Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated the impacts of the interaction experiential customization (IEC) mode on consumers' information processing fluency and green customization intention (GCI) as well as the moderating effect of consumers' self-construal.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted an online field experiment, questionnaire study and between-subjects laboratory experiment to test the hypotheses.
Findings
It was found that IEC had a significant positive effect on consumers' GCI. Moreover, consumer retrieval processing fluency played a partial mediating role in the relationship between IEC and GCI. In addition, consumers' self-construal moderated the “IEC? Three dimensions of processing fluency” relationships.
Practical implications
The results emphasized the importance of IEC in influencing consumers' consumption intention in a green customization setting and have some practical implications, that is, companies have the opportunity to use appropriate digital choice architecture designs, which can enhance consumer processing fluency when promoting eco-friendly products in the customized consumption process, especially for independent consumers.
Originality/value
This study focused on the customization design on consumers' GCI and explained the mechanism of impact of IEC on improving consumers' processing fluency and GCI in a product customization setting based on the fluency theory. In addition, this study investigated the moderating effect of consumers' self-construal (independent vs interdependent) on their significant different information processing modes for low-carbon choices.
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Ming Yang, Zhengfeng Jia, Denghu Wei, Yunxia Wang, Xianjuan Pang, Jinming Zhen, Ran Zhang and Bo Yu
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tribological properties of carbonized polydopamine/reduced graphene oxide (CPDA/rGO) composite coatings.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tribological properties of carbonized polydopamine/reduced graphene oxide (CPDA/rGO) composite coatings.
Design/methodology/approach
CPDA/rGO composite coatings were prepared using the spray technique and subsequent pyrolysis under argon. The transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed the conversion of PDA and GO into CPDA and rGO, respectively.
Findings
The results of tribological investigations show that the CPDA/rGO composite coatings with heat treatment at 300°C possess much better friction-reduction and anti-wear properties.
Originality/value
The worn surfaces of the PDA/GO composite films after heat treatment at 300°C were much smoother than that of the copper substrate. The tribofilms containing C, N, O and Cu played an important role on reducing friction and increasing wear resistance.
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Ebenezer Afum, Ran Zhang, Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah and Zhuo Sun
This study aims to investigate the interactions between lean production, internal green practices, green product innovation and sustainable performance metrics. The study further…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the interactions between lean production, internal green practices, green product innovation and sustainable performance metrics. The study further looks at the mediation effect of internal green practices and green product innovation between lean production and sustainable performance dimensions.
Design/methodology/approach
The questionnaire was used to glean data from 209 manufacturing firms. All the hypothesized relationships were processed by using partial least square-structural equation modelling.
Findings
The results suggest that lean production significantly leads to the implementation of internal green practices and the production of quality products with eco-oriented features that meet customers’ needs. Further, while lean production and internal green practices were found to significantly influence sustainability performance, green product innovation significantly influences only financial performance. Besides, the mediation analysis shows that internal green practices mediate the relationship between lean production and sustainable performance dimensions but green product innovation mediates the relationship between lean production and financial performance only.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to firms from Ghana, a developing country; hence, the results cannot be imported to reflect other geographical contexts.
Practical implications
The results of the study provide sufficient justifications for managers, (especially Ghanaian managers and those from other similar environs) to commit their financial resources towards implementing lean production and internal green practices so as to achieve sustainability excellence.
Originality/value
This study magnifies and provides new insight on lean and green literature by developing a comprehensive research model that concurrently tests the direct and indirect effects between lean production, internal green practices, green product innovation and sustainable performance dimensions.
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Chen Wang, Ran Zhang, Taiwen Feng and Jingyi Tao
This study aims to investigate the impact of environmental responsibility (ER) on consumers' green customization intention (GCI), as well as the separate and joint moderating…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of environmental responsibility (ER) on consumers' green customization intention (GCI), as well as the separate and joint moderating effects of consumers' negative perceptions and environmental claim type (ECT) on the relationship between ER and GCI.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, two online experimental questionnaires and one between-subject lab experiment were conducted to test all hypotheses.
