5,371 research outputs found
Boundary Spanner Corruption in Business Relationships
Boundary spanner corruption—voluntary collaborative behaviour between individuals representing different organisations that violates their organisations’ norms—is a serious problem in business relationships. Drawing on insights from the literatures on general corruption perspectives, the dark side of business relationships and deviance in sales and service organisations, this dissertation identifies boundary spanner corruption as a potential dark side complication inherent in close business relationships It builds research questions from these literature streams and proposes a research structure based upon commonly used methods in corruption research to address this new concept. In the first study, using an exploratory survey of boundary spanner practitioners, the dissertation finds that the nature of boundary spanner corruption is broad and encompasses severe and non-severe types. The survey also finds that these deviance types are prevalent in a widespread of geographies and industries. This prevalence is particularly noticeable for less-severe corruption types, which may be an under-researched phenomenon in general corruption research. The consequences of boundary spanner corruption can be serious for both individuals and organisations. Indeed, even less-severe types can generate long-term negative consequences. A second interview-based study found that multi-level trust factors could also motivate the emergence of boundary spanner corruption. This was integrated into a theoretical model that illustrates how trust at the interpersonal, intraorganisational, and interorganisational levels enables corrupt behaviours by allowing deviance-inducing factors stemming from the task environment or from the individual boundary spanner to manifest in boundary spanner corruption. Interpersonal trust between representatives of different organisations, interorganisational trust between these organisations, and intraorganisational agency trust of management in their representatives foster the development of a boundary-spanning social cocoon—a mechanism that can inculcate deviant norms leading to corrupt behaviour. This conceptualisation and model of boundary spanner corruption highlights intriguing directions for future research to support practitioners engaged in a difficult problem in business relationships
Beam scanning by liquid-crystal biasing in a modified SIW structure
A fixed-frequency beam-scanning 1D antenna based on Liquid Crystals (LCs) is designed for application in 2D scanning with lateral alignment. The 2D array environment imposes full decoupling of adjacent 1D antennas, which often conflicts with the LC requirement of DC biasing: the proposed design accommodates both. The LC medium is placed inside a Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) modified to work as a Groove Gap Waveguide, with radiating slots etched on the upper broad wall, that radiates as a Leaky-Wave Antenna (LWA). This allows effective application of the DC bias voltage needed for tuning the LCs. At the same time, the RF field remains laterally confined, enabling the possibility to lay several antennas in parallel and achieve 2D beam scanning. The design is validated by simulation employing the actual properties of a commercial LC medium
Ureilite meteorites and the unknown proto-planet: using EBSD to construct a geological history
The ureilites are a group of ultramafic achondrite meteorites composed primarily of olivine and pigeonite, with accessory minerals and a high abundance of carbon in the form of graphite and diamond. There are many hypotheses as to how the ureilite group formed, but the majority of authors are now in agreement that they represent a mantle restite of a now destroyed planetesimal that may have been as large as Mercury (Nabiei et al., 2018). This planetesimal was large enough for the ureilites to form through igneous processing, but not large enough to become a full planet. At some point, possibly within the first 10 million years (Rai et al., 2020) of its life the ureilite parent body (UPB) was subjected to a catastrophic impact which destroyed the planetesimal and created daughter asteroids which are the current parent bodies of the ureilites (Goodrich et al., 2015). This study aims to construct a comprehensive geological history of the samples using Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy and geochemical data. Here we show using Raman peak Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) data that the majority of diamonds present in the ureilite suite are formed through shock related processes. This is combined with the EBSD data and optical microscopy data to discuss a range of shock features present within the ureilites such as mosaicism. Various slip systems are shown to be activated across the samples indicating deformation occurred during a variety of temperature and pressure conditions throughout ureilite formation. Evidence of shear processes affecting the majority of the samples studied is also presented using the EBSD datasets. A proposed geological history is presented to tie shock and shear features together. Our results agree with recent studies about diamond formation (Nestola et al., 2020) on the UPB which goes some way to negating the need for a large planetesimal to be required in order to explain ureilite formation
A Framework for Size-dependent Structural Analysis of Smart Micro/nanoplates
This age has witnessed a proliferation of technological advancements that affected all facets of civilisation. Driven by the joint force of the evolution of sophisticated design tools, tailored material characteristics, and robust mechanics-based analyses, smart composite materials are widely used in high-performance engineering applications. Meanwhile, there is a growing interest in micro/nanoscopic structures in academia and industry due to the overwhelming trend toward portability, miniaturisation and integration in engineering. Therefore, the theoretical, computational, and experimental research communities have developed various effective methodologies to understand the structural behaviour of smart small-scale structures comprehensively.
