Moustafa Salman Haj Youssef and Da Teng
The purpose of this study is to refute the work of Andersen (2017) by suggesting a different theoretical view and to argue that the concept of managerial discretion is one of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to refute the work of Andersen (2017) by suggesting a different theoretical view and to argue that the concept of managerial discretion is one of the core dimensions that cannot be discarded when studying corporate governance.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses theoretical frameworks from recent literature, definitions and empirical studies on the concept of managerial discretion and corporate governance.
Findings
Several studies have empirically tested and measured the concept of managerial discretion, some have provided validity and reliability of the concept and others have showed the direct impact of discretion on firm performance.
Practical implications
Research on managerial discretion provides owners and board of directors a clear advice on how much discretion can be granted to top executives by taking into consideration the different dimensions of the external and internal environment.
Originality/value
This paper concludes that corporate governance research will not improve if it abandons the concept of managerial discretion.
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Da Teng, Moustafa Salman Haj Youssef and Chengchun Li
This paper builds upon managerial discretion literature to study the relationship between foreign ownership and bribery intensity.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper builds upon managerial discretion literature to study the relationship between foreign ownership and bribery intensity.
Design/methodology/approach
Building on World Bank’s data of 9,386 firms from 125 countries over the period 2006–2018, this paper uses Tobit regression, ordered probit and logit models to empirically test the hypotheses.
Findings
This paper finds that firms have higher bribery intensity when executives have a higher level of managerial discretion. Smaller firms with slack financial resources tend to bribe more when they face more government intervention, munificent and uncertain industrial environment.
Originality/value
Extant corruption literature has addressed the effects of external institutional settings and internal corporate governance on bribery offering among multinational enterprises (MNEs). How much, and under what condition do top executives matter in bribery activities are yet to be answered. This paper integrates the concept of managerial discretion with corruption and bribery literature and offers a potential answer to the above question. In addition, prior corruption and bribery literature have primarily studied bribery through either micro- or macro-level analysis. This paper adopts multiple-level of analyses and elucidates the foreign ownership and bribery relationship from the organizational and industrial levels.
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Da Teng, Yun-Wen Feng, Jun-Yu Chen and Cheng Lu
The purpose of this paper is to briefly summarize and review the theories and methods of complex structures’ dynamic reliability. Complex structures are usually assembled from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to briefly summarize and review the theories and methods of complex structures’ dynamic reliability. Complex structures are usually assembled from multiple components and subjected to time-varying loads of aerodynamic, structural, thermal and other physical fields; its reliability analysis is of great significance to ensure the safe operation of large-scale equipment such as aviation and machinery.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper for the single-objective dynamic reliability analysis of complex structures, the calculation can be categorized into Monte Carlo (MC), outcrossing rate, envelope functions and extreme value methods. The series-parallel and expansion methods, multi-extremum surrogate models and decomposed-coordinated surrogate models are summarized for the multiobjective dynamic reliability analysis of complex structures.
Findings
The numerical complex compound function and turbine blisk are used as examples to illustrate the performance of single-objective and multiobjective dynamic reliability analysis methods. Then the future development direction of dynamic reliability analysis of complex structures is prospected.
Originality/value
The paper provides a useful reference for further theoretical research and engineering application.
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Shi-qing Wu, Bin Shen, Yun-zhe Tang, Jia-hai Wang and Da-teng Zheng
The purpose of this paper is to study a method to optimize the arrangement of the devices on a smart assembly workbench, which help to reduce fatigue and improve efficiency for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study a method to optimize the arrangement of the devices on a smart assembly workbench, which help to reduce fatigue and improve efficiency for the worker.
Design/methodology/approach
The optimization priority is studied based on the users’ decisions, a mathematical model of the layout optimization is established from ergonomic perspective and an improved algorithm is adopted to solve the built the mathematical model.
Findings
Ergonomic software Jack is chosen to simulate the four layout schemes obtained. Through comparative analysis of the simulation results, it is proven that the optimal solution can be obtained using the improved algorithm.
