While migration is a largely discussed form of labor mobility, internal return migration of workers has not received much attention. Individuals return to their native or previous place either for reasons related to work, distress, or family. Not only are they returning to a place that is familiar to them in terms of language, culture, and society, but also, they may have acquired some skills before returning. Therefore, labor market outcomes for return migrants are likely to differ from those of nonmigrants, who are otherwise similar to each other in most aspects. Against this context, the paper compares the earnings of internal return migrants with nonmigrants in India using the Periodic Labor Force Survey 2020-21. To this end, the study performs ordinary least square estimation by sector (rural and urban), gender, age cohorts, and employment activity status (self-employed, regular salaried, casual labor). As part of robustness analysis, it also uses the propensity score matching method. Both the exercises suggest that internal return migrants, on average, experience an earnings penalty in rural areas but a premium in urban areas. Also, a regular salaried internal return migrant experiences an earnings premium irrespective of the location (rural or urban). The earning pattern for men largely imitates the overall pattern. However, the earnings differential between female internal return migrants and nonmigrants is not significant as most of them migrate because of reasons other than work, like marriage. The findings of this study have significant implications, as what individuals do and how much they earn upon their return have direct consequences on the employment and income distribution of any region.

PurposeThe objective of this study is to examine the role of the negative asset-liability gaps on banking fragility in India.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on the maturity profile of assets and liabilities of all public and private commercial banks from 2013 to 2023 in India. The study examines the impact of negative asset-liability gaps on bank fragility using a logit model. The authors identify fragile banks using the Z-score, an established measure in banking fragility. The robustness of these results is verified by using alternative fragility measures, i.e. coverage ratio, and analysis based on bank ownership, bank size and a breakpoint.FindingsThe authors find interest and liquidity risks evidenced in negative asset-liability maturity gaps across short- and medium-term maturities apart from non-performing assets aggravated banking fragility in India. Asset-liability maturity mismatches are leading indicators that act as early warning signals in flagging bank fragility. The findings are robust even when we use coverage ratio as an alternative measure of financial fragility.Originality/valueExisting metrics of bank fragility, such as CAMELS model and stress tests, are lagged indicators of bank fragility. The current study presents negative asset-liability maturity mismatch as a leading indicator of bank fragility apart from non-performing asset of banks. While earlier studies attribute banking failures to credit risk and liquidity risk, this study also underscored the importance of asset-liability management for prudent risk management.

This study aims to examine the definition and types of greenwashing in the hospitality industry from the perspective of employees. It uses qualitative research methods involving multi-stage data collection. Two waves of data-with 51 employees in the first wave and 44 in the second-were collected through open-ended essays from employees in the UK and USA. Through thematic analysis, two aggregate themes were identified: first, the definition of greenwashing, including what, why, how, and by whom it is done; and second, types of greenwashing, encompassing false claims, exaggerations, misrepresentations, and selective disclosure. The findings of this study will enable managers to develop safeguard measures to prevent greenwashing practices and promote greater transparency in green practices.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the linkage between cyberbullying and depression. Using the multi-mediation routes this study also explores the cyberbullying-depression relationship via helplessness and self-esteem. This study is a multi-mediation model with a sample size of 340 respondents. The study draws cross-sectional data from respondents from diverse industry backgrounds ranging from information technology, education, banking, and retail. Partial least square (PLS-SEM) was used for the analysis. Using the cognitive theory of depression, results showed that cyberbullying is positively related to depression. Also, the study found that helplessness and self-esteem mediate the linkage between cyberbullying and depression. The study is unique as perhaps for the first time the multi mediation mechanism has been studied in the relationship of cyberbullying and depression. Drawing from helplessness/ hopelessness theory, the study has conceptualized and tested cyberbullying as a stressor that triggers various adverse cognitions which have been tested in multi-mediational route. The study highlights several issues emerging with the increased use of the internet and the severe abusive behaviour in form of cyberbullying. There is a need for organizations and managers to have specific actions to reduce the tendency of helplessness and low self-esteem due to cyberbullying to control adverse cognition of depression among employees.

