Businesses

This study aims to explore the relationship between a company manager’s activities and their impact on business performance. Networking is considered a worthy factor in professional and organizational success, providing access to important research, industry insights and future partnerships. Through the analysis of the data used in the study, this paper adopts a methodological approach to examine how managerial networking influences business results, with a particular focus on French small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The findings indicate a strong and positive correlation between the manager’s ability to build and maintain professional relationships and the entire performance of their business. In fact, managers who actively engage in networking often gain access to better business opportunities, funding sources and strategic collaborations that increase growth and competitiveness. Additionally, strong networks facilitate the exchange of knowledge, best practices and innovative ideas, thereby improving decision making and operational efficiency. The review further highlights that networking is not just about expanding contacts, but also about attending meaningful and beneficial affairs that contribute to long-term success. These results underline its importance as a strategic tool for business leaders, sustaining the idea that well-connected managers are better equipped to navigate challenges, catch opportunities and drive sustainable business prosperity in an increasingly competitive market. Full article

This paper advances a unified theoretical framework that synthesises Shane and Eckhardt’s individual–opportunity nexus, Ramoglou and Tsang’s opportunities-as-propensities perspective, and Davidsson’s tripartite model of new venture ideas, external enablers, and opportunity confidence. Building on these foundations, the paper develops an entrepreneurial entanglement model that explains how opportunities emerge as probabilistic propensities within dynamic configurations of agents, artefacts, distributed agencies, and spatiotemporal conditions. The model clarifies how material artefacts, socio-cognitive processes, and environmental shifts jointly shape the emergence, visibility, and realisation of entrepreneurial possibilities. By situating opportunity formation within an entangled field—rather than within isolated acts of discovery or creation—the framework deepens understanding of how entrepreneurial actions give rise to potentialities and how these potentialities become actualised under conditions of uncertainty. The analysis contributes to both theory and practice by offering a relational, mechanism-based account of how entrepreneurial behaviour and environmental factors intersect to structure the formation and realisation of opportunities. Full article

Entrepreneurship is increasingly important for economic and societal innovation, yet the individual characteristics that encourage entrepreneurial entry remain insufficiently understood. This study examined whether character strengths, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and highly sensitive person (HSP) traits influence entrepreneurial entry. Two independent web-based surveys were conducted, with ADHD assessed using a psychological scale in Study 1 and self-reported medical diagnosis in Study 2. The Character Strengths Test24 showed a revised factor structure, and an extracted factor (Drive) positively influenced entrepreneurial entry in both samples. ADHD (Hyperactivity/Impulsivity) consistently facilitated entrepreneurial entry, while HSP (Ease of Excitation) inhibited it. The robust positive contribution of ADHD traits across both symptomatic and clinically diagnosed individuals suggests that entrepreneurial potential is not limited by clinical labels and may also be found among individuals who are often marginalized, misunderstood, or discouraged in traditional career pathways. These findings highlight the importance of educational and support systems that not only develop character strengths linked to entrepreneurial drive but also recognize, accommodate, and strategically leverage diverse neuropsychological traits. Empowering individuals with varied cognitive profiles may expand pathways to innovation and contribute to a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Full article

This paper examines the intersection between Christian theological principles and contemporary cybersecurity challenges, with a focus on the specific vulnerabilities and responsibilities of faith-based organizations. Recognizing that digital threats emerge not only from technological weaknesses but also from human motives and ethical failings, this study introduces a Biblically Framed Cybersecurity (BFCy) Model that integrates scriptural ethics with established security practices. Through a narrative literature review and comparative analysis, the research synthesizes Christian concepts, such as stewardship, vigilance, and integrity, with technical standards (including the CIS Controls v8, NIST CSF 2.0, and ISO 27001:2022), mapping biblical narratives to contemporary risks like social engineering, insider threats, and identity theft. The findings underscore that robust cybersecurity requires more than technical solutions; it also demands a culture of moral accountability and spiritual awareness. Practical recommendations, including tables linking biblical values to operational controls, highlight actionable steps for church leaders and faith-based organizations. This study concludes that effective cybersecurity in these contexts is best achieved by aligning technical measures with enduring ethical and spiritual commitments, offering a model that may inform religious and broader organizational approaches to digital risk and resilience. Full article