Originality/value
The mathematical model built on observation comfort, operation comfort and device accessibility, as well as the improved algorithm in this paper, has some reference values for the layout design of smart assembly workbench.
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Anil Kumar Goswami and Rakesh Kumar Agrawal
This study aims to build the intellectual structure of knowledge sharing (KS) research by objectively and systematically capturing and sketching the content of research papers…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to build the intellectual structure of knowledge sharing (KS) research by objectively and systematically capturing and sketching the content of research papers published in the KS research area.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a systematic literature review for data collection, and content analysis and bibliometric techniques of citation and co-citation analysis for data analyses and interpretation.
Findings
Based on the study, the intellectual structure of KS research consisting of five themes has emerged. The five themes identified are: models, frameworks and understanding for KS, the behaviour-oriented perspective of KS, technology-oriented perspective of KS, KS barriers and KS and firm’s performance.
Research limitations/implications
This study has used published literature extracted from selected journals using the web of science database. More journals and databases may be included in future studies.
Practical implications
This study will give future researchers a comprehensive understanding of KS discipline and serve as a quick reference and resource for those interested in KS research. It identifies major areas of KS for the practitioners to enable them to focus and apply various organizational interventions to derive a competitive advantage. The identified themes in the intellectual structure of KS will also provide a holistic view and give multiple perspectives to practitioners so that they can better manage KS in their organizations.
Originality/value
This is among early studies aiming to extract the intellectual structure of KS in the broad area of knowledge management research.
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Hai Tan, Yanbao Guo, Junqiang Wang, Deguo Wang and Yongjie Cui
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of additive particle size on the anti-corrosion behaviors of polyurethane (PU) coating.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of additive particle size on the anti-corrosion behaviors of polyurethane (PU) coating.
Design/methodology/approach
The graphite (Gr) and poly-graphite (PGr) were used as large size additive and small size additive, respectively. The immersion test and electrochemical test were used to study the corrosion behaviors.
Findings
In the immersion test, the surface of the bare steel sample was corroded uniformly. However, for the steel samples with coatings, the surfaces were corroded locally. This phenomenon showed that the coating can isolate artificial sea-water and samples and then decreased the corrosion rate. Furthermore, the most severe corrosion was observed on the sample with the Gr/PU coating compared with other anti-corrosion coatings. The results of the electrochemical measurements indicated that the corrosion rate of the sample with PGr/PU coating was approximately two times lower than that of the sample with the Gr/PU coating and the sample with PGr/PU coating was hardest to be corroded.
Originality/value
To have a more objective and direct recognition of the particle size effect on the coating quality.
Manish Unhale and André Slowak
This study aims to inquire about pre-requisites and benefits of collaboration in the UK and India, testing for significance of country context.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to inquire about pre-requisites and benefits of collaboration in the UK and India, testing for significance of country context.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey data set includes 118 UK-based and 175 India-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This paper applies a grounded theory research design, given that to date, no sufficient SME sector-specific, quantitative frameworks have been published.
Findings
India-based SMEs are more inclined towards frequent collaboration. Soft variables such as perceived trustworthiness or past commitment, appear to be significant when explaining whether or not SMEs in India enter into a collaboration. Operations-driven motives play the most significant role for them, whereas for UK-based SMEs, product design-related collaboration motives are of more importance.
Research limitations/implications
The developed cross-country and country-specific collaboration variables will facilitate SME studies under a consistent and complete framework.
Practical implications
Business associations and SME owners in the UK can use the research to gain an Indian perspective and vice versa. This study concludes a stylised framework for SME owners and managers to classify collaboration patterns in a country.
Originality/value
While previous research established concepts and practices of SME collaboration, this is the first paper that quantitatively addresses the attitudes and experiences that SME owners hold when initialising inter-firm collaboration.
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This study explores corporate strategic orientations as important drivers of firms’ philanthropic engagement. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores corporate strategic orientations as important drivers of firms’ philanthropic engagement. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationship between two broad corporate strategic orientations – domain offense (DO) and domain abandonment (DA) strategies – and the level of philanthropic engagement.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors propose that firms pursuing aggressive DO strategies are more likely to invest in corporate philanthropy as part of their market expansion efforts. On the contrary, firms pursuing DA strategies are less likely to invest in corporate philanthropy because of decreased slack resources, rather conservative external stakeholder expectations as well as a firm’s conscious decision to disengage with external stakeholders. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted using data from 122 publicly traded US corporations from 2008 to 2013.
