Bidyut Hazarika, Alan Rea, Reza Mousavi and Kuanchin Chen
This study aims to investigate patterns of social media posting occurring during the initial post-disaster recovery period. In addition, the study investigates the antecedents of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate patterns of social media posting occurring during the initial post-disaster recovery period. In addition, the study investigates the antecedents of user engagement with Twitter posts or “tweets.”
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses Hurricane Harvey as the research focus because of its $125bn in damage and the recovery effort associated with it. Analyzing nearly 38,000 tweets related to 2017’s Hurricane Harvey and specifically focuses on rescuers who became to be known as the “Cajun Navy.”
Findings
The popularity of the tweet significantly influences social media engagement; disaster relief organizations first should seek out alliances and partnerships with those who already are well-known or influential in social media. In addition, by regularly monitoring and participating in social media, such as encouraging retweets and mentions even when not responding to a disaster, agencies will gain social media followers and influence when these are most needed.
Research limitations/implications
By analyzing patterns of social media posts during and after Hurricane Harvey, this study attempts to quantify social media’s effectiveness during this disaster, in particular with a focus on what characteristics of Harvey-related Twitter posts most influenced user engagement.
Practical implications
Findings underscore the need for agencies to strengthen their social media presence and use it in all three phases of disaster conceptualization. Beyond managing communication with other agencies and the community, which alone is critical for an agency’s impact, social media offers the world as a potential audience for agencies that can deftly leverage it.
Originality/value
Social media has revolutionized not only communication but also inter-connectivity as people have normalized its use. Its ubiquity and efficiency have seen its incorporation into the critical area of emergency management, both during and after disasters. The main objective of this paper is to investigate and evaluate the usefulness of social media in disaster recovery efforts, focusing on its advantages in relation to a recent disaster event.
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MIDDLE EAST: Gaza-related escalation risks rise again
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-ES284226
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
The killing of Hamas leaders abroad follows existing Israeli policy. However, the greater significance stems from the challenge presented to the wider Iranian ‘Axis of…
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DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB284376
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Mariana Silva Barbosa Gama and Andrei Bonamigo
In response to strict regulations, high customer pressure, climate change and scarcity of natural resources, manufacturers have reassessed their operation and performance…
Abstract
Purpose
In response to strict regulations, high customer pressure, climate change and scarcity of natural resources, manufacturers have reassessed their operation and performance strategies to balance the sustainability and competitiveness needed to pursue a long-term competitive advantage toward an endurable business. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap between lean and sustainability, analyzing the sustainable lean manufacturing (SLM) effect on performance in the Brazilian automotive sector.
Design/methodology/approach
This study divided the performance into Triple Bottom Line (TBL) drivers: Economic, Social and Environmental, and developed six hypotheses for assessing the multidimensional performance of SLM organizations. Empirical data was collected with 127 usable responses, and the models were tested using partial least squares structural equations modeling. The results of this study are valid and adequate models and revealed that environmental, operational and social performance are significantly improved through SLM adoption in Brazilian automotive studies. In addition, analyze the interaction among the TBL’s drivers.
Findings
The results revealed positive and direct improvements in economic, social and environmental performance enhanced LM adoption. In addition, the results obtained in this study reveal that social drivers are more sensitive to prejudice due to simultaneous other driver improvements overlapping the workforce.
Originality/value
These findings are beneficial for company leaders and researchers working to improve the organization’s performance in these drivers, especially within companies in developing countries. These results explored different aspects of performance evaluation supporting a holistic view of the organization toward sustainability performance. Also explored different regulations and incentives for automotive companies that comply with specific sustainable goals.
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T.V.S. Manikanta and B.T.N. Sridhar
This study aims to study the interaction effects between a rectangular supersonic jet with a flat wall computationally using wall length as a parameter. The purpose of this study…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to study the interaction effects between a rectangular supersonic jet with a flat wall computationally using wall length as a parameter. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of change in wall length on supersonic core length (SCL) reduction, jet deflection and jet decay behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
The design Mach number and aspect ratio at the rectangular exit were 1.8 and 2, respectively. To study the wall length effects on jet-wall interactions, wall length (Lw) was varied as 0.5Dh, 1Dh, 2Dh, 4Dh and 8Dh, where Dh was the hydraulic diameter of the nozzle exit. The flat wall with the matching width of the rectangular exit section of a supersonic nozzle was placed at the nozzle exit such that the supersonic jet grazed past the wall. The studies were carried out at over-expansion [nozzle pressure ratio (NPR) = 4], near optimum expansion (NPR = 6) and under-expansion (NPR = 8) levels.
Findings
Results indicated that significant reduction in wall-bounded SCL was noticed in the range of 0.5Dh
Practical implications
Thrust vector control, noise reduction and easy take-off for high-speed aircraft.
Originality/value
The effect of change in flat wall length on interaction characteristics of a rectangular supersonic jet was not studied before in terms of SCL reduction and jet decay behavior.
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To become a sustainable lean manufacturing (LM) system, an organization must be first distinctly cognizant of the terms “lean” and “sustainability” as they relate to the state of…
Abstract
Purpose
To become a sustainable lean manufacturing (LM) system, an organization must be first distinctly cognizant of the terms “lean” and “sustainability” as they relate to the state of affairs of their particular industry and business. Next, the organization must identify and acquire the necessary qualities it needs to become sustainable in lean philosophy and its practices in the organization. The LM paradigm has been a top priority for many businesses; thus, this article is based on actual research done in Indian small and medium scale organizations to see how widely it is understood and implemented.
