Iranian Journal of Management Studies
Volume:17 Issue: 3, Summer 2024

Emotional contagion (EC) occurs when one person's moods and emotions influence others' feelings. This study aims to understand employees’ lived experiences regarding EC and its consequences in Iran during the pandemic. This study used a phenomenological framework to elicit employees’ experiences. Forty interviews with Iranian employees in 40 public organizations were conducted. Purposive sampling was used to identify the participants. The unearthed consequences were categorized into seven themes: mental disorders, negative emotions, negative physiological changes, job burnout, communication apprehension, venting at the workplace, and work-family spillover. Although several studies have considered the role of EC in the workplace, the consequences of EC during the COVID-19 pandemic in organizations have not yet been studied. Moreover, the findings illustrated that EC during the COVID-19 pandemic has dire consequences, which are not only confined to the individual sphere of employees but also permeate organizations, clients, and even families.

This study examines the networking and learning capabilities of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), which enable organizations to generate strategic ambidexterity on environmental dynamism. For this purpose, 190 respondents from SMEs in Indonesia were polled and analyzed using SEM PLS. The results show that networking and learning capabilities substantially impacted strategic ambidexterity. Surprisingly, environmental dynamism does not moderate the association between SMEs' capability in networking and strategic ambidexterity. In addition, networking and learning capabilities positively affect ambidexterity in SMEs. Conversely, environmental dynamism moderates the link between learning capabilities and strategic ambidexterity. The study's findings assist SME owners/managers and practitioners in developing and sustain networking and learning capabilities to achieve ambidexterity.

This study seeks to explore the underlying resources that promote employee resilience and the impact of resilience on work engagement and job performance within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical investigation employed the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. It was conducted with a sample comprising 255 employees actively engaged in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The results reveal the significant influence of self-efficacy, optimism, and support from various sources (superiors, colleagues, family, and friends) on employee resilience. Additionally, work engagement is a mediator in the relationship between employee resilience and job performance. These findings offer valuable insights for human resources managers in fostering a flexible work environment and providing essential support to enhance employee resilience, benefiting both the employees and the organization.

This study examines the effects of social interactions, including online review quality and source credibility, on consumers’ risk perception and purchase intention in e-commerce based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model. Further, it investigates the role of risk-related feelings (immediate negative emotions) in consumers’ decision-making journeys. We used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyze 405 online questionnaires. Our analysis reveals that review quality and source credibility lower perceived risk and risk-related feelings while enhancing purchase intention. Moreover, it indicates that the online decision journey is twofold and varies based on emotions. Our results have considerable theoretical and practical implications. We enrich consumer risk perception and behaviour literature by incorporating social interactions and risk-related feelings. We also provide several impactful suggestions for marketing strategies for e-commerce businesses.

One such recent innovation in Sharia insurance in Indonesia is the introduction of waqf insurance products. In this study, we aim to explore the untapped potential of integrating waqf into Sharia insurance products, positioning it strategically within the insurance landscape of Indonesia. Employing a comprehensive sequential mixed methods approach, the study collected data through in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including government officials, insurance companies, and nazhir (waqf managers). The qualitative interviews were complemented by quantitative surveys to provide a holistic understanding. A rigorous analysis was conducted, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques, such as weighting methods on the SWOT matrix. The findings resulted in a strategic formulation, highlighting the possibilities of waqf integration in the Indonesian insurance sector. The study reveals the promising trajectory of waqf insurance in Indonesia, positioning it in Quadrant I of the SWOT analysis. This implies that, with the collective support of all stakeholders, this Islamic social finance product has the potential to experience substantial growth, capitalizing on the existing opportunities.

In times of business adversity, the significance of Employee Engagement (EE) and Customer Experience Management (CEM) is often overlooked by companies. This study aims to investigate the roles of these factors in facilitating the Business Recovery (BR) of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the post-COVID-19 era, with a particular focus on the food service sector. Data for this investigation was gathered through surveys and subsequently subjected to analysis using Maximum Likelihood - Structural Equation Model (SEM) estimation. The results indicate that Strategic Flexibility (SF) mediates the relationship between CEM and BR, while the mediation of EE to BR by SF was not confirmed. The study underscores the crucial role of CEM as a fundamental capability that supports SF, thereby expediting BR. Additionally, this research confirms the interplay between the Conservation of Resource Theory and the Broaden-and-Build (B&B) theory in the formation of a company's Dynamic Capabilities, which ultimately determine its performance. Limitations of this study include a restricted observation period at a single point in time, a lack of sample diversity, and the possibility of subjective responses from respondents during the questionnaire completion process.

