Contributions of Mindfulness to Improvisational Behavior and Consequences on Business Performance and Stress of Entrepreneurs during Economic Downturn

This research investigates the role of mindfulness among Thai entrepreneurs that can be linked to their improvisational behavior that, in turn, explains business performance and stress during a period of economic contraction in Thailand. This research collected survey data from a sample of 186 owners of small retail shops in major marketplaces in Bangkok, Thailand. Results from partial least squares structural equation modeling show that mindfulness had a positive relationship with the degree of improvisational behavior exhibited by entrepreneurs. The findings also reveal that the entrepreneurs who exhibited a higher degree of improvisational behavior achieved higher business performance and had lower stress

The Effect of Cultural Intelligence on Burnout of Thai Cabin Crew in Non-National Airlines Moderated by Job Tenure

The job of cabin crew is considered to be a highly stressful job.  In particular, cabin crew members who must deal with foreign passengers and a team of foreign coworkers are more prone to develop job burnout from their cross-cultural encounters. Therefore, having cross-cultural competence, which can help them to deal effectively with such situations, is crucial to preventing the problem of burnout. Cultural intelligence (CQ) was proposed in this research as a cross-cultural competence, essential for cabin crew members.  The objective of the research was to examine the relationship between the CQ of the cabin crew members and the level of job burnout which they experience.  Survey data were collected from a sample of 320 Thai cabin crew members, from seven non-Thai national airlines.  Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results supported the negative relationship between the CQ of cabin crew members and their job burnout.  The moderating effect analysis also showed that the negative effect of CQ on burnout was particularly strong for cabin crew members with greater job tenure than those with lower job tenure.  The results not only provide additional insight regarding the contribution of CQ to employee wellbeing in the airline industry, but also suggest some moderating conditions that could make CQ particularly essential for cabin crew members. Lastly, this research also provides recommendations for airline companies regarding interventions to prevent the psychological stress of their cabin crew.  

Are U.S. academics and professionals ready for IFRS? An explanation using technology acceptance model and theory of planned behavior

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have been adopted by several countries around the world as a common accounting and financial language. However, the U.S. is yet to do so. In this study, we investigate the acceptance of the U.S. academics (accounting and auditing students and professors) as well as practitioners (auditors, accountants, CPAs, and financial analysts) to embrace IFRS as a common accounting and financial reporting language. We discuss the extent to which they are familiar with IFRS as well as their perception about the usefulness and risks in adopting IFRS. We further touch on IFRS education, training, and information technology role. Finally, we introduce a modified model based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the theory of planned behavior TPB to examine the extent to which perceived risk, perceived usefulness, and perceived familiarity with IFRS affect the perception of readiness to adopt the new standards. We do this by surveying 84 U.S. academics and practitioners. The results from structural equation modeling (SEM) show that perceived risk, familiarity, and usefulness are significant determinants of the adoption of the new standards. In particular, perceived risk of IFRS had the strongest power in predicting the readiness to adopt the new standards

Social Media Sites Use Intensity and Job Burnout Among the U.S. and Thai Employees

This research explored the effect of social network sites (SNS) use intensity in the workplace on three aspects of job burnout. The data were collected from non-teaching employees from universities in the U.S. (N = 174) and in Thailand (N = 182). Results from partial least squares regression revealed some evidence of the u-curve relationship between SNS use intensity and depersonalization in both countries. However, the u-curve relationship between SNS use and lack of personal accomplishment is only supported in U.S. samples. This suggests that while a moderate degree of SNS use at work tends to lower burnout, a high degree of use appears to create more burnout. The results also reveal a strong positive linkage between SNS use intensity and emotional exhaustion in U.S. samples. Overall, these findings imply that allowing employees to use SNS can provide some benefits, but it is important that employees do not overuse SNS to avoid burnout

The Contribution of Workplace Spirituality on Organizational Citizenship Behavior

This study explored the role of workplace spirituality on organizational citizenship behaviors.  The authors purposed that all three aspects of workplace spirituality (sense of community, meaningful work, and inner life) will positively associate with organizational citizenship behaviors towards individual and organization.  Participants for this study are undergraduate and graduate students from two public universities in south Texas (n=179).  The data was collected using self-administered questionnaire survey.  The results from partial least square regression analysis revealed that all three aspects of workplace spirituality positively and significantly associate with organizational citizenship behavior towards individual and organizational citizenship behavior towards organization

Exploring personal characteristics associated with selfie-liking

Although taking selfies has become a popular trend among teenagers in many countries, concerns have been raised about the negative personality traits associated with it. However, empirical research that explores the selfie-associated personal characteristics of individuals is still scant. In the present study, the author aims to investigate four personal characteristics that might explain why some individuals like to take selfies more than others. They include the following: (1) narcissism, (2) attention-seeking behavior, (3) self-centered behavior, and (4) loneliness. Questionnaire data were collected from a sample of 300 students from a public university in Thailand; the majority of students were ages between 21 to 24 years old. The results from partial least square regression showed that the degree of selfie-liking that the respondents reported was positively associated with all of these characteristics. The overall findings imply that, although selfies provide the opportunity for individuals to enhance self-disclosure, they can reflect some unhealthy behavior on their part

The effect of using social networking sites at work on job burnout: The mediating role of coworker support

Although research related to benefits of social networking has received more attention over the past years, it is still unclear whether using social networking sites at work tend to enhance or hinder employee work-related outcomes. To addess this research question, this study specifically investigated the effect of social network sites use intensity on job burnout through the mediating effect of coworker support. Results from a preliminary analysis (N=47) conducted in Thailand revealed (1) an inverse u-curve relationship between social networking site use intensity and a degree of coworker support; and (2) a negative relationships between coworker support and measures of job burnout. These results suggested that a benefit of social networking on lowering burnout could only be achieved when the degree of social network sites use is moderate

The Inverse U Curve Relationship Between Software Piracy and Technological Outputs in Developed Nations

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between software piracy and technological outputs in developed nations. The study employs the data of 28 industrialized countries from 2003-2007. The hypotheses were tested using panel data regression. The results demonstrate that software piracy appears to have the inverse U curve relationship with the aggregate technological outputs of a nation as measured through the share of high-tech exports. Even though past studies have tended to focus on the negative impact of software piracy, this study found interesting evidence that its impact is not always absolute. In particular, firms in high-tech industries may benefit from the presence of software piracy when its level is limited at some optimal level. This benefit may derive from: the dissemination of technical knowledge; the diffusion of software deployment especially in small businesses; and the increase in technical skills of labors. This study is the first that provides the empirical evidence of the inverse U curve relationship between software piracy and technological outputs at the national level. © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limite