bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serving vulnerable populations under the threat of epidemics and pandemics
Authors: Yagci Sokat Kezban , Altay Nezih
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Epidemics and pandemics can result in sudden morbidity and mortality as well as social and economic disruption. However, the humanitarian logistics and supply chain management (HLSCM) field has been mostly focusing on life saving operations after natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. There is no research within the HLSCM literature neither on the unique properties of vulnerable groups, nor their underlying risk factors or how to mitigate them. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the uniqueness of some vulnerable groups and motivated us to conduct a structured literature review to identify research needs in HLSCM with regards to vulnerable populations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a systematic review of literature on the intersection of epidemics/pandemics, humanitarian operations and vulnerable populations. They utilize the Scopus database to search for peer-reviewed journal articles published in English. Our search results in 366 articles which we reduced to 139 after filtering.

Findings

There is no research within the HLSCM literature on the unique properties of various vulnerable populations. The authors show that HLSCM scholars can contribute to literature by investigating operational and logistical challenges of serving vulnerable populations through multi-disciplinary research, research on the intersection of public health and supply chain management, research on the intersection of ethics and operations management, and research on cross-sectoral partnerships.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ work is limited to peer-reviewed journal articles published in English. They did not include books, conference proceedings and think-tank or NGO reports. However, the authors do recognize that these sources can be very valuable.

Originality/value

To best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to review the literature on vulnerable populations under the threat of epidemics and pandemics.
Lean management in health care: a review of reviews of socio-technical components for effective impact
Authors: Marsilio Marta , Pisarra Martina
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The aims of the implementation of lean management in health care are to improve quality of care, to eliminate waste and to increase efficiency. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge by investigating which main socio-technical factors are considered to be effective for the implementation and management of lean initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of literature reviews on lean management in health care was conducted. The components of the socio-technical system are identified by moving from the socio-technical drivers that support organization-wide quality improvement practices and the lean implementation process in health care. The impacts of lean management are classified using the internal processes, patient, learning and financial dimensions.

Findings

The 28 reviews retrieved confirm the current and increasing interest in lean management. While more than 60% of them call for a system-wide approach, system-wide implementations have rarely been observed, and, instead, adoption in isolated units or departments, or the use of single techniques and tools, prevails. The most commonly investigated socio-technical components are organizational structure, techniques and tools and organizational culture and strategic management. Significant impacts are reported for all the four dimensions. Nonetheless, the review reveals that there is still a lack of evidence on the sustainability of lean results and a need for a standardized impact measurement system.

Originality/value

This work stands out as the first review of reviews of how the socio-technical components of the lean management approach obtain positive impacts within the patient, internal processes, learning and financial dimensions.
Concealing paradoxes in decision-making during hospital hybridization – a systems theoretical analysis
Authors: Jansson Kaisu , Tuunainen Juha , Mainela Tuija
Published: February 2021

Purpose

While previous health-care-related hybridity research has focused on macro- and micro-level investigations, this paper aims to study hybridization at the organizational level, with a specific focus on decision-making. The authors investigate how new politico-economic expectations toward a university hospital as a hybrid organization become internalized via organizational decision-making, resulting in the establishment of a new business collaboration and innovation-oriented unit.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a social systems theoretical framework to explore organizational decision-making processes involved in the establishment of the new hybrid hospital unit. Drawing on 15 interviews and nine organizational documents, the authors describe and analyze three decision-making cycles using the concepts of complexity, decision and justification.

Findings

The findings reveal the challenging nature of decision-making during hybridization, as decisions regarding unprecedented organizational structures and activities cannot be justified by traditional decision premises. The authors show that decision-makers use a combination of novel justification strategies, namely, justification by problems, by examples and by obligations, to legitimize decisions oriented at non-traditional activities. Further, the analysis reveals how expectations of several societal systems, i.e. health care, education, science, law, economy and politics, are considered in decision-making taking place in hybrid organizations.

