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Rakesh Sai Kumar Mandala and R. Ramesh Nayaka
This paper aims to identify modern construction techniques for affordable housing, such as prefabrication and interlocking systems, that can save time and cost while also…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify modern construction techniques for affordable housing, such as prefabrication and interlocking systems, that can save time and cost while also providing long-term sustainable benefits that are desperately needed in today's construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The need for housing is growing worldwide, but traditional construction cannot cater to the demand due to insufficient time. There should be some paradigm shift in the construction industry to supply housing to society. This paper presented a state-of-the-art review of modern construction techniques practiced worldwide and their advantages in affordable housing construction by conducting a systematic literature review and applying the backward snowball technique. The paper reviews modern prefabrication techniques and interlocking systems such as modular construction, formwork systems, light gauge steel/cold form steel construction and sandwich panel construction, which have been globally well practiced. It was understood from the overview that modular construction, including modular steel construction and precast concrete construction, could reduce time and costs efficiently. Further enhancement in the quality was also noticed. Besides, it was observed that light gauge steel construction is a modern phase of steel that eases construction execution efficiently. Modern formwork systems such as Mivan (Aluminium Formwork) have been reported for their minimum construction time, which leads to faster construction than traditional formwork. However, the cost is subjected to the repetitions of the formwork. An interlocking system is an innovative approach to construction that uses bricks made of sustainable materials such as earth that conserve time and cost.
Findings
The study finds that the prefabrication techniques and interlocking system have a lot of unique attributes that can enable the modern construction sector to flourish. The study summarizes modern construction techniques that can save time and cost, enhancing the sustainability of construction practices, which is the need of the Indian construction industry in particular.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to identifying specific modern construction techniques for time and cost savings, lean concepts and sustainability which are being practiced worldwide.
Practical implications
Modern formwork systems such as Mivan (Aluminium Formwork) have been reported for their minimum construction time which leads to faster construction than traditional formwork.
Social implications
The need for housing is growing rapidly all over the world, but traditional construction cannot cater to the need due to insufficient time. There should be some paradigm shift in the construction industry to supply housing to society.
Originality/value
This study is unique in identifying specific modern construction techniques for time and cost savings, lean concepts and sustainability which are being practiced worldwide.
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Hemant Kumar, Saradindu Bhaduri, Abhinandan Saikia, Mohd Ali and Gautam Sharma
Agriculture innovation systems (AIS) examine the complex socio-technical and institutional aspects affecting sustainable agriculture. However, it is predominantly constrained to…
Abstract
Purpose
Agriculture innovation systems (AIS) examine the complex socio-technical and institutional aspects affecting sustainable agriculture. However, it is predominantly constrained to the formal sector activities in the high-income countries (HICs). The informal sector actors play a major role in the agricultural sector of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as India, by innovating and disseminating grassroots innovations (GI). This study aims to explore the role of different GI, both by the informal and formal sectors, within an emerging AIS focused on seabuckthorn in Ladakh, India.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews and focused group discussions to gather data from the stakeholders involved in seabuckthorn value chain. The data was analysed using the AIS framework’sa priori themes and was validated through data triangulation with secondary sources.
Findings
This study reveals the existence of GI, by both the formal and informal sector actors, and their complex interaction within the seabuckthorn value chain. It highlights the importance of co-existence of these GI to make it a sustainable seabuckthorn AIS.
Practical implications
This study offers noteworthy perspectives for governments, policymakers and agricultural practitioners with respect to the assimilation of GI into AIS. These insights could help improve agricultural sustainability and viability, particularly in LMICs where the informal sector plays a significant role.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to explore the role of GI within AIS and opens up research avenues for further inquiry in both LMICs and HICs.
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This study aims to explore the traditional plant dyeing of Xinjiang Atlas silk fabrics, providing references for the comprehensive utilization of plant dyes in intangible…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the traditional plant dyeing of Xinjiang Atlas silk fabrics, providing references for the comprehensive utilization of plant dyes in intangible cultural heritage.
Design/methodology/approach
The focus of this study is on dyeing experiments of Atlas silk fabrics using safflower extracts, constrained by regional resources. Safflower dry flowers grown in Xinjiang were selected, rinsed with pure water and rubbed. Yellow pigments were removed by adding edible white vinegar. Red pigments from safflower were extracted using an alkaline solution prepared with Populus euphratica ash, a special product of Xinjiang. The extraction rate was analyzed under varying material-to-liquor ratios, pH values, times and temperatures. Direct dyeing process experiments were conducted to obtain different colorimetric L, a, b and K/S values for comparison. Samples with good color development were selected to test the impact of dyeing immersions on color development, and their color fastness, UV protection and antibacterial effects were verified.
Findings
The dyeing experiments on silk fabrics confirmed their UV protection capabilities and antibacterial properties, demonstrating effectiveness against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. As a major producer of safflower, Xinjiang underscores the significance of safflower as an essential plant dyes on the Silk Road. This study reveals its market potential and suitability for use in the plant dyeing process of Atlas silk, producing vibrant red and pink colors.
