title: Circular supply chain management: Performance outcomes and the role of eco-industrial parks in China

authors: Farooque, Muhammad

abstract: A circular economy (CE) is increasingly recognized as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to the dominant linear take-make-dispose economic model. We empirically investigate the effect of
circular supply chain management (CSCM) on cost and financial performance in China, which has established the world’s largest system of eco-industrial parks (EIPs) to promote CE over the last decade.
We combine the Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV), Contingent NRBV and the literature on CSCM to develop a conceptual model and test it using survey data collected from 255 Chinese
manufacturing firms. The results show that CSCM, when exercised as a unified strategy, has a significant positive effect on cost and financial performance. Firms located within EIPs adopt CSCM
at higher levels as compared to firms located outside EIPs. Nevertheless, the contextual factor of being located within an EIP does not moderate the CSCM practice-performance relationship, suggesting that
performance is driven by practices rather than firms’ locations. These results were affirmed by postsurvey participant validation in three focus group meetings and six face-to-face interviews. Our findings
contribute to sustainability literature by offering a new construct and measurement items relevant to CSCM and provide practical insights to guide a transition to a CE.

text: Circular supply chain management: Performance outcomes and the role of eco-industrial parks in China A circular economy (CE) is increasingly recognized as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to the dominant linear take-make-dispose economic model. We empirically investigate the effect of
circular supply chain management (CSCM) on cost and financial performance in China, which has established the world’s largest system of eco-industrial parks (EIPs) to promote CE over the last decade.
We combine the Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV), Contingent NRBV and the literature on CSCM to develop a conceptual model and test it using survey data collected from 255 Chinese
manufacturing firms. The results show that CSCM, when exercised as a unified strategy, has a significant positive effect on cost and financial performance. Firms located within EIPs adopt CSCM
at higher levels as compared to firms located outside EIPs. Nevertheless, the contextual factor of being located within an EIP does not moderate the CSCM practice-performance relationship, suggesting that
performance is driven by practices rather than firms’ locations. These results were affirmed by postsurvey participant validation in three focus group meetings and six face-to-face interviews. Our findings
contribute to sustainability literature by offering a new construct and measurement items relevant to CSCM and provide practical insights to guide a transition to a CE.

