Saeed Mirzamohammadi, Saeed Karimi and Mir Saman Pishvaee
The purpose of this paper is to develop a new systematic method for a multi-unit organization to cope with the cost allocation problem, which is an extension of the reciprocal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a new systematic method for a multi-unit organization to cope with the cost allocation problem, which is an extension of the reciprocal method. As uncertainty is the inherent characteristic of business environments, assuming changes in engaged parameters is almost necessary. The outputs of the model determine the total value of each unit/business lines or product.
Design/methodology/approach
In the proposed method, contrary to existing models, business units are able to transfer their costs to other units, and also, not necessarily transfer the total costs of support units completely. The DEMATEL approach, which finds all relationships between different parts of a system, is also applied for computing effects of the units’ expense paid to each other. Moreover, a fuzzification approach is used to capture linguistic experts’ judgments about related data.
Findings
Being closer to the real-world problem in comparison to the previous approach, the proposed systematic approach encompasses the other cost allocation models.
Practical implications
Applying the proposed model for a system like a multi-unit organization, the total price of each unit/business line can be obtained. Moreover, this cost allocation process guides the related decision-makers to better manage the expenses that each unit pays the others.
Originality/value
In the existing studies, business units cannot pay expense support units. However, in the proposed method, the business units are able to pay expenses for other units, and also, not necessarily pay total expenses for support unit completely. Moreover, considering engaged parameters as fuzzy numbers makes the proposed model closer to real-world problems.
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Fully developed Casson fluid flow through vertical microchannel is deliberated in the presence of thermal radiation. The two predominant features of micro scale phenomenon such as…
Abstract
Purpose
Fully developed Casson fluid flow through vertical microchannel is deliberated in the presence of thermal radiation. The two predominant features of micro scale phenomenon such as velocity slip and temperature jump are considered. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
The governing equations of the physical phenomenon are solved using Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg fourth fifth order method.
Findings
The outcome of the present work is discussed through graphs. This computation shows that entropy generation rate decreases with enhancing wall ambient temperature difference ratio and fluid wall interaction parameter. Also, it is found that Bejan number is fully retarded with rise in fluid wall interaction parameter. Enhancement in heat transfer or Nusselt number is achieved by increasing the wall ambient temperature ratio and fluid wall interaction parameter.
Originality/value
Casson liquid flow through microchannel is analyzed by considering temperature jump and velocity slip. This computation shows that entropy generation rate decreases with enhancing wall ambient temperature difference ratio.
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Arman Miri, Akram Karimi-Shahanjarin, Maryam Afshari, Leili Tapak and Saeed Bashirian
This study aims to investigate the impact of message framing (emotional vs rational) on social media users' ability to accurately detect information and their intention to share…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of message framing (emotional vs rational) on social media users' ability to accurately detect information and their intention to share messages about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an experimental design approach, the authors recruited 600 adult participants via a crowdsourcing platform. Participants were randomly assigned to receive emotional or rational messages and their ability to accurately detect information and intention to share messages were assessed.
Findings
The results showed a significant multivariate effect of message framing on both the detection of accurate information and intention to share (p < 0.001). Participants who received emotional messages demonstrated better performance in the detection and sharing task than those who received rational messages. Gender and age also had significant main effects on the outcomes, with women performing better than men and younger participants performing better than older participants in detecting the accuracy of information. The interaction effects of the independent variables were not statistically significant (p = 0.098).
Originality/value
The findings highlight the importance of considering emotional factors in combating the spread of messages about the COVID-19 vaccine on social media. Practitioners responsible for social media content should strengthen the content review mechanism, with an emphasis on screening content with high emotional arousal.
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Ahmadreza Karimi Mazidi, Fariborz Rahimnia, Saeed Mortazavi and Mohammad Lagzian
This study aims to investigate the possible negativity of job embeddedness in developing countries. Operationally, the study aimed to configure the relationship between job…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the possible negativity of job embeddedness in developing countries. Operationally, the study aimed to configure the relationship between job embeddedness and cyberloafing with respect to both contextual (job satisfaction) and individual (internet addiction) factors.
Design/methodology/approach
Incorporating the conservation of resources theory and reactance theory into the theory of job embeddedness, the present study adopted a resource-based approach to job embeddedness to examine its main and moderated effects on cyberloafing in a three-way interaction model. With the focus on public organizations, 500 administrative employees from an Iranian university were surveyed using self-reporting measures, and the collected data were analyzed using partial least squares–structural equation modeling and hierarchical moderated multiple regression.
Findings
As predicted, job embeddedness was positively associated with cyberloafing; however, in contrast with predictions, job satisfaction had no inverse impact on the job embeddedness–cyberloafing relationship, and its role was limited to neutralizing the increasing effect of internet addiction.
Practical implications
Consideration should be given to how job embeddedness interacts with contextual and individual moderators to affect cyberloafing. In particular, this study implicated some practical procedures to provide employees with on- and off-the-job resources and avoid fighting over the organization's resources. Additionally, this study provides insights into embeddedness-satisfaction interplay to provide employees with propitious work conditions in line with organizational productivity.
