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1 – 10 of 689The Metaverse is an immersive virtual world where individuals interact with each other using an avatar. The Metaverse is promised to offer several potentials for different…
Abstract
Purpose
The Metaverse is an immersive virtual world where individuals interact with each other using an avatar. The Metaverse is promised to offer several potentials for different sectors. While the Metaverse promotes innovative interaction between individuals (e.g. learners), there is a scarcity of knowledge on what influences its acceptance and use in higher educational institutions (HEIs), particularly in developing countries. Thus, this paper aims to identify the factors that affect the users' intentions toward Metaverse technology for educational purposes in the HEIs in Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
A study model was created by incorporating variables from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) (performance expectancy, PE; effort expectancy, EE; social influence, SI; and facilitating conditions, FC) and information system success (ISS) model (user satisfaction, SAT; system quality, SQ; service quality, SVQ and information quality, IQ) with perceived curiosity (PC) and hedonic gratification (HG) constructs. Both PC and HG were added as context-related factors that could contribute to improving the applicability of UTAUT and ISS to a wide range of technology use contexts. Data were gathered from 441 Jordanian university students using an online questionnaire.
Findings
The analysis of the structural model revealed that users' behavioural intentions toward using Metaverse were significantly affected by user satisfaction (SAT), performance expectancy (PE), facilitating conditions (FC) and hedonic gratification (HG). Also, information quality (IQ) and services quality (SVQ) were revealed to have a significant influence on user satisfaction. Likewise, the results illustrated a significant impact of systems quality (SQ), information quality (IQ) and service quality (SVQ) on PE. Lastly, a significant effect of PC on the EE factor was found.
Practical implications
This study will shed light on a number of practical implications for developers, designers, service providers and decision-makers supporting the acceptance and adoption of the Metaverse technology in the educational context. Also, it will contribute to developing the right strategies, and Metaverse content which will draw the attention of learners.
Originality/value
As per the surveyed literature and the researcher's prior knowledge, this is one of the first studies that integrate the UTAUT model, ISS model and two contextual factors (PC and HG) besides testing the proposed model in a developing country (Jordan). This paper is one of the few in which the individuals' acceptance behaviour of Metaverse technology was examined in the HEIs context.
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Asif Hasan, Amer Ali Alenazy, Sufyan Habib and Shahid Husain
This study investigates the factors influencing citizen attitudes toward e-government services and their effects on the adoption of e-government services in Saudi Arabia. It sheds…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the factors influencing citizen attitudes toward e-government services and their effects on the adoption of e-government services in Saudi Arabia. It sheds light on the moderating role of citizen motivation in the relationship between factors influencing citizen attitudes in favor of e-government services and their adoption and usage behavior in the Saudi Arabian context. The study analyzes both the drivers propelling the uptake and the barriers impeding it.
Design/methodology/approach
A descriptive research design was employed in this study, which surveyed 487 respondents from Jeddah and Madina cities and the surrounding region. The research identifies key drivers, including cultural factors, digital literacy, government policy and interventions, privacy and security, technical infrastructure, support services and citizen trust, alongside barriers such as concerns about data security and digital literacy.
Findings
The findings reveal the complex interplay of these factors in shaping citizen attitudes toward e-government services and their effects on adoption in Saudi Arabia. The study indicates that citizen motivation toward e-government services moderates the relationship between, adoption and usage behavior.
Originality/value
This study contributes valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners by offering a nuanced perspective on e-government service adoption in the Saudi Arabian context. It enhances our understanding of the factors influencing citizen attitudes and their impact on e-government adoption, highlighting the importance of citizen motivation as a moderating factor in this relationship.
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Ben Morris, James Jackson and Anthony Roberts III
In recent years, Yoga practice has seen a rapid rise in popularity with many positive consequences, both physical and mental attributed to its practice. Ashtanga Yoga has been…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, Yoga practice has seen a rapid rise in popularity with many positive consequences, both physical and mental attributed to its practice. Ashtanga Yoga has been less well researched in this area and is the specific focus on this work. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible positive impact of long-term Ashtanga Yoga on psychological well-being.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 213 long-term Ashtanga Yoga practitioners were asked to complete the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment (PERMA) 23 scale (Butler and Kern, 2016) which measures psychological well-being. The values given by these individuals were then compared against a larger sample of 31,966 representative of the general population.
Findings
Scores were then compared with a PERMA data set representative of the general population (see Butler and Kern, 2016), primarily using a test of difference to compare samples. Secondly, the causal relationship between time spent in practice upon well-being scores.
Research limitations/implications
Findings indicated that those individuals engaged in long-term Ashtanga Yoga practice significantly outperformed the control group on all dimensions of psychological well-being.
Practical implications
This work has demonstrated specific benefits to the practice of Ashtanga Yoga on psychological well-being. Yoga is a form of exercise that is now widely available across the globe, and as such, represents an accessible form of physical practice, which has important psychological benefits.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work investigating differences in psychological well-being profiles using PERMA, as a function of Yoga practice.
