Company Web Pages Research Articles

Improving Participation in Depression Risk Screening for Working Populations: Qualitative Results from Interviews with Six EAP Directors

The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide practice-based evidence of ways to implement an effective and successful workplace depression screening program. Six participants from companies who participated in the workplace response program of Screening for Mental Health, Inc. (now MindWise Innovations) were interviewed to identify what they had found helpful in the online confidential depression screening programs developed for their employees. An inductive analysis of the interview responses resulted in the emergence of nine themes: accessibility, employee assistance programs, online screening, company web page, national observances, education about depression, gender differences, anonymous screening, and measurement of effectiveness.

RESTful API žiniatinklio paslaugų diegimas duomenų administravimui skirtinguose serveriuose

The article analyzes the model developed during the INOSTART program project that improves the process of uploading and updating information on the company's web pages. This system will help the company to quickly change existing, often repetitive information in all its locations, simplify its management process, provide access to its management to persons without IT and WordPress knowledge, and solve the most frequent problems of multilingual support. Keywords: data management, administration, RESTful API, system.

Recruiting for high reliability: attracting safety-minded applicants through language on company webpages

ABSTRACT Objective Job candidates are attracted to companies where they see their values fit in based on clues from recruitment materials. Safety-critical companies may aim to attract safety-minded applicants, through signals indicating that the organisation prioritises safety. Research shows that language related to safety outcomes (versus other outcomes) in recruitment materials can inform the preferences of safety-minded applicants. Rooted in theorising that high reliability organisations (HROs) are highly safety-focused and have low masculinity values, this study investigates the extent to which the relationship between company attractiveness and safety-focused and femininity-focused language used to describe the company, is moderated by potential applicants’ safety attitudes. Method In a within-subjects vignette study, participants (N = 197) rated the attractiveness of four fictitious companies, based on company webpages, and reported on their individual safety attitudes. Results Participants with higher safety attitudes rated companies as more attractive when language used in company descriptions focused on safety (and not business). This effect was amplified when the company description also emphasised low masculinity (i.e., feminine) values. Conclusions To attract applicants with higher safety attitudes, companies may benefit from using language that is focused on femininity, in addition to safety.

Do they do as they say?

Abstract This paper responds to Bathelt and Li’s (2020) call for selecting more appropriate methods and improving their rigour by evaluating the feasibility of using factorial surveys to anticipate future relocation behaviour. By utilising a case study approach, focussing on Brexit and the UK FinTech industry, the paper examines to what extent business managers’ relocation intentions are driven by factors similar to those known to drive actual relocation behaviour and compares business managers’ relocation intentions with their companies’ actual relocation outcomes. We use a factorial survey conducted in 2018, which allows us to quantitatively analyse the impact of different Brexit scenarios and selected company characteristics on business managers’ likelihood to intend to relocate their UK business unit (or some functions thereof) to the EU and/or the US. Additionally, we collected qualitative secondary data on the actual relocation outcomes of the surveyed companies in February 2022 by investigating online platforms, such as LinkedIn, Companies House, and Crunchbase, as well as company webpages. The results of this mixed-methods approach highlight a significant variation in business managers’ intentions, and the importance of geographical and institutional proximity for relocation intentions and outcomes. We show that business managers’ relocation intentions are driven by factors similar to those known to drive actual relocation behaviour, such as their perception of the economic consequences of different Brexit scenarios, their territorial embeddedness, as well as their nationality. Most importantly, our findings indicate that, although factorial surveys are only moderately accurate when predicting the exact extent and destination of actual relocation, they are highly accurate when predicting whether a company relocates or not.

The Effect of Attracting Job-Seekers Using Diversity Certification

Research on employee recruitment shows that job-seekers use multiple signals to infer organizational characteristics. Diversity certification can signal organizations’ commitment to diversity to present organizations as attractive employers to job-seekers. However, previous research scarcely addresses how job-seekers perceive diversity certification. We propose that job-seekers with positive attitudes about diversity perceive organizations with diversity certification as attractive and hypothesize that diversity as an organizational value mediates the relationship between exposure to diversity certification and organizational attractiveness. In an online study with 190 respondents, we manipulated the exposure to diversity certification on company web pages to find support for the hypothesized relationships.

