Contingent Effects Research Articles

Navigating sociopolitical waters: exploring the influence of key factors on global supply base concentration

PurposeVarious economic, strategic and sociopolitical factors drive the decisions related to the location of global supply chain partners. Yet, research on how sociopolitical factors affect these decisions is not that prevalent. We contribute to this line of research by evaluating the changes in global supply base concentration accounted for by three key sociopolitical factors – populism, state fragility and political constraints – that magnify or attenuate the effects of institutional risks, uncertainties and volatility.Design/methodology/approachApart from hypothesizing the negative effects of populism and state fragility, political constraints are conjectured to significantly attenuate these negative effects. The proposed hypotheses were motivated using the tenets of institutional economics theory and tested using a comprehensive dataset compiled from six widely used secondary data sources. The panel data spanning 2003–2018 focused on a sample of global US-listed companies with worldwide suppliers.FindingsOur results supported three of the four hypotheses. Specifically, the direct effects of populism and state fragility were found to be significant, suggesting that they reduced the number of suppliers in the country. However, political constraints did not moderate the effect of populism on global supply base concentration, while they negatively moderated the effect of the state fragility index. This result showcases the overpowering effect of populism on a country’s market environment.Originality/valueSupply chain scholars resoundingly acknowledge the need for more research on the effect of broader sociopolitical factors on global supply chain management. Responding to this call, we evaluate the direct and contingent effects of populism, state fragility and political constraints on global supply base concentration. Our choice of these factors was based on their representation of most of the critical institutional environments prevalent in various countries. One surprising result we found was that populism was found to be pervasive even in countries with strong checks and balances, suggesting its paramount importance to practicing management. Overall, by unraveling the interesting effects of these multidimensional sociopolitical factors, our study makes a valuable contribution to not only theory but also practice.

Foreign Aid, Infrastructure, and the Inclusive Growth Agenda in Sub‐Saharan Africa

ABSTRACTThis study examines the contingency effect of infrastructure (disaggregated into physical and digital) in the relationship between foreign aid and inclusive growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). We employ macro data for 41 SSA countries and the dynamic system GMM estimator for the empirical analysis. We find that (i) foreign aid promotes inclusive growth in SSA, (ii) whereas transport infrastructure enhances inclusive growth, energy infrastructure, sanitation infrastructure, and digital infrastructure are statistically insignificant, and (iii) only transport infrastructure amplifies the inclusive growth‐enhancing effect of foreign aid. Across the digital and physical infrastructure domains, we find that the contingency effect of the latter is rather remarkable. Our threshold analysis also indicates that for digital infrastructure and transport infrastructure to condition complementary policies to foster inclusive growth in SSA, minimum thresholds of 22% and 57.8% are required. We conclude that comprehensive transport infrastructural development is key if foreign aid is to enhance inclusive growth in SSA.

Competence Perceptions at the Intersection of Gender and Race-Ethnicity

Competence perceptions represent a fundamental dimension of human perception and have wide-ranging consequences for social interaction. Therefore, it is no surprise that multiple prominent social psychological theories emphasize the role of competence perceptions. We know that both a person’s gender and race-ethnicity influence assumptions about their competence, but we have only a few studies examining the intersections of these factors. Using a large survey experiment (N = 1,219), I examine competence perceptions at the intersection of 2 gender and 13 racial-ethnic categories. Results show large effects of both gender and race-ethnicity and also highly intersectional stereotypes; that is, there is no one overarching effect of gender or race-ethnicity but instead contingent effects. By oversampling racial-ethnic minorities, I also test the assumption of consensus for competence perceptions. Results show highly consensual perceptions, suggesting we all recognize society’s stereotypes even if we do not agree with them.

How incentive alignment along the supply chain fosters incremental innovation: evidence from defence performance-based contracts

PurposeTo investigate how providers of product-service bundles design and manage their contracts with upstream suppliers to incentivise incremental innovation for the benefit of their downstream customers, who contract the provider based on performance.Design/methodology/approachAn embedded multiple-case study was conducted to examine elements of a European jet fighter’s manufacturing and after-sales supply chain. The embedded cases concern provider contracts with first-tier suppliers of product and service offerings. Data collection involved 21 semi-structured interviews, documents and other secondary data sources. Data analysis was informed by agency theory to assess the effectiveness of contract design and management in delivering incremental innovation and to identify related contracting strategies.FindingsWe identify four strategies for fostering incremental innovation in contracts between providers and their first-tier suppliers. These include two contract design strategies, i.e. reducing goal incongruence and addressing information asymmetry; and two contract management strategies, i.e. reducing outcome uncertainty and promoting inter-firm integration between providers and sub-suppliers.Practical implicationsThe research offers managerial guidelines regarding how providers can design and manage their tier-one supplier contracts to achieve incremental innovation. These include encouraging early supplier involvement, using focussed KPIs in contracts, and managing product and service-offering suppliers differently.Originality/valueThe research shows the contingent effect during contract design and management of a sub-supplier’s product vs. service offering, which, in turn, impacts incremental innovation. We also find that using focussed key performance indicators in sub-supplier contracts can be effective in improving product and service quality.

