Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era

A special issue of Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research (ISSN 0718-1876). This special issue belongs to the section "Digital Business Organization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2022) | Viewed by 120984

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Economia e Impresa, Università degli Studi della Tuscia Viterbo, 01100 Viterbo, Italy

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Guest Editor
Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: digital transformation; technological foresight; digital entrepreneurship; innovation ecosystems; commodity sciences; information systems; sustainability; smart cities and smart territories; Industry 5.0
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Guest Editor
Department of Business and Economics, University of Naples Parthenope, Italy
Interests: business and ecomomics; entrepreneture

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Guest Editor
Business Administration Department, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest 010961, Romania
Interests: sustainable education models; international business; innovative business models; new learning and research models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In 2020, world leaders found themselves at historic crossroads, making decisions to face an unprecedented global problem, under remarkable pressures and diffused uncertainty. The pandemic posed daunting challenges to individuals and organisations. However, it opened windows of opportunities to reshape the economy recovery, restore the health of nature, develop sustainable businesses and business models, strengthen regional development, revitalise global cooperation, harness Industry 4.0, and redesign social contracts, skills and jobs.

While governments and international institutions are looking for solutions to support companies, workers and communities, firms need to identify new business models, rethinking their human resources policies and even repositioning themselves in the new digital ecosystem.

On the other hand, current global developments have shown, once more, that sustainability must remain the key driver of development in the transition towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) based on all stakeholders engagement including governments, educators, the private sector and each and every consumer.

This Special Issue is encouraging thinkers to provide their contribution to reshape the future, to look ahead at opportunities for sustainable innovation, change and growth, through digital technologies. We welcome conceptual, empirical and theoretical work in economics and social sciences. We invite researchers, PhD students and businesspeople to come together, share ideas, collaborate and act, providing their view beyond the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The topics of the Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following aspects:

  • Resilience and digitalization—key strategies for successful business in critical times
  • E-business and new entrepreneurship models
  • Digital transformation in the organization
  • Online consumer behaviour
  • E-commerce in the digital world
  • Applied statistics and data science
  • Financial perspectives in turbulent times
  • Global world after crisis: towards a new economic model
  • E-marketing and sustainability
  • Innovation in public and private organizations in context of digital transformation
  • Accounting and sustainable development in the digital era
  • Social networks and online communities
  • New ways of working and organization
  • Digital transformation and knowledge management.

Authors interested to submit a paper to this special issue call are encouraged to submit a preliminary version to the ItAIS conference (http://www.itais.org/conference/2021/) or to the ICESS 2021 conference (http://www.icess.ase.ro) to receive targeted feedback for the journal submission

 

Prof. Dr. Alessio Maria Braccini
Dr. Francesco Bellini
Dr. Rocco Agrifoglio
Prof. Dr. Alina Mihaela Dima
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Digital transformation of the organizations
  • Resilience and economic intelligence
  • E-business and on-line business
  • Digital and e-marketing
  • E-learning and digital transformation of education
  • Global finance for digital world
  • Social networks and online communities
  • Digital transformation and knowledge management
  • E-commerce and sustainable consumption

