This study aimed to examine the influence of four factors (intellectual, instrumental, self-actualizing and CPD cultural factors) on teachers' engagement in continuing…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to examine the influence of four factors (intellectual, instrumental, self-actualizing and CPD cultural factors) on teachers' engagement in continuing professional development (CPD), specifically in the context of three lesson study activities: teaching research team activity, teaching research group activity and research lesson study activity in Chinese school settings.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-methods design was employed to examine the perceived effects of these factors on the engagement levels of 33 primary school teachers who participated in lesson study activities. The research used a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews as data collection instruments.
Findings
The results indicated that participants demonstrated higher levels of engagement in research lesson study and teaching research group, whereas their engagement in teaching research team was comparatively lower. Intellectual and CPD cultural factors emerged as the strongest predictors of engagement in all the activities. Self-actualizing factors highly influenced teachers' engagement in research lesson study. Instrumental factors mainly affected novice teachers and some mentors in the teaching research group, but not others.
Originality/value
This study addresses a gap in the existing literature by investigating factors influencing teachers' engagement in lesson study professional development. The observed variation in teachers' engagement behaviors and attitudes provides policy makers and school leaders with a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms and effects of these engagement factors on teachers' professional development.
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Ying-Ji Chuang and Hsing-Chih Tsai
This paper aims to use a derivative of genetic programming to predict the bond strength of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars in concrete under the effects of design…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to use a derivative of genetic programming to predict the bond strength of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars in concrete under the effects of design guidelines. In developing bond strength prediction models, this paper prioritized simplicity and meaningfulness over extreme accuracy.
Design/methodology/approach
Assessing the bond strength of GFRP bars in concrete is a critical issue in designing and building reinforced concrete structures.
Findings
Ultimately, the equation of a linear form of a particular design guideline was suggested as the optimal prediction model. Improvements to the current design guidelines suggested by this model include setting a 1.31 magnification and considering the effects of the three significant parameters of bar diameter (db), minimum cover-to-bar diameter (C/db) and development length to bar diameter (l/db) under an acceptable root mean square error accuracy of around 2 MPa. Furthermore, the model suggests that the original influence parameter of concrete compressive strength (fc) may be removed from bond strength calculations.
Originality/value
The model suggests that the original influence parameter of concrete compressive strength (fc) may be removed from bond strength calculations.
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Zheng Wang, Ying Ji, Tao Zhang, Yuanming Li, Lun Wang and Shaojian Qu
With the continuous development of online shopping, analyzing the competitiveness of products in the fierce market competition is becoming increasingly crucial to position their…
Abstract
Purpose
With the continuous development of online shopping, analyzing the competitiveness of products in the fierce market competition is becoming increasingly crucial to position their own product development. However, the information overload brought by the network development makes it getting difficult to obtain the accurate competitiveness information. Therefore, competitiveness analysis research to combine with the perceived helpfulness study needs urgent solution. Furthermore, deviations exist in the three common methods of perceived helpfulness research. Finally, the traditional information fusion analysis only analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of products in competitiveness analysis without taking account of the competitive environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study puts forward a novel prediction model of perceived helpfulness in conjunction of unsupervised learning and sentiment analysis techniques, to conduct the comparison with pros and cons of congeneric products.
Findings
This paper adopts Wilcoxon test to demonstrate the significant rectification of our competitiveness analysis to the traditional methods. It is noted that the positive reviews of the products in this study impact more on product word of mouth and competitiveness than negative ones.
Originality/value
To sum up, the results of this study benefit businesses in locating their dynamic market position with competitors in practice and exploring new method for long-term development strategic planning.
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Although an important facet of modernist architecture in which function plays a prominent role, building flexibility is not entirely a new concept. Its relevance transcends…
Abstract
Although an important facet of modernist architecture in which function plays a prominent role, building flexibility is not entirely a new concept. Its relevance transcends generations, allowing space and structure to evolve through time. This paper investigates the relationship among main building structures, infill elements, and space by studying examples in ancient Chinese architecture. It reveals the role of building owners, users, and craftsmen from a survey of historical documentation. In studying these examples, it is concluded that craftsmen in ancient China were involved not only during the construction phase but throughout the period of use as well. Thus, in select cases, the relationship between craftsmen and owners or users had been preserved for generations. Finally, this paper suggests potential strategies for the building industry and technology in the move towards sustainable development.
