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1 – 10 of over 3000Shuang Yao, Yan Song, Yanna Yu and Benhai Guo
Green technology adoption (GTA) in small and micro enterprises (SMEs) is a complex multi-attribute group decision-making issue. Conflicts of opinions can hamper the achievement of…
Abstract
Purpose
Green technology adoption (GTA) in small and micro enterprises (SMEs) is a complex multi-attribute group decision-making issue. Conflicts of opinions can hamper the achievement of group coherence. The purpose of this paper is to solve the conflict decision-making problem in SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reconstructs the GTA evaluation index system for SMEs and proposes an intragroup coordination relationship model to mitigate group decision-making conflicts based on the cloud model and social networks (GCS). The numerical characteristics of these GTA indicators are determined using fuzzy theory and cloud model.
Findings
It was found that establishing a trust relationship network and a conflict coordination relationship could improve the consistency of group decision-making. The degree of coordination has subtle differences with the trust relationship. Particularly, the coordination relationship has obvious influences on the decision-making results among small groups in SMEs.
Originality/value
The conflict coordination model can significantly improve the consistency of group decision-making in SMEs. At the same time, it discusses the differences between the level of conflict coordination and the trust propagation in the process of group decision-making.
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Yan Song, Xin Yun Li, Yi Li and Xianpei Hong
The purpose of this paper is to establish a deterministic equivalent income model (DEIM) based on the risk cost (RC) and risk aversion of investors. The model fully considers both…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish a deterministic equivalent income model (DEIM) based on the risk cost (RC) and risk aversion of investors. The model fully considers both subjective and objective factors that affect risk investment and reasonably evaluates risk investment schemes to choose the correct investment scheme and gain greater investment returns.
Design/methodology/approach
The utility function is used to measure the extent to which an investor is satisfied by investment returns in various scenarios. Risk aversion expresses subjective attitude of investors to risk. RC represents risk loss in currency. This methodology is based on risk aversion function, utility function and RC theory to establish DEIM.
Findings
This study shows that investors with different risk preferences have different certainty equivalent returns (CER), so their choices of investment options change accordingly.
Practical implications
In this paper, the authors use DEIM to test an investment case and conclude that the CER and investment scheme both change with different risk preferences. At the same time, case analysis shows that DEIM is reasonable and stable when evaluating risk investment schemes.
Originality/value
In this study, the authors innovate by introducing both the RC and risk aversion degree into risk investment schemes evaluation and by deriving a utility function from the absolute risk aversion function to build a utility decision matrix and establish DEIM. The model combines the subjective and objective factors that influence risk investment decisions.
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Chao Yuan, Xiang Kong and Pinyu Chen
This study aims to examine the role of authenticity in tourists’ destination selection, analyze the factors that influence tourists to form their initial opinions and explore how…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the role of authenticity in tourists’ destination selection, analyze the factors that influence tourists to form their initial opinions and explore how tourists construct the authenticity of traditional villages. The authors selected Chengkan village in Huizhou district, Huangshan city, as a case. In the study, the authors constructed an attribute-hardware-software research framework and analyzed tourists’ authentic emic experiences from the perspective of constructivism. The findings of this study suggest that tourists’ destination selection is influenced by authenticity. The destination culture brokers who interact with tourists play an essential role in forming authentic experiences. According to differences in how tourists construct authenticity, the study divided tourists into three types: primitive imagination, aesthetic reality and rational cognition. The results of this study provide a deeper understanding of various viewpoints about authenticity research and contribute to the academic discussion on how to understand the authenticity of unique cultural heritage sites such as traditional villages in the context of tourism development.
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Liang Li, Ziyu Chen, Yaobing Wang, Xiaodong Zhang and Ningfei Wang
The purpose of this paper is to solve the tracking problem for free-floating space manipulators (FFSMs) in task space with parameter uncertainties and external disturbance.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to solve the tracking problem for free-floating space manipulators (FFSMs) in task space with parameter uncertainties and external disturbance.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the novel cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC) is designed with the feedback controller. More precisely, the parameter uncertainties in the FFSM are considered for achieving the robustness.
Findings
By using the dynamically equivalent model, the CMAC can be designed and trained with the desired performance, such that the prescribed trajectory can be followed accordingly. The simulation results are presented for illustrating the validity of the derived results.
Originality/value
Based on the designed CMAC, the tracking error would be approaching zero by choosing appropriate quantization level in CMAC and the corresponding learning rules can be tuned online.
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Shubhangi Agarwal, Bhawna Agarwal and Ruchika Gupta
This paper attempts to provide significant information on the increased growth of literature of chatbots and virtual assistants. Technological changes are dynamic and keep…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper attempts to provide significant information on the increased growth of literature of chatbots and virtual assistants. Technological changes are dynamic and keep changing at regular intervals. Therefore, it becomes highly crucial to review the performance of chatbots and virtual assistants. This paper aims to review the literature by eminent researchers in the form of authors, keywords and major contributing organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
Systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis is used to analyze the growth of literature on chatbots. A sum of articles has been extracted from Scopus database with selected keywords and with certain filters. VOSviewer software is used for analysis of data. A total of 130 documents are extracted from Scopus database from 2017 to 2021 (31st August).
Findings
This study provides a significant contribution to an existing literature and provides the understanding of research in the area of chatbots and virtual assistants. The authors with maximum number of citations are Yan, Zaho, Bengio, Weizenbaum, Song, Zhou and Maedche with jointly 180 citations. Research is been contributed by different countries where the United States is the country with highest number of documents published. The United States contributes 17% of the total production in the area of chatbots and virtual assistants. The analysis shows that the area is gaining momentum as contribution in this area is been increasing in last few years.
