Consumer approach intentions amid COVID-19: the role of safety compliance and perceived risk

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amro A. Maher ◽  
Tamer H. Elsharnouby ◽  
Abdullah M. Aljafari

Purpose This study aims to investigate how employee and other-consumer safety compliance amid the COVID-19 outbreak influences a focal consumer’s intention to approach a service establishment. The study also examines the three-way interaction effect of employee compliance, other-consumer compliance and perceived threat associated with COVID-19 on approach intentions. Design/methodology/approach This study uses an experimental approach with a 2 (employee safety compliance: low vs high) × 2 (other-consumer safety compliance: low vs high) × 2 (consumer perceived threat from COVID-19: low vs high) between-subjects design. Students were trained to recruit a convenience sample of 827 consumers in Qatar and data were analyzed using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Findings Employee safety compliance has a positive impact on the consumer’s approach intentions. Employee safety compliance has a bigger impact on approach intentions if other consumers in the service environment are also compliant with safety measures and even a greater effect when the perceived threat from COVID-19 is high. The effect of the interaction between employee and other-consumer safety compliance is significantly different under two levels of perceived threat. Practical implications To enhance approach intentions, managers should start by establishing and maintaining safety compliance among employees and then achieving compliance among consumers. Achieving compliance among employees and consumers has a positive impact on approach intentions despite the focal consumer’s perceived risk associated with COVID-19. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate how the safety compliance of employees and other consumers jointly affects consumers’ approach intentions during a global pandemic, and it is among very few attempts to manipulate dimensions of the social servicescape.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuzhen Liu ◽  
Fulei Chu ◽  
Ming Guo ◽  
Yuanyuan Liu

PurposeWorkplace safety has been a persistent issue for safety-critical organizations. Based on self-verification theory, this study investigates how authentic leadership affects safety behaviors in a collectivistic context.Design/methodology/approachThis research collected 259 matching questionnaires for high-speed railway (HSR) drivers and their supervisors in China. Specifically, HSR drivers were invited to fill in their general perceived authentic leadership, person-organization fit and collectivistic orientation. In addition, their direct supervisors were invited to assess their safety behaviors.FindingsAuthentic leadership exhibits a significant positive impact on safety compliance and safety participation, implying that authentic leadership positively impacts safety behavior. The person-organization fit partially mediated the relationship between authentic leadership and safety behavior (safety compliance and participation). Furthermore, collectivistic orientation moderates the relationship between authentic leadership and person-organization fit.Originality/valueThe findings of this study provide important insights into authentic leadership and person-organization fit for developing effective strategies to improve workplace safety.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-264
Author(s):  
Krishna Reddy ◽  
Muhammad Qamar ◽  
Noel Yahanpath

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study whether mergers and acquisitions (M&As) create value in Indian and Chinese markets. Design/methodology/approach The authors study abnormal returns (AR) created by the acquiring firms in Indian and Chinese markets relating to M&A announcements, using the following three different statistical methods: i.e. mean, market and ordinary least squares adjusted return models. Findings On average, M&A announcements do not create value for the firms in Chinese and Indian economies. For the mean model, M&As create value for Chinese firms, whereas for the Indian firms no such value is created for the same event windows. The regression results showed that debt has a positive impact on the AR and cumulative average abnormal returns at 1, 5 and 10 per cent significance levels, respectively. Research limitations/implications This study suggests increasing the sample size and period and using the instrumental variables regression to ensure the estimator’s impartiality, consistency and efficiency. With the investigative period surrounding a financial crisis, the estimators may have omitted bias. Originality/value Multiple methods used in this paper made it possible to capture the level of method variance in the AR, which is unusual in the Chinese and Indian context. Hence, the current study provides local knowledge and further strengthens the literature about M&As. The authors also regress AR with firm-specific factors, the consideration of which is scarce in the previous literature. Furthermore, much of what the authors know about M&A is relevant to developed economies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sohaib ◽  
Umair Akram ◽  
Peng Hui ◽  
Hassan Rasool ◽  
Zohaib Razzaq ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) motivations of regulatory-focused customers with positive and negative consumption experiences. Design/methodology/approach An online survey is conducted in Beijing and Shanghai. A random sampling technique is used to collect data from 854 respondents. Two scenarios of eWOM communication – positive and negative consumption experiences – are randomly assigned to each respondent. This study employs the structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis techniques. However, it uses ordinary least squares and logistic regression to analyze 137 participants in the experimental study. Findings Promotion-focused customers that aim for self-enhancement and obtaining social benefits are motivated to spread positive eWOM on social networking sites. However, prevention-focused customers are driven by vengeance and anxiety, revealing higher intentions to post negative eWOM on review sites. eWOM generation is subject to gender, as promotion-focused male customers spread it more than both prevention-focused and promotion-focused female customers. Moreover, platform assistance (PA) has a significant positive impact upon regulatory-focused customers and eWOM (positive vs negative) relationships. Practical implications This study provides a deeper understanding of motivational factors of eWOM communication. Specifically, in case of product or service failure, negative consumption experiences drive prevention-focused customers to generate negative eWOM. Thus, using various tactics, marketers need to shift customers from focusing on prevention to focusing on promotion. For example, redeemable free coupons can shift customer attention and generate positive eWOM. Originality/value This study provides unique insights about eWOM motivation across genders. It examines regulatory focus, positive vs negative consumption experiences and moderation of PA.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Khuong Ninh

