This paper presents an example of a pedagogical model based on combining knowledge and creativity and how the model was applied to teach an upper-level undergraduate studio in an…
Abstract
This paper presents an example of a pedagogical model based on combining knowledge and creativity and how the model was applied to teach an upper-level undergraduate studio in an interior architecture program. The model is established on the conceptual paradigm that the design process is more crucial than the final design products in a studio learning experience. Diverting from the normative approaches and instilled by environment-behavior research, the studio projects are based on both a knowledge/thought-building process and a design/idea-building process. Students involve in a research project to collect information on the user preferences and then translate the information into design concepts on which they build the final design. The systematic phases of the design process expose students to recognize that design decisions are not made randomly or as expressions of self, but rather as carefully thought out responses to socio-cultural needs of people. The model enables students to generate socially and culturally sensitive design ideas and to think outside of the ‘architecture-as-art’ box.
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The process of educating future architects and designers around the world varies dramatically. However, there is one striking similarity - the dominance of the design studio as…
Abstract
The process of educating future architects and designers around the world varies dramatically. However, there is one striking similarity - the dominance of the design studio as the main forum for knowledge acquisition and assimilation, and for creative exploration and interaction. Such a setting encompasses intensive cognitive and physical activities, which ultimately result in conceptualizing meaningful environments proposed to accommodate related human activities. The design studio is the primary space where students explore their creative skills that are so prized by the profession; it is the kiln where future architects are molded. It has occupied a central position since architectural education was formalized two centuries ago in France and later in Germany, the rest of Europe, North America, and the rest of the world.
Dominic Joannou, Mina Fernando, Carol Harrison‐Read and Nisha Wickramasinghe
The purpose of this paper is to explore models of community outreach to BME and faith communities in the London Borough of Harrow.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore models of community outreach to BME and faith communities in the London Borough of Harrow.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores community outreach with a specific emphasis on the delivery of community mental health services through partnership working with BME faith groups.
Findings
The paper considers models of community outreach to BME and faith communities and explores the impacts of service cuts and the emerging Big Society agenda on BME and faith groups.
Practical implications
Having identified some of the challenges that exist, solutions are proposed that can help to enhance the likelihood of achieving funding through delivering flexible innovative models of working which play to pre‐existing strengths.
Originality/value
At a time of service cutbacks when people are increasingly reliant on locally based BME communities to provide essential services, the role of information provision and basic training is critical in delivering culturally accessible and tailored services.
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Nisha Jayasuriya, Punmadara Shyam Kumari Jayasinghe, Ashani Rajapaksha, Tharushi Dharmasiri, Damith Sumanasinghe and Ayesha Dasanayake
Referral marketing can be identified as the commercial form used to encourage word-of-mouth (WOM) communication. It has become popular in recent times, supporting organisations to…
Abstract
Purpose
Referral marketing can be identified as the commercial form used to encourage word-of-mouth (WOM) communication. It has become popular in recent times, supporting organisations to attract new customers towards making strides in how customers are pursued to purchase certain types of products/industries. However, some factors impact the success of referral marketing programmes. This study focuses on analysing the impact of such factors as brand, rewards and celebrity endorsement on user engagement in social media referral marketing programmes.
Design/methodology/approach
Further, this study discusses the moderating impact of social ties on this relationship mainly focusing on the cosmetic industry. The data were collected from respondents with exposure to referral marketing programmes through the social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Instagram. The structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the data collected.
Findings
The results of the study revealed that brand, reward and celebrity endorsement significantly impact the participation willingness of customers in social media referral marketing programmemes. Moreover, it showed that the social tie moderates only the brand impact on the participation willingness of customers, whereas it does not moderate the impact of rewards and celebrity endorsement on the participation willingness of customers. In doing so, the study looks extensively into the elements that drive or shape customer behaviour within this specific market niche by investigating the effect of brand, incentives and endorsements by celebrities on customer engagement.
Originality/value
Accordingly, this study sheds light on the complex relationship among brands, rewards and celebrity endorsements, while also considering social ties within the context of social media referral marketing initiatives. It also delivers useful information for academics as well as practitioners. Limited studies have been conducted in this field, and therefore, this study adds some knowledge, also highlighting the moderation effect of social ties.
