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Article
Publication date: 5 October 2023

Yong Rao, Meijia Fang, Chao Liu and Xinying Xu

This study aims to explore a new restaurant category’s development from birth to maturity, thereby explaining the rationale for category innovation strategies.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore a new restaurant category’s development from birth to maturity, thereby explaining the rationale for category innovation strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a qualitative case study analysis of the New Chinese-style Fusion Restaurant category’s development from birth to maturity. Thematic analysis was conducted on data collected from semi-structured interviews and textual information.

Findings

A new restaurant category’s maturation is determined by the formation of society’s shared knowledge about the category’s crucial attributes, which is an outcome of market participants’ category-related social practices. The authors develop a novel, four-stage framework for the socialized construction of this shared knowledge: a knowledge creation (KC), knowledge diffusion (KD), knowledge integration (KI) and knowledge structuralization (KS). This knowledge evolution along this KC–KD–KI–KS sequence can holistically describe the category maturation process. This framework can help understand the rationale for a restaurant category’s maturation by analyzing the interrelationships among market participants’ social practices, knowledge-related activities and market development.

Research limitations/implications

This study explains how market participants’ knowledge-related activities facilitate a new restaurant category’s maturation. This can help restaurant managers cope with increasingly homogeneous competition by applying a category-innovation strategy.

Originality/value

This study extends product categorization research on restaurants by articulating a product category’s maturation process from a knowledge perspective.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 September 2021

Jingda Ding, Chao Liu and Yiqing Yuan

This paper aims to explore the characteristics of knowledge diffusion of library and information science to reveal its development trend and influence on other disciplines.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the characteristics of knowledge diffusion of library and information science to reveal its development trend and influence on other disciplines.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the ESI discipline classification, this paper measures the knowledge diffusion from the library and information science to other disciplines over the last 24 years using indicators in four dimensions: breadth, intensity, speed and theme of knowledge diffusion.

Findings

The results show that the knowledge diffusion breadth of library and information science is wide, spreading to 21 ESI disciplines; the knowledge spread mainly concentrates in four soft or applied disciplines, and yet partially inter-disciplinary, and the knowledge diffusion intensity to each ESI discipline is parabolic whose highest point is mostly in 2004–2005; the speed of spreading to the 21 ESI disciplines is faster and faster, and the articles at the highest speed of knowledge diffusion are basically published after 2005; the knowledge diffusion themes are becoming increasingly diverse, deepening and specialization over time.

Originality/value

This paper modifies the relevant indicators of knowledge diffusion and constructs a measurement framework of knowledge diffusion from four aspects: breadth, intensity, speed and theme. The research method can also be used to explore the characteristics of knowledge absorption of a discipline from other ones.

Article
Publication date: 31 May 2023

Ziqi Chai, Chao Liu and Zhenhua Xiong

Template matching is one of the most suitable choices for full six degrees of freedom pose estimation in many practical industrial applications. However, the increasing number of…

126

Abstract

Purpose

Template matching is one of the most suitable choices for full six degrees of freedom pose estimation in many practical industrial applications. However, the increasing number of templates while dealing with a wide range of viewpoint changes results in a long runtime, which may not meet the real-time requirements. This paper aims to improve matching efficiency while maintaining sample resolution and matching accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-pyramid-based hierarchical template matching strategy is proposed. Three pyramids are established at the sphere subdivision, radius and in-plane rotation levels during the offline template render stage. Then, a hierarchical template matching is performed from the highest to the lowest level in each pyramid, narrowing the global search space and expanding the local search space. The initial search parameters at the top level can be determined by the preprocessing of the YOLOv3 object detection network to further improve real-time performance.

Findings

Experimental results show that this matching strategy takes only 100 ms under 100k templates without loss of accuracy, promising for real industrial applications. The authors further validated the approach by applying it to a real robot grasping task.

