bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Business strategy, intellectual capital, firm performance, and bankruptcy risk: evidence from Oman's non-financial sector companies
Authors: Dalwai Tamanna , Salehi Mahdi
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This research examines the influence of business strategy and intellectual capital on firm performance and bankruptcy risk of Oman's non-financial sector companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The data comprises 380 firm-year observations collected from 2015 to 2019 for the non-financial sector companies listed on the Muscat Securities Market. This study measures business strategy using the Miles and Snow typologies and Porter's strategies as alternative measures. The study uses the Granger-causality test to measure the bi-directional causality between independent and dependent variables. The authors use alternative measurements of business strategy and 2SLS/IV estimation to validate the OLS results.

Findings

According to the Miles and Snow typologies, most of Oman's non-financial firms were analyzers. The empirical results show a negative relationship between business strategy and return on equity (ROE), suggesting defender-type strategy leads to an increase in firm performance. The OLS results show no influence of A-VAIC on firm performance and Altman-Zscore. The structural capital efficiency is positively associated with ROA, and AltmanZscore consistent with the hypothesized relationship. The Granger causality test shows no inference of causality between any independent and dependent variables except forZscore and CEE.

Research limitations/implications

The business strategy results from the firm performance and bankruptcy risk models are valuable to the researchers from an emerging market and non-financial companies' perspective. Oman's diversification strategy of its economic activities through non-financial sector companies receives an impetus through the findings of this study. As this study is limited to Oman's non-financial sector companies, future research on business strategy impact can be extended to the financial sector, other GCC, and emerging countries.

Originality/value

The findings of this study contribute to the sparse literature on business strategy in an emerging market like Oman. This study enriches the knowledge of business strategy typologies proposed by Miles and Snow, and Porter. It also contributes to the extant literature on firm performance and bankruptcy risk.
Does brand credibility matter? The case of organic food products
Authors: Sekhar Chandra , Krishna Swati , Kayal Ghadeer G. , Rana Nripendra P.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study's main objective is to investigate the influence of brand credibility on the intention to purchase organic food. In addition, this research studies the moderating role of customer ethnocentricity as well as the mediating role of customer value.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore correlations between brand credibility and purchase intentions, cross-sectional data were collected from 433 Indian consumers. The data were analysed by structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings indicate that brand credibility is positively related to purchasing intention. The association between brand credibility and purchasing intentions is partially mediated by customer value. Customer ethnocentrism was also shown to have a negative moderation effect. Healthiness, high quality and sensory properties (i.e. natural taste) were found to be some of the most significant organic food characteristics, according to Indian consumers.

Research limitations/implications

The research is confined to India's geographical area, specifically the National Capital Regions.

Practical implications

To increase the purchase frequency of local or global branded organic food, businesses can include rational features in their marketing method such as the health benefits compared to the conventional product, a better emphasis on environmental safety and the social advantages of organic food.

Originality/value

This study develops an integrative model, including brand credibility (PBG & PBL), to predict organic food purchase intentions. This is an important contribution as, according to the results of the literature review, no previous studies have analysed these relationships.
Is my employee still attracted to me? Understanding the impact of integrated communication and choice of communication channels on employee attraction
Authors: Deepa R. , Baral Rupashree
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The study attempts to extend the current scholarship in the field of employer branding. Integrated communication is about consistent communication that is synergistic through multiple communication channels. Employer branding activities that involve multiple internal communication channels aim to attract employees. The study proposes that the perceived impact of effective integrated communication in employer branding shapes employee attitude and hence employee attraction. Employee perception of the choice of communication channels is also proposed to have an impact on employee attraction.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory qualitative study in the form of interviews and a preliminary survey was conducted in the first phase. The main study involved a questionnaire survey to empirically test the proposed hypotheses. The respondents were information technology–business process management (IT-BPM) employees (n = 520) in India.

Findings

The direct and interaction effects of integrated communication and usefulness of communication channels on employee attraction within the organization were empirically validated to suggest a positive impact on employee attraction.

