When does an online brand community backfire? An empirical study

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-430
Author(s):  
Junyun Liao ◽  
Dianwen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Brand Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
Online Brand Communities ◽  
Group Heterogeneity ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Backfire Effect

Purpose Although online brand communities (OBCs) are extensively demonstrated to be an important social media tool in building brand equity, they may have backfire effects under certain conditions. Drawing from the self–brand connection theory, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of group heterogeneity on brand commitment. The mediation effect of self–brand connection and moderation effect of brand symbolism has also been examined. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using a survey of 498 users from a range of OBCs. Hierarchical regression and bootstrapping method were used to test the research model. Findings The findings indicate that group heterogeneity negatively affects brand commitment in which self–brand connection plays a role of mediation. Further, the negative effect is more pronounced for high-symbolic brands than low-symbolic ones. Practical implications Brand managers are advised to note the dark side of OBCs in general and alleviate the adverse effects of group heterogeneity in particular, especially for high-symbolic brands. Originality/value Previous research pays little attention to the adverse effect of OBCs. This study enriches the literature by revealing that the backfire effect of OBCs arises when users become heterogeneous and uncovering in what situations the negative effect is stronger.

A dark side of e-HRM: mediating role of HR service delivery and HR socialization on HR effectiveness

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asim Talukdar ◽  
Anirban Ganguly
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Common Method Bias ◽  
Parallel Effect ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Negative Impacts

PurposeThe primary aim of this paper is to study a dark side of e-HRM concerning its parallel effect on human resource (HR) socialization and HR service delivery and the consequent impact of perceived HR effectiveness.Design/methodology/approachThe current study started with an in-depth review of the extant literature in the field of e-HRM to derive a set of constructs. Based on the theoretical foundation of the identified constructs, the current study went on to derive a set of hypotheses, which was subsequently validated using the uses the quantitative technique of PLS-SEM. A primary survey, in the form of a structured questionnaire, was used as the source for data collection on a sample size of 276 from the Indian industrial domain. Careful attention was paid to eliminate the common method bias in the study.FindingsThe findings of this study show a simultaneous significant full mediation effect of both HR service delivery and HR socialization is the relationship between e-HRM and HR effectiveness. However, e-HRM has a strong and significant negative effect on HR socialization. Though HR socialization is positively related to HR effectiveness, the significantly reduced level of HR socialization as a consequence of adaption of e-HRM had negatively affected the perceived HR effectiveness.Originality/valueAlthough the dark side of e-HRM has been recognized by academicians and practitioners alike, its implications have seldom been studied in the academic literature. The current study intends to shed some light on this important, but sparsely discussed topic. Further, this study makes significant and meaningful contributions in the literature of e-HRM by empirically studying together the positive and negative consequences of e-HRM and its effects on HR effectiveness. Several e-HRM scholars have discussed the implications of e-HRM adoption and highlighted the negative impacts of e-HRM, and traversing the same path, the current study advances the literature by empirically investigating the effect of e-HRM on the dehumanization of HR processes and practices.

The bright side and dark side of group heterogeneity within online brand community

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junyun Liao ◽  
Defeng Yang ◽  
Haiying Wei ◽  
Yulang Guo
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Value ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Brand Commitment ◽  
Brand Community ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Heterogeneity ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Online Brand Community ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Commitment

Purpose Despite the increasingly common view that online brand community (OBC) members are heterogeneous, knowledge concerning the impact of group heterogeneity on community and brand level outcomes is lacking. In response and drawing from organization research, this paper aims to study the consequences of two types of group heterogeneity (i.e. visible heterogeneity and value heterogeneity) on brand community commitment and brand commitment. The moderating role of tenure in a community is also examined. Design/methodology/approach A survey of 467 members of OBCs was conducted, and structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses. Findings The results show that perceived visible heterogeneity positively affects brand community commitment, whereas perceived value heterogeneity has a negative effect on it. Brand community commitment positively relates to brand commitment; it also mediates the effect of perceived visible heterogeneity and perceived value heterogeneity on brand commitment. Further, the positive effect of visible heterogeneity on brand community commitment is stronger for short-tenure members, but the negative effect of value heterogeneity is stronger for long-tenure members. Practical implications The findings suggest that managers should make efforts to foster visible heterogeneity and reduce value heterogeneity. In addition, managers are advised to emphasize the characteristics that carry different appeal for members of different tenure. Originality/value This research is one of the first few quantitative studies to examine the influence of brand community heterogeneity on community, and especially brand level outcomes. It extends the literature on the effect of brand community on brands and adds to the emerging heterogeneity view of OBCs.

