Abstract
Purpose
Environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), one of the major forces in environmental protection, have developed rapidly in the past few years, especially in developing countries such as China. This paper aims to reveal how the ENGOs select their focuses, specifically if they only concentrate on one focus or on contexts in which they obtain various focuses and the motivations behind their choosing strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The current research interviewed 103 leaders of ENGOs covering every province in mainland China and adopts existing theories of NGOs alongside diversification strategy from a management perspective.
Findings
The results showed that most Chinese ENGOs now tend to be diversified but face different challenges. This research highlights the importance of ENGOs’ resources and capacities in facing current challenges and suggests directions to improve their diversification strategy.
Originality/value
This research adds value to the research of environmental NGOs and gives suggestions to environmental NGO practitioners, in particular to those in emerging markets.
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Keywords
Abstract
Purpose
Brand alliance strategy is a popular strategy for multinational enterprises entering foreign markets, especially when domestic firms in the host market have a relatively weaker brand image. However, Volvo Construction Equipment's failure to acquire a domestic firm in China (Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery Company Limited [SDLG]) challenges existing management theory. Thus, the purpose of this study is to understand the reasons behind the failure of a leading international brand’s acquisition of a local brand in a fast-growing developing country.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper conducted a case study to illustrate how Volvo failed to benefit from the dual-brand strategy by analyzing its brand architecture strategy, the industry specificity of its heavy equipment, issues around its complex dealership and the implementation of optimal distinctiveness for the Volvo brand after acquiring SDLG.
Findings
Although Volvo’s dual-brand strategy with SDLG was theoretically valid, in practice, the strategy made the two brands very distinct in their business-to-business (B2B) consumers’ perception and dealers’ operation. Given a wrong estimation of Chinese demand in its premium market, Volvo, which targeted only the Chinese premium market, failed to benefit from its brand alliance with SDLG in the Chinese market.
Originality/value
The analysis of Volvo’s acquisition of SDLG enriches the current theory of international business and brand management. In particular, the results provide new insights into how leading international brands can avoid potential failure in a fast-growing market. Moreover, this paper highlights the difference of branding strategy in the B2B and business-to-consumer markets, which carries value to business executives.
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Yan Meng, Stephen J. Gould, Lei Song, Hua Chang and Shiva Vaziri
This study aims to provide a practical strategy for customer service and salesforce from the basis of behavioral economics. When customers thought they missed a discount but…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a practical strategy for customer service and salesforce from the basis of behavioral economics. When customers thought they missed a discount but eventually could get the deal, they perceived that they had obtained more value. This research defines such a conversion effect between gain and loss accounts, demonstrates its impact in marketing settings and provides the salesforce a tactic to increase sales and quality of customer service to improve the consumer experience in the social customer journey.
Design/methodology/approach
Three experiments were conducted in a behavioral lab and online setting. Participants were randomly assigned to 2 (gain vs loss) × 2 (converted vs simple) between-subjects designs in the first two experiments and 2 (gain vs loss) × 2 (converted vs simple) × 2 (high price vs low price) in the third experiment. Analysis of variance was conducted to analyze the data. Mediation and moderation analyses were also conducted to identify the mediator and moderator in the model.
Findings
The conversion between gain and loss mental accounts exists, and the converted gains are more likely to lead consumers to make purchases with a once-lost discount than simple gains. This conversion effect is mediated by consumers’ implemental mindset activated by the conversion and moderated by price.
Originality/value
This research shows that mental accounts of gains and losses can be dynamically converted to one another. It provides a managerial tactic for salesforces and customer service to lead consumers to make a purchase decision right away. This is especially important when they aim to enhance the consumer experience in the social customer journey.
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Luo Yue, Yan Meng, Eunji Lee, Pengpeng Bai, Yingzhuo Pan, Peng Wei, Jie Cheng, Yonggang Meng and Yu Tian
The incorporation of phosphide additives is regarded as a highly effective strategy for enhancing the lubricative qualities of base oils. This study aims to assess the lubrication…
Abstract
Purpose
The incorporation of phosphide additives is regarded as a highly effective strategy for enhancing the lubricative qualities of base oils. This study aims to assess the lubrication behavior and efficacy of various phosphide additives in polyethylsiloxane (PES) through the employment of the Schwingum Reibung Verschleiss test methodology, across a temperature range from ambient to 300°C.
