Paulo Duarte, Susana Silva and Maria Joana Carvalho
This paper aims to investigate the factors influencing men’s purchase intentions for skincare products, particularly focusing on the evolving attitudes toward masculinity…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the factors influencing men’s purchase intentions for skincare products, particularly focusing on the evolving attitudes toward masculinity, grooming and self-care. The study seeks to identify dimensions such as self-image, health concerns, masculinity and perceptions regarding skincare, along with the impact of social media use on men’s skincare purchase intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
The research uses an online questionnaire to gather data from 178 valid responses. The collected data is analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results reveal that men’s skin health concerns significantly impact their purchase intention for skincare products. Self-image concerns and perceptions regarding skincare also emerge as influential determinants in shaping men’s purchasing decisions. Conversely, health concerns and social media platform use do not directly influence skincare purchase intention. Notably, self-image completely mediates the relationship between men’s social media usage and their intention to purchase skincare products.
Research limitations/implications
The data is based on responses from an online questionnaire, which may introduce biases. In addition, the research focuses on specific personal variables and social media use, potentially overlooking other influential factors.
Practical implications
By recognizing the importance of men’s skin health concerns, self-image and perceptions regarding skincare, cosmetic companies can tailor marketing strategies to effectively target key dimensions to enhance sales of skincare products among men.
Social implications
In a broader societal context, this research contributes to the ongoing evolution of attitudes. By identifying influential factors in men’s skincare purchase intention, the study sheds light on changing societal norms and perceptions. Acknowledging these shifts can lead to a more inclusive understanding of masculinity and contribute to breaking traditional stereotypes related to men’s grooming practices.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the understanding of men’s skincare purchase intention by exploring dimensions such as self-image, health concerns, masculinity and perceptions regarding skincare, in conjunction with the impact of social media use. The findings provide valuable insights, expanding on previous studies on men’s attitudes toward skincare products. The identification of self-image as a complete mediator is a novel contribution.
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Bo Yang, Yongqiang Sun and Xiao-Liang Shen
This study aims to deepen our understanding of how chatbots’ empathy influences humans–AI relationship in frontline service encounters. The authors investigate the underlying…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to deepen our understanding of how chatbots’ empathy influences humans–AI relationship in frontline service encounters. The authors investigate the underlying mechanisms, including perceived anthropomorphism, perceived intelligence and psychological empowerment, while also considering variations between different stages of the customer journey (before and after purchase).
Design/methodology/approach
Data collection was conducted through an online survey distributed among 301 customers who had experience using AI-based service chatbot in frontline service encounters in China. The hypotheses were examined through structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis.
Findings
The findings of this study revealed the positive impacts of emotional and cognitive empathy on humans–AI relationship through perceived anthropomorphism, perceived intelligence and psychological empowerment. Furthermore, this study verified the moderating effect of the customer journey stages, such that the impacts of anthropomorphism and intelligence on humans–AI relationship displayed more strength during the pre- and post-purchase phases, respectively.
Practical implications
This research offers practical implications for companies: recognize and enhance empathy dimensions in AI-based service chatbot to empower human–AI relationships; boost customer empowerment in human–AI interactions; and tailor anthropomorphic features in the pre-purchase stage and improve problem-solving capability in the post-purchase stage to enrich user experiences.
Originality/value
This study extends relationship marketing theory and human–AI interaction frameworks by investigating the underlying mechanisms of the effect of two-dimensional empathy on human–AI relationship. This study also enriches service design theories by revealing the moderating effect of customer journey stages.
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Yen-Cheng Chen, Pei-Ling Tsui, Bo-Kai Lan, Ching-Sung Lee, Ming-Chen Chiang, Mei-Yi Tsai and Yi-Hua Lin
This study examines the temporal dynamics of consumer attitudes, perceived value and purchase intentions toward green agricultural foods, addressing critical gaps in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the temporal dynamics of consumer attitudes, perceived value and purchase intentions toward green agricultural foods, addressing critical gaps in the literature on sustainable consumption behaviours. It emphasises the mediating role of perceived value and its evolution over time, offering insights into consumer decision-making processes.
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal design was adopted, collecting data through structured questionnaires from primary household food purchasers in northern Taiwan at baseline, three months and six months. Analytical techniques, including multiple regression, mediation analysis and repeated measures ANOVA, were employed to examine relationships and track changes over time.
Findings
The results reveal that consumer attitudes positively influence perceived value, which fully mediates the relationship with purchase intentions. Temporal analysis indicates significant increases in perceived value and purchase intentions over six months, demonstrating that sustained exposure to green agricultural foods reinforces consumer commitment and pro-environmental behaviours. Attitudes alone do not directly predict purchase intentions without the mediation of perceived value, highlighting the critical role of perceived benefits in driving long-term sustainable consumption.
