Jinyuan Ma, Kejin Zhu, Yi Cao, Qiongqiong Chen and Xuesen Cheng
This paper examines the correlation between university discipline and industrial structure in the context of the integration and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the correlation between university discipline and industrial structure in the context of the integration and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (hereinafter the Greater Bay Area). It aims to determine the industrial structure deviation, and further identify human resource shortages and complementarity through the lens of the university discipline layout in the three regions of the Greater Bay Area, namely, the nine mainland Guangdong cities in the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper takes a quantitative Pearson correlation approach to determine the magnitude and strength of the relationship between regional university discipline and industrial structure in the Greater Bay Area, using predictor variables of percentage of compositions of GDP by sector to manifest the industrial structure and criterion variables of percentage of compositions of university enrollments by an academic program to represent the university discipline layout.
Findings
The most significant empirical result suggests that industrial structure deviation exists in the secondary industries of both Guangdong and Hong Kong. This indicates the complementarity between regions of the Greater Bay Area: the number of science and engineering talents graduating from the universities in Hong Kong exceeds the demands of Hong Kong’s local needs, while the science and engineering talents cultivated by universities in Guangdong cannot satisfy the needs of its secondary industries. However, the cities of Guangdong are not the primary choice of most Hong Kong graduates (Zhaopin, 2019).
Originality/value
There have been previous empirical studies dealing with the correlation between Chinese higher education discipline layout and industrial structure at the national level. There have been more case analyses at the provincial level, and some studies have used a comparative lens to find implications for the Chinese transformation. However, few studies have examined the correlation between higher education discipline layout and industrial structure in the context of the Greater Bay Area, with its emphasis on regional synergy and the distinction of “one country, two systems, and three tariff zones.” Based on its empirical findings, this study calls for a talent ecosystem that is beneficial for talent flow, talent sharing, and talent cultivation in a complementary manner.
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Xiaojun Wang, Zhenxian Luo and Xinyu Geng
This paper is to present an experiment to verify that the motion errors of robust topology optimization results of compliant mechanisms are insensitive to load dispersion.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper is to present an experiment to verify that the motion errors of robust topology optimization results of compliant mechanisms are insensitive to load dispersion.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the test pieces of deterministic optimization and robust optimization results are manufactured by the combination of three-dimensional (3D) printing and casting techniques. To measure the displacement of the test piece of compliant mechanism, a displacement measurement method based on the image recognition technique is proposed in this paper.
Findings
According to the experimental data analysis, the robust topology optimization results of compliant mechanisms are less sensitive to uncertainties, comparing with the deterministic optimization results.
Originality/value
An experiment is presented to verify the effectiveness of robust topology optimization for compliant mechanisms. The test pieces of deterministic optimization and robust optimization results are manufactured by the combination of 3D printing and casting techniques. By comparing the experimental data, it is found that the motion errors of robust topology optimization results of compliant mechanisms are insensitive to load dispersion.
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Xin Chen and Yingxi Liu
In Chinese libraries, short video platforms have emerged as a channel for new media marketing. Thus, this study aims to explore libraries’ communication influence on China’s…
Abstract
Purpose
In Chinese libraries, short video platforms have emerged as a channel for new media marketing. Thus, this study aims to explore libraries’ communication influence on China’s largest short video platform, that is, Douyin (the Chinese version of Tiktok), and to provide corresponding suggestions for improvement of libraries’ communication influence in the short video platform.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the Douyin Communication Index (DCI), this paper collects the top 200 library Douyin accounts of cultural reading in China and uses statistical and content analyses to evaluate the communication influence of library Douyin accounts.
Findings
Study findings show that libraries of various types and in various regions currently have an unbalanced development trend, with public libraries accounting for the vast majority and nearly half of the libraries located in China’s eastern region. Analysis of variance shows differences in the influence of Douyin communication among library types. Correlation analysis shows that indicators with a high correlation with DCI include the number of new works, likes, shares, and comments. In marketing content, the library’s high-impact short videos have characteristics of value, interest, and emotional touch.
Originality/value
This study uses a hybrid research method to explore Chinese libraries’ communication influence using the Douyin short video platform. Compared to other parts of the world, short videos in Chinese libraries have unique characteristics. They are rooted in China’s history and reality, showcasing the unique charm of Chinese library culture and serving as a unique reference for library marketing activities around the world.
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Abstract
Subject area
Leadership.
Study level/applicability
The case is suitable for MBA, Executive level courses.
