Plasticity-Mediated Persistence in New and Changing Environments

International Journal of Evolutionary Biology ◽

10.1155/2014/416497 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Matthew R. J. Morris

Keyword(s):

Environmental Change ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Population Persistence ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Changing Environments ◽

Evolutionary Rescue ◽

The Future

Baldwin’s synthesis of the Organicist position, first published in 1896 and elaborated in 1902, sought to rescue environmentally induced phenotypes from disrepute by showing their Darwinian significance. Of particular interest to Baldwin was plasticity’s mediating role during environmental change or colonization—plastic individuals were more likely to successfully survive and reproduce in new environments than were nonplastic individuals. Once a population of plastic individuals had become established, plasticity could further mediate the future course of evolution. The evidence for plasticity-mediated persistence (PMP) is reviewed here with a particular focus on evolutionary rescue experiments, studies on invasive success, and the role of learning in survival. Many PMP studies are methodologically limited, showing that preexistent plasticity has utility in new environments (soft PMP) rather than directly demonstrating that plasticity is responsible for persistence (hard PMP). An ideal PMP study would be able to demonstrate that (1) plasticity preexisted environmental change, (2) plasticity was fortuitously beneficial in the new environment, (3) plasticity was responsible for individual persistence in the new environment, and (4) plasticity was responsible for population persistence in succeeding generations. Although PMP is not ubiquitous, Baldwin’s hypotheses have been largely vindicated in theoretical and empirical studies, but much work remains.

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The Role of Managerial Attitudes in the Adoption of Technological Innovations

Electronic Commerce ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-943-4.ch126 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 1607-1617

Author(s):

March L. To ◽

Eric W.T. Ngai

Keyword(s):

Technological Innovation ◽

Indirect Effects ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Relative Advantage ◽

Technological Innovations ◽

Competitive Pressure ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Intention To Adopt ◽

Empirical Tests

Managerial attitudes play an important role in facilitating the championship of innovation adop-tion. However, there are few empirical studies which show the mediating role of managerial attitudes as a link between innovation determinants and adoption. Based on innovation theory (Rogers, 1983), we posit a conceptual model to show how managers evaluate internal (relative advantage and compatibility of adopting an innovation) and external (competitive pressure and partner conflict) determinants that affect the intention to adopt technological innovations. We focus on empirical tests conducted on B2C e-commerce. Data collected from 109 differ-ent enterprises indicate that managerial attitudes, through perceived relative advantage and compatibility of adopting a technological innovation, have indirect effects on the intention to adopt the innovation. In addition, competitive pressure has a direct influence on the adoption of an innovation.

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SETA and Security Behavior

Journal of Global Information Management ◽

10.4018/jgim.2019040106 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 102-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Winfred Yaokumah ◽

Daniel Okyere Walker ◽

Peace Kumah

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Employee Relations ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Security Behavior ◽

Security Training ◽

Awareness Programs ◽

Industry Sectors

This article contends that information security education, training and awareness programs can improve employee security behavior. Empirical studies have analyzed the direct effects of employee security training on security behavior without taking into account the mediating role of employee relations, monitoring, and accountability. Based on employee relations and accountability theories, this study proposes and tests a causal model that estimates the direct effect of employee security training on security behavior as well as its indirect effects as mediated by employee relations, monitoring, and accountability. The empirical analysis relies on a survey data from a cross section of employees from five major industry sectors and a structural equation modeling approach via SmartPLS 3.0. The results show that employee security training has indirect and significant effects on security behavior through its influence on employee relations, monitoring, and accountability. However, the result does not indicate direct and significant effect of security training on employee security behavior.

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THE ROLE OF JOB CRAFTING ON THE PROMOTION OF FLOW AND WELLBEING

RAM Revista de Administração Mackenzie ◽

10.1590/1678-6971/eramd200113 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

RITA P. de DEVOTTO ◽

CLARISSA P. P. FREITAS ◽

SOLANGE M. WECHSLER

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Well Being ◽

Structural Equations ◽

Positive Mental Health ◽

Job Crafting ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Flow At Work

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the mediating role of flow at work on the relations of job crafting (task crafting, cognitive crafting and relational crafting) with positive mental health dimensions (emotional well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being). Originality/value: Job crafting actions have been identified as antecedents of the levels of well-being at work. The present study contributed to the literature examining the relationships between job crafting, flow at work, and positive mental health, which have not yet been investigated in previous empirical studies. Design/methodology/approach: The quantitative approach was used through an online questionnaire composed of a sociodemographic questionnaire and three scales. The sample consisted of 386 professionals from different Brazilian states, of which 58% were female, with a mean age of 44 years (SD = 12 years). The data were analyzed through structural equations. Findings: The results of the analysis of structural equations showed that relational crafting had a direct impact on positive mental health. The relations of cognitive crafting with positive mental health were totally mediated by flow at work. We concluded that job crafting, primarily cognitive crafting, influence occupational and general well-being.