year: 2021-12-30

title: Sensitive soils of the Puketoka Formation, Hamilton, New Zealand

authors: Kitchen, Emily

subjects: Puketoka Formation

abstract: Sensitive soils are known to cause significant issues in the infrastructure and civil engineering industry, and are prone to sudden, oftentimes catastrophic failures following long periods of stability. 
The Walton Subgroup soils deposited through volcanic activity and partially reworked by the ancestral Waikato River are identified within the Hamilton Basin. These materials are of interest to the engineering community, and consultancy groups in the Hamilton area, due to their identified sensitivity. The Puketoka Formation was focused on in this study.
Sampling of material was undertaken at two active construction sites in Hamilton: Dixon Road Roundabout, and Temple View Urban Development. A series of classification tests were completed to determine the samples’ mineralogical and geotechnical characteristics. 
Mineralogical testing found that all the materials were silt dominated (55.06 – 81.12 %), with sub-ordinate clay (13.10 – 18.85 %) and sand (5.56 – 25.35 %) fractions. The moisture contents were variable (49 – 65 %). The field moist bulk density varied throughout the samples (1069 – 1576 kg/m3), as did the oven dry bulk densities (645 – 1057 kg/m3). The porosity as a result also varied (36 – 51 %). The void ratios followed the same trend as the porosity values (0.56 – 0.88). The particle densities of the materials also showed variation (1935 – 2487 kg/m3). The activities of all three samples were variable, ranging from inactive (0.60) to active (1.79). The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis determined that the main clay mineral present within the samples was a kaolinite group clay, either halloysite or kaolinite. The Fieldes & Perrott NaF test to determine the presence of allophane was also completed on the samples. Both tests were negative, confirming the dominance of halloysite. Bulk analysis also determined other constituents of the samples to include quartz, plagioclase, augite and volcanic glass. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) indicated the main halloysite morphologies present to be a combination of short and long tubules, spheroids, plates and book formations. The microstructure was analysed, and the main clay minerals, grains, microaggregates, and pores within the materials described. The microfabric was consistent for all three samples, with each showing an abundance of small pores (< 20 µm). These pores hold significant amounts of water in not readily accessible locations, leading to the highly porous, but poorly permeable nature of the materials. DRAB1 and TV1 showed microstructures consistent with Huppert (1986) and Beattie’s (1990) ‘matrix’ structures, whilst TV2 showed a more dominant ‘skeletal’ to ‘matrix’ structure. 
Atterberg limits testing found that the samples had a high liquid limit (59 – 75 %) and plastic limit (41 – 53 %), but a variable plasticity index (8 – 34 %) and liquidity index (0.1 – 2). This placed all three samples within the high plasticity “MH” category upon the Casagrande chart. Consolidated undrained triaxial testing of DRAB1 and TV1 indicated a characteristic normally consolidated response to shear, with the majority of cores showing shear band formation. Only TV1 at 170 kPa displayed an intermediate failure type, potentially occurring due to a combination of material being tested, confining pressure, and the low shear rate allowing time for pressure dissipation. The percentage of axial strain the cores failed at varied (1.81 – 16.35 %), and the peak deviator stress (129 – 277 kPa) and pore water pressure values (717.2 – 879.7 kPa) tended to increase as the confining pressures increased. Graphical outputs show a moderate strain, contractive (MSC) style of failure. The effective shear strength values produced were in keeping with the varying ranges of previously published values (effective cohesion: 0 – 37 kPa, effective friction angle: 27 - 38°). The permeability for all three samples was estimated to be ~10-9 – 10-10. Thin section analyses of failed core sections for DRAB1 at 270 kPa confining pressure and TV1 at 130 and 230 kPa confining pressures found that some degree of shear formation and propagation occurred. The calculated R’ angle for DRAB1 was closely observed in the thin section, however was not for TV1. This was hypothesised to have occurred due to a true shear band failure not occurring, rather the development of intermediate to juvenile shear bands within the soil. 
The sensitivity of the Puketoka Formation and wider Walton Subgroup is hypothesised to have been derived from the reworking and weathering the materials experienced. This in turn influenced the porosity and permeability of the materials, which I believe govern the sensitivity of the soils to a degree. Therefore, I believe the Puketoka Formation materials are representative of a silt-dominated, minimally reworked deposit of volcanic origin, that showed appreciable differences compared with the previously studied Tauranga soils. 
The remediation strategies used in the engineering industry were also analysed, and the suitability of the strategies in the context of the Puketoka Formation discussed. This assessment provides an overview of why traditional strategies for remediation may not be beneficial in some cases for the Walton Subgroup materials, which could be of benefit to key engineering groups that encounter these soil materials.
The results of this study provide a set of data which can be used as an initial reference point. The findings and hypotheses made could be of use to key groups including local engineering consultancies, who handle these materials regularly.

