Send in the robots

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom P. Abeles

Purpose This paper aims to explore how the introduction of robots and artificial intelligence raises questions regarding the role of “work” not just in meeting societal material needs but challenges the idea of work as an underlying paradigm of human society, particularly as personal identity. Design/methodology/approach This paper takes the form of an editorial opinion piece. Findings “Work” is a defining characteristic of an individual. The entrance of robots and artificial intelligence could be a greater challenge to an individual’s sense of well-being and identity than only for filling traditional functions and basic needs of society. Social Implications The question is raised as to the psychological and social implications of the “immigration” of a new “culture” in the form of artificial intelligence and robotics beyond a local or regional basis. Originality/value The increasing presence of robots and artificial intelligence not only offers alternative ways for society to function but also sharpens the challenges that one culture faces when confronted by other communities who are able to fill traditional positions beyond the traditional one of “work”.

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 368-383
Author(s):  
King Yin Wong ◽  
Michael Lynn

Purpose The extant literature has mixed results regarding the credit card cue effect. Some showed that credit card cues stimulate spending, whereas others were unable to replicate the findings or found that cues discourage consumer spending. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how consumers’ sensitivity to the pain of payment affects their mental associations about credit cards and how the differences in credit card associations moderate the credit card cue effect on spending, providing a possible explanation for the mixed results in the literature. Furthermore, this paper examines the role of consumers’ perceived financial well-being, measured by their perceptions of current and future wealth and their sense of financial security, in mediating this moderation effect. Design/methodology/approach An experimental study was conducted with a sample of 337 participants to test the hypothesized model. Findings After being shown credit card cues, spendthrift participants had more spending-related thoughts and less debt-related thoughts, perceived themselves as having better financial well-being and consequently spent more than tightwad participants. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the direct link between an exposure to credit card cues and perceived financial well-being, and one of the few to show evidence of the moderating effect of consumers’ sensitivity to the pain of payment on spending when credit card cues are present. This study suggests that marketers may use credit card cues to promote consumer spending, whereas consumers, especially spendthrifts, should be aware of how credit card cues may inflate their perceived financial well-being and stimulate them to spend more.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atmadeep Mukherjee ◽  
Amaradri Mukherjee ◽  
Pramod Iyer

Purpose Food waste is a big problem where millions of pounds of produce are discarded every year because they are imperfect or unattractive. Despite the societal implications of selling unattractive produce, limited research has been directed toward understanding the effect of imperfect produce on consumers’ evaluations of the produce and retailer outcomes. This paper aims to investigate why consumers tend to discard imperfect produce and how retailer interventions (i.e. anthropomorphized signage and packaging) can alleviate these negative effects. Design/methodology/approach Three experiments were conducted to examine the postulations. Study 1 highlights the role of consumers’ embarrassment in the purchase decision of imperfect produce and retailer patronage intention. Studies 2 and 3 provide managerially relevant boundary conditions of anthropomorphic signage and opaque packaging. Findings Convergent results across three studies (n = 882) indicate that imperfect produce increases purchase embarrassment and reduces purchase intention and retailer patronage intention. Retailer interventions (i.e. anthropomorphic signage and opaque packaging) can allay this feeling of embarrassment and lead to an increased retailer patronage intention and higher service satisfaction. Practical implications This research provides guidance to retailers for effectively promoting imperfect produce. Social implications Retailers’ actions can benefit the well-being of farmers, suppliers, customers and the overall environment. Originality/value This research adds to the literature on unattractive produce by identifying new moderators, namely, anthropomorphic signages and opaque packaging. The research also shows that purchase embarrassment is a key process mechanism.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Flavián ◽  
Alfredo Pérez-Rueda ◽  
Daniel Belanche ◽  
Luis V. Casaló

PurposeThe automation of services is rapidly growing, led by sectors such as banking and financial investment. The growing number of investments managed by artificial intelligence (AI) suggests that this technology-based service will become increasingly popular. This study examines how customers' technology readiness and service awareness affect their intention to use analytical AI investment services.Design/methodology/approachThe automation of services is rapidly growing, led by sectors such as banking and financial investment. The growing number of investments managed by AI suggests that this technology-based service will become increasingly popular. This study examines how customers' technology readiness and service awareness affect their intention to use analytical AI investment services.FindingsThe results indicated that customers' technological optimism increases, and insecurity decreases, their intention to use robo-advisors. Surprisingly, feelings of technological discomfort positively influenced robo-advisor adoption. This interesting finding challenges previous insights into technology adoption and value co-creation as analytical AI puts customers into a very passive role and reduces barriers to technology adoption. The research also analyzes how consumers become aware of robo-advisors, and how this influences their acceptance.Originality/valueThis is the first study to analyze the role of customers' technology readiness in the adoption of analytical AI. The authors link the findings to previous technology adoption and automated services' literature and provide specific managerial implications and avenues for further research.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-18

Purpose – Describes the various approaches taken to training and development at Edwardian Group London, a group of hotels. Design/methodology/approach – Examines the reasons for the training, the form it takes and the results it has achieved. Findings – Emphasizes the importance the company attaches to training in the first 90 days of an employee's tenure, when recruits receive general induction training plus training specific to their area of operation. Practical implications – Outlines how the company spots and develops its managers of the future. Social implications – Highlights the crucial role of training in ensuring that hotel guests have the best possible stay. Originality/value – Provides a thorough examination of the various forms of training at Edwardian Group London.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-25
Author(s):  
Peter McGill

