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1 – 10 of 27Zhiwei Li, Dingding Li, Yulong Zhou, Haoping Peng, Aijun Xie and Jianhua Wang
This paper aims to contribute to the performance improvement and the broader application of hot-dip galvanized coating.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to contribute to the performance improvement and the broader application of hot-dip galvanized coating.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the ability to provide barrier protection, galvanic protection, and corrosion product protection provided by hot-dip galvanized coating is introduced. Then, according to the varying Fe content, the growth process of each sublayer within the hot-dip galvanized coating, as well as their respective microstructures and physical properties, is presented. Finally, the electrochemical corrosion behaviors of the different sublayers are analyzed.
Findings
The hot-dip galvanized coating is composed of η-Zn sublayer, ζ-FeZn13 sublayer, δ-FeZn10 sublayer, and Γ-Fe3Zn10 sublayer. Among these sublayers, with the increase in Fe content, the corrosion potential moves in a noble direction.
Research limitations/implications
There is a lack of research on the corrosion behavior of each sublayer of hot-dip galvanized coating in different electrolytes.
Practical implications
It provides theoretical guidance for the microstructure control and performance improvement of hot-dip galvanized coatings.
Originality/value
The formation mechanism, coating properties, and corrosion behavior of different sublayers in hot-dip galvanized coating are expounded, which offers novel insights and directions for future research.
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Shixuan Fu, Jianhua Jordan Yu, Huimin Gu and Xiaoxiao Song
Shifting to OLSL classes during the pandemic can bring learners ambivalent experiences: negative, positive or both appraisals toward the technologies. However, few studies have…
Abstract
Purpose
Shifting to OLSL classes during the pandemic can bring learners ambivalent experiences: negative, positive or both appraisals toward the technologies. However, few studies have examined how ambivalent experiences can influence students' learning behaviors, specifically cyberslacking and active participation. Using the challenge-hindrance stressor framework, this study investigates the impact of challenge and hindrance appraisals on these learning behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a mixed methods approach to answer research questions. An interview was conducted to identify the key components of ambivalent appraisals, and a survey was conducted to empirically examine the impact of challenge and hindrance appraisals on learners' behaviors in online live streaming learning (OLSL) contexts. The data of 675 university students were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
This study found that hindrance appraisal leads to cyberslacking while challenge appraisal leads to active participation, but it can also cause cyberslacking. Social presence has a double-edged effect, acting as both a facilitator and inhibitor, strengthening the effect of hindrance appraisal on cyberslacking and the impact of challenge appraisal on active participation.
Originality/value
Prior studies have primarily focused on the negative side (techno-distress) of technology appraisals. This study simultaneously examines the positive side, techno-eustress, on learners' behaviors in OLSL contexts, and explores the moderating effects of social presence. This study contributes to the technostress and technology adaptation literature by revealing how technology-induced ambivalent appraisals impact behavioral responses. It offers important theoretical and practical implications for education tool designers.
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Abdul Hakeem Waseel, Jianhua Zhang, Muhammad Usman Shehzad, Irshad Hussain Sarki and Muhammad Wajid Kamran
This study examines the link between the knowledge creation process, ambidextrous innovation, and competitive advantage. Further, this study also tested the moderating role of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the link between the knowledge creation process, ambidextrous innovation, and competitive advantage. Further, this study also tested the moderating role of organizational agility on the relationship between the knowledge creation process and ambidextrous innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical study’s data were collected by surveying 306 respondents employed in 140 Pakistani Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The questionnaire was designed according to the study’s requirements and was based on theoretical knowledge and findings from previous research on the knowledge-creation process, ambidextrous innovation, and competitive advantage. All hypotheses were tested using a structured regression method.
Findings
The study indicates that the knowledge creation process significantly impacts a firm’s competitive advantage. Additionally, this study demonstrates that ambidextrous innovation can moderate the relationship between the knowledge-creation process and competitive advantage.
