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1 – 10 of over 12000
Article
Publication date: 19 August 2020

Grégory Jemine, François Pichault and Christophe Dubois

While more and more organizations commit to transformation projects with the aim of redesigning simultaneously their workspaces, work organization, and technologies, the design…

Abstract

Purpose

While more and more organizations commit to transformation projects with the aim of redesigning simultaneously their workspaces, work organization, and technologies, the design process supporting such projects remains largely understudied. This paper examines the political tensions that occur when such processes unfold as well as their implications for project management. By doing so, the paper counterbalances the prescriptive and normative literature on “New Ways of Working” which largely overlooks the political complexity of such projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a qualitative study of a triple design process in a media company. Data collection mainly consists of a nine-month process of non-participant observation of weekly meetings held by the strategic group in charge of the project. Semi-structured interviews with members of the executive committee have also been conducted.

Findings

The analysis illustrates how space, organization and technology are gradually designed and structured. Four interconnected and often concealed mechanisms that support triple design processes are identified: political tensions, unexpected twists, conflicting temporalities and arbitration measures.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper lies in breaking down the concept of design in three separate objects – organization, space and technology – and examining how these objects were conjointly problematized by an organization in transformation, whereas existing studies often investigate organization design, space design or technology design in isolation.

Details

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, vol. 14 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8378

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 June 2021

Yih-Lin Cheng and Tzu-Wei Tseng

Material-jetting (MJ) three-dimensional (3D) printing processes are competitive due to their printing resolution and printing speed. Driving waveform design of piezoelectric…

Abstract

Purpose

Material-jetting (MJ) three-dimensional (3D) printing processes are competitive due to their printing resolution and printing speed. Driving waveform design of piezoelectric printhead in MJ would affect droplet formation and performance, but there are very limited studies on it besides patents and know-hows by commercial manufacturers. Therefore, in this research, the waveform design process to efficiently attain suitable parameters for a multi-nozzle piezoelectric printhead was studied. Therefore, this research aims to study the waveform design process to efficiently attain suitable parameters for a multi-nozzle piezoelectric printhead.

Design/methodology/approach

Ricoh’s Gen4L printhead was adopted. A high-speed camera captured pictures of jetted droplets and droplet velocity was calculated. The waveforms included single-, double- and triple-pulse trapezoidal patterns. The effects of parameters were investigated and the suitable ones were determined based on the avoidance of satellite drops and preference of higher droplet velocity.

Findings

In a single-pulse waveform, an increase of fill time (Tf) decreased the droplet velocity. The maximum velocity happened at the same pulse width, the sum of fill time and hold time (Tf + Th). In double- and triple-pulse, a voltage difference (Vd) above zero in the holding stage was adopted except the last pulse to avoid satellite drops. Suitable parameters for the selected resin were obtained and the time-saving design process was established.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the effects of parameters and observed data trends, suggested procedures to determine suitable parameters were proposed with fewer experiments.

Practical implications

This study has verified the feasibility of suggested design procedures on another resin. The required number of trials was reduced significantly.

Originality/value

This research investigated the process of driving waveform design for the multi-nozzle piezoelectric printhead. The suggested procedures of finding suitable waveform parameters can reduce experimental trials and will be applicable to other MJ 3D printers when new materials are introduced.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 27 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 October 2006

Ssuwei Chen, Jeremy Murphy, Jason Herlehy, David L. Bourell and Kristin L. Wood

This paper aims to present a new fabrication method for fuel cell current collectors. Demonstration of its usefulness and discussion of its impact on current collector design and…

1448

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a new fabrication method for fuel cell current collectors. Demonstration of its usefulness and discussion of its impact on current collector design and performance are also given.

Design/methodology/approach

The selective laser sintering (SLS) technique is used to create green parts followed by a high temperature curing process and pressureless infiltration treatment to meet basic part design requirements.

Findings

A material system and process satisfying both manufacturing constraints and product property requirements can be used for fabrication of current collectors via SLS. Relative particle size and composition of the constituents play an important role in successful manufacture of the plates. Strategies to improve electrical conductivity are also discussed.

