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Article
Publication date: 15 June 2021

Babak Zendehdel Nobari, Aryan Gholipour, Elham Ebrahimi and Ali Shoja

The performance evaluation process is a key step in any management system and constitutes the basis for continuous improvement. Resistance to change is considered as a critical…

Abstract

Purpose

The performance evaluation process is a key step in any management system and constitutes the basis for continuous improvement. Resistance to change is considered as a critical factor in any change management project; so, development of employee performance appraisal systems like all of the change management projects has always faced many challenges. This study seeks to illustrate the two-year experience (2018–2020) and lessons learned by developing an employee performance appraisal system in the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) as a cultural public sector organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was carried out by using soft operational research (OR) approaches, using a novel combination of two methods, soft system methodology (SSM) and importance performance analysis (IPA). For this purpose, at the beginning, with the help of the SSM approach, the challenges of implementation was identified, then, using the opinions and experiences of the system's stakeholders, improvement actions were defined and prioritized using the IPA method.

Findings

The research findings showed that “coaching development,” “optimizing the forced distribution rating system (FDRS)” and “customizing the system” are the most important improvement actions.

Originality/value

The research has bridged the gap between research and practice in the field of employee performance appraisal system in national libraries.

Article
Publication date: 26 November 2018

Shaikh Asad Ali Dilawary, Amir Motallebzadeh, Muhammad Afzal, Erdem Atar and Huseyin Cimenoglu

The purpose of the study is to examine the sliding wear performance of plasma transfer arc (PTA) deposited and laser surface melted (LSM) Mo modified Stellite 12 hardfacings under…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to examine the sliding wear performance of plasma transfer arc (PTA) deposited and laser surface melted (LSM) Mo modified Stellite 12 hardfacings under high contact stresses (i.e. >20 GPa).

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, after structural characterization, sliding wear tests have been conducted using sphero-conical diamond indenter as the counterface with different normal loads. The wear tracks formed on the hardfacings were examined by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

Both hardfacings showed severe wear (at high contact stress levels ranging from 24 to 41 GPa), which progressed by plastic deformation, although the wear resistance of LSMed hardfacings was better than the PTA hardfacings by a factor of two due to its near surface microstructure characterized as carbide-rich zone.

Originality/value

Sliding wear characterization of a promising 10 Wt.% Mo modified version of commercial Stellite 12 hardfacings (as reported previously by authors) was done in as PTA and LSMed states using nanomechanical test system. To the best of authors’ knowledge, no report is available in the open literature on such hardfacings under these testing conditions.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 72 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 December 2022

Fatemeh Shekari, Fatemeh Azizi and Zohre Mohammadi

Considering the diversity of literary sites, various needs and motivations of literary visitors, and the limited research on literary tourists’ experiences, this study aims to…

Abstract

Purpose

Considering the diversity of literary sites, various needs and motivations of literary visitors, and the limited research on literary tourists’ experiences, this study aims to explore the literary gaze at Hafez Tomb in Shiraz, Iran. As the visitor gaze encompasses various dimensions of experience, this study connected the two notions to identify the components of the literary gaze and determine the attributes that best describe it.

Design/methodology/approach

Data sources include semi-structured interviews with visitors and user-generated content on Tripadvisor. The deductive thematic analysis and multiple correspondence analysis were used.

Findings

The findings revealed the multidimensionality of the literary gaze. The dominant factors that best describe the literary gaze at Hafez’s tomb were the sensory component of the experience, including “seeing”, “smelling”, “hearing”; affective including “anticipation”, “joy”, “trust”; cognitive including “perceiving”, “thinking”, “learning”; behavioural including “literary related”, “general”; and relationship including “tourist-companion”, “tourist-tourist”.

Practical implications

Understanding the literary gaze can assist site managers and destination marketers in designing the literary experience and developing promotional strategies that reflect the multifaceted nature of the literary experience. Tourism authorities should identify and shape tourists’ perceptions of literary sites to build the city’s image and brand as a literary city.

Originality/value

This paper used the orchestra model of experience to analyse the literary tourist’s gaze. This modification could explain that the literary gaze has multiple dimensions and studying all the dimensions gives the literary experience greater significance.

Details

International Journal of Tourism Cities, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-5607

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 May 2011

Reza Shoja Razavi, Gholam Reza Gordani and H.C. Man

The purpose of this paper is to consider the corrosion properties of laser nitrided Ti‐6Al‐4V alloys that have been reported previously by several researchers.

