“Dear CEO and Board”: How Activist Investors’ Confidence in Tone Influences Campaign Success

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Brauer, Matthias; Wiersema, Margarethe; Binder, Philipp

Abstract: Activist hedge funds represent the most potent form of financial activism. Yet w ... Expand

Abstract: Activist hedge funds represent the most potent form of financial activism. Yet we do not fully understand how these activist investors, despite holding only a small stake in target firms, are able to influence management and the board to acquiesce to their demands, especially given the large uncertainty that their demands will improve shareholder value. Building on impression management (IM) theory, we propose that activist investors who express their concerns and demands with high confidence in their letters to target firms are likely to be perceived as knowledgeable and competent by the firm’s other shareholders, thus influencing the response of the firm’s management and board. In support of this theoretical proposition, results of our empirical analysis of 475 U.S. activist campaigns against U.S. companies between 2007 and 2019 suggest that confidence in tone in an activist’s letter, as a form of self-promotion, is positively associated with campaign success. We also observe that the positive association between confidence in tone in activist letters and campaign success is less for activists with greater success in prior campaigns and in campaigns with multiple activists. Our paper contributes to financial activism research by showing that activists’ verbal impression management can serve as an effective influence tactic in their campaigns. Our study also contributes to the emerging research stream on verbal IM by introducing a language attribute, confidence in tone, that has not been studied in management research and is distinct from past constructs examined in verbal IM research. Collapse

Topics: corporate governance strategic management organizational productivity decision making database system

Methods: descriptive statistic qualitative content analysis theory development linguistic analysis regression analysis method

Theories: behavioral theory

Examining the Relationship between National Cybersecurity Commitment, Culture, and Digital Payment Usage: An Institutional Trust Theory Perspective

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 1

Authors: Krishna, Ben; Krishnan, Satish; Sebastian, M. P.

Abstract: Cyberattacks can be considered one of the fundamental challenges that paralyze t ... Expand

Abstract: Cyberattacks can be considered one of the fundamental challenges that paralyze the progress of digital payment usage (DPU) progress among citizens, as consumers shun away from using digital banking services due to increased concern over information security. National Cybersecurity Commitment (NCSC) has emerged as a preventive cybersecurity mechanism for countries to tackle such cybersecurity threats. Previous studies have shown that a country's NCSC positively impacts the business and economy of the country. This study examines the effect of NCSC on digital payment usage (DPU) across nations by grounding our discussion on the institutional trust theory. As trusting belief in security measures is a culturally embedded characteristic, we also examine the moderating role of national culture through Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. We use multilevel models to analyze publicly available archives of repeated cross-sectional data covering 76 countries to test the proposed relationships. Our findings indicate that NCSC has a positive influence on DPU. Further, our results highlight that the relationship between NCSC and DPU in a country is contingent on cultural dimensions. Overall, the evidence suggests that a competent cybersecurity environment compatible with cultural values can influence the speedy diffusion of digital payments in a country. Implications of our findings for research and practice are also discussed. Collapse

Topics: IT security internet technology national culture electronic finance information system use

Methods: longitudinal research hierarchical linear modeling cross sectional research archival research time series analysis

Theories: trust theory cultural dimensions theory contingency theory theory of economic growth

Security is Local: The Influence of the Immediate Workgroup on Information Security

2023 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Wang, Dawei; Durcikova, Alexandra; Dennis, Alan

Abstract: Information security is a multilevel phenomenon with employee security decision ... Expand

Abstract: Information security is a multilevel phenomenon with employee security decisions being influenced by macrolevel factors (e.g., organizational policies), mesolevel factors (e.g., one's immediate workgroup-IW), and microlevel factors (e.g., individual personalities). We argue that an employee's local IW (i.e., immediate supervisor and coworkers) has a strong effect on security. This paper focuses on the effects of these mesolevel factors in the presence of macro-and microlevel factors. Drawing on the social structure and social learning framework as well as workgroup research, we hypothesize that the security behavior of an employee's IW supervisor and coworkers moderated by the nature of these relationships influences information security decisions. Our research, based on a sample of 217 full-time employees, reveals that the IW significantly affects security decisions, over and above the micro-and macrolevel factors. These effects are moderated by the nature of the relationship between employees and their IW supervisor (leader-member exchange) and coworkers (team-member exchange). A post hoc analysis shows that the mesolevel factors alone had the same explanatory power as the micro-and macrolevels combined. Our research suggests that future theory and research should include the IW and that organizations should share security responsibilities with line managers and help them understand their substantial impact on information security. Security training programs should ask employees about the behaviors of their IW supervisor and coworkers and, where needed, deliver anti-neutralization training to mitigate the effects of the IW's noncompliance behaviors.Alexandra Durcikova is an associate professor of MIS at the Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on knowledge management, knowledge repositories, and human compliance with security policy and characteristics of successful phishing attempts within the area of computer security, and health information systems. Collapse