Originality/value

The study draws attention to the complexity of decision-making in a hybrid context and highlights the role of justification strategies in partially reducing complexity by concealing the paradoxical nature of decision-making and ensuring the credibility of resulting decisions. Also, the study presents a move beyond the dualism inherent in many previous hybridity studies by illustrating the involvement of several societal systems in hybridization.
Online peer-group activism for thalassemia health education during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study from East Java, Indonesia
Authors: d'Arqom Annette , Indiastuti Danti Nur , Nasution Zamal
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of online peer-group activism to promote thalassemia prevention among high school students of East Java Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

Twenty students were recruited as cadres and trained for thalassemia every weekend for four weeks, followed by creating health promotions via online media. The media was further disseminated among the students’ peer groups for a week. The respondent’s knowledge was measured before and after health promotion utilizing an online media mixed-methods approach that combined quantitative data using an online questionnaire and in-depth interviews for qualitative measurement. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using Graph Prism 5.00. Interview transcripts were analyzed to elaborate on the respondent’s understanding of thalassemia.

Findings

The respondents had good basic knowledge about thalassemia; however, it was not in-line with their understanding, which increased after the online health promotion activity. Therefore, this approach is useful for disseminating health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and can be implemented for broadening respondents.

Originality/value

This study showed the experience of online peer-group activism for thalassemia prevention in high school students. By empowering the peer group, health promotion is effective in increasing the knowledge and understanding of thalassemia. A similar approach can be proposed for other health issues.
How does employee commitment impact customers' attitudinal loyalty?
Authors: Agyeiwaah Elizabeth , Dayour Frederick , Zhou (Joe) Yong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Studies in hospitality and tourism have seldom investigated the role of employee commitment to building customers' attitudinal loyalty. This study examines the impact of employee commitment on customers' attitude-based loyalty. The study contributes to knowledge of how employees' affective attitude (i.e. employee commitment) impacts and mediates the relationships within this model by considering service quality attributes separately in the context of China's Greater Bay Area.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quantitative approach, 664 customers visiting hotels and tourist attractions within three cities of Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai were surveyed. A convenience sampling technique was employed to administer questionnaires within these contexts. A structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS software was used to test the relationships in the proposed model.

Findings

The results suggest that while service quality attributes have a different impact on employee commitment, employee commitment plays a response-predictor-mediator role in the attitudinal loyalty framework. For instance, personal interactions and technical quality are significant predictors of employee commitment. Employee commitment influences customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Moreover, employee commitment fully mediates the relationship between technical quality and customer satisfaction and partially mediates the association between personal interaction and customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

Given that employee commitment could be derived from personal interaction with customers, hoteliers and destination management organizations should encourage customers through their websites to be responsive to employees by providing constructive feedback on their service delivery. Management of hotels, attractions and destinations need to motivate employees through incentives such as pay raise, bonuses, time-off and paid holidays.

Originality/value

The paper is inimitable in its attempt to extend the customer attitudinal loyalty debate by including employees' attitude (i.e. commitment) in the measurement of customers' attitudinal loyalty in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Antecedents and consequences of user engagement in smartphone travel apps
Authors: Ali Faizan , Terrah Abraham , Wu Chengzhong , Ali Laiba , Wu Hui
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to test the effect of system quality, information quality and service quality on user engagement and its effect on smartphone travel apps’ satisfaction, love and behavioral intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the self-selection sampling technique, data was collected from 417 respondents recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Data was subjected to partial least squares based structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results indicate that system quality, information quality and service quality have a significantly positive impact on user engagement with smartphone travel apps. Moreover, user engagement has a positive and significant impact on smartphone app satisfaction, smartphone app love and behavioral intentions.

Originality/value

This is the first study to integrate DeLone and McLean (2003) updated information system success model and stimulus-organism-response model to propose a holistic model of user’s engagement with smartphone travel apps.
Shariah supervisory boards of Islamic banks in Bangladesh: expected duties and performed roles and functions
Authors: Alam Md. Kausar , Ab Rahman Suhaimi , Tabash Mosab I. , Thakur Oli Ahad , Hosen Sharif
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The main aim of this research is to ascertain the expected duties and performed roles and functions of the Shariah supervisory boards (SSBs) of Islamic banks in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

A semistructured face-to-face interview was applied to accomplish the research objectives. In total, data was collected from 17 respondents with a combination of regulators, SSBs, Shariah department executives and experts from the central bank and Islamic banks in Bangladesh.

