bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variables predicting the association between autistic traits and externalizing symptoms among young adults
Authors: Álvarez-Couto María , García-Villamisar Domingo , Sáez-Suanes Gema P. , d'Orey Roquete María
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Considering the high comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with externalizing disorders and that ASD is considered as a continuum, which implies the identification of it features in the whole population, the purpose of this paper is to know the characteristics of the association of externalizing symptoms in the population with ASD traits.

Design/methodology/approach

One hundred and seventeen postsecondary students participated in the study, providing responses to a battery of self-reported tests.

Findings

The existence of a significant association between ASD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (0.519; p < 0.01) was proved. Regression analyses showed that problems in executive functioning, working memory deficits and difficulties in the use of emotion regulation strategies predicted the presence of ADHD traits (F = 36.757, R2 = 62.3%, p < 0. 01) and impulsivity behavior (F = 18.249, R2 = 45.1%, p < 0.01).

Research limitations/implications

Externalizing symptomatology in people with higher ASD traits is extended to the general population. Future research should study other problematic behaviors, such as aggression or self-harm, to continue generating appropriate interventions.

Originality/value

The results reported reinforce the study of ASD as a dimensional disorder, in line with the latest advances in the classification of psychopathology. Considering which variables are behind the problematic behaviors allows interventions to be focused on these factors, contributing to their reduction and to the improvement of professional practices.
Work-related identity discrepancy and employee innovation behavior: the role of intrinsic motivation and self-construal
Authors: Chen Yahui , Zhang Jianmin , Liu Chang-E , Liu Tingting , He Wei
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of intrinsic motivation and self-construal in explaining the relationship between work-related identity discrepancy and employee innovation behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a survey of 637 respondents from 15 organizations in southern China, this study examines four hypotheses with regard to the relationship between work-related identity discrepancy and employee innovation behavior through hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

The research results indicate that work-related identity discrepancy is negatively related to employee innovation behavior, but intrinsic motivation mediates their negative relationship, and self-construal moderates this mediating effect further. Specifically, the results demonstrate that perceiving work-related identity discrepancy can lower intrinsic motivation among employees with interdependent self-construal and subsequently reduce their innovation behavior.

Originality/value

Drawn on social cognitive theory, this study reveals the negative effect of work-related identity discrepancy on employee innovation behavior and the moderated mediation effect of intrinsic motivation and self-construal on the negative relationship. The finding expands existing literature on work-related identity discrepancy and employee innovation behavior.
Pareto-optimal front for multi-objective optimization of the suspension of a full-vehicle model in the frequency domain
Authors: Fossati Giovani Gaiardo , Miguel Letícia Fleck Fadel , Paucar Casas Walter Jesus
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to propose a complete and powerful methodology that allows the optimization of the passive suspension system of vehicles, which simultaneously takes comfort and safety into account and provides a set of optimal solutions through a Pareto-optimal front, in a low computational time.

Design/methodology/approach

Unlike papers that consider simple vehicle models (quarter vehicle model or half car model) and/or simplified road profiles (harmonic excitation, for example) and/or perform a single-objective optimization and/or execute the dynamic analysis in the time domain, this paper presents an effective and fast methodology for the multi-objective optimization of the suspension system of a full-car model (including the driver seat) traveling on an irregular road profile, whose dynamic response is determined in the frequency domain, considerably reducing computational time.

Findings

The results showed that there was a reduction of 28% in the driver seat vertical acceleration weighted root mean square (RMS) value of the proposed model, which is directly related to comfort, and, simultaneously, an improvement or constancy concerning safety, with low computational cost. Hence, the proposed methodology can be indicated as a successful tool for the optimal design of the suspension systems, considering, simultaneously, comfort and safety.

Originality/value

Despite the extensive literature on optimizing vehicle passive suspension systems, papers combining multi-objective optimization presenting a Pareto-optimal front as a set of optimal results, a full-vehicle model (including the driver seat), an irregular road profile and the determination of the dynamic response in the frequency domain are not found.
Entrepreneurial crowdfunding backer motivations: a latent Dirichlet allocation approach
Authors: St John Jeremy , St John Karen , Han Bo
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study furthers one’s understanding of the motivations of the crowdfunding crowd by empirically examining critical factors that influence the crowd's decision to support a crowdfunding project.

