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Article
Publication date: 27 July 2012

Zheng Liu, Jin Wang, Qijin Chen and Guodong Lu

To enhance the pleasure experience of clothes shopping online, finding satisfactory clothing and similar clothing recommendations to customers should be available and accurate…

Abstract

Purpose

To enhance the pleasure experience of clothes shopping online, finding satisfactory clothing and similar clothing recommendations to customers should be available and accurate. The purpose of this paper is to present a method for automatically computing the similarity between two apparels and giving an effective recommendation.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a tabular layout of article characteristics the authors built a clothing information model to describe clothing. The clothing attributes are classified according to excavating features of the model. After the proposal of the computation algorithm for various attributes, an efficient similarity computation method is developed to obtain similar clothes with the given cloth. To prevent error and information omission during the computation, the analytic hierarchy process method and entropy method are adopted by the integrated weights as a control.

Findings

Clothing is a non‐rigid product which has a lot of crossover and complicated attributes and features. This paper found a tabular layout of article characteristics can explain the clothing clearly. Through experiments the authors found the weight of attributes to have a great influence on similar results during the similarity computation.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new way to describe clothing information, and present the algorithm for attributes computation.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 24 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2018

Xiao Jia, Jin Chen, Liang Mei and Qian Wu

The purpose of this paper is to answer the following two questions: What are the influences of the top managers’ different leadership styles on organizational innovation? What is…

5059

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to answer the following two questions: What are the influences of the top managers’ different leadership styles on organizational innovation? What is the mechanism by which the different leaderships exert different effects on organizational innovation?

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypothesized model, a data set based on 133 MBA part-time students from Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University in China was built, after interviewing several top managers as a pilot study. With the help of SPSS macro, hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analysis, the paper analyzes the effects of two leadership styles on innovation performance, through the mediation mechanism of openness involving open breadth and open depth.

Findings

The results indicate that transformational leadership enhances, while transactional leadership reduces, the organizational innovation performance. The openness breadth and openness depth not only mediate the beneficial effect of transformational leadership on innovation, but also mediate the deleterious effect of transactional leadership on innovation.

Originality/value

This study empirically explores the different functions of transformational leadership and transactional leadership for leading organizational innovation performance. Furthermore, a new form of organization is an open design or strategy that allows more external knowledge and resources to be absorbed, which is claimed as a new paradigm for organization innovation. This study integrates the concepts of breadth of openness and depth of openness on the basis of open innovation literature, as an intermediate mechanism to explain the different effects of the two forms of top managers’ leadership.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 56 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2012

Zhang Hong-jie, Chen Zhen, Zhu Yin-lin, Du Zhao-qun and Yu Wei-dong

Cold weather and the subsequent demand for lightweight apparel have prompted research work in the field of thermal insulation clothing. In addition to natural fibres, such as wool…

Abstract

Cold weather and the subsequent demand for lightweight apparel have prompted research work in the field of thermal insulation clothing. In addition to natural fibres, such as wool and cashmere, hollow chemical fibres, such as polyester or polypropylene fibre, have been studied and used to make thermal-insulation clothing. Primarily, modifications are made to increase the hollow ratio; however, this results in the fibre becoming brittle and prone to collapse. Yet many animals survive in harsh and cold conditions, and their hair plays a key role in keeping the body warm.

In the research under discussion, 4 types of cold-resistant animals are selected for observation of their hair fibres based on optical and scanning electronic microscopies. The characteristics of the hair fibres of cold-resistant animals are examined, including colour, scale density, scale thickness, medullary distribution and morphology of cross sections. The conclusions show that there are some common characteristics among cold-resistant animals, i.e., the cross sections are circular or ellipse or anomaly ellipse, scale density ranges from 40 to 100 scales per 1 mm, scale styles vary, and scale angles are small. The experimental results may be used to provide a modification method for functional fibres, especially for thermal-insulation fibres.

Details

Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, vol. 16 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1560-6074

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 March 2019

Kaidi Zhang, Xiao Jia and Jin Chen

The emerging natures of big data – volume, velocity, variety, value and veracity – exert higher stress on employees and demand greater creativity from them, causing extreme…

1644

Abstract

Purpose

The emerging natures of big data – volume, velocity, variety, value and veracity – exert higher stress on employees and demand greater creativity from them, causing extreme difficulties in the talent management of organizations in the big data era. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of challenge stressors on creativity and the boundary conditions of the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Multisource data were collected including 593 followers and their 98 supervisors from organizations that are confronting a big data induced management revolution. Hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping analysis were used to test the mediation and moderation mechanism.

Findings

The results showed that job burnout mediated the negative relationship between challenge stressors and creativity and that this indirect effect was attenuated by an employee’s core self-evaluation (CSE) and servant leadership. In contrast, whether work engagement mediated the relationship between challenge stressors and creativity was contingent on the level of an employee’s CSE and servant leadership. Specifically, the mediating effect was significant only when an employee’s CSE or servant leadership was high.