Findings

This study finds that the expectations of Islamic banks toward SSB members are to provide opinions on Shariah issues, guidelines and decisions regarding the modern banking, practices and delivering of fatwas on the contemporary issues offered by the management to fulfill the demand of the numerous stakeholders. In addition, they can develop Shariah governance (SG) policies and implement those guidelines, approve and develop new products, observe and monitor banking functions, identify problems and outline solutions as well as they should ensure Shariah principles and compliance. The SSBs members perform roles and functions in monitoring and reviewing overall banking activities and functions; reviewing products, services and contracts; preparing SG guidelines; ensuring Shariah principles and compliance; providing opinions on existing SG practices and finally, delivering Shariah resolutions on the overall functions.

Research limitations/implications

This study significantly contributed to the national regulatory bodies by providing suggestions that the existing SG system should be improved to enhance the overall monitoring of SSB and ensure more Shariah compliance in the overall operations of the Islamic banks in Bangladesh.

Originality/value

This is the first research to the best of authors’ knowledge that explores the expected duties and performed roles and functions of the Islamic banks concerning Bangladesh. This study also contributes to the agency, legitimacy and stakeholder theories by outlining the expected and performed roles of SSBs to the Islamic banks and stakeholders.
How stress and anxiety when using mobile restaurant reservation Apps influence users’ satisfaction and trust
Authors: Gelashvili Vera , Martínez-Navalón Juan Gabriel , Herrera Enríquez Giovanni
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The main aim of this study is to analyze if the users’ stress and anxiety when using mobile Apps for restaurant reservations influence their trust and satisfaction toward the restaurants. In addition to this, the relationship between satisfaction and trust is studied. The study sample is the Indian population in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objectives set, the questionnaire measuring each of the variables used in the study was carried out. A variance-based structural equation model, partial least squares (PLS), was used for statistical analysis of the data.

Findings

The results obtained have shown that the relations stress–satisfaction, anxiety–satisfaction and satisfaction–trust are accepted to be significant, whereas the relations stress–trust and anxiety–trust are rejected because they do not fulfill the minimum standards of significance.

Originality/value

This study is an important contribution in the academic literature because there are not many studies that analyze the variables of stress and anxiety in the context of marketing. In addition to this, the study sample is the Indian population resident in Spain, the population that is not studied in depth.
Safe online ethical code for and by the “net generation”: themes emerging from school students’ wisdom of the crowd
Authors: Lavie Dinur Amit , Aharoni Matan , Karniel Yuval
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Children are becoming heavy users of communication and information technologies from an early age. These technologies carry risks to which children may be exposed. In collaboration with the Israel Ministry of Education (IME), the authors launched a week-long safe online awareness program for school children in 257 elementary and middle schools in Israel. Each class independently composed a safe and ethical code of online behavior following two classroom debate sessions. The purpose of this study was to analyze these codes and learn how school children perceive and understand the proper use of the network using thematic analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 8,181 students between the ages of 8 and 14 years in 303 classes from 257 schools participated in the program. These classes composed 303 ethical codes, which were decomposed into 2,201 elements (phrases, sentences, or paragraphs). Using mixed-methods research combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the elements of the ethical codes were analyzed, interpreted, and classified to identify the dominant themes and discourses used by the students when addressing issues related to safe online use.

Findings

Findings indicate that Israeli students are aware of the dangers and risks of the internet, and these concerns are reflected in their own ethical codes. The students discouraged online self-exposure and encouraged precautions and wariness towards members of out-groups. The themes included sentences which asked for responsible, appropriate, and lawful use, expressed concern about privacy issues, and stated the need for adult involvement. Most of them reflected an “us against them (strangers)” perspective.

Originality/value

The current study presents an innovative “bottom-up” program based on wisdom of the crowd approach, that can be implemented in schools internationally in order to encourage reflexivity and teach children the necessary skills for safe online experiences. In addition, this study analyses the school children’s own views of the dangers of social media and learn about their perspective and understanding of internet use.
Integrative review of Islamic marketing
Authors: Shah Syed Adil , Bhutto Maqsood Hussain , Azhar Sarwar M.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to integrate and synthesize the Islamic marketing literature, understand the phenomenon and related concepts and provide suggestions for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses an integrative review method that emphasizes summarizing and synthesizing the previous literature related to a phenomenon.