Research limitations/implications
Future studies should examine mediating factors, such as organizational culture, leadership style, and industry characteristics, as well as moderating variables, such as environmental turbulence.
Practical implications
This study guides SME leaders on the importance of knowledge creation and ambidextrous innovation in achieving operational success and gaining a competitive advantage.
Originality/value
This study explores how the knowledge creation process directly and indirectly, enhances organizational capacity for competitive advantage through the mediating roles of ambidextrous innovation and the moderating role of organizational agility.
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Abdul Hakeem Waseel, Jianhua Zhang, Umair Zia, Malik Muhammad Mohsin and Sajjad Hussain
With ambidextrous innovation (AI) gaining paramount importance in the manufacturing sectors of emerging markets, this research aim to explore how leadership and management support…
Abstract
Purpose
With ambidextrous innovation (AI) gaining paramount importance in the manufacturing sectors of emerging markets, this research aim to explore how leadership and management support (LMS) amplify this type of innovation by leveraging knowledge sources (KS). The study further probes the knowledge management capability (KMC) as moderating effect between KS and AI.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the convenient random sampling technique of a sample of 340 professionals within Pakistan’s manufacturing realm, data was collated via a structured questionnaire. The subsequent analysis harnessed the power of the variance-based partial least squares structural equation modelling approach.
Findings
This research underscores the pivotal role of LMS in elevating both facets of AI i.e. exploitative innovation (ERI) and exploratory innovation (ERT). KS emerge as a vital intermediary factor that bridges LMS with both types of innovation. Notably, the potency of KS in driving AI is significantly boosted by an organization’s KMC.
Originality/value
This study fills existing gaps in contemporary research by offering a nuanced perspective on how LMS enrich an organization’s dual innovation spectrum via KS. It sheds light on the symbiotic interplay of leadership, knowledge flows and innovation in Pakistan’s burgeoning manufacturing sector.
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Jianhua Yang, Yuying Liu and Moustafa Mohamed Nazief Haggag Kotb Kholaif
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of two typical relationship management approaches (trust relationship with suppliers and reciprocity) on manufacturer resilience…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of two typical relationship management approaches (trust relationship with suppliers and reciprocity) on manufacturer resilience in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, this paper aims to deepen the understanding of environmental uncertainty's moderating effect on the association between the trust relationship with suppliers (TRS) and reciprocity.
Design/methodology/approach
Structural equation modeling has been used to test the hypotheses on 361 Chinese manufacturing firms' managers and independent directors during the COVID-19 crisis.
Findings
The results reveal that reciprocity positively enhances three dimensions of manufacturer resilience, namely, preparedness, responsiveness and recovery capability. Reciprocity positively mediates the relationships between TRS and preparedness, responsiveness and recovery capability. Moreover, environmental uncertainty moderates the association between TRS and reciprocity.
Practical implications
This study highlights the critical role of reciprocity, the relational governance approach, in enhancing manufacturer resilience in practice. This paper suggests that during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, managers should adopt trust and reciprocity in supplier relationship governance to strengthen the resilience of manufacturing companies and adapt effective strategies according to the environment.
Originality/value
This study is unique in developing new scales of manufacturer resilience through interviews and surveys with Chinese manufacturers and theoretical research. Based on the social capital theory and social exchange theory, this study shed light on the role of trust and reciprocity. It also bridges relational governance theory with the literature on manufacturing firm resilience literature to help manufacturers better understand the transdisciplinary links between relationship management and resilient operations in emergencies.
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Sherani, Jianhua Zhang, Muhammad Usman Shehzad, Sher Ali and Ziao Cao
This study aims to determine whether knowledge creation processes (KCPs) – knowledge exchange and knowledge integration affect digital innovation (DI), including information…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine whether knowledge creation processes (KCPs) – knowledge exchange and knowledge integration affect digital innovation (DI), including information technology (IT)-enabled capabilities (ITECs) as a mediator and absorptive capacity (AC) as a moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
With a survey data set of 390 employees from Pakistani software small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the current study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Smart Partial Least Squares to estimate the structural relationships in the conceptual model.
