bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early help and children’s services: exploring provision and practice across English local authoritiesIntroduction
Authors: Lucas Steven , John Archard Philip
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore early help provision to children and families not reaching the Children Act (1989) child in need threshold, across all 152 English local authorities in 2017.

Design/methodology/approach

A freedom of information request was used, in September 2017, to obtain information regarding recorded numbers, attributes and referral reasons for Early Help cases, case categorisation, professional groups involved in this provision and models of practice.

Findings

Responses revealed there are no common protocols categorising referrals and identified needs of children and young people. Child behavioural issues were the most frequently occurring category followed by parenting issues and child emotional well-being. The numbers of children engaged by Early Help services varied with a range between Barnsley with 7.8% of children under 18 years old and Richmond on Thames with 0.33% and only exceeded children in need in a 7 out of 71 reporting authorities. Models of practice used were most commonly based on the assessment framework, which operates at all social work thresholds including child protection. The enquiry found a diverse workforce involved in Early Help and sets it within a context of local thresholds for dealing with large increases in referral rates to children’s services departments in recent years.

Originality/value

The study provides a unique insight into the nature and scope of Early Help provision across England. The relationship between existing thresholds of intervention in the child welfare system is underexplored in the social work literature.
A dual lens approach to exploring informal communication's influence on learning in a political party
Authors: Hanlon Susannah Micaela
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The study aims to explore and discuss the extent of influence of informal communication on learning in a European social democracy political party through a dual lens approach combining information behaviour and organisational learning perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents results from an in depth qualitative study, whereby data were collected through semi-structured and episodic narrative interviews. Template analysis was used.

Findings

Informal conversations were identified as intrinsic to the work of the political party. They did influence learning at individual and group levels, and there was a degree of diffusion within the organisation, although the latter was found to depend on opportunity, individual self-efficacy, level of involvement in the party and perceptions of who has influence. The dual lens approach facilitated greater levels of granularity of analysis at individual and group levels of learning.

Research limitations/implications

The paper highlights the benefits of using a dual lens approach to add depth to the interpretation of the research findings. Due to the small number of participants further research is needed to verify and extend the results and support a greater degree of transferability.

Originality/value

The information behaviour and organisational research theory that underpin the research have not been used together in this way before, and the context for the phenomenon being researched, a traditional political party struggling against the rise of populism in the 21st century, is both contemporary and understudied in each of the theory areas.
Migrating a complex classification scheme to the semantic web: expressing the Integrative Levels Classification using SKOS RDF
Authors: Binding Ceri , Gnoli Claudio , Tudhope Douglas
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The Integrative Levels Classification (ILC) is a comprehensive “freely faceted” knowledge organization system not previously expressed as SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System). This paper reports and reflects on work converting the ILC to SKOS representation.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the ILC representation and the various steps in the conversion to SKOS are described and located within the context of previous work considering the representation of complex classification schemes in SKOS. Various issues and trade-offs emerging from the conversion are discussed. The conversion implementation employed the STELETO transformation tool.

Findings

The ILC conversion captures some of the ILC facet structure by a limited extension beyond the SKOS standard. SPARQL examples illustrate how this extension could be used to create faceted, compound descriptors when indexing or cataloguing. Basic query patterns are provided that might underpin search systems. Possible routes for reducing complexity are discussed.

Originality/value

Complex classification schemes, such as the ILC, have features which are not straight forward to represent in SKOS and which extend beyond the functionality of the SKOS standard. The ILC's facet indicators are modelled as rdf:Property sub-hierarchies that accompany the SKOS RDF statements. The ILC's top-level fundamental facet relationships are modelled by extensions of the associative relationship – specialised sub-properties of skos:related. An approach for representing faceted compound descriptions in ILC and other faceted classification schemes is proposed.
The dynamics between balanced and combined ambidextrous strategies: a paradoxical affair about the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on SMEs’ performance
Authors: Nofiani Delly , Indarti Nurul , Lukito-Budi Andy Susilo , Manik Hardo Firmana Given Grace
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to provide empirical findings of the extent to which the ambidexterity found in innovation and social networks will mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance (FP). This study also compares the ambidextrous strategy between the balanced dimension (BD) and combined dimension (CD) and examines their contribution to the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs’) performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study used an explanatory research design by surveying a total of 205 fashion firms’ owners/managers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Path analysis with mediating tests and independentt-tests were used.

