Purpose Smart home technologies (SHTs) are the latest Internet of Things (IoT) trend in India and have very few empirical and theoretical studies in their early stages. This study demonstrates how user-perceived attributes of IoT-enabled SHTs (empathy, friendliness, responsiveness and convenience) influence user autonomy and competence, which in turn affect techno-stress. This study also investigates the impact of techno-stress on user decision fatigue. Additionally, this research aims to reveal the mediating role of techno-stress in the relationship between user-perceived attributes of IoT-enabled smart home devices and users' autonomy and competence. Design/methodology/approach The study analysed data from an online survey of 540 participants using structured equation modelling (AMOS-SEM). Findings The findings indicate that user-perceived attributes of IoT-enabled SHTs (empathy, friendliness, responsiveness and convenience) significantly and negatively affect users' sense of autonomy and competence, which subsequently generates techno-stress. Moreover, results show that techno-stress influences decision fatigue among users. Also, the mediation analysis indicates that user autonomy and user competency both significantly mediate the relationship between all service quality dimensions (empathy, friendliness, responsiveness and convenience) and techno-stress. Originality/value This study presents a unique perspective by analysing smart home technology devices from the customers' point of view. The paper presents new insights into how users' perceptions of IoT-enabled SHTs influence their autonomy, competency and subsequent techno-stress, thereby enhancing their understanding of user experience in technology-driven home settings. Marketers and IoT companies could benefit from these insights, helping them develop more human-centric SHTs.

Purpose Drawing on the lens of cognitive evaluation theory (CET), this study examines the relationships between paternalistic leadership dimensions and knowledge sharing and hiding. In addition, this study also aims to investigate the mediating role of psychological empowerment in these relationships. Design/methodology/approach The study data were collected from a survey of 386 employees in service companies in Vietnam. The study used partial least squares structural equation modeling to evaluate the proposed hypotheses and analyzed the collected data with the help of SmartPLS 4.0.9 software. Findings The empirical study confirmed the effects of authoritarian and moral leadership (ML) on knowledge sharing and hiding, and these relationships were fully mediated by psychological empowerment. However, the study data only confirm the partial mediating role of psychological empowerment in the relationship between benevolent leadership and knowledge sharing and hiding. Practical implications Managers should focus on the aspects of benevolent and ML, which include actions such as caring about personal life, developing a fair environment in the organization and participating in special events in employees' families; pay significant attention to empowering their employees and avoid the authoritarian aspect by not using abusive language, harsh punishment for mistakes and excessive control of employees to promote beneficial behaviors (knowledge sharing) and minimize detrimental behaviors (knowledge hiding) for the organization. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing literature by examining the influence of paternalistic leadership dimensions on knowledge sharing and hiding based on CET. In addition, this is one of the few studies that investigate the influence of leadership style and psychological empowerment on knowledge hiding.

Purpose Drawing upon the diffusion of innovation perspective, this study examines the effects of the diffusion of innovation characteristics (i.e. observability, compatibility, relative advantage, complexity and trialability) on employees' intention to adopt data analytics tools. In addition, the mediating role of attitude toward data analytics tools has also been examined in the above relationships. Design/methodology/approach Using a time-lagged field survey, data were collected from 211 managerial-level employees working in the information technology and banking sectors. The statistical analyses were conducted using a bootstrapping mediation technique. Findings The findings indicated a positive relationship between observability, relative advantage, trialability and intention to adopt data analytics tools. Complexity was found to have a negative relationship with the intention to adopt data analytics tools, but no direct effect on attitude toward the adoption of data analytics tools was found. Further, the diffusion of innovation factors had an indirect relationship with intention to adopt data analytics tools through attitude toward the adoption of data analytics tools. Originality/value The findings of this research add value by providing insights into the comparative effects of various diffusion of innovation factors on the attitudinal and intentional change experiences of employees. Unlike focus of most of the literature on organizational-level changes resulting from the use of new analytical tools, this research offers a holistic understanding of individual-level change experiences of employees toward the adoption of data analytics tools.

