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1 – 10 of over 65000
Article
Publication date: 1 October 1933

A CONFERENCE between manufacturers and representatives of the Aeronautics Branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce was held on September 14 to discuss certain proposed changes in…

Abstract

A CONFERENCE between manufacturers and representatives of the Aeronautics Branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce was held on September 14 to discuss certain proposed changes in the airworthiness requirements of Aeronautics Bulletin No. 7‐A (the current issue of which is dated January 1933) which were put forward by the Department.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 5 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1932

THIS study has been conducted by the engineering section of the Aeronautics Branch for the purpose of developing a method of load factor determination which will be as nearly…

Abstract

THIS study has been conducted by the engineering section of the Aeronautics Branch for the purpose of developing a method of load factor determination which will be as nearly theoretically correct as possible, yet capable of being applied without difficulty by the average aeroplane manufacturer. Another aim has been to avoid making too abrupt changes in the present system of load factors, so that a minimum of confusion and controversy would be caused by the adoption of the new method.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 4 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Article
Publication date: 8 May 2017

Vendela Santén

Increasing load factor is crucial for transport efficiency and may benefit shippers because of its potential to reduce both environmental impact and transportation costs. The…

2421

Abstract

Purpose

Increasing load factor is crucial for transport efficiency and may benefit shippers because of its potential to reduce both environmental impact and transportation costs. The purpose of this paper is to explore how shippers can increase load factor in their road transport by identifying opportunities for logistics action and influences on load factor performance measures created by such opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is performed of the outgoing goods flow from the central warehouse of a large retailer in Sweden. Data are collected from interviews with the shipper and its contracted freight forwarder, as well as from archival sources and visual observations, and applied to produce a framework.

Findings

Logistics actions that can increase load factor are identified and categorised according to packaging efficiency, loading efficiency and booking efficiency, all of which are linked to logistics variables and specific performance measures in the framework. Visual observations of volumetric load factor in vehicles indicate room for improvement via, for example, making lead times more flexible.

Practical implications

The framework’s principles can be used to support shippers in finding opportunities to increase load factor.

Originality/value

The framework clarifies the concept of load factor as a whole by explaining each logistics action’s contribution to increasing load factor, as well as the actions’ combined effect in the context of a shipper and its purchased transport share.

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 28 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 17 December 2003

Norbert K Semmer, Simone Grebner and Achim Elfering

The preponderance of studies that rely on self-report for both independent (e.g. stressors) and dependent (e.g. well-being) variables is often deplored, as it creates problems of…

Abstract

The preponderance of studies that rely on self-report for both independent (e.g. stressors) and dependent (e.g. well-being) variables is often deplored, as it creates problems of common method variance, which may lead to inflated, or even spurious, correlations and predictions. It is sometimes suggested that alternative measures should yield more “objective” information on the phenomena under investigation. We discuss this issue with regard to: (a) observational measures of working conditions; (b) physiological measures of strain; and (c) event-based “self-observation” on a micro-level. We argue that these methods are not necessarily “objective.” Like self-report, they are influenced by a plethora of factors; and measurement artifacts can easily be produced. All this can make their interpretation quite difficult, and the conclusion that lack of convergence with self-report automatically invalidates self-report is not necessarily warranted. Especially with regard to physiological measures, one has to keep in mind that they refer to a different response level that follows its own laws and is only loosely coupled with psychological responses. Therefore, replacement is not a promising way to get more reliable estimates of stressor-strain relationships. We argue instead that each method contains both substantive and error variance, and that a combination of various methods seems more auspicious. After discussing advantages and pitfalls of observational, physiological, and self-observational measures, respectively, we report empirical examples from our own research on each of these methods, which are meant to illustrate both the advantages and the problems associated with them. They strengthen the overall conclusion that there is no “substitute” for self-report (which often is necessary to be able to interpret data from other methods, most notably physiological ones). They also illustrate that collecting such data is quite cumbersome, and that a number of conditions have to be carefully considered before using them, and we report some problems we encountered in this research. Altogether, we conclude that self-report measures, if carefully constructed, are better than their reputation, but that the optimal way is to complement them with other measures.