Findings

The results revealed that innovation and social network ambidexterity mediate the relationship between EO and the SMEs’ performance. One ambidextrous strategy, the BD strategy, is superior to the CD one. The study makes an interesting discovery: the CD strategy apparently dominates FP when EO does not exist.

Practical implications

The study suggests that no ambidextrous strategy (i.e. BD and CD) used by the SMEs can fit all situations. In detail, the study provides four different strategies for SMEs to build organizational ambidexterity, namely, innovate and sustain; elevate; expand; and collaborate and survive. It is also suggested that the SMEs consider two main principles when dealing with an ambidextrous strategy, “anything that is too much is not always good” and “one size does not fit all.” By doing so, the SMEs are expected to be able to use internal and external resources and choose the most appropriate ambidextrous strategy to respond to the relevant situation (e.g. the changes of consumer behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Originality/value

Using a dynamic capability approach by integrating two perspectives, i.e. the internal (resource-based theory) and external (resource-dependency theory) perspectives, makes the study relevant and valuable to better understand the role and type of ambidexterity among SMEs as a mediating factor between EO and FP. This paper breaks new ground by confirming a paradoxical phenomenon concerning organizational ambidextrous practices within SMEs. Additionally, four strategies for ambidextrous were developed to respond to the anomaly.
Stock market implications of Fed's balance sheet size
Authors: Ruman Asif M.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Considering the relationship between the central bank balance sheet and unconventional monetary policy after the 2008 financial crisis, it is crucial to see how the unconventional monetary policy, given near-zero interest rates, affects future stock market performance. This paper analyzes the impact of the Fed's balance sheet size on stock market performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze the Fed's balance sheet size's long-term stock market implications, this paper uses the asset pricing framework of market return predictability such as Ordinary least squares (OLS) and Generalized method of moments (GMM) analysis.

Findings

Findings in this paper suggest that the Fed's balance sheet size, deflated by asset market wealth, presents evidence of return predictability during 1926–2015 that is robust against standard controls. These results can be explained through the redistribution of risk and the wealth channels of monetary policy transmission. The changing balance sheet size of a central bank (1) affects systemic risk, yields and expectations and (2) signals the future direction of monetary policy and thus economic outlook.

Research limitations/implications

The main implication of these findings is that policymakers should avoid a severe imbalance between a central bank's balance sheet size and assets market wealth.

Originality/value

The empirical evidence in this paper documents a century-old relation between the Fed's balance sheet size and US stock market return using the Fed's balance sheet data for the last 100 years and stock market returns from the Center for research in security prices (CRSP) database.
What Islamic contributions have been made to climate change action and how useful are they in promoting environmental justice?
Authors: Turnbull Elle
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore Islamic contributions to discussions on climate change action and environmental justice. The author argues that Islamic approaches to this issue provide a unique cultural and religious perspective which can effectively address the issue of climate change.

Design/methodology/approach

Beginning with a discussion of the concepts central to this essay, the author moves to discuss why she has chosen to move away from approaches founded in criminal law, instead of arguing that it is important to focus on culturally specific approaches to environmental justice. The author then explores some of the approaches taken by mainstream Muslim organisations working towards environmental justice. In particular, theIslamic Declaration on Global Climate Changeand responses from Islamic Relief Worldwide, considering both the benefits and flaws of these approaches.

Findings

The author concludes by arguing that Sharīʿah has potential for developing Muslim environmental justice further, using Islamic legal rulings from Indonesia as an example. In this way, Islamic contributions can further aid global environmental justice. The author finds that culturally specific approaches to climate change, founded in legal mechanisms such as the Islamic juridical process (fiqh), have vast potential in securing environmental justice across the globe.