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Md. Mamunur Rashid, Dewan Mahboob Hossain and Md. Saiful Alam
This study aims to investigate the impact of organizational external environmental factors on strategic management accounting (SMA) usage in an emerging economy.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of organizational external environmental factors on strategic management accounting (SMA) usage in an emerging economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The study collected data from 79 public limited companies listed with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (Bangladesh) through a questionnaire survey. Multiple regression analysis is employed to test the impact of external environmental variables such as perceived environmental uncertainty and intensity of competition on SMA usage.
Findings
The study finds a significant positive impact of environmental uncertainty (fluctuation in the external environmental factors) and intensity of competition (domination by few companies) on SMA usage. However, the direction and magnitude of this impact vary considerably for specific groups of SMA practices such as costing, competitor accounting, customer accounting and planning and performance measurement techniques.
Originality/value
This study shows the impact of several facets of environmental uncertainty (i.e. unpredictability, fluctuation, ambiguity, lack of information and uncertainty of the outcome of decision) and intensity of competition (i.e. stressfulness and domination) in the empirical-based SMA research.
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Nadine Kafa, Salomée Ruel and Anicia Jaegler
The field of supply chain management (SCM) needs to attract and retain workers to solve the current talent shortage. The purpose of this research is to identify and evaluate…
Abstract
Purpose
The field of supply chain management (SCM) needs to attract and retain workers to solve the current talent shortage. The purpose of this research is to identify and evaluate factors that influence career advancement in SCM and compare male and female supply chain experts' perceptions of the importance of those factors.
Design/methodology/approach
First, 32 factors perceived as affecting career advancement in SCM were identified by conducting a literature review and consulting 36 experts. Those factors were grouped into four categories: “environmental and structural”, “human capital”, “individual” and “interpersonal”. Those factors were validated via the Delphi method, and ten factors were retained for further study. Second, the voting analytical hierarchy process was used to determine the priority weights experts assigned to these factors. The weights assigned by male and female experts were compared to determine if there were differences between the women's and men's perceptions of the factors' importance.
Findings
The findings reveal that the category of human capital factors is the most important, followed by individual factors and the least important is interpersonal factors. The experts consulted for this research emphasized “skills”, “a good fit between an individual and an organization” and “self-confidence” as important factors for career advancement. There were two unexpected results. First, the experts rejected all the environmental and structural factors. Second, no significant difference was found between the male and female groups' evaluations.
Originality/value
Prior to this study, no integrated approach to identify and evaluate the factors perceived which affect career advancement in SCM had been developed. This research is a single empirical and integrative study in France that provides valuable insights for academics and practitioners.
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Rapid changes in technologies and customer preferences are increasing market uncertainty. Hence, despite the benefits of reactive and adaptive marketing in the industrial market…
Abstract
Purpose
Rapid changes in technologies and customer preferences are increasing market uncertainty. Hence, despite the benefits of reactive and adaptive marketing in the industrial market, such marketing is sometimes insufficient for suppliers to survive and succeed. This phenomenon is prevalent among the small and medium-sized suppliers (SMSs) who fail to build technological capability. This suggests that SMSs should be entrepreneurial to survive and succeed in today’s environment. Against this backdrop, the purposes of this study are to understand the process by which entrepreneurial marketing of SMSs enhances their technological capability and to explore factors that stimulate SMSs to implement entrepreneurial marketing.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a survey data set on 249 industrial SMSs in South Korea, the authors test the hypotheses formulated in this work using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Based on effectuation theory, this study conceptualizes entrepreneurial marketing as a process by contrasting entrepreneurial marketing with reactive and adaptive marketing. The results show that proactive market orientation and subsequent exploratory market behavior enhance technological capability, and proactive market orientation is stimulated by relational satisfaction and perceived technological turbulence.
Originality/value
This study advances effectuation theory in the industrial marketing literature by exploring the value of entrepreneurial marketing in today’s industrial market. Further, this study extends the entrepreneurial marketing literature by conceptualizing and testing the process by which entrepreneurial marketing of SMSs enhances their technological capability.
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James Kroes, Anna Land, Andrew Steven Manikas and Felice Klein
This study investigates whether the underrepresentation of women in executive-level roles within the supply chain management (SCM) field is justified or the result of gender…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates whether the underrepresentation of women in executive-level roles within the supply chain management (SCM) field is justified or the result of gender injustices. The analysis examines if there is a gender compensation gap within executive-level SCM roles and whether performance differences or other observable factors explain disparities.
Design/methodology/approach
Publicly reported executive compensation and financial data are merged to empirically test if gender differences exist and investigate whether the underrepresentation of women in executive-level SCM roles is unjust.
