bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determining the factors affecting the technical efficiency scores of public hospitals using different regression methods
Authors: Şahin Bayram , İlgün Gülnur , Sönmez Seda 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThis study aims to identify the efficiency scores of hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health in Turkey between the years of 2010–2015 at provincial level and to reveal the factors that affect the efficiency scores.Design/methodology/approachThe two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) method was used to achieve the study purpose. In the first stage, DEA method based on input-oriented Charnes–Cooper–Rhodes (CCR) model was performed to calculate the efficiency scores of public hospitals at the provincial level between 2010 and 2015, and in the second stage, Tobit regression and linear regression analyses were used to identify whether the efficiency scores of provinces are affected by the input, output and control variables.FindingsUpon the analysis, the average efficiency scores of 81 provinces by years were found to vary between 0.79 and 0.89. According to both regression analyses, all of the input and output variables were found to have significant effects on the efficiency scores of provinces while only the population of province among the control variables was identified as the factor with an effect on the efficiency scores of provinces (p < 0.05).Practical implicationsThe results of this study are thought to guide health policymakers and managers in terms of both determining efficient and inefficient hospitals at the provincial level and revealing which variables should be taken into account in order to increase efficiency.Originality/valueThe study differs from previous studies on the efficiency of hospitals. First, although previous studies were generally descriptive studies to determine the efficiency level of hospitals, this study is an analytical study that tries also to show the factors affecting the efficiency of hospitals. In addition, while examining the effect of input and output variables on efficiency scores, control variables were also included in the study.
Increasing the efficiency of business process through authentic leaders and follower's attitude
Authors: Malik Muhammad Faisal , Khan Muhammad Asif , Mahmood Saqib 
Published: February 2021

PurposeOrganizations take a more oriented approach to the management of business processes since business processes are core elements of organizational performance. The purpose of this study is to bridge certain knowledge, theoretical, literature and contextual gaps that have not yet been addressed, in line with the organizational approach. The current study is also carried out in order to satisfy the needs of the industry for sustainable development that lead to economic prosperity in the country.Design/methodology/approachPositivism research philosophy was espoused followed through a deductive approach. A structured questionnaire was used in order to collect the data from the employees working in public-sector organizations with a purposive sampling technique. In total, 364 respondents’ data were analyzed by using Analysis of a Moment Structures guidelines and tested the sequential path accordingly.FindingsThe results suggested that authentic leadership through sequential mediation of relational identification and positive emotions had a significant impact on employee engagement. Overall, three hypotheses were formulated on the basis of literature, and all hypotheses were supported.Research limitations/implicationsThe first significant limitation is the use of a single source of information. All variables (authentic leadership, employee engagement, gratitude, happiness and compassion and relational identification) were asked to be reported to individuals. In addition, the current study took only three positive emotions (gratitude, happiness and compassion). There are, however, a number of other emotions that can be taken to identify the relationship between authentic leadership and employee attitude.Originality/valueThe plethora of research seeks to identify mechanisms that can overcome the challenge of employee engagement in the organizational sphere. To this end, organizations are continually identifying and implementing strategies to enhance employee engagement. Recently, the adoption of a bottom-up approach identified as a potential contributor to increasing employee engagement. It has also meant that authentic leadership is the best source of support for a bottom-up approach. However, limited research has been identified in relation to authentic leadership and positive employee emotions.
The impact of Internet use on adolescent learning outcomes: evidence from rural China
Authors: Li Lili , Ma Yue , Friesen Dimitris , Zhang Zhonggen , Jin Songqing , Rozelle Scott 
Published: February 2021