Topics: data security IT security threat IT security password self efficacy

Methods: survey theory development descriptive statistic data transformation factor analysis

Theories: big five model social learning theory leader–member exchange theory

An attractive proposition? Persuading retail consumers to prefer reward-based crowdfunding for owning upcoming technologies

2022 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Banerjee, Shankhadeep; Bose, Indranil

Abstract: Can ordinary consumers be persuaded to choose reward-based crowdfunding over ret ... Expand

Abstract: Can ordinary consumers be persuaded to choose reward-based crowdfunding over retail purchase to own new technologies? To investigate, we developed a C2P (consumer-to-patron) Persuasion Model and tested it using mixed-factorial experimental design. Results showed positive influence of crowdfunding discounts on consumers’ likelihood to fund/refer which was negatively moderated by the expected waiting time to receive product. Af­ fective cues helped with getting referrals but not donations. Technology attractiveness and price, along with consumers’ gender and risk-propensity had significant influences. Based on the findings, we recommend tech­ nopreneurs to consciously target ordinary consumers for funding, and e-commerce and crowdfunding platforms to form design synergies. Collapse

Topics: crowdsourcing crowdfunding price management IT project entrepreneurship

Methods: experiment survey experimental design theoretical contribution factorial experiment

Theories: technology acceptance theory unified theory of acceptance and use of technology dual-system theory elaboration likelihood model

Early bird catches the worm! Meta-analysis of autonomous vehicles adoption – Moderating role of automation level, ownership and culture

2022 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Gopinath, Krishnan; Narayanamurthy, Gopalakrishnan

Abstract: The ongoing competition between traditional vehicle manufacturers and technology ... Expand

Abstract: The ongoing competition between traditional vehicle manufacturers and technology companies for quickly developing autonomous vehicles (AVs) and gaining early traction in the market is well known. However, some issues need to be cleared regarding the antecedents of the behavioral intention to use AVs. In this context, we conducted a meta-analysis using the TIS (Technological, Individual, and Security) framework, to understand the convergence and divergence of the factors influencing the behavioral intention to use AV technology. This metaanalysis tested the hypotheses using a database of 65 studies obtained from 58 articles with the cumulative sample size of 37,076. The study identified perceived usefulness, attitude, trust, safety, hedonic motivation, and social influence as the critical antecedents of AV adoption. Several of the relationships investigated in the study were moderated by factors such as level of automation, vehicle ownership and culture. The results revealed fewer incentives for the public to accept AVs. Theoretical contributions and recommendations to practitioners and policymakers have also been discussed. Collapse

Topics: behavioral intention usage intention perceived ease of use perceived usefulness social influence

Methods: meta analysis conceptual modelling literature sample synthesis literature study

Theories: unified theory of acceptance and use of technology technology acceptance model technology acceptance theory behavioral theory

What’s in a “Username”? The Effect of Perceived Anonymity on Herding in Crowdfunding

2022 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Jiang, Yang; Ho, Yi-Chun (Chad); Yan, Xiangbin; Tan, Yong

Abstract: This research examines the role of perceived anonymity in shaping herding behavi ... Expand

Abstract: This research examines the role of perceived anonymity in shaping herding behavior in online crowdfunding markets. Drawing on theories from social psychology literature, we argue that a lender forms different credibility perceptions toward preceding peers based on their perceived anonymity state; the lender then uses such perceptions to adjust the lender’s herding momentum toward them. Using data collected from a leading debt-based crowdfunding platform, we classify an individual’s username as either anonymous or real-seeming, with the latter referring to as a user identification that seems to reveal one’s real name. The results show that successors demonstrate weaker herding momentum toward predecessors who are presented with real-seeming usernames than anonymous ones. This finding, which we attribute to a lower extent of perceived credibility derived from a nonconforming behavior, challenges the conventional wisdom that considers anonymity a negative factor for source credibility. We further show that the uncovered positive effect of perceived anonymity on herding is accentuated in the early stage of the fundraising period; nevertheless, we find no such discrepancies between listings that are assigned with high-risk and low-risk credit grades. Our study contributes to the literatures dealing with anonymity and herding in online environments. Collapse

Topics: anonymity crowdsourcing crowdfunding online review privacy

Methods: robustness check hierarchical linear modeling longitudinal research statistical hypothesis test descriptive statistic

