bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of religious beliefs and spirituality on decision to insure
Authors: Gill Amarjit , Mand Harvinder S. , Biger Nahum , Mathur Neil
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the level of religious beliefs and individual spirituality of small business owners on their decision to insure.

Design/methodology/approach

Small business owners from India were asked about their perceptions regarding the relationship between their level of religious beliefs and spirituality and their decision to insure.

Findings

The results of this study show that the level of religious beliefs and individual spirituality of small business owners positively influence their decisions to purchase commercial insurance and life insurance to manage financial risk in India.

Research limitations/implications

This is a co-relational study that investigated the association between the level of religious beliefs, spirituality, and decision to insure. There is not necessarily a causal relationship between the two. The findings of this study may only be generalized to individuals similar to those that were included in this research.

Originality/value

This study adds to literature on the relationship between the level of religious beliefs, spirituality, and decision to insure. The findings may be useful for financial planners, small business owners and financial management consultants.
Defining potentials and barriers to trade in the Malaysia–Chile partnership
Authors: Devadason Evelyn S. , Govindaraju V.G.R. Chandran , Mubarik Shujaat
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potentials and barriers to trade in the Malaysia–Chile partnership.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper estimates two-way export potentials from an augmented three-dimensional panel gravity model of bilateral trade between Malaysia and the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, spanning the 1990–2014 period. Utilizing interviews with government officials and industry experts in Malaysia and Chile, this paper also provides insights into market access issues.

Findings

The empirical findings of this study suggest that Malaysia has trade potential in Chile, but Chile is “overtrading” with Malaysia. By major products traded, both countries are found to be “overtrading,” as the export basket remains concentrated in this partnership. Through the interviews, fewer restrictions are reported by the various stakeholders, as the extent of trade engagement remains somewhat low. The main challenge identified within specific sectors in both the countries relates mainly to procedures established to secure compliance with labeling regulations for food products.

Research limitations/implications

The sectoral findings reveal that there is indeed scope for expanding exports beyond the current major products traded, particularly in base metal and scientific and measuring equipment from the Malaysia and Chile perspectives, respectively. Thus, product diversification matters to intensify trade cooperation between the two countries. Non-tariff measures need to be streamlined by both parties to ensure further product diversification to food trade, particularly for Chile.

Originality/value

The limited literature on cross-regional trade within the broader framework of Southeast Asia and LAC only support the fact that potentials do exist but do not appear to provide much research evidence. Empirically, this paper will add to the existing literature on the potentials that hold in the Malaysia–Chile partnership. Further, a lack of adequate information remains on market access and other barriers in both the nations to facilitate decisions on trade opportunities. The findings of the study fill that vacuum of information pertaining to market access and trade facilitation through interviews with various stakeholders in Malaysia and Chile.
A novel care pathway for prisoners with intellectual disability designed through a Delphi process
Authors: Gulati Gautam , Quigley Stephen , Murphy Valerie Elizabeth , Yacoub Evan , Bogue John , Kearns Anthony , O’Neill Conor , Kelly Mary , Morrison Aideen , Griffin Gerard , Blewitt Mary , Fistein Elizabeth , Meagher David , Dunne Colum P.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Individuals with an intellectual disability (ID) form a significant minority in the Irish prison population and worldwide prison populations. There is growing recognition that specialist services for such individuals are in need of development. The purpose of this paper is to propose a care pathway for the management of individuals with an ID who present in prison, based on expert elicitation and consensus.

Design/methodology/approach

A convenience sample of professionals with a special interest in forensic intellectual disabilities was invited to participate in a Delphi exercise. In total, 12 agreed to participation and 10 subsequently completed the study (83.3 per cent). Expert views were elicited using a semi-structured questionnaire. Content analysis was completed using NVivo 11 software. A care pathway was subsequently proposed, based on the outcomes of the analysis, and circulated to participants for debate and consensus. A consensus was reached on management considerations.

Findings

Ten experts across a range of disciplines with a combined experience of 187 years participated in the study. Current provision of care was seen as limited and geographically variable. The vulnerability of prisoners with ID was highlighted. The need for equivalence of care with the community through multidisciplinary input and development of specialist secure and residential placements to facilitate diversion was identified. Consensus was achieved on a proposed care pathway.