PurposeInternet use has become particularly prevalent among adolescents, prompting much thought and concern about both its potential benefits and adverse effects on adolescent learning outcomes. Much of the empirical literature on the impact of Internet use on adolescent learning outcomes is mixed, and few studies examine the causal relationship between the two in rural China. In order to bridge these gaps, we use empirical analysis to investigate the effect of Internet use on the learning outcomes of adolescents in rural China.Design/methodology/approachWe use fixed effect models with samples drawn from a large nationally representative dataset (the China Family Panel Studies—CFPS) to identify the causal impacts of Internet use on the learning outcomes of three cohorts (Cohort A (N = 540), Cohort B (N = 287) and Cohort C (N = 827)) of adolescents in rural China.FindingsThe results of the descriptive analysis show a continued increase in the number of adolescents accessing the Internet and the amount of time they spend online. The results of the fixed effect models show that Internet use has positive (in many of the analyses), but mostly insignificant impacts, on the learning outcomes of adolescents. In the sets of results that find significant associations between Internet use and learning outcomes, the measured effects are moderate.Originality/valueThis study investigates the causal relationship between Internet use and adolescent learning outcomes in rural China. The findings claim that there is not a great need to worry about adverse effects of Internet use on adolescent learning development. Attention, however, should focus on seeking ways to improve the positive effects of the Internet use on adolescent learning outcomes. The study will provide a reference and experience for the development of education and the Internet in rural areas and promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas in China.
Examining the role of border protectionism in border inspections: panel structural vector autoregression evidence from FDA import refusals on China's agricultural exports
Authors: Zhou Jiehong , Wang Yu , Mao Rui , Zheng Yuqing 
Published: February 2021

PurposeAs technical barriers gradually become the important tools of trade protection, it is important to understand whether intensified enforcement of border controls is adopted as a hidden tool of trade protectionism and differs across periods and industries.Design/methodology/approachThis article applies a panel structural vector autoregression (PSVAR) model to investigate the potential role of trade protectionism motives in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) import refusals on China's agricultural exports, utilizing newly constructed monthly data at the industry level.FindingsThe results show that import refusal is mainly driven by the inspection history, highlighting the importance of the intrinsic product quality and maintaining an excellent inspection history in border inspection. The novel finding is that US employment contractions would also lead to a small increase in FDA import refusals, especially those taking place within ten months and made without sampling tests. Such an association is driven by industry-specific employment shocks and becomes stronger after the financial crisis. It is also more evident in industries where the US lacks competitiveness against China, being manufactured without mandatory safety regulations, and with negative skewness of employment growth.Originality/valueThis research is one of the preliminary attempts to understand whether the de facto border controls are worked as a hidden tool of protectionism to agricultural products, and what the specific trajectory and duration of the impacts at the monthly level. This study provides empirical evidence showing the role of protectionism motives in FDA import refusals and is heterogeneous across industries, which generate new insights and policy implications to predict and cope with additional barriers on agricultural trade.
Board’s financial expertise and corporate social responsibility disclosure in China
Authors: Naheed Rehana , AlHares Aws , Shahab Yasir , Naheed Rukhsana 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of the board’s financial expertise (BFE) on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in China.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of Chinese listed firms from 2009-2016 (making 3272 firm-year observations), this study uses the generalized method of moments (GMM) and panel data estimation techniques.FindingsUsing the resource dependence theory, the findings of this study are twofold. First, the is positively associated with the disclosure level of CSR. Second, this positive impact is more pronounced in firms with female CEO and state ownership. The findings are robust to the potential issues of endogeneity and sensitivity analyses.Practical implicationsPractically, the findings hold value for the senior management of Chinese firms to ensure the presence of financial experts in boards to yield both financial and non-financial outcomes.Social implicationsThis study points out how financial experts on boards influence the societal outcomes via disclosure of CSR. Financial experts encourage participation in social and sustainable practices which creates a positive image of the firm not only in the eyes of society but also for investors.Originality/valueThis study is unique and contributes to the extant literature by examining the impact of a new attribute, i.e. the BFE on the level of CSR disclosure in China.
A hybrid simulation approach for microtunneling construction planning
Authors: Moharrami Saeid , Taghaddos Maedeh , RazaviAlavi SeyedReza , AbouRizk Simaan 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
Construction planning for microtunneling projects is a complex process due to the high level of uncertainties inherent in underground construction and the interdependent nature of decision variables. Simulation is a suitable decision-making tool to account for uncertainties and to model complex dependencies among decision variables. This paper aims to improve microtunneling construction planning by using simulation.

Design/methodology/approach
This study proposes a hybrid simulation approach that combines discrete event simulation (DES) with continuous simulation (CS) for microtunneling construction planning. In this approach, DES is used to model construction processes at the activity level and CS is used to model the continuous flow of soil material in the system.

