bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language as heteroglot
Authors: Cordeiro Cheryl Marie
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reframe the role and function of perceived “bad English” in an international business (IB) context to illustrate that “bad English” could in fact facilitate cross-cultural communication in individuals who do not have English as first language.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the Bakhtinian concept of heteroglossia as a theoretical framework. For the method of analysis, applied linguistics is used in particular through the lens of systemic functional linguistics (SFL) as discourse analysis method to analyze transcribed interview texts. Data collection is via long interviews with 33 top level managers in Swedish managed organizations in Singapore offices.

Findings

The study illustrates, through respondent interviews and discourse analysis, that perceived “bad English” could help facilitate communication across cultures in a cross-cultural working context. The study also shows how different individuals, depending on personal experience and cultural background, employ different means to navigate and manage language differences at work.

Research limitations/implications

The findings confirm a Baktinian perspective of language as a heteroglot, where individual identities and understanding of context at work including work behavior are an amalgamation of collected experiences. While many individuals who do not have English as mother tongue might feel embarrassed by their poor English, this study shows that there are many Englishes existing in different working contexts. This study has a limited sample of respondents, pertaining to Swedish and Singaporean top managers in Swedish managed organizations in Singapore.

Practical implications

This study could be useful for multinational corporations that are interested in strategically managing their corporate language policies, taking into account cognitive differences or cultural identities in different offices worldwide.

Social implications

At a social level, Bakhtin’s language as a heteroglot brings to awareness that at any one time, while individuals are drawn to identify with their dominant (national) culture and language, in effect, with increased contact with other cultures in working environments, both language and cultural identities shift and evolve with the workplace.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the growing language in IB research. The novelty in this study is the employment of a Bakhtinian perspective and specifically the employment of SFL as a method of data analysis.
Mediating effects of user experience usability
Authors: Ke Ping , Su Fu
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explore whether the usability of user experience for mobile library application plays a mediating role in the relation between the success factors of information systems and net benefit.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical model of “information system success factor–user experience usability–net benefit” was constructed. A questionnaire was conducted at the Nankai University. The mediating effects of the usability of the mobile library application on information system success factors and net benefit were examined using hierarchical linear regression and structural equations.

Findings

First, the usability of user experiences is positively correlated to information quality, system quality and service quality. Second, user experience usability has a significant mediating effect on the relation between information system success factors and net benefit.

Originality/value

This study improves upon the DeLone and McLean model, connects the usability of user experience with the model and constructs the success factor mechanism of the mobile library application. It provides a theoretical basis for interpreting the relation between the mobile library application and users.
Toward a contagion-based model of mobile banking adoption
Authors: Chaouali Walid , El Hedhli Kamel
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the following question: Can a bank capitalize on its well-established self-service technologies (SSTs) in order to entice customers to adopt a newly introduced SST, namely, mobile banking? More specifically, it proposes an integrative model that simultaneously investigates the transference effects of attitudes, trust and the contagious influences of social pressures on mobile banking adoption intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling is applied to data collected from banks’ clients who are actually non-users of mobile banking.

Findings

The results indicate that attitude toward and trust in mobile banking along with coercive, normative and mimetic pressures are key antecedents to mobile banking adoption intentions. In addition, attitudes toward automated teller machines (ATMs) and online banking significantly predict attitude toward mobile banking. The results also support the effects of trust in ATMs as well as trust in online banking on trust in mobile banking. Moreover, predicted differences in the relative effects of attitude and trust are supported. Particularly, attitude toward online banking has a stronger impact on attitude toward mobile banking compared to the impact of attitude toward ATMs. In the same vein, the effect of trust in online banking on mobile banking is significantly stronger than the effect of trust in ATMs.

Practical implications

The study’s results hint at some practical and worthwhile guidelines for banks that can be leveraged in communication campaigns aiming at boosting the adoption rates of mobile banking. Banks can take advantage of the transference effects of the established attitudes toward and trusting beliefs in their mature SSTs as well as the contagious social influences in inducing the adoption of a newly introduced SST.

Originality/value

The present study represents a first step toward generating new insights into the role of the joint effects of attitudes, trust and social influences in the adoption of a new SST.
Exploring the inflationary effect of oil price in the US
Authors: Lahiani Amine
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of oil price shocks on the US Consumer Price Index over the monthly period from 1876:01 to 2014:04.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses the Bai and Perron (2003) structural break test to split the data sample into sub-periods delimited by the computed break dates. Afterwards, the author uses the quantile treatment effects over the full sample and then, by including sub-periods dummies to accommodate the selected structural breaks that drive the relationship between inflation and oil price growth.

