Santosh Kharat, Shubhada Nagarkar and Bhausaheb Panage
The purpose of this study is to systematically examine the existing literature published on the circulation methods used in academic libraries and to discuss a proposed model for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to systematically examine the existing literature published on the circulation methods used in academic libraries and to discuss a proposed model for the self-check-in and check-out methods using quick response (QR) codes.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) provided a complete overview of circulation systems used in academic libraries for the last more than 140 years. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) method for SLR was used. Several databases such as ProQuest, Emerald, Library and Information Science Abstracts, EBSCO and Google Scholar were searched. Out of 277 papers retrieved in the search, 43 most relevant papers were taken up for the SLR. These were classified into four themes based on the systems of circulation used, namely, manual (5), mechanized (13), automated (5) and networked system (20). Based on the findings of the SLR, a model of circulation system in which QR code technology has been used.
Findings
The result of SLR identified 33 systems used in above mentioned four groups. Among this, a large number 48.48% of mechanized systems were found. Each system has limitations either because of devices used or of technology. The present study proposes a QR code-based model at the circulation desk, for which a prototype of Android app has been designed. This would help to initiate the new “self-services” facility to users at the circulation desk.
Practical implications
The proposed model, after its successful implementation, can be adopted by academic libraries. Guidelines and a graphical representation of this study can be used by any researcher for further experimentation.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first kind of study in which a QR code-based Android app model has been proposed for library circulation records.
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Xiaofeng Su, Shuping Zhang and Yifan Feng
The development of regional public brands for agricultural products necessitates compelling narratives that resonate deeply with consumers. Given the distinctiveness of…
Abstract
Purpose
The development of regional public brands for agricultural products necessitates compelling narratives that resonate deeply with consumers. Given the distinctiveness of agricultural products, consumers prioritize the inherent connection to roots and heritage when making purchasing decisions. Therefore, crafting brand narratives must emphasize this root appeal, namely, consumers’ information appeal preference, to positively influence consumers’ brand perceptions and underscore the value of regional public brands. This study investigates this phenomenon through the lens of cue utilization theory.
Design/methodology/approach
Four experiments were conducted for this purpose. Study 1 examined the stimulus materials for brand story type (typical vs atypical). The purpose of study 2 was to verify whether the experimental material could be used to categorize participants' information appeal preferences (geographic vs cultural). Study 3 employed a between-subjects design with a 2 (brand story: typical vs atypical) × 2 (consumers’ information appeal preferences: cultural vs geographic) factorial design. Study 4 used a between-subjects design of 2 (brand story: typical and atypical) × 2 (consumers’ information appeal preferences: cultural vs geographic) × 2 (culturally derived power perception: individual and social).
Findings
The findings indicated that the type of brand story and consumers’ information appeal preferences interact with consumers’ brand attitudes toward regional public brands for agricultural products. In addition, a sense of place was found to mediate the interaction between the type of brand story and consumers’ information appeal preferences. Furthermore, culturally derived power perceptions moderated this mechanism.
Originality/value
This study offers valuable insights into marketing regional public brands for agricultural products by categorizing their brand stories into typical and non-typical narratives.
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Kartika Nur Alfina, R.M. Chandima Ratnayake, Dermawan Wibisono, Nur Budi Mulyono and Mursyid Basri
The purpose of this study is to explore the integration of risk management and circular economy (CE) principles within the healthcare sector to promote sustainability and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the integration of risk management and circular economy (CE) principles within the healthcare sector to promote sustainability and resilience. Specifically, the study aims to demonstrate how risk management can support the transition to a circular economy in healthcare supply chains. By integrating risk management practices with CE principles, healthcare organizations can identify potential risks and opportunities associated with circular initiatives.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a qualitative research approach, using a case study methodology with semi-structured interviews conducted at primary care facilities to understand the application of CE principles in practice. The study uses fuzzy logic methods to assess and mitigate risks associated with strategies promoting CE principles. Additionally, key performance indicators are identified to evaluate the effectiveness and enhance the resilience of these strategies within healthcare supply chains.
Findings
The study highlights the critical role of robust risk management strategies in facilitating the transition to a circular economy within healthcare organizations. Primary care facilities, which are critical to frontline healthcare delivery, are particularly vulnerable to product shortages due to supply risks. This study focuses on critical protective equipment, specifically latex gloves and assesses operational risks, including supply, demand and environmental risks, using a fuzzy logic-based model. Import delays were found to be a moderate risk, typically occurring once a year. The research highlights critical KPIs for a successful CE transition within healthcare supply chains, such as on-time delivery and service quality, which are directly related to the risk of supply chain disruption. In addition, the study highlights the significant impact of other CE strategies on healthcare supply chains, including localized production and manufacturing, innovation in product development, reverse logistics, closed-loop supply chains and the adoption of lean principles.
