Leicester Castle Business School

Permanent URI for this community

https://hdl.handle.net/2086/1428

Browse

Browsing Leicester Castle Business School by Research Institute "Institute for Responsible Business"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 22
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemOpen Access
    Africa's Development Dynamics 2023: Investing in Sustainable Development
    (African Union Commission and OECD, 2023-07-07) Egbetokun, Abiodun
    Africa’s Development Dynamics uses lessons from Central, East, North, Southern and West Africa to develop policy recommendations and share good practices across the continent. Drawing on the most recent statistics, the analysis of development dynamics aims to assist African leaders in reaching the targets of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 at all levels: continental, regional, national and local. This edition explores how Africa can attract investments that offer the best balance between economic, social and environmental objectives. Its fresh data and analysis aim to help policy makers improve risk assessments, strengthen African-led partnerships, and accelerate regional integration in ways that increase sustainable investments. Two continental chapters examine Africa’s investment landscape and related policy priorities. Five regional chapters offer tailored recommendations in strategic areas including natural ecosystems, renewable energy, climate finance and agri-food value chains. Africa’s Development Dynamics feeds into a policy debate between the African Union’s governments, citizens, entrepreneurs and researchers. It proposes a new collaboration between countries and regions, focusing on mutual learning and the preservation of common goods. This report results from a partnership between the African Union Commission and the OECD Development Centre.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Beyond Survival: How Black and Asian-Led Social Enterprises are Responding and Adapting to the UK Cost-of-Living Crisis
    (Elsevier, 2024-09-27) Kah, Sally; Murithi, William; Ogunmokun, Olapeju Comfort; Osei-Nimo, Samuel; Munawar, Mawish
    This report provides comprehensive evidence of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on businesses, individuals, and society, focusing on social enterprises led by Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals in the United Kingdom. It focuses on the innovative strategies adopted for economic crisis whilst acknowledging the barriers facing BME social entrepreneurs, including increased business costs, difficulties with financial planning, and the potential threat of business death. We use a qualitative research design and interviews as the data collection medium to provide evidence of BME-led social enterprises’ response to the cost-of-living crisis and their adaptation strategies. Fourteen founders and directors were interviewed between March 2023 and January 2024. The social enterprises are predominantly micro and small operating in England, tackling various economic and social issues. The analysis of the interviews suggests five main categories of resilience strategies: strategic business planning, working from home, asset optimisation, fuel voucher schemes, and grant diversification. Our findings provide ten practical recommendations for social enterprise decision-makers, funding institutions, and government bodies, which are divided into two parts. Recommendations for social enterprise decision-makers are: 1) financial planning, 2) operational efficiency, 3) diversification of income streams, 4) flexible work arrangements and 5) community engagement. Recommendations for funding institutions and government bodies: 6) flexible funding models, 7) long-term support, 8) collaborative initiatives, 9) capacity-building programmes and 10) policy support and advocacy. Investing in flexible funding and sustainable collaboration between social enterprises and relevant stakeholders, such as social investors, can empower social enterprises to develop resources and capabilities fit for crisis response.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemEmbargo
    Connectedness among diverse financial assets: Evidence from cryptocurrency uncertainty indices
    (Elsevier, 2024-11-18) Batra, S.; Tiwari, A. K.; Yadav,  M.; Danso, Albert
    This study examines the impact of cryptocurrency uncertainty indices on green bonds, currency, and commodity markets by using weekly data from January 1, 2014, to December 30, 2022. The study analyzes such relationships employing the time-varying robust Granger-Causality test coupled with the TVP-VAR-DY approach. The empirical findings unfold the heterogeneous effects of uncertainty indices toward diverse financial instruments pronounced during financial or economic turbulence. The DY approach indicates that total connectedness among financial assets varies significantly over time. The green bond market is the net receiver, while ishares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) and VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) indices transmit the shocks for the whole period. The findings suggest that holdings in the green bond market after the health crisis offer greater hedging opportunities to investors. The results have significant ramifications for financing, hedging, and policymaking.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemEmbargo
    Corporate Board Reform and Capital Structure Dynamics: Evidence from UK
    (Springer, 2024-10-15) Ezeani, Ernest; Fulgence, Samuel; Hu, Wansu; Kwabi, Frank; Chizindu, Wonu