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Wei Quan, Bikun Chen and Fei Shu
The purpose of this paper is to present the landscape of the cash-per-publication reward policy in China and reveal its trend since the late 1990s.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the landscape of the cash-per-publication reward policy in China and reveal its trend since the late 1990s.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on the analysis of 168 university documents regarding the cash-per-publication reward policy at 100 Chinese universities.
Findings
Chinese universities offer cash rewards from USD30 to USD165,000 for papers published in journals indexed by Web of Science, and the average reward amount has been increasing for the past ten years.
Originality/value
The cash-per-publication reward policy in China has never been systematically studied and investigated before except for in some case studies. This is the first paper that reveals the landscape of the cash-per-publication reward policy in China.
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Kwok Wah Ronnie Lui and Sarojni Choy
This paper aims to report on a study that used the practice theory lens to understand how Chinese ethnic culture influences restaurant workers' learning through engagement in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report on a study that used the practice theory lens to understand how Chinese ethnic culture influences restaurant workers' learning through engagement in everyday work practices.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study approach was used. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and site observations. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify how workers learnt the sayings, doings and relatings in their workplaces.
Findings
The findings show that the ethnic culture of the participants influences and enriches their learning in practice settings such as small Chinese restaurants.
Research limitations/implications
The understandings presented here need to be verified through more research in different regions and nations. In addition, cross-cultural studies on other ethnic restaurants may contribute to deeper understandings of the influences of ethnic culture on practice-based learning.
Social implications
The research contributes to understanding the influence of ethnic culture on practice-based learning.
Originality/value
The understandings gained from the findings of this study form a useful basis for curriculum development and instructional design of training programmes for practice-based as well as work-integrated-learning components of vocational curriculum. Furthermore, awareness of the strengths of the ethnic culture is of interest to owner/managers of small Chinese restaurants to afford supportive learning environments for workers.
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Dongxu Wang, Donald Stewart, Chun Chang, Ying Ji and Yuhui Shi
– The purpose of this paper is to improve adolescents’ nutrition knowledge and to examine the effect of interventions component to improve adolescents’ nutrition knowledge.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to improve adolescents’ nutrition knowledge and to examine the effect of interventions component to improve adolescents’ nutrition knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
The study design was multi-factorial with repeated measures, at two points in time, of dependent samples from three schools, which were randomly selected from 15 middle schools in Miyun County, Beijing, and then randomly assigned to control school or intervention school. The instrument for baseline survey was a 14-item and for follow-up survey was a 26-item, self-administered, structured questionnaire, designed in Chinese.
Findings
Students’ nutrition knowledge improved significantly in intervention schools after intervention compared with controls. The extent to which students felt that peer support activities were helpful and that what they learned in class about nutrition was helpful, was related to their resultant level of nutrition knowledge.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge there have been no previous studies which explore the effect of specific intervention components on levels of nutrition knowledge among adolescents.
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Nikolai Kazantsev, Grigory Pishchulov, Nikolay Mehandjiev, Pedro Sampaio and Judy Zolkiewski
This paper adopts a multi-tier perspective and aims to explore challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in collaborative manufacturing amid the emergence of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper adopts a multi-tier perspective and aims to explore challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in collaborative manufacturing amid the emergence of dedicated B2B platforms. Original equipment manufacturers welcome formation of demand-driven collaborations between SME suppliers to facilitate ramp-up of production capacity. While being potentially beneficial to suppliers, such collaborations face various barriers.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory study of 17 suppliers within the European Union’s aerospace industry was undertaken. The study comprised two stages. In the first stage, suppliers’ answers to self-administered interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. In the second stage, interactions between the barriers were determined through interviews with experienced SME collaboration facilitators. The authors apply system dynamics modelling to analyse the links between barriers and identify re-enforcing and balancing loops of other factors.
Findings
The authors establish five major groups of barriers to collaboration impeding: market transparency, access to orders, partner trust, contracting and (e) data sharing and coordination. The authors model application of four enablers that facilitate barrier removal for technology-enabled supply chains: digital platforms, supplier development, smart contracts and Industry 4.0.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited by the data collection from the aerospace industry; validation of the models in other low-volume high-variability manufacturing sectors is needed.
