Junior Management Science (E-Journal - LMÜ München)
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Looking Behind the Fading Feminist Façade of #Girlboss
Full text linkThis study investigates the media representation of female entrepreneurs in newspaper and magazine articles from 2014 to 2022. By employing a quantitative content analysis of 192 articles, the study examines dominant narratives, entrepreneurial identities, ethical behaviors, challenges depicted, and tone used across various mediums and countries, thereby addressing a gap in literature focused on single media or country contexts. Results indicate a predominantly positive portrayal of female entrepreneurship, often framed within a heroic narrative. Representations of entrepreneurial femininities are conspicuously underrepresented in the analyzed articles, with relational entrepreneurial femininity prevailing as the principal depiction. However, while ethical behaviors are more frequently highlighted than non-ethical ones, attributes of female entrepreneurs as innovative or genius are notably absent. The most commonly cited challenge is resource constraints. These insights suggest that while entrepreneurship remains a male-dominated concept in media, positive depictions of female entrepreneurs and their relevant skills are emerging, potentially inspiring and supporting future female entrepreneurs.
Keywords: entrepreneurial femininity; ethical behaviour; female entrepreneurship; media portrayal; sentiment analysisThis study investigates the media representation of female entrepreneurs in newspaper and magazine articles from 2014 to 2022. By employing a quantitative content analysis of 192 articles, the study examines dominant narratives, entrepreneurial identities, ethical behaviors, challenges depicted, and tone used across various mediums and countries, thereby addressing a gap in literature focused on single media or country contexts. Results indicate a predominantly positive portrayal of female entrepreneurship, often framed within a heroic narrative. Representations of entrepreneurial femininities are conspicuously underrepresented in the analyzed articles, with relational entrepreneurial femininity prevailing as the principal depiction. However, while ethical behaviors are more frequently highlighted than non-ethical ones, attributes of female entrepreneurs as innovative or genius are notably absent. The most commonly cited challenge is resource constraints. These insights suggest that while entrepreneurship remains a male-dominated concept in media, positive depictions of female entrepreneurs and their relevant skills are emerging, potentially inspiring and supporting future female entrepreneurs.
Keywords: entrepreneurial femininity; ethical behaviour; female entrepreneurship; media portrayal; sentiment analysi
Sustainability in the Corporate Sector: A News Textual Analysis Approach to Measuring ESG Performance
Full text linkSustainability has become a crucial factor in the financial sector, making the assessment of a company’s sustainability performance essential for informed decision-making. Recognizing the media’s power to shape public perception of corporate sustainability issues, this study examines the use of news analysis to evaluate companies’ performance against Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. Leveraging OpenAI’s models, this research parses unstructured data within news articles and introduces a machine learning pipeline to score companies’ ESG performance based on their media representation. The study uncovers several key findings: firstly, it demonstrates that a less costly, fine-tuned model can surpass the zero-shot capabilities of a more expensive model in classifying ESG content. Secondly, it identifies discrepancies in media coverage across industries, leading to unequal assessments of companies. Thirdly, it reveals a media tendency to underreport companies’ environmental efforts. Finally, the study highlights areas where companies face media criticism, suggesting potential improvements in their ESG practices. These insights contribute to the understanding of how machine learning can assist in the critical evaluation of sustainability in the business domain.
Keywords: ESG; machine learning; natural language processing; news; NLP; sustainabilitySustainability has become a crucial factor in the financial sector, making the assessment of a company’s sustainability performance essential for informed decision-making. Recognizing the media’s power to shape public perception of corporate sustainability issues, this study examines the use of news analysis to evaluate companies’ performance against Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. Leveraging OpenAI’s models, this research parses unstructured data within news articles and introduces a machine learning pipeline to score companies’ ESG performance based on their media representation. The study uncovers several key findings: firstly, it demonstrates that a less costly, fine-tuned model can surpass the zero-shot capabilities of a more expensive model in classifying ESG content. Secondly, it identifies discrepancies in media coverage across industries, leading to unequal assessments of companies. Thirdly, it reveals a media tendency to underreport companies’ environmental efforts. Finally, the study highlights areas where companies face media criticism, suggesting potential improvements in their ESG practices. These insights contribute to the understanding of how machine learning can assist in the critical evaluation of sustainability in the business domain.