Voluntary Sustainability Disclosures in Non-Listed Companies: An Exploratory Study on Motives and Practices

The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons for the voluntary preparation of a sustainability report and to identify sustainability disclosure practices in the context of non-listed companies. For this purpose, a multiple case study methodology involving five manufacturing Portuguese companies was employed. Data collection consisted of a mixed approach involving interviews with the sustainability report preparers, and content analysis of sustainability reports and company webpages. The results show two main reasons to initiating voluntary sustainability reporting: requirements from specific customers and the parent company, and the need to communicate with stakeholders, in particular customers, the local community, and suppliers. Companies reveal knowledge of sustainability-related concepts and apply frameworks such as GRI Standards and SDG in preparing their sustainability reports. Several departments are involved in preparing the sustainability report (sustainability, quality, environment, human resources, marketing, and/or communication departments), but no company mentioned the financial department. Moreover, on the webpages, sustainability reports and annual reports tend to be presented in separate sections, suggesting that companies still have a way to go in integrating sustainability information with financial information. Overall, the results show that institutional, stakeholder, legitimacy, and signaling theories can provide explanations for the motives and practices adopted by non-listed companies in voluntarily disclosing sustainability information.

Exploratory content analysis of direct-to-consumer pet genomics: What is being marketed and what are consumers saying?

Mars Petcare introduced the first direct-to-consumer domestic dog genetic test in 2009 and Basepaws introduced the first direct-to-consumer cat genetic test in 2016. Social science research has evaluated numerous aspects of the human direct-to-consumer market, yet no such exploration has evaluated the occurrence of pet owners pursuing pet genetic tests. Using a mixed methods approach, we conducted an exploratory content analysis of direct-to-consumer pet genetic company webpages and consumer reviews shared on Amazon. Initial data reviews indicated some companies may be key industry players, relative to others. Our results present content frequency for each group (key industry players, all other companies), though the primary themes for each remained the same. Analysis showed genetic companies are primarily sharing product and purchasing information, along with trustworthiness to establish the merit of the company and their products. Companies also used statements directed towards pet owners that are suggestive of both pets and “pet parents” benefiting from the test results. The primary themes identified in consumer reviews involved consumers sharing their perception about the tests (e.g., accuracy), what aspects of the test results they focused on (e.g., breed information), and experiences with using the test (e.g., ease of use). Amazon reviews were primarily positive, though the companies with smaller review numbers had higher percentages of negative and ambiguous sentiments. Of interest, reviews most often indicated tests were being used to determine a pet’s breed identity, while companies most frequently promoted the health advantages of using their products. Reviews revealed some consumers respond to tests by sharing their pet’s results with someone or by altering their pet’s care. Considering these results in addition to the growing popularity of this industry and the advancements of genomic technology, further research is needed to determine the role pet genetic testing may have in society and on human-animal relationships.

Nutritional marketing of plant-based meat-analogue products: an exploratory study of front-of-pack and website claims in the USA.

To explore how some of the largest food companies involved in producing alternative proteins (AP) use health and nutrition claims to market their products. We identified the largest food manufacturers, meat processors and AP companies selling plant-based AP products in the USA. Using publicly available data, we analysed the voluntary health and nutrition claims made on front-of-pack labels (FOPL) and company webpages. We also analysed company websites for further nutrition and health-related statements about their products or AP more generally. Claim classification was guided by the INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-Communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring, and Action Support) taxonomy for health-related food labelling. USA. Not applicable. 1394 health and nutrition-related FOPL claims were identified on 216 products, including 685 nutrition claims and 709 'other health-related' claims. No FOPL health claims were identified. Most nutrient claims were for nutrients associated with meat, with 94 % of products carrying a protein claim and 30 % carrying a cholesterol claim. 74 % of products carried a GMO-free claim, and 63 % carried a plant-based claim. On their websites, some companies expanded on these claims or discussed the health benefits of specific ingredients. Companies involved in this category appear to be using nutritional marketing primarily to position their products in relation to meat. There is a focus on nutrient and ingredient claims, with discussion of processing largely avoided. The findings highlight the challenges companies face in positioning AP products as healthy against the backdrop of debates about ultra-processed foods.

