RSS 1.0Business and management
Recent Submissions
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Women entrepreneurs as cultural custodians in tourism: a social feminism theory perspectiveThis study, grounded in social feminism theory, examines how women entrepreneurs in Cyprus use tourism enterprises to preserve and transmit cultural knowledge. Drawing on 26 semi-structured interviews, the research examines how participants balance economic goals with cultural responsibilities. The analysis identifies five interrelated themes, cultural identity, integration, advocacy, collaboration, and resilience, that inform a conceptual framework explaining how entrepreneurial agency is shaped by gendered social roles and expectations. By positioning women entrepreneurs as agents of transformative change, this study extends social feminism theory to include the preservation and transmission of cultural knowledge as a critical dimension of entrepreneurial agency. By linking entrepreneurship to cultural stewardship, the study offers insights into how women deal with structural constraints while engaging in locally meaningful forms of sustainability. These findings offer implications for policymakers and development practitioners who seek to support gender-responsive, culturally rooted entrepreneurship in marginalised tourism contexts.
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What makes a duck a duck? : a LEGO® Serious Play® exercise demonstrating the contradictions in managing diversity, equity and inclusionThis exercise aims to problematize the often taken-for-granted assumption that identity is fixed and immutable. To facilitate this, we have adapted a warm-up exercise from the LEGO® Serious Play® Methodology: the construction of LEGO® ducks. The exercise can be used with students at all levels. Using a sequence of duck-building activities, it facilitates experiential learning to increased understanding of the contradictions inherent in notions of identity - a helpful first step towards exploring the complexities of diversity, equity and inclusion.
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The gap between rhetoric and reality: an audit of postgraduate curricula for evidence of equality, diversity, and inclusionOur chapter concerns the extent to which the topics of equality, diversity and inclusion are covered in the curricula of UK business schools. These topics are attracting a great deal of interest from higher education policy and professional bodies such as Advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Academy) and the Chartered Association of Business Schools, and yet, despite this high-profile interest, there is increasing evidence that these topics are often not covered in business school curricula, or only in the relatively ‘soft’ topics such as human resource management and business ethics.
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A mixed-methods investigation of work identity in waiting staff, and its impact on turnover intentionThis study set out to explore the factors which influence work identity construction and turnover intention in waiters. A mixed-methods approach was used. We first conducted a qualitative study into waiters’ work identity, followed by a quantitative survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for analysis. Ability to act ‘authentically’ in the workplace, and relations with intra-group members, emerged as factors that influence work identity construction. An impact of work identity on turnover intention was confirmed. The findings have implications for strategies that could enhance work identity construction amongst waiters and tackle problematic levels of turnover in the industry.
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Current research development on food contaminants, future risks, regulatory regime and detection technologies: a systematic literature reviewFood contaminants pose serious threats to public health, with profound negative impacts on the economy, society, and environment. However, there is a lack of timely and comprehensive reviews on the latest developments in food contaminants and effective measures to prevent contamination, particularly through novel intelligent detection technologies and regulatory regimes. This study addresses this knowledge gap by presenting a timely review of the literature, focusing on current types of food contaminants, advances in detection technologies, emerging risks, and the latest developments in regulatory frameworks. The study reviewed 116 relevant articles published between 2019 and 2024 and conducted a thematic analysis. The food contaminants were classified into three categories: biological, chemical, and physical. The study identified six key drivers of current and future food safety risks: demographic change, economic factors, environmental conditions, geopolitical shifts, consumer priorities, and technological advancements. Findings reveal the uneven understanding of contaminants of emerging concern, future drivers of contaminants of emerging concern, and their impact on the food system, the environment, and human health. These findings highlight the need for future research on systematically identifying and validating the regional differences in food contamination prevention measures and assessing the extent to which these differences impact the effectiveness of prevention, mitigation, and control efforts. The findings also call for more international cooperation in food contamination research and the active involvement of technology partners to facilitate the application of cutting-edge technologies in food contamination detection and control.
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Losing my job and family?: how power shapes the boundaries between work and family lifeJob insecurity is often understood as the perceived powerlessness to maintain desired continuity in one’s job, and experiences of it can have significant implications for both work and family life. Despite the crucial role of power in conceptualising the effects of job insecurity, little is known regarding the role of power dependence in the relationship between job insecurity and work-family enrichment. To address this gap, we analysed three-wave data from 267 UK white-collar employees to test a model linking job insecurity to work-family enrichment. Our findings reveal that (1) job insecurity negatively impacts work-family enrichment, (2) approach and avoidance power-balancing operations mediate this relationship, and (3) the negative effect is weaker when psychological contract breach is low. This study advances theoretical understanding by demonstrating that asymmetric power dependence is a critical factor in determining when and why job insecurity diminishes work-family enrichment.
