bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ghana’s ICT4AD policy: between policy and reality
Authors: Kubuga Kennedy Kumangkem , Ayoung Daniel Azerikatoa , Bekoe Stephen
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Nearly at the end of its lifespan, the Ghana ICT4AD policy is in a position for a holistic view, especially through the eyes of the intended beneficiaries. This paper aims to fill that gap. The paper measures the gap between what was intended and what has been realised and, based on that, makes recommendations for stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used the design reality gap analysis approach to numerically examine the deviation or otherwise of the ideals of the Ghana ICT4AD policy from or to the reality on the ground. It required the breaking down of the problem into dimensions and subdimensions and involved interviewing office holders, academics, practitioners and students over a three-year period. The recommendations include a review of the policy before it expires and an explicit designation of an agency responsible for coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the various stages of the policy.

Findings

The chief finding is that Ghana’s ICT4AD policy might miss the targets totally, or might well be a partial failure unless action is taken to close the design–reality gaps identified by the research. As the policy is almost at the end of its lifespan, recommendations are even more useful when the recommended revision takes place.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation of the is that it looks only at the implementation success or failure without a probe into the causal factors and/or the impact on society.

Practical implications

The policy runs full term at end 2022, with large gaps between the plans of the framers and the reality on the ground. An immediate revision of the policy is most recommended.

Originality/value

Besides this study, the authors have not come across any such comprehensive study of the Ghana ICT4AD policy, especially with the amount of data now available after two decades. There is a similarity with a Pakistani study, which has been acknowledged in this study, but the two works differ greatly in methodology, context and style.
Predicting agricultural and livestock products purchases using the Internet search index and data mining techniques
Authors: Rho Hoyoung , Choi Keunho , Yoo Donghee
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study identifies whether the Internet search index can be used as effective enough data to identify agricultural and livestock product demand and compare the accuracy of the prediction of major agricultural and livestock products purchases between these prediction models using artificial neural network, linear regression and a decision tree.

Design/methodology/approach

Artificial neural network, linear regression and decision tree algorithms were used in this study to compare the accuracy of the prediction of major agricultural and livestock products purchases. The analysis data were studied using 10-fold cross validation.

Findings

First, the importance of the Internet search index among the 20 explanatory variables was found to be high for most items, so the Internet search index can be used as a variable to explain agricultural and livestock products purchases. Second, as a result of comparing the accuracy of the prediction of six agricultural and livestock purchases using three models, beef was the most predictable, followed by radishes, chicken, Chinese cabbage, garlic and dried peppers, and by model, a decision tree shows the highest accuracy of prediction, followed by linear regression and an artificial neural network.

Originality/value

This study is meaningful in that it analyzes the purchase of agricultural and livestock products using data from actual consumers' purchases of agricultural and livestock products. In addition, the use of data mining techniques and Internet search index in the analysis of agricultural and livestock purchases contributes to improving the accuracy and efficiency of agricultural and livestock purchase predictions.
The effect of COVID-19 prevention methods training given through distance learning on state anxiety level: the case of private sector
Authors: Ucuk Sultan , Yildirim Gulay
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention methods training given by distance learning technique on the state anxiety level of the workers of a company serving in the communication sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of this experimental and cross-sectional study consisted of 52 people working in the communication sector. Data were collected using a questionnaire and the state anxiety inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, variance analysis, Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U and Tukey’s test.

Findings

While the state anxiety scores of the workers working in the communication sector were 47.94 ± 4.90 before the training, they were found to be 43.98 ± 5.20 after the training.

Research limitations/implications

As in every study, this study has some limitations. Although a homogeneous sample is tried to be formed since it only covers this group, it should be considered that there is a limitation in terms of generalizability. In addition, the fact that the knowledge score is not measured and the relationship between the knowledge score and the anxiety score is not evaluated should be considered as a limitation. Finally, it is also a limitation that the questionnaire form, which includes measurement tools, is applied online. It is thought that measuring errors can be minimized if questionnaires are applied face to face.

Practical implications

The results of the study showed that the training given to the workers in the communication sector contributed positively to the reduction of anxiety levels. It is important to provide training and support to those with high anxiety levels. After providing effective protection for nurses/midwives under pandemic conditions and preventing their uncertainties, they can contribute to the reduction of anxiety levels by providing training to individuals who serve the society. It is recommended to plan health trainings for the anxiety of other sector workers serving the society and to focus on these groups. Thus, the effective protection of individuals and their service quality will increase and their anxiety may decrease.

