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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 December 2023

Kiia Aurora Einola, Laura Remes and Kenneth Dooley

This study aims to explore an emerging collection of smart building technologies, known as smart workplace solutions (SWS), in the context of facilities management (FM).

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore an emerging collection of smart building technologies, known as smart workplace solutions (SWS), in the context of facilities management (FM).

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on semi-structured interviews with facility managers in Finland, Norway and Sweden who have deployed SWSs in their organizations. SWS features, based on empirical data from a previous study, were also used to further analyse the interviews.

Findings

It analyses the benefits that SWSs bring from the facility management point of view. It is clear that the impetus for change and for deploying SWS in the context of FM is primarily driven by cost savings related to reductions in office space.

Research limitations/implications

This research has been conducted with a focus on office buildings only. However, other building types can learn from the benefits that facility managers receive in the area of user-centred smart buildings.

Practical implications

SWSs are often seen as employee experience solutions that are only related to “soft” elements such as collaboration, innovation and learning. Understanding the FM business case can help make a more practical case for their deployment.

Originality/value

SWSs are an emerging area, and this study has collected data from facility managers who use them daily.

Details

Facilities , vol. 42 no. 15/16
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 12 October 2023

Paul Schreuder, Marcel Zeelenberg and Tila M. Pronk

Understanding consumer brand relationships from the perspective of the consumer has been a research topic for years. Despite this, there are still various ways in which the…

1582

Abstract

Purpose

Understanding consumer brand relationships from the perspective of the consumer has been a research topic for years. Despite this, there are still various ways in which the construct is interpreted. This paper aims to identify the most typical interpretation of brand relationships by consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

A four-study prototype analysis was conducted, in which a bottom-up approach was applied to identify lay people’s conceptualization of consumer brand relationships.

Findings

The prototype analysis generates a comprehensive list of features of consumer brand relationships that provide a nuanced understanding of the concept. The most typical characteristics of a brand relationship according to consumers are quality, bond, value and joy. Comparing this relationship prototype with existing literature shows that there may be a gap between theory and practice regarding the concept of brand relationship.

Originality/value

The prototypical conceptualization of brand relationships shows which aspects play a role in consumers' most common interpretation of the construct. This provides an opportunity to assess the validity of existing conceptualizations of brand relationships. Knowing which aspects are most relevant for consumers’ brand relationships allows brands to make adjustments as needed and improve at establishing and maintaining relationships with consumers.

Details

Journal of Product & Brand Management, vol. 33 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1061-0421

Keywords

Abstract

Purpose

Competency frameworks can support public procurement capacity development and performance. However, literature on connecting professionalisation with national procurement contexts is limited. This paper aims to explain and conceptualise recent Romanian experience with developing bespoke competency frameworks at national level for public procurement that reflect the features of the Romanian public procurement system. The approach used could guide in broad-brush, mutatis mutandis, other (national) public procurement systems with comparable features, mainly those seeking a shift from a rather administrative function of public procurement towards a strategic function.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study reflects on the methodology used for analysing the Romanian public procurement environment in EU context to develop bespoke professionalisation instruments, and on ways to integrate competency management approaches in Romanian public procurement culture. That methodological mix has been mainly qualitative and constructionist, within an applied research approach. It combined desk research with empirical research and included legal research in this context.

Findings

A principled, methodological and pragmatic approach tailored to the procurement environment in question is essential for developing competency frameworks capable to resonate to and address the specific practical needs of that procurement system.

Social implications

Competency frameworks can uphold societal objectives through public procurement.

Originality/value

Using valuable insights into the development of the Romanian public procurement competency frameworks, the paper provides a conceptual framework for instilling competency management approaches to public procurement professional development where the latter is governed by a rather distinct, public administration, paradigm. This conceptual framework can guide other public procurement systems and stimulate further research.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 January 2024

Miaoxian Guo, Shouheng Wei, Chentong Han, Wanliang Xia, Chao Luo and Zhijian Lin

Surface roughness has a serious impact on the fatigue strength, wear resistance and life of mechanical products. Realizing the evolution of surface quality through theoretical…

Abstract

Purpose

Surface roughness has a serious impact on the fatigue strength, wear resistance and life of mechanical products. Realizing the evolution of surface quality through theoretical modeling takes a lot of effort. To predict the surface roughness of milling processing, this paper aims to construct a neural network based on deep learning and data augmentation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a method consisting of three steps. Firstly, the machine tool multisource data acquisition platform is established, which combines sensor monitoring with machine tool communication to collect processing signals. Secondly, the feature parameters are extracted to reduce the interference and improve the model generalization ability. Thirdly, for different expectations, the parameters of the deep belief network (DBN) model are optimized by the tent-SSA algorithm to achieve more accurate roughness classification and regression prediction.

