Search results

To address the absence of Lean in transportation logistics in the digital era, this study aims to investigate the application of Lean transportation (LT) tools to reduce waste and facilitate the digital transformation of dedicated road transportation in the offshore industry.

The study adopts action research with a multimethod approach, including a scoping review, focus groups (FG) and participant observation. The research is conducted within the offshore supply chain of a major oil and gas company.

Implementing LT’s continuous improvement tools, particularly value stream mapping (VSM), reduces offshore transportation waste and provides empirical evidence about the intersection of Lean and digital technologies. Applying techniques drawn from organisational learning theory (OLT), stakeholders involved in VSM mapping and FGs engage in problem-solving and develop action plans, driving digital transformation. Waste reduction in loading and unloading stages leads to control actions, automation and process improvements, significantly reducing downtime. This results in an annual monetary gain of US$1.3m. The study also identifies waste related to human effort and underutilised digital resources.

This study contributes to theory and practice by using action research and LT techniques in a real intervention case. From the lens of OLT, it highlights the potential of LT tools for digital transformation and demonstrates the convergence of waste reduction through Lean and Industry 4.0 technologies in the offshore supply chain. Practical outputs, including a benchmarking questionnaire and a plan-do-check-act cycle, are provided for other companies in the same industry segment.

A significant increase in the number of private sector banks has intensified the level of competition in the Indian banking industry (IBI). This increase in the number of banks has a considerable impact on the existing players, which calls for prioritizing customer satisfaction (CS) and enhancing bank reputation (BR). Our study seeks to investigate the enablers of CS and BR in the IBI.

The study adopted a cross-sectional design for gathering responses from retail bank customers across the selected banks through a structured questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to evaluate direct and indirect linkages among the identified constructs by examining mediating and moderating effects.

The study puts forward crucial antecedents of CS and BR. The findings exhibit that perceived trust (PT) and relationship commitment (RC) magnify CS and BR, respectively, while CS amplifies repurchase intention (RI). The study advances that BR and CS partially mediate between the underlying constructs. In addition, fairness and risk exhibit moderating effects between CS and customer repurchase intention (CRI) and BR and CRI.

The study illustrates the crucial enablers of BR, CS and CRI that may assist banking professionals in enriching customer experience and holding on to their customers.

There is a shortage of research on RC, service innovation (SI) and BR in the IBI. Accordingly, our study builds on the prior studies by considering these constructs using a comprehensive conceptual framework by extending the application of signaling theory (ST) in the banking domain and scrutinizing the dual moderating effects of fairness and risk.

This paper explores how the existence of a second-hand market can affect remanufacturing decisions for durable goods in the presence of patent protection.

The authors construct a dynamic decision model between a durable goods original manufacturer and a durable goods remanufacturer considering the characteristics of the multi-cycle uses of new durable goods and remanufactured durable goods.

The results show that (1) the second-hand market compresses the cost space of a durable goods original manufacturer and a remanufacturer; (2) when the second-hand market exists, the optimal pricing of new durable goods is reduced, the optimal pricing of remanufactured durable goods is increased and the patent cost of each unit of durable goods increases and (3) the presence of the second-hand market will increase the original manufacturer's and remanufacturer's profits.

The research conclusion has certain reference value for the production strategy selection of each enterprise in the process of patented product remanufacturing and the government's fiscal policy formulation at each stage of the remanufacturing industry's development.

By extending corporate social responsibility research to a megaproject context, the purpose of this study is to examine the effect of megaproject external social responsibility (SR) on community acceptance through the mediating role of public trust.

Drawing from legitimacy theory as well as corporate social responsibility literature, this study developed hypotheses linking the constructs of SR, (public) trust and community acceptance of a megaproject. Thereby, a household survey questionnaire was administered to collect data from randomly selected 328 households in the local community who reside near the construction site of a mega hydropower project in Ethiopia. Guided by structural equation modelling, Smart Partial Least Squares4 (SmartPLS4) was utilized to analyze the data.

The empirical findings show that community-targeted SR has a significant positive effect on community acceptance of a megaproject, whereas the direct effect of natural environment-targeted SR on community acceptance was found to be non-significant. More importantly, the study reveals that trust in the contractor of the megaproject mediates the relationships between a megaproject SR (fully in the case of the natural environment and partially for community-targeted responsibility) and community acceptance.

The present study contributes to legitimacy theory by illustrating the consequences of megaproject external SR in terms of trust and community acceptance, an issue which has not received adequate attention in the project management literature.

