Wuli-Shili-Renli Research Articles

Evaluation and Improvement of Construction Safety for Prefabricated Buildings Under the Concept of Resilience

In the construction of prefabricated buildings, safety issues occur frequently, posing challenges to project progress and personnel safety. As a new trend in the construction industry, the complexity of the environment in prefabricated construction demands an update to traditional safety management concepts. This study introduces the concept of resilience to analyze safety issues in prefabricated construction and develops a WSR-4Rs framework for a systematic evaluation of construction safety. The study first combines the WSR (Wuli-Shili-Renli) systematic methodology with the 4R resilience theory to construct an evaluation index system for construction safety. Then, it uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the entropy weight method to determine the combined weights of each index, establishing a balanced and objective weighting scheme. A fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is then applied to assess actual project cases. Finally, an obstacle degree model is introduced to identify key indicator factors that significantly impact construction safety, and specific improvement measures are proposed based on these findings. The aim is to provide practical references and guidance for enhancing the safety management level in prefabricated construction.

Pragmatic ontology—Enhancing the philosophical foundation for critical systems thinking/practice

AbstractA sound theoretical foundation for multimethodology should be consistent across the main branches of philosophy: ontological heterogeneity, epistemological plurality and methodological multiplicity. In this light, I posit that (1) Jackson's recent embracement of pragmatism lacks a critical element: a well‐formulated ontology; (2) to overcome this shortcoming, it is necessary to bring ontology back into critical systems thinking/practice; and (3) such an urgent task has further to overcome the current indifference in systems thinking toward ontology. I shall draw intellectual insights from Quine's ‘ontological commitment’, Habermas's ‘ontological presupposition’, Xu Changfu's ‘theory of heterogeneity’, Husserl's ‘ontology layers’, Gadamer's hermeneutic notions ‘prejudice’ and ‘tradition’, as well as ‘ontology building’ practice across the natural and social sciences. I shall also use a multimethodology approach wuli–shili–renli (WSR) as an example to illustrate the working and evolving of pragmatic ontology.

Evaluation of Operational Safety Risk in Wastewater Treatment Plants Based on WSR and Matter–Element Extension Theory

Wastewater treatment plants are of significant importance in facilitating China’s urbanization process. The fundamental purpose of wastewater treatment plants is to control water pollution and protect the environment. It is therefore essential that they are operated in a safe manner in order to achieve this goal. In order to guarantee a systematic and objective assessment of the operational safety risks inherent to wastewater treatment plants, the Wuli–Shili–Renli (WSR) theory has been introduced. Accordingly, a three-dimensional evaluation index system was developed for the assessment of these risks. A combination of subjective and objective methods utilizing game theory was employed to determine comprehensive risk factor weights. Subsequently, the material–element extension theory model was implemented in a wastewater treatment plant situated in the northern region of the Changchun Development Zone. The assessment classified the plant as Level 1 (safe), although it was determined that improvements in accident prevention are necessary. This study presents a robust framework for operational safety assessment that contributes to enhanced risk management and the long-term reliability of wastewater treatment operations. The results of the sensitivity analyses provide substantial evidence of the reliability and validity of the model.

Integrating frailty management into cardiac intensive care unit nursing practice: A qualitative study

BackgroundFrailty is prevalent among older patients in intensive care units (ICUs) and poses significant challenges to recovery. Despite its importance, there is limited research on effective nurse-led frailty management strategies in this context. ObjectiveThe purpose of this qualitative study was to explore nurses' perceptions of frailty management in cardiac ICUs through the lens of the Wuli-Shili-Renli (WSR) system approach. MethodsSixteen nurses from two tertiary hospitals in Shandong province, China, participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were selected based on their involvement in frailty training, educational background, and cardiac ICU work experience. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes and sub-themes. ResultsAnalysis in three categories revealed the need for foundational support, including the need for appropriate screening tools, updated evidence-based practices, and institutional support. Closed-loop management involved frailty screening, personalized program implementation, information management, and follow-up assessment. Personnel training and coordination emphasized enhancing nurses' professionalism, multidisciplinary teamwork, and cooperation from patients and their caregivers. ConclusionThe insights gained can inform evidence-based practices and improve the quality of care provided to frail patients in cardiac ICUs. There is a need for future research to empirically investigate these strategies.