Content analyses of rail companies’ sites and web pages concerning healthy lifestyle promotion and prevention coronavirus infection

Introduction. The development of modern society implies that more and more information is placed in the digital space. Therefore, the attitude of the management of transport companies to the promotion of healthy lifestyle and the prevention of COVID-19 can be indirectly assessed by the content of their sites and web pages. Purpose. The purpose of this article is a content analysis of rail companies’ sites and web pages on the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the prevention of COVID-19. Materials and methods. The study was carried out once, in October 2020. We analyzed the sites and web pages of rail companies using the formation of queries, as well as using the search engines Yandex and Google. Results. The frequency of mentioning healthy lifestyle issues on the websites and web pages of the analyzed rail companies vary from 32 to 54 %. COVID-19 prevention issues are covered only in a half of cases by railway companies and in more than 90 % – on the websites and web pages of subways, high-speed trams and city trams. In general, the analyzed websites and web pages of the rail companies adequately display the information related to the prevention of COVID. Discussion. Rail companies pay attention to the formation of healthy lifestyles and prevention of COVID-19 on their web pages and sites. For this reason, it can be assumed that the management of the rail companies is concerned about these problems. At the same time, we have no reason to believe that the analyzed web documents fully reflect the ongoing preventive programs, in other words, it can be assumed that the preventive activities of rail companies are broader than shown in this study. Meanwhile, rail companies do not fully cover their social policy regarding the health of their own employees. Conclusion. The sites and web pages of rail companies, as a rule, contain scattered information on promoting healthy lifestyle. At the same time, the information on the prevention of COVID-19 is usually presented in a comprehensive manner. The issues of COVID-19 prevention in general are mentioned on more sites and web pages than the issues of healthy lifestyle formation.

Application of BP neural network in cross-border e-commerce web pages quality evaluation

E-commerce companies have been already using their website to increase company popularity, advertise products, do online marketing and receive orders online. However, how a company web pages serves its function as a communication window with their customers always concerns trading companies. This paper, based on the experts consultation and customer opinions, combined with the literature review, establishes an evaluation indicator system of e-commerce web page quality. Also, an evaluation model is created to analyze the factors that will influence web page quality of trading company on the basis of BP neural network. Test results show that the BP neural network model is precise, stable and practical.

Posicionamiento en Google: análisis SEO de los sitios web de Agencias de Comunicación en España

Purpose: By means of an analysis of search engine optimisation (SEO), this study will attempt to answer the following question: when we search in Google.es for “communications agency”, why is it that none of the most important companies in the sector appear on the first page of results (the top ten positions)? The aim of this study is to analyse and compare the level of SEO of the main communications agencies which operate in Spain and the highest ranked web pages resulting from the search. Design / Methodology / Approach: An empirical study has been carried out which collates quantitative and qualitative data, realising a comparative analysis of eight variables taken into account by Google for its organic positioning in ten web pages of communication services companies. Results: It is confirmed that the specific SEO variables of a page (on page factors) are determining factors to achieve the top positions on Google.es. The webpages of the principal communications agencies which have been analysed have a good structure and potential for SEO. However, no page is optimised for the search “communications agency”, which is why other companies occupy the leading positions for this term. Limitations / Implications: The main limitations are the number of searches to study, the number of factors for the positioning as well as the number of web pages to analyse. A study which could expand these variables would provide more data to the sector. Originality / Contribution: The present study aims to serve as a base for posterior analyses of organic positioning in this sector or in others; and can carry this type of research —more frequent in the professional field— over to the academic world.

