Nan Chen, Jianfeng Cai, Devika Kannan and Kannan Govindan
The rapid development of the Internet has led to an increasingly significant role for E-commerce business. This study examines how the green supply chain (GSC) operates on the…
Abstract
Purpose
The rapid development of the Internet has led to an increasingly significant role for E-commerce business. This study examines how the green supply chain (GSC) operates on the E-commerce online channel (resell mode and agency mode) and the traditional offline channel with information sharing under demand uncertainty.
Design/methodology/approach
This study builds a multistage game model that considers the manufacturer selling green products through different channels. On the traditional offline channel, the competing retailers decide whether to share demand signals. Regarding the resale mode of E-commerce online channel, just E-tailer 1 determines whether to share information and decides the retail price. In the agency mode, the manufacturer decides the retail price directly, and E-tailer 2 sets the platform rate.
Findings
This study reveals that information accuracy is conducive to information value and profits on both channels. Interestingly, the platform fee rate in agency mode will inhibit the effect of a positive demand signal. Information sharing will cause double marginal effects, and price competition behavior will mitigate such effects. Additionally, when the platform fee rate is low, the manufacturer will select the E-commerce online channel for operation, but the retailers' profit is the highest in the traditional channel.
Originality/value
This research explores the interplay between different channel structures and information sharing in a GSC, considering price competition and demand uncertainty. Besides, we also considered what behaviors and factors will amplify or transfer the effect of double marginalization.
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Hina Munir, Cai Jianfeng and Sidra Ramzan
The purpose of this paper is to extend the existing literature on entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) by employing the integrated model of personality traits and the theory of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to extend the existing literature on entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) by employing the integrated model of personality traits and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). It further examines the mediating role of TPB’s dimensions between personality traits and EIs of final-year university students in two diverse economies: China and Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a survey method for data collection, administered both in electronic and paper form. The authors use structural equation modeling and the partial least square (PLS) method on a sample of 1,016 students and present PLS path modeling, mediation analysis and multigroup analysis.
Findings
Results reveal several differences regarding personality traits and TPB on EIs across the two countries. The impact of TPB was positive and significant in both countries; however, TPB demonstrated more explaining power in China’s student sample. Using three personality traits (risk-taking propensity, proactive personality and internal locus of control) as antecedents to TPB, the results reveal a stronger influence of personality traits among Chinese students. The mediation of three dimensions of TPB also revealed differences between country samples.
Originality/value
This is the first study of its kind to compare and contrast the differences between EIs in terms of personality and the determinants of planned behavior among university students in two diverse economies. The integrated model is original, supports both TPB and personality factors and provides a valuable perspective through its findings on two culturally diverse Asian countries. By applying the model in two different cultures, this study distinguishes the results for the two economies from those conducted in other economies.
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Umar Farooq Sahibzada, Cai Jianfeng, Fawad Latif and Zahid Shafait
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) require regular generation of information determining what employees want from their institution and their real feelings about their jobs…
Abstract
Purpose
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) require regular generation of information determining what employees want from their institution and their real feelings about their jobs. Internal marketing (IM) can be a significantly valuable source of generating such information for HEIs to assess perceptions about institutions’ initiatives pertinent to their staff members. However, there has been a significantly limited research to operationalize IM in HEIs. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a multi-dimensional instrument for measuring IM in the HEIs in China and to assess the impact of IM on university performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The research used methodological triangulation that involved both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The qualitative technique was used to generate scale items to measure IM and the quantitative technique was utilized to test and validate the scale. The study sample included 576 academics and administration staff from universities in China.
Findings
The study found that IM has six dimensions, namely internal communications, training and development, interrelations, motivation, rewards and work support. The study also found a significant impact of IM on university performance.
Research limitations/implications
The sample size used was taken from a single province, which can ultimately limit the generalizability of the results. The scale shall be tested in a different cultural setting to extend its generalizability. In comparison with previous studies, the results of the current study provide a more absolute coverage and understanding of various dimensions used in measuring IM in HEIs. Furthermore, this research can provide a context for the management to develop policies that could foster positive employee and organizational outcomes in HEIs.
Practical implications
This reliable and valid six-dimensional scale offers a practical way to measure staff perceptions of IM that are key for HEIs to be judged as staff-centered organization. Based on the knowledge, HEIs can use the information to identify the areas in which they are lacking and can further improve. IM scale can significantly help the HEIs to communicate to the staff members their service mindedness and staff orientation. IM can help foster knowledge management in organizations by utilizing IM, thereby contributing to the professional and organizational interaction.
Originality/value
Despite the focus on IM in existing literature, there is a significant lack of research on IM in the education sector. This study developed a simple and practical instrument to measure the IM construct in HEIs. Scholars have asked for context-specific measures of IM and with significantly limited research on IM in higher education, there is also a scarcity of research in the context of higher education in China. This is the first study to assess the multi-dimensionality of IM in HEIs and the impact of IM on organizational performance in Chinese higher education.
