Major Constructs Research Articles

Could lean practices and process innovation enhance supply chain sustainability of small and medium‐sized enterprises?

AbstractSmall and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt lean practices (LP) to reduce waste across their organisational value chain, which helps achieve sustainability. Process innovation (PI) has also been applied through cleaner production, environmental management system, ecodesign, and so on to address both customers' needs and legislations by policymakers. Although prior studies reveal the effect of sustainable practices, LP, and PI on sustainable performance separately, less is known on the integrated effect of them on sustainability performance. Moreover, studies on mediating effect of LP and PI on sustainability performance are scant. This is significant as LP and PI are considered to be the enablers for achieving sustainability performance. This research addresses this knowledge gap. The research first theorises a model integrating these four major constructs (sustainability practices, LP, PI, and sustainability performance) through hypotheses development. Subsequently, using structural equation modelling, it is tested whether each of sustainability practices, LP, and PI effect sustainability performances. Additionally, mediating effect of LP and PI between sustainability practices and performances is derived. The study uses data from 119 SMEs within manufacturing industries in the Midlands, United Kingdom. Further, a few case studies have been undertaken to validate the findings from quantitative analysis. The overall results show that although sustainability practices, LP, and PI help achieve sustainability performance of SMEs supply chain through efficiency and responsiveness respectively, the mediating effect LP is more compared with PI. Moreover, SMEs adopt LP when they are economy focused and implement PI when they are pressurised by customers and/or policymakers.

Integrating Knowledge Management Enablers and Processes for Improved Organizational Performance

This paper examines a framework between different knowledge management enablers (KMEs), knowledge management (KM) processes and organisational performance. Forty-six KMEs are selected from literature and experts' opinion from industry and academia. Further, these 46 KMEs are grouped into six major constructs. These KMEs supports the socialisation, externalisation, combination, internalisation (SECI) KM processes and organisational performance (operational performance, financial performance and customer satisfaction). The postal survey methodology is used to collect the data from Indian manufacturing organisations. The collected survey data was analysed for the construct, content, criterion-related validation and reliability analysis. Additionally, structural equation modelling (SEM) is used to test the relationship between KMEs, SECI KM process and organisational performance. The finding suggests positive relationship exists between KMEs, SECI KM process and organisational performance. The successful KMEs implementation improves the SECI KM processes which enhance the organisational performance.

Deep Learning and Behavioral Theory: An Improved Analytic Method to Understand HPV Vaccination Intentions from Twitter Discussion

Background: HPV vaccine refusal or hesitancy is common among parents of adolescents, which poses a public health threat to communities. An understanding of public perception of the HPV vaccine from the perspective of behavior change theories (e.g., Health Belief Model [HBM], Theory of Planned Behavior [TPB]) can facilitate effective and targeted vaccine promotion strategies. In this regard, social media is considered a major and credible source to access public perception. Methods: We performed an evaluation of various machine learning and deep learning algorithms in mapping HPV vaccine-related Twitter discussions to major theoretical constructs of HBM and TPB. Deep learning models were then applied to map the sampled Twitter discussions (collected from January 2014 to October 2018) to the theoretical constructs. Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) was then adopted to reveal trends of constructs. Findings: Deep-learning algorithms achieved better performance compared with machine-learning algorithms on mapping Twitter discussion to the constructs of behavior change theories. The use of pre-trained word embedding can further improve the performance of deep-learning models. LOESS has revealed trends of constructs: for example, in the recent two years Positive attitude toward the HPV vaccine shows an increasing trend, while Negative attitude shows a decreasing trend. Interpretation: The retrospective analysis of theoretical constructs toward HPV vaccine provides a better understanding of public perception and its evolving trends in terms of multiple dimensions. The increasing prevalence in Positive attitude toward the HPV vaccine benefits from the significant efforts of public health professionals on HPV vaccine promotion; the increase in Perceived severity could result from the promotion strategy that the HPV vaccine has been more associated with cancer prevention than with genital warts. Funding Statement: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation. Declaration of Interests: JD received funding from the UTHealth Innovation for Cancer Prevention Research Training Program Predoctoral Fellowship (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Grant No. RP160015); JB received funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Number No. 1734134; RS received funding from the CPRIT Dissemination Grant PP190041. CT and YC received funding from the National Institutes of Health under Award Nos. R01LM011829 and R01AI130460. Ethical Approval Statement: Not required.

