Search results

Transparency is one of the finest characteristics of blockchain technology. As blockchain’s technical enablers are traceable and irreversible, transparency allows for more confidence in the system. This study aims to apply and extend the theoretical model of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) by empirically investigating the factors (performance expectancy, price value, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, habit, social influence and effort expectancy) that influence users’ perceived transparency of blockchain-as-a-service for e-voting and its effect on adoption intention; to investigate the mediating effect of perceived blockchain transparency on the relationship between UTAUT2 antecedents and intention to use blockchain-based e-voting technology; and to investigate Generations Z and Y’s perceptions of how blockchain technology can be implemented to the current e-voting system.

The authors primarily used the MTurk crowdsourcing platform to host their online survey and collected 251 valid responses from their targeted participants, which the authors analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0.

The findings revealed that users’ perceived expectancy, hedonic motivation, facilitating conditions, habit and price value positively influence the perceived transparency of blockchain-as-a-service for e-voting. This, in turn, positively influences adoption intention. In addition, users’ perceived transparency positively mediates the relationship between UTAUT2 factors (perceived expectancy, hedonic motivation, facilitating conditions, habit and price value) and the adoption intention of blockchain-based e-voting.

By empirically investigating the factors that enhance users’ perceived transparency of blockchain-as-a-service for e-voting, this study contributes to the UTAUT2 model literature. It also investigates the impact of this perceived transparency on the adoption intention and illustrates its mediating role in the UTAUT2 model through a segmentation approach. Finally, the authors address the significant implications of the findings, including how their research contributes to the transparency literature by emphasizing the significance of transparency in blockchain technology.

This study aims to investigate the influence of requirement engineering (RE) on project performance (PP) in the context of NEOM* in Saudi Arabia. The study also aims to examine the relationship between three components of RE, evolving market needs (ECN), market changes (MC) and technological advancements (TA), on PP, through the mediating influence of effective communication (EC), change readiness (CR) and stakeholder engagement (SE). Further, the study aims to examine the moderating effect of team cohesion (TC) on the RE–PP relationships.

A research framework is developed by drawing on the resource-based theory and with the support of empirical evidence and rational arguments to propose a set of hypotheses relating to the constructs in the framework. The hypotheses are tested through survey data collected from individual employees working on different projects across NEOM. A total of 336 useable responses were collected that were analyzed through covariance-based structural equation modeling using AMOS v.28.

The results show although ECN and TA both have a positive impact on PP, MC had no significant relationship with PP. In terms of the mediation hypotheses, EC, CR and SE all partially mediate the relationships between ECN and TA with PP. However, there was no mediating effect in the relationship between MC and PP. Moreover, EC, CR and SE themselves have a significant positive influence on PP. Finally, TC proved to be a significant moderator between ECN and PP and TA and PP, but not in the case of MC and PP.

This study makes three novel contributions. First, most prior empirical studies examined the overall impact of RE on PP; however, the current study provides a more nuanced insight into the relationships between the three components of RE (i.e. ECN, MC and TA) and PP. Second, the mediating roles of EC, CR and SE between components of RE and PP present a finer-grained understanding of how project resources are linked to project success goals through features of the project team. Third, moderating influence of TC with regard to a higher possibility of success for projects are highlighted through this discovery.

The present study aims to examine the impact of social media marketing activities (SMMAs) on the adoption of food waste reduction behavior among Generation Z consumers within the restaurant service industry in Pakistan. The study focuses on the impact of social media advertisements and investigates the mediating influence of waste reduction intentions on actual behavior. This underscores the significance of contextual and emotional variables in comprehending consumer behaviors.

The study used a cross-sectional research methodology to examine the impact of SMMAs on the behavior of Generation Z consumers in Pakistan’s food service industry with regard to reducing food waste. A study was conducted to investigate the restaurant purchasing behaviors of a sample consisting of 449 individuals belonging to the millennial generation, often known as Generation Z.

