bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Develop artificial neural network numerical modeling to study fluid flow and heat transfer of dispersed nanoparticles through base liquid
Authors: Alkanhal Tawfeeq Abdullah
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to disperse the silicon dioxide in water (as the mono nanofluid [MN]) and then, carbon nanotube (CNT)-silica composite in water (as the hybrid nanofluid [HN]).

Design/methodology/approach

Nanofluids have gained lots of attention through the recent years. Due to their usage in the industries and also medical applications, they have high protentional to be studied in different aspects. The most common study for the nanofluids is to understand the heat transfer capacity for each material in each fluid. These material(s) or fluid(s) can be one (mono nanofluid) or more than one (hybrid nanofluid).

Findings

The mixture of two solids is to assess the unique properties of each material and also to decrease the cost of experiments. The heat transfers for both MN and HN were measured at volume fractions up to 1.0%, and temperatures up to 50°C. Also, the heat transfers were compared. By more CNT, thermal conductivity was enhanced about 17.39% (from 12.42% of MN to 29.81% of HN).

Originality/value

X-Ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were examined for mono solids and the composite. After the experimental study, for MN and HN, four novel correlations calculated.
Assessment of information literacy skills and information-seeking behavior of medical students in the age of technology: a study of Pakistan
Authors: Haider Mohammad Sohail , Ya Chen
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Information literacy skills (ILSs) and information-seeking behavior (ISB) is a widespread topic that needs modern technologies to improve the technical skills of the students. The purpose of this study is to assess the usage of library resources for medical college students. To explore and understand the student’s level of satisfaction, learning and seeking behavior by efficient information retrieval systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a quantitative research method and data was collected from the undergraduate students of medical colleges Islamabad Pakistan. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 using Pearson correlation statistical test to identify the level of proficiency of correlation of variables and testing of the proposed hypothesis.

Findings

The finding of the study shows that the medical students can enhance their IT skills to seek the information in this technology era. The medical institutional administration can develop the education development policy, traditional health education policy, funds allocating policy, health information literacy and collaborate with library staff for enhancing the services and to meet the information need of medical students.

Practical implications

The conclusion of this study is very helpful to reduce the barriers between the students and the library staff. The findings of the study are also beneficial for the administration to improve and develop the strategies for enhancing the ILSs of medical students to achieve medical educational information in the age of technology. Therefore, all significant structures want to improve and to develop the environment of information seeking by medical students to achieve medical educational information.

Social implications

Medical college library administrative management must be design useful a durable policy to come up with the technology development for digital literacy. The study reduces the barriers between the students and the library staff.

Originality/value

The study is based on quantitative research method to find out ISB of medical students.
An analysis of attitude of general public toward COVID-19 crises – sentimental analysis and a topic modeling study
Authors: S.V. Praveen , Ittamalla Rajesh
Published: February 2021

Purpose

It has been eight months into the global pandemic health crises COVID-19, yet the severity of the crises is just getting worse in many parts of the world. At this stage, it is essential to understand and observe the general attitude of the public toward COVID crises and the major concerns the public has voiced out and how it varies across months. Understanding the impact that the COVID-19 crises have created also helps policymakers and health-care organizations access the primary steps that need to be taken for the welfare of the community. The purpose of this study is to understand the general public's response towards COVID-19 crises and the major issues that concerns them.

Design/methodology/approach

For the analysis, data were collected from Twitter. Tweets regarding COVID-19 crises were collected from February 1, 2020, to June 27, 2020. In all, 433,195 tweets were used for this study. Natural language processing (NLP), which is a part of Machine learning, was used for this study. NLP was used to track the changes in the general public's sentiment toward COVID-19 crises and LDA was used to understand the issues that shape the general public's sentiments the crises time. Using Python library Wordcloud, the authors further derived how the primary concerns regarding COVID crises various from February to June of the year 2020.

Findings

This study was conducted in two parts. Study 1 results showed that the attitude of the general public toward COVID crises was reasonably neutral at the beginning of the crises (Month of February). As the crises become severe, the sentiments toward COVID increasingly become negative yet a considerable percentage of neutral sentiments existed even at the peak time of the crises. Study 2 finds out that issues including the severity of the disease, Precautionary measures need to be taken, and Personal issues like unemployment and traveling during the pandemic time were identified as the public's primary concerns.

