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1 – 10 of over 3000Sabrina Bresciani and Alice Comi
The use of visual templates has proven instrumental in supporting group meetings. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether visual templates enable culturally diverse groups…
Abstract
Purpose
The use of visual templates has proven instrumental in supporting group meetings. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether visual templates enable culturally diverse groups to achieve greater task precision in face-to-face meetings.
Design/methodology/approach
Building on Adaptive Structuration Theory, it is argued that visual templates provide structuration for face-to-face meetings, even more so when they are embedded in computer-supported collaborative systems. In particular, it is hypothesized that the higher the degree of structuration imposed by visual templates, the higher the degree of task precision will be. It is also hypothesized that this relationship is positively moderated by group cultural diversity: higher cultural diversity will further sustain the positive effects of visual templates that provide higher structuration.
Findings
Results of an experiment with 229 managers from 49 countries confirm that facilitating groups with visual templates embedded in a computer-supported collaborative system significantly increases task precision at high levels of cultural diversity.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) by investigating the use of visual templates as a contingency factor that increases performance – specifically task precision – of co-located, culturally diverse groups.
Practical implications
Results indicate that visual templates embedded in a computer-supported collaborative system are an effective method for increasing task precision in face-to-face meetings of culturally diverse groups.
Originality/value
Theories from information systems and visualization are integrated into cross-cultural management with a view to sustaining the effectiveness of culturally diverse groups. The study sample is characterized by highly culturally diverse groups interacting in face-to-face meetings.
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Alice Comi, Nicole Bischof and Martin J. Eppler
The purpose of this paper is to argue for the reflective use of visual techniques in qualitative inter-viewing and suggests using visuals not only as projective techniques to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to argue for the reflective use of visual techniques in qualitative inter-viewing and suggests using visuals not only as projective techniques to elicit answers, but also as facilitation techniques throughout the interview process.
Design/methodology/approach
By reflecting on their own research projects in organization and management studies, the authors develop a practical approach to visual interviewing – making use of both projective and facilitation techniques. The paper concludes by discussing the limitations of visualization techniques, and suggesting directions for future research on visually enhanced interviewing.
Findings
The integration of projective and facilitation techniques enables the interviewer to build rapport with the respondent(s), and to elicit deeper answers by providing cognitive stimulation. In the course of the interview, such an integrative approach brings along further advantages, most notably focusing attention, maintaining interaction, and fostering the co-construction of knowledge between the interviewer and the interviewee(s).
Originality/value
This paper is reflective of what is currently occurring in the field of qualitative interviewing, and presents a practical approach for the integration of visual projection and facilitation in qualitative interviews.
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Dee Gray and Katherine Fiona Jones
The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of a collaborative organisational development and learning (OD/L) programme for small and medium-sized enterprise’s (SME’s…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of a collaborative organisational development and learning (OD/L) programme for small and medium-sized enterprise’s (SME’s) and micro businesses (MB) to contribute towards business resilience and sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an ethnographic case study that utilised an iterative interpretative approach to data collection and analysis, which was conducted around key OD/L interventions.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that the provision of an OD/L programme that focused on collaboration and learning, had both an immediate positive effect on business owners and long term effect in relation to business confidence, clarity, and action.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations of this study relate to the fact that the sample population is small so that the findings are not generalisable, and some of the challenges faced by SME business owners may be confined to socially deprived rural locations. Future research could focus on replicating the designed OD/L programme, or aspects of it, and a longitudinal study could be conducted over time.
Practical implications
The practical implications of this study are that it gives direction for those designing support for SME/MB’s to include tried and proven OD/L interventions.
Social implications
The social implications include that by demonstrating targeted support to SME business owners in socially deprived areas, the potential for growth in terms of survival and flourishing are increased and economic regeneration is positively influenced.
Originality/value
There are few studies in this area, the OD/L programme highlights that collaboration, and sustainable actions to develop resilience, have a part to play in supporting the SME/MB population, and a contribution to make towards a more buoyant economy.
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Denise Ann Brady, Patricia Tzortzopoulos, John Rooke, Carlos Torres Formoso and Algan Tezel
The purpose of this paper is to discuss a production planning and control model known as the Lean construction management (LCM) model, which applies a number of visual tools in a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss a production planning and control model known as the Lean construction management (LCM) model, which applies a number of visual tools in a systematic way to the planning and control process. The application of the visual tools in this way facilitates the flow of information, thus improving transparency between the interfaces of planning, execution and control.
