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1 – 10 of 189Gao Shang, Low Sui Pheng and Roderick Low Zhong Xia
The construction industry has arrived at a crossroads of rapid technological progress. While it is foreseen that the advent of new construction technologies will disrupt the…
Abstract
Purpose
The construction industry has arrived at a crossroads of rapid technological progress. While it is foreseen that the advent of new construction technologies will disrupt the construction industry’s future, such disruptions often create the ideal environment for innovation. As poor payment practices continue to plague the construction industry, the advent of smart contracts has created an opportunity to rectify the inherent flaws in the mitigation of payment problems in traditional construction contracts. Given the intrinsic resistance of construction firms to such revolutionary changes, this study aims to understand the various factors influencing the adoption of smart contracts in the Singapore construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed method was adopted involving quantifying respondents’ perceptions of the factors influencing smart contract adoption, and validation from a group of interviewees on the matter. Out of 461 registered quantity surveyor members contacted via the Singapore institute of surveyors and valuers website, 55 respondents took part in the survey. This is followed by semi-structured interviews to validate the survey results.
Findings
The findings indicate that construction firms have neither a significant knowledge of nor willingness to adopt smart contracts. A total of 29 institutional factors were also identified that significantly influence the adoption of smart contracts. The quantitative findings were further reinforced by qualitative interviews with five industry experts.
Originality/value
With recognition of and the successful formulation of the significant institutional drivers and barriers, the key findings of this study will be integral in driving the commercial adoption of smart contracts within the construction industry.
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This study aims to explore the level of adoption of Construction 4.0 (C4.0) technologies and of Lean Construction (LC) ambidexterity capability in China’s construction industry…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the level of adoption of Construction 4.0 (C4.0) technologies and of Lean Construction (LC) ambidexterity capability in China’s construction industry. By incorporating C4.0 and LC ambidexterity into a sociotechnical systems (STS) framework, this research provides practical insights for construction practitioners and companies seeking C4.0 and LC.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts the questionnaire survey method. Data was obtained from Chinese construction professionals working on projects using C4.0 technologies. The data were analysed using mean score ranking and three nonparametric techniques, including the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Spearman rank correlation.
Findings
According to the ranking analysis, building information modelling and offsite construction have the highest adoption level, while additive manufacturing and blockchain rank lowest. Digital technology is more widely used in China’s construction industry than in physical technology. Many C4.0 technologies are significantly correlated with LC ambidexterity. Based on the STS perspective, we propose a holistic approach that incorporates C4.0 technologies and LC ambidexterity.
Originality/value
Conceptually, the study incorporates C4.0 and LC ambidexterity into the STS framework. Empirically, this study fills the gap in the current literature by exploring the level of C4.0 technology adoption in the Chinese construction industry, as well as the level of LC ambidexterity capabilities. Construction companies can use this framework to make strategic decisions regarding investments in LC practices and the adoption of C4.0 technologies, such as investing in staff skill training and new technology deployment to adapt to the ever-changing environment.
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Garret Murray, Malin Falkeling and Shang Gao
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the trends and challenges relating to research into the human aspects of ransomware.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the trends and challenges relating to research into the human aspects of ransomware.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic mapping study was carried out to investigate the trends in studies into the human aspects of ransomware, identify challenges encountered by researchers and propose directions for future research. For each of the identified papers from this study, the authors mapped the year of publication, the type of paper, research strategy and data generation method, types of participants included, theories incorporated and lastly, the authors mapped the challenges encountered by the researchers.
Findings
Fifty-nine papers published between 2006 and 2022 are included in the study. The findings indicate that literature on the human aspects of ransomware was scarce prior to 2016. The most-used participant groups in this area are students and cybersecurity professionals, and most studies rely on a survey strategy using the questionnaire to collect data. In addition, many papers did not use theories for their research, but from those that did, game theory was used most often. Furthermore, the most reported challenge is that being hit with ransomware is a sensitive topic, which results in individuals and organisations being reluctant to share their experiences.
Research limitations/implications
This mapping study reveals that the body of literature in the area of human aspects of ransomware has increased over the past couple of years. The findings highlight that being transparent about ransomware attacks, when possible, can help others. Moreover, senior management plays an important role in shaping the information security culture of an organisation, whether to have a culture of transparency or of secrecy.
Originality/value
This study is the first of its kind of systematic mapping studies contributing to the body of knowledge on the human aspects of ransomware.
