Issue #2 (Volume 24 2026)

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Organizational justice, a critical aspect of organizational behavior, significantly influences employees’ behavior, including job satisfaction and job performance. This study investigates the impact of organizational justice (specifically procedural, distributive, and interactional justice) on social loafing, with the moderating effect of organizational ethical culture on the relationship between organizational justice and social loafing. To achieve the study’s objectives, a quantitative research method utilizing a structured questionnaire was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. Of the 750 questionnaires distributed to employees of five-star hotels in Amman City, Jordan, 527 were returned, yielding a 70% response rate. As predicted, the results of the main hypothesis (β = 0.827, t = 26.21, p < 0.01) indicate that organizational justice has a statistically significant impact on reducing social loafing. The three dimensions of organizational justice also showed significant impact in reducing social loafing: procedural justice (β = 0.315, t = 4.371, p < 0.000), distributive justice (β = 0.321, t = 5.751, p < 0.000), and interactional justice (β = 0.268, t = 5.426, p < 0.000). Regarding the moderating effect, the hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrates that organizational ethical culture moderates the relationship between organizational justice and social loafing behavior. These results confirm that organizational justice is critical to enhancing employees’ self-efficacy; more specifically, procedural justice, which encompasses the processes and methods used in decision-making, conflict resolution, and resource allocation, is of paramount importance.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines how perceived organizational support for the environment and green transformational leadership encourage green employee behavior, and whether environmental self-identity strengthens these two influences among employees of 4-star hotels on the island of Sulawesi (North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, and Gorontalo), Indonesia. To address the gap in the implementation of sustainability practices at the operational level, the survey was conducted among 379 employees (>2 years of service). The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM (SmartPLS 4) by bootstrapping. The results showed that perceived organizational support for the environment had a positive and significant effect on green employee behavior (β = 0.298; t = 6.520; p = 0.000), and green transformational leadership had a positive and significant effect on green employee behavior (β = 0.299; t = 6.585; p = 0.000). Environmental self-identity had the strongest direct influence on green employee behavior (β = 0.413; t = 9.538; p = 0.000). The moderation test confirmed that environmental self-identity strengthened the relationship between perceived organizational support for the environment and green employee behavior (β = 0.176; t = 4.147; p = 0.000) and between green transformational leadership and green employee behavior (β = 0.140; t = 4.340; p = 0.000). This suggests that the “green signal” from organizations and leaders is most effective when aligned with employees’ environmental identity. Based on social exchange and social identity theories, these findings affirm the importance of strengthening organizational support, developing green leadership, and building environmental self-identity to maintain green employee behavior across work units.

Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge BPI (the Indonesian Education Scholarship), PPAPT (the Center for Higher Education Funding and Assessment), and LPDP (the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education) for awarding the scholarship and supporting this research under No. 00077/BPPT/BPI.06/9/2023.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Digital transformation is central to customs modernization, yet empirical evidence on how regulatory digitization translates into employees’ job proficiency through capability-building remains limited in Peru. This study aims to test the relationships among digital customs regulations, digital transformation, professional competencies, and job proficiency in Peruvian customs agencies, including the mediating role of professional competencies, using PLS-SEM. A quantitative explanatory–predictive, cross-sectional design was applied. Data were collected via a five-point online survey of 104 employees in Peruvian customs agencies (Lima–Callao) in October–November 2025, recruited through WhatsApp-based convenience/snowball sampling. The model was estimated in ADANCO 2.4.1 with a two-stage approach for the higher-order digital transformation construct and bootstrap inference. Digital customs regulations strongly predicted digital transformation (β = 0.872, p < 0.001) and generated a sizeable total indirect effect on job proficiency (β = 0.757, p < 0.001). Digital transformation increased professional competencies (β = 0.853, p < 0.001) and had a direct effect on job proficiency (β = 0.464, p = 0.026), while professional competencies also enhanced job proficiency (β = 0.473, p = 0.023). Mediation was supported for the pathway digital transformation → competencies → job proficiency (β_ind = 0.403, p = 0.034), yielding a total digital transformation effect of β = 0.867. Explanatory power was high (R²: DT = 0.761; competencies = 0.725; job proficiency = 0.814; SRMR = 0.041). The findings indicate that regulatory-driven digitization improves work proficiency primarily when accompanied by systematic competency development, highlighting training and institutional enablers as priorities in customs reform.

Acknowledgments
A la Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas por el apoyo brindado para la realización de este trabajo de investigación a través del incentivo UPC-EXPOST-2026-1. [We would like to thank the Research Directorate of the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas for their support in carrying out this research through the UPC-EXPOST-2026-1 grant.]

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines whether participation in targeted higher education courses is associated with differences in perceived social integration among refugees. Using survey data from 255 Ukrainian refugees in Norway (93 program participants and 162 non-participants), the study applies one-way ANOVA to compare value orientations, perceived well-being, and integration barriers and facilitators across groups. The findings indicate that participants report significantly higher levels of well-being and more positive assessments of education-related integration supports compared to non-participants. Differences in civic value priorities, including freedom, human rights, and equality, are positive but not consistently statistically significant, while dignity remains uniformly high across both groups. The results suggest that participation in structured higher education courses enhances refugees’ perceptions of professional development opportunities and future prospects. The expanding access to higher education and reducing institutional barriers may enhance long-term integration outcomes beyond immediate labor market activation. Overall, the study highlights the role of higher education institutions as institutional contributors to integration and suggests that educational initiatives can complement traditional language-based integration policies.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Recent global disruptions have substantially reshaped organizational environments and labor markets, including the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid diffusion of publicly accessible artificial intelligence technologies, accelerated digitalization of organizational processes and remote work, and geopolitical instability such as Russian-Ukrainian war. This study aims to map and analyze the structure of research on human resource management (HRM) transformation in the context of global economic and technological challenges. The analysis is based on bibliometric methods applied to WoS-indexed publications from 2020 to 2025, using keyword co-occurrence analysis, thematic clustering, and network visualization techniques. The dataset includes 1,248 scientific publications and 4,317 author keywords, indicating a rapid expansion of research on HRM transformation during the analyzed period. Five major thematic clusters were identified, with the largest cluster related to digital HRM, artificial intelligence, and algorithmic management, accounting for approximately 28% of publications. Research on sustainable and green HRM is the second-largest thematic area (21%), reflecting the growing importance of environmental and ESG-related organizational strategies. Studies on employee well-being, remote work, and crisis-driven HRM adaptation account for about 18% of the literature, highlighting the long-term organizational consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results also reveal emerging yet underdeveloped research directions in AI-driven HR analytics, the ethical aspects of algorithmic decision-making, and HRM responses to geopolitical and economic instability. The findings demonstrate that contemporary HRM research is increasingly shaped by digital transformation, sustainability pressures, and global systemic crises, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches to understanding HRM adaptation in rapidly changing environments.

