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1 – 10 of 861Bangyi Li, Juan Tang, Zhi Liu and Bengang Gong
The purpose of this paper is to investigate remanufacturing operational strategies considering uncertain quality of end-of-life (EOL) products and differential consumers’…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate remanufacturing operational strategies considering uncertain quality of end-of-life (EOL) products and differential consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for new products and provide suggestions on the remanufacturing mode selection for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Design/methodology/approach
This study considers three remanufacturing modes, i.e. in-house, outsourcing and authorization modes. By establishing and comparing decision models of three modes from the perspectives of profit, consumer surplus and environment, the optimal remanufacturing mode is discussed.
Findings
The results suggest that if the OEM’s remanufacturing capability is high, the in-house mode brings to the highest environmental performance, OEM’s profit and consumer surplus. Otherwise, the outsourcing mode (authorization) is the best benefit to environment (consumers if the unit production cost of new products is not too high). As for the preference of two decision-makers to outsourcing and authorization modes, if the difference of consumers’ WTP for new products is low, the OEM prefers the outsourcing mode; otherwise, the OEM prefers the authorization mode. The preference of the third-party remanufacturer (TPR) to remanufacturing mode is affected by consumers’ WTP for remanufactured products, WTP difference for new products and remanufacturing quality level standard.
Practical implications
These results can provide operational insights into how to select remanufacturing mode when the quality of EOL products is uncertain and consumers’ WTP for new products is different under three remanufacturing modes.
Originality/value
This paper is among the first to investigate the joint effects of EOL products’ uncertain quality and differential consumers’ WTP for new products on the operational strategies and performance under different remanufacturing modes.
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Yang Liu, Qian Zhang, Jialing Wang, Yawei Shao, Zhengyi Xu, Yanqiu Wang and Junyi Wang
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the compatibility of titanium dioxide in epoxy resins and thus the corrosion resistance of the coatings.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to enhance the compatibility of titanium dioxide in epoxy resins and thus the corrosion resistance of the coatings.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, TiO2 was modified by the mechanochemistry method where mechanical energy was combined with thermal energy to complete the modification. The stability of modified TiO2 in epoxy was analyzed by sedimentation experiment. The modified TiO2-epoxy coating was prepared, and the corrosion resistance of the coating was analyzed by open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and neutral salt spray test.
Findings
High-temperature mechanical modification can improve the compatibility of TiO2 in epoxy resin. At the same time, the modified TiO2-epoxy coating showed better corrosion resistance. Compared to the unmodified TiO2-epoxy coating, the coating improved the dry adhesion force by 61.7% and the adhesion drop by 33.3%. After 2,300 h of immersion in 3.5 Wt.% NaCl solution, the coating resistance of the modified TiO2 coating was enhanced by nearly two orders of magnitude compared to the unmodified coating.
Originality/value
The authors have grafted epoxy molecules onto TiO2 surfaces using a high-temperature mechanical force modification method. The compatibility of TiO2 with epoxy resin is enhanced, resulting in improved adhesion of the coating to the substrate and corrosion resistance of the coating.
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Jinxia Jiang, Haojie Zhao and Yan Zhang
This study aims to investigate the two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer of a fractional Maxwell nanofluid between inclined cylinders with variable thickness…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer of a fractional Maxwell nanofluid between inclined cylinders with variable thickness. Considering the cylindrical coordinate system, the constitutive relation of the fractional viscoelastic fluid and the fractional dual-phase-lag (DPL) heat conduction model, the boundary layer governing equations are first formulated and derived.
Design/methodology/approach
The newly developed finite difference scheme combined with the L1 algorithm is used to numerically solve nonlinear fractional differential equations. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by a numerical example.
Findings
Based on numerical analysis, the effects of parameters on velocity and temperature are revealed. Specifically, the velocity decreases with the increase of the fractional derivative parameter α owing to memory characteristics. The temperature increase with the increase of fractional derivative parameter ß due to a decrease in thermal resistance. From a physical perspective, the phase lag of the heat flux vector and temperature gradients τq and τT exhibit opposite trends to the temperature. The ratio τT/τq plays an important role in controlling different heat conduction behaviors. Increasing the inclination angle θ, the types and volume fractions of nanoparticles Φ can increase velocity and temperature, respectively.
Originality/value
Fractional Maxwell nanofluid flows from a fixed-thickness pipe to an inclined variable-thickness pipe, and the fractional DPL heat conduction model based on materials is considered, which provides a basis for the safe and efficient transportation of high-viscosity and condensable fluids in industrial production.
