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1 – 10 of over 1000Yu Jia, Yongqing Ye, Zhuang Ma and Tao Wang
This study aims to verify the respective and interactive effects of subnational formal and informal institutions (i.e. legal effectiveness and social trust) on foreign firm…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to verify the respective and interactive effects of subnational formal and informal institutions (i.e. legal effectiveness and social trust) on foreign firm performance, and further identify the contingent factor (i.e. institutional experience) that moderates these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the institutional-based view, this study develops several hypotheses that are tested using a comprehensive dataset from four main data sources. The authors’ unit of analysis is foreign firms operating in China. The authors ran ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model to investigate the effects. A series of robustness tests and endogeneity tests were performed.
Findings
The results show that both legal effectiveness and social trust at subnational level positively affect foreign firm performance respectively. Legal effectiveness and social trust at subnational level have complementary effect in promoting the performance of foreign firms. Foreign firm's institutional experience in target region of emerging economies host country strengthens the positive impact of subnational legal effectiveness on performance, but weakens the positive impact of subnational social trust on performance.
Practical implications
It is important to fully understand the impact of heterogeneous institutional environments of subnational regions in emerging economies on foreign firm performance, which would help foreign firm make a more suitable secondary choice decision of investment destinations at the subnational regional level.
Originality/value
First, drawing on institutional-based view, the authors incorporate the subnational formal and informal institutional factors to investigate their impacts on foreign firm performance by switching the attention from national level to subnational level in emerging economy host countries. Second, this research furthers existing studies by bridging a missing link between both subnational formal and informal institutional environments and foreign firms' outcomes. Third, the authors prove that the model of subnational formal and informal institutions in influencing foreign firms' performance is contingent on their institutional experience in target subnational region of emerging economy host country.
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This paper attempts to identify key factors (i.e., personalization, privacy awareness and social norms) that affect user experiences (UXs) of mobile recommendation systems…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper attempts to identify key factors (i.e., personalization, privacy awareness and social norms) that affect user experiences (UXs) of mobile recommendation systems according to the user involvement theory (push-based and pull-based) and their relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on an online survey with students from an international business school located in southwestern China. The sample population for the study included randomly selected 600 university students who are active mobile phone users. A total of 470 questionnaires were returned; 456 were valid (14 were invalid due to the incompleteness of their responses), providing a response rate of 65%.
Findings
Social norms have the largest impact on user experience quality, followed by personalization and privacy awareness. User involvement in mobile recommendation systems has mediating effects on the above relationships, with larger effects on pull-based systems than on push-based systems.
Originality/value
This study provides an integrated framework for researchers to measure the effects of social, personal and risk factors on the quality of user experience. The results enrich the literature on user involvement, mobile recommendation systems and UX. The findings provide significant implications for both retailers and developers of mobile recommendation systems.
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Zhuang Ma, Linpei Song and Jun Huang
This study aims to examine newcomers experiencing maladjustment due to cognitive diversity, specifically, how maladjustment affects their turnover intentions; the mediating role…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine newcomers experiencing maladjustment due to cognitive diversity, specifically, how maladjustment affects their turnover intentions; the mediating role of reported workplace bullying; and the buffering effect of perceived inclusive practices in the hospitality sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected time-lagged data from 403 respondents and analyzed the data through hierarchical regression analyses using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) 25.0.
Findings
Role ambiguity, low self-efficacy and social exclusion could each lead to newcomers’ reported workplace bullying (NRB). Perceived inclusive practices buffered the impacts of role ambiguity and social exclusion. NRB negatively mediated the relationships between role ambiguity and NRB; and social exclusion and NRB.
Practical implications
Hospitality practitioners should specify work procedures to minimize role ambiguities and record service processes to correct mistakes, reward veterans who help newcomers improve self-efficacy, invite newcomers to develop inclusive practices and review employee comments on third-party platforms to understand factors responsible for turnover intention.
Originality/value
This study contextualized cognitive diversity into newcomers’ maladjustment-bullying-turnover model in China’s hospitality industry. It highlighted the buffering effect of perceived inclusive practices in the relationships between maladjustment and reported bullying and turnover intentions among newcomers and confirmed the important role of self-efficacy in addressing adverse work events.
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Afred Suci, Sri Maryanti, Hardi Hardi and Nining Sudiar
This paper investigates how to design traditional ready-to-eat food packaging by manipulating its shape, font and slogan to promote consumer buying intention and willingness to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper investigates how to design traditional ready-to-eat food packaging by manipulating its shape, font and slogan to promote consumer buying intention and willingness to pay (WTP).