text: Sensitive soils of the Puketoka Formation, Hamilton, New Zealand Sensitive soils are known to cause significant issues in the infrastructure and civil engineering industry, and are prone to sudden, oftentimes catastrophic failures following long periods of stability. 
The Walton Subgroup soils deposited through volcanic activity and partially reworked by the ancestral Waikato River are identified within the Hamilton Basin. These materials are of interest to the engineering community, and consultancy groups in the Hamilton area, due to their identified sensitivity. The Puketoka Formation was focused on in this study.
Sampling of material was undertaken at two active construction sites in Hamilton: Dixon Road Roundabout, and Temple View Urban Development. A series of classification tests were completed to determine the samples’ mineralogical and geotechnical characteristics. 
Mineralogical testing found that all the materials were silt dominated (55.06 – 81.12 %), with sub-ordinate clay (13.10 – 18.85 %) and sand (5.56 – 25.35 %) fractions. The moisture contents were variable (49 – 65 %). The field moist bulk density varied throughout the samples (1069 – 1576 kg/m3), as did the oven dry bulk densities (645 – 1057 kg/m3). The porosity as a result also varied (36 – 51 %). The void ratios followed the same trend as the porosity values (0.56 – 0.88). The particle densities of the materials also showed variation (1935 – 2487 kg/m3). The activities of all three samples were variable, ranging from inactive (0.60) to active (1.79). The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis determined that the main clay mineral present within the samples was a kaolinite group clay, either halloysite or kaolinite. The Fieldes & Perrott NaF test to determine the presence of allophane was also completed on the samples. Both tests were negative, confirming the dominance of halloysite. Bulk analysis also determined other constituents of the samples to include quartz, plagioclase, augite and volcanic glass. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) indicated the main halloysite morphologies present to be a combination of short and long tubules, spheroids, plates and book formations. The microstructure was analysed, and the main clay minerals, grains, microaggregates, and pores within the materials described. The microfabric was consistent for all three samples, with each showing an abundance of small pores (< 20 µm). These pores hold significant amounts of water in not readily accessible locations, leading to the highly porous, but poorly permeable nature of the materials. DRAB1 and TV1 showed microstructures consistent with Huppert (1986) and Beattie’s (1990) ‘matrix’ structures, whilst TV2 showed a more dominant ‘skeletal’ to ‘matrix’ structure. 
Atterberg limits testing found that the samples had a high liquid limit (59 – 75 %) and plastic limit (41 – 53 %), but a variable plasticity index (8 – 34 %) and liquidity index (0.1 – 2). This placed all three samples within the high plasticity “MH” category upon the Casagrande chart. Consolidated undrained triaxial testing of DRAB1 and TV1 indicated a characteristic normally consolidated response to shear, with the majority of cores showing shear band formation. Only TV1 at 170 kPa displayed an intermediate failure type, potentially occurring due to a combination of material being tested, confining pressure, and the low shear rate allowing time for pressure dissipation. The percentage of axial strain the cores failed at varied (1.81 – 16.35 %), and the peak deviator stress (129 – 277 kPa) and pore water pressure values (717.2 – 879.7 kPa) tended to increase as the confining pressures increased. Graphical outputs show a moderate strain, contractive (MSC) style of failure. The effective shear strength values produced were in keeping with the varying ranges of previously published values (effective cohesion: 0 – 37 kPa, effective friction angle: 27 - 38°). The permeability for all three samples was estimated to be ~10-9 – 10-10. Thin section analyses of failed core sections for DRAB1 at 270 kPa confining pressure and TV1 at 130 and 230 kPa confining pressures found that some degree of shear formation and propagation occurred. The calculated R’ angle for DRAB1 was closely observed in the thin section, however was not for TV1. This was hypothesised to have occurred due to a true shear band failure not occurring, rather the development of intermediate to juvenile shear bands within the soil. 
The sensitivity of the Puketoka Formation and wider Walton Subgroup is hypothesised to have been derived from the reworking and weathering the materials experienced. This in turn influenced the porosity and permeability of the materials, which I believe govern the sensitivity of the soils to a degree. Therefore, I believe the Puketoka Formation materials are representative of a silt-dominated, minimally reworked deposit of volcanic origin, that showed appreciable differences compared with the previously studied Tauranga soils. 
The remediation strategies used in the engineering industry were also analysed, and the suitability of the strategies in the context of the Puketoka Formation discussed. This assessment provides an overview of why traditional strategies for remediation may not be beneficial in some cases for the Walton Subgroup materials, which could be of benefit to key engineering groups that encounter these soil materials.
The results of this study provide a set of data which can be used as an initial reference point. The findings and hypotheses made could be of use to key groups including local engineering consultancies, who handle these materials regularly.

year: 2021

title: Digital Taniwha: Growing Māori participation in the IT industry

authors: Williams, Warren

subjects: Māori research

abstract: This study explores the influencing factors on the participation levels of Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) in the national IT industry. It particularly focusses on Māori IT professionals and why their participation in IT sector events and activities are not as visible as non-Māori. The researcher, who is also a Māori IT professional, has engaged with Māori in IT during his career, and forms the initial question of “where are they?”. The researcher proposes that more IT entrants and current IT professionals, who hold a Māori worldview grounded in cultural values that promote innovation and creativity, would benefit not only Māori but the IT industry and the nation. 

