Search results
1 – 10 of over 8000Millicent Njeri, Malak Khader, Faizan Ali and Nathan Discepoli Line
The purpose of this study is to revisit the measures of internal consistency for multi-item scales in hospitality research and compare the performance of Cronbach’s α, omega total…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to revisit the measures of internal consistency for multi-item scales in hospitality research and compare the performance of Cronbach’s α, omega total (ωTotal), omega hierarchical (ωH), Revelle’s omega total (ωRT), Minimum Rank Factor Analysis (GLBfa) and GLB algebraic (GLBa).
Design/methodology/approach
A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to compare the performance of the six reliability estimators under different conditions common in hospitality research. Second, this study analyzed a data set to complement the simulation study.
Findings
Overall, ωTotal was the best-performing estimator across all conditions, whereas ωH performed the poorest. α performed well when factor loadings were high with low variability (high/low) and large sample sizes. Similarly, ωRT, GLBfa and GLBa performed consistently well when loadings were high and less variable as well as the sample size and the number of scale items increased. Of the two GLB estimators, GLBa consistently outperformed GLBfa.
Practical implications
This study provides hospitality managers with a better understanding of what reliability is and the various reliability estimators. Using reliable instruments ensures that organizations draw accurate conclusions that help them move closer to realizing their visions.
Originality/value
Though popular in other fields, reliability discussions have not yet received substantial attention in hospitality. This study raises these discussions in the context of hospitality research to promote better practices for assessing the reliability of scales used within the hospitality domain.
Details
Keywords
Adella Grace Migisha, Joseph Mapeera Ntayi, Muyiwa S. Adaramola, Faisal Buyinza, Livingstone Senyonga and Joyce Abaliwano
An unreliable supply of grid electricity has a strong negative impact on industrial and commercial profitability as well as on household activities and government services that…
Abstract
Purpose
An unreliable supply of grid electricity has a strong negative impact on industrial and commercial profitability as well as on household activities and government services that rely on electricity supply. This unreliable grid electricity could be a result of technical and security factors affecting the grid network. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of technical and security factors on the transmission and distribution of grid electricity in Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used the ordinary least squares (OLS) and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models to examine the effects of technical and security factors on grid electricity reliability in Uganda. The study draws upon secondary time series monthly data sourced from the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) government utility, which transmits electricity to both distributors and grid users. Additionally, data from Umeme Limited, the largest power distribution utility in Uganda, were incorporated into the analysis.
Findings
The findings revealed that technical faults, failed grid equipment, system overload and theft and vandalism affected grid electricity reliability in the transmission and distribution subsystems of the Ugandan power grid network. The effect was computed both in terms of frequency and duration of power outages. For instance, the number of power outages was 116 and 2,307 for transmission and distribution subsystems, respectively. In terms of duration, the power outages reported on average were 1,248 h and 5,826 h, respectively, for transmission and distribution subsystems.
Originality/value
This paper investigates the effects of technical and security factors on the transmission and distribution grid electricity reliability, specifically focusing on frequency and duration of power outages, in the Ugandan context. It combines both OLS and ARDL models for analysis and adopts the systems reliability theory in the area of grid electricity reliability research.
Details
Keywords
Pouya Bolourchi and Mohammadreza Gholami
The purpose of this paper is to achieve high accuracy in forecasting generation reliability by accurately evaluating the reliability of power systems. This study uses the RTS-79…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to achieve high accuracy in forecasting generation reliability by accurately evaluating the reliability of power systems. This study uses the RTS-79 reliability test system to measure the method’s effectiveness, using mean absolute percentage error as the performance metrics. Accurate reliability predictions can inform critical decisions related to system design, expansion and maintenance, making this study relevant to power system planning and management.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a novel approach that uses a radial basis kernel function-based support vector regression method to accurately evaluate the reliability of power systems. The approach selects relevant system features and computes loss of load expectation (LOLE) and expected energy not supplied (EENS) using the analytical unit additional algorithm. The proposed method is evaluated under two scenarios, with changes applied to the load demand side or both the generation system and load profile.
