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This paper retrospectively examines how the digital payment-financial inclusion nexus fostered demand-driven payment system innovation and diffusion within the global open economy during the COVID-19 crisis. To that end, the paper uses a cross-sectional sample of 127854 respondents from across 123 economies, extracted from the 2021 wave of the Global Findex Survey. Together with a hybrid theoretical framework that bridges the quadruple helix (QH) innovation model with random utility theory (RUT), the study characterizes individuals' stated preferences for cashless payment across the three consumption domains of in-store shopping, online shopping, and regular bills settlement. The parameters of the resulting econometric model are estimated within the R software version 3.6.3. The findings from all nine considered demand side financial inclusion indicators reveal that globally, during the crisis, formal financial inclusion had a significantly positive impact on the marginal utility, and thus likelihood that individuals use digital payment solutions (DPS) for in-store and online shopping experiences, as well as regular bills settlement. Additionally, DPS uptake for online shopping highlighted a significant gender-based gradient in favor of males. Moreover, higher education levels, labor market participation, rising income levels, reduced COVID-19 related financial worries, mobile phone ownership, and internet access, are all found to have positively contributed to individuals' DPS uptake likelihood during the crisis. Furthermore, a cross-country heterogeneity in individuals' cashless payment preferences remained persistent across the three consumption domains due to macroeconomic, regulatory, cultural, and digital infrastructural readiness differences between countries. Overall, the findings provide support for evidence-based decision making by all digital payment ecosystem stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 severely impacted small industries in Indonesia and many collapsed. Sustainable education is essential to help small industries recover post-pandemic through an open innovation design program to improve small industries' economic, social, and environmental performance. This paper examined the impacts of the sustainable education program implemented and explored open innovations suitable for the sustainability of small industries in developing countries, such as Indonesia, after the pandemic. This research employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach involving academics, government, the community, and four small industries in West Java, Indonesia. Our findings reveal that the sustainable education program through learning activities and direct practice provides valuable knowledge and experience for small industries in designing economic, social, and environmental innovations. Open innovations post-pandemic suitable for small industries in Indonesia include simple business digitalization for company economic growth, the recruitment of people losing their jobs due to the pandemic to achieve social benefits, and innovations in using environmentally friendly packaging and charcoal briquette fuel as an environmental awareness effort. This study recommends that the open innovation designed for small industries be right on target and done using a participatory method to achieve sustainability after the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to elaborate on the development of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) at the bottom of the economy, where most of them began as unbanked micro-ventures and may continue to be micro-enterprises even after being elevated to higher levels. This study contributes to the field of entrepreneurial finance by identifying the factors that influence the drivers and constraints of MSE upgrading. This paper employed models to show how unbanked MSEs transition to bankable ones, as well as to reveal the dynamics of MSEs' transition to bankability during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study's unit of analysis is MSEs, which initially have little or no access to bank loans. This study employs system dynamics (SD) modeling to investigate and manage the multifaceted response system of MSEs' growth toward bankability in the face of a coronavirus pandemic in Indonesia. This study also simulates a coronavirus pandemic outbreak to fine-tune MSEs' progress toward bankability. The dynamic models in this study reveal a number of variables that are critical in accelerating the bankability status of MSE from un-bankable to bankable, namely entrepreneurial MSE time to bankability, channel business, and MSE NPL. Policymakers can create high leverage policies for MSE bankability progression by changing these values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of the research on the advantages and disadvantages of innovative e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in higher education. In the first stage, an internet questionnaire was used for the study. The research was carried out in Poland on a sample of 621 students. The results allowed the researchers to determine variables that are important for the proper implementation of innovative e-learning, and the emergent perspectives for this form of education after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most significant disadvantages, there was a lack of direct contact with colleagues, difficulties with teaching practical subjects, lack of direct contact with the teacher, and too much time spent in front of a computer/telephone or other mobile device. The most important correlations included the following: students satisfied with e-learning assess the advantages highly and the disadvantages lower; all the advantages of innovative e-learning are positively correlated with the student's assessment of the ease of acquiring content in e-learning, and negatively correlated with the student's assessment of the ease of acquiring content in traditional education; the easier the student assimilates innovative e-learning content, the higher the student's evaluation of the advantages of e-learning; students who perceive e-learning content as difficult to absorb have low motivation to learn remotely; the better the student knows information technology, the more highly the student evaluates the advantages of innovative e-learning; the better resources to participate in e-learning activities the student has, the higher the student's evaluation of the advantages of e-learning; the more often innovative e-learning solutions are used in a given university, the better the student assesses the advantages of e-learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This present research examines the behavioral intentions of Filipinos to use online grocery applications during the novel COVID-19 pandemic. The study proposes an integration of the health belief model (HBM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) to identify the factors affecting the acceptance and usage of Filipinos of online grocery applications in terms of the impact of health risk for COVID-19. To accurately measure the factors and their relationship to behavioral intentions and usage behavior, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to 373 residents in the Philippines. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied as an analytical method for this study. The results revealed that performance expectancy, perceived benefits, perceived severity, and cues to action significantly influenced the behavioral intentions and usage of online grocery apps during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's findings can be utilized as a theoretical framework for future researchers of consumer behavior; e-commerce developers; and grocery industry retailers, to enhance the innovation and services of online grocery applications. The results of this study may also be used and capitalized on by investors and managers to apply in strategizing when developing and marketing online grocery applications among consumers. Moreover, the framework of this study may be adopted and utilized by other online markets, even in different counties. Further theoretical and practical aspects are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of the research on the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dissemination of innovative e-learning tools in higher education. Research was carried out in Poland in December 2021 on a sample of 621 students. The main issue that was the subject of the author's analysis was the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the change in the use of innovative e-learning tools in university education. After conducting the research and discussing this and related research about e-learning during the pandemic, it was concluded that the percentage of students familiar with the analyzed e-learning tools has increased significantly during the pandemic. There has been a visible rise, especially in the usage of the following tools: MS Teams, Zoom, and Google Classroom. The most frequently used e-learning tools during the COVID-19 pandemic have been mainly videoconferencing tools such as MS Teams and Zoom. However, students also have used e-learning platforms and e-mails. The author's research identified three hidden factors (categories) of the used e-learning tools. They include the following categories: popular services and applications adapted to e-learning; popular applications for synchronous meetings adapted to e-learning; and other synchronous and asynchronous e-learning methods. The familiarity with information technology, as well as an interest in innovative e-learning tools, have positive influence on the ease of acquiring content in e-learning. Having the proper resources also positively influences the absorption of e-learning content. On the basis of the achieved results, the authors prepared a model of relations between students' interest in innovative e-learning technology and the resources they possess to participate in e-learning classes. This model enables us to assess which method—e-learning, traditional or hybrid—should be used in the given situation. The developed model can be useful for universities. They can assess the students' interest in innovative e-learning technologies and their level of technical resources using questionnaires and on this basis divide students into groups to prepare the optimal learning way—e-learning, traditional or hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employee engagement has become a critical issue in Japanese companies. One way to develop it is to improve the relationship among employees through gratitude expressions. In the post-COVID-19 remote work environment, digital devices are essential. This paper confirms that expressions of gratitude delivered via digital devices enhance the relationship between employees. We experimented in a small-town government office where participants (n = 88) were asked to (1) use the Thanks App, an app we developed to express gratitude, for two months and (2) respond to an engagement survey we developed before and after the experimental period. Through cross-analysis of the data from the app and questionnaire, we found that the "trust in colleagues" factor had a strong correlation (r = 0.80, p < 0.001) with our new index computed by the app's data. The results suggest that the use of the Thanks App may help visualize the trust relationship among teams. This study has a practical value in providing a new team management tool for visualizing team trust. In addition, it provides a new research method for emotional and social psychology using digital devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge and disruptive technological changes in the healthcare sector, transforming the way businesses and societies function. To respond to the global health crisis, there have been numerous innovation projects in the healthcare sector, including the fast design and manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices, and testing, treatment, and vaccine technologies. Many of these innovative activities happen beyond organizational boundaries with collaboration and open innovation. In this paper, we review the current literature on open innovation strategy during the pandemic and adopt the co-evolution view of business ecosystems to address the context of change. Based on a detailed exploration of the COVID-19-related technologies in the UK and global healthcare sectors, we identify the key emerging themes of open innovation in crisis. Further discussions are conducted in relation to each theme. Our results and analysis can help provide policy recommendations for the healthcare sector, businesses, and society to recover from the crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores HacktheCrisis, the Swedish hackathon that was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic to address the challenges that it brought up. The main aims of the research were to explore the feasibility of the digital only COVID-19 hackathon as an open innovation method and to uncover the major issues that emerged during the HacktheCrisis hackathon in Sweden. The process and outcomes were assessed, leading to the lessons and development of recommendations for future health hackathons as an innovation in health care. We have found that conducting the virtual hackathon for COVID-19 resulted in significant growth in the digital health community in Sweden. Governments should be as fast as the private actors and citizens to address these challenges and to undertake