Sequential Interdependence Research Articles

Understanding the sequential interdependence of mobile app adoption within and across categories

This research examines the interdependencies in users’ sequential app adoptions within and across diverse app categories. We employ a Zero-inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) model to analyze a unique, granular, and individual-level mobile app adoption dataset, revealing three main findings. First, users’ app adoption decisions are highly history-dependent and category-specific in a nonlinear fashion. Early adoption can enhance subsequent downloads within the same category for app categories with high needs evolvement and horizontal differentiation (e.g., Game and Education apps). However, it may crowd out subsequent downloads in other categories with low needs evolvement and horizontal differentiation (e.g., Communication and Social media apps). Second, these effects are further moderated by users’ individual characteristics such as app usage tenure and phone price. Third, there exist nontrivial app adoption spillovers across app categories. For example, users’ adoptions of apps with relatively high hedonic values (e.g., Game and Music apps) can suppress their subsequent need for apps with relatively high utilitarian values (e.g., Education and Online banking apps), and vice versa. Together, these results offer novel managerial implications for app developers and platforms to promote apps in different categories based on users’ adoption histories.

Human-Centered Dynamic Service Scheduling Approach in Multi-Agent Environments

As robots become more versatile and combined with a variety of Internet-of-Things technologies, they will be able to serve humans in their daily environments. To provide services by satisfying various human requests, several robots must take turns performing a series of tasks that constitute the service. Because the order of service delivery may differ according to user requests, sequential interdependencies between tasks should be considered. Therefore, we propose a dynamic service scheduler consisting of dynamic sequencing and allocation that can handle scheduling of tasks with user requests such as prioritizing certain tasks or actively changing their order in a multi-agent environment. We experimented with the proposed method in four situation scenarios by building a virtual reality smart office consisting of multiple robots with a robot arm, mobile robot, and smart lamp. The results demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach by satisfying the user requirements in different situations. The proposed approach constitutes a basis for further development of efficient in-office and at-home multi-agent environments.

Analisis Koordinasi Dinas Sosial dalam Pelaksanaan Program Bantuan Sosial Tunai di Kelurahan Wonokusumo Kecamatan Semampir Kota Surabaya

The Cash Social Assistance (BST) is an assistance program from the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia which is given to vulnerable and poor communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to analyze in depth the coordination of government agencies in Wonokusumo Village, Semampir District, Surabaya City. This study uses the theory of James D. Thompson 3 types of coordination (unified interdependence, sequential interdependence, reciprocal interdependence) with aspects of identification of the parties involved and participating as well as the availability of implementation instructions and technical guidelines. The study used a qualitative descriptive approach. The results of this study indicate that the coordination of the parties involved from PT. Pos Indonesia, Social Service, Subdistrict, Kelurahan, RT/RW seen from these 3 aspects the coordination of the implementation of cash social assistance programs in Wonokusumo Village, Semampir District, Surabaya City has been going well according to the specified standard procedure. as for supporting factors such as responsive agency resources as well as optimal community involvement for the inhibiting factor in this study, the quantity of village resources is proportional to the large number of local residents. The suggestion in this research is to increase the role of Wonokusumo village human resources, namely by holding training according to their fields and also increasing the level of education from D3 to Bachelor as a form of community service.

3D Printing Processability of a Thermally Conductive Compound Based on Carbon Nanofiller-Modified Thermoplastic Polyamide 12.

A polyamide (PA) 12-based thermoplastic composite was modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), CNTs grafted onto chopped carbon fibers (CFs), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) with CNTs to improve its thermal conductivity for application as a heat sink in electronic components. The carbon-based nanofillers were examined by SEM and Raman. The laser flash method was used to measure the thermal diffusivity in order to calculate the thermal conductivity. Electrical conductivity measurements were made using a Keithley 6517B electrometer in the 2-point mode. The composite structure was examined by SEM and micro-CT. PA12 with 15 wt% of GNPs and 1 wt% CNTs demonstrated the highest thermal conductivity, and its processability was investigated, utilizing sequential interdependence tests to evaluate the composite material behavior during fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing processing. Through this assessment, selected printing parameters were investigated to determine the optimum parametric combination and processability window for the composite material, revealing that the selected composition meets the necessary criteria to be processable with FFF.

