bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The influence of sustainable branding and opinion leaders on international students’ intention to study: a case of Universiti Sains Malaysia
Authors: Mohamad Saleh Mohamad Saifudin , Md Kassim Normalini , Alhaji Tukur Naziru 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the relationship between a sustainable university brand and the intention of international students to study at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), one of Malaysia’s premier universities. Moreover, the study explored the moderating effect of opinion leaders on the intention of international students to study at USM.

Design/methodology/approachA survey involving 391 international students was conducted using a self-assessment questionnaire, data from which were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

FindingsEmpirical data show that USM’s sustainability brand had a positive impact on international students’ intention to study at the university, but opinion leaders had no significant sway in influencing this decision. This finding could be attributed to USM’s established reputation as a sustainable university, which helps cement its standing as the top choice for international students.

Research limitations/implicationsThis research only focussed on international students at one Malaysian university. Hence, the findings are not generalisable, in particular, to illuminate the experiences of students at non-Malaysian institutions, whose contexts are inevitably different than Malaysia’s.

Practical implicationsThis study offered a dimensional insight into the university management on the pivotal branding of sustainability as one of the important tools for attracting international students to study at the university. In light of the findings, it is suggested that universities magnify their efforts to support the sustainable agenda, to help create a sustainable university brand that adds value to the interests of stakeholders.

Originality/valueUniversities are continuously faced with challenges in terms of branding. Besides, not many universities are branded as sustainable universities despite the high involvement in sustainability-focused activities. Research has scarcely focused on the influence of the “sustainable university brand” on the marketing effort of the university to international students. In studies where this topic was highlighted, they focused on the opinion leader as the moderating influence of the choice of university amongst international students.
Collective aspects of information literacy in developing countries: a Bangladeshi case
Authors: Anwar Misita , Oliver Gillian , Frings-Hessami Viviane , Saha Manika , Sarker Anindita 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the exploration of women farmers' information literacy (IL) in the context of rural Bangladesh within the context of an ICT-based women empowerment project.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses thematic analysis of qualitative data collected during a culturally sensitive workshop on IL with a group of project participants.FindingsThe findings showed that women understood their information needs and where to find information, which indicates that participants had some basic IL skills. However, the online environment presented challenges for them to evaluate the quality of the information and its relevance to their daily activities. The cultural complexity of IL was observed with the rural women’s information practices affected by family patterns, community and religion, amongst other social factors. Collective practices are made highly evident by the women’s natural tendency to share phones and information and by the way information is maintained. While the collective practices are very useful in utilising information for daily needs, the downside is that women are potentially vulnerable to threats in an online environment when sharing confidential information.Originality/valueThis article shows that in the context of rural Bangladesh, women farmers’ information-seeking behaviour and practices of sharing and creating information are influenced by sociocultural characteristics. It describes how the women’s situational context of collectivity and power relations influence their ways of handling information.
We are in survival mode: how family-owned small foodservice firms in India responded to the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Piramanayagam Senthilkumaran , Dixit Saurabh Kumar , Seal Partho Pratim 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the crisis faced, strategies adopted, barriers for recovery and the future outlook by the operators of family-owned small foodservice business firms in responses to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded unprecedented challenges, severely disrupted the family-run small foodservice business units and often put them on the brink of closure of business.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology adopted is a qualitative research approach. The data for the research is collected through a semi-structured interview. The data was collected from the 13 family-owned foodservice providers. The data is collected through a semi-structured telephone interview as there is a restriction of travel between different regions.FindingsThe finding reveals that small family-operated foodservice firms faced multiple challenges, including threat for existence, the pressure of fixed cost, feeling unethical, financial instability, uncertainty on future and feeling of loss of goodwill with lenders.Originality/valueThe current research work is the first to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on small family-owned food services businesses in an Indian context.
A European distributed ledger technology pilot regime for market infrastructures: finding a balance between innovation, investor protection and financial stability
Authors: Priem Randy 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
This study aims to discuss the European Commission’s proposal for a pilot regime for market infrastructures to experiment with the distributed ledger technology (DLT). In this respect, the study comments on the purpose, scope, requirements and attention points for market operators, investment firms and central securities depositories (CSDs) that are considering using this technology.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper focuses on the proposed rules surrounding the DLT pilot regime. The study is based on an analysis of the proposal, compares it with existing literature and presents the purpose and scope of the regime, followed by a detailed analysis of the proposed requirements.

