International Journal of Information Management最新文献

Outcome-based contracts (OBC) in information technology outsourcing have attracted much attention, but literature is relatively scarce on this topic. Though firm theories prefer hierarchy as the most protective form of governance for such transactions, the practice moves forward with many hybrid governance structures underpinned by automation and digital transformation technologies. The objective of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework that explains the preference for inter-firm arrangements in OBCs and exhibits the capabilities of these technologies in mitigating contract inefficiencies. The proposed framework narrows the gap in the literature for a concurrent view of the latitudinal (ex-post, ex-ante) and longitudinal (reputation) dimensions of the contract. We represent the OBC as a concurrent stochastic game in a probabilistic model checker. Testing of our propositions revealed that these technology assets are complementary and joint ownership is desirable under reputation effects, reputation transfers take place between the contracting parties in the same direction, and continuous reallocation of ownership is required to maintain joint ownership. Rapid technological advancement and industry maturity can gravitate the transaction towards common ownership. The reputation function using Fermi probability distribution in our model is a novel performance measure for the industry.

As customer co-creation behaviors in the peer-to-peer (P2P) economy become an increasingly important part of the global economy, the study of its drivers is of great necessity. One of the important yet overlooked drivers is digital physical attractiveness. This research draws on impression formation theory to examine how physical attractiveness drives customer citizenship behaviors in the P2P economy. More importantly, the current study investigates the non-linear effect of digital physical attractiveness and how the physical attractiveness effect differs across cultures. Two studies are used to test the framework. Study 1 uses secondary data crawled from China’s largest P2P accommodation-sharing platform. Study 2 analyzes the survey data from 533 accommodation-sharing customers in China (n = 213), Hungary (n = 159), and the U.S. (n = 161). Results found an n-shaped (inverted U) physical attractiveness effect in Study 1 in China, but a U-shaped effect in the cross-cultural context. The U-shaped effect is only effective when customers score high on collectivism, low on power distance, or low on masculinity.

The inability to touch products is a fundamental shortcoming in online shopping because humans typically use the sense of touch to evaluate the utilitarian product functionality and to obtain hedonic sensory enjoyment, which the instrumental and autotelic need for touch capture. This study of 900 consumers looks at the interplay between need for touch and imagination to study how imagination compensates for the lack of touch when consumers shop in a 360-virtual store. The study finds that while telepresence of a 360-virtual store improves consumer attitudes toward virtual shopping, the need for hedonic sensory enjoyment – autotelic need for touch – significantly reduces this effect. Further, imagination can compensate for the need for touch; yet this finding holds only for the instrumental need for touch, not for the autotelic need for touch. Consequently, we conclude that imagination can compensate for the utilitarian need to touch products in a 360-virtual store.

Social media live streams (SMLSs) are becoming mainstream e-commerce platforms, especially for direct selling, offering online retailers (e-tailers) immense consumer interaction and engagement levels. Despite their growing prevalence, e-tailers face difficulties capitalising on this platform to enhance retail operations. This paper explores how SMLSs affect consumers' purchase intentions by exploring their motivations for participating in e-commerce SMLSs. To this end, we used the uses and gratifications (U&G) theory to explain how using SMLSs to satisfy consumers' needs could lead to high or low purchase intentions. It was done by collecting cross-sectional data from 795 consumers who have participated in e-commerce SMLSs. The data were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Our findings revealed that people use SMLSs to satisfy their need for value, social identification, and the medium's attributes. Based on these findings, we show six configurations that lead to high or low purchase intentions and make corresponding theoretical propositions. Thus, our study contributes to the research and practice of using SMLSs for online shopping.

This study addresses two critical research gaps in human-robot interaction (HRI): the limited systematic research on the role of trust in customers’ acceptance of artificially intelligent (AI) robots; and the lack of understanding of robot acceptance under different cultural backgrounds. Drawing on the AIDUA framework, this study examines the impacts of trust and moderating effects of both national (the U.S. and China) and individual culture on customers’ intentions to use AI robots in hospitality services by developing a theoretical model. The model is tested on data collected using online data collection platforms from 491 U.S. and 495 Chinese respondents. PLS-SEM and the bootstrapping method were used to test the hypothesized relationships and analyze the moderating effects of culture, respectively. The findings suggest that trust in interaction with AI robots is a significant higher-order construct that influences the intention of use. Furthermore, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, and power distance have been found to exhibit significant moderation effects. The results of this study extend the theoretical frameworks in HRI and provide detailed guidance to promote AI robot applications across different cultures.

During crises, there is a need for a large amount of information in a short period. Such need creates the base for misinformation to spread within and outside the affected community. This may result in misinformation harms that can generate serious short term or long-term consequences. In such situations, there is a need for a joint human-machine effort to mitigate misinformation. Though there has been research in the area of management of AI in the recent past, there has been scarce work in examining situations where machines and humans interact for mitigating misinformation. In order to systematically analyze misinformation and suggest mechanisms for mitigation, we draw on Activity Theory to conceptualize a suitable framework. Such a framework will enable investigating human-machine interactions through loops of “misinformation generation” and “misinformation mitigation” activities for mitigating misinformation harms. The paper also validates the framework using three different target audiences, undergraduates, graduates and professionals.

Though digital technology adoption among SMEs is widely studied, a manifestation of digitalization – virtual integration, particularly its strategic benefits for SMEs – remains largely understudied. Virtual integration connects and coalesces the interfaces of digitalization in SMEs. Though the need for externally oriented digitalization in SMEs is widely desired and espoused, virtual integration and the ensuing effect on Dynamic Strategic Planning (DSP) could be key factors in realizing higher performance. Using the information theory lens and knowledge-based view and a two-study empirical setup based on data from manufacturing and services firms, we draw on the Competence–Capability–Performance (CCP) framework. Specifically, we test a model of digitalization circuitry operational through the mediating effects of virtual integration and dynamic strategic planning (DSP). The ensuing interweaving effects of digitalization from virtual integration are manifest in DSP through fluid partnering, business continuity planning, and market acuity. We find that digitalization, manifested in the form of virtual integration, cascades through DSP to improve financial performance.

Fluidity is the ability of a digital platform ecosystem to change form to align with changing consumer preferences and stay relevant in the marketplace. This study advances that three dimensions and their five sub-dimensions determine the fluidity of a digital platform ecosystem. They are the (1) functional dimension with its two subdimensions of platform openness and platform quality (i.e., user-friendliness and quality of service offerings); (2) the mechanical dimension which consists mainly of platform design; and (3) the humanistic dimension with the sub-dimensions of network effects and network interactivity. This study advances that firms can manage these dimensions to improve the fluidity of their platforms. Furthermore, we propose that improved fluidity enhances the customer experience and increases switching costs.