scholarly journals The influence of social distancing on employee well-being: a conceptual framework and research agenda

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Tuzovic ◽  
Sertan Kabadayi
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Service Continuity ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe ongoing pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus has severely influenced lives and livelihoods. As service organizations either face hibernation or continuity of their business operations, the impact of social distancing measures raises major concerns for the well-being of service employees. In this paper, the authors develop a conceptual framework to examine how different social distancing practices impact an organization's service continuity or service hibernation, which in turn affects different dimensions of their employee subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe authors draw on macroeconomic data and industrial reports, linking them to theoretical concepts to develop a conceptual framework and a research agenda to serve as a starting point to fully understand the impact of this pandemic on employee well-being.FindingsThis article develops an overarching framework and research agenda to investigate the impact of social distancing practices on employee well-being.Originality/valueThe authors propose two opposing business concepts – service continuity and service hibernation – as possible responses to social distancing measures. By bridging different theoretical domains, the authors suggeste that there is a need to holistically examine macro-, meso- and micro-level factors to fully understand the impact of social distancing–related measures on employee well-being.

Happiness and farm productivity: insights from maize farmers in China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanglin Ma ◽  
Puneet Vatsa ◽  
Xiaoshi Zhou ◽  
Hongyun Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between farmers' happiness and farm productivity, taking maize production in China as an example.Design/methodology/approachThe conditional mixed process model is employed to account for the endogeneity that inevitably arises in regression models studying happiness and estimate the 2015 China Household Finance Survey data.FindingsThe empirical results show that a higher level of farmers' happiness is associated with higher maize productivity. The marginal return in maize productivity changes unevenly with increments in farmers' self-reported happiness on a five-point Likert scale. Farmers' happiness is positively determined by their age, educational level, farm size, machinery ownership, access to agricultural subsidy and car ownership. Machinery ownership and access to credit are two important factors that improve maize productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThe finding suggests that promoting the subjective well-being of farmers is conducive to higher productivity and improved national food security. The results have implications for China and other developing countries aiming for sustainable agricultural development.Originality/valueFirm-level data show that workers' happiness improves productivity. However, it is still unclear whether farmworkers' happiness affects farm productivity. Thus, this study provides the first empirical analysis of the impact of farmworkers' happiness on farm productivity.

An empirical study of the impact of female labor participation on their subjective well-being in mainland China: evidence from CGSS data

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiehua Lu ◽  
Jiawei Nie
Keyword(s):  
Rural Women ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Labor Participation ◽  
Female Labor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Employment Conditions ◽  
The Impact

PurposeLabor participation has always been a hot topic in academic circle and a vital label in the process of China's economic and social development. Therefore, the purpose this paper is to use CGSS 2015 data, starting from labor participation, and make a comparably comprehensive analysis of the influencing factors of subjective well-being of females.Design/methodology/approachBy conducting probit regressions, the paper reveals the impact of labor participation and socio-demographic conditions on the subjective well-being of females in Mainland China.FindingsFirst, the authors’ findings turn out that urban women do have a higher level of women's subjective well-being when compared to rural women. Second, educational attainment has a significantly positive effect on subjective well-being only in urban areas, while having teen children is only statistically significant for rural residents. Third, the overall impact of employment conditions on women's subjective well-being is reduced due to the transition of gender conceptions. In all, the evaluation of subjective well-being of females is reshaped by the overwhelming transition of society in Mainland China.Research limitations/implicationsThere remain some limitations of this study. First, because CGSS 2015 data are the only data analyzed here, it is hard and inaccurate to compare the differences between this result and previous outcomes conducted by other scholars using CGSS 2005, 2010 and 2013 data. Second, the categories of employment conditions are not detailed, and thus it adds burden to further analysis. For future studies, a wider range of data should be taken into account and provide data support to have a convincing comparison at different times. The social background of diverse employment conditions could be discussed in-depth as well.Originality/valueBased on the early literature, this paper is intended to use Chinese data to study the major factors affecting Chinese female labor participation in Mainland China and also discuss the implications in practice.