Originality/value

Informative support from nurses/midwives can make it easier to control anxiety arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are important in order to draw attention to the anxiety of other sector workers serving the society and the importance of informative roles of nurses. In order to reduce the anxiety levels of workers in different sectors, it is recommended to conduct more supportive training activities and to draw attention to the workers serving the society.
A comprehensive survey on utilization of hybrid nanofluid in plate heat exchanger with various number of plates
Authors: Afshari Faraz , Tuncer Azim Doğuş , Sözen Adnan , Variyenli Halil Ibrahim , Khanlari Ataollah , Gürbüz Emine Yağız
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Using suspended nanoparticles in the base fluid is known as one of the most efficient ways for heat transfer augmentation and improving the thermal efficiency of various heat exchangers. Different types of nanofluids are available and used in different applications. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of using hybrid nanofluid and number of plates on the performance of plate heat exchanger. In this study, TiO2/water single nanofluid and TiO2-Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluid with 1% particle weight ratio have been used to prepare hybrid nanofluid to use in plate type heat exchangers with three various number of plates including 8, 12 and 16.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiments have been conducted with the aim of examining the impact of plates number and used nanofluids on heat transfer enhancement. The performance tests have been done at 40°C, 45°C, 50°C and 55°C set outlet temperatures and in five various Reynolds numbers between 1,600 and 3,800. Also, numerical simulation has been applied to verify the heat and flow behavior inside the heat exchangers.

Findings

The results indicated that using both nanofluids raised the thermal performance of all tested exchangers which have a various number of plates. While the major outcomes of this study showed that TiO2-Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluid has priority when compared to TiO2/water single type nanofluid. Utilization of TiO2-Al2O3/water nanofluid led to obtaining an average improvement of 7.5%, 9.6% and 12.3% in heat transfer of heat exchangers with 8, 12 and 16 plates, respectively.

Originality/value

In the present work, experimental and numerical analyzes have been conducted to investigate the influence of using TiO2-Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluid in various plate heat exchangers. The attained findings showed successful utilization of TiO2-Al2O3/water nanofluid. Based on the obtained results increasing the number of plates in the heat exchanger caused to obtain more increment by using both types of nanofluids.
Role of digital economy and technology adoption for financial inclusion in India
Authors: Vyas Vishal , Jain Priyanka
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The study aims to explore the role of digital economy and technology adoption for financial inclusion in the Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework was developed and hypotheses were tested through a survey conducted on 433 educated adults (males and females) residing in different districts of Rajasthan (India). Data was collected through a structured questionnaire and was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modeling (second-order) was used to validate the measurement model and to test the mediating effect.

Findings

The measurement model is a confirmatory factor analysis and measures the reliability of the observed variables in relation to the latent constructs and indices shows the overall model fit. Structural model results indicate a complete mediation and a reflective impact (R2 = 0.28) of the extended technology acceptance model on digital economy and financial inclusion relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The study has taken into account only the perception of educated adults residing more specifically in one geographical area of a country. Thus, it limits the generalization of results in terms of implications to other regions and countries.

Practical implications

The proposed framework and implications are quite significant for policymakers and service providers to understand the nexus and strategic choices involved in this area. Moreover, understanding of user’s frame dependence would help in the development of digital assistive models that would perhaps mitigate the gap from participation (digital economy) to acceptance (financial inclusion).

Originality/value

Present study proposed a three-dimensional hypothetical model and conceptualized the digital economy (independent variable) as participation, behavioral intentions measured through the extended technology acceptance model (mediating variable) as adoption and financial inclusion (dependent variable) as acceptance to better understand the nexus. It represents the foremost step and a unique effort in this area. Moreover, the study was empirical and has wider applications both from the perspectives of end-users and service providers.
Recipes for customer loyalty: a cross-country study of the hotel industry
Authors: Latif Khawaja Fawad
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Based on the tenets of complexity theory, the purpose of the study is to identify the causal recipes that can lead to improved customer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-country sample was drawn from Pakistan, China and Italy to explore customers’ hotel experiences. The study used asymmetrical fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to unearth the recipes of antecedent conditions that can predict high scores in customer loyalty.

Findings

The study results complementing the major tenets of complexity theory found several recipes in each of the countries that can lead to improved customer loyalty.

