Jiasen Sun, Shuqi Xu and Guo Li
The power industry is the pillar industry of the Chinese economy, and also a major carbon emitter. The performances of both the production and operation of the power industry are…
Abstract
Purpose
The power industry is the pillar industry of the Chinese economy, and also a major carbon emitter. The performances of both the production and operation of the power industry are crucial for a harmonious development of society. This study proposes an improved data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to analyze the sustainable performance of China's power supply chain (PSC).
Design/methodology/approach
To analyze the sustainable performance of PSC systems in China's provincial regions, this study proposes a two-stage directional distance function (DDF) model. The proposed model not only considers the leader–follower game relationship between the power-generation system and the retail system, but also considers the factors that measure the sustainability level of the PSC.
Findings
The proposed model is applied to assess the sustainable performance of the PSCs of China's provincial regions. The findings are valuable and mainly include the following aspects: First, compared with other models, this study regards the intermediate variable of the power system as a freely disposable variable; therefore, the efficiency of the proposed model is more realistic. Second, the average efficiency of China's power retailing system is generally lower than the average efficiency of its power-generation system. Third, significant regional differences affect the power-generation efficiency, while the regional differences in power retail efficiency are not significant. The power-generation performances of PSCs in East China and Northeast China are generally higher than in other regions.
Originality/value
This study introduces the convex technique into a DEA model and thus proposes an improved two-stage DDF DEA model. In response to the game-theoretic inherent in power systems, this study also introduces the leader–follower game into the two-stage model. In addition to the theoretic novelty, all PSCs can be classified with this model. Moreover, specific recommendations for each type of PSCs are proposed based on the efficiency results, thus providing vital guidance for the practice.
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Jiasen Sun, Shuqi Xu and Guo Li
To improve the sustainable performance of the power supply chain system (PSCS), the Chinese government proposed a series of relevant policies and promoted the application of…
Abstract
Purpose
To improve the sustainable performance of the power supply chain system (PSCS), the Chinese government proposed a series of relevant policies and promoted the application of various technologies in the power industry. This study analyzes the sustainable performance and technology levels of PSCSs in various regions of China.
Design/methodology/approach
To quantify the technological heterogeneity between PSCSs, this study incorporates a meta-frontier into the performance evaluation model. To increase the performance of inefficient PSCSs, this study also proposes a series of performance improvement path indexes.
Findings
Empirical analysis of China's provincial PSCSs, using data from 2014 to 2017, has yielded several key findings. First, the average performance of PSCSs of all provinces in China is 0.7192, indicating that PSCSs in China have great potential for improvement. Second, independent of power generation subsystem (PGS) or power retail subsystem (PRS), regional differences affect the technological heterogeneity of PSCSs in China. Third, for PGS, the technological level of PSCSs in the eastern region displays a high level, while the management level can still be greatly improved. Fourth, only the PSCS of Beijing is best in both PGS and PRS. The two subsystems of the PSCSs in the other provinces are either insufficiently managed or technologically inadequate.
Originality/value
Compared with the traditional performance model, the model proposed in this study considers the technological heterogeneity between PSCSs. In addition, the path indexes proposed in this study clearly indicate an improvement direction and the specific improvement level for inefficient PSCSs.
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Yigit Kazancoglu, Sachin Kumar Mangla, Malin Song, Guo Li and Flavio Hourneaux Junior
Kong Yushou, Ji Lingling, Wang Changyu, Li Liguo and Zeng Liming
To forecast the path of tropic cyclones by using a non‐linear statistical forecasting technique – the method of successive analogy.
Abstract
Purpose
To forecast the path of tropic cyclones by using a non‐linear statistical forecasting technique – the method of successive analogy.
Design/methodology/approach
Non‐linear statistical forecasting models can describe the non‐linear relationship between the factors and the forecasting objects and the real atmospheric movement more accurately, so they usually have stronger forecasting capability. In practice, however, it is shown that the relationships between predictors and predictands sometimes are so complex that it is very difficult or even impossible to establish the kind of non‐linear mathematical model. Therefore, it is an important topic for atmospheric science to solve non‐linear prediction problem of atmospheric systems by using the non‐function model approach.
Findings
The objective and quantitative prediction of tropical cyclone moving path can be given by using the method of successive analogy, a non‐linear forecasting technique, and calculating the similarity parameters between the grayscale field and the height field.
Research limitations/implications
Further experiments are needed to verify this technique.
Practical implications
A very useful technique for solving non‐linear problem.
Originality/value
Illustrates the new technique of solving non‐linear statistic problem and its application.
