Taha Jafari, Azim Zarei, Adel Azar and Alireza Moghaddam
The paper aims to explore how business intelligence (BI), integration and agility influence supply chain performance.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to explore how business intelligence (BI), integration and agility influence supply chain performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was performed by the exploratory sequential mixed method in two phases including meta-synthesis as a qualitative method and survey as a quantitative method. Data were collected through a survey of 369 Iranian companies across various industries. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that BI, integration and agility play an important role in achieving better supply chain performance. In the meantime, BI has the greatest impact on supply chain performance. Additionally, BI has a positive and significant effect on the integration and agility of the supply chain. The study also found that integration has a direct effect on supply chain agility.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, the paper theoretically and empirically presents a new conceptual model of the relationship between BI, integration, agility and supply chain performance. The study helps researchers and practitioners to achieve insights into supply chain performance improvement.
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Azim Zarei, Davood Feiz and Hadi Moradi
The strategic importance of brand identity management has been emphasized in the brand management literature, but studies that examine brand identity sub-components effects on…
Abstract
Purpose
The strategic importance of brand identity management has been emphasized in the brand management literature, but studies that examine brand identity sub-components effects on customer resilience to negative information are very few. In this regard, this study aims to examine the effect of brand distinctiveness and prestige as sub-components of identity on young customers’ loyalty and resilience to negative information through the mediating variable of brand attractiveness in the luxury electronics market.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected. Based on a five-point Likert scale were asked of consumers and owners of electronic products (mobile phone, tablet and laptop) to indicate their level of disagreement and agreement with series of statements. After an analytic process, 422 valid questionnaires were obtained. The hypotheses were tested by using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results showed that brand prestige and distinctiveness have direct effect on brand attractiveness, which prestige had more influence than distinctiveness. The results indicated that brand loyalty was strongly affected by direct brand attractiveness, and that the effect of brand attractiveness on the resilience to negative information was not significant. Finally, the study results showed that resilience to negative information is affected by brand loyalty.
Originality/value
This study is significant because it is one of the few studies that examines the effect of brand identity on brand attractiveness and consumers’ extra-role behavior, which results in the development of branding literature in the field of luxury products.
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Azim Zarei, Ghazale Taheri and Hadi Ghazvini
Researchers, with the widespread acceptance of Web-based technologies by companies, have recently discovered a new type of social capital through these mass communication tools…
Abstract
Purpose
Researchers, with the widespread acceptance of Web-based technologies by companies, have recently discovered a new type of social capital through these mass communication tools, but there is still limited knowledge about its formation. Therefore, this study specifically aims to conceptualize and validate brand social capital (BSC) by analyzing the role of the online brand community’s social media capital (OBCSC).
Design/methodology/approach
Research data was collected using a questionnaire with 39 closed-ended questions. Participants, among the 220 questionnaires distributed, only returned 140 acceptable questionnaires, indicating a response rate of 64%. The statistical population of the study included managers and employees of e-commerce companies active in social media in the field of B2C who introduce and sell their products and services on various types of social networking websites. This study performed data analysis using structural equation modeling with partial least squares.
Findings
The results showed that OBCSC has a positive and significant effect on the integration of brand knowledge, branding co-creation and sense of belonging to the brand community, and in addition, using the mediating role of these three variables, it also has a positive effect on BSC. This study rejects only hypothesis 8 among all the hypotheses formulated, which shows that the sense of belonging to the brand community has no significant effect on branding co-creation.
Originality/value
By conceptualizing a new phenomenon called BSC and how its conversion mechanism is, this research defines a specific and formulated path to better identify the results of the organizational use of social media. In addition, it significantly contributes to increasing managers’ understanding of the importance of online brand community activities in internalizing customer brand knowledge within the company and turning it into wealth.
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The main purpose of this study is to decompose the concept of country of origin (COO) and to investigate the influence of country of brand (COB) and country of manufacture (COM…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to decompose the concept of country of origin (COO) and to investigate the influence of country of brand (COB) and country of manufacture (COM) on brand equity formation. Moreover, the secondary aim of this research is to examine the moderating role of product involvement.
Design/methodology/approach
To accomplish this, a conceptual framework was designed and relationships between its constructs (COB image, COM image, brand equity dimensions, overall brand equity) were hypothesized. Data were collected from Iranian students who were the owners of selected brands of laptops and mobile phones. All hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) in LISREL.
Findings
As a result of exploratory factor analysis, three factors, namely brand loyalty, perceived quality and brand association/awareness were introduced for the brand equity dimensions. Results indicated that unlike COM, COB has a direct and significant effect on brand loyalty and COB positively influences perceived quality and brand awareness or association. Brand loyalty has a positive and direct effect on the overall brand equity. The results also indicate the moderating effect of product involvement on relationships between COB and brand equity dimensions.
Research limitations/implications
This study only investigates in the country of origin of the product. The effect of laptops and mobile phones from a student's point of view were not taken into consideration, which includes other controlled variables (e.g. income, gender) and moderating factors (e.g. product familiarity).
Originality/value
This paper is important in order to identify the effect of brand equity formation from the point of view of young Iranian consumers. Product involvement effect is another important case in this research.