Evaluating financing risk for forest recreation value development project—A case study focused on S National Forest Park in Fujian Province

In the process of forest recreation value development, there are some characteristics, such as large amount of investment capital, long financing recovery cycle and high potential risks, which lead to limited capital source and prominent financing risks. To achieve sustainable development, forest recreational value development enterprises must solve the financing dilemma, therefore, it is very urgent to identify the financing risk factors. The research constructed financing risk evaluation index system through WSR (Wuli-Shili-Renli) methodology (from affair law, matter principle and human art dimensions), taking S National Forest Park at Fujian Province as a case study, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method were used for empirical analysis. The results showed that for the first level indicators, operational risk should be paid close attention to, followed by political risk and environmental risk. Among the secondary level indicators, policy changes, financing availability and market demand need attention, which are consistent with the result of field survey. Based on that, countermeasures were put forward such as the multiple collaborative linkage and effective internal control; reduction on operating costs and broaden financing channels; encouragement diversification of investment entities and improvement of financial and credit support; strengthening government credit supervision, optimizing financing risk evaluation, and building a smart tourism financing information platform, to reduce and control financing risks, then promote the development of forest recreation value projects.

Multi-dimensional identification of investment risks in renewable energy projects along the Belt and Road: an integrated framework based on HHM and WRT

ABSTRACT Due to the complexity of various risk factors and their interactive effects in the risk management of renewable energy project investment, this study uses Hierarchical Holographic Modelling (HHM) and WSR–RFRM–TSS (WRT) methods to construct a risk assessment model for energy project investment. Firstly, we comprehensively identify the risk sources by applying HHM method, and then construct the risk assessment index framework based on the Wuli–Shili–Renli (WSR) methodology. To identify the most significant risk indicators, the risk factors are secondarily filtered by using the Risk Filtering, Ranking, and Management Framework (RFRM). Following that, multi-dimensional risk scenarios are created by incorporating the Theory of Scenario Structuring (TSS). Finally, an empirical study is conducted using the Karot Hydroelectric Project project as a case study. The results show that in the two-dimensional risk scenarios, the highest risk value is the coupling of political stability risk and institutional imperfection risk. In the three-dimensional risk scenarios, the highest risk value is the coupling of political stability risk, institutional imperfection risk and communication barrier risk. The risk values of two-dimensional risk scenarios are generally higher than those of one-dimensional risk scenarios and three-dimensional risk scenarios.

Exploring the Impact of Influencing Factors on High-Quality Development in the Manufacturing Industry: A Comprehensive Analysis using Citespace Visualization and WSR-DEMATEL

High-quality development of the manufacturing industry is a key path to meet the growing needs of the people for a better life and boost China's economy under the double-cycle development pattern. The study focuses on the influencing factors of the high-quality development level of the manufacturing industry. Firstly, the study utilizes the Citespace visualization analysis tool to outline the research hotspots and development trends in this field, comprehensively understanding the interrelationships among influencing factors and their evolving tendencies. This provides valuable information resources for constructing the final indicator system of influencing factors; Secondly, the study constructed an index system of influencing factors based on the WSR (wuli-shili-renli) system methodology, and at the same time, it used the decision-making experiment and experimentation method (DEMATEL) to explore the interrelationships among the 11 influences and to calculate their centrality and causality; Finally, this study portrayed and comparatively analyzed the degree of importance of each influencing factor, and identifies the key influencing factors. The result shows that: Executive team heterogeneity, human capital structure, government subsidy, digital economy, business environment, and green technology innovation are the key influencing factors for the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry. The study can provide theoretical significance and practical enlightenment for the manufacturing industry to enhance its development level to realize high-quality development.

Evaluating investment risks in overseas renewable energy projects: A WSR and D‐AHP based approach

AbstractInvesting in renewable energy is vital for reducing carbon emissions, yet it also poses significant risks and uncertainties. This study proposes a novel approach to evaluate investment risks in overseas renewable energy projects. First, we apply the Wuli–Shili–Renli (WSR) methodology to develop an evaluation index system for investment risks at three levels—Wuli, Shili, and Renli. Second, a risk assessment framework combining D‐AHP and TOPSIS method is constructed to solve the problem of uncertainty in evaluation information resulting from variations in expert experience. Then we can obtain the risk value. Finally, we apply our approach to evaluate the ADAMA Wind Power Phase I Project in Ethiopia. Our findings reveal a medium risk value for the project, with the highest risk at the Shili level. The management risk is the most significant risk factor, consistent with reality. Our proposed method can effectively address information uncertainty in assessing investment risks of renewable energy projects and is applicable to other similar projects.

