Search results

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact and mechanism of WeChat public platforms articles (abbreviated as WPP) on blood donation behavior using data of WPPA and donation behavior data.

This paper uses multiple linear regression methods, web crawlers and natural language processing technology. It first quantifies the impact of WPP published articles on donation behavior. On this basis, it then selects data from the day of article publication to further study the impact of article dissemination on donation behavior from the perspective of reading quantity, and analyzes the influencing factors of article reading quantity.

The results show that on the same day that an article is published, there is an increase of 13.8 and 14.3% in blood donation volume and fan registrations, respectively. The mediating effect exists. However, the day after an article is published, there is no longer any effect on blood donations. With a 1% increase in reading quantity, blood donation volume on the day of article publication increases by 0.13%, and this positive impact is promoted by the quality of the articles. A conc ise articles title and body and rich images help drive reading quantity. Moreover, blood donors prefer to read articles about blood dynamics and donation promotion, while articles about news, announcements and administrative affairs make them less inclined to read.

First, it focuses on WPPA, quantifies the impact of articles on blood donation behavior and analyzes the mechanism. Second, the authors study the impact and timeliness of social media article dissemination to address the insufficiency of existing research. Third, the study provides a scientific basis for the editing and publishing of articles, helping blood banks improve the effectiveness of publicity and recruitment.

This research aims to examine the introduction of participatory budgeting (PB) in local governments in two Francophone countries, namely, Benin and Niger, and how local contextual factors influence its practices.

The research employs a multiple case study design with a comparative approach to analyze the introduction and practices of participatory budgeting across selected municipalities in Benin and Niger. Hopper (2017) and Lassou et al.’s (2018) notion of “pragmatism” within neopatrimonialism is mobilized to analyze the data from sources including interviews and documents. The analysis is conducted at both the country and local government levels.

Participatory budgeting took roots in a number of municipalities. Its introduction and adoption has promoted participatory governance especially from traditionally marginalized segments of society (e.g. women); albeit to varying degrees, in the face of the prevailing national neopatrimonial context. Furthermore, despite donor's push for a standardized model of PB implementation, actual practices took varying shapes, a consequence of differing local conditions and circumstances.

In terms of limitation, it was not possible to access a number of research participants sought, particularly in Niger. But access to key documents from government, donors and civil society organizations help mitigate this to a large extent.

A major practical implication is the importance of adaptation to local socio-economic contexts and circumstances. As shown in the study, a blanket introduction and implementation of PB across societies based on a standardized model is unlikely to succeed and be sustained in the long run. A great deal of flexibility is required to accommodate indigenous realities on the grounds.

The study contributes to shed light on public sector budgeting regarding participatory budgeting practices in an under-researched setting: Francophone Africa.

The US platelet supply is almost exclusively dependent on apheresis donors who are “aging out.” As a result, blood centers and hospitals have been experiencing spot shortages and have resorted to transfusing low-dose platelets. This paper explores using whole blood–derived platelets (WB-PLTs) to supplement the apheresis platelet (APH-PLT) supply.

This paper reviews the history leading to the current state of the US platelet supply and includes the impact of recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-mandated bacterial mitigation strategies.

WB-PLTs represent a viable source of platelets that can be used to supplement the APH-PLT supply. Whole blood automation represents a new methodology to more easily prepare WB-PLTs. Advances in donor testing and screening as well as pre-storage leukoreduction have improved the safety of WB-PLTs to the same level as APH-PLTs. Blood services in the US and abroad transfuse WB-PLTs interchangeably in all patient populations.

This paper highlights how the US blood industry is essentially “sole-sourced” in terms of APH-PLTs. In this post-COVID-19 period, when most industries are building redundancies in their supply chains, blood centers should consider WB-PLTs as an additional source of platelets to bolster the US platelet supply.

The purpose of this study is to present an in-depth examination of stakeholder engagement processes in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from the perspective of NGO managers to enhance accountability and the effectiveness with which aid services are delivered. Specifically, demand-side (downward) accountability and the implications of an accountability system that is predominantly supply-side (upward) focused are explored.

This study draws on evidence gathered from 25 in-depth interviews with representatives of leading NGOs in Nigeria to explore and uncover the nature of stakeholder engagement and accountability processes in their respective organisations. This study shows prospects for entrenching organisational reform that balances power and influence that benefits the less economically powerful demand side of the stakeholders. A relevant aspect of stakeholder theory was used to frame the analysis.

The study reveals an overlay of a blanket engagement system and a seeming reluctance of NGOs to disclose critical information to the demand-side stakeholders (DSS), and suggests ways to meet sustainability demands and address the militating concerns. A perceived lack of understanding and prospects or outcomes of demand-side accountability are central to this; however, engagement outcomes that account for impact rather than output are explored and reported. The findings suggest that proper accountability involves adequate stakeholder engagement which is a prerequisite and paramount for sustainability.

This study primarily delineates NGO managers’ views on NGO engagement and accountability dynamics. Future research may explore the perspectives of downward stakeholders themselves. The study highlights the concern for NGOs to maintain a defined stakeholder engagement process that resists external forces that may impact on their operations and derail their mission, resulting in duplication of services.

