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1 – 10 of over 1000Xin Zhao, Na Fu and Xiaoning Liang
Team leaders play a vital role in achieving superior team performance. However, their role in implementing the organizational customer orientation strategy is not well understood…
Abstract
Purpose
Team leaders play a vital role in achieving superior team performance. However, their role in implementing the organizational customer orientation strategy is not well understood. Drawing on social exchange theory, this study investigates how team leader customer orientation affects team customer orientation climate and team performance (i.e. customer satisfaction) as well as the moderating role of transformational leadership in such effect.
Design/methodology/approach
This study builds on survey data collected from matched team leaders, employees and customers nested in 81 service teams and employs hierarchical multiple regression analysis to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The findings indicate that team leader customer orientation increases team customer orientation climate, which leads to a higher level of customer satisfaction. Leaders' transformational leadership moderates the link between a leader customer orientation and team customer orientation climate in an unexpected way. When a team leader is transformational, the team customer orientation climate is enhanced, regardless of the level of team leader customer orientation. When a team leader's transformational leadership is low, the higher leader customer orientation is and the higher team customer orientation climate is.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the customer orientation, transformational leadership and service literature by unraveling team leaders' roles in boosting team customer orientation climate and team effectiveness.
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Wen Liu, Shuangchao Huang, Hongfeng Qi, Xin Zhao, Shulin Liang and Xuesong Jin
Dynamic low adhesion (DLA) has become an urgent problem for the high-speed wheel-rail system because of continuous decrease of adhesion redundancy in the past decades. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Dynamic low adhesion (DLA) has become an urgent problem for the high-speed wheel-rail system because of continuous decrease of adhesion redundancy in the past decades. This article aims to provide a simulation method to reveal the mechanism of DLA under high-frequency vibrations.
Design/methodology/approach
A transient wheel-rail rolling contact model is developed for a typical Chinese high-speed railway system using the explicit finite element (FE) method. Instantaneous adhesion exploitation levels are studied in the time domain, for which driving cases over corrugated rails are taken as an example. A speed up to 500 km/h is considered together with different traction coefficients and corrugation dimensions. DLA is expected when the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level reaches 1.0, that is adhesion saturates and full sliding contact occurs.
Findings
The instantaneous adhesion exploitation level can be very high in the presence of corrugation, even at low traction coefficients. DLA is found to occur as great vertical unloading takes place and causes a significant increase of creepage. An approach is further developed to determine the critical depth of corrugation over which DLA occurs.
Originality/value
This study employs the transient wheel-rail rolling contact model to predict the instantaneous adhesion exploitation level under high-frequency vibrations. The presented results reveal a mechanism of DLA being beneficial to guidelines for future railway practice.
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Qi Flora Dong, Yiting Cao, Xin Zhao and Ashutosh Deshmukh
The effect of tax policy on the repatriation of foreign earnings is a topic of ongoing discussion among policymakers, academics, and the popular press. It has become more salient…
Abstract
The effect of tax policy on the repatriation of foreign earnings is a topic of ongoing discussion among policymakers, academics, and the popular press. It has become more salient due to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which permanently removed repatriation tax. This paper synthesizes the academic literature examining US multinational firms’ responses to the repatriation tax holiday initiated by the 2004 American Jobs Creation Act (AJCA), which temporarily reduced the tax on the repatriation of foreign earnings. By synthesizing firm responses to the temporary tax reduction, we identify similarities and differences in: (1) theories about why and when repatriation tax affects firms’ repatriation decisions; (2) empirical evidence of whether repatriation tax affects firms’ repatriation decisions; and (3) empirical evidence of whether repatriation tax affects firms’ investment decisions. The analyses provide insights into the effect of the permanent removal of repatriation tax under the TCJA and explore avenues for future research. This synthesis of the AJCA literature informs tax research and practice as well as policymaking.
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Jian Li, Xinlei Yan, Feifei Zhao and Xin Zhao
The purpose of this paper is to solve the problem that the location of the initiation point cannot be measured accurately in the shallow underground space, this paper proposes a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to solve the problem that the location of the initiation point cannot be measured accurately in the shallow underground space, this paper proposes a method, which is based on fusion of multidimensional vibration sensor information, to locate single shallow underground sources.
