Factors influencing internship satisfaction among Chinese students

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 543-558
Author(s):  
Wai Ming To ◽  
Jane W.Y. Lung

PurposeAn internship is an essential part of vocational-oriented degree programs because it enhances the employability of graduates and prepares them for career development. Thus, it is important to understand how students view internships and whether they are satisfied with their internship experience. This paper explores the effects of organizational and individual factors on internship satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachBased on a literature review on internship, we propose a theoretical model in which organizational factors, including supervisor support and task clarity, and individual factors, including interns' perceived functional value and perceived social value, can lead to internship satisfaction while task clarity, perceived functional value and perceived social value can affect interns' self-initiative behavior. The proposed model was tested using responses from 161 Chinese students in Macao SAR.FindingsThe results of structural equation modeling indicated that supervisor support and perceived social value had direct and significant impacts on internship satisfaction while task clarity and perceived functional value had direct and significant impacts on interns' self-initiative behavior. Additionally, supervisor support significantly influenced task clarity, perceived functional value and perceived social value.Originality/valueThe paper identifies that supervisor support has a strong and significant impact on internship satisfaction. Additionally, the current study indicates that organizations should pay great attention to appoint the right work supervisors who are able to assign appropriate tasks to interns, provide clear guidance and facilitate social interaction between interns and other people.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heikki Karjaluoto ◽  
Richard Glavee-Geo ◽  
Dineshwar Ramdhony ◽  
Aijaz A. Shaikh ◽  
Ashna Hurpaul

PurposeThis study develops a theoretical model of consumption values regarding the technology adoption of mobile banking (m-banking) services, with the financial service sector as the empirical context. This study aims to evaluate whether consumption values influence trust and intention. Furthermore, the authors explore how the consumer type (i.e. urban vs rural) differs in consumption values regarding adopting m-banking services.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this study were gathered from 246 responses collected from individuals living in a country with a developing market, using a survey instrument. The six study hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling.FindingsThe authors found support for effects from functional, epistemic and emotional value on intention. Functional and emotional value significantly influenced trust, while social and epistemic value did not. Social value was a significant moderator between functional value and intention. Consumers who were relatively unconcerned with social value were more motivated by functional value, while consumers who placed great emphasis on social value were motivated by epistemic value. Multigroup analysis showed that the effect from functional value on trust was stronger for urban than rural customers, while the effect from emotional value on trust was stronger for rural than urban customers.Practical implicationsOverall, functional value is the strongest predictor of trust and intention; therefore, bank managers are encouraged to promote m-banking services' functional value to increase trust and attract more users by promoting their companies' m-banking application. M-banking customers can also be classified based on the benefits in which they are most interested.Originality/valueThe study is one of the first attempts to demonstrate empirically how consumption values' dimensions drive m-banking use among different types of customers in a developing market context with a high m-banking penetration rate.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 940-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukesh Kumar ◽  
K.S. Sujit ◽  
Vincent Charles

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose the microeconomics concept of elasticity to estimate the SERVQUAL gap elasticity to derive important insights for service providers to develop the right strategies to bridge the overall gap in service. Design/methodology/approach The dimensions of SERVQUAL adopted from Parasuraman et al. (1988) and Kumar et al. (2009) are first verified for their unidimensionality using structural equation modeling and reliability in the context of United Arab Emirates banking industry. Furthermore, the technique of dominance analysis is used to derive the relative importance of dimensions for different groups of banks. Finally, the stepwise log-linear regression models are used to estimate the gap elasticity to measure the responsiveness of the overall SERVQUAL gap to a change in customers’ perception on different dimension. Findings The results reveal that the dimension which is prioritized as the most important dimension need not to be the one to be targeted under the resource constraint to react faster to the changes of customers’ banking behavior. Originality/value This is probably the first attempt to examine the service quality through gap elasticity. This method is especially useful when the traditional approach to measure relative importance of critical factors fails to clearly discriminate between two or more dimensions, which, in turn, may lead to failure in decision making to choose the right strategies to bridge the overall gap in the service.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 578-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Krey ◽  
Stephanie Hui-Wen Chuah ◽  
T. Ramayah ◽  
Philipp A. Rauschnabel

