World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

Authors: Abdikadir Ahmed Mohamed

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This study explores how climate variability influences gender roles and labor dynamics in Somalia’s rural agricultural sector. As climate-induced stresses, particularly drought and erratic rainfall, disrupt traditional farming systems, female participation in agricultural labor has intensified, often in informal or subsistence roles. Using annual time series data from 1990 to 2022 and applying the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, this paper estimates the differential impact of climate variables on male and female agricultural labor force participation. The findings indicate that while prolonged droughts decrease overall labor productivity, they increase female labor substitution in crop and livestock tasks. The analysis also highlights the role of remittances and educational access in moderating gender disparities in agricultural resilience. These results underscore the importance of climate-sensitive gender policy in agricultural labor programs and suggest that empowering women through climate adaptation strategies can help stabilize rural livelihoods under worsening environmental conditions.

Keywords: agricultural labor, climate change, gender roles, remittances, rural livelihoods, Somalia

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Authors: Olatundun Janet Adelegan

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This paper is the first to examine how Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) rating has predicted controversies and bad social performance and precipitated negative public reactions and the mid-to-long term associated valuation effects using an extensive International dataset from Thomson Reuters Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) scores, the Thomson Reuters controversies score and the Environmental, social and governance pillars score for 4238 companies from 45 countries from Europe and the United States across 31 industrial sectors for 17 years from 2004 to 2021. Primary analysis shows that ESG ratings predict future controversies and negative public scandals two years ahead of the scandal. To check the sensitivity of the primary results, we further unbundle ESG ratings into the three separate Environmental pillar, social pillar, and governance pillar ratings and explore the impact each of the three Environmental, social, and governance ratings has in predicting future controversies and public media attention. The results show that the Environmental pillar, the social pillar, and the governance pillar ratings strongly predict future scandals two years before scandals and negative media attention for firms in Europe and the United States. Building on this evidence, we unpack the data and conduct sample split analysis by year and growth value. Our results show that the Environmental pillar, social pillar, and governance pillar ratings strongly predict future controversies and public scandals for firms in Europe and the United States from 2014 to 2021. The findings hold for several robustness checks, such as splitting the dataset across time and growth value.

Keywords: ESG scores, ESG controversies, environmental pillar, social pillar, governance pillar

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Authors: Thomson Assanvo, Byung Min Soon

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The present study employs a twofold econometric approach to investigate the substitution dynamics between Arabica and Robusta coffee in five major African exporting countries -Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Côte d'Ivoire. The initial stage of the research involved the estimation of a Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) production function. The purpose behind the CES method was to evaluate the degree of substitutability between the two coffee varieties. The time-series data used before running the substantiality parameters spanned from 1990 to 2024. Concurrently, a vector error correction model (VECM) is employed to identify long-run equilibrium relationships and short-run dynamics between Arabica and Robusta production levels. The CES estimates demonstrate considerable heterogeneity in substitution patterns across countries. In Uganda and Tanzania, a relatively high elasticity indicates greater flexibility in switching between coffee types. By contrast, Kenya exhibits near-complementarity, suggesting structural constraints or market preferences. The VECM results corroborate these findings by demonstrating country-specific adjustment speeds to equilibrium and asymmetric impulse response functions following production shocks. This dual analysis provides a more profound understanding of producer behaviour under differing agro-climatic and market conditions. The findings of this study carry significant policy implications for the implementation of agricultural diversification strategies, the investment in processing infrastructure, and the planning of climate resilience measures. Furthermore, the necessity of customized approaches in contrast to the more universally applicable policies is called for in the African coffee sector.

Keywords: substitution, Arabica and Robusta, CES function, VECM

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Authors: Dayyabu Ahmed, Murtala Muhammad

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This article examines the currency swap agreement between Nigeria and China, aimed at promoting trade and investment between both nations. The agreement allows for the exchange of currencies (Naira and Yuan) without the need for a third-party currency (US Dollar), thereby reducing reliance on the US dollar. We analyze the implications of this agreement on Nigeria's economy, including its potential to enhance economic diversification, reduce foreign exchange pressures, and increase trade volumes. Using a qualitative method, our study reveals that the currency swap agreement has the potential to contribute significantly to Nigeria's economic development, but its success depends on effective implementation and management. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of careful consideration of the agreement's terms and conditions to ensure that Nigeria maximizes its benefits while minimizing potential risks.

Keywords: currency swap, de-dollarization, economic diversification, Nigeria, China, trade, investment.

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Authors: Vivian Cruz, Valentina Galindo, Carlos Medina, Christian Posso, Diego Restrepo, Samuel Suescas

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We study the effect of eliminating prepayment penalties on commercial loans using a highly relevant exogenous regulatory reform implemented in Colombia in 2012–2013. The reform eliminated prepayment penalties for new and existing commercial loans with principal balances below a specific threshold. Using a regression discontinuity design approach and a unique and rich dataset consisting of all commercial loans in Colombia from 2004 to 2016, we find strong evidence indicating (i) a significant increase in commercial loan prepayments, (ii) a significant increase in the interest rates on new loans obtained by commercial borrowers who benefited from the reform, suggesting that the financial sector is offsetting the higher risk implied by eliminating the prepayment penalty, and (iii) a reduction in loan delinquency rates. Although borrowers that benefited from the reform had loan balances comparable to those of other firms, they did repay the loans that existed at the time of the reform much faster and rolled them over to maintain comparable balances.