Findings

The findings indicate the emergence of five major themes, namely, Islamic marketing and its perspectives, activities in Islamic marketing, opportunities, controversies and challenges in Islamic marketing, Islamic principles and determinants of consumers’ behavior and awareness toward Islamic products. Each of the major themes consists of sub-themes discussed in detail in the results and discussion sections.

Research limitations/implications

Like other studies, this integrative literature review has some limitations. These include the methodology undertaken, the lack of explanation of inter-relationship among themes and lack of Islamic theory-based review. These limitations lead to future research directions.

Practical implications

Marketing managers need a thorough understanding of the Islamic standards and need to develop strategies. Further, there are inter-differences among Muslims, which need to be thoroughly understood by managers. Moreover, marketers can effectively use advertising in creating awareness and increasing demand of halal products.

Originality/value

This study provides an integrative review of the literature and synthesizes the Islamic marketing literature, which has not been done before.
Can opinion leaders through Instagram influence organic food purchase behaviour in Saudi Arabia?
Authors: Al-Harbi Ahlam Ibrahim , Badawi Nada Saleh
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of online opinion leadership and opinion seeking the intention to purchase and purchase behaviour of organic food in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an online questionnaire as a method to collect data from Instagram users in Saudi Arabia. Statistical analysis was performed using the SmartPLS to test the research model.

Findings

The study demonstrates the links between the perceived benevolence of the opinion leadership through Instagram and purchase behaviour of organic food and between opinion seeking and intention to purchase.

Practical implications

This study provides insights into the favourable impact of opinion leadership and opinion seeking on consumers’ intention to purchase and purchase behaviour for marketers, especially in the organic food sector of a Middle Eastern context.

Originality/value

Prior studies have investigated the impact of opinion leadership and opinion seeking on purchase behaviour, but not within the organic food sector. This study attempts to fill this gap in the literature by providing useful insights to enhance the understanding of the influence of online opinion leadership on purchase behaviour of organic food. This study also makes a valuable contribution to organic food research in Middle East countries, where there is a lack of research on organic food purchase behaviour.
Ethical consideration of Islamic banks in Pakistan: an empirical analysis
Authors: Khaleel Fatima , Janjua Pervez Zamurrad , Ahmed Mumtaz
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, it assesses communicated (information disclosed in annual reports and websites) ethical values of Islamic banks (IBs) by using an index based on Islamic precept. Second, this research paper analyzes the perception of employees working in IBs of Pakistan regarding previously mentioned dimensions constructed in the form of index. Third, it explores the difference (if any) between communicated and perceived ethical values of IBs in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This study incorporated two research methods, namely, content analysis (qualitative method) and descriptive analysis (quantitative method) to assess communicated and perceived ethical values. A checklist was designed that includes total six dimensions with 106 items or constructs. For perceived ethics, survey method is used to explore how far in practice IBs are operating in line with Islamic finance ethics in Pakistan by distributing questionnaires among employees.

Findings

This research study revealed overall satisfactory communicated and perceived ethical values in IBs of Pakistan. It is generally concluded that Meezan Bank is doing well in all dimensions as compare to other three banks in Pakistan. Some banks such as Dubai Islamic Bank and Albaraka Islamic bank lack proper format of annual reports. It recommended proper training and development of employees particularly about Islamic banking products and procedure. Moreover, it is recommended to take initiative of attracting female segment of the society and environment protection related campaigns.

Research limitations/implications

Because of data and time constraints, an extended beneficiary analysis could not be materialized in this study. Therefore, for future research, it is recommended to expand the stakeholders’ analysis beyond employees of IBs.

Practical implications

This study may be helpful for policymakers and other stakeholders to improve the image and for further growth of IBs in Pakistan.

Social implications

This study is the part of corporate social responsibility, so it will add value to social norms of banking sector and provide different dimensions and constructs based on Islamic ethical and moral system. It highlights banker’s responsibilities toward society.

Originality/value

This paper supports the phenomena of Islamic banking and finance in emerging markets and shows its potential growth for the economy.
Comprehending a knowledge framework as a source of dynamic capabilities in IJVs through PLS-SEM
Authors: Kapoor Madhavi , Aggarwal Vijita
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship among knowledge transfer enablers, knowledge transfer process, absorptive capacity and innovation performance in the context of Indian international joint ventures (IJVs). These elements are woven with the thread of dynamic capabilities theory (DCT) into an integrated framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Data analysis is conducted on a quantitative survey of 196 IJVs with partial least squares structural equation modeling as the statistical technique.

