bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social psychological aspects of inter-organizational collaboration in a total defense context: a literature review
Authors: Larsson Gerry , Alvinius Aida , Bakken Bjørn , Hœrem Thorvald
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to systematically review the extant research on social psychological aspects of civil-military inter-organizational collaboration, particularly in a total defense context.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic scoping studies review was performed. Peer-reviewed articles were searched in PsycInfo and Sociological Abstracts. Inclusion criteria were met by 25 articles.

Findings

Four higher-order categories with underpinning categories were derived in the analysis. They were modeled as follows: antecedent conditions affect, informal processes and practical efforts, which, in turn, affect inter-organizational trust and collaboration. These higher-order categories are all influenced by formal organizational aspects and the society in which they are found.

Research limitations/implications

The existing literature covering the chosen study focus is limited. Further studies are needed and the presented model can serve as a road map.

Practical implications

A series of questions derived from the categories of the model is presented. The questions are included as a tool for practical reflection for collaborating actors in common education, training or exercise settings or in after-action reviews.

Originality/value

The focus on social psychological aspects of civil-military inter-organizational collaboration, particularly in a total defense context, is new. The suggested relationship between superior themes adds knowledge to a research field dominated by sociological and political science approaches.
COVID-19 driven challenges in international B2B customer relationship management: empirical insights from Finnish high-tech industrial microenterprises
Authors: Arslan Ahmad , Golgeci Ismail , Khan Zaheer , Ahokangas Petri , Haapanen Lauri
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on business-to-business (B2B) firms’ relationship initiation and customer relationship management in an under-explored and unique context of high-tech industrial microenterprises. The authors analyze the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the specific context of B2B relationship initiation and customer relationship management dynamics by examining Finnish B2B industrial microenterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses exploratory in-depth case studies undertaken in three Finnish industrial microenterprises to analyze the influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on their new business relationship initiation and relationship management with the current customers.

Findings

The case firms quickly adjusted to the “new normal” and used a number of technological resources, including online meetings and three-dimensional demonstrations, among others. A key reason for this quick adjustment was them being microenterprises. However, despite this, lack of access to customer sites remained a hindrance as their products need to fit certain production processes, which cannot be done without physical visits. Furthermore, the development of trust with new customers, especially those based in emerging markets, was challenging due to the lack of physical meetings and site visits.

Research limitations/implications

The research highlights the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to B2B relationships and gives an account of the changing dynamics of relationship initiation and customer relationship management amid technological and societal disruptions. It also highlights the continued role of personal relationships and psychical meetings in such relationships. As such, the research informs B2B research that examines the role of personal relationships in B2B marketing.

Practical implications

The study offers industrial microenterprise executives insights into how to face and tackle COVID-19 driven challenges in B2B customer relationship management and how to integrate technological tools in relationship management practices while understanding where face-to-face meetings are indispensable.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates areas in which virtual tools can and cannot be substitutes for conventional means of B2B relationship initiation and customer relationship management across developed and emerging markets. It also highlights the specificities of industrial microenterprises and their business development and customer relationship management dynamics mechanisms, a research area that has been rather ignored by prior studies.
Unleashing the dynamics of triple-A capabilities: a dynamic ambidexterity view
Authors: Yang Jie
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study examines the impact of knowledge management capabilities on agility, adaptability and alignment (triple-A), drawing upon the nexus of the knowledge-based view and dynamic ambidexterity in the context of manufacturing industry in the USA. It also assesses the performance outcomes of triple-A capabilities in terms of operational and relational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Path analysis was performed in this empirical study in the manufacturing industry.

Findings

The results show that knowledge management capabilities are conducive to the development of triple-A capabilities, which in turn lead to the improvement of operational and relational performance.

Originality/value

This study is grounded in the marriage of the knowledge-based view and dynamic ambidexterity to assess the combinative impact of knowledge management capabilities of knowledge acquisition and sharing through absorptive and desorptive capacities on agility and adaptability through knowledge exploration and alignment by knowledge exploitation in the pursuit of triple-A capabilities. This study unentangles the linkage between knowledge management capabilities and triple-As by theorizing the connection between absorptive/desorptive capacity and exploration/exploitation in terms of responsive and efficient supply chain respectively.
A network model approach to enhance knowledge sharing for internationalization readiness of SMEs
Authors: Magni Domitilla , Chierici Roberto , Fait Monica , Lefebvre Kelly
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Building upon the insights of the resource-based view and internationalization theories, the purpose of this paper is to examine the role networks play in SMEs' readiness for internationalization. By investigating three different types of knowledge sharing, namely economic-setting, market-specific and customer-specific, the study analyzes their effect on SMEs' readiness for internationalization.

