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Article
Publication date: 1 June 2000

26

Abstract

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 August 2011

Carla Rossi

The paper aims to outline the managerial challenges faced by the organizations interested in leveraging knowledge and creative talent embedded in online customers' communities to

3167

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to outline the managerial challenges faced by the organizations interested in leveraging knowledge and creative talent embedded in online customers' communities to sustain innovation in b‐2‐c industries.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a detailed case study analysis of a leading food producer who launched an online open collaborative platform to gather users' idea for new products the paper aims to highlight the transformational effort that firms have to make in order to leverage knowledge absorption from customers in the context of innovation.

Findings

The paper suggests potential strategies for conventional companies to engage consumers in knowledge (co‐creation) and collaborative innovation processes, formulating some hypothesis that could support an interpretative model of the capabilities needed to develop, maintain and increase customers' engagement in the exchange.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents the first results of an ongoing research that needs to be deepened and widened to cover other kinds of business sectors.

Practical implications

On the basis of the case analyzed, the paper suggests some managerial actions that could be adopted to facilitate customers' engagement in processes of collaborative learning and innovation, outlining the potential barriers (in primis managerial reluctance) that could prevent a successful result.

Originality/value

The case contributes to the literature on co‐creation, demonstrating how it can be progressively achieved and improved, through a combination of management and marketing strategies, addressed at accruing not only users' motivation but also managerial commitment.

Article
Publication date: 14 November 2016

Anas N. Al-Rabadi

The purpose of this paper is to introduce new implementations for parallel processing applications using bijective systolic networks and their corresponding carbon-based field…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce new implementations for parallel processing applications using bijective systolic networks and their corresponding carbon-based field emission controlled switching. The developed implementations are performed in the reversible domain to perform the required bijective parallel computing, where the implementations for parallel computations that utilize the presented field-emission controlled switching and their corresponding many-valued (m-ary) extensions for the use in nano systolic networks are introduced. The second part of the paper introduces the implementation of systolic computing using two-to-one controlled switching via carbon-based field emission that were presented in the first part of the paper, and the computational extension to the general case of many-valued (m-ary) systolic networks utilizing many-to-one carbon-based field emission is also introduced.

Design/methodology/approach

The introduced systolic systems utilize recent findings in field emission and nano applications to implement the functionality of the basic bijective systolic network. This includes many-valued systolic computing via field-emission techniques using carbon-based nanotubes and nanotips. The realization of bijective logic circuits in current and emerging technologies can be very important for various reasons. The reduction of power consumption is a major requirement for the circuit design in future technologies, and thus, the new nano systolic circuits can play an important role in the design of circuits that consume minimal power for future applications such as in low-power signal processing. In addition, the implemented bijective systems can be utilized to implement massive parallel processing and thus obtaining very high processing performance, where the implementation will also utilize the significant size reduction within the nano domain. The extensions of implementations to field emission-based many-valued systolic networks using the introduced bijective nano systolic architectures are also presented.

Findings

Novel bijective systolic architectures using nano-based field emission implementations are introduced in this paper, and the implementation using the general scheme of many-valued computing is presented. The carbon-based field emission implementation of nano systolic networks is also introduced. This is accomplished using the introduced field-emission carbon-based devices, where field emission from carbon nanotubes and nano-apex carbon fibers is utilized. The implementations of the many-valued bijective systolic networks utilizing the introduced nano-based architectures are also presented.

Practical implications

The introduced bijective systolic implementations form new important directions in the systolic realizations using the newly emerging nano-based technologies. The 2-to-1 multiplexer is a basic building block in “switch logic,” where in switch logic, a logic circuit is realized as a combination of switches rather than a combination of logic gates as in the gate logic, which proves to be less costly in synthesizing multiplexer-based wide variety of modern circuits and systems since nano implementations exist in very compact space where carbon-based devices switch reliably using much less power than silicon-based devices. The introduced implementations for nano systolic computation are new and interesting for the design in future nanotechnologies that require optimal design specifications of minimum power consumption and minimum size layout such as in low-power control of autonomous robots and in the adiabatic low-power VLSI circuit design for signal processing applications.

Originality/value

The introduced bijective systolic implementations form new important directions in the systolic realizations utilizing the newly emerging nanotechnologies. The introduced implementations for nano systolic computation are new and interesting for the design in future nanotechnologies that require optimal design specifications of high performance, minimum power and minimum size.

