International Review of Management and Marketing
International Review of Management and Marketing (IRMM) is the international academic journal, and is a double-blind, peer-reviewed academic journal publishing high quality conceptual and measure development articles in the areas of management, marketing, business and related disciplines. The journal has a worldwide audience. The journal's goal is to stimulate the development of management, marketing, business and related disciplines theory worldwide by publishing interesting articles in a highly readable format. ISSN: 2146-4405
Strategic Alliances and Organizational Performance of Selected Manufacturing Firms in Ogun State, Nigeria
The study examined the impact of Strategic Alliances on the Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Ogun State, Nigeria. Data from a questionnaire survey conducted among three hundred and seventy-five (375) employees of seven manufacturing firms were analysed using statistical methods. The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a significant relationship between technological strategic alliance and firm performance (0.745 and p<0.01), as well as between marketing strategic alliance and firm performance (0.878 and p<0.01). Multiple regression analysis further confirmed that both technology (β = 0.239) and marketing (β = 0.752) strategic alliances had a positive and significant impact on firm performance. Based on these findings, the study recommends that policymakers should promote and support manufacturing firms in forming strategic alliances, particularly in technology and marketing sectors, to enhance their performance.
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Dynamic Relationship between Stakeholders’ Demands, Environmental Accounting Disclosure and Financial Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria
Despite growing stakeholder pressure and regulatory attention, manufacturing firms in Nigeria still exhibit inadequate environmental disclosure practices, raising concerns about its implications for financial performance and commitment to sustainability. Hence, the study aimed the examine the dynamic relationship between stakeholders’ demands, environmental accounting disclosure and the financial performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study explored both primary and secondary data. The study employed a longitudinal research design combining primary data from 280 stakeholders. The secondary data were obtained from the annual reports and accounts of 30 sampled firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group from 2008 to 2023. A Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model was applied to analyse the short- and long-term interaction among the variables. The findings revealed that environmental accounting practices are relatively autonomous but increasingly influenced by stakeholder demands over time and both factors significantly enhance financial performance. The results underscore the growing interdependence between corporate environmental accountability and stakeholder expectations, highlighting that firms prioritizing transparency and engagement experience improved financial outcomes. Based on the findings, the study recommends stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, the introduction of incentive schemes for sustainable practices, adoption of standardized reporting frameworks, active stakeholder engagement and integration of environmental accounting strategic planning. The study contributes to empirical evidence on the relevance of aligning environmental practices with stakeholder expectations to achieve sustainable business outcomes in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
From Automation to Augmentation: A Bibliometric and Thematic Review of Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management
This study reviews how artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied in Human Resource Management (HRM) research from 2019 to 2024.Using a systematic search procedure outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), eighty-five peer-reviewed articles were located and content analyzed using bibliometric mapping techniques in VOSviewer to identify publication trends, influence by key authors, and key topics. This study concentrates upon three primary HRM domains that demonstrate the greatest visibility of AI applications: recruitment and selection, performance appraisals, and employee training/learning and development. Overall, the literature demonstrates positive outcomes in the form of decision-making support, increased efficiencies, and greater analytic capabilities, as well as an increasing trend from automation to augmentation, in which AI supports rather than supplants human judgment. However, the literature identifies consistent concerns about risks associated with AI including; risk of algorithmic bias, risk of compromising data privacy, lack of transparency and accountability in high-stake HR decision making processes. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of developing Explainable AI, human-AI collaboration and developing more adaptive and personalized employee experiences. Through the combination of bibliometric analysis with thematic synthesis, this study identifies the current state of research on the relationship between AI and HRM, and provides direction regarding priority gaps that need to be addressed in order for the effective and ethically appropriate application of AI in HRM.
The Application of Brand Resonance in Brand Building: A Systematic Literature Review
This systematic literature review examines brand resonance as a strategic tool for building strong consumer–brand relationships. Following PRISMA guidelines, extensive searches of Scopus and Web of Science yielded 992 publications, from which 446 peer-reviewed studies (2005–2025) were selected. Bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace identified 12 themes and revealed a paradigm shift from cognitive psychology to brand building after 2016. Findings indicate that brand resonance comprises four interconnected dimensions: behavioral loyalty, attitudinal attachment, sense of community, and active engagement. These elements collectively strengthen consumer loyalty and brand equity across diverse sectors including luxury products, hospitality, education, and halal markets. Emotional marketing, customer experiences, and social media marketing prove effective in cultivating brand resonance, with emotional approaches demonstrating greater potency than cognitive methods. The integration of attribution theory, brand experience theory, and the cognitive-affective-conative model provides a comprehensive theoretical framework explaining brand resonance mechanisms. This review contributes a conceptual framework linking antecedent factors—emotional value, brand experience, brand cognition, social interaction, perceived quality, and brand loyalty—to brand resonance and its behavioral outcomes, including repeat purchase intention and word-of-mouth advocacy. Research gaps regarding visual branding symbols in digital spaces are identified for future investigation.
Innovation Dynamics and Business Growth in Philippines’ Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprise Bakeries: The Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Experience in Product and Process Innovations
This study examines how process and product innovation drive business growth in MSME bakeries, with entrepreneurial experience as a moderating factor. Data from 227 respondents, analyzed using PLS-SEM, shows that process innovation improves efficiency, reduces costs, and boosts productivity, contributing to business growth. Product innovation also enhances growth by helping businesses adapt to consumer preferences and differentiate offerings. Entrepreneurial experience strengthens the link between process innovation and growth indicating that industry expertise enhances operational improvements. However, its effect on product innovation is insignificant, which suggests that other market factors play a greater role. MSME bakeries must invest in automation and workflow optimization to improve efficiency and conduct market research to align products with consumer trends such as health and sustainability. Business owners enhance innovation strategies through continuous learning via mentorship and industry networks. Policymakers provide support through financial aid and technical training. Future research explores factors such as digital transformation and technological adaptation to develop a better understanding of how innovation drives business growth.
Does Artificial Intelligence Based Green Supply Chain Improve Sustainable Economic Performance? Evidence from Indonesian Firms
This study examines the role of artificial intelligence adoption in optimizing Green Supply Chains and how its practices can improve Sustainable Economic Efficiency in the Indonesian manufacturing sector. A survey was conducted among manufacturing companies that have integrated AI into their green supply chains. The study employed SEM processed using AMOS, resulting in the finding that AI adoption significantly improves GSC practices, which in turn significantly contributes to sustainable economic efficiency. Furthermore, the results confirm that GSC acts as a mediating between artificial intelligence and Sustainable Economic Efficiency. This study highlights the strategic importance of incorporating innovative AI use in sustainable practices, offering practical insights for managers to align AI applications with green objectives. For policymakers, these findings underscore the potential of AI-powered GSC as a catalyst for national sustainability and decarbonization efforts, emphasizing the need for standardized sustainability policies, incentives, and metrics to create sustainable economic efficiency in Indonesia.
Global Research Trends in Impulsive Buying Behavior within E-Commerce: A Bibliometric Analysis
Impulsive purchasing behavior has become a significant focus in e-commerce research owing to the swift growth of digital marketplaces and technology-fueled consuming settings. This study seeks to systematically delineate and synthesize global research trends regarding impulsive buying behavior within the realm of e-commerce using extensive bibliometric analysis. The study examines 393 peer-reviewed papers and reviews from Scopus-indexed publications between 2000 and 2025, employing recognized bibliometric methodologies such as performance analysis, citation analysis, co-authorship analysis, co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence mapping. Visualization technologies like VOS viewer are utilized to elucidate the intellectual framework, thematic progression, and collaborative dynamics within the discipline. The results demonstrate a distinct historical transition from initial technology-focused study to interdisciplinary studies that incorporate consumer psychology, digital marketing, social commerce, and advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and live-stream commerce. The findings delineate key authors, institutions, nations, and journals, emphasizing the preeminent influence of the United States and China, as well as the significance of high-impact journals in information systems and consumer behavior. The thematic analysis indicates an increasing academic focus on the emotional, experiential, and social aspects of impulsive purchasing, as well as rising issues pertaining to consumer welfare and ethical platform design. This study presents a systematic assessment of the knowledge domain, identifies research deficiencies, and gives significant insights to inform future academic research, managerial decisions, and policy formulation in digital consuming situations.
Participation Loyalty in Hyrox: The Primacy of Sport Experience and the Effects of Marketing Support
High-intensity functional fitness competitions such as HYROX have emerged as hybrid sport ecosystems that integrate principles of physical education, competitive sport structures, and market-oriented event delivery. Despite growing participation, empirical evidence explaining participation loyalty in such demanding sport environments remains fragmented, with prior studies often privileging marketing or satisfaction-based explanations over experiential and pedagogical foundations. Addressing this gap, this study examined the relative influence of HYROX sport experience and management factors, and marketing support variables on participation loyalty. Using a quantitative, descriptive–correlational design, data were collected from 320 first-time and repeat HYROX participants in Cebu City, Philippines. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-test, and multiple regression analysis were employed to test predictive and comparative relationships. Results revealed that participation loyalty was predominantly explained by sport experience and management variables, with community and belongingness emerging as the strongest predictors, followed by training readiness, event challenge satisfaction, operational and safety quality, and coaching/program support. In contrast, marketing variables played a secondary role, with only product experience quality and place accessibility exerting significant but comparatively weaker effects. At the same time, price fairness and promotional effectiveness were not statistically significant. Additionally, repeat participants demonstrated significantly higher loyalty than first-time participants, underscoring the role of experiential learning and progressive mastery in sustaining engagement. Overall, the findings confirm that participation loyalty in HYROX is primarily anchored in physical education outcomes, social integration, and sport management quality, with marketing serving a complementary, enabling function. This study provides novel empirical evidence by framing HYROX loyalty as an experience-driven phenomenon. It offers practical implications for sport managers seeking to prioritize pedagogical integrity and community building over promotional intensity.
Behavioural Biases and its Impact on Investment Decision- Making: A Review Based Analysis
The study investigates the influence of behavioural biases on investor behaviour in financial markets, focusing on overconfidence, herding behaviour, disposition effect, anchoring, loss aversion, mental accounting, and representativeness bias. Investors often overestimate their ability to predict market movements, which may lead to speculative trading and excessive risk-taking. Such behaviour can increase trading volumes while resulting in suboptimal investment outcomes. Herding behaviour, or the tendency of investors to follow the actions of others, becomes particularly visible during periods of market downturns or financial instability. The disposition effect also affects investor decision-making, as investors tend to sell profitable assets too quickly while holding losing assets for a longer period, which can contribute to market inefficiencies. Anchoring and loss aversion further influence investment choices; investors may rely heavily on initial information when making decisions and often react more strongly to potential losses than to equivalent gains. In addition, mental accounting and representativeness bias may cause investors to evaluate investments in isolation or assume that past trends will continue in the future, leading to unbalanced investment decisions. Overall, the study highlights how behavioural biases shape investor behaviour and influence decision-making in financial markets.
Re-evaluating Emotional Awareness and Anthropomorphism in AI Customer Service: Role of Social Presence, and Psychological Distance on Purchase Intention
The adoption of Artificial Intelligence-driven customer service systems is transforming consumer interactions. Nevertheless, there remains a limited understanding of how specific characteristics of AI in particular emotional awareness and anthropomorphism influence consumer decision-making. This study aims to investigate how these AI traits influence consumers’ perceptions of social presence and psychological distance, and how these perceptions shape trust and intention to use AI services. The findings reveal that emotional awareness significantly enhances social presence and reduces psychological distance. However, while anthropomorphic cues effectively build trust, they exhibit diminishing returns when excessive human-like traits trigger discomfort due to subtle but noticeable imperfections known as ‘uncanny valley’ effect. Moreover, contrary to expectations, social presence does not directly impact the willingness to use AI services, which suggests that functional efficiency may outweigh emotional engagement in service contexts. This research contributes to the literature on human-AI interaction by integrating psychological distance theory with anthropomorphism frameworks.