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Jiandong Lu, Xiaolei Wang, Liguo Fei, Guo Chen and Yuqiang Feng
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, ubiquitous social media has become a primary channel for information dissemination, social interactions and recreational…
Abstract
Purpose
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, ubiquitous social media has become a primary channel for information dissemination, social interactions and recreational activities. However, it remains unclear how social media usage influences nonpharmaceutical preventive behavior of individuals in response to the pandemic. This paper aims to explore the impacts of social media on COVID-19 preventive behaviors based on the theoretical lens of empowerment.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, survey data has been collected from 739 social media users in China to conduct structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that social media empowers individuals in terms of knowledge seeking, knowledge sharing, socializing and entertainment to promote preventive behaviors at the individual level by increasing each person's perception of collective efficacy and social cohesion. Meanwhile, social cohesion negatively impacts the relationship between collective efficacy and individual preventive behavior.
Originality/value
This study provides insights regarding the role of social media in crisis response and examines the role of collective beliefs in the influencing mechanism of social media. The results presented herein can be used to guide government agencies seeking to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
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This paper aims to investigate whether electroencephalography (EEG) technology is effective in qualifying the tactile sensation evoked by non-steady cutaneous electrical…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate whether electroencephalography (EEG) technology is effective in qualifying the tactile sensation evoked by non-steady cutaneous electrical stimulation. EEG is a novel method for electrotactile analysis and has demonstrated the discrimination ability for electrotactile sensation under steady contact conditions in recent years. However, in non-steady contact conditions, it is necessary to test its effectiveness. This study aims to explore an objective analysis method in comparison to psychophysical approach and to provide a methodology for non-steady electrotactile research.
Design/methodology/approach
With EEG experimentation on 13 volunteers, the authors collected evoked potentials by the predesigned “1” and “0” stimulation events. In addition, with a series of data preprocessing including artifact elimination, band-pass filtering, baseline normalization, data superposition and fast Fourier transform transformation, the authors got the power spectrum of alpha, beta and gamma rhythms. Furthermore, statistics analysis and ANOVA test were adopted for exploring the discrepancy of the spectrum characterizations for different non-steady electrostimulation events.
Findings
The EEG power spectrum of the central cortical brain is valuable in discriminating the two types of stimulation events. The power of alpha rhythm especially in the central cortical brain evoked by event “1,” whose current level is equal to the threshold, was significantly lower than that evoked by event “0,” whose level is less than the threshold (p < 0.05). Then, the power of the beta rhythm presented counter-change (p < 0.05). This study suggests that EEG may have the potential to qualify non-steady electrotactile sensation for engineering applications.
Research limitations/implications
Limiting factors of non-steady electrotactile stimulation were considered in this study. Different tapping frequency and contact time should be investigated in future studies.
Originality/value
This paper fulfills a challenge in qualifying the tactile sensations evoked by non-steady electrical stimulation with EEG characteristics.
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Zhen Xiao, Youqun Zhao, Fen Lin, Mingmin Zhu, Yaoji Deng and Liguo Zang
A novel non-pneumatic safety tire, namely mechanical elastic wheel (ME-Wheel), has been developed recently to solve problems, including tire bursting and flat tire, of typical…
Abstract
Purpose
A novel non-pneumatic safety tire, namely mechanical elastic wheel (ME-Wheel), has been developed recently to solve problems, including tire bursting and flat tire, of typical pneumatic tires. This paper aims to predict the life of the ME-Wheel accurately and settle the problem of lower lifespan.
Design/methodology/approach
This study proposes a new method to establish a novel model of virtual proving ground based on finite element analysis, and by combining with the random vibration damage analysis method, the life of an ME-Wheel is predicted precisely. Next, the weak parts and infinite life parts of the ME-Wheel are investigated from the perspective of constant life design, and an approximate response surface model is developed, which is suitable for the ME-Wheel. Then, the optimal results of the ME-Wheel are obtained, including tire modal, mass and its lifetime.
Findings
It is found that the proposed methods can provide a reliable theoretical basis for further improving the structural design and material selection of ME-Wheel parts. The results show that the improved ME-Wheel can reduce the weight and greatly improve the ability of anti-resonance, and the lifetime of ME-Wheel has significantly improved.
Originality/value
A new type of non-pneumatic tire (ME-Wheel) has been developed to avoid problems with traditional tires, such as tire leaking or puncture. A new method to establish a novel model of virtual proving ground based on finite element analysis has been proposed. The weakest key component of the ME-Wheel is determined. The life, mass and modal of the ME-Wheel are optimized.