Originality/value

The research adds value to the literature on understanding the major issues and concerns, the public voices out about the current ongoing pandemic. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study with an extended period of timeframe (Five months). In this research, the authors have collected data till June for analysis that makes the results and findings more relevant to the current time.
Is Caribbean tourism in overdrive? Investigating the antecedents and effects of overtourism in sovereign and nonsovereign small island tourism economies (SITEs)
Authors: Peterson Ryan , DiPietro Robin B.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Drawing on theories of development economics and sustainable tourism, this research explores the differences between sovereign and nonsovereign small island tourism economies (SITEs) and identifies the antecedents and effects of overtourism in the Caribbean.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design is based on a comparative case study of selected Caribbean SITEs. Case study research involves a detailed empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context. The main purpose of a case study is to provide a contextual analysis of the conditions and processes involved in the phenomenon under study. A comparative case study is an appropriate research methodology to explore new multi-faceted concepts with limited empirical evidence.

Findings

The results confirm previous studies that nonsovereign SITEs have a distinctive overdrive toward tourism specialization. Moreover, the findings indicate that overtourism is driven by both global and domestic policy factors and generates significant economic volatility, social inequality and ecological stress. The paper discusses the tourism policy implications of the evolving economic disconnectedness, environmental decay and social tensions in SITEs in the Caribbean.

Originality/value

Policy recommendations are presented for transitioning toward a more inclusive development and strengthening the resilience of small island tourism development in the Caribbean.
How infomediaries on Twitter influence business outcomes of a bank
Authors: Illia Laura , Colleoni Elanor , Meggiorin Katia
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore under which conditions Tweets of infomediaries (i.e. ordinary users having few or no followers on Twitter) might nevertheless promote a negative sentiment toward a corporation to the point of having a negative impact on the corporation's outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study is based on a unique database that combines a sample of one year of Twitter conversations about an Italian bank and its daily business performances (i.e. number of closures and openings). The relationship between these two is analyzed using autoregressive time series models (VAR).

Findings

Findings indicate that a tweet affects a bank’s outcomes only when embedded in a larger conversation about the bank, rather than simply repetitively shared. These findings contribute to two debates within bank marketing literature. First is the debate about the role of infomediaries in banks' outcomes, as it urges to reconsider the way banks' online reputation is conceptualized and measured. Second is the debate on opportunities and threats of social media for the banking industry, as it indicates that negative sentiment expressed by the general public influences not only stock markets but also directly banks' outcomes.

Originality/value

This study allows managers and corporations to understand what to do when conversations of unknown individuals become threatening for the company. To influence such situations, the company should identify not only the actors that are influencers but also the communications that have been popular in the past for their brand or the brand of their competitors and monitor the conversational volume and broadness.
The impact of religiosity on political skill: evidence from Muslim hotel employees in Turkey
Authors: Wang Yao-Chin , Chi Christina Geng-Qing , Erkılıç Eren
Published: February 2021

Purpose

While former literature has shown that people have a strong tendency to seek religious support during difficult times, knowledge gaps exist in how the mechanism of religiosity works to support employees’ mental status and performance. Therefore, based on self-categorization theory, this study aims to examine the effects of employees’ intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity on building their mental toughness and mindfulness and the further formation of employees’ political skills.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 404 full-time hotel employees working in 34 hotels in Turkey during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in spring 2020. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Results of this study show that intrinsic religiosity improves employees’ mental toughness, while extrinsic religiosity enhances employee mindfulness. Additionally, both mental toughness and mindfulness help employees to develop political skill.

Research limitations/implications

This study enriches knowledge to workplace religiosity literature and expands the research scope of religion-related research in hospitality and tourism literature. Future studies are recommended to consider religious heterogeneity and longitudinal design.

Practical implications

To foster employee mental well-being, hotel firms should create a religious-friendly workplace and develop religion-friendly policies. Opportunities should be created within hospitality organizations for employees to develop and use their political skills in needed work aspects.