Findings

The adaptive synthetic sampling (ADASYN) algorithm can improve the classification prediction accuracy of DBN from 80.67% to 94.23%. After the DBN parameters were optimized by Tent-SSA, the roughness prediction accuracy was significantly improved. For the classification model, the prediction accuracy is improved by 5.77% based on ADASYN optimization. For regression models, different objective functions can be set according to production requirements, such as root-mean-square error (RMSE) or MaxAE, and the error is reduced by more than 40% compared to the original model.

Originality/value

A roughness prediction model based on multiple monitoring signals is proposed, which reduces the dependence on the acquisition of environmental variables and enhances the model's applicability. Furthermore, with the ADASYN algorithm, the Tent-SSA intelligent optimization algorithm is introduced to optimize the hyperparameters of the DBN model and improve the optimization performance.

Details

Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing and Special Equipment, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2633-6596

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 28 April 2022

Pietro Miglioranza, Andrea Scanu, Giuseppe Simionato, Nicholas Sinigaglia and America Califano

Climate-induced damage is a pressing problem for the preservation of cultural properties. Their physical deterioration is often the cumulative effect of different environmental…

Abstract

Purpose

Climate-induced damage is a pressing problem for the preservation of cultural properties. Their physical deterioration is often the cumulative effect of different environmental hazards of variable intensity. Among these, fluctuations of temperature and relative humidity may cause nonrecoverable physical changes in building envelopes and artifacts made of hygroscopic materials, such as wood. Microclimatic fluctuations may be caused by several factors, including the presence of many visitors within the historical building. Within this framework, the current work is focused on detecting events taking place in two Norwegian stave churches, by identifying the fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity caused by the presence of people attending the public events.

Design/methodology/approach

The identification of such fluctuations and, so, of the presence of people within the churches has been carried out through three different methods. The first is an unsupervised clustering algorithm here termed “density peak,” the second is a supervised deep learning model based on a standard convolutional neural network (CNN) and the third is a novel ad hoc engineering feature approach “unexpected mixing ratio (UMR) peak.”

Findings

While the first two methods may have some instabilities (in terms of precision, recall and normal mutual information [NMI]), the last one shows a promising performance in the detection of microclimatic fluctuations induced by the presence of visitors.

Originality/value

The novelty of this work stands in using both well-established and in-house ad hoc machine learning algorithms in the field of heritage science, proving that these smart approaches could be of extreme usefulness and could lead to quick data analyses, if used properly.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. 42 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 9 February 2024

María Iborra, José Fernando López-Muñoz and Vicente Safón

This study analyzes antecedents explaining the lack of resilience in family-owned firms. Our model suggests that family-owned firms’ strategic behaviors and heterogeneity explain…

Abstract

Purpose

This study analyzes antecedents explaining the lack of resilience in family-owned firms. Our model suggests that family-owned firms’ strategic behaviors and heterogeneity explain a particular crisis outcome: a lack of recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

Our evidence is based on a sample of 842 European family-owned firms. We complement regression analysis results with fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

Our results show that lack of resilience is relevant. In fact, in our sample, 60% of family firms (FFs) failed to recover their sales. This evidence supports the role played by exploitation and exploration behavior as well as family heterogeneity in explaining the lack of recovery.

Research limitations/implications

Our results may offer guidance to practitioners and policymakers on the pathways that explain the lack of resilience.

Practical implications

Although it is unlikely that an external crisis such as COVID-19 will occur again to the same extent, other threatening events may occur and impact FFs. Understanding how FFs can avoid non-recovery is crucial: it can inform managers on how to deal with stressful events and provide guidance to economic authorities on how to help FFs around the world avoid non-recovery, which affects the economy.

Originality/value

First, the study contributes to FF research by offering a theoretical explanation for the different effects of FF attributes on non-recovery in the context of a global crisis. Second, it contributes to the literature on organizational resilience by examining explorative and exploitative behaviors as antecedents of FF non-recovery. Third, we show the usefulness of combining fsQCA and regression analysis to understand complex phenomena.

研究目的

本研究擬分析家族企業缺乏復原力的原因。我們的模型暗示了家族企業的策略性行為和異質性是可闡明一個特殊的危機後果:企業未能成功恢復。

研究設計/方法/理念

我們的證據是建基於一個涵蓋842間歐洲家族公司的樣本。我們以模糊集質性比較分析,去補充迴歸分析的結果。

研究結果

研究結果顯示,缺乏復原力是有相關性的。事實上,在我們的樣本裡,有百分之六十的家族企業未能恢復其銷售量。研究結果提供了證據,確認了若要闡明缺乏復原力的原因,我們必須瞭解開發和探索行為、以及家族異質性所扮演的角色。

