Xinsheng Xu, Ping Ji and Felix T.S. Chan
Optimal ordering decision for a retailer in a dual-sourcing procurement is an important research area. The main purpose of this paper is to explore a loss-averse retailer’s…
Abstract
Purpose
Optimal ordering decision for a retailer in a dual-sourcing procurement is an important research area. The main purpose of this paper is to explore a loss-averse retailer’s ordering decision in a dual-sourcing problem.
Design/methodology/approach
For a loss-averse retailer, the study obtains the optimal ordering decision to maximize expected utility. Based on sensitivity analysis, the properties of the optimal ordering decision are well discussed.
Findings
Under the optimal ordering quantity that maximizes expected loss aversion utility, the relevant expected profit of a retailer turns to be smaller under a bigger loss aversion coefficient. For this point, a retailer needs to balance between expected loss aversion utility maximization and expected profit maximization in deciding the optimal ordering policy in a dual-sourcing problem.
Originality/value
This paper reveals the influence of loss aversion on a retailer’s ordering decision in a dual-sourcing problem. Managerial insights are suggested to devise the optimal ordering policy for retailers in practice.
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Xinsheng Xu, Ping Ji and Felix T.S. Chan
With the rapid development of e-commerce, multi-sourcing with supply contracts and spot buying has become more and more popular in reality. The main purpose of the paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
With the rapid development of e-commerce, multi-sourcing with supply contracts and spot buying has become more and more popular in reality. The main purpose of the paper is to explore a loss-averse buyer's optimal procurement policy in a multi-sourcing under e-commerce surroundings.
Design/methodology/approach
The study introduces the loss aversion utility function to characterize the loss aversion effect and derives a loss-averse buyer's optimal procurement policy in a multi-sourcing with a wholesale price contract and spot market.
Findings
A loss-averse buyer could order no items in a wholesale price contract and only needs to replenish commodities from spot market under certain conditions. In addition, the study shows that spot capacity has important influences on a loss-averse buyer's optimal ordering decision in the wholesale price contract.
Originality/value
This is the first paper to study the loss aversion effect on a buyer's procurement decision in a multi-sourcing. The results present important managerial insights for a loss-averse buyer to devise optimal ordering policies in a multi-sourcing under e-commerce surroundings.
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Rosli Said, Mardhiati Sulaimi, Rohayu Ab Majid, Ainoriza Mohd Aini, Olusegun Olaopin Olanrele and Omokolade Akinsomi
This study aims to address the critical need for innovative financing solutions in the global housing sector, focusing specifically on Malaysia’s distinct housing finance system…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to address the critical need for innovative financing solutions in the global housing sector, focusing specifically on Malaysia’s distinct housing finance system encompassing both conventional and Islamic loans. The primary objective is to develop a transformative housing finance model that addresses affordability challenges and reshapes the Malaysian housing landscape.
Design/methodology/approach
The study presents an alternate housing finance model for Malaysia, integrating lower monthly payments and reduced household debt. Key variables include house price appreciation rates, interest rates, initial guarantee fees and loan-to-value ratios. Inspired by the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme, the model aligns with proven global initiatives for enhanced affordability, balancing payment amounts, loan interest rates and acceptable price thresholds.
Findings
The study’s findings promise to address affordability disparities and reshape Malaysia’s housing finance landscape. The emphasis is on introducing a structured repayment plan that offers a sustainable path to homeownership, particularly for low-income families. Incorporating the future value adaptation concept, inspired by reverse mortgages and Islamic finance, enhances adaptability, ensuring long-term sustainability despite economic shifts.
Practical implications
The proposed model promotes widespread access to homeownership, offering practical solutions for policymakers to improve affordability, prompting adaptable risk management strategies for financial institutions and empowering potential homebuyers with increased flexibility.
Originality/value
The study introduces a transformative housing finance model for Malaysia, merging elements from reverse mortgages, Islamic finance and the HTB scheme, offering potential applicability to similar systems globally.
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Yongzhong Wu and Ping Ji
The purpose of this paper is to propose an effective and efficient solution method for the component allocation problem (CAP) in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, in order to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose an effective and efficient solution method for the component allocation problem (CAP) in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, in order to achieve high‐throughput rates of the PCB assembly lines.
Design/methodology/approach
The investigated CAP is intertwined with the machine optimization problems for each machine in the line because the latter determine the process time of each machine. In order to solve the CAP, a solution method, which integrates a meta‐heuristic (genetic algorithm) and a regression model is proposed.
Findings
It is found that the established regression model can estimate the process time of each machine accurately and efficiently. Experimental tests show that the proposed solution method can solve the CAP both effectively and efficiently.