Exploring the enablers of virtual tourism experiences for Gen Z

PurposeThis study explored the enabler role of novelty-seeking and materialistic values on technology-based outcomes: usefulness, ease of use and enjoyment of virtual tourism. Furthermore, this study explored the direct effects of Gen Z’s word-of-mouth intentions. The study also explored the contingent effects of gender and educational level.Design/methodology/approachSurvey-based responses were gathered from 342 Gen Z participants using specific filtering criteria to ensure sample representativeness. Subsequently, the final responses were analysed using partial least squares.FindingsThe findings suggest a significant role for novelty-seeking and materialistic values in Gen Z’s overall perception of virtual tourism. Furthermore, with higher perceived usefulness, ease of use and enjoyment, Gen Zs are more inclined to share positive word-of-mouth for virtual tourism experiences.Originality/valueThis study aims to explore the orientation of Gen Zs toward virtual travel experiences in an emerging economy such as India. Implications for managers and practitioners are also discussed.

Riding on information-based advantages: Business group affiliation and cross-border acquisition completion

This study examines the impact of business group affiliation on the likelihood of completing cross-border acquisitions. Drawing on information asymmetry theory, we hypothesize that business group–affiliated firms are more likely to complete cross-border acquisition deals than standalone firms. Recognizing the role of formal and informal institutions in shaping information asymmetry in cross-border acquisition transactions, we also investigate the contingent effects of regulatory quality distance (a formal institutional factor) and cultural distance (an informal institutional factor) on the above relationship. Our empirical analysis, based on a sample of 1293 cross-border acquisition deals announced by Indian firms between 2000 and 2017, offers interesting insights. Specifically, we find that business group affiliation positively influences the likelihood of cross-border acquisition completion and that regulatory quality distance between the home and host countries attenuates this effect. However, contrary to our expectations, cultural distance also attenuates the positive impact of business group affiliation on cross-border acquisition completion, challenging the expectation that business group affiliation advantages would mitigate information asymmetry across all contexts. Thus, our study underscores the context-dependent nature of business group affiliation advantages, which are shaped by formal and informal institutional factors in cross-border acquisitions.

Complexity and accuracy of verbal morphology in written L2 Italian

Abstract The present study aims to verify previous findings on the role of proficiency in the degree of complexity and accuracy of verbal morphemes in written essays from intermediate and advanced L2 Italian learners. In addition, by taking the perspective of usage-based theories on the distributional properties in the input, it investigates the extent to which contingency affects morphological complexity and accuracy by the emergence of cue-outcome associations. Hypotheses on the effects of contingency and proficiency on complexity and accuracy, and on their mutual relationships, are verified by adopting a confirmatory approach and by using Structural equation modeling. Results support the claims for non-universal mechanisms in the acquisition of verbal morphology: proficiency does not affect the morphological complexity of learner texts in the same way in inflectionally rich and poor languages, and the cue-outcome mechanisms of associative learning work to different extents depending on the inflectional systems of the target languages.

Understanding technology transfer effectiveness in emerging economies: policy lessons for India

Purpose Despite technology transfer being emphasised in most public policy documents globally, it is not always clear how its effectiveness plays out in developing and emerging economies. This paper aims to bridge this gap by providing a systematic understanding of the processes of technology transfer, the antecedents and determinants, and finally how to measure its effectiveness, particularly in technologically dependent and emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach The paper puts forward a modified contingent effectiveness model of technology transfer based on Bozeman (2000) and Bozeman et al. (2015) and adapts it to incorporate the characteristics of emerging economies. Four major elements of technology transfer are discussed, namely, transfer object, actor characteristics, transfer environment, local environment and how they interact to determine effectiveness. Thereafter, the study shifts its focus to India’s evolving science technology and innovation (STI) ecosystem and discuss the current status, structure and major stakeholders associated with technology transfer. The study also reflects upon the challenges that inhibit effective technology transfer in India. In the last part, the study offers policy recommendations for improving the effectiveness of technology transfer, keeping in view India’s sustainable developmental goals. Findings A significant distinction of the conceptual model from its predecessors lies in its examination of the four dimensions of technology transfer effectiveness through the lens of developing and emerging economies, keeping in mind the inherent strengths, weaknesses and STI practices of the attendant local economy. As a novel contribution, the paper also discusses India’s evolving STI ecosystem backed by recent policy initiatives on technology transfer and the major stakeholders involved. Originality/value The paper constructs a modified contingent effectiveness model of technology transfer with particular emphasis on emerging economies. It also provides a comprehensive overview of India’s complex STI and technology transfer ecosystem, the challenges involved and offers recommendations for policy intervention.

