Websites Of Firms Research Articles

The Influence of Social Media Marketing on Consumers Behavior

Social media advertising's perceived utility, simplicity of use, entertainment, intrusiveness, andfrequency of use have been determined to be the most important elements influencing consumers'attitudes toward social media advertising, according to a new study. Customers' attitudes about socialmedia advertising are influenced by their perceptions of how easy it is to use. Consumers' attitudes towardsocial media advertising are influenced by factors such as perceived utility and intensity of social mediause, business reputation and incentives, perceived ad entertainment, perceived commercial intrusion, andpeer influence. Consumers' behavior regarding social media advertising, their intention to engage in eWOMbehaviors, their intention to visit the websites of firms, and their purchase intents were shown to haveno significant moderating influence on each other.

The analysis of firm web data for predicting company innovativeness: a comparison across different types of innovation

ABSTRACT This paper investigates which of the core types of innovation can be best predicted based on ’firms’ website data. In particular, we focus on four distinct key standard types of innovations in firms: product, process, organisational, and marketing innovation. Web mining of textual data on the websites of firms from Estonia, combined with the application of artificial intelligence (AI) methods, turned out to be a suitable approach to predict firm-level innovation indicators. The key novel addition to the existing literature is the finding that web mining is more applicable to predicting marketing innovation than the other three core types of innovation. As AI-based models are often black-box in nature, for transparency, we use an explainable AI approach (SHAP - SHapley Additive exPlanations), where we look at the most important words predicting a particular type of innovation. Our models confirm that the marketing innovation indicator from survey data was clearly related to marketing-related terms on the ’firms’ websites. In contrast, the results on the relevant words on websites for other innovation indicators were much less clear. Our analysis concludes that the effectiveness of web-scraping and web-text-based AI approaches in predicting cost-effective, granular and timely firm-level innovation indicators varies according to the type of innovation considered.

Corporate Social Responsibility Communication on the Websites of Tourism Firms in Tanzania

This study investigates how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) information is communicated on the websites of tourism firms in Tanzania. Specifically, the study assesses the quantity, prominence and style of presentation of CSR information on the websites. Data was collected through a content analysis of the websites of the member firms of the Hotel Association of Tanzania (HAT) and Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO). The findings reveal that about 50% of tourism firms disclose their CSR information on their websites. Also, about 57% of tourism firms disclose a minimal amount of CSR information (1 to 2 pages), 31% place their CSR information prominently on the homepage, 54% present their CSR information using textual format only and 38% of websites allow interaction with stakeholders for inquiries and feedbacks. Moreover, the study highlights that hotels are more effective in utilizing websites for CSR communication than their tour operators, suggesting that firm size and industry subsectors influence variations in CSR communication practices. The findings imply that tourism firms in Tanzania recognize the crucial role of websites in corporate communication including CSR communication. However, tourism firms need to improve their CSR web communication by enhancing the volume, prominence, multimedia-rich content and interactivity of web-based CSR communications. Further research focusing on specific subsectors and exploring strategies for enhancing CSR communication on tourism websites could provide valuable insights.

The Influence of Financial Self-efficacy on Financial Inclusion in Tanzania

This study investigates how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) information is communicated on the websites of tourism firms in Tanzania. Specifically, the study assesses the quantity, prominence and style of presentation of CSR information on the websites. Data was collected through a content analysis of the websites of the member firms of the Hotel Association of Tanzania (HAT) and Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO). The findings reveal that about 50% of tourism firms disclose their CSR information on their websites. Also, about 57% of tourism firms disclose a minimal amount of CSR information (1 to 2 pages), 31% place their CSR information prominently on the homepage, 54% present their CSR information using textual format only and 38% of websites allow interaction with stakeholders for inquiries and feedbacks. Moreover, the study highlights that hotels are more effective in utilizing websites for CSR communication than their tour operators, suggesting that firm size and industry subsectors influence variations in CSR communication practices. The findings imply that tourism firms in Tanzania recognize the crucial role of websites in corporate communication including CSR communication. However, tourism firms need to improve their CSR web communication by enhancing the volume, prominence, multimedia-rich content and interactivity of web-based CSR communications. Further research focusing on specific subsectors and exploring strategies for enhancing CSR communication on tourism websites could provide valuable insights.

