Businesses

With global leadership as the new norm, discussion about followers’ preferred leader behaviors across cultures is growing in significance. This study proposes a comprehensive predictive model to explore significant preferred leadership factors, drawn from the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire (LBDQXII), across cultures using automated machine learning (AML). We offer a robust empirical measurement of culturally contingent leader behavior and entrepreneurship behaviors and provide a tool for assessing the cultural predictors of preferred leader behavior to minimize predictive errors, explore patterns in the data and make predictions in an empirically robust way. Hence, our approach fills a gap in the literature relating to applications of AML in leadership studies and contributes a novel empirical method to better predict leadership preferences. Cultural indicators from Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior (GLOBE) predict the likelihood of the preferred leader behaviors of “Role Assumption”, “Production Emphasis” and “Initiation of Structure”. Hofstede’s Long-Term/Short-Term Orientation is the most critical predictor of preferences for “Tolerance of Uncertainty” and “Initiation of Structure”, whereas the value of restraint impacts the likelihood of preferring leaders with skills in “Integration” and “Consideration”. Significant entrepreneurial values indicators have a significant impact on preferences for leaders focused on “Initiation of Structure”, “Production Emphasis” and “Predictive Accuracy”. Findings also support earlier studies that reveal age and gender significantly impact our preferences for specific leader behaviors. We discuss and offer conclusions to support our findings that foster development of global business managers and practitioners. Full article

Big Data (BD) has emerged as a pivotal tool for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering substantial benefits in enhancing business performance and growth. This review investigates the impact of BD on SMEs, specifically focusing on business improvement, economic performance, and revenue growth. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the drivers and barriers of BD adoption in SMEs and assess its overall impact on operational efficiency and business outcomes. A comprehensive systematic review of 93 research papers published between 2014 and 2024 was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. The methodology included detailed analysis of research approaches, addressing biases and gaps in the literature. BD adoption in SMEs led to significant improvements in operational efficiency, revenue generation, and competitiveness. However, the studies reveal persistent challenges, such as limited financial resources and technical expertise. The review identified a reporting bias, with 47% of studies using quantitative methods, 28% employing case studies, and mixed-method and qualitative studies underrepresented (22% and 17%, respectively). This imbalance highlights a potential overreliance on quantitative approaches, which may limit the depth of insights gained. While BD offers considerable potential for driving innovation and enhancing competitiveness in SMEs, addressing the current methodological biases and resource-related barriers is crucial to fully harness its benefits. Future research should focus on diverse approaches to provide a holistic understanding of BD’s impact on SMEs. Full article

Social norms can affect food consumption. Although social media could be used to disseminate such norms, there is limited experimental research on the subject. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of socially endorsed social media food posts, in the form of Instagram likes, on participants’ eating behavior of wheat food products. The survey was conducted in sensory booths where 149 participants were assigned to one of three conditions viewing three types of images: traditional Greek foods, modern foods, and home decoration as control. However, only one type was socially endorsed with likes. Participants self-reported on a series of questionnaires and were offered traditional Greek rusks (paximathia) and modern crackers as a snack reward during break time on two separate dishes. The hypothesis was that those who had paid attention to socially endorsed images of traditional foods would prefer to consumer Greek rusks, whereas those having paid attention to socially endorsed modern foods would opt for the crackers. Using the ANCOVA model, there was not identified any significant effect of condition on rusk or cracker consumption in grams after controlling the covariates. The results propose that exposure to socially endorsed images with Instagram likes, as a form of social media norm, do not incite people to consume more of either traditional rusks or modern crackers. Full article

The coronavirus crisis hit both the world and national economies hard. By using a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach and microlevel data from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS2020) on a representative sample of 6437 Norwegian firms comprising a set of COVID-19-related questions, this paper explores the role of firms’ innovation capabilities and strategic agility in times of crises. Our main hypothesis is that these two concepts are interrelated. More specifically, this paper investigates the ‘push’ and ‘pull’-mechanisms of the pandemic on firms’ innovation strategies, as well as which firms were most agile, adapted quickly, introduced innovation due to the COVID-19 crisis rapidly and became more effective with respect to their pre-crisis innovation capabilities. The results indicate that both mechanisms were active during the coronavirus crisis, and most of the firms carried out strategic reactions and changed their business operations on along-term basis. However, the results for innovation output and efficiency improvements vary significantly. “Process developers”, “active R&D doers” and “radical innovators” (the firms that are persistent innovators with the highest score on performing in-house R&D continuously and on innovating in the pre-crisis period) are found to be most agile during the pandemic. They had both introduced innovation and improved their efficiency in quick response to COVID-19. However, firms with low innovation capabilities demonstrated poorer performance during the crisis. These results imply that pre-existing innovation capabilities are important for firms’ strategic flexibility during crises and their ability to respond to changes quickly and efficiently. Full article