Design/methodology/approach

The four research hypotheses derived by from the analysis of the literature have been investigated by applying the multiple regression technique. By means of an online survey, 300 valid questionnaires were collected and information from a sample of Italian SMEs belonging to 11 agro-food consortia have been analyzed.

Findings

The results suggest that SMEs' readiness for internationalization could be supported by sharing customer-specific, market-specific and economic-setting knowledge with other firms operating within the same agro-food consortium. Additionally, data analysis highlights a negative relation between the risk perception in the process and readiness for internationalization, suggesting the importance of knowledge sharing in reducing the criticality issues of being a newcomer entering international markets.

Originality/value

From a theoretical perspective, this study aims to fill the gap in knowledge management and international relationship marketing literature. Since proposes a combination of different kinds of knowledge that contribute to reducing the criticalities SMEs must face by identifying useful information to be conveyed within the network. From a managerial perspective, the study provides useful insights for the agro-food sector, highlighting how experiential and network knowledge constitutes a pre-condition for managing internationalization complexity and discovering opportunities on foreign markets.
Determinants of the intention to use serious games technology in entrepreneurship education: an empirical study of Tunisian teachers
Authors: Sghari Amira , Bouaziz Fatma
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the intention to use of the Backstage game by teachers delivering entrepreneurship course at Tunisian public universities. A research model was developed based on a literature review of the variables that would affect the intention to use this game.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by survey questionnaires, and a partial least square-structural equation model approach was adopted to analyze these data. Overall, the whole model was able to account for 61.3% of variance in the construct intention to use.

Findings

Results showed the relevance of both perceived behavioral control and teaching experience as the main determinants of the intention to use Backstage game. Positive and significant linkages were also found among perceived behavioral control, social influence and perceived ease of use. Moreover, it was found that perceived ease of use and social influence are significant determinants of perceived usefulness. Perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment had significant effects on attitude towards intention to use this game.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research represents the first empirical study to investigate among Tunisian university teachers their intention to use a serious game technology dedicated to making the entrepreneurship course more attractive.
Accountability and legitimacy dynamics in an Islamic boarding school
Authors: Buanaputra Vogy Gautama , Astuti Destri , Sugiri Slamet
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the dynamics of legitimacy and accountability relationships in an Indonesian boarding school. It examines how the key actors improve and use accountability mechanisms in the school and how these practices contribute to the organisation’s legitimacy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a qualitative case study approach in an Indonesian boarding school and draws on Black’s (2008) notion of legitimacy and accountability relationships. The qualitative data were collected through face-to-face interviews, observations and documentary analysis.

Findings

Accountability mechanisms at Pondok Pesantren Wali Songo (an Islamic boarding school) were developed to alter the habit of conducting organisational affairs based merely on trust between the organisation members without any particular accountability mechanism, a common practice in Indonesian boarding schools. The mechanisms were believed to improve the public trust and bring convenience to the management of the school on the legitimacy (halal) of their doings, which in turn maintain their legitimacy as a provider of Islamic education services.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of accountability mechanisms in faith-based institutions context to maintain their legitimacy. It provides evidence of the mutual nature of accountability and legitimacy, which is often seen as contrasting concepts by previous studies, by drawing on Black’s (2008) legitimacy and accountability relationships.
How accurate and effective are screening tools and subsequent interventions for intimate partner violence in non-high-risk settings (IPV)? A rapid review
Authors: Ali Parveen , Allmark Peter , Booth Andrew , McGarry Julie , Woods Helen B. , Seedat Farah
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the accuracy and effectiveness of screening tools and subsequent interventions in the detection and treatment of intimate partner violence (IPV) in non-high-risk settings (defined here as those in which routine IPV screening does not take place in the UK, such as in general practice).

