The purpose of this research is to examine stories of and by employees as they implemented a transformative organizational change, involving outsourcing, off‐shoring, and the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to examine stories of and by employees as they implemented a transformative organizational change, involving outsourcing, off‐shoring, and the make‐over induced by technology.
Design/methodology/approach
Three types of data were analyzed – organizational documents, responses to oral and written questions, and observational field notes. Two interpretive approaches were used – qualitative content analysis and “grounded theory”. Additionally, the Burkean pentad was applied to examine how the change was perceived and characterized by the change participants.
Findings
During technological change, planned storytelling may provide a platform for understanding the perceived and real people costs and benefits of the change. The organizational opportunity to tell stories was enabled by three mechanisms: visual representation, distillation and documentation, and innovative ways to learn. The Burkean pentad tool indicated highly knowledgeable and engaged individuals. Thus, while the participants know what to do, there is a sense of uncertainty about their “agency” and the change results. What also emerged is a sense of collegiality and interpersonal support.
Research limitations/implications
The stories for this study were collected during the change process. One could expect to hear different stories after the change is implemented, after the participants have gained more agency or attained a better sense of their agency. One may also expect to have different results by including more participants.
Practical implications
Stories capture the interpretation and analysis of information by people – by revealing how the new technology has affected work‐design, employee's functioning in new partnerships and work‐flows, and other people‐centered needs such as the sense of “agency”.
Originality/value
This paper outlines the potential of learning from planned storytelling during technological change to steer technological change processes in a people‐centered way.
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Roopa K.R., Dinesh P.A., Sweeti Yadav and Oluwole Daniel Makinde
The purpose of this study is to examine how fluid flow and heat transfer are affected by the influence of hybrid nanofluids flowing across a stagnation zone of a stretching curved…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine how fluid flow and heat transfer are affected by the influence of hybrid nanofluids flowing across a stagnation zone of a stretching curved surface. Stagnation point flow has garnered considerable attention over the past few decades. This is because many technical applications, such as the cooling of nuclear reactors and rotating equipment divisions, rely on stagnation-point flow.
Design/methodology/approach
A thorough analysis is conducted of the impacts of several regulating parameters on fluid flow and thermal performance, including the radiation parameter, heat source parameter, mixed convection parameter, porosity parameter curvature and nanoparticle concentration. The laws governing the field of flow equations are transformed by similarity substitutions into two nonlinear ordinary differential equations, which are then solved numerically using Maple. The MR-Solve technique in the built-in Maple package was used. The MR-Solve technique was used to numerically solve highly coupled ordinary differential equation problems. This approach produced highly precise and consistent results. It also provides the best performance while using a minimum amount of CPU and the shortest phrases.
Findings
The main conclusions of this study show that axial velocity drops, while radial velocity increases as the mixed convection parameter increases. The rate of heat transmission and skin friction is higher for hybrid nanoparticles with volume fraction percentile (0.01–0.03) than for those with volume fraction percentile (0.1–0.3).
Research limitations/implications
Further research on this topic could examine a broader range of parameter values, suction/injection, entropy, mass equation, micropolar fluid, ternary hybrid nanofluid and Newtonian heating flow on a curved stretching surface.
Practical implications
By investigating a novel physical design that combines the various effect with stagnation flow, this study adds value and offers insights and prospective improvements in the discipline of heat fluid mechanics. Mathematical modeling or experimental studies in a variety of multiphysical contexts can be used to achieve this. Heat exchangers, crystalline procedures, microelectronic machines, systems for conserving energy, integrating operations, food manufacturing, climate control, purification and other engineering domains can all benefit from the geometric configurations investigated in this study. The results of this study greatly aid in optimizing thermal performance in a variety of application domains. This study is novel because it compares several volume fraction percentiles.
Originality/value
A stretching curved surface’s stagnation zone is traversed by hybrid nanofluids, offering insights into how curvature affects heat transfer and fluid flow efficiency. The results aid in the design and improvement of the energy transfer efficiencies for a range of commercial and biological purposes. The results offer possibilities for increased efficiency in a range of applications by developing hybrid nanofluid flow control methods and helping to create ideal thermal systems.
