bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scent marketing: linking the scent congruence with brand image
Authors: Errajaa Karim , Legohérel Patrick , Daucé Bruno , Bilgihan Anil
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of scent congruence with the brand image in the formation of consumers’ reactions to the atmosphere of a place.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a factorial design (i.e. scent congruent with the brand image, scent not congruent and control), an experiment was conducted in a multi-service and hospitality space welcoming both local consumers and tourists (N = 303).

Findings

The findings show that when the scent is perceived as congruent with the brand image, reactions in the store are more favourable. It is not enough to use a scent that “smells good” or that is congruent with other factors (e.g. sensory environment); the scent must be perceived by consumers as consistent with the brand image. Findings also reveal that the diffusion of a scent congruent with the brand image improves guest satisfaction, intention to revisit and perceptions of the product and service.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations are both the emphasis on direct links and the focus on a French brand (café/co-working space franchise). It would be appropriate to extend the research to other contexts.

Practical implications

The findings show how important it is for hospitality organisations to use scents to generate a positive impact on their guests. Hotel, restaurant and café managers wishing to enhance customer reactions through the creation of an olfactory atmosphere should take scent congruence with the brand image into consideration.

Originality/value

The study of the effects of the atmosphere on consumer behaviour as a function of olfactory congruence with the brand image uses in-situ experimentation (café/co-working and food and beverage area).
Human resources management as a factor determining the organizational effectiveness of DMOs: a case study of RTOs in Poland
Authors: Fedyk Wojciech , Sołtysik Mariusz , Oleśniewicz Piotr , Borzyszkowski Jacek , Weinland Jeffrey
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the human resources management of regional tourism organizations (RTOs) in Poland as a condition for organization effectiveness and presents a model of RTO operation in destination management organizations for improved effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was of qualitative nature because of the scope of the examined features and analyses of RTO effectiveness (here in relation to human resources). The research involved the following stages: desk research of secondary sources, pilot diagnostic survey and diagnostic survey proper, qualitative and statistical analyses. First, an analysis of secondary sources regarding conditions of RTO operation effectiveness took place. Next, a questionnaire was used to collect empirical data from 137 respondents from the same 13 group types, in equal numbers from each organization in the entire population of 16 RTOs.

Findings

The research identified 197 organizational effectiveness variables, in four feature groups: the effectiveness of statutory and economic objectives, stakeholders’ benefits from cooperating with RTOs and general characteristics of RTO operation effectiveness. The findings suggest that the characteristics of RTO employees influence organizational effectiveness, especially from the perspective of the organization’s stakeholders. There is a need for strong support for RTO employee structures as a measure to raise organization effectiveness.

Practical implications

Specific human resources practices are identified for the effectiveness of non-enterprise organizations (employee character and structure) that constitute an essential component of the management system at regional and national levels. New directions for RTO operations are also proposed.

Originality/value

The study fills a substantial and identified knowledge gap in assessing organization effectiveness level against the quality characteristics of RTO human resources. The analysis allowed the creation of a multidimensional and universal model of RTO effectiveness investigation, which facilitates comparative analysis of organizations despite their strong diversity. It can be implemented in assessing the effectiveness of other non-enterprise organizations in the context of tourism.
The impact of social intelligence and employees’ collective self-efficacy on service provider’s performance in the Egyptian governmental hospitals
Authors: Mohamed Elsayed Sobhy Ahmed
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the direct impact of social intelligence and collective self- efficacy on two components of service providers’ performance: extra-role performance and intra-role one. The study also investigates the indirect effect of social intelligence on service providers’ performance and its components via the mediating role of collective self-efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was undertaken to develop a conceptual framework that integrates social intelligence, collective self-efficacy and service provider’s performance constructs in one framework. Data was collected from 220 physicians in the Egyptian governmental hospitals. Confirmatory factor analysis explored the latent structure of the research constructs. The current study used structural equation modelling to test the research model hypotheses.

Findings

The study finds that social intelligence was positively associated with service providers’ performance. The results also support the significant effect of social intelligence on the two main dimensions of service provider’s performance: extra-role (contextual) performance and intra-role (task) performance. Moreover, the results indicate that social intelligence competences provide a basis for collective self-efficacy and service providers’ performance for physicians in the Egyptian governmental hospitals.

