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1 – 10 of 260Usman Aftab, Muhammad Usman Hassan, Fahim Ullah, Abdur Rehman Nasir and Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem
This study aims to address the key issues concerning supplier selection in traditional construction procurement by proposing an innovative, novel, state-of-the-art prototype…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to address the key issues concerning supplier selection in traditional construction procurement by proposing an innovative, novel, state-of-the-art prototype plugin building information modelling – supplier search and ranking (BIM-SSR) and an associated conceptual framework. It enhances building information modelling (BIM) capabilities through web crawling and analytical hierarchy processes (AHP). It uses the World Wide Web to procure construction material suppliers.
Design/methodology/approach
Prevalent issues in traditional procurement of material suppliers have been identified through a rigorous literature review. Field experts vetted these issues. A framework has been presented to address these issues based on integrated web crawling and AHP as a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. A BIM prototype (BIM-SSR) has been developed using Python and plugged into Autodesk Revit to automate the search and evaluation of material suppliers based on precise material specifications from the BIM design. The BIM-SSR prototype is tested through a case study and validated by field professionals for its efficiency in tackling the identified issues.
Findings
Thirteen key issues have been identified concerning traditional construction procurement pertinent to supplier selection. Best-value procurement was encouraged by identifying supplier selection criteria such as cost, delivery time, experience, compliance with quality management standards, warranties, and claim period. The presented BIM-SSR prototype has an efficiency of 80%–95% in addressing the issues identified in this study and 97.5% effectiveness in improving the overall procurement management process.
Originality/value
The BIM-SSR prototype developed in this study is a novel and innovative addition to the body of knowledge that has been integrated into Autodesk Revit as a Plugin. Automation of supplier search and selection through digital technologies, including web crawling and integration of traditionally accepted MCDM methods such as AHP in BIM, is another innovation in the current study. Overall, this study presents a holistic, innovative system, from conceptual design to practical implementation and demonstration. This is one of the steps to help the traditional construction procurement process evolve into a more modern and digital procurement.
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Muhammad Asfund Khalid, Muhammad Usman Hassan, Fahim Ullah and Khursheed Ahmed
The debate around automation through digital technologies has gathered traction in line with the advancement of Industry 4.0. Blockchain-powered construction progress payment has…
Abstract
Purpose
The debate around automation through digital technologies has gathered traction in line with the advancement of Industry 4.0. Blockchain-powered construction progress payment has emerged as an area that can benefit from such automation. However, the challenges inherent in real-time construction payment processes cannot be solely mitigated by blockchain. Including building information modeling (BIM)-based schedule information stored in decentralized storage linked with a smart contract (SC) can allow the efficient administration of payments. Accordingly, this study aims to present an integrated BIM-blockchain system (BBS) to administer decentralized progress payments in construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-method approach is adopted, including an extensive literature review, development of the integrated BBS, and a case study with 13 respondents to test and validate the BBS. This study proposes a BBS that extracts the invoices from BIM and pushes them to the decentralized app (dApp) for digital payment to the contractor through the Ethereum blockchain. The Solc npm package was used to compile the backend SC. Next.js was used to create the front end of the dApp. The Web3 npm package is paramount in developing a dApp. A total of 13 construction professionals working on the case study project were engaged through a questionnaire survey to comment on and validate the proposed BBS. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the case study data to apprehend the responses of expert professionals.
Findings
The proposed BBS creates an SC, enables sender verification, checks contract complaints, verifies bills, and processes the currency flow based on a coded payment logic. After passing the initial checks, the bill amount is processed and made available for the contractor to claim. Every activity on dApp leaves its trace on the blockchain ledger. A control mechanism for accepting or rejecting the invoice is also incorporated into the system. The case study-based validation confirmed that the proposed BBS could increase payment efficiency (92.3%), tackle financial misconduct (84.6%), ensure transparency and audibility (92.4%), and ensure payment security (61%) in construction projects. A total of 46.2% of respondents were skeptical of the BBS because of its dependency on cryptocurrencies. A further 23.1% of respondents indicated that the price fluctuation of cryptocurrencies is a major barrier to BBS adoption. Others highlighted the absence of legal frameworks for cryptocurrencies’ usage.
