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As China's urban digitalization strategy advances to a new stage, the urgent issue of promoting urban digitalization development by optimizing the business environment requires immediate attention. Scholars have illustrated the positive impact of urban digital development on both the environment and sustainable growth. In our study, we utilized the "Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE)" framework to analyze a series of exemplary urban digitalization cases in China from 2021 onward. This analysis was conducted using the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method. Our primary findings reveal that government policies, digital talents, and digital infrastructure are key drivers in advancing urban digitalization. Specifically, we identified four distinct pathways, all involving various combinations of government environment, digital talents, and digital infrastructure, leading to significant urban digitalization. These insights uncover the connection between the business environment and urban digital growth. This relationship not only offers valuable guidance for future urban digital initiatives but also supports the broader goals of urban environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Economic Administrative & Legal Sciences is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to explore the extent of Fear of Better Options (FOBO) experienced by millennial managers in an organization concerning technology and the time frame needed to decide on as latent factors impacting FOBO. This study also explored the interdependencies of the factors concerning the level of FOBO. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and interview responses received from 216 millennial managers. Latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression were used for data analysis. The results indicate that millennial managers are facing the fear of better options (FOBO) and the extent of FOBO is impacted by the use of technology and time frame to decide on latent factors. Fear of better options (FOBO) is being faced by millennial managers. The extent of FOBO depends on the time available to make a decision and the use of technology in decision-making. This study is a contribution to the human resource management field by understanding the effects of FOBO on millennial generation managers. The findings serve as a guideline for enhancing managerial decision performance. Organizations ought to develop a mechanism to manage the fear of better options being faced by managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving global market, new business conditions necessitate that enterprises adapt and construct organizational structures grounded in new principles and the implementation of contemporary management methods. This is particularly crucial for enterprises in transitional economies, which need to be highly flexible and innovative to meet the increasing demands of users swiftly, employ modern management techniques, and gain a competitive edge. The modern business environment assumes that there are very few products, technologies, services, knowledge areas, or procedures unavailable to interested groups worldwide. This study examines the influence of modern management methods and techniques (MMMTs), human resource management (HRM), quality management (QM), and intellectual capital management (ICM) on the sustainable market performance (SMPC) of these enterprises. A structured survey was conducted among 146 managers from various Serbian industrial enterprises, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression, and multicollinearity tests. The results revealed significant positive correlations between MMMTs, HRM, QM, ICM, and SMPC, with quality management having the highest impact. These findings provide valuable insights for improving business competitiveness in Serbia's industrial sector. The results also support the development of an integrated model for sustainable management practices in transitional economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the data of China A-share listed enterprises, this paper examines the actual effect and mechanism of the development of digital finance on different innovation behaviors of enterprises, by using the panel data model and regression-based mediation analysis. It is found that the development of digital finance not only promotes the R&D investment of enterprises but also improves the quantity and quality of enterprise innovation output. The incentive effect of digital finance on enterprise R&D investment is stronger than that on innovation output, while the incentive effect of digital finance on enterprise breakthrough innovation is stronger than that of incremental innovation. Both the 'broadening' and the 'deepening' of digital finance have a significant positive effect on enterprise innovation, while the 'digitalization degree' of digital finance has no significant effect on enterprise innovation, and even may hinder the improvement of innovation quality. The incentive effect of digital finance on the innovation output of state-owned enterprises is reflected in 'quantity', while the incentive effect on innovation of non-state-owned enterprises is reflected in 'quality'. Digital finance can stimulate enterprise innovation by easing the financing constraints of enterprises, optimizing the government subsidy system, and improving the business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cashless and recent Naira redesign policy in Nigeria caused untold hardship to the people due to scarcity of the banknotes, as the CBN was unable to meet the peoples' demand. This led to a cash crisis in the rural and urban areas of the country, with long queues at banks and ATMs. The development triggered frustration and climaxed into grievance protests among bank users. In view of these, a survey was conducted to analyze the impacts of this policy on horticultural crop business in Kano State, Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, data from 160 respondents were collected through structured interviews and on-site assessments to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the policy's impact on the people, while the sampling technique ensured that both urban and rural horticultural activities were represented. Findings revealed that ornamental gardens in the urban areas benefited from market advantages, while rural fruit orchards faced significant challenges due to the policy changes. Horticultural crops had markets not only within but also outside the state, and the neighbouring and other foreign countries. The transition from cash-based to cashless transactions led to significant disruptions in horticultural supply chains, with noticeable declines in distribution efficiency. This gross deficit undermined its contributions to economic growth, with key issues recognized as low managerial skills, lack of access to modern