Search results
1 – 10 of over 1000Baofeng Huo, Min Tian, Yu Tian and Qiyuan Zhang
Power is central to inter-organizational relationships. The literature distinguishes between structural power (i.e. dependence) and behavioral power (i.e. use of power)…
Abstract
Purpose
Power is central to inter-organizational relationships. The literature distinguishes between structural power (i.e. dependence) and behavioral power (i.e. use of power), yet few studies considered them simultaneously. Opportunism is generally linked to use of power, but it remains unclear whether use of power deters or invites opportunism. In this study, the authors treat dependence as a driver of use of power and opportunism as its outcome, and empirically test relationships among dependence, power, and opportunism from both buyer and supplier perspectives. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examines how buyer and supplier dependence influence the other’s and their own use of coercive and non-coercive power, which lead to opportunism of two parties, based on data from 240 companies in China on their perceived relationships with major suppliers.
Findings
Results show that buyer/supplier dependence is positively related to supplier’s/buyer’s use of coercive and non-coercive power. Buyer’s and supplier’s use of coercive power also positively influences their opportunism. Buyer’s use of non-coercive power is negatively related to both partners’ opportunism, whereas supplier’s use of non-coercive power is not significantly related to either partner’s opportunism.
Originality/value
This study contributes to literature in two ways. First, the authors distinguish the structural aspect of power from its behavioral aspect and demonstrate that dependence, which represents structural power, generates different patterns of influence on use of coercive and non-coercive power when considered from buyer’s and supplier’s perspectives. Second, the authors reexamine relationships between use of power and opportunism and show that buyers and suppliers react differently to use of different types of power.
Details
Keywords
Chun‐Fei Hsu, Chia‐Yu Hsu, Chih‐Min Lin and Tsu‐Tian Lee
A chaotic system is a nonlinear deterministic system that displays complex, noisy‐like and unpredictable behavior. The interest in chaotic systems lies mostly upon their…
Abstract
Purpose
A chaotic system is a nonlinear deterministic system that displays complex, noisy‐like and unpredictable behavior. The interest in chaotic systems lies mostly upon their complex, unpredictable behavior, and extreme sensitivity to initial conditions as well as parameter variations. Based on wavelet neural network's (WNN) online approximation ability, the purpose of this paper is to propose an adaptive Gaussian wavelet neural control (AGWNC) system to control a chaotic system.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed AGWNC system is composed of a wavelet neural controller and a compensation tangent controller. The wavelet neural controller utilizes a Gaussian WNN to mimic an ideal controller, and the compensation tangent controller is designed to compensate the approximation error between the ideal and the wavelet neural controllers. The controller parameters of the proposed AGWNC can online tune in the Lyapunov sense, thus the uniformly ultimately bounded stability of closed‐loop system can be guaranteed.
Findings
The proposed AGWNC system is applied to a chaotic system. Simulation results are used to demonstrate the effectiveness and performance of the proposed AGWNC scheme. Simulation results show that not only the favorable control performance can be achieved but also the control efforts without any chattering phenomena. Moreover, all controller parameters can be online tuning by the derived adaptive laws based on the Lyapunov function.
Originality/value
The proposed AGWNC approach is interesting for the design of an intelligent control scheme. The main contributions of this paper are: the overall closed‐loop control system is globally stable in uniform ultimate boundedness; the tracking error can be asymptotically attenuated to a desired small level around zero by appropriate chosen parameters and learning rates; and the AGWNC system can achieve favorable tracking performance.
Details
Keywords
The chapter pays specific attention to the organizing and reorganizing process of the embedding of new technology. The aim is to increase the understanding of how a focal…
Abstract
The chapter pays specific attention to the organizing and reorganizing process of the embedding of new technology. The aim is to increase the understanding of how a focal technology is incrementally aligned into a customer’s different business settings. Embedding becomes subject to intense organizing efforts. It becomes a struggle with activating different features of the focal technology by forging and modifying the resource interfaces between the focal technology and customer resources.
The organizing efforts are about seeking, in an explorative mood, for resource interfaces between the focal technology and the customer resources. This organizing process enables the identification of new adaptation opportunities for technology embedding processes, whereby the focal technology obtains certain feature and values.
A systematically developed knowledge of resource interfaces is a key for activating different features of the focal technology and thereby facilitating its embedding into the customer’s various business settings. This is described in a single case study in the chapter. This case and the analysis show how a supplier and a customer struggle with developing resource interface knowledge to activate the different features of the focal technology, thereby facilitating its embedding process. The first part of the chapter establishes a theoretical framework, followed in the second part by the case study and analysis. The concluding discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing various interfaces as part of the organizing processes.
Details
Keywords
Chuanmin Mi, Min Tian and Xuemei Li
This paper attempts to put forward a convincing and flexible grey cluster method that can be used in confirming credibility level of trustworthy software development process.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper attempts to put forward a convincing and flexible grey cluster method that can be used in confirming credibility level of trustworthy software development process.
Design/methodology/approach
Determination on credibility level in the software development process is dynamic, as credibility of the results may be different at different times and under different project requirements. Qualitative methods are not entirely convincing, and most quantitative methods are not flexible enough. Grey cluster based on nonlinear grey whitening weight function put forward in this paper is both convincing and flexible. Finally eight projects from the ISBSG database are used for empirical analysis, which confirm that the method put forward in this paper is available and credible.