Originality/value
This study opens the avenue for the application of dApp for autonomous contract management and progress payments, which is flexible with applications across various construction processes. Overall, it is a potential solution to the endemic problem of cash flow that has devastating consequences for all project stakeholders. This is also aligned with the goals of Industry 4.0, where process automation is a key focus. The study provides a practice application for automated progress payments that can be leveraged in construction projects across the globe.
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Hassan Ashraf, Alishbah Ali, Riza Yosia Sunindijo, Ahsen Maqsoom, Shoeb Ahmed Memon and Muhammad Usman Hassan
This research aims to examine the influence of workers' identification with their supervisors on safety behaviour in construction projects.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to examine the influence of workers' identification with their supervisors on safety behaviour in construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing the job demands–resources theory, this research tested the relationships among relational identification as a personal resource, respectful engagement as a job resource, employee safety voice as a positive work behaviour and safety behaviour as the outcome. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse 120 quantitative data collected using a questionnaire survey.
Findings
Relational identification, which reflects workers' identification with their supervisors, is a significant predictor of safety behaviour. Furthermore, respectful engagement and employee safety voice sequentially mediate the relationship between relational identification and safety behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
The internalisation of safety norms, values and practices in construction projects is contingent on the identification of workers with their supervisors.
Originality/value
Safety behaviour of workers is a significant predictor of safety performance in construction projects. Research on numerous antecedents of safety behaviour points out that leadership is a significant predictor of construction workers' safe behaviour. Contributing to research on construction safety leadership, this research found that leader-subordinate relationship is key to make construction workers more psychologically ready to internalise the importance of safety behaviours at work.
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Asad Hassan Butt, Hassan Ahmad, Asif Muzaffar, Waseem Irshad, Muhammad Usman Mumtaz and Talha Zubair Ahmad Khan
This study aims to investigate how gamification, namely, WeChat’s cultural gifting function, improves emotional involvement among three generations (Y, X and silver) in mobile…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate how gamification, namely, WeChat’s cultural gifting function, improves emotional involvement among three generations (Y, X and silver) in mobile payments. It draws attention to the beneficial effects of cultural components and digital intimacy on gamified mobile payment systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected from Y, X and silver generation in Dalian, China. The users were well equipped with the WeChat pay features and had experience. The PLS-SEM software was used to assess the data.
Findings
The findings show that consumer word of mouth and loyalty are positively impacted by perceived utility, fun, and enjoyment. Besides, gamification components like fun and playfulness have a favourable effect on how useful mobile payments are judged to be. It demonstrates how delighted and ecstatic users are with WeChat Hongbao. In addition, the positive moderation effect of intimacy on the hypothesised connections shows that all three generations are likely to accept gamified money features. These results provide a substantial contribution to our comprehension of gamification in the context of mobile payment services for all three generations.
Originality/value
The study is distinctive because it focuses on how China’s three generations use WeChat Pay for routine transactions. The framework confirms that the gamification elements improve user performance and encourage continued usage of mobile payment systems.
Objetivo
Este estudio investiga cómo la gamificación, específicamente la función de regalos culturales de WeChat, mejora la participación emocional entre tres generaciones (Y, X y plata) en los pagos móviles. Se presta atención a los efectos beneficiosos de los componentes culturales y la intimidad digital en los sistemas de pago móvil gamificados.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque/Metodología/Enfoque
Los datos fueron recopilados de las generaciones Y, X y plata en Dalian, China. Los usuarios estaban familiarizados con las características de pago de WeChat y tenían experiencia. Se utilizó el software PLS-SEM para evaluar los datos.
