Sinergie Italian Journal of Management

Bringing research to management practice

Bo Edvardsson — 2025-07-30

Businesses and other organizations exist to create value. We as
management scholars also exist to create value by bringing research to
practice. Value creation for, whom? Value for customers, owners, partners
and the society at large. The old way is understanding value as embedded in
units of output - goods and services, while the emerging view understand
value as cocreated among collaborating actors in ecosystems. How can we
as scholars explain value creation in ways that contribute to management
practice? Are we building an Ivory tower by using concepts that are hard
to grasp? How can we create value with our research for management
practice?... to be continued

The interplay between perceived quality and sustainability attitudes in consumers' modal choice in local transportation

Valeria Faralla — 2025-07-30

Frame of the research. Modal choice in urban and inter-urban mobility holds a significant potential impact on sustainable well-being across multiple dimensions (e.g. environmental impact, health, social equity). The reliance on private modes of transport has been associated with negative effects for individuals and society at large, but at the same time it is crucial to understand consumers’ attitudes and their willingness to shift towards more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, such as local public transport.

Purpose of the paper. The purpose of the study is to investigate the motivations and strategies that favour a modal shift from the use of private cars to local public transport, focusing on the role of two main multidimensional and interconnected factors: perceived quality and individual sustainability attitudes. The consumers’ perspective is integrated with that of the managers of the local public transport supply to derive meaningful implications.

Methodology. The research employed both quantitative and qualitative methods, including a self-reported survey targeting mobility consumers, from which 542 responses were collected. Additionally, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with operators of local public transport services.

Results. The findings suggest that perception of quality differs for high and low levels of sustainability attitudes. We also found differences in these attitudes for users and non-users. Environmental attitudes also differed according to time preference. Strategies for modal shift were found to be heterogeneous and context-dependent. Our research findings can provide guidance for enhancing the appeal of local public transport for both current users and non-users with important implications in terms of sustainability and well-being for individuals and communities.

Research limitations. The empirical analysis can be extended by integrating revealed and stated preference techniques, allowing for a direct discrimination between the use of public and private modes, particularly from the perspective of non-users. Additionally, the data examined in this study, consisting of a sample of consumers and interviews with some managers, may limit the generalizability of results. Future research could address this limitation by utilizing a more representative sample.

Managerial implications. The current study presents an integrated approach, combining various managerial policies that concurrently promote improvements in service quality, use of sustainable approaches, and long-term planning. This approach aims to create a synergistic effect that facilitates modal shift.

Originality of the paper. The paper contributes to the general debate on how to promote well-being in a sustainable manner, highlighting the application of behavioural insights to the case of modal choice in local transportation. In particular, it proposes an empirical investigation that integrates the consumers’ view with that of local public transport actors. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents one of the first attempts to simultaneously examine perception of quality, sustainable attitudes, and time preferences.

Autonomous vehicles, perceived risk, and carsharing compatibility: assessing behavioral intention in Italy

Silvia Della Santa — 2025-07-30

Frame of the research. Developed to predict an individual inclination toward a certain type of technology, over the years, a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been enriched with additional context-specific variables to adopt the model to new technologies, as well as integrating with Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT). This paper relies on both of these to tackle the complex phenomenon of the mass diffusion of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and to analyze individual behavioral intention toward AVs.

Purpose of the paper. To our knowledge, few studies have focused on the perceived safety risk associated with AVs, despite the importance of this variable in potentially hindering or hampering the adoption of the technology. In addition, previous research shows that AV technologies could fit well into a carsharing business model, leading to what some authors call a fleet-oriented market. The paper analyzes these aspects as antecedents of the intention to adopt AVs in the future.

Methodology. Drawing from an integration of the Technology Acceptance Model with Innovation Diffusion Theory, the proposed research model analyses the effects of Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Subjective Norm, and Perceived Safety Risk on the intention to use AVs, whilst considering carsharing compatibility as a moderator of the relationships between Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and Perceived Safety Risk over behavioral intention. A survey on an Italian sample is conducted and data analyzed using SEM.

Results. Results, measured over a sample of 361 respondents, suggest that high carsharing compatibility decreases the importance of the Perceived Ease of Use variable for the intention to use AVs, while leading to a deeper consideration of the Perceived Usefulness variable over intention. Overall, carsharing compatibility does matter in fostering the behavioral intention to use AVs in the future.