Originality/value

Islamic contributions to climate change are often relegated to the background, while approaches from the perspective of legal mechanisms and criminal law have been favoured. The author believes that an Islamic approach is not only a starkly different approach, but also one which can provide an impetus for change. This is particularly true for the contributions of Islamic jurists.
Criminal minds: profiling architects of financial crimes
Authors: Ali Shazeeda
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a profile of a financial criminal, with special emphasis on their psychological attributes. The objective is to determine if such a profile can provide a valuable tool for detecting perpetrators of financial crime and for implementing risk-reduction strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach involved a review of various personality disorders and other mental health issues, as well as an analysis of a number of cases involving serious financial crime, to ascertain whether the behaviour of the perpetrators was consistent with certain psychological challenges. In addition, the study examined various motivators for the commission of the financial crime.

Findings

The research revealed some key commonalities among the perpetrators of financial crime and that their behaviour was often consistent with that of a person afflicted with a personality or other psychological disorder.

Originality/value

The study provides a comprehensive analysis of various personality and other psychological challenges afflicting a number of offenders involved in financial crime. It also provides some critical findings that could be valuable for those charged with establishing measures to prevent and detect financial crime.
Analyses of wavelet coherence: financial risk and economic risk in China
Authors: Kirikkaleli Dervis
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to close a gap in the relevant literature by investigating the causal linkage between financial risk (FR) and economic risk (ER) in China for the period 1985Q1–2018Q4.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the aim of the present study, Toda Yamamoto causality and wavelet coherence tests are used to capture the relationship between FR and ER in China.

Findings

The findings from wavelet coherence reveal that there is feedback causality between FR and ER in China at different frequencies and different periods between 1985 and 2018. The consistency of the findings from wavelet coherence is confirmed by the outcomes of Toda Yamamoto causality test.

Research limitations/implications

Although this study provides strong and consistent empirical findings for China, further studies should consider advancing the argument by focusing on different emerging markets.

Practical implications

Results are crucial for policy decision-making and can be used by researchers and macro-economic policymakers to take an action, if necessary, by implementing more appropriate or alternative economic and financial decisions.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this relationship in China has not been comprehensively explored by using newly developed econometrics techniques. Therefore, this study is likely to open a debate about the literature as the study concludes with a discussion on short- and long-run implications for policymakers in China.
Drivers for implementation of building information modeling (BIM) within the Nigerian construction industry
Authors: Olanrewaju Oludolapo Ibrahim , Babarinde Sunday Ajiboye , Chileshe Nicholas , Sandanayake Malindu
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The Nigerian construction industry, like in most emerging economies has been slow with technological advances such as building information modeling (BIM). More so, the application of BIM among Nigerian practitioners is rather limited to architects’ usage for schematic design and presentation of drawings. The purpose of this study is to enhance BIM’s uptake, this study explores the drivers for the implementation of BIM within the Nigerian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretivist epistemological design was adapted to extensively manually review and search the literature on BIM implementation drivers. Based on 14 drivers for BIM implementation drivers identified, a survey questionnaire was used to collect data from the Nigerian construction practitioners. The data obtained is then subjected to descriptive, inferential statistics and multivariate techniques such as factor analysis.

Findings

The study, through factor analysis, categorized the 14 drivers to BIM implementation into four principal factors. The factors are construction related-drivers; process digitalization and economic-related drivers; sustainability and efficiency-related drivers; and visualization and productivity-related drivers.

Practical implications

To effectively adopt BIM in the construction industry, it is necessary to identify the BIM implementing drivers, which can act as catalysts of change and, thus leading to sustained adoption of BIM. Therefore, the identified drivers and categorization of principal factors could provide managerial implications for better execution and adoption of BIM, as well as the creation of the required change for the BIM implementation.

Originality/value

The research provides insights into the implementation drivers of BIM in lesser studies in a developing country such as Nigeria. The study further contributes to this research sphere by using factor analysis to customize and contextualize the drivers that were previously identified.
Linking key antecedents of hotel information management system adoption to innovative work behavior through attitudinal engagement
Authors: Omuudu Otengei Samson , Francis Kasekende , Changha George
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the relationship between the key antecedents of hotel information management system (HIMS) adoption and innovative work behavior (IWB) with attitudinal engagement as a mediator.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were obtained from 297 full-time employees in five-star hotels in Uganda. With the help of Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS), seven hypotheses were tested and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

Both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are significant determinants of IWB. The study also confirms attitudinal engagement as a significant predictor of IWB. Importantly, attitudinal engagement was found to be a partial mediator in both the perceived usefulness and the perceived ease–IWB relationships.

