Hoi Ching Cheung, Yan Yin Marco Lo, Dickson K.W. Chiu and Elaine W.S. Kong
This study examines academic librarians' perceptions and attitudes toward Internet of Things (IoT) applications in Hong Kong academic libraries and the problems and possible…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines academic librarians' perceptions and attitudes toward Internet of Things (IoT) applications in Hong Kong academic libraries and the problems and possible improvements in using IoT technologies to strengthen library services.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative research used video conferencing software for semi-structured, one-on-one interviews. Participants were given introductory material about the IoT and asked to complete an interview. The data were analyzed using inductive theme clustering for this study.
Findings
The analysis identified three themes: perception about applying IoT technology to the library, problems and improvements in using IoT. Participants were generally optimistic about the potential benefits of IoT for improving library operations and providing personalized services. However, they also expressed concerns about privacy and security, errors and extra efforts for information literacy training. They suggested improvements such as incorporating facial recognition technology, advanced RFID technology and collections identification technology to enhance user experience.
Originality/value
Most studies examined users' views rather than librarians' on IoT applications, which few studies cover, especially in East Asia.
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Yuhong Shao and Songshan (Sam) Huang
This study aims to provide a timely review of hospitality and tourism live streaming (HTLS) research, aiming to understand the intellectual foundation in the past and identify…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a timely review of hospitality and tourism live streaming (HTLS) research, aiming to understand the intellectual foundation in the past and identify opportunities for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected 56 papers from journals in the Social Science Citation Index database or the Australian Business Deans Council journal quality list and adopted a hybrid systematic literature review combining bibliometric analysis and the theory-context-characteristics-method framework-based approach. Additionally, a cross-tabulation analysis was conducted to compare the research on two specific forms of HTLS – tourism e-commerce live streaming (TEcLS) and travel live streaming.
Findings
The study found that the current research lacks in-depth theoretical insights, focuses on China as the national context and viewers as the research subject, mainly uses online surveys and lacks first-order knowledge. Moreover, it identified five research themes, including the impact of HTLS on viewer behavior, purchase behavior in HTLS and introduction of HTLS, within which eight categories of research constructs, such as viewer-related, streamer-related and relationship-related, are applied.
Research limitations/implications
In terms of research, the study reveals various gaps in the existing literature and provides potential research directions to advance the field. As for practice, it offers valuable strategies for practitioners to optimize their marketing efforts using HTLS.
Originality/value
This study provides an up-to-date review of the HTLS field through a systematic and reproducible method. It offers critical discussions and suggestions for academic research and industry practices.
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Weisheng Lu, Liupengfei Wu, Zhongze Yang, Ziyu Peng and Louis Chu
This study aims to develop an agile blockchain as a service (aBaaS) framework for construction projects, which will support blockchain design, deployment and operation in a…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop an agile blockchain as a service (aBaaS) framework for construction projects, which will support blockchain design, deployment and operation in a flexible, agile and cost-effective manner.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts a design science research method. The aBaaS framework is then substantiated through two case studies pertinent to construction projects.
Findings
It is found to be highly flexible, achieving high completion rates in customizing the design, deployment and visualization of blockchain systems within given periods. Also, the aBaaS framework is highly agile and cost-effective, capable of responding to changes with low person-day units and labor cost.
Research limitations/implications
Limited sub-service components are built in design management as services (DMSs), deployment as services (DESs) and visualization as services (VISs) of aBaaS framework.
Practical implications
This research offers a reference for those aiming to realize the potential of blockchain in construction projects.
Originality/value
Firstly, it introduces a novel, flexible modular-build DMSs method to help system developers design blockchain systems for projects. Secondly, it improves the blockchain deployment methods by offering plug-and-play DESs for projects. Thirdly, it accelerates the visualization processes for blockchain users in projects by offering them flexible, click-to-go and cost-effective VISs.
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Askar Garad, Hosam Alden Riyadh, Abdullah M. Al-Ansi, Rita Kusumawati and Md Abu Jahid
This systematic review aims to identify procedures, risks, growth opportunities, gaps, challenges, trends and potential of financial technology (fintech) in modern businesses…
Abstract
This systematic review aims to identify procedures, risks, growth opportunities, gaps, challenges, trends and potential of financial technology (fintech) in modern businesses. This study reviews existing literature and synthesises the related findings about fintech in modern businesses. To extract more valuable financial data and give clients better services, this review considers combining AI and IoT technologies used in modern business. To accomplish the review objectives, we analysed 61 Scopus-indexed articles from 2016 to 2023 using the meta-analysis methodology. We conducted content analysis in addition to thematic analysis to validate the literature standard. However, we have identified and discussed opportunities, challenges, trends and future developments in fintech. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for information systems-based fintech research, including fintech concept formulation and growth. The findings of this review offer insights into the ways that emerging technologies are changing financial markets and shaping consumer behaviours. This includes studying things like blockchain technology, digital wallets and peer-to-peer lending platforms. This study contributes to the improvement of fintech services by identifying procedures for absorbing contemporary financial technologies, mitigating their risks and identifying the latest ones.