Findings

The findings include a decreased transmission effect of oil price changes on inflation in recent years; a varied elasticity of inflation to the growth rate of oil prices across the distribution; and, finally, evidence of asymmetry in the relationship between the growth rate of oil prices and inflation, with a higher transmission mechanism for decreasing rather than increasing oil prices.

Practical implications

Policymakers should remain alert to monitoring potential inflation increases and should take precautionary measures to anchor inflation expectations, because inflation reacts differently to positive and negative oil price shocks. Moreover, authorities should consider the asymmetric reaction of inflation to oil price shocks to adopt an appropriate monetary policy strategy to achieve the price stability target.

Originality/value

The paper used a quantile regression model with structural breaks, which has not yet been used in the literature.
Prediction and improvement of iron casting quality through analytics and Six Sigma approach
Authors: Mishra Nandkumar , Rane Santosh B.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this technical paper is to explore the application of analytics and Six Sigma in the manufacturing processes for iron foundries. This study aims to establish a causal relationship between chemical composition and the quality of the iron casting to achieve the global benchmark quality level.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study-based exploratory research design is used in this study. The problem discovery is done through the literature survey and Delphi method-based expert opinions. The prediction model is built and deployed in 11 cases to validate the research hypothesis. The analytics helps in achieving the statistically significant business goals. The design includes Six Sigma DMAIC (Define – Measure – Analyze – Improve and Control) approach, benchmarking, historical data analysis, literature survey and experiments for the data collection. The data analysis is done through stratification and process capability analysis. The logistic regression-based analytics helps in prediction model building and simulations.

Findings

The application of prediction model helped in quick root cause analysis and reduction of rejection by over 99 per cent saving over INR6.6m per year. This has also enhanced the reliability of the production line and supply chain with on-time delivery of 99.78 per cent, which earlier was 80 per cent. The analytics with Six Sigma DMAIC approach can quickly and easily be applied in manufacturing domain as well.

Research limitations implications

The limitation of the present analytics model is that it provides the point estimates. The model can further be enhanced incorporating range estimates through Monte Carlo simulation.

Practical implications

The increasing use of prediction model in the near future is likely to enhance predictability and efficiencies of the various manufacturing process with sensors and Internet of Things.

Originality/value

The researchers have used design of experiments, artificial neural network and the technical simulations to optimise either chemical composition or mould properties or melt shop parameters. However, this work is based on comprehensive historical data-based analytics. It considers multiple human and temporal factors, sand and mould properties and melt shop parameters along with their relative weight, which is unique. The prediction model is useful to the practitioners for parameter simulation and quality enhancements. The researchers can use similar analytics models with structured Six Sigma DMAIC approach in other manufacturing processes for the simulation and optimisations.
From firm’s brand identity to cluster’s brand identity: a web-based analysis of Tuscan wineries
Authors: Devigili Matteo , Pucci Tommaso , Zanni Lorenzo
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the brand identity drivers used online by wineries and to assess cluster identity from the analysis of firms’ specific branding strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Chianti, Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino wine clusters (located in Tuscany, Italy) were selected as the set for this study. A total of 452 wineries websites were analyzed using a text frequency query, and the results were further examined through a discriminant analysis.

Findings

The theoretical framework was modeled after a careful analysis of the literature and is composed of three macro-areas of identity drivers: locational, product/process and social attributes. The analysis of winery websites shows the presence of all the drivers examined, which explain not only the wineries’ specific strategies but also the drivers of a particular cluster’s brand identity. A discriminant analysis highlighted that some drivers are able to explain the unique characteristics of the three clusters.

Originality/value

This research seeks to build a holistic investigation of all the identity drivers used by firms online. The specific brand identity focus and the holistic approach can enrich both academics and practitioners with a framework of current branding strategies.
Tribological properties of the epoxy resin-based solid lubricant coating modified by Kevlar fibers
Authors: Zhang Guotao , Yin Yanguo , Xie Ting , Li Dan , Xu Ming , Li Congmin
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to obtain high mechanical and good tribological properties of epoxy resin-based coatings under dry friction conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Bonded solid lubricant coatings containing Kevlar fibres were prepared by a spraying method. The friction and wear properties of the coatings were experimentally investigated with a face-to-face tribometre under dry friction conditions. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and 3D laser scanning technologies were used to characterise the tribological properties. The action mechanism of the Kevlar fibres on a solid lubricant transfer film was also analysed.

