Hierarchical Moderated Regression Analysis Research Articles

External involvement and green product innovation: The moderating role of environmental uncertainty

AbstractAlthough the importance of external involvement has been recognized, under what conditions it is more effective is still unclear. To address this research gap, this study explores the moderating roles of three dimensions of environmental uncertainty on the relationship between external involvement and green product innovation based on contingency theory and organizational information processing theory. We examine the research hypotheses employing survey data collected from 198 Chinese manufacturing firms and using hierarchical moderated regression analyses. The results indicate that both customer involvement and supplier involvement have positive effects on green product innovation. Technological uncertainty strengthens the effects of customer involvement and supplier involvement on green product innovation. However, demand uncertainty fails to moderate the relationship between customer involvement and green product innovation, and supply uncertainty fails to moderate the relationship between supplier involvement and green product innovation. This study provides novel and fruitful research avenues for stakeholder involvement and suggests future directions.

The impact of customer orientation on new product development performance

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the underlying impacts of customer orientation on new product development (NPD) performance. Further, this study investigates the moderating effect of top management support (TMS) on the customer orientation-performance relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis study as a unique approach has classified customer orientation into three sub-dimensions: customer focus, customer involvement and communication with customers. And the NPD performance is explored both from financial and nonfinancial aspects.FindingsBased on a sample of 366 high performance manufacturing firms across ten countries, the obtained results of hierarchical moderated regression analyses reveal that customer focus, customer involvement and communication with customers have significantly positive effects on both financial and nonfinancial performance of NPD; TMS positively moderates the relationship between multiple dimensions of customer orientation and NPD performance.Practical implicationsThe research extends the customer orientation literature by describing three dimensions of customer orientation and empirically testing their effects on NPD performance. This study also contributes to a deep understanding of the influence factors of NPD performance, both from the financial and nonfinancial aspects. The proposed framework provides a fine-grained analysis to help us understand in what way the customer orientation is linked to performance outcomes.Originality/valueThis study is innovative because it seeks to make a contribution to existing literature from a theoretical perspective by investigating the sub-dimensions of customer orientation and moderating role of TMS.

Maintenance of D-A fit through work adjustment behaviors: The moderating effect of work style fit

In modern work environments characterized by change and uncertainty, work adjustment, consisting of adaptive and proactive behaviors, is identified as an important activity in achieving and/or maintaining person-environment (P-E) fit. Derived from the theory of work adjustment, we propose that work styles fit generates a boundary condition for the successful implementation of adjustment behaviors. With respect to enacting work behavior, work styles fit describes the level of correspondence between an individual's activity and effort as applied over time with that suited to the environment. Two 2-wave hierarchical moderated regression analyses were conducted examining the effect of job change negotiation behaviors and career initiative behaviors upon demands-abilities (D-A) fit. Results demonstrate that adjustment behaviors contributed to an increase in D-A fit across time, but only in the context of high work styles fit. When work styles fit was low, engaging in adjustment behaviors resulted in a decrease of D-A fit. The theoretical and practical implications, as well as proposals for future research regarding dynamic conceptions of P-E fit, work styles fit and proactive behaviors are discussed.

Environmental Innovation Practices and Organizational Performance. The Joint Effects of Management Accounting and Control Systems and Environmental Training

*Purpose. This study analyzes the effect of management accounting and control systems (MACS) on environmental innovation practices and operational performance. Specifically, this study relies on Simons’ levers of control (LOC) framework to investigate how managers implement environmental innovation practices. This paper hypothesizes that a forward-looking use of MACS (i.e., interactive use) triggers the implementation of environmental innovation practices, resulting in higher operational performance. Furthermore, we argue that the monitoring role of MACS (i.e., diagnostic use) combined with environmental training improves the effect of environmental innovation practices on operational performance. *Design/methodology/approach. Hypotheses are examined through a questionnaire survey. The analyses are based on responses in an empirical study from 89 Brazilian hotels. *Findings. Empirical findings from a hierarchical moderated regression analysis support the hypothesized links. *Originality/value. This study contributes to the environmental management and management control literature by providing novel evidence on the roles MACS play in the field of sustainable development. Based on the LOC framework, we shed light on the understanding of how managers introduce and monitor environmental innovation practices, as well as also outlining the key effects of environmental training in enabling the novel abilities of managers and employees to better understand environmental data and identify novel potential environmentally-friendly solutions in the case of deviations. This paper also adds to Wijethilake et al. (2017), providing new empirical evidence on how firms design, implement, and use MACS that capture institutional pressures for sustainability from multiple stakeholders.

