Trustworthiness in mHealth information services: An assessment of a hierarchical model with mediating and moderating effects using partial least squares (PLS)

Mediating effect of organizational learning and moderating role of environmental dynamism on the relationship between strategic change and firm performance

Purpose

With the materialization of literature on strategic change, it is clear that organizational learning and organizational dynamism have been among the most notable areas of study. The purpose of this paper is to extend the literature on strategic management by examining the mediating effects of organizational learning and the moderating role of environmental dynamism on the relationship between strategic change and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was administered to 650 respondents who were both corporate and business-level managers of 22 main deposit money banks (commercial banks) and their branches across the country. In total, 630 questionnaires were returned and 587 were used after following all the processes of data preparation. Path analysis was employed to test the hypotheses in this study using Smart PLS 3.

Findings

The study found a significant mediating effect of organizational learning on the relationship between strategic change and firm performance. Although no significant moderating role of environmental dynamism was found, the directions of the path coefficients are consistent with the hypothesis. All the relationships between the constructs are significant.

Research limitations/implications

It is paramount for managers to understand the type of environment and learning that fits diverse kinds of strategic changes in order to improve firm performance. It is evident that changes that are not proactive and generative organizational learning may seem dangerous for a firm. However, organizations should learn to incorporate the change to be able to compete in a dynamic competitive environment.

Originality/value

Prior studies on strategic change, environmental dynamism and organizational learning have mainly focused on manufacturing and construction industries in the developed countries, but less has been done in the service sector, particularly the banking organizations in developing countries. Nigeria is one of those countries. Therefore, this study focuses on the links between strategic change and firm performance, moderating role of environmental dynamism and the mediating effect of organizational learning within the context of the Nigerian deposit money banks.

Improving Sustainable Mobile Health Care Promotion: A Novel Hybrid MCDM Method

Identifying the key influencing factors that affected users’ adoption of sustainable mobile health care and improving alternative mobile health services continuously can help ordinary consumers (especially vulnerable populations) use extensive health resources cheaply and conveniently; which can increase the quality and equity of health services; so as to promote the sustainable development of medical resources. We integrated decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMETEL)-based analytic network process (DANP) and a modified VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method to form a DDANPMV (DEMATEL+ DANP + Modified VIKOR) model to examine consumers’ adoption of mobile health care. This method was developed to not only help decision-makers evaluate alternative mobile health care and determine the best option, but also use to identify and improve the performance gap of alternative products with the goal of satisfying the aspirations of consumers. Four types of mobile health care products were analyzed. The results indicate that social norms; product image; and consumer trust are three key factors in consumer adoption. The results can guide policy design and implementation. The government and enterprises should improve mobile health care through these three aspects.

Investigating the Adoption of Mobile Health Services by Elderly Users: Trust Transfer Model and Survey Study

Background

Although elderly users comprise a major user group in the field of mobile health (mHealth) services, their adoption rate of such services is relatively low compared with their use of traditional health services. Increasing the adoption rate of mHealth services among elderly users is beneficial to the aging process.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the determinants of mHealth service use intentions using a trust transfer model among elderly users facing declining physiological conditions and lacking support from hospitals.

Methods

A survey comprising 395 users aged 60 years and above was conducted in China to validate our research model and hypotheses.

Results

The results reveal that (1) trust in mHealth services positively influences use intentions, (2) trust in offline health services positively influences trust in mHealth services, (3) declining physiological conditions strengthen the effects of trust in offline health services regarding trust in mHealth services, (4) support from hospitals weakens the effects of trust in mHealth services on use intentions, and (5) the relationship between trust in offline health services and intention to use mHealth services is partially mediated by trust in mHealth services. The independent variables and moderators collectively explain a 48.3% variance in the use intention of mHealth services.

Conclusions

We conclude that the trust transfer theory is useful in explaining the development of initial trust in mHealth services. In addition, declining physiological conditions and support from hospitals are important factors for investigating the adoption of mHealth services among elderly users.

