Liqian Yang, Qian Zhang, Hao Gong and Yanyuan Cheng
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between union practices and two types of employees’ extra-role behaviors, namely, union citizenship behavior (UCB) and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between union practices and two types of employees’ extra-role behaviors, namely, union citizenship behavior (UCB) and employee voice (EV), and the mechanisms that mediate this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Using matched data from 46 union leaders and 279 union members of 33 workplaces in China, this study utilized multilevel structural equation modeling to test the cross-level influences of union practices on employees’ extra-role behaviors and the mediation effects.
Findings
The results show that (1) union practices have a positive impact on employees’ UCB and EV, and (2) union practices increase UCB and EV through the improvement of industrial relations (IR) climate at the workplace level, as well as union commitment (UC) and union instrumentality (UI) at the individual level.
Research limitations/implications
Although the authors collected data from multi-sources (i.e. union leaders and members), the cross-sectional data of this study limited the ability to make casual inferences.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by providing theoretical explanation and empirical evidence to illustrate the role of union practices in increasing the extra-role behaviors of employees (i.e. UCB and EV). This is of particular importance in elaborating the effectiveness of enterprise unions under the recent reforms in China. In addition, the authors also unpacked the antecedents of extra-role behaviors in the union context by investigating how IR climate, UC and UI mediate the relationship between union practices and extra-role behaviors of employees.
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Liyan Yang, Yuan Jiang, Wei Zhang, Qian Zhang and Hao Gong
The purpose of this paper is to verify and extend the application of the policy acceptance model (PAM) in the field of green behavior. Under the PAM framework, the authors develop…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to verify and extend the application of the policy acceptance model (PAM) in the field of green behavior. Under the PAM framework, the authors develop and empirically examine on how employee perception of corporate green policy (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness) increases the acceptance of corporate green policy, which further leads to two types of employee green behavior. The authors also test the moderating roles of moral reflectiveness and performance orientation on these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected complete survey data from 223 work professionals in this study. Multiple regression method was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results showed that there were significant positive impacts of two types of employee perceptions of corporate green policy (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness) on their attitudes toward corporate green policy. Second, this study reported positive relationships between employees’ attitudes toward corporate green policy and their two types of green behavior. Finally, supplemental analyses supported moderated mediation models, that is, moral reflectiveness and performance orientation, respectively, and moderated indirect effects of employee perceptions on green behaviors through attitude toward corporate green policy.
Research limitations/implications
The data came from a narrow demographic population, which restricts the generalizability of the findings and also raises questions about the specificity of green behaviors manifest in different industries. Besides, this study used cross-sectional, self-reported data, which limits our ability to draw causal conclusions.
Practical implications
Companies can shape employee perceptions regarding the usefulness and ease of corporate green policy to induce and consolidate employees’ task-related and proactive green behaviors.
Social implications
This research will help companies to pay more attention to employees’ reflections and attitudes toward green policies, thus effectively promoting employees’ green behavior in the workplace. These actions will further promote the green development of the economy and society.
Originality/value
The authors extend the PAM framework to the area of green behavior. The PAM is applied to a more micro level of corporate green policy. Further, this paper points out that employees’ instrumental value (performance orientation) and moral trait (moral reflectiveness) moderate the impact of employees’ policy perceptions on their green behaviors.
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Hao Lu, Shengquan Li, Bo Feng and Juan Li
This paper mainly aims to deal with the problems of uncertainties including modelling errors, unknown dynamics and disturbances caused by load mutation in control of permanent…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper mainly aims to deal with the problems of uncertainties including modelling errors, unknown dynamics and disturbances caused by load mutation in control of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes an enhanced speed sensorless vector control method based on an active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC) for a PMSM. First, a state space model of the PMSM is obtained for the field orientation control strategy. Second, a sliding mode observer (SMO) based on back electromotive force (EMF) is introduced to replace the encode to estimate the rotor flux position angle and speed. Third, an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter is introduced to eliminate high frequency noise mixed in the output of the sliding mode observer. In addition, a speed control method based on an extended state observer (ESO) is proposed to estimate and compensate for the total disturbances. Finally, an experimental set-up is built to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed ADRC-based control method.
Findings
The comparative experimental results show that the proposed speed sensorless control method with the IIR filter can achieve excellent robustness and speed tracking performance for PMSM system.
Research limitations/implications
An enhanced sensorless control method based on active disturbance rejection controller is designed to realize high precision control of the PMSM; the IIR filter is used to attenuate the chattering problem of traditional SMO; this method simplifies the system and saves the total cost due to the speed sensorless technology.
Practical implications
The use of sensorless can reduce costs and be more beneficial to actual industrial application.
Originality/value
The proposed enhanced speed sensorless vector control method based on an ADRC with the IIR filter enriches the control method of PMSM. It can ameliorate system robustness and achieve excellent speed tracking performance.
