Strategy Management Research Articles

Online food delivery services and unceasing behavioural intention: An assessment for integrating expectation-confirmation and technology acceptance models

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine restrictions led to significant changes in the food industry's delivery methods, with a notable rise in online food delivery services (OFDS). This increase necessitates a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the continued use of these services. This study investigates the relationships between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, confidence, trust, and continuous intention to use OFDS applications among young consumers in Kazakhstan. An integrated model based on expectation-confirmation and technology acceptance models, incorporating the habit of online shopping as a moderator, was used. Data was collected from 433 respondents with prior OFDS experience and analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0. The results show positive correlations between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, confidence, trust, and the continuous intention to use OFDS among young Kazakhstani consumers. Additionally, the study confirms the moderating role of online shopping habits in the relationship between satisfaction and trust and the continuous intention to use OFDS. These findings offer valuable insights for companies in the online food delivery sector, highlighting key factors that can enhance managerial and IT strategies to boost revenues and foster sustained use of OFDS applications.

How H&M make concept BUY NOW THINK LETTER, H&M’s Role in Gen Z’s Hedonic and Impulsive Buying Trends

Gen Z values experiences over material possessions. They prefer spending on activities that offer memorable experiences, such as attending events, dining out, and travel. This preference for experiences also translates into their shopping behavior, where they seek immersive and engaging retail experiences. Explore the consumer behavior of Gen Z in Bekasi, specifically their hedonic tendencies, and to provide actionable insights for H&M's marketing strategy. By understanding the unique characteristics, preferences, and values of Gen Z in this region, H&M can tailor its offerings and marketing efforts to effectively engage this influential demographic. The method of quantitative approach with the survey results found is 149 respondents with the statistical technique used is Structural Equation Modeling Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). Understanding the hedonistic influences driving impulsive buying among Gen Z in Bekasi allows H&M to craft targeted strategies that cater to this demographic's desires while promoting sustainability. By balancing trendiness with environmental responsibility, H&M can build lasting brand loyalty and contribute positively to the global fashion landscape. This paper provides a roadmap for H&M to navigate the complex interplay of hedonism and sustainability, ensuring relevance and growth in the competitive market. Strategi yang dapat di lakukan oleh perusahaan adalah mempertahankan sifat tiba-tiba activities dari konsumen gen z seperyi embience store penataan new collection seasoning untuk tetap mempertahankan ketertarikan terhadap koleksi brand H&M. Kemudian pada dimensi Leisure Activities indikator yang memberikan pengaruh paling rendah friends opinion, strategi yang dapat dilakukan oleh perusahaan adalah meng improve pola konsumtif individu menjadji group, denga melakukan penawaran, buy 2 get 1 free atau spend 400k get 50% off. This study significantly contributes to the analysis of the influence of hedonic variables on impulsive buying behavior concerning the H&M brand. By examining the psychological and social factors that drive Gen Z in Bekasi towards impulsive purchases, this research provides valuable insights and ongoing suggestions for H&M's managerial strategies. It emphasizes the importance of balancing the "Buy Now, Think Later" concept with sustainable practices to foster long-term brand loyalty and environmental responsibility.

Innovation stakeholders: Developing a sustainable paradigm to integrate intellectual property and corporate social responsibility

AbstractInnovation is usually framed in terms of expanding the knowledge frontier or the commercialization of new ideas. However, it is much more than that. Innovation is also about providing greater well‐being for society and the various stakeholders that support a firm's efforts to innovate. This article examines the paradoxical status of innovation and its related legal domain of intellectual property rights, which largely exists beyond the purview of corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory, practice, and discourse. To address this conceptual deficiency, this article interlinks intellectual property, innovation, and CSR to offer three contributions. First, this article provides a working definition of the various stakeholders that must be identified to define CSR goals related to innovation. A critical aspect of CSR is the identification of relevant stakeholders. Second, this article discusses how established CSR approaches will accommodate these innovation stakeholders. Third, this article introduces and positions the managerial strategy of open innovation as a feasible and desirable approach that ethically recognizes, engages, and balances the interests of innovation stakeholders with the interests held by the firm and society. The normative argument made is that the firm's fiduciary leaders have an ethical obligation to pursue open innovation practices as a default norm to achieve the best CSR results for the firm and its various innovation stakeholders.

