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1 – 10 of 251
Article
Publication date: 23 March 2023

Mert Gülçür, Kevin Couling, Vannessa Goodship, Jérôme Charmet and Gregory J. Gibbons

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate and characterise a soft-tooled micro-injection moulding process through in-line measurements and surface metrology using a…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate and characterise a soft-tooled micro-injection moulding process through in-line measurements and surface metrology using a data-intensive approach.

Design/methodology/approach

A soft tool for a demonstrator product that mimics the main features of miniature components in medical devices and microsystem components has been designed and fabricated using material jetting technique. The soft tool was then integrated into a mould assembly on the micro-injection moulding machine, and mouldings were made. Sensor and data acquisition devices including thermal imaging and injection pressure sensing have been set up to collect data for each of the prototypes. Off-line dimensional characterisation of the parts and the soft tool have also been carried out to quantify the prototype quality and dimensional changes on the soft tool after the manufacturing cycles.

Findings

The data collection and analysis methods presented here enable the evaluation of the quality of the moulded parts in real-time from in-line measurements. Importantly, it is demonstrated that soft-tool surface temperature difference values can be used as reliable indicators for moulding quality. Reduction in the total volume of the soft-tool moulding cavity was detected and quantified up to 100 cycles. Data collected from in-line monitoring was also used for filling assessment of the soft-tool moulding cavity, providing about 90% accuracy in filling prediction with relatively modest sensors and monitoring technologies.

Originality/value

This work presents a data-intensive approach for the characterisation of soft-tooled micro-injection moulding processes for the first time. The overall results of this study show that the product-focussed data-rich approach presented here proved to be an essential and useful way of exploiting additive manufacturing technologies for soft-tooled rapid prototyping and new product introduction.

Book part
Publication date: 25 March 2024

Sarah Williams

This chapter explores the extent to which female public relations (PR) practitioners perform professionalism in the workplace by interrogating and examining their professional…

Abstract

This chapter explores the extent to which female public relations (PR) practitioners perform professionalism in the workplace by interrogating and examining their professional behaviours. Using an ethnographic approach, where the researcher is immersed in the field, it uncovers the lived experiences and behavioural responses of women working in PR agency environments in the United Kingdom and enables a rich description of professional behaviours to emerge.

Fawkes argues that research into roles in PR ‘has tended to assess roles using management rather than sociological theory’ (2014, p. 2). That is not to say that all PR research adopts the same paradigmatic stance. Several scholars have encouraged the development of a research agenda rooted in social theory. Holtzhausen called for a move away from what she termed the ‘modernist approach to organizations’ (2002, p. 251), which focuses on management discourse, and encouraged instead a focus on the postmodern concept of discourse, where meaning is constructed and conveyed through social and institutional practices.

In seeking to discover the ‘lived experience’ of female practitioners, this chapter locates professionalism in the context of their behaviours and enables individuals to articulate their understandings of the relationship between performance and professionalism. Using Goffman's (1959) work on social encounters as performances in conjunction with Foucauldian discourse and Feminist theory, this chapter explores the three stages of performing professionalism – preparation, performance and reception – through the eyes of women working in PR agencies in the United Kingdom to explore their lived experience and determine how gender affects their performance of professional behaviour.

Details

Women’s Work in Public Relations
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-539-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2023

Gregory Lyon

The rapid expansion of internet usage and device connectivity has underscored the importance of understanding the public’s cyber behavior and knowledge. Despite this, there is…

144

Abstract

Purpose

The rapid expansion of internet usage and device connectivity has underscored the importance of understanding the public’s cyber behavior and knowledge. Despite this, there is little research that examines the public’s objective knowledge of secure information security practices. The purpose of this study is to examine how objective cyber awareness is distributed throughout society.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on a large national survey of adults to examine the relationship between individual factors – such as demographic attributes and socioeconomic resources – and information security awareness. The study estimates several statistical models using weighted logistic regression to model objective information security awareness.

Findings

The results indicate that socioeconomic resources such as income and education have a significant effect on individuals’ information security awareness with richer and more highly educated individuals exhibiting greater awareness of important security practices and tools. Additionally, age and gender represent consistent and clear informational gaps in society as older individuals and females are significantly less knowledgeable about an array of information security practices than younger individuals and males, respectively.

Social implications

The findings have important implications for our understanding of information security behavior and user vulnerability in an increasingly digital and connected society. Despite the growing importance of cybersecurity for all individuals in nearly all domains of daily life, there is substantial inequality in awareness about secure cyber practices and the tools and techniques used to protect one’s self from attacks. While digital technology will continue to permeate many aspects of daily life – from financial transactions to health services to social interactions – the findings here indicate that some users may be far more exposed and vulnerable to attack than others.

Originality/value

This study contributes to our understanding of general user information security awareness using a large survey and statistical models to generalize about the public’s information security awareness across multiple domains and stimulates future research on public knowledge of information security. The findings indicate that some users may be far more exposed and vulnerable to attack than others. Despite the growing importance of cybersecurity for all individuals in nearly all domains of daily life, there is substantial inequality in awareness about secure cyber practices and the tools and techniques used to protect one’s self from attacks.

