Search results
1 – 9 of 9David L. Remund and Brooke W. McKeever
The purpose of this paper is to examine how corporate and nonprofit leaders partner on public relations for corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how corporate and nonprofit leaders partner on public relations for corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
Design/methodology/approach
Through semi-structured interviews across the USA, and stretching into Europe and South America, leaders (n=24) from US-based corporations top-ranked for corporate citizenship, and the nonprofit organizations with which they have developed CSR programs, shared insights and best practices.
Findings
Corporate and nonprofit leaders who collaborate on CSR programs spoke independently about several essential shared values, including community-focused collaboration, fiscal responsibility, and strategic alignment. How they described their CSR partnerships reflects a mutual commitment to a distributed leadership model, which involves the need to span organizational boundaries, share unique expertise across levels and roles, and sustain long-term relationships. Consistent with prior research, this study also suggests that communication leaders in both corporations and nonprofit organizations leverage transactional (process-focused) and transformational (people-focused) leadership styles, as they work to build and foster these long-term partnerships.
Research limitations/implications
The findings pinpoint how principles of the distributed leadership model come to life across CSR partnerships and contribute to the success of such partnerships. Corporations and their nonprofit partners must mutually focus on spanning, sharing, and sustaining as they build programs together. These shared principles exemplify a distributed leadership model and help define what CSR partnership truly means.
Originality/value
This study looks at CSR programs beyond just the perspective of the corporation and the public, taking into account the critical role the nonprofit organization plays as a partner in some CSR programming, and within a distributed leadership model.
Details
Keywords
The economic downturn and financial meltdown in the changing retirement savings and pension landscape in the US placed individual investors and financial companies at risk…
Abstract
Purpose
The economic downturn and financial meltdown in the changing retirement savings and pension landscape in the US placed individual investors and financial companies at risk. Recognizing the need for more financial literacy among investors, the US financial services companies for retirement plans and investment options (i.e. the retirement financial services providers (RFSPs)) have stepped up consumer marketing, particularly through creation of corporate websites. Seeing their potential for increasing literacy and aiding consumer financial decisions, a majority of RFSPs are promoting websites and a large number of consumers use them. With this backdrop, the purpose of this paper is to examine the use of these websites and their conformity to existing regulations regarding design and structure.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study used a quantitative content analysis to examine the types of disclosure information presented on the corporate websites of RFSPs during 2013-2015. It also examined the adherence to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) clear and conspicuous standards (CCS) disclosure guidelines over the three-year period. Finally, this study examined the levels of financial literacy activities employed on 164 RFSPs’ websites over the three-year period.
Findings
This study shows that RFSPs are increasingly providing disclosure information for target consumers via their websites. Although problems still exist with the presentation of that material in terms of the FTC’s suggestions for prominence, there have been some improvements in compliance with proximity of disclosures. In addition, just under one-fourth of the RFSPs were providing tactics and features on their websites to potentially aid in the creation and maintenance of critical financial literacy and acumen.
Practical implications
The key point emerging from this analysis is that financial services providers, regulators, advocacy groups, and policymakers should continue to address varying levels of financial literacy activities to promote the deliberation and discussion of the retirement issues and topics across media while facilitating the provision and dissemination of financial information and data in a clear and conspicuous manner.
Originality/value
This is the first study to explore the content of RFSPs’ websites with regard to disclosure information, adherence to FTC CCS disclosure guidelines, and the use of techniques related to various levels of financial literacy from 2013-2015.
Details
Keywords
T.P. Arjun and Rameshkumar Subramanian
This paper aims to analyse how financial literacy (FL) is conceptualised and operationalised in the Indian context.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse how financial literacy (FL) is conceptualised and operationalised in the Indian context.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Thirty-six articles published between 2010 and 2020 were considered for analysis. The FL conceptualisation was examined based on knowledge, ability, skill, attitude and confidence elements. The FL operationalisation was analysed using the modified version of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 model for organising the domain for an assessment framework.
Findings
The findings indicate that, despite offering operationalisation details of the FL, 13 out of 36 studies did not include a conceptual definition of FL. Of the 23 studies that mentioned a conceptual definition, 87% are primarily focused on the “knowledge” element and only 39% have combined knowledge, ability/skill and attitude elements in defining FL. As in the developed countries, the Indian studies also preferred investment/saving-related contents in their FL measures. The volume of content focusing on the financial landscape is meagre amongst the FL measures used in India and developed countries. The survey instruments of most studies have been designed in the individuals’ context but have failed to measure the extent to which individuals apply the knowledge in performing their day-to-day financial transactions. Further, it was found that 20 out of 36 studies did not convert the FL level of their target groups into a single indicator or operational value.