Practical implications
This study provides actionable insights for enhancing the perceived value of green agricultural foods. Businesses should prioritise health and environmental benefits, while policymakers can design campaigns and incentives to promote sustainable dietary habits, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 12.
Originality/value
By exploring the mediating role of perceived value in transforming positive consumer attitudes into purchase intentions, this study highlights how perceived value, shaped by health and environmental benefits, drives consumer behaviour. These findings contribute valuable insights for enhancing market appeal and supporting sustainable food marketing strategies.
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Yasser M. Mater, Ahmed A. Elansary and Hany A. Abdalla
The use of recycled coarse aggregate in concrete structures promotes environmental sustainability; however, performance of these structures might be negatively impacted when it is…
Abstract
Purpose
The use of recycled coarse aggregate in concrete structures promotes environmental sustainability; however, performance of these structures might be negatively impacted when it is used as a replacement to traditional aggregate. This paper aims to simulate recycled concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), to advance the modeling and use of recycled concrete structures.
Design/methodology/approach
To investigate the performance of beams with recycled coarse aggregate concrete (RCAC), finite element models (FEMs) were developed to simulate 12 preloaded RCAC beams, strengthened with two CFRP strengthening schemes. Details of the modeling are provided including the material models, boundary conditions, applied loads, analysis solver, mesh analysis and computational efficiency.
Findings
Using FEM, a parametric study was carried out to assess the influence of CFRP thickness on the strengthening efficiency. The FEM provided results in good agreement with those from the experiments with differences and standard deviation not exceeding 11.1% and 3.1%, respectively. It was found that increasing the CFRP laminate thickness improved the load-carrying capacity of the strengthened beams.
Originality/value
The developed models simulate the preloading and loading up to failure with/without CFRP strengthening for the investigated beams. Moreover, the models were validated against the experimental results of 12 beams in terms of crack pattern as well as load, deflection and strain.
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Xilian Wang, Jinhan Zhou, Jiayi Qin, Min Geng and Bo Zhao
This paper aims to facilitate reliable online diagnosis of early faults in the stator winding inter-turn short circuits of induction motors (IMs) under various operating…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to facilitate reliable online diagnosis of early faults in the stator winding inter-turn short circuits of induction motors (IMs) under various operating conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel fault characteristic component, the characteristic current amplitude, is proposed for the fault. Defined as the product of short-circuit coefficient and short-circuit current, the characteristic current is derived from the positive and negative-sequence components of the stator-side current and voltage.
Findings
Simulation models of the IMs pre- and postfault, along with an experimental platform for the motor’s inter-turn short circuit, were established. The characteristic current amplitude proves more robust against voltage unbalance and load variations, which offers enhanced reliability and sensitivity for early fault diagnosis of inter-turn short circuit in IMs stator windings.
Originality/value
A novel feature is proposed. Compared with negative-sequence current, which is considered as a traditional fault feature, the characteristic current amplitude exhibits a greater robustness against the imbalanced conditions, which simultaneously possesses the attributes of both reliability and expeditiousness in fault detection.
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Manu Sharma, Geetilaxmi Mohapatra and Arun Kumar Giri
The main purpose of the present research is to explore the possible effectiveness of information and communication technology (ICT), infrastructure development, exchange rate and…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of the present research is to explore the possible effectiveness of information and communication technology (ICT), infrastructure development, exchange rate and governance on inbound tourism demand using time series data in India.
Design/methodology/approach
The stationarity of the variables is checked by using the ADF, PP and KPSS unit root tests. The paper uses the Bayer-Hanck and auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration to examine the existence of long-run relationships; the error-correction mechanism for the short-run dynamics and the vector error correction method (VECM) to test the direction of causality.
Findings
The findings of the research indicate the presence of cointegration among the variables. Further, long-run results indicate infrastructure development, word-of-mouth and ICT have a positive and significant linkage with international tourist arrivals in India. However, ICT has a positive and significant effect on tourist arrivals in the short run as well. The VECM results indicate long-run unidirectional causality from infrastructure, ICT, governance and exchange rate to tourist arrivals.
Research limitations/implications
This study implies that inbound tourism demand in India can be augmented by improving infrastructure, governance quality and ICT penetration. For an emerging country like India, this may have far-reaching implications for sustaining and improving tourism sector growth.
Originality/value
This paper is the first of its kind to empirically examine the impact of ICT, infrastructure and governance quality in India using modern econometric techniques. Inbound tourism demand research aids government and policymakers in developing effective public policies that would reposition India to gain from a highly competitive global tourism industry.
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Shapour Ebrahimi, Saeed Feli and Mehdi Ranjbar-Roeintan
The purpose of this paper is to use three-dimensional printers to fabricate functionally graded porous (FGP) beams, carry out impact loading and provide innovative equations.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use three-dimensional printers to fabricate functionally graded porous (FGP) beams, carry out impact loading and provide innovative equations.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, using the three-dimensional printer, polylactic acid beams containing internal holes with distribution two-dimensional FGP beams of type X are fabricated. A simple tensile test and also a drop-weight impact test are performed to determine the mechanical and low-velocity impact properties of the beams. Inverse-tangent shear–strain function theory, together with the energy method, is used to derive the motion equations of low-velocity impact on the beam. A range of impact energies from 1.5 to 12 J and holes with diameters of 2 and 3 mm are used in the drop-weight impact testing machine.
