Showing papers in "Asia-Pacific Management Review in 2023"

Predicting employee performance through transactional leadership and entrepreneur's passion among the employees of Pakistan

Abstract: The present study proposes to investigate the impact of transactional leadership style (TLS) and entrepreneur's passion (ETP) for employee performance (EP) and mediating role of passion between TLS and EP in Pakistan. The study is a quantitative approach and based on cross-sectional data. In total, 356 cases are applied for the final analysis. The results demonstrated a positive and significant effect of TLS and ETP on EP. Thus, the ETP recognized as a mediator between the TLS and the EP. The study's findings would offer significant contributions and implications for executives, entrepreneurs, and managers. The leadership style perception of the employees has a considerable contribution to generating a higher level of job performance. Hence, the study would provide the smoothness in enhancing EP with leadership behaviours' development. However, the mediation investigation of ETP between TLS and EP among the employees of Pakistan would give further guidelines for the policymakers of developing nation to observe the role of ETP.

The impact of COVID-19 on the productivity of large companies in Taiwan

Abstract: The outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of 2019 spreads over the world extensively and rapidly. The daily lives are affected by lockdowns, work-from-home, and travel bans. The economic growth is stagnated. Many industries are severely affected by this pandemic. There are, however, also industries that are unexpectedly benefited from the pandemic. The objective of this paper is to investigate the industries in Taiwan that are affected by the pandemic. Samples of the top 1,000 manufacturing and the top 500 service companies in Taiwan are collected to calculate their productivities before the pandemic, in the period of 2016–2019, and during the pandemic, in the year of 2020. The results show that three industries: automobile, tourism, and electronic products distribution, have their productivities significantly decreased by 3.98%, 4.92%, and 1.27%, respectively. There are also four industries: electronic components, optoelectronic, electrical and cable, and oil, gas and electricity, whose productivities are unexpectedly increased significantly by 1.37%, 1.98%, 3.32%, and 4.31%, respectively. The impact of COVID-19 to large companies in Taiwan seems to be not severe. In 2021, approximately five sixths of the industries have their productivities increased. There are only five industries whose productivities become lower; however, the decreases are not significant, indicating that the economy in Taiwan is recovering from the pandemic.

Personalized human resource management via HR analytics and artificial intelligence: Theory and implications

Abstract: This conceptual paper theorizes the emerging concept of personalized human resource management (HRM), which refers to HRM programs and practices that vary across individuals within an organization. As a subset of high-performance work practices (HPWPs), personalized HRM is implemented at the individual level and represents the next generation of HRM, which is characterized by the adoption of advanced HR analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide tailored HR solutions. We argue that personalized HRM constitutes a unique source of sustained firm competitive advantage and offers additional beneficial performance effects on top of other HPWPs. Drawing on the theories of individual differences and person-organization fit, we explain why personalized HRM outperforms traditional standardized HRM in terms of productivity, favorable HR climate, flexibility, return on investment of HRM, and firm financial performance. We also suggest that business strategy is a moderator of the relationship between HRM and firm performance. Building on the AI job replacement theory, we further propose that the mechanical and analytical intelligence (intuitive and empathetic intelligence) required for personalized HRM tasks is positively (negatively) related to the adoption of AI. Lastly, we elaborate on the implications and explain how advanced HR analytics and AI can facilitate the transition toward personalized HRM.

Economic and environmental analysis of biomass pellet supply chain using simulation-based approach

Abstract: The pellet supply chain (PSC) is arguably crucial in supplanting fossil energy sources. Despite being the world's second-largest exporter of biomass pellets, the operation of PSC components in Vietnam is still fragmented and lacks economic and environmental efficiency. Changes in Bill of Material (BOM) help achieve these objectives. Discrete event simulation (DES) is particularly adapted to assist business owners in identifying BOM variation and its impacts on their real-life PSCs. Exploiting the advantages of the DES approach, this paper presents an evaluation model for the PSC, including procurement, production, transportation, and delivery modules. Simulation results yield a profit of USD 15,426,661, equivalent to roughly 20% of the revenue. The total amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during production and transportation are 7,680.6 and 28,627.0 tons, respectively. The model is further used to assess the volatility of financial indicators and CO2 emission from changes in the raw materials for production. The findings suggest that maintaining the small-scale BOM level should be a solution for improving the economic and environmental efficiency of PSC components in Vietnam.