The escalation of climate-induced disasters underscores how climatic variability has become a main question in designing risk-sensitive policies in advanced and developing countries. The macroeconomic implications of Natural Hazards (NHs) are extremely significant, as they can compromise financial stability and long-term prosperity. To mitigate risks and close the knowledge, protection, and development gaps can free resources, speeding up reconstruction of infrastructure, recovering from disruption of supply chains, and returning to pre-disaster levels of activities. This is not a simple task involving different steps of a “ladder approach”, sharing the burden of cost and responsibilities across the relevant stakeholders and reducing moral hazard. This approach rests on Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and technological R&D public investments able to crowd private ones in and establish useful Public–Private Insurance Schemes enhancing the disaster risk management role of the state. This paper proposes leveraging innovation technology both to enhance risk assessment and reduce uncertainty for climate-related NHs such as landslides. It is an important interdisciplinary question; in fact, despite the unequivocal acknowledgment of the global warming system, the precise ramifications of global warming and associated climatic shifts on NHs like landslides remain still elusive. The advanced modeling technique implemented by our interdisciplinary PPP contributes to geographically circumscribe the areas eventually subjected to landslides and constantly monitor the vulnerability of their structures, infrastructures, economic activities, and hence population. The reliable data that we can produce through remote sensing acquisition systems are necessary inputs to contain risk exposure both physically and financially. Full article

We used three different databases that cover different years from 2006 through 2023 that provide different insights into the associations of firm features with their E, S, and G scores, as well as the composite ESG score. We find that large market capitalization firms are associated with higher ESG and environmental scores as well as with ESG-related strengths. These associations likely stem from the increased scrutiny and expectations from investors, regulators, and the public for large-cap firms. However, we find that changes in ESG scores have no significant associations with changes in basic firm characteristics—market cap, growth options, or profitability. That is, changes in ESG scores over time do not seem to significantly enhance or alter these basic features of a firm. Full article

Olive oil, a staple of the Mediterranean diet, encounters substantial commercial obstacles in Spain and other olive oil-producing nations. Historically, these obstacles have been examined from a consumer demand standpoint, focusing on aspects such as quality enhancement, pricing issues, and consumer awareness deficiencies. This study shifts the focus to the supply-side perspective, providing novel insights into the factors affecting the marketing and sale of olive oil. To investigate these factors, a comprehensive consultation with an expert panel consisting of industry leaders from olive oil mills was conducted. These experts evaluated 13 critical factors identified through a literature review and their practical experience. The findings from this panel offer immediate practical applications, emphasizing the importance of marketing strategies, professionalization, internationalization, and the utilization of social networks and e-commerce in driving olive oil sales. The implications of these findings suggest that companies must restructure to become more professional and market-oriented to navigate and surmount the traditional commercial barriers in the olive oil industry. Overall, this research enhances our understanding of the supply-side dynamics influencing the marketing and sale of olive oil in the Spanish context and beyond. Full article

This study examines the transformative changes in the wine industry of Southern Europe over recent decades, focusing on one of Spain’s oldest Protected Designations of Origin (PDO), Montilla–Moriles. The region faced severe challenges during the second wave of globalization at the beginning of the 21st century. According to the 1999 Strategic Plan for this PDO, far-reaching strategic actions were needed; 25 years later, however, fewer than half of the original companies remain. To understand this complex issue, a qualitative analysis was conducted using case studies and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders in the sector. The paper presents several success stories featuring companies with strong dynamic capabilities: Bodegas Robles, Lagar de la Salud, and Tonelería del Sur–Casknolia. These companies were selected for their notable growth, contrary to the general industry trend, their diverse strategies, and their role in revitalizing the Montilla–Moriles wine market. Their success is attributed to a blend of traditional expertise, innovation, sustainability, and strategic internationalization. The findings of this study reveal that despite the industry’s challenges, innovative initiatives can thrive by leveraging global market opportunities. Full article