Research limitations/implications

This study collected data based on a cross-sectional design, so further studies could test the theoretical model by using longitudinal studies’ data, which give the study results more accuracy of results and support generalizing the results. This study considers the synergistic effects between social intelligence and collective self-efficacy on service providers’ performance and sheds new light on bringing new drivers for developing extra- and intra-role dimensions of service provider performance in service literature.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first studies that integrate social intelligence and collective self-efficacy with service providers’ performance and its dimensions in one framework. This study contributes to knowledge by integrating the social exchange theory with the cognitive theory in one study.
Implicit leadership theory: principals' sense-making and cognitive complexity
Authors: Da'as Rima'a , Ganon-Shilon Sherry , Schechter Chen , Qadach Mowafaq
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This conceptual paper explores a novel model explaining teachers' perceptions of their effective leader through the lens of implicit leadership theory (ILT), using the concepts of school principals' sense-making and cognitive complexity (CC).

Design/methodology/approach

The sense-making framework and CC theory were used to explain ILT, which focuses on individuals' perceptions of leaders' prototypical and anti-prototypical attributes.

Findings

The theoretical model suggests that school principals as sense-makers with high levels of CC will be perceived by teachers as effective in terms of leadership prototypes, whereas teachers' perceptions of principals with low levels of CC will be related to leadership anti-prototypes.

Research limitations/implications

This paper suggests a model for a multidimensional understanding of the relationship between principals' sense-making and CC and their influence on teachers' perceptions of an effective leader.

Originality/value

Opening avenues for future research into employee perceptions of different leadership characteristics, this model emphasizes the cognitive aspects of school principals within implicit leadership theories. This theoretical model should be further examined empirically, and other types of CC, such as social and behavioral aspects, or affective complexity and self-complexity, should be considered.
A recursive implementation of the ALIENOR optimization method
Authors: Peri Daniele
Published: February 2021

Purpose

A recursive scheme for the ALIENOR method is proposed as a remedy for the difficulties induced by the method. A progressive focusing on the most promising region, in combination with a variation of the density of the alpha-dense curve, is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

ALIENOR method is aimed at reducing the space dimensions of an optimization problem by spanning it by using a single alpha-dense curve: the curvilinear abscissa along the curve becomes the only design parameter for any design space. As a counterpart, the transformation of the objective function in the projected space is much more difficult to tackle.

Findings

A fine tuning of the procedure has been performed in order to identity the correct balance between the different elements of the procedure. The proposed approach has been tested by using a set of algebraic functions with up to 1,024 design variables, demonstrating the ability of the method in solving large scale optimization problem. Also an industrial application is presented.

Originality/value

In the knowledge of the author there is not a similar paper in the current literature.
Sustainable business practices and challenges in Asia: a systematic review
Authors: Lathabhavan Remya
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to review and analyze sustainable business practices prevailing in different emerging countries in Asia. It also identifies the challenges faced by these countries in the implementation of sustainable practices.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objectives of the study and answer the key research questions, systematic literature review method was chosen. A total of 75 papers were chosen and reviewed for this study.

Findings

Organizations in many emerging Asian countries are concerned about environmental aspects and have started investing in sustainable business practices. Yet they face many challenges during the implementation, which vary across countries.

Research limitations/implications

This study helps in understanding the sustainable practices that are currently being used in Asia and this understanding would help organizations and policy makers formulate new practices or improve upon existing ones for better outcomes. As the study was limited to a few representative countries in Asia, and a limited number of sectors, future research may build upon it by including more countries and sectors and perform empirical tests for comprehensive understanding of the topic under discussion.

Practical implications

With an idea of what works in various Asian countries, as garnered from this paper, organizations can adopt sustainable practices suited to them, while also training employees and all stakeholders on the implementation of these practices.

Social implications

A knowledge of the challenges in each country to sustainable practice implementation, identified from this paper, can help policymakers frame and implement policies that can overcome the shortcomings of the existing systems.

