Issue #1 (Volume 24 2026)

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study aims to examine the factors influencing early warning behavior in trade defense through the mediating role of the decision to adopt artificial intelligence (AI). Data were collected in the first quarter of 2025 from a survey of 328 managers working in the customs sector in Vietnam. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the findings reveal that the decision to adopt AI is directly influenced by six factors: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, organizational commitment to innovation, technological readiness, and external pressure. These six factors also exert indirect effects on early warning behavior through the mediating role of AI adoption decisions. In contrast, organizational support does not generate a statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between AI adoption and early warning behavior. The results provide further evidence of the critical role of AI adoption in enhancing effectiveness and efficiency within customs authorities, particularly in strengthening behaviors that safeguard the interests of exporting firms and protect national interests. These findings offer practical implications for emerging economies with conditions similar to Vietnam, where leveraging AI can serve as a strategic tool to improve trade defense mechanisms.

Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the Editor-in-Chief and a reviewer for their helpful comments that in our view have helped to improve the quality of the manuscript significantly. Besides, this study is the result of collaboration between researchers from the University of Law, Hue University, and School of Business and Economics, Duy Tan University. The authors would like to thank both institutions for their support and facilitation in the publication of this research.

Type of the article: Review Article

Abstract
As disruptions intensify in frequency and complexity, municipalities face growing pressure from society to strengthen their resilience to navigate these disruptions, maintain critical functions under unstable conditions, recover effectively, adapt, and transform. Hence, this study examines how resilience strategies and digital governance maturity interact to shape municipalities’ capacity to cope with disruptions, and how the domains of strategy, people, and processes enable this relationship. Using a systematic literature review, we found that resilience is a multifaceted phenomenon, in which bounce-back, bounce-forward, and bounce-beyond strategies are complementary rather than sequential, requiring municipalities to balance continuity with adaptation and transformation. The synthesis also allowed us to conclude that the feasibility of these strategies varies with digital governance maturity: digital consistency tends to support robust continuity and reliable service delivery, digital adaptation enables learning and flexible reconfiguration, and digital transformation underpins structural change and renewal. Finally, we revealed that these strategy-maturity linkages are enabled by the extent to which strategy, people, and processes are aligned, including leadership and governance arrangements, employee capabilities, and redesigned procedures and routines.
Building on these findings, we propose an integrative synthesis of the literature and derive concluding propositions linking municipal resilience strategies, i.e., bounce back, bounce forward, bounce beyond, with digital governance maturity levels, i.e., digital consistency, digital adaptation, digital transformation, through the alignment of strategy, people, and processes as the enabling mechanism shaping this relationship.

Acknowledgment
This research has received funding from the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No. S-VIS-23-10.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The university is the primary facilitator of students’ entrepreneurial spirit, and digitalization is the best way to launch new businesses during university years. This study investigated the relationship between entrepreneurship education and digital entrepreneurial intention mediated by two variables, entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial mindset. Data were collected from students in entrepreneurship workshops at Brawijaya University, followed by students from several public and private universities across Indonesia, with 461 respondents selected using quota sampling. Students come from exact (e.g., Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics) and non-exact (e.g., Management, Psychology, or Law) majors, with the majority in the third year of study. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling partial least squares (SEM-PLS). The results indicated that entrepreneurship education has a positive and significant effect on digital entrepreneurial intention (path coefficient = 0.081, p = 0.003). Entrepreneurial mindset does not significantly affect digital entrepreneurial intention (path coefficient = 0.043, p = 0.256). Entrepreneurship education significantly affects entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial mindset (path coefficient = 0.423, p < 0.001). In addition, this study confirms the mediating role of entrepreneurial mindset on the relationship between entrepreneurship education and digital entrepreneurial intention (path coefficient = 0.284, p < 0.001). Surprisingly, entrepreneurship motivation failed to mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship education and digital entrepreneurial intention (path coefficient = 0.014, p = 0.283). Furthermore, entrepreneurship education shows no significant effect on digital entrepreneurship intention among female students and those from non-exact fields, indicating substantial individual differences in responses to such education.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Income inequality remains a key socio-economic challenge in Kazakhstan, where persistent disparities reflect institutional weaknesses, structural imbalances, and limited effectiveness of redistribution mechanisms. This study aims to assess the influence of institutional quality, economic structure, and social policy on income inequality in Kazakhstan. The analysis is based on annual national and international statistical data for 2001–2023, covering indicators of governance quality, investment activity, labor market dynamics, and social protection. Methodologically, the study uses Spearman’s rank correlation analysis to identify statistically significant associations between the Gini coefficient and selected explanatory variables, without assuming linear relationships. The robustness of results is verified through significance testing at multiple confidence levels. The findings indicate that stricter rule of law and lower corruption are associated with reduced inequality (Spearman’s ρ ≈ –0.44 to –0.50, p < 0.05), while a higher share of state-owned enterprises correlates with greater disparities (ρ ≈ +0.47, p < 0.05). Investment per capita and household expenditures exert a moderate equalizing effect (each ρ ≈ –0.47, p < 0.05), whereas growth in real incomes and an expanding manufacturing sector are linked to wider gaps. Manufacturing share shows a strong positive association with inequality (ρ ≈ +0.80, p < 0.001), and overall income growth correlates positively as well (ρ ≈ +0.72, p < 0.001). Social transfers and pensions operate primarily as reactive measures, smoothing short-term fluctuations rather than achieving sustained redistribution. The findings provide guidance for public policy aimed at reducing income inequality and indicate that the strongest equalizing effects are associated with improvements in the rule of law, reductions in corruption, and higher investment activity, while growth in real household incomes and existing social transfers are largely reactive and do not ensure sustained redistribution.

Acknowledgment
This paper was prepared within the framework of the scientific and technical program IRN BR28713593 “Sustainable development of Kazakhstan’s economy in the context of new challenges: foresight, strategies and scenarios of modernization, institutions.”

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The emphasis on responsible business practices has increased interest in how socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) shapes employee attitudes and behaviors. However, empirical evidence on how SRHRM contributes to employee job performance in emerging economies remains limited. This study examines the influence of SRHRM on job performance through employee commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The analysis was conducted among full-time employees working in production, technical, and administrative positions in foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises located in Vietnam’s Southern Key Economic Region. To ensure respondents had sufficient exposure to organizational HR practices, only employees with a minimum tenure of six months were included in the sample, consistent with recommendations that employees require adequate organizational experience to reliably evaluate HRM practices.
A quantitative survey was administered from March to May 2025 using a structured questionnaire, yielding 868 valid responses collected through a stratified–convenience sampling approach. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the proposed relationships. The results show that SRHRM significantly enhances employee commitment (β = 0.579, p < 0.001) and OCB (β = 0.615, p < 0.001). Both mediators positively affect job performance, with employee commitment (β = 0.322) and OCB (β = 0.440) demonstrating meaningful contributions. Significant indirect effects were also observed via commitment (β = 0.187) and OCB (β = 0.271). The model explains 39.7% of the variance in job performance. These findings confirm the role of SRHRM in fostering positive employee attitudes and behaviors, thereby improving job performance in FDI enterprises operating in emerging markets.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines whether job satisfaction predicts nurses’ intention to stay with their employer and whether work engagement (conceptualized as vigor, dedication, and absorption) mediates this relationship. We conducted a two-phase repeated cross-sectional survey of hospital nurses in Slovakia to replicate and validate findings across time periods; data were collected in May–November 2022 (n = 742) and September–October 2024 (n = 500). The samples were comparable in demographic characteristics, and the results were consistent across both phases. Descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were employed. Results showed that job satisfaction significantly predicted nurses’ intention to stay (β = 0.281, p < 0.001). Work engagement also positively predicted intention to stay and acted as a partial mediator between job satisfaction and intention to stay (indirect effect β = 0.142, p < 0.001). Among satisfaction facets, remuneration and benefits (standardized loading = 0.829) were the strongest predictors of retention, followed by managerial support (0.791), workload (0.787), and career advancement opportunities (0.783). Engagement was thus confirmed as a statistically significant mediator between job satisfaction and intention to stay. These findings quantify the pathway from satisfaction to intention to stay via engagement and prove the stability of these relationships over time, including during the period of changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Practically, targeted HR policies that strengthen satisfaction and engagement, especially through competitive pay and benefits, supportive supervision, effective communication, and clear developmental and career pathways, are essential to stabilize the nursing workforce and mitigate turnover.

Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the ESG project No. D12_2024, “The impact of human resource practices on the sustainability of the nursing workforce (nurses) in hospitals,” and was also conducted as part of the completed APVV project No. 19-0579, “Personnel management processes set up in hospitals and their impact on the migration of physicians and nurses to work abroad.”

