholdings using Japanese microdata. To disentangle the effect of property value and mortgage debt on households’ stockholdings as a share of financial assets, we use current and time‐of‐purchase house price indices as instruments. Our estimates suggest that an exogenous increase in property value is associated with an increase in stockholdings, while an increase in mortgage debt is associated with a decrease. We also find that a simultaneous increase in property value and mortgage debt has no effect on stockholdings but is associated with an increase in mortgage debt repayment.
Blood Biomarkers of Intestinal Epithelium Damage Regenerating Islet‐derived Protein 3α and Trefoil Factor 3 Are Persistently Elevated in Patients with Alcoholic Hepatitis
Authors: Yang Jing , Syed Fahim , Xia Ying , Sanyal Arun J. , Shah Vijay H. , Chalasani Naga , Zheng Xiaoqun , Yu Qigui , Lou Yongliang , Li Wei
Published: February 2021

Background

Heavy alcohol consumption disrupts gut epithelial integrity, leading to increased permeability of the gastrointestinal tract and subsequent translocation of microbes. Regenerating islet‐derived protein 3α (REG3α) and Trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) are mainly secreted to the gut lumen by Paneth and Goblet cells, respectively, and are functionally linked to gut barrier integrity. Circulating levels of REG3α and TFF3 have been identified as biomarkers for gut damage in several human diseases. We examined whether plasma levels of REG3α and TFF3 were dysregulated and correlated with conventional markers of microbial translocation (MT) and pro‐inflammatory mediators in heavy drinkers with and without alcoholic hepatitis (AH).

Methods

Cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies were performed to monitor plasma levels of REG3α and TFF3 in 79 AH patients, 66 heavy drinkers without liver disease (HDC), and 46 healthy controls (HC) at enrollment and at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐ups. Spearman correlation was used to measure the relationships of REG3α and TFF3 levels with MT, disease severity, inflammation, and effects of abstinence from alcohol.

Results

At enrollment, AH patients had significantly higher levels of REG3α and TFF3 than HDC and HC. The elevated REG3α levels were positively correlated with the 30‐day fatality rate. Plasma levels of REG3α and TFF3 in AH patients differentially correlated with conventional MT markers (sCD14, sCD163, and LBP) and several highly up‐regulated inflammatory cytokines/chemokines/growth factors. At follow‐ups, although REG3α and TFF3 levels were decreased in AH patients with alcohol abstinence, they did not fully return to baseline levels.

Conclusions

Circulating levels of REG3α and TFF3 were highly elevated in AH patients and differentially correlated with AH disease severity, MT, and inflammation, thereby serving as potential biomarkers of MT and gut epithelial damage in AH patients.
Attitudes towards dignity of risk in older people: A survey following a short narrative film
Authors: Li Yingtong , Bugeja Lyndal , Bhullar Navjot , Ibrahim Joseph E.
Published: February 2021

Objective

To evaluate aged care staff's ‘willingness to help an older person with risk‐taking activities’ that improve quality of life (‘dignity of risk’).

Methods

Opportunity‐based cross‐sectional anonymous electronic survey in four Australian jurisdictions, conducted immediately after screening a short animated narrative film describing ‘dignity of risk’. Survey comprised nine questions including respondent demographics, professional role, risk‐taking and outcome.

Results

From 24 separate screenings, there were 929 respondents. Agreement to ‘help an older person with risk‐taking activities’ was associated with respondent prediction of the least severe harm occurring (OR = 2.22 [1.20, 4.12], P = .001). Conversely, respondents in non‐executive, non‐managerial roles—that is, nurses and care workers—were unlikely to agree to help with risk‐taking activities (OR 0.36‐0.49, P ≤ .03). There was not an association with respondent's age grouping (P = .6).

Conclusion

Staff self‐reported attitudes towards dignity of risk are important to understand to enhance in an older person's quality of life.