Originality/value

The study extends the current body of knowledge on talent attraction to include present employees. Similarly, the study on integrated communication and its impact on employee attraction is an important addition to the literature on employer branding, internal communication and talent management, given the present coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation.
A numerical method based on Haar wavelets for the Hadamard-type fractional differential equations
Authors: ul Abdeen Zain , Rehman Mujeeb ur
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain a numerical scheme for finding numerical solutions of linear and nonlinear Hadamard-type fractional differential equations.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim of this paper is to develop a numerical scheme for numerical solutions of Hadamard-type fractional differential equations. The classical Haar wavelets are modified to align them with Hadamard-type operators. Operational matrices are derived and used to convert differential equations to systems of algebraic equations.

Findings

The upper bound for error is estimated. With the help of quasilinearization, nonlinear problems are converted to sequences of linear problems and operational matrices for modified Haar wavelets are used to get their numerical solution. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the applicability and validity of the proposed method.

Originality/value

The numerical method is purposed for solving Hadamard-type fractional differential equations.
To click or not to click the link: the factors influencing internet banking users’ intention in responding to phishing emails
Authors: Manoharan Suganthi , Katuk Norliza , Hassan Syahida , Ahmad Rahayu
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Despite internet banking’s popularity, there is a rise in phishing attacks related to online banking transactions. Phishing attacks involved the process of sending out electronic mails impersonating the valid banking institutions to their customers and demanding confidential data such as credential and transaction authorisation code. The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical model of individual and technological factors influencing Malaysian internet banking users’ intention in responding to malicious uniform resource locator (URL) in phishing email content.

Design/methodology/approach

It applied the protective motivation theory, the theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour, the habit theory and the trust theory to examine the factors influencing internet banking users’ intention to click URLs in phishing emails. The study identifies individual and technological factors with ten hypotheses. A total of 368 Malaysian respondents voluntarily participated in an online survey conducted in the first week of March 2021. The partial least squares method provided in SmartPLS-3 was used to model the data.

Findings

The results revealed that individual factors, namely, internet banking experience, understanding the phishing meaning, response cost, trust and perceived ability were the significant influencing factors of internet banking users’ intention to click the link in phishing emails. This study also suggested that technological factors were not relevant in describing the behavioural intention of internet banking users in clicking the links in phishing emails.

Social implications

The findings could contribute to Malaysian banking sectors and relevant government agencies in educating and increasing internet banking users’ awareness towards phishing emails.

Originality/value

The outcomes demonstrated the individual factors that influenced internet banking users’ intention in responding to phishing emails that are specific and relevant to Malaysia’s context.
The impact of financial instruments disclosures on the cost of equity capital
Authors: Yamani Amal , Hussainey Khaled , Albitar Khaldoon
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of financial instrument disclosures under the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 7 on the cost of equity capital (COEC).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 56 banks listed in the Gulf cooperation council (GCC) stock markets over 7 years from 2011 to 2017. A self-constructed index is used to measure the compliance level in addition to quantitative methods and panel data regression adopted to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find that the compliance level with IFRS 7 does not improve from 2011 until 2017 in the GCC banks. The authors also find that compliance with IFRS 7 disclosures reduces the COEC.

Originality/value

The authors also provide new empirical evidence that the level of mandatory financial instruments disclosures under IFRS 7 reduces the COEC. The findings offer policy implications. It shows that compliance with IFRS 7 disclosure requirements leads to desirable economic consequences.
Assessing the impacts of climate change to financial stability: evidence from China
Authors: Liu Zhonglu , Sun Haibo , Tang Songlin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Climate change not only causes serious economic losses but also influences financial stability. The related research is still at the initial stage. This paper aims to examine and explore the impact of climate change on financial stability in China.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first uses vector autoregression model to study the impact of climate change to financial stability and applies NARDL model to assess the nonlinear asymmetric effect of climate change on China’s financial stability using monthly data from 2002 to 2018.

Findings

The results show that both positive and negative climate shocks do harm to financial stability. In the short term, the effect of positive climate shocks on financial stability is greater than the negative climate shocks in the current period, but less in the lag period. In the long term, negative climate shocks bring larger adjustments to financial stability relative to positive climate shocks. Moreover, compared with the short-term effect, climate change is more destructive to financial stability in the long run.

