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Researchers, with the widespread acceptance of Web-based technologies by companies, have recently discovered a new type of social capital through these mass communication tools, but there is still limited knowledge about its formation. Therefore, this study specifically aims to conceptualize and validate brand social capital (BSC) by analyzing the role of the online brand community’s social media capital (OBCSC).

Research data was collected using a questionnaire with 39 closed-ended questions. Participants, among the 220 questionnaires distributed, only returned 140 acceptable questionnaires, indicating a response rate of 64%. The statistical population of the study included managers and employees of e-commerce companies active in social media in the field of B2C who introduce and sell their products and services on various types of social networking websites. This study performed data analysis using structural equation modeling with partial least squares.

The results showed that OBCSC has a positive and significant effect on the integration of brand knowledge, branding co-creation and sense of belonging to the brand community, and in addition, using the mediating role of these three variables, it also has a positive effect on BSC. This study rejects only hypothesis 8 among all the hypotheses formulated, which shows that the sense of belonging to the brand community has no significant effect on branding co-creation.

By conceptualizing a new phenomenon called BSC and how its conversion mechanism is, this research defines a specific and formulated path to better identify the results of the organizational use of social media. In addition, it significantly contributes to increasing managers’ understanding of the importance of online brand community activities in internalizing customer brand knowledge within the company and turning it into wealth.

This study aims to carry out a systematic literature review (SLR) on the integration of Lean, Industry 4.0 and the supply chain or the Lean Supply Chain (LSC) 4.0. The research analyses the current research on the LSC 4.0 concept in an increasingly digitalised world. The authors present the benefits, motivations, critical success factors and challenges of integrating the LSC with Industry 4.0 technologies within this emerging area of research.

An SLR is carried out on how Lean can be integrated with Supply Chain 4.0. Using the search strings of “Lean Supply Chain 4.0,” “Lean Supply Chain Management 4.0” and “Lean Supply Chain Digitalisation,” a review of published literature was carried out via searches on academic databases.

Industry 4.0 has a synergistic effect on the LSC and, depending on the technology and sector applied in, can complement and enhance the LSC. Similarly, the LSC is a precursor for digitalisation. There are considerable implications in the LSC 4.0 for green and sustainable processes.

Organisations can use this study to understand what the LSC 4.0 means to industry, the benefits and motivating factors for implementation, the critical success factors (CSFs) to implementation and the challenges for implementation.

This study adds to state of the art around the LSC 4.0 and future directions in this nascent research area. This study will aid organisations in understanding how Lean, supply chain management and Industry 4.0 can be integrated.

Technological advancements have benefited businesses all over the world in how they set up production lines, create new products/services and trade goods. Multinational corporations can communicate instantly with their distant operations by utilizing information technology tools and communication networks. Businesses have taken a significant shift and new factors have emerged which affect company's competitiveness. In case of resorting to an outsourcing option, a comprehensive approach for valuing the essential criteria is often missing. While specifically focusing on the decisions that have a huge impact on company's performance, it is crucial to pay close attention to the ways of selecting suppliers. The purpose of research is to choose the optimal manufacturing alternative from a set of possibilities.

The current research utilizes the Delphi technique for collection of vital criteria such as “quality”, “cost”, “delivery”, “warranties and claims”, “supplier profile”, “relationship and communication” and their respective sub-criteria. The purpose of research is to choose the optimal manufacturing alternative from a set of possibilities. In this regard, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique is employed.

The current research enlightens that outsourcing can yield promising beneficial results. The results highlighted that in Hi-tech public sector organizations, international alternative is found best in almost all criteria especially in vital criteria such as “Quality”, “Cost”, “Delivery”, “Supplier Profile,” etc. Similarly, in case the outsourcing is done to a Domestic alternative, still the Domestic alternative is found effective in comparison to in-house manufacturing setups. The research showed unexpected results. Because previously it was assumed that in-house manufacturing would be more beneficial. However, the current findings support the “NASA” strategy which moved toward outsourcing to private sector.

Limitations of the proposed methodology also produce opportunities for further exploration of the topic. One key limitation of the research described in this study is that the parameters and their sub-parameters interdependency were not taken under consideration. This means that quality and cost are not dependent upon each other. However, in reality quality and cost are interlinked. This means if quality is increased, cost is also increased. Similarly, for products having zero percent of re-claim, the product would have to be manufactured with high quality.

