The engineering education accreditation (EEA) is a principal quality assurance mechanism. However, at many education institutions, the most labor-intensive work of EEA process is…
Abstract
Purpose
The engineering education accreditation (EEA) is a principal quality assurance mechanism. However, at many education institutions, the most labor-intensive work of EEA process is accomplished manually. Without the support of computer and information technology, the EEA process leads to high labor intensity, low work efficiency and poor management level. The purpose of this paper is to build a complex network model and realize an information management system of talent training program for supporting the EEA process.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on polychromatic graph (PG), this paper builds a network model of talent training program for engineering specialty. The related information and data are organized and processed in this network model. From the bidirections of top-down and bottom-up, the user requirements are retrieved automatically in logic layer. Together with the specialty of mechanical engineering, the proposed PG-based network modeling method is applied and the corresponding information management system is realized.
Findings
The study results show that the PG-based network modeling method takes full advantages of the strong simulation ability of PG to model the complex network system and has some unique merits in formal expression of problem, efficient processing of information and lightweight realization of system. Further, the information management system of talent training program can reduce the tedious human labor and improve the management level of EEA process dramatically.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a PG-based network modeling method, in which the nodes and the edges can be painted by some unified colors to describe the different kinds of activities and the various types of interactions. Theoretically, this modeling method does not distinguish the activities, the interactions and their properties in graphic symbol and the problem size is diminished about a half. Furthermore, this paper provides an effective experience and idea to the education institutions for implementing the engineering education accreditation, increasing the education management efficiency and promoting the talent training quality.
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Ying Zhang, Puzhen Xiong, Shiyu Rong, Mark Frost and Wei Zhou
This study aims to investigate the mechanism of knowledge management within multinationals during the post COVID-19 era, with particular consideration given to the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the mechanism of knowledge management within multinationals during the post COVID-19 era, with particular consideration given to the relationship between the cultural intelligence of top managers and knowledge-oriented leadership using fear of COVID-19 as a moderating factor.
Design/methodology/approach
Derived from upper echelons’ theory and research on knowledge management success (KMS), a theoretical model and associated hypotheses have been developed and tested. Structural equation modeling was used with statistics collected from 288 top managers and executives of multinational corporations dominated by knowledge-intensive industries through a network investigation.
Findings
Results indicate that the levels of executives’ cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership contribute to KMS, while knowledge-oriented leadership acts as a mediator between them. In addition, the fear of COVID-19 of senior executives negatively affects both the direct and mediated influence of cultural intelligence on KMS.
Research limitations/implications
The current research uses an empirical approach to examine cross-border KMS. Further research is needed to develop more comprehensive measurement tools for KMS and more detailed research by further developing the subdimensions of cultural intelligence. In addition, this paper used cross-sectional research that limits the capability to establish causal relationships over time.
Originality/value
The research explores the “human side” of the key antecedents of KMS, fills the gap in research about the impact of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership on the achievement of KMS, paves the way for emerging knowledge-oriented leadership from the initial phase to the mature phase and contributes to the literature on environmental uncertainty and crisis, using the COVID-19 as a representative context.
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G.S. Thyagaraju and U.P. Kulkarni
The purpose of this paper is to propose an intelligent service recommendation model. The paper formulates the service adaptation process by using artificial intelligence…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose an intelligent service recommendation model. The paper formulates the service adaptation process by using artificial intelligence techniques like Bayesian Network, fuzzy logic and rule based reasoning.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors formulate the service adaptation process by using artificial intelligence techniques like Bayesian Network, fuzzy logic and rule based reasoning. Bayesian Network is used to classify the incoming call (high priority call, low priority call and unknown calls), fuzzy linguistic variables and membership degrees to define the context situations, the rules for adopting the policies of implementing a service, fitness degree computation and service recommendation. In addition to this the paper proposes maximum to minimum priority based context attributes matching algorithm for rule selection based on fitness degree of rules. The context aware mobile is tested for library and class room scenario to exemplify the proposed service recommendation engine and demonstrate its effectiveness.
Findings
First, it was found that there was reduction in application searching time in different contexts. For example, if user enters into the library, the proposed mobile will be adapted to the library situation automatically by configuring its desktop and internal settings to facilitate the library services like book search, web link, silent mode and friends search. Second, the design of the recommendation engine, utilizing contextual parameters like Location (class room, college campus, house, etc.) Personal (age, name), Temporal (time, date), Physical (fall, normal), and schedule agendas, was found to be of importance.
Originality/value
Exploitation of hybrid fuzzy system, Bayesian Networks and the utility theory (usage history and context history) for modeling and implementation.