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Liqiao Zheng, Guang Song, Shaohua Song, Ning Huang and T.C.E. Cheng
In the face of frequent supply chain disruptions, this study aims to identify the relationships between human capital (HC), digital supply chain practice (DSCP) and supply chain…
Abstract
Purpose
In the face of frequent supply chain disruptions, this study aims to identify the relationships between human capital (HC), digital supply chain practice (DSCP) and supply chain robustness and resilience (i.e. SCRO and SCRE).
Design/methodology/approach
To examine the proposed conceptual model based on the resource-based view and organizational information processing theory, an empirical study was conducted using a sample of Chinese manufacturers. Hierarchical regression is applied to understand the direct effect, mediating effect and moderating effect among HC, DSCP, SCRO, SCRE and digital culture.
Findings
The results reveal that HC positively influences digital maturity and supply chain resilience. DSCP positively affects both SCRO and SCRE. However, HC does not significantly influence the adoption of digital tools, and only employees’ capital has a positive relationship with SCRO. In addition, the moderating effect of digital culture on the relationship between HC and DSCP was examined.
Originality/value
As an early exploration of the relationships among HC, DSCP, SCRO and SCRE, this study enriches the literature by offering new insights and responding to the call for more empirical research and theoretical application. It emphasizes the importance of HC and DSCP as strategic resources and highlights the need for a digital culture to implement DSCP.
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Chen Luo, Han Zheng, Yulong Tang and Xiaoya Yang
The mounting health misinformation on social media triggers heated discussions about how to address it. Anchored by the influence of presumed influence (IPI) model, this study…
Abstract
Purpose
The mounting health misinformation on social media triggers heated discussions about how to address it. Anchored by the influence of presumed influence (IPI) model, this study investigates the underlying process of intentions to combat health misinformation. Specifically, we analyzed how presumed exposure of others and presumed influence on others affect intentions to practice pre-emptive and reactive misinformation countering strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
Covariance-based structural equation modeling based on survey data from 690 Chinese participants was performed using the “lavaan” package in R to examine the proposed mechanism.
Findings
Personal attention to health information on social media is positively associated with presumed others’ attention to the same information, which, in turn, is related to an increased perception of health misinformation’s influence on others. The presumed influence is further positively tied to two pre-emptive countermeasures (i.e. support for media literacy interventions and institutional verification intention) and one reactive countermeasure (i.e. misinformation correction intention). However, the relationship between presumed influence and support for governmental restrictions, as another reactive countering method, is not significant.
Originality/value
This study supplements the misinformation countering literature by examining IPI’s tenability in explaining why individuals engage in combating misinformation. Both pre-emptive and reactive strategies were considered, enabling a panoramic view of the motivators of misinformation countering compared to previous studies. Our findings also inform the necessity of adopting a context-specific perspective and crafting other-oriented messages to motivate users’ initiative in implementing corrective actions.
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Shaoming Chai, Emily Pey-Tee Oon, Yuan Chai and Zuokun Li
Metadiscourse is an important dialogue technique used in productive knowledge building to help a group evaluate and advance their knowledge progress. Previous studies have…
Abstract
Purpose
Metadiscourse is an important dialogue technique used in productive knowledge building to help a group evaluate and advance their knowledge progress. Previous studies have identified and defined various types of metadiscourse. However, there is scant knowledge about how different metadiscourse types emerge among different groups or what implicit correlations lie between progressive discourse and metadiscourse. Moreover, research on how different types of metadiscourse influence groups' knowledge advancement and artifacts is still inadequate. Therefore, this study aims to further examine the roles that different types of metadiscourse play in the collaborative knowledge building community on both a fine-grained (i.e. progressive discourse) and coarse-grained (i.e. group knowledge advancement and group artifacts) level.
Design/methodology/approach
Data for this study are drawn from the behaviour of undergraduate students participating in a 12-week course at a key university in China. On the fine-grained level, epistemic network analysis (ENA) is applied to illustrate how metadiscourse promotes the development of progressive discourse. On the coarse-grained level, two different chi-square tests are conducted to examine the roles of different types of metadiscourse in groups' knowledge advancement and artifacts.