Empowering Sustainable E-Waste Recycling through Reverse Vending Machine Adoption among Generation Z in Malaysia
The accelerating generation of electronic waste (e-waste) presents substantial environmental and public health challenges, particularly in developing economies with weak household-level management systems. In Malaysia, the rapid diffusion of electronic products has increased the urgency for efficient, scalable, and user-oriented e-waste collection mechanisms. Reverse vending machines (RVMs) represent a decentralised and incentive-based technological solution, yet empirical evidence explaining their adoption for e-waste recycling remains limited. Grounded in Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory, this study examines the determinants of e-waste RVM adoption intention among Generation Z university students in Malaysia. Sustainable awareness was included as a moderating variable to evaluate the influence of environmental values on adoption behaviour. Data from 153 respondents were gathered using a quantitative cross-sectional survey and evaluated using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that trialability significantly enhances adoption intention. In contrast, relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, and observability do not demonstrate significant direct effects. Furthermore, sustainable awareness significantly strengthens the relationship between trialability and adoption intention. This indicates that environmentally aware individuals are more inclined to translate experiential interaction into adoption behaviour. Overall, the results emphasise the significance of hands-on exposure and sustainability-oriented values in promoting technology-enabled e-waste recycling among digitally native cohorts. This study extends the Diffusion of Innovations framework by demonstrating the conditional role of sustainable awareness in the adoption process. It also provides practical implications for policymakers and practitioners to prioritise pilot initiatives, experiential engagement, and targeted sustainability communication strategies.
Exploring the Intellectual Structure of Employer Branding: Mapping Trends and Citations in the Web of Science
Employer branding plays a distinctive role in attracting qualified employees to organizations and in enhancing the sense of belonging, performance, and productivity of existing staff. In this respect, it provides organizations with a unique and inimitable competitive advantage. Owing to its significant contributions to organizational success, employer branding has received growing attention within academic research. This study evaluates the existing employer branding literature indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database by examining the citation counts of relevant publications and analyzing them across several parameters. A total of 592 studies directly related to employer branding were identified in the WoS database, and 26 of these—those receiving more than 100 WoS-based citations—were included in the detailed analysis. The similarities and differences among the most highly cited studies were examined accordingly. The findings reveal that employer branding studies have appeared in the WoS database since 2000 and that, although conceptual articles are fewer in number, they exhibit relatively high citation rates. The analysis also shows that employer branding is most frequently examined alongside employee-related variables such as human resources management, recruitment, organizational commitment, and employee motivation. Moreover, the results indicate that the most highly cited studies are typically published in SSCI-indexed journals specializing in marketing and human resources. Based on these findings, several recommendations are offered for researchers working in the field of employer branding.
Exploring the Impact of Cashless Payment Systems on Impulsive Buying Behavior among Generation Z Consumers
The study explores cashless payment factors influencing Gen Z's impulsive buying, analyzing demographics, preferences, and key influencing factors. Correlations and differences by demographics are tested and possible interventions are derived. A descriptive survey design was employed to administer a researcher-made questionnaire to 259 Gen Z respondents from Cantilan, Philippines. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation, Mann-Whitney U, MANOVA) were used to determine the relationship of gender and means of payment to impulsive buying tendencies. The analysis revealed that cashless payment systems facilitate impulse buying for Gen Z driven by promos, trust and security, and social media influence purchases, especially in fashion and food and beverage with males being the most influenced. There were significant gender differences, finding that males were more influenced by cashless payment convenience and Promotions than females, while social media influenced both genders equally. Theoretical implications involve contributions of a new model factoring in drivers missing in other studies. Managerial implications alert for responsible cashless payment system developments, and fintech developers can help counter impulsive buying behaviors with system solutions like “impulse delay.” Educators and lawmakers can target social media and promo influence in financial literacy training.
Accounting Controls and Financial Data Quality in Credit Unions
This study investigates the influence of accounting control elements on the qualitative attributes of financial information inside credit unions in Northeastern Thailand. The research employed a sequential mixed-methods approach and multiple regression analysis to investigate the effects of five control types: preventative, detective, corrective, directive, and compensating, utilizing data from 181 CU executives. Findings indicate a multifaceted relationship between controls and data quality. Detective and compensating controls, bolstered by standardized accounting software, were the most robust and consistent positive indicators of data quality, relevance, and completeness. While preventative controls are a robust indicator of reliability, they had a negative correlation with timeliness (β=−0.576). Excessive preventive measures hinder operations by obstructing bureaucracy. The study concluded that effective financial governance requires credit unions to transition from rigid control frameworks to a strategic integration that prioritizes detection and technological compensation to enhance data quality while maintaining efficiency. The results guide regional collaborative resource distribution and policy enhancement.
Unlocking Growth: How Knowledge Absorption Drives Innovation in Bali’s Creative Small and Medium Enterprises
Research Objective: To develop an ACap framework specifically designed for developing countries, MSMEs must master knowledge absorption to drive innovation and transform knowledge into business performance, thereby remaining competitive in the market. This innovative study of 330 economically creative SMEs in Bali reveals an important fact: realized knowledge absorption (RACAP) drives innovation performance 30% more effectively than potential knowledge absorption (PACAP). Using PLS-SEM, we found that superior knowledge absorption is directly associated with greater innovation and business performance. These findings address a critical research gap and provide practical insights for SMEs to enhance their knowledge assets, outperform competitors, and achieve sustainable growth. Conclusions and recommendations: Policymakers and business leaders must understand how SMEs in developing countries can leverage knowledge to achieve true competitive advantage. The impact will be a new paradigm in multidisciplinary research that bridges the gap between knowledge management and business innovation.
Drivers of Carbon Credit Adoption among Low-Cost Airline Passengers in Thailand: A PLS-SEM Study of Consumer Attitudes, Perceived Value, and Behavioral Intention
This study investigates the key drivers of consumer adoption of carbon credits in the low-cost airline context in Thailand. Drawing on consumer behavior and sustainable marketing perspectives, the study examines how psychological, social, and economic factors shape passengers’ attitudes, perceived value, and behavioral intention toward carbon offset programs. A quantitative survey of 500 low-cost airline passengers in Thailand was conducted. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the proposed model linking environmental awareness, climate change concern, perceived environmental responsibility, trust in carbon credit programs, perceived effectiveness, social norms, and price sensitivity to attitude, perceived value, and behavioral intention. The findings indicate that environmental awareness, climate change concern, perceived environmental responsibility, trust in carbon credit programs, perceived effectiveness, and social norms positively influence consumer attitudes toward carbon credit adoption, while price sensitivity negatively affects attitude formation. Attitude significantly enhances perceived value, and both attitude and perceived value strongly predict consumers’ intention to adopt carbon credits when purchasing low-cost airline tickets. This study relies on cross-sectional self-reported data from low-cost airline passengers in Thailand, which may limit causal inference and generalizability to other airline segments or national contexts. The results provide actionable insights for airline managers and marketers. Airlines should integrate carbon offset options into the ticketing process, enhance transparency and trust in carbon credit programs, communicate tangible environmental impacts, and design affordable pricing or bundled offers to increase perceived value among price-sensitive consumers.
Building Loyalty in Organic Restaurants among Indonesian Gen Z: The Interplay of Brand Image, Service Quality, and Self-Congruity via Customer Satisfaction
This study aims to examine the influence of Brand Image, Service Quality, and Self-Congruity on Customer Loyalty, with Customer Satisfaction serving as a mediating variable, specifically within the context of organic restaurants. As consumer awareness and preferences shift toward healthier and more sustainable dining options, understanding the factors that drive customer loyalty becomes increasingly important for organic food businesses. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to a total of 267 respondents who had prior experience dining at organic restaurants. The data collected were then analyzed using SmartPLS 3.0, a statistical software based on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), which is well-suited for exploring complex relationships among latent variables. The study tested three hypotheses concerning the direct and indirect effects of the independent variables on customer loyalty through the mediating role of customer satisfaction. The findings indicate that Service Quality and Self-Congruity have positive and significant effects on Customer Loyalty, and that these relationships are mediated by Customer Satisfaction. This suggests that customers who perceive high service quality and feel a personal alignment with the brand are more likely to be satisfied and, in turn, more loyal. However, the hypothesis related to Brand Image did not receive statistical support, indicating that in the context of organic restaurants, brand image alone may not be sufficient to drive loyalty unless it is supported by quality service and self-congruity. Overall, the results highlight the critical role of Customer Satisfaction as a mediating factor in building long-term loyalty among organic restaurant customers. These insights can help organic restaurant managers and marketers focus on enhancing service experiences and fostering a brand identity that aligns with their target customers’ self-image.
Social Media Engagement, Attitudes towards Cancel Culture, and Brand Attitude: A Conceptual Framework
Cancel culture has become a powerful social movement shaping Generation Z consumer behaviour, driven by public accountability practices such as shaming, withdrawing or boycotting entities perceived to have violated social norms. Although scholarship on digital activism and consumer behaviour has expanded, conceptual clarity remains limited in explaining how social media engagement shapes attitudes toward cancel culture and how participation in cancel culture affects brand evaluations. This conceptual paper addresses these gaps by advancing a theoretical framework that theorises the sequential pathway: social media engagement → attitudes toward cancel culture → participation → brand attitude. The framework integrates the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Social Influence Theory (SIT) as its core foundations. Two moderating conditions are specified: self-identity in the engagement–attitude link and perceived influencer credibility in the participation–brand attitude link. Systems thinking is acknowledged as a meta-theoretical perspective but not positioned as a core framework; Cognitive Dissonance Theory and Generational Cohort Theory are treated as contextual references. The paper contributes to literature by offering a parsimonious conceptual model of social-media-driven consumer behaviour and by highlighting practical insights into reputational risk management in digital brand ecosystems. This study contributes by: (i) advancing a theoretically grounded framework linking social media engagement, attitudes towards cancel culture, and brand attitude through TPB and SIT; (ii) specifying two boundary conditions, self-identity and perceived influencer credibility that moderate these relationships; and (iii) establishing a foundation for empirical testing of cancel-culture dynamics in emerging-market contexts.
Applying Justice Theory to Service Recovery and its Influence on Customer Loyalty: Evidence from Online Food Delivery Services in the Philippines
This study examines the effects of service recovery dimensions—distributive, procedural, and interactional justice—on customer loyalty among users of online food delivery (OFD) services in Iligan City, Philippines. It aims to determine which dimensions of perceived fairness most strongly influence post-recovery loyalty, thereby validating the applicability of Justice Theory in the digital service context. Despite the growing popularity of OFD platforms, recurring service failures such as delayed, incorrect, or missing orders continue to undermine customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, limited empirical evidence explores how fairness-based recovery strategies affect customer loyalty within emerging markets like the Philippines. A quantitative, descriptive–correlational research design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to 200 OFD users who had experienced service failures and subsequent recovery. Statistical analyses, including correlation and multiple regression, were used to evaluate the predictive influence of each justice dimension on customer loyalty. Results revealed that distributive justice and interactional justice significantly predict customer loyalty, whereas procedural justice exerts no substantial effect. The model demonstrated strong explanatory power, indicating that fairness perceptions account for nearly half of the variance in loyalty behaviour. These findings affirm Justice Theory’s assertion that fairness perceptions are central to post-recovery satisfaction and loyalty formation. Practically, the study highlights the importance of empathetic communication and equitable compensation in sustaining customer relationships. Service recovery protocols that integrate tangible fairness with humane treatment can strengthen customer trust, enhance loyalty, and ensure the long-term success of online food delivery platforms.