Keywords: prepayment penalties, banks, commercial loans, loan regulation

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Authors: Faiza Manzoor

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This study investigates the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a mediating factor between organizational culture and consumer contentment. Using partial least squares happiness equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on data from 450 personnel of public sector organizations, the outcomes display that organizational culture significantly affects consumer contentment, while CSR plays a mediating role in this structural relationship. Both organizational culture and CSR have been of growing academic interest. This research is more valuable by specifying empirical indications of their joint influence on consumer well-being, providing practical insights for organizations seeking to advance internal and external inclination.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility, consumer contentment, organizational culture, mediation

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Authors: Joachim Lorenz

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Knowledge transfer (KT) is a well-established research field that can be examined through various themes, streams, and lenses. This biblio-metric study aims to identify the fundamental components of these three areas in KT research by analysing 103 papers from the Web of Science (WoS) using a combined conceptual and intellectual structure analysis in Biblioshiny. The study identified four central themes: per-formance & management, innovation, absorptive capacity (AC), and capabilities. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed strong con-nections between these themes, with the strongest link between man-agement and innovation. Four theoretical streams were identified: the paradox stream, capability stream, AC stream, and IT stream, all rooted in organizational learning theory and knowledge management (KM) theory. The historiographic analysis uncovered four lenses commonly employed in KT research: agent-based, mechanism-based, relational-based, and routine-based lenses. These lenses provide different per-spectives for analysing KT processes at various organizational levels. The study highlights that KT is strongly linked to organizational learn-ing theory and can be viewed as a process that can be empirically analysed within the identified streams and lenses. This research con-tributes to the KT field by facilitating the alignment of knowledge across diverse themes, streams, and lenses, enabling a better under-standing of the KT domain.

Keywords: bibliometric analysis, knowledge management, knowledge transfer, lenses, streams, themes

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Authors: George Joseph

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The rapid advancement of ‘cognitive’ AI is reshaping human-AI dynamics, shifting from human oversight to increasingly independent AI-human collaboration. This requires balanced skill development to bridge workforce capability gaps. LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude and others) and developments in AI, such as Agentic AI, increase workplace dynamics. This evolution raises a central question about the development of theoretical and practical frameworks to guide human-AI collaboration across educational and industrial contexts. To address this, we explore two complementary theoretical perspectives—metacognition and dynamic capabilities (DC) – that together provide a foundation for understanding and optimizing AI-human integration. From a pedagogic perspective, adapting to this new AI environment requires metacognitive awareness – understanding AI’s capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations that will allow humans to work alongside, enhancing its integration across disciplines. A metacognition strategy will require an awareness of our own cognitive capabilities and how they align with AI capabilities and resource availability. Such knowledge (cognition) will enable us to develop a strategy on when and how to integrate AI. In addition, another component of metacognition is the regulation of cognition, through assessing the efficacy of AI through appropriate prompts and other assessment methods to learn and revise predictions associated with AI. Hence, we understand the nature of ‘hallucinations’ and ongoing increases in reliability of responses. However, developments in ‘Agentic AI’ allow AI integration within industrial workflows and processes, changing the way companies conduct business. Within this emerging framework shaping industry, AI strategies affect organizing, coordinating and controlling operations, local and global. This necessitates the need for the second theoretical perspective, Dynamic Capabilities (DC), that enables firms to ‘sense and seize’ opportunities while navigating threats by integrating ‘interactive and diagnostic’ management controls. DC governance mechanisms characterize firms’ ability to assess risk while accessing resources to create competitive advantage, reflecting a profit motive. Such DC enables industry to attain goals of gaining strategic access to resources outside firm boundaries through ‘sensing and seizing’ opportunities to augment the organizational resource base. Further, such capabilities support the continuation of firm strategy through learning and relational processes that also lead to enhancing, reconfiguring and protecting resources. Where AI drives such dynamic capabilities, human intervention within this AI-driven environment will form a critical perspective of workplace AI. Thus, the theoretical frameworks can inform us how to better apply AI-related developments within the context of human-AI interaction at different levels to exploit AI capabilities, while containing threats and ethical constraints through inserting control mechanisms guided by human interests integrated with AI developments. The theoretical framework is substantiated through pedagogic classroom assignments, including pre- and post-surveys of students, the case method, which integrates AI use cases in a variety of industries, and an ongoing practitioner survey of AI applications from a dynamic capability perspective. In sum, this paper proposes that combining metacognition and dynamic capabilities offers a descriptive framework to guide human-AI collaboration. This dual lens enables individuals and organizations to exploit AI’s potential while containing its risks, ensuring that ethics, empathy, oversight, and ongoing learning remain central to AI-driven transformation.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, pedagogic, agentic, metacognition, dynamic capabilities

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Authors: Frederik Hertel, Michelle Wicmandy

