Surendra Balaji Devarakonda, Pallavi Bulusu, Marwan Al-rjoub, Amit Bhattacharya and Rupak Kumar Banerjee
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of external head cooling on alleviating the heat stress in the human body by analyzing the temperatures of the core body (Tc)…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of external head cooling on alleviating the heat stress in the human body by analyzing the temperatures of the core body (Tc), blood (Tblood) and head (Th) during exercise conditions using 3D whole body model.
Design/methodology/approach
Computational study is conducted to comprehend the influence of external head cooling on Tc, Tblood and Th. The Pennes bioheat and energy balance equations formulated for the whole-body model are solved concurrently to obtain Tc, Tblood and Th for external head cooling values from 33 to 233 W/m2. Increased external head cooling of 404 W/m2 is used to compare the numerical and experimental Th data.
Findings
Significant reductions of 0.21°C and 0.38°C are observed in Th with external head cooling of 233 and 404 W/m2, respectively. However, for external head cooling of 233 W/m2, lesser reductions of 0.03°C and 0.06°C are found in Tc and Tblood, respectively. Computational results for external head cooling of 404 W/m2 show a difference of 15 per cent in Th compared to experimental values from literature.
Originality/value
The development of stress because of heat generated within human body is major concern for athletes exercising at high intensities. This study provides an insight into the effectiveness of external head cooling in regulating the head and body temperatures during exercise conditions.
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The compulsive buying (CB)behaviour has become topics of increasing interest to researchers and policy makers, particularly because researches have shown that it can influence…
Abstract
Purpose
The compulsive buying (CB)behaviour has become topics of increasing interest to researchers and policy makers, particularly because researches have shown that it can influence consumer behaviour and well-being. However, a clear picture of how this phenomenon arises has proven elusive. Using the adolescents perceived level of stress as an integrative framework, the purpose of this paper is to derive hypotheses from two theoretical perspectives (the stress and CB behaviour), and uses a survey of adolescents (15-18) year in India to test the hypotheses.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study is the first to experimentally manipulate important stressors in the lives of adolescents, i.e. familial and non-familial; and measures its impact on CB among a sample of 15-18-year old adolescents. Next, the authors investigate the relationship between CB and post-purchase regret and then whether gender moderates the stress-CB relationship.
Findings
The present study finds that adolescents increasingly turn to CB in an attempt to cope with heightened levels of stress due to familial and non-familial factors. Surprisingly, findings reveal that non-familial factors are not a major source of stress among adolescents. Gender was not found to moderate stress-CB relationship. Both boys and girls were found to respond to higher levels of stress with higher incidences of CB. Results suggest that CB behaviour is a common coping strategy for adolescents from both genders. The findings indicate that one’s experiences and circumstances in adolescence are related to their CB behaviour, thus a framework has been used to elucidate them, have important implications for theory and practice.
Originality/value
The study makes some inimitable and significant contributions to the literature. It portrays one of few studies to investigate CB during adolescence period – a hard to reach population. Here authors experimentally manipulate stress levels to investigate its impact on CB. The study’s findings in regard to gender’s impact on the stress-CB relationship suggest that CB begins during adolescence period and is a common coping strategy for both boys and girls.
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Amit Sachan, Rajiv Kumar and Ritu Kumar
A government website is considered as an electronic government service delivery system (eGSDS). The authors look at this eGSDS from its process point of view. This study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
A government website is considered as an electronic government service delivery system (eGSDS). The authors look at this eGSDS from its process point of view. This study aims to expand the existing knowledge of e-government adoption, and to identify the significance of eGSDS process to user satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a quantitative technique using data collected from 197 respondents. Structure equation modeling has been used to test the model and the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The findings indicate that as the eGSDS process improves, a user’s perception of the government website’s ease of use increases, leading to increased perceived usefulness, which increases user satisfaction. The findings also indicate that eGSDS process has a significant impact on perceived usefulness and user satisfaction. This study provides evidence that the technological capabilities embedded in the government website processes are an important factor in determining e-government service quality and ultimately e-government user satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
The sample used was sufficient for this study and allowed reasonable conclusions to be drawn, but cannot be considered representative of all e-government users in India. Further research may help to validate the findings and generalize the results to a wider population. This study extends the current literature that looks at e-government adoption. Academicians and information systems researchers may use these findings for further research.
