Jessica Pileri, Giulia Rocchi, Federica Luciani, Matteo Reho, Giorgio Veneziani and Carlo Lai
This study investigated the role of epistemic trust in shaping consumers intentions towards purchasing sustainable food products by examining the relationships between epistemic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated the role of epistemic trust in shaping consumers intentions towards purchasing sustainable food products by examining the relationships between epistemic trust, credibility of science, scepticism about climate change and intentions to purchase sustainable food.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using a survey. A total of 391 consumers participated in the study. Structural equation modelling was employed for data analysis.
Findings
The results showed that the trust dimension was significantly and positively associated with credibility of science (p = 0.004) and negatively with scepticism about climate change (p = 0.018); mistrust was significantly and negatively associated with credibility of science (p = ≤0.001); credibility of science had a significant negative effect on scepticism about climate change (p = ≤0.001) and scepticism about climate change had a significant direct and negative impact on intention to purchase sustainable food (p = ≤0.001). Furthermore, results indicated that the link between trust, mistrust and intention to purchase sustainable food was significantly mediated by the credibility of science and scepticism about climate change.
Practical implications
The results can preliminarily suggest policies promoting transparency and direct consumer experiences in organisational practices, with implications extending to other sectors like education and public information.
Originality/value
For the first time, epistemic trust is specifically considered as an antecedent of intentions to purchase sustainable food, while also examining its relationships with scepticism about climate change and the credibility of science.
Details
Keywords
Elena Pessot, Andrea Zangiacomi, Cinzia Battistella, Valerie Rocchi, Alessandro Sala and Marco Sacco
This paper aims to study the extent of the transformation of European manufacturing companies towards the factory of the future (FoF) and related concepts, e.g. Industry 4.0 and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the extent of the transformation of European manufacturing companies towards the factory of the future (FoF) and related concepts, e.g. Industry 4.0 and digitalisation.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative survey design was used to investigate the areas, patterns and elements for implementing FoF. A total of 92 responses from manufacturing firms of Alpine regions were collected and analysed, followed by in-depth interviews with a subset of respondents to identify common challenges, drivers and opportunities for the transformation.
Findings
Manufacturing companies are gaining awareness on their needs and gaps in the FoF path, the implications on business strategy and the rates of innovation and technology adoption. Nevertheless, they still need to shape their organisational structures (e.g. from highly centralised to more collaborative ones) and nurture their managerial capabilities in operations and supply chain management, and customer relationships, only partially based on FoF technologies.
Research limitations/implications
This study aims to contribute to recent literature and practice of FoF (and related concepts) by depicting a picture of the possible areas of intervention, main issues and gaps (especially in terms of skills, supply chain and customer relationships) of manufacturing companies in their digital transformation. The qualitative research design and its scope represent the main limitations.
Originality/value
This paper provides a systemic overview for FoF by encompassing the technological, strategic, managerial and organisational perspectives of digitalisation in manufacturing and integrating the insights from a multi-sectorial and multi-dimensional analysis.