Francisco González, David Greiner, Vicente Mena, Ricardo M. Souto, Juan J. Santana and Juan J. Aznárez
Impedance data obtained by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are fitted to a relevant electrical equivalent circuit to evaluate parameters directly related to the…
Abstract
Purpose
Impedance data obtained by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are fitted to a relevant electrical equivalent circuit to evaluate parameters directly related to the resistance and the durability of metal–coating systems. The purpose of this study is to present a novel and more efficient computational strategy for the modelling of EIS measurements using the Differential Evolution paradigm.
Design/methodology/approach
An alternative method to non-linear regression algorithms for the analysis of measured data in terms of equivalent circuit parameters is provided by evolutionary algorithms, particularly the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithms (standard DE and a representative of the self-adaptive DE paradigm were used).
Findings
The results obtained with DE algorithms were compared with those yielding from commercial fitting software, achieving a more accurate solution, and a better parameter identification, in all the cases treated. Further, an enhanced fitting power for the modelling of metal–coating systems was obtained.
Originality/value
The great potential of the developed tool has been demonstrated in the analysis of the evolution of EIS spectra due to progressive degradation of metal–coating systems. Open codes of the different differential algorithms used are included, and also, examples tackled in the document are open. It allows the complete use, or improvement, of the developed tool by researchers.
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Ricardo Godinho Bilro, Sandra Maria Correia Loureiro and Pedro Souto
The purpose of this paper is to offer a comprehensive overview of current research on customer behavior in the business-to-business (B2B) context and propose a research agenda for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to offer a comprehensive overview of current research on customer behavior in the business-to-business (B2B) context and propose a research agenda for future studies. Despite being a relatively recent area of interest for academics and practitioners, a literature review that synthesizes existing knowledge into coherent topics and outlines a research agenda for future research is still lacking.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on a systematic literature review of 219 papers and using a text-mining approach based on the Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithm, this paper enhances the existing knowledge of B2B customer behavior and provides a descriptive analysis of the literature.
Findings
From this review, ten major research topics are found and analyzed. These topics were analyzed through the lens of the Theory, Context, Characteristics and Method framework, providing a summary of key findings from prior studies. Additionally, an integrative framework was developed, offering insights into future research directions.
Originality/value
This study presents a novel contribution to the field of B2B by providing a systematic review of the topic of customer behavior, filling a gap in the literature and offering a valuable resource for scholars and managers seeking to advance the field.
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Julia Vasconcelos Furtado, Antonio Carrizo Moreira, Ricardo Gouveia Rodrigues and Jorge Humberto F. Mota
Research on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) has been based on Western developed economies’ samples (or specific Eastern countries such as China and Saudi Arabia)…
Abstract
Purpose
Research on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) has been based on Western developed economies’ samples (or specific Eastern countries such as China and Saudi Arabia), lacking attention to developing contexts (Latin America). Even though OCBs’ antecedents in the Global North context have been thoroughly explored, Corporate Social Responsibility’s (CSR) perceptions and organizational commitment’s (OC) roles are “under-studied” in such developing contexts. This study aims to respond to the call for research on the behavioral perspective on CSR in Latin America, challenging implicit assumptions of theories developed in Western developed countries, related to the employees’ CSR perceptions and OC and OCB research.
Design/methodology/approach
In a postpositivist approach, the authors tested whether CSR and OC directly affect OCB, exploring OCB’s five dimensions – altruism, courtesy, consciousness, civic virtue and sportsmanship, with a main hypothesis that CSR and OC directly affect OCBs. The sample comprises responses from 1,059 employees from public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Brazil – the largest economy in Latin America, yet a collectivistic society developing country, in which OCB phenomena is still underexplored or done to a lesser extent.
