The influence of risks on the outturn cost of ICT infrastructure network projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Almarri ◽  
Halim Boussabaine ◽  
Hamad Al Nauimi

Purpose The internet of things (IoT) is becoming an increasingly inescapable part of society. IoT paradigm cannot function without the networking infrastructure. High-speed data networks are essential to enable the IoT future. Thus, the purpose of this study is on the identification of risks that influence the development, installation and operation of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure network project cost outcomes. So far, there has been little attention has been paid to risks problems in these types of IoT enabling projects. Design/methodology/approach This research follows a quantitative analysis approach. Data for this study were collected by a survey from 209 professionals. Multiple regression analysis was used to model the relationship between risks and outturn cost of infrastructure needed to enable the operation of IoT technologies. Findings The main risk factors that were identified were planning and development, people and management, operations, technology and hardware. Research limitations/implications This research has expanded the existing literature by documenting and clustering ICT infrastructure network project risks into themes, and has developed a scale (risk statements) for measuring such risks. Further, the research has advanced the understanding by identifying the most likely risks that will contribute to the overrun of these projects. Originality/value This research establishes a reliable regression method for the assessment of the risks that influence the development, installation and operation of ICT infrastructure network projects outturn cost. No other research has measured or studied the risks in this type of project.

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Curwen ◽  
Jason Whalley

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the current provision of high-speed data networks in the African continent, in particular taking into account both licences and launches related to long-term evolution (LTE). Design/methodology/approach An up-to-date underlying database of licences and launches relating to LTE in Africa has been compiled. There is also a review of the international operators that are playing a significant role in LTE provision. A number of individual country case studies are considered. Issues of corruption are addressed. Findings Africa is interesting because it has been a laggard in the development of high-speed data networks, but now finds itself in a position to leapfrog 3G technologies, and hence close the gap that had opened up compared to, for example, Europe and Asia. This process is effectively assisted by the lack of fixed-wire connectivity but has to take account of the difficulty of attracting the requisite investment. Research limitations/implications Databases relating to Africa are always difficult to compile. Originality/value Published work relating to mobile networks in Africa is not plentiful, and it is difficult to find relevant data in the public domain. A key aspect of the paper is that the database is entirely up-to-date.


Author(s):  
Chunxia Zhu ◽  
Jay Katupitiya ◽  
Jing Wang

Purpose Manipulator motion accuracy is a fundamental requirement for precision manufacturing equipment. Light weight manipulators in high speed motions are vulnerable to deformations. The purpose of this work is to analyze the effect of link deformation on the motion precision of parallel manipulators. Design/methodology/approach The flexible dynamics model of the links is first established by applying the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and the assumed modal method. The rigid-flexible coupling equations of the parallel mechanism are further derived by using the Lagrange multiplier approach. The elastic energy resulting from spiral motion and link deformations are computed and analyzed. Motion errors of the 3-link torque-prismatic-torque parallel manipulator are then evaluated based on its inverse kinematics. The validation experiments are also conducted to verify the numerical results. Findings The lateral deformation and axial deformation are largest at the middle of the driven links. The axial deformation at the middle of the driven link is approximately one-tenth of the transversal deformation. However, the elastic potential energy of the transversal deformation is much smaller than the elastic force generated from axial deformation. Practical implications Knowledge on the relationship between link deformation and motion precision is useful in the design of parallel manipulators for high performing dynamic responses. Originality/value This work establishes the relationship between motion precision and the amount of link deformation in parallel manipulators.


2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongjuan Yang ◽  
Lin Fu ◽  
Yanhua Liu ◽  
Weiji Qian ◽  
Bo Hu

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the delamination wear properties of a carbon strip in a carbon strip rubbing against a copper wire at the high-sliding speed (380 km/h) with or without electrical current. Design/methodology/approach The friction and wear properties of a carbon strip in a carbon strip rubbing against a copper wire are tested on the high-speed wear tester whose speed can reach up to 400 km/h. The test data have been collected by the high-speed data collector. The worn surfaces of the carbon strip are observed by the scanning electron microscope. Findings It was found that there was a significant increase of the delamination wear with the decrease of the normal load when the electric current is applied. The size of the flake-like peeling also increases with the decrease of normal load. The delamination wear extends gradually from the edge of the erosion pits to the surrounding area with the decrease of the normal load. However, the delamination wear never appears in the absence of electric current. It is proposed that the decreased normal load and the big electrical current are the major causes of the delamination wear of the carbon strip. Originality value The experimental test at high-sliding speed of 380 km/h was performed for the first time, and the major cause of the delamination was discovered in this paper.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuzhen Liu ◽  
Fulei Chu ◽  
Ming Guo ◽  
Yuanyuan Liu