Design/methodology/approach

Backer's comments from a sample of the top 100 most funded technology product projects on KickStarter were collected. A latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) analysis strategy was adopted to investigate critical motivational factors. Three experts mapped those factors to the known theoretical constructs of social exchange theory (SET).

Findings

Although backers are motivated by value, they are also motivated by far less tangible social factors including trust and a feeling of psychological ownership. Findings suggest that the crowd is far more than a passive group of investors or customers and should be viewed as participatory stakeholders. This study serves as guidance for project owners hoping to motivate the crowd and for future investigators examining backer motivations in other types of crowdsourcing projects.

Research limitations/implications

Online chatter in the form of user-generated comments is an excellent data source for researchers to mine for value and meaning.

Practical implications

Given strong feelings of psychological ownership, project owners should actively engage the crowd and solicit the crowd for advice and help in order to motivate them.

Originality/value

The study presents the first empirical exploration of backer motivations using LDA guided by theory and the knowledge of experts. A framework of latent motivational factors is proposed.
Experiential learning model: improving entrepreneurial values through internship program at start-ups
Authors: Lantu Donald Crestofel , Suharto Yulianto , Fachira Ira , Permatasari Anggraeni , Anggadwita Grisna
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The development of teaching methods in the field of entrepreneurship education is a challenge for academics to achieve “real active learning.” This paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of learning experience through internship program at start-ups. This paper examines the benefits and challenges from stakeholders' experiences and perspectives (business students, start-ups and universities). The authors focus on the entrepreneurial values obtained by exploring start-up processes, culture and work environments.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses qualitative research with a case study approach by applying experiential learning. The objects of this research are students of the School of Business and Management and start-ups in Indonesia. This study divides the pilot program of internship at start-ups into three stages, designing process, execution and evaluation. The analysis technique uses an interpretive approach from interviews and observations of internships based on experiential learning.

Findings

The results showed that the internship program at start-ups in this study has benefits for all major stakeholders, especially students. The results of student learning experiences show that start-ups' characteristics such as a creative work environment, egalitarian work culture and dynamic workflow flexibility can increase their professional and moral values.

Research limitations/implications

This study has several limitations, including the internship program designed in this study, which is still raw and has several shortcomings. Time series in testing experiential learning is another limitation. For further study, it is necessary to conduct longitudinal research to measure the effectiveness of the start-ups' internship program.

Originality/value

This study provides new insights on experiential learning in developing an internship program at a start-up as an effort to increase entrepreneurial value for business students. This study highlights the possibility that an internship program at a start-up will have an impact on students' entrepreneurial values and competencies.
Analysis of construction delay for delivering quality project in Bangladesh
Authors: Hoque Md. Ikramul , Safayet Md. Abu , Rana Md. Jewel , Bhuiyan Abu Yousuf , Quraishy Golam Sadmani
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Construction delay is the most common issue and creates many adverse effects in any construction industry. This study has investigated the views of engineers, project managers and contractors on the causes of delay during a construction phase to identify potential delay factors, negative effects on project delivery and prioritize the delay factors.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review and interview with construction stakeholders have been conducted to identify potential causes of construction delays and design a questionnaire survey. The final questionnaire was designed with 40 potential delay factors, and a total of 102 valid Bangladeshi construction stakeholders responded to it. The result was analyzed by the relative importance index.

Findings

Among the 40 delay factors, the top five most influencing delay factors are “delay in progress payments,” “rework due to mistakes during construction,” “lack of skilled labor,” “poor monitoring and control of activities” and “delays in the making of a decision.” The top five most damaging effects of delay are “time overrun,” “cost overrun,” “disputes,” “arbitration” and “litigation,” among ten negative effects of construction delay. All construction stakeholders believe that the owner-related, consultant-related and contractor-related groups are the first, second and third most important groups of delay factors.

Originality/value

The outcome of this study would enable the Bangladeshi construction industry to develop strategies to overcome delay factors and their harmful effects. By focusing on the outcome of this research and prioritizing the critical factors, the construction industry of Bangladesh will be able to minimize construction delay significantly and propagate the progress of the construction industry by delivering quality projects timely.
Cost and environmental performance of forced air and hot water heating systems in post-Soviet countries
Authors: Kulmedov Begmyrat , Durdyev Serdar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The aim of the present study is to assess the selected heating systems (furnace and boiler) commonly used in the dwellings of seven post-USSR (the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) countries. The systems were assessed in terms of their cost and environmental performance, with natural gas and electricity used as the main source of energy.

