Jorgen Larsen, Kasper Stoy, David Brandt, Sten Grimmer and Martin Groß
Using a bottom‐up, model‐free approach when building robots is often seen as a less scientific way, compared to a top‐down model‐based approach, because the results are not easily…
Abstract
Purpose
Using a bottom‐up, model‐free approach when building robots is often seen as a less scientific way, compared to a top‐down model‐based approach, because the results are not easily generalizable to other systems. The authors, however, hypothesize that this problem may be addressed by using solid experimental methods. The purpose of this paper is to show how well‐known experimental methods from bio‐mechanics are used to measure and locate weaknesses in a bottom‐up, model‐free implementation of a quadruped walker and come up with a better solution.
Design/methodology/approach
To study the bottom‐up, mode‐free approach, the authors used the robotic construction kit, LocoKit. This construction kit allows researchers to construct legged robots, without having a mathematical model beforehand. The authors used no specific mathematical model to design the robot, but instead used intuition and took inspiration from biology. The results were afterwards compared with results gained from biology, to see if the robot has some of the key elements the authors were looking for.
Findings
With the use of LocoKit as the experimental platform, combined with known experimental measurement methods from biology, the authors have shown how a bottom‐up, model‐free design approach can be used to gain specific knowledge on a robotic platform, and also how knowledge can potentially be generalized from this approach.
Originality/value
This paper shows that even though a bottom‐up, model‐free approach was taken, the results can still be compared with results from, for example, biology, because solid experimental methods were used.
Details
Keywords
Cecilia Cassinger, Jorgen Eksell, Maria Mansson and Ola Thufvesson
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the mediatisation of terror attacks affects the brand image of tourism cities.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the mediatisation of terror attacks affects the brand image of tourism cities.
Design/methodology/approach
Informed by theories of mediatisation and space, the study analyses two different types of terror attacks in Sweden during 2017 as media events. The focus of analysis is on identifying spatial and temporal patterns that underpin the narrative rhythm of the discussions of the events on Twitter and online news platforms.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that the unfolding of the events can be divided into three phases of varying intensity in rhythm and implications for city brand image. The manifestation of an imaginary terror attack in a digital environment had a greater impact on the narratives of the city than an actual one.
Research limitations/implications
Rythmanalysis is introduced as a useful device to examine how urban space is mediatised through social media and online news flows.
Originality/value
The study contributes with novel knowledge on the mediatisation of city space on digital media platforms in a post-truth world. It shows that city administrations need to deal with both real and imaginary terror attacks, especially when there is an already established negative image of the city.
Details
Keywords
Muhammad Abid Saleem, Lynne Eagle and David Low
Climate change and global warming are acknowledged to be growing issues caused by emissions of greenhouse gases. Fuel-efficient or green cars offer a technological solution to…
Abstract
Purpose
Climate change and global warming are acknowledged to be growing issues caused by emissions of greenhouse gases. Fuel-efficient or green cars offer a technological solution to reduce CO2 emissions from car exhaust. This study aims to draw on value–belief–norm (VBN) theory to provide an explanation of eco-socially conscious consumer behavior (ESCCB) related to the choice and use of personal cars.
Design/methodology/approach
The data was collected from 1,372 customers of the automobile industry of Pakistan, randomly drawn from 8 metropolitan cities. Partial least squares structural equation modeling is used to verify the hypotheses of the study.
Findings
By using variance-based structural equation modeling, this study showed that the VBN theory is fully supported in the cultural context of Pakistan and behavioral context of ESCCB. More specifically, personal introjected norms of the customers proved to be strong predictors of ESCCB while personal integrated norms predicted eco-social purchase intentions well.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only study of its kind that examines the VBN model in the context of a developing country, Pakistan, and for a category of behaviors rarely tested before, i.e. ESCCBs related to purchase and use of personal cars.
Details
Keywords
Marcel Bogers and Jørgen Dejgård Jensen
The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore different business models that are active in the gastronomic industry and assess where there may be opportunities and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore different business models that are active in the gastronomic industry and assess where there may be opportunities and limitations for innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop a conceptualization of the business model concept and some of its main components – considering an internal and external orientation – and how they can be applied to the gastronomic sector. On this basis, the authors propose, develop and test an empirical framework for the economic sustainability of gastronomic enterprises. Based on data from a publicly available database of the Danish hospitality sector, the authors conduct hierarchical cluster analysis to identify different business models for the Danish gastronomic sector.
Findings
Given the diversity of the gastronomic sector, there can be a multitude of alternative business models and characteristics, which may enable the sector to create value through, for example, product differentiation, market segmentation, and so on. The analysis revealed nine different clusters, which represent different business models in terms of value creation, segmentation, and resource utilization – highlighting either more closed or open business models. These business models offer a basis for considering the opportunities and barriers for business model innovation – for both startups and incumbent firms – within gastronomy and agri-food more generally.
Originality/value
The gastronomic sector is diverse and heterogeneous with a multitude of possible alternative business models. This paper provides a basis for considering the key enablers of business model development in this sector. The integrative framework and empirical assessment provides a basis for further exploring business model innovation in the gastronomic sector in particular and the agri-food sector more generally.
Details
Keywords
Jørgen Dejgård Jensen, Anne Vibeke Thorsen, Camilla Trab Damsgaard and Anja Biltoft-Jensen
The purpose of this paper is to conduct economic evaluation of a school meal programme based on principles of a New Nordic Diet (NND) by assessing the costs of the NND lunch…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct economic evaluation of a school meal programme based on principles of a New Nordic Diet (NND) by assessing the costs of the NND lunch, compared with packed lunch from home, and investigating potential effects of adjusting the NND principles underlying the school meals on the costs and on the rate of food waste.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis combines recipes, dietary records and food waste data from a school meal intervention with collected price data within an economic optimization framework.
Findings
A New Nordic School meal programme consisting of a morning snack and a hot lunch based on fixed seasonal menu plans and with 75 per cent organic content is 37 per cent more expensive in terms of ingredient costs than corresponding packed school meals. This cost differential can be almost halved by introducing more flexible scheduling of week plans and reducing the level of organic ambition to 60 per cent. Reducing portion sizes could reduce the cost differential by an extra 5 per cent, which would also reduce food waste by about 15 per cent.
Originality/value
Higher costs and food waste in a restrictive ingredient sourcing school meal programme can be reduced by increased flexibility in meal scheduling, reduction in organic content and reduced average portion size.