Analyzing AI adoption in European SMEs: A study of digital capabilities, innovation, and external environment

This study investigates the effects of digital capabilities, innovation capabilities, and business environmental support on the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Utilizing dynamic capabilities and resource dependency theories, we provide a comprehensive and integral analysis of the drivers that facilitate AI adoption in SMEs. We conducted an empirical study encompassing 12,108 SMEs, based on survey data of the Flash Eurobarometer database from the European Union. Our analysis employed a combination of classical regression methods and advanced machine learning techniques, including artificial neural networks and tree regression. Our findings highlight the importance of digital capabilities in driving AI adoption, where complementing innovation capabilities exhibit synergistic effects. Contrary to prevailing literature, business environmental support alone demonstrates limited impact, emphasizing its contingent effectiveness within a well-elaborated institutional framework. Furthermore, the synergy between business environmental support and digital and innovation capabilities has a significant impact on AI adoption in SMEs. However, internal capabilities exert a greater influence on AI adoption in SMEs compared to business environmental support. This study contributes to dynamic capabilities theory by elucidating the interplay of digital and innovation capabilities, offering a nuanced understanding of their combined influence on AI adoption. It also enriches resource dependency theory by highlighting the dynamic nature of business environmental support. For practitioners, our results underscore the need for a balanced investment in digital and innovation capabilities. Policymakers should consider these insights when designing support structures for SMEs, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to foster internal capabilities alongside creating an enabling external environment.

Digital orientation and organizational resilience: the contingent effect of dynamic capabilities

ABSTRACT This study examines the contingent effect of dynamic capabilities (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguration) on the relationship between digital orientation (DOR) and organizational resilience (ORES) in Nigerian public sector organizations (PSOs), framed by Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT). A quantitative approach was employed, with data collected from 306 PSO employees using a questionnaire. The analysis, conducted via Smart-PLS, reveals that DOR positively influences ORES. Both sensing and seizing capabilities significantly strengthen the DOR-ORES relationship, while reconfiguration shows no significant moderating effect. The findings highlight the role of dynamic capabilities in enhancing organizational resilience within the digital transformation context of PSOs. The study contributes to the limited empirical research on dynamic capabilities and their contingent role in PSO resilience, providing key implications for future research and organizational practices.

An evolutionary perspective on capabilities for fluid product-markets: The contingent effects of routinization and renewal in marketing, R&D, and operations

The performance benefits of functional capabilities in marketing, technology, and operations rely on their routinization in organizational processes, but these also require renewal in response to environmental change. This raises a fundamental tension: is it better to maximally develop functional capabilities that offer the highest contingent benefit in present market conditions, and/or to modify capabilities as conditions change? We propose two measures of a firm's ability to renew its functional capabilities to align with market conditions: capability heterogeneity (variation in extant capabilities) and capability adaptability (selection among these strategic options). In a 20-year panel of 771 firms, we find environmental change increases the importance of these aspects of how capabilities are managed relative to what capabilities a firm possesses: In stable product-markets, capability heterogeneity and adaptability incur significant costs whereas functional capabilities improve profitability. In contrast, functional capabilities can be detrimental in fluid product-markets whereas heterogeneity and adaptability increase profitability. Notably, marketing capability remains beneficial across environments, acting as a profitable alternative to capability heterogeneity and adaptability when future conditions are uncertain. This evolutionary perspective contributes to ongoing theoretical debates on the conceptualization and consequences of capabilities, with practical implications for mitigating the risks of excessive inertia or change.