technology, poor funding and deplorable business environment. Massive campaigns on the necessity of the cashless policy amidst the current global context, the need to strengthen the performance of the SMEs with enhanced business environment, improvement in financial inclusion, and increasing access to modern technology were reccommended as sustsainable insulators in future policy-induced or natural calamities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to explore market mavericks by redefining sales velocity and profit surge in today's dynamic business environment in emerging economies. The study focuses on the interplay between Sales Excellence (SE), Sales Capability (SC), Market Alignment (MA), Strategic Responsiveness (SR), and Dynamic Sales Management (DSM). Data from 180 companies (2021–2023), provided by financial leaders, were analyzed using SPSS (23.0) and AMOS (23.0) software. The analysis employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results highlight the critical role of these factors in shaping market mavericks and their significant impact on sales and profits in emerging economies. Specifically, SE enhances sales and profits when supported by effective strategies, SC drives organizational change by aligning service quality with SE, and MA drives sales velocity and profit surges through accurate forecasting. SR positively influences sales results by aligning sales with corporate strategy, while DSM is critical for motivating salespeople and shows strong links to SC and SR for successful adaptation in a dynamic business environment. The study reveals the interdependence of these factors and emphasizes the need for seamless integration and coordination to drive effective organizational change. These findings have significant implications for corporations seeking to improve their sales strategies and achieve sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving marketplace in emerging economies. This research explores market mavericks, redefines sales velocity and profit surge, and provides valuable insights into the critical factors shaping market mavericks and their impact on sales and profits. It offers guidance for organizations seeking sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development has become a corporate goal all over the world, and innovation as a crucial prerequisite for sustainable development has attracted much attention. This study investigates the relationship between the business environment and corporate innovation in Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2017 to 2020. We use a complex indicator to measure the business environment and use multiple regression models to conduct the analysis. The findings suggest that a favorable business environment promotes corporate innovation by reducing financing constraints and environmental uncertainty. Compared to non-state-owned enterprises, the positive impact of the business environment on corporate innovation is enhanced in state-owned enterprises. Concentrated ownership enhances the positive impact of a favorable business environment on corporate innovation. Our study provides a new analytical perspective on the relationship between the business environment and corporate innovation in the context of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a theoretical framework on the relationship between land marketization and industrial high-quality development (HQD) to guide the formulation of policies for advancing new industrialization and high-level manufacturing capabilities. An evaluation system was constructed that can assess regional industrial HQD in seven dimensions: innovation, efficiency, structural optimization, financial risk control, openness, social welfare, and greenness. Based on data related to urban primary land markets and different industries in Guangdong province, China, from 2007 to 2021, the effect of land marketization on industrial HQD was explored using the evaluation models of land marketization and industrial HQD, the Theil index, a panel data model, and the difference generalized method of moments. The findings revealed that land marketization and industrial HQD have increased gradually in Guangdong. In the Pearl River Delta (PRD), both factors have increased rapidly, albeit with low levels of land marketization and high levels of industrial HQD. Notably, the province-wide scores for financial risk control and openness have declined. In the PRD, scores for efficient and financial risk control have consistently been lower than those outside the PRD. Positive relationships were discovered between land marketization and various aspects of industrial HQD, including industrial innovation, efficiency, structural optimization, greenness, and social welfare. Conversely, land marketization was found to have negative relationships with financial risk control and openness. Compared with that in the non-PRD, land marketization in the PRD was more conducive to industrial HQD, innovation, efficiency, structural optimization, and openness but less conducive to greenness, social welfare, and financial risk control. This research concluded that land marketization can promote industrial HQD through rising land prices and an open and fair environment for land market trading. The results of this study enrich the theoretical knowledge of the effects of industrial HQD in China; thus, they can be used as a reference in the formulation of industrial HQD policies related to market-oriented reform and land allocation in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of investment-driven to innovation-driven for high-quality development, this study discussed an influence mechanism of investment structure optimization on the industrial agglomeration degree and its growth path of balanced regional economics. We put forward assumptions about their relationship with a mediator of the regional innovation capability and a moderator of the market-oriented business environment to solve problems of the regional economic gap to accelerate the construction of a unified national market in China. We used the regional industrial data of 31 provinces in China from 2004 to 2017 to verify these hypotheses. Finally, we found that regional innovation capability completely moderates the relationship between investment structure optimization and industrial agglomeration degree, and the market-oriented business environment adequately moderates the relationship. This result shows that regional innovation capability and market-oriented business environment restrict industrial agglomeration degrees and accelerate the integration of diversified capital. So, improving the investment of human capital and R&D capital is the key to solving the regional economic gap. It has enriched the research of high-quality development and provided necessary enlightenment for the practical application of regional industrial economic growth. [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.

