Plant functional groups mediate effects of climate and soil factors on species richness and community biomass in grasslands of Mongolian Plateau

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 679-691
Author(s):  
Zijing Li ◽  
Maowei Liang ◽  
Zhiyong Li ◽  
Pierre Mariotte ◽  
Xuze Tong ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Functional group composition of a plant community is mainly driven by environmental factors and is one of the main determinants of grassland biodiversity and productivity. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of plant functional groups (PFGs) in mediating the impact of environmental conditions on ecosystem functions and biodiversity. Methods We measured plant biomass and species richness (SR) of grasslands in 65 sites on the Mongolian Plateau and classified 157 perennial herbaceous plants into two main PFGs (namely grasses and forbs). Using the random forest model and ordinary least squares regression, we identified that environmental factors (i.e. aridity index, soil total nitrogen [STN] and pH) were significantly related to the SR and aboveground biomass (AGB) of PFGs. We then used structural equation modeling to explore the relationship between the identified environmental factors and community SR and biomass, and the role of PFGs in driving this relationship. Important Findings We found that aridity index had unimodal relationships with both AGB and SR of the PFGs and the whole community. All SR and biomass metrics were significantly related to STN and pH. The relationship between aridity index and community biomass was mediated by an increase in the AGB of grasses. The influence of STN and pH on community SR was mainly due to their regulation in the SR of forbs. Our results indicate that community composition and the identity of the PFGs play a key role in linking environmental factors to ecosystem functioning.

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-32
Author(s):  
Andy Mulyana ◽  
Devi Ayuni

This study aims to evaluate the role of satisfaction and commitment as mediating the effect of service quality on student loyalty as the user of Open University's Online Tutorial. Based on data analysis on student of Management program 229 as respondents with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study found the relationship between: (1) positive influence of service quality to satisfaction and loyalty of students using tuton; (2) the positive effect of satisfaction on student loyalty using tuton; (3) satisfaction is a mediator between service quality and loyalty of students using tuton. Conversely, commitment has no positive effect on student loyalty as a tuton user. In addition, commitment does not mediates the effect of satisfaction on the loyalty of tuton users. Keywords: service quality, satisfaction, commitment, loyalty


Author(s):  
Ayşegül Aracı İyiaydın ◽  
Zeynep Hatipoğlu Sümer

AbstractGrounded in Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory (IPARTheory), this exploratory study investigated the associations among perceived intimate partner rejection, intimate partner control, psychological maladjustment, and marital adjustment. Perceived behavioral control in intimate partner relationships has been under-researched within the context of IPARTheory. Although the role of behavioral control in child/adolescent-parent relationships has been well-established, insufficient exploration of the phenomenon in marriage relationships calls for new empirical findings. The conveniently selected sample consisted of 624 (360 female, 264 male) married individuals living in big cities of Turkey. Intimate Partner Acceptance-Rejection/Control Questionnaire, Personality Assessment Questionnaire, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Demographic Form were utilized to gather data. Structural Equation Modeling was utilized as the primary analysis to test the proposed sequential mediational model of the study. The results indicated that intimate partner behavioral control was significantly and indirectly associated with marital adjustment through the mediating effects of intimate partner rejection and psychological maladjustment. Moreover, intimate partner rejection had direct effects on psychological maladjustment and marital adjustment. The indirect effect of intimate partner rejection on marital adjustment via the mediation of psychological maladjustment was found to be significant. Lastly, the sequential mediation by intimate partner rejection and psychological maladjustment in the relationship between intimate partner control and marital adjustment was also significant. This study adds to the existing literature on IPARTheory by showing that perceived intimate partner behavioral control is quite negatively related to marital adjustment. Results underscore how perceived behavioral control by a spouse triggers rejection and diminishes the psychological adjustment of the controlled partner.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8123
Author(s):  
Delei Yang ◽  
Jun Zhu ◽  
Qingbin Cui ◽  
Qinghua He ◽  
Xian Zheng

