Zhidong Zang, Xiuxia Li and Ruixia Xie
To improve the deficiencies of the existing journal influencing evaluation indexes, which have single influencing factors and are greatly affected by the number of papers…
Abstract
Purpose
To improve the deficiencies of the existing journal influencing evaluation indexes, which have single influencing factors and are greatly affected by the number of papers published, this paper proposes a new evaluation of the journal influence method based on the RA index.
Design/methodology/approach
In the metrics create, the paper introduces the RA index for evaluating the impact of authors and analyzing its feasibility in journal evaluation. Then the RA index is divided by the number of journal's published papers to obtain the RAQ index to evaluate journal impact. In the metrics analysis, the authors analyze the statistical characteristics of the RAQ index using statistical analysis, and t-test, Roc curve and PLS were used to analyze the relationship between the RAQ index and other indicators.
Findings
Empirical results show that the RAQ index can effectively identify high-quality journals and reduce the number of published papers on journal evaluation. The empirical results show that the RAQ index has higher stability and discrimination than the h-index and g-index. Compared with other indexes, the RAQ index has better evaluation effects and statistical characteristics.
Originality/value
The current study proposes journals' RAQ index, which integrates the influence of high-, low- and zero-cited papers. It solves the problem of the virtual high of the h-type index. The findings will contribute to the evaluation of journal influence by offering a new research idea that facilitates the fairness and rationality of journal evaluation.
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Ri Liu, Xiuxia Sun and Wenhan Dong
During low altitude airdrop operations, the heavy cargo moving inside and the sudden dropping out exert serious threats on the aircraft safety and mission performance. This paper…
Abstract
Purpose
During low altitude airdrop operations, the heavy cargo moving inside and the sudden dropping out exert serious threats on the aircraft safety and mission performance. This paper aims to propose an efficient flight control method for the airdrop operations.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel controller which combines feedback linearization with nonlinear integral sliding mode control is proposed. The aircraft airdrop model is decoupled and linearized by using the feedback linearization technique. On this basis, an integral sliding mode controller is designed to stabilize the speed and pitch attitude of the aircraft. In the sliding manifold, one class of nonlinear functions with the property of “smaller errors correspond to bigger gains and bigger errors correspond to saturated gains” is introduced to form the integral term; thus, the overcompensation of the integral term to big errors is omitted, and the dynamic response performance is improved. Lyapunov-based stability analysis shows that the controller could completely reject model uncertainties by choosing proper controller parameters.
Findings
The flight control system with strong robustness could meet the low altitude airdrop indexes in the maximum weight cargo airdrop task.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an urgent need to study how to control the aircraft to guarantee mission performance and flight safety during the low altitude airdrop operations.
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Xiuxia Sun, Fangwei Zhu and Mouxuan Sun
This paper aims to explore the ways to solve the dilemma of balancing between efficiency and flexibility in project-oriented organizations (POOs). It investigates the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the ways to solve the dilemma of balancing between efficiency and flexibility in project-oriented organizations (POOs). It investigates the characteristic of the relationship between efficiency and flexibility in the context of POOs. Based on the framework of organizational design, this study tries to open the “black box” of how POOs make a balance between efficiency and flexibility, and examines the influence of organizational design in this process.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is a comparative multiple case study based on four project-oriented enterprises, whose relationships between efficiency and flexibility are diverse from one another. It follows the process of building theory from case study, applying within-case and cross-case analysis and replication logic in shaping hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that the relationship between efficiency and flexibility in POOs can be divided into four different situations. The contradictory factors are identified as functional structure and project structure, standardized process and temporary plan, as well as strategic-level centralization and project-level decentralization. It is found that the key to achieve a balance between efficiency and flexibility is to coordinate the relationship of contradictory factors through the effective integration of organizational level and project level.
Originality/value
This study introduces the framework of organizational design in solving the dilemma of balancing between efficiency and flexibility, responding to the call for developing the project management theory from a strategic perspective. It provides theoretical support for POOs to achieve balancing between efficiency and flexibility, and suggests an effective synergy of organizational design in both organizational and project level.
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Fangwei Zhu, Mouxuan Sun, Linzhuo Wang, Xiuxia Sun and Miao Yu
The complexity caused by conflicting values of stakeholders is a critical issue influencing the performance and sustainability of stock public–private partnership (SPPP) projects…
Abstract
Purpose
The complexity caused by conflicting values of stakeholders is a critical issue influencing the performance and sustainability of stock public–private partnership (SPPP) projects, which is a special type of public–private partnership (PPP) project in China. The purpose of this paper is to focus on value conflicts between local government and private sector, which are two major stakeholders in SPPP projects, and investigate exchange rules to resolve value conflicts.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a mixed method approach, 55 semi-structured interviews were conducted for 15 stakeholders involved in a representative SPPP project. Social network analysis was then adopted to outline the value conflict network based on data drawn from focus group discussions. Finally, 24 value conflicts between local government and private sector were analyzed through another 13 semi-structured interviews in an abductive approach.