Practical implications
The research provides evidence that the technological capabilities embedded in the eGSDS process are critical in adopting e-government services. Government or concerned agencies may consider eGSDS process attributes (e.g. navigation, searching and transacting) while designing e-government service to give improved experience to its user.
Originality/value
E-government websites have become an important point of contact with citizens for many public services. However, more study is needed to understand how Web-based technological capabilities of e-government services affect user satisfaction. This study is an attempt to explore the impact of the eGSDS process on e-government user satisfaction.
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Rajiv Kumar, Ritu Kumar, Amit Sachan and Piyush Gupta
E-government quality (e-GovQual) and e-government user value (e-GUV) are multidimensional concepts. While previous studies have identified apparent factors influencing…
Abstract
Purpose
E-government quality (e-GovQual) and e-government user value (e-GUV) are multidimensional concepts. While previous studies have identified apparent factors influencing e-government satisfaction (e-GovSat) and e-government adoption intention (e-GovAI), such as e-GovQual and e-GUV, but they have neglected to explain the influence of the dimensions of these two concepts. The purpose of this research is to study e-government service value chain (e-GSVC) one-GovQual dimensions, e-GUV dimensions, e-GovSat and e-GovAI.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a quantitative method to test the hypotheses and validate the proposed model. Data are collected from 378 e-government users across different parts of India comprising of different demographic characteristics. The model is analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The findings highlight the impact of the dimensions of e-GovQual (efficiency, trust, reliability and citizen support) on the dimensions of e-GUV (functional, economic, social and emotional value) as e-GUV dimensions affect e-GovSat, which in turn influences e-GovAI. The results validate the e-GSVC and also stress the partial mediating role of the dimensions of e-GUV on the relationship between the dimensions of e-GovQual and e-GovSat.
Research limitations/implications
The sample size of 378 may not be a proper representation of a country like India, which has huge diversity within its vast population.
Practical implications
The study offers practitioners a clear picture and a useful guide to better understand the drivers of value, satisfaction and adoption in the case of e-government users.
Originality/value
This study is probably the first attempt toward demonstrating the process influencing e-GovSat via e-GUV dimensions originating from excellent e-GovQual dimensions to ultimately trigger e-GovAI.
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Ana Paula Matias Gama and Jorge Manuel Mendes Galvão
Most countries often have public companies with large controlling owners, typically a family. This empirical evidence aims to contrast with the classical view of the largest…
Abstract
Purpose
Most countries often have public companies with large controlling owners, typically a family. This empirical evidence aims to contrast with the classical view of the largest dispersed firm presented by Berle and Means and challenge the findings by Bhattacharya and Ravikumar, who predict that the shares held by families will decrease if an efficient financial market is put in place. Therefore, family firms represent an important group in the stock market today. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of the family as a controlling owner on firms' performance, valuation and capital structure.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews the current literature related to how family (taking into account specific governance characteristics such as family ownership, family control and family management) affects firms' performance and value.
Findings
The literature review showed that founder family control and professional (outside) management increase performance, whereas excess control via control enhancing mechanisms (such as dual class shares and pyramidal structures) and descendent management produce both lower valuation and performance. This evidence suggests that families have the incentives and the power to systematically expropriate wealth from minority shareholders.