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study investigates how networking capabilities shape collaborative engagement, healthcare ecosystem development, and stakeholder partnerships among local primary clinics in Indonesia, a sector facing persistent resource and connectivity constraints. Using a quantitative survey of 370 clinic managers across the archipelago, we applied partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings reveal that networking capabilities significantly enhance collaborative engagement (β = 0.727, p < 0.001), strengthen the healthcare ecosystem (β = 0.677, p < 0.001), and improve stakeholder partnership effectiveness (β = 0.296, p < 0.001). Both collaborative engagement and healthcare ecosystem quality further contribute positively to partnership outcomes, with the model explaining 58.7% of the variance. The results conclude that primary clinics with stronger networking capabilities are more likely to integrate into broader healthcare ecosystems and build effective, trust-based stakeholder partnerships. In practical terms, this study highlights the importance of clinic managers investing in relationship-building, multisectoral collaboration, and knowledge-sharing platforms, while policymakers are encouraged to support these efforts through regulations and incentives that connect clinics to wider healthcare networks.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study aims to examine the effect of digital transformation in the Jordanian government on the efficiency of government accounting, with organizational culture as a moderating factor. Two hundred and fifty valid responses were obtained from the auditors of the Jordanian Audit Bureau, internal auditors at the Ministry of Finance, and employees of innovation, transformation, and digital empowerment at the Jordanian Ministry of Digital Economy. The study employed regression analysis using PLS-SEM. The results indicated that perceptions of digital transformation, technological infrastructure, digital transformation benefits, and barriers to digital transformation significantly affected the efficiency of government accounting. Conversely, human resources efficiency was negatively associated with government accounting efficiency. Regarding the moderating variable, it strengthened the relationship between digital transformation benefits and government accounting efficiency (O = 0.115, T = 4.354, p < 0.001) and between technological infrastructure and government accounting efficiency (O = 0.047, T = 2.724, p = 0.006). It also reinforced the positive effect of barriers to digital transformation (O = 0.057, T = 2.411, p = 0.016). In contrast, it weakened the impact of both digital transformation perception (O = –0.124, T = 3.763, p < 0.001) and human resource efficiency (O = –0.087, T = 4.492, p < 0.001) on government accounting efficiency. The findings recommend that the government strengthen its organizational culture to complete the digital transformation process, as it significantly influences the efficiency of government accounting. Furthermore, it should improve the efficiency of government human resources and enhance the perception of digital transformation.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Ownership concentration remains a defining feature of global corporate governance, with significant implications for economic development and inequality. This study aims to analyze the determinants of corporate ownership concentration in OECD and partner countries, focusing on the interplay between macroeconomic factors and distributional dynamics. The analysis relies on a short-balanced panel of 48 countries for 2020 and 2022, using OECD’s newly published indicator of concentrated ownership and applying OLS, Fixed Effects, and Random Effects models in R Studio. The results show that GDP per capita is negatively and significantly associated with ownership concentration (RE model, β = –1.73, p < 0.01), confirming that higher development levels are linked to more dispersed ownership structures. Wealth inequality exerts a dual effect: the top 10% wealth share is negatively related to ownership concentration (β = –135.4, p < 0.05), while the top 1% wealth share is positively related (β = 58.1, p < 0.05), underscoring the reinforcing effect of elite concentration. Income inequality measures were less robust, though the FE model indicated a positive association with the top 10% income share (β = 281.1, p = 0.021) and a negative association with the top 1% income share (β = –125.5, p = 0.006). Country-specific effects revealed persistent structural deviations, with Luxembourg (+43.5), the Slovak Republic (+29.5), and Indonesia (+27.0) exhibiting systematically higher ownership concentration. At the same time, India (–32.5), South Africa (–30.4), and Japan (–29.6) consistently displayed lower levels than predicted.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Sustainable management and corporate sustainability communication (CSC) have become central themes in both research and practice. Within sustainability reports, CEO messages serve as strategic communication channels that reveal how firms construct legitimacy and align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) imperatives. Despite their importance, limited research has compared these messages across institutional contexts. This study aims to uncover institutional differences in CEO messages within sustainability reports of Korean and global firms. For this purpose, this study analyzes CEO messages from 343 Korean and 323 global sustainability reports (from Fortune Global 500 firms following GRI standards) using text mining techniques (e.g., semantic network analysis, word embedding, and topic modeling). Results of semantic network analysis show that Korean firms emphasize management (centrality = 0.345922), growth (0.32013), and market (0.152733), while global firms highlight community (0.362553), customer (0.331332), and commitment (0.182617). Word embedding indicates that the terms “sustainability” and “stakeholder” are linked to symbolic gratitude and external recognition in Korean messages, but to citizenship and responsibility in global ones. Topic modeling reveals four performance- and evaluation-oriented themes in Korean firms versus three execution- and long-term value-oriented themes in global firms. These findings show how different levels of institutionalization shape CEO discourse and suggest that Korean firms rely more on symbolic legitimation, while global firms stress substantive sustainability commitments.

Acknowledgment
This research was supported by Hallym University Research Fund, 2025 (HRF-202503-001).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines the determinants of internal audit effectiveness and its impact on sustainability information disclosure in Vietnamese non-financial enterprises. Drawing on agency theory, legitimacy theory, and the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, the study develops and tests a structural model linking five governance-related factors (independence, objectivity, auditor competence, the scope of internal audit activities, and management support) to internal audit effectiveness and, subsequently, to sustainability information disclosure. Enterprise size is incorporated as an explanatory and moderating variable.
Empirical data were collected through a quantitative survey of 209 managers and employees in accounting, auditing, finance, and governance positions across 103 listed non-financial enterprises. The data were analyzed using reliability analysis, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling.
The results show that management support, objectivity, audit scope, and auditor competence significantly enhance internal audit effectiveness, with management support exerting the strongest influence, while independence is not statistically significant. Furthermore, both internal audit effectiveness and enterprise size positively affect sustainability information disclosure, with enterprise size playing a more dominant role, consistent with legitimacy pressures and resource-based considerations. The findings highlight the mediating role of internal audit effectiveness in translating governance practices into improved sustainability disclosure. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from a developing-country context and demonstrating the strategic role of internal audit in enhancing transparency and supporting sustainable development.