Enhancing sustainable performance through job characteristics via workplace spirituality

Purpose

This paper aims to provide empirical evidence of the associations between perceived job characteristics and workplace spirituality with environmental sustainability within the domain of small- and medium-sized enterprises. This study aims to investigate the influence of perceived job characteristics (job identity, task significance and task variety) on environmental sustainability through workplace spirituality.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from 400 small and medium enterprises (SME) employees working in New Delhi, India, and Islamabad, Pakistan. Response rate in this study is 58 per cent. Structural equation modeling has been used to analyze the data through SmartPLS 3.0 and SPSS version 24.

Findings

The results indicate that perceived job characteristics have significant positive influence over workplace spirituality. It is concluded that workplace spirituality also significantly mediates the relationship between perceived job characteristics and environmental sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

In the present study, perceived job characteristics have been evaluated to improve environmental sustainability in SMEs from Pakistan and India. Therefore, before generalization in the context of other countries can be made, the results obtained may need some modifications.

Practical implications

The research concerns the understanding of various job characteristics and environmental sustainability from the viewpoint of employees in SMEs at imparting perceived job characteristics as important factors to meet challenges relevant to environmental sustainability in the dynamic market.

Social implications

There is anecdotal evidence claiming the pivotal role of job characteristics and workplace spirituality toward the recognition of sustainability in the progressive dynamic market. The results of this study represent the effectiveness of perceived job characteristics for accomplishing social objectives through workplace spirituality.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the field by bringing together the concepts of workplace spirituality with perceived job characteristics and environmental sustainability in the context of Pakistani and Indian SMEs.

Most Influential Qualities in Creating Satisfaction Among the Users of Health Information Systems: Study in Seven European Union Countries

Background

Several models suggest how the qualities of a product or service influence user satisfaction. Models such as the Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Delone and McLean Information Systems Success demonstrate those relations and have been used in the context of health information systems.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate which qualities foster greater satisfaction among patient and professional users. In addition, we are interested in knowing to what extent improvement in those qualities can explain user satisfaction and whether this makes user satisfaction a proxy indicator of those qualities.

Methods

The Unified eValuation using ONtology (UVON) method was used to construct an ontology of the required qualities for 7 electronic health (eHealth) apps being developed in the Future Internet Social and Technological Alignment Research (FI-STAR) project, a European Union (EU) project in electronic health (eHealth). The eHealth apps were deployed across 7 EU countries. The ontology included and unified the required qualities of those systems together with the aspects suggested by the Model for ASsessment of Telemedicine apps (MAST) evaluation framework. Moreover, 2 similar questionnaires for 87 patient users and 31 health professional users were elicited from the ontology. In the questionnaires, the user was asked if the system has improved the specified qualities and if the user was satisfied with the system. The results were analyzed using Kendall correlation coefficients matrices, incorporating the quality and satisfaction aspects. For the next step, 2 partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) path models were developed using the quality and satisfaction measure variables and the latent construct variables that were suggested by the UVON method.

Results

Most of the quality aspects grouped by the UVON method are highly correlated. Strong correlations in each group suggest that the grouped qualities can be measures that reflect a latent quality construct. The PLS-SEM path analysis for the patients reveals that the effectiveness, safety, and efficiency of treatment provided by the system are the most influential qualities in achieving and predicting user satisfaction. For the professional users, effectiveness and affordability are the most influential. The parameters of the PLS-SEM that are calculated allow for the measurement of a user satisfaction index similar to CSI for similar health information systems.

Conclusions

For both patients and professionals, the effectiveness of systems highly contributes to their satisfaction. Patients care about improvements in safety and efficiency, whereas professionals care about improvements in the affordability of treatments with health information systems. User satisfaction is reflected more in the users’ evaluation of system output and fulfillment of expectations but slightly less in how far the system is from ideal. Investigating satisfaction scores can be a simple and fast way to infer if the system has improved the abovementioned qualities in treatment and care.

