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1 – 10 of 15Trevor Tsz-Lok Lee and Xiyue Ma
The purpose of this study is to systematically analyze how homeworkers perceive, interpret and make sense of their situations in relation to work and leisure participation. Thus…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to systematically analyze how homeworkers perceive, interpret and make sense of their situations in relation to work and leisure participation. Thus, this study examines the dynamics by which homeworkers struggle to manage leisure and work in their everyday lives, with a special emphasis on how they interpret and make sense of their leisure–work dilemmas.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the framework of a dynamic intersection of identity orientation and border-setting approach, this study analyzes qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 13 young, home-based teleworkers in Shanghai.
Findings
Unlike the purpose of family-friendly employment policies, homeworkers who had striven for a better leisure life ended up with frustration and disappointment, regardless of their attempts at separate leisure–work borders or not. In contrast, the overwhelming work in a homeworking context paradoxically led to a more fulfilling and satisfying life for most who prioritized work over all else in life.
Originality/value
In the cases of home-based work or other flexible work policies that aim to make a better balance of work and life, public attention has been directed merely toward a debate of whether these policies lead to an enhanced quality of leisure life or an intensification of work intrusion. However, understanding the complexity of such emerging phenomenon requires a richer, more nuanced explanation. In this light, this qualitative study of homeworkers’ lived experiences is sociologically relevant for deciphering the relationship between leisure and work in the late-modern society that entails an evolving process of negotiating identities and situational variability.
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Mian Zhang and Xiyue Ma
The overall goal of this chapter is twofold. First, the authors aim to identify indigenous phenomena that influence employee turnover and retention in the Chinese context. Second…
Abstract
The overall goal of this chapter is twofold. First, the authors aim to identify indigenous phenomena that influence employee turnover and retention in the Chinese context. Second, the authors link these phenomena to the contextualization of job embeddedness theory. To achieve the goal, the authors begin by introducing three macro-level forces (i.e., political, economic, and cultural forces) in China that help scholars analyze contextual issues in turnover studies. The authors then provide findings in the literature research on employee retention studies published in Chinese academic journals. Next, the authors discuss six indigenous phenomena (i.e., hukou, community in China, migrant workers, state-owned companies, family benefit prioritization, and guanxi) under the three macro-level forces and offer exploratory propositions illustrating how these phenomena contribute to understanding employee retention in China. Finally, the authors offer suggestions on how contextualized turnover studies shall be conducted in China.
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Paul C. Hong, Young Soo Park, Xiyue Deng and David W. Hwang
Cross-functional teams engage in developing platform projects which become the basis of many smaller projects. The purpose of this paper is to examine how project teams engage in…
Abstract
Purpose
Cross-functional teams engage in developing platform projects which become the basis of many smaller projects. The purpose of this paper is to examine how project teams engage in front-end plan formulation and backend work implementation. This paper shows the critical linkage role of platform product practices.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examines the conceptual framework and research model by using a survey questionnaire for the target respondents of product development managers from the USA and Korea. After refining processes, this study determines the items for each variable for the large-scale survey.
Findings
Results suggest that when heavy-manager and customers are jointly or separately involved with a project team for the formation of shared team purpose and mission, then there would be differences in terms of information quality, shared team purpose and mission and the project outcomes. If the primary roles of heavyweight leadership and customer involvement are to improve information quality in terms of reduction of uncertainty and equivocality, then the project team is empowered enough to work on the formation of shared team purpose and mission on their own. Platform product practices are a linkage between front-end planning and back-end work doing which guides more specific projects with shared purpose and performance goals.
Research limitations/implications
As the data collection was limited to the USA and Korea, generalizability across diverse contexts requires caution. However, the findings provide meaningful insight on how to manage projects in an environment of increasing complexity and ambiguity.
Practical implications
This study provides interesting insight into how project teams approach platform product development. Based on the empirical test, this study shows how cross-functional teams integrate front-end project plan formulation and back-end project work implementation. This study also presents how heavyweight manager and customer involvement addresses the front-end information challenges and influence platform product practices.
Originality/value
This study empirically tests the role of fuzzy front planning in impacting project team success. In particular, this study highlights the dynamic relationships between heavyweight managers and customer involvement, information quality (i.e. uncertainty and equivocality), and the nature of team purpose and mission which are all crucial for effective cross-functional teamwork.
