{"title":"Rethinking the performance implication of regional diversification: The interplay between intra- and inter-regional diversification","authors":"Jong Min Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115519","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115519","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores how the levels of intra- and inter-regional diversification are associated with multinational enterprise (MNE) performance, both independently and in combination. I argue that the effects of intra- and inter-regional diversification are not linear, and that intra- and inter-regional diversification moderates each other’s effects on MNE performance. This study reveals that both intra- and inter-regional diversification exhibit an inverted U-shaped relationship with MNE performance, with the impact of inter-regional diversification being stronger than that of intra-regional diversification. The result also shows that MNEs with moderate levels of both intra- and inter-regional diversification outperform MNEs with different internationalization patterns. This study concludes that ‘balanced’ intra- and inter-regional diversification can be more crucial for achieving better firm performance rather than the degrees of intra- and inter-regional diversification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115519"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144511029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dongjin He , Qianqian (Esther) Liu , Xing-Yu (Marcos) Chu , Meng Wang , Yuwei Jiang
{"title":"Gifts to say goodbye: consumer preferences for farewell gifts","authors":"Dongjin He , Qianqian (Esther) Liu , Xing-Yu (Marcos) Chu , Meng Wang , Yuwei Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research examines consumers’ gift preferences in the context of farewell gifting. Six primary studies and two studies reported in the Web Appendix demonstrate that consumers tend to choose a gift linked to their own identities when it is to be sent as a farewell gift (vs. a non-farewell gift). This effect is driven by consumers’ heightened reminding motive (i.e., the motive to remind the recipient of the giver). The effect of the gifting context on givers’ preferences for giver-identity-linked gifts is attenuated when they select gifts for socially distant recipients or when they perceive a low threat to their relationship with the recipient. Furthermore, the recipient can detect the giver’s reminding motive via giver-identity-linked gifts, and they appreciate giver-identity-linked farewell gifts more than giver-identity-unlinked farewell gifts. This research contributes to the literature on gifting and identity, and offers suggestions for gift promotions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115553"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Avoiding algorithm errors in textual analysis: A guide to selecting software, and a research agenda toward generative artificial intelligence","authors":"Janice Wobst , Rainer Lueg","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of textual analysis is expanding in organizational research, yet software packages vary in their compatibility with complex constructs. This study helps researchers select suitable tools by focusing on phrase-based dictionary methods. We empirically evaluate four software packages—LIWC, DICTION, CAT Scanner, and a custom Python tool—using the complex construct of value-based management as a test case. The analysis shows that software from the same methodological family produces highly consistent results, while popular but mismatched tools yield significant errors such as miscounted phrases. Based on this, we develop a structured selection guideline that links construct features with software capabilities. The framework enhances construct validity, supports methodological transparency, and is applicable across disciplines. Finally, we position the approach as a bridge to AI-enabled textual analysis, including prompt-based workflows, reinforcing the continued need for theory-grounded construct design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115571"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin Cobbinah , Ahmed Agyapong , Henry Kofi Mensah , Moses Acquaah
{"title":"Driving market success: The roles of organizational creativity, resilience, and turbulence in Ghanaian manufacturing firms","authors":"Benjamin Cobbinah , Ahmed Agyapong , Henry Kofi Mensah , Moses Acquaah","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115564","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115564","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this study is to examine the proposition that organizational resilience acts as a mediating factor in enhancing the relationship between organizational creativity and firm performance. Furthermore, the study argues that the degree of technology turbulence and market turbulence affects the indirect impact of organizational creativity on firm performance through organizational resilience. Data gathered from 399 owner-managers and other executives of manufacturing enterprises in Ghana, collected over two time periods from different respondents, was used to test the hypotheses. The findings suggest that the connection between organizational creativity and firm performance is mediated by organizational resilience. Furthermore, the findings indicate that in situations of increased technological turbulence and market turbulence, the mediated relationship between organizational creativity and firm performance via organizational resilience is enhanced. The implications of these findings are discussed, providing valuable insights for managers navigating the challenges of doing business in dynamic and resource-constrained environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115564"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yan Kou , Samart Powpaka , Lanlan Zhou , Jiangyu Huang , Dong Lu
{"title":"User presence in online product reviews: The dual effects on purchase intention","authors":"Yan Kou , Samart Powpaka , Lanlan Zhou , Jiangyu Huang , Dong Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Consumers frequently post selfies featuring product usage in online product reviews. This research investigates the dual effects of user presence in product reviews (UPPR) on viewers’ purchase intention and the underlying psychological mechanisms. Through three experiments and an analysis of field data of 3,577 products, our findings revealed that UPPR influences purchase intention in two significant ways, enhancing sense of social presence while decreasing self-congruity. The net effect of UPPR on purchase intention is determined by the diagnosticity of the UPPR information. When UPPR is highly diagnostic, the negative impact of reduced self-congruity dominates, lowering purchase intentions. Conversely, when UPPR is low in diagnosticity, the positive effect of increased sense of social presence prevails, boosting purchase intentions. The findings provide significant theoretical insights into social influence and self-congruity construction in the digital world and offer crucial practical implications for electronic word-of-mouth marketing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115563"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transforming leader reflexivity into follower