Details

Information & Computer Security, vol. 32 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-4961

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 January 2023

Alexa M. Dare, Ruth Dittrich, Macey Schondel, Molly Lowney and Gregory Hill

This paper aims to understand why higher education institutions (HEIs) struggle to become sustainable institutions themselves despite providing relevant teaching and research on…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to understand why higher education institutions (HEIs) struggle to become sustainable institutions themselves despite providing relevant teaching and research on sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 17 open-ended, semistructured interviews to determine common themes (codes) regarding sustainability, the authors mapped those codes to the adaptive cycle from social innovation theory.

Findings

Using the adaptive cycle offered a framework for understanding sustainability at HEIs as a cyclical process where innovation occurs in ebbs and flows. Differing perceptions of power by students and faculty slow down the process, and cross-collaboration is the key to further sustainability.

Practical implications

Insights from the adaptive cycle can contribute to HEI assessment of its sustainability initiatives by identifying the stage of the adaptive cycle relevant to the institution’s present sustainability work.

Originality/value

Applying the adaptive cycle is an original way of understanding the process of anchoring sustainability at HEIs providing concrete insights into advancing this process.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 24 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 March 2022

Gregory Gimpel and Candice M. Vander Weerdt

Companies that leverage the Internet-of-things (IoT) will gain significant competitive advantages over the competition; however, few businesses have active IoT initiatives. This…

221

Abstract

Purpose

Companies that leverage the Internet-of-things (IoT) will gain significant competitive advantages over the competition; however, few businesses have active IoT initiatives. This paper aims to provide principles to guide executives as they launch or scale-up IoT initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws upon data from original expert interviews and an extensive study of existing scholarly literature, management publications and white papers from leading strategy and technology firms.

Findings

Close cooperation among a company’s operations, business strategy and information technology units creates a trifecta of skills, vision and budgeting that can successfully bring major IoT initiatives to fruition. Unfortunately, many companies face a misalignment among these departments. The way to overcome this misalignment is to create a cross-functional team dedicated to IoT initiatives. Leaders should build these teams on the principles of autonomy, rational compensation, equality and diversity.

Practical implications

This paper provides strategic advice for business leaders as well as four guiding principles with which to execute their IoT strategies.

Originality/value

Much of the writing about IoT advocates initiatives by teaching about the many business benefits of IoT or provides a use case for a specific type of IoT technology. This paper focuses on removing a major obstacle faced by many business leaders who want to embrace the IoT but find themselves unable to do so.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 September 2023

Claudia Vincent, Heather McClure, Rita Svanks, Erik Girvan, John Inglish, Darren Reiley and Scott Smith

This study focused on identifying measurable constructs of a restorative classroom and appropriate metrics to measure those constructs through content validity analysis of a…

Abstract

Purpose

This study focused on identifying measurable constructs of a restorative classroom and appropriate metrics to measure those constructs through content validity analysis of a direct observation tool. The tool was designed to assess restorative practices implementation in the classroom in the context of professional development supporting teachers in a fundamental reorientation towards non-punitive discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors administered a 30-item survey to a panel of 14 experts in restorative practices implementation in schools asking them to provide quantitative and qualitative feedback on the tool's content, metrics, and utility for building teachers' skill and confidence in promoting a restorative classroom. The authors calculated item-level content validity indices and scale-level content validity indices. To interpret findings, the authors applied acceptability criteria recommended in the literature. The authors used qualitative coding to analyze qualitative responses and contextualize quantitative findings.

Findings

Quantitative results indicated that the tool's structure and measures of teacher behavior were acceptable. The student behavior scale did not meet the acceptability criterion. Qualitative feedback indicated that observation and later co-reflection on teachers' use of specific restorative skills was deemed helpful to teacher implementation of restorative practices. Observations of student behaviors, however, needed to be broadened to emphasize student voice and agency and the quality of student interactions.

Originality/value

Novel approaches to measurement are needed to facilitate teacher implementation of restorative practices as schools adopt those practices to promote equitable student agency, engagement and belonging in a pivotal shift from existing punitive discipline systems.

Details

Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2397-7604

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 April 2023

Nkosi Leary, Lorry Perkins, Umang Thakkar and Gregory Gimpel

While strong risk management and contingency planning are important for building capabilities useful for quick adaptation to foreseeable disruptions, they may not be useful for…

144

Abstract

Purpose

While strong risk management and contingency planning are important for building capabilities useful for quick adaptation to foreseeable disruptions, they may not be useful for preparing for black swan-type events or situations that lack sufficient precedent to understand how they impact businesses. The key to creating a resilient organization relies most on resilient human capital, who are capable of withering whatever changes Chance may throw at them and the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Using company data and semi-structured interviews, this paper presents the case study of ASK Consulting, a medium-size entrepreneurial enterprise that learned that human resources are the cornerstone of a resilient organization.

