bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment of silence as misrepresentation in contracts
Authors: Karim Ridoan , Sifat Imtiaz Mohammad 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to provide a comparative discussion on silence as a misrepresentation in contractual obligations between common law and Islamic law. The objective of this paper is to – from a legal pluralism point of view – highlight the contrasts between the two traditions and provide recommendations for best practices to achieve fairness and equity among the contracting parties. While common law does not treat silence as conscious misrepresentation, in Islamic law, silence does not constitute affirmative will. This has repercussions for the contracting parties because if future disputes arise, the aggrieved party in Islamic law reserves the option to rescind or nullify the contract – an opportunity not afforded by common law. We have discussed and analyzed the implementations of the different contractual terms, such as fraud, misrepresentation, trickery and deception in relation with Islamic law principles and common law practices. This research is an effort to draw the attention for further development in both Islamic law and common law practices on contractual obligation. The notion of misrepresentation – subset of a broader gamut of fraud – is arguably nebulous in Islamic literature as well. We delve into these nuances and provide examples both from common law and Islamic law precedents and provide recommendations for reform in both traditions.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper operates under qualitative methodological framework and uses secondary sources for analysis. Sources include journal databases, review of cases, classical/medieval Islamic scripts, etc.

Findings
This paper provides a general comparative study between common law’s principle and practice and Islamic law’s principle to forge a better understanding of fine-tuning existing practice and contribute to the debate on determining the best practices to unify international trade and custom exercise. Common law principle, obviously, holds a historical and traditional reputation as those principles are derived from long years of practice and judicial interpretation. Such historical legal system should accommodate fresh ideas in their repertoire and welcome novel ideas which would positively influence its own practice. This paper affords the freedom to the reader to interpret which general principle is acceptable in terms of contractual obligation.

Originality/value
Previous works exist on the issue of misrepresentation. However, those are mostly explanations of fraud and deceit in Islamic law or common law. The treatment of silence as affirmative will is seldom touched upon. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt at contrasting the treatment of silence in common and Islamic law. They have also advocated pluralistic practices and argued for legal reform whereby both traditions can benefit from each other.
Supply chain strategies in an era of natural resource scarcity
Authors: Kalaitzi Dimitra , Matopoulos Aristides , Bourlakis Michael , Tate Wendy 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of natural resource scarcity (NRS) for companies’ supply chain strategies.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the resource dependence theory (RDT), a conceptual model is developed and validated through the means of exploratory research. The empirical work includes the assessment of qualitative data collected via 22 interviews representing six large multinational companies from the manufacturing sector.FindingsWhen the resources are scarce and vitally important, companies use buffering strategies. Buffering and bridging strategies are preferred when there are a few alternative suppliers for the specific resource and when there is limited access to scarce natural resources.Research limitations/implicationsThe research focuses on large multinational manufacturing companies so results may not be generalised to other sectors and to small- and medium-sized firms. Future research needs to examine the implications of NRS for organisational performance.Practical implicationsThis research provides direction to manufacturing companies for adopting the best supply chain strategy to cope with NRS.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the body of knowledge by providing new data and empirical insights into the issue of NRS in supply chains. The RDT has not been previously employed in this context. Past studies are mainly conceptual and, thus, the value of this paper comes from using a qualitative approach on gaining in-depth insights into supply chain-related NRS strategies and its antecedents.
Supply chain flexibility in dynamic environments
Authors: Rojo Araceli , Stevenson Mark , Lloréns Montes Francisco Javier , Perez-Arostegui Maria Nieves 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between environmental dynamism and supply chain flexibility (SCF) and to evaluate if two dynamic capabilities, i.e. operational absorptive capacity (OAC) and organisational learning (OL), are necessary competences for firms to develop such a responsive supply chain strategy as flexibility.Design/methodology/approachHypothesised relationships are tested with survey data from 302 Spanish manufacturing firms using structural equations modelling.FindingsEnvironmental dynamism is positively associated with both OAC and OL, and both dynamic capabilities enable SCF. The authors also find that the relationship between environmental dynamism and SCF is partially mediated by both dynamic capabilities.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes to the literature, for example, by determining when it is advantageous to develop SCF, by specifying what capabilities a firm needs to develop to align SCF with the environment, and by opening the black box that is the relationship between the environment and SCF.Practical implicationsManagers should develop SCF via OAC and OL when they detect a high degree of environmental dynamism. Knowing when this is necessary relies on a good understanding of the environment. OAC is found to be a stronger enabler of SCF than OL. The findings provide managers with an insight into why some firms are able to develop more effective responses to dynamic environments than others.Originality/valueThis study is one of only a limited number of studies that adopt a dynamic capabilities approach to supply chain management. Prior literature has shown that dynamic capabilities can aid in developing strategic, structural, and operational flexibility. The authors extend this literature by showing that OAC and OL have an effect on SCF.
Effects of absorptive capacity, trust and information systems on product innovation
Authors: Zhang Min , Zhao Xiande , Lyles Marjorie 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the mechanisms through which absorptive capacity (AC), trust and information systems jointly influence product innovation.Design/methodology/approachThis study proposes a research model to examine the mediating role of AC on the impacts of trust and information systems on product innovation and the moderating roles of trust and information systems on the relationship between AC and product innovation. The hypotheses are empirically tested using regression and bootstrapping methods and data collected from 276 manufacturing firms in China.FindingsThis study finds that trust and information systems positively affect product innovation and the effects are fully mediated by AC. AC also significantly enhances product innovation, and the effect is amplified by trust as well as information systems. In addition, the results show that trust and information systems improve AC both individually and interactively.Originality/valueThe findings extend existing knowledge on the antecedents of AC and the contingent conditions under which a manufacturer’s AC is more effective than that of its rivals. The results also clarify the mechanisms through which trust and information systems improve product innovation. This study provides insights into the complex relationships among a manufacturer’s sociotechnical systems, knowledge management processes and new product development, and reveals how to design organisational systems to fully capitalise the value of AC on product innovation.
Narcissistic business leaders as heralds of the self-proclaimed excellence
Authors: Anninos Loukas N. 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The paper aims to investigate the relation of narcissism to leadership in business contexts and presents its impact on specific organizational variables, which are crucial for the pursuit of excellence. Narcissism constitutes a personality trait which is considered responsible for both positive and negative behavioral outcomes that impact decisions and actions.