Information technology capabilities and organizational ambidexterity facilitating organizational resilience and firm performance of SMEs

Abstract: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face significant challenges in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Due to limited resources and managerial capabilities, some of these businesses struggle to survive in the face of technological advances and economic recession. To address this issue, this research seeks to explore how SMEs can leverage information technology (IT) to overcome crises, capitalize on innovative opportunities, adapt to shifting market conditions, and drive new competitive initiatives. This study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data collected from 247 SMEs in Vietnam. The results show that IT capabilities play a crucial role in stimulating organizational ambidexterity, resilience, and SME performance. In addition, the study emphasizes the potential impact of government support in enhancing organizational resilience. These findings provide empirical evidence supporting the Resource base theory with dynamic capabilities view and offer guidance to SMEs on allocating resources effectively and taking advantage of government support. The study also provides theoretical contributions and managerial implications to enhance business performance and achieve sustainable development.

The effects of unemployment and inflation rates on the business value of information technology and economic performance: The partial adjustment valuation approaches

Abstract: Equipped with the one-equation theory of partial adjustment (PA) under the constant speeds of PA assumption (Nerlove, 1958) and the two-equation theory of PA under the dynamic and variable speeds of PA assumption (Lin & Kao, 2014), this paper applies the constant PA speeds (Lin et al., 2010) and dynamic PA speeds (Lin & Kao, 2014) PA valuation (PAV) approaches to analyze the grand research issue (for three research questions), namely, how IT and two important macroeconomic variables, unemployment rate and inflation rate, affect the country's performance jointly and separately from a global perspective. The ten research models are fitted into a panel data sample composed of 11 countries (Canada, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Portugal, and Spain) over the period from 1993 to 2011. The results reveal that the IT productivity paradox remains in some developed countries; IT payoffs hinge on the exploitation of available complementary resources; and the complementarity and substitutability relationships between IT and unemployment and inflation rates exist.

The two faces of HPWS in employee perceptions and organizational performance

Abstract: In this study, we examine the two faces of high-performance work systems (HPWS) regarding employees' perceptions and organizational performance. Drawing on regulatory focus theory, we propose that, on the one hand, performance-enhancing HPWS improves organizational performance by fostering employees' competency (promotion foci) and that, on the other hand, performance-enforcing HPWS increases organizational performance by intensifying high-performance pressure (prevention foci). We tested the hypothesized relationships with longitudinal analysis using panel survey data (499 Korean firms with 1389 observations in four waves) from South Korea. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that both performance-enhancing and performance-enforcing HPWS improved organizational performance, but that the underlying mechanisms in employees' perceptions markedly differed (i.e., employees’ perceived competency vs. performance pressure on employees). In the Discussion section, we take up implications, limitations, and future research directions.

An empirical model of university competitiveness and rankings: The effects of entrepreneurial behaviors and dynamic capabilities

Abstract: Although competition between universities has become increasingly ferocious in the last decade, the impact of dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial behaviors, in terms of innovativeness and proactiveness, on university competitiveness and rankings has rarely been investigated. It is hypothesized that entrepreneurial behaviors and dynamic capabilities enhance the competitive advantages of universities, thus enabling them to improve their rankings. Six hypotheses were tested on a sample of 240 universities from 13 countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia. The relevant data were drawn from the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings and SciVal. The results indicate that entrepreneurial behaviors can exert a significant influence on the dynamic capabilities of a university, including those of sensing market exposure, seizing strategic collaboration opportunities, and reconfiguring knowledge generation. These dynamic capabilities, in turn, strengthen competitive advantages in domains such as reputation, human capital, and knowledge. This study contributes to the literature by integrating entrepreneurial behaviors and dynamic capabilities into a framework for university performance. The results should benefit academic administrators who wish to secure competitive advantages for their institutions and to boost their rankings.

