7,988 research outputs found
An empirical investigation of the relationship between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in supply chains
This research aimed to develop an empirical understanding of the relationships between integration,
dynamic capabilities and performance in the supply chain domain, based on which, two conceptual
frameworks were constructed to advance the field. The core motivation for the research was that, at
the stage of writing the thesis, the combined relationship between the three concepts had not yet
been examined, although their interrelationships have been studied individually.
To achieve this aim, deductive and inductive reasoning logics were utilised to guide the qualitative
study, which was undertaken via multiple case studies to investigate lines of enquiry that would
address the research questions formulated. This is consistent with the authorâs philosophical
adoption of the ontology of relativism and the epistemology of constructionism, which was considered
appropriate to address the research questions. Empirical data and evidence were collected, and
various triangulation techniques were employed to ensure their credibility. Some key features of
grounded theory coding techniques were drawn upon for data coding and analysis, generating two
levels of findings. These revealed that whilst integration and dynamic capabilities were crucial in
improving performance, the performance also informed the former. This reflects a cyclical and
iterative approach rather than one purely based on linearity. Adopting a holistic approach towards
the relationship was key in producing complementary strategies that can deliver sustainable supply
chain performance.
The research makes theoretical, methodological and practical contributions to the field of supply
chain management. The theoretical contribution includes the development of two emerging
conceptual frameworks at the micro and macro levels. The former provides greater specificity, as it
allows meta-analytic evaluation of the three concepts and their dimensions, providing a detailed
insight into their correlations. The latter gives a holistic view of their relationships and how they are
connected, reflecting a middle-range theory that bridges theory and practice. The methodological
contribution lies in presenting models that address gaps associated with the inconsistent use of
terminologies in philosophical assumptions, and lack of rigor in deploying case study research
methods. In terms of its practical contribution, this research offers insights that practitioners could
adopt to enhance their performance. They can do so without necessarily having to forgo certain
desired outcomes using targeted integrative strategies and drawing on their dynamic capabilities
Machine Learning Meets Mental Training -- A Proof of Concept Applied to Memory Sports
This work aims to combine these two fields together by presenting a practical
implementation of machine learning to the particular form of mental training
that is the art of memory, taken in its competitive version called "Memory
Sports". Such a fusion, on the one hand, strives to raise awareness about both
realms, while on the other it seeks to encourage research in this mixed field
as a way to, ultimately, drive forward the development of this seemingly
underestimated sport.Comment: 75 pages, 47 figures, 2 tables, 26 code excerpt
Writing Facts: Interdisciplinary Discussions of a Key Concept in Modernity
"Fact" is one of the most crucial inventions of modern times. Susanne Knaller discusses the functions of this powerful notion in the arts and the sciences, its impact on aesthetic models and systems of knowledge. The practice of writing provides an effective procedure to realize and to understand facts. This concerns preparatory procedures, formal choices, models of argumentation, and narrative patterns. By considering "writing facts" and "writing facts", the volume shows why and how "facts" are a result of knowledge, rules, and norms as well as of description, argumentation, and narration. This approach allows new perspectives on »fact« and its impact on modernity
The influence of R2R3-MYB transcription factors in Campanula medium and Petunia hybrida
Flower color is one of the most important traits for ornamental plants. Anthocyanin is the main pigment in flowers and the vegetative tissue in most higher plants. Both wild campanulas and petunias have blue/purple flowers because of the delphinidin-based anthocyanins. However, most of the flower color in the genus Campanula is mostly blue, rarely white, and a very few species are pink, while modern commercial petunias are known for their wide range of flower color in different patterns. Many kinds of research have proven that the R2R3-MYB transcription factors are responsible for regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in different tissues. In Petunia spec., ANTHOCYANIN-2 (AN2) is considered to be the major contributor to coloration in the petal limb, while several other paralogs are involved in other tissues or stress responses.
Unlike petunias, which have a convenient system for regeneration and a stable genetic plant transformation, there are no related reports for C. medium. Therefore, an efficient protocol for regeneration and Agrobacteriumâmediated transformation based on leaf disk by using GFP as the reporter gene for C. medium was established in the first part. In the second chapter, two strategies were designed to change the anthocyanin pattern in C. medium. The first is the redirection of delphinidin-based anthocyanins to pelargonidin-based anthocyanins in a blue cultivar. The second strategy was to improve the pigmentation in a pink-flowering variety of C. medium by overexpression of an R2R3-MYB transcription factor (PhAN2).
