Junying Yu, Jiaxuan Xie and Honglin Lu
As a retail operation mode of emerging mixed reality (MR) technology, virtual fitting room (VFR) revolutionizes how consumers interact with fashion brands.
Abstract
Purpose
As a retail operation mode of emerging mixed reality (MR) technology, virtual fitting room (VFR) revolutionizes how consumers interact with fashion brands.
Design/methodology/approach
The research investigates the impact mechanisms of VFR technology through retail operational performance from the perspective of purchase intention and post-purchase intention. Around 783 valid questionnaires were collected using the questionnaire to analyze, including 327 VFR technology users and 394 VFR technology non-users.
Findings
The results indicate that visual vividness, interactive control and personalized provision of VFR technology positively influence the retail operational performance of fashion brands, except for the online purchase intention. The study further reveals that the influence of VFR technology on retail operational performance is carried by perceived value and technology attitude, with the moderating role of perceived body image.
Originality/value
These findings expand and enrich existing research on VFR technology, providing recommendations and valuable insights into widening the application and continuous improvement of VFR technology.
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Xu Ming, Fu Xiehong and Yu Junying
In this paper a case study of mystery shopping is described, which was jointly conducted by a large apparel retailing company headquartered in Hong Kong and a management school in…
Abstract
In this paper a case study of mystery shopping is described, which was jointly conducted by a large apparel retailing company headquartered in Hong Kong and a management school in Shanghai. The program of mystery shopping in the stores of the company has been carried out for six years, and the scope of the activity covers some 30 cities in China. The reinforcement learning model is used to explain how mystery shopping can be employed as one strategy to improve service quality. The paper summarizes the main measures adopted by the company for continuous improvement. The whole processes of mystery shopping, the follow-up measures, and the evaluation sheet and work instruction are described as well. The paper also suggests the ways to select, train and control college students as mystery shoppers
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Nikhita Tuli, Ritu Srivastava and Harish Kumar
Access to services for consumers with disabilities (CwD) has gained increased attention from researchers and service providers in recent years. Consequently, ensuring that…
Abstract
Purpose
Access to services for consumers with disabilities (CwD) has gained increased attention from researchers and service providers in recent years. Consequently, ensuring that services are designed and maintained in a manner that is more inclusive and accessible to CwD has become imperative. However, academic literature is fragmented and thus, this study aims to provide a state-of-the-art synthesis for further theoretical development.
Design/methodology/approach
This study reviews 77 relevant articles in the domain using a multidisciplinary review following the PRISMA protocol, and a thematic analysis was conducted.
Findings
The study thoroughly synthesizes the theories, contexts and methods used in the extant literature. Next, the study presents a new theoretical framework with four broader dimensions: beyond regulations, towards accessibility, value co-creation, inclusion of CwD and role of stakeholders. Furthermore, it highlights the related sub-dimensions attributed to the service design stages (planning, usage and post-usage). Based on this, the study offers critical avenues for future research using the Double Diamond framework.
Originality/value
The study contributes significantly to service design literature for CwD and transformative service research by developing a new consolidated theoretical framework. The findings should direct service providers towards better service designs in related fields. Socially, the study has implications for promoting accessibility and inclusion for CwD, while providing them the freedom of choice.
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Junying Liu, Zhipeng Cui, Yingbin Feng, Srinath Perera and Jie Han
Cultural differences have been frequently cited as a major source of risks for international joint ventures (IJVs). Cultural differences may cause extensive conflicts in…
Abstract
Purpose
Cultural differences have been frequently cited as a major source of risks for international joint ventures (IJVs). Cultural differences may cause extensive conflicts in technology, norms and emotion among the international joint venture (IJV) partners. The purpose of this study is to explore the interactive effects of national culture differences (NCDs) and conflict management approaches on the performance of international construction joint ventures (ICJV).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using a questionnaire survey method with 143 valid responses. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the research hypotheses.
Findings
It was found that ICJV performance declined with a high degree of NCDs. The negative effect of NCDs on ICJV performance was mitigated by adopting the cooperative conflict management approach; while it was aggravated by adopting the competitive conflict management approach. The findings may provide an alternative way (i.e. adopting the cooperative conflict management approach rather than avoiding or competitive approaches) to address the cultural conflicts in the multicultural project management teams.