Driving business performance through intellectual capital, absorptive capacity, and innovation: The mediating influence of environmental compliance and innovation

Abstract: This paper investigates the relationships between intellectual capital (IC), knowledge absorptive capacity (KAC), environmental compliance, innovation, and business performance in Vietnam. The study surveyed 206 management team members across various industries using a structured questionnaire and conducted data analysis using PLS-SEM. The findings reveal that IC heavily influences KAC, which in turn enhances business performance when combined with innovation. Additionally, environmental compliance and innovation partially mediate the association between KAC and business performance. The research recommends that managers should concentrate on improving KAC and innovative capabilities while ensuring environmental compliance to leverage IC and improve business performance. This study makes a significant contribution to the existing literature by extending the scope of the resource-based view and shedding light on the roles of KAC, environmental compliance, and innovative capacity in emerging markets like Vietnam.

Inclusion leadership and employee work engagement: The role of organizational commitment in Cambodian public organization

Abstract: Inclusive leadership (IL) has emerged as a vital area of research; however, its significance remains to be explored. This study investigated the impact of IL on employee work engagement (EWE) and affective organizational commitment (AOC) and examined the mediating role of AOC in the IL-EWE relationship. Utilized a survey-based quantitative research approach with 282 Cambodian public employees and employed structural equation modeling for analysis, the findings reveal a significant positive relationship between IL and EWE, with AOC acting as a partial complementary mediator. These results emphasize the importance of fostering IL to enhance EWE and AOC, contributing to improved organizational outcomes. This study offers valuable insights for organizations and leaders seeking to cultivate an inclusive work environment that nurtures employee engagement and commitment, ultimately leading to heightened organizational performance.

Irrigation and crop management using multi-objective optimization – A case study

Abstract: Irrigation and crop management practices play a crucial role in ecology and agrohydrology and can have significant environmental and socio-economic impacts. The important decision factors include soil moisture and water salinity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, the effects of these two factors on maize are quantitatively measured. To collect data, design of experiments is utilized at a greenhouse in a research center. The dataset consists of eighteen variables, including sixteen qualitative, quantitative, and morphological maize characteristics, as well as two decision variables, i.e., water depletion and salinity. This endeavor aims to promote the use of multi-objective decision-making techniques in the water management context to improve agricultural practices in regions facing water scarcity. To ensure appropriate data analysis, besides data visualization, multivariate and repeated measures analysis of variance are employed. Subsequently, a repeated measures model is used to fit statistical models and construct the corresponding responses. Furthermore, to determine the optimal levels of soil moisture and water salinity, which are often in conflict with each other, the problem is approached within a multi-objective framework. The weighted p-norm method is employed to incorporate management priorities in the decision-making process and facilitate tradeoffs between these two factors. Policy implications based on the findings are provided, offering valuable insights for improving irrigation and crop management practices. Detailed guidelines are provided on how to effectively analyze a problem, construct a model, and verify its assumptions.

Does a leader’s motivating language enhance the customer-oriented prosocial behavior of frontline service employees?

Abstract: The customer-oriented prosocial behavior of frontline employees can benefit their employers. This study demonstrated the effect of leaders' motivating language and behavioral integrity on the customer-oriented prosocial behavior of frontline employees. This study established a research framework to explore how leaders' motivating language enhances employees' perceived task significance, which in turn affects their deep acting and customer-oriented prosocial behavior. This study also explored the effect of leaders' behavioral integrity on customer-oriented prosocial behavior through the collection of questionnaire data from 304 frontline employees. Smart PLS 3 was employed to test the measurement model and study hypotheses. An empirical analysis demonstrated that leaders' empathetic language increased task significance, which in turn positively affected employees' deep acting and extra-role prosocial behavior. In addition, leaders’ behavioral integrity positively influenced role-prescribed prosocial behavior.