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

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31 pages, 13684 KiB  
Article
Regional Digital Resilience and the 4Helix Model—The Higher Education Institutions’ Case in Romania
by Adriana Grigorescu, Cristina Lincaru, Throstur Olaf Sigurjonsson and Speranța Pîrciog
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2023, 18(2), 928-958; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer18020048 - 8 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3363
Abstract
Against the background of multiple and simultaneous global socio-economic shocks, coupled with digital transformation and the green transition, regional resilience triggers new structural transformations. The more complex processes that need to be addressed now require the usage of complex integrated tools. The novelty [...] Read more.
Against the background of multiple and simultaneous global socio-economic shocks, coupled with digital transformation and the green transition, regional resilience triggers new structural transformations. The more complex processes that need to be addressed now require the usage of complex integrated tools. The novelty of the integrated approach is the combination of the models and the synthetic spatial–temporal picture offered. The quadruple helix, or 4Helix, model puts Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) at the nexus of generating regional digital resilience. We posit a new mindset and behavior of human capital to reinforce innovation and knowledge production and transfer. We explore, using the Romanian national case, to what degree the spatial 4Helix model generates regional digital resilience as a positive externality of adoption of the ‘new normal’ digital education. We analyze this process in three steps. (1) We determine the spatial distribution of HEIs at the Romanian county level (NUTS3). (2) We calculate the regional static and dynamic resilience indexes (at NUTS2) as the outcome of the method for multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) by each region’s digital economy as well as individual and regional wealth, social digital use and social digital connectivity dimensions. (3) Lastly, we provide the result of overlaid maps and radar charts (using HEIs number and spatial coverage and each region’s static and dynamic digital resilience). These three classes of digital resilience models of 4Helix by region indicate a generalized failure in adopting digital education in Romania. The study contributes by adding a powerful tool to explore the complex processes or phenomena and generating an integrated perspective using a pre-existing framework. In doing so, it enables researchers to better understand and address society’s needs, co-create knowledge and solutions together with the end-users, maximize the impact of these solutions, optimize resources usage, and increase the transparency and accountability of the decision-making processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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17 pages, 667 KiB  
Article
A Recommendation System in E-Commerce with Profit-Support Fuzzy Association Rule Mining (P-FARM)
by Onur Dogan
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2023, 18(2), 831-847; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer18020043 - 6 Apr 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3852
Abstract
E-commerce is snowballing with advancements in technology, and as a result, understanding complex transactional data has become increasingly important. To keep customers engaged, e-commerce systems need to have practical product recommendations. Some studies have focused on finding the most frequent items to recommend [...] Read more.
E-commerce is snowballing with advancements in technology, and as a result, understanding complex transactional data has become increasingly important. To keep customers engaged, e-commerce systems need to have practical product recommendations. Some studies have focused on finding the most frequent items to recommend to customers. However, this approach fails to consider profitability, a crucial aspect for companies. From the researcher’s perspective, this study introduces a novel method called Profit-supported Association Rule Mining with Fuzzy Theory (P-FARM), which goes beyond just recommending frequent items and considers a company’s profit while making product suggestions. P-FARM is an advanced data mining technique that creates association rules by finding the most profitable items in frequent item sets. From the practitioners’ standpoints, this method helps companies make better decisions by providing them with more profitable products with fewer rules. The results of this study show that P-FARM can be a powerful tool for improving e-commerce sales and maximizing profit for businesses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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20 pages, 2392 KiB  
Article
Positioning and Web Traffic of Colombian Banking Establishments
by Joan Sebastián Rojas Rincón, Andrés Ricardo Riveros Tarazona, Andrés Mauricio Mejía Martínez and Julio César Acosta-Prado
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2022, 17(4), 1473-1492; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer17040074 - 4 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2678
Abstract
The use of digital technologies has become one factor that significantly impacts business results in the financial industry. This study seeks to characterize the positioning and web traffic of Colombian banking establishments through analysis of the classification of their website, taking as reference [...] Read more.
The use of digital technologies has become one factor that significantly impacts business results in the financial industry. This study seeks to characterize the positioning and web traffic of Colombian banking establishments through analysis of the classification of their website, taking as reference the metrics related to web traffic and the attractiveness of the content and relevance for users as the bounce rate. The study presents a quantitative approach, non-experimental design, and descriptive scope. With a sample of 28 banking establishments, it is intended to contribute to the body of literature on bank marketing based on a systematic analysis of indicators. The findings of the study made it possible to elucidate that a good part of the websites of the banking establishments is well positioned, in addition to presenting low bounce rates. It is also possible to show that a significant portion of this traffic comes from individuals between 18 and 34 years of age and of the female gender. Likewise, traffic to the website is derived to a greater extent from direct access to the establishment’s portal or search engines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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19 pages, 399 KiB  
Article
Online Grocery Shopping in Germany: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19
by Lisa M. Gruntkowski and Luis F. Martinez
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2022, 17(3), 984-1002; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer17030050 - 20 Jul 2022
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 9281
Abstract