Originality/value
There is little research on the association between job embeddedness and counterproductive work behaviors, and the findings are inconsistent. A review of the literature revealed no study addressing cyberloafing implications of job embeddedness. This study expands the literature by theoretically and empirically correlating job embeddedness and cyberloafing in a non-western developing country. Accordingly, the significance of this study is its capability in mitigating cyberloafing behaviors by promoting the adverse job embeddedness.
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Douglas Wegner, Elisa Thomas, Eduardo Künzel Teixeira and Alisson Eduardo Maehler
The purpose of this paper is to question whether the university entrepreneurial push strategy influences the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of its students. Previous research…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to question whether the university entrepreneurial push strategy influences the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of its students. Previous research followed multilevel approaches that jointly addressed the impact of individual characteristics, institutional environment, and educational support on EI. Despite these efforts, the extant literature did not consider differences between universities regarding the whole set of activities they perform to foster entrepreneurship among students and their results.
Design/methodology/approach
Through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) procedures, this study compared data from 447 students of two Brazilian universities that differentiate themselves according to entrepreneurial push strategies (one adopts actions consistent with this type of strategy while the other does not). Whilst University 1 fosters entrepreneurship by investing in entrepreneurship courses, promoting entrepreneurship competitions, and offering incubation opportunities, University 2 primarily focuses on traditional managerial education without a specific focus on entrepreneurial activities.
Findings
Surprisingly, the results have shown the entrepreneurial push strategy of University 1 does not account for differences in the students’ EI when compared to University 2. Such finding contradicts previous studies on the effects of entrepreneurial education and sheds new lights on the role university’s support plays to foster entrepreneurship intention.
Research limitations/implications
Contributions to the literature on the field of entrepreneurship intention were made by showing that the efforts toward the promotion of entrepreneurship through entrepreneurship education, business plan competitions, and incubation might not have a direct influence on students’ EI.
Practical implications
As a practical implication, the study stimulates universities to evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts in promoting entrepreneurship through training, education and support for new ventures. The results also offer policy implications by suggesting that public policies should emphasize the development of institutions that foster a positive business environment, facilitate the creation of new ventures, the funding of start-ups and reinforce the benefits of becoming an entrepreneur.
Originality/value
The results are surprising because they contradict previous studies of the university’s role in fostering entrepreneurship intention. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first research comparing universities with two different approaches toward developing students’ EI: one university with a whole set of activities and another university without any specific activity with that purpose.
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Asal Ataie‐Jafari, Saeed Hosseini, Farzaneh Karimi and Mohammad Pajouhi
Some studies on anthocyanins have revealed their antioxidant activity and beneficial effects for diabetes control and reducing the risk of coronary heart diseases. It has been…
Abstract
Purpose
Some studies on anthocyanins have revealed their antioxidant activity and beneficial effects for diabetes control and reducing the risk of coronary heart diseases. It has been found that sour cherries contain high levels of anthocyanins that possess insulin‐releasing stimulatory properties on pancreatic β‐cells in vitro. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether concentrated sour cherry juice (CSCJ) beneficially alters serum glucose and some cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes type 2 subjects.
Design/methodology/approach
In this quasi‐experimental study, 19 diabetic women with FBS ≥ 110 mg/dl were recruited from patients referred to the Diabetes Clinic of Shariati Hospital. Subjects were asked to consume 40 g of CSCJ daily for 6 weeks. Before the onset of the study (week 0) and after 6 weeks, weight and blood pressure measurements were done and fasting blood samples were drawn. FBS, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood lipid profiles were measured. In addition, a 24‐hour food record was taken from all of the individuals in both stages. The Wilcoxon signed test was used for statistical analysis.
Findings
After six weeks' consumption of CSCJ, significant reductions in body weight (p < 0.01), blood pressure and HbA1c (p < 0.05) was seen. Total cholesterol and LDL‐C decreased significantly in a sub‐group of patients (n = 12) with LDL‐C ≥ 100 mg/dl as well.
Originality/value
Based on the results of this study, consuming 40 g/day of CSCJ decreases body weight, blood pressure and HbA1c in diabetes type 2 women after 6 weeks and improves blood lipids in diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia.
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Idrees Waris, Waseem Barkat, Adeel Ahmed and Irfan Hameed
The purpose of this research paper is to predict sustainability-driven entrepreneurship intention among university students in the developing market (Pakistan).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research paper is to predict sustainability-driven entrepreneurship intention among university students in the developing market (Pakistan).
Design/methodology/approach
The target population of this study was university students in Pakistan. According to UNDP (2017) report, Pakistan has the largest youth population. More than 64% of the total population (210 million) is below 30 years of age. If trained properly, this huge chunk of the population could become a source of intellectual capital for the development of the nation. The quota based on age sampling technique was used to collect the data from university students in Karachi because more than 64% of the Pakistan population is below 30 years of age.
Findings
The findings reveal that university entrepreneurial support has a strong influence on attitude toward sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial self-efficacy.
