Finding the Missing Link between Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Competitiveness through Social Capital: A Business Ecosystem Perspective

There are existing studies that successfully show the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firms’ financial performance. However, limited attention is paid to its impact on the business ecosystem. CSR could be seen as an investment for building a sustainable business ecosystem, which enhances the competitiveness of this system’s members. In that context, this study apprehends and captures the virtuous cycle of firm competitiveness. On analyzing data from interviews with seven firms, the study offers four propositions identifying the structure of the virtuous cycle linking CSR activities to firm competitiveness through the accumulation of social capital within business ecosystems. Based on those propositions, the study offers new insights into CSR research for academics and strategic planning guidelines for managers that integrate social and economic values for a sustainable business ecosystem and firm competitiveness

Quantitative agreement of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions for domain-wall motion and spin-wave propagation

The magnetic exchange interaction is the one of the key factors governing the basic characteristics of magnetic systems. Unlike the symmetric nature of the Heisenberg exchange interaction, the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) generates an antisymmetric exchange interaction which offers challenging opportunities in spintronics with intriguing antisymmetric phenomena. The role of the DMI, however, is still being debated, largely because distinct strengths of DMI have been measured for different magnetic objects, particularly chiral magnetic domain walls (DWs) and non-reciprocal spin waves (SWs). In this paper, we show that, after careful data analysis, both the DWs and SWs experience the same strength of DMI. This was confirmed by spin-torque efficiency measurement for the DWs, and Brillouin light scattering measurement for the SWs. This observation, therefore, indicates the unique role of the DMI on the magnetic DW and SW dynamics and also guarantees the compatibility of several DMI-measurement schemes recently proposed.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figure

Roles of the Buyer’s Trust in Seller in Posted-Price Model of Consumer to Consumer E-Commerce

The buyer’s trust in seller in consumer to consumer e-commerce plays a critical role in consumer purchase decisions. Thus, this paper aims at analyzing the relationships between buyer’s trust in seller, price discount, and price premium by using product price as a moderator variable. A trust function for sellers was calculated through a questionnaire, by using the feedback mechanism and by applying Analytical Hierarchy Process. Our empirical study, using historical transaction data, indicates that buyer’s trust in seller in the case of an expensive product is more important than that in an inexpensive product. Buyers’behavior when purchasing a higher-priced product was more sensitive to the buyer’s trust in seller than to product price. Product price played the role of a moderator variable in the relationship between buyer’s trust in seller and price discount. However, there was no evidence that product price performs the function of a moderator variable in the relationship between buyer’s trust in seller and price premium

Diffusion of Smart Grid for Low-Carbon Green Growth: Grounded Theory Apprroach

With the introduction of smart grid technology, the electricity market paradigm is transformed into consumers-oriented from suppliers-oriented. Thus, a study on diffusion of smart grid in perspective of users is necessary. This research examines factors affecting the adoption and diffusion of smart grid technology from user’s perspective and provides strategic guidelines of diffusing smart grids. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 41 people who have been already using smart grid in the Jeju test-bed of South Korea. According to KSGI (2013), Jeju smart grid test-bed is the world’s largest smart grid community that allows the testing of the most advanced smart grid technologies and R&D results, as well as the development of business models. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Data were analyzed by applying procedures of grounded theory. 19 categories that are represented as factors of diffusing smart grids were identified through open coding. A paradigm model for diffusing smart grid and total of seven propositions as strategic guidelines for government and providers were proposed with implications. The findings contribute to formulating policies for successful diffusion of smart grids at the early stage

Examining SNS marketing characteristics affecting brand image and repurchase intention

SNS (Social Network Service) marketing which is a promising marketing based social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blog, and Youtube is a critical management activity for online advertising, promotion, sales, and demand creation. What kinds of SNS marketing characteristics are antecedents of brand image and repurchase intention. The present study proposes a new research model integrating SNS marketing characteristics, brand image, and customers’ repurchase intention and tests four hypotheses. Finally, the present paper presents academics and practitioners

An Evidence of Distributed Trust in Blockchain-Based Sustainable Food Supply Chain

It is necessary to identify what factors affect distributed trust and validate their effect on distributed trust and user satisfaction in an area of the food supply chain for sustainable business. The purpose of the present study is to examine determinants of distributed trust in the blockchain-based food supply chain and test seven hypotheses derived from the structural equation model integrating distributed trust, its three determinants, and user satisfaction. Transparency, traceability, and security are suggested as three determinants of distributed trust along the blockchain-based food supply chain. Data were collected from users of Chinese firms employing blockchain-based food supply chains to validate the research model and test the seven hypotheses. The present study contributes to clarifying the significance of distributed trust and suggesting evidence of its role in the food supply chain. The present study discussed trust-free systems based on blockchain technology related to sustainability through the findings

Business Ecosystem Management and Editorial on the Special Issue

Regarding business ecosystem management, it is important to approach the ecosystem beyond the macro-level and through the micro-level [...

Business Ecosystem Management and Editorial on the Special Issue

Regarding business ecosystem management, it is important to approach the ecosystem beyond the macro-level and through the micro-level [...

Finding the Missing Link between Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Competitiveness through Social Capital: A Business Ecosystem Perspective

There are existing studies that successfully show the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firms’ financial performance. However, limited attention is paid to its impact on the business ecosystem. CSR could be seen as an investment for building a sustainable business ecosystem, which enhances the competitiveness of this system’s members. In that context, this study apprehends and captures the virtuous cycle of firm competitiveness. On analyzing data from interviews with seven firms, the study offers four propositions identifying the structure of the virtuous cycle linking CSR activities to firm competitiveness through the accumulation of social capital within business ecosystems. Based on those propositions, the study offers new insights into CSR research for academics and strategic planning guidelines for managers that integrate social and economic values for a sustainable business ecosystem and firm competitiveness

Examining Roles of Tour Dure Producers for Social Capital and Innovativeness in Community-Based Tourism

The Dure community is a traditional meeting and collaborative effort for solving tasks and issues in rural farming villages in Korea. Recently, the South Korean government has tried to revitalize Dure communities to develop tourism businesses in local provinces. Tour Dure projects aimed at revitalizing local communities and promoting sustainable economic development have been operating since 2013. Tour Dure producers, as change agents, play a critical role in the Tour Dure projects. The purpose of this study is to reveal the producers’ roles in realizing community-based tourism (CBT). Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, this study analyzes the relationship between the producers’ role and social capital in local communities and the subsequent impact on residents’ innovativeness and life satisfaction. The results show that the producer’s role is important in creating social capital, improving innovativeness, and, as a result, residents’ life satisfaction. The present study suggests further implications for academics and policy makers focused on sustainable CBT