PurposeThis paper investigates the impact of education on output of rice farming households in Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachGiven the literature review, this paper specifies three empirical models (i.e. linear constant coefficient model, partially nonlinear model and linear varied coefficient model) with variables that well describe the mechanism through which education affects output. The data were collected from 901 rice farming households randomly selected out of ten provinces and city in the Mekong River Delta (MRD) of Vietnam. The models are estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS) and Robinson's (1988) double residual estimators.FindingsEstimates of the empirical models show that seed, fertilizer, labor and farm size have significant impacts on output of rice farming households while pesticide and herbicide do not. Education is also found to have a positive effect on output of rice farming households because it helps them better manage farms of larger size via combining various inputs in a more desirable way.Originality/valueThis paper confirms the positive impact of education on agricultural output, which implies that policies aiming to provide better education to rural people will greatly enhance their income as well as trigger long-term economic and agricultural growth.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razilya Shakirova

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that may influence support of public-private partnerships (PPPs) by government employees potentially involved in designing and implementing cross-sectoral collaborations. Design/methodology/approach Based on an original survey of government employees in the USA, this study explores the impact of individual, organizational and environmental factors on their support for PPPs by employing ordinary least squares regression. Findings Among the individual factors, involvement in PPPs and concerns for efficiency have been identified as factors having positive impact on government employees’ support for PPPs. Male government employees seem to be less supportive of PPPs than female government employees. Environmental factors such as public opinion and appointed agency heads positively influence government employees’ views of PPPs. No evidence for the significant impact of organizational factors on government employee perceptions of PPPs was found. Research limitations/implications Factors influencing government employees’ attitudes may also have an effect on employees’ behaviors when involved in PPPs. Further studies may clarify how attitudes are translated into behaviors and how they influence the performance of PPPs. Investigations into government employees’ views of PPPs before and after their actual involvement in partnerships may allow for identifying changes in employees’ support for PPPs and their possible causes. Originality/value This study investigates the impacts of individual, organizational and environmental factors on government employees’ support for partnerships with the private sector that remain under-researched in the literature.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-313
Author(s):  
Ankur Shukla ◽  
Sivasankaran Narayanasamy ◽  
Ramachandran Krishnakumar

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to explore the impact of board size on the accounting returns and asset quality of Indian banks. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses ordinary least squares regression, robust regression and panel data methods for estimation, based on data collected for a sample of 29 Indian banks that are listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and form part of the NSE-500 index over a period of eight financial years 2009-2016. The data pertaining to the board size of the sample banks is collected from the annual reports of banks, whereas the data relating to return on assets (ROA) and ratio of the gross non-performing assets to total assets and control variables (bank age and bank size) is extracted from ACE Equity database. Findings This paper concludes that the size of the governing board has a positive impact on the accounting returns (measured through ROA) of the Indian banks. Further, board size is observed to be insignificant in determining the asset quality of Indian banks. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature and practitioners in a number of ways. First, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on the impact of board size on the accounting returns and asset quality of Indian banks. The findings of the study contribute new theoretical insights to the body of knowledge on the influence of the size of the board, which may be useful for future researchers. Second, banks may enhance their financial performance by taking cognizance of the findings of this study. Finally, equity investors may make use of the findings of this article in deciding on whether to invest in a bank’s stock/lend to the bank based on board size of the bank.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-90
Author(s):  
Quang Vu Hoang

