Search results

1 – 10 of 176
Article
Publication date: 10 August 2023

Md Azlin Md Said, Fatimah De’nan, Nor Salwani Hashim, Bong Wely and Chuah Hoi Ching

The purpose of this study is to further investigate the potential benefits brought about by the development of modern technology in the steel construction industry. Specifically…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to further investigate the potential benefits brought about by the development of modern technology in the steel construction industry. Specifically, the study focuses on the optimization of tapered members for pre-engineered steel structures, aligning with Eurocode 3 standards. By emphasizing the effectiveness of material utilization in construction, this research aims to enhance the structural performance and safety of buildings. Moreover, it recognizes the pivotal role played by such advancements in promoting economic growth through the reduction of material waste, optimization of cost-efficiency and support for sustainable construction practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural performance at initial analysis and final analysis of the selected critical frame were carried out using Dlubal RSTAB 8.18. The structural frame stability and sway imperfections were checked based on MS EN1993-1-1:2005 (EC3). To assess the structural stability of the portal frame using MS EN 1993-1-1:2005 (EC3), cross-sectional resistance and member buckling resistance were verified based on Clause 6.2.4 – Compression, Clause 6.2.5 – Bending Moment, Clause 6.2.6 – Shear, Clause 6.2.8 – Bending and Shear, Clause 6.2.9 – Bending and Axial Force and Clause 6.3.4 – General Method for Lateral and Lateral Torsional Buckling of Structural Components.

Findings

In this study, the cross sections of the web-tapered rafter and column were classified under Class 4. These involved the consideration of elastic shear resistance and effective area on the critical steel sections. The application of the General Method on the verification of the resistance to lateral and lateral torsional buckling for structural components required the extraction of some parameters using structural analysis software. From the results, there was only 5.90% of mass difference compared with the previous case study.

Originality/value

By classifying the web-tapered cross sections of the rafter and column under Class 4, the study accounts for important factors such as elastic shear resistance and effective area on critical steel sections.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 February 2022

Jamil Razmak

This paper proposes a Web-based patient portal based on the electronic medical record. Such a portal can allow patients to manage their own health care, reduce health-care visits…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper proposes a Web-based patient portal based on the electronic medical record. Such a portal can allow patients to manage their own health care, reduce health-care visits and significantly improve the quality of their health care.

Design/methodology/approach

A patient portal prototype and an accompanying online survey were distributed to assess the adoption readiness among a group of people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Findings

The results from 470 survey participants demonstrated an enhanced awareness of this technology, and support the study hypotheses indicating that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are important when considering the implementation of a patient portal in the UAE.

Originality/value

This study adds value to the few research studies undertaken in the Middle East discussing online health information technology and its adoption and usage among the population at large. The extended technology acceptance model, which contains two additional constructs, had not been previously validated in terms of a patient portal in the UAE, according to the author’s knowledge, adding more value. The UAE’s health-care system must use the benefits from the available IT infrastructure to provide a user-friendly online portal to encourage patients to manage their health care and health information.

Details

Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2053-4620

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 December 2021

Shadrack Fred Mahenge and Ala Alsanabani

In the purpose of the section, the cracks that are in the construction domain may be common and usually fixed with the human inspection which is at the visible range, but for the…

Abstract

Purpose

In the purpose of the section, the cracks that are in the construction domain may be common and usually fixed with the human inspection which is at the visible range, but for the cracks which may exist at the distant place for the human eye in the same building but can be captured with the camera. If the crack size is quite big can be visible but few cracks will be present due to the flaws in the construction of walls which needs authentic information and confirmation about it for the successful completion of the wall cracks, as these cracks in the wall will result in the structure collapse.

Design/methodology/approach

In the modern era of digital image processing, it has captured the importance in all the domain of engineering and all the fields irrespective of the division of the engineering, hence, in this research study an attempt is made to deal with the wall cracks which are found or searched during the building inspection process, in the present context in association with the unique U-net architecture is used with convolutional neural network method.