    Theoretical arguments suggest that corporate board reform will influence firms' capital structure choices. Consistent with this argument, we examine the impact of corporate board reform on the capital structure dynamics of UK firms. Using 12,384 firm-year observations between 2006 and 2020, we provide evidence of a higher speed of adjustment (SOA) after board reform. Using an additional analysis, we find that firms with higher agency costs (in the pre-reform phase) are more likely to implement the monitoring effect of debt. Also, our decomposition analysis shows that firms increased both short-term and long-term debt after the board reform, suggesting that improved board monitoring positively impacts firm leverage. Our results are robust to alternative leverage proxies and batteries of robustness tests.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemMetadata only
    Does Economic Policy Uncertainty Explain Exchange Rate Movements in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): A Panel ARDL Approach
    (MDPI, 2023-11-01) Korley, Maud; Giouvris, Evangelos
    Research proposes that economic policy uncertainty (EPU) leads to exchange rate fluctuations. Given that African countries experience higher levels of uncertainty in developed/emerging markets, we examine the extent to which domestic and foreign EPU affect exchange rates for a panel of 12 ECOWAS countries covering the period 1996–2018. In order to account for non-stationarity, cross-sectional dependence, and heterogeneity, the paper employs the dynamic heterogeneous panel approach. The ECOWAS has a dual currency arrangement ranging from a common currency union (CFA) to floating exchange rates (Non-CFA). To account for this, this study splits the sample data into CFA and Non-CFA areas. In addition, this study considers the role of the global financial crisis in the exchange rate-EPU nexus. Our results show that domestic EPU has a positive effect on exchange rates in the long run for Non-CFA areas. Different from the existing literature, our results suggest that domestic EPU does not explain exchange rate fluctuations in the short run. For all countries, foreign EPU leads to appreciation in the long run and depreciation in the short run. Interestingly, foreign EPU has a more dominant effect on exchange rate fluctuations in the selected countries than domestic EPU. This may reflect the weak institutional framework in these countries, which allows external fluctuations to have a greater impact. Moreover, this could be attributed to the increase in foreign capital flows during the sample period. Thus, these countries must develop effective policies to effectively absorb these external shocks. Results are robust to different proxies of EPU.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Embedding disabled passenger needs into the UK’s Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem.
    (De Montfort University, 2024-10-25) Jones, Peter; Budd, Lucy; Ison, Stephen
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Entrepreneurial learning in informal apprenticeship programs: Exploring the learning process of the Igbo Apprenticeship System (IAS) in Nigeria
    (Taylor and Francis, 2024-09-10) Irene, Bridget; Chukwuma-Nwuba, Kemi; Lockyer, Joan; Onoshakpor, Chioma; Ndeh, Siona
    This research examines the unique learning process of the Igbo Apprenticeship System (IAS). This approach to the development of enterprises and entrepreneurship, originated in the ethnic group of communities in the Southeastern part of Nigeria, uses mimetic learning to instil in its participants’ knowledge and behaviours intended to create a lifelong approach and mindset to entrepreneurship development. This form of mimetic learning predates the mediaeval era and takes place outside the formal educational system. As a consequence, it largely does not rely on participants having a specific level of educational achievement. Rather it requires a long-term commitment from the apprentice, their family and the entrepreneur. The research expands the theoretical understanding of entrepreneurial learning through an evaluation of an entirely experiential base using the Mimetic Theory and Institutional Logics as the critical lens to explore the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention and social learning. It evaluates and combines the available evidence into a conceptual framework that shapes the process of entrepreneurial learning as an experiential activity. Qualitative data were gathered from 40 former and current apprentices and critically analysed using the illustrative case study and process tracing approach. The research contributes to the extant entrepreneurial learning process literature by identifying, reviewing and synthesizing available research into a conceptual framework that explores the process of entrepreneurial learning as an experiential process. It also highlights effective mechanisms of skills transfer and business training, contributing to the literature on informal/vocational training and human capital development. Key issues in entrepreneurship education including the different informal learning processes of the IAS and the identification of specific dynamics in the interaction and development of the learners were examined.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Government policy, IT structure, business model innovation and dynamic capability: catalysts for firm performance enhancement
    (The Slovenian Academy of Managment, 2024-11-11) Mai, B.; Nguyen, P.; Vo, N.; Ahmed, Z.; Stokes, Peter
