Emil L. Jacobsen, Alex Solberg, Olga Golovina and Jochen Teizer
Accidents resulting from poorly planned or setup work environments are a major concern within the construction industry. While traditional education and training of personnel…
Abstract
Purpose
Accidents resulting from poorly planned or setup work environments are a major concern within the construction industry. While traditional education and training of personnel offer well-known approaches for establishing safe work practices, serious games in virtual reality (VR) are increasingly being used as a complementary approach for active learning experiences. By taking full advantage of data collection and the interactions possible in the virtual environment, the education and training of construction personnel improves by using non-biased feedback and immersion.
Design/methodology/approach
This research presents a framework for the generation and automated assessment of VR data. The proposed approach is tested and evaluated in a virtual work environment consisting of multiple hazards. VR requires expensive hardware, technical knowledge and user acceptance to run the games effectively. An effort has been made to transfer the advantages VR gives to a physical setup. This is done using a light detection and ranging sensing system, which collects similar data and enables the same learning experiences.
Findings
Encouraging results on the participants’ experiences are presented and discussed based on actual needs in the Danish construction industry. An outlook presents future avenues towards enhancing existing learning methods.
Practical implications
The proposed method will help develop active learning environments, which could lead to safer construction work stations in the future, either through VR or physical simulations.
Originality/value
The utilization of run-time data collection and automatic analysis allows for better personalized feedback in the construction safety training. Furthermore, this study investigates the possibility of transferring the benefits of this system to a physical setup that is easier to use on construction sites without investing in a full VR setup.
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Yaojie Zheng, Huili Sun, Luchun Yan, Huisheng Yang, Kewei Gao, Xiaolu Pang and Alex A. Volinsky
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ferrite on hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of the 17-4PH stainless steels.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ferrite on hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of the 17-4PH stainless steels.
Design/methodology/approach
The effects of ferrite on HE of the 17-4PH stainless steels were investigated by observing microstructure and conducting slow-strain-rate tensile tests and hydrogen permeability tests.
Findings
The microstructure of the ferrite-bearing sample is lath martensite and banded ferrite, and the ferrite-free sample is lath martensite. After hydrogen charging, the plasticity of the two steels is significantly reduced, along with the tensile strength of the ferrite-free sample. The HE susceptibility of the ferrite-bearing sample is significantly lower than the ferrite-free steel, and the primary fracture modes gradually evolved from typical dimple to quasi-cleavage and intergranular cracking. After aging at 480°C for 4 h and hydrogen charging for 12 h, the 40.9% HE susceptibility of ferrite-bearing samples was the lowest. In addition, the hydrogen permeation tests show that ferrite is a fast diffusion channel for hydrogen, and the ferrite-bearing samples have higher effective hydrogen diffusivity and lower hydrogen concentration.
Originality/value
There are a few studies of the ferrite effect on the HE properties of martensitic precipitation hardening stainless steel.
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This paper aims to verify whether the integration of sustainability in executive compensation positively affects firms’ non-financial performance and whether corporate governance…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to verify whether the integration of sustainability in executive compensation positively affects firms’ non-financial performance and whether corporate governance characteristics enhance the relationship between sustainability compensation and firms’ non-financial performance and to expand the domain of the impact of sustainability on non-financial performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This analysis is based on a sample of companies listed on the Milan Italian Stock Exchange from the Financial Times Milan Stock Exchange Index over the 2016–2020 period. Regression analysis was used by using data retrieved from the Refinitiv Eikon database and the sample firms’ remuneration reports.
Findings
The findings of this paper show that embedding sustainability in executive compensation positively affects firms’ non-financial performance. The results of this paper also reveal that specific corporate governance features can improve the impact of sustainability on non-financial performance.
Research limitations/implications
This analysis is limited to Italian firms included in the Financial Times Milan Stock Exchange Index; however, the findings are highly significant.
Practical implications
The findings provide regulators with useful insights for considering the integration of sustainability goals into executive remuneration. Another implication is that policymakers should require – at least – listed firms to fulfil specific corporate governance structural requirements. Finally, the findings can provide investors and financial analysts with a greater awareness of the role played by executive remuneration in the long-term value-creation process.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to addressing the relationship among sustainability, remuneration and non-financial disclosure, drawing on the stakeholder–agency theoretical framework and focusing on Italian firms. This issue has received limited attention with controversial results in the literature.
