Abrham Tezera Gessesse, Houjian Li, Ge He and Araya Alemie Berhe
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of media and social network in the development of farmers land consolidation (LC) awareness, perception and adaptation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of media and social network in the development of farmers land consolidation (LC) awareness, perception and adaptation intention decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
A face-to-face interview was carried out with randomly selected farmers from three districts (Neijiang, Ya’an and Dujiangyan) of Sichuan province, China. A structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used to test the conceptual framework of this study. The SEM was set to confirmatory factor analysis of the measurement and structural models for maximum likelihood estimate by means of IBM-AMOS to capture the models goodness-of-fit.
Findings
The result indicates that social network contributes a significant role in the development of farmers LC awareness, perception and adaptation intention decisions than media. The total (direct and indirect) effect of social network and media toward the farmers LC adaptation intention is 56.7 and 14 percent, respectively. When farmers are aware and perceived of LC and rehabilitation program, their adaptation intention improves significantly. Therefore, social network is a useful tool in improving the awareness, perception and adaptation intention decisions of Sichuan farmers compared to media.
Originality/value
This study tests the applicability of SEM techniques to understand the farmers LC adaptation intentions; and synthesizes the impact of social network and media in the development of the farmers LC awareness, perception as well as adaptation intentions. This study serves as an outline for assessing the adaptation intention of farmers toward sustainable land management.
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Yu Liu and Houjian Li
The purpose of this paper, based on first-hand data from 255 chairmen of planting cooperatives in Sichuan province, is threefold: to understand their social network heterogeneity;…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper, based on first-hand data from 255 chairmen of planting cooperatives in Sichuan province, is threefold: to understand their social network heterogeneity; to understand the significance for members of marketing innovation in farmers' cooperatives and to understand the effects of chairmen's social network heterogeneity on cooperative marketing innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employs an empirical survey of the chairmen of planting cooperatives in rural Sichuan province. The researchers use the ordinary least squares method to conduct regression on the data and the generalized linear model to process the data and avoid errors in the model setting. In the study, the following two hypotheses are examined: (1) The heterogeneity of chairmen's social networks has positive effects on cooperative marketing innovation; (2) The effects of heterogeneous external and internal social networks on cooperative marketing innovation are different.
Findings
The results show that both external and internal social network heterogeneity has positive effects on cooperative marketing innovation, and the effects of internal heterogeneity are greater than that of external heterogeneity.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to improving the income of farmers, the innovation of farmers' cooperatives and the development of agriculture in China. It provides a new way of managing and serving members to enable the long-term sustainable development of farmers' cooperatives.
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Jian Hou, Chenyang Liu, Han Wang, Zilin Li, Guosheng Huang, Li Ma and Bo Jiang Ma
This paper aims to control the deformation of a thin wall CrZrCu cylinder components (wall thickness 5 mm, diameter 400 mm) during thermal spray alumina-titania (AT13) coating by…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to control the deformation of a thin wall CrZrCu cylinder components (wall thickness 5 mm, diameter 400 mm) during thermal spray alumina-titania (AT13) coating by adjusting the spray parameters without deteriorating its quality evidently.
Design/methodology/approach
The deformation was controlled by lowering the temperature of the component in the way of adjusting the spray parameters. The main parameters adjust included extending the spraying distance, from normally 120 mm to 140 mm, decreasing plasma power from 50to 42 kW. An alumina-titanium (AT13) ceramic coating was chosen for protecting the substrate from corrosion. Microscopic morphology and phase analysis, insulation resistance testing, neutral salt test and electrochemical method were used to analyze the anti-corrosion and insulation performances of the coating.
Findings
The results indicate that, after adjusting the spraying parameters, the coating has a relatively high porosity, with an average value of 8.96 ± 0.77%. The bonding strength of the coating is relatively low, with an average value of 17.69 ± 0.85 MPa. However, after sealing, the polarization resistance of the coating in seawater can be maintained above 6.25 × 106 Ω.cm2 for an extended period. The coating has a high resistance (=1.1 M Ω), and there is no apparent galvanic corrosion when contacted with TC4 alloy. Additionally, analysis of corrosion products on the sample surface reveals that the samples with sprayed alumina-titanium ceramic show no copper corrosion products on the surface, and the coating remains intact, effectively isolating the corrosive medium.
Originality/value
By adjusting the spraying parameters, the deformation of the cylinder thin-walled component can be effectively controlled, making the φ 400 × 392 mm (thickness 5 mm) CrZrCu cylinder com-ponent with a maximum diameter deformation of only 0.14 mm. The satisfactory corrosion performances can be achieved under adjusting spraying parameters, which can guarantee the application of ceramic coating for weapon launching system of naval ships.
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Caiyun Sun and Li Shi
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate doctoral candidates’ innovative ability tendency.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate doctoral candidates’ innovative ability tendency.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the theory of gray target contribution to analyze the influence degree of doctoral candidates’ individual personality factor toward their innovative ability and calculate gray impact quantitative values.
Findings
Based on the theory of contribution degree of gray target, a nine-factor model of innovative personality of doctoral candidates is built. IP=f (B, H, G, Q1, Q2, A, I, F, O), (therein: B – intelligence, H – social boldness, G – perseverance, Q1 – experimental, Q2 – independence, A – gregariousness, I – sensibility, F – excitability, O – anxiety).
Practical implications
This study based on gray target contribution theory builds nine-factor doctoral candidates’ innovative personality model to test the innovative ability tendency of doctoral candidates, which makes cultivating units, mentors and doctoral candidates to know their innovative ability tendency well, perfecting their own knowledge structure in time, effectively improving their innovative ability. The system can also be applied to the work of doctoral candidates as a reference tool to evaluate the innovative ability of applicants.
Originality/value
This study quantitatively evaluates the influence of doctoral candidates’ personality index on the tendency of doctoral candidates’ innovative ability.
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Muskaan Khatri, Harshleen Kaur Duggal, Asha Thomas and Arup Varma
With a host of changes being driven by automation, digitalization and robotization, every business today comprises some digital aspect. Possessing digital skills is key for…
Abstract
Purpose
With a host of changes being driven by automation, digitalization and robotization, every business today comprises some digital aspect. Possessing digital skills is key for staying employable. Because digital skill requirements of employers are constantly being redefined, an alignment between industry and academia is necessary to develop a workforce that can promote economic growth and societal welfare. This study aims to analyse the differences in employer expectations as compared to management graduates’ perceptions regarding the digital skills and abilities necessary for human resources to be employable.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative content analysis techniques have been used to demonstrate the thematic convergence of data collected using focus groups. A series of seven focus groups were conducted with two respondent groups – HR professionals (n = 26) and final-year postgraduate management students (n = 32). NVivo was used to analyze the transcripts.
Findings
The findings establish a qualitative hierarchy of 15 digital skills necessary for management graduates to be employable. These have been mapped onto the typology of managerial skills (technical, human and conceptual) given by Katz (1955). The salience of the themes identified varies significantly across the two respondent groups.
Originality/value
The novelty of this study lies in establishing a qualitative hierarchy of digital skills essential to be employable. By mapping the differences in management graduates’ understanding of employability and HR expectations regarding digital skills, the study generates new insights for examining the student-job fit.