Impact of CSR perceptions on workers’ innovative behaviour: exploring the social exchange process and the role of perceived external prestige

The study aims to show how organisational corporate social responsibility (CSR) can influence workers’ attitudes, especially in terms of innovative behaviour (IB). A second aim is to explore the social exchange process that may underlie this relationship, by examining the mediating role of organisational trust (OT), affective commitment (AC) and happiness (HAP), and the moderating role of perceived external prestige (PEP). The authors employ structural equation modelling based on survey data obtained from 315 Portuguese individuals. The findings show that perceptions of CSR predict IB through a social exchange process which involves the mediating role of OT, AC and HAP and the moderating process of PEP. They suggest that managers should implement CSR practices because these can contribute towards fostering IB, but that they should also invest in communication and in the process of upgrading corporate image. This study enriches the existing knowledge about social exchange relationships in organisational contexts, and responds to the need to understand underlying mechanisms linking CSR with workers’ organisational outcomes, by analysing CSR practices from a holistic stakeholder perspective.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Investigating Follower Felt Trust from a Social Cognitive Perspective

Previous organizational research on trust has focused more on subordinates’ trust in their leaders than on their experience of felt trust from the leader, even though the latter is also an important component of trust relationships. Our paper addresses a recent call for more theoretical explanations of the mechanism through which followers’ felt trust influences their in-role and extra-role performance. Based on social cognitive theory, we proposed that occupational self-efficacy (OSE) mediates the felt trust-performance relationship in workplace settings, and tested these relationships in two empirical studies. Study 1 was a cross-sectional pre-study (N = 189) investigating only the mediating effects of OSE. For the main study, i.e., Study 2 (N = 500), we collected data at three different measurement occasions to minimize response bias. Study 2 investigated the mediation of the felt trust-performance relationship not only by OSE, but also by an additional mediator variable (organization-based self-esteem) that had been identified in previous studies, in order to determine whether the OSE effects remained significant. In both studies, structural equation modelling results supported the proposed mediating effects of OSE on the three performance outcomes for the reliance component of felt trust, but not for the disclosure component of felt trust

When 'trust in top management' matters to organisational performance and effectiveness: the impact of senior manager role-modelling and group cohesiveness

While ‘trust in top management’ matters to organisational performance and effectiveness, low trust in top management remains an issue in many organisations despite their efforts in building trust. The persistence of such problems appears to be largely due to improper approach used in the treatments of trust. While the literature reflects a fair amount of effort directed towards an understanding of trust building process, little research, if any, has been done into three important issues that follow. First, the potential effects of group processes on employee perceptions of management’s trustworthiness. Second, the moderating effects of potential moderators on the relationships between trust in management and important organisational outcomes. Third, the potential impacts of cultural differences on trusting relationships.This research investigates into how organisations can strategise to deal with the persistent problem of low trust in top management. Backed by research evidence, the study provides insights for organisations to deal with this problem through (1) promoting group cohesiveness to improve employee trust in top management; and (2) promoting senior manager role-modelling to minimize the impacts of trust in top management on organisational outcomes.To carry out the research, this study develops a theoretical framework that includes group cohesiveness, top management’s trustworthiness factors, trust in top management, important organisational outcomes (i.e., affective commitment, job satisfaction, turnover intention, and intention-to-return), senior manager role-modelling, and their proposed interrelationships. From the theoretical framework emerges an analytical model which elucidates the theories and empirical evidence underlying the proposed relationships in the theoretical framework, and develops a series of theoretically justified and testable hypotheses to address the research questions/problem.Data collection was administered in two field studies conducted in WesternAustralia (the WA study) and Singapore (the SIN study). In both field studies, the population of interest was employees from a diverse range of industries. Thesampling frame for the WA study comprised ten (10) randomly selected companiesoperating in various industries; and a random sample of employees in a variety ofindustries. For the SIN study, the sampling frame included fifteen (15) randomlyselected companies operating in various industries. Of the 1,500 survey packsdistributed in the WA study, the hypotheses were empirically tested on a final sampleof 305 respondents using multiple regression analysis, simple regression analysis,and subgroup analysis. And, of the 1,000 survey packs distributed in the SIN study,the hypotheses were empirically tested on a final sample of 212 respondents using the same data analysis techniques.Evidence from both the WA and SIN studies consistently concludes, inter alia, that (1) group cohesiveness positively influences employee perceptions of top management’s trustworthiness, which in turn improve trust in top management; and (2) in situations where trust in top management is low, senior manager role-modelling can serve to minimize the impacts that trust in top management has on organisational outcomes, thereby minimizing undesirable impacts on organisational performance and effectiveness. Since the research findings have been replicable across two culturally different countries, their generalisability to other settings is highly possible.Further, the research findings offer several theoretical implications. First, referent of trust (trustee) moderates the trust–antecedent relationships, such that the trust model with two predictors (trustee’s ability, and integrity) is statistically desired for predicting trust in top management, whereas the trust model with three predictors (trustee’s ability, integrity, and benevolence) may be well-suited for predicting trust in other organisational authorities. Second, social context for trust (e.g., groups), in which group processes play a major role in the social construction of trust, must not be neglected in the study of trust. Third, at any level of trust in top management, senior manager role-modelling can serve to improve the levels of desirable outcomes, which in turn enhance desirable impacts on organisational performance and effectiveness. Fourth, study of trust should increase emphasis on potential moderator variables in trust–outcome relationships to enhance accuracy of research findings. Likewise, study of organisational performance and effectiveness should not neglect potential moderator variables that can possibly minimize the strong impacts that trust in top management has on important organisational outcomes, especially for situations with low trust in top management.Fifth, the regression models of trust in top management across culturally different countries may differ significantly due to the differences in valuing top management’s integrity when making judgments about top management’s trustworthiness. Sixth, positive influence of group cohesiveness on employee perceptions of top management’s trustworthiness may not be affected by cross cultural differences. Last but not least, cross cultural differences may not affect the impacts of trust in top management on affective commitment, turnover intention, and intention-to-return. However, they may vary the impacts that trust in top management has on job satisfaction due to the differences in valuing trust in top management when evaluating job experiences or work context.Equally important, the research findings suggest two practical implications. First, considering trust is both an interpersonal and a collective phenomenon, promoting group cohesiveness is important and instrumental in improving trust in top management. In this regard, firms can build group cohesiveness by ways of team building activities, management actions, and use of cohesion messages. Next, when appropriate senior manager role-modelling is lacking, trust in top management is very critical, and is required if high levels of affective commitment, job satisfaction, intention-to-stay, and intention-to-return are to be attained. However, when appropriate senior manager role-modelling exists, trust in top management becomes less critical in terms of affective commitment, job satisfaction, intention-to-stay, and intention-to-return. Some helpful steps for firms to promote senior manager role-modelling include: (1) top management formalizes an organisational value system that is consistent with the organisation’s goals and objectives; (2) top management internalizes the organisational value system as part of senior managers’ character, with role-modelling expert’s guidance; and (3) senior managers ‘role model’ the organisational value system for subordinates, provide an example of exemplary behaviour for subordinates to imitate, and thereby instilling the organisational value system into subordinates such that shared values are internalized in them

