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Article
Publication date: 28 August 2024

Juliet Ann Musso, Christopher Weare and Robert W. Jackman

The goal is to illuminate the requisites for the implementation of performance management reforms in a public bureaucracy.

Abstract

Purpose

The goal is to illuminate the requisites for the implementation of performance management reforms in a public bureaucracy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a configurational approach, qualitative comparative analysis, that identifies combinations of political and organizational conditions necessary and/or sufficient for success. The analysis applies the success factor identified in the literature in analyzing the experience of departments involved in a city-wide reform in Los Angeles. The analysis utilizes two rounds of survey data combined with case observations to evaluate the presence of these conditions. Cross-case comparisons employ Boolean logic to identify configurations associated with successful system implementation.

Findings

The analysis identifies several distinct configurations of conditions that appear in departments that implemented the reform. One emphasizes mayoral support, while others emphasize leadership in combination with other organizational capacities.

Practical implications

The analysis yields several insights for managers. First, no silver bullet such as strong leadership assures reform implementation. Second, there are multiple avenues to reform. An organization that lacks some prerequisites – such as leadership or metrics – may succeed in the presence of other features such as an innovative culture or external political support. Finally, the study provides a bracing council that even under favorable conditions, performance management reforms may fail to take root, for reasons that can be difficult to predict.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the importance of considering configurations of conditions rather than focusing on conditions independently. Also, it highlights the importance of equifinality, the notion that observed outcomes can have multiple causes, a perspective typically missing in correlational analyses.

Details

International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3558

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 August 2024

Laetitia Tosi and Justine Marty

This study aims to investigate the optimization of coordination mechanisms in humanitarian action and focuses on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the optimization of coordination mechanisms in humanitarian action and focuses on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Conducted as a case study in collaboration with an international humanitarian organization, this research examines the components and associated coordination mechanisms of humanitarian action phases.

Findings

The analysis reveals the complexities of managing humanitarian crises, emphasizing the need for adaptive coordination strategies. Four key crisis response coordination mechanisms are explored – structural configuration, outcome standardization, process standardization and mutual adjustment. The study particularly assesses the emergency-development phase.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to a single humanitarian organization and the COVID-19 context. Future research could explore additional case studies and broader contexts to enhance understanding of coordination mechanisms in humanitarian crises.

Practical implications

This research has practical implications for humanitarian organizations, policymakers and practitioners involved in crisis response. Enhancing coordination mechanisms and strategies can improve the efficacy of response efforts and facilitate navigation of the complexities of humanitarian crises.

Social implications

Effective coordination is crucial in mitigating the impact of humanitarian crises and promoting social resilience. By optimizing coordination mechanisms, this research contributes to building more adaptive societies in the face of global challenges.

Originality/value

This study innovatively applies the activities-resources-actors (ARA) model to the humanitarian context and concentrates on the response to COVID-19 of one international humanitarian organization. By adapting the ARA model to a real-world scenario, this research provides insights into optimizing coordination mechanisms in crisis management.

Details

International Journal of Development Issues, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1446-8956

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2024

Aneel Manan, Pu Zhang, Shoaib Ahmad and Jawad Ahmad

The purpose of this study is to assess the incorporation of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars in concrete as a reinforcement enhances the corrosion resistance in a concrete…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the incorporation of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars in concrete as a reinforcement enhances the corrosion resistance in a concrete structure. However, FRP bars are not practically used due to a lack of standard codes. Various codes, including ACI-440-17 and CSA S806-12, have been established to provide guidelines for the incorporation of FRP bars in concrete as reinforcement. The application of these codes may result in over-reinforcement. Therefore, this research presents the use of a machine learning approach to predict the accurate flexural strength of the FRP beams with the use of 408 experimental results.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the input parameters are the width of the beam, effective depth of the beam, concrete compressive strength, FRP bar elastic modulus and FRP bar tensile strength. Three machine learning algorithms, namely, gene expression programming, multi-expression programming and artificial neural networks, are developed. The accuracy of the developed models was judged by R2, root means squared and mean absolute error. Finally, the study conducts prismatic analysis by considering different parameters. including depth and percentage of bottom reinforcement.

Findings

The artificial neural networks model result is the most accurate prediction (99%), with the lowest root mean squared error (2.66) and lowest mean absolute error (1.38). In addition, the result of SHapley Additive exPlanation analysis depicts that the effective depth and percentage of bottom reinforcement are the most influential parameters of FRP bars reinforced concrete beam. Therefore, the findings recommend that special attention should be given to the effective depth and percentage of bottom reinforcement.

