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This tribological investigation aims to identify the effect of WS₂ deposition on the Al 6061 surface and optimize the dry sliding conditions to enhance the friction and abrasion wear behavior.

WS₂-deposited Al 6061-T6 surface was considered for this tribological investigation. The design of the experiment was based on the Box–Behnken design of the response surface methodology approach, which is used to evaluate the interaction effect of input parameters on friction coefficient (COF) and specific wear rate (SWR). The abrasive wear behavior of WS₂ deposition against SiC emery sheet was explored through pin-on-disc experimentation by varying applied load (L), sliding velocity (V) and distance (D). Using analysis of variance and regression model, COF and SWR were predicted.

Based on composite desirability criteria, multi-objective optimization was performed to minimize the COF and SWR. The obtained optimal sliding conditions are L = 10 N, V = 2 m/s and D = 949.49 m. The validation test results indicate that the experimental and predicted data are in good conformance. For optimized conditions, worn surface characterization was done using a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis was performed to ensure the formation of WS₂ phases on worn-out surfaces. Furthermore, a counter body surface with collected wear debris has been analyzed.

Almost the industries are now focused on a new surface modification technique, which improves the surface and tribological characteristics. This research work specifically relates the tribological effect of WS₂ deposition on an Al 6061-T6 surface through a novel electrical discharge deposition approach and optimizes the dry sliding conditions to improve the frictional and abrasive wear resistance.

A decision to terminate a project can demoralize project managers and team members, and increase concerns about job security. For these reasons, managers tend to delay project termination decisions. However, such delays can put a damper on the normal operation of a company. Therefore, corporations have been seeking to develop a number of methods and techniques to assist with decision making in project evaluation. Benchmarking has gained increasing acceptance as a technique that enhances business processes. This paper is concerned with the development of a model using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for the evaluation of project termination or continuation, which is based on the benchmarking method. The benchmarking of project evaluation, the operation of AHP, is presented along with a case study. A R&D case study in Taiwan is used to illustrate the approach, the framework of which was entered on an Excel spreadsheet. This approach has provided the decision maker with an alternative for evaluating the status of a project and making the right call.

The goal of this paper is to re‐evaluate the role of knowledge‐based systems (KBS) in knowledge management (KM). While knowledge‐based systems and expert systems were widely used in the past, they have now fallen from favor and are largely ignored in the knowledge management literature. This paper aims to argue that several factors have changed and it is now time to re‐evaluate the contribution that such systems can make to knowledge management.

The role of KBS in KM is explored through a comprehensive analysis of both the management and the technical literature on knowledge. The literature on KBS and expert systems is reviewed and some of the problems faced by them are highlighted. Some of the probable causes of these problems and some of the solutions that might be used to overcome them are indicated. The paper describes how knowledge systems (KS) could be used as an effective tool for managing knowledge.

The lack of success of KBS technologies for managing knowledge is mainly due to organizational and managerial issues. These problems can be solved through feasibility studies before system development activities. KS technology is now being successfully applied in a variety of newer domains that exploit its capabilities.

Some conclusions are drawn concerning integration of knowledge systems with knowledge management, problems of the early implementation of knowledge systems technology, and possible solution to overcome these problems.

The main contribution of the article is in re‐evaluating the role of knowledge‐based systems as a tool for knowledge management.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the empirical relationship between project management (PM) efforts (the extent to which national project coordinators (NPCs) – the project managers in the aid industry sector – make use of available PM tools), project success, and success criteria.

Data were collected by way of questionnaires delivered by mail to 600 recipients in 26 different countries in Africa.

The research results suggest that project success is insensitive to the level of project planning efforts but a significant correlation does exist between the use of monitoring and evaluation tools and project “profile,” a success criterion which is an early pointer of project long‐term impact.

This paper contributes to PM research by exploring the relationship between the use of PM tools and project success in the non‐traditional PM – although project oriented – aid industry sector. The paper highlights self‐perceptions of NPCs and should not be interpreted in other ways.

This paper highlights the importance of PM tools in practice. Further, it suggests that NPCs (who are in fact only involved in project execution) put a lot of effort into monitoring and evaluation. In so doing, they strive to ensure project performance and accountability throughout project lifecycle, and this contributes to project “profile.”

This is the first study that offers insights into the relationship between PM efforts and project success in the aid industry sector. The paper calls for further research on PM practices in the aid industry sector where projects remain important instruments for aid delivery.

In this paper, I examine the mediating effect of project planning on the link between three project uncertainty variables (project size, project diversity, and technical complexity) and IT project success in a developing country. The proposed model is validated using a field survey of 42 IT project leaders from Kuwait. The overall findings give support to the proposed model and to the role of project planning as a mediator between project uncertainty and project success. However, the results challenge the traditional conception by past IT implementation research regarding the direct negative role of uncertainty in IT projects. This finding may be understood in light of the different manifestations that uncertainty may have for IT projects in developing countries. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.