Practical implications

Instead of focusing on individual factors, and how they impact loyalty, the study will help hotel management to understand the complexity of loyalty and it may not be improved through individual focus on antecedent conditions, instead, different pathways/recipes can help improve the loyalty. The study will help managers uncover alternative ways to attain increasing customer loyalty. The results reveal that customers in different countries have varied paths leading to loyalty, showing that hotel administration should not consider all customers as equal, with changing culture there is a change in how high loyalty may be achieved.

Originality/value

Customer loyalty is a complex construct, and the latest research reveals that symmetric methods have significant limitations, as they view loyalty as an outcome of isolated antecedents. Symmetric methods are less informative and have limited theoretical implications. Drawing on the tenets of complexity theory the study contributes to the loyalty literature in the hotel industry by highlighting the causal configurations leading to improved customer loyalty.
Organizational justice, psychological ownership and organizational embeddedness: a conservation of resources perspective
Authors: Mehmood Sultan Adal , Malik Muhammad Abdur Rahman , Saood Akhtar Muhammad , Faraz Naveed Ahmad , Memon Mumtaz Ali
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper draws on the conservation of resources (COR) theory to understand how organizational embeddedness develops through psychological ownership and organizational justice. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of three dimensions of organizational justice on organizational embeddedness and psychological ownership and the effect of psychological ownership on organizational embeddedness. The mediating role of psychological ownership between organizational justice and organizational embeddedness was also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 300 engineers in Pakistan's power sector using a three-wave quantitative survey. Partial least squares path modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results show that distributive and procedural justice results in the development of organizational embeddedness. Simultaneously, psychological ownership mediates the link between all three dimensions of organizational justice and organizational embeddedness.

Practical implications

By highlighting the importance of organizational justice and psychological ownership, this study offers managers with two distinct strategies for enhancing their employees' organizational embeddedness.

Originality/value

There is a lack of research investigating the distinct effects of three dimensions of organizational justice on the three dimensions of organizational embeddedness. Further, research to investigate the intervening mechanisms that connect organizational justice and embeddedness is scarce. Finally, the COR theory has been utilized to explain how embeddedness works. However, it had not been utilized previously to understand the process through which embeddedness is accumulated. This study fills these gaps by examining the distinct effects of three dimensions of organizational justice on three dimensions of organizational embeddedness and examining these relationships' mediation through psychological ownership.
The self-efficacy for therapeutic use of self-questionnaire (SETUS): psychometric properties of the English version
Authors: Yazdani Farzaneh , Bonsaksen Tore , Roberts Dave , Hess Ka Yan , Karamali Esmaili Samaneh
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy for Therapeutic Use of Self (SETUS) scales, a questionnaire based on the Intentional Relationship model, and to investigate the factor structure and internal consistency of the English version of three-part SETUS questionnaire in occupational therapy students.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of this cross-sectional study included 155 students with age range 18–30 years, of which 95% were women. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was performed on the questionnaire scales, including the Self-Efficacy for Therapeutic Mode Use (SETMU), Self-Efficacy for Recognizing Interpersonal Characteristics (SERIC) and Self-Efficacy for Managing Interpersonal Events (SEMIE). The internal consistencies were calculated. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the strength of correlation among the scales.

Findings

The PCA confirmed that the items of each of the three proposed scales loaded strongly on one factor (self-efficacy for three factors of therapeutic mode use, recognizing interpersonal characteristics and managing interpersonal events). The Cronbach’s alpha for the SETMU, SERIC and SEMIE was 0.85, 0.95 and 0.96, respectively. The three scales significantly inter-correlated strongly (r ranging 0.74–0.83, all p < 0.001).

Originality/value

The SETUS questionnaire comprises three valid and reliable scales. It can be used by occupational therapy supervisors as a means to reflect on students’ self-efficacy in components of therapeutic use of self.
Youth engagement during making: using electrodermal activity data and first-person video to generate evidence-based conjectures
Authors: Lee Victor R.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce and explores the use of electrodermal activity (EDA) data as a tool for obtaining data about youth engagement during maker learning activities.

Design/methodology/approach

EDA and survey data were collected from a yearlong afterschool maker program for teens that met weekly and was hosted at a children’s museum. Data from four youth who were simultaneously present for eight weeks were examined to ascertain what experiences and activities were more or less engaging for them, based on psychophysiological measures.