PurposeWorkplace safety has been a persistent issue for safety-critical organizations. Based on self-verification theory, this study investigates how authentic leadership affects safety behaviors in a collectivistic context.Design/methodology/approachThis research collected 259 matching questionnaires for high-speed railway (HSR) drivers and their supervisors in China. Specifically, HSR drivers were invited to fill in their general perceived authentic leadership, person-organization fit and collectivistic orientation. In addition, their direct supervisors were invited to assess their safety behaviors.FindingsAuthentic leadership exhibits a significant positive impact on safety compliance and safety participation, implying that authentic leadership positively impacts safety behavior. The person-organization fit partially mediated the relationship between authentic leadership and safety behavior (safety compliance and participation). Furthermore, collectivistic orientation moderates the relationship between authentic leadership and person-organization fit.Originality/valueThe findings of this study provide important insights into authentic leadership and person-organization fit for developing effective strategies to improve workplace safety.


Author(s):  
Michael Singh ◽  
Jinghe Han

<p>We engage with and respond to the debate raised by this theme issue of the International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning with a particular question in mind: namely, as universities are using new labor displacing technologies to export degrees to meet the international demand for higher education, how is this influencing – negatively and positively – the workers involved? Contemporary transitions in political and economic globalization are being used to press universities into becoming ‘transnational businesses,’ seemingly driven by a primary concern for marketing educational commodities. The neo-liberal politics driving these currents in universities are increasing the multiple online and offline networks. These local/ global meshworks engage the labors of a small but growing percentage of the world’s population (Singh, 2002, pp. 217-230). Writing this paper at Jilin University in China, we find that many of our academic colleagues and students have limited access to a personal desktop computer, the Internet, and email. They must pay for timed access to their email accounts and for downloading attachments. They do not have access to high-speed data networks. A timer indicates how long it will take to open and send emails. Around us, construction workers are building massive facilities to house the burgeoning on-campus student population. Their offline education is being supplemented – but not replaced by ever-advancing online technologies. </p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Felicitas Gargallo Castel ◽  
Carmen Galve Górriz

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the moderated effect of family involvement on the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach According to agency and transaction cost theories, distinctive family business characteristics provide a unique context that favours a more efficient use of ICT. The authors perform a multivariate analysis that includes the moderating effect of family involvement and considers the possible endogeneity of the ICT variable. Findings The results, using a large panel of Spanish manufacturing firms, confirm the importance of family involvement for explaining differences in terms of the impact of this technology in family and non-family businesses. The relationship between ICT and performance is stronger for family firms than for non-family firms. Research implications The paper provides new evidence for the academic literature on ICT impact and family firms. It corroborates the importance of using an organizational perspective to explain differences in the effect of ICT on performance. Practical implications Family firms should understand the opportunities that family involvement offers regarding ICT impact on performance, and exploit this moderating effect to achieve competitive advantages. Originality/value No previous studies deal with the impact of family involvement on ICT-performance analysis. This study fills this gap and increases the understanding of how family business involvement moderates the ICT-performance relationship.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Curwen ◽  
Jason Whalley

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine in a fully up-to-date manner the position in respect of the licensing and launch of long-term evolution (LTE) (4G) in a region that attracts relatively little attention in academic work and the media. The purpose is also to examine the role of incumbency and to assess to what extent the licensing of LTE can make a difference to the structure of mobile markets in the region. Design/methodology/approach The first step has been to compile extensive databases with respect to the licensing and launch of high-speed networks in the region, arranged so as to emphasize the position of the dominant incumbents. A distinction is drawn between the larger, mainly Latin American, countries and the smaller, mainly Caribbean, islands. There is a discussion of new entry and its potential to disrupt incumbents. Findings The position of dominance held by two operators – América Móvil and Telefonica in the larger countries and by Digicel and Cable & Wireless Communications (Liberty Global) in the islands – is brought to the fore, and the analysis demonstrates that this is unlikely to be more than marginally affected by regulatory attempts to restructure markets by, for example, fostering new entry. Research limitations/implications This is necessarily an overview paper as more than 50 countries/islands are covered, so detailed individual country studies are precluded. Practical implications The way forward, such as it is, can only be illuminated by first clarifying the current state of play. Originality/value The databases that underpin the analysis are author-compiled and entirely original.


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