Design/methodology/approach

Rapid review as defined by Grant and Booth – it is used under time or financial constraint to assess what is known using systematic review methods. Medline, PsycINFO, Embase and Cochrane Library databases to May 2019 were searched for “intimate partner violence” and synonyms plus terms related to screening and interventions. A Medline update was performed in August 2020. Data were extracted with the help of a predesigned tool and were synthesised to answer the two study aims. Data were mixed quantitative and qualitative.

Findings

The search yielded 10 relevant papers on screening (6 on accuracy and 4 on effectiveness) and 13 on intervention. These showed evidence of the effectiveness of simple screening tools and of subsequent interventions. However, the evidence was insufficient to support a change in UK guidelines which currently do not recommend their use outside of current high-risk environments.

Originality/value

Clinicians outside of high-risk areas should consider the use of some IPV screening tools and interventions but only within research protocols to gather further evidence.
Entrepreneurship education in Post-Soviet states developing programmes for hospitality and tourism students in Samarkand
Authors: John Leei , Robertson Marc , Tetley Kate , Seaman Claire
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper considers a country context where traditional entrepreneurship has not been a major part of the economy and considers current attempts to develop entrepreneurship education (EE) as a part of wider market development.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors review the background to the economic development of the Post-Soviet states and link this to existing knowledge around EE. The potential routes by which EE might be developed in Uzbekistan are discussed with a focus upon hospitality and tourism education, leading to the development of a model of the six key aspects of change

Findings

The potential for future research is explored, and four aspects are highlighted as areas where partnership working with overseas universities is likely to have substantive benefits. In particular, the development of quality standards and staff development are areas where partnership could have an important influence, whereas barriers within local systems and cultural resistance are likely to benefit less from a partnership approach. Although entrepreneurial competencies and entrepreneurial intent are both important, entrepreneurial intent is highlighted given its role in terms of individual responses to country-level initiatives.

Practical implications

Although all four aspects merit further research, this paper ends with a specific suggestion that future research should draw on the theory of planned behaviour to explore entrepreneurial intent.

Originality/value

Uzbekistan is a relatively under-researched area where hospitality and tourism industries are undergoing a period of intense development.
A retrospective overview of Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy from2007 to 2021 using abibliometric analysis
Authors: Chhabra Meghna , Dana Léo‐Paul , Ramadani Veland , Agarwal Monika
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the pattern of publications, using a bibliometric analysis of the Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy (JEC) for the period between 2007 and 2021.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses relevant bibliometric metrics and procedures. The analysis covers mainly the number of articles published in JEC, most influential years in terms of the number of publications and citations, top productive countries, most prolific authors, most influential institutions, funding institutions, co-authorship trends, keywords co-occurrence, and vital themes of JEC articles between 2007 and 2021.

Findings

The journal’s influential impact in terms of citations has increased over time, with 83.62% of the published works receiving at least one citation. Léo-Paul Dana has been recognised as the most prolific author by virtue of his contribution of articles in JEC, and the maximum contribution to JEC comes from the USA, followed by Canada and the UK. University of Canterbury, New Zealand and La Trobe University, Australia were the leading contributing institutions. The study identified “indigenous entrepreneurs”, “gender”, “social entrepreneurship”, “education” and “innovation” as contemporary keywords in the study of enterprising communities. These issues present a clear opportunity for research-related topics for the JEC.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first comprehensive piece in the journal’s history that provides a general overview of the journal's major trends and researchers.
The impact of communication on consumer knowledge of environmentally sustainable apparel
Authors: Li Jitong , Leonas Karen K.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate consumer knowledge of environmentally sustainable apparel (ESA) and examine the impact of communication on consumer knowledge of ESA.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a quantitative survey focused on Millennial and Generation Z consumers. Two communication methods, hangtags and product webpages, were involved. First, two instruments were established to measure consumers’ objective and subjective knowledge of ESA. Second, two questionnaires were developed to collect participants’ knowledge before and after reading hangtags or product webpages.

Findings

There were 385 useable responses. It was found that participants’ knowledge about waste and cotton production’s water issues was less than their knowledge of other subjects and did not increase after reading the related information on hangtags or webpages. Participants’ subjective knowledge was significantly higher than their objective knowledge after communication. The positive effects of communicating with consumers via hangtags and webpages on consumers’ subjective knowledge were confirmed. Additionally, the ESA information provided via hangtags was more effective than webpages in improving consumers’ objective knowledge.