Originality/value

The findings of this study contribute to valuable theoretical and practical implications. To the best of the knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts to study hotel employees’ religiosity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigating facemask problems associated with wearing comfort and fit
Authors: Morishima Mika , Kishida Koya , Fukagawa Miho
Published: February 2021

Purpose

A facemask is used to cover the nose and mouth to protect a wearer's health in daily life. The authors’ long-term goal aimed to ensure more people with different physical characteristics and different attitudes can wear a high performance and comfortable facemask. In the present paper, wearers were surveyed by a questionnaire. Additionally, a prototype improvement pattern with a fit performance was investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey of facemask wearers was conducted with local students and international students in Japan. A basic pattern with high fit performance was analyzed using a combination of triangles based on the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the head shape of a Japanese mannequin.

Findings

The aggregated survey data indicated that 85.0% of the Japanese female students, 77.2% of international female students, 70.8% of Japanese male students and 54.3% of international male students were facemask wearers. Wearers had problems related to their masks' thermal, hygroscopic and airflow properties. Japanese nonusers did not wear them due to dislike related to the problems above. International nonusers had no experience of wearing them. It was concerned that these discomfort factors influence fit performance and reduction of wearing effects. Therefore, the authors analyzed a sheet pattern with a high fit performance for a Japanese head mannequin.

Originality/value

These results will contribute in improving hygienic facemasks for people at the global level. The survey results and pattern analysis provide of necessary conditions of development of the mask with comfortable and high fit performance.
Experimental study of heat and moisture transfer in vertical air gap under protective clothing against dry and wet heat exposures
Authors: Su Yun , Tian Miao , Wang Yunyi , Zhang Xianghui , Li Jun
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study heat and steam transfer in a vertical air gap and improve thermal protective performance of protective clothing under thermal radiation and hot steam.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment-based model was introduced to analyze heat and moisture transfer in the vertical air gap between the protective clothing and human body. A developed test apparatus was used to simulate different air gap sizes (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 mm). The protective clothing with different air gap sizes was subjected to dry and wet heat exposures.

Findings

The increase of the air gap size reduced the heat and moisture transfer from the protective clothing to the skin surface under both heat exposures. The minimum air gap size for the initiation of natural convection in the dry heat exposure was between 6 and 9 mm, while the air gap size for the occurrence of natural convection was increased in the wet heat exposure. In addition, the steam mass flux presented a sharp decrease with the rising of the air gap size, followed by a stable state, mainly depending on the molecular diffusion and the convection mass transfer.

Originality/value

This research provides a better understanding of the optimum air gap under the protective clothing, which contributes to the design of optimum air gap size that provided higher thermal protection against dry and wet heat exposures.
Intracultural differences in dining behavior and preferences among Hong Kong and Taiwan tourists
Authors: Wan Yim King Penny , Kim Seongseop (Sam)
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the perceptions by owners and staff working in causal full-service restaurants in Macao of their two major subcultures of customers: Hong Kong Chinese and Taiwan Chinese in terms of their dining behavior and preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

Face-to-face interviews with 36 service staff of casual dining restaurants in Macao were conducted through the purposive convenience sampling method. Thematic content analysis was conducted in the data analysis.

Findings

The results reveal that although the customers from the two Chinese subcultures have a similar appearance, use the same Chinese characters and share common cultural inheritances; their dining behavior and preferences are perceived as being different.

Practical implications

Practical implications are given on how to better design the products and services to meet each subgroup’s needs for enhancing customers’ experience and service quality in restaurant settings.

Originality/value

This study focuses on examining if there are any sub-cultural differences in food behaviors and preferences among Hong Kong and Taiwan visitors, who are the major tourist sources in the world market. It contributes to the scarce literature on intracultural dining variances of sub-groups within Chinese.
Is employee-client matching good for firms targeting the bottom of the pyramid? A study of microfinance institutions
Authors: Otiti Naome , Andersson Kjetil , Mersland Roy
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there exists employee-client matching at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) and the most favourable employee-client categorization in terms of employee productivity when serving the BOP market. This is important in a bid to determine how to effectively operate at the BOP given the market’s unique characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses two methods depending on the research question. First, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to determine the different employee-client categories based on socio-economic status. Second, fixed effects analyses are performed based on these categories to determine the most suitable employee-client category.