Originality/value

The matching framework in this paper improves the template matching efficiency by two orders of magnitude and is validated using a common template definition and viewpoint sampling methods. In addition, it can be easily adapted to other template definitions and viewpoint sampling methods.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 50 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 May 2022

Hasan Oudah Abdullah and Hadi Al-Abrrow

This study used attribution and social exchange theories as bases to test a model comprising the most significant variables, namely, perception, attitudes and positive behaviour…

Abstract

Purpose

This study used attribution and social exchange theories as bases to test a model comprising the most significant variables, namely, perception, attitudes and positive behaviour. The current research concentrated on the effects of three variables (i.e. organisational justice, support and identity) on task performance and organizational citizenship behaviour via job satisfaction, organisational commitment and work engagement. Additionally, this study aims to determine the external locus of control’s moderator role.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based quantitative design was used as basis in collecting data from 1,125 industrial sector (i.e. electricity and oil industry) employees in southern Iraq.

Findings

Analysis of data reinforced the majority of the relationships in the research model. Results showed the mediator variables’ significance in providing explanation to the majority of the relationships and the external locus of control’s role in moderating such relationships. Research outcomes were used as bases in discussing several theoretical and practical implications, as well as presenting a few recommendations for studies in the future.

Originality/value

This research centres on determining the antecedents of positive behaviours via six circumstantial variables and one personal variable in a single model. Moreover, this study is applied in a developing country’s industrial sector with a moderately large sample size to yield evident and significant outcomes. Consequently, practitioners and academics are provided with a reference on managing and changing workplace behaviour.

Details

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. 31 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1934-8835

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 7 December 2021

Lifu Li, Kyeong Kang and Osama Sohaib

This study aims to present the Chinese entrepreneurial environment and explore Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation on live streaming platforms. Based on the COM-B…

2039

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to present the Chinese entrepreneurial environment and explore Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation on live streaming platforms. Based on the COM-B behaviour changing theory, this paper discovers various influencing factors from environmental opportunity and personal capability aspects. It analyses their effects under the cooperative system established among official departments, industries and universities. Meanwhile, considering social and cultural control, it also refers to the uncertainty-avoidance dimension from the Hofstede cultural theory and re-evaluates its influence on Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyse 474 responses from online questionnaires through partial least squares path modelling and variance-based structural equation modelling. The paper claims that environmental opportunity and personal capability factors positively affect students’ online-startup motivation, but uncertainty-avoidance thinking plays a negative role. The study also measures the importance-performance map analysis to explore additional findings and discuss managerial implications.

Findings

Both platform support and official department support positively impact Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation and entrepreneurial skills learned from universities are beneficial for them to build online-startup confidence. Meanwhile, influenced by the cooperative system implemented among official departments, industries and universities, official department support positively affects platform support and entrepreneurial skills. Conversely, influenced by Chinese traditional Confucian culture, uncertainty-avoidance thinking negatively affects tertiary students’ online-startup motivation.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the analysis of Chinese tertiary students’ online-startup motivation drawing on the COM-B behaviour changing and Hofstede cultural theories. Specifically, this study divides influencing factors into three specific aspects as follows: environmental opportunity, personal capability and social and cultural control. Unlike existing research applying traditional research models, the combination of the COM-B behaviour changing theory and the Hofstede cultural theory could be conducive to making the research model reflect influencing factors and present their different relationships.

Details

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2053-4604

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2023

Göksel Behret, Oguzhan Sahin and Veysel Erturun

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of graphene nanoplates (GNPs), and alloying time on aluminum matrix composite. After mixing the powdered materials in the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of graphene nanoplates (GNPs), and alloying time on aluminum matrix composite. After mixing the powdered materials in the alloying device, solid samples were formed by sintering. It is thought that the effect of using such a mechanical mixer on GNPs will be investigated and this study will give a perspective on the composites that GNPs will make with Al and its alloys.

Design/methodology/approach

Mechanical alloying (MA) device capable of high-speed shaking (Spex) movement was used and alloying was performed by adding other metal powders into aluminum, which is the matrix material, with the addition of GNPs at three different rates and times. The crystal size and lattice stress parameters were calculated by obtaining the X-ray diffraction (XRD) graphics of the obtained powder mixtures.

