Hongyi Sun, Yangyang Zhao and Hon Keung Yau
The speed of new product development (NPD) has been a key factor in a firm's degree of competitiveness. The tools and philosophy of quality management have been widely used to…
Abstract
Purpose
The speed of new product development (NPD) has been a key factor in a firm's degree of competitiveness. The tools and philosophy of quality management have been widely used to improve and control product quality. However, there is a lack of literature on the relationship between quality management and NPD. This paper aims to report on a study that investigates the influence of quality management on the speed of NPD.
Design/methodology/approach
The philosophy of quality management refers to total quality management (TQM). Tools for quality management include teamwork, continuous improvement (CI), value analysis (VA) and quality function deployment (QFD). This study begins by comparing literature in concurrent engineering (CE) and TQM, which leads to several common principles and five hypotheses. The hypotheses are tested using survey data from 700 manufacturing companies in 20 countries.
Findings
The research reveals that TQM, Team, VA and QFD are positively correlated with the speed of NPD, meaning that the tools and philosophy of quality management have a positive influence on the speed of NPD. However, no relationship is found between CI and the speed of NPD.
Research limitations/implications
This paper tests hypotheses using survey data. It reveals the empirical relationship between quality management and the speed of NPD but does not provide details regarding the mechanism of influence between the two. Consequently, case studies should be conducted in the future to probe into the details. Additionally, new quality methods like Six Sigma can also be included in a future study, since Six Sigma covers both quality and NPD.
Practical implications
This study proposes that companies that have implemented TQM and other quality management tools will have a better foundation for implementing new NPD approaches like CE and design for manufacturing and assembly. This is especially encouraging for those original engineering manufacturing (OEM) firms that would like to change from OEM to original design manufacturing/original brand manufacturing (ODM/OBM). OEM companies typically implement TQM but invest very little in NPD.
Originality/value
This paper fills the gap in research exploring the links between quality management and NPD. It addresses the concern over whether quality management may hinder NPD. The critical issues for implementing quality management such as culture change, learning, change management, and team building can all be applied to implementing NPD methods such as CE. The result also supports the concept of “design the quality into products”. It is beneficial for employees in quality and NPD to share and work together.
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Pengkun Cheng, Juliang Xiao, Wei Zhao, Yangyang Zhang, Haitao Liu and Xianlei Shan
This paper aims to enhance the machining accuracy of hybrid robots by treating the moving platform as the first joint of a serial robot for direct position measurement and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to enhance the machining accuracy of hybrid robots by treating the moving platform as the first joint of a serial robot for direct position measurement and integrating external grating sensors with motor encoders for real-time error compensation.
Design/methodology/approach
Initially, a spherical coordinate system is established using one linear and two circular grating sensors. This system enables direct acquisition of the moving platform’s position in the hybrid robot. Subsequently, during the coarse interpolation stage, the motor command for the next interpolation point is dynamically updated using error data from external grating sensors and motor encoders. Finally, fuzzy proportional integral derivative (PID) control is applied to maintain robot stability post-compensation.
Findings
Experiments were conducted on the TriMule-600 hybrid robot. The results indicate that the following errors of the five grating sensors are reduced by 94%, 93%, 80%, 75% and 88% respectively, after compensation. Using the fourth drive joint as an example, it was verified that fuzzy adaptive PID control performs better than traditional PID control.
Practical implications
The proposed online error compensation strategy significantly enhances the positional accuracy of the robot end, thereby improving the actual processing quality of the workpiece.
Social implications
This method presents a technique for achieving online error compensation in hybrid robots, which promotes the advancement of the manufacturing industry.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a cost-effective and practical method for online error compensation in hybrid robots using grating sensors, which contributes to the advancement of hybrid robot technology.
