Ghassan Elkahlout, Sansom Milton and Ruba Hawa
The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility of mud brick houses as an alternative to the more widely adopted emergency shelters used in war-torn Syria. It focuses on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility of mud brick houses as an alternative to the more widely adopted emergency shelters used in war-torn Syria. It focuses on the mud houses’ sustainability, cost effectiveness, cultural preference, income generation and security.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a qualitative research approach to a single case study. Interviews were conducted with field experts from the Qatar Red Crescent Society and members of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) community living in mud brick houses.
Findings
The findings reveal that the utilisation of mud houses is a good alternative in relief efforts. The houses are sustainable and cost-effective, take into consideration cultural dynamics and provide economic empowerment to IDPs. However, the maintenance of mud brick houses turns out to be the largest flaw, and this problem requires further research.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the inefficiency of current emergency sheltering practices in Syria and reveals that tents are not a preferred mode of shelter. It further sheds light on a unique case study in which mud houses were used by an aid and development organisation, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. This paper contributes to practical discussion and ideation on more appropriate housing for IDPs.
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Karima Lajnef and Siwar Ellouz
This paper aims to describe the role of corporate social performance as a potential mechanism for reducing earnings management. This paper contributes to the existing literature…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the role of corporate social performance as a potential mechanism for reducing earnings management. This paper contributes to the existing literature by addressing the moderator effects of national culture on the relationship between CSR and earnings management.
Design/methodology/approach
This study investigates the moderating impact of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions on the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and earnings management. The data set covers 71,893 firm-year observations spanning 2006–2022 and involving 4,229 firms listed in common law countries.
Findings
The result confirms that corporate social performance reduces the use of real earnings management and controls the change of method AEM to REM method. When testing the indirect effect, the results show that cultural dimensions moderate the relationship between CSR and earnings management. These findings have many theoretical and practical implications for researchers, investors and decision-makers.
Originality/value
This paper contributes substantially to extant literature by comprehensively exploring the moderating influence of national cultures on the intricate nexus between CSR and earnings management, encompassing the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods. The implications of these findings extend to researchers, investors and policymakers, offering valuable insights for informed decision-making.
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Fanny Reniou, Elisa Robert-Monnot and Sarah Lasri
Packaging-free shopping disrupts the usual retailing and consumption patterns in which packaging usually plays a central role. When manufacturers no longer offer predetermined…
Abstract
Purpose
Packaging-free shopping disrupts the usual retailing and consumption patterns in which packaging usually plays a central role. When manufacturers no longer offer predetermined packaging, how do retailers and consumers ensure packaging functions? Investigating the way packaging-free actors appropriate packaging functions during use is particularly important because they exert a new power over these functions, which can be challenging to appropriate. The purpose of this study is to contribute to a deeper understanding of why packaging-free shopping can be perceived as constraining.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing from the literature on packaging functions and adopting Miller’s conceptual framework of appropriation, this research uses a qualitative method with a variety of discursive and visual data, including 54 interviews with experts from packaging-free product stores and consumers, 190 Instagram consumer posts and 428 in-store and at-home photographs.
Findings
This research shows that packaging-free actors jointly appropriate packaging functions through two modes of appropriation (assimilation and accommodation) each encompassing distinct strategies and highlights the misappropriation that actors can experience, especially when prioritizing one function over another.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the literature on packaging-free shopping, an emergent and growing trend that challenges conventional shopping models. The research reveals dark sides of packaging-free shopping – namely, the damaging effects on health and the environment and social exclusion. In particular, it discusses the ambivalence of the packaging-free shopping environmental function. This research also deepens insight into how individual acts of appropriation may lead to misappropriation.
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Anand Thakur, Jithin Krishnan K and Alisha Ansari
The purpose of the study is to examine the factors that influence people's intention to adopt electric vehicles (EVs). The study used an expanded theory of planned behaviour…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to examine the factors that influence people's intention to adopt electric vehicles (EVs). The study used an expanded theory of planned behaviour (TPB) along with the addition of perceived trust and consideration of future consequences (CFC).
