Journals Published by Vilnius Tech
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Is contractual flexibility always good for relationship quality among the parties in construction projects?
Get PDFContractual flexibility as an effective way to maintain and increase parties’ relationship quality has been widely introduced to contracting in construction projects. However, conflicting evidences exist regarding their effectiveness on relationship quality based on transaction cost theory. Building on two distinct bases for contractual flexibility: content flexibility, rely on flexible content incorporated in initial contract content, versus executing flexibility, rely on parties’ relationship instead of contract contents, this study examines how contractual flexibility effect relationship quality under different transaction attributes (asset specificity, environmental uncertainty, and behavioral uncertainty). Results from a sample of 312 parties reveal that content flexibility and executing flexibility positively influence relationship quality, with executing flexibility having a stronger association than content flexibility. Yet, important conditions exist. The moderating analysis demonstrates that when asset specificity or environmental uncertainty is high, executing flexibility, not content flexibility, matters more to relationship quality. In contrast, when behavioral uncertainty is high, content flexibility, not executing flexibility, matters more to relationship quality. These findings suggest that contractual managers should incorporate executing flexibility into contracts more sufficiently, and the appropriate contractual flexibility should match with transaction attributes
Modelling progressive failure of segmental linings in shield tunnels
Get PDFMany engineering accidents in shield tunnels occur because localized failure induces the progressive damage or failure of segmental linings. At present, knowledge of the trigger mechanism for this catastrophe is still very limited. While it is difficult to conduct full-scale tunnel failure tests in actual strata, it is feasible to perform numerical simulations of tunnel failure. However, before simulating tunnel failure, it is important to establish a sophisticated model that considers the damage behaviour of segmental linings. In this paper, based on the concrete damage plasticity model and element deletion technology, a sophisticated model of segmental linings was established. The model was verified by data from current structural loading tests. To improve the calculation efficiency, the model was properly simplified. Then, it was applied to simulate the progressive failure of segmental linings due to localized failure in a shield tunnel considering complex soiltunnel interactions. The numerical analysis showed that concrete was damaged in the segments adjacent to the localized failure zone. Some of the stirrups and erection bars in these segments yielded, while the upper and lower rows of steel bars as well as the bolts connecting the segments had sufficient safety redundancy
Single real estate developers’ innovations in housing design: an historical exploration based on China Vanke Co. Ltd.
Get PDFThis paper focuses on the practices, innovations and design regarding housing supply developed by a single Chinese private real estate company, China Vanke Co. Ltd. between 1979 and 2016. In the last 5 decades, China experienced a period of rapid urbanization, accompanied by the introduction of numerous economic and institutional reforms impacting the nation’s model of housing supply. Significant changes disrupted the urban housing sector in the country, shifting the main supply system from a public welfare model to a market-driven one. Within this time span, most new residential properties were developed and marketed by large real estate enterprises, which became crucial players in establishing the new housing market. While there is an extensive body of literature examining China’s housing market formation and progression, most of these studies focus on the economic and social aspects of housing, including factors such as affordability, inequality, governance, preferences and choices. Single real estate firms’ innovations, as well as the links between housing designs and market supply and demand, have yet to be thoroughly explored. This latter area represents thus the main focus of this paper. Expanding from the specific case of Vanke, this paper seeks to discuss the innovative processes of a real estate enterprise and the role of a single company in shaping new housing designs, based on supply and demand transformations
Can countries bridge the gap in the quality of life? – Inheritance for Ukraine
Get PDFConsidering that most countries exhibit substantial disparities between the rich and the poor, there is a demand for a fresh perspective on the dynamics of a country’s development and its potential for convergence. The article represents an attempt to use a comprehensive econometric framework to analyze long-term trends in people’s consumption levels across different countries of the world over the past 60 years. The obtained results indicate a paradoxical and strategically important trend: until 2008, all countries of the world demonstrated a steady growth of CPC, albeit at different rates. After 2008, there is a significant slowdown or complete absence of CPC growth in all countries. This trend indicates that the existing economic model has exhausted itself, and within its paradigm, it is impossible to stimulate new growth of CPC for the population. While some may view this as “reaching the point of well-being,” it is a point on the brink of an abyss. Regardless of political courses, the world is moving towards a new era and a new redistribution of world forces. This can explain the growth of conflicts, wars and tensions between countries. The results of the study have significant implications for understanding the sustainability and future of the world economy, as well as for the formulation of development policies and strategies at the global level
A new e-commerce model for free-riding behavior in decentralized supply chains
Get PDFThe complexity of consumer free-riding behavior is a current significant problem, as modern online purchasing channels sharply compete with the traditional ones. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of showrooming behavior by free-rider consumers on product valuation within a decentralized supply chain. Also, we examine how the consumers’ use of the benefits of the experience achieved in the offline channel to buy from the online channel influences their product valuation in a decentralized supply chain and influences the profits’ level of offline retailers. We develop an e-commerce model for product valuation when customers visit a brick-and-mortar unit for products and then buy them online. Results have indicated that the free-riding customers’ product valuation is between online and offline customer product valuations and the price at which the customer becomes a showrooming customer is influenced not only by the offline price, but also by the degree of the online channel acceptance and the shopping services value factor. This study has managerial consequences in decision-making of sellers, especially for traditional stores which to maximize the profit must optimize the offline additional services, to reduce the phenomenon of free-riding and at the same time not to generate additional costs
