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1 – 10 of 466Kenneth Fu Xian Ho, Liudmila Tarabashkina and Fang Liu
Building on associative priming, anthropomorphism and biophilia theories, this study aims to explain that a natural–organic (that shows a natural object) and an anthropomorphised…
Abstract
Purpose
Building on associative priming, anthropomorphism and biophilia theories, this study aims to explain that a natural–organic (that shows a natural object) and an anthropomorphised natural–organic logo (that shows an anthropomorphised natural object) both act as primes and imbue specific product value perceptions, which subsequently influence willingness to pay a premium price when products have not been used by or are unfamiliar to consumers.
Design/methodology/approach
Two between-subjects experiments were conducted with different products (one with real, but unfamiliar to consumers brand and another with a fictitious brand). Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Experimental studies showed that natural–organic logos evoked stronger utilitarian (functional and economic) value perceptions, which triggered greater willingness to pay a premium price compared to anthropomorphised natural–organic logos. The effect of hedonic (emotional and novelty) values on willingness to pay a premium price was stronger when an anthropomorphised natural–organic logo was used.
Research limitations/implications
This research offers novel theoretical contributions highlighting the importance of careful logo design to imbue desired value perceptions when products have not been consumed or trialled.
Practical implications
Anthropomorphised natural–organic and natural–organic logos can provide different benefits to brand managers and can be used strategically to form desired value perceptions before products are consumed. Brands that wish to enhance premium pricing via hedonic values should consider using an anthropomorphised natural–organic logo. Natural–organic logos may be more suitable for brands that want to emphasise superior utilitarian values.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research provides the first empirical assessment of the differential effects of the two forms of natural–organic logos on value perceptions and willingness to pay premium price.
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Nkemdilim Iheanachor, Ricardo Costa-Climent, Klaus Ulrich and Elvis Ozegbe
This study aims to contribute to the enrichment of the literature by examining the impact of cross-cultural training on expatriates’ adjustment of Nigerian bankers on expatriate…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to contribute to the enrichment of the literature by examining the impact of cross-cultural training on expatriates’ adjustment of Nigerian bankers on expatriate assignments in other African countries.
Design/methodology/approach
Data on cross-cultural adjustment from expatriate employees in five banks that collectively accounted for over 80 per cent of Nigerian banks with subsidiaries in other African were systematically selected for the investigation. This data was collected quantitatively via a survey instrument. Independent sample t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis were deployed in analyzing the data.
Findings
The study found that cross-cultural adjustment varied significantly across the different categories of gender, age, marital status, previous expatriate training, previous expatriate experience, and duration of expatriation. The study concludes that in order to attain higher levels of adjustment African banks and other organizations should provide a more comprehensive cross-cultural training program that mirrors the needs of employees following a detailed needs analysis. Also, the training must be sequential and not a one-off approach.
Originality/value
The literature though still nascent is largely focused on expatriate preparation and adjustment for expatriates moving from Western-to-western contexts and very little exists in the literature on how multinationals from Non-Western contexts like Africa prepare their staff for expatriation and its consequent impact on their adjustment. This study aims to enrich the literature by examining the impact of cross-cultural training on expatriates’ adjustment of Nigerian bankers on expatriate assignments in other African countries.
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This study aims to integrate entrepreneurship theories and acculturation perspectives into a unified lens to understand opportunity development by transnational entrepreneurs…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to integrate entrepreneurship theories and acculturation perspectives into a unified lens to understand opportunity development by transnational entrepreneurs (TNEs).
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a conceptual method, considering how acculturation strategies of TNEs influence cross-cultural arbitrage.
Findings
We develop six propositions that define how acculturation strategies relate to different levels of cultural embeddedness of transnational entrepreneurs and ultimately influence the process by which the entrepreneur engages in cross-cultural arbitrage.
Originality/value
We are one of the first to integrate the sociology of immigrants with entrepreneurship to better understand how TNEs engage in cross-cultural arbitrage.
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Gozde Aydin, Claire Margerison, Anthony Worsley and Alison Booth
Schools have long been perceived as an ideal setting to support the healthy eating behaviours of children. The aim of the study was to examine the views of Australian primary…
Abstract
Purpose
Schools have long been perceived as an ideal setting to support the healthy eating behaviours of children. The aim of the study was to examine the views of Australian primary school parents regarding school food and nutrition, including education, practices and policy.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was conducted among 787 parents in March 2021, which included closed and open-ended questions.
