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Purpose: This study aims to examine the phenomenon of the risk–return paradox from the resources side of the firm. The authors emphasize the moderating role of risk-taking capabilities in investigating the relationship between risk-taking and performance. Design/methodology/approach: Building on the disciplines of the resource-based view, the moderating effects of risk-taking capabilities on performance were tested by using Taiwan listed companies' data from information technology and electronics industries. Based on the data from 216 firms for periods from 2003 to 2007, this study runs a hierarchical moderated regression analysis to test the hypotheses in the context of diversification. Findings: The results of this study emphasize that risk-taking and its relationship with performance are context-specific. Significantly, it is contingent on the firm's risk-taking capabilities endowment. The findings also indicate that some aspects of risk-taking capabilities moderate the relationship between risk-taking and performance. Originality/value: This paper emphasizes that risk-taking capability is an essential factor in investigating the risk–return paradox. It constructs the dimensions of risk-taking capability in terms of absorptive capacity, network resources and organizational slack. Firms equipped with a high level of risk-taking capabilities benefit from risk-taking activities and should, therefore, embrace risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the potential mechanisms through which regulatory focus influences employee work-related outcomes. The effects of a dual model of regulatory focus on job satisfaction and turnover intention were investigated through psychological contracts. Design/methodology/approach: The data of a survey of 370 recruits (306 male newcomers and 64 female newcomers) in a Taiwanese military recruitment center provided significant support for the hypothesized dual model. Findings: The results revealed that regulatory focus was positively related to either job satisfaction or turnover intention. A relational contract mediated the relationship between promotion focus and job satisfaction, whereas a transactional contract mediated prevention focus and turnover intention. Research limitations/implications: The study results may not apply to other sectors because data were collected only at a military unit in Taiwan. Using Taiwanese military personnel may limit the generalization of the results to those unemployed in civilian samples or those in other countries. Samples from different countries are important to establish whether the results from the study apply to other situations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first regulatory focus theory (RFT)-based study to report on the regulatory focus of newcomers as mediating the relationship between purposeful and work-related outcomes. Practical implications: Previous research has found that individuals with a different goal orientation may adopt different behaviors that result in different performance levels. The results here imply that newcomers with transactional contracts have intentions to leave their organizations and perceive their relationships with their organizations according to rational choice theory. Originality/value: Newcomers' distinctive self-regulatory systems and focus on meeting either nurturance or security needs were determined to get different outcomes following organizational entry. The results demonstrated that promotion-focused newcomers were satisfied with the military, whereas prevention-focused newcomers intended to leave within their first 18 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In this paper, the authors examined the changes in labour unrest and labour quality brought by high labour standards over a considerable period in Taiwan. Then, the authors studied the role of these changes in predicting the inflow of foreign direct investment (IFDI) in the country. To test the role, the authors measured the differences in effects of the two changes on wages, working hours and employment opportunities of skilled female and skilled male workers in FDI-intensive and non-intensive industries. Design/methodology/approach: Using a model built on pooled cross-sectional time-series data from 1999 to 2012, the authors measured the effect of changes in labour unrest and the presence of skilled workers on the net inflow of FDI. Using data from the Manpower Utilisation Survey (MUS), the authors applied differences–in–Differences-in--ddifferences- (DDD) and differences–in–Differences-in-ddifferences-in--differences- (DDDD) estimation methods to test the effect of changes in labour unrest and labour quality on three labour market outcomes, namely wages, working hours and job opportunities of skilled workforce. Findings: Increasing labour unrest affected the employment opportunities of almost every unemployed person seeking skilled jobs in Taiwan. When the authors compared the adverse effect of high labour standards on employment opportunities and working hours, the authors found women looking for skilled jobs in foreign-owned firms to be the worst affected. Besides, foreign firms paid different wages to skilled educated men than what foreign firms' domestic counterparts paid to skilled educated men employed in Taiwanese firms. Practical implications: An in-depth analysis of changes in labour unrest and presence of skilled workers because of high labour standards and the extent to which such changes helped the nation to attract FDI should be useful to policymakers interested in understanding the impact of legislative measures and policy reforms on labour market outcomes across industry types, which matter to foreign investors. If changes in labour unrest and labour quality influenced the inflow of FDI more to firms in one set of industries than the others, the same should have a bearing on revamping of future enactment and enforcement in Taiwan. Originality/value: Current study findings would not only provide broad lessons to policymakers in Taiwan but findings of the authors' country case study should be able to guide growing economies that are equally careful whilst raising the labour standards as most fear that high labour standards can deter inflow of FDI because of increasing labour cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of extrinsic motivation, workplace learning, employer trust and self-efficacy on foreign laborers' cross-cultural adjustment. Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses structural equation modeling to analyze the data from a sample of 258 Vietnamese laborers in Taiwan. Findings: The results show a significantly positive impact of extrinsic motivation, workplace learning, employer trust and self-efficacy on cross-cultural adjustment. Originality/value: The findings of this study provide important implications for academic researchers and organizations concerning management and development of successful foreign laborers. From a theoretical aspect, this study shows new evidence on the impacts of extrinsic motivation, workplace learning, employer trust and self-efficacy on foreign laborer cross-cultural adjustment. In addition, this study enriches theories in the field of self-determination motivation, workplace learning, trust and self-efficacy literature. From a practical aspect, this study provides implications for business managers to make better policies in training and managing foreign laborers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Service innovation has been one of the essential elements to meet the customers' requirements, but few studies discuss service innovation regarding behavioral intention in the insurance industry. This paper aims to investigate the effects of service innovation on customer behavioral intention and examines the role of word-of-mouth (WOM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Design/methodology/approach: This paper used a survey to assess consumer behavioral intention regarding service innovation activities from life insurance. Questionnaires were administered to consumers who have purchased life insurance in Taiwan and the survey questions were tested through factor analysis. An analysis of multiple and hierarchical regression was performed to test the hypotheses. Findings: The empirical results demonstrate that life insurance service innovation has a significantly positive influence on WOM and behavioral intention. Additionally, WOM has a partially mediating effect between service innovation and behavioral intention. Furthermore, the study indicates that CSR has a moderating effect on the relationship between service innovation and behavioral intentions. Originality/value: Considering the uniqueness of this study in the context of Taiwan, the research draws on signaling theory as the framework to explore service innovation and the impact of social responsibility on consumer behavioral intentions in the Taiwanese insurance industry. Additionally, the results can be considered a service marketing strategy and are applicable to the financial service industry in some developing Asian countries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to compare two general team identification processes of consumers' in-group-favor and out-group-animosity responses to sports sponsorship. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on two studies and four samples of professional baseball fans in Taiwan (N = 1,294). In Study 1, data from the fans of three teams were analyzed by using multi-group structural equation modeling to account for team effects and to consider parallel in-group-favor and out-group-animosity processes. In Study 2, the fans of one team were sampled and randomly assigned to assess the sponsors of one of three specific competitor teams to account for differences in team competition and rivalry. In both studies, these two processes were compared using patterns of significant relationships and differences in the indirect identification-attitude-outcome relationships. Findings: Positive outcomes of in-group-favor processes were broader in scope and were more pronounced in absolute magnitude than the negative outcomes of out-group-animosity processes across all outcomes and studies. Research limitations/implications: The research was conducted in one country and considered the sponsorship of one sport. It is possible that the results could differ for leagues within different countries, more global leagues and different fan bases. Practical implications: The results suggest that managers should carefully consider whether the negative out-group-animosity outcomes are actually present, broad enough or strong enough to warrant costly or compromising intervention, because they might not always be present or meaningful. Originality/value: The paper demonstrates the comparatively greater breadth and strength of in-group-favor processes when compared directly to out-group-animosity processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prior research mostly focuses on the effect of over-education on happiness, whereas the effect of under-education on happiness has received minimal attention. In addition, no research to date has examined the effect of both over- and under-education on happiness by using a full spectrum of workers. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to fill this research gap. Design/methodology/approach: The ordered probit model is estimated to examine the effect of the education–occupation mismatch on happiness based on 2012 survey data from Taiwan. Findings: The results generally indicate that over-education positively affects happiness, whereas under-education has a minimal effect. The effect of the education–occupation mismatch on happiness also varies with different age groups. Specifically, over-education positively affects happiness except for workers aged 42 and above, whereas negative effects of under-education are found only among workers aged between 32 and 42 when their social network is insufficiently extensive. Moreover, a worker's social network as a non-pecuniary factor, rather than income as a pecuniary factor, is a major channel through which education enhances happiness. Originality/value: Given the limited and mixed evidence on the relationship between over-education and happiness, this study contributes to the existing literature by examining whether and how the education–occupation mismatch (over- and under-education) affects the happiness of workers both directly and indirectly via pecuniary and non-pecuniary factors. The research issue remains unexplored to date. Addressing such a question should help explain the persistent trend in pursuing higher education in Taiwan, although highly educated people may suffer from unemployment and an education–occupation mismatch. Peer review: The peer review history for this paper is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-04-2019-0283 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose that a firm could exploit the ties of interfirm network to access external network resources (NR) to assist its sensing and responding capabilities for the variability of business environment, thereby leading to superior organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses the survey data collected from 260 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan to examine the causal effects of hypotheses testing. By adopting structural equation modeling technology, the direct and mediating effects among the NR, sensing capability (SC), responding capability (RC) and firm performance (FP) are explored. Findings: The result of this paper shows that a firm's NR and its organizational capabilities are critical antecedents of FP. Moreover, the mediating testing identifies NR and FP as being mediated by a firm's organizational agility (OA) and RC. Practical implications: The findings of this paper provide practical evidence that a SME could gain benefits and advantages from the joint effect of integrating NR and OA to compete with global conglomerates. Thus, a SME must put more effort into developing and maintaining its interfirm network and then figuring out its effect with its internal agility process in order to surmount unexpected changes, create advantages of the first-mover and innovation activities and boost the FP. Originality/value: This paper combines external NR and internal OA and offers a practical strategy to a SME, creating a unique competitive advantage for further development in a dynamic business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to use utilitarian benefits, hedonic benefits and corporate social responsibility to influence the consumer's sense of brand identity and brand trust in social enterprise products and, thus, favourably affect repurchase intention. Design/methodology/approach: This study dispatched 430 questionnaires in Taiwan. The top six social enterprises in the organic food industry in Taiwan that accounted for 84.0% of total green organic stores and they were selected for field investigation. This study used structural equation modelling. Findings: The main path indicates that corporate social responsibility has a largely positive effect going through brand identity and brand trust, and then affecting the decision to repurchase. Therefore, the image of' corporate social responsibility was the greatest driving force. The secondary path indicated that utilitarian benefits positively affected brand identity and brand trust, which, in turn, positively affected repurchase intention. Therefore, utilitarian benefits were the secondary driving force of repurchasing social enterprise products. Practical implications: This study indicates that social enterprises need to carry out effective corporate social responsibility to create a sense of strong brand trust in consumers' minds. Empirical results can benefit social marketers for their product launches and promotions. Social enterprises can realize consumer differentiation preferences. With the effective grasp the information of consumer perception, the social marketers can turn passive into active and catch the marketing opportunities by the brand identity and trust to the content of the marketing programs design. Originality/value: The novelty of this study is to propose an identity-repurchase intention (IRI) model, based on consumer information processing lens and self-congruency theory, to investigate the social enterprise perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review two work groups' (local vs foreign) perceptions, attitudes and behavior and propose a moderated mediation model to examine perceived HR practices' impact on identification with the company and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Design/methodology/approach: This paper selects 320 local and foreign production operators at high-tech firms in Taiwan. The hypotheses are tested using SEM-AMOS, and the mediation effects are analyzed by Sobel test with bootstrapping. Findings: Results show that: first, the relationship influence between identification with the company and OCB is stronger for foreign workers than for local workers; and, second, the moderated mediation of work status exists in perceived practice of rewards for the whole worker model. Research limitations/implications: To concentrate on research objective, the authors only consider the same characteristics in local and foreign workers' job environment, neglecting differences in employment conditions, living environment and cultural background. Practical implications: Two major implications are that: first, different perceptions on HR practices are based on employees' work status; and, second, in addition to adopting appreciative HR practices for the target group, firms should help employees develop a stronger identification with the company in order to encourage OCB. Originality/value: This paper studies employees' perception on HR practices, compares a three-variable model between local and foreign workers, and proposes a moderated mediation model to handle HR practices' effects on identification with the company and OCB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop an Internet of medical things (IoMT)-based geriatric care management system (I-GCMS), integrating IoMT and case-based reasoning (CBR) in order to deal with the global concerns of the increasing demand for elderly care service in nursing homes. Design/methodology/approach: The I-GCMS is developed under the IoMT environment to collect real-time biometric data for total health monitoring. When the health of an elderly deteriorates, the CBR is used to revise and generate the customized care plan, and hence support and improve the geriatric care management (GCM) service in nursing homes. Findings: A case study is conducted in a nursing home in Taiwan to evaluate the performance of the I-GCMS. Under the IoMT environment, the time saving in executing total health monitoring helps improve the daily operation effectiveness and efficiency. In addition, the proposed system helps leverage a proactive approach in modifying the content of a care plan in response to the change of health status of elderly. Originality/value: Considering the needs for demanding and accurate healthcare services, this is the first time that IoMT and CBR technologies have been integrated in the field of GCM. This paper illustrates how to seamlessly connect various sensors to capture real-time biometric data to the I-GCMS platform for responsively supporting decision making in the care plan modification processes. With the aid of I-GCMS, the efficiency in executing the daily routine processes and the quality of healthcare services can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Developing agility and innovativeness as dynamic capabilities are important for firms to sustain their competitive advantage in today's global economy. The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a framework to investigate how the supply chain agility and innovativeness are achieved through IT integration and trust in members of supply chain and how these, in turn, can enhance firms' competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach: This research employs a survey method and data are collected from senior managers working in the supply chain or IT area. The model and hypotheses are tested utilizing data from 204 usable Taiwan manufacturing firms via structural equations modeling methodology. Findings: The study demonstrates that both IT integration and trust in supply chain members significantly enhance supply chain agility and innovativeness, which in turn positively affect firm's competitive advantage. The results indicate that IT integration and trust are antecedents and major joint partnership resources for improving supply chain agility and innovativeness. Research limitations/implications: Data are collected from manufacturing industry in Taiwan and single respondent from each firm, the generalizability of current findings to other industries or countries should require additional investigation. Practical implications: The study suggests that a firm should focus on IT integration and trust in supply chain members to achieve supply chain agility and innovativeness. To take advantage of supply chain agility and innovativeness, through maximizing firm's competitive advantage, firms should continually adapt to the fast changing business environment and search for creative ways to satisfy new market needs. Originality/value: Given the attention paid to supply chain agility and innovativeness in terms of importance to responding to business uncertainty and competitiveness, and more recently, as important capabilities in managing supply chain management, this paper investigates how IT integration and trust can contribute to supply chain agility and innovativeness. Provide evidence regarding the impact of IT integration and trust on agility of supply chains, innovativeness and competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Penrose's argument regarding the managerial constraint on continual expansion over two consecutive periods is termed the "Penrose effect," a relatively less investigated premise in Penrose's growth theory. The purpose of this paper is to empirically re-examine the Penrose effect from the perspective of upper echelons theory and investigated how top management team (TMT) composition influences the continual growth of a firm.Design/methodology/approach This study empirically tested the hypotheses based on a sample of listed manufacturing firms operating in Taiwan, a newly industrialized economy in the Asia–Pacific region. Moderated hierarchical regression analyses were applied to test hypotheses.Findings The empirical results suggest that low TMT diversity (in terms of educational, functional and team tenure diversity) is likely to engender a situation in which the Penrose effect might occur. Additionally, the results indicate that the proportion of functional executives plays a significant role in influencing the growth trend over two consecutive periods and may soften the impact of the Penrose effect.Practical implications This paper suggests that appropriate structuring of TMTs and appropriate management of their members' backgrounds and team tenure diversity can help firms overcome the Penrose effect and grow continually. Furthermore, the proportion of functional executives in a TMT is influential.Originality/value This paper uniquely contributes to the theoretical and empirical development of Penrose's growth theory, upper echelons theory and resource-based view concerning managerial resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose As the rise