Acknowledgment
This paper was supported by the Agency for Research and Development Support based on the contract no. APVV-VV-MVP-24-0299 entitled “New trends in human resource management in the context of global challenges of the 21st century”.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Microenterprises are crucial for economic development, but face resource shortages and market pressures that make sustainable business performance difficult. The present study seeks to investigate the effect of self-development on micro-enterprise performance in a sustainable manner mediated by necessity-driven entrepreneurship, opportunity-driven entrepreneurship, and innovative work behavior. Data were collected via a quantitative cross-sectional survey among 365 food and beverage micro-entrepreneurs in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia, followed by data analysis through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). SEmpirical findings show that self-development results in a high positive effect on opportunity-driven entrepreneurship (β = 0.675, p < 0.001), whereas the effect on necessity-driven enterprise has been lower than others (β = 0.269, p < 0.001) as well as on innovative work behavior (β = 0.379, p < 0.001). Results show that opportunity-driven entrepreneurship is an important positive predictor of both innovative work behavior (β = 0.394, p < 0.001) and sustainable business performance (β = 0.317, p < 0.001), respectively. Innovative work behavior proved to be the most significant predictor of sustainable business performance (β = 0.518, p < 0.001). However, necessity-driven entrepreneurship does not show a significant influence on innovative work behavior and contributes significantly less to sustainable performance (β = 0.067, p = 0.032). Mediation analysis indicates that opportunity-driven entrepreneurship and innovative work behavior mediate the impact of self-development on sustainable business performance together. Our findings validated the idea that self-development improves sustainable microenterprise performance primarily through being oriented toward motivating opportunities and innovative work behavior.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Research and Community Service Institute of Universitas Mercu Buana for providing research funding support, which has contributed significantly to the successful completion of this study and the preparation of this article.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The study examines the nexus between environmental tax revenues, renewable energy adoption, transport research and development expenditure, and green growth across EU-27 countries from 2000 to 2024. The study addresses the critical gap in understanding how fiscal environmental instruments and technological innovation in transport sectors contribute to sustainable development outcomes. Using panel data analysis, the paper employs cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) and method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) models to analyze both short-run and long-run relationships while accounting for cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. Results reveal that environmental tax revenues positively influence green growth with a long-run elasticity of 0.358, indicating that a 1% increase in environmental taxes enhances adjusted net savings by 0.358%. Renewable energy adoption demonstrates a stronger positive effect with an elasticity of 0.531 in the long run, while transport R&D expenditure exhibits a coefficient of 0.289, suggesting significant contributions to sustainable outcomes. The MMQR analysis demonstrates heterogeneous effects across quantiles, with stronger impacts observed at higher green growth levels. Cross-sectional dependency tests confirm significant spatial spillover effects among EU member states. The findings provide empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of coordinated environmental fiscal policies and targeted innovation investments in transport sectors.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the roles of knowledge management and digital marketing in improving the perfor-mance of local food home industries (LFHIs), which are crucial to strengthening regional food security and community in-comes in the Indonesian archipelago. However, LFHI performance remains hampered by limited digital adoption and integration of knowledge. The analysis was conducted in Maluku Province, particularly Central Maluku Regency, Tual City, and Southeast Maluku Regency. A total of 101 entrepreneurs in Central Maluku, 336 in Southeast Maluku, and 336 in Tual City were identified. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS-SEM. The coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.523, indicating that collaboration networks, marketing capacity, consumer satisfaction, digital marketing, and knowledge management explain 52.3% of the variation in LFHI performance. In comparison, factors outside the model influence the remaining 47.7%. Model fit was confirmed by NFI = 0.852 and SRMR = 0.078, indicating an acceptable fit. The t-statistic results suggest that collaboration networks significantly influence digital marketing and knowledge management, whereas consumer satisfaction has no significant effect on either. Both digital marketing and knowledge management significantly enhance LFHI performance, whereas marketing capacity significantly influences digital marketing but not knowledge management. The results indicate that locally embedded collaboration and knowledge-sharing practices drive digital transformation. The study provides a practical development model to strengthen food-based MSMEs in archipelagic regions.

Acknowledgment
We want to express our gratitude to the DPPM Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology for providing research funding to support our research activities in 2025, as outlined in contract No. 096/C3/DT.05.00/PL/2025, dated May 28, 2025.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines how innovation and sustainability influence the recovery of Jordan’s tourism and hotel sector, and whether their combined effect accelerates recovery beyond separate contributions. Annual data for 2010–2024 are compiled from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the World Bank World Development Indicators, the Jordan Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Global Innovation Index, and the Environmental Performance Index. A recovery index tracks sector performance relative to the 2019 baseline, while conditions are controlled using gross domestic product per capita, inflation, and exchange rate stability. Fixed-effects regression results indicate that innovation is positively associated with recovery (coefficient 0.41, probability value 0.001), and sustainability is positive and statistically significant (coefficient 0.34, probability value 0.032). The interaction between innovation and sustainability is positive and statistically significant (coefficient 0.48, probability value 0.009), showing complementarity: innovation yields larger recovery gains when sustainability performance is stronger. Exchange rate stability supports recovery (coefficient 0.19, probability value 0.021), and the model explains variation in outcomes (adjusted coefficient of determination 0.72). Robustness checks with alternative specifications confirm stable coefficient signs and significance. The findings support policy packages that align innovation investment with sustainability improvements to strengthen resilience and speed recovery in Jordan for long-term competitiveness.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The freelance economy opens new ways for direct interaction between freelancers and customers without intermediaries. This study aims to systematize the forms of the freelance economy in the context of Industry 5.0. A structured review methodology focusing on technological progress and human-centric solutions of the freelance economy is used. Freelancing and Industry 5.0 are closely intertwined and complement each other, forming new economic models and work processes. Their relationship lies in the combination of technological development and human creativity, which allows for the formation of efficient and flexible economic structures. Personalization and customization of consumption within Industry 5.0 promote the freelancing (individualization) of the production sphere, building a win-win strategy both for consumers and producers. Freelancing economy focuses on information processing of work, enables remote communications, promotes creativity of work, provides opportunities for the synergistic combination of human cognitive abilities with AI, ensures the development of personalization and customization of consumption, and contributes to the social development of workers. The structure of the forms of the freelance economy is characterized by the integration of decentralized financial systems, the use of artificial intelligence and blockchain, and the transition to new forms of labor organization based on global digital platforms and self-regulated organizations. One of the key barriers to the freelance economy is the lack of legal regulation of cryptocurrencies and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), as well as the associated cybersecurity risks. To summarize, the significance lies in creating a more adaptive, flexible, and decentralized labor market that meets the challenges of today’s digital world.

Acknowledgments
This research was funded by a grant “Fundamental grounds for Ukraine’s transition to a digital economy based on the implementation of Industries 3.0; 4.0; 5.0” (No. 0124U000576) and “Digital transformations to ensure civil protection and post-war economic recovery in the face of environmental and social challenges” (No. 0124U000549). 

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The study examines how parallel imports affect company efficiency and consumer satisfaction in Kazakhstan amid shifting global supply chains and trade restrictions. It assesses their impact on business expectations and consumer perceptions by identifying price asymmetries, risks, and cost optimization effects linked to intermediary shipments. A quantitative survey was conducted using purposive sampling of legally registered firms involved in the sourcing and distributing branded goods (n = 50) and urban consumers who regularly purchase such products (n = 51), ensuring respondents’ direct exposure to the relevant market mechanisms. The results confirm significant price asymmetry: consumers tend to perceive domestic prices as inflated, while firms only partially realize cost optimization opportunities through alternative supply channels. Specifically, 80.4% of consumers believe branded goods are more expensive domestically than abroad, whereas 70% of firms report negative economic effects from intermediary-based sourcing. The findings also reveal a substantial risk-reality gap. While 90.2% of consumers report encountering counterfeit goods, only 25% of firms identify counterfeiting as a primary risk. At the same time, evidence of proportional convergence between firm-level cost optimization (55%) and consumer price-oriented purchasing behavior (54.9%) suggests partial cost-price transmission under the current restrictive trademark regime.
This study provides recommendations for improving government policy on trademark regulation and parallel imports, as well as for refining companies’ pricing strategies. The identified price asymmetry and discrepancies in perceived counterfeit risks underscore the need to strengthen consumer protection and optimize supply chains.