Practical implications
Firstly, as NCD negatively impacts performance of ICJVs, project managers should pay attention to cultural issues and learn how to manage them; Secondly, as cooperative and competitive conflict management approaches have different moderating effects on the relationship between NCD and ICJV performance, project managers must choose appropriate conflict management styles in multination teams. Thirdly, as the avoiding approach has no significant moderating effect on the negative relationship between NCD and ICJV performance, it is important for Chinese partners not to employ avoiding approach to deal with conflicts in ICJV.
Originality/value
This study uniquely adds to the literature on cultural issues in managing ICJVs by integrating the moderating effects of conflict management approaches. The interactive effects of conflict management approaches and national cultural differences on ICJV project performance may contribute to the theories regarding conflict management theory in the context of cross-cultural management.
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Xin Rui, Junying Wu, Jianbin Zhao and Maryam Sadat Khamesinia
Based on the positive features of the shark smell optimization (SSO) algorithm, the purpose of this paper is to propose a method based on this algorithm, dynamic voltage and…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the positive features of the shark smell optimization (SSO) algorithm, the purpose of this paper is to propose a method based on this algorithm, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) model and fuzzy logic to minimize the energy consumption of integrated circuits of internet of things (IoT) nodes and maximize the load-balancing among them.
Design/methodology/approach
Load balancing is a key problem in any distributed environment such as cloud and IoT. It is useful when a few nodes are overloaded, a few are under-loaded and the remainders are idle without interrupting the functioning. As this problem is known as an NP-hard one and SSO is a powerful meta-hybrid method that inspires shark hunting behavior and their skill to detect and feel the smell of the bait even from far away, in this research, this study have provided a new method to solve this problem using the SSO algorithm. Also, the study have synthesized the fuzzy logic to counterbalance the load distribution. Furthermore, DVFS, as a powerful energy management method, is used to reduce the energy consumption of integrated circuits of IoT nodes such as processor and circuit bus by reducing the frequency.
Findings
The outcomes of the simulation have indicated that the proposed method has outperformed the hybrid ant colony optimization – particle swarm optimization and PSO regarding energy consumption. Similarly, it has enhanced the load balance better than the moth flame optimization approach and task execution node assignment algorithm.
Research limitations/implications
There are many aspects and features of IoT load-balancing that are beyond the scope of this paper. Also, given that the environment was considered static, future research can be in a dynamic environment.
Practical implications
The introduced method is useful for improving the performance of IoT-based applications. We can use these systems to jointly and collaboratively check, handle and control the networks in real-time. Also, the platform can be applied to monitor and control various IoT applications in manufacturing environments such as transportation systems, automated work cells, storage systems and logistics.
Originality/value
This study have proposed a novel load balancing technique for decreasing energy consumption using the SSO algorithm and fuzzy logic.
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Zhixiu Wang, Junying Liu and Xinya Guan
Although the global construction industry has made great contributions to economic development, industry corruption is a challenge for governments all over the world. This paper…
Abstract
Purpose
Although the global construction industry has made great contributions to economic development, industry corruption is a challenge for governments all over the world. This paper aims to investigate the causal complexity of organizational corruption by exploring the configuration effect of multiple induced conditions of corruption in the construction sector.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is focused on bribery, a specific form of corrupt behavior through a scenario-based survey role-playing game in which participants encounter bribery. A total of 400 Chinese construction sector participants were randomly recruited to complete this survey.
Findings
Compared with studies that have identified a number of factors associated with corruption in the construction sector, this study found asymmetry and complexity in the causality of organizational corruption. That is, when a variable causing corruption changes from one condition to its opposite – for example, from fierce to mild competition – the degree of corruption is not necessarily reduced as one may expect.
Practical implications
Anti-corruption measures should not rely solely on the net effects of discrete conditions and the interactions between multiple factors should not be ignored. In other words, anti-corruption strategies should not be implemented in isolation of their context, and pairing control measures with configurations is critical in controlling corruption. Finally, multiple configuration paths should be reconsidered when considering the degree of corruption reduction.
Originality/value
This study proposes a comprehensive analysis framework for addressing organizational corruption in the construction sector by investigating configuration effects of multiple induced conditions and offers a useful method for addressing corruption.