    Small and medium‐sized firms (SMEs) encounter substantial obstacles in today’s rapidly changing economic landscape, primarily due to their restricted resources and management capacities. This study utilises the resource‐based view theory to investigate how government policies might assist SMEs in utilising their information technology (IT) infrastructure for digital transformation and enhancing firm performance. In the face of emerging technology and increased competition worldwide, SMEs must give utmost importance to innovation and the ability to adapt to achieve long‐term success. The study, utilising data from 658 SME participants in Vietnam, highlights the significant impact of government policies on shaping IT infrastructure and emphasises the significance of innovation in bolstering dynamic capacities and overall business success. These findings provide valuable insights for managers and policymakers, indicating prospective areas for future research that have consequences for SMEs.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemEmbargo
    HRD Practitioner Roles in Organizations: Challenges, Congruence and Changes
    (Sage, 2024-09-01) Jones, Jenni; Stewart, Jim; Kah, Sally; Hamlin, Bob; Poell, Rob F.; Lundgren, Henriette; Scully-Russ, Ellen
    This chapter focusses on the HRD roles performed by present day organization-based professional “HRD practitioners” and their respective colleague managers. In the absence of a universally accepted definition of the HRD domain of practice, our thinking was guided by Ruona (2016) who suggests both practitioners and scholars could lean on Hamlin and Stewart’s (2011) assertion that HRD is “in essence, a process or activity that helps or enables individuals, groups, organizations or host systems to learn, develop, and change behaviour for the purpose of improving or enhancing their competence, effectiveness, performance and growth” (p. 213). We have used their conceptualization of HRD to inform our thinking for this chapter. Little is known about the extent to which HRD organizational practitioners perform the core roles of HRD practice because, as Garavan et al. (2020) claim: (i) there is a dearth of research on such roles and the associated competencies; and (ii) there has been very limited progress in the alignment and strategic impact of HRD as advocated by HRD scholars and professional bodies, over the past 25 years. Research shows that many HRD practitioners lack credibility in the eyes of line managers (Thornhill et al., 2000; Hamlin, 2001; Torraco & Lundgren, 2020) with many line managers perceiving them as lacking the necessary business-related competencies to be an effective “strategic partner” (Garavan et al., 2020). Research also shows that many line managers fail to appreciate the critical importance of their own role within the HRD domain, supported by HRD practitioners, bringing about effective organizational change, development, and sustainable business success (Hamlin, 2016). In short, HRD research shows that there is a discrepancy between what HRD is doing, and what HRD should be doing (Torraco & Lundgren, 2020). In response to the above lack of research and role misunderstanding, the purpose of this chapter is to explore the HRD roles and activities performed by HRD practitioners and managers within organizational contexts, to clarify HRDs contribution and highlight areas to build future credibility. This is achieved by discussing previous and current research including the results of a recent HRD role-related cross-case/cross-nation comparative study using empirical data previously collected in the USA, the UK, and the NL, respectively (Stewart et al., 2022). The specific research question addressed was as follows: To what extent is there congruence in role expectations of organization-based HRD practitioners and their colleague/line managers?
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemMetadata only
    Independent strategic evaluation. Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III), 2016-2025
    (United Nations Evaluation Office, 2024-09) Egbetokun, Abiodun
    This report presents the independent strategic evaluation of the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III), an initiative launched by the United Nations General Assembly to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) across Africa from 2016 to 2025. The initiative, led in its execution by UNIDO, aimed to overcome hindrances to ISID in Africa, including limited economic diversification, weak physical and economic infrastructure development, and shortages in human capital, among others. IDDA III leveraged strategic partnerships with the African Union, regional economic communities, and various international stakeholders to achieve its goals. The evaluation focused on the implementation and outcomes of IDDA III, assessing its effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence, sustainability, and impact on Africa's industrial development journey. The findings reveal that IDDA III has significantly contributed to raising political commitment and mobilizing resources for Africa's industrialization. Through high-level advocacy, technical cooperation, and capacity-building initiatives, IDDA III has supported the development of industrial policies, enhanced institutional capacities, and facilitated the creation of industrial infrastructure. However, its implementation has been hindered by several challenges, including a lack of effective coordination, weak knowledge management, and limited funding. The evaluation concluded that IDDA III has been a relevant programme for inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Africa, and it is also coherent with existing major flagship frameworks. However, IDDA III fell short of its full potential due to the challenges faced in its implementation. The specific recommendations derived from the findings and conclusions include a need for better resource allocation to the coordination of future similar initiatives, the creation of a database for knowledge management, and a need for a programmatic approach in future initiatives. Moreover, the design of a potential successor to IDDA III should be radically different. It should follow the ECOSOC Guidelines for International Decades by allowing sufficient time between the proclamation of the decadal plan and the start of its implementation. It should also be framed within an enhanced African ownership, stronger governance and coordination, enhanced resource mobilization, and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemEmbargo
    Indigenous Knowledge and Entrepreneurship as a Strategy for Sustainable Development in Africa
    (FIIB Business Review, 2024) Mafimisebi, Oluwasoye; Onwuegbuzie, Henrietta N.; Orighoyegha, Eseroghene
    We problematize the knowledge emanating from indigenous people and entrepreneurship as crucial to sustainable development, yet scholars and practitioners have rarely focused on how indigenous knowledge and entrepreneurship serve as a strategy for sustainable development. To address this, we undertake a wide-ranging literature review of research that in some form explores indigenous knowledge, entrepreneurship and grassroots innovation within a sustainable development context. Our work advances the current debates on sustainable development to consider indigenous knowledge and entrepreneurship as valuable tools in addressing grand sustainability challenges and uncovers implications for the entrepreneurship policy agenda in the process. In particular, we show how indigenous knowledge, entrepreneurship and grassroots innovation resulting from the entrepreneurial actions of indigenous entrepreneurs serve as unexploited idiosyncratic sources of sustainable development and growth in Africa. The article concludes that promising avenues exist to utilise indigenous knowledge, entrepreneurship and innovation emanating from grassroots to achieve sustainable development.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemEmbargo
    Interplay between GHRM and Logistics Social Responsibility: When big data analytics matters
    (Emerald Publishing, 2024-09-19) Jaaron, Ayham A. M.; Javaid, Mudaser; Garcia, R. L. Fernando
    Purpose: This paper analyses the role of green human resources management (GHRM) practices on the application of logistics social responsibility (LSR) practices and examines the moderating effect of big data analytics (BDA) utilisation levels within these relationships. Design/Methodology/Approach: Based on quantitative research methodology using survey data from 404 managers in the logistics service providers (LSPs) industry in the Philippines, PLS-SEM technique was used to test hypotheses formulated in this research. Findings: Empirical results achieved suggest that GHRM practices have a significant positive impact on LSR. Among all individual GHRM practices, green training and development did not have any influence on LSR. While the results also revealed that BDA assimilation acts as a moderator of the relationship between GHRM and LSR, no support was found for the moderation effect of BDA acceptance or adoption on this relationship. Originality: The study fills a gap in the logistics literature by introducing dynamic capabilities theory to the nexus between GHRM and SLR for the first time, which reveals previously unknown answers on effects of GHRM practices on LSR. The study also introduces BDA assimilation as an important moderator that can strengthen positive impact of GHRM on LSR
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Language Operative Capacity in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
    (Springer, 2024-10-30) Tibrewal, Ankita; de joing, Ad; Parkes, Geoff; Tenzer, Helene; Bel-Lahsen, Melissa.
    Language-related IB research predominantly targets large MNCs, often overlooking the challenges that internationalizing SMEs face in effectively utilizing their limited language resources. To address this gap and assist SMEs in overcoming their unique language challenges, we develop a scale for language operative capacity (LOC), which measures a firm’s capacity to deploy language resources most productively throughout its global operations. We validate this instrument with data from 417 SMEs and examine its impact on two critical internationalization metrics: export performance and international networking capability. Our study makes three key contributions to language-related IB research and capacity research. First, we provide a comprehensive and robust LOC instrument, incorporating distinctions between potential and realized capacity from the capacity literature. Second, we offer a deeper understanding of language as a multi-level phenomenon by highlighting the interaction between individual-level language skills and organizational-level capacities. Third, we extend the scarce language-related IB research on SMEs by offering a nuanced understanding of LOC as a strategic resource, by validating the LOC instrument in the context of internationalizing SMEs, and by demonstrating its explanatory power for essential internationalization metrics. Additionally, our research provides SMEs with an actionable tool to assess their linguistic capacities, develop their language resources and optimize the use of these language resources in international operations.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemMetadata only
    Leadership in a social dilemma: Does it matter if the leader is pro-social or just says they are pro-social?
