Control systems and interorganizational identification in technology parks cooperation

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the design of management control systems (MCSs) on interorganizational cooperation and the moderating role of companies’ identification with their technology park. The conditions that promote the emergence of interorganizational cooperation are indicated in the literature as an important research gap, as well as the little evidence about how MCS design influences cooperation, especially in relationships based on innovation. MCSs in interorganizational partnerships have been shown to be relevant for the coordination and maintenance of the relationship, and this study reveals that MCSs promotes cooperative behaviors among the companies associated with the technology parks. The interorganizational identification of the companies with their park was moderately present, thus prompting the inclusion of social and relational aspects in interorganizational studies, which remain scarcely explored in the literature. The MCSs of the parks are focused on stimulating the companies’ cooperation, which is one purpose of this partnership. By not confirming the moderating effect of identification, it was verified that this construct drives cooperation in a way that is dissociated from the MCSs. A survey was conducted in organizations associated with Porto Digital and with the São José dos Campos Technology Park, and it had the participation of 187 managers. To analyze the data the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique was applied and the differences between the two parks were further analyzed. The MCSs design and interorganizational identification act as antecedents of the companies’ cooperation with their technology park. On the other hand, the direct and positive effect of the MCS design on cooperation is not moderated by how much these companies identify with the interorganizational relationship established. The paper contributes by identifying ways of fostering cooperation, one of the purposes of interorganizational agreements, as well as by providing evidence in a context that is scarcely addressed in the literature.

Effects of informal controls and psychological empowerment on job satisfaction

ABSTRACT The aim of this article was to investigate the effects of informal controls on psychological empowerment and job satisfaction. Despite previous studies having analyzed the role of certain management control systems in individual results, such as psychological empowerment and job satisfaction, the evidence on informal controls within this context is inconclusive. Credit union systems play a considerable role in economic growth, regional development, and employability. We therefore explore the perception of directors and managers of business units of one of the biggest cooperative systems regarding the informal controls used. Considering that job satisfaction has a series of implications for organizations (for example in employee loyalty and job performance), it is important to understand its determinants. The literature points to the growing concern among contemporary organizations about informal controls. Various studies focus on understanding the role of these controls and their respective effects on organizational and individual behaviors. From the individual perspective, there is a need to analyze the indirect effects of management controls on individual aspects by means of psychological variables. Thus, this study provides new evidence on informal controls in organizations by exploring the intervening role of psychological empowerment and the (beneficial) effects on job satisfaction. In addition, the study provides a methodological contribution to the national research on management control by adding an analysis based on mixed methods. A survey was applied to directors and managers of business units of one of the biggest credit union systems in Brazil. The data were analyzed using a mixed methods approach: partial least squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Informal controls are directly and indirectly associated (via empowerment) with job satisfaction. Moreover, the findings indicate more than one solution for high job satisfaction.

COVID-19 impact on Facebook-based social commerce in Bangladesh

Popular social media Facebook-oriented social commerce (S-commerce), commonly known as Facebook commerce (F-commerce) has progressed towards a bevy business in Bangladesh. Many young people, especially at the age of 20-28, are now in this industry. The pandemic situation due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forces people to buy more from the online market because of the safety issue. People are getting more interested in the new trend of buying from an online store. The current study aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 on F-commerce, particularly in Bangladesh. It uses the non-probability purposive sampling method and collects 181 usable responses through an online questionnaire. A research model is developed following the social commerce acceptance model (SCAM), and structural equation model partial least square (SEM-PLS) using SmartPLS 3.0 is applied to find out and justify the result. Likert five-point scale for determining the independent variables, including COVID-19 awareness (CA), consumer behavior (CB), and purchase intention (PI), is used. The study result confirms that these three variables have a positive impact on F-commerce. The survey covers other measurable items that indicate some assumptions, which reflect F-commerce consumers’ behavior. The researchers recommend that F-commerce businesspeople must emphasize on mitigating trust issues and provide enhanced home delivery service.

Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors of WeChat Business Integrity

With the increasing popularity of the smart phones and electronic payment, WeChat shopping has become a trendy lifestyle for many people. However, the issue of WeChat business integrity has gradually appeared due to the virtuality of the Internet. This paper analyzed the development of WeChat business and its business integrity. The influencing factors of WeChat business integrity and related hypotheses had been studied based on theoretical and practical analysis. The reliability and validity of the data collected through questionnaires were tested with SPSS24.0. Empirical analysis was done to the hypotheses by using the structural equation model. The results indicated that products and service quality, after-sale guarantee, payment security and Word-of-mouth had a prominent positive effect on the integrity of WeChat business.

Factors Influencing Donation Intention to Personal Medical Crowdfunding Projects Appearing on MSNS

This purpose of this study is to develop a research model by extending the theory of planned behavior in a new application context, and applies it to investigate the extrinsic factors influencing people’s attitude towards donating to medical crowdfunding projects appearing on mobile social networking sites (MSNS) and their intention to donate. A survey of 356 Chinese users was conducted and structural equation modeling was used to validate the proposed model and hypotheses. The results indicate that project information, retweeter information and MSNS information all have the significant effect on the general attitude towards donating to medical crowdfunding projects, and general attitude positively affects people’s donation intention. In addition, perceived behavioral control also has positive effect on people’s donation intention, while experienced donating to medical crowdfunding projects has negative effect on people’s donation intention. The research findings provide important theoretical and practical implications.

Determinants of e-learning acceptance amongst Iranian postgraduate students

E-learning can address some of the unmet needs of learners and educational communities; however, not all learners and educators accept e-learning as a delivery modality. This research endeavored to study the factors which affect e-learning acceptance among Iranian post-graduate students using the Davis Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and to identify the changes which would facilitate their improved acceptance and subsequent wider use of e-learning. This descriptive-correlation study was conducted by surveying 320 Iranian postgraduate students using a self-reporting questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis through LISREL software. Results revealed sufficient validity and reliability of the TAM among Iranian postgraduate medical students. Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness of e-learning, students’ attitudes toward e-learning, and the intention to use e-learning positively affected e-learning’s acceptance (p < 0.05) among Iranian postgraduate students. According to the results, attitudes toward e-learning have more predictive power than other TAM constructs. Therefore, emphasis on students’ favorable attitudes toward e-learning can be effective in accelerating its acceptance and will progress students’ learning outcomes.

Empirical Study on the Influencing Factors of WeChat Business Integrity

With the increasing popularity of the smart phones and electronic payment, WeChat shopping has become a trendy lifestyle for many people. However, the issue of WeChat business integrity has gradually appeared due to the virtuality of the Internet. This paper analyzed the development of WeChat business and its business integrity. The influencing factors of WeChat business integrity and related hypotheses had been studied based on theoretical and practical analysis. The reliability and validity of the data collected through questionnaires were tested with SPSS24.0. Empirical analysis was done to the hypotheses by using the structural equation model. The results indicated that products and service quality, after-sale guarantee, payment security and Word-of-mouth had a prominent positive effect on the integrity of WeChat business.

Building Acquisition Management Capability to Improve Firm Performance in Acquisitions

In the past two decades, the number of cross-border mergers and acquisitions in ASEAN has progressively expanded as the region has become a desired economic market for trade and investment. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the factors contributing to the success of acquisitions by corporations. It investigates the role of acquisition management capability with strategic integration and acquisition. The non-probability sampling strategy was used to collect information from 51 firms. With a five-point Likert scale, a systematic questionnaire was designed to test the latent variables by employing confirmatory factor analysis. The quantitative method of Structural Equation Modeling was used in the analysis. The results show that the structural model had a Goodness of Fit Index value that indicates all three latent variables and independent variables were valid. The findings indicate that acquisition management capability have a central role in advancing the overall integration of the acquiring firm in the ASEAN context.