Xiaofeng Xu, Wenzhi Liu, Mingyue Jiang and Ziru Lin
The rapid development of smart cities and green logistics has stimulated a lot of research on reverse logistics, and the diversified data also provide the possibility of…
Abstract
Purpose
The rapid development of smart cities and green logistics has stimulated a lot of research on reverse logistics, and the diversified data also provide the possibility of innovative research on location-routing problem (LRP) under reverse logistics. The purpose of this paper is to use panel data to assist in the study of multi-cycle and multi-echelon LRP in reverse logistics network (MCME-LRP-RLN), and thus reduce the cost of enterprise facility location.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a negative utility objective function is generated based on panel data and incorporated into a multi-cycle and multi-echelon location-routing model integrating reverse logistics. After that, an improved algorithm named particle swarm optimization-multi-objective immune genetic algorithm (PSO-MOIGA) is proposed to solve the model.
Findings
There is a paradox between the total cost of the enterprise and the negative social utility, which means that it costs a certain amount of money to reduce the negative social utility. Firms can first design an open-loop logistics system to reduce cost, and at the same time, reduce negative social utility by leasing facilities.
Practical implications
This study provides firms with more flexible location-routing options by dividing them into multiple cycles, so they can choose the right option according to their development goals.
Originality/value
This research is a pioneering study of MCME-LRP-RLN problem and incorporates data analysis techniques into operations research modeling. Later, the PSO algorithm was incorporated into the crossover of MOIGA in order to solve the multi-objective large-scale problems, which improved the convergence speed and performance of the algorithm. Finally, the results of the study provide some valuable management recommendations for logistics planning.
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Huifang Jiao, Wenzhi Tang, Tianzhuo Liu, Xuan Wang and Lijun Ma
Social media technology has changed donors' decision-making process in online philanthropy compared with traditional charity. How do IT affordances support donor perceptions and…
Abstract
Purpose
Social media technology has changed donors' decision-making process in online philanthropy compared with traditional charity. How do IT affordances support donor perceptions and motivations in charitable crowdfunding? The purpose of this study is to explore how the five sub-dimensions of charitable crowdfunding IT affordances (i.e. visibility, association, meta-voicing, trading and security) afford initiators and platforms in motivating donors to support charitable crowdfunding projects.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses a quantitative research approach. An online survey was conducted to collect research data from WeChat users who had experienced charitable crowdfunding. A sample of 344 valid responses were received and analyzed.
Findings
The results show that four of the five IT affordances facilitate donors' perceptions (perceived emotions and trust) and motivations (intrinsic motivations and extrinsic motivations), and thereby increase behavioral intention on supporting charitable crowdfunding projects.
Originality/value
This study advances the affordances and online charity literature by examining the antecedents and outcome of perceptions and motivations that determining behavioral intention in more detail. The authors’ findings not only benefit researchers in explaining how technology helps donors perceiving projects and motivating them to donate online, but also assists practitioners in developing better charitable crowdfunding management strategy.
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Wenzhi Zheng, James Bronson and Chunpei Lin
This paper aims to explore the social entrepreneurs’ attention allocation and their resource action that lead to hybrid organization using the paradox theory. Paradox theory…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the social entrepreneurs’ attention allocation and their resource action that lead to hybrid organization using the paradox theory. Paradox theory deepens understandings of the varied nature, dynamics and outcomes of entrepreneurial tensions. This study explores the systematic effects of internal and external attention on both economic and social performance.
Design/methodology/approach
First, theoretically, hypotheses linking different attention allocations to ambidextrous behavior and entrepreneurial performance were formulated. Subsequently, the empirical studies based on Chinese social entrepreneurship were conducted to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The study provides support to the hypotheses showing that external attention is linked to resource acquisition and social performance, while internal attention is linked to resource acquisition and strategic human resource management and thus these ambidextrous behaviors promote both social and economic performance. Furthermore, normal pressure moderates the relations between internal attention and strategic human resource management only.
Research limitations/implications
The research measures entrepreneurs’ attention with questionnaire rather than psych test. Also, static data rather than longitudinal research is designed to test the hypotheses.
Practical implications
Deeper understanding of the attention of social entrepreneurs and resource action can help entrepreneurial outcomes and can potentially contribute to paradox and tension management by entrepreneurial practitioners in China.
Originality/value
Social entrepreneurs’ different attention allocation and related entrepreneurial ambidextrous behavior processes are linked to paradoxical thinking for the first time. The findings of this research can potentially enhance social entrepreneurship paradoxical thinking aimed at preventing mission drift.
