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This paper examines the socio-political affordances of metrics in research evaluation and the consequences of epistemic injustice in research practices and recorded knowledge.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the socio-political affordances of metrics in research evaluation and the consequences of epistemic injustice in research practices and recorded knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the use of metrics is examined as a mechanism that promotes competition and social acceleration. Second, it is argued that the use of metrics in a competitive research culture reproduces systemic inequalities and leads to epistemic injustice. The conceptual analysis draws on works of Hartmut Rosa and Miranda Fricker, amongst others.
Findings
The use of metrics is largely driven by competition such as university rankings and league tables. Not only that metrics are not designed to enrich academic and research culture, they also suppress the visibility and credibility of works by minorities. As such, metrics perpetuate epistemic injustice in knowledge practices; at the same time, the reliability of metrics for bibliometric and scientometric studies is put into question.
Social implications
As metrics leverage who can speak and who will be heard, epistemic injustice is reflected in recorded knowledge and what we consider to be information.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the discussion of metrics beyond bibliometric studies and research evaluation. It argues that metrics-induced competition is antithetical to equality and diversity in research practices.
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Tim Gorichanaz, Jonathan Furner, Lai Ma, David Bawden, Lyn Robinson, Dominic Dixon, Ken Herold, Sille Obelitz Søe, Betsy Van der Veer Martens and Luciano Floridi
The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss Luciano Floridi’s 2019 book The Logic of Information: A Theory of Philosophy as Conceptual Design, the latest instalment in his…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss Luciano Floridi’s 2019 book The Logic of Information: A Theory of Philosophy as Conceptual Design, the latest instalment in his philosophy of information (PI) tetralogy, particularly with respect to its implications for library and information studies (LIS).
Design/methodology/approach
Nine scholars with research interests in philosophy and LIS read and responded to the book, raising critical and heuristic questions in the spirit of scholarly dialogue. Floridi responded to these questions.
Findings
Floridi’s PI, including this latest publication, is of interest to LIS scholars, and much insight can be gained by exploring this connection. It seems also that LIS has the potential to contribute to PI’s further development in some respects.
Research limitations/implications
Floridi’s PI work is technical philosophy for which many LIS scholars do not have the training or patience to engage with, yet doing so is rewarding. This suggests a role for translational work between philosophy and LIS.
Originality/value
The book symposium format, not yet seen in LIS, provides forum for sustained, multifaceted and generative dialogue around ideas.
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This paper aims to understand the nature of citations and metrics in the larger system of knowledge production involving universities, funding agencies, publishers, and indexing…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the nature of citations and metrics in the larger system of knowledge production involving universities, funding agencies, publishers, and indexing and data analytic services.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the normative and social constructivist views of citations are reviewed to be understood as co-existing conditions. Second, metrics are examined through the processes of commensuration by tracing the meanings of metrics embedded in various kinds of documents and contexts. Third, the steering effects of citations and metrics on knowledge production are discussed. Finally, the conclusion addresses questions pertaining to the validity and legitimacy of citations as data and their implications for knowledge production and the conception of information.
Findings
The normative view of citations is understood as an ideal speech situation; the social constructivist view of citation is recognised in the system of knowledge production where citing motivations are influenced by epistemic, social and political factors. When organisational performances are prioritised and generate system imperatives, motives of competition become dominant in shaping citing behaviour, which can deviate from the norms and values in the academic lifeworld. As a result, citations and metrics become a non-linguistic steering medium rather than evidence of research quality and impact.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the understanding of the nature of citations and metrics and their implications for the conception of information and knowledge production.
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Neeraj Dhiman and Mohammad Tamsir
The purpose of this paper is to present a new method, namely, “Re-modified quintic B-spline collocation method” to solve the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky (KS) type equations. In this…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new method, namely, “Re-modified quintic B-spline collocation method” to solve the Kuramoto–Sivashinsky (KS) type equations. In this method, re-modified quintic B-spline functions and the Crank–Nicolson formulation is used for space and time integration, respectively. Five examples are considered to test out the efficiency and accuracy of the method. The main objective is to develop a method which gives more accurate results and reduces the computational cost so that the authors require less memory storage.
Design/methodology/approach
A new collocation technique is developed to solve the KS type equations. In this technique, quintic B-spline basis functions are re-modified and used to integrate the space derivatives while time derivative is discretized by using Crank–Nicolson formulation. The discretization yields systems of linear equations, which are solved by using Gauss elimination method with partial pivoting.