Design/methodology/approach

The cost-effectiveness and environmental performance of the selected heating systems that have been commonly used in the selected post-USSR countries was assessed. Current energy (natural gas and electricity) prices that are applied in those countries were used.

Findings

Results show that the furnace is the cheapest option, while natural gas is the cheapest source of energy, despite its high price in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Both heating systems could be considered eco-friendly options, although their efficiencies need to be considered at the design stage. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which are the top natural gas producers, offer natural gas for the selected heating systems as both cost-effective and eco-friendly options.

Practical implications

A considerable reduction in electricity consumption and less harm to our environment can be achieved through the systems used in residential buildings in the region.

Originality/value

The outcomes of the present study offer value (in terms of cost-effective and eco-friendly options) for the end-users in the region.
Determinants of credit risk of Indonesian Sharīʿah rural banks
Authors: Priyadi Unggul , Utami Kurnia Dwi Sari , Muhammad Rifqi , Nugraheni Peni
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of internal and external factors on the credit risk (represented by nonperforming financing [NPF]) of Indonesian Sharīʿah rural banks (SRBs) – a type of Islamic bank that provides Islamic financial services especially to small and medium businesses in Indonesia. Internal variables comprise capital adequacy ratio (CAR), financing to deposit ratio (FDR), return on assets (ROA), operating expense ratio (OER), financing to value (FTV) and profit and loss sharing (PLS) financing ratio. External variables comprise inflation, economic growth and interest rate.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the annual reports of SRBs in Indonesia as secondary data for the years 2010–2019. Auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) is used as the analysis method to examine the short-run and long-run relationships between the variables.

Findings

The findings indicate that four variables experienced a lag in the short run, namely, NPF, inflation, CAR and PLS, with different results recorded for each of the variables. Furthermore, the long-run results show that CAR and ROA influence the NPF of SRBs positively, whereas inflation and PLS have a negative influence on NPF. The rest of the variables – notably economic growth, interest rate, FDR, FTV and OER – do not have an influence on NPF in SRBs.

Research limitations/implications

The level of NPF in SRBs exceeds the provision of the Central Bank of Indonesia. The findings are expected to have implications for SRBs and the regulator to consider and to manage the factors related to NPF properly due to the important role of SRBs in small and medium businesses’ development.

Originality/value

This study measures the determinants of NPF using internal and external variables, including the addition of a dummy variable, notably FTV. This study also uses ARDL to analyze the financial policies involving data at the present time and lagged time.
Board independence and private information-based trading: evidence from Malaysia
Authors: Khong Jiunn-Shyan , Hooy Chee-Wooi , Lye Chun-Teck
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study investigates the effect of board independence on private information-based trading (PIBT) events. This study also examines the interaction effects of firm's disclosure quality and the statutory and demographic roles of independent directors and board diversity attributes, respectively, on the relationship between board independence and PIBT.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses panel data of 811 non-financial public listed companies in Bursa Malaysia for the sample period 2009–2017. The dynamic general method of moments (DGMM) is used for the dynamic panel data estimation and to address the potential endogeneity problem.

Findings

The results show that board independence has a negative effect on PIBT and the effect could be strengthened by firm's disclosure quality, women independent directors and board gender diversity, but attenuated by CEO duality. The overall result suggests that apart from independent audit committee, the statutory and demographic attributes of independent directors and board diversity, and firm's disclosure quality are complementary to board independence in preventing persistent PIBT.

Originality/value

This study augments the existing corporate governance and information-based trading literature from the perspectives of firm's disclosure quality, and the statutory and demographic roles of independent directors and board diversity attributes, by examining their effects on the relationship between board independence and PIBT.
The managerialization of museums and art institutions: perspectives from an empirical analysis
Authors: Palumbo Rocco , Manna Rosalba , Cavallone Mauro
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Managerialization – i.e. the institutional and organizational transformation of cultural institutions acknowledging the need for a managerial action to address their value propositions – is radically reshaping the way museums interact with relevant stakeholders and arrange their service offering. The paper aims at making sense out of the manifold implications of managerialization on museum activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data were collected from a sample of 4,073 Italian museums and art institutions. A logit regression model was designed to investigate the implications of museums’ managerialization on pricing strategies, service offering, organizational and marketing policies, inter-organizational relationships and digitalization.