Driving University Performance in the Artificial Intelligence Era: Digital Skills, Creative Leadership, and Innovation under Vision 2030
Universities in the digital era seek new methods to enhance faculty productivity, fulfill national strategic objectives, and stay competitive globally. This study examines how digital competency, organizational support for innovation, entrepreneurial mindset, organizational adoption of AI, and job performance affect Saudi academic and administrative staff in light of Vision 2030. Employee creativity and transformative leadership moderate the performance connection. The stratified random sample poll included 775 respondents from nine Saudi universities. The structural equation modeling with high fit indices validates the measurement model's validity and reliability. Digital proficiency, innovation support, job performance, and AI usage are positively connected with an entrepreneurial attitude. Digital proficiency, corporate support for innovation, entrepreneurial mentality, and AI usage all affect employee creativity and initiative. Moderate analysis shows that transformative leadership boosts corporate productivity and creativity. Creative performance is higher under powerful transformational leadership conditions than without leadership, as shown by the interaction effect. The bootstrapped resamples-based mediation approach links employee creativity to task performance. Creativity bridges organizational and technological behaviors, improving performance. Strategic higher education policy affects Vision 2030's innovation, global competitiveness, and institutional excellence goals.
The Impact of Digital Content Marketing on Brand Equity and Purchase Intention: A Study of Green Food Packaging in Thailand
The shifting consumer preference towards eco-friendly packaging and rising awareness regarding the negative effects of traditional packaging on the environment is augmenting the demand for the green packaging. This research aims to reveal the effect of green packaging of food products, which is communicated through digital content marketing activities on social media, which further affects the brand and purchase intention. The research emphasizes the concepts of digital content marketing, customer-based brand equity, and purchase intention. This study assessed the effect of Digital Content Marketing (DCM) of food products with green packaging on customer-based brand equity’s dimensions, including Brand Awareness (BA), Brand Image (BI), and Brand Loyalty (BL); and then the effect of DCM on the Purchase Intention (PI) among Gen Y consumers in Thailand. The study also assessed the interrelation among the customer-based brand equity’s dimensions (BA, BI, and BL) and their effects on the Purchase Intention (PI).
Drivers of Loyalty: Integrating Service Quality, Marketing Mix, and Satisfaction
This study advances the understanding of student loyalty formation by re-examining the roles of service quality and the marketing mix within a developing-country higher education context—an area where empirical evidence remains limited and theoretically fragmented. Using survey data from 200 undergraduate students at Dipa Makassar University and analyzing the structural relationships through SEM, this research uncovers several novel insights. First, unlike dominant findings in Western and Asian higher education literature, service quality was found to exert no significant influence on either satisfaction or loyalty, revealing a contextual deviation that challenges the universality of traditional service quality models. Second, the marketing mix demonstrates a significant effect on satisfaction but not on loyalty, indicating that marketing-driven value stimuli require an intermediary psychological mechanism to translate into long-term commitment. Third, student satisfaction emerges as the primary and indispensable predictor of loyalty and partially mediates the effect of the marketing mix, while failing to mediate the service-quality–loyalty link. These results collectively offer a novel empirical configuration that reframes the pathway from institutional strategies to loyalty formation. Theoretically, the study extends relationship marketing theory by demonstrating that satisfaction functions as a conditional, rather than universal, mediator—its effectiveness shaped by local cultural and institutional dynamics. These insights contribute to refining higher education loyalty models in developing economies and offer new directions for context-sensitive theory building
Study on SMEs of the FNB Industry to Examine the Relationship between Management Skill, Financial Resource Availability, and Product Quality Toward Business Success
Strong internal capability enables SMEs to implement strategies effectively, adapt, and maintain consistent quality without excessive reliance on external parties. In increasingly dynamic markets, internal capability allows SMEs to respond proactively to environmental uncertainty and changing customer demands. This study examines the role of internal capability in SME success, focusing on management skills, financial resource availability, and product quality. These factors are considered critical as they directly influence operational efficiency, innovation capacity, and customer satisfaction. The research addresses a gap in prior studies that have largely emphasized SME performance rather than broader success indicators such as sustainability and growth potential. An associative research design with a quantitative approach was employed. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, yielding 249 valid responses. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4 software. The results indicate that management skills, financial resource availability, and product quality have a significant positive effect on SME success, confirming all proposed hypotheses. These findings suggest that SMEs should strengthen managerial competencies, manage cash flow efficiently, and continuously improve product quality to achieve sustained business success and enhance their competitive position.
Go into Debt for a Vacation: Attitude and Determinant Factors of Tourists to Use the “Pay Later” Payment Method
There is still a lack of research regarding tourism payments made using the option 'Pay Later'. This research investigates the attitude of tourists toward debt and variables that affect the level of debt load when tourists decide to choose "Pay Later" as a payment option. Data collection was carried out in Jakarta, Indonesia through a two-stage process. In the quantitative approach of the first phase, 229 respondents were sampled using an appropriate sampling technique. A quantitative approach was then used in the second phase, from which 228 participants were selected using a convenient sampling technique. From the positive feelings on the 'Pay Later' payment option noted in the qualitative analysis, the participants expressed satisfaction, convenience, and ease of use. Secondly, participants perceive "Pay Later" as an alternative finance option that could enhance their enjoyment of their travels. Quantitatively, through exploratory factor analysis, two dimensions influenced the levels of indebtedness among the tourists: A range of indication amenities at the destination, user evaluations, discounts, high-quality services, and conditions of payment were included in the Priority 1 consideration; while among the Priority 2 aspects were the administrative expenses, interest rates, program providers, and instalment amounts. The present research highlights the reasons why debt is accumulated when the "Pay Later" payment option is used and thus provides enlightenment into understanding how the travellers cope with handling their money. Industry and academia can meet the needs of the travelling population through tailored financial services, informed by a stronger evidence base of this nature. Therefore, this study aligns with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through the improved financial inclusions in tourism, which will further contribute to responsible borrowing practices toward the realization of economic growth in a sustainable manner, besides encouraging responsible consumer spending.
Business Process Management, Industry 4.0 and Lean Six Sigma for achieving Operational Excellence in Asset Management Companies: Case of India
Investors in India buy financial products from Asset Management Companies (AMCs) to secure their financial future using various platforms for investing. To achieve sustained performance, AMCs need to explore technological advancements and methodologies to make their operations efficient and effective to provide a seamless transaction experience across their various investment platforms. This study investigates the factors essential in achieving operational excellence in asset management companies (AMCs). The study uses 300 valid responses from a survey collected from eight prominent Indian AMCs. The analysis was conducted using the SEM approach. The findings indicate that business process management, Industry 4.0, and Lean Six Sigma enable achievement of operational excellence in Indian AMCs. This study is among the few empirical studies that examine the enablers of operational excellence in Indian AMCs.
Development and Validation of a Framework to Identify High Potential Employees in Organizations
The present study aimed to develop and validate a multidimensional framework for identifying high-potential employees (Hi-Pots) to support succession planning and leadership development in organizations. A sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach was employed. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews with seven organizational leaders were conducted to identify key traits and behaviors of Hi-Pots. The subsequent quantitative phase involved 276 managerial employees who responded to a newly developed measurement scale. The data were subjected to statistical validation to reinforce the proposed model. The validated framework comprises three dimensions: Foundation, Growth, and Career. The Foundation dimension includes inherent traits such as optimism and sociability. The Growth dimension, encompassing promotability, adaptability, and proactiveness, showed the strongest predictive power for leadership readiness. The Career dimension involves performance-based competencies like technical proficiency and time management. Among these, the Growth dimension emerged as the most influential for leadership potential. Organizations can utilize this framework for structured talent identification, improving leadership pipelines, and strategic HR planning.
Green Training and Development and Green Employee Empowerment Influencing Employee Green Behavior: The Mediating Role of Employee Green Attitude and Intentions in Lebanese Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
This study investigates how distinct green HR practices namely green training and development (GTD) and green employee empowerment and participation (GEE) affect employee green behavior (EGB) through attitudes and intentions within Lebanese SMEs. Guided by the AMO framework and the Theory of Planned Behavior, data from 367 employees were analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results indicate that GTD significantly influences employees’ attitudes toward green behavior, while GEE does not exhibit a direct effect. Employee attitude strongly predicts behavioral intention, which in turn drives green behavior. Notably, green transformational leadership did not significantly moderate the hypothesized relationships in the full sample; however, multigroup analysis suggests a marginal age-related variation in the empowerment–attitude relationship. The findings underscore the importance of cognitive and deliberate mechanisms in fostering sustainable employee behaviors in resource-constrained environments. Practical implications suggest targeted green training is vital for advancing organizational sustainability.
The Role of Strategic Agility in Enhancing Operational Performance in the Saudi Ministry of Health: The Moderating Role of Future Challenges
The study aimed to examine the impact of strategic agility and its dimensions (environmental agility, technological agility, interactive agility, and marketing agility) on enhancing operational performance and its dimensions (quality, cost, flexibility, and delivery) in Saudi Ministry of Health. The study also sought to explore the moderating role of future challenges in the relationship between strategic agility and enhanced operational performance. The study employed a quantitative descriptive-analytical approach. SPSS was used to perform descriptive analysis of the study variables, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Smart PLS 4 was used for structural equation modeling, data analysis, results extraction, and hypothesis testing. The study population included all middle- and senior-level employees working in the Ministry of Health in Jeddah, totaling 2,837 employees. A stratified random sampling method was used to select a sample of 323 employees. The results indicated a statistically significant relationship between strategic agility and enhanced operational performance, with future challenges not moderating this relationship. The study recommended intensifying training programs and workshops aimed at enhancing employee participation in environmental agility initiatives, which would raise adherence to sustainable health standards and practices. It also recommended conducting future research to explore the impact of strategic agility on additional operational performance indicators, such as service innovation, decision-making quality, and responsiveness, to further understand the role of strategic agility in improving efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare operations.
Exploring the Drivers of Environmental Management Accounting and Environmental Performance: Empirical Evidence from Elbasan Region, Albania
The present study aims to explore the relationships of internal and external drivers influencing the adoption and implementation of environmental management accounting (EMA) in the manufacturing companies located in Elbasan, one of the major industrial zones of Albania. The research specifically investigates the effects of customer influence (CI), regulatory pressure (RP) and firm’s moral and social responsibility (MSR) on EMA. The research further, explores the impact of EMA on environmental performance (EP). This study tested the proposed hypotheses in the research model utilizing the data collected from 301 participants, accountants and senior officers employed in manufacturing companies located in Elbasan. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to assess the collected data and to examine the complex relationships between the constructs. The finding affirms that customer influence (CI), regulatory pressure (RP) and firm’s moral and social responsibility (MSR) have a significant and positive effect on environmental management accounting (EMA). Furthermore, the results confirm that EMA has a significant role in increasing the environmental performance (EP) of manufacturing companies located in Elbasan. This study provides significant empirical contribution in assessing the adoption of environmental management accounting (EMA) in an emerging economy such as Albania, where similar research remains limited.