Originality/value

The results contribute to our understanding of the relationship between challenge stressor and creativity in the big data era. Specifically, relying on the job demands–resources model, this study empirically opens the “black box” between challenge stressors and creativity by exploring two opposing intermediate mechanisms. In addition, this study reveals boundary conditions by investigating dispositional and contextual factors that can accentuate the positive effect while attenuating the negative effect of challenge stressors on employee creativity.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 57 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 November 2017

Huibin Zhan, Sifeng Liu and Jielong Yu

Loyalty of customers is an essential factor influencing the development of geographical indication products industry. The purpose of this paper is to construct a model to detect…

Abstract

Purpose

Loyalty of customers is an essential factor influencing the development of geographical indication products industry. The purpose of this paper is to construct a model to detect factors influencing customers’ loyalty on geographical indication products. With analysing four teas, i.e., Lu’an Gua Pian, Huoshan Huangya, Huangshan tribute chrysanthemum and Yuexi Cuilan, this paper measures the factors strengthening consumers’ loyalty and examines how much impact these factors have.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is characterised as an exploratory research using the grey incidence analysis model and data are obtained by questionnaire survey.

Findings

In general, result of the analysis indicates that customer’s attitude towards its producing areas, perceived quality and cognition of the protection of geographical indications are the important factors that influence their loyalty towards geographical indication products. Detailed rank of their power that goes from highest to lowest is: customer’s attitude towards its producing areas, perceived quality and cognition of the protection of geographical indications. It also shows that the method of grey incidence analysis is adaptable to evaluate factors affecting consumers’ loyalty, which can make the result more persuasive and objective.

Originality/value

The authors construct a model from three aspects: customer’s attitude towards the producing areas of geographical indication products, the perceived quality and cognition of the protection of geographical indications. On the basis of this model, the authors analyse the factors which influence customer’s loyalty with grey incidence analysis.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 7 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 July 2024

Lan Luo, Yuyang Liu, Yue Yang, Jianxun Xie and Guangdong Wu

This study aims to explore the interaction of “contractual governance – relational governance – governmental governance” mechanisms and proposes hypotheses about the effects of…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the interaction of “contractual governance – relational governance – governmental governance” mechanisms and proposes hypotheses about the effects of megaproject governance on governance performance from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a megaproject governance model is developed to explain the relationship between governance mechanisms and governance performance. The model is based on related literature and explores the interactions between governance mechanisms and how they work to improve governance performance. The structural equation model (SEM) is adopted to explore the influence path on governance performance for megaprojects.

Findings

The results indicate that: (a) The findings highlight the positive role of project governance mechanisms on governance performance. (b) Contractual governance, relational governance, and governmental governance directly affect governance performance. In addition, contractual governance mediates governance performance through relational governance and governmental governance; governmental governance mediates governance performance through contractual governance and relational governance. (c) Contractual governance, relational governance, and governmental governance play a positive role in governance performance.

Research limitations/implications

Governmental governance is added to project governance theory and the empirical research method is used to explore the interaction between contractual governance, relational governance, and governmental governance of megaprojects. The SEM is used to systematically explore the paths of megaproject governance mechanisms on governance performance, considering the interactive role of the “contractual governance - relational governance - governmental governance” and the mediating role.

Practical implications

The study reveals the impact path of multidimensional megaproject governance mechanisms on governance performance. In this paper, the empirical findings can help the project participants by providing a decision-making basis for good governance and references for the governments to promote the construction of a micro-institutional environment for megaprojects.

Originality/value

The contributions of this study are (1) to add an exploration of governmental governance to the existing project governance theory, and (2) to consider the interactions of the “contractual governance – relational governance – governmental governance” mechanisms, and (3) to explore their effects on governance performance, including direct and mediating effects. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of megaproject governance by considering governmental governance and the interactions of the three governance mechanisms. Understanding the impact of megaproject governance on governance performance could assist project stakeholders and provide decision guidance for good governance.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 September 2023

Mingyu Wu, Che Fai Yeong, Eileen Lee Ming Su, William Holderbaum and Chenguang Yang

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the state of the art in energy efficiency for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), focusing on energy sources, consumption…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the state of the art in energy efficiency for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), focusing on energy sources, consumption models, energy-efficient locomotion, hardware energy consumption, optimization in path planning and scheduling methods, and to suggest future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic literature review (SLR) identified 244 papers for analysis. Research articles published from 2010 onwards were searched in databases including Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Scopus using keywords and search criteria related to energy and power management in various robotic systems.

Findings

The review highlights the following key findings: batteries are the primary energy source for AMRs, with advances in battery management systems enhancing efficiency; hybrid models offer superior accuracy and robustness; locomotion contributes over 50% of a mobile robot’s total energy consumption, emphasizing the need for optimized control methods; factors such as the center of mass impact AMR energy consumption; path planning algorithms and scheduling methods are essential for energy optimization, with algorithm choice depending on specific requirements and constraints.

