https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/296 2026-04-30T20:42:27Z 2026-04-30T20:42:27Z Chohen, R. Konietzny, Jirka Caruana, Albert https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146090 2026-04-30T14:00:53Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Drivers of managements’ behaviour intention and expectation to adopt blockchain technology Authors: Chohen, R.; Konietzny, Jirka; Caruana, Albert Abstract: Blockchain technology offers significant potential for business applications through improved information sharing and decentralized validation. However, many managers remain reluctant to adopt digital trade via blockchain. This research proposes a model to understand the drivers of managers' behavioral intentions and expectations regarding blockchain adoption. By integrating interorganizational factors (competitive pressure and trading partner readiness) and intraorganizational factors (individual technological readiness, interdepartmental conflict/connectedness, and organizational structure), the study differentiates between rational "Type 2" thinking (intention) and more intuitive "Type 1" thinking (expectation). The model suggests that while profit-driven rationales dominate management decisions, technological readiness and organizational context significantly influence the likelihood of adoption.

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z Erben, Şeyma Esin https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146021 2026-04-29T11:33:46Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Negotiating generative artificial intelligence in animal rights activism : a qualitative study in Türkiye Authors: Erben, Şeyma Esin Abstract: This phenomenological study examines how animal rights activists in Türkiye understand and engage with generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI). The research is based on semi-structured interviews with seventeen activists and ten months of digital observation. Thematic analysis generated three themes: ethical and value- based compatibility, practical applications in activism, and effectiveness and accessibility. Activists often relied on Gen AI to sustain campaign communication during periods of intensified mobilisation, while continuing to question its ethical compatibility and uneven accessibility. The study conceptualises activists’ engagement with Gen AI as an ongoing negotiation shaped by ethical concerns and practical demands.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Konietzny, Jirka Caruana, Albert https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145905 2026-04-24T13:44:27Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Consumer endorsements in the business-to-business (B2B) context : adapting consumer theories and proposing a research agenda Authors: Konietzny, Jirka; Caruana, Albert Abstract: This conceptual paper addresses the gap in Business-to-Business (B2B) literature regarding how endorsements from high-status "celebrity organizations" influence organizational buying behavior. While traditional B2C theories focus on individual celebrities, this framework explores the multi-person Decision Making Unit (DMU) and identifies three distinct influence mechanisms: status-based signals for risk reduction, cognitive fit for perceived competence, and B2B parasocial relationships that bolster champion confidence. The paper also considers the moderating role of Power Distance Belief (PDB) in how these endorsements are processed.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Caruana, Albert Vella, Joseph M. Konietzny, Jirka https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145904 2026-04-24T13:33:14Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Social marketing and the pursuit of a legitimacy strategy Authors: Caruana, Albert; Vella, Joseph M.; Konietzny, Jirka Abstract: State gambling organisations like the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) face a fundamental paradox: generating public revenue from an activity associated with social harm. This study examines how BCLC uses corporate sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting as a social marketing tool to reinforce societal legitimacy. Through a content analysis of reports from 2021 and 2022 using Leximancer software, the research identifies how BCLC frames its efforts—such as Indigenous reconciliation and employee wellbeing—to align with stakeholder expectations and mitigate the stigma of gambling. The findings suggest that BCLC employs strategies of Earning, Bargaining, and Construing legitimacy to recast the organisation as a contributor to public wellbeing.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z