Qing Huang, Xiaoling Li and Dianwen Wang
Previous studies on social influence and virtual product adoption have mainly taken users’ purchase behavior as a dichotomous variable (i.e. purchasing or not). Given the…
Abstract
Purpose
Previous studies on social influence and virtual product adoption have mainly taken users’ purchase behavior as a dichotomous variable (i.e. purchasing or not). Given the prevalence of competing versions (basic vs upgraded) of a virtual product in online communities, this paper investigated the differences in the effect of social influence on users’ adoption of basic and upgraded choices of a virtual product. It also examined how the effect varies with users’ social status and user-level network density.
Design/methodology/approach
A natural experiment was conducted in an online game community. Two competing versions (basic vs upgraded) of a virtual product were provided for in-game purchase while a random set of users selected from 897,765 players received the notification of their friends’ adoption information. A competing-risk model was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Social influence exerts a stronger positive effect on users’ adoption of the upgraded virtual product than of the basic virtual product. Middle-status users have the greatest (least) susceptibility to social influence in adopting the upgraded (basic) virtual product than low- and high-status users. User’s network density enhances the effect of social influence on adoption of both virtual products, even more for the upgraded one.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the social influence and product adoption literature by disentangling the different effects of social influence on basic and upgraded versions of a virtual product. It also identifies the boundary conditions that social influence works for each version of the virtual product.
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Amara Awan, Kashif Hussain, Mahwish Zafar, Maryam Javed Butt and Samer Yaghmour
Protecting the planet from unprecedented environmental crises in the presence of economic expansion has become a critical global concern. Hence, the current study aims to analyze…
Abstract
Purpose
Protecting the planet from unprecedented environmental crises in the presence of economic expansion has become a critical global concern. Hence, the current study aims to analyze the impact of nations’ green behaviors that they adopt to protect the planet while promoting economic expansion. Additionally, the study explores the moderating role of ES in the nexus of GI and green growth.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected over a period of 1990–2019. Analysis was conducted by employing panel data analysis techniques and various robustness tests, including multicollinearity, serial correlation and spatial correlation, for a sample of 33 nations by categorizing in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) economies as well as in the pre- and post-financial crisis period.
Findings
Analysis of the composite sample reveals a significant positive impact of green investments and green innovations on green growth. Further analysis reveals a significant moderating role of environmental policy stringency in OECD economies, especially in the pre-financial crisis period. The interaction slope shows that the contribution of green innovations to green growth is positive at high and medium levels of ES. However, in the case of BRICS economies, this moderating role is insignificant.
Practical implications
Study findings signify the importance of stakeholder environment and urge governments to prioritize funds for sectors practicing environmentally friendly behaviors to foster green growth and stresses for more effective infrastructure of policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Originality/value
The relationship of green investments, innovations and green growth has been established largely in existing literature; however, there is a dearth of studies to analyze the moderating role of ES. Hence the current study investigates this moderating role in the nexus of nations’ green behavior and green growth in different stakeholder environments and contexts.
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Shiva Sadat Mostafavi and Alexis Mavrommatis
This paper aims to offer an integrated framework for branded apps (BAs) that highlights research gaps and points to areas for future research.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to offer an integrated framework for branded apps (BAs) that highlights research gaps and points to areas for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a systematic literature review approach, the authors analyzed more than 100 articles published between 2009 and the present. This research used databases such as SCOPUS, Web of Science, EBSCO and Elsevier’s Science Direct, with a particular focus on articles listed in the 2021 ABS index. The reviewed papers were coded and organized into four categories in terms of themes and concepts: antecedents, mechanisms, outcomes and moderators.
Findings
The study identified four types of antecedents (app benefits, personal traits, brand benefits and others) that influence outcomes via cognitive, affective and a mix of both mechanisms, which is termed multipaths. The authors classified outcomes into five areas (financial gains; app benefits; brand benefits; customer benefits; and others). Moderators were grouped into four types (customer individuality; app features; brand characteristics; and others). The authors concluded by recommending promising directions for future research. Specifically, the authors suggested an inverted U-shaped relationship between escapism and customer responses to BAs.
Originality/value
This paper focused exclusively on BAs, differentiating them from other mobile apps. The authors integrated nearly 100+ studies conducted over two decades. This integrated model serves as a guiding tool for understanding the past, present and future of BAs.
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Shaojie Lai, Laifeng Yang, Qing Sophie Wang and Hamish Anderson
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of state capital participation (SCP) on the corporate environmental engagement (CEE) of privately controlled listed…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of state capital participation (SCP) on the corporate environmental engagement (CEE) of privately controlled listed firms in China.
Design/methodology/approach
We use a sample of 20,133 firm-year observations from 2009 to 2021. We use three different measures to proxy corporate environmental engagement and two different measures to proxy for state capital participation. We employ a difference-in-difference regression model to estimate the effect of state capital participation on corporate environmental engagement.