How signaling mechanisms reduce “lemons” from online group buying (OGB) markets? A study of China

Purpose

A major transformation in retail logistics over the few years is backed by enormous improvements in internet technologies. It is now easy for e-retailers to entertain delivery progression, or consumers can share use-experience with future customers and thereby reducing information asymmetry. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of different signals on consumer behavior in the presence of information asymmetry, in the context of online group buying (OGB) markets in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the lemon market theory (LMT) and signaling theory, the study develops a research model of the OGB consumers’ context in China, which is validated using data from an online survey. A total of 528 responses are used for data analysis applying structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

The findings of the study show that perceived vendor quality (PVQ) and perceived product quality (PPQ) have significantly positive effects on intention to purchase from OGB websites. PVQ is associated with perceived reputation and perceived trustworthiness (PT) of vendor, and the determinants of PPQ are quality assurance information of products, and information about mer-chants. Further, PT has a mediating effect, while asymmetry of information has a moderating effect.

Research limitations/implications

The research model is valid as a generic OGB model that can be investigated in other contexts to understand the generalizability of the findings. Future research is needed to incorporate additional relevant factors (e.g. price, advertising activity/investments) that may help increase the acceptability of the model to a wide range of e-commerce contexts. Two of the control variables (gender and prior internet experience) were found to be significant; this could be further examined in future studies to determine the relative impact on each causal relationship.

Originality/value

Whereas prior studies in the domain of consumer service proposed different signaling mechanisms that were believed to eliminate information asymmetry from a market, the study sheds light on the effectiveness of the signals in the OGB context. This is a unique effort that applies and extends LMT and signaling theory in OGB context by theorizing the associated dimensions and their causal effects.

Linking Team Condition and Team Performance: A Transformational Leadership Approach

Because project teams in the construction industry shape the primary focus of the industry's project life cycle, a high-performance construction workplace facilitates employees’ technical and innovation skills through team development. Drawing on the current research in general teamwork and leadership, this study, from a theoretical perspective, extends the team condition as a hierarchical construct, incorporating six associated components. This article argues that team building and team development can be studied as ongoing processes that are crucial to project success. In order to reduce the risk of common method variance, the research analysis was completed using 94 construction teams from three different sources, within which team members rated their leader's transformational leadership behavior. The team leaders evaluated the team's conditions, and, lastly, the supervisor of each team rated the team's performance. The model shows that the team condition, which is defined as the factors that contribute to making a great team, has significant direct and indirect impacts on team performance. Furthermore, the transformational leadership behavior of team leaders showed a mediating role between the team condition and the performance.

Moderating factors influencing adoption of a mobile chronic disease management system in China

Mobile chronic disease management systems (MCDMS) have become increasingly important in recent years, but in China, challenges remain for their adoption. Existing empirical studies have not completely explored the adoption behavior of potential MCDMS users. This article presents a study in which we investigated factors that influence chronically ill patients in China and their families to adopt or decline to use MCDMS. We applied a research model based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) as well as four contextual constructs (perceived disease threat, perceived risk, initial trust, and technology anxiety) to a survey of 279 potential MCDMS service participants in China. Our key findings include: (1) as consistent with current research, both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have positive impact on potential users' MCDMS adoption intention; (2) both perceived disease threat and initial trust have positive impact on MCDMS adoption intention; (3) the impact of perceived risk is negative, and technology anxiety has negative impact on perceived ease of use of MCDMS; (4) young people place more importance on their perceptions of usefulness, ease of operation, and disease threat than middle-aged and older users; (5) family members are more influenced by their perception of ease of use and disease threat than chronically ill patients, while chronically ill patients place more importance on perceived usefulness than family members. This article concludes by discussing the implications of our study for research and practice, as well as limitations and future research directions.

How do students trust Wikipedia? An examination across genders

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to tend to further develop an understanding of information trustworthiness in the context of Wikipedia and examine the moderating effects of gender on the association between trustworthiness and intention to adopt Wikipedia information.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a four-dimensional framework of information trustworthiness, the authors began the research by identifying Wikipedia as an application of online information so as to construct a model and develop an instrument based on this trustworthiness framework.

Findings

The results confirm that information accuracy, stability, and validity are significantly related to users’ intentions to adopt information from Wikipedia, but objectivity is not. Meanwhile, moderating role for gender on some of these effects is confirmed. Academic and practical implications are discussed.

Originality/value

Previous research considers the open-editing characteristics of Wikipedia as both strength and weakness; it allows for wide coverage of the information contributed by various users, but can also lead to a lack of trustworthiness. It has also been suggested that trustworthiness is perceived differently by males and females. Understanding how gender plays a role in differentiating the impact of trustworthiness on user intentions to adopt Wikipedia information could benefit both academics and practitioners.