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Yongyuan Ma and Liguo Xue
Today's business world has been tarnished with numerous corporate irresponsible behaviors. It is thus of great importance for firms to carry out crisis management on the condition…
Abstract
Purpose
Today's business world has been tarnished with numerous corporate irresponsible behaviors. It is thus of great importance for firms to carry out crisis management on the condition of corporate social irresponsibility (CSI). Taking a contingent social media crisis management perspective, the authors aim to investigate the relation between CSI and firm value while also examining the moderating effects of being known in social media and generalized favorability in social media on this relation.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical analysis conducted in the authors' research is based on a sample of 203 CSI events that occurred within publicly listed firms in China between 2011 and 2015. During the process of the authors' data collection, the authors initially verified the occurrence of CSI events in publicly listed firms by reviewing reports from reputable sources such as the 21st Century Business Herald and China Securities Journal. Subsequently, the authors collected the information pertaining to media coverage of these CSI events from the China Core Newspapers Full-text Database (CCND). Additionally, the authors obtained the remaining data from reliable sources such as Guba, the China Stock Market and Accounting Research Database (CSMAR) and the Chinese News Analytics Database (CNAD). To test the authors' hypotheses, the event study and multiple-regression analysis methods are adopted.
Findings
The authors find CSI generates a negative impact on firm value. Moreover, while being known in social media strengthens the negative relation between CSI and firm value, generalized favorability in social media weakens such relation.
Research limitations/implications
There are two streams of limitations that present promising avenues for future studies. Theoretically, the authors explore the mechanisms of CSI affecting firm value from a contingent social media crisis management perspective. Consequently, the authors' study does not encompass other potential mechanisms that may exist in the CSI–firm value linkage. In terms of empirical analysis, three issues arise that provide opportunities for further investigation. First, the authors have not accounted for all potential factors that could influence the link between CSI and firm value. Second, the authors' data are subject to limitation since it comes from manual collection. At last, because the authors confirm the sample based on the actual CSI events of publicly listed firms in China, the authors' sample size is small.
Originality/value
The authors' findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the relation between CSI and firm value, as well as effective strategies for responding to CSI through the utilization of social media. Consequently, the authors' results have the potential to stimulate further research on the implications of CSI and the management of corporate crises through social media platforms.
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Dan Pan, Yingheng Zhou and Liguo Zhang
This paper examines the impact of livestock environment regulations (LERs) on the location dynamics of the livestock farming industry. Specifically, it tests whether a “pollution…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the impact of livestock environment regulations (LERs) on the location dynamics of the livestock farming industry. Specifically, it tests whether a “pollution haven effect” (PHE) exists in the Chinese livestock industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors manually collected LERs data based on the frequency of livestock-related vocabulary in government work reports from 279 prefecture-level cities from 2010 to 2017. Using China's implementation of LERs since 2014 as a natural experiment, the authors employed difference-in-difference (DID) to avoid the endogeneity problem.
Findings
LERs have led to a decline in livestock production in regulated areas. Moreover, compared with areas with more stringent LERs – southern China and developed areas, areas where LERs are less stringent – northern China and undeveloped areas, attract more livestock industry. As a result, people in northern China and undeveloped areas are exposed to higher livestock pollution.
Originality/value
First, most empirical studies on PHE focus on industrial firms. PHE in the livestock industry has received limited attention. This paper aims to fill this gap. Second, this paper regards LERs as an endogenous process and uses the DID method to generate unbiased results. Third, this paper introduces a novel measurement of LERs based on the frequency of livestock-related vocabulary in government work reports from each prefecture city. Fourth, this paper uses prefecture-level data to analyze the PHE of LERs, and thus obtains more reliable results.
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Liguo Xu, Pinging Fu and Youmin Xi
The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the indigenous concept of suzhi at individual and organizational levels, and identify its dimensions for human resource management…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the indigenous concept of suzhi at individual and organizational levels, and identify its dimensions for human resource management (HRM) research and practice in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a comprehensive review of suzhi literature, Chinese cultural and historical literature, as well as Western mainstream HRM research, a multidimensional suzhi framework is conceptualized.
Findings
As an indigenous expression, suzhi can be and has been adopted for Chinese HRM research and practice. As a multidimensional construct, one’s cognitive suzhi is jointly determined by corresponding moral suzhi, wenhua (knowledge-based) suzhi and zhuanye (professional) suzhi. Cognitive suzhi, in turn, determines one’s behavioral suzhi that drives employees to enhance organizational performance, and this relationship is moderated by psychological suzhi.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed framework provides new insight for Chinese indigenous management research, particularly in developing suzhi measurement for different dimensions. It also informs HRM practices in recruiting, selection, performance analysis and employee career development.
Originality/value
The complexity of suzhi dimensions from an organizational HRM perspective is analyzed. The resulting suzhi framework offers new insight for HRM research and practices in China.