Originality/value

Previous studies revealed that the flexural strength of concrete beams reinforced with FRP bars is significantly influenced by factors such as beam width, effective depth, concrete compressive strength, FRP bars’ elastic modulus and FRP bar tensile strength. Therefore, a substantial database comprising 408 experimental results considered for these parameters was compiled, and a simple and reliable model was proposed. The model developed in this research was compared with traditional codes, and it can be noted that the model developed in this study is much more accurate than the traditional codes.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 71 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 August 2023

Debolina Dutta and Sushanta Kumar Mishra

The fear of the pandemic, confinement at home and the need to work created a unique situation. The pandemic catalyzed work-from-anywhere practice by adopting information and…

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Abstract

Purpose

The fear of the pandemic, confinement at home and the need to work created a unique situation. The pandemic catalyzed work-from-anywhere practice by adopting information and communication technologies (ICT) across all industries. While ICT saved organizations, it increased technostress among the workforce. A better understanding of the adverse effects of ICT usage might enable organizations to manage the mental well-being of the workforce. While technostress is gaining increasing interest, scholarly work investigating the dimensions of technostress and its impact on creating stress across various employee demographics and industry types is missing. Contrary to the prevalent assumptions, the authors theorized and tested the adverse moderation effect of the home-work interface on the linkage between technostress dimensions and stress. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objective.

Design/methodology/approach

The study captures dimensions of technostress and the resulting stress at work using a survey-based analysis of 881 working employees in India, representing multiple industries and functions.

Findings

The study indicates that techno-overload, techno-complexity and techno-invasion significantly impact employees during the pandemic. The authors further found that the home-work-interface is a powerful factor in understanding the complex linkage between dimensions of technostress and its outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Job-Demand-Resources model, this study highlights the adverse impact of this trend on employee well-being. However, the study suffers from a cross-sectional research design. The technostress research has focused primarily on static, at-premise environments and mostly on high ICT usage industries. Due to the pandemic, it has neglected the impact of various technostress dimensions across employee cohorts subjected to rapid technology-enabled working. Further, most studies focus on the voluntary choice of remote work. Employees struggle with the unexpected and involuntary shift to technology-enabled remote work. This study contributes to the literature by examining the consequences of technostress in the context of non-voluntary remote work. Contrary to prevailing assumptions, this study highlights the adverse effect of organizational home-work interface in influencing ICT-created stress.

Practical implications

The increasing use of ICT enables telecommuting across the workforce while increasing organizational productivity. Due to the pandemic, these trends will likely change the future of work permanently. To minimize employee stress, practitioners need to reconsider the dimensions of technostress. Further, the study cautions against the prevalent interventions used by practitioners. While practitioners facilitate a home-work interface, it could have adverse consequences. Practitioners may consider the adverse consequences of home-work interface while designing organizational policies.

Social implications

This study during the pandemic is crucial as research forecasts the likelihood of other cataclysmic events, such as future pandemics and political or climate change events, which may sustain technology-driven remote work practices and remain a feature of the future workplace. Hence understanding the implications of the dimensions of technostress would help organizations and policymakers to implement necessary interventions to minimize employee stress.

Originality/value

The present study examines the dimensions of technostress across multiple industries and job functions in an emerging market marked by a high economic growth rate and an Eastern cultural context. This study presents the dark side of excessive ICT adoption and indicates how organizations and HRM practices can help mitigate some of these effects.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 37 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 20 August 2024

Jesús Heredia-Carroza, Javier Reyes-Martínez and Fátima Gigirey

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the attendance at museums of disabled people in Chile. To address this issue, we propose a logistic regression analysis by type of…

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the attendance at museums of disabled people in Chile. To address this issue, we propose a logistic regression analysis by type of disability (i.e., physical or mobility difficulty, muteness or difficulty in speech, mental or intellectual difficulty, deafness or difficulty hearing, blindness or difficulty seeing) and severity of disability (i.e., two or more conditions in one individual). We use the National Survey of Cultural Participation in Chile 2017 (N = 12,151), a study whose main aim is to explore cultural participation and the factors that influence disabled people. Preliminary results indicate that only some disabilities negatively influence attendance at museums (e.g., physical disabilities); furthermore, the severity of the disability is also a relevant factor, considering it shows a negative influence on attendance at museums. These results suggest several implications for the infrastructure in museums, as well as repercussions in policies, procedures, funding, and financial management in museums that, if addressed, would foster inclusive environments for all individuals in Chile.

Details

Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Cultural Sector
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83753-034-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 August 2024

Ana Sousa and Paula Rodrigues

This research analysed visitors’ trust in and perceptions of the authenticity and value of the World Heritage (WH) brand based on theories of information seeking behaviour and…

Abstract

Purpose

This research analysed visitors’ trust in and perceptions of the authenticity and value of the World Heritage (WH) brand based on theories of information seeking behaviour and perceived value.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained through a self-administrated online survey and the 818 questionnaires completed. Quantitative methods were applied including PLS-SEM modelling.

Findings

The findings show that trust in the WH brand influences individuals’ perceptions of WH sites (WHSs), and brand authenticity is an important determinant of visitors’ perceived WHS value.

Originality/value

This study extends the existing theoretical research on WH brand management and tourism behaviour by evaluating data on natural, tangible and intangible WHSs.