The purpose of this study is to review and understand Vietnam’s measurement of competitiveness for its local authorities. This paper delves into the application of two fundamental metrics, namely the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) and the Department and District Competitiveness Index (DDCI). As Vietnam continues its trajectory of rapid economic development and regional integration understanding the dynamics of competitiveness at subnational levels has great importance. Drawing upon an overview of the competitiveness concept, case study, and perspectives, the article provides a holistic understanding of subnational competitiveness metrics in Vietnam. Results offer valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders involved in subnational development strategies and economic governance frameworks in Vietnam and beyond. This study also indicates future opportunities and challenges within research on pillars/indices, indicators and their impacts on creating the ease of doing business at subnational level.

The tax burden and induced costs of regulation may affect the competitiveness of the economy and, in the context of current digital transformation trends, determine the ability of businesses to compete in terms of digital readiness. Regulatory competitiveness is very closely linked to the quality and performance of country's public institutions. This paper examines the tax and regulatory burden on businesses in EU countries and assesses the tax and regulatory competitiveness of the business environment in these countries. The research is mainly based on an empirical analysis of secondary data. On the basis of selected indicators of the tax and regulatory burden on businesses obtained from the World Bank's database (Doing Business), we examine the situation in EU countries. We use the method of a hierarchical and nonhierarchical cluster analysis to categorize countries into relatively homogeneous groups. According to our results, Slovakia has a similar level of tax and regulatory competitiveness as the Czech Republic and Portugal. Furthermore, we evaluate Slovakia's strengths and weaknesses in international comparison. The results show, among other things, that the financial costs of administrative tasks required due to business regulations are relatively low in Slovakia. On the other hand, the time to complete administrative tasks is long and the tax burden on businesses is relatively high in Slovakia.