Research limitations/implications
The study shows that several branches of chatbots are also in mainstream like natural language processing, e-learning, behavioural research, conversational agents, virtual assistants, human–computer interaction, natural language and so on. It provides a wider scope to authors and researchers to gain useful insights. The bibliometric study will provide a broader spectrum in this area.
Social implications
The developments in technology and also the effect of COVID-19 pandemic is boosting the adoption of technology in different sectors. Deployment of technology will uplift the economy and social infrastructure. Society can avail different services from their comfort area and also in real time. This will help in reducing wastage of resources like people visiting offices for routine jobs which can be easily availed from their workplace. Society may access better services without much human interaction.
Originality/value
This paper adds significant contribution to the existing literature by analysing the published papers from Scopus database. The study contains new and significant information as this study covers all industries where chatbots and virtual assistants are being applied whereas in previous literature only specific industry has been taken into consideration.
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Katherine Kenyon Henderson and Yan Song
This paper aims to assess the marginal value of several types of open space in a single family residential market. It also aims to test the hypothesis that locating closer to open…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to assess the marginal value of several types of open space in a single family residential market. It also aims to test the hypothesis that locating closer to open spaces might be a substitute for the size of a homeowner's own yard.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from Wake County, North Carolina in the US hedonic modeling is used to estimate the house price as a function of the quantities of a property's characteristics, including the property's access to different types of open spaces, property structural features, public services, disamenity features, neighborhood socio‐economic characteristics, and accessibility measures.
Findings
The findings were that housing prices increase with a property's proximity to certain types of open land uses, and that the size of those nearby open spaces also impacts home price. More importantly, the findings concluded that the value of being adjacent to public open spaces, having more public open spaces within walking distance of the property, and being closer to the nearest open space is greater for properties with smaller private yards.
Originality/value
This paper explicitly tests the relationship between yard size and the proximity value of various types of open spaces. The paper also discusses the implications of the research findings for land use planning and smart growth development.
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Kunhong Hu, Yan Miao and Ziyan Lu
This paper aims to explore the preparation and tribological performance of MoS2 nanoparticles supported on fly ash (FA) microparticles.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the preparation and tribological performance of MoS2 nanoparticles supported on fly ash (FA) microparticles.
Design/methodology/approach
FA was activated by NaOH, oleic acid and HCl to obtain three modified FA samples. Nano-MoS2 was deposited on them to form MoS2/FA additives for poly-α-olefin (PAO) modification. Tribological tests were conducted on a reciprocating rig through the ball-on-disk friction manner. Using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, Raman spectrometer and element analyzers, the products and their lubrication mechanisms were characterized.
Findings
At 1.5 Wt.%, nano-MoS2 and MoS2/FA could remarkably improve the tribological properties of PAO. The nano-MoS2 deposited on the HCl-activated FA presented better lubrication performance than nano-MoS2. It could reduce friction and wear by approximately 27% and approximately 66%, respectively. The lubrication of MoS2/FA can be attributed to the formation of MoS2 and carbon containing lubricating film.
Originality/value
FA was applied as a supporter to prepare MoS2/FA lubricants. The reuse of FA, a solid waste, is important for environmental protection. Moreover, MoS2/FA is more economical than nano-MoS2 as a lubricant, because it contains approximately 71% of low-cost FA.
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Keywords
– The purpose of this paper is to establish the portfolio models of contained grey profit under uncertainty, and the results are applied to solve uncertain investment problem.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish the portfolio models of contained grey profit under uncertainty, and the results are applied to solve uncertain investment problem.
Design/methodology/approach
In investment problems, uncertainties may exist in model parameters and input data. For the investment problems contained grey profit and incomplete information about natural world state, according to the portfolio theory, the grey systems theory and the uncertainty decision theory, the paper puts forward portfolio models and the methods.
Findings
Traditional uncertainty decision is researched for incomplete information about natural world state, in reality, investment problems are not only uncertain state information, but income are uncertain.
Practical implications
Because the investment problems have been widely used in economic analysis, decision analysis and economic management, examples are provided at the end to verify its feasibility.
Originality/value
The paper successfully combined the portfolio theory, the gray system theory and uncertainty decision theory and new uncertainty investment decision-making models and methods are presented.
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Nurul ‘Ulyani Mohd Najib, Nor’ Aini Yusof and Nazirah Zainul Abidin
The paper aims to investigate the level of student satisfaction with campus student housing facilities (SHF) at Malaysian research universities (RUs) and the relationship between…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to investigate the level of student satisfaction with campus student housing facilities (SHF) at Malaysian research universities (RUs) and the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
The student residential satisfaction (SRS) framework has been proposed to investigate residential satisfaction from the students' viewpoint. Questionnaires were distributed to respondents in three RUs. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Findings
In general, students are satisfied with the provided SHF with the SRS index of 2.96 or 74 per cent satisfaction level and there is a significant relationship between overall satisfaction and loyalty behaviour. The results also confirmed that the proposed model is an adequate instrument to measure SRS.
Practical implications
The existence of quality SHF is likely to act as an effective medium to attract local and international students to enrol in Malaysian universities. Further actions should be geared towards achieving a higher score of SRS index.
Originality/value
This paper introduces a practical model of SRS to be applied to universities in other countries with similar climate and culture.
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