Originality/value

This study proposes a care pathway for the assessment and management of prisoners with an ID and is, therefore, potentially relevant to those interested in this topic internationally who may similarly struggle with the current lack of decision-making tools for this setting. Although written from an Irish perspective, it outlines key considerations for psychiatrists in keeping with international guidance and, therefore, may be generalisable to other jurisdictions.
Impact of a nature-based intervention on incarcerated women
Authors: Toews Barb , Wagenfeld Amy , Stevens Julie
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of a short-term nature-based intervention on the social-emotional well-being of women incarcerated on a mental health unit in a state prison.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used a mixed method approach with individual interviews, a focus group and a visual analog scale (VAS).

Findings

Qualitative results found that women appreciated the planting party and the way the plants improved the physical environment. Women were also emotionally and relationally impacted by their participation and practiced skills related to planting and working with people. Quantitative results indicate that women were happier, calmer, and more peaceful after the intervention than before.

Research limitations/implications

Study limitations include sample size, self-report data and use of a scale not yet tested for reliability and validity.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that nature-based interventions can serve as an adjunct to traditional mental health therapies in correctional settings. Nature-based interventions can support women’s goals to improve their mental health.

Social implications

Findings suggest that nature-based interventions can serve to improve relationships among incarcerated women, which may make a positive impact on the prison community. Such interventions may also assist them in developing relational and technical skills that are useful upon release.

Originality/value

To date, there is limited knowledge about the impact of nature-based interventions on incarcerated individuals coping with mental health concerns.
Ten propositions about public leadership
Authors: Hartley Jean
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of some pressing but under-researched aspects of public leadership. Ten propositions about public leadership are set out and these are intended to be thought-provoking and even controversial in order to stimulate researchers to design research which addresses key theoretical and practical questions about leadership in the public sphere. They will also help practitioners navigate an increasingly complex leadership context.

Design/methodology/approach

This invited essay uses ten propositions about public leadership, selected from three sources: the leadership literature, the author’s own research and from collaborative research discussions with academics, policy makers and practitioners.

Findings

The first proposition argues for distinguishing public leadership from public service leadership given that the former is about leadership of the public sphere. Other propositions concern context; purpose; conflict and contest at the heart of public leadership; leadership with political astuteness; dual leadership; leadership projections; fostering resilience; leadership, authority and legitimacy; and the challenge to researchers to use research designs which reflect the complexity and dynamism of public leadership.

Practical implications

While this essay is primarily addressed to researchers, there are many ideas and concepts which practising leaders will find insightful and useful in their work.

Originality/value

This essay draws on deep experience in undertaking high-quality academic research about public leadership which draws from and feeds into policy and practice. It utilises organisational psychology, public management and political science to create synergies in order to enhance the understanding of public leadership.
Aligning product variety with supply chain and business strategy
Authors: Um Juneho , Han Neungho , Grubic Tonci , Ghalib Asad
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the strategic alignment between product variety and supply chain (SC) focus through cost leadership or differentiation to improve business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research investigated product variety-related capabilities and strategies in SCs including level of variety, SC agility, SC cost efficiency, cost leadership, differentiation and business performance, and aimed to justify the theory by testing structural equation modelling using survey data from the UK and South Korea.

Findings

Differentiation links high product variety and agile SC while cost leadership is aligned with low product variety and SC efficiency. High product variety negatively impacts on cost leadership strategy. Also, product variety should be mediated by cost leadership or differentiation strategy to improve business performance. Companies in South Korea display higher SC agility, cost leadership and cost efficiency than companies in the UK, while the UK companies exhibit a higher level of product variety and differentiation than those in South Korea.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute to theoretical development of variety issues at the alignment of business strategy and SC management according to the level of product variety.