企业内部因素与绿色供应链管理实践关系研究—基于制度压力的调节作用

从供应链绿色化联合驱动机理角度出发，提出企业内部资源与能力因素以及外部压力对GSCM实践影响的概念模型。基于制度理论和自然资源基础观理论，探讨企业内部资源和战略能力与GSCM实践之间的关系，并建立制度压力对这两者之间关系的调节模型。通过对104份广西汽车制造业企业调查问卷的分析，应用SPSS统计分析软件和层次调节回归分析方法，实证检验制度压力调节作用下，企业内部资源和战略能力对GSCM实践的作用机理。研究结果表明：1) 除投资回收外，其他三个GSCM实践均受到企业内部资源和战略能力的积极影响；2) 投资回收仅受企业内部资源的积极影响；3) 强制压力对自变量企业内部资源和战略能力与因变量GSCM实践之间的大部分关系产生积极的调节作用；规范压力对自变量与因变量之间的关系没有调节作用；模拟压力对自变量与因变量之间的关系产生负面的调节作用。研究结论丰富了制度理论和自然资源基础观理论，扩展了组织内外部因素联合驱动企业采纳绿色供应链管理实践的实证研究，为企业开展环境管理实践、构建具备“整合、创新、协同、共赢、绿色”等核心特征的现代供应链和保持可持续发展竞争优势提供理论参考和管理启示。 From the perspective of the joint driving mechanism for greening supply chain, a conceptual model of the impact of the internal resources and capabilities and external pressures on GSCM practices is proposed. Based on the institutional theory and natural resource-based view theory, this paper explores the relationship between internal resources and strategic capabilities and GSCM practices and builds a moderation model of institutional pressures on the relationship between them. Through the analysis of 104 enterprise questionnaires about automobile manufacturing in Guangxi, the study empirically verifies the mechanism of the effect of internal resources and strategic capabilities on GSCM practice under the moderating of institutional pressures by the tool of SPSS and hierarchical moderated regression analysis. The results of this research show that: 1) except for investment recovery, other three GSCM practices are positively affected by internal resources and strategic capabilities; 2) investment recovery is positively affected only by internal resources; 3) coercive pressure has positive moderating effects on most of the relationships between independent variables (internal resources and strategic capabilities) and dependent variables (GSCM practices); normative pressure has no moderating effects on the relationships between independent variables and dependent variables; mimetic pressure has negative moderating effects on the relationships between independent variables and dependent variables. The conclusion enriches the institutional theory and natural resource-based view theory, and expands the empirical research on the combination of internal and external factors driving enterprises to adopt green supply chain management practices. The study provides enterprises with theoretical reference and management enlightenment to carry out environmental management practices, construct a modern supply chain with the core features of “integration, innovation, synergy, win-win and greenness”, and maintain the competitive advantage of sustainable development.

The Moderating Effect of Brand Architecture on the Relationship Between Responsiveness and Customer Loyalty Among Telephone Mobile Subscribers in Kenya

The brand architecture of an organization enables customers to enjoy a wide range of services by the same service giver. The purpose of this study was to assess the moderating effect of brand architecture on the relationship between responsiveness and customer loyalty in the mobile telecommunications industry in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to establish the effect of responsiveness on customer loyalty and to find out the moderating effect of brand architecture on the relationship between responsiveness and customer loyalty. An explanatory survey design which is a quantitative research design was adopted. The theory of reasoned action guided the study. The subscribers of the four telecom mobile providers, (Safaricom, Airtel, Telecom Kenya Limited (Orange), and Essar (YU), in Eldoret Town (Western Kenya) were targeted. They totaled over 306,683. A sample size of 500 respondents was selected using stratified and systematic sampling which are probability sampling designs. Questionnaires with Likert scale questions were used to collect data. Multiple regression and Hierarchical moderated regression analysis were used for data analysis. Before brand architecture was introduced into the relationship, it was established that responsiveness determines customer loyalty of mobile subscribers of telecom mobile providers as the four items used had a significant effect on customer loyalty. After the introduction of brand architecture into the relationship it was established that there was both a positive effect and a negative effect. Only one item had a significant effect on customer loyalty. While deciding on offering more services to the subscribers, the telecom mobile providers should know that the relationship between their responsiveness and customer loyalty will change.