Findings

In the construction domain, the cracks may be common and usually fixed with the human inspection which is at the visible range, but for the cracks which may exist at the distant place for the human eye in the same building but can be captured with the camera. If the crack size is quite big can be visible but few cracks will be present due to the flaws in the construction of walls which needs authentic information and confirmation about it for the successful completion of the wall cracks, as these cracks in the wall will result in the structure collapse. Hence, for the modeling of the proposed system, it is considered with the image database from the Mendeley portal for the analysis. With the experimental analysis, it is noted and observed that the proposed system was able to detect the wall cracks, search the flat surface by the result of no cracks found and it is successful in dealing with the two phases of operation, namely, classification and segmentation with the deep learning technique. In contrast to other conventional methodologies, the proposed methodology produces excellent performance results.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is to find the portion of the cracks on the walls using deep learning architecture.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 June 2023

Salahuddin Ahmed, Sapna Singh and Nagaraj Samala

Online brand is becoming a popular and major gateway for consumers for booking various services specifically when they travel for several purposes. The present study aims to…

Abstract

Purpose

Online brand is becoming a popular and major gateway for consumers for booking various services specifically when they travel for several purposes. The present study aims to explore whether exposure to two separate yet similar modes of communication intervene consumer's brand trust and their subsequent loyalty intention toward the brand. The study further aims to investigate whether consumer's price consciousness has any influence on association between brand trust and brand loyalty in the process of decision -making.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study follows a different approach to data collection. The data have been retrieved from online brand (Oyo) page on Facebook through Google Form application. In all, 289 useable responses were retrieved from the travelers aged between 18 and 30. Structural equation modeling using SPSS 25.0 and Amos 26.0 has been applied to examine the effects of brand communication and online reviews on brand loyalty through brand trust.

Findings

Empirical evidence supports that even after having strong brand communication, online reviews play a crucial role in consumer's brand loyalty through brand trust. The study further reveals that price consciousness acts as a significant moderator in the relationship between consumer's brand trust and brand loyalty.

Practical implications

The current research contributes to the online brand and marketing knowledge by empirically showing the pertinence of consumer–brand relationship in an online brand context through a parsimonious model by examining how the two distinct mechanisms of communication influences consumer brand trust and loyalty intention.

Originality/value

The parsimonious framework of consumer–brand relationship adds to explicating the dual marketing challenges of communication and to draw a positive consumer response (i.e. consumer brand loyalty). The study attempts to examine the impact of two distinct yet identical modes of communication which facilitate shaping consumer brand trust that reinforce the strategic value of the circumstance and equips it with solid theoretical structure within an endeavor of the strategic significance of online brand managers.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 April 2024

Ankhi G. Thakurta

This paper aims to trace how Asian American girls engaged with civic learning in a virtual out-of-school literacy community featuring a curriculum of diverse literary texts.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to trace how Asian American girls engaged with civic learning in a virtual out-of-school literacy community featuring a curriculum of diverse literary texts.

Design/methodology/approach

The researcher used practitioner inquiry to construct a virtual literacy education community dedicated to the civic learning of Asian American girls.

Findings

The paper explores how participants mobilized critical practices of textual consumption and production rooted in their intersectional identities and embodied experiences to make meaning of the civic constraints and affordances of marginalized identities and to read and (re)design author choices for civic purposes. These findings – examples of youths’ critical civic meaning-making – indicate how they claimed space for Asian American civic girlhoods in literacy education.

Originality/value

This paper foregrounds how Asian American girls mobilize critical processes of text consumption and production to assert civic identities in literacy education – a significantly under-examined topic in literacy studies. This work has implications for how literacy practitioners and scholars can prioritize Asian American civic girlhoods through pedagogy and research.