Consumer Decision-making at the Base of the Pyramid: Synthesis of Literature and an Integrative Framework

As a pioneering effort, this study analyses the consumer decision-making process at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). This study proposes consumer vulnerability, bounded rationality, locking-in effect and opportunism as major constructs influencing the consumer decision-making process at the BoP. Using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), this study has integrated the transaction cost perspective into the consumer decision-making process at the BoP, which is a novel contribution to the literature of consumer behaviour. This work has recognised the importance of the retailer and its role in the decision-making process, and adds a new perspective to the study of BoP as well as to consumer behaviour theories. This study will be helpful to businesses while serving the BoP segment by crafting appropriate marketing strategies for this segment.

Five Questions About the Relational and Bodily Experiences Theory: A Consideration of the Theoretical Framework, the Major Constructs, and Intended Application of the Model.

Five Questions About the Relational and Bodily Experiences Theory: A Consideration of the Theoretical Framework, the Major Constructs, and Intended Application of the Model.

Consumer Awareness Towards Rainwater Harvesting System in Selangor, Malaysia

Reusing water and implementing rainwater-harvesting system are an effective way to reduce the usage of treated water at home. A study on consumer’s awareness towards Rainwater Harvesting System (RWHS) in urban areas of Malaysia is less explored among researchers. This study was to identify the level of consumer’s awareness on RWHS among domestic water users in Gombak District, Selangor. Quantitative approaches were applied through individual distribution of structured questionnaires to 397 domestic water users in the study area from December 2016 to February 2017. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Based on the results of quantitative analysis, four major constructs emerged namely ‘the advantages of RWHS’, ‘alternative water sources’, ‘consumers’ concern’ and ‘consumers’ willingness’. The total mean scores (total average score) for each construct in ascending order are 3.48 for consumers' readiness, 3.81 for advantages of RWHS, 3.98 for alternative source, and 4.09 for consumers' concern. The findings provide important contribution to water conservation practices in the country as RWHS is considered greener, more efficient, more self-reliant with sound technology.

Supply chain relational capital and the bullwhip effect

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to conduct a large-sample empirical investigation of how relational capital impacts bullwhip at the supplier.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses mandatory disclosures in regulatory filings of US firms to identify a supplier’s major customers and constructs empirical proxies of supply chain relational capital, i.e., length of the relationship between suppliers and customers and partner interdependence. Multivariate regression analyses are performed to examine the effects of relational capital on bullwhip at the supplier.FindingsThe findings show that bullwhip at the supplier is greater when customers are more dependent on their suppliers, but is reduced when suppliers share longer relationships with their customers. The results also provide additional insights on several firm characteristics that impact supplier bullwhip, including shocks in order backlog, selling intensity and variations in profit margins. Furthermore, the authors document that the effect of supply chain relationships on bullwhip tends to vary across industries and over time.Originality/valueThe study employs a novel data set that is constructed using firms’ financial disclosures. This large panel data set consisting of 13,993 observations over 36 years enables thorough and robust analyses to characterize supply chain relationships and gain a deeper understanding of their impact on bullwhip.

Integration of the humour approach with student’s engagement in teaching and learning sessions

ABSTRACTLiterature reveals that the inclusion of humour in lecture sessions has been accepted differently, especially by adult learners. Previous studies reported that humour was associated with students’ engagement, while some studies reported that humour interrupted learning sessions and distracted students’ attention from learning. Consequently, this survey was conducted to investigate the perception of students towards humour and its connection to students’ engagement in learning. A total of 109 undergraduate students completed a questionnaire comprising two major constructs, namely students’ perception towards humour and students’ engagement in learning. Data were descriptively analysed and the results show that students had a positive perception towards humour and there was a strong relationship between students’ perceptions and the engagement of students in learning. It is suggested that teachers should understand the nature of humour and apply suitable and relevant types of humour during their teaching sessions.

Remote Sensing for Martian Studies: Inferences from Syrtis Major

Remote sensing techniques have proved to be highly efficient in the exploration of Mars. Availability of several sensors operating across the electromagnetic spectrum on-board orbiters, landers and rovers has helped better understand the surface and atmospheric conditions on the Red planet. This article summarises the application potential of the sensors operating in different wavelength regions for Martian surface studies. Mars unlike Earth allows for utilizing remote sensing techniques in the complete thermal infrared region, owing to narrow absorption regions from a singularly dominant CO2 atmosphere which facilitate detailed lithological mapping. This work also reviews various methodologies adopted till date to study the lithology, mineralogy and fluvial geomorphology including inferences from Syrtis Major volcanic construct. It is evident from the studies, Syrtis Major has well developed fluvial channels mostly attributed to lava flows. However, spectroscopic studies reveal the presence of hydroxylated and hydrated minerals which indicate that lava might not be the sole factor resulting in channel generation in the construct. Future space missions with high resolution payloads targeting this volcanic construct are indispensable to study these channels in detail.

