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1 – 10 of 21Laura Rosenkranz, Silvia Richter, Georg Jacobs, Adrian Mikitisin, Joachim Mayer, Andreas Stratmann and Florian König
Rolling bearing operation under mixed and boundary lubrication conditions may lead to heavy adhesive or abrasive wear, which may lead to wear-induced rolling bearing failure. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Rolling bearing operation under mixed and boundary lubrication conditions may lead to heavy adhesive or abrasive wear, which may lead to wear-induced rolling bearing failure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the wear protection capabilities of different grease compositions at varying temperatures. It is considered that the temperature influences the lubrication conditions, the behaviour of grease components, namely, bleed oil and thickener, as well as the tribofilm formation due to tribo-chemical interactions between additives and surfaces.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, four different greases were produced on the basis of a mineral base oil by varying the thickener and the addition of ZDDP. Various grease-lubricated rolling bearing experiments were conducted in a wide temperature range from 0°C to 120°C. Subsequently, the wear pattern, tribofilm formation and grease structures were analysed. Thereby, the influence of the different grease thickeners and the performance of ZDDP as a common antiwear and extreme pressure additive was evaluated.
Findings
The results show a strong temperature-dependency and allow a classification of temperature ranges concerning wear protection. At low temperatures, all greases provide a very good wear protection without the evidence of additive-based tribofilm formation. In the experiments at elevated temperatures, ZDDP tribofilms were formed. The formation depends on the thickener type: in comparison to lithium thickener, polyurea thickener favours more protective tribofilms at the same temperature. The experimental results show that medium temperatures in the range of 40°C–60°C are critical concerning wear due to the insufficient tribolayer formation and limited load carrying capacity of the grease.
Originality/value
Temperature is a key operating parameter for grease lubrication in roller bearings. The experimental work enables consideration of different impact pathways of temperature by combining roller bearing tests and microanalysis.
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Walter Holweger, Marcus Wolf, Frank Walther, Werner Trojahn, Annette Mütze, Jan Kunzmann, Jürgen Schreiber, Joachim Mayer and Manuela Reichelt
The purpose of this paper is to show how controlled exposure of electromagnetic fields toward bearing steel vulnerates the microstructure. The ability of Barkhausen Noise signal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show how controlled exposure of electromagnetic fields toward bearing steel vulnerates the microstructure. The ability of Barkhausen Noise signal processing is used for detecting phenomena such as dislocation and subgrain formation processes as the beginning of later failures.
Design/methodology/approach
A Barkhausen noise signal measurement equipment is used for detecting subsurface distress of 100Cr6 as a function of the applied electromagnetic and mechanical stress. Barkhausen noise signal is mathematically processed by use of fractal dimension analysis.
Findings
The paper cleary reveals significant impact of electromagnetic field in junction with mechanical loading. Electromagnetic impact depends on the magnitude of the field.
Research limitations/implications
Research limitations are given by the fact that in real field applications, e.g. wind power plants, bearings are exposed by multiple influences and the methodology is not applicable to those conditions.
Practical implications
The methodology can be applied to real field applications in condition monitoring systems. Up to now, no reasonable on‐line measurement is in use determining sub surface fatigue phenomena. The paper hence, reveals the possibility to raise condition monitoring into a new perspective.
Originality/value
The use of Barkhausen noise signal processing, as presented here, is original with respect to real field applications, such as wind power plants with a high demand in condition monitoring, especially off‐shore plants.
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Peter Mayer, Nina Gerber, Ronja McDermott, Melanie Volkamer and Joachim Vogt
This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of goal setting in organizations, especially regarding the mitigation of conflicting productivity and security goals.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of goal setting in organizations, especially regarding the mitigation of conflicting productivity and security goals.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper describes the results of a survey with 200 German employees regarding the effects of goal setting on employees’ security compliance. Based on the survey results, a concept for setting information security goals in organizations building on actionable behavioral recommendations from information security awareness materials is developed. This concept was evaluated in three small- to medium-sized organizations (SMEs) with overall 90 employees.
Findings
The survey results revealed that the presence of rewards for productivity goal achievement is strongly associated with a decrease in security compliance. The evaluation of the goal setting concept indicates that setting their own information security goals is welcomed by employees.
Research limitations/implications
Both studies rely on self-reported data and are, therefore, likely to contain some kind of bias.