Originality/value
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that explores the FL’s assessment practices in India. Further, this study offers new insights by comparing the contents of FL measures used in Indian studies with those used in developed countries.
Details
Keywords
Jill Bamforth, Charles Jebarajakirthy and Gus Geursen
The money management behavior of undergraduates determines their smooth transition into adulthood. Economic, social and psychological factors also affect undergraduates’ money…
Abstract
Purpose
The money management behavior of undergraduates determines their smooth transition into adulthood. Economic, social and psychological factors also affect undergraduates’ money management behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how undergraduates manage and respond to economic, social and psychological factors affecting their money management behavior, and to examine whether this response changes as they make progress in their degree.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting a qualitative exploratory approach, this study examined Australian undergraduates as they face many challenges to their money management behavior. The data were collected using six focus group discussions, held in three Australian universities, in which 47 undergraduates participated.
Findings
The findings have shown that their approach to manage spending, income, saving, peer relationships and stress changes as they make progress in their degree. However, they shared similar approaches to investment, followed parental money management advice and used technology for cost reduction, irrespective of the progress in their degree.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted with the data collected from a relatively small sample of respondents and was limited only to undergraduates. Moreover, this study was conducted in Australia, indicating that some of the results might be specific to the Australian context.
Practical implications
The findings of this study can be utilized by governments, financial institutions, educational institutions and parents who are interested in inculcating prudent money management behavior in undergraduates.
Originality/value
This study extends the scope of the literature beyond financial literacy, and has shown how undergraduates respond to economic, social and psychological aspects relating to money management behavior and how these responses vary as they make progress in their degree. This study has applied a qualitative exploratory approach, in contrast to quantitative methods which have generally been applied for studies relating to undergraduates’ money management behavior.
Details
Keywords
Piotr Bialowolski, Andrzej Cwynar and Dorota Weziak-Bialowolska
Preserving sufficient financial assets is crucial for maintaining the standard of living. The lack of adequate financial cushion can translate into financial hardship at any age…
Abstract
Purpose
Preserving sufficient financial assets is crucial for maintaining the standard of living. The lack of adequate financial cushion can translate into financial hardship at any age, but its effects can be especially severe in later adulthood. The authors evaluate whether financial literacy can prevent individuals from depleting the stock of liquid financial assets below a predefined minimum level.
Design/methodology/approach
Defining financial resilience as the ability to maintain the value of household savings above the level of 3-monthly incomes, the authors examined whether financial literacy is (1) prospectively associated with the probability of losing financial resilience and (2) the probability of gaining financial resilience among financially vulnerable middle-aged and older adults. To this end, the authors applied the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying covariates. Data were retrieved from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe with the sample comprising 13,718 adults aged ≥ 50 years in (1) and 12,802 in (2).
Findings
The authors show that financial literacy plays a protective role for financial resilience. Its role is not symmetrical and protects more against the loss of financial resilience than it contributes to the gain of financial resilience. Among individuals aged 65–74, the association between financial literacy and financial resilience is weaker than among adults in the middle-age (50–64) and among the oldest (75+).
Social implications
Fostering financial literacy can be important to help middle-aged and older adults maintain a good quality of life and favorable living standards.
Originality/value
Given the scarce evidence on the links between financial literacy and financial resilience among middle-aged and older adults, the article contributes to the literature by examining whether financial literacy retains its protective role in later stages of the life course.
Details
Keywords
Jill Bamforth, Charles Jebarajakirthy and Gus Geursen
The money management behaviour of undergraduates is a noteworthy study for many stakeholders, as these students are more likely to carry forward this behaviour into later life…
Abstract
Purpose
The money management behaviour of undergraduates is a noteworthy study for many stakeholders, as these students are more likely to carry forward this behaviour into later life. The literature on student money management behaviour heavily focuses on financial literacy. However, economic, social and psychological factors also affect undergraduates’ money management behaviour. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to empirically investigate how undergraduates respond to and account for these factors in their money management behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was carried out in Australia. This study adopted a qualitative exploratory approach. The data were collected using six focus group discussions (FGDs) held in one Australian university, in which 40 undergraduates participated.
Findings
The key themes identified from the thematic analysis include undergraduates’ understanding of money management and managing economic, social and psychological aspects relating to undergraduates’ money management behaviour. Several subthemes were identified under each theme, which specifically showed how undergraduates manage and respond to each of these factors relating to their money management behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted with the data collected from a relatively small sample of respondents and was limited only to undergraduates. Moreover, this study was conducted in Australia, indicating that some of the results might be specific to the Australian context.