THE IMPACT OF THE RELIABILITY OF THE ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEM UPON THE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE VIA THE MEDIATING ROLE OF THE QUALITY OF FINANCIAL REPORTING

This study aims to examine the relationships of the reliability of the Accounting Information System (AIS) based on the implementation of SysTrust's framework (principles and criteria) as an internal control method to the business performance and the mediating role of the quality of financial reporting in this relationship among Jordanian public listed companies. – Based on the literature review and contingency theory; an integrated conceptual framework was developed to guide this study. The study's conceptual framework consists of three major constructs: the reliability of AIS was conceptualized and measured by the SysTrust's framework (principles and criteria) the business performance was measured by the financial and non-financial indicators and the quality of financial reporting was conceptualized and measured by the IASB's framework fundamental qualitative characteristics. A total of 239 responses were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire from PLCs in the Amman stock market. The empirical findings of the study suggest that the reliability of the AIS is based on the implementation of SysTrust’s framework has a significant and positive relation to business performance and the quality of financial reporting significantly mediate the relationship.

Assessment of the multi-sectoral approach to tobacco control policies in South Africa and Togo

BackgroundTobacco use is the world’s leading preventable cause of illness and death and the most important risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases (heart attack, stroke, congestive obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer). Tobacco control is one of the World Health Organization’s “best-buys” interventions to prevent NCDs. This study assessed the use of a multi-sectoral approach (MSA) in developing and implementing tobacco control policies in South Africa and Togo.MethodsThis two-country case study consisted of a document review of tobacco control policies and of key informant interviews (N = 56) about the content, context, stakeholders, and strategies employed throughout policy formulation and implementation in South Africa and Togo. To guide our analysis, we used the Comprehensive Framework for Multi-Sectoral Approach to Health Policy, which is built around four major constructs of context, content, stakeholders and strategies.ResultsThe findings show that the formulation of tobacco control policies in both countries was driven locally by the political, historical, social and economic contexts, and globally by the adoption WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). In both countries, the health department led policy formulation and implementation. The stakeholders involved in South Africa were more diverse, proactive and dynamic than those in Togo, whereas the strategies employed were more straightforward in Togo than in South Africa. The extent of understanding and use of MSA in both countries consisted of an inter-sectoral action for health, whereby the health department strove to collaborate with other sectors within and outside the government. Consequently, information sharing was identified as the main outcome of the interactions between institutions and interest groups within and across three critical sectors of the state, namely the public (government), the private and the civil society.ConclusionTobacco control policies in South Africa and Togo were formulated and implemented from an inter-sectoral approach perspective, which relied heavily on information transfer between stakeholders and less on collaborative problem-solving approach. Incorporation of multiple stakeholders allowed both countries to formulate policies to meet FCTC goals for tobacco control and NCD reduction.

Graft use in the treatment of large and massive rotator cuff tears: an overview of techniques and modes of failure with MRI correlation

Despite technical advances, repair of large or massive rotator cuff tears continues to demonstrate a relatively high rate of failure. Rotator cuff repair or superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) using a variety of commercially available grafts provides a promising option in patients with tears that may be at high risk for failure or otherwise considered irreparable. There are three major graft constructs that exist when utilizing graft in rotator cuff repair or reconstruction: augmentation at the rotator cuff footprint, bridging, and SCR. Each construct has a unique appearance when evaluated using postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and each construct has unique sites that are predisposed to failure. Understanding the basic principles of these constructs can help the radiologist better evaluate the postoperative MRI appearance of these increasingly utilized procedures.

Shifting Sands in Second Language Pronunciation Teaching and Assessment Research and Practice

ABSTRACTThis article brings to the fore trends in second language (L2) pronunciation research, teaching, and assessment by highlighting the ways in which pronunciation instructional priorities and assessment targets have shifted over time, social dimensions that, although presented in a different guise, appear to have remained static, and principles in need of clearer conceptualization. The reorientation of the pedagogical goal in pronunciation teaching from the traditional focus on accent reduction to the more suitable goal of intelligibility will feed into a discussion of major constructs subsumed under the umbrella term of “pronunciation.” We discuss theoretical gaps, definitional quagmires, and challenges in operationalizing major constructs in assessment instruments, with an emphasis on research findings on which pronunciation features are most consequential for intelligibility and implications for instructional priorities and assessment targets. Considerations related to social judgments of pronunciation, accent familiarity effects, the growth of lingua franca communication, and technological advances, including machine scoring of pronunciation, pervade the discussion, bridging past and present. Recommendations for advancing an ambitious research agenda are proposed to disassociate pronunciation assessment from the neglect of the past, secure its presence as an integral part of the L2 speaking construct, and propel it to the forefront of developments in assessment.