performance: The vital role of vertical knowledge exchange and participative decision-making","authors":"Jianghua Mao , Yan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115558","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115558","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although the influence of leader cognition on leadership effectiveness has been well established through intrapersonal mechanisms, limited attention has been given to whether and how such cognition translates into enhanced follower productivity. We integrate the cognitive resource theory and the theory of knowledge exchange to propose that leader cognitive reflexivity enhances follower performance through vertical knowledge exchange. This positive relationship is more likely to occur when leaders exhibit high participative decision-making. Utilizing a time-lagged research design, data obtained from 653 leader-member dyads support our proposed model. Our study has significant implications for research in the realm of leader cognition, and offers insights into the leadership practices that foster vertical knowledge exchange, ultimately impacting follower performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115558"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144489422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paul Goldmann , Björn Schäfer , Christina Altendorfer
{"title":"Development and validation of the digital mindset scale","authors":"Paul Goldmann , Björn Schäfer , Christina Altendorfer","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115554","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115554","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An individual’s digital mindset is crucial to navigating digital transformation. Current studies reveal a lack of construct clarity jeopardizing further research. We address this gap by conceptualizing the construct and its multidimensionality, and by developing and validating a scale. Following a multi-grounded theory approach (n = 28) we identify three dimensions of digital mindset: digital consciousness, digital expertise, and digital business acumen. Subsequently, we developed and validated the digital mindset scale in five phases. We generated 95 items. Exploratory (n = 167) and confirmatory (n = 658) factor analyses supported the dimensions. We added items and reassessed the psychometric properties (n = 152), and established convergent and discriminant validity (n = 243). Finally, we examined relationships with innovative and entrepreneurial behavior, supporting nomological and incremental validity (n = 145). Our research paves the way for empirical studies and equips practitioners to assess employees’ digital mindset throughout the professional lifecycle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115554"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144480859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Liang Wang , Jun Hu , Daifei Yao , Miroslaw J. Skibniewski
{"title":"Indelible imprint: CEOs’ poverty experience and corporate labor income share","authors":"Liang Wang , Jun Hu , Daifei Yao , Miroslaw J. Skibniewski","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the impact of CEOs’ poverty experiences on firms’ labor income share. Using a manually compiled dataset that matches the birthplaces of CEOs with poverty-stricken counties in China, we find that firms led by CEOs with poverty experience have a considerably higher labor income share. This effect is stronger for firms located in CEOs’ hometowns, labor-intensive firms, and CEOs with higher educational attainment. Further analysis reveals that CEO poverty experience increases labor income share through self-restraint in expenses (reducing discretionary managerial costs) and investment in employees (enhancing wages, benefits, and training programs). Our findings support imprinting theory and distributive justice theory, suggesting that early-life adversity leaves a lasting effect on CEOs’ decision-making, thereby influencing corporate resource allocation and employee welfare policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115539"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144472174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gaetano “Nino” Miceli, Ernesto Cardamone, Maria Antonietta Raimondo
{"title":"Art and science talk different. The effect of language abstractness-concreteness on liking of artistic and scientific products","authors":"Gaetano “Nino” Miceli, Ernesto Cardamone, Maria Antonietta Raimondo","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bridging the research streams on the promotion of artistic and scientific products and on language dimensions, we propose that language abstractness vs. concreteness has differential effects on consumer liking of products depending on the product domain – artistic vs. scientific. Using different research designs and data, we found that more abstract language leads to more favorable consumer evaluations of artistic products, while more concrete language enhances consumer liking of scientific products. The perceived fit between the communication style and the product domain drives this effect. Our research contributes to the two fields by investigating the effect of a relevant and actionable language dimension – abstractness vs. concreteness – and clarifying the mechanism explaining this effect. We discuss implications of our findings for theory and practice, demonstrating that carefully chosen words can enhance consumer appreciation of artistic and scientific products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115559"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144472173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"When suffering hurts more: suffering for material products reduces intrinsic motivation, well-being, and repurchase intention compared to experiences","authors":"Amy Errmann , Luis Arango","doi":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Suffering (significant effort with negative valence) is increasingly present in consumption, yet little is known about when it undermines motivation or well-being. This paper examines how suffering affects intrinsic motivation, well-being, and repurchase intention, moderated by material and experiential product types. Across four studies, we test whether suffering (vs. control) has differential effects on consumer outcomes. Study 1 (N = 300) shows that suffering reduces well-being in material but not experiential purchases. Studies 2a (N = 429) and 2b (N = 394) replicate this across scenarios, showing that suffering in material contexts lowers well-being and repurchase intention, effects not observed for experiential purchases. Study 3 (N = 487) shows that in material contexts, suffering reduces intrinsic motivation and well-being, thereby decreasing repurchase intention. These findings demonstrate that suffering undermines outcomes in material consumption, while experiential consumption appears insulated. We extend self-determination theory by showing how suffering impacts motivation across consumption types.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Research","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 115506"},"PeriodicalIF":10.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144472172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}