The internet of things (IoT) is an emerging technology that has taken great relevance in the current socioeconomic context, especially in the business environment, due to its ability to generate competitive advantages. Its adoption presents challenges, such as understanding the value proposition, staff training, and ensuring connectivity and compatibility. In addition, it is crucial to establish the technological maturity of the IoT in enterprises to determine their current state and take steps to address these challenges. In this study, a bibliometric analysis of 431 articles from different scientific databases was performed using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer tools to determine the current state of the domain. The results indicate that the field is booming, with an annual growth rate of 22.58%. Its conceptual structure is composed of the IoT implemented in different contexts, in conjunction with the influence of sister technologies such as big data and blockchain, suggesting limited specificity in establishing the maturity of the enterprise IoT. Countries such as China and Brazil were found to be at the forefront in the area. A promising aspect is establishing standardized ways to measure technological maturity and provide guidelines for improving internet of things adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Economic Series of the Bulletin of the L.N. Gumilyov ENU is the property of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The elementary components of the global business environment and market are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which play an important role in the economy through the implementation of their business activities. Naturally, they are threatened by the effects of global crises, which appeared to a considerable extent during the COVID-19 pandemic, with ongoing effects on the business sector until the present. This article aims to verify the effectiveness of systems of crisis management, risk management, and business continuity management (CM, RM, and BCM) in increasing the resilience and sustainability of SMEs during a specific global crisis. The authors provide statistical verification of hypotheses using data from the results of a nationwide questionnaire conducted on small and medium-sized enterprises. Based on the results, the effectiveness and positive effect of the CM, RM, and BCM systems in reducing the effects of specific crises on small and medium-sized enterprises have been demonstrated. Companies with a higher level of implementation of the systems generally showed a better handling of the crisis period, while the negative effects of the crisis on their business activities were significantly reduced. These conclusions bring knowledge that complements and supports the previous claims of other authors in the field of crisis management. Due to the lack of empirical research in this area, the results offer an important basis for further investigation of the effective use of CM, RM, and BCM in the context of economic security. Regarding the increasing level of globalization, it can be assumed that similar crises affecting supply chains and the world economy can be expected in the future. Considering the high variability and associated instability of the global business environment, the authors suggest focusing future research on new types of risks and threats primarily associated with technological progress and the shaping of the future character of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Soochow University Law Edition is the property of Soochow University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The business environment is a critical element in promoting high-quality urban economic development. To evaluate the quality of the business environment in Chinese cities, we first build a business environment evaluation system in this paper. Then using the entropy weight, Dagum Gini coefficient, β-convergence model, and Markov chain method, we evaluate and analyze the development level, spatial differences, and dynamic development patterns of the business environments in 278 cities in China from 2003 to 2019. Our findings reveal that the overall business environment level in Chinese cities is not high. There are significant differences in business environment levels between megacities, large cities, and small–medium-sized cities, and within-group differences and between-group differences are the main reasons for the differences in business environment levels. However, the contribution rate of within-group differences shows a downward trend, while the contribution rate of between-group differences shows an upward trend. In addition, the business environment levels in Chinese cities have spatial correlation, and the national and three major city groups' business environment levels exhibit strong absolute and conditional β-convergence processes. Finally, the business environment levels in Chinese cities demonstrate path dependence, which is typified by low mobility and makes achieving upward mobility challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the domestic economy, especially since the 11th Five-Year Plan period, the Guizhou tourism industry has welcomed development opportunities and rapid growth. Tourism has become the pillar industry of Guizhou and explores how to transform from a large tourism province to a strong tourism province. This paper aims to study the economic impact of the Guizhou tourism business environment based on the computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Along with that, this study also analyzed the economic impact of the tourism business environment in Beijing and Shanghai. From the perspective of input and output, this paper regards the tourism business environment as a constraint for the development of tourism, and affects the output level of tourism activities. Considering the future changes in the comprehensive technical efficiency of Guizhou tourism, we use the CGE model to simulate the economic impact of the future tourism business environment. The study found that different business environments have a significant impact on Guizhou's macroeconomy and tourism-related sector economy. This article contributes to further studies analyzing the economic impact of the tourism business environment. Even the slightly deteriorating tourism business environment may have a great negative economic impact, which provides a theoretical basis for the urgency of continuously improving the tourism business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We find a significant positive role of chief executive officer (CEO) social capital on the level of corporate risk‐taking for Chinese listed firms from 2008 to 2019. We reveal that a better business environment tends to reduce this positive relationship. In addition, we also find that corporate innovations provide moderation effects on the relationship. Further analysis of heterogeneity tests on firm characteristics suggests that CEO social capital's effect on corporate risk‐taking is significant and stronger for non‐state‐owned enterprises, firms with fewer female directors on their board, and firms with more cash holdings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Railway Science & Engineering is the property of Journal of Railway Science & Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article delves into the intricate interplay among digitalization, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the business environment in the Balkans, presenting a robust framework to comprehend and navigate these intertwined influences. As digital transformation swiftly reshapes global business landscapes, its accelerated adoption during the pandemic has proven crucial in adapting to new economic realities. This study investigates how businesses across the Balkans have navigated these dual pressures, examining their adoption of digital technologies, shifts in consumer behavior, and the resilience of entrepreneurial ventures amidst uncertainties induced by the crisis. The research is guided by the question: What is the interplay between digitalization and the pandemic in restarting business activities? Insights include associations found between digitalization and the DiGiX 2022 index, and the correlation between restarting business and the annual real GDP growth rate in 2023. Moreover, the study explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), reflecting its broader economic effects. By synthesizing these elements, the framework aims to offer strategic guidance to businesses and policymakers navigating the evolving digital landscape and pandemic-induced challenges in the Balkans.