Acknowledgments
This research is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP23489368).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
In emerging economies, youth unemployment and limited entrepreneurial education remain persistent challenges for higher education institutions. This study aims to examine how the dimensions of design thinking (empathy, creativity, and problem-solving) influence the development of entrepreneurial competencies among university students in Peru. A structured questionnaire was administered to 385 undergraduates enrolled in business programs at two private universities in Metropolitan Lima between August and November 2024. Business undergraduates were selected because they represent the segment most actively involved in university-based entrepreneurial initiatives in Peru. Data were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) to assess the structural relationships between design thinking dimensions and entrepreneurial competencies. The results reveal strong and statistically significant associations across all constructs. Problem-solving exerted the strongest effect on willingness to innovate (β = 0.42), followed by entrepreneurial motivation (β = 0.37) and creativity (β = 0.33). Empathy demonstrated positive effects on motivation (β = 0.35) and resilience (β = 0.28), with all coefficients significant at p < .001. Model fit indicators confirmed robust adequacy (CFI = 0.94; GFI = 0.92; NFI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.06). These findings indicate that design thinking strengthens the cognitive and behavioral foundations of entrepreneurial performance, particularly adaptability, creative ideation, and user-centered problem-solving. Integrating this human-centered iterative methodology into higher education represents an effective strategy for enhancing students’ innovation capacity and resilience. The study advances theory by empirically validating design thinking as a pedagogical mechanism for entrepreneurship education, and advances practice by offering evidence-based guidance for universities operating in emerging economies.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
As the global economy increasingly emphasizes sustainable development, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies face growing pressure to integrate environmental responsibility with long-term business performance. This study aims to examine how environmental leadership and corporate social responsibility contribute to sustainable success in women-owned SMEs through the roles of green innovation and green competitive advantage. The paper analyzes survey data collected from 536 female business leaders in Vietnam using partial least squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The results reveal that environmental leadership and corporate social responsibility do not exert a direct influence on sustainable success (p > 0.05). Instead, their effects operate through a full serial mediation mechanism in which corporate social responsibility stimulates green innovation, which subsequently strengthens green competitive advantage and ultimately enhances sustainable success. The structural model explains 52.1% of the variance in sustainable success. In addition, market orientation significantly strengthens the relationship between green competitive advantage and sustainable success (β = 0.176, p < 0.001). Configurational analysis further identifies two alternative strategic pathways leading to high sustainable success, both highlighting the central role of green innovation and green competitive advantage. These findings demonstrate that ethical leadership values must be transformed into concrete green capabilities to generate sustainable competitive performance in resource-constrained environments.

Acknowledgment
This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 504.05-2023.05.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Digital transformation has emerged as a key driver of structural change in labor markets worldwide, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 shock. In the European Union, the pandemic particularly accelerated the adoption of digital technologies and remote work across economic activities. This study estimates the causal effect of the digitalization potential of economic activity (proxied by a binary classification into highly and less digitalized groups based on telework feasibility and digital intensity) on three labor market indicators: employment, hourly wages, and remote work. Using the COVID-19 shock as a quasi-natural experiment within a difference-in-differences (DiD) framework, the empirical analysis draws on quarterly panel data for a consistent sample of 27 EU Member States (excluding the United Kingdom) over 2018–2024 (N = 36,685). The results indicate that higher sectoral digitalization potential (telework feasibility and digital intensity) does not significantly affect aggregate employment levels, as evidenced by a near-zero DiD coefficient (0.06, p ≈ 0.98). In contrast, it has a statistically significant positive effect on wages, with a DiD coefficient of 0.52 €/hour (p < 0.001), corresponding to an increase of approximately 4.6% in the wage gap between highly and less digitalized activities. The strongest effect is found for remote work: the DiD estimate is 40.74 percentage points (p < 0.001). Remote work rose from 17.6% to 82.1% in highly digitalized sectors, compared with only 1.3% to 6.6% in less digitalized economic activities.

Acknowledgment
This article was prepared within the framework of the research project “Modelling the impact of economic digitalisation on public health in Ukraine in the context of preserving human capital” (State Registration No. 0126U001085).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The innovative development of Ukraine’s regions requires advanced assessment approaches that account for regional specificities and ensure the effective use of existing potential. This study aims to evaluate the level of innovative development of Ukrainian regions under current socio-economic and wartime challenges. Innovative development is conceptualized as a process of transforming regional economic systems through the generation and implementation of new knowledge, technologies, and managerial solutions, ensuring both qualitative and quantitative changes, sustainable development, post-war recovery, improved resource efficiency, and enhanced competitiveness. The methodological framework is based on a comprehensive multi-stage analytical model for determining an integral indicator. The approach involves a system of input indicators reflecting innovation activity in wartime conditions, followed by correlation analysis to detect multicollinearity among variables. To increase analytical accuracy, regions are clustered by their contribution to gross value added using the interval multiplicity method. The results showed that the Integral Innovation Index of Ukraine for 2018–2024 was characterized by unstable dynamics, a significant decrease in 2022 (0.608), and the absence of a trend. This indicates the sensitivity of innovative development to adverse transformational factors, particularly the challenges posed by war. However, despite the significant deterioration in the value of the Integral Innovation Index during the period of the beginning of large-scale war operations on the territory of Ukraine, the situation improved in the following period (2023 – 0.840, 2024 – 0.952).