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Miao Wang, Jianfeng Cai and Hina Munir
Drawing on the social cognition theory, the purpose of this research is to explore how selected individual and organizational determinants, namely individual academic output (AO…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the social cognition theory, the purpose of this research is to explore how selected individual and organizational determinants, namely individual academic output (AO) and previous commercialization experience, organizational scientific reputation and entrepreneurial support policies (ESPs) influence their broadly-defined academic entrepreneurial intentions, involving spin-off intention (SOI), patenting and licensing intention (PLI), contract research and consulting intention (CCI) through theory of planned behaviour (TPB) modelling.
Design/methodology/approach
The current research constructs the framework by combining reciprocal determinism in the social cognition theory with TPB. To testify the hypotheses, partial least squares structural equational modelling (PLS–SEM) technique with 272 observations from Chinese universities was utilized.
Findings
The findings show that academic-related determinants, namely individual AO and organizational reputation (OR), are more likely to influence academic scientists' SOI through TPB modelling, while entrepreneurial-related determinants in terms of individual previous commercialization experience (PCE) and ESPs in higher education organizations are more influential for promoting behavioural intention to all kinds of academic entrepreneurship activities through TPB modelling. The more formal academic entrepreneurship involvement (engaging in creating spin-offs) is better explained through TPB modelling, especially the continuous mediating effects of subjective norms and entrepreneurial attitude and perceived behavioural control are more effective on spin-off activities. In addition, subjective norms are more influential in mediating relationships between individual or organizational antecedents and academic entrepreneurial intentions in the Chinese context.
Originality/value
Combining the social cognition theory and TPB, this study first investigated how individual intentions to engage in broadly-defined academic entrepreneurial activities are promoted through TPB modelling. The results, relating to the divergence of different determinants shaping different academic entrepreneurial intentions through various paths in TPB modelling, will provide insight into university managers and policymakers to improve academic entrepreneurship engagement in the Chinese context.
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Umar Farooq Sahibzada, Cai Jianfeng, Khawaja Fawad Latif and Hassam Farooq Sahibzada
Constructed upon knowledge-based view, the study examines the influence of internal marketing on knowledge management processes and the indirect association of knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
Constructed upon knowledge-based view, the study examines the influence of internal marketing on knowledge management processes and the indirect association of knowledge management processes with organizational performance through mediating role of knowledge worker satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a sample frame of 536 academic and administrative employees from higher education institutions in China; structural equation modeling was performed using Smart PLS 3.2.8.
Findings
The outcome reveals that internal marketing has a significant impact on knowledge management processes. The results revealed a direct insignificant impact of knowledge management processes on organizational performance; the study found full mediation of knowledge worker satisfaction on the linkage between knowledge management processes and organizational performance.
Practical implications
Outcomes of this research strengthen the universities’ experience of knowledge management and recommend how academics and administrators of higher education institute can value knowledge worker satisfaction, which in turn improves organizational performance.
Originality/value
Although, there is an increased significance of knowledge management in higher education institutions, there is a lack of research that examines the enabling factors and outcomes of knowledge management practices. The present study is one of the first studies to ascertain the relationship of internal marketing, knowledge management processes, knowledge worker satisfaction and organizational performance. This is one of the initial research studies that not only empirically examines the interrelationships among these variables but also enlightens insights into the current literature by instantaneous investigation of the mediating role of knowledge worker satisfaction.
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Hassam Farooq Sahibzada, Cai Jianfeng, Umar Farooq Sahibzada, Roshi Khalid and Gul Afshan
The study explores the impact of knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) on knowledge management (KM) processes and the indirect relationship of KM processes with organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
The study explores the impact of knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) on knowledge management (KM) processes and the indirect relationship of KM processes with organizational performance (OP) via mediating the role of creative organizational learning (COL) in cross-cultural settings.
Design/methodology/approach
This research used a survey structure of 784 faculty and admin personnel from higher education institutions in China and Pakistan. Smart-PLS, 3.2.9 was used to perform analysis.
Findings
The result shows a significant positive influence of KOL on KM processes and KM processes on OP via the partial mediating effect of COL in China, Pakistan and the overall sample. The multi-group analysis confirmed the substantial differential effect of KOL on KM processes.
Practical implications
Outcomes of this research affirm KM's university practice and recommend how higher education academics and administrators prioritize KOL, KM processes and COL while strengthening OP in a culturally different environment.
Originality/value
The current research is among the initial experiments to determine KOL, KM processes, COL and organizational (University) performance relationships in a culturally different environment. The study is among the initials that just not empirically explore the associations between the factors but sheds light on existing literature by immediately exploring COL's mediating position in China and Pakistan's HEIs.
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Umar Farooq Sahibzada, Jianfeng Cai, Khawaja Fawad Latif and Hassam Farooq Sahibzada
Drawing on the knowledge-based view, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the interrelationship between Knowledge Management (KM) processes, Knowledge Worker Satisfaction…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the knowledge-based view, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the interrelationship between Knowledge Management (KM) processes, Knowledge Worker Satisfaction (KWS) and Organizational Performance (OP). Additionally, the study further seeks to identify the combinations of KM processes and KWS dimensions that can lead to enhanced OP.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 248 academics and administration employees of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The relationships were tested using SmartPLS 3.2.7. The study also employed fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) for examining configurational paths.
