Micro Entry Theory: Understanding the Drivers and Effects of the Entry of Micro Players in the Context of Digital Platforms

Posted on by

Abstract

Digital platforms have facilitated the entry into the market of micro players, a subcategory of specialists formed by individuals offering products and services on a very small scale. This study builds on previous research on micro players' entry, to formalize, validate, and expand a theory of micro entry that helps to explain the market dynamics when micro players use digital platforms to enter the market. We (1) examine how macro-economic conditions influence the entry of micro players and specialists and (2) investigate the differential effects of the entry of micro players and specialists on the generalists' performance. Our setting is the accommodation industry in Spain, in which generalists are represented by dominant hotels and micro players and specialists by occasional and regular operators who entered the market through Airbnb. We find that the entry of micro players into the market through digital platforms is driven by high unemployment rates and platform legitimacy, factors that do not similarly influence the entry of specialists. Additionally, the results show that the entry of specialists decreases generalists' performance, while micro players' entry is complementary.

Is Too Much Work Intensification Harmful? Impact on Psychological Health and Work Engagement of Employees

Posted on by
South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Ahead of Print.
The article empirically investigates the relationship between work intensification (WI) and employee well-being by considering high-performance work systems (HPWS) and perceived organisational support (POS) as mediators. An integrated model is designed to discover the interactions between WIs, indicators of employee well-being (psychological health and work engagement), POS and HPWS. Our sample consists of 411 executives working in Indian IT organisations. Data analyses were performed by structural equation modelling. The research found that WI adversely impacts employee well-being. The findings revealed that POS and HPWS mediate the linkage between WI and employee well-being. The research findings make significant contributions by demonstrating how WI affects employee well-being and by assisting organisations in implementing sustainable HRM practices and constructing a congenial atmosphere. Finally, we sum up the impact of WI on workers, their families and society, and present a broad variety of implications for researchers and practitioners to comprehend sustainable HRM and its role in enhancing employee well-being.

The Effect of Heuristics on Indian Stock Market Investors: Investor Sentiment as a Mediator

Posted on by
Management and Labour Studies, Ahead of Print.
This study analyses heuristic factors affecting investor sentiment and investment decision-making in the Indian stock market. A quantitative approach is formulated with the questionnaire design for the collection of primary data regarding investor sentiment, representativeness heuristic bias, overconfidence and availability bias. The data are collected from the structured questionnaires from individual investors. The collected data were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling to examine the relationship between the constructs: investor sentiment, representativeness heuristic bias, overconfidence and availability bias. This paper provides empirical insights into the association of heuristic factors that positively influence investor sentiment and investment decision-making. It encourages investors to make reasonable choices and to control and understand their risk. The study sheds light on the impact of investor sentiment on investment decision-making and its antecedent. It shows that investors depend on sentiment when making investment choices. Policymakers should provide consumers with knowledge and appreciation of the correct stock choice; various campaigns considering the different groups of investors will benefit decision-makers and institutional financial practitioners. This paper allows investors to pick the proper investment assistance to avoid making wrong decisions that arise as an outcome of the attitude of investors.

High-Performance Work Systems in the Healthcare Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

Posted on by
Management and Labour Studies, Volume 48, Issue 4, Page 578-606, November 2023.
This research study aims to unveil the key features of contemporary literature on high-performance work systems (HPWS) in the domain of healthcare by carrying out a systematic literature review of relevant scientific studies from existing literature published in top-rated journals (Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) listed). The article aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of theoretical foundations, concepts, level of the study, variables and recent trends in the area. The Scopus database is used to identify the scientific publications for this study. Based on the search query and inclusion & exclusion criteria, the short-listing process resulted in 72 articles published between 2006 and 2021. From the short-listed articles, the authors have identified 45 relevant studies connected to the HPWS area in the healthcare domain that was published in top-rated journals listed in ABDC. The authors have systematically analysed the selected studies. A critical review of the existing literature helped gather and present details relating to the theoretical framework referred to, intervening variables, performance outcomes, methodological concerns, etc., Also, research gaps have been identified and the avenues for future research are suggested. In addition to this, the authors have conducted a bibliometric analysis to check for the domain knowledge structure, trending topics and themes of HPWS research in the healthcare industry.

Fertility preservation among women diagnosed with cancer in South Africa

Posted on by
South African Journal of Psychology, Ahead of Print.
There is a growing trend worldwide to offer fertility preservation to newly diagnosed cancer patients, but little research exploring the experience of fertility preservation among this population exists. Our aim was to explore fertility preservation among female cancer survivors in South Africa. We conducted interviews with 10 women who received fertility preservation at fertility clinics in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Interviews lasted between 38 and 76 min and were audio recorded, transcribed, and then entered into ATLAS.ti. We analysed the interviews using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were constructed, namely (1) entering fertility preservation: motivation and risk, (2) an emotional rollercoaster, (3) needing more information, and (4) a costly source of hope. Participants reflected on choosing between cancer treatment and delaying the cancer treatment to accommodate for fertility preservation, with the importance of biological motherhood reported as a key factor. Both the cancer diagnosis and hormones taken as part of treatment resulted in participants feeling highly emotional. Participants expressed a need for more information on fertility preservation. Finally, even though the process was costly, participants reported that it was a worthwhile endeavour as it instilled in them a sense of hope. Our findings indicate that there is a need to increase awareness of fertility preservation in South Africa. Moreover, considering the pressure that patients are under, their emotional states, and their lack of adequate information, it is important for healthcare professionals to pay careful attention to the needs of patients throughout the process and provide patients with referrals to psychological services when needed. Our findings also indicate gaps in the informed consent process between patients and healthcare professionals that must be addressed by the latter.

Dampening Global Financial Shocks: Can Macroprudential Regulation Help (More than Capital Controls)?

Posted on by

Abstract

We show that macroprudential regulation significantly dampens the impact of global financial shocks on emerging markets. Specifically, a tighter level of regulation reduces the sensitivity of GDP growth to capital flow shocks and movements in the Chicago Board Options Exchange's VIX. A broad set of macroprudential tools contributes to this result, including measures targeting bank capital and liquidity, foreign currency mismatches, and risky credit. We also find that tighter macroprudential regulation allows monetary policy to respond more countercyclically to global financial shocks. This could be an important channel through which macroprudential regulation enhances macro-economic stability. We do not find evidence that capital controls provide similar benefits.