Findings
The proposed method predicts LOLE and EENS with high accuracy, especially in the first scenario. The results demonstrate the method’s effectiveness in forecasting generation reliability. Accurate reliability predictions can inform critical decisions related to system design, expansion and maintenance. Therefore, the findings of this study have significant implications for power system planning and management.
Originality/value
What sets this approach apart is the extraction of several features from both the generation and load sides of the power system, representing a unique contribution to the field.
Details
Keywords
This study aims to improve the reliability of emergency safety barriers by using the subjective safety analysis based on evidential reasoning theory in order to develop on a…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to improve the reliability of emergency safety barriers by using the subjective safety analysis based on evidential reasoning theory in order to develop on a framework for optimizing the reliability of emergency safety barriers.
Design/methodology/approach
The emergency event tree analysis is combined with an interval type-2 fuzzy-set and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. In order to the quantitative data is not available, this study based on interval type2 fuzzy set theory, trapezoidal fuzzy numbers describe the expert's imprecise uncertainty about the fuzzy failure probability of emergency safety barriers related to the liquefied petroleum gas storage prevent. Fuzzy fault tree analysis and fuzzy ordered weighted average aggregation are used to address uncertainties in emergency safety barrier reliability assessment. In addition, a critical analysis and some corrective actions are suggested to identify weak points in emergency safety barriers. Therefore, a framework decisions are proposed to optimize and improve safety barrier reliability. Decision-making in this framework uses evidential reasoning theory to identify corrective actions that can optimize reliability based on subjective safety analysis.
Findings
A real case study of a liquefied petroleum gas storage in Algeria is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The results show that the proposed methodology provides the possibility to evaluate the values of the fuzzy failure probability of emergency safety barriers. In addition, the fuzzy failure probabilities using the fuzzy type-2 AHP method are the most reliable and accurate. As a result, the improved fault tree analysis can estimate uncertain expert opinion weights, identify and evaluate failure probability values for critical basic event. Therefore, suggestions for corrective measures to reduce the failure probability of the fire-fighting system are provided. The obtained results show that of the ten proposed corrective actions, the corrective action “use of periodic maintenance tests” prioritizes reliability, optimization and improvement of safety procedures.
Research limitations/implications
This study helps to determine the safest and most reliable corrective measures to improve the reliability of safety barriers. In addition, it also helps to protect people inside and outside the company from all kinds of major industrial accidents. Among the limitations of this study is that the cost of corrective actions is not taken into account.
Originality/value
Our contribution is to propose an integrated approach that uses interval type-2 fuzzy sets and AHP method and emergency event tree analysis to handle uncertainty in the failure probability assessment of emergency safety barriers. In addition, the integration of fault tree analysis and fuzzy ordered averaging aggregation helps to improve the reliability of the fire-fighting system and optimize the corrective actions that can improve the safety practices in liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks.
Details
Keywords
Raghavendra Rao N.S. and Chitra A.
The purpose of this study is to propose an extended reliability method for an industrial motor drive by integrating the physics of failure (PoF).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to propose an extended reliability method for an industrial motor drive by integrating the physics of failure (PoF).
Design/methodology/approach
Industrial motor drive systems (IMDS) are currently expected to perform beyond the desired operating conditions to meet the demand. The PoF of the subsystem affects its reliability under such harsh operating circumstances. It is crucial to estimate reliability by integrating PoF, which helps in understanding its impact and to develop a fault-tolerant design, particularly in such an integrated drive system. An integrated PoF extended reliability method for industrial drive system is proposed to address this issue. In research, the numerical failure rate of each component of industrial drive is obtained first with the help of the MIL-HDBK-217 military handbook. Furthermore, the mathematically deduced proposed approach is modeled in the GoldSim Monte Carlo reliability workbench.
