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1 – 10 of over 34000Stanley Bruce Thomson, William X. Wei and Phillip Swallow
Considering the importance of China as a global economic power and the emphasis placed on human resources in a knowledge economy, the findings of no less than 30 articles on…
Abstract
Purpose
Considering the importance of China as a global economic power and the emphasis placed on human resources in a knowledge economy, the findings of no less than 30 articles on diversity management in that country seem inadequate given the growing importance of diversity in the workplace. Analysis of those articles reveals that most of the research focuses on firms located on the eastern coast. Moreover, while cataloging the types of industry and ownership covered provides a broad overview, specific industries and ownership types require further examination.
Methodology
Searches were conducted in both English and Chinese databases using the keyword search phrase of “diversity management and China”. The criteria for including an article were as follows: 1) an emphasis on diversity management within the business environment; 2) a focus on applications of diversity management within the People’s Republic of China, thus excluding Taiwan; and 3) a research-based or conceptual orientation. The search was further limited by using the “abstract” as a limiter under the assumption that if the concepts were important, the author(s) would have used that terminology in the abstract.
Findings
Gender emerged as a major concern along with residential status; racial and ethnic differences, on the other hand, cultural and/or other influences on diversity management received limited attention. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used by the various authors, but exploratory methods such as grounded theory saw minimal use. With the little research done on diversity management in China, it is difficult to assess whether or Chinese firms are fully using its available workforce. China must embrace diversity management practices with a view to achieving competitive advantages as well as equality and harmony in the workplace.
Originality/value
This is one of the first published reviews of articles from both Chinese and English databases that delves into the issue of diversity management in China.
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The purpose of this study is to examine whether audit quality influences auditees' liquidity policy.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine whether audit quality influences auditees' liquidity policy.
Design/methodology/approach
The author uses ordinary least squares (OLS) estimators, and we focus on a panel of US publicly traded companies (36,118 company-year observations) over the period of 2004–2019 to examine the effect of audit quality on auditees' cash reserves.
Findings
The author finds that high quality audits are negatively related to auditees' cash reserves. Additional analyses show that the potential channel by which audit quality influences these reserves is financial constraints (FC). Particularly, his results suggest that an auditee's FC serve as an intermediary in the association between audit quality and auditee's cash reserves. Ultimately, we show that high quality audits raise the market value relevance of an extra dollar in cash reserves.
Originality/value
By linking two distinct research lines of audit quality and corporate cash reserves, this study adds to both lines of literature, as it is a novel one (to the best of the author’s knowledge) to provide evidence about the effect of audit quality on the auditees' liquidity policy (a real economic decision and internal financial policy) that ultimately boosts the auditees' investment efficiency. The author’s findings are consistent with influential monitoring and an insurance-like function of high quality audits in reducing information asymmetry and its consequences. His results also support the argument that auditees' transparency through high quality audits can be a pivotal determinant of their liquidity policy.
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Yingying Zhang, Simon Dolan and Yu Zhou
The purpose of this paper is to integrate cultural value management into the high level of human resource management to propose a new direction of strategic human resource…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to integrate cultural value management into the high level of human resource management to propose a new direction of strategic human resource management (SHRM) development through management by the values (MBV) concept.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper proposes an integrative MBV SHRM model for Chinese management, incorporating Neo‐Confucian values for responsible, pragmatic and humanistic management, as well as two dynamic SHRM elements: leadership and learning. First SHRM in China is described; then the MBV concept and model are introduced. At that point, the evolution of cultural studies and Chinese Neo‐Confucianism is introduced before proposing an integrative MBV SHRM model for Chinese management.
Findings
Instead of the economic approach most often adopted by SHRM researchers, a harmonious managerial approach is argued for, based on the MBV triaxial model: ethical, economic, and emotional values, to orient the operations of the organisation.
Originality/value
This integration of three angles in values, management, and performance is novel in the field of SHRM. It not only contributes to the further development of the field, but also implies healthier and more sustainable practices in management, both in China and in the rest of the world.
