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1 – 10 of 53Joon-Heon Song and Hee-Cheol Moon
Considering the proliferation of free trade agreements (FTAs) worldwide, this study develops and empirically tests a conceptual model to explain the impact of CEO attitudes on the…
Abstract
Considering the proliferation of free trade agreements (FTAs) worldwide, this study develops and empirically tests a conceptual model to explain the impact of CEO attitudes on the intention of exporting firms to utilize FTA preferential tariffs. Based on a survey of 221 exporting small and medium-sized enterprises in South Korea, this study employed partial least squares structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses. Results show that perceived usefulness and organizational learning partially mediate the relationship between CEO attitudes and intention to use FTA schemes. This study deepens our understanding on the firm’s internal process for utilizing FTA preferential tariffs.
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Building a large trading bloc tends to produce substantial economic gains, while minimizing economic losses from overlapping FTAs. East Asia has tried to generate the impetus for…
Abstract
Building a large trading bloc tends to produce substantial economic gains, while minimizing economic losses from overlapping FTAs. East Asia has tried to generate the impetus for promoting region-wide trading blocs, but most of those blocs have been overlapped and multilayered. This paper reviews the evolution of East Asian regionalism from the APEC FTA under the 1994 Bogor Goal to recent RCEP promoted in 2013. This paper underlines that the continued expansion of multilayered trading blocs in East Asia works as a serious obstacle to regional economic integration, rather than exploring the realization of a region-wide trading bloc.
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Louiza Ait Ouffroukh, Rachid Chaib, Verzea Ion and Lakhdar Khochmane
Algeria occupies an important place in all of the oil-producing countries. However, in recent years, industrial facilities have experienced a rapid increase in the number of major…
Abstract
Purpose
Algeria occupies an important place in all of the oil-producing countries. However, in recent years, industrial facilities have experienced a rapid increase in the number of major industrial accidents and calamities, where fires and explosions have caused impacts and severe effects on people, property and the environment. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the risks involved and assess the performance of the technical barriers at the thermo-hydraulic level of facilities at the level of the refinery of Skikda.
Design/methodology/approach
The most effective methods in this field of activity are the systematic analyses of deviations or failures. As working tools, hazard and operability (HAZOP) method and fault tree analysis (FTA) were used to identify the various possible risks that could lead to undesirable phenomena, with the Topping unit. Using this type of analysis, it is possible to understand what the most risky process steps are and, where appropriate, to propose appropriate corrective and preventive measures. HAZOP is dedicated to the analysis of the risks of thermo-hydraulic systems and to control drift parameters such as pressure, temperature and flow. Unfortunately, with its limitations to the detection of leaks, the authors completed the study by FTA, working with a predetermined set of process parameters associated with system operation (compression, temperature, flow, etc.). Each of these parameters are combined with a series of possible potential deviations (too much, little, inverse, etc). For each analyzed equipment, the relevant parameters are selected and combined with the relevant deviations. For each parameter of the deviant process, the causes and consequences are determined.
Findings
The combination of these two methods has allowed to highlight the various possible risks that could lead to undesirable phenomena, to respond to industrial expectations or even to manage the operation process safely. Thus, it enabled the authors to detect the weaknesses of the process. This allowed the authors to reinforce the technical safety barriers of the functional links of the process and propose appropriate, corrective and preventive measures.
Originality/value
The work intends to reflect the real situation in which companies face risks. The originality of the work is represented by the combination of two methods: HAZOP and the FTA. This association allowed the authors to identify areas of weakness to set priorities for action by the company, through organizational, technical and human solutions, while engaging in a process of continuous improvement.
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Although there is a growing number concerning articles/papers on China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR), it is difficult to find comprehensive research regarding the economic…
Abstract
Although there is a growing number concerning articles/papers on China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR), it is difficult to find comprehensive research regarding the economic background in spite of the OBOR initiative involving multi-dimensional considerations. Although China targets to become a soft power leader by reviving the spirit of the old Silk Road, the OBOR is a large-scale investment project, whose rate of investment (ROI) is important for sustainability. Since new infrastructure in isolated regions is likely to be used less frequently, anticipated profitability is low. In spite of this risk, China promotes the OBOR for its economic and political purposes. China will promote the OBOR in spite of the U.S. withdrawal from TPP membership, since boosting aggregate demand is of critical importance for the country. This paper analyzes the economic background of the OBOR, which establishes China’s own model of regional integration, eases unemployment, and internationalizes its currency. Finally, this paper discusses diverse risks for China in the process of implementing the OBOR.
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The purpose of this study is to explore the essential cause for the policy failure of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) in South Korea.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the essential cause for the policy failure of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) in South Korea.
Design/methodology/approach
To substantiate the claims made for the failure of the policy, this paper focuses on the differences in policy preferences among the government ministries and agencies involved in TAA.
Findings
The failure in the TAA policy, according to this study, was attributed to the conflicts and miscoordination arising from the differences in policy preferences among government ministries and agencies. To rectify this failure, the South Korean government had to revise its laws and regulations several times over a short period.
Originality/value
Drawing on the analytical framework of the literature on policy failure, this paper examines the causal relationships between outcomes of TAA policy and the conflicts or miscoordination among government bodies at each stage: initiatives and planning, implementation and operation of the policy.
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The paper aims to describe the evolution and use of project alliancing in Finland: how the model was discovered, and then, little by little, became an established practice.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to describe the evolution and use of project alliancing in Finland: how the model was discovered, and then, little by little, became an established practice.
Design/Methodology/Approach
The paper is based on a long-term observation of the construction sector activities, involvement in their development and a review of related research and practice documents.