Online grocery shopping in Germany has shown a strong growth in the past years and is expected to further develop in the future, especially through the influence of COVID-19. The main purpose of this study was to examine six theoretical customer-oriented factors and [...] Read more.
Online grocery shopping in Germany has shown a strong growth in the past years and is expected to further develop in the future, especially through the influence of COVID-19. The main purpose of this study was to examine six theoretical customer-oriented factors and their influence on consumer online grocery purchase intentions. Additionally, this study compares consumer perceptions before and since the COVID-19 outbreak. Since the health crisis is very recent, the research on its impact on online grocery purchasing behavior is limited. A total of 402 valid questionnaires were collected in Germany. The data were analyzed using the software SPSS IBM 28. The results indicate that perceived risk still has a negative influence on purchase intentions, thus remaining relevant in online grocery shopping. However, the consumers’ perceived risk is considered lower compared to the pre-COVID-19 scenario. Moreover, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived trust, convenience, as well as situational factors were found to have a positive relationship with purchase intention, both before the COVID-19 crisis and since then. The COVID-19 pandemic shows a strong reduction in perceived risk, while the remaining characteristics increase at moderate levels. Online grocery businesses could use the insights of this study to reduce perceived risks as well as successfully communicate the benefits of online shopping to consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
15 pages, 1003 KiB  
Article
Evolution of the Online Grocery Shopping Experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Empiric Study from Portugal
by Sofia Gomes and João M. Lopes
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2022, 17(3), 909-923; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer17030047 - 6 Jul 2022
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 11854
Abstract
Online shopping has intensified in the last decade. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed circulation limitations and more restrictive behaviors on consumers due to fears of contracting the virus, boosting online grocery shopping. This study aims to assess the relationship between the online food [...] Read more.
Online shopping has intensified in the last decade. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed circulation limitations and more restrictive behaviors on consumers due to fears of contracting the virus, boosting online grocery shopping. This study aims to assess the relationship between the online food purchasing experience during the pandemic and the intention to purchase food online after the pandemic. The sample of this quantitative study is composed of 358 Portuguese consumers who carried out grocery shopping online during the pandemic and was collected through an online questionnaire. First, a cross-sectional description of the variables was applied to this sample and then an analytical cross-sectional survey was carried out using the partial least squares method. Due to health concerns, food and beverage consumption behaviors changed positively during the pandemic compared to before. Healthier consumer behavior towards food and beverages during the pandemic, compared to before the pandemic, may influence a greater propensity for online grocery shopping. Sociodemographic characteristics (age, education, income) were also determinants of the propensity to shop online during the pandemic. Specifically, the results of this study demonstrate a positive influence of young male consumers, with higher levels of education and income, regarding the online supermarket shopping experience. The results also demonstrate that a good online shopping experience during the pandemic can positively influence online shopping intentions after the pandemic. This study makes it possible to identify determinants of the online food shopping experience, serving as guidance and preparation for strategic marketing for retail grocery companies that wish to position themselves online. It also helps marketers and policymakers understand the potential influence of sociodemographic characteristics such as age, income, and education on building a relationship with consumers. Finally, the relationship between personal characteristics and the online grocery shopping experience requires further substantiation and this study contributes to this gap in the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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36 pages, 1144 KiB  
Article
How Does a Pandemic Disrupt the Benefits of eCommerce? A Case Study of Small and Medium Enterprises in the US
by Raziel Bravo, Mario Gonzalez Segura, Olawale Temowo and Subhashish Samaddar
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2022, 17(2), 522-557; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer17020028 - 20 Apr 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 13520
Abstract
Inspired by the ongoing disruption to businesses across the world, this research focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the contribution of eCommerce to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Our study seeks to establish an eCommerce-driven response to this natural disruption, by [...] Read more.
Inspired by the ongoing disruption to businesses across the world, this research focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the contribution of eCommerce to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Our study seeks to establish an eCommerce-driven response to this natural disruption, by asking the questions; How do eCommerce platforms impact SMEs? How does eCommerce affect an SME’s three major business functions during a global disruption? We employ a qualitative case study method, using interviews as our primary data source, along with secondary data from industry and company records. We discuss these case studies through the framework of the actor network theory (ANT), identifying eCommerce and other platforms that SMEs use as actors in their network. We interviewed eight SMEs involved in the physical sale and distribution of consumer goods, each of which had been operating for at least two years and had a maximum of 70 employees. On average, we found that 44% of the SMEs in this study benefitted from using eCommerce in key business areas, with 46% improving their operations, 47% improving sales and marketing, and 39% improving finance. We also found that SME adoption of eCommerce during the pandemic grew in response to these benefits. Of the eight companies we studied, four had begun developing full eCommerce operations and three more planned to develop them as the global situation further normalizes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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22 pages, 583 KiB  
Article
A Cluster Analysis Concerning the Behavior of Enterprises with E-Commerce Activity in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Adrian-Liviu Scutariu, Ștefăniță Șuşu, Cătălin-Emilian Huidumac-Petrescu and Rodica-Manuela Gogonea
