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1 – 10 of over 2000Zhijie Tang, Qian Luo, Xinnan Leng, Pinglong Liu and Jun Luo
The purpose of this study is to design a spherical sensor which can detect the surge from various directions to lay the foundation of the research of surge.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to design a spherical sensor which can detect the surge from various directions to lay the foundation of the research of surge.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper designed a spherical sensor to detect the impact force generated by the surge. To realize the depth and stability control of the shallow underwater vehicles, it is necessary to do research and analysis on the surge in shallow waters. The spherical sensor with novel structure was skillfully composed of 24 cantilever beam pressure-type strain sensors. It is powerful to detect the surge from various directions simultaneously.
Findings
It is proved that the spherical sensor can accurately collect the surge data from multiple directions through experiments, which laid the foundation of the anti-surge study.
Research limitations/implications
Surge is not a new topic. But there is no effective tool to detect surge. The research of this paper is an attempt to provide an available tool to analyze surge. The research limitation is that the pool where the spherical sensor is installed is a little small. In the future, a bigger pool can be used.
Practical implications
A deep and comprehensive analysis of surge can be conducted according to the surge data detected by the spherical sensor to achieve the essential features of surge. This lays the foundation for the accurate control of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), especially fixed depth and stability control.
Social implications
As the control accuracy of AUVs increases, the AUVs can perform much more difficult tasks such as port monitoring, underwater salvaging, underwater pipeline maintenance and so on. These can be applied in commercial applications or in the national defense of many countries.
Originality/value
A novel spherical sensor using 24 cantilever beam pressure-type strain sensors to detect the surge was designed. The spherical sensor was installed in the physical surge simulator to collect surge data and conduct an analysis of the collected data.
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Kathleen Rehbein, Frank den Hond and Frank G. A. Bakker
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate political activity (CPA) are two important components of firms’ nonmarket strategies, oriented toward shaping the firm’s…
Abstract
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate political activity (CPA) are two important components of firms’ nonmarket strategies, oriented toward shaping the firm’s political and social conditions. Although this is acknowledged in the literature, there are contradictory arguments and evidence, concerning, first, whether and under which conditions firms align their CPA and CSR activities, and second, what the impacts might be if they do align these activities. In light of this, this chapter draws from earlier reviews of nonmarket strategies, to explore the factors at multiple levels, macro and micro, that may drive a firm’s alignment of CPA and CSR. In doing so, we draw from management research to identify the macro- and micro-level factors that shape CPA and CSR alignment as CSR and CPA alignment research mostly focuses on outcomes rather than identifying the drivers of alignment. We develop a general model that integrates the macro- and micro-level discussions to make suggestions about where future research needs to go to increase understanding of when corporations will combine their CPA and CSR efforts and the merits of these efforts.
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Ahmed Ebrahim and Iftekar Hasan
The purpose of this paper is to assess the value relevance of product diversification in US commercial banks.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the value relevance of product diversification in US commercial banks.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines differences in the value relevance of commercial bank earnings components from interest and noninterest banking activities. Specifically, it studies market reaction to changes in bank earnings from noninterest sources resulting from expansion into new financial services other than the traditional intermediation activities. A sample of commercial banks between 1993 and 2002 is used.
Findings
Results show that annual abnormal returns have more significant positive relation with changes in the noninterest component of bank earnings compared with changes in the interest component of earnings. These results are more obvious for small banks and after 1999, the year in which the Gramm‐Leach‐Bliley Act allowed banks to expand into more noninterest banking activities.
Originality/value
This paper is an extension of the long and extensive accounting research strand in the value relevance of earnings applied to bank earning components. It may also contribute to banking and Finance literature regarding the effect of product diversification in the banking industry.
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Liping Qian, Yiyao Wang and Pianpian Yang
This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of control mechanisms in promoting collaborative performance by exploring the moderating effects of formal institutions (government…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of control mechanisms in promoting collaborative performance by exploring the moderating effects of formal institutions (government support and legal enforcement in this study) and informal ties (business ties in this study) on the relationship between control mechanisms and collaborative performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual model is developed with the direct effects of contractual execution and relational norms on collaborative performance and the moderating effects of government support, legal enforcement and business ties on the above relationships. Hierarchical regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses based on 393 responses from Chinese computer and computer components distributors.
Findings
The empirical results generally support the conceptual model. First, consistent with most previous studies, both contractual execution and relational norms contribute to collaborative performance. Second, government support and business ties weaken the role of contractual execution, whereas legal enforcement strengthens it. Third, business ties enhance the effects of relational norms, and, unexpectedly, government support also fosters the relationship between relational norms and collaborative performance.