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Sandeep Jagani, Xiyue Deng, Paul C. Hong and Narges Mashhadi Nejad
This paper examines the role of a sustainability business model in clarifying a firm's sustainability value articulation (SVA) to achieve sustainability outcomes and examining the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the role of a sustainability business model in clarifying a firm's sustainability value articulation (SVA) to achieve sustainability outcomes and examining the moderating role of supplier involvement practices SIP and technology systems integration (TSI) in attaining sustainability outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing upon the foundational principles of business model innovation, specifically articulation and implementation, the authors formulated a theoretical construct and empirically validate it through analysis of data collected from 692 manufacturing firms dispersed across 23 countries.
Findings
The research shows that focusing on SVA significantly improves how a company implements sustainability efforts internally (ISI) and externally (ESI), leading to better social and environmental outcomes. It also highlights that SIP improve the relationship between SVA, ESI and ISI. Similarly, TSI boosts the effect of internal and external sustainability efforts on both social (SOP) and environmental performance (EnP).
Research limitations/implications
While acknowledging the inherent constraints of survey-based research methodologies, this study offers a theoretical and verified approach for manufacturers to achieve comprehensive sustainability. It emphasizes the need for clear, actionable sustainability goals that can be met through both internal operations and external partnerships.
Practical implications
This study clarifies how manufacturers can implement sustainable business models, emphasizing the importance of clear sustainability goals and initiatives both within and outside the company. It highlights the dual aspects of supplier engagement through operational tactics (ESI) and strategic collaborations (SIP).
Social implications
This study reveals a thrilling truth: when companies champion clear sustainability goals, they unlock powerful strategies that revolutionize practices within their walls and in their external dealings. It is not just about going green; it is about weaving financial prosperity, social responsibility and environmental stewardship into the very fabric of their business models. But there is more – by cleverly engaging suppliers and harnessing cutting-edge technology, companies are not just participants in the green revolution; they are leading it, crafting a world where business thrives alongside the planet and its people.
Originality/value
This research stands out for its empirical analysis of how manufacturing firms implement sustainability innovations at the plant level, an area previously underexplored despite extensive theoretical work on sustainability-centric business models.
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Niannian Dong, Mian Zhang and Beth A. Livingston
This study aims to investigate the indirect impact of work-to-family conflict (WFC) on job satisfaction and reparative behaviors toward family members through work-to-family guilt…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the indirect impact of work-to-family conflict (WFC) on job satisfaction and reparative behaviors toward family members through work-to-family guilt (WFG). In addition, it seeks to explore the moderating effect of intrinsic motivation on the relationship between WFC and WFG.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted two studies. Study 1 used a scenario-based experiment to investigate the mediating effect of WFG. Study 2 examined all the proposed hypotheses via survey data.
Findings
Study 1 revealed that WFC had a negative effect on job satisfaction. Concurrently, it exerted a positive impact on reparative behavioral intentions toward family members through WFG. Subsequently, Study 2 demonstrated that intrinsic motivation moderated the relationship between WFC and guilt. Furthermore, it also moderated the indirect effect of WFC on job satisfaction through WFG. Moreover, a positive relationship between WFG and reparative behaviors existed only among nontraditional men.
Originality/value
This study enriches existing literature on WFG by clarifying its impact on reparative behaviors toward family members. Moreover, it contributes to the contingent view of the source attribution perspective by highlighting intrinsic motivation as a significant boundary condition in the source attribution process.
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XiYue Deng, Xiaoming Li, Zhenzhen Chen, Mengli Zhu, Naixue Xiong and Li Shen
Human group behavior is the driving force behind many complex social and economic phenomena. Few studies have integrated multi-dimensional travel patterns and city interest points…
Abstract
Purpose
Human group behavior is the driving force behind many complex social and economic phenomena. Few studies have integrated multi-dimensional travel patterns and city interest points to construct urban security risk indicators. This paper combines traffic data and urban alarm data to analyze the safe travel characteristics of the urban population. The research results are helpful to explore the diversity of human group behavior, grasp the temporal and spatial laws and reveal regional security risks. It provides a reference for optimizing resource deployment and group intelligence analysis in emergency management.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the dynamics index of group behavior, this paper mines the data of large shared bikes and ride-hailing in a big city of China. We integrate the urban interest points and travel dynamic characteristics, construct the urban traffic safety index based on alarm behavior and further calculate the urban safety index.
Findings
This study found significant differences in the travel power index among ride-sharing users. There is a positive correlation between user shared bike trips and the power-law bimodal phenomenon in the logarithmic coordinate system. It is closely related to the urban public security index.
Originality/value
Based on group-shared dynamic index integrated alarm, we innovatively constructed an urban public safety index and analyzed the correlation of travel alarm behavior. The research results fully reveal the internal mechanism of the group behavior safety index and provide a valuable supplement for the police intelligence analysis.