Design/methodology/approach
First, in this paper, using the characteristics of low multipath interference and good P-wave polarization in the near field, the adaptive covariance matrix algorithm is used to extract the polarization angle information of the P-wave and the short term averaging/long term averaging algorithm is used to extract the first break travel time information. Second, a hybrid positioning model based on travel time and polarization angle is constructed. Third, the positioning model is taken as the particle update fitness function of quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization and calculation is performed in the hybrid positioning model. Finally, the experiment verification is carried out in the field.
Findings
The experimental results show that, with root mean square error, spherical error probable and fitness value as evaluation indicators, the positioning performance of this method is better than that without speed prediction. And the positioning accuracy of this method has been improved by nearly 30%, giving all of the three tests a positioning error within 0.5 m and a fitness less than 1.
Originality/value
This method provides a new idea for high-precision positioning of shallow underground single source. It has a certain engineering application value in the fields of directional demolition of engineering blasting, water inrush and burst mud prediction, fuze position measurement, underground initiation point positioning of ammunition, mine blasting monitoring and so on.
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Haibo Xue, Xin Zhao, Pokachev Nikolay and Jiayi Qin
Family dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve is the most important and most ritualized feast for families in China. It is the time for the entire family to reunite. Families gather…
Abstract
Purpose
Family dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve is the most important and most ritualized feast for families in China. It is the time for the entire family to reunite. Families gather together to reflect their past and talk about the future. Through the lens of consumer culture theories, this study explores how Chinese consumers construct family identity.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on constant comparative analysis of primary data including in-depth interviews and participant observation, and secondary data including historical archives, cultural tracing, documentary reports and essays, the authors deconstruct the consumption rituals of family dinner on Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve. The authors focus on four aspects, including participants, place, time and related activities, and analyze Chinese consumers' ritual experiences.
Findings
The authors’ findings show how young consumers construct and strengthen individual self-identity, relational identity and family identity in various ways through consumption and ritual practices during Chinese Lunar New Year celebration.
Originality/value
The study of family dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve helps the authors understand contemporary consumer culture in three aspects. First, it helps the authors understand the relationship between consumption and culture. Second, the study shows the changes and continuities of consumption rituals. Third, the research highlights the experience of “home” among contemporary Chinese consumers.
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Xin Zhao, Na Fu and Yseult Freeney
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the (in)congruence between team leader self-evaluation and follower evaluation about the leader's transformation leadership…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the (in)congruence between team leader self-evaluation and follower evaluation about the leader's transformation leadership (TL) on team performance, as well as the conditions under which the impact can be strengthened or weakened.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a survey method to collect data from matched sales team leaders and sales team members in 81 teams. A multi-level polynomial regression analysis was conducted.
Findings
Team performance was higher in teams with balanced or high TL than with balanced or low TL. Among the teams with incongruence, no difference was found between leader underestimation and leader overestimation. TL congruence plays a moderating role in the relationship between team follower evaluation of TL and team performance, such that the relationship is stronger when team leader self-evaluation and follower evaluation are congruent than incongruent.
Originality/value
This study extends the authors' current understanding of TL literature by combining and contrasting the different perceptions of TL from both the leaders themselves and the followers towards leaders. The findings highlight the importance of congruence versus incongruence rather than just the high or low levels of follower TL evaluation. It provides a more complete understanding of the TL and team performance relationship than the traditional view that promotes a linear relationship between TL and performance.
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Yan Zhang, Xianghu Ge, Xin Zhao, Xiaorui Yang, Shanghe Liu and Jingjing Xuan
The purpose of this paper is to research the induced flashover laws of different insulation materials under electrostatic electromagnetic pulse, and the induced flashover…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to research the induced flashover laws of different insulation materials under electrostatic electromagnetic pulse, and the induced flashover characteristics of different electrode structures are further explored.
Design/methodology/approach
According to standard IEC 61000–4-2, an experimental system of electrostatic electromagnetic pulse flashover for insulation materials is established. The induction flashover laws of polytetrafluoroethylene, epoxy resin and polymethyl methacrylate surface-mounted finger electrodes under the different intensity of electrostatic electromagnetic pulse are researched. The influence of the finger electrode, needle–needle electrode and needle–plate electrode on insulation flashover was compared. Secondary electron emission avalanche (SEEA) and field superposition theory are used to analyze the experimental results of electrostatic electromagnetic pulse induced flashover.