Article
Publication date: 29 April 2021

Abhishek Srivastava, Parimal Kumar and Arqum Mateen

This study analyzes supplier development investment decisions under a triadic setting (two buyers and a common supplier). In a triadic setting, the supplier development investment…

Abstract

Purpose

This study analyzes supplier development investment decisions under a triadic setting (two buyers and a common supplier). In a triadic setting, the supplier development investment decision of one buyer can have a spillover effect of the benefits on other buyer. Therefore, it is utmost important for the investing buyer to understand the impact of benefit spillover on other competing buyers'. Therefore, one of the purposes of this study to analyze the supplier development investment decision of buyers under two scenarios. First, under cooperative development structure where both buyers jointly invest in supplier and share equal benefits. Second, non-cooperative investment structure where both buyers individually invest in supplier development and share unequal benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to assess the impact of supplier development investment decisions on the profitability of buyers and the common supplier, the authors used game-theoretic approach. The authors design a Stackelberg leader-follower game where the supplier acts as Stackelberg leader and buyers follow the supplier's pricing decision to maximize their profit level. Additionally, both buyers decide either to cooperate or non-cooperate while investing in supplier development.

Findings

The results show that the cooperative investment is always an optimal strategy for buyers and supplier. Interestingly, the efficient buyer's share of investment level is lower under non-cooperative investment structure and he is better-off due to its capability of taking advantage from the other buyer's investment. However, the inefficient buyer, on the other hand, is worse-off under non-cooperative investment. Furthermore, comparative analysis between the two shows that initially, the buyer who extracts more profit because of the other buyers' development investment tends to prefer the non-cooperative development investment set up. However, after a certain point, the same buyer is better-off under cooperative development investment through cooperation, and sharing equal benefit of the supplier's development, as the supplier in turn, starts charging a higher wholesale price under non-cooperative investment case.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, extant literature on supplier development has mostly focused on. One supplier-one buyer; thus, the learning spillover effect has almost been unexplored. In real-life, different buyers often purchase from the shared supplier. Therefore, it is important to analyze the spillover of supplier development benefits due to investment of one buyer on other buyer and deriving the condition under which buyers would be incentivized to invest jointly or individually.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 28 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 October 2017

Kanika Meshram and Aron O’Cass

The purpose of this paper is to offer a framework of third-place value offering that explains how specific consumer groups’, senior citizens, customer-to-customer engagement in…

5432

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a framework of third-place value offering that explains how specific consumer groups’, senior citizens, customer-to-customer engagement in third places can develop their value experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected for two studies from senior citizen clubs in Australia. Study 1 uses focus group (12) and is analysed with QSR NVivo software following content analysis. Study 2 is based on 324 surveys and is analysed with AMOS version 24 software.

Findings

Study 1 identifies eight themes based on 29 main codes to develop a framework on the value offerings of third-place value and its consumer-centric effect on seniors’ loyalty and social capital. The themes under social capital and loyalty contributed to a better understanding of how consumers engage with each other in social clubs and develop their social capital. The results of Study 2 support the conceptualisation of third-place value offering as a reflective model and confirm the model’s nomological validity in relation to seniors’ loyalty and social capital outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

The only limitation of the paper is that it presents findings based on data collected in a regional place in Australia.

Practical implications

The findings provide three practical implications for managers to consider in relation to service places: improve consumer patronage through community engagement, improve local business practices via consumer–owner friendship and redesign spatial settings to deliver meaningful consumer experiences.

Social implications

The present study has three social implications; first, it highlights the significant role of third places in bringing isolated groups of community together for regular interaction and socialisation. It also extends understanding on senior citizen customers and their consumption experiences within third places for value creation. The study also contributes to understanding how senior citizen customers develop loyalty towards third places and enhance their social capital through social engagement in the place.

Originality/value

This paper uses consumption experience to develop the consumer value in third places. It provides a consumer-centric focus to servicescape and incorporates recent works on third places, value, social capital and loyalty.

Details

Journal of Services Marketing, vol. 32 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0887-6045

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 November 2022

Maryam Dehghani, Peyman Akhavan and Morteza Abbasi

This study aims to propose a quantitative approach to reduce the number of suppliers in an organization. This method is based on grouping, and different parts are grouped based on…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to propose a quantitative approach to reduce the number of suppliers in an organization. This method is based on grouping, and different parts are grouped based on the capabilities they need and are allocated to suppliers who have these capabilities. In this regard, an integrated model for supplier reduction and grouping of parts using a group technology-based algorithm is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

Design science research methodology was used in this study. The main problem under investigation is a large number of suppliers in an organization’s supply base. The proposed model was used to solve this problem in the electric motor industry.

Findings

The results of implementing the proposed model in the electric motor industry showed that reducing suppliers had a significant effect on reducing cost, increasing information sharing, increasing supplier innovation and technology, enhancing the relationship between buyers and sellers and reducing risks in the production process.

Practical implications

From a managerial point of view, reducing the number of suppliers plays an important role in the company’s overall strategy, and seems to be a prerequisite for building a strong supplier partnership and an effective supply chain, and will have many benefits for the focal company and suppliers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, grouping and formation of product families have never been performed based on the similarity of the operational capabilities required for producing parts, and it has not been addressed as a solution for reducing suppliers.