Keywords: ESG; machine learning; natural language processing; news; NLP; sustainabilit
Waiting Time Estimation for Ride-Hailing Fleets Using Graph Neural Networks
Full text linkRide-hailing services are part of intermodal transport systems, allowing passengers to use various transport modes for their trip. The optimal choice for a request in the intermodal system depends on the passenger’s waiting time for the ride-hailing service. Estimating this waiting time is crucial for efficient system operation. The prediction of waiting time depends on the spatial dependency of the transport network and traffic flow elements. Graph neural network (GNN) approaches have gained attention for capturing spatial dependencies in various applications, though less attention has been given to ride-hailing waiting time prediction. The aim of this master thesis is to implement a GNN-based method to predict waiting time for ridehailing requests in the network. Simulation-based waiting time data is used for model training and validation. MATSim is chosen for generating waiting time data under different demand and supply scenarios. Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) and Gated Attention Network (GAT) are used as prediction models. Regression and MLP methods are used as baselines to compare model performance. Results show GCN outperforms regression by 15%, while GAT performs 14% better than regression.
Keywords: graph convolutional network; ride-hailing service; waiting time estimationRide-hailing services are part of intermodal transport systems, allowing passengers to use various transport modes for their trip. The optimal choice for a request in the intermodal system depends on the passenger’s waiting time for the ride-hailing service. Estimating this waiting time is crucial for efficient system operation. The prediction of waiting time depends on the spatial dependency of the transport network and traffic flow elements. Graph neural network (GNN) approaches have gained attention for capturing spatial dependencies in various applications, though less attention has been given to ride-hailing waiting time prediction. The aim of this master thesis is to implement a GNN-based method to predict waiting time for ridehailing requests in the network. Simulation-based waiting time data is used for model training and validation. MATSim is chosen for generating waiting time data under different demand and supply scenarios. Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) and Gated Attention Network (GAT) are used as prediction models. Regression and MLP methods are used as baselines to compare model performance. Results show GCN outperforms regression by 15%, while GAT performs 14% better than regression.
Keywords: graph convolutional network; ride-hailing service; waiting time estimatio
Good as Gold or Merely Glitter? Elite Board Members’ Impact on Firm Performance
Full text linkThis thesis investigates the influence of elite supervisory board members on the performance of German firms. Following the transformation of the German business landscape post-reunification, elite board members, characterized by their exceptional social capital, continue to play a crucial role. Using resource dependence theory, the study explores the link between board members’ social capital and firm performance. Leveraging a yearly ranking of the top 30 most powerful supervisory board members to identify elite members, this thesis analyses their influence on firm performance. Contrary to expectations, the results show a significant negative impact of elite board members on accounting-based performance and no significant effect on market-based performance. The expected stronger effect of having an elite board chair was not supported. These findings encourage a reevaluation of the assumed benefits of elite board membership, suggesting underlying complex dynamics. The thesis concludes with implications for corporate governance, limitations of the study, and directions for future research.
Keywords: corporate governance; elite board members; firm performance; social capital; supervisory boardThis thesis investigates the influence of elite supervisory board members on the performance of German firms. Following the transformation of the German business landscape post-reunification, elite board members, characterized by their exceptional social capital, continue to play a crucial role. Using resource dependence theory, the study explores the link between board members’ social capital and firm performance. Leveraging a yearly ranking of the top 30 most powerful supervisory board members to identify elite members, this thesis analyses their influence on firm performance. Contrary to expectations, the results show a significant negative impact of elite board members on accounting-based performance and no significant effect on market-based performance. The expected stronger effect of having an elite board chair was not supported. These findings encourage a reevaluation of the assumed benefits of elite board membership, suggesting underlying complex dynamics. The thesis concludes with implications for corporate governance, limitations of the study, and directions for future research.