Findings

Adding Kevlar fibres can significantly improve the wear resistance of the coatings. When the Kevlar fibre content increases, the tribological properties of the coatings improve and then worsen. Superior properties are obtained with 0.03 g of Kevlar fibres. Appropriately increasing the load or speed is beneficial to the removal of the outer epoxy resin and the formation of a lubricant film. During friction, the solid lubricants wrapped in the epoxy resin accumulate on the surface to form a transfer film that shows a good self-lubricating performance. In the later friction stage, fatigue cracks occur on the solid lubricant film but cannot connect to one another because of the high wear resistance and the entanglement of the rod-like Kevlar fibres. Thus, no large-area film falls from the matrix, thereby ensuring the long-term functioning of solid lubricant coatings.

Originality/value

Epoxy resin-based solid lubricant coatings modified by Kevlar fibres were prepared, and their friction and wear properties were investigated. Their tribological mechanisms were also proposed. This work provided a basis for the analysis of the tribological properties and design of bonded solid lubricant coatings containing Kevlar fibres.
Tribological behaviour and wear fashion of processed AA6061/ZrO2 composite
Authors: James Johny , A. Raja Annamalai
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to develop a less weight high wear resistant material to fabricate brake components especially in automotive sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Effort was initiated to design and develop aluminium metal matrix composite by combining aluminium alloy AA6061 and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) with the help of stir casting coupled with squeeze casting unit. Morphology analysis of advanced composite has been carried out by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hardness of composites having different compositions was tested using Vickers micro hardness tester. The tribological property of the developed three specimens having different composition has been tested using pin-on-disc wear test equipment under dry sliding conditions. To obtain better understanding of wear mechanism, SEM image of worn-out surface was captured and analysed. SEM images and the corresponding Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) on the wear surface were carried out.

Findings

The optical and SEM images evidenced the existence of ZrO2 particles along the metal matrix composite. Porosity values shows that the porosity level is acceptable as it falls below 7 per cent. Also, the finding proves that increase in the percentage of reinforcement particle instigates agglomeration on the AA6061 composites. Hardness test demonstrated that the inclusion of hard ZrO2 particles leads to substantial improvement in hardness and the hardness value started deteriorating when the composition reaches 15 per cent. The wear test results substantiated the enhancement of tribological property due to the inclusion of distinct ZrO2 particles. Also, despite of addition of reinforcements, the wear rate increased when the load increases. SEM images proved that AA6061/ZrO2-5 per cent composite fashioned steady-state mild and smooth wear. EDX spectrum analysis revealed the existence of ZrO2 particles along with wear debris, which caused wear of 685 µm in AA6061/ZrO2-15 per cent composite.

Originality/value

The developed material possesses low wear rate which is the unique property of composite and frictional force which is directly proportional to load but the coefficient of friction remains apparently constant. As a whole, investigations on developed composites introduce a new material which is suitable for manufacturing of brake components for automobile industry.
Force and motion control of a tendon-driven hand exoskeleton actuated by shape memory alloys
Authors: Kazeminasab Saber , Hadi Alireza , Alipour Khalil , Elahinia Mohammad
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Many people suffer from injuries related to their hand. This research aims to focus on the improvement of the previously developed smart glove by using position and force control algorithms. The new smart glove may be used for both physiotherapy and assistance.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed robot uses shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators coupled to an under-actuated tendon-driven mechanism. The proposed device, which is presented as a wearable glove attached to an actuation module, is capable of exerting extremely high forces to grasp objects in various hand configurations. The device’s performance is studied in physiotherapy and object manipulation tasks. In the physiotherapy mode, hand motion frequency is controlled, whereas the grasping force is controlled in the object manipulation mode. To simulate the proposed system behavior, the kinematic and dynamic equations of the proposed system have been derived.

Findings

The achieved results verify that the system is suitable to be used as part of a rehabilitation device in which it can flex and extend fingers with accurate trajectories and grasp objects efficiently. Specifically, it will be shown that using six SMA wires with the diameter of 0.25 mm, the proposed robot can provide 45 N gripping force for the patients.

