Chuni Wu and Chinho Lin
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between knowledge creation processes and the Six Sigma approach.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between knowledge creation processes and the Six Sigma approach.
Design/methodology/approach
An integrated Six Sigma implementation process is proposed to explore knowledge creation opportunities within a Six Sigma program. A qualitative inquiry with thematic analysis which focuses on a TFT‐LCD (Thin Film Transistor‐Liquid Crystal Display) panel manufacturer and a glass substrates manufacturer is presented in order to identify how the Six Sigma program facilitates the knowledge creation process through the socialization, externalization combination and internalization (SECI) modes, and four types of space for knowledge creation, which are viewed as the different forms of ba, as proposed by Nonaka et al. , namely originating ba, interacting ba, systemizing ba and exercising ba.
Findings
This study contributes to integrating the domains of quality management and knowledge management research. The findings demonstrate the potential mediating effect of a Six Sigma knowledge‐creating system.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited in its research methodology, and the case studies are only two empirical illustrations of many other possible implementation processes. The author does not assume that these companies are paradigms or that their specific situations are applicable to all other business enterprises.
Originality/value
This architecture offers an initial model for an organization that wants to facilitate knowledge creation according to the prevailing Six Sigma approach, and further proceed with its knowledge management systems implementation to encourage the management of corporate knowledge and effectively enhance competitiveness.
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Keywords
This paper aims to analyze how organizational conditions, technology adoption, supplier relationship management and customer relationship management affect knowledge creation…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze how organizational conditions, technology adoption, supplier relationship management and customer relationship management affect knowledge creation through socialization‐externalization combination, internalization (SECI) modes, and various ba, as proposed by Nonaka and Konno, in a supply chain.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative inquiry with thematic analysis, which focuses on a thin film transistor‐liquid crystal display (TFT‐LCD) panel manufacturer and an integrated circuits (IC) packaging and testing manufacturer, is presented in order to identify how these key factors affect knowledge creation in a supply chain environment through the SECI modes and ba.
Findings
The results show that these critical factors facilitate different types of knowledge conversion process in order to achieve successful knowledge creation in a supply chain. Knowledge of the significant factors that were found in this study may be applicable to countries or areas such as Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore or other developing countries, whose dominant businesses are similar to the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)/original design manufacturers (ODMs) in Taiwan.
Research limitations/implications
This paper considers the case study only as one empirical illustration of many other possible implementation processes. The study does not assume that these companies are a paradigm or that the specific situation is applicable to all other business enterprises. Future researchers interested in this field are therefore encouraged to triangulate its findings by examining variables generated from this study.
Originality/value
This study employs a quantitative approach to investigate critical knowledge creation factors for supply chain performance. Through empirical study, a better understanding of the dynamics of knowledge creation in a supply chain can be gained.
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Chinho Lin and Chuni Wu
This study seeks to explore the interrelationships between knowledge management and ISO 9001:2000, and details knowledge management and ISO 9001:2000 practices for organizations…
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to explore the interrelationships between knowledge management and ISO 9001:2000, and details knowledge management and ISO 9001:2000 practices for organizations, according to the prevailing ISO 9001:2000 guidelines and processes.
Design/methodology/approach
This study proposes an intact process model that integrates ISO 9001:2000 processes in order to exploit critical knowledge within an organization. A Delphi approach is designed and used to identify activities within this process model, which will facilitate knowledge flow practices. In addition, a knowledge management conceptual framework which integrated ISO 9000 processes, quality information system and infrastructure is proposed. Empirical research, involving a case study with thematic analysis, is presented to discuss the proposed framework.
Findings
This paper identifies the most important activities within ISO 9001:2000 processes which can facilitate knowledge flow. Meanwhile, a comprehensive ISO 9000 process‐based knowledge management system architecture which is derived from the in‐depth interview and the qualitative analyses will be proposed.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited in its research methodology. This case study is considered as only one empirical illustration of many other possible implementation processes. It is not assumed that this company is a paradigm or that its specific situation is applicable to all other business enterprises.
