Ge Wang, Qiang Chen and Shenghua Xie
Although internet plus government platforms (IPGPs) are being increasingly used by citizens around the world, questions emerge regarding the public adoption, utilization and use…
Abstract
Purpose
Although internet plus government platforms (IPGPs) are being increasingly used by citizens around the world, questions emerge regarding the public adoption, utilization and use of IPGPs. This study aims to explore the determinants of citizens’ differentiated IPGPs usage behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
An analytical framework has been built upon the rational choice theory and the cultural dimension theory. The present study draws on a survey of 866 citizens from Guangzhou, Wuhan and Chengdu.
Findings
The empirical findings suggest that the perceived functional benefits and personalization features both significantly affect citizens’ informational, service and participatory uses of IPGPs, to varying degrees. Furthermore, long-term orientation plays a moderating role in the relationship between perceived functional benefits and the service use of IPGPs.
Originality/value
The findings demonstrate that the public’s rational choice of a new digitalized service channel depends on to what extent and to what degree the absolute and relative benefits they consider important compare to other possible channels. Users also consider how the new service channel satisfies their personalized demands of digitalized services. Also, users’ long-term orientation can affect their rational choices by adjusting the perceived functional benefits of the channel when that channel is used for service transactions.
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Dezhi Li, Lugang Yu, Guanying Huang, Shenghua Zhou, Haibo Feng and Yanqing Wang
To propose a new investment-income valuation model by real options approach (ROA) for old community renewal (OCR) projects, which could help the government attract private…
Abstract
Purpose
To propose a new investment-income valuation model by real options approach (ROA) for old community renewal (OCR) projects, which could help the government attract private capital's participation.
Design/methodology/approach
The new model is proposed by identifying the types of options private capital has in the OCR project, selecting the option model most suitable for private capital investment decisions, improving the valuation model through the triangular fuzzy numbers to take into account the uncertainty and flexibility, and demonstrating the feasibility of the calculation model through an actual OCR project case.
Findings
The new model can valuate OCR projects more accurately based on considering uncertainty and flexibility, compared with conventional methods that often underestimate the value of OCR projects.
Practical implications
The investment-income of OCR projects shall be re-valuated from the lens of real options, which could help reveal more real benefits beyond the capital growth of OCR projects, enable the government to attract private capital's investment in OCR, and alleviate government fiscal pressure.
Originality/value
The proposed OCR-oriented investment-income valuation model systematically analyzes the applicability of real option value (ROV) to OCR projects, innovatively integrates the ROV and the net present value (NPV) as expanded net present value (ENPV), and accurately evaluate real benefits in comparison with existing models. Furthermore, the newly proposed model holds the potential to be transferred to various social welfare projects as a tool to attract private capital's participation.
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The core of the successful implementation of the integrated project delivery (IPD) mode is to establish a high-quality relationship of cooperation, trust and sharing among…
Abstract
Purpose
The core of the successful implementation of the integrated project delivery (IPD) mode is to establish a high-quality relationship of cooperation, trust and sharing among participants. This paper proposes recommendations to improve the relationship quality of participants from the owner's perspective. The results provide the theoretical basis and practical guidance for the popularization and application of the IPD mode.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes the dynamic relationship among participants in IPD mode based on supply chain theory and similarity theory. A tripartite game model of the owner, designer and the contractor is constructed to obtain the evolutionary equilibrium strategies under different parameter constraints. Then, numerical simulations under various scenarios are conducted to explore the dynamic evolution and the influencing factors of the relationship quality among the participant in the IPD mode.
Findings
The results show that (1) the relationship quality under certain conditions gradually improves as the project progresses until stable and high-quality cooperation is formed and (2) the owner's positive supervision cost, the distribution coefficient of incentive and punishment of participants and the scale of incentive pool are important factors influencing the relationship quality.
Originality/value
This study incorporates the following three innovations. First, analyzing the relationship quality among the participants of IPD mode based on supply chain theory. Second, the evolutionary game theory is applied to the relationship quality analysis. Third, conclusion innovation. The authors conclude that the relationship quality may progress, decrease or cycle with the progress of the project and targeted recommendations are presented based on the results.
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Peggy M.L. Ng, Po Kin Chow, Phoebe Wong and Wai Ming Bernard Luk
A new normal regarding teaching and learning has been established after COVID-19. The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of digital technology training on developing…
Abstract
Purpose
A new normal regarding teaching and learning has been established after COVID-19. The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of digital technology training on developing academics’ digital competence in higher education context. A conceptual model was developed using stimulus–organism–response (SOR) theory. Additionally, this study investigates the mediating effect of transfer of learning and the moderating effect of innovative climate in the relation between trainer capability and academics’ digital competence.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 24 digital technology training sessions were organized. Data were collected from the 24 digital technology training sessions with 384 participants and analyzed using SPSS PROCESS macro.