Findings
The results of the study revealed that KM processes significantly affect KWS and KWS enhances OP in HEIs. Based on fsQCA, the results revealed multiple configurational paths to improved OP.
Originality/value
There is significant lack of research that ascertains the inter-relationship between KM processes, KWS, and OP. This is one of the initial studies that examines the relationship of KM processes, KWS, and OP in HEI’s. From a methodological perspective, the study contributes by combining symmetric and asymmetric statistical tools in KM literature. fsQCA helps to understand the interactions that might not be immediately obvious through traditional symmetric methods.
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Xiaodong Wang and Jianfeng Cai
For some specific multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems, especially in emergency situations, because of the feature of criteria and other fuzzy factors, it is more…
Abstract
Purpose
For some specific multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems, especially in emergency situations, because of the feature of criteria and other fuzzy factors, it is more appropriate that values of different criteria are expressed in their correspondingly appropriate value types. The purpose of this paper is to build a multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) model dealing with heterogeneous information based on distance-based VIKOR to solve emergency supplier selection in practice appropriately and flexibly, where a compromise solution is more acceptable and suitable.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper extends the classical VIKOR to a generalized distance-based VIKOR to handle heterogeneous information containing crisp number, interval number, intuitionistic fuzzy number and hesitant fuzzy linguistic value, and develops an MCGDM model based on the distance-based VIKOR to handle the multi-criteria heterogeneous information in practice. This paper also introduces a parameter called non-fuzzy degree for each type of heterogeneous value to moderate the computation on aggregating heterogeneous hybrid distances.
Findings
The proposed distance-based model can handle the heterogeneous information appropriately and flexibly because the computational process is directly operated on the heterogeneous information based on generalized distance without a transformation process, which can improve the decision-making efficiency and reduce information loss. An example of emergency supplier selection is given to illustrate the proposed method.
Originality/value
This paper develops an MCGDM model based on the distance-based VIKOR to handle heterogeneous information appropriately and flexibly. In emergency supplier selection situations, the proposed decision-making model allows the decision-makers to express their judgments on criteria in their appropriate value types.
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Zhe Wang, Xisheng Li, Xiaojuan Zhang, Yanru Bai and Chengcai Zheng
How to model blind image deblurring that arises when a camera undergoes ego-motion while observing a static and close scene. In particular, this paper aims to detail how the…
Abstract
Purpose
How to model blind image deblurring that arises when a camera undergoes ego-motion while observing a static and close scene. In particular, this paper aims to detail how the blurry image can be restored under a sequence of the linear model of the point spread function (PSF) that are derived from the 6-degree of freedom (DOF) camera’s accurate path during the long exposure time.
Design/methodology/approach
There are two existing techniques, namely, an estimation of the PSF and a blind image deconvolution. Based on online and short-period inertial measurement unit (IMU) self-calibration, this motion path has discretized a sequence of the uniform speed of 3-DOF rectilinear motion, which unites with a 3-DOF rotational motion to form a discrete 6-DOF camera’s path. These PSFs are evaluated through the discrete path, then combine with a blurry image to restoration through deconvolution.
Findings
This paper describes to build a hardware attachment, which is composed of a consumer camera, an inexpensive IMU and a 3-DOF motion mechanism to the best of the knowledge, together with experimental results demonstrating its overall effectiveness.
Originality/value
First, the paper proposes that a high-precision 6-DOF motion platform periodically adjusts the speed of a three-axis rotational motion and a three-axis rectilinear motion in a short time to compensate the bias of the gyroscope and the accelerometer. Second, this paper establishes a model of 6-DOF motion and emphasizes on rotational motion, translational motion and scene depth motion. Third, this paper addresses a novel model of the discrete path that the motion during long exposure time is discretized at a uniform speed, then to estimate a sequence of PSFs.
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Jianmei Wang, Zhixiong Li, Sadoughi Mohammadkazem, Min Cai, Jianfeng Kang and Yanan Zhang
The stability characteristics of an oil film directly influence the safety and service life of mill oil-film bearings. However, very limited work has been done to address the…
Abstract
Purpose
The stability characteristics of an oil film directly influence the safety and service life of mill oil-film bearings. However, very limited work has been done to address the stability characteristics of mill oil-film bearings. To this end, this paper aims to investigate the stability characteristics of mill oil-film bearings through theoretical and experimental analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
For the first time, a special designed experiment platform was developed to investigate the stability characteristics of mill oil-film bearings. In addition, a theoretical model of lubricating film of the tested bearings was established to analyze the oil-film stability. The theoretical results were compared with the experimental results.
Findings
The comparison results demonstrate that the critical influential factors on the bearing stability were the eccentricity ratio and the ratio of bearing length to diameter. The mill bearing was likely to be unstable under a small load and at a high rotational speed.
Practical implications
The paper includes implications for suitable operation conditions in practical use of mill oil-film bearings.
Originality/value
This paper fulfills an identified need to investigate oil-film stability of mill bearings for practical applications.