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1 – 10 of 241Xusen Cheng, Ying Bao, Triparna de Vreede, Gert-Jan de Vreede and Junhan Gu
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated unprecedented public fear, impeding both individuals’ social life and the travel industry as a whole. China was one of the first major…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated unprecedented public fear, impeding both individuals’ social life and the travel industry as a whole. China was one of the first major countries to experience the COVID-19 outbreaks and recovery from the pandemic. The demand for outings is increasing in the post-COVID-19 world, leading to the recovery of the ride-sharing industry. Integrating protection motivation theory and the theory of reasoned action, this study aims to investigate ride-sharing customers’ self-protection motivation to provide anti-pandemic measures and promote the resilience of ride-sharing industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This study followed a two-phase mixed-methods design. In the first phase, the authors executed a qualitative study with 30 interviews. In the second phase, the authors used the results of the interviews to inform the design of a survey, with which 272 responses were collected. Both studies were conducted in China.
Findings
The present results indicate that customers’ perceived vulnerability of COVID-19 and perceived COVID protection efficacy (self-efficacy and response efficacy) are positively correlated with their attitude toward self-protection, thus leading to their self-protection motivation during the rides. Moreover, subjective norms and customers’ distrust appear to also impact their self-protection motivation during the ride-sharing service.
Originality/value
The present research provides one of the first in-depth studies, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, on customers’ protection motivation in ride-sharing services in the new normal. The empirical evidence provides important insights for ride-sharing service providers and managers in the post-pandemic world and promote the resilience of ride-sharing industry.
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Shixuan Fu, Xusen Cheng, Ying Bao, Anil Bilgihan and Fevzi Okumus
This study aims to elicit the preferences of potential travelers for different property listings' attributes (online review number, positive valence rate of reviews and discount…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to elicit the preferences of potential travelers for different property listings' attributes (online review number, positive valence rate of reviews and discount strategy) when selecting hotels and peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation sharing on online booking platforms.
Design/methodology/approach
A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted with 291 respondents with accommodation needs. They were asked to choose between pairs of listings.
Findings
The authors found that when booking accommodation online, complex discount strategies were not determinant both in selecting hotels and P2P accommodations. Positive valence rate of reviews has a higher impact on the selection of traditional hotels than P2P accommodations, while the number of online reviews has a higher impact on the selection of P2P accommodations than traditional hotels. The authors further discuss the effect of each attribute on online accommodation selection in terms of price ranges of the property listings.
Research limitations/implications
The findings provide suggestions for platform operators and product/service providers to improve their marketing strategies and optimize their management efforts.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies that investigate the role of property listings' attributes on the selections between hotels and P2P accommodations. The findings from this research study could be generalized to other online platforms and electronic commerce-related transactions.
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Xusen Cheng, Ying Bao, Alex Zarifis, Wankun Gong and Jian Mou
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots have brought unprecedented business potential. This study aims to explore consumers' trust and response to a text-based chatbot in…
Abstract
Purpose
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots have brought unprecedented business potential. This study aims to explore consumers' trust and response to a text-based chatbot in e-commerce, involving the moderating effects of task complexity and chatbot identity disclosure.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey method with 299 useable responses was conducted in this research. This study adopted the ordinary least squares regression to test the hypotheses.
Findings
First, the consumers' perception of both the empathy and friendliness of the chatbot positively impacts their trust in it. Second, task complexity negatively moderates the relationship between friendliness and consumers' trust. Third, disclosure of the text-based chatbot negatively moderates the relationship between empathy and consumers' trust, while it positively moderates the relationship between friendliness and consumers' trust. Fourth, consumers' trust in the chatbot increases their reliance on the chatbot and decreases their resistance to the chatbot in future interactions.
Research limitations/implications
Adopting the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, this study provides important insights on consumers' perception and response to the text-based chatbot. The findings of this research also make suggestions that can increase consumers' positive responses to text-based chatbots.
Originality/value
Extant studies have investigated the effects of automated bots' attributes on consumers' perceptions. However, the boundary conditions of these effects are largely ignored. This research is one of the first attempts to provide a deep understanding of consumers' responses to a chatbot.
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This paper aims to discuss innovations in the training and development practices of companies and delineate a new approach to training and development in the context of the hybrid…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss innovations in the training and development practices of companies and delineate a new approach to training and development in the context of the hybrid workplace using the ADDIE and Kirkpatrick training models.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper discusses innovations in training and development in modern times and builds on the instructional training design approach or the ADDIE Model and the Kirkpatrick Model of training evaluation.
Findings
The paper presents new approaches to training and development in the context of the hybrid work model applying the ADDIE Model and the Kirkpatrick Model. These new approaches are both necessitated and also made possible due to the technological advancements of modern times.