Findings
The proposed requirements aim to provide legal certainty, ensure investor protection, support innovation and protect financial stability. The European Commission attempts to reach these goals by establishing uniform requirements for the DLT market infrastructures by means of a European sandbox approach. This study stresses that a level playing field between the various market participants using the technology should be warranted and provides arguments for why the proposal is incomplete in this respect.

Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, there are no other articles that provide a holistic overview of the proposed regulation and describe the choices that legislators have made so far. This paper will be of interest to all market operators, investment firms and CSDs that have interest in DLT. The study is also of value to their stakeholders, such as their regulators, market participants and their clients, as well as to other linked financial market infrastructures.
Knowledge spillover, knowledge management and innovation of the Portuguese hotel industry in times of crisis
Authors: Mota Veiga Pedro , Fernandes Cristina , Ambrósio Filipe 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe aim of the study is to analyze how knowledge spillovers and knowledge management capabilities affect the innovation capabilities of hospitality sector companies in crisis environments.Design/methodology/approachA survey was completed by 63 hotel directors based in Portugal, gathering data on knowledge spillover, knowledge management capabilities and innovation capabilities. Two multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the impact of knowledge spillovers and knowledge management capabilities on innovative capability.FindingsIt has been concluded that knowledge spillovers work as external benefits of knowledge creation, increasing the innovation activities of companies in the hospitality sector, which reinforces that knowledge spillovers help to enhance innovation capabilities. The study's results show that it is essential for companies to manage knowledge. It also concludes that effective knowledge management facilitates the exchange of knowledge required in the innovation process. Knowledge spillovers improve the performance of innovation in companies through the development of new insights and innovation capabilities.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was carried out in a period of crisis. As expected in a troubled period, the results are extremely volatile. This study's sample is composed of Portuguese hospitality companies.Originality/valueThis research provides valuable insights into the overflow of explicit and tacit knowledge in the hotel industry. Moreover, this study offers new insights into the mediating role of knowledge management capability in the relationship between a hotel's knowledge overflow and its innovation performance.
Assessing patient readiness for a patient portal implementation in the UAE
Authors: Razmak Jamil 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
This paper proposes a Web-based patient portal based on the electronic medical record. Such a portal can allow patients to manage their own health care, reduce health-care visits and significantly improve the quality of their health care.

Design/methodology/approach
A patient portal prototype and an accompanying online survey were distributed to assess the adoption readiness among a group of people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Findings
The results from 470 survey participants demonstrated an enhanced awareness of this technology, and support the study hypotheses indicating that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are important when considering the implementation of a patient portal in the UAE.

Originality/value
This study adds value to the few research studies undertaken in the Middle East discussing online health information technology and its adoption and usage among the population at large. The extended technology acceptance model, which contains two additional constructs, had not been previously validated in terms of a patient portal in the UAE, according to the author’s knowledge, adding more value. The UAE’s health-care system must use the benefits from the available IT infrastructure to provide a user-friendly online portal to encourage patients to manage their health care and health information.
Prioritizing risk factors in sustainable supply chain using fuzzy Kano and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy QFD
Authors: Xie Yushi , He Lina , Xiang Wei , Peng Zhenxing , Ming Xinguo , Goh Mark 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to develop a hybrid method to prioritize risk factors (RFs) of sustainable supply chain (SSC) considering sustainable customer requirements (CRs) and uncertain evaluation.Design/methodology/approachIn the proposed method, fuzzy Kano model (FKM) is applied to prioritize sustainable CRs considering customer satisfaction (CS) and objective weight of each CR, the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) set theory is integrated with quality function deployment (QFD) to translate the sustainable CRs into RFs of SSC under uncertain environment and the IVIF cross-entropy is used to conduct objective analysis to prioritize RFs. Finally, a case in air-conditioner-manufacturing company is presented to demonstrate the proposed method.FindingsA case study of SSC risk management, the comparative analysis and associated discussions are conducted to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The results obtained from the case study shows that RF5 (market share reduction) is the most important RF in the SSC. Compared with the existing methods, the proposed method can integrate sustainable CRs into SSC's RFs, handle uncertain information effectively and obtain objective importance of RFs.Originality/valueTheoretically, the paper develops a customer-oriented model based on the FKM, QFD, IVIF sets and entropy theory to prioritize RFs of SSC under uncertain environment. The model enables to integrate sustainable CRs into RFs managements and is efficient to deal with the subjectivity and conduct objective analysis to prioritize RFs. In practice, the systematic and correct RFs' priorities analysis provides reliable decision support for the managers to take measures to avoid or mitigate the critical RFs.
Critical variables for assessing the effectiveness of electronic customer relationship management systems in online shopping
Authors: Yang Zuofei , Babapour Hassan 
Published: February 2022