Originality/value

The findings can help international companies set up specific variety-related strategies to achieve global competitiveness.
Proposing an improved economic value model for human resource valuation
Authors: Ghasemi Sasan , Shahin Arash , Safari Ali
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an improved economic value model for human resource valuation. For this purpose, the probability of promoting people to a higher position and the satisfaction coefficient of employees and customers have been computed by competency and Kano models.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to calculate the probability of promoting people to a higher position, competency model and questionnaire have been used. The satisfaction coefficient of employees and customers has been calculated as a factor influencing the survival of an individual in the organization by using the Kano model. For this purpose, two questionnaires have been designed; one was completed by the employees and the other by the customers. The proposed model has been examined in a consulting company in Iran.

Findings

The human resource value of the company under study has been estimated over 29bn rials (Iranian currency). The obtained results indicate that the proposed approach as an integrative monetary and nonmonetary measure can remove the limitations of the economic value model.

Practical implications

The proposed model helps organizations in managing their human capitals more effectively.

Originality/value

In this study, the Kano and competency models have been integrated with one of the common models of human resource valuation, i.e. the economic value model. The proposed integrated model seems more effective compared to the basic model of economic value model. Application of the proposed model within the context of Iran for the first time would constitute as potential for contribution to the knowledge of human resource management in the developing countries.
The relationship between managerial entrenchment, earnings management and firm innovation
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Mahmoudabadi Mahbubeh , Adibian Mohammad Sadegh
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the qualitative effect of corporate governance components, in the form of managerial entrenchment index, on earnings management and innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the variable of managerial entrenchment, which includes the variables of management independence, dual role of management, management tenure, the board compensation and the board ownership percentage, was initially estimated through the exploratory factor analysis and its effect was evaluated on the dependent variables of the study using the test of multivariable regressions. Hence, a total of 103 listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange were selected and analyzed during 2011–2016. In this paper, the Jones model is used as the variable of accrued earnings management and for calculating the real earnings management, the models of abnormal operational cash flows, abnormal production costs and abnormal optional costs are employed. Moreover, the research and development cost to total costs ratio is used for calculating the innovation.

Findings

The results indicate a negative and significant relationship between managerial entrenchment and accrual-based earnings management; moreover, the entrenched managers are less likely to engage in manipulating the real activities accruals in Iran context. Furthermore, the findings show that there is a positive and significant relationship between managerial entrenchment and firm innovation.

Originality/value

What really sets this paper apart from other studies is that this research will make aware investors and stakeholders of this fact that managerial entrenchment will be a good way to diminish the manipulation of financial reporting and improve the corporate situation in emerging markets, particularly those bazaars facing with economic sanctions such as Iran. Undeniably, the study results will complete the knowledge gap between the developed economies and the emerging markets.
Prioritizing warehouse performance measures in contemporary supply chains
Authors: Laosirihongthong Tritos , Adebanjo Dotun , Samaranayake Premaratne , Subramanian Nachiappan , Boon-itt Sakun
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Due to the importance of efficiency and responsiveness measures rather than just efficiency measures, this research recognizes both measures when considering overall performance of warehouse operations. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to prioritize overall performance measures associated with warehouse operations in manufacturing, third-party logistics service provider and retail industry supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses an integrated approach that involves the Q-sort method to group measures into four categories. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process was then used to prioritize individual performance measures within each category and integer liner programming model was used to validate prioritized categories, using the judgment of multiple decision makers across three industries.

Findings

The result shows that the financial category is a dominating performance category in managing warehouse operations across all three industries selected. Within the financial category, cost of insurance accounted for 25 percent of total weight of the category, and is considered to be a powerful measure. The financial category is verified by multiple decision makers across three industries, as the most important performance category.

Research limitations/implications

As part of adopting the proposed methodology in practice, it needs to be guided by overall methodology appropriate for industry-specific contexts.

Originality/value

Key novel aspects of this study are to categorize warehouse operations measures and analyze their perspectives in different industries, understand dominant categories of warehouse operations measures in the contemporary supply chain and finally to explore to what extent current practices lead to achieving efficiency and responsiveness in the selected industries.
Flexible budgeting influence on organizational inertia and flexibility
Authors: Oyadomari José Carlos Tiomatsu , Afonso Paulo Sérgio Lima Pereira , Dultra-de-Lima Ronaldo Gomes , Mendonça Neto Octavio Ribeiro Ribeiro , Righetti Maria Carolina Gazso
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the use of flexible budgets may influence different institutional logics (organizational inertia and flexibility).