Originality/value

The paper provides a quantitative reference for assessing the nexus between climate change and financial stability from a nonlinear and asymmetric perspective, which is beneficial for understanding climate-related financial risks.
Causal effects of immigration inflows on house prices in a traditionally non-destination country
Authors: Wong Woei Chyuan , Soon Jan-Jan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the causal impact of international immigration inflows on housing prices at the state level in Malaysia from 2007 to 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

Hedonic regressions using both fixed effects and first difference approaches are used to estimate the impact of immigration inflows on house prices in Malaysia. This study deals with potential endogeneity of immigrants’ choices of destination states in Malaysia by using a shift-share instrument variable approach. Specifically, historical shares of immigrants in a state are used to predict current immigrant inflows to a particular state. The predicted value of immigration flows is then inserted into the house price regression models in place of the actual immigration flows.

Findings

Using annual data for 14 states from 2007 to 2018, this study documents the positive impact of immigration inflows on house prices in Malaysia. The authors find that a 1% increase in immigration inflows is associated with an increase of 10.2% (first difference) and 13.4% (fixed effects) in house prices. The economic impact is larger in magnitude than that found in developed countries. Contrary to existing studies that find immigration inflows to be associated with native flight, the authors find support for the attraction effects hypothesis, where immigration inflow is positive and significantly related to net native flows.

Research limitations/implications

The effects of immigration inflows are economically significant, considering that the effects are 10 times larger than those documented in the USA. Policymakers in Malaysia ought to monitor house price trends in immigrant-popular states to ensure that natives are not priced out by new immigrants.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is perhaps the first study to focus on the relationship between immigration inflows and house prices in Malaysia. Focusing on Malaysia has at least two originality aspects. First, Malaysia is relatively not an immigrant-popular destination. Second, Malaysia has a multiracial and heterogenous society among its natives. The findings, obtained within these two settings, would therefore provide a wider scope of result generalization, and natural experiment grounds for causal implications of our results.
Developing a ranking methodology for Sharīʿah indices: the case of Borsa Istanbul
Authors: Orhan Zeyneb Hafsa , Isiker Murat
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a ranking methodology for the companies included in the Islamic indices in Turkey. Thus, this paper simplifies the decision-making process for investors with Islamic sensitivities to stock market investment when constructing their investment portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a case study of 20 companies listed on Borsa Istanbul, drawing data from their 2017, 2018 and 2019 financial reports. These companies are scored and ranked according to their compatibility with the screening criteria used by Ziraat Katilim index in Turkey. In addition, this paper uses the quantitative screening process to calculate the ranking scores of these companies.

Findings

The findings show that some companies are highly compatible with the screening criteria, with ranking scores close to 100 points. However, some companies satisfied the criteria on the margin. This may not be a desirable result for some investors.

Research limitations/implications

Only 20 companies are included in the analysis. Since the conventional accounting system is used in Turkey, it was difficult to get exact information about the companies’ Sharīʿah compatibility from the financial results.

Practical implications

The findings assist investors to determine which company is ethically more responsible than others within the Islamic framework. There are also implications for the companies in question, index providers and Sharīʿah scholars.

Social implications

The findings aim to simplify the decision-making process of investors who have Islamic sensitivities to stock exchange market investment when they constitute their portfolio.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is one of the first attempts to develop a ranking methodology for Sharīʿah-screened stocks in Turkey even though Sharīʿah screening has been on the agenda since the late 1990s. This paper also compares 11 indices based on their screening criteria.
Does asymmetric information affect firm's financing decisions?
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Munir , Hunjra Ahmed Imran , Islam Faridul , Zureigat Qasim
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The authors examine the impact of asymmetric information on firm's financing decisions, the feedback effect of changes in capital structure on the level of asymmetric information, and the speed of adjustments in capital structure on its target leverage.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors extract the data on 280 non-financial firms listed in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) from the DataStream. The authors implement the generalized method of moments (GMM), complemented by the fixed effect model (FEM) to estimate the model coefficients.

Findings

The authors find that asymmetric information significantly affects the financing decisions; and that on average, firms adjust 26% of the total debt toward their target capital structure. The negative effect from the difference between the observed and target changes in leverage on asymmetric information confirms that capital structure changes act as a signal for future profitability and helps the management to lower its level of asymmetric information.

