Search results

The rise of mobile technologies has driven rapid growth in mobile banking (m-banking), making service quality a central area of inquiry for researchers and industry practitioners alike. Despite this focus, understanding of service quality in m-banking remains fragmented. In this regard, this article endeavors to provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview of service quality in m-banking.

Drawing on a systematic review of 71 studies, this article explores the concept of service quality in m-banking through the lens of theories, constructs, contexts, and methods (TCCM), revealing the multifaceted nature of service quality and its role in m-banking.

The review underscores the multifaceted nature of service quality and its pivotal role in steering pivotal customer-centric outcomes in m-banking. Introducing the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework into the discourse of m-banking, the review reveals a range of quality-, system success-, and user-based stimuli, affecting m-banking users’ attitude, brand attachment, flow, and trust, thus shaping their intended and actual behavior, including usage, satisfaction, loyalty, and word-of-mouth. Further scrutiny underscores opportunities for renewed endeavors to bridge identifiable gaps by harnessing mixed methods, exploring new constructs, probing demographic and cross-cultural variations, and forging new instruments tailored to evaluate contemporary m-banking service quality.

This review distinguishes itself by providing a comprehensive and systematic exploration of service quality in m-banking through the lens of TCCM. Unlike previous studies that often focus on isolated aspects, this review integrates diverse perspectives to offer a holistic understanding of service quality in m-banking. Employing the S-O-R framework, this review not only maps the pathways from service quality stimuli to user responses but also identifies critical gaps and promising directions.

Infill materials play a pivotal role in determining buildings’ life cycle costing (LCC) and environmental impacts. International standards prescribe LCC and life cycle assessments (LCA) to assess materials’ economic and environmental sustainability. The existing methods of LCC and LCA are tedious and time-consuming, reducing their practical application. This study sought to integrate LCC and LCA with building information modeling (BIM) to develop a swift and efficient approach for evaluating the life cycle performance of infill materials.

The BIM model for a case study was prepared using Autodesk Revit®, and the study included four infill materials (lightweight aggregate concrete block (LECA), autoclaved cellular concrete (AAC), concrete masonry and bricks). LCC was conducted using Revit® and Autodesk Insight 360® to estimate costs incurred across different project phases. LCA was conducted using “One Click LCA®,” a BIM-based platform featuring a comprehensive material inventory. Carbon emissions, acidification, and eutrophication were chosen as environmental impact factors for LCA.

LECA was the preferred choice due to its lower cost and environmental impact. Its lifetime cost of $440,618 was 5.4% lower than bricks’, with 2.8% lower CO₂ emissions than AAC’s, which were second-place options, respectively. LECA had 6.4 and 27% lower costs than concrete blocks, and AAC’s carbon emissions were 32 and 58% lower than concrete blocks and bricks, respectively.

BIM has been employed for life cycle analysis in existing literature, but its efficacy in evaluating the lifetime costs and environmental impacts of infill materials remains unexplored. The current study presents a BIM-based approach for conducting LCC and LCA of infill materials, facilitating informed decision-making during the planning phase and promoting sustainable construction practices.

This study develops a theoretical framework to explore the influence of green brand positioning on green brand loyalty, examining the mediating effects of green brand attitude and identification.

Employing an empirical approach, the study administers a questionnaire survey to 546 runners at a road race conducted in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Structural equation modeling is employed to validate the research framework.

The empirical results demonstrate that green brand positioning directly enhances green brand attitude and identification. High green brand attitude and identification lead to favorable green brand loyalty. Thus, the relationship between green brand loyalty and positioning is mediated by green brand attitude and identification.

To foster green brand loyalty, road race organizations can undertake efforts to enhance the brand positioning of their events.

Few studies have assessed green branding from the perspective of sports participants. This study develops a research framework of green brand loyalty through the lens of runners to address this research gap. The findings show that effective market segmentation strategies are crucial for attracting participants in highly competitive event markets. The findings advance the research field by considering green brand positioning, attitude and identification as factors for improving green brand loyalty.

The study aims to investigate how stakeholders in the UK farm-to-retail lamb value chain fared in the wake of Britain’s formal exit from the European Union, along with the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic.