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Ke Zhang, Almudena González del Valle-Brena, Ignacio Ramos Riera and Jingli Zhao
The study aims to understand how cultural route heritage is conceptualized and managed in China by systematically reviewing the research literature on Chinese cultural route…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to understand how cultural route heritage is conceptualized and managed in China by systematically reviewing the research literature on Chinese cultural route heritage (CRH). The study intends to inspire further discussion on the theoretical and practical development of cultural routes since the development is still at a liminal stage in China.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 253 research articles related to Chinese cultural rote heritage from major Chinese and English research databases China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus have been comprehensively identified and reviewed for the purpose of the study.
Findings
Four major themes of research on Chinese CRH have been identified: conceptual evaluation, list of the routes and characteristics of the routes, conservation and utilization. The results revealed that China has very rich resources in CRH, many of which were formed a long time ago, which exist across vast geographic regions and have assumed multiple functions and undergone dynamic reciprocal exchanges among diverse cultures and ethnicities.
Practical implications
The paper summarizes some major obstacles faced by CRH in China and proposes a strategic model to address the need for a more sustainable development of CRH in the Chinese context.
Originality/value
The paper offers a comprehensive overview of CRH in China and discusses practical issues in management and development of heritage great in size, number and complexity.
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Brian Lam, Lina Z. Li, Byron Y. Song and Li Yao
This study aims to investigate the influence of social capital on firms’ business strategies, focusing on Miles and Snow (1978) dichotomy between “prospector” and “defender”…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the influence of social capital on firms’ business strategies, focusing on Miles and Snow (1978) dichotomy between “prospector” and “defender” strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors perform multivariate regression analyses using a sample of US firms spanning the period from 1995 to 2021. The authors use a two-stage least squares model to alleviate endogeneity concerns and perform several cross-sectional tests and path analyses.
Findings
The authors find a significant and positive association between social capital and defender-type business strategies. Results from cross-sectional analyses reveal that this relationship is more pronounced in highly competitive product markets and among firms led by highly qualified CEOs. In addition, the authors find that CEO compensation mediates the effect of social capital on business strategy. Overall, the results suggest that low social capital regions foster prospector strategies due to managers’ self-maximizing incentives. Finally, the authors find that business strategy acts as a mediating factor, connecting social capital to firms’ financial reporting outcomes.
Social implications
In light of recent public concerns over declining social capital in major economies and the growing globalization and multiculturism in societies, the findings are of interest to policymakers and the wider society by highlighting the far-reaching implications of social capital on businesses and the capital market.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study documents the first empirical evidence on the association between a society’s social capital and firms’ business strategies. The study contributes to the research on the determinants of a firm’s business strategy and extends the literature on the relationship between social capital and firm behavior.
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Farah Shahrin, Zerafinas Abu Hassan and Ross Azura Zahit
This interdisciplinary study re-evaluates the Sungai Melaka flood mitigation project’s impact on community success in Malaysia’s UNESCO World Heritage site, broadening the…
Abstract
Purpose
This interdisciplinary study re-evaluates the Sungai Melaka flood mitigation project’s impact on community success in Malaysia’s UNESCO World Heritage site, broadening the definition of success considering historical and cultural significance. This study aims to revisit success metrics, focusing on the project’s influence on people’s interactions, cultural well-being, social cohesion and heritage preservation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study explored visitors’ reviews of their experience visiting Sungai Melaka in several data collection stages. The first data collection involved a Web survey posted on Facebook to capture diverse perspectives of the population and grasp the core strand of knowledge to focus on the second data collection, the questionnaire. The final stage involved interviews to generate rich qualitative data.
Findings
The findings of this study revealed that the impact exceeded tangible outcomes, as the project impacted people’s interactions and practices. This research assesses cultural benefits, incorporating these indicators into evaluating cultural ecosystem services by capturing local visitors’ and communities’ perceptions, preferences and behaviours. The findings found that other project success attributes include identities, capabilities and experience, further defining learning, health, economics, connection to nature and symbolism.
Originality/value
This research explores the meaning of project success beyond the traditional metrics by capturing success from the users’ perspectives and people’s interaction and their impact on culture and well-being. The cultural ecosystem services framework used in this study is applied to explore the interactions between people and the facility and its effect on the people.
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Meng Wang, Azmawani Abd Rahman, Yuhanis Abdul Aziz and Nor Azura Adzharuddin
The distinct characteristics of slow tourism compared to mass tourism determine the differences between slow travelers and mass travelers. This transformation is essential for…
Abstract
Purpose
The distinct characteristics of slow tourism compared to mass tourism determine the differences between slow travelers and mass travelers. This transformation is essential for potential tourists to transition into slow travelers when promoting slow tourism to them. Can travel vlogs, a “fast” way of promoting, achieve such a “slow” transformation? To address this question, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the resonance theory and investigate the impact of resonance with slow tourism vlogs on potential travelers’ destination image and travel intention.
