Occupational identity is a critical determinant of employee motivation, satisfaction, and retention, yet its dynamics within resource-constrained healthcare systems remain underexplored. This study examines how organisational culture, leadership support, and professional development jointly shape occupational identity and how this identity subsequently influences job satisfaction and turnover intentions among healthcare workers in Ghana. Guided by Social Identity Theory, the study employed a quantitative design and analysed data from 509 healthcare professionals using PLS-SEM. The results show that supportive organisational culture, effective leadership, and professional development significantly strengthen occupational identity. Strong occupational identity also enhances job satisfaction but, unexpectedly, is associated with higher turnover intentions-revealing an identity-retention paradox in the Ghanaian healthcare context. Furthermore, COVID-19 did not significantly moderate the relationships between occupational identity and the outcome variables. This study is among the first to offer an integrated examination of multiple organisational antecedents of occupational identity within a developing-country healthcare system. It contributes new evidence on the dual role of occupational identity, demonstrating that while it increases job satisfaction, it may also heighten turnover intentions when organisational conditions conflict with professional norms. The findings provide valuable theoretical and practical insights for managing identity-driven behaviour and strengthening workforce stability in low-resource healthcare environments.
The advent of digital technology has revolutionized the business ecosystem, particularly for MSMEs. Digital transformation significantly impacts MSMEs' operations, necessitating leaders to promote technology integration to achieve financial success. This study employs a quantitative methodology by examining and analyzing distributed questionnaires (n = 178) to assess the impact of digital transformational leadership on financial performance, with digital technology adoption as a mediator. The findings reveal that digital transformational leadership and technology adoption positively and significantly affect MSMEs' financial performance. Additionally, the study highlights the crucial role of digital technology adoption in mediating the relationship between digital transformational leadership and financial performance. Our research provides deeper insights into how digital transformational leadership and technology adoption influence MSMEs' financial outcomes. The results provide valuable insights into the correlation among leadership style, digital technology adoption, and financial performance enhancement in MSMEs.
This study aims to investigate the key factors influencing the intention to purchase health insurance products in the post-COVID scenario among Generation Z. Additionally, this research endeavours to evaluate the moderating impact of health insurance literacy on the transformation of intentions into actual health insurance purchase behaviour by utilizing an extended theory of planned behaviour (ETPB), incorporating health consciousness and perceived usefulness to assess Gen Z's intention to purchase health insurance. A total of 518 respondents were selected using purposive sampling. PLS SEM and SPSS were employed to analyse the data. A structured questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Subjective norms and perceived behavioural control were found to have a more significant impact on the intentions to purchase health insurance among Generation Z consumers in India. Furthermore, a significant and positive moderating effect of health insurance literacy was observed between intention and purchase of health insurance. This paper makes a unique contribution to the literature regarding investigating the factors responsible for the purchase of health insurance among Generation Z by extending the TPB and applying health insurance literacy as a moderator in predicting the purchase behaviour of health insurance in the context of an emerging economy such as India. Since health insurance literacy moderates the model, it contributes to the TPB literature.
This study examines the influence of macroeconomic factors on the financial supply chain stability of Ghana's banking sector, where banks serve as primary financial intermediaries due to an underdeveloped capital market. Utilizing a panel data set from 2001 to 2020, the research reveals significant correlations between gross domestic product (GDP), capital adequacy, inflation, and interest rates, with a 5% level of significance. The study's longitudinal approach captures long-term trends, offering unique insights into the specific macroeconomic variables that impact financial stability in a developing economy. The findings emphasize the crucial role of banks in maintaining financial stability and provide actionable implications for policymakers and banking sector managers. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the interplay between macroeconomic conditions and banking sector resilience in Ghana, with broader relevance to similar developing economies.