The Effect of Work Communication, Work Motivation and Work-Life Balance on Employee Performance with Job Satisfaction as an Intervening Variable

This study investigates the impact of work communication, work motivation, and work-life balance on employee performance at Look Beauty Studio Tulungagung, with job satisfaction serving as an intervening variable. Utilizing a quantitative research methodology, data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to employees. The analysis employed statistical techniques to examine the relationships between the variables. The findings reveal that effective work communication, high levels of work motivation, and a well-maintained work-life balance significantly enhance employee performance. Furthermore, job satisfaction is identified as a crucial mediator in these relationships, indicating that improvements in these areas lead to higher job satisfaction, which in turn boosts overall employee performance. These insights provide valuable implications for managerial strategies aimed at optimizing employee performance through targeted improvements in communication, motivation, and work-life balance.

Visual information and appearance: The impact of visual attributes of user-generated photos on review helpfulness

Images have become integral to consumers’ sharing of consumption experiences due to their abilities of carrying rich and vivid information. Drawing from the perspective of information theory and the elaboration likelihood model (ELM), this study investigates impacts of visual information and visual appearance of user-generated photos (UGPs) on customers’ perceived review helpfulness. We utilize deep learning techniques to calculate the breadth and depth of photos (visual information), and evaluate the aesthetic value of the photos (visual appearance). By collecting a substantial amount of review, reviewer and restaurant information from the Yelp platform, our results demonstrate that the visual breadth and visual depth of review photos have a significant positive impact on review helpfulness. Notably, reviewer status and review length moderate these effects. These insights offer valuable strategies for both restaurant managers and online restaurant platforms regarding UGP management.

Brexit and the fintech revolution in Europe: lessons from the Bulgarian digital finance sector

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the drivers of the resilience of the fintech sector in emerging Europe (EU) by analyzing the performance of 128 Bulgarian fintech companies in the period around the Referendum for Brexit in 2016. The Referendum was followed by a rapid growth of the Bulgarian fintech sector at a moment when venture capital funding was limited, which challenged firms to improve their fundamentals. Design/methodology/approach This empirical paper uses descriptive and panel data analysis based on the firm balance sheet and income statement data at the annual level. Findings The results show that larger and better-capitalized firms, which outsource their non-core activities and focus on their main competitive strengths, tend to have higher operating income and profit. The authors also find positive real-economy effects as these companies hire more actively to maintain growth. The results are primarily driven by the post-Brexit period of 2016–2019 when the authors find a tighter link between performance and firm fundamentals. These results have important managerial and policy implications and provide interesting directions for future research. Practical implications The findings have important management and policy implications. The authors argue that the flexibility of the Bulgarian fintech cluster, including the practice of Bulgarian fintech startups to outsource non-core activities; the readiness of universities to open new master programs to address firm demand for skilled labor and the startup-friendly environment in the main cluster hotspot, Sofia, has contributed to the resilience of the sector and can explain the drivers behind our findings. Fintech firms are very efficient in utilizing external services to foster their performance and growth, which may suggest that public policies that provide financial support for cloud services and outsourcing for startups during downturns or crises may improve economic growth and may have positive externalities for the supporting sectors that provide these services. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to study the drivers of Fintech performance to identify best practices for managerial actions during economic or political crises, as well as government policy recommendations. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is one of the first empirical academic studies that examine the impact of Brexit on the European Fintech sector and real economy. The identified managerial strategies for ensuring regional resilience to economic crises and political shocks can be applied in various settings within and outside the EU.