The study shows the implications of donors’ influence on accountability practices which can be improved by re-structuring supply-side stakeholders to significantly include DSS accountability requirements in the key performance indicators of NGOs in developing countries. The authors present a nuanced perspective to aid delivery and access that ensures improved services and more effective, impactful and sustainable aid which is of practical relevance to NGOs and their accountability mechanism.

This study deepens the understanding of the dynamics of stakeholder engagement and accountability processes and shows that the most effective way to deploy aid funds to meet sustainability goals is to draw on the experiences and local knowledge of the DSS. This would require an effective and results-driven dialogue among all the stakeholders involved. The proposed engagement and management framework contribute to theory and practice by fostering multi-stakeholder cooperation, DSS accountability and the advancement of sustainable development

Beneficiary photos on charity appeals are believed to engender prosocial behavior. This study explores photo framing of healthy and unhealthy beneficiary photos in the context of photo-rich online medical crowdfunding. Based on framing theory, emphasis framing effect (i.e. unhealthy photos only vs both healthy and unhealthy photos) and equivalency framing effect (i.e. healthy photos prior to unhealthy photos vs unhealthy photos prior to healthy photos) are identified.

A scenario-based experiment with 135 participants was used to empirically test the proposed research hypotheses. The subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, with 45 subjects in each group. ANOVA, linear regression, and multiple mediation analysis were used to analysis data.

The results reveal that disclosing both healthy and unhealthy photos can elicit stronger sympathy and perceived need than merely disclosing unhealthy photos. Moreover, the order of unhealthy photos prior to healthy photos leads to a higher level of sympathy than the order of healthy photos prior to unhealthy photos. Furthermore, sympathy and perceived need are positively related to donation intention.

First, this study extends the photo-related research limited to certain characteristics of a single photo to the sequence effect of multiple photos. Second, this study contributes to framing theory by introducing photo framing, particularly the equivalence and emphasis framing effect of beneficiary photos. Finally, this study reveals the emotional and cognitive routes through which beneficiary photos stimulate prosocial behavior. It also offers practical guidance in the aspects of the framing effect of beneficiary photos for crowdfunding management.

Despite extensive research on supply chain management (SCM), the literature lacks a perspective to empirically assess the importance of poverty alleviation in social business. Using resources dependence theory, the purpose of this study is to analyze to ascertain whether financial innovation has a powerful solution for business sustainability and, hence, poverty alleviation in developing countries. This study reviews the financial innovations offered by Dompet Dhuafa Republika in integrated supply chain management (ISCM) of smallholder livestock business through Tebar Hewan Kurban (Spreading Sacrificial Animals) program to overcome capital and marketing problems at the farmer level and distribute Qurban meat to the recipients.

This study was conducted using descriptive qualitative method. The data were obtained through a field survey, by interviewing two crowdfunding-based investment companies, 250 partner farmers, program managers and assistants, marketing partners, donors/consumers/person who sacrifice and Mustahik (recipients of Qurban meat) involved in program implementation, using purposive sampling method. Focus group discussion was conducted with selected panelists to validate the results of the field survey.

The results of this study showed that the Tebar Hewan Kurban program provides greater benefits to farmers, while increasing the distribution of Qurban meat to be more equitable. The role of moneylenders and middlemen can also be eliminated. Donors feel satisfied because their goals are fulfilled in the Qurban ritual. Program implementers and investors also got decent returns. ISCM is very feasible to be developed on a wider scale, to improve the welfare of farmers or fishermen.

This study used a set of samples of the assisted areas from only one institution, which may lead to institution-specific results. Although the sample is small, the results of this study are expected to provide new insights into the implementation of the Qurban, which will provide more profits and benefits for partner farmers. In broader practice, the program flow is worth considering compared to similar programs in other institutions, in Indonesia or abroad. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the field survey and focus group discussion were carried out online.

The results show that ISCM is able to increase the income of farmers. Practically, this program can be duplicated in similar institutions, as well as in government or non-government organizations, in Indonesia and abroad, that have the same context and activity.

This study offers several social contributions by exploring how and why ISCM can eliminate the role of moneylenders and middlemen, increasing the small farmers' income, providing reasonable profits to parties involved in marketing and satisfying donors and equitable distribution of Qurban meat.

This study contributes to the literature by confirming the higher impact of ISCM in social business on poverty alleviation. Therefore, this paper provides an alternative solution to increase the income of small farmers through the supply of animals for Qurban or other religious rituals through ISCM arrangements.

The purpose of this study is to develop a new framework to measure waqif preference of waqf-based qardhul hassan financing in Malaysia.

Using a maqāṣid approach, this study’s data were drawn from 286 valid usable questionnaires to examine the effects of consumer, family, ummah and humanity factors on the preference.

The study found that the said factors sourced from Attia’s maqāṣid al-Shariah were instrumental in determining waqif preference to donate in waqf-based qardhul hassan financing.

Like others, this study’s findings are limited in terms of their generalisations and applications. The theory, context and variables used should be expanded in future works.

The results obtained are useful as a yardstick to enable the offered waqf-based qardhul hassan financing for improved mutual well-being among different classes of the wealth of societal groups in Malaysia. Furthermore, the results provide valuable insights into the direction for practitioners mainly managers involved in introducing waqf-based qardhul hassan financing as a new Islamic social financial instrument for poor and needy folks, at best.

This study is novel in terms of the proposed conceptual framework, where the waqif perspective comes into play.