Findings
Whenever positively perceiving their organizations’ CSR activities, employees identify strongly with the organization, influencing positive job outcomes such as OC and OCBs. Findings indicate that despite not perfectly fitting non-North American contexts, the OCB five-dimension structure is positively related to employees’ CSR perception, confirming OC’s stronger role in the Brazilian context. Indeed, findings confirm OC’s influence over all OCB dimensions, re-stating it as a stronger predictor of behaviors like consciousness (compliance), civic virtue and sportsmanship.
Originality/value
This research accepted the challenge of bringing OC back to OCB research. Indeed, seminal work had implied OC as a robust and significant predictor of the OCB, yet in Western developed economies. The scarcity of research on the matter in developing collectivist economies such as Brazil, justifies this study’s novelty and appropriateness.
Objetivo
La investigación sobre el organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) se ha basado en muestras de economías desarrolladas occidentales (o países orientales específicos como China y Arabia Saudita), sin prestar atención a los contextos en desarrollo (América Latina). Aunque se han explorado a fondo los antecedentes de las OCB en el contexto del Hemisferio Norte Global, las percepciones de la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (RSE) y los roles del compromiso organizacional (CO) están “poco estudiados” en tales contextos en desarrollo. Respondemos al llamado a investigar la perspectiva conductual de la RSE en América Latina, desafiando los supuestos implícitos de las teorías desarrolladas en los países desarrollados occidentales, relacionadas con las percepciones de RSE de los empleados y las investigaciones sobre OC y OCB.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
En un enfoque pos-positivista, probamos si la RSE y el OC afectan directamente al OCB, explorando las cinco dimensiones del OCB: altruismo, cortesía, conciencia, virtud cívica y espíritu deportivo, con la hipótesis principal de que la RSE y el OC afectan directamente a los OCB. La muestra comprende respuestas de 1.059 empleados de instituciones de educación superior (IES) públicas y privadas en Brasil, la economía más grande de América Latina, pero un país en desarrollo con una sociedad colectivista, en el que los fenómenos OCB aún están poco explorados o se realizan en menor medida.
Resultados
Siempre que perciben positivamente las actividades de RSE de sus organizaciones, los empleados se identifican fuertemente con la organización, lo que influye en resultados laborales positivos, como OC y OCB. Los hallazgos indican que, a pesar de no encajar perfectamente en contextos fuera de América del Norte, la estructura de cinco dimensiones de OCB está positivamente relacionada con la percepción de RSE de los empleados, lo que confirma el papel más fuerte del OC en el contexto brasileño. De hecho, los hallazgos confirman la influencia del compromiso organizacional sobre todas las dimensiones del OCB, reformándolo como un predictor más fuerte de comportamientos como la conciencia (cumplimiento), la virtud cívica y el espíritu deportivo.
Originalidad
Esta investigación aceptó el desafío de devolver el OC a la investigación de OCB. De hecho, un trabajo fundamental había implicado que el OC era un predictor sólido y significativo del OCB, incluso en las economías desarrolladas occidentales. La escasez de investigaciones sobre el tema en economías colectivistas en desarrollo como Brasil, justifica la novedad y pertinencia de este estudio.
Propósito
A investigação sobre o comportamento de organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) tem-se baseado em amostras de economias desenvolvidas ocidentais (ou de países orientais específicos, como a China e a Arábia Saudita), sem atenção aos contextos em desenvolvimento (América Latina). Embora os antecedentes dos OCBs no contexto do Hemifério Norte tenham sido exaustivamente explorados, as percepções da Responsabilidade Social Corporativa (RSE) e os papéis do organizational commitment (OC) são “subestudados” nesses contextos em desenvolvimento. Respondemos ao apelo por pesquisas sobre a perspectiva comportamental da RSE na América Latina, desafiando pressupostos implícitos de teorias desenvolvidas nos países ocidentais desenvolvidos, relacionadas às percepções de RSC dos funcionários e às pesquisas de OC e OCB.