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on primary data collected from 282 respondents in Punjab through a questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using SPSS 26 and AMOS 24 to perform confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.
Findings
The empirical analysis indicates that attitude, subjective norms and perceived trust have a significant influence on the adoption intention (AI) of EVs.
Research limitations/implications
The implications provide policymakers and marketers with better insights into marketing EVs in the trajectory of sustainable mobility. Marketers should create focussed marketing materials that highlight the environmental ease of use, lower running costs and sophisticated technology of electric automobiles. The limitations of the study provide valuable insights for future researchers.
Originality/value
This is the first study that uses CFC with the TPB model in the context of AI of EVs specifically for the Punjab region.
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Ankur Yadav and Tushar Kanti Bera
Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology is explored as a promising solution for electric vehicle (EV) charging due to its convenience and potential to overcome traditional…
Abstract
Purpose
Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology is explored as a promising solution for electric vehicle (EV) charging due to its convenience and potential to overcome traditional charging limitations. This study aims to present a novel lightweight magnetic coupler design, square grid structure (SGS), specifically aimed at enhancing interoperability and robustness in the presence of misalignments for primary-side impedance tuning WPT systems adapted for EVs.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed coupler design uses the finite element analysis method through ANSYS Electronics Desktop software for optimization. A comprehensive comparative analysis is conducted, focusing on critical magnetic parameters such as coupling coefficient (k), mutual inductance (M) and self-inductance (L) for different air gaps. Three other coupler designs, including circular, rectangular and DD configurations, are considered in the evaluation process. Additionally, the performance of the proposed coupler is assessed through misalignment tolerance in different directions, magnetic flux density (B), magnetic field strength (H), Energy density, Quality factor (Q) with mesh generation and thermal analysis using ANSYS Icepak design software.
Findings
The study presents findings from the comprehensive analysis, highlighting the performance of the proposed SGS coupler in terms of different key magnetic parameters, misalignment tolerance in different directions and various operational conditions. To verify the result for Practical implementation, MATLAB Simulink demonstrates a remarkable power transfer efficiency (PTE) of 94\%, exceeding alternative coupler designs. These findings emphasize the potential of the lightweight magnetic coupler to enhance the performance and practicality of WPT systems for EVs.
Research limitations/implications
Although the study offers valuable insights into the proposed SGS coupler design, there might be restrictions due to their hardware design being complex compared to other couplers and particular operating circumstances or environmental elements that were not considered during the investigation. Future studies could investigate these areas, focusing more on the shielding method to provide a more thorough knowledge of the coupler’s functionality.
Originality/value
This work advances WPT technology by presenting a novel SGS coupler design, which provides a robust and efficient solution for EV charging. The suggested lightweight magnetic coupler’s novelty and value in addressing the growing need for sustainable transportation solutions are highlighted by the significant improvement of 94% PTE.
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This conceptual study aims to explore the rationale of preservation institutions in archiving new types of documents, such as social media, rather than focusing on traditionally…
Abstract
Purpose
This conceptual study aims to explore the rationale of preservation institutions in archiving new types of documents, such as social media, rather than focusing on traditionally valued materials or established cultural heritage.
Design/methodology/approach
Recognising the need to include the perspectives of both current and future generations, this study reviews and organises various theories of intergenerational justice to determine whether they can provide a solid justification.
Findings
No single theory of intergenerational justice fully endorses the long-term preservation of user-generated content. However, utilitarianism can offer a compelling justification for large-scale archiving, whereas other views, including communitarianism, support selective approaches.
Originality/value
This study is the first to extensively apply intergenerational justice theories to the field of digital preservation, providing a foundational framework for justifying the preservation of emerging forms of digital documents, albeit to a limited extent.