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine advertising strategies’ (functional vs emotional) influence on consumers’ evaluation and adoption of smartwatches by drawing on the elaboration likelihood model and the schema incongruity theory. Moderating effects of consumer characteristics (personal innovativeness and extraversion) on the value assessment and attitude relationship are also tested. Design/methodology/approach The model was assessed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling with a sample of 999 non-smartwatch users. Findings Results show that functional ads elicit higher levels of hedonic than functional (usefulness) and ergonomic values (ease of use), whereas emotional ads produce higher levels of functional (usefulness) in comparison to hedonic value (enjoyment). Collectively, functional, ergonomic, hedonic and symbolic values shape consumers’ attitude and their subsequent behavior. In addition, findings demonstrate that extraversion positively moderates the symbolic value–attitude relationship, whereas personal innovativeness negatively moderates the functional value–attitude relationship. Originality/value Smartwatch sales have floundered despite substantial investments in ad campaigns. This study provides novel insights into managing non-users’ value perceptions of smartwatches with the optimal use of ad strategies. Furthermore, it is also one of the first studies to validate the moderating role of extraversion on the symbolic value–attitude link, thus contributing to the emerging literature on wearable technology.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Ali Raza ◽  
Arsalan Najmi ◽  
Nida Shah

Purpose This paper aims to explore the significance of knowledge transfer (KT) from universities to organizations by employing in-service employees, who are working in organizations and at the same time studying in the universities, as the channel. Design/methodology/approach By using survey methodology, data were collected from 216 in-service business students via self-administered questionnaires and partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied. Findings The results revealed that intrinsic motivation, psychological hardiness, functional value and innovative culture significantly predict the acquired knowledge which henceforth positively affects KT. Research limitations/implications Data from business students of the single university were extracted which limits the findings, and hence directed future researchers to explore further. Practical implications Interactive, case study-based training and others implications are discussed to effectively transfer the knowledge from universities to organizations. Originality/value The role of in-service employed students is of significant importance, as students exist as an intermediary between organizations and universities, and so both universities and organizations should make maximum use of the said channel for an effective KT.


2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunju Woo ◽  
Yeong Gug Kim

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to apply the multidimensional construct of green perceived value (GPV) to the buying behavior of green food products to enhance the understanding of consumer behavior intentions and explain the formation of the intention to buy green food products. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted four GPVs (i.e. functional value, conditional value, social value and emotional value) and explored the relationships among GPV, attitudes and purchase intention. A total of 300 self-administered questionnaires were distributed, from which 253 usable responses were obtained. Findings The relationships between six constructs and 20 indicators were measured using structural equation modeling. All the underlying dimensions had a significant effect on consumers’ attitudes, significantly affecting their purchase intention. Originality/value Implications for future research and marketing strategies in the field of purchasing behaviors of green food products are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 2857-2880 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh ◽  
Mohmmad Iranmanesh ◽  
Muslim Amin ◽  
Kashif Hussain ◽  
Mastura Jaafar ◽  
...  

Purpose This study aims to examine the interrelationships between the dimensions of perceived value, including functional, emotional and social values. The mediating role of emotional value between functional and social values and satisfaction have been hypothesized and tested. In addition, this study examines the moderating role of social value for the effect of emotional value on satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were collected from guests staying at two traditional guesthouses in Kashan, Iran. The authors applied partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze 316 questionnaires completed by participants and for hypotheses testing. Findings The authors found positive and direct effects of all dimensions of perceived value on satisfaction. Moreover, the results indicated positive and significant indirect effects for functional and social values on satisfaction through emotional value. The findings demonstrated positive and strong effects of functional and social values on emotional value. The results do not support a moderating role for social value on the relationship between emotional value and satisfaction. In addition, the findings showed a strong and positive effect for satisfaction on revisit intentions. Originality/value This study makes a unique theoretical contribution to the perceived value literature by investigating the interrelationships between dimensions of perceived value. Moreover, this study explores several practical implications of these findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 1269-1286
Author(s):  
Liang Xiao ◽  
Tongping Ke

Purpose Non-vehicle operating carrier platform is a typical crowdsourcing logistics platform that has achieved rapid development in China in recent years, and the sustainable development of non-vehicle operating carrier platform is underpinned by a large and stable professional user group. The purpose of this paper is to understand what platform incentives are available and to explore the influence mechanism of these incentives on actual carriers’ continuous intention to participate in non-vehicle operating carrier platform. Design/methodology/approach Based on organizational institution theory and behavioral motivation theory, the paper established the influence mechanism model of platform incentives on actual carriers’ continuous participation intention of non-vehicle operating carrier platform. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed by Road Transportation Management Bureau of Zhejiang Province and a third-party questionnaire survey platform, and 176 valid questionnaires were collected. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method based on PLS estimation was used to analyze the data. Findings The results revealed that the platform incentives have a significant influence on actual carriers’ continuous participation intention. The influence of the reputation incentive is the most profound, ranking first. The influence of the resource incentive is second to that of reputation incentive, ranking second. The influence of the bonus incentive ranks third. The operating cost perception, social value perception and functional value perception have significantly mediating effect. Furthermore, the mediating effect of social value perception and functional value perception is significantly higher than that of operating cost perception. Originality/value This study revealed the influence mechanism of platform incentives on actual carriers’ continuous participation intention of non-vehicle operating carrier platform. The relevant research results provided references for the establishment of platform incentive mechanism.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Quiroga Souki ◽  
Flavia Braga Chinelato ◽  
Cid Gonçalves Filho