Originality/value

The findings offer fresh insight into the effect of asymmetric information on financing decisions, as well as the speed of adjustment of capital structure toward its target leverage, in the context of the firms working in emerging markets like Pakistan. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the impact of asymmetric information on financing decisions that incorporate firm's age, size and the global financial crises 2007–2008. The authors construct an asymmetric information index using both accounting and finance measures of asymmetry.
What inhibits consumers in emerging countries from engaging in status consumption? A latent class conjoint analysis approach
Authors: Ali A.R.S. Ibn , Dahana Wirawan Dony
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to address how the status consumption tendency of consumers in emerging markets is negatively influenced by five individual traits: self-control, self-actualization, religiosity, future orientation and self-efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

A conjoint experiment measured the importance of certain smartphone product attributes. A latent class regression analysis was then employed to estimate segment-level part-worths using conjoint data collected from 500 Bangladeshi consumers.

Findings

The results revealed three segments with members that differ in how they evaluate smartphone product attributes. Those susceptible to a product's brand name (i.e. status seekers) appear to have low self-control, are less religious and are more myopic.

Research limitations/implications

An issue may exist with generalizability, as the analysis was conducted based on data collected in one country and for one product category. However, this study's framework provides direction for future researchers to better understand status consumption in emerging countries.

Practical implications

The findings are useful for marketers selling status products to improve market segmentation and target their offerings more efficiently.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is twofold. First, it investigates the influencing factors of status consumption that have not been addressed in the extant literature. Second, it is the first to use experimental data to measure segment-level status consumption accurately.
What factors can explain the performance of energy companies in Portugal? Panel data evidence
Authors: Neves Maria Elisabete Duarte , Baptista Luís , Dias António Gomes , Lisboa Inês
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the determinants of Portuguese energy companies' performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve our objective, we have used data from 457 Portuguese energy companies, in the period between 2011 and 2018. Three dependent variables were tested using panel data, through the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation method.

Findings

The results point out that the determinants of companies' performance change according to how different stakeholders appreciate corporate performance. In general, shareholders are concerned with maintaining their levels of profitability over time as well as with the company's market image. Managers are centered on maintaining solid margins on EBITDA through good management of cash flow, leverage and current assets. For the rest of the stakeholders, including global society, debt and investments in tangible fixed assets reduce profitability while investments in immaterial assets help to create value and performance for energy companies.

Originality/value

As far as the authors are aware, this is the first time that a study has been carried out in the Portuguese energy sector using the GMM-system model for three different stakeholders' views of corporate performance determinants.
Do job competencies influence the satisfaction of customers? An investigation in the cooperative banking sector
Authors: Shanujas V. , Radha Ramanan T.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

A cooperative bank customer in India has varied needs and is a unique segment of Indian banking. The purpose of the study is to provide the sector with an understanding of the needs of the cooperative bank customers in the context of improving core competencies required for the delivery of service.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted multiple methods that included the Delphi method as well for competency identification. Appropriate factor analyses are conducted to confirm the construct validity and to determine the underlying structure of the variables chosen for the study. Stepwise multiple regression analysis is employed for data analysis.

Findings

Surprisingly, emotional competency showed an insignificant relationship with customer satisfaction. The social and technical competencies are found significant. The findings suggest the incorporation of technological advancements in cooperative banks.

Research limitations/implications

The generalization of the results is limited as the work was confined only to cooperative banks and also because of the limited sample size. The self-reported nature of competency measures also limits the accuracy of results.

Practical implications

This work suggests that a bank has to concentrate on improving the technical competencies of the employees. The findings could also aid the bank managements in policy decisions in recruitment, selection, performance appraisal among others.

Social implications

Competent employees could help meet the customers to satisfy their financial needs and thereby the social and economic development of the weaker section of the society could be achieved.

Originality/value

Conducting primary research and identification of technical competency as the major contributor to customer satisfaction are the major contributions.
In search of supplier flexibility performance measurement
Authors: Forslund Helena , Mattsson Stig-Arne
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify, characterize and assess supplier flexibility measurement practices in the order-to-delivery process.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved a survey; participants were 224 purchasing managers at Swedish manufacturing companies that had more than 20 employees.