Findings

Co-learning strategy, collaborative trust culture, information technology-based resources and systems and organizational structural design are found to be significant knowledge transfer enablers. Absorptive capacity has a complementary partial mediation effect on the positive relationship between knowledge transfer and innovation performance of Indian IJVs.

Research limitations/implications

The study has pioneered in explicating the criticality of IJV’s internal dynamics to cope with the global market dynamism in a much needed Indian context. Practitioners must focus on building dynamic capabilities in IJVs to make them sustainably competitive, as proposed and evaluated by this study. Further, IJV managers need to strategize their resources, routines and structure dynamically to foster knowledge transfer and innovativeness.

Originality/value

The comprehensive model on DCT offered by this study is rare to match in literature with a completely new context, which is the need of the hour.
Knowledge management within a strategic alliances context: past, present and future
Authors: Bamel Nisha , Pereira Vijay , Bamel Umesh , Cappiello Giuseppe
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims at reviewing the extant knowledge management (KM) research field within a strategic alliance context to understand the historical roots, its temporal progression, current state and potential future in a meaningful way.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study was retrieved from the Scopus database using a systematic literature search process. The bibliometric characteristics of 393 research documents were analyzed using bibliometric and structured network analysis.

Findings

The findings of the study suggest that the publication in the field have been growing with an average rate of 8.48%. This analysis also lists the most productive and impactful authors, main outlets, and the most impactful secondary and primary publication in the field. In addition, the conceptual and intellectual structure of the research field was constructed and discussed.

Originality/value

This paper uses an objective and quantitative approach by reviewing the related publications and virtually included all the relevant publications in the analysis, which was seen to be uneconomical when doing traditional literature reviews.
A robust possibilistic programming model for production-routing problem in a three-echelon supply chain
Authors: Beheshtinia Mohammad Ali , Salmabadi Narjes , Rahimi Somaye
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an integrated production-routing model in a three-echelon supply chain containing a two-layer transportation system to minimize the total costs of production, transportation, inventory holding and expired drugs treatment. In the proposed problem, some specifications such as multisite manufacturing, simultaneous pickup and delivery and uncertainty in parameters are considered.

Design/methodology/approach

At first, a mathematical model has been proposed for the problem. Then, one possibilistic model and one robust possibilistic model equivalent to the initial model are provided regarding the uncertain nature of the model parameters and the inaccessibility of their probability function. Finally, the performance of the proposed model is evaluated using the real data collected from a pharmaceutical production center in Iran. The results reveal the proper performance of the proposed models.

Findings

The results obtained from applying the proposed model to a real-life production center indicated that the number of expired drugs has decreased because of using this model, also the costs of the system were reduced owing to integrating simultaneous drug pickup and delivery operations. Moreover, regarding the results of simulations, the robust possibilistic model had the best performance among the proposed models.

Originality/value

This research considers a two-layer vehicle routing in a production-routing problem with inventory planning. Moreover, multisite manufacturing, simultaneous pickup of the expired drugs and delivery of the drugs to the distribution centers are considered. Providing a robust possibilistic model for tackling the uncertainty in demand, costs, production capacity and drug expiration costs is considered as another remarkable feature of the proposed model.
The anti-money laundering expectations gap in Iran: auditor and judiciary perspectives
Authors: Molla Imeny Vahid , Norton Simon D. , Moradi Mahdi , Salehi Mahdi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to compare judicial and auditor expectations of audit in the detection and reporting of money laundering in Iran. It also aims to assess the implications of expectations gap for the reliability of data provided to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in its blacklisting policy.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were administered to auditors to determine perceptions of their anti-money laundering (AML) reporting obligations. These were also completed by Iranian judges who hear money laundering prosecutions and who agreed to participate in the research. The group was created through the “snowballing” technique.

Findings

There is significant divergence between judges and auditors regarding the latter’s AML reporting obligations. Self-perception among auditors regarding investigative duties is insufficiently aligned with expectations of the FATF, particularly where there is use of corporate structures, charities and trusts in which identity of true owners, of payers and payees of funds cannot be accurately verified. This gap presents a significant terrorist financing risk.

