This study empirically explores how firms configure the strength and the temporal and spatial features of corporate volunteering (CV) events to promote corporate reputation (CR).
Abstract
Purpose
This study empirically explores how firms configure the strength and the temporal and spatial features of corporate volunteering (CV) events to promote corporate reputation (CR).
Design/methodology/approach
Using event system theory as a framework and applying fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to 385 firms and 2,783 public respondents, this study explores the configurational effects of five elements of CV events—employee engagement, customer engagement, meagre incentive, duration and scope of influence—on two types of CR: capability reputation (CAR) and character reputation (CHR).
Findings
The results indicate that (1) the impact of volunteering on CR is not only configurational in nature, but also characterised by equifinality (i.e. the presence of multiple paths to success); (2) with meagre incentive and in the absence of scope-of-influence support, long-term employee and customer engagement in CV is sufficient to achieve high CAR; (3) adequate and diverse incentives, high employee engagement and a sufficiently broad scope of influence work well with either high customer engagement or long duration to achieve high CAR and CHR, respectively; (4) there are identical configurations that can achieve high CAR and CHR.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the CV and CR literature by extending the application of event system theory to proactive events.
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Megan Vladoiu, Pnina Fichman and Jieli Liu
This article examines if there is evidence of racial or gender bias in email reference services in American public and academic libraries.
Abstract
Purpose
This article examines if there is evidence of racial or gender bias in email reference services in American public and academic libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a two-by-two study design and an unobtrusive data collection, the authors conducted two studies in which the authors sent 1,960 email requests to 505 academic and public libraries. Requests in both studies differed in the perceived identity of the user as indicated by their name, and the counterbalanced method was utilized to control for intervening variables. Based on content analysis of the responses, the authors examined the statistical significance of the differences by race, gender and race by gender.
Findings
Overall, the authors found equitable service to users regardless of their race and gender; at times, however, there was evidence of favorable service to the White female in academic and public libraries and to the Black male in academic libraries.
Originality/value
There is little research into potential bias in email reference services in both academic and public libraries in the United States of America. Yet, following the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020, there has been an increased focus on racial equality in library services and the American Library Association (ALA) Code of Ethics was modified accordingly. The authors' study makes significant contributions to the increasing body of research on racial and gender equality in online library services.
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Linjie Dong, Renfei Zhang, Xiaohan Liu, Jie Li, Xingsong Wang and Tian Mengqian
Regular cable trench inspection is crucial, and robotics automation provides an efficient and safer alternative to manual labor. However, existing robots have limited capabilities…
Abstract
Purpose
Regular cable trench inspection is crucial, and robotics automation provides an efficient and safer alternative to manual labor. However, existing robots have limited capabilities in traversing obstacles and lack a mechanical arm for detecting cables and equipment. This study aims to develop an intelligent robot for cable trench inspection, enhancing obstacle-crossing abilities and incorporating a mechanical arm for inspection tasks.
Design/methodology/approach
This study presents an intelligent robot for cable trench inspection, featuring a six-degree-of-freedom mechanical arm mounted on a six-track chassis with four flippers. The robot's climbing and obstacle-crossing stability, as well as the motion range of the mechanical arm, are analyzed. The positioning, navigation and remote monitoring systems are developed. Experiments, including climbing and obstacle-crossing performance tests, along with navigation and positioning system tests, are conducted. Finally, the robot's practicability is verified through field testing.
Findings
Equipped with flipper tracks, the cable trench inspection robot can traverse obstacles up to 30 cm high and maintain stable locomotion on 30° slopes. Its navigation system enables autonomous operation, while the mechanical arm performs cable current detection tasks. The remote monitoring system provides comprehensive control of the robot and environmental parameter monitoring in cable trenches.
Originality/value
The front and rear flipper tracks enhance the robot's ability to traverse obstacles in cable trenches. The mechanical arm addresses cable current and equipment contact detection issues. The navigation and remote monitoring systems improve the robot's autonomous operation and environmental monitoring capabilities. Implementing this robot can advance the automation and intelligence of cable trench inspections.
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This study focuses on the influence of content characteristics on customer input on short video platforms (CISVP) and the mediating role of groundedness, fun and customer…
Abstract
Purpose
This study focuses on the influence of content characteristics on customer input on short video platforms (CISVP) and the mediating role of groundedness, fun and customer inspiration as well as the asymmetric relationships among these variables.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the research model. Then, fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was conducted to test the asymmetric relationships.
Findings
SEM shows that content originality and relevance have a direct positive effect on CISVP. Groundedness and customer inspiration partially mediate the relationship between content relevance and CISVP, and customer inspiration also partially mediate the relationship between content originality and CISVP. However, the mediating effect of fun is not significant. FsQCA reveals three configurations for high levels of CISVP. Some fsQCA results align with the SEM results but also offer additional interesting findings.
Originality/value
This study makes an important contribution to the literature on interactive marketing, short video marketing and content marketing. It also contributes to the theory of groundedness, customer inspiration and fun. Furthermore, this study has implications for individual influencers, organizational actors and platforms to encourage more CISVP.
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Xiangyuan Meng, Xue Li, Wenyan Xiao and Jie Li
The authors provide firm-level evidence that external financing affects international trade in a way different from internal financing.
Abstract
Purpose
The authors provide firm-level evidence that external financing affects international trade in a way different from internal financing.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors separate new entrants from incumbent exporters and investigate the roles of external and internal financing in export market participation and export quantity.
Findings
The authors find that external financing is of particular importance, as well as internal financing, in helping a firm become a new exporter. By contrast, external financing, unlike internal financing, is not significantly important for an incumbent exporter to stay in the international market. Regarding export quantity, a firm's internal financing is positively associated with more export quantity, whereas external financing is not.
Originality/value
The authors’ findings are consistent with the existence of significant fixed cost for entering the export market and external financing is particularly needed to cover such cost. Meanwhile, the financial need for maintaining the export status is much less and can be satisfied via internal financing.