Family businesses play a central role in the ongoing growth and development of the Vietnamese economy. Economic, social, and demographic changes are undermining the transition of family business to succeeding generations. This study examines the challenges of intergenerational succession in Vietnamese family businesses through the lens of social capital theory. The article examines how the next generation of family business leaders in Vietnam is addressing social capital deficiencies that hinder effective business transition. The study employed a constructionist ontology and an interpretivist epistemology, utilising semi-structured interviews with family business owners and managers. The research draws from participants’ perceptions of social, political, and competitive contexts and the subsequent behaviour that is predicated by those contexts. Findings: Economic transformation, driven by disruptions to the business environment through central planning, coupled with demographic shifts and changes in educational attainment, has impacted family structures, complicating intergenerational business transfers. This is compounded by social transformation weakening familial relationships and connections critical to family cooperation and business continuity. The preservation and renewal of social capital are critical issues for succession planning in Vietnamese family businesses. This research addresses gaps in understanding the interplay between the generational divide, social capital, and family business succession in Vietnam. Full article

This study examines how geopolitical uncertainty (GEOUN) influences domestic touristic purchase intention (TPI) through consumer ethnocentrism (CETH), consumer xenocentrism (CXEN), and touristic motivation (TMOT) in the Dominican Republic, a tourism-dependent developing economy. Integrating insights from uncertainty-identity theory (UIT), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and consumer culture theory (CCT), we propose that macro-level geopolitical instability triggers identity-driven and motivational responses that shape consumer travel decisions. Using survey data from 374 Dominican consumers, we find that GEOUN significantly increases ethnocentric attitudes and touristic motivation, which in turn boost domestic travel intention. Touristic motivation emerges as the strongest predictor of TPI and serves as a key mediator linking uncertainty and identity-based factors to travel intention. However, xenocentrism does not significantly predict travel intention, revealing a gap between aspirational foreign affinity and actual choices under uncertainty. These findings extend consumer behavior theory by highlighting how identity-protective and motivational mechanisms shape decision-making under threat. Practically, the results suggest that in volatile environments, tourism marketing should emphasize national belonging, emotional security, and cultural pride to position domestic tourism as both an economic stabilizer and a psychological resource. Full article

Quiet quitting—a subtle form of disengagement where employees withdraw discretionary effort—poses a growing challenge for healthcare organizations. It undermines workforce resilience and compromises care quality. This study explores how organizational culture and Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) practices interact to address this issue, fostering employee commitment and job satisfaction. We analyzed data from 312 healthcare professionals using SEM to examine five hypothesized relationships concerning the independent and combined influence of culture and GLSS. The findings reveal that a supportive workplace environment is strongly associated with lower levels of quiet quitting and higher levels of commitment, while structured improvement practices independently contribute to reduced disengagement and greater job satisfaction. This study identifies a synergy between culture and GLSS: a supportive culture enables improvement practices, and successful initiatives reinforce cultural trust. This virtuous cycle promotes motivation, alleviates burnout, and enhances long-term organizational resilience. The results emphasize the importance of leadership investment in both cultural development and participatory improvement practices. Aligning process optimization with ethical and human-centered principles can strengthen engagement and ensure sustainable, high-quality healthcare delivery. Full article