This study explores the quantile time-frequency connectedness for returns-volume pairs across classic cryptocurrencies, NFTs, DeFi, and backed gold cryptocurrencies from November 2, 2021, to January 5, 2023. Utilizing quantile-connectedness measures derived from a QVAR model's variance decomposition, we observe heterogeneous Total Connectedness Indices (TCIs) over time, dependent on various events. Our analysis confirms the spillover effect between return and volume across all studied cryptocurrency markets. Notably, volume exhibits predictive power for returns in most cases, shedding light on the driving forces behind price adjustments under diverse market conditions, as revealed by time-frequency analysis. Furthermore, a long-term pattern is discerned among backed gold currencies, Meta, UPUNK, Tera, and BNB, alongside a short-term pattern. Regarding net directional results, returns are predominantly received from volume, driven by transactions at both ends of the volume spectrum, with exceptions for Link, Ethereum, Fix Token, and PMGT. Additionally, our findings unveil an asymmetry in both the overall TCI and short-term and long-term net TCIs.
The Otaku economy has become a focus of attention owing to Covid-19, and online gamers can chat, make friends, and keep in touch through games to enhance their feelings. Most players have only experienced free content games, as practitioners often use free game software plus game accessory sales to attract consumers. Moreover, the cognition of games and mall props will affect gamers' purchase intention. Targeting massively online free games, this research analyzes consumer behavior in the society of online free games by using variables like network exposure, social interaction design, and network convergence. This research distributed questionnaires through online gaming unions and online communities to identify the factors influencing gamers' purchase intention of equipment and apparel. According to the research results, factors like network exposure, social interaction design, and network convergence will influence the willingness to purchase achievement and vanity props in large-scale online free games. Hence, gamers can be divided into two categories: (1) the vanity type (peacock), who likes gorgeous apparel and will use online games to create his perfect images in mind through characters that differ from his true self. (2) the feature type (eagle) aims to improve the effects and efficiency of tasks to obtain self-identification in games through purchasing props. These insights offer valuable guidance for game developers and marketing professionals in designing targeted monetization strategies and user engagement mechanisms.
This study aims to understand the continuous intention of the Intelligent Somatosensory Game Console, which is Nintendo Switch, using the post-acceptance model of Information Systems (IS) continuance as the basic theoretical framework, while the integrated innovation diffusion model and perceived playfulness were used as intrinsic motivation factors. The researchers of this study distributed a total of 376 questionnaires, 363 of which were valid. The Structure Equation Model (SEM) was used to verify the fit of the model, and the results revealed that the post-acceptance model of IS continuance could partially explain the somatosensory game console Switch. While operating the Switch, users gain positive satisfaction (STA), influencing them to use the console continuously. This study concludes that users perceive Switch positively, believing using the game console improves their self-leisure behavior. Moreover, the study's findings suggest that users learn how to operate the gaming console effectively while enjoying and relaxing during the process, increasing their willingness to continue using it.
With the law of one price, a fuzzy asset pricing provides an alternative for asset/property evaluation. We create two pseudo assets to mimic the asset being evaluated. Pseudo assets are constructed by two sets of comparable assets within the same industry/sector and then to solve a unique solution of systematic simultaneous equations for each set, such that each pseudo asset factors' components are identical to the asset being evaluated. Then we calculate both pseudo asset pricings according to their solution based on the simultaneous equations detailed below. With the pseudo prices, we set a fuzzy asset pricing range for the asset under the law of one price. This fuzzy pricing model serves two purposes: (2) estimating asset pricing within this fuzzy range; and (2) using the fuzzy range as a yardstick for evaluating the realized performance of any asset class, such as equity, property, or mutual funds.
This study explores the influence of unique Chinese factors on customer relationships, specifically satisfaction, trust, commitment, and loyalty (STCL). The research uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the effect of nine indigenous factors from the Chinese value system on STCL measures of customer relationships among Chinese consumers. The results indicate that three indigenous factors have a significant effect on customer satisfaction, while one factor affects trust. However, the other five indigenous factors do not have a significant influence on STCL measures. Furthermore, the study finds that the prevailing direct chain of the STCL does not hold in this case. The finding reveals a new direct explanation chain, TCL, which differs from the existing explanation chain. Understanding the importance of Ren Qing and Mian Zi can provide scholars and practitioners with valuable insights for building and retaining customer loyalty in China's competitive market.