PurposeThis research paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the ergonomic risks faced by employees in the IT industry who work from home (WFH). With the increasing prevalence of remote work, understanding and addressing ergonomic challenges are crucial to ensure the well-being, productivity and long-term health of IT professionals.Design/methodology/approachThe data are gathered through a survey questionnaire which includes demographic factors, job-related factors, quick video display terminal (VDT) workspace evaluation factors, quick chair design usability evaluation factors and the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) in order to measure the ergonomic risks among them. The risk factors associated with each body part are determined using ordinal logistic regression.FindingsHighest occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders was observed in the neck, hip and lower back among WFH employees. By identifying and prioritizing these risks, organizations and individuals can implement effective strategies to promote a healthy and ergonomic work environment for remote IT employees.Originality/valueThis research contributes new insights that will be helpful for researchers and practitioners working in the areas of ergonomic risks, improving performance of work from home employees and provides suggestions for future research to explore and enrich the existing knowledge base.

PurposeThis research aims to uncover how the adoption process of a mobile payment solution unfolds in its local use. We examined micro-enterprises' adoption of UPI-based payment system in India.Design/methodology/approachWe employed an ethnographic approach to study the micro-entrepreneurs' daily practice and adopted a relational ontology to conduct an in-practice enquiry of the UPI payment adoption process.FindingsApplying the practice perspective of Technology Affordances and Constraints Theory, we found that UPI adoption was shaped through a dynamic interplay of emerging affordances and constraints. New features, such as All-in-one QR, enabled actions like cross-platform money transfer but also introduced challenges like fraud. Advancements in the technology addressed previous challenges but also created new hurdles. This cycle of evolving affordances and constraints within the contextual use of UPI payment technology shaped its adoption process.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings contribute to the existing body of mobile payment literature by elucidating the role of localized and ongoing enactment of affordances and constraints. Unlike existing adoption theories, using relational concepts of affordances and constraints revealed how the integration of mobile payment into practice leads to emergent use patterns and widespread adoption.Practical implicationsWe emphasize the need for solutions that address localized challenges and contextual needs. The study advises policymakers to consider technology's benefits and limitations in interventions.Originality/valueThe study offers a unique view on mobile payment adoption, highlighting the role of technological materiality and temporality. It reveals how the changing materiality of technology shapes the adoption process through localized affordances and constraints.

Agency theory has been widely adopted in sales research, yet much is unknown about the extent of its application to explain and predict sales behaviors in today's dynamic sales environment. Given the changing nature of the sales profession and the complexities of digital transformation, there is an increasing need to understand the suitability of agency theory to explain and predict the dynamics of sales relationships. To assess the applicability of agency theory, we employ a systematic literature review approach to identify 82 research articles that apply an agency theoretic approach to the study of sales phenomena. The review provides an analysis of the application of agency theory to sales research including key themes and insights emerging from the literature. The main themes that emerge from our review are multicultural agency theoretic perspectives on salesforce compensation, incentives, contracting and control mechanisms, and pricing decisions. in sales. Our analysis identifies the emerging trends and opportunities for agency theory scholarship in sales. For managers, we offer suggestions on how to use agency theory as a lens to understand and manage complex sales relationships in a complex sales environment.

This study seeks to develop a broad-based understanding of the non-adoption of food sharing apps (FSAs) by hospitality businesses. This study answers three research questions: First, what are the perceived risks of FSAs that prevent their adoption by hospitality organizations; second, what are the perceived benefits of FSAs that are likely to encourage their adoption by hospitality organizations; and third, what strategies can be adopted by FSAs to mitigate the perceived risks and enhance the perceived benefits of adoption of FSAs by hospitality businesses. A multistage qualitative study involving three stages of data collection was undertaken. The findings revealed that perceived risks included business issues, management issues, regulatory concerns, business conditions, and issues with app companies. Perceived benefits included enhanced reputation, business gains, customer benefits, and doing good. Strategies to mitigate perceived risks and enhance perceived benefits emphasized closer communication and collaboration between FSAs and businesses.