Research on Collaborative Mechanisms of Railway EPC Project Design and Construction from the Perspective of Social Network Analysis

With the promotion of Engineering Procurement Construction mode in railway construction projects, collaborative management between design and construction has faced increasing challenges due to complexities of the participants and the various professional fields involved in railway EPC projects. This paper aims to analyze the issues present in the collaborative management of railway EPC project design and construction. Utilizing the social network analysis methodology combined with the Wuli–Shili–Renli (WSR) system methodology, a network model was established to explore relationships between design and construction management. This study investigates network-influencing factors and proposes targeted measures to enhance project management efficiency. The findings indicate that coordination and communication mechanisms, organization building, interface management systems and design management systems represent core network elements that significantly impact railway EPC collaborative management. These elements are closely related to other network factors. The research not only advances design and construction coordination theory, but it also introduces new ideas for engineering practice.

Exploring the Multiple Paths to Improve the Construction Level of Digital Government: Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on the WSR Framework

The construction of digital government is an essential premise and foundation to improve a national governance system. Based on the Wuli–Shili–Renli (WSR) framework, this paper applies fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to data from 31 Chinese provinces to investigate how six conditional variables (information-infrastructure construction, organizational construction, financial support, digital-policy support, public demand, and digital talent) jointly affect the construction level of digital government (CDG). The results show that none of the six conditions is necessary for the CDG, and three paths exist to enhance the CDG. Information-infrastructure construction and digital-policy support play a more significant role in digital-government transformation than other variables. As a subjective and controllable approach, digital policy may significantly affect the CDG in the short term. Based on the findings above, we propose policy recommendations for strengthening the elements of coordination, enhancing the construction of information infrastructure in each province, and enhancing the digital-policy support system. This study provides a new research framework and theoretical perspective for improving global digital-government construction.

WSR

Evolving out from contemporary Chinese management practice, traditional Chinese thought and international academic encounters, the Wuli-Shili-Renli (WSR) approach urges knowing wuli (the technical-material), reflecting on shili (the mental-cognitive) and caring for renli (the social-emotional) in management decision making. Underlain by coherent ontology, epistemology and methodology, WSR has been used to assist formal engineering projects such as water resources management as well as informal coping which includes understanding social-economic reforms, improving business strategy and enriching the theory of the firm. As information complexity and value complexity grow rapidly within, and beyond, China, WSR should ideally develop into a multi-perspective, multi-method, multi-actor, general purpose management approach, as a useful tool for building an open, justice and prosperous society.

Research on the Resilience Enhancement Path of Technology-Based SMEs Using Dynamic Fuzzy Cognitive Maps—Organizational Context and the Employee Loyalty Perspective

Technology-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent an important organizational aspect of technological innovation and economic growth. The complex and turbulent operating environment resulting from COVID-19 is a fatal threat to the survival and growth of technology-based SMEs. Based on the Wuli-Shili-Renli (WSR) methodology, this research uses dynamic fuzzy cognitive maps to analyze the mechanisms underlying the interactions among organizational context, employee loyalty and organizational resilience in the context of technology-based SMEs. The study also includes a sensitivity analysis, and the results of these analyses are mutually corroborated. The study finds that organizational context, employee loyalty and organizational resilience are correlated to varying degrees but also that organizational learning and sustained loyalty are weak, while normative organizational loyalty is relatively weak. This study enriches the research concerning organizational resilience and has practical value with regard to improving the organizational resilience of technology-based SMEs.

A retrospective study of knowledge management for integrated resorts (IRs) crisis preparedness