The effect of standardized advertising, managerial ties and born global orientation on export performance

PurposeGiven the contradictory findings of standardization/adaptation of marketing strategy in explaining export performance in the extant research, this study aims to examine the contingent effects of managerial ties and born global orientation in the standardized advertising-export performance conceptualization.Design/methodology/approachThe study used two-respondent method in the survey research by a sample of 155 exporting firms operating in the industrial marketing based in Australia and New Zealand and applied hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that standardized advertising has a significant effect on export performance and this relationship is positively moderated by business ties. Such effect is particularly enhanced for born global firms (than nonborn global firms). However, political ties negatively influence the impact of standardized advertising on performance and such effect is stronger for born global firms.Research limitations/implicationsA broader perspective of contingent variables should be included to examine the underlying relationship between standardized advertising and export performance in capturing the dynamism in international marketing contexts, such as institutional frameworks or sociocultural environments in host countries.Practical implicationsStandardized advertising is critical for born global firms’ export performance as it can increase efficiency and speed up internationalization processes. Such positive impact of standardized advertising on export performance is further enhanced if born global firms allocate resources to develop strong business ties with host country partners instead of building political ties with host country governments, because smooth business networking can facilitate standardized advertising on industrial marketing, yet justifiable political relations require intricate negotiations that often prolong internationalization progress.Originality/valueThis study incorporates managerial ties and born global orientation as contingent factors in fixing the theoretic interlock between standardization advertising strategy and export firm performance.

The role of schedules of reinforcement in the experimental analysis of social behavior.

In this paper, we review some results produced by our research group regarding the role of schedules of reinforcement in social behavior. We discuss data from studies in which we attempted to create conditions in which interdependent gains overlapped with individual reinforcement schedules so that these situations were more or less competitive and conflicting. We argue that normative rules about reinforcement schedules and interdependent reinforcement are crucial for analyzing social behavior since these rules allow us to differentiate the effects of individual and social contingencies or an interaction of both. Our analysis demonstrates that temporal criteria in social episodes may be especially relevant in characterizing social behavior. In these episodes, responding to someone who initiates the social episode (the follower's response under the control of the leader's response) can be characterized as responding in a simple limited hold schedule, or in a variable DRL schedule. Leader and follower behaviors may be united by interdependent reinforcement, but their connection is itself a single schedule of reinforcement.

Customer Participation in New Product Development: The Contingent Effects of Product Development Proficiency and Task Uncertainty

In the literature on new product development, the positive effect of customer participation on the success of new products is under debate. Based on the contingency theory, explanations on inconsistent findings about this effect may be found. Therefore, drawing on the open innovation concept, this study considers customer participation as a success factor of new product development by reexamining its effect on new product development performance and hypothesizes the contingent role of product development proficiency (marketing and technical) and task uncertainty. To this end, survey data from 186 Iranian manufacturing firms are gathered, and research hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicate customer participation and NPD performance to not have a clear/unidirectional relationship. However, findings substantiate that this relationship becomes positive and significant in the conditions of high product development technical proficiency and task uncertainty. Finally, product development marketing proficiency was found to have no significant role in the relationship between customer participation and new product development performance. This study extends several streams of research in the new product development literature and proposes recommendations to managers of firms.

The Partners of My Partners: Shared Collaborative Experience and Team Performance in Surgical Teams

When teams in organizations are assembled to perform contingent tasks, team members carry with them experiences of prior interaction with partners in different teams. Focal team members share collaborative experiences to the extent that they worked with common external prior partners. Extending current research on team effectiveness, we investigate how shared collaborative experience (SCE) affects team performance. Consistent with the established understanding of team processes as carrying both a teamwork and a taskwork component, we conceptualize SCE as having two distinct dimensions that we call SCE extent and SCE diversity. We posit that high SCE extent increases the ability of teams to refine their teamwork processes, increasing their performance through enhanced coordination and reflexivity. We argue that high SCE diversity hinders the ability of teams to form a shared understanding of task demands, thus undermining team performance. Furthermore, we investigate the contingent effect of task complexity on the relationship between SCE and performance. We argue that the benefits of implicit coordination and the drawbacks of experience diversity decrease as tasks become more complex and require more explicit coordination and wider repertoires of responses. These predictions find support in an analysis of 1343 robot-assisted surgery operations performed by 114 surgeons during a four-year period in a private university hospital. By explicitly recognizing how team members benefit from the network of their shared prior partners, our study contributes to developing a new approach to study the effectiveness of temporary teams in organizations.

