Search results

Personal data is today recognized as an asset in the digital economy, generating billion-dollar annual revenues for many companies. But how much value do users derive from their seemingly free apps (zero-price services), and what user costs are associated with this value exchange? By adopting a human-centric lens, this article scrutinizes the complex trade-offs users face trying to capture the benefits and unperceived costs that such usage entails.

Using a mixed-method research design, this study is anchored in empirical survey data from 196 participants in Linköping, Sweden. The authors investigate users’ willingness to pay for these services in relation to different types of costs.

The results indicate that users can derive significant value from the use of free services, which can be interpreted as a win-win situation between users and companies. Regarding costs, this research shows that the most significant costs for users are associated with procrastination, sleep deprivation and reduced focus, which can be challenging to identify and evaluate from the users’ perspective.

This study shows that zero-price services provide significant benefits like enhancing social connectivity and offering a wide variety of content. Significant drawbacks, such as increased procrastination and sleep disturbances, highlight the psychological effects of these platforms. These impacts include behavioral changes, emphasizing the influence of online platforms on user engagement. Furthermore, a trend toward single-purchase preferences over free services suggests changing consumer attitudes toward digital payment models. This underscores the need for further research on non-monetary aspects in zero-price markets for better understanding and regulation of the digital economy.

This study shows that users appreciate the accessibility and potential of zero-price services but are wary of privacy concerns. It underscores the need for companies to balance profit objectives with user experiences and privacy requirements. Offering a range of ad-free premium services to meet diverse customer needs can be effective. Users’ high valuation of privacy and transparency suggests businesses should focus on human-centric, privacy-respecting strategies. Increased transparency in data usage and giving users greater data control could enhance the user experience and foster sustainable customer relationships.

The study calls for policymakers to focus on non-monetary risks of zero-price services, such as behavioral changes and digital well-being impacts. They should consider implementing regulations to protect users, especially children, from manipulative designs such as “dark patterns”. Policymakers must balance user protection with innovation, leading to a sustainable zero-price economy. For zero-price service users, awareness of non-monetary costs, like procrastination and sleep deprivation, is vital. Understanding that “free” services have hidden costs is important, especially for younger generations. Managing privacy settings and selective service choices can protect privacy and well-being.

This research shifts the focus from simply valuing personal data based on market prices to assessing the worth of free services themselves. By listing various hidden costs, it underscores the need for increased user awareness and greater corporate transparency. Uniquely, it finds that users prefer making one-time purchases over using zero-price services, extending prior assumptions in the field. Additionally, it also characterizes the zero-price economy ecosystem, highlighting differences between market types and provides a deeper understanding of the zero-price market and its related concepts.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential adoption of AI-powered tools by Chinese Generation Z (Gen Z) consumers in e-commerce. It aims to understand how factors, such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions, affect behavioral intention and user behavior towards AI-enhanced e-commerce platforms.

The study employed the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. A survey with 24 questions across six constructs was designed and distributed to Chinese Gen Z consumers aged 18–28. The research used convenience and quota sampling methods in four commercial complexes in a populous southwestern Chinese city, with 280 valid responses collected. The data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).

It is found that performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions positively influence behavioral intention to use AI-powered e-commerce tools. Surprisingly, social influence shows a negative correlation with behavioral intention, suggesting that Chinese Gen Z consumers may not be swayed by others’ opinions in adopting these technologies. Facilitating conditions and behavioral intention both significantly affect user behavior. Gender differences can be observed, particularly in the impact of effort expectancy on behavioral intention.

This study extends the application of the UTAUT model to the rapidly evolving e-commerce sector, focusing on AI-powered tools and the unique characteristics of Chinese Gen Z consumers. By highlighting gender differences and the specific preferences of this generation, the research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of technology acceptance in e-commerce, guiding future marketing strategies and platform development.

This study seeks to assess how a humane leadership style affects customer service orientation among casual employees of financial service institutions in Ghana. Using job satisfaction as a moderator, this study predicts that a humane leadership style influences casual employees’ customer service orientation.

Survey data were obtained from 328 frontline casual employees of financial service firms. The structural equation modelling technique of partial least squares was used to test the hypothesised relationships.

The study found that a humane leadership style positively and significantly drives customer service behaviour. Job satisfaction also had a positive effect on customer service orientation among casual employees.

The study appears to be the first of its kind to explore the moderating role of job satisfaction in the connection between humane leadership and customer service orientation from the perspective of casual employees. The study highlights insightful practical implications for corporate managers, HR practitioners and marketing academics.

Managing difficult conversations about new technology integration is crucial for businesses that must adopt disruptive innovations while maintaining organizational integrity. This article explores the “technology integrity” challenge, which involves preserving identity, operational, and relational aspects of business integrity during the new technological integration process. Using Generative AI as an illustrative case, the article provides a six-stage conversation framework, covering authenticity, direction, unification, scalability, transparency, and ethics, to guide organizations in conducting empathetic, inclusive dialogues with internal and external stakeholders.

This is a conceptual paper for a practitioner audience.

The article provides a six-stage conversation framework, covering authenticity, direction, unification, scalability, transparency, and ethics to guide organizations in conducting empathetic, inclusive dialogues with internal and external stakeholders.

This article explores the “technology integrity” challenge, which involves preserving identity, operational, and relational aspects of business integrity during the new technological integration process. This is particularly critical for organizations integrating AI technologies.

This case is written on the basis of available secondary data sources including news articles, book chapters, video (YouTube) interviews, research papers and industry reports.