PurposeThis study aims to propose a systematic knowledge management model to explore the causal links leading to the organizational crisis preparedness (OCP) level of integrated resorts (IRs) during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the intangible capital of organizational climate, dynamic capability, substantive capability and commitment.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use data obtained from IRs in Macau. The Wuli–Shili–Renli (WSR) approach underpins the study. Structural equation modeling following fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used for data processing.FindingsThe results showed that organizational climate has an essential role in IRs preparedness for crises and affects their dynamic capacity, substantive capacity and commitment. The fsQCA results revealed that the relationships between conditions with a higher level of dynamic and substantive capability lead to higher OCP scores.Practical implicationsExecutives should develop systemic thinking regarding organization preparedness in IRs for crisis management. A comprehensive understanding of the IRs’ business environment and crises is necessary, as they will require different factor constellations to allow the organization to perform well in a crisis. Financial support for employees could ensure their assistance when dealing with such situations. Rapid response teams should be set up for daily operations and marketing implementation of each level of the IRs management systems.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the extant literature on IRs crisis management in the OCP aspect. The authors constructed a systematic composite picture of organization executives’ knowledge management through the three layers of intangible capitals in WSR. Moreover, the authors explored causal links of WSR from symmetric and asymmetric perspectives.

Research on brownfield redevelopment based on Wuli-Shili-Renli system theory and catastrophe progression method.

Brownfields are an important part of urban land resources. Strengthening the governance and redevelopment of brownfields is significant to environmental protection, high-quality urban development and sustainable development. However, due to the complexity and harmfulness of brownfield pollution, the hasty, untimely, and blind development can cause serious consequences. It is infeasible to pay more attention to development than governance or vice versa. In this paper, aiming at brownfield redevelopment evaluation, we introduced the Wuli-Shili-Renli (WSR) system methodology, an oriental system thought combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, comprehensively analyzed the influencing factors of brownfields from three dimensions of Wuli, Shili and Renli, and constructed the evaluation index system of brownfield redevelopment. To avoid much subjectivity in the evaluation process, we established the evaluation model of brownfield redevelopment using the catastrophe progression method. Taking the renovation project of Shanghai Xintiandi in 1999-2001 as a reference, the evaluation index system and evaluation model were applied to the renovation project of Wenjia Street in Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China in 2022, and the results provided a good basis for the decision-making process.

WSR 2.0 (2): Wuli–shili–renli notions

AbstractThis is the second of a series of papers that present a systems approach to management from China: wuli–shili–renli (WSR). The paper focuses on an updated reconstruction of the WSR notions. In WSR 2.0, wuli is defined as characteristics and regularities of objective existence, shili as means and methods for knowing and doing and renli as principles and norms that guide collective actions toward higher purpose. Issues emerging from recent theorising and applying WSR notions are discussed.

On Risk Probability of Prefabricated Building Hoisting Construction Based on Multiple Correlations

With growing concern about environmental pollution and occupational safety in construction industry globally, prefabricated building has become a popular building model in sustainable society. In China, management specifications of prefabricated buildings are far from mature, and safety accidents occur frequently in construction. In order to comprehensively analyze risks in hoisting construction of prefabricated buildings, this study, in view of characteristics of hoisting construction process and correlations in complex system, summarizes risk factors and classifies them according to Wuli-Shili-Renli (WSR) system. From perspective of multiple correlations, evolution mechanism of multi-system correlation and multi-risk correlation is carried out, so as to explore risk probability of hoisting construction of prefabricated buildings. At the same time, this study extends Two Additive Choquet Integral (TACI) operator and Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) in dynamic stochastic environment to construct a two-stage model for risk probability research of hoisting construction, hoping to profoundly reveal influence of risk factors and their dynamic evolution. The results show that: (1) risk probability presented a seasonal, dynamic change trend, which meant rising first, then falling, and finally keeping rising, thus regular inspection and dynamic monitoring are required in hoisting construction in these regions in the first three quarters. (2) the influence of each risk factor demonstrated dynamic changes, and risk sources that need to prevent and defuse at different time points are varied, thus targeted measures catering to different risk sources are required. (3) the degree of risk controllability is in dynamic change, but classification of cause or result in the region at the period remains the same, thus necessitating targeted response measures aimed at various risk types. (4) Individual risks like hoisting job climated break out periodically, so the law of risk occurrence should be mastered and relative precautionary measures should be taken in advance.

