Richard Tarpey, Chenchen Yang, Feng Yang, Qianqian Yuan and Jinfeng Yue
Make-to-order (MTO) manufacturers often receive lead time-sensitive orders requiring multiple custom parts not commonly in stock. These irregular orders can be challenging to…
Abstract
Purpose
Make-to-order (MTO) manufacturers often receive lead time-sensitive orders requiring multiple custom parts not commonly in stock. These irregular orders can be challenging to manage across numerous suppliers, resulting in high costs and associated risks in completing orders on time. Many MTO manufacturers develop relationships with multiple sourcing suppliers, spreading risk and ensuring delivery performance at a reasonable cost. These relationships, however, result in an order allocation problem. The purpose of this study is to consider previously proposed frontier portfolio solution methodologies used in sourcing selection and improve upon an identified weakness to improve the evaluation and selection of order quantities across multiple suppliers.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes an existing frontier portfolio selection model where potentially inefficient portfolios are selected and considered. The authors propose introducing a data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique paired with the frontier portfolio selection model to eliminate inefficient portfolios from being considered to help MTO manufacturers determine allocations by calculating and evaluating two factors: on-time probability and associated cost.
Findings
While previously proposed frontier models provide mechanisms to allocate orders across different suppliers to meet variable service levels and costs, this study finds model improvements to eliminate inefficient portfolios to facilitate better decisions for order allocation. This study finds a more efficient potential solution using a frontier method paired with DEA to help the MTO manufacturer select sourcing partners and determine the associated quantity allocation for each chosen supplier. The technique provides flexibility, resulting in a range of options to solve the dilemma with differing emphasis on due dates and costs.
Practical implications
The proposed method provides a pool of more efficient frontier portfolios ranging from higher on-time probability and higher cost to less on-time likelihood and lower cost, resulting in less chance of an inefficient portfolio choice. Such a design ensures that regardless of the preference and specific need criteria (cost versus on-time delivery), MTO manufacturers have flexibility in choosing an optimal solution.
Originality/value
This paper extends an existing model of supplier selection to improve selection quality based on a DEA technique to remove inefficient portfolios.
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Qianqian Yuan, Liansheng Larry Tang, Feng Yang, Diane E. Brandt and Leighton Chan
This paper aims to estimate the performance of the social security administration (SSA) in dealing with disability benefits applications in American.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to estimate the performance of the social security administration (SSA) in dealing with disability benefits applications in American.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors propose a multi-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) method to analyze the efficiency of 167 hearing offices (HOs) to find the best performed HOs and inefficient ones and detect total improvement of inefficient and weak efficient offices.
Findings
The results show that totally 299,711 applications were processed and more applications will be processed if all offices can work efficiently. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to analyze the performance of SSA HOs using the multi-stage DEA method.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to analyze the performance of SSA HOs using the multi-stage DEA method.
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Feng Yang, Qianqian Yuan, Zhimin Huang and Liang Liang
The current chapter is a tentative step toward investigating the allocation of advertising budget between the internet platform and the entity platform according to the long-term…
Abstract
The current chapter is a tentative step toward investigating the allocation of advertising budget between the internet platform and the entity platform according to the long-term and short-term achievement of advertising investment. We provide a decision-making framework on how to allocate the advertising budget to the two platforms for the best results. The integrated effect of advertising investment consists of two parts. Goodwill and customer scale reflect the long-term achievement, and sale profit represents the short-term achievement. We selected some representative feasible investment plans as decision-making units (DMUs), and calculated the values of sale profit, goodwill, and customer scale as three outputs. To determine the best advertising investment plan, we use data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to seek efficient plans, and then determine the best one from those efficient plans through preference investigation and super-efficiency technique.
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Jianbo Zhu, Qianqian Shi, Ce Zhang, Jingfeng Yuan, Qiming Li and Xiangyu Wang
Promoting low-carbon in the construction industry is important for achieving the overall low-carbon goals. Public–private partnership is very popular in public infrastructure…
Abstract
Purpose
Promoting low-carbon in the construction industry is important for achieving the overall low-carbon goals. Public–private partnership is very popular in public infrastructure projects. However, different perceptions of low-carbon and behaviors of public and private sectors can hinder the realization of low-carbon in these projects. In order to analyze the willingness of each stakeholder to cooperate towards low-carbon goals, an evolutionary game model is constructed.