PurposeSustainability has been receiving increasing attention in recent times, due to increasing pressures from consumers and stakeholders. Based on few selected indicators, we suggest a method for calculating and forecasting the degree of sustainability supply chain considering the case of the IKEA Group.Design/methodology/approachIn order to predict the sustainability of IKEA's supply chain, utilizing IWAY fulfillment scores, this research uses the concept and theory of grey prediction models and moving probability-based Markov models.FindingsAccording to the findings of prediction, we observe that the level of supply chain sustainability is declining for the case in the forecast year 2022. The results are perceived as per the outcomes of the first-order, one-variable-based grey prediction model (GM (1, 1) model) and the grey moving probability state Markov model-based error correction.Research limitations/implicationsOperationalizing sustainability, we consider the contribution a company's supply chain toward the advancement of human rights, ethical labor practices, environmental improvement and anti-corruption principles into the account of supply-chain sustainability.Practical implicationsIn order to understand the future trends in the supply chain sustainability performances of the firms and make corrective actions, managers may take a note on the results of prediction and they can subsequently work on the policy implications.Originality/valueWe build an advanced prediction model for forecasting the level of sustainability performances for a case firm using the indicator of human rights, ethical labor practices, environmental improvement and anti-corruption principles.

PurposeWhile workplace conflicts among coworkers are inevitable, there has been a notable gap in understanding how these conflicts impact employee behavior and the mechanisms through which they exert influence. This study aims to address this gap by examining the intricate relationships between coworker conflict, threat appraisal and proactive helping behavior.Design/methodology/approachThe authors build a moderated mediation model that explores the role of trait forgiveness in shaping the interplay between coworker conflict and threat appraisal. Data was collected from 533 first-line employees using a two-wave study through a survey-based method. The data was analyzed using SPSS PROCESS macros and AMOS.FindingsThis study reveals a compelling insight: employees with high trait forgiveness, even when facing coworker conflict, tend to exhibit high proactive behavior at work, influenced by their perception of reduced threat. Therefore, trait forgiveness reduces the strength of the negative relationship between coworker conflicts and proactive helping behavior via threat appraisal.Originality/valueThis study uniquely examines how trait forgiveness moderates coworker conflict and proactive helping behavior, addressing a gap in the literature. In contrast to earlier studies that focused on conflict avoidance or resolution, this study shows how high trait forgiveness might turn conflict circumstances into chances for proactive helping behavior through lower threat appraisal. This approach offers a novel perspective on sustaining positive behaviors within conflict-prone environments, advancing the understanding of resilience in workplace dynamics.

The nuanced understanding of process that firms in the B2B setting undergo for VCC and the role different types of technologies play in that process is missing. We adopted a research design that comprised of four sequential phases to address this gap. In first phase, we conducted a systematic review of literature. In second phase, we deductively developed an integrated 3 x 3 framework illustrating the usage of different types of technologies across the three stages of VCC. In third phase, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 practitioners to validate the framework. Finally, in fourth phase, we developed a process model to explain how digital technology can be leveraged in each step of VCC. The process model in the backdrop of integrated framework is novel as it codifies the individual activities of VCC and brings out the nuances involved at the interaction of the activities and stages. The findings can catalyse B2B VCC at a higher speed by establishing faster feedback loops through the integration of digital technologies in each of the process steps. The gaps in research and practice on how businesses co-creating value can iterate to get a testable product with a measurable outcome while leveraging digital technologies are discussed.

PurposeUrbanisation, e-commerce and COVID-19 are the strong drivers for an ever-increasing demand for last-mile delivery services. Last-mile deliveries face tight deadlines and considerable time pressure due to increased parcel volumes and regular seasonal sales. Given these challenges involved in customer satisfaction, the usage of motorcycles for last-mile delivery has considerably increased. Despite the popularity of motorcycles, increases in rider injuries and fatalities have become a public health concern. The purpose of this paper is to address the ergonomic risks involved in last-mile delivery services.Design/methodology/approachThe objective of this study is to analyse the physical ergonomic risks associated with the last-mile delivery personnel. Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire is used for Data collection and Logistic regression is used to analyse the data. Further, Hand-Arm Vibration and Whole-Body Vibration data are used to study the Heart Rate Variability; and Rapid Entire Body Assessment tool is used to analyse the riding posture.FindingsThe continuous riding of motorcycles and the repetitive loading on the musculoskeletal system of the rider leads to risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The findings provided insights about the MSDs and the associated risk variables for last-mile delivery personnel.Originality/valueThe results of the study highlight the need for physical ergonomic solutions and improved working conditions. The study contributes new insights that will be helpful for academicians, practitioners, policy makers and researchers working in the areas of physical ergonomic risk assessment of motorcycle riders.

