PurposeThis study examined metaverse adoption in supply chain management (SCM) through the lens of technology-task fit (TTF) and perceived value (PEV), stressing how real-time data integration, visualization and security (SEC) augment effectiveness, decision-making and collaboration.Design/methodology/approachThis study explores metaverse adoption in SCM utilizing TTF and PEV , steering how data integration, visualization and SEC boost performance by utilizing a multi-method approach such as PLS-SEM and semi-structured based qualitative interviews.FindingsThe results clearly indicate that TTF effects metaverse adoption in SCM, with data, SEC and visualization thereby advancing PEV . Although metaverse adoption enhances efficiency and collaboration in organizations, implementation of this technology is mainly hampered by cost, privacy and skill gaps.Practical implicationsTo enhance metaverse adoption in SCM, managers should improve real-time data, visualization and simulations to enhance TTF. The managers should contemplate on skill gaps and privacy risks via training and cybersecurity. Furthermore, utilizing virtual modeling and analytics can lead to agility, resilience and competitive edge.Originality/valueThis study advances the metaverse adoption research in SCM by utilizing TTF and PEV as the key constructs. The findings contribute to both theory and practice, guiding firms toward digital innovation and competitive advantage.

Grounded in Career Construction Theory, Heavy Work Investment Theory, and the Job Demand Resources Model, our study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between individual career calling, the heavy investment in work roles (work engagement and harmonious work passion), and the availability of organizational support impacting job performance and well-being (psychological distress) within the distinctive context of transitioning from a corporate career to a freelance academic role. 313 full-time senior executives who proactively opted for visiting faculty positions in reputed Indian B-schools and are presently working full-time in 12 sectors such as biotech, manufacturing, insurance, information technology (IT), and healthcare in the Indian subcontinent were a part of our multi-phased (3-wave) study. The findings of the study provide actionable insights for organizations aiming to optimize the contributions of freelance visiting professionals, enhance their well-being, and bolster their job performance.

It is imperative for smart cities organisations to cultivate a nuanced understanding of the goals they aim to pursue and the value they need to add before embarking on a Knowledge Management (KM) journey. Building upon the theoretical frameworks of Institutional Theory and Knowledge-Based View, this study aims to explore the key drivers that have propelled the adoption of KM strategies in the context of smart cities. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach for data collection, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Quantitative data was gathered from 97 participants through an online survey, in which respondents assessed the significance of various drivers for knowledge management in the context of smart cities. Qualitative data was obtained through semi-structured interviews with 15 professionals across seven different organisations. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS, while content analysis was adopted for the qualitative data. The findings of this study identified the five most significant drivers for managing knowledge in the context of smart cities. Therefore: to improve sharing of knowledge related to smart cities agenda, to protect loss of smart cities related knowledge due to key workers' departures, to help integrate knowledge assets related to smart cities agenda, to improve the capture of knowledge related to smart cities agenda, and to improve employee's productivity in implementing smart cities agenda. Using a mixed-methods research methodology, this empirical study explores the key drivers for managing knowledge in the context of smart cities. This study expands the theoretical application of KM initiatives, and further provides practical implications for the organisations implementing smart cities projects looking to implement KM strategies. The study r drew 7 K recommendations for the government, industry, and organisations to evaluate and act upon.

PurposeThis study investigates the role of blockchain technology (BCT) in enhancing supply chain (SC) efficiency and performance, focusing on its interaction with digital transformation-enabled dynamic capabilities (DTeDC).Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative abductive methodology, semi-structured interviews with 31 industry experts were conducted. Thematic analysis of the data revealed the mechanisms through which BCT enhances SC performance. A conceptual model was developed, and five propositions were proposed, grounded in the dynamic capability view.FindingsThe empirical findings reveal that DTeDC positively influences both operational and strategic efficiency within the SC, which in turn leads to enhanced SC performance. The study elucidates the complex interactions between BCT and DTeDC, highlighting how these dynamic capabilities facilitate the digital transformation of SCs, thereby improving their efficiency and performance.Originality/valueThis research makes a significant contribution to the existing literature by advancing our understanding of the integration of BCT in SCs. It addresses prevailing inconsistencies regarding the applicability and effectiveness of BCT, offering new insights into its role in SC efficiency and performance.