Findings

Scrutiny of the details of measurement practices revealed that most respondents actually do not specifically measure supplier flexibility. Instead they measure other measures like delivery reliability, conduct qualitative follow-ups, or cannot specify how supplier flexibility is measured. It was acknowledged that they measure different supplier flexibility aspects, and the applied measures were characterized, e.g. in terms of which flexibility dimension they represent.

Research limitations/implications

Conceptual clarifications and adaptations to measuring supplier flexibility in the order-to-delivery process are provided. The identified measures can be a contribution in further developing literature on flexibility performance measurement.

Practical implications

Purchasing, logistics and supply chain managers in search of supplier flexibility performance measurement can find ways to measure and an extended flexibility vocabulary. This has the potential to improve flexibility in the supply chain.

Originality/value

Even though flexibility is claimed as being an important competitive advantage, few empirical studies and operationalized measures exist, particularly in the order-to-delivery process.
Determinants of employee creative behavior in the UAE public sector
Authors: Al Hosani Khawla Ali , van Ewijk Anne Rienke , Hussain Matloub
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Service levels between public organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) differ and fluctuate. Service levels were found to increase with the level of employee creative behavior (ECB), which is currently a focal point in organizational policies by the federal UAE government. While the literature presents an ample array of determinants of ECB, local context typically influences which determinants provide more leverage than others. Therefore, this research aims to present a customized ranking of determinants that enables managers in the UAE public sector to successfully stimulate ECB.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a systematic literature review, this study identified 21 determinants at four different levels and subsequently utilized the analytic hierarchical process (AHP) to map their relative importance. Data were attained from 33 experts: managers and senior employees from different organizations.

Findings

Findings indicate that, overall, the individual level is seen as the most important leverage point to stimulate ECB, followed by the team level. Comparing the determinants under each level, management support (organizational level) is perceived as the most impactful, followed by coworker support (team level), and enhancing creative self-efficacy (individual level).

Originality/value

This study compares obtained levels from other studies with new levels in building the AHP model. These insights guide managers in the UAE public sector who aim to enhance ECB, which will contribute to increased service quality. The study introduced a comprehensive ECB framework of 21 determinants. Even though many ECB studies applied in different countries and industries, but to researchers' knowledge, this is the first ECB study that applied at the UAE's public sector using the AHP model.
Integrated reporting quality and cost of debt financing
Authors: Raimo Nicola , Caragnano Alessandra , Mariani Massimo , Vitolla Filippo
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In recent years, policymakers have increasingly pushed firms to disclose non-financial information. In Europe, integrated reporting (IR) is an increasingly adopted tool to fully comply with the requirements of the Directive 2014/95/EU. This study aims to examine the financial benefits of IR quality and specifically the effect on the cost of debt.

Design/methodology/approach

A manual content analysis is performed to measure the quality of the information contained in integrated reports. A panel regression model is used to test the effect of the IR quality on the cost of debt on a sample of 399 observations (a balanced panel of 133 European listed firms for the period 2017–2019).

Findings

Results demonstrate a negative relationship between IR quality and the cost of debt, showing that firms that provide higher quality integrated reports benefit from access to third party financial resources at better conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study offer important implications for managers and policymakers. The capacity of IR quality to allow a cost of debt reduction should push managers to a greater propensity towards transparency and the dissemination of high quality integrated reports. In addition, in light of the benefits connected to the IR quality, policymakers should push towards the adoption of IR as a solution to fulfil the regulatory obligations deriving from Directive 2014/95/EU.

Practical implications

Results show the goodness of IR as an ideal solution to fulfil the obligations imposed by Directive 2014/95/EU. The important financial benefits associated with IR quality make the high quality integrated report an ideal tool capable of fulfilling regulatory obligations and at the same time guaranteeing a reduction in the cost of debt.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work that analyses the relationship between IR quality and cost of debt.
Disruptive financial innovations: the case of Nigerian micro-entrepreneurs
Authors: Adeosun Oluyemi Theophilus , Shittu Ayodele Ibrahim , Ugbede Daniel
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Despite the noticeable consequences of disruptive financial innovations, access to finance remains a major factor inhibiting the sustainable-growth potentials of young micro-entrepreneurs in informal settings. This study examines the determinants of financing options among micro-entrepreneurs in informal settings. Specifically, the study seeks to establish whether credit history, income, asset, gender, awareness and network capability have effects on formal and informal financing options among micro-entrepreneurs in informal settings.