Theories: social learning theory

Actions Lead to Results: How the Behaviors of Information Systems Professionals Influence the Success of Information Systems Departments

2022 | Communications of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Karimikia, Hadi; Maccani, Giovanni; Singh, Harminder; Donnellan, Brian

Abstract: The growing complexity of systems, the increasing intensity of their use, and t ... Expand

Abstract: The growing complexity of systems, the increasing intensity of their use, and the greater prominence of technology in supporting organizational activities has meant that information systems (IS) professionals in organizations have to go beyond offering routine task-related support when working with their non-IS colleagues. For organizations to see IS professionals as effective, they have to carry out empathic behaviors such as sharing their IT knowledge with their non-IS colleagues and taking the initiative to minimize inconveniences during IS projects. Drawing from the organizational citizenship behavior concept, we develop a multilevel research model to examine how behaviors that IS professionals perform influence IS departments' effectiveness. Using data from more than 1,000 respondents working in the global finance industry, we conducted both cross-level and unit-level analyses and found results that support our arguments. Our results deepen the extent to which we understand the role that IS professionals play in supporting post-adoption IS use and digitally empowering business units while also performing their traditional roles. Collapse

Topics: IT workforce data quality system quality service quality IS service quality

Methods: survey statistical hypothesis test SEM tool structural equation modeling literature study

Theories: information systems success model

How the Personalities and Behaviors of Information Systems Professionals Influence the Effectiveness of Information Systems Departments

2022 | Information Systems Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Karimikia, Hadi; Singh, Harminder; Donnellan, Brian

Abstract: Building on the concept of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), this study ... Expand

Abstract: Building on the concept of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), this study develops a multi-level research model to examine how IS-specific OCBs displayed by IS professionals impact the perceived effectiveness of IS departments, and how the manifestation of IS-specific OCBs is in turn affected by the personal attributes of IS professionals, the leadership style of IS leaders, and the quality of the interactions within IS departments. Collapse

Topics: IT workforce personality system quality IS effectiveness data quality

Methods: survey statistical hypothesis test SEM tool hierarchical linear modeling structural equation modeling

Theories: social exchange theory big five model

How Employees Learn Information Security Policy Compliance Behavior: Toward a Social Learning Perspective

2022 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 5

Authors: Hengstler, Sebastian; Pryazhnykova, Natalya; Kühnel, Stephan

Abstract: Information security attacks typically exploit the weakest link in the chain, w ... Expand

Abstract: Information security attacks typically exploit the weakest link in the chain, which is in most cases is the IT end user at the workplace. While great strides have been made in understanding and explaining information security behavior, little is known about how such behavior is acquired by individuals in the first place. This research approaches the phenomenon through the lens of social learning theory. We argue that a new employee's behavior is initially learned through differential associations within the social network, rather than through knowledge of formal policies and associated sanctions. We used a scenario-based experimental approach and collected data from new employees with five years or less of work experience. Our results show that employee's behavior changes over time. Reinforcement through sanctions becomes more important in the maintenance phase, while imitation of others becomes less relevant. Collapse

Topics: data security cybersecurity behavior data encryption data completeness human resource management

Methods: survey statistical power analysis hierarchical linear modeling experimental group experiment

Theories: social learning theory theory of planned behavior

Visual Merchandising and Selling Orientations in E-commerce Live Streaming: Evidence from Taobao Live

2021 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Guo, Yutong; Goh, Khim Yong; Zhang, Ying; Liu, Xiao; Gao, Bo

Abstract: Leveraging video-based real-time interactions, e-commerce live streaming (ELS) ... Expand

Abstract: Leveraging video-based real-time interactions, e-commerce live streaming (ELS) has served as a powerful selling tool for online retailers and influencers. Particularly, broadcasters as sales representatives can adopt multiple selling strategies to influence consumers' buying behaviors in ELS. However, limited research has explored how ELS selling strategies affect the sales outcome. Drawing on the retailing and personal selling literatures, this paper hence focuses on two critical ELS selling tactics, visual merchandising and selling orientations, and relates them to product sales in ELS. By collecting a large-scale product-level sales and video dataset from Taobao Live, we algorithmically measure a set of selling strategies and empirically quantify their effects with a multilevel mixed model. Our preliminary results show significant relationships between ELS visual merchandising and selling orientations with product sales. Moreover, we find a moderating role of broadcaster types on such sales outcome effects. Collapse

Topics: electronic commerce social influence decision making social presence digital service

Methods: computational algorithm machine learning natural language processing image processing convolutional neural network