Details

Emotional and Physiological Processes and Positive Intervention Strategies
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84950-238-2

Article
Publication date: 16 October 2007

H. Al Nageim and D. Pountney

The aim is to present findings of a theoretical analysis for optimal design of a concrete trough for a new lightweight low‐profile rail track system.

Abstract

Purpose

The aim is to present findings of a theoretical analysis for optimal design of a concrete trough for a new lightweight low‐profile rail track system.

Design/methodology/approach

A non‐linear numerical optimisation technique is adopted to predict the minimum area of a pre‐tensioned pre‐stressed trough section satisfying the serviceability and ultimate limit states as per British Standard BS 8110 for critical loading and boundary conditions.

Findings

An optimum concrete trough section is calculated to carry all possible load combinations expected during the design life of the track. The performance of the rail, elastomeric pad and track base were found to be satisfactory under the same critical loading and boundary conditions.

Originality/value

The theoretical analysis gives a valuable insight into system parameter values that can optimise design performance and cost. However, these optimal design features now need to be tested experimentally.

Details

Construction Innovation, vol. 7 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 June 2021

Manogna R.L. and Aswini Kumar Mishra

Determining the relevant information using financial measures is of great interest for various stakeholders to analyze the performance of the firm. This paper aims at identifying…

Abstract

Purpose

Determining the relevant information using financial measures is of great interest for various stakeholders to analyze the performance of the firm. This paper aims at identifying these financial measures (ratios) which critically affect the firm performance. The authors specifically focus on discovering the most prominent ratios using a two-step process. First, the authors use an exploratory factor analysis to identify the underlying dimensions of these ratios, followed by predictive modeling techniques to identify the potential relationship between measures and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data of 25 financial variables for a sample of 1923 Indian manufacturing firms which exist continuously between 2011 and 2018. For prediction models, four popular decision tree algorithms [Chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID), classification and regression trees (C&RT), C5.0 and quick, unbiased, efficient statistical tree (QUEST)] were investigated, and the information fusion-based sensitivity analyses were performed to identify the relative importance of these input measures.

Findings

Results show that C5.0 and CHAID algorithms produced the best predictive results. The fusion sensitivity results find that net profit margin and total assets turnover rate are the most critical factors determining the firm performance in an Indian manufacturing context. These findings may enable managers in their decision-making process and also have vital implications for investors in assessing the performance of the firm.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current paper is the first to address the application of decision tree algorithms to predict the performance of manufacturing firms in an emerging economy such as India, with the latest data. This practical perspective helps the organizations in managing the critical parameters for the firm’s growth.

Details

Measuring Business Excellence, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-3047

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 14 November 2023

Bernice Skytt, Hans Högberg and Maria Engström

The Purpose of the study was to investigate the construct validity and internal consistency of the LaMI among staff in the context of elderly care in Sweden.

Abstract

Purpose

The Purpose of the study was to investigate the construct validity and internal consistency of the LaMI among staff in the context of elderly care in Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire data from a longitudinal study of staff working in elderly care were used. Data were collected using the Leadership and Management Inventory. First data collection was for explorative factor analysis (n = 1,149), and the second collection, one year later, was for confirmatory factor analysis (n = 1,061).

Findings

The explorative factor analysis resulted in a two-factor solution that explained 70.2% of the total variance. Different models were tested in the confirmatory factor analysis. The final model, a two-factor solution where three items were omitted, showed acceptable results.

Originality/value

The instrument measures both leadership and management performance and can be used to continually measure managers’ performances as perceived by staff to identify areas for development.

Details

Leadership in Health Services, vol. 37 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1879

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 April 2018

Minhyung Kang

The purpose of this paper is to focus on active users who are key contributors to online social question-and-answer (Q&A) sites, and examine antecedents of their knowledge-sharing…

2017

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on active users who are key contributors to online social question-and-answer (Q&A) sites, and examine antecedents of their knowledge-sharing continuance intention, based on expectation-confirmation theory and organizational justice theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Sample data were gathered via an online survey from active users of Naver Knowledge-iN, a popular online social Q&A site in South Korea. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was adopted for data analysis. Moreover, a multi-group analysis was conducted to identify the motivators and hygiene factors of the responders’ knowledge-sharing continuance.

