Industry Interconnectedness and Regional Economic Growth in Germany

Urban systems, and regions more generally, are the epicenters of many of today’s social issues. Yet they are also the global drivers of technological innovation, and thus it is critical that we understand their vulnerabilities and what makes them resilient to different types of shocks. We take regions to be systems composed of internal networks of interdependent components. As the connectedness of those networks increases, it allows information and resources to move more rapidly within a region. Yet, it also increases the speed and efficiency at which the effects of shocks cascade through the system. Here we analyzed regional networks of interdependent industries and how their structures relate to a region’s vulnerability to shocks. Methodologically, we utilized a metric of economic connectedness called tightness which quantifies a region’s internal connectedness relative to other regions. We calculated tightness for German regions during the Great Recession, comparing it to each region’s economic performance during the shock (2007–2009) and during recovery (2009–2011). We find that tightness is negatively correlated with changes in economic performance during the shock but positively during recovery. This suggests that regional economic planners face a tradeoff between being more productive or being more vulnerable to the next economic shock.

Components to foster organizational resilience in tourism SMEs

PurposeSmall- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) mainly rely on their structure and internal networks to achieve their goals and remain competitive. However, their limited internal capabilities and complex environments can hinder their stability. Thus, this study evaluated the relationships among specific factors toward fostering organizational resilience (OR) in tourism SMEs.Design/methodology/approachA multi-methodological approach was adopted to address this research study, including (1) social network analysis (SNA) to formulate the conceptual model and (2) construct validation through partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM).FindingsThe six proposed hypotheses were supported. These results suggest that addressing these variables and relationships after considering management style and people development as critical factors can foster OR in tourism SMEs.Research limitations/implicationsThe ideas that were developed were constrained to the organizational domain. Although the results apply to the Mexican context, this limitation can be offset by extending the proposal to other emergent regions or organizations. This can also increase the generalization of the results and foster improvements in the approaches applied.Practical implicationsAcademics and managers must rethink resilience as the final state generated by multiple factors. This requires reconfiguring inner organizational interactions, providing more autonomy to operative units, reinforcing business intelligence and improving feedback mechanisms.Originality/valueThis research study contrasts previous studies because it proposes that SNA be exploited to avail of the advantages it confers in designing the conceptual model. In this regard, we present new relationships to promote OR and provide new avenues in order to improve the analysis of adaptation processes.

Hardware-in-the-Loop Implementation and Performance Evaluation of Three-Phase Hybrid Shunt Active Power Filter for Power Quality Improvement

The excessive use of nonlinear load causes electric current harmonics that ultimately downgrades the electrical power quality. If a failure exists due to internal integration of a power system in any one of the internal networks, it causes uncomplimentary consequences to the entire power system’s performance. This paper proposed a hybrid shunt active harmonic power filter (HSAHPF) design to reduce harmonic pollution. A digital controller HIL simulator has been modeled using a three-phase voltage source inverter to test the efficiency of HSAHPF and the performance of control algorithms. Moreover, the instantaneous active and reactive current theory (Id − Iq) and instantaneous active and reactive power theory (Pq0) control algorithms are implemented for the reference current generation in HSAHPF, resulting in reduced harmonic distortions, power factor improvement for a balanced nonlinear load. The control algorithms are further employed in Arduino MEGA to keep the factor of cost-effectiveness. The simulation of the proposed design has been developed in Simulink. The validation and testing of HSAHPF using controller HIL simulation prove the control algorithms’ ability to run in a portable embedded device. The statistical analysis of the proposed system response provides a minimum total harmonic distortion (THD) of 2.38 from 31.74 that lies in IEEE 519-1992 harmonic standards with an improved stability time of 0.04 s. The experimental verification and provided results of the HIL approach validate the proposed design. Significant mitigation of harmonics can be observed, consequently enhancing the power quality with power factor near unity.

