Abstract
Purpose
Currently, there is a dearth of research studies regarding macro analysis of the workforce productivity of the US construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to calculate the workforce productivity changes of the US construction industry from 2006 to 2016, with the number of laborers as input and value of construction industry as output.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study introduced the data envelopment analysis (DEA) based Malmquist productivity index model to measure the workforce productivity of the US construction industry from 2006 to 2016.
Findings
The results indicated that the workforce productivity of the US construction industry experienced a continuous decline, except for the increases from 2011 to 2013 and from 2014 to 2015. It was also shown that there were gaps in the workforce productivity development level among all states and nine regions in the US construction industry. Besides, the relationship between workforce productivity and four aspects, including real estate price, workforce, climate distribution and economic factors, was analyzed.
Research limitations/implications
The calculation of the productivity of the US construction industry is based on the premise that the external environment is fixed and unchanged from 2006 to 2016, but the multi-level DEA model for further calculation is required for obtaining more effective conclusions.
Social implications
This paper measures the workforce productivity of the US construction industry over the past 11 years, which added latest analysis and knowledge into the construction industry, providing decision-makers with advice and data support to formulate policies to improve workforce productivity.
Originality/value
This study provided both government decision-makers and industrial practitioners with important macro background environment information, which will facilitate the improvement of workforce productivity in the construction industry in different regions of the US.
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Keywords
Guijun Li, YongSheng Wang, Daohan Huang and Hongtao Yang
The purpose of this paper is to study how to effectively allocate water, energy and food (WEF) resources in urban development.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study how to effectively allocate water, energy and food (WEF) resources in urban development.
Design/methodology/approach
An agent-based model combined with NetLogo simulation model has been used in this paper.
Findings
This paper proposes a framework for agent analysis in urban WEF consumption.
Research limitations/implications
Further discussions using empirical data are of great importance.
Practical implications
Apply to form the development model of the city in the future.
Originality/value
A new method of WEF management has been used at the city level.
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Keywords
Qi Deng, Guijun Zhuang, Sihan Li and Hailong Yang
Cross-channel integration improves the operations of multi-channel and omnichannel marketing and increase firms' overall performance. By addressing the extant gaps in current…
Abstract
Purpose
Cross-channel integration improves the operations of multi-channel and omnichannel marketing and increase firms' overall performance. By addressing the extant gaps in current literature, this configurational analysis aims to test the combined effects of organizational, channel and environmental factors on cross-channel integration.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a sample of 180 manufacturers. Necessary condition analysis (NCA) was used to test whether two organizational factors (firm size and IT capability), one environmental factor (environmental dynamism) and two channel factors (channel diversity and proportion of direct channels) were necessary or unnecessary conditions for high cross-channel integration. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was applied to analyze the configurational factors of high vs low cross-channel integration.
Findings
First, firm size and IT capability are non-linear and substitute for each other in affecting cross-channel integration in a diversified channel system with a high proportion of direct channels. Second, in a dynamic environment, firms with large size and IT advantage could achieve high cross-channel integration by diversifying channel types or increasing the proportion of direct channels. Third, the effect of channel diversity and proportion of direct channels on cross-channel integration is asymmetric depending on other antecedent conditions.
Originality/value
The authors tested a configurational framework developed from multiple theoretical perspectives. The authors' empirical findings contribute to the literature by providing insights into the mechanisms underlying the formation of high and low cross-channel integration. The results suggest multiple ways for firms to promote cross-channel integration by adjusting channel factors based on configurational conditions.
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This paper aims to overcome the defect that the traditional clustering method is excessively dependent on initial clustering radius and also provide new technical measures for…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to overcome the defect that the traditional clustering method is excessively dependent on initial clustering radius and also provide new technical measures for detecting the component content of lubricating oil based on the fuzzy neural system model.
Design/methodology/approach
According to the layers model of the fuzzy neural system model for the given sample data pair, the new clustering method can be implemented, and through the fuzzy system model, the detection method for the selected oil samples is given. By applying this method, the composition contents of 30 kinds of oil samples in lubricating oil are checked, and the actual composition contents of oil samples are compared.
Findings
Through the detection of 21 mineral elements in 30 oil samples, it can be known that the four mineral elements such as Zn, P, Ca and Mg have largest contribution rate to the lubricating oil, and they can be regarded as the main factors for classification of lubricating oil. The results show that the fuzzy system to be established based on sample data clustering has better performance in detection lubricant component content.
Originality/value
In spite of lots of methods for detecting the component of lubricating oil at the present, there is still no detection of the component of lubricating oil through clustering method based on sample data pair. The new nearest clustering method is proposed in this paper, and it can be more effectively used to detect the content of lubricating oil.