Findings
This study found that high-ER consumers are more likely to choose environmental options in the product customization process (versus low ER). The effect of ER on consumers' GCI is moderated by consumers' negative perceptions of green consumption (e.g. green skepticism and perceived environmental premium (PEP)). Additionally, ECT's joint moderating effect and consumers' negative perception of green customization consumption can be decreased by a substantive (versus associative) claim type in message framing.
Practical implications
The findings provide new insights into the factors affecting consumers' GCIs and have significant practical implications. First, consumers' different ER levels should not be neglected when examining the value of green customization. Second, consumers' green skepticism and PEP could reduce consumers' GCI. Third, the use of substantive environmental claims may also be particularly helpful for companies' communication strategies regarding consumers' low-level negative perceptions of green options.
Originality/value
While previous studies state “environmental responsibility” as a key characteristic of general green consumption, the authors extend that to a green customization process and connect that with consumers' negative perceptions and ECT. In addition, the separate and joint moderating effects of consumers' negative perceptions and ECT were examined. Thus, these findings refine the existing understanding of the relationship between ER and green customization.
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Pengze Li, Ran Zhang, Lei Liu, Lizhen Cui, Qingzhong Li and Guangpeng Zhou
Science of the Crowd is a new paradigm. The research on the relationship between provision and requirement arising from the behavior of the crowd under the interconnected…
Abstract
Purpose
Science of the Crowd is a new paradigm. The research on the relationship between provision and requirement arising from the behavior of the crowd under the interconnected environment is a promising topic. This paper aims at studying a new type of interconnected architecture.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is a pioneer work on the establishment of a new type of interconnected architecture – rim chain. The rim chain aims at supporting prompt matching between provision and requirements.
Findings
The analytical results suggest that requirements can be fulfilled in accordance with six degrees of separation. In other words, the matching between the requirements and provision takes place with six hops in the rim chain framework.
Originality/value
Knowledge graph is used to implement the rim chain.
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This chapter explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly its subfield of machine learning (ML) methods, as a core technology of the fintech revolution in the…
Abstract
This chapter explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly its subfield of machine learning (ML) methods, as a core technology of the fintech revolution in the financial services industry. It simplifies some of the complex concepts related to AI by introducing the main ML paradigms and related techno-methodic aspects. This chapter uses real-world examples to illustrate how next-generation AI powered by ML is transforming the financial services industry. Next, in illustrating the risks associated with AI adoption, this chapter discusses the need for regulation to address the essential facets of AI governance, including transparency, accountability, ethics, and responsible use. Lastly, it looks at emerging regulatory approaches across leading global jurisdictions. The primary goal is to give readers an initial understanding of AI's profound impact on the financial sector.
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Marcellin Makpotche, Kais Bouslah and Bouchra M'Zali
This paper aims to investigate the long-run financial and environmental performance of corporate green bond issuers, worldwide.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the long-run financial and environmental performance of corporate green bond issuers, worldwide.
Design/methodology/approach
The data includes 259 corporate green bond issuers from 2013 to 2020. The authors adopt the matching approach, using the nearest neighbor method to select the control firms. The event-time approach is used to examine corporate green bond issuers’ long-run stock market performance, and robustness tests are conducted using the calendar-time method. The authors examine green bond issuers’ long-run environmental performance and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions using difference-in-differences estimations.
Findings
In contrast with the earlier long-run event studies, our results reveal that multiple-time issuers, and issuers operating in industries where the natural environment is financially material, perform financially in the long term relative to the control firms. The authors also document that corporate green bond issuers reduce their CO2 emissions, and improve their resource use efficiency and environmental performance, in the long run.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that looks at the long-run effect of corporate green bond issuance on firms’ stock market performance. It has the particularity to document that corporate green bond issuance is beneficial for investors and positively affects the environment. Our findings help us understand that firms do not issue green bonds for greenwashing.
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The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of urbanization on energy consumption, including economic growth, globalization and “foreign direct investment (FDI)” inflow…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of urbanization on energy consumption, including economic growth, globalization and “foreign direct investment (FDI)” inflow as control variables.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses yearly panel data from 19071 to 2018 on five selected South Asian economies. It applies the “pooled mean group (PMG)” estimator and the “Dumitrescu-Hurlin (D-H)” panel causality test.