Findings
Five examples are considered to test out the efficiency and accuracy of the method. Finally, the present study summarizes the following outcomes: first, the computational cost of the proposed method is the less than quintic B-spline collocation method. Second, the present method produces better results than those obtained by Lattice Boltzmann method (Lai and Ma, 2009), quintic B-spline collocation method (Mittal and Arora, 2010), quintic B-spline differential quadrature method (DQM) (Mittal and Dahiya, 2017), extended modified cubic B-spline DQM (Tamsir et al., 2016) and modified cubic B-splines collocation method (Mittal and Jain, 2012).
Originality/value
The method presented in this paper is new to best of the authors’ knowledge. This work is the original work of authors and the manuscript is not submitted anywhere else for publication.
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Hung-Yuan Chen, Yu-Ming Chang and Hua-Cheng Chang
This paper aims to propose a numerical definition-based systematic design approach (NDSDA) to generate an explicit numerical definition of the product form profile and to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a numerical definition-based systematic design approach (NDSDA) to generate an explicit numerical definition of the product form profile and to establish the correlation between the product form features and the corresponding consumers’ image perceptions.
Design/methodology/approach
To illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method, this study considers the design of a two-dimensional automobile profile for illustration purposes and commences by developing a detailed numerical definition of an automobile profile using Bézier curves. A series of automobile image evaluations are conducted to examine the relationship between the characteristics of an automobile profile and its associated consumer image perception. Finally, the evaluation results are analyzed statistically, and the statistical results are used to construct mathematical models formalizing the correlations between the automobile profile design variables and the consumers’ perceptions of the product image.
Findings
The results of the evaluation trials are used to construct mathematical models capable of predicting the likely consumer response to any automobile profile designed in accordance with the numerical definition. Furthermore, the evaluation data enable the critical design variables and form features to be determined such that the efficacy of the design process in creating automobiles which better meet the consumers’ image aspirations can be improved.
Originality/value
The major contribution of the NDSDA methodology presented in this study is the ability it gives to designers to specify the product form in a detailed yet highly efficient manner. Furthermore, the numerical definition of the product form not only provides a suitable basis for identifying the critical design variables and form features of the product but also provides an understanding of how these variables should be manipulated to obtain or reinforce the desired product image.
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Lei Ma, Yongjiang Shi and Wenwen Zhao
Based on the theory of habitual domain, the purpose of this paper is to explore inter‐firm networks' mechanisms for coping with environmental change and for assisting firms to…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the theory of habitual domain, the purpose of this paper is to explore inter‐firm networks' mechanisms for coping with environmental change and for assisting firms to adapt to their collaborative networks. Business globalization is driving more and more individual firms to form inter‐firm collaborative networks. These networks need to develop new types of strategic capability in order not only to adopt a robust business process that will achieve high efficiency, but also to develop a network system for responding to external environmental changes.
Design/methodology/approach
With insights gained from the case study, the paper develops an analytical framework for deconstructing the network behavioral changes based on the network habitual domain concept and discusses the dual roles of the network‐based habitual domain in network behavioral changes.
Findings
This paper demonstrates how a Chinese telecommunications service company and its inter‐firm network became the market leader in one of the provincial capital cities in China within six years.
Originality/value
From an endogenous perspective, this paper contributes some useful concepts that may assist both academia and managers to identify network‐based habitual domains, improve the domains continuously, enhance their response capabilities, and formulate appropriate strategies according to the competition's requirements.
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Chris Brown, Robert White and Anthony Kelly
Change agents are individuals who can successfully transform aspects of how organisations operate. In education, teachers as change agents are increasingly seen as vital to the…
Abstract
Change agents are individuals who can successfully transform aspects of how organisations operate. In education, teachers as change agents are increasingly seen as vital to the successful operation of schools and self-improving school systems. To date, however, there has been no systematic investigation of the nature and role of teacher change agents. To address this knowledge gap, we undertook a systematic review into five key areas regarding teachers as change agents. After reviewing 70 outputs we found that current literature predominantly positions teacher change agents as the deliverers of top-down change, with the possibility of bottom-up educational reform currently neglected.