Findings
The results are convincing: not only that grey cluster based on nonlinear grey whitening weight function put forward in this paper is both convincing and flexible, but it can be used in confirming credibility level of trustworthy software development process.
Practical implications
Eight projects from the ISBSG database are used for empirical analysis, which confirms that the method put forward in this paper is available and credible.
Originality/value
Nonlinear grey whitening weight function is derivable except endpoint. Grey cluster based on nonlinear grey whitening weight function put forward in this paper is both convincing and flexible.
Details
Keywords
Min Tian, Ying Cao, Naiming Xie and Sifeng Liu
The purpose of this paper is to construct a novel GM(0, N) model based on grey number sequences and to solve the problem of cost forecasting of commercial aircraft which…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to construct a novel GM(0, N) model based on grey number sequences and to solve the problem of cost forecasting of commercial aircraft which puzzled managers, especially the factors of cost with uncertain information.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the definition of traditional GM(0, N) model, the paper considers the limited information and knowledge, and the algorithm of grey numbers with greyness and kernel was designed. A novel GM(0, N) model based on grey number sequences, named the IN‐GM(0, N) model, is proposed according to the definition of the grey numbers algorithm. The steps of the proposed model are then given. Finally, a case of domestic commercial aircrafts is developed as an example, based on information gathering and model calculating.
Findings
The results of this research indicate that the IN‐GM(0,N) model is effective in cost calculating, providing reliable technical support for cost estimation of large‐scale complex equipment including commercial aircraft.
Practical implications
Cost forecasting of commercial aircraft can be solved effectively and the model can also be utilized to predicate other products.
Originality/value
The paper succeeds in constructing a novel grey forecasting model. This work contributes significantly to improving grey forecasting theory and to undoubtedly propose more novel grey forecasting models.
Details
Keywords
Studies of Tianhou-Mazu cult have been focused on three themes: studies in Taiwan emphasize hegemonic order; studies in Hong Kong reveal a relationship of “sisterhood”…
Abstract
Purpose
Studies of Tianhou-Mazu cult have been focused on three themes: studies in Taiwan emphasize hegemonic order; studies in Hong Kong reveal a relationship of “sisterhood” alliances; and studies in Singapore highlight the important role of ethnic groups. The rebuilding of the goddess’s ancestral temple in early 1980s and her acquiring a world intangible cultural heritage status in the early twenty-first century facilitate the redefinition of overseas Chinese’s religious affiliation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss this global development of the cult from the 1980s and its ritual implication in overseas Chinese communities.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper, by comparing the Tianhou-Mazu cult in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asian Chinese settlements, argues that from sisters to descended replicas, or from local alliances to global hegemony, the cult of Tianhou-Mazu since the 1980s has not only replaced local culture with an emphasis on “high culture,” but also represents a religious strategy regarding local people’s interpretation of correctness and authority.
Findings
This paper argues that despite the imposition of hegemonic power from various authorities, popular religion is a matter of choice. This reflects how local religious practice is construed according to the interpretation of global cultural languages by the elite Chinese; their decision of when and how to reconnect with the goddess’s ancestral temple or the “imperial state,” or to form alliances with other local communities; and the implementation of the local government’s cultural policy.
Originality/value
This paper is one of the few attempts comparing development of a folk cult in various communities.
Details
Keywords
Ka‐wai Fan and Celine Yuen Yan Lai
The ability to sift through the ever‐increasing amounts of information made available online to find quality and accurate data is becoming more important every day. Using…
Abstract
The ability to sift through the ever‐increasing amounts of information made available online to find quality and accurate data is becoming more important every day. Using credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, support, and uniqueness as criteria for Web site evaluation, the authors analyse five Web sites in an effort to determine the value and quality of the information. This article discusses the evaluation of Web sites dedicated to Chinese archaeology, and also points to six main characters of online resources for the subject area. In addition, questions are raised concerning the extent to which online Chinese archaeological resources can advance general awareness of the field and contribute to a growing body of knowledge. The authors hope this article sheds light on some of the challenges that need to be overcome when attempting to present this information to the global community.
Details
Keywords
Karine Dupre, Linlin Dai and Bixia Xu
In recent Chinese history, rural villages have suffered extensive depopulation due to the intensive urbanisation of the country. In the early 1990s, the rediscovery of…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent Chinese history, rural villages have suffered extensive depopulation due to the intensive urbanisation of the country. In the early 1990s, the rediscovery of villages for tourism purposes caused a change in approach to conservation policies and village management. Today, villages are subjected to climate change with mass tourism as a contributing factor. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the village community is climate change aware and to identify best practises for it.
Design/methodology/approach
In this case study, the authors adopted a visual research technique called Photovoice. It is a research method which combines preliminary data collection and initial analysis processes. The main goals of adopting Photovoice are to enable community members to record and reflect their community’s strengths and concerns, to promote dialogue and knowledge exchange among community members regarding critical local social or environmental issues through small group discussion, and to report to policymakers.
Findings
This research demonstrated that both visitors and hosts shared common thoughts on tourism interests, impacts and current actions regarding climate change. Age, level of education or origin did not interfere and it shows a common awareness regarding the effects of climate change. It confirms the structural assumption that local and expertise knowledge are complementary.
Originality/value
At a time when awareness of climate change is affecting almost every debate concerning development strategies, future planning, governance and action implementations, very little has been written on the climate change impact on villages from a community perspective. Even less has been researched on what are called “urban rural villages”, that are villages located at the close periphery of a large urban agglomerations or cities in China.
Details
Keywords
Abstract
Details