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1 – 10 of 55Kunxiang Dong, Jie Zhen, Zongxiao Xie and Lin Chen
To remain competitive in an unpredictable environment where the complexity and frequency of cybercrime are rapidly increasing, a cyber resiliency strategy is vital for business…
Abstract
Purpose
To remain competitive in an unpredictable environment where the complexity and frequency of cybercrime are rapidly increasing, a cyber resiliency strategy is vital for business continuity. However, one of the barriers to improving cyber resilience is that security defense and accident recovery do not combine efficaciously, as embodied by emphasizing cyber security defense strategies, leaving firms ill-prepared to respond to attacks. The present study thus develops an expected resilience framework to assess cyber resilience, analyze cyber security defense and recovery investment strategies and balance security investment allocation strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the expected utility theory, this paper presents an expected resilience framework, including an expected investment resilience model and an expected profit resilience model that directly addresses the optimal joint investment decisions between defense and recovery. The effects of linear and nonlinear recovery functions, risk interdependence and cyber insurance on defense and recovery investment are also analyzed.
Findings
According to the findings, increasing the defense investment coefficient reduces defense and recovery investment while increasing the expected resilience. The nonlinear recovery function requires a smaller defense investment and overall security investment than the linear one, reflecting the former’s advantages in lowering cybersecurity costs. Moreover, risk interdependence has positive externalities for boosting defense and recovery investment, meaning that the expected profit resilience model can reduce free-riding behavior in security investments. Insurance creates moral hazard for firms by lowering defensive investment, yet after purchasing insurance, expanded coverage and cost-effectiveness incentivize firms to increase defense and recovery spending, respectively.
Originality/value
The paper is innovative in its methodology as it offers an expected cyber resilience framework for integrating defense and recovery investment and their effects on security investment allocation, which is crucial for building cybersecurity resilience but receives little attention in cybersecurity economics. It also provides theoretical advances for cyber resilience assessment and optimum investment allocation in other fields, such as cyber-physical systems, power and water infrastructure – moving from a resilience triangle metric to an expected utility theory-based method.
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Sandra Gutierrez-Wirsching, Jacqueline Mayfield, Milton Mayfield and Wei Wang
The purpose of this paper is to propose motivating language as a mediator to increase the positive effects of servant leadership on subordinates’ outcomes. The authors propose…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose motivating language as a mediator to increase the positive effects of servant leadership on subordinates’ outcomes. The authors propose that motivating language acts as a mediator to transmit servant leadership traits and enhances the positive impact that servant leadership verbal behavior has on employees’ performance.
Design/methodology/approach
By developing a conceptual model, the authors propose a connection between servant leadership and motivating language.
Findings
In the proposed model, motivating language acts as a full and a partial mediator. The authors further categorize three distinct outcome sets that should be improved from this relationship. The first set includes improved worker performance, job satisfaction, absenteeism and worker innovation. The second set is composed of self-efficacy, organizational citizenship behavior and employee commitment. Finally, the third set includes trust, satisfaction with the leader and inspiration to become servant leaders.
Research limitations/implications
Empirical research needs to be conducted to test this model.
Practical implications
The positive effects of servant leadership through the use of motivating language could be operationalized in multiple ways. First, potential servant leaders could take the well-established, reliable and valid motivating language scale to diagnostically identify their leader-member communication strengths and weaknesses. Then, tailored motivating language trainings could be implemented which target motivating language weaknesses and key strategic outcomes in the proposed model. Furthermore, motivating language training would be a valuable instrument for transmission of a servant leadership culture.
Social implications
Servant leadership style responds to the demand for positive ethical behavior that is much needed during these times when emphasis is given to profitability and lack of concern for people is the norm rather than the exception. It is also synchronized with the current benefits of organizational citizenship behaviors that have recently emerged in the field of managerial research.
Originality/value
This paper aims at addressing a gap in the literature by developing a model of how leader strategic language, namely, motivating language, mediates between servant leadership and worker outcomes.
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Gavin Jiayun Wu, Zhenning “Jimmy” Xu, Saeed Tajdini, Jie Zhang and Lei Song
To unlock social media’s value, this study aims to integrate insights from several theoretical perspectives and the relevant literature, developing an extended social media…
Abstract
Purpose
To unlock social media’s value, this study aims to integrate insights from several theoretical perspectives and the relevant literature, developing an extended social media analytics framework. It identifies the stages underlying the social media analytics process and tests the framework in three important and interconnected areas: social media (Twitter), new product adoption (iWatch and Google Glass) and social media analytic techniques (text mining and sentiment analysis).
Design/methodology/approach
Based upon a systematic review of different research approaches, theories and media types, this paper presents and tests an extended framework in three important and interconnected areas mentioned above.
Findings
This paper offers a theory-driven social media analytics framework. It validates the framework by providing concrete processes, examples, evidence and insights related to three chosen areas mentioned above, thereby helping managers create effective and efficient social media and new product development strategies.