Originality/value

This study makes up for the deficiency in the literature. It provides in-depth insights on consumers’ knowledge of ESA by investigating consumer knowledge before and after communication based on consumer knowledge structure. The textile and apparel industry can use this study’s findings to improve communication with consumers and aid in sustainable product distribution.
Lessening procurement deviations using procurement post reviews: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Adinyira Emmanuel , Agyekum Kofi , Manu Patrick , Mahamadu Abdul-Majeed , Olomolaiye Paul
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Multilateral aid agencies generate most of their funds from taxpayers, and therefore, it is necessary to ensure that recipients or borrowers use the funds for the intended purposes. The World Bank is one of the major multilateral aid agencies that fund infrastructure projects in developing countries. Like other multilateral aid agencies, the World Bank uses oversight instruments/auditing tools to manage procurement risk on their funded projects. However, empirical insight about the effectiveness of these auditing tools is limited. This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of one of such multilateral aid agencies’ auditing tools (i.e. World Bank’s procurement post review [PPR]) in procurement risk mitigation on funded projects in a developing country context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on secondary data obtained from the World Bank PPR reports carried out in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 financial years. Five projects with the highest loan amounts and five with the lowest loan amounts for the three-year period were selected from the 24 active World Bank projects during the time of the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select a representative sample from a list of contracts under the 10 projects.

Findings

The results of the analysis showed a clear decline in the number of both major and minor deviations over the three-year period while an increase in the number of contracts with “No Deviation”. The study therefore concludes that procurement risk experienced a decline amongst the World Bank projects in Ghana where post reviews were carried out on yearly basis.

Originality/value

The study identifies the need for more frequent PPR and makes a case for the need to investigate whether PPR is a superior auditing tool compared to the other tools.
The short- and long-lived effects of IFRS mandate on IPO firms in emerging market economies
Authors: Jamaani Fouad , Alidarous Manal
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the short- and long-lived effects of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) mandate on the quality of reporting information of initial public offering (IPO) firms in emerging market economies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used several difference-in-differences models for a sample comprising 102 Saudi Arabian IPO firms for 2003–2017.

Findings

It found that mandating the application of the IFRS had a significant short-lived but no long-lived effect on IPO firms’ information asymmetry. When information asymmetry was high such as in the primary market, the IFRS succeeded in alleviating the underpricing of IPO firms. Conversely, in the secondary market, with negligible information asymmetry, the IFRS was not beneficial for the long-term performance of companies in the IPO market.

Originality/value

This study is the first of its kind in the emerging market context and has important implications for IPO investors and analysts, IFRS-IPO researchers and policymakers in emerging economies. The results empirically confirmed that the IFRS mandate had solely a short-lived effect and no long-lasting impact, on the problem of asymmetric information in the IPO market. The effectiveness of the IFRS in producing quality financial reporting is contingent upon large-scale information asymmetry and vanishes when investors and analysts have abundant information about listed firms, even for emerging economies such as Saudi Arabia.
Assessing the belt and road initiatives impact on tourism development in China: insights from MOOCs learning platform
Authors: Qiu Hanqin , Chen Dongzhi , Li Qinghui , Peng Kanglin , Jenkins Carson Lewis
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of the belt and road initiative (BRI) on tourism development in China and to identify the factors contributing to the BRI’s effect on tourism development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study evaluates the impact of the BRI on tourism development using 2007–2017 panel data from 31 provinces and municipalities in China. The data are analyzed using the difference-in-differences method and the factors contributing to the BRI’s effect on tourism development are identified through an analysis of online reviews by users of a massive open online course offered on the FutureLearn platform.

Findings

The result suggests that the BRI has boosted total tourism revenue and total tourist arrivals in the BRI region comparing with other regions. Four factors contributing to the BRI’s impact on tourism development in China are identified: macro-environmental factors, transit factors, destination factors and tourism policy and promotional factors.