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The background for this paper is that European companies (as well as selected companies operating in the EU market) covered by the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) from the financial year 2024 must comply with EU regulations regarding the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The affected companies must submit an audited sustainability report this year (2025). These sustainability reports aim to create transparency about the environmental consequences of the respective companies' activities and production. The overarching goal, however, is for the EU to become a sustainable economy by 2050, actively contributing to ensuring global warming remains below 1.5 degrees (cf. the Paris Agreement). The consequence is that auditors must henceforth be able to audit not only financial statements but also CSRD reports, raising the question of how auditors are equipped for this task. In the original decision (Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022), the plan was for European SMEs to be included in a subsequent phase. Due to the political changes in 2025, the rollout pace is expected to slow but not be abolished. As a result of the introduction of the ESRS, this paper raises the following research question: What are the characteristics of the auditor as a reader ESRS reports? This involves, among other things, an understanding of the reading strategies auditors employ when reading (auditing) companies' sustainability reports. The study adopts a case study approach, drawing on interviews with auditors from different audit firms with various industry specializations. An important aspect of this research question is to lay the groundwork for a discussion of auditors' reading competencies, e.g., semiotic, intertextual competencies, and encyclopedic knowledge. A case study will be conducted, consisting of interviews with 4-6 auditors from accounting firms covering a selection of the companies subject to the new sustainability reporting requirements. The collected empirical data will be analyzed, and a model will be constructed for the reading competencies demonstrated by the participating auditors. Participants in the study will naturally remain anonymous, and GDPR regulations, research ethics, etc. will be strictly observed. This paper builds on Eco's (1994) concept of the model reader to analyze the reading strategies auditors employ when evaluating corporate reports based on European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) principles. By examining these interpretive practices, the study identifies key challenges in sustainability auditing. The findings will provide recommendations for developing auditor competences to better meet ESRS requirements.

Keywords: accounting, business education, corporate sustainability directive, European sustainability reporting standards, sustainability

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Authors: Javed Hussain, Navjot Sandhu

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Purpose: This cutting-edge research examines and explores access to finance for sustainable enterprises and analyses barriers, challenges, and opportunities for fostering inclusive economic growth within the regions. This research is motivational in that it aims to set a financial agenda for this emerging field. Design/methodology/approach: The research undertakes a literature review to identify gaps relating to access to finance at large and sustainable enterprises, relating to India and Pakistan, the two emerging economies in South Asia. This study identifies 15 businesses, using purposive sample, from each country, total of 30 businesses, where enterprises are accessed by the authors themselves. Using the qualitative approach to unveil challenges sustainable businesses encounter whilst accessing formal and informal finance. Findings: The literature review revealed gaps in literature that explore challenges for sustainable enterprises to access formal and informal finance.  The sustainable enterprises are poorly served by the formal financial institutions, informal lenders, as well as alternative sources, such as venture capital and crowdfunding. The literature highlighted that sustainable businesses encounter greater challenges compared to merely profit-oriented enterprises.  The empirical finding suggests that there is a demand for innovative sustainable green finance, but there exists a funding gap. The results of this study indicate that entrepreneurs pursuing sustainable businesses possess social awareness, a higher level of general education as well as entrepreneurial education. The sample respondents aspired to achieve multiple outcomes: increase income level, reduce poverty and economic inequalities but at the same time mitigate environmental degradation. The result of the study discusses the unique and multiple challenges encountered by social enterprises in India and Pakistan, especially amongst small and medium enterprises.  Finance constraints experienced by sustainable enterprises is due to the underdevelopment of financial infrastructure, political uncertainty, and funders inability to adequately evaluate the potential of sustainable business opportunities. Based on the findings, we suggest lenders should align their lending policies with the United Nations' sustainable agenda and steer towards green economic growth. Practical implications: The findings of this study suggest that financial institutions, whilst making lending decisions, must evaluate businesses' environmental and societal credentials ad and their impact before improving the loan applications. lending policies should be linked with good citizenship, pro-sustainable agenda. Businesses that pursue environmentally friendly policies should be charged lower interest rates. Finally, lending managers should be offered training to identify and evaluate sustainable elements of the enterprise. Furthermore, entrepreneurs’ business plans should report the social costs and benefits of the proposed business.

Keywords: sustainable enterprises, emerging economies, green finance, responsible lending, united nations sustainable development goals

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Authors: Carlos Bethencourt, Daniel Santos

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This paper investigates how adolescent exposure to peers from larger or smaller families influences women’s fertility decisions later in life. We distinguish between the extensive margin (whether to become a mother) and the intensive margin (how many children to have), using quasi-random variation in peers’ number of siblings across school-grade cohorts as an identification strategy. Our findings reveal that while exposure to peers with more siblings increases fertility at the intensive margin, it decreases the likelihood of becoming a mother at the extensive margin. We interpret this asymmetry through the lens of theory of economic identity: conforming to social norms entails costs, which are higher when deciding to enter motherhood than when choosing to expand an existing family. Further analysis reveals that adolescent social environments condition peer influence at the intensive margin. Specifically, maternal relationships, school connectedness, parental engagement, and exposure to working mothers shape how young women perceive the costs of conforming to fertility norms. Women with weaker parental and school ties are more susceptible to peer effects, while those exposed to working mothers among their peers perceive lower opportunity costs and are more likely to conform to high-fertility norms. These results underscore the differentiated nature of peer influence across fertility decisions and the critical role of adolescent contexts in shaping long-term demographic behavior.