Megaproject citizenship behavior (MCB) has been confirmed to a play vital role on megaproject performance. Although current research has argued that institution elements have had an impact on MCB diffusion, limited studies have empirically investigated the distinct effectiveness of various institution elements on driving MCB’s widespread diffusion in construction megaprojects. Based on institution theory, this study proposes a theoretical model comprising institutional elements (i.e., normative and mimetic isomorphism), owner’s support, relationship-based trust, and their effect or impact on MCB’s diffusion. Based on 171 industrial questionnaires collected from managers of contractors and designers in megaprojects. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to validate the established model. The results indicated that both normative and mimetic isomorphism have positive effects on facilitating MCB diffusion, and owner’s support has shown partial mediation in promoting MCB diffusion through normative isomorphism, as well as full mediation in the promoting of MCB diffusion through mimetic isomorphism. Meanwhile, relationship-based trust exerts a positive moderating effect on the relationship between mimetic isomorphism and MCB. This study extends current literature on driving MCB diffusion from the perspective of institutional theory, contributing by providing four implications for megaprojects managers to “buy in” more extensive MCB.


Author(s):  
Zaisheng Zhang ◽  
Meng Liu ◽  
Qing Yang

The innovative work behavior (IWB) or creativity of employees is regarded as the key to the sustainable innovation performance of an organization. In the field of human resource management (HRM), the relationship between an organization’s high-performance work system (HPWS) and IWB has been studied extensively. However, the current understanding of organizational external antecedents is limited. Our paper focuses on an extra-organizational government support factor, government support for talent policy (GSTP). Similar to HRM policies within an organization, GSTP also has an ability–motivation–opportunity framework that may influence the IWB of employees. We integrate the resource dependence theory, institutional theory, and theory of planned behavior (TPB) to propose a theoretical model of the mechanism of GSTP influence on IWB. Using a structural equation modeling approach, we empirically verify the hypotheses in a survey dataset of HRM practitioners in 152 technology-based enterprises in China. The results indicate that the external antecedent, GSTP, positively influences the innovative attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control of HRM practitioners in the organization. Innovative attitude and perceived behavioral control completely mediated the relationship between GSTP and innovative intention. Moreover, there is a distal indirect effect between GSTP and IWB. The paper contributes to filling a gap in the innovation policy literature. In practice, both HPWS and individual employees should be concerned about the possible role of GSTP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1366
Author(s):  
Julio C. Acosta-Prado ◽  
Oscar H. López-Montoya ◽  
Carlos Sanchís-Pedregosa ◽  
Ulpiano J. Vázquez-Martínez

The literature suggests that innovation allows organizations to reach a desirable level of sustainability. There is evidence to support the role of knowledge management (KM) as well as management capability (MC) in producing a sustainable approach at organizations. Furthermore, organizations commonly achieve sustainable practices through corporate social responsibility (CSR). In particular, the health sector is increasingly implementing CSR strategies, although with a narrow understanding of the factors to success. Hence, trends lead to asymmetric growth between organizations. This study aims to examine the mediating role of KM in the relationship between MC and innovative performance (IP) in 331 Health Provider Institutions (HPIs). The research reflective model was assessed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). According to the results, MC has a positive effect on IP, MC has a positive effect on KM, and KM has a positive effect on IP. Likewise, KM significantly mediates the relationship between MC and IP. Our findings support the importance of KM in addressing MCs in HPIs as it enables innovative practices to address CSR goals to achieve a sustainable impact. Moreover, this study contributes by expanding KM to contexts that are not usually studied, such as health in a South American country.


Author(s):  
Hassan Gharayagh Zandi ◽  
Sahar Zarei ◽  
Mohammad Ali Besharat ◽  
Davoud Houminiyan sharif abadi ◽  
Ahmad Bagher Zadeh

Coaching has often been viewed as a context within which coaches operate to largely bring about changes in athlete’s performance and flourishing. One key factor to successful outcomes in coaching is the quality of the relationship between coaches and athletes. The coach–athlete relationship is at the heart of coaching; however, limited studies have been conducted on its antecedents. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between coaches’ forgiveness and perceived relationship quality toward their athletes through verifying the mediating role of interpersonal behaviors of coaches. A total of 270 Iranian coaches participated in the survey, and the data sets were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results revealed that forgiveness positively predicted the coaches’ perceived relationship quality with their athletes, and this pathway was mediated by the coaches’ interpersonal behaviors.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morteza Taheri ◽  
Sharareh Motealleh ◽  
Jalil Younesi

