Curiosity, proactive personality, organizational culture and work engagement in the aviation industry in the UAE during Covid-19: A non-probabilistic moderated-mediation model

The crisis created by the pandemic severely disrupted the working patterns of employees, especially in the aviation industry. It is insufficient for workers to be satisfied – they have to be engaged in their work to deal with crises and situations never encountered before. Thus, investigating the antecedents of work engagement and their interactive effects is crucial to organizational survival. The paper examines the impact of the trait of curiosity on proactive personality, which ultimately leads to work engagement. The moderated-mediation model looks at the mediating effect of proactive personality on the relationship between curiosity and work engagement. It also examines the moderating effect of organizational culture perceptions on the relationship between curiosity and proactive personality. A sample of 327 respondents was collected from 32 organizations in the aviation industry in the United Arab Emirates through purposive sampling. The hypothesized associations were analyzed via structural equation modelling. As predicted, proactive personality is a mediator, and organizational culture moderates the said relationships. Managers desirous of improving employees’ work engagement will now understand how employees’ curiosity can enhance work engagement through proactive personality. Managers can also ensure that organizational culture can further strengthen the relationship between curiosity and proactive personality.

Cross-influence of information and risk effects on the IPO market: exploring risk disclosure with a machine learning approach

The paper examines whether the structure of the risk factor disclosure in an IPO prospectus helps explain the cross-section of first-day returns in a sample of Chinese initial public offerings. This paper analyzes the semantics and content of risk disclosure based on an unsupervised machine learning algorithm. From both long-term and short-term perspectives, this paper explores how the information effect and risk effect of risk disclosure play their respective roles. The results show that risk disclosure has a stronger risk effect at the semantic novelty level and a more substantial information effect at the risk content level. A novel aspect of the paper lies in the use of text analysis (semantic novelty and content richness) to characterize the structure of the risk factor disclosure. The study shows that initial IPO returns negatively correlate with semantic novelty and content richness. We show the interaction between risk effect and information effect on risk disclosure under the nature of the same stock plate. When enterprise information transparency is low, the impact of semantic novelty and content richness on the IPO market is respectively enhanced.

The relationship between curiosity and innovative work behavior in the aviation industry: the mediating effect of work engagement

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the mediating effect of work engagement on the relationship between curiosity and innovative work behavior. The context of the study is the initial stages of the pandemic starting April 2020, when international travel became restricted.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-administered questionnaires were distributed and collected from 327 respondents of 32 organizations in the aviation industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Findings

As hypothesized, work engagement is a mediator of the relationship between curiosity and innovative work behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The limited sample size and confinement to the aviation industry in the UAE limit the generalisation of the results.

Practical implications

Managers desirous of improving employees’ innovative work behavior will now understand how employees’ curiosity and exploration can impact innovative work behavior through the employees’ work engagement. Therefore, managers should focus on ensuring how employees’ curiosity and exploration can be created into work engagement, ultimately leading to innovative work behavior.

Originality/value

This research extends the social learning theory by positing that people who have strong traits of curiosity and exploration, will learn from others on how to work more effectively. This will make them more absorbed in their work (work engagement) and subsequently lead to innovative work behavior.

Creating a Culture to Avoid Knowledge Hiding Within an Organization: The Role of Management Support

Knowledge hiding is known to have negative consequences on organizational performance. The existing literature mainly focuses on the identification of antecedents and consequences of knowledge hiding. The studies pertaining to the top management role in creating a culture that stops concealing knowledge within an organization are limited. To fill that gap, the paper empirically address the knowledge sharing culture and to explore the management support to avoid knowledge hiding culture in an organization. This study based on an empirical study carried out in a United Kingdom-based laboratory within a high-tech global corporation, in which the atmosphere appeared conducive to knowledge sharing, and knowledge transfer appeared voluntary and spontaneous. The paper seeks to address why members of the case organization is reluctant about knowledge hiding among themselves. The study reveals that the management role is important in creating a culture that help discourage employees to withhold knowledge. The paper identifies the actions that top management takes to stop concealing knowledge within an organization. This study has provided several contributions. The findings of the study may be useful to managers and practitioners. For managers, this paper presents some important organizational factors that can be nurtured to avoid a knowledge-hiding culture in the organization. They can also take the management actions of the case organization as lessons to create a culture that encourage their employees to avoid knowledge hiding behavior.