Pets at work: integrating pet-friendly initiatives into human resources for enhanced workplace harmony

AimsThe representation of companion animals, or pets, has been changing recently. Research concerning how pets influence employees’ work-related well-being has also started to take its first steps. This research aimed to analyze (1) how managers perceive pet-friendly practices and their main effects at work, and (2) the impact of such practices on employees’ well-being and work engagement. Relying on the social exchange perspective and the self-determination theory it was hypothesized that pet-friendly practices would positively influence employees’ well-being and work engagement by satisfying their three basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness).MethodologyTwo studies with mixed methods were conducted. The first and exploratory study resorted to semi-structured interviews with six managers. The second was a two-wave study conducted with a large sample of workers (N = 379).ResultsThe first study highlighted the primary advantages and disadvantages of pet-friendly practices, along with the various obstacles and limitations, and proposed managerial strategies to overcome them. Managers generally expressed interest and enthusiasm about the topic but also pointed out challenges in implementing a pet-friendly strategy due to the limited number of empirical studies demonstrating its benefits. The second study’s findings indicated that pet-friendly practices positively impacted employees' work engagement and well-being by fulfilling their needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness.OriginalityOverall, Portugal is seen as having a conservative culture, which slows the dissemination and implementation of these measures. To overcome these challenges, several managerial recommendations have been proposed. Raising awareness and fostering discussion on the topic are crucial steps toward integrating pet-friendly policies into human resources management.

Internationalization of higher education institutions: a comparative study in Taiwan and Japan

PurposeThe internationalization of higher education institutions (HEIs) is the top stage of international relations among universities, and it is no longer regarded as a goal but as a means to improve the education of sustainability. As institutional commitments to internationalize higher education continue to grow, so does the need to critically consider the intended purposes and actual outcomes of the resulting programs and policies. This study aims to explore how institutional international policies influence outcomes of HEIs internationalization in the East Asian region, specifically in Taiwan and Japan.Design/methodology/approachThe study used quantitative design. 3,158 participants, including 1,192 participants from Taiwan and 1,966 participants from Japan, were randomly recruited to complete the Academic Profession in the Knowledge Society (APIKS), an international survey examining the change in academic work in HEIs. The study adopted quantitative data and used two variables (institutional international policies and outcomes of internationalization) with descriptive, correlational, and moderated multiple hierarchical regression analysis with SPSS computer software to answer the research questions.FindingsThe study showed that both Taiwanese and Japanese academics have high agreements on the outcomes of internationalization for enhancing academic quality and increasing mobility of students. In both countries, two institutional international policies of HEIs internalization-- clear internationalization strategies and funding for faculty members to undertake research abroad-- can significantly influence the process of internationalization in the teaching-oriented and research-oriented HEIs respectively.Originality/valueThis study provides insight into the relationship between institutional international policies and the outcomes of HEIs internationalization in Taiwan and Japan. It provides university leaders with empirical evidence for implementing managerial strategies of internationalization that promote education for sustainability in HEIs.

When traditional SME managers encounter cybersecurity: Discourse analysis of opportunities and dilemmas in meeting the demands

Grounded in a socio-technical systems governance framework, we explore the perceptions and strategies of SME managers and cybersecurity providers within the cybersecurity landscape. Addressing the gap in understanding of how cybersecurity governance takes place in the Canadian SME landscape, Interviews were conducted with 35 SME representatives and 11 cybersecurity providers and analyzed using discourse analysis. The results highlight four critical themes in this socio-technical transition: initial conditions, SME business model discourse, cybersecurity provider business model discourse, and transition outcomes. The transition underpins a mode of governance, blending elements of oligopoly and self-regulation, characterized by the dominance of key cybersecurity firms and a more facilitative role of state actors. A novel conceptual model emerges from the study, explicating the transition in SME institutional logics from a traditional ‘legacy logic’ towards an integrated cybersecurity approach. This transition is shaped by the principal-agent disconnect and moderated by SME and cybersecurity provider business model discourses.

