Neuromanagement decision-making and cognitive algorithmic processes in the technological adoption of mobile commerce apps

Research background: With growing evidence of consumer adoption of mobile shopping apps, there is a pivotal need for comprehending Internet-enabled consumer devices in mobile shopping behavior. Mobile shopping platform features and user technological readiness configure consumers? expectations and demands as regards mobile retailing adoption, leading to acceptance of mobile shopping apps and payment services. Purpose of the article: In this research, prior findings have been cumulated indicating that mobile social apps extend throughout consumer attitudes and behaviors by the widespread adoption of smartphones. We contribute to the literature by showing that cutting-edge technological developments associated with customer behavior in relation to mobile commerce apps have resulted in the rise of data-driven systems. Consumer behavioral intention and adoption intention in relation to mobile shopping apps/websites are developed on perceived risk and trust consequences. Methods: Throughout February and March 2021, a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases was carried out, with search terms comprising ?mobile shopping app?, ?mobile commerce platform?, ?mobile payment service?, ?Internet-enabled consumer device?, ?consumer technological adoption?, and ?mobile shopping behavior?. As research published between 2018 and 2021 was analyzed, only 330 sources met the suitability criteria. By removing questionable or indeterminate findings (insubstantial/inconsequent data), results unconfirmed by replication, too imprecise content, or having quite similar titles, 66, chiefly empirical, sources were selected. A systematic review of recently published literature was carried out on technological adoption of mobile commerce apps by employing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The Systematic Review Data Repository was used, a software program for the gathering, handling, and analysis of data for the systematic review. The quality of the academic articles was determined by harnessing the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Findings & value added: The consumer purchase decision?making process in mobile app-based marketing involves consumer engagement and willingness to adopt mobile commerce apps. Further advancements should clarify how technological-based consumer adoption of mobile shopping throughout social commerce can improve the payment for products and services.

The effects of emotional intelligence and ethics of SME employees on knowledge sharing in Central-European countries

Research background: The research examines the impact of emotional intelligence and ethics on knowledge sharing within organizations. It examines the impact of emotional intelligence (EQ) on the ethical behavior of the individual. The focus is on the individuals working in the SME sector. A questionnaire survey was considered the most appropriate technique to conduct the research. The study is based on 1162 responses, collected from three countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia). Purpose of the article: The aim of this article is to examine the relationship between knowledge sharing, ethics and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, nationality, gender, education, and the age of the respondents influencing EQ are also examined. The additional goal is to explore the factors that influence employee behavior. Methods: We identified four hypotheses. To test these hypotheses, we used variance analysis and logistic regression. The AES scale was chosen to assess EQ, which consisted of 33 items. The results obtained are compared with the opinion of SME owners resulting from structured interviews. Findings & value added: About 20% of enterprises are not using any motivation tool to initiate knowledge sharing of their employees. The most common (47.2%) reason for silencing knowledge ? the lack of appreciation ? did not appear among the answer of company owners. According to the employee perceptions, gender has impact on the level of emotional intelligence, while nationality, education and age group have no impact on the EQ. SME owners do not address much attention to gender. The occurrence of unethical behavior does not depend on the size of the enterprise. According to employee opinion, the EQ has positive impact on knowledge sharing, while it is not affected by ethics. The majority of owners also agreed with the positive impact of EQ. The attitude of employees and owners differ in different aspects. The results have shown that gender plays an influential role in EQ. The research of this complex problem laid down the empirical foundations for the V4 countries.

Selected factors of internationalisation and their impact on the SME perception of the market risk

