Search results

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework, which identifies intrinsic, social and extrinsic gratification factors as essential individual factors influencing users’ disclosure of personal information via mobile instant messaging (MIM) applications (apps). In addition, the author has examined whether gender affects those different factors of gratification.

Data are collected via paper-based survey from university students who use MIM in the United Arab Emirates. Structural equation modeling is used to test the hypotheses that are presented in the model.

The findings show that intrinsic gratifications (entertainment and escapism) and social gratifications (social interaction) have positive effects on the depth and breadth of self-disclosure via MIM apps. Additionally, women’s self-disclosure of personal information is positively affected by social influence, while men are not influenced by this type of gratification.

The study aims to enhance the current understanding of the limited research on the uses and gratifications approach within the context of MIM apps to identify the gratifications that motivate MIM apps users to disclose personal information.

This study combines uses and gratifications theory and flow theory to create an integrated model that predicts continuance intention to use and satisfaction with livestreaming services.

The proposed model was empirically evaluated using survey data collected from 304 users about their perceptions of livestream services.

The results indicate that gratifications such as entertainment, informativeness and sociability were all positively related to satisfaction. The authors find that flow mediates the impact of interactivity and telepresence on satisfaction. Notably, sociability gratification and satisfaction had a significant impact on a user's intention to continue to use livestreaming services and accounted for 77% of the variance.

The study adds to the body of knowledge by demonstrating the uses and gratifications theory and flow theory in live stream services. In addition, the findings may provide useful insights for live stream services streamers and marketers.

The purpose of this study is to propose a synthetic post-adoption model based on the expectation-confirmation model (ECM) and flow theory to examine whether the fit factor, network factors and psychological factors as antecedents to end-users’ beliefs can affect their continuance intention of the robo-advisor.

This study used the research model based on ECM and flow theory to examine the effects of the fit factor, network factors and psychological factors on end-users’ beliefs and continuance intention of the robo-advisor. Sample data were collected from end-users at three financial services companies in Taiwan. A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed and 360 (80.0%) usable questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

This study proposes a solid research model that based on ECM and flow theory, three types of factors, namely, fit factor, network factors and psychological factors, as antecedents to end-users’ continuance intention of the robo-advisor have been examined and this study’s results strongly support the research model with all hypothesized links being significant.

It is particularly worth mentioning that a synthetic post-adoption model can be proposed in this study by introducing the fit factor extracted from task-technology fit model, network factors originated from the theory of network externalities and psychological factors derived from uses and gratifications theory as antecedents to perceived usefulness, confirmation, satisfaction and continuance intention referred in ECM and flow experience derived from flow theory. Thus, this study’s research model and findings can reveal deep insights into the evaluation of determinants in the field of end-users’ continuance intention of the robo-advisor.

In this article the authors aim to investigate the moderating effects of gender in explaining intention to use mobile chat services.

An extended adoption model based on the technology acceptance model and theory of reasoned action is applied for pin‐pointing the antecedents of intention to use mobile chat services and for revealing cross‐gender differences. The hypotheses are tested on data from a survey of 684 users of mobile chat services.

The study results suggest that social norms and intrinsic motives such as enjoyment are important determinants of intention to use among female users, whereas extrinsic motives such as usefulness and – somewhat surprisingly – expressiveness are key drivers among men.

The findings put renewed focus on non‐utilitarian motives and illuminate the role of gender in technology adoption.

The cross‐gender differences observed give several guidelines for mobile service developers and marketers in how to accommodate female versus male users.

The paper provides important and new insights both into mobile services adoption and into gender as an important segmentation variable in marketing.

Evaluates the findings from a study designed to identify factors that motivate Australian managers to accept expatriate appointments in the East‐Asian business region. These findings derive from 20 Australian business enterprises which have a physical presence in the East Asian business region. Results point to the need for a reassessment of existing Australian business practices in offering overseas business appointments to management staff. While extrinsic issues such as monetary satisfaction are important to the decision to seek and accept an overseas appointment, of more critical importance is how the overseas appointment, advances a person’s international career; and the opportunities the overseas appointment presents for professional development generally. A further consideration is the type and extent of information received by prospective international staff from those who have “gone before”. Overall, confirms the need for less attention to money and perquisites as inducements to accept overseas appointments. Suggests that more attention needs to be directed at the satisfaction of more intrinsic development and career advancement opportunities.

The purpose of this study is to investigate users' underlying motivations for engaging in social networking through online social networking services (SNS) compared with their behaviour. It seeks to examine the differences between USA, and Korean users.

The study surveyed SNS users in the USA and Korea to determine the key differences between the two countries. Survey questions, developed in English and Korean, were presented in each country to explore the influences of various factors from the modified Technology Acceptance Model on SNS user dimensions. The analytic design methods were based on structural equation modelling and applied to the data gathered. The TAM factors of SNS were analysed, focusing on the differences in motives between the two countries.

The results of the online survey of SNS users validated the proposed theoretical model's ability to explain and predict user acceptance of SNS very well. While the results illustrate the importance of both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, the two countries showed different sets of motivations, providing useful implications for theory and practice.