Analysis on Dynamic Evolution of the Cost Risk of Prefabricated Building Based on DBN

Prefabricated building constitutes the development trend of the construction industry in the future. However, many uncertainties in the construction process will surely lead to a higher cost. Therefore, it is necessary to study the cost risk evolution and transfer mechanism in the implementation process of this project. A dynamic evolution model for the cost risk of prefabricated buildings has been established in this paper. First of all, a matrix for cost risk of prefabricated buildings was established based on the WSR (Wuli-Shili-Renli) model, and all risk factors in the implementation stage were classified in accordance with the WSR principle. Second, a DBN-based dynamic evolution model was established based on the risk matrix, and the structure and node parameters of the Dynamic Bayesian Network were determined with the aid of the K2 structure learning algorithm and parameter learning method. In view of the probability change process of risks over time, the dynamic evolution path of risks was predicted in different cases through causal reasoning and diagnostic reasoning. Eventually, the model was applied into construction projects. The research results show that: because prefabricated components need to be made by prefabricated component factories, the management systems of prefabricated component factories are usually not perfect, and the probability of management risks is higher. The occurrence of management risks not only has an impact on other risks at the current time node, but also causes other risks to occur in the subsequent transportation and construction phases at the next moment, which eventually leads to the occurrence of risk events.

Spatial Distribution Pattern and Influencing Factors of Sports Tourism Resources in China

Sports tourism is an emerging tourism product. In the sports and tourism industry, resource mining is the foundation that provides positive significance for theoretical support. This study takes China’s sports tourism boutique projects as the study object, exploring its spatial distribution pattern through the average nearest neighbor index, kernel density, and spatial autocorrelation. On the strength of the wuli–shili–renli system approach, the entropy value method and geographic detector probe model are used to identify the driving factors affecting the spatial distribution pattern. Findings reveal the following: (1) From 2013 to 2014, the sports tourism resources in China present a distribution pattern with the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration as the high-density core area and the Guizhou–Guangxi border area and the western Hubei ecological circle as the sub-density core areas. (2) From 2014 to 2018, China’s sports tourism boutique projects increased by 381, and the regional differences among various provinces tended to converge. The high-density core area remained unchanged. The sub-density cores are now the Yunqian border area of the Karst Plateau, the Qinglong border area of the Qilian Mountains, and the Jinji border area of the Taihang Mountains, shaping the distribution trends of “depending on the city, near the scenery” and “large concentration, small dispersion”. (3) The proportion of provincial sports tourism development classified as being in the coordinated stage is 61.29%. (4) The explanatory power of the factors affecting the spatial layout in descending order is natural resource endowment, sports resource endowment, transportation capacity, industrial support and guidance, market cultivation and development, people’s living standards, software and hardware services, and economic benefit effects. The explanatory power of the interaction of two different factors is higher than that of the single factor.

Evaluating the effectiveness of university agricultural extension test stations using Wuli-Shili-Renli methodology

ABSTRACT: Wuli-Shili-Renli (WSR) methodology was used to assess the effects of systematic management on university agricultural extension test stations, in order to understand areas for further optimization. We developed a framework model and evaluation index system, of which, the weights of the evaluation index system were determined using AHP. Using an agricultural extension test station of Hebei Agricultural University as an example, we interviewed and surveyed in total of 225 university extension experts from nine test stations. Assessment showed that the test station system organization produces desirable societal benefits and improvements. In addition, the organizational structure and job allocation were found to act as high-impact factors in improving the optimal system function, with the university extension experts functional better in the incentive and guarantee mechanism than other factors. Our investigation validated that the university extension experts were critical in designing the incentives and evaluation programs.

Shale gas industry sustainability assessment based on WSR methodology and fuzzy matter-element extension model: The case study of China

Shale gas plays an important role in energy transformation. The sustainable development of the shale gas industry is a prerequisite for achieving an efficient, green, and long-term use of shale gas resources. This paper uses the WSR (Wuli-Shili-Renli) methodology to determine a comprehensive indicator system for assessing the sustainability of the shale gas industry. Game theory was used to combine two objective weighting methods and determine the comprehensive weight. The sustainability of the shale gas industry was evaluated based on the fuzzy matter-element extension theory. The results of the evaluation show that the overall sustainable development of China’s shale gas industry is relatively poor. Shale gas industry in most regions is in a critically sustainable state (The critically sustainable state indicates the sustainability of the shale gas industry in general. The industry as a whole has the basic conditions for sustainable development in the short term; however, efficiency needs to be further improved to avoid the risk of degradation.) and is susceptible to degradation due to environmental changes. The shale gas industry in a few other regions is in an unsustainable state and cannot achieve an efficient and green development of shale gas. This paper evaluated the sustainability of the shale gas industry from a unique perspective. It is expected that the results of this research will contribute to the formulation of sustainable development strategies and further promote the green development of the shale gas industry.