Minsoo Kim, Candace White and Chansouk Kim
Studies have explored expectations of corporate social responsibility (CSR) among cultures, but findings are mixed. A more nuanced view of cultural dimensions rather than using…
Abstract
Purpose
Studies have explored expectations of corporate social responsibility (CSR) among cultures, but findings are mixed. A more nuanced view of cultural dimensions rather than using Hofstede’s aggregate country scores can offer a stronger empirical foundation for studying the effects of culture. Based on two cultural dimensions and Carroll’s four-dimensional model of CSR, the purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between individualistic/collectivistic values and individuals’ expectations of different types of responsibilities (economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic), the relationship between long-term values and individuals’ expectations of different types of responsibilities and the degree of skepticism about CSR related to these values.
Design/methodology/approach
This study surveyed panel participants in two countries, South Korea (collectivistic and long term) and the USA (individualistic and short term), chosen because they are at extreme ends of the cultural values continuum. Multi-dimensional aspects of the cultural variables were tested in the samples rather than using national scores as proxy variables for culture. Data were quantitative and various statistical tests including structural equation modeling were used for analysis.
Findings
The findings show that horizontal collectivism and the planning dimension of long-term orientation are positively associated with CSR expectations, whereas the tradition dimension of long-term orientation is negatively associated with CSR expectations. In addition, vertical individualism is positively associated with skepticism toward CSR activities.
Research limitations/implications
The differences in types of individual-collectivism (horizontal and vertical) as well as the different aspects of long-term orientation had an effect on the results, pointing to the importance of exploring the nuances of the dimensions as well as the importance of testing them within the sample rather than using aggregated national scores.
Originality/value
Previous studies that used a proxy variable for culture assumed that collectivistic cultures have higher expectations for CSR. While empirically supporting the assumption of the relationship between cultural factors and CSR expectations at the individual level, the study found that people who view themselves as autonomous within a group but accept inequality within the group (vertical individualism) are more likely to be skeptical of CSR activities and suggests that skepticism about CSR may be more closely related to individual viewpoints or to particular contexts or particular corporations rather than to cultural factors, which has implications for international corporate communication.
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Jeeyoung Kim and Myung-Ho Chung
Although extant research on trust focuses on the dyadic relationship (trustor-trustee), the effectiveness of an employee's outcome may vary depending on the features of trust…
Abstract
Purpose
Although extant research on trust focuses on the dyadic relationship (trustor-trustee), the effectiveness of an employee's outcome may vary depending on the features of trust networks. This study examined how an employee's centrality in two types of trust networks (cognitive and affective) among coworkers is associated with employee job performance. Further, this study highlighted the mediating role of compassionate help in the effect of affective trust networks on individual performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 204 employees and 39 team leaders in South Korea. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results indicated that cognitive trust centrality is positively associated with employee job performance, but affective trust centrality is not. However, an affective trust centrality indirectly increases individual performance via compassionate helping from coworkers.
Originality/value
This study contributes to a better understanding of trust networks and compassionate helping and expands both trust literature and HQR research.
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Han Soo Kim, Minsoo Kang and Minjung Kim
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the category function of the sport fandom questionnaire (SFQ), determine the optimal categorization of the SFQ and calibrate the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the category function of the sport fandom questionnaire (SFQ), determine the optimal categorization of the SFQ and calibrate the measurement qualities of the newly modified rating scale option using Rasch analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper relies on the Rasch analysis to validate the SFQ. A series of studies are performed based on analysis procedures for the responses from 244 (study 1) and 477 (study 2) participants.
Findings
The results revealed that the original SFQ consisting of the eight-category rating scale is flagged due to irregular observation distribution and disordering of thresholds, whereas both six-category and seven-category rating scales meet the guidelines for the optimal categorization. However, only the seven-category rating scale showed desirable model-data fit indices. Furthermore, the results of the Rasch calibration model showed that all items of the SFQ have large variability, and a person's ability level varied moderately along the continuum.
Originality/value
Unlike previous studies, examining the psychometric properties of the SFQ, the current study provides information about the optimal categorization and presents a novel reconstruction category in measuring individuals' sport fandom level. In measuring the level of sport fandom, the authors suggest the use of a seven-category rating scale that the current study found to exhibit reliability and construct validity.
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This paper aims to introduce a case of search engine optimization (SEO), especially designed for a national scholarly open access information website in the field of STEM.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to introduce a case of search engine optimization (SEO), especially designed for a national scholarly open access information website in the field of STEM.
Design/methodology/approach
Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) collaborated with the Google Scholar team to open and share the research outcomes of STEM in Korea worldwide. KoreaScience is a reference-linking platform for open access scientific and technical journals in Korea, operated by KISTI. KISTI worked with the Google Scholar team to embed machine-readable bibliographic metadata into its journal pages and to create an XML Sitemap to help Google find pages on KoreaScience.
Findings
As a result of implementation of metadata and creation of an XML Sitemap, the KoreaScience Web pages have noticeably increased the relevance of a search results’ list on Google and Google Scholar. In addition to this, the KoreaScience platform has received an increasing amount of its traffic from around the world.
Originality/value
Not much research has sought to understand SEO in the aspect of users and how it may be facilitated in “visible” academic Web environments such as search systems and open access information systems. For this project, the motivation for investigating SEO comes from its association with positive outcomes that range from personal benefits to global rewards, e.g. increased satisfaction in search user experience and, further, academic progress and scientific development by sharing and accessing scientific knowledge in the fast-growing field of STEM.
