Ce Rong, Zhongbo He, Guangming Xue, Guoping Liu, Bowen Dai and Zhaoqi Zhou
Owing to the excellent performance, giant magnetostrictive materials (GMMs) are widely used in many engineering fields. The dynamic Jiles–Atherton (J-A) model, derived from…
Abstract
Purpose
Owing to the excellent performance, giant magnetostrictive materials (GMMs) are widely used in many engineering fields. The dynamic Jiles–Atherton (J-A) model, derived from physical mechanism, is often used to describe the hysteresis characteristics of GMM. However, this model, despite cited by many different literature studies, seems not to possess unique expressions, which may cause great trouble to the subsequent application. This paper aims to provide the rational expressions of the dynamic J-A model and propose a numerical computation scheme to obtain the model results with high accuracy and fast speed.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes different published papers and provides a reasonable form of the dynamic J-A model based on functional properties and physical explanations. Then, a numerical computation scheme, combining the Newton method and the explicit Adams method, is designed to solve the modified model. In addition, the error source and transmission path of the numerical solution are investigated, and the influence of model parameters on the calculation error is explored. Finally, some attempts are made to study the influence of numerical scheme parameters on the accuracy and time of the computation process. Subsequently, an optimization procedure is proposed.
Findings
A rational form of the dynamic J-A model is concluded in this paper. Using the proposed numerical calculation scheme, the maximum calculation error, while computing the modified model, can remain below 2 A/m under different model parameter combinations, and the computation time is always less than 0.5 s. After optimization, the calculation speed can be enhanced with the computation accuracy guaranteed.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one trying to provide a rational form of the dynamic J-A model among different citations. No other research studies focus on designing a detailed computation scheme targeting the fast and accurate calculation of this model as well. And the performance of the proposed calculation method is validated in different conditions.
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Jasmine Alam, Mustapha Ibn Boamah and Yuheng Liu
This study aims to investigate the relationship between a commercial bank’s micro-loaning activity and overall performance over a 10-year period.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between a commercial bank’s micro-loaning activity and overall performance over a 10-year period.
Design/methodology/approach
Quarterly data was obtained from the Wind Database, China Minsheng Banks’s official annual reports and annual corporate social responsibility reports from 2009 to 2019, to test the linear relationship between micro-loan activities and the overall financial performance of the bank.
Findings
The results of this study empirically demonstrate that there is a positive relationship between increases in micro-loaning activity and the overall performance of the bank. Some key recommendations for the sector are shared in the conclusion of this paper.
Originality/value
In the financial sector, some corporate social responsibility activities focus on the issuance of micro-loans. It is unclear, however, if this has also served as a means to increase profitability and overall performance for such institutions.
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Louisa Ha, Debipreeta Rahut, Michael Ofori, Shudipta Sharma, Michael Harmon, Amonia Tolofari, Bernadette Bowen, Yanqin Lu and Amir Khan
To provide human judgment input for computer algorithm development, this study examines the relative importance of source, content, and style cues in predicting the truthfulness…
Abstract
Purpose
To provide human judgment input for computer algorithm development, this study examines the relative importance of source, content, and style cues in predicting the truthfulness ratings of two common types of online health information: news stories and institutional news releases.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a multi-method approach using (1) a manual content analysis of 400 randomly selected online health news stories and news releases from HealthNewsReview.org and (2) an online experiment comparing truthfulness ratings between news stories and news releases.
Findings
Using content analysis, the authors found significant differences in the importance of source, content, and style cues in predicting truthfulness ratings of news stories and news releases: source and style cues predicted truthfulness ratings better than content cues. In the experiment, source credibility was the most important predictor of truthfulness ratings, controlling for individual differences. Experts have higher ratings for news media stories than news releases and lay people have no differences in rating the two news formats.
Practical implications
It is important for health educators to curb consumer trust in misinformation and increase health information literacy. Rather than solely reporting scientific evidence, educators should focus on addressing cues people use to judge the truthfulness of health information.
Originality/value
This is the first study that directly compares human judgments of health news stories and news releases. Using both the breadth of content analysis and experimental causality testing, the authors evaluate the relative importance of source, content, and style cues in predicting truthfulness ratings.