Originality/value
This architecture offers an initial model for an organization that wants to facilitate knowledge flows according to the prevailing ISO 9001:2000 guidelines and processes, and further proceed with its knowledge management system implementation to encourage the management of corporate knowledge and effectively enhance the firm's competitiveness.
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Keywords
Ruhua Huang, Chunying Wang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Dan Wu and Qingwen Xie
The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of designing, developing and evaluating a prototype of an open government data (OGD) platform that provided user-centred…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of designing, developing and evaluating a prototype of an open government data (OGD) platform that provided user-centred experiences.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the OGD lifecycle, an OGD prototype was created, which involved the system functionality, user interface, standard specification and security mechanism. The main functionalities of the system included data acquisition, data processing and data management. A usability test was conducted following the prototype implementation.
Findings
The usability test indicated that an OGD platform was desired to help the public to find, access, reuse and share government data effectively and efficiently. Functions, such as visualization, local download and digital watermark should be provided and integrated into the platform.
Originality/value
This paper provided a complete case study on the design of an OGD platform and a reference for information system developers to design such system in the future.
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Keywords
Changlong Ye, Yunfei Du, Suyang Yu, Qiang Zhao and Chunying Jiang
With the development of automation technology, the accuracy, bearing capacity and self-adaptation requirements of wheeled mobile robots are more and more demanding under various…
Abstract
Purpose
With the development of automation technology, the accuracy, bearing capacity and self-adaptation requirements of wheeled mobile robots are more and more demanding under various complex conditions, which will urge designers such shortcomings as the low accuracy, poor flexibility and weak obstacle crossing ability of traditional heavy haul vehicles and improve the wear resistance and bearing capacity of traditional omnidirectional wheels.
Design/methodology/approach
The optimal configuration for heavy payload transportation is obtained by building sliding friction consumption model of traditional wheels with different driving types based on Hertz tangential contact theory. The heavy payload omnidirectional wheel with a double-wheel steering and a coupled differential wheel driving is designed with the optimal configuration. The wheel consists of a differential gear train unit and a nonindependent suspension unit. Kinematics model of the wheel is established and relative parameters are optimized.
Findings
The prototype experiments show that the wheel has higher motion accuracy and environment adaptability. The results are consistent with the theoretical calculation, which show that the accuracy is more than 50% higher than that of differential prototype. The motion stability and the accuracy of the coupled differential omnidirectional wheel are better than those of the traditional omnidirectional wheels during the moving and obstacle crossing process under complex conditions, which verifies the correctness and advantages of the design.
Originality/value
Aiming at the specific application of heavy payload omnidirectional transportation, a new omnidirectional mobile mechanism with a two-wheel coupling drive structure and an adaptive mechanism is proposed. The simulation and experimental results show that it can realize the high-precision heavy-load omnidirectional movement, the effective contact with the ground and improve the adaptability to the rugged ground. It is flexible, simple and modular and can be widely applied to transportation, exploration, detection and other related industrial fields.
Details
Keywords
Separately, North Korean state media announced today the arrest of a US tourist for an unspecified "hostile act".
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB208001
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
This study aims to revisit the empirical debate about the asymmetric relationship between oil prices, energy consumption, CO2 emissions and economic growth in a panel of 184…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to revisit the empirical debate about the asymmetric relationship between oil prices, energy consumption, CO2 emissions and economic growth in a panel of 184 countries from 1981 to 2020.
Design/methodology/approach
A relatively new research method, the PVAR system GMM, is applied.
