The current research aims to find out whether the model of the retailer＇s relational satisfaction, developed in a western setting is relevant in a different economic and cultural field of investigation： the Tunisian...The current research aims to find out whether the model of the retailer＇s relational satisfaction, developed in a western setting is relevant in a different economic and cultural field of investigation： the Tunisian post 2011 revolution＇s emerging context, and in a different industry： the retail industry. It explores the distinctive economic and cultural features that affect the retailer＇s relational satisfaction with its consumer goods manufacturers. The study employs a survey based on a face-to-face administered questionnaire. Two hundred and thirty four responses from a survey with Tunisian retailers as well as international retailers operating in Tunisia were obtained. All constructs are measured using five-point Likert type scales （1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree）. Analyses are conducted using exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. The results support the original model with however some differences derived from the Tunisian economic setting as a whole, the characteristics of the Tunisian consumer goods industry as well as the clan characteristic feature of the Tunisian collectivistic culture. Thus, the amount of discounts obtained, does no longer contribute to the retailer＇s economic satisfaction. Moreover, when it comes to social satisfaction, the respondents get uncomfortable, even to deal with a potential negative interaction with their suppliers. For retail companies involved in internationalization in the Maghreb Region, and especially in Tunisia, it seems that other competitive advantages than prices are to be developed, such as the development of private label or other services that create positive perceived value for the Tunisian customer. From a cultural standpoint, western managers have rather to go away from a formalized channel relationship management, while taking into account the importance of interpersonal influence. The study sheds light on the heterogeneity of the so-called Arab-Muslim world. This is highlighted in the management of channel relationship in Tunisia, that is influenced by： （1） The government＇s price regulation and control, especially in many food products; （2） The relative weak importance of discounts in gaining retailer＇s economic satisfaction; （3） The reshaping of the local retailing sector due to the arrival of international retail companies; （4） The clan feature of the Tunisian collectivistic culture that advocates putting priority on interpersonal influence in channel relationship＇s management.展开更多
Deep mining has been paid much more attention because of the depletion of shallow mining resources.Traditional bolts could be invalid to accommodate large displacement and deformation in geomaterials.Consequently, alt...Deep mining has been paid much more attention because of the depletion of shallow mining resources.Traditional bolts could be invalid to accommodate large displacement and deformation in geomaterials.Consequently, alternative support and reinforcement bolts need to be studied and their constitutive models also need to be developed to help understanding for the complex stress-strain responses of rock masses under loadings. The effect of Negative Poisson's Ratio(NPR) that is attributed to the swelling phenomenon along the lateral direction may appear in metal materials under tensional loadings. Thence NPR materials often have an advantage over NPR ones in mechanical behavior such as impact resistance, antishearing, and energy absorbed. From the characteristics of NPR materials, a series of bolt and cable supports with the effect of NPR and constant-resistance have been recently developed. We here firstly introduce the structural features of NPR support. Then the constitutive model of NPR support is presented and its corresponding equation of energy equilibrium. Its basic principle interacted on rock masses is further discussed. Finally, NPR cables are employed to support the slope of an open-pit mine. The applications show that NPR cables can ease failure within the slope and play an important role in predicting and providing early warning of slope failure, together with a monitoring system of slope stability.展开更多
The Trump administration of the United States has accelerated the advancement of the‘‘open and free Indo-Pacific’,strategy since 2017.From a geopolitical point of view and in terms of its national interests,Russia ...The Trump administration of the United States has accelerated the advancement of the‘‘open and free Indo-Pacific’,strategy since 2017.From a geopolitical point of view and in terms of its national interests,Russia has generally been critical of this strategy,believing it has posed certain challenges to its“Pivot to the East”strategy.Meanwhile,Russia is rejoicing for not being the primary target of US containment in the region and has sensed a new opportunity for exercising its Asia-Pacific diplomacy in the context of the Indo-Pacific strategy.Based on this situation,Russia has made a flexible and pragmatic policy response to it.However,Russia will inevitably face many restraints.In the future,Russia will seek to maximize its strategic interests on the basis of adhering to its inherent principles of Asia-Pacific diplomacy.展开更多