Findings
The results indicated the inconsistent implementation of policies and/or varying practices among different schools. Parents’ views were slightly associated with some demographic and personal measures including their SES levels, education, age, the main language spoken at home and universalism values. Parents viewed healthy food provision through canteens, policies and informing parents, fruit and vegetable breaks and kitchen and garden programs as the main contributors to the promotion of healthy eating. They believed unhealthy options in canteens, school fairs, events and birthdays are the major contributors to the formation of unhealthy eating habits among children at schools. Results revealed the efforts to establish health promoting school food environments in Australian primary schools; however, inconsistencies and discrepancies among schools should be addressed to ensure equity among all children.
Practical implications
The findings may provide directions for policymakers and school managers and can inform future reforms and initiatives in Australian primary schools and elsewhere.
Originality/value
This is the first study that has examined Australian parents’ views of school food policy, practices and environments using a mixed-methods design.
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Dina M. Abdelzaher and Muna Onumonu
The COVID-19 pandemic was an eye-opening experience that put to the test our crisis management competencies across many institutions, including those offered by institutions of…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic was an eye-opening experience that put to the test our crisis management competencies across many institutions, including those offered by institutions of higher education. This study aims to review the literature on international business (IB) risks and IB education (IBE) to question whether business graduates are equipped to make decisions in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) marketplace.
Design/methodology/approach
While the IB literature has discussed the importance of various sources of risks on global business operations, IBE did not effectively adopt an integrative approach to building the needed risk management competencies related to those risks into our education. The authors argue that this integrative approach to teaching IB is critically needed to prepare future global managers for addressing crises, like that of the pandemic and others. Specifically, this study proposes that this integrated risk management competency can be developed through the building of “synergistic mindsets”.
Findings
This study presents a conceptual framework for the components of the synergistic mindset, with intelligence that directly links to present IB risks. These components are cultural intelligence (CQ), emotional intelligence (EQ), public policy intelligence (PPQ), digital intelligence (DQ) and orchestration intelligence (OQ).
Originality/value
Insights related to IBE effectiveness in addressing today’s VUCA market demands and IB risks are discussed.
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Sumaia Farzana and Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol
Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, conservation of resource theory and job demands-resources model, this paper aims to examine the effect of transformational…
Abstract
Purpose
Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, conservation of resource theory and job demands-resources model, this paper aims to examine the effect of transformational leadership on psychological empowerment and employee engagement of faculty members in Bangladesh and Thailand. This study also integrates Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory to justify whether transformational leadership could affect psychological empowerment of faculty members in these two countries differently.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from a total of 457 faculty members from two universities in Bangladesh (n = 243) and two universities in Thailand (n = 241). This study used partial least squares structural equation modeling for analyzing the proposed model.
Findings
The evidence shows that faculty members who worked for department heads and who exhibited transformational leadership demonstrated high level of psychological empowerment and employee engagement. Psychological empowerment also mediates the effect of transformational leadership on employee engagement. Moreover, the degree to which transformational leadership positively affects psychological empowerment is stronger for faculty members in a higher power distance culture (Thailand) than for those faculty members in a lower power distance culture (Bangladesh).
Practical implications
Because human capital plays a crucial role in determining the potential of universities to achieve superior performance, universities should provide leadership training to help department heads understand the key elements of transformational leadership and apply them in their management practices to promote empowerment and engagement of their faculty members.
Originality/value
The finding provides new evidence that broadens the knowledge from existing research about the cross-cultural effectiveness of transformational leadership, which has not been explored in the area of psychological empowerment.
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Mohammad Shahin Alam, Kelly Williams-Whitt, DuckJung Shin and Mahfooz Ansari
This study develops and tests a comprehensive model that examines whether dimensions of supervisors’ job demands and resources influence their work motivation through their job…
Abstract
Purpose
This study develops and tests a comprehensive model that examines whether dimensions of supervisors’ job demands and resources influence their work motivation through their job strain levels while managing disability accommodation (DA).
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed model leverages the assumptions of established job demand and resources theories, including demand-ability fit, job demand-control, job demand-control-support, and effort-reward balance models. Then, we tested with the quantitative data from 335 British, Canadian, American, Australian, Dutch, and German supervisors with recent DA experience.
Findings
This study found support for the proposed model. Job control and social support directly affected work motivation, while job strain did not mediate the relationship between job control and social support and work motivation. The results suggest that employers looking to improve the likelihood of DA success should focus on providing adequate job control, social support, and rewards to supervisors responsible for accommodating employees with disabilities.