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Brian R. Dineen, Greet Van Hoye, Filip Lievens and Lindsay Mechem Rosokha
Massive shifts in the recruitment landscape, the continually changing nature of work and workers, and extraordinary technological progress have combined to enable unparalleled…
Abstract
Massive shifts in the recruitment landscape, the continually changing nature of work and workers, and extraordinary technological progress have combined to enable unparalleled advances in how current and prospective employees receive and process information about organizations. Once the domain of internal organizational public relations and human resources (HR) teams, most employment branding has moved beyond organizations’ control. This chapter provides a conceptual framework pertaining to third party employment branding, defined as communications, claims, or status-based classifications generated by parties outside of direct company control that shape, enhance, and differentiate organizations’ images as favorable or unfavorable employers. Specifically, the authors first theorize about the underlying mechanisms by which third party employment branding might signal prospective and current employees. Second, the authors develop a framework whereby we comprehensively review third party employment branding sources, thus identifying the different ways that third party employment branding might manifest. Third, using prototypical examples, the authors link the various signaling mechanisms to the various third party employment branding sources identified. Finally, the authors propose an ambitious future research agenda that considers not only the positive aspects of third party employment branding but also potential “dark sides.” Thus, the authors view this chapter as contributing to the broader employment branding literature, which should enhance scholarly endeavors to study it and practitioner efforts to leverage it.
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Janet M. Nwaogu, Albert P.C. Chan, Carol K.H. Hon and Amos Darko
The demanding nature of the construction industry poses strain that affects the health of construction personnel. Research shows that mental ill health in this industry is…
Abstract
Purpose
The demanding nature of the construction industry poses strain that affects the health of construction personnel. Research shows that mental ill health in this industry is increasing. However, a review mapping the field to determine the extant of research is lacking. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to conduct a scientometric review of mental health (MH) research in the construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 145 bibliographic records retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus database were analyzed using CiteSpace, to visualize MH research outputs in the industry.
Findings
Top co-cited authors are Helen Lingard, Mei-yung Leung, Paul Bowen, Julitta S. Boschman, Peter E.D. Love, Martin Loosemore and Linda Goldenhar. Previous studies focused on healthy eating, work efficiency, occupational stress and workplace injury. Emerging research areas are centered around physiological health monitoring, work ability, and smart interventions to prevent and manage poor MH.
Research limitations/implications
Result is influenced by the citations in retrieved articles.
Practical implications
The study found that researchers in the construction industry have intensified efforts to leverage information technology in improving the health, well-being, and safety of construction personnel. Future research should focus on developing workplace interventions that incorporate organizational justice and flexible work systems. There is also a need to develop psychological self-reporting scales specific to the industry.
Originality/value
This study enhances the understanding of researchers on existing collaboration networks and future research directions. It provides information on foundational documents and authors whose works should be consulted when researching into this field.
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Craft beer (CB) has gained prominence in the on-premise trade in the USA, which has become the world’s largest market for CB. Academically based research in the hospitality domain…
Abstract
Purpose
Craft beer (CB) has gained prominence in the on-premise trade in the USA, which has become the world’s largest market for CB. Academically based research in the hospitality domain examining consumer behavioral psychology-based constructs in the situational consumption context of restaurants has, however, not kept pace with market reality. This study aims to examine how product involvement, knowledge, opinion leadership-seeking, risk perception, information processing and their interactions affect consumption of CB by consumers in the situational context of restaurants in the USA.
Design/methodology/approach
A national sample of 697 consumers from across the USA covering all categories of restaurants, including bars, pubs and brewpubs, informs the development of a structural equation model (SEM) of the motivational process to examine these effects. In the process, the authors validate latent construct measurement scales specific to CB consumption in the restaurant environment.
Findings
The results support main hypotheses confirming the existence of distinct motivational relationships, thus explicating the processes by which consumers’ CB product involvement, product knowledge, opinion leadership-seeking and risk perception are activated, influence one another and their subsequent information processing-related outcomes. The findings also confirm the unstable nature of the situational involvement construct, the stability of enduring involvement and the pivotal role of psychological risk on opinion leadership and opinion seeking as well as on other antecedents. As far as the interaction effects between the constructs are concerned, the authors confirm five mediating effects and one moderating effect.
Practical implications
Strategies should be developed by hospitality managers to identify consumers with higher enduring involvement with CB. Strategies should also be implemented that mitigate psychological, social and functional risk. The insights into the motivational relationships pertaining to CB consumption in restaurants should be integrated into drinks menu design and be considered in how service staff are trained.
Originality/value
This research provides nuanced insights from a motivational perspective of consumers in the situational context of restaurants from a holistic and consumer-centric behavioral psychology perspective providing deepened insights of focal behavioral psychology constructs and their roles in the hospitality domain.