研究的局限/啟示

我們的研究結果,或許可為從業人員和政策制訂者提供引導,幫助他們找出缺乏復原力的原因。

實務方面的啟示

雖然像2019冠狀病毒病的外部危機以同樣的程度發生的機會是很微的,但其它有威脅性的事件或會發生,並會影響家族企業; 因此,瞭解家族企業如何能避免缺乏復原力的弊端是非常重要的。這可讓經理瞭解如何處理令人憂慮的事件,亦可為經濟事務當局的高層人員提供引導,幫助他們瞭解如何協助世界各地的家族企業,去避免影響經濟的復原乏力。

研究的原創性/價值

首先,本研究在家族企業的探討上作出了貢獻。研究人員在一個全球危機的背景下提出了理論解釋,讓人們明白家族企業的屬性,如何會對復原乏力產生各種影響。其次,本研究在探討組織彈性的文獻方面作出了貢獻,因研究人員對作為引發家族企業復原乏力因素的探索和開發行為、進行了探討和研究。最後,研究人員展示了若要瞭解複雜的事物或現象,把模糊集質性比較分析和迴歸分析結合起來運用是有效的。

Details

European Journal of Management and Business Economics, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2444-8451

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 20 December 2023

Lara Agostini, Anna Nosella, Riikka Sarala and Corinne Nkeng

Strategic flexibility (SF) has become increasingly important for firms because of the fast changes in the external environment. In line with the practical importance of SF, an…

Abstract

Purpose

Strategic flexibility (SF) has become increasingly important for firms because of the fast changes in the external environment. In line with the practical importance of SF, an emerging research field has developed around it that has attempted to understand the nature of SF and the key relationships. The aim of this study is to unveil the semantic structure of the recent literature on SF and to suggest new promising areas for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a systematic literature review with a bibliographic analysis technique, which allows authors to identify the main recent streams in the literature, as well as offer reflections and suggestions for future research.

Findings

The authors uncover three main emerging areas in the research on SF, namely SF as a dynamic capability, the role of knowledge management for SF and the relationship between a firm SF and the external environment. The authors put forward three avenues for future research on SF: Avenue 1. SF, business model innovation (BMI) and other dynamic capabilities (DC), Avenue 2. Digital technologies and SF/organizational agility and Avenue 3. SF and sustainability. Articles included in the special issue entitled “A strategic perspective on flexibility, agility and adaptability in the digital era” contribute to Avenue 2, thus paving the way for filling some of the identified gaps regarding the relationship between SF and digitalization.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first literature review on SF that uses a bibliometric approach to draw conclusions on the findings in the literature. The review contributes to the theoretical understanding of SF by illustrating and explicating core topics that have persisted over time, as well as by presenting three main avenues for further developing authors’ knowledge around SF.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 62 no. 13
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 26 March 2024

Sergio de la Rosa, Pedro F. Mayuet, Cátia S. Silva, Álvaro M. Sampaio and Lucía Rodríguez-Parada

This papers aims to study lattice structures in terms of geometric variables, manufacturing variables and material-based variants and their correlation with compressive behaviour…

Abstract

Purpose

This papers aims to study lattice structures in terms of geometric variables, manufacturing variables and material-based variants and their correlation with compressive behaviour for their application in a methodology for the design and development of personalized elastic therapeutic products.

Design/methodology/approach

Lattice samples were designed and manufactured using extrusion-based additive manufacturing technologies. Mechanical tests were carried out on lattice samples for elasticity characterization purposes. The relationships between sample stiffness and key geometric and manufacturing variables were subsequently used in the case study on the design of a pressure cushion model for validation purposes. Differentiated areas were established according to patient’s pressure map to subsequently make a correlation between the patient’s pressure needs and lattice samples stiffness.

Findings

A substantial and wide variation in lattice compressive behaviour was found depending on the key study variables. The proposed methodology made it possible to efficiently identify and adjust the pressure of the different areas of the product to adapt them to the elastic needs of the patient. In this sense, the characterization lattice samples turned out to provide an effective and flexible response to the pressure requirements.

Originality/value

This study provides a generalized foundation of lattice structural design and adjustable stiffness in application of pressure cushions, which can be equally applied to other designs with similar purposes. The relevance and contribution of this work lie in the proposed methodology for the design of personalized therapeutic products based on the use of individual lattice structures that function as independent customizable cells.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 30 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 15 February 2024

Hina Naz and Muhammad Kashif

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers many benefits to improve predictive marketing practice. It raises ethical concerns regarding customer prioritization, market share…

2045

Abstract

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers many benefits to improve predictive marketing practice. It raises ethical concerns regarding customer prioritization, market share concentration and consumer manipulation. This paper explores these ethical concerns from a contemporary perspective, drawing on the experiences and perspectives of AI and predictive marketing professionals. This study aims to contribute to the field by providing a modern perspective on the ethical concerns of AI usage in predictive marketing, drawing on the experiences and perspectives of professionals in the area.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted semistructured interviews for 6 weeks with 14 participants experienced in AI-enabled systems for marketing, using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Thematic analysis was used to explore themes emerging from the data.