This research was conducted to design a model to influence the strategic orientation and management of export market orientation on export performance in business environment transformations. The method of this research is Grounded theory. For this purpose, the topic was investigated by interviewing experts who were selected by a purposeful method of judgment from the managers and marketing experts of 52 sample exporting companies in Isfahan province in 2020. The validity of the interview questions was assessed with the Binominal test and the reliability was assessed with the Cronbach's alpha test. The research results indicate that; Strategic export orientation, export market orientation, and export performance are the three main pillars of exports in the trans formatives. To direct an effective export strategy in the current situation, six key factors of information systems strategy, customer-oriented engineering strategy, increasing innovation strategy, Competitive orientation strategy, learning orientation strategy, and cost control strategy must be included. Moreover, the results of the analysis aimed at extracting four components for export market orientation, including; Virtual marketing, distribution through capillary networks, video branding, and health brand led. Furthermore, the results of content analysis for export performance include 2 components financial and operational. Examining the export performance in transformations should be considered as the contribution of the article in the management of knowledge in the field.

Digital technologies and digitalization represent a growing trend across countries in Europe, especially for developed economies and markets. Today, it is commonly acknowledged that an important factor for the SMEs’ competitiveness, growth, and success, is the implementation of digital innovation and new tools. The varied and multidimensional reasons that either help or prevent SMEs from adopting digital tools and innovation, nevertheless, are numerous, and the ability of SMEs in Europe to obtain digital advancement and innovation is examined in this paper in relation to the influence of external factors such as governmental policies. By analysing different governmental policies among the EU, the aim of this paper is to establish a connection between various regulations and the innovation performance of Romanian SMEs.

Russian aggression adversely affected the economy of Ukraine and emphasized the need to adapt the best practices of EU countries to determine steps to restore the country’s competitiveness. This study aims to determine the influence of the innovative development of countries on their competitiveness and identify prospects for Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery. The study constructed neural networks to assess the relationships between the factors of innovative development and the competitiveness of the EU countries and Ukraine. Six main factors of innovative development of countries are identified: “innovations in business (S1),” “intellectual property (S2)”, “innovations in industry (S3),” “eco-innovations (S4),” “innovation management (S5),” and “digital innovations (S5).” Groups of factors are determined by the strength of influence (strong, moderate, or weak). For Ukraine, S1 and S6 have a strong effect (33.3%), S5 shows moderate (16.7%), S2, S3, and S4 show weak effects (50%). For EU countries, S1 and S6 have a strong influence, S2 and S3 – moderate, S5 and S4 – weak. This comparative analysis concluded that EU countries consider intellectual property, green economy, and state innovation policy as key components of their competitiveness. The results discovered a weak relationship between intellectual property protection, innovation in industry, and competitiveness of Ukraine compared to EU countries. However, digital innovations significantly and positively affect Ukraine’s competitiveness.

Innovation enables organizations to swiftly adapt to market dynamics, technological advancements, and the competitive environment, hence augmenting their competitive edge. Innovation endeavors provide challenges due to their substantial financial requirements, business environment, and the need for proficient management. This research examines the role of the business environment and access to finance in influencing firm innovation effectiveness, encompassing organisational innovation and product innovation, both individually and as a simultaneous combination of both innovation activities. The business environment comprises four factors such as business licensing and permits, corruption, customs and trade regulations, and an inadequately educated workforce. Additionally, this study explores the moderating role of manager working experience in accessing finance and firm innovation. The research used a large dataset of firm-level data (996 observations) from 2006 to 2016 in the World Bank Enterprise Survey specifically extracted for the Vietnamese market. The research methodology employs multinomial probit models to analyze datasets with layers of distinct financial access levels, including minor, moderate, significant, and severe obstacles, combined with alternate testing of four business environment factors. The research results highlight limitations in financial access at different levels, leading to a reduction in both organisational and product innovation. Customs emerge as the most significant barrier in the business environment for all levels of financial access, followed by licensing and permits, corruption, and the labor workforce as obstacles at varying degrees of financial access. Managerial working experience has mitigated obstacles to financial access for both organisational and product innovation. The study outcomes contribute to both theory and management implications.