Design/methodology/approach
The approach, by which this paper is structured, is theoretical and has been based on a literature review regarding narcissism (and more specifically, narcissistic leadership) in business contexts.

Findings
Narcissism can have positive (mainly in the short term) and/or deleterious effects both for the individual and the organization. The self-proclaimed excellence of narcissists results from a combination of their beliefs about their extreme intelligence, abilities and leadership and their high motives for reassuring their supremacy. However, the behavior of narcissistic leaders impacts various organizational parameters which are preconditions for organizational excellence.

Research limitations/implications
The study at hand can be used as an input for further research on the effects of narcissism on quality performance variables.

Practical implications
The behavior of narcissists (and its positive and/or negative consequences) should be evaluated in relation to any specific organizational context and circumstances.

Originality/value
The study examines narcissistic leadership and attempts to examine its implications for factors that are crucial for the achievement of organizational excellence.
The potential of service-dominant logic as a tool for developing public sector services
Authors: Westrup Ulrika 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse and discuss the potential of the service-dominant logic (SDL) as a tool for developing more effective public sector services in practice.Design/methodology/approachOne case concerning a public sector service organization has been studied – a contact centre in a Swedish municipality. The material consists of descriptions of managers’ and co-workers’ experiences of how day-to-day operations are performed to manage services provided to citizens. The material has been gathered via interviews and focus group interviews.FindingsThe study found that SDL has something to offer as a tool. SDL indicates that the distinctive features of different kinds of services, the exchange of knowledge and the dependency between actors do not have a high priority in the day-to-day work done at the contact centre. However, SDL cannot actually guarantee that public services will be more effective without including the politicians.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings only originate from one organization. No service users have participated.Practical implicationsWhen using SDL as a tool for developing public sector services, the role of the politician is crucial. Public service managers must therefore find ways of including politicians in the service system as important and committed actors.Originality/valueSDL, in the context of public sector services, has only previously been studied to a very limited degree empirically.
The impact of strong and balanced organizational cultures on firm performance
Authors: Polychroniou Panagiotis , Trivellas Panagiotis 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the relationship between organizational culture and performance. It concerns the aspects of culture related to culture strength and unbalance and its impact on introvert and extrovert firm performance, controlling for business environment and size.Design/methodology/approachBased on the competing values model (CVM), culture strength is measured as the intensity of the culture values driving the company. The cultural unbalance is measured by the sum of absolute deviations of organizational members’ culture perceptions across the four archetypes (adhocracy, clan, hierarchy and market) imposed by CVM from the individual “average” shared cultural value. Evidence is drawn upon a sample of 1,305 employees of 114 Greek firms.FindingsThe findings indicate a strong positive relationship between culture strength and internal performance (innovation competence and human relations) as well as firm outcomes (profitability, growth and reputational assets). On the contrary, culture unbalance exerts a negative influence to market position, growth and innovation competence.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the nature of the association between culture strength, unbalance and firm performance would enable academics and practitioners to reflect critically on the core culture values which shape employee involvement and formulate leaders’ quality improvement decisions and actions, so as to achieve sustainable competitive advantage at the organizational level.Originality/valueThis research provides supporting empirical evidence for the culture–performance link by identifying the principle culture value characteristics (strength and unbalance), which exert both direct and interaction effects on the introvert and extrovert aspects of firm performance.