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2022, 17(1), 47-68; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer17010003 - 27 Dec 2021
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 8631
Abstract
The planning of activities of e-commerce enterprises and their behavior has been influenced by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The behavior of e-commerce enterprises has been highlighted at the level of EU countries through an analysis elaborated on four variables: the value [...] Read more.
The planning of activities of e-commerce enterprises and their behavior has been influenced by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The behavior of e-commerce enterprises has been highlighted at the level of EU countries through an analysis elaborated on four variables: the value of e-commerce sales, cloud computing services, enterprises that have provided training to develop/upgrade the ICT skills of their personnel, e-commerce, customer relationship management (CRM) and secure transactions. Using the hierarchical clustering method, analysis was carried out on these variables to identify certain economic and behavioral patterns of e-commerce activity from 2018 and 2020. The study of the relationships involved in the e-commerce activity of these enterprises is reflected in models of the economic behavior of 31 European states in relation to the targeted variables. The results show that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly manifested in the direction of the evolution of each indicator but differ from one country to another. The trends depend on the level of development and the particularities of each country’s economy in adapting to the repercussions reported in relation to the level of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is highlighted by the significant regrouping of countries in 2020 compared with 2018 in relation to the average values of the indicators. The results show that, in 2020, the most significant percentages of the value of e-commerce sales were recorded in Belgium, Ireland and Czechia, as in 2018. In e-commerce, customer relationship management and secure transactions, Denmark and Sweden were superior in 2020 to the countries mentioned above, which were dominant in 2018. For the other two indicators, Finland and Norway were the top countries included in the analysis in both years. The conclusion supports the continuous model of e-commerce enterprise behavior in order to meet the requirements of online customers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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30 pages, 1745 KiB  
Article
Resilience Innovations and the Use of Food Order & Delivery Platforms by the Romanian Restaurants during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Mirela Cătălina Türkeș, Aurelia Felicia Stăncioiu, Codruța Adina Băltescu and Roxana-Cristina Marinescu
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 3218-3247; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070175 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 10996
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, the blocking of activity by the government and the restrictions imposed in Romania had detrimental effects on the activity of restaurants, imposing their adaptation to new situations and generating creative innovations that caused changes in the way restaurants deliver food [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic, the blocking of activity by the government and the restrictions imposed in Romania had detrimental effects on the activity of restaurants, imposing their adaptation to new situations and generating creative innovations that caused changes in the way restaurants deliver food to consumers through food order & delivery platforms. Exploring the nature and implications of such innovations on resilience, this study analyzes their impact on the attitude and intention to use food delivery platforms by restaurant managers in Romania during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the proposed structural model, the authors integrate innovations in resilience by joining together the new components of the established TAM model. This research was conducted on a sample of 402 restaurant managers in Romania. The data was collected based on a questionnaire, and it was analyzed with the SmartPLS3 software. The results of the study show that the four variables of innovation, namely business strategy innovations, technological innovations, financial innovations and social innovations, exert different effects on behavioral intention and attitude towards using the order & delivery platforms. The results of the study can be key points in the more efficient management of material, financial and human resources, thus improving the commercial performance of restaurants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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15 pages, 735 KiB  
Article
Digitalization and Labor Market—A Perspective within the Framework of Pandemic Crisis
by Grigore Ioan Piroșcă, George Laurențiu Șerban-Oprescu, Liana Badea, Mihaela-Roberta Stanef-Puică and Carlos Ramirez Valdebenito
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(7), 2843-2857; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16070156 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 11631
Abstract
The current pandemic crisis, which is far from being over, has led to a significant paradigm shift in economics. In a turbulent environment in which the labor market has encountered a long series of changes generated by the processes of automation, robotization and [...] Read more.
The current pandemic crisis, which is far from being over, has led to a significant paradigm shift in economics. In a turbulent environment in which the labor market has encountered a long series of changes generated by the processes of automation, robotization and digitalization, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that a workforce with digital skills can quickly adjust to new circumstances. Since novel issues, such as restrictions on internal movement and distorted supply chains, put major stress on the labor market, it seems that there is an urgent need for reshaping economies and following up-to-date technological trends. Moreover, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of scholars and policymakers expressed their concerns about the volatility of employment and the weak ability of labor to adapt to new types of jobs. Within this framework, our paper aims to analyze the plausible impacts of digital efficiency on the future development of the labor market. Based upon the assumption that employment is facing ongoing challenges and the labor market is constantly being reshaped by technological trends, our study attempts to provide a pragmatic analysis of the effects of digital skills and the use of the Internet on salaries and wages in EU member states. Since, according to our results, the levels of salaries and wages are strongly correlated with digital proficiency and Internet usage, a consistent effort to increase the digital skills of individuals may be required to achieve a more effective and flexible labor market. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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25 pages, 5639 KiB  
Article
