Critical success factors of supply chain integration in container shipping: an application of resource-based view theory

ABSTRACT

The container shipping industry is receiving growing attention in driving the performance of global supply chains. This phenomenon has accelerated supply chain integration (SCI) within the industry. Although SCI could offer numerous benefits, it is often quoted to be implemented easier in theory than in practice. The high failure rate that is associated with SCI is often not addressed in the literature. Grounded on resource-based view (RBV) theory, this paper is aimed at identifying the critical success factors (CSFs) and examining their influence on SCI and supply chain performance (SCP). Survey questionnaires were administered on 164 container shipping firms. The constructs were validated empirically using confirmatory factor analysis and were subsequently analysed using structural equation modelling. The proposed CSFs in this study are found to be positively corelated with SCI, which, in turn, is positively correlated with SCP. This paper has contributed to both theory and practice by applying RBV theory to identify the key resources and capabilities that are necessary for SCI in the container shipping industry.     

基于集对分析的道路交通拥堵判定

基于集对分析原理提出了道路交通拥堵判定的新方法——集对分析法,给出了集对分析法的基本思路和交通拥堵判定步骤。该方法考虑了交通状态分级标准的模糊性,同时避免了差异不确定系数的取值,应用于成都市某路段交通拥堵状态的判定,结果表明,该方法概念清晰、结构简单、计算简单、易操作、可行有效。     

Structural response of a flexible pipe with damaged tensile armor wires under pure tension

This article studies the structural response of a 6.0” flexible pipe under pure tension considering intact and damaged conditions. In the damaged condition, several wires of the tensile armor layers are assumed to be broken. A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element (FE) model devoted to analyze the local mechanical response of flexible pipes is employed in this study. This model is capable of representing each tensile armor wire and, therefore, localized defects, including total rupture, may be adequately represented. Results from experimental tests validate the FE predictions and indicate a reduction in the axial stiffness of the pipe, a non-uniform redistribution of forces among the remaining intact wires of the damaged tensile armor layers and high stress concentrations in the wires near the broken ones. Moreover, the FE model indicates that significant normal bending stresses may arise in the pressure armor and inner carcass due to an uneven pressure distribution on these layers. Finally, the results obtained are employed to estimate the pull out capacity of the studied flexible pipe.     

Modeling the behavioral determinants of travel behavior: An application of latent transition analysis

This paper applies the relatively new method of latent class transition analysis to explore the notion that qualitative differences in travel behavior patterns are substantively meaningful and therefore relevant from explanatory point of view. For example, because the bicycle may function as an important access and egress mode, a car user who also (occasionally) uses the bicycle may be more likely to switch to a public transit profile than someone who only uses the car. Data from the Dutch mobility panel are used to inductively reveal travel behavior patterns and model transitions in these patterns over time. Additionally, the effects of seven exogenous variables, including two important life events (i.e. moving house and changing jobs), on cluster membership and the transition probabilities are assessed. The results show that multiple-mode users compared to single-mode users are more likely to switch from one behavioral profile to another. In addition, age, the residential environment, moving house and changing jobs have strong influences on the transition probabilities between the revealed behavioral patterns over time.     

多平台间信息传输测试分析方法

文章根据电子信息系统的试验需求，结合工程实际，从具体应用人手，讲述一种多平台间信息传输性能测评方法，并对如何实现数据采集与记录、信息传输实时监测、系统性能分析等方面进行了详尽描述，该方法为多平台综合试验提供了有效的评估手段。     

Using automated walking gait analysis for the identification of pedestrian attributes

Collecting microscopic pedestrian behavior and characteristics data is important for optimizing the design of pedestrian facilities for safety, efficiency, and comfortability. This paper provides a framework for the automated classification of pedestrian attributes such as age and gender based on information extracted from their walking gait behavior. The framework extends earlier work on the automated analysis of gait parameters to include analysis of the gait acceleration data which can enable the quantification of the variability, rhythmic pattern and stability of pedestrian’s gait. In this framework, computer vision techniques are used for the automatic detection and tracking of pedestrians in an open environment resulting in pedestrian trajectories and the speed and acceleration dynamic profiles. A collection of gait features are then derived from those dynamic profiles and used for the classification of pedestrian attributes. The gait features include conventional gait parameters such as gait length and frequency and dynamic parameters related to gait variations and stability measures. Two different techniques are used for the classification: a supervised k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) algorithm and a newly developed semi-supervised spectral clustering. The classification framework is demonstrated with two case studies from Vancouver, British Columbia and Oakland, California. The results show the superiority of features sets including gait variations and stability measures over features relying only on conventional gait parameters. For gender, correct classification rates (CCR) of 80% and 94% were achieved for the Vancouver and Oakland case studies, respectively. The classification accuracy for gender was higher in the Oakland case which only considered pedestrians walking alone. Pedestrian age classification resulted in a CCR of 90% for the Oakland case study.     

二灰稳定钢渣路用性能试验研究

运用填充理论进行钢渣的级配和石灰、粉煤灰最佳比例的研究,通过对不同级配、不同二灰掺配比例的混合料路用性能比较,提出了一种最佳比例的二灰稳定钢渣混合料,其钢渣构成承重骨架,二灰密实地填充于其空隙中并裹覆其表面.用电镜等手段对其进行了微观分析；用抗压强度和回弹模量评价其力学性能.此项研究对利用钢渣铺路具有一定的借鉴作用.     

Examining the influence of firm performance on business risk-taking and the mediation effect of scale of operations in the container terminal industry

Container shipping and its related service sectors help accelerate globalization of the world economy. This industry has been experiencing rapid growth, prompting container terminal operators to increase their handling capacity in response. Providing container terminal services requires substantial capital investment in physical assets such as cargo handling facilities and information systems. On the other hand, operating container terminals is a long-term investment that typically spans several business cycles. Hence prudent asset management using appropriate tools is critical for container terminal operators to sustain their businesses. Generally, due to risk-adverseness, investors are unwilling to take more risk in their investment unless they can reap a higher return. Contrary to this argument, this study finds no direct influence of better firm performance as a proxy of higher return on business risk-taking by container terminal operators. Instead, scale of operations is positively associated with business risk-taking, suggesting that container terminal operators with a larger scale of operations are willing to take more business risk.     

兰州市五人制足球运动开展现状调查分析

本文运用文献资料法、专家访谈法、问卷调查法、数理统计法对兰州市五人制足球运动的开展规模、教练员情况、场地设施、社会参与人群状况等问题进行调查分析,提出了针对性建议,旨在为进一步推动兰州市五人制足球的健康快速发展,同时促进兰州市足球运动的普及与提高尽一份力。