Findings
The results confirm that KCPs – knowledge exchange and knowledge integration positively enhance software SME's DI; ITECs play a partial mediating role in the linkage between KCPs and DI; AC positively moderates the relationship between knowledge integration and ITECs, and ITECs and DI, while AC doesn’t moderate the relationship between knowledge exchange and ITECs. The AC positively moderates the mediating role of ITECs amongst KCPs (knowledge exchange and knowledge integration) and DI, respectively.
Originality/value
This research uniquely integrates the knowledge-based view and dynamic capability theory to present a comprehensive framework that explains the interdependencies between knowledge process, ITECs and AC in driving DI. This approach advances the understanding of how software SMEs can strengthen internal knowledge and IT resources to achieve superior innovation outcomes.
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Jianhua Sun, Suihuai Yu, Jianjie Chu, Wenzhe Cun, Hanyu Wang, Chen Chen, Feilong Li and Yuexin Huang
In situations where the crew is reduced, the optimization of crew task allocation and sequencing (CTAS) can significantly enhance the operational efficiency of the man-machine…
Abstract
Purpose
In situations where the crew is reduced, the optimization of crew task allocation and sequencing (CTAS) can significantly enhance the operational efficiency of the man-machine system by rationally distributing workload and minimizing task completion time. Existing related studies exhibit a limited consideration of workload distribution and involve the violation of precedence constraints in the solution process. This study proposes a CTAS method to address these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The method defines visual, auditory, cognitive and psychomotor (VACP) load balancing objectives and integrates them with workload balancing and minimum task completion time to ensure equitable workload distribution and task execution efficiency, and then a multi-objective optimization model for CTAS is constructed. Subsequently, it designs a population initialization strategy and a repair mechanism to maintain sequence feasibility, and utilizes them to improve the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III) for solving the CTAS model.
Findings
The CTAS method is validated through a numerical example involving a mission with a specific type of armored vehicle. The results demonstrate that the method achieves equitable workload distribution by integrating VACP load balancing and workload balancing. Moreover, the improved NSGA-III maintains sequence feasibility and thus reduces computation time.
Originality/value
The study can achieve equitable workload distribution and enhance the search efficiency of the optimal CTAS scheme. It provides a novel perspective for task planners in objective determination and solution methodologies for CTAS.
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Jiaqing Shen, Xu Bai, Xiaoguang Tu and Jianhua Liu
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), known for their exceptional flexibility and maneuverability, have become an integral part of mobile edge computing systems in edge networks. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), known for their exceptional flexibility and maneuverability, have become an integral part of mobile edge computing systems in edge networks. This paper aims to minimize system costs within a communication cycle. To this end, this paper has developed a model for task offloading in UAV-assisted edge networks under dynamic channel conditions. This study seeks to efficiently execute task offloading while satisfying UAV energy constraints, and validates the effectiveness of the proposed method through performance comparisons with other similar algorithms.
Design/methodology/approach
To address this issue, this paper proposes a task offloading and trajectory optimization algorithm using deep deterministic policy gradient, which jointly optimizes Internet of Things (IoT) device scheduling, power distribution, task offloading and UAV flight trajectory to minimize system costs.
Findings
The analysis of simulation results indicates that this algorithm achieves lower redundancy compared to others, along with reductions in task size by 22.8%, flight time by 34.5%, number of IoT devices by 11.8%, UAV computing power by 25.35% and the required cycle for per-bit tasks by 33.6%.
Originality/value
A multi-objective optimization problem is established under dynamic channel conditions, and the effectiveness of this approach is validated.
