Brad McKenna, Wenjie Cai and Hyunsun Yoon
Research into older adults' use of social media remains limited. Driven by increasing digitalisation in China, the authors focus on Chinese older adults (aged 60–75)’ use of…
Abstract
Purpose
Research into older adults' use of social media remains limited. Driven by increasing digitalisation in China, the authors focus on Chinese older adults (aged 60–75)’ use of WeChat.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a qualitative interpretive approach and interviewed Chinese older adults to uncover their social practices of WeChat use in everyday life.
Findings
By using social practice theory (SPT), the paper unfolds Chinese older adults' social practices of WeChat use in everyday life and reveals how they adopt and resist the drastic changes in Chinese society.
Originality/value
The study contributes to new understandings of SPT from technology use by emphasising the dynamic characteristics of its three elements. The authors synthesise both adoptions and resistance in SPT and highlight the importance of understanding three elements interdependently within specific contexts, which are conditioned by structure and agency.
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The manufacturing industry and the producer service industry have a high degree of industrial correlation, and their integration will cause changes in the complex industrial…
Abstract
Purpose
The manufacturing industry and the producer service industry have a high degree of industrial correlation, and their integration will cause changes in the complex industrial network topology, which is an important reason for the synergistic effect. This paper describes the topology of industrial systems using complex network theory; further, it discusses how to identify the criticality and importance of industrial nodes, and whether node characteristics cause synergistic effects.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the input-output data of China in 2007, 2012 and 2017, this paper constructs the industrial complex network of 30 Chinese provinces and cities, and measures the regional network characteristics of the manufacturing industry. The fixed-effect panel regression model is adopted to test the influence of agglomeration degree and centrality on synergies, and its adjustment mechanism is explored.
Findings
The degree of network agglomeration in the manufacturing industry exerts a negative impact on the synergistic effect, while the centrality of the network exerts a significant promoting effect on the synergistic effect. The results of adjustment mechanism test show that enhancing the autonomous controllable ability of the regional industrial chain in the manufacturing industry can effectively reduce the effect of network characteristics on the synergistic effect.
Research limitations/implications
Based on input-output technology, this paper constructs a complex industrial network model, however, only basic flow data are used. Considerable in-depth and detailed research on the economic and technological connections within the industry should be conducted in the future. The selection of the evaluation index of the importance of industrial nodes also needs to be further considered. For historical reasons, it is also difficult to obtain and process data when carrying out quantitative analysis; therefore, it is necessary to make further attempts from the data source and the expression form of evaluation indicators.
Practical implications
In a practical sense this has certain reference value for the formulation of manufacturing industrial policies the optimization of regional industrial layout and the improvement of the industrial development level. It is necessary to formulate targeted and specialized industrial development strategies according to the characteristics of the manufacturing industry appropriately regulate the autonomous controllable ability of the industrial chain and avoid to limit the development of industries which is in turn limited by regional resources. Industry competition and market congestion need to be reduced industry exchanges outside the region encouraged the industrial layout optimized and the construction of a modern industrial system accelerated.
Social implications
The above research results hold certain reference importance for policy formulation related to the manufacturing industry, regional industrial layout optimization and industrial development level improvement. Targeted specialized industrial development strategies need to be formulated according to the characteristics of the manufacturing industry; the autonomous controllability of the industrial chain needs to be appropriately regulated; limitation of regional resources needs to be avoided as this restricts industrial development; and industry competition and market congestion need to be reduced. Agglomeration of production factors and optimization of resource allocation is an important part of a beneficial regional economic development strategy, and it is also an inevitable choice for industrialization to develop to a certain stage under the condition of a market economy. In alignment with the research conclusions, effective suggestions can be put forward for the current major industrial policies. In the process of promoting the development of the manufacturing industry, it is necessary for regional governments to carry out unified planning and guidance on the spatial layout of each manufacturing subsector. Regional governments need to effectively allocate inter-industry resources, better share economies of scale, constantly enhance the competitive advantages and competitiveness of development zones and new districts and promote the coordinated agglomeration and development of related industries with input industries. Industrial exchanges outside the region should be encouraged, the industrial layout should be optimized and the construction of a modern industrial system should be accelerated.
Originality/value
Complex network theory is introduced to study the industrial synergy effect. A complex industrial network of China's 30 regions is built and key network nodes are measured. Based on the dimensionality of the “industrial node – industrial chain – industrial complex network”, the research path of industrial complex networks is improved.
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Tianhao Liu, Junjie Liu, Qianying Li and Shuting He
The purpose of this study is to advance the understanding of digitalization–sustainability relationships in the digital age. Specifically, this study aims to test the link between…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to advance the understanding of digitalization–sustainability relationships in the digital age. Specifically, this study aims to test the link between Chinese digital firms’ adoption of digital technologies and green innovation. This study highlights the peculiarities of digital firms related to green innovation and how the adoption of digital technologies contributes to the sustainable development agenda.
Design/methodology/approach
This study empirically examines the impact of digital technologies on green innovation outcomes in publicly listed digital firms in China from 2010 to 2020. Using panel data from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research Database (CSMAR) and the Chinese Research Data Services Platform, the authors estimate regression models and find support for the hypotheses.
