Sook Fern Yeo, Cheng Ling Tan, Irene Yoke Chu Leong, Dario Natale Palmucci and Yu Jian Then
This study aims to investigate the factors that influence young consumers' purchase intention towards dietary supplements (DS) in Malaysia.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the factors that influence young consumers' purchase intention towards dietary supplements (DS) in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
The supplement industry in Malaysia has been growing rapidly recently due to a paradigm shift in healthcare management, from curative to prevention. Thus, it has sparked interest to conduct a study on the factors that influence young consumers' purchase intentions towards DS. With a response rate of 74.5%, a survey questionnaire was used to elicit data from 149 Gen-Y respondents who consume supplements on a regular basis.
Findings
The results revealed that the influencing factors towards purchase decisions among these Gen-Y respondents aged between 17 and 25 are based on product knowledge and product quality. The implications of these findings and directions for future research are outlined at the end of this paper.
Originality/value
This study offers empirical insights from the perspective of an emerging digital economy on the factors that influence young consumers' purchase intentions towards DS in Malaysia.
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Keywords
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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Bo Xin, Yuan Li, Jian-feng Yu and Jie Zhang
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nonlinear dynamics of the aircraft assembly lines. An approach for modeling and analyzing the production rate of an aircraft…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nonlinear dynamics of the aircraft assembly lines. An approach for modeling and analyzing the production rate of an aircraft assembly line is introduced using the chaos theory.
Design/methodology/approach
First, two key system variables including reliability and learning ability are considered to control the dynamics model. The discrete-time dynamics equation of the production rate is established as a function of the reliability and the learning rate. Then an improved Gauss-learning curve is proposed and applied to aircraft assembling condition. Finally, the bifurcation diagrams and the maximal Lyapunov exponents are used and applied to the experimental study to analyze the dynamic behavior under different combinations of parameters.
Findings
On the basis of the experimental study, it is shown that chaotic behavior really exists in the aircraft assembly lines. The reliability and the Gauss-learning curve can nonlinearly affect the production rate.
Originality/value
This paper applied nonlinear dynamics and chaotic theory to the production analyses of the aircraft assembly lines for the first time. The proposed model has been successfully applied to a practical case, and the result justifies its advantage as well as feasibility to both theory and engineering application.
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Chun-Jian Su, Yong Li, De-Xing Yang, Zhen-Hua Bai, Rui Wang, Yu-Ting Lv and Jian-Gao Duan
The purpose of this study is to solve the key problem of the residual stress of strip in buckling and deviation during the continuous annealing process (CAP).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to solve the key problem of the residual stress of strip in buckling and deviation during the continuous annealing process (CAP).
Design/methodology/approach
Considering the one-to-one correspondence between deformation and residual stress, the strip was divided into multiple elements. To obtain the total deformation of each element, the influence model of some factors on the deformation of steel strip element was established. Then, according to the constitutive equation of residual stress and deformation, and the deformation coordination relation between strip elements, a set of calculation model, which is suitable for residual stress of strip during CAP was established, the model precision was verified by finite element method simulation, and the influences on residual stress of strip were also analyzed.
Findings
The weighted calculation of comparison between analytical results and simulation shows that the accuracy of the analytical method is within 10 per cent, which fully meets the requirements.
Originality/value
The different residual stress of steel strip can be displayed quickly and intuitively in the synchronous process segment according to this model, which is of great importance to the prevention of strip buckling and deviation.
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Keywords
Youxi Zhang, Yu Liu, Rui Yu, Jian Zuo and Na Dong
Prefabricated construction (PC) can benefit construction industry due to its high efficiency, energy saving, consumption reduction and safety. However, the high capital cost is a…
Abstract
Purpose
Prefabricated construction (PC) can benefit construction industry due to its high efficiency, energy saving, consumption reduction and safety. However, the high capital cost is a critical challenge hindering its development in China. The collaboration of PC stakeholders is conducive to improving cost management efficiency and optimizing resource allocation which has been ignored in previous studies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the collaboration paths of stakeholders in the process of solving critical cost influencing factors (CIFs) of PC to reduce costs.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, 25 CIFs and five main stakeholders that affect PC capital cost were identified through literature research and expert interviews. Then, questionnaires were used to investigate the relationship between stakeholders and CIFs from the perspectives of three stakeholder attributes of proximity, attitude and power, respectively. Finally, based on the survey data, three stakeholder-CIF networks from three attributes perspective and a comprehensive network were constructed and used for subsequent social network analysis.
Findings
(1) Stakeholders mainly show willingness and potential to collaborate on organization and management factors; (2) More stakeholders pay attention to incentive policies and the setting of prefabrication rates and assembly rates, while all stakeholders have the right to facilitate information and resource sharing in the PC supply chain; (3) The comprehensive network shows a core-periphery structure. As core stakeholders, contractor, designer and manufacturer are more likely to actively manage the 14 core CIFs.
Originality/value
This paper innovatively combined stakeholder and cost management in PC, and used two-mode network based on three stakeholder perspectives to reveal the collaboration potential and motivation of stakeholders in PC cost management. The findings not only provide guidance for stakeholders to find potential partners and optimize resource allocation in solving specific cost issues, but also facilitate stakeholders' sustainable collaboration to achieve PC's cost performance.
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Jiang-Tao Wang, Shufen Zhang, Chia-Huei Wu, Jian-Jun Yu, Chang-Bin Chen and Sang-Bing Tsai
This study aims to provide a time- and price-sensitive market strategy for merchants to handle the markdown price strategy. The market demand for perishable products is usually…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a time- and price-sensitive market strategy for merchants to handle the markdown price strategy. The market demand for perishable products is usually price – and quality (freshness) – sensitive. The proper handling of markdown-price strategies can help merchants enhance competitiveness and maximize operational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A markdown strategy consisting of price and markdown time was developed to explore the properties of market strategies based on the dynamic quality evaluation. The strategy considers multiple price discounts and multiple markdown times. The optimal price decisions in each stage and the optimal markdown times were derived during the selling season.
Findings
The results showed the following. A retailer always raises the initial price if it wants to adopt multiple price-markdown strategies. A high initial price may lead to a high inventory at the early stage and bring the next price reduction in advance. Large price discounts can be used to reduce the inventory later. The higher the previous price, the shorter the interval between the next price reduction. The markdown strategies showed that the regular discount as a new business model is not the best pricing model for perishable products. A time- and price-sensitive strategy, however, can increase operational performance and provide new insights for perishable products.
Originality/value
The results showed the following. A retailer always raises the initial price if it wants to adopt multiple price-markdown strategies. A high initial price may lead to a high inventory at the early stage and bring the next price reduction in advance. Large price discounts can be used to reduce the inventory later. The higher the previous price, the shorter the interval between the next price reduction. The markdown strategies showed that the regular discount as a new business model is not the best pricing model for perishable products. A time- and price-sensitive strategy, however, can increase operational performance and provide new insights for perishable products.
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Arnon Sturm, Daniel Gross, Jian Wang and Eric Yu
The purpose of this paper is to report on research that aims to make knowledge, and in particular know-how, more easily accessible to both academic and industrial communities, as…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on research that aims to make knowledge, and in particular know-how, more easily accessible to both academic and industrial communities, as well as to the general public. The paper proposes a novel approach to map out know-how information, so all knowledge stakeholders are able to contribute to the knowledge and expertise accumulation, as well as using that knowledge for research and applying expertise to address problems.
Design/methodology/approach
This research followed a design science approach in which mapping of the know-how information was done by the research team and then tested with graduate students. During this research, the mapping approach was continuously evaluated and refined, and mapping guidelines and a prototype tool were developed.
Findings
Following an evaluation with graduate students, it was found that the know-how maps produced were easy to follow, allowed continuous evolution, facilitated easy modification through provided modularity capabilities, further supported reasoning about know-how and overall provided adequate expressiveness. Furthermore, we applied the approach with various domains and found that it was a good fit for its purpose across different knowledge domains.
Practical implications
This paper argues that mapping out know-how within research and industry communities can further improve resource (knowledge) utilization, reduce the phenomena of “re-inventing the wheel” and further create linkage across communities.
Originality/value
With the qualities mentioned above, know-how maps can both ease and support the increase of access to expert knowledge to various communities, and thus, promote re-use and expansion of knowledge for various purposes. Having an explicit representation of know-how further encourages innovation, as knowledge from various domains can be mapped, searched and reasoned, and gaps can be identified and filled.
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Jian Yu, Xunpeng Shi and James Laurenceson
Consumption volatility is a key source of economic growth volatility; thus, it is an important factor in designing macroeconomic policy. The purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Consumption volatility is a key source of economic growth volatility; thus, it is an important factor in designing macroeconomic policy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that determine household consumption volatility, using urban household survey (UHS) data over the period 2002–2009 in 18 provinces in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Both a traditional variance decomposition method and an advanced variance decomposition method are used.
Findings
The traditional variance decomposition method suggests that heterogeneity of consumption goods is the key to analyze consumption volatility in China. Consumption of transportation makes the highest aggregate contribution and per-unit volatility in consumption volatility, whereas consumption of food makes the second highest aggregate contribution and the lowest per-unit volatility. Further investigation with the advanced variance decomposition method, which allows the authors to capture intertemporal dynamics and cross-household differences simultaneously, finds that the main factor determining the consumption volatility in China is intertemporal dynamics, rather than cross-household differences.