The study aims to present a systematic literature review (SLR) to understand the current status of research on social media usage among the bottom of the pyramid (BOP). The purpose of this study is to identify the research gaps in this domain and review future research agendas by using theory, context, characteristics and methods [TCCM] framework.

An SLR, keywords co-occurrence and TCCM analysis were used to analyse and synthesize insights from 44 studies gained from Web of Science and Scopus databases.

The findings suggest that the USA and India are popular contexts for studying BOP. The BOP population uses social media to gain utilitarian, hedonic and social values. Further, social media can help BOP explore “entrepreneurship” opportunities, value co-creation and bring innovations.

This study expands the intellectual boundaries of social media at BOP and suggests multidisciplinary research. Additionally, adopting novel theoretical lenses helped determine social media's impact on BOP.

The study aims to identify a model of commercializing entrepreneurial ideas in information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge-based companies.

A mixed method has been used in the research. The participants of the qualitative part were 15 key informants selected by sampling method purposefully and theoretically, while a sample of 205 experts was randomly chosen for the quantitative part. Data collection was completed through a semistructured interview in the qualitative part and by a researcher-made questionnaire in the quantitative part. The reliability of the research was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha. The validity of the qualitative and quantitative parts was approved, respectively, by the criteria of Corbin and Strauss (2008) and by the content validity. Data analysis was done in the qualitative part through open, axial and selective coding, while in the quantitative part through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS).

The commercialization model of ICT entrepreneurial ideas was depicted by the paradigmatic version of Corbin and Strauss (2008). The model has been consisted of six sectors as follows: causal conditions (including stimuli of science and technology parks, interests and motivation of managers of ICT knowledge-based company and environmental stimuli), contextual conditions (including skills and abilities of managers of ICT knowledge-based company, status of ICT knowledge-based company and enabling and facilitating legal framework), intervening conditions (including the complex nature of the ICT industry, science and technology parks’ support of companies, facilities and equipment for commercialization of ICT entrepreneurial ideas and economic system stability), strategies (including marketing research, planning and feasibility study of ICT entrepreneurial idea, design and production of ICT product and release and supply of ICT product), consequences (successful commercialization of ICT entrepreneurial ideas in the post-COVID-19 era) and the central phenomenon (ICT entrepreneurial ideas: commercialization in the post-COVID-19 era). Then, the main factors were confirmed through PLS-SEM and ANFIS. Among the factors, interests and motivation of managers of ICT knowledge-based companies, status of ICT knowledge-based companies, facilities and equipment for commercialization of ICT entrepreneurial ideas and release and supply of ICT products were identified as the most influential factors.

The model can help solve the challenges of managers and policymakers to commercialize ICT entrepreneurial ideas. Therefore, innovative production will increase, value will be created for the beneficiaries and economic, social and political growth will occur in the post-Corona era.

Commercialization of ICT entrepreneurial ideas has the potential to affect many aspects of economic and societal activities in the society such as GDP growth, employment, productivity, poverty alleviation, quality of life and education.

The research includes innovation in presenting a multidimensional commercialization model based on an entrepreneurial perspective in the special field of ICT with a mixed approach including grounded theory, PLS-SEM and ANFIS in ICT knowledge-based companies. But the most important innovation of the study is related to the findings. The main categories, subcategories and concepts of the research have been presented in the form of a theory entitled “ICT entrepreneurial ideas: commercialization in the post-COVID-19 era.”

This study examines and estimates the relationship among identified factors or determinants for the adoption of water ionizers by customers.

To this end, the questionnaire is prepared to have the preferences of customers based on the factors or enablers identified for the analysis of customers' perceptions toward the adoption of water ionizers. Recipients are identified to collect their preferences for the factors responsible for the adoption. The convenience sampling method is used in administering the questionnaire for the study. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique is used to construct the model for defining the relationship between measured and latent variables using the lavaan, haven, psych and semPlot libraries in R software.

The study reveals that product features, which include pH value, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and micro-clustering (MC), are influenced by environmental sustainability (ES), and as a result, product features and product outcomes (brand value (BV), customer recommendation (CR) and perceived usefulness (PU)) together influence the adoption of water ionizers by customers.

Water ionizers have appeared as consumer electronic appliances designed to alter the pH and ORP of water through an electrolysis process. There are proven benefits to improved water quality across different pHs for its health benefits (HB) and other commercial and household uses. The study recommends that potential HB perceived through water ionizers and product features, which are supported by ES, and helps customers decide on the adoption of water ionizers.