A first objective is to add insight into how constructs of ethnocentrism, xenocentrism and cosmopolitanism relate to each other. Knowledge of how these constructs overlap or work together in affecting consumer preferences will offer global marketers insights for designing appropriate marketing strategies. The second objective is to extend this knowledge by examining the correspondence of these three constructs to a nomological network of dispositional concepts pertinent for product positioning and market segmentation. The third objective is to empirically examine the extent to which the measures, construct structure and associative relationships are robust in different national research settings. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Surveying British and American consumers, this study examines and analyzes the correspondence of these identity-relevant constructs within a nomological net of pertinent concepts: consciousness-of-kind, global consumption orientation, materialism and natural environment concern.

The hypothesized negative links between CET-XEN and CET-COS, and the predicted positive connection between XEN-COS were all confirmed on the latent factor results for the combined data set. The negative correlation between CET-XEN was of a considerably lower magnitude than that for CET-COS.

To date, no research has used an identity theory framework and simultaneously examined in a cross-cultural context the interrelationships of consumer ethnocentrism consumer xenocentrism and cosmopolitanism – and their differentiating linkages to a multiplicity of consumer dispositions.

Strategy researchers have become fascinated with the possibilities for developing theoretical perspectives rooted in knowledge and intellectual assets as drivers of superior performance. However, there have been many different schools of thought, each with its own conceptualization lenses and operationalization approaches. In this chapter, we focus on three schools of thought: (1) knowledge as stocks; (2) knowledge as flow; and (3) knowledge as a driver of an organizational capability. We use them to: (a) lay out the distinct approaches to conceptualization and operationalization of strategy-related concepts; and (b) identify specific ways to enhance theory-method correspondence. We believe that considerable progress could be made towards developing a knowledge-based view of strategy but only when accompanied by serious attention to measurement and methodological issues.

In recent years, both homeowners and the research community have shown a growing interest in home automation devices and smart homes. About one-third of all primary energy resources are used by homes worldwide, which consume significant energy. This has raised concerns regarding energy accessibility and the quick depletion of energy sources, the growing need for building services, the improvement of comfortable lifestyles and the increased time spent at home. This study aims to offer a comprehensive and significant examination of state-of-the-art intelligent control systems used for managing energy and ensuring comfort in smart homes.

After conducting a comprehensive search in the Scopus database, a total of 55 articles were carefully selected. Using the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4 SLR) technique for systematic reviews, the current study synthesized prior research on energy efficiency in smart homes and conducted a detailed descriptive analysis to describe the current state of knowledge.

Future research on energy efficiency in smart homes could delve into various prospective areas that would strengthen existing knowledge and practices. Using innovative technologies in smart homes can reduce energy consumption in residential areas by offering convenience and improved features.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic literature review focused on intelligent control systems for energy and comfort management in smart homes, as well as residents’ interaction with indoor comfort.

Since the publication of Venkatraman and Grant's (1986) article two decades ago, considerably more attention has been directed at establishing the validity of constructs in the strategy literature. However, recent developments in measurement theory indicate that strategy researchers need to pay additional attention to whether their constructs should be modeled as having formative or reflective indicators. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to highlight the differences between formative and reflective indicator measurement models, and discuss the potential role of formative measurement models in strategy research. First, we systematically review the literature on construct measurement model specification. Second, we assess the extent of measurement model misspecification in the recent strategy literature. Our assessment of 257 constructs in the contemporary strategy literature suggests that many important strategy constructs are more appropriately modeled as having formative indicators than as having reflective indicators. Based on this review, we identify some common errors leading to measurement model misspecification in the strategy domain. Finally, we discuss some implications of our analyses for scholars in the strategic management field.

This paper aims to investigate the effect of Cu content and T6 heat treatment on the mechanical properties and the tribological performance of SiCp/Al-Si-Cu-Ni-Mg hybrid composites at an elevated temperature.

The stir casting method was used to synthesize SiCp/Al-12Si-xCu-1Ni-1Mg (x = 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5 Wt.%) composites containing 20 vol% SiC. The hardness and tensile strength of the aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) at room temperature and elevated temperature were studied, and the wear mechanism was investigated using scanning electron microscopic and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Results indicate that the hardness and tensile strength of the AMCs are affected significantly by T6 heat treatment and Cu content. The high-temperature friction and wear mechanism of AMCs is the composite wear mechanism of oxidation wear, adhesion wear, abrasive wear, peeling wear, high-temperature softening and partial melting. Among them, adhesion wear, high-temperature matrix softening and local melting are the main wear mechanisms.

The influence mechanism of Cu content on the hardness, tensile strength and high temperature resistance of AMCs was explained by microstructure. And the results further help to explore the application of AMCs in high temperature.