Purpose The study explores the effects of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled marketing practices in shaping brand experiences and subsequently leading to brand evangelism among Gen Z and millennial consumers in India’s fast-evolving q-commerce industry. It uniquely also examines brand passion as a mediating variable and Big Five personality traits as moderating variables in the relationship between brand passion and brand evangelism. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative design was used for data collection pertaining to 311 digitally active Gen Z and millennial consumers. SEM and Hayes’ PROCESS macro were applied to test hypothesized relationships and moderator mediation effects between AI marketing, brand experience, brand passion, personality traits and brand evangelism. Findings AI marketing impacts brand experience, which, in turn, influences brand passion and evangelism positively. Passion is shown to mediate the connection between experience and evangelism. The personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, openness and neuroticism moderate the strength and direction of the passion–evangelism relationship, while conscientiousness was not a significant moderator. Originality/value The research helps fill important gaps in literature and investigate the emotional and psychological consumer–brand interaction mediated by AI technologies in the dynamic and high-growth Indian q-commerce landscape, an area less explored in emerging markets. The study contributes to Experiential Marketing Theory, Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love and Trait Theory by examining emotional branding and consumer advocacy, facilitated by AI, within the digital economy. The moderated mediation model contributes to the theoretical understanding of how personality traits influence brand relationships established by AI. On the practical side, it gives marketers actionable recommendations to develop emotionally engaging personalized AI marketing programs across diverse and fast-changing digital markets such as India.

Purpose Responsible leadership (RL) is crucial to a bank’s performance and reputation. One way to accomplish this is to focus on reducing turnover and improving performance. This study investigates the impact of RL on bank performance, reputation and employee turnover intention in Bangladesh. It aims to contribute to the literature by examining the relationship between RL and key organisational outcomes, explicitly focusing on employee turnover intention as a mediating factor. Design/methodology/approach Applying the social identity theory, this paper develops and examines six hypotheses through structural equation modelling. The time-lagged data collection technique was used to collect responses from 711 full-time bank employees in Bangladesh. Findings The results reveal that RL positively influences bank performance and reputation while negatively affecting employee turnover intention. Additionally, bank performance significantly enhances reputation and turnover intention negatively impacts performance. Notably, employee turnover intention partially mediates the relationship between RL and bank performance, emphasising the critical role of employee retention in organisational outcomes. Practical implications The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and human resource managers in banks, offering RL as a strategic tool to enhance performance, improve employee retention and foster long-term reputation sustainability while addressing evolving economic challenges. Originality/value This study extends social identity theory within the human resource literature by applying RL to the financial sector in a South Asian context, specifically Bangladesh. It provides novel insights into how RL influences financial performance and employee retention, highlighting its critical role in promoting organisational success and sustainability in developing economies.

PurposeThe increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in airline customer service requires a deeper understanding of passenger interactions with chatbots. Although these AI-powered systems enhance efficiency and convenience, some customers may feel uneasy or hesitant when engaging with them. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of technology anxiety and the need for human interaction on passengers' perceptions of chatbot creepiness and how these perceptions shape customer satisfaction and loyalty.Design/methodology/approachThe present study respondents were passengers who had previously interacted with an airline chatbot and were selected through purposive sampling. Partial least squares (PLS) path modeling was used to measure the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe findings indicate that both technology anxiety and the need for human interaction significantly and positively influence perceived creepiness. Surprisingly, perceived creepiness in chatbot interactions has a significantly positive effect on customer satisfaction. Satisfaction also mediates the relationship between perceived creepiness and customer loyalty.Originality/valueThis research offers novel perspectives by investigating the negative effects of perceived creepiness, desire for human interaction and anxiety towards technology on customer loyalty in airline chatbot encounters. This study provides practical recommendations for improving the adoption of AI in customer service settings.