Practical implications

The expectations gap makes training in forensic accounting, as well as compliance with international reporting expectations, a matter of urgency for the Iranian auditing profession. The judiciary needs to be more aware of international expectations.

Originality/value

Data regarding judicial expectations of auditors’ AML reporting obligations is difficult to obtain and of a highly sensitive nature. This research has obtained such data which has relevance to the FATF blacklisting policy, and to international organisations tasked with disrupting terrorist financing networks.
Robustness assessment in production systems
Authors: Stockmann Christian , Winkler Herwig , Kunath Martin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The concept of robustness in manufacturing is not easy to capture and even harder to quantify. This paper elaborates an approach to assess robustness in production systems from a holistic input-throughput-output perspective using a pragmatic robustness indicator.

Design/methodology/approach

First, in order to have a precise understanding of what needs to be measured, a concept of robustness in production systems is defined based on a literature overview. Three different aspects are considered to be essential to comprehensively describe robustness in production: the deviations of input resources, of performance and of output. These aspects are translated into an aggregated indicator based on developments of production costs, order delays and output volumes. The indicator-based assessment approach is eventually applied to a flow-shop scheduling case study in the chipboard industry.

Findings

The study shows that an assessment of robustness should not solely focus on a single aspect of a production system. Instead, a holistic view is required addressing the tradeoffs that robustness must balance, such as the one between the realized performance, the corresponding resource requirements and the resulting output. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that robustness can be interpreted as a superior system capability that builds upon flexibility, agility, resilience and resistance.

Research limitations/implications

First, the paper is a call to further test and validate the proposed approach in industry case studies. Second, the paper suggests a modified understanding of robustness in production systems in which not only the deviation of one single variable is of interest but also the behavior of the whole system.

Practical implications

The approach allows practitioners to pragmatically evaluate a production system’s robustness level while quickly identifying drivers, barriers and tradeoffs.

Originality/value

Compared to existing assessment approaches the proposed methodology is one of the first that evaluates robustness in production systems from a holistic input-throughput-output perspective highlighting the different tradeoffs that have to be balanced. It is based upon a comprehensive concept of robustness which also links robustness to adjacent capabilities that were otherwise only treated separately.
Empowering leadership and knowledge management: the mediating role of followers' technology use
Authors: Türkmendağ Zafer , Tuna Muharrem
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of empowering leadership in intraorganizational knowledge management practices and to reveal how followers' acceptance and use of the hotel management system affect this role.

Design/methodology/approach

A serial multiple mediation model was evaluated and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The database was created from the results of a structured questionnaire obtained from 401 employees working in hotels in Turkey.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that empowering leadership has a significant effect on followers' knowledge creation, sharing and application. It was also found that the acceptance and use of the hotel management system were partially complementary to the impact of empowering leadership on followers' knowledge management practices.

Practical implications

This paper gives an insight into the empowering leader's role in gathering useful knowledge, which is self-managed within the organization, by encouraging, motivating, providing autonomous and supportive conditions and making it beneficial and easier for their followers to adapt to the organization's technologies.

Originality/value

The efficient management of knowledge in organizations through the use of technology is possible by distributing power to subordinates through expanding the theory of knowledge management, leadership and the acceptance and use of technology. Furthermore, this study contributes to the literature by establishing the theoretical foundation of the relationship between empowering leadership and knowledge management practices based on Dalkir's knowledge management model and by discussing the mediating effect of the core variables of the UTAUT model.
The impact of storytelling in creating firm and customer connections in online environments
Authors: Kemp Elyria , Porter III McDowell , Anaza Nwamaka A. , Min Dong-Jun
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Organizations can benefit significantly from the growing capabilities of the internet. As the Web facilitates purchasing and reduces the costs of marketing, companies can connect with customers through the use of storytelling. This study aims to examine how small businesses leverage the use of storytelling to engage with customers and drive revenue and online reputation management.

Design/methodology/approach

Both qualitative and quantitative insights are offered in two studies. In Study 1, interviews were conducted with business owners to explore the efforts made by their companies to connect and engage with consumers online. Study 2 builds on the findings from Study 1 and uses survey methodology to test a model which outlines how storytelling can foster engagement with customers.

Findings

Results indicate that story content is positively related to emotional content and the personal connection an individual feels toward a firm’s products. Furthermore, user-generated content moderates the relationship between story content creation and personal connections. Findings also demonstrate that personal connection is essential to customer engagement. Ultimately, engagement can lead to revenue generation from social commerce as well as increased reputation management activity.

