Linkage analysis using geographical proximity: a test of the efficacy of distance measures

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shumpei Haginoya ◽  
Aiko Hanayama ◽  
Tamae Koike
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Euclidean Distance ◽  
Distance Measure ◽  
Distance Measures ◽  
Manhattan Distance ◽  
Geographical Proximity ◽  
Discrimination Accuracy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Shortest Route ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to compare the accuracy of linking crimes using geographical proximity between three distance measures: Euclidean (distance measured by the length of a straight line between two locations), Manhattan (distance obtained by summing north-south distance and east-west distance) and the shortest route distances. Design/methodology/approach A total of 194 cases committed by 97 serial residential burglars in Aomori Prefecture in Japan between 2004 and 2015 were used in the present study. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare linked (two offenses committed by the same offender) and unlinked (two offenses committed by different offenders) pairs for each distance measure. Discrimination accuracy between linked and unlinked crime pairs was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Findings The Mann–Whitney U test showed that the distances of the linked pairs were significantly shorter than those of the unlinked pairs for all distance measures. Comparison of the AUCs showed that the shortest route distance achieved significantly higher accuracy compared with the Euclidean distance, whereas there was no significant difference between the Euclidean and the Manhattan distance or between the Manhattan and the shortest route distance. These findings give partial support to the idea that distance measures taking the impact of environmental factors into consideration might be able to identify a crime series more accurately than Euclidean distances. Research limitations/implications Although the results suggested a difference between the Euclidean and the shortest route distance, it was small, and all distance measures resulted in outstanding AUC values, probably because of the ceiling effects. Further investigation that makes the same comparison in a narrower area is needed to avoid this potential inflation of discrimination accuracy. Practical implications The shortest route distance might contribute to improving the accuracy of crime linkage based on geographical proximity. However, further investigation is needed to recommend using the shortest route distance in practice. Given that the targeted area in the present study was relatively large, the findings may contribute especially to improve the accuracy of proactive comparative case analysis for estimating the whole picture of the distribution of serial crimes in the region by selecting more effective distance measure. Social implications Implications to improve the accuracy in linking crimes may contribute to assisting crime investigations and the earlier arrest of offenders. Originality/value The results of the present study provide an initial indication of the efficacy of using distance measures taking environmental factors into account.

An investigation of government employees’ support for public-private partnerships

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razilya Shakirova
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Public Private Partnerships ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Government Employees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that may influence support of public-private partnerships (PPPs) by government employees potentially involved in designing and implementing cross-sectoral collaborations. Design/methodology/approach Based on an original survey of government employees in the USA, this study explores the impact of individual, organizational and environmental factors on their support for PPPs by employing ordinary least squares regression. Findings Among the individual factors, involvement in PPPs and concerns for efficiency have been identified as factors having positive impact on government employees’ support for PPPs. Male government employees seem to be less supportive of PPPs than female government employees. Environmental factors such as public opinion and appointed agency heads positively influence government employees’ views of PPPs. No evidence for the significant impact of organizational factors on government employee perceptions of PPPs was found. Research limitations/implications Factors influencing government employees’ attitudes may also have an effect on employees’ behaviors when involved in PPPs. Further studies may clarify how attitudes are translated into behaviors and how they influence the performance of PPPs. Investigations into government employees’ views of PPPs before and after their actual involvement in partnerships may allow for identifying changes in employees’ support for PPPs and their possible causes. Originality/value This study investigates the impacts of individual, organizational and environmental factors on government employees’ support for partnerships with the private sector that remain under-researched in the literature.

The effects of workstation partition heights on employees’ perceptions in open-plan offices

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kemal Yıldırım ◽  
Elif Güneş ◽  
Gülcan Pervan Yilmaz
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
The Body ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Office Design ◽  
Older Employees ◽  
Positive Tendency ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Office Environments ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of environmental factors in open-plan offices with the same characteristics but with different workstation partition heights (1.10, 1.40 and 1.65 m) on perceptual evaluations of office employees. Design/methodology/approach In this research, the effects of environmental factors on employees’ perceptual evaluations in open-plan offices at the Gölbaşı Region of Ankara were measured with a detailed questionnaire. The research data were obtained from 81 employees who agreed to fill out the questionnaire and who use open-plan offices. Findings It was found that the office environments with 1.65 m workstation partition heights were more favorably assessed for each of the items of planning and of privacy that form the dependent variables compared to the office environments with 1.10  and 1.40 m partition heights. On the other hand, the office environments with the 1.10 and 1.40 m partition heights were more favorable for lighting items than the 1.65 m partition height office environments. In addition, young employees had a more positive tendency toward the perceptions of environmental factors, including different workstation partition heights in open-plan offices, compared to older employees. Research limitations/implications Results of this research provide a fundamental contribution for the impact of various partition heights that have substantial implications on the perceptions of open-plan office environments. At this point, as open-plan offices have important effects on the quality of employees’ work experiences, the influence of various partition heights on the performance of employees should be emphasized in future studies. The diversity of performance (reading comprehension, calculation, design, drawing, etc.) will be an important decision. Originality/value The significant contribution of this research is that it provides valid data and makes a valuable contribution to the body of knowledge in open-plan office design.