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research based on a single case study in a multinational subsidiary company was carried out. The data were mainly collected using the dialog technique through open-ended and semi-structured interviews and complemented with direct observation in informal and formal meetings and the analysis of internal documents. Content analysis was used for the analysis of the findings.

Findings

The use of flexible budgets, which isolates the negative variations due to the decrease in sales volume, may contribute to organizational inertia. However, this can be counterbalanced if the managers try to minimize the decline in performance through initiatives that promote organizational flexibility. In this case study, it was found that the alignment between the production director and the controller, who frequently work under different institutional logics, was important to stimulate organizational flexibility particularly in continuous improvement projects.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this paper are based on only one in-depth case study. Hence, the results cannot be generalized, but a theoretical contribution can be made. Furthermore, the findings are constrained by the constructs used and the specific managerial and theoretical perspectives that have supported the analysis.

Practical implications

These results can be useful particularly for companies that are dealing with the abrupt drop in the sales volume and use the flexible budget as a performance assessment technique. These firms must pay attention because this combination can stimulate organizational inertia. To counteract this problem, it is necessary that controllers and the managers work by understanding the initiatives that promote organizational flexibility, mainly by Kaizen projects, which can minimize performance decline.

Social implications

The main contribution may be how to deal with the different managers’ behaviors, given the decrease in sales volume, and it can help an organization survives in times of economic recession and fierce competition environments.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to both practical and academic dimensions. Indeed, despite being widely used, flexible budgeting is not a widely researched topic.
Retail supply chain responsiveness
Authors: Sandberg Erik , Jafari Hamid
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review existing research on retail supply chain responsiveness, develop categories to be included in a retail-specific responsiveness framework, and identify future research areas within the scope of retail supply chain responsiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an inductive systematic literature review of 46 academic, peer-reviewed articles. Based around the two major review questions on retailers’ role in the creation of supply chain responsiveness and future research areas, an inductive, qualitative, content analysis was conducted. Further analysis was conducted by using the software NVivo 11.

Findings

Existing research are grouped into a framework of four categories that together span the existing research. The categories are labelled supply chain orchestration, market orientation, supply chain operations and supply management. Two to three subthemes in each category are presented. Thereafter, promising future research areas are outlined, covering methodological issues, theoretical underpinnings, inclusion of context variables and outcomes of retail supply chain responsiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The conducted systematic literature review has been limited to academic, peer-reviewed articles.

Practical implications

The findings of the paper constitute a promising initial step towards a retail-specific framework on retail supply chain responsiveness.

Originality/value

The paper questions the comprehensiveness of established models in responsiveness, and argues that existing “general” literature on supply chain responsiveness gives little guidance and structure to retailers’ specific role and involvement in supply chain responsiveness. In particular, the paper focusses on the retailers’ role for creation of supply chain responsiveness, which has not previously been addressed in research.
A performance analysis of Brazilian public health: TOPSIS and neural networks application
Authors: Araujo Claudia Affonso Silva , Wanke Peter , Siqueira Marina Martins
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the performance of Brazilian hospitals’ services and to examine contextual variables in the socioeconomic, demographic and institutional domains as predictors of the performance levels attained.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applied a two-stage approach of the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) in public hospitals in 92 Rio de Janeiro municipalities, covering the 2008–2013 period. First, TOPSIS is used to estimate the relative performance of hospitals in each municipality. Next, TOPSIS results are combined with neural networks in an effort to originate a performance model with predictive ability. Data refer to hospitals’ outpatient and inpatient services, based on frequent indicators adopted by the healthcare literature.

Findings

Despite a slight performance increase over the period, substantial room for improvement is observed. The most important performance predictors were related to the demographic and socioeconomic status (area in square feet and GDP per capita) and to the juridical nature and type of ownership of the healthcare facilities (number of federal and private hospitals).

Practical implications

The results provide managerial insights regarding the performance of public hospitals and opportunities for better resource allocation in the healthcare sector. The paper also considers the impact of external socioeconomic, demographic and institutional factors on hospitals’ performance, indicating the importance of integrative public health policies.