Originality/value

This paper is a pioneer in the area of sustainable business practices in Asia and is a one-stop source to understand current trends and challenges in the Asian context.
Effects of different kinds of trust and leadership on outputs of collaborative processes: the case of personal social services in Israel
Authors: Lahat Lihi , Sabah Yekoutiel
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper contributes to the literature on performance management by offering an inside look at a collaborative process that worked to define outcomes in the field of personal social services. It asks if different kinds of trust and leadership have an effect on the outputs of a collaborative process that aims at defining outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an exploratory case study based on mixed method analysis. Using a practitioner-researcher method, it first presents the collaborative process implemented to bring stakeholders together to define the desired outcomes. It then explores findings from a participants survey and focuses on the effect of different kinds of trust and leadership on the collaborative process outputs.

Findings

The findings show a unique collaborative effort aimed at defining outcomes in the field of personal social services. They reveal the importance of organizational trust to learning outputs and suggest the significance of “shared leadership”.

Research limitations/implications

Given the study's exploratory nature, the findings cannot be generalized to a larger population, but the study aimed at transferability. On a practical level, the findings can help mangers identify preferred conditions to implement collaborative initiatives aimed at performance measurement.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the theoretical and empirical literature on performance management and collaborative governance. It pinpoints the importance of organizational trust and shared leadership as bridging mechanisms between participants in collaborative arrangements.
Reframing everyday life. Implications of social distancing in Italy
Authors: Pronzato Riccardo , Risi Elisabetta
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the measures of social distancing and home confinement have been perceived and experienced in the Italian socio-cultural context, how they reshaped everyday life and which are their social implications.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was exploratory and interpretative in nature and a qualitative research design was adopted accordingly. A total of 60 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted.

Findings

Research findings highlight the fact that the boundaries of everyday practices have been completely reframed during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy. Informants show that scarcity of personal spaces, intertwined with the collapse of the boundaries between private and professional life, and also the lack of physical contact, resulted in a complex management of different social roles and in a stress overload.

Originality/value

There are no prior studies that critically analyse the lived experiences of individuals during the lockdown and the impact of home confinement on their meaning-making processes. This paper sheds light on the reframing of everyday life, thereby enhancing our understanding of a novel issue that is of primary concern for social scientists.
ESOL pre-service teachers’ culturally and linguistically responsive teaching in mixed-reality simulations
Authors: Lew Shim , Gul Tugce , Pecore John L.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Simulation technology has been used as a viable alternative to provide a real life setting in teacher education. Applying mixed-reality classroom simulations to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher preparation, this qualitative case study aims to examine how pre-service teachers (PSTs) practice culturally and linguistically responsive teaching to work with an English learner (EL) avatar and other avatar students.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an embedded single case study, three PSTs’ teaching simulations and interviews were collected and analyzed.

Findings

This study found PST participants made meaningful connections between theory and practices of culturally and linguistically responsive teaching, particularly by connecting academic concepts to students’ life experiences, promoting cultural diversity, using instructional scaffolding and creating a safe environment. Nevertheless, they needed further improvement in incorporating cultural diversity into content lessons, creating a challenging and supportive classroom and developing interactional scaffolding for ELs’ language development. The findings also show that while PST participants perceived simulation technology as very beneficial, expanding the range of technological affordances could provide PSTs an opportunity to undertake a full range of critical teaching strategies for ELs.

Originality/value

This research contributes to broadening the realm of mixed-reality technology by applying it to ESOL teacher education and has implications for both ESOL teacher educators and simulation technology researchers.
Understanding automated conversational agent as a decision aid: matching agent's conversation with customer's shopping task
Authors: Chen Jengchung Victor , Thi Le Huyen , Tran Sinh Thi Thu
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To provide better services to customers, especially immediate responses and 24/7 availability, businesses are implementing text-based automated conversational agents, i.e. chatbots on their social platforms and websites. Chatbots are required to not only provide customers with necessary consultancy and guidance but also communicate friendly and socially. Based on the cognitive fit theory, this study attempts to examine the role of chatbot as a decision aid and how the match between information presentation in forms of decisional guidance and communication style and the shopping task influences consumers' perceived cognitive fit and decision performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 x 2 x 2 between subject online experiment was conducted to identify which kind of decisional guidance (suggestive and informative guidance) and communication style (task-oriented vs social-oriented style) are the most appropriate for each type of shopping task (searching vs browsing task).

