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1 – 10 of over 1000Geoffrey K. Turnbull, Robert Salvino, Phillip K. Njoroge and Sourav Batabyal
This paper examines the early pandemic experience in a large metropolitan area to differentiate the roles of the lifestyle and built environment factors associated with differing…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the early pandemic experience in a large metropolitan area to differentiate the roles of the lifestyle and built environment factors associated with differing case rates across neighborhoods.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper develops a simple empirical methodology for sorting out the separate effects of lifestyle and the built environment factors along with their interactive effects when individuals’ behaviors not only reflect their observable characteristics but also are influenced by the physical environments in which they live and work, indirect connections implied by the early insights of Jacobs (1961) and more recently Hawley and Turnbull (2019).
Findings
The results demonstrate that lifestyle factors tied to employment show the strongest association with COVID-19 cases. Other lifestyle choices, built environment features, and demographic attributes such as household size, principal cities, highway connectivity, and population density also affect COVID-19 transmission at the onset of the disease outbreak. The analysis reveals a surprising spatial pattern; employment-related lifestyle factors on case rates in outlying neighborhoods are stronger than in neighborhoods within primary cities after accounting for various built environment factors.
Originality/value
This research addresses important questions and the perplexing outcomes related to lifestyle and the built environment’s multi-faceted role in spreading COVID-19. In addition, this study represents a pioneering effort in disentangling the pure lifestyle effect on virus transmission after eliminating potentially confounding impacts of built environment factors on household behavior that in turn influence virus transmission.
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Marzieh Ghasemi, Akram Karimi-Shahanjarini, Maryam Afshari and Leili Tapak
Understanding the factors that influence individuals’ adherence to social distancing is critical to effective policymaking in respiratory pandemics such as COVID-19. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
Understanding the factors that influence individuals’ adherence to social distancing is critical to effective policymaking in respiratory pandemics such as COVID-19. This study aims to explore the role of social factors in relation to social distancing measures.
Design/methodology/approach
Stratified convenience sampling was used in this survey research, involving 450 adults residing in both rural and urban areas of Aligodarz County, Lorestan, Iran.
Findings
The findings showed that approximately 14% of participants did not adhere to any of the assessed social distancing behaviors, while only around 30% adhered to all four assessed behaviors. On average, participants reported having 5.13 (SD = 3.60) close physical contact within the 24 h prior to completing the questionnaire. Bridging social capital and gender emerged as the most frequently observed predictors across the assessed social distancing measures. Additionally, age, employment status and residential setting were identified as influential factors for some of the evaluated measures.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the field by highlighting that the likelihood of non-adherence to social distancing measures tends to increase among male participants, those aged above 60, employed individuals, urban residents and those with a higher level of bridging social capital.
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Sjoerd Gerritsen, Karen Pak, Maral Darouei, Jos Akkermans and Beatrice Van der Heijden
The initial transition into work has become less predictable. Therefore, emerging adults should take charge and be proactively engaged in their careers during the preparation…
Abstract
Purpose
The initial transition into work has become less predictable. Therefore, emerging adults should take charge and be proactively engaged in their careers during the preparation stage of the school-to-work transition (STWT). We explored which behaviors emerging adults display during the STWT to foster their happiness, health, and productivity, how various contextual factors enable or hinder these behaviors, and to what extent these behaviors can be considered proactive.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking a qualitative approach, we conducted 44 semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students at an Applied Sciences University in the Netherlands six months before graduation. Additionally, we held nine focus groups (n = 55) and four interviews (n = 6) with contextual stakeholders (i.e. parents, faculty/staff, employers, the board of the university, higher education policymakers, and the Ministry of Education).
Findings
The students mentioned three main behaviors to foster their health, happiness, and productivity, namely, eating healthy food, maintaining social contacts, and reflecting on their motivations. Our analysis shows that, conceptually, none of these behaviors can be considered truly proactive. Moreover, the findings revealed multiple systemic underlying contextual hindrances to portray these behaviors, such as educational system characteristics, which make proactive behaviors less likely.
Originality/value
As the STWT is affected by multiple contexts, adopting a multi-stakeholder perspective is imperative when studying the phenomenon. We adopted the sustainable careers framework as a lens to uncover how emerging adults may build early career sustainability—additionally, we nuance current research on proactivity by concretizing the conceptualization of proactive behaviors.
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Nele Nutt, Sirle Salmistu, Kristiina Kupper and Zenia Kotval
This paper aims to explore how recently designed and built urban public spaces in Estonia address the concept of age-friendly environments and consider older adults as users of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore how recently designed and built urban public spaces in Estonia address the concept of age-friendly environments and consider older adults as users of these spaces. This paper presents the evaluation of public spaces built as a result of urban design competitions in ten small towns of Estonia from 2014 until today.
Design/methodology/approach
This study explored and assessed how contemporary urban outdoor places meet the needs of older adults. For this purpose, this study developed an assessment instrument of age-friendly environment principles based on various sources and conducted fieldworks.