The case study examines Taylor Swift’s professional journey from her debut in the mid-2000s to the present, highlighting her notable accomplishments as a singer-songwriter and entrepreneur. Swift’s success in music, evident through chart-topping albums, sold-out tours and strategic partnerships, positions her as a significant figure in the industry. However, her primary challenge involves maintaining relevance and staying ahead in a continually evolving environment. To sustain her leadership role, Swift must consistently innovate across music, public image and promotional approaches. This entails adapting to changing trends, using digital platforms for increased audience engagement and exploring themes such as audience connection, brand evolution, effective marketing and the ongoing pursuit of competitiveness and influence amid dynamic market conditions. This case delves into Taylor Swift’s evolution as a multifaceted entrepreneur, exploring her strategies to merge personal values with commercial success while navigating public scrutiny and market demands. It highlights her strategic use of social media, engagement with controversies and carefully crafted personal brand to maintain her global influence.

This case may be taught in advanced undergraduate level courses or graduate level courses such as MBA. This case is appropriate for students studying entrepreneurship, marketing and business strategy.

Servant leadership, a form of holistic leadership, has been primarily explored in Western cultures. Consequently, there is a lack of understanding on whether servant leadership style is transferable to other cultures, posing a scientific but also ethical challenge in the leadership literature. The purpose of this study is to validate a servant leadership scale (Van Dierendonck and Nuijten, 2011) in the sub-Saharan region (specifically in Uganda) in the health care context. Furthermore, with the aim of improving quality of patient care, it explores the impact servant leadership has on organizational justice and employees’ turnover intentions.

The cross-sectional study gathered data from 13 public Regional Referral Hospitals in Uganda. After ethical approval, self-administered surveys were distributed in the 13 survey locations. The survey used standardized scales to measure servant leadership, organizational justice and employee turnover intentions. A total of 355 respondents completed the survey.

Results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported six of the eight factors of the servant leadership scale. Furthermore, regression analysis showed a significant relation between servant leadership and organizational justice (r = 0.678; p < 0.01) and a negative relation between servant leadership and employee turnover intentions (r = −0.139; p < 0.01).

This study brings an important contribution to the functionality of the servant leadership scale in a non-Western context. It also provides insight into the positive impact servant leadership style can have on health workers and patient care.

This case study is built from secondary data such as news articles, regulations and videos. Several drafts of the case study with a teaching note were tested in the classroom setting and shared in a case writing conference. The case was revised based on feedback from students and roundtable discussions from the conference.

Mrs Hsu, the Deputy Director of the National Taxation Bureau’s Nantou County Branch in Taiwan, faced a dilemma in June 2021. One of her employees, Mrs Chiang, had requested to return to work after taking several years of parental leave since August 2017. This long absence had put a strain on colleagues, who either had to cover for her or work with temporary replacements. While Mrs Chiang’s actions were legal and protected by her government employee role, her decision to take another leave immediately after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine raised eyebrows. Her peers accused her of using her frontline worker status to gain early vaccine access and other work benefits. Mrs Hsu, upon reviewing Mrs Chiang’s employment history, pondered her next steps concerning Mrs Chiang’s new leave request.

This case would be appropriate for a course in Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior or Gender, Family and Work, especially with the topic of Employment Rights/Legal Protections (in HR), and/or Justice and Ethics (in OB).

The recruitment and promotion of teaching academics in the UK is constrained by a complex array of career progression barriers. These barriers have led to an increasing trend of horizontal career (lack of) progression. The purpose of this paper is to reveal and discuss linearity and horizontality constrictions, challenges and issues impacting on potential careers in tourism academia.

This study uses a leading UK national academic recruitment website to gather data and insights from across 137 posted jobs related to tourism between 2020 and 2022.

The main findings of this work note the constrictions of the UK academic job market and the consequences it poses for academics within tourism and beyond. It is proposed that future research to further understand the realities faced by academics is needed to prompt action for change to create more enriching career development.

The contribution of this study centres around sense making a phenomenon that exists but is not often talked about within academia (whether in tourism or beyond). For academics and managers, this paper presents an opportunity to reflect more holistically on careers with a view to instigating valuable change moving forward (for oneself or others). There is also a dearth of studies relating to career progression of tourism higher education educators.

This paper explores the motivations and challenges faced by Muslim women ‘mumpreneurs,’ in Northern Nigeria, a region with a predominantly Muslim population. The unique socio-religious and cultural context of Northern Nigeria serves as a key driver for this research, prompting a deeper understanding of the experiences of Muslim mumpreneurs in the area.

The study employed a qualitative approach, by utilizing semi-structured interviews with 12 Muslim mumpreneurs residing in various states across Northern Nigeria. Accordingly, thematic analysis was used to explore the influence of their motherly roles on their entrepreneurial experiences.

Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: Motivations: Mumpreneurs were driven by desires for financial independence, positive societal impact and increased flexibility to manage work-family balance. Challenges: Lack of capital, skills, knowledge and sociocultural constraints (e.g. gender norms) impeded their progress. Push and pull factors: Their entrepreneurial journeys were shaped by both internal aspirations and external societal influences.

The findings of this study provide further understanding of the distinct experiences of Muslim mumpreneurs in Northern Nigeria, contributing significantly to our knowledge of the dynamics of Muslim women mumpreneurs in a specific, understudied Muslim society. By implication, it highlights the need for targeted support for this under-researched population, informing policymakers, support organizations, and future research endeavors.