This dissertation introduces two size-dependent continuum theories, modified strain gradient and nonlocal strain gradient theories, to build the analytical framework for exploring application-driven micro/nanoplates made of smart composite materials. As examples of promising candidates for power supply and nano/microelectromechanical systems, organic solar cells and thermo-magneto-elastic sandwich nanoplates are studied. Size-dependent continuum models combined with various shear deformation plate theories are adopted to derive the governing equations. The size-sensitive static and dynamic mechanical responses, including bending, buckling, and free vibration behaviours of these ultra-fine-size structures, are predicted by capturing the size effect with material length scale or nonlocal parameters. The numerical results underlying size-dependent theories pose a new insight into the structural analysis of functional micro/nanoscopic plate-like structures. Some typical size-involving mechanical characteristics are revealed by comparing the present estimation with those from size-independent models. Moreover, the simulation outcomes thoroughly investigate several practical factors, such as boundary conditions, geometric configuration, and elastic foundation modelling parameters.
In this endeavour, taking advantage of the computational efficiency and accessible operation of nonclassical continuum-based theories, the current analytical framework is suitable for exploring the size-tendency of the smart micro-/nanosized structures. The present work may serve as a benchmark for following numerical simulations and as a guide for evolving new engineering tools for modelling relevant responses by designers and manufacturers
A Multilevel Review of Curvilinear Effects on the Creative Work of Teams
Their positive potential often diminishes or even turns negative when antecedents of creativity are taken too far. Despite empirical evidence supporting such curvilinear effects on important outcomes of creative work at the individual and team levels, their theorizing remains rather incomplete, with more attention being paid to explaining the curves’ upward rather than downward slopes. By developing a multilevel antecedent-benefit-cost (ABC) framework that synthesizes 120 quantitative-empirical studies on curvilinear effects, this review guides creativity and innovation literature toward conceptual clarity and methodological precision across levels. This is important because the cost-related mechanisms of certain antecedents are still not well understood
Program and Proceedings: The Nebraska Academy of Sciences 1880-2023. 142th Anniversary Year. One Hundred-Thirty-Third Annual Meeting April 21, 2023. Hybrid Meeting: Nebraska Wesleyan University & Online, Lincoln, Nebraska
AERONAUTICS & SPACE SCIENCE Chairperson(s): Dr. Scott Tarry & Michaela Lucas
HUMANS PAST AND PRESENT Chairperson(s): Phil R. Geib & Allegra Ward
APPLIED SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SECTION Chairperson(s): Mary Ettel
BIOLOGY Chairpersons: Lauren Gillespie, Steve Heinisch, and Paul Davis
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES Chairperson(s): Annemarie Shibata, Kimberly Carlson, Joseph Dolence, Alexis Hobbs, James Fletcher, Paul Denton
CHEM Section Chairperson(s): Nathanael Fackler
EARTH SCIENCES Chairpersons: Irina Filina, Jon Schueth, Ross Dixon, Michael Leite
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Chairperson: Mark Hammer
PHYSICS Chairperson(s): Dr. Adam Davis
SCIENCE EDUCATION Chairperson: Christine Gustafson
2023 Maiben Lecturer: Jason Bartz
2023 FRIEND OF SCIENCE AWARD TO: Ray Ward and Jim Lewi
Up the downstream: Contributing mechanisms to the persistence of health inequalities in Norway
This dissertation aims to expand on the current empirical knowledge of and theoretical mechanisms in the social determinants of health. Specifically, it investigates the mechanisms by which social root causes generate health outcomes in order to assess within-state health inequalities in high-income countries such as Norway. It emphasizes the effect of material and immaterial resources that result from positioning in a social hierarchy, typically reflected by income, education, and occupational class.