Keywords: motherhood, fertility, peer effect, gender-role identity

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Authors: Abdelmounaim Hadjira

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This study investigates the effects of export diversification (div), foreign direct investment (fdi), natural resource rents (nrgdp), and gross domestic product (gdp) on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in Algeria over the period 1990–2020, employing the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model. The NARDL bounds testing approach confirms the presence of a long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. The findings also reveal significant long-run asymmetries in the impact of these variables on CO₂ emissions. Specifically, a 1% increase in export diversification leads to a 0.179% rise in emissions, whereas a 1% decrease results in a 0.347% reduction. For foreign direct investment, a 1% increase contributes to a 0.024% decline in CO₂ emissions, while a 1% decrease causes a 0.092% increase. Similarly, a 1% rise in per capita GDP is associated with a 0.150% increase in emissions, while a 1% fall leads to a 0.22% reduction. As for natural resource rents, a 1% increase reduces emissions by 0.022%, whereas a 1% decrease raises them by 0.025%. These results suggest that Algeria should aim to diversify its exports toward environmentally sustainable sectors, promote green foreign investment, manage natural resources responsibly, and integrate environmental priorities into economic policymaking.

Keywords: export diversification, foreign direct investment, natural resources, gross domestic product, carbon emissions

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Authors: Melakhessou Dhia Abderrahim, Oulmi Islem, Bouguerra Fateh

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This study explores the integration of telecommunication technologies into the tourism sector, focusing particularly on the role of mobile applications in enhancing tourist experiences. Drawing on theoretical perspectives and a case study approach, the research highlights the digital transformation of tourism, the convergence of ICT and travel, and the benefits and challenges of mobile platforms. Findings underscore the growing influence of mobile applications such as ‘Visit Qatar’ and ‘Dzair Guide’ in making tourism more interactive, accessible, and personalized. The study concludes with recommendations to strengthen the synergy between ICT and tourism for sustainable development.

Keywords: telecommunication, tourism development, ICT, mobile applications, e-tourism, smart tourism, tourist experience

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Authors: Hyungjin Cho, Haewon Moon, Batjargal Bolor-Erdene

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This study investigates the persistence and predictive value of impairment losses on tangible and intangible assets, using financial data from Korean listed firms from 2011 to 2023. The analysis reveals that impairment losses are frequent and persistent, rather than isolated or nonrecurring events. Firms that recognize impairment losses in a given year are significantly more likely to do so in subsequent years, indicating strong recurrence. Furthermore, impairment losses are negatively associated with future operating income and operating profit margins, but show no significant relationship with future revenue. These findings suggest that impairment losses provide valuable information about a firm's future performance and should not be viewed as temporary or immaterial. The results support the recent revision to IFRS 18, which incorporates certain items—such as impairment losses—into the calculation of operating profit. This study offers robust empirical evidence relevant to standard setters, investors, and corporate managers in assessing the financial implications of impairment recognition

Keywords: impairment losses, operating profit, IFRS 18, persistence, predictive value

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Authors: Rasheed Husni Rasheed Zureigat, Dyana Jalal

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This research attempts to examine the impact of audit committee characteristics and ownership structure on audit quality. The study attempts to examine the impact of audit committee characteristics which constitutes the independent variable in this study on audit quality which constitutes the study’s dependent variable. The sample incorporated in this study included all the listed companies in 37 industrial and 38 service sectors in Jordan during the two years of 2023 and 2024 which is right after the introduction of the new 2017 Code of the corporate governess (CG). The study utilised both descriptive and regression analysis to describe the variables and test their relationships. The findings of the study revealed that the audit committee, meeting are positively related with audit fees while audit committee independence is negatively related with audit quality, Moreover, audit committee size and audit committee Financial expertise have no impact on audit fees. Moreover, the study revealed that the government ownership and family ownership have no relationship with audit fees while foreign ownership has positive impact on audit fees. For the second dependent variable which is audit firm size this study found that the audit committee size has a positive impact on audit firm size. On the other hand, the study revealed that the audit committee independence has a negative impact with audit firm size. These findings will help establishing an empirical relationship between audit committee characteristics, ownership structure and their impact on audit quality for the Jordanian industrial and service sectors. Future xii researchers are encouraged to conduct similar studies in the Jordanian listed companies but at the same time explore the variables further. Moreover, the findings indicate that the Code has not yielded the desirable outcomes it had hoped to achieve but this notion or claim is in need for further investigation.