The aim of this paper is to fill the identified gap in the literature regarding mapping key values within Leadership 5.0. Our study indicates that Leadership 5.0 (L5.0) shows a transformative shift in leadership, demanding innovative leaders to adopt agile and digital mindsets, hence fostering innovation whilst balancing human and technological needs in Industry 5.0 settings. Developing people-centric leadership skills is critical in order to build collaborative innovation between humans and machines. In this way, human expertise is integrated with technology, to drive future-ready organizations. Findings show that L5.0 prioritizes continuous learning environments to adapt to rapidly evolving challenges. This ensures that organizations are agile, resilient, and ready for the future. L5.0 recognizes that intellectual capital—driven by human creativity, emotional intelligence, and collaboration—is essential for sustainable innovation in the digital shift. This paper’s theoretical contribution is a conceptual analysis of L5.0. We present a comprehensive and actionable conceptual model for mapping L5.0. We identify five key L5.0 pillars from the literature: human-centric leadership, future readiness and adaptability, a sustainability and ethics focus, collaboration and inclusion values and an innovation and experimentation approach to leadership. We develop a 30-item L5.0 survey instrument, anchored in the literature, and we conduct initial pilot testing for item clarification. The survey instrument application can provide valuable management insights: a road map for assessing the presence and maturity level of L5.0 in organizations. Full article

This systematic literature review critically examines sustainability challenges and opportunities within fibre-based process industries (e.g., paper and nonwoven), pivotal energy-intensive sectors in the EU. Using an adapted PRISMA guideline, it analyses the evolution of sustainability concepts, key regulatory frameworks (e.g., European Green Deal, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), and established management tools (e.g., ISO 50001, life cycle assessment). The review uncovers critical gaps, including a persistent lack of integrated approaches across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, alongside superficial strategic embedding of sustainability. Furthermore, regulatory fragmentation significantly hinders effective implementation. The study also highlights uneven technology adoption and practical obstacles for circular economy models, largely because sustainability often remains a parallel function rather than a core business driver. Ultimately, transformative sustainability demands integrated, sector-specific strategies, robust data, and strong leadership. This necessitates streamlined regulations, accelerated technology uptake, and enhanced multi-stakeholder collaboration, embedding sustainability into core business models beyond mere compliance. Full article

In recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable rise in demand for luxury urban hospitality services. Luxury hospitality is not solely about costly offerings; it emphasises creating authentic, personalised, and wellness-focused experiences. Successful luxury hotel operations depend on emotional intelligence, supportive leadership, and HR empowerment. This research aims to identify the variables positively associated with these factors in metropolitan hotels and to propose HRM policies to enhance them. Conducted from March to May 2025 in Athens, Greece, with a sample of 220 luxury five-star hotel employees, the research utilised Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses. The Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed using the method of Principal Components Extraction, while the Confirmatory Factor Analysis employed Structural Equation Modelling. The analysis of the research findings highlighted specific variables that are positively correlated with the development of the emotional intelligence, supportive leadership, and HR empowerment needed to deliver luxury services in metropolitan destination hotels. This paper provides validated Likert-type scales and practical insights for developing these essential workplace factors in luxury hotels, ultimately improving customer service and employee support. Full article

The global secondhand apparel industry, valued at USD 256B in 2025, is expanding rapidly. The growing acceptance of secondhand fashion and advancements in retail technology have driven millions of individuals to resell, yet little research has analyzed the motivations behind these decisions. Guided by Consumption Values Theory and Goal-Framing Theory, this qualitative study uses ten in-depth interviews with experienced resellers to examine why individuals participate in apparel reselling. Analysis of the participants’ narratives indicates that financial gain is the dominant driver of participation, followed by the convenience provided by reselling platforms and channels, emotional satisfaction, and contributing to sustainability. Conceptually, the study integrates value-based and goal-based lenses to offer an extensive explanation of reseller motivations, shifting focus from the buyer perspective that has dominated prior research. Practically, the findings suggest that resale platforms can encourage participation by reducing visible fees, enabling faster payout, and simplifying the reselling process, while also making community and environmental benefits more visible. In all, these insights help retailers and sustainability advocates better design approaches that support individual resellers and sustain growth in apparel resale. Full article