Research limitations/implications

The review concentrates on wheeled robots, excluding walking ones. Future work should improve consumption models, explore optimization methods, examine artificial intelligence/machine learning roles and assess energy efficiency trade-offs.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of energy efficiency in AMRs, highlighting the key findings from the SLR and suggests future research directions for further advancements in this field.

Details

Robotic Intelligence and Automation, vol. 43 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2754-6969

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 December 2022

Zuhui Xu, Yan Zhou, Yue Zhang, Yingying Zhang and Zhe Ouyang

Although research on entrepreneurial intentions has outlined the role of family instrumental support, little is known about the impact of family affective support. Building on…

Abstract

Purpose

Although research on entrepreneurial intentions has outlined the role of family instrumental support, little is known about the impact of family affective support. Building on social career cognitive theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) as a mediator and work–home segmentation preferences as a moderator in the relationship between affective family–work enrichment and individuals' entrepreneurial intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 202 business-oriented individuals enrolled in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at a large university in the east of China, this study tests the proposed theoretical framework by analyzing the first-stage moderated mediation model.

Findings

Affective family–work enrichment is positively related to entrepreneurial intentions through the mediating effect of ESE. This relationship is significantly stronger for individuals with lower levels of work–home segmentation preferences.

Originality/value

This study determines the relationship between family–work enrichment and entrepreneurial intentions, and enriches antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions from the perspective of family affective support. Moreover, our study provides novel understanding on the influence mechanisms of family–work enrichment on entrepreneurial intentions by exploring the mediating effect of ESE and the moderating effect of work–home segmentation preferences, which has rarely been explored in the extant literature.

Article
Publication date: 14 July 2022

Peilin Cheng, Yuze Ye, Bo Yan, Yebo Lu and Chuanyu Wu

Soft grippers have safer and more adaptable human–machine and environment–machine interactions than rigid grippers. However, most soft grippers with single gripping postures have…

Abstract

Purpose

Soft grippers have safer and more adaptable human–machine and environment–machine interactions than rigid grippers. However, most soft grippers with single gripping postures have a limited gripping range. Therefore, this paper aims to design a soft gripper with variable gripping posture to enhance the gripping adaptability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a novel soft gripper consisting of a conversion mechanism and four spring-reinforced soft pneumatic actuators (SSPAs) as soft fingers. By adjusting the conversion mechanism, four gripping postures can be achieved to grip objects of different shapes, sizes and weights. Furthermore, a quasi-static model is established to predict the bending deformation of the finger. Finally, the bending angle of the finger is measured to validate the accuracy of the quasi-static model. The gripping force and gripping adaptability are tested to explore the gripping performance of the gripper.

Findings

Through experiments, the results have shown that the quasi-static model can accurately predict the deformation of the finger; the gripper has the most significant gripping force under the parallel posture, and the gripping adaptability of the gripper is highly enhanced by converting the four gripping postures.

Originality/value

By increasing the gripping posture, a novel soft gripper with enhanced gripping adaptability is proposed to enlarge the gripping range of the soft gripper with a single posture. Furthermore, a quasi-static model is established to analyze the deformation of SSPA.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 50 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 January 2023

Kaiwen Pang, Xianbei Huang, Zhuqing Liu, Yaojun Li, Wei Yang and Jiaxing Lu

This study aims to research the prediction performance of the bifurcation approach with different base models in different kinds of turbulent flows with rotation and curvature.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to research the prediction performance of the bifurcation approach with different base models in different kinds of turbulent flows with rotation and curvature.

Design/methodology/approach

The kω and Shear-Stress Transport (SST) kω models are modified by using the complete eddy viscosity coefficient expression, and the latter is modified by using two sets of model coefficients. The two bifurcation models were tested in three cases: rotating channel flow with system rotation, Taylor–Couette flow with wall rotation and curvature effect and swirling flow through an abrupt axisymmetric expansion with inlet swirling flow.

Findings

In these flows, the bifurcation approach can significantly improve the prediction performance of the base model in the fluctuation velocity. The deviation of the BSkO model is slightly superior to the BkO model by about 2% in the Taylor–Couette flow. The prediction effect of the root-mean-square (RMS) velocity of the BSkO model increases by about 4–5% as the number of grids increases about 2.37 times, and the best is the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) grid used. Finally, compared with the SST kω model, the average iteration time of the SST with curvature correction (SST-CC), bifurcation kω (BkO) and bifurcation SST kω (BSkO) models increased by 27.7%, 86.9% and 62.3%, respectively.

Originality/value

This study is helpful to understand further the application of the bifurcation method in the turbulence model.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 40 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

11 – 20 of 58