The dark side of hyperconnectivity in the accounting profession

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sari Mansour ◽  
Dima Mohanna ◽  
Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bootstrap Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Intensification

Purpose This paper aims to understand the antecedents and consequences of using the smartphone and/or tablet by professional accountants for business purposes outside of regular working hours. More specifically, this paper aims to test the direct relationships between, on the one hand, work intensification and the use of smartphone and/or tablet and work-family conflict (WFC) and on the other hand, the indirect effect of the use of smartphones and/or tablet between work intensification and WFC. Design/methodology/approach This research was based on a cross-sectional design and quantitative method. The structural equation method was used to test the direct effect of work intensification on smartphone and/or tablet use and WFC. As for the mediation effect of smartphone and/or tablet use between work intensification and WFC, it was tested by the method of indirect effects based on a bootstrap analysis. The statistical treatments were carried out with the AMOS software v.24. Findings The results of the study indicate that work intensification increases the use of smartphones and/or tablets outside of working hours and that this variable increases the intensification of WFC through a process of mediation. Research limitations/implications This research does not take into account the moderating variables that can intervene in the model. For example, the duration of use of the smartphone, the origin of emails or messages (supervisors, customers and colleagues), the types of tasks performed outside working hours and the period of use (evening, weekend and holidays) could have significant effects on the different relationships tested in the model. Furthermore, we had all the positions held by the respondents (for example, chief financial officer, director, vice-president, partners, senior managers, management accountant, auditor, agents, analysts, accountants) grouped into one category and this may have an impact on results. Practical implications The results could be quite interesting for governments and organizations interested in advantage of the technology while reducing its disadvantages. In particular, it is important for accounting firms, which are big users of new technologies (e.g. Smart software and analytics). Indeed, both companies and professional accountants must clearly communicate their expectations regarding the use of technology for business purposes outside normal working hours. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effect of work intensification and the use of smartphones and/or tablets, on WFC.

Does entrepreneurial experience always promote novelty-centered business model design in new venture?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingling Wang ◽  
Wenhong Zhao ◽  
Zelong Wei ◽  
Changbao Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Model Design ◽  
Competitive Intensity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Experience ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Business Model Design

Purpose This paper aims to explore how intra-industry entrepreneurial experience and failure entrepreneurial experience affect novelty-centered business model design in a new venture. Moreover, the authors also consider whether the contingent value of entrepreneurial experience may differ according to competitive intensity. Design/methodology/approach A survey via questionnaire was conducted with 290 entrepreneurs and top managers from Chinese new ventures that provided the research data. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the proposed theoretical hypotheses. Findings The empirical results indicate that intra-industry entrepreneurial experience has an inverted U-shaped effect on novelty-centered business model design, whereas failure entrepreneurial experience has a negative effect on novelty-centered business model design. Furthermore, the authors also find that competitive intensity weakens the inverted U-shaped effect of intra-industry entrepreneurial experience on novelty-centered business model design. Originality/value This study offers new insights into the effects of intra-industry entrepreneurial experience and failure entrepreneurial experience on novelty-centered business model design and provides useful suggestions for new ventures to promote business model design.

How do followers infer the motives behind an influencer's advertising disclosures?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haejoo Han ◽  
Jisu Yi ◽  
Sunghee Jun ◽  
Sungsook Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Anova Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Advertising Disclosure

PurposeIn the context of influencer marketing, this study examines the effects of explicit advertising disclosure on consumers' inference regarding influencers' sincere recommendation intent, and its consequences for consumers' purchase intentions.Design/methodology/approachIn Study 1, participants were randomly assigned to the conditions of explicit advertising disclosure (e.g. #AD, #Sponsored) and subtle advertising disclosure (e.g. #ThankYou), and indicated their inference regarding influencers' recommendation motives and their own purchase intentions. One-way ANOVA analysis reveals the effect of advertising disclosure on consumers' purchase intentions and the PROCESS model indicates the mediating role of consumers' inferences regarding influencers' sincere recommendation intent. In Study 2, we implemented a 2 (explicit vs. subtle advertising disclosure) × 2 (moderate vs. large size of followers) between-subjects design, using a two-way ANOVA analysis. We analyzed the moderated mediation effect via the PROCESS model.FindingsConsumers are less inclined to purchase products when influencers express explicit advertising disclosures, compared to when the advertising disclosures are subtle (Study 1). These negative effects of advertising disclosure can be caused by consumers' inferences regarding influencers' sincere recommendation intent in terms of posting content (Studies 1 and 2). Additionally, the negative effect is particularly prominent when an influencer has a large (vs. moderate) number of followers (Study 2).Originality/valueBy examining (1) the effects of explicit advertising disclosure on consumers' inference regarding influencers' persuasion motives and (2) the role of the influencer's number of followers, this research provides both theoretical and practical insights for understanding how best to implement influencer marketing.