Based on the results of the study, practical applications for marketing strategies in online SNS markets and theoretical applications for cross‐national studies are recommended.

Despite the burgeoning interest in SNS, only a few studies have explored the acceptance of SNS in a cross‐national manner, leading to a paucity of information on how different cultures influence acceptance of online services.

The purpose of this paper is to extend the current debate on value-intention link by investigating the hitherto unexplored relation between the concepts of the multidimensional work ethic profile and entrepreneurial intentions (EIs). In addition, this research seeks to offer specific insight into the work values and EIs of United Arab Emirates (UAE) national youth in an effort to contribute to decision making and policy formation for enhancing entrepreneurship.

In total, 309 UAE youth completed an Arabic version of the short form multidimensional work ethic profile (MWEP-SF) and a measure of EI.

Results confirm the value-intention link and support the view that values can direct work choices in entrepreneurship. The regression model identifies that the work ethics of wasted time, leisure, and self-reliance positively predict EI, while centrality of work is unrelated to EI.

The relation between work values and EI of youth is underexplored in the context of the UAE. The current extreme underrepresentation of UAE nationals in the private sector of the UAE economy highlights a significant problem for the UAE strategy of workforce nationalization. As the current findings reveal that the UAE youth possess work values which can predict EIs, the policy initiatives in the UAE may encourage Emirati nationals to more actively participate in the new venture creation and development. This will potentially facilitate the government to achieve the balance between public sector employability and self-employment contributions in the private sector.

The current research aims to explore influence of shopping motives and price perceptions on Indian consumers' attitude towards mall retailer promotions. Effect of price discounts, gifts, coupons, and rebates offered by mall retailers to attract store traffic were examined.

Data were collected through mall intercept technique in six cities across India. Convenience sampling method was used to target metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities for data collection.

Results suggest that consumers' attitude towards mall retailers' promotional strategies is influenced by shopping values and price consciousness, deal proneness, and coupon proneness. Age, education, and income influence consumers' attitude towards promotions.

Only three constructs of price perception scale were used for the research. Future research can include all the items of price perception scale to understand its applicability on Indian sample. Promotions offered by branded and non-branded retailers in malls were not examined.

The findings can be useful to mall retailers for designing promotions to increase footfalls and sales. Promotions can be used by retailers to convey value and attract price conscious consumers. Retailers need to match their promotional offers according to price sensitivity and shopping motives of consumers.

There is limited research to examine role of promotions used by mall retailers in attracting footfalls in Indian malls. The influence of price perceptions and shopping motives on promotions offered by retailers in Indian malls has not been examined.

Internet celebrities have become key resources for consumers making purchase decisions. An increasing number of internet celebrities have begun to exert their influence by creating self-branded products. This study aims to examine the antecedents of consumer attitudes and purchase intentions towards internet celebrity self-brands by integrating cognitive consistency theory, cue utilisation theory and the literature on brand authenticity and celebrity involvement.

Two sub-samples of different social media brand communities were collected via online surveys of consumers with experience purchasing targeted internet celebrity self-brands. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the data.

The results of the two sub-samples provide convergent evidence that brand–consumer congruence, brand authenticity and internet celebrity involvement have positive correlations with consumer attitudes towards internet celebrity self-brands, which then positively correlate with purchase intentions in both psychological (Sub-sample 1) and social (Sub-sample 2) brand communities.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to develop a comprehensive model of consumers’ attitudes towards internet celebrity self-brands, which predict purchase intentions. The model is empirically tested in different social media brand communities, and the convergent results show the power of the proposed model. Internet celebrity involvement is proposed as a key driver of brand attitudes, which has received little attention. We conceptualise internet celebrity involvement and develop a scale to measure it. Based on the findings, we propose strategies to improve the marketing effectiveness of internet celebrity self-brands.

It has been claimed that workplace flexibility is beneficial for employees as well as employers. However, not many studies have attempted to examine the impact of workplace flexibility on employees. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of flexibility dimensions on quality of work life (QWL) of employees.

Data were collected from a sample of 380 middle-level employees from service and manufacturing sector in India. Analyses were carried out using multiple regressions with the help of SPSS AMOS 21.

Flexibility in time and place as well as operations has a significant impact on QWL of middle-level employees. Additionally, flexibility in time and place is indicated to be a strong predictor for enhanced QWL particularly for married female employees as compared to their male counterparts. The type of organisation and sector also influences QWL of middle-level employees.

This study has projected theoretical justification indicating how workplace flexibility satisfies needs of middle-level employees and promotes their QWL. It contributes to positive psychology literature by illustrating empirical evidence supporting the crucial role of flexibility at workplace in enhancing QWL of employees in India.

The findings may be valuable in all kinds of organisational settings when reviewing and proposing motivational employee well-being related policies. The empirical findings may have practical implications when it comes to designing jobs for enhanced work engagement.

The variables examined in this study reflect an understanding about how support mechanism at workplace creates a positive effect in employees’ well-being in unique cultural settings of India. Thus, this study is a significant contribution to the well-being literature in India.