Second-order Construct Research Articles

Assessing Data Sharing's Model Fitness Towards Open Data by using Pooled CFA

This study demonstrates the step-by-step procedure to perform Pooled Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in the measurement part of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). CFA is crucial for the SEM measurement model to obtain the acceptable model fit before modeling the structural model. There are two techniques in CFA; individual CFA and Pooled-CFA. Usually, Pooled-CFA is done due to the high number of constructs and items. If the model is too complicated and has so many constructs and items, then it is recommended to perform Pooled-CFA to simplify the model's looks yet easy to understand. The perception of Malaysia Technical University Network (MTUN) academics on data sharing towards open data was analysed by using pooled-CFA. There are three main constructs: data sharing with its 4 sub-constructs; (technological factor, organizational factor, environmental factor, and individual factor), mediator construct (open data licenses), and open data construct was analyzed in this research. Furthermore, second-order constructs' factor loadings towards their corresponding sub-constructs were investigated. This research collected the primary data of 442 respondents using a stratified random sampling technique. This paper will explain the theoretical framework before revealing the results of Pooled-CFA on data sharing towards open data.

Perceived service recovery justice and customer re-patronage intentions: Sequential mediation

The aims of this time-lagged study are twofold, first to identify the effect of perceived justice (as a second-order construct) on recovery satisfaction and customer affection; secondly, to investi...

Sustaining Consumer Trust and Continuance Intention by Institutional Mechanisms: An Empirical Survey of DiDi in China

Sharing economy (SE) platforms have become increasingly popular. However, some platform enterprises have engaged in problematic behavior, such as collecting and using personal information in serious violation of the relevant laws and regulations, making improving existing institutional mechanisms an urgent matter. This study develops a conceptual model based on institution-based trust to examine the effect of SE institutional mechanisms on consumer trust in sharing platforms and continuance intention toward the SE in China. In addition, this study investigates the moderating role of gender in the path relationship between the second-order construct “perceived effectiveness of sharing economy institutional mechanisms” (PESEIM) and consumer trust. SPSS23.0 and SmartPLS3.0 were used to empirically test the data collected from DiDi users in China. The results of the analysis indicate that PESEIM has significant positive impacts on consumer trust, which in turn enhances consumers’ continuance intention to use the DiDi platform, and that consumer trust can also mitigate perceived risk while promoting continuance intention. Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) results show that government regulation and privacy assurance are critical factors for sustaining continuance intention toward ride-sharing platforms. Furthermore, the results of multigroup analysis show that PESEIM has a stronger impact on male users than female consumers in building consumer trust.

Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Entrepreneurial Hustle

Entrepreneurial hustle refers to urgent and unorthodox actions that entrepreneurs take to move their ventures forward. Recent literature suggests entrepreneurial hustle is important for venture development. However, the literature on entrepreneurial hustle is limited without a valid and reliable measurement scale. We first elaborate the two dimensions of entrepreneurial hustle and specify its theoretical connections with other constructs. We then develop and validate a scale to measure entrepreneurial hustle. In Study 1, we generate items for the scale based on our theoretical developments and find evidence to support the content validity of these items. In Study 2, we collect additional data (N=232) to assess convergent, criterion, and discriminant validity and confirm factor structure. The results of Study 2 confirm entrepreneurial hustle is a second-order formative construct composed of two first-order reflective dimensions—urgency and unorthodoxy. Results also provide evidence for convergent, criterion, and discriminant validity. We contribute to the literature on entrepreneurial action by providing evidence that hustle is a valid behavioral construct and can be reliably measured with our new measurement scale.