Article I explores the income inequality--health hypothesis and its relation to income, psychosocial stress, and self-rated health. Using multilevel moderated mediation analysis, I show that while the income--health relationship is indeed mediated by psychosocial stress in all countries under study, this effect is not moderated by income inequality. I conclude that material effects of income at the individual level remain an important explanation of the income--health gradient.
Article II investigates the extent to which socioeconomic determinants of health (education, income, and occupational class) contribute to predicting non-communicable disease (NCD) prevalences. Further, it aims to non-parametrically assess how these health gradients look from the perspective of a random forest algorithm. We conclude that prediction is an important tool for scientific inquiry into health inequalities and potentially a useful tool for public health guidance, as it allows unpacking complex functional relationships between NCD outcomes and social determinants of health.
Article III shifts attention towards subnational trends in early life health care input. The article investigates to what extent local patterns of antibacterial dispensing rate trends in young children are associated with the proportion of the local population having achieved high levels of education. Results indicate that the ability to reduce dispensing rates over time at the municipal level is associated with mean population levels of higher education. Optimizing prescribing practices may require area-level strategies, and attention should be given toward sociodemographic challenges at the local level.
Overall, I show that material and immaterial social resources, and their value towards a market that reward said resources, remain important explanans of the persistence of health inequalities even in comparatively high-income and egalitarian countries such as Norway. I argue that the fundamental structures of social inequality must be considered when explaining the persistence of health inequalities, and that policies in pursuit of population health are limited in their ability to address this fundamental structure. Empirically, I show that material and immaterial advantage lead to better health outcomes both at the individual and population levels. Methodologically, I show that while methods of association are limited in their ability to estimate causal effects, important patterns of health inequalities can still be explored using novel statistical analyses on observational data
Strategically Managing the Value Creation and Productivity Paradox of Artificial Intelligence : The General Purpose Technology View
ABSTRACT
This doctoral dissertation explores the strategic management of artificial intelligence as a general purpose technology and its value creation in the context of multiple industries. I study what makes AI-based value creation challenging from the management and organization perspective despite the high technological performance of AI. I analyze this through five sub-research questions, and by applying grounded theory.
Empirically, I turn to 34 AI solution developers from 18 different industries who have both technical and business understanding of using AI. The AI solution developers suit this study because of their skills, capabilities, and power position to shape the present and future through the combined use of machine learning (ML) and other AI related technologies that are already impacting our daily lives in and out of work context.
The extant literature on AI in premium outlets on general management and organizational studies can be typified into five AI use phases: 1) antecedents of AI use, 2) AI use, 3) (empirical) impacts of AI use, 4) expected (cumulative) impacts of AI, and 5) AI-related paradigm shift. The five sub-research questions of this doctoral dissertation explore the definition of AI and the use phases 1-4 by approaching AI as the subject of study. The fifth AI use phase is excluded from this study as it would require using AI also as the research method.
The main contributions of this doctoral thesis include giving an overview of AI in management and organization, and pre-theoretically identifying the technical and socially constructed decision-making criteria for AI investments, six AI use types, how empirical AI impacts have been measured, what temporal dimensions are expected to be impacted by AI, and what AI strategies organizations have already adopted to create AI-based value and overcome its productivity paradox.
KEYWORDS: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, strategic management, value creation, automation, augmentation, hybrid intelligence, conjoined agencyTIIVISTELMÄ
Tämä väitöskirja keskittyy tekoälypohjaisen arvonluonnin strategiseen johtamiseen yli teollisuudenalarajojen. Lähestyn tekoälyä korkean suorituskyvyn omaavana yleiskäyttöisenä teknologiana ja analysoin ilmiö- ja aineistopohjaisesti sitä, mikä tekee tekoälypohjaisesta arvonluonnista silti haastavaa johtamisen ja organisoinnin näkökulmasta viiden alatutkimuskysymyksen avulla.
Haastattelin tätä työtä varten 34 tekoälyratkaisuja 18 eri teollisuudenalalla kehittävää asiantuntijaa. He sopivat haastateltaviksi, koska heillä on alan osaamista sekä teknisestä että käytännön sovellusten näkökulmasta, ja koska heillä on valta-asema kehittää koneoppimiseen ja muihin tekoälyteknologoihin pohjautuvia ratkaisuja, jotka jo vaikuttavat päivittäiseen elämäämme työelämässä ja sen ulkopuolella.