PurposeNowadays, businesses globally are scrambling to keep up with the latest trend of adopting Information Technology (IT) tools like electronic customer relationship management (E-CRM). The study aims to examine and describe the impact of information availability, system security and quality on consumer satisfaction and E-CRM efficacy in shopping websites.Design/methodology/approachCommunication in the period of the fourth industrial revolution was performed face to face and via the use of technological communication tools. The growth of information and communication technology (ICT) has compelled businesses to embrace E-CRM to strengthen client relationships and boost profitability, loyalty and satisfaction. E-CRM is implemented to establish communication with customers. So the major goal of the investigation is to look at the function of influencing variables in E-CRM system efficiency in online buying. The present study's statistical population is limitless. The sample size for structural equations is determined to be 384, utilizing the sample measurement technique. A research framework is developed with four hypotheses resulting from previous research to measure the sample. SMART PLS software is used to assess the suggested model and the data received from the questionnaire.FindingsAccording to the findings, availability of information, information quality and security influence user satisfaction. Therefore, considering the dimensions could be a great step in the improvement of the E-CRM effectiveness. The outcomes also showed that online shopping sites should help customers observe the accordance between the received services and their needs' features.Research limitations/implicationsDespite many efforts to complete the article, the low sample size is one of the limitations of this article. Also, the study has only been evaluated in one country, so generalization of results should be made with caution.Practical implicationsThe E-CRM process is a continuous learning process where information about the customer is transformed into a customer relationship. Also, customer satisfaction is the core concern of any system, and such systems must assess customer satisfaction levels by incorporating a procedure. Many research findings show that development managers try to enhance the quality of the relationship with development managers' customers. The study recommends that both designers and managers focus on security, system quality and access to information to boost customer satisfaction.Originality/valueThe research discusses and identifies the key factors that must be considered while providing the solutions of E-CRM. The study helps managers to accelerate E-CRM systems. Also, the paper supports the field of the managers-orientated perspective in E-CRM.
Audit fees, board ethnicity and board independence: evidence from South Africa
Authors: Muniandy Balachandran 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between ethnic diversity on corporate boards and audit fees in the context of South Africa. Additionally, this paper investigates how the interaction between board ethnicity and board independence affects audit fees.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a quantitative research method with a panel data analysis to test proposed hypotheses. This study’s sample consist of listed firms on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) from 2003 to 2018.

Findings
This study finds that firms with more Black directors on corporate board have higher audit fees. It also shows that the positive relation between board independence and audit fees is more pronounced for firms with greater ethnic diversity on corporate boards. Further, this study finds that the presence of Black directors on corporate board can increase board effectiveness. Lastly, firms with more Black directors on corporate board tend to be audited by Big N auditors. The findings of this study illustrate the implication of an equity narrative to board diversity for organisational outcome.