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Fuan Li, J.A.F. Nicholls, Nan Zhou, Tomislav Mandokovic and Guijun Zhuang
This paper compares the shopping behavior of Chilean consumers with those in China. Both Chinese and Chilean mall visits are driven, first and foremost, by purchase; however…
Abstract
This paper compares the shopping behavior of Chilean consumers with those in China. Both Chinese and Chilean mall visits are driven, first and foremost, by purchase; however, consumers in Chile tend to be less single minded than their Chinese counterparts. Differences also exist between the two populations in their way of selecting the mall, shopping characteristics, and purchase patterns. Most importantly, Chinese shoppers relied more on their mall visits than Chileans in searching for information and finalizing their purchase decisions; at the same time, they were much more cautious in committing themselves to a purchase.
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Zhenglin Du, Hui-Chi Chen, Ming Jen Tan, Guijun Bi and Chee Kai Chua
In recent years, additive manufacturing techniques have attracted much research attention because of their ability to fabricate customised parts with complex geometry. The range…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, additive manufacturing techniques have attracted much research attention because of their ability to fabricate customised parts with complex geometry. The range of composites suitable for laser-based powder bed fusion technique is limited, and has not been investigated yet. This paper aims to study the fabrication of AlSi10Mg reinforced with nAl2O3 using the laser-based powder bed fusion technique.
Design/methodology/approach
An experimental approach was used to investigate the densification of AlSi10Mg–nAl2O3 composites using laser-based powder bed fusion technique. Optimisation of the porosity was performed, and microstructure evolution was evaluated.
Findings
In this study, laser volumetric energy density (approximately 109 J/mm3) was found to be required for the fabrication of AlSi10Mg–nAl2O3 composites with a relative volumetric density approximating 99%. The use of laser volumetric energy density resulted in larger grains. Columnar grain structure was observed via the use of electron backscatter diffraction mapping.
Originality/value
This paper examines the processing of new aluminium composite material suitable for the fabrication via the laser-based powder bed fusion technique.
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Keywords
Fanglan Pang, Ruifeng Wei and Guijun Zhuang
This paper aims to evaluate the effect of commitment misperception on channel conflict. It highlights the importance of trust and transaction-specific investments for business…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the effect of commitment misperception on channel conflict. It highlights the importance of trust and transaction-specific investments for business marketing strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper develops a concept framework to understand how the direction (overestimated vs underestimated) and extent of commitment misperception influence channel conflict. The model is tested using dyadic data from 212 distributors and manufacturers across several industries in China.
Findings
The results show that the direction of commitment misperception affects trust, transaction-specific investments and channel conflict. Overestimated commitment induces positive illusion and enhances trust and transaction-specific investments and reduces channel conflict, whereas underestimated commitment induces negative illusion and reduces trust and transaction-specific investments and enhances channel conflict. Trust and transaction-specific investments mediate the impact of the direction of commitment misperception on channel conflict. The extent of commitment misperception plays the moderating influence on the direction of commitment misperception.
Originality/value
This study reveals the mechanisms and boundary conditions by exploring the mediating influence of trust and transaction-specific investments and the moderating effects of the extent of commitment misperception.
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Il Hyuk Ahn, Seung Ki Moon, Jihong Hwang and Guijun Bi
This paper aims to propose methods to evaluate the characteristic length of the melt pool for accurate fabrication and to identify the optimal process parameters in the selective…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose methods to evaluate the characteristic length of the melt pool for accurate fabrication and to identify the optimal process parameters in the selective laser melting process.
Design/methodology/approach
Specimens with the types of the scans by controlling the degree of the overlap with hatch spacing are fabricated. The scan modes are classified by statistically analyzing the results of hardness tests. According to the classification of the scans, the evaluation methods are proposed based on the observation of the shape of the solidified melt pool.
Findings
The control of the hatch spacing can reproduce all modes of the scan conditions, and hardness can be used to classify the scan modes.
Originality/value
The proposed evaluation methods are based on the analysis of the experimental observation so that they can be easily used for the real evaluation.
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Chao Feng, Guijun Zhuang, Hui Chen and Daxian Hu
Based on social network theory and the literature of contract governance, the purpose of this study is to explore how distributors’ “banding together” (network intensity) affects…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on social network theory and the literature of contract governance, the purpose of this study is to explore how distributors’ “banding together” (network intensity) affects contract governance (detailed contracts), which, in turn, influences channel conflict and simultaneously tests the moderating effect of network centrality.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collect the data from the side of 288 manufacturers.
Findings
This study finds that, first, distributors’ network intensity positively affects detailed contracts between manufacturers and distributors; second, detailed contracts, in turn, declines channel conflict; and third, network centrality will weaken the positive influence of network density on detailed contracts. In addition, an ex post analysis finds that detailed contracts play a negative mediating role between distributors’ network density and channel conflict and this negative mediating effect would be weakened by distributors’ network centrality.
Originality/value
The current study not only helps to make up for the shortcomings of using the dyadic analysis paradigm to analyze channel behavior but also helps manufacturers to understand and respond to the phenomenon of distributors’ “banding together” comprehensively and deeply.