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Linking Identity Leadership and Team Performance: The Role of Group-Based Pride and Leader Political Skill

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.676945 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Liang Hou ◽

Lynda Jiwen Song ◽

Guoyang Zheng ◽

Bei Lyu

Keyword(s):

Team Performance ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Political Skill ◽

Future Research ◽

Global Identity ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Shared Identity ◽

Future Research Directions ◽

Recent Trends

Recent trends in the leadership literature have promoted a social identity approach of leadership that views leadership as the process of representing, advancing, creating, and embedding a sense of shared identity within a group. However, a few empirical studies explore how and when global identity leadership affects team performance at the workplace. To address this lacuna, we used multi-source and two-wave data among 81 teams to explore the role of group-based pride and leader political skill in the association between identity leadership and team performance. The results suggest that identity leadership positively predicts team performance through a mediating role of group-based pride. Furthermore, leader political skill moderates the indirect effect of group-based pride such that the effect is stronger when leader political skill is high rather than low. Finally, several theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed, and future research directions are also suggested.

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Mediating role of opinion seeking in explaining the relationship between antecedents and organic food purchase intention

Journal of Indian Business Research ◽

10.1108/jibr-06-2014-0042 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 321-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Shivendra Kumar Pandey ◽

Arpita Khare

Keyword(s):

Purchase Intention ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Organic Food ◽

Primary Data ◽

Environmental Consciousness ◽

Content Type ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Food Purchase ◽

Opinion Seeking

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the effect of antecedents like environmental consciousness and cosmopolitanism (COS) on organic food purchase intention (OFPI) with the possible mediation of opinion seeking (OS) and opinion leadership (OL). Design/methodology/approach – A model drawn largely from environmental value–attitude–system model (Dembkowski and Hanmer-Lloyd, 1994) has been proposed and tested. Primary data from four cities across India were collected using a survey. Findings – COS was the primary factor determining purchase intention. A full mediation of OS behaviour was observed between environmental consciousness and OFPI. No effect of OL on OFPI could be established. Research limitations/implications – Because COS is positively affecting the organic food patronage and cosmopolitans are more likely to be socially responsible consumers, the organic food (OF) manufacturers should target brick and mortar stores in more cosmopolitan cities like Bangalore, Delhi, etc. The mediating role of OS has wider implications for marketers and advertisers both. In line with both theoretical underpinning (theory of planned behaviour), empirical studies (Chakrabarti and Baisya, 2009) and ours, it seems that the customer seeks credible information before purchasing organic food. The word-of-mouth and social media are recommended channels for similar reasons. The websites are a must for OF manufacturers because retailers may not provide adequate promotion/information of the products to the consumers. Practical implications – This study enables marketers in the field of OF domain to target the customers better. It also guides them to have a good integrated marketing communication to cater to the opinion-seeking phenomenon of consumers. Originality/value – The paper investigates the OFPI model better suited to urban cities in India. COS construct usage is a novelty of the paper as well as the mediation of opinion-seeking behaviour. Findings have value both for researchers and practitioners in the OF domain.

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A Dynamic Capabilities-Based Research Model for Innovation in Independent Restaurants

International Business Research ◽

10.5539/ibr.v14n12p135 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 135

Author(s):

Belinda K. Muriuki ◽

Zack B. Awino ◽

Madara M. Ogot ◽

James N. Muranga

Keyword(s):

Dynamic Capabilities ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Restaurant Industry ◽

Research Model ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Innovation Activities ◽

And Performance ◽

Comprehensive Framework ◽

The Relationship

The purpose of the study is to contribute to the existing literature by reviewing empirical studies conducted in the restaurant industry on innovation to develop a dynamic capabilities-based research model for independent restaurants which can be tested by future scholars in the restaurants industry. The review covered innovation models that have been used and tested in restaurants; types of innovation; dynamic capabilities as an antecedent for innovation; the mediating role of human capital between dynamic capabilities and innovation; and the relationship between innovation and performance. The results of the study revealed that innovation activities described in the literature can be categorised into the dynamic capabilities components of sensing, learning, integrating, and co-ordinating capabilities thus supporting the proposed dynamic capabilities research model. The model, therefore, provides a comprehensive framework for investigating innovation activities in independent restaurants.