This study examines the key factors influencing online banking adoption in India in the post-COVID-19 period. Building on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research integrates traditional factors—perceived ease of use (PEOU), accessibility (ABS), and reliability of the banking system (RBS)—with a novel construct, perceived environmental, social, and governance performance of banks (PESGB). Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to Indian banking customers, and the proposed model was tested using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The results demonstrate that PEOU, ABS, and PESGB significantly and positively influence customers’ intention to adopt online banking, whereas RBS does not show a significant effect. These findings suggest that in the post-pandemic era, customers prioritize usability, accessibility, and sustainability over traditional concerns of reliability. The study contributes to the extension of TAM by incorporating ESG considerations and offers practical implications for banks to enhance digital adoption by promoting user-friendly services and aligning digital transformation strategies with sustainability commitments. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between materialism and pro-environmental behavior, focusing on the moderating role of narcissism in the attitude–behavior gap. A mixed-method research design was employed, combining a preference-based conjoint experiment with psychometric scales including the Material Values Scale (MVS), Recurring Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale (PEB), and Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire short scale (NARQ-S). A convenience sample of 71 participants evaluated pro-environmental behavior-related choices while also self-reporting their materialistic and pro-environmental values. Results revealed that profiles emphasizing low materialism and high pro-environmental attitudes were most preferred, supporting the hypothesized negative relationship between materialism and pro-environmental choices. The materialism–success dimension showed the strongest behavioral influence. However, narcissism did not significantly moderate the relationship between attitudes and behavior. These findings contribute to dual-attitude theory and impression-management literature by showing that materialists may endorse pro-environmental behavior when it supports social identity signaling. The results have implications for both marketers and policymakers in designing strategies that appeal to reputation-sensitive consumers. Full article

After a period of pure governmental space activities, financed by public money, space has become a commercial business with an estimated turnover of 660 billion USD in 2024 and an expected growth of more than 1.5 trillion USD by 2035. Space activities have transferred from national prestige motives to entrepreneurial business motives. This process has been accelerated considerably with what we presently label as the New Space era. Indeed, since the year 2000, we have witnessed a number of changes in space launch approaches as well as a growing number of smallsats, CubeSats, and satellite constellations in Low Earth Orbit. As a result of these space activities becoming affordable to a large range of countries and, at present, having an important effect on STEM education and capacity building particularly in emerging space nations, there is a need to prepare the future workforce for an economy which will considerably be driven by space-based communications and applications. Indeed, there is no reason why countries, over and beyond the traditional major spacefaring nations, should not prepare for this space business era by becoming active players themselves. Various international initiatives such as the US-led Artemis and the Chinese-led ILRS initiatives support this venue and could become a strong catalyst, but an important element is to have a national space strategy implemented stepwise. A template on how to establish such a strategy is provided in this article. A discussion will analyze the rationale and arguments for emerging space nations to become part of this development, suggesting a number of further studies to enhance this approach. Full article

The article addresses key challenges and opportunities within the high jewelry industry. It explores how brands can target sustainability and diversification demands by consumers from the supply side. It details sustainability-oriented market trends and resulting challenges and opportunities for high jewelry brands, in particular regarding artificial lab-grown diamonds, without being solely focused on this option alone. The study implements a qualitative research methodology, using semi-structured interviews with eight professionals active in different parts of the high jewelry industry, thus covering a large share of all high jewelry companies. The interviews provide an in-depth understanding of the obstacles and opportunities faced by both traditional and new high jewelry brands. The findings of this study reveal the changing trends in the high jewelry industry. Sustainability has emerged as a key driver in consumer decision-making, with ethical concerns now taking a central role in brand strategy and supply chain practices. Diversification has emerged as a strategy to meet this demand without losing the brand’s luxury essence and to build brand power without compromising exclusivity and creativity. The study concludes by proposing an SOR-type framework for the interplay of sustainability and diversification deduced from the interviews. Full article

