Butler University

PurposeGrounded in regulatory focus theory and self-conscious emotions theory, this research aims to investigate how chronic prevention focus influences consumers' identity avoidance of luxury items with prominent logos. This study examines the underlying mechanisms through the perception of negative stereotypes surrounding conspicuous consumption and the anticipation of embarrassment, as well as the moderating effect of situationally induced regulatory focus.Design/methodology/approachThree studies were conducted with authentic luxury consumers using a combination of survey and experimental methods. Studies 1 and 2 used online surveys to examine the relationships between chronic prevention focus, perception of negative stereotypes, anticipation of embarrassment and identity avoidance. Study 3 used a between-subjects experimental design to investigate the interactive effects of chronic prevention focus and situationally primed regulatory focus (promotion vs prevention) on identity avoidance within a moderated sequential mediation model.FindingsStudy 1 demonstrates that the perception of negative stereotypes and the anticipation of embarrassment significantly predict identity avoidance of luxury items with prominent logos. Study 2 reveals that chronic prevention-focused consumers are more likely to perceive negative stereotypes surrounding conspicuous consumption, anticipate heightened embarrassment when imagining themselves publicly displaying luxury items with prominent logos and consequently engage in identity avoidance. Furthermore, Study 3 identifies a boundary condition, showing that the effects observed in Study 2 occur only when chronic prevention-focused individuals are situationally primed with a promotion focus.Practical implicationsThese findings advance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying consumer identity avoidance in luxury consumption. Importantly, this study uncovers a counterintuitive effect: when primed with a promotion focus, consumers with a chronic prevention focus perceive stronger negative stereotypes and anticipate more feelings of embarrassment. This further increases their likelihood of avoiding luxury items with prominent logos due to identity concerns. These results suggest that luxury marketers should consider accommodating both status-seeking consumers, as well as an alternate consumer segment seeking "quiet luxury" without perceived social costs and threats to self-concept. Marketers should also be cautious when tailoring messages to consumers' motivational orientations, as promotion-focus primes may backfire among chronically prevention-focused consumers.Originality/valueWhile scholars have examined negative consequences associated with luxury consumption, research is limited regarding consumers' motivational orientations toward identity avoidance behaviors, as well as their response to social and psychological costs of conspicuous consumption. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this research is among the first to apply regulatory focus theory and self-conscious emotions to examine the mechanisms underlying identity avoidance in luxury consumption. It also offers novel insights into the interaction between chronic and situationally primed regulatory focus in the context of identity avoidance and luxury consumption.