Assessing the economic impacts of eco‐innovation strategies across contexts shaped by different institutional and structural pressures

AbstractIn the face of escalating environmental challenges, eco‐innovation (EI) has emerged as a crucial strategy for businesses aiming to balance ecological responsibility with economic and social performance. This study explores the impact of various EI strategies on the economic performance of firms, analyzing the contingent effect of both institutional and structural factors in dirty and clean industries. Using data from the Spanish Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC) spanning the period 2009–2016, our findings reveal that context matters for the effectiveness of EI strategies in enhancing economic performance. In stable environments with low institutional pressures, dirty industries benefit from R&D‐centric strategies, whereas in clean industries only efficiency‐centric and ambidextrous strategies yield economic gains. Similarly, in moderate institutional environments, the advantages offered by EI strategies hold for clean and dirty industries; however, ambidextrous EI strategies yield more economic advantages in both industry types. In dynamic environments, proactive strategies such as R&D‐centric and ambidextrous approaches are crucial for both dirty and clean industries. Firms in this situation should thus invest in assets and practices that enhance R&D for EI, as efficiency‐centric strategies are less effective in dynamic contexts. The findings have interesting implications for managers and policymakers, underlining the need for a nuanced approach to supporting and implementing EI initiatives.

Operation of coupled power-gas networks with hydrogen refueling stations, responsive demands and storage systems: A novel stochastic framework

Because of factors such as low natural gas prices, low greenhouse gas emission and high efficiency has increased the penetration of natural gas-fired generators in electric power systems. Large gas consumption of gas-fired generators has caused intense interdependence of electricity and gas systems. Most often, the operational planning of power and gas systems is conducted through a co-optimisation model in which the total cost of electricity and gas systems is minimised and the constraints of both systems are considered. On the other hand, due to environmental concerns, the usage of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) is increasing. Hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are needed for refueling FCVs. This paper puts forward a stochastic model for co-optimisation of wind-integrated power and gas systems, hosting HRSs, electric storage systems (ESS's) and responsive electricity and gas demands. The effect of ESS's, responsive demands, contingencies, wind uncertainties and demand response on operation of power-gas nexus is scrutinized. An incentive-based demand response program has been used for both electricity and gas demands. The case study is the Belgian gas network connected to the a 24-bus power system. The findings indicate that responsive electric demands reduce electric system cost by 9.4 %, while responsive gas demands reduce the gas network cost and total operation cost by 1 %. The contingency analysis on the power-gas nexus shows that single line outage contingencies in power system does not result in any demand shed and does not increase the operation cost of either electricity network or gas network.

Contingent Effects of E-Cigarette Warning Label Messages on Cognitive Elaboration and Fear Among U.S. Youth Ages 14-17 by Vaping Experience and Peer Vaping Behavior.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently requires a warning about the addictive nature of nicotine to be placed on electronic cigarette advertisements and packaging. To consider the value of additional warning messages on public health outcomes, this study examines the additive effect of new warnings that are based on recent claims from U.S. federal authorities. We conducted a secondary analysis of recent data from 1,202 U.S. youth ages 14-17 to test the impact of exposure to additional warnings placed on advertisements for vaping products on cognitive elaboration, fear, and willingness to vape and smoke. This investigation also looked closely at effects on youth who may have increased risk of future vaping due to prior vaping experiences or having friends who vape. Exposure to the alternative warnings did not amplify cognitive elaboration compared to the current FDA warning alone, but it did increase fear. Youth elaboration on both the benefits and risks of vaping was associated with willingness to both vape and smoke, but fear was not associated with either outcome. The effects of warning label exposure and cognitive elaboration varied by prior vaping experience and having at least one friend who vapes. We conclude by discussing the implications of this contingent pattern of effect and association.

The Contingent Effect of Organizational Artificial Intelligence Adoption on Employees’ Taking Charge: Based on Social Cognitive Theory

The advent of Artificial intelligence (AI) is catalyzing significant transformations in human work dynamics. Existing research has not yet provided a clear picture of how organizational AI adoption will affect employees’ taking charge. Based on this background, this study explores the internal mechanisms by which organizational AI adoption affects employees’ taking charge based on social cognitive theory. The results of the empirical analysis of the 342 samples indicate that: organizational AI adoption leads to a decline in employees’ organizational-based self-esteem; organization-based self-esteem plays a mediating role between organizational AI adoption and employees’ taking charge; future focus is paid to moderating the relationship between organizational-based self-esteem and taking charge and is a determinant of how their organizational-based self-esteem affects taking charge; future focus is paid to moderating the impact of organizational AI adoption through the indirect effects of organizational-based self-esteem on taking charge. This study highlights the importance of considering individual characteristics (e.g., future focus) when analyzing how organizational AI adoption affects employees’ behaviors.

Suitability of Potential Nitrification Rate Determined by Shaken Slurry Method to Capture the Contingent Effect of Liming of Two Tropical Soils

Suitability of Potential Nitrification Rate Determined by Shaken Slurry Method to Capture the Contingent Effect of Liming of Two Tropical Soils