International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management (14 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Open Access

  Supporting Digital Key Workers: Addressing the Challenges Faced by Content Moderators during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic ( Free Full-text Access )

  by Elena Martellozzo, Paul Bleakley, Paula Bradbury, Ruth Spence, Jeffrey DeMarco 
  Abstract: Content moderators (CMs) are private or state sector professionals responsible for inspecting user-generated content and applying policies to decide whether contentious content should remain online or be removed. CMs were required to review an unprecedented increase of illegal content during the COVID-19 pandemic. The existing evidence, although mostly anecdotal, suggests that frequent exposure to such content affects CM’s well-being, mental health, and quality of life, as well as their work competence, satisfaction, and productivity. This study utilises (N=9) in-depth qualitative interviews with CMs which explored the impact of this work in the exceptional and challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this article is to critically explore what lessons can be learned from CM’s experiences at work and how they coped with the difficulties created by COVID-19. This research will in turn assist organisations to identify what is needed to improve conditions and mental well-being in the workplace.
  Keywords: Content moderators; social media; tech industry; labor conditions; digital first-responders; COVID-19; CSAM; lockdown; work-from-home; mental well-being.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10058414
   
  
• How Greenwashing Influences Formal and Informal Institutional Benefits in China  
  by Qiong Yao, Mubin Chen, Yizhun Feng 
  Abstract: Enterprises are likely to adopt the greenwashing approach to obtain institutional benefits under imperfect institutional background. Using a panel data of Chinese enterprises from 2010 to 2015, we examine the possibility of enterprises obtaining formal and informal institutional benefits through greenwashing in China. Moreover, from the perspective of government enterprise relationship and social enterprise relationship, we show that government enterprise relationship positively regulates the relationship between greenwashing and formal institutional benefits, and public attention will weaken the positive relationship between greenwashing and informal institutional benefits. These results provide important implications for the relationship between greenwashing and institutional benefits, and further highlight the value of government guidance and supervision of enterprises’ greenwashing.
  Keywords: greenwashing; formal institutional benefits; informal institutional benefits; government enterprise relationship; social enterprise relationship.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10054730
   
  
• The role of need supportive advertisement appeals in bringing defunct brands back to life: A basic psychological needs theory perspective  
  by Faheem Gilal, Rushna Khalil, Rukhsana Gilal, Naeem Gul Gilal 
  Abstract: Using two theoretical lenses: basic psychological needs theory and gender schema theory, this study aims to investigate the effect of need-supportive (e.g., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) advertisement appeals on customer participation in the brand resurrection movement (BRM) via the mediation of brand passion. We also hypothesize customer gender (male vs. female) as a moderating variable in these relationships. A paper and pencil survey was used to recruit n=215 customers of defunct brands, and data were analyzed in AMOS 24.0 using structural equation modeling and multi-group modeling techniques. When the autonomy, competence, and relatedness-supportive advertisement appeals were evaluated, the relatedness-supportive advertisement was found to have the greatest effect on BRM through increasing their brand passion. Multi-group modeling results established that the effect of competence-supportive advertisement appeal is promising for increasing female customers' participation in BRM, whereas relatedness-supportive advertisement appears to be more salient for male customers' BRM via brand passion.
  Keywords: Brand resurrection movements; autonomy-supportive advertisement appeals; competence-supportive advertisement appeals; relatedness-supportive advertisement appeals; brand passion.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10055738
   
  
• Critical factors inhibiting information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in C  
  by Assielou N'Doli Guillaume, Mario Bourgault 
  Abstract: The paper aims to investigate and categorize the barriers influencing ICT adoption among SMEs. A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect data from 77 owners/managers of SMEs in metropolitan Abidjan, C
  Keywords: ICT adoption; Small and medium-sized enterprises; T-O-E-I-E; Barriers; Critical factors; Côte d'Ivoire.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10055762
   
  
• Challenges in Online Collaboration to Augment Industry 4.0  
  by Aashish Bhardwaj, Vikas Kumar 
  Abstract: The upsurge of COVID-19 pandemic has made organizations transit their employees to Work from Home (WFH) using online collaborations. WFH culture offers advantages like increased productivity, reduced business travel, compact office politics, more focused time etc. inline with the goals of Industry 4.0. However, there may be risks due to systems flaws generated by online collaboration, which may allow an attacker to access the system and lead to breaches like security, privacy and trust during online collaboration. The paper presents a framework for online collaboration using three important issues of security, privacy and trust. It presents different incidents related to importance of each of the issues with factors affecting them during online collaboration. The framework will help in the design of online collaboration policies for Industry 4.0 environment.
  Keywords: COVID-19 Work from Home (WFH) Security; Privacy; Trust Industry 4.0.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10055992
   