Findings

Managerialization triggered an evolution in museums’ service offering and organizational practices. Institutions that underwent a managerial development were more likely to innovate their policies and strategies. However, managerialization may undermine the way museums focus on disadvantaged people, nurturing inequalities in the access to their service offering.

Practical implications

The managerialization of museums should be handled as a double-edged sword. Although it contributes in enriching the museums’ service offering and in differentiating their activities, it may generate drawbacks on the art institutions’ ability to address the demands of underprivileged groups. Tailored correctives are needed to avoid the side effects of managerialization.

Originality/value

This is one of the first attempts to investigate the implications of managerialization on museums’ practices and inter-organizational relationships. The research findings provide some insights into the challenges that are related to the managerialization of museums and art institutions.
Dynamic capability of the firm: analysis of the impact of internationalisation on SME performance in an emerging economy
Authors: Rahman Mahfuzur , Hack-Polay Dieu , Shafique Sujana , Igwe Paul Agu
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Internationalisation is considered as a key strategy for the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between dynamic capability, SMEs internationalisation and firm performance in the context of emerging economies and to evaluate the impact of financial, asset and market expansion on internationalisation of SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary data from 212 SMEs from Bangladesh, structural equation modelling and mathematical (hierarchical reflective) model, the analysis enabled the measurement of the casual relationship on the impacts of internationalisation.

Findings

The results revealed that internationalisation of SMEs has significant impact on both financial and non-financial performance of SMEs in an emerging economy- Bangladesh. The paper found internationalisation impacts on two dimensions (financial and non-financial) with eight defined indicators – higher sales, higher profit, assets maximisation, market expansion, competitive advantage, better reputation, better customer service and added knowledge.

Originality/value

Despite several studies that examine the relationship between SME internationalisation and firm performance, limited research exists on emerging economies. This is contrary to the fact that SMEs are one of the main vehicles for growth in those economies such as Bangladesh. In this research, the authors use the theories of dynamic capabilities to conceptualise how internationalisation becomes a core SME capability for SMEs in an emerging economy.
Applying the breaks to non-performing loans in Ghana
Authors: Amoah Anthony , Asiama Rexford Kweku , Korle Kofi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper acknowledges the rising levels of non-performing loans (NPLs) and the consequences associated with such patterns to an emerging economy like Ghana. In theory, one would expect rising NPLs to have a negative impact on an economy, especially regarding credit creation and private sector growth. This research, consistent with empirical literature, constructs a measure of financial market development to investigate its effect on Ghana's NPLs.

Design/methodology/approach

The fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) econometric technique is used as a way of addressing common time series identification issues such as endogeneity and serial correlation.

Findings

The study finds that the growth of the financial market has a negative and statistically significant relationship with NPLs in Ghana. Therefore, building a stable financial sector is key to addressing Ghana’s rising rates of NPLs.

Practical implications

Applying the breaks to Ghana's NPLs would involve deepening credit and improving efficiency through good governance. The study suggests that such a mechanism would increase financial sector performance and reduce the growth risks arising from the industry.

Originality/value

The study analyzes the influence of financial market development on the quarterly growth of NPLs in Ghana. Most studies only focus on annual growth of NPLs.
Advancing SDG competencies in higher education: exploring an interdisciplinary pedagogical approach
Authors: Alm Karin , Melén Maria , Aggestam-Pontoppidan Caroline
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore an interdisciplinary pedagogical approach for advancing knowledge and understanding of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study conducted an explorative experiment to elaborate on forms to advance a pedagogical approach that embeds sustainability. The design of the pedagogical project was explorative and interdisciplinary, using a predefined framework on key competencies for sustainability.

Findings

The findings showed that an interdisciplinary approach can create a learning setting that stimulates students’ problem-solving competencies for sustainability-related issues. Students were trained in the five key sustainable competencies addressed by Wiek et al. (2011). Moreover, although it is not always possible to arrange an interdisciplinary pedagogical setting, this might be a key condition for the development of students’ key competencies regarding their understanding of the SDGs. Addressing the SDGs from an interdisciplinary perspective paved the way for the development of students’ strategic competencies, including systems thinking and anticipatory competencies.

