Mediated effect of export assistance on export performance of Serbian manufacturing SMEs

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 649-667
Author(s):  
Katarina Njegić ◽  
Jelena Damnjanović ◽  
Biserka Komnenić
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Competitive Intensity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Resources ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Export Assistance ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to examine the intervening role of export-related resources in the relationship between export assistance (EA) and export performance (EP) as well as the role of competitive intensity as a driver for the adoption of EA programmes by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachThe proposed model was tested on the sample of 119 SMEs that export from the Republic of Serbia. The data were gathered through an online survey. In order to test the hypotheses, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used.FindingsThe results revealed that export-related resources (intellectual, relational and managerial resources) fully mediate the relationship between EA and EP. It was shown that competitive intensity in export markets had a positive effect on the amount of EA that SMEs receive from the government, EU and other organisations.Research limitations/implicationsThe number of firms that participated in the survey is small. Furthermore, the responses may be biased due to the auto-selection of SMEs. The research included only SMEs from different manufacturing industries. Thus, the implications of the research cannot be applied to the service sector.Practical implicationsThe findings of the conducted research are relevant for the managers of SMEs since they show the importance of using EA as an external resource. The use of EA improves EP through the enhancement of intellectual, relational and managerial resources. The results of this study also support further government investment in EA as it was found that EA is an effective tool for the improvement of EP of SMEs.Originality/valueThe effect of EA on EP was tested in Serbia, the research context in which this effect was not tested before. Besides, the proposed model gives insights into the factors that affect engagement in EA programmes, which is a topic rarely examined in the literature.

Celebrity transgression and consumers’ forgiveness: does religiosity matter?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anwar Sadat Shimul ◽  
Matthew Barber ◽  
Mohammad Ishmam Abedin
Keyword(s):  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Intrinsic Religiosity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine the role of religiosity on consumers’ forgiveness when celebrities get involved in transgression. The celebrity’s reaction and its impact on consumers’ forgiveness is tested as well. In addition, consumers’ attitudes towards the brand and celebrity as well as purchase intention for the endorsed brand are examined both before and after the transgression. Design/methodology/approach Data (n = 356) were collected through a self-administered online survey and analysed though structural equation modelling in AMOS 26. Findings The results show that consumers’ attitude towards celebrity, brand and purchase intention gets weaker once the celebrity gets into transgression. Consumers tend to forgive more if the celebrity apologises (vs denies) for the wrongdoing. The hypothesised relationship between attitude towards celebrity and purchase intention did not sustain after the transgression. In addition, consumers’ intrinsic religiosity strengthens the relationship between attitude towards the celebrity and purchase intention. Practical implications The findings of this research present valuable implications for brands practitioners. Brands should formulate actionable contingency plans to mitigate the negative ramifications of celebrity transgressions. Specifically, intrinsic religiosity and celebrity apologies should assist consumers in forgiving the transgression and negate the implications that could have arisen if the celebrity instead denied the transgressions. Originality/value This research extends the previous research by examining religiosity and forgiveness within the context of celebrity transgressions. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first few research studies to consider the role religiosity plays in consumers’ intention to forgive celebrity transgressions.

Intrapreneurship to engage employees: role of psychological capital

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jatin Pandey ◽  
Manish Gupta ◽  
Yusuf Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeIntrapreneurship is gaining traction in organizations to buckle up for the dynamic business environment. Scholars have argued that intrapreneurship increases positivity at work and helps employees attach themselves better with their job. However, empirical evidence suggests that these relationships do not exist. The objective of this paper is to examine the mediating role of psychological capital (PsyCap) in the relationship between intrapreneurship and work engagement.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through an online survey. Responses from 309 employees working in different industries in India were analysed. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe results show that there exist positive relationships among intrapreneurship, psychological capital (PsyCap) and work engagement. Further, it was observed that the PsyCap partially mediates the relationship between intrapreneurship and work engagement.Practical implicationsManagers may not only encourage intrapreneurial behaviour in their organizations but also ensure that the employees are psychologically capable (high on PsyCap). It would enable the employees to engage themselves wholeheartedly into their work.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is one of its kinds to relate intrapreneurship with PsyCap and work engagement.

The mediating role of decentralization between strategy and performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qinglan Chen ◽  
Tor Eriksson
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the mediating role of decentralization in the relationship between a firm’s strategy and its performance in the context of an advanced economy where the chief corporate strategy is differentiation. Design/methodology/approach The study uses data collected by an online survey targeting a stratified sample of 1,238 private firms operating in Denmark. The empirical analysis was carried out by estimating a structural equation model. Findings The key finding was that a decentralized organization (DO) can act as a mediator between a firm’s differentiation strategy and its performance. A multi-group analysis revealed that the mediating impact of decentralizing was affected by contingency factors such as firm size, strategic clarity, degrees of business environment risk and industry competition. Thus, a DO can be said to play a more important role in larger firms, in firms with less strategic clarity, and in companies with multiple plants. Research limitations/implications Although the study offers empirical evidence from a relatively large and representative sample of firms, the specificity of the context should be noted. In particular, firms in Denmark, while facing strong competition, do not compete with low costs. Clearly, studies of the mediating role of decentralization in low-cost strategy environments would be an important next step. Practical implications Several implications of the findings for organizational design and creation of beneficial conditions for strategy implementations are discussed. Originality/value The novel contribution of the study lies in the focus on decentralization as a mediator in the strategy–performance relationship. While previous research has shown that strategy is related to decentralization, and that decentralization is associated with higher performance, an empirical analysis of the relationship between the factors in the strategy-decentralization-performance path had not previously been undertaken.

