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A double-edged sword: materiality classifications of sustainability topics
No full textAbstract
The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) has classified sustainability topics as material or not material for investors. We leverage the staggered release of the SASB classifications from 2013 to 2016 to examine whether and how they prompt changes in U.S. firms’ sustainability performance. We measure sustainability performance using RepRisk scores, which reflect environmental, social, and governance (ESG) incidents. We find that RepRisk scores on sustainability topics classified as material decrease following the release of SASB classifications. Conversely, incident scores on nonmaterial sustainability topics increase. This suggests that firms improve their sustainability performance on topics the SASB deems relevant for investors while simultaneously performing worse on irrelevant topics. Firms adjust their internal sustainability policies to mirror these changes. The changes in sustainability performance occur primarily through two channels. We document that higher exposure to the classifications from shareholder pressure and sustainability-linked executive compensation prompts managers to prioritize sustainability topics classified as relevant for investors over irrelevant ones.G18;K22;L21;M14;M4
Understanding the Situational Antecedents of CEO Regulatory Focus
No full textAbstract
Despite the impact of CEO regulatory focus on a wide range of organizational outcomes, most research does not consider how regulatory focus can vary based on situational factors. Taking an interactionist perspective rooted in industrial‐organizational psychology, we propose that CEO regulatory focus exhibits variance driven by situational factors, namely, a CEO’s job demands. Integrating this perspective with regulatory focus theory and research on executive job demands, we theorize and test the extent to which CEO regulatory focus is influenced by relative firm performance, with stakeholder activism and CEO tenure as moderators of this relationship. Using a sample of large U.S. companies, our tests offer evidence for how situational factors cause CEO regulatory focus to vary. We conclude our work by developing a research agenda regarding situational antecedents of CEOs’ intrapersonal constructs more broadly
Does Online Fundraising Increase Charitable Giving? A Nationwide Field Experiment on Facebook
Full text linkDoes online fundraising increase charitable giving? Using the Facebook advertising tool, we implemented a natural field experiment across Germany, randomly assigning almost 8,000 postal codes to Save the Children fundraising videos or to a pure control. We studied changes in the donation revenue and frequency for Save the Children and other charities by postal code. Our geo-randomized design circumvented many difficulties inherent in studies based on click-through data, especially substitution and measurement issues. We found that (i) video fundraising increased donation revenue and frequency to Save the Children during the campaign and in the subsequent five weeks, that (ii) the campaign was profitable for the fundraiser, and that (iii) the effects were similar independent of video content and impression assignment strategy. However, we also found some crowding out of donations to other similar charities or projects. Finally, we demonstrated that click data may be an inappropriate proxy for donations and recommend that managers use careful experimental designs that can plausibly evaluate the effects of advertising on relevant outcomes
Diagnosis decoded: a taxonomy and natural language processing analysis of the diagnosis section in German hospital discharge summaries
No full textAbstract
The diagnosis section in hospital discharge summaries plays a critical role in ensuring continuity of care by providing essential diagnostic information and a succinct summary of a patient’s condition to subsequent caregivers. However, the lack of standardized structure and content can lead to incomplete, ambiguous, or inaccurate documentation, potentially compromising patient safety. This study takes a foundational step toward standardizing the diagnosis section in German, and potentially international, discharge summaries by developing a taxonomy of structural and content elements and examining the use of standardized terminologies and abbreviations. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 436 de-identified discharge summaries from 112 hospitals across 12 German states. A structured taxonomy development process was applied, supported by natural language processing, to examine structural and content elements as well as the use of standardized terminologies (SNOMED-CT, ICD-10 codes) and abbreviations. The resulting taxonomy for diagnosis sections comprises 87 distinct characteristics across three meta-dimensions: structure, content, and levels of detail. The analysis revealed limited adoption of standardized terminologies; only 8.1% of terms conformed to SNOMED-CT, and only 14.2% of diagnosis sections included ICD-10 codes. Abbreviations appeared in 92% of diagnosis sections, constituting 14.5% of all words, many of which were obscure or infrequently used. These findings underscore the urgent need for a standardized, interoperable, and clinically meaningful diagnosis section to support continuity of care and data-driven healthcare. The proposed taxonomy offers a foundational framework for future standardization efforts by providing structural and content “design options.