Originality/value
This paper integrates insights from theories of the middle range (Merton, 1949), Campbell’s (1965) model of sociocultural evolution and Fan and Gordon’s (2014) social media analytics framework, developing its own extended social media analytics framework and validating it in three important and interconnected areas mentioned above. This paper demonstrates not only how the proposed framework can be applied to the context of new product development, but also how social media are transforming research approaches (qualitative, quantitative and mixed method) and the very nature of business itself (increased importance of digital business).
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Yingyu Zhao, Zhenbin Chen, Jie Li, Zhen Liu, Donglei Liu and Zhizong Li
The purpose of the paper is to separate and purify flavonoids existed in Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo. by macroporous adsorption resin (MAR) mixed-bed technology.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to separate and purify flavonoids existed in Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo. by macroporous adsorption resin (MAR) mixed-bed technology.
Design/methodology/approach
The adsorption and desorption parameters were characterized by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. The optimal MAR mixed bed was screened based on the adsorption experiments; the experiment process was investigated by the order of single, two and three MAR mixed bed separately; and the adsorption performance, which was composed by the authority of 80 per cent adsorption ratios and 20 per cent desorption ratios, was adopted to screen MAR mixed bed for flavonoids. The adsorption dynamic investigated the order of reaction first, and then the adsorption mechanism was researched further. The adsorption thermodynamic investigated the adsorption isotherm first, and then the adsorption feature was analyzed.
Findings
This research found that MAR mixed bed of LS-840 + LSD301 with mass ratio of mLS840:mLSD301 = 3:2 was the optimized combination, and the optimal conditions of the adsorption were volume V = 50 mL, time t = 6.5 h, T = 40°C. The desorption conditions were ethanol content = 70 per cent, desorption time t = 3.0 h, T = 40°C. The adsorption dynamic experimental data fitted better to the pseudo-second-order, and the intra-particle-diffusion model was more suitable for expression of the adsorption mechanism in mesopores process, whereas the homogeneous particle-diffusion model was more suitable in microspores. The adsorption was a physical and multilayer adsorption, and the adsorption driving force was disappeared as it transferred to the fourth layer.
Practical implications
Find an efficient way to separate flavonoids that useful for human’s health, which can not only utilize of plant resources effectively, but also make outstanding contributions to medical industry. It has very high economic and social value.
Originality/value
This contribution provided a new way to separate flavonoids from Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo. Under the optimal conditions, the adsorption rate (F) of MAR mixed bed LS-840 + LSD301 to the flavonoids was 97.81 per cent, the desorption rate (D) was 90.02 per cent and the purity of flavonoids was dramatically increased about 2.08 fold of the crude extract from 28 to 58.4 per cent, and the recovery yield of flavonoids arrived at 91.6 per cent after a circle of adsorption/desorption operation.
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Jie Tang, Yi Gong and Zhen-Guo Yang
The submitted paper is mainly concerned with the cracking of blind and buried vias of printed circuit board (PCB) for smartphones which were encountered with abnormal display…
Abstract
Purpose
The submitted paper is mainly concerned with the cracking of blind and buried vias of printed circuit board (PCB) for smartphones which were encountered with abnormal display problems like scramble display or no display during service and had to be recalled.
Design/methodology/approach
To found out the root causes of this failure and dissolve this commercial dispute, comprehensive failure analysis was performed on the printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and PCBs of the failed smartphone, such as macrograph and micrograph observation, chemical compositions analysis, thermal performance testing and blind via pull-off experiment, which finally helped to determine the causes. Besides that, the failure mechanisms were discussed in detail, and pertinent countermeasures were proposed point by point.
Findings
It was found that the PCB blind vias cracking was the main reason for the scramble display or no display of the smartphone, and the incomplete cleaning process before copper plating was the root cause of the blind vias cracking.
Practical implications
Achievement of this paper would not only help to provide the solid evidence for determining the responsibility of this commercial dispute but also lead to a better understanding of the failure mechanisms and prevention methods for similar failure cases of other advanced mobile phones.
Originality/value
Most failure analysis researches of PCBAs only focused on the unqualified products from manufacturing, while this paper addressed a failure analysis case of PCBAs products for smartphones from actual services, which was relatively rarely reported in the past.
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Jie Zhong, Li Zhang, Ping Li and Duo Zhen Zhang
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between leader humility and employee well-being. Based on social information processing (SIP) theory and previous…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between leader humility and employee well-being. Based on social information processing (SIP) theory and previous literature concerning leader humility, this paper identifies employee humility as the mediator and suggests that perceived leader effectiveness moderates these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a survey involving 228 employees to test the hypothesized moderated-mediation model.
Findings
Leader humility is positively related to employee well-being. Employee humility mediates leader humility and employee well-being, except for emotional exhaustion. Moreover, the effect of leader humility on employee humility and the indirect effect of leader humility on employee job satisfaction and work engagement are stronger under high perceptions of leader effectiveness.
Originality/value
Based on the framework of SIP theory, this paper contributes to the literature on humble leadership and employee well-being by treating employee humility as the mechanism and perceived leader effectiveness as the moderator. Few previous studies have investigated the influence of leader humility on employee well-being.