Practical implications

The study’s findings will guide managers in formulating policies that promote employee display of vigor, absorption and dedication to work. Hospitality and tourism firms can now keep their workers abreast with the latest technology at work so as to help them exhibit engagement tendencies as well as generating new ideas for the organization.

Originality/value

The proposed framework provides a fresh theoretical explanation for IWB in hotels with perceived technology beliefs and attitudinal engagement as major drivers, hence contributing to the current state of knowledge. The study demonstrates that engagement acts as a link for the transfer of part of the contributions of both perceived usefulness (PUHIMS) and perceived ease of use of HIMS (PEUHIMS) into IWB.
Co-movements between Bitcoin and other asset classes in India
Authors: Hung Ngo Thai
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the dynamic relationship between the Bitcoin market and the conventional asset classes in India

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims to cast light on the dynamic linkages between Bitcoin prices and other conventional asset classes in India by using the wavelet transform frameworks, which can allow us to analyze components of time series without losing the information. To do that, the techniques used with the data set include wavelet-based covariance, correlation, coherence spectrum, continuous power spectrum and Granger causality test.

Findings

The findings of the study suggest that interrelationships between Bitcoin and the key financial asset returns are statistically significant at low, medium and high frequencies. This study also finds the existence of the unidirectional connectedness between Bitcoin the other assets in India.

Practical implications

The outcome of the analysis calls for substantial policy implications for investors, portfolio management in India. This research on the existence of the interconnectedness between Bitcoin and other conventional asset classes in a specific country context, India can, therefore, make a significant contribution to the contemporary debate about the speculative nature of the cryptocurrencies. It casts light on whether Bitcoin provides any diversification and risk management benefits for Indian, as well as global investors.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first paper investigating the interrelatedness between Bitcoin and key conventional asset classes in India. This research makes methodological advancements by using the wavelet coherence transform. The findings provide empirical bases from which to deal with issues regarding hedging purposes and optimal portfolio allocation for an increasing number of investors in the Indian context. Therefore, the main contribution of this study to related literature in this field is significant.
The role of intellectual capital on process and products innovation. Empirical study in SMEs in an emerging country
Authors: Beltramino Nicolas Salvador , Garcia-Perez-de-Lema Domingo , Valdez-Juarez Luis Enrique
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of the intellectual capital of SMEs on innovation and organizational performance in the context of an emerging country.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 259 industrial SMEs from the Cordoba, Argentina. The data were analyzed by partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM).

Findings

The study provides empirical evidence that the three components of intellectual capital generate positive and significant effects on innovation in processes and products. Structural capital is the component that has the greatest effect on innovation. It also showed a positive and significant relationship between innovation in processes and performance, contributing to the scarce empirical literature in the context of SMEs.

Research limitations/implications

The research exposes limitations that uncover a path for future. First, the work uses as the only source of information, the consultation at the highest level of the company. Second, the study covered only industrial companies. Future studies should focus on other sectors and countries.

Practical implications

The results may have important practical implications for SME owners and managers and offer a vision of the influence of intellectual capital on the innovative capacity of the organization.

Originality/value

The value of work lies in establishing the importance of intellectual capital in the environment of an emerging country such as Argentina, given the low level of knowledge that exists in this area.
Toward a digital civil society: digital ethics through communication education
Authors: Kaitatzi-Whitlock Sophia
Published: February 2021

Purpose

In the face of the enormous rise in digital fraud and criminality, resulting in diverse afflictions to millions of user-victims, emanating from users’ horizontal interactive and transactive exchanges on the internet, but due significantly to internet’s deregulation and anonymity, this study aims to showcase the need for a socially grounded self-regulation. It holds, that this is feasible and that it can be achieved through large scale, comprehensive digital communication education (DCE) programs.