Originality/value

This study displays an innovative context for applying the two-stage TOPSIS technique, with similar efforts not having been identified in the healthcare literature.
Cost of quality measurement in food manufacturing companies: the Greek case
Authors: Psomas Evangelos , Dimitrantzou Christina , Vouzas Fotis , Bouranta Nancy
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the cost of quality (CoQ) of food manufacturing companies. The study aims at empirically validating the conceptual structure of the core dimensions of CoQ (prevention, appraisal, internal and external failure cost) and determining their level and relationships. Determining the reasons for not measuring the CoQ as well as the barriers-difficulties and benefits of the CoQ measurement is also an aim of the present study.

Design/methodology/approach

Greek food manufacturing companies were approached through a structured questionnaire and 91 participated in the study. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistics and correlation analysis are applied for data analysis.

Findings

The structure of the core dimensions of CoQ is empirically validated, while all of them range within medium levels and are inter-related. The reasons for companies not measuring the CoQ as well as the barriers-difficulties of companies measuring the CoQ are not significant. On the contrary, significant benefits are derived from the CoQ measurement.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample of the food manufacturing companies operating in one country and the subjective business evidence collected are the main limitations of the present study.

Practical implications

Food companies can be motivated to establish a robust CoQ measurement system, which would reflect the level of the CoQ dimensions. According to the results of the CoQ measurement, a food company can make decisions to increase the prevention and appraisal costs and decrease the internal- and external-failure costs in order to be more competitive in the market.

Originality/value

The paper provides deeper insights into the level and inter-relations of empirically validated CoQ dimensions. Very few studies on the CoQ in food manufacturing companies have been carried out in Greece and the present study makes the picture of the CoQ status in this sector more clear.
A customer journey perspective on service delivery system design: insights from healthcare
Authors: Ponsignon Frederic , Smart Andi , Phillips Laura
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide novel theoretical insight into service delivery system (SDS) design. To do so, this paper adopts a customer journey perspective, using it as a frame to explore dimensions of experience quality that inform design requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilises UK Patient Opinion data to analyse the stories of 200 cancer patients. Using a critical incident technique, 1,207 attributes of experience quality are generated and classified into 17 quality dimensions across five stages of the customer (patient) journey.

Findings

Analysis reveals both similarity and difference in dimensions of experience quality across the patient journey: seven dimensions are common to all five journey stages, from receiving diagnosis to end of life care; ten dimensions were found to vary, present in one or several of the stages but not in all.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include a lack of representativity of the story sample and the impossibility to verify the factual occurrence of the stories.

Practical implications

Adopting a patient journey perspective can improve the practitioner understanding of the design requirements of SDS in healthcare. The results of the study can be applied by managers to configure SDS that achieve a higher quality of patient care throughout the patient journey.

Originality/value

This paper extends existing literature on SDS design by adopting a customer journey perspective, revealing heterogeneity in experience quality across the customer journey currently unaccounted for in SDS design frameworks. Specifically, the findings challenge homogeneity in extant SDS design frameworks, evidencing the need for multiple, stage-specific SDS design requirements.
Balancing risk and revenue: cost of quality within the banking industry
Authors: Duarte Patricia , Low Jwen Fai , Schiffauerova Andrea
Published: October 2018

Purpose

By developing a better understanding of costs associated with improving organizational quality and costs incurred by neglecting it, banks could devise more optimal operational policies. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a generic banking cost of quality (COQ) model developed from Colombian banking data. The model has been developed using the product performance approach, which is consistent with strategizing from a long-term and organization-wide perspective. The proposed COQ function is composed of prevention and appraisal categories, costs caused by events of operational risks and opportunity costs caused by events of credit risks measured though non-performing loans.

Findings

The model was validated using data obtained from three major Colombian banks. The significant theoretical contribution of this research stems from the development of a banking COQ model which represents a pioneer effort at quantifying quality costs in financial institutions.