The mediating impact of stickiness and loyalty on word-of-mouth promotion of retail websites

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 1828-1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjit Kumar Roy ◽  
Walfried M. Lassar ◽  
Gul T. Butaney
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Website Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Quality Dimensions ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to develop and empirically test a model which examines the relationship between e-servicescape dimensions, website quality dimensions, website stickiness, website loyalty and word-of-mouth (WOM). The role of WOM in influencing consumer behaviour is documented in literature. However, despite its growing importance, research on the antecedents of WOM in the e-retail context is sparse. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected by circulating the questionnaire using an online survey from the graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in a large university in the northeastern USA. Out of 660 questionnaires distributed, 509 were usable. Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Findings – Results show that website stickiness and website loyalty are two different constructs which form the immediate antecedents of WOM. Results also show the indirect effects of e-servicescape and website quality dimensions on WOM. Practical implications – The findings of the study provides a better understanding of the factors likely to influence the WOM behaviour of e-retail store customers. Findings also provide valuable insights into the factors which managers need to focus on to make their e-retail website increasingly stickier. Originality/value – The contribution of the paper lies in eliciting the differences between stickiness to and loyalty to retail websites and extending the research on e-servicescapes.

Linking organisational values and sustainability: the role of AMO practices

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Rincon-Roldan ◽  
Alvaro Lopez-Cabrales
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Measurement Scales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Organisational Values ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe aim of this study was to analyse the link between the values that govern the functioning of cooperatives and their sustainability. Furthermore, the authors propose that this relationship is mediated by AMO (ability, motivation and opportunity) practices, which generate different behaviours and attitudes in their employees, thus strengthening the message of sustainable management that the directors of this kind of companies aim to transmit.Design/methodology/approachThis article presents a theoretical and empirical research model about the relationship between organisational values, AMO practices and sustainability in social economy firms. The proposed model was tested using the multivariate method of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with a sample of 124 cooperative companies. The information was gathered through a questionnaire with questions composed of measurement scales that had been previously validated by the reference literature.FindingsThis work empirically demonstrates that the perceived support, respect and responsibility values are strongly related to sustainability, and that ability and opportunity-enhancing practices mediate the association of perceived support and responsibility with the sustainability of cooperatives.Originality/valueThis work contributes to covering the lack of studies about which values support and impact the sustainability of organisations, and it provides information about the mediating role of certain AMO practices in the search for a more sustainable organisation, demonstrating that some practices are more relevant than others.

scholarly journals Digital platforms: customer satisfaction, eWOM and the moderating role of perceived technological innovativeness

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
José L. Ruiz-Alba ◽  
Mohamad Abou-Foul ◽  
Alireza Nazarian ◽  
Pantea Foroudi
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Cost Saving ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Collaborative Consumption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate how customer satisfaction can be achieved in the context of digital platform services, its influence on electronic word of mouth (eWOM) and how such relationships can be moderated by perceived technological innovativeness (PTI).Design/methodology/approachThe research framework was developed and empirically tested using an online survey and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). Data were gathered from 501 Uber customers in London, UK.FindingsThe study recognises and confirms that trust and cost saving enhanced customer satisfaction in Uber mobility services, which has a positive impact on eWOM. There are other findings regarding users who share rides vs those who do not share. Furthermore, it has been found that PTI moderates the relationship between customer satisfaction and eWOM.Originality/valueThe research draws on collaborative consumption literature and contributes to the antecedents of customer satisfaction in digital economy literature: trust, environmental impact, cost saving and utility. The study offers an empirical validation of the role of PTI in enhancing eWOM. The paper breaks new ground for a better understanding of how PTI can moderate the influence of customer satisfaction and eWOM in digital platforms.