Bridging FinTech Adoption to Sustainable Financial Behavior: The Mediating Roles of Financial Literacy and Inclusion in Indonesia
This study investigates the indirect relationship between FinTech adoption and sustainable financial behavior through the mediating roles of financial literacy and financial inclusion in the Indonesian context. While the proliferation of FinTech services is often seen as a catalyst for financial transformation, evidence remains limited regarding its behavioral impact, particularly in emerging markets. Using a quantitative explanatory design and data from 315 active FinTech users across diverse regions in Indonesia, this study applies Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine both direct and mediated effects. The results show that FinTech adoption significantly influences financial literacy and financial inclusion, but does not directly affect sustainable financial behavior. Instead, its influence is fully mediated by the users’ financial knowledge and access to financial services. These findings underscore the critical importance of capability and access in realizing the behavioral benefits of digital financial tools. The study offers theoretical contributions by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) within a FinTech context and provides practical implications for inclusive financial policy and literacy-driven innovation strategies.
Credit Risk Management Practices and Perceived Challenges among Credit Cooperative Clients in the Philippines
Effective credit risk management is central to the sustainability of credit cooperatives, yet limited empirical research examines how these practices are experienced by clients. This study investigated credit risk management practices and perceived challenges among clients of selected credit cooperatives in Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Using a descriptive–correlational research design, survey data were collected from 339 clients selected through proportionate stratified sampling. Descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho correlation, and multiple regression analyses were employed. Results showed a high level of implementation of client appraisal, credit risk control, and collection policy practices, alongside generally low levels of perceived challenges. Correlation analysis revealed differentiated relationships among variables, with client appraisal practices positively associated with perceived challenges, while credit risk control and collection policy practices were negatively associated with their corresponding challenges. Regression results further identified client appraisal practices as the only significant predictor of perceived challenges. These findings indicate that although credit cooperatives have largely institutionalized effective credit risk management systems, appraisal procedures remain the most perceptually demanding stage for clients. The study contributes to cooperative finance literature by emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between the technical effectiveness of credit risk management and its experiential impact on clients. The findings offer practical insights for cooperative managers and policymakers on refining appraisal processes while sustaining robust control and collection mechanisms to support inclusive, client-centered, and sustainable cooperative lending.
The Mediating Roles of Consumer Satisfaction and Word-of-Mouth in the Relationship between Service Quality, Price Fairness, and Loyalty in Indonesian Fast Food
This study aims to analyze the influence of service quality and price fairness on consumer loyalty in the fast-food restaurant industry in Tangerang, Indonesia. It further investigates the mediating roles of consumer satisfaction and word-of-mouth communication (WOM) in these relationships. A quantitative research approach was employed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with LISREL software to test the proposed relationships. Data were collected from 347 respondents who visited six fast-food restaurants in Tangerang, including both local and international franchises. The stratified random sampling technique was used to ensure representativeness. The results indicate that service quality positively influences consumer satisfaction (loading factor: 0.64, t-value: 2.44) and WOM (loading factor: 0.36, t-value: 6.00). However, service quality negatively affects consumer loyalty (loading factor: -0.21, t-value: 3.25). Price fairness does not significantly impact consumer satisfaction (loading factor: 0.00, t-value: 0.065) but has a positive effect on WOM (loading factor: 0.36, t-value: 8.12) and consumer loyalty (loading factor: 0.39, t-value: 9.13). Moreover, consumer satisfaction does not significantly influence WOM (loading factor: -0.33, t-value: 0.55) but has a moderate positive effect on consumer loyalty (loading factor: 0.23, t-value: 3.64). The strongest relationship is found between consumer loyalty and WOM (loading factor: 0.65, t-value: 13.31), indicating that loyal customers are more likely to share positive experiences. Fast-food restaurant managers should focus on enhancing service quality to boost customer satisfaction and encourage positive WOM communication. Although price fairness is crucial, it plays a greater role in fostering WOM and loyalty rather than directly influencing satisfaction. The findings suggest that strategic service quality improvements, fair pricing policies, and WOM-driven marketing approaches are essential for sustaining customer engagement and competitive advantage. This study provides empirical evidence on the complex interplay between service quality, price fairness, consumer satisfaction, and loyalty in Indonesia’s fast-food industry.
Mapping the Evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility Communication on Social Media: A Systematic Review through Scientific Procedures and Rationales-4-Systematic Literature Reviews and Bibliometric Analysis
In the evolving landscape of digital communication, social media (SM) has emerged as a significant tool for companies to communicate their corporate social responsibility (CSR). This emergence has generated an expanding, cross-disciplinary research base for CSR communication (CSR-C) on SM, which calls for a comprehensive, in-depth analysis of the field to identify existing gaps, contribute to ongoing discussions and pinpoint future research avenues. For this purpose, this study conducts a systematic review of 405 Scopus-indexed publications from 2010 to 2025 using the SPAR-4-SLR protocol. The review applies two bibliometric analysis techniques: performance analysis of publication and citation trends among leading authors, journals, and documents; and science mapping through bibliographic coupling, which identified six core clusters. The thematic evolution maps the chronological progression across four periods: 2010–2014; 2015–2018; 2019–2021; and 2022 onwards. Finally, the review proposes seven future research avenues and fourteen research questions that showcase a transition towards AI-enabled CSR-C, influencer-mediated engagement, and data-driven strategies. The implications of this study reinforce the importance of strategic CSR-C by providing actionable theoretical and managerial guidance for researchers and companies navigating the dynamics of corporate reporting to develop stronger theory and practice in CSR-C within SM research.
The Impact of Strategic Management on the Effectiveness of the Strategic Decision-Making Process in Jordanian Commercial Banks
This study investigates the critical role of strategic management in enhancing the effectiveness of the strategic decision-making process within Jordanian commercial banks. Operating in a dynamic and often turbulent economic landscape, these banks require robust strategic frameworks to ensure sustained competitiveness and organizational resilience. The study employed a quantitative descriptive-analytical approach, surveying a population of 350 executive managers, assistant managers, and department heads across various administrative levels in Jordanian commercial banks. A randomly selected sample of 210 participants provided data through a validated 30-item questionnaire. Statistical analysis, including multiple regression analysis, was performed using SPSS. The findings indicate a statistically significant positive impact (α ≤ 0.05) of strategic management, particularly its dimensions of flexibility, speed, and organizational capabilities, on the effectiveness of the strategic decision-making process. This effectiveness was assessed across three key dimensions: problem identification, situation evaluation, and alternative development. The results underscore those banks with higher strategic management capabilities exhibit more effective decision-making, contributing to enhanced overall performance. Based on these insights, the study recommends that Jordanian commercial banks strategically reallocate resources to foster adaptability to unforeseen changes, prioritize inter-departmental coordination, and invest in advanced technological tools and continuous training to elevate strategic decision-making competencies. This research contributes to understanding strategic management's practical implications in a crucial emerging market banking sector.
Islamic Fintech and Customer Experience: A Bibliometric Analysis
The business sector has seen accelerated advancements in technological innovations, most notably in artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies. This transformation is likely to have a significant impact on Islamic finance and, ultimately, on the customer experience. Indeed, this article aims to examine publication trends related to Islamic FinTech and customer experience. To achieve this, we adopt a bibliometric analysis coupled with a Systematic Quantitative Literature Review (SQLR). References were collected from the Scopus database over the period from 2016 to 2025. The application of selection criteria resulted in a final dataset of 664 publications. The results reveal a substantial increase in publications, particularly from 2023 onwards. Moreover, this bibliometric analysis indicates that only a limited number of authors from South and Southeast Asia have exerted a notable influence in the field in terms of publication volume.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Influencer Marketing Research
The growth of social media has contributed to the growth of influencer marketing, generating interest among scholars to conduct research on this topic. Thus, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to understand the trend of research in this field by reviewing the documents published in the Scopus database. After screening 2028 documents, 837 documents were identified. The analysis of documents was done by using VOS viewer software. The influencer marketing research peaked in 2020. The most contributing country in this field is the United States of America. Currently, the research in this area is mainly focusing on identifying the factors affecting its effectiveness as a marketing strategy. However, virtual influencer marketing is emerging as a focal point of discussion.
The Impact of Normative Social Influence on Sustainable Consumption Behavior: The Mediating Role of Eco-Friendly Behavior and Environmental Awareness
Sustainable consumption has gained importance through social, economic and environmental platforms and social norm communication triggered and empowered eco-environmental behavior. This study aims at investigating the impact of normative social influence on sustainable consumption behavior built on a comprehensive theoretical and practical framework with special reference given to the role of environmental awareness and the eco-friendly behavior. This study investigates the process by which social norms transform into sustainable consumption behavior by carefully selecting relevant scales within the Turkish context. 1418 participants completed the questionnaire online. The study concluded that the effect of normative social influence on sustainable consumption behavior (H1) and the effect of normative social influence on environmentally friendly behaviors (H2) was found to be positive and significant. However, it was found that the effect of normative social influence on environmental awareness was not statistically significant (H3). The study revealed that environmentally friendly behaviors (H4) and that environmental awareness has a positive and significant effect on sustainable consumer behavior (H5). It is also found that environmentally friendly behaviors mediate the relationship between normative social influence and sustainable consumption behavior (H6). This study is an attempt to provide a solid foundation for investigating the psychological and social drivers of sustainable consumption behavior.
AI-Driven Social Media Marketing and Purchase Intention: The Roles of Brand Trust, Consumer Citizenship Behaviour, and Digital Participation among Generation Z
Artificial intelligence has become an integral component of modern social media marketing, yet limited empirical evidence exists on how AI-driven strategies influence purchase behaviour among Generation Z consumers. This study aims to examine the impact of AI-driven social media marketing on purchase intention, with the mediating roles of brand trust, consumer citizenship behaviour, and digital participation, and the moderating role of Generation Z orientation. Data were collected from 487 Generation Z consumers in Chennai using a structured questionnaire and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that AI-driven social media marketing significantly enhances brand trust, consumer citizenship behaviour, and digital participation, which in turn positively influence purchase intention. Consumer citizenship behaviour emerged as the strongest predictor of purchase intention. Generation Z was found to strengthen the effects of AI-driven marketing on behavioural engagement and purchase intention. AI-driven social media marketing plays a crucial role in shaping consumer behaviour by fostering trust, encouraging engagement, and driving purchasing decisions among young digital consumers.
The Structural Relationship among the Venture Company’s Corporate Entrepreneurship, Positive Error Management Climate, Technology Commercialization Capability, Technological Innovation Capability and Management Performance
In high-uncertainty environments shaped by rapid technological change, venture firm performance depends not only on technological resources but also on the organizational mechanisms that transform these resources into market value. Drawing on the resource-based view, entrepreneurial orientation theory, and error management theory, this study develops and tests an integrated structural model linking technological innovation capability and technology commercialization capability to management performance through the mediating role of corporate entrepreneurship and the moderating role of positive error management climate. Survey data were collected from employees and key informants of Korean venture firms registered with a national venture association (N > 300). Structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. The results reveal that both technological innovation capability and technology commercialization capability exert significant positive effects on management performance. Corporate entrepreneurship partially mediates these relationships, indicating that technological capabilities translate into superior performance when accompanied by organizational innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking behaviors. Furthermore, multi-group analysis demonstrates that positive error management climate strengthens the effects of technological capabilities on performance, suggesting that learning-oriented cultures enhance the conversion of technological resources into market outcomes. This study contributes to the literature by distinguishing innovation capability from commercialization capability and integrating technological, behavioral, and cultural determinants within a single framework. The findings provide theoretical implications for extending dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation perspectives and offer practical insights for venture firms seeking sustainable competitive advantage in technology-intensive industries.