Consumer Engagement on Social Networking Sites

Despite the significance of consumer engagement that scholars have recognized, there is a gap in understanding the influencing factors of consumer social networking engagement behaviors. In the light of social identity theory, this study considered susceptibility to interpersonal influence (SIPI) and self-expressive brands (SEBs) on consumer social networking engagement behaviors. Data from our research demonstrated that SEBs and SIPI were positively related to brand attachment, impacting liking, sharing, and commenting on social networking sites (SNS). In addition, brand attachment played a positive mediating role among SEB, SIPI, and consumer engagement on SNS. The research explores the factors affecting consumer engagement on SNS with a new insight and guides brand managers to seek efficient ways to drive consumers to engage on online social networks.

Organizational Factors, ICT Support, and Affective Commitment

This paper investigates the influence of organizational factors on affective commitment, exploring the moderating role of information and communication technology (ICT) on their relationships. The study is based on empirical findings administered on 200 managerial personnel using the PLS-SEM. Team orientation, transformational leadership, transactional leadership and decentralization have a direct influence on affective commitment. The theoretical framework presented in this study focused on the integrated effect of organizational factors on affective commitment along with the moderating effect of ICT ICT support moderates the relationship between team orientation and affective commitment. The findings would provide managers an understanding of the factors influencing affective commitment in Bangladesh’s service organizations. The results indicate that ICT can be an effective tool to strengthen teamwork and employee commitment. Evidence from this study would help managers to to formulate strategies accordingly and provide new knowledge to researchers to look further into this field.

An Empirical Study of Perception of the End-User on the Acceptance of Smart Government Service in the UAE

The end-users’ acceptance of electronic government applications is crucial for the effective delivery of public services. This study intends to investigate the factors that influence the end-users' acceptance of smart-government services.This paper identifies key determinants of the end-users’ acceptance of smart government services in the UAE to develop a theoretical model which is tested empirically, using the partial least squares structural equation modelling. This study examines the relationship among the factors that influence the adoption of smart government applications, along with the moderation effects of gender, age, and experience of the end-users on this linkage. The paper reveals that performance expectancy is the strongest factor influencing adoption of smart government, followed by trust in government, effort expectancy, and social influence. The Multi Group Analysis is used to test the moderation effects of the gender, age, and smart service use experience of the end-users on the relationship between the factors that influence smart-government service adoption.

The Use of the UTAUT Model in the Adoption of E-Learning Technologies

E-learning is treated as a learning approach in higher education worldwide. E-learning systems are all about using digital technologies to acquire, store, and process learning resources. This article aims to examine the end-users' acceptance of e-learning in the banking sector using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. The paper reviews the extant literature from which a theoretical model is developed and tested empirically in the French context. The UTAUT is extended by incorporating one additional factor (top management support). A quantitative approach based on cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 133 bank officials. Data was analyzed using, statistical software SPSS version 15. The article successfully confirms the applicability of e-learning in France-based banks. The model developed in this paper helps the practitioner to understand the factors that should be given emphasis to ensure the effective development and acceptance of the e-learning technologies in a commercial setting.

An Empirical Study of the Role of Knowledge Characteristics and Tools on Knowledge Transfer in China-Based Multinationals

This article describes how technology—i.e. the infrastructure of tools, systems, platforms—enhances knowledge transfer. The effect of tools on the relationship between knowledge characteristics and knowledge transfer effectiveness is under-researched. This article attempts to address the interplay of knowledge characteristics and transfer tools within multinational corporations (MNCs). Based on the structural equation modelling, this research proposes and tests a basic model that captures knowledge characteristics and transfer tools at 125 Japanese subsidiaries operating in China. Drawing on the literature, this article argues that the role of knowledge characteristics and transfer tools need to be considered for effective knowledge transfer between MNCs and their subsidiaries. Knowledge characteristics and transfer tools play differing roles in knowledge transfer. This article also extends the existing studies by focusing on knowledge characteristics and transfer tool constructs simultaneously in a model to understand the notion of knowledge transfer effectiveness in the global business context.