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Qianling Jiang, Chao Gu, Yan Feng, Wei Wei and Wang-Chin Tsai
Mobile e-commerce has brought convenience to consumers. But for goods such as shoes, mobile e-commerce has failed to provide the same experience as consumers would have in…
Abstract
Purpose
Mobile e-commerce has brought convenience to consumers. But for goods such as shoes, mobile e-commerce has failed to provide the same experience as consumers would have in physical stores, and that also causes problems for online merchants, such as high return rates. As a result, the augmented reality (AR) virtual shoe-try-on function appeared. The way that AR virtual shoe-try-on study different from other AR virtual try-on studies is that AR virtual shoe-try-on study only satisfies consumers' visual experience and consumers cannot judge whether the shoes are comfort or not. Whether consumers would accept AR virtual try-on function to help them make purchase decision due to the visual experience provided by AR virtual try-on function is worth discussion. Measuring users' perceptions and preferences can help companies design AR shoe-trying functions and provide services more cost-effectively.
Design/methodology/approach
To promote the continuous use and better development of such mobile e-commerce based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study explored the influencing factors for users' intentions to continue using the AR virtual shoe-try-on function, including the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, system quality, perceived playfulness and attitude.
Findings
The results of this study showed that TAM is a powerful theoretical tool of the new technology in mobile e-commerce and that the system quality and perceived playfulness also have a positive impact on the original variables of TAM. System quality and perceived playfulness are important predictors of users' continuance intentions to use the AR virtual shoe-try-on function.
Originality/value
The main contribution of this study to model iteration and theoretical update is to verify the applicability of the TAM in the AR shoe-try-on function and to expand TAM model with system quality and perceived playfulness. The authors' results will help shoe enterprises win users' recognition through AR shoe-try-on function and improve users' continuance intention of use.
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Dan Mertens, Salvador G. Villegas, Marlon G. Ware, Edward F. Vengrouskie and Robert Lloyd
The purpose of this paper is to establish a supported and validated reference point for Machiavellianism as an antecedent to the contemporary management philosophy of business…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish a supported and validated reference point for Machiavellianism as an antecedent to the contemporary management philosophy of business process reengineering (BPR).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes BPR and Machiavellianism by using the seminal work of Hammer and Champy (1993) on BPR and the original writings of Machiavelli coupled with the personal correspondence of Machiavelli with his contemporaries.
Findings
The findings of this research indicate that the constructs of Machiavellian thought transcend the five centuries since the publication of The Prince, and can be found in the contemporary managerial framework of BPR. This comparison of historical leadership frameworks demonstrates how recent management decisions in companies show the rise of Machiavellian as BPR. In an analysis of these theories, the authors show similarities in five significant tenets of business leadership and argue how these repackaged ideas and prescriptions undermine employee-centric advances.
Research limitations/implications
This comparison reviews the managerial frameworks presented in Machiavelli’s The Prince and Hammer and Champy’s book Reengineering the Corporation through the theoretical tenets of leadership.
Practical implications
Employment of Machiavellianism and BPR results in an expendable utilization of followers and employees. Implications abound for modern managers, as the authors emphasize the elements and outcomes which lead to deleterious organizational outcomes.
Social implications
In an analysis of these theories, the authors argue how these strategies undermine employee-centric advances within human relations by embracing these repackaged ideas and concepts.
Originality/value
This research leverages historical perspective to provide a qualitative understanding of the follies of recycled versions of Machiavelli’s ideas. The overall study and inquiry of BPR from a leadership perspective is not robust and leaves antecedents and influences critically unevaluated.
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This paper aims to construct a sixth-order weighted essentially nonoscillatory scheme for simulating the nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations in a finite difference framework.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to construct a sixth-order weighted essentially nonoscillatory scheme for simulating the nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations in a finite difference framework.
Design/methodology/approach
To design this scheme, we approximate the second derivative in these equations in a different way, which of course is still in a conservative form. In this way, unlike the common practice of reconstruction, the approximation of the derivatives of odd order is needed to develop the numerical flux.
Findings
The results obtained by the new scheme produce less error compared to the results of other schemes in the literature that are recently developed for the nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations while requiring less computational times.
Originality/value
This research develops a new weighted essentially nonoscillatory scheme for solving the nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations in multidimensional space. Besides, any selection of the constants (sum equals one is the only requirement for them), named the linear weights, will obtain the desired accuracy.
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Sam Njinyah, Simplice Asongu and Ngozi Adeleye
The purpose of this study is to assess the interaction effect of government non-financial support and firms' regulatory compliance on firms' innovativeness. Firms' regulatory…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to assess the interaction effect of government non-financial support and firms' regulatory compliance on firms' innovativeness. Firms' regulatory compliance with environmental and safety issues has been suggested as one of the reasons why firms innovate. Such compliance provides legitimacy, improves reputation and corporate image, and enhances customer loyalty and competitive advantages, which influence firm innovativeness. However, regulatory compliance is costly and with limited resources, the role of government support is crucial as a moderator, to help firms become more compliant and influence their innovativeness.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses data from the World Bank Enterprise Innovation Survey for seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Findings
Regulatory compliance has a positive and significant effect on firm innovativeness. Increased use of government non-financial support enhances the level of firm regulatory compliance and the effect of regulatory compliance on firm innovativeness.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the literature on compliance and firm innovativeness in Africa by showing how the positive effect of regulatory compliance on firm innovativeness is stronger when firms benefit from government non-financial support.
