The likely strategy of the BJP's opponents.
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DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB224372
ISSN: 2633-304X
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U. Dinesh Kumar and J. Knezevic
High reliability, maintainability, safety and supportability are expected from today’s modern systems. In the recent years supportability has been widely accepted as a major…
Abstract
High reliability, maintainability, safety and supportability are expected from today’s modern systems. In the recent years supportability has been widely accepted as a major factor in logistics discipline. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how advanced mathematical models can be used to analyse the effect of supportability on systems availability. The paper discusses supportability aspects and its effect on operational availability of complex systems using advanced mathematical models like Markov, semi‐Markov and non‐Markov models. The powerful mathematical models discussed in the paper would help reliability engineers and practitioners to predict the logistic support requirements to achieve specified operational availability.
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Naveen Virmani and Rajesh Kumar Singh
Integrating digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain make the agri-food supply chain (ASCM) transparent, resilient and flexible. However, its adoption…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrating digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain make the agri-food supply chain (ASCM) transparent, resilient and flexible. However, its adoption is quite complex due to various anticipated barriers. So, the presented research purposes to explore and investigate the barriers.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employs hybrid approach including Best-Worst Method (BWM) and Graph Theoretic Approach (GTA). Data were collected from industry experts employed in the agri-food sector and analyzed by means of standard operating procedures.
Findings
GTA results show that Technological barriers have the highest barrier intensity. Moreover, BWM results show that “Increased operational complexity” is the topmost barrier to adopting blockchain in ASCM. “Lack of interoperability” ranks second among the identified barriers.
Research limitations/implications
The results benefit the managers, practitioners and researchers to understand the anticipated barriers so that necessary strategies can be developed, and organizations can become more resilient, agile, transparent and traceable.
Originality/value
The presented work is the first to develop a mathematical model and assess the industry’s eagerness to adopt blockchain in ASCM. The proposed framework will greatly benefit the stakeholders working in agri-food sector.
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Mahmud Akhter Shareef, Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Vinod Kumar, Gareth Davies, Nripendra Rana and Abdullah Baabdullah
The purpose of this paper is to understand the integrated impact of the application of protection measures against identity theft on consumers’ synergistic perception of trust…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the integrated impact of the application of protection measures against identity theft on consumers’ synergistic perception of trust, the cost of products/services and operational performance (OP) – all of which in turn is postulated to contribute to purchase intention (PI) when shopping online.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to accomplish the specified aim, this study first conducted an experiment by involving the students from a university in Bangladesh. Then a survey was conducted to capture their opinion based on the previous experiment.
Findings
The study identified that in e-commerce, OP and trust have potential impact on pursuing consumers’ PI. Traditionally, price is always an issue in marketing; however, for e-commerce, this issue does not have direct impact on PI.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitation of this study is that a less established e-commerce example was utilized to conduct the experiment and survey for validating the model. Also, the study was conducted only in the context of Bangladesh and a student sample was utilized. Future studies can test the model in different contexts (particularly to verify the impact of privacy) by utilizing data from consumers.
Practical implications
This study has resolved a controversial issue by generating clear guidelines that the overall conjoint effect of OP, trust, and price on PI is neither negative nor neutral. Synergistically, the application of these controlling tools of identity theft can substantially enhance consumers’ trust, which is the single most predictor to pursue consumer PI.
Originality/value
This study has provided in-depth insight into the impact of different controlling measures in e-commerce PI. Practitioners have potential learning from this study that if consumers find the application of different controlling mechanisms against cybercrimes, particularly identity theft, enhancing the reliability, authenticity and security of transactions in this virtual medium, they do not mind paying a higher price. Such insights have not been provided by existing studies on this topic. Developing trust on e-commerce purchase is the driving force, not the price.
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Discusses two measures, namely, maintenance free operating period (MFOP) and failure free operating period (FFOP) that are seen as the future reliability and maintenance measures…
Abstract
Discusses two measures, namely, maintenance free operating period (MFOP) and failure free operating period (FFOP) that are seen as the future reliability and maintenance measures. The concept of MFOP is a new reliability metric driven by the Ministry of Defence, UK, which is becoming popular among projects such as future offensive aircraft systems (FOAS), joint strike fighter (JSF) and ultra reliable aircraft (URA) etc. Analyses how these two measures can change the whole operation of military and commercial aircraft operations.
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In this paper reliability models for fault tolerant N‐version programming and consensus recovery block (combination of N‐version programming and recovery block) with deadline…
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In this paper reliability models for fault tolerant N‐version programming and consensus recovery block (combination of N‐version programming and recovery block) with deadline mechanism are analysed. Explicit expressions for reliability of N‐version programming and consensus recovery block with exponential execution times are derived. The paper also presents optimisation models for real time N‐version programming. The objective of the optimisation problem is to maximise reliability of the software satisfying a budget constraint. The paper also includes efficient branch and bound procedure that can be used to solve the optimisation problem.