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Sumathy P., Navamani Divya, Jagabar Sathik, Lavanya A., Vijayakumar K. and Dhafer Almakhles
This paper aims to review comprehensively the different voltage-boosting techniques and classifies according to their voltage gain, stress on the semiconductor devices, count of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review comprehensively the different voltage-boosting techniques and classifies according to their voltage gain, stress on the semiconductor devices, count of the total components and their prominent features. Hence, the focus is on non-isolated step-up converters. The converters categorized are analyzed according to their category with graphical representation.
Design/methodology/approach
Many converters have been reported in recent years in the literature to meet our power requirements from mill watts to megawatts. Fast growth in the generation of renewable energy in the past few years has promoted the selection of suitable converters that directly impact the behaviour of renewable energy systems. Step-up converters are a fast-emerging switching power converter in various power supply units. Researchers are more attracted to the derivation of novel topology with a high voltage gain, low voltage and current stress, high efficiency, low cost, etc.
Findings
A comparative study is done on critical metrics such as voltage gain, switch voltage stress and component count. Besides, the converters are also summarized based on their advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the areas that need to be explored in this field are identified and presented.
Originality/value
Types of analysis usually performed in dc converter and their needs with the areas need to be focused are not yet completely reviewed in most of the articles. This paper gives an eyesight on these topics. This paper will guide the researchers to derive and suggest a suitable topology for the chosen application. Moreover, it can be used as a handbook for studying the various topologies with their shortfalls, which will provide a way for researchers to focus.
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Yan Zhao, Wen Zhou, Stefan Hüsig and Wim Vanhaverbeke
The purpose of this paper is to categorize industrial clusters, and then compare three industrial clusters of three countries from the perspectives of hard environment, soft…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to categorize industrial clusters, and then compare three industrial clusters of three countries from the perspectives of hard environment, soft environment, factors from supply and demand sides, and the network mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through interview with cluster coordinators. Qualitative case studies were conducted.
Findings
The center of excellence behaves well in nearly all aspects, while the spatially narrowly distributed specific center of innovation mainly exploits benefits from its concentrated sector. For the Chinese comprehensive technology incubator, relatively limited geographical space and broad sectorial distribution endow it with unclear strengths, implying the inadequacy of interconnectedness and industry relatedness mentioned by Porter.
Research limitations/implications
Data were collected mainly from cluster coordinators, implying further data collecting and more comprehensive analysis.
Practical implications
It only makes sense to compare industrial clusters that are comparable with each other. Elements must be matched to facilitate the network interactions, and hence the innovation performance of clusters.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the theoretical basis through it analyzing and clarifying the scales to measure industrial clusters, and answers the question: what is the situation of industrial clusters behaving in several aspects including hard environment, soft environment, supply, demand, network interactions and innovation performance?
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Üzeyir Kement, Bihter Zeybek, Sinem Soylu, Gül Erkol Bayram and Ali Raza
This study aims to investigate the impact of the transformational leadership style on the behaviour of restaurant employees. Also, it was aimed to investigate the effect of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of the transformational leadership style on the behaviour of restaurant employees. Also, it was aimed to investigate the effect of transformational leadership on trust and the effect of trust on altruistic intention and organizational commitment.
Design/methodology/approach
The study integrates insights from transformational leadership to provide a fresh perspective to advance comparative organizational behaviour research. To test the hypotheses, the authors conduct a multiple analysis with observations from Turkey getting staff in culinary department with a quantitative survey.
Findings
This study equips different professional entities in the food and beverage industry with useful, contextualized links between transformational leadership. According to results, the perspective of transformational leadership style affects the concepts of trust, altruistic value and organizational commitment positively. Charisma, moral modelling and individualized consideration had a significant effect on trust. Also, trust has a significant effect on altruistic intention and organizational commitment.
Research limitations/implications
The present study incorporated confidence as a mediating variable; however, it is recommended that alternative scales be used in subsequent research endeavours. Future research endeavours may incorporate theoretical frameworks such as theory of planned behaviour or stimulus-organism-response.
Practical implications
Transformational leadership style is a good acquisition for restaurant employees. There is a healthier and safer job sharing in these restaurants. This can be interpreted as a more satisfied customer. A good leader has a great contribution to the future and sustainability of the business.
Social implications
This research created a new model and examined employees’ views on the company and its management. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that charisma, moral modelling and individualized consideration had a significant effect on trust.
Originality/value
This assists in learning better service quality developing and business practices to augment culinary staff, thereby maximizing their valuable contributions to tourism growth. This research created a new model and examined employees’ views on the company and its management.
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