Acknowledgments
This research is carried out within the framework of the ERASMUS+ SUSTED project “Education for sustainable development: synergy of competencies for the recovery of Ukraine” (Project number: 101178414). The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Growing stakeholder expectations regarding ethical employment and sustainability have increased academic interest in socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) as a mechanism influencing employee behavior and organizational outcomes. This study performs a bibliometric analysis of 112 English-language publications indexed in the Scopus database from 1998 to 2025, using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer to assess publication performance, citation patterns, geographical distribution, and thematic relationships. The results show significant growth in SRHRM research since 2016, with publication output peaking in 2024, confirming SRHRM as a distinct research stream. Six key thematic clusters are identified. Sustainable and responsible HRM practices and employee citizenship outcomes cluster focuses on how HRM practices influence behaviors like organizational citizenship. Employee attitudes, ethical leadership, and workplace behavior cluster examines ethical leadership’s role in shaping employee attitudes. CSR-oriented HRM systems and organizational performance cluster explores CSR-driven HRM systems and their impact on performance and employee outcomes. Strategic sustainability, work engagement, and person–organization fit cluster investigates sustainability-oriented HR strategies and employee engagement. Leadership, organizational culture, and workforce context cluster explore how leadership and culture influence SRHRM practices. Responsible leadership in emerging economy contexts cluster focuses on leadership in emerging economies, especially Vietnam. The findings demonstrate increasing integration of SRHRM with sustainability and ESG perspectives, reflecting the global, interdisciplinary nature of this research. These results highlight the growing strategic importance of responsible HRM practices in shaping employee attitudes and provide a foundation for advancing future research in sustainable HRM.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The growing dominance of services in global trade raises the question of whether employment structure and labor market participation shape countries’ ability to compete in international service markets, particularly in financial and insurance services. This study examines how the service-sector employment structure and labor market participation affect trade in services, with particular attention to insurance and financial services exports, across countries at different income levels. Using an unbalanced panel of 159 countries from 2010 to 2023, the study analyzes two dimensions of service trade: total trade in services as a share of GDP and insurance and financial services as a share of service exports. The results reveal that total service exports increase with higher labor participation (β = 0.0157, p < 0.001), but decrease as the service employment share rises (β = –0.0048, p < 0.05). GDP per capita and FDI are positive drivers (β = 0.217; β = 0.013), whereas the rule of law is negatively associated (β = –0.211). In insurance and financial services, labor participation reduces specialization (β = –0.0059, p < 0.001), and service employment is only weakly positive (β = 0.0027, p ≈ 0.07). Income-group results show heterogeneity: service employment is strongly negative and FDI positive in low and lower-middle income economies (x1 β = –0.015/–0.019; x5 up to β = 0.039), whereas service employment becomes positive in high-income countries (β = 0.022, p < 0.05); here, higher income and participation reduce the relative weight of financial services (β = –0.212; β = –0.0109).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, employment generation, and regional competitiveness in emerging economies such as Indonesia. Yet, they face increasing pressure to enhance innovation and performance amid dynamic market and sustainability demands. This study investigates the impact of supply chain management, corporate social responsibility, and intellectual capital on performance mediated by innovation. Data were collected through an online survey conducted in 2025 involving 453 SME owners across Indonesia and analyzed using a quantitative approach with structural equation modeling (SEM) through Smart PLS 4.0. The results demonstrate that supply chain management (t-statistic = 8.83, p = 0.004), corporate social responsibility (t-statistic = 5.15, p = 0.000), and intellectual capital (t-statistic = 5.64, p = 0.000) exert significant positive effects on innovation. Furthermore, SME performance is strongly influenced by supply chain management (t-statistic = 9.04, p = 0.000), directly affecting innovation. However, corporate social responsibility (t-statistic = 8.83, p = 0.004) and intellectual capital (t-statistic = 1.80, p = 0.070) do not affect innovation. Additionally, innovation partially mediates the relationship between supply chain management (t-statistic = 2.14, p = 0.030), corporate social responsibility (t-statistic = 2.14, p = 0.030), and intellectual capital (t-statistic = 2.36, p = 0.010) to performance. These findings highlight innovation as a critical transformational mechanism that converts strategic and intangible organizational resources into measurable performance gains within the SME context.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The rapid digitalization of logistics and transport sectors under the Industry 4.0 paradigm has reshaped operational models, workforce requirements, and managerial decision-making. Understanding how professionals perceive these technological changes and what competencies they prioritize is vital for effective adaptation. This study aims to assess the level of Industry 4.0 awareness and identify key training needs among logistics and transport professionals. A quantitative survey was conducted in Vilnius, Lithuania, in January 2025 with 172 respondents from logistics (56%) and transport (44%) sectors. The survey covered four thematic areas: demographic profile, perception of Industry 4.0 components, perceived benefits and barriers, and training priorities. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results show that 58.2% of respondents view Industry 4.0 as an integrated ecosystem of technologies, with software (13.9%) and Internet technologies (11.1%) most often cited as individual elements. Key training priorities include cybersecurity (80%), augmented/virtual reality (75%), and 3D printing (72.1%). High maintenance costs (26.4%) and implementation complexity (16.7%) were identified as the main obstacles to adoption. The findings show that although professionals recognize the transformative potential of Industry 4.0, significant skill and resource gaps persist. Closer collaboration between academia, policymakers, and industry is needed to address these gaps and prepare the workforce for a human-centered transition toward Industry 5.0.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The widening development gap between well-governed and poorly governed nations – highlighted by the reversal since 2020 of two decades of human development convergence – underscores the need to understand which specific governance capabilities drive development and how. This study aims to estimate the effect of government leadership and foresight on national development and to identify the institutional channels through which this effect is transmitted. Drawing on the Chandler Good Government Index merged with World Bank and UNDP indicators, the analysis employs pooled OLS with year fixed effects, mediation analysis with bootstrap inference, and a comprehensive set of robustness tests on an unbalanced panel of 120 countries over 2021–2025. Leadership and foresight are positively and significantly associated with GDP per capita, life expectancy, and the Human Development Index (β = 4.049, p < 0.01 for ln GDP per capita; a one-standard-deviation increase corresponds to a 79% increase in GDP). The mediation analysis – the study’s central contribution – reveals that 152.1% of the total effect is transmitted indirectly through other governance capabilities, principally robust laws (157.4%), strong institutions (137.6%), and attractive marketplace (133.4%), while the direct residual effect is negative (β = −2.110, p < 0.01), indicating a “vision–capacity gap.” The effect is significant only in high-income economies (β = 1.506, p < 0.01) and absent in lower-income contexts. These findings demonstrate that leadership functions as a meta-governance capability whose developmental impact is channeled through, rather than independent of, the broader institutional architecture.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The increasing emphasis on educational quality in higher vocational colleges has highlighted the importance of teachers’ professional development and competence. This study aims to investigate the effect of incentives on teachers’ competence, with professional identity serving as a mediator and self-efficacy as a moderator variable. A total of 497 Fu Dao Yuan Chinese university teachers filled out the online questionnaires from July 1 to August 31, 2025. The participants are active and have more than 1 year of teaching experience. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine research hypotheses. The incentive system has a positive effect on teachers’ professional identity and competence. Furthermore, incentives positively affect professional competence both directly and indirectly in relation to professional identity. Moreover, self-efficacy plays an inevitable role as a moderator in the relationship among the incentive system, teachers’ professional identity, and competence. The results provide evidence of the beneficial effect of incentives in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the education system, particularly teachers’ competence. The findings demonstrated that both economic and social values can significantly enhance teachers’ professional competence. Furthermore, the university should offer teacher career development and continuous professional development opportunities to support school growth and improve working conditions by providing essential office resources and logistical support.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines the effects of adaptive management and ambidextrous leadership on sustainable business performance. It addresses a growing managerial challenge: sustaining organizational performance amid technological disruption, intensifying competition, and structural transformation in emerging markets. The survey targeted senior and middle managers who are directly involved in strategic and operational decision-making, ensuring the relevance of responses to leadership and performance outcomes. Data were collected from 208 managerial-level respondents in Indonesian telecommunications companies between January and March 2025. The study applies partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed research model. The results indicate that both adaptive management and ambidextrous leadership have positive and significant effects on sustainable business performance. However, ambidextrous leadership demonstrates a stronger effect (β = 0.637, t = 6.384) than adaptive management (β = 0.285, t = 2.512), with the model explaining 64.2% of the variance in sustainable business performance. These findings provide empirical evidence that leadership ambidexterity plays a dominant role in sustaining business performance in turbulent and dynamic environments. The study contributes to the literature by extending ambidexterity and adaptive management perspectives within the context of the telecommunications industry in an emerging market and offers practical insights for managers seeking to enhance sustainable business performance through adaptive and balanced leadership practices.

Acknowledgment
We would like to acknowledge Telkom University and Bina Nusantara university for providing the opportunity to conduct this analysis. We also acknowledge the APJII and Mastel associations for their willingness to participate as respondents and facilitate this research.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Inclusive governance has attracted growing scholarly attention as both a normative principle and a practical approach. This paper aims to conduct a bibliometric and science-mapping analysis of the academic literature on inclusive governance and related concepts. The analysis is based on 1,990 documents indexed in the Scopus database, covering the available period from 1976 to 2025. Data processing and analysis were conducted using the Bibliometrix package in R. The results reveal a pronounced growth trajectory of inclusive governance research, with a sharp acceleration after 2013 and particularly strong expansion in the post-2020 period. Citation dynamics highlight the enduring influence of foundational works on participatory and democratic governance, alongside the rising prominence of sustainability-oriented and decision-making frameworks. Keyword co-occurrence and thematic mapping identify a strong conceptual core centered on participatory governance and governance approaches, complemented by more specialized human- and community-centered themes. A domain-based thematic analysis further demonstrates that inclusive governance is conceptualized differently across research areas. Public governance emphasizes participation and normative sustainability principles, environmental governance focuses on resource management and issue-specific challenges, while economic and organizational governance integrates institutional, innovation-driven, and stakeholder-oriented perspectives. The findings confirm inclusive governance as a conceptually plural yet increasingly coherent research field, while also pointing to persistent gaps in geographical representation and contextual diversity, and offering directions for future research and policy-oriented inquiry.

Acknowledgments
This research has been funded by the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. BR27100377).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
In Lebanese SMEs, characterized by the dominance of informal networks and weak organizational structures, a lack of clarity stemming from ambiguous roles and processes creates a gap in understanding among stakeholders. This situation is significant for the entrepreneurial process, which depends on recognizing and seizing opportunities, as it hampers decision-making. This paper analyzes the influence of four dimensions of entrepreneurial process on the effectiveness of decision-making, drawing on evidence from SMEs in North Lebanon. A deductive quantitative approach was adopted, based on a questionnaire administered to SME managers and executives. Data were collected using a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 310 respondents. The results show that the effect of network transformation is the strongest on decision-making effectiveness (β = 0.836, p < 0.001), followed by adaptive recombination (β = 0.103) and value conversion (β = 0.124). Relational reproduction has a small but significant negative effect on decision-making effectiveness (β = –0.038, p = 0.005).
Entrepreneurial process dimensions affect decision-making in Lebanese SMEs, with network transformation being the most influential, urging managers to expand beyond traditional relationships. Adaptive recombination and value conversion boost agility by reconfiguring resources. Results demonstrate the entrepreneur’s ability to transform opportunities into operational value and support effective decision-making. The negative impact of relational reproduction warns against over-relying on closed networks. This study encourages Lebanese SMEs to be more adaptive and reflective in managing networks and resources, emphasizing openness and flexibility. A proactive entrepreneurial mindset is critical for adapting resources and creating value through strategic decision-making.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Within the framework of digital transformation, the growing interaction between citizens and local self-government institutions during urban development has become a pressing topic in the international scientific community. The purpose of this study is to perform a bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on the public administration of urban development during digital transformation. The study covers the period from 2005 to April 2025 and is based on 1,388 articles chosen from the Scopus database. The results obtained using VOSviewer show that since 2015, the rate of scientific publication has accelerated, indicating a substantial increase in interest in this area among researchers. Regarding the distribution of countries, the results emphasize the prominent position of developed countries. Although the USA (187) occupies the leading position in terms of the number of publications, China (161) and Italy (119) have shown wider collaboration networks in international research. Moreover, scientific collaboration among European Union countries is at a high level. Analysis of the keyword network shows that the topic of “smart city” has the highest level of connectivity and is one of the most relevant research directions in the field of urban governance during digital transformation. The results show that improving data-driven governance and the relationship between citizens and local government can contribute to the development of effective urban strategies and enhance public trust in local government. The results provide a general overview of research on digital transformation in urban governance and its main research directions.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
In the age of the knowledge economy, intellectual capital has become a key factor in the success of business organizations, especially in emerging countries. This study examines the relevance of intangible assets to firm development in Jordan’s industrial sector. The paper attempts to estimate the effect of intellectual capital on the growth of Jordanian industrial firms under the Value-Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC) model. The study used panel data on 64 industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange for the period 2014–2023. Intellectual capital efficiency is measured as VAIC and the components of intellectual capital efficiency (human, structural, and capital employed efficiencies). A panel regression model (fixed-effects, selected by the Hausman test) is estimated, and apart from the independent variable, firm size and liquidity are controlled. The study found a significant positive effect of intellectual capital efficiency on firm growth; that is, firms with a higher VAIC tend to have a higher annual growth. Quantitatively, every 1-point increase in VAIC is estimated to be associated with an increase in entity growth (on average) of several percentage points each year. Amongst the VAIC components, human capital efficiency stands out as the best contributor to growth (p < 0.01), whereas efficiency of the structural and capital employed contributes weakly and has statistically insignificant effects. The results confirm that boosting intellectual resources is the driving force behind superior growth for industrial firms. This emphasizes the need to invest in developing human capital and knowledge assets to maintain corporate growth in the Jordanian industrial sector.

