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The purpose of this paper is to propose a game-based learning (GBL) content design model that replicates the two-dimensional Bloom cognitive process in GBL units. The proposed model, called the knowledge and cognitive-process representation (KCR) model, enables a game player to access three types of Bloom knowledge by allowing the learner to experience-related cognitive processes that can be replicated in the GBL units via appropriate representation approaches.

To validate the feasibility of the proposed KCR model, 14 GBL units for a Cisco-certified network associate (CCNA) certification training program were designed and installed on several servers. Players played the GBL units via internet browsers. According to the problem-solving theory, three game components, including a tool, feedback, and goal, are necessary for game playing and should be adopted to implement three sub-cognitive processes. A three-phase experiment was performed for one year. Subjects were university sophomores and a randomized block experiment design was implemented.

The experimental results show that, compared with a traditional web-based learning platform, the GBL platform is more efficient and it enables learners to achieve improved learning performance. In addition, most hypotheses support the fact that particular cognizance processes should be implemented by a specific representation approach in GBL. Finally, a KCR model for GBL content design is inferred to represent a cognitive process appropriately that can be referenced for both the digital content instructor and the game developer.

Because the CCNA training material does not include meta-knowledge of Bloom knowledge type and the creation of the Bloom cognitive process, the KCR model should be further extended. In addition, others certification training materials (such as Oracle DBA, Java programmer) can be implemented on the basis of the KCR model for general validation as further research.

Players can acquire specific types of knowledge, such as factual knowledge, by experiencing a particular cognitive process, such as the “remembering & understanding” processes, which can be represented with a computer tool. The KCR model can provide both the instructor and the game developer with design recommendations and accelerate GBL content implementation.

GBL is a learning platform that can stimulate a learner by improving the motivation to learn and the learning experience. To ensure high-learning performance, the learner should perform specific cognitive processes and acquire knowledge. This research proposes a content design model for GBL units that appropriately replicate the Bloom framework in a computer game.

This study aims to investigate insurance policy loan applicant characteristics. Additionally, it reveals the behaviour patterns of heavy users who have applied for at least two loans. A policy loan prediction model is established which is designed to increase loan application rates.

The proposed model is implemented using data‐mining techniques and comprises two mechanisms: a business rule generator and a recommendation mechanism. Two analytical approaches, the C.5 and Apriori algorithm, are employed to analyse the profile and browsing log DBs of insured individuals. The prediction model is verified by actual data from a Taiwanese insurance company.

The data‐mining results reveal that five attributes are ultimately used to establish the prediction model, namely: gender, marketing channel, insurance type, area of policy owner, and assumed interest rate. Additionally, the analytical results also indicate that insured individuals apply for loans as a result of arbitrage inducement. The accuracy of loan applicant prediction can exceed 70 per cent. Finally, some interesting patterns emerge for heavy users, such as the finding that loan applicants are used to applying for loans continuously (loan application repetition is on average two to three times).

Some policy owners who are unfamiliar with the web interface prefer to contact insurance personnel directly to discuss their insurance needs, and thus no browsing records are available for such users. In such cases only the profile could be collected and analysed.

The proposed model enables insurance firms to locate potential loan applicants according to the data‐mining results. As in the illustration scenario in the paper, insurance personnel can contact these potential loan applicants before they submit loan applications to the bank. Additionally, loan‐related information is provided for online insurance users based on their browsing logs. The loan application rate is thus expected to increase, along with interest revenue.

As long as the policy proceeds, the interest income from the policy loan seems to be a good option for extending insurance company operational earnings. Understanding the characteristics of loan applicants will provide helpful information. Besides, the proposed mechanism will be more appropriate to online users, who are unwilling to deal with unwanted information.

The purpose of this guest editorial is to introduce the papers in this special issue.

A brief introduction about the issue of web‐mining applications in e‐commerce and e‐services is provided, along with a summary of the main contributions of the papers that are included in the special issue.

The value of web‐mining techniques can be enhanced through applying them to real environments such as e‐commerce and e‐services. The research fields of web mining, e‐commerce and e‐services can also be expanded.

An overview of the special issue and related research is provided in this paper.

This research aims to examine the indirect relationship between feminine traits and employee contextual performance through transformational leadership. Additionally, it explored the role of leaders’ sex in moderating the relationship between feminine traits and transformational leadership through a moderated mediation model that subsequently influences employee contextual performance.

