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1 – 10 of over 7000Atul Kumar Sahu, Sri Yogi Kottala, Harendra Kumar Narang and Mridul Singh Rajput
Supply chain management (SCM)-embedded valuable resources, such as capital, raw-materials, products, partners, customers and finished inventories, where the evaluation of…
Abstract
Purpose
Supply chain management (SCM)-embedded valuable resources, such as capital, raw-materials, products, partners, customers and finished inventories, where the evaluation of environmental texture and flexibilities are needed to perceive sustainability. The present study aims to identify and evaluate the directory of green and agile (G-A) attributes based on decision support framework (DSF) for identifying dominating measures in SCM.
Design/methodology/approach
DSF is developed by exploiting generalized interval valued trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (GIVTFNs). Two technical approaches, i.e. degree of similarity approach (DSA) and distance approach (DA) under the extent boundaries of GIVTFNs, are implicated for data analytics and for recognizing constructive G-A measures based on comparative study for robust decision. A fuzzy-based performance indicator, i.e. fuzzy performance important index (FPII), is presented to enumerate the weak and strong G-A characteristics to manage knowledge risks in allied business environment.
Findings
The modeling is illustrated from the insights of decision-makers for augmenting business value based on cognitive identification of measures, where the best performance score is identified by the “sustainable packaging” under the traits of green supply chain management (GSCM). “The use of Web-based applications” under the traits of agile supply chain management (ASCM) and “Outsourcing flexibility” under traits of ASCM is found as the second and third most significant performance characteristics for business sustainability. Additionally, the “Reutilization (recycling) and reprocessing” under GSCM in manufacturing and “Responsiveness and speed toward customers needs” under ASCM are found difficult in attainment.
Research limitations/implications
The G-A evaluation will assist in attaining performance excellence in day-to-day operations and overall functioning. The outcomes will help executives to plan strategic objectives and attaining success.
Originality/value
To reinforce the capabilities of SCM, wide extent of G-A dimensions are presented, concept of FPII is reported to manage knowledge risks based on identification of strong attributes and two technical approaches, i.e. DSA and DA under GIVTFNs are presented for attaining robust decision and directing managerial decision-making process.
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Ramy Shaheen, Suhail Mahfud and Ali Kassem
This paper aims to study Irreversible conversion processes, which examine the spread of a one way change of state (from state 0 to state 1) through a specified society (the spread…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study Irreversible conversion processes, which examine the spread of a one way change of state (from state 0 to state 1) through a specified society (the spread of disease through populations, the spread of opinion through social networks, etc.) where the conversion rule is determined at the beginning of the study. These processes can be modeled into graph theoretical models where the vertex set V(G) represents the set of individuals on which the conversion is spreading.
Design/methodology/approach
The irreversible k-threshold conversion process on a graph G=(V,E) is an iterative process which starts by choosing a set S_0?V, and for each step t (t = 1, 2,…,), S_t is obtained from S_(t−1) by adjoining all vertices that have at least k neighbors in S_(t−1). S_0 is called the seed set of the k-threshold conversion process and is called an irreversible k-threshold conversion set (IkCS) of G if S_t = V(G) for some t = 0. The minimum cardinality of all the IkCSs of G is referred to as the irreversible k-threshold conversion number of G and is denoted by C_k (G).
Findings
In this paper the authors determine C_k (G) for generalized Jahangir graph J_(s,m) for 1 < k = m and s, m are arbitraries. The authors also determine C_k (G) for strong grids P_2? P_n when k = 4, 5. Finally, the authors determine C_2 (G) for P_n? P_n when n is arbitrary.
Originality/value
This work is 100% original and has important use in real life problems like Anti-Bioterrorism.
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The purpose of the present article is to obtain the similarity solution for the shock wave generated by a piston propagating in a self-gravitating nonideal gas under the impact of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present article is to obtain the similarity solution for the shock wave generated by a piston propagating in a self-gravitating nonideal gas under the impact of azimuthal magnetic field for adiabatic and isothermal flows.
Design/methodology/approach
The Lie group theoretic method given by Sophus Lie is used to obtain the similarity solution in the present article.