Details

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, vol. 38 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0885-8624

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1997

Reay‐Chen Wang and Chung‐Ho Chen

Considers that the problem of determining the Dodge‐Romig lot tolerance per cent defective (LTPD) double sampling plan (DSP) under the fuzzy environment satisfies the consumer’s…

1002

Abstract

Considers that the problem of determining the Dodge‐Romig lot tolerance per cent defective (LTPD) double sampling plan (DSP) under the fuzzy environment satisfies the consumer’s risk closely and is an extension of Chakraborty’s work. Models the problem as fuzzy mathematical programming (FMP). A linear membership function and the minimum operator are assumed in FMP. The solution of the proposed model has a smaller average total inspection (ATI) than those of the traditional Dodge‐Romig LTPD DSP and Chakraborty’s.

Details

International Journal of Quality Science, vol. 2 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-8538

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2004

D. Dutta Majumder and Kausik Kumar Majumdar

In this paper, we present a brief study on various paradigms to tackle complexity or in other words manage uncertainty in the context of understanding science, society and nature…

1083

Abstract

In this paper, we present a brief study on various paradigms to tackle complexity or in other words manage uncertainty in the context of understanding science, society and nature. Fuzzy real numbers, fuzzy logic, possibility theory, probability theory, Dempster‐Shafer theory, artificial neural nets, neuro‐fuzzy, fractals and multifractals, etc. are some of the paradigms to help us to understand complex systems. We present a very detailed discussion on the mathematical theory of fuzzy dynamical system (FDS), which is the most fundamental theory from the point of view of evolution of any fuzzy system. We have made considerable extension of FDS in this paper, which has great practical value in studying some of the very complex systems in society and nature. The theories of fuzzy controllers, fuzzy pattern recognition and fuzzy computer vision are but some of the most prominent subclasses of FDS. We enunciate the concept of fuzzy differential inclusion (not equation) and fuzzy attractor. We attempt to present this theoretical framework to give an interpretation of cyclogenesis in atmospheric cybernetics as a case study. We also have presented a Dempster‐Shafer's evidence theoretic analysis and a classical probability theoretic analysis (from general system theoretic outlook) of carcinogenesis as other interesting case studies of bio‐cybernetics.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 33 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 December 2017

Zhenhong Li, Bo Li and Yanfei Lan

The advent of e-commerce has prompted the proliferation of digital platforms for virtual products. This reinforces the importance of the contract design problem between the…

Abstract

Purpose

The advent of e-commerce has prompted the proliferation of digital platforms for virtual products. This reinforces the importance of the contract design problem between the virtual product supplier (he) and the digital platform retailer (she). The purpose of this paper is to investigate a principal-agent problem in a virtual product supply chain, in which the retailer’s sales-effort investment level to sell the virtual product is unobservable to the supplier, and the market demand is unknown to both parties.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the supplier designs two kinds of contracts (wholesale price contract and two-part tariff contract) to maximize his profit, while the retailer determines her sales-effort investment level and the virtual product’s retail price. The results of two different types of contracts are compared to explore in depth the effect of contract choices on the participants’ profits.

Findings

The authors show that the comparative results of the optimal wholesale prices, retail prices and sales-effort investment levels between these two kinds of contracts all rely on the retailer’s risk-averse degree. Specifically, both the supplier and the whole supply chain prefer the two-part tariff contract rather than the wholesale price contract, the retailer should do opposite when she is low risk-averse, whereas there is no distinction for the retailer’s utilities between these two kinds of contracts when she is more risk-averse.

Originality/value

The value of the research rests on the use of principal-agent theory in the contracts of virtual products considering the retailer’s sales-effort and risk-aversion degree. The research will serve as a guide for the virtual products’ supplier and the platform retailer in decision-making processes.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 47 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 October 2000

D. Dutta Majumder and M. Bhattacharya

The cybernetic approach differs significantly from the conventional reductionist methods of natural and biological sciences. Norbert Wiener established the theory of cybernetics…

Abstract

The cybernetic approach differs significantly from the conventional reductionist methods of natural and biological sciences. Norbert Wiener established the theory of cybernetics as a science of control and communication process in living beings (human and animals) and machines. Dutta Majumder in his Norbert Wiener Award winning paper extended the approach to include integrated complex human machine systems and functions with general systems theory as a unitary science laying the mathematical foundation for unifying observing systems, observed systems and the act of observing as indicated in von Foerster’s concept of second‐order cybernetics. Both from the point of view of ontology and that of epistemology the cybernetic approach now enables computer technology to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and expert system (ES) for knowledge based instrumentation for diagnostics and therapy planning. Presents the results of a project for development of a knowledge based framework for combining different modalities of medical image processing such as CT, MR(T1), MR(T2), SPECT, PET, USG etc. whichever is relevant for particular pathological investigation for diagnostics and therapeutic planning. Experiments were conducted with (a) Alzheimer’s patient data and (b) detection and grading of malignancy with oncological data for the cancer screening system.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 29 no. 7/8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

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