    (Wiley, 2024-10-29) Cartwright, Edward; Chai, Yidan; Xue, Lian
    Previous studies have shown that pro-social leaders cooperate, on average, more than pro-self leaders in social dilemmas. It can, thus, be beneficial for the group to have a pro-social leader. In this paper we analyze the consequences of a leader informing followers that they are pro-social (or pro-self). In doing so, we compare a setting in which the leader's type is truthfully revealed to settings where the leader can ‘hide’ or ‘lie’ about their pro-sociality. We find that a leader saying they are pro-social boosts efficiency, even if the signal is not fully credible. Cooperation is highest in a truth setting with a pro-social leader. We demonstrate that these results are consistent with a belief-based model of social preference in which the stated type of the leader changes the frame of reference for followers.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemOpen Access
    Local authority commissioning of employability support in Scotland and its impact on third-sector provision
    (De Montfort University, 2024-08-06) Payne, Jonathan; Butler, Peter; Rose, Jonathan
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Mapping Authentic Marketing Research Trends through Bibliometric Analysis (2013-2023)
    (Prosiding Seminar Nasional Forum Manajemen Indonesia, 2024-11-22) Hermawan, Daniel; Egbetokun, Abiodun
    Authentic marketing is a widely debated subject in several industries, including gastronomy, tourism, and culture. This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to identify the current state of the art in authentic marketing themes across multiple scientific disciplines. Bibliometric research analyzes the progress of research on authentic marketing from 2013 to 2023 by examining data from the past 10 years. Bibliometric analysis is to identify and analyze research trends across time, with the goal of generating new research ideas for future studies. Bibliometric research analyzes the progress of research on authentic marketing from 2013 to 2023 by examining data from the past 10 years. Based on bibliometric study, it is evident that the United States has a predominant presence in publications about legitimate marketing. In addition, the most commonly published type of article is the article, and the Journal of Business Research has the highest scientific influence in terms of publication sources, as it has the largest number of citations. Bibliometric analysis aims to identify and map the evolving trends in authentic marketing research, such as perception, sustainability, brand authenticity, social media, influencer marketing, purchase intention, and online social networking. This analysis can provide valuable insights and research ideas for future studies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemEmbargo
    Mini‐Me Fashion Sharenting: Drivers, Consequences, and the Role of Market Mavens
    (Wiley, 2024-11-28) Luong, Van‐Ha; Manthiou, Aikaterini; Liu, Huaming; Hickman, Ellie; Klaus, Phil
    The main purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological mechanisms that motivate sharenting behavior (the practice of parents sharing information and multimedia content about their children on social media) in the context of mini‐me fashion, where mothers or fathers wear matching outfits with their children. Based on mimicry behavior theory and self‐presentation, we use a mixed‐method approach to analyze 200 Instagram posts (study 1) and 303 surveys (study 2), and we examine the relationships of mimicry behavior and hedonism with self‐presentation and their impacts on brand engagement. The findings make theoretical contributions by confirming that mini‐me sharenting is considered an act of online self‐presentation primarily driven by hedonism and mimicry desire, thus leading to higher brand engagement and eWOM. Furthermore, the level of fashion market mavenism amplifies the impact of hedonism on brand engagement.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemMetadata only
    Oil price fluctuations and their impact on oil-exporting emerging economies
    (Elsevier, 2024-01-29) Agboola, Emmanuel; Chowdhury, Rosen; Yang, Bo
    How do oil price fluctuations affect economic activity and policy in the context of oil-exporting emerging economies? Past research suggests that the output responses to oil price innovations are asymmetric in nature but does not directly test the asymmetry in the government expenditure adjustments triggered by the shock. Moreover, many studies quantifying these asymmetric responses are fraught with methodological concerns. This paper assesses the empirical relevance of such asymmetries by studying how output and government expenditure respond to oil price shocks. Our estimation, employing unbiased methodologies, allows us to be agnostic regarding asymmetries in the responses depending on the direction and size of the shock. Using data for a diverse group of emerging economies, we find substantial evidence for the presence of asymmetries. Country-specific factors and/or fiscal stabilization incentives are possible explanations for the asymmetric responses. We draw policy recommendations for understanding the growth process specific to resource-rich emerging economies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemEmbargo
    Open Innovation and Risk
    (Elsevier, 2024-05-01) Mafimisebi, Oluwasoye
    Open innovation as a collaborative approach sometimes produce unexpected and creative solutions to risky situations. Whilst risk creates uncertainty. Uncertainty creates opportunities for companies. Open innovation implies that organization do not primarily depend on its internal resources, sources and knowledge for innovation. In times of volatility and uncertainty in the market spaces, organizations can collaborate with other firms to overcome challenges and risks facing them. A risky situation can prompt organizations to explore and exploit a greater number of collective solutions. Smart organizations seize risk situations to rethink their innovation and business continuity infrastructure. No doubt, risk or crisis often alters the behaviors of companies’ executives, customers, partners, investors and regulators. In conclusion, open innovation is an excellent way to manage risk and crisis, bring needed flexibility, create value and capture value as well as gain competitive edge and improve company performance.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemOpen Access
    Shouting into the Void? The introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and its impact on third-sector organisations delivering employment support in England
    (Published on ERSA website at: https://ersa.org.uk/news/third-sector-providers-of-employment-support-shouting-into-the-void-on-ukspf/, 2024-04-26) Payne, Jonathan; Butler, Peter; Rose, Jonathan