Design/methodology/approach

The composite methodology of the study comprises four types of components, namely, analytic, exploratory-discursive, constructionist and propositional. The construction-creation element consists of the design of an original combinational research tool: triangular relational pattern (TRP). Through TRPs, researchers can locate the types of relations involved between three implicated entities, namely, the affliction, the culprit and the victim and can study them in-depth. Subsequently, based on the TRP, DCE programs are composed, which are, also, proposed to be deployed by educational authorities and digital civil society associations.

Findings

The created, applied here and proposed TRPs can be used by other researchers aiming to locate, map and analyze the variants of internet criminality and victimhood and their implications across the global frontierless world and in the digital human condition, educational purposes but also to create social cohesion.

Originality/value

The study offers two original contributions. The TRP as a significant relational research tool-grid. The DCE programs that are linked to the repertories of digital relations and can be introduced in the general education programs.
A decade of research on Muslim entrepreneurship
Authors: Hassan Yusuf
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, it proposes a definition of Muslim entrepreneurship and second, it synthesizes existing literature on Muslim entrepreneurship published in the past decade.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review technique has been used to identify and analyse the literature for a period between 2009 and 2019.

Findings

Results of the study suggest that there is a dearth of literature conceptualizing and operationalizing the concept of Muslim entrepreneurship in the management literature. Further, studies examining the factors which affect Muslim entrepreneurship practices are limited.

Research limitations/implications

The study has analysed only peer-reviewed articles from management literature.

Originality/value

A synthesis of the literature on Islamic entrepreneurship is missing. Also, literature proposing a comprehensive definition of the concept and summarizing the factors which affect Muslim entrepreneurship practices are absent.
Application of MFN to investment dispute settlement: rule of law issues
Authors: Sharmin Tanjina , Laryea Emmanuel
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Over the past two decades, the application of most-favoured-nation (MFN) clauses in international investment agreements (IIAs) to dispute settlement matters has generated controversy. The purpose of this paper is to help resolve some of the controversies by examining the rule of law issues that may arise from such application of MFN.

Design/methodology/approach

The study describes controversies regarding the application of MFN to dispute settlement as per the extant literature on the subject. It explores the elements of rule of law in investor-state arbitration. The paper then analyses the implications of applying MFN to dispute settlement matters for the elements of rule of law. Based on such analysis, the study argues that the application of MFN to dispute settlement matters undermines certain elements of rule of law.

Findings

The paper has outlined the relevant elements of rule of law in investor-state arbitration as access to dispute settlement; judicial (or tribunal) independence, fairness and impartiality; consistency and predictability of law and decisions; transparency; accountability and subjection of dispute forums and systems to law. It found that the application of MFN undermines various components of rule of law, in particular of consistency and predictability and the requirement of tribunals to adjudicate within the limits of the law.

Originality/value

The findings of this study will help future investor-state arbitral tribunals to decide on the application of MFN to dispute settlement matters.
Knowledge sharing as a give-and-take practice: the role of the knowledge receiver in the knowledge-sharing process
Authors: Ouakouak Mohammed Laid , AlBuloushi Nour , Ouedraogo Noufou , Sawalha Nabeel
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether openness to receive and openness to share knowledge drive employees to share knowledge with colleagues in the workplace. The authors also investigate what, if any, influence knowledge sharing has on performance at both individual and work unit levels.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 237 employees from eight banks in Kuwait. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The knowledge receiver’s openness to receive and openness to share knowledge influence the provider’s knowledge-sharing behavior. The latter positively affects the provider’s job performance and the work unit’s innovation performance. Furthermore, knowledge utilization strengthens knowledge sharing’s positive effect on work unit innovation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study are industry and country specific and, therefore, would likely not be applicable to other settings. Thus, similar future research targeting different industries and/or countries is warranted. As a cross-sectional study, this research can also benefit from subsequent longitudinal studies.

Practical implications

Organizations should create a culture conducive to sharing knowledge. For example, managers should assure employees that knowledge shared with coworkers will be well received and utilized, remove barriers to new knowledge utilization and create awareness among employees that sharing knowledge benefits knowledge providers as well as knowledge providers.