PurposeThe study aims to ascertain the impacts of entertainment, social and functional values on the likelihood of sharing commercial videos online and verify whether consumers' likelihood to share videos impacts brand attachment and brand equity.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted with 368 university students who watched videos of five companies on YouTube Brazil. The electronic form had 24 questions covering the constructs entertainment value, social value, functional value, likelihood to share, brand attachment and brand equity. The structural equation modeling (SEM) tested the survey´s hypothetical model.FindingsThe entertainment value and the social value had positive impacts on the likelihood to share commercial videos online. Moreover, the likelihood to share videos positively impacted brand attachment and brand equity. Finally, brand attachment had a positive effect on brand equity.Practical implicationsEntertainment and social values affect the likelihood to share commercial videos, stimulating consumer engagement with brands through interactive marketing on SNSs. Therefore, companies should produce fun videos that add social value to consumers to go viral, positively influencing brands. Finally, another contribution is the impact of video sharing on brand attachment. Previous studies have contemplated only the opposite relationship between these constructs.Originality/valueThis research adds value to interactive marketing by investigating consumers' behaviors, their interactivity in social networking sites (SNSs) and the impacts on brands. It is the only study that simultaneously contemplates the effects of entertainment, social and functional values on the likelihood to share commercial videos online and demonstrates its impact on brand attachment and brand equity.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Waqar Ahmed ◽  
Muhammad Zaki Rashidi

Purpose Risk is primarily managed by developing the right strategies. Effective alignment of lean and agile strategies is always challenging for practitioners to create firm’s competitiveness. The purpose of this study is to comprehend the behavior of these fundamental supply chain (SC) strategies by using the Triple-A framework. Design/methodology/approach Sample data is collected from 257 SC professionals serving in manufacturing firms through a self-administered structured questionnaire. The statistical technique used to perform hypotheses testing is structural equation modeling. Findings This study discloses a few critical attributes of lean and agile strategies while attempting to create strategic alignment and gain maximum benefits out of it. One of the key findings is that a lean strategy finds it challenging to create adaptability. However, better alignment among the market priorities and operational capabilities may improve risk management capabilities. Practical implications This study posits various vital insights for strategy-makers. For instance, it is advised to the operations managers that lean resources are usually never capable of adopting change but can be aligned with the market changes to create a SC risk management capability for the firm. Originality/value This is an original research with various useful insights for SC operations strategy-makers and academic researchers as it reveals a key empirical evidence of past vital concepts.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasrin Barforoush ◽  
Akbar Etebarian ◽  
Amirreza Naghsh ◽  
Arash Shahin

Purpose Many industries accomplish green innovation for sustainable development, but it should play a significant role in the sustainable development and implementation of an organizations benefit. The purpose of this paper is to examine if green business innovation in terms of technology, organization, stakeholder and policies is able to develop competitive advantages. Design/methodology/approach This study was carried out in two stages and covered 4 variables and 21 indicators. Based on the experts’ opinions and literature review, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among 113 experts of oil refining companies in Iran. The data were analyzed by the structural equation modeling technique. Findings The results indicated the effects of organizational factors, legislation, regulations and technology on green innovation. They also revealed the role of green innovation in reaching competitive advantages. Moreover, the relationship between stakeholder and green innovation was investigated. Practical implications The findings provide guidance on how firms can be better prepared for green innovation and get the most out of it and deal with the risks involved in green innovation, it is important that companies evaluate organization, technology and environment readiness and formulate corresponding strategies. Such a proactive approach can help enterprise control and minimize the risks of green innovation. A self-evaluation of the green innovation readiness of an enterprise helps the enterprise establish a mechanism to keep track of technological evolution. Originality/value This study contributes to the emerging field of green innovation which embed organization, technology, stakeholders, legislation and flows of the value created, delivered and captured in a value network. It also highlights the gaps in addressing the challenges of an innovative model for competitive advantages and suggests avenues for future research.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document