Mediating Effect Of Trust Research Articles

Harnessing Swift Guanxi in SMEs: Exploring Trust and Purchase Intention on Social Commerce Platforms

Extant empirical studies investigate social commerce purchase intention from the perspective of swift guanxi dimensions while neglecting to explain how the purchase intention is influenced. This study proposed and tested a research model to unveil the relationship between swift guanxi dimensions (mutual understanding, reciprocity favor, and relationship harmony), trust in the seller and purchase intention while considering the mediation effect of trust in the seller in social commerce settings. Data from 421 social commerce youth consumers in Tanzania were used in PLS-SEM analysis to test the research model. Results revealed that except for reciprocity favor, swift guanxi dimensions positively influence purchase intention. The swift guanxi dimensions also positively influence trust in the seller. Further trust in the seller mediates the relationship between swift guanxi dimensions and purchase intention. This study recommends that social commerce micro, small, and medium traders embrace swift guanxi to drive consumer purchase intention. Swift guanxi dimensions foster a rapid and affirmative connection with the consumers, enhancing their trust in the seller. In turn, trust in the seller significantly enhances the likelihood of purchase intention, since the consumers feel safer and more confident in their buying journey. Therefore, by leveraging swift guanxi dimensions, social commerce sellers can effectively build business relationships based on a strong foundation, which not only drives immediate consumer purchases but also fosters enduring consumer devotion.

Reviews, trust, and customer experience in online marketplaces: the case of Mercado Libre Colombia

PurposeThe research focuses on the crucial role of online reviews in shaping consumer trust in e-commerce platforms, examining the impact of perceived authentic and fake reviews on purchasing decisions and platform reputation. It assesses how consumers perceive review authenticity and quality and their effects on trust levels in reviews, marketplaces, and reputation systems. It also explores the relationship between trust forms and overall experiences.Design/methodologyA quantitative approach is employed, utilizing a questionnaire distributed to recent Mercado Libre buyers. To test hypotheses, data from 326 valid responses are analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsFindings reveal that fake review perception negatively affects trust in rating systems, while high-quality reviews positively influence all trust forms. Customer experience is directly impacted by trust in marketplaces and rating systems, indicating a mediation effect of trust in the rating system on the relationship between fake review perception and customer experience.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations include using a convenience sample and focusing on trust in the rating system rather than reviews or the marketplace, suggesting avenues for future research. Practical implications include recommendations to ensure review quality, enhance rating system controls, and promote review usage in the purchase process.OriginalityThe study addresses a timely and relevant gap in understanding the impact of reviews on e-commerce trust, particularly within the context of Latin America and Mercado Libre’s dominance in the region’s e-commerce landscape.

The mediation effect of trust and justice on the relationship between servant leadership and employee job satisfaction: an empirical findings from private universities in Kuwait

PurposeHigher education institutions now place a greater emphasis on servant leadership, organizational trust, and justice. This study evaluates the function of organizational and leader trust and justice in mediating the relationship between employee job satisfaction and servant leadership in Kuwait's private universities.Design/methodology/approachEmployees from two private higher education sectors in Kuwait provided 205 valid responses to the study's closed-ended survey, which was given to 240 workers. The job satisfaction and servant leadership, leader's trust and justice and servant leadership, leader's trust and justice and job satisfaction, and the mediating effect of trust and justice on the relationship between servant leadership and job satisfaction among employees in Kuwait's private universities—all four variables—were examined using the simple random procedure method. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.FindingsThe findings provide evidence supporting the positive effects of servant leadership on employee job satisfaction. Moreover, it provided evidence supporting the positive relationship between servant leadership and organizational trust and justice. The findings also showed a positive correlation between organizational trust and justice and job satisfaction among staff members working in Kuwait's private higher education sector. Additionally, the results provided a partial mediation effect of organizational trust and justice on the relationship between servant leadership and employee job satisfaction.Originality/valueEmployee job satisfaction, performance, engagement, and outcomes within Kuwait's private higher education sector are significantly improved by the adoption of a servant leadership style, together with organizational and leader’s trust and justice. The findings demonstrate the significance of the servant leadership style in this industry's leadership habits for raising worker job satisfaction.