This paper examines how immersive design and social features in metaverse fitness services enhance user engagement, intention to use, and sustained participation. We combine Norman's System Design Theory, the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework, and Flow Theory, to examine how the immersive design and social architecture of metaverse fitness applications shape user experiences. A sequential mixed-methods approach comprising 42 interviews with fitness-oriented users followed by a large U.S. survey (N = 819) analyzed with PLS-SEM and full reliability/validity checks produces consistent findings. We find that rich sensory design enhances focused absorption and task engagement with metaverse fitness services. Community-focused features strongly boost emotion and persistence, with these effects depending on users' fitness involvement, showing when to prioritize immersion versus social connection. We integrate design, presence, and flow to explain behavior in immersive services beyond entertainment, and extend metaverse research into health-focused retail. The results advise managers to enhance sensory features to sharpen focus, add social elements to sustain motivation, and adjust the mix based on user involvement. Applying these design principles can boost user retention, maintain engagement, and increase lifetime value, turning metaverse fitness into an effective healthpromoting experience.

PurposeThis study aims to examine the underlying psychological mechanisms and boundary conditions in explaining the association between reverse mentoring and innovative performance. Using the job demands and resources theory, this study argues that reverse mentoring acts as a job resource in fostering employees' personal resources (i.e. resilience and agility), consequently enhancing innovative performance. Moreover, it examines the moderating role of organizational structure in the above-mentioned association.Design/methodology/approachData collected during the COVID-19 pandemic from a sample of 382 employees working in the Indian information technology (IT) sector were analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsResults reveal that agility partially mediated the association of reverse mentoring with innovative performance. Organizational structure (formalization and centralization) significantly negatively moderated the positive influence of reverse mentoring on innovative performance.Practical implicationsTo enhance innovative performance at work, organizations should focus on building resilience and agile capabilities of employees through bottom-up knowledge-sharing practices such as reverse mentoring. To facilitate the effectiveness of such a contemporary approach to knowledge sharing in enhancing employees' innovative performance, managers should align the organizational structure to be less formal and decentralize decision-making.Originality/valueThis study innovates by examining the unexplored role of reverse mentoring on resilience, agility and innovative performance in the underexplored domain of the Indian IT context. Moreover, it advances the literature on conditions under which bottom-up knowledge-sharing practices will flourish.

As technology plays a pivotal role in driving the paradigm shift in retail, this paper endeavours to address the existing research gap in the literature on the evolution of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and its applicability in the retail sector. By applying TAM, a robust framework for comprehending technology adoption and usage, this study explores its integration with various retail domains and outlines future research opportunities. This study utilized two keywords - 'Technology Acceptance Model' and 'retail*' to search the relevant literature from the Web of Science database published between 2010 and 2022, and identified 267 research articles suitable for bibliometric analysis. Tools - VOSviewer and the R package's Biblioshiny were employed to derive insights into the current and future directions of TAM in a retail context. Using co-citation and a co-occurrence analyses, thematic map, network visualization, and density visualization, the findings were deciphered. The study revealed that TAM has been extensively used to examine technology adoption, customer experience, privacy, customer satisfaction, and related topics. This model continues to hold prominence in facilitating the acceptance of technological innovations in e-retail and interrelated domains. This review highlights that the most frequently co-occurring author keywords are perceived risk, online shopping and trust. Additionally, the most co-cited references in this context are Davis; Venkatesh, and Davis, Bagozzi, and Warshaw . This study is both unique and pioneering, as it examines the applicability of the TAM and its significance in understanding technology adoption, customer experience, privacy, and satisfaction in e-retail and related businesses.

This study investigates the effects of U.S. monetary policy on income inequality in open economies from 1970 to 2016. We find that a 100-basis-point increase in the federal funds rate leads to a cumulative reduction of about 0.15% in income inequality over three years. Interestingly, we show that the effect of US monetary policy on inequality varies over time. The impact also varies by exchange rate regime: in flexible regimes, the reduction can reach nearly 0.3%, while in pegged regimes, it diminishes to around 0.13%. This impact in pegged regimes is influenced by wage rigidity and labor market regulations in the economy. To explain these results, we develop a two-agent small open economy model that incorporates rigid wages, highlighting the link between monetary policy and inequality dynamics.