Acknowledgment
This research was funded through the annual funding track by the Deanship of Scientific Research, from the vice presidency for graduate studies and scientific research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Grant No. KFU262433]. 

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Ensuring entrepreneurial stability of the business environment constitutes an important objective of public administration, particularly relevant amid global political and economic instability and exposure to external shocks, especially for minimizing the risks of financial distress and preventing corporate bankruptcy. The study aims to assess the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) as a percentage of GDP and the level of entrepreneurial stability as a prerequisite for reducing bankruptcy intensity and ensuring the sustainable functioning of enterprises. Correlation and regression analyses are applied for the 2016–2023 data across 15 EU countries selected according to the criterion of data availability. The results reveal the association between FDI (% of GDP) and a composite indicator of entrepreneurial stability, which indirectly reflects the resilience of enterprises to bankruptcy and crisis phenomena. A cross-country differentiation allows for the classification of four groups: countries with a strong negative association (Germany, France, Latvia, Lithuania), a strong positive association (the Netherlands, Romania), a medium level of association (Estonia, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus), and a weak relationship (Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Norway). Using the ARDL model, both short-term and lagged effects between FDI and entrepreneurial stability have been identified, as well as their impact on financial resilience and the reduction of bankruptcy probability over time. The regression models enable the assessment of the impact of FDI on business stability, forecasting bankruptcy risks, and supporting managerial decision-making to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and enhance economic security.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Leadership style and managerial capability remain critical yet understudied factors influencing strategy execution in local governments. This quantitative study examines how paternalistic, transactional, and transformational leadership shape managerial capability and strategy execution, and whether managerial capability mediates these relationships. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 382 civil servants (ASN) across 10 regencies, cities, and the provincial government in North Maluku, and analyzed using PLS-SEM. The statistical results show that all three leadership styles significantly enhance managerial capability, with paternalistic (β = 0.291), transactional (β = 0.283), and transformational (β = 0.282) leadership demonstrating positive effects (p < 0.05). Paternalistic and transformational leadership also positively influence strategy execution, whereas transactional leadership shows no significant direct effect (β = –0.004, p = 0.473). Managerial capability significantly improves strategy execution and serves as a meaningful mediator, supported by indirect path coefficients ranging from β = 0.109 to 0.112 (p < 0.05). These findings reinforce the role of managerial capability as a strategic public-sector resource within the RBV framework. Practically, the results highlight the importance of leadership development programs that integrate paternalistic and transformational behaviors, supported by selective transactional practices, to strengthen managerial capability and improve strategy implementation in local governments.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the socio-economic and demographic factors of intra-regional inequality in Kazakhstan and their implications for cluster-based innovation in healthcare. A hybrid approach has been used, consisting of a systematic review of 181 publications using the PRISMA 2020 protocol and econometric analysis of the 2001–2024 panel data for the districts of Kazakhstan, consisting of 3,842 observations. Fixed-effects, cluster-robust, and hierarchical mixed-effects models were employed using standardized variables of population size, fertility, mortality, migration, criminality, and investments. The results reveal that the strongest and most robust predictor of intra-regional inequality in Kazakhstan is investment in fixed capital (β = 0.466, p < 0.01; β = 0.399, p < 0.01). Population size has consistently negative effects on intra-regional inequality in Kazakhstan (β = –0.240 to –0.256, p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). In the multilevel model, fertility increases intra-regional inequality in Kazakhstan (β = 0.114, p < 0.01), whereas mortality and net migration decrease it (β = –0.150 and β = –0.037, p < 0.01). The model explained 37.1% of the variance in intra-regional inequality in Kazakhstan (R2 = 0.371). The results suggest that without balanced investment and territorially differentiated policies, cluster-based innovation in healthcare can even reinforce rather than alleviate regional disparities.

Acknowledgment
This paper was carried out within the framework of the following grant projects funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan: IRN AP26198345 “Reducing socio-economic inequality in the regions of Kazakhstan through investment in and improvement of the organization ofthe healthcare system”.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Green E-commerce Index (ECGI) represents an important policy-oriented framework that encourages enterprises to align their online business practices with environmental sustainability goals. In developing countries such as Vietnam, ECGI (proposed by WWF-Vietnam in 2024) is a newly introduced set of criteria; consequently, empirical evidence on its feasibility and adoption remains limited. This study aims to examine the factors influencing managers’ attitudes and their intention to adopt ECGI within online business enterprises in Vietnam. Data were collected through a perception-based survey of 860 managers working in firms engaged in e-commerce activities from the second to the fourth quarter of 2025. The research model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of implementation, facilitating conditions, and existing e-commerce legal regulations have significant positive effects on the intention to adopt ECGI, both directly and indirectly through managerial attitude. Among these determinants, legal regulations exert the strongest influence. In contrast, performance expectancy and social influence do not show statistically significant effects. Additionally, corporate reputation, governmental support, and managerial attitude directly and positively affect adoption intention, while firm size does not play a significant moderating role. Overall, this study provides empirical support for institutional and regulatory theories, emphasizing their foundational role in guiding the adoption of green e-commerce criteria in developing economies and promoting sustainable development.

Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the Editor-in-Chief and a reviewer for their helpful comments that in our view have helped to improve the quality of the manuscript significantly. Besides, this study is the result of collaboration between researchers from the University of Law, Hue University, and School of Business and Economics, Duy Tan University. The authors would like to thank both institutions for their support and facilitation in the publication of this research.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines the effect of work–family conflict on entrepreneurial orientation among women entrepreneurs in Bali, with entrepreneurial burnout as a mediator and resilience as a moderator. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted in the second quarter of 2025 among 242 married women entrepreneurs managing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Bali Province, Indonesia. Married women were specifically selected as the target population because they simultaneously occupy work and family roles, making them more likely to experience work–family conflict as a salient contextual demand. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with bootstrapping procedures to test direct, mediating, and moderating effects. Work–family conflict significantly increases entrepreneurial burnout and directly reduces entrepreneurial orientation. Entrepreneurial burnout partially mediates the relationship between work–family conflict and entrepreneurial orientation, indicating that emotional exhaustion serves as a key explanatory mechanism. Furthermore, resilience weakens the positive effect of work–family conflict on burnout, demonstrating its protective role as a psychological resource. The findings suggest that MSME empowerment policies should incorporate resilience-building and role-management interventions alongside financial and technical support to enhance the sustainability of women-owned enterprises. This study extends the JD-R framework to entrepreneurial contexts and positions entrepreneurial burnout as a strategic inhibitor of entrepreneurial orientation. By integrating COR theory, the paper highlights resilience as a buffering resource in gendered entrepreneurship in an emerging economy.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study aims to investigate the relationship between strategic fit and strategic drift in Jordanian pharmaceutical manufacturing and tests whether environmental factors moderate this relationship. Motivated by rising environmental dynamism and uncertainty, the study examines how alignment between internal capabilities and external conditions relates to drift over time. Survey data were collected from 164 senior and middle managers in Jordanian pharmaceutical firms between late November 2024 and late January 2025. The model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that strategic fit has a statistically significant positive effect on strategic drift (β = 0.283, p = 0.001). In addition, environmental factors significantly moderate the fit–drift relationship (β = 0.127, p = 0.007), suggesting that external conditions shape the strength of this linkage. The study contributes empirical evidence on how internal alignment and environmental context jointly influence strategic drift and offers practical implications for strengthening adaptive strategic practices in the pharmaceutical sector.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Digital transformation has become a strategic priority for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), yet its business effects remain uneven because digital adoption does not always translate into sustained organizational gains. This study examines whether digital readiness conditions and technology acceptance beliefs help Indonesian MSMEs convert digitalization into organizational performance and competitiveness through routinized digital technology use. The study uses primary survey data collected in Indonesia between January and June 2025 from 404 MSME owners and managers, and analyzes these data using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that organizational readiness positively influences routinized digital technology use (β = 0.425, p < 0.001), while perceived usefulness is the strongest direct predictor of routinized use (β = 0.807, p < 0.001). Perceived ease of use significantly increases perceived usefulness (β = 0.688, p < 0.001). By contrast, technological readiness (β = 0.051, p = 0.095) and environmental readiness (β = –0.014, p = 0.649) do not have significant direct effects on routinized use. Routinized digital technology use positively affects organizational performance (β = 0.680, p < 0.001) and competitiveness (β = 0.672, p < 0.001), while organizational performance also strengthens competitiveness (β = 0.133, p = 0.023). These findings indicate that MSME digital transformation creates greater business value when digital tools become embedded in recurring work routines rather than remaining at the level of access or initial adoption.

Acknowledgment
This article was funded by the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, through the EQUITY WCU (Enhancing Quality Education for International University Recognition – World Class University) program, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, administered by Universitas Terbuka. We also thank all participating MSME respondents for their time and insights. Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant institutional committee, and all participants provided informed consent. We gratefully acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025 version) to support language refinement and grammar improvement during manuscript preparation. The tool was used exclusively for copy-editing to enhance linguistic clarity and readability. No part of the research design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of results, or substantive content was generated by AI. We take full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the work. 

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines the influence of fraud awareness, person-organization fit, perceived behavioral control, and Jawara culture on whistleblowing intentions regarding fraudulent procurement of goods and services. The sample of this study includes members of the Selection Working Group (Pokja) for the Procurement of Goods and Services at the Regency/City level in Banten Province. Data collection was carried out by distributing questionnaires, either directly or online, from March to May 2025, using the saturated sampling method, resulting in 101 valid responses. The hypotheses were validated using PLS-SEM. The findings showed that fraud awareness (β = 0.531, p = 0.000), person-organization fit (β = 0.259, p = 0.000), perceived behavioral control (β = 0.265, p = 0.007), and Jawara culture (β = 0.228, p = 0.000) positively influenced whistleblowing intentions. Internal factors in the form of fraud awareness, person-organization fit, and perceived behavioral control, in addition to external factors in the form of Jawara culture, positively affect whistleblowing intentions. This paper offers substantial insights into accounting, especially in dealing with whistleblowing intentions regarding fraudulent procurement of goods and services in government organizations of Indonesia. This study implies that local governments need to intensify comprehensive fraud awareness training programs, socialize the organization’s vision and mission, and socialize the whistleblowing system to all civil servants. The government can leverage the distinctive values of Jawara culture to encourage whistleblowing among civil servants who handle the procurement of goods and services.

Acknowledgments
Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Industrial value chains in emerging economies require integrated organizational capabilities to sustain adaptability and applied knowledge under technological and structural change. This study examines the structural relationships among dynamic resources, employee centricity, integrated knowledge, and practical knowledge management and tests a work-applied dynamic resource management framework within Thailand’s industrial value chain.
A quantitative research design employing structural equation modeling was used, based on data collected from 600 executives and business owners across industrial sectors in Thailand. The results showed that the final model fit the empirical data well, with CMIN-p = 0.089, CMIN/DF = 1.118, GFI = 0.962, and RMSEA = 0.014. All hypothesized relationships were statistically significant at p < 0.001. Dynamic resources significantly influenced employee centricity and practical knowledge management, while employee centricity strongly reinforced integrated knowledge, representing the strongest structural path in the model (β = 0.93). The model explained substantial variance in employee centricity, integrated knowledge, and practical knowledge management (R² = 0.80, 0.86, and 0.93, respectively). New S-Curve industries also exhibited the highest overall dynamic resource management construct levels, reflecting stronger adaptive and knowledge-integrative orientations.
The findings indicate that organizational adaptability in industrial value chains is strengthened when adaptive resources, employee-centered governance, and integrated knowledge processes are aligned within a coherent capability structure.

Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the participation of 600 executives from Thai industrial enterprises whose contributions made this research possible. The authors also thank the academic and industry experts for their valuable insights and constructive feedback, which helped improve the rigor and quality of the study.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Work engagement among nurses is a critical determinant of healthcare quality and patient safety. However, the psychological mechanism through which job resources foster nurses’ work engagement in non-Western healthcare contexts remains insufficiently understood. This study aims to examine the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between job crafting, perceived supervisor support, and work engagement among nurses in a hospital setting. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and May 2025 using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on 279 valid responses (84.3% response rate) collected from four private hospitals. The results supported that job crafting has a significant positive effect on work engagement (β = 0.633, p < 0.001) and job satisfaction (β = 0.187, p = 0.003). Furthermore, perceived supervisor support significantly influences job satisfaction (β = 0.542, p < 0.001) but does not have a significant direct effect on work engagement (β = 0.016, p = 0.787). Mediation analysis reveals that job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between job crafting and work engagement (β = 0.037, p = 0.038). Further, job satisfaction was found to fully mediate the relationship between perceived supervisor support and work engagement (β = 0.106, p = 0.002). These findings highlight the pivotal role of job satisfaction as a psychological mechanism linking job resources and proactive behaviors to nurses’ work engagement in hospital settings.

Acknowledgment
This work was supported by the Research Institute and Community Development of Universitas Andalas under Grant (121/UN16.19/PT.01.03/PMDSU/2025).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Export upgrading has become a pressing concern for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies. Digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) are often presented as fast-track solutions. Yet evidence on whether these technologies actually improve export performance remains inconclusive. In many industries, technology adoption does not automatically translate into stronger foreign market outcomes, especially where internal capabilities differ substantially.
The purpose of this study is to examine how digital transformation, AI adoption, innovation activity, labor productivity, and foreign direct investment (FDI) relate to SME export performance in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector over the period 2015–2023. Using industry-level panel data (63 observations) and pooled OLS and fixed-effects estimations, the analysis evaluates both internal capability factors and external structural influences.
The results reveal a clear pattern. Innovation is positively associated with export performance (β = 45.61, p < 0.01), and labor productivity exerts a significant positive effect (β = 24.57, p < 0.05). By contrast, digital transformation, AI adoption, and FDI do not display statistically significant direct effects in the baseline specification. The explanatory power of the model remains substantial (R² between 0.642 and 0.701), suggesting that capability-related factors account for a meaningful share of export variation across industries.
Taken together, the findings indicate that technology adoption alone is insufficient. In practice, SMEs cannot simply invest in digital tools and expect immediate export gains. Sustained innovation efforts and productivity-enhancing routines appear to be the more decisive foundations of export competitiveness.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Strategic planning is a driver of leaders’ performance in today’s turbulent and demanding environment, yet the relative importance of soft versus hard skills within it remains insufficiently researched. This study aims to test how gender, age, and cultural context influence the distribution of soft and hard skills in strategic planning and managers’ goal attainment. Utilizing a behavioral outcome measure (high performance), we analyzed a sample of 1,468 managers from Kazakhstan (n = 694) and Hungary (n = 774), who participated in the scientifically grounded AI business simulation. A two-step analytical approach, involving PLS-SEM and logistic regression, was implemented in Python. The results demonstrate that soft skills are the dominant driver of high performance, with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 3.44, indicating they are 2.5 times more effective than hard skills. Leaders’ age exerted a negligible effect on their performance (OR = 1.02, p = 0.728). The overall sample showed no gender differences, but the country-specific analysis revealed a moderated mediation pattern where the link between gender and soft skills varies by country (p = 0.018). Managers in Kazakhstan exhibited slightly higher average softskill scores than their counterparts in Hungary (p = 0.014). Despite cultural differences, the model demonstrated consistent predictive utility in both settings, with an overall accuracy of 72.9% in Kazakhstan and 72.4% in Hungary. The designed competency model is highly stable and cross-culturally valid for predicting managerial performance. Thus, managerial excellence is driven by competencies that are largely independent of demographic characteristics across different cultural settings.