Findings
Using a sample of 20,133 firm-year observations from 2009 to 2021, we find that SCP significantly increases corporate expenditure on environmental protection, corporate environmental performance and ESG ratings. Specifically, SCP increases environmental investment capacity and attracts more media coverage, online attention and analysts’ following, which leads to better environmental engagement. Further analyses show that after state shareholders exit privately controlled firms, CEE deteriorates, while private capital injection in state-owned firms has no significant impact on CEE. The positive effect of SCP is stronger in privately controlled firms with local government ownership, a larger number of state shareholders, longer state shareholder holding periods, those without politically connected managers and firms operating in heavy pollution industries. Lastly, we show that minority government ownership reduces firm-level toxic emissions and enhances financial performance.
Research limitations/implications
We enrich the literature on the role of minority state ownership in corporate financial and environmental performance.
Originality/value
We enrich the literature on the role of minority state ownership in corporate financial and environmental performance. In light of the escalating environmental concerns and the growing emphasis on corporate environmental responsibility, this study highlights the beneficial role of minority government ownership in driving environmental performance. By providing resources and attracting external scrutiny, the government, as a minority shareholder, can significantly enhance the environmental engagement of privately controlled firms.
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Zhenxu Guo, Qing’e Wang, Haofei Jing and Qixin Gao
Mega construction projects (megaprojects) require technological innovation cooperation (TIC) to address complex construction demands and the interests of multiple stakeholders…
Abstract
Purpose
Mega construction projects (megaprojects) require technological innovation cooperation (TIC) to address complex construction demands and the interests of multiple stakeholders. Although TIC has been extensively discussed at the firm level, a significant gap remains in understanding megaprojects at the project level. This paper aims to identify TIC’s influencing factors and transmission paths and discuss stakeholders’ TIC mechanisms at the project level.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on case analysis, expert interviews, literature analysis and the Delphi method, this paper identifies the influencing factors of TIC in megaprojects at the project level. A structural system of these influencing factors is constructed by interpretive structural modeling (ISM), developing various mechanisms for TIC from bottom to top. The Matriced’ Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement (MICMAC) method validates the driving forces and dependencies of the influencing factors, clarifying their roles and positions within the system. Additionally, the TIC mechanism is constructed.
Findings
The research findings identify 26 influencing factors categorized into four hierarchical levels: cooperative relationships, cooperative behavior, cooperative performance and technological innovation risks. Regarding direct factors, resource sharing affects goal congruence and communication effectiveness in megaprojects, affecting TIC’s satisfaction and trust. Most factors exist in the middle layer, and bridging the upper and lower levels depends on stakeholder collaboration. The root factors in the independent group significantly impact TIC, including policy circumstances, high technical requirements and limited site conditions. Addressing these issues influences improvements in other factors. The development of a digital resource-sharing platform, the enhancement of innovation incentives, the optimization of benefit distribution mechanisms and the improvement of risk-sharing mechanisms are essential for the effective operation of the TIC mechanism.
Originality/value
This study contributes to identifying and classifying challenges and opportunities in TIC. It explores transmission paths for enhancing TIC and presents strategies for successfully implementing and delivering megaprojects.
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Guozhang Xu, Wanming Chen, Yongyuan Ma and Huanhuan Ma
Drawing on the tenets of institutional theory, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of Confucianism on technology for social good, while also considering the…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the tenets of institutional theory, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of Confucianism on technology for social good, while also considering the moderating influence of extrinsic informal institutions (foreign culture) and intrinsic formal institutions (property rights).
Design/methodology/approach
This study constructs a comprehensive database comprising 9,759 firm-year observations in China by using a sample of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2016 to 2020. Subsequently, the hypotheses are examined and confirmed, with the validity of the results being upheld even after conducting endogenous and robustness tests.
Findings
The findings of this study offer robust and consistent evidence supporting the notion that Confucianism positively affects technology for social good through both incentive effect and normative effect. Moreover, this positive influence is particularly prominent in organizations with limited exposure to foreign culture and in nonstate-owned enterprises.
Originality/value
The findings contribute to the literature by fostering a deep understanding of technology for social good and Confucianism research, and further provide a nuanced picture of the role of foreign culture and property rights in the process of technology for social good in China.
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Weijie Tan, Yiqian Liu, Qi Dong and Xihui Haviour Chen
National spirit, as a powerful legitimacy trait, shapes the consistency of a firm’s financial decisions, employee engagement and sustainability strategies. Combining this with…
Abstract
Purpose
National spirit, as a powerful legitimacy trait, shapes the consistency of a firm’s financial decisions, employee engagement and sustainability strategies. Combining this with resource-based view (RBV) theory, the study empirically examines the dual impact of national spirit on corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper utilizes data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2022 and employs machine learning methods to construct enterprise-level indicators of national spirit. In addition, the paper scrapes nearly 3 million ESG-related online news articles from the Baidu news website and uses machine learning methods to measure media ESG attention and sentiment.
Findings
The findings reveal that national spirit significantly enhances corporate ESG performance, operating through both internal and external channels: promoting social financing and boosting employee morale. Further analysis indicates that the positive influence of national spirit on corporate ESG performance is more pronounced in private enterprises, companies facing higher levels of credit constraints and firms in polluting industries. Additionally, managerial shortsightedness weakens the sustainable value of national spirit, while external media ESG attention and regional ESG governance efforts further strengthen this effect. Furthermore, different dimensions of national spirit exhibit varying impacts on corporate ESG performance.