Design/methodology/approach

This article uses the survey research design and administers a structured questionnaire among 300 purposively selected micro-entrepreneurs within the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Only 291 completed questionnaires are retrieved. This article also uses the multiple regression analysis to estimate the empirical model and test the research hypotheses respectively.

Findings

This article establishes that: (1) credit history and assets-based financing are significant determinants of formal financing options among young micro-entrepreneurs in informal settings, (2) gender and network capability are significant determinants of informal financing options among young micro-entrepreneurs in informal settings and (3) awareness is significant of both formal and informal financing options among young micro-entrepreneurs in informal settings.

Originality/value

This article examines the determinants of financing option among young micro-entrepreneurs in informal settings. Specifically, the study seeks to establish whether credit history income asset gender awareness and network capability have effects on formal and informal financing options among micro-entrepreneurs in informal settings.
Influence of perceived risks on the decision to invest in equity crowdfunding: a study of Malaysian investors
Authors: Wasiuzzaman Shaista , Chong Lee Lee , Ong Hway Boon
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of various risk factors, specifically investment risk, legal risk and technology risk, on the decision of investors to invest in equity crowdfunding ventures in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 169 valid responses out of a total of 195 questionnaires were distributed to individuals with prior knowledge of equity crowdfunding. The data from the responses are used to test the relationships using structural equation modeling partial least squares (SEM-PLS).

Findings

Investigation into the influence of risk factors on the willingness to support equity crowdfunding shows that investment risk and legal risk significantly influence the decision to support equity crowdfunding ventures, but technology risk does not. However, while the influence of investment risk is negative, legal risk is found to have a positive influence.

Originality/value

This study is important as, to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to empirically test the relationship between the various risks inherent in equity crowdfunding investments and the decision to invest. The study is also important to entrepreneurs and start-ups as it provides evidence that while the equity crowdfunding investment community follows the norms of investment, i.e. lower risk is preferred, stricter laws and regulations governing equity crowdfunding may not be needed or may only be relevant in countries where there are more retail, unsophisticated investors.
Are firms' expectations on the availability of external finance rational, adaptive or regressive?
Authors: Anastasiou Dimitrios , Giannoulakis Stelios
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study investigates which expectation formation mechanism governs Eurozone firms regarding their expectations on external finance availability.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, we link consecutive surveys from the Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises to bring new evidence on how non-financial corporations shape their expectations on external finance availability.

Findings

In line with the past literature, we demonstrate that the data reject the Rational Expectations hypothesis, and we find evidence in favor of the Adaptive Expectation mechanism.

Originality/value

This is the first study studying firms' expectations of external finance availability, implementing survey data of firms' expectations from the SAFE database on a country level. The formation of firm expectations is vital in directing policymakers in designing appropriate monetary policies, as both the employment and inflation targets of central banks around the world are highly dependent on the firm-level decision process.
Ethnic disparity in mental health legislation at the point of inpatient entry: pilot review in detained adolescents with developmental disorders
Authors: Morris Deborah J. , Webb Elanor Lucy , Foster-Davies Lowri , Wallang Paul M. , Gibbs David , McAllister Peter D. , Shaddel Farshad
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Ethical concerns about the use of the Mental Health Act (MHA) have led to calls for developmental disorders to be removed from the list of mental disorders for which individuals can be detained. In parallel, there are long-standing concerns of ethnic disparity in the application of the MHA. Nonetheless, the impact of the intersections of developmental disorder diagnosis, adolescence and ethnicity on the application of the MHA is unknown. This study aims to explore ethnic differences in MHA sections and the factors accounting for this, in an adolescent inpatient developmental disorder service.

Design/methodology/approach

File reviews were conducted to explore differences in MHA status, as well as demographic, clinical and risk factors that may account for this, between 39 white British and ethnic minority adolescents detained to a specialist inpatient developmental disorder service.

Findings

Consistent with adult literature, adolescents of an ethnic minority were overrepresented in the sample and were significantly more likely to be detained on Part III or “forensic” sections of the MHA than White British counterparts, with five times greater risk. Analyses revealed no significant differences between ethnic minority and white British participants on demographic variables, clinical needs, risk behaviours, risk measures nor application of restrictive practices and safeguarding procedures.