ISO 9001 effectiveness and financial performance of Bosnian exporters: investigating mediators

Despite the fact that the relationship between quality practices and financial performance has been significantly addressed in managerial literature, few studies investigated mediators in this relationship, and very few of them focused on the ISO 9001 effectiveness. This study aimed at exploring both the relationship and the mediators between ISO 9001 effectiveness and financial performance of the Bosnian exporting companies. Based on the recent literature, a second-order structural equation model was proposed and tested. The empirical data were obtained from a questionnaire of 126 ISO 9001-certified Bosnian exporting companies. Once data were collected, factory data analysis was made in SPSS to purify scales through items' loadings and cronbach's alpha values. Afterwards, the resultant scales were tested for Convergent validity through partial least-square path modelling using Smart PLS 3 software. For confirmatory factor analysis purpose, individual evaluation of the first-order and second-order latent constructs, as well as model fit, was made. Results indicated that total effects of ISO 9001 effectiveness on financial performance were significant and positive, and that organizational learning capability fully mediated this relationship.

Green banking: a conceptual framework

The purpose of this study is to develop a multidimensional framework for Green Banking Adoption. The study proposes the Green Banking Adoption based on the Natural-Resource-Based View (NRBV) of the firm. The first-order constructs in the framework have been derived from the three green capabilities in NRBV of the firm. These reflective constructs lead towards the second-order construct of Green Banking Adoption. The proposed framework is developed and justified on a theoretical basis and through secondary data. This paper develops the second-order construct of Green Banking Adoption in congruence with the NRBV capabilities i.e. pollution prevention, product stewardship and sustainable development. The framework proposes a pathway for the adoption of Green Banking. The analysis and discussion are based on various examples of the adoption of the proposed indicators by existing Green Banks. This framework can serve as a benchmark for gauging a bank's progress along the Green Banking Adoption paths. The discussion reveals that the proposed green constructs can create a reflective relationship with Green Banking Adoption by undertaking a phase-wise adoption path. The propositions are based on existing industry standards and best practices by industry leaders.

Factors Determining the Perceived Security Dimensions in B2C Electronic Commerce Website Usage: An Indonesian Study

Research aims: This study aims to analyze the perceived security dimensions and build a research model using perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness as variables mediating the link between perceived security and the intention to use Indonesia's B2C e-commerce websites. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a purposive sampling approach, this study conducted an online survey of respondents who had done online transactions, such as business-to-customer (B2C) transactions. Research Findings: The study's results showed that perceived security significantly correlated with buyers' intention to use B2C websites. Theoretical contribution/Originality: This study contributes to developing and validating key dimensions of perceived security and their constructs. Mediation effect test results from TAM, which were perceived ease and perceived use, indicated that only the perceived usefulness variable significantly mediated the relationship between perceived security and intention to use B2C e-commerce websites. Perceived use's mediation was not supported. Practitioner/Policy implication: This research empirically supports the perceived security construct as a second-order construct involving confidentiality, availability, non-repudiation, and privacy. Research limitation/Implication: This study used data from Indonesian individuals, which may differ from other countries' characteristics. It may limit the research' finding generalization. Research aims: This study aims to analyze the perceived security dimensions and build a research model using perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness as variables mediating the link between perceived security and the intention to use Indonesia's B2C e-commerce websites.Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a purposive sampling approach, this study conducted an online survey of respondents who had done online transactions, such as business-to-customer (B2C) transactions.Research Findings: The study's results showed that perceived security significantly correlated with buyers' intention to use B2C websites.Theoretical contribution/Originality: This study contributes to developing and validating key dimensions of perceived security and their constructs. Mediation effect test results from TAM, which were perceived ease and perceived use, indicated that only the perceived usefulness variable significantly mediated the relationship between perceived security and intention to use B2C e-commerce websites. Perceived use's mediation was not supported.Practitioner/Policy implication: This research empirically supports the perceived security construct as a second-order construct involving confidentiality, availability, non-repudiation, and privacy.Research limitation/Implication: This study used data from Indonesian individuals, which may differ from other countries' characteristics. It may limit the research' finding generalization.