Impact of COVID-19 on Global Container Shipping Industry

This paper demonstrates the Global economic outlook resulted by COVID-19 pandemic and provides an analysis of the direct and indirect impact on Global Container shipping industry. It also discussed sequential interdependence among Pandemic, Global Economic downturn, and Challenges in Global Containerized cargo flows. The paper analysis actual results and the features of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic on Global Container shipping industry. While Identifying key determinants of accelerating challenges for Containerized Cargo flows during the global pandemic, the paper concludes short and long terms expectations that might be defined for Future development in the global container Shipping industry.

Interdependency in coordinating networked maintenance and modification operations

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to detect, through applying a process-based view, how to manage economisation of the maintenance and modification operations in offshore petroleum logistics operations.Design/methodology/approachA single case study of engineering services, more specifically, maintenance and modification service operations, on a Norwegian Sea oil platform reveals the dynamics of building network capabilities in a consistent network structure. Two layers of coordination are studied: the engineering process and its context, represented by its network of interconnected firms. This case study empirically grounds how engineering service involves managing reciprocally interdependent exchange processes in the network structure.FindingsPooled interdependencies are vital in understanding the nature of service provision and use, and sequential interdependencies are vital in narrating the timing of processes to reveal the nature of process emergence to coordinate strings of production events. Furthermore, the network structure, when characterised by multiple interdependent projects, is also dynamic but at a slower pace.Originality/valueThrough the case study, operations management is revealed to be associated with project emergence at two levels: the core process level regarding daily continuous change, including the changing interaction of multiple different and interdependent projects, and the contextual level, where features of interdependency and integration change, affecting engineering service production. This provides guidance as to the economisation of engineering services. They change not only interactions in the flow of production but also its context.

Social network analysis in operations and supply chain management: a review and revised research agenda

PurposeSocial network analysis (SNA) seeks to manage the connections between entities through investigating and understanding behaviours and relationships. This study demonstrates the increasing relevance of social network approaches to solving contemporary and looming operations management (OM) and supply chain management (SCM) problems; including the coordination operations challenges raised by increased connectivity.Design/methodology/approachThe systematic literature review approach adopted here examines 63 papers in OM and SCM published between 2000 and 2019. To-date OM reviews on SNA have focussed on discussing archetypal supply chains, what differentiates this study is the focus on how value was created in other forms of chains and operations.FindingsThis study reveals that current SNA adoption in OM is dominated by a manufacturing style focus on linear, sequential value creation, with a resulting focus only on sequential interdependence. SNA studies on reciprocally co-ordinated value creation (e.g. many service and network operations) are shown to have been neglected and are linked to a new agenda on contemporary management issues.Research limitations/implicationsBeyond encouraging the use of SNA, this study seeks to re-orient SNA approaches towards how contemporary services and networks create value.Originality/valueThrough adopting a unique combination of approaches and frameworks, this study challenges extant work to offer a substantially revised agenda for SNA use in Operations and Supply Chain Management.

How to analyse electrophysiological responses to naturalistic language with time-resolved multiple regression

ABSTRACTNaturalistic language processing cannot be approached with the analysis methods constructed to handle well-controlled experiments. Language is a multi- and cross-level phenomenon, with sequential interdependencies and correlations between various lexical dimensions. A recently-developed method allows the analysis of neural time series during natural story comprehension: time-resolved multiple regression. It consists in modelling continuous brain recordings with multiple regression after embedding linguistic features in a temporal-extension matrix (a distributed-lags model). It identifies neural correlates of linguistic processes, accounting for temporal interdependencies – simultaneously for, e.g. acoustics, phonology and semantics. This has resulted in impactful discoveries about how brains process coherent speech, potentially broadening the class of phenomena that can be studied. I discuss the method conceptually, highlight caveats, and relate it to similar as well as to traditional methods, all with a particular consideration for analysing the processing of coherent narratives. In a practical example, the word frequency-dependent N400 effect is estimated from a half-hour continuous narrative.