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This study aims to describe the general picture of the competition in multichannel expert services in duopoly market and discuss how the quality difference may affects the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to describe the general picture of the competition in multichannel expert services in duopoly market and discuss how the quality difference may affects the competition between service providers with different quality levels, where both providers offer face-to-face channel and one of providers offers online channel additionally and service quality that consumers have heterogeneous preferences for is vertically differentiated. These results can be used to determine which service providers should offer online expert services and understand the competition in multichannel expert services in duopoly.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses the stylized vertical differentiation model to investigate the role of quality in expert services market, assuming that two services providers offer the same services with different quality levels and one of them having additional online services. Taking into account the differences of services from products and the particularity of online service, this paper extends the vertical differentiation model to expert services market.
Findings
The quality difference is the key factor in the competition of expert services. Service prices and the profits of providers, independent of the quality levels, are positively related to the quality difference, whereas the demand of online services is in the opposite direction regardless of which provider offers online channel. It demonstrates that provider with low-quality level should open online channel from the point of view of social welfare if it is closely related to the expert services, even though any provider can make more profits by opening online channel.
Research limitations/implications
This extended vertical differentiation model, taking into account the importance of vertical differentiation in expert service, ignores the horizontal differentiation. More accurate strategies for multichannel expert services providers with what level of the quality a provider should offer is needed in future work. Moreover, this paper does not consider the different waiting costs of consumers in face-to-face channel and assumes that their problem will be solved eventually.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has focused on the quality difference in multichannel expert services market or discussed how to offer online expert services in the duopoly market. This study extends the vertical differentiation model to the multichannel expert service market. Therefore, it fills this research gap and extends research to expert services market in the new network environment, aiming to help understand the competition in multichannel expert services.
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Oscar F. Briones, Segundo M. Camino-Mogro and Veronica J. Navas
The purpose of this research is to examine Micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Which have limited access to financial resources from financial intermediaries…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to examine Micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Which have limited access to financial resources from financial intermediaries. Thus, resource allocation is a primary concern for them.
Design/methodology/approach
This research studies the determinants of cash conversion cycle components and cash flow of MSMEs operating in Ecuador. This study examined a robust sample of 19,680 firms from 2000 to 2020, using the two-step generalized methods of moments to control for endogeneity and multicollinearity of independent variables issues.
Findings
The sample was divided into working capital intensive and fixed capital intensive firms. It was found that in every segment (micro-, small- and medium-sized), the majority of firms are working capital intensive and their average return is higher. This implies that small business owners assign the majority of their resources to current assets, which thus far have enabled them to achieve higher profitability.
Originality/value
Research investigated Ecuadorian MSMEs in a dollarized developing environment. Scrutinizing working capital intensive vs fixed capital intensive.
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Yousra Harb, Ali Zahrawi, Issa Shehabat and Zuopeng (Justin) Zhang
Sharing knowledge of physicians in hospitals is critical and significant in terms of providing better healthcare services. Despite the significance of knowledge sharing in the…
Abstract
Purpose
Sharing knowledge of physicians in hospitals is critical and significant in terms of providing better healthcare services. Despite the significance of knowledge sharing in the healthcare setting, very few studies have empirically investigated knowledge sharing drivers among physicians. Particularly, the process of knowledge sharing through the interplay between individual characteristics, knowledge characteristics, and intention in a healthcare setting has received very little empirical support. In this study, the authors draw upon personality traits and knowledge characteristics theories to develop a theoretical model to empirically examine the effect of individual characteristics and knowledge characteristics on physicians' knowledge sharing behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of 215 physicians from 20 hospitals in Jordan, the authors conducted data analysis using the partial least squares statistical technique.
Findings
The study revealed that the personality traits (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness) significantly influence physician intention to share knowledge. Knowledge characteristic (Situatedness) was also found to affect the intention to share knowledge.
Originality/value
Very little is known about the effect of individual characteristics and knowledge characteristics on knowledge sharing behavior among physicians. The study contributes to the related literature by empirically investigating how individual characteristics and knowledge characteristics influence physicians' knowledge sharing behavior. The findings add to the understanding of the role of personality traits and knowledge characteristics in physicians' intention to share knowledge and give important insights for practice and theory.
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Insha Kousar Kalem, Z.F. Bhat, Sunil Kumar and Reshan Mudiyanselage Jayawardena
The purpose of this study was to assess the preservative potential of Tinospora cordifolia as a novel natural preservative in muscle foods.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to assess the preservative potential of Tinospora cordifolia as a novel natural preservative in muscle foods.