Findings

The XRD graphs of the obtained powder mixtures showed that the Al peaks decreased when the MA time increased. When the scanning electron microscopy images of the powder mixtures were examined, it was observed that agglomeration occurred especially in 1 and 1.5 Wt.% graphene reinforced mixtures that were MA for 90 min. The increase in the amount of graphene had a negative effect on the homogeneous distribution. When the Vickers microhardness values of the samples were examined, the hardness value of all samples increased up to the MA time of 45 min, and decreased in the times over 45 min.

Originality/value

The use of GNPs in the mechanical alloying technique and the fact that this technique was performed on the Retsch MM 400 device, which is a Spex type mixer, shows the originality of the study in terms of time and material content.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 95 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 October 2023

Yao Chao, Tao Liu and Liming Shen

This study aimed to develop a method to calculate the mattress indentation for further estimating spinal alignment.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to develop a method to calculate the mattress indentation for further estimating spinal alignment.

Design/methodology/approach

A universal indentation calculation model is derived based on the system theory, and the deformation characteristics of each component are analyzed by the finite element (FE) model of a partial air-spring mattress under the initial air pressure of 0.01–0.025 MPa. Finally, the calculation error of the model is verified.

Findings

The results indicate that the indentation calculation model could describe the stain of a mattress given the load and the constitutive model of each element. In addition, the FE model of a partial air-spring mattress can be used for further simulation analysis with an error of 1.47–3.42 mm. Furthermore, the deformation of the series system is mainly contributed by the air spring and the components directly in contact with it, while the top component is mainly deflection deformation. In addition, the error of the calculation model is 2.17–5.59 mm on the condition of 0.01–0.025 MPa, satisfying the engineering application. Finally, the supine spinal alignment is successfully extracted from the mattress indentation.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is that it needs to verify the practicality of the indentation calculation model for the Bonnier spiral spring mattress. The main feature of the Bonnier spring mattress is that all springs are connected, so the mattress deflection and neighborhood effect are more significant than those of the air-spring mattress. Therefore, the applicability of the model needs to be tested. Moreover, it is worth further research to reduce the deformation error of each component.

Practical implications

As part of the series of studies on the intelligent air-spring mattress, the indentation-based evaluation method of spinal alignment in sleep postures will be studied for hardness and intelligent regulation based on this study.

Social implications

The results of this research are ultimately used for the intelligent adjustment of air-spring mattresses, which automatically adjusts the hardness according to the user's sleep postures and spinal alignment, thus maintaining optimal spinal biomechanics. The successful application of this result could improve the sleep health of the general public.

Originality/value

Based on the series system theory, an indentation calculation model for mattresses with arbitrary structure is proposed, overcoming the dependence of parameters on materials and their combinations when fitting the Burgers model. Further, the spinal alignment in supine posture is extracted from the indentation, laying a theoretical foundation for further recognition and adjustment of the spinal alignment of the intelligent mattress.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 40 no. 9/10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 January 2024

Peilin Zhang, Najmul Hasan, Raymond Chiong and Chih-Wei (Fred) Chao

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) on vlog marketing. The focus was to analyse the major themes in this field and provide insights for…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) on vlog marketing. The focus was to analyse the major themes in this field and provide insights for future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors reviewed a total of 49 peer-reviewed publications that include the search terms “vlog” or “video blog” in their titles, keywords and abstracts, retrieved from digital databases Scopus and Web of Science, up to the end of July 2023. Thematic analysis was used to examine and synthesise the articles.

Findings

The authors found 19 sub-themes and identified four major themes that emerged from the literature: (1) endorsement outcomes, (2) vlogger characteristics, (3) consumer credibility and (4) vlog content crafting.

Originality/value

There are many unanswered questions in the literature, suggesting that vlog marketing research is still in its infancy, and that in-depth further studies are required for a more comprehensive understanding of the field. This study has identified potential avenues for future research that may contribute to the existing body of knowledge and valuable insights on vlog marketing.