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The purpose of this paper is to contribute significantly to the empirical investigations related to the impact of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute significantly to the empirical investigations related to the impact of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on performance in Chinese firms. The paper also aims to theorize and empirically assess a comprehensive SSCM practices and performance model. The model incorporates two aspects of SSCM practices: internal and external management, and analyses the impact on corporate sustainability performance from all dimensions.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper develops a conceptual model to investigate the impact of SSCM practices on the firm performance. Based on the data of 172 Chinese firms, this paper analyzes the impact of SSCM practices on firm economic performance, environmental performance, and social performance for each dimension by using PLS structural equation methods.
Findings
The results show that firm’s internal SSCM practices have a positive impact on firm’s environmental performance and social performance. Moreover, environmental performance and social performance are positively related to economic performance.
Originality/value
A comprehensive SSCM practices performance model is proposed and empirically assessed for Chinese firms. The results of this investigation support the hypotheses that SSCM practices are environmentally and socially necessary and are favorable for business. A series of approach and implications of SSCM practices is recommended.
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Huan Li, Weiwei Dai and Xiaoshi Li
As competition in the graduate labor market intensifies, extracurricular internships have become increasingly popular among university students. This paper explores whether and…
Abstract
Purpose
As competition in the graduate labor market intensifies, extracurricular internships have become increasingly popular among university students. This paper explores whether and how students’ evaluation of the higher learning that they have received changes during extracurricular internships.
Design/methodology/approach
We interviewed 47 undergraduate students who had extracurricular internships across five Chinese universities. Data were analyzed innovatively through the lens of cross-cultural adaptation theory, which guides us to view internships as a transition from university culture to workplace culture through the stress-adaptation-growth dynamic.
Findings
The findings reveal that participants faced stress from multiple sources at the beginning of their internships, which collectively prompted them to adapt proactively to the workplace culture. While acquiring new habits and trying to acculturate into the surrounding work milieu, many participants deculturated from their old habits and student identity, putting aside higher learning. As the adaptation progressed, over half of the participants even began to critique university curricula and depreciate the value of higher learning.
Originality/value
The study offers theoretical insights into internships and the broader university-to-work transition as well as practical implications for universities in balancing learning and employability goals from a novel cross-cultural adaptation perspective.
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Guangrong Dai and Kaiguang (Carl) Liang
The purpose of this paper is to examine the current status of competency modeling in Chinese organizations, and explore approaches to further advancing related research and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the current status of competency modeling in Chinese organizations, and explore approaches to further advancing related research and practice.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature review method with a content analysis approach was adopted. Based on the pattern of the literature, a three‐level competency modeling framework was derived. It was then used to analyze the research and practice of competency modeling in China.
Findings
The paper finds that Chinese literature has been focused on competencies for job qualifications. The practice in Chinese organizational setting has not achieved the strategic potential of competency modeling. Research on competency modeling has lagged behind the practice. Both research and practice pointed to the skills of human resource professionals as a critically component for strategic application of competency modeling.
Research limitations/implications
The paper identifies three research‐to‐practice gaps and recommends directions for future research.
Practice implications
The paper recommends approaches to enhance the strategic contribution of competency modeling for Human resource management (HRM) practice.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the HRM literature by focusing on a pervasive HRM practice competency modeling. It offers a comprehensive review and analysis on both the research and practice of competency modeling in China.
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Amit Arora, Anshu Saxena Arora, K. Sivakumar and Gerard Burke
This paper aims to examines the moderating effect of small vs large supply base size on the relationship between strategic sustainable purchasing (SSP) and organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examines the moderating effect of small vs large supply base size on the relationship between strategic sustainable purchasing (SSP) and organizational sustainability performance (OSP). SSP is conceptualized as a dynamic capability consisting of strategic purchasing and environmental purchasing. Environmental collaboration is conceptualized as a mediator between SSP and OSP. Extant research has not examined the effect of the size of the supply base on the relationship between SSP and OSP.
Design/methodology/approach
The hypothesized relationships are tested using a two-step multi-group analysis in partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
A small supply base size positively moderates the relationship between SSP and environmental collaboration, thus achieving OSP. In contrast, when the supply base is large, strategic purchasing is positively associated with environmental collaboration, while environmental purchasing is negatively related to environmental collaboration. A large supply base has a positive relationship to environmental collaboration and economic sustainability, while the relationship between environmental collaboration and environmental and social performance is not significant.
Practical implications
This research argues that despite the nuances in the moderating effects of small versus large supply base size, managers need to invest in both dynamic and relational capabilities to achieve organizational sustainability.
Originality/value
Scant research is available in supply chain management research that has examined the important effect of the supply base size on the relationship between SSP and OSP. This research aims to fill this gap. The study helps practitioners understand the effects of supply base sizes for their organizations, increase interrelationships among suppliers, reduce the level of differentiation among them, and, thereby, reduce costs and increase revenues.