Search Results (447)

This study intends to provide insights and challenges for the shape of the B movement, an emerging paradigm that fosters cross-sectoral partnerships and encourages ethical business practices through so-called purpose-driven businesses. Focusing on Italy, the first European country to adopt this managerial model, the research investigates Italian Benefit Corporations, known as Società Benefit (SB), and their most appealing sustainability claims from a consumer perspective. The analysis intends to inform theory development by assuming the cultural and creative industry (CCI) as a field of interest, utilizing a within-subjects experimental design to analyze data from a diverse consumer sample across various contexts. The results indicate that messaging centered on economic sustainability emerged as the most effective in generating positive consumer responses, highlighting a prevailing inclination toward pragmatic factors such as affordability, economic accessibility, and tangible benefits rather than social issues. While sustainable behaviors are not yet widespread, latent ethical sensitivity for authentic, value-driven businesses suggests that economic and ethical dimensions can be strategically synthesized to enhance consumer engagement. This insight highlights the role of BCs in catalyzing a shift in consumption patterns within ethical-based and creative-driven sectors. Full article

The intersection of green finance and artificial intelligence (AI) represents a rapidly emerging and high-impact research domain with the potential to reshape sustainable economic systems. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and network analysis aimed at mapping the scientific landscape, identifying research hotspots, and highlighting methodological trends at this nexus. A dataset of 268 peer-reviewed publications (2014–June 2025) was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, filtered by the Business Economics category. Analytical techniques employed include Bibliometrix in R, VOSviewer, and science mapping tools such as thematic mapping, trend topic analysis, co-citation networks, and co-occurrence clustering. Results indicate an annual growth rate of 53.31%, with China leading in both productivity and impact, followed by Vietnam and the United Kingdom. The most prolific affiliations and authors, primarily based in China, underscore a concentrated regional research output. The most relevant journals include Energy Economics and Finance Research Letters. Network visualizations identified 17 clusters, with focused analysis on the top three: (1) Emission, Health, and Environmental Risk, (2) Institutional and Technological Infrastructure, and (3) Green Innovation and Sustainable Urban Development. The methodological landscape is equally diverse, with top techniques including blockchain technology, large language models, convolutional neural networks, sentiment analysis, and structural equation modeling, demonstrating a blend of traditional econometrics and advanced AI. This study not only uncovers intellectual structures and thematic evolution but also identifies underdeveloped areas and proposes future research directions. These include dynamic topic modeling, regional case studies, and ethical frameworks for AI in sustainable finance. The findings provide a strategic foundation for advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and policy innovation in green AI–finance ecosystems. Full article

This paper introduces the concept of degenerative affordances to explain how social media can unintentionally destabilise family-run influencer businesses. While affordance theory typically highlights the enabling features of technology, the researchers shift the focus to its unintended, risk-laden consequences, particularly within family enterprises where professional and personal identities are deeply entangled. Drawing on platform capitalism, family business research, and intersectional feminist critiques, the researchers develop a theoretical model to examine how social media affordances contribute to role confusion, privacy breaches, and trust erosion. Using a mixed-methods design, the researchers combine narrative interviews (n = 20) with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) on survey data (n = 320) from family-based influencers. This study’s findings reveal a high explanatory power (R² = 0.934) for how digital platforms mediate entrepreneurial legitimacy through interpersonal trust and role dynamics. Notably, trust emerges as a key mediating mechanism linking social media engagement to perceptions of business legitimacy. This paper advances three core contributions: (1) introducing degenerative affordance as a novel extension of affordance theory; (2) unpacking how digitally mediated role confusion and privacy breaches function as internal threats to legitimacy in family businesses; and (3) problematising the epistemic assumptions embedded in entrepreneurial legitimacy itself. This study’s results call for a rethinking of how digital platforms, family roles, and entrepreneurial identities co-constitute each other under the pressures of visibility, intimacy, and algorithmic governance. The paper concludes with implications for influencer labour regulation, platform accountability, and the ethics of digital family entrepreneurship. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most influential and rapidly developing phenomena of our time. New fields of study are being created at universities, and managers are constantly introducing new AI solutions for business management, marketing, and advertising new products. Unfortunately, AI is also used to promote dangerous political parties and ideologies. The research problem that is the focus of this work is expressed in the following question: How does the symbiotic relationship between artificial and natural intelligence manifest across three dimensions of human experience—philosophical understanding, educational practice, and pastoral care—and what hermeneutical, phenomenological, and critical realist insights can illuminate both the promises and perils of this emerging co-evolution? In order to address this issue, an interdisciplinary research team was established. This team comprised a philosopher, an educator, and a pastoral theologian. This study is grounded in a critical–hermeneutic meta-analysis of the existing literature, ecclesial documents, and empirical investigations on AI. The results of scientific research allow for a broader insight into the impact of AI on humans and on personal relationships in Christian communities. The authors are concerned not only with providing an in-depth understanding of the issue but also with taking into account the ecumenical perspective of religious, social, and cultural education of contemporary Christians. Our analysis reveals that cultivating a healthy symbiosis between artificial and natural intelligence requires specific competencies and ethical frameworks. We therefore conclude with practical recommendations for Christian formation that neither uncritically embrace nor fearfully reject AI, but rather foster wise discernment for navigating this unprecedented co-evolutionary moment in human history. Full article

This qualitative case study explores Missouri-based consumers’ ethical beliefs regarding restaurant sourcing from minority farmers. Guided by the Hunt–Vitell theory of ethics (H-V model), it applies the model in a new context: culturally inclusive restaurant sourcing. Based on 15 semi-structured interviews conducted between September 2024 and October 2024, the study explores how ethical beliefs shape dining intentions. Participants generally viewed support for minority farmers as ethically appropriate. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes: (1) community-oriented social values (e.g., social responsibility toward local businesses); (2) cultural identity (e.g., traditional farming methods); (3) consumer values—food-oriented (e.g., quality); (4) consumer values—people-oriented (e.g., financial support for ethical sourcing); (5) trust-building mechanisms (e.g., sourcing transparency); and (6) barriers (e.g., lack of awareness). These findings highlight limited consumer awareness of minority farmers and the need for transparent communication and cultural education. The study contributes theoretically by extending the H-V model to the intersection of ethics, culture, and restaurant sourcing. Practically, it offers guidance for restaurant managers, marketers, and policymakers to support minority farmers, build trust, and promote inclusive and socially responsible dining. One key limitation of this study is its reliance on a small, Missouri-based consumer sample, which limits generalizability and excludes perspectives from other stakeholders. However, as a regional case study, it provides important depth and contextual insight into an underexplored aspect of sustainable sourcing. This study also highlights the need for multi-stakeholder engagement to advance equity in the food system. Full article

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the decision-making processes of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) presents both significant opportunities and substantial ethical challenges. The aim of this paper is to provide a theoretical model depicting the interdependence of organisational decision-making levels and decision-making styles, with an emphasis on exploring the role of AI in organisations’ decision making, based on selected process dimension of the MER model of integral governance and management, particularly in relation to routine, analytical, and intuitive decision-making capabilities. The research methodology employs a comprehensive qualitative analysis of the scientific literature published between 2010 and 2024, focusing on AI implementation in SMEs, ethical decision making in integral management, and regulatory frameworks governing AI use in business contexts. The findings reveal that AI technologies influence decision making across business policy, strategic, tactical, and operative management levels, with distinct implications for intuitive, analytical, and routine decision-making approaches. The analysis demonstrates that while AI can enhance data processing capabilities and reduce human biases, it presents significant challenges for normative–ethical decision making, requiring human judgment and stakeholder consideration. We conclude that effective AI integration in SMEs requires a balanced approach where AI primarily serves as a tool for data collection and analysis rather than as an autonomous decision maker. These insights contribute to the discourse on responsible AI implementation in SMEs and provide practical guidance for leaders navigating the complex interplay between (non)technological capabilities, ethical considerations, and regulatory requirements in the evolving business landscape. Full article

This study examines the awareness and implementation of Circular Economy (CE) principles within Chile’s mining sector, which represents the world’s leading copper producer. We employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative semi-structured interviews, to evaluate perceptions and implementation levels of CE practices across diverse organizational contexts. Our findings reveal a pronounced knowledge gap: while 73.3% of mining professionals reported familiarity with CE concepts, only 57.3% could provide accurate definitions. State-owned mining companies demonstrated substantially higher CE implementation rates, with 36.5% participating in eco-industrial collaborations and 51% conducting environmental audits, compared to their private counterparts. Small enterprises (1–100 employees) exhibited particularly limited engagement, as demonstrated by 71.8% lacking established sustainability reporting mechanisms. A considerable implementation gap was also identified; although 94.8% of respondents considered CE principles integral to business ethics and 89.6% recognized CE as essential for securing a social license to operate, only 20.8% reported that their organizations maintained dedicated CE units. The research presents actionable recommendations for policymakers, including targeted financial incentives and training programs for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in mining services, the establishment of standardized CE performance metrics for the sector, and the integration of CE principles into strategic management education to accelerate sustainable transformation within Chile’s critical mining industry. Full article

Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 are reshaping business models and scientific concepts, bringing challenges and opportunities. Stakeholders require a performance measurement system that enables them to address challenges and effectively capture opportunities. However, the current literature lacks consistency in utilising appropriate performance measurement systems, and the authors aim to identify current trends in measuring organisational performance within the context of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 in manufacturing companies. A systematic literature review, based on the PRISMA model, was conducted to identify which performance measurement systems for manufacturing companies are utilised in the context of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0. Findings indicate that the current literature lacks consistency regarding performance measurement systems for manufacturing companies, which encompass elements of Industry 5.0, including human-centrism and sustainability. We recommend a human-centric and sustainability-oriented approach to measuring performance in Industry 5.0, prioritising metrics that value employees as co-creators of success, integrate well-being and ethical dimensions, and focus on human-technology collaboration. Such an approach should ensure that technology supports, rather than replaces, humans, aligning organisational goals with societal and environmental values. Full article

In the context of accelerating digital transformation and growing sustainability imperatives, entrepreneurial ecosystems increasingly rely on open innovation and strategic collaboration to foster resilient, knowledge-driven growth. This study aims to examine how leadership behaviors and strategic alliances interact as enablers of sustainable innovation across macro (systemic), meso (organizational), and micro (individual) levels. To achieve this, this study employs a literature review, supported by bibliometric analysis, as its core methodological approach. Drawing on 86 influential publications from 1992 to 2024, two major thematic streams emerge: leadership dynamics in entrepreneurial settings and the formation and governance of strategic alliances as vehicles for innovation. The findings underscore the pivotal role of transformational and ethical leadership in cultivating trust-based inter-organizational relationships, facilitating digital knowledge sharing, and catalyzing sustainable value creation. Simultaneously, strategic alliances enhance organizational agility and innovation capacity through co-creation mechanisms, digital platforms, and crowdsourcing, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper highlights a mutually reinforcing relationship: effective leadership strategies empower alliances, while alliance participation enhances leadership capabilities through experiential learning in diverse, digitalized environments. By bridging leadership theory, open innovation practices, and digital transformation, this study offers critical insights for entrepreneurs, managers, and policymakers seeking to drive inclusive and sustainable innovation within interconnected global markets. Therefore, this study provides practical guidance for business leaders aiming to strengthen alliance performance through adaptive leadership and for policymakers seeking to foster innovation ecosystems through supportive regulatory and institutional frameworks. Full article

This study investigates the relationships between entrepreneurial leadership skills (ELSs), ethical entrepreneurial leadership (EEL), corporate sustainable development (CSD), and competitive advantage (CA) in SMEs. Drawing on resource-based view theory, we examine whether entrepreneurial capabilities and ethical practices jointly contribute to sustainability and competitive positioning. Data from 312 SME leaders across manufacturing, services, technology, and trading sectors were analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results reveal that ELSs foster EEL (β = 0.684, p < 0.001) and enhance CSD (β = 0.453, p < 0.001). EEL significantly affects CSD (β = 0.527, p < 0.001) and partially mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial skills and sustainability (indirect effect = 0.361). CSD strongly enhances CA (β = 0.612, p < 0.001). The findings demonstrate that integrating entrepreneurial capabilities with ethical leadership creates foundations for sustainable development and CA in resource-constrained environments. This research extends entrepreneurial leadership theory by showing complementarity between entrepreneurial and ethical orientations, advances sustainability theory by revealing ethical leadership’s mediating role, and enriches RBV by demonstrating how intangible leadership capabilities generate CA when traditional resources are scarce. Practical implications include developing integrated leadership programs and sustainability frameworks for emerging economy SMEs. Full article

The contemporary food environment is experiencing substantial transformations, and sustainability and the pursuit of novel ingredients have become pivotal factors in consumer decision-making and business strategy formulation. The emergence of alternative proteins has significant implications for sustainability, climate change mitigation and animal welfare, and can potentially promote the achievement of different United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The spread of these novel foods requires significant attention, particularly concerning younger demographics, which are often considered to be more environmentally and ethically aware when making dietary choices. This study investigates the psychological and attitudinal factors that shape young consumers’ intention to consume plant-based, insect-based, and cultured meat alternative proteins, and verifies the existence of heterogeneous segments of consumers. To this purpose principal component analysis and k-means cluster analysis are employed using data from an online survey conducted in Italy, with a sample of 350 young consumers. The findings reveal that the intention to consume alternative protein sources is not particularly pronounced among the young consumers and differs according to the type of alternative protein. Three different profiles of young consumers were found: traditionalist (39% of the sample); enthusiastic (17%) and open-minded (44%). These segments differ significantly with respect to consumption intention, socio-demographic, lifestyle and psychological variables. The results provide useful insights for policymakers to design targeted interventions to encourage young consumers’ sustainable food choices. The findings could also be useful for marketers interested in investing in such innovations as they can benefit from an in-depth knowledge of this market segment. Full article

In informal economic contexts, migrant entrepreneurs have been extolled as highly resilient and adaptable. This study critically investigates the adverse psychological foundations inherent in such enterprises, focusing on how dark triad personality traits emerge in the leadership orientations of marginal migrant entrepreneurs. Following a qualitative ethnographic approach, this research engaged 10–15 migrant employees through participant observation, field notes, and semi-structured interviews in an informal economic context. Thematic analysis revealed five dominant patterns: narcissistic leadership with entitlement and emotional disrespect; Machiavellian behavior of manipulation and deception; psychopathic detachment in emotional callousness; absence of light triad actions such as empathy, humility, and selflessness; and moral disengagement through rationalizations such as “everyone does it” or system blame. Migrant business owners prefer to rationalize their exploitative acts as being necessary for economic survival, thus legitimizing immoral conduct and suppressing moral self-regulation. The findings indicate that marginality not only drives entrepreneurial innovation, but also has the potential to create exploitative inclinations that are institutionally and morally unchecked. Solving this issue requires not only mere psychological awareness, but also systematic reforms that foster ethical robustness and emotional sensitivity. This study ultimately asserts the need to reframe migrant entrepreneurship discourse, including both ethical and psychological accountability. Full article

Organizational behavior examines the interactions of individuals and groups within businesses, while human resource management (HRM) focuses on enhancing workforce efficiency through recruitment, training, and employee relations. The success of an organization depends on the relationship between employee engagement and performance, as engaged individuals enhance productivity and innovation. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the academic research on the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), employee engagement, and performance. This study highlights trends, countries, sources, and keywords in this field. The authors analyzed 11,291 articles in the first phase, 42,358 articles were analyzed in the second phase, and 606 articles were analyzed in the third phase. This study highlights the growth of the research in this area and identifies the most productive years and regional contributions. The citation analysis is used to identify the relevant research and renowned authors. This study also addresses ethical concerns related to the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. This study indicates theme variations among national contributions, highlighting differing socio-cultural and theoretical perspectives on AI adoption in HRM, from behavioral leadership models to efficiency-oriented frameworks. In summary, this bibliometric study provides valuable insights into the evolution of the research topics related to AI’s impact on employee engagement and productivity, spanning multiple disciplines, such as psychology, organizational behavior, and computer science. It is relevant for the researchers, practitioners, and businesses interested in understanding and utilizing AI in the workplace. Full article

ChatGPT, a prominent large language model developed by OpenAI, has rapidly become embedded in digital infrastructures across various sectors. This narrative review examines its evolving role and societal implications in three key domains: healthcare, education, and the economy. Drawing on recent literature and examples, the review explores ChatGPT’s applications, limitations, and ethical challenges in each context. In healthcare, the model is used to support patient communication and mental health services, while raising concerns about misinformation and privacy. In education, it offers new forms of personalized learning and feedback, but also complicates assessment and equity. In the economy, ChatGPT augments business operations and knowledge work, yet introduces risks related to job displacement, data governance, and automation bias. The review synthesizes these developments to highlight how ChatGPT is driving digital transformation while generating new demands for oversight, regulation, and critical inquiry. It concludes by outlining priorities for future research and policy, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, transparency, and inclusive access as generative AI continues to evolve. Full article

As participants in sustainable development, corporations face the important and controversial issue of whether they can promote corporate sustainability through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. To address this issue, we examine the relationship between ESG performance and corporate sustainability, measured by green total factor productivity (GTFP). Using a panel dataset of 17,559 firm-year observations from non-financial firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges in China between 2011 and 2019, we employ fixed-effects regression models and two-stage least squares (2SLS) with instrumental variables to empirically test the impact of ESG ratings on GTFP, identify the underlying mechanisms, and examine potential heterogeneity across firms. The results show that higher ESG ratings are significantly associated with increased GTFP. Mediation analysis further reveals that this positive relationship operates through reduced financing constraints and enhanced green innovation. Notably, the mediating role of financing constraints is more pronounced for firms with greater reliance on external capital. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that ESG ratings exert stronger effects in eastern regions, pollution-intensive sectors, and state-owned enterprises. These findings provide empirical support for the role of ESG performance as an effective mechanism to advance corporate sustainability through ethics-driven financial access and innovation capability. Full article