This study provides novel evidence on the pricing of physical climate risk in a highly exposed emerging market-India. Using Instrumental Variable Panel Quantile Regression, we find that investors require higher returns for India's greater climate risk exposure, especially in higher quantiles, manufacturing, and in climate-sensitive industries. Climate risk also raises stock beta, reinforcing the risk-return trade-off. Notably, firm-level innovation mitigates this effect, suggesting firms' strategic adaptation mechanism. Robustness checks, including difference and system GMM and Limited-Information-Maximum-Likelihood, support our findings. This study contributes to climate finance literature by linking investor expectations, firm behavior, and climate vulnerability.

PurposeThis study aims to examine how externally attributed service failures lead to customer incivility intention through the mediating role of anger and explores customer mindfulness as a moderating factor.Design/methodology/approachThree experimental studies were conducted to test the conceptual model. Study 1 tested the direct effect of external attribution of service failures on customer incivility intention. Study 2 established anger as a mediator. Study 3 utilized a two-stage moderated mediation model to analyze the moderating effect of mindfulness. Data were collected via validated scenarios and scales, analyzed using Hayes's PROCESS macro.FindingsAcross three experiments, externally attributed service failures increased customer incivility intention; this effect was fully mediated by anger. Furthermore, this study found that mindfulness attenuated this mediating relationship on both paths, i.e. on the relationship between externally attributed service failure and anger, and further on the relationship between anger and customer incivility intention.Originality/valueThis study identifies when and how service-failure attributions translate into customer incivility intention by introducing customer mindfulness as a boundary condition on the anger-mediated pathway. It extends attribution/AET theory by pinpointing conditions under which incivility intentions are most likely. For managers, the results suggest focusing recovery on shaping perceived responsibility (clear, empathetic explanations) and adjusting responses to customer cues to defuse anger.

This study investigates whether an increase in the costs associated with related party transactions (RPTs) for controlling owners affects the volume of such transactions. We exploit the implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in India in 2016 as a quasi-natural experiment that likely raised the costs of engaging in RPTs by strengthening creditor rights. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that the enhanced enforcement environment following the IBC led to a significant decline in RPT activity by controlling shareholders. This decline is primarily driven by a reduction in opportunistic RPTs. Furthermore, the average market reaction to the IBC implementation is more pronounced for firms with higher pre-reform levels of opportunistic RPTs, consistent with investors valuing the curtailment of tunneling behavior.

PurposeClimate change poses significant risks to global businesses by disrupting supply chains and raising operational costs. This study examines how country-level climate change risk (CCR) influences firms' inventory management practices.Design/methodology/approachUsing a panel of firms from 89 countries over the period 1999-2019, obtained from Refinitiv Eikon and Datastream, we employ two-way fixed-effects OLS regressions to analyze the impact of CCR on inventory ratios, followed by multiple robustness checks. We further test the moderating roles of adjustment costs and financial flexibility.FindingsResults provide empirical support for resource dependence theory (RDT), showing that firms hold higher inventory ratios as buffers against CCR. However, asset- and R&D-intensive firms maintain lower inventory ratios, reflecting the reduced suitability of buffers amid already high adjustment costs. Firms with greater financial flexibility sustain larger inventory buffers. Additional analyses indicate that firms with higher inventory intensity extend more trade credit.Originality/valueThis study is among the first cross-country investigations that link CCR, viewed as a chronic source of uncertainty, to firm-level inventory buffers. Drawing on RDT, it advances understanding of how firms operationally adapt to CCR and highlights inventory buffering as a strategic mechanism for building resilience in global supply chains.

PurposeThis paper identifies consumer acceptance criteria of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled products and services in the business. We first investigate the existing three models. They are the technology acceptance model (TAM), the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and the consumer acceptance of technology (CAT). We then discuss the applicability of these three models for AI-enabled products and services. Finally, we outline the shortcomings of the models and propose an AI-enabled product and service acceptance model (AIEPSAM). We also validate the proposed AIEPSAM model with empirical results using primary survey data.Design/methodology/approachTo understand the customer's point of view on AI applications in products and services, we identify some critical factors and present a conceptual framework of consumers' acceptance criteria based on existing literature, prior research and prominent technology management theories. Then, the study broadens the horizon beyond established principles associated with technology acceptance to accommodate AI-specific factors/variables like data privacy, explainability and apparent opacity of algorithms. In this paper, we propose an AIEPSAM and validate that model with primary survey data.FindingsWe argue that although TAM, UTAUT and CAT models are generally applicable to explain consumers' attitudes towards technology, these models alone are insufficient to encompass the entire spectrum of AI-related issues that must not be ignored. The proposed model, namely AIEPSAM, accommodates the limitations of the existing models and modifies the CAT model to make it suitable for the acceptance of AI technology.Originality/valueWe attempt to articulate the consumer acceptance criteria of AI-enabled products and services and discover useful insights, leading to the critical examination of TAM, UTAUT and CAT models and formulating AIEPSAM with validation through primary survey data. This study is not to criticize the TAM and other technology acceptance models but to incorporate AI-specific factors into those models. Through this study, we propose the required modifications in the existing technology acceptance models considering the AI-specific additional factors. The AIEPSAM will assist companies in building AI-enabled products and services and better understanding the technology emergence (TE) and technology opportunities (TO).