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Yuting Wu, Athira Azmi, Rahinah Ibrahim, Azmiah Abd Ghafar and Sarah Abdulkareem Salih
With rapid urbanization, cities are facing various ecological and environmental problems. Living in harmony with nature is more important than ever. This paper aims to evaluate…
Abstract
Purpose
With rapid urbanization, cities are facing various ecological and environmental problems. Living in harmony with nature is more important than ever. This paper aims to evaluate the ecosystem and ecological features of Azheke village, a key component of the Hani Rice Terraces World Cultural Heritage in China. The focus is on exploring effective ways to improve the relationship between humans and the natural environment through urban design in order to create a livable and sustainable city that can promote the development of sustainable smart urban ecology design.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted a systematic literature review to answer the following research questions: (1) How does Azheke design achieve harmony between humans and nature? (2) What are the effective approaches to improve the relationship between humans and nature within urban ecosystems? (3) How can urban design learn and integrate from Azheke’s ecological features to improve the relationship between humans and nature?
Findings
Azheke sustains long-term human-nature harmony through traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and efficient natural resource use. By incorporating biophilic design and nature-based solutions from Azheke, along with biodiversity-friendly urban planning, we can boost urban ecosystem health and create unique Azheke-inspired urban designs.
Research limitations/implications
This research primarily focuses on the human-nature relationship, exploring design strategies based on biodiversity without delving into the interactions between other components of urban ecosystems, such as social-cultural and economic components.
Originality/value
This paper provides a new perspective and strategies for developing sustainable and smart urban ecology design. These findings can provide theoretical references for urban planners, designers and decision-makers.
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Gaston Fornes, Belen Lopez, Melanie Bierens de Haan and Javier Blanch
The paper analyses social and environmental engagement, stakeholders’ relations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies/options along with their underlying mechanisms…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper analyses social and environmental engagement, stakeholders’ relations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies/options along with their underlying mechanisms of firms operating in China.
Design/methodology/approach
It does this through the analysis of a unique case study using data collected from internal members and external stakeholders of the company framed within stakeholder theory.
Findings
Within the Aguinis and Glavas (2012) framework, the results show that the company’s resources and values can act as a mediator, their high visibility and scale can act as a moderator, and their self-regulation can act as a predictor in weak institutional contexts. Also, the findings show that employees’ perceptions of visionary leadership can act as a mediator, and that the alignment in the vision/values/beliefs of the chief executive officer with those of the shareholders can act as moderators.
Originality/value
The paper intends to contribute to the literature on CSR in China by analysing a specific type of investor, the socially responsible investor, neglected in the CSR literature, and by studying multilevel (individual/organisational/institutional) social and environmental engagement, stakeholders’ relations and CSR strategies/options in an evolving institutional environment.
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Davood Andalib Ardakani, Asieh Soltanmohammadi and Stefan Seuring
The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which institutional pressures affect supplier and customer collaboration and how collaboration explains green supply chain…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which institutional pressures affect supplier and customer collaboration and how collaboration explains green supply chain performance using institutional and stakeholder theories.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper builds on empirical evidence gathered from responses of Iranian industrial managers based on a self-administered survey. The hypotheses in the conceptual model are tested using Smart-PLS (partial least square).
Findings
The results provide evidence that regulatory requirements and internal motivators, as institutional pressure, enable customer and supplier collaboration. Furthermore, customer collaboration has a positive effect on supplier collaboration and, consequently, positively affects environmental and economic performance. But supplier collaboration is just positively affecting environmental performances and is not effective on economic performance.
Research limitations/implications
The subject is that the study is a questionnaire-based survey, and the validity and reliability of the results are influenced by the respondents' idiosyncrasies. This study provides a comprehensive model of drivers, supply chain collaboration and performance in the context of the industry sector. The study contributes by providing empirical data with a focus on customer and supplier collaboration and their interrelationship in GSCM modelling.
Originality/value
The current paper is one of the new field of research which demonstrate the significance of customer and supplier collaboration with each other to attain green performance. It also contributes to show the effect of institutional pressure on the customer-supplier collaboration that fosters green performance in the supply chain.
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Yogesh Patil, Ashik Kumar Patel, Gopal Dnyanba Gote, Yash G. Mittal, Avinash Kumar Mehta, Sahil Devendra Singh, K.P. Karunakaran and Milind Akarte
This study aims to improve the acceleration in the additive manufacturing (AM) process. AM tools, such as extrusion heads, jets, electric arcs, lasers and electron beams (EB)…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to improve the acceleration in the additive manufacturing (AM) process. AM tools, such as extrusion heads, jets, electric arcs, lasers and electron beams (EB), experience negligible forces. However, their speeds are limited by the positioning systems. In addition, a thin tool must travel several kilometers in tiny motions with several turns while realizing the AM part. Hence, acceleration is a more significant limiting factor than the velocity or precision for all except EB.
