Browsing by Author "Gazzola, Patrizia"

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Before and after the outbreak of Covid-19 : linking fashion companies’ corporate social responsibility approach to consumers’ demand for sustainable products
(Elsevier, 2021-09) Vătămănescu, Elena Mădălina; Dabija, Dan Cristian; Gazzola, Patrizia; Cegarra Navarro, Juan Gabriel; Buzzi, Tania
The current exploratory endeavour sets out to scrutinize the relationships between the corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach of fashion companies, their strategic CSR communication, corporate reputation, and consumers’ propensity towards buying sustainable products. The study elaborates on consumers’ perspective on these variables, comparing two-time frameworks, before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical research was performed on 977 Millennials and Gen Zers, thus extending previous studies based on the generational theory. Emphasis was placed on the fashion sector as one of the industries most challenged by the pandemic, with Italy being one of the most affected European countries. Scrutiny relied on a questionnaire-based survey; data being processed via structural equation modelling (SEM) technique. The findings reveal that consumers attach great importance to the social and environmental sustainability practices applied by companies (i. e., circular economy issues, location of apparel production, organic production of raw materials, pollution generated during production, respect of workers’ rights and health, and use of recycled materials) and to the attributes of targeted products, even since the spread of the virus. The empirical evidence has substantive implications for scholars, professionals, and companies, urging that sustainability priorities are critical to favourable consumer behaviour, and implicitly to business survival.
Framing consumer empowerment in the digital economy: From networks and engagement toward sustainable purchase
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2024-05-15) Vătămănescu, Elena-Mădălina; Dinu, Elena; Gazzola, Patrizia; Dabija, Dan-Cristian
The current study investigates the influence of variety among online providers and customers' access to knowledge on consumer networks, consumer engagement, and sustainable purchasing. Emphasis is on the underlying relationships among these constructs in the digital economy, which has evolved into a complex structure of multifarious nodes and linkages unfolding in the online environment. The underlying theoretical approaches are knowledge-attitude-behavior (KAB) and customer sovereignty. Against this backdrop, a questionnaire-based survey was given to 200 Millennials (i.e., generation Y) and gen Z Italians—approached as empowered stakeholders requiring accurate information and sustainable solutions from online providers—in January 2023. The data was processed via the structural equation modeling technique PLS-SEM, based on SmartPLS 4. The findings indicated that sustainable purchasing is influenced to some extent by access to knowledge, consumer engagement, and consumer networks. The study endeavors to fill a research gap, as the relationships between variety among online providers and sustainable purchasing, as well as consumer engagement from the empowerment perspective are underexplored. The study provides new evidence of the relationships between consumer networks, consumers' access to knowledge, sustainable purchasing, and consumer engagement in the framework of online retail by inquiring respondents.
Individuals’ behavioral intention to use car sharing (CS): from environmental consciousness to socio-psychological drivers
(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2025) Vătămănescu, Elena-Madalina; Dincă, Violeta-Mihaela; Cegarra-Navarro, Juan-Gabriel; Gazzola, Patrizia; Amelio, Stefano
Purpose By scrutinizing different types of factors conducive to the behavioral intention to use car sharing (CS), the present paper looked into the influences of the environmental consciousness (i.e. environmental angle), the continuous improvement of CS platforms (i.e. technological angle), smart mobility (i.e. infrastructure angle) and the perceived benefits of CS and electronic trust in CS (i.e. individual and psychological angles). Design/methodology/approach On purpose to provide an integrative outlook, a questionnaire-based survey with over 400 subjects coming from young generations (i.e. Gen Y and Z) has been conducted in 2023. The collected data were processed and analyzed by means of a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique (PLS-SEM) by employing SmartPLS 4. Findings The analysis allows for multiple results. Environmental consciousness, continuous improvement of CS platforms and smart mobility have a positive influence on the perceived benefits of CS. The relationship between the continuous improvement of CS platforms and the E-trust in CS and the relationship between the impact of E-trust in CS and the behavioral intention to use CS are positive. Perceived benefits of CS have a positive influence on the behavioral intention to use CS. Originality/value On the one hand, in terms of theoretical implications, the paper integrates multiple factors in a common framework, simultaneously considering social, psychological, technological and environmental dimensions in addressing the behavioral intention to use CS. On the other hand, the study entails practical implications and implicit takeaways for CS platform companies, which can inform business practitioners and transportation planners.
