Interactive effects of information exchange, relationship capital and environmental uncertainty on international joint venture (IJV) performance: an emerging markets perspective

Prior research on the role of international joint Ventures (IJV) in the emerging markets generally ignores the impact on information exchange on IJV performance as well as the mediating role of relationship capital (a key measure of competitive dynamics and co-evolution) and the moderating impact of environmental uncertainty in this process. This paper addresses these important research gaps by exploring the direct effect of information exchange on IJV performance as well as indirect (mediated) effect through mutual trust and reciprocal commitment, two key components of relationship capital. In addition, this paper investigates the role of environmental uncertainty as a moderator of these mediating effects. Results from a study of 205 contractual IJVs in China, a highly competitive and dynamic emerging market, show that foreign and local partners collaborate and co-evolve through regular information exchange that helps them build relationship capital with each other in the form of mutual trust and reciprocal commitment, which in turn leads to better IJV performance. In addition, environmental uncertainty negatively moderates (weakens) the positive effects of information exchange on mutual trust and reciprocal commitment but not their impact on IJV performance. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for future research on the role of relationship capital in the successful formation and management of IJVs in the emerging markets

Employee perception of impact of knowledge management processes on public sector performance

Purpose The application of knowledge management (KM) is critical to public sector firm as it is to private sector firm. However, despite its significance, the academic enquiry of KM in public sector is at its nascent stage. This forms the motivation of the present work; this paper aims to analyze and understand the intricate relationship between KM processes and public sector firm performance in terms of operational, quality and innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive KM processes–performance framework consisting of seven constructs (four constructs of KM processes and three constructs of KM performance) and their underlying factors was developed through an extensive literature review. The employee perceptions of these seven constructs were captured on a five-point Likert scale using a country-wide survey in the UAE public sector. The 270 valid responses captured were then used to first validate the KM framework and then test the hypothesized relationships between KM processes and KM performance. Findings The findings show that all four KM processes (knowledge creation, knowledge capture and storage, knowledge sharing and knowledge application and use) had a positive and significant impact on operational, quality and innovation performance of public sector in the UAE. Research limitations/implications The findings confirm the validity and reliability of all the seven constructs and their underlying factors and the assessment framework. Overall, this study fills a gap in the literature about applying/implementing a KM framework for the public sector and therefore significantly contributes toward the theoretical advancement of the field. However, the study does acknowledge the use of perceptual measures of individual employees as a limitation instead of more objective measures to capture the impact KM processes on KM performance. Practical implications The strong and significant impact of KM processes on firm performance is expected to provide the impetus for practitioners and policymakers to implement and leverage from KM processes and improve firm performance in the public sector. Originality/value A comprehensive development, validation and assessment of a KM framework for the public sector has not been attempted previously anywhere, let alone UAE, and hence constitutes the novelty of this work

The role of sales personnel empathy and customer-oriented behaviour on female consumers' emotions and satisfaction: an empirical analysis

Even though online shopping and self-service options are popular, salespeople still play a crucial role in influencing women's decisions when buying intimate apparel. This study looks into how sales staff influence Asian female consumers' choices in this industry. By studying 301 people who shop for intimate apparel, the research explores how salespeople's empathetic interactions affect customers' emotions, relationships and overall satisfaction. Drawing on empirical data from 301 participants engaged in intimate apparel shopping, the research examines how empathic interactions by salespersons impact customers' emotions, relational outcomes and overall satisfaction. Findings reveal that affective empathic interactions significantly enhance salesperson competencies and customer-oriented behaviours, leading to heightened levels of satisfaction. Moreover, the study elucidates the mediating roles of customer competence and hedonic value in shaping satisfaction levels. The implications of these findings for improving customer satisfaction in intimate apparel retail are discussed

Demystifying the link between emotional loneliness and brand loyalty: Mediating roles of nostalgia, materialism and self-brand connections

This paper explores the mechanism by which consumers use their self-brand connections and emotional attachment with brands to cope with the emotional loneliness that may be caused by the absence of intimate relationships with close others. The authors also examine the mediating roles played by nostalgia and materialism on the reinforcement of brand loyalty in this process using a multi-stage model. An online survey with 456 Malaysians working adults supports all the hypotheses. Specifically, emotional loneliness has positive associations with nostalgia and materialism, both of which mediate the positive associations between emotional loneliness and self-brand connections. Self-brand connections also mediate the positive associations of nostalgia and materialism with emotional brand attachment, which in turn mediates the positive association between self-brand connections and brand loyalty. The authors discuss the theoretical contribution and managerial implications of these findings