scholarly journals Sustainability and short-term profitability in the agri-food sector, a cross-sectional time-series investigation on global corporations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastiano Cupertino ◽  
Gianluca Vitale ◽  
Angelo Riccaboni
Keyword(s):  
Innovation Management ◽  
Strategy Execution ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Slack Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Corporations ◽  
Csr Strategy ◽  
One Year

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether being sustainable is also profitable for agri-food companies in the short-term.Design/methodology/approachThe study analysed the impacts of sustainability multiple issues on one-year lagged return on assets, developing a longitudinal analysis focused on best and worst companies' samples for a timeframe of ten years. Notably, we performed OLS regressions on unbalanced panels data collecting overall 1,760 annual observations from 318 companies. Moreover, we examined the moderating effects of slack resources on the relationship between sustainability and the short-term firms' profitability.FindingsThe results show that the best sustainable companies usually improve future profitability. Conversely, the worst ones should prioritize efforts in specific initiatives (i.e. responsible products, eco-innovation, management and governance commitment to sustainability), which positively affect their profitability and compensate possible short-term financial losses due to CSR strategy execution and sustainable production/supply chain management. Finally, the study found mixed results regarding the moderating effects of slack resources on the scrutinized relationships.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights the key environmental, social and governance aspects to be addressed for consolidating and enhancing the virtuous relationship between non-financial and financial performance, distinguishing between best and worst sustainability performers.Originality/valueThis study is among the first that decomposed sustainability in multiple micro aspects (i.e. sustainable strategy, products and processes) investigating the effects of each of them on the short-term agri-food firms' profitability.

scholarly journals Delaying first pregnancy in reducing burden of unintended pregnancy among married adolescents in urban slums of Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 298-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fauzia Akhter Huda ◽  
Anisuddin Ahmed ◽  
Hassan R. Mahmood ◽  
Faisal Ahmmed ◽  
Alessio Panza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unintended Pregnancy ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Urban Slums ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
One Year

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of delaying first pregnancy in reducing burden of unintended pregnancy (UP) among married adolescent girls in urban slums of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 783 married adolescents in five urban slums of Bangladesh during January 2013–January 2014. Findings Half of the respondents’ first pregnancy was reported as unintended. Of the respondents, 58 percent with no school education had experienced UP which was 38 percent among respondents with eight year’s education. Respondents who did not willingly agreed to their marriage experienced more UP (61 percent) than those who were agreed/got married by their own choice (51 percent). Respondents having five years of age difference with their husbands experienced more UP (58 percent) than those with ten years of age difference (46 percent). Respondents aged 14 years at first conception experienced 63 percent UP, while the respondents aged 18 years had 35 percent UP experience. Of the respondents, 66 percent who became pregnant within one year of marriage reported their pregnancy as unintended which was 29 percent among those who delayed their first pregnancy for three years. Originality/value Significant association was observed between pregnancy intention with respondents’ educational status (p=0.03), age difference with husbands (p=0.02), age at first conception (p<0.01) and delaying first pregnancy (p<0.001).

scholarly journals Entrepreneurs’ optimism, cognitive style and persistence

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Adomako ◽  
Albert Danso ◽  
Moshfique Uddin ◽  
John Ofori Damoah
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Causal Inferences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Entrepreneurial Decision ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating effects of cognitive style dimensions on the relationship between entrepreneurs’ optimism and persistence. Design/methodology/approach – This theoretically derived research model is empirically validated using survey data from 198 small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana. Findings – The study’s empirical findings are that the relationship between entrepreneurs’ optimism and entrepreneurial persistence is enhanced at higher levels of cognitive planning and creating styles. Somewhat interestingly, cognitive knowing style negatively moderates the relationship between optimism and entrepreneurial persistence. Research limitations/implications – The cross-sectional design of the study does not permit causal inferences to be made regarding the variables examined. Future studies may use longitudinal design to examine the causal links of the variables. Practical implications – The results of this paper can assist entrepreneurs and policy-makers in understanding the dynamics and processes involved in entrepreneurial decision making. The understanding of this issue can promote the development and maintenance of entrepreneurial ventures. Originality/value – The paper has a strong theoretical value as it relies on cognitive explanations of human behaviour, and seeks to advance the theoretical field by demonstrating the value of cognitive style within the domain of entrepreneurship.

Age and job-specific skill obsolescence: the moderating effects of human resource practices

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin-Yang Yue ◽  
Wei-de Huang
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hr Practices ◽  
Workforce Aging ◽  
Specific Skill ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the J-shaped relationship between age and job-specific skill obsolescence (JSSO), and the differential moderating effects of development and maintenance HR practices on this relationship.Design/methodology/approachRegression models of survey data obtained from a sample of 722 Chinese knowledge workers were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results show that among women age and JSSO are J-shaped related and the relationship weakens under high development HR practices; while among men the J-shaped age-JSSO relation is significant only under low maintenance HR practices.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is subject to the cross-sectional design, and the sample is restricted to knowledge workers.Originality/valueThis study advances previous studies that hold a linear (positive or negative) age-JSSO relationship by theorizing and testing a J-shaped one. The differentiated moderating effects of two bundles of HR practices proved improves our knowledge about how to use HR practices appropriately to sustain employee work competency in the context of workforce aging.