Evaluation of ethical codes implementation – a fuzzy approach

Purpose

Setting measurable criteria for implementing ethical codes is a pivotal issue in construction organizations. This paper aims to present an approach for evaluating ethical codes implementation within an organization based on 30 indicators for effective implementation of codes of ethics, with the objective of enhancing employees’ ethical behaviour within the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This study builds on a theoretical model that was developed using existing classification in the literature, including six processes of ethical codes implementation (process of: identification and removal of barriers, coding, internalization, enacting values, monitoring and accountability). The model was validated by applying partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) estimation approach on questionnaire survey data which were collected from construction practitioners in Hong Kong. Fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) analysis was adopted to assess the level of ethical code implementation.

Findings

The results of the PLS-SEM indicate a good model fit, and the model has a substantial predictive power and satisfactory model representation. Thus, the model is suitable for measuring or evaluating codes of ethics implementation within organization. The process of “enacting value” has the greatest influence on “ethical code implementation”. The results of FSE indicate that the overall level of implementation of ethical codes is high, but there are rooms for further improvement.

Research limitations/implications

The response to the self-assessment questionnaire used for measuring the extent of implementation is relatively low, but it was adequate for statistical analyses considering the fact that it represents the second stage of data collection in a longitudinal manner, and only the respondents who participated in the initial questionnaire survey were asked to participate. The essence of doing this is to test the model for the purpose of self-evaluation of construction organizations regarding codes implementation. Thus, the outcomes are not representative enough for the entire construction organizations in Hong Kong. However, the model was tested to demonstrate how to reflect the strengths and weaknesses of construction companies in Hong Kong with respects to ethical code implementation to identify areas requiring improvement.

Practical implications

Facilities managers can benefit from the findings of this study by applying the model to assess ethical codes implementation within the organization to enhance ethical behaviour.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study is the generation of a framework for measuring the extent of implementation of ethical codes within construction organizations. The contribution from this study can add significant value to facilities management discipline as well, being a business-oriented sector. As ethical behaviour plays an important role in delivering various facilities. The approach used in this study is useful for facilities managers in the process of implementing codes of ethics.

The influence of system quality characteristics on health care providers' performance: Empirical evidence from Malaysia

BACKGROUND

The Ministry of Health Malaysia initiated the total hospital information system (THIS) as the first national electronic health record system for use in selected public hospitals across the country. Since its implementation 15 years ago, there has been the critical requirement for a systematic evaluation to assess its effectiveness in coping with the current system, task complexity, and rapid technological changes. The study aims to assess system quality factors to predict the performance of electronic health in a single public hospital in Malaysia.

METHODS

Non-probability sampling was employed for data collection among selected providers in a single hospital for two months. Data cleaning and bias checking were performed before final analysis in partial least squares-structural equation modeling.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Convergent and discriminant validity assessments were satisfied the required criterions in the reflective measurement model. The structural model output revealed that the proposed adequate infrastructure, system interoperability, security control, and system compatibility were the significant predictors, where system compatibility became the most critical characteristic to influence an individual health care provider's performance. The previous DeLone and McLean information system success models should be extended to incorporate these technological factors in the medical system research domain to examine the effectiveness of modern electronic health record systems. In this study, care providers' performance was expected when the system usage fits with patients' needs that eventually increased their productivity.

Assessing m-Health success in Bangladesh

Purpose

Mobile health, i.e. m-Health possesses huge potential, especially to the developing countries and remote locations of developed countries. The success of such systems may create a healthier society through eradicating health incidents, which cannot otherwise be addressed with “brick and mortar” type of health systems. The purpose of this paper is to develop an m-Health success model from users’ perspective and validate in a developing country context.