Organizational Structure and Artificial Intelligence. Modeling the Intraorganizational Response to the AI Contingency
by Ihor Rudko, Aysan Bashirpour Bonab and Francesco Bellini
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(6), 2341-2364; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16060129 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8701
Abstract
Different and profound are the consequences of the further development of artificial intelligence (AI) on society. One of the manifestations of the upcoming changes is the plethora of novel ways in which companies may organize labor and capital. So far, the influence of [...] Read more.
Different and profound are the consequences of the further development of artificial intelligence (AI) on society. One of the manifestations of the upcoming changes is the plethora of novel ways in which companies may organize labor and capital. So far, the influence of AI on organizational structure has been mainly studied from either a technological or a broader decision-making perspective. Our paper provides a unique take on the topic, emphasizing the distinctive role of human agency and its function in the upcoming AI-driven organizational changes. Relying on the existing academic literature, we theorized a set of hypotheses concerning best fits to the AI contingency on both macro and meso-organizational levels. To test whether the hypothesized changes might encounter organizational inertia or resistance from jobholders, multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was applied to the online survey results. Four types of current and potential jobholders were distinguished according to their explicit attitudes towards hypothesized organizational changes: skeptics, doubtful skeptics, optimists, and doubtful optimists, the latter consisting primarily of emerging adults. Finally, we developed a model of intraorganizational response to the AI contingency based on four theoretical groups of individuals, as determined by the analysis. Our findings showed doubtful optimists to be the most important group, able to set organizational trends and positively influence skeptics and doubtful skeptics. Accordingly, promoters of AI-driven organizational changes are advised to design their communication efforts around emerging adults. As the survey was conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic, its sociological and managerial implications are relevant to the looming reality of the postpandemic world. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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16 pages, 1714 KiB  
Article
A Two-Stage SEM–Artificial Neural Network Analysis of Mobile Commerce and Its Drivers
by Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru and Claudiu George Bocean
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(6), 2304-2318; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16060127 - 9 Sep 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3803
Abstract
The COVID-19 health and economic crisis has affected all areas of social life globally, including the economy. The world economy has declined due to purchasing power for individuals who have been forced to stay at home and cannot perform work. These restrictions to [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 health and economic crisis has affected all areas of social life globally, including the economy. The world economy has declined due to purchasing power for individuals who have been forced to stay at home and cannot perform work. These restrictions to prevent the spread of SARS-Cov-2 have led to an increase in electronic commerce and mobile commerce as tools for procuring goods and services. In this paper, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of mobile commerce as an essential electronic commerce component, establishing the main drivers of mobile commerce and the intensity of their influences. The research focuses on mobile commerce in the United States (U.S.). It covers the period 2010–2020, the last year of this period capturing the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on electronic commerce (e-commerce) and mobile commerce (m-commerce). In the macroeconomic analysis of competitiveness, we established the main drivers of m-commerce, using artificial neural networks and the mediation effects found between the variables that describe m-commerce, e-commerce, and total sales, using structural equation modeling. The research results indicate an increase in the share of e-commerce in total sales and a predominance of the m-commerce share in e-commerce on the background of traffic restrictions and social distance rules imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders in the m-commerce area should consider the following enhancing drivers: increasing internet speed, expanding 5G and Wi-Fi networks, and increasing accessibility and trust in mobile devices and applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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28 pages, 4927 KiB  
Article
Research Jungle on Online Consumer Behaviour in the Context of Web 2.0: Traceability, Frontiers and Perspectives in the Post-Pandemic Era
by Xi Zhang, Hongda Liu and Pinbo Yao
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2021, 16(5), 1740-1767; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16050098 - 3 Jun 2021
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 10938
Abstract
In recent years, the study of online consumption behavior has gradually formed its research system and analysis model based on the inheritance of traditional research paradigms, focusing on the inner mechanism of consumption models explained by consumption activities. Online consumption is based on [...] Read more.
In recent years, the study of online consumption behavior has gradually formed its research system and analysis model based on the inheritance of traditional research paradigms, focusing on the inner mechanism of consumption models explained by consumption activities. Online consumption is based on the research scenario of social e-commerce and forms a broad research network through the extension of consumer objects, consumer psychology, and consumer concepts. Although the theoretical constructs of online consumer behavior continue to improve, the relevant studies still do not fully grasp the research frontiers due to the lagging research nature. In the context of Web 2.0, it is impossible to run through the latest developments in online consumption research. Moreover, the study of online consumer behavior has shown a trend of diversification and multiple schools of thought, and a research jungle has emerged, which in essence is the perfection and new height of the study of consumerism. This paper analyses the origins, frontiers, and prospects of online consumer behavior research to clarify the formation principles, development paths, and future directions of the online consumer behavior research jungle. Ultimately based on the economic changes in the post-pandemic context, this paper integrates and proposes an evolving mechanism for studying online consumption behavior, intending to achieve a peek into and reveal the jungle of online consumption research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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Review