scholarly journals Relationship between slack resources and performance: temporal symmetry and duration of effects

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Agusti-Perez ◽  
Jose Luis Galan ◽  
Francisco J. Acedo
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Slack Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Companies ◽  
Permanent Effect ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Temporal Symmetry ◽  
Financial Profitability

PurposeAlthough slack resources and their relationship to performance have been widely studied in the literature, the temporal symmetry of this relationship, and the duration of its effects, are still unknown aspects and are the objective of this paper.Design/methodology/approachTo evaluate this effect, an exploratory study has been designed on a sample of 449 Spanish industrial companies over a period of 12 years, assessing the impact of idle resources on economic and financial profitability. By means of hierarchical regressions, the short- term, medium- term and long-term effects of slack resources have been evaluated.FindingsThe results show that the impact on performance depends on the type of resource considered. Available slack has a consistent and positive effect on economic profitability in the short term. Other types of slack show persistent effects on performance, but, in the case of the recoverable slack, with a negative sign that contradicts the benefits provided by these resources. Finally, potential slack only has a permanent effect on financial profitability, but the sign changes depending on the economic context under consideration. There are also differences in the duration of the effects according to the type of resources.Originality/valueThis paper advances the knowledge about the slack-performance relationship over time that has been scarcely studied.

scholarly journals Debt types and burdens by family structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 867-888
Author(s):  
Jing Jian Xiao ◽  
Rui Yao
Keyword(s):  
Family Structure ◽  
Credit Card ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Family Structures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Decisions ◽  
Consumer Finances ◽  
One Year

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine family structure differences in debt types and burdens of American families.Design/methodology/approachData was from the 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances. Eight types of family structures, five specific debts, and two debt burden indicators are examined with multivariate logistic regressions.FindingsAfter controlling for several socioeconomic variables, multivariate logistic regression results show that married with children families are more likely than five other family types to have any debt. In terms of specific debt, married with children families are more likely than six other types of families to have mortgages, four other types to have credit card loans, five other types to have to vehicle loans, three other types to have education loans, and one other type to have purchase loans. Married with children families are more likely than three other types of families (childless married couples, single males, and single females) to be late in debt payment for 60 or more days.Research limitations/implicationsThe data is limited to one-year cross-sectional data. To gain more insights on this topic, panel data could be used.Practical implicationsThe findings can be used for financial service professionals to identify loan demand and risk associated with various family structures and develop effective marketing strategies to serve these clients.Social implicationsThe findings are informative for public policymakers to develop family friendly economic policies and for consumer educators who help consumers make effective financial decisions when borrowing various types of loans.Originality/valueFirst, this study uses an innovative definition of family structure that counts several nontraditional family structures. Second, this study examines family structure differences in holdings of five specific debts together.

Influences of customer participation and customer brand engagement on brand loyalty

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 332-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Andrine Apenes Solem
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Brand Loyalty ◽  
Customer Participation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Engagement ◽  
Short Term Effects

Purpose Value co-creation assumes that customers take active roles and create value together with firms. This paper aims to investigate the short- and long-term effects of customer participation on brand loyalty, through brand satisfaction. Participation effects were also examined among social media-using customers with the additional explanatory factor of brand engagement. Design/methodology/approach Two studies were conducted among insurance customers: a cross-sectional study using a nationwide sample (N = 954) and a subsample of social media users (N = 145) to examine short-term effects, and a longitudinal study using data from three assessment timepoints (N = 376) to enable empirical long-term testing. Findings The cross-sectional study showed positive short-term effects of customer participation on brand loyalty, mediated by satisfaction. Among customers using social media, positive participation effects gained from brand engagement strengthened brand satisfaction. The longitudinal study did not show similar positive long-term effects of customer participation. Practical implications These findings help deepen service marketers’ understanding of the possible short-term effects of customer participation and customer brand engagement, and caution them to not expect that customer participation will have long-term positive satisfaction and loyalty effects. Originality/value This research provides interesting short- and long-term findings, due to the complementary cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs.

Principals with and without performance measures means no change?

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 520-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Lindberg
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
School Development ◽  
Student Outcome ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Educational Issues

Purpose – This paper seeks to explore how principals use their time when the requirement exceeds the activities are desirable. In the scholarly debate it has been pointed out the heads think that too much time is devoted for the financial and administrative issues, or to solve acute problems. This means that there is not enough time to work with educational issues. The purpose of this paper is to clarify how principals use the time they have devoted for the educational area and what activities they prioritize. It will also increase the knowledge of reasons behind their prioritizing and reflect on some of the consequences. Results relate to the question if introduction of performance measures has increased a short-term perspective on student performance or if it works as a suitable tool for the principals to achieve the schools goals and to create more effective schools in the long run. The question if stakeholders can get required insight by the performance measures as they are designed today and if the principals got the right incentives is raised. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative approach is used and a mail questionnaire was distributed to the principals in all upper secondary schools in Sweden and a comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. Findings – Principals’ perceptions suggest that, their prioritization when working with educational issues is influenced by a more short-term perspective and that they prioritize teaching, which have a much faster impact on student outcome, over long-term school development which facilitate the conditions for the former. These findings increase the insight into the need, for as well stakeholders as principals, to develop performance measures to stimulate change when needed. Practical implications – These findings have implications on the direction of the development of performance measures. The result points out the lack of transparence for stakeholders and uncovers the need to know when change and long-term development is ongoing or not. The study show how principals need incentives for prioritizing these activities and that this can be done by the stakeholder by designing required measurements for as well teaching as long-term school development when change is needed or to maintain a successful process. Originality/value – This paper fulfills an identified need to study how the performance measures of today can be complemented with measures for stakeholders for increased insight in ongoing activities with development and required change for long-term school success.