Unlocking the value and transitional purpose of plant-based meat alternative companies in the German market

Meat-free foodstuffs that emulate key properties of meat, meat alternatives, are portrayed as instruments to contribute to a dietary transition towards more protein from non-animal sources, a protein transition. Although they promise the large audience of meat-eating consumers easy sustainability gains, truly sustainable diets require changes beyond the replacement of animal by other proteins, a full-fledged protein transition. Meat-alternative companies are in a central position to support and to shape the form of the protein transition. So far, however, it is not entirely clear for “how much transition” enterprises actually aim, what activities they engage in to get there, and what limits their efforts. Our research contributes to elucidating these questions. Drawing from the concept of organizational purpose and from sustainability marketing scholarship, we investigate the transitional purpose of companies in the German market for plant-based meat alternatives. Through a series of semi-structured interviews and by studying the websites of key firms, we find that enterprises indeed largely aim for a protein transition, which replaces meat by meat-like substitutes. Also, there seems to be little company activity to facilitate dietary changes at the level of consumers or society. Nonetheless, our work indicates that wider changes are possible - e.g., even firms’ standard marketing activity could stimulate changes. In doing so, it lines out a path for future research that could help to better assess the potential role of meat-alternative businesses for a full-fledged protein transition.

Managerial Discretion and Corporate Governance Mechanism: A Case Study of Public Limited Firms of Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of board independence, CEO duality (managerial discretion) and corporate governance mechanism on firm performance measured through accounting-base measures i.e. return on assets as well as market-based measure i.e. Tobin’s Q among Pakistan's KSE-listed non-financial firms from 2011 to 2021. The study used software (STATA 12) to analyze the data of 172 firms using the Generalized Method of Movements as well as Random Effect and Fixed Effect regression models to test how each corporate governance and managerial discretion variables contributes to the firm performance. Data was extracted from the annual reports, database, and websites of KSE-listed firms. The presence of board independence contributes positively to firm performance. The study highlights that although CEO duality has no impact on firm performance, but presence of board independence controls the managerial discretion provided by CEO duality and offer the necessary resources as well as monitoring the control the managerial discretion and improve firm performance. This article makes a significant theoretical contribution by synthesizing and extending key governance theories to offer a nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics within corporate governance (CG), particularly in the specific context of KSE-registered non-financial firms in Pakistan. This research contributes actionable insights that span governance improvement, informed decision-making, regulatory considerations, and strategic performance enhancement, offering practical benefits for the diverse stakeholders in the corporate governance landscape.

The Impact of Loss Ratio on the Financial Stability of Insurance Firms in Kenya

The insurance sector is an essential component for the continued expansion and prosperity of the economy. It is the responsibility of the insurance industry to secure the continued existence of enterprises, to disperse the risk that is caused by financial losses, and to work toward eradicating uncertainty in the minds of investors. Despite the important role of the insurance sector in the economy, firms operating in this sector have been having trouble maintaining their financial stability. The insurance sector has faced considerable volatility in profitability, resulting in some firms being placed under receivership or even going out of firm. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of loss ratio on financial stability of insurance firms in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Theory of Distress by Wreckers. The research was conducted using an explanatory research design, and the positivist philosophical approach was utilized. The target population for this study consisted of the 46 insurance firms that held IRA licenses and were operating during the time period under consideration (2014-2021). The census method was utilized for the research thesis, which focused on all 46 insurance firms in Kenya. The study used secondary data obtained from audited financial statements, which were publicly available on the websites of individual insurance firms. To gather panel data for the study, a secondary data collection template was employed. In order to draw conclusions from the data that was gathered, this study employed both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The study employed a generalized method of moments modelling guided by static panel regression. The data processing was done using the Stata software. The research findings were presented through the use of tables and trend line graphs. The study adhered to research ethics guidelines. The findings of this study showed that loss ratio had a significant negative influence on the financial stability of Kenyan insurance companies (β = -0.5795373, p = 0.002 < .05).The study concludes that loss ratios and capital adequacy plays a significant role in the financial stability of insurance firms. A lower loss ratio indicates a more efficient underwriting process and risk management, contributing to better financial performance and stability. As a result, the study recommends that to enhance their financial stability, general insurers in Kenya should manage their loss ratio. It's also recommended that Kenya should adhere to the principles of the Solvency II framework. Keywords: Loss Ratio, Insurance Firms, Claims Management, Financial Stability, Kenya