Findings
The analysis allowed several conclusions to be drawn. First, the types of metadiscourse that students most often adopted were reflecting on ideas development (RD) and commenting on ideas (CI); they less frequently adopted setting group goals (SG) and making group plans (MP). Second, most types of metadiscourse correlated with developments in progressive discourse, particularly RD and CI. Third, the metadiscourse types RD, CI and coordinating group efforts (CE) played essential roles in knowledge advancement. Fourth, higher-quality artifacts could be created by using the metadiscourse type reviewing the state of knowledge building progress (RP).
Originality/value
A more profound comprehension of the role that metadiscourse plays in the collaborative knowledge building community not only contributes to the literature in the knowledge building field but also carries a significant meaning in regulating community, promoting learner agency and sustained knowledge, and consequently improving collaborative learning performance.
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Liupengfei Wu, Weisheng Lu and Chen Chen
This research aims to develop a blockchain smart contract–enabled framework to resolve power imbalance problems in construction payment.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to develop a blockchain smart contract–enabled framework to resolve power imbalance problems in construction payment.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts a design science research method to develop the blockchain smart contract–enabled framework. The authors then develop a prototype system. Finally, the authors evaluate its performance in solving power imbalance-induced payment problems.
Findings
The results show that the prototype system can resolve power imbalance problems in construction payment by allowing project participants to make transparent and decentralized decisions that are self-enforceable by blockchain smart contracts.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides theoretical explanations for how blockchain smart contracts can resolve power imbalances in construction payment; based on that, it proposes a novel blockchain smart contract–enabled method to rebalance the power of stakeholders in construction payment. Thus, it contributes to the body of knowledge on blockchain technology and construction payment.
Practical implications
This study moves beyond a conceptual framework and develops a practical blockchain smart contract system for resolving power imbalances in construction payment, strengthening construction project members' confidence in using blockchain technology.
Social implications
The proposed blockchain smart contract–enabled solution helps mitigate negative social impacts associated with late payment and non-payment. Furthermore, the research maximizes trust among participants in payment processes to inspire collaborative culture in the construction industry.
Originality/value
This paper introduces a novel blockchain smart contract integrated method, allowing project stakeholders to resolve power imbalance problems in construction payment through decentralized decision-making.
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Tai Wai Kwok, SiWei Chang and Heng Li
The unitized curtain wall system (UCWS), a symbol of modern architecture, is gaining popularity among prefabricated components. Previous studies have focused on both construction…
Abstract
Purpose
The unitized curtain wall system (UCWS), a symbol of modern architecture, is gaining popularity among prefabricated components. Previous studies have focused on both construction technology advances and material selection strategies to facilitate the UCWS. However, the topic of client satisfaction, which drives industry development by targeting clients' demands, has gone unnoticed. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate client satisfaction with UCWS products in Hong Kong by finding its influential factors.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review was employed to first identify the influential factors. A semi-structured interview was employed to validate the reliability of the extracted factors. The machine learning algorithm Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and the Pearson correlation were then employed to rank the importance and correlation of factors based on the 1–5 Likert scale scores obtained through a questionnaire survey.
Findings
The findings revealed that “reduction in construction time” and “reduction in construction waste” are the most important factors and have a strong positive influence on client satisfaction.
Originality/value
Unlike previous studies, the present study focused on a novel research topic and introduces an objective analysis process using machine learning algorithms. The findings contribute to narrowing the knowledge gap regarding client preference for UCWS products from both individual and collaborative perspectives, providing decision-makers with an objective, quantitative and thorough reference before making investments in the curtain wall management development.
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Xiaolin (Crystal) Shi, Hao (Mira) Shi and Xi Yu Leung
The purpose of this study is to explore how realistic job previews can mitigate the negative relationship between perceived leader behavioral integrity and employees’ perceptions…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore how realistic job previews can mitigate the negative relationship between perceived leader behavioral integrity and employees’ perceptions of psychological contract breach.
Design/methodology/approach
A between-subjects field experiment was conducted in the hotel industry. Five waves of data were collected from 104 newcomers over a four-month period.
Findings
The results indicated that perceiving leader behavioral integrity reduces newcomer psychological contract breach, turnover intention and increases job performance. The intervention of realistic job previews effectively mitigated the negative relationship between behavioral integrity and psychological contract breach when leader–member value congruence was low.
Practical implications
The findings of this study offer actionable strategies for hotel professionals to improve employment outcomes, particularly during the pre-entry phase and the early socialization process of newcomers.
Originality/value
By integrating social exchange theory and expectancy theory within a framework of employees’ psychological contract breach, this study reveals the positive effects of realistic job previews on creating a positive work experience of newcomers.