We examine the effect of local religiosity on managers' financial decisions using insider trading. Managers in more religious counties sell less than those in less religious counties and are granted fewer options. We use the link between higher religiosity and higher levels of risk aversion to explain the results. Managers in more religious counties make fewer unprecedented big sales transactions, which are likely to be made to fund spending on big-ticket items. Firms in more religious counties make fewer option grants in order not to increase their managers' risk appetite, and those managers sell less as a result.
Research objectives: This study aims to explore the realm of virtual community management and enrich the virtual community development literature by investigating the effects of strategic community management and the incorporation of community environmental mechanisms throughout various stages of virtual community evolution. Methodology: The present study explores the environmental mechanism required within the business strategy to establish a tailored Virtual Brand Community (VBC). The present study first surveys the community literature and then introduces a horizontal developmental framework rooted in the management-relationship-behavior realm. This framework extends the research boundaries of consumer engagement in virtual community management and can aid in establishing vibrant and sustainable virtual communities. Conclusions: Barger et al. (2016) called for research to identify "comprehensive frameworks related to all of the antecedents and consequences of consumer engagement on social media" (p. 281). Accordingly, the present study introduces four stages of development and expansion for virtual communities (i.e., recruitment, consolidation, elitist period, and partner period) while identifying relevant business strategies for virtual Implications: Interestingly, previous research on group identification has often overlooked the extent to which identification is constructed. An untapped potential is to illustrate customer relationship management in a virtual community, which may help entrepreneurs, especially those seeking to build a vibrant and sustainable virtual community. Additional implications are presented for the virtual community moderators' consideration. Limitations: There lacks an empirical component to examine the extent to which variables such as level of education, native language, religion, and culture may help explain the engagement of the virtual community. These limitations present possibilities for future research to explore.
This study investigates the impact of initial capital structure decisions on the performance of start-ups, as well as the benefits of formal debt - particularly bank loans - in the context of a developing economy. We employ regression analysis using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) based on panel data from 277 firms during their first five years of operation, including those that had ceased operations at the time of analysis. The results indicate a positive relationship between corporate debt levels and the performance of new firms. This finding contrasts with many studies on mature firms, which often suggest that a higher debt ratio negatively affects firm performance. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the importance of formal debt in early capital structure decisions, showing that businesses with higher leverage - especially those utilizing official bank loans - tend to achieve superior performance in their initial stages.
This paper investigates the impact of the Fed's monetary normalization policy on emerging stock market performances. Our findings demonstrate emerging markets were significantly negatively affected shortly after the U.S. rate hikes, market panic increases, and commodity price decreases. We also find the declines in stock market returns were larger for emerging countries with low financial openness, high country-specific risks and long-term trade deficits than for other countries when the Fed raised rates. In terms of geographical locations, Asian stock markets demonstrated their growth momentum over a long period, while Latin American economies, dependent heavily on commodity trades, underwent stagnation and recession during the QE tapering. On the other hand, our results show that the increase in U.S. real output had negative spillovers to emerging stock market performance, potentially due to more funds from these countries flowing into the U.S. market.
The main purpose of the study is to explore how travel motivations are related to individualistic-oriented materialistic values and collective-oriented family and community values, which are believed to have conflicting influences on well-being. To test the general hypotheses, a survey was conducted using adapted scales with 287 college students in Macao, China. The results support general relationships between travel motivations and both individual-oriented and collective-oriented values. Further analyses also show that the strength of relationships vary across different values and different travel motivations. The exploratory findings provide future research directions on how various values affect different motivations as well as managerial implications.