The Impact of e-Learning Quality on Student Satisfaction and Continuance Usage Intentions during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected people’s lives, changing the ways of working, living, playing, and learning. With this pandemic, classroom learning has been suspended due to infection concerns, and e-learning has emerged, becoming an important mechanism for educational institutions to continue their teaching and learning activities. However, there have been only a few empirical studies providing insight into the factors affecting students’ e-learning satisfaction and usage behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak. Thus, this study aims to investigate the impact of e-learning quality on student satisfaction and continuance usage intentions among higher education students in Thailand during the pandemic. Based on empirical research with 185 higher education students, the results revealed that e-learning quality was a second-order construct comprised of three elements, namely, course content and design, administrative and technical support, and instructor and learner characteristics. Course content and design was the most important dimension of overall e-learning quality. Furthermore, overall e-learning quality had a significant positive impact on student satisfaction and continuance usage intentions toward e-learning platforms. Mediation analysis indicated that student satisfaction partly mediated the relationship between e-learning quality and continuance usage intentions.

The impact of information technology culture and personal innovativeness in information technology on digital entrepreneurship success

PurposeVery little or no study has explored the predictors of behaviour and traits that determine digital entrepreneurship (DE) success. In response, the purpose of this paper is to present a research model that takes information technology (IT) culture as a theoretical lens and personal innovativeness and experience in IT projects as theoretical constructs to predict behaviour and traits that explain DE success.Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature review, the authors propose hypotheses and a research model. The authors tested the model using structural equation modelling (SEM), by surveying a sample of digital entrepreneurs operating in the Yabacon Valley, Lagos, Nigeria.FindingsThe results indicate that IT culture is an essential predictor of achieving DE success. The results also suggest that an entrepreneur's innovativeness in IT and experience in IT projects have significant negative and positive moderating effects on the relationship between IT culture and achieving DE success.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper taps into a new setting – DE context – by exploring the moderation effects of an entrepreneur's innovativeness in IT and experience in IT projects on the link between their IT culture and achieving a successful DE outcome.Practical implicationsThis model offers managers an understanding of how IT culture and personal innovativeness and experience in IT work together to achieve DE success. Meanwhile, it sheds some light on managers to treat individuals with different levels of experience differently.Originality/valueThe authors theorise IT culture, personal innovativeness and experience in IT and show their effects on DE success, thus making an essential contribution to the information systems (ISs) and entrepreneurship research and practice. Moreover, the authors provide a novel methodology to conceptualise IT culture as a second-order hierarchical reflective construct by giving evidence that partial least squares (PLS) path modelling can assess a hierarchical model with moderating effects. This study answers scholars' call to construct more accurate explanations of innovation outcomes in an increasingly digital world.

Brand outcomes in sales channel relationships: a guanxi theory perspective

PurposeGuanxi is the foundation of business success in Chinese and other Eastern cultures, but little is known about the extent to which guanxi influences brand outcomes in channel relationships. The purpose of this study is to propose a novel theoretical framework of interpersonal and interorganizational guanxi relationships in a sales channel context and how these relationships influence brand outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conceptualize, develop and validate new scales measuring interpersonal and interorganizational guanxi and test the proposed model with a field study to validate the effects of guanxi on brand loyalty. The causal relationships between interpersonal guanxi and brand attitudes and affect are confirmed in a separate field experiment.FindingsFindings show that interpersonal guanxi is antecedent to interorganizational guanxi, and these two constructs have significant and differential direct and indirect effects on brand attitudes, brand affect and brand loyalty.Originality/valueNew multidimensional scales measuring both interpersonal and interorganizational guanxi were developed. Both interpersonal and interorganizational guanxi are conceptualized as second-order reflective constructs measured by the reflective first-order guanxi elements of personal and firm trust, personal and firm long-term orientation, xinyong (integrity), reciprocity, interaction and face.