Keywords: audit committee, addit quality, ownership structure, jordan industry

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Authors: Shahbaz Latif, Michel Desbordes, Mathieu Djaballah

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Corporate sponsorships of sporting events represent one of the most rapidly expanding channels in marketing communication . The growth rate of sponsorship expenditures exceeds that of traditional media advertising and sales promotion. But some sponsorships mislead about their image as Eco-friendly Brands which in reality are non-Ecological Brands. Although the huge investments of the brands have made them totally legal and the new trend is introduced as ’Green Washing’. Non-ecological brands, often accused of greenwashing, are increasingly sponsoring major sports events to enhance their brand image and influence consumer behavior shifting . A preliminary review of the existing literature reveals a notable gap in this specific phenomenon. This study aims to examine the impact of non-ecological brand sponsorships in sports on consumer behavior, purchase intentions, and brand image. Furthermore, the research seeks to explore whether the increasing prevalence of such sponsorships represents an emerging dimension of greenwashing or if these strategic partnerships serve additional underlying objectives beyond profit generation. A mixed method approach that includes three sequential phases to comprehensively explore the research objectives. First, a comprehensive review of existing literature which revealed that greenwashing remains a relatively nascent area of study in literature . Second it comprised exploratory interviews with eight professionals in sports management representing diverse geographic regions, including the USA, Australia, Europe, and the United Kingdom. These interviews served to validate the relevance of the study and identify key companies engaging in greenwashing practices. The insights highlighted the major events being sponsored and unveiled critical components and strategic motivations underlying these sponsorships within the sports industry. Phase Three involved focus group discussions for understanding the influence of greenwashing sponsorships on brand image and consumer behavior. A total of 12 FGD’s are planned, each consisting of 3-5 participants with familiarity in sports and ecology. These discussions provided valuable data on consumer perceptions, awareness of brand practices, and the extent to which such sponsorships.

Keywords: green washing, brand image, consumer behavior, purchase intentions

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Authors: Ruth Yunjı Nange

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As global awareness of environmental and social responsibility continues to grow, sustainability has become a critical focus in the tourism and hospitality industry. This study explores the impact of sustainable practices on tourist satisfaction and their subsequent loyalty behaviors, such as revisit intention and positive word-of-mouth. Drawing on empirical data collected from tourists who have experienced eco-friendly services at hotels and destinations, the research investigates how various sustainability initiatives—such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, support for local communities, and ethical labor practices—shape perceptions of value and satisfaction. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to assess both the emotional and behavioral responses of travelers toward sustainability. Findings indicate a strong positive correlation between visible, authentic sustainable practices and tourist satisfaction, which significantly influences their loyalty to the brand or destination. The results highlight the strategic importance of integrating sustainability not only as an ethical imperative but also as a competitive advantage for enhancing guest experience and fostering long-term customer relationships in the tourism sector.

Keywords: sustainable tourism, tourists, satisfaction, loyalty

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Authors: Myshbayeva Zemfira

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The article discusses the positive and negative aspects of using artificial intelligence to facilitate the employment of people with physical disabilities. As a result of a literary review of the sources, the following positive aspects of artificial intelligence in this area have been identified: more effective management of external factors, reduction of barriers to work, improvement of mutual understanding, expansion of educational coverage, and promotion of the principles of inclusion. Such negative aspects of artificial intelligence for facilitating the employment of people with physical disabilities were identified as the risk of leakage of personal data in the process of collecting them, the threat of reducing the diversity of employment areas, the risk of increased social discrimination against people with physical disabilities due to the introduction of automated systems; significant financial costs for artificial intelligence technologies adapted for people with physical disabilities. The article presents proposals for government agencies to reduce the negative aspects and rationalize the positive aspects of artificial intelligence capabilities to facilitate the labor integration of people with physical disabilities.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, aspects, employment, people with physical disabilities

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Authors: Sodam Kim, Xuanhao Hwang

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In China's rapidly evolving beverage industry, brands are increasingly leveraging closed-loop customer ecosystems to build long-term relationships through direct engagement channels such as WeChat mini-programs. Grounded in Customer Value Theory and the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model, this study investigates how perceived functional, emotional, and social values influence customer satisfaction and brand engagement, which in turn affect brand loyalty and reorder intention within these closed customer ecosystems. Data was collected via a structured questionnaire targeting users of beverage-related WeChat mini-programs. Quantitative analysis confirms that different dimensions of customer-perceived value significantly enhance satisfaction and engagement, ultimately contributing to stronger brand loyalty and higher intention to repurchase. This research provides theoretical insights into the value-driven dynamics of customer behavior in closed digital environments and offers practical guidance for brands seeking to optimize private traffic strategies in the Chinese market.

Keywords: customer value, closed-loop customer ecosystems, WeChat mini-programs, brand loyalty, stimulus-organism-response model

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Authors: Ahmad Monir Abdullah

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This study investigates the dynamic and time-frequency-dependent relationships between key macroeconomic indicators—GDP, Consumer Price Index (CPI), unemployment rate, and the MYR/USD exchange rate—and the performance of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI. Unlike previous studies that primarily rely on linear models, this research employs the Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) methodology to provide a more comprehensive analysis of how macroeconomic indicators interact with the stock market across varying time horizons. The CWT's ability to capture time-frequency-dependent relationships offers valuable insights into dynamic interactions that traditional models often fail to reveal. By analyzing quarterly data from the first quarter of 2010 to the third quarter of 2024, the findings reveal several novel insights. Notably, the correlation between GDP and KLCI is relatively weak across most time horizons, challenging the established belief that economic growth is a primary driver of stock market performance. Instead, a significant negative correlation between MYR/USD and KLCI highlights the critical influence of exchange rate volatility, suggesting that currency stability plays a more substantial role in shaping market performance. CPI exhibits moderate correlations with KLCI, particularly during periods of economic instability such as the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the time-dependent nature of inflation’s impact on stock market dynamics. These results emphasize the importance of utilizing advanced methodologies like CWT to capture the evolving and complex interactions between macroeconomic indicators and stock market performance. The findings provide actionable insights for investors and policymakers to enhance risk management, improve decision-making, and promote economic stability.