Keywords: corporate governance; elite board members; firm performance; social capital; supervisory boar
“Well, Now They Know”: How Mental Illness Identity Management Strategies Influence Leaders’ Responses
Full text linkThe high prevalence of mental illnesses and their significant social and economic impact highlight the need for organizations to provide resources to support employee well-being. Given that leaders are key in connecting employees to such resources, understanding their responses to employees with mental health issues is crucial. Using vignettes and semi-structured interviewing, we explored how 15 leaders responded to employees with mental health issues depending on the identity management (IM) strategies they used. Through an inductive approach, we identified the emotional and cognitive processes behind leaders’ intentions to behave in three scenarios: when an employee shows warning signs of mental health issues, when they disclose their condition, and when they cover it up by using a personal problem as an excuse. Our findings show that a strategy that denotes transparency and active coping is more likely to lead to positive interpersonal outcomes and a higher level of social support. However, unintended stigma can turn this support into a double-edged sword, leading to negative professional outcomes. We further identified leaders’ training needs regarding mental health management in the workplace. We conclude by discussing theoretical and practical implications of our findings.
Keywords: disclosure; diversity; identity management; mental illness; stigmaThe high prevalence of mental illnesses and their significant social and economic impact highlight the need for organizations to provide resources to support employee well-being. Given that leaders are key in connecting employees to such resources, understanding their responses to employees with mental health issues is crucial. Using vignettes and semi-structured interviewing, we explored how 15 leaders responded to employees with mental health issues depending on the identity management (IM) strategies they used. Through an inductive approach, we identified the emotional and cognitive processes behind leaders’ intentions to behave in three scenarios: when an employee shows warning signs of mental health issues, when they disclose their condition, and when they cover it up by using a personal problem as an excuse. Our findings show that a strategy that denotes transparency and active coping is more likely to lead to positive interpersonal outcomes and a higher level of social support. However, unintended stigma can turn this support into a double-edged sword, leading to negative professional outcomes. We further identified leaders’ training needs regarding mental health management in the workplace. We conclude by discussing theoretical and practical implications of our findings.
Keywords: disclosure; diversity; identity management; mental illness; stigm
KPIs for Sustainability: Defining the Strategy for a Sustainable Future in the Insurance Industry
Full text linkSustainability transformation has gained traction across industries worldwide. Given their critical risk exposure, this transformation is of extreme precarity to the insurance industry. Yet, literature lacks a comprehensive approach for the development of a sustainability strategy covering the environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions. This work bridges the gap by evaluating methods for defining sustainability Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and their integration into strategy. A roadmap is then developed that guides successful strategy implementation. Based on a systematic literature review of 5.000+ academic papers, this work features a quantitative and qualitative analysis of literature and evaluates four core papers on the definition of sustainability KPIs for the insurance industry. Leadership commitment and ESG integration into core business emerge as the most important factors towards a successful transformation. The resulting sustainability roadmap provides a blueprint for insurers to embed ESG values, enabling businesses of all sizes to participate. This work contributes to academia and industry by supporting the development of comprehensive and successfully integrated sustainability strategies.
Keywords: insurance; KPIs; strategy; sustainability; transformationSustainability transformation has gained traction across industries worldwide. Given their critical risk exposure, this transformation is of extreme precarity to the insurance industry. Yet, literature lacks a comprehensive approach for the development of a sustainability strategy covering the environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions. This work bridges the gap by evaluating methods for defining sustainability Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and their integration into strategy. A roadmap is then developed that guides successful strategy implementation. Based on a systematic literature review of 5.000+ academic papers, this work features a quantitative and qualitative analysis of literature and evaluates four core papers on the definition of sustainability KPIs for the insurance industry. Leadership commitment and ESG integration into core business emerge as the most important factors towards a successful transformation. The resulting sustainability roadmap provides a blueprint for insurers to embed ESG values, enabling businesses of all sizes to participate. This work contributes to academia and industry by supporting the development of comprehensive and successfully integrated sustainability strategies.