Originality/value
First, this study solves the problem of conflicting findings on the relationship between contract and performance by examining the effect of contractual execution, rather than contract design, on collaborative performance. Second, this study contributes to institutional theory by examining the moderating role of formal institutions. Third, this study deepens the understanding of the role of business ties by exploring its moderating effect on the relationship between control mechanisms and collaborative performance.
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Jianhong Zhang, Suzana B. Rodrigues, Jiangang Jiang and Chaohong Zhou
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of political instability at the local level on foreign firms in China. Building on the literature on political embeddedness…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of political instability at the local level on foreign firms in China. Building on the literature on political embeddedness and business power, the authors propose a theoretical framework to explain how political turnover can affect foreign firms’ performance and how they respond to such challenges by leveraging their power bases.
Design/methodology/approach
To test the hypotheses, the authors apply fixed effects regression to an unbalanced panel data set comprising 13,360 foreign firms from 1998 to 2013 and the political replacement that involved changes in provincial governors.
Findings
The findings confirm that political turnover incidents have a negative impact on the performance of foreign firms in China. However, the authors also found that this negative relationship is weaker for firms that can choose various types of power sources. Specifically, the study reveals that foreign firms with large firm size, government ownership and a strong foreign direct investment community are better qualified to mitigate the negative effects of political instability.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by developing the understanding of how political uncertainties and risks affect the performance of foreign firms in China and the importance of firms’ power in counterbalancing these effects. The research provides valuable insights into how multinational corporations can exploit their power to manage the effects of local political turnover, which has practical implications for the strategy and management of foreign firms operating in China.
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Kangkang Yu, Jack Cadeaux, Ben Nanfeng Luo and Cheng Qian
This study aims to extend ambidexterity theory from the perspective of organisational learning and examine how process ambidexterity, which comprises operational flexibility and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to extend ambidexterity theory from the perspective of organisational learning and examine how process ambidexterity, which comprises operational flexibility and operational routine, responds to environmental uncertainty and ultimately reduces organisational risks.
Design/methodology/approach
This study tests the hypotheses by analysing 464 annual reports of 115 listed companies in the Chinese agricultural and food industry using content and secondary data analyses. Four case studies are also provided.
Findings
The results show that (1) environmental uncertainty has a positive effect on either operational flexibility or operational routine; (2) both operational flexibility and operational routine have negative effects on organisational risks, supporting the view that process ambidexterity mediates the relationship between environmental uncertainty and organisational risks; and (3) organisational slack plays the role of “double-edged sword” by negatively moderating the effect of environmental uncertainty on operational flexibility and positively moderating the effect of environmental uncertainty on operational routine.
Originality/value
In an uncertain environment, companies are exposed to greater risk. This study contributes to risk management in three ways: first, it extends ambidexterity theory to process management and proposes how process ambidexterity balances operational flexibility and routines. Second, it distinguishes between the different conditions under which flexibility or routines are superior. Third, it explains the mechanisms related to how organisations can resolve environmental uncertainty into risk through process ambidexterity.
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Chong Liu, Wanli Xie, Tongfei Lao, Yu-ting Yao and Jun Zhang
Gross domestic product (GDP) is an important indicator to measure a country's economic development. If the future development trend of a country's GDP can be accurately predicted…
Abstract
Purpose
Gross domestic product (GDP) is an important indicator to measure a country's economic development. If the future development trend of a country's GDP can be accurately predicted, it will have a positive effect on the formulation and implementation of the country's future economic development policies. In order to explore the future development trend of China's GDP, the purpose of this paper is to establish a new grey forecasting model with time power term to forecast GDP.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the shortcomings of the traditional grey prediction model with time power term are found out through analysis, and then the generalized grey prediction model with time power term is established (abbreviated as PTGM (1,1, α) model). Secondly, the PTGM (1,1, α) model is improved by linear interpolation method, and the optimized PTGM (1,1, α) model is established (abbreviated as OPTGM (1,1, α) model), and the parameters of the OPTGM (1,1, α) model are solved by the quantum genetic algorithm. Thirdly, the advantage of the OPTGM (1,1, α) model over the traditional grey models is illustrated by two real cases. Finally the OPTGM (1,1, α) model is used to predict China's GDP from 2020 to 2029.
Findings
The OPTGM (1,1, α) model is more suitable for predicting China's GDP than other grey prediction models.
Originality/value
A new grey prediction model with time power term is proposed.