Unravelling the Dynamics: The Effects of Leverage on the Financial Stability of Insurance Firms in Kenya

Despite the crucial part that the insurance industry plays, firms operating in this sector have been having trouble maintaining their financial stability. The insurance industry has faced considerable volatility in profitability, resulting in some firms being placed under receivership or even going out of firm. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of leverage on financial stability of insurance firms in Kenya. The study was informed by Pecking Order Theory. The research was conducted using an explanatory research design, and the positivist philosophical approach was utilized. The target population for this study consisted of the 46 insurance firms that held IRA licenses and were operating during the time period under consideration (2014-2021). The census method was utilized for the research thesis, which focused on all 46 insurance firms in Kenya. The study used secondary data obtained from audited financial statements, which were publicly available on the websites of individual insurance firms. To gather panel data for the study, a secondary data collection template was employed. In order to draw conclusions from the data that was gathered, this study employed both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The study employed a generalized method of moments modelling guided by static panel regression. The data processing was done using the Stata software. The research findings were presented through the use of tables, figures, and graphs. The findings of this study showed that leverage significantly and negatively impacted the financial stability of Kenyan insurance firms (β = -3.513831, p = 0.000 < .05). The study concludes that if leverage challenges are not adequately managed, they can have a detrimental influence on the profitability and capital of a particular insurance sector, and in the worst case scenarios, they can even force insurance sectors that are otherwise financially secure to fail. The study recommends that the general insurers in Kenya should enhance their leverage in order to strengthen the financial stability of their firms. However, insurance firms should be careful not to leverage themselves too much, since this can also be damaging to their long-term sustainability. Keywords: Unravelling Dynamics, Financial Leverage, Financial Stability, Insurance Firms, Insurance Industry Stability, Kenya

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE P&I CLUB AS A PROTECTION FOR INDONESIAN CARRIER

Sea transportation experiences risks and material loss in its operation. The most significant risks include damage to the vessel and sea pollution due to ship collisions and accidents. The carrier should prioritize the risks. When the underwriter does not cover the risk, the shipowner should establish an association covering the loss among the members to the extent the underwriter does not cover it. This study will examine the importance of the Rule to P&I Clubs and its impact on Indonesian carriers and will also find the differences between P&I Club and Insurance. The research adopts Library Resarch Method, dogmatic legal approach, a descriptive and analytical nature. Due to the method, the following sources have been used: Convention law, domestic legislation, case law, legal textbooks, journal articles, P&I Club Rules, preparatory works, and websites of international organizations and law firms. P&I CLUB covers many accidents which are not covered by any marine insurance. In pollution accidents, P&I covers every detail of the impact of pollution. The difference between P&I Club with marine loss insurance, in general, is that P&I Club covers the loss/damage more extensively, which is not covered by any marine insurance. Keywords: Protection, Indemnity, Carrier.