Keywords: macroeconomic indicators, stock market performance, continuous wavelet transform (CWT), FTSE bursa Malaysia KLCI, Malaysia’s economy, time-frequency analysis

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Authors: Bendjima Omar, Zeghamine Mahmoud

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This study aimed to address the problem of low job satisfaction scores for employees working in the Algerian government sector, where the communication dimensions of transformational leadership (exemplary influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual arousal, individual considerations) were directly linked to the impact on job satisfaction levels. In order to bridge the knowledge gap about the relationship between them in order to provide information on the extent to which these dimensions contribute to improving job satisfaction, this study was conducted on the employees of the National Office for the Promotion and Management of Real Estate of the wilaya of Tindouf and this on a sample of 384 employees: Representing 35% of the study population, data collection and analysis were used on the questionnaire and the SPSS SMARPLS programs, and the results showed the following: There is a positive (direct) effect of the communication dimensions of transformational leadership (ideal effect, intellectual arousal, individual considerations) on job satisfaction, while there is no effect of the motivation dimension on job satisfaction, the levels of job satisfaction were low in its various dimensions, so this study recommends taking advantage of the information and results provided, which will contribute to the development and implementation of more effective policies in terms of recruitment, training and improving the work environment, to increase the levels of job satisfaction among government employees.

Keywords: transformational leadership, job satisfaction, dimensions of transformational leadership, Real Estate Promotion and Management Bureau

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Authors: Made Melvina L. S. D., Vernandhita D. Budoyo, Faranita Mustikasari

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Uncertainty‑based merchandising, exemplified by blind boxes, conceals product attributes to heighten anticipation and transform routine transactions into suspenseful experiences. Addressing a documented paucity of research that jointly models scarcity, uncertainty, and fear of missing out (FOMO) in emerging‑market settings, this study investigates how these drivers influence impulsive buying among Indonesian Generation Z consumers. Survey data from 211 eligible Gen Z buyers were analysed with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS‑SEM). Results show that perceived scarcity (β = 0.21, p < .01) and perceived uncertainty (β = 0.24, p < .001) significantly heighten FOMO (R² = .60); FOMO, in turn, exerts a strong direct effect on impulsive buying (β = 0.45, p < .001; R² = .54). Both scarcity (β = 0.28) and uncertainty (β = 0.32) also maintain significant direct paths to impulsive purchasing. FOMO partially mediates these relationships, extending prospect‑theory interpretations of loss aversion in retail. Practical Implications: Calibrated scarcity cues (e.g., limited‑edition drops) and managed uncertainty (transparent odds) can stimulate engagement without eroding consumer trust. Longitudinal and cross‑cultural replications are recommended.

Keywords: blind box, perceived scarcity, perceived uncertainty, FOMO, impulsive buying, generation Z

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Authors: Kabir Musa Shuaib, Auwalu Inusa

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In today’s dynamic and knowledge-driven economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must constantly innovate to remain competitive and sustainable. This study examines the relationship between knowledge management (KM) and innovation performance with mediating role of organizational learning (OL) among Nigerian SMEs. Using organizational learning and resource-based view theory, the study examines how effective knowledge acquisition, sharing, and transfer can improve innovation outcomes through increased learning processes. The study will adopt cross sectional survey design to collect data via structured questionnaires from SMEs in Lagos, the host of small, medium and large business organizations and key innovation hub in Nigeria. Similarly, the study will use Partial Least Squares, Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis to determine the direct and indirect relationships among the variables. Although the study is at a preliminary stage, the emergent findings will reveal the impact of KM and innovation performance as revealed by previous studies in management literature. More importantly, how organizational learning mediates the relationship between KM and innovation performance, as some studies indicate that KM alone is insufficient to drive innovation. Thus, the use of OL as mediating variable. The study will provide managers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders with information by pointing out how focusing on learning in the workplace increases the effectiveness of knowledge management. The findings will support the existing literature on KM and innovation for emerging economies like Nigeria, particularly in the context of SMEs.