Design/methodology/approach
An evolutionary game model that considers the opportunistic behavior of the participants is developed. The evolutionary stable strategies (ESSs) under different scenarios are examined, and the factors that influence the willingness to cooperate between the government and private investors are investigated.
Findings
The results illustrate that a well-designed system of profit distribution and subsidies can enhance collaboration. Excessive subsidies have negative impact on cooperation between the two sides, because these two sides can weaken income distribution and lead to the free-riding behavior of the government. Under the situation of two ESSs, there is also an optimal revenue distribution coefficient that maximizes the probability of cooperation. With the introduction of supervision and punishment mechanism, the opportunistic behavior of private investors is effectively constrained.
Originality/value
An evolutionary game model is developed to explore the cooperation between the public sector and the private sector in the field of low-carbon construction. Based on the analysis of the model, this paper summarizes the conditions and strategies that can enable the two sectors to cooperate.
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Yuan Zhao, Zhennan Han, Yali Ma and Qianqian Zhang
The purpose of this paper is to establish a new dynamic coupled discrete-element contact model used for investigating fresh concrete with different grades and different motion…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish a new dynamic coupled discrete-element contact model used for investigating fresh concrete with different grades and different motion states, and demonstrate its correctness and reliability according to the rheological property results of flow fresh concrete in different working states through simulating the slump process and mixing process.
Design/methodology/approach
To accurately express the motion and force of flowing fresh concrete in different working states from numerical analysis, a dynamic coupled discrete-element contact model is proposed for fresh concrete of varying strength. The fluid-like fresh concrete is modelled as a two-phase fluid consisting of mortar and aggregate. Depending on the contact forms of the aggregate and mortar, the model is of one of the five types, namely, Hertz–Mindlin, pendular LB contact, funicular mucous contact, capillary LB contact or slurry lift/drag contact.
Findings
To verify the accuracy of this contact model, concrete slump and cross-vane rheometer tests are simulated using the traditional LB model and dynamic coupled contact model, for five concrete strengths. Finally, by comparing the simulation results from the two different contact models with experimental data, it is found that those from the proposed contact model are closer to the experimental data.
Practical implications
This contact model could be used to address issues such as (a) the mixing, transportation and pumping of fresh concrete, (b) deeper research and discussion on the influence of fresh concrete on the dynamic performance of agitated-transport vehicles, (c) the behaviour of fresh concrete in mixing tanks and (d) the abrasion of concrete pumping pipes.
Originality/value
To accurately express the motion and force of flowing fresh concrete in different working states from numerical analysis, a dynamic coupled discrete-element contact model is proposed for fresh concrete of varying strength.
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Yiwei Zhao, Yindong Sun, Qianqian Zhou, Caiyun Cui and Yong Liu
The aim of this paper is to research the acceptance mechanism of building information modeling (BIM) technology and to explore the differences among…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to research the acceptance mechanism of building information modeling (BIM) technology and to explore the differences among Architecture/Engineering/Construction (A/E/C) professionals with different individual characteristics. The proposed acceptance mechanism of BIM technology is intended to be used by industry stakeholders to propose decisions and measures, and improve the degree of BIM adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
Traditional hypothesis testing is adopted by the current study to empirically research the specific mechanism of A/E/C professionals accepting BIM technologies. In the one phase, a conceptual model based on technology acceptance model (TAM) and technology organization environment (TOE) theory was established and a large-scale questionnaire survey was conducted. In the other phase, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze acquired sample data, so as to empirically test the validity of the proposed linkage.
Findings
The results show first that perceived ease of use has no significant influence on perceived usefulness, and perceived usefulness has no significant effect on behavior intention as well. Second, BIM technical features and government BIM policies have positive effects on perceived usefulness, BIM technical features and organization supports have positive effects on perceived ease of use. Third, the BIM acceptance mechanism of A/E/C professionals is diverse from respondents with different characteristics, e.g. regions and working time.
Originality/value
The authors highlight the large sample size, as well as the nationwide context, of the questionnaire survey. Meanwhile, acceptance differences among A/E/C professionals with different demographic characteristics have been clarified using profound data and t-test. The findings of this study enrich the research on the acceptance mechanism of BIM technology, and contribute to relevant stakeholders taking targeted measures to promote the effective application of BIM technology nationwide.