In the third chapter, the same AN2 overexpression vectors used for Campanula and another flowerspecific guided AN2 constructs were also transferred into an an2- genetic petunia cultivar. The results indicated that overexpression of AN2 leads to various physiological changes in addition to increased pigmentation. The mechanism of the flower limb coloration of phenotypically "darkly-veined"petunias, and the roles of different R2R3-MYB genes were characterized in the last part.
Overall, several conclusions obtained in this dissertation: (i) genetic transformation of C. medium is available; (ii) PhAN2 and PhAN4 can activate anthocyanin biosynthesis in several tissues of Campanula and Petunia and the role of PhAN2 in plant growth physiology may be diverse; (iii) the restoration of anthocyanins in the petals of commercial "dark-veined" petunias from a whiteflowered ancestor is achieved by up-regulation of AN4 as part of a long-term breeding process by
humans rather than by natural selection
Two pawns in their game - Inventory and customer efficiency
This thesis examines efficiency in the retail industry in two different directions. In the first setting, the link between inventory efficiency and performance is examined in relation to firm characteristics and exogenous explanatory variables. More specifically, in addition to general firm-specific characteristics, the effects of chain affiliation and time trends within retail chains is examined. The effects of business environment factors on inventory turnover are examined on the basis of geographic location and market conditions. In the customer efficiency setting, efficiency is studied by observing customersâ in-store behaviours to identify how specific customer characteristics in general, and the use of in-store carrying equipment in particular, are associated with shopper efficiency. These two avenues for detecting important retail efficiency metrics are examined in three individual research papers.
The papers empirically demonstrate two different perspectives on efficiency that are important for retailers to be aware of. From this customer and retailer perspective, several dilemmas exist that have been only partly covered in the three papers. This dissertation aims to discuss some of these dilemmas and to demonstrate some of the dualities that exist in the intricate interconnection between the customer and the retailer in the pursuit of efficiency.
Overall, the thesis offers new insights, makes significant contributions to the literature and to retail practice in terms of the complex topic of retailer logistical performance and customer efficiency and develops a better understanding of some tenets of eminent and sustainable brick and mortar retailing
The Paradigm of Complex Probability and the Theory of Metarelativity: The General Model and Some Consequences of MCPP
Calculating probabilities is a crucial task of classical probability theory. Adding supplementary dimensions to nondeterministic experiments will yield a deterministic expression of the theory of probability. This is the novel and original idea at the foundation of my complex probability paradigm. As a matter of fact, probability theory is a stochastic system of axioms in its essence; that means that the phenomena outputs are due to randomness and chance. By adding novel imaginary dimensions to the nondeterministic phenomenon happening in the set R will lead to a deterministic phenomenon and thus a stochastic experiment will have a certain output in the complex probability set and total universe GÂ =Â C. If the chaotic experiment becomes completely predictable, then we will be fully capable to predict the output of random events that arise in the real world in all stochastic processes. Accordingly, the task that has been achieved here was to extend the random real probabilities set R to the deterministic complex probabilities set and total universe GÂ =Â C=R+M and this by incorporating the contributions of the set M, which is the complementary imaginary set of probabilities to the set R. Consequently, since this extension reveals to be successful, then an innovative paradigm of stochastic sciences and prognostic was put forward in which all nondeterministic phenomena in R was expressed deterministically in C. This paradigm was initiated and elaborated in my previous 21 publications. Furthermore, this model will be linked to my theory of Metarelativity, which takes into consideration faster-than-light matter and energy. This is what I named âThe Metarelativistic Complex Probability Paradigm (MCPP),â which will be developed in the present two chapters 1 and 2
Attracting and Sustaining Volunteers: Leadership Impact on the Recruitment and Retention of Volunteers in Nonprofit Organizations, and Differences Observed when Organizations are Predicated on Faith
The term âvolunteerâ has been formally acknowledged for more than 200 years (Dreyfus, 2018; Haski-Leventhal et al., 2018). It is synonymous with one who freely offers to participate in a task that benefits others. During the modern era, these tasks have included, but have not been limited to, establishing communal programs, presenting technical assistance, conducting conferences, fundraising, and supporting identified causes or groups (Alfes et al., 2017). In most instances, the tasks are rendered through nonprofit organizations. Therefore, volunteers represent invaluable assets as they are economic resources who contribute to accomplishing stated organizational goals (Tonurist & Surva, 2017). While more than 30% of the United States population was shown to have volunteered in 2018, this was, unfortunately, an aberration, as the previous 15 years had exhibited predominantly declining volunteer rates (Grimm & Dietz, 2018). The ability of nonprofit organizations to recruit and retain volunteers is critical to their respective missions and operations. Therefore, this qualitative research employed a multiple case study approach to examine whether there is a correlation between the leaders of these organizations and general retention data. Each of the three studies consisted of five participants who, through responses to questionnaires and interviews, shared firsthand experiences in relation to their volunteerism in nonprofit organizations. In addition to their direct experiences, they were asked to indicate if and how personal faith may have shaped their involvement in the organization(s). Findings derived from the participant responses indicate that leaders are one of the meaningful elements tied to the recruitment and retention of volunteers in nonprofit organizations. This effectuality of leaders is most vivid through their personality, their ability to embolden others, the type of relationship maintained with volunteers, and the various tactics utilized. Additionally, while individual volunteers may be devout regarding their personal spirituality, they are frequently unable to differentiate between the operations of organizations that are and are not predicated on faith. Hence, faith has limited influence on their viewpoint of the leader or the organization theyâve selected to provide service
Agency and Organisation: The Dialectics of Nature and Life
In recent decades, there have been major theoretical changes within evolutionary biology. In this dissertation, I critically reconstruct these developments through philosophy to assess how it may inform these debates. The overall aim is to show the mutual relevance between current trends in biology and the dialectical approach to nature. I argue that the repetition of the neglected tradition of organicism is anticipated both by a dialectical tradition within science and by Hegelâs philosophy â and that these theories may together inform the ongoing shift within evolutionary biology called the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES).
