Ting‐Ting Hu, Bin Xiang, Shi‐Guo Liao and Wen‐Zhang Huang
The purpose of this paper is to research the corrosion behavior of AM60B magnesium alloy in simulated acid rain. Specifically, this paper aims to investigate the effect of pH on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to research the corrosion behavior of AM60B magnesium alloy in simulated acid rain. Specifically, this paper aims to investigate the effect of pH on the corrosion behavior of the alloy.
Design/methodology/approach
Electrochemical methods and surface analysis were applied to study the corrosion behavior of AM60B magnesium alloy in simulated acid rain.
Findings
Results showed that changes in pH can influence the corrosion potential and corrosion current of the alloy. In particular, the anodic process was affected. The protective film on the surface of AM60B magnesium alloy was destroyed in simulated acid rain. The type of corrosion attack observed on the surface of the alloy was pitting damage. Numerous deep pits were formed on the surface. Corrosion products were mainly composed of MgO and MgAl2(SO4)4 · 2H2O.
Originality/value
The paper provides fundamental experimental data for clarifying the mechanism of the effects of acid rain on the corrosion of magnesium alloys.
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Qing-Wen Zhang, Heap-Yih Chong, Pin-Chao Liao and Yao-Lin Wan
This study aims to determine the influences of explanatory factors on the efficacy of the implementation of corporate safety policy (CSP) in international projects from the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the influences of explanatory factors on the efficacy of the implementation of corporate safety policy (CSP) in international projects from the perspective of international contractors.
Design/methodology/approach
Four explanatory factors were identified for the implementation of CSP in international projects based on literature review. A questionnaire survey was then conducted among Chinese organizations that have been involved in international projects. In total, 121 valid responses were received from the questionnaire survey and were modeled using logistic regression to examine the impact of each factor on the observed event of interest.
Findings
The factors related to the effectiveness of implementing CSP, including “attitudes toward safety management measures (ASMM),” “operational mechanism for safety regulations (OM),” “safety knowledge management system (SKMS)” and “systematic safety training scheme (STS),” were selected. The results revealed that OM and SKMS were significant predictors (p < 0.05) of the odds of implementation satisfaction of CSP, but ASMM and STS were not. The probability of satisfactory CSP implementation increased as the value of SKMS increased, whereas the probability of unsatisfactory implementation improved as the value of OM increased.
Research limitations/implications
The questionnaire was distributed to respondents in international contractors headquartered in China. Other types of international organizations can be covered in future research. Furthermore, other factors, such as the local construction environment, should be considered in future studies.
Practical implications
The results provide new insights on CSP implementation overseas. Effective implementation of CSP contributes to the improvement of the safety performance of contractors. The practical significance of interpreting the influence factors is that the contractors can implement more efficient and targeted approaches and tools in the execution of their CSP. The impact of OM reminds safety managers of the synchronization of CSP as well as its implementation environment and characteristics. The effect of ASMM encourages contractors to adopt Web-based and digital knowledge management systems to improve the implementation efficiency of CSP.
Originality/value
The novelty of this study lies in the selection of factors and their impacts on CSP implementation in international projects. This study has also extended knowledge on normative safety in international projects based on quantitative modeling.
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The purpose of this study is to explore the interplay between the selection of selling formats of remanufactured products for a third-party remanufacturer (TPR) and the quality…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the interplay between the selection of selling formats of remanufactured products for a third-party remanufacturer (TPR) and the quality decision of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Design/methodology/approach
This study considers a remanufacturing supply chain, where the OEM sells new products through a platform retailer, but the products remanufactured by the TPR can be sold via a direct or indirect channel. The authors model a Stackelberg game and explore the optimal quality decision of the OEM and selling format choice of the TPR.
Findings
The OEM's optimal decision depends mainly on consumers' discounted utility coefficient and cost-scale factor of remanufactured products. A higher consumers' valuation of the remanufactured product will not result in a higher retail price, but may lead to an increase in new product's sales. Given the cost-scale factor, the TPR prefers to sell directly no matter what the value of consumers' discounted utility coefficient is. An all-win situation is achieved with selling directly when consumers' discounted utility coefficient is sufficiently large.
Practical implications
These results provide some support to the operational strategies of the OEM and TPR.
Originality/value
This study firstly endogenizes the quality decision and combines the selling format selection of the TPR and the quality decision of the OEM to explore the interplay between these two important decisions.
