Ngoc Hân Nguyen, Wendy Smits and Mark Vancauteren
We aim to elucidate the relationship between fixed-term employment and firm productivity by examining workers’ skills and considering how firm-level conversion rates influence…
Abstract
Purpose
We aim to elucidate the relationship between fixed-term employment and firm productivity by examining workers’ skills and considering how firm-level conversion rates influence this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
We use longitudinal employer-employee data between 2011 and 2017 in the Netherlands to estimate a nonlinear regression derived from a production function proposed by Addessi (2014) and Castellani et al. (2020).
Findings
The contribution of fixed-term contracts to firm-level productivity is less than that of permanent contracts. However, this contribution is greater when firms exhibit a high conversion rate from fixed-term to permanent positions. The effect of the conversion rate is more substantial for high-skilled fixed-term workers than for low-skilled ones.
Originality/value
Our results suggest the extent to which firms benefit from fixed-term contracts when these are used for screening high-skilled workers for permanent employment.
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Sharmila Devi R., Swamy Perumandla and Som Sekhar Bhattacharyya
The purpose of this study is to explore the complex interplay between technology, personal norms and emotional factors in shaping the sustainable housing choices of millennials in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the complex interplay between technology, personal norms and emotional factors in shaping the sustainable housing choices of millennials in emerging economies. It integrates the model of goal-directed behavior, technology acceptance model and norm activation model, incorporating both self-interest and prosocial motivations. Key adaptations involve replacing perceived behavioral control with financial self-efficacy and substituting hedonic motivation for anticipated positive emotions. Moreover, it introduces location as a practical anchor.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive research design was used in this study. Data were gathered from a sample of 610 millennial residential real estate investors across Indian smart cities. A multistage stratified sampling technique was used to ensure a representative sample. For data analysis, partial least squares structural equation modeling was used. The analysis focused on hypothesis testing to examine the relationships between the constructs of interest. Bootstrap t-values and effect sizes were used to assess the significance and magnitude of these relationships, respectively.
Findings
One of the key findings of this study was the establishment of significant positive relationships between awareness of consequences, ascription of responsibility and personal norms with behavioral intentions. This underscored the importance of personal ethical considerations in shaping intentions. Perceived usefulness and ease of use were found to significantly influence attitudes positively, highlighting the relevance of these factors in forming favorable attitudes toward behaviors. Attitude, subjective norms, financial self-efficacy and location played significant positive roles. However, negative anticipated emotions decreased desire. This illustrated the complex role emotions play in motivational processes. The study also revealed that subjective norms did not significantly contribute to shaping personal norms. This indicated a potential decoupling of societal expectations from personal ethical obligations in the decision-making process.
Practical implications
This study offers actionable insights for both policymakers and real estate developers. For policymakers, the findings highlight the need to craft initiatives that go beyond mere awareness, instead fostering a deep sense of personal responsibility and environmental stewardship among potential homebuyers. For real estate developers, the emphasis on financial self-efficacy and location suggests a strategy shift toward designing sustainable homes that not only meet environmental standards but also align with buyers’ financial confidence and geographic preferences. Together, these strategies can drive a more widespread adoption of sustainable housing, making sustainability a tangible and appealing choice for millennials.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this empirical research study was one of the first studies that contributed to the literature by integrating the model of goal-directed behavior, technology acceptance model and norm activation model. This study thus offered a nuanced understanding of the interplay between normative influences, usability perceptions, ethical considerations and emotions in the context of behavioral intentions.
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Ngoc Bao Nguyen, Mai Thi Tuyet Nguyen and Minh Binh Nguyen
This study aims to explore how inconspicuous luxury consumption is being practiced in an Asian culture like Vietnam. Moreover, the ethical motivations that drive Vietnamese luxury…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore how inconspicuous luxury consumption is being practiced in an Asian culture like Vietnam. Moreover, the ethical motivations that drive Vietnamese luxury consumers to engage in consuming inconspicuous luxury fashion products are also investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach was used to serve the purpose of this study. Specifically, the authors conducted two rounds of in-depth interviews with 42 Vietnamese luxury consumers recruited using the snowball sampling technique.