Findings

Results reveal that using AI in marketing could lead to unintended consequences, such as perpetuating existing biases, violating customer privacy, limiting competition and manipulating consumer behavior.

Originality/value

The authors identify seven unique themes and benchmark them with Ashok’s model to provide a structured lens for interpreting the results. The framework presented by this research is unique and can be used to support ethical research spanning social, technological and economic aspects within the predictive marketing domain.

Objetivo

La Inteligencia Artificial (IA) ofrece muchos beneficios para mejorar la práctica del marketing predictivo. Sin embargo, plantea preocupaciones éticas relacionadas con la priorización de clientes, la concentración de cuota de mercado y la manipulación del consumidor. Este artículo explora estas preocupaciones éticas desde una perspectiva contemporánea, basándose en las experiencias y perspectivas de profesionales en IA y marketing predictivo. El estudio tiene como objetivo contribuir a la literatura de este ámbito al proporcionar una perspectiva moderna sobre las preocupaciones éticas del uso de la IA en el marketing predictivo, basándose en las experiencias y perspectivas de profesionales en el área.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Para realizar el estudio se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas durante seis semanas con 14 participantes con experiencia en sistemas habilitados para IA en marketing, utilizando técnicas de muestreo intencional y de bola de nieve. Se utilizó un análisis temático para explorar los temas que surgieron de los datos.

Resultados

Los resultados revelan que el uso de la IA en marketing podría tener consecuencias no deseadas, como perpetuar sesgos existentes, violar la privacidad del cliente, limitar la competencia y manipular el comportamiento del consumidor.

Originalidad

El estudio identifica siete temas y los comparan con el modelo de Ashok para proporcionar una perspectiva estructurada para interpretar los resultados. El marco presentado por esta investigación es único y puede utilizarse para respaldar investigaciones éticas que abarquen aspectos sociales, tecnológicos y económicos dentro del ámbito del marketing predictivo.

人工智能(AI)为改进预测营销实践带来了诸多益处。然而, 这也引发了与客户优先级、市场份额集中和消费者操纵等伦理问题相关的观点。本文从当代角度深入探讨了这些伦理观点, 充分借鉴了人工智能和预测营销领域专业人士的经验和观点。旨在通过现代视角提供关于在预测营销中应用人工智能时所涉及的伦理观点, 为该领域做出有益贡献。

研究方法

本研究采用了目的性和雪球抽样技术, 与14位在人工智能营销系统领域具有丰富经验的参与者进行为期六周的半结构化访谈。研究采用主题分析方法, 旨在深入挖掘数据中显现的主要主题。

研究发现

研究结果表明, 在营销领域使用人工智能可能引发一系列意外后果, 包括但不限于加强现有偏见、侵犯客户隐私、限制竞争以及操纵消费者行为。

独创性

本研究通过明确定义七个独特的主题, 并采用阿肖克模型进行基准比较, 为读者提供了一个结构化的视角, 以解释研究结果。所提出的框架具有独特之处, 可有效支持在跨足社会、技术和经济领域的预测营销中展开的伦理研究。

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 18 December 2023

Orlando Troisi, Anna Visvizi and Mara Grimaldi

Industry 4.0 defines the application of digital technologies on business infrastructure and processes. With the increasing need to take into account the social and environmental…

1240

Abstract

Purpose

Industry 4.0 defines the application of digital technologies on business infrastructure and processes. With the increasing need to take into account the social and environmental impact of technologies, the concept of Society 5.0 has been proposed to restore the centrality of humans in the proper utilization of technology for the exploitation of innovation opportunities. Despite the identification of humans, resilience and sustainability as the key dimensions of Society 5.0, the definition of the key factors that can enable Innovation in the light of 5.0 principles has not been yet assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

An SLR, followed by a content analysis of results and a clustering of the main topics, is performed to (1) identify the key domains and dimensions of the Industry 5.0 paradigm; (2) understand their impact on Innovation 5.0; (3) discuss and reflect on the resulting implications for research, managerial practices and the policy-making process.

Findings

The findings allow the elaboration of a multileveled framework to redefine Innovation through the 5.0 paradigm by advancing the need to integrate ICT and technology (Industry 5.0) with the human-centric, social and knowledge-based dimensions (Society 5.0).

Originality/value

The study detects guidelines for managers, entrepreneurs and policy-makers in the adoption of effective strategies to promote human resources and knowledge management for the attainment of multiple innovation outcomes (from technological to data-driven and societal innovation).

Details

European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 27 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1460-1060

Keywords

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