Moderating effects of marketing communication and financial consideration on customer attitude and intention to purchase Islamic banking products

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Enamul Hoque ◽  
Nik Mohd Hazrul Nik Hashim ◽  
Mohammad Hafizi Bin Azmi
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Marketing Communication ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intention To Purchase ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Customer Attitude ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Financial Consideration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce a conceptual framework that can facilitate investigations concerning the impact of marketing communication and financial consideration on the relationship between customer attitude and purchase intention of Islamic banking products and services. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper is structured based on the extant literature; it provides a review of theoretical perspectives, highlights the gap and illustrates the significance for developing a framework. Findings The authors identify notable patterns and limitations in previous empirical studies. Specifically, despite increasing interest in Islamic banking customer behavior, prior research has not given much attention to explore moderating effects on the customer attitude–intention link. This has left researchers and bank managers with very limited information to explain the conditions that enhance customers’ attitude and intentions toward Islamic banking products. Based on this backdrop, the paper displays a viable research model with propositions that assess potential moderating effects on the domain relationship. Research limitations/implications This paper contributes to Islamic banking and management literature because prior research has predominantly focused on variables that directly influence customers’ behavior. This novel conceptual framework enables managers to better understand their customers and has implications for emerging themes, such as formulating strategies for specific customer groups and internationalization process. In addition, this paper provides a starting point to empirically examine whether and how the proposed moderators affect the link between customer attitude and behavioral intentions to purchase Islamic banking products. Originality/value To the best of knowledge, this is the first attempt to introduce relevant moderating variables for investigating the attitude and intention nexus in an Islamic banking context. Furthermore, the authors propose a new measure, namely, profit-loss sharing proportions which could enhance customers’ intention to purchase Islamic banking products.

Psycho-economic aspiration and subjective well-being

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 698-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Necati Aydin
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Muslim Country ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hybrid Culture ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Previous research using the Aspiration Index (AI) suggests that intrinsic goals are positively, but extrinsic/materialistic goals are negatively associated with subjective well-being (SWB). The purpose of this paper is to extend the scope of previous research by exploring the pursuit of different goals in conjunction with SWB in a country with a culture mixing western and traditional values. Several hypotheses regarding the effects of extrinsic, intrinsic, hedonic, and self-transcendent values on SWB were tested. Design/methodology/approach An extended AI survey was conducted among randomly selected cross-sectional sample of 878 Turkish adults in Istanbul. The survey data were analyzed to explore the relationship between 14 aspiration domains and SWB using both correlation coefficients and several different regression models. Findings The study confirms the basic assumptions of the AI research in a Muslim society with a hybrid culture of materialistic and spiritual aspirations. The study found weak supporting evidence for the contribution of two newly added domains (i.e. aesthetic appreciation as well as honesty and fairness) to SWB, whereas the evidence for the positive contribution of intellectual life was overwhelming. Paradoxically, although the evidence from both correlation and regression coefficients supported a positive relationship between household income and SWB, after dividing the sample into two groups based on their income level, the low-income earners turned out to have relatively higher life satisfaction, holding everything else constant. More importantly, the study reveals that the impact of materialistic aspirations on SWB is still negative even if they are pursued in a hybrid culture. Research limitations/implications The study included three new domains in the conventional AI model. Although the findings confirmed the importance of two domains, it is important that they be replicated in other studies, particularly in different cultural settings. Originality/value This study makes a significant contribution in terms of testing the effect of materialist and spiritual values on SWB in a Muslim country.

Educational mismatch and job aspirations

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria del Mar Salinas-Jiménez ◽  
Joaquín Artés ◽  
Javier Salinas-Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Conditional Distribution ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Educational Mismatch ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quantile Regression Model ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Education Effects ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between education, job aspirations and subjective well-being. This analysis is done across the entire well-being distribution and taking account of educational mismatches that could condition individuals’ satisfaction if education generates certain aspirations which are not met by the individuals. Design/methodology/approach – Using data from the European Social Survey, a quantile regression model is estimated. This approach allows one to assess the impact of the education variables at different points of the happiness conditional distribution. Findings – The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the impact of education on subjective well-being varies across the distribution, with education effects lower at the top of the happiness distribution. It is also found that education generates certain aspirations among individuals in regard to the job they expect to hold and that people suffer a psychological cost when those aspirations are not met. This “aspiration mechanism” seems however to weaken as one moves along the distribution. Originality/value – The central contribution of this paper lies in the treatment of job aspirations through different variables of educational mismatch. Although rising aspirations have often been highlighted as the main mechanism that could explain the weak relationship between education and subjective well-being, this mechanism has barely been analyzed empirically. Moreover, the effects of educational mismatch on individual satisfaction have only been analyzed at the mean of the conditional distribution. The value of this study is therefore twofold, focussing on the analysis across the entire well-being distribution of the aspiration mechanism generated by education in regard to the job an individual expects to hold.