Originality/value

The authors provide evidence of how the knowledge receiver’s openness to receive and to share knowledge affect the provider’s knowledge sharing. The authors also provide insights into how knowledge sharing drives job performance and innovation.
Attributes of IT certifications aligned to organizations’ needs
Authors: Mussa Munir de Sá , Cordeiro Renata Gomes , Da Hora Henrique
Published: February 2021

Purpose

An area of information technology (IT) in organizations is required to manage resources efficiently. For this, IT certifications are adopted by companies and sought by professionals. However, these have many requirements and to identify which are paramount to the performance of their activities and/or are much more important to IT managers is not a trivial task. The purpose of this study is to identify how the processes of the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) v3 and Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (CobiT) 5 certifications are analyzed by IT managers. Regarding the knowledge of professionals about the processes, which are more important, less important or indifferent in the manager’s view.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey is carried out with IT managers using questions elaborated according to the Kano model in which the processes of the analyzed certifications are related to classify according to the proposed model.

Findings

Of the 64 analyzed processes, 20 CobiT processes and 13 ITIL processes were classified as must-be requirements. Another 17 CobiT processes and 9 ITIL processes were classified as one-dimensional and 5 ITIL processes are present in more than one relationship with CobiT processes and, depending on the relationship, they were classified as must-be or one-dimensional requirements.

Originality/value

It is concluded that this study contributes in the discussion of the importance of the ITIL and CobiT implementations and analyzes the relevance of ITIL and CobiT certification processes in the view of IT managers, providing useful information for the professionals in terms of prioritization of the processes expected by the managers.
An exploration of the current regulatory aspects of money laundering in South Africa
Authors: Chitimira Howard
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Money laundering activities were allegedly rampant and poorly regulated in the South African financial markets and financial institutions prior to 1998. In other words, prior to the enactment of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 as amended (POCA), there was no statute that expressly and adequately provided for the regulation of money laundering in South Africa. Consequently, the POCA was enacted to curb organised criminal activities such as money laundering in South Africa. Thereafter, the Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 as amended (FICA) was enacted in a bid to, inter alia, enhance financial regulation and the combating of money laundering in the South African financial institutions and financial markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview analysis of the current legislation regulating money laundering in South Africa. In this regard, prohibited offences and measures that are used to curb money laundering under each relevant statute are discussed. The paper further discusses the regulation and use of customer due diligence measures to combat money laundering activities in South Africa. Accordingly, the regulation of customer due diligence under the FICA and the Banks Act 94 of 1990 as amended (Banks Act) is provided.

Findings

It is hoped that policymakers and other relevant persons will use the recommendations provided in the paper to enhance the curbing of money laundering in South Africa.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not provide empirical research.

Practical implications

The paper is useful to all policymakers, lawyers, law students, regulatory bodies, especially, in South Africa.

Social implications

The paper seeks to curb money laundering in the economy and society at large, especially in the South African financial markets.

Originality/value

The paper is original research on the South African anti-money laundering regime.
Asset recovery in the European Union: implementing a “no safe haven” strategy for illicit proceeds
Authors: Pavlidis George
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore existing and proposed methods for enhancing asset recovery and targeting the proceeds of illicit trades and other types of criminal activity in the European Union (EU). Consistent and comprehensive implementation is needed at several levels (preventive measures, financial investigations, criminal proceedings and asset freezing and confiscation) to create a European “no safe haven” strategy for dealing with illicit proceeds.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on primary sources of law, legal scholarship, reports and open-source data to explore the existing and proposed methods for enhancing asset recovery in the EU.

Findings

The EU should expand and accelerate harmonization initiatives that target illicit proceeds in cross-border cases by using the building blocks of asset recovery (preventive measures, criminal proceedings, financial investigations and asset freezing and confiscation) in a consistent and complementary manner.

Originality/value

This comprehensive study examines the existing asset recovery tools and explores new methods for enhancing the associated EU legal framework.
Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes
Authors: McGivern Annika , Shannon Stephen , Breslin Gavin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to conduct the first cross-sectional survey on depression, Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes and to assess whether past concussion rates were associated with depression, resilience and well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 511 participants from Canada, Republic of Ireland, UK, Australia and USA took part in an international cross-sectional, online survey evaluating concussion history, depression symptoms, resilience and well-being.