Acknowledgment
This study is conducted within the framework of the doctoral project subject to Decision No. 3922/QĐ-ĐHDT dated August 21, 2024, Duy Tan University, Vietnam. We would like to acknowledge the reviewers and the editor-in-chief for their assistance.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The accelerating digital and green transition has intensified the role of financial centers as investment conduits, making the relationship between financial strength and smart city development both timely and policy-relevant. This study aims to examine whether and to what extent the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) explains variation in the Smart Centres Index (SCI) across a global sample of cities. The analysis relies on panel data covering 78 cities from 2019 to 2025, with all calculations performed in R Studio using fixed effects, random effects, and robust error-corrected estimators. The findings reveal a sharp contrast between specifications: while the fixed-effects model detects no significant relationship (β = 0.0013, p = 0.963), the random-effects model identifies a positive and statistically significant link (β = 0.0858, p < 0.001), explaining about 56% of SCI variation (R² = 0.557). Robustness checks with clustered and Driscoll–Kraay standard errors confirm the stability of this result. City-level effects highlight London (+60.24), New York (+54.39), and Singapore (+39.46) as leading overperformers, while New Delhi (–74.49) and Mumbai (–68.15) emerge as underperformers. These outcomes demonstrate that financial strength matters for smart city advancement, but local governance, infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems critically shape whether financial capacity translates into smart development.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Entrepreneurship is a strategic rehabilitative approach within correctional institutions, offering incarcerated individuals viable opportunities for economic independence and social reintegration. The high recidivism rates and severe social stigma faced by women upon release underscore the relevance of identifying effective psychological and social drivers to maximize the success of these initiatives. The study aims to examine the impact of prison entrepreneurship programs (PEP) on the entrepreneurial intentions of female inmates following their release, specifically exploring whether the moderating influences of personal resilience or external social support are the predictors in this process. A quantitative research design was adopted, utilizing primary data collected through a structured survey. The population comprises 225 female inmates who are currently incarcerated but have actively participated in vocational and entrepreneurship-oriented training for a minimum of three months in four selected correctional facilities. Data processing and model estimation were performed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings demonstrate that participation in the PEP has a substantial and positive effect on entrepreneurial intention (β = 0.345, p < 0.001), with the overall model explaining 62.2% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention (R² = 0.622). The moderating analysis reveals that resilience does not have a statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between PEP participation and entrepreneurial intention (p > 0.05). In contrast, social support emerges as a significant positive moderator, strengthening the effect of PEP participation on entrepreneurial intention (β = 0.265, p < 0.001). The study concludes that PEPs are highly effective, but their success hinges more on the assurance of post-release social support networks than on the inmates’ individual psychological resilience.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Professional performance of teachers is a crucial aspect of the education system. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of digital learning and local wisdom on teachers’ professional performance in the context of the mediation of Islamic teaching competence. The study participants included 425 Indonesian madrasah teachers. The data were collected in 2025 through questionnaires on a Likert scale. With the support of descriptive and correlational matrices, the data analysis employed structural equation modeling. The results indicated that digital learning has a direct effect on professional performance (γ = .19, p = .01), local wisdom has s direct impact on professional performance (γ = .23, p = .01), and Islamic teaching competence directly affects professional performance (β =.37; p = .01). Further, digital learning directly influences Islamic teaching competence (γ = .36, p = .01); similarly, local wisdom also directly affects Islamic teaching competence (γ = .19; p = .01). Additionally, Islamic teaching competence indirectly transmits digital learning and local wisdom on professional performance (β = .13, .07; p = .01). This evidence offers a novel empirical model for understanding how digital learning and local wisdom impact teachers’ professional performance through Islamic teaching competency. This is a new insight worthy of critical, in-depth, and comprehensive further discussions, along with input for school practitioners (management) to enhance teacher professional performance by leveraging digital learning, local wisdom, and Islamic teaching competence.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines whether CEOs receive higher compensation when their firms establish high-quality sustainability committees and obtain independent third-party assurance of their sustainability reports, and whether board gender diversity and CEO board membership moderate these relationships. The empirical dataset comprises publicly listed firms from 13 countries in the MENA region. It includes 2,183 firm-year observations drawn from 486 firms over the 2014–2023 period. The data were primarily obtained from the Refinitiv database and analyzed using panel regression models with firm and year-fixed effects. The results reveal that both sustainability committee quality and external assurance quality are positively associated with CEO compensation (r = 0.17, p < 0.05; r = 0.05, p < 0.05), supporting the signaling and stakeholder theories by emphasizing how robust ESG governance conveys legitimacy and aligns executive incentives with sustainable value creation. Board gender diversity weakened the positive effect of sustainability committee quality on pay (interaction β = –0.00, p < 0.01), suggesting stronger oversight and reduced symbolic ESG use. Conversely, CEO board membership shows no significant moderating effect, indicating limited influence in this context. Additional analyses confirm the robustness of these relationships and reveal that improvements in ESG and CO₂ performance partially mediate the link between governance structure and executive remuneration. This study offers practical insights for policymakers and boards aiming to align CEO compensation with sustainability objectives in contexts with limited regulatory enforcement.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Managing human resources is crucial for ensuring organizational success. This paper aims to identify the impact of job analysis and human resource planning on staffing strategies in the United Arab Emirates. It also aimed to verify the mediating effect of human resource planning. A research model was developed based on the literature review and theoretical framework. A quantitative cross-sectional questionnaire was used to assess employee attitudes in banks in Abu Dhabi. Specifically, the required data were gathered from 309 banking employees in Abu Dhabi via convenience sampling over the period from February to April 2025. This study employed the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, with AMOS as the chosen method of analysis. The findings indicate that staffing strategies are positively affected by both job analysis (β = 0.702, p < 0.05) and human resource planning (β = 0.143, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the results verified the mediating role of human resource planning between job analysis and staffing strategies (β = 0.143, p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate a direct, beneficial influence of job analysis and human resource planning on staff strategies and offer noteworthy implications for managers in the banking context.

Type of the article: Research Article

This paper explores the extent to which adaptability and resilience affect dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation in a sample of 239 Greek startups operating in various sectors registered in Elevate Greece. Α quantitative research design was applied to collect data from November 2024 to May 2025, using a structured 18-item questionnaire developed from existing measurement scales of entrepreneurial orientation and measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, chi-square independence tests, hypothesis testing, and multiple regression analyses were applied to examine the relationships between adaptability, resilience-related factors, and dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation. Statistical analysis documents a strong association between entrepreneurial orientation and both adaptability and resilience, as all hypotheses are strongly supported (p < .001). In addition, the findings indicate that adaptability-related factors significantly predict proactiveness (p < .001), while two of the three resilience-related factors (allocation of research and development resources and strategic alliances) appear to have a strong positive effect on innovativeness (p < .001). Autonomy demonstrates partial strong associations with both constructs, through one adaptability factor (organizational structure) and one resilience factor (employees’ connection to work). Finally, resilience-related factors have less predictive effect on risk-taking. Overall, the results indicate that the adaptability and resilience of Greek startups require a combination of internal and external capabilities.

Acknowledgment
This study has been funded by the Democritus University of Thrace.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The growing pressure to operate sustainably has pushed many hotels in emerging markets, including Vietnam, to rethink how innovation and digital technology contribute to their financial performance. This study explores the extent to which a strategic focus on green innovation and the adoption of digital tools shape hotel financial outcomes, and whether these effects occur through the way environmental information is collected, managed, and used. Environmental leadership was also considered as a possible factor that might strengthen these relationships.
A survey of 243 hotel managers in major Vietnamese cities provided the empirical basis for the analysis. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, the study finds that a clear strategic commitment to green innovation encourages hotels to engage more deeply in environmental information practices, particularly in proactive information gathering. This proactive behavior shows the strongest link with improved financial performance (β = 0.444, p < 0.001). By contrast, information transparency and formal reporting procedures produce weaker or inconsistent effects. The moderating influence of environmental leadership was not supported, implying that leadership and strategic orientation operate in parallel rather than amplifying one another.
These results suggest that hotels benefit most when they actively seek and use environmental intelligence, rather than relying solely on compliance-oriented reporting systems. Proactive green information management appears to be the critical mechanism through which sustainability-focused strategies translate into financial gains.

Acknowledgment
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the participating hotels in Vietnam’s hospitality industry for their valuable cooperation and insights, which made this study possible. We also acknowledge the academic support provided by Faculty of Marketing, University of Finance – Marketing, and we are grateful to colleagues who offered constructive feedback during the development of this research.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Every developing country, including Indonesia, relies on SMEs as an important part of its economic structure. However, SMEs encounter significant problems in terms of competition on the local and global markets. This study aims to examine the mediating role of innovation capability in the relationships between customer relationship management, market orientation, and SME performance. The survey targeted 103 SMEs in the food and beverage sector in East Java, Indonesia. This is quantitative research. SEM-PLS (SmartPLS software) was used to evaluate the study model. Empirically, customer relationship management has a marked influence on the performance (p = 0.000) and innovation capability (p = 0.005) of SMEs. Besides, market orientation has a significant impact on both SME’s performance (p = 0.001) and innovation capacity (p = 0.000). The capability of innovation also has an influence on the performance of SMEs (p < 0.001). Further, the study revealed that innovation capability partially mediates (p = 0.042) the relationship between customer relationship management and SME performance, as well as the relationship between market orientation and SME performance (p = 0.002). Therefore, the findings reveal that customer relationship management and market orientation in SMEs in East Java, Indonesia, have direct effects on SME performance and indirect effects through innovation capabilities.

Acknowledgment
The research process would not have been possible without the Rector of Universitas Wijaya Putra Surabaya, whose support and dedication have been instrumental in the completion of this article. Support and cooperation, which might have been missed or taken for granted in the conduct of the research, are deeply appreciated. This research would not have been successful without the countless hours and contributions of many, and for that, they have my sincerest appreciation.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines face persistent governance and accountability challenges due to weak internal control systems. These weaknesses contribute to financial inefficiencies, compliance risks, and a decline in institutional trust. Addressing this issue is crucial as HEIs adapt to evolving regulatory requirements and sustainability demands. This study aims to examine the effectiveness, implementation challenges, and strategic risk management practices associated with internal control systems among eight private HEIs in Nueva Ecija, the Philippines, during the 2024–2025 academic year. A descriptive-quantitative approach was employed, utilizing a validated survey instrument administered to 69 finance-related personnel, including cashiers, budget officers, and accountants, yielding a high reliability score (Cronbach’s α = 0.917). The findings reveal that internal control systems are generally effective (mean score = 4.12, SD = 0.56), yet constrained by weaknesses in risk mitigation, monitoring, and personnel engagement. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were observed between control effectiveness, implementation challenges, and risk management practices, indicating that organizational culture and institutional capacity strongly influence system performance. The study concludes that strengthening audit communication, monitoring mechanisms, and staff competence through technology-supported risk management initiatives can enhance institutional governance, accountability, and long-term sustainability in private higher education institutions.