Practical implications
The reader will learn about the barriers which impede demand-driven SME collaboration within manufacturing supply chains, interrelationships between these barriers and suggestions about how to remove them. SME cluster managers will find managerial implications particularly interesting as they will help them to overcome collaboration concerns and better prepare cluster members for Industry 4.0.
Social implications
The models developed within this study can be used to explore the effects of intervening at critical points in the model to create virtuous improvement cycles between key barriers and related variables in the model. This can help decision-making and policymaking in the area of supply chain integration.
Originality/value
There is currently a lack of studies about how the existing barriers amplify and de-amplify themselves and what the managerial approaches to tackle the barriers are. It is unclear how far companies will go in terms of information sharing, given the trust levels, power dynamics and governance structures evident in supply chains. This study contributes by explaining the reinforcing interaction between the barriers and showing ways to overcome these using enablers.
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Anne Yenching Liu, Maria Dolores Botella Carrubi and Cristina Blanco González-Tejero
This study investigates how personality traits influence individuals’ intention to become community group buying (CGB) leaders.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates how personality traits influence individuals’ intention to become community group buying (CGB) leaders.
Design/methodology/approach
Data include 517 valid questionnaires that are employed to examine the research model and test the hypotheses using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
This study reveals that among the Big Five personality traits, extroversion and neuroticism have more impact on the perceived ease of use and usefulness of social media, and individuals with high levels of these traits are more likely to become CGB leaders. Perceived ease of use only mediates the relationship between agreeableness and CGB leader intention, whereas perceived usefulness mediates the relationships between conscientiousness and CGB leader intention and neuroticism and CGB leader intention.
Originality/value
This study can serve as a catalyst for advancing the exploration of how personality traits and social media affect the intention of being CGB leaders. In addition, the study investigates the mediating effect of social media technology acceptance obtaining valuable insights into how social media affects individuals’ intention to become CGB leaders, expanding the research in this field.
Highlights
- (1)
Individuals with extroversion, neuroticism, and conscientiousness personality traits exhibit higher perceived ease of use and usefulness of social media.
- (2)
Unlike previous research suggested, neurotic individuals appear to be attracted to becoming community group buying (CGB) leaders.
- (3)
Individuals with high agreeableness are encouraged by ease in pursuing CGB leadership.
- (4)
Perceived usefulness mediates the relationship between conscientiousness and CGB leadership intention and neuroticism and CGB leader intention.
Individuals with extroversion, neuroticism, and conscientiousness personality traits exhibit higher perceived ease of use and usefulness of social media.
Unlike previous research suggested, neurotic individuals appear to be attracted to becoming community group buying (CGB) leaders.
Individuals with high agreeableness are encouraged by ease in pursuing CGB leadership.
Perceived usefulness mediates the relationship between conscientiousness and CGB leadership intention and neuroticism and CGB leader intention.
Details
Keywords
Wei Xie and Maximilian von Zedtwitz
Through examining the development of the video compact disc player industry in China, this article aims to explore the main characteristics of world‐first innovation and identify…
Abstract
Purpose
Through examining the development of the video compact disc player industry in China, this article aims to explore the main characteristics of world‐first innovation and identify four success factors for innovation followers to launch world‐first products in catching‐up countries.
Design/methodology/approach
This article takes the form of a case study
Findings
The main characteristics of world‐first innovation in catching‐up countries include: from the demand side, innovation is mainly pulled by the local market, rather than technology‐push; from the supply side, innovation cannot isolate itself from the rest of the world – suppliers of key technologies in advanced countries play an important role; inter‐firm alliances are an increasingly important way to generate world‐first innovation; and downstream integration capabilities are required for followers to mix pieces of technologies together at competitive pricing. The success of followers from catching‐up countries to launch world‐first products hinges on the four critical factors: strengths of complementary assets; figuring out ways to meet local market demand without relying on large R&D spending; emphasizing untapped innovation opportunities by multinationals; and positioning themselves on the proper points of the globally coordinated network for innovation.
Originality/value
This article identifies the main characteristics of world‐first innovation and points out four success factors for innovation followers to launch world‐first products, which could be significant to managers in catching‐up countries. Findings of this paper are more relevant to large catching‐up countries such as India, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia where a large domestic market could serve as important launch markets for the world‐first innovation.