Originality/value
The experiments indicated that after removing yellow pigments, the highest extraction rate of red pigment from safflower was achieved at a pH value of 10–11, a temperature of 30°C and an extraction time of 40 min. The best bright red color effect with strong color fastness was obtained with a material-to-liquor ratio of 1:20, a temperature of 40°C and three immersions. The best light pink color effect with strong color fastness was a material-to-liquor ratio of 1:80, a temperature of 30°C and two immersions.
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Shumaila Yousafzai and Nurlykhan Aljanova
This study investigates the role of feminist solidarity in influencing women’s empowerment within Kyrgyzstan’s community-based tourism sector, exploring how traditional values…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the role of feminist solidarity in influencing women’s empowerment within Kyrgyzstan’s community-based tourism sector, exploring how traditional values intersect with feminist activism to create opportunities for socio-economic growth while highlighting the dynamic interactions that shape empowerment in this context.
Design/methodology/approach
Using 32 in-depth interviews, this research applies a post-colonial feminist perspective to examine the complex dynamics of feminist solidarity among women entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan’s unique socio-cultural environment.
Findings
Feminist solidarity is identified as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation and community empowerment, promoting economic opportunities, cultural preservation and knowledge-sharing across generations. The study introduces a spiral model of empowerment, illustrating the dynamic progression from individual empowerment to community solidarity, highlighting the evolving and interconnected nature of these processes.
Research limitations/implications
The findings demonstrate that feminist solidarity drives socio-economic change in post-colonial contexts, offering opportunities for sustainable development and community empowerment. However, policymakers must approach leveraging feminist solidarity with caution, ensuring cultural sensitivity and avoiding oversimplified interventions. The community-based tourism sector illustrates that, when integrated thoughtfully, feminist solidarity can promote growth and cultural preservation, but only when aligned with local values and contexts.
Originality/value
This study advances the understanding of feminist solidarity and empowerment by not only providing a contextual analysis within Kyrgyzstan’s community-based tourism sector but also offering insights into the broader processes and dynamics of solidarity and empowerment. It illustrates how these concepts evolve and interact, demonstrating their impact on collective action and socio-economic change in post-colonial settings, thus enriching the theoretical discourse on gender and entrepreneurship.
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Supply chain risks and disruptions pose a significant threat to the healthcare industry. This paper aims to synthesize the research streams in the intersection of healthcare…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chain risks and disruptions pose a significant threat to the healthcare industry. This paper aims to synthesize the research streams in the intersection of healthcare supply chain management and risk management to identify the research gaps and future research directions.
Design/methodology/approach
We collected 205 papers published between 2006 and 2023 for the bibliometric analysis for the keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analysis, generating backward- and forward-looking perspectives on the scholarship in healthcare supply chain risk management (HSCRM).
Findings
This study finds a growing scholarly interest in HSCRM. Using bibliometric tools and mapping, this study presents the overall research trends in HSCRM literature and identifies seven research, namely, clusters, cost analysis, allocation, performance management, patient safety, quality, risk assessment and logistics and four research themes, namely, resilience, risk management strategy, healthcare supply chain disruption and data analytics, through the keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analyses. A future research agenda is provided based on these clusters for further investigation in this field.
Originality/value
This study conducted bibliometric analysis to identify clusters and associated themes for insights for further research. This approach helps advance the scholarship and proactively apply the implications in practice beyond the reactive strategy to risk management in healthcare supply chain management.
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Antonios D. Livieratos and Antonios Angelakis
In writing this case, the authors collected both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through personal observation and semi-structured interviews with…
Abstract
Research methodology
In writing this case, the authors collected both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through personal observation and semi-structured interviews with Konstantinos Papageorgiou Jr, Papageorgiou Transports & Logistics’s (PTL) CEO. In 2014, Konstantinos Jr participated in an entrepreneurship course for executives instructed by the first author at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Since then, the first author has served as an advisor to PTL’s CEO. Furthermore, Konstantinos Papageorgiou Jr presented his case during an undergraduate management course at the Department of Business Administration at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in November 2020. Finally, three semi-structured interviews with the CEO were conducted from December 2020 until March 2021. Secondary data were collected from the company’s website and social media, as well as databases and annual reports. Since the academic year 2021/2022, the authors have each independently taught the case study in various courses, including strategic management (undergraduate and postgraduate), entrepreneurship (undergraduate) and innovation management (undergraduate and postgraduate). Testing the case in class has shaped the instructor’s manual.