Findings
The paper illustrates how a major change may be laborious. It also reveals that the application of project alliancing seems to have been successful so far, but there are still threats on the horizon.
Research Limitations/Implications
The overview ignores many meaningful details and does not include a critical review of the positive experiences reported by the industry. There certainly is need for related research.
Practical Implications
The study offers a point of reference for evaluation of the smoothness of the progress of industry wide changes.
Originality/Value
This paper seems to be the first one providing a more comprehensive picture of the progress and use of alliancing in Finland, thus supplementing existing view- and project-specific examinations.
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David Kimera and Fillemon Nduvu Nangolo
The purpose of this paper is to review maintenance practices, tools and parameters for marine mechanical systems that can be classified as plant, machinery and equipment (PME). It…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review maintenance practices, tools and parameters for marine mechanical systems that can be classified as plant, machinery and equipment (PME). It provides an insight for the maintenance crew on which maintenance parameters and practices are critical for a given PME systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The review paper characterizes the various maintenance parameters and maintenance practices used onshore and offshore for PME and identifies the possible gaps.
Findings
A variety of maintenance techniques are being used in the marine industry such as corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance and condition-based maintenance. As marine vehicles (MV) get older, the most important maintenance parameters become maintenance costs, reliability and safety. Maintenance models that have been developed in line with marine mechanical systems have been validated using a single system, whose outcome could be different if another PME system is used for validation.
Research limitations/implications
There is a limited literature on MV maintenance parameters and maintenance characterization regarding mechanical systems. The maintenance practices or strategies of marine mechanical systems should be based on maintenance parameters that suit the marine industry for a given PME.
Originality/value
Based on the available literature, the paper provides a variety of maintenance framework, parameters and practices for marine mechanical systems. The paper further gives an insight on what maintenance parameters, strategies and platforms are given preference in the shipping industry.
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Kasmad Ariansyah and Wardahnia
Digitization of terrestrial television enables government to reallocate a portion of spectrum to satisfy the 5G low-band spectrum demand. To accelerate the digitization process…
Abstract
Purpose
Digitization of terrestrial television enables government to reallocate a portion of spectrum to satisfy the 5G low-band spectrum demand. To accelerate the digitization process, the Indonesian Government has distributed digital terrestrial television (DTT) decoders for households in several DTT trial areas so that the recipients are able to experience DTT broadcasts on their analogue television. To ensure that the DTT is adopted sustainably, this study aims to provide evidence-based policy recommendations by first understanding underlying factors of the intention to purchase a new DTT receiver, either a new DTT decoder or an integrated digital television (DTV).
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses 2018 survey data collected by Badan Aksesibilitas Telekomunikasi dan Informasi. The samples consist of 433 DTT decoder recipients in nine DTT trial locations in Indonesia. Two logistic models are used, one model for the DTT decoder and the other for integrated DTV. The two models have identical predictors, including respondents' demographics, television media use, technology cluster and DTT-related factors as innovation attributes.
Findings
The results indicate that the two models share some relevant variables but varying in sign and magnitude, namely, respondents' geographical location and the DTT picture and sound quality. The results also show that pay-television subscription, TV viewing and the difficulty of using the DTT decoder are other factors significantly associated with the intention to purchase a new DTT decoder.
Research limitations/implications
This study has several limitations. First, the coefficients of determination are low, indicating that more independent variables should be included in the estimation models to obtain better insight about DTT adoption so that a better policy can be stipulated accordingly. Second, even though most of the predictors and proposed recommendations can be applied in general, all respondents of this study were DTT decoder recipients. Thus, future research can be more inclusive. Third, this study is designed based on the correlational model. This might cause the inability of the results to provide a conclusive direction of the relationship.
Practical implications
Demand-side and supply-side approaches are proposed to drive sustainable adoption of DTT, including the provision of subsidy or free DTT decoder for low-income households, increasing competition intensity among DTT devices manufacturers and distributors by allowing more players enter the Indonesian market, driving nationwide DTT infrastructure deployment and stipulating a national standard of the DTT devices.
Originality/value
This study enriches the understanding of the DTT adoption by incorporating geographical location variables for the proxy of infrastructure availability into the diffusion of innovation model, which has never been addressed by previous studies in the context of DTV adoption. In addition, this study focuses on a specific context in which all samples are free decoder recipients so that they have the same chance to experience DTT broadcasts.
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Lidija Tomić, Olja Čokorilo, Ljubiša Vasov and Branimir Stojiljković
The paper aims to investigate the compatibility of manned-aircraft airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS) for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to investigate the compatibility of manned-aircraft airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS) for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the Fault Tree method for defining ACAS model adapted for the UAV operations, with the aim of showing the presence of certain factors that configure in such ACAS system, and whose failure can lead to an adverse event – mid-air collision.
Findings
Based on the effectiveness analysis of ACAS solution adapted for the UAV operations, for given inputs, it can be concluded that the probability of ACAS failure is on the order of 10–4, as well as that in the case of autonomous ACAS solution for the UAV, the probability is reduced to 10–5. The most influential factors for the failure of the UAV’s ACAS are as follows: technical implications on the UAV, human factor, sensor error, communication and C2 link issue.
Practical implications
The established model could be used both in the UAV’s ACAS design and application phases, with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of the adopted solution. The model outputs not only highlight the critical points of the system but also provide the basis for defining the Target Level of Safety (TLOS) for the UAV operations.
Originality/value
The developed model can be expected to speed up the design and adoption process of ACAS solutions for the UAVs. Also, the paper presents one of the first attempts to quantify TLOS for the UAV operations in the context of collision avoidance systems.
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