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Zhang Hong-jie, Chen Zhen, Zhu Yin-lin, Du Zhao-qun and Yu Wei-dong
Cold weather and the subsequent demand for lightweight apparel have prompted research work in the field of thermal insulation clothing. In addition to natural fibres, such as wool…
Abstract
Cold weather and the subsequent demand for lightweight apparel have prompted research work in the field of thermal insulation clothing. In addition to natural fibres, such as wool and cashmere, hollow chemical fibres, such as polyester or polypropylene fibre, have been studied and used to make thermal-insulation clothing. Primarily, modifications are made to increase the hollow ratio; however, this results in the fibre becoming brittle and prone to collapse. Yet many animals survive in harsh and cold conditions, and their hair plays a key role in keeping the body warm.
In the research under discussion, 4 types of cold-resistant animals are selected for observation of their hair fibres based on optical and scanning electronic microscopies. The characteristics of the hair fibres of cold-resistant animals are examined, including colour, scale density, scale thickness, medullary distribution and morphology of cross sections. The conclusions show that there are some common characteristics among cold-resistant animals, i.e., the cross sections are circular or ellipse or anomaly ellipse, scale density ranges from 40 to 100 scales per 1 mm, scale styles vary, and scale angles are small. The experimental results may be used to provide a modification method for functional fibres, especially for thermal-insulation fibres.
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Li‐zhu Liu, Hong‐jie Ma, Xing‐song Zhu, Yu‐jiang Fan and Zhen‐hao Jin
Polylactide/nano‐silica in situ composites are synthesised and characterised in order to study their mechanical and thermal properties. The purpose of this paper is to study these…
Abstract
Purpose
Polylactide/nano‐silica in situ composites are synthesised and characterised in order to study their mechanical and thermal properties. The purpose of this paper is to study these properties and compare them with the pure polylactide (PLA).
Design/methodology/approach
Polylactide/nano‐silica in situ composites are synthesised from lactide and modified nano‐silica using stannous octoate as a catalyst. The structure and properties of the composites are characterised by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM).
Findings
The results of SEM showed that nano‐silica and PLA are connected with covalent bonds, and that inorganic phases are dispersed homogeneously in the PLA matrix. The results of TGA indicated that the thermal decomposition temperature rose with the increase of silica content. The tensile strength of the composites is enhanced because of the addition of nano‐inorganic particles into PLA.
Research limitations/implications
Although the preparation process is simplified by a two‐step method, attempts will be made to synthesise the polylactide/nano‐silica composites by a one‐step approach to curtail the preparation cycle.
Practical implications
The composites are expected to be suitable for applications in packaging materials, biomedical and pharmaceutical fields.
Originality/value
Preparation of polylactide/nano‐silica composites is expected to exert the respective advantages of the two ingredients and to produce more practical polymer materials.
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Bangcheng Liu, Ningyu Tang and Xiaomei Zhu
The purpose of this research is to investigate how generalisable the public service motivation (PSM) observed in Western society is to China and to examine the effects of public…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to investigate how generalisable the public service motivation (PSM) observed in Western society is to China and to examine the effects of public service motivation on job satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis techniques are applied to survey data of 191 public servants in China to investigate the generalisability of Western PSM. Using hierarchical regression analysis, the paper examines the effects of the dimensions of PSM on job satisfaction.
Findings
The results show that the public service motivation observed in the West exists in China, but the generalisability of the construct is limited. Three of the four dimensions of public service motivation (attraction to public policy making, commitment to the public interest, and self‐sacrifice) exist in China, but the fourth dimension (compassion) is unconfirmed.
Originality/value
The paper is the first to examine the generalisability and instrumentality of PSM as observed in Western society to China. The results indicate that the public service motivation observed in the West also exists in China, but that the generalisability is limited. Public service motivation emerges from the results as a positively significant predictor of job satisfaction in the public sector of China. It enhances the applicability and meaningfulness of the concept of public service motivation across political and cultural environments.
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Hui-Wen Deng and Kwok Wah Cheung
The National People’s Congress (NPC) of People’s Republic of China, the highest organ of state power, is popularly seen as a rubber-stamp entity. However, it has been…
Abstract
Purpose
The National People’s Congress (NPC) of People’s Republic of China, the highest organ of state power, is popularly seen as a rubber-stamp entity. However, it has been substantially evolving its roles to accommodate the governance discourses within China’s political system over the decades. This study aims to explore the changes of governance discourse of the NPC within China’s political system through which to offer a thorough understanding of the NPC’s evolving substantial role in current China.
Design/methodology/approach
This study deploys a historical approach to explore the changes of governance discourse of the NPC that has seen a growing importance in China’s political agenda, as argued by this study.
Findings
The authors find that the NPC has been substantially evolving its role within China’s political system in which the Chinese Communist Party has created different governance discourses. Besides, the NPC and its Standing Committee have asserted its authority as a substantial actor within China’s political system. The NPC is no longer functioned as a rubber-stamp institution, though it is still popularized as a rubber stamp by many scholars.
Research limitations/implications
This study is a historical elaboration on the development of NPC under three governance discourses. It might be, to some extent, relatively descriptive in nature.
Originality/value
This study, therefore, sheds some light on a revisit on the governance discourses in current China.
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