Design/methodology/approach
Through the distribution of online questionnaires on site, this study collected a total of 349 valid questionnaires. Subsequently, the researcher used partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the data and test the hypotheses.
Findings
The research findings indicate that cognitive resonance only positively affected cognitive image, while emotional resonance was positively associated with both cognitive image and affective image. In addition, it was observed that cognitive image and affective image played a positive mediating role between resonance with slow tourism vlogs and travel intention.
Originality/value
This research is pioneering in quantitatively validating the structure linking resonance, destination image and travel intention in the context of slow tourism. By validating the second-order structure of cognitive and emotional resonance, this study underscores the crucial role of resonance in shaping tourists’ transition toward a slow mindset in slow tourism.
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Linda Gabbianelli and Tonino Pencarelli
The purpose of the paper is to investigate the marketing and communication activities carried out by small management consulting firms and how they relate to customers.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to investigate the marketing and communication activities carried out by small management consulting firms and how they relate to customers.
Design/methodology/approach
After the framing of the literature on the subject, the study is based on the results of a survey carried out through an online questionnaire. The sample under investigation is represented by 914 small consulting firms located in central Italy.
Findings
Results show that half of the sample carried out marketing and communication activities, mainly through the website and social media, while others participating in events as speakers at conferences. It also emerges that management consulting firms carry out activities aimed at maintaining relationship with customers even if they do not invest time in market research in order to find potential and new clients.
Practical implications
The study suggests that management consulting firms should adopt a systematic and strategic approach to communication and should develop a complete and integrated digital communication strategy, as well as to rethink the consulting business model.
Originality/value
There are no previous studies that provide insight into the everyday practice of marketing and communication of small management consulting services in today's dynamic and changing economic environment.
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Qing Liu, Chengjun Wang, Chenchen Shang and Jiabao Li
The purpose of this study is to reduce the residual stress in welded workpieces, optimize the vibratory stress relief treatment process through the use of a vibration generator…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to reduce the residual stress in welded workpieces, optimize the vibratory stress relief treatment process through the use of a vibration generator and enhance the durability and longevity of the workpiece by developing a vibratory stress relief robot that incorporates a multi-manipulator system.
Design/methodology/approach
The multi-manipulator combination work is designed so that each manipulator is deployed according to the requirements of vibration stress relief work. Each manipulator works independently and coordinates with others to achieve multi-dimensional vibratory stress relief of the workpiece. A two-degree-of-freedom mobile platform is designed to enable the transverse and longitudinal movement of the manipulator, expanding the working space of the robot. A small electromagnetic superharmonic vibration generator is designed to produce directional vibrations in any orientation. This design addresses the technical challenge of traditional vibration generators being bulky and unable to achieve directional vibrations.
Findings
The residual stress relief experiment demonstrates that the residual stress of the workpiece is reduced by approximately 73% through three-degree-of-freedom vibration. The multi-dimensional vibration effectively enhances the relief effect of residual stress, which is beneficial for improving the strength and service life of the workpiece.
Originality/value
A new multi-manipulator robot is proposed to alleviate the residual stress generated by workpiece welding by integrating vibratory stress relief with robotics. It is beneficial to reduce material and energy consumption while enhancing the strength and service life of the workpiece.
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Ziwen Gao, Steven F. Lehrer, Tian Xie and Xinyu Zhang
Motivated by empirical features that characterize cryptocurrency volatility data, the authors develop a forecasting strategy that can account for both model uncertainty and…
Abstract
Motivated by empirical features that characterize cryptocurrency volatility data, the authors develop a forecasting strategy that can account for both model uncertainty and heteroskedasticity of unknown form. The theoretical investigation establishes the asymptotic optimality of the proposed heteroskedastic model averaging heterogeneous autoregressive (H-MAHAR) estimator under mild conditions. The authors additionally examine the convergence rate of the estimated weights of the proposed H-MAHAR estimator. This analysis sheds new light on the asymptotic properties of the least squares model averaging estimator under alternative complicated data generating processes (DGPs). To examine the performance of the H-MAHAR estimator, the authors conduct an out-of-sample forecasting application involving 22 different cryptocurrency assets. The results emphasize the importance of accounting for both model uncertainty and heteroskedasticity in practice.
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