Locus of control as critical moderator of the relationship between role stressors and intention to quit
Get PDFThis research examines how employees’ locus of control moderates the relationships between role conflict, role ambiguity, and intention to quit when assessing the mediation effects of counterproductive work behaviour and work engagement. A quantitative method (survey) was used for this study, with 348 questionnaires completed online. The research results reveal that, with a strong internal locus of control, work engagement mediates the relationship between role conflict and intention to quit and between role ambiguity and intention to quit. The higher the internal locus of control, the more both role conflict and role ambiguity affect work engagement, leading to intention to quit. Moreover, the manifestation of locus of control varies according to the employee’s level of education, age, field of activity, and the organisation size. The study is the first to develop an integrative framework, which depicts how team-level factors comprehensively affect interrelations between role stressors and employee intention to quit. Our research delineates, explicates, and directs crucial aspects of human resource management in organisations. It also highlights that in studying the employee behaviour, scholars should inexorably assess situations in the complex manner that research demands to delineate employee workplace behaviour stemming from a combination of personal, contextual, and circumstantial factors
Decision support algorithm development for assortment optimization in the retail chain
Get PDFAs the consumer market changes rapidly, retail networks require a system to optimize the quantity and assortment of goods. The authors develop and test theoretical and practical assortment optimization and distribution principles. The study aims to improve retail assortment management by creating a decision support system for optimizing commodity composition, quantity, and location. The system’s primary objective is to enhance the trading margin obtained from the sale while considering constraints related to commodity resources and shelf space. This entails optimizing the procurement and inventory management processes to maximize the profit margin. By generating freight invoices, distributing, and redistributing commodities within the network under inbound logistics orders, the system optimizes the allocation of commodities using information from the company’s existing software. The authors present an optimization method for commodities that relies on mathematical modeling and the calculation of the consolidated profitability ratio. It ensures the necessary accuracy and provides assortment management within time and cost limits, without substantial investments in equipment and updating qualifications of employees. The research outcomes are applicable to apparel retail. The practical outcome is maximizing the return on investment for goods sold per day. The algorithm’s benefits and effectiveness were calculated based on real data after implementation
An evaluation study on immigrants′ transport system adaptation behaviour: Turkey example
No full textGlobal migration patterns have led to significant population shifts, particularly in regions such as Turkey, which has experienced a substantial influx of immigrants due to political crises, economic instability, and armed conflicts. This study examines the adaptation behaviour of immigrants to Turkey′s transport system, identifying key challenges, expectations, and integration patterns. Using survey data from immigrants in Turkey, the study explores the role of demographic factors, prior transport experiences, and socio-economic conditions in shaping mobility choices. The findings indicate that while many aspects of Turkey′s transport system are familiar to immigrants, significant barriers such as high travel costs, unclear traffic signage, and language-related difficulties hinder complete adaptation. Younger, higher-educated immigrants and those from culturally similar backgrounds demonstrate a faster integration process, whereas older immigrants and those with limited educational backgrounds face more significant obstacles. Statistical analyses, including multiple linear regression and decision tree classifier, reveal that age is the most significant predictor of long-term transport adaptation. Additionally, the study highlights that as the duration of stay increases, immigrants exhibit a higher reliance on public transportation, with ownership of private vehicles gradually rising among long-term residents. The research underscores the need for policy interventions, such as reducing transport costs, improving multilingual signage, and offering integration programs to enhance immigrant mobility. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and transport authorities striving to develop more inclusive and efficient transport systems
How does ICT capital stock affect high-quality economic growth? Evidence from China
Get PDFAs an essential driving force to promote industrial upgrading and technological innovation, ICT has gradually become the technological support for high-quality economic growth. This paper adopts the improved perpetual inventory method and entropy weight TOPSIS method to measure China’s ICT capital stock and economic high-quality growth index, respectively, and experimentally examines the effect of the former on the latter. The findings show that the south has a more extensive ICT capital stock than the north, and the coastal region has a better high-quality growth index than the inland region. Meanwhile, high-quality economic growth, which has increased since 2009 and is incredibly robust in the south, positively correlates with ICT capital stock. Further research finds that ICT capital stock can boost high-quality economic growth by raising marketization and human capital. The results provide policy recommendations for enhancing high-quality economic growth.
First published online 19 November 202
Evaluation of the low-cost depth cameras for non-destructive testing
Get PDFThe primary aim of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of a low-cost stereo (depth) camera as a non-destructive tool for the detection and measurement of cracks in concrete surfaces. The experiment was carried out on four concrete beams with cracks, created with different concrete mixes. The mixes of the four beams were made up of lightweight aggregates with 12% of normal weight aggregates. One beam was used as a reference without fibers, while 3D steel fiber reinforcement, 5D steel fibers reinforcement, and a hybrid fibers mix of 5D steel fiber and synthetic were used for the other three beams. The cracks in the beams were measured manually followed by taking their stereo images with a ZED camera. The ZED images were processed to produce 3D models of the concrete surfaces, which are useful for crack measurement in a three-dimensional framework. The project results are particularly significant in the measurement of all three dimensions (length, width and depth), with less than a 10% error between the actual and the experimental procedure. Relatively, multiple differential approaches gave a less accurate result of a 15% error mainly due to syntax errors. Results suggest that the ZED depth camera is an effective tool for robust detection and measurement of cracks in concrete surfaces