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Mehwish Ali, Majdi Hassen and Sarmad Saeed Sheikh
This study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on corporate innovation. We selected the listed nonfinancial firms of South Asian Economies. The sample…
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on corporate innovation. We selected the listed nonfinancial firms of South Asian Economies. The sample of the study comprised a total of 426 listed manufacturing firms of South Asian Countries for period spans 10 years from 2012 to 2021. In this study, descriptive statistics, multicollinearity diagnostic tests, correlation analysis and two-step dynamic panel system generalized method of moments (GMM) were applied to analyze the data. CSR measured with three proxies' social indicators, environmental indicators, and CSR composite index of social and environmental indicators. However, corporate innovation is captured with number of citations received in a year and number of patents filed in the year. Overall, findings of the study using all measures of CSR shows that CSR significantly and positively related with corporate innovation. Our results find support for CSR-innovation view with all measures of CSR. The findings suggest that the current study is helpful for managers, regulators, policymakers, and researchers. For managers, the study helps them to make the CSR and innovation decision. The policymakers should take appropriate innovative decision while considering factors such as CSR. This study can also be extended by considering this study for developed and emerging economies sample.
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Marjan Sharifi, Majid Siavashi and Milad Hosseini
Present study aims to extend the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to simulate radiation in geometries with curved boundaries, as the first step to simulate radiation in complex…
Abstract
Purpose
Present study aims to extend the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to simulate radiation in geometries with curved boundaries, as the first step to simulate radiation in complex porous media. In recent years, researchers have increasingly explored the use of porous media to improve the heat transfer processes. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is one of the most effective techniques for simulating heat transfer in such media. However, the application of the LBM to study radiation in complex geometries that contain curved boundaries, as found in many porous media, has been limited.
Design/methodology/approach
The numerical evaluation of the effect of the radiation-conduction parameter and extinction coefficient on temperature and incident radiation distributions demonstrates that the proposed LBM algorithm provides highly accurate results across all cases, compared to those found in the literature or those obtained using the finite volume method (FVM) with the discrete ordinates method (DOM) for radiative information.
Findings
For the case with a conduction-radiation parameter equal to 0.01, the maximum relative error is 1.9% in predicting temperature along vertical central line. The accuracy improves with an increase in the conduction-radiation parameter. Furthermore, the comparison between computational performances of two approaches reveals that the LBM-LBM approach performs significantly faster than the FVM-DOM solver.
Originality/value
The difficulty of radiative modeling in combined problems involving irregular boundaries has led to alternative approaches that generally increase the computational expense to obtain necessary radiative details. To address the limitations of existing methods, this study presents a new approach involving a coupled lattice Boltzmann and first-order blocked-off technique to efficiently model conductive-radiative heat transfer in complex geometries with participating media. This algorithm has been developed using the parallel lattice Boltzmann solver.
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Michael Christopher Benson, Keith Glanfield, Craig Hirst and Susan Wakenshaw
The category captain system (CC) of retailer category management (RCM) is established, accepted, and widely adopted. The paper empirically assesses the application of this system…
Abstract
Purpose
The category captain system (CC) of retailer category management (RCM) is established, accepted, and widely adopted. The paper empirically assesses the application of this system in building collaborations between retailers and their suppliers to generate growth following COVID-19. This study applies service-dominant logic (S-D logic) to RCM and establishes the current ‘practical’ application of the five axioms of S-D logic within the CC system.
Design/methodology/approach
The researchers adopted a qualitative research design which examined both category managers and retail buyers currently involved in the CC system, using thematic analysis of transcripts from 25 practitioner participants.
Findings
The study reveals service is not a fundamental basis of exchange in the CC system. Value is uniquely, independently, and separately created by the retailer that significantly restricts the scope of the category service eco systems and the opportunity to innovate through value co-creation.
Practical implications
Significant change is required to realise value co-creation and innovation applying S-D logic to RCM. The study indicates there is potential to start this change by the formalisation of wider informal category relationships between non-captain suppliers and retailers through consumer insight technology, and by aligning suppliers and retailers to make more effective and sustainable trading decisions.
Originality/value
The study indicates that certain elements of the CC system proposed by the literature's games-based theoretic models, are not applied in practice. The lived experiences of practitioners suggest informal ways of by-passing the formal system using S-D logic.
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