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Keywords
Jianhua Zhang, Liangchen Li, Fredrick Ahenkora Boamah, Dandan Wen, Jiake Li and Dandan Guo
Traditional case-adaptation methods have poor accuracy, low efficiency and limited applicability, which cannot meet the needs of knowledge users. To address the shortcomings of…
Abstract
Purpose
Traditional case-adaptation methods have poor accuracy, low efficiency and limited applicability, which cannot meet the needs of knowledge users. To address the shortcomings of the existing research in the industry, this paper proposes a case-adaptation optimization algorithm to support the effective application of tacit knowledge resources.
Design/methodology/approach
The attribute simplification algorithm based on the forward search strategy in the neighborhood decision information system is implemented to realize the vertical dimensionality reduction of the case base, and the fuzzy C-mean (FCM) clustering algorithm based on the simulated annealing genetic algorithm (SAGA) is implemented to compress the case base horizontally with multiple decision classes. Then, the subspace K-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm is used to induce the decision rules for the set of adapted cases to complete the optimization of the adaptation model.
Findings
The findings suggest the rapid enrichment of data, information and tacit knowledge in the field of practice has led to low efficiency and low utilization of knowledge dissemination, and this algorithm can effectively alleviate the problems of users falling into “knowledge disorientation” in the era of the knowledge economy.
Practical implications
This study provides a model with case knowledge that meets users’ needs, thereby effectively improving the application of the tacit knowledge in the explicit case base and the problem-solving efficiency of knowledge users.
Social implications
The adaptation model can serve as a stable and efficient prediction model to make predictions for the effects of the many logistics and e-commerce enterprises' plans.
Originality/value
This study designs a multi-decision class case-adaptation optimization study based on forward attribute selection strategy-neighborhood rough sets (FASS-NRS) and simulated annealing genetic algorithm-fuzzy C-means (SAGA-FCM) for tacit knowledgeable exogenous cases. By effectively organizing and adjusting tacit knowledge resources, knowledge service organizations can maintain their competitive advantages. The algorithm models established in this study develop theoretical directions for a multi-decision class case-adaptation optimization study of tacit knowledge.
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Jianhua Zhang, Umair Zia, Muhammad Usman Shehzad and Sherani
Nowadays, it is hard to retain a knowledge monopoly since tacit knowledge has become essential for innovation and organizational effectiveness (ORP). This study analyzed the role…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, it is hard to retain a knowledge monopoly since tacit knowledge has become essential for innovation and organizational effectiveness (ORP). This study analyzed the role of product innovation as a mediator in the relationship between the tacit knowledge management process (TKMP) and organizational performance. In addition, two moderating variables were examined: (1) Affective trust (AFT) between the tacit knowledge management process and product innovation relationship and (2) Task efficiency in product innovation and organizational performance (ORP) relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Around 344 questionnaires were collected from various Chinese regions between February and April 2023 to conduct this study. The regression, mediation and moderation analyses on lower and higher-order data were evaluated using the SmartPLS approach.
Findings
The results validate that product innovation mediates the connection between managing tacit knowledge and the organization’s performance. Affective trust also plays a positive moderating role between tacit knowledge and product innovation. These results provide valuable theoretical and practical insights, substantiating various direct, indirect, mediate, and moderated effects hypotheses.
Research limitations/implications
The scope of the study was restricted to manufacturing companies; however, further research may broaden the model’s scope to include other industries. Furthermore, future research should continue to explore the role of task efficiency in the innovation process and identify strategies for enhancing task efficiency in organizations.
Practical implications
The study establishes the significance of effectively managing tacit knowledge for fostering product innovation. Company managers and leaders can promote employee trust, enhancing innovation capabilities and overall organizational effectiveness.
Originality/value
This study, involving dual moderation, explores the connections between processes of managing tacit knowledge, product innovation and organizational performance. It addresses research gaps, enriching the understanding of managing tacit knowledge, leading to organizational innovation and performance improvements. The study also highlights how affective trust is vital in strengthening the connection between TKMP and product innovation.
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