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of the proportion of communes that met all national new rural criteria (hereafter NRD communes).Design/methodology/approachFirst, the method of propensity score (PS) stratification is used to classify 63 provinces into the subgroups. Second, the ordinary least squares (OLS) model is used with the subgroups classified from the PS stratification method as one of explicative variables. The dependent variable in the OLS model is the proportion of NRD communes.FindingsWith the sample of 63 provinces of Vietnam, the author found that per capita income growth rate, high growth of gross regional domestic product (GRDP) and effort of the provincial authority have positive impact on the proportion of NRD communes.Practical implicationsThis research suggests that the provincial authority should actively participate in the NRD program, and the economic development is key factor for success implementation of the NRD program.Originality/valueThis research contributes to understand the factors impacting the result of the NRD program and then help to identify the measures to support this program.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Kalash

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of environmental performance on the capital structure and financial performance of Turkish listed firms. Design/methodology/approach This study used data of 49 firms listed on Istanbul Stock Exchange during the period between 2014 and 2019, resulting in 205 firm-year observations. The environmental performance data were drawn from the carbon disclosure project Turkey climate change reports. Ordinary least squares and binary logistic regression models were used to examine whether environmental performance impacts the capital structure and financial performance. Findings The findings of this research revealed that environmental performance significantly positively affects the firm leverage. Findings also showed that environmental performance has a significantly positive impact on return on assets, operating profitability and return on equity, but no significant impact on stock returns. Practical implications Given the increased borrowing costs for Turkish firms after the 2018 currency crisis in Turkey, the findings of this study are very important as they enable managers of Turkish firms to make better decisions related to capital structure and to understand the role of environmental performance in reducing the cost of debt and enhancing financial performance. Originality/value To the author’s knowledge, this research is the first to investigate the effect of environmental performance on capital structure in the Turkish context, and is one of few that explained how environmental performance affects the financial performance of Turkish firms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 722-735
Author(s):  
Filipe Quevedo-Silva ◽  
Otavio Freire ◽  
Caroline Pauletto Spanhol-Finocchio

Purpose Over the last few years, several events have reduced the consumer confidence in relation to food safety. Recently, one event that triggered discussions and concern among consumers in Brazil was the “Carne Fraca” operation which cast doubt on the quality and safety of Brazilian beef. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of the news regarding a national crisis in beef production on consumers’ assessment and purchase intention of beef. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative study was conducted involving 417 respondents in Brazil. The procedure for the analysis consisted of the investigation of two models, incorporating mediation and moderation effects. Findings The results show that news on the crisis had a positive impact on risk perception. This impact was negatively moderated by consumer scepticism. Risk perception had a negative effect on the assessment of beef and purchase intention. These effects were negatively affected by risk attitude. The news directly affected consumers’ assessment of beef and indirectly affected purchase intention through mediation of perceived risk. Originality/value This study proposes two models, analysing the effect of the media on consumers’ assessment of beef and purchase intention, mediated by risk perception. Furthermore, the models analyse the moderating effects of scepticism and consumers’ risk attitude.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 3365-3389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangchi Zhang ◽  
Chaowu Xie ◽  
Jianying Wang ◽  
Alastair M. Morrison ◽  
J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of hotel safety leadership on employee safety behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the mediation role of belief restoration and the moderation role of perceived risk between safety leadership and behavior were also investigated. Design/methodology/approach The COVID-19 outbreak served as the background for a questionnaire survey of 23 hotels in China with 1,594 valid responses being received. The statistical analysis techniques used were exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression. Findings The results showed that: hotel safety leadership positively affected employee safety behavior (compliance, participation and adaptation); belief restoration partially mediated the influence of safety leadership on safety behavior; and perceived risk negatively moderated the direct effect and the mediation effect of “safety leadership – belief restoration – safety behavior.” Research limitations/implications The main limitation was that the questionnaires were collected with the same measurement system within a certain period of time (cross-sectional design). Then, future research should test and expand this conceptual model in different crises, business fields, theoretical orientation and cultural backgrounds. Practical implications Hotels should develop management strategies based on safety leadership and motivate and promote employee safety behavior from the four aspects of safety coaching, care, motivation and control. Originality/value This investigation expanded the research on the effectiveness of safety leadership and especially with respect to safety in the hospitality industry during a major global crisis. Also, the research conceptual model and variables contained therein are original contributions to the hospitality research literature.


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