Amzad Hossain, Ying Kong, Harvey Briggs and Kim Laycock
This paper aims to analyze Northern Manitoba employers' indexes of employability skills that influence the UCN (University College of the North) students' employability in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze Northern Manitoba employers' indexes of employability skills that influence the UCN (University College of the North) students' employability in indigenous contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
This study constructs the employability skills into six indexes from employers' perspective: reading comprehension, numeracy, technology, soft skills, job searching skills and indigenous cultural awareness. Mixed methods have been applied to this research: survey data are used for empirical analysis of the six indexes of employability skills; secondary sources of similar studies together with functional theory in education as a framework is adopted to explore the breadth and depth of employability skills requested by employers; indexing analysis is adopted to validate the necessity of developing such skills in indigenous contexts in Northern Manitoba.
Findings
The correlation analyses and mean values show that employers in Northern Manitoba take the six indexes as influential factors of students' employability. As such, the study indicates that Northern Manitoba employers consider employability in indigenous contexts as a combination of basic skills, professional requirements, soft skills and cultural awareness. The employers' attested employability is in line with the concept of the technical-function theory, which requires education to meet the demand for updated job skills due to a technological change. Moreover, Northern Manitoba employers' emphasis on indigenous cultural awareness as employability skills rationalizes the necessity to integrate indigenous cultural contents into programs and curriculums in UCN and post-secondary institutes with similar attributes. It confirms that indigenous cultural awareness is required by employers in Northern Manitoba populated with indigenous communities. The research findings suggest that the functional theory of education might help UCN and similar institutions globally to offer programs that will reduce employment inequality.
Research limitations/implications
This research is conducted among the employers in Northern Manitoba, and the indexes and their factors are designed to evaluate UCN students' employability in general.
Practical implications
The outcomes of this paper can be applied as a parameter for upgrading educational strategies to integrate essential and professional employability skills such as reading comprehension, numeracy, technology, soft skills and job searching skills with indigenous cultural components into UCN curriculums and programs. It can be applied to other post-secondary institutes with similar attributes to enhance their students' employability. Furthermore, the research findings can be used as a guideline for UCN to tailor their programs for the job market locally and as references for post-secondary institutions with similar student compositions globally.
Originality/value
This paper provides empirical evidence from the employers' viewpoint to support the necessity of integrating essential and professional employability skills with indigenous cultural awareness into the curriculums and programs of UCN, a post-secondary institution in indigenous populated Northern Manitoba. Furthermore, it is also attested that employers consider indigenous cultural awareness as an influential factor of students' employability in indigenous contexts.
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Current criminological theory and the Government's focus on ‘community safety’ and ‘crime and disorder reduction’ has led to the creation of a new discipline, or at least a new…
Abstract
Current criminological theory and the Government's focus on ‘community safety’ and ‘crime and disorder reduction’ has led to the creation of a new discipline, or at least a new paradigm, that of crime science. This article explores the theoretical basis and multi‐disciplinary nature of crime science and its usefulness in the reduction of alcohol and drug‐related crime.
Fariza Rusly, Peter Yih-Tong Sun and James L. Corner
The study aims to assess the influence of change readiness on the knowledge sharing process. This study proposes that readiness for knowledge sharing involves developing holistic…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to assess the influence of change readiness on the knowledge sharing process. This study proposes that readiness for knowledge sharing involves developing holistic understanding of the process through identification of individual and organisational readiness.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a qualitative case study design involving three New Zealand professional service firms (PFSs). Using grounded theory analysis, categories and concepts of change readiness that shape the knowledge sharing process were identified. The linkages among these elements offer an explanation of how readiness for knowledge sharing is formed.
Findings
Findings show that beliefs regarding knowledge sharing and individual expertise determine individual readiness to share knowledge. Readiness for the process is escalated by instilling collective commitment for knowledge sharing. A conducive organisational context, which comprises communication, participation and learning, represents a firm’s capability to implement the knowledge sharing process. Findings also highlight the moderating influences of firm archetype, inter-profession differences and knowledge nature in the interplay between change readiness elements and the knowledge sharing process.
Research limitations/implications
Findings reveal elements that motivate readiness for knowledge sharing from a change perspective. The propositions and theoretical model offered could extend understanding of the phenomena and lead to further studies assessing readiness for other knowledge management processes. The study involves three PFSs; hence, interpretation of the findings is limited within the scope and context of the study.
Practical implications
Findings contribute to the formulation of firms’ knowledge sharing strategies by offering holistic insights into the importance of motivating readiness for knowledge sharing through consideration of multidimensional change readiness: individual and collective beliefs, individuals’ characteristics and organisational context.
Originality/value
It is the first empirical study that seeks to develop theory how change readiness elements influences knowledge sharing in the organisation. To offer more contextualised findings, the study focusses on the phenomena of change readiness and knowledge sharing within the professional service industry.