scholarly journals The impact of the ambient environment and building configuration on occupant productivity in open-plan commercial offices

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Mulville ◽  
Nicola Callaghan ◽  
David Isaac
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Active Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ambient Environment ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Active Approach ◽  
Occupant Comfort ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper sets out to understand the impact of the ambient environment on perceived comfort, health, wellbeing and by extension productivity in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach The research combined an occupant survey considering satisfaction with the ambient environment, health and wellbeing and workplace behaviour with the monitoring of ambient environmental conditions. Findings The paper demonstrates that the ambient environment can have a significant impact on occupant comfort, health and wellbeing, which in turn has implications for built asset performance. Within the ambient environmental factors considered, a hierarchy may exist with noise being of particular importance. Occupant behaviour within the workplace was also found to be influential. Research limitations/implications The research was limited to a single commercial office building, and a wider range of case studies would therefore be of benefit. The research was also limited to the summer months. Practical implications The findings show that an active approach to asset management is required, by continuously monitoring internal environment and engaging with occupants. This must carefully consider how ambient environmental factors and workplace behaviour impact upon occupants’ comfort, health and wellbeing to ensure the performance of the built asset is maximised. Originality/value This paper demonstrates that both occupiers’ workplace behaviour and ambient environmental conditions can have an impact on occupant comfort, health, wellbeing and productivity. The paper strengthens the case for the active management of the workplace environment through environmental monitoring and behaviour change campaigns supported by corresponding changes to workplace culture.

A convolution-based distance measure for fuzzy singletons and its application in a pattern recognition problem

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Naranjo ◽  
Matilde Santos ◽  
Luis Garmendia
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Recognition ◽  
Fuzzy Number ◽  
Euclidean Distance ◽  
Distance Measure ◽  
Distance Measures ◽  
Trading System ◽  
Weighted Distance ◽  
Pattern Recognition Problem ◽  
Euclidean Distance Measure ◽  
Desirable Behavior

A new method to measure the distance between fuzzy singletons (FSNs) is presented. It first fuzzifies a crisp number to a generalized trapezoidal fuzzy number (GTFN) using the Mamdani fuzzification method. It then treats an FSN as an impulse signal and transforms the FSN into a new GTFN by convoluting it with the original GTFN. In so doing, an existing distance measure for GTFNs can be used to measure distance between FSNs. It is shown that the new measure offers a desirable behavior over the Euclidean and weighted distance measures in the following sense: Under the new measure, the distance between two FSNs is larger when they are in different GTFNs, and smaller when they are in the same GTFN. The advantage of the new measure is demonstrated on a fuzzy forecasting trading system over two different real stock markets, which provides better predictions with larger profits than those obtained using the Euclidean distance measure for the same system.

scholarly journals Clustering of OECD Countries Out of Pocket Health Expenditure Time Series Data

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Songul Cinaroglu
Keyword(s):  
Euclidean Distance ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Distance Measure ◽  
Health Expenditures ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Distance Measures ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Longest Common Subsequences ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Euclidean Distance Measure

<p>Out of pocket health expenditures points out to the payments made by households at the point<br />they receive health services. Frequently these include doctor consultation fees, purchase of<br />medication and hospital bills. In this study hierarchical clustering method was used for<br />classification of 34 countries which are members of OECD (Organization for Economic<br />Cooperation and Development) in terms of out of pocket health expenditures for the years<br />between 1995-2011. Longest common subsequences (LCS), correlation coefficient and<br />Euclidean distance measure was used as a measure of similarity and distance in hierarchical<br />clustering. At the end of the analysis it was found that LCS and Euclidean distance measures<br />were the best for determining clusters. Furthermore, study results led to understand grouping<br />of OECD countries according to health expenditures.</p>

Developing “Extra Distance” as a measure for the evaluation of road freight transport performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 822-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues ◽  
John Cowburn ◽  
Andrew Potter ◽  
Mohamed Naim ◽  
Anthony Whiteing
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Distance Measure ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Freight Transport ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Primary Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Road Freight ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a measure that links the causes and consequences of disruptions in freight transport operations. Such a measure is needed to quantify the scale of impact and identify the root causes of disruptions. Design/methodology/approach – In order to develop this measure, an inductive approach was adopted, using four primary case studies to test the measure in an industrial environment. The case studies are from the fast moving consumer goods sector with primary and secondary distribution networks included. The “Extra Distance” measure has been evaluated against established generic criteria that define the quality of any performance measure. Findings – The research indicates good compliance with the criteria used to evaluate the “Extra Distance” measure. The measure is also found to be useful for practitioners who are able to directly relate the measure to their distribution network operations. Research limitations/implications – Further research should see the “Extra Distance” measure further tested in other freight transport operations and industrial sectors. Practical implications – The measure is directly related to a number of causes of uncertainty which helps freight transport managers to quickly identify potential solutions. The “Extra Distance” measure can be used to quantify the effects of disruptions which can occur in road freight transport networks generate unnecessary cost within distribution networks, potentially eroding profit margins which are known to be very low in the road freight transport industry. Originality/value – This paper presents a novel approach to the assessment of the impact caused by uncertainty within freight transport operations.