Design/methodology/approach
Two package designs, interplaying the square shapes (vertical vs horizontal), font formality (formal vs less formal/casual) and slogans (ethno-positioning vs short and catchy), were created and tested in an online experiment with 483 participants.
Findings
The results revealed that the differed package designs elicited relatively equal levels of attractiveness to consumers and their buying intentions. However, the designs significantly differentiated consumers' WTP. The results further show the significant direct and indirect effects on WTP of packaging attractiveness when it is moderated by package designs and mediated by buying intention. However, the varied package designs did not have significant direct or indirect impacts on WTP when mediated by packaging attractiveness and buying intention.
Practical implications
The vertical square-shaped packaging, written in a less formal font and highlighting a short and catchy slogan, is more financially promising for marketers to get a better price for local food products perceived as hedonic and bought impulsively on casual occasions. Furthermore, besides prominent package design elements such as font, color, size, material and picture, packaging designers or marketing practitioners should consider other supporting factors, such as shelf efficiency.
Originality/value
This study complements existing studies of “cue utilization theory” and “packaging design theory” by demonstrating the importance of extrinsic packaging cues, such as shape, font style and slogan, in improving consumers' WTP for traditional food products. The study also fills some gaps in the literature by exploring the direct, mediating and moderating relationships between package design, packaging attractiveness, buying intention and WTP, especially in an emerging market such as Indonesia.
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Lizhang Zhuang and George Burns
The recent social and economic changes have resulted in apolarization of product standardization. While some products areconstantly demanded to be of internationally recognized…
Abstract
The recent social and economic changes have resulted in a polarization of product standardization. While some products are constantly demanded to be of internationally recognized standards, others are increasingly required to cater for the needs of individual customers. A growing number of manufacturers serving the latter market are therefore being pushed into a Non‐standard Route Manufacturing (NSRM) situation where product volatility is the norm. Common problems facing these firms include marketing strategies, product costing, and corporate business planning. Under the circumstances product classification is identified as an effective tool to tackle these problems. Based on dissection theory, proposes a Cost Based Product Classification (CBPC) system. The establishment of a CBPC system consists of two major stages, system design and system use. Following a step‐by‐step guide, includes a practical example demonstrating how a system of this kind may be implemented.
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Ke Ma, Yu Li, Guoyang Liu, Gang He, Chun Sha and Yilin Peng
The purpose of this study is to investigate the deformation characteristics and failure modes of the right bank slope of Xiluodu Hydropower Station after excavation.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the deformation characteristics and failure modes of the right bank slope of Xiluodu Hydropower Station after excavation.
Design/methodology/approach
Micro-seismic monitoring technology is applied to obtain the microfracture information and study the internal damage evolution law of the slope rock mass. A numerical model for discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) is established to analyse the deformation characteristics and failure mode of the slope. Micro-seismic monitoring and DDA can verify and supplement each other's results in the investigation of slope failure.
Findings
The results show that the slope has a downhill displacement along the weathered zone under natural conditions; the maximum resultant displacement at the monitoring point is 380 mm. The micro-seismic events are concentrated in an area located 30–100 m horizontally away from the slope surface and at an elevation of 390–470 m. The distribution of these micro-seismic events is consistent with the location of the unloading and weathered zones; it is the same as the DDA simulation result.
Originality/value
The study is anticipated to be used as reference for the stability analysis of rock slopes. By combining the continuous (micro-seismic monitoring technology) and discontinuous (DDA) methods, the entire process starting from the gradual accumulation of internal rock micro-damage to the macroscopic discontinuous deformation and failure of the slope can be investigated.
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Kosuke Motoki and Toshiki Saito
Front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labeling has attracted considerable attention in a wide range of communities. However, the limited effects of FOP nutrition labels on healthier food…
Abstract
Purpose
Front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labeling has attracted considerable attention in a wide range of communities. However, the limited effects of FOP nutrition labels on healthier food preferences have been reported. Drawing on the dual system theory, this study aimed to investigate which FOP nutrition labels increase healthier food preferences and when. Drawing on the dual-process theory, this study aimed to investigate the effects of Nutri-Scores on healthy food preferences under time pressure.
Design/methodology/approach
Participants saw two food packages (healthier and less healthy) with either intuitive (nutrient score) or numeric FOP labels. They then had to choose one of their preferred products with or without time pressure.
Findings
Across two studies (including one pre-registered replication), the results consistently demonstrated that the Nutri-Score (vs numeric labels) increases healthier food preferences under time pressure. No significant difference in the likelihood of choosing healthier food was found between the labels under non-time pressure.