This study tested and validated the moderated mediation model using a two-wave survey with 295 samples. Bootstrapping was adopted for model testing.

The results indicated that leaders’ sex moderated the relationship between feminine traits and employee contextual performance through transformational leadership, such that the indirect effect was stronger for female leaders than for male leaders.

Female leaders can improve employee contextual performance by demonstrating transformational leadership with feminine traits. Organizations must implement measures (i.e. training) to promote the acceptance and application of leader gender and gender-role trait diversity, reduce the prevalence of gender stereotypes and help leaders benefit from learning and implementing the effective combination of leadership and feminine traits.

The study demonstrated the joint effects of leaders’ sex (difference) and gender-role traits on employee contextual performance through transformational leadership. These results provide female leaders with feminine traits to gain a leadership advantage and an in-depth understanding of role congruity theory from the perspective of leadership effectiveness.

The online healthcare platform (OHP) has become an essential element of the healthcare system, representing a technological shift in the job responsibilities of medical professionals. Drawing on a technology-based job demands–resources (JD-R) model, this study aims to examine how the technological characteristics of OHP affect doctors’ OHP use psychology and behavior.

This empirical study was based on a survey conducted among 423 doctors with OHP use experience. The proposed model underwent assessment through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to reveal the effects of technology-based job demands (i.e. technology-based work overload and technology-based work monitoring) and resources (i.e. perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions and IT mindfulness) on doctors’ OHP fatigue and continuance use intention.

Results suggest that technology-based work monitoring, perceived usefulness and facilitation conditions have significant impacts on doctors’ psychological and behavioral responses to using OHP, whereas technology-based work overload and IT mindfulness have a single impact on continuance use intention and fatigue of OHP.

It assists doctors, healthcare administrators, policymakers and technology developers in understanding OHPs’ technological characteristics, enabling them to harness its benefits and mitigate potential challenges. Additionally, given the self-reported cross-sectional data from China, future studies can improve generalizability and adopt experimental methods or longitudinal designs with objective data.

It extends the research on OHP by employing a technology-based JD-R model to explore work attributes and dual effects associated with OHP’s technological characteristics. It also enriches existing research by examining the role of OHP’s technological characteristics in doctors’ psychological and behavioral responses.

This study examines the phenomenon of “knowledge influencers,” individuals who convey expert information to non-expert audiences and attract users to subscribe to their self-created knowledge products. It seeks to address two research questions: (1) What are the antecedents that promote perceived attractiveness of knowledge influencers? and (2) How does perceived attractiveness of knowledge influencers affect users’ willingness to subscribe to knowledge products?

Guided by self-branding theory, which suggests that individuals strategically shape user perceptions and interactions to create an appealing image, the study employed a sequential mixed-methods approach. Qualitative interviews were conducted with knowledge influencers and their subscribers, followed by a quantitative survey of users with knowledge subscription experience to validate the findings.

Results suggested that knowledge influencers could enhance their attractiveness to users by promoting perceived professionalism, perceived familiarity, and perceived connectedness. Perceived attractiveness of knowledge influencers could directly affect users’ willingness to subscribe or indirectly through the role of users’ attachment to knowledge influencers.

By understanding the factors driving users’ subscription intentions, platform operators and influencers can refine their strategies to enhance user attachment and optimize monetization opportunities through personalized interactions and tailored content offerings.

This study contributes to the literature by elucidating the relationship between perceived attractiveness and users’ subscription intentions, offering new insights into the dynamics of online knowledge consumption.

The cruise industry has witnessed steady growth, with passenger volume increasing from 17.8 million in 2009 to 30 million in 2019. In the context of global competition and an uncertain business environment, competition in business has changed dramatically from battles of “firm versus firm” to “supply chain versus supply chain”. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to understand the cruise industry from a chain perspective, which has not drawn widespread research attention.

This paper brings together the insights, opinions, concepts and frameworks from a literature review of different disciplines (maritime shipping, tourism management, logistics management, operations management and supply chain management) and analysis results from 22 semi-structured interviews to make an early attempt to conceptualise the cruise supply chain (CSC).

The cruise supply chain is elaborated on the process, the role of each entity and its characteristics by comparing with the maritime supply chain and tourism supply chain. Based on the understanding of the CSC, two specific characteristics of the Chinese CSC are examined, which need further investigation.

