Ke Du, Fu Jia and Lujie Chen
Global business practices show that during periods of demand volatility, manufacturing firms often engage in asymmetric cost management (ACM), a behavior in which costs increase…
Abstract
Purpose
Global business practices show that during periods of demand volatility, manufacturing firms often engage in asymmetric cost management (ACM), a behavior in which costs increase faster than they decrease when demand decreases by the same amount. However, whether managing asymmetric costs will enhance or impede firm resilience remains an open question. We aim to investigate the impact of ACM on firm resilience and its boundary conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
Using unbalanced panel data of 2,273 Chinese manufacturing listed companies from 2002 to 2021, we conduct an empirical analysis using a double fixed effects model.
Findings
Our findings reveal that ACM has a negative effect on firm resilience. This suggests that in coping with external environmental fluctuations, ACM fails to fulfill its expected role effectively. Instead, it manifests as a severe agency problem affecting firm resilience. Further, we find that managerial myopia and digitalization diminish the negative effect, while customer instability exacerbates it.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on the organizational resilience of manufacturing firms by providing an in-depth understanding of cost management and emphasizing the need to consider agency issues carefully when managing asymmetric costs.
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Jia Chen, Gang Kou, Yi Peng, Xiangrui Chao, Feng Xiao and Fawaz E. Alsaadi
Social media commerce provides a convenient way for users to share information and interact with each other. Few studies, however, have examined the effect of marketing messages…
Abstract
Purpose
Social media commerce provides a convenient way for users to share information and interact with each other. Few studies, however, have examined the effect of marketing messages and consumer engagement behaviors on the economic performance of marketing. This study, therefore, explored the economic performance of social media in terms of marketing messages and consumer engagement.
Design/methodology/approach
Using ordinary least squares regression and data collected from Weibo and Maoyan, this study analyzed the effects among marketing messages, consumer engagement and movie ticket sales.
Findings
The results indicated that marketing messages on Weibo had a positive effect on box office revenues, while consumer engagement behavior (whether personal or interactive) did not affect box office revenues. The results suggested that marketing messages on social media have more salient effects for predicting economic performance than consumer engagement behaviors.
Originality/value
This study underscores the importance of social media in consumer purchasing behavior. The findings also extend the literature related to commerce and product message design on social media platforms.
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Lie Yu, Jia Chen, Yukang Tian, Yunzhou Sun and Lei Ding
The purpose of this paper is to present a control strategy which uses two independent PID controllers to realize the hovering control for unmanned aerial systems (UASs). In…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a control strategy which uses two independent PID controllers to realize the hovering control for unmanned aerial systems (UASs). In addition, the aim of using two PID controller is to achieve the position control and velocity control simultaneously.
Design/methodology/approach
The dynamic of the UASs is mathematically modeled. One PID controller is used for position tracking control, while the other is selected for the vertical component of velocity tracking control. Meanwhile, fuzzy logic algorithm is presented to use the actual horizontal component of velocity to compute the desired position.
Findings
Based on this fuzzy logic algorithm, the control error of the horizontal component of velocity tracking control is narrowed gradually to be zero. The results show that the fuzzy logic algorithm can make the UASs hover still in the air and vertical to the ground.
Social implications
The acquired results are based on simulation not experiment.
Originality/value
This is the first study to use two independent PID controllers to realize stable hovering control for UAS. It is also the first to use the velocity of the UAS to calculate the desired position.
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Lixu Li, Zhiqiang Wang, Lujie Chen, Xiande Zhao and Shuili Yang
Although supply chain collaboration (SCC) theoretically boosts the adoption of supply chain finance (SCF) through information sharing and cost savings, many companies with good…
Abstract
Purpose
Although supply chain collaboration (SCC) theoretically boosts the adoption of supply chain finance (SCF) through information sharing and cost savings, many companies with good supply chain partnerships still hesitate to engage in SCF. To disentangle this puzzle, this study aims to explore how two dimensions of information transparency (i.e. information quantity and information quality) and two types of transaction dependence (i.e. dependence on suppliers and dependence on customers) influence the relationship between SCC and SCF adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses secondary survey data from a Chinese bank, including 464 Chinese companies that have adopted SCF to varying degrees. This study then performs the logistic regression analysis to test the hypotheses.