This study examines the adaptation of the Uppsala Model to enhance the management of European Union (EU)-funded projects, particularly focusing on the macro- and micro-foundational elements of the model. The Uppsala Model, originally developed for firm-level internationalization, provides a valuable framework for addressing the complex challenges of EU project implementation, which include bureaucratic hurdles, diverse stakeholder management, and the intricacies of European integration. This paper highlights the persistent issues faced by project managers despite improved application processes and skilled beneficiaries. By applying the Uppsala Model, which emphasizes incremental knowledge development and resource commitment, this study aims to bridge the gap between fund acquisition and project delivery. The integration of both macro- (broad external factors) and micro- (individual and organizational behaviors) perspectives of the Uppsala Model offers a comprehensive approach to managing international, multi-stakeholder EU initiatives. This approach is exemplified through the SuMaNu project, which addresses nutrient recycling and sustainable manure management in the Baltic Sea Region. The findings suggest that the Uppsala Model’s principles can be effectively applied to enhance the execution of complex EU projects by fostering better stakeholder relationships, incremental learning, and adaptive strategies. This study underscores the relevance of experiential learning and network perspectives in achieving successful project outcomes in the EU context. Full article

Workplace cyberbullying, exacerbated by the growing prevalence of digital work environments, has emerged as a significant threat to employee well-being and organisational productivity. Despite increasing research attention around the world, there is a critical gap in understanding the unique context and implications of cyberbullying within African workplaces, particularly those operating in digital spaces. This bibliometric analysis, utilising Scopus and Web of Science databases, systematically examines the publications on workplace cyberbullying from 2000 to 2024 using Microsoft Excel and visualisation tools such as VOS Viewer. The findings underscore a stark disparity in research focus, with most studies originating from developed countries and neglecting African organisations’ specific challenges. Although South Africa and Ghana have made initial contributions, a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence, manifestations, and consequences of cyberbullying in diverse African cultural and organisational settings in Africa remains elusive. This study serves as a call to action for researchers and practitioners to prioritise investigations into cyberbullying in Africa, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive interventions and policies tailored to digital work environments. By addressing this research gap, organisations can promote healthier and more sustainable workplaces for employees across Africa. Full article

As digital content increasingly moves away from free access, microtransactions may provide an alternative. There is a need for research on microtransactions as a general digital content payment mechanism. Businesses can capitalize on this technological advancement by expanding their paid digital content offerings without resorting to subscription-based services. This study examines a taxonomy for microtransactions based on consumer buying behavior, presents business models for microtransaction payment processing, and examines issues with its implementation. Data collected from 180 consumers were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative analyses to assess the receptiveness and perception of microtransactions. The results indicate that consumers are receptive to the concept of microtransactions and are willing to spend on five distinct digital content categories. This study concludes with a discussion of issues that consumers foresee with digital content microtransactions and implications for interested businesses. Full article

While artificial intelligence has successful and innovative applications in common medicine, could its application facilitate research on rare diseases? This study explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in orphan drug research, focusing on how AI can address three major barriers: high financial risk, development complexity, and low trialability. This paper begins with an overview of orphan drug development and AI applications, defining key concepts and providing a background on the regulatory framework of and AI’s role in medical research. Next, it examines how AI can lower financial risks by streamlining drug discovery and development processes, analyzing complex data, and predicting outcomes to improve our understanding of rare diseases. This study then explores how AI can enhance clinical trials through simulations and virtual trials, compensating for the limited patient populations available for rare disease research. Finally, it discusses the broader implications of integrating AI in orphan drug development, emphasizing the potential for AI to accelerate drug discovery and improve treatment success rates, and highlights the need for ongoing innovation and regulatory support to maximize the benefits of AI-driven research in healthcare. Based on those results, we discuss the implications for traditional and AI-powered business in the drug industry. Full article

Organizations need high performance from their employees to achieve their goals, provide specialized services and products, and ultimately secure a competitive edge. Performance is also a source of satisfaction for employees, as it creates feelings of mastery and pride. Different leadership styles positively influence both employee performance and organizational excellence; thus, the present study aimed to analyze the relationship between a novel leadership style based on attachment theory, secure base leadership, and job performance (i.e., task and conceptual performance and counterproductive work behaviors). Additionally, a passive-avoidant leadership relationship with performance dimensions is analyzed. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling with self-reported data from 422 Spanish employees, the results show that secure base leadership is positively related to task and contextual performance, while it is negatively related to counterproductive work behaviors. The opposite pattern is found for passive-avoidant leadership (except for the link between passive-avoidant leadership and contextual performance, which is not significant). The promotion of secure base leadership within organizations allows for the cultivation of a supportive environment that favors work behaviors that are aligned with organizational objectives, and since leadership can be trained, these results are relevant for practitioners in organizations. Full article

