Syed Mudasser Abbas and Zhiqiang Liu
Sustainable development research assumes that startups, under extreme financial constraints, cannot sacrifice resources now for benefits later without risking their survival…
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainable development research assumes that startups, under extreme financial constraints, cannot sacrifice resources now for benefits later without risking their survival. Furthermore, their non-compliance with environmental regulations adds fuel to the fire. This paper aims to explore the challenges faced by startups in resource-scarce economies and the innovative ways of coping with these challenges.
Design/methodology/approach
The data for the study was collected through 17 semi-structured interviews taken from startup owners and industry experts based in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The transcribed data were coded through NVivo 12 and themes were generated by merging 47 open and 14 axial codes.
Findings
The findings show that a lack of government support and lack of organisational readiness and motivation significantly affect startups’ frugal eco-innovation. Empirical evidence reveals problems related to the business ecosystem, and internal organisational issues also contribute to challenges faced by startups in attaining a competitive position in the industry.
Research limitations/implications
The study’s findings suggested leveraging dynamic capabilities can help lean startups in frugal eco-innovation. Furthermore, organisational cohesion, business ecosystem, government regulations and assistantship, organisational mismanagement and market realisation are decisive in startups’ competitive position in emerging economies.
Practical implications
The findings of the study will result in a higher adoption rate of more competitive business models, and hence, startups’ sustainability. The results would be an effective and efficient deployment of sustainable technological solutions, creating more customer and shareholder value leading to economic growth.
Originality/value
This research offers a comprehensive analysis of frugal eco-innovative startups by exploring the interplay between different challenges and organisational capabilities. Furthermore, the study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence that eco-innovation can be conducted in a resource-constrained environment. This study challenged the scholarly and managerial assumption of the availability of finances as a significant player in eco-innovation. The study also links the Darwin theory of startups to a competitive edge over rivals for startups’ survival.
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Md. Nurun Nabi, Liu Zhiqiang and Marium Akter
Drawing on the transformational leadership (TL) and knowledge-based view (KBV) theory, the present study investigates the impact of TL on radical innovation (RI) through the…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the transformational leadership (TL) and knowledge-based view (KBV) theory, the present study investigates the impact of TL on radical innovation (RI) through the mediation of knowledge management capabilities (KMCs) and moderation of competitive intensity (CI) of textile and apparel industries with an Asian context.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from the relevant stakeholders of the industry-university collaboration teams with a structured survey questionnaire. Working with 304 textile and apparel industry respondents, structural equation modeling based partial least square (PLS-SEM) is used to test the conceptual framework. PLS-SEM technique was applied to test the hypothesis using Smart-PLS 3.8 packages program.
Findings
The results proposed TL has a positive impact on KMC and RI. Furthermore, the study reveals KMC positively mediated the relationship between TL and RI. This mediation is conditional on the moderating role of CI for the KMC (knowledge acquisition capability + knowledge-sharing capability) path to RI. Conversely, moderation of CI is insignificant and does not influence on fostering RI.
Practical implications
Leaders and managers have realized creative and innovative culture is built within the organizations by leader-follower collaboration through actual knowledge acquisition and knowledge sharing. Moreover, industry policymakers and practitioners establish the knowledge management department to enhance the innovation culture among the firms' stakeholders to encourage RI to sustain the global business market.
Originality/value
The study has introduced KMC as a mediator and CI as a moderator in the proposed model between TL-RI and KMC-RI. Further, it explores the linkages between TL, KMC, CI and RI.
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Zhiqiang Liu, Saidatunur Fauzi Saidin and Mohammad Noor Hisham Osman
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of internal control (IC) on earnings quality from the perspective of the capital market. Specifically, it examines the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of internal control (IC) on earnings quality from the perspective of the capital market. Specifically, it examines the effect of IC on earnings response coefficients.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the moderated regression analysis on a sample of 1,310 Chinese listed firms on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) from 2020 to 2022. It employed an earnings response coefficient model by Holthausen and Verrecchia (1988) and used the IC score produced by the index created by the Shenzhen Dibo Enterprise Risk Management Technology, i.e. DIB IC, and risk management database.
Findings
The study finds that the capital market placed lower earnings reliability on companies with high IC. This suggests that investors perceived negatively on the IC score of China listed companies, possibly due to their negative perception on the reason for implementation of high IC by those companies. A high IC score may raise suspicion amongst investors that the company has internal issues.
Research limitations/implications
This study adds to the limited studies on less regulated internal governance mechanisms from the perspective of the capital market. The contradictory result suggests the need for more studies before deriving a solid conclusion.
Originality/value
This study focusses on the under research area of IC rather than the common board of directors and from the perspective of Chinese economies, limited studies of developed countries.
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Lixu Li, Yeming Gong, Zhiqiang Wang and Shan Liu
Although big data may enhance the visibility, transparency, and responsiveness of supply chains, whether it is effective for improving supply chain performance in a turbulent…
Abstract
Purpose
Although big data may enhance the visibility, transparency, and responsiveness of supply chains, whether it is effective for improving supply chain performance in a turbulent environment, especially in mitigating the impact of COVID-19, is unclear. The research question the authors addressed is: How do logistics firms improve the supply chain performance in COVID-19 through big data and supply chain integration (SCI)?
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a mixed-method approach with four rounds of data collection. A three-round survey of 323 logistics firms in 26 countries in Europe, America, and Asia was first conducted. The authors then conducted in-depth interviews with 55 logistics firms.
Findings
In the first quantitative study, the authors find mediational mechanisms through which big data analytics technology capability (BDATC) and SCI influence supply chain performance. In particular, BDATC and SCI are two second-order capabilities that help firms develop three first-order capabilities (i.e. proactive capabilities, reactive capabilities, and resource reconfiguration) and eventually lead to innovation capability and disaster immunity that allow firms to survive in COVID-19 and improve supply chain performance. The results of the follow-up qualitative analysis not only confirm the inferences from the quantitative analysis but also provide complementary insights into organizational culture and the institutional environment.