Findings
This study empirically confirms that SCC shows a positive relationship with SCF adoption. More interestingly, information quantity negatively moderates this positive relationship, whereas information quality positively moderates this positive relationship. Most surprisingly, dependence on customers rather than dependence on suppliers strengthens this positive relationship.
Originality/value
This study makes theoretical contributions to the SCF literature by demonstrating the distinct moderating mechanisms regarding the relationship between SCC and SCF adoption. The findings also help companies reexamine their interactions with supply chain members.
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Wen-Yau Liang, Chun-Che Huang, Tzu-Liang (Bill) Tseng and Jia-Chi Chen
Up to 89.1% of consumers have changed their decisions due to the influence of online reviews. In order to increase the number of reviews, some websites and platforms have adopted…
Abstract
Purpose
Up to 89.1% of consumers have changed their decisions due to the influence of online reviews. In order to increase the number of reviews, some websites and platforms have adopted feedback incentives. Research shows that offering review incentives does increase the likelihood of consumers writing reviews. However, the review reward system also brings some problems. Consumers may doubt the authenticity of product reviews that are incentivized by rewards, believing that reviewers are only writing reviews for personal gain, which has a negative impact on the credibility of the reviews. To address this issue, this study proposes a mechanism for mandatory disclosure of review incentives as research demonstrates that transparent online communication of a platform’s efforts can substantially boost review helpfulness restore trust in online platforms, and even improve purchase intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applies the S-O-R (Stimulus-Organism-Response) theoretical framework and utilizes a simulated situational questionnaire to investigate the impact of online reviews on consumers' emotional and behavioral responses within the context of a mandatory disclosure review reward system. The model identifies four key constructs: review quality as the Stimulus, review credibility and review usefulness as the Organism, and purchase intention as the Response. Data were collected through the questionnaire and subsequently analyzed to understand these relationships.
Findings
The results show that review quality has a significant positive impact on review credibility, review usefulness and purchase intention. Similarly, review credibility and review usefulness also have significant positive impacts on purchase intention.
Originality/value
To mitigate the potential negative effects of review reward systems, this study introduces a mandatory disclosure of the review reward and examines its impact using a simulated situational questionnaire. The study hypothesizes that mandatory disclosure of rewarded reviews enables consumers to identify these reviews, which may, in turn, enhance their purchase intentions.
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Chang He, Fu Jia, Liukai Wang, Lujie Chen and Kieran Fernandes
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) decoupling indicates a misalignment between how firms report CSR and what firms actually practice with respect to CSR. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) decoupling indicates a misalignment between how firms report CSR and what firms actually practice with respect to CSR. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between CSR decoupling and financial performance and the factors affecting this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper collects and combines secondary panel data from multiple sources of Chinese listed firms from 2008 to 2020 to test the direct impact of CSR decoupling on firms’ financial performance and the moderating role of customer structure and operational slack.
Findings
This paper finds that CSR decoupling is negatively associated with firms’ financial performance. These findings further suggest that the negative relationship can be suppressed by customer stability and operational slack, but amplified by customer concentration. These conclusions remain robust to alternate measures of independent and dependent variables and narrower samples.
Originality/value
In the literature, the effect of CSR on firms’ financial performance is inconclusive. This is the first study to examine the impact of CSR decoupling on firms’ financial performance and the factors affecting this relationship. This paper contributes to the CSR decoupling literature from an operations and supply chain management perspective.
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Lei Zhang, Ruijiang Li and Jia Chen
In this study, a novel grey combined model, termed the logistic-Grey-Markov model, is proposed. This model aims to construct a relation function between transition probabilities…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, a novel grey combined model, termed the logistic-Grey-Markov model, is proposed. This model aims to construct a relation function between transition probabilities and residual errors and fully utilize the information from residual errors to calculate optimal transition probabilities for more accurate predictions.
Design/methodology/approach
To address this issue, the logistic function is introduced and improved to accommodate different types of samples. Then the improved logistic function is applied to construct a relation function between transition probabilities and sample residual errors. Additionally, to obtain the optimal coefficients in the relation function, a least square objective function is constructed, and the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm is employed. With these optimal coefficients, the relation function can fully utilize the information of residual errors and calculate the optimal transition probabilities.
