Understanding Fitness App Users’ Loyalty and Word of Mouth through Gameful Experience and Flow Theory

In this study, we examine the effect that a gameful experience and personalization have on the flow experience of fitness app users. We also test the association between flow experience and satisfaction in using fitness apps and whether satisfied users remain loyal and spread word of mouth regarding fitness apps. We use the belief-attitude- behavior framework as a theoretical lens and flow theory to explore the proposed relationships. Four hundred thirty- one fitness app users from India participated in the study. The results indicate that gameful experience and personalization lead to flow experience. We found a positive association between flow and satisfaction wherein satisfied fitness app users spread word of mouth and remained loyal to using fitness apps. Our findings will help fitness app developers identify factors to retain fitness app users and attract new ones

Why Do People Resist Drone Food Delivery Services? An Innovation Resistance Theory Perspective

Recently, the food service delivery industry started using drones for delivering food. The drone food delivery services are not only beneficial for marketers but also provide several benefits to the consumers. Despite several advantages for different stakeholders, the adoption of drone-based delivery is not encouraging. Thus, it is crucial to know why consumers show resistance behavior toward drone-based food delivery services. Toward that end, this study examines the effects of different functional and psychological barriers on consumers’ resistance to drone-based food delivery services through the lens of innovation resistance theory. A moderated-mediation framework has been proposed using anticipated negative emotions as a mediator and consumers’ innovativeness as a moderator. The hypotheses are examined by analyzing the 355 samples collected from online food delivery service users. The results suggest that usage, risk, image, and experience barriers are significantly associated with resistance. The study\u27s findings enrich emerging drone-based delivery services and online food delivery literature. The study\u27s findings furthermore offer practical knowledge to help online food delivery service providers implement strategies to reduce consumers\u27 resistance to the drone food delivery system

A mindful path to the COVID-19 pandemic: an approach to promote physical distancing behavior

Purpose: The present situation is marked by the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic on entire humankind and researchers across the globe are looking forward to vaccines or medicines to tackle COVID-19. But, according to the scholars and health care agencies, vaccines alone won’t be of much help, and in the long run adhering to the physical distancing policy along with sanitation could be the only solution. Moreover, extant studies across different areas have noted a positive association between various human psychological factors and prosocial behaviours. Additionally, an empirical study undertaken in the western context has tried exploring the association between a human psychological factor and physical distancing behaviour (a kind of prosocial behaviour) in the COVID-19 context. The results of the extant study seem intriguing and encouraging enough to undertake a more robust exploratory study in this nascent area. Against this background, the present study intends to explore the relationship between individuals’ mindfulness and physical distancing behaviour, along with the mediating role of empathy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the study objectives, this study has utilized an online survey method and has collected responses from the general adult population in India spread across all the six regions. The survey was conducted during May 2020 when India was under a nationwide lockdown to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents were identified based on the convenience and snowball sampling techniques and utilizing social media platforms the prospective respondents were either contacted through WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Facebook or e-mails. Post data cleaning, a total of 315 responses were found to be suitable for analysis. For analysis, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to establish the validity and reliability of the conceptual model, whereas Pearson correlation was undertaken to study the relationship between variables, and mediation was examined using the PROCESS macro of Hayes. Findings: The findings were encouraging and could become the foundation stone for further research as well as a practical guide for policymakers, agencies working in the healthcare areas, and even corporate leaders. As expected, an individual’s mindfulness was noted to be positively related and influencing physical distancing behaviour and the mediation analysis indicated the intervening role of empathy in the association between an individual’s mindfulness and physical distancing behaviour. Theoretical implications: This study relates and extends the mechanism of mindfulness in influencing individuals’ physical distancing behaviour in the pandemic situation, notably the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, based on the “empathy-altruism hypothesis” as well as Schwartz’s theory of basic values, the intervening role of empathy has been explored and the findings further helped in extended these two theories in the domain of pandemic. Practical implications: The findings of the present could be a game-changer in restricting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. As espoused by various scholars as well as health care organizations about the usefulness of physical distancing in mitigating the risk of COVID-19, policy makers, healthcare authorities, and even corporate leaders could look forward to strategizing and executing the dissemination of various mindfulness-based programs amongst the individuals. These mindfulness-based programs, which could be disseminated offline as well as online through smartphones, could in-turn help in positively influence physical distancing behaviour amongst the individuals leading to the success of physical distancing policy. Originality/value: This study could be the first to conceptualize and examine the human psychological factors, particularly the relationship and the role of an individual’s mindfulness with that of physical distancing behaviour amongst the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this could also be the first study to conceptualize and explore the intervening role of empathy in the relationship between an individual’s mindfulness and physical distancing behaviour. Moreover, in conceptualizing and exploring the relationship between an individual’s mindfulness and physical distancing behaviour, this study explored and extended the “reperceiving” mechanism of mindfulness and the “empathy-altruism hypothesis” along with Schwartz’s theory of basic values in the domain of pandemic