organizational adaptations. Not only the hackathons, but the projects and processes after the hackathons should also be planned. Matchmaking between individuals and private and public actors should be facilitated throughout the year. Technology companies should provide platforms that facilitate flow of process with nice structures and user-friendly tools. Organizations were not ready to utilize the outcomes of these hackathons. Compared to public organizations, private organizations were faster to join hackathons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolving internet technology has brought about changes in consumer lifestyle and increased online shopping. Grounded in the theory of technology readiness (TR), this study aims to examine the effect of factors such as optimism, innovativeness, insecurity, and discomfort that may motivate consumers' adoption intentions towards online food delivery ordering (OFDO) services. Additionally, this study intends to investigate the moderating role of situational influences (COVID-19) in affecting such an online behavior. By using survey methods, a total of 439 usable responses were gathered through an online survey. Data were analyzed by using Partial least square (PLS) and multigroup analysis (MGA) techniques. The results revealed that optimism and innovativeness have positive influences on adoption intentions while insecurity and discomfort have negative influences on adoption intentions in the use of OFDO services. The results also supported the moderating role of situational influences such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the PLS-MGA results indicate that the effects of optimism and innovativeness are stronger in demographic variables, i.e., young, male, high income, high education, etc. On the contrary, the effects of insecurity and discomfort are stronger for the opposite, i.e., elder, female, low income, low education, etc. Finally, this paper depicts remarkable insights for researchers, practitioners, service providers, and marketers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper focuses on generating insights into the competitiveness of public transport in Moscow City in relation to the use of personal cars, considering individual basic consumer values and environmental factors, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research question in this study is: how can we assess the main indicators of public transport's competitiveness, which can motivate personal car owners with specific basic values to change the transportation mode for personal mobility? This conceptual research model combines the content analysis of publications and large-scale online survey of Moscow City's car owners--potential consumers of public transport services--on a representative quota sample of 1263 respondents. The methodology includes the axiological approach for the identification of the main factors of consumer behavior of personal car owners in the city with combinations of the modified Schwartz's methodology of the basic individual values evaluations. Secondary data manifested the changes in the behavior of car owners due to the fact that they value metropolitan environmental degradation and changed their transportation preferences to public transport even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the factor and cluster analysis of the value profile of the individuals, seven clusters of car owners were identified, and two large clusters were selected as target segments for public transport services. The conclusion was made that it is necessary to differentiate social and marketing programs to promote the competitiveness of public transport in the minds of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health, economic, and social consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have highlighted the need for collaboration among all agents to face a scenario that we have not before seen. The aims of this paper are to analyze the involvement that large Spanish companies have shown during the toughest moments of the epidemic and to determine the objectives these companies have pursued with them. The results show that several firms have shown a great commitment with society, developing actions that alleviate the consequences of the COVID-19 like others have developed several strategies with different objectives. More concretely, three clusters of responsibility have been identified: (i) protecting only the interests of shareholders and investors; (ii) favoring the wellbeing of the Spanish society in general and vulnerable groups in particular; and (iii) combining the previous altruistic actions with commercial interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research applied secondary data collection methods to predict passenger flows, which involved analyzing traffic flows at rail stations and statistical methods, which involved assessing the relationship between variables and regression. Observation methods were used to measure current passenger flows at the rail station entrances. Passengers' safety perception was assessed to understand the customer value of transport services. This assessment was based on an online survey, an analysis of official requests from passengers to the station directorates, and feedback from passengers and station visitors posted on the Internet. Traditional and content analysis methods were used to study passengers' requests and feedbacks. It was substantiated that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of transportation security and the role of health safety as a customer value in passenger service have become more prominent. The possibility for passenger flow simulation to ensure people's safe passage through a disinfection gateway is clearly shown. Public space management structures in transportation hubs can use the simulation results of this paper to solve the problem of passenger flow control along with installation of disinfection gateways at the station entrances for additional security. This is one of the few studies that explores the impact of using disinfection gateways to manage passenger flows in train stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we attempt to explore the extent to which the hard won development gains over the last several years could be reversed due to the unfolding COVID-19 global pandemic, how we can reboot the global response to accelerate the SDGs in times of uncertainties, and most importantly how to turn the recovery into an opportunity to build back better and more resilient economies. To do so, we examine the case of blockchain as one of the emerging innovative work-streams in development practices that could lead the way forward and pave the path for new developmental narratives as we all navigate the uncharted territories of the new digital