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Bo Zhang, Shengjun Wang and Ruixue Zhou
This paper examines the impact of corporate digital transformation on employee satisfaction. Therefore, this study extends our understanding of the economic consequences of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the impact of corporate digital transformation on employee satisfaction. Therefore, this study extends our understanding of the economic consequences of corporate digital transformation from employees’ perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
The data used to construct our main proxy of employee satisfaction are collected from Kanzhun.com, which provides reviews by rank-and-file employees on their employers. This study uses a large sample of Chinese firms and adopts various empirical methods to examine the impact of digital transformation on employee satisfaction.
Findings
We find a significant positive relationship between corporate digital transformation and employee satisfaction. Moreover, we document that the relationship between corporate digital transformation and employee satisfaction is more pronounced in firms with higher labor intensity and in state-owned enterprises (SOE).
Research limitations/implications
One significant limitation is that corporate digital transformation is constructed based on word frequency analysis. This approach may be influenced by variations in corporate disclosure practices and might not accurately capture the true extent of corporate digital transformation. This limitation is not only present in our research but is also pervasive in many other studies that utilize similar methodologies. Therefore, our results should be interpreted with this caveat in mind.
Practical implications
Our study suggests that corporate digital transformation enhances employee satisfaction, providing direct evidence for managers and regulators to promote corporate digital transformation. Through digital transformation, companies can not only improve operational efficiency but also foster employee satisfaction. This dual benefit underscores the importance of investing in corporate digital transformation for long-term success.
Social implications
Our study suggests that corporate digital transformation enhances employee satisfaction, providing direct evidence for managers and regulators to promote corporate digital transformation. Through digital transformation, companies can not only improve operational efficiency but also foster employee satisfaction. This dual benefit underscores the importance of investing in corporate digital transformation for long-term success.
Originality/value
Our study contributes to the literature on the economic consequences of corporate digital transformation and extends existing research on the determinants of employee satisfaction. Additionally, it provides a novel measurement of employee satisfaction for a large sample of Chinese firms.
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Based on the theory of trust and cost-benefit perspective, this paper examines the relationship between citizens’ trust and their digital attitudes by considering the mediating…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the theory of trust and cost-benefit perspective, this paper examines the relationship between citizens’ trust and their digital attitudes by considering the mediating effects of performance expectancy and perceived risk, as well as the moderating effect of media use.
Design/methodology/approach
The city digital transformation in Shanghai is chosen as the case in this study. 466 questionnaires were collected through a survey, with Structural Equation Modeling to test the hypotheses in AMOS.
Findings
Citizens’ trust of government and trust of technology has no significant direct effect on their digital attitudes. However, performance expectancy mediates between the trust of government and digital attitudes, and perceived risk mediates the effect of trust of technology on attitudes. The use of social media significantly moderates the association between trust of technology and citizens’ attitudes.
Originality/value
Exploring why citizens shape supportive attitudes toward digitalization is critical to achieving digital governance goals in developing countries, especially large cities where digital transformation is accelerating. The originality lies in using cost-benefit analysis as a perspective and media use as a moderator to examine the mechanisms of citizens’ trust and digital attitudes.
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Hongwei Liao, Mingyue Li, Ari Van Assche, Jiaojiao Zheng and Liangping Yang
In the context of China’s efforts to build world-class enterprises through mixed-ownership reform, this study aims to build an agency theory framework to analyze the differential…
Abstract
Purpose
In the context of China’s efforts to build world-class enterprises through mixed-ownership reform, this study aims to build an agency theory framework to analyze the differential relation between ownership structure and firm performance in majority versus minority state-owned enterprises (SOEs). It also evaluates the differential influence that political connectedness has on firm performance in the two types of SOEs.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a panel data set of Chinese state-controlled mixed-ownership enterprises covering the period 2010–2019, this paper uses ordinary least squares, random-effects, fixed-effects and three stage least squares regression analysis to study the differential impact of ownership structure and political connectedness on firm performance in majority versus minority SOEs.
Findings
In minority SOEs, firm performance is positively related to the ownership share of the largest private shareholder and state ownership positively moderates this relation. Furthermore, minority SOEs with a politically connected chairman perform worse than those with a politically connected chairman. In majority SOEs, there is no relation between the ownership share of the largest private shareholder and firm performance. In addition, majority SOEs with a politically connected chairman perform similar to those without a politically connected chairman.
Originality/value
The theoretical framework demonstrates that agency problems are substantially different in minority versus majority SOEs and that this influences how changes in ownership structure and in the type of chairman that is assigned affect firm performance. The empirical analysis confirms these predictions.
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– The purpose of the paper is to analyse the current status of the Chinese research and development (R&D) system in a global environment, compared to those of other nations.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to analyse the current status of the Chinese research and development (R&D) system in a global environment, compared to those of other nations.