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Paul C. Hong, Mohammed Taj Hejazi, Xiyue Deng and Sandeep Jagani
Having complexity theory as the overarching conceptual rationale, this paper presents a research model that defines external drivers, strategic and internal business practices and…
Abstract
Purpose
Having complexity theory as the overarching conceptual rationale, this paper presents a research model that defines external drivers, strategic and internal business practices and performance outcomes in service firm contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an original survey instrument, the authors empirically examine business process management (1) adopting the mediating roles of shared goal practices and technology imperative practices (2) involving moderating roles of competitive market environments and joint implementation practices.
Findings
In response to dynamic market complexity, firms implement business process management through shared goal practices and technology imperative practices for achieving customer service outcomes. The findings also suggest the moderating roles of competitive pressure and joint implementation practices.
Research limitations/implications
Generalizations here are limited to service firms. Increasing customer service expectations (e.g. simplicity, convenience, visual images and rapid responses) require firms to involve cross-functional work throughout their organizational processes.
Practical implications
In digital environments, business process management requires socio-technological synergy through shared goal practices and technology imperative practices.
Originality/value
Building on a theory-driven research model, a survey instrument provides tools to examine business process management of service firms that sense dynamic market complexity challenges and translate them to achieve desirable customer service outcomes.
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Xiyue Zheng, Fusheng Wang, Shiyu Liu, Han Wang and Dongchao Zhang
This paper aims to conduct an analysis of the influence of both the breadth and depth of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) undertaken by Chinese high-tech listed companies…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to conduct an analysis of the influence of both the breadth and depth of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) undertaken by Chinese high-tech listed companies during the period spanning 2010–2019. The data pertaining to these companies was used as a research sample to analyze the effects of OFDI on radical innovation performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the proposed models, using survey data collected from 442 high-tech companies in China.
Findings
The findings of this study indicate a curvilinear (i.e. U-shaped) relationship between the breadth/depth of OFDI and radical innovation performance. Additional analysis reveals that OFDI plays a role in facilitating innovation breakthroughs by enhancing the internal dynamic capabilities of companies. Moreover, it is observed that a well-established institutional environment in the host country of investment can positively moderate the relationship between OFDI breadth/depth and radical innovation performance.
Originality/value
This study proffers a significant contribution to the understanding of the crucial role played by OFDI from emerging economy companies in enhancing radical innovation performance. Moreover, it offers theoretical guidance for multinational companies aiming to foster innovation breakthroughs.
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Tieshu Huang, Michael S. Mason, Xiyue Zhao, Gregory E. Hilmas and Ming C. Leu
The purpose of this paper is to develop an inexpensive and environmentally friendly solid freeform fabrication technique, called the freeze‐form extrusion fabrication (FEF), and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an inexpensive and environmentally friendly solid freeform fabrication technique, called the freeze‐form extrusion fabrication (FEF), and use this technique in advanced ceramic fabrication.
Design/methodology/approach
FEF uses a highly loaded aqueous ceramic paste (≥50 vol.% solids loading) with a small quantity (∼2 vol.%) of organic binder to fabricate a ceramic green part layer by layer with a computer‐controlled 3D gantry machine at a temperature below the freezing point of the paste. Further, a freeze‐drying technique is used for preventing deformation and the formation of cracks during the green part drying process. Following the freeze‐drying, the ceramic green part undergoes binder removal and is sintered to near full density.
Findings
Extrudable, alumina pastes of high solids loading and process parameters for FEF processing of these pastes have been developed. Paste rheological properties and stability, extrusion rate, 3D gantry motion speed and other process parameters strongly affect the quality of the final ceramic parts. The minimum deposition angle, which reflects the maximum amount of extrusion offset to produce components with overhanging features without using support materials, is strongly related to the fabrication (environment) temperature. The lower the fabrication temperature, the lower the minimum deposition angle that could be achieved. Four point bending flexure strengths of the FEF processed Al2O3 test samples were 219 and 198 MPa for longitudinally deposited and transversely deposited samples, respectively. Major defects, which limited the strength of the materials, were due to under‐filling during the extrusion.
Originality/value
Successful development of the FEF technique will introduce a new approach to manufacturing ceramic materials into useful, complex shapes and components. The significant advantages of this technique include the use of environmentally friendly processing medium (water), inexpensive method of medium removal (freeze‐drying), and a much smaller quantity of organic binder to remove by pyrolysis techniques. The products can be sintered to near full density.
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