Workplace Romance and Employee Engagement: A Mediated and Moderation Analysis
This study examines the influence of workplace romance on employee engagement by incorporating deviant behavior and job stress as mediating variables and gender as a moderating factor. Drawing on Affective Events Theory, the study explains how interpersonal events in the workplace generate emotional and behavioral responses that influence employees’ engagement levels. A quantitative survey approach was employed, and data were collected from 210 employees working in private mining companies in Indonesia using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling with the Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) technique. The results indicate that workplace romance has a positive and significant effect on employee engagement. In addition, workplace romance significantly reduces deviant behavior and job stress, while both deviant behavior and job stress negatively affect employee engagement. The mediation analysis confirms that deviant behavior and job stress partially mediate the relationship between workplace romance and employee engagement. Furthermore, gender strengthens the relationship between workplace romance and employee engagement. These findings highlight the importance of managing interpersonal relationships in the workplace to enhance employee engagement while minimizing negative behavioral and psychological outcomes.
Conflict Resolution Strategies and Sustainable Employees’ Morale
This study investigated the impact of Conflict Resolution Strategies on Sustainable Employees’ Morale in Beverage Companies in Agbara Industrial Estate, Ogun State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to examine the impact of alternative conflict resolution strategies (competition, collaboration, accommodation, compromising strategies) on Sustainable Employees’ Morale in selected Beverages Companies. Four beverage companies were selected and a descriptive survey research design was used to establish the association between conflict resolution strategies and sustainable employees’ morale. The population for the study was 2,830, which comprised Managers, Senior Staff and Junior Staff of the four selected beverage companies in Agbara Industrial Estate, Ogun State, Nigeria. A sample size of 350 respondents was selected through Taro Yamane's sample size determination formula. Primary data was employed in collecting information from respondents through a well-structured questionnaire. Results of the study revealed that conflict resolution strategies had a significant impact on sustainable employees’ morale in the Beverage Companies. Collaborating and competing strategies were found to have a positive relationship with employee morale, while accommodating strategy was found to have a negative relationship with employees’ morale. Compromising strategy was found not to be associated with significant differences in employees’ morale levels. The study therefore, recommends that companies should focus on implementing collaborating and competing strategies to improve employees’ morale to ensure a more productive and positive work environment.
Smart Last-mile Delivery Systems: Technological Advances, Operational Strategies, and Future Directions
The rapid expansion of e-commerce and on-demand services has transformed last-mile delivery into one of the most critical, complex, and cost-intensive components of modern supply chains. Traditional delivery models are increasingly unable to cope with rising customer expectations, urban congestion, environmental pressures, and operational inefficiencies. In response, smart last-mile delivery systems based on digital technologies, automation, and data-driven optimization have emerged as a promising solution. This study provides a comprehensive and systematic review of the literature on smart last-mile delivery by integrating technological advances, operational strategies, and sustainability perspectives. Using a structured systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications from 2000 to 2026, this research examines the evolution, intellectual structure, and thematic trends of the field. The analysis reveals a sharp growth in scholarly output after 2017, reflecting the increasing strategic importance of last-mile logistics in global e-commerce and urban freight systems. Keyword co-occurrence, thematic clustering, and network analysis show that the field is primarily anchored in e-commerce, logistics, and supply chain management, with last-mile delivery emerging as the dominant operational challenge. Strong linkages are also observed with sustainability, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and urban logistics, indicating a shift toward technology-enabled and environmentally responsible delivery solutions. The findings further highlight the growing role of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, drones, smart lockers, and micro-fulfilment centers in improving routing efficiency, reducing delivery failures, lowering costs, and mitigating environmental impacts. At the same time, the review identifies significant research gaps, particularly in relation to developing economies, long-term sustainability impacts, regulatory frameworks, and socio-economic consequences of automation. By offering an integrated synthesis of technological, operational, and sustainability dimensions, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of smart last-mile delivery systems and provides a roadmap for future research and policy. The results support the development of more resilient, efficient, and sustainable last-mile logistics models in the digital economy.
Customer Loyalty as a Mediating Mechanism between Service Environment and Revisit Intention among Generation Z Café Consumers
Customer loyalty has become a central strategic asset in contemporary hospitality settings, as organizations increasingly recognize that sustained patronage depends not only on immediate satisfaction but on enduring relational commitment. Despite extensive research linking service environment to revisit intention, the mechanisms through which environmental evaluations foster loyalty and subsequently translate into repeat patronage remain underexplored, particularly among Generation Z consumers in emerging urban contexts. Grounded in the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework and servicescape theory, this study examines the mediating role of customer loyalty as the relational mechanism linking service environment and revisit intention among Generation Z café consumers in Iligan City, Philippines. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected from 500 Generation Z consumers who had actual dine-in experiences in selected cafés. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was utilized to evaluate the measurement and structural models, given its suitability for predictive, mediation-oriented research involving latent constructs. The findings indicate that the service environment strengthens revisit intention both directly and indirectly through customer loyalty. Notably, customer loyalty serves as a meaningful mediating mechanism that translates favorable environmental evaluations into sustained revisit intentions. These results underscore that experiential design alone is insufficient unless it cultivates relational commitment. By strategically integrating holistic servicescape planning with loyalty-building initiatives, café operators can enhance customer retention and strengthen long-term competitive positioning among experience-driven Generation Z consumers.
Purchasing Pattern Exploration in Fashion Retail using Transaction Data
Large volumes of fashion retail transaction data offer valuable insights into consumer purchasing behavior, yet extracting actionable knowledge remains challenging in a highly competitive market. This study analyzes an open-access fashion retail dataset containing product details, transaction values, review ratings, payment methods, and purchase dates to support management and marketing decisions. Consumer purchasing behavior is examined using predictive analytics and clustering techniques. The results show a high level of predictability in transactions, indicating that consumer purchases follow consistent patterns rather than random behavior. Clustering analysis further reveals the presence of distinct consumer segments, although the separation between these groups is relatively weak. Despite this overlap, the identified patterns provide meaningful insights into customer behavior. Overall, the findings demonstrate that transaction-level data can be effectively leveraged to support inventory planning, product assortment decisions, and segmentation-based marketing strategies. This research highlights the strategic value of fashion retail transaction data in enhancing data-driven decision-making and improving managerial effectiveness in the fashion retail sector.
Visual and Structural Packaging Cues and their Effects on Consumer Buying Decisions: A Quantitative Study in Selected Philippine Municipalities
This study investigates the influence of primary packaging elements, design, size, shape, and color, on consumer buying decisions, framed within Kano’s Theory of Attractive Quality. Kano’s framework differentiates product features into must-be, one-dimensional, and attractive qualities, providing insight into how packaging attributes differentially impact consumer satisfaction and purchase behavior. A quantitative, descriptive-correlational research design was employed to examine these relationships among 300 consumers aged 18 and above in Manticao, Lugait, and Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Purposive sampling ensured respondents had relevant experience with packaged products. Data were collected via a structured online questionnaire adapted from validated instruments, using a five-point Likert scale, and underwent expert review and pilot testing to ensure validity and reliability. Descriptive statistics profiled respondents’ perceptions, while multiple regression analysis assessed the direction and strength of relationships between packaging elements and buying decisions. Findings indicate that packaging design exerts a positive but non-significant effect, functioning as a must-be quality that prevents dissatisfaction without directly driving purchases. Packaging size and shape significantly influence buying decisions, aligning with one-dimensional qualities where functional performance directly enhances satisfaction. Packaging color emerged as the strongest predictor, representing an attractive quality that delights consumers and strongly motivates purchase behavior. These results highlight that strategic management of packaging attributes can enhance consumer satisfaction, brand appeal, and purchase likelihood. The study underscores the dual functional and sensory role of packaging in marketing, with practical implications for product development and brand strategy. By integrating Kano’s theoretical perspective with empirical evidence from a Philippine context, this research contributes to the understanding of how primary packaging elements shape consumer behavior in low-involvement products.
Gender-Diverse Boards, ESG Engagement, and Accounting Conservatism: Evidence from Southeast Asia
This study examines how board gender diversity (BGD) influences accounting conservatism (AC) and whether this relationship is moderated by firms’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) engagement in the context of Southeast Asia. Using listed firms domiciled in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand over the 2012-2022 period and applying the C-Score measure of conditional conservatism. We test the direct and interactive effect of BGD and ESG engagement on AC. Our findings reveal that the relationship between gender-diverse boards and conservative accounting is context-dependent. While Singapore exhibits a direct positive association between BGD and AC, the relationship insignificant moderator: in Malaysia, strong ESG commitment activates the latent positive effect of BGD on conservatism, whereas in Singapore, high ESG scores weaken this relationship, suggesting a potential “dark side” of ESG as a legitimacy mechanism that substitutes for prudent reporting. This study contributes to the literature by integrating gender diversity, ESG engagement, and accounting conservatism into a unified framework. It demonstrates that the governance impact of board diversity is contingent on a firm’s ethical environment and institutional setting, offering important implications for policymakers, regulators, and investors seeking to promote substantive rather than symbolic sustainability practices.
Fostering Employees’ Innovative Work Behavior Intentions: The Roles of Agile Human Resource Management Systems, Innovation-Supportive Climate, and Creative Self-Efficacy
The desire of employees to work innovatively is a key force of the competitiveness, flexibility, and sustainability of organizations in the changing business environments. Although previous studies have emphasized on the significance of personal abilities like CSE in the development of innovative intentions, little focus has been on the combined contribution of the emergent Human Resource Management (HRM) systems and supportive organisational climates in developing innovative intentions. To close this gap, the current research considers the innovative work behaviour intentions of employees presenting both organisational and individual-level factors in the same framework. This paper conceptualizes two organisational drivers, namely agile HRM (AHRM) systems and innovation-supportive climate (ISC), and a single individual variable, which is the creative self-efficacy (CSE). Agile HRM systems are considered to be flexible, responsive, and adaptive HR systems that give way to quick learning, experimentation, employee empowerment, and innovation-beneficial climate that reflects shared perceptions about how organization supports creativity, risk-taking, and idea generation. CSE demonstrates the confidence of the employees in their potential to come up with new and useful ideas. The research design was cross-sectional, and 742 employees employed in public organizations were used to gather the data. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to test both direct and indirect relationships between the variables that were used in the study. The results demonstrate that AHRM systems have a significant predictive value of IWBI in employees in a direct and indirect manner, through ISC and CSE. Moreover, workers who have higher levels of CSE have better intentions to participate in the innovative activities. The findings highlight the importance of AHRM processes in developing an organisational culture that promotes innovation and at the same time boosts the confidence of the employees in their creative capabilities. This research is relevant to the growing body of HRM literature in that the suggestion provides a multi-level view of the relationship between systems, climate, and individual cognition to explain IWBI. Practical implications and theoretical implications are discussed.
Linking Islamic Values to Organizational Citizenship Behavior: An Empirical Investigation of Workplace Spirituality
The study examines the overlap between religious belief and professional ethics among Muslim staff specifically the study looks at how Islamic values influence Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). Through these dynamics, the research aim at explaining the degree to which ethics based on faith influence extra-role contribution of employees. Using a quantitative research design in the corporate environment of Jordan, this study constructs a conceptual framework that fills the gap between Islamic Work Ethics (IWE) and OCB. These data were collected by random invitations to professionals working in the public and private sector of Jordan in order to determine the existence of religious values in their daily working routines. The statistical processing was performed through the use of the Partial Least Squares (PLS) path modeling and bootstrapping methods, and the Fornell-Larcker criterion was used to determine the discriminant validity of the measurement framework. The empirical evidence supports the fact that Islamic tenets play a significant role in triggering citizenship behaviors, institutional devotion, and fidelity towards the organization. Religiously motivated individuals tend more to do voluntary, discretionary acts that are advantageous to the group and more steadfastly loyal to their employers. The theoretical scope of the study is that the IWE framework is used as a proxy variable of the religious viewpoint, and not a literal theological discussion of the main scriptures. Though the information is anchored in the Jordanian setting, the results are critical to the overall discussion about Workplace Spirituality (WS) and cross-cultural organizational behavior. This study indicates that there is a dire need to engage in academic investigation of the Islamic aspects of OCB and suggests that spirituality should be officially recognized in management practices. This paper has created a new outlook into the role of religion as an engine of professional excellence and community peace in work by making a concrete connection between faith-based motivation and organizational commitment.