Essential Soft Skills and Classroom Managerial Efficiency of Teachers in Public Elementary Schools

This study was conducted to determine the essential soft skills and managerial efficiency of teachers in public elementary schools in Division of Davao City. This study used the non-experimental quantitative research design utilizing the correlational method. The respondents were composed of 132 teachers in public elementary schools through the use of universal sampling. The data analysis was mean, pearson r and regression analysis. The findings revealed that the degree of soft skills of teachers in terms of people skills shared skills and communication skills was manifested often by the teachers. Moreover, the managerial efficiency in terms of managerial outcomes, goals and strategies is high and manifested oftentimes by the teachers. It was found out that there was a significant relationship between essential soft skills and managerial efficiency of public elementary school teachers in public schools. It showed further that the managerial efficiency of public elementary school teachers significantly influenced the essential soft skills domains. The results suggest that teachers should develop their communication skills, teamwork, leadership, time management, adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, work ethic, creativity and emotional intelligence in the classroom to achieve student learning growth and development.

Human Capital Structure and Innovation Efficiency Under Technological Progress: Evidence from China

This paper innovatively defines the structure of human capital based on existing theories and use the heterogeneous stochastic frontier model to test the relationship between various types of human capital and innovation. It is found that with the progress of technology, the structure of human capital and the mechanism of promoting innovation have undergone profound changes. Together with commercial leasing human capital, financial human capital, and entrepreneurs, information human capital and transportation human capital participate in innovation activities and create a new collaborative space, which in turn helps to spread the value of innovation and influence the effectiveness of the entire innovation system. This study enriches the theoretical research on the mechanism of human capital promoting innovation in the information age and provides new insight to explain the imbalance between human capital input and innovation output. Based on the theory of innovation chain value and flow space, this study redefines the connotation of innovative human capital structure by distinguishing the nature of innovation activities. This study also reveals the difference in the influence of human capital structure on different types of innovation activities. This study partly explains the problem of increasing human capital input but decreasing innovation efficiency in developing countries. Therefore, from a macro perspective, our research provides guidance for understanding the transformation of innovation under the background of technological progress and formulating effective urban innovation strategies for managers.

Managerial Influence on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Implementation in Israeli Hospitals: A Doctoral Research Study

Background: This research, part of a doctoral study, aims to examine the impact of managerial factors on the implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in Israeli hospitals. The study focuses on identifying key facilitators and barriers from the perspectives of physician and nurse managers, with an emphasis on understanding the integration of managerial strategies and theoretical frameworks in IPC implementation. Objective: The objective is to explore specific managerial factors, both facilitators and barriers, influencing the effective implementation of IPC measures. The research investigates these influences through the lens of physicians and nurses managing IPC units in public hospital settings. Methodology: A mixed-method approach was adopted, involving in-depth interviews with ten IPC-Unit managers (five physicians and five nurses) and a comprehensive questionnaire distributed among IPC-Unit heads. The study’s demographic and professional profiles of participants are detailed in Table 1. The data collection process encompassed an Activity Assessment Questionnaire (2-AAQ) and an Organizational Change Implementation Questionnaire (3-OrgChangeImplQ), with the distribution of responses categorized by implementation stages and sociological theories (Tables 2-4). Result: Managerial autonomy emerged as a significant catalyst for IPC implementation, with supportive leadership and resource allocation being critical. Differences in approaches between physician and nurse managers were observed, reflecting diverse strategies in planning, execution, monitoring, and maintenance of IPC measures. The findings also revealed a natural alignment with sociological theories, particularly Normalization Process Theory (NPT) and Diffusion of Innovations (DOI), despite a lack of formal training in these areas. Conclusions: The study underscores the multifaceted nature of IPC implementation, highlighting the importance of managerial autonomy, supportive leadership, and a deep understanding of organizational culture. The inherent alignment of IPC strategies with NPT and DOI theories suggests the potential of these frameworks in guiding IPC implementation. The research advocates for the integration of these theoretical perspectives into formal training programs to enhance the effectiveness of IPC measures in healthcare settings.