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Wen Zhang, Bohang Xia, Daantje Derks, Jan Luca Pletzer, Kimberley Breevaart and Xichao Zhang
Integrating person-job fit theory with the stressor-emotion model of counterproductive work behavior (CWB), the current study aims to examine which behavioral pattern (fight: CWB…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrating person-job fit theory with the stressor-emotion model of counterproductive work behavior (CWB), the current study aims to examine which behavioral pattern (fight: CWB vs flight: withdrawal) employees are more likely to adopt when they experience perceived overqualification (POQ). We further investigate anger as the underlying emotional mechanism for these relations because anger can be expressed and thus reflected in CWB, or constrained and thus reflected in withdrawal behavior. Furthermore, different stressor-attenuating strategies including relaxation during work breaks and mastery experiences at work are examined as mitigating factors of these relations.
Design/methodology/approach
Time-lagged data were collected from 176 full-time employees in China using a field survey research design.
Findings
We found that employees who experience POQ are more likely to engage in withdrawal than in CWB. Anger mediated the relations of POQ with both CWB and withdrawal. Relaxation moderated the relation between POQ and anger, as well as the indirect relations of POQ with CWB and withdrawal through anger.
Research limitations/implications
This study enhances understanding of employees’ affective and behavioral reactions to POQ. However, the survey design was not longitudinal and causality cannot be established.
Practical implications
POQ is associated with undesirable employee behaviors and should therefore be avoided by organizations. If POQ is unavoidable, organizations can use job design and offer training to foster relaxation in between tasks among employees.
Originality/value
In the framework of person-job fit theory, our study provides insight about employees’ “fight” or “flight” responses to POQ, and further illustrates the mechanism and the attenuating factors in this processes.
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Liangyin Chen, Jun Huang, Danqi Hu and Xinyuan Chen
This paper aims to examine the effect of dividend regulation on cost stickiness (i.e. the asymmetric change in firm expense between sales increase and sales decrease) and explore…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the effect of dividend regulation on cost stickiness (i.e. the asymmetric change in firm expense between sales increase and sales decrease) and explore the underlying mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the quasi-natural experiment of the Guideline for Dividend Policy of Listed Companies issued by the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) in 2013, the authors employ a difference-in-difference model to investigate the impact of dividend regulation on cost stickiness.
Findings
The authors find that the cost stickiness of treatment group firms has decreased significantly when compared with control group firms after the dividend regulation. Moreover, this effect is more pronounced among firms in lower marketization regions, in lower competition industries and those with less analyst coverage and lower cash flow levels. Further analyses show that dividend regulation reduces the cost stickiness of firms by mitigating agency problems. Finally, the conclusion holds after several robust tests, including controlling for firm fixed effect, propensity score matching (PSM), placebo test and reconstruction of expense variable.
Originality/value
This paper confirms that dividend regulation serves an important role in corporate governance, which reduces firms' agency costs and thereby decreases cost stickiness. The conclusions shed light on the dividend policies of listed companies and capital market regulation in the future.
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This study adopts a narrative approach to understanding women’s life experiences from a feminist perspective. How Taiwanese women of different generations have lived their lives…
Abstract
This study adopts a narrative approach to understanding women’s life experiences from a feminist perspective. How Taiwanese women of different generations have lived their lives and what has and has not changed was investigated through a gender lens. The narrators include the author and her grandmother, born in 1975 and 1927, respectively. They each re-experience and reconfirm the markings of their pasts, psychological conditions, and bodies through deep dialogue. The two stories span approximately 50 years and manifest the patriarchal culture in Taiwanese society at different times.
This study finds that although the stories of these two women from different generations appear distinct in their own way, similar ‘dilemmas’ can be observed in their gender experiences: for example, women get married to men’s family; the value system of lineage and succession creates a tendency to expect to have boys; women need to get married to get their status recognition; and through home, women learn gender roles and gender norms.
However, the study shows progress: women’s education brings economic independence and yields a sense of accomplishment from work or school; women of different generations have different perceptions during the awakening of gender consciousness. The current findings contribute to understanding the working principles of gender relations, which reinforce the patriarchal system despite its appearance changing over time.
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Jiumei Chen, Zhiying Liu, Wen Zhang and Bengang Gong
The purpose of this paper is to develop an optimal charging strategy for a third-party crowdsourcing platform.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an optimal charging strategy for a third-party crowdsourcing platform.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the auction theory, the Stackelberg game theory and the systems theory, this paper presents a new model from the perspective of risk sharing between solution seekers and the crowdsourcing platform, given the utility maximization of the seekers, the crowdsourcing platform and the solvers.
Findings
Based on the results, this study shows that the menu of fees, which includes different combinations of a fixed fee and a floating fee schedule, should be designed to attract both solution seekers and solvers. In addition, the related prize setting and the expected payoff for each party are presented.
Practical implications
This study is beneficial for crowdsourcing platform operators, as it provides a new way to design charging strategies and can help in understanding key influential factors.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to simulate the interactions among the three stakeholders, thereby providing a novel model that includes a fixed fee and a floating commission.