Cross-Cultural Telephone Call Closings in English between a Korean and an American Interactants

After pointing out both the paucity of research on cross-cultural telephone call closings between interactants whose dominant languages differ and the lopsided attention to telephone call openings, the present study first illustrates the reciprocal duplication of the identical terminal elements between the conversationalists across the American telephone closing turns and the progressive unilaterality by one interactant, and in response, the repetition of yey ‘yes’ by the other interactant in the Korean telephone closing turns. Then, it turns to an English telephone call closing between a North-American English speaker and a proficient speaker of English whose native language is Korean and whose total length of stay in English-speaking countries is limited to between one year and two years. The data illustrate that the Korean caller’s telephone closing sequence in English resembles that of Korean more than that of North-American English in light of the absence of lexical duplication, minimal reciprocity, and the terminal silence in response to bye in English. The source of the Korean-like behaviors in the English telephone call closing is traced to the influence of the telephone call closing sequence in the speaker’s dominant language (i.e., Korean in this case). The present study identifies it as conversational transfer in order to put more weight on the sequential interdependence and reciprocity of cross-cultural telephone conversation closings without limiting the participants to second language learners. Suggestions for future studies based on the limitations of the present study are also offered along with some pedagogical implications.

Strategizing in horizons and verizons

PurposeThe study has two related objectives. At the firm level of analysis, the author proposes that a clearer distinction between firms’ mediating functions and mediators could enhance the understanding of business network strategizing. Whereas firms’ mediating functions have received attention in IMP research, less focus has been given to organizations whose core business is mediation. At the system level of analysis, the study complements the perception of a network horizon with that of a network verizon. Whereas the horizon is closely associated with work on firms’ mediating functions, the network verizon is of particular interest to mediators. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual study combines IMP insights with strategic management theory.FindingsThe notion of a network horizon is important for business network strategizing, but also influences the perception of relevant network structures. These structures tend to be characterized by sequential interdependencies and a long-linked technology, often associated with physical products and production facilities. The notion of a network verizon highlights a network “depth” that has been unnoticed by previous work, which has focused on how narrow or wide a firm’s network horizon should be. The network horizon and the network verizon add strategizing options in terms of connecting key actors in the network to create additional value.Originality/valueThis paper concerns how IMP scholars understand boundaries and firms, and how perceptions of these influence business network strategizing. The study articulates a distinction between firms’ mediating functions and those organizations that fundamentally create value through mediating services. This distinction has system-level implications. In particular, the claim that the basis for a firm’s strategizing is its network horizon is discussed. The author proposes the notion of a “network Verizon,” providing a boundary perception of specific relevance to mediators. The network verizon portrays a network depth beyond both sequential tiers in a supply chain and links between different supply chains.

Kink in the intermodal supply chain: interorganizational relations in the port economy

ABSTRACTThe intermodal logistics supply chain is designed to move goods from the point of production to the point of consumption as quickly and as cheaply as possible. The ability to accomplish this objective has allowed for the wholesale geographic relocation and offshoring of basic manufacturing and assembly. As a chain of linked and integrated organizations characterized by sequential interdependence, interorganizational relations play a key role in determining the level of integration and seamlessness. Yet there is one critical interorganizational link in the chain that deviates from this vision. This is the relationship between the shipping container terminal and drayage trucking operations which is better described as a form of intermodal disintegration. The weakness in this link of the supply chain is explained by the divergent industrial structures and labor market conditions, the unique nature of the transaction, and the externalization of costs to subordinate workers.

An active thermography approach for thermal and electrical characterization of thermoelectric materials