Details

English Teaching: Practice & Critique, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1175-8708

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 June 2023

Souad Nassir, Imane Lebdaoui, Youssef Chetioui and Hind Lebdaoui

Despite the digitalization reforms attempting to enhance public service quality, paper-based tendering is still widely used in a number of developing countries (i.e. Morocco)…

Abstract

Purpose

Despite the digitalization reforms attempting to enhance public service quality, paper-based tendering is still widely used in a number of developing countries (i.e. Morocco). This has led to many issues including waste of time, higher costs as well as labor-intensive issues. E-tendering has been widely recommended as a key resolution. Still, both scholars and practitioners raised concerns related the readiness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to this digitalization process. The current research aims to investigate the key drivers of SMEs intention to adopt electronic tendering in the context of an emerging African market (i.e. Morocco). Specifically, the authors focus on SMEs contributing to the public procurement process and registered in the online portal recently created by the Moroccan government.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this goal, the authors proposed a conceptual model combining the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and technology acceptance model (TAM). Based on data collected from suppliers participating in Moroccan public tenders, the authors empirically tested the conceptual model using a partial least squares (PLS) estimation.

Findings

Facilitating conditions and social influence had a positive impact on SMEs intention to adopt electronic tendering. The study’s findings also convey a negative impact of effort expectancy on SMEs intent to adopt e-tendering. Unexpectedly, perceived performance had no significant impact on the intention to adopt electronic bidding among Moroccan SMEs.

Originality/value

This research filled the gap in the literature with regards to SMEs e-Tendering readiness in emerging markets. With the recent digitalization reforms of public tendering in many developing economies (i.e. Morocco), the study findings can be used to improve not only government implementation of electronic bidding but also SMEs' user experience.

Details

Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1026-4116

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 May 2023

Minu Gupta and Ravi Kiran

This study firstly aims to prepare a hierarchical structure of the barriers contributing to digital exclusion of women. Secondly, the study aims to understand the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study firstly aims to prepare a hierarchical structure of the barriers contributing to digital exclusion of women. Secondly, the study aims to understand the inter-relationship of the barriers by converting them into a cyclic flow.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic review was conducted through Web of Science and EBSCO Host Discovery Services with keywords: “digital divide” OR “digital gap” OR “digital inequality” OR “online difference” AND gender AND wom?n AND factors OR “demographic factors” OR “socio-economic” OR determinants OR reasons OR causes OR influences. Review was conducted of articles published in English language after 2012. Systematic literature review was conducted in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Framework 2020. Authors reviewed 21 reports.

Findings

This research found absence of education as the root of digital exclusion of women in the hierarchy of barriers. The cyclic flow of barriers displayed that how ill education of women lead to financial and psychological dependence of women on men, creating a hurdle in women empowerment. To break the cycle of digital exclusion, women education is must not only on primary basis but their tertiary education is important too.

Originality/value

This study makes an important contribution by ranking those barriers in a pyramid hierarchy and depicting their inter relation by framing a cyclic structure. This study provides suggestions to remove those barriers and ultimately break their chain to provide digital inclusive society for women.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 August 2023

Muhammad Hafiz Hariz Zubir and Muhammad Safuan Abdul Latip

This paper aims to examine how information and communication technology (ICT) coordination, information reliability, social pressure, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how information and communication technology (ICT) coordination, information reliability, social pressure, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use affect citizens’ intentions to use e-government services.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a quantitative type of study conducted through a causal study design. Noncontrived and cross-sectional methods were used, targeting Malaysian citizens who were 18 years of age or older. Due to an inaccessible sample frame, convenience sampling was used. After cleaning and removing necessary outliers, the final data set used for hypothesis testing consisted of 323 responses, which is considered sufficient as the study required a minimum sample size of 220.

Findings

A study has found that social pressure, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness positively affect people’s intention to use e-government services. The impact of social pressure is influenced by perceived usefulness and ease of use, suggesting that government agencies can encourage usage by improving perceived usefulness and leveraging social pressure. The study emphasizes the significance of perceived usefulness and social pressure in promoting adoption. To enhance the user experience, agencies can use targeted marketing, improve service quality, collaborate with communities and develop mobile applications.

Originality/value

The study underscores the importance of examining the relationship between perceived usefulness, ease of use and the popularity of e-government services while emphasizing the need to comprehend the impact of ICT coordination, information reliability and social pressure on the adoption of e-government applications in developing countries.