Findings

The findings show that when customers interact with chatbots, they will perceive higher cognitive fit if the chatbots provide them with suggestive guidance and communicate in a friendly style especially when they perform a searching task.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to understand the role of chatbots as a decision aid to customers using the communicative language. This study also tries to explore the cognitive fit theory in a novel way, and we propose the information presentation in forms of communicative language rather than matrices, tables and graphs.
Understanding business analytics continuance in agile information system development projects: an expectation-confirmation perspective
Authors: Bawack Ransome Epie , Ahmad Muhammad Ovais
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine how expectations from business analytics (BA) by members of agile information systems development (ISD) teams affect their perceptions and continuous use of BA in ISD projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 153 respondents working in agile ISD projects and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling techniques (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Perceived usefulness and technological compatibility are the most salient factors that affect BA continuance intention in agile ISD projects. The proposed model explains 48.4% of the variance for BA continuance intention, 50.6% of the variance in satisfaction, 36.7% of the variance in perceived usefulness and 31.9% of the variance in technological compatibility.

Research limitations/implications

First, this study advances understanding of the factors that affect the continuous use of BA in agile ISD projects; second, it contextualizes the expectation-confirmation model by integrating technological compatibility in the context of agile ISD projects.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate BA continuance intention from an employee perspective in the context of agile ISD projects.
Weak parental supervision and lack of child remorse as predictors of proximal crime continuity in early-to-mid adolescent delinquents
Authors: Walters Glenn D.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine whether core constructs from the control (impulsivity resulting from poor parental discipline leads to crime) and moral (weak moral values lead to crime) models of criminal lifestyle development were capable of predicting crime continuance in early-to-mid adolescent youth.

Design/methodology/approach

Weak parental supervision and lack of remorse for antisocial conduct on the part of the child were correlated with subsequent delinquency in 1,850 (1,685 males, 165 females) early-to-mid adolescent delinquents. Analyses were based exclusively on data extracted from New York City probation, family court and police files.

Findings

Results from a negative binomial regression analysis revealed that both weak parental supervision and lack of remorse for antisocial conduct predicted subsequent delinquency over a period of six months, net the effects of age, sex, ethnicity, prior delinquency, sibling delinquency, negative peer associations, substance use and a felony charge.

Research limitations/implications

These findings provide preliminary support for the control (low parental supervision) and moral (lack of remorse) models of criminal lifestyle development.

Practical implications

Weak parental supervision and failure to express remorse for antisocial actions increased risk of future delinquency by 19% and 29%, respectively. Teaching parents to be more effective disciplinarians and encouraging the development of moral values in youthful offenders may be of value in promoting desistance to crime in early juvenile offenders.

Originality/value

The importance of these results is that they reinforce prior findings obtained using self-report measures with data collected from official records.
Criticality of project knowledge and experience in the delivery of construction projects
Authors: Yap Jeffrey Boon Hui , Lim Ban Leong , Skitmore Martin , Gray Jason
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Poor project knowledge and inadequate experience are frequently linked to construction time-cost overruns. This paper aims to expound on the criticality of project knowledge and experience in the successful delivery of projects in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a detailed literature review, a quantitative positivist approach with a questionnaire survey involving industry professionals is used to appraise the 30 prevalent causes of time-cost overruns according to frequency, effectiveness and importance indices. The data are then subjected to Spearman’s rank correlation tests and exploratory factor analysis.

Findings

Using the importance index, which assimilates both frequency and effectiveness indices, the criticality of knowledge and experience in the overall context is seen as fundamental for addressing the contractor’s faulty planning and scheduling, construction mistakes and defective work, site management and supervision, delayed/slow decision-making, incomplete drawings and design documents and change/variation orders. Spearman’s rank correlation tests indicate a good consensus of perceptions among the key parties involved. Next, an exploratory factor analysis uncovers six underlying knowledge-based factors affecting construction performance, relating to inaccurate resource estimates, design changes, resource shortages, lack of experience, incompetence and mistakes and defects.