Research limitations. The high technical complexity of Autonomous Vehicles and the fact that they are not fully available make it difficult for respondents to understand, for example, the different levels of automation involved and the implications these technologies could have on daily life. In addition, the study has some limitations that could be addressed in future research initiatives.

Managerial implications. This study analyses the intention to use AVs by considering carsharing compatibility within a TAM model: it sheds light on how integrating innovation in the mobility sector could foster the most radical innovations to be accepted. Ultimately, managerial implications deal with the sustainability of local transportation systems that can be redesigned in light of the synergies between different technological innovations.

Originality of the paper. Overall, the paper enriches the current debate on the intention to use AVs by offering an integration of TAM with IDT by focusing on the role of carsharing compatibility. In addition, it is based on an Italian sample that, to our knowledge, had not yet been investigated.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance: Does it pay back in terms of corporate brand value?

Michela Mingione — 2025-07-30

Frame of the research: This study contributes to various research domains of interest such as branding and corporate branding, corporate governance, environmental, social and governance (ESG) and, more generally, sustainability and society well-being.

Purpose of the paper: This paper advances hypotheses linking the corporate brand value to ESG performance.

Methodology: The study tests hypothesis by applying linear regressions on cross-sectional 2021 data, built on the corporate brand value of the world’s top leading brands, whose ESG score has been retrieved from the Refinitiv™ database. In particular, the corporate brand value has been operationalized by means of the Interbrand listing.

Results: Findings show a positive relationship between the corporate brand value and the ESG social dimension, whereas the impact of the other ESG dimensions have been found not significant. Moreover, findings shed light on the positive link between the corporate brand value ESG controversies, moderated by the social dimension.

Research limitations: This paper is based on a sample retrieved from the 2021 Interbrand listing, with the related 2021 Refinitiv™ data, hence further studies are needed to investigate longitudinal effects stemming from the link between corporate brand value and ESG performance.

Managerial implications: Corporate managers should be aware of the specific effects of each ESG factor on the overall brand value. However, in parallel with a more focalized view on ESG dimensions, we also suggest a holistic approach to ESG management and branding by undertaking an inside-out and outside-in approach to infuse ESG dimensions internally and externally.

Originality of the paper: This is the first study that links the corporate brand value of top global brands to their ESG performance, highlighting the distinct impact of the social component and controversies.

BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ON CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH THE LENS OF STAKEHOLDER ORIENTATION

Rosamartina Schena — 2025-07-30

Frame of the research. The escalating interest in addressing the challenges presented by climate change has led to a significant increase in research within this domain, necessitating a systematic organization. This study provides a comprehensive summary of the expanding realm of climate change research, emphasizing the progression of scholarly exploration over the past 28 years. Additionally, it underscores the importance of examining this evolution from the perspective of stakeholder orientation. This focus is crucial given that stakeholders represent one of the primary forces compelling companies to undertake climate change initiatives.

Purpose of the paper. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, it sought to delineate the intellectual structure of recent climate change management literature. This involved identifying the core themes and dynamic trends that characterize the current state of research in this field. Second, the study aimed to ascertain the primary stakeholders targeted by climate change strategies. By measuring the breadth and depth of firms’ sustainability efforts, it endeavoured to pinpoint and understand the key stakeholder groups that are integral to the deployment of climate change strategies.

Methodology. This comprehensive analysis scrutinized 495 scholarly articles published in leading business management journals from 1995 to 2023. The study aimed to dissect the intellectual framework underpinning contemporary climate change management research, utilizing the Bibliometrix tool for this purpose. To assess the breadth and depth of firms’ sustainability initiatives, a detailed content analysis was performed on the amassed documents, employing the MAXQDA software for rigorous examination.

Results. The findings indicated that the United States, Great Britain, and Australia are leading the charge in climate change research. Key milestones in the field were reached in 2012, 2018, and 2023, marking significant progress in understanding and addressing climate change. Currently, the focal points of research are shifting towards sustainable finance and the assessment of carbon risk, reflecting the evolving priorities in addressing climate change challenges. Finally, depth and breadth metrics revealed a nuanced understanding of stakeholder orientation with climate change strategies.

Research limitations. The limitations of this study deserve careful consideration for future research. First, the complex nature of climate change as a global challenge transcends disciplinary boundaries, making a purely management-focused approach potentially narrow. Second, the lexicon used to outline climate change strategies is in a state of continuous evolution, and the terminology and concepts that define these strategies are likely to expand and change. Finally, while the study used metrics to assess the breadth and depth of companies’ sustainability efforts, there is an opportunity to improve this analysis through the development of a standardized index.