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Suresh Chander Malik and Sweety Kadyan
The purpose of present study is to carry out stochastic analysis of some important reliability measures of a three-unit system where there are two types of units called type-I and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of present study is to carry out stochastic analysis of some important reliability measures of a three-unit system where there are two types of units called type-I and type-II. In type-II, two identical units work simultaneously to meet the system requirements while in type-I, a single unit is kept in spare and can be used to work whenever required at the failure of either of the units of type-II. The system starts its operation with type-II units and thus priority is given to the operation of type-II units. The type II units are different to type-I unit but can perform the same task. There is a single server who handles repair activities of both type of units and the units are assumed to be in pristine condition after every repair. Failures of both types of units are independent and constant. The system can fail at the failure of either of the type-II units and type-I unit.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-Markov process and regenerative point technique are used to study the behaviour of different reliability measures of the system.
Findings
In this paper, a three-unit non-identical repairable system is analysed stochastically and its reliability characteristics such as transition probabilities (TP), mean sojourn time (MST), MTSF, steady state availability, expected number of repairs of units, expected number of visits of the repairman and expected busy period of repairman are derived to carry out profit analysis.
Research limitations/implications
The direct application of the present study can be seen is case of a power distribution system where solar panels may be considered as type-II units and transformer as the type-I unit. Here, the case study is carried out by using approximate data from some old studies; however, a study with accurate data would be more preferable.
Originality/value
This paper is one of the few reliability studies conducted on a system with simultaneous working units. Also, the comparative study of the profit of the present system model has been done with that of the model Kadyan et al. (2020a).
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Sweety Mishra, Sujood, Nimit Chowdhary and Javed Salim
This paper aims to explore the intricate relationship among urban tourism, sustainability and the contributions of natural environments to the quality of life and convivial…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the intricate relationship among urban tourism, sustainability and the contributions of natural environments to the quality of life and convivial atmospheres in urban destinations. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge, exploring the nuances of how natural environments impact the well-being of diverse demographic groups, both locals and visitors.
Design/methodology/approach
The study systematically reviews the literature using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) technique and uses the Scopus database. The search strategy incorporates key terms related to urban tourism, sustainability, quality of life and natural environments.
Findings
The findings of the systematic literature review provide insights into the current landscape of urban tourism, sustainability and the role of natural environments. The paper synthesizes existing knowledge, identifying trends, challenges and opportunities in leveraging natural environments for sustainable urban tourism.
Research limitations/implications
Despite offering a thorough synthesis, this study has certain limitations. The scope is limited to articles published in English and available in the Scopus database, following the PRISMA guidelines. The implications of this research are significant, informing future studies and guiding urban tourism planning and policy development.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the existing literature by unraveling complexities in the interplay between natural environments, quality of life and convivial atmospheres in urban tourism. The emphasis on cross-cultural perspectives and the post-COVID-19 era adds originality, providing insights that can guide future research and practical applications in the field.
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Fanny Reniou, Elisa Robert-Monnot and Sarah Lasri
Packaging-free shopping disrupts the usual retailing and consumption patterns in which packaging usually plays a central role. When manufacturers no longer offer predetermined…
Abstract
Purpose
Packaging-free shopping disrupts the usual retailing and consumption patterns in which packaging usually plays a central role. When manufacturers no longer offer predetermined packaging, how do retailers and consumers ensure packaging functions? Investigating the way packaging-free actors appropriate packaging functions during use is particularly important because they exert a new power over these functions, which can be challenging to appropriate. The purpose of this study is to contribute to a deeper understanding of why packaging-free shopping can be perceived as constraining.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing from the literature on packaging functions and adopting Miller’s conceptual framework of appropriation, this research uses a qualitative method with a variety of discursive and visual data, including 54 interviews with experts from packaging-free product stores and consumers, 190 Instagram consumer posts and 428 in-store and at-home photographs.
Findings
This research shows that packaging-free actors jointly appropriate packaging functions through two modes of appropriation (assimilation and accommodation) each encompassing distinct strategies and highlights the misappropriation that actors can experience, especially when prioritizing one function over another.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the literature on packaging-free shopping, an emergent and growing trend that challenges conventional shopping models. The research reveals dark sides of packaging-free shopping – namely, the damaging effects on health and the environment and social exclusion. In particular, it discusses the ambivalence of the packaging-free shopping environmental function. This research also deepens insight into how individual acts of appropriation may lead to misappropriation.