Ting-Peng Liang, Lionel Robert, Suprateek Sarker, Christy M.K. Cheung, Christian Matt, Manuel Trenz and Ofir Turel
This paper reports the panel discussion on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and robots in our lives. This discussion was held at the Digitization of the Individual (DOTI…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper reports the panel discussion on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and robots in our lives. This discussion was held at the Digitization of the Individual (DOTI) workshop at the International Conference on Information Systems in 2019. Three scholars (in alphabetical order: Ting-Peng Liang, Lionel Robert and Suprateek Sarker) who have done AI- and robot-related research (to varying degrees) were invited to participate in the panel discussion. The panel was moderated by Manuel Trenz.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper introduces the topic, chronicles the responses of the three panelists to the questions the workshop chairs posed and summarizes their responses, such that readers can have an overview of research on AI and robots in individuals' lives and insights about future research directions.
Findings
The panelists discussed four questions with regard to their research experiences on AI- and robot-related topics. They expressed their viewpoints on the underlying nature, potential and effects of AI in work and personal life domains. They also commented on the ethical dilemmas for research and practice and provided their outlook for future research in these emerging fields.
Originality/value
This paper aggregates the panelists' viewpoints, as expressed at the DOTI workshop. Crucial ethical and theoretical issues related to AI and robots in both work and personal life domains are addressed. Promising research directions to these cutting-edge research fields are also proposed.
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Deng-Neng Chen and Ting-Peng Liang
Knowledge has been considered a crucial organizational asset for gaining competitive advantages. It is critical for a firm to maintain a knowledge composition that is productive…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge has been considered a crucial organizational asset for gaining competitive advantages. It is critical for a firm to maintain a knowledge composition that is productive. This study aims to examine the applicability of the diversity–stability principle in ecology to knowledge management and further investigate the impact of knowledge diversity on firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical framework for knowledge diversity and firm performance is proposed; a questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the research framework. Fifty-eight valid responses from experts were collected to measure knowledge strength and diversity of 20 enterprises in four industries, and financial indexes of the 20 enterprises from 2008 to 2012 were collected to analyze the research model.
Findings
The results show that higher information technology (IT) capabilities in a firm lead to higher levels of knowledge strength and diversity. The strength and diversity of knowledge in a company can improve average company performance and reduce performance variations.
Research limitations/implications
This paper presents a new perspective that applies the ecological concept of diversity to examine the value of knowledge in organizations. The findings expand our understanding of the role of IT and knowledge in organizational performance. A limitation is that the sample size is relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Practical implications
CEOs and chief knowledge officers can apply the findings herein to assess their organizational knowledge profiles and maintain a healthy knowledge ecology in strategic planning. They should be aware that both knowledge strength and knowledge diversity are crucial to the stability of firm performance.
Originality/value
The ecological view of knowledge management stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy intensity and diversity of knowledge at the macro level and indicates a new direction for knowledge management.
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Ji-An Luo, Zhi-Wen Tan and Dong-Liang Peng
The passive source localization (PSL) problem using angles of arrival (AOA), time differences of arrival (TDOA) or gain ratios of arrival (GROA) is generally nonlinear and…
Abstract
Purpose
The passive source localization (PSL) problem using angles of arrival (AOA), time differences of arrival (TDOA) or gain ratios of arrival (GROA) is generally nonlinear and nontrival. In this research, the purpose of this paper is to design an accurate hybrid source localization approach to solve the PSL problem. The inspiration is drawn from the fact that the bearings, TDOAs and GROAs are complementary in terms of their geometry properties.
Design/methodology/approach
The maximum-likelihood (ML) method is reexamined by using hybrid measurements. Being assisted by the bearings, a new hybrid weighted least-squares (WLS) method is then proposed by jointly utilizing the bearing, TDOA and GROA measurements.
Findings
Theoretical performance analysis illustrates that the mean-square error of the ML or WLS method can attain the Cramér-Rao lower bound for Gaussian noise over small error region. However, the WLS method has much lower computational complexity than the ML algorithm. Compared with the AOA-only, TDOA-only, AOA-TDOA, TDOA-GROA methods, the localization accuracy can be greatly improved by combining the AOAs, TDOAs and GROAs, especially for some specific geometries.
Originality/value
A novel bearing-assisted TDOA-GROA method is proposed for source localization, and a new hybrid WLS estimator is presented inspired from the fact that the bearings, TDOAs and GROAs are complementary in terms of their geometry properties.
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Peng Liang, Changhou Lu and Fazhan Yang
This paper aims to provide a new method for fast calculation of the recess pressure for hydrostatic bearing compensated by orifice restrictor.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a new method for fast calculation of the recess pressure for hydrostatic bearing compensated by orifice restrictor.