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The purpose of this paper is to start with the background of the construction of the M-score model, find the variables that can represent the fraud characteristics of Chinese…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to start with the background of the construction of the M-score model, find the variables that can represent the fraud characteristics of Chinese companies, and use the data of Chinese A-share listed companies to modify the M-score model.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the fraud behavior of Chinese enterprises that M-score cannot detect is summarized as the basis of adding variables. Then, based on the data of Chinese listed companies, a modified M-score model including nine variables is constructed by the logistic regression method based on Wald.
Findings
Based on the original 8 variables of M-score, this paper adds 10 new variables that can represent the fraud characteristics of Chinese listed companies, and finally, constructs a modified M-score model with 9 variables. Results indicated that indexes such as gross profit margin, fixed assets depreciation rate, equity concentration and audit opinion can characterize the financial fraud of Chinese listed companies.
Practical implications
The modified M-score model based on the characteristics of Chinese enterprises’ fraud is more suitable for Chinese market, which can help investors avoid fraud risks, protect their own rights and interests and reduce losses.
Originality/value
Starting from the background of the model, this paper looks for variables that can characterize the characteristics of fraud in Chinese listed companies. Then, subdivides the research samples into specific fiscal years in which fraud occurs, so that the modified M-score model can be more suitable for the Chinese market.
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Marc van Essen, Pursey P.M.A.R. Heugens, Patricio Duran, Sabrina F. Saleh, Steve Sauerwald, Hans van Oosterhout and En Xie
The purpose of this study is to investigate how concentrated owners add value to Asian firms. While prior research suggests that relational owners (i.e., business groups, top…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate how concentrated owners add value to Asian firms. While prior research suggests that relational owners (i.e., business groups, top management team, board, government, banks, families, and corporation) may help firms fill institutional voids, this study proposes that it is transactional owners (i.e., foreign and institutional investors) lacking this ability who contribute most to firm performance. As these owners frequently hail from contexts with well-developed corporate governance traditions, they tend to have experience with the design and implementation of such governance practices.
Design/methodology/approach
This study involves a meta-analysis covering 276 studies from 17 Asian countries.
Findings
This study shows that transactional owners impose effective governance practices such as separating the chief executive officer (CEO) and Chair roles and assuring board independence. These practices promote decisions benefiting all shareholders, such as preventing diversification and financial over-leveraging.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the comparative corporate governance literature by showing that implementing internal governance practices helps improve firm performance in Asia. It also contributes to the owner identity literature by opening the black box of how transactional and relational owners differentially affect firms’ strategic behavior. Overall, this study yields a more nuanced understanding of what transactional owners contribute to Asian firms.
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Yefei Yang, Antonio K.W. Lau, Peter K.C. Lee, Andy C.L. Yeung and T.C. Edwin Cheng
The Chinese Government encourages firms to diffuse their operational-level environmental management (EM) into their organization’s mission and strategy to develop strategic EM to…
Abstract
Purpose
The Chinese Government encourages firms to diffuse their operational-level environmental management (EM) into their organization’s mission and strategy to develop strategic EM to promote sustainable development. The purpose of this paper is to utilize two concepts of institutional theory (isomorphic pressures and decoupling behavior) to assess how different institutional forces arising from Chinese macro-level factors (market pressure, business turbulence, legal voids, carbon policy, structural-level governmental interference and guanxi with government) influence the efficacy of strategic EM.
Design/methodology/approach
In partnership with a major consulting firm in China, the authors collect multi-informant survey data from 183 manufacturing firms drawn from a variety of industries for testing the hypotheses posited.
Findings
The efficacy of strategic EM in the sampled firms is confirmed by the positive association with environmental performance. The authors also find that the efficacy of strategic EM is weakened by market pressure, business turbulence and legal voids, whereas it is strengthened by structural-level governmental interference. However, carbon policy and guanxi with government do not impact it significantly.
Research limitations/implications
To extend the findings on the environmental importance of strategic EM, future research can develop and validate a management framework to guide the adoption of strategic EM. With regard to the four valid macro-level factors influencing the efficacy of strategic EM, future research can identify the reasons (e.g. conflict with corporate functions) behind them to aid manufacturers to mitigate their negative influence or enhance the positive influence on strategic EM.
Social implications
China’s Government and its manufacturers (or those sharing a similar institutional environment) can expand the scope of their EM efforts from operational-level EM practices to strategic EM. The findings on the valid macro-level factors have led to practical suggestions for government bodies and manufacturers to improve the efficacy of strategic EM adoption. Overall, the implications help achieve the higher levels of firm-level environmental performance and alleviate the global pollution problem.
Originality/value
A particular value of this work lies in the demonstration of combining institutional theory (organization decoupling, isomorphic pressures) with practical consideration such as guanxi with government in the particular institutional environment of China to help address an important and context-related problem, environmental performance.
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