Keywords: innovation performance, knowledge management, organizational learning, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs)

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Authors: Gabriel Oyibode Chukwuma Etaoghenevwegba

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The study aims to examine the impact of governance deficits, insecurity, and poverty on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria, particularly in the context of the post-Covid-19 era.Research Aim:The main objective is to understand the interconnection between governance challenges, rising insecurity, and endemic poverty, and how these factors hinder the progress towards SDGs in Nigeria.Methodology:The research is based on a theoretical exploration of existing literature in the fields of security and poverty studies.Secondary data collection and evaluation methods are employed to analyze the relationship between governance, insecurity, poverty, and SDGs in Nigeria.Findings: The study reveals that the increasing insecurity in Nigeria, including terrorism, kidnapping, and ethnic conflicts, exacerbates poverty and hinders the achievement of SDGs. The current challenges pose a significant threat to the attainment of SDG targets by 2030, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.Theoretical Importance:The research highlights the critical need for effective governance, security, and poverty alleviation measures to support the SDG agenda in Nigeria. It emphasizes the urgency of addressing these issues to ensure sustainable development and improve the well-being of the population.Data Collection and Analysis Procedures:Primary and secondary data sources are utilized to gather information on governance, insecurity, poverty, and SDGs in Nigeria.Primary data includes questionnaire and interview schedules with critical stakeholders with information relevant to the subject area under investigation. This includes face-to-face interview and telephone contacts. Secondary sources of date includes the adoption of existing research materials by experts in the broader field of governance, security, poverty and, SDGs, respectively. The study will also use time series data to ensure a robust research investigation. The analysis process involves evaluating the existing literature and drawing insights regarding the implications for sustainable development in the country.Questions Addressed:The study addresses the impact of governance deficits and insecurity on poverty levels and SDG progress in Nigeria. It also explores the implications of these challenges for vulnerable groups and provides recommendations for policymakers to enhance the realization of SDG objectives.Conclusion:In conclusion, the research underscores the pressing need for comprehensive strategies to address governance deficits, insecurity, and poverty in Nigeria to advance the goals of sustainable development and mitigate the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Keywords: insecurity, poverty, sustainable development goals, governance

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Authors: Gabriel Oyibode Chuwkuma Etaoghenevwegba

Abstract:

The study aims to examine the impact of governance deficits, insecurity, and poverty on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria, particularly in the context of the post-Covid-19 era. Research Aim: The main objective is to understand the interconnection between governance challenges, rising insecurity, and endemic poverty, and how these factors hinder the progress towards SDGs in Nigeria. Methodology: The research is based on a theoretical exploration of existing literature in the fields of security and poverty studies. Secondary data collection and evaluation methods are employed to analyze the relationship between governance, insecurity, poverty, and SDGs in Nigeria. Findings: The study reveals that the increasing insecurity in Nigeria, including terrorism, kidnapping, and ethnic conflicts, exacerbates poverty and hinders the achievement of SDGs. The current challenges pose a significant threat to the attainment of SDG targets by 2030, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Theoretical Importance: The research highlights the critical need for effective governance, security, and poverty alleviation measures to support the SDG agenda in Nigeria. It emphasizes the urgency of addressing these issues to ensure sustainable development and improve the well-being of the population. Data Collection and Analysis Procedures: Primary and secondary data sources are utilized to gather information on governance, insecurity, poverty, and SDGs in Nigeria.Primary data includes questionnaire and interview schedules with critical stakeholders with information relevant to the subject area under investigation. This includes face-to-face interview and telephone contacts. Secondary sources of data include the adoption of existing research materials by experts in the broader field of governance, security, poverty and, SDGs, respectively. The study will also use time series data to ensure a robust research investigation. The analysis process involves evaluating the existing literature and drawing insights regarding the implications for sustainable development in the country. Questions Addressed: The study addresses the impact of governance deficits and insecurity on poverty levels and SDG progress in Nigeria. It also explores the implications of these challenges for vulnerable groups and provides recommendations for policymakers to enhance the realization of SDG objectives. Conclusion: In conclusion, the research underscores the pressing need for comprehensive strategies to address governance deficits, insecurity, and poverty in Nigeria to advance the goals of sustainable development and mitigate the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Keywords: insecurity, poverty, sustainable development goals, COVID-19

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Authors: Kabir Musa Shuaib, Auwalu Inusa

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In today’s dynamic and knowledge-driven economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must constantly innovate to remain competitive and sustainable. This study examines the relationship between knowledge management (KM) and innovation performance, with the mediating role of organizational learning (OL) among Nigerian SMEs. Using organizational learning and resource-based view theory, the study examines how effective knowledge acquisition, sharing, and transfer can improve innovation outcomes through increased learning processes. The study will adopt cross cross-sectional survey design to collect data via structured questionnaires from SMEs in Lagos, the host of small, medium and large business organizations and a key innovation hub in Nigeria. Similarly, the study will use Partial Least Squares, Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis to determine the direct and indirect relationships among the variables. Although the study is at a preliminary stage, the emergent findings will reveal the impact of KM and innovation performance as revealed by previous studies in management literature. More importantly, how organizational learning mediates the relationship between KM and innovation performance, as some studies indicate that KM alone is insufficient to drive innovation. Thus, the use of OL as a mediating variable. The study will provide managers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders by pointing out how focusing on learning in the workplace increases the effectiveness of knowledge management. The findings will support the existing literature on KM and innovation for emerging economies like Nigeria, particularly in the context of SMEs.

