Franklin Velasco, Omar S. Itani and Paul Cajina
Companies around the world have included ecolabels as a marketing strategy to convince consumers to choose products with lower environmental impact. However, the literature lacks…
Abstract
Purpose
Companies around the world have included ecolabels as a marketing strategy to convince consumers to choose products with lower environmental impact. However, the literature lacks a consensus on the effectiveness of ecolabels in persuading consumers to choose green products. The present meta-analysis addresses this gap by first evaluating the net persuasion effect of using ecolabels and second by investigating the role of cultural orientations, operationalized at the country level, in this effect.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-cultural meta-analysis analyzed data from 26,116 consumers across 18 countries, encompassing 75 papers published between 1995 and 2023. Univariate and meta-regression analyses were utilized.
Findings
The results demonstrate that the presence (vs absence) of ecolabels has a medium positive persuasion effect. Findings show cultural orientations moderate the persuasion effect of ecolabels in that the effect is stronger in countries with high power distance, individualism, masculinity (motivation towards achievement and success) and uncertainty avoidance orientation, which create contingent conditions to ecolabels’ persuasion. In addition, results show other methodological factors that affect ecolabel persuasion. Contributions and implications of the findings are discussed.
Originality/value
This meta-analysis is distinctive for its global scope, including diverse countries and cultures. It addresses a crucial gap in ecolabel persuasion research, providing insights that reconcile discrepancies in existing studies. It offers practical implications for businesses and policymakers while laying the groundwork for future cross-cultural research in this field.
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Nik Mohd Hazrul Nik Hashim, Nor Rahimy Khalid, Suraya Akmar Mokhtaruddin, Abdullah Al Mamun and Mohammed Abdur Razzaque
Researchers have paid little attention to elucidating how customer-perceived innovative apparel attributes are linked to brand reputation and consumer buying behaviors. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
Researchers have paid little attention to elucidating how customer-perceived innovative apparel attributes are linked to brand reputation and consumer buying behaviors. This study intends to bridge that gap by providing empirical evidence on the effects of product novelty, product difference and product inimitability on brand reputation and behavioral intentions in the context of garment purchasing. We also investigate the moderating effects of self-congruity and value consciousness on the attribute‒brand reputation linkages, as well as their immediate influence on the domain variables.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed model was estimated using data from a web-based survey of 299 female apparel customers. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the relationships between variables.
Findings
The results indicate that product novelty, product inimitability, self-congruity and value consciousness significantly influence brand reputation. The results also demonstrate that self-congruity, value consciousness and brand reputation have direct effects on behavioral intention, while self-congruity and value consciousness appear to moderate the relationship between innovative product attributes and brand reputation.
Originality/value
This study is the first to present a conceptual model that systematically encompasses product innovation, brand perceptions and behavioral links in the field of women's clothing. The findings have important implications for both academics and practitioners in the field of fashion marketing.
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Aishah Binti Tamby Omar, Rasidah Arshad and Rosmah Mat Isa
This study aims to examine the relationship between tie strength and poor asnaf student’s normative commitment and its impact on behaviour.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between tie strength and poor asnaf student’s normative commitment and its impact on behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 129 poor asnaf students participated in this study. SMART-PLS 3.2.8 was used to analyse the data.
Findings
The findings show that the tie strength dimension (trust, emotional intensity, mutual confiding and relational exchange) positively relates to poor asnaf student’s normative commitment. Also, the result shows that poor asnaf students’ normative commitment is positively related to recipient behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
This study focuses on poor asnaf students receiving zakat financial education aid.
Practical implications
The findings provide valuable information on the factors that encourage poor asnaf students’ normative commitment. Related parties, such as the zakat institution, could use these findings to plan further action to enhance the poor asnaf student’s normative commitment and behaviour.
Originality/value
The study showed that the social tie strength framework could be used to determine the variables affecting poor asnaf student’s normative commitment and behaviour.
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Ni Zeng, Daniella Ryding, Gianpaolo Vignali and Eleonora Pantano
Few studies have examined technology-enhanced atmospheres for strengthening customer experience and brand engagement in physical store settings. This study builds on the social…
Abstract
Purpose
Few studies have examined technology-enhanced atmospheres for strengthening customer experience and brand engagement in physical store settings. This study builds on the social presence theory to test for the first time the moderating effects of virtual social presence on customer responses, through AR adoption in-store. Our study aims to understand the impact of technology-enhanced in-store atmospherics (TEISAs) with emphasis on AR elements and virtual social presence on customer experience and engagement behaviours (CEBs) in luxury settings.