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Wenzhi Zheng, Yen-Chun Jim Wu, XiaoChen Chen and Shu-Jou Lin
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the mechanism of how Machiavellian corporate culture (MCC) affects employees’ counterproductive work behaviours.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the mechanism of how Machiavellian corporate culture (MCC) affects employees’ counterproductive work behaviours.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a three-phase grounded study on the data of a single case amounting to over 170,000 words, this qualitative study explores why employees exhibit counterproductive work behaviours.
Findings
The results indicated that the implications of the MCC of family businesses in China include the following three dimensions: low trust, control orientation, and status orientation. In this corporate cultural context, employees exhibit counterproductive work behaviours because they perceive low organisational justice, psychological contract violation, and low trust. Among them, psychological contract violation serves as a triggering mechanism due to the organisational context and trust is crucial to employee counterproductive work behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, the results are derived merely from the observation of and generalisation about one case; more therefore, empirical studies are required.
Practical implications
Numerous family business owners in China exhibit a high level of Machiavellian personality traits, and this personality tends to determine the implications of corporate culture. In order to establish a diverse culture, a heterogeneous top manager team must be developed and a new organisational culture must be established from top down.
Originality/value
This study extends the research scopes of employee personality and behaviours as well as leaders’ personality traits and employee emotions, and proposes a theoretical framework of leaders’ personality-culture-employee behaviours as a contribution to studies on organisational behaviour, theories of corporate social responsibility, and development of corporate culture.
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Wenzhi Zheng, Miaomaio Xu, Xiaochen Chen and Yan Dong
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the institutions involved in providing experience to entrepreneurs in China and analyzed the types of experience they provide…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the institutions involved in providing experience to entrepreneurs in China and analyzed the types of experience they provide. Moreover, the abilities of related organizations to shape experience were analyzed.
Design/methodology/approach
By using a multiple case study method, this qualitative study examined various entrepreneurial experience providers (namely incubator, entrepreneurship training institution, franchise store, entrepreneurship training network, and family business experience transfer) to understand the experience types and their supplying competencies.
Findings
On the basis of the types of entrepreneurial experience and the criteria for entrepreneurial competency assessment, the study results showed that the primary providers in China are the Start Your Business (SYB) program, incubators, and family businesses. Furthermore, for-profit social training organizations provided less experience than did governmental or private ones. The five providers mainly provided “know-what” entrepreneurial experience. Among the providers, family businesses and SYB offered experience that was conducive to entrepreneurial learning.
Research limitations/implications
Entrepreneurs are the subjects of entrepreneurship education, while this study mainly focused on analyzing the experience supplying competencies. Thus, future studies should explore the required abilities that are developed during entrepreneurship for various learners.
Practical implications
This study interpreted how to achieve Chinese mass entrepreneurship and innovation strategy in the context of the low development of entrepreneurship higher education. To improve their competencies in providing experience, providers must focus on developing proper curricula, effective transfer methods and teacher resources, and incorporating entrepreneurship education.
Originality/value
On the basis of social learning theory and human capital theory, this study developed a set of criteria for the assessment of the ability of entrepreneurial experience providers. This study analyzed how related institutions enhanced entrepreneurial experience, thereby expanding the relevant learning channels and providing options for entrepreneurs to accumulate experience in China.
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Wenzhi Zheng, Yenchun Jim Wu and Yue Lv
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between researchers’ social media (SM) behavior and their academic performance.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between researchers’ social media (SM) behavior and their academic performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 362 researchers was recruited from the colleges of management of 52 Chinese universities. A factor analysis of eight indices retrieved from the 362 data items was conducted. A total of 24 Chinese researchers were interviewed and given a robust test.
Findings
The results indicate that Chinese general social media (GSM) is insufficient to support academic research and it is difficult for scholars to enhance the visibility of their academic performance using GSM platforms, which can actually induce addiction. University resources, management systems, and working environment affect how scholars apply SM.
Research limitations/implications
The authors examined the researchers’ SM behavior by giving them a questionnaire and interview; however, this approach proved inadequate. The academic performance of researchers is affected by numerous factors, but the authors only considered SM behavior.
Practical implications
It is suggested that universities apply academic social media (ASM) indicators to measure researchers’ contributions so that they self-regulate their SM usage attitudes. Also, universities should also promote ASM platforms.
Originality/value
This study analyzed scholars’ GSM usage and academic performance, and the moderating effect of university level on the relationship between need for competence and relatedness and need for autonomy. This comprehensive analysis contributes to the scholarly SM usage literature.
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Renhuai Liu, Steven Si, Song Lin, Dean Tjosvold and Richard Posthuma