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Ariful Islam, Nur Fadiah Mohd Zawawi and Sazali Abd Wahab
For Bangladeshi small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the COVID-19 economic shock is remarkable in both its complexity and intensity. SMEs need systemic inspiration to solve the…
Abstract
Purpose
For Bangladeshi small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the COVID-19 economic shock is remarkable in both its complexity and intensity. SMEs need systemic inspiration to solve the crisis, aligned with a moral and authentic approach that serves both the leader and the follower’s interests. This study aims to conceptualize the innovation-focused success method of SMEs before and after the pandemic to manage the crisis by establishing spiritual leadership based on Islamic perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
To discuss the impact of spiritual leadership on innovation-focused SME performance configuration through the lens of a crisis, a comprehensive literature study has been carried out in which over 360 articles are read and reviewed by the authors. It has also established the reliability and validity of literature analysis. Also, a qualitative investigation has been used to support the direction of the study.
Findings
For a subsequent process of scientific deployment and evaluation of its execution, a new applied strategic innovation-focused SME success configuration through spiritual leadership development is made available. The primary value of this paradigm is the potential to calculate and treat the aspects of spiritual leadership obtained from Islamic ideas.
Research limitations/implications
Prior analytical or empirical attempts from multiple viewpoints are subsequently needed to inquire about the proposed conceptualization.
Practical implications
Among the realistic consequences of this analysis is that while a number of leadership paradigms have been embraced by a broad body of leadership studies, the findings indicate that this paper should pay heed to the influential spiritual style of leadership, taking into account Islamic perspectives on the context of crisis. Therefore, Bangladeshi SMEs need to develop and run leadership training programs focused on the Islamic viewpoint of spirituality to encourage the actions of leaders during and after crises.
Social implications
The legal and moral values of the society would ultimately be upgraded from this conceptualization. Moreover, less corruption in corporate activities would improve the economic prosperity of a nation. It would also contribute to the cross-cultural portrayal of the positive picture of Islam.
Originality/value
This holistic conceptualization describes the mediating role of strategic innovation practices based on theoretical foundations, which have seldom been done in previous research, between the Islamic model of spiritual leadership and SME success during and after a crisis.
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Caroline Wolski, Kathryn Freeman Anderson and Simone Rambotti
Since the development of the COVID-19 vaccinations, questions surrounding race have been prominent in the literature on vaccine uptake. Early in the vaccine rollout, public health…
Abstract
Purpose
Since the development of the COVID-19 vaccinations, questions surrounding race have been prominent in the literature on vaccine uptake. Early in the vaccine rollout, public health officials were concerned with the relatively lower rates of uptake among certain racial/ethnic minority groups. We suggest that this may also be patterned by racial/ethnic residential segregation, which previous work has demonstrated to be an important factor for both health and access to health care.
Methodology/Approach
In this study, we examine county-level vaccination rates, racial/ethnic composition, and residential segregation across the U.S. We compile data from several sources, including the American Community Survey (ACS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) measured at the county level.
Findings
We find that just looking at the associations between racial/ethnic composition and vaccination rates, both percent Black and percent White are significant and negative, meaning that higher percentages of these groups in a county are associated with lower vaccination rates, whereas the opposite is the case for percent Latino. When we factor in segregation, as measured by the index of dissimilarity, the patterns change somewhat. Dissimilarity itself was not significant in the models across all groups, but when interacted with race/ethnic composition, it moderates the association. For both percent Black and percent White, the interaction with the Black-White dissimilarity index is significant and negative, meaning that it deepens the negative association between composition and the vaccination rate.
Research limitations/implications
The analysis is only limited to county-level measures of racial/ethnic composition and vaccination rates, so we are unable to see at the individual-level who is getting vaccinated.
Originality/Value of Paper
We find that segregation moderates the association between racial/ethnic composition and vaccination rates, suggesting that local race relations in a county helps contextualize the compositional effects of race/ethnicity.
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This study intends to find the industries that have leveraged Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology and elucidate the extent of the adoption of RPA in various industry…
Abstract
Purpose
This study intends to find the industries that have leveraged Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology and elucidate the extent of the adoption of RPA in various industry domains with benefits. The identification of tasks eligible for RPA itself is a challenge. Therefore, the study further brings out the challenges faced in various industry verticals and postulates the future direction of research and applications in RPA.
Design/methodology/approach
The study focuses on articles from popular databases such as SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google scholar. PRISMA methodology is used for systematic literature review and 113 papers are shortlisted for study. Three questions are framed to carry out the review and set the research direction.