Findings

The results show the existence of employee-client matching based on similar socio-economic status. However, multivariate testing reveals that the mismatch category, where employees are of higher socioeconomic status than the clients, generates more favourable employee productivity. Moreover, this result may be contingent on the geographical location of the firm.

Practical implications

The findings are important for human resource management particularly the employment strategy of BOP firms. It suggests the need to consider employee profiles and client profiles when deciding which new markets to target.

Originality/value

The paper uses a global database of microfinance institutions as a case of BOP firms to investigate employee-client matching at the bottom of the pyramid.
Authentic leadership as a mediator between professional identity, ethical climate, citizenship behavior and political behavior
Authors: Milon Libi , Shapira-Lishchinsky Orly
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the mediating effect authentic leadership (AL) has on professional identity (PI), ethical climate (EC) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) and political behavior (PB) among elementary school principals in Israel.

Design/methodology/approach

Four hundred and ten elementary principals from various Israeli districts participated in the study. The research is based on principals' self-report questionnaires. The analysis focused on SEM using AMOS software.

Findings

Results indicated that AL fully mediates the relationships between PI and OCB and PB while partially mediates the relationships between EC and OCB and PB.

Research limitations/implications

This study could contribute to the design of an integrative model not previously researched, while exploring relationships between behaviors perceived as mutually opposite. This study suggested that to increase OCB and decrease PB, authentic leadership among elementary school principals should be enhanced by educational leaders.

Originality/value

The new model is likely to help school principals to deal with political behaviors while fostering citizenship behaviors during their work. Educational leaders may design professional training for principals in order to encourage the development of the positive aspects of OCB and PB.
The utilization of Internet marketing communication tools by higher education institutions (on the example of Poland and Ukraine)
Authors: Kisiołek Artur , Karyy Oleh , Нalkiv Liubov
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare and contrast Internet marketing communication tools used to accomplish key marketing goals between European Union higher education institutions (HEIs) and non-EU HEIs, such as in the case of Poland and Ukraine.

Design/methodology/approach

In the article, the authors used the literature review method to justify the importance of implementing HEI marketing strategy based on marketing communications with Internet users, and thus to justify the relevance of the chosen research topic. Based on the literature review, the authors identified the goals of HEI advertising campaigns on the Internet (branding, recruitment of students, site traffic increase and subscription of Internet users to the university newsletter) and substantiated the analytical study of the two countries. The survey conducted by the authors allowed them to form their conclusions, the validity of which is based on the interpretation of the indicators calculated in the analytical section.

Findings

The hypothesis that the focus of HEI Internet marketing communications, recruitment of students, is universal regardless of the country of origin is proven. There is also no significant differences in Internet marketing communication tool use that is “simpler” and cheaper. University marketing managers widely use Internet advertising tools, but they have difficulty implementing public relations and sales promotion tools. Internet marketing communication is an important component of HEIs' marketing strategies, thus, comparing EU and non-EU HEIs informs future strategies.

Practical implications

The results of this research are of interest to HEIs that seek to improve the adaptation of their marketing communication strategy to meet the conditions of digitalisation and to strengthen their competitive foothold within the market. Also, the findings can help HEI marketing staff members to improve marketing communication tools used to build and maintain relationships with their online customers.

Originality/value

This study highlights the similarities and differences in approach to Internet marketing communications among EU (Poland) and non-EU HEIs (Ukraine). In conducting a thorough review of research, as well as a survey of 185 HEI marketing staff members, the paper offers insight into the approach HEIs of varying cultural backgrounds take to Internet marketing communications and online recruitment.
The potential of shifting residential energy consumption for the energy transition
Authors: Siepermann Markus , Rehtanz Christian , Liebenau Volker , Lackes Richard , Gebauer Martin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse the contribution of shifting the load of household devices from periods of renewable energy underproduction to surplus periods in order to better match energy production and demand.

Design/methodology/approach

An optimisation model for load shifting of household devices is developed and analysed with the help of a simulation of energy loads for the year 2030 in Germany.

Findings

About 1.48% of the renewable surplus energy can be used in addition which equals total savings between €15.06m and €106.71m. However, 24.47% of the surplus periods can be compensated completely and 6.38% up to a level of 94%.

