Strategic Attributes Research Articles

An Evolutionary Game Study of Collaborative Innovation across the Whole Industry Chain of Rural E-Commerce under Digital Empowerment

With the profound integration of digital technology and traditional agriculture, the whole industry chain of rural e-commerce, as an advanced system, is reshaping the production, sales, and management models of agriculture and is emerging as a new catalyst for the advancement of digital agriculture through significant innovation. This paper focuses on the digital empowerment attributes and strategic attributes of the whole industrial chain of rural e-commerce, and evolutionary game models under market mechanisms and regulations are constructed. It examines the influence of various elements, such as the digital technology empowerment coefficient, on collaborative innovation within the whole industry chain of rural e-commerce. Using case simulations, this paper discusses the role of government regulation and intervention when market mechanisms are inadequate. The study reveals that factors such as the digital technology empowerment coefficient, technology absorptive capacity, and the amount of technology and information stored in collaborative innovation positively influence the whole industry chain. Potential risk losses and free-rider gains have negative effects on the evolution of the system toward collaborative innovation. When market mechanisms are inadequate, a combination of operational cost subsidies and incentive measures can yield more effective policy synergy, with the incentive impact of cost subsidies being particularly notable. The strategic application of enterprise-liquidated damage and government penalties will aid in regulating and directing corporate behavior. The findings of this research not only offer a new microlevel explanation for understanding the decision-making mechanism behind collaborative innovation in the whole industrial chain of rural e-commerce but also serve as a reference for government policy formulation to ensure the stability of the whole rural e-commerce industry chain.

Minding some animals but not others: Strategic attributions of mental capacities and moral worth to animals used for food in pescatarians, vegetarians, and omnivores

While moral concern for animals has become increasingly important for both consumer food choice and food policy makers, previous research demonstrated that meat eaters attribute lower moral status and mental capacities to animals raised for meat compared to non-food animals. The current research investigated whether this strategic flexibility in moral concern and mind perceptions also occurs when considering aquatic food animals and animals used for dairy and egg products, and the degree to which these concerns and perceptions are evident in pescatarians and vegetarians. We compared perceptions (mind attributions and moral concern) of land food animals versus aquatic food animals, and of animals in the meat versus dairy and egg industry between omnivores (n = 122), pescatarians (n = 118), vegetarians (n = 138), vegans (n = 120), and flexitarians (n = 60). Pescatarians scored lower than other dietary groups on moral concern and mind attribution for aquatic animals relative to farmed land animals. Unlike the other dietary groups, pescatarians and vegetarians scored lower on moral concern and mind attribution for dairy than beef cows and for layer chickens than broiler chickens. These findings demonstrate that pescatarians and vegetarians were flexible in their moral thinking about different types of food animals in ways that suited their consumption habits, even when the same animal was evaluated (e.g., dairy vs beef cows). This research highlights the psychological barriers that might prevent people from reducing animal product consumption and may need to be addressed in interventions to encourage transitioning towards more plant-based diets.

How do strategic attributes of electronic commerce impel the perceived value and electronic loyalty of online food delivery applications (OFDAs)