Measuring the effectiveness and impact of COVID-19 health policies on firms and UNSDGs:evidence from China

Purpose: This paper documents and links firm- and country-level outcomes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) by portraying how the Chinese economy has fared during the COVID-19 crisis. It does so by shedding light on the factors that determine the effectiveness of health policies implemented in China. Design/methodology/approach: Unlike the prior literature, in which lagging performance measures are used, the authors use leading indicators with event study methodology to develop effectiveness scores and identify the determinants of effectiveness, including financial variables, firm infection, geographical location of the spread, travel bans, lockdown periods, policies of home quarantine, health innovations and other innovative measures undertaken by the Chinese authorities. Findings: The detailed disaggregated results show many dimensions where abnormal returns are indeed associated with various health policies and that the effectiveness, influenced by firm size, profitability, firm infection and location. The results remain robust when the authors control for various event windows and models and provide evidence of a strong UNSDG link, which the authors draw up a list. Research limitations/implications: Apart from the quantitative analysis approach, future studies can complement and add further insights by utilizing qualitative research approaches. Practical implications: The results offers robust evidence for policy-makers and firm managers on how a crisis of such proportions and subsequent health policies is affecting different firms and why. Social implications: The study shows how COVID-19 health policies open a new dimension in terms of energy demand reduction and lower emissions, factors linking to the UNSDGs. Originality/value: The study is the first to show detailed disaggregated results across many dimensions where abnormal returns are indeed associated with various health policies and that the effectiveness, influenced by firm size, profitability, firm infection and location

Modelling enablers of efficiency and sustainability of health care: a m-TISM approach

Purpose: It would not be an exaggeration to say that healthcare is the most crucial one in today's perspective. The health care sector, in general, is engaged in working on various dimensions simultaneously like the safety, care, quality, and cost of services, etc. Still, the desired outcomes from this sector are far away, and it becomes pertinent to address all such issues associated with healthcare on a priority basis for sustaining the outcomes in a long-term perspective. The present study aims to explore the healthcare sector and list out the directly associated enablers contributing to increasing the viability of the healthcare sector. Besides, the interrelationship among the enlisted enablers needs to be studied, which further helps in setting-out the priority to deal with individual enablers based on their impedance in the contribution towards viability increment. Design/methodology/approach: The authors have done an extensive review to list out the enablers of the health care sector to perform efficiently and effectively. Further, the attempt has been made on the enablers to rank them by using the modified Total Interpretative Structure Modelling (m-TISM) approach. The validation of the study reveals the importance of enablers based on their position in the hierarchical structure. Further, the MICMAC analysis on the identified enabler is performed to categorize the identified enablers in the different clusters based on their driving power and dependence. Findings: The research tries to envisage the importance of the healthcare sector and its contribution towards national development. The outcomes of the m-TISM model in the present study reveal the noteworthy contribution of the organizational structure in managing the healthcare facilities and represented it as the perspective of future growth. The well-designed organizational structure in the healthcare industry helps in establishing better employee-employer cooperation, workforce coordination, and inter-department cooperation. Research limitations/implications: Every research work has limitations. Likewise, the present research work also has limitations, i.e. input taken for developing the models are from very few experts that may not reflect the opinion of the whole sector. Practical implications: The healthcare sector is the growing sector in the present-day scenario, and it is essential to keep the quality of treatment in check along with the quantity. The present study has laid down the practical foundations for improvement in the healthcare sector viability. Besides, the study emphasized on accountability of the healthcare sector officials to go with the enablers having the strong driving power for effective utilization of all the resources. This would further help them in customer (patients) satisfaction. Originality/value: Despite an increase in demand for good quality healthcare facilities worldwide, the growth of this sector is bounded by the economic, demographic, cultural, and environmental concerns, etc. The present study proposed a unique framework that provides a better understanding of the enablers. It would further help in playing a key role in increasing the viability of the healthcare sector. The hierarchy developed with the help of m-TISM and MICMAC analysis will help the viewers to recognize the important enablers based on their contribution to the viability improvement of the healthcare sector