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Byung-Hyun Shin, Junghyun Park, Jongbae Jeon, Sung-bo Heo and Wonsub Chung
In this study, super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) was heat-treated. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of the cooling rate after heat treatment on the pitting…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) was heat-treated. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of the cooling rate after heat treatment on the pitting corrosion of SDSS.
Design/methodology/approach
The heat treatment from 1,000°C to 1,300°C was applied to SDSS to check the effect of the cooling rate.
Findings
The heat treatment temperature produced a different SDSS microstructure, and the cooling rate led to the growth of austenite. The casted SDSS indicated the presence of heterogeneous austenite, and the precipitation secondary phase under 1.6 per cent precipitated to bare metal. By applying heat treatment and cooling SDSS, its corrosion resistance changes because of the change in the chemical composition. The cooling rate at 5,600 J/s has the highest critical pitting temperature (CPT) at 1,100°C, and the cooling rate at 1.6 J/s has the highest CPT at 1,200°C. Low cooling rate (0.4 J/s) made the secondary phase at all temperature range.
Research limitations/implications
The effect of secondary phase not consider because that is well known to decreasing corrosion resistance.
Practical implications
Solution annealing is taken into account to optimize the corrosion resistance. But that is not consider the cooling rate at each temperature. This study assessed the effect of the cooling rate at each temperature point.
Social implications
Manufacturers need to know the effect of the cooling rate to optimize the corrosion resistance, and this study can be applied in the industrial scene.
Originality/value
SDSS is hard the optimization because SDSS is a dual-phase stainless steel. Corrosion resistance can be optimized by controlling heat treatment temperature and the cooling rate. Anyone not studied the effect of the cooling rate at each temperature. The effect of the cooling rate should be considered to optimize the corrosion resistance.
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Byung-Hyun Shin, Dohyung Kim, Sanghyup Park, Myungwon Hwang, Junghyun Park and Wonsub Chung
The secondary phase decreased the corrosion resistance because of the segregation of Cr and Mo. Therefore, this paper aims to study the precipitation condition and the effect of…
Abstract
Purpose
The secondary phase decreased the corrosion resistance because of the segregation of Cr and Mo. Therefore, this paper aims to study the precipitation condition and the effect of secondary phase with volume fraction on corrosion behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Secondary phase precipitated approximately from 375°C to 975°C because of saturated Cr and Mo at grain boundary by growth of austenite. Therefore, heat treatment from 800°C to 1,300°C was applied to start the precipitation of the secondary phase.
Findings
The secondary phase is precipitated at 1,020°C because of segregation by heterogeneous austenite. The growth of austenite at 1,000°C needs the time to saturate the Cr and Mo at grain boundary. When the volume fraction of austenite is 56 per cent (14 min at 1,000°C), the secondary phase is precipitated with grain boundary of austenite. The secondary phase increased the current density (corrosion rate) and decreased the passivation. That is checked to the critical pitting temperature (CPT) curves. The 1 per cent volume fraction of secondary phase decreased CPT to 60°C from 71°C.
Research limitations/implications
The precipitation of secondary phase not wants anyone. Casted super-duplex stainless steel (SDSS) of big size precipitates the secondary phase. This study worked the precipitation condition and the suppression conditions of secondary phase.
Social implications
Manufacturers need precipitation condition to make high-performance SDSS.
Originality/value
The corrosion resistance of SDSS is hard the optimization because SDSS is dual-phase stainless steel. The precipitation of the secondary phase must be controlled to optimize of the corrosion resistance of SDSS. Anyone not studied the precipitation condition of secondary phase and the effect of secondary phase with volume fraction on corrosion behavior of SDSS.
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Minjie Zhang, Ronghai Xu, Lele Liu, Sensen Xin and Moucheng Li
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the electrochemical corrosion behavior of type 444 stainless steel (SS) in synthetic tap water from 25°C to 80°C, i.e. the operation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the electrochemical corrosion behavior of type 444 stainless steel (SS) in synthetic tap water from 25°C to 80°C, i.e. the operation environment of the electric water heater.
Design/methodology/approach
The corrosion behavior was studied by using electrochemical measurements such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization curve. The specimen surfaces were observed with scanning electron microscopy. The passive films were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Findings
In the typical tap water, 444 SS passivates spontaneously under different temperatures. The passive films formed at higher temperatures contain relatively less Cr-species and more Cl− ions, resulting in lower polarization resistances. The stable pitting corrosion takes place in the potential region of oxygen evolution as the temperature increases to about 55°C. The critical Cl− concentration of pitting corrosion reduces from about 160 mg L−1 to 60 mg L−1 with changing temperature from 25°C to 80°C.
Practical implications
The pitting corrosion probability was assessed through the statistical analysis of tap water quality. The results are useful for the application of 444 SS as well as the design of electric water heater.
