Short and/or long-term investment choice: Artificial intelligence analysis of the role of both or-ganizational and behavioral determinants

This paper shows empirically the impact of organizational and behavioral determinants on the CEO's investment horizon choice, using artificial intelligence explanatory methods. We apply our approach to 100 Saudi firms. We test the effect of three organizational determinants: ownership concentration, board independence, and CEO remuneration system; and three behavioral determinants: myopia, the locus of control and commitment, on the CEO's investment horizon choice. The study’s key finding is that executives' commitment bias is the most important variable in terms of modal value that affects firms' long-term investment choice. We also find a positive and significant relationship between myopia and long-term investment choice, whereas the lowliest determinant of the horizon choice is the locus of control. More generally, these results show that CEOs who are likely to be the most myopic may display long-term behavior with the existence of high cognitive involvement.

Determinants of Consumers’ Willingness to Participate in Fast Fashion Brands’ Used Clothes Recycling Plans in an Omnichannel Retail Environment

Omnichannel retailing and sustainability are two important challenges for the fast fashion industry. However, the sustainable behavior of fast fashion consumers in an omnichannel environment has not received much attention from researchers. This paper aims to examine the factors that determine consumers’ willingness to participate in fast fashion brands’ used clothes recycling plans in an omnichannel retail environment. In particular, we examine the impact of individual consumer characteristics (environmental attitudes, consumer satisfaction), organizational arrangements constitutive for omnichannel retailing (channel integration), and their interplay (brand identification, impulsive consumption). A conceptual model was developed based on findings from previous research and tested on data that were collected online from Chinese fast fashion consumers. Findings suggest that consumers’ intentions for clothes recycling are mainly determined by individual factors, such as environmental attitudes and consumer satisfaction. Organizational arrangements (perceived channel integration) showed smaller effects. This study contributes to the literature on omnichannel (clothing) retail, as well as on sustainability in the clothing industry, by elucidating individual and organizational determinants of consumers’ recycling intentions for used clothes in an omnichannel environment. It helps retailers to organize used clothes recycling plans in an omnichannel environment and to motivate consumers to participate in them.

A Systematic Literature Review of Organizational Factors Influencing 21st-Century Skills

Skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, problem solving, collaboration, operational skills, and information management, have become increasingly important for 21st-century employees. These skills are often referred to as 21st-century skills and influence how employees handle novel situations. They are indispensable in an economy where the knowledge and skills of employees are seen as a measure for economic potential. This systematic literature review summarizes the current academic knowledge about organizational factors that influence 21st-century skills on an individual level. A search was performed in three databases. The factors found can be sub-divided into three main categories, namely leader characteristics, job characteristics, and organizational characteristics. Transformational leadership was the factor most mentioned in the literature found. Most research found during the search was done on the level of organizational output, exposing a clear gap concerning organizational factors that influence the skill-level of individual employees. These findings can have substantive implications when looking to improve employee skills by altering organizational determinants, by enabling targeted actions to improve these skills for the individual employee.

The effects of strategic choices and sustainability control systems in the emergence of organizational capabilities for sustainability

PurposeThis study explores the relations among corporate sustainability strategies, the intense use of sustainability control systems (SCSs) to implement these strategies and the emergence of organizational capabilities for sustainability.Design/methodology/approachUsing survey data from a sample of 157 European firms across different industries, the authors explore differences between reactive and proactive sustainability strategies in their impact on the intense use of SCSs. The authors analyze the joint impact of a proactive sustainability strategy and an intense use of SCSs on the emergence of the organizational capabilities of sustainable market orientation, sustainable organizational learning and sustainable innovation. Furthermore, we explore the relevance of single levers of control for these capabilities.FindingsThe results show that a proactive sustainability strategy is associated with an intense use of SCSs and with the development of the three organizational capabilities. The authors provide evidence that the intensity of use of SCSs mediates the association between proactive sustainability strategy and the emergence of the three organizational capabilities. An interactive use of controls is constantly more important than a diagnostic use of controls in the emergence of the three capabilities.Originality/valueThe findings provide novel empirical evidence on the mechanisms through which corporate sustainability strategy is implemented in European organizations. The results contribute to an improved understanding of the organizational determinants underlying the development of organizational capabilities for sustainability.

