1,720,986 research outputs found
Experimental Analysis of Consumer Stimulation and Motivational States in Shopping Experiences
No full textThe present research investigates the roles of both the individual reaction to environmental stimuli and personality characteristics in consumers’ pursuit of hedonic and/or utilitarian shopping values. The individual reaction to environmental stimuli is operationalized by two closely related measures: the optimal stimulation level (OSL), concerning the level of external stimulation with which an individual feels comfortable, and the arousability, concerning the rate with which the internal stimulation (i.e., the arousal) level of an individual changes in response to a sudden increase (or decrease) in the environmental stimulation. Results from an experimental study showed, firstly, that these two constructs (OSL and arousability) are positively correlated with those personality traits (i.e., Agreeableness and Openness to Experience, according to the Big Five-Factor model, cf. Digman, 1990) mostly associated to the hedonic shopping value. Secondly, drawing on the Reversal Theory (Apter, 1989), results showed that paratelic individuals (i.e., those who are interested in the shopping activity itself) have higher OSL and arousability than telic individuals (those who are interested in shopping outcomes, such as the purchase of specific products). These motivational states, in turn, are differently related to the two shopping values (i.e., hedonic vs. utilitarian). Theoretical and practical implications for marketing are discussed
Livello di stimolazione e stato motivazionale nell’esperienza di shopping in due centri commerciali
Full text linkIs this time different? How Industry 4.0 affects firms’ labor productivity
Full text linkDoes Industry 4.0 technology adoption push firms’ labor productivity? We contribute to the literature debate—mainly focused on robotics and large firms—by analyzing adopters’ labor productivity returns when micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) are concerned. We employ original survey data on Italian MSMEs’ adoption investments related to a multiplicity of technologies and rely on a difference-in-differences estimation strategy. Results highlight that Industry 4.0 technology adoption leads to a 7% increase in labor productivity. However, this effect decreases over time and is highly heterogeneous with respect to the type, the number, and the variety of technologies adopted. We also identify potential channels explaining the labor productivity returns of technology adoption: cost-related efficiency, new knowledge creation, and greater integration/collaboration both within the firm and with suppliers
Disentangling the link between ICT and Industry 4.0: impacts on knowledge-related performance
Full text linkPurpose Industry 4.0 technologies are promising to increase manufacturing companies' performance through the new knowledge that such digital technologies allow to create and manage within the firm boundaries and through customer interactions. Despite the great attention on the Industry 4.0 adoption paths, little is known about the relationships with previous waves of digital technologies, namely, information and communication technologies (ICTs), and how different groups of both types of technologies link to knowledge and its related performances. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a quantitative research design using a survey method. Submitting the questionnaire to entrepreneurs, chief operation officers or managers in charge of the operational and technological processes of Italian manufacturing firms, 206 respondents stated that their firm has adopted at least one of the seven Industry 4.0 technologies investigated. Findings The findings of the study highlight the positive relationship between ICT and Industry 4.0 technologies in terms of both intensity and groups of technologies (Web-based, Management and Manufacturing ICT; Operation, Customization and Data-processing 4.0), and how technologies affect knowledge-related performances in terms of products and processes, job-learning, product-related services and customer involvement. Originality/value This study is one of the first attempts to link groups of ICT to groups of Industry 4.0 technologies and to explore the effects in terms of knowledge-related performances as a measure of technology use. The study shows strong path dependency among ICT, Industry 4.0 and knowledge performance, enriching the literature on technological innovation and knowledge management
Artificial intelligence and relocation of production activities: An empirical cross-national study
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) is considered the next strategic technological imperative as it allows firms to manage complex tasks and to solve problems in many industries. In the manufacturing context, the use of AI is affecting the configuration of production processes with possible effects on the location of production activities. Despite the increasing relevance of this technology, there is a lack of empirical evidence that assesses the linkage with the firm's production relocation strategies. To fill this gap, this study aims at exploring the relationship between the use of AI and companies' offshoring and backshoring decisions, taking into account the moderating role of digital competences and the intended internationalisation strategies. Based on a cross-national survey with answers from 676 manufacturing companies from 16 industrialized countries, a hierarchical regression analysis was deployed that shows a positive effect of AI on companies' offshoring and backshoring decisions. Moreover, the results show that digital competences and international ambidexterity (simultaneous expansion of business and supply chain activities in domestic and foreign locations) only have a moderation effect on the relationship between AI and backshoring. International concentration (locating business activities in only a few local or global locations) does not moderate the relationship between AI and production relocation strategies (offshoring or backshoring). To advance the theoretical debate on the use of AI and its impact on production relocation strategies, three research propositions are proposed. Finally, some practical implications and the study's limitations are highlighted
An Italian Version of the 10-item Big Five Inventory: An Application to Hedonic and Utilitarian Shopping Values
Full text linkAmbidextrous strategies in turbulent times: the experience of manufacturing SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic
Full text linkPurposeThe paper refers to the framework of ambidexterity to explain the strategic paths of manufacturing SMEs in turbulent times, by investigating SMEs' strategic reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopted an inductive approach methodology. Using a qualitative research method, Italian manufacturing SMEs in different industries were interviewed to outline how they have faced the negative effects of the COVID-19 by considering the strategies implemented during the pandemic.FindingsThe study identifies three ambidextrous strategies for manufacturing SMEs to positively overcome the COVID-19 crisis: (1) playing different roles within the same market (business-to-business and business-to-consumer) simultaneously, (2) simultaneous entrance and management of multiple markets and (3) exploiting manufacturing knowledge for exploring product and business model innovation (simultaneous learning processes).Research limitations/implicationsResults enrich the theoretical discussion on ambidexterity and SMEs, by stressing the strategic dimension of ambidexterity and including a more fine-grained analysis of the different firm' strategic paths in times of crisis.Practical implicationsThe paper provides practical suggestions for manufacturing SMEs on how they can react during turbulent times and crises by implementing ambidextrous strategies also thanks to the use of digital technologies.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to outlining the conditions for SMEs' resilience in the international competitive context by highlighting the perspective of ambidexterity based on the analysis of multiple case studies from manufacturing industries
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