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1 – 10 of over 1000Jianhua Zhang, Liangchen Li, Fredrick Ahenkora Boamah, Shuwei Zhang and Longfei He
This study aims to deal with the case adaptation problem associated with continuous data by providing a non-zero base solution for knowledge users in solving a given situation.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to deal with the case adaptation problem associated with continuous data by providing a non-zero base solution for knowledge users in solving a given situation.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the neighbourhood transformation of the initial case base and the view similarity between the problem and the existing cases will be examined. Multiple cases with perspective similarity or above a predefined threshold will be used as the adaption cases. Secondly, on the decision rule set of the decision space, the deterministic decision model of the corresponding distance between the problem and the set of lower approximate objects under each choice class of the adaptation set is applied to extract the decision rule set of the case condition space. Finally, the solution elements of the problem will be reconstructed using the rule set and the values of the problem's conditional elements.
Findings
The findings suggest that the classic knowledge matching approach reveals the user with the most similar knowledge/cases but relatively low satisfaction. This also revealed a non-zero adaptation based on human–computer interaction, which has the difficulties of solid subjectivity and low adaptation efficiency.
Research limitations/implications
In this study the multi-case inductive adaptation of the problem to be solved is carried out by analyzing and extracting the law of the effect of the centralized conditions on the decision-making of the adaptation. The adaption process is more rigorous with less subjective influence better reliability and higher application value. The approach described in this research can directly change the original data set which is more beneficial to enhancing problem-solving accuracy while broadening the application area of the adaptation mechanism.
Practical implications
The examination of the calculation cases confirms the innovation of this study in comparison to the traditional method of matching cases with tacit knowledge extrapolation.
Social implications
The algorithm models established in this study develop theoretical directions for a multi-case induction adaptation study of tacit knowledge.
Originality/value
This study designs a multi-case induction adaptation scheme by combining NRS and CBR for implicitly knowledgeable exogenous cases. A game-theoretic combinatorial assignment method is applied to calculate the case view and the view similarity based on the threshold screening.
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This chapter explores methodological aspects of designing a qualitative multi-case research study to examine the issues of citizen participation, new democratic forms of planning…
Abstract
This chapter explores methodological aspects of designing a qualitative multi-case research study to examine the issues of citizen participation, new democratic forms of planning, and community tourism planning. The study discussed below took place during the months of June 2007–March 2008 in three North American communities – two in the United States and one in Canada. The purposes of the study were to compare and contrast the current practices of citizen involvement in community tourism planning with the framework of deliberative democracy, to expand the literature on tourism planning, and to contribute to the development of a model of participatory community tourism planning to be adopted by communities and planners pursuing tourism as a development tool. This chapter focuses on methodological intricacies of designing a qualitative multi-case research study, those wishing to explore the project more are referred to Grybovych (2008).
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Anna Azzi, Daria Battini, Maurizio Faccio, Alessandro Persona and Fabio Sgarbossa
Logisticians in the worldwide industry are frequently faced with the problem of measuring the total cost of holding inventories with simple and easy-to-use methodologies. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Logisticians in the worldwide industry are frequently faced with the problem of measuring the total cost of holding inventories with simple and easy-to-use methodologies. The purpose of this paper is to look at the problem, and in particular illustrate the inventory holding cost rate computation, when different kind of warehousing systems are applied.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study analysis is here developed and supported by a methodological framework directly derived from the working group discussions and brainstorming activities. Two different field of application are considered: one related to five companies with manual warehousing systems operating with traditional fork lift trucks; the other is among five companies operating with automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS) to store inventories.
Findings
The multi-case study helps to understand how the holding cost parameter is currently computed by industrial managers and how much the difference between manual and automated/automatic warehousing systems impacts on the inventory cost structure definition. The insights from the ten case studies provide evidence that the kind of storage system adopted inside the factory can impact on the holding cost rate computation and permit to derive important considerations.
Practical implications
The final aim of this work is to help industrial engineers and logisticians in correctly understanding the inventory costs involved in their systems and their cost structure. In addition, the multi-case analysis leads to considerations, to be applied in different industrial contexts. As other industrial applications are identified, they may be analyzed by using the presented methodology, and with aid from the data from this paper.
Originality/value
The relevance of this work is to help industrial engineers and logisticians in understanding correctly the inventory costs involved in their logistics systems and their cost structure. In addition, the multi-case analysis lead to interesting final considerations, easily to be applied in different industrial contexts. As other industrial applications are identified, they may be analyzed by using the methodology and extrapolating the data from this paper.
