Fangfang Hou, Boying Li, Zhengzhi Guan, Alain Yee Loong Chong and Chee Wei Phang
Despite the burgeoning popularity of virtual gifting in live streaming, research lacks an in-depth understanding of the drivers behind this behavior. Using para-social…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the burgeoning popularity of virtual gifting in live streaming, research lacks an in-depth understanding of the drivers behind this behavior. Using para-social relationship (PSR), this study aims to capture viewers’ lively social feelings toward the streamer as the key factor leading to the purchase behavior of virtual gifts. It also aims to establish a theoretical link between PSR and viewers’ holistic experience in live streaming as captured by cognitive absorption and aims to investigates the role of technological features (i.e. viewer–streamer and viewer–viewer interactivity, streamer-level and viewer-level deep profiling and design aesthetics) in shaping viewers’ experience.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on 433 survey responses, this study employs a combination of structural equation modeling and neural networks to offer valuable insights into the relationships between the technological environment, viewer experience and viewer behavior.
Findings
Our results highlight the salience of PSR in promoting the purchase of virtual gifts through cognitive absorption and the importance of the technological environment in eliciting the viewer experience. This study sheds light on the development of PSR in a technological environment and its relationship with cognitive absorption.
Originality/value
By applying PSR to conceptualize viewers’ perceived connection with the streamer, this study extends the research on purchase behavior in the non-shopping context by providing an enlightened understanding of virtual gift purchase behavior in live streaming. Moreover, by theoretically linking PSR with cognitive absorption, virtual gift purchase and technological features of live streaming, it enriches the theory of PSR and bridges the gap between the design practice of supporting the IT infrastructure of live streaming and research.
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Fangfang Hou, Zhengzhi Guan, Boying Li and Alain Yee Loong Chong
The purpose of this paper is to investigate what factors can affect people’s continuous watching and consumption intentions in live streaming.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate what factors can affect people’s continuous watching and consumption intentions in live streaming.
Design/methodology/approach
This research conducted a mixed-methods study. The semi-structured interview was deployed to develop a research model and a live streaming typology. A survey was then used for quantitative assessment of the research model. Survey data were analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results suggest that sex and humor appeals, social status display and interactivity play considerable roles in the viewer’s behavioral intentions in live streaming and their effects vary across different live streaming types.
Research limitations/implications
This research is conducted in the Chinese context. Future research can test the research model in other cultural contexts. This study can also be extended by incorporating the roles of viewer gender and price sensitivity in the future.
Practical implications
This study provides managerial insights into how live streaming platforms and streamers can improve their popularity and profitability.
Originality/value
The paper introduces a novel form of social media and a new business model. It illustrates what will affect people’s behavioral intentions in such a new context.
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Boying Li, Fangfang Hou, Zhengzhi Guan and Alain Yee Loong Chong
Charitable crowdfunding features are embedded in social media platforms to encourage pro-social behaviors. Although such new practice allows practitioners to leverage the power of…
Abstract
Purpose
Charitable crowdfunding features are embedded in social media platforms to encourage pro-social behaviors. Although such new practice allows practitioners to leverage the power of a highly connected crowd, accomplishing the fundraising goal is still a challenge. This study seeks to understand what drives the donation intention in charitable crowdfunding features on social media platforms by examining the roles of social experience, empathy and personal impulsiveness.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey questionnaire was distributed to social media users in China to collect data. A total of 206 valid responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The results showed that empathy mediates interaction with the fundraiser and perceived proximity with the donatee on a user's donation intention. We also found that social influence on social media platforms positively influences empathy and donation intention. In addition, personal impulsiveness was found to moderate the relationship between empathy and donation intention.
Originality/value
This study contributes to existing literature and practices. It identifies three dimensions of social experience and examines their effects on donation intention, providing insights into the charitable crowdfunding features on social media. Moreover, this study extends the understanding to empathy by delineating its mediating role in the relationship between social experience and donation intention and examining how personal impulsiveness moderates the effect of empathy on donation intention. Furthermore, this study provides valuable insights for practitioners to craft strategies to stimulate pro-social behaviors and increase donations.
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Zhenning Wang, Zhengzhi (Gordon) GUAN, Fangfang Hou, Boying Li and Wangyue Zhou
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of trust in service and structural assurance on the continuance intention of FinTech services, and the roles of technical…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of trust in service and structural assurance on the continuance intention of FinTech services, and the roles of technical factors (i.e. situational normality and system quality) and social factors (i.e. herding and subjective norm) in developing trust in service and structural assurance. YuEbao is selected as the subject as it is a representative example of FinTech services in China.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey questionnaire was deployed and a ten-point sliding scale with two-decimal points was applied to improve the accuracy of the questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.