Design/methodology/approach
A framework was developed based on literature review and academic research. A preliminary analysis of a small number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that, conceptually, summarizes and demonstrates the concerted efforts that a company may undertake to increase its leanness. This conceptual model was employed to create a questionnaire that was administered to survey the SMEs of India. The information gathered through this questionnaire was analyzed using the model developed by the researchers. Then fuzzy logic and systems approach were used to find out the effectiveness index (EI) of the organization.
Findings
The EI for system leanness at different organizational levels within an organization is determined using fuzzy logic and systems approach for 48 SMEs in different clusters. The average EI of the system was found to be 0.336 on a scale of 0–1 which indicates that the current state of lean implementation and its sustainability is very low and poor in Indian SMEs. This article outlines the key model components and describes how they were applied to analyze the data gathered from an industry study.
Research limitations/implications
The research aims to make lean continuously sustainable by surfacing and eliminating the wastes in the Indian SMEs whenever it appears rather than using it as a cleaning tool. The present study was focused on India’s southern industrial areas and it was difficult to gather the information around the country due to its diverse industrial culture and geography. Hence, more research and the comparative study of the same that takes into account the various regions of the nation’s industrial lean behavior can be conducted.
Practical implications
The generalized sustainable lean framework analyzed using fuzzy logic and systems approach gives the current effectiveness of the leanness in SMEs of south India. This model can be effectively implemented in other areas of the nation to identify the scenario of lean and its sustainability and a final comprehensive model can be developed.
Originality/value
There is a dearth of comprehensive studies on the assessment of sustainability of the lean philosophy in Indian SMEs. With the help of combined fuzzy logic and systems approach, the model developed in this study evaluates the sustainability of the lean methodology using the EI used in SMEs by taking into account both the lean and sustainability factors as well as enablers like customer satisfaction, ethics, innovation and technology.
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Zamzam Paknahad, Leila Yazdanpanah, Mohammad Reza Maracy, Amir Reza Moravejolahkami, Seyed Ali Javad-Mousavi and Abbas Nemati
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from many health problems including poor sleep. This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between diet quality…
Abstract
Purpose
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from many health problems including poor sleep. This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between diet quality indices (DQIs) and sleep quality in COPD.
Design/methodology/approach
The current cross-sectional study was carried on 121 COPD patients. Subjective quality of sleep was determined by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and categorized into “poor” and “good” sleep quality. Dietary history was assessed by the DQIs. Disease status was categorized according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Guidelines.
Findings
In total, 103 men and 18 women with a mean age of 66.1 ±10.9 were studied. The subjects were categorized into four groups based on GOLD; 3.3% of subjects were at Stage 1, 38% in Stage 2, 38% in Stage 3 and 20.7% in Stage 4. In total, 38% of subjects were good, and 62% were bad sleepers according to PSQI score. There was no significant relationship between the severity of COPD and PSQI score. We observed a significant inverse relation between PSQI total score and Mediterranean diet (MED) scale, Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 and HEI-2005 (p = 0.024, 0.037 and 0.024, respectively) in males.
Originality/value
This study showed a high prevalence of poor quality of sleep and sleep disturbances among COPD patients. There was an inverse association between PSQI and sleep disorders and DQIs scores in COPD patients. Regardless of the severity of airflow obstruction, poor diet quality may constitute a risk factor for sleep quality.
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Seyed Sajad Mousavi, Reza Khani Jazani, Elizabeth A. Cudney and Paolo Trucco
This study aims to quantify the multifaceted relationship between lean implementation and occupational health and safety (OHS) performance. Hypotheses based on a set of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to quantify the multifaceted relationship between lean implementation and occupational health and safety (OHS) performance. Hypotheses based on a set of antecedents (mediating factors) are built and quantitatively tested.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through an international survey with responses from more than 20 countries. Partial least square-based structural equation modeling was used to test a theoretical framework derived from literature. Leading indicators (formative indices) were used to evaluate the four antecedents of OHS performance (mediating factors).
Findings
All the identified antecedents show a significant mediating role. Antecedents related to the working environment and organizational factors have the strongest mediating effect. Results support the importance of using OHS leading indicators to appropriately measure the impact of lean implementation on workers’ health and safety.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed OHS leading indicators connecting lean practices to OHS performance antecedents are only explored in this study. Therefore, to establish a comprehensive, validated and practically usable set of leading indicators, further research is needed.
Practical implications
As there are some synergistic and trade-off relationships between lean and safety, the findings of this study will enable managers and organizations to leverage the positive effects of lean implementation on workers’ health and safety and mitigate the negative effects.
Originality/value
Several prior studies investigated the multifaceted link between lean and OHS; however, this is the first study that tested direct and mediated influence by defining a coherent set of antecedents. The results justify and strongly support the adoption of OHS leading indicators to measure the impact of lean implementation on OHS performance.
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Mahdi Salehi, Mahmoud Mousavi Shiri and Seyedeh Zahra Hossini
The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the relationship between managerial ability, earnings management, internal control quality and audit fees to establish whether or not…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the relationship between managerial ability, earnings management, internal control quality and audit fees to establish whether or not there is a significant relationship between the variables of managerial ability, earnings management, internal control quality and the audit fees.
Design/methodology/approach
The study sample includes 190 listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2009–2016. Research hypotheses were tested using the statistical methods of multivariable linear regression and data envelopment analysis pattern.
Findings
The obtained results indicate that there is a significant and direct relationship between managerial ability and internal control quality as well as real earnings management and internal control quality. Based on the results obtained from the second hypothesis, the authors could claim that there is an inverse and significant relationship managerial ability and audit fees. The third hypothesis also revealed that in companies with lower audit fees, there is a stronger relationship between managerial ability and internal control quality. The results of related tests show no significant relationship between accrual-based earnings management and internal control quality.
Originality/value
This paper is the first study in Iran whose main focus is on the relationship between managerial ability, earnings management, internal control quality and audit fees.