Design/metodologia/abordagem
Numa abordagem pós-positivista, testamos se a Responsabilidade Social Corporativa e o OC afectam directamente o OCB, explorando as cinco dimensões do OCB – altruísmo, cortesia, consciência, virtude cívica e espírito desportivo, com a hipótese principal de que a RSE e o OC afectam directamente os OCB. A amostra compreende respostas de 1.059 funcionários de Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) públicas e privadas do Brasil – a maior economia da América Latina, mas um país em desenvolvimento com sociedade coletivista, no qual o fenômeno do OCB ainda é subexplorado ou realizado em menor grau.
Resultados
Sempre que percebem positivamente as atividades de RSE das suas organizações, os funcionários identificam-se fortemente com a organização, influenciando resultados positivos do trabalho, como OC e OCBs. Os resultados indicam que, apesar de não se ajustar perfeitamente aos contextos não norte-americanos, a estrutura de cinco dimensões do OCB está positivamente relacionada com a percepção de RSE dos funcionários, confirmando o papel mais forte do OC no contexto brasileiro. Na verdade, os resultados confirmam a influência do compromisso organizacional sobre todas as dimensões do OCB, reafirmando-o como um preditor mais forte de comportamentos como consciência (conformidade), virtude cívica e espírito desportivo.
Originalidade
Esta pesquisa aceitou o desafio de trazer o OC de volta à pesquisa de OCB. Na verdade, o trabalho seminal tinha implicado o OC como um preditor robusto e significativo do OCB, ainda nas economias desenvolvidas ocidentais. A escassez de pesquisas sobre o assunto nas economias coletivistas em desenvolvimento, como o Brasil, justifica a novidade e a adequação deste estudo.
Details
Keywords
- Organizational citizenship behavior
- Organizational commitment
- Social identity theory
- Higher education institutions
- Corporate social responsibility
- Latin America
- Developing economies
- Comportamiento ciudadano organizacional
- Compromiso organizacional
- Teoría de la identidad social
- Instituciones de educación superior
- Responsabilidad social corporativa
- América Latina
- Economías en desarrollo
- Comportamento de cidadania organizacional
- Compromisso organizacional
- Teoria da identidade social
- Instituições de ensino superior
- Responsabilidade social corporativa
- América Latina
- Economias em desenvolvimento
The objective of this study is to assess the level of corporate governance (CG) compliance and identify determinants of high compliance in Indonesian publicly listed corporations…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to assess the level of corporate governance (CG) compliance and identify determinants of high compliance in Indonesian publicly listed corporations including family and nonfamily firms. The country uses a voluntary disclosure approach to enforce its regulations; thus, it is important to identify the factors affecting compliance.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing a logistic regression model, this paper analyzes the CG index of high-compliance vs. poor-compliance companies and emphasizes factors that contribute to better governance compliance. The CG index of high-compliant firms is almost twice as high as that of low-compliant firms.
Findings
The study explores factors that contribute to high CG in an emerging market like Indonesian corporations. The study's findings indicate that family-owned businesses predominate in the low-compliance group. High-compliance firms are older and larger with higher financial performance, free float and leverage, as well as a positive influence of the founder's great leadership. The results support theoretical arguments that concentrated ownership and excessive majority shareholder control are key factors in determining the likelihood of good governance practices by firms. Hence, the market and regulators should devise effective strategies to encourage and reward high compliance.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of the research offer several implications for the academic community and policymakers. Improving CG at the firm level is a viable goal, even though the agenda to reform minority investor protection laws and increase judicial quality is challenging and may take a long time to show significant results. Moreover, this study has some limitations that could be addressed in future research. The study focuses on a single-country setting, Indonesia. There are cultural aspects and governance settings that may be unique in the Indonesian context, which may limit the applicability of the findings to other countries with their own cultural settings and institutional legal framework.
Originality/value
The study investigates the factors that influence high governance compliance in specific CG regulations designed for the emerging Indonesian market. The study also discovers evidence that the crisis period has a favorable impact on the firm's decision to comply with governance provisions.