The enhancement of figure of merit (ZT) of thermoelectrics is becoming extremely important for an efficient conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy. In this respect, reliable measurements of thermal and electrical parameters are of paramount importance in order to characterize thermoelectric materials in terms of their efficiency.In this work, a combined theoretical-experimental active thermography approach is presented. The method consists of selecting the right sequential interdependence between the excitation frequency and the sampling rate of the infrared camera, by computing a temporal Fourier analysis of each pixel of the recorded IR image. The method is validated by using a reference sample which is then applied to a recent synthesized titanium trisulphide thermoelectric material (TiS3). By combining AC and steady-state experiments, one can obtain information on both thermal and electrical parameters of TE materials (namely thermal diffusivity, Seebeck coefficient). The thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of TiS3 are also measured using photothermal radiometry technique (PTR) and the resulting values of these parameters are α = 9.7*10−7 m2 s−1 and k = 2.2 W m−1 K, respectively. The results obtained with the two techniques are in good agreement. In the case of TE materials, the main benefit of the proposed method is related to its non-contact nature and the possibility of obtaining the electric potential and temperature at the same probes. The Seebeck coefficient obtained by active IR thermography (S = −554 μV K−1) is consistent with the one obtained using an ULVAC-ZEM3 system (S = −570 μV K−1). For a large number of users of thermographic cameras, which are not equipped with a lock-in thermography module, the present approach provides an affordable and cheaper solution.

Aligning end-to-end seafood supply through a series of markets

This study considers the alignment of commodity-like goods in seafood networks by analysing the exchange economy embedded in a set of sequentially interdependent markets. A case study in seafood production is analysed from an end-to-end perspective in the flow of seafood from Norway to Japan to investigate how practitioners describe trading and the terminology used on trading embedded across the complete supply network. Four subcases that focus on how goods are traded are studied. Two subcases consider raw material supply, aquaculture-supplied salmon and wild-caught pelagic fish. The third subcase concerns the export of frozen mackerel to Japan, and the final subcase concerns seafood trading at a regional wholesale market in Japan. Analysis is based on the view that in supply an exchange (management) economy is distinct from a production (value-creation) economy, and these economies are interdependent. The fundamental importance of sequential interdependencies in seafood production is demonstrated. The four subcases are first analysed individually, applying relational contracting theory to understand patterns of exchange leading to transfer of title at markets. Developed relationships and trust, but also an acceptance of partner switching, characterizes exchange in all four market-related subcases. An understanding of how these loosely coupled markets may be viewed as aligned is developed. Markets emerge as nodes in the supply network with complex patterns of exchange facilitated by well-developed business relationships where a common norm is acceptance of disloyalty not impeding trust. These norms of exchange facilitate agile seafood distribution.

Kink in the Logistics Supply Chain: Interorganizational Relations in the Port Economy

The intermodal logistics supply chain is designed to move goods from the point of production to the point of consumption as quickly and as cheaply as possible. The ability to accomplish this objective has allowed for the wholesale geographic relocation and offshoring of basic manufacturing and assembly. As a chain of linked and integrated organizations characterized by sequential interdependence, interorganizational relations play a key role in determining the level of integration and seamlessness. Yet there is one critical interorganizational link in the chain that deviates from this vision. This is the relationship between the shipping container terminal and drayage trucking operations which is better described as a form of intermodal disintegration. The weakness in this link of the supply-chain is explained by the divergent industrial structures and labor market conditions, the unique nature of the transaction, and the externalization of costs to subordinate workers.

A New Paradigm for Optimizing HIV Intervention Synergy

A New Paradigm for Optimizing HIV Intervention Synergy

The supply chain management‐marketing interface in product development

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the marketing‐supply chain management (SCM) interface in new product development (NPD) processes through a contingent approach.Design/methodology/approachThe study endorses Thompson's taxonomy of interfaces – pooled interdependence, sequential interdependence and reciprocal interdependence – to classify the approaches observed through case study research on two innovation processes within the same unit. A number of contingent variables is hypothesized as possible factors impacting on the very interface adopted by the company. Thompson's taxonomy and the contingent variables constitute the conceptual framework of the study.FindingsResults show that the conceptual framework provides encouraging results in interpreting the marketing‐SCM interface design by companies, even if some refinements, especially as far as the interface taxonomy are concerned, appear necessary to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.Research limitations/implicationsSince the study is based on two cases, outcomes cannot be generalized. Nonetheless, the preliminary results and the rich understanding of the phenomenon provided by the in‐depth case studies suggested a number of research proposition to frame future research on the topic.Originality/valueThe paper observes the marketing‐SCM interface in a contingent way, providing a new interpretive framework for its analysis and design, and showing how the encouraged view in literature towards marketing‐SCM integration may be problematic and counterproductive in specific circumstances.