Originality/value

The proposed robot uses SMA actuators and an under-actuated tendon-driven mechanism. The resulted robotic system, which is presented as a wearable glove attached to an actuation module, is capable of exerting extremely high force levels to grasp objects in various hand configurations. It is shown that the motion and exerted force of the robot may be controlled effectively in practice.
Instrumentation and self-repairing control for resilient multi-rotor aircrafts
Authors: Wang Zhipeng , Qian Zhiqin , Song Ziye , Liu Hongzhou , Zhang Wenjun , Bi Zhuming
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Even though multi-rotor aircrafts are becoming more and more prevalent in the fields of aerial photography, agricultural spraying, disaster searching and rescuing, how to achieve higher reliability and robustness of an aircraft still poses a big challenge. It is not a rare case that a multi-rotor aircraft is severely damaged or crushed when an actuator or sensor is malfunctioned. This paper aims at the resilience of an aircraft when a rotor is malfunctioned.

Design/methodology/approach

The reliability of a multi-rotor aircraft can be measured in terms of stability, robustness, resilience and fault tolerance. All of these four aspects are taken into consideration to improve overall reliability of aircrafts. When a rotor malfunction occurs, the control algorithm is cable of adjusting the operation conditions of the rest of rotors to achieve system stability.

Findings

In this paper, the authors first present a research topic on the development of a resilient multi-robot aircraft. A multi-rotor aircraft usually possesses more actuated motions than the required degrees of freedom.

Originality/value

The authors proposed to equip the multi-rotor aircraft with malfunction detecting sensors, and they developed the self-repairing algorithm to re-stabilize the aircraft when a malfunction of a rotor occurs. The design concept and methods were implemented on an eight-rotor aircraft, and the performance of the proposed instrumentation and self-repairing algorithm have been verified and validated.
Graph-based visual odometry for VSLAM
Authors: Xu Shaoyan , Wang Tao , Lang Congyan , Feng Songhe , Jin Yi
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Typical feature-matching algorithms use only unary constraints on appearances to build correspondences where little structure information is used. Ignoring structure information makes them sensitive to various environmental perturbations. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel graph-based method that aims to improve matching accuracy by fully exploiting the structure information.

Design/methodology/approach

Instead of viewing a frame as a simple collection of keypoints, the proposed approach organizes a frame as a graph by treating each keypoint as a vertex, where structure information is integrated in edges between vertices. Subsequently, the matching process of finding keypoint correspondence is formulated in a graph matching manner.

Findings

The authors compare it with several state-of-the-art visual simultaneous localization and mapping algorithms on three datasets. Experimental results reveal that the ORB-G algorithm provides more accurate and robust trajectories in general.

Originality/value

Instead of viewing a frame as a simple collection of keypoints, the proposed approach organizes a frame as a graph by treating each keypoint as a vertex, where structure information is integrated in edges between vertices. Subsequently, the matching process of finding keypoint correspondence is formulated in a graph matching manner.
Model-based deep reinforcement learning with heuristic search for satellite attitude control
Authors: Xu Ke , Wu Fengge , Zhao Junsuo
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Recently, deep reinforcement learning is developing rapidly and shows its power to solve difficult problems such as robotics and game of GO. Meanwhile, satellite attitude control systems are still using classical control technics such as proportional – integral – derivative and slide mode control as major solutions, facing problems with adaptability and automation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, an approach based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed to increase adaptability and autonomy of satellite control system. It is a model-based algorithm which could find solutions with fewer episodes of learning than model-free algorithms.

Findings

Simulation experiment shows that when classical control crashed, this approach could find solution and reach the target with hundreds times of explorations and learning.

Originality/value

This approach is a non-gradient method using heuristic search to optimize policy to avoid local optima. Compared with classical control technics, this approach does not need prior knowledge of satellite or its orbit, has the ability to adapt different kinds of situations with data learning and has the ability to adapt different kinds of satellite and different tasks through transfer learning.
Purchase intention in an electronic commerce environment
Authors: Shareef Mahmud Akhter , Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Kumar Vinod , Davies Gareth , Rana Nripendra , Baabdullah Abdullah
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the integrated impact of the application of protection measures against identity theft on consumers’ synergistic perception of trust, the cost of products/services and operational performance (OP) – all of which in turn is postulated to contribute to purchase intention (PI) when shopping online.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to accomplish the specified aim, this study first conducted an experiment by involving the students from a university in Bangladesh. Then a survey was conducted to capture their opinion based on the previous experiment.

