Sabine J. Schlittmeier and Andreas Liebl
This paper aims to give an overview on four empirical studies which explored the impact of background speech on cognitive performance and subjectively perceived disturbance…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to give an overview on four empirical studies which explored the impact of background speech on cognitive performance and subjectively perceived disturbance. Background speech is the most serious noise problem in shared-room and open-plan offices for employees who are supposed to do silent, concentrated work. Different measures of acoustic office optimization, as well as the outstanding role of the intelligibility of background speech for its disturbance impact, are empirically evaluated.
Design/methodology/approach
The article provides a synopsis describing the core empirical results of four of our empirical studies. A survey study among office employees (n = 659) explored the subjective importance of office acoustics. Three experimental studies (n1 = 20; n2 = 30; n3 = 24) evaluated the effects of reduced background speech level, play-back of partial maskers and reduced speech intelligibility on cognitive performance and subjective ratings.
Findings
Background speech is subjectively perceived as a severe problem, and the different noise abatement measures affect objective performance and subjective ratings differently. Speech intelligibility is – besides level – a key determinant for the acoustic optimization regarding these two dimensions.
Research limitations/implications
Practitioners are encouraged to apply the findings and described measures when planning and/or evaluating open-plan offices.
Practical implications
It is concluded that different acoustically efficient measures need to be combined to minimize the negative effects of background speech on cognitive performance and subjectively perceived disturbance. The aspired set value for open-office concepts is the lowest possible sound level with a bad intelligibility of the background speech at the same time.
Originality/value
The synopsis of several empirical studies allows deriving comprehensive and well-founded information for practitioners involved in the evaluation and/or design of offices environments.
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Virginia Corvino, Andrea Carniani, Velio Tralli and Roberto Verdone
The purpose of this paper is to study the radio resource assignment problem in the context of a heterogeneous ad hoc network, composed of 1EEE802.15.4 sensor devices, their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the radio resource assignment problem in the context of a heterogeneous ad hoc network, composed of 1EEE802.15.4 sensor devices, their coordinators, mobile terminals conveying vldeo streams, and sinks. This scenario also fits to the paradigm of opportunistic networks.
Design/methodology/approach
In such hierarchical heterogeneous opportunistic networks, the focus is on cross‐layer scheduling of the video and sensor traffics toward the sink. The scheduling strategy proposed takes into account information coming from both physical and application layers. Evaluations are performed via simulations.
Findings
Results show that the proposed cross‐layer strategy significantly outperforms the maximum throughput scheduling, used as a benchmark, in case of video traffic, while preseruing the same performance for 802.15.4 traffic.
Practical implications
The architecture and the relevant algorithms proposed could be used in realistic emergency‐deployed networks composed by the kind of nodes considered in the paper.
Originality/value
The novelty introduced is related to the application of a crosslayer design strategy in a very peculiar hierarchical heterogeneous opportunistic ad hoc network. This paper is believed to be the first published combining traditional tratfic sources with sensor generated data flows.
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Christian Scholz and Lisa-Dorothee Grotefend
Generation Z in Germany – born after 1995 – follows in many ways similar trends to be seen in other countries. Contrary to Generation Y, it is less career-focussed, less keen on…
Abstract
Generation Z in Germany – born after 1995 – follows in many ways similar trends to be seen in other countries. Contrary to Generation Y, it is less career-focussed, less keen on financial rewards and less willing to work flexible in a competitive world with total work–life blending. They look for structure, security and feeling good. What is different: Germany is one of the few countries in the world in which Generation Z in many cases can live up to their dreams. Germany has a prospering economy, a stable society and still a good educational system. Most important, for young people, it has an unemployment rate of virtually zero per cent. Therefore, companies definitely must engage in the war for talents and provide Generation Z with a fitting employer value proposition: Generation Z looks for meaningful and exciting work but seeks also meaning and excitement in private lives. In particular, they demand a clear separation of their private lives from their job. All this stands in contrast to the ambitions of the industrial sector in Germany promoting a more Generation Y-type environment with flexibility, agility and work–life blending. This conflict is not dealt with in an open way, since politics and media stand on the side of the large companies. Still, the power of Generation Z is not to be underestimated. Therefore, the chapter leaves it for the future to find out whether the Generation Z or other forces will win.
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S. Meera and A. Vinodan
This study aims to examine individual-specific market orientation as an innovative approach and its relationship with marketing skills among artisan entrepreneurs in India.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine individual-specific market orientation as an innovative approach and its relationship with marketing skills among artisan entrepreneurs in India.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted an in-depth interview to explore variables, a questionnaire survey to understand their latent dimensions through exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test the relationship between constructs under study.
Findings
The interview result indicates that 20 variables explain factors affecting individual-specific market orientation with four latent dimensions: customer orientation, competitor orientation, external coordination orientation and personal selling orientation. There is a significant and positive relationship between customer orientation and personal selling orientation with the marketing skills of artisan entrepreneurs in India.
Research limitations/implications
The study is confined to three southern states of India and weaving villages known for their endemic product specifications.
Practical implications
The study found significance in orienting artisan entrepreneurs of developing countries and equipping them with desired skills to meet the changing dynamics of the market and meet their livelihood needs. The study further supports policymaking in strengthening the capability of artisans to enter the market without mediators.
Social implications
The model provides insight into other unorganized sectors to formulate innovative approaches to strengthen marketing skills and entrepreneurial ability.
Originality/value
As an exploratory study, examining individual-level market orientation as an innovative approach and their relationship with marketing skills among artisan entrepreneurs was unexplored in several unorganized sectors, including handlooms.
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Kirsten Bobzin, Tobias Brögelmann, Christian Kalscheuer, Matthias Thiex, Andreas Schwarz, Martin Ebner, Thomas Lohner and Karsten Stahl
This paper aims to address the coating and compound analysis of diamond-like carbon (DLC) on steel, to understand the frictional behavior in tribological gear systems presented in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to address the coating and compound analysis of diamond-like carbon (DLC) on steel, to understand the frictional behavior in tribological gear systems presented in paper Part I. Here, the Ti and Zr modified DLC coating architectures are analyzed regarding their chemical, mechanical and thermophysical properties. The results represent a systematic analysis of the thermal insulating effect in tribological contact of DLC coated gears.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach was to evaluate the effect of the substitution of Zr through Ti at the reference coating ZrCg to TiCg and the effect on thermophysical properties. Furthermore, the influence of different carbon and hydrogen contents on the coating and compound properties was analyzed. Therefore, different discrete Ti or Zr containing DLC coatings were deposited on an industrial coating machine. Thereby the understanding of the microstructure and chemical composition of the reference coatings is increased.
Findings
Results prove comparable mechanical properties of metal modified DLC independent of differences in chemical compositions. Moreover, the compound adhesion between TiCg/16MnCr5E was improved compared to ZrCg/16MnCr5E. The effect of hydrogen content Ψ and carbon content xc on the thermophysical properties is limited by Ψ = 18 at.% and xc = 90 at.%.
Practical implications
The findings of the combined papers Part I and II show a high potential for industrial application of DLC on gears. Based on the results DLC coatings and gears can be tailored to each other.
Originality/value
Systematic analysis of DLC coatings were conducted to evaluate the effect of titanium, carbon and hydrogen on thermophysical properties.