Keywords: insurance; KPIs; strategy; sustainability; transformatio
ESG Regulation Across the Globe: Does ESG Regulation Pay Off?
Full text linkA growing number of investors and other stakeholders are demanding greater transparency about companies’ sustainability performance. Countries around the world are responding with mandatory environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure regulations. On the one hand, this has led to a fragmented regulatory landscape. On the other hand, there is little empirical evidence on how these mandatory ESG disclosure requirements affect reporting companies. This paper addresses the gap through a three-part approach. First, it examines the evolution and status quo of global ESG regulation. Second, it provides a comprehensive literature review on the impact of such regulation on affected firms. Finally, it applies a difference-in-difference analysis to assess whether the EU’s Non-Financial Disclosure Directive (NFRD), an unprecedented supranational ESG disclosure regime, has led to the adoption of more sustainable business practices. The results show a stronger increase in ESG scores for regulated EU companies compared with a control group of non-regulated US companies. This finding has practical relevance not only for the EU, but also for other legislators considering the introduction or expansion of ESG reporting requirements.
Keywords: disclosure; ESG regulation; NFRD; reporting; sustainabilityA growing number of investors and other stakeholders are demanding greater transparency about companies’ sustainability performance. Countries around the world are responding with mandatory environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure regulations. On the one hand, this has led to a fragmented regulatory landscape. On the other hand, there is little empirical evidence on how these mandatory ESG disclosure requirements affect reporting companies. This paper addresses the gap through a three-part approach. First, it examines the evolution and status quo of global ESG regulation. Second, it provides a comprehensive literature review on the impact of such regulation on affected firms. Finally, it applies a difference-in-difference analysis to assess whether the EU’s Non-Financial Disclosure Directive (NFRD), an unprecedented supranational ESG disclosure regime, has led to the adoption of more sustainable business practices. The results show a stronger increase in ESG scores for regulated EU companies compared with a control group of non-regulated US companies. This finding has practical relevance not only for the EU, but also for other legislators considering the introduction or expansion of ESG reporting requirements.
Keywords: disclosure; ESG regulation; NFRD; reporting; sustainabilit
Impact of Audit Assurance on the Quality of Sustainability Reporting
Full text linkThe subject of sustainability reporting is becoming increasingly important. In consequence of the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, a substantial number of companies will be required to have their sustainability reports audited beginning from financial year 2024. This paper examines the influence of external assurance on the quality of those sustainability reports. Therefore, the reports of all DAX and MDAX companies for financial year 2022 are examined using a novel textual analysis approach, to determine the individual report quality. The results demonstrate that there is no statistically significant relationship between assurance level and the quality of sustainability reports. Conversely, it was found that companies that are acting sustainable disclose a higher quantity of information and are more likely to demand voluntary assurance of their reports. These findings offer insights into the implications of assurance on sustainability reporting. Furthermore, the detailed overview of traditional and state-of-the-art textual analysis methods offers researchers a valuable resource for identifying the most appropriate methods to address their individual research questions.
Keywords: audit assurance; CSRD; natural language processing; sustainability reporting; textual analysisThe subject of sustainability reporting is becoming increasingly important. In consequence of the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, a substantial number of companies will be required to have their sustainability reports audited beginning from financial year 2024. This paper examines the influence of external assurance on the quality of those sustainability reports. Therefore, the reports of all DAX and MDAX companies for financial year 2022 are examined using a novel textual analysis approach, to determine the individual report quality. The results demonstrate that there is no statistically significant relationship between assurance level and the quality of sustainability reports. Conversely, it was found that companies that are acting sustainable disclose a higher quantity of information and are more likely to demand voluntary assurance of their reports. These findings offer insights into the implications of assurance on sustainability reporting. Furthermore, the detailed overview of traditional and state-of-the-art textual analysis methods offers researchers a valuable resource for identifying the most appropriate methods to address their individual research questions.
