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1 – 10 of 51Yin Shi, Liping Ding, Chenchen He, Fan Zhang, Zumeng Zhang and Qiyao Dai
This study aims to analyze those factors affecting the rural resident’s willingness to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) which is important for accelerating the popularization of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze those factors affecting the rural resident’s willingness to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) which is important for accelerating the popularization of clean energy in China.
Design/methodology/approach
This study contained a sample of 653 households in 8 provinces/regions by stratified, and random sampling in rural China. Descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis techniques have been used for analytical purposes.
Findings
The empirical results indicate that financial incentive and social interaction have positive effects on rural residents’ adoption willingness, while village leaders’ engagement can indirectly influence their adoption willingness through social interaction and residents’ cognition.
Research limitations/implications
This study mainly considers external and internal factors but ignores the effect of technical factors. In addition, the samples are just selected from the residents who have adopted solar PV.
Practical implications
This study is expected to be useful for the government, regulators, village leaders, village leaders and other institutions.
Originality/value
This study conducts a systematic analysis and clarifies the relationship between factors (external and internal) and rural residents’ adoption willingness. The village leaders’ engagement is first added to the conceptual model as an external factor, which is very essential in rural residents’ adoption in China.
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Xu Meng, Shujie Tan, Liping Ding, Yicha Zhang and Liheng Chen
The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using selective laser melting (SLM) process to print fine capillary wick porous structures for heat pipe…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using selective laser melting (SLM) process to print fine capillary wick porous structures for heat pipe applications and clarify the interrelations between the printing parameters and the structure functional performance to form guidelines for design and printing preparation.
Design/methodology/approach
A new toolpath-based construction method is adopted to prepare the printing of capillary wick with fine pores in SLM process. This method uses physical melting toolpath profile with associated printing parameters to directly define slices and assemble them into a printing data model to ensure manufacturability and reduce precision loss of data model transformation in the printing preparation stage. The performance of the sample was characterised by a set of standard experiments and the relationship between the printing parameters and the structure performance is modeled.
Findings
The results show that SLM-printed capillary wick porous structures exhibit better performance in terms of pore diameter and related permeability than that of structures formed using traditional sintering methods, generally 15 times greater. The print hatching space and infilling pattern have a critical impact on functional porosity and permeability. An empirical formula was obtained to describe this impact and can serve as a reference for the design and printing of capillary wicks in future applications.
Originality/value
This research proves the feasibility of using SLM process to printing functional capillary wicks in extremely fine pores with improved functional performance. It is the first time to reveal the relations among the pore shapes, printing parameters and functional performance. The research results can be used as a reference for heat pipe design and printing in future industrial applications.
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Liping Ding, Shujie Tan, Wenliang Chen, Yaming Jin and Yicha Zhang
The manufacturability of extremely fine porous structures in the SLM process has rarely been investigated, leading to unpredicted manufacturing results and preventing steady…
Abstract
Purpose
The manufacturability of extremely fine porous structures in the SLM process has rarely been investigated, leading to unpredicted manufacturing results and preventing steady medical or industrial application. The research objective is to find out the process limitation and key processing parameters for printing fine porous structures so as to give reference for design and manufacturing planning.
Design/methodology/approach
In metallic AM processes, the difficulty of geometric modeling and manufacturing of structures with pore sizes less than 350 μm exists. The manufacturability of porous structures in selective laser melting (SLM) has rarely been investigated, leading to unpredicted manufacturing results and preventing steady medical or industrial application. To solve this problem, a comprehensive experimental study was conducted to benchmark the manufacturability of the SLM process for extremely fine porous structures (less than 350 um and near a limitation of 100 um) and propose a manufacturing result evaluation method. Numerous porous structure samples were printed to help collect critical datasets for manufacturability analysis.
Findings
The results show that the SLM process can achieve an extreme fine feature with a diameter of 90 μm in stable process control, and the process parameters with their control strategies as well as the printing process planning have an important impact on the printing results. A statistical analysis reveals the implicit complex relations between the porous structure geometries and the SLM process parameter settings.
Originality/value
It is the first time to investigate the manufacturability of extremely fine porous structures of SLM. The method for manufacturability analysis and printing parameter control of fine porous structure are discussed.
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Liping Ding, Jiangshan Li, Yuqing Wang, Jing Shuai and Xinxin Xu
Under the pressure of environment degradation and energy consumption rises, solar photovoltaic power generation (SPPG) has been seen as a strategic emerging industry in China…
Abstract
Purpose
Under the pressure of environment degradation and energy consumption rises, solar photovoltaic power generation (SPPG) has been seen as a strategic emerging industry in China. However, the SPPG projects have many uncertain factors in the process of the life cycle. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the investment risk comprehensively.