Keywords: innovation performance, knowledge management, organizational learning, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs)

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Authors: Nipa Ouppara, Yazan Jaradat

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Today’s business environment is fast-changing and complex. Corporations that succeed are often those that can adapt internally to external challenges; something made possible through strong and effective organizational communication. The implementation of such a mechanism is a tangible tool that organizations can use to gain a competitive advantage in this new era of constant innovation and reinvention of products and services. This study investigates the organizational communication practices of TOC Glycol Company Ltd., a manufacturing firm in the chemical sector. The organizational communication practices are categorized as follows: source of information, preferred mode of communication, and delivery of information. The research employs a quantitative method, specifically the descriptive approach. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a well‐designed researcher questionnaire that has been subjected to expert validation and used as the primary data source. In addition to the survey component, unstructured interviews were conducted. Superintendent and staff perceptions were not statistically different, demonstrating a commonality of experiences. Nevertheless, some of these practices required some refinement to foster high employee positivity and, ultimately, their positive impact on performance.

Keywords: communication effectiveness, communication strategy, human resource development, internal communication, manufacturing sector, media richness, organizational communication, upward and downward communication

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Authors: Tsai-Yin Lin, Nian-Zhen Li

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This study examines the impact of information timeliness and precision on the behavior of foreign institutional investors. Using a dataset of common stocks listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2022, the study investigated two main aspects. First, it examined whether foreign investors respond more strongly to the timeliness of information disclosures—such as monthly revenue announcements—compared to the precision of disclosures from quarterly and annual reports. Second, it explored whether investor responses differ depending on whether the disclosed information represents good or bad news. Applying event study methodology and regression analysis, the empirical results show that foreign investors are highly sensitive to monthly revenue announcements. Whether information content is captured by cumulative abnormal returns or by revenue growth rates, foreign institutional investors exhibit significant and consistent positive reactions to good or bad news. In contrast, quarterly and annual reports are relatively less influenced on foreign institutional investors’ trading behavior. Overall, the findings indicate that foreign institutional investors place greater emphasis on the timeliness of information which are monthly revenue announcements. Their responses to both good and bad news are directionally consistent and statistically significant. Conversely, their reactions to more precise but less timely data—such as quarterly and annual reports—are less pronounced, suggesting a clear preference for timely information and its information content.

Keywords: event study method, foreign institutional investor, information timeliness and precision, monthly revenue announcement

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Authors: Sadia Anwar, Jahanzeb Aslam

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Drawing on the Conservation of Resources Theory and Theory of Displaced Aggression, the current research study aims to explore the impact of an emerging destructive leadership style, i.e., Punitive Supervision, on the Employees’ Innovative Work Behavior (IWB) and Employee’s Knowledge Hiding (EKH) within the hospitality sector of Pakistan. This paper further elaborates the underlying mechanism by introducing job security as the mediator and Perceived Organisational Support (POS) as the coping mechanism to manage the deteriorating effects of Punitive supervision on the IWS and EKH. Two-wave data (N=267) were obtained from the frontline employees of the hospitality sector of Pakistan in order to test the hypothesized moderation mediation model. Study findings unveiled that punitive supervision negatively affects employees' innovative work behavior (IWB) and increases employees’ knowledge hiding (EKH), with job insecurity serving as a significant mediator in these relationships. Specifically, punitive supervision increases employees' perceptions of job insecurity, decreasing their innovative work behaviors and increasing their tendencies to engage in knowledge hiding. From a managerial perspective, this research study suggests that managers must evaluate their behavior and leadership style to prevent the drastic effects of dark leadership on the employee’s IWB and EKH. In addition, organizations must strive to foster an organizational culture of trust and open communication to reduce job insecurity. Employees should receive sufficient training and development opportunities to reduce job insecurity, while clear performance expectations and constructive feedback should be encouraged to help them excel.

Keywords: unitive Supervision, job insecurity, perceived organisational support, innovative work behavior, knowledge hiding

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Authors: Om Kanchanasakdichai, Thaisiri Watewai

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This study presents an agent-based modeling framework designed to evaluate epidemic-responsive insurance mechanisms under behavioral and supply-side constraints. The model does not rely on empirical calibration or external datasets; instead, it explores how stylized agent behavior and systemic pressures jointly influence insurance uptake, coverage efficiency, and policy outcomes. The simulation integrates a stochastic SEIR+ disease progression structure with individual-level decision-making shaped by perceived risk salience, scarcity sensitivity, and delayed response behavior. A two-stage evaluation process is implemented: first, a global sensitivity analysis identifies the key drivers of agent and system behavior; second, a strategic policy simulation compares the effects of plan-ner constraints on welfare and insurer profitability under varying intervention regimes. Results demonstrate that behavioral feedback and resource limitations can lead to persistent inefficiencies even in well-intentioned policy designs. Moreover, Stackelberg-style planning with partial awareness of agent responses outperforms non-strategic optimization or purely constrained strategies. This framework offers a replicable, theory-driven approach to stress-testing epidemic insurance interventions without requiring historical data or econometric assumptions.

Keywords: agent-based modeling, lockdown policy, pandemic insurance, risk salience, Sobol sensitivity analysis

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