Design/methodology/approach
PES demonstrated commendable lubrication capabilities within the Si3N4/M50 system, primarily attributable to the Si-O frictional reaction film at the interface. This film undergoes disintegration as the temperature escalates, leading to heightened wear. Moreover, the phosphide additives were found to ameliorate the issues encountered by PES in the Si3N4/M50 system, characterized by numerous boundary lubrication failure instances. A chemical film comprising P-Fe-O was observed to form at the interface; however, at elevated temperatures, disintegration of some phosphide films precipitated lubrication failures, as evidenced by a precipitous rise in the coefficient of friction.
Findings
The results show that a phosphide reactive film can be formed and a reduction in wear rate is achieved, which is reduced by 64.7% from 2.98 (for pure PES at 300°C) to 1.05 × 10–9 μm3/N m (for triphenyl phosphite at 300°C).
Originality/value
The data derived from this investigation offer critical insights for the selection and deployment of phosphide additives within high-temperature lubrication environments pertinent to PES.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2024-0139/
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Hui Lu, Wei Wang, Ling Xu, Zhenhong Li, Yan Ding, Jian Zhang and Fei Yan
The Chinese population is rapidly ageing before they are rich. The purpose of this paper is to describe healthcare seeking behaviour and the critical factors associated with…
Abstract
Purpose
The Chinese population is rapidly ageing before they are rich. The purpose of this paper is to describe healthcare seeking behaviour and the critical factors associated with healthcare seeking behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a purposive sampling method, the authors recruited 44 adults aged 60 years or older from three provinces, representing the developed (Shanghai), undeveloped (Ningxia) regions and the regions in between (Hubei). From July to September 2008, using a semi-structured guide, the authors interviewed participants in focus group discussions.
Findings
The healthcare needs for chronic and catastrophic diseases were high; however, the healthcare demands were low and healthcare utilizations were even lower owing to the limited accessibility to healthcare services, particularly, in underdeveloped rural areas. “Too expensive to see a doctor” was a prime complaint, explaining substantial discrepancies between healthcare needs, demands and use. Care seeking behaviour varied depending on insurance availability, perceived performance, particularly hospital services, and prescription medications. Participants consistently rated increasing healthcare accessibility as a high priority, including offering financial aid, and improving service convenience. Improving social security fairness was the first on the elderly’s wish list.
Originality/value
Healthcare demand and use were lower than needs, and were influenced by multiple factors, primarily, service affordability and efficiency, perceived performance and hospital service quality.
Details
Keywords
Kaniz Fatema, Punitha Sinnappan, Chong Soon Meng and Motoki Watabe
Sustainability entails promoting social development and meeting current needs without jeopardizing future life on Earth. It encompasses responsible resource stewardship and a…
Abstract
Sustainability entails promoting social development and meeting current needs without jeopardizing future life on Earth. It encompasses responsible resource stewardship and a consideration of environmental, social, and economic impacts. Sustainable tourism, as defined by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), addresses these impacts and balances economic prosperity, social well-being, and environmental preservation. Despite the tourism industry’s growth, its carbon-intensive nature significantly contributes to climate change, necessitating the adoption of sustainable practices. The global carbon footprint from tourism has risen, projecting to reach 6.5 GtCO2e by 2025, further stressing the environment. Sustainable tourism aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 and SDG 12, which emphasize inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and responsible consumption and production patterns. Technological advancements, such as AI and the Internet of Things, offer innovative data-driven solutions that not only revolutionize the tourism ecosystem but also mitigate its environmental impact. These technologies can help monitor and manage resource use in real time, promote renewable energy, and facilitate eco-friendly tourism practices. Embracing Industry 5.0, which integrates human capabilities with intelligent machines, the tourism sector can achieve human-centric, resilient, and sustainable growth. Future research should explore technology’s role in sustainable tourism, focusing on its environmental benefits and alignment with sustainability goals.