Board political experience and firm internationalization strategy

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the link between board of director composition and firm performance. Specifically, the paper argues that board political experience influences the firm’s internationalization strategy as directors with significant political experience provide guidance, resources, and network access that enhance the firm’s international presence. The authors also posit that board political connections would be more helpful for firms operating in high-regulation industries.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested the predictions using data from 156 large US firms. Data on directors’ background were gathered from SEC proxy filings, while data pertaining to internationalization were obtained from Compustat and Mergent Online databases. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was employed to empirically test the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe findings provide strong support for the positive relationship between board political experience and the degree of firm internationalization. Contrary to the authors’ predictions, the level of industry regulation does not seem to significantly affect this relationship.Research limitations/implicationsFirms aggressively pursuing international strategy could benefit from having directors on their board with robust political experience. One of the limitations of the study is that the types of international activities for firms is not specified in the study as it might be in the form of joint-venture capacity, strategic alliances or for firms that might be born-global.Originality/valueThis study makes original contribution to the on-going research on board political activity and firm performance through internationalization strategy. The findings suggest that having directors’ with political experience is an important asset in influencing firm’s corporate strategy.

Machismo and higher education: Examining the relation between caballerismo and ethnic identity, support seeking, and sense of connectedness among college Latinos

ABSTRACTLatino men, part of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing minority group, stand to benefit from new knowledge related to factors that positively influence college persistence. In this study, the investigators examined whether machismo—a multidimensional and gendered social construct—was directly and indirectly associated with three outcomes associated with postsecondary success: connectedness at school, ethnic identity, and support-seeking behavior. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis on data from 140 mainly Mexican American undergraduates partially supported the hypotheses. Implications for college counselors and program coordinators are discussed, along with limitations of the study and areas for future scholarship.

Antecedents of Resilient Supply Chains: An Empirical Study

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of interest in resilience in the supply chain field. Even though literature has acknowledged the antecedents of resilient supply chains, such as supply chain visibility, cooperation, and information sharing, their confluence in creating resilient supply chains where other behavioral issues are prevailing (i.e., trust and behavioral uncertainty) has not been studied. To address this gap, we conceptualized a theoretical framework firmly grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) and the relational view that is tested for 250 manufacturing firms using hierarchical moderated regression analysis. The study offers a nuanced understanding of supply chain resilience and implications of supply chain visibility, cooperation, trust, and behavioral uncertainty. Implications and suggestions for further research are provided.

The role of sustainability practices in international port operations

PurposeWith increasing attention to sustainability in port operations, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of sustainability practice (SP) as a moderator on the relationships between competitiveness and performance in port operations.Design/methodology/approachTo explore the specific route of SPs in managing competitiveness and performance, this study adopted the hierarchical moderated regression analysis. Additionally, to analyze the difference in the level of implementation of SP, alternative subgroup analysis was conducted via independent sample t-tests in SPSS 21.FindingsResearch results have shown the role of SPs in achieving outstanding port activities, which significantly moderates the relationship between competitiveness, particularly for operational efficiency and service quality, and performance.Research limitations/implicationsAs this study is based on cross-sectional data, it does not tap any temporal attitude change, which would require a longitudinal approach. The authors contribute to filling a void between what is achievable and how sustainable practice contributes to managing competitiveness and performance, based on commercial port operations.Practical implicationsResults provide useful insights to establish the strategies to develop sustainable port operations and a strategic agenda to assist ports to incorporate SP.Originality/valueDrawing on multiple theories, this study advances the role of SP by shedding new light on how it improves operational sustainability through strengthening the relationships between competitiveness and performance.