GENRE FEATURES OF POPULAR LEGAL DISCOURSE

"The article intends to consider the genre features of popular legal discourse by analysing professional legal discourse services. Moreover, the article presents intersectioning features of media and popular legal discourse to reveal genre features of popular legal discourse in terms of the simplification of legal texts and the generalisation of the situation for informing citizens in articles and videos. General scientific methods such as synthesis and descriptive and content analyses were used to scrutinise the texts of the discourse to be studied. Moreover, pragmatic discourse analysis was used to distinguish popular legal discourse from legal discourse itself and identify the differences in discursive expressive language units and content. Materials for the analysis and consideration of this topic were popular legal texts from the law websites of law firms and the websites of public organizations. All texts and materials are in the public domain and free of charge for an unlimited number of people. As a result, the genre features of popular legal discourse were presented. Key words: US law firms, video information, legal discourse, media legal discourse, legal advice, and legal service. "

Intellectual property protection in startups

In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in startups. This enables the rapid development of technology and technological innovation. Many inventors and innovators create intellectual property that is not always adequately protected. When observing the life cycles of startups, it can be noticed that large number of these startups become inactive within the first three years of operation. The aim of this article is to answer the questions: what factors influence startup successes and failures? Is the lack of intellectual property protection one of such factors, and if so, how can startups secure their inventions or innovations? What strategies can be applied to protect intellectual property? What does intellectual property protection look like in Polish startups? Desk research was used as the research method in the article. The literature on the subject was analysed along with the reports and studies of research companies, institutions associating startups and the websites of patent attorneys and law firms that help startups in the protection of intellectual property. Research has shown that, in most cases, startups see the need to protect intellectual property, which is of particular importance in high-tech sectors. Many factors can contribute to the failure of a startup at various stages of its development. It is important that the intellectual property is protected at the initial stage of the startup’s development, and that the company has created and applied an appropriate intellectual property protection strategy.

Block Chain Application in Insurance Services: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

The Insurance industry participates in various processes that are characterized by data exchange, which is modified or updated by many parties. Hence, the insurance industry can benefit from the adoption of blockchain technology. However, there is a lack of understanding of the technology, the legal implications and the issues in implementing the technology. This paper aims at finding potential opportunities for the insurance sector on the implementation of blockchain technology. It also discusses issues and concerns for insurance companies wanting to adopt block chain technologies. A search was carried out for relevant electronic bibliographic databases (searched by means of keywords), articles published in scientific journals, websites of consultancy firms and blockchain developers, and reference lists of relevant review articles. Articles were screened and eligibility was based on participants, procedures, interventions comparisons, outcomes (PICO) model and criteria for PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews). A total of 23 papers were finalized after scrutiny for this study whereby the results disclose that blockchain, as a single source of reality, has the potential to improve productivity and mitigate the complexity of the insurance processes. Examples of real-world applications and insurance use cases are presented to demonstrate the strengths & capabilities of the technology. This study also considers the present-day issues, risks and concerns in the implementation of the blockchain technology. Finally, the challenges and obstacles in the application of Blockchain technology in the Insurance Sector is highlighted and presented.

Transmission of family identity and consumer response: do consumers recognize family firms?

PurposeCommunicating the identity of a family business generates positive results in consumer response. The paper aims to understanding how the efficient transmission of family identity can influence consumer behavior is essential for designing family firms' marketing communication strategies.Design/methodology/approachAn experimental study based on the eye-tracking technique was designed to determine how attention to (familiar vs non-familiar) visual stimuli on a website influences consumer recognition of a family firm status and how it influences consumer behavior. A sample of 212 individuals was exposed to (simulated) websites of family and non-family firms in the hospitality industry to capture information about their eye movements and measure visual attention to specific stimuli that communicated family identity.FindingsVisual attention has a direct and positive influence on recognizing family firm's identity (FFI). Through FFI, visual attention has an indirect positive effect on trust in the company and attitude toward the brand (BraAtt). Trust in a firm positively affects purchase intention (PurInt).Originality/valueIt is known that consumers can perceive a FFI; however, there is no study on the sensory mechanisms operating in consumers' perceptions of family identity. The study contributes to understanding how consumers can perceive a FFI. This study proposes a novel method for evaluating consumer responses by transmitting family business identity on digital platforms.