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Linda Christie and Mike Danson
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the rationale for the public authorities’ direct interventions to realise benefits for the city and region of Glasgow acting as host city…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the rationale for the public authorities’ direct interventions to realise benefits for the city and region of Glasgow acting as host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Methodology/approach
The methodology relies on an extensive literature review of the impact of large sporting and cultural events and of the evolution of the partnership approach to social and economic development and regeneration. One of the authors was critically involved in the construction of The Commonwealth Games legacy for Glasgow and so the chapter uses a participant researcher methodology.
Findings
The findings are consistent with the lessons from previous mega events as proposed following recent Olympic and Commonwealth Games and World Cups. The City Council was able to introduce a partnership approach which intervened to establish a viable legacy programme.
Research implications
Research implications, as previous studies have argued, are of a need for evaluation of the legacy programme over a period of several years.
Practical implications
Practical implications follow from the success of the Glasgow Games which confirm the advantages of a partnership-based legacy programme being established early by the host city.
Social implications
Social implications have been addressed over the short term by others and the longer term impacts of public sector interventions need to be analysed.
Originality/value
Originality/value of the chapter come from the description and assessment of the first legacy programme to be established before the event with wide stakeholder support.
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I am proud to be joining the many colleagues who appear in this volume, many younger but some more experienced in the marketing and the international business disciplines…
Abstract
I am proud to be joining the many colleagues who appear in this volume, many younger but some more experienced in the marketing and the international business disciplines, honoring S. Tamer Cavusgil's retirement from Michigan State University. I am proud for many reasons, but mainly because throughout the years I have observed how Tamer's contributions to our professional and personal lives have shaped our growth as a fraternity of business scholars and teachers. I feel very fortunate to have grown as Tamer's colleague through the many papers we have published, the many doctoral students we have mentored, and the many service contributions we have made to the international business field during the past 30 years. I feel luckier, however, that I have come to know this remarkable person as a friend.
TECHNICAL Education, after looming before the British public for half a century, is now with us a recognised factor in our national life. The passing of the Technical Instruction…
Abstract
TECHNICAL Education, after looming before the British public for half a century, is now with us a recognised factor in our national life. The passing of the Technical Instruction Acts of and 1891, and the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act of gave an impetus to the movement, and has produced results of a most gratifying character. Technical schools, or institutions bearing other names in which technical instruction is given, are now considerably more numerous than Public Libraries. According to a return of the National Society for promotion of Technical Education in England (excluding London), 319 technical schools, under municipal and public bodies, have been erected at a cost of £3,186,102—an average of £10,000 per school in round numbers—and of this sum, one quarter of a million has been involved since 1901. In order to obtain an adequate idea of the extent to which technical instruction is given, it is necessary to take into account the higher grade schools and other institutions which are used for this purpose. But if technical schools be numerically stronger than Public Libraries, the former institution is incomplete without the latter. In such isolation, its relative position to the student, is like a conservatory without a garden to the botanist. A Public Library, with carefully selected books of reference, bearing on the subjects taught in the technical school as well as on all the industries carried on in the neighbourhood, is an indispensable condition to the success of the technical school, and I hope County Councils will, in the near future, use their influence to promote the establishment of Public Libraries in every locality where a technical school is considered essential.
Seyed Meysam Zolfaghari Ejlal Manesh and Alex Rialp-Criado
In this study, entrepreneurial internationalization in renewable energy industry as a high-tech and emerging industry was explored. The focus of this study is on firm level…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, entrepreneurial internationalization in renewable energy industry as a high-tech and emerging industry was explored. The focus of this study is on firm level factors to understand how and why these companies entered the international markets and what are their challenges and difficulties in this process. To answer these questions, two main streams of literature were used: international entrepreneurship (IE) and sustainable entrepreneurship.
Design/methodology/approach
Case study methodology is selected for this research. Because this subject is new and empirical researches in renewable energy industry are scarce, a method to gather research and in-depth data was adopted. Following suggestions by Eisenhardt (1989), a multiple-case design method was used with nine cases of entrepreneurial companies in renewable energy industry from Spain.
Findings
Results show that in renewable energy industry firms, resources and capabilities such as need for funding and rapid commercialization are key factors that encourage companies to enter the international market. However, having access to the technological knowledge cannot be a compelling reason for internationalization of renewable energy companies from Spain. Moreover, the interaction between the large and small firms is an important factor that facilitates the process of internationalization.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, the focus was only on firm level factors, whereas other levels of analysis such as entrepreneur, environment, policy scheme and industrial factors need further attention in future studies. Moreover, this study is only limited to Spanish companies, and future studies can be replicated in other context.