Practical implications
This study provides new insights for promoting sustainable development systems in emerging economies and understanding the role of national spirit in corporate social responsibility investments.
Originality/value
This paper shifts the study of national spirit from macro-level cultural analyses to a micro-level perspective. It bridges gaps in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the role of national spirit as a soft resource that influences corporate financial behavior and employee morale. This study provides new insights into promoting sustainable development systems in emerging economies and understanding the role of national spirit in corporate social responsibility investments.
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Lei Zhu, Jinting Sun, Lina Zhang, Jing Du, Dezhi Li and Xianbo Zhao
It is a complex and dynamic process to provide high-quality rural infrastructure. However, there lacks a holistic performance evaluation method for rural infrastructure provision…
Abstract
Purpose
It is a complex and dynamic process to provide high-quality rural infrastructure. However, there lacks a holistic performance evaluation method for rural infrastructure provision that reflects changing rural social needs and takes a village as a whole. This study aims to develop a holistic and dynamic performance evaluation model for rural infrastructure in Mainland China.
Design/methodology/approach
This study established an evaluation index system by combining the lifecycle theory and the economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity (4E) theory. This study developed an evaluation model by using the analytic network process (ANP) and matter-element analysis theory (MEAT). The model was validated by two representative villages in Mainland China.
Findings
The developed model can reflect dynamic social needs and effectively evaluate the overall infrastructure provision performance of a village. The weight of indicators reflects the changes in Mainland China’s contemporary rural social needs, with particular emphasis on the impact and output performance. The evaluation result shows that the overall performance of the representative villages was excellent but had a tendency toward good. Although the output performance was excellent, different input, process and impact performances resulted in different downgrade trends.
Originality/value
This study provides a theoretical basis for disaggregating the complex issue of the performance of rural infrastructure provision. The results can be used by relevant authorities to make a holistic and dynamic evaluation of the performance of rural infrastructure provision and timely revise planning and management policies.
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Ni Xiong and Longzheng Du
This study examines whether Confucian culture can promote enterprise total factor productivity (TFP), and it also studies how transmission mechanism works on enterprise TFP.
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines whether Confucian culture can promote enterprise total factor productivity (TFP), and it also studies how transmission mechanism works on enterprise TFP.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the data of A-share listed companies on Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets from 2008 to 2019, this study measures the influence of Confucian culture on enterprise TFP by the number of Confucian academies and Confucian temples within three radius ranges of a company's registered address.
Findings
The empirical results show that Confucian culture has a positive effect on the enterprise TFP. The transmission mechanism test shows that Confucian culture can promote the TFP of Chinese enterprises through reducing agency cost, improving agency efficiency and enhancing innovation.
Practical implications
The findings in this study provide implications for policymakers, scholars and enterprises. The results show that Confucian culture can enhance the TFP of Chinese enterprises. Especially in emerging markets including China, the Confucian culture, as an informal institution, can effectively complement formal institutions, promoting enterprise TFP.
Originality/value
This study expands the literature on Confucian culture in two aspects: the influence of Confucian culture on TFP and its transmission mechanism. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to identify a link between Confucian culture and enterprise TFP.
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Jiaxin Lv, Xingqi Zou, Qing Yang and Ke Zhang
In the realm of open innovation (OI) networks, coopetition—where competition and cooperation coexist—plays a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics between diverse projects. This…
Abstract
Purpose
In the realm of open innovation (OI) networks, coopetition—where competition and cooperation coexist—plays a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics between diverse projects. This dual relationship is crucial for the propagation of knowledge and the bolstering of the network's overall resilience. While competition drives the quality of products and services, thereby reinforcing network resilience, cooperation facilitates knowledge diffusion, which is essential for the network's robustness.
Design/methodology/approach
We delve into the interplay between coopetition intensity and network resilience through the lens of knowledge diffusion. Our methodology begins with a sensitivity analysis to gauge the direct effects of coopetition on resilience. This is followed by a principal component analysis to identify the key determinants of coopetition intensity among projects. Finally, we utilize linear regression and moderation analysis to explore the mediating role of knowledge diffusion in the resilience of OI networks.
Findings
Our work is grounded in network theory, which provides a robust theoretical framework for understanding project coopetition and knowledge diffusion within the OI paradigm. This research not only offers a nuanced understanding of coopetition's impact on OI network resilience but also highlights the significance of knowledge diffusion as a critical mediating variable.
Originality/value
1) Identifies the significant influences in project coopetition (competition and cooperation). (2) Puts the conceptual framework and calculation method of the open innovation network resilience based on the project coopetition and knowledge diffusion. (3) Explores the moderating role of knowledge diffusion in project coopetition influencing open innovation networks resilience. (4) Measures the influence of project coopetition relationship on open innovation network resilience from the perspective of knowledge diffusion. (5) Encourages project management to consider the portfolios of coopetition.