Transparency report disclosure practices of large- and medium-sized audit firms in South Africa

Research purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the corporate governance practices disclosed by large- and medium-sized audit firms in South Africa, with a particular focus on transparency reports. Audit firms serve the public interest.Motivation for the study: This study was motivated by recent corporate failures in South Africa, such KPMG, VBS Bank, and Steinhoff, to mention a few.Research approach/design and method: The research approach followed for this study consists of a mixed method approach. Qualitative secondary data were obtained from publicly accessible information published on the websites of the audit firms. The data, which consisted of the firms’ transparency reports, were analysed through content analysis. The results were then converted into quantitative data.Main findings: The main findings reveal that audit firms in South Africa do not disclose sufficient corporate governance information in their transparency reports. There are inconsistencies between audit firms.Practical/managerial implications: In South Africa, audit firms do not have a corporate governance code for audit firms, and thus audit firms are not disclosing the relevant corporate governance information to their stakeholders.Contribution/value-add: This article contributes to the limited literature available on audit firm governance. Based on the findings, the study proposes best practice recommendations and regulatory and statutory recommendations regarding audit firm governance.

Family logics and environmental sustainability: A study of the New Zealand wine industry

AbstractThe majority of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in the wine industry are family owned and operated providing a unique organisational structure to study environmental sustainability engagement. However, researchers at the intersection of environmental sustainability (ES) and family businesses tend to oversimplify family businesses as homogeneous regarding ES. Therefore, the broader goal of this paper is to investigate the antecedents of heterogeneities among family firms related to ES. The paper aims to understand how family firms portray different aspects of family influence (family goals, family values, culture and ethics, and the imprints of the founders and the next generation) in their ES disclosures. Family logics are used as a theoretical lens to analyse family influence. A qualitative content analysis of 72 corporate websites of family firms operating in the New Zealand wine industry was conducted. Antecedents of heterogeneities were revealed with a discussion of three typologies of family firms: family first, business first and upstarts.

Increasing the Adoption of Canadian Retail Businesses’ Websites: Canadian Young Generation Consumers' Enticement

This research contributes significantly to academic and practitioner knowledge in the areas of young generation customers' enticement for expanding the adoption of small companies and internet commerce. This is the first time that a study has been done especially on the behavioral usage of Canadian Young consumers' websites by Canadian retail businesses. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of how the Canadian Young Generation engages with retail firms' websites. The research model for this study is an adaptation of the UTAUT2 paradigm. It reaffirms the literature review's usage of the modified UTAUT2 model to describe this research. This research aims to fill a need in the existing knowledge about the Canadian Young Generation's use of retail firms' websites. It is critical that additional steps to protect security and privacy, as well as to create trust, be implemented to improve the Young Generation's confidence in the retail websites of small Canadian firms. Internet costs remain high in Canada, and it is proposed that the Canadian federal government provide additional licenses to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in order to increase competition among ISPs and therefore decrease Internet charges.
 Key Words: , , ,

Corporate Sustainability Practices in Tourism—Evidence from Tanzania

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to explore the corporate sustainability practices undertaken in the tourism sector, drawing on evidence from Tanzania. The study extracted corporate sustainability-related information reported on the websites of tour operators and accommodation firms operating in Tanzania and conducted thematic analysis on the extracted information. The findings revealed that social services, economic prosperity, nature conservation and eco-efficiency are the main corporate sustainability practices. The tour operators generally put great emphasis on social service initiatives, which were operationalized through philanthropic contributions to community projects. Accommodation firms specifically emphasized eco-efficiency, nature conservation and economic prosperity. Although the conception of corporate sustainability of all the tourism firms seems to be the same, their practices were differentiated by differences in their nature of operations and resource capabilities. The findings imply that corporate sustainability practices are socially constructed and provide grounds to inform destination planning, development and management.