Research limitations/implications

A 100% diffusion of smart metres and devices and a high acceptance among consumers are assumed so that the results of this study present an upper bound for the contribution of household load shifting.

Practical implications

Load shifting of household devices provides only a small contribution and can only be one measure among others. It is crucial to find and invest in new energy storage systems so that more renewable spill-over energy can be used.

Originality/value

An optimisation model for load shifting is developed. Customer behaviour and devices are considered individually and not only a fixed percental share. Beside peak load periods also periods of renewable spill-over energy are considered.
The macroeconomic effects of increase and decrease in oil prices: evidences of asymmetric effects from India
Authors: Sadath Anver Chittangadan , Acharya Rajesh Herolli
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess whether oil price shocks emanating from oil price increase and decrease have a different impact on the macroeconomic activity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts the empirical analysis using structural vector auto-regressive model on Indian data for the period from 1996 to 2017. This paper uses four key macroeconomic variables, namely, real gross domestic product (GDP), the real rate of interest, real money supply, wholesale price index inflation and various linear and non-linear measures of oil price shock.

Findings

Empirical results confirm that oil price shock has a significant impact on various macroeconomic variables used in the study. Specifically, shocks emanating from a decline in oil price have a stronger positive impact on real GDP, whereas, a shock due to the rise in oil price has a weaker negative impact on real GDP. Impulse responses confirm that shocks due to a decline in oil prices are long-lasting compared to similar shocks due to a rise in oil prices. Therefore, this study concludes that the macroeconomic impact of oil price shock is asymmetric in India.

Originality/value

This paper adds the following new insights: First, this paper presents a distinct relationship between the growth rate of oil price and GDP during increasing and decreasing phases of oil price to drive home the case for this study. Second, India has adopted crucial administrative initiatives such as deregulation of the market for petroleum products and the promotion of renewable energy during the study period. Finally, previous studies have revealed specific behavioral and economic features of people in India with respect to the demand for petroleum products. In light of these factors, this paper based on Indian experience would be justified.
A bibliometric analysis of property valuation research
Authors: Binoy B .V , Naseer M. A , Anil Kumar P.P , Lazar Nina
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Real estate valuation studies gained popularity with the availability of large-scale property transaction data in the latter part of the twentieth century. Hedonic price modeling (HPM) was the most popular method in the initial years until it was taken over by advanced modeling methods in the twenty-first century. Even though there exist a few literature reviews on this topic, no comprehensive bibliometric analysis is conducted in this area. In view of gaining a better understanding of the dynamics of property valuation studies, this paper aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive search in the Scopus database, followed by detailed screening resulted in 1,400 articles. The identified research articles spanning over five decades (1964–2019) are analyzed using the open-source R package “bibliometrix.”

Findings

The study found the USA to be the most productive country in various aspects, such as number of publications, number of authors and publication hotspots. The findings also demonstrate assessments on the publication trends, journals, citations, keywords, co-citation and collaboration networks. It was observed that there exists an upsurge in the number of publications after the year 2000 owing to improved data availability and better modeling techniques.

Research limitations/implications

This study is significant in understanding the major research areas and modeling techniques used in property valuation. Future studies can incorporate multiple database sources and include more articles.

Originality/value

The current study is one of the first bibliometric studies on property valuation. Previous studies have not explored the possibilities of geographic information system in bibliometric research. Spatial mapping and analysis of publications provide a geographical perspective of valuation research.
Exploring business model innovation for competitive advantage: a lesson from an emerging market
Authors: Saqib Natasha , Satar Mir Shahid
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Emerging markets are witnessing rapid changes in their economy owing to the ongoing liberalization and globalization. India, as one of the emerging markets in south Asia, is also experiencing a dramatic change in its business ecosystem. This poses huge opportunities to the companies, both start-ups and established ones. In this direction, the business model innovation offers a strategic renewal mechanism. The study aims to explore the practices of an online transport network company (OLA) creating a distinctive place for itself in Indian taxi service sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Methodologically, an exploratory case study of an India-based online transport company (OLA) business model innovation is reported.

Findings

This paper reveals that OLA has been able to gain competitive advantage in the Indian emerging market by developing an innovative business model with its distinctive features of personalised customer service, asset sharing, usage-based pricing, collaborative ecosystem, agile and adaptive organising and successful expansion strategies.