Originality/value
Previous research shows that family firms on average perform better than non‐family firms. But this is a non‐linear relation due the fact that the relationship between family ownership and performance cannot be identified without distinguishing between control and cash‐flow rights. Thus, the literature review as a whole emphasizes that the incentives for the controlling shareholder to engage in expropriation are a function of the institutional framework in which the firm operates. So, for further research, it is important to investigate how family firms perform in different corporate governance systems. A policy implication is the necessity to improve minority shareholders' protection from the risk of expropriation by large shareholders.
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Anish Purkayastha and Sunil Sharma
The purpose of this paper is to report on an inductive research that analyzes the unique decisions of three firms that shape their business model and, consequently, provide a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on an inductive research that analyzes the unique decisions of three firms that shape their business model and, consequently, provide a competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach
Given the paucity of prior research on the effect that a firm’s business model has on its competitive advantage, addressing the research question warrants an in-depth qualitative study. The study requires explicitly capturing decisions from a firm’s chosen business model and how these decisions are linked to its competitive advantage. The authors take on an inductive research approach to study three longitudinal case studies of organizations that have either successfully implemented their adopted business model or are implementing unique business models.
Findings
First, the authors identify nine different theoretically grounded propositions based on decisions taken by the firms the authors studied, which shape their business model and give them a competitive advantage. Second, the authors look at these decisions in an integrated manner and categorize these into structural decisions and strategic decisions. Third, the authors extend an existing line of thought that predominantly views the business model as complementary to a firm’s product or service innovation. The authors emphasize on the criticality of the business model as a higher level construct formed from multiple structural and strategic decisions that, eventually, become a source of competitive advantage.
Originality/value
The findings help to identify a possible theoretical explanation of newer forms of organization, evolving from product, process or service innovation, combined with their unique business model. They help in guiding practitioners to identify sources of competitive advantage through the innovative business models.
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Amit Shankar and Rambalak Yadav
The study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) domain on millennials' brand relationship quality (BRQ). It also attempts to understand how the…
Abstract
Purpose
The study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) domain on millennials' brand relationship quality (BRQ). It also attempts to understand how the relationship between CSR domain and millennials' BRQ is moderated by consumer moral foundation and skepticism.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed a 2 (CSR domain: individual versus group) × 2 (moral foundation: individualizing versus binding) × 2 (consumer skepticism: high versus low) between-subjects experimental design. MANCOVA was performed to examine the hypothesis.
Findings
The results show that group domain CSR practices have more impact on millennials' BRQ compared to individual domain CSR practices. The findings also reported the moderating effect of skepticism and consumer moral foundation in influencing the relationship between CSR domain and millennials' BRQ.
Research limitations/implications
As the study was conducted in India, the findings are not generalizable to customers from other countries.
Practical implications
Practically, the findings will help marketers in designing their CSR practices to enhance BRQ among millennials.
Originality/value
The study has considered CSR as a heterogeneous action (CSR domain: individual versus group-oriented) and measured its impact on millennials' BRQ. The study is the first of its kind to examine the impact of CSR domain (heterogenous CSR action) on millennials' BRQ (BRQ as a multi-dimensional construct) in services industry, specifically for the banks. This study enriches bank marketing literature by adding a new CSR perspective.
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The purpose of this study is to examine how business founders influence the performance of family firms in developing countries in Asia.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine how business founders influence the performance of family firms in developing countries in Asia.
Design/methodology/approach
The pooled ordinary least squares regression is used on a sample of 134 public listed family firms from four developing countries in Asia during the period 2004–2014. This study also conducts sub-period analyses where the study period is divided into three sub-periods, i.e. before, during and after the global financial crisis (GFC).
Findings
This study finds that founder-led family firms outperform family firms led by nonfounders for the full study period. The results for the sub-period analyses also show that founder-led family firms outperform nonfounder-led family firms for the pre-crisis and during crisis periods. Finally, this study finds no evidence supporting the superior performance of founder-led family firms post-GFC.