Practical implications
The authors have suggested promoting multiple payment methods and internet usage to undergraduates, and providing them with stress management programmes will help them maintain prudent money management behaviour.
Originality/value
The extant literature on undergraduates’ money management behaviour tends to focus on financial literacy. This study extends the scope of the literature beyond financial literacy and has shown how undergraduates respond to economic, social and psychological aspects relating to money management behaviour. This study has applied a qualitative exploratory approach, in contrast to quantitative methods which have generally been applied for studies relating to undergraduates’ money management behaviour.
Details
Keywords
Maqsood Ahmad, Qiang Wu, Yasar Abbass and Shakeel Ahmed
Conventional theories of financial management are notably inconspicuous when considering the influence of heuristic-driven biases and fundamental and technical anomalies on…
Abstract
Purpose
Conventional theories of financial management are notably inconspicuous when considering the influence of heuristic-driven biases and fundamental and technical anomalies on institutional investors' investment decision-making performance and market efficiency, particularly, in emerging Asian economies. This study aims to explore the mechanism by which heuristic driven biases (i.e. cognitive heuristic biases and recognition-based heuristic biases) influence institutional investors' investment decision-making, investment performance and perceived market efficiency, with a mediating role of fundamental and technical anomalies and the moderating role of financial knowledge in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through a survey completed by 180 institutional investors trading on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results suggest that heuristic-driven biases have a significant negative influence on perceived market efficiency and investment performance and a significant positive effect on investment decisions of institutional investors. Fundamental and technical anomalies appeared to mediate these relationships. The results also revealed that financial knowledge moderates these relationships.
Originality/value
This study pioneers research on the links among heuristic-driven biases, financial knowledge, fundamental and technical anomalies and institutional investors' decisions and performance. This adds to the understanding of the role that heuristic-driven bias plays in investment management activities and enhances the appreciation of various behavioral aspects and their influence on investment decision-making and performance in an emerging market. It also contributes to the literature on behavioral finance, specifically the role of heuristics in investment strategies, which is still in its initial stage in developed countries, let alone in developing countries. The current research contributes to the literature by defining heuristic-driven biases as antecedents and fundamental and technical anomalies as intervening variables for irrational investment decision-making and poor investment performance. In addition, this study underlines the significance of utilizing financial knowledge to manage the antecedents and repercussions of fundamental and technical anomalies.
Details
Keywords
Sonia Ouachani, Olfa Belhassine and Aïda Kammoun
The purpose of this paper is to review the main methods used in the literature to measure financial literacy (FL) of individuals.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the main methods used in the literature to measure financial literacy (FL) of individuals.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper begins by describing how the different items used to measure the FL level of individuals are constructed. Then, it focuses on how do researchers select the items. Finally, it reviews the different calculation methods used in the literature to assess the FL level.
Findings
FL as a concept is tough to define and measure. Several studies focus on the definition and the measure of this concept. Different items are used in the literature and are mostly related to the study topics. The used calculation methods differ across the different studies.
Originality/value
This paper sheds light on the principal methodologies used in the literature to measure FL. It highlights the relationship between the items' content areas and the studies' subjects. Thus, this paper suggests guidance for future studies on measuring methods of FL.
Details
Keywords
Jill Manthorpe and Stephanie Bramley
This purpose of this paper is to review evidence about the barriers and facilitators to ex-service personnel obtaining employment within social care roles. Social care has…
Abstract
Purpose
This purpose of this paper is to review evidence about the barriers and facilitators to ex-service personnel obtaining employment within social care roles. Social care has long-standing, well-recognised problems of staff recruitment and retention. Policymakers and employers are exploring if there are untapped sources of potential employees. Some ex-service personnel may be interested in exploring a move to social care work with older people but may face barriers to such a move which may need to be addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
Databases and grey literature were searched systematically to provide an overview of evidence on this topic. In total, 23 articles were included in the review.
Findings
A narrative analysis revealed barriers to ex-service personnel obtaining employment within social care not only related to their previous occupation, health status and identity but also facilitators related to the sector’s severe recruitment challenges and the transferable skills of ex-service personnel. Evidence suggests that learning from health services may be highly relevant and transferable.
Research limitations/implications
This review was confined to English language studies published between 2008 and 2018. Few mentioned specific user or client groups.
Originality/value
This review identified evidence suggesting that learning from health services may be highly relevant and transferable to the social care sector so as to facilitate the transition of more ex-service personnel into social care work with older people.
Details