About the optimization in calculations of internal cold and hot water supply systems

Regulatory literature, namely the DBN "Domestic Water Supply and Sewerage" does not offer an algorithm for obtaining the optimal diameters on all, without exception, the calculated sections of internal networks of cold and hot water supply. In general, it is not proposed to consider the entire network as a single object. It indicates only the maximum velocities of water in the calculated sections, which depend on the material of the pipe, and states that it is necessary "to maximally use the guaranteed head in the city network. These are two mutually exclusive recommendations. When one is implemented, it is impossible to implement the other and vice versa. It is proposed to completely formalize the calculations of internal networks from finding diameters on individual design sections of the internal network of cold or hot water supply. Optimization is performed simultaneously for all sections of the network without exception. For calculations, to find the best network variant, it is suggested to use two parameters: quantity and quality. As it is generally known, only simultaneous fulfillment of these two parameters enables the water supply network to be reliable. The quality of water depends on the time in which it reaches the consumer. The longer the time, the worse the quality of water. This applies to both cold and hot water. The quantity of water depends on the pressure. The greater the head, the higher the speed of movement and accordingly the higher the flow of water, but there is a disadvantage - the higher the head loss on the way to the consumer and the higher the fee for the service. The search for optimality, so that it was both fast and the head loss is minimal and gives the best option for the network. When using the methodology, neither the designer's experience in solving such problems, nor his general professional level has any influence on the result. This, in turn, makes it possible to quickly solve problems of finding the best option in a short time, as well as to further reduce the time when calculating the network to make the software and in this case the professional level of the designer in general will not have any bearing on the quality of calculations.

Learning graph networks: sleep targets highly connected global and local nodes for consolidation

Much of our long-term knowledge is organised in complex networks. Sleep is thought to be critical for abstracting knowledge and enhancing important item memory for long-term retention. Thus, sleep should aid the development of memory for networks and the abstraction of their structure for efficient storage. However, this remains unknown because past sleep studies have focused on discrete items. Here we explored the impact of sleep (night-sleep/day-wake within-subject paradigm) on memory for graph-networks where some items were important due to dense local connections (degree centrality) or, independently, important due to greater global connections (closeness / betweenness centrality). A network of 27 planets (nodes) sparsely interconnected by 36 teleporters (edges) was learned via discrete associations without explicit indication of any network structure. Despite equivalent exposure to all connections in the network, we found that memory for the links between items with high local centrality or high global centrality were better retained after sleep. These results highlight that sleep has the capacity for strengthening both global and local structure from the world and abstracting over multiple experiences to efficiently form internal networks of knowledge.

The interaction between supply networks and internal networks: performance implications

PurposeThe importance of the supply network to firm performance is well documented. Until now, the firm and its suppliers have been conceptualized as single entities. Yet, multinational corporations (MNCs) are composed of a complex, geographically dispersed internal network of subsidiaries. The supply and internal networks are inherently linked. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the interaction of these networks on firm-level financial performance.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on supply network, internal network and dual embeddedness research, the authors investigate the interaction of these networks using supply network data from FactSet and internal network data from Orbis. We assess the impact at the MNC level, using measures of firm-level financial performance, physical proximity between the two networks and geographic dispersion of the internal network.FindingsThe results show that the performance effect of physical proximity of the firm with its supply network is negatively moderated by the geographic dispersion of the firm's internal network. This effect can be traced back to the diminishing marginal profitability of a firm's assets. Moreover, the benefits of dual embeddedness to the individual subsidiary come at a cost at the firm-level due to the operational challenges of managing a complex subsidiary network.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is the first to investigate the supply and internal networks of MNCs simultaneously.Originality/valueThe paper extends supply network literature by considering the internal network of the focal firm and its suppliers. This paper is one of the first studies that offer an understanding of the interaction between supply and internal networks of a focal firm and the effect on financial performance.

Opening Gated Communities and Neighborhood Accessibility Benefits: The Case of Seoul, Korea

The level of spatial accessibility is directly related to how street networks are connected. Connected or so-called “permeable” network systems encourage walking, cycling, and riding public transit. Fast urbanization during the recent decades in the world metropolises has created separated urban areas. Gated-style apartment complexes have led this segregation more obviously with their inaccessible internal networks. Opening the internal network of apartment complexes and redesigning the pedestrian paths among apartment buildings will significantly mitigate these networks’ adverse effects on network permeability and increase spatial accessibility. This paper analyzes how such an opening design proposal for apartment complexes can change spatial accessibility using the case study of Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea. It simulates three types of street networks and compares the results of accessibility in three conditions: (1) the internal networks of apartment complexes are not used by outsiders; (2) the internal networks of apartment complexes are open to outsiders with its existing entrances and path; and (3) the internal networks of sites are opened and redesigned by the Voronoi diagram method, which generates the optimal shortest path. An urban network analysis tool, Rhinoceros three-dimensional software, and Grashopper3D visual programming language have been used for the study results, which shows that a policy change in opening the intra-network of apartment complexes is likely to make the city more permeable. In addition, this study suggests extra modification on the pedestrian path for a higher level of accessibility in neighborhoods.