Originality/value

The study draws out the repercussions of the hitherto limited research into the deficiencies in knowledge and experience in undertaking construction projects to enhance performance using knowledge management functions.
Staff resilience and coping behavior as protective factors for mental health among construction tradesmen
Authors: Nwaogu Janet Mayowa , Chan Albert P.C. , Tetteh Mershack Opoku
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Construction tradesmen are exposed to high levels of stress that can worsen mental health, negatively impacting safety compliance and organization productivity. Hence, effectively coping with stress to prevent mental ill-health becomes an essential point of reference. Thus, this study aims to examine the role of factors such as resilience and coping strategies in protecting tradesmen against mental ill-health.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a cross-sectional survey design, 110 tradesmen from 65 construction companies were surveyed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Brief Resilience Scale and Ways of Coping Questionnaire.

Findings

The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. With a 74.5%, 36.4% and 14.6% prevalence rate of self-reported depression, anxiety and suicide ideation among the tradesmen, only positive reappraisal, accepting responsibility coping behaviors and resilience would mitigate the likelihood of developing mental ill-health symptoms.

Originality/value

This study has extended existing literature by providing information vital to building interventions to deal with stressors effectively. This information would benefit individuals, organizations and the economy and equip policymakers with a deeper knowledge base toward improving mental health.
Evaluating survey-based forecasts of interest rates and macroeconomic variables
Authors: Fassas Athanasios , Papadamou Stephanos , Kenourgios Dimitrios
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study examines the forecasting performance of the professional analysts participating in the Blue Chip Economic Indicators Survey using an alternative methodological research design.

Design/methodology/approach

This work employs two methodologies, namely a panel specification, with the cross-section being the forecast horizon (from 1-month to 18-months ahead forecasts) and the time period being the time that the forecast was made and a quantile regression technique, which evaluates the hidden nonmonotonic relations between the forecasts and the target variables being forecasted.

Findings

The empirical findings of this study show that survey-based forecasts of certain key macroeconomic variables are generally biased but still efficient predictors of target variables. In particular, we find that survey participants are more efficient in predicting long-term interest rates in the long-run and short-term interest rates in the short run, while the predictability of medium-term interest rates is the least accurate. Finally, our empirical analysis suggests that currency fluctuations are very hard to predict in the short run, while we show that survey-based forecasts are among the most accurate predictors of GDP deflator and growth.

Practical implications

Evaluating the accuracy of economic forecasts is critical since market participants and policymakers utilize such data (as one of several inputs) for making investment, financial and policy decisions. Therefore, the quality of a decision depends, in part, on the quality of the forecast. Our empirical results should have immediate implications for asset pricing models that use interest rates and inflation forecasts as variables.

Originality/value

The present study marks a methodological departure from existing empirical attempts as it proposes a simpler yet powerful approach in order to investigate the efficiency of professional forecasts. The employed empirical specifications enable market participants to investigate the information content of forecasts over different forecast horizons and the temporal evolution of forecast quality.
Responsible management education (RME) post COVID-19: what must change in public business schools?
Authors: Mousa Mohamed
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Through a multiple case study design, this article elaborates the chances of initiating and/or implementing responsible management education (RME) in Egyptian public business schools after the identification of COVID-19. In other words, this paper identifies the effect of COVID-19 on internalizing RME in the previously mentioned context.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study. The author focused on academics who work in four out of the 25 business schools in Egypt and employed a multiple-case study design (to collect his data.

Findings

The results showed that COVID-19 has not had any effect on the adoption of sustainable business education in the sample institutions. Moreover, some respondents went further and indicated that the identification of coronavirus slows down any attempt to implement RME in Egyptian public business schools. Accordingly, the author thinks that the sample business schools can implement RME post-COVID-19 if they overcome the following three types of obstacles: self-determination, contextual and national obstacles.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by filling a gap in RME, leadership and literature in the higher education sector, in which empirical studies on the effect of COVID-19 on the performance of business school have been limited until now.
Transition to online higher education during COVID-19 pandemic: turmoil and way forward to developing country of South Asia-Nepal
Authors: Gautam Dhruba Kumar , Gautam Prakash Kumar
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Every day thousands of academic institutes suspend their classes and students are staying in their home maintaining social distancing due to the fear of COVID-19 pandemic and Nepal is no exception. Realizing these facts, this study aims to explore the factors for the effectiveness of online mode of classes to on-class course-based students and analyzes the perception of faculties and students toward online mode during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

It is based on exploratory research design, following mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative procedure. To build a rich understanding of the phenomenon, three-stage data collection procedure: preliminary interview, structural survey and validation were used.