Are parents an obstacle to gender-atypical occupational choices?
No full textAbstract
Despite numerous measures intended to enhance gender equality, gender-specific study and career choices remain a persistent concern for policymakers and academics globally. We contribute to the literature on gendered career choices by focusing on explicitly stated parental preferences for their children’s occupations, using a large-scale randomized survey experiment with 5940 adults in Switzerland. Adolescents consistently name their parents as the most influential factor in career decisions, motivating the focus on parents (and hypothetical parents). In the experiment, respondents are presented with a realistic choice scenario in which they must advise on two proposed apprenticeships for their hypothetical daughter or son. The experiment randomly selects the occupations from 105 pairs, without disclosing their gender distribution. Results show that adults are gender neutral when advising a daughter but have a pronounced preference for male-dominated occupations when advising sons. The latter are found across all ages of adults and for parents and non-parents.J24;J1
Partizipation von Menschen mit kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen bei einer App Entwicklung mit dem Co-Creation Ansatz
No full textZusammenfassung
In diesem Beitrag wird die zentrale Rolle von Agilität und Partizipation bei der Entwicklung digitaler Assistenztechnologien für Menschen mit kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen untersucht. Flexibilität und iterative Vorgehensweisen ermöglichen eine Anpassung an wechselnde Anforderungen und sichern die aktive Einbeziehung aller relevanten Akteure im Entwicklungsprozess. Das vorgestellte methodische Vorgehen integriert partizipative Methoden, um die spezifischen Bedürfnisse der Nutzergruppen und ihrer Betreuungspersonen von Beginn an zu berücksichtigen. Der mehrphasige Entwicklungszyklus – von der gemeinsamen Ideenfindung über Mockups und Prototyping bis hin zu umfassenden Evaluationen – wird am Beispiel einer mit Augmented Reality unterstützten Museums-App praxisnah veranschaulicht. Menschen mit kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen werden frühzeitig und kontinuierlich in die Gestaltung und Testung einbezogen, wodurch die Akzeptanz und Alltagstauglichkeit der Lösung verbessert werden. Zusätzlich betont wird der Einsatz von visuellen Hilfsmitteln und iterativen Feedbackschleifen, welche die Verständigung erleichtern und die Qualität der Ergebnisse steigern. Trotz des steigenden Koordinationsaufwands zeigt sich, dass wertschätzende Kommunikation und transparente Prozesse essenziell sind, um die Selbstbestimmung und alltägliche Teilhabe der Zielgruppe nachhaltig zu fördern. @This paper investigates the central role of agility and participation in the development of digital assistive technologies for people with cognitive impairments. Flexibility and an iterative approach enable adaptation to changing requirements and ensure the active involvement of all relevant stakeholders throughout the development process. The methodological approach presented here integrates participatory methods in order to consider the specific needs of the user group and their caregivers right from the start. The multi-phase development cycle—from joint ideation, through mockups and prototyping, to comprehensive evaluation—is illustrated in the context of the development of an augmented reality based museum app. People with cognitive impairments are included early and continuously in the design and testing phases, thereby improving both the acceptance and everyday usability of the solution. Special emphasis is placed on the use of visual aids and iterative feedback loops, which facilitate communication and enhance the quality of results. Despite the increased organizational effort, it is shown that appreciative communication and transparent processes are essential for promoting self-determination and daily participation within the target group
Künstliche Intelligenz zur Verbesserung der Zugänglichkeit von Business-Graphiken für Menschen mit Sehbeeinträchtigungen
No full textZusammenfassung
Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht, inwieweit der Einsatz von KI-generierten Beschreibungen die Zugänglichkeit von Business-Graphiken für blinde und sehbeeinträchtigte Personen verbessern kann. Es wird der Frage nachgegangen, welches derzeit in Screenreadern integrierte KI-Modell besonders leistungsstark ist und welche Einschränkungen und Vorteile KI-generierte Beschreibungen aufweisen. Die Fragestellungen werden auf Grundlage der Auswertung ausgewählter Fachliteratur sowie der Durchführung einer Analyse der Leistungsfähigkeit relevanter KI-Modelle erörtert. Zudem werden empirische Daten durch eine Befragung von blinden und sehbeeinträchtigten Personen erhoben und im Sinne einer Evaluation des grundlegenden Ansatzes ausgewertet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass von den untersuchten KI-Modellen aktuell Gemini 2.0 Flash und Claude 3.5 Sonnet die besten Ergebnisse bei der Beschreibung von