Practical implications

National audits exploring patterns of detention under the MHA across adolescent developmental disorder populations need to include analysis of intersections to ensure that the MHA is used as a means of last resort and in an equitable manner.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first comprehensive exploration of the impact of ethnicity on detention patterns in ethnic minority and White British populations.
Halal company identity and halal restaurant loyalty: the role of customer satisfaction, customer trust and customer-company identification
Authors: Mursid Ali , Wu Cedric Hsi-Jui
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of halal company identity includes halal identity similarity, halal identity distinctiveness and halal identity prestige on customer satisfaction and customer trust. Furthermore, it verifies the influence of customer satisfaction and customer trust on customer-company identification. Finally, it explores the effect of customer-company identification on halal restaurant loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

This study selected a sample of halal restaurants in the area of Semarang City, Indonesia, using a purposive sampling method with a total of 520 respondents. The data analysis uses confirmatory factor analysis to identify discriminant and convergent validity and then structural equation modeling is used to validate the hypotheses.

Findings

The result showed that all aspects of halal company identity, namely, halal identity similarity, halal identity distinctiveness and halal identity prestige, significantly affect customer satisfaction. Halal identity similarity and halal identity distinctiveness insignificantly affect customer trust; however, halal identity prestige successfully affects customer trust. Both customer satisfaction and customer trust positively impact customer-company identification and, in turn, customer-company identification impacts halal restaurant loyalty.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the theory of halal tourism based on social identity theory and the theory of relationship quality in achieving customer loyalty of halal restaurants.
Open dialogue and co-production: promoting a dialogical practice culture in the co-production of teaching and learning within nurse education
Authors: Pearson Mark , Sunderland Linda , Hendy Corrine
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The evidence base associated with Open dialogue (OD) continues to develop. However, much of the literature associated with this “whole system philosophy” is focussed within therapeutic clinical practice. The purpose of this paper is to explore another key aspect of OD within a higher education context, the creation of “dialogical practice culture” and the application of key OD principles to enable an open, empowering ethos which permeates all aspects of teaching and learning and supports co-production.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a collective auto ethnographic approach to reflect on their experiences of developing and delivering a series of co-produced seminars within pre-registration mental health nurse education over a period of 4 years. This paper explores the data produced through this process focussing on the pedagogical impact and challenges of applying OD principles to teaching and learning practice.

Findings

The paper highlights the way in which two core principles of OD, resonate with the co-production process within teaching design and delivery. Moreover, the paper illustrates the impact that threading these principles throughout teaching practice can have: enhancing the learning environment and facilitating mutual empowerment, and thus supporting the students’ development of empowering therapeutic practice with service users. A significant theme in these reflections has been the nature of empowerment and the necessity to openly address power differentials and relationships.

Originality/value

This innovative paper is the first to explore the application of OD principles within a nurse education context; considering how they support co-production and enable an empowering culture. This exploration helps to provide a foundation for further inquiry and research.
Using reflective, authentic assessments to embed employability skills in higher education
Authors: Miller Elizabeth , Konstantinou Iro
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Reflection on performance and progress prepares students for workplace environments where self-management is expected, and yet this is something students are not often required to do formally in higher education (HE). This paper explores this gap in students' ability and seeks to address it through a reconsideration of summative assessment practices which, particularly in light of COVID-19, must align with the needs of graduates and their employers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws from data collected from the summative reflective assessment reports that degree apprentices (DAs) submitted during the final year of their Business Management degree while undertaking a problem-based module. We undertook a document analysis of these reports and used thematic analysis where we systematically looked for repeated themes in students' reflections.

Findings

Students problematise the skills needed during COVID-19, and beyond, both in their academic studies and the workplace. Authentic assessment provides opportunities for students to work on skills and projects which are relevant to them. Through reflective accounts of skills they developed, students were able to bridge academic and professional practice and identify areas of convergence. Students engaged with academic theories in a constructive and meaningful way which suggests that authentic reflective accounts as part of assessment have the potential to maintain academic rigour.