Findings

Except for perceived self-worth, all the antecedents – perceived playfulness, confirmation, perceived justice with sites, and perceived justice with askers – seemed to have a considerable influence on active users’ satisfaction, and therefore their continuance intention. Among them, perceived playfulness was proven to be a motivator, and perceived justice with sites a hygiene factor.

Research limitations/implications

Despite the limitations of a cross-sectional study, this research successfully illustrated that active users’ continuance intention is influenced by perceived playfulness, and not by perceived self-worth. In addition, perceived justice with social Q&A sites was proven to decrease dissatisfaction (i.e. hygiene factor), while perceived playfulness was proven to increase satisfaction (i.e. motivator).

Originality/value

This study differentiates itself from prior research by focusing specifically on active users of social Q&A sites, since their motivating mechanisms are different from normal users. Additionally, the antecedents of knowledge-sharing continuance were categorized into motivators and hygiene factors. This approach affords detailed guidelines to facilitate active users’ knowledge-sharing continuance and to prevent their defection.

Article
Publication date: 30 April 2020

Vikas Rai Bhatnagar

There is a compelling need for developing constructs in management science for higher relevance rather than adapting constructs developed in other domains and applying them in…

Abstract

Purpose

There is a compelling need for developing constructs in management science for higher relevance rather than adapting constructs developed in other domains and applying them in organizations. An inquiry in the relevance of the construct of strength developed in personality psychology and applied to organizations is compelling, as deploying strengths leads to humanizing organizations. With growing disengagement of employees at work, this study makes a significant contribution by conceptualizing strengths in the context of organizations and carrying out two studies on independent samples for developing a psychometrically validated 14-item scale for measuring it.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has two phases. The first phase is conceptual in nature where the authors deploy the social systems theory and use recent empirical research evidence in conceptualizing the construct of employee strengths at work (ESAW). In the second phase, the author carry out two studies on independent samples for ascertaining the factor structure by carrying out EFA and then confirming it by doing a confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

The construct of ESAW, relevant for management science, has five factors: potential deployment, person-jot fit, managerial sensitivity, prompt assimilation and joy. The psychometrically validated scale for measuring ESAW developed in this study has 14 items. Because the construct incorporates key contextual factors, it is more relevant to organizational science and contributes to humanizing organizations.

Originality/value

This study evolves the construct of ESAW from a predominantly trait-based approach to a conceptualization that accounts for the contextual factors, essential for enabling strengths of employees to manifest. The study contributes to advancing literature that holds promise for humanizing organizations – a pressing need because of the growing instances of employee disengagement. The author develop a 14-item psychometrically validated scale for measuring ESAW that the practitioners can use in first assessing current levels of employee strengths’ deployment and thereafter intervening for increasing the deployment of their strengths for enabling higher well-being and superior performance.

Book part
Publication date: 6 November 2018

Shahdad Naghshpour and Bruno S. Sergi

This chapter measures the contribution of financial development to economic growth in Russia. The expansion of banking system causes institutional improvement in the economy…

Abstract

This chapter measures the contribution of financial development to economic growth in Russia. The expansion of banking system causes institutional improvement in the economy, which results in extended and sustained economic growth due to changes in financial institutions. This chapter proposes the novel idea of principal component analysis (PCA) to overcome these problems. Then, the PCA method provides loading factors that condense financial information into a few orthogonal factors, which are used as explanatory variables. The study indicates that financial development explains both per capita GDP and its growth rate. The explanatory power of the models improves by adding control variables and econometric safeguards such as correcting for nonstationarity and multicolinerity. However, utilizing the PCA method to obtain an orthogonal set of variables to represent financial development, deepening, and concentration improves the performance of the model even further.

Details

Exploring the Future of Russia’s Economy and Markets
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78769-397-5

Keywords

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