Eight interviews were conducted with members of three separate stakeholder groups within the UK lamb value chain (farmers, meat processors and retail buyers) to ascertain the benefits and challenges faced. Interviews were transcribed and thematically coded, revealing three key “themes”: economic consequences, supply chain impacts and policy changes.

Farmers were positively affected by an increase in the lamb sale price, but meat processors and retail buyers were more negatively affected by changes to the export process (increased paperwork, bureaucracy challenges and border control checks) and labour shortages. All three groups complained of a perceived lack of support from Government, and of a sense of uncertainty in relation to the new UK Agricultural Policy and future international trade deals.

The study relates to a limited time-envelope (November 2021–March 2022), and interview sample (2–3 members of each group). Follow-up research will be required to ascertain whether these findings prevail across the UK lamb value chain, and to help inform Government with a view to protecting vulnerable stakeholders in the sector and securing British lamb for consumers.

The research provides novel insights into the UK lamb value chain at a time of market uncertainty.

Invented in late 1890s, asbestos cement sheeting rose to prominence during the post-Second World War period as a building material for low-cost housing by state housing commissions and low-income families (“fibro homes”). The adverse health effects of asbestos fibres in the building industry and home renovation activities are well documented. Fibro homes of the 1950s and 1960s are increasingly coming under the gaze of heritage studies, which brings to the fore the question of how to deal with the asbestos cement sheeting most are clad with.

This paper provides the first systematic review to assess the literature (126 papers were identified in Google Scholar and scanned for content) on the conservation management of asbestos cement sheeting in heritage properties.

Overall, engagement with the conservation management of asbestos cement sheeting in heritage properties was low, with only two sources dealing with asbestos cement sheeting in any level of detail. The studies note that if asbestos cement sheeting is in good condition, it should be left alone. Numerous conservation and repair options do exist, in particular the application of (coloured) sealants that extend the life of asbestos cement sheets and asbestos cement roofing.

This paper represents the first systematic review to assess conservation management options for asbestos cement sheeting in heritage properties.

Personal thermal management by controlling the radiation energies of both the body and the sun can be used in all environments and contributes to sustainability components with the advantages of energy saving, low chemical usage and comfort enhancements under dynamic conditions. In this study, passive radiative heating nanocomposite films were produced using sodium alginate as the matrix and zinc oxide (ZnO) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles as nanofillers having far infrared radiation reflecting, hence passive heating functions.

Nanocomposite film solutions were prepared by stirring sodium alginate powder, deionized water, ZnO and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (20% wt of matrix polymer) with surfactant using magnetic and ultrasonic stirrers in turn. Films produced within Petri dishes after drying at room temperature were analyzed by FT-IR, UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy and SEM for chemical, radiation management and morphological characteristics, respectively. Emissivity values giving idea about the heating performances of the films were determined with an IR camera and a hotplate system. Moreover, direct heating performances were measured by the hotplate system including a far-infrared lamp.

Results showed that the emissivity of the films increased by approximately 18% and 16% with ZnO and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, respectively. Moreover, NaAlg–Al₂O₃ nanocomposite film exhibited passive radiative heating performance of 3.58 °C, higher than the heating performance of NaAlg–ZnO nanocomposite film which is 2.97 °C when compared to the reference NaAlg film. These results indicate that both NaAlg–ZnO and especially NaAlg–Al₂O₃ nanocomposite films have excellent far-infrared emission and absorption properties ensuring a significant heating effect.

In addition to other clothing types, the heating performance obtained with the produced nanocomposite structures may be applied to different types of cosmetic/medical applications (beauty mask, wound dresses, etc.) enabling skincare/healing with the advantage of the sodium alginate matrix.

The hotel customers are conscious of the deteriorating environmental conditions and demand for online immersions. Hotels lack an exciting shift in customer behavior for augmented customer re-patronage intention (CRPI) especially in developing countries. This study aims to apply customer-dominant service logic (CDSL) to comprehend customers’ life-sphere contributing to some of the vital United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs). In this essence, CDSL grasps the impact of customer empowerment (CE) and environmental corporate social responsibility (Env CSR) on customer re-patronage intention (C-RPI) with the mediating and moderating effects in Pakistan’s four- and five-star hotels.