Originality/value
This paper shows the variation of polarization resistance, pitting potential, passive film composition and critical pitting chloride concentration with the temperature of tap water. It is of great significance for the development and application of SS in tap water environments.
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Manish Shukla and Sanjay Jharkharia
The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review of the fresh produce supply chain management (FSCM). FSCM includes the processes from the production to consumption of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review of the fresh produce supply chain management (FSCM). FSCM includes the processes from the production to consumption of fresh produce (fruits, flowers and vegetables).
Design/methodology/approach
Literature review is done by systematically collecting the existing literature over a period of 20 years (1989‐2009) and classifying it on the basis of structural attributes such as problem context, methodology and the product under consideration. The literature is also categorized according to the geographic region and year of publication.
Findings
There is an increase in interest towards FSCM still there is an absence of a journal with the prime attention towards FSCM. The key finding of this review is that the main interest is towards consumer satisfaction and revenue maximization with post‐harvest waste reduction being a secondary objective. It is revealed from the review that most of the literature is fragmented and is in silos. Lack of demand forecasting, demand and supply mismatch, lesser integrated approach etc are the major causes of concerns.
Research limitations/implications
The authors have taken only the fresh produce (fruits, flowers and vegetables), authors may also look at other perishable items such as milk, meat, etc.
Practical implications
Result shows a product‐problem‐methodology mapping which may serve as a framework for the managers addressing issues in FSCM.
Originality/value
Most of the prior literature reviews are focused on a specific issue such as production planning or inventory management and ignore the broader perspective. There exists a need of having a detailed literature review covering all the operational issues in FSCM. This review fills this gap in the FSCM literature.
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Keyan Liu, Xuyue Yin, Xiumin Fan and Qichang He
The purpose of this paper is to give a comprehensive survey on the physics-based virtual assembly (PBVA) technology in a novel perspective, to analyze current drawbacks and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to give a comprehensive survey on the physics-based virtual assembly (PBVA) technology in a novel perspective, to analyze current drawbacks and propose several promising future directions.
Design/methodology/approach
To provide a deep insight of PBVA, a discussion of the developing context of PBVA and a comparison against constraint-based virtual assembly (CBVA) is put forward. The core elements and general structure are analyzed based on typical PBVA systems. Some common key issues as well as common drawbacks are discussed, based on which the research trend and several promising future directions are proposed.
Findings
Special attention is paid to new research progresses and new ideas concerning recent development as well as new typical systems of the technology. Advantages of PBVA over CBVA are investigated. Based on the analysis of typical PBVA systems and the evolution of PBVA, the core elements of the technology and the general structure of its implementation are identified. Then, current PBVA systems are summarized and classified. After that, key issues in the technology and current drawbacks are explored in detail. Finally, promising future directions are given, including both the further perfecting of the technology and the combination with other technologies.
Originality/value
The PBVA technology is put into a detailed review and analysis in a novel way, providing a better insight of both the theory and the implementation of the technology.
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Omran Mohamed AlShamsi and Mian M. Ajmal
This purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize the critical factors impacting knowledge sharing (KS) in technology-intensive manufacturing organizations in the United…
Abstract
Purpose
This purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize the critical factors impacting knowledge sharing (KS) in technology-intensive manufacturing organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to propose a decision-making framework for KS.
Design/methodology/approach
Analytical Hierarchical Process method is used to identify these critical factors impacting KS in technology-intensive manufacturing organizations in the UAE.
Findings
Results show that organizational leadership and culture are the most critical factors impacting KS in the technology-intensive manufacturing organizations.
Research limitations/implications
The data are collected from technology-intensive manufacturing organizations in the UAE; therefore, these cannot be generalized to other locations. Future research in different countries is required.
Practical implications
To implement successful KS practices in technology-intensive manufacturing organizations, it is essential that all impacting factors and sub-factors are well understood within the organizations.
Originality/value
This study is among the first studies in the region that presents a comprehensive framework for KS in manufacturing sector.
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Farag Edghiem, Xiuli Guo, Carl Bridge and Martin McAreavey
Based on initial observation, this paper aims to explore the current practices of collaborative knowledge sharing (KS) between North West Universities and highlight new avenues of…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on initial observation, this paper aims to explore the current practices of collaborative knowledge sharing (KS) between North West Universities and highlight new avenues of future relevant research.
Design/methodology/approach
A netnographic observation was conducted to unveil the current practices of KS between North West Universities.
Findings
The paper concludes that there is little or no evidence of collaborative KS practices amongst North West Universities in response to the present Covid-19 transition.
Practical implications
This paper provides useful, practical insight that may assist decision-makers to establish KS initiatives within North West Universities and beyond. A strategy is also proposed to nurture collaborative KS amongst North West Universities and within wider work-applied management practice.
Originality/value
This paper presents an unconventional conceptualisation of KS practices amid the present Covid-19 pandemic with the fresh perspective of North West England Universities.