Practical implications
Goal setting in organizations has to accommodate for situations, where productivity goals constrain security policy compliance. Introducing the proposed goal setting concept based on relevant actionable behavioral recommendations can help mitigate issues in such situations.
Originality/value
This work furthers the understanding of the factors affecting employee security compliance. Furthermore, the proposed concept can help maximizing the positive effects of goal setting in organizations by mitigating the negative effects through the introduction of meaningful and actionable information security goals.
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Michel Mann, Marco Warsitzka, Joachim Hüffmeier and Roman Trötschel
This study aims to identify effective behaviors in labor-management negotiation (LMN) and, on that basis, derive overarching psychological principles of successful negotiation in…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify effective behaviors in labor-management negotiation (LMN) and, on that basis, derive overarching psychological principles of successful negotiation in this important context. These empirical findings are used to develop and test a comprehensive negotiation training program.
Design/methodology/approach
Twenty-seven practitioners from one of the world’s largest labor unions were interviewed to identify the requirements of effective LMN, resulting in 796 descriptions of single behaviors from 41 negotiation cases.
Findings
The analyses revealed 13 categories of behaviors critical to negotiation success. The findings highlight the pivotal role of the union negotiator by illustrating how they lead the negotiations with the other party while also ensuring that their own team and the workforce stand united. To provide guidance for effective LMN, six psychological principles were derived from these behavioral categories. The paper describes a six-day training program developed for LMN based on the empirical findings of this study and the related six principles.
Originality/value
This paper has three unique features: first, it examines the requirements for effective LMN based on a systematic needs assessment. Second, by teaching not only knowledge and skills but also general psychological principles of successful negotiation, the training intervention is aimed at promoting long-term behavioral change. Third, the research presents a comprehensive and empirically-based training program for LMN.
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Nobody concerned with political economy can neglect the history of economic doctrines. Structural changes in the economy and society influence economic thinking and, conversely…
Abstract
Nobody concerned with political economy can neglect the history of economic doctrines. Structural changes in the economy and society influence economic thinking and, conversely, innovative thought structures and attitudes have almost always forced economic institutions and modes of behaviour to adjust. We learn from the history of economic doctrines how a particular theory emerged and whether, and in which environment, it could take root. We can see how a school evolves out of a common methodological perception and similar techniques of analysis, and how it has to establish itself. The interaction between unresolved problems on the one hand, and the search for better solutions or explanations on the other, leads to a change in paradigma and to the formation of new lines of reasoning. As long as the real world is subject to progress and change scientific search for explanation must out of necessity continue.
Critical theory has rarely articulated an agenda for social change linking theory to practice. This paper provides several examples of “critical theory in practice” and focuses…
Abstract
Critical theory has rarely articulated an agenda for social change linking theory to practice. This paper provides several examples of “critical theory in practice” and focuses specifically on Fay’s Critical Social Science (CSS) model. The methods of conflict transformation are then applied to CSS in order to accomplish two goals. First, political conflicts resulting from decision making can be used to transform both individuals and systems. Second, CSS more adequately accounts for some of the non-rational aspects of human nature, such as our resistance to change, thus improving its catalytic validity as a critical social theory. Together, the processes of CSS and conflict transformation provide a framework for enhancing the potential for citizen governance.
Tat-Huei Cham, Jun-Hwa Cheah, Boon-Liat Cheng and Xin-Jean Lim
Since its inception, mobile payment is rapidly gaining popularity over the years, and starting to replace traditional modes of payment. The usage of mobile payments has further…
Abstract
Purpose
Since its inception, mobile payment is rapidly gaining popularity over the years, and starting to replace traditional modes of payment. The usage of mobile payments has further escalated following various precautionary measures (i.e. social distancing) in curbing the transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, most of the elderlies are still sceptical about the usage of mobile payment services. The current study was set to investigate the impact of functional, psychological and risk barriers that resulted in elderlies' resistance towards using such services. The impact of stickiness to cash was also examined as a moderator on the investigated relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Online survey questionnaires were used to collect the responses from 400 elderly consumers at the age of 60 and above. Data analysis was then performed using the SPSS and AMOS statistical software packages.
Findings
Findings obtained acknowledged the significance of functional (i.e. perceived complexity, perceived incompatibility and perceived cost), psychological (i.e. lack of trust, inertia, and technological anxiety) and risk (i.e. privacy risk, security risk, financial risk and operational risk) barriers in influencing resistance towards mobile payment services among the elderlies. Consequently, resistance would influence their attitude and non-adoption intention; with attitude as the mediator between resistance and non-adoption intention. Finally, moderation analysis also confirmed the moderating effect of stickiness to cash towards elevating the correlation between resistance and non-adoption intention.