age. This paper provides useful insights about the underlying dynamics underpinning the adoption of blockchain backed-solutions for sustainable development, and it showcases some of the promising use-cases being developed through trial-and-error experiments by its early adopters. The paper offers a deep dive into a burgeoning development practice in search of disrupting business-as-usual to solve increasingly complex development challenges by mainstreaming innovations such as blockchain-enabled solutions to rethink the ways in which development solutions are being delivered across the SDG spectrum. This work points to the significant potential of blockchain technology as a game changer in solving some of the most pressing issues hindering the global recovery post Covid-19 to transition towards greener and more inclusive economies. Nevertheless, we also stress that the hype-cycle behind the "let's blockchain it" trend does not mean that blockchain-backed solutions are necessarily superior to other alternatives which might be less costly and less technical in nature. Development practitioners prototyping and implementing blockchain-based solutions for sustainable development can utilize these insights and discussions to make informed decisions in their journey to harness the disruptive potential of blockchain alone or in tandem with other emerging technologies in the new world of business as unusual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect on the global economy, particularly the hotel industry. Industry players have turned to big data to recover and improve their business performance. This paper aims to identify the key resources to develop and build big data analytics capabilities (BDAC). Drawing upon the knowledge-based and dynamic capability views, this research also examines the interplay among BDAC, organizational agility, marketing and organizational innovations, and firm performance in the hotel industry. The partial least square structural equation modeling is used for the data analysis, while quota sampling is used for the sampling design. Based on the statistical data analysis from 115 star-rated hotels in Malaysia, BDAC positively impacts organizational agility, marketing and organizational innovations, and firm performance. Likewise, organizational agility positively impacts firm performance, marketing and organizational innovations. The empirical findings provide researchers and industry players with meaningful insights for improving firm performance in the hotel industry using big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the impact of influential factors on the global trade network through long-term and short-term network analysis based on time slices. The long-term analysis examines the overall network characteristics, key players, and the most impactful events. In particular, the short-term analysis focuses on the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global trade network, which was more disruptive than previous economic crises. The paper also delves into the structural changes brought about by significant events, including a comprehensive analysis of the global health crisis. The study covers the global trade network from 1995 to 2021 and comprehensively explains its evolution, especially during economic shocks and health panics. The findings show that the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global trade network and that the state of the global economy and health are closely tied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right to the city concept is widely debated in academic discourse yet ambiguously executed in public discourse. In much of the discussion, the right to the city is advocated as a right that humans should claim—i.e., participating in urban space living. Nonetheless, constraints and limits are imposed on such advocacy, resulting in a tokenized implementation state. With such a background surmounting the COVID-19 pandemic era, this study is aimed at understanding the right to the city propagation and revealing the possible wrongs of such civic advocacy. Multiple cases in Malaysia were selected for analysis and as the discussion context representing the state-of-the-art aspect of right to the city in the context of an emerging country. Two potential misconceptions through the action of right to the city were identified: first, the concept of right to the city has the potential to infringe the centrality of power, which both citizens and the authority have to make clear; second, the lack of a sign of contribution from citizens poses a severe challenge to build a co-created urban space for all. This paper contributes to removing a blind spot—the possible wrong to the right to the city—and provides ideas to achieve authentic citizen participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, higher education institutions are challenged to continue providing quality teaching, consulting, and research production through virtual education environments. In this context, a large volume of data is being generated, and technologies such as big data analytics are needed to create opportunities for open innovation by obtaining valuable knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of big data analytics and evaluate the relationship it has with performance and knowledge management, taking into consideration that this technology is in its initial stages and that previous research has provided varied results depending on the sector in focus. To address these challenges, a theoretical framework is developed to empirically test the relationship of these variables; 265 members of universities in Latin America were surveyed, and structural equation modeling is used. The findings identify compatibility, an adequate organizational data environment, and external support as factors required to adopt big data analytics, and their positive relationship is tested with knowledge management processes and organizational performance. This study provides practical guidance for decision-makers involved in or in charge of defining the implementation strategy of big data analytics in higher education institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suspension of tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an almost complete halt in the activities of the tourism industry. This paper attempts to assess the ability to use the potential of health tourism enterprises in counteracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic and to propose a sustainable transformation of the business model of the health tourism enterprise, taking into account the determinants of sustainable tourism and health crises. The author presents the results of research conducted in March 2021 among 19 managers of the largest spa enterprises in Poland. The managers' experiences