Practical implications

The pedagogical project, as an interdisciplinary explorative experiment, was shown to be a potentially suitable method to counteract “cherry-picking” approaches to teaching the SDGs at HEI.

Originality/value

The pedagogical approach advanced in this paper, extends active learning and interdisciplinarity in higher education. The authors argue that this approach encourages students to take ownership of and responsibility for their learning process and indicates a changed mindset and behavior.
The nexus between capital structure and firm-specific factors: evidence from Indian companies
Authors: Pathak Mohit , Chandani Arti
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study is to empirically examine firm-specific factors that influence the financing decisions of companies listed on BSE-500 index. Firm-specific variables such as profitability, company size, growth potential, liquidity, non-debt tax shields, age and tangibility were evaluated in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical research is performed using longitudinal data of 366 companies listed on the BSE 500 index during 2006–2020. Pooled ordinary least square method is employed to classify primary determinants of capital structure.

Findings

The results show that profitability, liquidity and non-debt tax shield are negatively associated whereas, company size, growth potential, age and tangibility are positively associated with the capital structure. The authors’ observations are aligned with either the trade-off hypothesis or the principle of the pecking order.

Research limitations/implications

This study helps to better understand how firm-specific factors play a vital part in deciding the capital structure of businesses and makes a significant contribution to the literature. Thus, the present study examines the drivers of the capital structure among sample Indian companies, which allow firm managers and regulators to recognise relevant variables that optimise performance. This study is limited to Indian companies and only firm-specific variables were considered.

Originality/value

The current research focuses on the impact of firm-specific variables upon the financing decisions of Indian companies. In the background of developed countries, numerous studies in this field have been carried out. In the Indian context, however, there are not many researches in this area. However, the existing studies use one or two ordinary least square (OLS) models, resulting in a lack of thorough research and robust results. To address this gap in the analysis, the current study used four models and used a 15-year time frame, as well as a bigger sample size, which was not used in earlier investigations.
Effects of cloud computing assimilation on supply chain financing risks of SMEs
Authors: Lu Qiang , Chen Jinliang , Song Hua , Zhou Xiangyu
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how cloud computing assimilation reduces supply chain financing (SCF) risks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study also investigated the mediating roles of internal and external supply chain integration between cloud computing assimilation and the SCF risks of SMEs, as well as the moderating role of environmental competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from surveys of SMEs located in China. Multiple regression analysis was used to validate the proposed theoretical model and research hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show that cloud computing assimilation could reduce the SCF risks of SMEs directly. The results also indicate that both internal and external supply chain integration mediate the relationship between cloud computing assimilation and SCF risks. Furthermore, environmental competitiveness inhibits the effects of cloud computing assimilation on SCF risks.

Originality/value

To our best knowledge, this is the preliminary study to explore the role of cloud computing assimilation in reducing the SCF risks of SMEs. Also, this study attempted to investigate the process by which cloud computing assimilation affects the SCF risks of SMEs.
The influence of fashion blogger credibility, engagement and homophily on intentions to buy and e-WOM. Results of a binational study
Authors: Mainolfi Giada , Vergura Donata Tania
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The study aims to contribute to the knowledge on the role of the fashion bloggers in the product adoption process in both advanced and emerging markets. Specifically, the study investigates the impact of credibility, engagement and homophily on intentions to buy fashion products recommended by the blogger.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical research builds on an online survey with a sample of 402 consumers (189 Italian and 213 Taiwanese). The proposed model was tested through structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results showed that homophily and the fashion blogger credibility positively influenced the engagement within the blog. Moreover, perceived similarity with the other blog's followers (homophily) and a higher engagement with the blog both translated in a stronger intention to buy the sponsored products and to spread a positive word-of-mouth about the fashion blogger.

Practical implications

The study has practical implications since it identifies strategic suggestions for both companies that create partnerships with famous fashion bloggers and bloggers who have turned their diary-style websites into a business.

Originality/value

The study contributes to a better understanding of the influence exerted by blog engagement on intentions to follow blogger's recommendations. The study also examines credibility and homophily as antecedents of engagement, which have not been extensively researched in the past with respect to blogs.
Reflections from the field (mountain, cityscape and park): walking for management development and links to being-in-the world, belonging and “Ba”
Authors: Turner Arthur F. , Edwards Gareth , Latham Catherine , Shortt Harriet
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, based on reflections from practice, is to shed light on the realities of using walking as a tool for learning and development. This is done through an initial analysis of longitudinal reflective data spanning seven years and connecting these reflections to the concepts: being-in-the-world, belonging and Ba.

