Advanced
search

To read this content please select one of the options below:

Impact of fake news on firm performance during COVID-19: an assessment of moderated serial mediation using PLS-SEM

Eijaz Ahmed Khan (College of Business, Law and Governance, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia)
Md Maruf Hossan Chowdhury (UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia)
Mohammad Alamgir Hossain (School of Accounting, Information Systems, and Supply Chain, Business and Human Rights (BHRIGHT) Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia)
Abdullah M. Baabdullah (Department of Management Information Systems, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
Mihalis Giannakis (Information System and Supply Chain Management Department, Audencia Business School, Nantes, France)
Yogesh Dwivedi (Digital Futures for Sustainable Business and Society Research Group, School of Management, Swansea University, Swansea, UK) (Department of Management, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune & Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India)

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

ISSN: 0960-0035

Article publication date: 27 December 2022

Issue publication date: 14 August 2023

1

Abstract

Purpose

Fake news on social media about COVID-19 pandemic and its associated issues (e.g. lockdown) caused public panic that lead to supply chain (SC) disruptions, which eventually affect firm performance. The purpose of this study is to understand how social media fake news effects firm performance, and how to mitigate such effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded on dynamic capability view (DCV), this study suggests that social media fake news effects firm performance via SC disruption (SCD) and SC resilience (SCR). Moreover, the relation between SCD and SCR is contingent upon SC learning (SCL) – a moderated mediation effect. To validate this complex model, the authors suggest effectiveness of using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Using an online survey, the results support the authors’ hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that social media fake news does not affect firm performance directly. However, the authors’ serial mediation test confirms that SCD and SCR sequentially mediate the relationship between social media fake news and firm performance. In addition, a moderated serial mediation test confirms that a higher level of SCL strengthens the SCD–SCR relationship.

Research limitations/implications

This work offers a new theoretical and managerial perspective to understand the effect of fake news on firm performance, in the context of crises, e.g. COVID-19. In addition, this study offers the advancement of PLS as more robust for real-world applications and more advantageous when models are complex.

Originality/value

Prior studies in the SC and marketing domain suggest different effects of social media fake news on consumer behavior (e.g. panic buying) and SCD, respectively. This current study is a unique effort that investigates the ultimate effect of fake news on firm performance with complex causal relationships via SCD, SCR and SCL.

Keywords

Citation

Khan, E.A., Chowdhury, M.M.H., Hossain, M.A., Baabdullah, A.M., Giannakis, M. and Dwivedi, Y. (2023), "Impact of fake news on firm performance during COVID-19: an assessment of moderated serial mediation using PLS-SEM", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 53 No. 7/8, pp. 838-859. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-03-2022-0094

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles

Manage cookies

We’re listening — tell us what you think

Join us on our journey