Findings

The study identified that in e-commerce, OP and trust have potential impact on pursuing consumers’ PI. Traditionally, price is always an issue in marketing; however, for e-commerce, this issue does not have direct impact on PI.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study is that a less established e-commerce example was utilized to conduct the experiment and survey for validating the model. Also, the study was conducted only in the context of Bangladesh and a student sample was utilized. Future studies can test the model in different contexts (particularly to verify the impact of privacy) by utilizing data from consumers.

Practical implications

This study has resolved a controversial issue by generating clear guidelines that the overall conjoint effect of OP, trust, and price on PI is neither negative nor neutral. Synergistically, the application of these controlling tools of identity theft can substantially enhance consumers’ trust, which is the single most predictor to pursue consumer PI.

Originality/value

This study has provided in-depth insight into the impact of different controlling measures in e-commerce PI. Practitioners have potential learning from this study that if consumers find the application of different controlling mechanisms against cybercrimes, particularly identity theft, enhancing the reliability, authenticity and security of transactions in this virtual medium, they do not mind paying a higher price. Such insights have not been provided by existing studies on this topic. Developing trust on e-commerce purchase is the driving force, not the price.
A delicate balance: how multinationals can harmonize local and global strategies
Authors: Baumgartner Marc André , Tippmann Esther
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Strategizing in a multinational corporation requires balancing global and local strategy. The purpose of this paper is to provide some insights into how multinational corporations succeed in this endeavor.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a detailed qualitative investigation of the strategy-development processes at Gamma – a European multinational corporation in the materials industry. Specifically, the authors investigated strategy development in the DACH region (i.e., for the German, Austrian and Swiss subsidiaries). To collect data, they conducted interviews with key informants at the corporate headquarters and the subsidiaries and collected archival data.

Findings

The data revealed that Gamma had found an approach to strategy development that balanced its global strategy with local conditions, finding a suitable way to align its global and local strategies. The authors therefore unravel three key insights revolving around subsidiaries’ unique interpretations of the basic idea of global strategy, idiosyncratic strategy development processes in subsidiaries and globally and locally synchronized temporal structures.

Originality/value

Knowing how to balance the strategic needs of headquarters and subsidiaries allows multinational corporations to follow a general strategy while simultaneously developing a local market strategy responsive to the individual market requirements.
Getting employees involved in strategy planning
Authors: Davis Paul J.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate how appreciative inquiry methods can be applied by managers to developing and reviewing business strategy as an alternative, more inclusive and positive approach than is traditionally adopted.

Design/methodology/approach

Two cases are presented emanating from consulting projects undertaken by the author.

Findings

The cases highlight that appreciative inquiry methods can be applied practically to matters of strategy in different types of organizations.

Practical implications

The practical implications are far reaching. Appreciative inquiry is a fully inclusive method of organizational research. It can be easily and inexpensively adopted and run by management teams, and all employees can be active participants in the process.

Originality/value

The paper is the first that specifically marries appreciative inquiry with business strategy development and review for practitioners and that presents practitioner-oriented cases.
Joining a collaborative space: is it really a better place to work?
Authors: Capdevila Ignasi
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Collaborative spaces such as Fab Labs, Living Labs, coworking spaces, hackerspaces, makerspaces, etc. are localized spaces that offer open access to resources. The purpose of this paper is to explain what motivates participants in such spaces, according to different innovation logics.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on qualitative studies of 43 collaborative spaces in Paris and Barcelona.

Findings

This paper proposes a typology of different collaborative spaces to understand what motivates their participants. The classification is based on the innovation approach of each type of space: methods and techniques of ideation, social innovation, open innovation and user-driven innovation.

Research limitations/implications

The classification of collaborative spaces clearly identifies different innovation approaches. However, it might result to be too simplistic and may not represent all spaces under the same denomination.

Practical implications

This paper provides some guidelines for managers who run or intend to open a collaborative space. In bottom-up innovation modes, to increase the commitment of the participants, managers should provide the tools and resources needed to successfully achieve the goals of the members’ projects. In top-down innovation modes, managers should rather focus on designing an attractive and rewarding process of ideation.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of collaborative spaces; it shows that participants’ engagement is related to the nature of the innovation activities that take place in collaborative spaces, and it compares different types of spaces to explain their differences and similarities.
Customs, mores and culture in determining the scope of law and financial crime control – relevance of Savigny and Lord Denning’s analysis
Authors: Adetunji Adeoye Johnson
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of customs and morality on financial crime control in developing countries, against the background of inherited foreign laws and international best practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is explanatory, descriptive and exploratory, relying extensively on existing anti-graft journals, text books, decided cases, constitutional provisions, statutory provisions and United Nation Conventions.