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Junying Zhong and Marko Nieminen
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the RISE model on service innovation in coopetitive business environment. The case study illustrates why and how Chinese providers…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the RISE model on service innovation in coopetitive business environment. The case study illustrates why and how Chinese providers utilize ecosystems for innovative mobile payment service development to achieve coopetitive advantage based on firms’ superior resources.
Design/methodology/approach
The companies in the case study include Alipay (third-party actor), Bestpay (mobile operator), and UnionPay (banking). Empirical data comes from semi-structured interviews complemented with observations and documents. The analysis of the data follows grounded theory guidelines: creation of a theoretical framework, data collection, and interpretation of the data using the coding strategies of open coding, axial coding, and selected coding.
Findings
Inter-organizational co-innovation appears as a successful strategy for mobile payment service innovation. In addition to strategic choice on this, understanding of superior and inferior resources and capabilities influence firms’ coopetitive advantages in a coopetitive service development environment. Ecosystems are formed along with the innovating activities, and difficulties are caused by coopetition challenges. The RISE model enables the analysis and selection of strategic patterns for service innovation in a coopetitive environment.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to resource-advantage theory and platform ecosystem theory. The theories are used to analyze and model the effects of strategy execution for achieving win-win relationships in inter-organizational co-innovation. This paper helps executives to match their service innovation strategies to platform ecosystem architectures, as well as to understand how resource-advantage challenges affect the execution strategy of setting up their platform ecosystems.
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Xiaolong Lu, Xudong Sui, Xiao Zhang, Zhen Yan and Junying Hao
This study aims to investigate the effect of V doping on the microstructure, chemical stability, mechanical and vacuum tribological behavior of sputtered MoS2 coatings.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effect of V doping on the microstructure, chemical stability, mechanical and vacuum tribological behavior of sputtered MoS2 coatings.
Design/methodology/approach
The MoS2-V coatings are fabricated via tuning V target current by magnetron sputtering technique. The structural characteristic and elemental content of the coatings are measured by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, electron probe X-ray micro-analyzer, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer. The hardness of the deposited coatings are tested by a nanoindentation technique. The vacuum tribological properties of MoS2-V coatings are studied by a ball-on-disc tribometer.
Findings
Introducing V into the MoS2 coatings results in a more compact microstructure. The hardness of the coatings increases with the doping of V. The MoS2-V coating deposited at a current of 0.2 A obtains the lowest friction coefficient (0.043) under vacuum. As the amount of V doping increases, the wear rate of the coating decreases first and then increases, among which the coating deposited at a current of 0.5 A has the lowest wear rate of 2.2 × 10–6 mm3/N·m.
Originality/value
This work elucidates the role of V doping on the lubrication mechanism of MoS2 coatings in a vacuum environment, and the MoS2-V coating is expected to be applied as a solid lubricant in space environment.
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Gongli Luo, Junying Hao and He Ma
Triggered by the extensive use of social media brand communities (SMBCs) in interactive marketing, this article aims to explore how brand connectedness (BC) affects consumer…
Abstract
Purpose
Triggered by the extensive use of social media brand communities (SMBCs) in interactive marketing, this article aims to explore how brand connectedness (BC) affects consumer engagement behavior (CEB) in SMBCs.
Design/methodology/approach
The research model was verified with the partial least squares structural equation modeling applied to the actual data collected from the web crawling largest microblogging platform in China (Sina Weibo).
Findings
Results indicate that BC may positively influence consumer emotions (CEs), eventually leading to engagement behavior in SMBCs. In addition, gender and duration of membership act as vital moderators in the model. One of the most interesting findings is the differences between posting and commenting, although both are CEBs. BC has a more significant effect on commenting than posting, and the mediating effect of CEs between BC and posting behavior is not significant.
Originality
This research contributes to the literature on interactive marketing by examining BC in the context of SMBCs, which is under-researched in the literature but is highly pertinent to social media contexts. Moreover, we measure BC through social network analysis for the first time, which not only supports the empirical work but also expands the social network theory and social capital theory. This research also extends the body of knowledge on consumer engagement by investigating the differences between posting and commenting behaviors.