How Switching Costs with Process Monitoring and Operational Integration Affect Sustainable Supplier Relationship

Building on sustainable supply chain management and operations strategy literature, our study seeks to identify structural relationships between switching cost and sustainable supplier relationships from a demand-side perspective. More specifically, this study looks at the impact of the switching cost on process monitoring, operation integration, and sustainable supplier relationships. To test the structural relationships in our research model, we used Manufacturing Productivity Survey data from Korea to conduct an empirical analysis based on 351 data that fit our study’s purpose. The results show that the indirect effect of switching cost on sustainable supplier relationships through process monitoring and operational integration is positively valid. Additionally, the results emphasize that the social exchange theory can be explained in the perspective of the switching cost.

An Operational Integration of Lifespan Development Theories

Lifespan theories seek to explain the ways that individuals manage their development, staying healthy and content amidst age-related gains and losses. However, the lifespan literature is fragmented, with constructs studied separately rather than in concert. This study addresses these issues, generating evidence regarding the integrative factor structure and well-being implications of developmental self-regulation constructs. An age-diverse adult sample (n = 506) completed scales measuring constructs derived from four primary lifespan theories (dual-process model of assimilative and accommodative coping, motivational theory of life-span development, model of selection, optimization, and compensation, socioemotional selectivity theory), in addition to well-being and social desirability measures, at two time points. Pre-registered hypotheses were largely supported, with a bifactor structure observed, and significant, positive relationships found between the general developmental self-regulation factor (“D”) and well-being. Lending further support, the same bifactor structure was replicated in a separate, hold out cross-sectional sample of age-diverse adults (n = 585).

The Prevalence and Determinants of Being Offered and Accepting Operational Management Services—A Cohort Study

In Germany, employers are obliged to offer “operational integration management” (OIM) services to employees returning from long-term sick leave. OIM aims to improve employees’ workability and to prevent future sick leave or early retirement. This study examined (i) to what extent OIM services are offered to eligible employees, (ii) to what extent offers are accepted and (iii) the determinants of both outcomes. We used data from a cohort of employees eligible for OIM. Thirty-four potential determinants were assessed in 2013 (i.e., the baseline) using participant reports. In 2015 (i.e., the follow-up), participants were asked (a) whether they had ever been offered OIM services by their employer, and (b) whether they had accepted that offer (i.e., the outcomes). We estimated relative risks by multivariable binomial regression to identify predictors based on backward elimination. In total, 36.0% of the participants were offered OIM services and 77.2% of them accepted that offer. The likelihood of an OIM offer at follow-up was elevated in participants with mental impairment, cancer or long-term absenteeism and increased with organizational justice, neuroticism, and company size. The likelihood of accepting that OIM offer was positively associated with mental impairment and decreased with increasing company size.

Technology of development of future choir conductors’ professional competences: system-integrative approach

The article highlights the technology aimed at developing future choir conductors’ professional competences from the standpoint of the system-integrative approach in accordance with the requirements of new standards of higher education for bachelor students majoring in 025 "Musical Arts" in higher educational establishments. It determines the essence of the concepts "system" and "integration" in the context of higher school musical pedagogy as well as characterises the essence of implementation of the system-integrative approach in the process of conductorial-choral training by introducing into the educational process a specific pedagogical model which contains the components as follows: interdisciplinary-cognitive integration, methodical-operational integration, profession- and competence-based integration. It is established that the interdisciplinary-cognitive integration is a synthesis of knowledge units comprehended within special disciplines during the conductorial-choral training which form a new structural and substantive level of each separate discipline in the process of synthesis. It is noted that the methodological-operational integration acts at the intersection of a number of specific field methods dealing with the conductorial-choral disciplines and, as a result of polymodal accumulation of techniques, appears in the form of established professional methodological competences to be generalised, analysed and evaluated; they are based on their methodological knowledge and understanding of their further usage in the process of professional creativity. It is determined that the professional-competence integration is a strategic goal and the final result of the process of conductorial-choral training of the future bachelors: separate professional competences of the future choral conductors are integrated subsystems that jointly form a higher order system − the professional image of a choir conductor. The article systematises and organises professional competences of a future choir conductor, which are formed as a result of the proposed technology of their development on the basis of the system-integrative approach, and are considered as unconditional priorities of choral conductor's professionalism in the course of the polymorphic choir managerial and conductorial-pedagogical activities.