Design/methodology/approach
Design Science research is adopted for this investigation, which analyses the original development of the model and reports on its testing and refinement over different types of projects. The research is divided into three parts, each part focussing on a different stage of development and construction project type.
Findings
The main findings are related to the benefits of visual management in the construction planning and control process, such as maintaining consistency between different planning levels, so that feasible execution plans are created; control becomes more focussed on prevention rather than correction, and creates opportunities for collaborative problem solving. Moreover, the physical display of the visual tools in a discrete planning area on-site encourages a regular exchange between participants on actual work progress as it unfolds, leading to more timely reaction to the problems at hand.
Originality/value
The problem of a lack of transparency in construction planning and control leads to communication issues on-site, poor process orientation and high levels of waste. LCM improves process transparency by making information related to system-wide processes more readily available to project participants. This enables them to foresee problems in a timely manner and to take necessary measures to resolve them or to adapt the process to current circumstances. The LCM model proposes a new way of applying visual tools and controls systematically to improve transparency in construction planning and control.
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The purpose of this paper is to describe a visual try-in evaluation framework for the template-guided modelling of a nasal prosthesis.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a visual try-in evaluation framework for the template-guided modelling of a nasal prosthesis.
Design/methodology/approach
For patients with nasal defects, there is no self-information that can be used for the fabrication of the nasal prosthesis. Based on model retrieval from a database, the template-guided model construction method can ensure successful building of the nasal prosthesis. The deviation measurement between the two mid-planes of pre-operative and visual post-operative patient’s face allowed a virtual try-in approach in the symmetry evaluation of the prosthetic rehabilitation. The test of fit between the prosthesis model and the surrounding tissue data also provided an evaluation of whether the nasal prosthesis fit the patient’s appearance well before operation.
Findings
A case study confirmed that this visual try-in evaluation framework has potential to design the desired nasal prosthesis for daily clinical practice.
Practical implications
This technique facilitates modelling of nasal prostheses while helping to predict the effect before the prosthesis is manufactured.
Originality/value
This visual try-in evaluation framework has great potential for use in clinical applications because of its advantages on the aesthetic evaluation of the prosthetic rehabilitation.
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Abstract
Purpose
Statistical modeling has been successfully applied to integrated circuit (IC) solder joint inspection. However, there are some inherent problems in previous statistical modeling methods. This paper aims to propose an adaptive statistical modeling method to further improve the inspection performance for IC solder joints.
Design/methodology/approach
First, different pixels in the IC solder joint image were modeled by different templates, each of which was composed of the hue value of the pixel and a proposed template significance factor. Then, the potential defect image was obtained by adaptive template matching and the potential defect threshold for each pixel. It was noted that the number of templates, matching distance threshold, potential defect threshold and updating rate were adaptively updated during model training. Finally, the trained statistical model was used to inspect the IC solder joints by means of defect degree.
Findings
Experimental results indicated that the proposed adaptive schemes greatly contributed to the inspection performance of statistical modeling. Also, the proposed inspection method achieved better performance compared with some state-of-the-art inspection methods.
Originality/value
The proposed method offers a promising approach for IC solder joint inspection, which establishes different numbers of templates constructed by pixel values and template significance factors for different pixels. Also, some important parameters were adaptively updated with the updating of the model, which contributed to the inspection performance of the model.
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Mark N.K. Saunders and Christine S. Williams
Reviews traditional measures of service quality. Argues that the constraints imposed by such measures mean that they can do little more than facilitate single loop learning…
Abstract
Reviews traditional measures of service quality. Argues that the constraints imposed by such measures mean that they can do little more than facilitate single loop learning. Outlines and evaluates an alternative generic approach, the template process, which operates within a process consultancy framework. Illustrates the application of the template to understanding service encounters through an exploration of the provision of funding for social housing. Highlights the ability of the template process to enable double loop learning. Discusses the implications of this for learning about service encounters and taking action.
