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This study explores motivating and hindering factors for internal social media usage in organizations using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Organizational communication quality was considered as a unique moderating factor between social norms and usage intention. This qualitative study consists of 16 individual interviewees from 6 different organizations. Findings revealed that motivating factors included improvements to: organizational processes, knowledge management, and communication. Hindering factors included a lack of information concerning the personal benefits. It would seem that the better the communication quality is, the more the perceived social norms of usage is supported and thereby the intention for usage.

To tackle the problems of plastic pollution in the environment, the reduction of plastic consumption plays a major role. To initiate behavior changes in consumption patterns, the content and time point of interventions are key factors. Furthermore, current studies have outlined the effect of role models on others’ behavior. Thus, this paper investigates the impact of role models in media reports on efficacy beliefs and consumption behavior using an intervention. Two online studies with quoted samples, in the fasting period Lent (Study 1: n = 656) and a random period (Study 2: n = 947), were conducted. Both studies included two measurement points to investigate the change in plastic consumption over time. In study 1 (during the Lent period), participants were divided into one experimental group that viewed a media report including information on the plastic problem and role-model-like behavior for reducing plastic consumption and one control group that viewed a media report including only information on the plastic problem. In study 2 (during a random period), an additional control group was added where participants did not view a media report at all. Results revealed that a decrease in plastic consumption during the fasting period could be found; however, a decrease in plastic consumption outside of the fasting period could not be found. Media reports that addressed plastic pollution and role models avoiding plastic had no relevant impact on participants’ efficacy beliefs or plastic consumption intention or behavior.

This study investigates potential barriers and supporting factors for employees’ Internal Social Media (ISM) usage intention for not only users but also the harder to reach target group of non-users. Following and extending the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (DTPB), it is assumed that ISM acceptance, superiors’ and peers’ support of ISM, superiors’ and peers’ usage of ISM, and the perceived ISM usage ability will explain employees’ usage intention. Multiple regression analyses revealed that users’ and non-users’ usage intention increases mostly with acceptance. Additionally, for users, peer usage support and behavior, as well as ISM Trainings showed to have an impact on usage intention.