Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: Does board diversity matter? | Author : Ozgur Ozdemir, Murat Kizildag, Tarik Dogru, and Ilhan Demirer | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :In this study, the moderating effect of board diversity on the complex relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and financial performance is examined. The resource-based view of the firm and stakeholder theory are used as the theoretical foundation of the study. The hypotheses of the study are tested via fixed-effects regression using data for a sample of 1,234 firms and 5,102 firm-year observations for the period 2009–2013. The study finds evidence that CSR performance and financial performance are positively related, and the magnitude of this relationship is contingent on the level of board diversity. As corporate boardrooms become more diverse across several diversity attributes, the positive effect of CSR performance on financial performance becomes more profound. The study also reveals that race and age diversity constructs have a stand-alone moderating effect on this purported relationship. The study offers significant insights for practitioners regarding the potential role of a diverse board structure in effectively monitoring management actions on CSR concerns |
| Enterprise environment modeling for penetration testing on the OpenStack virtualization platform | Author : Vincent Karovic Jr., Jakub Bartalos, Vincent Karovic, and Michal Gregus | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The article presents the design of a model environment for penetration testing of an organization using virtualization. The need for this model was based on the constantly increasing requirements for the security of information systems, both in legal terms and in accordance with international security standards. The model was created based on a specific team from the unnamed company. The virtual working environment offered the same functions as the physical environment. The virtual working environment was created in OpenStack and tested with a Linux distribution Kali Linux. We demonstrated that the virtual environment is functional and its security testable. Virtualizing the work environment simplified the organization’s security testing, increased resource efficiency, and reduced the total cost of ownership of certain devices. |
| The role of perceived social support in the theory of planned behavior in predicting entrepreneurial intention: Evidence from a Nigerian university | Author : Yazeed Muhammed, Mohammed A. Dantsoho, and Adamu A. Abubakar | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Despite the usefulness of the theory of planned behavior in predicting intention and behavior in different domains, the sufficiency of its use in predicting and determining intention has been debated by many scholars. This paper extended the theory of planned behavior by including social support as a possible determinant of intention in the entrepreneurship domain while looking at one of the largest universities in Nigeria. Data were collected from 432 final-year students of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria using a simple random sampling technique. Structural equation modeling was adopted using the partial least square technique for data analysis. Perceived social support, attitude towards entrepreneurship, and perceived behavioral control all were found to have a significant effect on entrepreneurial intention, while subjective norms had an insignificant effect. The study found perceived social support to be an important social influence factor in the theory of planned behaviour because of its influence on entrepreneurial intention. Hence, perceived social support is recommended to be included as a major construct in the theory of planned behavior. |
| National culture dimensions as predictors of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship | Author : Louis F. Jourdan Jr. and Michael Smith | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The purposes of this study were twofold. The first was to encourage other investigators to examine more closely three indices related to economic growth, specifically innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. The second was to encourage further investigation of Hofstede’s national culture as explanatory variables. This investigation addressed this research gap by examining the relationships among indices of nations’ creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and their relationships with Hofstede’s (2015) national culture dimensions. No previous research was identified which examined countries’ creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the same study. The relationships among four measures associated with economic development—the Global Innovation Index (GII), the Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI), the Global Creativity Index (GCI), and Bloomberg 50 most innovative countries (B50) were studied. Two rarely investigated indices (B50 and GCI) were included in this research. Results indicated that all four indices were highly correlated. The factor structure of Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions was reduced to three major factors: heteronomy-autonomy, gratification, and competition-altruism. Using multiple regression analysis, heteronomy-autonomy and gratification predicted GII. Gratification predicted the remaining three criteria. This study addressed this research gap of criterion development by examining the relationships among these variables, their relationships with national culture, and their predictability from different national culture dimensions. Practical implications of these findings for decision-makers and policymakers who want to increase their country’s economic growth through the support of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship were discussed. |
| The perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare cost in Bangladesh | Author : Hasibul Islam, Fatema Johora, Asma A. Abbasy, Masud Rana, and Niyungeko Antoine | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The study showed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare expenses including the price of medicines, protective equipment, medical devices, healthcare facilities, and food. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the data collection tool and 400 people from different Bangladesh divisions (Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, and Sylhet) participated in this study. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the impact of independent variables on dependent variables. R programming environment was used to perform the statistical analysis. Cronbach’s alpha was used for determination of reliability and found acceptable internal consistency. The price of protective equipment (POPE), the price of a healthcare facilities (POHCF), the consequences of rising prices (CRP), and COVID-19 were independent variables. COVID-19 (CRP) was a dependent variable that measured COVID-19’s impact (IC). The results of the regression analysis indicated a positive and significant impact of POPE, POHCF, and CRP on IC. However, the variance explained was still low (54.4%). Bangladesh should control the prices of all goods and services because of their influence on the impact of COVID-19. Future research should be conducted to discover other variables that affect the impact of COVID-19. |
| The effect of destructive leadership on self-efficacy and counterproductive work behaviors: A research on service sector employees in Mersin, Turkey | Author : Murat Aydinay, Aysehan Cakici, and A. Celil Cakici | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :The aim of this study was to find out the effect of destructive leadership on employees’ self-efficacy and counterproductive work behaviors. The data was collected from a convenience sample of 486 service sector employees in Mersin, Turkey. Descriptive statistics, explanatory factor analysis, and regression analysis were conducted to analyze the data. The results showed that lack of competence in leadership, excessive authoritarianism, and favouritism dimensions increased the organization-oriented counterproductive work behaviors while resistance to technology and change dimension decreased these behaviors. In contrast, insensitivity to subordinates had no effect on counterproductive work behaviors. Furthermore, destructive leadership had no effect on employees’ self-efficacy, but self-efficacy affected counterproductive work behaviors. This study provides theoretical and practical implications for understanding the effect of destructive leadership behaviors on the employees’ self-efficacy and counterproductive work behaviors in the context of the service sector. |
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