Findings
The findings provided empirical support for a significant positive relationship between DO strategies (acquisition and strategic alliance intensity) and firms’ philanthropic engagement. However, the relationship between DA strategies (divestiture and plant/facility closing) and firms’ philanthropic engagement was not found to be significant. Overall, the findings indicated that philanthropic engagements along with carefully crafted DO strategies help firms expand their market presence.
Practical implications
Organizational leaders that systematically target philanthropic causes that effectively converge with important corporate strategies do benefit in the long run by achieving better brand equity and overall enhanced corporate reputation.
Originality/value
By empirically investigating the relationship between corporate strategic orientations and philanthropic engagement, this study contributes to the on-going scholarly discussion on the link between corporate strategies and philanthropic engagements.
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Austin Rong-Da Liang, Teng-Yuan Hsiao, Dun-Ji Chen and Jie-Heng Lin
Previous studies have discussed individual effects that certain agritourism activities have on visitor response while ignoring interaction effects. Therefore, the purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Previous studies have discussed individual effects that certain agritourism activities have on visitor response while ignoring interaction effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to discuss both the individual and interaction effects of agritourism activities on tourist revisit intention.
Design/methodology/approach
This study classified agritourism activities into four categories and collected 883 valid samples. Logistic regression was then applied to test the influence of agritourism activities on tourist revisit intention.
Findings
Based on the results of the statistical analysis, it was found that those agritourism activities, which required mutual cooperation such as do-it-yourself (DIY), animal interaction/feeding and fruit and vegetable picking, enhanced tourist revisit intention. Furthermore, the agritourism groups participating in activities with or without children did not have consistent revisit intentions regarding animal feeding/interaction activities. In particular, this study found that willingness to revisit for tourists with children was influenced by animal feeding/interaction, but not for tourists without children.
Research limitations/implications
This study demonstrates that not all agritourism activities enhance revisit intention. For this reason, agritourism businesses should consider redesigning their activities related to visitor and animal interactions as increasing conscientiousness regarding animal welfare, especially with regard to animal abuse. Additionally, those activities focused on education and ecology are not as appreciated by tourists as they may have been previously assumed between different groups.
Originality/value
The findings of this study reveal that if the types of agritourism activities could fulfill visitors' expectations and desires they are more likely to have a satisfying experience. The authors consider some of these notions to be a kind of unrealistic fantasy regarding agritourism and the kind of activities involved therein. This kind of fantasy is likely formed by visitors 2019 past experiences and culture. As a result, the authors conclude that agritourism activities focused on the education of plants and ecology do not achieve the truly preferred aim of better interaction between people.
农业观光:体验设计、活动及再游意愿摘要
目的
先前研究讨论农业观光活动的各别效果对游客反应的影响, 却忽略了交互作用。因此, 本研究目的为讨论农业观光活动的各别及交互效果对游客再游意愿的影响。
设计方法论方式
本研究将农业观光活动分为四类并收集883份有效问卷, 应用逻辑回归以检测农业观光活动对游客再游意愿的影响。
研究发现
根据统计分析结果, 本研究发现农业观光活动需要互助合作, 例如自己动手作、动物互动喂食, 以及采摘蔬果等活动, 都会提升游客的再游意愿。更进一步的, 农业观光族群分为与孩童同行及未与孩童同行二类时, 动物喂食互动活动对其再游意愿的影响并不相同。更特别的是, 本研究发现游客与孩童同行时, 其再游意愿会受到动物喂食互动的影响;但是, 游客并未与孩童同行时则不会。
研究意涵
本研究证实了并非所有的农业观光活动都能提升再游意图。为此, 农业观光企业应考虑重新设计其游客与动物互动的观光活动, 例如增加对动物福祉的责任心, 特别是虐待动物的问题。另外, 关注在教育及生态的农业观光活动在先前区分的不同族群里都不受到青睐。
研究价值
本研究发现显示了假若农业观光类型必须符合游客的预期及渴望, 游客才能感到满意的体验。作者认为游客对参与的某些观光活动之预想是一种不切实际的想像, 而这类想像是来自游客先前的经验及文化。因此, 作者综述关注植物及生态类的农业观光活动并不能达到人际间互动的目的。
Agroturismo: diseño de experiencia, actividades e intención de volver a visitor
Objetivo
Estudios anteriores han tratado los efectos individuales que tienen algunas actividades agroturísticas sobre la respuesta del visitante ignorando los efectos de interacción. Por eso, el objetivo de este estudio es tratar conjuntamente los efectos individuales y de interacción de las actividades agroturísticas sobre la intención de volver a visitar del turista.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Este estudio clasificó las actividades agroturísticas en cuatro categorías y recopiló 883 muestras válidas. A continuación, se aplicó la regresión logística para poner a prueba la influencia de las actividades agroturísticas sobre la intención de volver a visitar del turista.
