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1 – 10 of 45Ulpiana Kocollari, Andrea Girardi, Maddalena Cavicchioli and Alessia Pedrazzoli
This study analyses how different forms of online accountability – hierarchical/individualising, hierarchical/calculative and socialising accountability – influence online…
Abstract
Purpose
This study analyses how different forms of online accountability – hierarchical/individualising, hierarchical/calculative and socialising accountability – influence online financing success of non-profit organisations (NPOs).
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on 797 NPOs’ projects listed on three international crowdfunding platforms providing space for NPOs to present, account for and fund social projects.
Findings
Results show that accountability forms developed online play significantly different roles in NPOs’ financing. While online hierarchical/individualising and socialising accountability enhance NPO funding, hierarchical/calculative accountability reduces financing success.
Research limitations/implications
The empirical analysis is limited to the specific research context. However, the research provides theoretical and practical insights for the accounting literature.
Practical implications
The paper recommends that NPOs invest more in explaining their past and future activities rather than reporting on pure financial performances, as this may lead to stakeholders’ perception of mission drift and reduce financing success.
Originality/value
This research enhances the understanding of online accountability and its significance in securing financial resources for NPOs by highlighting the necessity of examining various accountability forms individually, as they may serve distinct functions in the financial sustenance of NPOs.
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Yicun Li, Yuanyang Teng, Dong Wu and Xiaobo Wu
To answer the questions: what roles windows of opportunity act in the catchup process of latecomers, what strategies latecomer enterprises should adopt to size windows of…
Abstract
Purpose
To answer the questions: what roles windows of opportunity act in the catchup process of latecomers, what strategies latecomer enterprises should adopt to size windows of opportunity to catch-up with incumbents even going beyond?
Design/methodology/approach
This paper studies the catch-up history of the Chinese mobile phone industry and proposes a sectoral innovation system under scenario of technology paradigm shifts. Then a history-friendly simulation model and counterfactual analysis are conducted to learn how different windows of opportunity and catch-up strategies influence the catch-up performance of latecomers.
Findings
Results show latecomers can catch up with technology ability by utilizing technology window and path-creating strategy. However, catching up with the market is not guaranteed. Demand window can help latecomers to catch up with market as it increases their survival rates, different sized windows benefit different strategies. However, it also enlarges incumbents' scale effect. Without technology window technology catch up is not guaranteed. Two windows have combination effects. Demand window affects the “degree” of change in survival rates, while the technology window affects the “speed” of change. Demand window provides security; technology window provides the possibility of a breakthrough for technology ability.
Practical implications
The findings of this paper provide theoretical guidance for latecomer enterprises to choose appropriate catch-up strategies to seize different opportunity windows.
Originality/value
This paper emphasizes the abrupt change of industrial innovation system caused by technology paradigm shifts, which makes up for the shortcomings of previous researches on industrial innovation system which either studied the influence of static factors or based on the influence of continuous changes.
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Ben Morris, James Jackson and Anthony Roberts III
In recent years, Yoga practice has seen a rapid rise in popularity with many positive consequences, both physical and mental attributed to its practice. Ashtanga Yoga has been…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, Yoga practice has seen a rapid rise in popularity with many positive consequences, both physical and mental attributed to its practice. Ashtanga Yoga has been less well researched in this area and is the specific focus on this work. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible positive impact of long-term Ashtanga Yoga on psychological well-being.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 213 long-term Ashtanga Yoga practitioners were asked to complete the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment (PERMA) 23 scale (Butler and Kern, 2016) which measures psychological well-being. The values given by these individuals were then compared against a larger sample of 31,966 representative of the general population.
Findings
Scores were then compared with a PERMA data set representative of the general population (see Butler and Kern, 2016), primarily using a test of difference to compare samples. Secondly, the causal relationship between time spent in practice upon well-being scores.
Research limitations/implications
Findings indicated that those individuals engaged in long-term Ashtanga Yoga practice significantly outperformed the control group on all dimensions of psychological well-being.
Practical implications
This work has demonstrated specific benefits to the practice of Ashtanga Yoga on psychological well-being. Yoga is a form of exercise that is now widely available across the globe, and as such, represents an accessible form of physical practice, which has important psychological benefits.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work investigating differences in psychological well-being profiles using PERMA, as a function of Yoga practice.
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Marziyeh Vakili, Reza Salehzadeh and Hassan Esmailian
Because brand addiction is one of the most intense forms of consumer–brand relationships, this type of behavior has recently attracted the attention of researchers in the field of…
Abstract
Purpose
Because brand addiction is one of the most intense forms of consumer–brand relationships, this type of behavior has recently attracted the attention of researchers in the field of consumer behavior management. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the antecedents and consequences of brand addiction among Iranian consumers.
Design/methodology/approach
This research used a cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 401 people in Iran. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
This study found that brand love and brand involvement significantly influence brand addiction. Brand addiction was also positively associated with contingent self-esteem (CSE), compulsive shopping and resilience to negative information. Additionally, the results revealed a positive and significant effect of brand involvement on brand love and a similar positive and significant effect of CSE on compulsive shopping.
