This study aims to explore the dynamic interplay between consumer innovativeness and willingness to pay a green premium (WPGP), moderated by the information frames of social…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the dynamic interplay between consumer innovativeness and willingness to pay a green premium (WPGP), moderated by the information frames of social norms. Using a cybernetic framework, we examine how consumer traits and the presentation of social norms (including descriptive and injunctive norms) influence green consumption.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducts a between-subjects survey experiment and collects a sample from 535 Chinese consumers to examine the hypothesis.
Findings
Our findings reveal that different dimensions of consumer innovativeness – hedonic, social, functional and cognitive – affect WPGP in varied ways. Importantly, the effect of functionally motivated consumer innovativeness (fMCI) is significantly moderated by how social norms are framed. We also find that negatively framed norms about the number of people do not consume green products and consequences of not engaging in green behaviours are generally more effective than positively framed norms in influencing WPGP, though the effect is slight.
Originality/value
The study employs a comprehensive experimental design with a Chinese sample to test these relationships, contributing novel insights into the marketing strategies and policy formulations necessary to enhance green consumption. By integrating theories of normative social behaviour and bounded rationality, our research not only deepens the understanding of consumer behaviour in environmental contexts but also offers practical implications for fostering more sustainable consumption patterns.
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Edem Emerald Sabah Welbeck and Emmanuel Amemeotia Larbi
This study aims to assess the impact of sustainability consciousness, altruism and peer influence on sustainable consumption behaviour of young adults.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess the impact of sustainability consciousness, altruism and peer influence on sustainable consumption behaviour of young adults.
Design/methodology/approach
Structured questionnaires were administered to 452 undergraduate students attending public universities in the southern part of Ghana. Partial least square structural equation modelling was used to test and analyse the hypothesized relationships.
Findings
Findings from this study indicate that sustainability consciousness and altruism significantly influence sustainable consumption. The respondents also suggest that their association with peers does not significantly affect sustainable consumption. Finally, the outcome of the analysis revealed that altruism partially mediates the nexus between sustainability consciousness and sustainable consumption.
Originality/value
The research directs attention to how the behaviour of undergraduate students who are sympathetic to the environment may influence their consumption behaviours. This study also demonstrates that sustainability awareness and knowledge by individuals play a vital role in shaping consumption behaviour, which may ultimately preserve resources for future generations.
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Manoj Kumar Paras, Rudrajeet Pal and Daniel Ekwall
The process of redesigning is one of the essential steps in upcycling, which comprises ideation, reconstruction and fitting. This paper aims to study the best practice of…
Abstract
Purpose
The process of redesigning is one of the essential steps in upcycling, which comprises ideation, reconstruction and fitting. This paper aims to study the best practice of upcycling in the clothing industry. This study is an attempt to standardise upcycling/redesign process.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory approach was adopted to perform the research. This study draws on the multiple organisations involved in the upcycling of clothes. The organisations chosen for this study are located in Sweden and Romania using the snowball technique. Semi-structured interviews, direct and participatory observation approaches were used to collect information. The collected data are systematically analysed using NVivo 10 software.
Findings
This paper provides empirical insights into the diverse practices of upcycling. Process, product and demand-based were three fundamental approaches to performing the redesigning process. The fabric quality and durability, variations in size, colour and pattern, skills and efforts required in the extraction of parts and environmental consciousness and awareness were the main factors influencing upcycling process.
Research limitations/implications
The use of the European case may miss best practices from the other region. This study may help scholars to understand the method of upcycling. A practitioner of upcycling can use the findings to improve and standardise the existing process. This research is beneficial for society, as this leads to the reduction of textile wastage.
Originality/value
This paper conceptualises some of the best practices of clothes redesign. This provides a good insight for the organisation for the improvement in the redesign business.
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Clarissa F. Rocha, Carlos Quandt, Fernando Deschamps and Giovani Cruzara
This study identified the key factors that can be used to assess manufacturers' readiness for DT.
Abstract
Purpose
This study identified the key factors that can be used to assess manufacturers' readiness for DT.
Design/methodology/approach
Non-participating observations and semi-structured interviews were applied to five large manufacturers in Brazil and four in the UK, using content analysis.
Findings
The paper (1) identifies and discusses the aspects that companies need to consider for digital readiness; (2) presents a model developed in building blocks for DT readiness, which goes beyond the technical dimension; (3) argues that few firms fully understand DT’s meaning, opportunities and risks, and they should invest in strategic and socio-managerial preparation; (4) emphasizes government support as crucial to assist the business digital journey and (5) highlights that DT is a human transformation and technology users are the primary agents of this change.
