Giulio Zecca, Paul Couderc, Michel Banâtre and Roberto Beraldi
The purpose of this paper is to show how a swarm of robots can cooperate to achieve a common task, in a totally distributed and autonomous way, by exploiting powerful clues…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show how a swarm of robots can cooperate to achieve a common task, in a totally distributed and autonomous way, by exploiting powerful clues contained in some devices that are distributed in the environment. This system exploits a coordination mechanism that is twofold, using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for spatial coordination, and wireless robot‐to‐robot communication for the temporal and semantic synchronization.
Design/methodology/approach
Progress in the pervasive computing field has led to the distribution of knowledge and computational power in the environment, rather than condensing it in a single, powerful entity. This vision of ambient intelligence is supported by the interchange of information between physically sparse agents cooperating to achieve a common goal. An emerging method for this kind of collaboration considers the agents as insects in a swarm, having the possibility of communicating directly or indirectly with each other. The goal is to fulfill a common task, showing that a collaborative behavior can be useful in the real world. The paper focuses on a technique for the coordination of swarm‐robots with low capabilities, driven by instructions learned from RFID tags used as distributed pervasive memories. These robots exploit ubiquitous computing to regroup in a synchronization area, make a formation in space, coordinate with team‐mates in the same zone, and finally complete a cooperative task. The algorithm is validated through a simulation environment, showing its applicability and performance, before the real implementation on Roomba‐like robots.
Findings
The goal of the research is to prove the feasibility of such a novel approach. It is observed that a swarm of robots can achieve a good degree of autonomous cooperation without a central infrastructure or global network, carrying out a goal in a fair time.
Originality/value
The value is given by the benefits of splitting the synchronization semantics into two levels: space, by exploiting RFID landmarks; and time, by exploiting wireless short‐range communication. RFID tags are used to distribute computational power and actively interact with the surrounding areas, allowing to learn and modify the state of the environment. Robot‐to‐robot communication, instead, is used for providing timing and semantic information. In the proposal, this augmented environment is used to allow a good level of coordination among robots, both in time and space, with the aim of building a cooperative system.
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Paul J. Woodfield, Deborah Shepherd and Christine Woods
This paper aims to investigate how family winegrowing businesses can be sustained across generations.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate how family winegrowing businesses can be sustained across generations.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors engaged a multi-level case study approach. In total, 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted with three winegrowing firms in New Zealand. All family members (both senior and next generation) employed in each business were interviewed alongside non-family employees.
Findings
Three key dimensions – knowledge sharing, entrepreneurial characteristics and leadership attributes – were identified that can support successful successions in family winegrowing businesses.
Originality/value
The authors have generated a theory that enables academicians and practitioners to understand how family winegrowing businesses can be successfully sustained across generations. The authors argue that knowledge is a central feature in family firms where previous research combines knowledge with entrepreneurial orientation or the resources and capabilities of a firm.
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Paul Tracey, Nelson Phillips and Michael Lounsbury
Despite its central importance in nearly all societies, religion has been largely neglected in the study of organizations and management. In this introduction to the volume on…
Abstract
Despite its central importance in nearly all societies, religion has been largely neglected in the study of organizations and management. In this introduction to the volume on religion and organization theory, we argue that such neglect limits unnecessarily the relevance and scope of organization and management theory (OMT) and that there is therefore great value in connecting organizational research with a deeper appreciation and concern for religion. We begin by speculating about some of the reasons why organization and management theorists are hesitant to study religion, and go on to discuss some nascent points of contact between religion and OMT. We conclude with a discussion of the articles in this volume, which represent an attempt to remedy this unfortunate blind spot within OMT scholarship.