Originality/value
By examining the antecedents and consequences of brand addiction in an Islamic country, this research offers valuable insights that can enrich the literature on brand addiction in consumer behavior and brand management.
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Tong (Tripp) Liu, Caroline Swee Lin Tan and Carolina Quintero Rodriguez
This paper aims to synthesize the existing literature on virtual reality (VR) in the luxury fashion industry, discuss the current practical applications of VR technologies and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to synthesize the existing literature on virtual reality (VR) in the luxury fashion industry, discuss the current practical applications of VR technologies and review previous research undertaken in the luxury fashion field.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper conducts a systematic review and thematic analysis of existing literature to evaluate current research concerning VR and the luxury fashion industry. This search initially returned a total of 1,131 sources. After establishing and applying criteria of exclusion and inclusion, a total of 46 articles were selected for the thematic analysis.
Findings
Five major themes were identified, including virtual luxury fashion consumption, VR in marketing communication, virtual try-on, VR retail (including virtual fashion retail spaces) and virtual worlds (including customers’ virtual representation as avatars). The importance of these themes for the study of VR in luxury fashion is supported by relevant studies in the literature.
Originality/value
Whilst research into VR use within luxury fashion has increased recently, it remains fragmented. Given the absence of a comprehensive review addressing this topic within the literature, this paper will help scholars and fashion brands better understand the effects of VR on the luxury fashion industry. By integrating current practice and existing research, this paper contributes to a better understanding of how and where VR is used in luxury fashion contexts.
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Anette Kaagaard Kristensen, Martin Lund Kristensen and Eva Gemzøe Mikkelsen
This paper aims to explore the impact of social segregation and exclusionary workplace hazing during lunch breaks on newcomers’ relational quality during the early socialisation…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the impact of social segregation and exclusionary workplace hazing during lunch breaks on newcomers’ relational quality during the early socialisation phase.
Design/methodology/approach
This study draws on data from a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with recently employed nurses (n = 19) and nursing students (n = 42) about their workplace hazing experiences. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Findings
The analysis revealed two main themes: “feeling isolated” and “justifying self-exclusion.” Newcomers reported feeling humiliated when subjected to exclusionary hazing by experienced colleagues, leading to feelings of alienation and impacting their relationships with their new colleagues. Newcomers tended to distance themselves in various ways and justified this behaviour as a means of self-care.
Originality/value
This paper adds to the limited knowledge about the effects of newcomers’ exposure to workplace hazing during their early socialisation. It provides a relational perspective on the consequences of workplace hazing and explains how the social context influences the normative expectations of newcomers.
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Gianluca Pusceddu, Ludovica Moi and Francesca Cabiddu
This paper aims to empirically investigate the typologies of phygital (synaeresis of “physical” and “digital”) customer experiences (CXs) that can arise in high-tech retail based…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to empirically investigate the typologies of phygital (synaeresis of “physical” and “digital”) customer experiences (CXs) that can arise in high-tech retail based on the intensity of consumers' responses and reactions to the stimuli triggered by firms. Moreover, it explores how firms attempt to shape the architecture of the phygital CXs. Notably, this article identifies the flexible and agile strategies implemented by firms to enhance the several typologies of phygital CXs, with the intention of better exploiting physical and digital features to respond to the differences in customers' needs, preferences and expectations.
Design/methodology/approach
This study performs an in-depth exploratory single-case study based on semi-structured interviews with the customers, managers and employees of the Webidoo Store.
Findings
This study develops a framework illustrating the main typologies of ordinary (“hostile”, “controversial” and “disappointing”) and extraordinary (“passionate” and “explorative”) CXs that can arise in phygital contexts. Also, it identifies some key flexible and agile strategies (“decompressive strategy”, “mentoring strategy”, “prompting strategy” and “entertaining strategy”) that companies might follow to adjust their offerings and respond quickly to the different forms of phygital CXs to create a more compelling experience tailored to customers' needs, preferences and expectations.
Research limitations/implications
Among the study's limitations are the single-case study methodology and a specific setting like the Italian one. As a result, future studies could broaden the study to include other research contexts and countries. The paper offers significant managerial insights based on the many forms of CX across ordinary and extraordinary CXs. Thus, it provides critical takeaways for businesses to meet customer demand.
Originality/value
This paper analyzes the different typologies of ordinary and extraordinary CXs that could occur in phygital contexts based on the intensity of consumers' responses and reactions to firms' stimuli. Also, it explores how firms attempt to shape the architecture of the phygital CXs through flexible and agile strategies. From this paper, managers and decision-makers can reflect on successful strategies they could use to affect the stimuli to which customers respond in an agile manner, thus enhancing phygital CXs.