Resultados
Los resultados muestran que la reputación y la lealtad del consumidor son positivamente influenciadas por la utilidad percibida, la diversión y el disfrute. Los componentes de gamificación, como la diversión y la jugabilidad, tienen un efecto favorable en cómo se juzga la utilidad de los pagos móviles. Se demuestra cuán encantados están los usuarios con WeChat Hongbao. Además, la moderación positiva de la intimidad en las relaciones supuestas muestra que las tres generaciones tienen probabilidades de aceptar las características de dinero gamificado. Estos resultados contribuyen sustancialmente a nuestra comprensión de la gamificación en el contexto de los servicios de pago móvil para las tres generaciones.
Originalidad
El estudio es novedoso ya que se centra en cómo las tres generaciones de China utilizan WeChat Pay para transacciones rutinarias. El marco confirma que los elementos de gamificación mejoran el rendimiento del usuario y fomentan el uso continuado de los sistemas de pago móvil.
目的
本研究探讨了游戏化, 即微信的文化赠送功能, 如何提高三代人(Y、X和银发族)在移动支付中的情感投入。它引起了人们对文化成分和数字亲密关系对游戏化移动支付系统的有益影响的注意。
设计/方法/途径
数据来自中国大连市的Y、X和银发族用户。用户对微信支付功能非常熟悉, 并具有使用经验。采用PLS-SEM软件对数据进行评估。
研究结果
结果表明, 消费者的口碑和忠诚度受到了感知效用、乐趣和享受的积极影响。乐趣和趣味等游戏化组件对移动支付的有用性评估产生了积极影响, 展示了用户对微信红包的喜悦和兴奋程度。此外, 亲密关系对假设连接的正向调节效应表明, 三代人都可能接受游戏化货币功能。这些结果为我们理解移动支付服务背景下游戏化对三代人的贡献提供了实质性的帮助。
创新性
该研究独特之处在于它着眼于中国三代人如何将微信支付用于日常交易。该框架证实了游戏化元素如何提高用户绩效并鼓励继续使用移动支付系统。
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Rehan Zahid, Masjuki Hj. Hassan, Abdullah Alabdulkarem, Mahendra Varman, Md. Abul Kalam, Riaz Ahmad Mufti, Nurin Wahidah Mohd Zulkifli, Mubashir Gulzar, Muhammad Usman Bhutta, Mian Ashfaq Ali, Usman Abdullah and Robiah H. Yunus
There is a continuous drive in automotive sector to shift from conventional lubricants to environmental friendly ones without adversely affecting critical tribological performance…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a continuous drive in automotive sector to shift from conventional lubricants to environmental friendly ones without adversely affecting critical tribological performance parameters. Because of their favorable tribological properties, chemically modified vegetable oils such as palm trimethylolpropane ester (TMP) are one of the potential candidates for the said role. To prove the suitability of TMP for applications involving boundary-lubrication regime such as cam/tappet interface of direct acting valve train system, a logical step forward is to investigate their compatibility with conventional lubricant additives.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, extreme pressure and tribological characteristics of TMP, formulated with glycerol mono-oleate (GMO), molybdenum dithiocarbamate (MoDTC) and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), has been investigated using four-ball wear tester and valve train test rig. For comparison, additive-free and formulated versions of polyalphaolefin (PAO) were used as reference. Moreover, various surface characterization techniques were deployed to investigate mechanisms responsible for a particular tribological behavior.
Findings
In additive-free form, TMP demonstrated better extreme pressure characteristics compared to PAO and lubricant additives which are actually optimized for conventional base-oils such as PAO, are also proved to be compatible with TMP to some extent, especially ZDDP. During cylinder head tests, additive-free TMP proved to be more effective compared to PAO in reducing friction of cam/tappet interface, but opposite behavior was seen when formulated lubricants were used. Therefore, there is a need to synthesize specialized friction modifiers, anti-wear and extreme pressure additives for TMP before using it as engine lubricant base-oil.
Originality/value
In this study, additive-free and formulated versions of bio-lubricant are tested for cam/tappet interface of direct acting valve train system of commercial passenger car diesel engine for the very test time. Another important aspect of this research was comparison of important tribological performance parameters (friction torque, wear, rotational speed of tappet) of TMP-based lubricants with conventional lubricant base oil, that is, PAO and its formulated version.