Findings

The research findings and analysis propose that the existing financial crime control measures in developing nations fail to consider local customs and circumstances in formulating anti-corruption policies and laws; consequently, a meaningful and effective financial crime control in developing nations, especially in Nigeria, requires the customs and culture to be examined and evaluated with a view to designing a pragmatic policies and laws.

Originality/value

The paper contributes practical options to observed lapses in the existing financial control laws, especially corruption. The paper will be valuable to African Governments, corporations and the academic community.
Drivers for voluntary intellectual capital reporting based on agency theory
Authors: Goebel Viktoria
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the drivers for voluntary intellectual capital (IC) reporting based on agency theory. This study responds to calls for critical investigations of IC reporting utilising Goebel’s (2015a) IC measuring approach to investigate the role of IC value and mispricing for IC reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

A mandatory management report offers a unique research setting in Germany. The content analysis results of 428 German management reports are used in a regression analysis with leverage, ownership diffusion, IC value and mispricing. Additionally, a propensity score matching approach examines the relationship between IC reporting and IC value.

Findings

The regression results show that companies use voluntary IC reporting to encounter mispricing. IC reporting is negatively associated with leverage, whereas ownership diffusion and IC value show no significant results. The propensity score matching approach is also not significant.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to strengthening and testing agency theory for IC reporting. As mispricing is identified to play an important role for IC reporting, IC research should account for mispricing.

Practical implications

The findings suggest to reopen a discussion on the declared aims of the German management report and the international integrated reporting model to provide information on value creation, as IC value shows no link to IC reporting.

Originality/value

This study innovatively links IC reporting to IC value and mispricing to investigate drivers for voluntary IC reporting.
Shadow credit in the middle market: the decade after the financial collapse
Authors: Zabala Craig Anthony , Josse Jeremy Marc
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the continued development of the “shadow banking” market in the USA, namely, lending to the private middle market, defined as financings of $5-100m to non-public, unrated operating entities or pools of assets with not more than $50m in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis includes a continued review of an innovative segment of the financial markets and primary evidence from direct participation in four actual cases of private, non-bank lending between 2013 and 2015 and theoretical observations around that data.

Findings

Although there have been considerable challenges, historically, in providing credit for small and mid-sized businesses in the USA, the authors show further evidence that private middle market capital is growing (post credit crisis) at a dramatic pace, in part because of excessive constraints placed on the regulated depositary institutions. The authors also explain the nature of the shadow banking innovation and how it is intrinsically linked to “arbitraging” often excessively restrictive banking regulation. The growing US shadow banking market, while providing an important service to middle market companies, may pose a new systemic risk post 2007-2008 credit crisis in the USA.

Research limitations/implications

Any generalization is limited because of the difficulty in extrapolating from a small number of specific case studies and the absence of adequate survey data for the US capital markets and the limited examples examined.

Practical implications

This research calls for additional case studies, including participant observation research that offers a unique close-up view of financial behavior that is often beyond the view of regulators and the public. Data obtained may be useful in providing a deeper, more timely understanding of credit market behavior and contribute to efforts at formal financial modeling as well as the development of practical regulatory regimes.

Social implications

The shadow credit market is a key source of funding for the global financial system, thus contributing to job creation and economic growth. The authors demonstrate the value of financial innovations and show that shadow credit fills a void left by depository financial institutions, shifting much of the risk from the public to investors. This research increases transparency in the operation of this market, which is extremely important for the industry, the government and the public. The authors offer a modest attempt at understanding credit behavior to avoid a repeat of the 2007/2008 financial crisis.

Originality/value

Direct participation is unique to the firms studied. Value is in developing a general framework to analyze an emerging credit market in advanced economies.
Innovation growth from knowledge transfer in international strategic alliances
Authors: Aggarwal Vijita , Kapoor Madhavi
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a literature review on knowledge transfer and international strategic alliances to propose a research framework based on the theory of dynamic capabilities. A qualitative and quantitative review has been conducted to find out the past research patterns, emerging trends, and research gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative review of more than 300 articles identified by keyword search, reference, and citation search has resulted in 130 most relevant articles. Citation analysis is performed on these studies, their journals, and authors by leveraging the international platforms of SCImago Journal Ranking, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Findings

The study enlists the highly cited studies, their journals, and authors with possible explanations for being highly cited. Criticisms of dynamic capabilities theory have been explained, and a research framework for the application of this theory in the context of international strategic alliances to fill the research gap has been proposed.