Findings
Trust in service and structural assurance can encourage continuance intention of FinTech service. System quality, situational normality and subjective norm can boost the development of trust in service. Both herding and subjective norm can affect structural assurance significantly.
Research limitations/implications
The study highlights the important roles played by technical factors (i.e. situational normality and system quality) and social factors (i.e. herding and subjective norm) in developing the two levels of trust (i.e. trust in service and structural assurance). It also validates the influences of trust in service and structural assurance on encouraging customers’ continuance intention in the novel context of FinTech.
Practical implications
The findings of this study can be used by practitioners to encourage customers to continue using their FinTech services. To encourage continuance, service providers can improve the quality of their system, design the system to be aligned with customers’ using habits and show customers that their close friends are also using the service.
Originality/value
This study adds to the existing body of trust literature by investigating the direct effects of trust in service and structure assurance on continuance intention and how these two levels of trust are developed from technical and social aspects. It generates interesting insights into customers’ continuance behavior of FinTech services.
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Haijun Bao, Boying Li, Jiaying Shen and Fangfang Hou
Retaining customers is very important for the survival of e-commerce sellers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the roles of computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools…
Abstract
Purpose
Retaining customers is very important for the survival of e-commerce sellers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the roles of computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools, interactivity, trust and perceived effectiveness of e-commerce institutional mechanisms (PEEIM) in influencing customer’s repurchase intention in the Chinese online e-commerce marketplace.
Design/methodology/approach
The research model is empirically tested using survey data analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
This study confirms the positive relation between customer satisfaction and trust in the seller, which further contributes to repurchase intention. Results also support the positive influences of effective use of an instant messenger and feedback system on customer perceived interactivity, which helps enhance trust in the seller. PEEIM demonstrates interesting results regarding its moderating effects.
Research limitations/implications
In the future, researchers can extend the study to other e-commerce platforms and take trust transfer effects and product categories into consideration.
Practical implications
This study highlights the importance to manage trust, PEEIM, interactivity and CMC tools in e-commerce platforms, assisting practitioners to develop appropriate business strategies and processes to retain customers.
Originality/value
This study extends previous investigations by integrating trust and PEEIM with interactivity and testing the model in the context of the Chinese online marketplace.
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This paper aims to present a longitudinal and visualizing study using scientometric approaches to depict the historical changes in the academic community, intellectual base and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a longitudinal and visualizing study using scientometric approaches to depict the historical changes in the academic community, intellectual base and research hotspots within the business domain.
Design/methodology/approach
Two mapping methods are used, namely, co-citation analysis and co-occurrence analysis. Both the co-citation analysis and co-occurrence analysis in this study are conducted using CiteSpace, a Java-based scientific visualization software.
Findings
This paper detects changes in academic communities in 24 business journals chosen by the University of Texas at Dallas as leading journals (UTD24) and identifies the research hotspots such as corporate governance, organizational research and capital research. Many authors and academic communities appear in two or even three periods, which indicates the lasting academic vitality of scholars in this field. This paper determines the evolution of scholars' research interests by identifying high-frequency keywords during the entire period.
Originality/value
This paper reveals a systematic and holistic picture of the developmental landscape of the business domain, which can provide a potential guide for future research. Furthermore, based on empirical data and knowledge visualization, the intellectual structure and evolution of the business domain can be identified more objectively.
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Guijie Zhang, Fangfang Wei, Chunyan Guo and Yanfang Wang
This paper aims to present a longitudinal and visualising study using bibliometric approaches to depict the emerging trends and research hotspots within the mobile information…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a longitudinal and visualising study using bibliometric approaches to depict the emerging trends and research hotspots within the mobile information system domain.
Design/methodology/approach
Publications included in the Web of Science (WoS) database for 2001–2021 are reviewed and analysed on various aspects through coauthorship, cocitation and co-occurrence analysis. The analyses are conducted using VOSViewer, a scientific visualisation software program.
Findings
Academic publications related to mobile information systems fluctuated at a low level during the initial part of the 21st century and have grown rapidly in number in the past decade. The USA and China are the leading contributors to these publications and hold dominant positions in the obtained collaboration network. Computer science, engineering and telecommunications are the top three research areas in which mainstream mobile information system research occurs. Moreover, medical informatics and health-care science services have gradually become new research hotspots.
Originality/value
This study provides a systematic and holistic account of the developmental landscape of the mobile information system domain. This study provides a good basis for analysing the evolution of research in mobile information systems and may serve as a potential foundation for future research.