Originality/value

Skills development can bring the workplace into HE in a meaningful and systematic way and this article provides guidance for those looking to introduce reflection on skills to other courses. We suggest how this model can be utilised across modules which do not have work-integrated learning in their delivery.
The effect of interdisciplinary components' citation intensity on scientific impact
Authors: Chen Shiji , Song Yanhui , Qiu Junping , Larivière Vincent
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study explores whether interdisciplinary components' citation intensity (ICCI) affects papers' scientific impact. In this study, the term “interdisciplinary components” refers to the disciplines that are different from the discipline to which the target research belongs. The citation intensity is the degree of density or sparseness of the paper citation network for a discipline. Previous studies have shown that the scientific impact of interdisciplinary research is influenced by interdisciplinarity and its properties, namely, variety, balance and disparity. However, the effect of ICCI on scientific impact has not been comprehensively explored.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the entire publication database of the Web of Science for the year 2000, where the authors provide an indicator to measure the ICCI of each publication. A tobit regression model is used to examine the effect of ICCI on scientific impact, controlling for a range of variables associated with the characteristics of the publications studied.

Findings

The results show that ICCI has a positive effect on scientific impact. The authors’ results further point out that ICCI displays a curvilinear inverted U-shape relationship with scientific impact. It means that including more citation-intensive interdisciplinary components can increase the scientific impact of interdisciplinary research. However, excessive use of citation-intensive interdisciplinary components may reduce the scientific impact of interdisciplinary research.

Originality/value

This study shows that, in addition to interdisciplinarity, the scientific impact of interdisciplinary research is also affected by the citation characteristics of interdisciplinary components, namely ICCI.
Assessing fiscal sustainability in Egypt: a comparative study
Authors: Al Sayed Ola , Samir Ashraf , Anwar Heba Hesham
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the fiscal sustainability in Egypt during the period 1990–2018 using deficit accounts (DA) approach. It also tries to investigate the possibility of applying generational accounts (GA) in Egypt as a new approach to assess fiscal sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tries to assess fiscal sustainability in Egypt during 1990–2018 using DA and GA approaches. DA approach includes primary deficit indicator, tax gap indicator, augmented Dickey-Fuller stationarity test for debt/GDP ratio and Johansen co-integration test between government revenues and expenditures. However, concerning the possibility of applying GA in Egypt, field study form was designed including specific questions to academic and executive economic experts to investigate if it is possible to apply GA in Egypt.

Findings

The empirical findings of the field study indicate that Egypt witnessed fiscal sustainability during the period 1990–2018 using DA. On the other hand, there are various obstacles, including administrative, technical, legal and political obstacles which hinder Egypt from applying GA to assess fiscal sustainability.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper assesses fiscal sustainability in Egypt using DA for a longer and updated time series within 1990–2018. In addition, it is the first paper to examine the possibility of assessing fiscal sustainability using GA approach in Egypt.
The effect of 3D printing parameters on electrochemical properties of heterogeneous cation exchange membrane
Authors: Zárybnická Lucie , Stránská Eliška , Janegová Kristýna , Vydrová Barbora
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The study aims to focus on the preparation of a heterogeneous cation exchange membrane by a three-dimensional (3D) method – fused filament fabrication using a series of nozzles of various diameters (0.4–1.0 mm). Polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) as a polymeric binder was mixed with 50 Wt.% of the selected conventional cation exchange resin, and a filament was prepared using a single screw mini extruder. Then filament was processed by FFF into the membranes with a defined 3D structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Electrochemical properties, morphology, mechanical properties and water absorption properties were tested.

Findings

Dependence of the tested properties on the used nozzle diameter was found. Both areal and specific resistances increased with increasing nozzle diameter. The same trend was also found for permselectivity. The optimal membrane with permselectivity above 90%, areal resistance of 8 O.cm2 and specific resistance of 124 O.cm2 was created using a nozzle diameter of 0.4 mm.

Originality/value

Using new materials for 3D print of cation exchange membrane with production without waste. The possibility of producing 3D membranes with a precisely defined structure and using a cheap 3D printing method. New direction of membrane structure formation. 3D-printed heterogeneous cation exchange membranes were prepared, which can compete with commercial membranes produced by conventional technologies. 3D-printed heterogeneous cation exchange membranes were prepared, which can compete with commercial membranes produced by conventional technologies.