The vulnerability of a system expresses the behavior of a system confronted with the disturbances generated by natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, technical failures, human errors, ...sabotage, terrorism and acts of war. These are all scenarios which imply damages over large areas. In this approach, robustness is defined as the capacity of the network to support random hazard experiences. Today, a generally accepted approach to the quantification of vulnerability is made in terms of scale-free networks, because these particular networks have a high capability of conserving their robustness, if a well defined fraction of nodes are highly connected, without the network being over-connected. One way of increasing power grid robustness can be achieved by adding new electric lines between the existing nodes. Our paper suggests an algebraic method of computing optimal enlargement variants and, in the line of our earlier studies on network vulnerability, our purpose is to achieve a robust network, starting from non-robust networks to the nearest free-scale, robust network.
A significant role in obtaining a comfortable environment in a residential, office, factory or other public interest buildings is conferred in a large measure to the lighting and the heating. These ...two components through their efficiency can assure important benefits to the users of that environment. Estimating the lighting and heating efficiency can be achieved through attending the qualitative and quantitative indicators specific to the goal for which the lighting and heating system was designed. Based on these indicators one can design a system with the basic function of assuring and if necessary of adapting the lighting and heating hence of maintaining the indicated indicators to an optimal value. When the expected qualitative and quantitative values of the indicators cannot be obtained, the system must inform the executive of the system about the decrease of the building environment quality, with the object of making a decision to determine the rehabilitation acts of the components or the whole system. Beside the basic functions, the system aims to attach an optimizer module, which will supply the necessary information to make an optimal decision about lighting and heating system, taking other parameters into consideration, as well, different from the previous ones, such as energetic and economic parameters to obtain both energetic and also economic efficiency in buildings. The present paper presents the structure of a system based on intelligent technology and the benefits that can be achieved
This paper presents a comparative analysis of two adaptive control methods used in case of time varying plant parameters. The first adaptive control method is based on the stability theory of ...Lyapunov and the other one is based on fuzzy logic. Also, the performances of the proposed control algorithms are evaluated with simulation environment. These control structures are designed for local compensation of the non-linear interactions and unknown payload variations in flexible-link gear drive
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this research was to build on Fisher's (1997) seminal article. First, it expands on the Fisher framework by empirically establishing the link between the firm's ...environmental characteristics and the firm's level of supply chain fit (SCF). The results indicate a negative relationship between environmental uncertainty and SCF indicating that, as the level of environmental uncertainty increases it becomes increasingly challenging to match a product's supply and demand characteristics with its supply chain design characteristics. Second, the key contribution of this research is the introduction of supply chain agility as a capability that helps mitigate the negative relationship between aspects of environmental uncertainty and SCF. Finally, this research contributes to theory development and managerial practice by exploring the complex relationship between SCF, supply chain agility, and financial performance. Developing high levels of supply chain agility and SCF requires deployment of resources for the focal firm. This manuscript provides a better understanding of how such expenditures can generate financial benefits for organizations.
Despite its recognized importance at the regulatory level, little attention has been paid to racial issues in the context of buyer-supplier relationships. To help address these limitations the ...current manuscript explores the impact of race in the supplier selection process. We used a scenario-based experiment approach across two studies conducted in the United States with 596 American buyer managers. Our findings indicate that the buyer's race and the supplier's race impact the buyer's decision of which supplier to select. Further, the race of the buyer's supervisor impacts the buyer's supplier selection decision. In addition, our findings show that the buyer's racial identity and racism also influence the buyer's perception of the severity of a supplier's service failure, and ultimately the buyer's level of satisfaction with the respective supplier.
•Our findings indicate that the buyer's race and the supplier's race impact the buyer's decision of which supplier to select.•The race of the buyer's supervisor impacts the buyer's supplier selection decision.•The buyer's racial identity and racism influence the buyer's satisfaction with the supplier.
Objective
Extant studies have sought to determine which factors most significantly affect changes in state‐level restrictive immigration policies. However, the effects of individual independent ...variables on restrictive immigration policy outputs have been considered in isolation, independent of one another. Our study seeks to address this limitation.
Methods
We employ qualitative comparative analysis to examine how various combinations of factors lead to the same outcome. This study offers both, methodological and theoretical contributions to the literature on restrictive immigration policy outcomes.
Results
We uncover the combinations of factors (i.e., public opinion, anti‐welfare attitudes, unemployment, poverty, demographics, governor's party identification, state and citizen ideology, region) that are likely to lead states to pass a high number of restrictive immigration policies relative to other states.
Conclusion
Our results revealed 11 distinct combinations of such factors. Moreover, our findings indicate that a state's government ideology is a necessary present condition for anticipating immigration policy outcomes.