Findings
The larger the dielectric strength of insulation materials, the more difficult flashover occurs on the surface. The field superposition enhances collision ionization between electrons and gas molecules, which leads to the insulation materials surface induced flashover easily by electrostatic electromagnetic pulse. The sharper the electrode shapes on the insulation materials surface, the stronger the electric field intensity at the cathode triple junction, more initial electrons are excited to form the discharge channel, which easily leads to flashover on the surface of the insulating material.
Originality/value
The proposed field superposition combined with the SEEA method provides a new study perspective and enables a more rational, comprehensive analysis of electrostatic electromagnetic pulse induced flashover of insulation materials. The work of this paper can provide a reference for the safety protection of spacecraft in orbit under a strong electromagnetic field environment, increase the service life of spacecraft and improve the reliability of spacecraft’s safe operation in orbit. It provides a basis for the selection of insulation materials for equipment under the different intensities of the external electromagnetic environment.
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Qian Liu, Xin Zhao and Baowen Sun
The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the existing research and summarize the value co-creation mechanism between enterprises and users in crowdsource-based open…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the existing research and summarize the value co-creation mechanism between enterprises and users in crowdsource-based open innovation (COI).
Design/methodology/approach
Crowdsourcing is an effective means for enterprises to launch open innovation. This paper will first introduce the concepts and forms of open innovation and crowdsourcing, and then define COI.
Findings
This paper will analyze the key parties in innovative tasks, value co-creation mechanism that creates ideas, the interaction of key participants and the process of integrating internal and external resources to realize open innovation.
Research limitations/implications
In the end, this paper will put forward the theoretical framework for future studies on the development of COI from the perspective of value co-creation.
Originality/value
This thesis will first introduce the concepts and forms of open innovation and outsourcing and then define COI. Then it will systematically review the existing research studies and summarize the value co-creation mechanism between enterprises and users under COI model by analyzing the key parties in innovative tasks, value co-creation mechanism that creates ideas, the interaction mode of key participants and the process of enterprises integrating internal and external resources to realize open innovation.
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Keywords
Xin Zhao, Bo Dong and Weizhong Li
The freezing phenomenon of a falling droplet is a frequently encountered phenomenon in various applications, such as spray crystallization, hail formation and artificial…
Abstract
Purpose
The freezing phenomenon of a falling droplet is a frequently encountered phenomenon in various applications, such as spray crystallization, hail formation and artificial snowmaking. Therefore, this paper aims to understand the freezing processes of a falling droplet without and with initial horizontal velocity in a cold space.
Design/methodology/approach
The freezing processes of a falling droplet were characterized using a modified enthalpy-based lattice Boltzmann method.
Findings
The temperature field, streamlines and freezing process of the falling droplet were investigated and analyzed. The lower part of the droplet was frozen earlier than the upper part. The freezing trend slowed down in the later stage of the freezing process. The droplet shape was related to the initial vertical velocity, nucleation temperature and initial horizontal velocity.
Originality/value
A modified enthalpy-based lattice Boltzmann method is proposed. In the model, the improved pseudo-potential model is used and the radiation is considered. This method was firstly used to simulate the freezing process of a falling droplet. By examining these freezing processes in detail, the freezing trend and the effect factors of droplet deformation and freezing time were obtained, respectively.
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Keywords
Xin Zhao and Zhengwei Li
Social media is booming in the digital age, and its rich availability provides many opportunities for companies to innovate across borders. In reality, how enterprises use social…
Abstract
Purpose
Social media is booming in the digital age, and its rich availability provides many opportunities for companies to innovate across borders. In reality, how enterprises use social media to achieve cross-border innovation also faces important challenges such as breaking path dependency.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper explores how social media can facilitate cross-border innovation from the perspective of strategic capability, combined with the path dependency theory and attention-based view. Hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrap method are adopted to test the hypotheses based on survey data provided by 173 firms in China.
Findings
The findings show a positive relationship between social media strategic capability and cross-border innovation, with path dependency playing a mediating role. In addition, two internal and external contextual factors, namely customer embeddedness and competitive pressure, play moderating roles, with customer embeddedness negatively moderating the negative relationship between social media strategic capability and path dependency and competitive pressure negatively moderating the negative relationship between path dependency and cross-border innovation.
Originality/value
These findings provide not only new insights into social media and cross-border innovation but also theoretical guidance on how companies can effectively use social media in practice.
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