The Moderating Role of Employees’ Humor Styles on the Relationship between Job Stress and Emotional Exhaustion

In today’s work conditions, job stress and emotional exhaustion are serious threats for the health of employees. Previous research suggests a relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion. The way individuals use humor has been associated with different coping strategies. The aim of this study is to investigate the moderating role of employees’ humor styles on the relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion. 116 participants completed self-reported measures assessing their job stress, emotional exhaustion and humor styles. For data analyses a series of hierarchical moderated regression analyses were conducted. The findings show that self-enhancing and self-defeating humor styles have moderating effects on the relationship between job stress and emotional exhaustion. As the level of self-enhancing humor increases, the effect of job stress on emotional exhaustion is attenuated, on the other hand, as the level of self-defeating humor increases, the effect of job stress on emotional exhaustion is intensified. Findings regarding the effects of employees’ humor styles are discussed.

Voice behavior and creative performance moderated by stressors

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the moderating role of work-related stressors on the relationship between voice behavior and the voicer’s creative performance.Design/methodology/approachThe sample comprised 781 full-time employees from 16 companies covering six industries in the central region of China. Hierarchical moderated regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsResults showed that voice behavior had significant positive effect on creative performance. The positive relationship between voice behavior and creative performance was stronger for employees with low challenge stressors as well as for employees with high hindrance stressors.Research limitations/implicationsThis study employs a cross-sectional design with data collected from the same source.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that employees should be encouraged to voice out their opinions and ideas. Work-related stressors should be treated differently to expand the effects of voice behavior on creative performance.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few to establish boundary conditions from the contextual perspective on the effect of voice behavior on employee performance. Considering whether work-related stressor is a challenge or a hindrance could possibly result in a better understanding of the role of work-related stressors in the voice behavior-creative performance relationship. An empirical evidence is provided for the positive relationship between voice behavior and employee performance outcomes.

Is all support equal? The moderating effects of supervisor, coworker, and organizational support on the link between emotional labor and job performance

This study was designed to examine the moderating roles of perceived supervisor, coworker, and organizational support in the relationship between emotional labor and job performance in the airline service context. A sample of flight attendants working for one major airline company in South Korea participated in this study. The flight attendants’ official job performance data were provided by the airline company. For data analyses, a series of hierarchical moderated regression analyses were employed. The results showed differential moderation effects of the three sources of support at work. Specifically, the positive relationship between deep acting and job performance was strengthened by perceived supervisor and coworker support. The negative relationship between surface acting and job performance was exacerbated by perceived supervisor support, indicating the reverse buffering effect. Perceived organizational support showed only main effects on employee performance with no moderation effects.

Political skill, entrepreneurial orientation and organizational justice

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to a unified theory of entrepreneurial orientation. To this end, the study considers the nexus of entrepreneurial orientation and venture performance contingent on entrepreneurial political skill, as well as in relation to organizational justice as it influences stakeholder commitment.Design/methodology/approachA diverse sample of 237 entrepreneurs from private entrepreneurial enterprises throughout an eastern province (Zhejiang) of China participated in a questionnaire study during three years. The study applies structural equation modeling and hierarchical moderated regression analyses to test the hypotheses.FindingsIn the context of a developing economy (China), the study verifies the influence of entrepreneurial political skill on entrepreneurial performance. Amongst those involved in the venture, a sense of organizational justice combined with entrepreneurial orientation work to moderate the entrepreneur’s political skill in achieving outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of the study are the questionnaire survey identifies entrepreneurial “perceptions” of success or failure with actual success or failure; and responses are weighted to founders and top managers as representing entrepreneurial actors more generally.Practical implicationsThe study concludes that access to scarce resources and maintenance of goal congruence are more likely to be achieved when entrepreneurial innovativeness and pro-activeness are combined with entrepreneurial political skill in a setting of organizational justice.Social implicationsThe study finds that entrepreneurs are able to improve performance by instilling a group culture of trust and social justice.Originality/valueThe study is located contextually in the guanxi-centered social exchange atmosphere of China as the economy transforms from a planned to a market model, with institutional arrangements of a mixed economy of state-owned and privately owned enterprises. In this context, the study explores the constructs of entrepreneurial orientation in relation to entrepreneurial political skill in a context of organizational justice as they combine to influence a venture’s success.