Practical implications
This study provides valuable insights for healthcare organizations to optimize resource efficiency, reduce waste and promote circularity in their operations. By implementing the proposed solutions and focusing on the identified KPIs, organizations can develop strategies to achieve sustainability goals and enhance resilience in healthcare supply chains.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the application of risk management in facilitating the transition to a circular economy in the healthcare sector. The use of fuzzy logic methodology offers a novel approach to assessing and mitigating risks associated with critical product failures in supply chain activities. The study’s findings provide practical guidance for healthcare organizations seeking to integrate circular economy principles and improve sustainability performance.
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Abhijeet Tewary and Parijat Upadhyay
This study aims to investigate the connection between the circular economy and sustainable operations management to identify the challenges and opportunities in platform…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the connection between the circular economy and sustainable operations management to identify the challenges and opportunities in platform organizations. The study looks at how the stated circular economy strategies (Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Repurpose and Recycle) are integrated across different industries, emphasizing how they align with the e-business model. The research evaluates their contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature review has analyzed CE frameworks, business models and the role of sustainable operations management practices. This study utilized secondary data analysis of platform organizations and insights from case studies to identify patterns, strategies and outcomes. The study also involved practical examinations within organizations, specifically focusing on innovative start-ups.
Findings
The analysis uses the 6R framework (Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Repurpose and Recycle) to uncover valuable insights into organizational practices and highlight the role of platform organizations in promoting and achieving circular economy objectives. The research findings focus on the central importance of data regulation and governance while showcasing sustainable business practices through platform organizations.
Originality/value
This research is significant as it connects circular economy with platform organizations’ business models, emphasizing data regulation, resource efficiency, waste reduction and aligning business practices with Sustainable Development Goal 12.
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Tanja Stiller, Eliza Truszkiewicz, Theresia Schrank, Bernd Erwin Haar, Gerald Meier, Wolfgang Kraschitzer, Gerald Pinter, Jürgen Lackner and Michael Berer
A key characteristic of powder bed fusion for polymers is that also the non-processed powder in the powder bed is exposed to elevated temperatures. This alters the properties of…
Abstract
Purpose
A key characteristic of powder bed fusion for polymers is that also the non-processed powder in the powder bed is exposed to elevated temperatures. This alters the properties of the remaining powder, which is compensated by refreshing the used powder with new powder. Nonetheless, it is discarded after a certain number of process iterations, which is economically and ecologically highly disadvantageous. Research works intensively to analyse and reduce the concurring effects responsible for powder ageing. This study aims to give a comprehensive overview of the cumulative changes in the powder and the printed parts when conducting several subsequent build cycles.
Design/methodology/approach
New polyamide powder (PA12) was used in a total of nine subsequent build cycles with constant sintering parameters and without powder refreshing. After each iteration, the powder and parts were tested for their morphological, thermal and rheological properties.
Findings
The results are related to three main changes in the powder during the build cycles: decreasing bulk density (through agglomeration), increasing melt viscosity (through polyamide post-condensation) and increasing melting peak and onset temperatures (through thermal annealing of the powder).
Originality/value
Even though the ageing of PA12 powder in powder bed fusion is well-known, it is not yet fully understood. Studies are not complete and due to different ageing conditions only partially comparable. The detailed study aims to help understand the related effects of powder ageing for process-relevant properties and to show which factors require control to limit the powder ageing.
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Teresa Corbett, Ninna Meier and Jackie Bridges
The study aims to explore how healthcare workers (HCWs) navigate and experience time when caring for older cancer patients living with other illnesses.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore how healthcare workers (HCWs) navigate and experience time when caring for older cancer patients living with other illnesses.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents findings from a qualitative study of how HCWs conceptualise and navigate the temporal aspects of delivering personalised care to older people living with multimorbidity. Building on research from organisation studies and the sociology of time, we interviewed 19 UK HCWs about their experiences of delivering care to this patient group.
Findings
Our findings illustrate how the delivery of personalised care contradicts contemporary models for healthcare delivery defined by efficiency and standardisation. We found that HCWs engage with time as both a valuable commodity to be rationed and prioritised within a constrained context and as a malleable resource for managing workload and overcoming “turbulence” in the system. However, participants in this study also shared how the simultaneous multiplicity and lack of time had a profoundly personal impact on them through the emotional toll associated with “time debt” and “lost” time.
Originality/value
This research presents a unique analysis of how time is conceptualised and navigated in contemporary healthcare, offering valuable insights for policy improvement. We conclude that personalised models of healthcare are incompatible with many current temporal structures of treatment trajectories and work-practices, by nature of being centred around the person and not the system of delivery.