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| Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies |
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Vol. 26(01)
, April 2019, Page 34-55
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| Empirical study on the effective factors of social responsibility disclosure of Iranian companies |
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| Mahdi Salehi & Hossein Tarighi & Malihe Rezanezhad |
DOI: 10.1108/JABES-06-2018-0028
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate the relationship between some characteristics of corporations including firm size, financial leverage, profitability, firm age and the type of industry with social responsibility disclosure of firms listed on Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE); and second, to study the association between the level of corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) and some of the audit variables such as audit fees, audit tenure and audit firm’ size.
Design/methodology/approach – The study population consists of 125 firms listed on the TSE during the years 2010–2015. Following Salehi et al. (2017), content analysis is used to measure the level of social responsibility disclosure, and hypotheses are performed using multiple regression analysis and R software.
Findings – The results represented that there is a positive significant relationship between a firm size and a firm age with the level of CSRD. However, there is a negative significant association between financial leverage and profitability with the level of CSRD. Given that CSRD is different among various industries and the type of industry can be an influential factor in CSRD, an industry type’ variable in the fourth hypothesis is of a type of index variable and has eight levels, of which the first level is ranked as the base level. Our findings showed that the level of CSRD at industries of machinery and appliances, production of metal products, food and beverage products, and textiles is lower than the baseline level (pharmacy). Nevertheless, companies in the fifth industry (mineral products) have a higher level of CSRD in comparison with the pharmacy industry. Moreover, the authors find that there is a significant positive connection between audit fees and CSRD. This implies that Iranian managers in an inflationary economy probably manage earnings when they provide more CSRDs, which leads to increase in the audit risk and audit fees.
Practical implications – Needless to say, the findings of this paper will have practical implications for investors, auditors and other users of financial statements. First of all, this study will aware them of the fact that when a country faces economic sanctions and most of its companies are in financial strain investors should not consider the firms engaging in corporate social responsibility activities to behave morally and provide transparent financial reports. Second, the results will convince auditors to be conservative toward the firms that are financially distressed, for audit risk of them will be high. Thus, policymakers should be cautious concerning directors’ opportunistic actions and increase monitoring to enforce social obedience.
Originality/value – The turning point of this research is related to the time period of research related to firms that have faced severe financial problems due to economic sanctions. In fact, the study revealed another aspect of CSRD that could have negative consequences when managers are in financial strain and take opportunistic actions.
Keywords
CSR disclosure, Firm size, Audit fees, Financial leverage
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Investigating the social impact of green innovation: an exploratory study of Vietnamese organisations using “concept cards” interviewing
2025, Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies
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Abstract
Purpose
Green innovation by organisations has the potential to create social impact across five dimensions: social capital, collective identities, environmental literacy, community well-being and human capital. However, the link between green innovation and these dimensions of social impact is underexplored, particularly in developing countries such as Vietnam, where environmental policies are still being framed. Thus, this study provides an exploratory analysis of the social impact of green innovation undertaken by organisations in Vietnam.
Design/methodology/approach
The perspectives of a focal organisation in Vietnam and three related stakeholders are examined. Data were obtained from the research participants using a photo-elicitation interviewing strategy with concept cards. A hybrid deductive–inductive approach to thematic analysis identified five themes.
Findings
There is evidence that green innovation positively influences social impact across the five identified dimensions. Additionally, the analysis suggests that green innovation can generate spillover effects amongst stakeholder organisations.
Research limitations/implications
An obvious limitation of this study is that it is based solely on interviews of executives and managers linked to a focal organisation that is already undertaking green innovation. Due to time and resource limitations, it was not possible to examine other sources of information, such as documentary evidence, which would have increased the reliability of the data.
Practical implications
This paper makes two contributions. First, it presents stakeholders’perceptions of the social impact of an organisation’s implementation of a green innovation strategy. Second, the study demonstrates the use of a novel photo-elicitation technique – concept cards – in undertaking interviews with busy business executives. Such an approach has rarely been used in business settings.
Social implications
This study provides managers with a framework for measuring the social impact of their green initiatives. It is no longer sufficient to evaluate a firm’s financial performance alone. With a growing emphasis on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, managers must be able to report the impact of their work beyond business boundaries. Our research findings are also insightful for policymakers working in innovation-related government, providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating the social impact of innovation.
Originality/value
This study investigates the emerging concept of green innovation using a novel “concept cards” interviewing technique. The perceptions of individuals from a sample of organisations in Vietnam provide a practical foundation for organisations’ future development of effective green innovation strategies.
How ostracism jeopardizes customers' interests at restaurants: a study in context of COVID-19
2025, Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies
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Abstract
Purpose
With theoretical underpinnings in the conservation of resources theory, this research aims at understanding the link between workplace ostracism (WPO) and its effects on customers' interests in the context of COVID-19, with the mediation of stress and moderation of self-efficacy (SE).