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Swee Chua Goh, Catherine Elliott and Greg Richards
Performance management (PM) is now clearly a well-established practice in public sector organizations. However, increasingly scholars have been questioning its efficacy in…
Abstract
Purpose
Performance management (PM) is now clearly a well-established practice in public sector organizations. However, increasingly scholars have been questioning its efficacy in improving organizational performance. Research has shown that the presumed benefits remain questionable and that there are many barriers, challenges and problems in implementing PM. The purpose of this paper is to report and discuss the findings of a multi-case study that examines in more depth how five Canadian public sector organizations are implementing PM.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative multi-case study approach was used in this study. Structured interviews were carried out in each public sector organization and the interview data were analyzed using NVivo8. Individual case profiles were also written. A cross-case analysis was carried out using data from these five cases.
Findings
The cross-case analysis of the data focussed on the major themes emerging from the data with respect to challenges and barriers, success factors, context and implications for practice for PM in public sector organizations. Three contextual factors are identified and discussed in explaining some of the findings. Conclusions are drawn for making PM more effective in achieving performance improvement in public sector organizations and future directions for research.
Research limitations/implications
The research findings and implications for practice are based on five Canadian public sector organizations so may limit its generalizability to public sector organizations in other countries.
Practical implications
Some practical implications are discussed with respect to implementing PM more successfully in public sector organizations. This included the better integration of PM to corporate strategy, leadership in developing a positive PM culture and employee buy-in and commitment to the process.
Originality/value
This qualitative multi-case study of PM in Canadian public sector organizations has not previously been done. This approach allows for a more close-up look at PM in public sector organizations especially how it is implemented and the experiences of organizational members. The paper also presents new insights on context as an important variable in explaining the findings from the cross-case analysis and points to future new directions for research and in developing a contingency theory approach to PM.
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Weihua Liu, Di Wang, Xuan Zhao, Cheng Si and Ou Tang
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influencing factors of new logistics service product design (NLSPD) in China to establish a theoretical framework for the future…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influencing factors of new logistics service product design (NLSPD) in China to establish a theoretical framework for the future development of the logistics industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts the multi-case study method based on a sample of four Chinese logistics enterprises, in which the authors consider the logistics service maturity (LSM), a distinct characteristic of logistics enterprises.
Findings
NLSPD is directly related to the degree of supply–demand matching (SDM) and LSM. Customer demand, service capability and peer competition influence the performance of NLSPD through the SDM degree, whereas LSM moderates these influencing mechanisms. Moreover, the degree of SDM has a positive impact on LSM.
Practical implications
The findings can help the managers of logistics enterprises and practitioners in the logistics industry understand the complexity of NLSPD. First, they should broaden and deepen their service offering to enhance the degree of LSM. Second, they should pay attention to the factors that affect SDM systematically. Finally, it is vital to balance the relationship between LSM and SDM.
Originality/value
NLSPD has become an important tool affecting the competitiveness and sustainability of logistics service enterprises. This is the first paper to propose a theoretical framework for NLSPD that considers the characteristic of the logistics industry. It clarifies the mechanisms of influencing factors, and contributes to the literature by filling the research gap.
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Weihua Liu, Shuang Wei, Yanjie Liang, Di Wang and Jingkun Wang
This study explores the influencing factors on organizational efficiency of the smart logistics ecological chain, and designs the corresponding theoretical framework to guide the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the influencing factors on organizational efficiency of the smart logistics ecological chain, and designs the corresponding theoretical framework to guide the practice of enterprises
Design/methodology/approach
A multi-case study method is adopted in this study. It includes four companies A, B, C and D in China as the case study objects, collects data through enterprise survey and uses the combination of open coding and spindle coding to process the data. By testing the reliability and validity, the theoretical framework is summarized.
Findings
First, organizational efficiency in smart logistics ecological chains is directly related to their service and technology innovation capability. Second, symbiotic relationships, information sharing and customer demand affect the efficiency of smart logistics multi-case ecological chains by influencing their service capacity; their technological innovation capability regulates the mechanism of influence. Third, technological innovation in smart logistics ecological chains positively impacts their service capabilities. Improving technological innovation capability can enhance logistics service capabilities.
Originality/value
According to the characteristics of smart logistics, the theoretical framework about organizational efficiency of smart logistics ecological chain is constructed, which fills the research gap and can provide interesting perspectives for the future research related to the smart logistics ecological chain. At the same time, the findings can also help enterprises to better build the smart logistics ecological chain in practice.
