Effect of celebrity endorsement on telecommunication companies’ reputation

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 1297-1314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariama Zakari ◽  
Courage Simon Kofi Dogbe ◽  
Collins Asante
Keyword(s):  
Direct Effect ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Celebrity Endorsement ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Telecommunication Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Company Reputation ◽  
Telecommunication Company ◽  
Telecommunication Companies

PurposeThe study aims to assess the moderating role of celebrity characteristics in the relationship between celebrity endorsement and telecommunication companies’ reputation.Design/methodology/approachAnalysis of results was based on 700 customers in the telecommunication sector. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to check for validity and reliability of the observed items. A hierarchical regression model was estimated to test the various hypotheses set for the study.FindingsThe study finds that celebrity endorsement in itself had no significant effect on the reputation of telecommunication companies. Celebrity attractiveness, likeability and trustworthiness had a direct effect (positive) on the reputation of telecommunication companies and positively moderated the effect of celebrity endorsement on telecommunication company reputation. Celebrity expertise had no direct effect on telecommunication company reputation but positively moderated the effect of celebrity endorsement and telecommunication company reputation.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was purely quantitative. Future study could consider a mixed approach and include senior management members of the telecom firms for an in-depth interview.Practical implicationsIn signing on celebrities as brand ambassadors, management must pay particular attention to celebrity attractiveness, likeability and trustworthiness. This would be more rewarding to the firms.Originality/valueThe study adds to the little empirical knowledge available on celebrity endorsement in sub-Saharan Africa and telecommunication sector in particular.

Demographic determinants of electronic commerce (EC) adoption by SMEs

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hart Okorie Awa ◽  
Don Monday Baridam ◽  
Barinedum Michael Nwibere
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Location ◽  
Factor Loading ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Location Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Demographic Composition ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – Research on the demographic characteristics of top management team (TMT) on e-commerce adoption has really advanced. Although some of such studies factored location factors as e-commerce adoption drivers, rare attempts have been made to unravel if the differences in the demographic composition of TMT and the rate of adoption may be explained by the differences in the firm’s geographical location. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to bridge this knowledge gap by proposing a framework that conceives and measures geographical location as a contextual variable between e-commerce adoption and TMT composition. Design/methodology/approach – Data were generated from the opinions of owners/managers of 226 SMEs drawn purposefully from registered SMEs in five industries located in three geo-political zones of Nigeria. Two cities (a state capital and a commercial nerve centre) were studied and a four-step hierarchical regression (spanning factor-loading) was used to test the hypotheses. Findings – Evidence from the study shows that the hypothesized relationships between demographic factors and e-commerce adoption (main/direct effects) were statistically significant (supporting H1-H4). The two moderators (physical infrastructures and industrial specialization) that explained location factors were equally statistically significant in moderating the relationship between the demographic composition of TMT and e-commerce adoption. Research limitations/implications – Sampling the opinions of SMEs in some industries of three geo-political zones of Nigeria limits the power of generalization. Therefore, extended data and measures are required to replicate the study in order to build external validity and reliability, and possibly theories. Further, some errors seem unavoidable in the course of converting the data through SPSS procedure just as all the measures used appear subjective and prone to common method bias. Other demographic and location factors not captured in the study may be handled by future studies. Originality/value – The work will be of benefit to the academia and practitioners in terms of showing how location factors dictate the relationship between the demographic composition of top management and e-commerce adoption. The paper raises pointers that stimulate future research and advised policy-makers on even or near-even distribution of infrastructural facilities.

Modeling the factors and their inter-dependencies for investment decision in Indian mobile service sector

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhay Kumar Bhadani ◽  
Ravi Shankar ◽  
D. Vijay Rao
Keyword(s):  
Data Analytics ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Mobile Services ◽  
Mobile Service ◽  
Telecommunication Sector ◽  
Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Micmac Analysis ◽  
Telecommunication Companies ◽  
The Government