“Technopian but lonely investors?”: Comparison between investors and non-investors of blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in Artificial Intelligence-Driven FinTech and decentralized finance (DeFi)

Drawing from the literature on decentralized finance (DeFi) and third-level digital (in)equality as well as from the emerging literature on artificial intelligence (AI), this study examined differences between investors and non-investors of blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Data from a cross-sectional survey among users of AI technologies (N = 502) indicate that investors of blockchain technologies, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs show higher blockchain transparency perception, greater trust in cryptocurrencies, and higher perceived asset value of NFTs than non-investors. Results also indicate that investors show greater technopian views on AI, higher AI awareness, and higher third-level AI equality than non-investors. Furthermore, the mediation effect of trust in cryptocurrencies on the relationship between investment status and perceived asset value of NFTs and the moderation effect of AI awareness on the relationship between investment status and third-level AI equality were revealed. Differential psychographics of investors versus non-investors were also found such that investors feel lonelier, experience higher existential isolation, and indicate higher need to belong than non-investors. Unique theoretical contributions to the literature on the intersection of DeFi and third-level digital (in)equality in light of AI-driven digital transformation as well as managerial implications for the emerging NFT FinTech marketplace are discussed.

Antecedents of team alignment for team performance: length of relationship as a moderator

PurposeWhile scholarly attention has mainly focused on team-level or relational constructs for the success of team performance, understanding the inter-play between these two streams of research remains limited in digital transformation projects. Borrowing from social exchange theory, this study aims to explore the antecedents of team alignment leading to team performance with mediation effects of trust, commitment and customer–service provider relationship. The moderating role of relationship length was also examined.Design/methodology/approachData was collected using a survey of 180 employees working on digital projects in B2B context, mostly in the Indo-Pacific region, specifically Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and India. Partial least squares method with multi-group analyses and bootstrapping method were used to analyze the data.FindingsFindings show that customer control and team capability are the strongest antecedents of team alignment, and inter-play between the customer–provider relationship with team-level constructs is also significant. Relationship length has higher level of moderation impact on trust–team performance link compared to commitment–team performance relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe study considers moderation impact of relationship length on trust, commitment and team performance but not other constructs. Also, gender ratio is skewed in the data set.Practical implicationsDigital transformation practitioners need to be aware of relational constructs (not only team-level constructs) when designing successful long-term digitalization strategies for organizations.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to document the inter-play between team alignment and relational constructs (such as trust, commitment, and customer–service provider relationship), with moderation impact of relationship length leading to team performance in digital transformation projects.

Mediation effect of trust on willingness to pay for health insurance among co-operative members in Tanzania

This study analysed co-operative members’ willingness to pay (WTP) for health insurance. The social capital theory was adopted to analyse the mediation role of trust issues on other variables determining co-operative members’ WTP for health insurance. A single Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was used to elicit and estimate the amount co-operative members that were willing to pay for health insurance. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse variables affecting co-operative members’ WTP for health insurance. Findings indicated that most co-operative members were willing to pay for health insurance. Further, except for price, trust issues fully and partially mediate quality attributes and access criteria, respectively, when it comes to WTP for health insurance. Firm trust is required among co-operators, management, health insurers, and health facilities in order to increase WTP for health insurance among co-operative members.

Country-of-origin and online retailing ethics: the mediating role of trust and satisfaction on purchase intention

PurposeOnline shoppers feel insecure due to the various unethical practices of e-tailers. It is, therefore, crucial for online retailers to alleviate customer concerns. Extant literature indicates that country-of-origin (COO) cues influence consumer perception. A relatively underexplored phenomenon in an emerging market context, the COO image of the online retailer, i.e. a foreign-origin online retailer (FOOR) or an Indian-origin online retailer (IOOR), needs validation. The current study investigates customer expectations of online retailers' ethical behaviour against the backdrop of online retailer-based signals in emerging markets.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers floated an online questionnaire using a seven-point Likert scale. The authors sought recipient responses in Google Forms shared via e-mails and social media connections. The authors analysed 1,018 useable responses using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) in Smart PLS 3.FindingsThe empirical study examined the influence of the consumer perception of ethics of online retailers (CPEOR) and COO on consumer purchase intention. It validated the proposed research model. The research findings inform that the CPEOR and the COO influence purchase intention through the mediation effects of trust and satisfaction. Results indicate that privacy, security, non-deception, fulfilment, customer service, FOOR and IOOR strongly predict consumer trust. In contrast, privacy, non-deception, fulfilment, customer service and FOOR strongly predict consumer satisfaction. However, security and IOOR did not influence consumer satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe study results have theoretical and practical implications for academic researchers and online retailing managers. Future studies can validate the model in different geo-demographic scenarios and e-commerce settings.Originality/valueThe study enriches the extant literature on CPEOR in the Indian context. This study is pioneering work examining consumer purchase intention by adding the COO construct to the CPEOR model.