A conceptual framework for the adoption of big data analytics by e-commerce startups: a case-based approach

E-commerce start-ups have ventured into emerging economies and are growing at a significantly faster pace. Big data has acted like a catalyst in their growth story. Big data analytics (BDA) has attracted e-commerce firms to invest in the tools and gain cutting edge over their competitors. The process of adoption of these BDA tools by e-commerce start-ups has been an area of interest as successful adoption would lead to better results. The present study aims to develop an interpretive structural model (ISM) which would act as a framework for efficient implementation of BDA. The study uses hybrid multi criteria decision making processes to develop the framework and test the same using a real-life case study. Systematic review of literature and discussion with experts resulted in exploring 11 enablers of adoption of BDA tools. Primary data collection was done from industry experts to develop an ISM framework and fuzzy MICMAC analysis is used to categorize the enablers of the adoption process. The framework is then tested by using a case study. Thematic clustering is performed to develop a simple ISM framework followed by fuzzy analytical network process (ANP) to discuss the association and ranking of enablers. The results indicate that access to relevant data forms the base of the framework and would act as the strongest enabler in the adoption process while the company rates technical skillset of employees as the most important enabler. It was also found that there is a positive correlation between the ranking of enablers emerging out of ISM and ANP. The framework helps in simplifying the strategies any e-commerce company would follow to adopt BDA in future. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure fl ux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defi ned as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (inmost higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium ) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the fi eld understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation it is imperative to delete or knock down more than one autophagy-related gene. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways so not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field

What’s behind a scratch card? Designing a mobile application using gamification to study customer loyalty: An experimental approach

The use of game design elements (often called gamification) by firms to engage the customers has attracted attention in recent times. These game elements contribute to shaping up customer’s motivation and loyalty. Gamification is explored from the lens of both empirical as well as an experimental methodological standpoint. There still lacks substantial evidence that explains how and which types of rewards help to understand the customer's motivation. The study addresses this gap by designing an experimental study of 2x2 to address how gamified mobile apps used for making payments can help capture customer’s loyalty by offering them rewards. Data is collected from 385 customers who have been using mobile apps to make payments in the past. The data were tested to check if gamification positively helps the user hedonic and utilitarian motivation, which then positively impacts their loyalty. The study is also moderated by type of rewards (direct cash rewards v/s indirect third party partnered rewards) on the relationship of gamification and customer loyalty mediated through motivation. The results confirm that mobile payment apps' cash rewards are more useful, especially when the degree of uncertainty in the game element is high (scratch card). Additionally, they contribute to a higher degree of utilitarian benefits to the customers. The results contribute to the extension of the self-determination theory and stimulus organism response framework as well

Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Organizing Committee of ICTMS-2013. ScienceDirect Critical analysis of management information system of selected Indian microfinance institutions Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the O

Abstract Management Information System (MIS) lays a strong foundation on which any institution dealing with finance as a department relies on. Expansion of business, serving their existing client base, adding new customers to their family and to generate an aura of competition amongst the market are some of the key reasons firms across globe are using MIS systems. Microfinance sector needs MIS for gearing up economic stability, increasing performances and manage flow of funds because a high outflow of funds might fluctuate the economics of loan disbursement. This research paper focuses on the current structure of MIS systems in Micro finance sector and research on the existing scenario of competition with respect to various vendors offering simi lar services. The findings of the research indicate that currently there is diversity in the services and packages offered by vendors and there is a need to build up common software for all the microfinance institutions to bring in uniformity