Findings

This study revealed triplet factors: infrastructure, student and teacher as antecedents of effectiveness of online classes during a pandemic. Technological support, infrastructure availability, faculty and students' perception have a significant relationship for the effectiveness of the online mode of the teaching-learning process. Students faced anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a higher willingness to learn reduces the level of anxiety.

Originality/value

This study significantly contributes to the future management of higher education and digs the future path of online and on-class teaching-learning practices.
Exploring regulatory fit between service relationships and appeals in co-production
Authors: Li Shihao , Hu Yanghong , Xu Lan , Fu Guoqun
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how different service relationships (mentoring relationship versus partnering relationship) in service co-production affect service outcomes. Specifically, it aims to explore whether the effects of service relationships on customers’ intention to purchase the service are contingent upon service appeals’ regulatory focus (promotion versus prevention focus) and when the regulatory fit effects exist.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experimental studies were conducted to test hypotheses. ANOVA and bootstrapping were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings of the three experiments provide convergent evidence for the hypotheses. Specifically, when customers view service employees as mentors (versus partners) in service co-production, promotion-focused (versus prevention focused) service appeals effectively enhance customers’ intention to purchase the service because customers experience a regulatory fit. Moreover, the regulatory fit effects are strengthened or attenuated according to customers’ subjective social status.

Practical implications

Service firms should adopt promotion-focused (versus prevention-focused) service appeals if employees and customers are having mentoring (versus partnering) relationships, especially when customers have higher (lower) social status.

Originality/value

To better manage service co-production, this paper investigates beneficial outcomes of mentoring and partnering relationships from a regulatory fit perspective. It highlights the importance of compatibility between service relationship and service appeals’ regulatory focus and demonstrates a novel regulatory fit effect. It also uncovers engagement as the underlying mechanism for the regulatory-fit effect and identifies social class as a boundary condition.
Preparing future entrepreneurs: reflections about the COVID-19 impacts on the entrepreneurial potential of Brazilian students
Authors: Cazeri Gustavo T. , Anholon Rosley , Rampasso Izabela Simon , Quelhas Osvaldo L.G. , Leal Filho Walter
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This viewpoint aims to present reflections on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic scenario and the entrepreneurial potential of Brazilian students. Guidelines are proposed to support debates in the academic environment and better prepare future entrepreneurs to the labour market.

Design/methodology/approach

Since this is a viewpoint article, some statements presented here are characterised by the authors' opinions. However, for a better foundation, bibliographic research related to the theme was carried out.

Findings

In the authors' point of view, the COVID-19 pandemic scenario may negatively influence the decisions of Brazilian students that are characterised as potential future entrepreneurs. Educators can use the guidelines presented here to conduct debates with students in order to clarify aspects related to profile, behaviour and other issues.

Originality/value

By understanding better entrepreneurial aspects in the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, Brazilian students can make better decisions. This initiative will contribute to future success in the Brazilian entrepreneurial activity and national economy.
Women on boards and monitoring tasks: an empirical application of Kanter's theory
Authors: De Masi Sara , Słomka-Gołębiowska Agnieszka , Paci Andrea
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper examines the relationship between women on boards and board monitoring tasks depending on group categories identified in the Kanter's theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of the largest listed companies in Spain, Italy and France during the period 2007–2017, this study tests the effect of women's presence based on the following board categories: (1) skewed boards with a percentage of women that is less than 20%; (2) tilted boards with a percentage of women that ranges from 20% to 33%; (3) tilted boards with a percentage of women that is more than 33%; and (4) balanced boards with an equal or quasi-equal gender distribution. The authors use the case of the gender board quota regulation in different European Union countries.

Findings

The results suggest that tilted boards engage in stronger firm monitoring and that the effect of women on board monitoring tasks is positive and statistically significant when the percentage of female directors reaches the threshold of 33%.

Practical implications

The outcomes of this study help policymakers identify the minimum threshold that quota regulations should mandate in order for boards to be effective.