Methods of social network transfer in Thai family business succession

Abstract: Trusted social networks are the one of invaluable assets of family businesses, which take time to build and to maintain. Therefore, in situations of family business succession, the process of network transfer cannot be ignored, but instead must be well planned in order to ensure the continuity of the existing social networks. Drawing upon Steier's (2001) natural immersion and planned succession on social network transfer in family business succession, thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with family business predecessors in Thailand; to see how they prepare and handle the transfer of their social networks to their successors-to-be. A two-step process of social network transfer was found to be a common practice amongst them. Step one “network transfer preparation” is the stage where the predecessors prepare their potential successors to be ready, and also to be competent to run the family business; by engaging them in the family business at the early stages and at an early age, encouraging them to gain work experience from external organizations, as well as getting them to study in the field that is most relevant to their family businesses. Step two is “network transfer execution”, in which successors-to-be are introduced to business partners, and jobs are delegated to them gradually. The predecessors expect their successors to maintain the same level of trust and collaboration, and uphold the business reputation that has been built up through one generation to the next. Whether or not such ties will be able to be maintained or strengthened depends on how well their successors invest their time and energy in developing trust levels and maintaining the cohesion of their existing social networks, as well as building up those networks further.

Exploring the technological position and role of vehicle navigation companies by using patent citation network

Abstract: Autonomous driving is the future trend when it comes to the age of 5G at the end of 21st century, and vehicle navigation is the indispensable key technology. The companies with car navigation software and hardware business are facing fierce competition. Business operators must know the company's position and role in the industry, in order to adopt strategies to respond. In this study, two indicators are investigated using the social network analysis technics such as technological redundancy and network centrality in patent citation network (PCN). It is understood that technological redundancy is determined by technology knowledge status (TKS) as well as technology knowledge reliability (TKR). There are also four types of social network centrality: degree centrality, eigenvector centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality. In this study, an analysis of the technical position and role of individual companies in the industry will be presented by using the two indicators and the primary components. Moreover, technological redundancy is used to study the technical position and role of a company's unitary patent capability in the industry. This will reinforce the company's understanding, and then take strategies. By using this model, the study can effectively identify the technical position and role of the company and its unitary patent capability. Furthermore, the study also shows that based on this model, there is a total of three companies where positions and roles are as leading status in the vehicle navigation industry, i.e. Tomtom map company, Alpine and Asin AW two electronic companies. In addition, companies with unique technologies, such as Sirius Xm Radio, etc. can use their role and position to conduct merger and acquisition, collaboration, and alliance strategies.

Review of work from home empirical research during Covid-19

Abstract: This study synthesizes the empirical research on Work From Home (WFH) during COVID-19 from 2020 to 2022. The study addressed two objectives; (1) to find the common WFH practices during the COVID-19 2020–2022 period and (2) to find the areas that are not common in WFH practices in the research landscape during COVID-19 in 2020–2022 and (3) the areas that need attention in future research on WFH practices. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to address these objectives. Following a predetermined article selection criteria, 108 articles were included from Scopus for the review. The study addressed the first objective and found five areas of outcomes which are; (1) Work attitudinal outcomes and means for WFH, (2) Gender-related outcomes, (3) Leadership challenges and mental health outcomes, (4) Work-related outcomes, and (5) Mobility-related outcomes. Addressing the second objective, we have seven areas for future research, including the five outcomes related to the first objective and (1) Determinants and (2) Occupational health outcomes of WFH, which were found in addressing the second objective. Moreover, research implications for practicality and future researchers are also provided.

Work conformity as a double-edged sword: Disentangling intra-firm social dynamics and employees' innovative performance in technology-intensive firms

Abstract: Employees' innovative performance determines an organization's long-term sustainability and competitive advantages, particularly in the technology sector. Drawing on social exchange and work conformity theory, we investigate how employees' informational and normative conformity relates to their innovative performance through the lens of instrumental and expressive ties. R&D managers and professional-level employees from Taiwan's 2000 largest high-tech firms participate in the survey. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling with a valid sample of 399 responses from the participants. The findings reveal that, through the mediating roles of instrumental and expressive ties, employees' informational conforming behaviors promote their innovative performance. In contrast, normative conformity may reduce employees' innovative performance by weakening their social ties. Conformist behaviors have long been deemed as the inhibitor of creativity and innovation. Nevertheless, this study adopts a social exchange perspective and clarifies how conformity can both promote and hinder professional employees' innovative performance by affecting their social networking. The paper concludes with managerial implications, discussion, and recommendations for future research.

