Feng Feng, Xiaoxiao Ge, Stefania Tomasiello and Jianke Zhang
As social networks have developed to be a ubiquitous platform of public opinion spreading, it becomes more and more crucial for maintaining social security and stability by…
Abstract
Purpose
As social networks have developed to be a ubiquitous platform of public opinion spreading, it becomes more and more crucial for maintaining social security and stability by accurately predicting various trends of public opinion dissemination in social networks. Considering the fact that the dissemination of online public opinion is a dynamic process full of uncertainty and complexity, this study establishes a novel conformable fractional discrete grey model with linear time-varying parameters, namely the CFTDGM(1,1) model, for more accurate prediction of online public opinion trends.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the conformable fractional accumulation and difference operators are employed to build the CFTDGM(1,1) model for enhancing the traditional integer-order discrete grey model with linear time-varying parameters. Then, to improve forecasting accuracy, a base value correction term is introduced to optimize the iterative base value of the CFTDGM(1,1) model. Next, the differential evolution algorithm is selected to determine the optimal order of the proposed model through a comparison with the whale optimization algorithm and the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The least squares method is utilized to estimate the parameter values of the CFTDGM(1,1) model. In addition, the effectiveness of the CFTDGM(1,1) model is tested through a public opinion event about “IG team winning the championship”. Finally, we conduct empirical analysis on two hot online public opinion events regarding “Chengdu toddler mauled by Rottweiler” and “Mayday band suspected of lip-syncing,” to further assess the prediction ability and applicability of the CFTDGM(1,1) model by comparison with seven other existing grey models.
Findings
The test case and empirical analysis on two recent hot events reveal that the CFTDGM(1,1) model outperforms most of the existing grey models in terms of prediction performance. Therefore, the CFTDGM(1,1) model is chosen to forecast the development trends of these two hot events. The prediction results indicate that public attention to both events will decline slowly over the next three days.
Originality/value
A conformable fractional discrete grey model is proposed with the help of conformable fractional operators and a base value correction term to improve the traditional discrete grey model. The test case and empirical analysis on two recent hot events indicate that this novel model has higher accuracy and feasibility in online public opinion trend prediction.
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Paolo Fiorillo and Luigi Raffaele Pellegrino
This paper aims to systematically review, discuss and synthesize the current state of research in the realm of hedge fund activism (HFA). By exploring HFA-related literature…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to systematically review, discuss and synthesize the current state of research in the realm of hedge fund activism (HFA). By exploring HFA-related literature through a transparent and rigorous method, this study identifies unexplored areas for future research to develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors perform a systematic database survey procedure as recommended in the prior literature. The review includes 74 articles published in high-impact journals from 2008 to January 2024, sourced from the Web of Science and Scopus databases and filtered using several exclusion/inclusion criteria.
Findings
This review offers a detailed analysis of the selected papers, highlighting trends in HFA research, the most influential journals and authors and additional insights into current studies. By systematically presenting the state-of-the-art, this paper categorizes the current research into three main streams and provides a critical evaluation of existing knowledge, identifying gaps and potential directions for future research.
Originality/value
This study makes two significant contributions to the literature. First, this study systematically reviews HFA-related research and provides a comprehensive examination of our existing scientific understanding of the factors shaping activism and its implications. Especially, this paper adopts a rigorous methodological protocol to ensure transparency and replicability in the review process, while earlier reviews focus on specific areas and are primarily narrative. Second, this study identifies research gaps and questions across all three streams of literature, offering valuable insights for future scholars aiming to expand our knowledge of the dynamic and evolving nature of HFA.
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Anna Izotova and María Teresa Bolívar-Ramos
Due to the constantly increasing competitiveness along with the complexity of knowledge, firms perceive collaboration as a key strategy that preserves firms' radical innovation…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to the constantly increasing competitiveness along with the complexity of knowledge, firms perceive collaboration as a key strategy that preserves firms' radical innovation performance. In this context, this paper aims to examine how firms’ partners’ diversity in open innovation activities influences the development of radical innovations, critical for social development. In particular, this study analyzes how the functional and geographical breadth of the firm’s collaboration portfolio affects its radical innovation performance. Furthermore, it also explores the role of firm size as a moderator in the relationships proposed.
Design/methodology/approach
This research employs panel data analysis, using a sample of 4,677 Spanish firms, with data sourced from the PITEC database.
Findings
The results of this study show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the functional and the geographical breadth of collaborations and the firms’ radical innovation performance. Moreover, this study finds partial support for the moderating role of firm size, in the sense that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large firms vary in their optimal number of diversity of partners.
Originality/value
This research provides a better understanding on how partners’ functional and geographical diversity, along with organizational characteristics such as firm size, affect how firms benefit from collaboration for innovation. This study shows that both SMEs and large firms experience diminishing returns when their collaboration networks become overly diverse in pursuit of radical innovation, due to increased costs. However, in SMEs, the turning point occurs at a later stage, consistent with the idea that small firms need broader functional networks to access complementary and novel resources they usually lack.
