Generation Z willingness to pay for sustainable apparel: the influence of labelling for origin and eco-friendly material

The purpose of this study is to identify the willingness to pay (WTP) and trade-off that Vietnamese generation Z consumers could make when purchasing eco-friendly apparel. This research uses the Discrete Choice Experiment methodology to measure consumers' WTP and how consumers trade off among different attributes, including eco-friendly, origin, manufacturing technology, and materials. The results show that generation Z consumers are willing to pay for organic label products at a higher price of 21.22% and eco-friendly label items at a higher price of 37.72%. Consumers who have a higher level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) awareness and higher income are willing to pay more for organic and eco- friendly label apparel. They were least willing to purchase apparel that is made in China, while they see no difference between T-shirts made in Vietnam and in other countries except China. Consumers in the current study were more willing to purchase eco-friendly as compared to organic apparel. The findings suggest that enterprises should consider the language used when communicating with consumers. Also, consumers prefer products made in Vietnam, suggesting the promotion of domestic manufacturing through in-depth branding, product positioning, and promotions. The results also confirm that the application of CSR in enterprises is the right and necessary step to be taken for businesses to develop in a sustainable integration world

Factors Affecting Business Performance: Expanding Theoretical Measurements

Purpose: The article aims to expand a scale system of factors that impacts on business performance.   Theoretical framework: The paper based on the empirical data collected from various types of participants, including accountants (for information providing), managers (for decision-making), sales staff (for work), and lecturers (for research) in Vietnam.   Design/methodology/approach: By descriptive and comparative statistical analysis of SPSS 20 software with 124 valid observations, the survey has proposed the scale system of influencing factors (03 groups of external factors, 05 groups of internal factors) and business performance measures (10 financial and 11 non-financial indicators).   Findings: This study points out the different evaluations according to the demographic features of survey subjects on the group of financial indicators. Specifically, the group of accountants (representing information providers) obtains a lower score than the group of information users. Likewise, the post-graduated participants show stricter assessments of financial indicators in comparison to the rest of the group.   Research, Practical & Social implications: These results suggest the scale system for measuring influencing factors toward business performance in enterprises for further research.   Originality/value: The value of the study is providing an expansion of the factors affecting the efficiency of an enterprise and points out a commonly used set of financial performance measurement indicators. Research results provide useful references for research on related issues

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INTENTION TO USE MOBILE MONEY: A STUDY IN BUSINESSES IN HANOI, VIETNAM

Abstract The government's and people's expectations for the successful implementation of this activity are significant, but the scientific basis for its implementation remains limited. This study, the first of its kind in Vietnam since the aforementioned decision, aims to clarify the factors influencing consumer usage of Mobile Money, focusing on businesses in Hanoi, Vietnam. Mobile Money, a form of mobile wallet not linked to bank accounts, represents a new transaction method in Vietnam, catering to consumers' reduced use of cash. This research examines the factors affecting the intention to use Mobile Money among employees of businesses in Hanoi. To achieve this goal, the author relies on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and risk perception variables to design the research model. With a sample of 479 employees who intend to use Mobile Money, hypotheses are tested using a multivariate regression model through quantitative analysis with IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0. The research results identify five factors that positively influence the intention to use Mobile Money: Perceived Ease of Use, Trust, Security and Privacy, Social Influence, and COVID-19 Risk Perception. The factor of Perceived Usefulness does not have a significant impact in this case. Particularly, heightened risk perception regarding COVID-19 or social instability leads to an increased intention to use Mobile Money. This study provides guidance to Mobile Money service providers on how to enhance users' intention to use their services. Additionally, it underscores how factors related to diseases or societal instability can alter or even disrupt initial intention or behavior models

The role of tradition for food and wine producing firms in times of an unprecedented crisis

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is twofold. First, the study will investigate the importance of tradition for businesses operating during the COVID-19 crisis, notably, as a valuable proposition and strategy. Second, the study seeks to advance theoretical understanding, proposing two frameworks based upon emerging dimensions, the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey gathered the views of 107 predominantly micro and small-scale owner-manager and family-owned firms involved in the food and wine sector. These participants are based in Italy, one of the hardest-hit countries in the crisis. Findings: Three fundamental dimensions emerge from the findings. The first, “embedded advantage”, concerns firms’ more direct involvement and tradition-related actions. The second, “active advantage”, highlights the already established value of tradition, for example, through firm identity gained, well-established roots and firm culture. The third dimension, “strategic fusion”, underscores the importance of upgrading the business model, where innovation complements tradition strategically. Originality/value: The study’s revealed dimensions provide new conceptual perspectives to understand tradition in the context of firms confronting an unprecedented event. The first proposed theoretical framework illustrates that firms appear to mainly rely on tradition as the fundamental pillar of their overall strategy. Additionally, other firms engage in actions to consolidate tradition’s strategic significance, while others embrace innovation to further strengthen their competitiveness. The second framework emphasises relations between these dimensions and key attributes associated with the two adopted theoretical foundations, where the need to “reconfigure tradition” clearly emerges