When lock-ins impede value co-creation in service
Authors: Svingstedt Anette , Corvellec Hervé 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThis paper aims to demonstrate the relevance of identifying lock-ins that characterise a service, showing how lock-ins or impediments reinforce the status quo and prevent change. It provides an understanding of the factors hindering the development of value co-creation in this service.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on 19 semi-structured interviews with representatives of the Swedish waste management industry. It focusses on the difficulties that waste management companies encounter when they try to collaborate with their industrial customers to develop waste prevention services.FindingsFour lock-ins that impede collaborative ways of working are identified: a business model based on short-term transactions rather than long-term relationships, a low level of self-confidence among waste managers regarding their competence to offer waste prevention services, non-supportive legal and economic institutional factors and existing waste processing infrastructures.Research limitations/implicationsBased on a case of waste services and to provide a better understanding of the rationale of value co-creation, this paper points to the generic relevance of investigating situations in which value co-creation encounters difficulties.Practical implicationsThe authors identify the fact that lock-ins impeding value co-creation can act as a roadmap for the development of new services.Originality/valueBy focusing on a case of unsuccessful value co-creation, the paper offers a counterpoint to cases of successful value co-creation.
Design and analysis of a climbing robot for pylon maintenance
Authors: Lu Xiaolong , Zhao Shiping , Liu Xiaoyu , Wang Yishu 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and development of “Pylon-Climber II”, a 5-DOF biped climbing robot (degree of freedom – DOF) for moving on the external surface of a tower and assisting the electricians to complete some maintenance tasks.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper introduces a pole-climbing robot, which consists of a 5-DOF mechanical arm and two novel grippers. The gripper is composed of a two-finger clamping module and a retractable L-shaped hook module. The robot is symmetrical in structure, and the rotary joint for connecting two arms is driven by a linear drive mechanism.

Findings
The developed prototype proved a new approach for the inspection and maintenance of the electricity pylon. The gripper can reliably grasp the angle bars with different specifications by using combined movement of the two-finger clamping module and the retractable L-shaped hook module and provide sufficient adhesion force for the Pylon-Climber II.

Practical implications
The clamping experiments of the gripper and the climbing experiments of the robot were carried out on a test tower composed of some angle bars with different specification.

Originality/value
This paper includes the design and development of a 5-DOF biped climbing robot for electricity pylon maintenance. The climbing robot can move on the external surface of the electric power tower through grasping the angle bar alternatively. The gripper that is composed of a two-finger gripping module and a retractable L-shaped hook module is very compact and can provide reliable adhesion force for the climbing robot.
An underwater robot with self-adaption mechanism for cleaning steel pipes with variable diameters
Authors: Fan Jinchang , Yang Canjun , Chen Yanhu , Wang Hansong , Huang Zhengming , Shou Zhicheng , Jiang Ping , Wei Qianxiao 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to present an underwater climbing robot for wiping off marine life from steel pipes (e.g. jackets of oil platforms). The self-adaption mechanism that consists of a passive roll joint and combined magnet adhesion units provides the robot with better mobility and stability.

Design/methodology/approach
Adhesion requirements are achieved by analyses of falling and slipping. The movement status on pipes is analyzed to design the passive roll joint. The optimized structure parameters of the combined magnet adhesion unit are achieved by simulations. An approximation method is established to simplify the simulations conditions, and the simulations are conducted in two steps to save time effectively.