in expenditures will be even faster when the baby-boom generation soon reaches healthcare-dependent ages, healthcare providers are facing cost management decision of achieving superior performance. Taiwan provides a unique environment that the dialysis service providers face only one medical buyer. The purpose of this paper is to discuss cost factors of dialysis facilities.Design/methodology/approach This study provides a comprehensive analysis of factors influencing the dialysis costs using the data collected from a large renal clinic chain at Taiwan. The multiple linear regression analysis is employed to examine the factors influencing dialysis costs. The research sample composed of 1,255 patients is collected from 16 dialysis centers in Taiwan.Findings The results indicate that the treatment costs of dialysis are influenced by managerial factors including capacity utilization rate (CUR), the percentage of shares held by the owners and the geographical location of clinics (LC). The findings assist renal clinics to identify the parts critical to the cost control. Our results indicate that medical variable costs for performing the dialysis treatments are significantly influenced by such managerial factors as CUR, the percentage of owners’ shares holding and LC.Practical implications By identifying a comprehensive set of costs drivers for dialysis services, this study provides useful information for both health providers and policy makers. In specific, the result assists these providers to consider the utilization of better mechanisms/instruments to control costs by increasing the operational efficiency and achieving the economies of scale.Originality/value This paper contributes to exploring costs drivers that are generally absent from the extant literature. The result suggests that the regulators should be aware that the dialysis providers may reject costly patients. Hence, to establish the appropriate monitoring mechanisms to prevent such incidence is important. Finally, many other countries in addition to Taiwan also have a similar practice as national health insurances or services (e.g. Medicare in the USA or National Health Service in the UK). Those health systems may all face a similar cost control issues for handling end-stage renal disease patients. The analysis can help health systems worldwide to better design the reimbursement rates to account for the differences existed in dealing with the dialysis treatment costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: According to human capital theory, companies derive economic value from the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) of their employees. Research conducted by strategic human resource management has focused on how investment in human capital can create a competitive advantage for an organization. The purpose of the paper is, therefore, to investigate how the choice of different human capital acquisition strategies – "make or buy" – can influence employee attitudes and behavior. Design/methodology/approach: This study explores the relationship between internal and external human capital strategies and employee's attitudes and behavior in Taiwan's IC (integrated circuit) design industry. The cross-sectional dataset derives from a sample of 49 human resource departments and 497 employees from 25 different IC design companies. Findings: The findings indicate that the decisions made on human capital strategies have an important influence on employee's attitude and behavior. The results also show that a climate of trust and perceived organizational support is a cross-level mechanism for both human capital strategy and employees' attitudes and behavior. Originality/value: There has been little research on the cross-level analysis of human capital acquisition strategies that can influence employee's attitudes and behavior. This study verified that internal and external human capital strategies do affect employees' individual perceptions of organizational support via the organizational-level climate of trust, which in turn influences employees' attitudes and behavior. This cross-level mechanism indeed will facilitate new insights into the nature of strategic human resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how internal and external factors simultaneously drive firms to adopt green supply chain (GSC) initiatives and to construct a comprehensive research model by drawing upon institutional theory, stewardship theory, and view of performance.Design/methodology/approach The data collected from 380 manufacturers in the electrical and electronics industries in Taiwan were analyzed via structural equation modeling and bootstrapping.Findings First, institutional pressures affect the GSC initiatives of firms. Second, institutional pressures influence the environmental stewardship behaviors (ESBs) of managers. Third, the ESBs of managers affect the GSC initiatives of firms. Fourth, the GSC initiatives of firms influence their environmental performance, economic performance, and competitiveness. Fifth, the bootstrapping results reveal that institutional pressures indirectly affect the GSC initiatives of firms through the ESBs of managers.Research limitations/implications Environmental sustainability has intensified the need for firms to develop a corporate culture. Future research can investigate the relationship among the institutional pressures, greening corporate culture, and GSC initiatives of firms.Practical implications Those managers facing institutional pressures must continually focus on the effects of external factors on the GSC initiatives of their firms. They must also increase their commitment and support to such initiatives to attain favorable levels of environmental performance, economic performance, and competitiveness.Originality/value This study integrates four streams of literature on institutional theory, stewardship theory, GSC initiatives, and view of performance. Apart from analyzing field- and organization-level data simultaneously, this paper is also the first to demonstrate the relationships among institutional pressures, ESBs of managers, GSC initiatives, and firm performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how family firms affect analyst forecast dispersion, accuracy and optimism and how earnings smoothness as the moderating factor, affects these relationships in an emerging market context.Design/methodology/approach This paper uses the population sample of firms listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2010 as the research sample, which includes 963 firm-year observations.Findings The findings show that analysts following family firms are more likely to have more dispersed, less accurate and more optimism biased forecasts than those following nonfamily firms. Earning smoothness is mainly used by nonfamily firms as a signaling strategy to improve analyst forecast quality. In contrast, earnings smoothness is mainly used by families as a garbling strategy, stimulating forecast optimism. Only earnings smoothness in family firms with a high level of family ownership concentration is likely to be signaling-oriented to improve analyst forecast accuracy and mitigate analyst optimism biases.Originality/value Emerging markets are not only featured by prevailing principal-principal conflicts but also have multiple levels of agency conflicts among large shareholders, minority shareholders and professionally hired managers. This research reveals the multiple governance roles of family owners in affecting analyst forecast quality, including their entrenchment role in extracting private benefits of control through opaque environments and market discipline distortion role in aligning interests between managers and families without prioritizing meeting or beating analyst forecasts, both at the cost of minority shareholders. This research further disentangles the intertwined signaling oriented and garbiling oriented incentives associated with earnings smoothness under family governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As the shortage of nurses is a major problem being faced by the world health-care system, it is essential to investigate the factors that influence nurses' turnover. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore how work–family conflict (WFC) influences nurses' turnover intentions in the Peoples' Republic of China. Design/methodology/approach: For empirically testing the theoretical model, the authors conducted a three-wave longitudinal research survey and collected data from 236 nurses' sample in China. Findings: The findings show that job satisfaction and life satisfaction are the underlying psychological reasons in the positive relationship between WFC and nurses' turnover intentions. Moreover, perceived supervisor support was found to be a boundary condition on the direct and indirect relationships between WFC and its negative outcomes such that the relationships are weak at the high levels of supervisory support. Originality/value: This study is important to the management of health-care systems as it carries significant implications for theory and practice toward understanding job retention problems of nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Television (TV) shopping has notably changed human shopping behaviors. However, despite its significant advantages, TV shopping still faces many challenges in promoting customer purchase behavior. The purpose of this paper is to explore the synergy effect of trust with other beliefs on purchase intention in TV shopping. Other beliefs, including perceived media richness, perceived price fairness, perceived convenience and perceived host interaction, were tested as the synergy factors in the proposed model. Design/methodology/approach: A hierarchical moderator regression analysis was conducted, and data on the TV shopping habits of 428 customers in Taiwan were examined. Findings: The findings of the study revealed that trust synergizes perceived price fairness and perceived host interaction rather than perceived media richness and perceived convenience to enhance purchase intention in TV shopping. Research limitations/implications: This study confirmed the assumption that trust synergizes the beliefs (i.e. perceived price fairness and perceived host interaction) to enlarge purchase intention in TV shopping. Practical implications: This study suggests that service providers need to prioritize concerns to build trust with customers to encourage purchases during TV shopping. They should also actively promote fair prices and invite famous people to serve as hosts to motivate purchases in TV shopping. Originality/value: This study advances the knowledge of the trust theory and the synergy model by examining the synergy effect of trust with other beliefs in TV shopping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Employee voice can improve organizational and individual performance. The purpose of this paper is to consider individuals' evaluations of various features of their work situations. In particular, emotional exhaustion mediates the influence of facades of conformity on employee voice behavior and job satisfaction. This study examines a model in which facades of conformity negatively affects employee voice and job satisfaction through emotional exhaustion. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 401 employer–employee dyads from a large manufacturing company and public organizations in Taiwan were surveyed. Two-wave data demonstrated a significant positive relationship between facades of conformity and its outcomes, mediated by emotional exhaustion. Findings: The results reveal that facades of conformity relates to employee voice and job satisfaction. Additionally, emotional exhaustion is an important mechanism in the relationships between facades of conformity and employee voice and facades of conformity and job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications: Although this study obtained data from employer–employee dyads, practical constraints prevented complete consideration of issues in the work domain, such as colleagues, which might influence employees' voice and job satisfaction. Practical implications: Employee who exhibit facades of conformity in an organization may work smoothly for short periods of time, the emotional response triggered by the conflict between their external behavior and their inner values can further reduce their voice behavior and thus affect the organization's overall performance voice refers to an employee providing challenging advice to contribute to the success of an organization. Originality/value: The findings have implications for the understanding of employees' conditions and its associations with social issues in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a new integrated model that combines the concepts of network ties (e.g. political ties and business ties), the organization of internal critical attributes (such as social capital, human capital and innovation capability) and analyses of how those critical attributes influence organization performance and competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach: A structural equation model and three-way interactions in moderated multiple regressions was used to test the hypotheses on a sample of 621 cultural and creative industry (CCI) managers in Taiwan. Findings: The results indicate that human capital mediates the relationship between social capital and innovation capability. Furthermore, innovation capability also plays a mediating role in connecting the relationships between human capital, competitive advantage and organizational performance. The findings indicate that business ties strengthen the relationship between social and human capital. The level of human capital is at its peak when social capital, business ties, and political ties considerably interact with one another. Research limitations/implications: The present study conceptualized the topic and systematized the questionnaire design and data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing. This study performs a systematic analysis to present the research but does not employ in-depth qualitative interviews to analyse the essential attributes of the different entrepreneurial styles. In-depth interviews enable the interviewees to completely depict their feelings, experiences, motivations, emotions and attitudes. Thus, this method can provide an in-depth analysis. Studies can be conducted to analyse the complexity of the processes involved. Practical implications: This study determines and emphasizes that networking with various factors to create innovation is the key to enhancing competitive advantage and organizational performance. Innovation is a unique characteristic and a basic kinetic energy that affects various strategic organizational behaviours that positively influence competitive advantage and facilitate organizational performance. Hence, CCI firms need to consider market orientation and innovation in this highly competitive environment. Originality/value: To the best of the knowledge, how CCI firms use networking sources to create competitive advantage and organizational performance, thereby promoting the development of the CCIs of Taiwan, has not been analysed in the tourism-related literature. Thus, the present study provides a significant contribution to the human capital literature, in which empirical research analyses the three-way interaction and demonstrates the empirical insights that may be used to study human capital. The findings reported in this study will encourage future researchers to employ multilevel human capital perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Employee voice is seen as a double-edged behavior in organizations. This study considers individuals' evaluations of various features of their work situations. In particular, leader–member exchange (LMX) mediates the influence of voice behavior on workplace bullying and employee job satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to examine a model in which employee voice positively affects workplace bullying and job satisfaction through LMX. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 447 employer–employee dyads from a large manufacturing company and public organizations in Taiwan were surveyed. Two-wave data demonstrated a significant positive relationship between employee voice and its outcomes, mediated by LMX relationship. Findings: The results reveal significant relationships between voice behavior and workplace bullying and between employee voice and job satisfaction. Additionally, LMX is an important mechanism in the relationships between employee voice and workplace bullying and employee voice and job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications: Although this study obtained data from employer–employee dyads, practical constraints prevented complete consideration of issues in the work domain, such as colleagues, which might influence employees' job satisfaction and workplace bullying. Practical implications: Employee voice refers to an employee providing challenging advice to contribute to the success of an organization. Voicing employees who speak up to change the status quo and challenge the current circumstances in an organization may become the target of bullying. Therefore, it is suggested that leaders should address the advice offered by employees and provide suitable support when employee voice benefits the company. Originality/value: The findings have implications for the understanding of employees' conditions and its associations with social issues in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Building supply chain (SC) resilience is crucial for business continuity given the ever-changing environmental conditions. Based on the resource orchestration and organizational culture theories, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the business value of SC resilience with the consideration of the roles of internal integration (II) and external integration (EI), risk management culture (RMC) and SC flexibility (SCF). Design/methodology/approach: This study investigates how RMC, SCF and intra and interorganizational integration affect the performance of SC resilience. It collects primary and secondary data from 194 manufacturing firms listed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange and Taipei Exchange. Findings: Results validate the authors' hypothesis that RMC, SCF and II improve the financial performance of firms through SC resilience efforts. Research limitations/implications: This study uses firms from Taiwan manufacturing industry, which might introduce country and industry bias. Practical implications: This study helps managers improve the financial performance of their SC resilience efforts by developing RMC, SCF, II and IE across functions and partner firms. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by empirically testing the relationship between SC resilience and financial performance, and how the relationship is moderated by RMC, SCF, II and EI based on the theories of organizational culture and resource orchestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among choice of industry diversification, capabilities and business group performance, as well as to point out the potential concern about endogenous role of industry diversification. Design/methodology/approach: Using data from the top 100 business groups in Taiwan from TEJ database. This study uses Heckman's two-step estimation procedure and contingency model to achieve unbiased results and examine our hypotheses. Findings: The results of this study find that if business groups' marketing or operational capabilities are strong they should adopt a high level of diversification strategy and if business groups' R&D capability is strong they should adopt a low level one. The results of this study also show that the endogenous problem of industry diversification exists, and needs to be considered. Moreover, our finding confirms the importance of capability–strategy fit, which, in turn, can achieve better performance. Practical implications: On average, high industry diversification groups perform better than low industry diversification groups after controlling for endogeneity issues. Business groups can achieve better performance if their strategy choices match the capabilities they encounter. Managers should pay attention to strategy-capability fit issues. Specifically, they should review their organizational capabilities as well as check their strategies within firms. Originality/value: This study is one of the first that attempts to explore the endogenous role of diversification strategy choices, and empirical examine strategy-capability fit on business group performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ownership issues are an important feature of corporate governance when firms focus on global expansion in multiple and diverse regions. Drawing on resource dependence theory (RDT), the purpose of this paper is to address the phenomenon regarding the extent to which international market distance affects equity stakes in group-affiliated firms held by business group headquarters. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses longitudinal data on foreign direct investments by 106 business groups (BGs), including 561 group-affiliated firms, from Taiwan over a five-year period from 2006 to 2010. Findings: The results show that the equity stakes of the BG headquarters in the group-affiliated firms in foreign markets were positively associated with the geographic distance between the country of the BG headquarters and the host country of the foreign group-affiliated firms, the cultural distance between the country of the BG headquarters and the host country of the foreign group-affiliated firms and institutional distance between the country of the BG headquarters and the host country of the foreign group-affiliated firms. Research limitations/implications: Most studies of corporate governance and international business are based on a transaction cost economics approach, a resource-based perspective and agency and institutional theories. In contrast, this study, by using RDT, provides an alternative explanation regarding the factors that affect the equity stakes of parent firms in group-affiliated firms. Practical implications: This study presents two basic pieces of advice for consideration. First, at the managerial level, group-affiliated firms should develop their own resources and capabilities in order to become more autonomous in pursuing advantageous international activities that the parent firms may not foresee. Second, and again at the managerial level, business group headquarters should adopt a strategy to balance the dependency relationship between group-affiliated firms and business group headquarters. Originality/value: This study provides the most finely grained analysis, to date, regarding how international market distance affects business group headquarters from newly industrialized economies in terms of diverse equity stakes in foreign affiliates, the unique attributes of BGs and international market distances' relationship with both the operations and the expansion opportunities of BGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to construct and test an antecedent relationship path model for the leisure involvement of Taiwan expatriate managers working in Mainland China. A leisure temporal-spatial involvement (LTSI) was developed. Design/methodology/approach: Burnout, perceived freedom in leisure and leisure coping strategies were proposed in the conceptual model as antecedents of leisure involvement. A questionnaire survey gathered information on the characteristics of respondents, including demographic/socio-economic details, expatriate profile and leisure activity participation. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used in this research to measure the relationships among the four scale variables (job burnout, perceived freedom in leisure, leisure coping strategies and leisure involvement). Findings: The expatriate managers experienced high burnout levels, particularly in the form of exhaustion. Their leisure involvement was mainly influenced by perceived freedom in leisure. Research limitations/implications: This work contributes to the research on leisure and expatriation in several ways. It is one of the first empirical studies to examine prominent leisure concepts (freedom, coping and involvement) within the milieu of expatriation. The findings provide further support to the notion of the "presumed cultural similarity paradox," in that expatriates of Chinese ethnicity still had significant adjustment difficulties in Mainland China. The research again confirms the challenges of Mainland China as an expatriation destination. Practical implications: The research results have significant practical value and may assist Taiwan-capital enterprises in improving expatriates' leisure life management. The section on Managerial and policy implications outlines the implications for the actors involved. Social implications: This work has social implications since the Taiwan expatriate managers are not effectively adjusting to their work–life environments in Guangzhou. Greater social contact between locals and these managers is recommended in the future. Originality/value: A new scale for leisure involvement (LTSI), expressed in temporal and spatial dimensions, is developed to fit the particular situations faced by expatriates. This is also one of only a few empirical research studies to consider leisure involvement within an expatriation framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate what role national top management team diversity (TMTD) plays in foreign-owned subsidiary performance. The authors develop a conceptual framework based on the asset bundling model and the neo-configurational perspective to argue that the impact of TMTD on subsidiary performance depends on its conjunction with other assets. Design/methodology/approach: The authors test our framework on a sample of subsidiaries located in the emerging economies of Thailand and Taiwan. The authors utilise structural equation modelling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis techniques. Findings: The results indicate that TMTD can contribute and hurt subsidiary performance depending on its bundling with other assets such as organisational network strength, competencies, as well as regional and cultural differences between the home and host country. Originality/value: This is one of the first studies to empirically test the asset bundling model in the context of national TMTD in foreign-owned subsidiaries using a configurational approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a model of team performance by applying social exchange and social capital perspectives in a single model setting. It hypothesizes that team performance is indirectly affected by politics through leader–member capitalization (LMC) and by ethical leadership through leader–member exchange (LMX). Meanwhile, team identification is hypothesized to moderate the relationships between politics and LMC and between ethical leadership and LMX. Design/methodology/approach: The hypotheses of this study were empirically tested using a survey of work teams from the banking and insurance industry in Taipei, Taiwan. Findings: The relationship between team performance and ethical leadership is fully mediated by LMX, while the indirect relationship between team performance and politics is mediated via both LMC and LMX. Team identification positively moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and LMX. Originality/value: This study is one of the few to examine the mediating roles of LMC and LMX simultaneously in team performance development. This study provides several key findings that complement the existing literature by evaluating fresh associations among LMC, LMX and their determinants and moderator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the contemporary business environment, companies must constantly consider methods to enhance their competitive advantage and create value for their customers. The purpose of this paper is to develop a research model based on a business ecosystem view. Within a business ecosystem, the authors identified the key factors of co-development and the manner in which these factors affect a company's innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach: The theoretical hypotheses are confirmed by partial least squares analysis of survey responses collected from information and communication technology (ICT) and hotel industries in Taiwan. Findings: In both industries, the results suggest that a firm's co-development within its own ecosystem has positive effects on innovation performance. For companies in the ICT industry, collaborative networks and partner selection have significant impacts on the firms' co-development, but their information technology (IT) capability does not; in contrast, in the hotel industry, partner selection and IT capability have significant impacts on firm co-development, but their collaborative network does not. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature of business ecosystem and co-development by offering a co-development model. As both conceptual and empirical research on this topic is still underdeveloped, this study provides fresh insights into collaboration management and offers significant theoretical and managerial implications from a business ecosystem perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to find how the changing relationship between labour and political parties influenced the growth of reasonably independent labour unions in Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach: The authors have drawn on data collected through in-depth interviews of union officials, labour activists and members of legislature from two major political parties in Taiwan. Findings: The authors found that the breach between labour and political parties was affected by the eventualities contemplated in democratisation. Though the DPP (Minchin-tang/Democratic Progressive Party) provided the initial "shot in arm", autonomous unions have not necessarily grown underneath DPP's dominion. Political liberalisation of Taiwan's industrial relations systems has gained more momentum when the DPP was in opposition than in power. Anti-incumbency pushed independent unions to sway the opposition's backing when Kuomintang (KMT/the Chinese Nationalists) was in power and not to that extent when the KMT stepped down. The autonomous labour movement in Taiwan was initially influenced by the changing relationship between labour and ruling parties. However, the movement was subsequently shaped by the ethnic and political characteristics based on the historical divide between the mainlanders and Taiwanese and Taiwan's changing economic landscape. Research limitations/implications: Specific limitations include the subjectivity of the inference and lack of generalisability of the findings that are based on interviews with two out of three players of industrial relations system. Practical implications: Because of globalisation and global financial crisis that brought together a new generation of workforce who hold individualistic values, have lesser faith in collectivism and perform new forms of work where unionisation is no more relevant, the autonomous labour movement in Taiwan was hugely impacted. Originality/value: Growth of independent unions is not being shaped by democratisation alone. If we refocus the debate about democracy's implied relationship with the rhetoric of national identity, one can see the crucial role played by the changing economic landscape and ethnic divisions ingrained in political origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore and explain how predecessors (incumbents) of ethnic Chinese family small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia or appropriately called Chinese-Indonesian family SMEs nurture their successors in procuring transgenerational entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 25 participants were involved in this qualitative study which employed a multi-method triangulation design with the following research instruments: semi-structured in-depth interviews with experts, incumbents and successors of Chinese-Indonesian family SMEs, field notes from conversations and observations during engagement with participants affiliated to the family SMEs, a focus group discussion with academicians and literature reviews. Another key approach is source triangulation, where different participants – e.g. from among the experts, from among the incumbents, successors and family members in each family business case were interviewed and engaged outside the interview sessions. Findings: The proposed theoretical framework depicts comprehensive attributes of nurturing Chinese-Indonesian successors to continue enterprising at the helm of family SMEs. Propositions are used to explain the impacts these attributes have on transgenerational entrepreneurship specifically. At the personal level, incumbents have to focus on discovering the successors' passions and nurture them in formal education, childhood involvement, as well as bridging them in entrepreneurial knowledge through cultural values, mentorship, autonomy and role modelling. Incumbents also had to plan for their retirements to provide autonomy for successors. At the firm/family level, incumbents must be able to set a foothold on family governance, firm governance and ownership distribution to reduce conflicts in their family businesses. Furthermore, as a minority group with past traumatic experiences, Chinese-Indonesian family SMEs usually equip themselves with contingency plans to protect their assets for the long-term future. Research limitations/implications: This study was conducted in Indonesia amongst Chinese-Indonesian family SMEs and thus it is not generalisable in other settings. Literature reviews on family SMEs succession are still scant, especially on the Chinese-Indonesian. Practical implications: Predecessors/incumbents of Chinese-Indonesian family SMEs could consider implementing the proposed nurturing strategies to their successors to sustain the longevity of the business based on trust, stewardship and harmony. The theoretical research framework resulted from this study offers general suggestions on how to nurture the next generation specifically from personal/interpersonal perspectives, which must be accompanied by specific scopes of family and firm aspects. This study extends beyond indicating the factors (ingredients) by explaining how to nurture transgenerational entrepreneurship (cook the ingredients) in SMEs for a tactful transition. Hence, the incumbents play vital roles and must be poised to adjust their mindsets to certain aspects indicated in this study. Social implications: Most overseas Chinese businesses are family-owned, and besides Indonesia constituting the largest Chinese population outside the Republic of China, this 3 per cent of Indonesia's people are known for controlling about 70 per cent of the economy. Furthermore, SMEs play a significant role in the Indonesian economy, as they provide about 97 per cent off the country's employment and 57.8 per cent of the gross domestic product. Hence, the longevity of Chinese-Indonesian family SMEs must be well managed to bolster the economy and social welfare of the country. Originality/value: A transgenerational entrepreneurship model