Purpose This study aims to investigate the different attributes of electronic commerce (e-commerce) that determine perceived value and electronic loyalty (e-loyalty) among consumers of online food delivery applications (OFDAs). In this globalized world and competitive environment, e-commerce demands have increased and organizations are giving special attention to web development, website design and functions to hold the current consumers with sustainable performance in the globalized and competitive environment. Almost every industry has been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and changed the way of operational work in many industries. Similarly, the food industry is facing serious challenges and now restaurants started heavily depending on OFDAs.Design/methodology/approach The study was quantitative and data were collected from 509 consumers of the district of Rawalpindi, Punjab Pakistan by using a convenience sampling technique who was the users of OFDAs to evaluate the proposed research model. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to evaluate the validity of the constructs, and structural equation modeling was employed to test the model through Smart-PLS.Findings Our findings revealed that perceived value has a substantial positive impact on electronic loyalty (e-loyalty). Moreover, results confirmed that perceived value mediates the relationship of electronic privacy (e-privacy), electronic security (e-security), electronic payment (e-payment), usability and electronic innovativeness (e-innovativeness) with e-loyalty.Research limitations/implications This study added to the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and technology acceptance model (TAM) by exploring consumers’ intentions for using OFDAs in the framework of e-commerce attributes, perceived value and e-loyalty. Similarly, the study enabled the author to learn more about how people would use the information system after successfully applying the UTAUT.Practical implications This study has significant implications for web developers, application designers, food delivery companies, restaurants and other businesses. Subsequently, it indicates the importance of the incredible attractiveness of OFDAs in boosting users’ intentions to keep using the application.Originality/value This research contributes substantially to OFDAs efforts to continuously increase its meal service platform and improve client satisfaction which resulted in repurchase intent. In addition, the research facilitates OFDA firms to enhance the features of their applications according to clients.

Assessing the Downstream and Upstream Preferences of Stakeholders for Sustainability Attributes in the Tomato Value Chain

Effectively implementing innovations in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) is contingent upon stakeholders’ preferences. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the objective of this research was to ascertain the degree of willingness among farmers, consumers, and various stakeholders (including processing companies, restaurants, and retailers) in the tomato supply chain of Catalonia (Spain) to shorten the chain and promote local procurement. Based on a set of social, economic, and environmental criteria encompassing sustainability in AFSCs, the results showed that economic factors, particularly profitability and affordability, were the key driving factors in the decisions of stakeholders. However, the considerable importance placed on strategic attributes, including local production, environmental sustainability, and product quality, particularly among consumers, seemed to present a chance to advocate for sustainable alternatives, such as short food supply chains (SFSCs). The AHP methodology facilitates differentiation with respect to the criteria of the decision-making process and serves as a valuable instrument for evaluating the reception of innovations within the AFSC and categorizing the stakeholders who exhibit the greatest interest in them. In order to improve the sustainability of agri-food systems, our findings may be incorporated into strategic plans developed by policymakers.

Do It Right the First Time? Exploring the First Cross-border Acquisition and Expansion Frequency of Emerging Market Multinationals

AbstractDo it right the first time! But, how? Current dialogue on the expansion of emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) is pervasive. Nonetheless, it ought to have examined strategic attributes and the speed of implementing different strategies for their first venture. Drawing on the springboard perspective, this study tests the impact of EMNEs' first cross-border acquisition (CBA) strategy and speed on their consequential expansion frequency and performance. We also examine the boundary conditions of comparative nationalism between countries, in view of the resurgence of nationalism in an era of deglobalization. Findings reveal that EMNEs' rapid adoption of a focused strategy for their first CBA increases their expansion frequency, while the adoption of a conglomerate strategy decreases it. These relationships are affected in reverse by high comparative nationalism, and the performance consequences of expansion vary with firms using different strategies for their first attempt. This study enriches the EMNE literature and highlights the role of national ideologies in international business research.

Strategic Attributes and Organizational Performance: Toward an Understanding of the Mechanism Applied to the Banking Sector.

The study examines and theorizes the importance of strategic attribute constructs (strategic orientation, organizational culture, and organizational internal market orientation) as applied to Pakistan’s banking sector by identifying their roles in enhancing organizational performance and the mediating effect of organizational commitment. The current study adopted quantitative research designs and methods to determine structural relationships between the proposed constructs. A total of 10 hypotheses were tested underpinned by the Resource-Based View of the Firm and Social Exchange theories. The strategic attributes studied were significantly and positively related to, and enhance, organizational performance if the banks: (1) focus on strategic positioning, (2) fostering a strong organizational culture, (3) strategize internal marketing practices, and (4) boost organizational commitment. The findings supported the mediating role of organizational commitment between strategic attributes and organizational performance. This study contributes to existing literature and supports prior research while filling in gaps in the literature concerning developing countries.

Концептуалізація забезпечення місцевого економічного розвитку: зарубіжний досвід і можливості його адаптації в Україні

The purpose of the article is to study the conceptual foundations of local economic development in different countries of the world and provide recommendations on the possibility of adapting foreign experience for Ukraine. The article proposes the author’s own definition of the concept of «ensuring local economic development» from the point of view of a hierarchical approach as a system of public-managerial actions, measures and decisions aimed at increasing economic activity and satisfying local interests. The article explores the conceptual foundations of local economic development in the USA, Canada and Poland. Countries have different priorities, plans and areas of activity in local economic development, but it is common to take into account the economic realities of globalization, the balance of interests of a wide range of all stakeholders and partners, planning, the strategic nature of initiatives and the lack of unification of approaches to local economic development. The policy of ensuring local economic development in the United States in the context of modern challenges is being modernized, along with traditional instruments, novel methods of supporting local economic development appear. And the federal government plays a decisive and unique role in this process, developing policies of various influences on the regions and territories of the country based on their economic realities. Interesting conceptual directions for ensuring local economic development of Canadian territories in the current conditions are the conceptions of economic self-dependence and economic self-sufficiency, which are based on reducing dependence on the State-controlled subsidies, subventions, other economies, etc. The major role in the local economic development plays the Department of Regional and Local Development of Canada and Canadian Regional Development Agencies. Ensuring local economic development in Poland depends on the economic policies pursued by public authorities at the central, regional and local levels. Here it is worth noting a synchronized and proactive approach to the formation of strategic priorities, which includes taking into account the logical, spatial, temporal correspondence of all strategic attributes to achieve overall coherence of development directions at the national, regional and local levels, as well as significant support and financial assistance on the part of the European Union in the implementation of strategic goals of local economic development. Based on foreign experience, Ukraine needs to carry out the transformation of the State regional policy in order to develop and implement programs for the post-war recovery of regional economies. Local governments should focus on developing their own local economic development policy, which would be in line with the State regional policy of post-war recovery.

The Nexus of India and the Gulf Cooperation Council: The Dynamics of Partnership and Dissension

Strategic partnership represents one of the essential tools of inter-state engagement in International Relations, primarily from the post-Cold War period. Contrary to the erstwhile partnership agreements, the nature of alignment in this rubric demands more cooperation, interaction, flexibility and encompasses both strategic and non-military attributes at a much wide-ranging dimension, by defying the conventional understanding of alliance networks. Within this broad setting, India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) seek to redefine their partnership with a fresh orientation and nurture a reciprocal relationship through their shared political, historic and cultural linkages. As an emerging economy, India harps on the geo-strategic and geo-economic primacy of the GCC and acknowledges this regional bloc as its promising source of energy and reliable partner in pursuit of its national interest vis-à-vis China and Pakistan. Likewise, the Gulf monarchs are attracted to India’s democratic political tradition and ever-growing significance in world politics and recognize New Delhi’s unequivocal cooperation and support in advancing the politico-economic necessities of the region. This paper examines the efficacy of strategic, energy, maritime and economic security realms, and cultural quotients as crucial determinants behind the success of strategic partnership that these two regional powers seek to solidify in this polycentric world, drawing from the theoretical framework of alliance formation both from the Cold War and post-Cold War perspectives. This article also unravels the presence of divergences that affect their relationship and concludes by highlighting the significance of India-GCC partnership as the representation of South-South cooperation in this critical world scenario.

Strategic attributions of corporate social responsibility and environmental management: The business case for doing well by doing good!