The “dark side” of organisational career growth

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Spagnoli ◽  
Alessandro Lo Presti ◽  
Carmela Buono
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Family Conflict ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Work Family Conflict ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Career Growth ◽  
Work Family

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of organisational career growth (OCG) in the process linking organisational work–family support and work–family conflict. Design/methodology/approach Since previous contributions reported theoretical and empirical evidence of possible gender differences in this process, a moderated mediation model was examined including gender as moderating variable of both direct and indirect effects. Conditional process analysis was used to test the hypotheses on a sample of 507 Italian employees who were also parents. Findings Results showed a significant mediation effect of OCG in the relationship between organisational work–family support and work–family conflict. Furthermore, evidence of a moderated effect of gender was found in the way that the negative direct effect of organisational work–family support on work–family conflict was stronger among women, whereas the direct effect of OCG on work–family conflict was significant only for men. Originality/value This is the first study addressing the possible negative effect of OCG on a specific target of employees.

Dual effect of sensory experience: engagement vs diversive exploration

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-151
Author(s):  
Margarita Lashkova ◽  
Carmen Antón ◽  
Carmen Camarero
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Experience ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Dual Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sensory Experiences ◽  
Shopping Experience ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
E Mail ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the dual effect of sensory experiences on customer behaviour in the context of retailing. Based on the theoretical framework of the optimal stimulation level theory, the authors propose that sensory experiences reinforce satisfaction, engagement and loyalty, but increase customers’ diversive exploration and curiosity for other experiences and may eventually led to reduced loyalty. Design/methodology/approach A self-administrated online questionnaire was distributed via e-mail to 1,000 households in a Spanish town, and 325 usable responses of supermarket customers were collected. The hypothesised relationships were tested using the partial least squares approach. The analysis is extended with an experiment in online fashion stores that explores whether a varied sensory experience reinforces consumers’ diversive exploration. In total, 68 students participated in the study. Hierarchical regression analysis is performed to analyse the results of the experiment. Findings Findings support the notion that a pleasant sensory experience increases customer satisfaction and therefore their engagement and behavioural loyalty (exclusivity) towards the retailer whilst also generating more ambitious consumer expectations vis-à-vis the shopping experience and thus encouraging them to search for new retailers and, so, to be less loyal. Research limitations/implications This research warns of the risk of increasing customer’s expectations and reducing their loyalty; hence satisfaction is not enough. Retailers should consider offering new experiences and surprise customers every so often, attempting to curtail the effect of satiation or the effect of over-arousal. Originality/value The novelty of this study is the proposal of a twofold effect of sensory experience on loyalty, a positive effect, through satisfaction, and a negative effect, through the search for new experiences.

Talent management under a big data induced revolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 2010-2031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaidi Zhang ◽  
Xiao Jia ◽  
Jin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe emerging natures of big data – volume, velocity, variety, value and veracity – exert higher stress on employees and demand greater creativity from them, causing extreme difficulties in the talent management of organizations in the big data era. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of challenge stressors on creativity and the boundary conditions of the relationship.Design/methodology/approachMultisource data were collected including 593 followers and their 98 supervisors from organizations that are confronting a big data induced management revolution. Hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping analysis were used to test the mediation and moderation mechanism.FindingsThe results showed that job burnout mediated the negative relationship between challenge stressors and creativity and that this indirect effect was attenuated by an employee’s core self-evaluation (CSE) and servant leadership. In contrast, whether work engagement mediated the relationship between challenge stressors and creativity was contingent on the level of an employee’s CSE and servant leadership. Specifically, the mediating effect was significant only when an employee’s CSE or servant leadership was high.Originality/valueThe results contribute to our understanding of the relationship between challenge stressor and creativity in the big data era. Specifically, relying on the job demands–resources model, this study empirically opens the “black box” between challenge stressors and creativity by exploring two opposing intermediate mechanisms. In addition, this study reveals boundary conditions by investigating dispositional and contextual factors that can accentuate the positive effect while attenuating the negative effect of challenge stressors on employee creativity.

