Search Results (3,312)

This study examines the relationships between digital transformation, business development, and firm performance in manufacturing firms operating in a developing country, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Based on the digital transformation and business development literature, a conceptual model is developed to analyze the effects of digital transformation and business development on firm performance, as well as the influence of digital transformation on business development. The findings reveal that digital transformation has a moderate and statistically significant positive effect on firm performance and a strong positive effect on business development. In contrast, the effect of business development on firm performance is positive but weak and statistically insignificant. These results indicate that digital transformation plays a central role in enhancing organizational performance and strengthening business development capabilities, while business development alone may be insufficient to generate immediate performance improvements, particularly for resource-constrained SMEs. This study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the pivotal role of digital transformation in improving firm performance and business development in developing economies. From a practical perspective, the findings highlight the importance of prioritizing digital transformation initiatives—especially for SMEs—to achieve sustainable competitiveness and long-term growth. Full article

Guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this qualitative study examines how K–12 teachers across five countries, the United States (n = 7), India (n = 5), Qatar (n = 5), Colombia (n = 5), and the Philippines (n = 4), conceptualize AI literacy and integrate generative AI into their practice. Through 26 semi-structured interviews conducted in summer and fall 2025, we identified three cross-national patterns that challenge dominant narratives about AI adoption in education. First, institutional support did not uniformly predict AI literacy depth: the four Filipino teachers developed sophisticated prompt engineering competencies despite low institutional backing, while the five Indian teachers showed the lowest awareness despite strong organizational support. Second, prompt engineering awareness functioned as a critical differentiator between teachers who engaged with AI as a pedagogical skill and those who treated it as an opaque productivity tool. Third, AI use for lesson preparation far outpaced classroom-facing application across all contexts. These findings reframe AI readiness as a question not of access and support but of whether conditions cultivate the interaction competence that meaningful integration demands. Full article

The use of electricity to power vehicles is currently seen as a key opportunity for climate protection and the development of global economies. In this context, the aim of this article is to identify and consider the advantages of electric vehicles and the barriers to their development, as well as to present opportunities for leveraging knowledge from modern management to mitigate them. The study utilized desk research and qualitative methods. The results indicate that, despite significant consumer interest in electromobility in the European Union, the observed growth rate has been declining recently. This is due to a number of unfavorable administrative, technical, financial, and organizational conditions, which the researchers observed and present in this article. It turns out that eliminating these barriers is impossible without leveraging management knowledge, particularly in the areas of energy management and sustainable development. The article identifies specific solutions in the area of sustainable management, when implemented in practice, can contribute to increasing the efficiency of electricity use in transport, improving energy security, and protecting the natural environment. Full article

The integration of digital technologies is increasingly recognized as a critical enabler of lean practices in prefabricated construction projects. However, a systematic understanding of the underlying factors that drive this lean–digital transformation remains limited. To address the gap, this study identified 18 factors through an in-depth review of 30 papers and a follow-up questionnaire survey. The factors are divided into five dimensions, i.e., organizational, social, technological, economic and environmental, according to an extended framework of the Socio-Technical Systems (STS) and Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE). These 18 factors were then analyzed via a back propagation (BP) neural network model. The empirical data were collected from 148 practitioners across 11 regions in China where PC industrialization, digital technology adoption, and lean-related practices are relatively mature. These regions were selected because digitalization-driven lean practices are more observable in such contexts, allowing the BP model to capture the comprehensive contribution of key factors more effectively. The findings reveal that the effective implementation of the smart lean practices via digitalization is primarily driven by a systematic process, where greater attention should be directed toward simulation-based process optimization, robust information management, integrated design and construction, lean management systems, and the workers’ digital skills. Although the empirical evidence is derived from relatively mature PC and digital construction markets in China, the identified factors provide reference insights for broader PC projects including less mature regions to make effective measures to improve lean implementation. This study contributes to the existing knowledge body of lean in PC by extending the theories of STS and TOE to advance the understanding of digital drivers. Additionally, the results serve as a reference for stakeholders by informing strategic priorities such as resource allocation for workforce development, advancing the realization of smart lean prefabricated construction. Full article

This study examines the relationship between individuals’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their job-seeking intentions, with a particular focus on the mediating role of personal values and attitudes toward social responsibility. The research was conducted in Romania’s south-west region between June and September 2025, using a stratified sample of 453 respondents. Data were analyzed using SMART-PLS 3.0 through structural equation modeling. The results indicate a positive association between perceived CSR and job-seeking intention, with personal values and attitudes toward CSR significantly mediating this relationship. The findings suggest that participants in this study who perceive organizations as socially responsible also report higher levels of organizational attractiveness, particularly when there is alignment between personal and organizational values. At the same time, the results highlight that consistent CSR practices are associated with stronger perceptions of employer attractiveness. Overall, the study suggests that CSR is closely linked to employment-related attitudes and intentions, supporting the view that alignment between individual values and organizational ethical principles represents an important dimension of contemporary human resource strategies. Full article

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how STEM graduate students conceptualized problems that undergird a negative departmental racial climate and explore which policies and practices these students recognized as potential levers for change. Using a generic qualitative inquiry (GQI) approach, we conducted eight focus group meetings and one interview with graduate STEM students (n = 34) at two predominantly white institutions in the United States. Our findings suggest that STEM graduate students identified interpersonal interactions with faculty as a primary driver of negative departmental climate, highlighting a culture of discrimination and lack of accountability. Although students suggested institutionalizing DEI labor and making structural change, they often sought to first improve care for fellow graduate students, feeling ill-equipped to facilitate organizational change. Few research studies address the conceptualization of departmental racial climate from the student perspective and examine their proposed solutions. Using racialized organizations as a guiding theory, this study calls on scholars and practitioners to think more critically about efforts to improve departmental racial climate and address issues of entrenched whiteness. This study suggests that STEM practitioners examine their current departmental processes to enhance racial climate and involve STEM graduate students in valuable ways. Full article

Museums are increasingly required to combine digital transformation with sustainability goals under conditions shaped by ecological pressures, resource constraints, and long-term heritage responsibilities. This paper examines museum digital transition as a problem of strategic governance rather than merely technological adoption. Drawing on an exploratory qualitative case study based on the Italian ECO ART programme, the research analyses participatory activities, best practices, and project materials related to green and digital transition in the cultural sector. The findings show that the main barriers concern governance, process design, skills continuity, and monitoring, rather than technology alone. In response, the paper proposes a strategic framework composed of a Sustainability Matrix and a Roadmap. The matrix connects technologies, processes, and people with the cultural, social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability, while the Roadmap structures digital planning from diagnosis to monitoring. This work argues that digital transformation can support sustainable and resilience-oriented heritage management only when it is planned as a low-impact, inclusive, and long-term organizational process. Full article

This study proposes a theological-orthodox reinterpretation of contemporary management concepts—particularly “value innovation,” the “blue ocean strategy,” and the E.R.S.C. matrix—within the framework of church administration. Starting from the premise that such concepts cannot be directly imported into the ecclesial context without distortion, the paper argues for their “theological translation,” whereby their underlying logic is reoriented toward the service of the person, communion, and oikonomia. The analysis demonstrates that church administration cannot be understood as a neutral technical system, but as a form of diakonia, intrinsically linked to the ecclesial nature of the Church as the Body of Christ. Consequently, “value” is redefined not in utilitarian or economic terms, but as concrete good: the protection of human dignity, the strengthening of communion, the accessibility of liturgical and pastoral life, and the responsible use of resources. Within this framework, innovation is understood as a Christ-centered renewal of administrative practices, while differentiation (“blue ocean”) becomes a form of service rather than competition. The E.R.S.C. matrix is reinterpreted as an ascetical discipline of discernment, guiding administrative decisions through criteria rooted in theological anthropology and ecclesial ethics. Furthermore, the study addresses the ethical meaning of surplus, the role of transparency, the integration of virtue and competence in organizational culture, and the transformation of communication from image management into truthful witness. Ultimately, the paper argues that authentic church administration is not defined by procedural efficiency alone, but by its capacity to manifest, through structures and decisions, the love of Christ in concrete institutional life. Full article

Construction sectors in developing countries continue to experience disproportionately high fatality rates, largely due to reactive safety practices and the limited adoption of digital safety technologies. While Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Internet of Things (IoT) offer significant potential for proactive safety management, their integrated application remains underexplored in resource-constrained contexts. This study examines stakeholder readiness to adopt IoT-enhanced BIM-based safety monitoring systems in large-scale infrastructure projects in Pakistan, including China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiatives and the Barakahu Bypass project. An integrated Technology Acceptance Model–Technology–Organization–Environment (TAM–TOE) readiness framework is employed, wherein TAM-derived cognitive-motivational factors (Technology Awareness and Perceived Benefits) and TOE-derived contextual factors (Organizational Readiness and Perceived Barriers) are examined as joint predictors of Behavioral Intention (BI). Data were collected from 107 purposively sampled construction professionals using a structured questionnaire. The results indicate high attitudinal readiness (BI mean = 4.7; perceived benefits mean = 4.6) alongside moderate organizational readiness (mean = 3.4). Regression analysis reveals that perceived benefits (β = 0.42, p < 0.001) and technology awareness (β = 0.29, p = 0.003) are the strongest positive predictors of adoption intention. In contrast, perceived barriers exert a significant negative effect (β = −0.22, p = 0.022). The model explains 61.2% of the variance in behavioral intention. This study advances the literature by providing empirical evidence on stakeholder readiness for BIM–IoT safety adoption within construction management processes, estimated through a multiple regression model. It offers practical implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to accelerate data-driven decision-making and digital safety transformation in developing economies. Full article

The digital transformation of production requires methods for integrating, storing, and operationalizing data across organizational boundaries, yet most existing approaches remain siloed and unidirectional, lacking a systematic loop from raw data to actionable knowledge and back. We introduce Data-to-Knowledge (D2K) and Knowledge-to-Data (K2D) pipelines as a universal production concept built on networks of Digital Shadows. The Data-to-Knowledge (D2K) pipeline is realized as a cross-organizational proof of concept that captures and semantically annotates robotic trajectory data from three independent research institutes and uses those data to train an inverse-dynamics foundation model for robot control. Centralized aggregation via an existing FAIR-compliant research data repository was chosen deliberately over federated alternatives to maximize semantic interoperability and reuse of shared infrastructure; federated and privacy-preserving extensions are identified as a promising future direction. Fine-tuning the cross-organizationally trained foundation model reduces training time by approximately 85% relative to end-to-end training from scratch, while achieving comparable accuracy on a standardized inverse-dynamics benchmark. These gains are attributable to the combination of cross-site data aggregation and transfer learning; isolating the contribution of semantic annotation alone remains a topic for future ablation work. The implementation demonstrates that semantically enriched, cross-organizational D2K pipelines can accelerate model development and reduce redundant data collection within a constrained but practically relevant class of robotics tasks. We further discuss limitations, governance challenges, and how these pipelines can contribute to a broader World Wide Lab for collaborative production research. Full article

Leadership plays a critical role in promoting equitable and high-quality early care and education (ECE) environments. Within this context, leaders of color bring unique perspectives and experiences that support ECE teachers, children, and families with diverse backgrounds. Despite their importance, there is limited research focusing on the professional experiences and well-being of ECE leaders of color. Drawing on Critical Race Theory (CRT), the current study aims to fill the gap by exploring the well-being, challenges, and strengths of ECE leaders of color. Using applied thematic analysis, we analyzed interview data from 17 leaders of color working in center-based ECE settings. Five themes were identified: (1) Multidimensional and interconnected well-being, (2) structural and racialized challenges in leadership roles and career pathways, (3) strengths and assets drawn from leaders of color’s identities and experiences, (4) interconnections between strengths and burdens, and (5) suggestions for well-being and work conditions improvement. The findings suggest that improving the well-being and work conditions of ECE leaders of color requires both individual and structural support, including more targeted well-being resources, culturally sustaining organizational practices and climate, leadership preparation and development support, and more stable policy environments. Full article

The growth of commercial aerospace enterprises (CAEs) has injected new vitality into the entire aerospace system. Nevertheless, there remains a research gap concerning the entrepreneurial behavior of these enterprises, which is primarily driven by commercial demands and technological innovation. Drawing on network embeddedness theory and complex system theory, this study proposes a conceptual framework that links the structural and relational embeddedness of aerospace system subnetworks to entrepreneurial behavior, while examining the mediating roles of perceived organizational resilience and perceived environmental uncertainty. The moderating role of transformational leadership is evaluated using the trait activation theory. A two-phase quantitative design was employed, combining Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). Empirical analysis using a sample of 265 CAEs in China revealed several key findings: (1) the structural position of CAEs within the aerospace system network, along with informational resources formed through relationships, can enhance perceived organizational resilience and reduce perceived environmental uncertainty, thereby promoting entrepreneurial behavior; (2) entrepreneurs’ transformational leadership can effectively enhance the positive relationship between perceived organizational resilience and their entrepreneurial behavior; (3) two distinct configurations lead to high entrepreneurial behavior among CAEs. The study concludes with corresponding theoretical and practical implications. Full article

In the contemporary digital economy, digital human resource management is reshaping organizational practices and enhancing both operational efficiency and the employee experience. As Generation Z (those born between 1995 and 2009) becomes the core demographic in the workforce, their pronounced emphasis on work–life balance introduces novel managerial challenges. Drawing on conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study develops and tests a moderated mediation model examining how digital human resource management (HRM) influences sense of relaxation among Generation Z employees. Analyzing survey data from 364 Generation Z employees, we first develop and validate a measurement scale for employee relaxation, identifying four distinct dimensions: work disengagement, work adaptation, emotional regulation, and physical load. The findings reveal that digital HRM significantly enhances employee relaxation, with work autonomy serving as a partial mediator in this relationship. Furthermore, digital self-efficacy positively moderates both the direct effect of digital HRM on work autonomy and the indirect effect on employee relaxation through work autonomy. These findings offer theoretical insights into how digital HRM links to employee well-being and provide practical guidance for organizations managing a Generation Z workforce. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how organizations develop human potential, offering scalable and data-driven support for coaching and capability building. This study proposes and validates a conceptual framework for integrating AI into organizational coaching processes to enhance competence development and strategic alignment. AI-supported coaching in this research is treated as an emerging organizational technology whose potential organizational value depends less on model capability and more on governance design, decision rights, and auditable evaluation outputs. Following a mixed-methods, multi-phase design, the research combined a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with the construction of a layered design architecture in which OSCAR serves as the primary coaching-process scaffold, complemented by KSA for competency specification, Situational Leadership for adaptive guidance, and KPIs for monitoring and governance. The framework structures AI-supported coaching across 10 interrelated phases, from contextual anchoring to review and measurement, while preserving iterative re-entry to earlier phases whenever review evidence, contextual change, or insufficient progress makes adjustment necessary. Prototyping demonstrated feasibility and coherence across models, while the focus group provided qualitative expert feedback on the framework’s clarity, governance needs, and perceived usefulness for competence development. At this stage, however, the KPI structures generated by the framework and the descriptive comparison across AI tools should be interpreted as prototype-level outputs rather than as empirically validated performance measures or evidence of added value over baseline approaches. Because the evaluation relied on two fictional prototyping scenarios and a small expert-oriented focus group (n = 6), the findings should be interpreted as evidence of prototype demonstration and qualitative refinement rather than of real-world effectiveness or organizational impact. The study also does not include a control group or comparison with traditional human coaching, so the added value of the AI-supported framework over alternative coaching arrangements remains a question for future empirical testing. Findings suggest that AI can usefully support organizational coaching by personalizing dialogue, structuring reflection, and generating auditable development artefacts, provided ethical safeguards and human oversight remain integral. The research contributes a preliminarily validated, ethics-informed, and governance-aware framework for AI adoption in organizational coaching and offers practical insights for embedding AI-enabled development in learning organizations. Full article

The cement industry is one of the most energy- and emission-intensive sectors and plays a crucial role in achieving climate neutrality and sustainability objectives. This study examines waste management practices in cement production within the framework of the circular economy and low-carbon transition, with particular emphasis on Polish cement plants operating under EU environmental regulations. Particular attention is given to the use of waste as alternative fuels and secondary raw materials, as well as to the economic and environmental implications of EU climate policy instruments. The research methodology includes an analysis of key emission sources such as clinker production, fuel combustion, and raw material transport and an evaluation of technological and organizational measures aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions. The empirical analysis is based primarily on operational observations from selected Polish cement plants operating under EU ETS conditions and combines plant-level operational evidence with comparative sectoral data and scenario-based techno-economic assessments related to selected low-carbon technologies. The results suggest that increasing the use of waste-derived fuels and materials may contribute to emission reduction, lower reliance on non-renewable resources, and improved circularity in cement production systems operating under advanced regulatory conditions. Furthermore, the findings highlight the potential for synergies between environmental performance and economic competitiveness. The study underscores the importance of coherent regulatory frameworks and continued investment in low-emission and circular technologies to ensure the long-term sustainability and viability of the cement industry. Full article