Entrepreneurial and Market Orientation, Customer Relationship Management, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Performance: Competitive Advantage, Technology Turbulence Effects
This study examines how entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation, and customer relationship management influence the business performance of local wisdom-based culinary micro, small, and medium enterprises, with competitive advantage as a mediating variable and technological turbulence as a moderating variable. A quantitative explanatory approach was used, based on survey data collected from 384 culinary enterprise owners and managers in the former Kediri Residency, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling to assess direct, indirect, and moderating effects among latent constructs. Entrepreneurial orientation and customer relationship management have a positive and significant effect on business performance, whereas market orientation does not have a direct effect. Competitive advantage significantly mediates the impact of entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation on performance, but does not mediate the relationship between customer relationship management and performance. Technological turbulence does not strengthen the effects of entrepreneurial orientation or market orientation on performance, but it weakens the impact of customer relationship management. The findings indicate that internal strategic capabilities are more critical drivers of performance than technological dynamics. Competitive advantage is a key mechanism by which strategic orientations are translated into sustainable business performance for local wisdom-based culinary enterprises. This study is novel in showing how competitive advantage mediates strategic orientations and how technological turbulence shapes MSME performance in local wisdom–based culinary enterprises.
Dynamic Convergence as a Moderating Force: Entrepreneurial Orientation, Employee Performance, and the Pursuit of Firm Agility
Firm agility has emerged as a critical organisational capability in environments characterised by competitive intensity and rapid technological disruption, yet the mechanisms through which entrepreneurial orientation (EO) generates agility and individual performance outcomes remain theoretically underspecified. This study develops and tests a moderated mediation framework wherein EO influences employee performance both directly and indirectly through firm agility as a mediating conduit, with dynamic convergence defined as the degree to which generationally diverse cohorts achieve integrative alignment in adaptive values and collaborative practices moderating the agility–performance relationship. Grounded in Dynamic Capabilities Theory and the Resource-Based View, six hypotheses are tested using PLS-SEM combined with Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) on a dyadic manager–employee dataset of 300 matched pairs from Indonesian SMEs. Results confirm that EO exerts a dominant direct effect on firm agility and a moderate direct effect on employee performance, while firm agility partially mediates the EO–performance pathway. Dynamic convergence amplifies the agility–performance relationship and satisfies necessity thresholds alongside EO and firm agility. The study contributes by establishing dynamic convergence as a theoretically grounded boundary condition and demonstrating that firm agility constitutes the most binding necessary prerequisite for superior employee performance in emerging-market SME contexts
Driving Employee Sustainable Performance through Environmental Support, Green Training, and Sustainable Leadership: Does Cultural Intelligence Matter?
This study examines how environmental support, green training, and sustainable leadership relate to employee sustainable performance, with cultural intelligence positioned as a mediating mechanism. The research is conducted in Chinese-foreign cooperative institutions (CFCIs) across multiple provinces in China, where dual governance structures, culturally diverse teams, and cross-national educational practices create a complex organizational setting for sustainability-oriented behavior. Data were collected from 296 academic and administrative employees working in these institutions, and the proposed model was analyzed using SmartPLS. By focusing on multicultural higher education institutions, this study extends sustainability and organizational behavior research into an underexplored context in which both organizational practices and cross-cultural capabilities are likely to shape employee outcomes. The study offers a framework for understanding how supportive environmental conditions, sustainability-focused training, and leadership can foster employee sustainable performance through the development of cultural intelligence. The findings are expected to provide practical insights for managers and policymakers in CFCIs seeking to strengthen sustainable work practices and improve employee effectiveness in culturally diverse institutional environments.
Reconceptualizing Digital Emotional Branding: Emotional Brand Attachment as a Core Relational Mechanism
This study is to examine how emotional and experiential factors shape consumers’ attachment to brands, and how such attachment translates into loyalty, engagement, and brand equity in digital environments. This study used a quantitative, descriptive-correlational research design targeting Gen Z population. Data collection was conducted through online survey. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling with partial least squares (SEM-PLS) to test the conceptual framework. Findings reveal that emotional branding is a fundamental driver of the consumer–brand relationship in digital settings. Emotional drivers like brand love, brand passion, brand affinity, and brand trust - as well as the elements of experience such as perceived quality, value and satisfaction, brand differentiation, and digital engagement played a significant role in the emotional attachment to a brand. In addition, emotional brand attachment fosters long-term brand loyalty, enhances consumer engagement, and safeguards brand equity, rendering it the crucial mediating core of emotional experience that adds value. A key theoretical contribution of this study is that emotional brand attachment is predominantly experience-based rather than directly stimulated by non-composite emotional drivers. Implications of these results highlight the importance of integrating emotional branding strategies into digital marketing practices and providing a valuable foundation for future research.
AI-Augmented Decision Intuition and SME Strategic Adaptability among SMEs: The Mediating Role of Human–AI Collaboration Quality and the Moderating Role of Technological Anxiety
South Asian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are actively implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in their management operations, but the cognitive and behavioural consequences of AI-enhanced decision-making are under research. This research, based on the socio-technological systems theory and the dynamic capabilities theory, evaluates the effects of AI-enhanced intuition in decision-making on SMEs strategic adaptability, exploring the mediating factor of human-AI collaboration quality, and the moderating factor of technological anxiety. A total of 412 Pakistan, India and Bangladesh SME managers and owners were sampled and structured online questionnaires were administered to collect the data. The proposed relationships and model fit were tested with the help of SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0. The results indicate that AI-enhanced decision intuition positively impacts SME strategic adaptability significantly. Furthermore, human–AI collaboration quality is found to partially mediate this relationship, indicating that effective interaction between human judgment and AI systems enhances adaptive strategic outcomes. Moreover, technological anxiety plays a critical role in moderating the association between AI-augmented decision intuition and human-AI collaboration quality, whereby the association is smaller in the cases of high technological anxiety. It also mediates the direct impact, indicating that the psychological resistance to technology may impede the advantages of the AI-enabled decision-making. These outcomes add to the emerging literature on the digital transformation and SME development by emphasizing the significance of cognitive-technological integration in the strategic adaptability. In practice, the research indicates that managers of SMEs in South Asia should invest not only in AI tools but also in the confidence of their employees and alleviating anxiety about the new technologies. Lastly, theoretical implications, management recommendations and future research directions are addressed.
Complementing Scenario Planning to the Strategic Value of Corporate War Gaming for Foresight and Decision-Making
Corporate war gaming is becoming more widely regarded as a complementary approach to classic scenario planning in assisting organizations during uncertain and complex times. Scenario planning has been used for decades to prepare for uncertain exogenous circumstances and provide long-haul foresight, but its descriptive and narrative approach does not appropriately capture competitive dynamics and hidden risks. Corporate war gaming offers experiential, role-play simulations that progressively stress-test strategies against adversarial environments and responses from stakeholders. This paper examines how corporate war gaming complements scenario planning and ultimately creates value in an organization's decision-making process. Qualitative research design was employed in this study to answer this question by leveraging semi-structured interviews with fourteen individuals who acted as key informants across various sectors, and data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis process. The findings produced six themes—active simulation, strategic agility and readiness, revelation of blind spots, integration of competitors and stakeholders’ perspective, cross-functional collaboration, and multi-level application, which together demonstrate how a war game aspires to transmute foresight in planning to rehearsed action. Given these findings, the study finds that corporate war gaming can enhance organizational agility, resilience, and strategic readiness in dynamic environments when coupled with scenario planning.
Assessing Service Quality and Tourist Satisfaction in Community-based Tourism: The Case of Mountainous Areas, Hue City, Vietnam
This study aims to evaluate the satisfaction of domestic tourists with the quality of community-based tourism (CBT) services in, mountainous areas, Hue city—a locality with a 20-year history of developing this type of tourism. Besides promoting tourism-driven economic growth, CBT activities here also contribute significantly to preserving and enhancing the cultural and historical values of the Co Tu community. Based on a survey of 150 tourists, the study employs exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and correlation regression methods to identify factors affecting tourist satisfaction. The regression analysis results reveal six positive factors influencing tourist satisfaction, including service capacity, reliability, empathy, responsiveness, perceived pricing, and tangible facilities. Among these, "service capacity" has the strongest impact, while "tangible facilities" exert the weakest influence. The research model achieves a high explanatory power, with an adjusted R² coefficient of 0.823 (82.3%). Based on these findings, the study proposes several solutions aimed at improving the identified factors, enhancing service quality, and increasing tourist satisfaction to support the sustainable development of community-based tourism in the area.
When Sustainability Becomes Instagrammable: Extending the Source Credibility Model to Green Influencer Marketing in New Media
Employing the heuristic-systematic information processing model (HSM), this study aims to add engagement as a new dimension in Ohanian’s classic Source Credibility Model (SCM). It further demonstrates its relevance through a mediation framework where content-focused messaging mediates greenfluencers' (sources) attributes and credibility in greenfluencer advertisements (CGA), i.e., sponsored green posts published through their profiles. Indian social media users who are also the followers of greenfluencers on Instagram are the target population. A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach is employed to confirm the scale items, and PLS-SEM was used to test the hypotheses. Results show that the classic attributes such as “attractiveness, trustworthiness, and expertise” are still significant for endorsers in new media. Additionally, the dimension of engagement enhances the model for new media applications, where it has emerged as a crucial source cue. It further shows that CGA is not merely a direct effect of source cues. But rather, it is mediated through content-focused messaging where source cues gain persuasive power only when embedded with message content. The study sheds light on Indian consumers' perceptions of CGA in new media. There are significant theoretical contributions by acknowledging the instant interaction affordance of new media to the literature on source credibility, persuasion in new media, and digital consumer behavior.
How External Institutional Forces Shape Digital Transformation: Uncovering the Mediated Pathways toward Performance Improvement
Against the backdrop of rapid digital economic development and profound institutional environment changes, enterprise digital transformation has emerged as a critical strategic issue for enhancing competitiveness. Based on institutional theory, this study systematically examines the impacts of coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures on digital transformation and tests the mediating role of digital transformation between institutional pressures and firm performance. Utilizing survey data from 286 Chinese enterprises and employing PLS-SEM for empirical analysis, the research reveals that institutional pressures significantly promote digital transformation, with mimetic pressure exerting the strongest influence, followed by normative and coercive pressures. Digital transformation significantly enhances firm performance and plays a pivotal mediating role in the relationship between institutional pressures and performance, indicating that external institutional environments indirectly improve performance levels by driving firms to restructure processes and adopt technologies. This study extends the explanatory power of institutional theory against the backdrop of digital transformation and elucidates the differential effects of institutional pressures. The findings provide crucial insights for enterprises in responding to institutional changes, formulating digital strategies, and building sustainable competitive advantages. The results provide practical guidance for achieving the SDG9 - process Innovation, Digital Access and Innovation Capability.
