58 research outputs found
Explaining the human resource management preferences of employees: A study of Chinese workers
The forces of globalization, technology and the differences or similarities in institutional systems place substantial pressure on convergence and divergence in HRM practices. Moreover, local customs and the responses from employees also pose serious constraints on the degree of convergence or divergence (Rowley and Benson 2002). In other words, there is what might be termed an upward influence coming from the employees. Although companies may benchmark HRM âbest practicesâ, the actual adoption and success of these practices depends, to a large extent, on perceptions and acceptance from employees. However, the opinions of non-managerial employees have been largely neglected in the studies of HRM (Cooke 2009; Legge 1995; Guest 2002; Edgar and Geare 2005; Qiao, Khilji and Wang 2009). Cooke (2009), after reviewing studies on HRM in China published between 1998 and 2007 in major business and management journals, reported that two-thirds of the studies had collected data from managers and most of them relied on managers as the sole source for information. Since the information has mainly been provided by managers, there is the potential for bias because feedback from the managers probably reflects the ideal or âbest practicesâ of HRM that those managers want to implement, rather than the actual HR policies or practices being used in the organization. Thus Cooke (2009, p.19) argued that âunless we can broaden our research catchment to include views from the widest range of stakeholders, particularly the employees, our understanding of HRM in China remains partial, from managementâs lensâ.
This study explores the HR preferences of Chinese employees, both non-managerial and managerial ones, based on a sample of 2852 questionnaires from companies in China. A number of questions are explored. For example, what do they think of a âpromotion-from-withinâ policy? Do they prefer an individual-based bonus or a group-based bonus? Do they prefer a âdownward performance appraisal methodâ or a âmulti-source performance appraisal methodâ? The research findings shows a strong âgroup orientationâ and a great emphasis on âsoft factorsâ such as seniority, loyalty and connections in many HRM areas.
The debate on whether Chinese HRM will converge or diverge towards the Western models is still ongoing. Many argue that there could be further convergence towards the Western practices because globalization may place substantial pressure on firms to standardize practices and policies (see Chen, Lawler and Bae 2005). Others argue that HRM is highly context specific in which institutional and cultural forces have enduring influences (see Rowley and Cooke 2010), which indicates a divergent perspective. The third group supports a âcross-vergenceâ view which argues that there will be signs of convergence in certain areas but Chinese HRM will keep its âChinese characteristicsâ (Cooke 2005, 2010; Yeung, Warner and Rowley 2008; Warner 2009a, b). This study supports the âcross-vergenceâ perspective. It is argued that certain areas of Chinese HRM are converging to the Western model, but the influence of traditional Chinese personnel practices remains strong. A âgroup orientationâ, a major emphasis on âsoft factorsâ and a trade union presence is likely to remain as the three main features of Chinese HRM in the long-term
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Numerical Investigation into the Effect of Splats and Pores on the Thermal Fracture of Air Plasma-Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings
The effect of splat interfaces on the fracture behavior of air plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings (APS-TBC) is analyzed using finite element modeling involving cohesive elements. A multiscale approach is adopted in which the explicitly resolved top coat microstructural features are embedded in a larger domain. Within the computational cell, splat interfaces are modeled as being located on a sinusoidal interface in combination with a random distribution of pores. Parametric studies are conducted for different splat interface waviness, spacing, pore volume fraction and fracture properties of the splat interface. The results are quantified in terms of crack nucleation temperature and total microcrack length. It is found that the amount of cracking in TBCs actually decreases with increased porosity up to a critical volume fraction. In contrast, the presence of splats is always detrimental to the TBC performance. This detrimental effect is reduced for the splat interfaces with high waviness and spacing compared to those with low waviness and spacing. The crack initiation temperature was found to be linearly dependent on the normal fracture properties of the splat interface. Insights derived from the numerical results aid in engineering the microstructure of practical TBC systems for improved resistance against thermal fracture
Image-based extended finite element modeling of thermal barrier coatings
Further advances in Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) design are linked with the evolution of numerical models for TBCs. The present paper, therefore, enhances the idea of a currently available FEM package (OOF) that has been designed for microstructural level simulations. The approach of Extended FEM (XFEM) is incorporated in an in-house developed program to account for the existence of cracks in TBCs; both for stressâstrain analysis and for heat transfer analysis. The new XFEM program is then employed to carry out the analyses of a YSZ deposit and a multilayered TBC to predict the effective Young's moduli, the overall thermal conductivities, and to assess the fracture behavior of the coating
XFEM modeling of effective thermal properties and fracture of thermal barrier coatings
An in-house Extended Finite Element code is employed to simulate the effect of cracks within a TBC system with a\ud
YSZ top coat and a mullite intermediate layer deposited onto a SiC substrate. Microstructural level analysis consists in decomposition of a micrograph into an image showing the crack structure and then image capturing the\ud
distribution of pores and coating materials. This later image is used to generate the adaptive Finite Element (FE)\ud
mesh while the first image defines a discontinuous enrichment of the FE approximation of the displacement field.\ud
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This analysis process is versatile and takes into account the presence of the cracks within the coating so that the\ud
fracture behavior can be estimated. Stress intensity factors of selected through-thickness cracks were calculated\ud
from a domain form of the interaction integral. The concept of XFEM is also extended to thermal analysis. Again, the FE approximation is enriched in a way similar to the previous case; however the weak form is modified to enforce proper temperature changes across the crack width. The cracks are modeled as thermal insulating layers with resistance determined from the kinetic theory of gases. The effective thermal conductivity of the coating is, thereby, predicted
The design and measurement of the elastic modulus of yttria-zirconia coatings
Abstract not available
The Development of an Integrated Coastal Simulator for Supporting Long Term Coastal Management
The coastal simulator is designed to provide information on the possible future states of the coast through the 21st Century under a range of climate and socio-economic futures and shoreline management options. It links a series of models within a nested spatial framework that recognises three scales which provide boundary conditions to the smaller scale: (1) âglobalâ; (2) regional (e.g. North Sea); and (3) the simulator domain (defined by discrete physiographic unit(s)). The linked models describe a range of processes, including marine climate (waves, surges and mean sea level), sand bank morphodynamics, wave transformation, shoreline morphodynamics, built environment scenarios, ecosystem change, and erosion and flood risk. The simulator includes a dedicated graphical user interface which allows a range of queries of the results, including visualisations. The prototype simulator is designed to support Shoreline Management Plans (SMPâs), but provides a methodology that could support integrated coastal zone management
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