The future construction site will be pervasive, context aware and embedded with intelligence. The purpose of this paper is to explore and define the concept of the digital skin of…
Abstract
Purpose
The future construction site will be pervasive, context aware and embedded with intelligence. The purpose of this paper is to explore and define the concept of the digital skin of the future smart construction site.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides a systematic and hierarchical classification of 114 articles from both industry and academia on the digital skin concept and evaluates them. The hierarchical classification is based on application areas relevant to construction, such as augmented reality, building information model-based visualisation, labour tracking, supply chain tracking, safety management, mobile equipment tracking and schedule and progress monitoring. Evaluations of the research papers were conducted based on three pillars: validation of technological feasibility, onsite application and user acceptance testing.
Findings
Technologies learned about in the literature review enabled the envisaging of the pervasive construction site of the future. The paper presents scenarios for the future context-aware construction site, including the construction worker, construction procurement management and future real-time safety management systems.
Originality/value
Based on the gaps identified by the review in the body of knowledge and on a broader analysis of technology diffusion, the paper highlights the research challenges to be overcome in the advent of digital skin. The paper recommends that researchers follow a coherent process for smart technology design, development and implementation in order to achieve this vision for the construction industry.
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Hun-Koo Ha, Tae Seung Kim and Yong Jin Kim
This paper analyzes the logistics patterns of Korea to elaborate the strategies of Korean Free Economic Zones (FEZs) in relation to Northeast Asian logistics hubs. As the surface…
Abstract
This paper analyzes the logistics patterns of Korea to elaborate the strategies of Korean Free Economic Zones (FEZs) in relation to Northeast Asian logistics hubs. As the surface transportation of Korea, China and Japan, is cut off by geographical factors and by political border lines, this paper confines the analysis scope to air and maritime transportation.
From the analysis of air and maritime transportation in Northeast Asian region, this paper tries to understand the cargo flow from and to Korean airports and ports by region and by commodity types, and thereby, to identify the main counterpart regions of trade by commodity types and by modes. The policy implications for the development strategy of Korean FEZs (Incheon, Busan, and Gwangyang) are described from those analyses.
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The purpose of this research is to explore the perceived concept of “going gradeless” among education master’s students and academics within a Hong Kong university. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to explore the perceived concept of “going gradeless” among education master’s students and academics within a Hong Kong university. This study aims to explore differing perspectives on “going gradeless” and identify the key potential issues associated with its implementation in higher education.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employed a qualitative method using purposive sampling to select participants for semi-structured focus interviews, and the sample consisted of nine education master’s students and two academics. The data collected from these interviews were systematically analyzed using NVivo software, and the codes were developed into themes within the participants' perceptions of “going gradeless.”
Findings
The findings reveal that students and academics view going gradeless differently. Students have mixed feelings about a gradeless system. Most recognize the problems associated with an overemphasis on grades and the potential benefits of going gradeless, and they also express concerns about the personal advantages of recognized credentials, differentiation from peers and resistance to implementation. Conversely, academics call for a change in grading policy, citing the negative impact of grade-driven approaches on learning. However, they also raise concerns about institutional and cultural factors that could pose challenges to a gradeless system.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the underexplored area of gradeless learning in higher education, particularly within Confucian societies. By revealing differing perspectives between students and academics, offering critical considerations for policymakers and educators seeking to reform grading practices and enhance learning outcomes.
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Sang-Yoon Lee and Yong-Hee Kim
This paper employs the concept of supply chain orientation in container port management and empirically tests whether the measurement models proposed in some notable previous…
Abstract
This paper employs the concept of supply chain orientation in container port management and empirically tests whether the measurement models proposed in some notable previous research have universal application. In addition, this study attempts to identify any significant causal relationships between port supply chain orientation and port performance from the view point of shipping companies. In the current study port supply chain orientation was found to have limited effect on customer satisfaction and port competitiveness, which might has been caused by some implemental and practical issues. However, the present study reveals the potential importance of port supply chain management by empirically demonstrating that “closer relationship with shipping lines” and “innovative value added service” could function as critical components for container ports/terminals to improve customer satisfaction and enhance their competitiveness.