Hierarchy of customer goals: conceptual framework and new insights

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Tabaei Aghdaei ◽  
Janet R. McColl-Kennedy ◽  
Leonard V. Coote
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Concept Maps ◽  
World View ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Goals ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Prevention Focus ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to: (1) better understand the structure (hierarchy) of customer goals providing conceptual clarity; and (2) propose a hierarchy of customer goals conceptual framework that explicates how healthcare customer goals are linked to drivers and outcomes, thus building theory and informing practice.Design/methodology/approachThe research draws on 21 in-depth interviews of patients with a chronic disease. Drawing principally on construal-level theory and using manual thematic analysis and Leximancer, this article provides new insights into customer goals.FindingsIn a first, the authors identify a two-dimensional structure for each of the three main goal types, which previously had been viewed as unidimensional. The authors develop a conceptual framework linking drivers of goal setting (promotion/prevention focus world view and perceived role) with goal type (life goals, focal goals and action plan goals and their respective subgoals) and outcomes (four forms of subjective well-being). Visual concept maps illustrate the relative importance of certain health-related goals over others.Research limitations/implicationsThe usefulness of the authors’ conceptual framework is demonstrated through the application of their framework to goal setting among healthcare customers, showing links between the structure of goals (life goals, focal goals and action plan goals) to drivers (promotion/prevention focus world view and perceived role) and outcomes (subjective well-being) and the framework's potential application to other service settings.Originality/valueThis study contributes to healthcare marketing and service management literature by providing new insights into goal setting and proposing a novel hierarchy of customer goals conceptual framework linking drivers, goal types and outcomes.

The companion effect on adventure tourists’ satisfaction and subjective well-being: the moderating role of gender

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lujun Su ◽  
Jin Cheng ◽  
Scott Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Additional Contribution ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourist Satisfaction ◽  
Relative Ability ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose In an adventure tourism context (i.e. sky diving, bungee jumping) the effect of the absence or presence of a travel companion; companion relative ability (i.e. perception of a companion’s possessed resources useful for the achievement of travel goals); and tourist gender on the impact of companion relative ability on tourists’ satisfaction and subjective well-being is examined. This paper aims to investigate the mediating role of satisfaction that combines companion relative ability, tourist gender, tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being. Design/methodology/approach This research uses three situational experiments. A one-factor between-subjects experimental design was used for Study 1. Studies 2 and 3 used a one-factor between-subjects and a 2 × 3 factorial between-subjects design. Participants included tourists visiting a national park in China assigned to scenarios using an anonymous intercept approach and an online survey. Findings Having a companion with greater/comparable relative ability produces a greater effect on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being than having a companion with lower relative ability. Furthermore, the perceived relative ability of a travel companion results in a stronger positive effect on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being for female tourists. Meanwhile, satisfaction fully mediates the impact of the interaction between companion relative ability and tourist gender on subjective well-being. Originality/value The current research validates the companion effect on adventure tourists’ satisfaction and subjective well-being. An additional contribution is an investigation into the effect of companion relative ability. The study is the only one the authors are aware of that examines the moderating role of tourist gender on the effect of companion relative ability on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being and identifies the mechanism that combines companion relative ability, tourist gender, tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being.