Advances in behavioral animal models of alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a multifaceted neuropsychiatric disease that combines behavioral, psychosocial, and neurobiological aspects. Over the previous decade, animal models have advanced in modeling the major psychological constructs that characterize AUD. These advances pave the road for more sophisticated behavioral models that capture addiction-related aspects, such as alcohol craving, compulsive seeking and intake, dependence, and relapse. In this review, we survey the recent progress in behavioral animal modeling of five aspects of AUD: alcohol consumption, dependence, and seeking; compulsivity in alcohol intake despite adverse outcomes; vulnerability and resilience factors in alcohol addiction; relapse despite treatment; and relapse prevention by manipulating alcohol-associated memory reconsolidation. These advances represent a general attempt to grasp the complexity and multidimensional nature of AUD, and to focus on behavioral characteristics that better reflect and model this disorder.

What make consumer sign up to PHEVs? Predicting Malaysian consumer behavior in adoption of PHEVs

Malaysia is amongst the major energy intense countries and is under an excessive burden to advance its energy efficiency and to also work towards the reduction of its carbon emission. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have the potential to lessen the carbon emission and gasoline consumption in order to alleviate environmental problems. Consequently, attempts are being initiated to popularise the use of PHEVs as the main mode of transportation. The diffusion of PHEV adoption is a positive initiative. A sample of 403 respondents has been collected from Malaysia in order to forecast the customer’s intention to adopt PHEVs by using the extended theory of planned behaviour. The empirical outcome using the PLS investigation exposed that all four constructs, subjective norm, personal moral norm, perceived behavioural control, and attitude ominously shows an indirect effect which has inclined towards the Malaysian consumers’ intention to adopt PHEVs. All these four major constructs were significantly predetermined by their respective environmental concern. Whereas, hyperbolic discounting moderated the relationship between intention and adoption. The fostering result verifies that the relevance of the extended TPB had a good explanatory power in the line of predicting the Malaysian consumers’ intention to adopt PHEVs. For future study, grounded by the observed outcome, authors explain the implication aimed at promoting the PHEV adoption.

Physical activity and nutrition intervention for Singaporean women aged 50 years and above: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThe majority of the older Singaporean women aged 50 years and above are physically inactive and have unhealthy dietary habits, placing them at ‘high risk’ of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The adoption of regular physical activity (PA) and a healthy diet are essential lifestyle behaviours to reduce this risk. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) involves the development, implementation and evaluation of a PA and nutrition programme for community-dwelling Singaporean women who currently attend recreational centres (RCs are public facilities supporting social leisure activities) in their local area. The intervention will be developed after conducting formative evaluation with RC attendees and managers through focus group discussions and pilot testing of resources (i.e. surveys, accelerometers, and health booklets). Programme ambassadors (trained, certified fitness instructors and nutritionists) will deliver all sessions in English and Mandarin; implement classes to meet participants’ varying needs; and conduct sessions at different times at convenient venues. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) has been selected as the theoretical framework to inform intervention strategies as it explores the interactions of human behaviour with the environment and has been found to be valuable when developing behavioural change interventions particularly in older adults (J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 67B(1):18–26, 2012; Obesity Reviews 15(12):983–95, 2014). Its major construct, self-efficacy, is invaluable in achieving successful behaviour change, such as increasing levels of PA or improving dietary intake (Trials. 2017; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-016-1771-9; Psychol Health Med 18(6):714–24, 2013).MethodsThe development and implementation of the PA and nutrition intervention strategies will be guided by SCT and Motivational interviewing (MI) and implemented by trained programme ambassadors at the RCs. Sixty RCs located in Singapore will be selected from five major geographical districts and randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 30) or control (n = 30) cluster. A sample of 600 (intervention n = 300; control n = 300) women aged 50 years and above will then be recruited from these 60 centres and only the intervention group will be enrolled into the PA and nutrition intervention. It is hypothesised that by the end of the intervention, the intervention group participants compared to the control group will show significantly greater improvements in the following outcome variables: PA and dietary behaviours, health-related quality of life, objective measures of PA, anthropometric, lipid and glucose profiles. Data will be collected at baseline and 6 months and analysed using mixed regression models.DiscussionIt is anticipated that recruitment, retention and compliance of participants will be challenging due to the target group being unfamiliar with such community-based research programmes.Trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12617001022358. Registered on 14 July 2017. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372984&isReview=true