The case for urban and reclaimed wood in the circular economy

Circular economy production, or upcycling of traditional waste products, has evolved in alignment with consumer driven accountability and demand for environmentally friendly alternatives. In recent years, industries have emerged to upcycle materials for value-added production. This paper presents case study interview results used to gather information about current marketing practices within the urban and reclaimed wood industries, which upcycles trees felled in urban areas and wood generated through construction and demolition. Firms reported entering the industry for a variety of reasons, most frequently surrounding intangible raw material and product attributes. Interviewees reported generating primarily made-to-order products, made-to-stock furniture, mantels, slabs, lumber, beams, flooring, millwork, and other products priced largely in line with their competition. Promotion consisted primarily of word of mouth, company webpages, social media, and event participation, such as craft fairs or trade shows. Firms relayed messages of sustainability, local production, quality, and emotional value. Companies primarily participate in direct, retail, or online sales, which have become increasingly prevalent. This paper outlines opportunities to explore, as well as barriers to overcome through examination of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats present in the internal and external environments of the urban and reclaimed wood industries.

An exploratory study on the components and quality of combined assurance in an integrated or a sustainability reporting setting

Purpose This research complements the corporate reporting literature by exploring the different types of assurance, which companies are using to bolster the credibility of their integrated and sustainability reports. A composite quality measure is proposed and this study aims to provide evidence on how combined assurance quality (CAQ) varies among firms. Design/methodology/approach Content analysis is used to identify “elements” of combined assurance disclosed in integrated and sustainability reports and company webpages. Results are presented in tabular format and supported by non-parametric tests to evaluate differences in CAQ among firms in more detail. Findings Combined assurance is framed as a function of the responsibility of the board of directors to ensure accurate, complete and reliable reporting and the characteristics of different internal and external sources of assurance. Overall, combined assurance models are being designed conservatively. They focus mainly on specific disclosures and are guided by a limited number of assurance methodologies or frameworks instead of taking a more pluralistic approach to verification of integrated and sustainability reports as a whole. Research limitations/implications The study is based on combined assurance practices by a sample of large listed companies in a single jurisdiction. An international comparison of combined assurance and the calibration of the proposed quality measure is deferred for future research. Practical implications Limitations in existing assurance practices are identified for the consideration of preparers and assurance providers. The quality schematic also offers practitioners, standard-setters and academics an easy-to-apply technique for examining the different elements of a company’s combined assurance model. Social implications A better understanding of the quality of combined assurance is essential for users’ to place reliance on integrated and sustainability reports and for informing change to existing assurance practices. Originality/value The study is the first to examine the operation and quality of combined assurance. The method used to gauge assurance quality provides a useful basis for a more detailed empirical study on the relevance of combined assurance.

Regulation FD in the Age of Facebook and Twitter: Should the SEC Sue Netflix?

The Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has announced its intention to recommend to the Commission that enforcement proceedings alleging a violation of Regulation FD be instituted against Netflix, Inc. and its CEO, Reed Hastings, because of a posting on Mr. Hastings’ personal Facebook page. Mr. Hastings’ webpage had more than 200,00 followers, including reporters who covered the posting in the traditional press. The posting was also the subject of a tweet by TechCrunch, which has approximately 2.5 million followers on Twitter. This article is in the form of an amicus Wells Submission suggesting that the Commission would, for nine distinct reasons, be prudent not to initiate an action on the facts of the Netflix posting. In particular, the public record suggests that the posting did not contain material information, was not a selective disclosure, and because of its spread through social media constituted a “broad non-exclusionary distribution” that did not violate Regulation FD. A prosecution would also diverge dramatically from all prior Regulation FD enforcement proceedings, and would violate the Commission’s prior representations not to “second guess” good faith efforts to comply with Regulation FD. In addition, the posting is not inconsistent with the Commission’s 2008 Guidance on the Use of Company Webpages -- guidance that is seriously outdated because of the emergence of social media. The enforcement action on the facts of the Netflix posting would, moreover, raise serious constitutional questions. Regulation FD is a restraint on truthful speech and, as applied on the facts of a Netflix prosecution, would involve discrimination against social media and in favor of more traditional media channels. There is also doubt that Regulation FD would pass muster as a restraint on commercial speech, particularly in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Sorrell and the Second Circuit’s decision in Caronia. A loss on constitutional grounds would also call into question a large panoply of Commission regulations that act as restraints on truthful speech, including, without limitation, quiet period restrictions and restriction on communications with analysts. Further, the issuance of the Wells Notice has already chilled the use of social media as a form of corporate communication absent the filing of a Form 8-K with the Commission. It also constitutes a questionable allocation of scarce Commission resources and raises questions that should be addressed through rulemaking and not through prosecution. The submission closes with suggestion for a reformulated Regulation FD that should be better able to pass constitutional muster and that would embrace social media technology rather than confront it.