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Suhiyini I. Alhassan, John K.M. Kuwornu and Yaw B. Osei-Asare
This paper aims to investigate farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability in the northern region of Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability in the northern region of Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The study assessed the vulnerability of male-headed and female-headed farming households to climate change and variability by using the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and tested for significant difference in their vulnerability levels by applying independent two-sample-student’s t-test based on gender by using a sample of 210 smallholder farming households.
Findings
The results revealed a significant difference in the vulnerability levels of female-headed and male-headed farming households. Female–headed households were more vulnerable to livelihood strategies, socio-demographic profile, social networks, water and food major components of the LVI, whereas male-headed households were more vulnerable to health. The vulnerability indices revealed that female–headed households were more sensitive to the impact of climate change and variability. However, female-headed households have the least adaptive capacities. In all, female-headed farming households are more vulnerable to climate change and variability than male-headed farming households.
Research limitations/implications
The study recommends that female-headed households should be given priority in both on-going and new intervention projects in climate change and agriculture by empowering them through financial resource support to venture into other income-generating activities. This would enable them to diversify their sources of livelihoods to boost their resilience to climate change and variability.
Originality/value
This is the first study that examined the gender dimension of vulnerability of smallholder farmers in Ghana by using the livelihood vulnerability framework. Female subordination in northern region of Ghana has been profound to warrant a study on gender dimension in relation to climate change and variability, especially as it is a semi-arid region with unpredictable climatic conditions. This research revealed the comparative vulnerability of male- and female-headed households to climate change and variability.
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Luiza Ribeiro Alves Cunha, Adriana Leiras and Paulo Goncalves
Due to the unknown location, size and timing of disasters, the rapid response required by humanitarian operations (HO) faces high uncertainty and limited time to raise funds…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to the unknown location, size and timing of disasters, the rapid response required by humanitarian operations (HO) faces high uncertainty and limited time to raise funds. These harsh realities make HO challenging. This study aims to systematically capture the complex dynamic relationships between operations in humanitarian settings.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve this goal, the authors undertook a systematic review of the extant academic literature linking HO to system dynamics (SD) simulation.
Findings
The research reviews 88 papers to propose a taxonomy of different topics covered in the literature; a framework represented through a causal loop diagram (CLD) to summarise the taxonomy, offering a view of operational activities and their linkages before and after disasters; and a research agenda for future research avenues.
Practical implications
As the authors provide an adequate representation of reality, the findings can help decision makers understand the problems faced in HO and make more effective decisions.
Originality/value
While other reviews on the application of SD in HO have focused on specific subjects, the current research presents a broad view, summarising the main results of a comprehensive CLD.
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Ghoulemallah Boukhalfa, Sebti Belkacem, Abdesselem Chikhi and Said Benaggoune
This paper presents the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm in conjuction with the fuzzy logic method in order to achieve an optimized tuning of a proportional integral…
Abstract
This paper presents the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm in conjuction with the fuzzy logic method in order to achieve an optimized tuning of a proportional integral derivative controller (PID) in the DTC control loops of dual star induction motor (DSIM). The fuzzy controller is insensitive to parametric variations, however, with the PSO-based optimization approach we obtain a judicious choice of the gains to make the system more robust. According to Matlab simulation, the results demonstrate that the hybrid DTC of DSIM improves the speed loop response, ensures the system stability, reduces the steady state error and enhances the rising time. Moreover, with this controller, the disturbances do not affect the motor performances.
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Ameha Tadesse Aytenfisu, Degefa Tolossa, Solomon Tsehay Feleke and Desalegn Yayeh Ayal
This study aims to examine the phenomenon of climate variability and its implications for pastoralists and agro-pastoralists food security in Amibara and Awash Fentale districts…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the phenomenon of climate variability and its implications for pastoralists and agro-pastoralists food security in Amibara and Awash Fentale districts of the Afar region, Ethiopia.
Design/methodology/approach
The study relied on meteorological records of temperature and rainfall in the study area between 1988 and 2018. Besides, literature on the topic was reviewed to make caveats on the literal picture that comes from quantitative data, and that is the contribution of this study to the existing debate on climate change and variability. The spatiotemporal trend was determined using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator, while variability was analyzed using the coefficient of variation and standardized anomaly index, and standardized precipitation index/standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index were applied to determine the drought frequency and severity.
Findings
The result reveals that the mean seasonal rainfall varies from 111.34 mm to 518.74 mm. Although the maximum and minimum rainfall occurred in the summer and winter seasons, respectively, there has been a decrease in seasonal and annual at the rate of 2.51 mm per season and 4.12 mm per year, respectively. The study sites have been experiencing highly seasonal rainfall variability. The drought analysis result confirms that a total of nine agricultural droughts ranging from moderate to extreme years were observed. Overall, the seasonal and annual rainfall of the Amibara and Awash Fentale districts showed a decreasing trend with highly temporal variations of rainfall and ever-rising temperatures, and frequent drought events means the climate situation of the area could adversely affect pastoral and agro-pastoral households’ food security. However, analysis of data from secondary sources reveals that analyzing precipitation just based on the meteorological records of the study area would be misleading. That explains why flooding, rather than drought, is becoming the main source of catastrophe to pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods.