Design/methodology/approach
Chevon sausages were used as a model system and were prepared by incorporating different levels of T. cordifolia, namely, T1 (0.25 per cent), T2 (0.50 per cent) and T3 (0.75 per cent), and assessed for lipid oxidative stability and storage quality under refrigerated (4 ± 10°C) conditions.
Findings
Lipid oxidative stability showed a significant improvement as the products incorporated with T. cordifolia exhibited significantly (p = 0.001) lower thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (mg malonaldehyde/kg) in comparison to control. A significant improvement was also observed in the microbial stability as T. cordifolia-incorporated products showed significantly lower values for total plate count (log cfu/g, p = 0.001), psychrophilic count (log cfu/g, p = 0.003), yeast and mould count (log cfu/g, p = 0.02) and free fatty acid (percentage of oleic acid, p = 0.01). Significantly higher scores were observed for various sensory parameters of the treated products during storage.
Originality/value
Tinospora cordifolia successfully improved the lipid oxidative and microbial stability of the model meat product and may be commercially exploited as a novel preservative in muscle foods.
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Frank Mathmann, Di Wang and Jesse Elias Christian
This study employs S-D Logic to examine the hotel booking behaviors of individuals, with a focus on the impact of service customization on service cancellation. Additionally, the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study employs S-D Logic to examine the hotel booking behaviors of individuals, with a focus on the impact of service customization on service cancellation. Additionally, the moderating role of social co-creation is explored to provide further insight.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on booking data from two hotels: a resort hotel with 40,060 recorded bookings, including 11,122 cancellations, and bookings from a city hotel with 79,330 bookings, including 33,102 cancellations.
Findings
The result reveals that bookings with higher levels of initial customization, such as special requests, are more likely to be modified later and less likely to be canceled. Interestingly, while multi-adult bookings were found to have a higher cancellation rate than individual bookings, the effects of customization commitment were more pronounced for multi-adult bookings.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to establish a connection between service customization, the number of adults on a booking and the likelihood of cancellation, thus providing new empirical evidence for the emergence of customization effects in services. Additionally, the study identifies important contingencies based on the number of consumers in a booking.
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Azam Kaveh, Mohsen Nazari, Jean-Pierre van der Rest and Seyed Abolghasem Mira
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of customer engagement in sales promotion on purchase intention. Utilizing value co-creation and customer engagement theories…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of customer engagement in sales promotion on purchase intention. Utilizing value co-creation and customer engagement theories, the authors tested a model that specifies the effect of customer engagement in sales promotion on purchase intention, through its impact on perceived value and customer satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
The model was tested with the PLSc-SEM approach.
Findings
Engaging customers to store's offers by giving them the possibility to choose the type of promotional discount that suits their personal preferences and needs is positively associated with purchase intention, and that this relationship is mediated in serial by perceived value and customer satisfaction.
Practical implications
Involving customers in sales promotion provides opportunities for retail front line management, as well as for customer relationship management to attract attention and interest.
Originality/value
While previous research concerned situations where firms and customers collaborate in the co-creation of value, its role in the sales promotion process is yet unclear. This study starts filling this gap by taking a closer look at customer participation in the sales promotion process and its impact on customer purchase intention.
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Emmanuel Kwame Nti, Gordana Kranjac-Berisavljevic and Dzigbodi Adzo Doke
The aim of this paper is to determine whether the dominant integrated water resources management (IWRM) paradigm within which the Pra River Basin is managed holds the key to…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to determine whether the dominant integrated water resources management (IWRM) paradigm within which the Pra River Basin is managed holds the key to address the current water security and sustainability issues in Southwestern Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a literature review developed based on water security and sustainability studies as well as normative scenarios from the broad scenario planning methodology. The study builds on Wæver’s Theory of Securitization and the Utilitarian theory to protect water bodies through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Findings
Insights on introducing innovative environmental sustainability technology are presented and propose the Pra-integrated smart water security management decision-making system that uses visual inspections, noise sensors, the potential of hydrogen (pH) probe sensor, real-time collection of hydrological data (streamflow) and wireless transmission of the data in real-time at the basin level. This serves as a robust tool for managing the basin’s sustainable development ecosystem by using AI to protect water bodies against illegal mining.
Originality/value
The proposed innovative environmental technology which is the first of its kind is meant to gain a better understanding of pollution incidents and respond quickly to them by integrating AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies with traditional IWRM practices. This addresses water security in the Pra Basin, supports policy development and innovation, strengthens the goal of the government to protect water resources against pollution and contributes to the African Water Vision and the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6.