Details

Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-5855

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 April 2022

Shengxian Yu, Shanshi Liu and Chao Xu

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of job insecurity on employee silence by developing a moderated mediation model. The model focuses on the mediating role of…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of job insecurity on employee silence by developing a moderated mediation model. The model focuses on the mediating role of ego depletion underpinning the relationship between job insecurity on employee silence and the moderating role of perceived coworker support and career growth opportunity in influencing the mediation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a questionnaire from 309 employees of six Chinese financial enterprises in two waves, with a one-month interval between the two waves. Moreover, this study uses bootstrapping and confirmatory factor analysis to verify the hypothesis.

Findings

Job insecurity has a significant positive impact on employee silence, and ego depletion partly mediated the relationship between job insecurity and employee silence. Perceived coworker support and career growth opportunity negatively moderated the relationship between job insecurity and ego depletion and also moderated the indirect effect of job insecurity on employee silence through ego depletion.

Practical implications

The study provides evidence for the positive effects of job insecurity on ego depletion, which, in turn, is significantly associated with employee silence. It highlights the important role of perceived coworker support and career growth opportunities in reducing employee negative perceptions and behaviors.

Originality/value

This empirical study provides preliminary evidence of the mediating role of ego depletion in the positive relationship between job insecurity and employee silence. The moderated mediation model also extends the existing finding by adding substantive moderators (perceived coworker support and career growth opportunity) to explain how the effect of job insecurity on employees’ behaviors unfolds.

Details

Chinese Management Studies, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-614X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 November 2022

Prateek Kumar Tripathi, Chandra Kant Singh, Rakesh Singh and Arun Kumar Deshmukh

In a volatile agricultural postharvest market, producers require more personalized information about market dynamics for informed decisions on the marketed surplus. However, this…

Abstract

Purpose

In a volatile agricultural postharvest market, producers require more personalized information about market dynamics for informed decisions on the marketed surplus. However, this adaptive strategy fails to benefit them if the selection of a computational price predictive model to disseminate information on the market outlook is not efficient, and the associated risk of perishability, and storage cost factor are not assumed against the seemingly favourable market behaviour. Consequently, the decision of whether to store or sell at the time of crop harvest is a perennial dilemma to solve. With the intent of addressing this challenge for agricultural producers, the study is focused on designing an agricultural decision support system (ADSS) to suggest a favourable marketing strategy to crop producers.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study is guided by an eclectic theoretical perspective from supply chain literature that included agency theory, transaction cost theory, organizational information processing theory and opportunity cost theory in revenue risk management. The paper models a structured iterative algorithmic framework that leverages the forecasting capacity of different time series and machine learning models, considering the effect of influencing factors on agricultural price movement for better forecasting predictability against market variability or dynamics. It also attempts to formulate an integrated risk management framework for effective sales planning decisions that factors in the associated costs of storage, rental and physical loss until the surplus is held for expected returns.

Findings

Empirical demonstration of the model was simulated on the dynamic markets of tomatoes, onions and potatoes in a north Indian region. The study results endorse that farmer-centric post-harvest information intelligence assists crop producers in the strategic sales planning of their produce, and also vigorously promotes that the effectiveness of decision making is contingent upon the selection of the best predictive model for every future market event.

Practical implications

As a policy implication, the proposed ADSS addresses the pressing need for a robust marketing support system for the socio-economic welfare of farming communities grappling with distress sales, and low remunerative returns.

Originality/value

Based on the extant literature studied, there is no such study that pays personalized attention to agricultural producers, enabling them to make a profitable sales decision against the volatile post-harvest market scenario. The present research is an attempt to fill that gap with the scope of addressing crop producer's ubiquitous dilemma of whether to sell or store at the time of harvesting. Besides, an eclectic and iterative style of predictive modelling has also a limited implication in the agricultural supply chain based on the literature; however, it is found to be a more efficient practice to function in a dynamic market outlook.

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