1104

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the corrosion properties of laser nitrided Ti‐6Al‐4V alloys that have been reported previously by several researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

Different kinds of surface nitriding methods of titanium alloys, such as plasma nitriding, ion nitriding, gas and laser nitriding, are introduced. Microstructure changes, such as phase formation and the influence of laser processing parameters in laser nitriding layers of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloys, were investigated using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X‐ray photo‐electron spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. Based on investigations presented in the literature, the effect of laser nitriding on the corrosion behavior of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy was reviewed.

Findings

By regulating the laser processing parameter, the microstructure of the nitrided layer can be controlled to optimize corrosion properties. This layer improves corrosion behavior in most environments, due to the formation of a continuous TiNxOy passive film, which can retard the ingress of corrosive ions into the substrate and can maintain a constant value of a current density. Therefore, the laser gas nitrided specimens have a relatively noble corrosion potential and a very small corrosion current, as compared to untreated specimens.

Originality/value

This paper comprises a critical review, and its collection of references is useful. It summarizes current knowledge in laser surface treatment research.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 58 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 January 2021

Rekha Yoganathan, Jamuna Venkatesan and William Christopher I.

This paper intent to design, develop, and fabricate a robust cascaded controller based on the dual loop concept i.e. Fuzzy Sliding Mode concept in the inner loop and traditional…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper intent to design, develop, and fabricate a robust cascaded controller based on the dual loop concept i.e. Fuzzy Sliding Mode concept in the inner loop and traditional Proportional Integral controller in the outer loop to reduce the unknown dynamics and disturbances that occur in the DC-DC Converter.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed Fuzzy sliding mode approach combines the merits of both SMC and Fuzzy logic control. FSMC approach reduces the chattering phenomena that commonly occurs in the sliding mode control and speed up the response of the controller.

Findings

In most of the research work, the inner current loop of cascaded controller was designed by sliding mode control. In this paper FSMC is proposed and its efficacy is confirmed with SMC -PI. In most uncertainties, FSMC-PI produces null maximum peak overshoot and a very less settling time of 0.0005 sec.

Originality/value

The presence of Fuzzy SMC in the inner loop ensure satisfactory response against all uncertainties such as steady state, circuit parameter variations and sudden line and load disturbances.

Details

Circuit World, vol. 48 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0305-6120

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 July 2023

Soudabeh Vahdati, Mir Ali Seyyed Naghavi, Reza Vaezi and Fattah Sharifzadeh

The purpose of this study is to discover the components of virtual leadership in universities and higher education institutions during Covid-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discover the components of virtual leadership in universities and higher education institutions during Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses the qualitative research design, and semi-structured interviews with senior leaders were conducted with non-random purposeful and snowball sampling methods. Also, grounded theory was used for analyzing, coding and classifying the data.

Findings

After analyzing data, five main components influencing virtual leadership including leader's personality traits, followers' characteristics, technological, environmental and organizational components were identified.

Research limitations/implications

As leadership, particularly virtual leadership, highly depends on context such as the level of technology in that certain region, the results cannot be generalized to other sectors or countries.

Originality/value

The research advances leadership development theory by highlighting the main components of virtual leadership in educational sector as a comprehensive perspective and complement the other aspects of virtual leadership such as consequences and challenges investigated by other studies.

Details

Journal of Management Development, vol. 42 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0262-1711

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 June 2020

Sayyid Ali Banihashemi and Mohammad Khalilzadeh

Classical models of data envelopment analysis (DEA) calculate the efficiency of decision-making units do not differentiate between efficient units. The purpose of this paper is to…

Abstract

Purpose

Classical models of data envelopment analysis (DEA) calculate the efficiency of decision-making units do not differentiate between efficient units. The purpose of this paper is to present a new method for ranking efficient units and compare it with the other methods presented in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a new method is presented for ranking efficient units. To validate the proposed method, a real case, which was studied by Li et al. (2016) is examined and the rankings of the efficient units are compared with four other methods including the Andersen and Petersen’s super-efficiency, game theory and the concept of Shapley value and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution methods.

Findings

The results show that there is a high correlation between the rankings of efficient units obtained by the new proposed method and the other methods such as Andersen and Petersen’s super-efficiency, game theory and Shapley value methods.

Originality/value

The problem of ranking efficient units with the DEA method is an important issue for researchers. Extensive studies have been proposed to provide methods for ranking efficient units. This paper proposes a simple and fast method for ranking efficient units that achieves better results.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 17 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 April 2013

Ali Uyar, Nizamettin Bayyurt, Mustafa Dilber and Vehbi Karaca

Comparative shop efficiency within a chain is a key factor in strategic management decisions such as evaluation, promotion and development of shop personnel. Furthermore, overall…

Abstract

Purpose

Comparative shop efficiency within a chain is a key factor in strategic management decisions such as evaluation, promotion and development of shop personnel. Furthermore, overall efficiency of the firm depends on the efficiency of individual shops within the chain. The purpose of this paper is to assess operational efficiency of a bookshop chain in Turkey, and identify efficiency drivers.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 79 bookshops within a bookshop chain. The study uses two‐step procedure. In the first stage, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is utilised to evaluate the comparative efficiency of bookshops. The second stage attempts to determine what drives efficiency by using Tobit regression.