Findings
To demonstrate the capability of the proposed approach in construction planning of microtunneling projects, different construction plan scenarios are compared in a microtunneling case study. The results of the case study show suitability of the hybrid DES-CS approach in simulating microtunneling construction processes and the practicality of the approach for identifying the most efficient construction plan.

Originality/value
This study proposes a new modeling approach for microtunneling construction processes using hybrid simulation and provides decision support at the construction planning stage of projects.
Mainstreaming pre-manufactured offsite processes in construction – are we nearly there?
Authors: Ofori-Kuragu Joseph Kwame , Osei-Kyei Robert 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the current state of popular modern methods of construction (MMC) and pre-manufactured construction in the construction industry and propose a framework for future implications for practice and future research.

Design/methodology/approach
This technical paper is based on a narrative review of the extant literature on the subject. First, the Scopus search engine was used to retrieve relevant papers on MMC, offsite and pre-manufactured construction. Second, institutional literature such as reports by industry professional and trade bodies, literature from leading technology firms and contractors with experience of MMC were extracted. These two strands of literature were synthesised and a comprehensive discussion on the topic was provided.

Findings
Results show that journal publications on MMC and pre-manufactured construction have increased in the past decade. The paper found significant advances in the development of premanufactured and offsite construction approaches with many benefits. Offsite and pre-manufactured construction are viable and sustainable systems currently suitable for wider adoption as the mainstream construction method.

Research limitations/implications
This technical paper based on an integrative review of relevant literature could have benefitted from interviews of professionals with experience of offsite and pre-manufacture techniques and from wider availability of current academic publications on the subject. Validation of the framework has not been undertaken.

Originality/value
Not much-published work has been undertaken on the current state of development globally and the viability of these construction approaches. This paper evaluates evidence from academic and industry sources to address this gap. A framework has been developed which can help the industry’s industrialisation drive.
Information asymmetries between vendors and customers in the advanced construction technology diffusion process
Authors: M.E. Sepasgozar Samad , Shirowzhan Sara , Loosemore Martin 
Published: February 2021

PurposeAdvanced construction technologies (ACTs) are transforming infrastructure projects, yet there has been little research into and theorization of the process by which these innovations are diffused. The purpose of this paper is to address this paucity of research by exploring the problems of information asymmetries between vendors and customers in the ACT diffusion process. Specifically, the paper explores whether information asymmetries exist between vendors and customers in the ACT diffusion process and what forms they take.Design/methodology/approachA structured survey of 153 vendors and customers of advanced construction technologies was undertaken across three international ACT exhibitions in Australia.FindingsBy comparing the perspectives of both customers and vendors across 15 technology diffusion process variables using importance-performance analysis and principal component analysis, significant differences are found between vendors’ and customers’ perceptions of how effectively information flows in the ACT diffusion process. The results show that vendors are significantly more optimistic than customers about information asymmetries on a wide range of diffusion variables. They also highlight significant potential for information asymmetries to occur which can undermine the advanced technology diffusion process.Originality/valueThe results provide important new conceptual and practical insights into an under-researched area, which is of increasing importance to a major industry, which is being transformed by advanced technological developments.
How China’s internet commonweal platform improves customer participation willingness? An exploratory study of Ant Forest
Authors: Shen Xiangdong , Wang Li , Huang Xiangmeng , Yang Shuai 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of internet commonweal characteristics on consumers’ participation willingness, mainly predicated on the stimulus-organism-response model. Furthermore, co-creation value is tested as a mediator of the relationship between internet commonweal characteristics and consumers’ participation willingness, by using the project of Ant Forest issued by Ali-pay as an example.Design/methodology/approachAn online questionnaire survey was conducted among Ant Forest’s consumers with a final sample of 584 valid data. Moreover, to test the hypotheses in the relationship among latent variables, structural equation model analysis was used in this study.FindingsThe findings show that openness and interactivity as two kinds of characteristics of internet commonweal have positive effect on customers’ co-creation value; while co-creation would mediate the relationship between internet commonweal characteristics and customers’ participation willingness. As a result, more co-creation value would be created between the companies and their customers for higher level of internet commonweal to gain a sustainable image.Practical implicationsTwo managerial implications derived in this paper to explain how to manage the internet public welfare platform and how to promote the social public welfare undertakings. In short, consumers’ co-creation value, green value, personal achievement value and social relationship value would be aroused by the internet commonweal characteristics and will finally affect consumers’ participation willingness.Originality/valueThe originality and value in this paper is enriching the importance of customers’ co-creation value in the field of internet commonweal. And demonstrating that openness and interactivity of internet commonweal characteristics would increase customers’ co-creation value.
Is doing economically good enough to shape the MNE’s governmental relations? In contingency with contextual influences
Authors: Yeh Chun-Ping , Wu Hsueh-Liang , Hsiao Yi-Chi 
Published: February 2021