Originality/value

A new manufacturing method has been developed for the construction of fuel cell current collectors that could generate opportunities for performance enhancement and fuel cell application by eliminating the constraints imposed by traditional fabrication processes.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 12 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 October 2022

Jayakrishnan Jayapal, Senthilkumaran Kumaraguru and Sudhir Varadarajan

This paper aims to propose a view similarity-based shape complexity metric to guide part selection for additive manufacturing (AM) and advance the goals of design for AM. The…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a view similarity-based shape complexity metric to guide part selection for additive manufacturing (AM) and advance the goals of design for AM. The metric helps to improve the selection process by objectively screening a large number of parts and identifying the parts most suited for AM and enabling experts to prioritize parts from a smaller set based on relevant subjective/contextual factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involves calculating a part’s shape complexity based on the concept of view similarity, that is, the similarity of different views of the outer shape and internal cross-sectional geometry. The combined shape complexity metric (weighted sum of the external shape and internal structure complexity) has been used to rank various three dimensional (3D) models. The metric has been tested for its sensitivity to various input parameters and thresholds are suggested for effective results. The proposed metric’s applicability for part selection has also been investigated and compared with the existing metric-based part selection.

Findings

The proposed shape complexity metric can distinguish the parts of different shapes, sizes and parts with minor design variations. The method is also efficient regarding the amount of data and computation required to facilitate the part selection. The proposed method can detect differences in the mass properties of a 3D model without evaluating the modified parameters. The proposed metric is effective in initial screening of a large number of parts in new product development and for redesign using AM.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed metric is sensitive to input parameters, such as the number of viewpoints, design orientation, image resolution and different lattice structures. To address this issue, this study suggests thresholds for each input parameter for optimum results.

Originality/value

This paper evaluates shape complexity using view similarity to rank parts for prototyping or redesigning with AM.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 July 2017

Daniel Martínez-Ávila and John M. Budd

The purpose of this paper is to update and review the concept of warrant in Library and Information Science (LIS) and to introduce the concept of epistemic warrant from…

1198

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to update and review the concept of warrant in Library and Information Science (LIS) and to introduce the concept of epistemic warrant from philosophy. Epistemic warrant can be used to assess the content of a work; and therefore, it can be a complement to existing warrants, such as literary warrant, in the development of controlled vocabularies. In this proposal, the authors aim to activate a theoretical discussion on warrant in order to revise and improve the validity of the concept of warrant from the user and classifier context to the classificationist context.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have conducted an extensive literary review and close reading of the concept of warrant in LIS and knowledge organization in order to detect the different stances and gaps in which the concept of epistemic warrant might apply. The authors adopted an epistemological approach, in the vein of some of the previous commenters on warrant, such as Hope Olson and Birger Hjørland, and built upon the theoretical framework of different authors working with the concept of warrant outside knowledge organization, such as Alvin Plantinga and Alvin Goldman.

Findings

There are some authors and critics in the literature that have voiced for a more epistemological approach to warrant (in opposition to a predominantly ontological approach). In this sense, epistemic warrant would be an epistemological warrant and also a step forward toward pragmatism in a prominently empiricist context such as the justification of the inclusion of terms in a controlled vocabulary. Epistemic warrant can be used to complement literary warrant in the development of controlled vocabularies as well as in the classification of works.

Originality/value

This paper presents an exhaustive update and revision of the concept of warrant, analyzing, systematizing, and reviewing the different warrants discussed in the LIS literary warrant in a critical way. The concept of epistemic warrant for categorizational activities is introduced to the LIS field for the first time. This paper, and the proposal of epistemic warrant, has the potential to contribute to the theoretical and practical discussions on the development of controlled vocabularies and assessment of the content of works.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 73 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 November 2019

Lisa Hinson, Jennifer Wu Tucker and Diana Weng

The rule change for segment reporting in 1998 has arguably made segment reporting more relevant through the adoption of the management approach. Meanwhile, the management approach…

Abstract

The rule change for segment reporting in 1998 has arguably made segment reporting more relevant through the adoption of the management approach. Meanwhile, the management approach has resulted in a decrease in the comparability of segment income. We introduce firmspecific measures of changes in relevance and comparability due to the rule change. Our treatment firms experienced an increase in the relevance of segment reporting but a large decrease in the comparability of segment income; our benchmark firms barely experienced any changes in relevance and comparability. We examine earnings forecasts before vs. after the rule change issued by financial analysts—a major user group of segment reporting. Relative to benchmark firms, treatment firms’ analyst forecast error reductions around the segment disclosure event are not significantly different after the rule change than before the rule change, but treatment firms’ forecast dispersion reductions around the segment disclosure event are significantly larger after the rule change than before the rule change. These results suggest that despite the decrease in comparability, the new segment reporting rule has increased the decision usefulness of segment information by decreasing disagreement among analysts.