The role of trust in sports organization crisis communication: the case of the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal

PurposeThe current study examines (1) the relationships among the crisis response, trust and negative behavioral intentions (i.e. avoidance and revenge), (2) the mediation role of trust in the crisis communication of sports organization and (3) the moderation effect of team identification between the crisis response and trust.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was used to collect data from 324 Major League Baseball (MLB) fans who met specific criteria (i.e. background information; knowing about the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal and how the team responded to it). Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were employed to test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsThe findings showed that perceived adequacy of the crisis response positively influenced sports fans' perceived trust. This trust was negatively associated with revenge and avoidance intentions. The mediation effect of trust was also found in the relationship between the crisis response and both avoidance and revenge intentions. Regarding the interaction effect of team identification, however, the relationship between the crisis response and trust was not moderated by team identification levels.Originality/valueThe present study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of crisis communication in sports fans' perceptions and behavioral intentions. It illuminates a psychological process through which perceived adequacy of crisis response reduces negative behavioral intentions through trust.

The impact of human capital factors on organizational sustainability in the Malaysian hotel industry: the mediation role of trust

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the impacts of human capital factors in terms of spiritual intelligence (SI), emotional intelligence (EI) and workplace attitude in terms of trust on organizational sustainability (OS) in the hotel industry in Malaysia. In addition, this study intends to examine the mediation role of trust between human capital factors and OS.Design/methodology/approachA survey method using a questionnaire was used to collect data from 361 employees, including middle management, who are in direct contact with guests in the hotel industry. The partial least squares technique, SmartPLS3.3.3, was used to examine the hypotheses.FindingsThe analysis found support for the impacts of SI, EI and trust on OS. Additionally, the mediation effect of trust was also supported.Originality/valueThis pioneering study has combined human capital factors (i.e. SI and EI) to predict their effects on OS in the hotel industry. Moreover, this research established relatively new relationships between SI and OS and between EI and OS through the mediation role of trust. Furthermore, this study confirmed the validity and reliability of SI, EI and OS at first and second orders. Given the adverse impact of COVID-19 and its variants on the sustainability of all business organizations, this research has highlighted the crucial role of human factors and workplace attitude in the sustainability of the hospitality sector during difficult times.

Online cross-religion donation during COVID-19: mediating role of empathy and trust

Purpose Most donation-related studies have extensively examined in-group donation behavior, but it is difficult to find similar studies that consider donations to out-group members. This study aims to understand online cross-religion donation during COVID-19 in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach The online questionnaire is distributed using the purposive and snowball sampling technique. From July to August 2021, 753 respondents are obtained, comprising Muslims, Catholics, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Confucian. Findings This study found that online cross-religion dona tion is strongly influenced by the social presence, trust in fundraiser and empathy. Interestingly, this study also reveals a partial mediation effect of trust in fundraiser and empathy in the relationship between social presence and online cross-religion donation. Future studies are encouraged to investigate and explore how care for others may affect online prosocial behavior. Originality/value This study provides two theoretical contributions. First, this study empirically evinced that charitable donation is blind to religious belief. Second, it promotes the mediating role of empathy and trust in fundraisers to improve online cross-religion donation.

To Be, or Not to Be

This paper studies online shopping behavior in transitioning markets in a business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce setting. A framework was adopted in which the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was extended with trust and instrumental factor (need for touch). The mediation effect of trust between the predictor variables perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and need-for-touch, and intention to shop online was tested. The analysis of the quantitative data revealed that both independent variables perceived usefulness and usability strongly affect consumer trust, and trust partially mediates between the predictors and intention to shop online. This lack of touch-and-feel in the e-commerce setting is mentioned frequently by respondents as one of the main reasons which keep customers away from buying goods online. Thus, it was also presumed that the need-for-touch is negatively related to intention to shop online. There is an opportunity for future research to focus on testing the touch-and-feel effect using specific products in the online setting.

