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1 – 5 of 5Yuanchen Yang, Silvia Granados Ibarra, Manuk Ghazanchyan and Gustavo Canavire-Bacarreza
Despite its negative effects, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The rapid increase in connectivity and digital services…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite its negative effects, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The rapid increase in connectivity and digital services helped mitigate the pandemic's negative impact on the labor markets, especially for those with enough flexibility to continue working from home. The shock affected women due to their household responsibilities and labor market characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines how digital development may have affected gender gaps in employment and job loss in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. Using a sample of countries from Latin America and the Caribbean and various econometric techniques, we explore the digitalization gender gaps and job market outcomes during the pandemic.
Findings
Our findings suggest that the expansion on digital technologies are associated with increased female employment and reduced job losses for both men and women. These findings hold even after controlling for child care, household chores and the COVID-19 shock. Our results are also robust to various econometric techniques.
Originality/value
The paper leverages on unique dataset that was collected during the pandemic and the results are contrasted with existing macro data with robust results.
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Keywords
Weihua Zhang, Yuanchen Zeng, Dongli Song and Zhiwei Wang
The safety and reliability of high-speed trains rely on the structural integrity of their components and the dynamic performance of the entire vehicle system. This paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
The safety and reliability of high-speed trains rely on the structural integrity of their components and the dynamic performance of the entire vehicle system. This paper aims to define and substantiate the assessment of the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains in both theory and practice. The key principles and approaches will be proposed, and their applications to high-speed trains in China will be presented.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains are defined, and their relationship is introduced. Then, the principles for assessing the structural integrity of structural and dynamical components are presented and practical examples of gearboxes and dampers are provided. Finally, the principles and approaches for assessing the dynamical integrity of high-speed trains are presented and a novel operational assessment method is further presented.
Findings
Vehicle system dynamics is the core of the proposed framework that provides the loads and vibrations on train components and the dynamic performance of the entire vehicle system. For assessing the structural integrity of structural components, an open-loop analysis considering both normal and abnormal vehicle conditions is needed. For assessing the structural integrity of dynamical components, a closed-loop analysis involving the influence of wear and degradation on vehicle system dynamics is needed. The analysis of vehicle system dynamics should follow the principles of complete objects, conditions and indices. Numerical, experimental and operational approaches should be combined to achieve effective assessments.
Originality/value
The practical applications demonstrate that assessing the structural integrity and dynamical integrity of high-speed trains can support better control of critical defects, better lifespan management of train components and better maintenance decision-making for high-speed trains.
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Yuan Chen, Ziyue Yang, Bingsheng Liu, Dan Wang, Yan Xiao and Anmin Wang
This study aims to investigate the influence mechanism of expatriates' cultural intelligence (CQ) on expatriate effectiveness (task performance and premature return intention)…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the influence mechanism of expatriates' cultural intelligence (CQ) on expatriate effectiveness (task performance and premature return intention), identifying work engagement as a mediator and cultural distance as a boundary condition.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the conservation of resource theory and the person–environment fit (P–E fit) theory, a moderated mediation model is built. Working with a sample of 303 international construction expatriates collected by snowball sampling, the hypotheses are tested by using the structural equation model analysis.
Findings
Work engagement partially mediates the relationship between expatriates' CQ and task performance, as well as fully mediates the relationship between expatriates' CQ and premature return intention. Cultural distance moderates the positive relationship between CQ and work engagement, as well as moderates the mediating effects of work engagement.
Research limitations/implications
The impacts of potential moderators (e.g. work–family conflict and organizational culture) on the relationship between CQ and expatriate effectiveness have not been considered in this study.
Practical implications
This study is useful for international construction firms to optimize the allocation of human resources.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the expatriate literature by adding empirical evidence to explain the influence mechanism of expatriates' CQ on expatriate effectiveness.
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Keywords
Meng-Nan Li, Xueqing Wang, Ruo-Xing Cheng and Yuan Chen
Currently, engineering project design lacks a design framework that fully combines subjective experience and objective data. This study develops an aided design decision-making…
Abstract
Purpose
Currently, engineering project design lacks a design framework that fully combines subjective experience and objective data. This study develops an aided design decision-making framework to automatically output the optimal design alternative for engineering projects in a more efficient and objective mode, which synthesizes the design experience.
Design/methodology/approach
A database of design components is first constructed to facilitate the retrieval of data and the design alternative screening algorithm is proposed to automatically select all feasible design alternatives. Then back propagation (BP) neural network algorithm is introduced to predict the cost of all feasible design alternatives. Based on the gray relational degree-particle swarm optimization (GRD-PSO) algorithm, the optimal design alternative can be selected considering multiple objectives.
Findings
The case study shows that the BP neural network-cost prediction algorithm can well predict the cost of design alternatives, and the framework can be widely used at the design stage of most engineering projects. Design components with low sensitivity to design objectives have been obtained, allowing for the consideration of disregarding their impacts on design objectives in such situations requiring rapid decisions. Meanwhile, design components with high sensitivity to design objective weights have also been obtained, drawing special attention to the effects of changes in the importance of design objectives on the selection of these components. Simultaneously, the framework can be flexibly adjusted to different design objectives and identify key design components, providing decision reference for designers.
Originality/value
The framework proposed in this paper contributes to the knowledge of design decision-making by emphasizing the importance of combining objective data and subjective experience, whose significance is ignored in the existing literature.
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Dorota Stadnicka and R.M. Chandima Ratnayake
The calculation of quotations has been proven to be an extremely challenging matter in customized manufacturing requirements. There are significant wastages, which are attributed…
Abstract
Purpose
The calculation of quotations has been proven to be an extremely challenging matter in customized manufacturing requirements. There are significant wastages, which are attributed to activities related to the quotation preparation process (QPP) and their influence on an offer of delivery time to a customer. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to develop a tailor-made value stream mapping (VSM) approach, combined with a set of performance indicators for QPP performance measurement and management, to decrease the lead time of QPP.
Design/methodology/approach
Current and future state value stream maps have been developed to measure the performance of QPP. To minimize the weaknesses of the cycle efficiency indicator, additional indicators, assessing improvements to value- and non-value-added activities, external interested parties’ influence on lead time, etc., have been developed for QPP performance management. To illustrate the usefulness of the proposed indicators, a case study has been performed.
Findings
Only when all appropriate indicators are calculated than we have the whole overview of the current and future state in a QPP.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed indicators were used only in one case study. If they are used in different case studies from different companies and operating in different industries, it will be possible to discover whether the presented indicators are enough to fully understand the analyzed process.
Practical implications
The proposed methodology is ready to be used in industry practice.
Originality/value
The presented VSM methodology, combined with a set of performance indicators for QPP, provides the originality of the work.
Details