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1 – 10 of over 8000Huasi Xu, Yidi Liu, Bingqing Song, Xueyan Yin and Xin Li
Drawing on social network and information diffusion theories, the authors study the impact of the structural characteristics of a seller’s local social network on her promotion…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on social network and information diffusion theories, the authors study the impact of the structural characteristics of a seller’s local social network on her promotion effectiveness in social commerce.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors define a local social network as one formed by a focal seller, her directly connected users and all links among these users. Using data from a large social commerce website in China, the authors build econometric models to investigate how the density, grouping and centralization of local social networks affect the number of likes received by products posted by sellers.
Findings
Local social networks with low density, grouping and centralization are associated with more likes on sellers’ posted products. The negative effects of grouping and centralization are reduced when density is high.
Originality/value
The paper deepens the understanding of the determinants of social commerce success from a network structure perspective. In particular, it draws attention to the role of sellers’ local social networks, forming a foundation for future research on social commerce.
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María Lidón de Miguel, Lidia García-Soriano, Camilla Mileto and Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares
The common language behind vernacular architecture only seems to be maintained in societies that preserve a traditional way of life. Changes in these societies can threaten their…
Abstract
Purpose
The common language behind vernacular architecture only seems to be maintained in societies that preserve a traditional way of life. Changes in these societies can threaten their cultural heritage, while research may be a tool for its conservation and enhancement. In this paper, the habitat of a Mossi community is therefore studied as a first stage in analysing the possibilities of its maintenance.
Design/methodology/approach
After a previous study, data collection from a stay in Baasneere (Burkina Faso) and the analysis of 32 traditional residential units were completed. The research showed some common features which, when compared against the bibliography reviewed, could be defined as characteristic of the traditional architecture of this culture.
Findings
The home for a family unit consisted in an enclosure formed by the grouping of adobe constructions around a courtyard. As the family grew so did the compound, in a relationship directly linking the scales of architecture and the levels of kinship. The main daily activities took place in the courtyards while the individual interior spaces were understood as private shelters. Other typologies such as granaries, kitchens, warehouses and sheds were also analysed.
Originality/value
Some features of Mossi architecture already described in the existing bibliography were verified in the Baasneere case studies, showing that this tradition is still preserved. With a multidisciplinary approach, the house was examined not so much from the perspective of construction, but of its cultural configuration.
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The study seeks to understand what teachers know about students’ friend networks and how they use that information for instruction.
Abstract
Purpose
The study seeks to understand what teachers know about students’ friend networks and how they use that information for instruction.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative study relied on interviews and sociograms that teachers drew of students’ friend networks.
Findings
Our data suggest that teachers’ awareness of their students’ friend networks varies by their experience and their exposure to students. Also, their use of this information for instruction coalesces around dimensions of grouping and social support.
Research limitations/implications
This study took place at one school. To more deeply understand what teachers perceive about their students’ friend networks and how they use that information for instruction, more studies could be done with teachers in more schools.
Practical implications
Implications might suggest developing teachers’ social competence to support their students’ learning and development.
Originality/value
While studies cited in this paper have explored teachers’ knowledge of students’ social networks, this study builds on this work by exploring how that information can be useful for instruction. In addition, this study explores the use of teachers drawing sociograms as representations of what they know about students’ friend networks.
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Kaiyang Wang, Fangyu Guo, Cheng Zhang and Dirk Schaefer
The purpose of this study is to systematically identify, assess, and categorize the barriers to digital transformation (DT) in the engineering and construction sectors, and thus…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to systematically identify, assess, and categorize the barriers to digital transformation (DT) in the engineering and construction sectors, and thus to better understand the impact and how these sectors might be overcome.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a sequential mixed qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis approach. DT barriers were first identified from relevant literature and verified by an expert panel. Then, a questionnaire survey assessing the impacts of the identified DT barriers was distributed to construction professionals in China, and 192 valid responses were retrieved. Further, the data obtained were analyzed using ranking analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
Based on the ranking analysis, the top three barriers are “lack of industry-specific standards and laws,” “lack of clear vision, strategy and direction for DT,” and “lack of support from top management for DT.” EFA enabled the grouping of the 26 barriers into 3 categories: (1) lack of laws and regulations (LLR), (2) lack of support and leadership (LSL), and (3) lack of resources and professionals (LRP). The PLS-SEM analysis revealed that LLR, LSL, and LRP were found to have significant negative impacts on DT.
Originality/value
These findings contribute to the body of knowledge on DT in the construction industry and help construction firms and government bodies improve the understanding of these barriers to DT and put forward relevant policies and incentives, thus seizing the DT benefits as a way to enhance construction project management.