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors influencing investment decisions in mobile services for profitablity and to become a global leader in mobile services sector. Design/methodology/approach – A two-stage methodology is followed. In the first stage, factors are identified from literature, and are validated with telecommunication domain experts using the t-test. In the second stage, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) is used to understand the complex interrelationships among various factors. Further, MICMAC analysis is performed to analyze the indirect relationships and their effect on different factors by stabilizing the rank based on driving and dependence power. Based on MICMAC analysis, four clusters are identified to aid the policy- and decision-makers. Findings – The major contribution of this research is imposing directions and dominance of various factors to make informed decision-making for investment in mobile services to meet the upcoming demand for mobile services in Indian telecommunication sector. Research limitations/implications – The applicability of these research findings is limited to emerging telecommunication market. Practical implications – This paper forms the basis for identifying various factors that act as the driving force for the Indian telecommunication operators to pay special attention toward mobile services, with telecommunication data analytics and developing context-aware services. This paper will aid policy-makers in the government, managers in telecommunication companies and other stakeholders such as content providers, channel partners and application developers to take a lead role in developing appropriate mobile services to meet local needs of Indian users. It will help in developing strategies to collaborate and motivate other stakeholders, including device manufacturers to understand and work collaboratively to become world leader in mobile services. Originality/value – This paper provides a framework for understanding the various factors that encourage telecommunication companies to establish and invest in mobile services and setup a separate vertical in their organization with a focus on mobile services to meet the future demands of Indian market. Appropriate utilization of telecommunication data analytics, personalization of services, customization in local languages and support for convergent services would encourage adoption of mobile services.

scholarly journals Determinants of the intention to adopt Islamic banking in a non-Islamic developing country

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juma Bananuka ◽  
Twaha Kigongo Kaawaase ◽  
Musa Kasera ◽  
Irene Nalukenge
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Subjective Norm ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intention To Adopt

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the contribution of attitude, subjective norm and religiosity on the intention to adopt Islamic banking in an emerging economy like Uganda, which is a secular state that is in the early stages of adopting Islamic banking. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a cross-sectional and correlational research design. Usable questionnaires were received from 258 managers of their own micro businesses. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Findings Results indicate that attitude and religiosity are significant determinants of the intention to adopt Islamic banking, unlike subjective norm whose predictive power is subsumed in attitude. In the absence of attitude, subjective norm is a significant determinant of intention to adopt Islamic banking. Overall, attitude, subjective norm and religiosity explain 44 per cent of the variance in the intention to adopt Islamic banking in Uganda. Research limitations/implications This study is cross-sectional, excluding the monitoring of changes in behavior over time. Further, the study used evidence from owner-managed micro businesses in Uganda. It is possible that these results are only applicable to Uganda’s micro businesses. Originality/value Islamic banking is an emerging phenomenon on the African continent, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where most countries are secular states. As such, there are largely no empirical studies exploring the combined contributions of attitude, subjective norm and religiosity on the intention to adopt Islamic banking in an emerging economy after the national adoption of an enabling legal framework. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study that carries out this task.

Working separately but together: appraising virtual project team challenges

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 227-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarila Zuofa ◽  
Edward G. Ochieng
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Project Team ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Project Teams ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Global Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virtual Project ◽  
Virtual Project Teams

Purpose This paper aims to extend the extant knowledge on virtual teams by examining the challenges of virtual project teams in organisations in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Totally, 20 interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed. Validity and reliability were achieved by first assessing the plausibility in terms of already existing knowledge on some of the virtual project team issues identified by participants. Findings The findings from this study confirmed the growing relevance of virtual project teams in highly competitive global business environments. It emerged that some of the challenges identified in the study had some level of congruence with those previously identified from similar studies from other geographical locations. The findings also suggested that challenges in virtual project teams can be linked to the organisation, the project team and the virtual environment or even a combination of all. Practical implications The present study corroborates the position that managing virtual project teams requires additional efforts to attain their objectives through effective communications and the adoption of appropriate technology. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in its exploration of virtual project team challenges in a sub-Saharan Africa country (Nigeria). By identifying the challenges associated with virtual project teams, stakeholders will be better able to successfully establish and manage virtual project teams better.