scholarly journals Why and when leader humility promotes constructive voice: a crossover of energy perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1157-1175
Author(s):  
Chao Ma ◽  
Chia-Huei Wu ◽  
(George) Zhen Xiong Chen ◽  
Xinhui Jiang ◽  
Wu Wei
Keyword(s):  
Effect Study ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Conservation Of Resources ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Voice Behavior ◽  
Conservation Of Resources Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
Leader Humility

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to build a moderate mediation model to delineate the effects of leader humility on employee constructive voice behavior based on conservation of resources theory and crossover of resources model. Specifically, when a leader behaves with humility, the followers will be more likely to feel they receive psychological resources from their interactions with the leader (i.e. relational energy), and thus engage in more constructive voice behavior. In addition, this energizing effect only occurs when the leader is perceived as having higher apparent sincerity by their subordinates. Design/methodology/approach The research hypotheses of this study were empirically tested using multi-timepoint and multi-source (i.e. supervisors and subordinates) survey data in China. Study 1, based on data from 449 subordinates and 88 immediate supervisors, was conducted to test the proposed mediation effect. Study 2, based on data from 185 subordinates and 50 immediate supervisors, was conducted to replicate the findings of Study 1 and test the integrated model. Findings The results of Study 1 support the proposed mediation effect that leader humility positively predicts followers’ constructive voice behavior via boosting followers’ relational energy. The results of Study 2 replicate the findings of Study 1 and further indicate that leader humility is only positively related to perceived relational energy when a leader is perceived as having higher apparent sincerity by their subordinates. Practical implications This paper provides detailed instructions for business practitioners. First, given that employee constructive voice behavior is related to employee relational energy and is beneficial to organizations, leaders are encouraged to behave with humility when interacting with their subordinates. Second, from the perspective of human resource management, well-designed training programs can be used to help leaders to develop leader humility. Third, the findings of this paper call attention to a potential risk for humble leaders. Organizations should educate leaders on the potential negative consequences of false humility and encourage leader humility that will appear in leaders’ sincerity. Originality/value Overall, drawing on conservation of resources theory and crossover of resources model, this paper reveals that boosting relational energy is a mechanism via which humble leaders can shape employees’ voice behavior. Second, by examining the moderation effect of apparent sincerity of leaders from followers’ perspective, this paper suggests an actor–recipient perspective to identify the boundaries of the energizing mechanism. Third, the findings of this paper add to the knowledge on voice research by highlighting an additional source of energy for employee constructive voice behavior.

How relational drivers affect relationship value in key exporter-importer relationships: a dark side perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Miocevic
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Relational Capital ◽  
Business Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Relationship Value ◽  
Relational Capabilities ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose B2B marketing scholarship has acknowledged that relational capital and relationship-specific investments (RSIs) are critical relational drivers for explaining the success of business relationships, especially those in an export-import (E-I) context. However, the literature is still inconclusive on whether E-I partners should accentuate relational drivers to the fullest in order to increase relationship value. By drawing on relational view of competitive advantage and literature that explored the dark side of business relationships, the author builds a conceptual model exploring the boundary conditions (historical ties and relational capabilities) upon which relational drivers enhance or diminish relationship value in key E-I relationships. Design/methodology/approach To test the proposed model, a survey was conducted among 114 industrial exporters from Croatia. The data was analyzed with the use of confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression. Findings This study contributes to the international B2B literature in two ways. First, the findings show that in the case of strong historical ties between E-I partners, relational capital has an inverted U-shape association with the relationship value, whereas in the case of weak historical ties this relationship becomes linear. Second, the findings show that an importer’s RSI will lead to the highest relationship value when an exporter reciprocates through employing relational capabilities through which the exporter adapts his business model to the needs of the importer. In case of an exporter’s weak relational capabilities, the relationship between an importer’s RSIs and the relationship value flips into an inverted U-shape. Originality/value This study extends the literature on dark side of business relationships by offering insights into the boundary conditions that are essential for sustaining the relationship value in key E-I relationships. The study reveals that historical ties and relational capabilities represent boundary conditions that offer a more detailed explanation what is the optimal configuration of relational drives that would increase the relationship value between key E-I partners.

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