Case overview/synopsis
The case study of PTL highlights a remarkable transformation in response to a critical business challenge. Facing the abrupt loss of their main client in 2010, PTL, led by Konstantinos Papageorgiou Jr, swiftly recovered and sought to proactively mitigate future shocks. Operating amid the Greek economic crisis, Konstantinos Jr recognized an opportunity in the niche market of juvenile Mediterranean fish (fry) transport. Despite lacking prior expertise in this field, PTL engaged in open innovation, collaborating with a variety of partners to acquire the necessary knowledge and capabilities. By 2013, PTL had successfully entered the niche market of fry transportation. Over the subsequent years, this venture grew, and by the end of 2022, PTL operated four trucks dedicated to this niche market. The company’s remarkable transformation exemplifies how a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) can adapt, innovate, and diversify its offerings beyond its comfort zone, ultimately achieving a tenfold increase in turnover. PTL’s journey showcases the strategic value of partnerships and the potential for SMEs to evolve into “innovation producers” in the face of adversity.
Complexity academic level
The PTL case is suitable for management, strategic management, innovation management and entrepreneurship courses. The case is recommended for use at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels (a different teaching plan is proposed for each level). It provides both undergraduate and master’s students studying business administration the opportunity to explore issues associated with the management of SMEs, the formulation and implementation of a business strategy and the management of innovation in SMEs.
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The purpose of this paper is to show the spatial extent and growth of tourism and its likely patterns as past forces of change are replaced by new pressures to reduce climate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show the spatial extent and growth of tourism and its likely patterns as past forces of change are replaced by new pressures to reduce climate change and meet new definitions of success.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach involves a review of changes that have occurred over the Horizon period with a focus on the spatial spread and development of tourism, using and based on a literature review, past research and personal experience. Likely new developments are identified based on the expected result of influences including climate change mitigation and altered understandings of what is meant by success in tourism.
Findings
Much of the spatial change in tourism has been evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but in the future, restrictive forces external to tourism may change travel patterns with severe effects on long haul travel and a change in travel mode.
Research limitations/implications
The research focus needs to produce effective measures of success as understood by all stakeholders in tourist destinations. Alternative destinations will need to replace those long haul destinations no longer available and research needs to refocus on managing rather than solely attracting visitors.
Practical implications
Long haul destinations will lose market share, destinations will change goals to satisfaction for stakeholders and travel modes will change to lower emission generators.
Social implications
Destination choice will be reduced, transport modes may be limited and tourism closer to home will become the norm.
Originality/value
A general overview of this type has not been presented before.
目的
揭示旅游业的空间范围和增长及其可能改变的模式, 因为以往的变化驱动力被减少气候变化的新压力并满足成功的新定义所取代。
设计/方法论/方法
由于缓解气候变化等影响和对旅游业成功含义的理解的改变而可能出现的一些新发展。本文基于文献综述、过去的研究和个人经验, 对综述期间发生的变化进行梳理, 重点关注旅游的空间扩散和发展。
调查结果
过去, 旅游的很多空间变化是渐进式的, 而不是革命性的。但在未来, 旅游外部的限制性力量可能会改变旅行模式, 对长途旅行和旅行方式的变化产生严重影响。
研究局限/启示
研究重点需要产生为旅游目的地所有利益相关者所理解的, 有效的对于成功的衡量标准。替代性目的地将取代那些不可用的长途目的地。研究需要重新关注旅游业管理, 而不仅仅是吸引游客。
实际意义
长途目的地将失去市场份额, 目的地将改变目标以满足利益相关者, 旅行模式将转变为低排放模式。
社会影响
目的地的选择性将会减少, 交通方式可能会受到限制, 离家更近的旅游将成为常态。
创意/价值
这种类型的一般性概述以前没有研究过。
Objetivo
Mostrar la extensión espacial y el crecimiento del turismo y su probable patrón alterado a medida que las fuerzas de cambio del pasado son sustituidas por nuevas presiones para reducir el cambio climático y satisfacer nuevas definiciones de éxito.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Una revisión de los cambios que se han producido durante el periodo Horizonte, centrándose en la extensión espacial y el desarrollo del turismo, basándose en la revisión bibliográfica, la investigación previa y la experiencia personal, y los posibles nuevos desarrollos como resultado de antecedentes, incluyendo la mitigación del cambio climático y la alteración de la comprensión de lo que se entiende por éxito en el turismo.
Conclusiones
Gran parte del cambio espacial en el turismo ha sido evolutivo más que revolucionario, pero, en el futuro, fuerzas restrictivas externas al turismo pueden cambiar los patrones de viaje con graves efectos en los viajes de larga distancia y un cambio en el modo de viajar.
Limitaciones/implicaciones de la investigación
El enfoque de la investigación necesita producir medidas efectivas de éxito tal y como las entienden todas las partes interesadas en los destinos turísticos. Los destinos alternativos tendrán que sustituir a los destinos de larga distancia que ya no estén disponibles y la investigación debe volver a centrarse en la gestión en lugar de únicamente en atraer visitantes.
Implicaciones prácticas
Los destinos de larga distancia perderán cuota de mercado, los destinos cambiarán sus objetivos por la satisfacción de las partes interesadas y los modos de viaje cambiarán a generadores de menos emisiones.
Implicaciones sociales
Se reducirá la oferta de destinos, los modos de transporte pueden verse limitados y el turismo más cercano se convertirá en la norma.
Originalidad/valor
No se había presentado antes una revisión general con este enfoque.
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