A82 A SURVEY OF TRAINING PATHWAYS AND PRACTICE TRENDS OF ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION IN CANADA

Background Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has become the established standard for endoscopic removal of large gastrointestinal (GI) lesions and early GI malignancies, with improved outcomes compared to traditional endoscopic techniques and offers an alternative to surgery. However, ESD is technically challenging and requires significant healthcare infrastructure. As such, its adoption in Canada was slow relative to Asia and Europe. Thus far, the practice of ESD has been limited to a small number of tertiary centers. Currently, the availability and practice of ESD across Canada remains unclear. Aims To provide a descriptive overview of the training pathways and practice trends of endoscopists performing ESD in Canada. Methods ESD practitioners across Canada were identified from internal networks and by contacting respective endoscopy units. All endoscopists currently accepting ESD referrals were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey that was distributed via SurveyMonkey. Results 27 ESD practitioners were identified; current survey response rate was 44% although is expected to increase. Median years of independent ESD practice was 5 (IQR 2.75). All practitioners underwent international ESD training of some type. 92% attended short-term training courses. 50% pursued international ESD fellowship training. 92% received training on animal models. 58% and 33% performed hands-on human upper and lower GI ESD respectively prior to independent practice. In practice, 67% of practitioners noted an increase in number of ESD procedures performed per year from 2015 to 2019. 67% rated the awareness of appropriate ESD indications by referring physicians to be “not so aware” or lower. 75% of practitioners report a patient wait time for ESD of 1–3 months. 67% and 75% rated the difficulty of securing endoscopy time and anesthesia support for ESD respectively to be “difficult” or “very difficult”. 75% were “dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” with their institution’s healthcare infrastructure to support ESD. 25% perceived their institution as supportive in expanding the practice of ESD. Conclusions A number of challenges exist for the adoption of ESD in Canada. Training pathways are highly variable, with no set standards and most practitioners pursue international training. In practice, the majority of practitioners express dissatisfaction with their access to necessary infrastructure for performing ESD and feel poorly supported by their centers in expanding its practice. As ESD is becoming the accepted standard in allowing for the minimally invasive treatment of indicated GI lesions; greater collaboration between practitioners, institutions, and healthcare systems is crucial to standardize ESD training and to ensure improved patient access. Funding Agencies None

Integrated thinking, orchestration of the six capitals and value creation

Purpose This paper aims to explore how the integrated thinking of a chief executive officer (CEO) impacts the management’s orchestration of the six capitals to create value in an organization. Design/methodology/approach Following a case study approach, data was gathered on two business organizations in Sri Lanka through interviews, focus group discussions and documentary analyzes. Thematic and cross-case analyzes were used in analyzing the data based on an analytical framework that was developed using systems and resource orchestration theories. Findings The study finds that the integrated thinking perspective of the CEO determines which capitals to embrace in the pursuit of value creation by an organization. A broader perspective on the integrated thinking of the CEO can lead to a sustainable perspective for value creation focusing on integrated corporate responsibility. On the contrary, a constrained perspective of integrated thinking can lead to a business case perspective for value creation that focuses mainly on the key areas of responsibility extended for operational efficiency. These different perspectives result in differences in value creation in organizations over time. Practical implications The capitals embraced in the integrated thinking perspective of a CEO should be translated into objectives, strategies and performance measurement and implemented at every level of the company to create value. This perspective of a CEO can be institutionalized through the adoption of accredited management systems. To foster value creation, managers should use a variety of information technology platforms and internal networks. Originality/value This is one of the first studies that explore how the perception of integrated thinking of the CEO impacts value creation in an organization through a combination of resource orchestration and systems thinking theory lenses.