Originality/value
This study is one of the very few studies that explored the minimally investigated territory on the consequential importance of mobile payment usage among the elderlies, specifically, through extending the literature on the impact of functional, psychological and risk barriers towards the individuals' resistance. Besides, this study also successfully contributed to existing body of knowledge by highlighting the mediating role of attitude and moderating role of stickiness to cash in the interrelationships between resistance, attitude and non-adoption intention.
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International immigration affects the degree of cultural diversity present in a labour force. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the consequences of immigration with respect…
Abstract
Purpose
International immigration affects the degree of cultural diversity present in a labour force. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the consequences of immigration with respect to the level of cultural diversity by estimating employment functions for individual establishments.
Design/methodology/approach
The theory behind the empirical analyses is based on a “turned around” new economic geography model. The data basis used is a linked employer – employee data set generated by a fusion of the IAB Establishment Panel with the Employment Statistics of Germany, which provides very detailed information about individual workers and establishments. In the empirical part instrumental variables techniques are employed to solve the endogeneity issues involved.
Findings
In the empirical analyses it is shown that employment is lower when the degree of diversity is higher, regarding the revenue of an individual establishment as given. From this result it can be derived under the conditions of monopolistic competition (implying elastic product demand) that the establishment is able to occupy a relatively large part of the market. Finally, this implies relatively high labour demand.
Practical implications
The paper provides clear evidence that cultural diversity in single establishments enhance productivity. The question remains whether different employees interact each another or whether they are separated to different tasks within the establishment. In the latter case productivity gains are due to task-specific knowledge whereas in the former one the interaction of different cultures matters. This issue cannot be answered with the given data set.
Originality/value
Negative effects emerging from employing various cultures (such as language barriers) can be compensated. Thus, hiring foreign born workers does not mean a decline in productivity and a loss in competitiveness.
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Modern prejudice was examined as a potential predictor of overestimating proportions of minority employees in gender-typed occupations. Strength of conjunction error was…
Abstract
Purpose
Modern prejudice was examined as a potential predictor of overestimating proportions of minority employees in gender-typed occupations. Strength of conjunction error was considered as an indicator of distorted perceptions of these proportions. Furthermore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the association between modern prejudice and strength of conjunction error was weaker for gender-untypical than for gender-typical targets.
Design/methodology/approach
Modern prejudice was considered as a predictor of overestimations of black female employees in Study 1 (n=183) and black female older employees in Study 2 (n=409). Data were collected using internet-mediated questionnaires.
Findings
In Study 1, modern racism, but not modern sexism, was associated with greater strength of conjunction error when respondents were presented with gender-typical targets. In Study 2, using a sample scoring higher on modern prejudice than in Study 1, modern racism, but not modern sexism and modern ageism, was associated with greater strength of conjunction error, irrespective of target occupation. Furthermore, there was an unexpected association between lower sexism and greater strength of conjunction error for gender-typical targets, but not for gender-untypical targets.
Research limitations/implications
The findings lend support to the ethnic-prominence hypothesis in that modern racism, but not modern sexism or modern ageism, was associated with greater strength of conjunction error. Furthermore, empirical evidence suggests that target non-prototypicality can dilute the effect of modern prejudice on strength of conjunction error.
Originality/value
This is one of the rare studies examining attitudes and conjunction error in a work-relevant context, thereby bridging the gap between social cognition and applied psychology.
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George E. Nakos, Keith Brouthers and Robert Moussetis
The international economic trade environment has been transformed in recent years by the rise of several regional trade blocks. The most important of these regional trade…
Abstract
The international economic trade environment has been transformed in recent years by the rise of several regional trade blocks. The most important of these regional trade associations has been the European Union. Many Eastern European countries are currently applying to join this regional group, hoping that it will help their future economic growth. This paper examines the trade impact of EU membership on Portugal, a country that joined the EU in 1986. Portugal experienced significant positive and negative changes in its trade flows in the years following its EU entry. The analysis of the trade data for the first seven years following Portugal's accession shows a deterioration of the Portuguese trade deficit and a vary rapid re‐direction of Portuguese trade towards EU countries.