Originality/value

This is a unique attempt at using a product performance approach in service industry and also a rare effort toward incorporating opportunity costs in COQ. Managerially, the proposed COQ model can be established as a holistic business strategy and can serve as a tool helping managers to evaluate the impact of quality management initiatives and to decide on trade-offs between quality level and quality costs.
The effect of inventory performance on product quality
Authors: Lin Yu , Liang Biwei , Zhu Xuechang
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the relationship among inventory performance, financial performance (FP) and product quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is based on two-stage least squares analysis of detailed firm-transaction data from Chinese manufacturing export firms for the period between 2001 and 2013.

Findings

Results show that inventory performance has a positive impact on product quality while using inventory efficiency, inventory productivity and inventory leanness to measure inventory performance. Furthermore, the effect of inventory performance on product quality is found to be partially mediated by FP.

Practical implications

The research provides mangers evidence of the benefits of inventory performance as an antecedent of product quality. Managers without sufficient liquidity or cost advantage to get better FP can achieve product quality improvement through enhancing inventory management performance.

Originality/value

This study first empirically investigates the relationship between inventory performance and product quality, and examines the mediating effect of FP on this relationship.
Using asset-based criterion to implement quality management philosophy in service operations to enhance business performance
Authors: Mehra Satish
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of successfully assessing basic resources of an organization, such as technology and human resources, needed to enhance performance of service businesses through the use of quality management ideals. Effective coordination of these two types of organizational assets is shown to impact both the design and the implementation of quality management practices, which than leads to enhanced organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Retail banking firms were surveyed for this study to analyze empirical data related to technology and people-based assets. Results were corroborated on the basis of in-depth interviews with several banking managers to provide real-world verification of the findings.

Findings

This study identifies the significance of key assets in a banking service environment that can help the implementation of quality management philosophy. Paper discusses how managers can focus on the development of key assets as well as the use of these assets in the design of quality management processes to enhance business performance.

Research limitations/implications

This research focused on a specific sector of the service industry, the banking sector. Relatively small size of the study sample may have impacted the outcome of research applicability on a wide spectrum of businesses. Also, constantly changing financial regulations could not be incorporated in the study. On the positive side, strong managerial feedback provides guidance toward adopting the study results, and lays the foundation for future research suggesting an additional focus on corporate responsibility and sustainability issues while managing quality.

Originality/value

As today’s rapidly evolving society pushes people out of service encounters, replacing them with efficient and cost-saving technology, roles of both the people and the technology in an organization must be fully understood. This paper shows that, despite the exponential growth of technological innovation, both people and technology are critical to enhancing organizational performance through successful adoption of quality management practices.
Creative industries: a case study of Isfahan, Iran
Authors: Lafzi Ghazi Elham , Goede Miguel
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute critically to understanding the structure of creative industries in Isfahan.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first gather needed information about the case study and then analyze the data according to three measures of gross value added, employment and the dynamics of business for each sector of creative industries.

Findings

Results indicate that creative industries are medium-sized domestic enterprises which are comparatively weak in productivity in some sectors.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates the model of creative industries assessment for Isfahan city and, finally, provides a good understanding of the concept of the creative industries as a key element of the creative city.
Active thermography as a tool for internal composite structure observation and evaluation
Authors: Majewska Katarzyna , Mieloszyk Magdalena , Ostachowicz Wieslaw
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study if it is possible applying infrared thermography (both vibro and pulsed) to detect and localise material discontinuities as well as to find the place where the inclusion was introduced.

Design/methodology/approach

The experimental investigation is performed on samples manufactured during infusion process. The measurements were performed on three four-layered rectangular composite samples with discontinuities. The discontinuities introduced in the samples were as follow: all three samples between first and second layer counting form the bottom two optical fibres (OFs) were embedded and additionally: sample no. 1 – one of the OF was broken, sample no. 2 – the drop of water was introduced, and sample no. 3 – the little amount of dust was introduced.

Findings

For some discontinuities, the vibrothermography is excellent tool (placement of broken OF, drop of water), for same is not sufficient (healthy OFs or dust). For dust, the pulsed thermography seems to be the required tool. Different approaches (vibrothermography and pulsed thermography) for the same sample will confirm that for same defects vibrothermograpy is better and for some pulsed thermography – complex combination of different thermography approaches is needed to have complex response about sample structural condition.