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Adellia Agissa and Fitri Mutia
The spread of fake news on Instagram is still a problem that needs to be solved. Teenagers are a generation that is vulnerable to fake news, for example, high school students…
Abstract
Purpose
The spread of fake news on Instagram is still a problem that needs to be solved. Teenagers are a generation that is vulnerable to fake news, for example, high school students. Students need media literacy to help them protect against fake news. The media literacy skills possessed by students influence the behavior of spreading fake news that they do. This study aims to examine the effect of student media literacy on the behavior of spreading fake news on Instagram among students at public high schools in Surabaya.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used an online survey to100 students at five public high school in Surabaya to get the data on their ability to respond to the fake news on social media Instagram.
Findings
It was found that there is a media literacy that has a significant effect on the behavior of spreading fake news on Instagram. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that media literacy influences the behavior of spreading fake news on Instagram, and other factors influence the rest. There are seven media literacy skills, and the high category are grouping, deduction, synthesis and abstraction abilities. Meanwhile, the abilities included in the medium category are analysis and evaluation abilities.
Originality/value
This paper will provide insight of the media literacy levels on teenagers in metropolitan city. This result can be used as guide to add the media literacy subject at high schools and can be used to strengthen the media literacy skills among teenagers.
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Dan Wang, Jingyi Luo and Yongkun Wang
This paper constructs the uncertainty analysis model of prefabricated building supply chain risk. The model is designed to study the formation path of prefabricated building…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper constructs the uncertainty analysis model of prefabricated building supply chain risk. The model is designed to study the formation path of prefabricated building supply chain risk and is expected to be used by industry stakeholders for supply chain risk management.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the uncertainty circle model, construct a configuration analysis framework for supply chain risks in prefabricated buildings. The fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is used to study the configuration influence of five uncertain factors, including environment, plan-control, demand-supply, manufacturing and assembly-transportation, on the risk of the prefabricated building supply chain.
Findings
There are three paths to promote the high-risk generation of the prefabricated building supply chain: assembly-transportation-oriented, plan-control-oriented and manufacturing-oriented. There is a specific equivalent substitution relationship among the five causal conditions. Under specific conditions, different combinations of conditions have the same effect on promoting supply chain high-risk generation through equivalent substitution.
Originality/value
The multiple concurrent causal relationships of risk conditions in the assembly construction supply chain are studied under the grouping perspective, which helps to expand the research perspective of assembly construction supply chain risk and provides theoretical guidance for supply chain risk management of construction enterprises.
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Hugo Martinelli Watanuki and Renato de Oliveira Moraes
The purpose of this paper is to identify the practices that owners of public profiles in social networking sites can leverage to actively build online reputation and to evaluate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the practices that owners of public profiles in social networking sites can leverage to actively build online reputation and to evaluate the impact of the adoption of such practices on the initial formation of trust toward these individuals when they are presented as new virtual work partners.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical model was developed and an experiment with 233 participants was utilized to assess the model using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results suggest that individuals can build their online reputations in public profiles of social networking sites via a series of practices of self-disclosure of information and that the adoption of these practices has significant effects on the initial formation of trust toward the profile owner in virtual work contexts. Categorization mechanisms such as stereotyping, unit grouping and reputation categorization have been found to contribute to the initial formation of trust, both from an affect and cognition-based perspectives.
Originality/value
Little is known about the information disclosure practices in public profiles of social networking sites that new work partners can adopt to facilitate the formation of trust between them before they start working together. This study has contributed to the existing body of literature by clarifying these practices and the relative importance of online reputation to the initial formation of trust during the outset of a new virtual work relationship.
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Antti Ylä-Kujala, Kati Kouhia-Kuusisto, Tuuli Ikäheimonen, Teemu Laine and Timo Kärri
While companies worldwide are largely comprised of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a significant amount of management accounting (MA) research focuses on larger…
Abstract
Purpose
While companies worldwide are largely comprised of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a significant amount of management accounting (MA) research focuses on larger organisations, thus leaving MA practice in SMEs relatively under-researched. This paper aims to examine MA adoption (MAA) and its interfaces with MA challenges and business performance from a small business perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 502 small businesses is investigated with an embedded mixed methods research design comprised of qualitative content analysis, factor analysis and analysis of variance.
Findings
Up to 78% of small businesses are facing MA challenges that stem from organisation, systems, personnel and/or resources. Based on the present findings, MA challenges do motivate small businesses to at least consider investing in MAA as small businesses facing challenges are more likely to acquire systems and services than those reporting no issues at all. Hence, small business managers seem to not only recognise where their challenges lie, but also seek ways to improve the situation through MAA. The analysis also reveals that companies with the highest MA know-how have the best average solvency, suggesting that small businesses indeed benefit from MAA. Interestingly, the performance at medium levels of know-how declines while investments increase, revealing a “decreasing solvency phenomenon”. Potential explanations are, e.g. the MA not fitting the company’s exact needs, or information usability and use being limited by poor MA understanding.