Originality/value

Currently, various bibliometric studies are growing in number. This study is not only a review study, but also proposes a research framework to fill the identified research gap.
Teachers’ professional development through teachers’ professional activities
Authors: Sharma Payal , Pandher Jagwinder Singh
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to identify various teachers’ professional activities (TPAs) and classify these TPAs according to their relative importance for the professional development of teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic review of the literature had been conducted to identify various TPAs in the institutions. Later, an empirical research had been conducted through confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS 20.0 to classify these TPAs according to their relative importance using the natural gap in standardized beta (β) values. In total, 96 administrators of 35 technical institutions of Punjab (India) offering engineering and management programs and 93 veteran educational experts had responded in a field survey.

Findings

The results of the study identified eight TPAs and further revealed that “regular self-assessment,” “adopting a creative problem-solving approach” and “developing deep commitment to make the difference” qualify among the “most important” activities for the professional enhancement of the faculty.

Originality/value

The study highlights different TPAs that they must establish, raise, promote, encourage and organize for their development. The study further classifies different activities according to their relative importance. The institute can evaluate their resources, budgets and efforts according to the relative importance of such activities. The classification of TPAs would help faculty to increase their efficacy.
Non-linear fracture in bi-directional graded shafts in torsion
Authors: Rizov Victor
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an analysis of longitudinal fracture behaviour of a functionally graded non-linear-elastic circular shaft loaded in torsion. It is assumed that the material is functionally graded in both radial and longitudinal directions of the shaft (i.e. the material is bi-directional functionally graded).

Design/methodology/approach

The Ramberg–Osgood stress-strain relation is used to describe the non-linear mechanical behaviour of the functionally graded material. The fracture is studied in terms of the strain energy release rate by analysing the balance of the energy. The strain energy release rate is obtained also by differentiating of the complementary strain energy with respect to the crack area for verification.

Findings

Parametric studies are carried out in order to evaluate the influence of material gradients in radial and longitudinal directions, the crack location in radial direction and the crack length on the fracture behaviour of the shaft. It is found that by using appropriate gradients in radial and longitudinal directions, one can tailor the variations of material properties in order to improve the fracture performance of the non-linear-elastic circular shafts to the externally applied torsion moments.

Originality/value

A longitudinal cylindrical crack in a bi-directional functionally graded non-linear-elastic circular shaft loaded in torsion is analysed by using the Ramberg–Osgood stress-strain relation.
Dual judgment processing in feedback: opening Pandora’s box
Authors: De Stobbeleir Katleen , Desmet Lien
Published: October 2018

Purpose

In this commentary, the authors follow DeNisi and Sockbeson’s suggestions to reintegrate the organizational feedback and feedback-seeking literatures. They build on and extend their theorizing by suggesting a framework of simultaneous dual judgment processing in both feedback-seeking and organizational feedback interventions..

Design/methodology/approach

In the model, evaluation salience plays a role in how performance information is stored (i.e. as online judgments or loose memories), and rater motivation will determine to what extent the rater will deliberately use the stored information to give feedback.

Findings

The authors clarify some of the implications of the model for the accuracy of the feedback given, as well as how the cognitive methods that are used can be one of the explaining mechanisms in the link between feedback and performance.

Originality/value

This dual judgment processing approach accounts for the true complexity of the process of organizational feedback that has been largely ignored in past research.
Status of EDRMS implementation in the public sector in Namibia and Zimbabwe
Authors: Nengomasha Cathrine Tambudzai , Chikomba Alfred
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the adoption and use of electronic document and records management system (EDRMS) in the public service in Namibia and Zimbabwe with the aim of establishing barriers and enablers, and best practices which each country could adopt from the other.

Design/methodology/approach

This multi-case study was informed by an interpretivist paradigm. Qualitative in nature, the study applied face-to-face interviews as the data collection method, supplemented by documents analysis. The study population was Namibia and Zimbabwe’s public sectors with units of analysis, being the governments’ ministries, offices and agencies which have implemented EDRMS.

Findings

The paper provides the state of EDRMS implementation in Namibia and Zimbabwe. It establishes how the two countries have implemented EDRMS and factors that have contributed to the success/failure of the implementation in both countries.