Originality/value

The BRI has had a significant impact on regional tourism development, yet very few empirical studies have systematically examined the impact of BRI on tourism development. Thus, this paper also addresses this research gap by evaluating the extent to which BRI impacts tourism development and contributes to the factors affecting tourism development.
Imagined innocence meets lived experience
Authors: Lightner Sarah C.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to challenge pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) assumptions about youth readers, the researcher in this study invited a group of three seventh-grade students to attend a multicultural young adult (YA) literature class designed for PSTs at a large mid-western university.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative methodology, the researcher strove to answer the following question: How can instructors use youth literature and teaching practices to shift the way that youth readers are perceived – especially marginalized youth – within educational institutions? Data sources included participant observation and field notes, semi-structured interviews with participating seventh-grade students, discussion artifacts, lesson plans and discussion transcripts.

Findings

The author found that the seventh-grade students in this study shared intertextual connections and offered critical readings of text and the world that had the potential to challenge PSTs’ notions of how YA literature can, and should, be used in classrooms. Importantly, the adolescent students were also able to see themselves as competent participants in collegiate dialogue around texts.

Originality/value

Much research has been done on the value of giving PSTs experiences in school field experiences, but this research highlights the power of interactions between adolescents and PSTs in a university classroom.
International commercial arbitrator addressing money laundering sua sponte
Authors: Kolarov Todor
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the existing legal basis, and its practical application, of an arbitrator’s competence to raise on her own initiative money laundering issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The research focusses on presenting the essence of the problem through evaluation of the legal basis for the arbitrators to raise money laundering concerns on their own initiative and the examples of so being done in international commercial arbitration.

Findings

This paper concludes that arbitrators do not presently have a solid legal basis that authorises them to act sua sponte against money laundering.

Originality/value

The originality and value of this paper lies in its emphasis on theoretical and practical issues related to money laundering in international commercial arbitration. It argues in favour of an explicit recommendation to be incorporated in the 2012 Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that international commercial arbitrators address money laundering on their own initiative.
Buyer-assisted lean intervention in supplier firms: a supplier development approach
Authors: Hoque Imranul
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how buyer-assisted lean intervention in garment supplier factories affects garment suppliers' productivity and production capability development.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a qualitative research approach and a lean intervention design, a multiple case study method was adopted for this study. Quantitative data on productivity performance and qualitative data on production capability development were collected from a Danish buyer and their four corresponding garment suppliers. Collected data were analysed using standard lean measurement tools and qualitative data analysis techniques.

Findings

This study demonstrates that buyer-assisted lean intervention is a useful strategy for garment suppliers to enhance their productivity and production capability. However, suppliers need to select the right lean tools, ensure seriousness and commitment to lean initiatives, substantial involvement of top management and workers, arrange formal and informal training, provide performance-based financial/non-financial incentives and nurture a learning culture to facilitate suppliers' production capability development.

Research limitations/implications

This study implemented few lean tools in a single sewing line in four supplier factories for a short intervention duration. Thus, there is a scope for future studies to investigate the impact of the lean intervention on a large scale.

Practical implications

The findings of this study might bring new insights to the management of buyer and supplier firms concerning how buyers could involve in suppliers' lean intervention initiatives and what suppliers need to ensure to develop production capability.

Originality/value

For the first time, this study engaged a buyer in suppliers' lean intervention initiatives to improve productivity and production capability in the garment industry of a developing country.
Intention to write reviews: influence of personality traits, attitude and motivational factors
Authors: Tata Sai Vijay , Prashar Sanjeev , Parsad Chandan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The growth in online shopping activities has made online reviews a useful information source for customers. At the same time, the number of shoppers sharing their experiences through reviews has also increased. Not enough research has been undertaken in the past to examine a comprehensive set of factors that influence review posting behaviour. Further, the influence of personality traits on such behaviour is mostly unexplored. The study aims to examine the impact of the system’s usefulness and ease of use, along with shoppers’ motivation for writing reviews, namely, rewards and associated costs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the 3 M model of personality traits, this paper examined the impact of these personality traits on customers’ intent towards writing online reviews. A detailed review of the literature was undertaken to ascertain the pertinent factors, and the corresponding validated scales were obtained. The primary data was collected using an offline survey method, and 275 valid responses were recorded. The hypotheses were investigated through structural equation modelling on analysis of a moment structures 22.0.