Findings
Similarity solution with exponential law shock path is obtained for both ideal and nonideal gas cases. The effects on the flow variables, density ratio at the shock front and shock strength by the variation of the shock Cowling number, adiabatic index of the gas, gravitational parameter and nonidealness parameter are investigated. The shock strength decreases with an increase in the shock Cowling number, nonidealness parameter and adiabatic index, whereas the strength of the shock wave increases with an increase in gravitational parameter.
Originality/value
Propagation of shock wave with spherical geometry in a self-gravitating nonideal gas under the impact of azimuthal magnetic field for adiabatic and isothermal flows has not been studied by any author using the Lie group theoretic method.
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Athanasios Tsagkanos, Dimitrios Koumanakos and Michalis Pavlakis
The purpose of this study is to examine the transmission of volatility between business confidence index and stock market indices in Greece. The country remains the riskiest…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the transmission of volatility between business confidence index and stock market indices in Greece. The country remains the riskiest project in European Union (EU) and previous studies fail to reach an accurate conclusion regarding the direction of this transmission.
Design/methodology/approach
The study covers the period from January 2013 to August 2022 in monthly basis where important economic events occur. Considering that these economic events derive strong volatility moments, the authors adopt a new methodology that measures the transmission of volatility with higher precision. This is the generalized spillover analysis by Diebold and Yilmaz (2009, 2012).
Findings
The results indicate that Business Confidence Index (BCI) is the main receiver of volatility spillovers in Greece under all aspects of the used methodology. The specificity of the results shows that business activity through a green growth model is what drives investor confidence and then their activities.
Originality/value
Although a handful of studies have considered the transmission of volatility between BCI and stock market indices, this study contributes in several ways. This study focuses on one country (Greece), avoiding the dispersion of the results from the examination of the relationship in several countries. The used country remains the riskiest project in EU even nowadays, while other studies fail to confirm the main direction of volatility spillovers from business confidence to stock returns. This study covers a period that is ignored by previous studies and includes important economic events. In addition, considering that these economic events derive strong volatility moments, a new methodology is adopted in this field of research that measures the transmission of volatility with higher accuracy.
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Xiumei Cai, Xi Yang and Chengmao Wu
Multi-view fuzzy clustering algorithms are not widely used in image segmentation, and many of these algorithms are lacking in robustness. The purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Multi-view fuzzy clustering algorithms are not widely used in image segmentation, and many of these algorithms are lacking in robustness. The purpose of this paper is to investigate a new algorithm that can segment the image better and retain as much detailed information about the image as possible when segmenting noisy images.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors present a novel multi-view fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm that includes an automatic view-weight learning mechanism. Firstly, this algorithm introduces a view-weight factor that can automatically adjust the weight of different views, thereby allowing each view to obtain the best possible weight. Secondly, the algorithm incorporates a weighted fuzzy factor, which serves to obtain local spatial information and local grayscale information to preserve image details as much as possible. Finally, in order to weaken the effects of noise and outliers in image segmentation, this algorithm employs the kernel distance measure instead of the Euclidean distance.
Findings
The authors added different kinds of noise to images and conducted a large number of experimental tests. The results show that the proposed algorithm performs better and is more accurate than previous multi-view fuzzy clustering algorithms in solving the problem of noisy image segmentation.
Originality/value
Most of the existing multi-view clustering algorithms are for multi-view datasets, and the multi-view fuzzy clustering algorithms are unable to eliminate noise points and outliers when dealing with noisy images. The algorithm proposed in this paper has stronger noise immunity and can better preserve the details of the original image.
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Yerui Fan, Yaxiong Wu and Jianbo Yuan
This study aims to improve the muscle model control performance of a tendon-driven musculoskeletal system (TDMS) to overcome disadvantages such as multisegmentation and strong…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to improve the muscle model control performance of a tendon-driven musculoskeletal system (TDMS) to overcome disadvantages such as multisegmentation and strong coupling. An adaptive network controller (ANC) with a disturbance observer is established to reduce the modeling error of the musculoskeletal model and improve its antidisturbance ability.