The upcoming research has been compiled to evaluate the effects of tuition fees on the academic decisions of Tehran University Management Faculties students. In this descriptive research, the statistical population consists of all master's and Ph.D. students of the management faculties of Tehran University in the last five years (2015-2020). Data were analyzed using the natural experiment method. Two different statistical models were fitted. In the first model, the independent variable (the type of course for tuition payers) was significant in deciding to drop out, while the independent variable (year) was significant in deciding to take a leave of absence. In the second statistical model, independent variables (age, GPA, and degree) were significant for the academic decision to drop out, and the independent variable (year) was significant for the academic decision to leave. Among the affecting variables, the type of the tuition-paying course was variable in such a way that the ratio of the probability of the academic decision to drop out for tuition-paying students was almost twice the ratio of the academic decision to drop out for non-tuition students in the management faculties of the University of Tehran.

The current research deals with the design of the national brand model based on the basic brand constructs. The main goal of the current research is to identify the constructs of nation branding and its underlying factors at the level of creating awareness of Iran's national brand. In this research, the most important constructs of the nation brand, as well as the underlying factors of each construct, were identified, which can be of special help in formulating nation brand development strategies. This research is applied based on purpose and descriptive survey. The statistical population of this study is the letsgoiran foreign tourism corporation. A sample of 360 people was analyzed. According to the results of the partial least squares technique, the most important construct affecting nation branding is brand meaning and brand recognition. In addition, the most effective underlying factor for creating a national brand is the credibility of the national brand and its overall image in the minds of the audience, especially foreign tourists who choose Iran as their destination.

Senior managers are the customers of organizational performance measurement methods to help them make better decisions at the firm level. One of the most applicable methods is Network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Network DEA models consider systems that have a network structure in which system inputs, after passing several intermediate interactions, are transformed into intermediate productions and finally leave the system as output products. However, many real-world cases do not necessarily conform to this network structure, which is related to the system outputs during multiple time periods or the same “dynamic” impacts. These structures cannot handle dynamic impacts. Therefore, this paper presents a novel structure that can consider the dynamic impacts and influences of sub-units on each other at various time periods. Besides, two models based on slack variables are proposed which can consider dynamic effects and calculate the efficiency of such networks. Using these models, the overall efficiency of networks is calculated for the whole time period. Finally, these models are applied to two examples, and the results obtained are compared with other methods.

Examining the structure of dependence between financial assets and the effects of their Co-movement is one of the important issues in financial markets. The corresponding copula is one of the most computationally convenient ways to describe the dependency structure. This paper examines regime change probability and the best copula model between Bitcoin and six other assets from 2018 to 2021. First, using the ARMA-GARCH model, the marginal distribution functions for all assets and residuals are calculated. Then, by using the obtained residuals, 11 models of copula and six models of combined Copula with Markov switching were implemented. The model that has the best function for constructing combined distribution functions is selected. Finally, the regime probabilities each time are calculated from the best-fitted model. The results show that in the study period, for Bitcoin-Ethereum, Bitcoin-Cardano, and Bitcoin-Gold pairs MS-CT, for Bitcoin-Binance coin and Bitcoin-Ripple pairs MS-CRG and MS-CN for Bitcoin-Oil pair have the best performance. Furthermore, the probabilities of regime change between each asset at each time were calculated and described.