Acknowledgment
This research has been funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP22687001) within the project titled “Designing a Conceptual Model of Managers’ Leadership Competencies in Kazakhstan through the Gender Potential Prism”.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines how 4Cs capabilities, namely critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration, contribute to incremental innovation through the mediating role of knowledge co-creation in resource-constrained manufacturing SMEs. Data were collected from 179 key informants, including owners, executives, engineers, and technicians, targeting manufacturing SMEs in Thailand between May and June 2025 using a structured questionnaire survey. These respondents were selected because they are directly involved in operational and innovation-related activities in their firms. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that all four 4Cs capabilities have statistically significant positive effects on incremental innovation: critical thinking (β = 0.194, p < 0.01), creativity (β = 0.255, p < 0.01), communication (β = 0.183, p < 0.05), and collaboration (β = 0.157, p < 0.01). All four capabilities also positively influence knowledge co-creation, which in turn significantly affects incremental innovation (β = 0.257, p < 0.01). The findings further indicate partial mediation, suggesting that learning-oriented capabilities contribute to innovation both directly and through knowledge co-creation. These findings indicate that incremental innovation in resource-constrained manufacturing SMEs depends not only on the presence of learning-oriented capabilities but also on how these capabilities are integrated through knowledge sharing, integration, and application processes. Knowledge co-creation therefore functions as a central mechanism through which existing capabilities are translated into innovation outcomes.

Acknowledgment
This research was supported by Prince of Songkla University (Grant No. LAM6802035S).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Environmental reporting and corporate governance are considered focal points for corporate reputation and competitive advantage in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) context. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of CEO attributes on corporate environmental performance using strong, balanced data from 90 listed firms in the Gulf Cooperation Council from 2018 to 2023. A fixed effects model and two-stage least squares were used to detect endogeneity and assess the robustness of our estimated model. The empirical results reveal that female leaders and CEO duality adversely affect environmental performance. In contrast, CEO experience positively impacts environmental initiatives, while CEO education and long tenure are not statistically significant. The findings also conclude that large firms are more likely to engage in environmental activities, while profitable firms are more likely to exacerbate corporate environmental issues. This study contributes to the extent literature by providing empirical evidence from developing countries and demonstrating the strategic role of CEO qualities in shaping the environmental pillar of sustainable development through mitigating risks of CEOs’ entrenchment and strengthening board oversight and corporate decisions regarding ESG performance. The insights can benefit regulators and policymakers to optimize their future sustainable development and to undertake environmentally responsible action.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
In the context of Kazakhstan’s resource-based economy, the issue of developing export-oriented production and its diversification is becoming particularly relevant. This paper examines the macroeconomic factors determining export-oriented production in Kazakhstan. The study uses an econometric model to analyze the dynamics of export growth over time. Empirical results show positive coefficients for terms of trade (0.676, p < 0.01) and socio-economic development (0.001, p < 0.01), as well as a negative coefficient for the indicator determining the share of the manufacturing industry in GDP (–0.598, p < 0.01). In addition, foreign direct investment has not demonstrated a statistically significant relationship with export volumes. The results show that Kazakhstan’s export structure remains relatively concentrated, with a significant share of exports associated with mineral resources and energy products, making export performance sensitive to external market conditions. The results obtained emphasize the need to strengthen industrial, export, and investment policies, as well as stimulate the production of high-value-added products and increase the country’s technological potential to achieve sustainable export growth, which are priorities for Kazakhstan’s long-term economic development.

Acknowledgments
This study is supported by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan – AP26198229 Mechanisms for the development of export-oriented production: modern approaches and directions of implementation.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Cloud computing has become an important infrastructure for digital transformation, yet its adoption remains uneven among education-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in developing countries. This study examines how technological factors influence cloud computing adoption among education-oriented SMEs, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of organizational technology readiness. A structured online questionnaire survey was conducted with 117 legally registered education-oriented SMEs in Vietnam, including private training centers, EdTech firms, private schools, corporate training providers, and other private education service providers. These firms were selected because they directly provide educational or training services and represent key private-sector users or prospective users of cloud-based solutions. Data were collected from August to October 2025 from one designated key informant in each firm and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The model explains 59.2% of the variance in organizational technology readiness and 57.5% of the variance in cloud computing adoption. Experience with technology positively affects readiness (β = 0.300, t = 4.236, p < 0.001) and adoption (β = 0.366, t = 5.040, p < 0.001), whereas perceived privacy and security risk negatively affect readiness (β = –0.407, t = 7.342, p < 0.001) and adoption (β = –0.318, t = 4.999, p < 0.001). Technology compatibility and technology knowledge influence adoption indirectly through organizational technology readiness. The findings indicate that readiness is a key organizational mechanism through which technological conditions are translated into cloud adoption decisions in education-oriented SMEs.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Performance management in public policing institutions remains a critical issue, particularly in developing countries characterized by hierarchical bureaucracies and formalized career systems. While previous studies have examined human capital and organizational factors separately, limited research has integrated these dimensions within a mediated–moderated framework. This study investigates the effects of training and development, self-efficacy, and career adaptability on police performance, with career development as a mediator and perceived organizational support as a moderator.
A census survey was conducted among 325 police officers in Aceh, Indonesia, and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (SmartPLS 4). The results show that training and development and self-efficacy significantly enhance both career development and police performance. Career development has a significant positive effect on performance and mediates the relationships between training and development, self-efficacy, and performance. In contrast, career adaptability does not significantly influence career development or performance, nor does it exert a significant indirect effect through career development. Furthermore, perceived organizational support negatively moderates the relationship between career development and performance, indicating that higher levels of support weaken the positive influence of career development on performance.
The findings suggest that police performance is strengthened through investments in human capital and psychological resources supported by structured career systems. However, career adaptability appears to play a limited role in highly formalized policing environments. The study contributes to public management literature by highlighting the context-dependent role of career adaptability and the conditional influence of organizational support on police performance.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The healthcare sector in Lithuania faces high employee turnover, burnout, and low organizational commitment, which are often exacerbated by ineffective leadership. This study aimed to assess the influence of managerial leadership styles on employees’ organizational commitment in the Lithuanian healthcare sector. A quantitative survey was conducted among 422 healthcare professionals using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), the primary measurement tool of the Full Range Leadership Model developed by Avolio and Bass, and Meyer and Allen’s Organizational Commitment Questionnaire. The results revealed that laissez-faire leadership was the dominant style, followed by transactional and transformational styles. Organizational commitment among employees was generally below average, with affective commitment being the most prominent dimension. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that all three leadership styles were positively associated with organizational commitment; however, the strongest predictive effect was found for transformational leadership, while laissez-faire leadership also demonstrated a statistically significant positive influence, particularly on affective commitment. This finding diverges from conventional expectations within the Full Range Leadership Model and is interpreted as context-specific. The impact of transactional leadership was positive but not statistically significant. These findings suggest that in a context where professionals are highly autonomous and qualified, leadership that fosters independence can enhance emotional commitment. However, overreliance on passive leadership may risk long-term engagement. The study emphasizes the importance of adopting a balanced and context-sensitive approach to leadership in healthcare institutions.