Originality/value
With the rapid transition of companies to the hybrid model of work in recent times, several human resource management practices need to be transformed to suit the requirements of the new work model. Training and development is one function that needs to change in the hybrid work model to ensure its effectiveness. This paper analyses innovations in the training and development practices of companies and discusses new approaches while applying existing training models, the ADDIE and Kirkpatrick Models, to adapt to the changes associated with the hybrid work model.
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Shenggen Fan, Sivan Yosef and Rajul Pandya-Lorch
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the evolution of global and national policies linking agriculture to nutrition in 2010–2020, and provides insights on the recent policy…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the evolution of global and national policies linking agriculture to nutrition in 2010–2020, and provides insights on the recent policy trajectory in China to illustrate how individual countries are addressing agriculture and nutrition.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors utilize a noncomprehensive review of gray and peer-review literature, as well as a case study approach.
Findings
Select countries have made initial strides in linking agriculture and nutrition through policy, though progress is not widespread and uneven.
Practical implications
Researchers can begin closing the existing knowledge gaps on agriculture and nutrition. Policymakers can learn from the country lessons and experiences in agriculture and nutrition policy.
Originality/value
This paper provides one of the only overviews of global policy on agriculture and nutrition during the period 2010–2020.
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The purpose of this paper is to address two questions: first, faced with the “disruptive technologies” of e‐revolution, will there be academic libraries in 25 years time for our…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address two questions: first, faced with the “disruptive technologies” of e‐revolution, will there be academic libraries in 25 years time for our younger colleagues to inherit? Are senior academic library managers reacting rightly and proactively making the correct strategic decisions now to ensure the rightful and proper place for librarians in a university for decades to come? Second, assuming there will indeed be university libraries and “librarians” to people them in the future, what professional and personal attributes will future librarians need, not only to ride the e‐revolution wave, but also to prosper as leaders in their institutions to the year 2057 and beyond?
Design/methodology/approach
A general review of the current state‐of‐play in academic library management vis‐à‐vis the e‐revolution, in terms of the history of the profession and previous perceived “revolutions”.
Findings
Suggests academic library professionals are over‐reacting to the “newness” of the electronic environment and under‐valuing their own professional traditions and their own people.
Practical implications
Proposes remedies: advising caution, common sense, and the right sort of professionals to “brand” the library for a successful future.
Originality/value
The author's own personal views built up after 35 years of experience in academic library management.
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David Kimera and Fillemon Nduvu Nangolo
The purpose of this paper is to review maintenance practices, tools and parameters for marine mechanical systems that can be classified as plant, machinery and equipment (PME). It…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review maintenance practices, tools and parameters for marine mechanical systems that can be classified as plant, machinery and equipment (PME). It provides an insight for the maintenance crew on which maintenance parameters and practices are critical for a given PME systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The review paper characterizes the various maintenance parameters and maintenance practices used onshore and offshore for PME and identifies the possible gaps.
Findings
A variety of maintenance techniques are being used in the marine industry such as corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance and condition-based maintenance. As marine vehicles (MV) get older, the most important maintenance parameters become maintenance costs, reliability and safety. Maintenance models that have been developed in line with marine mechanical systems have been validated using a single system, whose outcome could be different if another PME system is used for validation.
Research limitations/implications
There is a limited literature on MV maintenance parameters and maintenance characterization regarding mechanical systems. The maintenance practices or strategies of marine mechanical systems should be based on maintenance parameters that suit the marine industry for a given PME.
Originality/value
Based on the available literature, the paper provides a variety of maintenance framework, parameters and practices for marine mechanical systems. The paper further gives an insight on what maintenance parameters, strategies and platforms are given preference in the shipping industry.
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Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the mediating role of organizational entrepreneurial capability in the link between entrepreneurs’ effectuation and new venture performance, and whether entrepreneurs’ passion positively moderates this relationship in the Chinese emerging economy.
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected survey data from 140 Chinese new ventures. Following an empirical design, hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping analysis were applied to examine six hypotheses.
Findings
Results reveal that organizational entrepreneurial capability plays a positively mediating role in the association between entrepreneurs’ effectuation and new venture performance. Moreover, the whole mediation model is positively moderated by entrepreneurs’ passion, not only the association but also between entrepreneurs’ effectuation and organizational entrepreneurial capability.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to the static relationships between key variables using the data obtained at one point in an emerging economy, which cannot investigate the dynamic evolution between variables. More longitudinal designs or cases to track the dynamic association should be considered.
Practical implications
The findings provide useful suggestions for entrepreneurs to enhance their effectual logic and entrepreneurs’ passion to better perceive and exploit opportunities and further improve new venture performance. The results also provide guidance for other groups, such as angel investors and policymakers, regarding how to use effectuation logic as an evaluation criterion to judge whether a new venture or program has investment potential.
Originality/value
These findings enrich the effectuation theory by providing the empirical evidence of the effect of entrepreneurs’ effectuation on new venture performance in an emerging economy. They also provide deeper insights into opportunity research by uncovering the mediating role of organizational entrepreneurial capability in the relationship between entrepreneurs’ effectuation and new venture performance.
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