Acknowledgment
The authors used an AI-based assistant (ScholarGPT, built on the GPT-5 framework and Gemini) to support the organization and refinement of the literature review section. The tool was employed strictly for improving structure, clarity, and coherence. All conceptual analyses, interpretations, and conclusions were developed and verified by the authors to ensure accuracy and compliance with Problems and Perspectives in Management editorial and ethical standards.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Local government units in Egypt operate under high administrative centralization and complex procedures, which raises concerns about internal efficiency, service responsiveness, and citizen satisfaction. This study examines how lean management practices and business process reengineering (BPR) are associated with internal process transparency, service responsiveness, and perceived citizen satisfaction in Cairo and Giza local administrations in Egypt. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 employees selected through multi-stage stratified sampling from district, city, and governorate units. Data were collected between January 1 and May 1, 2025, using a structured questionnaire covering five constructs measured on five-point Likert scales, and the proposed relationships were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The measurement model showed good fit (χ²(160) = 285.4, CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.045, SRMR = 0.041). The structural results indicate that lean management practices have a strong positive effect on internal process transparency (β = 0.48, p < .001), internal transparency significantly enhances service responsiveness (β = 0.56, p < .001), and service responsiveness strongly predicts citizen satisfaction (β = 0.62, p < .001), while BPR has a small, non-significant direct effect on transparency (β = 0.09, p = .176). The model explains 32% of the variance in internal transparency, 31% in service responsiveness, and 39% in citizen satisfaction. Overall, the findings suggest that lean-based improvements – operating through clearer internal processes and stronger responsiveness – offer a practical pathway for strengthening local governance performance in Egypt, whereas BPR effects appear more contingent and indirect.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between tourism development and income inequality across regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, using regional panel data for 2003–2024. The empirical analysis is based on an unbalanced panel of 16 regions, comprising 367 region–year observations. Fixed-effects regression models are employed to examine how two distinct dimensions of tourism development (tourism services per capita and tourist accommodation places per capita) affect income inequality measured by the regional Gini coefficient.
The results indicate that the intensity of tourism service provision does not have a statistically significant effect on income inequality, even after controlling for cross-sectional dependence. In contrast, tourism accommodation infrastructure capacity is positively and statistically significantly associated with regional income inequality across all model specifications. Additional results show that income inequality is significantly influenced by poverty incidence, income polarization, healthcare expenditures, and the share of the rural population.
The coefficients on the per-capita tourist accommodation variable are positive across all specifications. This indicates that the growth of this indicator contributes to increased income inequality. Moreover, the coefficients for the indicators ShServPop and ShServPop(–1) are significant. However, they cannot be relied upon, as Pesaran’s test rejects the hypothesis of cross-sectional independence for these specifications. This suggests that the growth of tourism infrastructure may exacerbate, rather than reduce, regional income differences due to capital concentration, skill-labor-oriented employment, and price effects.
The results highlight the need for complementary policies that promote inclusive tourism development and mitigate inequality-enhancing effects of tourism-related infrastructure investment.

Acknowledgment
This study was funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan within the framework of the IRN grant project AP26198345 “Reducing socio-economic inequality in the regions of Kazakhstan through investments in health and improving the organization of the healthcare system.”

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
In business-to-business contract markets, oligopolistic suppliers often exhibit stable pricing patterns and low customer switching rates that cannot be explained by explicit coordination. This paper investigates how market characteristics enable tacit collusion through customer-specific mutual forbearance, where competitors implicitly treat individual customers as separate market spheres, each served through individualized contracts.
We use a controlled laboratory experiment based on a dynamic Bertrand oligopoly with three suppliers and ten distinct customers across 17 trading periods. The design systematically varies two conditions: whether suppliers receive ex-post information on competitors’ transaction prices and customer relationships, and whether they can set individualized prices per customer. Customer decisions are simulated algorithmically to focus on supplier strategies and reduce variance. The experiment thus isolates the combined effect of price differentiation and information transparency on pricing under switching costs.
Our results demonstrate that when ex-post information and price differentiation coincide, suppliers develop implicit “customer ownership” understandings without explicit communication. We show that this combination significantly reduces customer-supplier switching and leads to higher offer and transaction prices compared to markets where either factor is absent. Additionally, suppliers engage in less aggressive poaching behavior when both information transparency and pricing flexibility are present.
These results confirm that information transparency enables suppliers to monitor customer boundaries and credibly threaten retaliation, while customer-specific pricing provides the mechanism for targeted punishment of boundary violations. Further, the findings provide managers in B2B sectors with actionable tools for strategic coordination.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This paper aims to examine the influence of social support and mindfulness on job burnout of ground handling employees, using data from 197 employees in Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which is the busiest aviation hub in Vietnam. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to explore this complex relationship. The study demonstrates that enhanced social support and strengthened mindfulness can substantially mitigate burnout among ground handling employees. The findings indicate that social support significantly reduced job burnout and strongly increased mindfulness, while mindfulness also exerted a substantial negative effect on burnout. An important effect of mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between social support and burnout. These results collectively suggest that social support operates as a critical organizational resource that enhances psychological resilience, while mindfulness serves as an internal coping mechanism that strengthens employees’ capacity to regulate stress and mitigate burnout. The study concludes that both social support and mindfulness play essential roles in reducing job burnout among ground handling employees and may offer effective strategies for reducing burnout in the aviation ground services context.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Employee turnover is an expensive problem for telecom firms going through a fast digital transition. This study investigates whether emotional occupational commitment mediates the association between multidimensional career development (career-goal advancement, professional competence development, promotion speed, and compensation growth) and employees’ desire to leave Egypt’s telecom industry. Employees of three major Egyptian operators (Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, and WE) completed a structured online questionnaire between January and March 2025. Of the 600 surveys received, 588 were found to be legitimate and were included in the final study. Reliability testing (Cronbach’s alpha), descriptive statistics, hierarchical linear regression, path (mediation) analysis, and Pearson correlation were used. All structures have strong internal consistency (alpha range 0.776–0.894). Affective commitment and career growth characteristics were positively correlated, but turnover intention showed a negative correlation. Affective occupational commitment mediates the association between career growth and turnover intention (R2 = 0.588), as demonstrated by path analysis and hierarchical regression. The whole model explains 58.8% of the variation in turnover intention. According to the findings, telecom companies can significantly lower employee turnover by implementing organized career-development programs that increase emotional engagement by enhancing workers’ abilities, making promotion tracks clear, and guaranteeing equitable compensation. To evaluate causal direction and generalizability, future studies should use longitudinal designs and cross-industry comparisons.

Acknowledgment
The author declares that no financial support, institutional grant, or external assistance was received for conducting this research, and there are no use of artificial intelligence tools in preparing the manuscript. 

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This bibliometric analysis aims to delineate the dominant research trends in the existing literature and identify prospective avenues for future inquiry regarding ESG in tourism. Drawing on 478 peer-reviewed publications from the Scopus database (1978–2024), the analysis utilizes the PRISMA framework for systematic screening and VOSviewer software for visualization. The findings indicate that although ESG-related concepts began to emerge in the late 1970s and the term “ESG” was officially introduced in 2004, its integration into tourism research has only accelerated since 2016. The study identifies the United Kingdom, China, and Spain as the leading contributors to this domain, with significant research activity also observed in other European and Asian countries. Additionally, journals such as Sustainability, International Journal of Hospitality Management, and Journal of Sustainable Tourism serve as the primary publication platforms. Keyword co-occurrence analysis reveals five dominant thematic clusters: (1) CSR toward customers and financial performance, (2) CSR toward destinations and communities, (3) CSR toward employees, (4) CSR in the context of COVID-19, and (5) ESG and sustainable development. This study identifies two primary gaps in the existing literature: first, a predominant focus on CSR, suggesting that in-depth studies specifically dedicated to ESG remain relatively limited; and second, a significant dearth of research on digital transformation. The study proposes a comprehensive future research agenda for ESG in tourism, with a specific focus on exploring the integration of digital transformation across all ESG-related topics as a critical driver for advancing ESG practices in the tourism industry.

Acknowledgment
This study was partially funded by University of Economics, Hue University, under grant number NNC.ĐHKT.2023.09.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Competitive advantage is crucial for the global market as the integration of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and radio frequency identification (RFID) enhances MSMEs’ efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness, strengthening competitiveness and global expansion. We aim to test the effects of ERP and RFID on competitive advantage and how competitive advantage influences global market success, both directly and through the mediating role. The survey was conducted in June 2025 in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia. It involved 225 SME actors from 75 clusters, selected randomly to reduce bias. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale and analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
The analysis results demonstrate that ERP and RFID significantly enhance a company’s competitive advantage, with path coefficients of 0.2708 for ERP and 0.5434 for RFID, both highly significant at p = 0.0000. This competitive advantage positively influences global market expansion, with a coefficient of 0.4687 (p = 0.0000), highlighting its crucial role in international growth. Furthermore, both ERP and RFID contribute directly to global market expansion, where RFID exhibits a stronger effect with coefficients of 0.1593 for ERP and 0.2500 for RFID (p = 0.0000). Mediation analysis confirms that competitive advantage significantly mediates the relationship between technology implementations and global market expansion, with RFID’s mediating effect (0.2547) exceeding that of ERP (0.1269). This evidence confirms that implementing ERP and RFID significantly enhances a company’s competitive advantage and contributes to global market expansion, with RFID demonstrating a stronger impact and serving as a crucial mediating factor in this relationship.