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Andrew Jahoda’s article “Depression and people with a learning disability: a way forward”. Design/methodology/approach The paper considers depression and other issues of psychological well-being from the perspective of the eligibility criteria for social care in England as enshrined in the 2014 Care Act. Findings There is a danger of issues of psychological well-being being seen as health rather than social care needs. A more integrated perspective is required. Originality/value The paper illustrates the importance of the role of social care provision in promoting the well-being of people with learning disabilities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eve Mayes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider historical shifts in the mobilisation of the concept of radical in relation to Australian schooling. Design/methodology/approach Two texts composed at two distinct points in a 40-year period in Australia relating to radicalism and education are strategically juxtaposed. These texts are: the first issue of the Radical Education Dossier (RED, 1976), and the Attorney General Department’s publication Preventing Violent Extremism and Radicalisation in Australia (PVERA, 2015). The analysis of the term radical in these texts is influenced by Raymond Williams’s examination of particular keywords in their historical and contemporary contexts. Findings Across these two texts, radical is deployed as adjective for a process of interrogating structured inequalities of the economy and employment, and as individualised noun attached to the “vulnerable” young person. Social implications Reading the first issue of RED alongside the PVERA text suggests the consequences of the reconstitution of the role of schools, teachers and the re-positioning of certain young people as “vulnerable”. The juxtaposition of these two texts surfaces contemporary patterns of the therapeutisation of political concerns. Originality/value A methodological contribution is offered to historical sociological analyses of shifts and continuities of the role of the school in relation to society.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-388
Author(s):  
Kirk Chang

Purpose Managers have mixed views of how artificial intelligence (AI) affects personnel management (PM). The purpose of this paper is to identify potential knowledge gap and bring new insights to the AI-personnel-management literature. Design/methodology/approach Both applicability and theoretical perspectives are adopted to critically discuss the constraint and opportunity of AI in PM. Tables and narrative analysis are used to clarify the role of AI in managerial practices. Findings Research findings have helped to develop a new model titled AI in Personnel Management (APM). The APM model unfolds itself in three levels, followed by potential outcome. The three levels comprise “organizational, managerial and individual job levels,” and the outcome comprises “organizational performance, employees’ well-being and staff turnover rate”. Research limitations/implications The APM model helps managers to understand the implication of AI in their workplace. With better understanding of AI’s implication, managers are more likely to develop appropriate AI-driven managerial policies, which in turn benefit employees and their organizations. The APM model acts as a reference guide, helping managers to evaluate the AI’s constraint and opportunity in their managerial practices. Originality/value The APM model is valuable and informative to the academic researchers, as it has first responded to Malik et al. (2019)’s call (re: the absence of AI and management literature), and, more importantly, it has advanced the knowledge of AI–management relationship, supporting scholars to further understand the role of AI in PM.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-387
Author(s):  
Struan Jacobs

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of management ideas as a resource for developing a new understanding of science and society. Design/methodology/approach Three important articles of Polanyi are studied in detail. Findings That writings of Graicunas, Foch and Liddell Hart definitely influenced the development of Polanyi’s thinking and writings of Gulick, Mooney among other management/organization theorists also likely contributed to Polanyi’s thought. Research limitations/implications The study opens a new seam for Polanyi intellectual – historical scholarship. Practical implications The article sheds light on facets of scientific life, including how scientists themselves participate in the overall management of science. Social implications This discussion of Polanyi deepens the appreciation of Liberal society’s functioning. Originality/value No other Polanyi scholar has dug deeply into the history of management, considering its intellectual value to Polanyi.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 26-29

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Growing pressure from different groups has forced business organizations to reconsider existing strategies of securing a competitive advantage through the exploitation of natural resources. Demands for greater sustainability have forced companies to seek new ways to differentiate their offerings. Firm spirituality is offered as a novel means of increasing sustainability and maximizing the focus on enhancing the well-being of society and the environment. This can be achieved by aligning key spirituality elements with the different stages of strategic planning to position the organization as one with limitless capabilities. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


Humanomics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Salwana Hassan ◽  
Jamaliah Said

Purpose – This study aims to examine the role of Islamic microcredit programs based on the achievement of Maqasid Al-Shariah. Past studies have evaluated the role of microcredit programs using the conventional assessment approach. However, the conventional system of socioeconomic role assessment cannot evaluate the performance of Islamic microcredit in terms of achieving the objectives of Shariah for the Islamic microcredit model. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses primary data that were collected through a questionnaire survey distributed among 393 microcredit borrowers from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM). The survey was conducted from July 2013 to December 2013 in the State of Sabah and in Peninsular Malaysia. This research also analyzes the socioeconomic roles and the achievement of microcredit and microenterprise from the perspective of the five principles of Al-daruriyyat from Maqasid Al-Shariah. Findings – Results indicate that the microcredit program of AIM has a positive and enhancing effect on the livelihood of clients. This effect is reflected in the assessment of their well-being, especially in the context of Maqasid Al-Shariah. Originality/value – This study examines the role of Islamic microcredit based on the achievement of Maqasid Al-Shariah.


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