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The business sector is rife with unethical managerial practices, such as blaming subordinates for organizational failings, along with the exploitation of colleagues, favoritism, and conflicts of leadership. In light of this, numerous researchers have endeavored to explain the phenomenon of ethical perspectives and concerns. It is recommended that organizations in the SME sector adopt ethical practices in order to achieve their long-term objectives. This study stresses the influence of ethical leadership and technological innovation, particularly the mediating role of a positive attitude in encouraging good performance. This study, which was conducted in the SME sector of Malaysia in the state of Selangor, employed a convenience sampling technique for data collection and reports that ethical leadership, technological innovation, and attitude significantly influence performance. A mediating role of attitude in relation to technological innovation and innovative performance is hereby reported, and attitude towards performance was found to have an insignificant effect on ethical leadership and innovative performance. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by explaining the role of ethical leadership and technological innovation in expressing and assessing the revolutionary business practices required to ensure organizational success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental ethics highlights the values and principles involved in combating environmental problems such as pollution, species and habitat loss, and climate change. The main objective of this study is to provide an overview of environmental ethics-related academic studies to highlight the main aspects and future research trends. This study is based on various studies from the national and international specialized literature. The methodology used consists of a quantitative research through a bibliometric analysis as well as the analysis of several indicators relevant to the study. The sample analyzed consists of 981 academic articles published between 1975-2023. The results indicate a clear direction toward the expansion of the research field, especially among researchers from the economic and ecological fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses the theory of social learning to investigate the relationship between hedonic and utilitarian motivation and e-commerce online shopping intentions. Based on a literature review, four hypotheses and eight sub-hypotheses are proposed. The study's novelty derives from the study region and the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate a correlation between utilitarian and hedonic motivation and online shopping intentions, while information searching is a significant predictor of online purchase intentions. This paper contributes to both the academic and practical fields, and e-vendors can use it as a framework to manage website activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that an organization's corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities affect customer behaviors such as loyalty and satisfaction. In spite of this, the role of social media in informing customers about a brand's CSR activities and in fostering customer advocacy behavior (CADB) has been underexplored. To fill this knowledge gap, this study investigates the relationship between the CSR-related communication of a banking organization and CADB. This study also examines how emotions such as customer–company identification (CCI) and gratitude as a mediator and a moderator. Using a self-administered questionnaire (n = 302), we collected data from banking customers. Hypotheses were evaluated by using structural equation modeling, which revealed that CSR positively predicts CADB, whereas there are mediating and moderating functions of CCI and GA. Theoretically, this study highlights the role of human emotions in behavior formation from the standpoint of social media. Practically, this study provides important insights for the banking sector's administrators to realize the important role of CSR communication, using different social networking websites, for converting customers into brand advocates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, social media marketing has become one of the most significant growth channels for many businesses. However, many companies are still unclear about using social media marketing to their advantage, particularly in an e-commerce environment. In this background, this study examines the effect of website quality, consumer satisfaction, and eWOM on online purchase intention. An online survey was conducted with 789 online Chinese shoppers from four cities--Harbin, Shenyang, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the hypotheses. The findings show that each variable had a high impact on eWOM with website quality (information quality, system quality, and service quality), which in turn positively increased consumer online purchase intentions in China's e-commerce business. Additionally, findings show a significant gender gap in online shopping behavior. This novel research provides several managerial guidelines that support managers in improving their business performance in the e-commerce industry. This research also highlighted some limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current economic environment characterized by the implementation of new ICT technologies, globalization, and the pandemic period has determined the growth of online communication, the development of the e-commerce sector, and the change in online consumer behavior. The research aims to analyze online Romanian consumer behavior trends and perspectives. In order to observe the current position of Romanian online commerce, a comparison was made between the Romanian e-commerce market and three other e-commerce groups: the average for EU-27 countries, the group of four countries with the highest e-commerce values (called 4gc—Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Norway) and the country with the lowest values in e-commerce. A comparison was made using mathematical simulation to predict the potential of e-commerce in the future and identify possible risks. Based on the simulation, the results show that the Romanian e-commerce market can continue to grow, becoming mature, and will provide opportunities for sustainable growth. In order to observe and analyze a possible future for 2021–2026, the regression function, correlation matrix, time series analysis, variable maximization, and QM for the Windows program have been implemented. The graphical representation indicates a positive and growing forecasted future trend for Romanian e-commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to measure the financial performance of companies in the water and sewerage sector by creating a sustainable econometric model for making long-term strategic decisions for managers and stakeholders. The research methodology consisted of the use and statistical processing of the data included in the summary financial statements of 40 regional operators in the field from 2014 to 2020. Multiple linear regression has been created with which stakeholders and water and sewerage specialists can shape changes in value-added variation, the average cost per employee, labor productivity, and energy expenditure on the net profit of water operators and sewerage. The results indicated that the independent variables used, such as value-added, labor productivity, or intangible assets have a direct influence on increasing the net profit of water and sewerage companies. Other independent variables such as the average cost per employee or the expenditure on electricity and water negatively influence the increase in the net profit of companies in the water and sewerage sector. The conclusions indicated that the average net profit is influenced by independent variables and the model created, and it can be successfully applied to other international companies in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital transformation has produced changes in all existing areas of activity worldwide. There are many factors that can influence the intention to use Industry 4.0 processes and solutions and change the behavior of organizations and their business models. The aim of this study is to validate the econometric model on assessing the significant impact of distinct factors on the intention to use Industry 4.0 processes and solutions, the benefits of digital transformation perceived by organizational management and the differences between distinct groups analyzed. The research method used within the quantitative study was the sample survey, using the online questionnaire as a data collection tool. Three hundred forty-seven valid questionnaires were collected and the response rate of the respondents was 64.25%. A new structural model was generated based on the elements of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The results of the study indicated that Perceived competitiveness and Perceived risk have a significant impact on Intention to Use Industry 4.0 processes while Perceived vertical networking solutions and Perceived integrated engineering solutions have a significant influence on the Intention to Use Industry 4.0 solutions. In conclusion, there is a positive and significant association between Intention to Use Industry 4.0 solutions and Benefits of Digital Transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of our study is to research and identify intrinsic and extrinsic motivations but also their impact on the behavioral intentions of using Internet of Things (IoT) solutions among company managers in Romania in the future. The research method used in the quantitative study was the sample survey, using the online questionnaire as a data collection tool. The questionnaire included a formalized set of 54 questions, being specially designed to generate a new structural model starting from the Unified Theory for Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) elements. A total of 416 respondents provided complete and useful answers for this research. The results of the study showed that the endogenous factor intrinsically motivated significantly and strongly affected the intention of managers to use IoT solutions in professional activity compared to the variable of extrinsic motivation whose action remains insignificant. At the same time, the effect of the intrinsic motivation variable was mediated by the significant influence of the endogenous extrinsic motivation factor. The implications of this study are multiple for both managers and researchers. The originality of this article lies in the empirical part of the research, which, by using a quantitative method based on the questionnaire, provides important information on the impact of the motivational spectrum on the acceptance and use of IoT solutions by managers in the next period to achieve new performance, both personal and professional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the planetary natural resources are limited, the European Commission has adopted a strategy and action plan called "Bioeconomy for Europe" which aims at making the renewable and bio-renewable bio-resources sustainable in food, energy and other industrial products. The key aspects of the strategy refer to: the development of technologies and processes for bioeconomy, the development of markets and competitiveness in the bioeconomy sectors, close collaboration between all actors involved: local community, state, labor force, bio suppliers, specialists in the field, scientists, economists, chemists, energetics and all the bio-industries. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the most important master programs in bioeconomics at international level and the perspectives of the masters programs in bioeconomics in Romania. The necessity to occupy the positions of specialists in fields such as bio-energy, bio-economics, bio-pharmaceutical, food security, agriculture, fish farming, forestry, green chemistry, bio-food industry supports the idea of attending bioeconomy training courses. Beginning in this new area of activity, Romania should not lose its start by rapidly and dynamically engaging in economic research and study programs that support bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to implement an efficient costing model such as Activity-Based Costing (ABC) within a public Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Romania. This study is based on the study and analysis of studies from the national and international specialized literature, comparative analyses. The collection of data and information was made from public data such as income and expenditure budgets, patrimonial results accounts of a HEI in Romania. The obtained results indicate real possibilities of implementing the ABC method within public higher education universities in Romania, and the authors' conclusions highlight the advantages of the implementation that are of interest both for specialists in the academic field and for specialists in the business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present research is to identify the advantages and benefits that the use and implementation of 5G technology has on the development and evolution of the Romanian business environment. The study is based on a theoretical documentation regarding existing information in the field and a descriptive analysis of the evolution of the technology in Romania and worldwide. The research method chosen is a survey based on an opinion poll (questionnaire) to find out the availability of economic entities regarding the implementation of 5G technologies, the foreseen expectations and those realized by the business environment regarding the effects of 5G technologies on the economic activities and the benefits that 5G networks offer them. The analysis of the results of the questionnaire, through the correlations and contingency tables determined, allowed the validation of the research hypotheses, and the results show availability and interest for the implementation of 5G technology (over 69% agree with the 5G implementation over a period of up to 5 years), conditioned by the costs, the high degree of cyber security, and the competitive advantages it can generate. Competition, low productivity, and even external pressures are the main decisive factors in the implementation of 5G. Thus, it can be considered useful to extend the research by identifying possible viable solutions or alternatives, customized for the implementation of 5G technologies for economic entities from different sectors, as well as the analysis of the implementation costs and the potential economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Big data analytics can add value and provide a new perspective by improving predictive analysis and modeling practices. This research is centered on supply-chain management and how big data analytics can help Romanian supply-chain companies assess their experience, strategies, and professional capabilities in successfully implementing big data analytics, as well as assessing the tools needed to achieve these goals, including the results of implementation and performance achievement based on them. The research method used in the quantitative study was a sampling survey, using a questionnaire as a data collection tool. It included closed questions, measured with nominal and ordinal scales. A total of 205 managers provided complete and useful answers for this research. The collected data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) package using frequency tables, contingency tables, and main component analysis. The major contributions of this research highlight the fact that companies are concerned with identifying new statistical methods, tools, and approaches, such as cloud computing and security technologies, that need to be rigorously explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the worldwide evolutionary stage of Industry 4.0, this study wants to fill in a lack of information and decision-making, trying to answer a question about the level of preparation of Romanian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) regarding the implementation of the new technology. The main purpose of this article is to identify the opinions and perceptions of SME managers in Romania on the drivers and barriers of implementing Industry 4.0 technology for business development. The research method used in the study was analyzed by sampling using the questionnaire as a data collection tool. It includes closed questions, measured with a nominal and orderly scale. 176 managers provided complete and useful answers to this research. The collected data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) package using frequency tables, contingency tables, and main component analysis. Major contributions from research have highlighted the fact that Romania is in a full transition process from industry 2.0 to industry 4.0. There was also a high level of knowledge of the new Industry 4.0 technology, and a desire to implement it in the Romanian SMEs, as well as the low level of resources needed to implement it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]