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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 11 December 2023

Eoin Whelan and Ofir Turel

Prior research has extensively examined how bringing technology from work into the non-work life domain creates conflict, yet the reverse pathway has rarely been studied. The…

1804

Abstract

Purpose

Prior research has extensively examined how bringing technology from work into the non-work life domain creates conflict, yet the reverse pathway has rarely been studied. The purpose of this study is to bridge this gap and examine how the non-work use of smartphones in the workplace affects work–life conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from three literature streams: technostress, work–life conflict and role boundary theory, the authors theorise on how limiting employees' ability to integrate the personal life domain into work, by means of technology use policy, contributes to stress and work–life conflict. To test this model, the authors employ a natural experiment in a company that changed its policy from fully restricting to open smartphone access for non-work purposes in the workplace. The insights gained from the experiment were explored further through qualitative interviews.

Findings

Work–life conflict declines when a ban on using smartphones for non-work purposes in the workplace is revoked. This study's results show that the relationship between smartphone use in the workplace and work–life conflict is mediated by sensed stress. Additionally, a post-hoc analysis reveals that work performance was unchanged when the smartphone ban was revoked.

Originality/value

First, this study advances the authors' understanding of how smartphone use policies in the workplace spill over to affect non-work life. Second, this work contributes to the technostress literature by revealing how, in specific situations, engagement with ICT can reduce distress and strain.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 34 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 April 2023

Kenneth Butcher and Chachaya Yodsuwan

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current status of experimental research within hospitality and tourism. This paper further aims to develop practical ideas for…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current status of experimental research within hospitality and tourism. This paper further aims to develop practical ideas for enhancing the adoption of a cause and effect mindset in researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

A mini-review of the level of experimental designs and best-practice ideas published by the top 12 journals in hospitality and tourism over a five-year period was conducted.

Findings

Although the absolute number of experimental studies is growing, the ratio of experimental studies to overall publications remains low at 6.4%. To increase the take-up of experimental design, a broader typology of field experiments is presented. Practical steps to increase causal reality are provided under the categories of purpose; scenario development; scenario testing; and sample characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

The methodological advances suggested in this paper can contribute to more robust theory development and testing. The recommendations offer guidance to a new generation of researchers seeking to add causal value to their studies, researchers collaborating with scholars from other discipline areas and hospitality managers seeking stronger evidence of cause and effect.

Originality/value

This paper identifies key obstacles to the take-up of experimental design and the contemporary status of experimental design. A novel typology of five experimental designs that distinguish the difference between experimental and correlational designs in terms of explanatory power is presented, together with a comprehensive list of best practice suggestions to increase causal reality in scenario design.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 36 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 October 2022

Tehreem Fatima, Ahmad Raza Bilal, Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Kashif Imran

A paradigm shift toward a corporate model of higher educational settings has led to complex and excess work demands, yet the potential long-run ramifications of work overload are…

358

Abstract

Purpose

A paradigm shift toward a corporate model of higher educational settings has led to complex and excess work demands, yet the potential long-run ramifications of work overload are still under-examined. Building the arguments on the “spiral of resource loss” corollary of the conservation of resources (COR) theory, the authors have bridged this gap by testing how work overload spills over into career resilience via reduced harmonious passion. In addition, the authors compare how the employees having standardized workloads differ in their harmonious passion and career resilience from those having excessive (non-standardized) workloads.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a longitudinal natural field experiment of 402 faculty members [N = 198 in the standardized group (optimal load) and N = 204 in the non-standardized group (overload)] working in higher educational institutions of Pakistan, data were collected in three waves (each six months apart). The group comparison, trend analysis and longitudinal mediation analysis done through SPSS and MPlus affirmed the hypothesized associations.

Findings

The results have shown that work overload impacts career resilience through the mediating role of harmonious passion. The faculty members in the standardized workload had more passion and career resilience as compared to the non-standardized workload group. In addition, these impacts intensified overtime for the overloaded faculty members while faculty members with optimal workload sustained their passion and resilience for the teaching profession.

Originality/value

Taking the COR perspective, this study sheds light on how faculty members' work overloads reduce their capability to retain their passion and resilience for teaching from a longitudinal and experimental perspective.

Article
Publication date: 2 February 2024

Jiří Vyhlídal

The purpose of this paper is to test the impact of selected characteristics of jobseekers on employers’ decisions regarding potential hires (direct and probabilistic signals). The…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the impact of selected characteristics of jobseekers on employers’ decisions regarding potential hires (direct and probabilistic signals). The main focus of the study is to test the impact of jobseekers’ participation in selected active labour market programmes on employers’ hiring decisions for three positions: unskilled worker, skilled worker and administrative employee. Other characteristics tested include age, gender, presence of children in the household, state of health, experience of short- and long-term unemployment and indebtedness.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyses data from a representative survey of employers with five or more employees in the Czech Republic. The survey was conducted in December 2020 using stratified random sampling, combining online questionnaires and personal interviews. The study includes 1,040 employers and uses the factorial survey experiment (FSE) design.