Findings

Most of the focal youth appeared to show higher levels of engagement by survey measures throughout the program. However, when examined by smaller time intervals, certain activities appeared to be more engaging. Planning of maker activities was one space where engagement was higher. Completing sewing projects with minimal social interaction appeared to be less engaging. Specific activities involving common maker technologies yielded mixed levels of engagement.

Originality/value

Some research is emerging that uses EDA data as a basis for generating inferences about various states while participating in maker learning activities. This paper provides a novel analysis building on some techniques established in the still emergent body of prior research in this area.
Understanding the impacts of increasing returns in the context of social media use
Authors: Marchildon Philippe , Hadaya Pierre
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Social networking sites (SNS) follow the same diffusion pattern and are subject to the same phenomena as other technologies (e.g. QWERTY keyboard, Microsoft Office and VHS) that were subject to increasing returns. Since they may lock-in users, increasing returns significantly alter the way a technology is used and should be managed. The purpose of this paper is thus to verify if SNS are subject to increasing returns and, if so, to better understand their impacts in this context.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model that combines path dependency theory (PDT) tenets with the push-pull-mooring (PPM) model of information technology (IT) switching was developed and tested with data collected from 416 SNS users via a field survey. Participants were voluntary students at a North American university enrolled in a compulsory undergraduate course in business administration. Partial least square analysis structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to validate our research model and test our hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that SNS are subject to three forms of increasing returns: those stemming from device complementarity, learning and adaptive expectations. In addition, the findings show that increasing returns stemming from SNS use have the potential to lock-in SNS users by increasing their switching costs.

Practical implications

SNS users should be careful when using an SNS since such use can create a path that is self-reinforced and that can lock them due to the increasing returns it yields. SNS vendors/providers need to learn how to manage increasing returns if they want to foster continued use of their SNS and/or poach users from their competitors. Lastly, SNS regulators should revise or put in place new governance mechanisms since increasing returns, when properly leveraged, may undermine fair competition by allowing companies to lock-in users and lock-out competitors.

Originality/value

This study contributes to IS research by: (1) empirically demonstrating that increasing returns are present in the context of SNS use, (2) identifying increasing returns as key antecedents of user switching costs, (3) validating a theoretical framework that allows for the appraisal of PDT tenets in a variance model and (4) instantiating PDT tenets at the individual level.
Proactive market orientation and business model innovation to attain superior new smart connected products performance
Authors: M.S. Shashishekar , Anand Sandip , Paul Arun Kumar
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Smart connected products (SCP) are the new archetype of products evolving. SCP are subtly changing the product-centric business to system-centric. Development and monetization of new SCP is an uphill task, it necessitates unique market orientation and business models. The purpose of this study is to establish a framework of variables influencing new smart connected products performance (NSCPP) at the market place, suggest methods to operationalize the framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The study identified key variables influencing NSCPP from existing literature. Conceptualized unique theoretical frameworks of these variables and empirically validated structural relationships. The study performed structural equation modeling using the data collected from 163 respondents having managed the development and monetization of 138 new SCP launches.

Findings

The study established structural relationships among selected variables proactive market orientation (ProMO), new product development proficiency (NPDPro) and business model innovation (BMoI). It revealed that the effect of ProMO is manifested through NPDPro. BMoI and NPDPro significantly influence NSCPP.

Practical implications

The study presented “ProMO Canvas” to plan and operationalize ProMO integrated with new product development (NPD) stage-gate activities. The study suggested the practitioners to execute ProMO activities preceding NPD activities and execute NPD, business model development activities in parallel to attain superior NSCPP.

Originality/value

This study is a novel effort to derive a unique empirical framework of variables ProMO, NPDPro and BMoI to attain superior NSCPP.
The impact of Covid-19 on coworking spaces: evidence from Germany
Authors: Mayerhoffer Manuel
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the German coworking industry has grown rapidly as one of the fastest-growing coworking markets globally. The pandemic, however, has brought the industry to an abrupt halt. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to explore the impact the pandemic has had so far on German coworking spaces.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an online questionnaire, quantitative data from 38 coworking space owners, operators and employees of a total of 77 spaces in Germany has been collected regarding their situation before, during and after the peak of the first wave of the pandemic from Spring until Summer 2020. The data has been analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Findings

The reported income losses significantly outweigh a decrease in costs of the spaces. Nevertheless, the member base seems rather unaffected, and coworking spaces are exploring adaptations to their businesses with a strong shift to the digital environment. Fear of re-imposed governmental restrictions is evident, as well as justified with a looming second infection wave.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the sample size, the data may lack generalizability. Therefore, recommendations for future research are provided.