Findings

In total, 27.1% of athletes met clinically relevant symptoms of major depressive disorder. Significant differences were shown in the well-being and resilience scores between countries. Significant relationships were observed between reported history of concussion and both high depression scores and low well-being scores.

Practical implications

Findings highlight the need for mental health promotion and support in equestrian sport.

Social implications

Results support previous research suggesting a need for enhanced mental health support for equestrians. There is reason to believe that mental illness could still be present in riders with normal levels of resilience and well-being.

Originality/value

This study examined an understudied athlete group: equestrian athletes and presents important findings with implications for the physical and mental health of this population.
The impact of early failures on maintenance costs: an empirical study in Latin America
Authors: Peimbert-García Rodrigo E. , Vázquez-Serrano Jesús Isaac , Limón-Robles Jorge
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Literature shows that the economics of early failures in maintenance and electric utilities have not been deeply analyzed. This study aims to focus on quantifying the economic impact that early failures in current transformers have on total maintenance costs. The empirical study is conducted in a regional transmission division of an electric utility located in Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach

The utility's database was accessed to collect 219 maintenance records. Clustering techniques were used to identify early failures from a bimodal distribution of failures. Confirmatory goodness-of-fit procedures followed the analysis, and finally, direct and opportunity costs were estimated by adapting the cost-of-quality (PAF) Model.

Findings

Around 11% of all maintenance activities are triggered by early failures, and they account for up to US$2.2m during the eight-year period under study, which represents 16% of total maintenance costs. Additionally, opportunity costs represent close to two-thirds of the total costs due to early failures. This was obtained after finding and validating a clear-cut border of 3.5 months between early failures and the rest.

Originality/value

Failures in energy grids and power transmission can have a large economic impact on the power industry and the society in general. Thus, the maintenance function in equipment such as current transformers is a crucial entry of the budget of any electric utility. This study is one of the very few that highlights the magnitude and importance of direct and opportunity costs derived from early failures.
Examining consumer participation on brand microblogs in China: perspectives from elaboration likelihood model, commitment–trust theory and social presence
Authors: Bao Zheshi , Wang Dongdong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Brand microblogs have been adopted as a new approach to promote products or services and maintain relationships with consumers for companies, but literature on why consumers are willing to participate on these microblogs is still relatively limited. The purpose of this study is to examine factors affecting consumers’ participation on brand microblogs and then indicate the underlying mechanism of this process based on elaboration likelihood model (ELM), commitment–trust theory and social presence.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted in China to investigate consumers who followed brand microblogs. A total of 380 valid responses were collected, and the data were analyzed by the partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess the proposed research model.

Findings

The findings show that argument quality and source credibility of a brand microblog are two important factors that enhance consumers’ community commitment and trust toward the microblog, which, in turn, promote their participation intention. In addition, social presence has a moderating effect on the relationship between trust toward brand microblog and participation.

Originality/value

This study extends the understanding regarding consumers’ information adoption processes in brand microblogs from both central and peripheral routes based on ELM. Besides, the role of trust in affecting consumers’ participation and community commitment in the context of brand microblog has been examined from a more detailed perspective. Finally, this paper better reveal the role of social presence in brand communities by focusing on its moderating effect on the relationship between commitment–trust and consumers’ participation. These findings can provide entrepreneurs with insights into strengthening consumers’ participation and operating their brand microblogs in the long-term.
You absolutely (don’t) need this!examining differences on customer engagement components for (anti)haul youtubers’ videos
Authors: García-de-Frutos Nieves , Estrella-Ramón Antonia
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to focus on the content published by social media influencers – i.e. YouTubers – on their YouTube channels. The main purpose of this research is to analyse whether anti-consumption-framed content (anti-hauls) generates more views, more dislikes (and less dislikes) and more comments, as customer engagement components, than pro-consumption-framed content (hauls).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 160 videos published on YouTube by 80 influencers on their respective channels, this study mainly analyses whether there are differences between anti-consumption and pro-consumption content in the various elements that constitute customer engagement (i.e. number of views, likes, dislikes and comments).