Findings
From the results, for a 15% rise in integrated PoF, the reliability and availability of the entire IMDS dropped by 23%, resulting in an impact on mean time to failure (MTTF).
Originality/value
The integrated PoF of the motor and motor controller affects industrial drive reliability, which falls to 0.18 with the least MTTF (2.27 years); whose overall reliability of industrial drive drops to 0.06 if it is additionally integrated with communication protocol.
Details
Keywords
Zhongge Guo, Yuhui Wang, Jiale He and Dong Pang
This paper aims to present a novel dynamic reliability model that considers the interval mixed uncertainty for the air-breathing hypersonic flight vehicle (AHFV) to guarantee…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a novel dynamic reliability model that considers the interval mixed uncertainty for the air-breathing hypersonic flight vehicle (AHFV) to guarantee flight safety and structural reliability.
Design/methodology/approach
Initially, the force condition of the fuselage is analyzed based on the longitudinal elastic model of an AHFV. Subsequently, a new high-efficiency dynamic reliability model is presented to describe the failure probability evolution of the fuselage structure. For the random uncertainty problem with interval distribution parameters, the interval PHI2 method of time-dependent reliability is used to obtain the time-dependent reliability interval of the AHFV. Finally, the key variables that affect the failure probability accumulation are determined, which provide an important reference for ensuring structural reliability and improving the life span of AHFVs.
Findings
It is demonstrated that the proposed reliability model can obtain more accurate dynamic reliability results for the fuselage, and it is confirmed the key variables that affect the failure probability accumulation. The results also provide an important reference for the reliability analysis of hypersonic vehicles.
Originality/value
The novelty of this work comes from the first application of the PHI2 method (considering the interval mixed uncertainty) in the AHFV and the development of a new reliability model for the entire body of AHFVs. The proposed analysis scheme is implemented on the dynamic model of the AHFV, which provides a more accurate reference for improving the structural reliability and life span of AHFVs.
Details
Keywords
Neeraj Joshi, Sudeep R. Bapat and Raghu Nandan Sengupta
The purpose of this paper is to develop optimal estimation procedures for the stress-strength reliability (SSR) parameter R = P(X > Y) of an inverse Pareto distribution (IPD).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop optimal estimation procedures for the stress-strength reliability (SSR) parameter R = P(X > Y) of an inverse Pareto distribution (IPD).
Design/methodology/approach
We estimate the SSR parameter R = P(X > Y) of the IPD under the minimum risk and bounded risk point estimation problems, where X and Y are strength and stress variables, respectively. The total loss function considered is a combination of estimation error (squared error) and cost, utilizing which we minimize the associated risk in order to estimate the reliability parameter. As no fixed-sample technique can be used to solve the proposed point estimation problems, we propose some “cost and time efficient” adaptive sampling techniques (two-stage and purely sequential sampling methods) to tackle them.
Findings
We state important results based on the proposed sampling methodologies. These include estimations of the expected sample size, standard deviation (SD) and mean square error (MSE) of the terminal estimator of reliability parameters. The theoretical values of reliability parameters and the associated sample size and risk functions are well supported by exhaustive simulation analyses. The applicability of our suggested methodology is further corroborated by a real dataset based on insurance claims.
Originality/value
This study will be useful for scenarios where various logistical concerns are involved in the reliability analysis. The methodologies proposed in this study can reduce the number of sampling operations substantially and save time and cost to a great extent.