Design/methodology/approach
Specifically, this paper firstly identified the risk factors and consequences of SPPG project investment and constructed the investment risk factor evaluation index system. Secondly, the factor analysis method was used to reveal the key investment risk factors and risk consequences. Then, the research hypotheses and conceptual model were proposed, and the empirical analysis was conducted based on the structural equation model (SEM).
Findings
The results showed that the six key risk factors (political, economic, technological, management, market and natural) have a significant impact on the risks during the whole period. The influence degree of risk factors in the operational period is such that market factor > political factor > economic factor > management factor > natural factor > technical factor. In addition, the risk of constructional period has a significant impact during the risk of operational period. Except for natural factors, all risk factors are correlated among the mutual influence relationship of risk factors. Finally, this paper puts forward management implications based on the above conclusions: effectively identify investment risk factors and comprehensively improve risk management ability; (refine the risk factors of SPPG project investment and develop targeted risk prevention and control strategies; define risk management objectives and make relevant strategic plans.
Research limitations/implications
Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalisability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.
Practical implications
It can also help stakeholders propose risk prevention strategies throughout the entire process, to promote the sustainable development of SPPG projects.
Originality/value
This study focuses on the investment risk of SPPG projects, by building an evaluation index system to identify key risk factors, and then establishes a SEM covering constructional period risks and operational period risks to better explore SPPG project risks, in an effort to reveal the mutual influence relationship and influence path of investment risk factors of the projects.
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Koichi Hioki, Eiichiro Suematsu and Hiroshi Miya
This study aims to investigates the appropriate number and kinds of accounting measures managers should use in their decision-making.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigates the appropriate number and kinds of accounting measures managers should use in their decision-making.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors apply an experimental method with 54 participants who work for a utility company in Japan.
Findings
This study suggests that under information overload, in which many measures are handled simultaneously, managers who have a high Need for Cognition (NFC) can no longer use either financial or customer perspective measures effectively, while when there is no information overload, they can use those measures. Managers with low NFC do not use customer perspective measures even when information overload does not occur.
Practical implications
This study concludes that we need to pay careful attention to differences in managers’ NFC as well as how many and what kind of measures should be provided to managers when designing multi-measures for performance evaluation.
Originality/value
This paper sheds light on the relationships among the number of measures, the characteristics of measures, and managers’ cognitive style when designing a management accounting system.
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Oana Alexandra Albertsen and Rainer Lueg
This paper aims to review the literature on the balanced scorecard (BSC) system. The BSC may well be one of the most popular performance measurement systems, but this is not…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the literature on the balanced scorecard (BSC) system. The BSC may well be one of the most popular performance measurement systems, but this is not synonymous with successful. The inventors of the BSC, Kaplan and Norton, actually emphasize that a BSC can only really impact the organizational performance if it is linked to the actors’ intrinsic and extrinsic incentives. As BSC has existed for more than 20 years, the authors find it relevant to survey the extant literature which elaborates on the BSC-incentives link within organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper identifies 117 empirical studies from leading academic journals published between 1992 and 2012 and then assesses 30 of these studies, which present the BSC-compensation link within the BSC literature. The authors analyze both research design (authors’ perspective) and the actual findings in the field (organizations’ perspective).
Findings
First, it was found that only 30 of 117 empirical studies have a research design that is comprehensive enough to capture a full BSC as suggested by Kaplan and Norton, and only six of these studies elaborate on the link between the BSC and compensation. Second, extant research lacks valid constructs for the BSC and focuses too much on planning (ex-ante) with the BSC and not sufficiently on evaluation and control (ex-post). Third, the authors demonstrate that empirical BSC literature relies very strongly on field research in small and medium enterprises compared to similar research. Overall, the authors claim that the “relevance” of the BSC remains unproven.
Originality/value
The authors synthesize the empirical BSC literature and derive a future research agenda.
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Pianpian Yang, Liping Qian and Songyue Zheng
The purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of the role of contracts in channel relationships. Treating contracts as a multidimensional construct, this study…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of the role of contracts in channel relationships. Treating contracts as a multidimensional construct, this study examines the effects of contractual issue inclusiveness and contractual obligatoriness on performance and opportunism, as well as the moderating effects of relational norms on the above relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the data of 206 samples collected from distributors of house furnishing, computer and computer components, moderated regression is used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The empirical test generally supports the conceptual model and provides three findings. First, contractual issue inclusiveness is more profound in enhancing relationship performance than contractual obligatoriness, and contractual obligatoriness is more statistically powerful in mitigating opportunism than contractual issue inclusiveness. Second, relational norms can enhance the positive effect of contractual issue inclusiveness but not contractual obligatoriness on performance. Third, relational norms can strengthen the negative effect of contractual obligatoriness but not contractual issue inclusiveness on opportunism.