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Miriam Taís Salomão, Susana Costa Silva and José Ricardo Côto
Cosmopolitans transcend their local boundaries by interacting and actively seeking other cultures, and the applications of these characteristics to consumption behaviour is called…
Abstract
Purpose
Cosmopolitans transcend their local boundaries by interacting and actively seeking other cultures, and the applications of these characteristics to consumption behaviour is called consumer cosmopolitanism. To outline inferences on what school leavers would experience, consider or do when planning to study abroad, this paper aims to examine people who have experienced Erasmus concerning the relationship between their level and type of consumer cosmopolitanism and the decisions related to enrolling in the Erasmus programme, which include the decision itself, motivations, choice of destination, pursuing cultural differences and search for different levels of globalisation.
Design/methodology/approach
After proposing a conceptual model, data were collected by surveying undergraduate or postgraduate students. Then a set of multivariate analyses were developed to validate the hypotheses.
Findings
Contrarily to what could be expected, results indicate that consumer cosmopolitanism decreases the likelihood for students to enrol on the programme. Additionally, three types of consumer cosmopolitanism were found: low, cultural and high cosmopolitans. According to results, low cosmopolitans display lower likelihoods of enrolment than the other two types. This evidence supports that intention to enrol is not always a good predictor of behaviour and that a gap is proven here as well. This study also suggests that cosmopolitan consumers do not reveal a preference for countries with similar/different cultures or levels of globalization to that of their own country, but, conversely, experiencing a different culture remains one of the leading motivations for these consumers.
Originality/value
Although cosmopolitanism has been extensively studied in different research fields, its link with the decisions on studying abroad has barely been explored.
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Keywords
Rosiane Serrano, Daniel Pacheco Lacerda, Ricardo Augusto Cassel, Aline Dresch and Maria Isabel Wolf Motta Morandi
Football is deployed into various segments and consists of a complex value chain, with interrelationships and circularities. It is relevant in various segments and therefore it is…
Abstract
Purpose
Football is deployed into various segments and consists of a complex value chain, with interrelationships and circularities. It is relevant in various segments and therefore it is important to understand the structure. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present a model of a football value chain and the managerial implications inherent to this chain.
Design/methodology/approach
This research used a field study as its methodology, developing a semi-structured questionnaire containing open-ended questions about the representativeness of the football value chain. In-depth interviews with specialists in football were performed to collect data.
Findings
The results of the interviews indicated that the theoretical model is representative. Furthermore, through validation, the relevance and representativeness of the football value chain was shown, as well as its interrelationships with the other commodity and service segments. In addition, it was found that this segment is relevant and influential in the national and international market, and can be considered a factor of economic and social development.
Research limitations/implications
This paper provides a view of the actors who make up the football value chain, and also supplies a complementary view to the models of chains presented in the theoretical review, enabling the provision of evidence on the axis with greater added value as a new step. The limitation of this research involves the context approached, because as identified throughout the investigation, this context is complex and dynamic. In this way, the linear approach used to construct this chain led to a reduced view of reality and of present relationships.
Practical implications
The model shows the presence of the main actors and the structure for the transformation of raw material into a final product, and is useful to understand the existing relationships and the layers of added value.
Social implications
The evaluation of the conceptual model of football value chain confirms that this is a professionalized chain, which generates a significant number of direct and indirect jobs.
Originality/value
The authors propose a model of a football value chain which is complementary to the theoretical review developed, exposing a linkage of the players present in this chain and at what stage they are present, and supplies the managerial implications inherent to this.