Design/methodology/approach
Three methods (new method, old method and finite difference method) are used to calculate recess pressure for hydrostatic bearing at different eccentricity ratios and radial clearances, and the results with the three methods are compared.
Findings
From the results, the conclusion is that the new method has a simple calculation process and a quick calculation speed.
Originality/value
The new method can be used to calculate the recess pressure of hydrostatic bearing with high precision and simple computing process.
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Zhipeng Duan, Peng Liang, Hao Ma, Niya Ma and Boshu He
The purpose of this paper is to numerically investigate the flow characteristics and extend the data of friction factor and Reynolds number product of hydrodynamically developing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to numerically investigate the flow characteristics and extend the data of friction factor and Reynolds number product of hydrodynamically developing laminar flow in three-dimensional rectangular microchannels with different aspect ratios.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a finite-volume approach, the friction factor characteristics of Newtonian fluid in three-dimensional rectangular ducts with aspect ratios from 0.1 to 1 are conducted numerically under no-slip boundary conditions. A simple model that approximately predicts the apparent friction factor and Reynolds number product fappRe is referenced as a semi-theoretical fundamental analysis for numerical simulations.
Findings
The accurate and reliable results of fappRe are obtained, which are compared with classic numerical data and experimental data, and the simple semi-theoretical model used and all comparisons show good agreement. Among them, the maximum relative error with the classic numerical data is less than 3.9 per cent. The data of fappRe are significantly extended to other different aspect ratios and the novel values of fappRe are presented in the tables. The characteristics of fappRe are analyzed as a function of a non-dimensional axial distance and the aspect ratios. A more effective and accurate fourth-order fitting equation for the Hagenbach's factor of rectangular channels is proposed.
Originality/value
From the reliable data, it is shown that the values of fappRe and the model can be references of pressure drop and friction factor for developing laminar flow in rectangular channels for researchers and engineering applications.
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Lili Wang, Qingliang Zeng, Changhou Lu and Peng Liang
This paper aims to reveal the cavitation characteristics of three oil wedges sleeve bearing and set the theoretical and experimental basis for defining the oil film boundary…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to reveal the cavitation characteristics of three oil wedges sleeve bearing and set the theoretical and experimental basis for defining the oil film boundary condition.
Design/methodology/approach
Computational fluid dynamics model of three oil wedges sleeve bearings based on the Navier–Stokes equation is set using Fluent considering turbulent situation and two-phase flow theory. The cavitation characteristics of bearing is investigated by taking pictures of experiment.
Findings
The rupture region of oil film and the contours of air volume fraction increase distinctly with the increase of rotating speed and the decrease of input pressure. The critical rotating speed of cavitation occurrence and oil film pressure increases with the increase of input pressure. The change trend of experiment cavitation with the rotating speed and input pressure is consistent with theoretical cavitation in general.
Originality/value
The finite element model of three oil wedges sleeve bearings is established based on the Navier-Stokes calculation equation of the fluid, two-phase flow theory and turbulent model. Sleeve bearing is transparent, the pictures of cavitation can be easily taken by high-speed camera, the cavitation characteristics of bearing is studied by experiment. The cavitation performance of three oil wedges bearings is studied with the change of input pressure and rotating speed, the change trend is basically consistent for theory and experiment. The study on critical rotating speed of cavitation occurrence is benefit for defining the oil film boundary condition.
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Haijian Liu, Shandan Shi and Mo Zhang
This study mainly aims to examine whether entrepreneurs’ utilization of political connections is purely egoistic. Addressing this issue could shed light on traditional debate…
Abstract
Purpose
This study mainly aims to examine whether entrepreneurs’ utilization of political connections is purely egoistic. Addressing this issue could shed light on traditional debate which concerns whether political connections still have strategic value at advanced stage of institutional transition today in China. Here, at the background of Chinese economic transformation, the utilization of political connections is studied, and a double-role model of the pro-self-mechanism and the pro-social mechanism between political connections and performance in China is put forward.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses survey of questionnaires randomly from 363 entrepreneurs in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong Provinces of China and adopts the first stage and direct moderation model in examination.
Findings
The results show that there exists mediated mechanism of both pro-self and pro-social mechanism in the relationship between political connections and firm performance. The authors conclude that utilization of political connections is not only purely egoistic but also altruistic. So, both dark-side and bright-side mechanisms of political connections in China are of equal importance. In addition, the authors take into consideration of the contingency effects of institution, industry and firm-level factors of this moderation model. The pro-self and pro-social mechanisms have differences in terms of moderator-within and moderator-between comparisons of these three contingency effects. Among these comparisons, the pro-self-mediating mechanism is most sensitive to changes of institutional quality, whereas the pro-social mediating mechanism is most sensitive to the uncertainty of industry competition.