Design/methodology/approach

Epistemologically, positivist approach has been adopted for the current research. An initial research model was developed from existing information system (IS) literature, which was then validated with survey data applying partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results summarise that continuance intention (CI) of m-Health services is dependent on perceived value (PV) and user satisfaction (STF); PV positively influences STF. Moreover, platform quality, quality of medical advice, and interaction quality have positive and direct effect on PV and STF; finally, CI drives to better quality of health life.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide strategic implications to health managers and practitioners recognising the determinants of m-Health success and comprehending their relationships. It is underscored that, in order to secure the success of an m-Health system in a given society both human and technology-related components are vital and therefore should be taken care of.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt that develops and validates an m-Health system success model, particularly from the context of a country with low-health profile. Moreover, the contextualisation of the related variables and extension of existing IS success models is theoretically original.

Substitutes for leadership: alternative perspectives

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore alternative models of substitutes for leadership. These alternative models are a leadership-only model, substitutes for the leadership-only model and substitutes for the leadership-mediated-effects model.

Design/methodology/approach

Four occupational groups were targeted, namely, PhD faculty of institutions of higher education, medical doctors who work in district headquarters’ hospitals, licensed pharmacists and certified engineers. Also, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, and 523 usable responses were received.

Findings

Partial least square path modeling was used for data analysis, and the results of structural models revealed that: the dimensions of transformational leadership significantly affected the followers’ outcomes; a few substitutes for leadership also significantly affected the followers’ outcomes; and, in some cases, substitutes for leadership significantly mediated the relationship between dimensions of transformational leadership and followers’ outcomes.

Practical implications

Findings of the study provide useful implications to improve the managerial practices of organizational leaders, work design strategies in organizations and overall organizational policies for effective functioning. Other developing countries with similar socio-economic status may use these findings to improve organizational functioning.

Originality/value

This study makes important contributions to the leadership literature. It tests three alternative models in the domain of substitutes for the leadership theory and tests the separate effects of dimensions of transformational leadership and substitutes for leadership on followers’ work outcomes. Further, it specifies the mediating effects of substitutes for leadership on the dimensions of transformational leadership and followers’ work outcomes. Most important, this study for the first time tests transformational leadership and substitutes for leadership concepts in Pakistani work settings and advances the theoretical and empirical literature in this local context.

Customers’ Expectations for Next Generation Internet Banking

This paper posits six new factors that impact customers’ expectations for next generation internet banking. The factors are innovative interface, integration with social media, money management tools, instant customer service, enhanced convenience, and next generation security. The data was collected from 310 respondents, who currently use internet banking services from leading countries. The results suggest that three factors, namely, integration with social media, money management tools, and enhanced convenience, would significantly affect customers’ expectations for next generation internet banking. The results also suggest the role of innovative interface, next generation security, and instant customer support and service in influencing the customers’ expectations. The proposed model would be useful for banks and technology providers to not only understand bank customers’ expectations, but also to launch innovative marketing strategies to gain competitive advantage, and to craft a unique selling proposition to its customers.

Perceived service quality's effect on patient satisfaction and behavioural compliance

PURPOSE

The purpose of this paper is to advance healthcare service quality research using hierarchical component models.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

This study used a quantitative approach with cross-sectional design as a survey method, combining cluster and convenience sampling and partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to validate the research model and test the hypotheses.

FINDINGS

The study extends health service quality literature by showing that: patient satisfaction (PS) is dominant, significant and indirect determinant of behavioural compliance (BC); perceived service quality has the strongest effect on BC via PS.

RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS

Only one hospital was evaluated.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The study provides managers with a service quality model for conducting integrated service delivery systems analysis and design.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

Overall, the study makes a significant contribution to healthcare organizations, better health outcomes for patients and better quality of life for the community.

Healthcare Information For All By 2015

This paper reports on the Mobile Healthcare Information For All By 2015 (mHIFA) initiative led by the Health Information For All 2015 (HIFA2015) 2012-2015 Challenge Working Group. It discusses the preliminary findings of a scoping exercise to identify global current, completed and planned projects that use mobile phones to provide healthcare information, particularly maternal, child and first-aid, in low- and middle-income countries, that appear to be aligned to the mHIFA Goal. Despite a plethora of mHealth projects on a wide range of mHealth topics, only nine projects were closely related to the mHealthcare Goal. Findings of the scoping exercise were made available on the HIFA2015 Discussion Forums to instigate feedback from key healthcare and telecom stakeholders. An assessment tool was created to help telecom providers and potential providers to assess relevance to the mHIFA Goal.