AbstractGenerally, businesses are capable of implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmentally sustainable behaviors as they pursue their profit‐making activities. While there are a number of contributions that investigated the effect of CSR and responsible environmental practices on the companies' bottom lines, few studies were focused on the strategic attributions of responsible corporate behaviors in the tourism industry context, during an unprecedented pandemic situation. Hence this research investigates the stakeholders' perceptions on the hospitality businesses' social responsibility and environmentally friendly practices. The data were collected from a sample of 462 research participants who worked in tourism and hospitality. The findings suggest that their employers' stakeholders were triggering their businesses to engage in ethical behaviors, responsible human resources management and to invest in environmentally friendly initiatives. As a result, they were creating value to their companies, to society and to the natural environment. In sum, this contribution implies that there are strategic attributions of CSR behaviors and of environmentally sustainable practices as responsible businesses can improve their growth prospects and increase their competitiveness in the long run.

Improving Business-to-Business Customer Satisfaction Programs: Assessment of Asymmetry, Heterogeneity, and Financial Impact

Business-to-business (B2B) companies devote significant resources to measure customer satisfaction but lack guidance on critical aspects of implementing satisfaction programs. Accordingly, executives ask: (1) What are the key strategic attributes driving B2B customer satisfaction? (2) Are the strategic attributes satisfaction balancing, satisfaction maintaining, or satisfaction enhancing based on the pattern of asymmetry? (3) Do the sign and magnitude of asymmetry vary across industry and customer subgroups? and (4) Is there a generalizable link between satisfaction and financial performance for B2B firms? Study 1 uses qualitative and secondary research to identify and validate eight strategic attributes pertinent to B2B companies: quality of product/service, pricing, safety, sales process, project management, corporate social responsibility, communication, and ongoing service and support. Study 2 examines industry-subgroup heterogeneity in the nature of asymmetry across industries, then links satisfaction with performance (i.e., sales). Study 3 finds customer-subgroup heterogeneity in the nature of asymmetry within the customer base of a B2B service provider, then links satisfaction with performance (i.e., dollar value of purchase).

INTEGRATION OF THE INITIATIVE "ONE BELT, ONE ROAD" AND THE GREATER EURASIAN PARTNERSHIP: PREREQUISITES, MOTIVES AND PRIORITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

The article examines the background and strategic importance of two initiatives - “One Belt and One Road” (China) and the Great Eurasian Partnership (Russia). The points of correspondence and motivation of the two strategic initiatives are analyzed. In the context of strengthening international cooperation and regional integration, a way to link the two main initiatives is being discussed. Factors of the current international situation are considered and taken into account. Thus, the coronavirus pandemic has already become the main event, which affects the changing economy, trade relations and humanitarian cooperation. In addition, global trade protectionism exacerbates the process of counter-globalization and the evolution of the global political structure. The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the return of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to the Asia-Pacific region have accelerated the process of regional integration in Asia. In the new international situation, the initiative “One Belt and One Road” and the Great Eurasian Partnership as geostrategic concepts of China and Russia have quite a lot of intersections in political, economic, humanitarian and other aspects. Especially within the framework of the “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between China and Russia entering a new era”, the integration of the two strategies - “One Belt and One Road” and the Greater Eurasian Partnership - will become one of the important areas of political and economic activity of the two countries. China and Russia have a common task - to implement the integration of the two initiatives, to fully use their strategic attributes and pragmatic cooperation in the global regional game, and to promote the development of cooperation with the maximum benefit and win-win situation.

A Comparative Analysis of Strategic Values of Four Silk-Road International Transport Corridors Based on a Fuzzy Integral Method with Comprehensive Weights