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René Lindner, Josune Hernantes and Carmen Jaca
This research assesses the implications of integrating standardization activities into European research projects to foster the engagement of project internal and external…
Abstract
Purpose
This research assesses the implications of integrating standardization activities into European research projects to foster the engagement of project internal and external stakeholders and into different project stakeholder management theories.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes the integration of standardization and the engagement of project internal and external stakeholders in standardization activities in a multi-case study of four European Framework Program projects and with the projects Advancing Resilience of Historic Areas Against Climate-Related and Other Hazards (ARCH) and Smart Mature Resilience (SMR) in two separate case studies more deeply. The multi-case study mainly evaluates the stakeholder participation in 10 CEN Workshop Agreements. While in the two case studies, among other things, two project surveys are used to investigate how stakeholder engagement was supported by standardization activities.
Findings
The results show that standardization significantly supports stakeholder engagement and lead to a proposal on how standardization can support achieving stakeholder engagement goals in the different research project phases.
Originality/value
This research provides practical information for policy-makers who support standardization as a tool for research, as well as for researchers and project managers who want to use standardization activities efficiently in research projects.
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Peyman Akhavan, Mostafa Jafari and Mohammad Fathian
To date, critical success factors for design and implementing knowledge management (KM) system in a multi‐case study research have not been systematically investigated. Most of…
Abstract
Purpose
To date, critical success factors for design and implementing knowledge management (KM) system in a multi‐case study research have not been systematically investigated. Most of existing studies have derived their critical success factors from single company perspectives and have not considered all factors in an integrated way in a multi case study research. This paper is aimed to bridge this gap.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative case study technique has been used in this paper for data collection to gain insights into the topic being investigated. For that, “grounded theory” research approach has been selected by which the collected data from real case studies (successful organizations in KM adoption) are categorized and analyzed through specific stages. The extracted concepts can demonstrate critical success factors of KM system within organizations.
Findings
The overall results from the real case studies were positive, thus reflecting the appropriateness of the proposed critical success factors. Also 16 concepts and a conceptual framework are the other findings of this research that clarify how to design and implement a KM system in an organization. The conceptual framework presents a roadmap for success of KM programs in the organizations.
Practical implications
The set of critical success factors can act as a list of items for organizations to address when adopting KM. This helps to ensure that the essential issues and factors are covered during design and implementation phase. For academics, it provides a common language for them to discuss and study the factors crucial for the success of KM program in an organization.
Originality/value
This study is probably the first to provide an integrated perspective of critical success factors for implementing KM through a multi case study research. It gives valuable information and guidelines which hopefully will help the leaders to accomplish KM through their organizations in an effective way.
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Weihua Liu, Jiahui Zhang and Siyu Wang
This study explores the influencing factors affecting smart supply chain innovation (SSCI) performance of commodity distribution enterprises, and proposes the corresponding…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the influencing factors affecting smart supply chain innovation (SSCI) performance of commodity distribution enterprises, and proposes the corresponding framework from the perspective of the application of technology to improve the SSCI performance and make up the research gap in this field.
Design/methodology/approach
A multi-case study method is adopted in this study. Four distribution commodity distribution enterprises A, B, C and D in China are chosen as case enterprises. The interviews with senior management team members are used to collect data. The combination of open coding and axial coding are used to process the data. By testing the reliability and validity, the theoretical framework is summarized.
Findings
First, we find that the technology application cost inhibits SSCI and that the level of technology suitable for enterprise development will promote SSCI. Second, SSCI in structure, management and services can improve the performance and innovation ability of enterprises. Third, the quality of multi-channel integration and degree of customization around customer demand can significantly modify the above effects.
Originality/value
Compared with previous studies, this study reveals for the first time the correlation between the SSCI performance and technology application, SSCI in structure, management and service, providing new ideas for relevant researches on SSCI, and providing new theoretical support for managers' decision-making related to SSCI.
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Weihua Liu, Yang He, Yanjie Liang and Ming Kim Lim
This study explores the factors that influence platform-to-platform cooperation (PPC) and designs a theoretical framework for platform research.
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the factors that influence platform-to-platform cooperation (PPC) and designs a theoretical framework for platform research.
Design/methodology/approach
This multi-case study includes a combination of exploratory and explanatory case studies.
Findings
From the internal factor perspective, channel integration capability, technology-based order matching capability and service innovation capability positively affects the PPC. From the perspective of external factors, the impact of a new platform entry on the PPC depends on market power and complementarities between platforms in the supply and value chains. Diversity of demand also has a positive effect on the PPC, which is moderated by network externalities. It is worth noting that the incumbent platform prefers to diversify its services for collaborating platforms with a higher level of cooperation. In addition, the higher diversity of demand, the stronger the service innovation capability, which indirectly impacts cooperation positively.
Originality/value
The PPC has gained immense popularity in recent years. However, no scholars have investigated the factors influencing the PPC decisions, which warrants further exploration. This study sheds light on the factors and mechanisms that influence the PPC from both internal and external perspectives.
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