Details

Journal of Accounting Literature, vol. 43 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-4607

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 January 2021

Elakkiya A., Radha Sankararajan and Sreeja B.S.

The proposed metamaterial absorber (MMA) has the following advantages: first, the structure of the MMA consists of one planar metallic resonator, which presents a new design…

Abstract

Purpose

The proposed metamaterial absorber (MMA) has the following advantages: first, the structure of the MMA consists of one planar metallic resonator, which presents a new design approach to obtain a multiband absorption response, rather than using multiple unit-cells in the one large unit cell or stacking different layers. Second, the simultaneous realization of triple-band and dual-band absorption (or bi-functional absorption) at five different frequencies can integrate the respective advantages of the triple functions of the triple-band MMA and double-band MMA, and therefore, the bi-functional MMA will find more application prospects than multiple-functional devices of triple-band and dual-band. Third, the authors simulated the three combinations of MMA here, which is indium tin oxide (ITO)-Polyimide-ITO, ITO-Teflon-ITO and ITO-polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-ITO for the same planar structure and achieve a high absorption rate. Finally, the proposed structure is polarization and angle independent in nature.

Design/methodology/approach

This absorption device consists of the top circular resonator, the middle insulating SiO2 medium layer and the bottom metallic copper ground plane placed on a substrate. The conductivity of the copper metal is s = 5.8 × 107 s/m. As the transmission of the MMA structure is zero, the substrate materials can be selected randomly. Totally four combinations of terahertz MMA are designed and simulated here which are ITO- SiO2 –ITO, ITO-Polyimide-ITO, ITO-Teflon-ITO and ITO- PET-ITO for the same planar structure.

Findings

Compared with previous MMAs, the proposed MMA has the following advantages: First, the structure of the MMA consists of one planar metallic resonator, which presents a new design approach to obtain a multiband absorption response, rather than using multiple unit-cells in the one large unit cell or stacking different layers. Second, the simultaneous realization of triple-band and dual-band absorption (or bi-functional absorption) at five different frequencies can integrate the respective advantages of the triple functions of the triple-band MMA and double-band MMA, and therefore, the bi-functional MMA will find more application prospects than multiple-functional devices of triple-band and dual-band. Third, the authors simulated the three combinations of MMA here, which is ITO-polyimide-ITO, ITO-Teflon-ITO and ITO- PET-ITO for the same planar structure and achieve a high absorption rate. Finally, the proposed structure is polarization and angle independent in nature.

Originality/value

First, the structure of the MMA consists of one planar metallic resonator, which presents a new design approach to obtain a multiband absorption response, rather than using multiple unit-cells in the one large unit cell or stacking different layers. Second, the simultaneous realization of triple-band and dual-band absorption (or bi-functional absorption) at five different frequencies can integrate the respective advantages of the triple functions of the triple-band MMA and double-band MMA, and therefore, the bi-functional MMA will find more application prospects than multiple-functional devices of triple-band and dual-band. Third, the authors simulated the three combinations of MMA here, which is ITO-polyimide-ITO, ITO-Teflon-ITO and ITO-PET-ITO for the same planar structure and achieve a high absorption rate. Finally, the proposed structure is polarization and angle independent in nature.

Details

Circuit World, vol. 48 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0305-6120

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 November 2020

José A.D. Machuca, Juan A. Marin-Garcia and Rafaela Alfalla-Luque

This paper analyzes whether the Triple-A supply chain (SC)–competitive advantage (CA) relationship is influenced by the country context and considers the case of emerging vs…

370

Abstract

Purpose

This paper analyzes whether the Triple-A supply chain (SC)–competitive advantage (CA) relationship is influenced by the country context and considers the case of emerging vs developed countries. Any differences in the importance of the three Triple-A SC dimensions (agility, adaptability and alignment) and a potential synergy effect among them when pursuing CA are also analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method is applied to an international multiple informant sample of 304 manufacturing plants in nine developed and five emerging countries.

Findings

A significant positive relationship is found between the Triple-A SC and CA in the full sample and in the two separate samples of emerging and developed countries, which is more intense in the emerging countries. For the same samples, it is also concluded that (1) there are no significant differences in the importance of SC adaptability (SC-Ad), SC agility (SC-Ag) and SC alignment (SC-Al) as levers in the Triple-A SC–CA relationship and (2) a synergy effect among the Triple-A SC dimensions when pursuing CA is not supported.

