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This paper aims at exploring the factors that are important for the digital development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis compared to large-sized enterprises.

Using data from a survey in Greek firms during the pandemic, econometric models are estimated to identify factors that are related to the expansion of digital marketing and e-commerce practices of SMEs and large-sized enterprises based on the technology–organization–environment framework.

The results suggest that while further investments in information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure are important for the digital development of SMEs during the COVID-19 crisis, it is the innovative activities that advance the digitalization of large-sized enterprises. Also, SMEs, which implement flexible human resource (HR) practices (such as remote work) and face delays in the supply chain due to the pandemic, appear to have increased probability of expanding their digital marketing and e-commerce. On the contrary, HR practices do not seem to matter for large firms, while new regulations appear to discourage their digital development during the COVID-19 crisis.

This is the first study which empirically explores the digital reactions of SMEs compared to those of large-sized enterprises in a pandemic crisis context. It advances the limited knowledge on the potentially different responses of SMEs and large-sized enterprises to major external shocks with respect to their digital marketing and e-commerce expansion.

A traceability system is a key success factor in global food trade, but implementing it in vegetable oil industry is one of the most difficult undertakings in food supply chain management. This study aims to (1) identify typical operational barriers in the implementation of bulk-liquid traceability system in the Indonesian vegetable oil industry by considering the perspective of experts and (2) model the relationship between the barriers structurally in order to improve the reliability of the traceability system.

To do so, data from in-depth interviews with experts were examined by using content analysis. Then the authors used a combination of decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and matrice d'impacts croisés multiplication appliqué un classement (MICMAC) to construct the hierarchical model and to cluster the typical barriers based on their driving power and dependence power.

In total, 20 typical traceability barriers along the internal chain (supplier-input-process-output-customer) were identified. The interrelationships between these barriers were modeled in a hierarchical structure, seeking to answer why it is difficult to implement a traceability system and what actions should be taken to remove these barriers.

The model can shed light on how to manage barriers in bulk-liquid food commodity industry, especially in the vegetable oil industry. An action map has been proposed to overcome the operational barriers. This model will also help tracing the critical points of the traceability system.

Compared to other food commodities, operational barriers in vegetable oil chain has never been studied specifically. In fact, there are many operational aspects that hinder traceability. The Indonesian context entails social, economic and environmental factors as well, so it can inform decision-makers in formulating an action map.

This article investigates the determinants of cross-section variation of initial public offerings' (IPOs) first-day returns in a sample of 710 issues across seven emerging markets between 2013 and 2017.

Ordinary least squares regression (OLS) and the semi-parametric quantile regression (QR) technique are employed. QR enables to analyse beyond the explanatory variables' relative mean effect at various points in the endogenous variable distribution. Furthermore, parameter estimates under QR are robust to the existence of outliers and long tails in the data distribution.

Underpricing varies across countries with an average of 78%. According to the OLS results, independent variables explain 26% of the variation of IPOs' first-day returns. Findings show that employing QR is important, given the non-normality of the data and because each quantile is associated with a different effect of explanatory variables.

In addition to firm-specific, market-specific and issue-specific factors, the paper extends IPOs' underpricing literature through studying the impact of country-specific characteristics, largely neglected by literature, on IPO underpricing.

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to identify levels of uptake of performance measurement by small and medium‐sized retail companies selling goods online, and to determine key factors, which could explain any variation in use of performance indicators. The study is designed to explore these issues by this type of retailer as currently understanding is fairly limited.

A quantitative mail questionnaire was used to survey UK retailers selling goods online. The questionnaire examined the uptake of performance measurement in conjunction with the business profile of each of the 252 responding companies.

The results show great variation in levels and extent of uptake of performance measurement by online retailers in the UK. Company profile variables: size and operating format help to account for the variation in the number of indicators measured.

The sample frame has some limitations insofar as the study only focused on small and medium‐sized retailers in the UK selling tangible goods. Future research could be extended to include larger and pan‐European retailers selling both tangible and intangible goods. Furthermore, the data collection was cross‐sectional and, whilst this approach was important at this stage in order to provide a picture of how performance measurement is being applied at a given point in time, a longitudinal study would enable greater analysis of strategic impact of performance measurement.