BOARD COGNITIVE DIVERSITY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE NEXUS: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

Purpose of the study: This study examined the influence of board cognitive diversity on firm performance in Nigeria. The researchers investigated consumer goods firms listed in the Nigeria Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2018.
 Methodology: This research is hinged on the positivist research philosophy; and the deductive research approach. The study adopted the multi-method quantitative research design. Data was hand-collected from the annual financial statements and firms’ websites of consumer goods firms. The researchers measured board cognitive diversity by educational level diversity, education background diversity, and professional member diversity; while performance was measured via financial performance (ROA) and market performance (Tobin's Q). Panel least squares were used to estimate the model of the study.
 Main Findings: Results from the panel least squares regression revealed mixed findings on the nexus between the proxies of board cognitive diversity and firm performance in Nigeria. Specifically, we found that education level diversity and professional member diversity of board members positively and significantly affects market performance. In contrast, the educational background diversity of the board negatively and significantly affects the market performance of consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Furthermore, we found no evidence on the nexus between educational level diversity; educational background diversity; professional membership diversity of board members, and financial performance of firms investigated.
 Implications/Applications: The researchers concluded that board cognitive diversity partially influences firm performance in Nigeria. The study recommended that firms in Nigeria, specifically consumer goods firms, should encourage more representation of board directors with a postgraduate degree. This is because they have advanced knowledge and expertise to improve the firm's performance.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: This is pioneer research to investigate the influence of board cognitive diversity on firm performance in Nigeria.

Web mining for innovation ecosystem mapping: a framework and a large-scale pilot study

Existing approaches to model innovation ecosystems have been mostly restricted to qualitative and small-scale levels or, when relying on traditional innovation indicators such as patents and questionnaire-based survey, suffered from a lack of timeliness, granularity, and coverage. Websites of firms are a particularly interesting data source for innovation research, as they are used for publishing information about potentially innovative products, services, and cooperation with other firms. Analyzing the textual and relational content on these websites and extracting innovation-related information from them has the potential to provide researchers and policy-makers with a cost-effective way to survey millions of businesses and gain insights into their innovation activity, their cooperation, and applied technologies. For this purpose, we propose a web mining framework for consistent and reproducible mapping of innovation ecosystems. In a large-scale pilot study we use a database with 2.4 million German firms to test our framework and explore firm websites as a data source. Thereby we put particular emphasis on the investigation of a potential bias when surveying innovation systems through firm websites if only certain firm types can be surveyed using our proposed approach. We find that the availability of a websites and the characteristics of the website (number of subpages and hyperlinks, text volume, language used) differs according to firm size, age, location, and sector. We also find that patenting firms will be overrepresented in web mining studies. Web mining as a survey method also has to cope with extremely large and hyper-connected outlier websites and the fact that low broadband availability appears to prevent some firms from operating their own website and thus excludes them from web mining analysis. We then apply the proposed framework to map an exemplary innovation ecosystem of Berlin-based firms that are engaged in artificial intelligence. Finally, we outline several approaches how to transfer firm website content into valuable innovation indicators.

Using web content analysis to create innovation indicators—What do we really measure?

This study explores the use of web content analysis to build innovation indicators from the complete texts of 79 corporate websites of Canadian nanotechnology and advanced materials firms. Indicators of four core concepts (R&D, IP protection, collaboration, and external financing) of the innovation process were built using keywords frequency analysis. These web-based indicators were validated using several indicators built from a classic questionnaire-based survey with the following methods: correlation analysis, multitraits multimethods (MTMM) matrices, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results suggest that formative indices built with the questionnaire and web-based indicators measure the same concept, which is not the case when considering the items from the questionnaire separately. Web-based indicators can act either as complements to direct measures or as substitutes for broader measures, notably the importance of R&D and the importance of IP protection, which are normally measured using conventional methods, such as government administrative data or questionnaire-based surveys.