Findings
The outcome of the PVAR system GMM model at the group level in the study suggests that oil prices exert a positive but statistically insignificant effect on economic growth. Energy consumption is inversely related to economic growth but statistically significant, and the correlation between CO2 emissions and economic growth is negative but statistically insignificant. The Granger causality test indicates that oil prices, CO2 emissions, oil rents, energy consumption and savings jointly Granger-cause economic growth. A unidirectional causality runs from energy consumption, savings and economic growth to oil prices. At countries’ income grouping levels, oil prices, oil rent, CO2 emissions, energy consumption and savings jointly Granger-cause economic growth for the high-income and upper-middle-income countries groups only, while those variables did not jointly Granger-cause economic growth for the low-income and lower-middle-income countries groups. The modulus emanating from the eigenvalue stability condition with the roots of the companion matrix indicates that the model is stable. The results support the asymmetric impacts of oil prices on economic growth and aid policy formulation, particularly the cross-country disparities regarding the nexus between oil prices and growth.
Originality/value
From a methodological perspective, to the best of the author’s knowledge, the study is the first attempt to use the PVAR system GMM and such a large sample group of 184 economies in the post-COVID-19 era to examine the impacts of oil prices on countries’ growth while controlling for other crucial variables, which is noteworthy. Two, using the World Bank categorisation of countries according to income groups, the study adds another layer of contribution to the literature by decomposing the 184 sample economies into four income groups: high-income, low-income, upper-middle-income and lower-middle-income groups to investigate the potential for asymmetric effects of oil prices on growth, the first of its kind in the post-COVID-19 period.
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The main purpose of paper is to analyse the political, military and strategic significance of China’s rising power and its influence on Sino-Indian relations, while addressing the…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of paper is to analyse the political, military and strategic significance of China’s rising power and its influence on Sino-Indian relations, while addressing the question as to why India has not been able to develop a long-term, stable and friendly relationship with China.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is structured as follows: historical overview of India-China relations; various tools of China’s policy in Indian sub-continent; and India’s response. The paper employs a qualitative analysis of secondary literature, with media reports, official documents and public statements providing important sources for understanding the dynamics underlying bilateral relationship.
Findings
India needs to be prepared to face challenges as China’s charm offensive in India’s neighbourhood is primarily aimed at establishing a new Asian order in which Beijing would play the leading role. As China institutionalizes its military presence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, India should adopt an innovative response mechanism, also involving counter-presence in areas considered China’s traditional sphere of influence.
Originality/value
The primary value of the paper lies in the fact that it covers most of the key dimensions of bilateral ties that impair a stable relationship between India and China. A proper understanding of the dynamics underlying bilateral ties may help the policymakers, scholars and academics to suggest ways to reduce sources of tensions, while also helping the Indian Government to prepare effective countermeasures.
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Shaomin Li and Matthew Farrell
A main challenge in studying China is that different views clash. A more serious challenge is that studies that are critical of or dissent from the Chinese government policies are…
Abstract
Purpose
A main challenge in studying China is that different views clash. A more serious challenge is that studies that are critical of or dissent from the Chinese government policies are labeled “anti-China” by the Chinese authorities, affecting the free academic exchange of ideas on China. This article discusses this issue and proposes a long-term solution.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a perspective study and uses the qualitative approach to develop the authors’ arguments.
Findings
The authors argue that the contention in China-related studies is derived primarily from the different perspectives that scholars use. This study identifies two main perspectives: the China-centric view and the rest of the world’s view. The combination of the clash of perspectives and the interference of the Chinese state hinders the development of our knowledge regarding China. Using Rawls’ theory of justice and the veil of ignorance, the authors propose to build common ground for the China study community based on academic freedom, equality and the rule of law. This study further shows that building the common ground is feasible.
Practical implications
The authors’ proposed common ground will help create a free environment for meaningful exchange between different perspectives and reduce the risks in China studies.
Originality/value
The authors’ angle to examine the contentiousness and riskiness of China studies is new. It is the first time that different perspectives on China studies are delineated and compared, the costs of the contentiousness and riskiness are assessed, and the long-term consequences of different paths are examined.