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Adeel Nasir, Umar Farooq, Kanwal Iqbal Khan and Ather Azim Khan
This study aims to explain the Sukuk structures individually by highlighting the key differences and commonalities in their influential aspects. It also compares the core aspects…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explain the Sukuk structures individually by highlighting the key differences and commonalities in their influential aspects. It also compares the core aspects of Sukuk literature with conventional bonds and suggests the point of differences between them.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a quali-quantitative approach with the help of segmented bibliometric analysis to describe core differences and commonalities in various Sukuk structures in terms of core authors, countries, sources, affiliation, documents and keywords. In addition, it deploys “biblioshiny” from R-package “bibliometrix 3.0” to identify key influential aspects of different Sukuk instruments.
Findings
Results reported that Malaysia is the core contributing country in Sukuk publications and the center of author correspondence. There is a structural difference among various Sukuk instruments. The significant literature commonalities in Ijarah, Mudarabah, Musharakah and Murabahah Sukuk affiliations and globally cited journal articles are also found. However, the influential aspects of Sukuk compared with conventional bonds are different from other Sukuk literature. It also conducted a keyword analysis to report significant themes in the literature.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge as it helps investors to understand the shariah permissibility and investment supremacy of various Sukuk alternatives. Investors, policymakers, scholars and researchers should understand the dynamics of multiple Sukuk structures and their Shari’ah permissibility. This study significantly elaborates on this objective.
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Service quality is an established research area in the services marketing literature and is an integral component in an Islamic economy driven by halal service sectors. Despite…
Abstract
Purpose
Service quality is an established research area in the services marketing literature and is an integral component in an Islamic economy driven by halal service sectors. Despite its importance and the rapidly changing service environment, there has yet to be a comprehensive study of service quality research across halal industries. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the existing literature on service quality in halal industries to provide a state-of-the-art understanding and identify opportunities in this research area.
Design/methodology/approach
Guided by the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) protocol and the theories, contexts, characteristics and methods (TCCM) framework, this paper reviews 78 journal articles from the Web of Science database which features service quality as an underpinning theory in the context of halal economies.
Findings
Findings indicate that since the first study in 2010, service quality research in halal industries has concentrated on consumers in the Islamic finance sector who are served primarily by human service agents. Most studies are focused on halal industries in Muslim countries. Several papers adopt the SERVQUAL model while others develop more novel service quality scales for halal industries. Culture, technology and faith-related factors are key drivers of halal service quality. While few papers study the antecedents and moderators of service quality in halal industries, religiosity was found to be a significant variable in several papers reviewed.
Practical implications
The global Islamic economy will continue to be driven by halal services. This review will provide managers with an appreciation of service quality across different halal industries. Researchers can use the results of this review to guide future studies and contribute toward the development of this research area.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first to comprehensively map the antecedents, dimensions, outcomes and moderators of service quality across halal industries and provides managers with a strategic understanding of service quality across the halal economy. This study develops a conceptual model and concludes with a research agenda to advance halal service quality research.
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Yushi Jiang, Sobia Jamil, Syed Imran Zaman and Syeda Anum Fatima
This paper investigates the interactional relationships between sustainable human resource management (SHRM) and organizational performance (OP). Sustainable HRM is an approach…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper investigates the interactional relationships between sustainable human resource management (SHRM) and organizational performance (OP). Sustainable HRM is an approach that links HRM and sustainability. These studies focused on integrating HR with sustainable developments, such as economic and social aspects, in favour of focusing on the environmental aspect. Organizational change is an ongoing process that has to be managed effectively to keep the change in place for a long time.
Design/methodology/approach
A framework was offered to estimate the cause-and-effect relation of the SHRM and OP factors. Data is gathered from professionals from various pharmaceutical industries. This study applied two methods, Fuzzy AHP and DEMATEL Type II. These techniques are used to understand the cause-and-effect factors and their interactions.
Findings
It was observed from the findings that the factor of SHRM, such as Social Justice (F2), Green Job Design (F5), Green Training (F6) and Implementation of Green Policy (F8), was the most critical for the pharmaceutical sector that effects Financial performance (F13), Customer Satisfaction (F15) and Market performance (F14). Pharmaceutical firms ought to coordinate public health advocacy efforts, engage in healthcare initiatives and provide financial support for environmentally friendly efforts that improve social and economic conditions.
Practical implications
For this sustainability, managers concentrate on creating an environment that is healthy and acceptable, and they work hard to mitigate the impact of natural factors and repair damage done to the environment; it is essential to move towards sustainable development to resolve environmental problems. Improving HR efficiency is among essential HRM responsibilities, as they expand the knowledge base of the workforce, enhance human capital, and eventually create valuable intangible assets and promote and encourage sustainable pharmaceutical products for some years.
Originality/value
This research paper has presented exclusive worth to the SHRM and organizational performance literature as it employs fuzzy FAHP and DEMATEL type 2. There is less research on SHRM in the pharmaceutical sector with these factors. In addition, FAHP and TYPE 2 DEMATEL are used in very few researches on SHRM approaches.