Design/methodology/approach
In contrast to other control technologies adopted for musculoskeletal humanoids, which use geometric relationships and antagonist inhibition control, this study develops a method comprising of three parts. (1) First, a simplified musculoskeletal model is constructed based on the Taylor expansion, mean value theorem and Lagrange–d’Alembert principle to complete the decoupling of the muscle model. (2) Next, for this simplified musculoskeletal model, an adaptive neuromuscular controller is designed to acquire the muscle-activation signal and realize stable tracking of the endpoint of the muscle-driven robot relative to the desired trajectory in the TDMS. For the ANC, an adaptive neural network controller with a disturbance observer is used to approximate dynamical uncertainties. (3) Using the Lyapunov method, uniform boundedness of the signals in the closed-loop system is proved. In addition, a tracking experiment is performed to validate the effectiveness of the adaptive neuromuscular controller.
Findings
The experimental results reveal that compared with other control technologies, the proposed design techniques can effectively improve control accuracy. Moreover, the proposed controller does not require extensive considerations of the geometric and antagonistic inhibition relationships, and it demonstrates anti-interference ability.
Originality/value
Musculoskeletal robots with humanoid structures have attracted considerable attention from numerous researchers owing to their potential to avoid danger for humans and the environment. The controller based on bio-muscle models has shown great performance in coordinating the redundant internal forces of TDMS. Therefore, adaptive controllers with disturbance observers are designed to improve the immunity of the system and thus directly regulate the internal forces between the bio-muscle models.
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Xi Zhang, Tianxue Xu, Xin Wei, Jiaxin Tang and Patricia Ordonez de Pablos
As a kind of knowledge-intensive team coordinated across physical distance, it is necessary to construct a meta-knowledge driven transactive memory system (TMS) for the knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
As a kind of knowledge-intensive team coordinated across physical distance, it is necessary to construct a meta-knowledge driven transactive memory system (TMS) for the knowledge management of distributed agile team (DAT). This study aims to explore the comprehensive antecedents of TMS establishment in DATs and considers how TMS establishment is affected by herding behavior under the artificial intelligence (AI)-related knowledge work environment that emerges with technology penetration.
Design/methodology/approach
The data derived from 177 students of 52 DATs in a well-known Chinese business school, which were divided into 26 traditional knowledge work groups and 26 AI-related task groups to conduct a random comparative experiment. The ordinary least squares method was used to analyze the conceptual model and ANOVA was used to examine the differences in herding behavior between the control groups (traditional knowledge work DATs) and treatment groups (DATs engaged in AI-related knowledge work).
Findings
The results showed that knowledge diversity, professional knowledge, self-efficacy and social system use had significantly positive effects on the establishment of TMS. Interestingly, the authors also find that herding behavior may promote the process of establishing TMS of the new team, and this effect will be more significant when AI tasks are involved in team knowledge work.
Originality/value
By exploring the comprehensive antecedents of the establishment of TMS, this study provided a theoretical basis for knowledge management of DATs, especially in AI knowledge work teams. From a practical perspective, when the DAT is involved in AI-related knowledge works, managers should appropriately guide the convergence of employees’ behaviors and use the herding effects to accelerate the establishment of TMS, which will improve team knowledge sharing and innovation.
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Farshad Moghimi, Vahid Baradaran and Amir Hossein Hosseinian
This study aims to detect the influential factors and their respective variables that affect the effectiveness or demand-driven level of the industrial parks in Iran. A hybrid…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to detect the influential factors and their respective variables that affect the effectiveness or demand-driven level of the industrial parks in Iran. A hybrid procedure is sought to be developed, which embraces both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to identify the aforementioned factors and variables.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is incorporated with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. To implement the qualitative approach, the researchers used focus groups and the related literature. The quantitative methodology has been carried out via a reliable questionnaire that obtained the viewpoints of 700 experts. The reliability of the designed questionnaire has been investigated through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. By conducting several one-sample t-tests, it was confirmed that the identified factors and variables are significantly influential on the effectiveness of Iran’s industrial parks. The Kruskal–Wallis statistical test was used to determine the priorities of the factors. This research also used a multi-criteria decision-making method, namely, the weighted aggregates sum product assessment (WASPAS) to rank 15 industrial parks of Khorasan province in Iran according to the identified factors.
Findings
Comprehensive analyses have been conducted on the identified factors. Results indicate that the infrastructural facilities factor has the highest priority when it comes to affecting the effectiveness of the industrial parks. After that, industrial land and internal factors take the second and the third positions in terms of importance. A total of 15 industrial parks of the aforementioned province have been ranked by the WASPAS. The ranking offered by the WASPAS has been approved by the experts.