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Feiyang Guan, Wang Tienan, Qianqian Fan and Linlin Liu
This study aims to explore the effect of competitive aggressiveness on firm performance and the moderating effect of firm 2019s ego-network structures in the international…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the effect of competitive aggressiveness on firm performance and the moderating effect of firm 2019s ego-network structures in the international coopetition network.
Design/methodology/approach
From the perspective of strong cooperation of the global automobile industry in recent years, this study uses the global automobile firms in Factiva database as samples to test hypotheses using the least squares dummy variable (LSDV) model.
Findings
This study finds that there is different relationship between the number and variety of competitive actions and firm performance. In addition, ego-network structures have different coefficients for the number and variety of competitive actions.
Originality/value
The conclusions provide theoretical support and policy suggestions for firms to develop effective competitive strategies according to ego-network structures in the international coopetition network.
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Liyan Yang, Yuan Jiang, Wei Zhang, Qian Zhang and Hao Gong
The purpose of this paper is to verify and extend the application of the policy acceptance model (PAM) in the field of green behavior. Under the PAM framework, the authors develop…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to verify and extend the application of the policy acceptance model (PAM) in the field of green behavior. Under the PAM framework, the authors develop and empirically examine on how employee perception of corporate green policy (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness) increases the acceptance of corporate green policy, which further leads to two types of employee green behavior. The authors also test the moderating roles of moral reflectiveness and performance orientation on these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected complete survey data from 223 work professionals in this study. Multiple regression method was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results showed that there were significant positive impacts of two types of employee perceptions of corporate green policy (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness) on their attitudes toward corporate green policy. Second, this study reported positive relationships between employees’ attitudes toward corporate green policy and their two types of green behavior. Finally, supplemental analyses supported moderated mediation models, that is, moral reflectiveness and performance orientation, respectively, and moderated indirect effects of employee perceptions on green behaviors through attitude toward corporate green policy.
Research limitations/implications
The data came from a narrow demographic population, which restricts the generalizability of the findings and also raises questions about the specificity of green behaviors manifest in different industries. Besides, this study used cross-sectional, self-reported data, which limits our ability to draw causal conclusions.
Practical implications
Companies can shape employee perceptions regarding the usefulness and ease of corporate green policy to induce and consolidate employees’ task-related and proactive green behaviors.
Social implications
This research will help companies to pay more attention to employees’ reflections and attitudes toward green policies, thus effectively promoting employees’ green behavior in the workplace. These actions will further promote the green development of the economy and society.
Originality/value
The authors extend the PAM framework to the area of green behavior. The PAM is applied to a more micro level of corporate green policy. Further, this paper points out that employees’ instrumental value (performance orientation) and moral trait (moral reflectiveness) moderate the impact of employees’ policy perceptions on their green behaviors.
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The study aims to enhance energy efficiency within the high-energy consuming construction industry. It explores the spatial-temporal dynamics and distribution patterns of total…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to enhance energy efficiency within the high-energy consuming construction industry. It explores the spatial-temporal dynamics and distribution patterns of total factor energy efficiency (TFEE) across China’s construction industry, aiming to inform targeted emission reduction policies at provincial and city levels.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing a three-stage super-efficiency SBM-DEA model that integrates carbon emissions, the TFEE in 30 Chinese provinces and cities from 2004 to 2019 is assessed. Through kernel density estimation and exploratory spatial data analysis, the dynamic evolution and spatial patterns of TFEE are examined.
Findings
Analysis reveals that environmental investments positively impact TFEE, whereas Gross Regional Product (GRP) exerts a negative influence. R&D expenditure intensity and marketization show mixed effects. Excluding environmental and random factors, TFEE averages declined, aligning more closely with actual development trends, showing a gradual decrease from east to west. TFEE exhibited fluctuating growth with a trend moving from inefficient clusters to a more even distribution. Spatially, TFEE demonstrated aggregation effects and characteristics of space-time transition.
Originality/value
This research employs the three-stage super-efficiency SBM-DEA model to measure the total factor energy efficiency of the construction industry, taking into account external environment, random disturbances, and multiple effective decision-making units. It also evaluates energy efficiency changes before and after removing disturbances and comprehensively examines regional and temporal differences from static and dynamic, overall and phased perspectives. Additionally, Moran scatter plots and LISA cluster maps are used to objectively analyze the spatial agglomeration and factors influencing energy efficiency.