Investigating the complexity of perceived service quality and perceived safety and security in building loyalty among bus passengers in Vietnam – A PLS-SEM approach

Previous studies have explored the effect of public transport (PT) passengers’ service quality perceptions, personal safety perceptions on loyalty intention. However, they have not yet studied the multidimensionality of these constructs, nor applied a hierarchical-component model evaluation approach for testing their measurements. In this study, an integrated model has been developed in the context of bus services within a developing country. Specifically, perceived safety and security is measured for the entire PT journey and operationalised as a formative second-order construct derived from three reflective dimensions: perceived safety and security during access/egress, at bus stops and on board. Similarly, the four dimensions of tangibility, convenience, personnel and reliability together form perceived service quality. Additionally, the moderating effect of gender in the cultivation of passenger loyalty is also examined in this study. Data collected from 870 bus passengers in two Vietnamese cities is used to validate the proposed model. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), the findings indicate that perceived service quality, perceived safety/security, image and satisfaction have significant positive influences on passenger loyalty towards bus services. Female passengers are also found to be significantly more loyal than their male counterparts when having a higher level of safety and security perception. Based on the findings, authorities and policymakers can develop safer, more sustainable PT systems and design more effective strategies to increase the loyalty of passengers.

Absorptive capacity and disaster immunity: the mediating role of information quality and change management capability

PurposeService organization supply chains provide a context that amplifies the complexity of interorganizational interdependencies and the need to build unique capabilities and innovative solutions, especially when confronted with man-made or natural disasters. Using the lens of complex adaptive systems (CAS), this study aims to investigate the role of absorptive capacity (AC), change management capability and information quality in improving a firm’s ability to cope with disasters – disaster immunity (DI). The study uniquely parses absorptive capacity into a three-variable, second-order construct (absorptive human resource management, absorptive complementary knowledge and absorptive infrastructure).Design/methodology/approachUsing data collected from 264 US service firms in a supply chain context, this paper evaluates the research model using the structural equation modeling approach.FindingsThe second-order, three-dimensional framework for AC has far superior psychometric properties as compared to the previous unidimensional conceptualizations. Results show that AC influences a firm’s DI through change management capability and information quality – two DI enhancing resources.Originality/valueThe paper builds on previous conceptual discussions of absorptive capacity as a multidimensional construct by operationalizing AC as a latent variable with three dimensions (above). Moreover, this paper shows that AC, change management capability, information quality and DI are interrelated parts of a CAS.

Measuring internet skills in a general population: A large-scale validation of the short Internet Skills Scale in Slovenia

This study assessed the construct and criterion validity of the short version of the Internet Skills Scale and examined whether its four dimensions – Operational, Information Navigation, Social, and Creative skills – are influenced by a higher-order dimension of general internet skills as one second-order factor. In 2018, a face-to-face survey comprising of the 20-item Internet Skills Scale and 22 other items related to digital inclusion was conducted in a sample of 814 internet users in Slovenia. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as other multivariate methods, showed that the Internet Skills Scale is characterized by high to adequate convergent and divergent validity. Acceptable criterion validity was observed for Operational and Information Navigation skills. In terms of measurement invariance, the data supported configural and metric invariance, whereas the scalar invariance was not fully confirmed, suggesting that older adults’ lower scores on the Creative skills items were not related to lower levels of internet skills in the same way as they were among younger individuals. Last, the results provided original evidence of the Internet Skills Scale as a second-order construct, meaning that a single summative Internet Skills Scale score could be created as an adequate measure of an individual’s internet skills.