Originality/value

Data on the impact of the pandemic on coworking spaces is scarce. This paper provides a first necessary overview for the industry as well as the academic field to allow for action to be taken.
Another Silicon Valley? Tracking the role of entrepreneurship culture in start-up and venture capital co-evolution in Finland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem 1980–1997
Authors: Sipola Sakari
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how entrepreneurship culture affects start-up and venture capital co-evolution during the early evolution of an entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) and its ability to foster the emergence of ambitious entrepreneurship as an outcome of its activity. Unlike studies that capture entrepreneurship culture at the national level, this study focusses specifically on the culture of venture capital-financed entrepreneurship and understanding its implications to the development of venture capital markets and successful firm-level outcomes within ecosystems.

Design/methodology/approach

Relying on EE and organisational imprinting theory, this study specifies characteristics of venture capital-financed entrepreneurship of Silicon Valley to illustrate the American way of building start-ups and examine whether they have as imprints affected to the entrepreneurship culture and start-up and venture capital co-evolution in Finland during the early evolution of its EE between 1980 and 1997.

Findings

The results illustrate venture capital-financed entrepreneurship culture as a specific example of entrepreneurship culture beneath the national level that can vary across geographies like the findings concerning Finland demonstrate. The findings show that this specific culture matters through having an impact on the structural evolution and performance of EEs and on the ways how they deliver or fail to deliver benefits to entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The results show that venture capital-financed entrepreneurship and the emergence of success stories as outcomes of start-up and venture capital co-evolution within an EE are connected to a specific type of entrepreneurship culture. This paper also contributes to the literature by connecting the fundamentals of organisational imprinting to EE research.
Audit committees in financial institutions in Saudi Arabia: a dichotomy of perceptions of functional independence and the reporting of financial crime
Authors: Almakhfor Reem Ali , Norton Simon D.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Audit committees (ACs) have an important role to play in banks in Saudi Arabia in detecting and reporting weaknesses which may make financial crime possible. The Saudi Arabian Corporate Governance Code of 2016 comprises recommendations for ensuring the effectiveness of these committees, but cultural and behavioural factors can constitute impediments. This paper aims to explore these factors and makes recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is qualitative, using data derived from responses to a questionnaire administered to 180 current and former members of internal and external audit teams of Saudi Arabian banks.

Findings

ACs in Saudi financial institutions enjoy a high degree of functional independence of boards. Boards tend to regard ACs as part of the organisation: in contrast, AC members perceive their first duty as being owed to stakeholders. Disagreements between boards and ACs regarding disclosure of findings of systemic weaknesses which facilitate money laundering (ML) are made publicly available; this engenders transparency and avoidance of collusion. Professional qualifications and experience of AC members have improved substantially in recent years, equipping them to better discharge statutory duties regarding the detection and reporting of suspected ML.

Research limitations/implications

The regulatory body, the Saudi Arabian Markets Authority, should be diligent in ensuring the presence of non-executive directors in sufficient numbers to counterbalance influence by boards. Disagreements between boards and ACs regarding internal systemic changes to prevent ML and other financial crimes should be formally recorded in minutes and made public as a matter of record.

Originality/value

Questionnaire responses by past and present members of ACs are unique and contribute to the literature.
Exploring investment paradigm in urban office space management: perspectives from coworking space investors in Nigeria
Authors: Ayodele Timothy Oluwafemi , Kajimo-Shakantu Kahilu , Gbadegesin Job Taiwo , Babatunde Theophilus Olugbenga , Ajayi Cyril Ayodele
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Coworking space had been a trajectory in the commercial space operation and management globally. Commercial coworking/tenancy space is confronted with an unexpected shift. This paper aims to examine the peculiarity and investment characteristics of flexible office space and the post-COVID implications on coworking office space practice and investment. This is with a view toward providing investors with an understanding of the dynamics underpinning flexible office space investment in the Nigerian emerging property market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative research approach. Open-ended interview questions were used to solicit information from nine coworking space operators in the urban property market of Ibadan, Nigeria. The structured interview data were analyzed using Atlas.ti – a computer-aided qualitative data analysis software.

