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How can managers reduce information asymmetry in dyadic manager-external stakeholder relationships in a complex and evolving environment? Addressing this question has significant implications for firm survival, growth, and competitive advantage.

We have adopted a multiparadigm approach to theory building, known as metatriangulation. We integrate the dynamic capabilities, sensemaking, and evolutionary theory literatures to theorize how managers can relate to stakeholders in a complex and evolving environment.

We propose, via a conceptual framework and three propositions, “evolutionary sensemaking” as the managerial metacognitive dynamic capability that helps managers hone their understanding based on the evolutionary changes in the stakeholder’s interpretations of information quality preferences. The framework unfolds across three evolutionary stages: sensing preferences' variation of the stakeholder, seizing preferences, and transforming for complexity alignment and retention. The propositions focus on managing complexity in stakeholder information quality preference, employing cognitive capabilities to simplify, interpret, and align interpretations for effective information asymmetry reduction.

To develop the metacognitive dynamic capability of evolutionary sensemaking, managers need to train for and foster the underlying complex cognitive capabilities by enhancing their (1) perception and attention skills, (2) problem-solving and reasoning skills, and (3) language, communication, and social cognition skills, focusing specifically on reducing the complexity embedded in stakeholder cognition and diverse stakeholder preferences for information quality. Contrary to the current advice to “keep things simple” and provide “more” information to the stakeholders for opportunism reduction, trust-building, and superior governance, our framework suggests that managers hone their cognitive capabilities by learning to deal with the underlying complexity.

The proposed framework and propositions address research gaps in reducing information asymmetry. It enriches the dynamic capabilities literature by recognizing complexity (as opposed to opportunism) as an alternative source of information asymmetry, which needs to be addressed in this stream of research. It extends the sensemaking literature by identifying the complexity sources – i.e. stakeholder preferences for diverse information quality attributes and the associated cognitive preference interpretation processes. The article enhances evolutionary theory by delving into microprocesses related to information asymmetry reduction, which the existing literature does not thoroughly investigate.

This study aims to examine the impact of logistics and merchant certification information on consumer behaviour in hybrid retail platforms. Furthermore, it explores the moderating role of online shopping experience on the certification effect.

The authors utilize transaction-level data from over 2.5 million consumers involving 30,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) on JD.com in March 2018. They analyse the impact of different types of certification information on consumer behaviour using ordinary linear regression and linear probability models.

The findings reveal that, compared with information without certification, (1) single logistics certification information can enhance consumers' search depth and purchase intention; (2) dual logistics and merchant certification information also has a positive impact on consumer behaviour; and (3) single certification information is more effective for inexperienced consumers, while dual certification is more effective for experienced consumers.

Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature on certification information in hybrid retail platforms and broadens information communication methods for online shopping. Our discovery is meaningful for managers in locating customers and allocating resources. In addition, we encourage online retailers to utilize certification information to engage consumer.

This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of concern for information privacy between e-HRM and job stress that eventually develops a turnover intention among employees.

A survey questionnaire was used on working professionals employed in the service and manufacturing sectors. A total of 178 usable responses were collected adopting a convenient snowball sampling technique. PLS-SEM was used to analyze and investigate the hypothesized relationships.

The study found that higher perceptions of e-HRM strength led to less concern for information privacy breaches. Further, concern for information privacy was positively associated with employee job stress and turnover intention. A positive relationship between job stress and turnover intention among employees was also established. Moreover, perceived concern for information privacy fully mediated the relationship between e-HRM and job stress and, eventually, turnover intention among employees.

Organizations should focus on ensuring considerable e-HRM strength while adopting and implementing e-HRM practices; failing may lead to concerns for employee privacy, job stress and eventually turnover intention among employees.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study is among the first few studies to identify perceived concern for information privacy as a consequence of e-HRM reflecting the dark side of e-HRM.

This study aims to investigate how image-presentation-order influences mental imagery (MI) processing and purchase intentions. This study also examines the moderating effect of a series of images on the relationship between image-presentation-order and MI processing.

This research conducted two studies using an experimental approach.

Two studies showed that MI processing was higher, when an apparel product image worn by a model with a background was shown after rather than before a simple product image (SPI), indicating the recency effect. In contrast, examining a series of images, consumers were more engaged in MI processing, when product image(s) worn by a model with a background were presented first, followed by the four SPIs, than the reversed order (primacy effect). The level of MI in two studies subsequently increased purchase intentions.

Results of this study have the potential to provide guidance to online retailers for how to best order their product images on a website to help consumers form elaborated MI about the product and thus increase purchasing intentions.

Although past research has examined presentation-order effect using textual information, very limited studies have explored presentation-order effect of pictorial information. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is in the forefront of investigations about the joint effect of image-presentation-order and the number of images on individuals’ perceptions.

This study aims to examine the impact of digital transformation on firms’ value and explore the mediating impact of ESG performance and moderating impact of information interaction.

Data was collected from companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchange between 2012 and 2020 with 21,488 observational samples, featuring a selection of 3,348 companies. Panel data regression techniques were used to test the mediating role of ESG performance and the moderating role of information interaction.

The study found that digital transformation can improve firms’ ESG performance, which in turn positively affects their value. The firms that engage in more interaction with outsiders benefit more from digital transformation and have a higher value.