Keywords: audit assurance; CSRD; natural language processing; sustainability reporting; textual analysi
Small but Powerful: The Impact of Shelf Talker Flags on Consumer Shopping Behavior
Full text linkUnseen is unsold, which means that shoppers can only buy what they see in the store. Therefore, retailers use different in-store marketing techniques to increase visual exposure and stimulate purchases. In this paper, I investigate the effect of shelf talker flags on consumer shopping behavior. In doing so, I hypothesize that shelf talker flags increase the subjectively perceived search ease and purchases of marked products. A field experiment shows that shelf talker flags make products more visible and easier to find at the point of purchase, significantly increasing consumers’ subjectively perceived search ease. Furthermore, the results suggest that shelf talker flags can influence consumer buying behavior and increase purchases of marked products. However, this result is only marginally significant.
Keywords: in-store marketing; search ease; shelf talker flags; unplanned purchases; visual attentionUnseen is unsold, which means that shoppers can only buy what they see in the store. Therefore, retailers use different in-store marketing techniques to increase visual exposure and stimulate purchases. In this paper, I investigate the effect of shelf talker flags on consumer shopping behavior. In doing so, I hypothesize that shelf talker flags increase the subjectively perceived search ease and purchases of marked products. A field experiment shows that shelf talker flags make products more visible and easier to find at the point of purchase, significantly increasing consumers’ subjectively perceived search ease. Furthermore, the results suggest that shelf talker flags can influence consumer buying behavior and increase purchases of marked products. However, this result is only marginally significant.
Keywords: in-store marketing; search ease; shelf talker flags; unplanned purchases; visual attentio
Unravelling Collective Action Frames Through a Temporal Lens: A Case Study of an Environmental Movement in Germany
Full text linkOrganizing collective action in the face of climate change is one of the grand challenges of our time. Social movements and their approach to framing climate change are pivotal, as they are tasked with the role of challenging and redirecting dominant beliefs and narratives. Recent research suggests that time is at the core of framing and sustainability. However, there is scant research at the intersection of social movements and time. This study responds to this gap by examining how the framing of the environmental movement Letzte Generation in Germany constructs temporality. My findings reveal how the movement frames climate change as a catastrophe, representing itself as a fire alarm to create a shared sense of urgency and advocate for a crisis mode. Temporally, the framing constructs a clear chronology between a dominant past and an undesirable future and aims to redirect the focus to the present. As a result, the movement had to actively orchestrate a balance between disruptive strategies aimed at attention and polarization, and alignment strategies to foster resonance and support. By conceptualizing temporality in framing processes my study illustrates the pivotal role of time in research on social movements and framing. Moreover, it contributes to the discourse on time and sustainability by showing how actors emphasize a present-time perspective.
Keywords: climate crisis; polarization; social movements; strategic framing; time and temporalityOrganizing collective action in the face of climate change is one of the grand challenges of our time. Social movements and their approach to framing climate change are pivotal, as they are tasked with the role of challenging and redirecting dominant beliefs and narratives. Recent research suggests that time is at the core of framing and sustainability. However, there is scant research at the intersection of social movements and time. This study responds to this gap by examining how the framing of the environmental movement Letzte Generation in Germany constructs temporality. My findings reveal how the movement frames climate change as a catastrophe, representing itself as a fire alarm to create a shared sense of urgency and advocate for a crisis mode. Temporally, the framing constructs a clear chronology between a dominant past and an undesirable future and aims to redirect the focus to the present. As a result, the movement had to actively orchestrate a balance between disruptive strategies aimed at attention and polarization, and alignment strategies to foster resonance and support. By conceptualizing temporality in framing processes my study illustrates the pivotal role of time in research on social movements and framing. Moreover, it contributes to the discourse on time and sustainability by showing how actors emphasize a present-time perspective.
Keywords: climate crisis; polarization; social movements; strategic framing; time and temporalit