Findings

The findings show that the factors influencing demand for flexible office space in the study area include flexibility, affordability, cost-effectiveness, entrepreneurship motivations and opportunity for risk sharing. The results also revealed that coworkers are predominantly mobile individuals who require a workstation away from their homes or a traditional office setup. Management challenges include deficient infrastructure, low level of awareness, stealing and high cost of operations. The impact of COVID-19 includes a drop in patronage, rent refunds, changes in working pattern and job loss, restriction to online and remote operation, the extra cost of putting prevention measures in place, changes in tenancy contract and drops in return on investment.

Practical implications

This study has implications for investors in commercial space occupation and leases in comparable developing economies.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper lies in its relevance with the emergent behavioral changes, orchestrated from the novel COVID-19, which compels reevaluation of workplace practices and investment for economic improvement, especially as it relates to commercial real estate investment.
Conversation, storytelling, or consumer interaction and participation? The impact of brand-owned social media content marketing on consumers’ brand perceptions and attitudes
Authors: He Ai-Zhong , Cai Yi , Cai Ling , Zhang Yu
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper studies the relationships among consumers’ perceptions of brand personality, consumers’ brand attitudes and brand-owned social media content marketing (SMCM). The moderating effect of the brand content relevancy was also assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was established and examined using two experiments with a total of 363 participants. Hierarchical regression analysis and an analysis of variance were performed to test seven research hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that the three forms of brand-owned SMCM, namely: conversation, storytelling and customer interaction and participation, are positively correlated with consumers’ brand personality perceptions and brand attitudes. Also, consumers’ perceptions of brand personality can partially mediate the relationship between brand-owned content marketing and consumers’ brand attitudes. Furthermore, the brand content relevancy does not show a moderating effect on the relationship between content marketing and consumers’ brand personality perceptions or brand attitudes.

Originality/value

First, a framework was established to delineate those paths by which owned social media content marketing (OSMCM) influences consumers’ attitudes towards a brand. Second, the study demonstrates the importance of conversation as a powerful method of OSMCM. Third, with respect to content in marketing strategies, firms do not need to confine themselves to a narrow scope of content or information that is closely related to the brands alone.
Social marketing hackers
Authors: Raciti Maria M.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Social marketing has come of age. Today, we are a legitimate discipline with a wealth of empirical evidence that manifestly demonstrates the ability to bring about behaviour changes for the greater good. As social marketers, we are rapidly expanding the horizons, with a growing interest in the labyrinth of systems that influence the chosen social causes. We have become brave and bold, but is the study now running the risk of romanticising the work and ourselves? It is time to recalibrate, to take stock and to address the elephants in the social marketing room.

Design/methodology/approach

Expanding on myChange 2020 Driving Systems Changepanel presentation, this viewpoint article is a provocation, a think piece, centred around two observed phenomena.

Findings

The first phenomenon observed is the many identities of the contemporary social marketer – hackers, change agents, heroes, political power brokers and master puppeteers. The second phenomenon observed is the accelerated interest in systems thinking for which the author propose three preconditions are needed – an awareness of the system(s); an acknowledgement that this study is a part of the system(s) and the need to decolonise social marketing.

Originality/value

This article poses challenging questions but offers no solutions as to how social marketers should, could or do square up our blind spots, make peace with our paradoxes or unblinker the views. Not only would it be naïve to proffer solutions but it would also stifle the growth of you, the reader, in your journey to becoming an integrated person and woke social marketing professional.
The pricing strategy of dual-channel supply chain with risk-averse agents and heterogeneous preference consumers
Authors: Wang Rufeng , Chang Zhiyong , Yan Shuli
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the pricing strategy and the impact of agents' risk preference in a dual-channel supply chain in which both agents are risk-averse.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors make use of the mean-variance (MV) method to measure the risk aversion of the agents and apply Stackelberg game to obtain the optimal strategies of the proposed models. Furthermore, the authors compare the optimal strategies with that in the benchmark model in which no agent is risk-averse.

Findings

The authors find that the pricing decisions can be divided into four categories according to the risk attitudes of the agents: the decisions that are independent of two agents' risk attitudes, the decisions that depend on only one agent’s risk attitude (i.e. depend on only manufacturer's risk attitude and depend on only retailer's risk attitude) and the decisions that depend on both agents' risk attitudes. In addition, the authors find that the retail price will be lower and the wholesale price in most cases will be lower than that in the benchmark when at least one agent's risk control is effective; the demand will be always increasing as long as one agent's risk control is effective. Furthermore, compared to the benchmark, a win-win strategy (i.e. Pareto improvement) for the supply chain members can be obtained in a certain range where the agents' risk controls are appropriate.