Green brand benefits and their influence on brand loyalty

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jialing Lin ◽  
Antonio Lobo ◽  
Civilai Leckie
Keyword(s):  
Brand Loyalty ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Brand Image ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Trust ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the formation of green brand image through customers’ perceptions of the functional and emotional benefits associated with green brands and the influence of green brand image on purchase behavioural response. Additionally, the influence of a moderating variable (green perceived risk) on this formation process is examined. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using an online survey administered to a consumer panel in China. Structural equation modelling was used to test the conceptual model. Findings The results demonstrate that the provision of utilitarian benefits and self-expressive benefits directly enhance the brand’s green image. Also, utilitarian benefits and green brand image have direct influences on green brand loyalty. Green perceived risk negatively moderates the relationship between utilitarian benefits and green brand image. Research limitations/implications This study extends previous research by examining the development of green brand image and investigating the moderating role of green perceived risk in this process. Also, this study enriches research on green brand and corporate branding by investigating the relationship between green brand image and brand loyalty. Originality/value Although previous research has examined how perceived benefits influence the development of corporate brand image, the issue has not been investigated from a green branding perspective. Moreover, the moderating role of green perceived risk in the formation of green brand image has not been explored, despite the concerns relating to greenwash which have been raised in several green brand studies. Finally, green brand image was found to be a strong antecedent of brand loyalty, besides the predominant elements of green trust and green satisfaction.

scholarly journals Frugal doesn’t mean ordinary: a religious perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volkan Yeniaras ◽  
Tugra Nazli Akarsu
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Deep Level ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Religious Perspective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Exchange is often identified as the primary role of marketing. Consumer behaviour literature, therefore, focuses on uncovering the characteristics of decision-making styles of individuals that embrace consuming. However, recent global economic crises have led consumers to become increasingly frugal. Approaching frugality from the religious perspective, this paper aims to identify the deep-level diversities of frugal consumers in their quality consciousness tendencies, rather than simply equating both frugality and religiosity to non-consumption. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a counterintuitive model has been offered that includes the positive moderating effect of religiosity on the relationship between frugality and quality consciousness. Using structural equation modelling, this paper tests the proposed model using a unique sample of 413 adults. Findings This paper extends the knowledge in the consumer behaviour literature by providing empirical evidence that religiosity positively moderates the relationship of frugality to quality consciousness. Further scrutiny showed that at high levels of religiosity, frugality positively affects quality consciousness. Originality/value This paper offers new avenues of research by highlighting the importance of not equating frugality and religiosity to low levels of consumption and abstinence from consuming. The dynamic nature of the growing Islamic economy requires both the scholars and practitioners to comprehend the consumers’ consumption preferences in markets where religious beliefs and frugality are well embedded into the culture. The paper sheds light on the literature pertinent to the examination of the relationship between frugality and religiosity by suggesting that the highly religious Muslim consumers’ frugality translates into quality consciousness.

scholarly journals Exploring the Relationship Between Loneliness, Materialism, and Life Satisfaction in a Western Context: the Moderating Role of Gender

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-185
Author(s):  
Srikant Manchiraju ◽  
Amrut Sadachar ◽  
Rimple Manchanda
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Abstract Both loneliness and materialism have been associated with decrement in one’s life satisfaction. However, the relationship between loneliness, materialism, and life satisfaction has not been explored in the Western context. Therefore, the present study addresses two issues: (1) the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction taking into account the mediating role of materialism and (2) the moderating role of gender in the aforementioned mediation model. A research model was proposed. To test the proposed model, data were collected via an online survey administered to U.S. nationals convenience sample (N = 312). Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model. Loneliness was negatively related to life satisfaction and positively related to materialism. Contrary to the expectation, materialism was positively related to life satisfaction. Materialism mediated the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction. Gender did not moderate the relationship between loneliness and materialism, whereas gender did moderate the relationship between materialism and life satisfaction.

scholarly journals Antecedents and consequences of market orientation in international B2B market: role of export assistance as a moderator

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Imtiaz Mostafiz ◽  
Murali Sambasivan ◽  
See Kwong Goh
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Market Orientation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Export Assistance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Export Manufacturing

Purpose The significance of market orientation (MO) in industrial marketing literature is immense. Separately, the role of dynamic managerial capability (DMC) as an individual-level capability has been found to be beneficial to business-to-business (B2B) transactions. However, the assessments of DMC as the antecedent to complement MO in achieving firm performance are rare. To address this knowledge gap, this study builds upon a research framework on the DMC theory and MO literature. Additionally, this study aims to investigate how export assistance avails MO-firm performance relationship and assists entrepreneurs to thrive in the international market. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted among the entrepreneurial export manufacturing firms in the apparel industry in Bangladesh. Structural equation modelling was used to investigate the hypothesized relationship among 329 firms. Findings Two attributes of DMC, namely, managerial social capital and managerial cognition of entrepreneurs improve the MO process of export manufacturing firms. MO mediates the relationship between DMC and firm performance. Additionally, export assistance positively moderates the relationship between MO and the financial performance of the firm. Originality/value MO requires complementary capabilities to realize the value of it efficiently. This study strongly advocates entrepreneurs to nurture DMC to leverage MO and capitalize on emerging opportunities by productively using export assistance. Firms in the emerging economies often suffer from resource-scarcity and export assistance mitigates barriers to expand international operations and yield financial liberty to the firms operating in the international B2B market.

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