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Article
Publication date: 19 December 2019

Atif Saleem Butt, Syed Hamad Hassan Shah and Abdullah Zafar Sheikh

The purpose of this paper is to unveil negative outcomes associated with an absence of guanxi in a buyer–supplier relationship in Chinese logistics industry.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to unveil negative outcomes associated with an absence of guanxi in a buyer–supplier relationship in Chinese logistics industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a case study methodology using 16 semi-structured interviews with managers engaged in the process of buying and selling logistics services in China.

Findings

Based on the qualitative interviews, managers experience lack of trust, lack of communication flow and reduced business volume when guanxi is absent in a buyer–supplier relationship in the Chinese logistics industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations. First, the results of this study are not generalizable to a broader population. Second, this study explores behavioral patterns with respect to Chinese business culture only.

Practical implications

Firms can use the findings from this study to understand the consequence they can face when guanxi is absent in a buyer–supplier relationship.

Originality/value

This study attempts to offer a balanced perspective on the role of guanxi in a buyer–supplier relationship, particularly in the Chinese logistics industry, by considering how an absence of guanxi generates negative outcomes for firms.

Details

Journal of Asia Business Studies, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1558-7894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 March 2021

Atif Saleem Butt, Syed Hamad Hassan Shah and Ahmad Bayiz Ahmad

The purpose of this paper is to explore how knowledge hiding affects buyer-supplier relationship performance in the supply chain.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how knowledge hiding affects buyer-supplier relationship performance in the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a multiple case study methodology. Overall, 26 semi-structured interviews (13 dyadic interviews) with managers of buying and supplying firms (who have been a victim of knowledge hiding) were undertaken.

Findings

Based on comprehensive data analysis, results reveal seven factors that adversely affect buyer-supplier relationship performance (lack of trust, lack of cooperation and lack of commitment). In addition, results reveal that such factors reduced the firm’s business performance in terms of low-quality products, increased lead time and higher costs.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations. First, the results of this study are not generalizable to a broader population. Second, this study explores behavioral patterns with respect to United Arab Emirates culture only.

Practical implications

Firms can use the findings from this study to understand how knowledge hiding in a buyer-supplier relationship adversely affects a buyer-supplier relationship performance.

Originality/value

A considerable weakness in buyer-supplier relationship literature is a need for a study examining how knowledge hiding harms buyer-supplier relationship performance in the supply chain. This paper addresses this gap.

Details

VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, vol. 53 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2059-5891

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 July 2021

Atif Saleem Butt, Ahmad Bayiz Ahmad and Syed Hamad Hassan Shah

This paper aims to explore the role of personal relationships (friendships) in mitigating knowledge hiding behaviour between managers.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of personal relationships (friendships) in mitigating knowledge hiding behaviour between managers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a phenomenological methodology by studying seven UAE-based firms. Furthermore, 30 semi-structured (15 dyadic) interviews with senior managers are undertaken. The senior managers were chosen from multiple industries including plastic, frozen food, logistics, etc.

Findings

Based on 30 semi-structured interviews and comprehensive data analysis, results reveal that the development of personal relationships between managers results in higher interpersonal trust, mutual loyalty, higher cooperation, strong mutual goals and cultivation of reciprocity. The result further states that these factors diminish knowledge hiding behaviour between them.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations. First, this study explores behavioural patterns concerning the United Arab Emirates culture only. Second, the results presented in this study should be quantitatively tested to demonstrate their generalizability.

Practical implications

Firms can use this study’s findings to understand how and why personal relationships between managers within firms diminish knowledge hiding behaviour.

Originality/value

There is a dire need for research exploring how knowledge hiding can be mitigated in firms. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the role of personal relationships in the knowledge hiding literature.

Details

VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, vol. 53 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2059-5891

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2020

Atif Saleem Butt and Syed Hamad Hassan Shah

This paper explores the potential opportunities and challenges that Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) may bring for resilient supply chains.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores the potential opportunities and challenges that Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) may bring for resilient supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs multiple case study methodology by considering five south Asian countries. Overall, 36 semi-structured interviews with supply chain managers from three supplying firms, two transportation centers and four buying firms are undertaken. Three supplying firms were based in Pakistan, providing cement and steel products. Simultaneously, two transportation centers were located in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, mainly engaged in cargo and freight handling. Finally, the buying firms were located in Mainland China and India, mainly constructing road and rail networks.

Findings

Our findings reveal both challenges and opportunities for supply chain resilience within the context of BRI. In particular, findings suggest that BRI can improve quality infrastructure, greater connectivity for logistics firms and enhance consumer markets. Conversely, BRI also poses challenges to supply chain resilience in managing large-scale logistics infrastructure and the potential conflicts between countries participating in BRI.