Findings
The results indicated that digital technology training content and trainer capability were positively associated with academics’ digital competence. Mediation analysis indicated that transfer of learning mediated the relation between trainer capability and digital competence. Moderated mediated analysis revealed that the relationship between trainer capability and transfer of learning is stronger under a higher innovative climate.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by applying the SOR theory in the context of digital technology training, providing a novel theoretical perspective on how digital training influences academics’ digital competencies. The study offers empirical evidence on the underlying process regarding the effect of digital technology training on academics’ digital competence. The findings revealed that transfer of learning as well as innovative climate play important intervening roles in enhancing academics’ digital competence. Higher education institutions can implement policies to promote the transfer of learning and innovative climate, allowing academics to learn innovative digital technology.
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This paper aims to explore the relationship between ethical self-fashioning and citizenship practices in the ongoing revival of “Chinese Traditional Culture” pursued in tandem by…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the relationship between ethical self-fashioning and citizenship practices in the ongoing revival of “Chinese Traditional Culture” pursued in tandem by the party-state and by private actors in present-day China.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting an anthropological approach, the author draws from three sets of resources: (1) research literature on China’s political history and key texts of early Chinese thought, (2) contemporary state discourses on citizen formation, and (3) participant observation notes and interviews with organizers and followers of the Wu-Wei School (a pseudonym). The author conducts a textual analysis of primary and secondary literature and a critical discourse analysis of the ethnographic data and examines emerging themes.
Findings
Firstly, the author identifies a crucial dimension in the historical and cultural roots of Chinese citizenship practices: an enduring conception that binds individual ethical self-improvement with socio-political flourishing. Secondly, examining contemporary state discourses on “citizen quality” and “reviving China’s outstanding traditional culture”, the author showcases how party-state authorities call on individuals to self-reform for national rejuvenation. Thirdly, the author investigates how members of the Wu-Wei School construe their individual pursuits of ethical self-improvement as significant for societal progress.
Originality/value
Based on these findings, the author demonstrates the ways in which autochthonous conceptions of Chinese citizenship give a central place to private acts of self-fashioning. The author argues that the entanglement between individual ethics and citizenship practices constitutes a crucial but largely understudied dimension of Chinese citizenship.
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Wu He and Shenghua Zha
The existing mashup literature paid little attention to the actual adoption and diffusion of mashups in an organizational context. As more and more organizations are engaged in…
Abstract
Purpose
The existing mashup literature paid little attention to the actual adoption and diffusion of mashups in an organizational context. As more and more organizations are engaged in mashup initiatives, more research efforts focussing on the mashup use and adoption issues from the organizational perspective are needed to ensure that organizations can receive the maximum benefits from their mashup initiatives. Two studies are conducted to increase the understanding of the use and adoption issues with social media mashups. The paper aims at discussing these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper first used a text mining approach to analyze relevant posts on blogs and messages in a major online mashup forum in order to understand the current status of social media mashup as well as representative themes and issues with social media mashups in general. Subsequently, the paper reviewed a number of social media mashup sites created by higher education institutions (HEIs) in the USA.
Findings
The paper identified some representative themes and issues with social media mashups in general. The paper also identified the approaches that were used to design the interface of social media mashup sites by HEIs. Based on the two studies, this paper provides recommendations and insights to guide social media mashup development and adoption in an organizational context.
Originality value
This is the first article to discuss the use and adoption of social media mashups in organizational environments. This paper can be used as a starting point to motivate other researchers to further explore the diffusion of social media mashups in different industries. This paper also helps organizations improve their social media mashup initiatives.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide the historical and social contexts for the three protests in Macau in the Summer of 2014, while examining the popular discourse of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide the historical and social contexts for the three protests in Macau in the Summer of 2014, while examining the popular discourse of the protests. These include simultaneous eruptions toward immediate issues, the political apathy of Macau residents and Castell’s model of “networked social networks.” It also discusses the competition for youth after the protests.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper first reviews the history of Macau, in particular the people’s struggle against corruption and privilege, and its little-discussed history of protest. Its innovation in communications, political structure and education development are also explained to illustrate the foundations which make possible protests against an obsolete social structure.
Findings
The author finds that the history of Macau since the nineteenth century does not lack protests, with goals ranging from protests against colonialism to national and local demands. Macau youth are now more able and willing to mobilize themselves to make demands on the administration, and activists find it necessary to pass down such experience for generations to come.
Originality/value
The paper deconstructs the traditional image of Macau’s politics, by appealing to the linkage between continuity and contemporary events, and calls for the reader’s attention toward its social activism.