A deductive approach is followed in which an online survey of 400 hotel customers was conducted using purposive and snowball sampling techniques to understand the practice of C-RPI and UN SDGs.

This study reveals that executing the UN SDGs in the hotel industry eventually boosts CE and Env CSR, further enhancing online customer value cocreation (O-CVCC) resulting in C-RPI. Both CE and Env CSR gain a complimentary/partial mediation by O-CVCC on C-RPI is also reported. Moreover, sensation seeking moderates the relationship between CE and O-CVCC. Yet, customer commitment does not moderate the relationship between O-CVCC and C-RPI.

This study highlights that C-RPI (i.e. SDG 11) enhances when Env CSR is taken care of (i.e. SDG 13), customers are empowered (i.e. SDG 5 and SDG 17) and cocreated online (i.e. SDG 9). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first studies to empirically test the approaches in the hotel industry contributing to SDG 5, 9, 11, 13 and 17.

Los clientes de hoteles son conscientes de las condiciones ambientales deteriorantes y demandan inmersión en línea. Los hoteles carecen de un cambio emocionante en el comportamiento del cliente para la intención de repatronaje aumentada (CRPI) especialmente en países en desarrollo. Este estudio aplica la lógica de servicio dominante del cliente (CDSL) para comprender la esfera de vida de los clientes que contribuyen a algunos de los vitales Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de las Naciones Unidas (ODS de la ONU). En esencia, CDSL comprende el impacto del empoderamiento del cliente (CE) y la RSE ambiental (Env CSR) en C-RPI con efectos de mediación y moderación en hoteles de cuatro y cinco estrellas de Pakistán.

Se utilizó un enfoque deductivo en el que se llevó a cabo una encuesta en línea a 400 clientes de hoteles utilizando técnicas de muestreo intencional y de bola de nieve para comprender la práctica de RPI y los ODS de la ONU.

Este estudio revela que la ejecución de los ODS de la ONU en la industria hotelera finalmente impulsa CE y Env CSR, y mejora aún más O-CVCC resultando en C-RPI. También se informa que tanto CE como Env CSR obtienen una mediación complementaria/parcial por la co-creación de valor del cliente en línea (O-CVCC) en C-RPI. Además, la búsqueda de sensaciones (SS) modera entre CE y O-CVCC. Sin embargo, el compromiso del cliente (CC) no modera entre O-CVCC y C-RPI.

Este estudio destaca que C-RPI (es decir, ODS 11) mejora cuando se cuida Env CSR (es decir, ODS 13), los clientes están empoderados (es decir, ODS 5 y ODS 17) y co-creados en línea (es decir, ODS 9). Este estudio es uno de los primeros estudios en probar empíricamente los enfoques en la industria hotelera que contribuyen a los ODS 5, 9, 11, 13 y 17.

酒店客户对环境恶化的意识日益增强, 并呼吁进行在线沉浸体验。在发展中国家, 尤其需要酒店采取激动人心的客户行为转变措施,以增强客户再次光顾意向（CRPI）。本研究旨在运用客户主导服务逻辑（CDSL）理解客户的生活领域, 同时为联合国关键的可持续发展目标（UN SDGs）做出贡献。在这一框架下, 研究将探讨客户赋权（CE）和环境 CSR（Env CSR）对巴基斯坦四星级和五星级酒店中 CRP I的调节和中介作用。

本研究采用演绎方法, 结合目的性和雪球抽样技术, 对400名酒店客户进行了在线调查, 以深入了解 RPI 以及UN SDGs 的实践情况。

该研究表明, 在酒店业执行 UN SDGs 最终促进了CE 和 Env CSR, 并进一步增强了O-CVCC, 从而导致了C-RPI的提升。同时, CE和Env CSR在 C-RPI 上通过在线客户价值共创（O-CVCC）获得了互补/部分中介。此外, 感知寻求（SS）在CE和O-CVCC之间起到了调节作用。然而, 客户承诺（CC）在O-CVCC和C-RPI之间没有调节作用。