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Qiang Lu, Yangyang Wang and Yudong Yang
This study aims to investigate how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs’) supply chain specific investment (SCSIs) affects supply chain financing performance (SCFP) in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs’) supply chain specific investment (SCSIs) affects supply chain financing performance (SCFP) in the innovative industrial finance model, and further analyze the internal mechanisms and important contextual factors.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on signaling theory, this study constructs a mediating and moderating model to examine the influencing mechanisms of SMEs’ SCSIs on SCFP, including the mediating effect of opportunism and the moderating effect of digital technology deployment (DTD). A multiple regression analysis is conducted to verify the theoretical hypotheses, using questionnaire data collected from 288 SMEs in China.
Findings
The empirical findings indicate that both SMEs’ supply chain asset-specific and relationship-specific investments can significantly promote SCFP. Also, SMEs’ SCSIs can improve SCFP by reducing the occurrence of opportunism perceived by supply chain partners. The breadth of DTD positively moderates the relationship between the two types of SCSIs and SCFP, while the depth of DTD has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between SCSIs and SCFP.
Originality/value
This study has discussed the important and novel issue of how financially distressed SMEs can send effective signals to financial institutions by increasing their SCSIs in supply chain finance mode. By revealing the influencing mechanisms of SMEs’ SCSIs on SCFP, this study contributes to expanding the research on the antecedents of SCFP from the dimension of interorganizational transactions. This study also enriches the perspectives of signaling theory by exploring the interaction between signal sender and signal intermediary.
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M. S. Balaji, Yangyang Jiang, Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Abhishek Behl and Kokil Jain
This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of 360-degree virtual reality (VR) videos compared to traditional preview modes in shaping customer perceptions and behavioral…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of 360-degree virtual reality (VR) videos compared to traditional preview modes in shaping customer perceptions and behavioral intentions toward the hospitality service provider. Specifically, the study investigates how self-construal moderates this relationship, offering novel and nuanced understanding of the customer decision-making process in the hospitality sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Three experiments were carried out. Study 1 examined the impact of preview modes on customers’ behavioral intentions. Study 2 examined the psychological mechanism of mental imagery and being hooked in the relationship between preview modes and behavioral intentions. Study 3 examined the moderating role of self-construal in the relationship between preview modes and behavioral intentions.
Findings
The study findings revealed that 360-degree VR videos are more effective than traditional preview modes in determining customers’ behavioral intentions. Mental imagery and being hooked explain this relationship. Furthermore, customers with highly independent self-construal evaluate 360-degree VR videos more favorably, while those with highly interdependent self-construal evaluate traditional preview modes more positively.
Practical implications
The research indicates that adopting VR applications can offer competitive advantage for hospitality service providers. The study findings provide hospitality providers with insights to tailor their marketing strategies by selecting preview modes that align with the psychological profiles of the customers.
Originality/value
The originality of the study lies in its pioneering efforts to explore how self-construal shapes customer responses to different preview modes. Furthermore, this study reveals the importance of psychological constructs in understanding the impact of VR applications on customer behaviors.
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Emily Carol Blalock, Yangyang Fan and Xiaojun Lyu
The purpose of the paper is to explore Chinese women entrepreneurs’ perceptions of governance within the Shanghai fashion entrepreneurial ecosystem (SFEE) and identify whether…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to explore Chinese women entrepreneurs’ perceptions of governance within the Shanghai fashion entrepreneurial ecosystem (SFEE) and identify whether policy is effective and inclusive of women entrepreneurs, potential barriers and if implementation is proceeding as planned.
Design/methodology/approach
We used an adaptive qualitative method incorporating a traditional case study utilizing a thematic analysis with a feminist approach to policy analysis. The case study is based on original data from ethnographic practices with a purposive sample of 15 fashion entrepreneurs and triangulated with six political elites within the SFEE.
Findings
The findings indicate that women fashion entrepreneurs perceive effective governance of the SFEE, legitimizing top-down policies and resources as the “right time” for them to be women and entrepreneurs in Shanghai. Entrepreneurs claim “I am human,” asserting gender equality in business but with circumstantial gender roles that can limit access to important resources.