This thesis employs qualitative aligned research approaches - Kaupapa Māori and Wayfinding, to enable culturally appropriate methods during the data collection and analysis stages. It uses these approaches to support the inclusion of key cultural tenets such as Te Reo Māori (Māori language) and Māori values and practice. This research introduces the term “digital kaitiaki” to appropriately refer to Māori IT professionals. It collects data using appreciative inquiry and action research approaches and specific methods from semi-structured interviews held with digital kaitiaki; through focus groups with over 70 people; and records from action committees and working groups; to field observations of over 30 people. 

It examines the fieldwork data using thematic analysis and cross-checks the themes against influencing factors from the participant’s (including his own) personal and professional careers. The analysis identifies the following key themes: Māori identity and culture, feelings of personal and cultural responsibility, motivational forces, and role models. To respond to these, the study proposes a “Waka Kaitiaki Matihiko” model that connects with widely known Māori metaphors and symbols. It deploys these to inform and capture existing and potential future processes involving digital kaitiaki and to suggest how a culturally supported vehicle for Māori worldview engagement could encourage more Māori to enter IT and lend support for leadership roles for existing Māori IT workers.

To realise that potential, the study looks at leadership styles of the past to recognise what leadership is needed to increase contemporary Māori participation in the IT sector. It compares and contrasts leadership styles over time and constructs a new “digital taniwha” leadership style as fit for purpose for the challenge of growing Māori participation and for steering more Māori into leadership roles. Finally, by building on categories in the Blue Ocean Leadership grid and interweaving them with elements from existing Māori leadership literature, metaphors and symbols, and the findings from participants, it recommends a series of action-oriented interventions. These are designed to address the challenges identified in the key themes and feature governance and leadership programmes, as well as talent and career pathways, Te Reo Māori digital projects, tuakana/teina support and mentoring models, research into diversity representation (e.g., women and youth), and models designed to provide space to support the interventions proposed.

text: Digital Taniwha: Growing Māori participation in the IT industry This study explores the influencing factors on the participation levels of Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) in the national IT industry. It particularly focusses on Māori IT professionals and why their participation in IT sector events and activities are not as visible as non-Māori. The researcher, who is also a Māori IT professional, has engaged with Māori in IT during his career, and forms the initial question of “where are they?”. The researcher proposes that more IT entrants and current IT professionals, who hold a Māori worldview grounded in cultural values that promote innovation and creativity, would benefit not only Māori but the IT industry and the nation. 

This thesis employs qualitative aligned research approaches - Kaupapa Māori and Wayfinding, to enable culturally appropriate methods during the data collection and analysis stages. It uses these approaches to support the inclusion of key cultural tenets such as Te Reo Māori (Māori language) and Māori values and practice. This research introduces the term “digital kaitiaki” to appropriately refer to Māori IT professionals. It collects data using appreciative inquiry and action research approaches and specific methods from semi-structured interviews held with digital kaitiaki; through focus groups with over 70 people; and records from action committees and working groups; to field observations of over 30 people. 

It examines the fieldwork data using thematic analysis and cross-checks the themes against influencing factors from the participant’s (including his own) personal and professional careers. The analysis identifies the following key themes: Māori identity and culture, feelings of personal and cultural responsibility, motivational forces, and role models. To respond to these, the study proposes a “Waka Kaitiaki Matihiko” model that connects with widely known Māori metaphors and symbols. It deploys these to inform and capture existing and potential future processes involving digital kaitiaki and to suggest how a culturally supported vehicle for Māori worldview engagement could encourage more Māori to enter IT and lend support for leadership roles for existing Māori IT workers.

To realise that potential, the study looks at leadership styles of the past to recognise what leadership is needed to increase contemporary Māori participation in the IT sector. It compares and contrasts leadership styles over time and constructs a new “digital taniwha” leadership style as fit for purpose for the challenge of growing Māori participation and for steering more Māori into leadership roles. Finally, by building on categories in the Blue Ocean Leadership grid and interweaving them with elements from existing Māori leadership literature, metaphors and symbols, and the findings from participants, it recommends a series of action-oriented interventions. These are designed to address the challenges identified in the key themes and feature governance and leadership programmes, as well as talent and career pathways, Te Reo Māori digital projects, tuakana/teina support and mentoring models, research into diversity representation (e.g., women and youth), and models designed to provide space to support the interventions proposed.

year: 2020