Research limitations/implications
Future research could fruitfully explore four issues. First, consumption upgrading has increased the volatility of China’s household consumption. How much will this affect economic growth in China under its “new normal” conditions, and how should the Chinese government respond? Second, differences between UHS data and aggregate data in the calculations of consumption risk sharing need to be investigated. Third, it is important to investigate the channels through which the Chinese government can enhance its ability to spread consumption risks and thus reduce consumer consumption volatility. Finally, further study could extend the current 18 provinces to a nation-wide sample and update the data beyond 2009 to estimate the impact of the global financial crisis.
Practical implications
The results suggest that when policy makers design macroeconomic policies to smooth consumption volatility, they should consider heterogeneity in household consumption goods, regional disparity and intertemporal dynamics simultaneously. Well-managed volatility of Chinese household consumption can contribute to a stable economic growth in China and the world.
Social implications
Well-managed volatility of Chinese household consumption can contribute to a stable economic growth in China and the world.
Originality/value
This paper fills this gap by using China’s UHS data to assess consumption volatility from the perspectives of heterogeneity in household consumption goods, cross-household differences and intertemporal dynamics. We make three contributions to the literature. The first contribution of this paper consists of demonstrating the contributions of heterogeneity in household consumption goods to consumption volatility. The second contribution consists of using the advanced variance decomposition method proposed by Crucini and Telmer (2012). This decomposition methodology allows the authors to examine whether household consumption volatility is due to cross-household differences or intertemporal dynamics. The third contribution is that this paper takes Chinese residents’ consumption fluctuations as the starting point to analyze the impact of consumption fluctuations on the future trend of China’s economy.
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Jie Zhang, Mi Zuo, Pan Wang, Jian-feng Yu and Yuan Li
Design is a time-consuming process for mechanical production. Some design structures frequently occur in different products and can be shared by multiple assembly models. Thus…
Abstract
Purpose
Design is a time-consuming process for mechanical production. Some design structures frequently occur in different products and can be shared by multiple assembly models. Thus, identifying these structures and adding them to a design knowledge library significantly speed up the design process. Most studies addressing this issue have traditionally focused on part models and have not extended to assembly models. This paper aims to find a method for common design structure discovery in assembly models.
Design/methodology/approach
Computer-aided design models have a great deal of valuable information defined by different designers in the design stages, especially the assembly models, which are actually carriers of information from multiple sources. In this paper, an approach for discovering a common design structure in assembly models is proposed by comparing information from multiple sources. Assembly models are first represented as attribute connection graphs (ACGs), in which we mainly consider topological information and various attributes of parts and connections. Then, we apply a K-means clustering method based on a similarity analysis of different attributes to classify the parts and connections and transform ACGs of assemblies into type code graphs (TCGs). After this, a discovery algorithm that improves upon fast frequent subgraph mining is used to identify common design structures in assemblies.
Findings
A new method was developed for discovering common design structures in assembly models, considering the similarity of information from multiple sources and allowing some differences in the details to keep both commonalities and individualities of common design structures.
Practical implications
Experiments show that the proposed method is efficient and can produce a reasonable result.
Originality/value
This discovery method helps designers find common design structures from different assembly models and shorten the design cycle. It is an effective approach to build a knowledge library for product design that can shorten the design cycle.
Details
Keywords
Chunxiu Qin, Pengwei Zhao, Jian Mou and Jin Zhang
Browsing knowledge documents in a peer-to-peer (P2P) environment is difficult because knowledge documents in such an environment are large in quantity and distributed over…
Abstract
Purpose
Browsing knowledge documents in a peer-to-peer (P2P) environment is difficult because knowledge documents in such an environment are large in quantity and distributed over different peers who organize the documents according to their own views. This paper aims to propose a method for constructing a personal knowledge map for a peer to facilitate knowledge browsing and alleviate information overload in P2P environments.
Design/methodology/approach
The research presents a method for constructing a personal knowledge map. The method adopts an ontology-concept-tree-based classification algorithm to recognize a peer’s personal knowledge structure and construct a personal knowledge map, and uses a self-organizing map algorithm to cluster and visualize the knowledge documents. The correctness of the created knowledge map is evaluated with a collection of abstracts of academic papers.
Findings
The method for constructing a personal knowledge map is the main finding of this research. The evaluation shows that the created knowledge map is good in quality.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed method provides a way for P2P platforms to understand their users’ knowledge background, as well as to improve the P2P platform environment. However, the proposed method will not help a peer when he has nothing in his individual knowledge document repository (i.e. the “cold start” problem). The method also requires a relatively good ontology base for a P2P document sharing system to use the method effectively.
Originality/value
It is novel that the proposed method organizes the knowledge documents related to a peer’s knowledge background into a personal knowledge map. Moreover, the created knowledge map combines the advantages of a hierarchical display and a map display. It has values for a distributed P2P environment to facilitate users’ knowledge browsing and to alleviate information overload.