Findings

The study observed the significant effects of both ease of use and usefulness, on shoppers’ attitude. This favourable attitude was further found to have a positive effect on shoppers’ intention to write reviews. Of the eight personality traits as predictors of shoppers’ intention to provide reviews, three (neuroticism, agreeableness and openness) were observed to be significant predictors. It was noted that intrinsic rewards influenced shoppers’ intention. Conversely, extrinsic rewards were found to be insignificant in influencing shoppers’ intention. Costs had a significant negative impact on the intention to write reviews.

Practical implications

The study presents theoretical and managerial implications. This paper suggests that for writing online reviews, the customers must perceive the review system to be simple, convenient and easy to use. It is pertinent for them to comprehend the usefulness of such reviews. Electronic retailers must highlight how the reviews are read and considered in making buying decisions. They must develop a system that enables the review writers to know the number of shoppers who have purchased the product after reading a particular review. E-retailers must strategize to highlight the intrinsic rewards available for shoppers to motivate them.

Originality/value

The present study examines the factors that motivate and influence shoppers to write online reviews. Using the conceptual framework of technology acceptance model, the self-determination theory and the 3 M framework of personality traits, the study investigates the factors that motivate shoppers to write reviews. The most significant aspect of the present study is the inclusion of eight personality traits for deciphering the relationship between personality traits and the intention to write reviews.
Role of interaction quality and trust in use of AI-based voice-assistant systems
Authors: Lee One-Ki Daniel , Ayyagari Ramakrishna , Nasirian Farzaneh , Ahmadian Mohsen
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI)-based voice-assistant systems (VASs) has created many opportunities for individuals to use VASs for various purposes in their daily lives. However, traditional quality success factors, such as information quality and system quality, may not be sufficient in explaining the adoption and use of AI-based VASs. This study aims to propose interaction quality as an additional, yet more important quality measure that leads to trust in an AI-based VAS and its adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a research model that highlights the importance of interaction quality and trust as underlying mechanisms in the adoption of AI-based VASs. Based on survey methodology and data from 221 respondents, the proposed research model is tested with a partial least squares approach.

Findings

The results suggest that interaction quality and trust are critical factors influencing the adoption of AI-based VASs. The findings also indicate that the impacts of traditional quality factors (i.e. information quality and system quality) occur through interaction quality in the context of AI-based VASs.

Originality/value

This research adds interaction quality as a new quality factor to the traditional quality factors in the information systems success model. Further, given the interactive nature of VASs, the authors use social response theory to explain the importance of the trust mechanism when individuals interact with AI-based VASs.

Contribution to Impact
To determine the critical factors for the adoption of cloud computing in the educational sector in developing countries – a fuzzy DEMATEL approach
Authors: Thavi Riddhi Rajendra , Narwane Vaibhav S. , Jhaveri Rujuta Hemal , Raut Rakesh D.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The paper focuses on reviewing and theorizing the factors that affect the adoption of cloud computing in the education sector narrowing the focus to developing countries such as India.

Design/methodology/approach

Through an extensive literature survey, critical factors of cloud computing for education were identified. Further, the fuzzy DEMATEL approach was used to define their interrelationship and its cause and effect.

Findings

A total of 17 factors were identified for the study based on the literature survey and experts' input. These factors were classified as causes and effects and ranked and interrelated. “Required Learning Skills and Attitude,” “Lack of Infrastructure,” “Learners' Ability” and “Increased Investment” are found to be the most influential factors.

Practical implications

The resultant ranking factors can be used as a basis for managing the process of cloud adoption in several institutions. The study could guide academicians, policymakers and government authorities for the effective adoption of cloud computing in education.

Originality/value

The study investigates interdependency amongst the factors of cloud computing for education in context with developing economy. This is one of first study in higher education institutes of India.
Corporate governance and environmental disclosure through integrated reporting
Authors: Raimo Nicola , de Nuccio Elbano , Vitolla Filippo
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In recent years, integrated reporting has emerged as a tool to provide environmental information in an interconnected way. However, in the academic literature, the amount of environmental information contained in integrated reports has never been analysed. This study, through the stakeholder-agency theory, aims to fill this important gap by examining the impact of the corporate governance mechanisms on the level of environmental information disseminated by the firms through integrated reports.

Design/methodology/approach

A manual content analysis based on an environmental disclosure index consisting of 30 items was performed to measure the amount of environmental information. In addition, a regression analysis was performed on a sample of 129 international firms to examine the impact of the corporate governance mechanisms on the level of environmental information disseminated through integrated reports.