Findings
The findings from the interviews indicate that inconspicuous luxury consumption is on the rise in Vietnam. This study also reveals that inconspicuous luxury consumers in Vietnam share some common characteristics with their counterparts in Western and other Asian countries. Significantly, based on Hunt–Vitell model, the findings suggest that ethical considerations play a crucial role in motivating Vietnamese consumers to engage in inconspicuous luxury consumption. Together with typical motivations such as differentiation seeking, aesthetics seeking and status seeking, consumers buy inconspicuous luxury products to adhere to internalized norms and moral principles.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the extant literature by enriching knowledge pertaining to practices of inconspicuous luxury consumption, especially in the context of an emerging Asian country. Notably, an essential contribution of this study is to identify ethical considerations as a new emerging motivation driving inconspicuous luxury consumption. The link between ethical issues and inconspicuous luxury consumption has been largely unexamined in the literature. In this study, the Hunt–Vitell model’s process of ethical reasoning is used in a new context of inconspicuous luxury consumption in an emerging Asian economy.
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R. Sharmila Devi and Swamy Perumandla
This study explores the factors influencing the investment intentions of potential home buyers among paraprofessionals in sustainable housing within urban construction. By…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the factors influencing the investment intentions of potential home buyers among paraprofessionals in sustainable housing within urban construction. By combining the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the extended model of goal-directed behavior (EMGB), the research seeks to understand how technological perceptions, personal motivations and behavioral intentions intersect to shape these investment decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive research design was employed in this study. The study surveyed 641 paraprofessionals as potential home buyers in various Indian cities using a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. It incorporated variables from the TAM and EMGB, modifying some aspects to include financial self-efficacy, hedonic motivation and anticipated regret, alongside adding location as a new factor to examine its impact. For data analysis, partial least squares structural equation modeling was utilized. The analysis focused on hypothesis testing to examine the relationships between the constructs of interest. Bootstrap t-values and effect sizes were used to assess these relationships’ significance and magnitude.
Findings
The study found that perceived usefulness and ease of use significantly enhance attitudes toward sustainable homes, while subjective norms have a minimal effect on such investments in India, emphasizing personal rather than societal influences. Financial self-efficacy, anticipated regret and hedonic motivation are key drivers, indicating that economic capacity and the pursuit of a satisfying lifestyle are crucial for investment intentions. Additionally, the importance of location is highlighted, with infrastructural aspects notably affecting sustainable housing appeal. These insights reveal unique dynamics in India’s sustainable housing sector, diverging from trends in developed countries.
Originality/value
The study lies in its unique fusion of the TAM and EMGB specifically tailored to the Indian urban construction context. It introduces financial self-efficacy, hedonic motivation and anticipated regret as novel variables within these frameworks, alongside emphasizing the significant role of location in sustainable housing decisions. This approach offers new insights into the psychological and socioeconomic factors driving sustainable housing investments in developing countries.
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Cong Doanh Duong, Bich Ngoc Nguyen, Xuan Hau Doan, Van Hau Nguyen and Anh Trong Vu
Little is known about how religious beliefs can motivate consumers to behave more pro-environmentally. Drawn on an integrated model of the theory of planned behavior, the norm…
Abstract
Purpose
Little is known about how religious beliefs can motivate consumers to behave more pro-environmentally. Drawn on an integrated model of the theory of planned behavior, the norm activation model and the self-determination theory, this study aims to explore the effects of religious beliefs (especially, karmic beliefs (KB) and beliefs in a just world (BJW)) on consumers' pro-environmental behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 736 consumers recruited from the eight most populous cities in Vietnam using the mall-intercept survey approach and structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to test the hypothesized model and hypotheses.
Findings
The findings indicate that KB and BJW can increase consumers' green intrinsic motivation, which subsequently encourages them to engage in pro-environmental consumption. Moreover, awareness of consequences (AOC) and ascription of responsibility (AOR) serially indirectly inspire consumers' sustainable consumption through serial mediators, including personal norms (PN), attitudes toward green products and green purchase intention.
Practical implications
Based on the findings, some theoretical and managerial implications for pro-environmental consumption are provided.
Originality/value
The study offers fresh perspectives on the role of religious beliefs in pro-environmental research. Additionally, this study sheds new light on the marketing literature by integrating the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and norm activation model (NAM) with self-determination theory (SDT) to explore the underlying mechanisms and effects of psychological components on consumers' pro-environmental behaviors.