Acknowledgments
We sincerely thank the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia, Directorate General of Research and Development, for their financial support, which made the successful completion of this research possible. The funding, granted through the Research and Community Service Program (DPPM) for the 2025 fiscal year under the “Regular Fundamental Research” scheme, was instrumental in facilitating the research activities and contributing to the overall success of this endeavor.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Creativity and innovation are essential drivers of organizational success and societal progress, as they generate new ideas and solutions. Despite extensive interest, their key determinants remain underexplored and theoretically fragmented. To address this gap, this study aims to examine the factors influencing creativity and innovative work behavior. A quantitative methodology was employed to investigate the hypothesized relationships between the variables. We used an online survey to collect data from 358 gainfully employed respondents in Saudi Arabia, with the majority of participants residing in Riyadh city. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the simultaneous effects of workplace agility, intrinsic motivation, organizational identification, role congruence, and organizational solidarity on employee creativity and innovative work behavior. The t-values for the developed hypotheses are 6.78, 0.43, 6.34, 6.07, 6.43, 5.91, 0.13, 6.43, and 6.61, respectively. The results show that most t-values exceed the stipulated value of 1.96. Thus, significant and positive relationships were identified between workplace agility and intrinsic motivation, organizational identification, and organizational solidarity. In contrast, no significant relationship was observed between workplace agility and role congruence. Additionally, intrinsic motivation, organizational identification, and organizational solidarity were found to positively influence creativity, which in turn enhances innovative work behavior. Thus, an agile workforce would demonstrate affiliation and solidarity with their organization, be intrinsically motivated, and exhibit creativity.

Acknowledgment
This study is funded by Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University under project number PSAU/2025/02/32304.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Given the instability of global energy markets and recurring price shocks, it is increasingly important to assess the sustainability of economic growth in countries heavily dependent on oil and gas, such as Kazakhstan. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the oil and gas sector’s production, fiscal and external sector transmission channels on Kazakhstan’s economic growth during 2010–2024. The empirical base includes official data from the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Finance, and the World Bank, as well as economic indicators related to exchange-rate dynamics and inflation. The study employs a combination of cointegration analysis, vector error correction models (VECM), and short-term ordinary least squares (OLS) specifications. The results show that oil production and GDP are linked by a stable long-term relationship, with the error-correction term indicating that about 24% of deviations from equilibrium are eliminated per year. Gas production emerges as a key short-term growth factor: a one-thousand-ton increase in gas production is associated with a 5.26 billion tenge (11.8 million USD) in GDP (p = 0.002). Tax revenues from the oil and gas sector exert a moderate positive effect on economic dynamics (p = 0.065), reflecting fiscal sensitivity to external conditions. The external sector channel exhibits the strongest short-term effect: a one-unit depreciation of tenge is associated with an average increase of 2.61 × 10⁵ tenge in nominal GDP (p < 0.01). Overall, the results indicate that Kazakhstan’s economic growth is shaped by long-term dependence on production and short-term transmission of price and financial shocks.

Acknowledgments
This paper has been funded by the Science Committee MSHE RK (Grant “Strategy for the structural and technological modernization of the basic sectors of the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, taking into account ESG approaches: criteria, implementation mechanisms, and forecast scenarios” BR24993089).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study investigates how entrepreneurial motivation and the strategic management process, conceptualized as enabling routines, shape organizational creativity and green innovation, and how green innovation relates to employee performance in resource-constrained Indonesian SMEs. In 2025, an online survey targeted SME owners and managers with decision authority for strategy, innovation, or human resources across nine Indonesian cities. Invitations were sent to 1,300 SMEs, 412 responses were received (31.7%), and 377 usable cases remained after screening. PLS-SEM (5,000 bootstrap resamples) indicates that strategic management process predicts organizational creativity (β = 0.682, p < 0.001), which predicts green innovation (β = 0.288, p < 0.001) and, in turn, employee performance (β = 0.574, p < 0.001). Entrepreneurial motivation negatively predicts organizational creativity (β = −0.084, p = 0.003). Mediation tests confirm a positive serial indirect effect from strategic management process to employee performance via creativity and green innovation (β = 0.113, p = 0.001) and a negative serial indirect effect for entrepreneurial motivation via the same pathway (β = −0.014, p = 0.007). The model integrates dynamic capabilities and self-determination perspectives by positioning organizational creativity as the microfoundational mechanism. The results imply that disciplined strategic routines provide an enabling infrastructure for creativity-based green implementation, whereas pressure-oriented motivation can undermine the creative engagement required for sustainability change. The evidence is limited by cross-sectional, self-reported data from one country, and future research should employ longitudinal and multi-source designs.

Acknowledgment
We declare that this paper did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. We thank the participating SME owner-managers and the research assistants who supported fieldwork across the study cities. Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant institutional committee, and all participants provided informed consent. We gratefully acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025 version) to support language refinement and grammar improvement during manuscript preparation. The tool was used exclusively for copy-editing to enhance linguistic clarity and readability. No part of the research design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of results, or substantive content was generated by AI. We take full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the paper.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
While green transformational leadership drives environmental sustainability in service organizations, understanding how it shapes employee green behavior in hospitality contexts requires further examination. This study examines how green transformational leadership influences employee green behavior through the mediating role of green psychological climate in Indonesian hotels, and investigates whether these relationships differ between front-of-house and back-of-house employees. Survey data from 412 hotel employees across 36 hotels in the Lake Toba region, North Sumatra, Indonesia, were gathered during the first quarter of 2025. Participating hotels were chosen for their adoption of environmental management systems, with respondents sampled from both guest-facing and operational positions. Structural equation modeling reveals that green transformational leadership exerts a strong influence on green psychological climate (β = 0.583, p < 0.001, f² = 0.514) and a moderate direct influence on employee green behavior (β = 0.161, p < 0.01, f² = 0.020). Green psychological climate demonstrates meaningful effects on employee green behavior (β = 0.285, p < 0.001, f² = 0.064). Mediation analysis confirms partial mediation through green psychological climate (β = 0.166, p < 0.001). Model diagnostics indicate adequate explanatory power (R² = 0.340), predictive capacity (Q² = 0.223), and fit (SRMR = 0.042). Aggregation validity is supported by within-unit agreement (rwg(j) = 0.78) and reliability metrics (ICC(1) = 0.60; ICC(2) = 0.90). Functional role comparisons show equivalent relationships across front-of-house and back-of-house contexts (p > 0.05). Findings suggest green transformational leadership operates through dual mechanisms, building collective environmental perceptions while enabling individual green actions, with implications for hospitality leadership development.

Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the TALENTA Research Grant 2025 from Universitas Sumatera Utara (Contract No. 83/UN5.4.10.K/PT.01.03/TALENTA/RB1/2025). We are grateful to the participating hotels’ management and staff for their cooperation and willingness to contribute to this study. We also thank the anonymous reviewers whose constructive feedback greatly enhanced the quality of this manuscript.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Entrepreneurial initiatives among repatriates often arise from the interplay between international expatriation experiences and domestic entrepreneurial ecosystems. Returning entrepreneurs leverage the financial, human, and social capital they accumulated abroad, while simultaneously navigating the challenges of reintegration and market adaptation. This study investigates the impact of expatriate-derived resources on the entrepreneurial performance of repatriates in India. Primary data were collected from 420 repatriate entrepreneurs registered with District Industries Centers across India, using a multi-stage random sampling approach. The survey, conducted between January and June 2025, employed confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression techniques to assess the impact of acquired resources on business outcomes. The results indicate that entrepreneurial performance is significantly shaped by financial, social, and human capital, with human capital exerting the strongest positive effect (β = 0.349, p < 0.001), followed by social capital (β = 0.292, p < 0.001) and financial capital (β = 0.185, p < 0.001). Collectively, these factors explain 59% of the variance in entrepreneurial performance. The results indicate that the knowledge and expertise acquired from abroad, financial capital mobilized, and social networks developed tend to foster entrepreneurial performance. Thus, the findings advance the understanding of repatriate entrepreneurship and highlight strategic pathways for enhancing returnees’ contributions to domestic economic development.