Findings

The results show a positive effect of the board size, board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility committee existence on the level of environmental disclosure. Furthermore, they show a non-significant impact of board independence.

Originality/value

This study enriches the literature in several ways. First, it extends the field of application of the stakeholder-agency theory. Second, this study extends the analysis of environmental disclosure to another document – the integrated report – still unexplored by academic literature. Finally, it shed light on the determinants of environmental disclosure.
Reexamining the relative-age effect and career success: new evidence from S&P 1500 CEOs
Authors: Covington Thomas , Swidler Steve , Yost Keven
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The previous literature finds evidence from birth dates of CEOs that the relative-age effect continually influences their career success. The authors look at a significantly larger collection of CEOs and more exact information on school cut-off dates to reexamine the relative-age effect.

Design/methodology/approach

The relative-age effect suggests that older individuals within a cohort are more successful. This study investigates if the relative-age effect exists for CEOs in the S&P 1500 by analyzing the distribution of their relative age. The authors utilize an identification strategy that allows to calculate a CEO's relative age in months and enables to resolve known identification problems.

Findings

The authors find no support for the existence of the relative-age effect for CEOs either by season of birth or relative age in months. On the whole, the distribution of CEO birth dates is similar to the US population. Additionally, the authors find no evidence of a relative-age effect on firm performance.

Practical implications

Contrary to previous findings, there appears to be no relative-age cohort effect for CEOs of major corporations.

Originality/value

Research shows that CEO characteristics shape firm strategy that in turn affects firm performance. Despite previous work that suggests a relative-age effect, the authors provide a more comprehensive data set and better measurement of relative-age within a cohort. The authors find that the relative-age effect does not continue throughout a CEO's career, and therefore, birth dates are not a characteristic that influences firm strategy and performance.
A maturity stage model to explore repercussions of green manufacturing for manufacturing strategy decision areas
Authors: Shukla Ganesh Prasad , Adil Gajendra Kumar
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The researchers maintain that when a firm tackles “green concerns,” there could be several repercussions for manufacturing strategy decision areas (MS DAs). However, such repercussions are complex and have not been widely researched. This paper aims to propose a conceptual maturity stage model to study the configuration of MS DAs.

Design/methodology/approach

Firms exhibit different levels of “green” maturity in their journey and tend to make different choices in green technologies (GTs), resulting thereby in other compatible choices in their MS DAs. Extant literature has been synthesized in this light to build a conceptual maturity stage model in two steps. First, what is the GT that is involved! The second step discusses the possible implications of such a GT for MS DAs. Further, such information is organized according to a firm’s four maturity stages for all GTs that may be applicable. A case study has been undertaken to illustrate the model.

Findings

The results show good potential for the proposed conceptual model to examine the repercussions of MS DAs in industrial cases, and thereby develop relevant theories on this subject.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed model was applied to a paint manufacturing company, which potentially limits the findings’ generalizability to other industries and/or geographies.

Practical implications

The proposed conceptual model can help managers assess the maturity stages of manufacturing to determine suitable adjustments that may be required in configuring MS DAs to improve their positions.

Originality/value

This is among the very few models to explore the repercussions of green manufacturing for MS DAs according to the four-stage maturity model.
Investigating green investment payoff in China
Authors: Chen Qi , Low Mary
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to use Porter’s hypothesis (PH), which tests whether corporates’ green investment has an impact on their economic performance (EP). The study argues that corporates’ environmental strategy should allow for a “win-win” situation concerning regulatory compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative methodology used PH to test empirically the economic consequences of corporates’ green investment in China.

Findings

This study indicates that there is a U-shaped relationship between green/environmental investment (EI) and EP. When EI is less, corporates’ EP follows a downward sloping curve until the scale of EI increases and exceeds the “threshold.” From this turning point, EP follows an upward-sloping curve as EI increase. This relationship is more significant in high-polluting companies and state-owned companies.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical results extend the research field of EI and EP for listed companies in China and cover 1,324 observations over the period 2008–2017.

Practical implications

First, the authors expand the research on green/EI and EP using firm-level data. Second, the study empirically tests the economic consequences of corporates’ green investment. Third, this study finds a non-linear relationship between green investment and EP due to the heterogeneity of industry attributes and property rights. These findings provide better explanations for the different research conclusions regarding the economic consequences of green investment.