Originality/value

The paper is a response to the need for further research studies on the implementation of EDRMS in various countries.
Mechanical reliability of short carbon fiber reinforced ABS produced via vibration assisted fused deposition modeling
Authors: Keleş Özgür , Anderson Eric H. , Huynh Jimmy
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Mechanical reliability (variations in mechanical properties) of fused deposition modeled (FDMed) short-fiber-reinforced composites are unknown, which limits wider and safer use of these composites. Accordingly, this paper aims to investigate the mechanical reliability of FDMed model material short-carbon-fiber-reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (SCFR-ABS). A new vibration-assisted FDM (VA-FDM) process was used to reduce porosity.

Design/methodology/approach

Tensile tests were performed on FDMed SCFR-ABS produced with and without vibrations. Weibull analysis was performed to quantify the variation in fracture strength, tensile strength, strain at break and strain at tensile strength.

Findings

Introduction of vibrations to the extrusion head during FDM decreased the inter-bead porosity in SCFR-ABS and thus improved elastic modulus, toughness, fracture strength, tensile strength and strain at break. Weibull modulus of fracture strength increased from 25 to 57 with vibrations.

Practical implications

The reported Weibull analysis offers a practical design guideline to predict failure rates at specific service stresses.

Originality/value

A detailed Weibull analysis of the variations in the mechanical properties of FDMed SCFR-ABS was performed for the first time. A new vibration-assisted FDM process was reported to reduce inter-bead porosity in FDMed composites.
Seedling growth of savanna tree species from three continents under grass competition and nutrient limitation in a greenhouse experiment
Authors: Tomlinson Kyle W. , Sterck Frank J. , Barbosa Eduardo R. M. , de Bie Steven , Prins Herbert H. T. , van Langevelde Frank
Published: October 2018

Changes in savanna tree species composition, both within landscapes and across climatic gradients, suggest that species differ in their ability to utilize resources and cope with grass competition. Linking trait variation among species to their relative performance under resource limitation and competition treatments could provide mechanistic understanding of species’ turnover across environmental gradients in savannas. We investigated how tree species differ in response to competition from grasses and nutrient supply, and whether these responses can be related to plant traits. As humid savannas are often associated with low fertility, species of humid savannas may grow more efficiently under nutrient suppression than species from semi‐arid savannas. In heterogeneous grass swards, fast‐growing, resource‐wasteful species may be found in low grass biomass patches and slow‐growing, conservative species in high biomass patches.

We compared seedlings of 40 tree species sampled from humid and semi‐arid savannas of three continents (Africa, Australia, South America) with and without grass competition and with high and low nutrient supply. We measured traits related to soil resource capture, light capture, and growth, and tested whether these traits were related to performance under the four treatments.

All tree species were suppressed by grass competition and most by nutrient limitation. Only species from humid savannas in Australia grew better under nutrient limitation than their semi‐arid counterparts. Deciduous species from semi‐arid climates were more negatively impacted by grass competition than deciduous species from humid climates whereas the reverse pattern was observed among evergreen species. Faster growing species were more severely suppressed by grass competition and low nutrients than slower growing species. Traits associated with soil resource capture and seed mass supported growth under grass competition and nutrient limitation, but the traits differed by continent and by leaf habit.

Synthesis. We found limited evidence that tree seedlings from humid savannas grow better under nutrient limitation than species of semi‐arid savannas. We confirmed that fast‐growing species may be advantaged in low grass biomass patches and conservative species in high biomass patches. Traits that improved performance under grass competition differed by continent, which may relate to differences in leaf habit and constraints on seed size.
From Interdependency to Co‐dependency: Changing Relations in UK and Devolved Governments Post‐Brexit
Authors: Mitchell James
Published: October 2018

The Scottish and European Questions have become intertwined over time. A European turn in Scottish politics became evident from the late 1980s when public opinion moved in favour of the European Communities/Union. The Scottish National Party (SNP) became a leading advocate of EC/EU membership with Europe's four freedoms allowing it to dismiss accusations of separatism. Scotland voted in favour of Remain in the Brexit referendum, adding to existing tensions in UK‐Scottish government relations. The institutions and procedures of intergovernmental relations which were designed to cope with tensions are being tested as never before under devolution. The assertion of UK power in these relations has undermined claims made by David Cameron to pursue a ‘respect agenda’ and commitments made immediately after the independence referendum. But while this evidence of divergent views on such a significant matter creates potential challenges for the UK union, it also creates new challenges for the SNP. The prospect of a hard Brexit raises the issue of separatism once more, with a choice of either remaining in the EU but separate from the rest of the UK (rUK), or remain in a separatist UK.