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U. Dinesh Kumar, Haritha Saranga, José E. Ramírez‐Márquez and David Nowicki
The evolution of six sigma has morphed from a method or set of techniques to a movement focused on business‐process improvement. Business processes are transformed through the…
Abstract
Purpose
The evolution of six sigma has morphed from a method or set of techniques to a movement focused on business‐process improvement. Business processes are transformed through the successful selection and implementation of competing six sigma projects. However, the efforts to implement a six sigma process improvement initiative alone do not guarantee success. To meet aggressive schedules and tight budget constraints, a successful six sigma project needs to follow the proven define, measure, analyze, improve, and control methodology. Any slip in schedule or cost overrun is likely to offset the potential benefits achieved by implementing six sigma projects. The purpose of this paper is to focus on six sigma projects targeted at improving the overall customer satisfaction called Big Q projects. The aim is to develop a mathematical model to select one or more six sigma projects that result in the maximum benefit to the organization.
Design/methodology/approach
This research provides the identification of important inputs and outputs for six sigma projects that are then analyzed using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to identify projects, which result in maximum benefit. Maximum benefit here provides a Pareto optimal solution based on inputs and outputs directly related to the efficiency of the six sigma projects under study. A sensitivity analysis of efficiency measurement is also carried out to study the impact of variation in projects' inputs and outputs on project performance and to identify the critical inputs and outputs.
Findings
DEA, often used for relative efficiency analysis and productivity analysis, is now successfully constructed for six sigma project selection.
Practical implications
Provides a practical approach to guide the selection of six sigma projects for implementation, especially for companies with limited resources. The sensitivity analysis discussed in the paper helps to understand the uncertainties in project inputs and outputs.
Originality/value
This paper introduces DEA as a tool for six sigma project selection.
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M.N. Gopalan and U. Dinesh Kumar
A merge production system which has parallel stations in the first stagefollowed by a single station in the second stage is analysed inconnection with the production rate of the…
Abstract
A merge production system which has parallel stations in the first stage followed by a single station in the second stage is analysed in connection with the production rate of the system. A mathematical model is developed using semi‐regenerative process and a system of convolution integral equations satisfied by various state probabilities is obtained. An iterative numerical technique is used to solve the system of integral equations obtained to evaluate the production rate of the system.
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Hemanth Kumar Chinthapalli and Anil Agarwal
Earthquake tremors not only increase the chances of fire ignition but also hinder the fire-fighting efforts due to the damage to the lifelines of a city. Most of the international…
Abstract
Purpose
Earthquake tremors not only increase the chances of fire ignition but also hinder the fire-fighting efforts due to the damage to the lifelines of a city. Most of the international codes have independent recommendations for structural safety against earthquake and fire. However, the possibility of a multi-hazard event, such as fire following an earthquake is seldom addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents an experimental study of Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns in post-earthquake fire (PEF) conditions. An experimental approach is proposed that allows the testing of a column instead of a full structural frame. This approach allows us to control the loading and boundary conditions individually and facilitates the testing under a variety of these conditions. Also, it allows the structure to be tested until failure. The role of parameters, such as earthquake intensity, axial load ratio and the ductile detailing of the column on the earthquake damage and subsequently the fire performance of the structure, is studied in this research. Six RC column specimens are tested under a sequence of quasi-static earthquake loading, followed by combined fire and axial compression loading conditions.
Findings
The experiment results indicate that ductile detailed columns subjected to 4% or less lateral drift did not lose significant load-carrying capacity in fire conditions. A lateral drift of 6% caused significant damage to the columns and reduced the load-carrying capacity in fire conditions. The level of the axial load acting on the column at the time of earthquake loading was found to have a very significant effect on the extent of damage and reduction in column load capacity in fire conditions. The columns that were not detailed for a ductile behavior observed a more significant reduction in axial load carrying capacity in fire conditions.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to columns of 230 mm size due to the limitations of the test setup. The applicability of these findings to larger column sections needs to be verified by developing a numerical analysis methodology and simulating other post-earthquake-fire tests available in the literature.
Originality/value
The experimental procedure proposed in this paper offers an alternative to the testing of a complete structural frame system for PEF behavior. In addition to the ease of conducting the tests, the procedure also allows much better control over the heating, structural loading and boundary conditions.
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Although the issues related to the motivation of entrepreneurs have been widely studied, there is a less study focussing on the immigrant women’s entrepreneurial motivation under…
Abstract
Although the issues related to the motivation of entrepreneurs have been widely studied, there is a less study focussing on the immigrant women’s entrepreneurial motivation under challenging environment such as COVID-19. Existing studies on entrepreneurs’ motivations mainly adapt the concepts that have often been developed in male-dominated paradigm. According to Shmailan (2016), male entrepreneurs focus on making sure costs are under control and are more profit driven. Women seek to make social contributions and want to ensure their quality. Some of the literature suggests that men are inclined to start businesses because of financial considerations and are more likely to be pulled into entrepreneurship. Conversely, women are likely to start business because of lifestyle issues and are more likely to be pushed into self-employment (Clain, 2000; Georgellis & Wall, 2005; Takahashi, Lourenço, Sander, & Souza, 2014).
This chapter focuses on the motivation of immigrant females in developed economies and what makes them continue especially during difficult times such as recent crisis ‘new normal’, COVID-19 pandemic. The study explores the challenges ethnic female entrepreneurs are facing and what motivated them to continue. The study also seeks their responds and strategies during challenging time such as the pandemic. The findings indicate that women often pursuit business opportunities to satisfy social needs, rather than focussing on traditional business outcomes such as growth or profit. The study found a stronger desire to contribute to a society, community and family’s needs among female founders in the UK . The immigrant female entrepreneurs have shown strong resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.