Findings

The results of the FSE suggest that the perceived positive impact of completing one of the activation programmes depends on the position for which the candidate is being recruited. While for the unskilled job category, the completion of any of the tested schemes (training, subsidised jobs or public works) had a positive effect; for the skilled job category, only the training and subsidised jobs schemes had a positive effect; and for the administrative job category, public works programme even had a negative effect.

Research limitations/implications

A somewhat limiting factor in the context of this study seems to be the definitions of the positions tested (unskilled and skilled workers and administrative staff). The decision-making of the respondents was somewhat restricted by such broadly defined categories. Typically, studies with FSE designs have a focus on a specific sector of the economy, which allows for a better definition of the positions or jobs under test. The relationship between position and the impact of individual characteristics is clearly a matter for further research.

Practical implications

The results of the study confirm that completion of the activation programme, as well as other candidate characteristics, constitute differentiating signals for employers that influence their hiring decisions. At the same time, there is evidence that the training programme and the subsidised jobs programme are effective in terms of increasing participants’ chances of employment.

Originality/value

The demand side should be included in the evaluation of activation policies. The design of the FSE provides an appropriate way to test the impact of activation measures on the decision-making of employers.

Details

European Journal of Training and Development, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-9012

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 October 2023

Steffen Schrock, Stefan Junk and Albert Albers

This study aims to investigate a systematic approach to the production and use of additively manufactured injection mould inserts in product development (PD) processes. For this…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate a systematic approach to the production and use of additively manufactured injection mould inserts in product development (PD) processes. For this purpose, an evaluation of the additive tooling design method (ATDM) is performed.

Design/methodology/approach

The evaluation of the ATDM is conducted within student workshops, where students develop products and validate them using AT-prototypes. The evaluation process includes the analysis of work results as well as the use of questionnaires and participant observation.

Findings

This study shows that the ATDM can be successfully used to assist in producing and using AT mould inserts to produce valid AT prototypes. As a reference for the implementation of AT in industrial PD, extracts from the work of the student project groups and suitable process parameters for prototype production are presented.

Originality/value

This paper presents the application and evaluation of a method to support AT in PD that has not yet been scientifically evaluated.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 30 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 February 2024

Maria Vrikki and Elena C. Papanastasiou

The study assesses pre-service teachers' attitudes, confidence in research and intentions to use research by comparing the effectiveness of practical versus theoretical training…

Abstract

Purpose

The study assesses pre-service teachers' attitudes, confidence in research and intentions to use research by comparing the effectiveness of practical versus theoretical training in research methods courses.

Design/methodology/approach

This natural experiment examines the impact of the adaptations made to a research methods course for 848 pre-service teachers, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were naturally divided into two cohorts, each attending either the applied version, which required the completion of a whole research study, or the theoretical version, which did not require data collection and analyses. The data were collected through three questionnaires measuring attitudes, confidence and intentions toward research.

Findings

Inferential statistics revealed that pre-service teachers in the theoretical course (1) had more positive attitudes toward research and less anxiety, (2) had more intentions to integrate research in their daily practice and (3) had more confidence in engaging in educational research, compared to the pre-service teachers who completed the applied version of the course.

Originality/value

This study uniquely capitalizes on course adaptations, imposed due to the pandemic, to compare attitudes toward research. This is an ideal comparison because comparing attitudes of participants from different contexts involves many confounding variables. The study’s significance is amplified as, it not only elucidates the variances in attitudes, but also underscores the intricate relationship these attitudes share with the design of research courses. The insights yielded by this study offer substantial potential for reshaping pedagogical strategies in research methods instruction, thereby serving as a cornerstone for future educational innovations.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 March 2023

Muthuram N. and Saravanan S.

This paper aims to improve the life of the printed circuit boards (PCB) used in computers based on modal analysis by increasing the natural frequency of the PCB assembly.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to improve the life of the printed circuit boards (PCB) used in computers based on modal analysis by increasing the natural frequency of the PCB assembly.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, through experiments and numerical simulations, an attempt has been made to increase the fundamental natural frequency of the PCB assembly as high as practically achievable so as to minimize the impacts of dynamic loads acting on it. An optimization tool in the finite element software (ANSYS) was used to search the specified design space for the optimal support location of the six fastening screws.

Findings

It is observed that by changing the support locations based on the optimization results the fundamental natural frequency can be raised up to 51.1% and the same is validated experimentally.

Research limitations/implications

Manufacturers of PCBs used in computers fix the support locations based on symmetric feature of the board not on the dynamic behavior of the assembly. This work might lead manufacturers to redesign the location of other surface mount components.