Findings
Women occupy only 6.29% of the positions in the sample of 447 SCM executives. Unlike prior studies, we find that women executives receive higher compensation. The analysis does not identify observable factors explaining the limited inclusion of women in top-level roles, suggesting that gender injustices are prevalent in SCM.
Research limitations/implications
This study only considers observable factors and cannot conclusively determine if discrimination is occurring. The low level of inclusion of women in executive roles suggests that gender injustice is intrinsic within the SCM profession. These findings will hopefully motivate firms to undertake transformative actions that result in outcomes that advance gender equity, ultimately leading to social justice for female SCM executives.
Originality/value
The use of social justice and feminist theories, a focus on SCM roles, and an empirical methodology utilizing objective measures represents a novel approach to investigating gender discrimination in SCM organizations, complementing prior survey-based studies.
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Elanor Lucy Webb, Deborah J. Morris, Benedetta Lupattelli Gencarelli and Jemima Worsfold
Research has established the prevalence and relevance of moral injury in healthcare workers, though less attention has been paid to the different classes of potentially morally…
Abstract
Purpose
Research has established the prevalence and relevance of moral injury in healthcare workers, though less attention has been paid to the different classes of potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) experienced by this population and their impact. This exploratory study sought to examine the frequency of self- and other-generated PMIE classes and their associations with demographic characteristics and well-being outcomes among mental healthcare staff.
Design/methodology/approach
Secondary analysis of data drawn from two cross-sectional surveys of 267 frontline and leadership staff from mental healthcare settings in the UK was conducted. Responses on the Moral Injury Events Scale and the Short Professional Quality of Life Scale were extracted for analysis.
Findings
Betrayal by others was most frequently endorsed (61.8%), whilst self-transgressions were least frequently reported (25.5%). After controlling for the number of PMIE classes experienced, betrayal significantly predicted secondary traumatic stress (p = 0.01) and burnout (p = 0.04). Additionally, other transgressions significantly predicted secondary traumatic stress (p = 0.008). The predictive effects of self-transgressions on burnout, secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction were all nonsignificant after controlling for the number of PMIE classes experienced.
Practical implications
Findings highlight differences in the frequency and impact of self and other PMIEs experienced by healthcare professionals. Reducing cumulative exposure to differential PMIE classes appears to be of critical importance to improving occupational well-being in this group.
Originality/value
To our knowledge, this study is the first to explore the associations between PMIE classes and occupational well-being in a mental healthcare population, inclusive of frontline and leadership staff.
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This study aims to investigate the relationship between top manager tenure and the sophistication level of management accounting system (MAS) in extant literature.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between top manager tenure and the sophistication level of management accounting system (MAS) in extant literature.
Design/methodology/approach
Cumulating evidence from 31 studies (N = 12,739), this study meta-analytically examines the central question of whether top managers' tenure is significantly associated with MAS sophistication after correcting individual studies for statistical artifacts. The study also assesses the strength of this association bniy exploring the influence of several moderating factors.
Findings
The findings show that long-tenured top managers are not significantly related to MAS sophistication. However, the moderator analtgcqyses indicate that the relationship between top manager tenure and MAS sophistication is moderated by tenure measurement type, firm sector and size. The study provides evidence for the significant moderation of tenure measurement type (i.e. position tenure). The results also argue that top manager tenure matters for MAS sophistication in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and firms in the private sector.
Originality/value
The meta-analysis summarizes existing studies quantitatively to expand prior narrative reviews by providing definitive evidence of the overall effect of top manager tenure on MAS sophistication.
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Hang Jia, Zhiming Gao, Shixiong Wu, Jia Liang Liu and Wenbin Hu
This study aims to investigate the corrosion inhibitor effect of migrating corrosion inhibitor (MCI) on Q235 steel in high alkaline environment under cathodic polarization.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the corrosion inhibitor effect of migrating corrosion inhibitor (MCI) on Q235 steel in high alkaline environment under cathodic polarization.
Design/methodology/approach
This study investigated the electrochemical characteristics of Q235 steel with and without MCI by polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Besides, the surface composition of Q235 steel under different environments was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In addition, the migration characteristic of MCI and the adsorption behavior of MCI under cathodic polarization were studied using Raman spectroscopy.
Findings
Diethanolamine (DEA) and N, N-dimethylethanolamine (DMEA) can inhibit the increase of Fe(II) in the oxide film of Q235 steel under cathodic polarization. The adsorption stability of DMEA film was higher under cathodic polarization potential, showing a higher corrosion inhibition ability. The corrosion inhibition mechanism of DEA and DMEA under cathodic polarization potential was proposed.
Originality/value
The MCI has a broad application prospect in the repair of damaged reinforced concrete due to its unique migratory characteristics. The interaction between MCIs, rebar and concrete with different compositions has been studied, but the passivation behavior of the steel interface in the presence of both the migrating electric field and corrosion inhibitors has been neglected. And it was investigated in this paper.
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