The majority of variables related to SMMA, except for interactivity and personalization, were shown to have a positive impact on individuals’ intents to reduce food waste. The study observed a significant relationship between consumers’ intentions to decrease waste and their actual behavior in waste reduction. Furthermore, this relationship was shown to be influenced by the mediating role of waste reduction intention.

Examining how social media affects Pakistani Generation Z’s efforts to reduce food waste is what makes this study distinctive. According to the research, the majority of social media factors positively influence intentions to reduce waste. The relationship between intentions and actual behavior, which highlights the impact of social media campaigns and emotional aspects in promoting waste reduction, is one of the important conclusions.

India’s historical fiscal performance has featured elevated deficit levels. Driven by the imperative need for fiscal stimulus measures in response to the crisis, efforts toward fiscal consolidation from 2003 to 2008 were reversed in 2008–2009 due to the financial crisis. These stimulus actions are believed to have wielded a notable influence on inflation dynamics. Presumably, a high inflation rate hinders growth and inflicts severe welfare costs. Accordingly, the principal objective of this paper is to scrutinise the threshold effects of fiscal deficit on inflation within the context of the Indian economy.

We employed the Smooth Transition Autoregressive (STAR) Model, a robust tool for capturing non-linear relationships, to discern the specific threshold level of fiscal deficit. Our analysis encompasses annual data spanning from 1971 to 2020. Additionally, we have leveraged the Toda-Yamamoto causality test to establish the existence and direction of a causal connection between fiscal deficit and inflation in the Indian economy.

Our analysis pinpointed a critical threshold level of 3.40% for fiscal deficit, a value beyond which inflation dynamics in India undergo a marked transition, signifying the presence of significant non-linear effects. Moreover, the results derived from the Toda-Yamamoto causality test offer substantiating evidence of a causal relationship originating from the fiscal deficit and leading to inflation within the Indian economic framework.

The findings of our study carry significant implications, particularly for the formulation and execution of both fiscal and monetary policies. Understanding the threshold effects of fiscal deficit on inflation in India provides policymakers with valuable insights into achieving a harmonious balance between these two critical economic variables.

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to empirically investigate threshold effects of fiscal deficit on inflation in India from a non-linear perspective using the Smooth Transition Autoregression (STAR) model.

This study examines the direct influence of team-member exchange (TMX) on team innovative work behavior (IWB) and the mediating roles of team knowledge sharing and team job crafting.

To test our research model, we collected multilevel, multisource, and multi-wave data from 284 employees and 74 teams in Pakistan.

TMX positively relates to team IWB directly and indirectly via serial mediation of team knowledge sharing and team job crafting.

This is the first study to investigate how TMX promotes team IWB through team knowledge sharing and team job crafting.

The purpose is to understand the fundamental mechanism of the consumer decision-making process and how perceived financial risk of search and experience goods influences electronic word-of-mouth adoption (e-WOMA) on social networking sites (SNSs), which will lead to purchase intention.

Drawing on information processing theory, the study conceptualizes a moderated mediation model to investigate the underlying influence of perceived financial risk and online social ties on e-WOMA and the subsequent effect on online purchase intention. Survey data from 275 individuals were analyzed through statistical tools using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

The results revealed that e-WOMA mediates the effect of perceived financial risk of search and experience goods on online purchase intention. Strength of online social ties on SNSs positively moderates the electric word of mouth adoption for both the experience and search goods.

The limitation of this study was about the researcher's restrictions related to the length of the survey. Moreover, causal explanations can't be deduced as this is a cross-sectional study.

This research offers insight into the consumers that allow marketers to dive into the target market. Marketers should focus on social ties importance while selling products/services of markets online.

The study is novel in the context of an emerging economy to educate marketers on the product categorization of search goods and experience goods based on financial risk.

The study aims to identify the preferred factors among economic, social and governance (ESG) that influence the decisions of Pakistani retail investors.

The researchers collected the required responses through self-administrative comparison questionnaires from a sample of 512 individual investors of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). To test the study’s hypothesis, the researcher applied a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

The findings indicate that the most crucial dimension for an individual investor in Pakistan when making investment decision is environmental criteria. However, investors prioritize governance second and social factors third, according to fuzzy AHP estimations.