Research limitations/implications
The role of university entrepreneurial support, environmental concern and students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy are vital factors in sustainability-driven entrepreneurship. This study enriches the literature of green entrepreneurship helping to understand university students’ intention for sustainable entrepreneurship. The outcome of this study would help strategists and environmental academicians to guide university students regarding the launch of sustainable ventures.
Originality/value
To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to explore the effects of environmental concern on entrepreneurial intention among university students in the context of a developing country – Pakistan.
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Farid Shirazi, Hsiao-Ting Tseng, Olu Adegbite, Nick Hajli and Saeed Rouhani
Innovative firms leverage big data analytics (BDA) benefits in optimising value creation, particularly in business-to-business (B2B) contexts. Examples of this are found in new…
Abstract
Purpose
Innovative firms leverage big data analytics (BDA) benefits in optimising value creation, particularly in business-to-business (B2B) contexts. Examples of this are found in new product success and product innovation performance. However, knowledge of how innovative firms and their corporate customers generate insights from big data, develop new products and gain higher-quality service from intra- and inter organisations' resources is limited. This knowledge manifests in the form of opportunities available in BDA and through the adoption of the co-creation approach to generate value in the form of new product innovation. BDA reflects an excellent means of enhancing a firm's customer agility, but how this is possible remains largely unknown.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, the authors hypothesise that new product success is a function of a firm's customer agility and product innovation performance moderated by environmental turbulences. In turn, the firm's customer agility is enhanced by the effect of big data aggregation and analytical tools. These hypotheses have been confirmed by a survey in an emerging market.
Findings
The authors use structural equation modelling to test the authors’ hypotheses. The main contribution of this research is the conceptualisation and test of an integrative framework identifying the links among a firm's customer agility, new product success and BDA capabilities.
Practical implications
The study established that BDA tools – the effective use of data aggregation tools and the effective use of data analysis tools – shape customer agility in achieving new product success. This study contributes to one’s understanding of the relevance of BDA in B2B value creation contexts.
Originality/value
The study findings show that BDA shapes a firm's customer agility in achieving new product success.
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Jun Yang, Demei Kong and Hongjun Huang
Nowadays, online platforms which provide products or services try to implement their homegrown communities to facilitate users' social interactions. Reviewers' activities in these…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, online platforms which provide products or services try to implement their homegrown communities to facilitate users' social interactions. Reviewers' activities in these communities can reflect their interests. Based on the theory of homophily, the authors aim to explore the impacts of the reviewer preference similarity and opinion similarity on the rate of product diffusion.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the authors construct reviewer similarity network based on their common interests and propose typical network metrics to measure reviewer preference similarity. Second, the authors measure reviewer opinion similarity with natural language processing. Finally, based on a panel data from an online video platform in China, both the fixed-effect and random-effect panel data models are constructed.
Findings
The authors find that reviewer preference similarity has a positive effect on the product diffusion, whereas reviewer opinion similarity has a negative effect on the diffusion. Furthermore, temporal distance moderates the relationship between reviewer similarity and the product diffusion. As a double-edged sword, review preference similarity hinders product diffusion in the initial phase, whereas benefits it in the later phase. Reviewer opinion similarity is always detrimental to product diffusion, especially in the initial phase.
Originality/value
This paper extends the understanding of homophily from the micro peer level to the group level by constructing reviewers' similarity network and highlights the important role of reviewer preference similarity and opinion similarity in product diffusion. The results also provide important insights for managers to design and implement diversity strategies for better product adoption in the community context.
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Tuba Fayyaz, Muhammad Imran Qadeer, Muhammad Irfan, Fareeha Amjad, Tamseel Fatima and Shahida Husnain
Phytochemicals are known for their iron chelation ability with no side effects. Lignans and polyphenols in flaxseed have iron-chelating and antioxidant abilities. Therefore, this…
Abstract
Purpose
Phytochemicals are known for their iron chelation ability with no side effects. Lignans and polyphenols in flaxseed have iron-chelating and antioxidant abilities. Therefore, this study aims to assess the ability of flaxseed to reduce iron overload and minimize its negative health effects.
Design/methodology/approach
A randomized control trial was conducted. A total of 96 patients were enrolled in this study and randomized into three groups: two intervention groups had 3 or 7 g of whole flaxseed and a control group took a placebo (gram seeds). Interventions were administered for 12 weeks. A hematological profile, ferritin quantification in serum, and liver function tests were performed to evaluate the effects of flaxseed.
Findings
It was observed that flaxseed with synthetic iron chelators caused a significant reduction in ferritin levels compared with synthetic chelators. The pre-transfusion hemoglobin level was also improved in the intervention group. A significant reduction (p value 0.0003) in ferritin levels among intervention groups indicated that flaxseed reduced the iron overload. It can be concluded that flaxseed reduced iron overload in thalassemia major patients with no side effects and may reduce iron overload solely when taken in adequate quantity.
Originality/value
Although the study targets a non-specific protein-ferritin for the evaluation of iron-overload, the initial ferritin value and reduction in these levels indicate the efficacy of ferritin for reducing iron overload in thalassemia major patients. Moreover, this is the first study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, that demonstrates the iron-chelation ability of flaxseed in thalassemia major patients, suggesting the use of flaxseed for iron chelation.