Research limitations/implications
Although the literature proposes models regarding the levels of digital maturity, the present study investigates which organizational aspects need to be taken into account to be ready for digital change. The present study identified digital resources concerning the digital context (for instance, agile, collaborative, absorptive and data analytics capabilities) and provided an integrated view that encompasses also external aspects of the environment that need to be taken into consideration when performing the analysis, a contribution to strategic management literature in the sense that it goes beyond studies that usually explore only internal aspects of the firm that cannot properly explain how digitalization can be achieved by an organization.
Practical implications
Technologies do not cause changes without people being able to extract and understand the value of the use and impact of these technologies. Business innovation demands engagement, attitudes and connections between people. If the factories do not mobilize and train internal and external collaborators to realize the value of digital technologies, the promised gains of DT will hardly be realized. Preparing people is one of the most challenging aspects of business digitalization. The proposed framework offers a multidimensional view of DT, providing insights into strategic aspects and the roles and mindset of employees in organizations on their digital journey, characterized by constant learning. DT is a work of change management, done with, for and by people. The article also helps companies identify critical factors to evaluate before operationalizing digital innovation practices.
Social implications
This study also contributes to policymakers, such as government and industry consortia, in establishing relevant factors when policies are being drawn. Analyzing the factors for a sector, in general, might inform the investment priority in actions that might foster DT for that sector. Given the recurring turmoils in the global economic environment, broad policies need to be established by the government for business digitalization, which can boost the performance of the productive sector.
Originality/value
This study provides valuable insights consolidated into a DT readiness model. The article helps companies identify critical factors to evaluate before operationalizing digital practices. It compares the differences and commonalities among factories in an underdeveloped country versus an industrialized nation.
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Omar Durrah, Suhail M. Ghouse and Taher Alkhalaf
This study aims to identify both intrinsic and extrinsic factors motivating rural women to participate in entrepreneurial activities in Oman. Specifically, it seeks to clarify…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify both intrinsic and extrinsic factors motivating rural women to participate in entrepreneurial activities in Oman. Specifically, it seeks to clarify which pull and push factors influence their decisions to engage in entrepreneurship.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative research was conducted with a sample of 183 women entrepreneurs in rural areas of Oman. Structural equation modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS software was employed to test the research hypotheses.
Findings
The results of the research highlight the positive impact of external motivations, such as financial needs and dissatisfaction with current employment, on the entrepreneurial behaviour of rural women in Oman. These external factors play a significant role in prompting women to initiate their own projects. Additionally, the study reveals that attitudes, such as self-efficacy and the perception of social support, significantly influence women entrepreneurs' adoption of self-employment.
Practical implications
These findings offer valuable insights into the concrete incentives driving women’s entrepreneurship in rural Oman. Policymakers can utilize these insights to develop initiatives aimed at promoting the social empowerment of rural Omani women and facilitating their active participation in economic ventures, thereby contributing to Oman’s development.
Originality/value
This study presents a novel framework for enhancing women’s entrepreneurship, offering insights into the motivations and barriers influencing women's participation in rural areas of Oman. By addressing gaps in existing literature, it contributes to a deeper understanding of the entrepreneurial dynamics among rural women in Oman.
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This study aims to understand the experiences of Brazilian nurse auditors in the practice of their profession, exploring the importance, challenges, rewards and strategies related…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the experiences of Brazilian nurse auditors in the practice of their profession, exploring the importance, challenges, rewards and strategies related to the occupation.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative descriptive study conducted with 44 nurse auditors. An online, open-ended questionnaire was used. Thematic content analysis was performed.
Findings
Five themes were identified: (1) functions of a nurse auditor; (2) skills required for a nurse auditor; (3) learning to be a nurse auditor; (4) advantages of being a nurse auditor and (5) challenges faced by a nurse auditor. Also, a total of 16 subthemes were presented.
Research limitations/implications
The study critically examined essential aspects of auditing through the lens of nurse auditors, addressing a relevant topic. However, limitations must be acknowledged, including the use of self-report questionnaires, regional representation disparities, the scarcity of international articles on the topic and potential researcher bias.