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25 pages, 1368 KiB  
Review
Chatbots and Voice Assistants: Digital Transformers of the Company–Customer Interface—A Systematic Review of the Business Research Literature
by Carmen Bălan
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2023, 18(2), 995-1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer18020051 - 18 May 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 9511
Abstract
Chatbots and voice assistants are digital transformers of the interface between companies and customers. They have become part of the current practice of companies and represent a distinct domain of business research. This trend is significant in the broad business context marked by [...] Read more.
Chatbots and voice assistants are digital transformers of the interface between companies and customers. They have become part of the current practice of companies and represent a distinct domain of business research. This trend is significant in the broad business context marked by the digital transformation of companies, the fast development of e-commerce and the omnichannel behavior of customers. This article is a systematic review of the high-quality business research literature on chatbots and voice assistants. The purpose of this review is to critically analyze the current status of this literature from the perspective of the theories, contexts, characteristics and methodologies applied. The final aim of this review is to support the domain of study by suggesting a relevant agenda for future research. This review brings several contributions to the research domain, including the following: the identification of the main streams of high-quality business research in function of the theories in which the studies are grounded; the development of a conceptual framework of the investigated variables (antecedents, mediators, moderators and consequences); the creation of a conceptual framework of the humanlikeness of chatbots and voice assistants; the development of a conceptual framework of the consumer experience with chatbots and voice assistants and the presentation of insights for business practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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15 pages, 963 KiB  
Review
New Ways of Working through Emerging Technologies: A Meta-Synthesis of the Adoption of Blockchain in the Accountancy Domain
by Rocco Agrifoglio and Davide de Gennaro
J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res. 2022, 17(2), 836-850; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer17020043 - 9 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3875
Abstract
In an attempt to deepen how the way of working is changing due to the digital transformation, this research aims at understanding the process by which individuals adopt blockchain technology in accountancy. We conducted a meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature on the topic [...] Read more.
In an attempt to deepen how the way of working is changing due to the digital transformation, this research aims at understanding the process by which individuals adopt blockchain technology in accountancy. We conducted a meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature on the topic of blockchain technology adoption in the context of accountancy. Drawing from 10 systematically selected qualitative studies, we analyzed the process of blockchain technology adoption in accountancy, with particular reference to the impacts on accounting professionals, in terms of individual attitudes and behaviors, as well as organizations. Our findings contribute to the existing literature in at least two ways. First, our research explores the topic of blockchain adoption in the accountancy domain and stresses the relevance of the use of that emerging technology by accounting professionals and organizations, as well as the main problems that could limit its adoption and use. Second, we provide an overview of the process of blockchain technology adoption with specific reference to the questions of “why” and “how” blockchain is (or is not) adopted by accounting professionals and organizations, in an effort to shed light on a critical issue that has yet to be explored in accountancy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Resilience and Economic Intelligence in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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