Integrating smart mobility and electric car sharing adoption in a common framework: Antecedents and mediators
(Elsevier Publishing, 2023-07-27) Vătămănescu, Elena-Mădălina; Nicolescu, Luminița; Gazzola, Patrizia; Amelio, Stefano
The present research set out to provide an answer to various calls for further analysis of the car sharing consumer behavior. In this sense, the investigation has advanced an integrative conceptual model by studying the antecedents of electric car sharing adoption, based on two general attitudinal influencers environmental consciousness and technology embracement and two mediators – the perceived benefits of car sharing and the importance attached to smart mobility. The empirical undertaking relied on a questionnaire-based survey with 399 Romanian respondents from generation Z. According to the findings, the proposed model has confirmed a substantive effect of environmental consciousness and technology embracement on smart mobility and a less powerful effect of the latter on electric car sharing adoption. The results have both theoretical and practical implications given that achieving a paradigm shift towards smart mobility and electric car sharing adoption requires substantial changes in social habits and orientation, as well as attitudinal transformations in terms of environmental and technological dynamics. The study originally contributes to the extant literature by interrelating different attitudinal factors as relevant drivers for car sharing adoption within a comprehensive framework. From a practical perspective, while focusing on electric car sharing from a context-driven angle, the investigation adds knowledge about the behavioral intentions for car sharing usage in a country where the phenomenon is yet to develop. In this sense, the findings support providers of car sharing services and authorities in their promotion strategies regarding car sharing services as a form of sustainable transportation apposite for smart cities.
Social Reporting Impact on Non-Profit Stakeholder Satisfaction and Trust during the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Emerging Market
(MDPI, 2022-10-13) Nemțeanu, Sefora Marcela; Dabija, Dan Cristian; Gazzola, Patrizia; Vătămănescu, Elena Mădălina
Attracting resources to achieve established goals makes social reporting necessary in relation to an organization’s stakeholders, and reports on the social impact of resource use and activities have an essential role in increasing stakeholder satisfaction and trust. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of sustainable development goals and transparent social reporting for different categories of stakeholders. This paper aims to identify the social reporting dimensions that influence the satisfaction and trust of the primary stakeholders of non-profit organizations in an emerging market (Romania), i.e., managers, employees, members, volunteers, donors, and collaborators. The results reveal the positive influence COVID-19 reporting had on stakeholder satisfaction. The lack of formal reporting has a weak yet statistically significant negative influence on stakeholder satisfaction, thus positively influencing the perceived need for external and internal auditing. Stakeholder trust in an organization is strongly and positively influenced by satisfaction with the organizational activity and internal auditing and is negatively influenced by a lack of formal reporting.
Sustainability policies adoption within Italian Michelin‐starred restaurants: From external drivers to costs
(ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2024) Gazzola, Patrizia; Vătămănescu, Elena-Mădălina; Zamai, Matilde; Fassio, Franco
The purpose of the research is to investigate the increasing importance of the role of sustainability in high-end restaurants, specifically in those awarded Michelin stars. The focus is on the role sustainability plays as a crucial element in the state-of-the-art of fine-dining business given that restaurants are challenged to reconsider the noteworthiness of new sustainable imperatives. The study is based on a questionnaire survey carried out with over 70 owners and chefs from Italian Michelin-starred restaurants. The results show a clear tendency towards sustainability and an increasing attention towards this trend, emphasizing its peculiarities for the restaurant industry, which is indicates profound changes. More specifically, 35% of the variance in internal sustainability policies adoption is explained by external drives related to sustainability and customers' demands of sustainability. The data collected relies on an Italian sample, but the results are useful to understand the sustainability imperatives for the Michelin-stars restaurants worldwide as the Italian food service industry is often deemed as iconic. The study advances new insights into the future of the sustainable restaurant industry. The results of research are based on a novel research design and empirical survey capturing the state-of-the-art of sustainability policies adoption in the case of Michelin-starred restaurants.
Sustainable behaviour of B Corps fashion companies during Covid-19: A quantitative economic analysis
(Elsevier, 2022-09-14) Ferioli, Matteo; Gazzola, Patrizia; Grechi, Danieli; Vătămănescu, Elena Mădălina
This paper investigates whether or not Italian Certified B Corps® in the fashion industry achieved levels of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance that are comparable to listed companies in the same industry during the Covid-19 pandemic. After a review of the literature concerning B Corps, CSR and the circular economy, as well as some coverage of pandemic impacts, a quantitative approach is used to analyze the data empirically. Based on the data available, the study incorporated the entire population of Italian listed companies and B Corps in the fashion industry. Moreover, this study confirms the relationship between CSR and financial performance. The availability of sustainability documents other than the required social responsibility report does not directly affect a company’s profitability, but they are necessary for the long term. The results also confirm the positive relationship between sustainability certification and higher financial performance, as the most sustainable companies were also the most profitable. Certified B Corps® declare their willingness to adopt circular economic principles to the same extent as non-certified listed companies. Moreover, the results show that consumers mainly remember the information disclosed on a company’s homepage; therefore, managers should publish more there. However, they should not underestimate the importance of their sustainability report because it is an effective social communication tool, especially in the long term. Finally, obtaining the B Corp certification will allow companies to inform stakeholders of their social responsibility and achieve higher financial results.