The study supports comprehending the relationships between consumer behavior, sustainable practices and innovative technologies like water ionizers as society places a greater emphasis on environmentally conscious living and sustainable living. This study aims to clarify the elements affecting the adoption and perception of water ionizers from a sustainability perspective through an extensive assessment of the literature and empirical analysis.

The concept of distributed leadership (DL) has been widely advocated within higher education (HE). Yet, there have been few empirical investigations and little theory development outside Western contexts to date. This study presents a unique conceptualisation of DL and tests it empirically in India.

This study tests a moderated-mediation model by exploring the antecedents and consequences of DL in HE. Standardised questionnaires were drawn from literature and completed by a sample of 269 respondents from six top-ranked (elite) Indian higher education institutions (HEIs). Structural equation modelling (SEM) and multi-group analysis techniques were used to analyse the data.

Results demonstrated that empowering power structure (EPS) is positively related to DL, whilst participation in decision-making (PDM) strengthened this relationship. Further, it is also noted that DL mediates the relationship between EPS and behavioural outcomes of employee voice and silence.

The findings suggest that a DL approach can be effective at enhancing employee voice and reducing employee silence within HEIs in (and perhaps beyond) India. The research also suggests that where institutions implement EPS alongside opportunities for PDM, this can help foster and sustain DL.

By exploring antecedents (EPS and PDM) and consequences (voice and silence), this paper presents a novel approach to studying DL. The focus on Indian HE offers a more nuanced empirical understanding of DL in a non-Western context.

The study’s purpose is to contribute to the supply risk management literature by examining its implications in Tanzania, specifically in the timely completion of force account construction projects in Local Government Authorities (LGAs).

A cross-sectional survey design was employed to gather data from 318 respondents in primary schools within the Dodoma region. A covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) structural equation modelling was employed to examine the relationship of the variables.

The study’s findings underscore the crucial role of supply risk management, including multi-sourcing, effective supplier selection, post-qualification of suppliers, and effective communication with suppliers in the timely completion of FA construction projects. Notably, effective supplier selection emerges as the most influential factor, significantly contributing to the timely completion of these projects.

The study focused on LGAs in Tanzania. It is important to exercise caution when making broad generalizations about the findings. Also, the study was based on a cross sectional survey design; future research could consider a longitudinal design approach.

This study offers practical insights for procurement practitioners and members of the Force Account committee in the public sector, offering guidance on how to improve the management of supply risks and, consequently, enhance the timely completion of construction projects.

This study stands out in the literature by examining the implications of supply risk management on the timely completion of force account construction projects in Tanzania. It significantly enriches the existing knowledge of supply risk management, particularly in the context of effective supplier selection in public procurement. These insights are of great value to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the field.

In recent years, instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp have gained substantial popularity in both academic and practical domains. However, despite this growth, there is a lack of a comprehensive overview of the literature in this field. The primary purpose of this study is to bridge this gap by analyzing a substantial dataset of 12,947 articles retrieved from the Dimensions.ai, database spanning from 2011 to March 2023.

To achieve the authors' objective, the authors employ bibliometric analysis techniques. The authors delve into various bibliometric networks, including citation networks, co-citation networks, collaboration networks, keywords and bibliographic couplings. These methods allow for the uncovering of the social and conceptual structures within the academic discourse surrounding WhatsApp.

The authors' analysis reveals several significant findings. Firstly, the authors observe a remarkable and continuous growth in the number of academic studies dedicated to WhatsApp over time. Notably, two prevalent themes emerge: the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the role of WhatsApp in the realm of social media. Furthermore, the authors' study highlights diverse applications of WhatsApp, including its utilization in education and learning, as a communication tool, in medical education, cyberpsychology, security, psychology and behavioral learning.

This paper contributes to the field by offering a comprehensive overview of the scholarly research landscape related to WhatsApp. The findings not only illuminate the burgeoning interest in WhatsApp among researchers but also provide insights into the diverse domains where WhatsApp is making an impact. The analysis of bibliometric networks offers a unique perspective on the social and conceptual structures within this field, shedding light on emerging trends and influential research. This study thus serves as a valuable resource for scholars, practitioners and policymakers seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of WhatsApp research. The study will also be useful for researchers interested in conducting bibliometric analysis using Dimensions.ai, a free database.