PurposeIn response to the tilted emphasis on the corporate political activities and to the recent call for including the institutional perspective in the research of the MNE’s governmental relations (MGRs), this study aims to, departing from resource dependence theory, introduce the legitimacy formation as a bridging mechanism to MGRs to holistically examine the behavioral types of antecedents of MGRs in contingency with three critical contextual influences.Design/methodology/approachThis study purposely chose a Taiwanese globalized logistic corporation that we have been acquainted with as the entry for collecting data. The study started the survey with the seven foreign subsidiaries of this logistic corporation and invited their customers through their personal referrals to join this survey. Following the snowball sampling, remarks were added in the questionnaire to request respondents’ assistance in inviting TMT members of different MNE subsidiaries in their personal networks to join the survey.FindingsThe findings from analyzing a survey data set of 155 MNE subsidiaries during 2016 show that the MNE’s economically-good behaviors are not so influential as Milton Friedman stated in 1962, and can only outperform socially-good and politically-good behaviors in shaping better MGRs under some specific contextual influences.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the international business literature by shedding new light on the sensitivity of behavioral antecedents of MGRs in contingency with contextual influences and provides managerial implications to MNE particularly when they expect to reduce external uncertainties or capturing opportunities by MGRs.
Energy consumption optimization for AC drives position control
Authors: Ftorek Branislav , Saga Milan , Orsansky Pavol , Vittek Jan , Butko Peter 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the two energy saving position control strategies for AC drives valid for a wide range of boundary conditions including an analysis of their energy expenses.

Design/methodology/approach
For energy demands analysis, the optimal energy control based on mechanical and electrical losses minimization is compared with the near-optimal one based on symmetrical trapezoidal speed profile. Both control strategies respect prescribed maneuver time and define acceleration profile for preplanned rest-to-rest maneuver.

Findings
Presented simulations confirm lower total energy expenditures of energy optimal control if compared with near-optimal one, but the differences are only small due to the fact that two energy saving strategies are compared.

Research limitations/implications
Developed overall control system consisting of energy saving profile generator, pre-compensator and position control system respecting principles of field-oriented control is capable to track precomputed state variables precisely.

Practical implications
Energy demands of both control strategies are verified and compared to simulations and preliminary experiments. The possibilities of energy savings were confirmed for both control strategies.

Originality/value
Experimental verification of designed control structure is sufficiently promising and confirmed assumed energy savings.
What shapes industrial relations in foreign affiliates? Comparative case study results from Germany
Authors: Dörrenbächer Christoph , Tüselmann Heinz , Meissner Heinz-Rudolf , Cao Qi 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to categorize the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates. Using the case of foreign affiliates in Germany, this paper further explores what factors shape the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates.

Design/methodology/approach
Given the scarcity of research on industrial relations in foreign affiliates, this paper is based on conceptual work as well as on a comparative case investigation of 21 foreign affiliates in Germany, involving informants from both labor and management.

Findings
Industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany can take four different qualities, based on the following: social partnership; conflict partnership; latently adversarial; and adversarial relations. While previous literature focused on country-of-origin effects, the authors’ case-based investigation further revealed that both affiliate effects and multinational corporation (MNC) effects have a strong impact on the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany.

Originality/value
This paper provides systematic evidence on the presumption that micro-organizational and MNC-specific factors are necessary to gain a deeper understanding of industrial relations in MNCs. Moreover, this paper contributes to the discussion on the quality of industrial relations in foreign affiliates in Germany, by placing results from both single-case studies and management surveys into perspective.