Technological modernization and innovation of traditional agri‐food companies based on ICT solutions—The Portuguese case study

This paper assesses the potential for technological modernization and innovation based on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in traditional agri-food companies located in the central region of Portugal. A survey was applied to 50 agri-food companies of cereals, cheese, olive oil, dry sausages, honey, wine, and horticultural sectors. Results analysis show that companies use computers, have internet service, and use social networks for business purposes. However, most of it have no webpage, do not use internet for advertising/selling/buying products, and have not promoted collaborators’ ICT training. Companies expect webpages to improve their productivity and/or marketing products/services. Recommendations were provided to promote the use of ICT for business purposes. Webpages, Facebook pages, and CRM systems were developed to a limited set of companies. The results of the satisfaction survey of the ICT solution confirm the company sales increase due to the web visibility gained by the company products. Practical applications This paper assesses the potential for technological modernization and innovation based on ICT of Portuguese agri-food industrial companies. The ICT-based solutions developed were company webpages, Facebook pages, and customer relationship management software. The analysis and discussion of results provide an insight into the ICT solution that a specific company should follow to increase sales gains due to web visibility of company products.

Utility peak power messaging: Eliciting consumer response through traditional and social media channels

Modern utilities are taking on a dual role, as both energy providers and civic stewards of power consumption that best serves the environment. Power consumed during peak energy periods is expensive and is many times sourced from side management programs not in the best interests of the community. Utility managers need to communicate peak power messaging to constituents in an engaging, authentic manner. This study provides a comparative analysis of messaging across digital and traditional communication channels, prompting customers to reduce “Peak Power” consumption. The alert was framed through simulated treatments on an energy bill, in text message, though email, on a company webpage, and through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram posts. Perception of messages were measured for Creativity, Clarity and Credibility. Instagram elicited the highest scores from respondents (N = 391). The lowest ranking media platform was text messaging. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed two dimensions among the platforms, the powerful “Visual Energy Messaging” (Energy bill, Instagram, Facebook, Website) and the weaker “Word Based Energy Messaging” (Twitter, Email and Text). Creativity and Clarity were significant predictors of consumer attitude towards Instagram messaging. There was a significant difference among age groups related to Instagram messaging. Those aged 18–24, and 25–31, were significantly different than those in the “over 73” age category. Implications for practitioners indicate visual messaging is most effective, using a cross-pollination technique sharing specific messages across visual platforms. Special attention should be paid to the consumption habits of older consumers who may receive and interpret messaging in a different context.

Social media for interactions with customers within the short food supply chain: the case of the SKIN project

Consumers have great power in the marketing process and social media represents an opportunity for farmers/producers to promote and strengthen ties with consumers by building short supply chains. Current business trends involving the application of social media for communication with costumers can also be observed among farmers/producers. The paper studies the use of social media by farmers/companies – here, the EU SKIN project partners registered within the SKIN Good Practice Repository. A first step included investigation of company webpages (native language version), which usually provided a general background to the company’s activities and information about its products. A Facebook page was identified as the primary social media channel (used by 81% of the investigated group) as farmers/producers who did not have it also did not refer to any other social media. Research results indicate a relatively wide audience for the Facebook pages of farmers/producers (numbers of likes and followers) but interactions with consumers are limited (a low number of comments and sharings). The conclusion is implied that a number of farmers/producers use social media for providing information but they mostly interact with their costumers offline.