Originality/value
Based on the literature investigations, the authors were convinced that there is a scarcity of studies investigating the influential factors that affect the effectiveness or demand-driven level of industrial parks (especially in Iran). Hence, this research has been conducted to propose a procedure equipped with quantitative and qualitative techniques that detect these important factors and their subordinate variables. By means of the developed procedure of this research, it is possible to locate future industrial parks, plan for establishment of future industrial areas and plan for development of current industrial parks.
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Xu Chen, Yingliang Wu, Junfeng Liao, Wenming Zuo and Rujie Zhong
The incentive cost of enterprises increases significantly with the rapid growth of the social commerce (SC) market. In this context, enterprises need to develop the optimal…
Abstract
Purpose
The incentive cost of enterprises increases significantly with the rapid growth of the social commerce (SC) market. In this context, enterprises need to develop the optimal strategy to improve incentive effectiveness and reduce cost. Different types of consumers’ responses to incentives bring different values to enterprises. Hence, this paper proposes the social commerce value network (SCVN) to help enterprises study the contributions of different types of consumers to the network.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the graphical evaluation and review technique (GERT), the authors construct the social commerce value GERT (i.e. SCV-GERT) network and design three progressive experiments for estimating the value contributions of “network stage”, “consumer type”, and “resource type” to the SCVN under the same incentives. The authors initialize the SCV-GERT model with consumer data in SC and distinguish the most valuable consumers by adjusting the incentive parameters.
Findings
The results show that the SCV-GERT model can well describe the value flow of SCVN. The incentive on forwarding consumers brings the greatest value gain to the SCVN, and social trust contributes the most to forwarding consumers.
Practical implications
Under the guidance of the results, platforms and enterprises in SC can select the optimal type of consumers who bring the maximum network value so as to improve the effectiveness of incentive strategy and reduce marketing costs. A four-level incentive system should be established according to the ranking of the corresponding value gains: forwarding consumers > agent consumers > commenting consumers > potential consumers. Enterprises also need to find ways to improve the social resource investments of consumers participating in SC.
Originality/value
This paper investigates the incentive problem in SC grounded in the SCVN and uses the GERT method to construct the SCV-GERT model, which is the first attempt to introduce GERT into the SC context. This study also makes up for the lack of comparative research on different types of consumers in SC and can provide support for enterprises’ customer relationship management and marketing decisions.
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Niki Glaveli, Panagiotis Manolitzas and Evangelos Grigoroudis
The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, to explore the importance of specific work environment facets for the overall job satisfaction (JS) of primary full-time permanent…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, to explore the importance of specific work environment facets for the overall job satisfaction (JS) of primary full-time permanent teachers (PTs) and substitute/temporary teachers (STs). Second, to highlight the similarity or difference in JS patterns among PTs and STs. Third, to provide guidelines for effective evidence-based human resource management (HRM) interventions targeting to boost PTs and STs JS levels by considering: (1) the perceived importance of individual work facets for them and (2) the school's performance in providing a satisfactory work environment.
Design/methodology/approach
Data on overall and important JS facets (i.e. satisfaction with opportunities for self-fulfillment, work intensity/load, salary/income, leadership and collegial relations) were collected from a sample of 438 PTs and STs in Greece. Moreover, MUSA, a method that combines Multi-Criteria Decision (MCDA) and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), was applied to uncover the critical work environment facets of PTs and STs overall JS that call for interventions.
Findings
The findings suggest that PTs seem to value, more than STs, the transactional and economic aspects of the school environment. More precisely, on the part of PTs, self-fulfillment and salary/income are the main contributors to their JS, whilst leadership is the least important facet of JS. For STs self-fulfillment and collegial relationships are the aspects of work that contribute the most to their overall JS, whilst salary/income is the least important contributor. The study results further indicate that self-fulfillment is the strong attribute of Greek schools' work environment in boosting TJS regardless teachers' status, whilst salary/income and workload are potential threats.
Originality/value
It is one of the few studies that provide insights into the differing JS patterns of STs and PTs through the application of a MCDA/IPA method. Therefore, it offers evidence-based guidelines that take into consideration both the school's performance (overall and facet JS) and importance of core aspects of the work experience for STs and PTs.
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