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The purpose of this paper is to focus on the operation strategy of high-performance alliance portfolios by analyzing the effect of alliance portfolios on the performance of focal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the operation strategy of high-performance alliance portfolios by analyzing the effect of alliance portfolios on the performance of focal firms, using post-structuralism of social network theory and contingency theory. In detail, this paper refines alliance portfolios into three dimensions, and studies the moderating role of context on the relation between alliance portfolios and firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical study was carried out with second-hand data gathered from Internal Revenue Service. In total, this paper gathered data from 506 focal firms in Zhejiang Province from 2001 to 2010 as the sample to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Based on the empirical results, the authors find the positive effect of relational dimension (weak alliance portfolios) and partner dimension (the diversity of partners) on performance. The effect of the former will become weaker with the increasing environmental dynamic, while the effect of the latter will become stronger. However, the structural dimension (alliance portfolios size) and relational dimension (new partners) have the negative effect on performance. And the negative effect will become stronger under high environmental dynamic. Moreover, the negative effect of non-local partners on performance becomes stronger when the environmental dynamic is high.
Research limitations/implications
The paper reveals that with the industry transformation caused by “internet +,” companies have been required go beyond traditional dyadic alliance management perspective. That is to say, individual alliance relationship should be seen as a part of a much broader picture of alliance portfolio. As such, the framework may help companies to manage their alliance portfolios by matching high-performance alliance portfolios to the external environment to produce a synergistic effect (Lea et al., 2006; Tritos et al., 2013; Keith et al., 2014) taking the characteristics of the configuration of alliance portfolios into consideration.
Originality/value
The paper presents a model that explains the effect of three dimensions of alliance portfolios on the performance of focal firms in different contexts through empirical study. This paper also integrates post-structuralism of social network theory and contingency theory to enable the understanding on the configuration of alliance portfolios.
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Fangfang Li, Susana C. Silva and Jorma Larimo
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors influencing the development of social media marketing strategy in an international context. We specifically look at the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors influencing the development of social media marketing strategy in an international context. We specifically look at the potential drivers and barriers throughout the social media marketing strategy development process and how cultural differences shape social media marketing strategy decision-making among firms in international markets.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is conducted with an inductive research approach involving in-depth interviews with 32 firms from Finland, China and Brazil. Using inductive data analysis, we identify both internal and external factors that drive and hinder the development of firms’ social media marketing strategies. Moreover, we explore the essential elements in social media marketing strategy development based on the key practices observed among these firms, which enables us to conduct a comparative analysis of how cultural values influence the development of social media marketing strategies.
Findings
Our findings underscore the importance of both internal (i.e. resources and capabilities) and external (i.e. market-level and country-level) factors that influence the development of social media marketing strategy. Our analysis also unveiled four key practices throughout the social media marketing strategy development process: social selling, content marketing, risk management and relationship management. Additionally, we identified three distinct mindsets regarding firms’ social media selling objectives across companies in the three countries.
Originality/value
The comparative approach provides novel insight into firms' international social media marketing strategy. Our proposed conceptual model shows the development process of social media marketing strategy in the international context. The research propositions highlight the role of cultural values and open up new avenues for future research.
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Fangfang Sun, Tianze Wang and Yong Yang
Rapid prototyping (RP) technology is widely used in many fields in recent years. Bone tissue engineering (TE) is an interdisciplinary field involving life sciences, engineering…
Abstract
Purpose
Rapid prototyping (RP) technology is widely used in many fields in recent years. Bone tissue engineering (TE) is an interdisciplinary field involving life sciences, engineering and materials science. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) are similar to natural bone and it has been extensively studied due to its excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. This paper aims to review nanoscaled HAp-based scaffolds with high porosity fabricated by various RP methods for bone regeneration.
Design/methodology/approach
The review focused on the fabrication methods of HAp composite scaffolds through RP techniques. The paper summarized the evaluation of these scaffolds on the basis of their biocompatibility and biodegradability through in vitro and in vivo tests. Finally, a summary and perspectives on this active area of research are provided.
Findings
HAp composite scaffold fabricated by RP methods has been widely used in bone TE and it has been deeply studied by researchers during the past two decades. However, its brittleness and difficulty in processing have largely limited its wide application in TE. Therefore, the formability of HAp combined with biocompatible organic materials and fabrication techniques could be effectively enhanced, and it can be used in bone TE applications finally.
Originality/value
This review paper presented a comprehensive study of the various types of HAp composite scaffold fabricated by RP technologies and introduced their potential application in bone TE, as well as future roadmap and perspective.