Examining the link between service modularity and firm performance

PurposeWhile service scholars have generally supported the idea that service modularity enhances firm performance, the literature offers very little evidence of the actual process through which service modularity continuously contributes to firm performance. The purpose of this paper is to examine the link from a capability perspective: service modularity capabilities-service modularity-new service advantage-firm performance, as well as the moderating role of radical innovation capability in the effect of service modularity on new service advantage.Design/methodology/approachTo examine this link, data were collected from a cross-industry survey of 231 leading service firms. Structural equation modeling and hierarchical moderated regression analyses were employed to test the model.FindingsAnalyses reveal that new service advantage mediates the service modularity-firm performance relationship. Moreover, service modularity capabilities act in an important antecedent role to configure service modularity. Among the findings, it is worth emphasizing that radical innovation capability not only strengthens the positive effect of, but also alleviates the negative effect of, service modularity on new service advantage.Originality/valueThis study provides a more complete understanding of how service modularity enhances firm performance by discovering the hidden role of new service advantage that bridges service modularity and firm performance, clarifying the role of service modularity capabilities in configuring service modularity, and confirming the important role of radical innovation capability in sustaining the effectiveness of service modularity.

Customer involvement and new product performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the joint influence of technological newness (TN) and market newness (MN) on the relationship between customer involvement (CI) and new product performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors employed hierarchical moderated regression analysis to test the hypothesized relationships using survey data collected from 214 Chinese manufacturing firms. Findings The authors found that the impact of CI on new product performance varies across the different configurations of TN and MN. Specifically, the performance effect of CI is most positive under low TN and high MN, while the performance effect is least positive under low TN and low MN. Originality/value This study enriches CI research by identifying different configurations of product innovativeness that augment or limit the value of CI.

The Moderating Effect of Knowledge Transfer on Satisfaction-Performance Relationship

<p>The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of satisfaction, with its basic antecedents of trust and conflict, on firm performance and to test the moderating effect of dyadic knowledge transfer on the satisfaction and performance relationship. A survey was applied to 193 participants working in medium and small-sized firms, operating in an Organized Industrial Region in Ankara- Turkey. Since measurement items were adapted from different studies, CFA was conducted to test discriminant and convergent validity and the hypothesized paths were tested using LISREL 8.3. The findings reveal that conflict and trust explain 76% of the satisfaction; and satisfaction itself explains 44% of the firm performance. As expected, both trust and conflict are proved to be the two indicators of satisfaction. Besides, we found significantly positive effect of satisfaction on firm performance. According to hierarchical moderated regression analysis results, conducted to test moderating effect of knowledge transfer for the whole sample, the interaction of satisfaction and dyadic knowledge transfer imposed negative, insignificant effect on firm performance, hence, hypothesis (H4) is not supported. Further analysis was conducted by dichotomizing the sample according to knowledge transfer, and research model was tested for each group. The effect of satisfaction on firm performance is found to be significant only when the dyadic knowledge transfer between firms is low, while the effect of is still insignificant when the level of knowledge transfer is high, providing a partial support for H4. </p>

HUBUNGAN ORIENTASI KEWIRAUSAHAAN DENGAN PERTUMBUHAN UMKM: PERAN ASPEK PERMODALAN DAN PEMERINTAH SEBAGAI MODERATOR

This study aimed to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) with of SMEs growth, and capital factors and government support as a moderator. Using the data collected from 90 SME’s, the study employs Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The statistical results lead to the following conclusions: EO has a significant positive relationship with SME's growth, but the role of capital factors and government support as moderator unsupported. The implication of these findings is that the government and financial institutions as the two institutions need to increase their role to encourage the growth of SMEs in terms of information provision, access to markets, capital, and training needs so it can serve as a reference for determining the development strategy of SMEs in the future. From the business owners or SMEs themselves, this research can be used as guidelines for business performance improvement through entrepreneurship-oriented behavior.
 