Originality/value
The authors contribute to supply chain risk management by developing a three-level hierarchy of capabilities framework and finding a mechanism with the links between big data and big disaster. The authors also provide managerial implications for logistics firms to address the new management challenges posed by COVID-19.
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Xinghua Shan, Zhiqiang Zhang, Fei Ning, Shida Li and Linlin Dai
With the yearly increase of mileage and passenger volume in China's high-speed railway, the problems of traditional paper railway tickets have become increasingly prominent…
Abstract
Purpose
With the yearly increase of mileage and passenger volume in China's high-speed railway, the problems of traditional paper railway tickets have become increasingly prominent, including complexity of business handling process, low efficiency of ticket inspection and high cost of usage and management. This paper aims to make extensive references to successful experiences of electronic ticket applications both domestically and internationally. The research on key technologies and system implementation of railway electronic ticket with Chinese characteristics has been carried out.
Design/methodology/approach
Research in key technologies is conducted including synchronization technique in distributed heterogeneous database system, the grid-oriented passenger service record (PSR) data storage model, efficient access to massive PSR data under high concurrency condition, the linkage between face recognition service platforms and various terminals in large scenarios, and two-factor authentication of the e-ticket identification code based on the key and the user identity information. Focusing on the key technologies and architecture the of existing ticketing system, multiple service resources are expanded and developed such as electronic ticket clusters, PSR clusters, face recognition clusters and electronic ticket identification code clusters.
Findings
The proportion of paper ticket printed has dropped to 20%, saving more than 2 billion tickets annually since the launch of the application of E-ticketing nationwide. The average time for passengers to pass through the automatic ticket gates has decreased from 3 seconds to 1.3 seconds, significantly improving the efficiency of passenger transport organization. Meanwhile, problems of paper ticket counterfeiting, reselling and loss have been generally eliminated.
Originality/value
E-ticketing has laid a technical foundation for the further development of railway passenger transport services in the direction of digitalization and intelligence.
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Zhiqiang Zhang, Xingyu Zhu and Ronghua Wei
Large displacement misalignment under the action of active faults can cause complex three-dimensional deformation in subway tunnels, resulting in severe damage, distortion and…
Abstract
Purpose
Large displacement misalignment under the action of active faults can cause complex three-dimensional deformation in subway tunnels, resulting in severe damage, distortion and misalignment. There is no developed system of fortification and related codes to follow. There are scientific problems and technical challenges in this field that have never been encountered in past research and practices.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopted a self-designed large-scale active fault dislocation simulation loading system to conduct a similar model test of the tunnel under active fault dislocation based on the open-cut tunnel project of the Urumqi Rail Transit Line 2, which passes through the Jiujiawan normal fault. The test simulated the subway tunnel passing through the normal fault, which is inclined at 60°. This research compared and analyzed the differences in mechanical behavior between two types of lining section: the open-cut double-line box tunnel and the modified double-line box arch tunnel. The structural response and failure characteristics of the open-cut segmented lining of the tunnel under the stick-slip part of the normal fault were studied.
Findings
The results indicated that the double-line box arch tunnel improved the shear and longitudinal bending performance. Longitudinal cracks were mainly distributed in the baseplate, wall foot and arch foot, and the crack position was basically consistent with the longitudinal distribution of surrounding rock pressure. This indicated that the longitudinal cracks were due to the large local load of the cross-section of the structure, leading to an excessive local bending moment of the structure, which resulted in large eccentric failure of the lining and formation of longitudinal cracks. Compared with the ordinary box section tunnel, the improved double-line box arch tunnel significantly reduced the destroyed and damage areas of the hanging wall and footwall. The damage area and crack length were reduced by 39 and 59.3%, respectively. This indicates that the improved double-line box arch tunnel had good anti-sliding performance.
Originality/value
This paper adopted a self-designed large-scale active fault dislocation simulation loading system to conduct a similar model test of the tunnel under active fault dislocation. This system increased the similarity ratio of the test model, improved the dislocation loading rate and optimized the simulation scheme of the segmented flexible lining and other key factors affecting the test. It is of great scientific significance and engineering value to investigate the structure of subway tunnels under active fault misalignment, to study its force characteristics and damage modes, and to provide a technical reserve for the design and construction of subway tunnels through active faults.
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Di Cheng, Yuqing Wen, Zhiqiang Guo, Xiaoyi Hu, Pengsong Wang and Zhikun Song
This paper aims to obtain the evolution law of dynamic performance of CR400BF electric multiple unit (EMU).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to obtain the evolution law of dynamic performance of CR400BF electric multiple unit (EMU).
Design/methodology/approach
Using the dynamic simulation based on field test, stiffness of rotary arm nodes and damping coefficient of anti-hunting dampers were tested. Stiffness, damping coefficient, friction coefficient, track gauge were taken as random variables, the stochastic dynamics simulation method was constructed and applied to research the evolution law with running mileage of dynamic index of CR400BF EMU.
Findings
The results showed that stiffness and damping coefficient subjected to normal distribution, the mean and variance were computed and the evolution law of stiffness and damping coefficient with running mileage was obtained.
Originality/value
Firstly, based on the field test we found that stiffness of rotary arm nodes and damping coefficient of anti-hunting dampers subjected to normal distribution, and the evolution law of stiffness and damping coefficient with running mileage was proposed. Secondly stiffness, damping coefficient, friction coefficient, track gauge were taken as random variables, the stochastic dynamics simulation method was constructed and applied to the research to the evolution law with running mileage of dynamic index of CR400BF EMU.