Originality/value
The originality of the research lies in exploring the interfaces between MA challenges, MAA and small business performance using distinctive embedded mixed methods research design.
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Theodoros Millidonis, Petros Lois, Ifigenia Georgiou and Evangelos Tsoukatos
In this paper, the authors review the extant literature on e-learning effectiveness in higher education (HE) to investigate how teachers are affected by the actions that the…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, the authors review the extant literature on e-learning effectiveness in higher education (HE) to investigate how teachers are affected by the actions that the management of higher education institutions (HEIs) need to take to address the success factors that are critical for e-learning effectiveness. E-learning, in the context of this study, encompasses the delivery of and access to a coordinated collection of learning materials and instructions over an electronic medium using a web server to provide the materials and a web browser to access them.
Design/methodology/approach
To address the study's aims the authors employ a narrative literature review methodology. Since the area under review is comprehensive and it entails the examination of several topics, the authors have selected this methodology to ensure thorough coverage, and a narrative literature review approach can provide the required degree of thoroughness as it covers a wide range of topics within the thematic area under review. The authors focus on contemporary scientific studies published between January 2017 and May 2022 on how teachers involved in e-learning are affected by management actions taken to achieve success factors for e-learning effectiveness within the HE sector, after identifying and grouping the success factors identified in prior literature into dimensions that reinforce effectiveness.
Findings
The authors of the present study have identified and outlined the most prevalent success factor dimensions by performing a narrative review of the extant literature on the topics of e-learning effectiveness and success factors, and by grouping the various success factors identified into the overarching dimensions presented. These dimensions must also be examined in terms of their relevant importance to the most significant e-learning stakeholder groups. Prior studies have made attempts to obtain relevant stakeholder views on success factors for e-learning, with the student perspective naturally being the most widely covered point of view in terms of e-learning success factors prioritization. More studies are needed that tackle the teachers' perspective as well, since this would enable researchers to determine how teachers view e-learning effectiveness success factors.
Originality/value
The authors also discover that the main success factors in literature are not discussed nearly enough from teachers' perspectives. The authors, therefore, highlight the importance of addressing teachers' perspectives, mainly because this will reinforce teacher acceptance of the e-learning system adopted by an HEI, and the authors also outline future research avenues through which the perception of teachers could be obtained. The authors have identified the technique of knowledge management as a potential method to involve teachers in the decision-making process concerning the management of e-learning more, by taking their views into account and documenting them. The authors have discerned that teachers' acceptance of e-learning would be reinforced by supportive management actions since as a result, teachers see improvements in their technological literacy and pedagogical skills, and this would bring about increased motivation, satisfaction and acceptance of e-learning systems.
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This study aims to explore the mediating effect of digital options on the relationship between emerging information technology investments (ITIs) and firm performance (FP). In…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the mediating effect of digital options on the relationship between emerging information technology investments (ITIs) and firm performance (FP). In particular, it analyses the performance impacts of investments in five emerging technologies of IT or non-IT firms.
Design/methodology/approach
Secondary data are collected from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2018. The authors propose an econometric model focusing on the impact of ITIs on a firm’s market value and profit. A propensity score matching model is applied to control endogeneity.
Findings
The ITIs’ effect on FP is found to be completely mediated by digital options, and the reach of digital options plays a more positive role in the relationship between ITIs and Tobin’s Q, whereas the richness of digital options is stronger between ITIs and return on net assets (ROE). The group study shows that the impact of process technologies such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things has a more profound impact on Tobin’s Q, and the knowledge technologies represented by artificial intelligence, blockchain and big data strongly affect ROE. In addition, the positive relationship between ITIs and FP is unrelated to IT/non-IT firms.
Research limitations/implications
First, the data are based on 219 publicly announced emerging ITIs in China and thus may not be generalizable to other cultural/national contexts. Second, there is a lack of a large sample data set of emerging ITI information in China, and the duration of this study is constrained to the relatively short rise of emerging technologies.
Practical implications
This study provides firm decision-makers with practical implications. The results imply that the effect of ITIs on FP depends on digital options, so both IT firms (e.g., Big Tech giants) and non-IT firms (e.g., incumbents) should discover how to balance firm value and profit in their management of emerging technology investment projects with digital options thinking.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study to investigate the relationship between ITIs and FP from the perspective of digital options, exploring five emerging technologies and considering firm life, size, and state ownership in a sample of Chinese listed firms.
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