Impact of Light Wavelength on Growth and Welfare of Broiler Chickens – Overview and Future Perspective

Abstract Lighting in poultry production holds notable importance with the advancement and modernization of the industry, as it plays a significant role in the physiology and growth of broiler chickens. Increasing attention has been paid to the impacts of lighting management on growth performance, immune status, and welfare of meat-type chickens. It is essential to have an appropriate lighting regimen that includes the light source, intensity, duration, and wavelength of light to improve broilers’ growth and behavior. By manipulating various physiological, immunological, and behavioral activities, altering the color of light has been acknowledged as a potent managerial strategy capable of mitigating an array of stressors in broiler chickens. Assessing animal welfare is necessary for animal behavior and product quality perspectives. Birds have a unique visual system, and their behavior is primarily mediated by vision. Different monochromatic light regimes can affect feed conversion ratio, modulating broiler chickens’ systematic immune response and aggressive behavior. With the advancement of lighting technology, new possibilities have emerged to enhance traditional lighting programs in poultry houses. This review integrates recent findings on the use of monochromatic light and its impact on broilers’ welfare, growth, and physiological response.

Flexing to outperform: workforce differentiation, HR flexibility and firm performance

PurposeResource orchestration theory proposes that firms need resources, capabilities, and horizontal and vertical alignment to achieve high performance. Thus, we investigate which combinations of horizontal fit of resources (commitment-based HR systems for managers and nonmanagers) and capabilities (HR flexibility) together with vertical fit with business strategy (innovation versus cost leadership strategies) relate to superior performance.Design/methodology/approachOur study is based on a sample of 113 Spanish firms from which we collected data on commitment-based HR systems for managers and nonmanagers, HR flexibility, business strategy and performance. We employ a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze which configurations lead to firm performance.FindingsThe empirical analysis shows that both HR practices and policies (commitment-based HR systems) and HR capabilities (HR flexibility) need to be aligned for high performance. The path for performance is comprised of a combination of commitment-based HR systems for staff and HR flexibility and by the absence of an innovation strategy or commitment-based HR systems for managers, HR flexibility, and a cost leadership strategy. We also find four paths where performance relies on efficiently combining an innovation and cost leadership business strategy.Originality/valueOur findings make three key contributions to the literature. First, we help elucidate multicausal relationships inside the black box of the “HR–performance” relationship for firm performance. Second, we study the vertical fit with business strategy by considering innovation and cost leadership strategies. Third, we analyze multicausal pathways, thus uncovering different combinations of resources and capabilities for performance.

Effectiveness of restructuring strategies: empirical evidence from Croatian firms

The purpose of the article is to analyze the impact of restructuring actions on the probability of post pre-bankruptcy success. The main research problem is the selection of the most efficient restructuring strategies with the objective of determining which restructuring actions contribute to the probability of successful recovery. Logistic regression model is employed with various specifications added to confirm the robustness of data and results. Research results reveal that financial and managerial restructuring strategies increase the likelihood of success after initiating the pre-bankruptcy. These findings can have practical implications for managers when deliberating on the selection of restructuring strategies, but also to policy makers and regulators when considering the legal framework and other measures for corporate distress resolution mechanism. Contribution of the paper is contained in empirically testing the impact of categorized restructuring strategies on the post pre-bankruptcy success of Croatian firms.

Implementing multi-attribute utility theory in service recovery: An operational management perspective on online retailing

How corporate decision-makers allocate resources to address the major issues of service recovery is critical. This article, from the perspective of operations management, integrates Multi-Attribute Utility theory into the field of service recovery. Through the use of online review data from smart home products, the PCRA-Multi-Attribute Utility model is proposed. Based on the model, this paper presents a prioritization strategy for service recovery and reveals that the utility of intelligent products is primarily influenced by service attitude. Furthermore, we discovered that manager's response strategies should pay more attention to recovery related to vital attributes. Strategy optimization can be achieved by adjusting the response length of these key attributes.

Blaming the young is always more accessible rather than accusing the older employees: an experimental view over age and health in organizations.