 Keywords: entrepreneurial orientation, SMEs growth

The Effects of Job Attitudes and Ethical Climate on Unethical Behavior: Moderating Effect of Job Burnout

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of job attitudes on unethical behavior. Until now, job-related attitudes have been relatively ignored in the research area of ethical behavior and thus we suggest job dedication and organizational commitment as individual antecedents.Second, we examine the relationship between ethical climate and unethical behavior. Finally, this study explores the moderating effect of job relate burnout on the relationship of focal variables in this study.Job burnout was composed of two dimensions: disengagement and exhaustion. Empirical study of this research used 204 employees’ questionnaires and hierarchical moderated regression analysis to test our hypotheses. Research findings are as follows. First, the results revealed that job dedication and organizational commitment had significantly negative impact on the unethical behavior. Therefore hypothesis 1and 2 were supported.Second, the negative relationship between ethical climate and unethical behavior was revealed statistically, and supported hypothesis 3.Third, according to the empirical results, job burnout partly moderated the relationship between focal variables of this study and unethical behavior. In particular, a higher level of disengagement decreases the negative impact of job dedication on unethical behavior, whereas a higher level of exhaustion decreases the negative effect of ethical climate on unethical behavior. Thus hypothesis 4 partially supported.Finally, we discussed some research implications and limitations of this study.

The effects of past satisfaction and commitment on the future intention to internationalize

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence that firms that are more committed to internationalization, systematically differ from firms that are less committed to internationalization in their future intention to engage in foreign direct investment (FDI). The authors analyzed data from 42 large Brazilian multinational enterprises (MNEs) and found that results support previous research on the degree of satisfaction with prior internationalization efforts and future intent to internationalize, such that the relationship between the two is positive. Yet contrary to existing literature, the degree to which a firm was committed to internationalization has a negative influence on the positive relationship between satisfaction and intent.Design/methodology/approach– All Brazilian firms that have entered foreign markets via FDI were surveyed to measure the firm’s: intent to internationalize; satisfaction with prior internationalization; and commitment to internationalization. Intent to internationalize is future based while both satisfaction and commitment reflect previous year’s activities. The potential response pool included publically traded companies listed on the Bovespa (São Paulo Stock Exchange) and private limited companies (Ltda.). The authors conducted a hierarchical moderated regression analysis to test the moderating effect of commitment to internationalization on the relationship between international satisfaction and intent to internationalize.Findings– This study adds to the literature by examining how past international satisfaction and commitment affect the future intent to internationalize for large Brazilian MNEs. The results confirm that the degree of past satisfaction regarding a firm’s international business is positively related to the firm’s future intent to internationalize. However, the results diverge from past research in two important ways. First, contrary to the organizational behavior literature, past commitment to internationalization does not have a significant relationship with future intention to internationalize. Second, the results show the relationship between satisfaction and intent is weakened by a high degree of international commitment.Research limitations/implications– A limitation of this study is the small sample size. While it encompasses the vast majority of large MNEs in Brazil, the authors still do not have enough data points to test more hypotheses such as the effects of firm size, number of countries the firm is in, and age of the firm. Future studies should attempt to expand the work done here by examining these effects. Another limitation of this study is that it is based on solely one country; Brazil. Future studies should attempt to replicate these findings in other emerging market countries.Practical implications– These results have three main managerial implications. First, international strategists analyzing the trajectory of a firm’s future intentions to internationalize should focus on how satisfied the firm has been with its past efforts. Second, managers should not assume that just because their firms have a large presence abroad that this will subsequently lead to future plans to internationalize. Finally, for emerging market MNEs in a period of the financial crises, committing more to internationalization may reduce the positive relationship between satisfaction and intention.Originality/value– The purpose of this study is to add to the small but growing work on large MNEs from Brazil in order to better understand their internationalization strategies. While there are literally hundreds of articles investigating the individual-level relationship between satisfaction and the intent to do something, there are a dearth at the firm level (see Woodet al., 2011, as a notable exception). The authors therefore attempt to extend the literature on internationalization by discussing how satisfaction at the firm level affects a firm-level decision.