in the context of Chinese-Indonesian family SMEs which incorporates the nurturing process of the successor to step up the helm of the business is proposed in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose -- There are contradicted perspectives on relationship between geographic cluster and competitive advantage of firms in previous research. Extant research has paid extremely attention to the effect of both geographic cluster and industrial network on firms' performance; however, little studies have delineated the relationship between geographic cluster, industrial network, and competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that firms within the same cluster that have established idiosyncratic network resources have stronger competitive advantages than firms that have not. Design/methodology/approach -- An empirical study of two prominent geographic clusters from Taiwan is analyzed by structural equation modeling. Findings -- The results indicate that the degree of networking does play a mediating role between geographic cluster and competitive advantage, which may help resolve the conflicting results obtained by researchers on the influence of clusters on competitive advantage. The results also find that both degree of networking and betweenness position are conducive to the pursuit of competitive advantage. Practical implications -- The research shows that firms merely locate themselves in the right cluster does not guarantee they can outperform their rivals. Rather, developing of network relationship with other firms proximate to the same cluster will strengthen a firm's competitive advantages. Originality/value -- In the theoretical perspective, this paper attempts to fill the gap in the links between clusters, networks, and competitive advantage by providing that the networking as a mechanism for firms in a cluster to improve their competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Healthcare is recognized as a fertile field for service research, and due to the fact that nurses are stressed physically and emotionally, reducing burnout among frontline healthcare staff is an emerging and important research issue. The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible antecedents and consequences of nurses’ burnout and to examine the moderating effects of personal trait and work-environment issue.Design/methodology/approach Drawing on Bagozzi’s (1992) reformulation of attitude theory (appraisal→emotional response→behavior), data from a survey of 807 nurses working in a major hospital in Taiwan were analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique and hierarchical regression analysis.Findings The results reveal the positive causality between job stressors and nurses’ burnout, whereas supervisor support negatively relates to burnout. In addition, the full moderating effects of leadership effectiveness and partly moderating effect of emotional intelligence on the relationships among job demands, job resources, and burnout are confirmed.Practical implications The findings provide practical insight regarding how supervisors play an essential role in alleviating nurses’ burnout. The supportive attitude and leadership effectiveness are recommended to be effectual managerial strategies.Originality/value The empirical results support the job demands-resources model by applying reformulation of attitude theory. The work-environment issue surpasses the personal trait in moderating the relationships among job demands, job resources, and burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate whether higher value creation leads to higher value appropriation and to identify the boundary conditions in a buyer–supplier relationship that can explain why a particular supplier can appropriate higher value than others. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses questionnaire surveys. The sample of the survey has 150 publicly-listed supplier firms in Taiwan. The unit of analysis is the buyer–supplier relationship. Findings: In the buyer–supplier relationship, suppliers' bargaining power, partnership and a supplier's original brand manufacturing (OBM) business can strengthen the positive relationship between value creation and value appropriation. Research limitations/implications: This study adopts the unilateral viewpoint of suppliers; however, some constructs might require dyadic evaluation. This study only explores the spillover effect of OBM business on the relationship between value creation and appropriation. Practical implications: The spillover effect of a supplier's OBM business in a buyer–supplier relationship allows the buyer to share more common benefits and the supplier to capture more private benefits as compensation. By broadening its customer base, a supplier can increase its bargaining power. A supplier can also maintain a strategic partnership with each essential buyer. Originality/value: To avoid the dark-side effect of partnership, the model provides the contingency that a supplier can capture more value from a buyer–supplier relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences in the effects of gender equality legislation on employment outcomes among female and male workers in industries with different intensity of foreign investment (namely, foreign direct investment (FDI)-intensive industries and non–FDI–intensive industries). The specific employment outcomes that were studied to compare the effects of the legislation are the working hours, employment opportunities, and wages of female and male workers in Taiwan.Design/methodology/approach Using data from the annual Manpower Utilization Survey, the authors applied a differences-in-differences-in-differences estimation method to test the effect of gender equality legislation on employment outcomes. By using multinomial logit, the authors measured the effect of the legislation on employment opportunities. To correct for simultaneity and selectivity problems/biases, the authors adopted Heckman two-stage selection procedures. Likewise, the authors used weighted least squares to solve heteroskedasticity in the wage and working hour equations. Further, the instrumental variable (IV) method was used to correct for simultaneity bias in the equation on working hour. The authors applied three stages estimation method following Killingsworth’s (1983) approach to measure the effect of the legislation on wages and working hours.Findings The authors found the restrictions enforced by the gender equality legislation (namely the Gender Equal Employment Act (GEEA), enacted in 2002) in Taiwan to have made certain impact on the workers’ working conditions in FDI-intensive industries. The major finding indicated that in a country like Taiwan, where the legislature tried tilling the perpetual gender gap in its labour market, by passing a law to counter inequality, could finally narrow the gender gap in wages among workers in the FDI-intensive industries. Although initially after the enactment of the GEEA (between 2002 and 2004), the gender gap in part-timers’ wages has widened, yet over a period of time the gap in their wages too has narrowed down, particularly during 2005-2006. The legislation, however, could not improve the job opportunities for full-time female workers’ in FDI-intensive industries. Besides, post 2002, the female workers were found to have worked for shorter hours than male workers, which according to us, could be largely attributed to the enforcement of the GEEA.Practical implications An in-depth analysis of the labour market effects of gender equality legislation should be useful to policymakers, especially those interested in understanding the impact of legislative measures and policy reforms on labour market and employment outcomes across industry types. If enforcement of a gender equality legislation has succeeded in reducing the gender gap more in one set of industries than the others (e.g. foreign owned instead of domestic industries), as the authors noticed in this study, then the same should have a bearing on revamping of future enactment and enforcement too.Originality/value Current study findings would not only provide the broad lessons to the policymakers in Taiwan, but the results that have emerged from a country case study could be referred by other growing economies who are enthusiastic about improving female workers’ working conditions through legislative reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to propose an integrated model based on buyer and supplier opportunism to show the mechanism through which current and competing suppliers influence buyer market competitiveness.Design/methodology/approach Questionnaires were distributed to purchasing staff in listed electronics firms in Taiwan to collect empirical data. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze these data and examine the fitness of the proposed model.Findings The findings show that current and competing suppliers influence buyer market competitiveness through supplier opportunistic behaviors and buyer commitment. The alternative attractiveness of competing suppliers affects buyer market competitiveness through the influence of asset specificity. Supplier opportunism negatively and indirectly influences buyer market competitiveness through buyer commitment. Nevertheless, buyer opportunism does not influence buyer commitment and market competitiveness.Research limitations/implications The investigation focused on only one industry in one country. Future research could investigate other industries and countries to increase the generalizability of the findings.Practical implications The results suggest that buyers can focus on utilizing the pressure of alternative suppliers to improve market competitiveness through increased specific investments by the current supplier.Originality/value On the basis of buyer–supplier opportunism, this study shows the mechanism through which the asset specificity of current suppliers and alternative attractiveness influence buyer market competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between HR practice (four aspects), organisational commitment and citizenship behaviour at primary schools in Taiwan. The four human resource (HR) aspects include: recruitment and placement (RP), teaching, education and career (TEC) development, support, communication and retention (SCR), and performance and appraisal (PA).Design/methodology/approach With the assistance from the school HR managers and using an anti-common method variance strategy, research data from 568 incumbent teachers in Taiwan are collected, analysed and evaluated.Findings Different from prior studies, highlighting the merits of HR practice, the study discovers that HR practice may not necessarily contribute to citizenship behaviour. Teachers with positive perceptions of RP and TEC are more likely to demonstrate citizenship behaviour, whereas teachers with positive perceptions of SCR and PA are not. In addition, the study finds three moderators: affective organisational commitment (AOC), rank of positions, and campus size. The analysis shows that teachers with more AOC, higher positions and from smaller campus are more likely to demonstrate organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB).Originality/value The study provides a closer look at the HR-OCB relationship in Taiwan. It reveals that a positive perception of HR practice may not necessarily contribute to OCB occurrence. In addition, the results indicate that teachers have different views about varying HR aspects. Specifically, aspects of RP and TEC development receive relatively higher levels of positive perception, whereas aspects of SCR and PA receive relatively lower levels of positive perception. Questions arise as to whether HR practice may lead to more OCB at primary schools. If this statement is true, school managers shall think further