Findings
As the hole diameter enlarges, there is a decrease in contact force and energy absorption levels. The larger hole diameter results in an extended contact duration, increased maximum impactor displacement, and a higher remaining impactor velocity. The innovative linear equations with a maximum error of 5.18% and nonlinear equations with a maximum error of 0.01% provide an acceptable result for the maximum contact force. For predicting the absorbed energy, the linear equation with a maximum error of 90.69% does provide an unacceptable result, and the nonlinear equation with a maximum error of 4.51% provides a reasonable result.
Originality/value
The originality of this research is in fabricating FGP beams with a three-dimensional printer to conduct impact tests and generate creative equations.
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This study aims to investigate the impact of market competitiveness on investment efficiency, and the moderating role of ownership and regulatory structures.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of market competitiveness on investment efficiency, and the moderating role of ownership and regulatory structures.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI), Lerner Index (LI) and industry-adjusted Lerner Index (LIIA) were used to measure market competitiveness. The research population consisted of companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). Using a systematic elimination, 199 companies were selected within eight years during 2014–2021.
Findings
The results showed that market competitiveness (based on the LI, LIIA and HHI) positively affected investment efficiency. Moreover, institutional ownership and managerial ownership affected the relationship between market competitiveness (based on all proxies of market competitiveness) and investment efficiency. Blockholders’ ownership also moderated the relationship between market competitiveness (based on LIIA and HHI) and investment efficiency. The hypothesis testing had robustness based on additional analyses.
Originality/value
In recent years, competitive environment and the ownership structure of companies have changed to a certain degree, paving the way for the private sector to enter many areas of activity especially in emerging Asian markets. Moreover, investment drivers and investment efficiency in developed markets may not be generalized to emerging Asian markets. Therefore, the present findings can show the significance of this research to fill the existing gap in the literature and provide insights into ownership and regulatory structures as a governance mechanism in market competitiveness and investment efficiency.
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Jing Wang, Ting-Ting Dong and Ding-Hong Peng
Green innovation in human-centric smart manufacturing (HSM-GI) has emerged as a new paradigm in innovation management for Industry 5.0. The evaluation analysis method is crucial…
Abstract
Purpose
Green innovation in human-centric smart manufacturing (HSM-GI) has emerged as a new paradigm in innovation management for Industry 5.0. The evaluation analysis method is crucial for measuring the development progress and guiding continual improvements of HSM-GI. Since this process of HSM-GI can be regarded as complex and interactive, a holistic picture is often required to describe the interrelations of its antecedents and consequences. In this respect, this study aims to construct a causality network indicator system and proposes a synergy evaluation method for HSM-GI.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, based on the Driver force-State-Response (DSR) causal-effect framework, this study constructs a holistic indicator system to analyze the interactions between environmental and human concerns of HSM-GI. Secondly, owing to the imprecision of human cognition and synergy interaction in the evaluation process, a flexible hesitant fuzzy (HF) superiority-inferiority synergetic evaluation method is presented. This method quantifies the strengths of causal relationships and expresses the incentives and constraints attitudes of humans. Finally, the proposed framework is applied to six HSMs in the electronic technology industry.
Findings
The driving force and state of the HSM-GI system exhibit an upward trend, while the response continues to decline due to changing market demands. The order and synergy degree have shown an increasing trend during 2021–2023, particularly significant for BOE and Haier Smart Home. HSM-GI systems with higher scores mostly have functional coordination and a coherent synergy structure.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates the proposed approach’s applicability and assists policymakers in formulating targeted strategies for green innovation systems.
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Pengyun Zhao, Shoufeng Ji and Yuanyuan Ji
This paper aims to introduce a novel structure for the physical internet (PI)–enabled sustainable supplier selection and inventory management problem under uncertain environments.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to introduce a novel structure for the physical internet (PI)–enabled sustainable supplier selection and inventory management problem under uncertain environments.
Design/methodology/approach
To address hybrid uncertainty both in the objective function and constraints, a novel interactive hybrid multi-objective optimization solution approach combining Me-based fuzzy possibilistic programming and interval programming approaches is tailored.
Findings
Various numerical experiments are introduced to validate the feasibility of the established model and the proposed solution method.
Originality/value
Due to its interconnectedness, the PI has the opportunity to support firms in addressing sustainability challenges and reducing initial impact. The sustainable supplier selection and inventory management have become critical operational challenges in PI-enabled supply chain problems. This is the first attempt on this issue, which uses the presented novel interactive possibilistic programming method.