Design/methodology/approach
The study followed a time-lagged design. A sample of 217 frontline employees working in the food sector of southern Punjab, Pakistan, responded to the study questions using the survey method with structured questionnaires. A Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) tool was utilized for data analysis with bootstrapping and PROCESS macro.
Findings
The findings show that an important mechanism by which ostracism translates into customer service sabotage (CSS) is the increase in perceived stress levels of the employees. Additionally, SE was found to be an important personal resource that acts as a moderator in the said relationship.
Practical implications
Employees with high SE sense less workplace stress even during a pandemic. Leadership should consider the stress-alleviating effect of SE for lessening the damaging influence of WPO on customers.
Originality/value
The study fills an important empirical gap in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, by showing that due to resource loss perceived by employees while being targeted by ostracism, they may decide to transfer their frustration towards organizational customers by sabotaging their service experience.
The effect of internal branding on organisational financial performance and brand loyalty: mediating role of psychological empowerment
2025, Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies
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Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the effect of internal branding on organisational financial performance and brand loyalty with the mediating role of psychological empowerment.
Design/methodology/approach
The data gathered from 200 Pasargad insurance employees in Iran were analysed. Structural equation modelling and R were used to evaluate the model. Financial performance was measured by four concepts (ROI, ROE, Sales growth, ROA) based on available data from March 2010 to March 2020.
Findings
The results revealed that internal branding and psychological empowerment have no significant effect on financial performance, but both have a significant positive effect on brand loyalty. Likewise, the mediating role of psychological empowerment on the subject of the impact of internal branding on brand loyalty was confirmed. Furthermore, psychological empowerment did not play a mediating role in the impact of internal branding on financial performance.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study could be important for managers of organisations active in the insurance industry to highlight internal branding and enhance psychological empowerment and employee brand loyalty. Moreover, managers' perception of the effective role of psychological empowerment to enhance employee brand loyalty is another practical aspect of this research.
Originality/value
Considering the mediating role of psychological empowerment to the effect of internal branding on financial performance and brand loyalty is an innovative aspect of the present study. Meanwhile, the use of R software for VB-SEM was another point to surge the value of this paper.
Which formula for corporate risk-taking around the world? Exploring happiness as the “black box”
2023, Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies
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Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines how the degree of happiness affects corporate risk-taking and the moderating influence of family ownership of firms on this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use an international sample of 17,654 firm-year observations from 24 countries around the world from 2008 to 2016.
Findings
Using the happiness index from the World Happiness Report developed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the authors show that a country's overall happiness is negatively correlated with risk-taking behavior by firms. The findings are robust to an alternative measure of risk-taking by firms. Further analyses document that the negative influence of happiness on firm risk-taking is more pronounced for family-owned firms.
Practical implications
The paper is consistent with the notion that happier people are likely to be more risk-averse in making financial decisions, which, in turn, reduces corporate risk-taking.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the broad literature on the determinants of corporate risk-taking and the growing literature on the role of sentiment on investment decisions. The authors contribute to the current debate about family-owned firms by demonstrating that the presence of family trust strengthens the negative influence of happiness on corporate risk-taking, a topic that has been unexplored in previous studies.
Hedging, managerial ownership and firm value
2021, Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies
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Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the impact of derivatives as risk management strategy on the value of Malaysian firms. This study also examines the interaction effect between derivatives and managerial ownership on firm value.
Design/methodology/approach
The study examines 200 nonfinancial firms engaged in derivatives for the period 2012–2017 using the generalized method of moments (GMM) to establish the influence of derivatives and managerial ownership on firm value. The study refers to two related theories (hedging theory and managerial aversion theory) to explain its findings. Firm value is measured using Tobin's Q with return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) as robustness checks.
Findings
The study found evidence on the positive influence of derivatives on firm value as proposed by the hedging theory. However, the study concludes that managers less hedge when they owned more shares based on the negative interaction between derivatives and managerial ownership on firm value. Hedging decision among managers in Malaysian firms therefore does not subscribe to the managerial aversion theory.
Research limitations/implications
This study focuses on the derivatives (foreign currency derivatives, interest rate derivatives and commodity derivatives) and managerial ownership that is deemed relevant and important to the Malaysian firms. Other forms of ownership such as state-/foreign owned and institutional ownership are not covered in this study.
Practical implications
This study has important implications to managers and investors. First is on the importance of risk management using derivatives to increase firm value, second, the influence of derivatives and managerial ownership on firm value and finally, the quality reporting on derivatives exposure by firms in line with the required accounting standard.
Originality/value
There is limited empirical evidence on the impact of derivatives on firm value as well as the influence of managerial ownership on hedging decisions of Malaysian firms. This study analyzes the influence of derivatives on firm value during the period in which reporting on derivatives in financial reports is made mandatory by the Malaysian regulator, hence avoiding data inaccuracy unlike the previous studies on Malaysia. This study therefore fills the gap in the literature in relation to the risk management strategies using derivatives in Malaysia.
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