Originality/value

Compared to global research, China’s research on EI has mainly focused on the macro and industry levels. There is still a lack of micro-level research. The paper addresses this research gap as the authors use firm-level EI data to capture companies’ green investment efforts in environmentally sustainable development and its subsequent impact on EP.
The effects of yarn and fabric structural parameters on surface friction of plain-woven fabrics
Authors: Beyene Kura Alemayehu , Gebeyaw Soliyana
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Friction is considered to be one property of cloth that has considerable importance in the fields of both technological and subjective assessment for surface properties of textile fabrics. The purpose of this study is to investigate the affective aspects of yarn and fabric structural parameters on the behavior of surface friction of plain woven fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, nine varieties of half-bleached cotton plain-woven fabrics with three weft yarn count (tex) and three weft thread density (ppc) are produced and will be examined for their frictional characteristics. The surface frictional properties of plain-woven fabrics were measured by using Kawabata (KES-Fb4) testing instrument. The ANOVA analysis is used to determine how yarn (count) and fabric (density) structural parameters does influence the surface friction properties of the fabrics. Also, the interaction effects between the factors (count and density) on the response variable (surface friction) of plain-woven fabrics.

Findings

The findings of this study revealed that the effects of weft yarn count and pick-density have statistically significant on the frictional behavior of the fabric surface properties at a 95% confidence interval. Thus, weft yarn count has a positive correlation with both coefficient of friction (MIU) and mean deviation of coefficient of friction (MMD) on frictional behavior of the fabric surface properties. On the other hand, pick density has a negative correlation with both MIU and MMD on frictional behavior of the fabric surface properties. The weft count, pick density and their interactions (Count X Density) have multicollinearity in the experiment term because the variance inflation factor values were greater than one.

Originality/value

The findings of this study can be routinely used across the textile industries and laboratories to provide a fundamental understanding regarding the surface frictional properties of the woven fabric for different end applications concerning the yarn structural parameters and fabric structural parameters. And the relationship of count and density with surface friction of plain woven fabrics.
Training and resources of e-records readiness at the Federal Ministry of finance in Nigeria
Authors: Abdulkareem Mulikat Yetunde , Mnjama Nathan Mwakoshi , Sebina Peter Mazebe II Mothataesi
Published: August 2021

Purpose

e-records have become an important tool through which a government is held accountable for good governance, transparency and delivery of services to citizens. Therefore, this study aims to assess availability of training and resources in a records management environment, as a way of determining e-records readiness at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigeria (FMFN).

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires and observation were used for data collection. Purposive and stratified sampling techniques were used. Quantitative data from the 250 usable questionnaires retrieved was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data was analyzed manually.

Findings

The study findings revealed that FMFN has a records management unit with other resources such as a movable and lockable file cabinet, files, file holders, registers and computers. There is low budget allocation for records management activities. Training for records managers is infrequent. However, an orientation program for new staff exists. Employees prefer the following mode of training: seminars and workshops, internships and consultant-run training. In terms of kinds of training need, study participants noted that they require training on computer applications, e-records management and change management role of record management.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to employees of the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) in Abuja. As a result, the findings may not be generalized to other ministries in Nigeria.

Practical implications

It is hoped that the study would benefit the public sectors that are desirous to opt for e-records management and provide benchmarks for policymakers, particularly on how to maintain proper e-records readiness status through training and resources.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to be conducted at FMFN on e-records readiness, more specifically on resources and training.
Automatic epileptic seizure detection using LSTM networks
Authors: Shekokar Kishori Sudhir , Dour Shweta
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this work is to make a computer aided detection system for epileptic seizures. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized as the recurrence of two or more unprovoked seizures. The common and significant tool for aiding in the identification of epilepsy is Electroencephalography (EEG). The EEG signals contain information about the electrical activity of the brain. Conventionally, clinicians study the EEG waveforms manually to detect epileptic abnormalities, which is very time-consuming and error-prone.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have presented a three-layer long short-term memory network for the detection of epileptic seizures.

Findings

The network classifies between seizure and non-seizure with 99.5% accuracy only in 30 epochs. This makes the proposed methodology useful for real-time seizure detection.

Originality/value

This research work is original and not plagiarized.