Findings

Results indicate that there are differences between anti-consumption and pro-consumption content in terms of total number of views, likes, dislikes and comments. All these customer engagement components are higher for anti-consumption-framed videos, which offers interesting implications for both theory and practice.

Originality/value

This study extends previous literature by accounting content published by social media influencers on their social media accounts, instead of analysing the most traditionally studied content that is published by brands on their own social media; and classifying this content as anti/pro-consumption rather than using the traditional dichotomy between transactional/emotional content. Brands should pay special attention to the content generated by social media influencers because it is a powerful form of electronic word-of-mouth that currently plays a significant role in customers’ (non)purchase decisions.
“Learning alone-a with Corona”: two challenges and four principles of tertiary teaching
Authors: Banki Susan Rachel
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The author offers two challenges and four principles to teaching in the tertiary sector during this pandemic. While others may focus on the challenge of technical delivery, the author notes the challenges of systemic student disengagement. The author attempts to correct for this in four ways. She argues that the challenges she identifies and the principles that can be deployed in response are applicable across a range of teaching contexts and can be adapted for a post-COVID-19 era.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on the author's phenomenological experience teaching in the context of COVID-19 and draws as well on the sociological literature of higher education teaching.

Findings

Four principles emerged from a year of successful teaching during COVID-19. First, the author embraces a pedagogy of care, which reflects a genuine concern for student well-being. Second, the author utilizes a variety of technological approaches to keep students engaged. Third, she retains a flexible approach to teaching. Fourth, she considers carefully the extent to which COVID-19 is included, and excluded, from topical discussions. On this point she argues that COVID-19 should neither be the center point of any material, nor should it be ignored completely.

Originality/value

Shocks to the tertiary education system will continue to recur, as will instances of systemic student disengagement. Effective correctives to such disengagement, drawn from both education theory and empirical experience, will continue to be of value.
Who do you choose? Comparing perceptions of human vs robo-advisor in the context of financial services
Authors: Zhang Lixuan , Pentina Iryna , Fan Yuhong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the differences in consumers’ perceptions of trust, performance expectancy and intention to hire between human financial advisors with high/low expertise and robo-advisors.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experiments were conducted. The respondents were randomly assigned to human advisors with high/low expertise or a robo-advisor. Data were analyzed using MANCOVA.

Findings

The results suggest that consumers prefer human financial advisors with high expertise to robo-advisors. There are no significant differences between robo-advisors and novice financial advisors regarding performance expectancy and intention to hire.

Originality/value

This pioneering study extends the self-service technology adoption theory to examine adoption of robo-advisors vs human financial advisors with different expertise levels. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is among the first studies to address multi-dimensionality of trust in the context of artificial intelligence-based self-service technologies.
Understanding how gamification influences consumers’ dietary preferences
Authors: Ögel Aydın Selin , Argan Metin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Nutritional disorders and unhealthy nutrition, which are recognised as the causes of many widespread health problems (overweight, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.) have emerged as a significant problem that requires resolution. The purpose of this study is to influence dietary preferences and to reduce current health issues by using gamification as a social marketing tool. To this end, the decision-making processes affecting food choices in individuals based on calorific content were evaluated and the effectiveness of gamification in encouraging consumers to make lower-calorie choices was examined.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental design was used to determine the effect of gamification on the dietary preferences of consumers. An independent factorial design (between groups) in which multiple variables were tested with different subjects was used to test the factors that were thought to affect the food choices made by the participants from gamified and non-gamified menus.

Findings

In Study 1, menus (gamified vs non-gamified) and nutritional consciousness (low vs high) had a significant main effect on the total calorie count of the selected foods. In Study 2, menus (gamified with prices vs non-gamified with prices) had a significant main effect on the total calorie count of the selected foods, while nutritional consciousness (low vs high) did not. A significant interaction was observed between menus and nutritional consciousness.

Practical implications

Gamification can be used as an important publicity tool for promoting public health using different influential factors such as price.

Originality/value

This study shows that people can change their food preferences positively through gamification. It shows further how people tend to evaluate the price of their food rather than the calorie count when making dietary preferences. Gamification can, therefore, be considered a promising social marketing tool for improving public health.