Research background: Internationalisation of entrepreneurial activities provides an ample opportunity for the growth and sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). When making their business activities international, SMEs are facing various obstacles. Investigating the key factors of internationalisation and their impact on SME decision making constitutes a key factor of the research work. Purpose of the article: The main purpose of the paper is to examine the impact of selected factors of SME internationalisation on the positive perception of the market risk. Higher export costs, differences in legal environment, taxes, and linguistic and cultural differences were set to be the significant factors influencing the positive perception of the market risk. Bearing the main purpose in mind, the Visegrad Four (V4 ? Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary) were examined. Methods: The questionnaire in mother tongue of each country in online and paper form was used. The questionnaire consists of 77 questions divided into several sections. Likert five-point scale was used to allow the respondents to express their opinion. In total, 1585 responses were completed. A regression analysis was used to verify the statistical significance of the independent variables and to quantify the causal relationships (determining the direction and strength of the effect) on the dependent variable. As the variables are of one metric, a linear regression model (LRM) was selected to validate the hypothesis. Findings & value added: The internationalisation of SME activities brings along many risks and barriers that SMEs need to overcome if they want to enter international markets. Many SMEs consider the barriers and restrictions to enter foreign markets to be severe. Therefore, they decide to do their business domestically. It was established in the research that only 30.2% of the respondents expanded their business activities internationally. The biggest impact on the positive assessment of the market risk was found to have linguistic and cultural differences. They do not have a negative effect on the positive perception of the market risk, so they do not hinder SMEs in their international expansion. The second most important was the factor of the export costs. The factor of possible increased costs is quite important for SMEs in making their decisions whether to expand internationally or not. This factor also shapes a positive approach to assessing the market risk by SMEs. In the research, SMEs confirmed that potential higher costs do not represent a major barrier for them in shaping their attitudes towards the market risk. The remaining factors being analysed, namely differences in legal environment and taxes, did not have a significant impact on the positive assessment of the market risk internationally. The practical implications can be found in new information about market risk in process of internationalisation provided from four selected countries.

Income inequality in China 1952-2017: persistence and main determinants

Research background: China's economic growth, however remarkable, is due to the Harrod-Domar nature of economic growth and, therefore, limited. The main limitation lies in the extension of the neoclassical growth model and the government need to decrease regional disparities using new migration, urbanization and social policy. Purpose of the article: It is the rising regional disparity in the total factor productivity to cause the income inequality increase (measured by GINI index) in China from 1952?2017. Our paper brings new insight into the main inequality determinants and causes in China, using a fractional integration modeling framework. Methods: Using fractional integration, we find total factor productivity (TFP), real gross domestic product per capita and growth and expenditures for the social safety net and employment effort to have a statistically significant impact on GINI. Income inequality in China is of a persistent nature with the effects of the shocks affecting the GINI index enduring over time. Findings & value added: The results of this study highlight the importance for model/policy changes by the policy makers and practitioners in China to deal with the inequality issue. This involves improving the growth model through innovation and technological advancement, relaxing TFP dependence on the physical inputs (labor and capital) to reduce income inequality.

New trends in codes of ethics: Czech business ethics preferences by the dawn of COVID-19

Research background: The morality and sustainability depend upon the active engagement of all stakeholders. Businesses might have to observe minimum standards via their corporate social responsibility (CSR), but this does not imply any mandatory and enforceable requirements for their internal documents. Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic magnify differences and might impact the perception and commitment to ethics and modify preferences. Purpose of the article: Since it is up to each and every business whether it will issue Codes of Ethics or Codes of Conduct (Codes) and how they will project ethical principles, values and concerns in them, it is both illuminative and instrumental to conduct a massive theoretical and literature review, to identify five aspects for exploration of Codes: (i) human nature (ii) moral values (iii) ethical principles, (iv) reasoning and (v) sustainability pillars, and to perform such an exploration via a case study at the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Based on a massive theoretical and literature review, five aspects for exploration have been identified and employed in a case study involving twenty Codes of the largest Czech businesses, while focusing on their preferences. This is to be achieved by a holistic advanced content analysis employing meta-analysis and manual Delphi method with Likert scoring by a panel of experts. Findings & value added: The case study reveals that generally Codes prefer (i) Socrates´ perception of human nature, (ii) respect and responsibility as moral values, (iii) the principle of solidarity, (iv) social contract and deontological reasoning and (v) the sustainability social pillar. These findings demonstrate discrepancies and inconsistencies between and also within these Codes, which often paternalistically reject the multi-stakeholder approach that is needed to overcome COVID-19. This litigates for the appropriateness of this new methodology and encourages further longitudinal case studies entailing more jurisdictions and industries.