from the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic indicate that sanatoriums and other health tourism facilities, during periods of health and humanitarian crises, can successfully play a preventive and relieving role for healthcare facilities by implementing post-COVID treatment, conducting vaccinations, organizing isolators for people in quarantine, and even treating patients who do not have symptoms but require hospitalization. The transformation of the business model of these companies, in the form of a sustainable SusHT-CANVAS+ business model, is proposed and the mentioned critical activities are positioned in the model in the form of sustainable value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During such a complex crisis as the one experienced by humanity since the first quarter of 2020, it is necessary to develop tools that contribute to creating the corporate image for organizations that are currently interested in being identified as brands with high social and environmental commitment. Likewise, elements that contribute to building strong brands during a context that has changed consumption priorities are required. For this reason, this paper aims at adapting the dimension of socially responsible brand personality (SRBP), proposed by Mayorga (2017), taking the situation experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a new context. The objective of this research is to contribute to the management of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by providing, from a communicative perspective, a tool that optimizes the creation of a socially responsible image by the different stakeholders. The results allow us to conclude that there is a structural modification of the brand personality proposed by Mayorga, which can be presumed to be generated by the current environment, and which, therefore, can be established as a pillar of CSR management in the new normal, from a relational point of view. The findings clearly identify the virtue of integrity in brand personality, which is made up of two attributes, which, in turn, are made up of 17 traits that can identify a socially responsible brand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal safety has had a renewed focus throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to behavioral change. The adoption of E-wallets facilitates social distancing and thereby helps prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This paper aims to investigate the potential for consumers' continued usage of an E-wallet service through an integrated framework based on two established models: the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Technology Continuous Theory (TCT). An electronic survey was distributed to a sample of 1080 individuals from academic society in three different Hungarian universities who had used an electronic wallet during the pandemic COVID-19. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied in the study and explained the 55.9% variance in consumers' continuous intention towards E-wallet usage. This study found that while the COVID-19 pandemic strongly influenced the current use of e-wallets; the pivotal factor affecting their continued use is based on consumer self-efficacy. The study has both short and long-term implications; in the short-term, decisionmakers should utilize health threat constructs (as an element of the protective behaviors taken during the COVID-19 pandemic) to motivate consumers to use E-wallets; in the longer-term, banks should develop further strategies that encourage consumer loyalty regarding E-wallets by reassuring customers that these financial services achieve the value and benefits that they expect, resulting in self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper seeks to develop a predictive model for assessing the impact of the (COVID-19) pandemic on the economies of Eastern Europe, taking into account quarantine measures. Functions of the dependence on the number of the infected populations in Eastern Europe on pandemic duration were calculated based on trend analysis. Factors affecting the intensity of disease and the number of infected persons have been determined. Integral model of their influence has been built using regression analysis. Based on the values of the factors, the number of infected people and the rate of infection were predicted for each of the Eastern European countries. The prognostic duration of the stage of exponential disease growth and the total duration of quarantine (epidemiological saturation point) are substantiated. The predicted decline in Eastern European GDP due to COVID-19 has been estimated based on the construction of a prognostic regression model. The results obtained can be used by state authorities and economic agents as a tool for active and preventive response. They can also serve as an example of the urgent need to develop, especially in non-standard situations, mechanisms and products of open innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decrease in the economic activity level around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic spread has led to a sharp decrease in the crude oil price and provoked an oil war outbreak in the global energy market. The current situation has provoked the need for a total decrease in the crude oil production in the world. Considering that Russia is one of the main oil exporters on the world market, the need to determine the supply and demand levels for Russian oil is becoming relevant. The aim of the paper is to model predictive scenarios of Russian oil industry development, considering the specifics of the current economic environment given the COVID-19 pandemic. The multifactor correlation modeling method was used to form the system of indicators determining the level of demand and supply for Russian oil used and the total level of their influence. The functions determine the probability of implementing various scenarios of oil industry development depending on the predicted values of demand and supply. The three-sigma rule and the fuzzy sets method were used to estimate three scenarios of oil industry development for 2020–2021. Changes in revenues of the industry under the influence of forecast indicators of supply and demand for oil have been assessed and the probability of implementation of each of the scenarios has been reasoned. The results obtained are of a practical nature and can be used by government agencies, financial intermediaries, and scientists to diagnose Russian oil industry development. The results will be useful for oil companies to develop a strategy of open innovations for further design of the scientific information field for the effective functioning of the industry in complete uncertainty conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]