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Organizational culture, digital transformation, and product innovationThis research fills a knowledge gap by introducing a new conceptualization of digital transformation through a multidimensional digital transforming capability. It further examines the influence of four cultural types on this capability and its subsequent impact on product innovation. Empirical findings reveal that adhocracy, followed in descending order of influence by clan, market, and hierarchy cultures, is positively related to digital transforming capability, which in turn is positively related to product innovation in terms of new product newness, meaningfulness, and performance. Additionally, new product newness and meaningfulness each positively mediate the effect of digital transforming capability on new product performance.
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Employee organisational commitment and corporate environmental sustainability practices: mediating role of organisation innovation cultureThe growing concerns about climate change have seen global leaders and the international community launch diverse initiatives, deals and reforms in an attempt to combat its negative impact. In response to these initiatives, corporates are increasingly prioritising environmental sustainability practices, such as reducing resource use, recycling and redesigning products and services to transition to sustainable operations, as a means of promoting trust and credibility, increasing their reputation and protecting the planet. However, the extant literature does not provide a clear understanding of the determinants of promoting corporate environmental sustainability practices (CESPs). Thus, drawing upon both resource-based views (RBVs) of the firm and the economic views of neo-institutional theory (NIT), this study examined the role of employee organisational commitment (EOC) and organisation innovation culture (IC) in promoting CESP. This quantitative study collected the required data through a questionnaire survey of senior to mid-level managers of a total of 201 Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE)-listed and non-listed firms. A two-step structural equation modelling (SEM) technique, employing SmartPLS, was followed to test the study's hypothesised associations. The findings provide evidence of a direct association between EOC and CESP and an indirect association through IC. Our findings are robust as alternative models were developed and tested based on different control and instrumental variables relating to organisational characteristics. The findings of the study contribute to the environmental sustainability literature by providing empirical evidence of the importance of EOC and IC in promoting CESP. Further, the findings inform managers, governments, foreign investors and other stakeholders on the importance of building EOC and developing suitable cultural practices within an organisation that promote CESP.
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Perceived intensity of extreme events and employees’ safety performance: an affective events perspectiveThe study of extreme work contexts has grown significantly in recent years, with a focus on understanding various adaptation strategies to unusual or atypical work events. While much attention has been paid to organizational responses in these contexts, research into individuals’ psychological and behavioral reactions has been more limited. This has led to insufficient evidence on the micro-foundations of extreme events, such as differences in the perceived intensity or severity of such events and their psychological consequences. Using affective events theory, we conducted two quasi-experiments to understand how three distinct levels of exposure to extreme events influence safety performance. In Study 1, using data from 292 firefighters, we report a significant reduction in safety performance among employees experiencing high, rather than medium and low, exposure to extreme events. This reduction is mediated by negative emotions and a decrease in work engagement. In Study 2, we replicate these findings using data from 315 seafarers. We further examine the role of self-emotion appraisal as a boundary condition, such that individuals with this psychological ability demonstrate greater resilience when experiencing high exposure to extreme events. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.
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The mediating impact of organizational innovation on the relationship between fintech innovations and sustainability performanceThe paper explores the impact of digital payment systems, blockchain technology, and AI/machine learning on innovation and sustainability in financial organizations. As part of the analysis, the study has adopted an explanatory research design and has used SmartPLS in order to analyze the data collected from 230 professionals of different fields through a structured questionnaire. The results show positive effects of digital payment systems and blockchain technology on organizations’ innovations with the impact of digital payments being the most pronounced. Empirical results suggest that these technologies are important to improve sustainability performance, depending on measures of internal consistency and discriminant validity among the proposed constructs. Al, also machine learning, has the highest relevance with environmental sustainability, thereby underlining the importance and work of such measures. Based on the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, the study also explains the need for the organization to assimilate these innovations to enhance the organizational operations, customer satisfaction, and compliance with the laws. The study highlights fintech’s potential to address environmental issues and enhance societal goals, but geographical limitations may obstruct its transportability.