Practical implications
This research enhances our understanding of how additional DA responsibilities impact supervisors and aids in the development of effective DA management policies and interventions, providing robust support for practitioners.
Originality/value
This study contributes to extending the DA literature by testing the applicability of different theoretical models to explain the effect of the additional DA responsibility on supervisors’ job demand, strain, and motivation levels and identify the resources to mitigate them.
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Sonia María Suárez-Ortega, Mar Suarez and Antonia Mercedes García-Cabrera
This study aims to examine the effect of the interplay between national culture and supervisor gender on supervisors’ supportive behaviours towards employees in Europe.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the effect of the interplay between national culture and supervisor gender on supervisors’ supportive behaviours towards employees in Europe.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on Hofstede’s cultural scores for 34 European countries, two clusters of countries were identified, reflecting two cultural configurations: favouring versus not favouring gender equality (GE). For hypotheses testing, the authors used a sample of 21,335 native employees, obtained from the European Working Conditions Survey.
Findings
Women in supervisory positions, compared to men, provided more support to subordinates in terms of respect, recognition, encouraging development and providing feedback. In countries with cultures favouring progress towards GE (small power distance, weak uncertainty avoidance, individualism and indulgence), only respect and recognition were more prevalent. In countries with opposing cultural configurations, other supportive behaviours stood out: coordinating work, providing feedback and helping with work. Furthermore, the impact of supervisor gender on supportive behaviours was influenced by national culture. Gender differences were larger in countries with a culture favouring progress towards GE compared to countries not favouring such progress.
Originality/value
The authors present a pioneering study that delves into national values as they relate to progress towards GE to understand the differences between male and female supervisors in the display of six supportive behaviours towards their subordinates. Their cultural approach nuances some of the predictions of social role theory.
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The article aims to present the results of adapting the team boosting behaviors (TBB) scale to Polish cultural conditions and validating it.
Abstract
Purpose
The article aims to present the results of adapting the team boosting behaviors (TBB) scale to Polish cultural conditions and validating it.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology consisted of three steps. In the first step, I translated the TBB scale into Polish using a rigorous back-translation method. Next, to assess content validity, nine domain experts reviewed the initial version of the instrument for clarity and relevance. Finally, I applied the scale to a sample of 532 team members and underwent thorough psychometric testing to assess construct validity. I employed structural equation modeling (SEM) with the partial least squares (PLS) factor-based algorithm technique for confirmatory factor analysis to assess the scale’s reliability and validity.
Findings
After development, the Polish version of the TBB scale kept its three sub-scale structures. However, the validation process led to a slight reduction in the number of test items compared to the original scale.
Research limitations/implications
The findings imply that the Polish version of the scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing TBB. However, I recommend additional studies to confirm this instrument’s structure.
Originality/value
The results confirmed the reliability and relevance of the tool for measuring TBBs in Polish cultural conditions. The tool provides the basis for implementing further research with the TBB construct in Poland and internationally.
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Ganesh Kumar and Jogendra Kumar Nayak
The adoption of residential rooftop solar panel systems (SPS) in India is at a nascent stage. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the factors affecting consumers’ intention to…
Abstract
Purpose
The adoption of residential rooftop solar panel systems (SPS) in India is at a nascent stage. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the factors affecting consumers’ intention to purchase SPS by expanding the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with three environmental psychology factors. The study was targeted at potential users’ intention to purchase SPS, thus it further explored the moderating role of perceived government subsidy policy (PGSP) in determining consumers’ purchase intention of SPS.
Design/methodology/approach
Using G*power software, the minimum sample size of 189 was calculated; accordingly, 292 valid responses were gathered from potential users of SPS from three Indian states, namely Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, via an online questionnaire survey with the help of purposive sampling method. Structural equation modeling technique of partial least squares was employed to analyze the data.
Findings
Results demonstrated that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE) and PGSP significantly influence purchase intention of SPS. Green trust and green self-identity did not influence the purchase intention of SPS. Further, PGSP strengthens the effect of attitude, green trust, PCE on purchase intention of SPS while it weakens the effect of subjective norms on purchase intention of SPS.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing literature by integrating green trust, green self-identity, PCE and PGSP into the TPB model to better understand factors affecting consumers’ purchase intention towards SPS in India.
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