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Article
Publication date: 13 May 2020

Amin Mahmoudi, Mehdi Abbasi, Xiaopeng Deng, Muhammad Ikram and Salman Yeganeh

Selecting a suitable contract to outsource construction projects is an ongoing concern for project managers and organizational directors. This study aims to propose a…

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Abstract

Purpose

Selecting a suitable contract to outsource construction projects is an ongoing concern for project managers and organizational directors. This study aims to propose a comprehensive model to manage the risks of outsourced construction project contracts.

Design/methodology/approach

To employ the proposed model, firstly, the types of contracts and risks in the organization should be identified, then, to prioritize the contracts, the identified risks are considered as criteria. After receiving the experts' opinions, the best–worst method (BWM) integrated with grey relation analysis (GRA) method was used to prioritize the contracts. BWM and GRA are multi-criteria decision-making methods with different approaches and applications. In the current study, BWM has been employed to calculate the weights of criteria because it has better performance than other methods such as the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). After calculating the weights of criteria, the GRA method has been utilized for ranking the alternatives.

Findings

According to the results obtained from the case study, the cost plus award fee contract is the most suitable alternative for outsourcing construction projects. The proposed methodology can be practically applied through different types of the projects such as construction or “engineering, procurement and construction”.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a conceptual model has been proposed to select an appropriate contract for construction projects. Also, for the first time, the BWM integrated with GRA method has been used to prioritize project contracts based on the potential risks. The proposed model can contribute to project managers for selecting a suitable contract with the least risk in construction projects.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 10 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

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Article
Publication date: 18 June 2021

Mohammadreza Rahimi, Rouhollah Mehdinavaz Aghdam, Mahmoud Heydarzadeh Sohi, Ali Hossein Rezayan and Maryam Ettelaei

This paper aims to investigate the impact of anodizing time and heat treatment on morphology, phase and corrosion resistance of formed coating. To characterize the anodic oxide…

159

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of anodizing time and heat treatment on morphology, phase and corrosion resistance of formed coating. To characterize the anodic oxide layer, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that was equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was hired. The corrosion behavior of oxide-coated samples was estimated by electrochemical polarization test in simulated body fluid (SBF).

Design/methodology/approach

Anodic oxidation method is applied to reinforce the corrosion and biological properties of biomaterials in the biomedical industry. In this paper, the alkaline NaOH (1 M) electrolyte was used for AZ31 magnesium alloy anodizing accompanied by heat treatment in the air.

Findings

It can be concluded that the best corrosion resistance belongs to the 10 min anodic oxidized sample and among the heat-treated samples the 30 min anodized sample represented the lowest corrosion rate.

Originality/value

In this study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge for the first time, this paper describes the effect of anodizing process time on NaOH (1 M) electrolyte at 3 V on corrosion behavior of magnesium AZ31 alloy with an alternate method to change the phase composition of the formed oxide layer. The morphology and composition of the obtained anodic oxide layer were investigated under the results of SEM, EDS and XRD. The corrosion behavior of the oxide coatings layer fabricated on the magnesium-based substrate was studied by the potentiodynamic polarization test in the SBF solution.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 68 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

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Article
Publication date: 21 August 2023

Katariina Juusola, Kwabena G. Boakye, Charles Blankson and Guangming Cao

This study aims to develop and validate a cross-national framework to identify the motivation underpinning consumers' (i.e. the general public's) loyalty toward credit card usage…

772

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop and validate a cross-national framework to identify the motivation underpinning consumers' (i.e. the general public's) loyalty toward credit card usage. The following research questions guided the study: (1) What factors motivate consumers to stay loyal to their credit card? (2) Does the investment model (regarding satisfaction and investment size) mediate the relationship between factors motivating consumers to stay loyal to their credit card?

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs the investment model theory (Rusbult, 1980) as a theoretical framework and uses structural equation modeling to develop and validate a cross-national framework, addressing factors that motivate consumers to stay loyal to credit card brands. In addition, the authors test the mediating effect of the investment model on the relationship. Survey data were collected from the United States and France.

Findings

The findings revealed four factors (incentives, customer service, investment size and satisfaction) that impact consumer credit card loyalty behavior in the two mature credit card markets. The authors find empirical support for two of four hypotheses. That is, investment size mediates the relationship between incentives and consumer loyalty, and satisfaction mediates the relationship between customer service and consumer loyalty. Moreover, unlike the French sample, the American sample produced a significant finding for investment size to mediate the relationship between customer service and consumer loyalty.

Originality/value

This paper validates and extends the investment model theory in the marketing of credit cards within a cross-national setting. Most studies on credit card consumption focus on the college student segment, and there is less understanding of the motivation to stay loyal to using a credit card from the general public who are not necessarily college students. Given the scarce stream of empirical studies dealing with cross-national consumer motivation, choice criteria of credit cards, and loyalty toward credit cards, this research comes at an opportune moment as credit card firms differentiate their card brands in the global marketplace. Further, a dataset originating from two mature Western economies has been put forward for the benefit of practitioners and researchers.

Details

International Journal of Bank Marketing, vol. 41 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-2323

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Article
Publication date: 23 March 2020

Manuel Palencia, Mayra Mora and Tulio A. Lerma

Controlled release systems are an efficient alternative for the effective use of agricultural supplies. Among the most versatile controlled release systems are intelligent or…

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Abstract

Purpose

Controlled release systems are an efficient alternative for the effective use of agricultural supplies. Among the most versatile controlled release systems are intelligent or stimulus-sensitive polymeric materials, since these materials are multipurpose and adaptable alternatives that offer great adaptability for agricultural applications. The objective of this work was to develop stimulus-sensitive polyurethanes (PUs) based on cationic aminoglycosides (CAG) to be used as an active phase for the manufacture of systems for the controlled release of phytohormones such as naphthalene acetic acid (NAA).

Design/methodology/approach

The synthesis of stimulus-sensitive PUs was carried out by a polycondensation reaction using CAGs and methylene diphenyl isocyanate (MDI) as precursors. The NAA retention and release experiments were performed at different pH values and ionic forces to include the acidity and salinity of agricultural soils.

Findings

The results demonstrate that PUs can be obtained from CAG and MDI using the one-step method. The retention of NAA increased as the CAG content increased in the polymer structure, while it is seen that the effect of pH is weak compared to the effect of ionic strength. On the other hand, the release of NAA from cationic PUs can be accomplished by small changes in ionic strength that are mainly affected by the composition of the PU and the pH. The results suggest that, for developed systems, retention and release of NAA is affected by other interaction mechanisms that could probably be related to p-aromatic interactions.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are limited to controlled conditions and the expanding of results to extensive crops should be analyzed in next research studies.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this study are improving of control for the dosage of phytohormones in stake propagation crops, greenhouse crops, optimization of reseeding operations, among others.

Social implications

The social implication of this study is reduction of pollution by addition of excess of NAA, in consequence, production costs are decreased.

Originality/value

Originality and value of this research is the use of PUs based on CAG, and in consequence, the possibility to build novel environment-friendly systems for phytohormone dosage.

Details

Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, vol. 10 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-6099

Keywords

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