Originality/value

This research provides a theoretical reference for the managers to make the pricing decisions and the risk control in dual-channel supply chains with heterogeneous preference consumers.
To downsize or not to downsize: when and how does corporate downsizing create long-term value?
Authors: Alnahedh Mishari , Alrashdan Abdullatif
Published: June 2021

Purpose

How does corporate downsizing contribute to a firm’s long-term value? While the extant empirical findings on this relationship are inconclusive, contradictory and equivocal, the answers to this question remain particularly important in today’s business environment. Considering that downsizing is often directed toward long-term growth and survival, the authors posit that scholars should account for the temporal nature of this strategic decision to understand its economic impact on the firm’s operations. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a more rigorous empirical examination of how a firm’s decision to downsize its workforce affects that firm’s long-term value.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used Wibbens and Siggelkow’s (2020) measure of long-term investor value appropriation (LIVA) to directly observe the effects of corporate downsizing on firm long-term value and growth. Using a sample of 3,149 US publicly traded manufacturing firms that operated between 2002 and 2018, the authors tested the main effect of downsizing on LIVA and three boundary condition hypotheses.

Findings

The authors found a positive relationship between corporate downsizing and a firm’s long-term value. Interestingly, this positive relationship is stronger among firms that had high human resource slack and R&D intensity. Contrary to our expectations, the authors did not find support for the moderation effect of the proximity to bankruptcy on the relationship between corporate downsizing and a firm’s long-term value.

Originality/value

With these findings, this paper sheds light on the long-term implications of a firm’s decision to downsize its workforce.
Changing an industry: leading equality in the investment and savings industry
Authors: Butler Steve , Smith Simon M.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the Diversity Project, a cross company initiative that has been applied in the investment and savings profession to accelerate progress towards a more inclusive culture across the industry. This is with a view to providing a template for other industries considering impactful change.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper considers the approach taken by the investment and savings industry to drive change towards a more inclusive culture by using a summative content analysis approach. The authors framework this application using Sustainable Development Goal 10 (reduced inequalities) to increase relevance and contribution beyond this context.

Findings

The Diversity Project demonstrates numerous examples of driving change within the investment and savings industry by galvanising cross company support for events, publications, charters and action. These experiences will provide policymakers and practitioners in other industrial sectors insight to achieve similar change.

Originality/value

The Diversity Project established in 2016 has gained significant traction in the investment and savings industry through membership of 70 firms and 30 partner firms, supporting 18 cross company diversity and inclusion work streams focussed on developing collaborative and cohesive action plans.
Parent rating of intelligibility: A discussion of the construct validity of the Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS) and normative data of the Swedish version of the ICS
Authors: Lagerberg Tove B. , Anrep‐Nordin Elin , Emanuelsson Helena , Strömbergsson Sofia
Published: June 2021

Background

Intelligibility can be defined as the speakers’ ability to convey a message to the listener and it is considered the key functional measure of speech. The Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS) is a parent rating scale used to assess intelligibility in children.

Aims

To describe normative and validation data on the ICS in Swedish and to investigate how these are related to age, gender and multilingualism.

Methods & Procedures

Two studies were included. Study 1 included ICS forms from 319 Swedish‐speaking children (3:2–9:2 years:months). Study 2 included video recordings and ICS forms from 14 children with speech sound disorder (SSD) and two with typical speech. The video recordings were transcribed in the validation process, resulting in intelligibility reference scores to which ICS scores were correlated.

Outcomes & Results

Study 1: The mean value of the ICS for the 319 children was 4.73. There were no differences in ICS score related to age or gender. The children in the multilingual group were significantly older than the monolingual group and had significantly lower ICS scores than the group of monolinguals. Study 2: There was a moderate correlation between the ICS score and the transcription‐based intelligibility score, with the two children with typical speech excluded; however, this correlation was not significant.

Conclusions & Implications

We contribute mean scores and percentiles on the ICS for Swedish‐speaking children. The finding that the ICS does not provide valid measures of intelligibility for the included children with SSD suggests that the instrument measures a different construct.