Details

Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6166

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 May 2023

Yung-Ching Tseng, Hua-Wei Hung and Bou-Wen Lin

This paper examines the framing of digital transformation. The research questions are specified as follows: what are the different types of framing strategies in response to…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the framing of digital transformation. The research questions are specified as follows: what are the different types of framing strategies in response to digital transformation? How do the strategies differ across organizations? Theoretically, the authors draw on the framing perspective to emphasize the use of linguistic frames in shaping innovation and change processes. Empirically, the authors choose to study the Taiwanese sectors, including publicly governed entities, traditional private business or technology-based ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ approach combines topic modeling and qualitative analysis. Using data collected from newspaper and magazine articles, the authors employ topic modeling to generate a set of distinctive framings that Taiwanese actors typically adopt to motivate and justify their digital move. The authors also conduct personal interviews to qualitatively complement the authors’ topic modeling analysis and to identify the rationale behind the linguistic framings and the strategic differences brought about by the various organizations.

Findings

The authors identify five topics that the Taiwanese actors commonly used in the framing of digital transformation. These topics or frames are labeled as cross-domain coordination, market demand, intelligent technology, global trend and competition and digital innovation. The practical use of the framings is contingent on organizational characteristics. Furthermore, the authors show how the framings can be classified as either positive framing (e.g. winning the next war) or negative framing (e.g. innovate or die), generally applicable to organizations around the world struggling to cope with digital disruption.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ study has two research implications. First, the authors extend the appreciation of the digital transformation from the usual concern with technological and business model innovations to linguistic or framing practices. Second, the authors enrich the framing analysis by emphasizing a practice or contingency perspective based on sector difference. The findings are subject to the limitations of the choice of only established and reputable media outlets, the diatextual reading and filtering of useful articles for topic modeling analysis and the use of world frequency to account for frame significance.

Practical implications

The authors shift actors' attention from improving technical efficiency to acquiring linguistic resources in the pursuit of digitalization. For example, framing the digital transformation in terms of creating a market orientation calls for not only real consumer power but also strategic discursive competence that enables the move to change. The findings also point out that practitioners can enlarge the scope of their agency rather than being trapped in the habituated routine of practices. Despite social embeddedness, organizations are more often widely connected and built enough to call for more of the cognitive frames to appeal to heterogeneous stakeholders.

Originality/value

The authors study contributes to the literature by developing a linguistic or socio-cognitive view of digital transformation strategy that is capable of expanding organizational attention toward change and innovation. The authors explore menus of strategic frames employed by actors in response to digital transformation. We also address the application of a machine-learning tool such as topic modeling to explore the socio-cognitive dimensions of digital transformation. Furthermore, the analysis leads us to identify the outcomes or effects – either positive or negative – that move beyond the particular Taiwanese case to explain the framing of digital transformation in general.

Details

European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1460-1060

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 November 2023

Marko Niemimaa

The purpose of this research is to study how compliance evaluation becomes performed in practice. Compliance evaluation is a common practice among organizations that need to…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to study how compliance evaluation becomes performed in practice. Compliance evaluation is a common practice among organizations that need to evaluate their posture against a set of criteria (e.g. a standard, legislative framework and “best practices”). The results of these evaluations have significant importance for organizations, especially in the context of information security and continuity. The author argues that how these evaluations become performed is not merely a “social” activity but shaped by the materiality of the evaluation criteria

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt a sociomaterial practice-based view to study the compliance evaluation through in situ participant observations from compliance evaluation workshops to evaluate organizational compliance against a information security and business continuity criteria. The empirical material was analyzed to construct vignettes that serve to illustrate the practice of compliance evaluation.

Findings

The research analysis shows how the information security and business continuity criteria themselves partake in the compliance evaluations by operating through (ventriloqually) the evaluators on three strata: the material, the textual and the structural. The author also provides a conceptualization of a hybrid agency.

Originality/value

This research contributes to lack of studies on the organizational-level compliance. Further, the research is an original contribution to information security and business continuity management by focusing on the practices of compliance evaluation. Further, the research has theoretical novelty by adopting the ventriloqual agency as a hybrid agency to study the sociomateriality of a phenomenon.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

1 – 10 of 176