Research limitations/implications
This evidence furthermore verifies that the process of institutional transition is nonlinear and political connections still have strategic value in advanced stage of institutional transition today.
Originality/value
This study combines the dual perspectives of “give” and “take.” The former implies the pro-social motivation, while the latter implies the pro-self-motivation. Based on the framework of “resource-conduct-performance,” this study explores how these two mechanisms mediate the relationship between political ties and firm performance. In addition, the authors adopt the framework of “Strategy Tripod,” which was proposed by Peng et al. (2009) and examine the difference between pro-self and pro-social motivation at different level of institution environment improvement, industry dynamics and firm absorptive capacity.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore the means for enhancing the image and business legitimacy of a socially discredited industry – pawnbroking in pre-1949 China – are…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the means for enhancing the image and business legitimacy of a socially discredited industry – pawnbroking in pre-1949 China – are explored. Previous studies suggest companies operating within such industries cannot solely rely on hard marketing strategies “to maximize sales and profits as they do with soaps and shoes” (Davidson, 2003, p. 7). Instead, they must find soft strategies for improving company and industry image and legitimacy.
Design/methodology/approach
This research relies on qualitative analysis of historical data and documents.
Findings
Soft strategies deployed by Chinese pawnbrokers – such as interpretations, moral value advocacies and institutionalized arrangements – contributed substantially to improving pawnbroking’s image and business legitimacy.
Research limitations/implications
Interconnections among ethical values, image, business legitimacy and select marketing strategies are clarified. The efficacy of historically analyzing previously implemented business strategies and their embedding contexts is discussed.
Practical implications
Strategies Chinese pawnbrokers used to mitigate their previously negative image and boost their business legitimacy suggest strategies current socially disapproved companies can use to improve their image and business legitimacy.
Originality/value
A historical analysis of pre-1949 Chinese pawnbroking can suggest soft marketing strategies for overcoming consumers’ negative company and industry impressions.
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Keywords
In 2017, the Chinese Super League (CSL), the first professional football division in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), became the highest-spending league in the international…
Abstract
Purpose
In 2017, the Chinese Super League (CSL), the first professional football division in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), became the highest-spending league in the international players’ transfer market, with a total spending of €377m. Moreover, the government of the PRC is backing the CSL with an ambitious football plan. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the governance of the CSL by questioning the organisational viability of the league.
Design/methodology/approach
In addition to the relevant international literature, this study is based on 14 recent scholarly articles published in Mandarin from 2013 to 2018 to reflect the national academic debate. Moreover, website research on all CSL clubs has been conducted. The institutional analysis follows the integrative change model of Cunningham (2002) complemented by agency and bureaucracy theory.
Findings
The CSL still faces substantial governance problems caused by the divergence of goal setting, organisational inefficiencies and compliance issues. The organisational change is notably constrained by internal competitive value commitments and external power dependency.
Research limitations/implications
The institutional findings on the CSL provide a starting point for empirical studies. The approach contributes to the theory of sport governance processes.
Practical implications
The material and insights are informative for decision makers to evaluate the competitiveness of the CSL.
Originality/value
This paper is the first international in-depth analysis of the governance of the CSL using the body of knowledge published in Mandarin.
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of job autonomy on the relationship between direct supervisor’s transformational leadership behaviors and employees’…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of job autonomy on the relationship between direct supervisor’s transformational leadership behaviors and employees’ extended use of information technologies (IT). In addition, this study considers IT innovativeness as a significant moderator in the research model, in order to examine if the relative influences of leadership behaviors on IT extended use are contingent upon employees’ IT innovativeness.
Design/methodology/approach
A field survey was conducted in China and empirical data were collected from 299 employees who use IT in support of daily work. Structural equation modeling technique was used to examine the research model and corresponding hypotheses.
Findings
The empirical results indicate that: three dimensions of transformational leadership, specifically interpersonal consideration, intellectual stimulation and inspirational motivation, are significant antecedents of employees’ IT extended use; perceived job autonomy partially mediates the relationships between transformational leadership behaviors and IT extended use; and employees’ IT innovativeness positively moderates the effects of transformational leadership behaviors on IT extended use.
Practical implications
This study can provide first-line managers with a better understanding of how to stimulate employees to make an extended use of IT by granting them more freedom in job assignments. Furthermore, the managers also need attend to subordinates’ personal IT innovativeness when exhibiting transformational leadership behaviors.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the extant literature of IT extended use through the lens of transformational leadership and job characteristics theory. In particular, this study identifies the boundary condition of the proposed research model by uncovering the moderating effect of IT innovativeness between transformational leadership behaviors and IT extended use.