Findings
The improved logistic function in the logistic-Grey-Markov model ensures that the information from sample residual errors is fully utilized and case studies demonstrate that the proposed logistic-Grey-Markov model can effectively improve the prediction accuracy.
Originality/value
One of the strengths of the Grey-Markov model is its ability to predict outcomes with small and highly volatile samples. However, the prediction accuracy is not ideal due to the information waste of residual errors, especially when only a small sample size is available. The proposed logistic-Grey-Markov model can fully utilize the information in residual errors to calculate the optimal transition probabilities and improve the accuracy of the Grey-Markov model.
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Jia Chen Tu, Xiao Ming Qian and Pei Huang Lou
The paper aims to propose general design rules and route plan for automated guided vehicle system (AGVS). The AGVS is applied to automated meter verification areas through a case…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to propose general design rules and route plan for automated guided vehicle system (AGVS). The AGVS is applied to automated meter verification areas through a case study of meter verification shop floor to verify the feasibility.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper gives an appropriate route design for AGVS and proposes an optimized strategy for designed routes and a control system to manage traffic conflict.
Findings
This case study indicates that the application of AGVS can highly improve the efficiency of manufacturing and production. Besides, a reasonable transportation plan is beneficial in making the system run smoothly and in cutting conveying time.
Practical implications
The application of AGVS integrates a variety of advanced technologies (i.e. information technology, artificial intelligence, etc.) into the electricity meter verification system, which brings great economic and social benefits via enhancing the verification efficiency and reducing the total labor costs.
Originality/value
The application proposed in the paper solves the problem that the verification almost relies on workers, labor intensity is high and work efficiency is hard to improve. Furthermore, the general rules and strategies of AGVS transportation can be applied not only to the automated electricity meter verification but also in other industrial areas.
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Han-Cheng Dan, Zhuo-Min Zou, Jia-Qi Chen and An-Ping Peng
The soil water retention curve (SWRC) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (UHC) are crucial indices to assess hydraulic properties of porous media that primarily depend on the…
Abstract
Purpose
The soil water retention curve (SWRC) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (UHC) are crucial indices to assess hydraulic properties of porous media that primarily depend on the particle and pore size distributions. This study aims to present a method based on the discrete element model (DEM) and the typical Arya and Paris model (AP model) to numerically predict SWRC and UHC.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the DEM (PFC3D software) is used to construct the pore and particle size distributions in porous media. The number of particles is calculated according to the AP model, which can be applied to evaluate the relationship between the suction head and the moisture of porous media. Subsequently, combining critical path analysis (CPA) and fractal theory, the air entry value is applied to calculate the critical pore radius (CPR) and the critical volume fraction (CVF) for evaluating the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.
Findings
This method is validated against the experimental results of 11 soils from the clay loam to the sand, and then the scaling parameter in the AP model and critical volume fraction value for many types of soils are presented for reference; subsequently, the gradation effect on hydraulic property of soils is analyzed. Furthermore, the calculation for unbound graded aggregate (UGA) material as a special case and a theoretical extension are provided.
Originality/value
The presented study provides an important insight into the relationship between the heterogeneous particle and hydraulic properties by the DEM and sheds light on the directions for future study of a method to investigate the hydraulic properties of porous media.
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Chih-Hung Chung and Lu-Jia Chen
The purpose of this study is to explore the capabilities required by entry-level human resources (HR) professionals based on job advertisements by using text mining (TM) technique.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the capabilities required by entry-level human resources (HR) professionals based on job advertisements by using text mining (TM) technique.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used TM techniques to explore the capabilities required by entry-level HR professionals based on job advertisements on HR agency 104’s website in Taiwan. Python was used to crawl the advertisements on the website, and 841 posts were collected. Next, the author used TM to explore and understand hidden trends and patterns in numerous data sets.
Findings
The results of this study revealed four critical success factors (specific skills, educational level, experience and specific capabilities), five clusters and ten classifications.
Practical implications
The results can aid HR curriculum developers and educators in customizing and improving HR education curricula, such that HR students can develop capabilities required to secure employment in the current HR job market.
Originality/value
Our results may facilitate the understanding of the current trends in the HR job market and provide useful suggestions to HR curriculum developers for improving training and professional course design, such that students’ competitiveness is enhanced and professional capabilities improved.