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Machine learning-based optimal temperature management model for safety and quality control of perishable food supply chainThe management of a food supply chain is difficult and complex because of the product's short shelf-life, time-sensitivity, and perishable nature which must be carefully considered to minimize food waste. Temperature-controlled perishable food supply chain provides the highly crucial facilities necessary to maintain the quality and safety of the product. The storage temperature is the most vital factor in maintaining both the quality and shelf-life of a perishable food. Adequate storage temperature control ensures that perishable foods are transported to the end-users in good quality and safe to consume. This paper presents perishable food storage temperature control through mathematical optimal control model where the storage temperature is regarded as the control variable and the deterioration of the perishable food's quality follows the first-order reaction. The optimal storage temperature for a single perishable food is determined by applying the Pontryagin's maximum principle to solve the optimal control
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A study of employee attitudes towards AI, its effect on sustainable development goals and non-financial performance in independent hotelsThis study explores the effect of hotel employees' readiness for and acceptance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), on hotels’ adoption of AI, and its subsequent impact on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as impact on non-financial performance (NFP), within the U.S. independent hotel sector. A novel survey instrument was devised, validated and administered to 1600 employees in independent hotels across the United States. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to test the hypotheses derived from a conceptual framework. The results confirmed that employee readiness and acceptance of AI significantly affects AI and SDG adoption, and also positively impacted NFP metrics such as employee optimism, satisfaction and engagement. The study finds evidence of a pathway from employee engagement with AI to greater SDG adoption, and in turn, enhanced NFP. This highlights the significance of leveraging employee attitudes toward AI for more sustainable and effective performance in the hospitalit
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Educating the autonomous learner in a Confucian school: subjectivity, memorisation and dilemmaThe current literature on Chinese governmentality and subjectivity lacks rigorous discussion of the involvement of Confucian education. This article applies Foucauldian conceptual tools to explore this scholarship gap empirically. Based on ethnographic fieldwork at a Confucian school, we explore how Confucian pedagogical techniques are used to create a type of subject. This article first presents pedagogical reform in a Confucian school. The resultant pedagogy of individualised memorisation combines two paradoxical knowledge sources: the individualised teaching principle and the method of repetitive memorisation. We then demonstrate how the Confucian teaching techniques used in the classroom result in contradictory processes of subject-making. Students are governed by the technologies of power in the disciplined classroom but are also encouraged to be the "master" of their own study according to the technologies of the self, so as to become autonomous learners. The revived Confucian education is encountering
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Conspicuous morality and hidden religiosity of the Confucian education revival in contemporary ChinaThe contemporary revival of Confucian education offers a chance to rethink moral and religious education diversity in China. Moral dynamics are presented as the conspicuous and dominant force driving the expansion of Confucian education. Confucian activists’ moral anxiety about state education and society and desire for the moral upliftment of their offspring motivate them to embrace the Confucian pedagogy of memorization and act to engage their children in the extensive recitation of the classics. However, Confucianism has always held a religious nature, and religious organizations (especially Buddhism and Yiguandao) have played a hidden role in promoting Confucian education. This chapter concludes with the argument that Confucian education manifests itself as an intertwining of conspicuous morality and hidden religiosity in its contemporary revival.
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Exploring the impact of business analytics on strategic decision-making in uncertain environmentsBusiness analytics presents significant opportunities for enhancing strategic decision-making (SDM), yet a significant knowledge gap exists in our understanding of the interplay among environmental dynamism, business analytics use, environmental scanning, and rational and intuitive SDM. This paper aims to address this gap by leveraging the information processing view. Analyzing 218 survey responses using partial least squares (PLS) path modeling, the study underscores the influence of environmental dynamism on both business analytics use and environmental scanning. Furthermore, it reveals that while business analytics positively influences rational SDM, it exerts a negative effect on intuitive SDM. Additionally, environmental scanning partially mediates the link between business analytics use and rational SDM. Moreover, rational SDM exhibits a negative correlation with intuitive SDM. This study contributes to the literature by introducing a novel theoretical framework, enriching the information processing vie
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The mediocrity of AIPurpose: This paper aims to challenge the fashion of ubiquitous artificial intelligence (AI) and the effects which it will have upon society. In doing so it argues that the effects of AI will be minimal but important. Design/methodology/approach: This argument is based upon the Socratic method and explores the Utilitarian background in which AI is based while drawing upon classical literature and other examples to illustrate the argument. Findings: The findings are encompassed in the argument and show that we need to be more open and careful when considering AI and its effects. We also need to be more realistic when considering potential benefits. Practical implications: This argument has significant implications for the adoption of AI. Social implications: The social implications are equally profound and will impact upon our application of AI solutions to current problems and upon humanity more generally. Originality/value: This is the first paper which relates AI to human successes.