Acknowledgment
This study was made possible through the support of repatriate entrepreneurs, who provided timely data during the survey, as well as the University library.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
In Georgia, employed master’s students face a unique conflict between professional and academic roles, which can critically undermine their work engagement and performance. This study aims to identify the challenges to work engagement faced by employed master’s students in Georgia and to explore practical strategies for improvement. A cross-sectional, anonymous survey of 437 employed master’s students was conducted in the spring semester of 2023 across major universities in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, and Telavi, ensuring national representativeness. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics via Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA, and regression analysis. The results quantitatively demonstrate that work engagement is strongly correlated with workplace learning opportunities (r = .702), supervisory responsibility (r = .704), and, most significantly, with high-quality supervisor communication (r = .989) and democratic management styles (r = .809). The study confirms that engagement is significantly higher when students feel their opinions are valued and when supervisors effectively communicate organizational goals. In conclusion, the findings provide empirical evidence that modifying workplace management practices, specifically by enhancing supervisory communication, adopting democratic styles, and offering developmental opportunities, can significantly improve the work engagement of employed master’s students. These insights offer clear directives for employers, universities, and policymakers seeking to better support this key demographic group.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Sustainability has become a strategic priority for tourism enterprises as investors, regulators, and consumers increasingly expect verifiable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. The purpose of this study is to synthesize current evidence on ESG practices in tourism enterprises and to develop a systems-based framework explaining how environmental, social, and governance strategies individually and collectively support sustainable management, organizational performance, and long-term resilience. The review synthesizes environmental (E1–E5), social (S1–S6), governance (G1–G4), and integrated ESG strategies (I1–I8) that link sustainability initiatives to risk management, financial performance, and stakeholder behavior. Across the literature, governance quality consistently conditions the effectiveness of environmental and social initiatives by shaping accountability, strategic alignment, and credibility. Digital technologies and certification schemes emerge as key accelerators of ESG diffusion, particularly by enabling measurement, transparency, and coordination across organizational functions. Taken together, the findings show that ESG practices in tourism operate as an interconnected system rather than as independent pillars. Within this system, governance structures coordinate environmental and social strategies, generate feedback through stakeholder trust and performance outcomes, and enable learning and adaptation over time. The proposed systems-based framework clarifies how these feedback loops and conditioning effects translate ESG strategies into organizational resilience and long-term value, offering actionable insights for managers, policymakers, and investors seeking to align sustainability initiatives with sustained performance.

Acknowledgments
This study was carried out as part of the project “A Multidimensional Model for the Transition of SMEs to the Circular Economy” under the call PRIN 2022 financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU – Mission 4 “Education and Research” component C2 – investment 1.1.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of transformational leadership and proactive personality on innovative work behavior, with knowledge sharing as a mediating variable, among Cinema XXI guide employees in Indonesia. This study was motivated by limited innovation and low willingness to share knowledge in the cinema service sector. A total of 350 guide employees from six regions in Indonesia were selected using proportional random sampling and surveyed via Google Forms. Guides were chosen due to their strategic role in direct customer interaction and competitive differentiation. Data were collected between July and August 2025 and analyzed using structural equation modeling with analysis of moment structures software. Transformational leadership (β = 0.312, p < 0.001) and proactive personality (β = 0.387, p < 0.001) positively influence innovative work behavior. Knowledge sharing was also significantly affected by both antecedents and emerged as a strong predictor of innovative work behavior (β = 0.445, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis shows that knowledge sharing partially mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and innovative work behavior (indirect effect = 0.136, 30.4% of the total effect) and between proactive personality and innovative work behavior (indirect effect = 0.149, 27.8% of the total effect). Overall, the findings support prior research and emphasize the importance of leadership and individual proactivity in fostering knowledge sharing and enhancing innovative work behavior among Cinema XXI guide employees.

Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge the management and employees of Cinema XXI (PT Nusantara Sejahtera Raya, Tbk) for their participation and support in this research. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback that significantly improved this manuscript.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Shareholder voting in conventional corporate governance remains constrained by intermediated proxy systems, information asymmetries, and limited transparency. This study aims to systematically synthesize recent scholarly, legal, and policy literature to evaluate whether, and under what legal and institutional conditions, blockchain-based voting and decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) architectures can enhance shareholder democracy through hybrid “code-plus-law” governance models. Adopting an interdisciplinary qualitative design, the paper combines a systematic literature review with doctrinal legal analysis, drawing on a broad corpus of recent scholarly, legal, and policy sources published from 2020 through 2025. Evidence is synthesized into six structured comparative tables covering voting auditability, shareholder participation, token concentration, legal recognition, DAO design features, and hybrid “code-plus-law” governance models. The review highlights consistent improvements in three core dimensions compared to legacy proxy systems: enhanced auditability and end-to-end verifiability, speedier aggregation of voting outcomes, and broader feasibility of cross-border shareholder participation. Simultaneously, four risks keep appearing: token concentration (“whale dominance”), technical and governance scalability limits, unequal digital literacy and access, and persistent gaps in the legal recognition and enforceability of DAOs. Overall, the findings suggest that hybrid arrangements that combine blockchain-based transparency and efficiency with conventional legal safeguards are more apt to provide for inclusive participation and durable legitimacy than purely code-based or purely traditional governance models.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Institutional leadership represents an important internal capacity for institutionalizing performance measurement systems within local government, particularly in contexts where external forces such as institutional isomorphism shape organizational behavior. This study examines the moderating role of institutional leadership in the relationship between institutional pressures (coercive, mimetic, and normative) and the use of performance measurement systems. Survey data were collected from 77 senior officials responsible for implementing and using performance measurement systems across all government agencies in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2022. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that institutional leadership significantly moderates the relationship between coercive pressure and performance measurement systems use (path coefficient = −0.194, p = 0.037), suggesting a negative moderating effect that weakens coercive influence. However, no significant moderating effects were found for mimetic pressure (−0.121, p = 0.138) or normative pressure (0.008, p = 0.138). Institutional leadership also does not exert a direct effect on the use of performance measurement systems (0.019, p = 0.433). Regarding direct effects, coercive and mimetic pressures positively influence performance measurement systems use (0.394 and 0.310, respectively; p < 0.05), while normative pressure is not significant (0.017, p = 0.440). These findings suggest that institutional leadership functions more effectively as a contingent moderating mechanism than as an independent driver in shaping organizational responses to institutional pressures.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) industry is crucial for South Africa’s economic growth as it contributes to GDP, boosts employment, and fosters innovation, though SMEs face numerous limitations that hinder their ability to operate and expand. The objective of this paper was to explore the effect of strategic planning on operational efficiency in South African SMEs. Based on data from 282 SMEs across various sectors in South Africa, the regression analysis shows a strong positive correlation between operational efficiency and strategic planning (r = 0.296, p < 0.0005). The coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.087 suggests that strategic planning accounts for approximately 8.7% of the variance in operational efficiency. While this figure may appear modest, it is statistically significant (F = 26.806, p < 0.0005), indicating that strategic planning plays a meaningful role in enhancing operational efficiency. The paper highlights important strategic initiatives that enhance productivity and competitiveness, such as designing, implementing, and monitoring business strategic plans, as well as resource availability. The socioeconomic environment of the SME industry is given special consideration, emphasizing how customized approaches can get beyond structural obstacles and promote sustainable development.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The performance of family-owned small and medium-sized enterprises is a primary concern for their leaders. Through digital transformation, these firms are able to create added value and promote their growth. This study examines the effect of digital transformation on the performance of family SMEs, considering the moderating role of family involvement in management. As a result, a quantitative study was adopted using an online survey. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 182 Moroccan family SMEs, with responses obtained from their owner-managers between September and October 2025. In addition, the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SMART PLS 4 software. The results confirm that the digital transformation of family SMEs has a positive effect on their commercial (β = 0.532, p < 0.05) and financial (β = 0.249, p < 0.05) performance but has no significant effect on operational performance (β = 0.124, p > 0.05). Furthermore, family involvement in management negatively moderates the relationship between digital transformation and commercial performance (β = –0.166, p < 0.05) and positively moderates the relationship between digital transformation and operational performance (β = 0.309, p < 0.05). Moreover, family involvement does not affect the relationship between digital transformation and financial performance (β = 0.040, p > 0.05). The results explain the importance of implementing new digital technologies in family SMEs to improve performance and highlight the nuanced, dual role of family involvement as both an inhibitor and a facilitator.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Traditional food enterprises in emerging economies face intensifying pressures to balance authenticity preservation with modern market demands while achieving sustainable performance across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. This study examines how entrepreneurial orientation translates into business sustainability performance through product innovation and digital marketing capabilities among artisan tofu producers in North Sumatra, Indonesia. A structured survey collected data from 320 artisan tofu producers selected through purposive sampling targeting owner-operators with a minimum of three years of operation. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling to test parallel and serial mediation pathways. Results reveal that entrepreneurial orientation significantly influences product innovation capability (β = 0.762, p < 0.001) and digital marketing capability (β = 0.308, p < 0.001). Both capabilities mediate the entrepreneurial orientation–sustainability relationship, with innovation capability demonstrating stronger effects (β = 0.311, p < 0.001) than marketing capability (β = 0.302, p < 0.001). The analysis confirms asymmetric parallel mediation, with indirect effects through innovation capability (β = 0.236) exceeding those through marketing capability (β = 0.093). Serial mediation shows innovation capability enhances marketing capability (β = 0.433, p < 0.001), which subsequently affects sustainability performance (β = 0.131). The model explains 63.1% of the variance in business sustainability performance. These findings extend research on entrepreneurial orientation to resource-constrained traditional food contexts by demonstrating that capabilities operate both independently and sequentially. For artisan producers, systematic innovation documentation simultaneously enhances operational efficiency and generates substantive digital marketing content.