Demand forecasting: an alternative approach based on technical indicator Pbands

Research background: Demand forecasting helps companies to anticipate purchases and plan the delivery or production. In order to face this complex problem, many statistical methods, artificial intelligence-based methods, and hybrid methods are currently being developed. However, all these methods have similar problematic issues, including the complexity, long computing time, and the need for high computing performance of the IT infrastructure. Purpose of the article: This study aims to verify and evaluate the possibility of using Google Trends data for poetry book demand forecasting and compare the results of the application of the statistical methods, neural networks, and a hybrid model versus the alternative possibility of using technical analysis methods to achieve immediate and accessible forecasting. Specifically, it aims to verify the possibility of immediate demand forecasting based on an alternative approach using Pbands technical indicator for poetry books in the European Quartet countries. Methods: The study performs the demand forecasting based on the technical analysis of the Google Trends data search in case of the keyword poetry in the European Quartet countries by several statistical methods, including the commonly used ETS statistical methods, ARIMA method, ARFIMA method, BATS method based on the combination of the Cox-Box transformation model and ARMA, artificial neural networks, the Theta model, a hybrid model, and an alternative approach of forecasting using Pbands indicator. The study uses MAPE and RMSE approaches to measure the accuracy. Findings & value added: Although most currently available demand prediction models are either slow or complex, the entrepreneurial practice requires fast, simple, and accurate ones. The study results show that the alternative Pbands approach is easily applicable and can predict short-term demand changes. Due to its simplicity, the Pbands method is suitable and convenient to monitor short-term data describing the demand. Demand prediction methods based on technical indicators represent a new approach for demand forecasting. The application of these technical indicators could be a further forecasting models research direction. The future of theoretical research in forecasting should be devoted mainly to simplifying and speeding up. Creating an automated model based on primary data parameters and easily interpretable results is a challenge for further research.

Antecedents of green purchase intention: a cross-cultural empirical evidence from Vietnam and Poland

Research background: Even though antecedents of green consumption have already been considered in numerous scientific articles, their findings still remain inconsistent. Furthermore, far less attention has been paid to understanding the underlying mechanism of cultural values, including collectivism and long-term orientation, and perceived environmental knowledge influencing intention to purchase environmentally friendly products, as well as the meditating role of green purchase willingness in the linkages between antecedents and green purchase intention. In addition, some previous studies suggested that it might be meaningful and significant to explore these linkages in the cross-cultural context with different levels of economic development. Purpose of the article: This study explored the effects of cultural dimension, perceived environmental and green purchase willingness with regard to intention to purchase environmentally friendly products of Vietnamese and Polish customers. Moreover, the mediating role of green purchase willingness was also investigated in this study. Methods: To achieve the objectives of this research, customer surveys were conducted in two developing countries ? Vietnam and Poland. Two convenience samples of 611 Vietnamese consumers and 301 Polish consumers have been recruited from 03 May to 03 October 2020. The structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilized to examine the conceptual framework and test the proposed hypotheses. Findings & value added: The research revealed that green purchase willingness became the most influential factor to predict green purchase intention in both cultures. Also, perceived environmental knowledge was found to have substantial effects on willingness and intention to purchase environmentally friendly products in both countries, even though the influential degree in Poland was much higher than that in Vietnam. Remarkably, cultural dimensions were found to significantly affect green consumption in the collectivist culture of Vietnam, while these relationships were not significant in Poland. This study was expected to significantly contribute to the existing literature by boosting our understanding of the importance of cultural values and perceived knowledge environment in promoting green consumption in the cross-cultural context.

Mirror data asymmetry in international trade by commodity group: the case of intra-Community trade