Research limitations/implications
A single industry, the SFEE, limits the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, did the respondents feel comfortable with the truth? True to communist nations, citizens have few opportunities to voice opinions and public dissent is discouraged. However, we took steps to protect anonymity and excluded potentially sensitive questions dealing with geopolitical strife.
Practical implications
The study outlined six SFEE governance challenges and feminist policy responses that will strengthen the future of women’s entrepreneurship. The study can introduce classroom discussions on gender dynamics and entrepreneurship in the global context. This can help students understand the unique challenges women face, such as access to funding, networking opportunities and societal expectations, and how these factors influence the global supply chain.
Originality/value
The case study has several contributions, including a novel entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) governance framework and the first study to endorse the voice of Chinese women entrepreneurs operating within the Shanghai fashion industry. Further, we contextualize entrepreneurship using anthropological methods. Lastly, the analysis and understanding of SFEE policies have the potential to improve women’s lives, their families and communities.
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Hong Chen, Chien-Ping Chen, Wang Jin, Yangyang Wang and Lijian Qin
This paper employs nationwide, large-scale field survey data to provide the first empirical evidence on the impact of human educational capital on the acquisition of health…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper employs nationwide, large-scale field survey data to provide the first empirical evidence on the impact of human educational capital on the acquisition of health entitlement among Chinese migrant workers. The findings of this study hold significant practical implications for the formulation of policies aimed at improving the health protection of migrant workers, as well as for socioeconomic policies during China's transitional period.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the IVProbit model, this research examines how human educational capital influences the attainment of health entitlement among migrant workers in China by analyzing the impact and mechanism of education on health entitlement. The study is based on the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) data from 2018, which include 100,177 observations.
Findings
For migrant workers in China, higher levels of education have a significant positive effect on the acquisition of health entitlements, including medical insurance, health records and health education. The positive impact of human educational capital on health entitlements is more significant for non-provincial cities and young-generation migrant workers. The results also show that human educational capital can influence the acquisition of health entitlements through mediators such as financial status, social integration and health status.
Originality/value
This study represents the first empirical attempt to evaluate the influence of human educational capital on the access of migrant workers in China to health rights and interests. Additionally, the study develops a theoretical framework to examine how the impact of human educational capital varies across migrant workers with different characteristics and their access to health entitlements.
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Yang Gao, Yangyang Li and Yaojun Wang
This paper aims to explore the interaction between investor attention and green security markets, including green bonds and stocks.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the interaction between investor attention and green security markets, including green bonds and stocks.
Design/methodology/approach
This study takes the Baidu index of “green finance” as the proxy for investor attention and constructs several generalized prediction error variance decomposition models to investigate the interdependence. It further analyzes the dynamic interaction between investor attention and the return and volatility of green security markets using the rolling time window.
Findings
The empirical analysis and robustness test results reveal that the spillovers between investor attention and the return and volatility of the green bond market are relatively stable. In contrast, the spillover level between investor attention and the green stock market displays significant time-varying and asymmetric effects. Moreover, the volatility spillover between investor attention and green securities is vulnerable to major financial events, while the return spillover is extremely sensitive to market performance.
Originality/value
The conclusion further expands the practical application and theoretical framework of behavioral finance in green finance and provides a new reference for investors and regulators. Besides, this study also lays a theoretical basis for investors to focus on the practical application of volatility prediction and risk management in green securities.
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Ying Huang, Chao Hao, Jian Liu, Xiaohui Guo, Yangyang Zhang, Ping Liu, Caixia Liu, Yugang Zhang and Xiaoming Yang
The purpose of this study is to present a highly stretchable and flexible strain sensor with simple and low cost of fabrication process and excellent dynamic characteristics…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present a highly stretchable and flexible strain sensor with simple and low cost of fabrication process and excellent dynamic characteristics, which make it suitable for human motion monitoring under large strain and high frequency.