Acknowledgment
This study was supported by the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (DIKTI) Research Grant 2025 (Main Contract 122/C3/DT.05.00/PL/2025; Derivative Contracts 3/SPK/LL1/AL.04.03/PL/2025, 014/II.3-AU/UMSU-LP2M/C/2025).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines how two forms of perfectionism – self-doubt-driven and purpose-driven – affect employees’ mental health and well-being. Our study distinguishes between maladaptive and adaptive perfectionism and examines their relationships with burnout and job satisfaction. A quantitative online survey was conducted in Hungary with 478 participants (67% women, with a mean age of 29) via social media. The survey covered the staff of both Hungarian and foreign-owned companies, which were of different sizes. Participants were employed adults selected to obtain a varied sample across regions, education levels, and job positions. Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, factor analysis, and K-means clustering in SPSS to evaluate three hypotheses regarding the relationships between perfectionism and gender, job role, company ownership, burnout, and life satisfaction. Results showed that self-doubt-driven perfectionism strongly correlated with a higher burnout rate, whereas purpose-driven perfectionism was linked to greater life satisfaction. Contrary to assumptions, demographic factors such as gender, role, or company ownership did not consistently predict perfectionism levels. Two main perfectionism patterns – demanding perfection and doubt-driven – were identified, each producing different psychological outcomes.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This paper examines the impact of digital transformation on innovation management and strategic alignment as a mediator within Saudi Arabian renewable energy companies. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed with a convenience sample of 371 lower-, middle-, and senior-level managers. These respondents were involved in the implementation of digital transformation, innovation management processes, and organizational strategic planning within 45 officially licensed renewable energy companies. SmartPLS 4 (PLS-SEM) was chosen to assess the measurement and structural model. Findings demonstrate that digital transformation has a significant positive impact on innovation management (β = 0.348, p < 0.001), with varying effects across subdimensions of technological innovation (β = 0.165, p < 0.001), innovative organizational structure (β = 0.160, p < 0.001), and innovation strategy (β = 0.139, p < 0.001). Strategic alignment is significantly influenced by digital transformation (β = 0.300, p < 0.001), subsequently contributing to innovation management (β = 0.290, p < 0.001). Notably, strategic alignment partially mediates the digital transformation–innovation relationship (indirect effect: β = 0.087, p < 0.001), with indirect effect accounting for approximately 25%. These results suggest that digital transformation has a direct positive effect on the management of innovation by increasing technological capabilities, and strategic alignment can significantly increase the benefits of digital transformation. Overall, integration and strategic alignment between resources and capabilities enable companies to better utilize digital opportunities, tone business focus and workforce priorities, and support the role of the industry in achieving the overall objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Acknowledgment
We are grateful to Middle East University, Amman, Jordan, for the financial support to cover this article’s publishing fee.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Artificial intelligence is shaping digital governance, with global organizations emphasizing its opportunities and risks for public administration. The study aims to assess whether advancements in AI, measured by the AI Vibrancy Score (AIVS) and the Government AI Readiness Index (GAIRI), drive improvements in the E-Government Development Index (EGDI). Using panel data methods, the analysis draws on data from 36 countries for 2018–2022 (AIVS–EGDI) and 170 countries for 2020–2024 (GAIRI–EGDI), due to differing data availability and indicator coverage periods, applying fixed effects, random effects, and Mundlak specifications, combined with robust inference techniques. The results demonstrate that within-country improvements in AI readiness are positively and robustly associated with higher levels of e-government development, with the FE estimate for the Government AI Readiness Index equal to 0.17 (p < 0.001). RE models reveal stronger cross-country correlations, with coefficients of 2.55 (p < 0.001) for the AI Vibrancy Score and 0.35 (p < 0.001) for AI readiness. However, Mundlak (correlated RE) specifications indicate that the between-country components are statistically insignificant. Yet, the within-country effects remain significant, suggesting that dynamic national reforms and policy-driven progress outweigh inherited structural advantages. Time effects are pronounced, with positive and significant shifts in 2020 (+7.02) and 2022 (+8.10) relative to the baseline year, reflecting the acceleration of digital public administration during the post-pandemic period. Country-specific effects exhibit substantial heterogeneity, ranging from strongly positive deviations (e.g., Denmark, Estonia, Korea) to persistently negative ones (e.g., India, South Africa), underscoring the uneven national trajectories. Robustness checks using clustered standard errors confirm the stability of all key coefficients.

Acknowledgment
This paper was prepared based on the results of a study funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine entitled “Digitalization of the public-private partnership system as a driver of the state’s economic security in the war and post-war periods” (registration number: 0126U000543).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, the energy and inflation shock, and the Russian–Ukrainian war have challenged macroeconomic stability in European countries while exposing the limitations of traditional, single-indicator assessments. This study aims to analyze the evolution and structural drivers of macroeconomic stability across successive crisis regimes in European countries by applying a pentagon-based composite index that captures the joint interactions among growth, inflation, fiscal balance, labor-market conditions, and external positions. The empirical analysis is based on annual macroeconomic data for European countries over 2019–2024 and employs policy-consistent distance-to-target normalization combined with a non-additive pentagon-area aggregation method. The results indicate that macroeconomic stability was relatively high before the shocks, with an average index value of approximately 0.61 in 2019, reflecting broadly balanced macroeconomic conditions. In 2020, stability collapsed to an average of about 0.15, driven primarily by the near-universal contraction in GDP growth and the deterioration of fiscal balances. A partial recovery followed in 2021, when the average index increased to around 0.35, but persistent fiscal imbalances prevented a full return to pre-crisis stability. In 2022, macroeconomic stability deteriorated again, with the average index falling to roughly 0.21 as inflation moved far outside the tolerance corridor in more than 90%. The subsequent period was characterized by heterogeneous and incomplete adjustment. By 2024, overall stability improved to an average of approximately 0.41 following the normalization of inflation. However, countries with chronic fiscal and external imbalances continued to exhibit low levels of stability, underscoring the non-compensatory nature of macroeconomic stability.

Acknowledgment
This study was conducted within the framework of the MSCA4Ukraine project 06030419, funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Research Executive Agency or the MSCA4Ukraine Consortium. Neither the European Union, the European Research Executive Agency, nor the MSCA4Ukraine Consortium, nor any individual member institution of the MSCA4Ukraine Consortium can be held responsible for them. The publication of this paper was funded by EKA University of Applied Sciences (Latvia) and Daugavpils University (Latvia).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the factors influencing human capital development through the integration of key innovative competencies and to assess their contribution to readiness for Industry 4.0. A quantitative survey was conducted among 1,447 respondents aged 18–63 across Kazakhstan between September and October 2025. This population was selected because individuals aged 18–63 represent the core economically active workforce in Kazakhstan and are directly involved in human capital formation. The survey method was selected to capture a large and diverse sample and to examine relationships between latent constructs within the proposed model. Structural equation modeling using the partial least squares method (PLS-SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between innovative competencies and human capital development. The results demonstrate that all examined innovative competencies have positive and statistically significant effects on human capital development (p < 0.001). Creativity shows the strongest influence (β = 0.333), followed by emotional intelligence (β = 0.241), artificial intelligence (β = 0.135), and critical thinking (β = 0.129). Human capital, in turn, exerts a strong positive effect on readiness for Industry 4.0 (β = 0.650, p < 0.001), thereby demonstrating that developing human capital is essential for the effective adoption and coherent integration of Industry 4.0 technologies. These results provide valuable direction for policymakers, educators, and organizations aiming to enhance workforce readiness for Industry 4.0 by strategically investing in innovative skill development initiatives.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of digitalization on youth unemployment in Kazakhstan over the period 2010–2023, with particular attention to the roles of education expenditure and urbanization, using an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL). The analysis is based on annual national-level data obtained from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan and related official sources. Digitalization is proxied by Internet usage rates, while education expenditure, urbanization, and gross regional product are included as control variables. The ARDL bounds testing approach with heteroskedasticity-consistent estimators is employed to capture both short-run dynamics and long-run relationships among the variables. The results indicate a statistically significant short-run effect of digitalization on youth unemployment. Specifically, a 1% increase in Internet penetration is associated with an average reduction of approximately 0.27% in the youth unemployment rate, holding other factors constant. This relationship remains robust across alternative specifications, HAC estimators, and structural break adjustments accounting for the 2015 oil price shock and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In contrast, education expenditure and economic growth exhibit weak or delayed effects on youth unemployment, while evidence of long-run cointegration is borderline. The findings suggest that digitalization contributes to reducing youth unemployment in Kazakhstan primarily through short-term labor market efficiency gains. However, sustaining these effects requires complementary investments in digital skills, education reform, and balanced regional development to ensure inclusive employment outcomes.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines whether environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance mitigates earnings management within the setting of corporate takeovers in the United Kingdom. The study utilized a panel dataset of 380 UK takeover targets (1,121 firm-year observations) acquired from 2013 to 2023. We measure accrual-based earnings management using discretionary accruals. The findings reveal that targets manipulate their earnings in the first year with an earnings release prior to the acquisition relative to other periods in the three-year event period under study (β = 0.0168, p < 0.10). Crucially, firms with higher aggregate ESG scores exhibit substantially lower discretionary accruals (β = –0.026, p < 0.05), indicating that strong ESG performance constrains opportunistic reporting. This mitigating effect is driven primarily by the social pillar of ESG (β = –0.00069, p < 0.01). These results indicate that earnings management by takeover targets is concentrated in the period of greatest valuation scrutiny, highlighting the strategic nature of preacquisition reporting behavior. Moreover, our results further suggest that ESG performance, particularly social responsibility, acts as a governance mechanism that constrains managerial opportunism when incentives to manipulate earnings are strongest.