The study is advantageous for both suppliers and purchasers, in any type of businesses where decision-making problem are under consideration. This model aids suppliers in revealing, how they can expand their profile, by focusing on the current research's selection criteria. In this way alternatives profile can now be perfected. Moreover, buyers can now rank suppliers on their quality management, financial status and other essential factors in order to conduct purchasing decisions. For the decision maker, the results illustrate which critical factors to evaluate when screening suppliers by applying current model techniques.

It is obvious that nearly almost every industry is forced to look for alternatives for all of its operations if outsourcing is an option. The study's findings have major benefits for all industries with an important role in manufacturing and supply chain operations. These objectives will serve the industries well and they will be able to prioritize their alternative selection criteria based on their operations. The findings of this study can assist any organization in their selection of vendors by providing a more detailed explanation of the impact that various criteria have on the decision-making process.

To the best of authors' knowledge, no previous study has used two approaches (AHP and Delphi study) to propose a model for making manufacturing decisions with domestic, in house and international alternatives in Hi-tech public sector organizations. The model not only benefits the manufacturers for choosing suitable suppliers but also aids suppliers to build their profile in an improved fashion by focusing on the vital attributes. This research benefits managers to improve their ability to make effective purchasing decisions, and also opens new avenues for researchers to further explore such findings in other areas as well.

Following counterarguments from previous studies, overwhelming evidence from meta-analyses shows that supply-chain integration (SCI) is not universally associated with improved performance. This study aims to clarify all the mechanisms purported to reach the combined effects of SCI dimensions.

In this study, the authors first conducted a literature review and identified the effects of different individual SCI dimensions and their interactions and mediation, or arcs of integration, as reported by past studies. Data from a survey of 348 firms were analyzed using multiple regressions, structural equation modeling and latent class analysis.

The results showed that the positive independent associations between SCI dimensions and operational performance change as they interact. Larger combinational effects were found in a second-order SCI construct and a mediation model. Smaller effects and fewer significant paths (and even negative signs) were also found. This shows that more SCI is not always better. Finally, configurational effects varied: the latent class analysis showed that a more inward (internal integration) gestalt performed better for some firms.

Some variables that could affect operations performance were missing from the models, and this paper did not specify the directions of relationships among the five performance dimensions. The authors are aware of cumulative models, but they are not within the scope of this paper. In addition, this study did not consider other sociocultural factors that may influence different dimensions of SCI.

This study shows SCI dimensions play different roles. Therefore, it is needed to theorize the distinct roles of internal and external integration and how they somehow compensate or substitute for each other. The results suggest that future studies need to reexamine the universal predictions especially from resource-based, resource-advantage and relational views. SCIs are not inimitable and rare resources for all firms. Furthermore, implementing SCI does not guarantee resource and relational advantages for all firms.

Society is critically dependent on an adequate supply of hospital doctors to ensure optimal health care. Voluntary turnover amongst hospital doctors is, however, an increasing problem for hospitals. The aim of this study was to systematically review the extant academic literature to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge base on hospital doctor turnover and retention. In addition to this, we synthesise the most common methodological approaches used before then offering an agenda to guide future research.

Adopting the PRISMA methodology, we conducted a systematic literature search of four databases, namely CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science.

We identified 51 papers that empirically examined hospital doctor turnover and retention. Most of these papers were quantitative, cross-sectional studies focussed on meso-level predictors of doctor turnover.

Selection criteria concentrated on doctors who worked in hospitals, which limited knowledge of one area of the healthcare environment. The review could disregard relevant articles, such as those that discuss the turnover and retention of doctors in other specialities, including general practitioners. Additionally, being limited to peer-reviewed published journals eliminates grey literature such as dissertations, reports and case studies, which may bring impactful results.

Globally, hospital doctor turnover is a prevalent issue that is influenced by a variety of factors. However, a lack of focus on doctors who remain in their job hinders a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Conducting “stay interviews” with doctors could provide valuable insight into what motivates them to remain and what could be done to enhance their work conditions. In addition, hospital management and recruiters should consider aspects of job embeddedness that occur outside of the workplace, such as facilitating connections outside of work. By resolving these concerns, hospitals can retain physicians more effectively and enhance their overall retention efforts.