Risk and Safety Management in Construction: Examining the Interplay of Organizational Commitment and Project Complexity
This study investigated the mechanisms through which safety management (SM), organizational commitment (OC), and risk management (RM) influenced construction performance (CP) in the construction industry, and it also examined the moderating role of project complexity (PC). Grounded in resource-based and contingency theories, a multidimensional model was used to formulate and test hypotheses about the positive direct effects of SM, OC, and RM on CP and also the ways in which PC may exert differential moderating influences. Data from 279 valid questionnaires collected from diverse construction projects in Qingdao, China, were analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results confirmed significant positive direct effects: SM (β = 0.360) mitigated accidents and rework, bolstering schedule and cost stability; OC (β = 0.188) enhanced employee engagement and collaborative efficacy; and RM (β = 0.223) proactively addressed uncertainties, curbing delays and overruns. PC negatively moderated the RM-CP relationship (β = - 0.092), attenuating RM’s benefits amid heightened uncertainties; positively moderated the OC-CP link (β = 0.119), amplifying OC’s motivational role in complex environments; and exhibited no moderation on SM-CP (β = 0.016), affirming SM’s consistent foundational impact. These findings advanced a theoretical understanding by delineating PC’s nuanced interplays, providing managerial guidance with which firms could institutionalize proactive SM, foster OC via incentives and participation, and implement agile RM strategies in high-complexity contexts to optimize safety, efficiency, and quality synergistically. Limitations could be related to the study’s geographic specificity and any potential biases of self-reporting. Future research should employ cross-cultural, longitudinal designs and incorporate additional mediators such as leadership to enhance model comprehensiveness.
Sustainability Reporting Alignment: A Systematic Review of King V Code, IFRS S1/S2, Assurance and Combined-Assurance Maturity in South Africa
This study interrogates the evolving alignment between South Africa’s corporate governance architecture (King V) and emergent global sustainability disclosure regimes. This systematic review assesses the alignment of the transition from King IV (apply or explain model) to King V (Outcome-based, assurance-driven policy) with the requirements of IFRS S1/S2. A PRISMA methodology, with guided search and screening (2017-2025), focused on South Africa and data were extracted from 27 peer-reviewed articles covering context, theory, linkages to IFRS S1/S2, assurance/combined assurance, key findings and gaps. The research findings reveal that King IV establishes a solid foundation for ethical leadership, board accountability and integrated thinking. (i) Board reforms under King IV improved governance and the remuneration framework, (ii) King IV is integrated in South Africa’s corporate practice and common law (a critical driver for King V’s outcomes-orientation and IFRS S1/S2 integration. (iii) AI/ digital technology governance frameworks but underutilised. This synthesis demonstrates that King V is a governance structural reform, highlighting the shift towards digital governance and improved assurance. The study proposes a structured, board-level roadmap that includes governance of sustainability data, ISSB controls, climate risk integration, combined-assurance mapping, assurance scoping, board committee oversight, and transparent reporting, with sector-specific guidelines for extractive, banking and consumer sectors.
Brand Equity, Brand Image, Perceived Value and Behavioural Intentions Nexus: A Mediation Model in an Emerging Market
This paper evaluates how brand image and perceived value intervene in the relationship between brand equity, which is conceptualized as perceived quality and brand credibility, and behavioural intentions in an emerging market. Structured questionnaires were used to gather data from 265 customers through a systematic sampling procedure. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling in Smart PLS 3. The findings show that perceived value partially mediates the interaction between brand equity and behavioural intentions, and fully mediates the link between brand image and behavioural intentions. Similarly, brand image partially mediates the link between brand equity and perceived value. The study, therefore, establishes that perceived value is a critical success factor when building brand equity and brand image to reinforce behavioural intentions. Brand image also plays a crucial role in strengthening the effect of brand equity on perceived value in the emerging herbal market. This research provides a clear strategic blueprint for managers: while building a credible, high-quality brand is essential, it is the customer's perception of value that ultimately converts brand strength into repeat purchases, premium pricing, and positive word-of-mouth. The study empirically confirms that perceived value is the indispensable lever for turning brand equity into commercial success in the herbal industry.
Green Procurement Practices, Ethical Procurement and Value for Money with Empirical Evidence from Ghana
Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 12, has multiplier effects on attainment of other SDGs. In line with this assertion, the current study is aimed to examine the influence of green procurement practices on value for money and the mediating role of ethical procurement in the agricultural sector in Ghana. The study positions green procurement as a multi-dimensional construct proxied as; green purchasing, supplier selection, and supplier development, and places ethical procurement as being the governance tool which turns sustainability activities into performance results. The study is based on positivists’ paradigm, quantitative approach, and a cross-sectional survey design using the participants from procurement and supply chain specialists among agribusiness firms in Ghana. Our hypothesized relationships have been tested by using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with the aid of SMART-PLS version 4.1.1. The results showed that all three dimensions of green procurement exert significant positive effects on ethical procurement. Moreover, ethical procurement has a very significant benefit on value for money, which includes improvements in accountability, efficiency, and lifecycle cost optimization. Crucially, ethical procurement plays a mediating role between green procurement practices and value for money, The analysis finds that green procurement does not automatically translate into greater value for money. Theoretically, the study provides a contribution by recasting ethical procurement as an organisational capability and empirically by providing evidence from the context of an emerging economy (Ghana). From a practical perspective, these findings suggests that ethical enforcement mechanisms, supplier governance systems and standards of professional procurement must be enshrined within green procurement practices to optimize benefits and in terms of economic and sustainability aspects to policymakers and managers.
Artificial Intelligence-Powered Green Finance and Environmental, Social and Governance Tracking in Emerging Markets: A Systematic Review
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been adopted to significantly enhance the quality (credibility, timeliness and comparability) of green finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting. Nevertheless, in emerging economies, fragmented data infrastructures and irregular regulatory structures complicate its adoption process. This review synthesises empirical evidence (2015 to 2025) on the AI methods and tools applied to green finance and ESG reporting analytics in emerging markets, identifying key methods, outcomes, barriers, drivers and quality of reporting. Following the PRISMA design, Scopus records (n = 49) were screened meticulously against the inclusion criteria to 27 studies for actual full-text extraction. We coded AI technique, ESG domain, data sources, outcomes, barriers and drivers. We also applied a hybrid quality appraisal (MMAT domains and AI-specific rubric for transparency, validation, provenance, emerging market relevance and reproducibility) to ensure quality conclusions. The research outcomes show that AI applications are dominated by machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP). Also, frequent tasks include carbon-based and climate-related disclosure analytics, ESG scoring, green-finance prediction and green bond verification. Furthermore, Asia accounts for the largest share (52%), followed by Africa (22%) and Latin America (19%). In addition, Key AI application barriers include data quality and coverage issues, standardisation gaps, knowledge and technical skills limitations and cost constraints. Furthermore, drivers for its application include AI integration and development, alignment with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (S1&S2), Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and a free data accessibility ecosystem. Also, quality scores cluster at a high range (mean 4.2/5; SD = 0.5), with recurrent limitations to data provenance and reproducibility. The study concludes that AI shows significant prospects to improve ESG credibility and sustainable finance in emerging economies, but strongly depends on strong disclosure taxonomies, quality datasets, transparency and validated AI frameworks.
Service Quality and its Influence on Service Excellence and Customer Satisfaction with Water Provision in Nyandeni Municipality
Service quality is a critical determinant of organisational success and customer satisfaction, particularly in essential public utilities like water provision. This study examines the impact of service quality dimensions on service excellence and customer satisfaction within Nyandeni Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa, a region facing significant challenges in its water service provision. Through a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected from 380 residents using a structured questionnaire and analysed via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that Assurance, Empathy, and Reliability are significant drivers of Service Excellence, while Tangibility and Responsiveness show insignificant impacts. Service Excellence itself emerges as a powerful predictor of Customer Satisfaction (β = 0.777), accounting for 73.8% of its variance. The model demonstrates strong explanatory power, with Service Excellence explained by 80.8% of the variance from the five service quality dimensions. These results underscore that achieving customer satisfaction in municipal water provision requires a focused strategy on building trust, demonstrating care, and ensuring dependable service. The study provides a validated framework for municipal policymakers and water service managers to enhance service delivery, optimise resource allocation, and foster public trust in rural contexts, contributing valuable insights to the literature on public service quality and sustainable development.
Motorcycle Tourism in the Philippines: An Assessment of the 5 A’s of Tourism as a Basis for Sustainable Development Planning
Motorcycle tourism has emerged as a growing niche within the Philippine tourism industry, offering riders an adventurous and flexible way to explore multiple destinations. This study assessed motorcycle tourism in the Philippines using the Five A’s of Tourism framework—Attractions, Accessibility, Accommodation, Activities, and Amenities—as a basis for sustainable development planning. Employing a descriptive-quantitative research design, data were collected from 211 motorcycle tourists through structured survey questionnaires, with Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija serving as a representative site for national-level analysis. Results revealed that motorcycle tourists are predominantly young, male, and adventure-oriented, preferring short to medium-length trips while visiting multiple destinations per journey. Findings showed strongly positive perceptions of Attractions, Activities, and Amenities, particularly scenic landscapes, adventure opportunities, rest stops, and fuel and repair facilities. Accessibility and Accommodation were rated positively but moderately, indicating areas for improvement such as clearer signage, rider-specific services, and secure parking. The study also identified moderate challenges related to road safety and infrastructure, environmental sustainability, seasonality and weather conditions, limited motorcycle-friendly amenities, and regulatory and policy constraints. Based on these findings, a Proposed Development Plan Matrix and a Sustainable Motorcycle Tourism Development Framework were formulated to guide coordinated, inclusive, and environmentally responsible tourism development. The study provides empirical insights to support policy formulation and strategic planning for sustainable motorcycle tourism in the Philippines.
The Impact of Gender Diversity on the Board of Directors on Firm Performance: Evidence from the Global Automotive Industry
This study explores the impact of board-level gender diversity on corporate outcomes, based on data gathered from 39 leading firms in the international automotive sector be-tween 2020 and 2024. The Blau Index was employed to measure gender diversity, whereas company performance was evaluated through indicators like ROA, ROE, and the Tobin’s Q coefficient. Findings from the panel data analysis indicated that gender diversity had no statistically meaningful relationship with financial outcomes. On the other hand, the company size showed a statistically significant and positive effect, whereas the impact of leverage fluctuated based on the particular performance indicator used. Study results im-ply that although female board presence is often presumed to boost corporate perfor-mance, such an effect may not be universally applicable and depends on contextual fac-tors. While certain academic works report a notable link in this area, others assert that the direction of the effect varies—being either beneficial or adverse—based on industry type and cultural setting. This research yields valuable insights for decision-makers and cor-porate leaders aiming to assess how gender equality initiatives influence firm perfor-mance, particularly in alignment with sustainability goals and governance standards.
Leadership Styles and their Impact on Innovativeness and Business Performance among SMMEs in Eastern Cape, South Africa
This study investigates the influence of autocratic, democratic, transformational, and transactional leadership styles on business innovativeness and performance among Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A positivist quantitative methodology was employed, using a structured questionnaire to collect responses from 269 managerial-level employees within the SMME sector in Mthatha. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to validate the relationships between leadership styles, innovativeness, and business performance. The findings reveal that democratic, transformational, and transactional leadership styles significantly enhance business innovativeness, which in turn positively impacts business performance. Autocratic leadership, however, demonstrated a weak and statistically insignificant relationship with innovativeness. These results underscore the importance of participative and adaptive leadership in fostering innovation and improving performance in SMMEs. The implications suggest that policymakers and stakeholders should invest in leadership development and provide financial support to strengthen the competitiveness and scalability of emerging enterprises. This study contributes to the literature by extending leadership and innovation theory within the context of developing economies and offers practical insights for enhancing SMME sustainability.