该研究表明, 在酒店业执行 UN SDGs 最终促进了CE 和 Env CSR, 进而进一步增强了O-CVCC, 从而导致 C-RPI的提升。同时, CE 和Env-CSR 在客户再次光顾意向上通过在线客户价值共创 (O-CVCC) 获得了互补或部分中介作用。此外, 感知寻求 (SS) 在CE和 O-CVCC 之间起到了调节作用。然而, 客户承诺(CC)在O-CVCC和C-RPI之间没有发现调节作用。

该研究强调了在 EnvCSR 受到关注时（即SDG 13）, 客户被赋权时（即 SDG 5和SDG 17）, 以及在线共同创造时（即 SDG 9）会增强客户再次光顾意向（即 SDG 11）。这项研究是第一批在实践中测试了酒店业对 SDG 5、9、11、13 和17做出贡献的方法之一。

This study introduces the Digital Maturity Assessment Model (DMAM), a model tailored to assess the digital maturity of SMEs, tracing its development from addressing business challenges to establishing a comparative analysis framework grounded in Resource Dependence Theory (RDT).

DMAM is based on positivist philosophy and objectivist epistemology, supported by Design Science Research (DSR) and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). The methodology involves iterative development, from problem identification to creating a practical solution for assessing SMEs' digital maturity and guiding digitalization efforts.

DMAM offers a clear and specific methodology, distinguishing itself by addressing the unique needs of SMEs, particularly resource-dependent ones. The model’s development fills critical gaps in existing literature and provides a practical artifact for SMEs' digitalization.

DMAM is original in its focus on the specific needs of resource-dependent SMEs, offering actionable recommendations and addressing shortcomings in existing models. It serves as a foundational framework for SMEs' digital transformation, making a significant contribution to the digital maturity assessment literature.

This study aims to measure the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure on divorce for a sample of developed countries for the period (2012-2021).

This paper uses fixed effect and generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation to delve into the impact of eight ICT infrastructure factors on divorce. The analyses are based on data collected from the World Bank Development Indicators.

The fixed effect analysis revealed that an increase in both fixed-telephone subscriptions and population covered by at least a 4G led to an increase in divorce. However, an increase in mobile cellular subscriptions and active mobile broadband subscriptions lead to a decrease in divorce. The results of the GMM estimator showed that fixed broadband internet prices, mobile broadband internet prices, the percentage of the population covered by the 4 G mobile network and fixed-telephone subscriptions had a substantial effect on divorce. While fixed broadband subscriptions, active mobile broadband subscriptions and mobile cellular basket were found to hinder divorce.

The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature by highlighting the impact of ICT on divorce in a sample of developed countries. Furthermore, it helps decision-makers and families to understand the causes of divorce related to ICT infrastructure in these societies, so they can understand this phenomenon and provide proactive policies.

This study used multiple factors to measure ICT infrastructure as well as the GMM estimator to delve into the impact of ICT on divorce.

The United Kingdom (UK) construction sector is transforming with increasing confidence in offsite construction (OSC) solutions following its accrued benefits. To sustain this momentum, exploring viable strategies to promote successful OSC implementation is a top priority. This paper aims to identify and establish interrelationships and logical dependencies of critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing OSC on building projects in the UK.

This study utilised a qualitative research approach. Following a critical review of extant literature, brainstorming and focus group sessions were carried out with OSC experts in the UK construction industry to identify and contextualise CSFs for OSC implementation. Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and matrix impact cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification (MICMAC) were used to analyse and model the interrelationships between the contextualised CSFs.

The study identified eighteen CSFs for implementing OSC on projects in the UK positioned on seven hierarchical levels and clustered into dependent, linkage and independent factors. The top five CSFs established were client commitment, top management support, adequate OSC knowledge and experience, flexible leadership and flexible business models. These were located at the base of the ISM model, possessing the highest driving powers in facilitating the successful implementation of OSC on projects.

This study established a hierarchical interrelationship and the importance of the CSFs influencing the successful implementation of OSC. This would assist OSC clients and project teams in identifying and prioritising particular areas for strategic actions, which offer advantages in pursuing successful OSC project outcomes in the UK. Previous research on OSC implementation in the UK had not examined CSFs' interrelationships.