Originality/value

The presented paper is an original research work. There are very limited literature papers applying both vibro and pulsed thermography for one problem. The assessment of different discontinuities (inclusions) and detailed analysis is presented.
Depth control for storage tank in-service inspection robot based on artificial intelligence control
Authors: Huang Zhiqiang , He Lei , Li Xinxia , Kang Yewei , Xie Dou
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a buoyancy-gravity adjustment device and a fuzzy intelligent controller for the depth control of a storage tank in-service inspection robot.

Design/methodology/approach

The structure of the robot is first designed based on the construction of the bottom of a crude oil tank and explosion-proof requirements. The buoyancy-gravity adjustment system is used to control the vertical movement of the robot. The motion analysis of the robot indicates that the diving or rising process is influenced by hydrodynamic force and umbilical cord tension. Considering the nonlinear model in-depth control, a fuzzy intelligent controller is proposed to address the depth control problem. The primary fuzzy controller is used to compensate for initial error with fast response. The secondary fuzzy controller is activated by an intelligent switch to eliminate the steady error.

Findings

The proposed fuzzy controller can better solve the complicated hydrodynamic problem of the coupling of umbilical cord and the robot during depth control by classifying the error values of depth, velocity and acceleration.

Originality/value

The buoyancy-gravity adjustment device and the depth control system of the robot can move through the heating coils by safe and accurate diving or rising.
Stock mispricing and investment decisions: evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Usman , Saleem Sana , Muhammad Anwar ul Haq , Mahmood Faiq
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of stock mispricing on corporate investment decisions by taking the sample of non-financial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange during the period of 2008-2014.

Design/methodology/approach

To measure the mispricing, this study decomposes the market-to-book ratio into mispricing and growth components and measures corporate investment by capital expenditures. Fixed and random effect panel regression models are used to estimate the results.

Findings

Results of the study show that firms issue overvalued equity to finance the capital expenditures. Consistent with other studies, the relationship between stock mispricing and investment is more prominent in the financially constrained firms. In addition, cash flow investment sensitivity is higher in financially unconstrained firms.

Practical implications

Nonetheless, the results give important implications to the Pakistan Stock Market on how the mispricing enhances the welfare by relaxing the financial constraints and allowing the managers to make investment in profitable projects that otherwise go non-funded. These findings have interesting implications for further research in the literature of finance and also help in economic policy-making.

Originality/value

This study finds the impact of stock mispricing on corporate investment decisions by considering the role of market timing in the context of Pakistan.
An institutional theory perspective on non-financial reporting
Authors: Dagilienė Lina , Nedzinskienė Rūta
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the impact of institutional factors on non-financial reporting in the Baltic countries. The vast majority of research in the scientific literature references practices of sustainable disclosures in developed countries with a focus on legal factors and their effect on corporate reporting. Meanwhile, there is a lack of in-depth empirical data for identifying correlations between institutional (mandatory, normative and company-specific) factors and non-financial reporting in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical framework of neo-institutional theory was applied to explore how the external environment affects practices of non-financial reporting in developing countries. The approach used in the paper is quantitative.

Findings

The research results reveal that if companies are likely to disclose voluntarily one of non-economic aspects in their reports, they are also likely to disclose more about the other non-economic issues. However, no significant correlations were detected between the disclosure of voluntary (non-economic) and mandatory (economic) aspects. Mandatory factors promote both – economic and non-economic reporting – while normative and company-specific factors promote non-economic reporting more.

Practical implications

The authors contribute to the foreign investors and practitioners by helping to better understand corporate non-financial reporting practices in post-communistic countries.

Originality/value

The research adds to the growing body of research on non-financial reporting practices with particular reference to the developing Baltic context. This study also contributes to scientific literature by exploring the impact of different institutional factors to non-financial reporting in developing countries.
Mandatory IFRS adoption in Europe: effect on the conservative financial reporting
Authors: Guermazi Walid , Khamoussi Halioui
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the mandatory shift from domestic standards to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Europe affects the conservatism level of reported accounting earnings (i.e. conditional conservatism), with the objective of gaining insights that are relevant for standard setters, capital providers and other users of financial accounting information.