Details

Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-1266

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 July 2024

Harini K.N. and Manoj T. Thomas

Over the years, the impact of the business cycle on firm strategy has been neglected in the area of strategic management and remains one of the most important but least developed…

42

Abstract

Purpose

Over the years, the impact of the business cycle on firm strategy has been neglected in the area of strategic management and remains one of the most important but least developed research streams in management scholarship. Studies in this area are scattered across time and domains, therefore, there is a need to consolidate this fragmented literature to provide a comprehensive review and thus avenues for further research. This study aims to address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the systematic literature review (SLR) method is used to select and examine research articles in the area of firm responses and decisions during recession. This SLR examines 127 studies and carries out a thematic synthesis of the literature.

Findings

Based on the SLR and thematic synthesis of the literature, the themes identified in this study include – severity of recession impact (Theme 1); firm specific characteristics (Theme 2); resource adjustment activities (Theme 3); and firm performance (Theme 4), based on these themes and analysis this paper maps and proposes various relationships and linkages in this research domain that can be explored further for the development of scholarship in this field of study.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills the need for a systematic review of the extant literature on firms’ responses during recession. The study synthesizes literature and carries out a thematic analysis from 1980 till the period February 2024 to provide directions to advance this domain of literature.

Details

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

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 December 2022

Fatemeh Mostafavi, Mohammad Tahsildoost, Zahra Sadat Zomorodian and Seyed Shayan Shahrestani

In this study, a novel framework based on deep learning models is presented to assess energy and environmental performance of a given building space layout, facilitating the…

Abstract

Purpose

In this study, a novel framework based on deep learning models is presented to assess energy and environmental performance of a given building space layout, facilitating the decision-making process at the early-stage design.

Design/methodology/approach

A methodology using an image-based deep learning model called pix2pix is proposed to predict the overall daylight, energy and ventilation performance of a given residential building space layout. The proposed methodology is then evaluated by being applied to 300 sample apartment units in Tehran, Iran. Four pix2pix models were trained to predict illuminance, spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), primary energy intensity and ventilation maps. The simulation results were considered ground truth.

Findings

The results showed an average structural similarity index measure (SSIM) of 0.86 and 0.81 for the predicted illuminance and sDA maps, respectively, and an average score of 88% for the predicted primary energy intensity and ventilation representative maps, each of which is outputted within three seconds.

Originality/value

The proposed framework in this study helps upskilling the design professionals involved with the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry through engaging artificial intelligence in human–computer interactions. The specific novelties of this research are: first, evaluating indoor environmental metrics (daylight and ventilation) alongside the energy performance of space layouts using pix2pix model, second, widening the assessment scope to a group of spaces forming an apartment layout at five different floors and third, incorporating the impact of building context on the intended objectives.

Details

Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-6099

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 August 2024

Munmun Goswami and Lalatendu Kesari Jena

This study explores the interactive domains of work passion, work–life interface and leadership behavior. Drawing support from the Conservation of Resources Theory and the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study explores the interactive domains of work passion, work–life interface and leadership behavior. Drawing support from the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Work-Home Resources Model, we empirically tested the mediating effect of dualistic work passion (harmonious, obsessive) and work-to-life interface (conflict, enrichment) between leadership behavior (transformational, abusive) and subordinates’ life satisfaction. The moderating effect of psychological detachment was also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 292 full-time white-collar workers from the adult Indian population using an online survey. SEM using SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 22.0 was conducted for empirical analysis.

Findings

Harmonious work passion and work-to-life enrichment positively mediated between transformational leadership and life satisfaction, and psychological detachment moderated the relationship between harmonious work passion and work-to-life interface. The mediating role of obsessive work passion and work-to-life conflict between abusive supervision and life satisfaction was not observed, and neither was the moderating role of psychological detachment established.

Practical implications

From the managerial perspective, organizations need to be sensitive to the needs of the diverse workforce they have. Especially in the post-COVID-19 scenario, people are more aware and focused on balancing their work and life domains. Thus, interactive policies and practices are the need of the hour rather than the prevalent blanket one.

Originality/value

This study explores the effect of leadership on subordinates’ life satisfaction, which has not been explored through the pathway of work passion and work-to-family interface. It thus contributes to leadership, work passion and work–life interface research.

Details

Evidence-based HRM: a Global Forum for Empirical Scholarship, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2049-3983

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 March 2024

Prince Yao Amu, Bedman Narteh and Prince Kodua

The purpose of this study is to identify which dimensions of perceived value best mediate football club branding and fan loyalty from a developing league perspective.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify which dimensions of perceived value best mediate football club branding and fan loyalty from a developing league perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a cross-sectional design, we collected data using questionnaires from football fans in Ghana (N = 700). The data were analysed using SmartPLS V3, applying structural equation modelling with bootstrapping procedure.

Findings

The results indicate that club branding is an effective precursor of fan loyalty. Moreover, the findings suggest that functional, social and emotional values mediated club branding and fan loyalty, whereas epistemic and economic values did not.

Originality/value

This study contributes to sports management literature by identifying the dimensions of perceived value that will be relevant in the development of club brands in the developing league context.

Details

African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-0705

Keywords

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