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During multitasking, humans handle multiple tasks through task switching or engage in multitasking information behaviors. For example, a user switches between seeking new kitchen…
Abstract
Purpose
During multitasking, humans handle multiple tasks through task switching or engage in multitasking information behaviors. For example, a user switches between seeking new kitchen information and medical information. Recent studies provide insights these complex multitasking human information behaviors (HIB). However, limited studies have examined the interplay between information and non‐information tasks.
Design/methodology/approach
The goal of the paper was to examine the interplay of information and non‐information task behaviors.
Findings
This paper explores and speculates on a new direction in HIB research. The nature of HIB as a multitasking activity including the interplay of information and non‐information behavior tasks, and the relation between multitasking information behavior to cognitive style and individual differences, is discussed. A model of multitasking between information and non‐information behavior tasks is proposed.
Practical implications/limitations
Multitasking information behavior models should include the interplay of information and non‐information tasks, and individual differences and cognitive styles.
Originality/value
The paper is the first information science theoretical examination of the interplay between information and non‐information tasks.
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Seoung‐Hun Bae and Minsoo Shin
The growth of telecommunications spending is the single most vital factor for continuity of the virtuous circle in the overall information communications technology (ICT…
Abstract
Purpose
The growth of telecommunications spending is the single most vital factor for continuity of the virtuous circle in the overall information communications technology (ICT) industry. This article aims to attempt to gauge the future telecommunications expenditure potential of Korean households by adopting the Kuznets curve which considers the income turning point.
Design/methodology/approach
This study begins by examining the structural pattern of household telecommunications expenditures, and then analyzes them using the fully modified least squares estimation method. Household survey raw data collected on a quarterly basis between 1982 and 2005 were used.
Findings
The paper finds that the Korean telecommunication market has grown at a high pace and adopted new technologies quickly. Most previous studies on the Korean telecommunication market have predicted that growth will continue on the basis of the past trend of continuous growth in consumer communications service expenditure, and the technological innovations which have rapidly taken place in the industry over recent years. However, the research paper finds various interesting points that contradict the prediction.
Research limitations/implications
The main research limitation is the range of telecommunication expenditures. The main idea was to examine the relationship between household income and communications expenditure based on the concept of Kuznets hypotheses and to calculate an income turning point to measure spending potential.
Practical implications
The case of Korea offers implications for other countries that are putting in special efforts to manage the telecommunications service market.
Originality/value
The Kuznets hypotheses have never before been utilized in gauging consumers' expenditure potential in the ICT industry, and therefore the process and results discussed in this paper can be classed as pioneering.
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Yaowarat Sriwaranun, Christopher Gan, Minsoo Lee and David A Cohen
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors affecting consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for organics.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors affecting consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for organics.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data at five retail stores in metropolitan Bangkok. Exploratory factor analysis and the double-bound contingent valuation method were used for analysis.
Findings
Results indicate WTP premiums of 88, 51 and 51 per cent for kale, jasmine rice and pork, respectively. Analysis indicates that respondents are willing to pay a premium if they have already purchased organic products, have good health, strong ethical and environmental concerns, think that organic products provide greater quality and health benefits, and reside in the city. Respondents with children, however, are less likely to pay a premium for organic products. Analysis also indicates that the price premium hinders purchase.
Practical implications
Efforts should be made by policymakers, together with marketers and producers, to lower the price of organic products to attract more consumers.
Originality/value
To enlarge the organic market, one must understand consumers’ preferences for organic products and the premium they will pay for them. This is not well-researched. Though several studies have investigated consumers’ behaviour towards environmentally friendly products in Thailand, there is little research on WTP. This lack is a major impediment to the growth of organic consumption and the development of organic product markets.
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Folorunsho M. Ajide and James T. Dada
The study's objective is to examine the relevance of globalization in affecting the size of the shadow economy in selected African nations.
Abstract
Purpose
The study's objective is to examine the relevance of globalization in affecting the size of the shadow economy in selected African nations.
Design/methodology/approach
To do this, the authors employ the KOF globalization index and implement both static and dynamic common correlated mean group estimators on a panel of 24 African nations from 1995–2017. This technique accommodates the issue of cross-sectional dependence, sample bias and endogenous regressors. Panel threshold analysis is also conducted to establish the nonlinearity between globalization and the shadow economy. To examine the causality between the variables, the study employs Dumitrescu and Hurlin's panel causality test.
Findings
The results show that globalization reduces the size of the shadow economy. The results of the nonlinear analysis suggest a U-shaped relationship. Overall globalization has a threshold impact of 48.837%, economic globalization has 45.615% and political globalization has 66.661% while social globalization has a threshold value of 35.744%. The results of the panel causality show that there is a bidirectional causality between the two variables.
Practical implications
The results suggest that the government and other relevant authorities need to introduce capital controls and other policy measures to moderate the degree of social, political and cultural diffusion. Appropriate policies should be formulated to monitor the extent of African economic openness to other continents to maximize the gains from globalization.
Originality/value
Apart from being the first study in the African region that evaluates the relevance of globalization in controlling the shadow economy, it also analyzes the dynamics and threshold analysis between the two variables using advanced panel econometrics which makes the study unique. The study suggests that globalization tools are useful for affecting the size of the shadow economy in Africa. This study provides fresh empirical evidence on the impact of globalization on the shadow economy in the case of Africa.