Ability-based emotional intelligence and knowledge sharing

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirul Hasan Ansari ◽  
Shehla Malik
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test the direct effects of emotional intelligence and trust in co-workers on knowledge sharing. Further, it aims to examine the moderating effect of trust in co-workers on the emotional intelligence-knowledge sharing relationship. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 121 employees working with 13 different service sector organizations in the northern region of India. The data were tested for validity and reliability. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results indicated that both emotional intelligence and trust in co-workers had significant direct effects on knowledge sharing of organizational members. However, trust in co-workers did not moderate emotional intelligence-knowledge sharing relationship. Research limitations/implications The limitations include the sample and cross-sectional design. Hence, future studies can be conducted using a longitudinal design covering other regions of India to increase the generalizability of findings. Practical implications The findings suggest that management should develop appropriate strategies for meliorating emotional intelligence level of employees because people with higher emotional intelligence are more likely to engage themselves in knowledge sharing. Additionally, organizations should adopt a culture that promotes trust among its members, thereby fostering knowledge sharing in organizations. Originality/value There is limited literature on the role of emotions in knowledge sharing. The study adds to the extant literature on emotional intelligence and knowledge sharing in the context of India. Besides, the study attempted to investigate the interaction effect of trust in co-workers on emotional intelligence-knowledge sharing relationship that has not been studied so far.

Assessment of the telephone service provision

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-87
Author(s):  
Miriam Jankalova
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Quantitative Assessment ◽  
Telephone Service ◽  
Economic Competition ◽  
Service Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Telecommunication Company ◽  
Telecommunication Companies ◽  
Complex Picture ◽  
User Friendly

Purpose – A system of fixed defined criteria and indicators that would provide a complex picture of the telephone service provision by a particular company does not exist. The purpose of this paper is to propose a telephone service index which represents one of the possibilities how to solve problems related to the decision-making of a customer regarding the selection of a telecommunication company. Design/methodology/approach – The author has performed a primary research on the sample of 402 respondents from various regions of Slovakia with the aim to determine the rate of importance of criteria and their individual indicators when assessing the telephone service provision. With regard to the nature of the proposal, mathematical-statistical methods and secondary research were applied. Findings – Although the decisive factor of assessment of the telephone service provision by the telecommunication company is the ability of such company to meet and satisfy requirements and needs of customers, indices of situation are indicators of criteria quality, price, availability and individual partial indices. On the grounds of achieved results, the discriminatory function is presented, i.e. the telephone service index, being most suitable for a quantitative assessment of the telephone service provision. Practical/implications – The telephone service index can be applied in the area of regulation; it contributes to the support of effective economic competition to the development of domestic market and to support and taking into account interests of citizens. Social/implications – The index represents a source of information for three subjects operating on the telephone service market (regulatory office, service provider and service user). It provides content, form and method for publishing of different information that provides the users with the access to complete comparable and user-friendly information. Originality/value – It concerns the quantitative assessment of the telephone service provision by means of numerical indicators with differentiated weight. The proposed telephone service index represents a discriminatory function enabling the differentiation of telecommunication companies with regard to quality, price and availability of this service for customers.

Mobile money services will expand in East Africa

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Telecommunication Companies ◽  
New Entrants ◽  
Sub Saharan

Significance The carrier's performance was driven in part by a 34% increase in revenue from M-Pesa, its mobile money service. Among regions, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the most active mobile money users. Impacts Increased transactions on mobile money platforms will offer improved record keeping for tax collectors. Telecommunication companies will play a greater role in financial services, diversifying the market. As the largest service providers grow, new entrants will emerge with greater innovation in niche products.

Linking economic status with technology adoption in three emerging economies of Sub-Saharan Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adegoke Oke ◽  
Fred Walumbwa ◽  
Tingting Yan ◽  
Moronke Idiagbon-Oke ◽  
Lucy A. Ojode
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Gallup World Poll

Purpose – In this study, the authors aim to understand the antecedents of technology adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa by investigating the relationship between people's economic status, their positive attitudes, and the adoption of communications technology. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used data obtained from the Gallup World Poll that was conducted in 2008. The Gallup World Poll is a survey of residents in more than 150 countries. Based on a sample of 8,787 in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, the authors used SEM to test the hypotheses. Findings – Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that economic status significantly predicts both positive attitudes and technology adoption. Further, the authors found that infrastructure development moderates the relationship between economic status and technology adoption. Originality/value – The study attempts to plug the gaps in established theories of technology adoption which typically do not take into consideration factors that are peculiar to LDC contexts.