Research limitations/implications

As this study attempts to build a theory, its result should not be generalized to a broader population. Second, this study only explores BRI's implications for resilient supply chains within five South Asian countries.

Practical implications

Firms can use our study results to understand BRI’s implications for resilient supply chains. Particularly, it presents firms with the potential opportunities and challenges that BRI brings for resilient supply chains.

Originality/value

BRI has been the subject of much research in domains like political science, economics and law but its application to the supply chain resilience is rather scant. Our study, therefore, contributes to the emergent literature on supply chain resilience within the context of BRI by exploring its potential opportunities and challenges.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 28 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 December 2021

Lei Shen, Yuhong Zhu, Chenglong Li and Syed Hamad Hassan Shah

The paper aims to explore how perceived prosumer content quality (PPCQ) and perceived interaction quality (PIQ) improve users' co-creation experiences and subsequently influence…

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to explore how perceived prosumer content quality (PPCQ) and perceived interaction quality (PIQ) improve users' co-creation experiences and subsequently influence their co-creation intentions in the future. In addition, the paper examines users' prosumer ability into consideration.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model based on stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) paradigm is developed to observe users' participation in value co-creation activities. In total, 318 valid responses were collected from a survey. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the model and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) PROCESS macro (Model 58) by Hayes was applied to investigate the moderating effect of prosumer ability in mediation paths.

Findings

It is observed that co-creation intention is determined by user-learning value, social-integrative value and hedonic value, which are influenced by PPCQ and PIQ. Besides, uses' prosumer ability moderates the indirect effects of PPCQ and PIQ on co-creation intentions through co-creation experiences.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides a prosumption perspective to explain users' co-creation intentions in social commerce and proposes the importance of user-learning, social-integrative and hedonic values in determining co-creation intentions.

Practical implications

Social commerce platforms can encourage prosumption activities and cultivate multi-level prosumers to achieve a win–win situation.

Originality/value

Little prior research has explicitly examined how and why users participate in value co-creation activities in social commerce from prosumption perspective. The current paper seeks to fill this gap and open new avenues for other value co-creation researchers.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 52 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 November 2022

Atif Saleem Butt, Mohammad Alghababsheh, Tahseen Anwer Arshi and Syed Hamad Hassan Shah

This paper explores the strategies adopted by purchasing firms to streamline relationships with suppliers amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores the strategies adopted by purchasing firms to streamline relationships with suppliers amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a multiple case study method and conducted 42 semi-structured interviews with procurement managers from six firms in the United Arab Emirates.

Findings

This study reveals six helpful strategies that purchasing firms can undertake to streamline supplier relationship management (SRM) in the wake of COVID-19. Precisely, purchasing firms are revising supply chain costs, planning orders in advance, sharing critical information with suppliers, planning major contingencies, developing a robust relationship with suppliers (e.g. partnership) and finally, improving the supplier's visibility.

Research limitations/implications

This study comes with certain limitations. First, the results are based on a limited number of 42 interviewees. Hence, the study’s results cannot be generalized to a broader population. Second, the data were collected based on the cause and effect relationship.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can help purchasing firms learn and use new appropriate strategies to manage the relationship with their suppliers in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Originality/value

This study contributes to SRM literature by unveiling six distinct strategies (such as revising supply chain costs, planning orders in advance, sharing critical information, etc.) that purchasing firms have employed to develop a robust and healthy working relationship with the suppliers in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 30 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 August 2019

Syed Hamad Hassan Shah, Shen Lei, Muhammad Ali, Dmitrii Doronin and Syed Talib Hussain

Over the past decade, the term prosumption (denoting simultaneous consumption and production) has exhibited a dramatic increase in frequency of use in publications in the social…

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Abstract

Purpose

Over the past decade, the term prosumption (denoting simultaneous consumption and production) has exhibited a dramatic increase in frequency of use in publications in the social sciences and business studies. This paper aims to explore the current state of research into prosumption, particularly related to marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This study systematically reviews papers on prosumption extracted from the Web of Science, using two bibliometric analyses on 20 years of data: citation counts from HistCite and bibliographic coupling and cartography analysis from the visualization of similarities software VOSviewer. A total of 75 papers on prosumption were found from the period 1997-2017, and the most influential authors, articles, journals, institutions and countries among these were determined. Furthermore, bibliographic coupling and most co-occurrent keywords in the title, keywords and abstracts were found.

Findings

This study found that the USA and the UK were the most influential among prosumption publications. Ritzer was the most prominent author and Journal of Consumer Culture was the top-ranking journal. Three clusters were found using bibliographic coupling and cartography analysis: prosumer and co-creation, prosumer and user-generated content and prosumer and informational capital.

Research limitations/implications

This analysis provided a basis for conceptualizing publications on prosumption related to business and sociology in the discipline of marketing. Content analysis found that prosumption research in marketing is in early stages: little quantitative study has been conducted yet. Researchers have not yet constructed a quantitative measure for prosumption.

Practical implications

Business firms can engage prosumers to gain market share and competitive advantage, especially relative to value co-creation, with near-zero marginal cost.

Originality/value

This may be the first bibliometric analysis and systematic review of prosumption research in marketing studies. The achievements of this paper open new avenues for other prosumption researchers.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 49 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2020

Saleha Noor, Yi Guo, Syed Hamad Hassan Shah, Philippe Fournier-Viger and M. Saqib Nawaz

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which started in late December 2019, has spread to more than 200 countries. As no vaccine is yet available for this pandemic, government…

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Abstract

Purpose

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which started in late December 2019, has spread to more than 200 countries. As no vaccine is yet available for this pandemic, government and health agencies are taking draconian steps to contain it. This pandemic is also trending on social media, particularly on Twitter. The purpose of this study is to explore and analyze the general public reactions to the COVID-19 outbreak on Twitter.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a thematic analysis of COVID-19 tweets through VOSviewer to examine people’s reactions related to the COVID-19 outbreak in the world. Moreover, sequential pattern mining (SPM) techniques are used to find frequent words/patterns and their relationship in tweets.

Findings

Seven clusters (themes) were found through VOSviewer: Cluster 1 (green): public sentiments about COVID-19 in the USA. Cluster 2 (red): public sentiments about COVID-19 in Italy and Iran and a vaccine, Cluster 3 (purple): public sentiments about doomsday and science credibility. Cluster 4 (blue): public sentiments about COVID-19 in India. Cluster 5 (yellow): public sentiments about COVID-19’s emergence. Cluster 6 (light blue): public sentiments about COVID-19 in the Philippines. Cluster 7 (orange): Public sentiments about COVID-19 US Intelligence Report. The most frequent words/patterns discovered with SPM were “COVID-19,” “Coronavirus,” “Chinese virus” and the most frequent and high confidence sequential rules were related to “Coronavirus, testing, lockdown, China and Wuhan.”

Research limitations/implications

The methodology can be used to analyze the opinions/thoughts of the general public on Twitter and to categorize them accordingly. Moreover, the categories (generated by VOSviewer) can be correlated with the results obtained with pattern mining techniques.

Social implications

This study has a significant socio-economic impact as Twitter offers content posting and sharing to billions of users worldwide.

Originality/value

According to the authors’ best knowledge, this may be the first study to carry out a thematic analysis of COVID-19 tweets at a glance and mining the tweets with SPM to investigate how people reacted to the COVID-19 outbreak on Twitter.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 50 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2021

Muhammad Ali, Ali Nawaz Khan, Mubbsher Munawar Khan, Atif Saleem Butt and Syed Hamad Hassan Shah

This study aims to analyze the relationship between mindfulness and study engagement focusing on the mediating mechanism between the relationships proposed. Based on the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the relationship between mindfulness and study engagement focusing on the mediating mechanism between the relationships proposed. Based on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, the authors examine whether psychological capital (PsyCap) and intrinsic motivation mediate the relationship between mindfulness traits and study engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized relationships among a sample of 428 international students studying in Chinese universities in Shanghai.

Findings

The results support the hypothesized relationships and imply that mindfulness is an essential antecedent of study engagement and more mindful students are more engaged in studying. Besides, the relationship between self-rated mindfulness and study engagement is mediated by PsyCap and intrinsic motivation.

Research limitations/implications

For universities, these findings help develop unique educational strategies to resolve issues related to study involvement. The study has several theoretical and practical implications.

Originality/value

The current study explored the relationship between mindfulness and study engagement in international students studying in Chinese universities – an understudied context in higher education. The authors find that mindfulness has positive effects on study engagement through PsyCap and intrinsic motivation.

Details

Journal of Professional Capital and Community, vol. 7 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-9548

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 March 2020

Dmitrii Doronin, Shen Lei and Syed Hamad Hassan Shah

Importance of knowledge sharing is undeniable; however, a number of studies have shown it is not always beneficial. The purpose of this study is to breakdown existing definitions…

Abstract

Purpose

Importance of knowledge sharing is undeniable; however, a number of studies have shown it is not always beneficial. The purpose of this study is to breakdown existing definitions of knowledge sharing to understand what elements of it might be considered in quality dimension measures and based on those synthesize a more comprehensive definition.

Design/methodology/approach

Through bibliometric investigation, the most influential definitions were investigated and the concept of knowledge sharing was redefined according to a process structure with the help of Grounded Theory.

Findings

The research has revealed the dual nature of knowledge sharing, that is, knowledge as input and sharing as a process. Related quality measures were proposed.

Originality/value

This study opens up a basis for future research of how companies and organization can improve the benefits of knowledge sharing by paying attention to its quality rather than quantity.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 50 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

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