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Hongxiu Li, Yong Liu, Chee-Wee Tan and Feng Hu
Building on the three-factor theory, this study aims to unravel how the role of hotel attributes such as basic, excitement and performance factors could differ in accordance with…
Abstract
Purpose
Building on the three-factor theory, this study aims to unravel how the role of hotel attributes such as basic, excitement and performance factors could differ in accordance with different hotel star ratings and distinct customer segments.
Design/methodology/approach
This study explores the asymmetric effects of hotel attributes on customer satisfaction by extracting 412,784 consumer-generated reviews from TripAdvisor across different cities in China.
Findings
By taking into account the origins of customers and hotel star ratings, the study uncovers that guests’ expectations of hotel performance differ with respect to their origins (domestic and international guests) and the star ratings of the hotels being reviewed, thereby moderating the asymmetric impact of hotel attributes on customer satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
The study compares and contrasts the determinants of customer satisfaction for domestic and international guests in the context of Chinese hotels. Care should still be exercised when generalizing the insights gleaned from this study to other contexts.
Practical implications
The findings from this study translate into actionable guidelines for hotel operators to make informed decisions regarding service improvement.
Originality/value
The study extends previous work by offering a deeper understanding of the asymmetric impact of hotel attributes on customer satisfaction. Specifically, this study provides a deep understanding of the different hotel attributes such as basic, performance and excitement factors in explaining customer satisfaction among different hotel customer segments. Findings from this study can not only inform hotel operators on the significance of various hotel attributes in determining customer satisfaction but also guide the formulation of business strategies to retain customers by inducing delight and not frustration.
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Atheer Abdullah Mohammed, Abdul Hafeez Baig and Raj Gururajan
The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model and investigate the relationship between talent management (TM) processes and knowledge creation (KC) in Australian…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model and investigate the relationship between talent management (TM) processes and knowledge creation (KC) in Australian public and private universities. This is because of the pragmatic advantages for organisations that focus on talents and knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopted the mixed-methods design. The sample comprised 23 individuals for the qualitative study and 286 individuals for the quantitative survey questionnaire, all conducted in nine public and private universities in Australia.
Findings
The qualitative outcomes were utilised to develop the quantitative survey statement. These outcomes are based on a three-stage method of thematic analysis. The core conclusion of the quantitative study is that there is a significantly positive influence on TM processes (TMPs) on KC.
Research limitations/implications
The principle limitation of this study was the scope. It only targeted one country (Australia), one state (Queensland) and a part of the higher education sector (the university).
Practical implications
This research designed a quantitative instrument of TMPs and KC for the Australian educational institutions. The instrument is severely designed and comprehensively conceptualised utilising social, excellent, performance, strategic, behavioural and developmental concepts within TMPs with innovative, informational and technological concepts underlining KC within the Australian public and private universities in Queensland.
Originality/value
The study adds value to both TM and knowledge management literature through designing a conceptual model that links both of these variables in one tool regarding the university sector.
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Shan Li and Yong Jin Kim
Assessing the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics as accurately as possible is essential for industry development planning. This study was designed to analyze the…
Abstract
Purpose
Assessing the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics as accurately as possible is essential for industry development planning. This study was designed to analyze the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics in China.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model was used to analyze the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics in 30 provinces of China from 2013 to 2019. The stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model in the second stage was used to eliminate the influence of external environmental factors and random disturbances on efficiency analysis results.
Findings
(1) The overall actual efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics in China is unsatisfactory, with an average technical efficiency of 0.382 over the 7-year period. (2) The national average technical efficiency and average scale efficiency were overestimated by 29.9% and 40.0%, respectively, compared with the actual values. (3) The efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics does not align with the level of regional economic development. (4) Distinct regional variations exist in the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics in China, with higher efficiencies observed in Northwest China and the Central Yangtze River regions, and the lowest efficiencies in the northeast regions.