Originality/value
Because family firm is one of the most fundamental forms of business organization in the world, policymakers have great concerns about how business founders influence the performance of these firms. Nonetheless, the existing research on family firms is chiefly concentrated on developed countries but there is a paucity of studies being conducted in the context of developing countries. Moreover, previous research has only considered the performance of these firms during normal or turbulent times but no prior studies have compared the firm performance during normal, turbulent and recovery periods. It is the aim of this paper to address these research gaps by using a new and more recent set of data.
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Amit Kumar, Saurav Snehvrat, Prerna Kumari, Priyanka Priyadarshani and Preyaan Ray
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is viewed as a differentiating strategy that wins over stakeholders’ confidence. Due to the potential strategic and positive effects on…
Abstract
Purpose
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is viewed as a differentiating strategy that wins over stakeholders’ confidence. Due to the potential strategic and positive effects on businesses, the study of CSR and its relationship to competitiveness has gained relevance. While studies have examined the impact of CSR activities on firm competitiveness, the findings so far remain contradictory. Further research on the underlying processes/mechanisms that explain how CSR contributes to competitiveness remains scarce. Accordingly, this study aims to look into the link between CSR and competitiveness with a focus on Asian business and management studies.
Design/methodology/approach
By using a bibliometric approach, this paper aims to provide a review of the state-of-the-art research on the linkage between CSR and competitiveness in Asian context. The sample for this research included all 538 studies from the period of 2001–2023 in the Scopus database. A bibliometric study included both co-occurrence and co-citation analysis.
Findings
The study’s findings made significant contributions by identifying seven distinct clusters of co-occurrences. Using co-citation, three journals-based co-citation clusters and another three authors-based co-citation clusters are identified. The findings show how processes/mechanisms such as – accountability, multi-stakeholder dialogue/engagement, resource generation, emphasizing sustainable development goals and emerging markets, redefining strategy, cultivating value/vision and CSR leadership – are increasing in importance.
Practical implications
Overall, the authors argue that CSR-led competitiveness is indeed one of the key drivers for improved sustainability performance of a firm.
Originality/value
Based on findings, a conceptual framework has been proposed highlighting different processes and mechanisms that influence the CSR-led competitiveness – outcomes relationship.
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Amir Grinstein and Arieh Goldman
Managers often face a number of dilemmas with respect to their stakeholders: Who are the most salient ones? How many should they target? How to allocate attention/efforts among…
Abstract
Purpose
Managers often face a number of dilemmas with respect to their stakeholders: Who are the most salient ones? How many should they target? How to allocate attention/efforts among them? Based on stakeholders and market orientation research this paper aims to address these dilemmas.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a survey of managers in a cross‐industry sample of 115 firms. The authors first identify a specific group of salient stakeholders – those providing the firm with revenues and financial support. The article then studies the conditions under which firms should adopt a key approach to stakeholders' management – a “generalist” stakeholder strategy, that is, deal with a larger number of revenue and funding producing stakeholder types, and/or more evenly spread attention/efforts among them.
Findings
The findings suggest that a generalist stakeholder strategy has a positive effect on firms' performance among resource‐rich firms and among firms who face dissimilar (“unrelated”) stakeholders. Also, degree of environmental volatility was not found to moderate the relationship between a generalist stakeholder strategy and firms' performance.
Research limitations/implications
The study contributes to the marketing and stakeholder literatures by identifying and studying a group of important stakeholders beyond final consumers – those providing the firm with revenues and financial support, and by studying the conditions under which firms benefit from one key approach to stakeholders – a “generalist” stakeholder strategy. The study's limitations characterize most cross‐sectional survey research (e.g. single informants, subjective performance assessments). However, substantial efforts were made to ensure the validity and robustness of the findings.
Practical implications
The study offers managers insight into the organizational and environmental conditions under which firms should adopt a generalist stakeholder strategy.
Originality/value
This is one of the few papers that integrate into the marketing literature the study of stakeholders. Specifically, it introduces the concept of a generalist stakeholder strategy.