Organizational determinants as antecedent factors of export marketing strategy archetypes of agri-food firms: a three country analysis

PurposeThis paper researches export marketing strategy (EMS) archetypes of agri-food exporters and organizational determinants that pose as their antecedent factors, using resource-based, dynamic capabilities and contingency theories as theoretical framework in a multi-county research setting. A twofold objective is specified – to explore hitherto used EMS and to examine differences between agri-food exporters based on organizational determinants.Design/methodology/approachComparative research design, quantitative methodology, an etic/emic approach, descriptive and causal data analyses were employed. EMS archetypes were portrayed on radial plots, while six hypotheses were tested using MANOVA.FindingsThe tactical coordinator was identified as a universal EMS archetype. Diversity of archetypes was found as results of the effect of organizational determinants, confirming their ambivalent impacts rooted in the resources, capabilities and contingencies exporters have to face.Research limitations/implicationsMain limitations arise from the sample choice in international business, concentration only on organizational determinants, survey as a data collection technique and reliance on self-report data from managers. Nevertheless, several theoretical and practical implications are defined.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to apply the EMS archetype perspective to the agri-food industry in a developing country context and in an economic crisis context. Its multi-theory approach is supplemented with researched countries' national culture perspective and institutional background to extend understanding of agri-food firms' EMS archetypes.

Organizational Determinants of Whistleblowing. A Study of Italian Municipalities

The aim of this paper is to provide a deeper understanding of how to develop whistleblowing systems in public administrations, by focussing on the organisational variables that lead to actual reporting being made. The research is based on an empirical analysis of 400 major Italian municipalities and the whistleblowing systems they have implemented as anti-corruption measures. The results show that actual reporting is positively correlated with the presence of specific whistleblowing procedures as well as training and education programs. Anonymous reporting plays a relevant role.

COVID-19 infections in day care centres in Germany: Social and organizational determinants of infections in children and staff in the second and third wave of the pandemic

Background: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, German early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres organized childrens attendance variably (i.e., reduced opening hours, emergency support for few children only or full close- down). Further, protection and hygiene measures like fixed children/staff groups, ventilation and surface disinfection were introduced among ECEC centres. To inform or modify public health measures in ECEC, we investigate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among children and staff of ECEC centres in light of social determinants (socioeconomic status of the children) and recommended structural and hygiene measures. We focus on the question if the relevant factors differ between the 2nd (when no variant of concern (VOC) circulated) and the 3rd wave (when VOC B.1.1.7 predominated). Methods: Based on panel data from a weekly online survey of ECEC centre managers (start August 2020, ongoing) including approx. 8500 centres, we esti- mate the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children and staff using random- effect-within-between (REWB) panel models for count data in both waves. Results: In centres with a high proportion of children with low socioeconomic status (SES), the risk of infections in staff and children is more than doubled in both waves. Fixed child/staff cohorts seem more important in the 3rd wave. Contribution: ECEC centres with a large proportion of children from a low SES background and lack of using fixed child/staff cohorts experience higher COVID-19 rates. Centres should be supported in maintaining recommended measures over the long run. Preventive measures such as vaccination of staff should be prioritised in centres with large proportions of low SES children.

Diversity in disability: leaders' accounts on inclusive employment in the Indian context

PurposeDespite several concerted efforts and directives, Indian organizations have a long road to travel with respect to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce. Disability taking different forms often impacts organizational decisions on employment and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Acknowledging the role of employers in improving their employment prospects, the purpose of this paper is to examine key factors that direct the decisions regarding targeted recruitment of persons with various types of disabilities.Design/methodology/approachThe exploratory study is based on thematic analysis of senior executives' accounts to examine the factors that direct their decisions pertaining to employment of persons with varied types of disabilities.FindingsFindings highlight organizational determinants that enable/disable employment of persons with varied types of disabilities. The organizational determinants reported are: knowledge about type of disability; work characteristics; accommodations based on type of disability; accessibility of physical infrastructure and external pressures; whereas, persons with orthopedic, vision, hearing and intellectual disabilities are represented in the employee base.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study contributes to employer perspectives on workplace disability inclusion toward understanding the nuances of organizational dynamics and human perceptions. Future studies could explore perspectives of other key stakeholders and the conditions under which organizational determinants are perceived as enabling or disabling.Originality/valueThe present study highlights how disability type influences leaders' views on recruitment of persons with disabilities, in an under-researched study context of Indian organizations.