Design/methodology/approach
The strain sensor was fabricated using the rubber/latex polymer as elastic carrier and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)/carbon black (CB) as a synergistic conductive network. The rubber/latex polymer was pre-treated in naphtha and then soaked in SWCNTs/CB/silicon rubber composite solution. The strain sensing and other performance of the sensor were measured and human motion tracking applications were tried.
Findings
These strain sensors based on aforementioned materials display high stretchability (500 per cent), excellent flexibility, fast response (approximately 45 ms), low creep (3.1 per cent at 100 per cent strain), temperature and humidity independence, superior stability and reproducibility during approximately 5,000 stretch/release cycles. Furthermore, the authors used these composites as human motion sensors, effectively monitoring joint motion, indicating that the stretchable strain sensor based on the rubber/latex polymer and the synergetic effects of mixed SWCNTs and CB could have promising applications in flexible and wearable devices for human motion tracking.
Originality/value
This paper presents a low-cost and a new type of strain sensor with excellent performance that can open up new fields of applications in flexible, stretchable and wearable electronics, especially in human motion tracking applications where very large strain should be accommodated by the strain sensor.
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This paper aims to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on hotel marketing and management practices and outlines a three-pronged research agenda to stimulate knowledge development in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on hotel marketing and management practices and outlines a three-pronged research agenda to stimulate knowledge development in the hotel sector.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on an overview of the relevant literature on hotel marketing and management and the hotel guest behavior. The authors also investigated hospitality service trends to propose a research agenda.
Findings
This paper presents a research agenda from three dimensions – artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, hygiene and cleanliness and health and health care. First, different types of AI (mechanical, thinking and feeling) might open up distinct research streams at the intersection of health crises and hotel management, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this paper recommends that researchers move beyond typical perspectives on the antecedents and outcomes of hotel hygiene and cleanliness to delve into guests’ perceptions of the cleanliness of specific hotel surfaces. Furthermore, a more in-depth analysis is warranted about the evolving relationship between hotels and the health-care sector.
Practical implications
The recommended research areas are intended to advance the knowledge base to help hotels recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The suggested research streams are expected to provide actionable insights to promote the development and sustainability of the hotel sector.
Originality/value
This paper appears to be a frontier study, critically examining possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on hotel marketing and management practices and how hoteliers may respond to such challenges to recover after this pandemic.
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Tian Wang, Yangyang Liang and Zhong Zheng
The purpose of this paper is to investigate manufacturer encroachment and distributor encroachment in a three-echelon supply chain consisting of an upside manufacturer, an…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate manufacturer encroachment and distributor encroachment in a three-echelon supply chain consisting of an upside manufacturer, an intermediate distributor and a downside retailer.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors use the optimization theory to mathematize the proposed question and build a model. First, the authors consider sequential quantity decisions, where the encroacher decides on the direct selling quantity after determining the retailer's order quantity. Second, the authors relax this sequential decision process assumption by reconsidering a circumstance in which quantity decisions are decided simultaneously.
Findings
In contrast to previous studies, this study shows that in three-echelon supply chains, the upside firm is more likely to encroach compared with the downside firm. The “bright side” of encroachment exists for all players only when the encroachment cost is at a moderate level. However, in manufacturer encroachment under simultaneous quantity decisions, the “bright side” skips the distributor but benefits the retailer directly as the encroachment cost increases from zero to a certain level. The main reason lies in that the distributor loses its pricing power because the end-market has been disturbed by the simultaneous quantity decisions. A comparison of the results of sequential and simultaneous quantity decisions reveals the merit of simultaneous quantity decisions. The authors find that the intermediate role (the distributor in our model) in three-echelon supply chains may benefit more from simultaneous quantity decisions. That is, the distributor may achieve a better profit even in a market with intensified competition.
Originality/value
The findings of this paper contribute to the marketing science literature on encroachment. The majority of existing literature has focused on manufacturer encroachment in two-echelon supply chains. This paper innovatively investigates and compares manufacturer encroachment and distributor encroachment in a three-echelon supply chain.