Practical implications
The study underscores the importance of increasingly integrating nurse auditors into the workforce while emphasizing the need to enhance the capacitation of these professionals through theoretical and practical education. It highlights the significance of educating other multidisciplinary team members about the nurse auditor’s crucial role in fostering teamwork and ensuring the quality of healthcare services.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study conducted with Brazilian nurse auditors, exploring crucial aspects of auditing from the perspective of these professionals. Understanding the critical role of nurse auditors in maintaining and improving healthcare quality can enhance public trust in healthcare systems.
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Gender equality is an important issue targeted all around the world, see, for example, the Gender Equality Strategy articulated by the European Union (EU). These goals were…
Abstract
Purpose
Gender equality is an important issue targeted all around the world, see, for example, the Gender Equality Strategy articulated by the European Union (EU). These goals were hindered by COVID-19, which caused a well-documented she-cession: females were hit harder than males. This paper shows that a “sisterhood behaviour” can mitigate the effects of the she-cession: female decision-makers were more likely to favour other females in recruitment and retention.
Design/methodology/approach
Motivated by theories from psychology and industrial demography, we hypothesise a so-called sisterhood effect or homophily: female decision-makers are more likely to favour other females in recruitment and retention. We use firm-level survey data from 19 European countries collected before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we apply a difference-in-differences methodology to test the hypothesised sisterhood behaviour.
Findings
Our study finds that in firms where the top manager was a woman, gender discrimination was less likely or even not at all presented, i.e. COVID-19 did not decrease the proportion of female employees.
Practical implications
The results suggest that promoting gender equality in leadership dimensions can also moderate discrimination at the level of the employees. Therefore, in a wider context, gender equality goals are interrelated.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to analyse the existence of the theories mentioned before in a manager – employee relationship using firm-level data from the COVID-19 period.
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Douglas Aghimien, Clinton Aigbavboa, Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke and John Aliu
Digitalisation, which involves the use of digital technologies in transforming an organisation’s activities, transcends just the acquiring of emerging digital tools. Having the…
Abstract
Purpose
Digitalisation, which involves the use of digital technologies in transforming an organisation’s activities, transcends just the acquiring of emerging digital tools. Having the right people to drive the implementation of these technologies and attaining strategic organisational goals is essential. While most studies have focused on the use of emerging technologies in the construction industry, less attention has been given to the ‘people’ dimension. Therefore, this study aims to assess the people-related features needed for construction digitalisation.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted pragmatic thinking using a mixed-method approach. A Delphi was used to achieve the qualitative aspect of the research, while a questionnaire survey conducted among 222 construction professionals was used to achieve the quantitative aspect. The data gathered were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean item score, Kruskal–Wallis H test, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis.
Findings
Based on acceptable reliability, validity and model fit indices, the study found that the people-related factors needed for construction digitalisation can be grouped into technical capability of personnel, attracting and retaining digital talent and organisation’s digital culture.
Practical implications
The findings offer valuable benefits to construction organisations as understanding these identified people features can help lead to better deployment of digital tools and the attainment of the digital transformation.
Originality/value
This study attempts to fill the gap in the shortage of literature exploring the people dimension of construction digitalisation. The study offers an excellent theoretical backdrop for future works on digital talent for construction digitalisation, which has gained less attention in the current construction digitalisation discourse.
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Chelsea Phillips, Gaby Odekerken-Schröder, Rebekah Russell-Bennett, Mark Steins, Dominik Mahr and Kate Letheren
Previous research has not considered the impact on human frontline employees (FLEs) of altered employee–customer relationships in the presence of a service robot (i.e. an…
Abstract
Purpose
Previous research has not considered the impact on human frontline employees (FLEs) of altered employee–customer relationships in the presence of a service robot (i.e. an intrusion challenge), nor how FLEs may respond. The purpose of this study is to explore the task allocation strategies by human frontline employees’ (FLE) work well-being responses within the intrusion challenge.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employs a mixed-method approach, whereby an in-depth qualitative study (Study 1, n = 15) is followed by a quantitative field study (Study 2, n = 81).
Findings
Results indicate that FLEs experience the intrusion challenge, impacting social, purpose, physical and community well-being. Study 1 reveals that while service robots trigger this challenge, FLEs use them for task allocation to maintain their initial work well-being state. Study 2 shows that using robots instead of colleagues positively affects FLE work well-being.
Practical implications
Service robots, as a task allocation strategy by FLEs, can be used to empower FLEs by assisting them to preserve their work well-being within the intrusion challenge.
Originality/value
This study is one of the first to involve FLEs from a live service robot site, where data is based on personal lived experiences rather than anticipated experiences. This is the first study to investigate how FLEs respond to the intrusion challenge.