The findings are applicable and generalizable to the financial equity market of Pakistan for an individual investors only. Future research may explore ESG priority among institutional investors.

The study enhances the theory of responsible investment by incorporating the ESG dimensions that influence individual investors’ decisions in Pakistan. It holds practical implications for individual investors, investment/financial advisors, companies, regulatory authorities, stockbrokers, investment firms and society.

The study contributes to extending the theory of socially responsible investment and fills a research gap in the domain of ESG dimensions as a priority for investment decisions by individual investors in Pakistan.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-10-2023-0791

This study aims to examine the impact of brand ethical behavior, specifically perceived brand ethicality, on corporate brand legitimacy in the context of halal cosmetics, by considering perceived brand integrity as a mediating factor.

The study used a quantitative cross-sectional research design to gather data from 341 fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in Tanzania. The data was analyzed by using AMOS 21, using structural equation modeling techniques.

The findings indicated that perceived brand ethicality has a significant influence on corporate brand legitimacy through the mediation of perceived brand integrity.

The study emphasizes the significance of incorporating and clarifying Islamic laws as integral components of marketing strategies aimed at attracting conscientious customers of halal products. It recommends defining Islamic laws as societal values and norms and integrating them into various brand practices to showcase professionalism, ultimately fostering social acceptance and approval. The study presents valuable practical implications for managers and marketers of FMCG, assisting them in formulating policies and strategies that reflect societal values and norms.

This study represents a novel endeavor that explores the interplay between perceived brand ethicality, corporate brand legitimacy and perceived brand integrity in the context of halal products. It extends theoretical understanding by shedding light on the significance of Islamic laws as a foundation for establishing a competitive advantage. By offering and designing ethical practices, businesses can enhance their legitimacy among halal consumers, particularly in the domain of halal cosmetics.

Drawing on the equity theory, this study examines the influence of ethical leadership on counterproductive work behaviors. Furthermore, it tests the mediating influences of organizational citizenship behavior and psychological entitlement on the relationship between ethical leadership and counterproductive work behavior.

The study used a survey questionnaire employing a random sampling technique to collect the data from hotels and restaurants. Data were collected from 329 supervisors and employees working in different hotels and restaurants in Karachi, Pakistan. For the purpose of analysis and to predict hypothesized relationships, the study used PLS-SEM techniques.

The study’s results indicated support for all hypothesized relationships. We found a negative relationship between ethical leadership and counterproductive work behavior. The findings also suggest that organizational citizenship behavior positively mediates between ethical leadership and counterproductive work behavior, which was unexpected. Furthermore, the findings also reveal that psychological entitlement positively mediates between ethical leadership and counterproductive work behavior.

The study examines the direct relationship between ethical leadership and counterproductive work behaviors and through the lens of organizational citizenship behavior and psychological entitlement. The relationships were founded on the theoretical underpinning of equity theory.

This study aims to investigate and understand the purchasing intentions and behaviors of Indian Muslim consumers toward halal products. Specifically, it seeks to explore how consumer awareness, perceptions and attitudes influence the purchasing intentions of Indian Muslim consumers regarding halal items.

Data were collected via a self-questionnaire from consumers of halal products in India, with a sample of 550 consumers. This study used a structural equation model technique to analyze these data.

The descriptive analysis demonstrated high religious awareness, positive perceptions, favorable attitudes, strong intentions to purchase and corresponding buying behavior among respondents. Structural equation modeling validated the proposed model, with goodness-of-fit indices falling within acceptable ranges. Significant relationships were found between religious awareness, attitude and purchase intention. There was no apparent connection between perception and purchase intention.

The study contributes insights for businesses and policymakers striving to accommodate distinct requirements and inclinations of Muslim consumers in India, emphasizing the importance of targeted marketing and educational initiatives.

This study may be the first to examine consumers’ purchasing habits for halal products in India’s retail market. The study’s conclusions are significant for Islamic and halal product marketing.