Happiness and job satisfaction: An empirical study in public sector undertaking

Happiness is viewed as a major positive organizational behavior construct. The present study tests the prediction that happiness and job satisfaction are significantly interrelated. In addition to this objective, male and female employees in an public sector undertaking are compared with respect to these variables. The predicted pattern of interrelationship among variables is supported. However there is no significant group difference. The findings are explained in the light of current conceptualizations of happiness and job satisfaction. Major implications are also suggested for intervention programmes

Technological appropriations as workarounds

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to further adaptive structuration theory (AST) by associating technological appropriations with health information technology workarounds. The author argues that appropriating electronic health record (EHR) technology ironically – in a way other than it is designed to be used – and divergently across an organization results in enhanced perceptions of EHR technology and its implementation.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 345 healthcare employees in a single healthcare organization that was switching to EHRs from paper records. Two major constructs of AST – unfaithfulness and dissension in appropriation – were operationalized and analyzed using multivariate regressions to test the relationship between the type of appropriation and perceptions of EHR technology’s relative advantage and implementation success.FindingsResults reveal that both ironic (unfaithful) technological appropriation and dissension in technological appropriation across the organization predicted employees’ perceptions of EHR’s relative advantage and perceptions of EHR implementation success. Furthermore, physicians are the least likely to perceive EHR’s relative advantage or EHR implementation success. These results exemplify that EHR workarounds are taking place and reaffirm AST’s principle that employees evolve technology to better suit their working environments and preferences.Originality/valueThe survey and scales used in this study further demonstrate that there are meaningful statistical measures to accompany the qualitative methods frequently used in the AST literature. In addition, this paper expands AST research by exploring the positive outcomes that follow ironic and divergent technology appropriations.

POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP CONCEPT: AN OVERVIEW AND FUTURE STUDIES

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview about the insightful Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) concept, which is considered as one of the most important management theoretical developments over the past decade. Therefore, it reviews the meaning, scope, domains, major constructs, outcomes, and theoretical overlaps related to POS, as well as providing a critical analysis of this umbrella concept. In doing so, it is expected to contribute to further understanding of POS theoretical richness as a path to the improvement of workplaces. Despite the difficulties and problems discussed here (e.g., few empirical work, validity issues, and some theoretical intersections) under the relatively new POS concept has ever gathered germane knowledge that has helped to explain how organizations improve their dynamics and general outcomes by adopting more constructive approaches. On the other hand, it is exciting to find that POS concept researchers have worked with a sizeable number of constructs, topics, and ideas. This review contributes to the POS concept by closely examining some of its major constructs (fundamentally those ones that are more theoretically and empirically developed) such as compassion, connections and relationships, cooperation, courageous, flourishing, forgiveness, meaningful work, positive deviance, positive motions, resilience, thriving and virtuous aspects. The results reveal a richer understanding about their benefits and challenges, as well as emphasizing new possibilities for future studies.

Referral Regions for Time-Sensitive Acute Care Conditions in the United States

Regional, coordinated care for time-sensitive and high-risk medical conditions is a priority in the United States. A necessary precursor to coordinated regional care is regions that are actionable from clinical and policy standpoints. The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, the major health care referral construct in the United States, uses regions that cross state and county boundaries, limiting fiscal or political ownership by key governmental stakeholders in positions to create incentive and regulate regional care coordination. Our objective is to develop and evaluate referral regions that define care patterns forpatients with acute myocardial infraction, acute stroke, or trauma, yetalso preserve essential political boundaries. We developed a novel set of acute care referral regions using Medicare data in the United States from 2011. For acute myocardial infraction, acute stroke, or trauma, we iteratively aggregated counties according to patient home location and treating hospital address, using a spatial algorithm. We evaluated referral political boundary preservation and spatial accuracy for each set of referral regions. The new set of referral regions, the Pittsburgh Atlas, had 326 distinct regions. These referral regions did not cross any county or state borders, whereas 43.1% and 98.1% of all Dartmouth Atlas hospital referral regions crossed county and state borders. The Pittsburgh Atlas was comparable to the Dartmouth Atlas in measures of spatial accuracy and identified larger at-risk populations for all 3 conditions. A novel and straightforward spatial algorithm generated referral regions that were politically actionable and accountable for time-sensitive medical emergencies.