Originality/value

This paper moves forward the ongoing debate about the effect of women on corporate boards, shifting the focus from the ratio or presence of female directors to the size of the group they form within the board. To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to test Kanter's theory by investigating the relationship between women on boards and board monitoring.
Collective effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and betel (Piper betel) leaves extract on chicken powder incorporated fried chicken vermicelli
Authors: Saini Ashish , Pandey Anurag , Sharma Sanjita , Suradkar Umesh Shaligram , Ambedkar Yellamelli Ramji , Meena Priyanka , Gurjar Asman Singh
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop chicken powder (CP) incorporated fried chicken vermicelli and to evaluate the collective effect of rosemary and betel leaf extracts (RE+BE) in developed products, on the performance of storage study parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

Two different groups were made from developed products: the first control group without RE+BE incorporated and the second group treated with RE+BE (1:1). Various chemical, microbiological and sensory parameters of both groups were evaluated at intervals of 15 days up to 60 days of storage.

Findings

RE+BE incorporation had significantly improved (p< 0.01) the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), free fatty acid (FFA) and tyrosine value as compared to control. TBARs value of RE+BE treated product remained lower (0.23 ± 0.08 to 0.65 ± 0.07) than the control (0.25 ± 0.06 to 0.83 ± 0.05). Similarly, RE+BE treated product had significantly (p< 0.04) lower total plate count (TPC), Staphylococcus count (SC) and significantly (p< 0.01) lower yeast and mold count than control. Likewise RE+BE incorporation significantly (p< 0.01) improves sensory score (texture, flavor and overall acceptability except for appearance) of the product. RE+BE treated sample at the 60th day had a higher overall acceptability score (6.3 ± 0.8) than the score of control at the 45th day (6.1 ± 0.9).

Research limitations/implications

A shelf-stable meat product can be made by chicken powder incorporation in the gram flour and a combination of rosemary and betel leaf extracts may be used to improve the shelf-life of meat products.

Practical implications

A shelf-stable meat product can be made by chicken powder incorporation in the gram flour and a combination of rosemary and betel leaf extracts may be used to improve the shelf-life of meat products.

Originality/value

RE+BE incorporation into chicken vermicelli improved chemical (TBARs, FFA content and Tyrosine value), microbiological (TPC, Staphylococcus count and yeast and mold count) and sensory (flavor, texture and overall acceptability) parameters of chicken vermicelli during 60-day storage.
Internet of things skills and needs satisfaction: do generational cohorts' variations matter?
Authors: Karadal Himmet , Abubakar A. Mohammed
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The authors’ understanding of the Internet of things (IoT) skills and needs satisfaction for IoT devices and generational cohorts' variations remains limited as commentaries are often oversimplified and generalized. This research fills a gap in the literature by highlighting the dynamics between the IoT skills and needs satisfaction for IoT devices and seeks to expound on the variations among generational cohorts using the self-determination theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were obtained from 1,245 residents and IoT device users in Aksaray, Turkey. The obtained data were analyzed with variance-based structural equation modeling and the analysis of variance technique.

Findings

The results demonstrate that IoT skills determine the needs satisfaction for IoT devices. Generation Xers, Generation Yers and Generation Zers are distinct cohorts with respect to the IoT skills and needs satisfaction for IoT devices.

Originality/value

Collectively, this study provides empirical evidence that informs the debate about the contributions of IoT skills and generational cohorts on needs satisfaction for IoT devices. The implications and several avenues for future theory-building research are discussed.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-04-2020-0144
What makes a helpful online review? Empirical evidence on the effects of review and reviewer characteristics
Authors: Luo Lijuan , Duan Siqi , Shang Shanshan , Pan Yu
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The reviews submitted by users are the foundation of user-generated content (UGC) platforms. However, the rapid growth of users brings the problems of information overload and spotty content, which makes it necessary for UGC platforms to screen out reviews that are really helpful to users. The authors put forward in this paper the factors influencing review helpfulness voting from the perspective of review characteristics and reviewer characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses 8,953 reviews from 20 movies listed on Douban.com with variables focusing on review characteristics and reviewer characteristics that affect review helpfulness. To verify the six hypotheses proposed in the study, Stata 14 was used to perform tobit regression.

Findings

Findings show that review helpfulness is significantly influenced by the length, valence, timeliness and deviation rating of the reviews. The results also underlie that a review submitted by a reviewer who has more followers and experience is more affected by review characteristics.