Design/methodology/approach
Hypotheses are developed and a survey using 566 responses were collected using Qualtrics. T-tests, two-way ANOVA and structural equation modelling were used for analysis of CEBs. Moreover, using PLS-SEM, we test whether virtual social presence moderates this relationship in a cross-country context; Britain and China, two of the largest economies for luxury growth.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that TEISAs have a positive impact on emotion and perceived value, with virtual social presence moderating this relationship. The cross-cultural comparison results show that the impact of TEISAs on emotion and perceived value is stronger for British than for Chinese millennials.
Originality/value
Our model is the first to incorporate technology into various store atmospherics, to employ virtual social presence as a new moderator, and to provide empirical evidence on the effects of AR on customer experience and CEBs in the real-time luxury retail environment. This study is also the first to consider virtual social presence on social media as a moderating variable.
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Aayushi Pandey, Shivani Dhand, Mahender Singh Kaswan, Priyanka Chhibber, Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes and Mehnaz Manzoor
To investigate the transformative impact of soft skills on the career pathways of experts and students in the engineering domain.
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the transformative impact of soft skills on the career pathways of experts and students in the engineering domain.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a comprehensive approach, combining a review of existing literature with primary data to analyse quantitative and qualitative empirical investigations. Data from 40 participants, who are engineering students and professionals, is analysed using descriptive statistics and advanced software tools like ATLAS.ti and Jamovi.
Findings
The findings underscore the indispensable nature of soft skills in elevating employability, emphasising the urgent need for mandatory soft skills education for engineering students and professionals. The research identifies the top five soft skills engineers need: communication, teamwork, time management, leadership and problem-solving.
Practical implications
The research contributes to understanding soft skills’ pivotal role in engineering professions, providing valuable insights for professionals and organisations aiming to enhance performance and competitiveness in the industry. The study advocates for a holistic approach that recognises the symbiotic relationship between technical proficiency and soft skills in shaping the success of engineering graduates in the 21st-century workforce.
Originality/value
The study recognises the current job market demands and asserts that engineers must combine technical expertise with soft skills to succeed in the technology-driven yet people-centric engineering profession.
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Norazha Paiman and Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi
This research aims to build on the pre-existing corpus of literature through the integration of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and usage habit to more accurately capture…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to build on the pre-existing corpus of literature through the integration of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and usage habit to more accurately capture the determinants associated with social media addiction among university students. This study seeks to delineate how usage habit and TAM may be used as predictors for addiction potential, as well as provide greater insight into current trends in social media usage across this population demographic.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional research design was employed to investigate the determinants of social media addiction among university students in Malaysia at the onset of their tertiary education. A self-administered survey, adapted from prior studies, was administered to a sample of 217 respondents. The hypotheses on social media addiction were subsequently tested using a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach.
Findings
Usage habit was found to be a direct and strong predictor of this type of addiction, as well as all TAM variables considered in the research. Additionally, by integrating TAM with usage habit, the study revealed a comprehensive and multi-faceted understanding of social media addiction, providing an important insight into its complexity in the Malaysian context. Although several other factors have been identified as potential contributors to social media reliance and addictive behavior, it appears that usage habit is paramount in driving these addictive tendencies among university students.
Research limitations/implications
This expanded model holds significant implications for the development of interventions and policies that aim to mitigate the adverse effects of social media addiction on students' educational and psychological well-being. The study illustrates the applicability of the TAM in examining addictive behaviors within emerging contexts such as the Malaysian higher education sector, thus contributing to the extant literature on the subject.
Practical implications
The integrated TAM and habit model is an effective predictor of social media addiction among young adults in developing countries like Malaysia. This highlights the importance of actively monitoring and controlling users' interactions with technology and media platforms, while promoting responsible usage habits. Educators can use these findings to create tailored educational programs to educate students on how to use technology responsibly and reduce their risk of becoming addicted to social media.
Originality/value
This study provides a unique perspective on social media addiction among university students. The combination of TAM and usage habit has the potential to shed significant light on how variables such as perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) may be associated with addictive behaviors. Additionally, by considering usage habit as an explanatory factor, this research offers a novel approach to understanding how addictions form over time.
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Abror Abror, Dina Patrisia, Yunita Engriani, Muhammad Al Hafizh, Vanessa Gaffar, Qoriah Qoriah, Nurman Achmad, Urwatul Wusqa and Muhammad Syukri Abdullah
This study aims to examine the antecedents of tourist citizenship behavior (TCB). It also investigates the role of digital halal literacy (DHL) and religiosity in enhancing TCB.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the antecedents of tourist citizenship behavior (TCB). It also investigates the role of digital halal literacy (DHL) and religiosity in enhancing TCB.