The purpose of this study is to address the strengths and weaknesses of the Fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method by contrasting it with traditional multiple regression analysis. ...To achieve our objective, we utilize the context of customer engagement and explore how both methodological approaches can explain the factors that lead customers to engage with brands/firms. We test the association between customer engagement and its antecedents by using both methods, fsQCA and multiple regression analysis (MRA), and compare the findings. MRA results show a significant relationship between customer engagement and perceived interactivity, perceived identification, perceived value, and brand involvement, a negative relationship with perceived fairness, while the relationship with customer satisfaction and perceived value is not statistically significant. On the other hand, fsQCA revealed eight different combinations of these antecedents that lead to high levels of customer engagement. Although multiple regression analysis (MRA) certainly has its own merit, our findings indicate that this methodological approach does not capture the complexities extant in real life. This method's strength of providing generalizable results is also its weakness as relationships cannot always be generalized as shown in our study. As such, at a minimum, fsQCA should be used as a complementary approach when authors employ MRA. We suggest ‘at a minimum’ because fsQCA possesses sufficient explanatory power to be employed by itself to offer a rich perspective on the relationships of interest. We also make several noteworthy contributions to the customer engagement and service marketing literatures.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to add clarity to the multidimensional concepts of agility and resilience. In addition, this paper seeks to clarify the differences and similarities between the ...two concepts by integrating the distinct bodies of knowledge on agility and resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
A multidisciplinary systematic literature review is conducted. The concept of agility is explored through a review of the sports science, manufacturing, organizational, information systems and information systems development and supply chain literature bases. The concept of resilience is investigated through a review of the psychological and psychopathological, ecological, economic, organizational and supply chain literature bases.
Findings
Examining the complex relationship between the two constructs led to the emergence of six major dimensions to capture the concept of agility (i.e. ability to quickly change direction, speed/accelerate operations, scan the environment/anticipate, empower the customer/customize, adjust tactics and operations (flexibility), and integrate processes within and across firms). Similarly, six dimensions were uncovered for resilience (i.e. ability to resist/survive disruptions, avoid the shock altogether, recover/return to original form following disruption, speed/accelerate operations, adjust tactics and operations (flexibility) and scan the environment/anticipate). Agility and resilience were found to share three common dimensions (i.e. ability to adjust tactics and operations (flexibility), speed/accelerate operations and scan the environment/anticipate).
Practical implications
The identification of the common characteristics of agility and resilience carries important managerial implications from a resource allocation perspective. Allocating resources to the development of the common characteristics of agility and resilience can help firms maximize the impact of such investments. That is, by investing in the common characteristics of both they can improve supply chain agility and supply chain resilience. If firms approach the development or improvement of supply chain agility or resilience independent from one another, without an awareness of the common characteristics, they could be duplicating their investments resulting in supply chain redundancies and inefficiencies.
Originality/value
Not having a clear and comprehensive understanding of the similarities and differences between agility and resilience is problematic from a theoretical perspective. A clear understanding of what each construct represents provides a platform for building generalizable theory by helping researchers operationalize these constructs in a consistent manner. Further, providing a generalizable, comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective on agility and resilience within supply chain management literature can help increase the visibility of the field of supply chain management across other disciplines as scholars outside the field of supply chain management can utilize the results of this research effort.
Market orientation has been well studied within the firm but not across the supply chain. While firms rely more so on their suppliers for value creation in today's markets, research has not yet ...investigated the role of the supplier's market orientation relative to the focal firm's own market orientation and performance. Consequently, the current study seeks to expand the concept of market orientation from the level of the firm to the supply chain with dyadic archival and survey data from 482 firms (241 focal firm-supplier dyads). Our findings indicate that the supplier's market orientation has a direct and positive impact on the focal firm's ROA and that the strength of this relationship increases when firms operate in more uncertain (munificent, dynamic, and complex) business environments. Further, the supplier's market orientation partially mediates the relationship between the focal firm's market orientation and the focal firm's ROA, and the focal firm's market orientation also directly impacts its supplier's market orientation. These results therefore establish the complexity of market orientation within the supply chain to drive firm performance, thereby extending extant literature. As such, several noteworthy theoretical and managerial implications are presented.
•Supplier's market orientation has a direct and positive impact on the focal firm's ROA.•The above relationship is moderated by environmental uncertainty.•The focal firm's market orientation also directly impacts its supplier's market orientation.
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of logistics capabilities in achieving supply chain agility through a multi-disciplinary review of the relevant research. The systematic ...literature review aims to provide the basis for formulating a conceptual framework of the relationship.Design methodology approach - A systematic, comprehensive review of the literature on manufacturing, organizational and supply chain agility from 1991 through 2010 was conducted. The literature on logistics capabilities was also examined to identify the various elements that contribute to supply chain agility.Findings - Supply chain agility has primarily been explored in the literature through a focus on manufacturing flexibility, supply chain speed, or lean manufacturing. The role of logistics capabilities in achieving supply chain agility has not been addressed from a holistic conceptual perspective. This research addresses that gap using a multi-disciplinary approach. As such, it is the first phase in theory building on the concept of supply chain agility. Further research is needed to empirically test the conceptualized relationships.Research limitations implications - This research is a systematic, integrative review of the existing literature on the concept of agility and logistics capabilities. As such, the next phase of research needed for theory building will be the operationalization of constructs and testing of the hypothesized relationships proposed by the conceptual framework.Practical implications - The level of agility in a supply chain can determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the collective efforts. It is important that firms become more knowledgeable about the role of logistics capabilities in achieving agility.Originality value - Through a systematic, comprehensive review of the literature in four distinct areas, the paper explores the relationship between logistics capabilities and supply chain agility.