of how to promote OCB using other policies, rather than relying on the HR practice investigated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how corporate environmental strategies, namely, environmental management strategy (EMS) and green product strategy (GPS), affect the competitiveness of a firm. In addition, this study investigates whether the environmental collaboration in supply chains (ECSC), namely, environmental collaboration with suppliers (ECS), and environmental collaboration with customers (ECC) moderate the environment-performance relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Survey methodology and regression modeling are adopted to assess the relationship between corporate environmental strategy and competitive performance of a company, including the moderating effects of ECSC. Findings – Competitiveness is positively affected by EMS and GPS. ECSC moderately affects the links among EMS, GPS, and competitiveness. Regarding the differences between the impacts of ECS and ECC on performance, only ECS acts as a moderator in the enhancement of EMS and GPS. Thus, ECS positively contributes to enhance competitive advantage. In contrast to perceptions, ECC directly improves firm competitiveness. Research limitations/implications – The findings support the understanding that the moderating role of ECSC may explain the conflicting results in environment-performance linkages. In particular, suppliers and customers could impact EMS and GPS in direct or interactive ways, or both, to enhance the performance of a firm. Practical implications – Significant performance improvements are influenced not only by the real environmental commitment of companies to internal green management but also by the positive relations of firms with their external cooperative capabilities in environmental relationships with chain partners. Originality/value – This research is the first to suggest and empirically test the moderating impacts of ECSC on the relationship between corporate environmental strategy and competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that explain cross-national differences in country-of-origin consumer perceptions. Design/methodology/approach - This is a study using a drop-off and pick-up survey among male responders. The final sample size comprised 202 consumers in Canada and 153 in Taiwan. The data were analyzed using t tests and Spearman non-parametric correlations. Findings - The results indicate that product complexity and manufacturing process moderate country-of-origin perceptions. In addition, differences in product-country familiarity, travel distance and national consumer characteristics like ethnocentrism, patriotism, animosity and cultural/linguistic affinity are significantly associated with cross-national differences in country-of-origin perceptions. Cultural distance was not related to cross-national differences. Research limitations/implications - Because this study was based on consumer perceptions of a limited number of countries, carried out in only two country locations using a product-based-only evaluation of country of origin, firm conclusions cannot be drawn. Additional studies should be conducted with a larger number of stimulus countries and include macro, attitudinal evaluations of country of origin. Practical implications - The results show that manufacturing process and product technological complexity factors may be used globally in promotion and location decisions. It seems important to increase consumers' familiarity with a country of origin and its products to improve its overall perception. Originality/value - This study contributes to the marketing and international business literature and provides insights to international marketers at understanding the reasons why countries may hold different perceptions of a country of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to develop a practical and effective approach for market segmentation using customer experience dimensions derived from online reviews. Design/methodology/approach: The research investigates over 6,500 customer evaluations of food establishments on Taiwan's Yelp platform through the Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) data mining approach. By using the LDA-derived experience dimensions, cluster analysis discloses market segments. Subsequently, sentiment analysis is used to scrutinize the emotional scores of each segment. Findings: Mining online review data helps discern divergent and new customer experience dimensions and sheds light on the divergent preferences among identified customer segments concerning these dimensions. Moreover, the polarity of sentiments expressed by consumers varies across such segments. Research limitations/implications: Analyzing customer attributes extracted from online reviews for segmentation can enhance comprehension of customers' needs. Further, using sentiment analysis and attributes of online reviews result in rich profiling of the identified segments, revealing gaps and opportunities for marketers. Originality/value: This research presents a new approach to segmentation, which surmounts the restrictions of segmentation methods dependent on survey-based information. It contributes to the field and provides a valuable means for conducting customer-focused market segmentation. Furthermore, the suggested methodology is transferable across different sectors and not reliant on particular data sources, creating possibilities in diverse scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Numerous biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms have undergone considerable changes and adapted to the challenge of developing sustainable products and services. However, few studies have explored the factors that contribute to the success of external innovation and value co-creation strategies adopted by biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms. The purpose of this study is to examine how biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries use value co-creation strategies to obtain external resources. Design/methodology/approach: This study developed a conceptual framework based on the relevant literature. The study applied a resource-based approach, dynamic capability theory and a qualitative multiple-case study design to investigate several research questions; semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives from 11 biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms in Taiwan, and the data extracted from the interview content were axially coded. Findings: This study revealed that factors such as dynamic marketing capabilities and process optimization contributed to the success of the aforementioned strategies; several propositions were also developed on the basis of the literature review and coded data, thereby providing insights regarding the relative efficacy and propriety of various external innovation and value co-creation strategies and models in various situations and contexts. Firms and technology providers might enter a technology licensing agreement, establish a joint venture company; participate in a merger/acquisition depending on their size, research and development capabilities; or goals and time- and cost-related factors. Originality/value: The main original contributions of this study are the proposed conceptual framework and the insights provided regarding the relative efficacy and propriety of different external innovation and value co-creation strategies and models in different situations and contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Franchise outlets owned by entrepreneurial married couples are gradually increasing. Based upon prior research in resource-based view, entrepreneurial orientation (EO), franchising, and family business, the purpose of this paper is to analyze franchisor resources, spousal resources, and EO are critical to the development of franchisees' performance. Design/methodology/approach -- The author conducted a survey of 99 franchisees in couple-owned convenience store franchise outlets in Taiwan using the partial least squares technique. Findings -- It was found that franchisor resources, spousal resources, and EO directly affect franchisee performance. In addition, franchisor resources also have an indirect effect on performance through EO, but spousal resources do not have an indirect effect. Practical implications -- The franchisor should pay attention to the development of their resources and a franchisee's EO and the interaction between the franchisee and the spouse. Furthermore, a franchisee's EO facilitates the manipulation of the franchisor's resources. Originality/value -- This study highlights the possession of franchisor and spousal resources, and the importance of EO to foster and develop the franchisee performance in a couple-owned franchise outlet. These findings also suggest that franchisor resources have indirect effect on performance through EO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Refractory materials are now used in all major industries that demand high-temperature resistance, including petrochemicals, steel, cement and aviation. Businesses must decrease operating costs, enhance product technology, sell well and manage corporate risks in decision-making, notably supplier selection, to be more competitive. The study aims to determine the key criteria and factors of supplier selection and to evaluate the importance of the key factor of the supplier selection criteria for the refractory materials manufacturers in Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach: Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used to rank these factors for the decision maker. The AHP method is suitable for verifying refractory supplier selection criteria and providing references. The weighted loss scores for each supplier are then determined using the relative importance as the weights. Supplier selection criteria are ranked using their aggregate weighted loss scores. The provider with the lowest loss score should be chosen. Findings: Product quality is the most significant of the five criteria: product quality, production technology, logistics capacity, service capability and supplier background. Professionalism is the most significant aspect of product quality, whereas equipment and capacity are vital in manufacturing techniques. The studies also show that the delivery rate is essential for logistics and service capabilities. Practical implications: This research has important implications for refractory suppliers in promptly fine-tuning the production and service to enhance customer satisfaction, which is key to business sustainability. Originality/value: The application of an AHP technique to a real-world industrial issue is what makes this research unique. This research addressed one of the most critical topics in supply chain operations by offering better judgement for supplier selection via the use of suitable quantitative methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the pervasiveness of food delivery apps (FDAs) and the increased scholars' attention for the topic of FDA continuance usage intention. However, the limited understanding about possible segments of FDA users has hindered food retailers from providing FDAs with a personalized manner, which impairs the effectiveness of marketing strategies. Thus, this study aims to first explore key antecedents of users' continuance intention toward FDAs and then segment and profile Taiwanese users based on the identified antecedents of FDA continuance intention and demographics. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was implemented to collect responses from FDA users in Taiwan. With a response rate of 82.4%, the final sample of 326 respondents (average age = 28.3; female = 54.9%) was analyzed by using two techniques of structural equation modeling (SEM) and cluster analysis. Findings: The results indicate six antecedents of users' continuance usage intention towards FDAs, including information quality, system quality, information quality, perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment and satisfaction. Additionally, three distinct clusters of FDA users are successfully identified, labeled as "value sensitive users", "time-sensitive users" and "security sensitive users". Originality/value: This study is one of the pioneers that explores the possible segments in FDA market, which helps FDA providers and food retailers develop more focused and appropriate strategies to encourage users to continue using FDAs. Our findings contribute to building an optimized version of "FDA Tech" that becomes an omni-channel solution to serve the increased home-delivery needs in the new normal era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study proposes an integrated model to explore the relationships between dynamic capability and supply chain resilience (SCRE) and the relationships' impacts on firms' financial performance with supply chains (FPwSC) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Based on resource-based theory and knowledge-based theory, the dynamic capability is classified into resource-based dynamic capability (RBDC) and knowledge-based dynamic capability (KBDC). The study collects 158 useable survey samples from manufacturers in Taiwan and analyzes the samples with the structural equation model. Findings: The results show that knowledge is power; KBDC is crucial for FPwSC, SCRE and RBDC. In addition, SCRE mediates the relationship between KBDC and FPwSC. Finally, RBDC significantly suppresses FPwSC. Research limitations/implications: Future researchers could replicate this study in other industries and expand this to other countries to generalize the results. Practical implications: A firm with KBDC can adopt and implement strategies that exploit its internal strengths to respond to environmental opportunities, overcome internal weaknesses and mitigate external threats. Furthermore, a firm should fully utilize SCRE with proactive and reactive strategies. Exercising a firm's KBDC could facilitate SC collective intelligence to handle the risk of SC disruption and vice versa. Originality/value: The study is the first to combine KBDC, RBDC and SCRE into an integrated model for FPwSC. Moreover, this study reveals that resilience relies on knowledge, not resources, as evidenced by SCRE being affected significantly by KBDC but not RBDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Corporate governance scholars have long been interested in understanding the impact of former chief executive officers (CEOs) who do not fully leave office but rather remain as board members. Departing from the inconclusive findings of retaining Janus-faced predecessor CEOs on boards, this study revisits the concept of retaining predecessor CEOs on boards (RPCB) and its influence on successors and firm performance under certain conditions. Design/methodology/approach: The study analyzes a sample of 461 Taiwanese firms from 2015 to 2019, adopting the ordinary least squares regression method to examine the correlation between RPCB and firm performance. It specifically analyzes the moderating effects of the complexity of firms' internal and external environments in this context. Findings: The empirical results show that there is no direct relationship between RPCB and post-succession performance, indicating that this association is shaped by contextual factors. Indeed, the influence of predecessors is more pronounced in situations of high internal and external complexities such that the value of RPCB is situation specific. Originality/value: This study is the first to generate the resource-based view theory to recognize that the relationship between predecessors on boards and financial consequences is moderated by contextual factors. The authors are the first to extend extant research by considering internal and external complexity in the context of succession and RPCB. In such situations, successors' need for regular mentoring is heightened and the benefits of prior CEO knowledge and resources are more substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study sought to advance understandings of migrant worker labor outcomes by examining (1) the relationship between migrant employees' motivational cultural intelligence (CQ) and employee well-being and (2) whether voice behavior at work mediates this relationship. Design/methodology/approach: Working with leader–member exchange (LMX) theory and conservation of resources theory, the author proposed a multiple mediation model to explain the relationship between motivational CQ and employee outcomes and how employee voice may mediate this relationship. LMX and voice behavior were tested for the mediating effects in a cross-cultural context. To test the model, a questionnaire was conducted with Vietnamese migrants working in Taiwan (343 valid responses were collected). The results were analyzed using regression and bootstrapping. Findings: Higher motivational CQ was associated with higher levels of work engagement and lower levels of job burnout. Strong employee voice mediated this relationship: high motivational CQ enabled workers to learn cultural nuances that helped them speak up in appropriate ways (in part by building strong relationships with leaders), which positively influenced work engagement and job burnout. Originality/value: This study is one of the first to clarify and contribute to the research domain of cross-cultural management and motivational CQ among Vietnamese migrant workers living in Asian cultures. Past studies regarding CQ have seldom studied Southeast Asian migrant workers and the impact of motivational CQ on job burnout and work engagement. This study fills this gap and provides empirical evidence that may prove helpful for international human resources and organizational leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research aims to investigate how entrepreneurial orientation influences a firm's differentiation–cost advantage ambidexterity (DCAA) and performance indirectly through dynamic capabilities, while also investigating the impact of the interactive effect of the level and consistency of entrepreneurial orientation on dynamic capabilities. The goal of this study is to better understand the importance of consistently following an entrepreneurial orientation, as well as the linkage of such a consistently implemented strategy upon gaining both a cost and differentiation positioning enhancement. Design/methodology/approach: Two empirical studies are conducted to test the proposed hypotheses – one longitudinal with multiple forms of data (i.e. text data, survey data and archival data) from 100 Taiwanese electronics firms and the other using primary data from a survey of senior managers. Findings: Entrepreneurial orientation improves dynamic capabilities, which in turn promote superior DCAA and enhanced firm performance. In addition, as captured through a unique measure of consistency allowed through computer-aided text analysis, the results indicate that the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on dynamic capabilities is amplified when a firm consistently adopts entrepreneurial decisions and actions. Research limitations/implications: The specific context was a sample of electronics firms in Taiwan. This limits the generalization of findings, as would be possible with assessing the hypotheses in other industries. Practical implications: This research clearly demonstrates the significance of consistency in pursuing a strategic orientation. The consistent support and deployment of resources facilitates an organization's achieving positive outcomes associated with an entrepreneurial orientation. Originality/value: While entrepreneurial orientation contributes to firm performance, extant knowledge on the internal process through which entrepreneurial orientation affects performance is relatively limited. The findings not only highlight the full mediating role of dynamic capabilities and DCAA, but also shed light on the importance of consistency in entrepreneurial orientation over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study expands the isomorphic logic on the participatory guarantee system (PGS) alternative certification method, which aims to level the supply chain sustainability field to determine how the alignment of disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders (e.g. small/applicant farmers, local organizations, consumers and volunteer auditors) might neutralize the negative effects of stakeholder heterogeneity (SH) on PGS recognition. Design/methodology/approach: The sample comprised 113 multilateral matching questionnaires collected from disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders participating in the PGS activities of the Green Conservation Label managed by Taiwan's Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (TOAF). This study adopted hierarchical regression to test the hypotheses. Findings: Stakeholder alignment, external community (EC) constructs, similar backgrounds (SBs) and value congruence (VC) diminish the negative effects of SH on PGS recognition. Social implications: PGS is an agrifood supply chain social movement designed to allow underprivileged actors to enact solutions collectively to address social inequities and ecological problems through fair procedures, collective assignments and collaborative intentionality. PGS members who leverage VC, SB and EC will have a greater chance of successfully overcoming their institutional disadvantages. Originality/value: Based on the PGS activities initiated by disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders, this study transformed isomorphic logics, including coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphisms, into a mechanism with which individuals can build a governance structure that helps disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders develop alternative institutions by pooling their resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although the literature has somewhat discussed social capital and knowledge sharing, the mediating and moderating mechanisms that influence team workers to move from connecting with one another to building social capital and consequently engaging in knowledge sharing still remain largely understudied. For that reason, this study aims to develop a holistic research framework that links social capital to knowledge sharing with positive affective tone as a mediator and hypercompetition as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing upon the social capital theory and the affective events theory (AET), this study proposes a research framework to assess how social capital factors influence knowledge sharing with the mediation of positive affective tone and the moderation of hypercompetition in high-tech teams. This study obtains survey data based on 330 questionnaires of working professionals from 66 high-tech teams in Taiwan, in which each team comprises four members and their team leader. Findings: The empirical results of this study show that social interaction, shared vision and trust are positively related to knowledge sharing via the mediation of positive affective tone. Moreover, hypercompetition has positive moderating effects on the relationships between social interaction and positive affective tone as well as between trust and positive affective tone. Originality/value: This study expands the previous literature to study through what mediating mechanism the effects of different social capital factors on knowledge sharing can be effectively realized and whether there exists any critical moderator that influences these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]