Currently, retailers' performance measurement activities mainly focus on gathering data using financial and Website functionality indicators. From a strategic planning perspective, this could suggest that retailers are adopting a short‐term pragmatic approach towards retailing online. The implications are that performance measurement is being used as a means to ensure that Internet retailing is not having a detrimental effect on business performance rather than driving longer‐term strategy development.

The principal contributions of this paper are that it has provided insight into the current status of performance measurement amongst UK Internet retailers and has identified a useful checklist of performance indicators which retailers can apply to gain a comprehensive view of business performance online.

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence of the influence of different e‐business technologies on capital productivity (CP). Productivity measurement is a useful tool to gauge business performance. However, currently there is little empirical evidence to support the impact of e‐business technologies on productivity.

In this paper, an empirical investigation of 132 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK telecommunication sector was carried out, using a hierarchical regression. In doing so, three different types of technologies that may be associated with e‐business (i.e. internet‐based applications, groupware applications, and collective systems) were considered.

The main findings are that any improvement in CP is significantly influenced by groupware applications and collective systems. Therefore, the UK SMEs and other large companies might be over‐investing in the development of web sites to support their internet presence, while under‐investing in promoting awareness and the use of these services to customers (i.e. groupware applications and collective systems).

Measuring the payoff is more difficult in e‐business environments because applications cut across boundaries thereby affecting multiple parties. Hence, alternative metrics to measure payoff from multiple perspectives could be necessary. Productivity measurements were conducted in the SME UK telecommunications sector, and hence findings are valid within this specific context.

The results of this paper provide interesting insights on the performance drivers of companies using e‐business technologies. The findings can guide managers in focusing their energies on e‐business technologies and represent an approach to determine which e‐business technologies are more likely to lead to a boost in productivity.

This study aims to investigate the properties of mortar made from a bottom ash substitute as a sustainable construction material. It is believed that the use of cement in concrete construction contributes to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which has been a consistent increase in recent years. The utilization of bottom ash waste is expected to reduce pollution associated with cement production.

Bottom ash is used as replacement materials for cement and fine aggregate in the manufacture of mortar. Bottom ash substituted for cement of 10%, 20% and 30% of the total weight of the binder, whereas bottom ash substituted for the fine aggregate of 30%, 40% and 50% of the total weight of the sand. Binder properties were determined using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray. Meanwhile, the fresh properties (slump flow) and hardened properties were determined (compressive strength and mass density). In the hardened properties test, two types of curing were used: water and sealed curing.

The compressive strength of mortar decreased as the amount of bottom ash as cement replacement. However, the compressive strength increased when bottom ash was used as aggregate replacement. Additionally, bottom ash was sufficient as a substitute for fine aggregate than as a substitute for cement.

This research presents test results that are more straightforward to apply in the construction site.

Despite the significance of donations (Sadaqah) via mobile payment in Islamic countries, little is known about the variables influencing continuance intention toward using m-payment for donations (Sadaqah). Based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model, this research explores the influence of perceived quality (i.e. system, information, service) as a stimulus on customer satisfaction, engagement and delight as organisms, which then affects continuance intention toward using m-payment for donations (Sadaqah) as a response. Moreover, the study investigates the moderating role of Islamic religiosity.

Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), a representative data sample of 419 Egyptian Muslims was analyzed to test hypotheses.

The findings revealed that all perceived quality constructs significantly positively affect customers' satisfaction. Customer satisfaction, in turn, positively affects customer engagement and delight. Moreover, customer engagement, delight and Islamic religiosity significantly positively affect continuance intention toward using m-payment for donations (Sadaqah). The findings also revealed that Islamic religiosity moderates the influence of customer engagement and customer delight on continuance intention toward using m-payment for donations (Sadaqah).

This is the first study to examine using m-payment for donations (Sadaqah) in an Islamic environment based on the S-O-R model.

Given the widespread popularity of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, understanding consumer-brand engagement behavior within social media is fundamental for retail firms. Yet, little is known about how consumers engage with retail brands through social media. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap and extend previous research by examining factors that influence consumers’ attitudes and intentions to engage with retail brands through Facebook, and ultimately purchase products and services.