Originality/value
Together, our results suggest that intuitive FOP labeling (i.e. Nutri-Score) enhances healthier food preferences during Type 1 processing and provides practical implications for promoting healthy eating.
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Yee Ming Lee and Chunhao (Victor) Wei
This study sought to understand which food allergen labeling systems (non-directive, semi-directive, and directive) were attended to and preferred by 34 participants with food…
Abstract
Purpose
This study sought to understand which food allergen labeling systems (non-directive, semi-directive, and directive) were attended to and preferred by 34 participants with food hypersensitivity and their perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) and behavioral intention towards a restaurant that identifies food allergens on menus.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used an online survey with open-ended and ranking questions, combined with eye-tracking technology, to explore participants' visual attention and design preferences regarding four menus. This study utilized one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) and heat maps to analyze participants' menu-reading behaviors. A content analysis of survey responses and a ranking analysis of menus were conducted to understand the reasons behind consumers' preferred menu designs.
Findings
The advisory statement was not much attended to. Participants identified food allergen information significantly quicker with the directive labeling system (icons) than the other two systems, implying they were eye-catching. Semi-directive labeling system (red text) has lower visit count and was more preferred than two other systems; each labeling system has its strengths and limitations. Participants viewed restaurants that disclosed food allergen information on menus as socially responsible, and they would revisit those restaurants in the future.
Originality/value
This study was one of the first to explore, through use of eye-tracking technology, which food allergen labeling systems were attended to by consumers with food hypersensitivity. The use of triangulation methods strengthened the credibility of the results. The study provided empirical data to restauranteurs in the US on the values of food allergen identification on restaurant menus, although it is voluntary.
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Terence Ma and Lei Xu
The collapse of a structure resulting from the instability of steel frames due to fire is the worst failure mode to consider in fire-structural engineering, and should be avoided…
Abstract
Purpose
The collapse of a structure resulting from the instability of steel frames due to fire is the worst failure mode to consider in fire-structural engineering, and should be avoided. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new method for estimating the minimum possible duration of a fire event that could result in the instability of an unbraced steel frame.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed method is in the form of a constrained minimization problem that determines the worst case fire scenario that can cause instability of a structure, and is solved using nonlinear constrained mathematical programming algorithms. The formulation is demonstrated via a numerical example.
Findings
For frames subjected to fire events modelled with monotonically increasing fire curves, the worst case fire causing instability of a frame is always one where all of the compartments catch fire at the same time. For frames subjected to fire events where fire curves decay, the minimization problem must be solved rigorously. The results are significantly affected by the fire curves and amount of insulation applied to each member.
Originality/value
The proposed method is an extension of a method previously established by Xu et al. (2018) to assess the stability of unbraced steel frames subjected to elevated member temperatures. The previous method does not consider fire duration and heat transfer mechanics, which are included in the proposed method. The proposed method is potentially useful for designers in conducting fire scenario analysis in the performance-based design of structures.
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Se Eun Ahn, Jieun Oh and Mi Sook Cho
This study analyzed the factors affecting visual attention toward sugar-reduction information (SRI) on sugar-reduced beverages (SRBs) and identified the most optimal SRI type and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study analyzed the factors affecting visual attention toward sugar-reduction information (SRI) on sugar-reduced beverages (SRBs) and identified the most optimal SRI type and location using eye-tracking. The eye-tracking results were compared with those of a self-reported questionnaire.
Design/methodology/approach
An eye-tracking experiment was conducted on 50 Korean people in their 20s and 30s to analyze implicit responses. Subsequently, a self-reported questionnaire was administered to analyze explicit responses, facilitating the investigation of perceptions, attitudes, preferences, intentions to purchase SRBs, and preferred SRI types and positions.
Findings
The results were as follows. First, personal trait-, state-, and product-related factors were found to affect eye movement in relation to SRI. Second, eye-tracking revealed that SRI types and locations that drew long-lasting fixation and attracted considerable attention were similar to those preferred in the self-reported questionnaire. Therefore, to efficiently convey information on SRBs, SRI should be combined with a graphic, and not merely a word, and placed in the upper-right corner, exhibiting consistency with the results of two previous experiments.
Originality/value
This study specifically focused on considering personal and product-related traits while conducting an eye-tracking experiment to investigate the factors that attract consumers' attention. Furthermore, this study is the first to investigate the use of SRI labels to promote SRB selection. What is significant is that both explicit and implicit responses were assessed and compared via a self-reported survey and eye-tracking experiments for various SRB categories.
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