Research limitations/implications
The results reported in this paper have both practical and policy implications regarding the presence of ethnic diversity on corporate boards. The findings also suggest that there is a need to establish an appropriate balance of ethnic diversity on corporate boards as part of regulatory reform. Regulators should be aware of the positive impacts of the requirement for board diversity on corporate boards.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine whether the presence of Black directors on corporate boards affects audit fees. It also investigates the interaction effects between the presence of Black directors on the board and board independence.
Interconnections between governance shortcomings and resource curse in a resource-dependent economy
Authors: Fagbemi Fisayo , Kotey Richard Angelous 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe paper assesses the role of natural resource rents in Nigeria's economy through the channel of institutional quality.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is done with the use of autoregressive-distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration, vector error correction model (VECM), Granger causality test and cointegrating regression over the period 1996–2019.FindingsFindings support the notion that overreliance on natural resources could exacerbate the growing number of dysfunctional economic outcomes in the country. The study confirms that a mix of weak governance quality and natural resource rents could have a negligible effect on economic growth and possible retardation impact on the economy in the long run as well as in the short run. The evidence further reveals that there is unidirectional causality running from the interaction term to growth, suggesting that growth trajectory could be jointly determined by natural resource rents and the quality of institutions.Originality/valueThe divergent arguments associated with the mechanisms of resource curse in each of the resource-rich countries offer ample support for the contention that economic outcomes in resource-abundant states may not be a product of resource windfalls per se, but rather the quality of governance or ownership structure. Hence, the ultimate aim of the analysis is to further understanding on the link between resource rents and growth in Nigeria via governance channel.
Facile preparation of robust superhydrophobic coating on concrete surface through “all-covalent” strategy
Authors: Hou Pingping , Huang HongYan , Wang Yong , Zhang Jun , Sun Dewen 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to prepare a robust superhydrophobic coating on concrete substrate with remarkable chemical and mechanical durability through “all-covalent” strategy.

Design/methodology/approach
Amino-modified silica nano/micro-particles were prepared through two synthetic steps. “All-covalent” strategy was introduced to prepare a robust superhydrophobic coating on concrete surface via a “all-in-one” dispersion and a simple spraying method. The successful construction of the products was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water contact angles (WCA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The concrete protective properties were verified by solution immersion test, pull-off test and rapid chloride migration coefficient test. The mechanical durability was tested by falling sand impact.

Findings
Hierarchical structures combined with the low-surface-energy segments lead to typically superhydrophobic coating with a WCA of 156° and a sliding angle of 1.3°. The superhydrophobic coating prepared through “all-covalent” strategy not only improves chemical and mechanical durability but also achieves higher corrosion and wear resistance than the comparison sample prepared by physically blending strategy. More importantly, the robust superhydrophobic coating showed excellent adhesion and protective performance of concrete engineerings.

Practical implications
This new “all-covalent” superhydrophobic coating could be applied as a concrete protective layer with properties of self-cleaning, anti-graffiti, etc.

Originality/value
Introduction of both silica nanoparticles and silica microparticles to prepare a robust superhydrophobic coating on concrete surface through “all-covalent” strategy has not been systematically studied previously.
Preparing the post-pandemic workforce for the cruise and hospitality industry
Authors: Smith Johnson Evette M. , Mais Thompson Evora G. , Immanuel Paul Nanibala 
Published: February 2022

Purpose The aim of this article is to examine some of the imperatives surrounding the preparation of the workforce for the cruise and hospitality industry after the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes a competency-based approach to training.Design/methodology/approach An analysis of peer-reviewed material was conducted. This involved looking at the literature on the cruise and hospitality industry in the Caribbean region and specifically, Jamaica. Attention was then given to how aspects of training in competency-based education/training (CBE/T) could be utilised to prepare the workforce to sustain a viable cruise and hospitality industry during and after the pandemic.Findings The pandemic reveals some of the weaknesses of global tourism and academia more generally in terms of curricula and has pointed out that most of the training methods, techniques, pedagogies and subject areas may change in times of crisis in order to better prepare for response and recovery policies, strategies and research. Some of the competencies that the post-pandemic cruise and hospitality workforce will require were identified in the review, such as technological, health management and resilience competencies.Practical implications The review implies that there are new and emerging competencies that are driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. These must be reflected in a competency-based education and training (CBET) curricula as educational change will be required to prepare the post-pandemic workforce.Social implications Relationships and results will need to be the focus of CBET for the cruise and hospitality industry. Although the customer focus will remain for industry workers, the workforce will need to learn to interact with tourists via touchless applications, simulations and virtual interactions.Originality/value This paper is of value to educators and trainers in the cruise and hospitality industry.