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IS A RED CARD FOR LEARNERS’ USE OF THEIR L1 IN L2 LESSONS FAIR? A SOCIOCULTURAL ACCOUNT

VNU Journal of Foreign Studies ◽

10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4389 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Le Van Canh ◽

Pham Thi Hang

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Second Language Acquisition ◽

Language Learning ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

First Language ◽

Controversial Issues ◽

Mediating Role ◽

L2 Learning ◽

Effective Use

One of the controversial issues in second language acquisition research is the role of learners’ first language in their second language learning. Traditionally, first language was assumed to get in the way or interfere with the learning of the L2, and therefore, the first language must be banned in the foreign language classroom. However, this view has recently been reexamined and questioned by empirical studies conducted within the sociocultural perspectives. The goal of this paper is to provide new insights into the mediating role of the first language by reviewing those studies. The paper suggests that L1, when appropriately and systematically used, can be an enabling tool that scaffolds learners in completing cognitively complex and demanding L2 learning tasks. Towards this goal, research directions are also suggested. However, it is important to note that this paper is not intended to encourage teachers and learners to use the L1 in the L2 classroom unsystematically and inappropriately; rather its goal is to encourage teachers to research their classroom in order to find optimal and effective use of L1 for mediating the success of L2 learning.

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Does innovation capability improve SME performance in Malaysia? The mediating effect of technology adoption

The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation ◽

10.1177/14657503211048967 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 146575032110489

Author(s):

Muhammad Farhan Jalil ◽

Azlan Ali ◽

Rashidah Kamarulzaman

Keyword(s):

Technology Adoption ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Innovation Capability ◽

Performance Technology ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Innovation Model

SMEs still need innovation to boost their performance in the age of globalisation and fierce market rivalry. Previous studies have identified that innovation capability is an essential driver in manufacturing industries for their survival. Yet, the featuring role of innovation capability has been considered theoretically in developed economies whereas empirical studies in emerging economies are still lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study to examines the importance of innovation capability towards SME performance and the mediating role of technology-adoption. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data from a sample size of 611 SMEs operating in the developing market of Malaysia. Derived hypotheses were verified through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using AMOS 21. The findings of the study indicated that innovation capability has a signiﬁcant positive impact on SME performance. Technology- adoption partially mediates the relationship between innovation capability and SME performance. SMEs are required to generate an operative innovation model to gain sustainable performance and competitive advantage in the Malaysian market.

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The consequences of genomic architecture on ecological speciation in postglacial fishes

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/czoolo/59.1.53 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 53-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Sean M. Rogers ◽

Jonathan A. Mee ◽

Ella Bowles

Keyword(s):

De Novo ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Ecological Speciation ◽

Population Persistence ◽

Population Divergence ◽

De Novo Mutations ◽

Trait Divergence ◽

Migration Rates ◽

Genomic Architecture

Abstract The quest for the origin of species has entered the genomics era. Despite decades of evidence confirming the role of the environment in ecological speciation, an understanding of the genomics of ecological speciation is still in its infancy. In this review, we explore the role of genomic architecture in ecological speciation in postglacial fishes. Growing evidence for the number, location, effect size, and interactions among the genes underlying population persistence, adaptive trait divergence, and reproductive isolation in these fishes reinforces the importance of considering genomic architecture in studies of ecological speci-ation. Additionally, these populations likely adapt to new freshwater environments by selection on standing genetic variation, as de novo mutations are unlikely under such recent divergence times. We hypothesize that modular genomic architectures in postglacial fish taxa may be associated with the probability of population persistence. Empirical studies have confirmed the genic nature of ecological speciation, implicating surprisingly extensive linkage disequilibrium across the genome. An understanding of these genomic mosaics and how they contribute to reproductive barriers remains unclear, but migration rates and the strength of selection at these loci is predicted to influence the likelihood of population divergence. Altogether, understanding the role of ge-nomic architecture is an important component of speciation research and postglacial fishes continue to provide excellent organisms to test these questions, both from the perspective of variation in architectures among taxa, and with respect to the distinct environments they have colonized. However, more empirical tests of ecological speciation predictions are needed.

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