The effects of goals attainment on CEO-owner satisfaction and the role of family involvement

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-127
Author(s):  
Ondřej Machek ◽  
Jiří Hnilica
Keyword(s):  
Family Involvement ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Firm Value ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Goals ◽  
Growth Increase ◽  
The Family ◽  
Owner Satisfaction

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how the satisfaction with economic and non-economic goals achievement is related to the overall satisfaction with the business of the CEO-owner, and whether family involvement moderates this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Based on a survey among 323 CEO-owners of family and non-family businesses operating in the Czech Republic, the authors employ the OLS hierarchical regression analysis and test the moderating effects of family involvement on the relationship between the satisfaction with different goals attainment and the overall satisfaction with the business. Findings The main finding is that family and non-family CEO-owner’s satisfaction does not differ significantly when economic goals (profit maximisation, sales growth, increase in market share or firm value) and firm-oriented non-economic goals (satisfaction of employees, corporate reputation) are being achieved; both classes of goals increase the overall satisfaction with the firm and the family involvement does not strengthen this relationship. However, when it comes to external non-economic goals related to the society or environment, there is a significant and positive moderating effect of family involvement. Originality/value The study contributes to the family business literature. First, to date, most of the studies focused on family business goals have been qualitative, thus not allowing for generalisation of findings. Second, there is a lack of evidence on the ways in which family firms integrate their financial and non-financial goals. Third, the authors contribute to the literature on the determinants of personal satisfaction with the business for CEOs, which has been the focus on a relatively scarce number of studies.

scholarly journals Antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae Capsular Polysaccharide Enhance Pneumococcal Quorum Sensing

mBio ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahide Yano ◽  
Shruti Gohil ◽  
J. Robert Coleman ◽  
Catherine Manix ◽  
Liise-anne Pirofski
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Pneumococcal Disease ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Genetic Exchange ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Specific Antibodies

ABSTRACTThe use of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PPS)-based vaccines has resulted in a substantial reduction in invasive pneumococcal disease. However, much remains to be learned about vaccine-mediated immunity, as seven-valent PPS-protein conjugate vaccine use in children has been associated with nonvaccine serotype replacement and 23-valent vaccine use in adults has not prevented pneumococcal pneumonia. In this report, we demonstrate that certain PPS-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) enhance the transformation frequency of two differentStreptococcus pneumoniaeserotypes. This phenomenon was mediated by PPS-specific MAbs that agglutinate but do not promote opsonic effector cell killing of the homologous serotypeinvitro. Compared to the autoinducer, competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) alone, transcriptional profiling of pneumococcal gene expression after incubation with CSP and one such MAb to the PPS of serotype 3 revealed changes in the expression of competence (com)-related and bacteriocin-like peptide (blp) genes involved in pneumococcal quorum sensing. This MAb was also found to induce a nearly 2-fold increase in CSP2-mediated bacterial killing or fratricide. These observations reveal a novel, direct effect of PPS-binding MAbs on pneumococcal biology that has important implications for antibody immunity to pneumococcus in the pneumococcal vaccine era. Taken together, our data suggest heretofore unsuspected mechanisms by which PPS-specific antibodies could affect genetic exchange and bacterial viability in the absence of host cells.IMPORTANCECurrent thought holds that pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PPS)-binding antibodies protect against pneumococcus by inducing effector cell opsonic killing of the homologous serotype. While such antibodies are an important part of how pneumococcal vaccines protect against pneumococcal disease, PPS-specific antibodies that do not exhibit this activity but are highly protective against pneumococcus in mice have been identified. This article examines the effect of nonopsonic PPS-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) on the biology ofStreptococcus pneumoniae. The results showed that in the presence of a competence-stimulating peptide (CSP), such MAbs increase the frequency of pneumococcal transformation. Further studies with one such MAb showed that it altered the expression of genes involved in quorum sensing and increased competence-induced killing or fratricide. These findings reveal a novel, previously unsuspected mechanism by which certain PPS-specific antibodies exert a direct effect on pneumococcal biology that has broad implications for bacterial clearance, genetic exchange, and antibody immunity to pneumococcus.

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