This study provides new theoretical insight into improving firms’ value through digital transformation and ESG performance. It is the first to discuss and study the moderating role of information interaction in the relationship between digital transformation and firms’ value.

The purpose of this study was to develop a model of skilful surfing to aid understanding of how best to seek health information, online and offline, during pregnancy.

This study used an observational, descriptive design, using a purpose written questionnaire, factor analysis and structural equation modelling.

Analysis resulted in the factor loading of five components: online health information seeking behaviour, normalisation, offline support, trust and data saturation. These components were included as latent variables in an SEM to evaluate the credibility, and subsequently confirm the viability of the theory of skilful surfing.

To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to successfully model and define what it is to skilfully surf health information online whilst pregnant, with empirical and theoretical underpinnings.

This study aims to explore the eye movement behavior of preadolescent children accessing and diagnosing information.

The researchers tracked the eye movements of 30 children with an eye-tracking apparatus. Using the kit of factor-referenced cognitive tests to measure perceptual speed and associative memory, they measured information-searching behavior with screen recordings, the data of which were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics 26.

Regarding information accessibility, there was a correlation between the child’s age, associative memory and the number of round-trip choices, and there were differences in the total fixation area among children of different age groups. Regarding diagnosticity, perceptual speed was positively correlated with the total fixation area, and the number of round-trip choices was negatively correlated with fixation duration.

Empirical evidence suggests that during information encoding, perceptual speed is the most important influencing factor. Extensive research indicates that children predominantly rely on recall and familiarity when searching for new information, both of which play roles in associative memory. Through an examination of the psychological and behavioral indicators of children, the study elucidated the cognitive processes involved in information processing and how children engage with information at both visual and cognitive levels.

This paper aims to evaluate the accessibility of digital information systems as a key usability attribute in information retrieval by users with visual impairment (VI), to inform development of accessible information systems.

This study used a cross-sectional survey design based on the quantitative research paradigm. Data was collected from 117 students with visual impairments from selected public universities in Kenya, using a semi-structured questionnaire adapted from Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

This study revealed that gender did not influence screen reader compatibility, alternative format preferences, perceptions of accessible content or digital library navigability. Instead, type of visual impairment, prior assistive technology (AT) training and digital library use frequency significantly impacted these attributes. Blind students reported positive experiences, favouring alternative formats, and expressed positive views on accessible content while those with low vision faced more challenges. Prior training in assistive technology and frequent digital library use resulted in higher screen reader compatibility and better navigability. Increased digital library use was linked to access to alternative content for those with prior assistive technology training.

This study contributes to the existing literature on accessibility of digital information systems for users with visual impairments. Further research is needed to explore other factors that may influence the accessibility of digital systems, such as the design of user interfaces as well as an evaluation of accessibility of digital systems for other categories of disabilities such as hearing impairment, physical impairment, autism and intellectual disability, among others.

The findings of this study have practical implications for the design and development of digital systems such as digital libraries. Developers can leverage findings of this study to enhance compatibility of digital platforms with screen readers and provide alternative formats and accessible content. User-centred design principles can be used to create interfaces that are easy to navigate and friendly to users with visual impairments. Training programmes on assistive technology should be provided to users to enhance their skills and confidence in using digital systems.

This study contributes towards design and creation of navigable systems that are compatible with screen readers. The study also points out the importance of creating more inclusive and usable digital environments for persons with visual impairments.

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of challenging tasks, organizational identification and technological training seeking behavior in the relationship between information sharing as a human resource practice and employees’ feelings of competency at work.

Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data collected from a three-wave online survey conducted in an Italian aerospace manufacturing company (n = 294).

The results reveal an indirect path between information sharing and feelings of competence, mediated by organizational identification and training seeking behavior. However, no total indirect path was observed between feelings of competency and information sharing through challenging tasks and training seeking.

This research contributes to the understanding of the impact of information sharing on individuals’ feelings of competency in the context of organizational change, particularly through the introduction of the concept of proactive training seeking as a novel dimension of proactive behavior.

This study aims to examine the effects of multidimensional factors of platform features, group effects and emotional attitudes on social media users’ privacy disclosure intention.

This study collected the data from 426 respondents through an online questionnaire survey and conducted two approaches of structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) for theoretical hypothesis testing and configuration analysis of the data.

The results show that social media platform features (rewards of information disclosure, personalized service quality and data transparency), group effects (group similarity, group information interaction and network externality), individual emotional attitudes (trust and privacy concern) and control variable (gender) have a significant impact on privacy disclosure intention, as well as trust and privacy concern play mediating roles. Additionally, the fsQCA method reveals five causal configurations that explain high privacy disclosure intentions. Furthermore, the study reveals that male users pay more attention to platform features, while female users are more inclined to group effects.

This study attempts to construct a comprehensive model to examine the factors that affect users' intention to disclose their privacy on social media platforms. Drawing on the cognition-affect-conation model and multidimensional development theory, the model integrates multidimensional factors of platform features, group effects, trust and privacy concern to complement existing theoretical frameworks and privacy disclosure literature. By understanding the complex dynamics behind privacy disclosure, this study helps platform providers and policymakers develop effective strategies to ensure the vitality and momentum of the social media ecosystem.