Purpose This paper investigates the mediating role of organizational prosocial behavior (OPB) in the relationship between spiritual leadership (SL) and knowledge-sharing (KS) from the intrinsic motivation perspective. Design/methodology/approach A survey was used to gather data from middle and executive management employees at industrial firms in Sahab Industrial City in Jordan. The study applied quantitative exploratory methods. The study used a self-reported questionnaire to gather data, with 268 valid responses being used to conduct the analysis. The analysis of data proceeded with the aid of SEM-PLS using SmartPLS 4. Findings The results advocate the positive link between SL and KS routing through the mediator (OPB). The mediating role of OPB was found to be partial. Practical implications This study offers practical implications for organizations that wish to optimize KS among employees. It emphasizes the crucial role of SL in determining employee OPB and proposes that managers strive to engender organization-wide transcendental values. Originality/value This study furthers the understanding of KS by testing the relationship between SL and KS using OPB as a mediator, which has not been investigated theoretically or empirically.

PurposeArtificial intelligence (AI) applications enable entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to make strategic decisions based on more accurate predictions and modeling scenarios to achieve operational efficiency and profitability. This research aims to investigate the role of AI applications in enhancing strategic decision-making (SDM) through the mediating role of digital leadership (DL).Design/methodology/approachThe sample included 306 Omani entrepreneurs from SMEs randomly sampled to collect data from different SME industrial incubators. To test hypotheses, structural equation modeling (SEM), regression and confirmatory factor analysis and Process V4 to test the mediating role of DL were used.FindingsResults reveal that AI applications have a positive and significant impact on SDM and DL. Furthermore, DL has a positive and significant impact on SDM. The results also reveal that DL enhances the relationship between AI applications and SDM in Omani SMEs.Originality/valueThis research provides evidence regarding SMEs in the Arabian context and the ability of AI application adoption to improve productivity and sustainability in the economic sector.

Purpose This study uses the approach-avoidance motivation theory (AAMT) to investigate how various influence tactics used by broadcasters affect consumers’ promotion focus and purchase intention in the context of live-streaming social commerce. This study also examines the moderating role of broadcasters’ physical appearance in the relationship between consumer promotion focus and purchase intention. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 810 consumers on the Taobao live-streaming platform in China. Multivariate techniques and structural equation modeling were used to analyze data and test the research hypotheses. Findings Results indicate that both rational and emotional influence tactics positively influence consumers’ promotion focus and purchase intention. However, the influences of coercive tactics are mixed: while promise tactics positively influence consumers’ promotion focus and purchase intention, threat tactics have a negative affect. Furthermore, broadcasters’ physical appearance positively moderates the relationship between consumers’ promotion focus and purchase intention. Originality/value This study extends the AAMT by proposing and empirically testing a novel model that explains the effects of broadcasters’ influence tactics and physical appearance on consumer behavior within live-streaming social commerce. The findings provide new insights into how broadcasters’ strategies and attributes drive consumers’ positive motivation and behaviors. These insights are valuable for academic researchers and business managers in making informed decisions about recruiting and using broadcasters to achieve favorable consumer outcomes in live-streaming social commerce.

Purpose This study sought to examine the interactional effect of emotional intelligence (EI) and supervisory support (SS) in the relationship between leader–member exchange (LMX) and work–family conflict (WFC). Design/methodology/approach The study adopted the survey research design, where 286 employees in the Ghanaian financial services sector were sampled for this study. The data retrieved from the respondents were quantitatively analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 26.0), SmartPLS (Version 4.0) and the Hayes PROCESS macro. Findings As hypothesized, this study revealed that LMX positively and significantly relates to WFC, while EI and SS significantly moderated the relationship between LMX and WFC. Practical implications The findings of this study revealed the need for organizations to develop and implement policies that promote good leadership among employees. Originality/value This study fills the research gap in the Ghanaian financial service sector regarding the moderating effect of supervisory support and emotional intelligence in the nexus between leader–member exchange and employees’ work–family conflict.