Focussing on the reasons why employees remain with an organisation can have significant social repercussions. When organisations invest in gaining an understanding of what motivates their employees to stay in the job, they are better able to establish a positive work environment that likely to promote employee well-being and job satisfaction. This can result in enhanced job performance, increased productivity and higher employee retention rates, all of which are advantageous to the organisation and its employees.

The review concludes that there has been little consideration of the retention, as opposed to the turnover, of hospital doctors. We argue that more expansive methodological approaches would be useful, with more qualitative approaches likely to be particularly useful. We also call on future researchers to consider focussing further on why doctors remain in posts when so many are leaving.

While operational performance is important for a company's competitiveness and profitability, this study claims that procurement may be required to drive operational performance. This study aims to focus on how procurement practices is related to operational performance among selected manufacturing firms.

The model was tested on a sample of 329 manufacturing firms in clothing and textiles, chemicals and plastics, food and beverages processing, wood processing, metal processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries in a developing economy.

The results indicate that firms with higher and optimal level of procurement practices achieve higher levels of operational performance. Regardless of the H1 rationale, this study suggests that increasing procurement techniques has a limit in terms of improving operational performance. This study establishes that extreme level of procurement practices is associated with decreasing operational performance.

This study calls attention to how managers can guide organizations in refining their procurement strategies and practices; there is the need to strive to strike a balance between diversification and efficiency in procurement.

Manufacturing firms are often integral parts of local communities. The decisions they make regarding procurement practices can impact the economic health of these communities. Striking a balance between diversification and efficiency can contribute to sustainable business practices that benefit both the company and the local community.

As the main contribution, this study brings the additional perspective that extreme level of procurement practices is associated with decreasing operational performance.

Sub-Saharan forced migration in recent decades has reached alarming levels, significantly increasing the risk to develop mental health vulnerabilities due to traumatic events and postmigration stressors. Research gaps persist within this population, necessitating culturally sensitive studies within a socioecological framework. This pilot exploratory mixed-method study aims to investigate the quality of life and subjective well-being among African displaced individuals in Niger.

In total, 119 African displaced adults (M = 26; SD = ±7.8) were administered WHOQOL-BREF to assess the quality of life (objective well-being) and Perma profiler and SWLS to assess subjective well-being, and 20 (M = 30.8; SD = ±7.4) of the previously assessed participants were in-depth interviewed to record their life stories, and transcripts were analyzed throughout thematic content analysis.

Quantitative results showed that all domains of quality of life, subjective well-being and life satisfaction scored below the African normative population levels. Particularly, environment, positive emotions and accomplishments in life were consistently below the normative mean score. The most affected dimension was life satisfaction. Qualitative findings revealed three main themes: potentially stressful or traumatic events that occurred to migrants and refugees, well-being as a continuum and the multiple meanings of forced migration, explaining the multiple burdens and resources that displaced people, affecting their subjective and objective well-being.

This study contributes to addressing mental health gaps among sub-Saharan forced migrants through a unique combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, offering insights into their experiences within the context of forced migration and resettlement.

The paper aims to clarify the relationship of various enablers of supply chain (SC) management like lean enablers, agile enablers and leagile enablers. It proposes modeling the enablers to find the most appropriate strategy or methodology for determining the lean enabled SC agility.

The paper proposed the fuzzy SWARA-WASPAS methodology for determining the role of lean in enabling the SC agility. Also in continuation the AHP methodology is applied to find the priority weightage and ranking of leagile enablers, and a comparative analysis is done to select the best approach among the above two methodologies so that it would be beneficial for all the stakeholders.

The paper provides the investigation and identification of 28 lean enablers, 11 agile factors which are highly responsible to affect any SC specially focusing of automobile sector. Apart from above 9 leagile enablers were also identified in the paper. Finally, the comparative analysis has been done in the results obtained by two methodologies – AHP & fuzzy SWARA-WASPAS – to determine the lean enabled SC agility, and also to which strategy should be adopted by the organizations as per the customized requirement of their SC.