There is growing interest in both practice and research on the use of prosocial rewards to recognize and motivate employees, though prior research mainly focuses on their motivational effects on effort. We use an experiment to examine the relative effectiveness of prosocial rewards versus cash rewards at increasing the likelihood of whistleblowing internally within the organization. We focus on a common organizational setting in which the employee encounters uncertainty when assessing the occurrence and impact of potential misconduct. We find that prosocial rewards (vs. no rewards) increase the whistleblowing likelihood and are also not less motivating than cash rewards, despite the personal economic disadvantage to the whistleblower. Our mediation analyses provide some weak evidence that the positive effect of prosocial rewards on whistleblowing works indirectly through increasing the perceived morality of whistleblowing, whereas no such indirect effect is observed for cash rewards. Our study offers insight on the outcomes of using prosocial versus cash rewards in internal whistleblower programs for organizations interested in incentivizing whistleblowing with different reward types. Tant dans la pratique que dans la recherche, on s'int & eacute;resse de plus en plus au recours aux r & eacute;compenses prosociales pour reconna & icirc;tre et motiver les employ & eacute;s, m & ecirc;me si les travaux ant & eacute;rieurs ont principalement abord & eacute; les effets motivationnels de ces r & eacute;compenses sur l'effort. & Agrave; l'aide d'une exp & eacute;rience, nous examinons l'efficacit & eacute; relative des r & eacute;compenses prosociales par rapport aux r & eacute;compenses p & eacute;cuniaires pour accro & icirc;tre la probabilit & eacute; de d & eacute;nonciation interne des actes r & eacute;pr & eacute;hensibles au sein de l'organisation. Nous mettons l'accent sur un contexte organisationnel o & ugrave; les employ & eacute;s & eacute;prouvent de l'incertitude au moment d'& eacute;valuer l'existence et les r & eacute;percussions d'un possible comportement fautif. Nous & eacute;tablissons que les r & eacute;compenses prosociales (par rapport & agrave; l'absence de r & eacute;compense) augmentent la probabilit & eacute; de d & eacute;nonciation et que leur effet sur la motivation n'est pas moindre que celui des r & eacute;compenses mon & eacute;taires, malgr & eacute; le d & eacute;savantage & eacute;conomique personnel que cela pr & eacute;sente pour le d & eacute;nonciateur. Nos analyses de m & eacute;diation fournissent des donn & eacute;es limit & eacute;es indiquant que l'effet positif des r & eacute;compenses prosociales sur la d & eacute;nonciation se manifeste de fa & ccedil;on indirecte par une am & eacute;lioration du caract & egrave;re moral per & ccedil;u li & eacute; & agrave; la d & eacute;nonciation, tandis qu'aucun effet indirect de ce type n'est observ & eacute; dans le cas des r & eacute;compenses p & eacute;cuniaires. Notre & eacute;tude met en lumi & egrave;re les effets de l'utilisation de r & eacute;compenses prosociales par rapport aux r & eacute;compenses p & eacute;cuniaires dans les programmes internes de d & eacute;nonciation des organisations souhaitant encourager la d & eacute;nonciation gr & acirc;ce & agrave; diff & eacute;rents types de r & eacute;compenses.

A range of collaborative approaches to address complexity in the business environment including strategic alliances, public private partnerships, issues management alliances, innovation and enterprise zones, supply chain certification and partnerships, industry self-regulatory systems, and technology incubators are evidence of collaboration across sectors. This paper suggests that these may be part of a bigger adaptation. Such new models may be critical in addressing challenging issues of immigration and workforce development, disruptive technologies, globalization, corruption, and sustainability. The paper builds the case that these collaborative responses are not simply new forms but represent a new logic and values. They incorporate a "both and" logic and a more ecological perspective. They recognize that going it alone may not be sufficient. Partnering with NGOs, third-party organizations, and even government agencies may lead to better solutions. Finally, they challenge leadership to generate new conversations and ask different questions. The paper provides three detailed cases that illustrate collaborative responses to issues and new forms of adaptation including industry self-regulation, recycling, and employment programs for persons with disabilities. It concludes with suggestions for future research.

This study investigates the determinants of bankruptcy duration and resolution outcomes among publicly traded U.S. healthcare firms filing under Chapter 11. Using parametric survival models, we find that firm age and capital structure complexity are associated with longer proceedings, particularly among firms that ultimately liquidate. In contrast, prearranged filings, debtor-in-possession financing, and broader client reach shorten durations, especially in reorganizations. Governance disruptions such as fraud discovery and management turnover accelerate liquidation exits by eroding stakeholder confidence and reducing resistance to closure. The findings carry implications for policy design, creditor coordination, and institutional resilience in healthcare, where financial distress has systemic consequences for service continuity and public accountability.

This article investigates the contingencies that lead to outcomes from two levels of organisational openness. First is the strategy level of ‘open strategy’, where we focus on inclusiveness and transparency of strategy-making and the use of IT tools to facilitate such processes. Second is the operational level relating to an open organisational climate, where we focus on autonomy in operations, integration between different departments, and involvement in operational (non-strategy) decision-making. By collecting data from 49 cases of strategy-making in organisations and using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach for data analysis, we have devised configurations of the aforementioned factors that lead to positive and negative outcomes. The article discusses these configurations with prior literature and concludes by illustrating their theoretical and practical implications. JEL Classification: M15