Mediation Effect of Trust on the Success Gofood Partners in Utilizing Gobiz Application

Mediation Effect of Trust on the Success Gofood Partners in Utilizing Gobiz Application

Public Participation and Governance Performance in Gender-Imbalanced Central Rural China: The Roles of Trust and Risk Perception

The study investigates the impact of public participation on governance performance in a risk society. A trust-based participatory paradigm is proposed as a viable framework. Using data from a 2018 survey of family planning services in Hubei, China, this study develops hypotheses drawn from causal mechanisms of participatory governance. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach is employed to disentangle the direct effect of public participation on governance performance from its indirect effect through trust. Moderated multiple regressions (MMR) are conducted to identify the moderating effect of risk perception. The results indicate that public participation is associated with higher perceived quality of family planning services and decreases son preference through the serial mediation effects of trust and perceived quality. Risk perception of gender imbalance magnifies the positive effect of civic autonomy on perceived quality. This paper extends previous research on the governance of gender imbalance and contributes to the literature on the relationship between public participation, trust, risk perception, and governance performance in authoritarian countries.

Tourism Corporate Social Responsibility Effects on Purchase Intention during Covid-19: Mediating Role of Trust and Moderating Role of Trust Propensity

Though the pyramid model of corporate social responsibility, the paper classified tourism corporate social responsibility into economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility, charitable responsibility and environmental responsibility. With the COVID-19 epidemic as the background, based on 250 questionnaire data, the paper proposed a structural equation model that explore the impact mechanism of tourism corporate social responsibility on tourist purchase intention during the COVID-19 epidemic. The mediation effect of trust was examined in the model. And the question whether trust propensity plays a moderating role was answered. The results of experimental studies revealed that: First, the economic responsibility, ethical responsibility and charitable responsibility have a significant positive effect on tourist purchase intention during the epidemic period. Second, trust plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between tourism corporate social responsibility and tourist purchase intention. Third, trust propensity has no moderating effect on the relationship between tourism corporate social responsibility and tourist purchase intention. Suggestions for tourism enterprises was put forwarded: except ensuring the quality of tourism products, enterprises should take corporate social responsibility into consideration of the long-term management decisions. Especially in the event of major events (COVID-19), it is more important to show the responsibility of enterprises.

The more actions, the higher the performance evaluation? Evidence from the crisis management of COVID-19 in China

Governments around the world have taken measures in fighting against COVID-19, but how the government's response affects the public evaluation of government performance in crisis remains to be examined. The study investigated how government actions, the public's trust in government, risk perception, and negative emotions influenced the public evaluation of government performance based on a primary survey. The findings showed that: (1) government actions and public evaluation of government performance in crisis are significantly and positively associated; (2) trust in government can positively lead to the public evaluation of government performance in crisis; (3) risk perception and negative emotions can negatively moderate and attenuate the previous positive relationship. The research revealed that the public evaluation of government performance is formed by the government actions through mediation effect of trust in government and also moderation effect of risk perception and emotional factors. Thus, this study innovatively developed a moderated mediation model of public perceived government performance which may serve as a basis for improving public evaluation while dealing with the crisis in other countries and regions.

When Do You Trust Your Doctor More? A Comparison between Korea to Germany

This research examines the role of demographic homophily in the medical service context. It suggests that demographic homophily between a customer and a service provider has a positive effect on trust, thereby leading to customer loyalty. There is also a mediating effect regarding the clarity of communication and a moderating effect of cultural background on the relationship between demographic homophily and trust. This cross-cultural study compares Korean and German consumers. The moderated mediation effects by cultural background were investigated based on PROCESS, and the mediation effect of trust turned out to be significantly moderated by cultural background. Regardless of cultural background, demographic homophily turned out to be an important explanative variable for building trust with medical service providers. By investigating the significance of demographic homophily and the impact of cultural background, this research contributes to the service marketing field, both academically and practically.

The effect of contract completeness on knowledge leakages in collaborative construction projects: a moderated mediation study

PurposeOrganizational networking has been acclaimed as a useful tool for knowledge transfer. However, the demerit associated with knowledge transfer is the leakage of commercially valuable information/knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to empirically establish a useful framework for helping collaborative projects reduce potential knowledge leakages.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies a hybrid methodology to collect data. Postulates are tested through SPSS 23 and Process Macro 3.0 model 7.FindingsThe study finds that knowledge leakage is negatively influenced by contract completeness. Contract completeness has a positive effect on trust and a negative effect on distrust. Partner’s learning intent moderates the relationship of contract completeness with trust and distrust. Trust and distrust negatively mediate the relationship between contract completeness and knowledge leakage.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes to the theories of information processing and knowledge management by empirically stating how contract completeness, an organizational structure, supports knowledge management under the influence of partner’s opportunism. The study sees positivism in distrust and explains how practitioners maintain an observatory eye on partner’s opportunism by virtue of distrust ultimately adding value to the distrust literature.Originality/valueThe conceptual framework is novel because this is the first attempt to investigate the moderation effect of partner’s opportunism on the relationship of contract completeness and relational factors; and the mediation effects of trust and distrust between contract completeness and knowledge leakage.