Practical implications

This work provides guidelines for PCB manufacturers to finalize their support locating points which will improve the dynamic characteristics of the PCB assembly during its functioning.

Originality/value

This study provides a novel method to improve the life of PCB based on support locations optimization which includes majority of the surface mount components that contributes to the total mass the PCB assembly.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 41 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 July 2023

Manish Bansal

The study examines the impact of a recent mandate (Section 149 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013, where firms of a certain size are mandated to appoint at least one woman director…

Abstract

Purpose

The study examines the impact of a recent mandate (Section 149 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013, where firms of a certain size are mandated to appoint at least one woman director on the board) on the earnings quality of firms. The study also examines the role of financial expertise and the presence of a woman director in the audit committee on the association between mandate and earnings quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking leverage of a quasi-natural experiment in India, the authors employ the ‘Difference-in-Difference’ (DiD) technique. DiD enables the author to filter out the impact of concurrent exogenous shocks while examining the issue. The propensity score matching and entropy balancing techniques have been employed to overcome the problem of endogeneity and self-selection bias.

Findings

Based on the sample of 538 Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) listed firms, the author finds that magnitude of discretionary accruals has decreased among test firms (firms mandated to comply with Section 149) relative to benchmark marks (firms not mandated to comply with Section 149) during the post-legislation period, indicating the improved earning quality after the mandate. This finding is consistent with the notion of social role theory that women are less likely to be engaged in risky activities such as earnings management. Further, the author find that the financial expertise of the woman and presence of the woman on the audit committee strengthen the positive impact of the mandate on earnings quality. These results are robust to alternative measurements of discretionary accruals.

Originality/value

The study is among the pioneering attempts to make use of a quasi-natural experiment and investigate the impact of a woman director on earnings quality. The study is also one of the few studies to focus on a developing country like India having a culture dominated by men.

Details

Asian Review of Accounting, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1321-7348

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 May 2023

Siwen Song, Adrian (Wai Kong) Cheung, Aelee Jun and Shiguang Ma

This paper aims to empirically examine the impact of mandatory CSR disclosure on the CEO pay performance sensitivity.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically examine the impact of mandatory CSR disclosure on the CEO pay performance sensitivity.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the mandatory requirement of CSR disclosure as an exogenous shock, the authors compare the changes in CEO pay performance sensitivity for treatment firms with control firms through a difference-in-difference (DiD) approach.

Findings

The authors find that mandatory CSR disclosure enhances CEO pay performance sensitivity. The results also show that monitoring CEO power is a conduit through which mandatory CSR disclosure affects CEO pay performance sensitivity. The positive impact is more profound in firms with a powerful CEO, i.e. one who is politically well-connected, holds dual roles as both CEO and Chairman, and/or has had a long tenure. Furthermore, the increased CEO pay performance sensitivity after the mandate is prominent among state-owned enterprises (SOEs) only.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper have implications for other economies with similar institutional backgrounds as China. Although the mandatory CSR disclosure does not require firms to spend on CSR investment, the mandatory CSR disclosure alters firm behaviour, and mitigates agency problems.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the studies on the impact of CSR disclosure on firms' behaviour. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of mandatory CSR disclosure on CEO pay performance sensitivity using the quasi-natural experiment settings.

Details

International Journal of Managerial Finance, vol. 20 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1743-9132

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 August 2023

Qiang Lu, Yang Deng, Xinyi Wang and Aiping Wang

As an effective tool to promote rational resource allocation and facilitate the development of green management practices such as enterprise digital innovation, the green credit…

Abstract

Purpose

As an effective tool to promote rational resource allocation and facilitate the development of green management practices such as enterprise digital innovation, the green credit policy has recently gained extensive attention. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between green credit policies and the digital innovation of enterprises, and to further explore the mechanism of action between them and their boundary conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on micro-level data on Chinese firms from 2007 to 2019, this paper constructs a difference-in-differences (DID) model to investigate the impact and intrinsic mechanisms of green credit policies on firms' digital innovation and its boundary conditions, with the help of a quasi-natural experiment, i.e. the Green Credit Guidelines.

Findings

Green credit policies inhibit digital innovation and fail to compensate for innovation. The analysis of the mechanism shows that the implementation of green credit policies has a negative impact on digital innovation by increasing the financing constraints faced by firms, and has also a crowding-out effect on R&D investment, resulting in a disincentive to digital innovation. Further analysis reveals that the negative impact of green credit policies on digital innovation is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises, enterprises without financially experienced executives, and in the eastern regions of China.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence to understand the effectiveness and mechanism of influence of green credit policies on enterprise digital innovation, providing also a basis to further improve green credit policies.

Details

China Finance Review International, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-1398

Keywords

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