Design/methodology/approach
The sawtooth (ST) scanning strategy presented in this paper minimizes the time by combining three motion features: zigzag scan, 45º or 135º rotation for successive layers in G00 to avoid the CNC interpolation, and modifying these movements along 45º or 135º into sawtooth to halve the turns.
Findings
Sawtooth effectiveness is tested using an in-house developed Sand AM (SaAM) apparatus based on the laser–powder bed fusion AM technique. For a simple rectangle layer, the sawtooth achieved a path length reduction of 0.19%–1.49% and reduced the overall time by 3.508–4.889 times, proving that sawtooth uses increased acceleration more effectively than the other three scans. The complex layer study reduced calculated time by 69.80%–139.96% and manufacturing time by 47.35%–86.85%. Sawtooth samples also exhibited less dimensional variation (0.88%) than zigzag 45° (12.94%) along the build direction.
Research limitations/implications
Sawtooth is limited to flying optics AM process.
Originality/value
Development of scanning strategy for flying optics AM process to reduce the warpage by improving the acceleration.
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Danying Song, Joseph S. Chen and Ke Dong
Given the rapid growth of the Chinese cruise market, several Chinese cities are attempting to become a hub for cruise ships. The aim of this study is to evaluate the…
Abstract
Given the rapid growth of the Chinese cruise market, several Chinese cities are attempting to become a hub for cruise ships. The aim of this study is to evaluate the competitiveness of those cities with regard to hosting cruises. It employs a cloud model that transforms the qualitative description of competitive indicators into quantitative measurement and assesses the competitive advantage and specialization of the top homeports in China. Questionnaires are delivered to experts from eight cruise ports in China and the cloud model based on 14 evaluation factors is used to analyze the competitiveness of the ports under investigation. The result shows that the city’s scale, population, and development have been the main factors for assessing the competitiveness of port cities. The research provides insight about the Chinese cruise port cities’ competitiveness, which is particularly useful for future development decision and marketing strategies of ports and prospective destinations.
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Faisal Talib, Saheim K Josaiman and Mohd. Nishat Faisal
Typically, adoption of sustainability in organizations are often done in an unstructured way without the consideration of other partners in the supply chain. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Typically, adoption of sustainability in organizations are often done in an unstructured way without the consideration of other partners in the supply chain. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a coherent plan to improve sustainability in the supply chains utilizing ISO standards for environment and social responsibility.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper draws on literature on ISO14000 and ISO26000 to derive a set of variables applicable to supply chains, which are then prioritized for real organizations utilizing analytic hierarchy process.
Findings
The findings highlight that not all the variables of environmental, social and economic responsibility are equally important. Besides, the work reported in this paper justifies the application of multi-criteria decision-making (AHP) to prioritize elements of sustainability in context supply chains. The suggested method is illustrated using inputs from large manufacturing companies in Qatar.
Practical implications
ISO14000 and ISO26000 are well known standards; however, there was no effort to integrate these standards to improve sustainability in supply chains. The suggested methodology provides invaluable help to the managers to implement sustainability in a coherent manner across the supply chain.
Originality/value
The research contributes to the extant literature by proposing a new methodology based on the integration of three-approaches: Analytic Hierarchy Process, ISO14000 and ISO26000 systems.
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Weidong Zhu, Along Zhang, Biao Mei and Yinglin Ke
A large number of fastener holes have to be drilled with high quality in the circumferential splice region during the assembly of aircraft fuselage. The purpose of this paper is…
Abstract
Purpose
A large number of fastener holes have to be drilled with high quality in the circumferential splice region during the assembly of aircraft fuselage. The purpose of this paper is to design an automatic stepping mechanism for a circumferential splice drilling machine, to meet the requirements of large workspace and high accuracy in drilling at the same time.
Design/methodology/approach
A docking position detection method based on magnetic proximity sensors is proposed for the positioning of the arc-shaped rail with respect to the circumferential rails, which significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of automatic stepping. The slipping phenomenon of the end-effector is analyzed, and the optimized counter weights are used to eliminate the slipping and improve the working stability of the stepping mechanism.
Findings
An automatic stepping mechanism is developed for the circumferential splice drilling machine, which comprises the docking position detection method and the elimination/suppression method of the end-effector’s slipping.
Practical implications
The proposed automatic stepping mechanism has been integrated into the circumferential splice drilling machine for the fuselage assembly in an aircraft company in China.
Originality/value
An automatic stepping scheme for the circumferential splice drilling machine is proposed, which enhances the efficiency in circumferential splice drilling in aircraft fuselage assembly.
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