Practical implications
The analysis of temperature and rainfall dynamics in the Afar region, hence the inception of all development interventions, must take the hydrological impact of the neighboring regions which appears to be useful direction to future researchers.
Originality/value
The research is originally conducted using meteorological and existing literature, and hence, it is original. In this research, we utilized a standardized and appropriate methodology, resulting in insights that augment the existing body of knowledge within the field. These insights serve to advance scholarly discourse on the subject matter.
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Dhulika Arora and Smita Kashiramka
Shadow banks or non-bank financial intermediaries (NBFIs) are facilitators of credit, especially in emerging market economies (EMEs). However, there are certain risks associated…
Abstract
Purpose
Shadow banks or non-bank financial intermediaries (NBFIs) are facilitators of credit, especially in emerging market economies (EMEs). However, there are certain risks associated with them, such as their unchecked leverage and interconnectedness with the rest of the financial system. In light of this, the present study analyses the impact of the growth of shadow banks on the stability of the banking sector and the overall stability of the financial system. The authors further examine the effect of the growth of finance companies (a type of NBFIs) on financial stability.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs data of 11 EMEs (monitored by the Financial Stability Board (FSB)) for the period 2002–2020 to examine the above relationships. Panel-corrected standard errors method and Driscoll–Kray standard error estimation are deployed to conduct the analysis.
Findings
The results signify that the growth of the shadow banking sector and the growth of lending to the shadow banking sector are negatively associated with the stability of the banking sector and increases the vulnerability of the financial system (overall instability). This implies that the higher the growth of the shadow banks, the higher the financial fragility. Finance companies are also found to negatively affect financial stability. These findings are validated by different estimation methods and point out the risks posed by the NBFI sector.
Originality/value
The extant study builds a composite index (Financial Vulnerability Index (FVI)) to measure financial stability; thus, the findings contribute to the evolving literature on shadow banks.
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Nomusa Dube and Takawira Munyaradzi Ndofirepi
Keeping happy and committed workers is an imperative goal for organisations in any field, including higher education. Institutions must, however, have a thorough understanding of…
Abstract
Purpose
Keeping happy and committed workers is an imperative goal for organisations in any field, including higher education. Institutions must, however, have a thorough understanding of the elements that influence various organisational commitment levels before they can develop human resource management guidelines and procedures that work. Hence, by using social exchange theory, this study aimed to investigate the connection between work–life balance (WLB), job satisfaction and organisational commitment among a sample of Zimbabwean higher education institutions. These factors have received relatively minimal attention in academic institutions, particularly in developing nations.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using convenience sampling, to examine 224 members of the teaching staff from two universities in western Zimbabwe. The collected data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.
Findings
The results revealed that WLB significantly predicted job satisfaction. Furthermore, the relationship between WLB and affective and normative commitment was found to be indirect and mediated by job satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
The results of this study suggest that WLB and job satisfaction are crucial factors for higher education institutions that aim to secure their talented faculty's affective and normative commitment. Therefore, universities should implement firm policies and practices that encourage academic staff to maintain a healthy WLB and enhance job satisfaction.
Originality/value
The study's main contribution is the development of a conceptual model that contributes to the ongoing scholarly discourse on how to enhance organisational commitment among academic staff in under-resourced higher education institutions, as well as the concomitant implications for human resource policies within these institutions.
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Linzi Wang, Qiudan Li, Jingjun David Xu and Minjie Yuan
Mining user-concerned actionable and interpretable hot topics will help management departments fully grasp the latest events and make timely decisions. Existing topic models…
Abstract
Purpose
Mining user-concerned actionable and interpretable hot topics will help management departments fully grasp the latest events and make timely decisions. Existing topic models primarily integrate word embedding and matrix decomposition, which only generates keyword-based hot topics with weak interpretability, making it difficult to meet the specific needs of users. Mining phrase-based hot topics with syntactic dependency structure have been proven to model structure information effectively. A key challenge lies in the effective integration of the above information into the hot topic mining process.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes the nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF)-based hot topic mining method, semantics syntax-assisted hot topic model (SSAHM), which combines semantic association and syntactic dependency structure. First, a semantic–syntactic component association matrix is constructed. Then, the matrix is used as a constraint condition to be incorporated into the block coordinate descent (BCD)-based matrix decomposition process. Finally, a hot topic information-driven phrase extraction algorithm is applied to describe hot topics.
Findings
The efficacy of the developed model is demonstrated on two real-world datasets, and the effects of dependency structure information on different topics are compared. The qualitative examples further explain the application of the method in real scenarios.
Originality/value
Most prior research focuses on keyword-based hot topics. Thus, the literature is advanced by mining phrase-based hot topics with syntactic dependency structure, which can effectively analyze the semantics. The development of syntactic dependency structure considering the combination of word order and part-of-speech (POS) is a step forward as word order, and POS are only separately utilized in the prior literature. Ignoring this synergy may miss important information, such as grammatical structure coherence and logical relations between syntactic components.