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1 – 10 of 30Robyn Clay-Williams, Andrew Johnson, Paul Lane, Zhicheng Li, Lauren Camilleri, Teresa Winata and Michael Klug
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of negotiation training delivered to senior clinicians, managers and executives, by exploring whether staff members…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of negotiation training delivered to senior clinicians, managers and executives, by exploring whether staff members implemented negotiation skills in their workplace following the training, and if so, how and when.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative study involving face-to-face interviews with 18 senior clinicians, managers and executives who completed a two-day intensive negotiation skills training course. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and inductive interpretive analysis techniques were used to identify common themes. Research setting was a large tertiary care hospital and health service in regional Australia.
Findings
Participants generally reported positive affective and utility reactions to the training, and attempted to implement at least some of the skills in the workplace. The main enabler was provision of a Negotiation Toolkit to assist in preparing and conducting negotiations. The main barrier was lack of time to reflect on the principles and prepare for upcoming negotiations. Participants reported that ongoing skill development and retention were not adequately addressed; suggestions for improving sustainability included provision of refresher training and mentoring.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations include self-reported data, and interview questions positively elicited examples of training translation.
Practical implications
The training was well matched to participant needs, with negotiation a common and daily activity for most healthcare professionals. Implementation of the skills showed potential for improving collaboration and problem solving in the workplace. Practical examples of how the skills were used in the workplace are provided.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first international study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an integrative bargaining negotiation training program targeting executives, senior clinicians and management staff in a large healthcare organization.
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Yongqin Wang and Xin Gao
This paper studies the political economy of the endogenous urban–rural divide in two dimensions: labor market and provision of public goods.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper studies the political economy of the endogenous urban–rural divide in two dimensions: labor market and provision of public goods.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper gives a dual-sector model endogenously depending on the consumption of public goods (club goods), the number of rural–urban migrants and the tax rate (transfer payments).
Findings
According to the research findings in this paper, the constraints on the participation of rural residents portray the rural residents' bargaining power, and in the game between the urban elites and the rural residents, tax rates depend on the preferences of the urban elites and the constraints urban elites and the rural residents jointly face. Therefore, the urban elites have to set tax rates deviating from the most preferred ones. The model in this paper can explain a series of empirical findings and yield new theoretical findings for empirical testing.
Originality/value
Significantly, the paper finds that the increase in agricultural productivity will lead to industrialization, accompanied by the disintegration of the dual-sector model. However, though the increase in industrial productivity can accelerate industrialization, it will further expand the urban–rural divide.
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Zhicheng Song, Xiang Li, Xiaolong Yang, Yao Li, Linkang Wang and Hongtao Wu
This paper aims to improve the kinematic modeling accuracy of a spatial three-degrees-of-freedom compliant micro-motion parallel mechanism by proposing a modified modeling method…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to improve the kinematic modeling accuracy of a spatial three-degrees-of-freedom compliant micro-motion parallel mechanism by proposing a modified modeling method based on the structural matrix method (SMM).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes the problem that the torsional compliance equation of the circular notched hinge is no longer applicable because it is subject to bilateral restrained torsion. The torsional compliance equation is modified by introducing the relative length coefficient. The input coupling effect, which is often neglected, is considered in kinematic modeling. The symbolic expression of the input coupling matrix is obtained. Theory, simulation and experimentation are presented to show the validity of the proposed kinematic model.
Findings
The results show that the proposed kinematics model can improve the modeling accuracy by comparing the theoretical, finite element method (FEM) and experimental method.
Originality/value
This work provides a feasible scheme for CMPM kinematics modeling. It can be better applied to the optimization design based on the kinematic model in the future.
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Songshan (Sam) Huang, Zhicheng Yu, Yuhong Shao, Meng Yu and Zhiyong Li
This study examines the relative effects of human capital (HC), social capital (SC) and psychological capital (PC) on hotel employees’ job performance.
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the relative effects of human capital (HC), social capital (SC) and psychological capital (PC) on hotel employees’ job performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 417 employees from seven five-star hotels in China was recruited for the study. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to confirm the quality of measurement structures. Stepwise regression was used to examine the relative effects of the three capitals on hotel employees’ job performance.
Findings
PC was found to be the strongest predictor of self-reported job performance (SJP) among the three capitals under investigation. Education and work experience in the HC domain affected SJP, whereas SC dimensions did not. However, only education and work experience in the HC domain were found to affect supervisor-rated job performance (RJP).