This study attempts to compare innovative and less innovative agencies on innovative behavior, knowledge sharing behavior, Islamic work ethic and entrepreneurial orientation. Subsequently, data processing for the study adopts the use of the Dependent Sample T-test,  known as the Paired T-test. Results of the study proved that there are significant differences between the public sector in terms of innovative behavior, Islamic work ethic, and its dimensions, i.e., effort, cooperation, and moral responsibility. There is also a significant difference between more innovative and less innovative agencies in terms of entrepreneurial orientation and its dimensions, i.e., innovativeness and proactiveness. Nevertheless, there is no significant difference between more innovative agencies and less innovative agencies in terms of  knowledge-sharing behavior and its dimensions, i.e., knowledge donating and knowledge collecting. Likewise, one  of the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, i.e. risk taking, has no significant difference between more innovative and less innovative agencies.  Importantly, research findings provide a guideline for the government to find the solution of problem innovation in the public sector to improve service to society. Specifically, management support is very important in order to build a culture for knowledge sharing and a strong awareness among civil servants of the value of  Islamic work ethic. Managers are expected to be first in implementing entrepreneurial orientation. Subsequently, this empirical study is the first that examines the comparison between innovation, knowledge-sharing behavior, Islamic work ethics, and entrepreneurial orientation in public sector knowledge-sharing behavior, Islamic work ethics, and entrepreneurial orientation in the public sector, which is more innovative and less innovative.

Using intelligence in various aspects of business, including branding, allows organizations to reach a worthy competitive position in today's turbulent environment. However, researchers have not yet provided a scale to measure the level of brand intelligence. As a result, the purpose of this study is 1) to provide an operational definition of brand intelligence and 2) to develop a standard scale for measuring this variable. This study reports six studies on developing a brand intelligence scale based on a literature review and interviews with practitioners. This scale shows reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and nomological validity. The findings show a 24-item measurement scale comprising seven dimensions: monitoring, brand research, predictability, reactivity, learning ability, ability to collaborate, and responsiveness. Also, the results showed that brand intelligence significantly affects market performance and financial performance. Finally, contributions, implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Facing competitive market situations, customer recommendations are an essential tool to attract potential customers as well as to get free promotions. This study aims to measure the most important airline’s service quality attributes of customer recommendations toward full-service and low-cost carrier airlines from Indonesia. To measure the most important airline’s service quality attributes influencing customer recommendations, a feature selection approach was used. The performance of feature selection algorithms was evaluated using support vector machines (SVM). Findings revealed that airlines’ reputation, employee knowledge, and information system were the most important airline service quality attributes of customer recommendations toward full-service airlines. On the other hand, airlines’ reputation, employee knowledge, employee courteousness, on-time performance, safety & security, error records, responsive employees, and information systems were for low-cost carrier airlines. This research provides paths to airlines managers on how to get free advertisements through customer recommendations.

This paper proposes a model of sustainable human resource management (HRM) strategies and consequences by considering stakeholder theory. Qualitative research was conducted to answer research questions. This study uses a purposeful snowball sampling method to draw on in-depth interviews with 19 experts. Data were analyzed by three phases :open, central, and selective coding. The results categorize sustainable HRM strategies into four category of strategies relevant to employees (competence development, equality and diversity management, caring and support of employees, career planning, participation, work-life balance programs, ability to fulfill the psychological needs, and employees’ health and safety management); environment and public sustainable HRM strategies (green job design, green human resource planning, green selection and employment, green performance evaluation and encouragement system; green training, and availability of job opportunity for locals); economic sustainability strategies (overall quality management, commitment of senior management to economic sustainability, cost improvement system, equipment efficiency, process and work-flow standardization and re-engineering); and general strategies  regards to different stakeholders (conflict of interest management among different stakeholders, effective management of stakeholder support strategies, and considering stakeholders in decision-making). Moreover, the consequence of establishing stakeholder-oriented sustainable HRM is divided into four groups of individual level, environmental, organizational, and stakeholders relations consequences.

This study explores the impact of organizational factors on strategic unlearning through the mediating role of knowledge sharing in Iran's state-owned banks. The aim is to develop human resource capabilities based on organizational learning and strategic unlearning patterns to effectively attain the objectives of Iran's state banks. The research population includes 412 managers and deputies of Iran's state-owned banks, and the sample size is 199 participants. A researcher-made questionnaire was applied to collect data, and SmartPLS3 software was used for statistical analysis. The results indicate that organizational factors positively impact strategic unlearning through the mediating role of knowledge sharing. Strategic unlearning leads to greater motivation for talent development in creative environments, causing constructive changes that improve individual and organizational performance, leading to innovation and creativity. The study highlights the importance of strategic unlearning in Iran's state-owned banks and its positive impact on progress toward a better future.