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Huu Minh Nguyen, Thi Hong Tran and Thi Thanh Loan Tran
“The world needs science, science needs women” is the message given by UNESCO in the program for the development of women in science” (UNESCO, 2017). In Vietnam, women’s…
Abstract
“The world needs science, science needs women” is the message given by UNESCO in the program for the development of women in science” (UNESCO, 2017). In Vietnam, women’s participation and achievements in scientific research is considered a great and important resource for industrialization and modernization. Even so, are there gender differences in scientific achievement in the social science research institutes in Vietnam? What factors influence the scientific achievement of female social researchers? The answers will be based on data from a 2017 survey with a sample of 756 researchers, of which 77.6% were female. The survey was conducted by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, a leading, ministry-level national center for the social sciences in Vietnam. This chapter analyzed the scientific achievements of researchers through their position as principal investigators of research projects and their publications, and factors that may impact this. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of factors that may affect the scientific achievement of researchers found that gender differences in academic achievement in the social sciences in Vietnam was still prevalent. Female researchers’ scientific achievements were lower than those of their male counterparts. The contribution to science of Vietnamese female researchers was limited by many different factors; the most important were the academic rank of the researchers and gender stereotype that considered housework the responsibility of women.
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Hong Quan Nguyen, Le Ngoc Ha Nguyen, Linh Chi Hoang, Thi Thanh Hau Phan, Thi Phuong Hoa Dang and My Binh Phuong Ngo
This article aims to provide a theoretical unifying framework for workplace Confucian culture and employees’ organizational commitment (OC) through the modelling role of moral…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to provide a theoretical unifying framework for workplace Confucian culture and employees’ organizational commitment (OC) through the modelling role of moral identities. The context is education in Vietnam.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on employees’ OC theory, a theoretical model was built. Administrative staff and teachers were asked to participate in the study with the assistance of preschool educational institutions in Vietnam. A survey was performed, and data from 421 participants were collected. The moderated structural equation technique was used to test hypotheses.
Findings
The study has demonstrated the positive impact of workplace Confucian culture applications on employees’ perceptions and participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR). The study also confirms the positive impact of employees’ perceptions and participation in CSR. In addition, another conclusion is the moderating effect of moral values on the relationship between workplace Confucian culture and aspects of CSR.
Research limitations/implications
The study focuses on Confucian-culture employees in workplaces, suggesting that their perception of CSR may differ from those from other backgrounds. The authors then plan to state the comparison in further research. The main finding of the study is that WCC and CSR affect employee OC, but there are other factors that could be influenced by WCC and CSR. Future research should explore these factors to improve the current model.
Practical implications
Confucian ideology has been constructed and developed for a long time, but this study has examined its practical implications for favourably effecting human behaviour, thereby demonstrating its potential in organizational culture and practical application.
Social implications
This theoretical framework can be profitably used in educational organizations.
Originality/value
The study adds to the body of research on OC in two ways. The first way is to explain how a beneficial organizational factor – the Confucian workplace culture – contributes to employees’ OC. The second way involves examining the effects of moral identity on participation and perception of CSR.
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Cong Doanh Duong, Thanh Hieu Nguyen, Thi Viet Nga Ngo, Thi Thu Phuong Pham, Anh Trong Vu and Ngoc Su Dang
This study aims to investigate what drives tourists to continue using ChatGPT for travel purposes. This study focuses on the impact of parasocial interaction on tourists’…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate what drives tourists to continue using ChatGPT for travel purposes. This study focuses on the impact of parasocial interaction on tourists’ intention to continue using ChatGPT. It also examines how satisfaction mediates this relationship and the role of technology anxiety as a moderating factor.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 606 tourists in popular Vietnamese tourist destinations, this study used the SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 4 and Model 14) to estimate the research model.
Findings
The study found that tourists’ satisfaction and parasocial interactions positively influenced their intention to continue using ChatGPT for travel purposes. The tourists’ satisfaction was found to play a partial role in mediating the relationship between parasocial interactions and their intention to continue using ChatGPT. Technology anxiety was found to be a negative moderator of the direct effect of satisfaction and the indirect impact of parasocial interaction on this intention.
Originality/value
This study stands out as a pioneering exploration into the novel intersection of parasocial interaction, satisfaction, and technology anxiety and their influence on tourists’ intention to persist with using ChatGPT for travel-related purposes.