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Naveed Ahmad, Amran Harun, Hafiz Muhammad Usman Khizar, Junaid Khalid and Shumaila Khan
The purpose of this study is to examine the drivers and barriers of travel behavior associated with tourist behavior during/post-COVID-19 pandemic to provide a knowledge base as…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the drivers and barriers of travel behavior associated with tourist behavior during/post-COVID-19 pandemic to provide a knowledge base as well as an agenda for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors utilized the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) technique for searching the articles published in Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus, to identify the main drivers and barriers affecting the tourist behavior during/post-COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, 47 articles were chosen for the final analysis.
Findings
The findings are reported in three sections, (1) quantitative research profile, (2) qualitative synthesis and (3) future agenda. This study addresses the nuanced questions regarding the significant change in tourist travel behavior, emotional dynamics and a detailed understanding of mechanisms, such as which drivers and barriers affect tourist behavior in a particular destination. Drivers and barriers to tourist travel behavior were characterized in personal-related, destination-related, and health-related factors. Moreover, this study provides thought-provoking ideas in theory, policy and practice in the field of tourism and hospitality.
Research limitations/implications
This study has three limitations, as follows. First, the authors searched only two databases, Scopus and Web of Science, due to which the authors might be missing some related studies existing on the other databases. Although these databases provide an extensive range of academic literature, further studies could extend the data collection from the other databases (e.g. via Taylor & Francis). However, our systematic literature review (SLR) coverage is quite extensive, since journals are listed on these three main databases. Second, the authors followed a main study search protocol based on the synonyms and related keywords, however, some of the studies that may be related to the tourist behavior towards the destination are missing on account of the lack of our keywords in there, title, author, keyword and abstract. Furthermore, future research could endeavor to add other keywords to expand the results of studies. Third, although the accurate analysis was conducted to reduce subjectivity in identifying themes for drivers and barriers of tourist behavior, future studies on categorization could work to ensure that other sub-themes categorize.
Practical implications
The recent study has some key practical implications. First, this study is valuable for all the stakeholders in a unique way, including destination managers, academicians and policymakers, because it provides insight into barriers and drivers that influence the development of tourist behavior towards the destination. Second, the current study also offers practical implications for people involved in tourism service industries including governments and private businesses. Policymakers and other leaders are increasingly interested in harnessing the economic potential of tourism. Therefore, identifying the barrier which is inhibiting the tourist traffic towards the destination is beneficial to understand and effectively develop strategies to minimize the effect of such factors. Moreover, drivers and barriers of tourist behavior towards the destination in the COVID-19 pandemic situation towards the destination may help to create a framework for the development of destinations according to the current vulnerable situation. Third, current findings suggest that tourism marketers understand the drivers and barrier constructs found in this study and tailor their marketing strategies for attracting existing and new tourists. For instance, marketers should understand the drivers and barriers of tourist behavior for effective strategy development to increase the positive effect of drivers and to reduce the negative effect of barriers.
Originality/value
This is the first systematic literature review on the impact of drivers and barriers of tourist travel behavior. This paper analyses the methods and approaches that have been used in the previous literature to examine the drivers and barriers of tourist travel behavior. The paper ends with the research implication and limitations of the studies.
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Ummer Farooque, Muhammad Usman Awan and Muhammad Shafiq
The purpose of this study is to develop a scale for measuring housing quality in the context of Pakistan.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to develop a scale for measuring housing quality in the context of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The inductive and deductive approaches for item generation have been combined, and items have been purified using multistage expert review. Data was collected from a sizeable purposive sample of 445 respondents, and exploratory and confirmatory factor approaches used for assessing psychometric properties of the scale.
Findings
The result is a 21-item scale covering five dimensions, namely, Design and Construction Quality, Neighborhood Quality, Adequacy of Space, Quality of Institutional Services and Proximity of Basic Amenities.
Originality/value
This study contributes to housing quality literature by deepening our understanding of the concept of housing quality in the context of Pakistan, the world’s fifth most populous country. The findings of the study have important implications for both theory and practice.