Findings
This study assumed that the needs of older adults were considered during the design competition and construction, as all towns of competition areas have a significant aging population. The findings suggest that various fundamental principles of universal or age-friendly design are not met, and there are areas of improvement in the inclusive design for all people that supports healthy aging.
Originality/value
This study can be used as improvement tool for current places in Estonia and basis for future design projects to make public places more age-friendly, specifically senior-friendly.
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Jonas Koreis, Dominic Loske and Matthias Klumpp
Increasing personnel costs and labour shortages have pushed retailers to give increasing attention to their intralogistics operations. We study hybrid order picking systems, in…
Abstract
Purpose
Increasing personnel costs and labour shortages have pushed retailers to give increasing attention to their intralogistics operations. We study hybrid order picking systems, in which humans and robots share work time, workspace and objectives and are in permanent contact. This necessitates a collaboration of humans and their mechanical coworkers (cobots).
Design/methodology/approach
Through a longitudinal case study on individual-level technology adaption, we accompanied a pilot testing of an industrial truck that automatically follows order pickers in their travel direction. Grounded on empirical field research and a unique large-scale data set comprising N = 2,086,260 storage location visits, where N = 57,239 storage location visits were performed in a hybrid setting and N = 2,029,021 in a manual setting, we applied a multilevel model to estimate the impact of this cobot settings on task performance.
Findings
We show that cobot settings can reduce the time required for picking tasks by as much as 33.57%. Furthermore, practical factors such as product weight, pick density and travel distance mitigate this effect, suggesting that cobots are especially beneficial for short-distance orders.
Originality/value
Given that the literature on hybrid order picking systems has primarily applied simulation approaches, the study is among the first to provide empirical evidence from a real-world setting. The results are discussed from the perspective of Industry 5.0 and can prevent managers from making investment decisions into ineffective robotic technology.
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Adedapo Oluwaseyi Ojo, Sumitha Ravichander, Christine Nya-Ling Tan, Lilian Anthonysamy and Chris Niyi Arasanmi
The lack of physical contact and the absence of nonverbal clues could make some learners uncomfortable interacting with others via online learning platforms. Hence, understanding…
Abstract
Purpose
The lack of physical contact and the absence of nonverbal clues could make some learners uncomfortable interacting with others via online learning platforms. Hence, understanding the determinants of students' motivation and engagement in online learning platforms is crucial in harnessing digital technology as an enabler of unrestricted and quality learning experiences.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the self-determination theory (SDT), this study investigates the factors associated with student’s motivation to learn (MOL) and their influence on online learning engagement (OLE). Data were collected from 228 university students from the Klang Valley region of Malaysia using the online survey method.
Findings
The results of data analysis using the partial least squares structural equation modeling indicate that self-directed learning, computer and Internet self-efficacy and online communication self-efficacy significantly influence MOL. Besides, these factors indirectly influence OLE through MOL.
Originality/value
This study adds to the SDT framework by demonstrating how students' perceptions of autonomy, competence and relatedness through online interaction relate to MOL and OLE.
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Hope Jensen Schau, Ignacio Luri and Melissa Archpru Akaka
This paper aims to explore practice innovation and organizational resiliency during exogenous service ecosystem disruptions. This inquiry focuses on the extreme disruption caused…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore practice innovation and organizational resiliency during exogenous service ecosystem disruptions. This inquiry focuses on the extreme disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which required service firms to recodify long-established service scripts, adapt digital and physical material elements of the service encounter and ultimately reconfigure a system of practices. The specific context is forced practice innovation in Starbucks servicescape (kiosks and coffeehouses). Starbucks is best known for its custom beverages and third-place strategy. Their strict adherence to a complex service script and unique ordering practices altered during pandemic stay-home disease prevention mandates.
Design/methodology/approach
Thematic coding consistent with prior research on practice innovation and diffusion and a grounded theory methodology was conducted. Data were triangulated and analyzed within and across a variety of sources. These include field notes from direct observation, interviews, focus groups, firm-authored collateral in the form of marketing communications and third-party authored secondary sources such as news, social media, blogs and forums.
Findings
Data reveal how practice innovation occurs through the reconfiguration of a system of practices, which support organizational resiliency and can force brand evolution, in prolonged exogenous service ecosystem disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic required service industries to adapt and recodify service scripts and alter physical and digital elements of service encounters. While the pandemic affected all firms in the sector, we argue that Starbucks' established scripts and third-place strategies, which characterized the brand experience, were particularly vulnerable. We find that practice innovation occurs through the reconfiguration of practice elements – competences, meanings and materiality – and restructures the service encounter. Practice codification, transposition, adaptation and stabilization support organizational resiliency and brand evolution. We find that Starbucks' brand experience emphasis on the third place is reconceptualized from an in-person community-based retailscape to a platform-based strategy necessitating script recodification and practice adaptation. Our analysis of Starbucks' kiosks and coffeehouses illuminates how a distinctly branded service encounter is constituted by a system of practices that can be reconfigured and diffused anew in the face of disruption.