“For me democracy is …” meanings of democracy from a phenomenological perspective

Meanings of democracy are far more complex than results of standardized survey research imply. They are diverse and intertwined with other individual concepts and subjective experiences. In terms of phenomenological adequacy, they are important first order constructions that can be used for building second order typologies and explanations for political action. Survey-based quantitative research has clear limits in terms of gathering such first order constructions, even if one wants to integrate them. Drawing from a phenomenological perspective of methodology and experience from 389 qualitative interviews conducted in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, we argue that research on meanings of democracy might rather use open, qualitative assessments and consider four methodological aspects. First, we need to have a theoretical and methodological basis for analyzing “everyday philosophies” and root our concepts in these first order constructions. Phenomenology and the concept of lifeworld offer such a guideline. Second, we should not oversimplify analysis. People differ greatly in how they define democracy, and this should be reflected in research. Third, we advocate a qualitative multi-dimensional analysis that separates democracy, politics and actual use of democracy. This can be used to develop a typology of individual, but collectively shared, political lifeworlds. Finally, we argue that insights from this kind of research could be used to compliment standard survey instruments and contribute to developing and frequently testing a comprehensive instrument to assess the meanings of democracy in a more holistic way and to control our scientific second-order constructions of democracy.

Development and validation of behavioral biases scale: a SEM approach

PurposeThis paper attempts to identify the biases in decision-making of individual investors. The paper aims to develop and validate a higher-order behavioral biases scale.Design/methodology/approachScale development is done by identifying the relevant items of the scale through existing literature and then, adding new items for some biases. In phase 1, using a structured questionnaire, data was collected from 274 investors who invest in financial markets. The major dimensions of the scale have been pruned by using exploratory factor analysis administered on data collected in phase 1. Higher-order CFA is used to analyze the data and to validate the scale on another set of data (collected in phase 2) containing 576 investors.FindingsThe study reveals that the scale for measuring behavioral biases has many dimensions. It has two second-order factors and 13 zero-order constructs. Two second-order constructs have been modeled on the basis of cause of errors in investment decision-making, that is, biases caused due to cognition, biases caused due to emotions.Originality/valueBehavioral biases are yet to receive a due attention, especially, in the Indian context. The present research is focusing on providing an empirically tested scale to test the behavioral biases. Some of the biases, which have been analyzed using secondary data in previous studies, have been tested with the help of statements in this study.

A Construct Validation Approach for Exploring Sustainability Adoption in Pakistani Construction Projects

Sustainable Project Management (SPM) is a novel theme in construction industries of developing countries and very little is known (so far) about the sustainability performance of construction projects in those settings. Accordingly, the quantitative measurement of SPM as a higher-order construct is not well established and lacks a holistic approach and homogenous taxonomy of indicators. This study explores the SPM practices of construction firms by validating SPM as a second-order construct in the Pakistani construction industry. Data were obtained from 146 construction firms, which were then analyzed using partial least square structure equation modeling. Results of the first and second level measurement model assessments showed that construction firms practice SPM, with varying degrees of attention paid to three sustainability aspects. Environmental dimension surfaced as the most important, in-terms of practice and social sustainability as least. The analysis of the second-order measurement model yielded significant results, thus, validating the higher-order structure of SPM. This study contributes to the field by presenting one of the first studies of its kind by focusing on the sustainability practices of construction firms by using a higher-order design of SPM construct within the context of developing countries.

An Analysis of Physical Asset Management Core Practices and Their Influence on Operational Performance

The commitment of organisations to physical assets management (PAM) has recently received considerable attention in theory and practice. Indeed, PAM plays a key role in asset-intensive organizations and is also considered as a principal actor within Industry 4.0. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the PAM core practices and the performance implications of integrating these practices into business, in particular by assessing their impact on operational performance. Survey data were collected from managers in 138 international and local organisations. The data was analysed using Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM). The study validates the second-order construct consisting of PAM latent variables, namely Strategy and Planning, Risk management, Lifecycle Delivery, Asset Information, and Asset Review. The results have shown that PAM core practices directly influence operational performance. This paper is a response to recent calls for empirical studies on the organisational approaches that can increase the success of organisations.