Findings
The authors find that the digitalization level of firms has a positive impact on corporate green innovation. In addition, this relationship is positively moderated by the level of internationalization in the firms. Moreover, the results of this study past the robustness and endogeneity checks.
Originality/value
This study provides novel insights into the green innovation of digital firms by analyzing the knowledge management capabilities of digital firms as well as the impact of the level of internationalization on knowledge acquisition and management (i.e. boundary conditions). Specifically, the findings of this study provide a new context to encourage study on green innovation. Moreover, this study enriches the literature on corporate digitalization and the factors influencing corporate green innovation.
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Jing Liu, Yujie Wang and Liyan Chang
The rapid development of digital reading has made it a mainstream reading method for the public, and scholars have conducted research on its effectiveness.The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
The rapid development of digital reading has made it a mainstream reading method for the public, and scholars have conducted research on its effectiveness.The purpose of this study is to systematically summarize and generalize the factors that affect the effectiveness of digital reading in current practical research.
Design/methodology/approach
Retrieved the search results from the Web of Science database and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, collected the relevant literature in both Chinese and English on the effectiveness of digital reading, qualitatively coded the relevant literature, and conducted a systematic literature review analysis on the factors affecting the effectiveness of digital reading.
Findings
There are 37 factors that influence the effectiveness of digital reading, forming five factor themes, namely, the reading subject, reading environment, organizational support, technical support and reading text. The five influencing factor themes are further divided into three types of functional mechanisms, namely, driving, supportive and assurance mechanisms. Based on this, a research framework is proposed, providing a comprehensive approach for the research positioning of digital reading effectiveness.
Originality/value
A research framework is proposed, providing a comprehensive approach for the research positioning of digital reading effectiveness.
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Shang Zhang, Jie Duan and Riza Yosia Sunindijo
The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding control measures have harmed the mental health of professionals working in the construction industry. Existing research has also…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding control measures have harmed the mental health of professionals working in the construction industry. Existing research has also indicated that demographic characteristics are leading variables causing differences in individual’s perceptions on mental health and psychosocial hazardous factors. Combining these, this research aims to compare the differences and similarities of the perceived mental health outcomes and psychosocial hazards among construction professionals with different demographic characteristics during the pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a questionnaire survey, data were collected from 531 construction professionals working in Chinese construction companies, which were analyzed quantitatively using mean score comparative analysis, Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test, as well as Spearman’s correlation analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that construction professionals with different ages, years of working experience and positions are exposed to different psychosocial hazards, resulting in different mental health conditions during the pandemic. Age and years of working experience are also strong predictors of the level of depression and anxiety experienced by construction professionals; that is, mental ill health tends to decrease with the increase of age and experience. Male department/unit heads, working in a company office environment for a private company and aged 31–40 years old with 11–20 years of working experience, tend to have the best mental health condition. In contrast, psychosocial hazards are more likely to produce the most serious impact on male site-based construction professionals working for a state-owned company, either with less than one year of working experience or in a senior management position.
Originality/value
Despite the significant contribution of the construction industry to the global economy, the differences and similarities of the mental health outcomes and psychosocial hazards among construction professionals with different demographic characteristics during the pandemic remain unknown. This research, therefore, reveals the mental health outcomes and psychosocial hazard impacts among different types of construction professionals during the pandemic. Specifically, this research unveils the important personal characteristics which are closely associated with poor mental health and the stronger impacts of psychosocial hazards on the mental health of construction professionals during the pandemic. The results are valuable for governments and construction companies to formulate targeted mental health intervention strategies during future public health emergencies.
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Xin Huang, Yuxing Peng, Jianfei Li, Guiju Zhu and Han Peng
This article aims to elaborate on the current relevant policies, research literature and technical applications of administrative intelligent decision-making in major countries in…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to elaborate on the current relevant policies, research literature and technical applications of administrative intelligent decision-making in major countries in the world, to summarize the current focus areas of international competition in administrative intelligent decision-making and to provide references and insights for other countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The knowledge graph tool CiteSpace was used to conduct a quantitative analysis of the field of administrative intelligent decision-making, using the two dimensions of research literature and technology patents to analyze the basic status and evolution process of artificial intelligence applied to administrative decision-making.
Findings
Over the past 30 years, theoretical research on administrative intelligent decision-making has primarily centered on countries like the United States of America, China and Japan. The main themes include leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enable digital government transformation, enhance administrative efficiency and promote public value through service-oriented initiatives. Countries like South Korea, China and the United States of America have demonstrated significant advantages in technology development and patent applications, focusing on e-government systems, intelligent government auditing, addressing policy mismatches between supply and demand and integrating online and offline administrative services. The international competitive landscape in this field is shaped by three key factors: foundational theories, technological advancements and practical scenario applications.
Originality/value
Despite the rapid advancements in AI technology and the acceleration of enterprise digital transformation, discussions on the intelligent transformation of administrative decision-making leveraging next-generation information technology remain limited. This study summarizes the development trajectory of administrative intelligent decision-making in major countries worldwide, analyzes the international competitive landscape of its theoretical and application research and highlights key focus areas. These findings offer valuable insights for advancing the construction of administrative intelligent decision-making systems in other nations.