Organizational inertia as a defensive mechanism has pervasive effects on the functional aspects of organizations, including financial functions. One of these financial aspects affected by inertia is the cost of equity capital. Hence, This article aims to contribute to the accounting knowledge literature by presenting the framework of organizational inertia (OI) and investigating the effect of the cost of equity capital (COE) on it. This article uses meta-synthesis, the Delphi process, and, finally, questionnaire design to measure organizational inertia. The mentioned questionnaire was sent to the managers of the sample companies, and finally, 138 questionnaires were completed and returned and included in the statistical analysis. To measure the cost of equity capital, we use three proxies, including the O’Hanlon and Steele (2000) Model (OSM), CAPM, and Industry-Adjusted Earnings-to-Stock Price Ratio (IndEP). The results show that organizational inertia has a positive and significant effect on the cost of equity capital. The research results have confirmed that organizational inertia has a positive and significant effect on the cost of equity capital. This means that the increase in structural resistance causes the company's financing costs to increase, and the company faces more challenges in obtaining resources.

OTT (over-the-top) platforms that stream media directly to viewers via the Internet, bypassing cable, broadcast, and satellite television platforms, are one of the fastest-growing platforms in India. This study investigates the variables influencing continuance intention to subscribe to video-on-demand streaming media services. Utilizing the expectation confirmation model (ECM) and adding habit and content availability, the moderating effects of those variables are examined. SmartPLS was used for Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the results of the measurement and structural models. The findings show that perceived usefulness and expectation had a significant impact on satisfaction and that the effect of satisfaction was significant on continuance intention to subscribe. Research establishes that habit and content availability moderate the association between satisfaction and continuance intention. The study provides valuable insights for service providers, marketers, and practitioners to strengthen continuance intentions.

Identifying factors affecting financial performance evaluation in today's competitive markets. This study investigates the effect of sustainability reporting on financial performance evaluation. The panel data method is used considering the data type and the available analysis methods. The required data is collected through document analysis and referring to databases, and inferential statistics are used to conclude. The statistical population of this study includes all companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) during the period 2012-2021. The panel data regression model tests the research hypotheses, and the Stata software (Version 14) is employed to analyze the data. The results indicate that the three measures of corporate financial performance (return on assets, return on equity, and economic value added) are favorably affected by sustainability reporting. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that companies with a sustainable approach to environmental, social, and governance (hereafter ESG) issues build the trust and confidence of investors, creditors, and shareholders, which leads to an increase in firm value and, ultimately, the improvement of corporate performance. Using the results of this study, investors and creditors can identify and invest in companies that take sustainable ESG actions, which leads to an increase in their return on investment.

This study aims to identify green human resource management (GHRM) practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the digital transformation era. As organizations increasingly adopt digital technologies, integrating environmentally sustainable practices into HRM becomes crucial. This research investigates the specific GHRM practices SMEs implement and explores their alignment with the digital transformation initiatives. This research is done through a comprehensive review of 26 articles and a thematic analysis of them in the qualitative part (meta-synthesis) and a fuzzy Delphi method to screen and confirm the findings of the meta-synthesis in the quantitative part. This is a kind of mixed method that is used in this study. Based on the findings, GHRM practices in the age of digital transformation were identified in 64 concepts. The findings contribute to understanding how SMEs can effectively incorporate sustainable HRM practices in the context of digital transformation, promoting environmental stewardship and enhancing organizational sustainability.

Recently, cancer has become one of the main diseases and causes of death of people all over the world. For this purpose, extensive research has been done on the prediction and early detection of this disease in the body of patients in different fields. Artificial intelligence and data mining approaches are among the methods that have helped researchers in diagnosing this disease. In this research, a machine learning approach for early and timely diagnosis of cancer disease is presented. For this purpose, it uses logistic regression techniques, Naive Bayes, two versions of Random Forest and Support Vector Machine, which work in parallel with each other. As a result of the integration of the techniques, the proposed system achieves higher accuracy and reduces errors compared to the basic methods. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated using different criteria and showed superior results compared to traditional methods.