Design/methodology/approach
Extracting meaningful information from organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD) (research intensity), Thomson Reuters (research output), UNESCO and cross-border education research team (C-BERT) (mobility) databases and analysing de facto international standards such as university rankings, the Chinese system is compared to those of other scientific powers (the world top expenders in R&D such as the USA, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and some European nations), both using absolute production values and those relative to the productivity of the R&D workforce, so a general view of such a system is offered to complement previous analyses.
Findings
A rather utilitarian approach to R&D policy, linked to economic growth, with a strong role of a Government-backed industry and based on applied R&D rather than on basic science, is found. The emergence of China as a scientific power relies heavily on a small number of institutions and efficiency becomes the priority, as confirmed by the growing presence of Chinese universities in university rankings – which is linked to some internationalisation efforts – and by the quantitative analysis of science and technology macro-indicators. Nevertheless, those results still remain modest when the overall size of the Chinese R&D system is considered.
Originality/value
A general view of the Chinese system is offered in this study by combining both the analysis of the inputs of the Chinese R&D (in a internationally comparable way) system and outputs (up to international standards).
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Pei Li and Jian-Hui Chen
To improve the apparel e-customized system and meet consumers’ personalized requirement in the e-customization, the purpose of this paper is to develop an e-customized co-design…
Abstract
Purpose
To improve the apparel e-customized system and meet consumers’ personalized requirement in the e-customization, the purpose of this paper is to develop an e-customized co-design system on garment design (ECS-GD) that enables users to co-design garment and communicate with stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
The e-customized co-design system mainly consists of function and modular structure, communication and evaluation modular. Based on the evolutionary algorithm and fuzzy theory, the e-customized system model is proposed with a presentation of garment interface. Based on the parameters of skirts, technical sketches, fabrics, color, patterns, comments and scores, the decision is made by consumers.
Findings
For the system to be effective, the system was conducted by multi-individuals co-work (consumers, designers, manufacturers and experts). The data flow was congruent to the design knowledge. The expert evaluation and communication were involved in the proposed system.
Research limitations/implications
The limitation of this study is that the system is not tested in experiments. The model, main function and data flow are proposed in this study, which is important in the e-customized co-design system development.
Originality/value
Compared to the e-shopping and garment recommendation, the proposed ECS-GD is a good approach to improve the existing e-customized system and a well solution to help consumers with design knowledge recommending, professional suggestions and evaluations. Besides, the sketches and knowledge recommendation are provided to consumers which is a learning process.
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Arzu Vuruskan, Turker Ince, Ender Bulgun and Cuneyt Guzelis
– The purpose of this paper is to develop an intelligent system for fashion style selection for non-standard female body shapes.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an intelligent system for fashion style selection for non-standard female body shapes.
Design/methodology/approach
With the goal of creating natural aesthetic relationship between the body shape and the shape of clothing, garments designed for the upper and lower body are combined to fit different female body shapes, which are classified as V, A, H and O-shapes. The proposed intelligent system combines genetic algorithm (GA) with a neural network classifier, which is trained using the particle swarm optimization (PSO). The former, called genetic search, is used to find the optimal design parameters corresponding to a best fit for the desired target, while the task of the latter, called neural classification, is to evaluate fitness (goodness) of each evolved new fashion style.
Findings
The experimental results are fashion styling recommendations for the four female body shapes, drawn from 260 possible combinations, based on variations from 15 attributes. These results are considered to be a strong indication of the potential benefits of the application of intelligent systems to fashion styling.
Originality/value
The proposed intelligent system combines the effective searching capabilities of two approaches. The first approach uses the GA for identifying best fits to the target shape of the body in the solution space. The second is the PSO for finding optimal (with respect to training mean-squared error) weight and threshold parameters of the neural classifier, which is able to evaluate the fitness of successively evolved fashion styles.
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Tyreal Yizhou Qian, Jerred Junqi Wang, Winston Wen-hao Chou, Euisoo Kim, James J. Zhang and Bo Gong
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of Chinese youth’s attention to and involvement with Chinese soccer and its professional league, the Chinese Super League (CSL)…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of Chinese youth’s attention to and involvement with Chinese soccer and its professional league, the Chinese Super League (CSL), on their level of satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey study was employed to test the hypotheses. Research participants (n=948) were students from five major universities that represented each of the five main geographic regions of China. Data were randomly assigned into two halves: one half for CFA (n=474) and the other half for structural equation modeling (SEM) (n=474). Mplus 7.0 was used to conduct both the CFA and SEM.
Findings
The findings of this study indicated an overall lack of attention to and involvement with Chinese soccer and CSL among Chinese youths. Discussions have been presented on the causes of the lack of youth passion for Chinese soccer and suggestions have been articulated to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of policy formulation, business operation and marketing strategy.
Originality/value
The present study built on the extant sport management literature, demonstrated the complexity of consumers’ cognition and conation in the professional soccer setting, and revealed counter-intuitive relationship between attitudinal traits and behavioral patterns, which in turn provided unique insights for Chinese professional soccer marketers, managers and administrators.