Research limitations/implications

This study adds to current knowledge concerning the theoretical foundations and antecedents of business model innovation as a competitive advantage. The paper is explorative in nature because the analysis is mostly based on literature review. Furthermore, in consideration of the analysis of business model of a single company, further research is required to generalize the results.

Practical implications

The understanding of the intricacies of business model innovation can be of great concern to existing and prospective managers and entrepreneurs of emerging markets.

Originality/value

The paper discusses the features of innovative business models and how firms can make their business models more relevant to the competitive markets. As such, the study is hopeful to aid practitioners engaged in the pursuit of beating the competition with innovation driven business models.
Innovation and entrepreneurship in education, irreconcilable differences? A first approach through Spanish expert judgment
Authors: Paños-Castro Jessica , Arruti Arantza
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the differences and similarities between the terms entrepreneurship and innovation when they are implemented in teaching–learning processes involved in the education field and the main characteristics of entrepreneurial and innovative individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology was used. A total of 21 Spanish experts in entrepreneurship and/or innovation in education at different levels participated in in-depth structured interviews.

Findings

There seems to be some connection between entrepreneurship and innovation, as there are cases in which one involves the other. Although innovation is more related to the improvement of processes, products and services, entrepreneurship is linked to the creation and setting up of businesses. Educational entrepreneurship and innovation could be defined in the same way. Entrepreneurship education, in contrast to innovation education, encompasses innovation but goes beyond it. It includes curricula and long-lasting educational changes that are part of a more comprehensive organisational approach and educational plan, oriented to the accomplishment of teaching–learning outcomes. More characteristics were mentioned for entrepreneurs than for innovators.

Originality/value

This study is an initial attempt to explore ideas from experts in education that could facilitate the work of teachers and educational stakeholders in a crucial area, entrepreneurial and/or innovative education. Having an entrepreneurial attitude is essential for individuals in a globalised society to successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Teachers' learning through an online lesson study: an analysis from the expansive learning perspective
Authors: Huang Xingfeng , Lai Mun Yee , Huang Rongjin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to explore how a group of Chinese primary mathematics teachers learned through conducting an online cross-cultural lesson study between China and Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

An expansive learning theory was adopted to examine teachers' learning through collective activities across different activity systems. Multiple data sets including videos of research lessons, debriefings and audios of interviews were collected. From the expansive learning perspective, based on a fine-grained qualitative data analysis, various contradictions (as driving forces of learning) were identified and the ways of resolving the contradictions (as enactment of learning) were located to feature teacher learning throughout the online lesson study process.

Findings

Teachers' expansive learning includes enhancing teachers' MKT and Mathematics TPACK, developing instructional design skills and capabilities in addressing challenges occurring in the virtual environment were identified.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, the study illustrated how expansive learning theory could be utilized to examine teacher collaborative learning in the online cross-cultural lesson study. Practically, this study showed that reiterative cycles and experts' facilitation are crucial to expansive learning for linking research to classroom practice. However, this study did not focus on student learning in the virtual environment. Australian teachers' reciprocal learning through the online lesson study also requires further exploration.

Originality/value

Both online lesson study and cross-cultural collaboration are innovative. The expansive learning lens are creatively used to examine the complexity of teacher learning in such a novel environment.
Risk assessment of construction projects using Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Qazi Abroon , Simsekler Mecit Can Emre
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a process for prioritizing project risks that integrates the decision-maker's risk attitude, uncertainty about risks both in terms of the associated probability and impact ratings, and correlations across risk assessments.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a Monte Carlo Simulation-based approach to capture the uncertainty associated with project risks. Risks are prioritized based on their relative expected utility values. The proposed process is operationalized through a real application in the construction industry.

Findings

The proposed process helped in identifying low-probability, high-impact risks that were overlooked in the conventional risk matrix-based prioritization scheme. While considering the expected risk exposure of individual risks, none of the risks were located in the high-risk exposure zone; however, the proposed Monte Carlo Simulation-based approach revealed risks with a high probability of occurrence in the high-risk exposure zone. Using the expected utility-based approach alone in prioritizing risks may lead to ignoring few critical risks, which can only be captured through a rigorous simulation-based approach.