Research limitations/implications

The present study brings new evidence to the previous research on Triple-A SC and its relationship with CA in different country contexts. For managers, this work (1) shows that Triple A should be considered in the design of global SCs irrespective of the country context and (2) offers a first approach for determining the Triple-A SC levers that must be taken into consideration when pursuing a CA.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to Triple-A SC theory development. It is the first research study that analyzes the effect of the country context on the Triple-A SC–CA relationship and the importance of each of the Triple-A SC dimensions and their possible synergy effect when pursuing CA using a multiinformant international sample taken from different country contexts.

Article
Publication date: 10 December 2019

Xiaoming Zhang, Mingming Meng, Xiaoling Sun and Yu Bai

With the advent of the era of Big Data, the scale of knowledge graph (KG) in various domains is growing rapidly, which holds huge amount of knowledge surely benefiting the…

Abstract

Purpose

With the advent of the era of Big Data, the scale of knowledge graph (KG) in various domains is growing rapidly, which holds huge amount of knowledge surely benefiting the question answering (QA) research. However, the KG, which is always constituted of entities and relations, is structurally inconsistent with the natural language query. Thus, the QA system based on KG is still faced with difficulties. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method to answer the domain-specific questions based on KG, providing conveniences for the information query over domain KG.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a method FactQA to answer the factual questions about specific domain. A series of logical rules are designed to transform the factual questions into the triples, in order to solve the structural inconsistency between the user’s question and the domain knowledge. Then, the query expansion strategies and filtering strategies are proposed from two levels (i.e. words and triples in the question). For matching the question with domain knowledge, not only the similarity values between the words in the question and the resources in the domain knowledge but also the tag information of these words is considered. And the tag information is obtained by parsing the question using Stanford CoreNLP. In this paper, the KG in metallic materials domain is used to illustrate the FactQA method.

Findings

The designed logical rules have time stability for transforming the factual questions into the triples. Additionally, after filtering the synonym expansion results of the words in the question, the expansion quality of the triple representation of the question is improved. The tag information of the words in the question is considered in the process of data matching, which could help to filter out the wrong matches.

Originality/value

Although the FactQA is proposed for domain-specific QA, it can also be applied to any other domain besides metallic materials domain. For a question that cannot be answered, FactQA would generate a new related question to answer, providing as much as possible the user with the information they probably need. The FactQA could facilitate the user’s information query based on the emerging KG.

Details

Data Technologies and Applications, vol. 54 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9288

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 2 March 2023

Juan A. Marin-Garcia, Jose A.D. Machuca and Rafaela Alfalla-Luque

To determine how to best deploy the Triple-A supply chain (SC) capabilities (AAA-agility, adaptability and alignment) to improve competitive advantage (CA) by identifying the…

Abstract

Purpose

To determine how to best deploy the Triple-A supply chain (SC) capabilities (AAA-agility, adaptability and alignment) to improve competitive advantage (CA) by identifying the Triple-A SC model with the highest CA predictive capability.

Design/methodology/approach

Assessment of in-sample and out-of-sample predictive capacity of Triple-A-CA models (considering AAA as individual constructs) to find which has the highest CA predictive capacity. BIC, BIC-Akaike weights and PLSpredict are used in a multi-country, multi-informant, multi-sector 304 plant sample.

Findings

Greater direct relationship model (DRM) in-sample and out-of-sample CA predictive capacity suggests DRM's greater likelihood of achieving a higher CA predictive capacity than mediated relationship model (MRM). So, DRM can be considered a benchmark for research/practice and the Triple-A SC capabilities as independent levers of performance/CA.

Research limitations/implications

DRM emerges as a reference for analysing how to trigger the three Triple-A SC levers for better performance/CA predictive capacity. Therefore, MRM proposals should be compared to DRM to determine whether their performance is significantly better considering the study's aim.

Practical implications

Results with our sample justify how managers can suitably deploy the Triple-A SC capabilities to improve CA by implementing AAA as independent levers. Single capability deployment does not require levels to be reached in others.

Originality/value

First research considering Triple-A SC capability deployment to better improve performance/CA focusing on model's predictive capability (essential for decision-making), further highlighting the lack of theory and contrasted models for Lee's Triple-A framework.

Details

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 53 no. 7/8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0960-0035

Keywords

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