Yleisen johtamisen ja organisaatiotutkimuksen huippujulkaisuista kerätty kirjallisuus voidaan jakaa viiteen tekoälyn käyttövaiheeseen: 1) tekoälyn käyttöä edeltävät tekijät, 2) tekoälyn käyttö, 3) tekoälyn (empiiriset) vaikutukset, 4) odotettavissa olevat tekoälyn (kumulatiiviset) vaikutukset, sekä 5) tekoälyyn liittyvät paradigman muutokset. Tämän väitöskirjan viisi alatutkimuskysymystä keskittyvät tekoälyn määritelmään sekä tekoälyn käyttövaiheisiin 1-4. Viides tekoälyn käyttövaihe on jätetty tämän tutkimuksen ulkopuolelle, koska se vaatisi tekoälyn käyttöä myös tutkimusmetodina.
Tämän tutkimuksen päätuotokset luovat yleiskuvan tekoälystä johtamisen ja organisoinnin kirjallisuudessa. Empiiriset tulokset tyypittelevät investointi-päätöksiin vaikuttavia tekijöitä, sekä kuusi erilaista tekoälyn käyttötapausta. Analysoin, miten tekoälyn vaikutuksia on mitattu, mihin aikaan liittyviin tekijöihin tekoälyn odotetaan vaikuttavan, ja mitä tekoälystrategioita organisaatiot ovat jo omaksuneet luodakseen arvoa ja ylittääkseen tekoälyn tuottavuusparadoksin.
ASIASANAT: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, strategic management, value creation, automation, augmentation, hybrid intelligence, conjoined agenc
Proceedings of FORM 2022. Construction The Formation of Living Environment
This study examines the integration of building information modelling (BIM) technologies in operation & maintenance stage in the system of managing real estate that helps to reduce transaction costs. The approach and method are based on Digital Twin technology and Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) approach.
The results of the development of a service for digital facility management and
digital expertise are presented. The connection between physical and digital objects is conceptualized
Optimisation of Triboelectric Nanogenerator performance in vertical contact-separation mode
Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is one of the most promising energy harvesters – a technology that uses repeated or reciprocating contact of suitably chosen materials to generate charge via the triboelectric effect (TE) and utilizes this as usable voltage and current. TENGs are attractive as they can continuously generate charge over a wide range of operating conditions and have several valuable advantages such as light weight, simple structure, low cost and high efficiency. Therefore, TENGs have been explored in a wide range of applications, including self-powered wearable electronics, powering electronics and even for harvesting ocean wave/wind energy. One of the major limitations of TENGs is their low power output (usually <500 W/m2). This thesis focuses of a few specific approaches to optimising TENG output performance. This thesis begins by presenting a solution to this challenge by optimizing a low permittivity substrate beneath the tribo-contact layer. The open circuit voltage is found to increase by a factor of 1.3 in moving from PET to the lower permittivity PTFE. TENG performance is also believed to depend on contact force, but the origin of the dependence had not previously been explored. Herein, we show that this behaviour results from a contact force dependent real contact area Ar as governed by surface roughness. The open circuit voltage Voc, short circuit current Isc and Ar for a TENG were found to increase with contact force/pressure. Critically, Voc and Isc saturate at the same contact pressure as Ar suggesting that electrical output follows the same evolution as Ar. Assuming that tribo charges can only transfer across the interface at areas of real contact, it follows that an increasing Ar with contact pressure should produce a corresponding increase in the electrical output. These results underline the importance of accounting for real contact area in TENG design, as well as the distinction between real and nominal contact area in tribo-charge density definition. High-performance ferroelectricassisted TENGs (Fe-TENGs) are developed using electrospun fibrous surfaces based on P(VDFTrFE) with dispersed BaTiO3 (BTO) nanofillers in either cubic (CBTO) or tetragonal (TBTO) form in this thesis. TENGs with three types of tribo-negative surface were investigated and output increased progressively. Critically, P(VDF-TrFE)/TBTO produced higher output than P(VDFTrFE)/ CBTO even though permittivity is nearly identical. Thus, it is shown that BTO fillers boost output, not just by increasing permittivity, but also by enhancing the crystallinity and amount of the β-phase (as TBTO produced a more crystalline β-phase present in greater amounts)
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