E-tailers adaptation during early stages of “social distancing causing crises”: an exploratory study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepak Halan
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Demand And Supply ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper studies the impact of social distancing causing crises (SDCC) such as pandemics in its early stages on e-tailers demand and supply side operations and provides a conceptual framework for adaptation.Design/methodology/approachA grounded theory-based approach has been used, wherein journal papers and news articles are the key data sources. Standard qualitative methodology, including open, axial and selective coding has been followed.FindingsThe study provides second order themes derived from first-order categories, the theoretical dimensions and their interrelationships on how e-tailers need to adapt to variations in online buying behaviour, manage manpower shortage and daily necessities inventory shortage, during SDCC. Panic buying emerges as a key disrupting factor as it has multiple repercussions on demand and supply side operations of e-tailers.Research limitations/implicationsExploratory qualitative research such as this is helpful in early development of a research stream and paves the way for future quantitative studies.Practical implicationsThis study makes a valuable contribution on e-tailers adaptation to SDCC with significant managerial implications. There are social, economic and policy implications too. For academicians, this study provides a conceptual framework and serves as a springboard for future research.Originality/valueThe study is unique as perhaps it is one of the first to study e-tailers adaptation to SDCC. It contributes to a body of the literature which is currently scarce but expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.

Mitigating loneliness with companion robots in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: an integrative framework and research agenda

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1149-1162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaby Odekerken-Schröder ◽  
Cristina Mele ◽  
Tiziana Russo-Spena ◽  
Dominik Mahr ◽  
Andrea Ruggiero
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Integrative Framework ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Companion Robots

PurposeLoneliness and isolation are on the rise, globally threatening the well-being across age groups; global social distancing measures during the COVID-19 crisis have intensified this so-called “loneliness virus”. The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrative framework and research agenda on the role of companion robots in mitigating feelings of loneliness.Design/methodology/approachA netnographic analysis of 595 online visual and textual descriptions offer empirical insights about the role of the companion robot Vector during the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsThe contributions of this study are twofold. First, it postulates that companion robots have the potential of mitigating feelings of loneliness (i.e. indicator of well-being). Second, this study contributes to transformative service by developing an integrative framework introducing the roles (personal assistant, relational peer and intimate buddy) that companion robots can fulfill to mitigate feelings of loneliness through building different types of supportive relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed research agenda encourages future service scholars to investigate 1) the role of robots in addressing loneliness, 2) design features that drive adoption of robots, 3) social support for different groups, 4) the operationalization and the measurement of loneliness and 5) an impact analysis of companion robots.Practical implicationsService providers and policy makers can leverage the insights about how companion robots can help reduce a sense of loneliness.Originality/valueThe integrative framework on loneliness reduction, based on 595 unprompted online contributions issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, offers initial evidence for the impact of companion robots in reducing people's feelings of loneliness.

Equilibrating resources and challenges during crises: a framework for service ecosystem well-being

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1107-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Finsterwalder ◽  
Volker G. Kuppelwieser
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Service Industries ◽  
Service Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Ecosystems ◽  
Individual Actor ◽  
Service Ecosystem ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis article explores the impact of crises, such as the coronavirus pandemic, on service industries, service customers, and the service research community. It contextualizes pandemics in the realm of disasters and crises, and how they influence actors' well-being across the different levels of the service ecosystem. The paper introduces a resources–challenges equilibrium (RCE) framework across system levels to facilitate service ecosystem well-being and outlines a research agenda for service scholars.Design/methodology/approachLiterature on disasters, crises, service and well-being is synthesized to embed the COVID-19 pandemic in these bodies of work. The material is then distilled to introduce the novel RCE framework for service ecosystems, and points of departure for researchers are developed.FindingsA service ecosystems view of well-being co-creation entails a dynamic interplay of actors' challenges faced and resource pools available at the different system levels.Research limitations/implicationsService scholars are called to action to conduct timely and relevant research on pandemics and other crises, that affect service industry, service customers, and society at large. This conceptual paper focuses on service industries and service research and therefore excludes other industries and research domains.Practical implicationsManagers of service businesses as well as heads of governmental agencies and policy makers require an understanding of the interdependence of the different system levels and the challenges faced versus the resources available to each individual actor as well as to communities and organizations.Social implicationsDisasters can change the social as well as the service-related fabric of society and industry. New behaviors have to be learned and new processes put in place for society to maintain well-being and for service industry's survival.Originality/valueThis paper fuses the coronavirus pandemic with service and well-being research, introduces a resources-challenges equilibrium framework for service ecosystem well-being and outlines a research agenda.

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