Contract Farming as a Determinant of Promoting Tea Marketing Channel for Small Producers in Phu Tho Province

Making contracts between farmers and firms (contract farming, for short) plays an important role in establishing access to the agricultural markets for the small producers, especially in the developing and less developed countries. It is argued that contract farming provides farmers with the assured sale of their crops and agro-business firms with a steady supply of agricultural products required by the market. This paper focuses on analyzing benefits of tea producers through signing contract with firms. By using relevant research methods of verifying studying areas, making Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), and surveying farmers, the paper finds that although contract farmers receive lower fresh tea price in compared with the price received by non-contract farmers, they would have higher price stability and are provided with market guarantee mechanism. These benefits are really important in context of globalization and market liberalization with the demand for high quality and high value products. It is highly recommended that small farmers therefore should participate in the coordination model between farmers and firms in the process of tea production and marketing in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam.Peer reviewe

Detecting familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 R3500Q in Vietnamese patients by PCR-sequencing

Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB) is an autosomal codominant disorder associated with hypercholesterolemia, caused by mutations in and around codon 3500 of the Apolipoprotein (Apo) B gene, which encodes Apo B-100. The first mutation occurred in Arginine codons to be described, and the most characterized, is caused by a G→A transition at nucleotide 10,708 and results in the substitution of Arginine by Glutamine at codon 3500 (ApoB R3500Q). In this study, we have identified 27 R3500Q mutations in known FDB patients using PCRSequencing method. As the result, most of the patients carried heterozygous mutation R3500Q. PCR-Sequencing method that we have applied in this study proved consistent and so easily identified mutations correctly

The long road to adaptation: micro and small hospitality firms after the GFC

This study examines the journey of micro and small firm owners/managers of hospitality firms through the global financial crisis. This journey includes measures of firm success and performance supporting firms in the aftermath of the event. The study draws on a sample of mainly hospitality firms in Greece and Cyprus, and considers conceptual tenets of the dynamic capabilities framework. Key dimensions associated with firm success and firm performance following the crisis were revealed. For instance, the ‘value’ dimension emerged through measures of financial management, intrinsic, knowledge-based, strategic, and by adding value to consumers’ experience. Furthermore, strong firm performance was mainly perceived as a result of learning from mistakes or managing time efficiently, while counting on government or financial institutions was associated with poor firm performance. The study has various practical and theoretical implications, including through the proposal of a conceptual framework, where the findings and dynamic capabilities approach converge

Resilience and coping with a long-term crisis: the cases of Cypriot and Greek micro and small firms

The purpose of this study is to ascertain factors that enable micro and small firms to cope with the effects of a long-term crisis, and develop a model which guides conceptual understanding. The study’s setting is represented by the global financial crisis and by Cyprus and Greece, two nations severely affected. On-site, unstructured, face-to-face interviews were conducted among 135 micro and small firm leaders. 16 different coping factors were identified as central to participants, resulting in the emergence of four key dimensions. Three dimensions, self-initiative, financial acumen, and human attributes are associated with entrepreneurs’ skills, initiatives, passion, and networks, while one dimension, individual-firm advantage, considers firms’ and individuals’ valuable assets and resources, namely, image/reputation, quality, or location. Almost two-thirds of participants recognised a lack of collaboration beyond their suppliers within their industry. Several intergroup differences were revealed, including Cypriot participants’ higher optimism concerning their firms’ future. The study responds to calls for research that illuminates the understanding of firms’ ability to overcome inadequacies imposed by the socioeconomic environment in which they operate. To this end, a theoretical framework emphasising the vital significance of four dimensions is proposed. Apart from their conceptual insightfulness, the dimensions identify clear associations with resilience and coping, and can therefore be of practical value to micro-small sized-firms and their respective industry

Can a Short Food Supply Chain Create Sustainable Benefits for Small Farmers in Developing Countries? An Exploratory Study of Vietnam

A number of studies have indicated that short food supply chains could create economic, social, and environmental benefits, but most of those chains were implemented in developed countries. This research aims to find out the characteristics of short food supply chains and their benefits to small farmers in Vietnam, which is a developing country, based on the survey results from 338 small farmers in the third quarter of 2020, with the support of Stata 14 software. The results showed that the short food supply chains in the survey sample in Vietnam were characterized by two main actors: small farmers and distributors. Farmers could sell products flexibly at the local market. There was some initial evidence to prove that these chains helped to stabilize the input, output price, and revenue; formulated sustainable income; and increased the satisfaction and confidence of farmers. They eliminated gender discrimination in rural areas and improved livelihood for ethnic minorities. These chains also enhanced the mindset on green, organic, and clean production of farmers, which in turn created environmental benefits. COVID-19 has posed a negative impact on the income of farmers and made them change their production and sales method. Therefore, the research could suggest some policies to sustainably develop the short food supply chains in Vietnam in the future

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke