Riccardo Vecchio, Alessia Lombardi, Luigi Cembalo, Francesco Caracciolo, Gianni Cicia, Felicia Masucci and Antonio Di Francia
Consumer interest and willingness to pay (WTP) for omega-3 enriched water buffalo mozzarella cheese are evaluated through an in-store experimental auction. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Consumer interest and willingness to pay (WTP) for omega-3 enriched water buffalo mozzarella cheese are evaluated through an in-store experimental auction. The purpose of this paper is to estimate individual WTP for enriched mozzarella cheese and related it to self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations of omega-3 consumption, following regulatory focus theory.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected in May-June 2015 from a sample of 150 consumers in Southern Italy. A structural equation modelling procedure was implemented.
Findings
The results show a significant role is played by prevention outcome expectations on consumer behaviour. While promotion outcome expectation constructs proved non-significant, self-identity correlates with prevention outcome expectations.
Research limitations/implications
There are several limitations that the authors are aware of regarding this study. First of all, since the authors rely on self-reported measures, optimistic bias might have affected participants’ responses (Weinstein, 1980). Second, results may be influenced by the choice of the specific information provided to consumers for the analysis; different claims and different information framings should be tested (LeBoeuf and Shafir, 2003).
Practical implications
Implications stemming from the results encourage the promotion of omega-3 enriched mozzarella cheese based on stimulating outcome expectations, bearing in mind that individual motivations should be enhanced by self-identity beliefs.
Originality/value
Although the combined role of self-efficacy and outcome expectations on personal intention to adopt healthy behaviour has already been demonstrated (Keller, 2006; Tudoran et al., 2012), to the best of the knowledge no previous study relates individual behaviour to an intention measured as a WTP for an actual product. In addition, current study has applied a non-hypothetical BDM (from Becker et al., 1964) auction in-store experiment.
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Milena Atzori, Luigi Lombardi, Franco Fraccaroli, Adalgisa Battistelli and Sara Zaniboni
This study aims to examine the organizational socialization of women soldiers in the Italian Army.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the organizational socialization of women soldiers in the Italian Army.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an interactionist interpretation of socialization, a model was tested to determine the influence of organizational socialization tactics, proactive behaviours, supervisor support on organizational identification, and cohesion of teamwork. This study used a comparative research design. The sample consisted of 324 soldiers, 43 per cent of whom are men and 57 per cent per cent are women.
Findings
Structural equation models showed the influences exerted by general socialization and by the acquisition of organizational values/goals on the outcomes of socialization. Multisample analysis showed gender differences. Compared to men, women seemed to set greater value on tutoring by expert colleagues. Women also seemed to value the support provided by their superiors for learning the organizational values and goals on which the degree of identification with the military structure depends.
Practical implications
These findings could add new information concerning the organizational socialization strategies (e.g. newcomers' training, tutoring/shadowing programmes) giving some guidelines for the insertion of woman newcomers in a non‐traditional organization.
Originality/value
In a systemic perspective the present study explored the process of organizational socialization using the content of organizational learning. The research highlighted the gender difference regarding the socialization process in a male‐dominated organization.
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Abstract
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How do entrepreneurs of the construction business express their vulnerability? Through which narratives? Why and how do they try to cope with the always present risk of their job…
Abstract
How do entrepreneurs of the construction business express their vulnerability? Through which narratives? Why and how do they try to cope with the always present risk of their job and with increasingly unstable market conditions which make them more and more vulnerable?
The risk of failing in the construction business is high, especially with the economic, political, and structural conditions that the business is facing, and the weight of the businessmen’s decisions and actions increases. It is only through the passion for their job, by keeping their movements and rhythms of work, and by maintaining good trusted relationships that my informants try to cope with this risk. Through their narratives, they exorcise their fears and show their vulnerability.
Through my informants’ narratives, daily situations and thoughts, I want to challenge stereotypes linked to power and show how despite, or because, of their position of power my informants often feel vulnerable.
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Rosa Vinciguerra, Francesca Cappellieri, Michele Pizzo and Rosa Lombardi
This paper aims to define a hierarchical and multi-criteria framework based on pillars of the Modernization of Higher Education to evaluate European Accounting Doctoral Programmes…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to define a hierarchical and multi-criteria framework based on pillars of the Modernization of Higher Education to evaluate European Accounting Doctoral Programmes (EADE-Model).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied a quali-quantitative methodology based on the analytic hierarchy process and the survey approach. The authors conducted an extensive literature and regulation review to identify the dimensions affecting the quality of Doctoral Programmes, choosing accounting as the relevant and pivotal field. The authors also used the survey to select the most critical quality dimensions and derive their weight to build EADE Model. The validity of the proposed model has been tested through the application to the Italian scenario.
Findings
The findings provide a critical extension of accounting ranking studies constructing a multi-criteria, hierarchical and updated evaluation model recognizing the role of doctoral training in the knowledge-based society. The results shed new light on weak areas apt to be improved and propose potential amendments to enhance the quality standard of ADE.
Practical implications
Theoretical and practical implications of this paper are directed to academics, policymakers and PhD programmes administrators.
Originality/value
The research is original in drafting a hierarchical multi-criteria framework for evaluating ADE in the Higher Education System. This model may be extended to other fields.
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The article investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and deepened the presidentialization of politics in Italy. It examines how a series of innovative rules and…
Abstract
Purpose
The article investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and deepened the presidentialization of politics in Italy. It examines how a series of innovative rules and procedures adopted by the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to face the extraordinary event are part of a permanent presidentialization dynamic.
Design/methodology/approach
This study analyzes the role of prime minister in coping with the pandemic in Italy within the analytical framework of the personalization of politics. Section 1 investigates how the prime minister has resorted to autonomous normative power through intensive use of the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers (DPCM). Section 2 observes the establishment of a more direct relationship with citizens through extensive use of digital communication and high engagement. Section 3 analyzes the “personal task force” appointed by the prime minister and highlights a new balance between technocratic/private roles and politics undermining democratic accountability.
Findings
By examining three main aspects of the personalization of politics, the article observes that the COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated the movement to presidentialization of power in Italy. It argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened political and institutional trends already in place before the crisis.
Originality/value
The article expands the comparative research on the presidentialization of politics. The Italian case clearly underlines how the pandemic crisis represented a further step of progressive dominance of the “executive” over the other branches of government. The article suggests an agenda for future cross-institutional and cross-national analysis.
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The “economic miracle” in postwar Italy was accompanied by a rapid increase in the industrial accident and illness rates. Italian workers demanded occupational safety and health…
Abstract
The “economic miracle” in postwar Italy was accompanied by a rapid increase in the industrial accident and illness rates. Italian workers demanded occupational safety and health enforcement mechanisms that would be more accessible to grass‐roots workers' groups and unions. In the early 1970s local “Occupational Medicine Services” were voluntarily established in many regions. The entire health care system was decentralised in 1978, giving regions exclusive authority to implement occupational safety and health standards within Local Health Units (USLs). The concrete results of these reforms are investigated and the validity of the assumptions of the calls for decentralisation. The difficulties encountered by leftist‐administered regions in attempting to translate their political commitments into significant health and safety improvements are documented. The track‐record of the USLs is examined. An ironic consequence of decentralisation has been that the concentration of all health care activities in the USL has swallowed up occupational safety and health. As a result it is less politically visible and less responsive to worker input.