This paper carries out a comparative analysis of the strategic values of four silk-road international transport corridors, “China-Pakistan-Iran-Turkey” (CPIT), “China-Mongolia-Russia” (CMR), “Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar” (BCIM), and “China-Singapore-Egypt-Greece” (CSEG). These corridors aim to reactivate the Northwest, North, South, and Marine Silk Road during the period of the “Belt and Road” (B&R), reflect China’s overarching strategic goal of “furnishing land-sea internal and external linkage and achieving east-west mutual aid,” and possess important strategic values. To facilitate the comparison, this paper constructs a hierarchical model and evaluation index system for assessing the strategic value of international transport corridors (SVITC). From China’s perspective, this paper uses a fuzzy integral method with comprehensive weights to evaluate and compare the SVITC of the four international corridors as fuzzy integrals can handle interdependent indices and comprehensive weights can accommodate both subjective and objective weights. In the evaluation process, we first clarify the strategic attributes and characteristics of each corridor and identify its corresponding missions so that the overseas infrastructure projects along the four corridors can be carried out smoothly. By assessing their strategic values and ranking them accordingly, we offer the policy maker with useful information to prioritize investment opportunities and deploy limited resources in the construction of these corridors. Finally, this comparative study identifies the weaknesses and strengths in different corridors, which allow them to learn from each other, make joint progress, and strengthen linkages and integrations, thereby providing a set of feasible solutions for the construction of B&R international corridors.

Introducing the Dynamic Destination Satisfaction Method: An Analytical Tool to Track Tourism Destination Satisfaction Trends with Repeated Cross-sectional Data

This study introduces a new method, named Dynamic Destination Satisfaction Method (DDSME), to model tourists’ satisfaction with a destination (and its attributes), breaking it down into an individual-level component (linked to the specific individual tourists’ perceptions) and a system-level (time-related) component (common to all the tourists). Moreover, this work develops a matrix “entropy/trend accuracy” that destination managers can use to understand to what extent managing a specific attribute has increased tourists’ satisfaction with the destination over multiyear time spans. We test the innovative method on a large data set, covering the period 1997-2015 and including almost 0.8 million observations. By doing so, we analyze tourists’ satisfaction with tourism-related sectors and attributes of Italy as an inbound tourism destination and we use the matrix to map out destination attributes over time. The findings indicate that courtesy, art, and food are strategic attributes to enhance satisfaction in the long term.

CSR Perceptions Versus CSR Attributions? A Comparison of Alternative Moderated Mediation Mechanisms

We investigate the multiple mediating mechanisms through which corporate social responsibility influences consumer loyalty. We posit that consumer–company identification and consumer trust are two underpinning mechanisms that mediate the relationship between CSR and consumer loyalty. We further hypothesize that value attributions versus strategic attributions of CSR initiatives moderate these processes so that consumers having high value attribution and low strategic attribution build loyalty from CSR primarily based on an enhanced level of trust whereas consumers high on strategic attribution develop loyalty based on identification with the company. Data collected on 309 consumers in India support the proposed theoretical framework. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for research and practice.

An Attributional Model of CSR: Market Reactions to Water Actions in Different Stakeholder Domains

This study integrates attribution and expectancy violation theory to explain market responses to corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions oriented towards primary and secondary stakeholders. We test our model and hypotheses empirically in the context of responsible corporate water actions. We argue that market reactions are affected by two important factors influencing attributions to a CSR action, the stakeholder orientation of the current action and the stakeholder orientation of prior CSR performance, which each shape shareholder beliefs and expectations regarding the firm’s actions. We find the market reaction to a CSR action affecting primary stakeholders is significantly positive given its direct financial and strategic attributions, but it is not significant for actions affecting secondary stakeholders as these involve ethical or altruistic attributions. We further find that expectancy confirmation or violation moderates these stakeholder orientation effects, influencing how shareholders react to CSR actions. Our study is one of the first to explore market reactions to responsible corporate water actions, and apply both attribution and expectancy violation theory to the novel context of market reactions to CSR actions.

Discovering the entrepreneurial micro‐ecosystem: The case of a corporate accelerator

AbstractFaced with a proliferation of initiatives like corporate accelerators, entrepreneurial ecosystems see emerge new spaces that we can call entrepreneurial micro‐ecosystems. A micro‐ecosystem is a local open system interacting with the entrepreneurial ecosystem and driven by an actor or group of actors capable of fostering dynamics of innovation and entrepreneurship. The literature has tended to focus on the macro and meso levels leaving behind the microlevel and the strategies implemented by the actors that could lead to the creation of micro‐ecosystems. In this study, we consider corporate accelerators, still little studied, as entrepreneurial micro‐ecosystems. We propose to take a structural and strategic approach in order to better understand the attributes and the strategies put in place by these actors from a multilevel approach. A qualitative study was conducted on a corporate accelerator and the results reveal the importance of strategic attributes in terms of legitimacy, coopetition, and business model.