I stage the discussion by outlining the tenets and history of the modern synthesis (MS) and the alternative: the extended evolutionary synthesis (EES). It takes us into topics such as autonomy, organisation, reduction, and autopoiesis. Based on these discussions, I make the case that the most promising alternative to the MS is the so-called organisational approach formulated within theoretical biology and apply dialectics to strengthen this claim. In my view, they share a fundamental premise: Biology must surpass the physical worldview and adopt a more complex model to comprehend life as an ongoing regeneration of organisation and an expression of self-determination.
To bring out the philosophical stakes of this shift, I take on Hegelâs writings on nature, life, and purposiveness and relate them to contemporary thinkers. The main contribution of this work lies not in a particularly novel reading of any of the theories I examine but in bringing them together â both within philosophy and biology and between them â and systematically mapping how philosophy and the humanities should deal with the natural sciences. The new kind of naturalism suggested here, which places life at its core, also calls for another scientific ideal which strives for unification without subsumption or eradication of differences
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Sonic heritage: listening to the past
History is so often told through objects, images and photographs, but the potential of sounds to reveal place and space is often neglected. Our research project âSonic Palimpsestâ1 explores the potential of sound to evoke impressions and new understandings of the past, to embrace the sonic as a tool to understand what was, in a way that can complement and add to our predominant visual understandings. Our work includes the expansion of the Oral History archives held at Chatham Dockyard to include womenâs voices and experiences, and the creation of sonic works to engage the public with their heritage. Our research highlights the social and cultural value of oral history and field recordings in the transmission of knowledge to both researchers and the public. Together these recordings document how buildings and spaces within the dockyard were used and experienced by those who worked there. We can begin to understand the social and cultural roles of these buildings within the community, both past and present
'A way of life': practising place in the small press
This thesis is a study of place in the practice and publications of three small presses: Moschatel Press, Coracle Press and Corbel Stone Press.
Practice is central to my approach, both in situating place as something practised, unfinished and ongoing, and in the repetitive everyday acts that make running a press âa way of lifeâ.
I examine the ways in which small press practice shapes and responds to a variety of places. Beginning with the home, the thesis moves gradually outwards to larger-scale spaces: the local area, public spaces, the wider landscape.
The thesis is founded upon the press model as one of collaboration, both between artists, and with the places they inhabit.
Chapter One establishes the domestic space as central to the activities and publications of the press. The home is a site of production enmeshed with the everyday, and is the intended habitat of many small press pieces. I trace the influence of domestic intimacy and tactility across small press poetics, and the importance of âthe domestic scaleâ is foregrounded throughout the thesis.
Chapter Two is an exploration of small press localness. I build upon the domestic chapter to examine how the local is shaped by its relationship to the home. I frame small press localness as distinctly embodied, examining the charting of local places on foot and the gathering of texts and objects by hand.
Chapter Three examines site-specific work, exploring the presence of small press pieces in public, communal spaces. I focus particularly upon the hospital-based works of Thomas A Clark, and how they provoke questions around attention, contemplation and care. The chapter closes by reflecting upon how these pieces facilitate thinking about the more- than-human.
Chapter Four sustains a focus upon the more-than-human to explore the small press relationship with the wider landscape. The chapter scrutinises an ambivalent attitude towards books as a means of relating to and recording landscapes. I consider work across deep timescales and study the embodied landscape-based practices of Corbel Stone Press, such as burial and the leaving of offerings
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