Findings

After assessment of shops’ efficiency by DEA, the results of Tobit regression revealed that shop age has positive significant influence on bookshop efficiency, whereas manager experience, staff experience, and education level of the shop manager do not.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of the paper are based on a single bookshop chain. Thus, one should be cautious while interpreting results.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper to the literature is of great importance, since no prior Turkish study has dealt with the subject to this extent. Furthermore, although there are studies conducted on various subsectors of retail industry in other countries, there seems to be no study at all conducted on bookshop chains.

Details

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, vol. 41 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-0552

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 August 2021

Rameshwar Dubey, David James Bryde, Cyril Foropon, Manisha Tiwari and Angappa Gunasekaran

The COVID-19 crisis has created enormous strain in global supply chains. The disruption has caused severe shortages of critical items, including personal protective equipment…

2014

Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 crisis has created enormous strain in global supply chains. The disruption has caused severe shortages of critical items, including personal protective equipment (e.g. face masks), ventilators and diagnostics. The failure of the industry to meet the sudden demand for these necessary items has caused a severe humanitarian crisis. These situations, resulting from the COVID-19, crisis have led to the informal growth of frugal innovation in sustainable global supply chains. This paper aims to provide a detailed overview of drivers of frugal-oriented sustainable global supply chains, following lessons acquired from emerging countries’ attempts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a focused group approach to identify the drivers and this paper further validated them using existing literature published in international peer-reviewed journals and reports. The authors adopted total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) to analyze the complex relationships among identified drivers.

Findings

The authors present a theoretical framework to explain how the drivers are interlinked. This paper has developed the framework through a synthesis of the TISM modeling and Matrice d’impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment analysis. This paper observed that government financial support, policies and regulations, under the mediating effect of leadership and the moderating effect of national culture and international rules and regulations, has a significant effect on the adoption of emerging technology, volunteering initiatives and values and ethics. Further, emerging technology, volunteering initiative and values and ethics have a significant effect on supply chain talent and frugal engineering. These results provide some useful theoretical insights that may help in further investigating the role of frugal innovations in other contexts.

Originality/value

The authors find that outcomes of the methodical contributions and the resulting managerial insights can be categorized into four levels. Industry and researchers alike can use the study to develop the decision-support systems guiding frugal-oriented sustainable global supply chains amid the COVID-19 pandemic and in recovering them thereafter. Suggestions for future research directions are offered and discussed.

Details

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 27 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-8546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 September 2022

Saba Gulzar, Kanwal Hussain, Ather Akhlaq, Zuhair Abbas and Shagufta Ghauri

Recent advancements in the field of organizational psychology have transformed the employees’ perceptions related to the reactions of the employment relationship. The main aim of…

Abstract

Purpose

Recent advancements in the field of organizational psychology have transformed the employees’ perceptions related to the reactions of the employment relationship. The main aim of the study is to explore the consequences of psychological contracts among the nursing staff and how to provide better patient care and quality service in the health-care system as nurses play a pivotal role in the context of Pakistan. Significantly, this study attempts to bridge the research gap by exploring consequences of psychological contracts. Drawing on the social exchange theory, this study examined the psychological contracts of nurses and their reactions to the perceived violation.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a qualitative method and was based on an exploratory approach. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews from 21 nurses working in public, private and charity hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. The thematic content analysis is employed for the analysis of data by using NVivo software.

Findings

The study identified the relational and transactional elements related to the psychological contract of nurses who predominantly consisted of supervisor support, autonomy, tangible/intangible rewards and trust. The intrinsic motivation which relates to their devotion to work was found as an additional element to balance their psychological contract. This research also establishes that the psychological contract of nurses is being violated in their work settings.

Practical implications

By highlighting the importance of psychological contract breach, the findings demonstrate that health-care institutions should take measures to cope with psychological contract breach issues at the workplace.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge by exploring psychological contract breach. Substantially, there are rare studies conducted on psychological contract breach among nurses in developing country context (Pakistan). However, this study adds to the previous studies related to the psychological contract of nurses in the context of Pakistan by using social exchange theories. Finally, this study enables the management of healthcare to balance the psychological contract issues effectively.

Details

Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-4323

Keywords

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