The CSC is articulated with detailed processes and characteristics based on the literature review and empirical study. The findings of this paper not only advance the knowledge of the supply chain in the cruise industry but also highlight the importance of further research on the CSC.

The purpose of this study is to determine the competency characteristics required for the employment of master’s degree students in educational technology.

A combined qualitative and quantitative method was used to consult multiple experts through a modified Delphi method. Competency characteristics were extracted from Chinese recruitment apps, national recruitment websites and university training programs. Ten senior teacher experts who teach educational technology master’s students were consulted through a questionnaire consultation to validate the proposed competency model. The weights of competency characteristics were determined through a combination of the analytic hierarchy process and entropy method.

The results show that when recruiting educational technology master’s students, more emphasis is placed on operational skills. The majority of companies tend to assess practical abilities rather than theoretical knowledge. Relevant knowledge of educational technology, psychology, computer science and education is considered to be the basic knowledge components of educational technology master’s students, while professional skills are the core skills required for their positions. Therefore, universities need to focus on training, educational technology graduate students in these areas of competence. The study also found that professional qualities (such as physical and mental fitness) and personality traits (interpersonal communication and interaction) receive more attention from companies and are essential competencies for educational technology master’s students.

A competence model for educational technology master’s students is proposed, which includes aspects such as knowledge, personal skills/abilities, professional qualities and personality traits. The competence elements included in this model can serve as reference indicators for universities to cultivate the competence of educational technology master’s students, as well as reference points for recruiting units to help them select talents. This represents a new dimension in research related to the employment of educational technology master’s students. The study enriches the research objects and competence dictionary in the field of competence research.

This study provides an insight into and a solution for the conflict among marketing channel members in China. It also examines the application of a Western channel conflict management (CM) model in China and suggests future research directions for CM of marketing channel members.

A replication research study with extensions was conducted following previous studies' suggestions. Using a Chinese sample, the author further evaluates a Western conceptual framework with hypothetical relationships of variables. Different from the original study using students in a simulated network environment, this study used channel members involved in actual network activities. Data were collected by a questionnaire survey and analyzed.

The results show CM of channel members in China and do not fully support the hypotheses in the Western model. This study identifies the determinants of an effective approach toward resolving conflicts among members from the perspectives of network outcomes, conflict types and management styles. The choice of CM style is imperative to member performance, especially for achieving specific network outcomes or CM goals.

This study contributes to existing studies of CM of marketing channel members by providing empirical evidence of managing conflict of members in the Chinese channel, revealing the effectiveness of CM of members with different cultural norms, providing managers with practical solutions to effectively manage conflicts among members and providing future research directions regarding this topic.

From the academic perspective, there are challenges to develop an appropriate evaluation model that is linked to both theoretical and professional viewpoints for online knowledge community evaluation (KCE). These challenges are mainly the evaluation principles, the method used to derive the evaluation items, and the techniques used to determine the importance of evaluation items to formulate the evaluation model. The purpose of this paper is to propose and develop an online KCE model by considering the Delphi method, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique, and balanced scorecard (BSC) approach that contains facets of member, strategy, learning and growth, and internal process.

The qualitative study was used to develop the KCE model. The BSC approach was used to construct the facets of evaluation model. The Delphi method and AHP technique were utilized to derive structural measure items and to determine item weight in the development process, respectively. An illustrated practical case was used to demonstrate the proposed KCE model.

The member facet is perceived the most important facet while the internal process the least, implying that the invited participants perceive that community members, as represented by member satisfaction and loyalty, are the most important factors. In the knowledge management process sub-facet, knowledge creation obtains the highest weight compared with knowledge acquisition, dissemination, and utilization. Data analysis results based on 822 survey samples for the demonstrated Yahoo!Kimo Knowledge+ case are obtained. Findings and implications are also addressed.

Unlike the exclusively quantitative approach, the proposed KCE model balances both qualitative and quantitative approaches. First, it performed a face-to-face collaboration based on the Delphi method to deal with the unstructured cognition, opinions, and comments of the invited participants. Second, it developed an evaluation model based on the consensus of the invited participants by using the AHP technique in which the perceived importance of measure item to their immediate super item (qualitative variable) is transformed into number (quantitative variable).