Design/methodology/approach

This research takes a practice based phenomenological and reflective approach. The value of this approach is to seek a new understanding, through three distinct conceptual frames, of the effective use of walking within management development.

Findings

The findings connect three conceptual approaches of being-in-the-world, belonging and “Ba” to the practicalities of delivery, thus encouraging practitioners and designers to deeply reflect on the role of walking in management development.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation is that this is largely a personal story exploring the impact of an intuitively developed set of interventions. Despite this, the paper represents a unique and deep interpretation of walking as a mechanism for management development.

Practical implications

The paper concludes with three recommendations to practitioners wanting to use walking in management development programmes. These are: facilitators need to be familiar with their surroundings; they should look for spaces and places where participants can connect and build relationships; and organisers and sponsors need to recognise how walking not only consolidates knowledge but can help create knowledge too.

Originality/value

This is a unique, seven-year longitudinal study that broadens the theoretical focus of walking as a mechanism for management and leadership development that combines the theoretical lenses of being-in-the-world, belonging and “Ba”, the authors believe, for the first time in research on management development.
Customer experience quality in African B2B contexts
Authors: Kuppelwieser Volker G. , Klaus Phil
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to replicate the EXQ measurement scale in the business-to-business (B2B) environment of two African countries. This paper contrasts EXQ’s measurement specification and structure in these two countries with a European sample.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper carried out two empirical studies to replicate and test the EXQ scale in an African context. Following the scale’s previous application, this paper replicated the EXQ in Morocco and South Africa, and added a European study conducted in the UK.

Findings

The findings highlight that, despite having the same customer experience (CX) delivery structure, the B2B experience in Africa differs significantly from other countries. Further research replicating CX measurement in the African environment is therefore needed, preferably starting with a qualitative study.

Originality/value

This study provides insight into how the B2B CX, measured by EXQ, differs from one country to another. Most significantly, the Moroccan sample demonstrates a never-before-reported high correlation between the service and post-purchase experience.
Dimensions of expansion for configuring learning spaces in global work
Authors: Toiviainen Hanna , Sadik Sahara , Bound Helen , Pasqualoni Pier Paolo , Ramsamy-Prat Padma
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Technological innovation and the flexibilisation of labour markets have expanded the pool of workers engaged in globally distributed work. This paper aims to propose an analytical framework to understand and support the productive professional learning of those engaged in global work. Drawing on the theory of expansive learning in the cultural-historical activity theory tradition the study aims to stimulate and enrich the conceptual notion of work as a learning space in the discussion of workplace learning particularly in global work.

Design/methodology/approach

Iteration between theory and data is applied to identify the dimensions of expansion for the configuration of learning spaces in global work. Data are drawn from the experiences of 10 professionals selected by purposive sampling in Austria, Italy, the Netherlands and Singapore.

Findings

Six dimensions of expansion are identified as challenging and potentially empowering for professionals’ configuration of learning spaces in global work: social-spatial, material-instrumental, moral-ethical, political-economic, personal-professional and temporal-developmental.

Originality/value

The conceptual framework for the dimensions of expansion of learning spaces provides the broad strokes for reflexive curricula that democratise the learning and development of professionals in global work, who are currently underserved given the national orientation of vocational education and training and professional development ecosystems.
The Arab Spring a decade on: information and communication technologies as a mass mobilization tool
Authors: Blagojević Jelisaveta , Šćekić Radenko
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research paper is to address the main research gap related to the lack of sufficient information regarding the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in second Arab Spring wave in comparison to the first one. The authors analysed the role of ICTs via data regarding the access to ICTs and its influence on organization and spread of the anti-regime protests, i.e. regime change.