Critical factors of effective implementation of IT-enabled ISO-9000 QMS

PurposeAlthough aligning information technology (IT) with quality management (QM) is a popular concept, it has not yet been properly, theoretically and empirically grounded. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify critical factors for the effective implementation (CFEI) of IT-enabled ISO-9000 quality management system (QMS).Design/methodology/approachThe primary field data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 381 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were applied to check the reliability and validity of the data collected. First, using pattern matrix, 48 items (extracted from relevant literature) representing CFEI of IT-enabled ISO-9000 QMS were grouped into six latent variables (eigenvalue⩾1). Second, to test the relationship among CFEI, firm performance and competitive positioning, six hypotheses were formulated and tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) procedure.FindingsThe study results found that identified CFEI of IT-enabled ISO-9000 QMS, i.e. “strategic attributes” (β=0.517), “tactical attributes” (β=0.323), “operational attributes” (β=0.281), “organisational infrastructure and processes” (β=0.231), “system knowledge” (β=0.194), “alignment of system with firm’s strategy” (β=0.230), have a significant effect (p<0.05) on the successful implementation of ISO-9000 QMS. The critical factors are found to have a direct and positive impact on the firm’s performance. Study results found that the critical factors do not directly affect the firm’s competitive positioning (β=−0.097), but they do so indirectly through customer satisfaction (β=0.627) and operational performance (β=0.482).Originality/valueThe proposed model provides critical factors to align IT system with ISO-9000 QMS which is highly required mainly for SMEs. The study will provide a mean by which small manufacturing firms can counter the effects of increasing global competition.

Ways of coping with excessive academic stress among Korean adolescents during leisure time

ABSTRACT Purpose: Korean adolescents are under excessive academic pressure because of the competitive college entrance examination. This study examined the characteristics of coping strategies on the academic stress experienced by senior high school students in Korea. Methods: A total of 11 adolescents who were preparing for the college entrance examination participated in this study. This study employed semi-structured in-depth interviews. A constructive grounded theory was employed to capture the characteristics of stress-coping strategies among adolescents. Results: After analyzing the data, we identified four themes as strategic attributes of stress-coping for academic stress among Korean adolescents: (a) creating coping strategies in a physically active manner; (b) creating coping strategies in a non-physical and positive form; (c) utilizing maladaptive coping mechanisms; and (d) relying upon religious belief and spiritual power. Conclusion: This study indicates that Korean adolescents developed their own coping strategies to deal with various academic stressors through either positive or negative forms of leisure.

The Impact of Strategic Attributes on Organizational Performance in Pakistan Banking Sector: A Review and Suggestions for Future Research

The Impact of Strategic Attributes on Organizational Performance in Pakistan Banking Sector: A Review and Suggestions for Future Research

The Impact of Strategic Attributes on Organizational Performance in Pakistan Banking Sector: A Review and Suggestions for Future Research

In recent years, the business environment of banking sector has become very dynamic and highly competitive due to the globalization and massive developments in this sector. Also, the banking organizations have faced a lot of challenges. In order to deal with the business challenges and to attain the superior organizational performance, the banking organizations need to be strategically positioned, market oriented (both internally and externally) and to develop and encourage strong organizational culture. Drawing from the resource-based view (RBV) theory, this study aims to propose the novel conceptual model representing the impact of strategic attributes such as, strategic orientation, organizational culture and organizational internal market orientation on the organizational performance. This study also highlighted the critical role of these strategic attributes in the organizations and need to study them at the organizational level in the banking organization. Based on the review of relevant literature, three research propositions have been proposed. The proposed conceptual model would hopefully lead to very useful insights for the bank management, policy makers and future researchers.