Originality/value

Monte Carlo Simulation has been used to aggregate the risk matrix-based data and disaggregate and map the resulting risk profiles with underlying distributions. The proposed process supported risk prioritization based on the decision-maker's risk attitude and identified low-probability, high-impact risks and high-probability, high-impact risks.
Measuring the readiness of a megaproject
Authors: Shenoy Dinesh , Mahanty Biswajit
Published: February 2021

Purpose

A vast proportion of global megaprojects have not performed up to the expectations of their stakeholders. A failed megaproject has the potential even to derail the economy of a country where it was implemented. Stakeholders must, therefore, ensure that they do not invest in megaprojects that are bound to fail. But, how can stakeholders consistently identify such megaprojects? This paper develops a framework for a metric that can help stakeholders measure the readiness of a megaproject.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review identified 19 critical success factors of megaprojects. These success factors were integrated into a fuzzy-based model to develop the megaproject readiness metric. An assessment team studied the levels of presence and importance of these success factors in a candidate megaproject to derive its readiness.

Findings

The readiness-based model provides stakeholders valuable insights into the strong and weak areas of a megaproject. It can help stakeholders prioritize and systematically eliminate the identified weaknesses and improve megaproject readiness. While the model was tested on a metro rail megaproject, it can be used on any megaproject across domains.

Originality/value

This paper adopts the concept of readiness for the domain of megaprojects. Besides the readiness measurement framework, a vital contribution of this research is its application to a real-life case. Future research can include more granular success factors to improve the estimate of megaproject readiness.
The impact of ethical leadership on project success: the mediating role of trust and knowledge sharing
Authors: Bhatti Sabeen Hussain , Kiyani Saifullah Khalid , Dust Scott B. , Zakariya Ramsha
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Although the use of project teams is on the rise, there is a limited understanding of how project managers can ensure project team success. Research to date is relatively broad and does not pinpoint how and why leadership influences success in a project team context. Along these lines, we draw from social learning theory to illustrate that ethical leadership influences project success through leader trust and knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

We collected data from 175 project team members from the information technology and software industry to evaluate our hypotheses. The results were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Our findings support our hypotheses, illustrating that ethical leadership is related to leader trust and knowledge sharing, and that leader trust and knowledge sharing mediate the relationship between ethical leadership and project success.

Research limitations/implications

Our work illustrates that the behaviors inherent in ethical leadership may be particularly well-suited for these project team challenges. Ethical leaders help team members understand that project success is possible when team members are transparent with one another, discussing their goals and challenges, and then working together to ensure their actions are coordinated in a way that increases the success of the overall project.

Practical implications

For those in industries or organizations where project teams are commonly used, our study may help to attract, select, and retain project managers that exhibit ethical leadership tendencies. Project managers are likely to be attracted to settings that align with their leadership style. Thus, organizations could focus on developing a culture that focuses on process over results.

Originality/value

We sought to align with the contingency approach to leadership, which suggests that the ideal leadership style depends on the followers, and the context in which the leader and followers interact. Specifically, we investigate ethical leadership as an ideal approach for project managers influencing members of their project teams. Our study demonstrates how ethical leadership is an ideal, context-specific approach that project managers can apply to increase the chances of project success.
Linking work–family conflict and burnout from the emotional resource perspective for construction professionals
Authors: Zheng Junwei , Gou Xueqin , Li Hongyang , Xia Nini , Wu Guangdong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Following the conservation of resources theory and job demands–resources model, this study aims to explore the relationship between work interference with family (WIF) and emotional exhaustion and the boundary condition for construction professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected 319 valid samples from Chinese construction projects and examined the established integrative moderated mediation model using regression analysis and bootstrapping.

Findings

The results indicated that WIF was positively related to emotional exhaustion. The surface acting strategy mediated the relationship between WIF and emotional exhaustion. Emotional intelligence alleviated the indirect effect of WIF on emotional exhaustion via surface acting.