Business-Graphiken erzielen. Defizite lassen sich insbesondere bei der korrekten sowie objektiven Beschreibung von Datenpunkten beobachten. Dies geht einher mit einem noch fehlenden Vertrauen der Befragten in die Zuverlässigkeit der KI-generierten Beschreibungen. Dennoch zeigen sich auch Vorteile durch den Einsatz von KI-Modellen, z. B. durch den Abbau von Barrieren im Sinne einer besseren Zugänglichkeit. @This article investigates the extent to which AI-generated descriptions can enhance the accessibility of business graphics for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Specifically, it examines which AI models currently integrated into screen readers demonstrate the highest levels of performance, as well as the limitations and advantages associated with the use of such descriptions. The research questions are addressed through a systematic review of selected scholarly literature and an empirical performance analysis of relevant AI models. Furthermore, survey data collected from blind and visually impaired participants are incorporated and evaluated as part of an assessment of the proposed approach. The findings suggest that, among the models examined, Gemini 2.0 Flash and Claude 3.5 Sonnet currently achieve the most effective results in the description of business graphics. Nevertheless, notable shortcomings remain, particularly with respect to the accurate and objective representation of data points. These limitations are accompanied by a persistent lack of user trust in the reliability of AI-generated descriptions. At the same time, the study highlights the potential benefits of employing AI models, most notably the reduction of accessibility barriers and the promotion of more inclusive practices
Same Same yet Different: Equivalence of the Multidimensional Assessment of Vocational Competence Across Test Formats
No full textABSTRACT
The rapid digital transformation of vocational education and training (VET) has underscored the need to adapt traditional assessment methods to digital formats. However, when transitioning to digital modes, it is crucial to consider factors beyond mere technical implementation, particularly the potential impact of altered presentation formats on the validity of assessment outcomes. This study explores these considerations in the context of computer‐based assessments, focusing on validating a digital format for evaluating vocational‐economic competence. A particular emphasis was placed on ensuring measurement invariance between digital and paper‐pencil formats, taking into account the effects of assessment layout, including cognitive load, the split‐attention effect, and environmental factors such as context dependence and the digital literacy of test‐takers. Furthermore, this study outlines a guideline‐compliant validation procedure for the digital version of a vocational‐economic competence assessment. To achieve this, we employed multi‐group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) and a multidimensional item response theory (IRT) model to assess measurement invariance and estimate person abilities across the two formats. Validity evidence obtained includes both measurement invariance across subgroups and the assessment's dimensionality
European funds and firm performance: evidence from a natural experiment
No full textAbstract
This paper examines the impact of European Union (EU) funds on the performance of private firms. We exploit a quasi-natural experiment arising from an administrative redrawing of geographical boundaries, which led to a discrete change in regional eligibility. This caused a sudden and substantial increase in access to EU grants directed at firms located in 33 Portuguese municipalities. Using a comprehensive linked employer-employee administrative dataset which covers the universe of private firms between 2003 and 2010, our difference-in-differences estimates uncover a significant and positive causal effect of increased eligibility on firms’ sales, labor productivity, and average wages, while employment is not significantly altered. Although firms’ sales in the non-tradable sectors are positively impacted, firms’ sales in more competitive, tradable, sectors remain unaffected by increased access to EU funds.R10;R30;H2
Does the same investment team create value? Evidence from venture capital syndication
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We study the effect of repeated venture capital (VC) syndication on VC investment performance. We posit that repeated syndication is positively associated with stagnant investment returns but negatively associated with high investment returns. Using a large dataset from 1985 through 2017, we find support for our intuition. Additionally, our results show that periods of recession accentuate the positive (negative) relationship between repeated syndication and stagnant (high) investment returns. These findings are robust after addressing sample selection and endogeneity concerns. Our study provides nuanced insights into the performance implications of having the same investment teams in the context of VC syndications.G11;G24;G0