What this paper adds

What is already known on the subject

The ICS has been translated to numerous languages and validated against articulation measures in several previous studies. The validity of the Swedish version has been investigated against intelligibility based on transcription of single words.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

The study provides normative values of the Swedish version of the ICS for children aged 3–9 years. This is the first study to use a gold standard measure of intelligibility in continuous speech to validate the ICS. The results show a somewhat dubious validity regarding ICS for the group of children with SSD included in the study.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

The ICS's suitability as a measure of intelligibility is questionable; however, it might be of use for speech and language pathologists to give an overview of the parents’ view of their child's ability to communicate, in order to make a decision on possible further assessment and intervention. The normative values of the Swedish version of the ICS could be of use in this decision process.
Nutritional properties and health aspects of pulses and their use in plant‐based yogurt alternatives
Authors: Boeck Theresa , Sahin Aylin W. , Zannini Emanuele , Arendt Elke K.
Published: June 2021

Plant‐based yogurt alternatives are increasing in market value, while dairy yogurt sales are stagnating or even declining. The plant‐based yogurt alternatives market is currently dominated by products based on coconut or soy. Coconut‐based products especially are often low in protein and high in saturated fat, while soy products raise consumer concerns regarding genetically modified soybeans, and soy allergies are common. Pulses are ideally suited as a base for plant‐based yogurt alternatives due to their high protein content and beneficial amino acid composition. This review provides an overview of pulse nutrients, pro‐nutritional and anti‐nutritional compounds, how their composition can be altered by fermentation, and the chemistry behind pulse protein coagulation by acid or salt denaturation. An extensive market review on plant‐based yogurt alternatives provides an overview of the current worldwide market situation. It shows that pulses are ideal base ingredients for yogurt alternatives due to their high protein content, amino acid composition, and gelling behavior when fermented with lactic acid bacteria. Additionally, fermentation can be used to reduce anti‐nutrients such as α‐galactosides and vicine or trypsin inhibitors, further increasing the nutritional value of pulse‐based yogurt alternatives.
Expanded hemodialysis as effective alternative to on‐line hemodiafiltration: A randomized mid‐term clinical trial
Authors: Hadad‐Arrascue Fernando , Nilsson Lars‐Göran , Rivera Angela S. , Bernardo Angelito A. , Cabezuelo Romero Juan B.
Published: June 2021

Expanded hemodialysis (HDx), using medium cut‐off membrane, is a novel therapy that effectively clears middle molecules (MMs). We aimed to compare HDx to hemodiafiltration (HDF) in an open randomized clinical study. Patients currently on HDF (age 18–80 years; on HDF >3 months) were randomized to switch to HDx (N = 21) or continue HDF (N = 22) with a 24‐week follow‐up. Pre‐ to post‐dialysis reduction ratios (RR) and changes in pre‐dialysis levels over time were evaluated for MMs and clinical biomarkers. Use of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESAs) was assessed. HDx showed greater RR for YKL‐40 while RR appeared similar between groups for beta2‐microglobulin, FGF‐23, and free light chains. Intradialytic changes in inflammatory biomarkers (IL‐6, CRP, PTX3) did not differ between therapies. Changes from baseline to 12 and 24 weeks did not differ between groups for MMs, inflammatory markers, albumin, fibrinogen, hemoglobin, PTH, and phosphorus. Use of ESAs tended to decrease in HDx arm while remaining stable in HDF arm. HDx appeared safe with similar clinical effectiveness as HDF. With fewer requirements and resource needs, HDx provides an attractive alternative to HDF.
How many complaints against police officers can be abated by incapacitating a few “bad apples?”
Authors: Chalfin Aaron , Kaplan Jacob
Published: June 2021

Research Summary

The notion that the unjustified use of force by police officers is concentrated among a few “bad apples” is a popular descriptor that has gained traction in scholarly research and achieved considerable influence among policy makers. But is removing the bad apples likely to have an appreciable effect on police misconduct? Leveraging a simple policy simulation and data from the Chicago Police Department, we estimate that removing the top 10% of officers identified based on ex ante risk and replacing them with officers drawn from the middle of the risk distribution would have led to only a 4–6% reduction in the use of force incidents in Chicago over a 10‐year period.

Policy Implications

Our analysis suggests that surgically removing predictably problematic police officers is unlikely to have a large impact on citizen complaints. By assembling some of the first empirical evidence on the likely magnitude of incapacitation effects, we provide critical support for the idea that early warning systems must be designed, above all, to deter problematic behavior and promote accountability.