Case overview
Yongye Group is a biotechnological enterprise in Inner Mongolia, China. In China, people lack trust in economic transactions due to the transitional state of the economy, especially regarding food safety. To respond to this situation, Wu Zishen, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Yongye Group, was determined to build trust among employees, distributors, farmers, and consumers towards the company. To this end, he started using a creative incentive system with employees and stakeholders: the pay-before-performance incentive system. According to this system, the reward is delivered in advance, contrary to be paid after the fulfillment of the task. This practice is meant to transform employees' work attitude from a passive “being told to work” to a more proactive “I want to work” mentality. When such an incentive system is practiced with customers and external distributors, it sends a message that the company is “treating customers as company employees”, which means that they are trusted as if they were part of the company itself. Wu Zishen also introduced a coherent series of leadership practices that generate a truly proactive culture in the organization.
Expected learning outcomes
From this case, students will learn how to create a proactive culture in business organizations and the effect of pay-before-performance on employees' work motivation.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes and an exercise for class-based discussion are available.
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Sifeng Liu, Yingjie Yang, Naiming Xie and Jeffrey Forrest
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the progress in grey system research during 2000-2015, so as to present some important new concepts, models, methods and a new framework…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the progress in grey system research during 2000-2015, so as to present some important new concepts, models, methods and a new framework of grey system theory.
Design/methodology/approach
The new thinking, new models and new methods of grey system theory and their applications are presented in this paper. It includes algorithm rules of grey numbers based on the “kernel” and the degree of greyness of grey numbers, the concept of general grey numbers, the synthesis axiom of degree of greyness of grey numbers and their operations; the general form of buffer operators of grey sequence operators; the four basic models of grey model GM(1,1), such as even GM, original difference GM, even difference GM, discrete GM and the suitable sequence type of each basic model, and suitable range of most used grey forecasting models; the similarity degree of grey incidences, the closeness degree of grey incidences and the three-dimensional absolute degree of grey incidence of grey incidence analysis models; the grey cluster model based on center-point and end-point mixed triangular whitenization functions; the multi-attribute intelligent grey target decision model, the two stages decision model with grey synthetic measure of grey decision models; grey game models, grey input-output models of grey combined models; and the problems of robust stability for grey stochastic time-delay systems of neutral type, distributed-delay type and neutral distributed-delay type of grey control, etc. And the new framework of grey system theory is given as well.
Findings
The problems which remain for further studying are discussed at the end of each section. The reader could know the general picture of research and developing trend of grey system theory from this paper.
Practical implications
A lot of successful practical applications of the new models to solve various problems have been found in many different areas of natural science, social science and engineering, including spaceflight, civil aviation, information, metallurgy, machinery, petroleum, chemical industry, electrical power, electronics, light industries, energy resources, transportation, medicine, health, agriculture, forestry, geography, hydrology, seismology, meteorology, environment protection, architecture, behavioral science, management science, law, education, military science, etc. These practical applications have brought forward definite and noticeable social and economic benefits. It demonstrates a wide range of applicability of grey system theory, especially in the situation where the available information is incomplete and the collected data are inaccurate.
Originality/value
The reader is given a general picture of grey systems theory as a new model system and a new framework for studying problems where partial information is known; especially for uncertain systems with few data points and poor information. The problems remaining for further studying are identified at the end of each section.
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Susie Goodall, Yajun Li, Ksenia Chmutina, Tom Dijkstra, Xingmin Meng and Colm Jordan
This paper explores ontological assumptions of disasters and introduces some concepts from Chinese disaster scholarship. The authors suggest an approach to explore and engage with…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper explores ontological assumptions of disasters and introduces some concepts from Chinese disaster scholarship. The authors suggest an approach to explore and engage with different ontologies of disaster without direct comparison, that can further interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration.
Design/methodology/approach
By reviewing the academic literature and focussing on two recent key translational texts by Chinese scholars, the authors show what can be revealed about ontology and the potential influence on thinking about human-environment interactions and disaster risk reduction (DRR) policy.
Findings
In Chinese disaster studies, the goal of a “harmonious human-environment relationship” is a foundational concept. There is a clear hierarchical and ontological distinction between humans and the natural ecological system viewed as an integrated whole, with underlying rules that can be discovered by scientific research to enable management of a harmonious relationship.
Practical implications
The authors suggest a practical way to begin with the following questions: What is the societal goal/aim? What is nature? What is society? How do these interact to create disasters? And what are the implications for DRR research and practice? The authors also demonstrate the importance of probing and understanding the underlying ontologies that are the foundation for theory, which in turn is the foundation for policy and action.
Originality/value
Identification of ontological differences in interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research collaborations and working across these boundaries is challenging and rarely questioned. Yet, as demonstrated here, considering ontological assumptions of the causes of disaster, within and across cultures and disciplines, is essential for collaboration and further research.