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Bianca Caiazzo, Teresa Murino, Alberto Petrillo, Gianluca Piccirillo and Stefania Santini
This work aims at proposing a novel Internet of Things (IoT)-based and cloud-assisted monitoring architecture for smart manufacturing systems able to evaluate their overall status…
Abstract
Purpose
This work aims at proposing a novel Internet of Things (IoT)-based and cloud-assisted monitoring architecture for smart manufacturing systems able to evaluate their overall status and detect eventual anomalies occurring into the production. A novel artificial intelligence (AI) based technique, able to identify the specific anomalous event and the related risk classification for possible intervention, is hence proposed.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed solution is a five-layer scalable and modular platform in Industry 5.0 perspective, where the crucial layer is the Cloud Cyber one. This embeds a novel anomaly detection solution, designed by leveraging control charts, autoencoders (AE) long short-term memory (LSTM) and Fuzzy Inference System (FIS). The proper combination of these methods allows, not only detecting the products defects, but also recognizing their causalities.
Findings
The proposed architecture, experimentally validated on a manufacturing system involved into the production of a solar thermal high-vacuum flat panel, provides to human operators information about anomalous events, where they occur, and crucial information about their risk levels.
Practical implications
Thanks to the abnormal risk panel; human operators and business managers are able, not only of remotely visualizing the real-time status of each production parameter, but also to properly face with the eventual anomalous events, only when necessary. This is especially relevant in an emergency situation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
The monitoring platform is one of the first attempts in leading modern manufacturing systems toward the Industry 5.0 concept. Indeed, it combines human strengths, IoT technology on machines, cloud-based solutions with AI and zero detect manufacturing strategies in a unified framework so to detect causalities in complex dynamic systems by enabling the possibility of products’ waste avoidance.
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Baiping Yan, Dazhuo Huang, Junjie Hong and Chengming Zhang
This paper aims to present the design and fabrication of a rotary magnetostrictive energy generator, using to harvest the rotation energy of human knee joint.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present the design and fabrication of a rotary magnetostrictive energy generator, using to harvest the rotation energy of human knee joint.
Design/methodology/approach
A rotary magnetostrictive energy generator is presented in this paper. The harvester consists of six movable flat Terfenol-D rods, surround by the picked-up coils respective, and alternate permanent magnet (PM) array fixed in the upper cover of the stator. The harvester rotates like as a stepper motor, which has rotary electromagnetic power generating effect and impacted magnetostrictive power generating effect in its rotation. Modeling and simulation are used to validate the concept. A prototype of harvester is fabricated and subjected to the experimental characterization.
Findings
The size of proposed structure is control as 77 cm3, and its mass is about 0.21 kg. Huge induced voltage generated in the short-time impact situation, and that induced voltage in the harvester can up to 18.6 V at 0.32 s stepper rotation. Also, the presented harvester has good harvesting effects at low frequency human walking situation, which is suitable to be used for future researches of wearable knee joint applications.
Originality/value
A new concept of magnetostrictive harvester is presneted, which will be benefit for the application of human knee joint wearable. Also, this concept will give us more idea for collection of human movement energy.
Details
Keywords
Matthew Tingchi Liu, Rongwei Chu, IpKin Anthony Wong, Miguel Angel Zúñiga, Yan Meng and Chuan Pang
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among affective loyalty, perceived benefits, attitude towards co‐branded products and the intention to use such products.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among affective loyalty, perceived benefits, attitude towards co‐branded products and the intention to use such products.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 433 valid responses were collected from active bank/department store co‐branded credit card holders, from four major Chinese cities. Regression and t‐test analyses were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The findings revealed that affective loyalty to the bank and the department store, as well as perceived credit card benefits, all positively influence consumers' attitude toward bank/department store co‐branded credit cards. Additionally, results showed a positive relationship between attitude and intention. Moreover, gender differences were also found to be significant in affective loyalty to the bank and the department store, as well as with the intention to use co‐branded credit cards.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the co‐branding literature by gaining a better understanding of co‐branded partners in symbiotic marketing collaboration.