Research limitations/implications
First, this study investigates only contractual issue inclusiveness and contractual obligatoriness, and future studies should consider other dimensions of contracts. Second, the influence of external environment is not considered in the model. Third, data from Chinese distributors limit the generalization of conclusions. Finally, data come only from buyers, and suppliers’ viewpoints are not included.
Practical implications
The results provide a framework for managers to use contracts and relational norms. Managers should pay attention to the alignment between contractual dimensions and firm objectives because various dimensions of contracts have different impacts on channel relationships.
Originality/value
Prior research has documented contracts’ role in coordinating channel relationships but has not achieved consistent conclusions on contracts’ effectiveness. Furthermore, extant research indicates that channel members will use contracts and relational norms simultaneously but has conflicting views on the combined effects of these two control mechanisms. The study contributes by addressing these issues.
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Xueting Dou, Alei Fan and Liping Cai
This paper aims to investigate how the contextual marketing strategy facilitated by mobile technology enhances consumers’ purchase intention and experiential quality in a hedonic…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate how the contextual marketing strategy facilitated by mobile technology enhances consumers’ purchase intention and experiential quality in a hedonic service setting – museum. Specifically, this study explores the impacts of a context-triggered push notification promoting context-related souvenirs embedded in the museum mobile app on visitors’ souvenir purchase intention and visit experience.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a scenario-based experimental design with video stimuli and a follow-up survey questionnaire. A total of 151 participants were randomly assigned to one of the two art museum visiting scenarios (i.e. with vs without the in-app push notification). A series of one-way ANOVA comparisons and serial mediation tests were conducted for hypotheses testing.
Findings
The results show that the mobile app promoting context-related souvenirs positively affects museum visitors’ souvenir purchase intention without undermining their experiential quality. The serial mediation effects through contextual perceived value and impulse buying tendency further explain how the in-app push notification influences visitors’ souvenir purchase intention.
Originality/value
This study extends the contextual marketing research to a unique service domain (i.e. museum) and contributes to the service technology literature. The findings present empirical evidence for the effectiveness of mobile contextual marketing and its potential to enhance consumers’ experiential quality in a hedonic service setting. The current research provides practical guidelines to both the museum management and mobile app developers.
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Wenhao Zhou, Hailin Li, Hufeng Li, Liping Zhang and Weibin Lin
Given the regional heterogeneity of economic development, electricity consumption in various regions exhibits a discrepant growth pattern. The purpose of this study is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the regional heterogeneity of economic development, electricity consumption in various regions exhibits a discrepant growth pattern. The purpose of this study is to construct a grey system forecasting model with intelligent parameters for predicting provincial electricity consumption in China.
Design/methodology/approach
First, parameter optimization and structural expansion are simultaneously integrated into a unified grey system prediction framework, enhancing its adaptive capabilities. Second, by setting the minimum simulation percentage error as the optimization goal, the authors apply the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to search for the optimal grey generation order and background value coefficient. Third, to assess the performance across diverse power consumption systems, the authors use two electricity consumption cases and select eight other benchmark models to analyze the simulation and prediction errors. Further, the authors conduct simulations and trend predictions using data from all 31 provinces in China, analyzing and predicting the development trends in electricity consumption for each province from 2021 to 2026.
Findings
The study identifies significant heterogeneity in the development trends of electricity consumption systems among diverse provinces in China. The grey prediction model, optimized with multiple intelligent parameters, demonstrates superior adaptability and dynamic adjustment capabilities compared to traditional fixed-parameter models. Outperforming benchmark models across various evaluation indicators such as root mean square error (RMSE), average percentage error and Theil’s index, the new model establishes its robustness in predicting electricity system behavior.
Originality/value
Acknowledging the limitations of traditional grey prediction models in capturing diverse growth patterns under fixed-generation orders, single structures and unadjustable background values, this study proposes a fractional grey intelligent prediction model with multiple parameter optimization. By incorporating multiple parameter optimizations and structure expansion, it substantiates the model’s superiority in forecasting provincial electricity consumption.
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This paper presents some views for corporations and governments regarding how to cope with rapid changes in globalization and sustainable environments that have begun to affect…
Abstract
This paper presents some views for corporations and governments regarding how to cope with rapid changes in globalization and sustainable environments that have begun to affect the economy, society, competition, and technology. Shifts toward a sustainable environment have become facts of life for corporations as well as for governments, thus they must accept it and deal with it. Corporations can utilize the Balance Scorecard Approach to control how they could achieve a Pareto Optimality (or at least to achieve a Pareto Improvement) for themselves and the society as a whole. Meanwhile governments can make use of the Balance Scorecard Approach to determine what kind of incentives should be given to corporations (such as a tax relief) or what kind of penalties should be enforced on corporations (such as fines and/or rescinding a corporation's right to operate) in order for governments to achieve a sustainable environment for all living and future creatures of the world.