文摘The current research aims to find out whether the model of the retailer＇s relational satisfaction, developed in a western setting is relevant in a different economic and cultural field of investigation： the Tunisian post 2011 revolution＇s emerging context, and in a different industry： the retail industry. It explores the distinctive economic and cultural features that affect the retailer＇s relational satisfaction with its consumer goods manufacturers. The study employs a survey based on a face-to-face administered questionnaire. Two hundred and thirty four responses from a survey with Tunisian retailers as well as international retailers operating in Tunisia were obtained. All constructs are measured using five-point Likert type scales （1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree）. Analyses are conducted using exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. The results support the original model with however some differences derived from the Tunisian economic setting as a whole, the characteristics of the Tunisian consumer goods industry as well as the clan characteristic feature of the Tunisian collectivistic culture. Thus, the amount of discounts obtained, does no longer contribute to the retailer＇s economic satisfaction. Moreover, when it comes to social satisfaction, the respondents get uncomfortable, even to deal with a potential negative interaction with their suppliers. For retail companies involved in internationalization in the Maghreb Region, and especially in Tunisia, it seems that other competitive advantages than prices are to be developed, such as the development of private label or other services that create positive perceived value for the Tunisian customer. From a cultural standpoint, western managers have rather to go away from a formalized channel relationship management, while taking into account the importance of interpersonal influence. The study sheds light on the heterogeneity of the so-called Arab-Muslim world. This is highlighted in the management of channel relationship in Tunisia, that is influenced by： （1） The government＇s price regulation and control, especially in many food products; （2） The relative weak importance of discounts in gaining retailer＇s economic satisfaction; （3） The reshaping of the local retailing sector due to the arrival of international retail companies; （4） The clan feature of the Tunisian collectivistic culture that advocates putting priority on interpersonal influence in channel relationship＇s management.
基金Financial support for this work was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.41502323)
文摘Deep mining has been paid much more attention because of the depletion of shallow mining resources.Traditional bolts could be invalid to accommodate large displacement and deformation in geomaterials.Consequently, alternative support and reinforcement bolts need to be studied and their constitutive models also need to be developed to help understanding for the complex stress-strain responses of rock masses under loadings. The effect of Negative Poisson's Ratio(NPR) that is attributed to the swelling phenomenon along the lateral direction may appear in metal materials under tensional loadings. Thence NPR materials often have an advantage over NPR ones in mechanical behavior such as impact resistance, antishearing, and energy absorbed. From the characteristics of NPR materials, a series of bolt and cable supports with the effect of NPR and constant-resistance have been recently developed. We here firstly introduce the structural features of NPR support. Then the constitutive model of NPR support is presented and its corresponding equation of energy equilibrium. Its basic principle interacted on rock masses is further discussed. Finally, NPR cables are employed to support the slope of an open-pit mine. The applications show that NPR cables can ease failure within the slope and play an important role in predicting and providing early warning of slope failure, together with a monitoring system of slope stability.
文摘The Trump administration of the United States has accelerated the advancement of the‘‘open and free Indo-Pacific’,strategy since 2017.From a geopolitical point of view and in terms of its national interests,Russia has generally been critical of this strategy,believing it has posed certain challenges to its“Pivot to the East”strategy.Meanwhile,Russia is rejoicing for not being the primary target of US containment in the region and has sensed a new opportunity for exercising its Asia-Pacific diplomacy in the context of the Indo-Pacific strategy.Based on this situation,Russia has made a flexible and pragmatic policy response to it.However,Russia will inevitably face many restraints.In the future,Russia will seek to maximize its strategic interests on the basis of adhering to its inherent principles of Asia-Pacific diplomacy.