Originality/value
This study applies a three-stage DEA model to assess the development and regional differences of fresh food cold chain logistics in China, enriching the application of models and empirical analysis in this field. By analyzing the situation in China, it provides ideas and references for other developing countries to develop cold chain logistics.
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César Ducruet, Stanislas Roussin and Jin-Cheol Jo
This paper is an empirical attempt to verify the interplay between political change, fleet nationality, and the evolution of shipping networks. North Korea offers a good example…
Abstract
This paper is an empirical attempt to verify the interplay between political change, fleet nationality, and the evolution of shipping networks. North Korea offers a good example of a socialist maritime country that has experienced much contrasting geopolitical contexts since 1990. A database of vessel movements between North Korean ports and other ports is analyzed. Main results show differences between North Korean and foreign fleets in terms of traffic (vessel size, age, berthing time) and geographical coverage. South Korean ports tend to play a new role in the reorganization of North Korean-related flows in Northeast Asia.
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Olusegun Emmanuel Akinwale, Uche C. Onokala and Olayombo Elizabeth Akinwale
This study explored how the Singaporean government responded to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis from early January 2020 to the end of May of the same year. It evaluated the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explored how the Singaporean government responded to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis from early January 2020 to the end of May of the same year. It evaluated the capability of Singapore's leadership management in a crisis during the peak and ravaging period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilised a systematic design analysis approach, analysing Singaporean cases on the Covid-19 crisis using a systematic and narrative approach to underscore the country's response to the pandemic attack from January 2020 to May 2020.
Findings
Against the backdrop of Singapore's peculiar political system of government dominated by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) and culture of bureaucracy, the government has increasingly executed several control measures, including strict travel bans, contact tracing, the circuit breaker–lockdown, mask-wearing, social distancing orders as well as financial support to businesses and employees from top to the bottom in the country. However, the treatment and health issues of the migrant workers in the dormitories continue to be the major concern among academics and scholars. At the same time, policy inadequacies truncate the excellent measure of Singapore's response to Covid-19. The case point review concluded that the mortality rate in Singapore remains low compared to other nations of the world. Singapore's case points unveil fundamental learning that an excellent leadership-driven harmonised strategic model is essential for crisis management in any society. The finding of the analysis demonstrated that Singapore adopted a contingency and value-based leadership model to advance good governance and tackle the spread of the deadly coronavirus in its country.
Originality/value
The study has demonstrated a profound analysis that has not been conducted hitherto. Investigation of the Singapore case point is not a popular analysis among Nigerian scholars. Therefore, from Nigeria's perspective, the study has showcased the good and the wrong sides of a coin in Singapore's leadership and power dynamic in crisis management.
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Gehan Wishwajith Premathilake, Hongxiu Li, Chenglong Li, Yong Liu and Shengnan Han
Humanoid social robots (HSRs) are an innovative technology revitalizing various service sectors, such as the hospitality industry. However, limited research has explored how…
Abstract
Purpose
Humanoid social robots (HSRs) are an innovative technology revitalizing various service sectors, such as the hospitality industry. However, limited research has explored how anthropomorphic features of HSRs influence user satisfaction with the services delivered by HSRs. To address this, a research model was proposed to evaluate how three distinct anthropomorphic features: appearance, voice and response, impact the perceived values (i.e. utilitarian, social and hedonic values) of HSRs, which, in turn, influence user satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from an online survey of hotel customers was utilized to test the research model (N = 509).
Findings
The results indicated that appearance, voice, and response affect perceived utilitarian, hedonic and social values differently. The response feature of HSRs demonstrated the strongest impact on perceived utilitarian, social and hedonic values. In addition, voice affected all three perceived values, while appearance only affected perceived utilitarian and social values. Furthermore, perceived utilitarian, hedonic and social values showed positive impacts on user satisfaction, with hedonic value being the most influential factor.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on HSRs and anthropomorphism by explaining how different anthropomorphic features affect users’ value perceptions and user satisfaction with HSR services by utilizing the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework.