Search Results (1,039)

Non-agricultural business activity of farmers is crucial not only for stabilizing farm income but also for the multifunctional development of rural areas. Capturing changes in the level and nature of this activity supports the development of sustainable agricultural and rural policy. In this context, this study aimed to identify the scale and types of non-agricultural business activity and to recognize the main determinants of such business activities undertaken by farmers in Poland between 2002 and 2022. Sectoral-level data from the Agricultural Censuses and cyclical studies of the structure of farms and household budgets were used to approximate underlying motivations for running non-agricultural business (opportunity vs. necessity entrepreneurship). The findings indicate that, in Poland, the impact of regressive factors remains strong, pushing farmers to take on additional business activity due to the large share of small and very small farms. However, during the 21st century, a gradual spread of opportunity entrepreneurship among Polish farmers has been observed. This study highlights the rationale for supporting non-agriculture business activity motivated by progressive factors to increase the income resilience of farmer households and the sustainable development of agriculture. The article indicates the need for further research on the motives for undertaking non-agricultural economic activities by farmers and the impact of this activity on the allocation of farm resources. Full article

The digital business environment is rapidly evolving with advancements in information technology (IT), increasing the risk of information security incidents. Grounded in the resource-based view and in contingency theory, this study adopts a different approach from prior research by conceptualizing security management activities not as mere risk control mechanisms, but as strategic innovation drivers that can enhance corporate performance (sales revenue and operating profit). The authors develop a research model with six independent variables, including internal and external security management activities, CISO role configuration (independent or dual-role with CIO), and investment levels in IT and information security. The dependent variables include sales revenue and operating profit, with ISMS or ISO certification as a moderating variable. Using information security (IS) disclosures and financial data from 545 Korean firms that have reported their security management activities to the Ministry of Science and ICT, multiple regression and moderation analyses reveal that high IT investment negatively impacts performance, but this effect is mitigated when formal security systems, like ISMS or ISO, are in place. The results suggest that integrating recognized security frameworks into management strategies can enhance both innovation and financial outcomes, encouraging a proactive approach to security management. Full article

This research aims to determine the utilization levels of local products and the challenges and opportunities of creating a recognizable food-centered cultural identity based on collaborative networks developed between agriculture and tourism. This has the potential to strengthen collaborative entrepreneurship. It uniquely contributes to the existing literature by exploring the connections between agri-food and tourism, while proposing strategies to maximize business opportunities centered on food culture. Descriptive and inferential statistics are conducted based on primary data collected by distributing a questionnaire to 59 public and private organizations in the Peloponnese region in Greece, which has significant agricultural production but limited tourist flows. The results indicate a lack of collective action and business recognition of the value of regional food culture among participants. The human resources employed in tourism lack the skills to highlight traditional food heritage. The presence of structural and operational barriers undermines efforts to facilitate communication, manage suppliers, and enhance the visibility of products designated with Geographical Indications. This paper offers preliminary results; however, extensive future studies are needed to validate the findings fully. The study highlights key implications: Improved communication between stakeholders could enhance the management of the local food network. Agri-food and tourism businesses can develop educational programs and food-focused tourism packages that promote social cohesion and preserve cultural heritage. Full article

China’s national strategies emphasize both achieving carbon peaking and neutrality (“dual carbon” objectives) and fostering high-quality economic development. This dual focus highlights the critical importance of the Green and Low-Carbon Transition (GLCT) of the economy and the development of New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF). Firms are central actors in this transformation, prompting the core research question: How does corporate engagement in GLCT contribute to the formation of NQPF? We investigate this relationship using panel data comprising 33,768 firm-year observations for A-share listed companies across diverse industries in China from 2012 to 2022. Corporate GLCT is measured via textual analysis of annual reports, while an NQPF index, incorporating both tangible and intangible dimensions, is constructed using the entropy method. Our empirical analysis relies primarily on fixed-effects regressions, supplemented by various robustness checks and alternative econometric specifications. The results demonstrate a significantly positive relationship: corporate GLCT robustly promotes the development of NQPF, with dynamic lag structures suggesting delayed productivity realization. Mechanism analysis reveals that this effect operates through three primary channels: improved access to financing, stimulated collaborative innovation and enhanced resource-allocation efficiency. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive impact of GLCT on NQPF is more pronounced for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), firms operating in high-emission sectors, those in energy-efficient or environmentally friendly industries, technology-intensive sectors, non-heavily polluting industries and companies situated in China’s eastern regions. Overall, our findings suggest that corporate GLCT enhances NQPF by improving resource-utilization efficiency and fostering innovation, with these effects amplified by specific regional advantages and firm characteristics. This study offers implications for corporate strategy, highlighting how aligning GLCT initiatives with core business objectives can drive NQPF, and provides evidence relevant for policymakers aiming to optimize environmental governance and foster sustainable economic pathways. Full article

This study investigates the interconnected roles of financial planning, environmental consciousness, and artificial intelligence (AI) in fostering sustainable entrepreneurship among merchants in Machala, Ecuador. Through structural equation modeling analysis of data from 300 entrepreneurs, we found that financial planning positively influences both sustainable entrepreneurship (β = 0.508, p < 0.001) and environmental consciousness (β = 0.421, p < 0.001). Environmental consciousness demonstrates a significant impact on sustainable business development (β = 0.504, p < 0.001), while AI integration emerges as a powerful enabler of both financial planning (β = 0.345, p < 0.001) and sustainable entrepreneurship (β = 0.664, p < 0.001). The findings reveal how AI technologies can democratize access to sophisticated sustainability planning tools in resource-constrained environments, potentially transforming how emerging market entrepreneurs approach environmental challenges. This research advances our understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship by demonstrating that successful environmental business practices in developing economies require an integrated approach combining financial literacy, ecological awareness, and technological adoption. The results suggest that policy interventions supporting sustainable entrepreneurship should simultaneously address financial capabilities, environmental education, and technological accessibility to maximize their impact on sustainable development. Full article

This study discusses the role of organizational pro-environmental behavior in driving sustainable development. Studies of green practices highlight their capacity to achieve ecological goals while delivering economic sustainability with business strategies for sustainable businesses and advancing environmental sustainability law. It also considers how the development of artificial intelligence, resource management, big data analysis, blockchain, and the Internet of Things enables companies to maximize supply efficiency and address evolving environmental regulations and sustainable decision-making. Through digital technology, businesses can facilitate supply chain transparency, adopt circular economy practices, and produce in an equitable and environmentally friendly manner. Additionally, intelligent business management practices, such as effective decision-making and sustainability reporting, enhance compliance with authorities while ensuring long-term profitability from a legal perspective. Integrating business innovation and digital technology within legal entities enhances economic efficiency, reduces operational costs, improves environmental sustainability, reduces paper usage, and lowers the carbon footprint, creating a double-benefit model of long-term resilience. The policymakers’ role in formulating policy structures that lead to green digital innovation is also to ensure that economic development worldwide is harmonized with environmental protection and international governance. Using example studies and empirical research raises awareness about best practices in technology-based sustainability initiatives across industries and nations, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

Waterway tunnels, a novel type of infrastructure designed for inland waterways in mountainous gorge regions, have seen rapid development in recent years. However, their unique structural characteristics and specific shipping activities pose significant risks in the event of an accident. To enhance the scientific rigor and efficiency of emergency responses to vessel incidents in tunnels, this study focuses on fire accidents in waterway tunnels. Considering the unique challenges of emergency response in such scenarios, we propose an emergency response framework using Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). The framework is mapped into a Petri net model encompassing three key stages: detection and early warning, emergency response actions, and recovery. A Colored Hierarchical Timed Petri Net (CHTPN) emergency response model is then developed based on fire incident data and emergency response time functions. Furthermore, a homomorphic Markov chain is employed to assess the network’s validity and performance. Finally, optimization strategies are proposed to improve the emergency response process. The results indicate that the emergency response network demonstrates strong accessibility, effectively mitigating information bottlenecks in critical stages of the response process. The network provides accurate and rapid decision support for different tunnel ship fire scenarios, efficiently and reasonably allocating emergency resources and response teams, and monitoring the operation of key emergency response stages. This enhances the efficiency of emergency operations and provides robust support for decision-making in waterway tunnel fire emergencies. Full article

This paper presents an integrated Smart City platform that combines digital twin technology, advanced machine learning, and a private blockchain network to enhance data-driven decision making and operational efficiency in both public enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The proposed cloud-based business intelligence model automates Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) processes, enables real-time analytics, and secures data integrity and transparency through blockchain-enabled audit trails. By implementing the proposed solution, Smart City and public service providers can significantly improve operational efficiency, including a 15% reduction in costs and a 12% decrease in fuel consumption for waste management, as well as increased citizen engagement and transparency in Smart City governance. The digital twin component facilitated scenario simulations and proactive resource management, while the participatory governance module empowered citizens through transparent, immutable records of proposals and voting. This study also discusses technical, organizational, and regulatory challenges, such as data integration, scalability, and privacy compliance. The results indicate that the proposed approach offers a scalable and sustainable model for Smart City transformation, fostering citizen trust, regulatory compliance, and measurable environmental and social benefits. Full article

In the world of globalization and increasing business competition, innovation has become a significant component of the sustainability of an organization. One of the important components affecting an organization’s ability to innovate is human resource management (HRM). This study analyzes how HRM practices relate to banking sector sustainability, testing theoretical pathways through organizational innovation and human capital as potential mediators. SPSS v25 was used to analyze data collected from 207 banking sector employees. The results demonstrate that the human capital of an organization can be increased by the practices of human resource management, which stimulates organizational innovation in the same fashion. This study also shows that human capital is a partial mediator of the relationship between human resource management practices and organizational innovation, highlighting its importance for converting human resource management activities into innovative results. Considering these results, banks are advised to implement complete human resource management strategies that combine operational efficiency with workforce capacity development to create a dynamic banking environment allowing for continued innovation. The proposed mediation model based on empirical data contributes to the literature and provides insights for banking institutions, which can use human capital to drive innovation in difficult situations. Full article

Addressing the stock market forecasting as a classification problem, where the model predicts the direction of stock price movement, is crucial for both traders and investors, as it can help them to allocate limited resources to the most promising investment opportunities. In this study, we propose a hybrid system that uses a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network and sentiment analysis for predicting the direction of the movement of the stock price. The proposed hybrid system is fed with historical stock data and regulatory news announcements for producing more reliable responses. LSTM networks are well suited to handling time series data with long-term dependencies, while the sentiment analyser provides insights into how news impacts stock price movements by classifying business news into classes. By integrating both the LSTM network and the sentiment classifier, the proposed hybrid system delivers more accurate forecasts. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed hybrid system outperforms other competing configurations. Full article

Native forest timber supplies are declining, and industry needs to do more with less to meet growing demand for wood products. An Australian-based, vertically integrated timber manufacturing business is commissioning a spindleless lathe to produce engineered wood products from small logs. The literature on innovation in timber manufacturing was found to generally focus on technical innovation, with relatively little use of market-oriented concepts and theory. This was particularly true in the Australian context. Using a market-oriented case study approach, this research assessed innovation in the business. It aimed to inform industry-wide innovation approaches to meet market demand in the face of timber supply challenges. Interviews were conducted with key personnel at the firm. Data and outputs were produced to facilitate comparison to existing research and conceptual frameworks. The business was found to empower key staff and willingly access knowledge, information and data from outside its corporate domain. It was also found to prioritise corporate goals outside of traditional goals of profit and competitive advantage. This was shown to increase willingness to try new things at the mill and increase the chances that new approaches would succeed. Thinking outside of the corporate domain was shown to allow access to resources that the firm could not otherwise count on. It is recommended that wood processing businesses seek to emulate this element of the case study, and that academia and the broader sector examine further the potential benefits of using enterprise and market-oriented lenses to better utilise available resources and maintain progress towards corporate goals. Full article

Sustainable tourism has become a strategic imperative, particularly in Bali Island, where tourism drives regional economic growth. In this study, we investigate the mediating role of green service innovation in the relationship between the marketing mix and business performance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bali Island’s tour and travel sector. We seek to understand how sustainability-oriented innovation contributes to enhancing SME competitiveness and long-term performance. A quantitative approach was adopted, using structured survey data from 387 tour and travel business owners registered with the Bali Provincial Tourism Office. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to assess both the direct effects of the marketing mix on business performance and the indirect effects mediated by green service innovation. The findings indicate that the marketing mix does not directly influence green service innovation or business performance. However, green service innovation significantly enhances business performance, confirming its mediating role. This suggests that traditional marketing strategies are insufficient unless aligned with sustainability-driven innovation. Green service innovation acts as a strategic resource that strengthens business performance in tourism SMEs. We provide theoretical and practical insights into how integrating sustainability into marketing and operational strategies can enhance SMEs’ competitiveness and support sustainable tourism development. Full article

The deployment of utility-scale hybrid wind–solar PV power plants is gaining global attention due to their enhanced performance in power systems with high renewable energy penetration. To assess their potential, accurate estimations must be derived from the available data, addressing key challenges such as (1) the spatial and temporal resolution requirements, particularly for renewable resource characterization; (2) energy balances aligned with various business models; (3) regulatory constraints (environmental, technical, etc.); and (4) the cost dependencies of the different components and system characteristics. When conducting such analyses at the regional or national scale, a trade-off must be achieved to balance accuracy with computational efficiency. This study reviews existing experiences in hybrid plant deployment, with a focus on Spain, identifying the lack of national-scale product cost models for HPPs as the main gap and establishing a replicable methodology for hybrid plant mapping. A simplified example is shown using this methodology for a country-level analysis. Full article

Organizations face significant challenges in measuring and enhancing sustainability performance across complex operational processes. Current assessment methods frequently lack granularity, real-time capability, and integration with operational data. This study addresses these gaps by developing a conceptual framework that integrates business process mining with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) metrics. The methodology incorporates environmental, social, and economic sustainability indicators into process mining techniques through systematic metric mapping and event log enrichment. The framework enables the extraction and analysis of sustainability performance data at the process level, creating detailed heat maps that visualize resource utilization, emissions, and waste generation. An application to a Purchase-to-Pay process case study demonstrates how process variants impact sustainability metrics differently. Delays increase emissions by 16.7%, while rework increases waste generation by 41.7%. The results identify specific process bottlenecks with high environmental impact and reveal critical misalignments between economic and environmental sustainability goals. This framework provides organizations with a standardized yet flexible approach to measuring sustainability performance, bridging the gap between high-level sustainability reporting and operational processes. It enables continuous monitoring, targeted interventions, and transparent reporting across diverse industry contexts. Full article

Digital transformation has reshaped knowledge creation patterns, business models, and practices within the legal industry. However, many organizations have struggled to realize the anticipated benefits of digital transformation due to individual adaptation barriers. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources model, this study employs both regression analysis and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to investigate the mechanisms and the boundary conditions through which digital transformation job autonomy affects lawyers’ supportive behaviors toward digital change in law firms. The regression analysis of multi-wave survey data from 423 lawyers demonstrates that digital transformation job autonomy not only has a direct positive effect on lawyers’ digital transformation-supportive behaviors, but also indirectly promotes such behaviors through lawyers’ cognitive adjustment in the workplace. Furthermore, leader empathy enhances the relationship between digital transformation job autonomy and supportive behaviors. The fsQCA results identify multiple pathways leading to high and low levels of digital transformation-supportive behaviors among lawyers. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how organizations foster individual support for digital transformation. Full article