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Fatemeh Abdolshah, Saeed Moshiri and Andrew Worthington
The Iranian banking industry has been greatly affected by dramatic changes in macroeconomic conditions over the past several decades owing to volatile oil revenues, changing…
Abstract
Purpose
The Iranian banking industry has been greatly affected by dramatic changes in macroeconomic conditions over the past several decades owing to volatile oil revenues, changing fiscal and monetary policies, and the imposition of US sanctions. The main objective of this paper is to estimate potential credit losses in the Iranian banking sector due to macroeconomic shocks and assess the minimum economic capital requirements under the baseline and distressed scenarios. The paper also contrasts the applications of linear and nonlinear models in estimating the impacts of macroeconomic shocks on financial institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a multistage approach to derive the portfolio loss distribution for banks. In the first step, the dynamic relationship between the selected macroeconomic variables are estimated using a VAR model to generate the stress scenarios. In the second step, the default probabilities are estimated using a quantile regression model and the results are compared with those of the conventional linear models. Finally, the default probabilities are simulated for a one-year time horizon using Monte-Carlo method and the portfolio loss distribution is calculated for hypothetical portfolios. The expected loss includes the loss given default for loans drawn randomly and uniformly distributed and exposed at default values when loans are assigned a fixed value.
Findings
The results indicate that the loss distributions under all scenarios are skewed to the right, with the linear model results being very similar to those of quantile at the 50% quantile, but very unlike those at the 10% and 90% quantiles. Specifically, the quantile model for the 90% (10%) quantile generates estimates of minimum economic capital requirement that are considerably higher (lower) than those using the linear model.
Research limitations/implications
The study has focused on credit risk because of lack of data on other types of risk at individual bank level. The future studies can estimate the aggregate economic capital using a risk aggregation approach and a panel data (not presently available), which could further improve the accuracy of the estimates.
Practical implications
The fiscal and monetary authorities in developing countries, specially oil-exporting countries, can follow the risk assessment approach to assess the health of their banking system and adapt policies to mitigate the impacts of large macroeconomic shocks on their financial markets.
Originality/value
This is the first paper estimating the portfolio loss distribution for the Iranian banks under turbulent macroeconomic conditions using linear and nonlinear models. The case study can be applied to other developing and emerging countries, particularly those highly dependent on natural resources, prone to extreme macroeconomic shocks.
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Samar Ali Shilbayeh and Sunil Vadera
This paper aims to describe the use of a meta-learning framework for recommending cost-sensitive classification methods with the aim of answering an important question that arises…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the use of a meta-learning framework for recommending cost-sensitive classification methods with the aim of answering an important question that arises in machine learning, namely, “Among all the available classification algorithms, and in considering a specific type of data and cost, which is the best algorithm for my problem?”
Design/methodology/approach
This paper describes the use of a meta-learning framework for recommending cost-sensitive classification methods for the aim of answering an important question that arises in machine learning, namely, “Among all the available classification algorithms, and in considering a specific type of data and cost, which is the best algorithm for my problem?” The framework is based on the idea of applying machine learning techniques to discover knowledge about the performance of different machine learning algorithms. It includes components that repeatedly apply different classification methods on data sets and measures their performance. The characteristics of the data sets, combined with the algorithms and the performance provide the training examples. A decision tree algorithm is applied to the training examples to induce the knowledge, which can then be used to recommend algorithms for new data sets. The paper makes a contribution to both meta-learning and cost-sensitive machine learning approaches. Those both fields are not new, however, building a recommender that recommends the optimal case-sensitive approach for a given data problem is the contribution. The proposed solution is implemented in WEKA and evaluated by applying it on different data sets and comparing the results with existing studies available in the literature. The results show that a developed meta-learning solution produces better results than METAL, a well-known meta-learning system. The developed solution takes the misclassification cost into consideration during the learning process, which is not available in the compared project.
Findings
The proposed solution is implemented in WEKA and evaluated by applying it to different data sets and comparing the results with existing studies available in the literature. The results show that a developed meta-learning solution produces better results than METAL, a well-known meta-learning system.
Originality/value
The paper presents a major piece of new information in writing for the first time. Meta-learning work has been done before but this paper presents a new meta-learning framework that is costs sensitive.