Findings
Results show that value conflicts between local government and private sector are dynamic and intertwined within and across three project phases, based on which six exchange rules, rationality, Altruism, power consistency, competition, group gain and reciprocity, are identified. Two sets of situational factors which potentially influence exchange rules adopted by the two parties are revealed, namely, urgency and professionality for local government and short-term interests and long-term interests for private sector. A summary of paired exchange rules is provided to predict if value conflicts between the two major stakeholders will be resolved or not.
Research limitations/implications
Theoretical implications are twofold. First, the results provide a contribution to PPP project management by investigating value conflicts between local government and private sector, which deepen the understanding on the unique characteristics of SPPP projects. Second, the findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of social exchange theory by suggesting a summary of condition-based and pair-based exchange rules.
Originality/value
One strength of the study is in the concentrated analysis of a single case which allows for a deep understanding of value complexity between local government and private sector in SPPP projects from a dynamic and networked perspective. A guideline is provided for both parties when a value conflict is found hard to resolve. Besides, this study is also among the first that addresses value issues in SPPP projects.
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Fangwei Zhu, Linzhuo Wang, Miao Yu, Ralf Müller and Xiuxia Sun
Silencing behavior among project team members (PTM) poses a potential threat to project results. Hence, breaking silence in projects is critical to motivate team members and…
Abstract
Purpose
Silencing behavior among project team members (PTM) poses a potential threat to project results. Hence, breaking silence in projects is critical to motivate team members and beneficial for project outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) of project manager (PM) and silence behavior of PTMs. It proposes a mediating role of feeling trusted (FT) to fill this gap by conducting an empirical research.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical model was developed and a series of hypotheses were proposed based on existing literature. Then, regression analysis was conducted on a sample of 219 team members of a diverse set of projects in China.
Findings
The paper empirically shows that TL of PM is significantly negatively related to team members’ defensive and prosocial silence (PS), but not with their acquiescence silence. In addition, the study also discovered that team members’ FT mediates the effects of TL on team members’ defensive and PS.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributed to the project management literature by showing that feeling trusted link the relationship between TL of PM and PTMs’ silence. The studies’ findings also contribute to the silence theory in project context through discussions of the rationale behind the main effects. Practical implication is provided for PMs that making the most of TL can reduce the silence of PTM, through building trusted feelings. The limitation to this study is the research setting regarding culture-related issues that focused only on projects in China.
Originality/value
This research is one of the early studies that address the issue of silence behavior in project context, which is a contribution to the coordination and communication in project management.
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Mouxuan Sun, Fangwei Zhu and Xiuxia Sun
The present study investigated how different factors interact and work in concert to influence construction professionals’ burnout (hereafter CPs’ burnout) in China.
Abstract
Purpose
The present study investigated how different factors interact and work in concert to influence construction professionals’ burnout (hereafter CPs’ burnout) in China.
Design/methodology/approach
A sequential mixed-method approach was chosen for this research. Twenty-two interviews were conducted and analysed, and we identified ten influencing factors associated with CPs’ burnout. Subsequently, a sample of 232 questionnaires was analysed using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to ascertain the eight configurations of CPs’ high and low burnout.
Findings
The key findings include the following: first, perceived workload, role ambiguity, role conflict, emotional demand, work-home interference, relationships with supervisors, autonomy, fairness of rewards, support from project team and self-efficacy are the ten factors influencing CPs’ burnout; second, experienced and less experienced construction professionals take different paths towards high or low burnout; and third, among construction professionals, perceived workload and burnout are not necessarily correlated. We found that autonomy plays a crucial role in this process.
Originality/value
This is one of the first studies to adopt a configurational approach for understanding influencing factors of CPs’ burnout. The strength of the present study is its sequential mixed-method approach, which forms a loop between the qualitative and quantitative studies.
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Guanzheng Wang, Yinbo Xu, Zhihong Liu, Xin Xu, Xiangke Wang and Jiarun Yan
This paper aims to realize a fully distributed multi-UAV collision detection and avoidance based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL). To deal with the problem of low sample…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to realize a fully distributed multi-UAV collision detection and avoidance based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL). To deal with the problem of low sample efficiency in DRL and speed up the training. To improve the applicability and reliability of the DRL-based approach in multi-UAV control problems.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a fully distributed collision detection and avoidance approach for multi-UAV based on DRL is proposed. A method that integrates human experience into policy training via a human experience-based adviser is proposed. The authors propose a hybrid control method which combines the learning-based policy with traditional model-based control. Extensive experiments including simulations, real flights and comparative experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the approach.
Findings
A fully distributed multi-UAV collision detection and avoidance method based on DRL is realized. The reward curve shows that the training process when integrating human experience is significantly accelerated and the mean episode reward is higher than the pure DRL method. The experimental results show that the DRL method with human experience integration has a significant improvement than the pure DRL method for multi-UAV collision detection and avoidance. Moreover, the safer flight brought by the hybrid control method has also been validated.
Originality/value
The fully distributed architecture is suitable for large-scale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms and real applications. The DRL method with human experience integration has significantly accelerated the training compared to the pure DRL method. The proposed hybrid control strategy makes up for the shortcomings of two-dimensional light detection and ranging and other puzzles in applications.