Research background: Transactions in international trade of goods are recorded in two sources, on the side of the seller's country and on the side of the buyer's country. The confrontation of such data makes it possible to measure their quality. An inconsistency between the data is called mirror data asymmetry. Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper is to adapt the methods developed by the Authors to study mirror data asymmetry to commodity group markets examination. The quality of data on trade within specific commodity groups (CN chapters) in intra-Community trade was compared. The data were aggregated by country. The indicators used allow for the indication of commodity groups with high mirror data compatibility and those with data asymmetry between intra-Community supplies (ICS) and acquisitions (ICA). Moreover, the commodity groups for which the value-based and quantity-based approaches give different results have been identified. Methods: Based on the literature on the subject and their own research, the Authors have developed a group of methods for studying the asymmetry of mirror data. The proposed indicator formulas are based on various data aggregation approaches. The research used data on intra-Community supplies and acquisitions of goods broken down into 97 chapters of the Combined Nomenclature (CN). Differences between the ICS and ICA in particular commodity groups were aggregated for all pairs of EU countries. The data comes from the Comext database, provided by Eurostat. Findings & value added: The results of the analysis are rankings of the Combined Nomenclature (CN) chapters by the quality of data on ICS and ICA. Lists of CN chapters have been created for discrepancies both in value and weight of goods. Thus, areas of necessary intensification of the work of public statistics services to improve data reliability were identified.

Fostering Czech firms? innovation performance through efficient cooperation

Research background: The business climate development and the stage of innovation systems? transformation are very similar in many Central and Eastern European countries, making it necessary to study these specific economies. These economies are at a different level of transformation, and their governments are trying to support the development of a knowledge-based economy, the creation of innovation systems, and collaboration among different types of entities. These governments need feedback in the form of research into the impacts of public funding on innovation activities through the influence of basic research and cooperation-based resources in individual countries. Purpose of the article: This paper focuses on the examination of (i) the influence of national and European subsidies on innovation performance in manufacturing firms in the Czech Republic and (ii) impacts of knowledge- and cooperation-based resources on innovation activities in Czech manufacturing. Methods: The latest available data from the Community Innovation Survey was used for analyses realized by different regression models. The proposed research models were gradually created to verify the influence of pro-innovation factors (expenditures on in-house and external R&D and on the acquisition of external tangible and intangible sources, cooperation with different partners and innovation) and public (national and/or European) funding of firms? innovation performance within the Czech manufacturing industry. Findings and value added: The results have showed that there is a need to focus on direct and indirect effects of selected innovation determinants; we have also identified the crucial role of cooperation (specifically with government, public, or private research institutes) as a mediating variable within innovation processes. The results have also evidenced that public funding affects the efficiency of knowledge- and cooperation-based resources and amplifies the impact on firms? innovation performance differently. Whereas subsidies from national budgets do not significantly influence the innovation performance of Czech manufacturing firms, European subsidies, on the other hand, significantly increase firms? innovation performance. A long-term contribution of this paper is the significant completion of the theory of policy implications that may be applicable in a broad international context beyond the borders of the Czech Republic. This study significantly contributes to the ongoing discussion about (i) the significance of public financial subsidies from both national and European funds and (ii) the effects of cooperation and R&D on firms? innovation performance within ?catching-up? in Central and Eastern Europe.

What drives the dividend decisions in BRICS countries?

Research background: We examine the dividend payout policies across companies listed on the main stock exchanges in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS). Unlike the highly developed capital markets, the literature regarding dividend policy on BRICS? stock exchanges is scarce. Purpose of the article: The purpose of this paper is threefold: verification of the existence of dividend smoothing pattern; selection of the significant drivers that affect both dividend levels and dividend smoothing; examination of differences between dividend policy of cross- and single-listed companies. Methods: Based on a dataset of 564 companies that paid dividends for at least 11 consecutive years in the period of 1995?2015, we apply a GMM two-step estimator to assess the speed of dividend adjustment (SOA) coefficient. Further we employ the linear panel regression to indicate the individual and market determinants of the dividend levels and SOAs. In the latter case, we base on time series of the SOAs obtained from the rolling estimation technique. Finally, we conduct separate estimations for cross-listed companies. Findings & value added: We confirm a moderate level of dividend smoothing within BRICS countries. Among the firm-level characteristics affecting the SOA the most important are: ownership dispersion, age and size of a firm, retained earnings, leverage, long term debt, asset tangibility, liquidity risk ratio, and issuing the depositary receipts (DR). Two relevant market factors are found: market capitalisation and turnover in relation to GDP. Similar characteristics have a significant impact on dividends? levels in the entire sample, whereas in the subsample of cross-listed companies fewer variables are significant. Our paper is the first comprehensive attempt to investigate the dividend policy and determinants of dividend smoothing among BRICS countries.