Doing business internationally means facing a complex international business environment. The article presents a comprehensive analysis of business diplomacy in transnational corporations as a mechanism for managing complex interactions with governmental and non-governmental organizations. The purpose of the study is to develop basic recommendations for business diplomacy integration in the domestic companies’ activities based on the definition of its role in transnational corporations. The methodological basis of the study was formed by the papers of Russian and foreign scientists. The main functions that are in the area of business diplomacy responsibility have been defined. The main advantages for transnational corporations provided by business diplomacy, the importance of which is more realized in a weak institutional context, have been highlighted. Based on the parameters described by H. Ruël, T. Wolters, and R. Loohuis in “Business Diplomacy in Multinational Corporations”, the activity of Merz, which operates mainly in aesthetic medicine, has been analyzed from the point of implementing the principles and means of business diplomacy. Recommendations have been provided for multinational corporations to integrate the business diplomacy principles into their activities in order to increase its effectiveness. The authors concluded that business diplomacy strengthens a company’s position in the market, helps to expand its influence, and contributes to its development.

In recent decades, there has been a growing emphasis on the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a significant driver of economic growth and enhancer of competitiveness. They constitute an estimated 90% of the total population of businesses, and contribute significantly, up to 40% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in emerging markets. Furthermore, these enterprises yield a fundamental function in cultivating job prospects, offering employment to approximately half of the worldwide labor force. However, SMEs often face unique challenges related to their size and resources, including accessing finance, developing new products and services, and identifying optimal locations for their businesses. This study seeks to address the latter issue by analyzing the spatial preferences of small and medium knowledge-based enterprises in Tehran's new business area, utilizing the spatial analyst tools by GIS. The research methodology employed in this study is non-experimental in character. It involves the distribution of a social survey to proprietors of SMEs in order to ascertain the key criteria they prioritize when selecting a location for their business. For the purpose of achieving the objective, a conceptual-operational model was developed, comprising four index categories. These categories are delineated as the personal motivations of the entrepreneur, the characteristics of the internal business environment, the spatial environment surrounding the business, and the institutional factors shaping the space. These components constitute critical determinants of the proposed model. The chosen variables were subjected to spatial analysis, and a business environment assistance map was developed in four zones. Following thorough analysis, the northwestern part of the area under consideration has been identified as the optimal zone, and subsequent recommendations for appropriate strategies have been proposed. The study culminated by offering suggestions for improvement, consisting of the implementation of a contextually-oriented model pertaining to new Iranian business improvement districts (BIDs) as a means of augmenting the status of SMEs.

This research investigates the strategic responses adopted by Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the face of an adverse socio-economic environment. Focusing specifically on B2B firms, the study examines how the current crisis compels managers to mitigate the risk of buyer attrition. This analysis leads to the identification of four distinct adaptation strategies employed by these firms. Furthermore, the research delves into the concept of ‘upgrading’ challenging the prevailing notion that product development is the sole pathway for upgrading. The results suggest that effective upgrading can be initiated from various aspects of the firm’s operations. This novel perspective suggests that upgrading can be a viable strategy for firms seeking to escape from a captive supplier position, by improving either functionality or resilience. This is a new perspective that goes beyond what could be expected from the literature. The findings provide useful insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve the performance of SMEs in the current dynamically shifting B2B landscape.

Business Development (BD) activities have become prevalent in practice, and prior research has demonstrated their potential to enhance and complement the core competencies of enterprises. However, the limited and fragmented existing literature on Business Development highlights the need for a comprehensive integration effort to reassess the theoretical foundation and overall concept. This article comprehensively reviews 125 papers on Business Development, investigates enterprises’ responses to business environment changes (which encompass environmental adaptation and resource leverage, environmental management and resource allocation, environmental creation and resource alignment, and environmental exploration and resource development), and clarifies the evolutionary trajectory of the Business Development literature research stream. Furthermore, we advance a comprehensive conceptual framework and theoretical model to identify a network of constructs and their connections with crucial dimensions of Business Development. The findings of this study significantly contribute to understanding Business Development and provide valuable insights for future research and practice.