Effects of e-CRM Activities and Trust on Loyalty & Mediating Effects of Trust

Effects of e-CRM Activities and Trust on Loyalty & Mediating Effects of Trust

항공사 객실승무원의 서비스 진정성이 신뢰, 관계지속의도에 미치는 영향: 신뢰전이 및 신뢰의 매개효과를 중심으로

국내에 신생 항공사들의 출범으로 인해 더욱 치열해진 항공시장에서 상용고객 확보는 항공사 생존에 필수적인 요인이 되었다. 따라서 본 연구는 고객의 서비스 진정성 지각이 승무원에 대한 신뢰와 항공사에 대한 신뢰에 미치는 영향, 그리고 각각의 신뢰가 관계지속의도에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 나아가 승무원 신뢰와 항공사 신뢰 간의 상호 전이효과도 살펴보았다. 마지막으로 서비스 진정성과 관계지속의도의 영향 관계에서 신뢰가 매개역할을 하는지 분석하였다. 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 서비스 진정성은 승무원에 대한 신뢰를 높이고, 항공사에 대한 신뢰를 높이는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 승무원에 대한 신뢰가 높을수록 관계지속의도가 높아지고, 항공사에 대한 신뢰가 높을수록 관계지속의도가 높아졌다. 그리고 항공사에 대한 신뢰가 승무원에 대한 신뢰에 비해 관계지속의도에 더 큰 영향력을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 승무원에 대한 신뢰와 항공사에 대한 신뢰가 상호 전이되는 것으로 나타났다. 마지막으로 서비스 진정성이 관계지속의도에 미치는 영향에 있어서 신뢰가 매개 역할을 하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과를 바탕으로 고객의 관계지속의도를 높이기 위해서는 승무원에 대한 신뢰와 항공사에 대한 신뢰 구축이 모두 중요하므로 승무원이 진정성있는 서비스를 제공할 수 있도록 교육을 강화·관리하여야 하며 이와 동시에 항공사는 브랜드 신뢰를 높일 수 있는 다양한 활동들을 수행해야 한다.

From likes to love: trust catalysing the digital romantic journey

Purpose The behavioural changes embraced by the current generation has prompted researchers to revisit the paradigm of human relationships, especially romantic liaisons. The present study revisits the construct of romantic relationships steered by social media platforms, through the dimensions of self-disclosure, social intimacy and trust. The role of trust as a mediator to determine the success of online dating is also explored in this study. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the data collected from 225 respondents (86 females and 139 males) in the age group of 18 to 30 years. The respondents were asked to fill a questionnaire (provided they fulfilled the necessary conditions and expressed their consent to be a participant in this study). Findings The study validates that the extent of self-disclosure propels the degree of social intimacy. The results also confirm a significant partial mediation effect of trust on the relationship between social intimacy and the success of online dating. Thus, practitioners need to keep in mind that the probability of online dating success is higher when individuals disclose more and engage in an intimate relationship driven by trust. Research limitations/implications The study sample is restricted to young adults ranging from 18 to 30 years, based on the author’s convenience. The study was restricted to three most popular social media platforms in India where disclosure is limited to private timelines or messages. Another limitation of this study is that a multi-variate model of analysis could not be used due to the lack of parallel variables. Further studies can also compare online versus offline dating behaviour and determinants that influence the romantic relationship between two partners. Practical implications The new perspective could be to ascertain specific built-in mechanisms providers should develop to ensure that the new generation benefits from new technology rather than falling victim to its toxins. Social implications The study re-establishes the importance of the role of trust in any romantic relationship – may it be online or the more traditional, offline or face-to-face mode. Originality/value The study delves into the domain of existing romantic relationships established through the modernistic viewpoint of online social media platforms. The findings bring a fresh perspective on the dynamics of online romantic relationships through the mélange of self-disclosure, social intimacy and trust. Previous literature suggests that trust is dependent on self-disclosure, which is in contrast with the results of the current study. The present study corroborates that trust leads to the success of online dating.