Research limitations/implications
Although different regression models are required for different types of assembly machines, the proposed solution method can be adopted for solving the CAPs for assembly lines of any configuration, including a mixed‐vendor assembly line.
Practical implications
The solution method can ensure a high‐throughput rate of a PCB assembly line, and thus improve the production capacity without further investment on the expensive PCB assembly equipment.
Originality/value
The paper proposes an innovative solution method for the CAP in PCB assembly. The solution method integrates the meta‐heuristic method and the regression method, which has not been studied in the literature.
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Ping Ji, Albert C.K. Choi and Lizhong Tu
The paper presents a virtual design and assembly system (VDAS) developed in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The VDAS is a VR‐based engineering application which allows…
Abstract
The paper presents a virtual design and assembly system (VDAS) developed in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The VDAS is a VR‐based engineering application which allows engineers to design, modify and assemble mechanical products. As a prototype, this system has a knowledge‐based library of standard mechanical fastening parts, so a great deal of work is reduced during the product modeling stage. Besides, product models can be directly inserted or modified with a friendly user interface in the immersive VR environment. In order to reach the target of virtual design and integrate VR and computer aided design, the system adopts the variational design approach, so a product model has not only the geometric information, but also variation information and even assembly match information. Finally, the VDAS has the function of assembly planning, and several interactive manipulations, such as part modification, assembly plan verification and modification, have been realized.
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The paper aims to help companies develop a better understanding of customer needs through quantitative analysis of Kano's model.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to help companies develop a better understanding of customer needs through quantitative analysis of Kano's model.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel approach is developed to measure and quantify the relationships between customer satisfaction and the fulfillment of customer requirements (S‐CR) as depicted in Kano's model. A case study concerning notebook computer design is conducted to illustrate the application of the proposed approach.
Findings
By implementing the proposed approach, S‐CR relationship functions have been identified from Kano's model to illustrate the impact of different customer requirements on customer satisfaction. The case study demonstrates that the proposed approach can be implemented successfully.
Research limitations/implications
In order to identify the S‐CR relationship functions, several assumptions have been made in determining the shape of relationship curves in Kano's model. Future work could focus on improving the assumptions to derive the relationship functions more objectively.
Practical implications
The proposed approach enables companies to develop a better understanding of customer requirements by visualizing the impact of customer requirements on customer satisfaction through S‐CR relationship functions. More importantly, it provides a way for companies to integrate Kano's model with other mathematical models or tools to support engineering design.
Originality/value
The proposed approach goes beyond the qualitative analysis in Kano's model by identifying S‐CR relationship functions, both linear and nonlinear, to measure the impact of different customer requirements on customer satisfaction, which is currently a new attempt in the analysis of Kano's model for quality improvement.
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Xiao-Ping Chen and Jiing-Lih Fahr
Transformational leader behaviors are defined as those behaviors that make followers more aware of the importance and values of task outcomes, activate their higher-order needs…
Abstract
Transformational leader behaviors are defined as those behaviors that make followers more aware of the importance and values of task outcomes, activate their higher-order needs and induce them to transcend self-interests for the sake of the organization (Bass, 1985; Yukl, 1989a, b). These behaviors primarily include six types: articulating a vision, intellectual stimulation, demonstrating high performance expectations, providing an appropriate model, fostering collaboration and providing individualized support. Transactional leader behaviors, on the other hand, are founded on an exchange process in which the leader provides rewards/ punishments in return for the subordinate's effort and performance (Burns, 1978). They often include four types: contingent/non-contingent reward and contingent /non-contingent punishment. We examined the effects of these leader behaviors on subordinates' job satisfaction, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in Chinese organizations. Data from 410 subordinate-supervisor dyads (287 in Taiwan and 123 in the PRC) suggest that while transformational leader behaviors in both samples have a more profound impact than transactional behaviors on employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment, the effects of each specific transformational and transactional behavior are different in the PRC and Taiwan. In particular, among the six types of transformational behaviors, ‘providing an appropriate model” and “demonstrating high expectation of performance” significantly influenced PRC employees' job attitudes and OCB, whereas “providing individualized support” and “fostering collaboration” had significant influence on Taiwan employees' job attitudes and OCB. Furthermore, among the four types of transactional behaviors, contingent reward and punishment had significant positive impact on PRC employees' job satisfaction and organizational commitment, whereas the job attitudes of the Taiwan employees were not significantly affected by contingent punishment. Instead, it was found that non-contingent reward had significant positive impact while non-contingent punishment had significant negative effect on their job attitudes. In addition, both contingent and non-contingent punishment had significant negative effects on Taiwan employees' OCB, whereas only non-contingent punishment had such negative effects in the PRC. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the contingent nature of leadership effectiveness.