Findings
The PMG estimators reveal that urbanization causes energy consumption negatively in the long run because of an unusual and messy urbanization process. At the same time, it has no impact on the latter in the short run. Per capita income has both long- and short-run positive influences on energy use. Globalization causes energy consumption positively in the long run but does not affect it in the short run. FDI inflow has a strong positive impact on energy use in the long run and adverse effects in the short run. The Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality test reveals feedback relationships between “urbanization and energy consumption,” “globalization and energy consumption” and one-way causation from “per capita income to energy consumption.” It validates the findings of the PMG estimators.
Practical implications
The results of this study indicate that South Asia may focus on enhancing the availability of energy in the region and producing more renewable energy to add to its energy portfolio to meet growing energy demand, particularly among urban dwellers. Moreover, they should raise their real per capita incomes and augment the standard of living of low-income city dwellers to make urbanization more serviceable and comfortable.
Originality/value
This study is original. As far as the author is aware, this is a maiden attempt to investigate urbanization's effects on energy usage in South Asia in the preview of globalization and FDI.
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Guang-Zhi Zeng, Zhi-Wei Li, Sha Huang and Zheng-Wei Chen
Based on the aerodynamic loads and dynamic performances of trains, this study aims to investigate the effect of crosswinds and raindrops on intercity trains operating on viaducts…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the aerodynamic loads and dynamic performances of trains, this study aims to investigate the effect of crosswinds and raindrops on intercity trains operating on viaducts to ensure the safe operation of intercity railways in metropolitan areas.
Design/methodology/approach
An approach coupled with the Euler multiphase model as well as the standard k-ɛ turbulence model is used to investigate the coupled flow feature surrounding trains and viaducts, including airflow and raindrops, and the numerical results are validated with those of the wind tunnel test. Additionally, the train’s dynamic response and the operating safety region in different crosswind speeds and rainfall is investigated based on train’s aerodynamic loads and the train wheel–rail dynamics simulation.
Findings
The aerodynamic loads of trains at varying running speeds exhibit an increasing trend as the increase of wind speed and rainfall intensity. The motion of raindrop particles demonstrates a significant similarity with the airflow in wind and rain environments, as a result of the dominance of airflow and the supplementary impacts of droplets. As the train’s operating speed ranged between 120 and 200 km/h and within a rainfall range of 20–100 mm/h, the safe operating region of trains decreased by 0.56%–7.03%, compared with the no-rain condition (0 mm/h).
Originality/value
The impact of crosswind speeds and rainfall on the train’s aerodynamic safety is studied, including the flow feature of crosswind and different particle-sized raindrops around the train and viaduct, aerodynamic loads coefficients suffered by the intercity train as well as the operating safety region of intercity trains on the viaduct.
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Deanna Osman, John Yearwood and Peter Vamplew
The purpose of this paper is to examine the usefulness of fusion as a means of improving the precision of automated opinion detection.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the usefulness of fusion as a means of improving the precision of automated opinion detection.
Design/methodology/approach
Five system fusion methods are proposed and tested using runs submitted by the Text REtrieval Conference (TREC) Blog06 participants as input. The methods include a voting method, an inverse rank method (IRM), a linear‐normalised score method and two weighted methods that use a weighted IRM score to rank the document.
Findings
Mean average precision (MAP) is used as an indicator of the performance of the runs in this study. The best system fusion method achieves a 55.5 percent higher MAP result compared with the highest MAP result of any individual run submitted by the Blog06 participants. This equates to an increase in detection of 2,398 relevant opinion documents (21 percent).
Practical implications
System fusion can be used to improve upon the results achieved by existing individual opinion detection systems. On the other hand, multiple opinion detection approaches can be combined into one system and fusion used to combine the results to build in diversity. Diversity within fusion inputs can increase the improvements achieved by fusion methods. The improved output from a diverse opinion detection system will then contain a higher number of relevant documents and reduce the incidence of high‐ranking non‐relevant documents and low‐ranking relevant documents.
Originality/value
The fusion methods proposed in this study demonstrate that simple fusion of opinion detection systems can improve performance.