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PurposeFake news on social media about COVID-19 pandemic and its associated issues (e.g. lockdown) caused public panic that lead to supply chain (SC) disruptions, which eventually affect firm performance. The purpose of this study is to understand how social media fake news effects firm performance, and how to mitigate such effects.Design/methodology/approachGrounded on dynamic capability view (DCV), this study suggests that social media fake news effects firm performance via SC disruption (SCD) and SC resilience (SCR). Moreover, the relation between SCD and SCR is contingent upon SC learning (SCL) - a moderated mediation effect. To validate this complex model, the authors suggest effectiveness of using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Using an online survey, the results support the authors' hypotheses.FindingsThe results suggest that social media fake news does not affect firm performance directly. However, the authors' serial mediation test confirms that SCD and SCR sequentially mediate the relationship between social media fake news and firm performance. In addition, a moderated serial mediation test confirms that a higher level of SCL strengthens the SCD-SCR relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThis work offers a new theoretical and managerial perspective to understand the effect of fake news on firm performance, in the context of crises, e.g. COVID-19. In addition, this study offers the advancement of PLS as more robust for real-world applications and more advantageous when models are complex.Originality/valuePrior studies in the SC and marketing domain suggest different effects of social media fake news on consumer behavior (e.g. panic buying) and SCD, respectively. This current study is a unique effort that investigates the ultimate effect of fake news on firm performance with complex causal relationships via SCD, SCR and SCL.
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Purpose: The first research objective is to understand the role of digital [artificial intelligence (AI)] technologies on user engagement and conversion that has resulted in high online activities and increased online sales in current times in India. In addition, combined with changes such as social distancing and lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital disruption has largely impacted the old ways of communication both at the individual and organizational levels, ultimately resulting in prominent social change. While interacting in the virtual world, this change is more noticeable. Therefore, the second research objective is to examine if a satisfying experience during online shopping leads to repurchase intention. Design/methodology/approach: Using primary data collected from consumers in a developing economy (India), we tested the theoretical model to further extend the theoretical debate in consumer research. Findings: This study empirically tests and further establishes that deploying AI technologies have a positive relationship with user engagement and conversion. Further, conversion leads to satisfying user experience. Finally, the relationship between satisfying user experience and repurchase intention is also found to be significant. Originality/value: The uniqueness of this study is that it tests few key relationships related to user engagement during this uncertain period (COVID-19 pandemic) and examines the underlying mechanism which leads to increase in online sales. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in major disruptions to businesses, supply chains and economies alike. The negative effects of the pandemic are yet to be fully realised. In this study, we aimed to reflect on and explore strategies for supply chain sustainability in the face of business downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of this study is the heavy engineering industry in South Africa as it relies on a global supply chain network. The paper begins with a brief introduction of negative effects of COVID-19 on supply chains followed by the research questions that drives this study. We used a literature review to select the critical success factors which were further refined using experts’ opinion. These factors subsequently, were used as input to an interpretive structural modeling (ISM) technique. The ISM model yielded some interesting findings that can aid organizations in building resilient supply chains that are sustainable in nature. We conclude that organizations need to develop a culture of collaboration;since greater collaboration among value chain members is required to create a more resilient supply chain. © 2021, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.