Labor Law and Union Strength in 21 OECD Countries

Does pro-union collective bargaining legislation increase a country's rate of union membership? Contrary to conventional thinking, this paper argues that a number of significant pro-union labor laws may actually reduce union membership rates. The paper develops a series of closely-related models to explore the intuition for this argument. The first model is a sequential interdependence model of collective action that illustrates how labor law may have a substitution effect on labor unions and labor union membership. A second model shows how legal provisions that bolster union power can lead to greater employer opposition to unions. A third model develops the idea of a hold-up effect on union density: where labor law exacerbates this problem, it will also lead to greater employer resistance to unionization. Finally, the paper argues that, ultimately, labor law's most important consequence may be, not to increase the rate of union membership, but to increase the rate of union coverage. This happens, however, not by strengthening unions per se but by encouraging employers to bargain with unions in employer associations as a means of avoiding problems introduced by pro-union labor legislation. Surprisingly, pro-union labor law may be more effective at organizing employers than employees.

Comments on “Unchained from the chain: Supply management from a logistics service provider perspective”

The paper puts in focus the general observation that traditional supply chain management provides a limited view of supply relationships rooted in a conventional industrial logic, focusing on the physical product, chain relationships and sequential interdependencies. The paper contributes to the aim of extending the view of supply chains – unchaining logistics from the conventional chain structure view – by focusing on how such dominating idea structures can in fact delimit our understanding of, in this case, logistics service providers' contribution to well working supply relationships. The article connects to the discussion by suggesting a much more in-depth reasoning what and how a resource independency perspective can contribute to deepen our understanding of logistics and logistical networks.

Seven principles in the regulation of adult neurogenesis

Seven key elements describing the regulation of adult neurogenesis are proposed. (i) A distinction must be made between regulation and 'control' at the transcriptional level in order to appreciate the hierarchy of regulatory factors. (ii) The regulatory hierarchy comprises conceptual levels from behaviour to genes. Consequently, 'regulation' of neurogenesis can be confounded by confusing rather than integrating factors, levels and concepts. The immense spectrum of neurogenic regulators reflects the sensitivity of adult neurogenesis to many different types of stimuli, and provides a means of abstraction. (iii) Age per se does not seem to play a constant role in the modulation of this process, as the dramatic 'age-related' changes in adult neurogenesis only take place early in life. (iv) The regulatory hierarchy at any given time-point is corresponded by the directionality and sequential interdependence of different regulatory factors in the course of development. Regulation goes from non-specific to specific, and the following steps build on regulation at the previous ones. (v) This complexity is reflected at the genetic level in that adult neurogenesis is highly heritable and highly polygenic with single factors explaining little of the variance. (vi) As regulation is additive, there is an element of self-reinforcement in the regulation of adult neurogenesis, allowing the formation of regulatory reserves for situations of functional demand. (vii) The complexity of regulation makes adult neurogenesis sensitive to pathological disturbance at various levels, suggesting that different molecular events might result in similar and shared behavioural or functional phenotypes originating in the dentate gyrus.

Apropriação da renda por empreendedores rurais: três experiências na produção de café no Brasil

The purpose of this article is to answer the question of whether there are sustainable, economically feasible strategies that can capture agricultural income. To this end, the body of work on why entrepreneurs choose value-capturing and value-adding strategies is analyzed and then a model is built to analyze differentiation in the rural sphere. Four theoretical perspectives are presented: Strategic Positioning Analysis, Resource-Based View, Transaction Cost Economics, and Knight's Profit Theory. Drawing on the model, three strategic experiences from the Brazilian coffee agro-industrial system are examined, divided into three categories: joint interdependence, which presents the strategic focus of value creation through direct exports of good quality coffee, by the Guaxupe Regional Cooperative of Coffee Producers (Cooxupe); sequential interdependence, which examines the quality coffee brand strategy of the roasting company illycaffe; and mutual interdependence, in which the experience of Poco Fundo producers, aimed at adding value to coffee based on the sustainable coffee market, is analyzed. The most successful strategy in terms of representation (number of producers involved) appears to be that which focuses on scale and scope in the marketing of specialty coffees. Another interesting finding regards a new paradigm in the relations between the rural sector and the downstream segment regarding beverage quality and sustainability issues.