T. Warren Liao, L.J. Chen, Z.H. Chen and E.R. Coates
Compares two approaches for designing production line cellular manufacturing systems, or “focused factories”. Production line manufacturing cells are dedicated to producing a set…
Abstract
Compares two approaches for designing production line cellular manufacturing systems, or “focused factories”. Production line manufacturing cells are dedicated to producing a set of similar products with machines that are arranged in a serial production line within the cell. Approach A requires the processing of batches of products in only one manufacturing cell, while approach B allows batches of product to be split and made simultaneously in different cells. Both design approaches consist of three stages. The first stage determines the best part routings among alternate routings to minimize the operating cost. At the second stage, a specific number of cells is obtained by using an ART1 neural network‐based cell formation module in approach A and a fuzzy rank order clustering (fuzzy ROC) module in approach B. At the third stage, production sequence is considered to find the best layout with lowest material handling cost. An example demonstrates that both approaches are effective in designing production line cellular manufacturing systems. Approach B gives a lower operating cost but a higher material handling cost than approach A. Both approaches should be analysed and compared, since the best approach depends on the operating and material handling costs for the application.
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Djamel Guessoum, Moeiz Miraoui and Chakib Tadj
The prediction of a context, especially of a user’s location, is a fundamental task in the field of pervasive computing. Such predictions open up a new and rich field of proactive…
Abstract
Purpose
The prediction of a context, especially of a user’s location, is a fundamental task in the field of pervasive computing. Such predictions open up a new and rich field of proactive adaptation for context-aware applications. This study/paper aims to propose a methodology that predicts a user’s location on the basis of a user’s mobility history.
Design/methodology/approach
Contextual information is used to find the points of interest that a user visits frequently and to determine the sequence of these visits with the aid of spatial clustering, temporal segmentation and speed filtering.
Findings
The proposed method was tested with a real data set using several supervised classification algorithms, which yielded very interesting results.
Originality/value
The method uses contextual information (current position, day of the week, time and speed) that can be acquired easily and accurately with the help of common sensors such as GPS.
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Citizens are substantial stakeholders in every e-government system, thus their willingness to use and ability to access the system are critical. Unequal access and information and…
Abstract
Citizens are substantial stakeholders in every e-government system, thus their willingness to use and ability to access the system are critical. Unequal access and information and communication technology usage, which is known as digital divide, however has been identified as one of the major obstacles to the implementation of e-government system. As digital divide inhibits citizen’s acceptance to e-government, it should be overcome despite the lack of deep theoretical understanding on this issue. This research aimed to investigate the digital divide and its direct impact on e-government system success of local governments in Indonesia as well as indirect impact through the mediation role of trust. In order to get a comprehensive understanding of digital divide, this study introduced a new type of digital divide, the innovativeness divide.
The research problems were approached by applying two-stage sequential mixed method research approach comprising of both qualitative and quantitative studies. In the first phase, an initial research model was proposed based on a literature review. Semi-structured interview with 12 users of e-government systems was then conducted to explore and enhance this initial research model. Data collected in this phase were analyzed with a two-stage content analysis approach and the initial model was then amended based on the findings. As a result, a comprehensive research model with 16 hypotheses was proposed for examination in the second phase.
In the second phase, quantitative method was applied. A questionnaire was developed based on findings in the first phase. A pilot study was conducted to refine the questionnaire, which was then distributed in a national survey resulting in 237 useable responses. Data collected in this phase were analyzed using Partial Least Square based Structural Equation Modeling.
The results of quantitative analysis confirmed 13 hypotheses. All direct influences of the variables of digital divide on e-government system success were supported. The mediating effects of trust in e-government in the relationship between capability divide and e-government system success as well as in the relationship between innovativeness divide and e-government system success were supported, but was rejected in the relationship between access divide and e-government system success. Furthermore, the results supported the moderating effects of demographic variables of age, residential place, and education.
This research has both theoretical and practical contributions. The study contributes to the developments of literature on digital divide and e-government by providing a more comprehensive framework, and also to the implementation of e-government by local governments and the improvement of e-government Readiness Index of Indonesia.
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Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied for the linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic analyses of basic structural elements from the…
Abstract
Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied for the linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic analyses of basic structural elements from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. The range of applications of FEMs in this area is wide and cannot be presented in a single paper; therefore aims to give the reader an encyclopaedic view on the subject. The bibliography at the end of the paper contains 2,025 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with the analysis of beams, columns, rods, bars, cables, discs, blades, shafts, membranes, plates and shells that were published in 1992‐1995.
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Clare Gately and James Cunningham
Business plan writing seems the panacea to gain stakeholder legitimacy and financial backing. Our chapter explores the contributions and disconnections between business plan…
Abstract
Business plan writing seems the panacea to gain stakeholder legitimacy and financial backing. Our chapter explores the contributions and disconnections between business plan writing and the start-up process for incubated technology entrepreneurs. The study is set in the South East Enterprise Platform Programme (SEEPP), an incubator programme for technology graduate entrepreneurs in the South East of Ireland. Using a purposive sample of technology entrepreneurs in start-up mode, we took a qualitative approach consisting of content analysis of 40 business plans and in-depth interviews with 25 technology entrepreneurs. Our research found that writing a detailed business plan constrains the technology entrepreneur’s natural penchant for action, compelling them to focus on business plan writing rather than enactment. Technology entrepreneurs favour a market-led rather than funding-led operational level document to plan, and learn from, near-term activities using milestones.