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Maria Sideri, Angeliki Kitsiou, Ariadni Filippopoulou, Christos Kalloniatis and Stefanos Gritzalis
Even though social media are nowadays used in the frame of public governance to ensure citizens’ major participation, enhance e-dialogue and e-democracy consequently, this…
Abstract
Purpose
Even though social media are nowadays used in the frame of public governance to ensure citizens’ major participation, enhance e-dialogue and e-democracy consequently, this utilization has not been expanded yet in the field of education, whose key role focuses on the cultivation of active citizenship, as it is promoted through participation. The purpose of this paper is to examine leadership’s views of Greek Secondary and Tertiary Education on the potential use of social media for participatory decision-making processes in order to identify if the e-participation model could be implemented in the Greek education field as in other public domains.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory research was elaborated, employing a survey design of quantitative method in order to explore Greek educational organizations leadership’s perspectives toward social media usage in participatory decision-making processes.
Findings
The research reveals Greek educational leadership’s positive view on the potential effects of social media usage in participatory decision-making processes and highlights anticipated benefits as well as problems to be faced, indicating the foundation for Greek leaders to implement social media in their leadership practices and exploit their affordances as in e-governance shifts.
Practical implications
Bringing the concept of e-participation and crowd sourcing model – key features in e-governance initiatives through social media usage – in education field, Greek educational leadership is informed to consider social media utilization more methodically in the context of participatory decision-making processes, updating simultaneously existing leadership practices.
Originality/value
Up till now, social media usage in participatory decision-making processes in educational settings has hardly received attention.
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Ning Zhang, Nan Zhang, Jinfang Zhang, Qiang Wang, Man Zhou, Ping Wang and Yuanyuan Yu
Wool, mainly composed of keratin, is a relatively high-grade clothing material. Although woollen textile has the advantages of high wearing comfort and excellent warmth retention…
Abstract
Purpose
Wool, mainly composed of keratin, is a relatively high-grade clothing material. Although woollen textile has the advantages of high wearing comfort and excellent warmth retention property as we have known, its inherent disadvantage of easy pilling has easy puzzled people for a long time. Most of the existing technologies for pilling resistance are not eco-friendly or severely damaged the internal structure of wool.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, a controlled and effective surface treatment method was proposed to controllable micro-dissolution the scale layers of wool with minor damage to its internal structure, thereby improving the anti-pilling property of wool. Thiourea dioxide (TD) is used as a dissolving agent to swell and dissolve wool surface flakes. After TD treatment, the morphology changes of wool fibers were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and methylene blue staining. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the structural changes of TD wool. At the same time, the anti-pilling properties and wettability of wool fabrics were tested.
Findings
The results show that the wool scale layer is destroyed after TD treatment, which reduces the friction between fibers and improves the anti-pilling performance of wool fabrics. The methylene blue-stained images further demonstrate that low concentrations of TD can damage the superficial scale layer of wool without significant loss of strength.
Originality/value
This method is simple, eco-friendly and economical, and opens up a new direction for the surface treatment of wool fabrics.
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Ravikantha Prabhu, Sharun Mendonca, Pavana Kumara Bellairu, Rudolf Charles D’Souza and Thirumaleshwara Bhat
This paper aims to report the effect of titanium oxide (TiO2) particles on the specific wear rate (SWR) of alkaline treated bamboo and flax fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report the effect of titanium oxide (TiO2) particles on the specific wear rate (SWR) of alkaline treated bamboo and flax fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) under dry sliding condition by using a robust statistical method.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, the epoxy/bamboo and epoxy/flax composites filled with 0–8 Wt.% TiO2 particles have been fabricated using simple hand layup techniques, and wear testing of the composite was done in accordance with the ASTM G99-05 standard. The Taguchi design of experiments (DOE) was used to conduct a statistical analysis of experimental wear results. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to identify significant control factors affecting SWR under dry sliding conditions. Taguchi prediction model is also developed to verify the correlation between the test parameters and performance output.
Findings
The research study reveals that TiO2 filler particles in the epoxy/bamboo and epoxy/flax composite will improve the tribological properties of the developed composites. Statistical analysis of SWR concludes that normal load is the most influencing factor, followed by sliding distance, Wt.% TiO2 filler and sliding velocity. ANOVA concludes that normal load has the maximum effect of 31.92% and 35.77% and Wt.% of TiO2 filler has the effect of 17.33% and 16.98%, respectively, on the SWR of bamboo and flax FRCs. A fairly good agreement between the Taguchi predictive model and experimental results is obtained.
Originality/value
This research paper attempts to include both TiO2 filler and bamboo/flax fibers to develop a novel hybrid composite material. TiO2 micro and nanoparticles are promising filler materials, it helps to enhance the mechanical and tribological properties of the epoxy composites. Taguchi DOE and ANOVA used for statistical analysis serve as guidelines for academicians and practitioners on how to best optimize the control variable with particular reference to natural FRCs.