Mediating Role of Trust Between Transformational Leadership, Knowledge Management, and Employee Innovation Among the Employees of Customs Department Dubai

Purpose:  The purpose of the study was to identify the mediating role of trust between transformational leadership, knowledge management and employee innovation among the employees of customs department Dubai United Arab Emirates. For meeting the objectives of the study and to test the framework of the study, the current study collected data from the employees of custom department of Dubai.     Theoretical framework: Employee innovation is considered as a key participant in organizational success. Leadership plays a significant role in developing employee innovation; however, it becomes successful only when the leader succeeds in developing trust among the employees.   Design/methodology/approach: The data has been collected from 371 employees and structural equation modelling has been applied to test the relationships and mediation analysis.   Findings: The findings revealed that both leadership and knowledge management have a significant impact over employee innovation. Likewise, trust significantly mediate the relationship between transformational leadership, knowledge management and employee innovation.   Research, Practical & Social implications:  The research opens the horizons for several other studies to explore other influencing variables for promoting employee innovation   Originality/value: Provide a more nuanced and integrated perspective on how leadership and knowledge management affect trust and, eventually, employee innovation by evaluating them together, even though our examination of existing studies reveals that they were evaluated independently so far

How do CSR and perceived ethics enhance corporate reputation and product innovativeness?

Market competitiveness is considered a core business objective besides profit-making in the current business environment, which instigates organisations to remain ethically and socially responsible. This leads to implied pressure on the organisation, whereas consumers expect to deal with ethically and socially responsible organisations. Therefore, this study explores the role of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethics, which derives the organisational brand reputation and product innovativeness. The data was collected from 418 respondents, and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied for predicting the hypothesised relationships. The results revealed the positive and significant hypothesised relationships. As per findings, CSR and ethics positively correlated with product innovativeness, brand equity, and customer trust. Based on the results, organisations are advised to have transparency and higher compliance towards ethics and CSR strategies. In contrast, organisations need to have good communication of their adherence, which can further assist them in improving the customer base and maintaining the competitive advantage. These outcomes offer valuable policies

Customer interactions on social media and their impact on trust and loyalty: the moderating role of product learning

This research examines the customer engagement on social media platforms in the tourism industry and its effect on customer loyalty through the mediated effect of customer trust. Furthermore, the moderating role of product learning is investigated on the hypothesized relationships. Data was collected from guests in 5 stars hotels in Kyrenia region in Northern Cyprus. In this study, out of the 459 collected surveys, only 419 were analyzed due to missing or incomplete data. The analysis conducted here followed the two step approach for structure equations modelling. Firstly, a confirmato-ry factor analysis was appraised to prepare data for structural model. Then the structural model helped shape our direct hypothesis testing, before analyzing the mediating and moderating impacts. The data provided evidence to link customer interactions on social media with trust and loyalty (Hypotheses 1-3) while trust revealed a mediating effect between interaction and loyalty. Finally, product learning did have an empowering impact on the relationship between interaction and trust

Mobilising social support to improve mental health for children and adolescents: a systematic review using principles of realist synthesis