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Coralie Haller, Isabelle Hess-Misslin and Jean-Paul Mereaux
Several studies in management science have called for a better understanding of the experience economy approach to develop wine tourism. Few studies, however, have analysed…
Abstract
Purpose
Several studies in management science have called for a better understanding of the experience economy approach to develop wine tourism. Few studies, however, have analysed experiential dimensions in the context of French wine-growing regions. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the difference between what wine tourism providers consider relevant in their market offer and what customers expect from their wine tourism experience. A new categorisation of wine tourists’ expectations based on Pine and Gilmore’s (1998) four realms model and Quadri-Felliti and Fiore’s model (2012) are developed.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed methodology, qualitatively analysing 17 semi-structural interviews with the main wine tourism stakeholders in the Alsace region in north-east France and quantitatively analysing 233 questionnaires on wine tourists’ expectations and behaviours are adopted.
Findings
The study reveals a difference between experiential offers predicated on an educational approach and the explicit expectations of wine tourists (combining aesthetics, conviviality and authenticity, whose central focus is an encounter with the winemaker). Overall, the findings point to a need for greater inclusion of the experiential aspect in the offer designed for wine tourists.
Originality/value
The study identifies a gap between the educational dimension that professionals tend to promote in their offers and the real expectations of wine tourists who express more interest in the aesthetic dimension provided by an attractive visit environment and an enjoyable experience. At the heart of the authentic experience for wine tourists is meeting the winegrower, making authenticity a major factor.
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Emmanuel Asare, De-Graft Owusu-Manu, Joshua Ayarkwa, I. Martek and David John Edwards
This paper is a response to the failure of construction firms to use sufficient attention to their working capital management (WCM) practices, resulting in operational challenges…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper is a response to the failure of construction firms to use sufficient attention to their working capital management (WCM) practices, resulting in operational challenges, and leading to the collapse of firms in most developing countries. Hence, this study aims to explore the empirical perspective of WCM practices among large building construction firms (LBCFs) in Ghana, to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 9.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collected primary data through structured survey questionnaires from LBCFs in Ghana. The CEOs/Directors, General Managers and Accountant/Finance of LBCFs in Ghana formed the unit of analysis based on a simple random sampling technique. Mean score, standard deviation and one-sample t-test were used to perform the empirical analysis of the study.
Findings
According to this study's empirical results, LBCFs appear to have effective WCM practices in place. This was evidenced in the surveyed responses which indicate that the sector’s WCM practices sound good based on the mean scores and statistically significant as the t-values > 1.664. Notably, LBCFs in Ghana pay their suppliers early to reduce the fear of adverse effect of late payments on their credit history, making them conservative in their approach toward financial management.
Originality/value
This is a pioneering paper in a developing country like Ghana, highlighting the significance of gaining an in-depth understanding of WCM practices among LBCFs. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable information to industry players toward ensuring WCM efficiencies and can serve as a solid foundation for further empirical studies.
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Wu Yihua, Fanchen Meng, Muhammad Farrukh, Ali Raza and Imtiaz Alam
This study aims to analyze the International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management (IMEFM) publication structure based on broad criteria including…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management (IMEFM) publication structure based on broad criteria including citations, authors, institutions, countries, papers and keywords using the Scopus database over a period of 12 years.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the bibliometric technique is used to analyze the advancement of IMEFM. Bibliometrics is a research field of library and information science that studies bibliographic material with quantitative methods.
Findings
The results show a steady increase in the citation and publication structure of the IMEFM. That reflects its developing stature as a key academic outlet. The journal is advancing knowledge in Islamic finance and management research.
Practical implications
This study presents a macro view of the journey of IMEFM over the past 12 years. That presents the audience with an opportunity to understand the trend and focus of the journal.
Originality/value
Bibliometric analysis contributed to the theoretical development of the IMEFM journal in the following ways. First, it describes the evolution and intellectual structure by identifying and classifying the most common themes in the journal. More specifically, this analysis underscores two important milestones: IMEFM has emerged as a robust academic outlet, and its comprehensive focus on Islamic finance and other related areas. Furthermore, the bibliometric analysis of IMEFM’s citations and knowledge stock pattern summarizes the scientific community contributing to its evolution and development. Finally, this study’s results offer future research directions.