  
• Exploring Green Brand Equity for Millennials: An SEM-ANN Analysis of Green Brand Knowledge, Environmental Attitude, and Green Brand Image  
  by Pankaj Tiwari, Shaunak Pal 
  Abstract: This study aims to examine the purchasing behavior of millennials in the banking sector by analyzing the mediating effect of environmental attitude (ERA) and green brand image (GRI) on the relationship between green brand knowledge (GRK) and green brand equity (GRE). Structural equation models (SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) are utilized to establish a significant relationship between these variables. The study finds that GRK, GRI, and ERA significantly impact GRE among millennial customers. The ANN model identifies non-compensatory and non-linear correlations between the independent and dependent variables. By using the Feedback-Propagation ANN algorithm and multi-layered perceptions, the study identifies positive impacts on green brand knowledge, brand image, environmental attitudes, and brand equity. The results show that the ANN method can predict 73.6% of the green brand value. This study is the first to examine the impact of GRK on GRE using SEM-ANN.
  Keywords: Environmental Attitude; Green Brand Image; Green Brand Knowledge; Green Brand Equity; SEM-ANN.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10056275
   
  
• Adoption of Technological Service Innovations: A Systematic Review Investigating the Special Role of Incremental Innovations  
  by Dorothy Dutta, Mrinmoy K. Sarma 
  Abstract: Innovations are a medium of generating revenue as well as keeping consumers interest in a brand intact. With the technological developments in the business sectors all over, service innovations are gaining much popularity. This paper attempts to estimate the factors that influence consumers in adopting technological service innovations. Moreover, incremental innovations have become an inseparable part of digital platforms in recent times and this article attempts to analyze its situation in the literature. A systematic review has been conducted for the study where 52 papers are analyzed in detail. The papers are selected based on strict parameters. The results show that technology acceptance models such as Innovation Diffusion Theory, TRA, TPB, TAM, UTAUT, and such extensions are effective frameworks for measuring adoption behavior. Apart from them, factors related to risks, security and privacy concerns, and the barriers in adoption form as relevant factors.
  Keywords: Service; Innovations; Technological; Incremental; Adoptions.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10058087
   
  
• Research on the evaluation method of cost deviation control effect for complex large-scale construction projects based on the matter-element extension theory  
  by Xiaokun Sun 
  Abstract: For complex large-scale construction projects (CLCP), each participating entity needs to implement corresponding adjustment and control strategies for the cost deviation generated by the project, and how to scientifically evaluate the control effect is very important for controlling the project cost. However, very little attention has been paid to this area. This paper makes the following innovations and improvements: (1) a scientific and complete indicator system has been established, and the Best-Worst method and K-centroid clustering algorithm have been applied respectively to effectively determine indicator weights and expert weights; (2) based on the idea of matter-element extension, an evaluation model combined with hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set and cloud model is put forward to guide the evaluation of cost deviation control effect of CLCP; (3) a Chinese case study is conducted and comparative analysis is carried out. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the model.
  Keywords: Complex large-scale construction projects (CLCP); Cost deviation control effect evaluation; Hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set (HFLTS); Cloud model; Matter-element extension.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10058379
   
  
• The impacts of strategic adaptation capability, goal achievement excellence, and stakeholder expectation fulfillment on dynamic corporate competitiveness: An empirical evidence from the Thai economy  
  by Wasin Phetphongphan, Atthaphon Mumi 
  Abstract: The literature emphasizes the importance of a firm's dynamic capabilities in responding to rapid changes in the environment. However, research on the antecedents of firms becoming dynamic is limited. This study thus focuses on dynamic corporate competitiveness to demonstrate a firm's ability to adapt in order to gain a competitive advantage in an uncertain environment. In addition, we propose three influential factors that would lead to improved dynamic corporate competitiveness: strategic adaptation capability, goal achievement excellence, and stakeholder expectation fulfilment. We employed structural equation modelling to investigate the proposed relationships using a sample of 156 companies from Thailand. The results found that goal achievement excellence and stakeholder expectation fulfilment have the positive and significant effects on dynamic corporate competitiveness. Interestingly, we found no empirical evidence of the impact of strategic adaptation capability, which led to a discussion of context-specific results. This study contributes to the literature regarding dynamic capability as well as triggers further discussion of adaptation capability and dynamic capabilities for firms.
  Keywords: Strategic adaptation capability; Goal achievement excellence; Stakeholder expectations fulfillment; Dynamic corporate competitiveness; Dynamic Capabilities.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10058696
   