Resultados
Sobre la base de los resultados del análisis de estadística, se mostró que las actividades agroturísticas que requieren cooperación mutua, como el bricolaje, la interacción con animales o nutrición de ellos, así como la recogida de frutas y verduras aumentaron la intención de volver a visitar del turista. Asimismo, los grupos de agroturismo que participaron en actividades con o sin niños no tienen intenciones de volver a visitar consistentes a propósito de las actividades que implican interacción con animales o nutrición de ellos. En particular, este estudio desveló que la voluntad de volver para los turistas con niños está influenciada por las interacciones con animales o nutrición de ellos, mas no para los turistas sin niños.
Implicaciones del studio
Esta investigación demuestra que no todas las actividades agroturísticas fomentan la intención de volver a visitar. Por esta razón, las empresas de agroturismo deberían considerar volver a diseñar sus actividades en relación al visitante e interacciones con animales con escrupulosidad acerca del bienestar animal, especialmente con respeto al abuso animal. Además, estas actividades con enfoque sobre la educación y la ecología no son tan apreciadas por los turistas como muchos han ido asumiendo desde diferentes grupos.
Originalidad/valor
Los resultados de este estudio muestran que si los tipos de actividades agroturísticas consiguen llenar las expectativas y los deseos de los visitantes, son mucho más propensos a tener una experiencia satisfactoria. Consideramos ciertas de estas nociones como fantasías poco realistas por lo que se refiere al agroturismo y al tipo de actividades implicadas en aquel. Este tipo de fantasías está probablemente formado por las experiencias pasadas y la cultura de los visitantes. Como resultado, concluimos que las actividades agroturísticas con foco en la educación sobre plantas y ecología no consiguen el verdadero objetivo preferido que es una mejor interacción con la gente.
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Austin Rong-Da Liang, Tung-Sheng Wang, Yu-Chen Yeh and Teng-Yuan Hsiao
The purpose of this study is to develop organic food consumption experience (OFCE) scales based on structural/functional theory.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to develop organic food consumption experience (OFCE) scales based on structural/functional theory.
Design/methodology/approach
In the first step, the construct and item generation of OFCE were developed by a literature review, and 58 items were created for the item pool. In the second step, qualitative interviews were used to evaluate and maintain 35 items. In the third step, an online survey collected 543 valid samples to test reliability and validity with exploratory factor analysis in phase 3A. The AHP method was also used to confirm the construct and items in phase 3B. In the final step, 1,017 valid samples were collected by face-to-face survey to test the formal scale with confirmatory factor analysis.
Findings
This study defines OFCE as the internal and subjective responses that result from a series of interactions between consumers, the shopping environment and organic food. Meanwhile, six dimensions are named: organic food quality, store interactions, organic certification, convenience concerns, health benefits, caring for family and sense of responsibility. In addition, there are significant differences between organic food businesses and consumers regarding their perceptions of OFCE.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is among the first studies to develop OFCE scales. In addition, the results of the study can potentially help organic food marketers develop new promotion strategies.