scholarly journals Enhancing operations management through smart sensors: measuring and improving well-being, interaction and performance of logistics workers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Aloini ◽  
Andrea Fronzetti Colladon ◽  
Peter Gloor ◽  
Emanuele Guerrazzi ◽  
Alessandro Stefanini
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Material Handling ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of the research is to conduct an exploratory investigation of the material handling activities of an Italian logistics hub. Wearable sensors and other smart tools were used for collecting human and environmental features during working activities. These factors were correlated with workers' performance and well-being.Design/methodology/approachHuman and environmental factors play an important role in operations management activities since they significantly influence employees' performance, well-being and safety. Surprisingly, empirical studies about the impact of such aspects on logistics operations are still very limited. Trying to fill this gap, the research empirically explores human and environmental factors affecting the performance of logistics workers exploiting smart tools.FindingsResults suggest that human attitudes, interactions, emotions and environmental conditions remarkably influence workers' performance and well-being, however, showing different relationships depending on individual characteristics of each worker.Practical implicationsThe authors' research opens up new avenues for profiling employees and adopting an individualized human resource management, providing managers with an operational system capable to potentially check and improve workers' well-being and performance.Originality/valueThe originality of the study comes from the in-depth exploration of human and environmental factors using body-worn sensors during work activities, by recording individual, collaborative and environmental data in real-time. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current paper is the first time that such a detailed analysis has been carried out in real-world logistics operations.

The environment-strategy-structure fit and performance of industrial servitized SMEs

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laure Ambroise ◽  
Isabelle Prim-Allaz ◽  
Christine Teyssier ◽  
Sophie Peillon
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the environment-strategy-structure fit in the context of industrial servitization and its impact on the profitability of manufacturing SMEs. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with the CEOs of 184 French manufacturing SMEs. These primary data were complemented by the indicators extracted from a financial database to ensure objective measures of financial performance. Analyses were conducted by means of partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The research tests the impact of the organizational design (customer interface, service delivery system and service culture (SC)) on financial performance. It also tests the moderating effect on this relationship of servitization strategies adopted by the firm (added services (AS), activities reconfiguration (AR) and business model reconfiguration (BMR)) and the environment in which the firm is situated (industry dynamism, competitive intensity and industry munificence). Research limitations/implications This study considers the coalescence of the environment-strategy-structure to be a driver of firm performance in the context of industrial firms’ servitization. Three specific servitization strategies (AS, AR and BMR) are suggested based on the service offering’s impact on the customer’s activity chain or business model. Practical implications The research proposes some optimal organizational design depending on servitization strategy and environmental factors; for example, SC has a strong impact on financial performance when BMR is adopted. Originality/value This empirical study is based on an extended sample of 184 SMEs and provides quantitative support for the claim that good alignment between strategy and organizational design based on environmental factors increases profitability.

Environmental influences on pre-schooler’s understanding of brand symbolism

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 907-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Watkins ◽  
Robert Aitken ◽  
Maree Thyne ◽  
Kirsten Robertson ◽  
Dina Borzekowski
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Young Children ◽  
School Children ◽  
Communication Style ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Parental Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors influencing young children’s (aged three to five years) understanding of brand symbolism. Design/methodology/approach Multiple hierarchical regression was used to analyse the relationships between age, gender and environmental factors, including family and the media, on the development of brand symbolism in pre-school children based on 56 children and parent dyad interviews. Findings Results confirmed the primary influence of age, television exposure and parental communication style on three to five-year-old children’s understanding of brand symbolism. The study demonstrates that the tendency to infer symbolic user attributes and non-product-related associations with brands starts as early as two years, and increases with age throughout the pre-school years. Children exposed to more television and less critical parental consumer socialisation strategies are more likely to prefer branded products, believe that brands are better quality and that they make people happy and popular. Social implications Identifying the factors that influence the development of symbolic brand associations in pre-school children provides an important contribution to public policy discussions on the impact of marketing to young children. Originality/value The paper extends existing research by considering, for the first time, the role of environmental factors in pre-schooler’s understanding of brand symbolism. The results provide a more informed basis for discussion about the impact of marketing messages on very young children and the environmental factors that may lead to a more critical engagement with brands.

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