Category management (CM) is crucial for optimising retailer–supplier partnerships via technological integration and data sharing. However, the role of CM in Saudi Arabia’s unique fast-moving consumer goods sector (FMCG) remains underexplored. This study aimed to answer the following research question: How do cloud-based inventory platforms and real-time data sharing improve forecasting accuracy and inventory turnover for retailer–supplier CM partnerships in Saudi Arabia’s FMCG sector? A systematic review of 87 studies from the Web of Science and Scopus databases was conducted, followed by thematic analysis. The findings indicate that CM improves demand forecasting, inventory optimisation, and collaborative decision-making. Key implementation barriers include cultural resistance to data sharing, high technology costs for small and medium-sized enterprises, and infrastructural limitations. Success relies on phased technology adoption, relational data governance, and trust building that aligns with Saudi cultural norms. The study concludes that CM is essential for leveraging technology and data capabilities, and it offers a contextualised framework to overcome local barriers and support the achievement of Vision 2030 objectives. This study provides practical strategies for sector stakeholders to adopt high-impact, low-cost technology and a basis for future comparative studies in Gulf Cooperation Council markets. Full article

The landscape of marketing is rapidly evolving as companies adapt to new societal dynamics and technological advancements. Guerrilla marketing, characterized by its unconventional, creative, and cost-effective tactics, has proven effective in capturing consumer attention. When integrated with social media platforms, these tactics gain amplified reach, immediacy, and interactive potential, fostering viral spread and deeper consumer engagement. This research seeks to answer the pivotal question: “How does guerrilla marketing on social media influence consumer behavior and brand awareness?” To address this, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to provide an in-depth analysis of relevant studies in the field. Our findings reveal that this integration significantly enhances consumer engagement, boosts brand awareness, and positively influences purchasing behavior. Moreover, it provides firms with competitive advantages in dynamic, resource-constrained markets. The results highlight the importance of leveraging creative marketing approaches alongside digital platforms to shape consumer choices and drive successful marketing outcomes in the digital age. Full article

While international cross-listing locations in host countries have been identified as integral to firm valuation gains, the influence of the home country information environment on firm financial market integration remains underexplored. This study examined how political stability, government effectiveness, and voice and accountability influence cross-listing destination choices amongst emerging-market firms seeking enhanced valuation gains. Using data on cross-listed firms from BRICS countries between 2000 and 2020, the study employed generalized linear models (GLMs), including probit and robit specifications, to analyze this relationship. The researchers found that stronger political stability; government effectiveness; and voice and accountability in home countries significantly increase the likelihood of BRICS firms cross-listing on advanced exchanges characterized by higher valuation gains. These results indicate that reduced political risk, effective government policy implementation and greater media freedom in BRICS emerging market countries facilitate cross-listing firms’ access to more efficient global capital markets by reducing asymmetric information, and help overcome traditional market segmentation barriers. Contrary to the conventional emphasis that home country proximity is significant for cross-listing valuation gains, these results highlight the signaling mechanism of home country governance quality as an appealing factor for firm cross-listing location in advanced exchange markets. Policymakers in emerging markets should consider governance reforms that enhance domestic firm competitiveness in global financial markets for higher valuation gains. Full article

In recent years, the field of European funds for business development has generated significant interest in the academic literature, stimulated by European Union (EU) regulations and the implementation of business financing programs. This context has led to an increase in research on the impact and use of European funds, particularly in terms of support for economic development and infrastructure. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis, using topic modeling, to examine academic publications on the use and absorption of European funds and how they influence the business environment. Using a dataset of 74 publications indexed in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Core Collection, covering the period 2005–2024, the present study aims to identify the main authors, institutions, journals, and collaboration networks involved. It also analyzes research trends, dominant themes, and the countries with the largest contributions in this field, using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and BERTopic analysis as a complement to the classical bibliometric approach. The thematic analysis reveals a thematic cohesion around entrepreneurship, EU structural funds, regional development, and innovation. In addition, there has been a significant annual increase in publications in this field, and through the use of thematic maps, word clouds, and collaboration networks, this study provides an overview of the evolution of research on the absorption of European funds and its impact on the business environment. These findings contribute both to deepening academic knowledge and to formulating more effective European policies for optimizing fund absorption and supporting the sustainable development of the business environment. Full article