Practical implications
Given the impact of PC on hotel employee’s SJP, human resource managers should attend to this capital in staff recruitment, retention and training and development.
Originality/value
This study provides a holistic comparative lens to examine the relative contribution of the three capitals on hotel employees’ job performance. This will help to further clarify the roles played by each of the capitals in hotel service work, thus advancing the development of the theories underlying each of the three capitals.
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Yang Li, Zhixiang Xie, Yaochen Qin and Zhicheng Zheng
This paper aims to study the temporal and spatial variation of vegetation and the influence of climate change on vegetation coverage in the Yellow River basin, China. The current…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the temporal and spatial variation of vegetation and the influence of climate change on vegetation coverage in the Yellow River basin, China. The current study aimed to evaluate the role of a series of government-led environmental control projects in restoring the ecological environment of the Yellow River basin.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses unary linear regression, Mann–Kendall and wavelet analyses to study the spatial–temporal variations of vegetation and the response to climate changes in the Yellow River, China.
Findings
The results showed that for the past 17 years, not only the mean annual increase rate of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was 0.0059/a, but the spatial heterogeneity also yields significant results. The vegetation growth in the southeastern region was significantly better than that in the northwestern region. The variation period of the NDVI in the study area significantly shortened, and the most obvious oscillation period was half a year, with two peaks in one year. In addition, there are positive and negative effects of human activities on the change of vegetation cover of the Loess Plateau. The project of transforming cultivated land to forest and grassland promotes the increase of vegetation cover of the Loess plateau. Unfortunately, the regional urbanization and industrialization proliferated, and the overloading of grazing, deforestation, over-reclamation, and the exploitation and development of the energy area in the grassland region led to the reduction of the NDVI. Fortunately, the positive effects outweigh the negative ones.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comprehensive insight to analysis of the vegetation change and the responses of vegetation to climate change, with special reference to make the planning policy of ecological restoration. This paper argues that ecological restoration should be strengthened in areas with annual precipitation less than 450 mm.
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The present study aimed to examining the association between work–family conflict and turnover intention by exploring the mediating effect of job satisfaction and the moderating…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aimed to examining the association between work–family conflict and turnover intention by exploring the mediating effect of job satisfaction and the moderating effect of perceived organizational support on preschool teachers in China.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 827 preschool teachers was conducted, and the data were analyzed using correlation analysis, hierarchical linear regression and path analysis with a structural equation model.
Findings
The results revealed that work–family conflict was significantly and positively associated with preschool teachers' turnover intention. Job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between work–family conflict and turnover intention, while perceived organizational support moderated the association between work–family conflict and job satisfaction, thus mitigating the negative impact of work–family conflict on job satisfaction.
Originality/value
These findings contribute to the understanding of turnover among preschool teachers and suggest the need to enhance perceived organizational support to promote job satisfaction and reduce turnover in this profession.
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Chaoyu Lu, Jinbao Chen, Chen Wang and Zhicheng Song
The purpose of this study is to ensure the successful implementation of a landing cushion for the new generation armored vehicles with significantly enhanced quality. Furthermore…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to ensure the successful implementation of a landing cushion for the new generation armored vehicles with significantly enhanced quality. Furthermore, to introduce a high-precision landing cushioning analysis model.
Design/methodology/approach
To accurately analyze the cushioning performance of the new generation armored vehicles, a nonlinear finite element dynamics model considering the complex travel system was established. The model considered the influence of various nonlinear factors to measure the dynamic response difference between the proposed and traditional models. The cushioning performance of airbags under different landing conditions and their various influence factors were analyzed.
Findings
The travel system has a large influence on the key points of the vehicle, whose rear end of the upper deck has a larger acceleration fluctuation compared with the traditional model. The increase in the body material stiffness is helpful to reduce this fluctuation. The established nonlinear finite element model can effectively analyze the landing cushioning performance of airborne armored vehicles. The area of the external airbag vent has a large influence on the cushioning performance, and the cushioning system has excellent cushioning performance under various operating conditions.
Practical implications
This study introduces the travel system, which is ignored by traditional analytical models. The interactions between various types of complex structures are included in the analysis process in its entirety, leading to valuable new conclusions. Quantitatively reveals the analytical errors of traditional simulation models in multiple dimensions and the reasons for their formation. Based on a high-precision simulation model, it is verified that the designed airbag cushioning system has an excellent cushioning effect for the new generation of heavy airborne armored vehicles.