The stereotype content model postulates that different groups evoke different emotions and reactions based on two dimensions: intention toward others (warmth) and competence. In this study, we used an experimental design and a qualitative approach to investigate how managerial strategies are selected and motivated when a subordinate makes a work task related error but belongs to a group that is stereotypical perceived differently in terms of warmth and competence (age groups with or without a medical condition). Thus 75 employees analyzed one of the five hypothetical cases and described the managerial strategy and motivation for usage. Data revealed that managerial strategies incorporate more active harm elements for younger employees in contrast with vulnerable groups (older employees with unspecified medical conditions, younger or older employees with a medical condition), who benefit from more active facilitation strategies. The strategy usage motivation is also different in the case of younger employees, the control group and the vulnerable groups. The study outcomes bring additional evidence to support the stereotype content model theory and the socioemotional selectivity theory, enriching applicability on organizational practice and human resources management.

Trilemma of life cycle carbon, employment, and costs of trucking industry's shift toward automation and electrification

AbstractThe transportation sector is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by advancements like autonomous and electric vehicle technologies. In this research, we investigate employment, carbon emissions, and total cost of ownership of autonomy and electrification in the US trucking industry. We utilize life cycle assessment and multi‐regional input‐output modeling to develop a comprehensive life cycle sustainability assessment approach. According to the results, while enhanced fuel economy due to autonomous systems can lead up to a 18% and 41% reduction in emissions and costs, electrification of diesel trucks shows remarkable potential, achieving up to a 40% decline in emissions and a 12% saving in life cycle costs. Autonomy and electrification combined could lead to a 50% decrease in emissions and 46% savings in life cycle costs. On the other hand, autonomy, while enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing costs, causes job losses due to improved efficiency and the elimination of driver positions. Introducing autonomy to diesel trucks results in a 27% decrease in jobs within the US trucking sector, attributed to improved fuel efficiency and subsequent job losses. Transition to autonomy and electrification requires a deliberate balance between environmental, social, and economic aspects. Managerial strategies should consider the use of the proposed composite indicators when setting emission reduction, cost cutting, and managing employment implications. Flexible re‐skilling and training programs should be developed to adapt to the changing skill requirements due to electrification and automation.

Positions and Delimitations Regarding the Financial Performance - Sustainability Relationship in the Context of Organizational Resilience

Sustainability can guide the decision-making process of managers in obtaining competitive advantages. Incorporating sustainability criteria into the main managerial strategies of organizations generates long-term profitability. Using Structured Literature Review (SLR) as a research methodology we synthesize the characteristics and differences between financial performance and sustainability in the context of organizational resilience. Therefore, this paper offers a comprehensive structured literature review based on the relationship between the concepts of financial performance, sustainability, and organizational resilience, using research studies from four main databases: Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Springer. In carrying out this study, we identified the current trends in the specialized literature regarding the relationship between financial performance and sustainability in the context of organizational resilience as they were debated in the analysed literature, until the end of September 2023, in 116 papers.

How violation of consumers’ expectations causes perceived betrayal and related behaviors: Theoretical perspectives from expectancy violation theory

Expectancy violation theory was used as a theoretical foundation to predict the influence of brands' norms violation, expectation violation, and moral violation in developing luxury brands' consumers' betrayals. We examined the perceived influence of betrayal on consumers' behaviors, such as vindictive complaining and retaliatory behavior. The present framework also checked the boundary effects of post-purchase regret on the impact of perceived betrayal on vindictive complaining and retaliatory behavior. Data was collected from 378 luxury brand consumers using a web-administered questionnaire. We applied PLS-SEM using SmartPLS 4.0. To analyze the data. Our results revealed that predictors, i.e., norm violation, expectation violation, and moral violation, positively develop consumers' perceived betrayal. Perceived betrayal significantly triggers vindictive complaining and retaliatory behavior. This research found that moderating effects of post-purchase regret strengthen the association between consumers’ betrayal and behavioral outcomes. We enrich our understanding of betrayal and consumer psychology, identifying how positive outcomes cause negative emotions in consumer behavioral responses and offering strategies for managers of luxury brands. We also acknowledge shortcomings and highlight future avenues for research.