Type of the article: Research Article

Tourism has become a key driver of inclusive growth and economic diversification in transition economies, including the Republic of Armenia, making it a priority area of development. This study evaluates the interaction between tourism sector indicators and national macroeconomic performance on GDP. Annual data for 2001–2023 were analyzed using a robust econometric framework that integrates LASSO regression, Granger causality tests, and Vector Autoregression (VAR) modeling. GDP was consistently treated as the dependent variable, while LASSO served only as a variable selection tool to identify the most influential indicators.

The results reveal that economic growth is shaped not only by quantitative expansion but also by qualitative improvements. Hotel infrastructure (β = 3.59, p = 0.011) and the share of tourism in total exports (β = 18.99, p = 0.046) significantly stimulate GDP, while international tourist arrivals show a negligible and slightly negative correlation (–0.000097, p = 0.036), underscoring the limited efficiency of visitor numbers without adequate monetization. Spatial analysis highlights a concentrated market structure, with 82% of revenues concentrated in Yerevan (HHI = 0.70), despite Kotayk’s high specialization index (LQ = 14.1). Regional elasticity estimates indicate that Vayots Dzor (ε ≈ 0.85), Kotayk (ε ≈ 0.67), and Syunik (ε ≈ 0.58) are most sensitive to tourism-driven growth, far above the national average (ε ≈ 0.34).

These findings suggest that Armenia’s tourism-led GDP growth depends on infrastructure modernization, high-value services, and balanced regional development. Policy interventions should prioritize decentralization and large-scale investment over simple visitor growth.

Type of the article: Research Article

This study aims to develop and test an integrated approach to assessing data center (DC) efficiency using multi-criteria analysis (MCA) and to substantiate priority areas of state policy for developing DC infrastructure in Ukraine. The methodological approach is based on reliability, energy efficiency, and market position criteria. Reliability is assessed using the Uptime Institute’s international classification system, with logarithmic normalization of downtime on a fixed-point scale. Energy efficiency is measured by the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) metric. Market position is based on market share measured by financial revenue. The methodology was tested on a sample of 14 Ukrainian DCs. The findings demonstrate substantial variation in the efficiency levels of Ukrainian DCs, with integral scores ranging from 29.60 to 72.50 on a 100-point scale. Based on the proposed classification, two DCs were assigned to the high-efficiency group, one to the medium-efficiency group, and eleven to the basic-efficiency group. Reliability emerged as the dominant determinant of DC efficiency, exerting the strongest influence on final assessment outcomes, while energy efficiency provided an additional but significant contribution to overall performance differentiation. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness and stability of the proposed framework under alternative weighting scenarios. The study identifies key challenges facing the Ukrainian DC sector and proposes a roadmap for 2026–2030 to improve reliability, energy efficiency, and compliance with international standards. The proposed approach can support evidence-based decision-making by public authorities, investors, and infrastructure planners when forming investment budgets and justifying decisions on infrastructure scaling and peripheral network deployment.

Acknowledgment
This article presents the results of a study conducted as part of the scientific project “Formation of structure-forming pillars of Ukraine’s military and post-war economic development” (Phase II). State registration number 0126U001546.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study aims to examine the impact of environmental, social, and governance activities on financial performance, with the moderating role of managerial efficiency, using the data from 19,430 observations across Asian economies during 2004–2023. Ordinary least squares regression has been used for panel data analysis with fixed effects for industry, year, and country. The findings reaffirm the positive influence of environmental, social, and governance performance on financial performance (measured by Tobin’s Q and Return on Equity). All three pillars show a positive relationship with financial performance. Moreover, the study shows that managerial efficiency plays a moderating role in increasing the positive impact of these activities on financial performance. Robustness tests include substituting the dependent variable and conducting regression analyses on sub-samples to compare the impact between developed and developing countries within Asian economies, thereby providing guidance for optimal investment decisions. In general, the study stresses the importance of managerial efficiency as a moderating factor. This is especially true in Asia, where ownership structures are often concentrated, and boards of directors have little independence. These findings provide practical implications for policymakers and firm managers in formulating sustainability strategies to optimize financial performance.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Entrepreneurs in Indonesia’s emerging electric two-wheeler industry struggle to maintain business resilience. This study aims to examine how a company’s organizational resilience can be achieved by focusing on the effects of entrepreneurial orientation and agile leadership, with innovation capabilities serving as a mediating variable. A quantitative approach was employed, and a purposive sampling survey was conducted in November 2025 among 40 managerial-level employees at leading Indonesian electric two-wheeled vehicle companies to capture actual market conditions. Using SmartPLS, the study found that entrepreneurial orientation positively influences innovation capabilities (t-value = 1.964, p-value = 0.050), which, in turn, is positively associated with organizational resilience (t-value = 4.859, p-value = 0.000). However, the association between entrepreneurial orientation and organizational resilience is less significant when mediated by innovation capabilities (t-value = 1.681, p-value = 0.093). Moreover, agile leadership is not significantly associated with either innovation capabilities (t-value = 1.112, p-value = 0.266) or organizational resilience (t-value = 0.818, p-value = 0.413). The study documented leadership types aligned with leaders’ generation characteristics, with a focus on adaptation. This study contributes to theory in two ways: by employing a quantitative approach in a rarely studied context of electric vehicles and by advancing the resource-based theory. Additionally, it offers practical insights for entrepreneurs by focusing on their company’s innovation capabilities to foster resilience. The study is limited by its cross-sectional design; future research should use longitudinal data and additional variables.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Startups in emerging economies face pressures to translate strategic orientations and organizational capabilities into competitive performance amid resource constraints and institutional uncertainty. Despite interest in entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities as performance drivers, how they jointly influence startup performance through capability-conversion mechanisms – and how artificial intelligence (AI) amplifies these effects – remains underexplored. This study examines the mediating role of innovation capability in the entrepreneurial orientation–performance and dynamic capabilities–performance relationships, and the moderating role of AI adoption intensity, within Vietnamese startups. Data were collected from 315 founders, chief executive officers, and senior managers from September to December 2025 and analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results reveal that entrepreneurial orientation exerts a weak direct effect on performance (β = 0.135, p < 0.01) and a significant indirect effect through innovation capability (β = 0.098, p < 0.001), suggesting entrepreneurial orientation operates as a strategic catalyst rather than an immediate performance driver. Dynamic capabilities demonstrate both direct (β = 0.176, p < 0.001) and indirect effects via innovation capability (β = 0.044, p = 0.004), positioning it as a core value-creation engine. AI adoption intensity significantly moderates the entrepreneurial orientation–performance (β = 0.232), innovation capability–performance (β = 0.202), and dynamic capabilities–performance (β = 0.282) relationships, with the strongest amplification observed for dynamic capabilities. The model explains 66.5% of performance variance (R2 = 0.665). These findings advance understanding of capability-conversion logic in emerging-economy startups and offer practical guidance for managers seeking to build competitive advantage through capability development and technology adoption.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in pharmaceutical sales, but evidence remains limited on how AI adoption translates into performance in compliance-sensitive sales contexts. This study aims to examine whether perceived organizational AI adoption is associated with perceived organizational performance in pharmaceutical sales through two parallel pathways: operational efficiency and employee motivation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 335 pharmaceutical sales professionals in China from October 2025 to November 2025. Respondents were recruited through purposive sampling via professional networks, WeChat workgroups, industry forums, and sales-related communities because they had direct experience using AI tools in daily sales-related activities. The sample covered prescription drug sales, OTC/channel sales, hospital/institutional sales, key account/market access roles, and sales or marketing management. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM in SmartPLS 4 with 10,000 bootstrap resamples. The results show that AI adoption is positively associated with perceived organizational performance (β = 0.196, t = 3.383, p = 0.001), operational efficiency (β = 0.459, t = 7.611, p < 0.001), and employee motivation (β = 0.385, t = 6.748, p < 0.001). Operational efficiency (β = 0.212, t = 3.355, p = 0.001) and employee motivation (β = 0.230, t = 3.879, p < 0.001) are positively associated with performance. Mediation tests confirm significant indirect effects through operational efficiency (β = 0.097, p = 0.003) and employee motivation (β = 0.089, p = 0.001), indicating partial mediation. The findings suggest that AI creates performance value when embedded in sales workflows and accompanied by motivational support.