PurposeThis study aims to establish an understanding of commonsense, a valuable mechanism for navigating disruptive, volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (DVUCA) environments.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducts a scientometric (bibliometric) analysis of commonsense through the lens of tacit knowledge, practical intelligence and sensemaking to unpack is nomological network.FindingsThis study reveals that tacit knowledge, practical intelligence and sensemaking are pivotal to the conceptualization of commonsense, crucial for navigating DVUCA environments. These elements interact within organizational contexts, influencing knowledge dynamics, decision-making processes and ethical leadership. The findings not only affirm the foundational role of these components in commonsense but also highlight their interplay in fostering organizational resilience, adaptability and strategic agility. This synergy underlines commonsense as a multifaceted and dynamic capability essential for effective management and leadership in complex settings.Research limitations/implicationsThis study significantly enriches the theoretical landscape of commonsense by mapping its components within a scientometric-established nomological network. By identifying the interconnected roles of tacit knowledge, practical intelligence and sensemaking in organizational settings, it invites future scholarly endeavors to further dissect these relationships. It also encourages the exploration of additional elements such as emotional intelligence and cultural factors that may influence commonsense. This research opens new avenues for examining how these foundational aspects can be systematically nurtured and developed within diverse organizational environments.Practical implicationsThis study provides actionable insights for organizational leaders and policymakers. Understanding the critical roles that tacit knowledge, practical intelligence and sensemaking play in navigating complex environments can guide the enhancement of training and development programs to strengthen these capacities. The importance of fostering a culture that supports continuous learning and ethical leadership is emphasized, as these elements are essential for sustaining competitive advantage and ensuring responsible governance. Managers are encouraged to integrate structured sensemaking processes and practical intelligence into strategic decision-making to improve adaptability and resilience when facing DVUCA challenges and opportunities.Originality/valueThis study offers a pioneering exploration of commonsense through the integration of tacit knowledge, practical intelligence and sensemaking into a cohesive framework. Employing scientometric analysis, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of how these cognitive processes interact to facilitate decision-making and problem-solving in complex environments. The study enriches knowledge management by presenting a refined perspective on the interplay between these elements, deepening the understanding of how commonsense is generated and applied within organizational settings. This contribution significantly enhances theoretical discourse on adaptability, decision-making and resilience in DVUCA environments.

Research on technology adoption has focused on individual, organizational, and institutional factors, yet adoption within households in developing countries like India remains underexplored. To address this gap, we utilized a large-scale national household survey and a machine learning-based inductive approach to uncover the complex relationship between intra-household dynamics and computer adoption. Our study identified household education externalities, the education level of women in the family, and the presence of teenage children as key factors influencing computer adoption. Our decision tree analysis revealed the intricate combinations of predictors that impact adoption, offering nuanced explanations of this complex phenomenon. Our findings can inform the development of customer-oriented marketing strategies and customized intervention programs that address cost, access, and education inequalities hindering household computer adoption, benefiting computer makers and government policymakers.

Smart tourism technologies (STT) interwoven into various stages of tourism enrich the travel experience and lead to tourist satisfaction. Knowledge of critical antecedents of tourist satisfaction can enable destination managers to design suitable technological interventions. Past studies used diverse theoretical frameworks and measurement approaches, resulted in inconsistent findings on the impacts of STT attributes on satisfaction. Through meta-analysis, our study established how motivational factors from the Uses & Gratification theory (U&G), technological factors from the Information Systems success model (ISS), and experiential factors from expectation confirmation theory (ECT) affect tourist satisfaction. Empirical evidence from 45 independent studies from 43 articles comprising 15,750 individual responses was integrated into the meta-analysis. Gratification factors of usefulness (beta = 0.367) and informativeness (beta = 0.336), technological factors of information quality (beta = 0.365) and service quality (beta = 0.295), and experiential factor of expectation confirmation (beta = 0.532) emerged as key antecedents of STT satisfaction. The study also uncovered the interaction between the STT attributes and their effect on satisfaction. The generalized effect sizes and the interaction analysis offer nuanced insights, revealing critical implications for effective tourism management strategies. These findings provide valuable guidance for tourism practitioners, highlighting key aspects of STTs and their dynamic interactions to enhance tourist satisfaction.