Acknowledgment
We would like to thank the United Arab Emirates University for funding this research with the research grant number CARP Grant 2023.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Despite the growth of investments in higher education and innovative infrastructure in Kazakhstan, institutional and regional differences continue to shape heterogeneous outcomes in graduate employment. This study aims to assess the impact of higher education on the economic development and employment of graduates in Kazakhstan, while accounting for regional differences. The empirical research base is formed using official and publicly available statistical data from the Bureau of National Statistics and other government agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period 2000–2024. The study employs panel data econometric methods, including fixed-effects models and extended specifications. The results of the analysis show that investments in fixed assets per capita are positively and statistically significantly related to the level of gross regional product (β = 0.2855; p < 0.01), while average wages do not have a statistically significant effect (p = 0.941). The higher education index and the level of urbanization have negative and statistically significant coefficients (p < 0.05), and innovation activity shows a positive effect only in alternative model specifications. The results obtained emphasize the importance of considering the institutional and spatial characteristics of regions when forming management policies in the field of higher education, youth employment, and regional economic development.

Acknowledgments
This paper has been funded by the Science Committee MSHE RK (Grant “Modernization of the quality assurance system of higher education in Kazakhstan based on digitalization: development of approaches, mechanisms and information base” BR24992974).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
In a productive environment characterized by increasing demands for sustainability, traceability, and differentiation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a central role in economic development. This study aims to evaluate the predictive effect of human, structural, and relational capital on product, process, marketing, and organizational innovation in Ecuadorian SMEs. The analysis is based on a structured survey administered to 395 SME managers and owners from the manufacturing, commercial, and service sectors located in the provinces of Tungurahua, Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo (Ecuador) during July and August 2025. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), incorporating bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples and external validation through a holdout approach (80% training and 20% validation). The results reveal that all hypothesized relationships are positive and statistically significant (p < 0.001), with standardized path coefficients ranging from β = 0.20 to β = 0.66. Structural capital has the strongest effect on process innovation (β = 0.60), while relational capital has the strongest effect on organizational innovation (β = 0.54). The model explains a substantial proportion of variance in innovation outcomes, with R² values of 0.47 for product innovation, 0.51 for process innovation, 0.52 for marketing innovation, and 0.44 for organizational innovation. Predictive validation confirms the model’s accuracy, yielding low prediction errors (RMSE = 0.20–0.23; MAE = 0.16–0.18). These findings provide updated empirical evidence on the strategic role of intellectual capital in enhancing innovation performance in Latin American SMEs and highlight the relevance of intangible resources.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The study aims to empirically group European countries based on competitiveness determinants and adult education demand to form a generalized cluster representation of their socio-economic characteristics. The sample covers 36 European countries from 2015 to 2024. The information base was formed using a set of indicators derived from the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), together with an indicator reflecting adult education demand. The methodology includes standardization of indicators, selection of relevant variables using principal component analysis, and cluster analysis. The first two principal components explain 76.3% of the total variance, allowing a substantial reduction in the dimensionality of the dataset while preserving most of the information contained in the initial indicators. Clustering was conducted using Ward’s hierarchical method and the k-means algorithm, with verification of differences between clusters by analysis of variance (p < 0.05). To examine structural changes over time, clustering was performed for three benchmark years: 2015, 2020, and 2024. The results reveal five clusters of countries differing in institutional development, innovation potential, business environment characteristics, and adult education participation. A relatively stable core of highly competitive economies was identified, including Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland. Other clusters show greater variability in composition. Across the benchmark years selected within the 2015–2024 observation period, Ukraine remained within the cluster characterized by the lowest values of competitiveness determinants and adult education demand, reflecting persistent structural constraints in the development of human capital and lifelong learning systems.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The entry of Generation Z into organizations brings new expectations regarding how performance is defined in the workplace. Performance is no longer assessed solely on results, but also on alignment with values, psychological well-being, and preferences, thus requiring adjustments in performance management practices. This study aims to analyze the influence of employee preferences, work styles, organizational culture, and mental health on the performance of Generation Z employees in startup companies. A quantitative approach was employed using primary data collected through questionnaires distributed to 160 Generation Z employees working in startup companies in Medan City, Indonesia, selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test both direct and indirect relationships. The results show that work preferences (p = 0.000), work style (p = 0.002), and organizational culture (p = 0.000) have a positive and significant effect on the performance of Generation Z. In addition, work preferences (p = 0.000), work style (p = 0.000), and organizational culture (p = 0.008) also have a significant effect on mental health, while mental health has a significant effect on performance (p = 0.004). Mental health was found to mediate the influence of work preferences (p = 0.017) and work style (p = 0.018) on performance but did not mediate the influence of organizational culture on performance (p = 0.058). This study contributes novelty by demonstrating that mental health functions as a selective mediator in shaping Generation Z performance in startup settings, thereby enriching theoretical perspectives on young employee performance formation.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study addresses the critical need to understand how emerging economic drivers can facilitate common prosperity by empirically examining the mechanisms by which new quality productivity and international trade facilitate common prosperity. The aim is to identify and compare the respective roles of these two forces in promoting common prosperity. Using panel data from 11 prefecture-level cities in Zhejiang Province, China, covering the period 2014–2023, the study finds that new quality productivity exerts a significant positive influence on common prosperity in Zhejiang Province (the coefficient of new quality productivity to common prosperity is 0.79), serving as the primary driving force behind this endeavor. International trade also exerts a significant positive impact on common prosperity (the coefficient of international trade to common prosperity is 0.19). Both forces jointly propel common prosperity in Zhejiang Province, with new quality productivity serving as the core engine and international trade providing crucial support. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the effect is stronger in the coastal areas of eastern Zhejiang (regression coefficient is 0.629) than in the inland regions of western Zhejiang (regression coefficient is 0.438). This study provides theoretical foundations and policy references for Zhejiang Province to advance common prosperity by synergistically developing new quality productivity forces and international trade.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The effectiveness of international development assistance in promoting sustainable development remains a central question for the management of multilateral aid and public governance as the 2030 Agenda enters its final years. This paper examines the relationship between aid effectiveness, measured by the World Bank’s Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA), and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across 76 IDA-eligible countries over the period 2005–2023. Using two-way fixed-effects panel estimations with clustered standard errors, the analysis covers five individual SDG indicators (poverty, child mortality, primary education, electricity access, and employment) and the composite SDG Index. The results show that the overall CPIA score is significantly associated with poverty reduction in low-income countries (β = −12.0, p < 0.10), while its effect on the composite SDG Index is statistically insignificant within countries, despite a strong cross-sectional association. A cluster decomposition reveals that structural policies drive improvements in child mortality and electricity access, while economic management supports employment outcomes. Sub-sample analysis demonstrates pronounced heterogeneity: the marginal return to institutional quality is highest in the poorest economies and shifts toward health and labor market outcomes as countries move up the income ladder. GDP per capita remains the dominant predictor across all SDG dimensions, confirming that aid effectiveness complements rather than substitutes for domestic economic capacity. These findings support a differentiated management approach to development assistance that targets specific governance dimensions to specific SDG outcomes and prioritizes institutional strengthening in the most resource-constrained settings.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
University governance increasingly relies on the use of performance indicators and management control tools, intended to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability. However, their implementation in public universities in emerging countries remains poorly documented. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of performance indicators and management control tools on the academic and administrative performance of Moroccan public universities. The analysis is based on a quantitative survey conducted with 37 university managers (administrators, auditors, management controllers, and deans) at Moroccan public universities. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire between March and May 2025. The responses were analyzed using Fisher’s exact/Monte Carlo tests, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and ordinal logistic regressions, with a significance threshold of 5%. The results show that the most frequently used indicators concern academic, administrative, and financial management (over 70% of respondents), while digital and environmental indicators remain less deployed (less than 40%). The use of administrative indicators is significantly related to the role of the respondents (p = 0.007). A strong positive correlation is observed between perceptions of academic and administrative impact (r = 0.678; p < 0.001). Regular audit practices and the integration of dashboards are associated with a perceived improvement in overall performance, whereas university–business partnerships appear to have a limited impact on graduate employability. It appears that performance indicators and management control tools contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of Moroccan public universities, but their digital adoption remains insufficient. Strengthening audits, expanding the use of dashboards, and investing in digital skills are recommended to consolidate managerial performance.