Findings

Resilient people exhibit three common traits: discipline, open-mindedness to change, and a sense of service to the team rather than themselves. Insights about these traits can be elicited by asking prospective employees three questions during their interview.

Practical implications

This case provides an illustrative case study and straightforward guidance for identifying whether a job candidate has the traits of a resilient person.

Originality/value

Much of the research into organizational resilience focuses on scenario planning, contingencies, and building organizational capabilities. This provides a much more straightforward and actionable approach that focuses on only one type of resource and is not contingent on the availability of slack time and money to implement.

Details

Strategy & Leadership, vol. 51 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1087-8572

Article
Publication date: 31 July 2023

Alexander Kouptsov and Jagjit Singh Srai

This paper aims to better understand and structure the process of business model (BM) redesign in dynamic industry contexts by exploring the interactions of BM components through…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to better understand and structure the process of business model (BM) redesign in dynamic industry contexts by exploring the interactions of BM components through a configuration and design-science lens. While these interactions have been investigated broadly in the BM literature, detailed studies on their properties and structures are limited.

Design/methodology/approach

A design-science methodology was utilised to conceptualise a BM design artefact based on literature, the components' interactions of which were investigated and iteratively validated through a case study of an organisation going through a BM change. The artefact served as a framework to capture the case firm's BM and value proposition through semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The results suggest that the interaction of BM components is represented by the value proposition as an integrating mechanism, which can be expressed as a combination of tangible, intangible and monetary inter-component flows. The value proposition, rather than being pre-determined and static, is dynamic and evolves as its flows are exchanged across the value creation, delivery, customer and capture components of the BM. These exchanges and interactions are facilitated by the components' input-process-output capabilities and drive BM reconfiguration through five value flow “properties”, expressed in terms of change in quantity, speed/frequency, composition, quality and value.

Research limitations/implications

While developed with inputs from a complex business environment that provides a rich research context, this work acknowledges the trade-off between in-depth single case analysis in theory building, and the need for follow-on research to address the limiting contextual variables and extend generalisability.

Practical implications

The study offers a framework-based sequence of activities that managers can adopt for the BM design process in dynamic industry environments.

Originality/value

This work contributes to BM theory by setting out a mechanism that helps better understand interactions of BM components in dynamic environments, while also challenging the established definition of the value proposition concept – a key BM component – thus presenting significant implications for theory.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 29 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 October 2023

Helen Frances Harrison, Elizabeth Anne Kinsella, Stephen Loftus, Sandra DeLuca, Gregory McGovern, Isabelle Belanger and Tristan Eugenio

This study aims to investigate student mentors' perceptions of peer mentor relationships in a health professions education program.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate student mentors' perceptions of peer mentor relationships in a health professions education program.

Design/methodology/approach

The design uses embodied hermeneutic phenomenology. The data comprise 10 participant interviews and visual “body maps” produced in response to guided questions.

Findings

The findings about student mentors' perceptions of peer mentor relationships include a core theme of nurturing a trusting learning community and five related themes of attunement to mentees, commonality of experiences, friends with boundaries, reciprocity in learning and varied learning spaces.

Originality/value

The study contributes original insights by highlighting complexity, shifting boundaries, liminality, embodied social understanding and trusting intersubjective relations as key considerations in student peer mentor relationships.

Article
Publication date: 24 March 2023

Carmen Isensee, Frank Teuteberg and Kai Michael Griese

The purpose of this paper is to distinguish different types of sustainable digital entrepreneurs (SDEs) and explore their approaches toward enhancing organizational resilience.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to distinguish different types of sustainable digital entrepreneurs (SDEs) and explore their approaches toward enhancing organizational resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

Investigation of entrepreneur characteristics using Grounded Theory methodology; 12 semi-structured telephone interviews with (owner-)managers of digital-resilient small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in Germany; adaptation of a sustainability-digitalization-matrix for initial clustering; investigation of reoccurring patterns (within and between clusters) through variable-oriented content analysis; application of the capability-based conceptualization of organizational resilience for synthesis and extension.

Findings

First, the authors present a new typology of SDEs, including descriptions of the four main types (Process-Oriented System Thinker, Unconventional Strategist, Dynamic Visionary and Success-Oriented Opportunist). Second, the authors propose a conceptual framework with six success factors of organizational resilience. The framework accentuates the influence of SDEs on organizational culture and the macro-environment.

Practical implications

Digital sustainability and resilience are emerging management principles. The insights gained will allow (future) entrepreneurs to perform a self-assessment and replicate approaches toward enhancing SME resilience; for example, governing the co-creation of an organizational culture with a strong integrative view on sustainability and digitalization.

Originality/value

SMEs are characterized by high vulnerability and a reactive response to the disruptions caused by sustainability crises and digitalization. Blending sustainable and digital entrepreneurship at a micro-level, the authors identified the success factors underpinning organizational resilience that are associated with the characteristics of four types of SDEs.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 61 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

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