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Qiuchang Cao, Li Liao and Keith Leverett Warren
To analyze networks of social interactions between the residents of a therapeutic community (TC) for women and the way, in which such interactions predict the discussion of issues…
Abstract
Purpose
To analyze networks of social interactions between the residents of a therapeutic community (TC) for women and the way, in which such interactions predict the discussion of issues that arise in treatment.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 50 residents of a corrections-based TC for women were surveyed on the peers with whom they socialized informally, shared meals, shared letters from home and discussed issues that arose in treatment over a 12 h period. The data were analyzed using exponential random graph models (ERGM).
Findings
Reciprocity occurred in all networks while transitivity (a tendency of two residents who are connected to both connect to a third peer) occurred in all networks measuring informal social interactions. When controlling for reciprocity and transitivity, residents avoided spending social time or sharing meals with the same peers. There was no evidence of homophily by race, age or years of education. Homophily by entrance time and case manager occurred in social time. Case manager homophily occurred in the discussion of treatment issues but disappeared when controlling for social time and sharing letters from home.
Research limitations/implications
Social networks in this TC arise from factors endogenous to the TC itself. It should be possible to determine the characteristics of optimal social networks in TCs. External validity is limited.
Practical implications
It should be possible to intervene to optimize the social networks of TC residents.
Originality/value
This is the first ERGM analysis of both informal and formal interactions in a TC.
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Bing-ru Cao, Hui-Hui Cao and Yong Liu
The purpose of this paper is to construct a novel grey incidence evaluation model to investigate a scientific and effective evaluation system of regional road traffic safety.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to construct a novel grey incidence evaluation model to investigate a scientific and effective evaluation system of regional road traffic safety.
Design/methodology/approach
To provide a method for the evaluation of regional road traffic safety, the grey incidence feature vector method is employed to construct the evaluation index system for regional road traffic safety and then the index weights are calculated with Shannon entropy method. In this paper, the grey incidence feature vector method and grey incidence analysis are utilised to construct evaluation index systems for regional road traffic safety and determine the index weights. Then a grey incidence-ideal point method is used to establish a novel evaluation model for regional road traffic safety. To thoroughly investigate the road traffic safety in one region, the data of 13 cities in Jiangsu province is gathered, using the grey clustering and grey incidence-ideal point method to obtain the ranking results of the 13 cities.
Findings
The results provide a basic analysis of the present situation and show the differences for these regions based on the proposed model, according to which several solutions are proposed, aiming to improve regional road traffic safety situation.
Practical implications
The method exposed in the paper can be used to deal with the problems of the evaluation of regional road traffic safety.
Originality/value
The paper succeeds in understanding the status quo and implementing effective road traffic safety management based on the proposed model.
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Junyun Liao, Wei Wang, Peng Du and Raffaele Filieri
This paper aims to explore whether or not and how brand community supportive climates (information- versus emotion-supportive climates) have an impact on consumer-to-consumer…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore whether or not and how brand community supportive climates (information- versus emotion-supportive climates) have an impact on consumer-to-consumer helping behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of users of cell phone brand communities was conducted, and data from 413 participants were used to validate the hypotheses of this study.
Findings
Results indicated that emotion- and information-supportive climates enhance consumer-to-consumer helping behavior through consumer–community relationships (i.e. brand community identification and brand community commitment).
Research limitations/implications
To enhance the external validity of this research, future studies could investigate other settings (e.g. social media-based brand communities and brands of other product types) in countries with different religious beliefs.
Practical implications
Marketers should create an environment where consumers feel informationally and emotionally supported within the brand community, thereby enabling the former to enhance their relationships with their brand communities and ultimately increase consumers' helping behavior.
Originality/value
By dividing the supportive climate into two parts, the current study enriched the literature on community climate. Moreover, the authors complemented and expanded the literature on consumer helping behavior.
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Mélia Djabi and Sakura Shimada
The purpose of this article is to understand how academics in management deal with the concept of generation in the workplace. We begin by conducting an interdisciplinary…
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to understand how academics in management deal with the concept of generation in the workplace. We begin by conducting an interdisciplinary literature analysis, thereby elaborating a conceptual framework concerning generational diversity. This framework consists of four levels of analysis (society, career, organisation and occupation) and three dimensions (age, cohort and event/period). We then conduct a meta-analysis using this conceptual framework to analyse papers from the management field. The results from this analysis reveal the existence of a diversity of generational approaches, which focus on the dimensions of age and cohort on a societal level. Four factors seem to explain these results: the recent de-synchronisation of generational dimensions and levels, the novelty of theoretical models, the amplification of stereotypes by mass media and the methodologies employed by researchers. In sum, this article contributes to a more realistic view of generational diversity in the workplace for both academics and practitioners.
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Gen-Yih Liao, Tzu-Ling Huang, T. C. E. Cheng and Ching-I Teng
Online gamers form communities and offer game makers various revenue sources. Gamers' continual revenue contributions should depend on their commitment to gaming communities…
Abstract
Purpose
Online gamers form communities and offer game makers various revenue sources. Gamers' continual revenue contributions should depend on their commitment to gaming communities (CGC), where they rely heavily on communication media that carry rich information or provide enhanced media richness. However, no study has yet examined how to use the four elements of media richness to fuel gamers' CGC, revealing a research gap. Seeking to fill this gap, this study constructs a research framework and formulates hypotheses based on media richness theory (MRT).
Design/methodology/approach
This study obtained responses from 1,971 online gamers and applied structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses.
Findings
This study finds that the four media richness elements have selective impacts on network convergence and interdependence that result in CGC. Moreover, compared with interdependence, network convergence has a stronger impact on CGC.
Originality/value
The findings offer online game makers insights that will enable them to design the communication functions in games to support the formation of strongly connected gamer communities. Moreover, the findings advance MRT by showing its ability to explain the formation of online gaming communities.