Findings
It is evident from this study that RPA has been widely used in banking and related areas with moderate use in healthcare and manufacturing leading to operational efficiency and productivity. However, there are a lot more opportunities in other domains that need to be taped by leveraging technology advancements and a research agenda has been devised by postulating future directions.
Originality/value
The study brings out a new comprehensive perspective as regards RPA implementation across domains. There is no promising study found that gathers three-dimensional aspects of the meta-themes applications, benefits and challenges. The study summarizes the research agenda and projects the industry domains that have not yet explored, the benefits of RPA. This will be a good reference article for those who develop RPA techniques and organizations that have plans to go for RPA.
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Francesco Campanella, Luana Serino and Anna Crisci
Customer satisfaction has been traditionally the main goal aimed at by managers. Focusing on the banking industry, the importance of this concept is even greater because of the…
Abstract
Purpose
Customer satisfaction has been traditionally the main goal aimed at by managers. Focusing on the banking industry, the importance of this concept is even greater because of the increasing focus of banks on mobile services to reach out to a larger set of customers. To investigate user’s behavior in a Fintech context, this study aim to focus on two relevant issues: service quality and perceived risk. For the purpose, the authors integrated a technology quality-based model with a green image perspective to investigate the impact on customer satisfaction in Fintechs users.
Design/methodology/approach
The primary data is based on a survey directly taken from a questionnaire survey. The survey is collected by researchers. This research used probability sampling technique with convenience sampling. The data of this study data is derived from an online survey of Italian households performed between August 2020 and December 2020. In accordance to other studies, the questionnaires used Likert scale model that was conducted by measuring five categories of responses. For methodology, the authors analyzed data by structural model equations.
Findings
The authors find that some of quality services factors impact on user satisfaction as well as the trust in Fintech providers. Moreover, the empirical findings highlight that the importance of a green reputation in Fintech providers from the perspective of consumer as it enhances both the trust and the satisfaction in internet banking services offered. It is needed to highlight that the most important thing for a Fintech provider is to secure loyalty and to be sustainable from a green perspective. The authors found that trust and green image give great influence on use intention. Therefore, it is most important for financial providers to develop financial products with trust and e-loyalty in mind.
Research limitations/implications
This study suggests that nowadays Fintech companies should invest more resources in the increasing of green image because it is positively associated with trust and customer’s satisfaction. The authors incentive the financial institutions to promote the sustainable development and green strategies in their planning as concern for the environment and sustainability affects consumers, who increasingly consider certain non-financial attributes in their investments, such as environmental, social and governance criteria. Future research that includes different cultural settings would enhance generalizability and external validity as the respondents all live in Italy.
Originality/value
For the purpose, the authors integrated a technology quality-based model with a green image perspective to investigate the impact on customer satisfaction in Fintechs users. This paper, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, is the first to study consumer satisfaction in Fintech context in this sense. Although existing research has investigated relevant aspects of customer trust, satisfaction, these issues have not been discussed from a green perspective. Apart from that, the main contribution of this paper is its exploration of the influence of green image on loyalty and satisfaction. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, however, no studies have been done on sustainable banking in Italian banking sector, focused on Fintech services. In this paper, the authors attempt to fill this research gap.
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Ritesh Kumar and Ajnesh Prasad
This study revisits the discourse on the neoliberalization of business schools and explores how accreditation-linked institutional pressures catalyze cultural change that…
Abstract
Purpose
This study revisits the discourse on the neoliberalization of business schools and explores how accreditation-linked institutional pressures catalyze cultural change that adversely impact academic labor and academic subjectivities in the Global South.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with academics from elite business schools in India.
Findings
This study shows how academics encounter institutional pressures in Indian business schools. Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) the conception of the ideal academic that existed before accreditation, (2) how the conception of the ideal academic was fundamentally transformed during and after accreditation, and (3) the challenges academics experienced in achieving the performance targets introduced by accreditation-linked institutional pressures.
Originality/value
This study offers two contributions to the extant literature on business schools located in the Global South: (1) it illustrates how organizational changes within business schools in India are structured by accreditation-linked institutional pressures coming from the Global North, and (2) it adds to the growing body of work on neoliberal governmentality by highlighting the implications of accreditation-liked institutional pressures on academic subjectivities.