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In this chapter, the authors discuss how visual artifacts may support the analysis and interpretation of qualitative data in organization studies. They draws on their own…
Abstract
In this chapter, the authors discuss how visual artifacts may support the analysis and interpretation of qualitative data in organization studies. They draws on their own experience as well as other scholars’ published work to explore the distinctive affordances of visual forms. In particular, the authors identify four roles – namely “mapping,” “analyzing,” “conceptualizing,” and “communicating” – that visual artifacts play to help us move from raw qualitative data to a compelling conceptual product.
Specifically, the use of visuals for “mapping” involves directly coding data into visual forms such as cognitive maps, flow charts or relational diagrams, an approach that may offer a useful complement to traditional verbal coding. Using visuals for “analyzing” implies either comparing, aggregating or decomposing previously constructed visual maps, or drawing directly on verbal data to develop visuals such as analytical flow charts, process replication maps, and trend charts. Using visuals for “conceptualizing” involves rising above the data to develop more abstract representations of concepts and relationships, while maintaining recognizable connections to empirical phenomena. While conceptual models can take a wide variety of forms, the authors illustrate, in particular, the use of visuals to represent linear, dialectic and multi-level process theories. Finally, the authors consider the importance of visualizations for “communicating” insights as well as for developing them, and the inextricable linkages between the two.
The authors conclude by discussing some of the strengths and weaknesses of visualization and by considering how new technologies may offer further possibilities for useful and insightful visual representations of qualitative data that can enhance theory-building.
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Qiao Sun, Shengxiu Zhang, Lijia Cao, Xiaofeng Li and Naixin Qi
The purpose of this paper is to improve the robustness of the traditional Bhattacharyya metric for the effect of histogram quantization in the histogram-based visual tracking…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to improve the robustness of the traditional Bhattacharyya metric for the effect of histogram quantization in the histogram-based visual tracking. However, the traditional Bhattacharyya metric neglects the correlation of crossing-bin and is not robust for the effect of histogram quantization.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors propose a visual tracking method via crossing-bin histogram Bhattacharyya similarity in the particle filter.
Findings
A crossing-bin matrix is introduced into the traditional Bhattacharyya similarity for measuring the reference histogram and the candidate histogram, and the basic tasks of measure such as maximum similarity of self and the triangle inequality are proven. The authors use the proposed measure in the particle filter visual tracking framework and address a model update strategy based on the crossing-bin histogram Bhattacharyya similarity to improve the robustness of visual tracking.
Originality/value
In the experiments using the famous challenging benchmark sequences, precision of the proposed method increases by 12.8 per cent comparing the traditional Bhattacharyya similarity and the cost time decreases by 38 times comparing the incremental Bhattacharyya similarity. The experimental results show that the proposed method can track the object robustly and rapidly under illumination change and occlusion.
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Chapter 4 shows and tells how to create visual art to achieve deep understanding about stories that individuals tell. Creating visual narrative art (VNA) of stories achieves…
Abstract
Synopsis
Chapter 4 shows and tells how to create visual art to achieve deep understanding about stories that individuals tell. Creating visual narrative art (VNA) of stories achieves several objectives. First, creating VNA revises and deepens sense-making of the meaning of events in the story and what the complete story implies about oneself and others. Second, creating VNA surfaces unconscious thinking of the protagonist and other actors in the story as well as the storyteller (recognizing that in many presentations of stories an actor in the story is also the storyteller); unconscious thinking in stories relating to consumer and brand experiences reflect one or more archetype (Jung 1916/1959) fulfillments by the protagonist and the storyteller; given that almost all authors agree on a distinction between processes that are unconscious, rapid, automatic, and high capacity, (System 1 processing) and those that are conscious, slow, and deliberative (System 2 processing, see Evans, 2008), VNA enables and enriches processing particularly relating to system 1 processing–enabling more emotional versus rational processing. Third, creating VNA of stories is inherently and uniquely fulfilling/ pleasurable/healing for the artist; using visual media allows artists to express emotions of the protagonist and/or audience member, to vent anger, or report bliss about events and outcomes that words alone cannot communicate; VNA provides a tangible, emotional, and holistic (gestalt) experience that is uniquely satisfying and does so in a form that many audience members enjoy over and over again. Chapter 4 elaborates on the rationales for its central proposition, briefly reviews relevant literature on VNA, and illustrates one mode of VNA for the complementary stories told by a consumer and brand.