Biological Practices and Fields, Missing Pieces of the Biomimetics’ Methodological Puzzle

Facing current biomimetics impediments, recent studies have supported the integration within biomimetic teams of a new actor having biological knowledge and know-how. This actor is referred to as the “biomimetician” in this article. However, whereas biology is often considered a homogenous whole in the methodological literature targeting biomimetics, it actually gathers fundamentally different fields. Each of these fields is structured around specific practices, tools, and reasoning. Based on this observation, we wondered which knowledge and know-how, and so biological fields, should characterize biomimeticians. Following the design research methodology, this article thus investigates the operational integration of two biological fields, namely ecology and phylogenetics, as a starting point in the establishment of the biomimetician’s biological tools and practices. After a descriptive phase identifying specific needs and potential conceptual bridges, we presented various ways of applying biological expertise during biomimetic processes in the prescriptive phase of the study. Finally, we discussed current limitations and future research axes.

Optimal Operational Strategies for Multiple Bus Lines Considering Passengers’ Preferences

A public transit system with multiple fixed bus lines faces non-uniform fluctuating passenger demand, both spatial and temporal. This non-uniformity warrants the use of public transit operational strategies to achieve efficiency. This study proposes a methodology for optimizing the operational integration of multiple bus lines to address the spatial non-uniformity of passenger demand by applying five operational strategies: full-route operation, short turn, limited stop, deadheading, and a mixture of either two or three of the latter three strategies. The operational strategies to be developed improve the efficiency of bus lines and accommodate the observed passenger demand in the most favorable manner, that is, through the consideration of passengers’ preferences with the objective of the minimum resulting cost. The methodology is first applied to a sample problem, and then to a real-life case study of multiple bus lines in Dalian, China. The results obtained demonstrate that the effectiveness of combined strategies is higher than that of any single strategy. In the real-life bus line case, a combination of strategies without considering deadheading trips saves four vehicles in comparison with the full-route operation scenario. The anticipated number of vehicles is further reduced by three by the introduction of the deadheading trip strategy, resulting in greater public transit system efficiency.

Integrasi Layanan Trans Koetaradja dengan Feeder Angkutan Labi-Labi di Kota Banda Aceh

The Aceh Provincial Government through the department of transportation in 2016 began operating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Banda Aceh city. The presence of Trans Koetaradja is expected to be able to implement a mass transit system that is capable of maintaining order, traffic congestion and traffic jam in Banda Aceh City. However, the existence of BRT Trans Koetaradja poses a threat to the existence of drivers and businessmen of transporting labi-labi in Banda Aceh City. Starting from the problem, this research aims to create the form of integration of BRT Trans Koetaradja service with feeder of labi-labi transportation in Banda Aceh City. The research method used is descriptive analysis of kunatitatif which will describe the potential of travel demand and condition of existing road network. In addition, it uses a spatial descriptive analysis method to formulate the form of feeder transport routes of labi-labi and analyze the operational integration of routes, time and rates. The result of the research shows that there are 6 feeder routes that will serve the corridor I Keudah-Darussalam namely Prada area route, Zainal Abidin General Hospital route, Simpang Keramat route, Unsyiah campus route and UIN Ar-Raniry route, Aceh Governor Office and route of Simpang Mesra area. Operationally, the integration of Trans Koetaradja transport service time with feeder transport of labi-labi is at 07.00-18.00 wib. The required headway of each feeding route is 4-9 minutes. The travel time required for each feeder route is 10-15 minutes with the number of fleets used by 32 units to serve 6 (six) feeder routes. In terms of tariff integration, the cost to be spent per passenger to use labi-labi transportation on each feeder route is between Rp.1.000 - Rp. 1,500.