Purpose Past research shows that workplace fun has a positive effect on informal learning, however, the role of individual and organizational mediating variables in this relation has not been studied much. This study aims to examine the role of management support, motivation to learn and learning opportunity in the relationship between workplace fun and informal learning. Design/methodology/approach In this multivariate correlation study, data were collected through questionnaires. In total, 200 employees of the petrochemical industry participated. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings The main finding suggests that motivation to learn contributes to informal learning. Fun in the workplace has a positive and significant indirect effect on informal learning by providing a variety of opportunities to learn; the management support in the final model also mediates the relationship between workplace fun and opportunities to learn. Practical implications The results indicate the benefits of creating and maintaining fun in the workplace to improve informal learning. The authors will be better able to advise by providing abundant resources for formal training such as time, learning climate and financial resources, workplace fun can be used as a practical strategy to promote informal learning where the workplace is fun, innovation, creativity and performance improvement occur. Managers should make arrangements to spontaneously motivate employees to learn informally and provide fun and varied opportunities for informal learning. Originality/value In this study, the multiple correlations and the effect of motivation variables, learning opportunity and management support in the relationship between workplace fun and informal learning were studied. Examining how these relationships are and identifying the moderator of this relationship because of individual and environmental differences requires further studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahnoor Zahid ◽  
Hina Naeem ◽  
Iqra Aftab ◽  
Sajawal Ali Mughal

Purpose The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the effect of corporate social responsibility activities (CSRA) of the firm on its financial performance (FP) and analyze the mediating role of innovation and competitive advantage (CA) in the relationship between CSRA and FP in the manufacturing sector of an emerging country, i.e. Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Data has been collected through an electronic structured questionnaire from 300 middle-level and top-level managers by surveying different manufacturing firms of Gujranwala, Pakistan. The study’s hypotheses have been checked by analyzing the reliability and validity of data and applying confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling through statistical package for the social sciences and analysis of moment structures. Findings Outcomes of this study supported the hypothesized model. It has been found that the CSRA plays a significant positive role in determining the FP of the firm. Furthermore, the CA and innovation have been proved as significant mediators between CSRA and FP. Originality/value The first time examining the intermediation of innovation and CA in the relationship between CSRA and FP is the primary input of this study to the literature. Practically, this study’s findings will help strategy makers of manufacturing firms in emerging countries develop better strategies for implementing CSRA, enhancing innovation, seeking CA and improving FP.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fenika Wulani ◽  
Tarsisius Hani Handoko ◽  
Bernardinus Maria Purwanto

PurposeThis study investigates the effect of supervisor-directed organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) on leader–member exchange (LMX), the moderating role of impression management motives on this relationship, the effect of LMX on organizational and interpersonal deviance and the mediating effect of LMX on the relationship between supervisor-directed OCB and deviant behaviors.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a survey questionnaire to collect data. Respondents were 342 nonmanagerial employees working in Surabaya Raya, Indonesia. Hypothesis testing is done using Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe results show that supervisor-directed OCB is positively related to LMX, and LMX is negatively related to organizational deviance but not significantly related to interpersonal deviance. The study also finds that impression management motives moderate the positive relationship between supervisor-directed OCB and LMX. Furthermore, LMX mediates the relationship between supervisor-directed OCB and organizational deviance, but not interpersonal deviance.Practical implicationsThis study suggests the importance of human resource management (HRM) activities and managers being aware of subordinate OCB motives and the impact of LMX on interpersonal and organizational deviance, as well as what supervisors need to do to reduce these negative effects.Originality/valueFew studies examined the relationship between supervisor-directed OCB and workplace deviance behaviors (WDBs). This study provides a mechanism of their relationship by considering LMX as a mediator. Also, heretofore the existing studies tend to focus more on LMX as an antecedent of OCB. This study provides an understanding of OCB as an antecedent of LMX with the moderating effect of impression management motives.


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