Managerial implications. Bridging the gap between climate change challenges and managerial strategies, this review equips organizations with a strategic framework to enhance their sustainability efforts in alignment with stakeholder expectations.

Originality of the paper. This systematic literature review is pioneering in its comprehensive examination of climate change within the management literature, offering a unique lens through which to evaluate the integration of sustainability into business strategies. By mapping thematic evolution and identifying emerging trends, the review provides new insights into aligning business practices with stakeholder expectations. Moreover, this study represents the first effort to investigate the intricate intersection between climate change and firms’ stakeholder orientation, by measuring the breadth and depth of firms’ sustainability efforts.

Activism Across Borders: Strategic Brand Approaches for Multinational Enterprises in Europe

Francesca Avallone — 2025-07-30

Frame of the research. As multinational enterprises (MNEs) increasingly engage in roles beyond conventional business activities, their involvement in brand activism has become a focal point of interest. This development underlines the urgency for MNEs to address global challenges, positioning them as pivotal actors in the evolving corporate social responsibility and global activism narrative. In particular, the heterogeneous socio-political context of Europe, featuring varied levels of press freedom, regulatory frameworks, and cultural norms, presents a compelling case to explore the tension between local adaptation and global standardization in activist communications.

Purpose of the paper. This research explores the unexplored realm of brand activism from an international perspective, focusing on how MNEs either standardize or customize their activist communications to align with the diverse contexts within specific European markets. The primary purpose is to analyze MNEs’ strategies to ensure that their activism effectively resonates across various European landscapes while assessing the balance between regional consistency and local relevance in their messaging. Furthermore, we examine how different degrees of press freedom can either amplify activist messaging or expose brands to heightened scrutiny. Additionally, the study considers the role of press freedom in shaping activist communications within these contexts.

Methodology. To address this purpose, the research is divided into two studies employing a mixed-method approach to achieve this goal. Study 1 conducts a content analysis of social media communication from an activist brand across several European countries. Study 2 performs a semiotic analysis to understand whether the communication is adapted or standardized to different local contexts. Considering the study’s purpose, an activist brand in multiple countries was selected for the analysis as the research setting.

Results. This multicounty case study reveals how an MNE conducts brand activism across various European countries, adapting its communication by showing significant variation in activist commitment levels across these markets. The analysis highlights the MNE’s strategic adjustments to resonate with diverse regional audiences, indicating a tailored approach to brand activism within the European context. Furthermore, the study examines how press freedom influences these variations in commitment and communication.

Research limitations. The research offers valuable insights but is limited by focusing on a single MNE and using only Instagram for data analysis, concentrating solely on communication rather than exploring the MNE’s practical actions. To enhance understanding, future studies could broaden their scope by incorporating a wider range of MNEs operating within different European countries, examining brand activism across diverse digital platforms, and delving into the tangible actions that accompany such activism. Moreover, investigating how evolving technologies like AI-driven sentiment analysis could shape or refine international activism strategies will provide a more nuanced outlook on global brand activism. Additionally, future studies should examine brand activism from a global perspective, not limited to Europe, by including countries with more challenging levels of democracy.

Managerial implications. This study offers relevant insights for MNEs who navigate the realm of brand activism within European markets. It underscores the critical need for thoughtful decision-making when choosing between standardizing or adapting activist communications. In particular, adopting universal environmental campaigns may safeguard global coherence, but addressing sensitive socio-political issues (e.g., LGBTQIA+ rights, migration) often demands local tailoring to respect cultural and moral norms. These strategic considerations are vital not only for effectively engaging with diverse regional audiences but also for overcoming geographical and cultural barriers and enhancing legitimacy within their operational environments, particularly considering varying levels of press freedom across countries.

Originality of the paper. Although brand activism has attracted increasing scholarly and managerial attention, his research seems to be the first to explore brand activism within the European context by analysing how MNEs communicate their activism across diverse European countries. By linking the brand activism literature with international business frameworks and the concept of press freedom, this sets the stage for future research to delve deeper into how such activism is conceptualized and executed across different countries, considering varying levels of press freedom.

Unveiling the Different Shades of Well-being to Improve Managerial Decision-making

Maria Vincenza Ciasullo — 2025-07-30

Frame of the research. Well-being is a concept that has attracted scholars’ interest for centuries. In the last decades, workplace well-being has gained academic research attention. Nevertheless, a holistic approach to how workplace well-being is related to the decision-making process is currently missing. A conceptualization of well-being influencing the decision-making process is therefore provided.