Exploring Causes, Taxonomies, Mechanisms and Barriers Influencing Knowledge Transfer

Knowledge transfer is one of the significant elements in the knowledge management process. Knowledge transferors share different types of knowledge with the recipients with a view to fulfilling the latter's knowledge needs. The importance of identifying the appropriate knowledge transfer mechanisms and the barriers to knowledge transfer are paramount. However, neither the knowledge management literature nor the NGO-sector literature has adequately addressed the issues of causes of knowledge transfer, taxonomies of knowledge, mechanisms and barriers of knowledge transfer in comprehensive way in the context of the Bangladeshi NGO sector. The highest number of NGOs in the world is deployed in Bangladesh. Little is known about such transfer within the NGO context based in Bangladesh. This paper makes an endeavour to bridge these grey areas of knowledge management and NGO-sector. Having collected the qualitative data from Bangladeshi NGOs and using the content analysis technique, the study identified the causes of knowledge transfer, taxonomies of knowledge, mechanisms of knowledge transfer and the barriers to knowledge transfer in the context of Bangladesh. By understanding the mechanisms and the determinants of knowledge transfer, company and NGO managers and public policy makers can influence knowledge transfer more effectively. Future researchers may extend this study by carrying out similar research in a different context.

A decision tree conceptualization of choice of knowledge transfer mechanism: the views of software development specialists in a multinational company

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically study transfer mechanisms of technological knowledge, and to explore the interplay among the factors that influence the choice of a mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper reports on a qualitative case study designed to explore the reasons underlying the selection of intra-organizational knowledge transfer mechanisms. This research was carried out as an exploratory case study, which allowed one to observe the phenomenon in a natural setting.

Findings

– The results of the present study indicate the interplay between the factors, and link the factors in a sequence that help decide a mechanism. A decision to select a mechanism depends upon several variables; some of them override others, others are interlinked, and sometimes there is a causal link.

Research limitations/implications

– It is based on a sample of employees that may not be representative of the broader population. Since the samples were drawn only from a MNC, the results may not be generalised. The case study method which was employed in this research does not permit the generalisation of the results.

Originality/value

– The knowledge transfer literature has discussed the mechanisms used to transfer technological knowledge, but has failed to adequately address the rationale behind the selection of an appropriate knowledge transfer mechanism. The extant literature has isolatedly identified factors that impact on the choice of knowledge transfer mechanism. These issues are not effectively addressed in prior research. The findings are summarized diagrammatically in the form of a decision tree which provides a conceptualization of the decision processes involved in the selection of the medium for knowledge transfer.

Face-to-Face Interface in Software Development

The study investigates the power and potentials of face to face (F-2-F) conversation as a medium of knowledge exchange among software engineers in the context of a high-tech laboratory of a Fortune 100 corporation. This research is based on a qualitative case study design. A number of reasons underlying the preference for F-2-F interaction to transfer knowledge are identified. The analysis also provides evidence that software engineers also face difficulties in using F-2-F conversation as a medium of knowledge exchange. Such findings may be useful to managers and practitioners as the paper proposes an integrated approach where an organization can use both F-2-F and computer-mediated mechanisms simultaneously in a balanced manner.

What Motivates Organisational Knowledge Transfer? Some Lessons from a UK-Based Multinational

The transfer of knowledge is an important task of contemporary organisations. In the knowledge-based economy, more and more organisations have increasingly recognised and encouraged the value of knowledge transfer. However, there is sometimes a tendency to horde knowledge, perhaps through fear of losing power or through uncertainty over job security. In this paper, we consider the motivators of knowledge transfer based on an empirical study carried out in part of a UK multinational, IBM Laboratories, in which the atmosphere appeared conducive to knowledge sharing, and knowledge transfer appeared voluntary and spontaneous. The paper questions why members of an organisation like IBM might be enthusiastic about the transfer of knowledge among themselves. The paper investigates the motivating factors that encourage the transfer of knowledge. A number of motivators underlying knowledge transfer are identified.