Practical implications
Findings of the study have significant theoretical and empirical implications. First of all, it explains the entrepreneurial internationalization by taking advantage of sustainable entrepreneurship literature. In addition, empirical results of this study are significantly important for entrepreneurs to implement effective internationalization strategy to survive. Findings of this study can help policy makers for designing a supportive scheme for further development of this industry in the international markets.
Originality/value
This paper explores the entrepreneurial internationalization of renewable energy companies as an emerging industry by taking advantage of two streams of literature: international entrepreneurship and sustainable entrepreneurship. The results show the phenomenon of early internationalization in pre-commercialization phase. These findings put emphasis on interaction between large and small firms in process of internationalization in this specific industry.
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Krishna Venkitachalam, Birgitta Schwartz and Sten Söderman
The motivation for this paper is to provide a deeper understanding of some of the important and trending topics in the sport industry. Besides this, to consider the changing…
Abstract
Purpose
The motivation for this paper is to provide a deeper understanding of some of the important and trending topics in the sport industry. Besides this, to consider the changing landscape of ownership, strategies and organisation of several types of sports in the contemporary environment, there is a need for deeper contextual knowledge of how different sport/s, leagues, clubs, associations, teams etc. own, organise and strategise at local to national to regional to international contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper introduces the special issue on the sport industry that welcomes three interesting contributions of focusing on the important themes related to the sport industry. They include (1) digital transformation and needed capabilities, (2) fan engagement in a digital way using social media and finally (3) the relevance and relation of social capital in the organisational strategy of sports organisations.
Findings
Four generic insights related to the themes and emerging trends in marketisation, ownership and digitalisation strategies in the sport industry are introduced in this paper. The first insight is that sports digitalisation and politicisation significantly impact the strategising, organising and networking activities of sports owners to foster value capture. Secondly, owners’ performance duality of marketisation of their sports clubs and vested business interests unravels the paradoxes of idealism and profit-maximisation. Thirdly, individual sports stars position themselves as an influential platform of value creation through on-field performance, social engagement and self-interests. Finally, the fourth insight is that the dual aims of sporting on-field success and profit making of large capital-funded sports clubs endanger the autonomy and governance of sports bodies/associations and an equitable sporting competition environment.
Originality/value
This paper provides an overview and reflections on the contributions of the papers in this special issue. The papers give different perspectives on how sport has been influenced by the development in society (1) with increasing digitalisation influencing organising of sport clubs and strategies for engaging fans, and (2) the influence of marketisation and politics in ownership strategies. As such, four insightful reflections are developed based on the originality of the contributions and the related extant literature presented on the themes of marketisation, ownership and digitalisation of the sport industry.
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Asif Qumer Gill, Abhishek Loumish, Isha Riyat and Sungyoup Han
Development and operations (DevOps) is complex in nature. Organizations are unsure how to effectively establish a DevOps capability for the continuous delivery of information…
Abstract
Purpose
Development and operations (DevOps) is complex in nature. Organizations are unsure how to effectively establish a DevOps capability for the continuous delivery of information management systems. This paper aims to compile and analyze DevOps by applying the well-known systematic literature review (SLR) approach. This review is intended to provide a knowledge base to support the informed, effective and less risky adoption of DevOps for information management systems.
Design/methodology/approach
In this qualitative research study, the SLR method was applied to identify 3,790 papers, of which, 32 relevant papers were selected and reviewed.
Findings
The results are organized using the well-known ISO/IEC 24744 metamodel elements: people (roles), process, technology and artifacts. In total 11 major roles, 6 processes, 23 technologies, 5 artifacts and 7 challenges (including 6 corresponding solutions) were found. DevOps engineer is becoming a newly identified role. Continuous delivery pipeline and continuous improvement are the most highlighted major DevOps processes. Build system technology is becoming the key focus of DevOps. Finally, major challenges are around people and culture and the misunderstanding of DevOps. Potential research areas are: DevOps analytics, artifacts and tool–chain integration.
Research limitations/implications
The research findings will serve as a resource for both practitioners and researchers who have interest in the research and adoption of DevOps for information management systems.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comprehensive systematic review of the body of knowledge to support the ongoing research and adoption of emerging trends of DevOps for information management systems.