Social support is a well-recognised protective factor for children’s mental health. Whilst many interventions exist that seek to mobilise social support to improve children’s mental health, not much is known about how to best do this. We sought to generate knowledge about the ways in which social support can be mobilised to improve children’s mental health. We conducted a systematic review, which followed the principles of a realist synthesis. The following databases were searched: PubMed, CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, PsychINFO, EMBASE, Child and Adolescent Studies, EconLit and SocINDEX. Studies were included if the age of participants was between 0 and 18 years and they evaluated or described programme theories of interventions that sought to improve children’s mental health by mobilising social support. Relevance and quality of studies were assessed, and data were extracted and analysed narratively. Thirty-three articles were included. Studies varied substantially with regard to the detail in which they described the processes of mobilising social support and expected mechanisms to improve children’s mental health. Those that provided this detail showed the following: Intervention components included explaining the benefits of social support and relationships to families and modelling friendly relationships to improve social skills. Pathways to improved outcomes reflected bi-directional and dynamic relationships between social support and mental health, and complex and long-term processes of establishing relationship qualities such as trust and reciprocity. Parents’ ability to mobilise social support for themselves and on behalf of children was assumed to impact on their children’s mental health, and (future) ability to mobilise social support. Although interventions were considered affordable, some required substantial human and financial resources from existing systems. Mobilising social support for vulnerable children can be a complex process that requires careful planning, and theory-informed evaluations can have an important role in increasing knowledge about how to best address social support and loneliness in children

The importance of customer trust for social marketing interventions : a case of energy-efficiency consumption

Abstract: Purpose – The study examines the importance of relationship marketing and particularly customer trust in energy-efficiency labels in social marketing interventions geared towards energy-efficient consumption. Methodology – A conceptual model was empirically tested on a sample of 517 users of electronic appliances living in South Africa. The study involved a cross-sectional design, and data were collected through a self-administered survey. Structural equation modelling and mediation analysis were used to test the hypothesised relationships. Findings – The results indicated that customer trust is influenced by customers’ perception of the price and quality of energy-efficiency products, their attitude towards such products, and their level of satisfaction with the environmental performance of the products. Customer trust, in turn, showed a positive influence on the customers’ intention to purchase energy-efficiency products and their loyalty to such products. As a central variable, customer trust was found to be an important mediator in the conceptual model. Practical implications – The findings provide social marketers with important insights on the critical role that customer trust plays in achieving a long-term behavioural shift towards energy-efficient consumption. Originality/value – Focusing on customer trust in energy-efficiency labels, this study provides empirical evidence of the mediating role of trust in influencing the intention to purchase and the decision to remain loyal to eco-friendly products. Moreover, this paper provides greater clarity on various levers to be activated to enhance the trust that customers have in energy-efficiency labels

Modelling knowledge sharing behaviour using self-efficacy as a mediator

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the direct and indirect relationships between individual-related factors and environmental-related factors with the knowledge sharing behaviour through the mediating role of self-efficacy among successful farmers in selected states in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: The research used survey method and included 241 participants from Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor. The analysis was conducted using the partial least square structural equation modelling to achieve the research objectives. Findings: The findings indicate that individual-related factors (e.g. enjoyment in helping others, training and prior experience) and environmental-related factors (e.g. social support and trust) have significant influence on the knowledge sharing behaviour. The results also reveal that self-efficacy mediates the relationships between prior experiences (individual-related factor), social support, trust (environmental- related factor) and the knowledge sharing behaviour. Practical implications: Agriculture officers should emphasize on farmers’ personal and social factors to encourage the knowledge sharing behaviour among the agriculture communities of successful farmers. Originality/value: The research yields a theoretical framework that outlines the potential of six key factors in explaining the knowledge sharing behaviour among successful farmers. The factors can be considered in developing structured knowledge-sharing programs

Individual and community-related paths to civic engagement: A multiple mediation model deepening the role of sense of responsible togetherness, community trust, and hope

Civic engagement behaviors (CEB) refer to the activation of citizens’ resources to face community problems. However, modern local communities are characterized by lower rates of civic engagement, especially among youths. Therefore, this study deepens the role of some individual and community-related assets which could foster citizens’ CEB. It specifically addresses two research questions: (a) which are the social roots of citizens’ feelings of Hope, and (b) what role citizens’ Sense of Responsible Togetherness (SoRT), Community Trust, and Hope play as to their CEB. An online questionnaire was administered to 486 Italian citizens aged between 18 and 30. A multiple mediation model was run with Structural Equation Modelling to test the role of Hope as a mediator in the relationships of SoRT and Community Trust with CEB. The results confirmed all the hypotheses, supporting both (a) the social roots of Hope and (b) its role as a mediator in the considered relationships between community-related assets and CEB. Overall, relying on positive representations of how to live together in one’s community and how the latter is able to meet its members’ needs showed a critical role as to citizens’ civic engagement, both directly and via an enhanced feeling of Hope. This provides Institutions and stakeholders with hints about the dimensions of communities to be fostered and strengthened in order to counteract the pessimistic visions and the lack of civic engagement now characterizing them