Design/methodology/approach

Various models have been used in the literature to capture conditional conservatism. In the main tests in this paper, the authors use the Basu’s (1997) earnings-return specification. The authors use a panel data methodology to carry out the paper.

Findings

In contrast to previous international research studies, it is found that conditional conservatism has increased after the mandatory adoption of IFRS in Europe in 2005, with this increase being dependent on the extent of the accounting changes involved in switching from domestic accounting standards to IFRS reporting.

Practical/implications

These findings are expected to be particularly relevant to some countries which have not yet adopted IFRS, such as the USA, Japan, Columbia, etc., but have announced their intention to adopt IFRS and to regulators in different jurisdictions who are interested in the impact of IFRS conversion.

Originality/value

The research to date, based on a multi-country setting, consistently shows a significant decrease in conditional conservatism after adopting IFRS. Based on a sample of firms from the European Union over a long period, the authors provide novel evidence for potentially unintended consequences of IFRS adoption, finding an increase in conditional conservatism behavior.
Sustainability indicators for manufacturing sectors
Authors: Ahmad Shamraiz , Wong Kuan Yew , Rajoo Srithar
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to review the indicators for the three aspects (environment, economy and society) of sustainability (the triple-bottom line (TBL) perspective) for manufacturing sectors. In addition, this paper aimed to: document the sustainability indicators for manufacturing sectors; perform an analysis of these indicators to show their evolutional progress and maturity in terms of their consistent, repeated and standardized usage; and highlight the further work needed to make them mature and more standardized.

Design/methodology/approach

The following keywords were used to explore and find the relevant articles: sustainable manufacturing evaluation, sustainability indicators, life cycle assessment, tools for sustainability assessment, and economic and social evaluation in industries. To find articles within this sample, the major focus remained on the terms “indicators,” “metrics,” and “performance measures.” This paper systematically reviewed the studies and analyzed the different sustainability indicators from the TBL viewpoint. Following this, the documented indicators were critically discussed along with their evolutional progress and maturity level.

Findings

The results showed that solid waste was the least used and immature aspect in the environmental category, whereas the more frequently used and developed indicators were related to material used, energy used and air emissions. Economic assessment was most of the time limited to cost-based indicators. From a social viewpoint, most of the reviewed studies were based on workers and local community and society related indicators rather than consumers-based indicators. From a sectoral viewpoint, comparatively, studies for metal manufacturing industries were more focused on all three dimensions of sustainability. On an overall basis, of the 144 discussed indicators, almost 34 percent (49) were used just once. Comparatively, the usage of indicators was more mature in manufacturing activities of developed countries than developing ones. Moreover, the usage of indicators was more common at the product level than at the other levels.

Originality/value

Unlike previous sustainability indicator sets which were generally long lists of proposed indicators rather than applicable and measurable ones, this paper reported the indicator sets based on studies for manufacturing sectors. Moreover, in contrast to previous reviews on indicators which were mostly based on the environmental dimension, this paper included all three dimensions of sustainability in one comprehensive review while focusing on recent studies published from 2007 to 2017. This paper has explored the recent evolutional progress and maturity of sustainability indicators, and provided insights into their development in manufacturing sectors.
Effect of air-gap on response of fabricated slim floor beams in fire
Authors: Alam Naveed , Nadjai Ali , Maraveas Chrysanthos , Tsarvdaridis Konstantinos , Kahanji Charles
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the airgap on thermal behaviour and structural response of fabricated slim floor beams (FSFBs) in fire.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed analytical model is established and validated by replicating the response of FSFBs. The validated finite element modelling method is then used to perform sensitivity analysis. First, the influence of the airgap presence is analysed, and later, the effect of the airgap size on thermal behaviour and structural response of FSFBs at elevated temperatures is investigated.

Findings

Results from the study demonstrate that the presence of the airgap has a considerable influence on their thermal behaviour and structural response of FSFBs. The size of the airgap, however, has no significant influence on their thermal and structural response in fire.

Originality/value

No investigations, experimental or analytical, are available in literature addressing the effect of airgap on the structural response of FSFBs in fire. The presence of airgap is helpful and beneficial; hence, the findings of this research can be used to develop designs for structural members with airgap as an efficient and inexpensive way to improve their response in fire.