Can joint-contract functions promote PPP project sustainability performance? A moderated mediation model

PurposeThe role of conventional contracts in achieving sustainability goals in public–private partnership (PPP) projects has been questioned. From the multifunctional perspective of contract theory, joint-contract functions that combine contractual control, coordination and adaptation may be a potential approach for improving PPP project sustainability performance. This research intends to investigate the link between the joint-contract functions and PPP project sustainability performance, and their underlying mechanism, by analyzing the mediating role of relationship quality and moderating roles of environmental uncertainty and behavioral uncertainty.Design/methodology/approachBased on 170 valid survey data collected from the Chinese PPP professionals, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was adopted to test the hypothesis.FindingsThe results reveal that joint-contract functions are positively associated with the PPP project sustainability performance. This relationship is strengthened by environmental and behavioral uncertainty. Moreover, the relationship between the joint-contract functions and PPP project sustainability performance is mediated by relationship quality.Research limitations/implicationsThis research extends contract governance theory and sustainability research in PPP projects. The research implications are as follows: (1) joint-contract functions are a second-order construct consisting of three first-order dimensions: control, coordination and adaptation and are positively associated with PPP project sustainability performance; (2) joint-contract functions enhance the sustainable benefits of PPP projects during environmental uncertainty and behavioral uncertainty; (3) informal relationships are a critical bridge connecting formal institutions with the sustainability performance of PPP projects.Practical implicationsIn general, these findings guide project participants who aim to achieve sustainable outcomes in PPP projects. (1) Project participants should consider the process of contract design and sign contracts that focus on joint-contract functions. (2) Project participants should investigate the degree of uncertainty of a PPP project before designing contracts, and design the contracts with corresponding complexity. (3) Project participants should work to enhance PPP sustainable benefits by improving the relationship between partners, such as encouraging mutual trust and joint problem-solving.Originality/valueThis research verifies the relationship between joint-contract functions and PPP project sustainability performance, and the boundary and intermediary conditions between them.

Measuring customer experience management and its impact on financial performance

PurposeWith the considerable attention given to customer experience (CX) today, customer experience management (CXM) has been touted as one of the most promising management approaches for organizations. The purpose of this paper is threefold: develop a scale to measure the CXM construct, investigate the financial outcomes of CXM and assess the impact of moderator variables (e.g. market turbulence) on these financial outcomes while accounting for the effects of control variables (e.g. firm size).Design/methodology/approachThe study involves a survey of 233 firms (across 10 industries) involved in CXM. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling (SEM), instrumental variables and moderated regression analyzes are used to test four hypotheses.FindingsThe results support treating CXM as a second-order construct comprising three dimensions: cultural mindset toward CXs, strategic directions for designing CXs and firm capabilities of continually renewing CXs. Furthermore, CXM is positively related to financial performance; this effect increases as market turbulence, competitive intensity and technological turbulence increases.Research limitations/implicationsWith our CXM measure, future research can advance CXM theory by examining other outcome variables (e.g. employee satisfaction) and moderators (e.g. culture), as well as introduce antecedents to CXM (e.g. company heritage). Limitations include the concerns normally associated with using self-reported measures of performance, convenience samples and cross-sectional designs.Practical implicationsThis research provides managerial prescriptions of when to invest in CXM initiatives to enhance financial performance. It also provides managers a CXM diagnostic to help assess their level of CXM maturity.Originality/valueThis paper develops CXM theory by advancing a measure of the CXM construct, relating the construct to an outcome variable (main effect) and introducing moderating variables to shed light on the generalizability of the main effect.

Understanding local food consumption from an ideological perspective: Locavorism, authenticity, pride, and willingness to visit

Extant research on local food consumption is emerging yet limited. This study aims tofill a void to test locavorism as a second-order construct and its effects on authenticity,pride, and willingness to visit. Further, the boundary condition of the effect oflocavorism is also explored. Results suggest that restaurant managers that endeavorto offer locally-sourced menus need to emphasize the characteristics of locavorism(i.e., lionization, opposition, and communalization) when marketing to locavores as atarget consumer group. This study provides valuable insights into local foodconsumption behavior within the restaurant context by examining the factors andeffects of locavorism.