Originality/value

These findings unveil the resource depletion process of work–family conflict in the construction project context, enrich the emotional intelligence literature to demonstrate the buffer function on the negative impact of emotional resource depletion and address the implications for the construction labour workforce.
Successful implementation of project risk management in small and medium enterprises: a cross-case analysis
Authors: Ferreira de Araújo Lima Priscila , Marcelino-Sadaba Sara , Verbano Chiara
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Despite the emergence and strategic importance of project risk management (PRM), its diffusion is limited mainly to large companies, leaving a lack of empirical evidence addressing SMEs. Given the socio-economic importance of SMEs and their need to manage risks to ensure the success of their strategic and innovative projects, this research aims to investigate how to adopt PRM in SMEs with a positive cost–benefit ratio.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents an exploratory and explanatory research conducted through multiple-case studies involving 10 projects performed in Spanish and Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Findings

The results obtained highlight how project features (commitment type, innovativeness, strategic relevance and managerial complexity) and firms' characteristics (sector of activity, production system and access to public incentives) influence PRM adoption, leading to different levels and types of benefits.

Originality/value

The paper offers practical indications about PRM phases, activities, tools and organizational aspects to be considered in different contexts to ensure the project's success and, ultimately, the company's growth and sustainability. Such indications could not be found in the literature.
Wisdom capital: definitions, meaning and a two-level model
Authors: Vasconcelos Anselmo Ferreira
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Anecdotal evidence suggests the growing need for wise people and organizations, which are fully dedicated to building up the greater good more than ever before. The purpose of this study is to broaden the role of wisdom by triggering an aware and genuine concern toward building wisdom capital (WC) within organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

First, this endeavor draws upon key issues of wisdom theory literature, namely, the nuances of its general aspects, basic components, other relevant issues and practical wisdom construct. Second, it suggests a conceptual model through which both workers and organizations may help to build up a solid WC. In addition, some research propositions are also suggested. Finally, it proposes some avenues of research and presents the conclusions.

Findings

The notion of WC may help individuals and organizations to keep the right path. To some degree, it reminds us that individuals exist to contribute to something greater than themselves through their potentialities, skills and capabilities. The theoretical background of WC urges the individuals to engage in meaningful projects and challenges to improve the human condition.

Practical implications

Seemingly, managers and CEOs still have a narrow view about what wisdom embraces. Accordingly, it is important to keep in mind that to enhance individual wisdom capital (IWC), concerted efforts are required toward human training and development to improve the organizations and their decision-making systems. Overall, this frame suggests that it is vital to accumulate a WC for the survival and thriving of individuals and organizations. As theorized, WC is a very useful, rich and sense-making form of capital to gather.

Originality/value

Overall, this article attempts to broaden wisdom theory within organizations by presenting the definition, meaning and scope of WC and its by-products, i.e. IWC and organizational wisdom capital. Hence, it focuses on two levels and describes specific means and ends related to each stance. At last, the proposed variables may be carefully managed and monitored to engender a new business paradigm, that is, the general well-being.
Effect of socioeconomic differences on COVID-19 preventive behavior among working adults in India
Authors: Ansari Zahin , Zaini Syed Hameedur Rahman , Parwez Monizah , Akhtar Asif
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The outbreak of the new coronavirus has caused tremendous concerns to public health, which are impacting human lives both physically and psychologically. The rise in coronavirus cases has led to the propagation of control measures for its prevention. This study aims to investigate the factors enhancing the coronavirus preventive behavior among the respondents.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the coronavirus preventive behavior, the study is based on the value–belief–norm (VBN) theory. Data for the study has been collected through a survey of 319 respondents in New Delhi, India. The study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to understand the factors impacting preventive behavior. For analysis, the study uses SEM to examine direct and indirect relationships and Hayes’ PROCESS macro SPSS module for moderating effects.

Findings

The results show that egoistic values have a negative impact on belief while altruistic values have a positive impact on the belief about the coronavirus outbreak. Belief is recorded to have a positive and significant impact on preventive behavior. Also, personal norms positively mediate the relationship between belief and preventive behavior. Additionally, the impact of awareness of preventive behavior is positively moderated by the symptomatic profile. Furthermore, the interaction effect is found to be conditioned positively with age and level of education.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other work in the existing literature was found to apply the VBN theory to determine coronavirus preventive behavior. Further, the extensive moderation analysis done in this study is expected to be a significant contribution to the literature.