Originality/value
The conceptualization of practice innovation as systems reconfiguration establishes a novel approach to understanding innovation in service ecosystems. The COVID-19 pandemic is a unique context to study a sector-wide exogenous extended service disruption. We focus on a firm with an elaborate pre-pandemic service script and commitment to a third-place brand experience guiding its system of practices. We reveal unique insights on practice innovation within service ecosystems during exogenous prolonged disruptions in which brands evolve through the recodification of service scripts and sustained reconfiguration of systems of practice.
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Philippine Loupiac and Emmanuelle Le Nagard
In the context of omnichannel distribution development, this study aims to understand how and why trying products out helps people make good purchase decisions (i.e. decisions…
Abstract
Purpose
In the context of omnichannel distribution development, this study aims to understand how and why trying products out helps people make good purchase decisions (i.e. decisions that they do not regret later).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses mixed methods consisting of an experiment (n = 162), a series of interviews with consumers (n = 16) and in-store observations (n = 202).
Findings
Results show that trying products out allows us to evaluate how they will fit, which increases purchase intention. They also indicate that trying leads to better decision-making.
Research limitations/implications
This paper enriches product trial literature and sheds new light on how sales channels combine in omnichannel distribution.
Practical implications
The conclusions of this research will be useful to retailers who want to help consumers make better purchasing decisions.
Social implications
Helping consumers make better decisions minimizes the societal impact of consumption by reducing the frequency of re-purchases and product returns.
Originality/value
The originality of this research lies in using mixed methods, providing a complete understanding of why consumers try products out and how they do so.
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The world today is heavily controlled by the content available on the internet, where a one-star rating gain may work wonders for a company and a one-star rating decline can cause…
Abstract
Purpose
The world today is heavily controlled by the content available on the internet, where a one-star rating gain may work wonders for a company and a one-star rating decline can cause huge damage. Online booking platforms provide more freedom, privacy and contact with experienced travelers than physical hotel booking. The study identifies the factors shaping travelers' online hotel booking intention (OHBI).
Design/methodology/approach
We utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to expand the horizons of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework in the hospitality sector. The results are based on the data collected from 705 travelers who made online hotel reservations.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that online reviews, hotel website quality and hotel website convenience quotient favorably shape prospective tourists' perceived trust, magnifying their inclination to book a hotel online. Website convenience quotient and trust partially mediate the association between the constructs. In addition, the linkage between perceived trust and OHBI is strengthened by promotional offers but weakened by perceived risk.
Research limitations/implications
Our findings provide several important implications for hotel managers, prospective travelers, hotel owners, website developers, policymakers, hotel employees, the local community and competitors to expedite the growth of the Indian hotel industry.
Originality/value
The literature reveals that website convenience quotient, perceived trust and promotional offers have not received enough attention in the hospitality industry and warrant attention. Our study strives to broaden the scope of the TAM and SOR models to better understand these constructs in the backdrop of the Indian hospitality sector. The study also examines how promotional offers and perceived risk influence the linkages between the underlying constructs.
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Jane Park, Chaeyeong Kim and Sehoon Park
Postulating that individuals exposed to the threat of contagious diseases respond oversensitively toward other people, the current research aims to investigate its impact on…
Abstract
Purpose
Postulating that individuals exposed to the threat of contagious diseases respond oversensitively toward other people, the current research aims to investigate its impact on consumers’ preferences for human images—human presence—in product packaging.
Design/methodology/approach
Five independent online and offline experiments were conducted. Studies 1, 2a, and 2b employed a three-group (threat: contagious vs. control vs. noncontagious) between-subjects design to investigate the main effect and its underlying mechanism. To further examine the moderation effects, Study 3 used a 2 (threat: contagious vs. control) × 2 (product feature: basic vs. antibacterial) between-subjects design, and Study 4 employed a 2 (threat: contagious vs. control) × 3 (human type: non–human vs. human–adult vs. human–baby) between-subjects design.
Findings
Studies 1, 2a, and 2b demonstrate that consumers facing the threat of contagious diseases tend to avoid social interaction, leading to a lower preference for products featuring human presence (vs. non-human presence). Studies 3 and 4 contribute to our hypothesized process by providing boundary conditions. Specifically, when the product incorporates an antibacterial function (Study 3) and the packaging depicts a baby (Study 4), the existing effect can be attenuated.
Originality/value
Despite the prevalence of experiencing epidemics and pandemics, little work has examined how threatened consumers respond to product packaging. The present research addresses this gap by exploring consumers' preferences for products featuring human presence on their packaging. Furthermore, this research contributes to the practical understanding of consumer choices by identifying product features and human types as moderating factors.
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