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Tony Wall, Nga Ngo, Chúc Nguyễn Hữu, Phạm Ngọc Lan and Sarah Knight
Digital transformation continues to rapidly progress in higher education globally, spanning all aspects of higher education operations, values and culture. Despite expanding…
Abstract
Purpose
Digital transformation continues to rapidly progress in higher education globally, spanning all aspects of higher education operations, values and culture. Despite expanding literature, guidance remains focussed on emergency application during pandemic lockdowns and/or on single organisational case studies. Digital transformation frameworks that move beyond these foci are heavily criticised for being commercially contextualised (outside of higher education) and are often too narrowly conceptualised. The purpose of this paper is to review the most common framework currently used in the UK, which takes a strategic and organisational perspective on digital transformation.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a technical review article that summarises key guidance for organisational digital capability and then reflects on its application in the UK (a developed economy and higher education system) and in Vietnam (one of the fastest-growing economies with a developing higher education committed to digital transformation) as an initial attempt to explore its applicability beyond the UK context. Vietnam has been chosen as a reference context, given its significant current digital transformation policy reform at the national level and as a collaboration partner with the UK in its digital transformation.
Findings
The guidance highlights six core areas to consider for digital capability: information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, content and information, research and innovation, communication, learning, teaching and assessment and organisational digital culture. Although the framework is normative, findings suggest it is sufficiently open-ended to enable its users to determine practical steps to drive digital transformation. However, complementary tools are suggested to deal with the rapidly developing digital transformation policy context of Vietnam.
Originality/value
This is the first time a review has been conducted from the perspective of different countries, with a view to supporting leaders, managers and policymakers in the UK, Vietnam and other Association of South Eastern Nations (ASEAN) networks in their own digital transformation transitions.
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Nguyen Minh Quang, Nozomi Kawarazuka, Thien Ngoc Nguyen-Pham, Thu Hoai Nguyen, Hieu Minh Le, Tho Thi Minh Tran and Thoa Thi Ngoc Huynh
Recognition that not every climate adaptation policy is a good one has shifted attention to new tools and methods to measure the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation policies…
Abstract
Purpose
Recognition that not every climate adaptation policy is a good one has shifted attention to new tools and methods to measure the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation policies. This study aims to propose and apply and applies an innovative adaptation policy assessment framework to identify the extent to which climate adaptation policies in Vietnam exhibit conditions that are likely to ensure a sufficient, credible and effective adaptation.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 21 conditions, categorized under five normative principles and covering critical issue areas in adaptation domain, form the climate adaptation policy assessment framework. The principles were double-checked and tested in case studies through observations and analyses of policy documents to ensure that each condition should be distinct and not overlapping across principles. To see if the principles and attendant conditions were able to capture all relevant aspects of adaptation, the authors used structured expert judgment. In total, 39 policy documents pertaining to climate change adaptation were selected for qualitative document analysis. In-depth interviews with local officials and experts were conducted to address data gaps.
Findings
The study reveals major weaknesses constituting a reasonably worrisome picture of the adaptation policies in Vietnam since several critical conditions were underrepresented. These results shed new light on why some adaptation policies falter or are posing adverse impacts. The findings suggest that a sound policy assessment framework can provide evidence on what effective adaptation policy looks like and how it can be enabled. The framework for climate adaptation policy assessment in this study can be easily adjusted and used for different socio-environmental contexts in which new conditions for policy assessment might emerge.
Social implications
The findings show underlying weaknesses constituting a reasonably worrisome picture of the adaptation regime in Vietnam. In the absence of mechanisms and measures for accountability and transparency in policy processes, adaptation in Vietnam appears more likely to be prone to maladaptation and corruption. While solving these problems will not be easy for Vietnam, the government needs to evaluate whether the short-term gains in sustaining the existing adaptation policies really make progress and serve its long-term climate-adaptive development goals.
Originality/value
Although interpretations of adaptation effectiveness may be very divergent in different normative views on adaptation outcomes, the authors argue that a common, agreed-upon effectiveness can be reached if it is clearly defined and measurable in adaptation policies. Thus, the climate adaptation policy assessment framework proposed in this study is critical for policymakers, practitioners, donors and stakeholders dealing with adaptation to better understand the weaknesses in policymaking processes, pinpoint priority areas of action and timely prevent or prepare for possible adverse impacts of policies.