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Online fashion retailers offer body measurement guidance, alongside their target consumer body size charts and fit information, to help consumers select the right size garment as…
Abstract
Purpose
Online fashion retailers offer body measurement guidance, alongside their target consumer body size charts and fit information, to help consumers select the right size garment as the garment cannot be tried on. Its use by retailers suggests it can act as a means of mitigating garment returns as there has been a noted increase in returns due to incorrect size selection even though body measurement instructions are provided online. The purpose of this research is to determine how consumers interact with body measurement guidance, how they interpret it and use it, thereby interrogating its efficacy.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory investigation was undertaken. Thirty participants were recruited and given a choice of fashion retailers' body measurement guidance and a tape measure. They took their body measurements over their clothes. A technician repeated the task, thereby providing two sets of body measurements. A paired t-test determined if there was a significant difference in both values in terms of their mean. Technicians also documented their observations of how the participants interacted with the task. The content of the fashion retailer measurement guidance was then compared to that of published anthropometric guidance for surveys.
Findings
Participants were familiar with the guidance and tape-measure; they were able to self-measure. The fashion retailer measurement guidance, however, lacked detail/clarity in visuals and written content when compared to anthropometric guidance. Interpretation of the guidance differed between participant and technician. This resulted in a significant difference in circumference measurements for the bust/chest and hips, yet no significant difference in waist and inside-leg measurements. For measurements that were difficult to take unaided, participants devised novel practices which resulted in little divergence from the technician taken body measurements. The results question the guidance efficacy in its current form.
Originality/value
There has been no study which addresses how consumers interpret and interact with fashion retailers' online measurement guidance. This is important as this can mitigate garment returns. This research provides insight to influence fashion retailers' measurement guidance policy. It also adds to the existing body of knowledge surrounding anthropometric practice for clothing.
Research limitations/implications
The findings indicated that fashion retailers need to revise their body measurement guidance content. The content needs to be more comprehensive but still use accessible language and visuals. The broader implications of this study highlight that traditional anthropometrics for self-taken body measurement needs developing as an emerging concept through clothing-related academic study.
Practical implications
Fashion retailers' measurement guidance needs to be more comprehensive but still use accessible language and visuals. The broader implications of this study highlight that traditional anthropometrics for self-taken body measurement needs further investigation and documentation as an emerging concept through clothing-related academic study.
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Naimatullah Shah, Safia Bano, Ummi Naiemah Saraih, Nadia A. Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed and Bahadur Ali Soomro
In this study, we aim to investigate entrepreneurial intention (EI) among potential entrepreneurs who were students at Pakistan’s higher education institutes (HEIs) of technical…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, we aim to investigate entrepreneurial intention (EI) among potential entrepreneurs who were students at Pakistan’s higher education institutes (HEIs) of technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Design/methodology/approach
We used a quantitative and correlational method in this study, and we based its theoretical framework on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the entrepreneurial event model (EEM). We based this study’s findings on 367 samples collected from Pakistan’s HEI TVET students who were potential entrepreneurs.
Findings
By employing path analysis, the findings reveal that TPB constructs, such as personal attitudes (PA), subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC), have a positive and significant effect on EI. The findings show, also, that EEM constructs, such as perceived desirability (PD), perceived feasibility (PF) and propensity to act (PT) are positive and significant predictors of EI. Moreover, self-efficacy (SE) and the quality of TVET (QTT) positively and significantly affect EI.
Practical implications
This study’s findings support the improvement of Pakistan’s HEIs in developing TVET to enhance individuals’ skills and, ultimately, to create employment and socioeconomic circumstances. They also assist Pakistan’s HEIs in developing EI among their TVET potential entrepreneurs to ensure that they are sufficiently equipped for the job markets.
Originality/value
This study’s findings empirically confirm that TPB, EEM, SE and the QTT provide an integrated path for Pakistan’s entrepreneurs.
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Jia-Jhou Wu, Sue-Ting Chang, Yung-Ping Lin and Tom M.Y. Lin
When encountering novel technology, customers often use the term “cool” to express their thoughts; therefore, coolness has become crucial for launching service robots. However…
Abstract
Purpose
When encountering novel technology, customers often use the term “cool” to express their thoughts; therefore, coolness has become crucial for launching service robots. However, research on the impact mechanism of “coolness” is lacking. This study explored the relationship between delight and behavioral intention regarding the coolness of service robots in the food and beverage industry while discussing the mediating roles of utilitarian and hedonic values.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaires were distributed online with links to the survey posted on restaurant discussion boards on Facebook and online community platforms such as Dcard. In total, 540 responses were deemed valid. The hypotheses were tested using the partial least squares structural equation modeling method.
Findings
The results indicate that coolness positively impacted both utilitarian and hedonic values and that both perceived values positively impacted delight. Moreover, coolness does not directly impact delight but must be mediated by perceived value to be effective.
Practical implications
Increasing customer perceptions of the coolness of service robots is recommended. Moreover, regarding customer revisits, utilitarian value services can delight customers more effectively than hedonic value services.
Originality/value
The stimulus-organism-response model was used to identify the relationships among coolness, perceived value, delight and behavioral intention. Moreover, the authors investigated the impact of coolness on utilitarian and hedonic values. These findings are significant for the development of smart restaurants and provide a critical reference for exploring service robots.
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