From Job Insecurity to Burnout in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement and the Moderating Role of Artificial Intelligence Self-Efficacy
The study investigates the impact of job insecurity on employee burnout by emphasizing the mediating role of job involvement and the moderating role of self-efficacy in the use of artificial intelligence. Based on the Job Demand-Resource model and the Conservation of Resources theory, this study has explored how both psychological and technological resources shape employees’ responses to the workplace. Through a structured survey, data were collected from 430 employees of Pakistan’s software and IT firms and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). Results indicated that job insecurity significantly increases burnout while simultaneously reducing job involvement. Moreover, job involvement has negatively influenced burnout, confirming its mediating role between insecurity and burnout. Besides, employees with higher AI self-efficacy reported stronger engagement, as self-efficacy was negatively associated with job insecurity and job involvement. These findings highlight the complex interplay among stressors, engagement, and technological confidence in shaping employee well-being. In addition, the current study contributes to theory by integrating AI-related self-efficacy into established stress-strain frameworks and by offering practical implications for organizations to minimize burnout by increasing employee involvement, reducing insecurity, and strengthening digital competencies.
Digital Corporate Board: A Veritable Tool for Enhancing Board Performance among Listed Consumer Goods Firms in Nigeria
The adoption of digital corporate board has become a revolutionary mechanism for improving corporate governance and board effectiveness in emerging economies. Whilst digital transformation, IT governance, and technological preparedness describe broader organizational processes, digital corporate board construct isolates the board governance aspect. This paper explores the impact of digital corporate board on board performance in Nigeria. The study rested on ex-post facto research design and utilized secondary data covering the period between 2014 and 2024. The study population consists of all the Nigerian quoted consumer goods companies as at 31st December, 2024, and the entire population selected as sample size using census sampling technique. Annual reports of sampled firms were used for data collection and descriptive statistics, and robust regression analysis employed in the data analysis. The study findings revealed that board technology competency and E-portal system adoption have significant and positive impacts on board performance. The adverse influence of digital committee presence is, however, not statistically significant in board effectiveness. The study concludes that most digital board characteristics are vital in promoting the performance of corporate boards. The study suggests that organizations should focus on adding tech literates on their boards, conduct regular digital literacy training, digitalized the boardroom through adoption of E-board portal, and initiate a digital committee that is capable of bridging technology with strategic thinking. To guarantee sustainable growth in the consumer goods industry, Policy makers should formulate guidelines to standardize digital governance practices, augment oversight onus, and enhance disclosure of digital board strategies.
Talent Management as a Driver of Organizational Excellence: Evidence of Organizational Justice as a Mediator
This study investigates the role of talent management (TM) in driving organizational excellence (OE) within Jordanian public universities, with organizational justice (OJ) posited as a mediating mechanism. Drawing on the Resource-Based View and Equity Theory, a quantitative approach was employed using data from 377 employees across Jordanian public universities. Structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) revealed that TM significantly enhances both OJ and OE. Furthermore, OJ partially mediates the relationship between TM and OE, indicating that fair and transparent HR practices amplify the effectiveness of talent initiatives. The findings underscore the strategic importance of integrating fairness into TM systems to foster employee trust, engagement, and sustainable performance. This research contributes theoretically by validating OJ as a critical mediator and offers practical insights for university administrators aiming to align talent strategies with organizational excellence goals in public higher education settings.
The Impact of Omnichannel Strategies on Consumer Purchase Intention and Purchase Behaviour in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods the Mediating Role of Perceived Ease of Use
Indian Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector has experienced a radical phygital shift in the fast-changing retail world of 2026. Due to more consumers in metropolitan centres such as Chennai moving in and out of traditional Kirana shops and Quick-Commerce high-speed customer platforms, the performance of an integrated Omnichannel Strategy has been a determinant factor of market success. Nevertheless, the psychological processes that transform the brand strategy into real transactions, that is, the power of user-friendliness, is under-investigated within the Indian context. The main aim of the research is to analyse how an integrated Omnichannel Strategy will influence Consumer Purchase Behavior in the Chennai FMCG industry. This research was a cross-sectional and quantitative study. This was based on sample of 200 respondents in Chennai sampled through a multistage stratified random sampling method in four major zones in the city. The core constructs were measured with the help of a structured questionnaire that included 5-point Likert scales. Pearson Correlation was done to form preliminary relationships between the data and Multiple Regression Analysis (following the Baron and Kenny method) to verify the mediation effect of PEOU. The consequence of the statistical analysis showed that there was a high positive correlation (r = 0.58, p < 0.01) between Omnichannel Strategy and Purchase Intention. The regression model was found to be significant (F = 118.42, p <.001) and Omnichannel Strategy was found to explain 37.5 percent of the Purchase Behavior variance. Importantly, the findings confirmed that Perceived Ease of Use is a significant mediator of the relationship. It is concluded that physical and digital integration, though not enough in itself, is needed in the case of FMCG brands in Chennai. The results indicate that it is the simplicity of the consumer journey that is the real impetus of the transactional success.
Determinants of Job Satisfaction among Working Caregivers of People with Disabilities: The Roles of Self-Efficacy, Job Autonomy, and Outcome Expectancy
Job satisfaction remains a critical concern in Human Resource Development (HRD) as it influences employee well-being, organizational commitment, and workforce sustainability. However, limited empirical attention has been given to employees who simultaneously perform caregiving roles for people with disabilities. This study addresses this gap by examining the determinants of job satisfaction among employed caregivers of people with disabilities in Selangor, Malaysia. Drawing upon the Model of Work Satisfaction (Lent & Brown, 2006) and the Model of Proactive Behavior (Crant, 2000), the study investigates the effects of self-efficacy, personality traits, outcome expectancy, perceived organizational support, job autonomy, and learning goal orientation on job satisfaction. Learning goal orientation was also examined as a mediating mechanism linking individual and organizational factors to job satisfaction. A quantitative correlational research design was adopted, and data were collected from 325 working caregivers. The data were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The findings reveal that self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, and job autonomy significantly influence job satisfaction, with self-efficacy emerging as the strongest predictor. These findings contribute to discussions on decent jobs, inclusive economic growth, and economic productivity by highlighting the importance of sustainable employment conditions for working caregivers. The study contributes to HRD literature by extending existing models of work satisfaction to a caregiving context and provides practical implications for organizations seeking to create inclusive and supportive workplaces aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
From Determinants to Behavioral Outcomes: The Role of Rural Tourism Destination Image in Shaping Recommendation and Revisit Intentions
This study investigates the determinants and outcomes of rural tourism destination image, focusing on rural homestays in China. Based on Destination Image Theory and Place Attachment Theory, it examines how destination location, natural and cultural attractions, infrastructure, gastronomy, accommodation, rural lifestyle, and local community shape tourists' perceptions and intentions, especially intention to revisit and intention to recommend. A total of 378 valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results show that destination location, cultural attractions, infrastructure, gastronomy attractions, accommodation attractions, rural lifestyle, and the local community significantly improve rural tourism destination image. Natural attractions do not show a significant effect. Rural tourism destination image has a positive effect on perceived destination quality, perceived value, and destination attachment. Destination attachment also increases tourists’ intention to revisit and intention to recommend. Memorable tourism experience strengthens the relationship between DAM and revisit intention, but it does not significantly influence the relationship between DAM and recommendation intention. This comprehensive exploration aims to provide actionable strategies for rural tourism stakeholders in China to foster sustainable tourism growth and meaningful visitor experiences.
Internet of Things-Based Consumer Behavior Mapping for Identifying Drivers of Sustainable Consumption in Kamrup Metropolitan District, Assam
This is a research wherein the technology of IoT sensor network and machine learning analytics have been used to draw a map of consumer behaviour patterns and drivers of sustainable consumption of Kamrup Metropolitan District of Assam. Real time information gained from smart meters, retail applications combined with radio frequency identification (RFID) and mobile applications are used to capture buying behaviour, resource consumption and waste generation in 500 households. The classification variable of the random forest model is the variables which analyze the behavior such as income levels, awareness of the environment, preferences for products and social influences. Results show that price sensitivity (32%), eco-labeling visibility (28%) and peer influence (24%) are the significant driving force of sustainable choices. IoT framework is 89% accurate in prediction of the consumption pattern which can be used for targeted intervention. Findings suggest customized nudging approaches as well as adaptive pricing approaches can be useful for improving sustainable consumption adoption. This technology-driven approach can provide some actionable insights for policy makers and business for creating circular economy practices for fast urbanizing regions in northeast India.
Analyzing the Mediating Role of Organizational Readiness on Industry 4.0 Capabilities and Digital Transformation Strategy
This study examines the role of Industry 4.0 capabilities in shaping digital transformation strategy (DTS) within municipal service management, with a particular focus on the mediating role of organizational readiness. This study aims to provide fresh insights into how technological capabilities are translated into strategic transformation outcomes in the context of Omani municipalities. A quantitative research approach was adopted using a structured survey administered to 400 respondents across Omani municipalities. Stratified random sampling was used to ensure representation across departments and managerial levels. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS 4 was employed to test the proposed relationships and mediation effects among Industry 4.0 capabilities, organizational readiness, and DTS. The results revealed that Industry 4.0 capabilities have a significant positive impact on DTS and organizational readiness. Organizational readiness also significantly influences DTS and partially mediates the relationship between Industry 4.0 capabilities and DTS. These findings highlight the critical role of organizational preparedness in enabling the effective implementation of digital transformation strategies in municipal contexts. This study contributes to the literature by integrating the RBV, DCV, and PBV to explain the relationship between Industry 4.0 capabilities and DTS. It offers a novel perspective by identifying organizational readiness as a key mediating mechanism, providing both theoretical advancement and practical insights for policymakers and municipal managers in digitally transforming environments.
AI-Generated Influencers and Purchase Intention: The Mediating Role of Trust and Attitude in HEIs in Southern Philippines
The rise of AI-created influencers has significantly altered the landscape of digital marketing, but there is a limited body of empirical research on how such virtual influencers affect consumer behavior, especially in high-involvement situations. This study investigated the influence of perceived authenticity, parasocial interaction, and perceived anthropomorphism of AI-created influencers on purchase intention, with attitude and trust as mediating factors. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the study involved 473 higher education students in the Philippines. The findings show that all three factors of AI-created influencers significantly and directly influence purchase intention. Moreover, the findings of the mediating analyses suggest that trust, and not attitude, is the primary explanatory variable. That is, trust partially mediated the influence of perceived authenticity and parasocial interaction on purchase intention, but attitude did not significantly mediate any of the tested relationships. The results indicate that persuasion in AI-influencer communication is primarily based on cognitive, rather than affective, processes. Furthermore, the study extends the literature on AI influencer communication to a new and developing economy and a higher education context, and it may also offer important and practical implications for any organization planning to use AI influencers in their digital communication campaigns.
Impact of Investor Trust and Risk Perception on Mutual Fund Investment Intentions: The Mediating Role of Financial Literacy
This study aims to analyze the role of investor trust (IT) and risk perception (RP) in their mutual fund investment intentions (MFI), with a particular focus on the mediating effect of financial literacy (FL). Time-lagged data was collected from 389 individual investors actively investing in mutual funds from major urban metropolises in India. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using SmartPLS was used to measure and evaluate the structural model. The results show that IT and RP have an important influence on MFI. In addition, FL mediates to some extent the relationship between IT and MFIs as well as between RP and MFI. The current study extends existing research by identifying the critical function of FL in bridging the nexus between psychological factors (IT and RP) and MFIs. It has policy and practical implications for financial planners and policymakers to augment mutual fund investment through literacy programs.