This study provides a comprehensive summary and synthesis of existing literature on virtual influencers (VIs) within the marketing context. To accomplish this, 182 documents were extracted from the Scopus database based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis was conducted using VOSviewer and Bibliometric R packages. The findings reveal a significant increase in scholarly interest in VIs, with central themes emerging around trust, source credibility, parasocial relationships, avatar endorsements, AI advertising, and consumer engagement. Additionally, new themes such as anthropomorphism, authenticity, augmented reality, and trustworthiness have emerged, indicating a shift toward understanding the psychological and technological factors that enhance the effectiveness of VIs in digital marketing. This study contributes to source credibility and social presence theories by demonstrating that well-developed VIs can foster emotional connections, build trust, and replicate human interactions, thereby challenging traditional paradigms of influencer marketing. Furthermore, the research illustrates how VIs can serve either as complements or substitutes for human influencers in promoting brand awareness and emotional engagement, particularly among tech-savvy demographics such as millennials and Gen Z. It also offers practical recommendations for brands regarding the selection and design of effective VIs while ensuring ethical transparency in their marketing practices. Through data-driven analyses of the VI marketing landscape, the study delineates current knowledge, identifies critical gaps, and suggests directions for future exploration. Ultimately, it enhances theoretical and practical understanding of how virtual influencers transform digital branding and consumer interaction.

PurposeWhile existing studies have explored post-adoption behaviors such as IS continuance, relatively little is known about how IS routinization transitions into IS infusion and how their respective antecedents differ. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a model that explains how IS infusion is achieved through routinization, thereby uncovering the mechanisms through which organizations can fully leverage their IS investments.Design/methodology/approachBased on the six-stage IT implementation model, this study focuses on the routinization and infusion stages. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) is applied to identify routinization antecedents, while psychological empowerment theory informs infusion-related factors. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using CRM system usage data from employees at a telecommunications company.FindingsThe results show that IS routinization is necessary but insufficient for infusion. Routinization is mainly driven by UTAUT factors such as performance expectancy and social influence. In contrast, infusion is more strongly influenced by psychological empowerment conceptualized by competence, impact, meaning and self-determination. Routinization positively influences infusion, highlighting a sequential relationship.Originality/valueThis study extends the IS implementation literature by clarifying the transition from routinization to infusion and identifying distinct antecedents for each stage. It provides actionable insights for organizations seeking to go beyond operational use and achieve strategic gains through IS infusion.

This study examines the relationship between sustainable performance and working capital management in emerging markets. Using cash conversion cycle (CCC) as a measure for working capital management, we find that firms with better ESG performance have lower cash conversion cycles (CCC). Additionally, we examine the impact of ESG on individual components of CCC (account receivables, inventory, and account payables) and find a negative relationship. Furthermore, we also investigate how each dimension of ESG, i.e., Environmental, Social, and Governance, affects each component of CCC separately. Our finding shows that environmental (E) and social (S) dimensions negatively affect each component of CCC, whereas the governance (G) dimension only affects inventory days. This shows that consistent with signalling and stakeholder theories, firms' stakeholders prioritise environmental and social dimensions over the governance dimension of ESG. We further document that the negative relationship between ESG and CCC is due to decreased financial constraints and the probability of default. Apart from this, we also performed various robustness tests and found consistent results. Overall, the study emphasises that allocating resources towards sustainability initiatives has the potential to enhance the efficiency of managing working capital.