This study draws on the theory of reasoned action and the technology acceptance model to develop a model of consumer-brand social media engagement and purchase intentions. Specifically, the model tests the influence of five antecedents of attitude on consumer intentions to engage with retail brands through the brands’ Facebook pages as well as intentions to make purchases through this social media. The hypotheses of the model are tested using structural equation modeling.

The findings provide an understanding of the main drivers of consumer-brand engagement that can lead to purchase intentions. Results show that consumers’ attitudes toward engaging with retail brands through Facebook are influenced by peer communication, compatibility and credibility, and that attitude has a strong influence on intentions toward this behavior. Furthermore, there is a strong relationship between intentions to engage and the likelihood of purchasing through a retail brand’s Facebook page.

This study is cross-sectional and was conducted at a particular point in time. Thus, results are not purported to make any inferences to causal relationships. Further, the measures of intentions to engage are attitudinal and not objective measures. Future longitudinal studies may help avoid this limitation by testing causal relationships.

The study contributes to the important area of consumer engagement with retail brands through social media in ways that may lead to making purchases. Findings can provide retailers with reference points through which to engage their brands with consumers through their Facebook pages in ways that may lead to more direct returns on their investment in social media sites.

Retailers are noticing the power of social media sites as a platform for engaging with consumers and extending this relationship to purchases. However, scant research has addressed this topic. The proposed model and findings of this study can extend prior research.

The rapid changing internet environment has created a competitive business landscape, which provides opportunities and challenges for a variety of businesses. One of these opportunities includes conducting businesses online. Online transaction systems enable users to buy and make payment for products and services using the internet platform. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that may affect consumers' intentions to repurchase products and services online.

The research framework is grounded in extended technology acceptance model (TAM). The authors used survey questionnaire to collect 102 valid responses from participants in Malaysia who must have made, at least, one previous online purchase. The snowball approach was used to select the participants, to ensure that participants had previously purchased online.

Data collected were analysed using regression model to determine the significance of the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The emerging results provide significant evidence in support of the eight hypotheses proposed.

One of the limitations of this research is the relatively small sample size. Future research may use larger responses, as well as applying other relevant information system (IS) models/theories. Nonetheless, the paper provides a synthesis of extant literature relevant to the subject area, which is critical in addressing theoretical development in online‐related purchase research. In addition, the empirical results corroborate some of the existing literature, as well as contribute to the advancement of the frontier of knowledge in the field.

This paper provides useful information for managing online businesses, especially in developing key responses to consumers' needs and in building critical capabilities to enhance competitive position in the online marketplace.

This is one of the few studies on online repurchase intentions in Malaysia that uses data from Malaysian consumers as well as an extended IS model. The extension of the well‐established TAM model by integrating additional variables provides researchers with a fuller model, and more theoretical options in developing frameworks, which are relevant to the specific context of the study – Malaysia.

This paper aims to identify key factors for a contextualised Systemic Risk Governance (SRG) framework and subsequently explore how systemic risks can be managed and how local institutional mechanisms can be tweaked to deal with the complex Indonesian risk landscape.

Using a case study from Palu triple-disasters in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, the authors demonstrate how inland earthquakes in 2018 created cascading secondary hazards, namely tsunamis, liquefactions and landslides, caused unprecedented disasters for the communities and the nation. A qualitative analysis was conducted using the data collected through a long-term observation since 2002.

The authors argue that Indonesia has yet to incorporate an SRG approach in its responses to the Palu triple-disasters. Political will is required to adopt more appropriate risk governance modes that promote the systemic risk paradigm. Change needs to occur incrementally through hybrid governance arrangements ranging from formal/informal methods to self- and horizontal and vertical modes of governance deemed more realistic and feasible. The authors recommend that this be done by focusing on productive transition and local transformation.

There is growing awareness and recognition of the importance of systemic and cascading risks in disaster risk studies. However, there are still gaps between research, policy and practice. The current progress of disaster risk governance is not sufficient to achieve the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) unless there is an effective governing system in place at the local level that allow actors and institutions to simultaneously manage the interplays of multi-hazards, multi-temporal, multi-dimensions of vulnerabilities and residual risks. This paper contributes to these knowledge gaps.