Originality/value

Previous literature has discussed the factors that affect the helpfulness of reviews; however, the authors have established a new model that explores more comprehensive review characteristics and the moderating effect reviewer characteristics have on helpfulness. In this empirical research, the authors selected a UGC community in China as the research object. The UGC community may encourage users to write more helpful reviews by highlighting the characteristics of users. Users in return can use this to establish his/her image in the community. Future research can explore more variables related to users.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-05-2020-0186.
Financial crime investigation: an evaluation of an online training program for police
Authors: Drew Jacqueline M. , Moir Emily , Newman Michael
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Financial crime continues to represent a crime type that costs billions of dollars per year. It is likely more widespread than any other criminal offence. Despite this, it remains an area that is often ignored, or at best neglected by police. Police agencies typically fail to invest resources and training in upskilling police in financial crime investigation. The current study evaluates an agency-wide training initiative undertaken by the Queensland Police Service (QPS), Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

The QPS mandated completion of an in-house online financial crime training program for all officers, up to and including the rank of senior sergeant. Matched pre- and post-training data of 1,403 officers were obtained.

Findings

The research found that police are under-trained in financial crime. The findings suggest that short online training programs can produce important improvements in knowledge and confidence in financial crime investigation. Critically, attitudes about this crime type which may be deterring officers from engaging in financial crime investigation can be improved.

Originality/value

The current research finds that police agencies need to more heavily invest in training officers to investigate financial crime and such investment will have positive outcomes. The first step involves improving knowledge, skills and attitudes towards this crime type. Further research is needed to understand why training, particularly related to attitudinal change, is more effective for different cohorts of police and how future training programs should be adapted to maximise success.
Moving the needle: can training alter officer perceptions and use of de-escalation?
Authors: D. White Michael , Mora Victor J. , Orosco Carlena , Hedberg E. C.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

De-escalation training for police has received widespread attention as a method for reducing unnecessary and excessive use of force. There is virtually no research on de-escalation, and as a result, there is little understanding about what it is, what it includes and whether it is effective. The current study compares attitudes about the importance and use of de-escalation among officers who were randomly assigned to participate (or not) in de-escalation training.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study draws from a larger randomized controlled trial of de-escalation training in the Tempe, Arizona Police Department (TPD). Approximately 100 officers completed a survey in June–July 2019 and again in June–July 2020. TPD delivered the de-escalation training to half the patrol force in February–March 2020. The authors compare treatment and control officers' attitudes about the importance of specific de-escalation tactics, how often they use those tactics and their sentiments de-escalation training. The authors employ an econometric random-effects model to examine between-group differences post-training while controlling for relevant officer attributes including age, race, sex, prior training and squad-level pretraining attitudes about de-escalation.

Findings

Treatment and control officers reported positive perceptions of de-escalation tactics, frequent use of those tactics and favorable attitudes toward de-escalation before and after the training. After receiving the training, treatment officers placed greater importance on compromise, and reported more frequent use of several important tactics including compromise, knowing when to walk away and maintaining officer safety.

Originality/value

Only a few prior studies have has examined whether de-escalation training changes officer attitudes. The results from the current study represent an initial piece of evidence suggesting de-escalation training may lead to greater use of those tactics by officers during encounters with citizens.
Human resource analytics: a review and bibliometric analysis
Authors: Qamar Yusra , Samad Taab Ahmad
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the current research trends and set the future research agenda in the area of human resource (HR) analytics by an extensive review of the existing literature. The paper aims to capture state of the art and develop an exhaustive understanding of the theoretical foundations, concepts and recent developments in the area.

Design/methodology/approach

A portfolio of 125 articles collected from the Scopus database was systematically analyzed using a two-tier method. First, the evolution, current state of the literature and research clusters are identified using bibliometric techniques. Finally, using content analysis, the research clusters are studied to develop the future research agenda.

Findings

Based on the bibliometric analysis, network analysis and content analysis techniques, this study provides a comprehensive review of the existing literature. The study also highlights future research themes by identifying knowledge gaps based on content analysis of research clusters.

Research limitations/implications

The evolution and the current state of the HR analytics literature are presented. Some specific research questions are also provided to help future research.

Originality/value

This study enriches the literature of HR analytics by integrating bibliometric analysis and content analysis to develop a more systematic and exhaustive understanding of the research area. The findings of this study may assist fellow researchers in furthering their research in the identified research clusters.