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Iqra Hassan Syeda, Mansoor Muhammad Alam, Usman Illahi and Mazliham Muhammad Su'ud
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of smart agriculture systems and monitor and identify the technologies which can be used for deriving traditional agriculture…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of smart agriculture systems and monitor and identify the technologies which can be used for deriving traditional agriculture system to modern agriculture system. It also provides the reader a broad area to work for the advancement in the field of agriculture and also explains the use of advanced technologies such as spectral imaging, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of agriculture.
Design/methodology/approach
Smart uses of modern technologies were reviewed in the field of agriculture, which helps to monitor stress levels of plants and perform operations according to requirements. Operations can be irrigation, pests spray, monitoring crops, monitoring yield production, etc. Based on the literature review, a smart agriculture system is suggested. The parameters studied were spectral image processing, AI, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) (fixed and rotatory), water or soil moisture, nutrients and pesticides.
Findings
The use of autonomous vehicles and AI techniques has been suggested through which the agriculture system becomes much more efficient. The world will switch to the smart agriculture system in the upcoming era completely. The authors conclude that autonomous vehicle in the field of science is time-saving and health efficient for both plants and workers in the fields. The suggested system increases the productivity of crops and saves the assets as well.
Originality/value
This review paper discusses the various contemporary technologies used in the field of agriculture and it will help future researchers to build on this research. This paper reveals that the UAVs along with multispectral, hyperspectral or red, green and blue camera (depends on the need) and AI are more suitable for the advancement of agriculture and increasing yield rate.
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Shafique Ur Rehman, Muhammad Usman, Yudi Fernando, Diyana Kamarudin and Abdul Waheed
This paper aims to model the mediating effects of facilitating conditions and innovativeness in the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and blockchain technology (BT) on…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to model the mediating effects of facilitating conditions and innovativeness in the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and blockchain technology (BT) on manufacturing supply chain performance (MSCP).
Design/methodology/approach
Partial least square structural equation modelling was used to test the goodness of the model fit and hypotheses by using SmartPLS 3.3.3. Data was collected from 464 managers in Pakistan’s automotive industry through a stratified random sampling technique.
Findings
IIoT, BT, facilitating conditions and innovativeness significantly enhanced the MSCP. Therefore, the mediation between facilitating conditions and innovativeness to IIoT and BT adoption was significant in the MSCP.
Practical implications
The adoption of digital technology to improve the MSCP can assist companies in reducing the cost of complex procurement, production and distribution processes through secured and efficient operations. Furthermore, organisations must establish a conducive atmosphere that fosters experimentation, collaboration and resource allocation towards technological advancements to capitalise on the advantages of these technologies effectively.
Originality/value
This study developed a research model integrating IIoT technology, BT, facilitating conditions and innovativeness to determine the MSCP under the resource-based view theory. The outcome of this study could help organisations design a framework to improve supply chain performance by integrating innovativeness.
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Talat Islam, Ishfaq Ahmed, Ahmad Usman and Muhammad Ali
Abusive supervision is found to influence the workplace negatively but how it predicts knowledge hiding behavior is an area that has not gained due attention in the literature. To…
Abstract
Purpose
Abusive supervision is found to influence the workplace negatively but how it predicts knowledge hiding behavior is an area that has not gained due attention in the literature. To this backdrop, this study aims to investigate the effect of abusive supervision on knowledge hiding behavior considering future orientation and Islamic work ethics (IWE) as moderators.
Design/methodology/approach
The data from 396 employees, working in both manufacturing and service sectors, is collected through a questionnaire-based survey in two-lags between November 2019 and January 2020.
Findings
Structural equation modeling highlighted that a positive relationship exists between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding behavior. Moreover, higher levels of IWE and future orientation are found to weaken the said relationship.
Practical implications
This paper provides practical understandings into extenuating the destructive effects of the dark side of leadership (abusive supervision), a prevalent issue in Asian societies, through the lens of personality (future orientation) and belief (IWE).
Originality/value
This study adds value by investigating the relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding by demonstrating the moderating effects of IWE and future orientation in the context of Pakistan.
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