Using Path modeling, this study intends to investigate the effects of tax incentive measures on Thai SMEs' corporate tax compliance behavior under the conditions of a facilitated tax system, as well as tax fairness and equity perception. In this study, samples were collected from 209 Thai SMEs. The study's findings show that tax incentive measures have a direct effect on corporate tax compliance behavior, but the two-way interaction "Tax Incentive Measures* Facilitated Tax System" and the three-way interaction "Tax Incentive Measures* Facilitated Tax System* Tax Fairness and Equity Perception" do not. This implies that the two moderators' fluctuating levels have no effect on the direct effect. As a result, Tax incentive measures are the only significant factor for SMEs in their commercial operations and activities. Executives of SMEs must critically evaluate, implement, and utilize Tax incentive measures in order to build, develop, and realize the advantages of these measures in doing business.
Whereas many companies have explored attended in-home delivery as one solution to challenges associated with last mile delivery, few have explored unattended in-home delivery. This paper examines consumer willingness to allow unattended in-home delivery under various scenarios of anonymity. Specifically, we study how blockchainenabled anonymity of sellers, delivery companies, and consumers can influence consumer willingness to allow unattended in-home delivery of a nutritional product in this last mile service triad. Hypotheses build on agency theory and the potential for information asymmetry and opportunism. The analyses are based on data from 784 responses to an online survey of end-consumers who were randomly assigned to treatments in a scenario-based experiment. The results indicate that blockchain-enabled anonymity of the delivery company significantly decreases consumer willingness for unattended in-home delivery. We also find that the joint anonymity of the seller and the consumer significantly decreases the likelihood of a customer allowing unattended in- home delivery.
The current study seeks to explore the various outcomes of dispositional envy, its antecedent, and its impact on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The proposed model considers dispositional envy as a mediating variable and possible antecedent of deviant behavior, social loafing, and OCB in organizations. Leader-member exchange (LMX) is proposed to affect dispositional envy and other variables in the study. A survey of 246 Indonesian employees from various industries found that LMX affects dispositional envy but does not affect employees' deviant behavior. Dispositional envy was found to affect deviant behavior, OCB, and social loafing but was not found to moderate the relationship between LMX and deviant behavior. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are also explored.
With the rapid development of science and technology, mobile phones have both improved and complicated daily life. Activities such as surfing the Internet, watching videos, listening to music, and playing online games are more convenient, and mobile games become more dazzling. This study aims to explore psychological mechanism that may cause positive experience value or addiction and affect personality traits. This research utilized the Multiple Case Study Research Method to analyze the data collected from in-depth interviews, which were based on Grounded Theory. It was discovered that personality traits can influence the relationship between psychological mechanisms and experience values for game players. Whether mobile game players can experience joy in the game or become addicted to it is determined by how their personality traits can influence psychological mechanisms and experience values.
This paper analyzes the impact of political connection, interlocking directorates, and female directors on financial distress, and corporate governance as a moderating variable. The results showed that all variables had a significant effect on financial distress partially. Political connection, interlocking commissioner positions, and audit committees have a significant and positive effect. While the interlocking CEO, female director, audit committee and board size variables have a significant negative effect. After entering the moderating variable, the results indicate that the political connection and interlocking variables moderated by the audit committee had a positive impact to the financial distress. While the political connection and interlocking CEO variables have negative values after being moderated by board size.
Globalization and technological progress induce an unprecedented commercial interdependence between countries: world trade and production are increasingly structured around Global Value Chains (GVCs). These GVCs create an international production fragmentation, allowing higher efficiency and competitiveness, and exposure to global shocks, so trade policies must more proactively consider this new reality of business. This paper analyzes the plausible determinants of insertion in global production, in terms of forward and backward participation in GVCs. It is verified by using static panels, that FDI flows, education, and economic activity affect both types of linkages, although in different ways. It is also confirmed that the distance to the largest hub and the exchange rate are important in backward participation, while the size of the economy and the quality of logistics determine the forward one. Based on this diagnosis, this work guides academicians, practitioners, and policymakers to promote successful insertion in GVCs.