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Decoding organisational attractiveness: a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approachPurpose- High-skilled employees are crucial for sustained competitive advantage of organisations. In the "war for talent", organisations must position themselves as attractive employers. This study introduces a unified framework to systematically identify and prioritise Organisational Attractiveness (OA) components, focusing on the extreme context of the airline industry. Design/methodology/approach- Treating OA as a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) situation, the study employs the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) to validate key OA factors and the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to prioritise them based on experts’ judgements. Findings- The study identifies five criteria and 22 sub-criteria for OA, with job characteristics and person-job fit as most critical. These elements signal employment quality and skill-job alignment, reducing information asymmetry and attracting talent. Practical implications- This research provides a practical framework for airline managers to identify and prioritise key aspects of OA to enhance their value proposition and attract and retain qualified employees. For policymakers, applying the OA framework supports informed policy decisions on employment standards and workforce development. Originality- This research introduces a fuzzy OA index and a framework that enhances OA. By incorporating signalling theory into a fuzzy MCDM approach, it systematically addresses key OA components, offering a strategic method to boost OA.
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A bibliometric review of customer engagement in the international domain: reviewing the past and the presentThis study addresses/examines how the conceptual structure of customer engagement in the international context has changed since its emergence. These layers of analysis will assist researchers to uncover the historical basis, and identify the changes in the knowledge structure of customer engagement research in the international business domain. Our bibliometric analysis included 151 customer engagement articles. We employed cluster visualization (VOS) along with text mining to classify the most important and informative research in customer engagement in the international context.
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Modelling enablers for building agri-food supply chain resilience: insights from a comparative analysis of Argentina and FranceSmooth, efficient agri-food supply chain (AFSC) operations are becoming ever more difficult due to more intense and frequent natural disasters and man-made disruptions. Helping AFSCs to survive disturbances requires re-consideration of how to build their resilience. This study addresses this issue through a cross-country comparative analysis involving interviews with AFSC practitioners, thematic analysis to generate agri-food supply chain resilience (AFSCRes) capability factors, total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) to establish interrelationships among the factors, cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis to categorise the factors, and comparative analysis. The results reveal that contractual restraints regulating farmers’ opportunistic behaviour and regular interactions are key factors for building AFSCRes in France and Argentina, respectively. This study also confirms the critical role of farmers’ associations and coordinated activities amongst all AFSC stakeholders to build AFSCRes. For triggering AFSCRes, farmers’ resilience must be particularly prioritised, as they are the least resilient point in AFSCs.
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Airline business models as complex systems: assessing component interdependencies through interpretive structural modellingPurpose: This paper explores the intricate interdependencies among core components of airline business models (BMs). In the airline industry, where BMs are complex systems, a successful BM requires an orchestrated configuration of various components. However, there is a paucity of research in BM literature pertaining to the interrelationships among key components of airline BMs. Design/methodology/approach: Employing interpretive structural modelling, we gathered input from experts in Iran to assess the driving power and dependency of elements within airline BMs. Findings: Our findings highlight the significance of operating environment conditions and competitive market dynamics as pivotal external components shaping the foundational structure. Value proposition, customer relationship management, and process monitoring are crucial linkage components that drive power and dependency. Notably, capturing value is positioned with the highest dependency. Practical implications: We utilised the ISM technique to visualize interdependencies within airline business models, aiding strategic decision-making. Our findings suggest aligning business and operational strategies with market needs ensures effective value creation and capture, maintaining competitive advantage in the airline industry. In addition, our research reveals critical factors affecting value creation and capture, emphasizing monitoring the operating environment and competitive market, and strategically managing value propositions and customer relationship initiatives in the airline industry. We advise adapting business models to external changes for sustained growth and recommend regular monitoring of industry trends and customer expectations. Originality: Framed within complexity theory, these insights offer valuable perspectives on identifying and situating critical BM components in the airline industry. The practical implications derived from this study serve as strategic tools for airline managers and potential investors to optimise the design of their airline BMs.