Design/methodology/approach

Crisis situations are unpredictable, complex and unexpected. The consequences produced by the crisis situations or events may be negative for an individual, community, organization or society as a whole. In the new millennium, ICTs have an important role in deep social crises. The new technologies enable not only the rapid spread of certain political ideas, spin information, but also the spread of misinformation. The control over ICTs in the crisis situations is crucial. The aim of this paper is to indicate effect of the use of ICTs in the crisis situations, i.e. political upheavals in 11 countries of the “Arab Spring”. The contribution of this paper is based on the development of a special theoretical model of analysis that represents the combination of the theoretical considerations in the field of ICTs, as well as the analysis in the field of transitology, i.e. democratization. The first part of the paper is focussed on the development of ICT transition theory of ICTs’ impact on the process of political change, setting the hypotheses and the explanation of methodological approach of the paper. The second part is related to the review and description of data regarding ICTs use, while the third one discusses the impact of the use of ICTs in organizing and spreading protests in the Arab world, in line with the defined theoretical framework. Finally, there are given the research results in terms of confirming or refuting the hypotheses through the analysis of Arab transition cases.

Findings

The authors confirmed the main hypothesis of the paper that the factors that determined the role of ICTs in first Spring, also, have determined the role of ICTs in second Spring wave. These factors include high access to ICT tools, weak regime's control over ICTs’ use and important cross-border networking with regional and international audience. All that formed the promotional role of ICTs in regime change in 8 of the 11 countries mentioned in the paper.

Originality/value

Apart from the developed special theoretical model and the analysis of new wave Arab Spring cases, the significance and originality of this paper is reflected in a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach that connects political changes and the use of ICTs in disseminating certain policies and ideas.
Brazilian contributions to the Sustainable Development Goal 7 and policy implications
Authors: Rampasso Izabela Simon , Martins Vitor William Batista , Pavan Serafim Milena , Cavaliero Carla Kazue Nakao , Gonçalvez Quelhas Osvaldo L. , Leal Filho Walter , Anholon Rosley
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The seventh United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 7) is broadly characterised by ensuring affordable and clean energy for all. Considering the need for research associated with SDGs in developing countries, the Brazilian economy importance and its energy matrix, the purpose of this study is to evaluate how Brazil has been acting in favour of 7th SDGs targets.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological strategy used was a survey conducted with 42 energy planning specialists who know the Brazilian reality. Data were analysed via averages and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) technique.

Findings

The results show that, in general, the actions taken by Brazil to achieve the goals related to SDG 7 have been developed in a simply and punctually form, needing to move considerably towards developing more planned activities; with this, satisfactory and consolidated results are expected on a national scale.

Originality/value

The information presented can significantly contribute to the broadening of debates associated with sustainable development and energy planning, for both academic and political-economic spheres. Information present here can support future more profound studies, and these, in turn, support the Brazilian government in better actions to achieve the SDG 7 targets.
Research on the influencing factors of the switching behavior of Chinese social media users: QQ transfer to WeChat
Authors: Yin Cong , Zhou Yujing , He Peiyu , Tu Meng
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This research takes the transfer behavior of users from Tencent QQ to WeChat as an example to discuss the wider transfer behavior of social media users on the Internet.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper collects data through a combination of offline interviews and online questionnaire surveys, and utilizes data analysis tools to construct structural equation modeling (SEM). Using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Statistics 22.0 and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) 22.0 software with SEM, this study was carried out to provide reasonable statistical support for relevant proposed hypotheses based on 368 effective samples acquired through the questionnaire.

Findings

The findings of this study show that subjective norm, transfer experience, social communication, and knowledge acquisition all have significant associations with transfer intention and switching behavior. To be specific, transfer intention exerts a positive association on switching behavior; function setting, privacy protection and personal innovation have a favorable association with transfer intention; transfer cost has a significantly negative relationship with transfer intention and switching behavior; function setting has no important relationship on switching behavior.

Originality/value

The research results provide a reference for improving the viscosity and loyalty of social media users in the new era and resolving the problem of user churn.
How firms accumulate knowledge to innovate – an empirical study of Vietnamese firms
Authors: Nguyen Duy Quoc
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Organizational innovations are closely associated with organizational knowledge, and thus a firm builds its knowledge base to enhance its innovative performance. However, insights into this process are still limited, especially in the context of firms in developing countries. Building on the dynamic managerial capabilities literature and open innovation paradigm, this paper attempts to fill this gap by developing and empirically testing a model that investigates how firms in developing countries accumulate knowledge to innovate.

Design/methodology/approach

A model of a firm's knowledge accumulation and innovation is proposed in which it specifies relationships among absorptive capacity, knowledge breadth, research and development (R&D), knowledge depth, exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation, and then it is empirically tested by using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique based on the surveyed data of Vietnamese firms.

