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1 – 4 of 4Shahid Hassan, Wai Chuen Poon and Ibiwani Alisa Hussain
This study aims to acknowledge the social capital challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), specifically the Maldives. As budding female…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to acknowledge the social capital challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), specifically the Maldives. As budding female entrepreneurs in a predominantly traditional culture are somewhat limited in their quest for economic empowerment, this study aims to clarify the role of social capital dimensions – structural, relational and cognitive – in shaping entrepreneurial intentions among women in the Maldives.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were gathered from 325 female business students from ten tertiary educational institutions in the Maldives. After establishing its validity and reliability, the data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling, including hypothesis testing.
Findings
Structural social capital (SSC) has a significant positive influence on attitude (ATE), subjective norms (SNs), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and entrepreneurial intention (EI). Relational social capital (RSC) has a significant positive influence on ATE and SNs and a significant negative influence on PBC and EI; cognitive social capital (CSC) has a significant positive influence on ATE, SNs and PBC, but does not significantly influence EI. Additionally, ATE, SNs and PBC are significantly associated with EI. The results also show that the indirect and direct effects through the mediation of ATE, SNs and PBC are significant in the relationship between SSC, RSC and EI. Furthermore, this study reveals an indirect effect on the relationship between CSC and EI.
Research limitations/implications
The findings outline the intricate mechanism by which social capital influences EI. These findings provide useful insights for establishing policies and organising relevant programmes to promote female entrepreneurship in SIDS.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to examine the role of social capital in a unique setting, such as SIDS. Moreover, this study integrates the heterogeneous role of social capital into the female EI model. This highlights the urgency of developing relevant social capital among women to promote EI.
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Wai Chuen Poon and Osman Mohamad
The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents of exploitative and explorative behaviours and to give valuable insight into the role of ambidextrous behaviours in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents of exploitative and explorative behaviours and to give valuable insight into the role of ambidextrous behaviours in developing creativity and innovativeness among owner-managers in SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of existing literature was carried out and drawing upon owner-managers, a survey using structured questionnaires was carried out with a total of 183 useful responses received. The proposed model was analysed using SmartPLS v2.3.7.
Findings
The empirical result suggests that behavioural complexity and organisational flexibility encourages exploitative and explorative behaviours, while ambidextrous behaviours encourage creativity and innovativeness. Rigidity, on the other hand, hinders the cultivation of ambidextrous behaviours.
Originality/value
The paper entails useful implication by demonstrating that flexibility enables owner-managers to reconcile competing demands and consequently, cultivate innovative outcomes. In this regard, business owner-managers must learn implicitly how to juggle these contradictory demands, suggesting an internal balancing mechanism independent of the organisational context and individual behavioural complexity. This paper suggests that cultivation of exploitative and explorative behaviours among owner-managers is useful in encouraging ambidextrous behaviours among SMEs.
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Wai Chuen Poon and Serene En Hui Tung
This study aims to understand consumer behaviour in the context of online food delivery (OFD), especially given the mandatory lockdown imposed in some countries that have modified…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand consumer behaviour in the context of online food delivery (OFD), especially given the mandatory lockdown imposed in some countries that have modified the behaviour of consumers. Using model goal-directed behaviour (MGB), this study was conducted to investigate consumer perceived risk on the use of OFD services.
Design/methodology/approach
Responses of food delivery services users were collected online throughout April 2020 to understand their risk profile and behaviour. A total of 339 responses were collected and subsequently analysed using partial least square (PLS). Both measurement and structural model were evaluated to ensure that the structural equation modelling (SEM) is valid.
Findings
The results revealed that attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN), positive anticipated emotion (PAE) and negative anticipated emotion (NAE) and perceived behavioural control (PBC) significantly influenced users' desire. It was also found that PBC significantly influenced users' intention. The empirical result suggests that performance, privacy, financial, physical and the risk of contracting COVID-19 negatively influenced users' desire. In contrast, only physical and the risk of contracting COVID-19 negatively influenced users' intention to use OFD services.
Practical implications
These findings provide OFD service providers and scholars with significant insights into what compels urbanites to adopt OFD services amid a health pandemic. It also allows OFD companies to realign their operation in addressing these concerns and changes in consumer behaviour.
Originality/value
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, this study provides insights for OFD providers in developing new strategies and approaches for business development and consumer retention in a post-pandemic world.
研究目的
本研究擬瞭解與網上訂餐相關的消費行為;尤其當有些國家推行了改變消費者行為的強制性封鎖政策的情況下,這類研究更具意義。透過應用目標導向行為模型,本研究擬探討消費者在使用網上訂餐服務時所意識到的風險。
研究設計/方法/理念
研究人員於 2020年4月網上收集使用訂餐服務人士的意見,以瞭解其風險狀況和行為。研究共收集了339位人士的意見,並以偏最小二乘法進行分析。測量和結構模型均加以評估,以確保結構方程模型是站得住腳的。
研究結果
研究結果顯示,態度、主觀規範、預期的正面和負面情緒、以及感知的行為控制,顯著地影響了用戶的慾望。研究結果亦發現,感知的行為控制顯著地影響了用戶的意圖。研究的經驗性結果暗示了表現、私隱、金錢上的爭議、可能會導致的身體損傷和感染2019冠狀病毒病的風險,負面地影響用戶的慾望。相比之下,影響著用戶使用網上訂餐服務的意圖的因素就只有可能會導致的身體損傷和感染2019冠狀病毒病的風險。
實務方面的啓示
研究的結果,為提供網上訂餐服務的營運者和研究學者提供了重要的啟示,使他們更瞭解是什麼因素會迫使都市人在與健康息息相關的大流行病期間使用網上訂餐服務。而且,提供網上訂餐服務的公司亦可藉此重新調整其營運,以能處理客戶的憂慮和應付消費行為的變化。
研究的原創性/價值
在大流行病肆虐的背景下,本研究為網上訂餐服務提供者給予了啟示,以便他們能在後疫情時代制定新的策略和營運方法,以拓展其業務和留住消費者。
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Chiang Yat Hung, Chan Ping Chuen Albert and Hui Chi Man Eddie
This paper examines the inter‐relationship between profitability, cost of capital and capital structure among property developers and contractors in Hong Kong. Whilst major…
Abstract
This paper examines the inter‐relationship between profitability, cost of capital and capital structure among property developers and contractors in Hong Kong. Whilst major indigenous local developers are among the largest and the most profitable in the world, their contractor counterparts are generally small and nowhere near as profitable. An analysis of financial data suggests that gearing is generally higher among contractors than developers. However, it does not mean that contractors borrow more than developers. Indeed they do not need to borrow as much as developers even if they have the assets to pledge as collateral. Contractors do not have to pay for high land costs, and they obtain project finance from developers through interim payments in lump sum contracts that are widely adopted in the industry. Their high gearing reflects more their low equity base than high level of debts. Their costs of equities are about double the developers’, probably due to their usually low or negative profit margins. This conclusion is substantiated by further regression analysis of the data. The findings indicate that capital gearing is positively related with asset but negatively with profit margins. This article concludes with a discussion on implications of such profitability divide between the two sectors on the unequal relationship between developers and contractors, and on their competitiveness.
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