Digital intelligence as a partner of emotional intelligence in business administration

Abstract: The concept of digital intelligence, which is frequently mentioned, especially in educational sciences, is rarely seen in the business administration literature. This study aimed to discuss digital intelligence regarding business administration literature and put forward a discussion about whether companies need digital intelligence simultaneously with emotional intelligence in the way of competition and whether the two phenomena should be considered together. In this context, data were obtained from “The Internship” movie and the first three seasons of the “Silicon Valley” series using the document analysis data collection method. The obtained data were analyzed through content analysis. The grounded theory approach was adopted because of creating categories based on the data. Findings showed that successful outcomes for companies could occur if emotional intelligence and digital intelligence are given equal importance and evaluated simultaneously.

A RACE pathway for inventing and sustaining mobile payment innovation - A case study of a leading Bank in Taiwan

Abstract: This study aimed to propose a resource framework called RACE to demonstrate how a conventional financial service provider developed a defensive strategy to secure existing assets and dynamically evolved to enter new areas of competition and achieve offensive success. RACE stands for technology resources (R), strategic alliances (A), customers (C), and ecosystems (E), which represent the critical resources of a conventional bank for digital transforming in the mobile payment market. The study adopts an explorative single case study to analyze Inter-firms’ coopetition in the market and to explore how competitive advantages were developed through a critical path of RACE model. The revelatory case is a leading financial institute in Taiwan. A qualitative case analysis was conducted and the results revealed that through dynamic interplays of the proposed RACE model among the internal and external resources, a conventional enterprise can create new competition battleground and develop new types of coopetition. The innovative disruption in advancing mobile payment is not a straightforward process, the journey is full of challenges from defensive resource exploitation to offensive market acceleration. The Implications of the evolving path of the RACE model provide various avenues for further research on the dynamic capabilities, and the results are suggested for academics and practitioners in the era of digital disruption.

Forecasting Taiwan stock returns via crude oil and gold futures

Abstract: This study aims to predict Taiwan stock returns through gold and crude oil futures prices using monthly data from TAIEX and 19 stock sector indexes from January 1996 to December 2020. By using a 60-month rolling window horizon, we compare the forecast performances of various regression models, where the forecast performances are measured by MAE (mean absolute error) and ROS2 (out-of-sample R-square). In addition to using spot returns and the first principal component of futures returns on gold and crude oil, five traditional financial variables (dividend to price ratio, earnings to price ratio, market price to book value ratio, long-term yield, and short-term yield) are added to the regression model to explain and predict stock returns. Given that the regression models have included these traditional financial variables, the empirical results reveal that adding gold or crude oil price information to the model substantially improves its explanatory ability. Additionally, except during periods of high stock returns, the forecast ability of crude oil price information on stock returns is significantly better than traditional forecast variables. Furthermore, although gold prices are not as accurate as crude oil prices in predicting stock returns, their predictive capabilities are often better than the traditional financial variables.

The impact of employee-perceived CSR on organizational citizenship behavior ——evidence from China

Abstract: This study aims to understand the mechanism between CSR and employees’ attitudes and behaviors and help enterprises make better organizational interventions that exert CSR to have a positive impact on employees based on social exchange and social identity theory. It innovatively proposes a new comprehensive model to examine the positive impacts of perceived CSR altruism, perceived CSR execution and perceived CSR participation on organizational citizenship behavior, the mediating role of organizational identification, as well as the moderating role of perceived organizational support. Using the survey data from 409 questionnaires conducted in two provinces with different levels of economic development in China, the conceptual model is tested by hierarchical regression analysis and SEM. Empirical results indicate that perceived CSR altruism, perceived CSR execution and perceived CSR participation all have positive impact on organizational citizenship behavior through the partial mediation of organizational identification. In addition, perceived organizational support moderates the positive impact between organizational identification and organizational citizenship behavior. This study proposes a more comprehensive perspective on individuals’ perception and assessment of CSR and expands the dimensions of employee-perceived CSR. It also offers a new conceptual model to reveal the underlying mechanism between CSR and organizational citizenship behavior, which enriches the CSR research at micro-level and promotes the enthusiasm and practice effectiveness of CSR implementation.