This study examines the scope and determinants of serial entrepreneurship among employer firms of Latino-owned businesses (LOBs) in the USA. The primary data are derived from the 2023 Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative nationally representative survey of 5102 LOBs and Latino entrepreneurs. The scope of Latino serial entrepreneurship—entrepreneurs who have started more than one business—reveals approximately 30% of Latino entrepreneurs have started two or more enterprises. The determinants of serial entrepreneurship are derived from entrepreneur demographics, utilizing binomial logistic regression to predict the odds of Latino serial entrepreneurship. Findings suggest Latino serial entrepreneurs are more likely to be male, native US-born, identify less as Latino, reside in the Midwest and South, possess high levels of education, and are of Mexican descent. Full article

Green human resource management (GHRM) has become an indispensable strategy in green management. As the first step of GHRM, green recruitment and selection (GRS) has been emphasised as the important and probably the only practice to help the firm obtain green human capital directly. However, research has shown that not many firms implement GRS in practice, and there is a lack of studies exploring the barriers to GRS. This study fills this gap by examining the barriers to GRS across different industries in China. It adopted a qualitative and inductive approach, which is relatively rare in the GHRM field. Based on interviews with senior managers, a number of barriers were revealed in relation to the two components of GRS: paperless recruitment and green candidates. More specifically, two new factors that have not been reported in the existing literature were identified: the alignment between the job profile, green practices, and profit orientation. These two factors have both theoretical and practical implications. Full article

In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased in the field of workplace well-being. This study systematically reviews the most common applications of AI in this context, covering literature published between 2018 and 2023, and evaluates both its current and potential impact. The research involved a comprehensive search in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, following PRISMA guidelines, resulting in 31 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The qualitative synthesis reveals that AI is being utilized in areas such as mental health monitoring, emotional support, personalized well-being programs, identification of psychosocial risk factors, and training and development. This review contributes to the existing literature by offering a detailed categorization of AI applications in workplace well-being, and it highlights the practical utility of AI in enhancing employee mental health and overall well-being. The findings suggest that AI has the potential to revolutionize the management of workplace well-being, providing actionable insights for both researchers and practitioners. Recommendations for future research are also discussed. Full article

This pilot study investigates the contributions of an airport service provider from Romania specializing in ground handling, operations, and passenger services towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognizing the critical role of service providers in the aviation ecosystem, this research focuses on how operational practices can be optimized to support sustainability objectives. It also reveals how businesses can leverage achievements and internal policies that would fit under, and support, SDGs. The study covers the operations of an airport service provider at several airports across the country. Through a series of qualitative questionnaires and interviews with employees, the research identifies best practices and challenges in aligning airport services with the SDGs. The study underscores the importance of collaboration between service providers, airport authorities, and regulatory bodies to achieve sustainable outcomes. By providing practical recommendations and a framework for sustainable operations, this pilot study aims to guide airport service providers in contributing to the global sustainability agenda, demonstrating the potential for meaningful impact in the aviation sector. Full article

Inglehart developed a theory examining the changes of values in post-industrial societies from materialist towards post-materialist views. Inglehart contended that the rise of post-materialism helps explain the rise of environmentalism since the 1960s. Through a 2022 survey targeting individual utility customers, we employed Inglehart’s post-materialist index examining the impact of environmental behavior and other attributes. This study considers demographic profiling for material and post-materialist views in light of recent social movements and inflationary pressures. We observed that materialists, predominately Asians and Whites, tend to be older, are homeowners, are either married or widowed, and have lived in their homes the longest. Post-materialists were also found to be young, partnered, politically liberal, and least likely to be Asian. While investigated, environmental behavior was not explained by any of the demographic characteristics. We suggest research assessing any value shifts pertaining to attitudes and behaviors towards environmental behavior. Future research should obtain a more representative minority-group sample. Full article

This paper aims to explore differences between the perception of dark traits in formal leaders and levels of workplace stress among employees working in family and non-family businesses. Furthermore, we assess if the company nature (family-owned versus non-family-owned) moderates the relationship between the employees’ perception of dark triad traits in their formal leaders and their workplace stress levels. The empirical evidence is provided by a sample of 220 Portuguese employees who responded to a questionnaire that included their perceptions of their formal leaders’ dark triad traits and workplace stress measures. All respondents are employed in small and medium-sized private companies, holding no management responsibilities and under formal hierarchical supervision. The initial ideas that family firms’ employees perceive higher levels of dark triad traits in their formal leaders than non-family firms’ employees and that they also show higher levels of workplace stress than non-family firms’ employees were confirmed. The results also support the notion that higher perceptions of dark triad traits in formal leaders are related with higher levels of workplace stress of employees and that the company nature significantly moderates this relationship. These findings enhance the research literature by addressing two often overlooked aspects in the comparison between family and non-family firms. Additionally, they provide valuable insights into the relationship between dark triad traits in formal leaders and employee workplace stress levels. Full article