Social media for interactions with customers within the short food supply chain: the case of the SKIN project

Consumers have great power in the marketing process and social media represents an opportunity for farmers/producers to promote and strengthen ties with consumers by building short supply chains. Current business trends involving the application of social media for communication with costumers can also be observed among farmers/producers. The paper studies the use of social media by farmers/companies – here, the EU SKIN project partners registered within the SKIN Good Practice Repository. A first step included investigation of company webpages (native language version), which usually provided a general background to the company’s activities and information about its products. A Facebook page was identified as the primary social media channel (used by 81% of the investigated group) as farmers/producers who did not have it also did not refer to any other social media. Research results indicate a relatively wide audience for the Facebook pages of farmers/producers (numbers of likes and followers) but interactions with consumers are limited (a low number of comments and sharings). The conclusion is implied that a number of farmers/producers use social media for providing information but they mostly interact with their costumers offline.

What is the available evidence for the range of applications of genome-editing as a new tool for plant trait modification and the potential occurrence of associated off-target effects: a systematic map

BackgroundWithin the last decades, genome-editing techniques such as CRISPR/Cas, TALENs, Zinc-Finger Nucleases, Meganucleases, Oligonucleotide-Directed Mutagenesis and base editing have been developed enabling a precise modification of DNA sequences. Such techniques provide options for simple, time-saving and cost-effective applications compared to other breeding techniques and hence genome editing has already been promoted for a wide range of plant species. Although the application of genome-editing induces less unintended modifications (off-targets) in the genome compared to classical mutagenesis techniques, off-target effects are a prominent point of criticism as they are supposed to cause unintended effects, e.g. genomic instability or cell death. To address these aspects, this map aims to answer the following question: What is the available evidence for the range of applications of genome-editing as a new tool for plant trait modification and the potential occurrence of associated off-target effects? This primary question will be considered by two secondary questions: One aims to overview the market-oriented traits being modified by genome-editing in plants and the other explores the occurrence of off-target effects.MethodsA literature search in nine bibliographic databases, Google Scholar, and 47 web pages of companies and governmental agencies was conducted using predefined and tested search strings in English language. Articles were screened on title/abstract and full text level for relevance based on pre-defined inclusion criteria. The relevant information of included studies were mapped using a pre-defined data extraction strategy. Besides a descriptive summary of the relevant literature, a spreadsheet containing all extracted data is provided.ResultsAltogether, 555 relevant articles from journals, company web pages and web pages of governmental agencies were identified containing 1328 studies/applications of genome-editing in model plants and agricultural crops in the period January 1996 to May 2018. Most of the studies were conducted in China followed by the USA. Genome-editing was already applied in 68 different plants. Although most of the studies were basic research, 99 different market-oriented applications were identified in 28 different crops leading to plants with improved food and feed quality, agronomic value like growth characteristics or increased yield, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, herbicide tolerance or industrial benefits. 252 studies explored off-target effects. Most of the studies were conducted using CRISPR/Cas. Several studies firstly investigated whether sites in the genome show similarity to the target sequence and secondly analyzed these potential off-target sites by sequencing. In around 3% of the analyzed potential off-target sites, unintended mutations were detected. Only a few studies conducted off-target analyses using unbiased detection methods (e.g. whole genome sequencing). No off-target effects that could be correlated to the genome-editing process were identified in these studies.ConclusionsThe rapid adoption in plant breeding was demonstrated by a considerable number of market oriented applications (crops and traits) described in publications worldwide. Studies investigating off-target effects are very heterogeneous in their structure and design. Therefore, an in-depth assessment regarding their weight of evidence is mandatory.

The emerging fintech and financial slack on corporate financial performance

FinTech innovations are one of strategic decisions to increase the profitability of a company. This study determines the level of profitability of companies before and after the emergence of FinTech products. The authors focused on companies that have launched FinTech products and published their financial reports. The study sample consisted of 17 FinTech products from 16 companies in Indonesia. The limited number of the sample was caused by not all of them having published its financial reports, while we have checked 157 FinTech companies. An event study approach using paired sample T-test is utilized. The period used in this study is four years, covering two years before and two years after the company launched FinTech products. Data were obtained from IDX, FinTech.id, and company web-pages. The results clearly showed that there was a significant influence on return on assets (ROA), but no significant difference in return on equity (ROE). This finding gives more contribution to the FinTech industry about the company’s profitability impact of launching FinTech product.