AbstractThe business environment is increasingly becoming dynamic and unstable as the world is bedeviled with technological, economic, political and social upheavals. The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which represent the largest employer of labor are constraint with the new norm of society. It becomes imperative to explore the innovation capability of the enterprises which is one of the important strategies for a firm’s growth. Since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) aims to increase the contribution of MSMEs to gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 20%–35% by the year 2030, so the purpose of this research is to evaluate the drivers of innovation capability among MSMEs in Saudi Arabia. The survey was conducted among MSMEs in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia, and the results using logit regression revealed that in-house research and development (R&D), acquisition of new machinery, training, and size of technical staff have a positive and significant impact in influencing the enterprise innovation capability. Also, the newly established firm was found to have a higher likelihood in driving innovation capability than the old ones. However, external R&D, acquisition of external knowledge, collaboration with other companies and universities and other research institutions are not statistically significant. This study has important managerial implications in improving R&D spending and encourage inter-organizational cooperation among the MSMEs to enhance their innovation capability.

New quality productivity (NQP) is a strategic concept that can be defined as all economic activities that can contribute to enhancing the technological content and value-added of products based on technological progress. Discussions on NQP will have to have a scientific sense of the industrial upgrading on the basis of technological progress, avoid restricting NQP to some specific areas of technological development, and treat NQP as technologically deterministic. Empirically speaking, the development of NQP can focus on the three core production factors of basic research, applied technology, and the financial system. In addition, it is necessary to provide an effective supportive environment for the development of NQP through the promotion of institutionalized high-level openness, the creation of a favorable business environment, and the building of an open and internationalized talent system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every economy possesses its unique characteristics and forces forming and affecting that particular business environment. Despite the differences in conditions, quality and interventions in the business environment, there are similarities within the specified deviations. Based on these similarities, it is possible to determine the common lines of countries within which their business environments and trends develop over time. The paper focuses on finding that lines through the division of the countries of the V4 into clusters according to indicators of the business environment quality and selected megatrends over time. Using cluster analysis performed in SPSS Statistics 26 for the chosen period from 2011 to 2022, countries are divided into clusters based on indicators of economic environment and megatrends. For the purpose of this study the index of economic freedom, change in economic power, lack of resources, technological breakthrough, social changes, and rapid urbanization. Based on the results of the cluster analysis, the degree of similarity of the economies represented by the quality of the business environment and selected global trends is identified during the monitored period, and vice versa the degree of differences within selected subjects is identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research relevance is predefined by the importance of communication as a necessary competence of process management in the enterprise. The main aim is to analyse the key principles of building communications in the management of business processes of modern enterprises. The results were obtained to illustrate the importance of building communication both within the enterprise, regardless of its affiliation to a particular area of business. The interrelation of social, technical, and managerial components of the communication system within a single enterprise, determines communication in general. The practical significance lies in the possibility of their use in the construction of business, based on a high-quality task setting for all participants of the communication process, tracking the overall level of its perception and execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managerial orientation has become a key concept regarding SMEs internationalization even if not all companies have enough experience in this complex process. During the last decades, traditional internationalization practices (exporting), broadened and developed into a multi-faceted and more differentiated activity that enhances the competitiveness of a business. This paper's objective is to present how and if the international activity of a business and its environment are influenced by management strategic decisions. By analyzing the successful internationalization of Romanian cases, this paper aims to establish a connection between certain managerial approaches and the success of the business (risks taken, capabilities, and process in general). The study was conducted over three months, where we collected data using a combination of instruments and methods (such as. surveys, interviews, analysis of data, and online research about the companies). Effective management practices are crucial for the success of SMEs seeking to internationalize. The role of high-quality management and a manager's education can contribute to the company's overall success and its benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]