Originality/value
The novelty of this work comes from the need for smooth landing with low overload for a new type of large-load airborne armored vehicle and provides a high-precision model that quantifies the traditional analytical modeling errors and error principle.
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Ping Gui, Xiaotong Ji, Yanlan Mei and Zhicheng Quan
Community governance plays an important role in the prevention and control of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China. Community workers, the main executors in…
Abstract
Purpose
Community governance plays an important role in the prevention and control of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in China. Community workers, the main executors in community governance, experience a huge amount of stress, which affects their physical and mental health. Thus, it is crucial to pay more attention to the stressors and stress responses of community workers and propose strategies to alleviate such responses. This paper aims to analyze the work stress of community workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a questionnaire survey of 602 community workers during COVID-19 in China, the four main stressors and 14 stress factors of community workers were identified and six factors at three levels of stress responses were defined. A stress analysis model is proposed that tests the mediating role of psychological capital and the moderating role of organizational climate.
Findings
The results show that stressors influence stress responses through the moderating role of psychological capital, organizational climate plays a negative mediator role between stressors and psychological capital and the main stressors for community workers are work, safety and performance stress.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to existing research because it offers suggestions for reducing the impact of stress on the community workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, it can promote the control and prevention of the COVID-19.
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He Chuang, Wang Fan, Liu Zhicheng and Kong Dejun
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of laser scanning speed (LSS) on the corrosive-tribological performance of Ni-60%WC coating in Wusu mine water, which was…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of laser scanning speed (LSS) on the corrosive-tribological performance of Ni-60%WC coating in Wusu mine water, which was beneficial to improve the friction–wear performance of cylinder liner on water injection pump.
Design/methodology/approach
Ni-60%WC coatings were fabricated on 45 steel by laser cladding, and the microstructure and tribological performance was analyzed using a super depth of field microscope and ball-on-plate friction tester, and the wear mechanism was also discussed.
Findings
At room temperature (RT, 25 ± 2 °C), the average coefficients of friction of substrate and Ni-60%WC coatings fabricated at the LSS of 6, 10, 12 and 14 mm/s are 0.48 ± 0.08, 0.23 ± 0.01, 0.21 ± 0.05, 0.22 ± 0.02 and 0.25 ± 0.04, respectively, and the corresponding wear rates are 8.755 × 104, 4.525 × 103, 1.539 × 103, 1.957 × 103 and 2.743 × 103 µm3·s–1·N–1, respectively, showing that the coating fabricated at the LSS of 10 mm/s has best friction reduction and wear resistance. The wear mechanism of Ni-60%WC coating is abrasive wear, fatigue wear and oxidative wear, which is resulted from the WC particles with the high-hardness.
Originality/value
Ni-60%WC coatings were first applied for cylinder liner, and the effect of laser scanning speed on its tribological performance was investigated.
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Zhicheng He, Guangyao Li, Guiyong Zhang, Gui-Rong Liu, Yuantong Gu and Eric Li
In this work, an SFEM is proposed for solving acoustic problems by redistributing the entries in the mass matrix to “tune” the balance between “stiffness” and “mass” of discrete…
Abstract
Purpose
In this work, an SFEM is proposed for solving acoustic problems by redistributing the entries in the mass matrix to “tune” the balance between “stiffness” and “mass” of discrete equation systems, aiming to minimize the dispersion error. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
This is done by simply shifting the four integration points’ locations when computing the entries of the mass matrix in the scheme of SFEM, while ensuring the mass conservation. The proposed method is devised for bilinear quadratic elements.
Findings
The balance between “stiffness” and “mass” of discrete equation systems is critically important in simulating wave propagation problems such as acoustics. A formula is also derived for possibly the best mass redistribution in terms of minimizing dispersion error reduction. Both theoretical and numerical examples demonstrate that the present method possesses distinct advantages compared with the conventional SFEM using the same quadrilateral mesh.
Originality/value
After introducing the mass-redistribution technique, the magnitude of the leading relative dispersion error (the quadratic term) of MR-SFEM is bounded by (5/8), which is much smaller than that of original SFEM models with traditional mass matrix (13/4) and consistence mass matrix (2). Owing to properly turning the balancing between stiffness and mass, the MR-SFEM achieves higher accuracy and much better natural eigenfrequencies prediction than the original SFEM does.
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