Findings

The results indicate that absorptive capacity positively influences both knowledge breadth and knowledge depth, knowledge breadth positively influences R&D, R&D positively influences exploratory innovation and knowledge depth, and knowledge depth positively influences exploratory and exploitative innovation.

Practical implications

The study proposes an “acquire and develop” open innovation model for firms in developing countries in which firms acquire external technologies and then develop R&D (develop and design) capability to adapt acquired technologies to their local conditions to create new organizational-specific capabilities and exploratory innovation.

Originality/value

This study argues that external knowledge acquisition is beneficial to innovative performance of firms in developing countries via renewing their knowledge base. Furthermore, the study provides the unique evidence that novel external knowledge acquisition and internal R&D are fit to each other in the fit-as-mediation form in which novel external knowledge acquisition is mediated by R&D to positively influence exploratory innovation.
Improved accuracy of an FDM 3D printer using a face-diagonal length test using an artifact and a Vernier caliper
Authors: Yang Seung-Han , Lee Kwang-Il
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve the accuracy of a fused deposition modeling three-dimensional (3D) printer by identifying and compensating for position-independent geometric errors using a face-diagonal length test featuring a designed artifact and a Vernier caliper.

Design/methodology/approach

An artifact that does not require support when printing was designed and printed to allow performance of the face-diagonal length test. A Vernier caliper was used to measure the lengths of diagonals in the XY, YZ and ZX planes of the printed artifact specimen; this completed the face-diagonal length test. The relationships between position-independent geometric errors of the linear axes X, Y and Z and the measured diagonal lengths of the three planes were determined to identify geometric errors.

Findings

The approach was applied to a commercial fused deposition modeling 3D printer, and three position-independent geometric errors were rapidly identified. The artifact was re-printed after model-based compensation for these errors and the diagonal lengths were re-measured. The results were verified via coordinate measuring machine measurement of a simple test piece without and with model-based compensation for identified geometric errors. Furthermore, the proposed approach was applied to a commercial 3D printer.

Research limitations/implications

The measured diagonal lengths of the printed artifacts varied greatly. Thus, further studies should investigate the effects of printing materials and parameters on the length discrepancies of 3D printed artifacts.

Practical implications

A software-based compensation of identified position-independent geometric errors has to be used at commercial 3D printers for accuracy improvements of printed parts.

Originality/value

Thus, the approach is of practical utility; it can be periodically used to identify position-independent geometric errors and ensure that the 3D printer is consistently accurate.
Point‐spread function convolution to simulate prestack depth migrated images: A validation study
Authors: Jensen Kristian , Lecomte Isabelle , Gelius Leiv Jacob , Kaschwich Tina
Published: July 2021

Seismic migration commonly yields an incomplete reconstruction of the Earth model due to restricted survey aperture, band‐limited frequency content and propagation effects. This affects both illumination and resolution of the structures of interest. Through the application of spatial convolution operators commonly referred to as point‐spread functions, simulated prestack depth‐migrated images incorporating these effects may be obtained. Such simulated images are tailored for analysing distortion effects and enhance our understanding of seismic imaging and subsequent interpretation. Target‐oriented point‐spread functions may be obtained through a variety of waveform and ray‐based approaches. Waveform approaches are generally more robust, but the computational cost involved may be prohibitive. Ray‐based approaches, on the other hand, allow for efficient and flexible sensitivity studies at a low computational cost, but inherent limitations may lead to less accuracy. To yield more insight into the similarities and differences between point‐spread functions obtained via these two approaches, we first derive analytical expressions of both wave‐ and ray‐based point‐spread functions in homogeneous media. By considering single‐point scatterers embedded in a uniform velocity field, we demonstrate the conditions under which the derived equations diverge. The accuracy of wave‐based and ray‐based point‐spread functions is further assessed and validated at selected targets in a subsection of the complex BP Statics Benchmark model. We also compare our simulated prestack depth migrated images with the output obtained from an actual prestack depth migration (reverse time migration). Our results reveal that both the wave‐ and ray‐based approaches accurately model illumination, resolution and amplitude effects observed in the reverse time‐migrated image. Furthermore, although some minor deviations between the wave‐based and ray‐based approaches are observed, the overall results indicate that both approaches can be used also for complex models.