Purpose of the paper. The study aims to investigate well-being from managers’ perspective, highlighting the factors that shape workplace well-being, thereby affecting the overall decision-making process.

Methodology. A qualitative approach is adopted, employing a single case study methodology. As a key and distinctive company that promotes well-being, Cisco is chosen. Through the collection of 973 reviews of Cisco managers from a worldwide job platform (i.e., Indeed), a thematic content analysis is performed.

Results. The results show that psychological, social, and contextual factors are interconnected and contribute in a balanced way to workplace well-being.

Research limitations. The investigation of a single case study does not allow generalizations.

Managerial implications. The study demonstrates that managers can affect workplace well-being. In this direction, it is valuable to inspire and support managers to be proactive, supportive, collaborative, and ready to adapt and react to change to facilitate a smooth decision-making process.

Originality of the paper. Despite the prolific research on well-being, few studies focus on adopting a manager’s perspective to understand how well-being can affect the decision-making process. Both the multidimensional and multilayered nature of workplace well-being are addressed in the study.

FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRIFOOD SECTOR. A LITERATURE REVIEW AND RESEARCH AGENDA

Francesco Mercuri — 2025-07-30

Purpose of the paper: The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that affect the spread of enabling technologies in agri-food sector. Factors affecting companies’ technologies adoption are individually investigated and clustered by conceptual groups. Then, their positive or negative effects on the adoption tendency of enterprises technologies were investigated.

Methodology: This research is based on a systematic literature review, considering a range of online database from 2012 to 2024. Specific filters have been applied, resulting in a final database that consists of 58 articles. After reading the articles, variables were classified according to social, economic, environmental, and technical nature. Finally, their positive or negative effects on technology purchase intention were investigated.
Findings: The research showed that "social factors" are more prevalent than "technical", "economic" and "environmental" factors. Moreover, there is arguably a clear need to improve specific technical and managerial competences about advanced technologies, even by stimulating entrepreneurs to train themselves social, not relying on the experience of others.
Research limits: The literature review was limited to articles in English, excluding studies in other languages that could offer significant contributions. Additionally, the selection of empirical studies was confined to the fields of "Business, Management and Accounting," and Engineering, limiting the scope of the analysis. Lastly, our methodology for evaluating the influence of factors was subjective, based on the interpretation of textual content, with a potential risk of bias.
Practical implications: In light of the presented framework, we propose theoretical and managerial implications that would be useful for researchers and practitioners; a research agenda has been provided as well.
Originality of the paper: This paper aims to provide an increased understanding of the current state of research and what still needs to be investigated about the adoption of technologies in agri-food sector. Our study offers an integrative conceptual framework where factors affecting the adoption of technologies in agri-food sector are individually investigated and clustered by conceptual groups, as well as analysed in terms of impact generated.

Navigating Emotions and Identities During the Pandemic Crises and their effect on Organizational Citizenship Behaviors

Rossella Baratta — 2025-07-30

Frame of the research: Organizational citizenship behaviors promote the effective functioning of organizations and become especially relevant during crises and emergencies. Understanding how to elicit these behaviors is essential for effective crisis response. Previous research acknowledges the role of emotions, organizational, and shared social identity in promoting positive employee behaviors. However, the link between identities and how employees manage their emotions during crisis situations, particularly through the surface and deep acting inherent in emotional labor, remains under-explored.

Purpose of the paper: The study aims to investigate how emotions, surface and deep acting inherent in emotional labor, organizational identity, and shared social identity influence organizational citizenship behaviors among professionals during crises and emergencies.

Methodology: A questionnaire survey was administered to 223 professionals in the province of Bergamo, Italy, during the COVID-19 crisis. Hypotheses were tested through regression and mediation analysis.

Results: Results show that positive emotions, deep acting, organizational and shared social identity encourage organizational citizenship behaviors. The effect of deep acting on organizational citizenship behaviors is positively mediated by both organizational and shared social identity.

Research limitations: Limitations of the study include potential biases in self-reported data and the specific context analyzed.

Practical implications: The study offers managerial insights to foster positive organizational behaviors during crises. Results highlight the importance of increasing the level of identification of employees with the organization and their social group.

Originality of the study: This research contributes to the literature by examining the complex interplay between organizational citizenship behaviors, emotions, emotional labor, organizational and shared social identity, taking the COVID-19 pandemic as an illustrative case of extreme emergency.