Originality/value

This research demonstrates how small businesses can use the power of storytelling to immerse and transport audiences in such a way that customer beliefs and attitudes toward the firm are impacted in a favorable way. By telling its brand story well, firms have the power to increase the value of their products.
Enhancing the value co-creation process: artificial intelligence and mobile banking service platforms
Authors: Manser Payne Elizabeth H. , Peltier James , Barger Victor A.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships that influence the value co-creation process and lead to consumer comfort with artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile banking (AIMB) service platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was developed to investigate the value-in-use perceptions of AI-based mobile banking applications via five antecedents: baseline perceptions of current bank service delivery; service delivery configuration benefits; general data security; safety perceptions of specific mobile banking services; and perceptions of AI service delivery. Data were collected from 218 respondents and analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

This study highlights the role and importance of the sequential relationships that impact the assessment of AIMB. The findings suggest that service delivery and the customer’s role in value co-creation change as AI is introduced into a digital self-service technology channel. Furthermore, AIMB offers transaction-oriented (utilitarian) value propositions more so than relationship-oriented (hedonic) value propositions.

Research limitations/implications

The sample consisted on digital natives. Additional age cohorts are needed.

Practical implications

As financial institutions redirect their business models toward digital self-service technology channels, the need for customers to feel comfortable while interacting with an AI agent will be critical for enhancing the customer experience and firm performance.

Originality/value

The authors extend the service-dominant logic (SDL) literature by showing that value co-creation is a function of both firms’ technologies and consumers’ value-in-use, a finding that appears to be unique in the literature. The authors advance the digital transformation literature by evaluating AIMB as an interactive process that requires an understanding of key technology constructs, including perceptions of baseline service relationships, desired service configurations, security and safety issues and whether AI is useful for value co-creation. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first SDL framework that investigates interactive and structural relationships to explain value-in-use perceptions of AIMB.
Digital servitization value co-creation framework for AI services: a research agenda for digital transformation in financial service ecosystems
Authors: Manser Payne Elizabeth H. , Dahl Andrew J. , Peltier James
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Innovative firms have rapidly developed artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into their service ecosystems, essentially changing perceptions of what is service quality and service delivery in their respective industries. Nonetheless, the issues surrounding AI services remain relatively unknown. The purpose for this paper is to offer a digital servitization framework for understanding how AI services impact value perceptions, consumer engagement and firm performance measures. The authors use the financial service ecosystem to explore this topic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors explore relevant literature on digital servitization, service-dominant logic and AI/disruptive innovation. Next, a conceptual framework, organized by AI-Service Exchange Antecedents, Context of AI Usage and Digital Servitization Consequences, is developed. The authors conceptualize consequences for consumers and firms.

Findings

The main findings suggest that the linkages between consumers, financial institutions and fintech companies with AI usage in a service ecosystem should be identified; how value is created among multiple SD Logic-AI network actors should be analyzed; and the effects of AI-consumer interactions (lower-level and higher levels of engagement) on firm performance measures should be explored.

Research limitations/implications

The conceptual framework identifies gaps in the literature and suggests research questions for future studies.

Practical implications

This paper may assist practitioners with the development of AI-enabled banking activities that involve direct consumer engagement.

Originality/value

To the authors’ best knowledge, this research agenda is the first comprehensive framework for understanding value co-creation in the context of AI in financial services, linking antecedents, usage and consequences.
Assessing entrepreneurial ecosystems through a strategic value network approach: evidence from the San Francisco Area
Authors: Cavallo Angelo , Ghezzi Antonio , Sanasi Silvia
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to develop a model to assess entrepreneurial ecosystems. Specifically, the authors examine how to measure value creation and value capture mechanisms from a single participant's perspective and at the ecosystem level through a strategic value network-based approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on extant research on strategic networks, value networks and business models and leveraging a qualitative survey, the authors develop and test an assessment tool to measure value creation and capture within the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Findings

The authors show that value-based measures on entrepreneurial ecosystems provide a systemic approach to assess how ecosystems operate, which can guide policymakers, entrepreneurs and all the other stakeholders of entrepreneurial ecosystems in their strategic decision-making process.