  
• Socio-Legal Challenges of Privacy Issues in smart healthcare 4.0 Ecosystem  
  by Jayanta Ghosh, Oishika Banerji 
  Abstract: The healthcare industry is using IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, wearable devices, cloud computing, edge computing, and other technologies to improve medical care, fulfil individual needs, and manage modern medicine. Smart healthcare has obstacles from unknown development targets, data integration, and the lack of uniform medical institution standards across areas, which wastes resources. Lack of popular understanding about smart healthcare has led to two major privacy issues: knowledge deficit about how patient data is affected by smart healthcare 4.0 ecosystem policies and regulations, and hackers and their actions that pose a significant threat to public safety. This research will propose unified tech regulation criteria to ensure digital integrity and barrier-free information flow utilising blockchain technology to counteract technological hazards and ensure data security and balanced information transmission. This will secure a smart healthcare 4.0 environment with sociolegal privacy concerns.
  Keywords: Healthcare; Technology; Privacy; Public Policy; Socio-Legal.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10058879
   
  
• A Human-Centric Technological Innovation System Based on Knowledge Processes and Human Capital  
  by Aymen Kayal 
  Abstract: Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) focuses on understanding the emergence of an innovation system around new technologies to support the development and diffusion of these technologies. People are crucial to the invention, dissemination, and application of knowledge. The key dynamics and interactions of human capital in the context of the demand for, development of, and dissemination of knowledge and innovations within TIS are still missing from the literature. This study created a macro-level human-centric TIS model based on three fundamental and interconnected knowledge processes: knowledge creation, knowledge diffusion, and knowledge demand. It then goes on to provide a qualitative literature-based description of the dynamic interactions of technology human capital (THC) within TIS's three knowledge processes. The study provides logical arguments for policymakers and practitioners to devote more effort, attention, and resources to THC development in an effort to advance a healthy and sustainable TISs that support the notions of Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0.
  Keywords: Technological innovation system; technology human capital; knowledge processes; qualitative system dynamics.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10058998
   
  
• Corporate Social Responsibility and Pay Ratio: Why Do Socially Responsible Firms Pay Their Employees More  
  by Kwangjoo Koo 
  Abstract: We examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance in firms influences pay inequality, as measured by the proportion of CEO pay relative to average employee pay. Social comparison theory suggests that CSR performance will lead to lower pay inequality as CEOs seek to avoid potential undesirable employee performance associated with negative perceptions of pay fairness. Tournament theory, however, suggests that both firms and the most talented employees benefit from maintaining higher levels of pay inequality, stating that extraordinary efforts lead to rewards for strong performance. Our findings provide evidence in support of the predictions of social comparison theory, with firms exhibiting lower levels of pay inequality when their CSR performance is relatively strong. Overall, our evidence highlights the positive impact of CSR performance on pay inequality.
  Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility; Pay Ratio; Financial Regulation; Social Comparison; Tournament.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10059507
   
  
• Assessing the digital divide in OECD and BRICS countries: implications for public policy  
  by Natalia I. Lavrikova, Leyla R. Magomaeva, Gayane A. Kochyan, Sergey Ponomarev, Elena P. Borshchevskaya 
  Abstract: The study aims to identify the digital divide in the OECD and BRICS countries as a policy outcome and to justify priority areas for government regulation to ensure digital alignment in the global economy. The article reveals the content of the concept of "digital divide" and identifies the sources of its deepening in the current environment. The authors analysed available development indicators for developed OECD countries and developing BRICS countries to identify existing forms of digital inequality as a result of implemented government policies. The article substantiates priority areas of state regulation to strengthen the position of developing countries and achieve digital equalization in the global economy.
  Keywords: policy; technology; digitalization; digital divide; digital inequality; OECD; BRICS; management.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10060350
   
  
• Risk assessment on floating water photovoltaic power generation projects in China using the HFLTS-cloud model method  
  by Xiaokun Sun 
  Abstract: Floating water photovoltaic (PV) power generation is the new development direction of China's current PV industry. However, there is less research on floating water PV plants and risk assessment is an important part of project feasibility study. This paper firstly identifies 18 key criteria in economic, technical, environmental and management aspects; secondly, considering the uncertainty of the evaluation language and the fuzziness of the decision-making environment, this paper uses Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Term Sets (HFLTS) to collect information, and uses Analytic Network Process (ANP) to determine the weight of indicators, combined with fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) method to build a risk assessment framework; thirdly, this paper conducts an empirical study on China, and verifies the effectiveness and applicability of the assessment model through comparative analysis. The results indicates that the risk level of floating water PV power projects in China is slightly-high.
  Keywords: Risk assessment; Floating photovoltaic water power generation projects; Hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set; Cloud model; Fuzzy synthetic evaluation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.10060415