Search

Purpose: Developed countries control pandemics using smart decisions and processes based on medical standards and modern technologies. Studies on risk-reduction and humantechnology interaction are scarce. This study developed a model to examine the relationship between citizens, pandemic-related technology and official safety practices. Design/methodology/approach: This study investigated the mediating role of new health regulations and moderating role of safety incentives due to COVID-19 case reduction in pandemic severity control. This study included 407 operations managers, nursing staff conducting pandemic testing and reporting, doctors and security personnel in China. An artificial neural network (ANN) was used to check nonlinear regressions and model predictability. Findings: The results demonstrated the impact of the introduction of new technology protocols on the implementation of new health regulations and aided pandemic severity control. The safety incentive of case reductions moderated the relationship between new health regulations and pandemic severity control. New health regulations mediated the relationship between the introduction of new technology protocols and pandemic severity control. Research limitations/implications: Further research should be conducted on pandemic severity in diversely populated cities, particularly those that require safety measures and controls. Future studies should focus on cloud computing for nurses, busy campuses and communal living spaces. Social implications: Authorities should involve citizens in pandemic-related technical advances to reduce local viral transmission and infection. New health regulations improved people's interactions with new technological protocols and understanding of pandemic severity. Pandemic management authorities should work with medical and security employees. Originality/value: This study is the first to demonstrate that a safety framework with technology-oriented techniques could reduce future pandemics using managerial initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Knowledge management (KM) capability plays an important role in the promotion of firm performance in the knowledge economy era. However, empirical evidence on how KM capability affects firm performance is still limited. The study therefore aims to explore the impacts of internal and external KM capabilities on firm performance via the parallel mediation of efficiency-centered and novelty-centered business model innovations (BMIs). Design/methodology/approach: The authors empirically analyzed a survey data of 295 Chinese innovative enterprises by applying partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Findings: According to the results of PLS-SEM, the relationship between internal KM capability and firm performance is not significant, instead it is fully mediated by efficiency-centered and novelty-centered BMIs. External KM capability can directly and positively affect firm performance, while the relationship is also partially mediated by BMIs. Furthermore, the authors recognized the antecedent conditions for high-level and low-level firm performance by fsQCA analysis, which substantiate the above findings. Originality/value: It not only enriches the literature that links KM and innovation management but also contributes to the new theoretical perspective on firm sustainable growth. Methodologically, it combines symmetric and asymmetric analyses together. Additionally, it provides some insights for managers to understand how KM capability drives firm performance through BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Using social exchange and reciprocation theory as a foundation, this paper aims to investigate the structural relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and employee satisfaction (ES), focusing on the mediating role of relational psychological contract (RPC) and reciprocity ideology (RI). Design/methodology/approach: An adopted literature-based survey was used to collect the data from a sample of 216 bank employees in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), where the heuristic model for the relationship was subjected to a string of tests, using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. Findings: Discovery revealed that POS has a direct but insignificant effect on ES, whereas POS predicts RPC with ES as well as RI. The two mediators, RPC and RI, showed a positive and significant effect on the relationship between POS and ES. However, it was concluded that for employees to be satisfied, a higher level of support must always originate from the organization, through honoring all agreed terms stated in the conditions of employing them, as this will be a great motivator in ensuring productivity and efficient sustainability. Originality/value: The study creates a theoretical basis related to the service industry, envisaging the importance of POS as a panacea for ES. Furthermore, the model contributes to literature lacking on mediating factors needed to boost employee morale in achieving mutual benefit for both the employee and the employer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to empirically testify an integrated model, including the attributes of smart tourism technologies (STTs) (user interface [UI] design, informativeness, accessibility, personalization and interactivity), satisfaction, loyalty and word of mouth (WOM), and further investigate the potential moderating effect of switching costs (SCs) on the satisfaction–loyalty/WOM relationships. Design/methodology/approach: Systematic sampling was used to collect data in Macau. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze valid data collected from 332 tourists who have recently used STTs. Findings: The results indicate that informativeness has a stronger effect on satisfaction, loyalty and WOM than UI design, accessibility and personalization; interactivity shows no significant influence on satisfaction, loyalty and WOM; satisfaction positively influences loyalty and WOM. Furthermore, procedural SCs negatively moderate the effects of satisfaction on loyalty and WOM. Originality/value: The present study extends the knowledge about information technology and tourism (ITT) by introducing a new attribute, UI design into STT structure and confirming that UI design is an effective predictor of user satisfaction. This paper is also a pioneer study that integrates customer satisfaction with STTs with SCs to explore the mechanism of how customer loyalty and WOM are generated. Practical recommendations are provided for STT designers and destination managers to improve the overall quality of STTs and to consider carefully setting procedural SCs as a retention strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is commonly used for automating operational processes and enhancing their efficiency inside a company. In the recent years, the increasing development of ERP technologies has increased their impacts on decision-making. Such impact can no longer be underestimated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of ERP systems on the improvement of decision-making quality inside large Moroccan companies. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the DeLone and McLean information systems success model and by adopting a quantitative approach, survey data were collected through questionnaires. The established questionnaires were distributed to 104 decision-makers who use ERP systems. To test the developed research model, structural equation modeling based on the partial least squares method was used. Findings: The findings of the present investigation showed that information and system quality had a positive impact on the overall user's experience with the ERP system, whereas service quality had a negative impact on it. This influenced the quality of decision-making. The results also showed that the model used has sufficient and adequate convergent and discriminant validities, as well as sufficient reliability. Originality/value: To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first empirical study that evaluates the effect of ERP systems on improving the quality of decision-making in Morocco. The results provide interesting theoretical and managerial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Virtual teams had become a fundamental way to conduct business for organizations to remain competitive and sustain in a global environment. Organizations which willing to understand what makes virtual teams more effective can likely accrue positive results from virtual teams. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate what are the factors that impact the performance of virtual team. This study highlights factors that influence virtual team performance, which not been widely studied in developing countries (i.e. Malaysia). This study tests the impact of six factors (coordination, communication, relationship building, cohesion, trust and reward) on team performance. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach via self-administered questionnaire was adopted. A total of 205 questionnaires were successfully collected at the end of the data collection. Structural equation modelling using partial least squares approach (i.e. ADANCO 2.0 software) was then used to assess the relationships among variables in the virtual team. Findings: After ensuring the data have acceptable reliability and validity, structural model assessment was performed to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that a significant and positive relationship exists between communication, relationship building, cohesion and trust towards team performance. On the other hand, no significant relationship was found between coordination and reward towards team performance. Research limitations/implications: First, the study may be slightly biased due to the differences in the size of the multinational companies. The result might tend to represent the bigger companies where more virtual teams are available for sampling of this study. Second, the duration of virtual team (long-term and short-term) and the number of sites in the team should be clearly identified. The respondents might have very different experiences and perceptions in different settings of virtual team environment. Therefore, taking care of these characteristics would have provided a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of factors influencing virtual team performance in Malaysia. Practical implications: The findings from this study can serve as guideline for managers to manage the virtual teams effectively, as well as to optimizes the resources usage and implement the most efficient tools of communication, and subsequently improve the overall efficiency of the teams. This study is useful for researchers, managers and organizations to highlight the factors that contribute to virtual team performance. Originality/value: The present study has not only extended the use of Media Richness Theory in the context Virtual Team Performance in a developing country but also broadened the previous study through inclusion of other crucial factor, namely, Reward. Given the significant role in the Global marketplace, the understanding of factors influencing virtual team performance in Malaysia using the extended theory of Media Richness would contribute knowledge not only to technology management but also to manufacturing service industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of vulnerability to natural hazards consists of many driving factors that represent multi-facets of the subjected system. However, the interactions among these components remain unclear and have not been clarified. Examining these internal relationships helps to improve the accuracy of vulnerability assessments and provides needed focus in flood management. This study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to discover the interrelationship of household flood vulnerability determinants in Cambodia's floodplain and Vietnam's Mekong River Delta. The results show that demographics and social capital have direct influences on flood exposure. In this paper, socioeconomic status can reduce flood effect levels through the mediation of coping capacity. In addition, heterogeneity was also observed between Vietnamese and Cambodian families, highlighting the influence of context on understanding social vulnerability. As the two countries are under threat from hydropower and climate change that profoundly affect flooding, flood management strategies should be improved. The study suggests that the focus should be placed with socioeconomic and coping capacity to sustainably strengthen resilience against flooding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of the present study is intended to fill a research gap, by advancing a conceptual model which brings novel insights on the relationships between socially responsible consumption and consumer’s need for uniqueness.Design/methodology/approach Relying on a questionnaire-based survey for data collection, the proposed model was tested using the partial least squares (PLS) algorithm for structural equation modeling (SEM), which allows the assessment of the models containing both formative and reflective constructs.Findings The research found that 73.7 per cent of the variance in the consumer’s belief in the importance of personal power to make a difference through socially responsible choices is explained by the proposed model. Moreover, four of the five factors of socially responsible consumption fully mediate the positive effect of the consumer’s need for uniqueness on the importance attached to personal socially responsible choices in driving positive change.Research limitations/implications The study avails a phenomenological perspective by offering novel insights from a Romanian sample. The limitation associated with a country-centric vision is compensated through the contextual analysis and integration of a new point of reference in the overall framework of socially responsible consumption.Practical implications The evidence is indicative of new consumption insights and should be closely considered by companies.Originality/value The study draws upon a conceptual model integrating the relationships between socially responsible consumption and a psychological characteristic – the consumer’s need for uniqueness – which has been never tested as such before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]