HIV outcomes at a Canadian remand centre

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yazhini Subramanian ◽  
Muhammad Naeem Khan ◽  
Sara Berger ◽  
Michelle Foisy ◽  
Ameeta Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Care ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Virologic Suppression ◽  
Art Adherence ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Hiv Viral Load ◽  
Content Type ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of short-term incarceration on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, virologic suppression, and engagement and retention in community care post-release. Design/methodology/approach A retrospective chart review of patients who attended the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Outreach Clinic at a Canadian remand center between September 2007 and December 2011 was carried out. Data extraction included CD4 lymphocyte count, HIV viral load, ART prescription refills, and community engagement and retention during and one-year pre- and post-incarceration. Findings Outpatient engagement increased by 23 percent (p=0.01), as did ART adherence (55.2-70.7 percent, p=0.01), following incarceration. Retention into community care did not significantly improve following incarceration (22.4 percent pre-incarceration to 25.9 percent post-release, p=0.8). There was a trend toward improved virologic suppression (less than 40 copies/ml; 50-77.8 percent (p=0.08)) during incarceration and 70. 4 percent sustained this one-year post-incarceration (p=0.70). Originality/value The impact of short-term incarceration in a Canadian context of universal health coverage has not been previously reported and could have significant implications in optimizing HIV patient outcomes given the large number of HIV-positive patients cycling through short-term remand centers.

Leaving on a jet plane? The effect of challenge–hindrance stressors, emotional resilience and cultural novelty on self-initiated expatriates' decision to exit China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milad T. Jannesari ◽  
Sherry E. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intent To Remain ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe number of self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) is growing, yet we know relatively little about their work experiences, especially how they react to stress. The purpose of this study is to examine whether challenge and hindrance stressors influence SIEs' intent to remain as well as the possible influence of emotional resilience and cultural novelty upon these relationships.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 249 SIEs working in China.FindingsAs hypothesized, hindrance stressors were negatively related to the SIEs' intent to remain. Contrary to expectations, challenge stressors were not associated with intent to remain. Hindrance (challenge) stressors were negatively (positively) related to emotional resilience, and resilience mediated the relationship between stressors and intent to remain. Cultural novelty failed to moderate the relationship between emotional resilience and intent to remain and did not moderate the mediated effects of challenge stressors on intent to remain via emotional resilience. Cultural novelty did moderate the mediated effects of hindrance stressors on intent to remain via emotional resilience, but not in the hypothesized direction.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was cross-sectional. It examined SIEs working in China, and its findings may not be generalizable to SIEs working in other countries.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine how emotional resilience may mediate the relationship between stressors and SIEs' intent to remain and also considered the possible moderating effects of cultural novelty. In addition, unlike most studies that focus only on the negative outcomes of hindrance stressors, this study tested the possible positive effects of challenge stressors.

Arnetta technologies: minimum viable product

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-145
Author(s):  
Puran Singh ◽  
Suryani Sinha Ray
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Research Management ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
To Come ◽  
One Year

Theoretical basis The case fosters discussions on basic concepts of entrepreneurship that include building a minimum viable product before launching a finished product, the importance of doing market research for early-stage startups, challenges in understanding an unfamiliar domain or industry and understanding the dynamics of business to business market. Research methodology Team Arnetta’s founders were interviewed in relation to the case. After the initial round of interviews, a product demonstration was given by Arnetta. Follow up interviews were conducted to delve-deeper into the problem while secondary research was conducted to understand the market dynamics and competitive landscape at the point in time in the case. Case overview/synopsis The four founders of Arnetta Technologies debate go-to-market timing for Integrated Breeding and Research Management Software, a data handling software for the R&D process followed by seed enterprises in India. The founders had spent over US$75,000 on the product development on which they had been working for more than one year. Two of the founders had given up their full-time jobs to work dedicatedly on the venture. The product was being customized to the requirements of their only client. Product development was taking longer than anticipated. To add to the challenges, international competitors had started capturing the Indian market. The founders had two options. First, they could wait and finish the product development before reaching out to their prospective clients – leading to delays and losing out on the market. Second, they could reach out to prospective clients and convince them to use the work-in-progress version of the product – which could turn out to be a deal breaker. The founders had to come to a consensus soon. Complexity academic Level The case is intended for students in undergraduate or graduate-level courses related to entrepreneurship, new venture creation, innovation management and business management.

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