Details
Keywords
Puyu Yang and Giovanni Colavizza
Wikipedia's inclusive editorial policy permits unrestricted participation, enabling individuals to contribute and disseminate their expertise while drawing upon a multitude of…
Abstract
Purpose
Wikipedia's inclusive editorial policy permits unrestricted participation, enabling individuals to contribute and disseminate their expertise while drawing upon a multitude of external sources. News media outlets constitute nearly one-third of all citations within Wikipedia. However, embracing such a radically open approach also poses the challenge of the potential introduction of biased content or viewpoints into Wikipedia. The authors conduct an investigation into the integrity of knowledge within Wikipedia, focusing on the dimensions of source political polarization and trustworthiness. Specifically, the authors delve into the conceivable presence of political polarization within the news media citations on Wikipedia, identify the factors that may influence such polarization within the Wikipedia ecosystem and scrutinize the correlation between political polarization in news media sources and the factual reliability of Wikipedia's content.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conduct a descriptive and regression analysis, relying on Wikipedia Citations, a large-scale open dataset of nearly 30 million citations from English Wikipedia. Additionally, this dataset has been augmented with information obtained from the Media Bias Monitor (MBM) and the Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC).
Findings
The authors find a moderate yet significant liberal bias in the choice of news media sources across Wikipedia. Furthermore, the authors show that this effect persists when accounting for the factual reliability of the news media.
Originality/value
The results contribute to Wikipedia’s knowledge integrity agenda in suggesting that a systematic effort would help to better map potential biases in Wikipedia and find means to strengthen its neutral point of view policy.
Details
Keywords
Brahim Chebbab, Haroun Ragueb, Walid Ifrah and Dounya Behnous
This study addresses the reliability of a composite fiber (carbon fibers/epoxy matrix) at microscopic level, with a specific focus on its behavior under compressive stresses. The…
Abstract
Purpose
This study addresses the reliability of a composite fiber (carbon fibers/epoxy matrix) at microscopic level, with a specific focus on its behavior under compressive stresses. The primary goal is to investigate the factors that influence the reliability of the composite, specifically considering the effects of initial fiber deformation and fiber volume fraction.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis involves a multi-step approach. Initially, micromechanics theory is employed to derive limit state equations that define the stress levels at which the fiber remains within an acceptable range of deformation. To assess the composite's structural reliability, a dedicated code is developed using the Monte Carlo method, incorporating random variables.
Findings
Results highlight the significance of initial fiber deformation and volume fraction on the composite's reliability. They indicate that the level of initial deformation of the fibers plays a crucial role in determining the composite reliability. A fiber with 0.5% initial deformation exhibits the ability to endure up to 28% additional stress compared to a fiber with 1% initial deformation. Conversely, a higher fiber volume fraction contributes positively to the composite's reliability. A composite with 60% fiber content and 0.5% initial deformation can support up to 40% additional stress compared to a composite containing 40% fibers with the same deformation.
Originality/value
The study's originality lies in its comprehensive exploration of the factors affecting the reliability of carbon fiber-epoxy matrix composites under compressive stresses. The integration of micromechanics theory and the Monte Carlo method for structural reliability analysis contributes to a thorough understanding of the composite's behavior. The findings shed light on the critical roles played by initial fiber deformation and fiber volume fraction in determining the overall reliability of the composite. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of careful fiber placement during the manufacturing process and emphasizes the role of volume fraction in ensuring the final product's reliability.
Details
Keywords
Case study research has been applied across numerous fields and provides an established methodology for exploring and understanding various research contexts. This paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Case study research has been applied across numerous fields and provides an established methodology for exploring and understanding various research contexts. This paper aims to aid in developing methodological rigor by investigating the approaches of establishing validity and reliability.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a systematic review of relevant literature, this paper catalogs the use of validity and reliability measures within academic publications between 2008 and 2018. The review analyzes case study research across 15 peer-reviewed journals (total of 1,372 articles) and highlights the application of validity and reliability measures.
Findings
The evidence of the systematic literature review suggests that validity measures appear well established and widely reported within case study–based research articles. However, measures and test procedures related to research reliability appear underrepresented within analyzed articles.
Originality/value
As shown by the presented results, there is a need for more significant reporting of the procedures used related to research reliability. Toward this, the features of a robust case study protocol are defined and discussed.
Details