PurposeIncreasingly, brands are using social media to attract consumers. However, it is not clear how social media activities influence consumers. To address this, the study examines the role of social media marketing (SMM) activities on consumer-based brand equity and continued usage intentions. The study also examines the moderating role of education.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) and stimulus organism response (SOR) theories to develop a conceptual model. SMM activities were used as stimulus, whereas continued usage intentions were used as response. Also, the study used elements of CBBE as organisms. A survey-based questionnaire approach was used to collect data from 326 consumers. The collected data were analysed using structural equation modelling.FindingsResults indicate that SMM activities are associated with elements of CBBE. Also, elements of CBBE shape continued usage intentions of consumers. The results of the multigroup analysis suggest the differences among the three groups with respect to their education level. The study's findings enable managers to understand CBBE and continued usage behaviour of their customers and provide guidelines to manage their SMM activities.Originality/valueThe study findings are first to empirically test the effects of SMM activities on CBBE and continued usage behaviour. The results show that the stimulus strongly shapes CBBE and their continued intention to purchase brands. The findings contribute to the literature on SMM activities, CBBE and offer novel managerial implications.

PurposeThis study attempts to understand the main characteristics of inclusive leadership tweets in the context of team behavior. Further, we explore what the different content, topics and sentiments found in inclusive leaders' tweets are. Organizational practices matter, but when it comes to inclusion, individual's local and interpersonal experiences make all the difference - and herein lies the essential role of leaders at every level of the organization (Nishii and Leroy, 2022).Design/methodology/approachThis study extracted tweets from X (formerly Twitter) using the Tweepy library. Tweepy is a Python package for accessing the Twitter Application Programming Interface that allows developers to access Twitter content, such as tweets, retweets and timestamps. A Python script was used to search for all the tweets related to the keyword inclusive leadership. All texts met our criteria was extracted and stored in a comma-separated values file. We collected over 86,435 tweets between February 2023 and January 2024; however, after preprocessing, we were left with 37,108 unique tweets, which were further analyzed by data preprocessing, word frequency, word co-occurrence and sentiment analysis.FindingsThe results of this study highlight essential components of inclusive leadership and establish its positive impact on team performance and innovation. The study also found counterintuitive results on impact of leaders' tweets on team voice.Practical implicationsOrganizations can attune their tweets to the significance of inclusive leadership to increase their brand equity and reputation. Policymakers in the diversity, equity and inclusion space can share tweets and content reiterating inclusive leaders' critical role in fostering equity, inclusion and belongingness. Such practices also enhance employer branding; hence, it becomes crucial for leaders to drive the narrative on inclusion to attract talent.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to inclusive leadership literature in multiple ways. First, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that utilizes the Twitter Analytics framework to provide descriptive, content and network outcomes that focus on how inclusive leadership is perceived on Twitter. This study helps leaders understand the impact of their tweets in employees.

How can an occupation's stigmatized core attributes be ameliorated? To address this issue, we examined the Indian beauty salon occupation, which has long faced core occupational stigma due to physical, moral, caste-based taints, and low occupational prestige. By drawing on published celebrity beautician interviews and conducting semi-structured interviews with salon owners and customers, we found that modifying stigmatized occupational elements and conveying these modifications to society play a crucial role in occupational destigmatization. Specifically, occupational members crafted the core-stigmatized elements of the beauty salon occupation-people, purpose, and processes (3Ps)-with the support of the relevant stakeholders. Changes were then communicated to society through direct interactions and social media, challenging caste-based associations and branding the occupation alongside non-stigmatized, high-prestige occupations. Together, these activities help address the root cause of stigma and disseminate occupational knowledge beyond caste boundaries. Our work theoretically extends the destigmatization literature by framing destigmatization at the occupational level, offering new insights into how core-stigmatized occupations reshaped societal perception and address intractable stigma, such as those linked to caste.

Metaverse-an immersive virtual environment blending digital and physical worlds-has attracted widespread interest for its potential to reshape work and social interaction. However, the practical realization of a fully operational metaverse remains limited, and strategies to enhance user engagement are still understudied. To address this, existing studies are exploring blockchain technology (BCT) as a means to enhance user engagement. Drawing on trust transfer theory and a mixed-methods approach, we identify three key engagement attributes: Collaboration, Authenticity, and Governance (CAG). Our findings show that trust in BCT transfers to metaverse platforms as BCT reinforces CAG characteristics, thereby promoting sustained engagement. We extend trust transfer theory by demonstrating how BCT's core properties (transparency, immutability, traceability, and decentralization) build trust not only in the technology but also in the platforms and user interactions it supports. This trust enhances the CAG framework, promoting a secure, transparent, and decentralized metaverse experience.