Threats from patent litigations are a major roadblock for the internationalization strategies of MNCs from emerging markets (EMNCs). While existing theory focuses on weak patent systems in emerging economies as an obstacle for multinational corporations from developed economies, we conceptualize them as experiential learning contexts that shape the patent litigation routines of local firms. We reason that the depth of organizational learning from patent litigation experiences as defendants in weak, domestic patent systems is counterproductive for EMNCs. Such experiences lead to the development of patent litigation routines that are illsuited for operating in countries with strong patent systems, thereby exposing EMNCs to costly patent litigations. We find empirical support by analyzing 2,273 Indian firms between 2007 and 2017. Learning from operating in many countries with strong patent systems and experience with international, as opposed to national, patent filings create boundary conditions.

Most studies on the digital divide have focused on access to digital technology and individual capability to use ICT, thus treating users primarily as consumers of information. In this study, we focus on content production and examine how information technology (IT) can reduce the digital production divide for digitally disadvantaged groups. Despite the literature suggesting that content production skills are more advanced than content consumption, short-video platforms have gained popularity worldwide, offering previously underrepresented communities in digital production an unprecedented medium for self-expression. Using an interpretive case study approach and adaptive structuration theory (AST) as a conceptual framework, we analyse data from platform managers and users of a short-video platform in India. We explore the change in users' practices toward content creation and highlight the role played by technology in more inclusive content production. We find that content consumption and production are interdependent and that various aspects of the IT artefact, such as technical objects, symbolic expressions, functional affordances and spirit, reduce different levels of the digital production divide. We contribute to the research on digital production divide by identifying three mechanisms that illustrate how the appropriation and sense-making of the IT artefacts reduce the skill gap and enable better outcomes for users by minimising the influence of their offline resources.

Given the global push for renewable energy to achieve sustainable development goals, understanding its implications for energy poverty is crucial. This study addresses a gap in the literature by examining how renewable energy affects two key energy poverty indicators: access to electricity and access to clean cooking fuel, particularly in rural and urban contexts. We employ bootstrap based bias corrected fixed effects model to examine the impact of renewable energy consumption on energy poverty across 80 economies from 1996 to 2020. The analysis demonstrates that renewable energy consumption is negatively associated with electricity access, particularly in urban areas. The emphasis on renewable energy adoption can hinder access to clean cooking fuels in rural areas. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions that address the unique challenges of both urban and rural regions. To mitigate potential negative effects, policymakers should invest in energy storage, grid modernization, and decentralized systems, while ensuring that renewable energy initiatives align with broader sustainable development goals.

Many manufacturers use a dual-channel selling strategy that enables them to sell their products directly to consumers along with the conventional retail channel. In practice, several manufacturers are shifting their focus from traditional retail channels to the expansion of their direct-to-consumer sales. However, the extant literature on supplier encroachment offers little guidance to manufacturers on whether and when to shift from a dual-channel to a direct-channel-focused product distribution strategy. The current study bridges this gap by investigating the manufacturer's adoption of a direct-to-consumer strategy in the face of competition from store brands. Using a game theoretic approach, our study aims to reveal the conditions under which manufacturers should shift from a dual-channel selling approach to a direct-to-consumer-only selling approach. We demonstrate that manufacturers selling products in categories where store brands are fierce competitors, including clothing and footwear, could find it advantageous to switch to a direct-only sales strategy. This result, at least in part, explains the current business trend wherein many manufacturers are severing their links with retailers to focus on generating income directly from customers. However, a dual-channel approach remains optimal for manufacturers selling products in categories where the level of store brand competition is low to moderate. Furthermore, we show that the threat of encroachment could benefit the retailer when the manufacturer considers adopting a dual-channel approach.