The research limitation is that in future, there may be more number of lean, agile and leagile enablers which may be explored by different researchers in their findings, which may vary the output result accordingly. Though the research implications focus on having an advantage and impact on all aspects whether it is social, economic or commercial, there is a possibility of exploration of new and better decision-making tools and approaches in future. Also, the researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further by taking case study of any automobile manufacturing organizations for the validation of the results.

The paper includes implications for the development of a powerful interrelationships between lean enablers, agile enablers and leagile enablers, which will help organization and the managers to take decisions regarding selection of best strategy appropriate to them to enhance their SC. This will also help new researchers of the field to take help of the research findings for exploring new and better optimization tools and techniques in future.

The findings of the research work will definitely help society, as the successful implementation of the lean, agile or leagile strategies in their SC system will leads to an increase in their efficiency and productivity, which will ultimately results in huge advantage to all the stakeholders directly or indirectly connected with the organization. The productivity dynamics cycle will also improve which will lead to more benefits to all in the market and achieving higher living index with better living standards.

This paper fulfills an identified need to study the various enablers of lean, agile and leagile SC, as well as their interrelationships. Also there is a need to understand the importance and effect of lean in enabling the SC agility.

While size asymmetry in buyer–supplier relationships has been studied in non-disruption contexts, this research explores how supplier size influences positive and negative supply chain disruptions. Anchoring on the commitment-trust theory (CTT), we explore buyer commitment as a mediating variable and examine how buying firms' mediated power usage depends on different supplier sizes and types of supplier-induced disruptions.

Through two scenario-based behavioral experiments, we discover different patterns in buyers' use of mediated power, contingent on the types of supplier-induced disruptions.

In negative disruptions, buyers prefer more mediated power with large suppliers to control uncertainties, using reward or coercive power strategies. In positive disruptions, we find opposite results, indicating different buyers' perceptions and actions are contingent on both the supplier size and the types of disruptions. These findings underscore the complex interplay between supplier size, buyer commitment and mediated power strategies, revealing that disruption type significantly shapes buyer responses.

This paper extends the CTT framework by considering new antecedents and outcomes. We also provide a more comprehensive understanding of buyer behavior when facing positive and negative supplier-induced disruptions. Our study has limitations. Through vignette-based behavioral experiments, there is a risk that scenarios may not accurately represent real-life situations and that decision-making dynamics could be oversimplified. Future research should incorporate nuanced measurements and conduct additional qualitative research for a comprehensive understanding.

This study enriches the understanding of the buyer-supplier relationship by expanding the CTT framework for a more comprehensive picture. We also offer nuanced insights into size dynamics and disruption types, emphasizing tailored strategies in supply chain management. The findings underscore the importance of understanding these nuances to employ tailored strategy in a business-to-business (B2B) context, as mediated power is contingent on multiple factors.

This research analyzes online consumer reviews and ratings to assess e-retail order fulfillment performance. The study aims to (1) identify consumer journey touchpoints in the order fulfillment process and (2) determine their relative importance for the consumer experience.

Text mining and analytics were employed to examine over 100 m online purchase orders, along with associated consumer reviews and ratings from Amazon US. Using natural language processing techniques, the corpus of reviews was structured to pinpoint touchpoints related to order fulfillment. Reviews were then classified according to their stance (either positive or negative) toward these touchpoints. Finally, the classes were correlated with consumer rating, measured by the number of stars, to determine the relative importance of each touchpoint.

The study reveals 12 touchpoints within the order fulfillment process, which are split into three groups: delivery, packaging and returns. These touchpoints significantly influence star ratings: positive experiences elevate them, while negative ones reduce them. The findings provide a quantifiable measure of these effects, articulated in terms of star ratings, which directly reflect the influence of experiences on consumer evaluations.

The dataset utilized in this study is from the US market, which limits the generalizability of the findings to other markets. Moreover, the novel methodology used to map and quantify customer journey touchpoints requires further refinement.

In e-retail and logistics, comprehending touchpoints in the order fulfillment process is pivotal. This understanding helps improve consumer interactions and enhance satisfaction. Such insights not only drive higher conversion rates but also guide informed managerial decisions, particularly in service development.

Drawing upon consumer-generated data, this research identifies a cohesive set of touchpoints within the order fulfillment process and quantitatively evaluates their influence on consumer experience using star ratings as a metric.