Findings
The self-adaption mechanism has expected performance that the robot can travel on pipes in different directions with high mobility. Meanwhile, the robot can clean continuous region of underwater pipes’ surface of offshore platforms.

Practical implications
The proposed underwater robot is needed by offshore oil platforms as their jackets require to be cleaned periodically. Compared with traditional maintenance by divers, it is more efficient, economic and safety.

Originality/value
Due to the specific self-adaption mechanism, the robot has good mobility and stability in any directions on pipes with different diameters. The good performance of striping attachments from pipes makes the underwater robot be a novel solution to clean steel pipes.
Maintenance performance measurement – a case of the sugar industry
Authors: Gandhare Balasaheb Shahaji , Akarte Milind M. , Patil Pradip P. 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an empirical investigation of maintenance performance (MP) management practices from the sugar industry in India.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data for this study were collected through field visits, interviews and published reports. Statistical methods including correlation, multiple regression and cluster analysis are utilized to accomplish the objective of the study.FindingsExplanation with multiple regression analysis showed that the sugar industry MP is significantly and positively related to maintenance approach (MA), continuous improvement (CI), financial approach and spare part management (SPM). Cluster analysis showed that sugar industries focusing on MA, CI and policy development and organization are having higher MP. The cluster analysis also pointed out that there is a substantial variation in MP due to the type of ownership (private and cooperative) while no variation has been observed due to installed capacity (low and high).Research limitations/implicationsThe generalization of the results obtained in this work for the sugar industry can be possible through a larger sample size.Practical implicationsThe study contributes to the better understanding of maintenance measures in the sugar industry and provides insights on the role of maintenance managerial practices in enhancing the MP.Originality/valueThe findings provide empirical evidence that maintenance practices across the sugar industry are important to improve MP.
Cash or cashless?
Authors: Dinh Van Son , Nguyen Hoang Viet , Nguyen The Ninh 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the factors which influence consumer adoption of mobile payments. It also proposes strategic initiatives including integrated marketing communications to enhance and promote consumer adoption of such a mode of payments.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper focuses on the case of an emerging economy, Vietnam.

Findings
The key motivators of using mobile payment services include perceived usefulness, convenience, promotional offers, and social approval. In contrast, major barriers to consumer adoption of this mode of payment are lack of trust, limited opportunities for usage, complexity, and habits associated with cash payment.

Practical implications
Mobile payment service providers and their partners should make every effort to improve their consumers’ experience. Their marketing communication strategies should incorporate various consumer contact points such as the internet, social media, point-of-purchase communications, TV commercials, and product placement and endorsement.

Originality/value
This paper is among the first of its kind which provides insights on consumer adoption of mobile payments in Vietnam. Hence, it would be of interest to consumers and also to key stakeholders such as mobile payment providers, financial institutions, retailers, telecommunication companies, and policymakers.
Soil temperature effects on the structure and diversity of plant and invertebrate communities in a natural warming experiment
Authors: Robinson Sinikka I. , McLaughlin Órla B. , Marteinsdóttir Bryndís , O'Gorman Eoin J. 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Global warming is predicted to significantly alter species physiology, biotic interactions and thus ecosystem functioning, as a consequence of coexisting species exhibiting a wide range of thermal sensitivities. There is, however, a dearth of research examining warming impacts on natural communities.

Here, we used a natural warming experiment in Iceland to investigate the changes in above‐ground terrestrial plant and invertebrate communities along a soil temperature gradient (10°C–30°C).

The α‐diversity of plants and invertebrates decreased with increasing soil temperature, driven by decreasing plant species richness and increasing dominance of certain invertebrate species in warmer habitats. There was also greater species turnover in both plant and invertebrate communities with increasing pairwise temperature difference between sites. There was no effect of temperature on percentage cover of vegetation at the community level, driven by contrasting effects at the population level.

There was a reduction in the mean body mass and an increase in the total abundance of the invertebrate community, resulting in no overall change in community biomass. There were contrasting effects of temperature on the population abundance of various invertebrate species, which could be explained by differential thermal tolerances and metabolic requirements, or may have been mediated by changes in plant community composition.

Our study provides an important baseline from which the effect of changing environmental conditions on terrestrial communities can be tracked. It also contributes to our understanding of why community‐level studies of warming impacts are imperative if we are to disentangle the contrasting thermal responses of individual populations.