Design/methodology/approach
This quantitative research used survey with questionnaire as the data collection methods. The samples of this study were 400 tourists who visited tourist destinations in five cities/municipals in West Sumatra Indonesia. This research used partial least square structural equation model as the data analysis tools.
Findings
This study found that satisfaction, trust and DHL are significant antecedents of TCB. In addition, satisfaction had a direct impact on TCB and influenced TCB through trust as a mediator. This study also found that religiosity had a direct influence on DHL, satisfaction and trust.
Practical implications
The findings will provide insights to tourist destination managers as well as the government on how to motivate tourists to participate in the development of Halal tourism in Indonesia. The tourists should gain sufficient knowledge or literacy about Halal, and especially in the digital context. Therefore, this will lead to their satisfaction, trust and willingness to participate in tourism development such as providing assistance to other tourists in the destinations.
Originality/value
This research has identified a new variable, DHL, which has not been addressed previously. This research has extended social exchange theory by establishing a relationship between TCB and DHL that has also not been previously explored. In addition, this study has investigated several relationships between DHL, satisfaction, trust and TCB and has shed new insights in the context of Halal tourism. This study has also provided a more comprehensive model of the relationship between DHL, satisfaction, trust and citizenship behavior specifically in Halal tourism research.
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Caroline S.L. Tan and Satoshi Ota
In this study, the authors developed a conceptual model to investigate sustainable consumption behavior, specifically the intention to use reusable bags, and its relationship with…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, the authors developed a conceptual model to investigate sustainable consumption behavior, specifically the intention to use reusable bags, and its relationship with two crucial factors influencing the use of single-use plastic bags: cost savings and convenience. This study also aims to explore the mediating roles of environmental concern, guilt and self-efficacy.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative study using online survey involving 421 respondents was conducted, and data analysis performed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results indicate that self-efficacy influenced environmental concern and sustainable consumption, while perceived savings did not. Perceived convenience significantly influenced sustainable consumption behavior. Environmental concern had indirect effects on the relationships between perceived savings, perceived convenience and sustainable consumption behavior, whereas guilt did not moderate the relationship between environmental concern and sustainable consumption behavior.
Originality/value
The main contribution lies in the insights for promoting the sustainable use of reusable shopping bags, benefiting both theoretical understanding and practical applications in efforts to encourage sustainable consumption behavior.
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Abdullah Kaid Al-Swidi, Mohammed A. Al-Hakimi and Hamood Mohammed Al-Hattami
This study aims to explore the unique and synergistic effects of green human resource management (GHRM) and corporate environmental ethics (CEE) on the environmental performance…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the unique and synergistic effects of green human resource management (GHRM) and corporate environmental ethics (CEE) on the environmental performance (EP) of manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Yemen, a less developed country (LDC).
Design/methodology/approach
Through a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 262 manufacturing SMEs in Yemen and analyzed using “hierarchical regression analysis” via PROCESS Macro.
Findings
The empirical results showed that GHRM and CEE positively affect EP and, more importantly, that CEE and GHRM have a synergistic effect on EP.
Research limitations/implications
This study makes a theoretical contribution by integrating GHRM, CEE and EP into a single framework, taking into account the perspectives of the resource-based view and the ethical theory of organizing. The results corroborate the unique and synergistic effects of GHRM and CEE on EP of SMEs in the manufacturing sector.
Practical implications
The results of this study offer valuable insights for SME managers/decision-makers, who are anticipated to become more interested in integrating environmental ethics into their companies. This has implications that with the consideration of CEE, SMEs can benefit from GHRM practices to improve their EP.
Social implications
The study highlights the positive economic and social impact of SMEs adopting eco-friendly practices like GRHM. In today’s economy, it is not sufficient to simply strive for economic growth. It is possible for SMEs to achieve well-rounded performance by implementing the recommended framework that emphasizes the importance of social and environmental well-being.
Originality/value
This study advances the existing work on the impact of GHRM on EP by demonstrating the crucial role of CEE in predicting EP of manufacturing SMEs in LDCs like Yemen. Previous research on GHRM has mainly been conducted on SMEs in developed nations, which may not be entirely applicable to LDCs. It is crucial to understand this aspect in the context of LDCs so that SMEs can adopt environmental practices effectively in the future: how SMEs conserve the environment through their environmental practices.