Originality/value

The authors provide an original model grounded in the strategic management and entrepreneurship literature for entrepreneurial ecosystems' assessment as few studies have done before. Besides, the authors provide an illustrative attempt to show how to empirically apply the original model by assessing the San Francisco Bay Area's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Big data analytics and competitive advantage: the strategic role of firm-specific knowledge
Authors: Dahiya Rajiv , Le Son , Ring John Kirk , Watson Kevin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

While advances in big data analytics (BDA) provide valuable business insights and immense business value, many firms find it difficult to gain advantage from their BDA initiatives. Noting the strategic role of firm-specific knowledge, we develop a framework examining the relation between firm specificity of BDA knowledge and competitive advantage. We also examine the dynamic evolution of BDA capabilities and the associated knowledge management strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

We review the resource-based view (RBV), capabilities life cycles and absorptive capacity perspectives along with the literature on BDA competitive advantage. Identifying two key BDA factors, application customization and data proprietorship, we develop a BDA competitive advantage framework. We also investigate the absorptive capacities employed by firms to advance their BDA capabilities. We use anecdotal cases to support our theoretical arguments.

Findings

We propose that BDA solutions with vendor-based applications (noncustomized) and public data will not generate firm-specific knowledge and therefore not provide competitive advantage. In contrast, BDA solutions with custom applications and proprietary data will provide high-level firm-specific knowledge and potentially result in sustained competitive advantage. We further suggest the relevant absorptive capacities and the knowledge management strategies for BDA capability development.

Practical implications

Our framework provides managers with insights into how to develop and enhance firm-specific knowledge from their BDA solutions to gain competitive advantage.

Originality/value

Our study offers a new BDA firm-specific knowledge framework for competitive advantage.
Entrepreneurial orientation, knowledge management, dynamic capabilities towards e-commerce adoption of SMEs in Indonesia
Authors: Nasution Muhammad Dharma Tuah Putra , Rafiki Ahmad , Lubis Adelina , Rossanty Yossie
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO), knowledge management process (KMP) and dynamic capability (DC) toward the adoption of electronic commerce (e-commerce) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in North Sumatera.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a quantitative methodology using Smart PLS of structural equation model. A survey is done by distributing the questionnaires to the respondents (owner-managers) of SMEs across sectors. Using a convenient sampling technique, 131 respondents were selected. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 11 hypotheses were tested.

Findings

It is found that both innovativeness and proactiveness of EO have a significant relationship with e-commerce adoption (EA), while the risk-taking of EO is found as insignificant. Both risk-taking and proactiveness of EO are significantly related to KMP, but innovation of EO is found to be insignificant. Moreover, KMP significantly mediates the relationship between risk-taking and proactiveness of EO and EA, while KMP insignificantly mediates the relationship between innovativeness of EO and EA. Finally, it is found that DC has a significant relationship in EA.

Originality/value

By using the resource based-theory, the study on the decision of EA by SMEs is conducted which focuses on a number of internal and external factors influencing the adoption decision. This differs from other studies using theories of the technological, organizational and environmental, theory of acceptance and use of technology, theory of planned behavior, theory of reasoned action and others which emphasized on the implementation and usage of EA.
Work + learning: unpacking the agglomerated use of pedagogical terms
Authors: Fergusson Lee , van der Laan Luke
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The association of work and learning has been well established for many years. However, some of the terms used to describe the various pedagogies related to work and learning have been used interchangeably, with many lacking definitional clarity and scope. These include work-related learning (WRL), work-based learning, workplace learning (WPL) and work-integrated learning (WIL). This agglomerating approach to usage has resulted in pedagogical confusion and what some theorists call a “problematization” for the field, resulting in undermining shared understanding and potential benefit. The purpose of this conceptual paper is an attempt to unpack the meaning and application of some of the key pedagogical terms used in the applied field of work + learning theory and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual modelling and qualitative descriptions of each pedagogy.

Findings

Many of the work + learning pedagogies do overlap and cohere but attempts to create umbrella terms, which apply to all theories and approaches, are misguided; definitional clarity with the different modes of practice is required for sustainable educational outcomes.

Originality/value

A proto-theoretical model, along with a breakdown of distinguishing features of each term as well as their source in the published literature, has been developed to improve clarity and aid the future praxis of educators.