Proceeding of the World Conference on Management, Business, and Finance
The Proceedings of The World Conference on Management, Business, and Finance (WORLDMBF) include peer-reviewed papers from the World Conference on Management, Business, and Finance. Conference Proceedings is intended to share knowledge in the fields of Management, Business, and Finance. Learn more about the Management, Business, and Finance Conference
Business Climate Evolution in the Balkans: Correlations, Growth, and Structural Changes (2004–2020)
This research investigates the evolution of business regulatory environments in the Balkans over seventeen years (2004-2020). The paper uses data from the World Bank’s Doing Business reports. We focus on the main indicator groups: Starting a Business, Dealing with Construction Permits, Getting Electricity, Registering Property, Getting Credit, Protecting Minority Investors, Paying Taxes, Trading Across Borders, Enforcing Contracts, and Resolving Insolvency. A correlation analysis is performed within and across indicator groups for the purpose of estimating the degree of convergence among countries. Through this analysis, it is possible to identify countries showing greater similarity in terms of business environment, and how it changes in time. Moreover, it is estimated that the growth of each indicator from 2004 to 2020 provides a view of times of changes in business conditions. Last, we assess the possible structural breaks in 2016 for each indicator, with the purpose of understanding whether important regulatory changes impacted the estimated observations during that period. Our research objective is to analyze the impact of regulatory reforms, the pace of convergence of key business indicators towards the best global practices, and the divergence of improvement path across different areas of business regulations in different countries. The conclusions of this research may serve policymakers and other stakeholders interested in long-term institutional improvements in the Balkan Region. The findings aim to shed light on regional patterns of regulatory reform, the pace of convergence toward global best practices, and the heterogeneity of progress across different areas of business regulation. Insights from this study offer valuable input for policymakers and investors interested in the long-term institutional development of the Balkan economies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zhaklina Dhamo, Gentian Hoxhalli, Laura Martiri (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Organization Politics and Employee Performance – Evidence from Sonacrest Healthcare Nigeria Plc
Organization politics is a great concern to work environment and many employers of labour has never crafted out methodologies and strategies to cope with the dynamics and complexities that is associated with this phenomenon, In view of the danger of not managing organization politics within the ambit of acceptable threshold many organization has lost the power of competiveness and profitability, therefore the study examined organization politics and employee performance in Sonacrest Healthcare Nigeria Plc. The objectives of the study is to analyse the effect of organization politics on employee performance, where organization politics is examined as lobbying, withholding relevant information and sustaining influence and control; employee performance is examined to be adherence to administrative standard, employee efficiency and quality of work. The study adopts survey research design with a primary source of data collection which was obtained through the use of questionnaire while random sampling techniques were used in administration of the instrument to retrieved 225 samples out of 250 instruments administered through survey. The method employed in analyzing the data involved descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentage while research hypotheses was tested using Linear regression analysis as statistical techniques and this was done with the use of Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS 26.0 Version). The findings from this study shows that lobbying has brought significant negative effect to the administration standard in Sonacrest Healthcare Nigeria Plc as 1% increase in lobbying led to 35.8% decrease in effective administration standard; also revealed that withholding relevant information have significant negative effect on Employee Efficiency in Sonacrest Healthcare Nigeria Plc. However, it revealed that Sustainable Influence and Control has statistical significant impact on the Quality of Work as indicated that 1% increase in Sustaining Influence and Control led to 22.9% increase in Quality of Work at the (P-value of 0.000 < 0.05%). Findings from the study revealed that though organization politics when used constructively could help navigate complex systems, it is expected that managing organization politics effectively is essential for all corporate stakeholder in realizing organizational objectives and values. The study concluded that organizational politics could be corrosive and dirty especially where it is touching administrative standard and protocols, employee efficiency and quality of work. Based on the conclusion the study recommended that managers and decision makers in the organization should ensure that organizational politics is curtailed and managed within the threshold of acceptable standard where work flow are not halted and employees not sidelined, maligned and emotionally tortured by the whip of inequality that organizational politics represent in most cases. Organizations should ensure that organization politics that is often times associated with sycophancy and mediocrity does not subsume management structure that should enhance meritocracy so that quality of work and efficiency of employees are not hampered.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ogundare Olusegun Samuel, Dr Ajose Kehinde Gabriel, Ogundare Comfort Oluwatobi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Remote Work on Team Dynamics and Communication
This study probes the impact of remote work arrangements and provisions on team dynamics and communication within organizations in Ghana. The disruptive effect of COVID-19 on in–person workflows brought increased remote work, which has become increasingly prevalent. Understanding its characteristics in terms of collaboration, trust, and information flow is fundamental to management and organizational behavior. Using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews, the research examines how remote work powers team formation and cohesion, conflict resolution, and communication effectiveness. This inclusive approach allows for an in-depth understanding of the various angles remote work factors bring to the team's overall effectiveness. The findings reveal that, notwithstanding the flexibility and autonomy remote work offers, it equally presents challenges relating to contracted social interaction, increased reliance on technology-mediated communication, and potential misunderstandings of the institutional command chain. The study identifies key factors, such as communication strategies, leadership support, and technology infrastructure, that can moderate these challenges and foster positive team dynamics in remote work environments. Ultimately, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the convolutions of remote work and provides insights for organizations seeking to optimize team performance and communication in distributed settings.
Organizational behavior Technology infrastructure
Copyright (c) 2025 Eric Davidson Kweku Agyei, Mohammed Yahaya Alimatu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Digital Transformation for Public Value Creation
Interest Interest in the digital transformation, which in its broadest sense indicates a process of continuous evolution aimed at increasing over time the reproduction of world capital through technological innovation, initially spread among companies looking for ways to improve their resilience in the event of future crises. The Covid-19 pandemic has considerably accelerated the process of digitalization and organizational transformation within companies and in the Italian public sphere. The paper takes a systemic perspective and analyses the profound transformation that the Italian public administration has undergone and the development of a new approach to technology and data management, as well as a new way of selecting and dealing with suppliers, and defined a new strategy to support the transformation from e-government to digital government. The qualitative methodology used to achieve this objective is the analysis of a case study carried out by the Institute for Prevention and Accidents at Work (INAIL). In line with the vision of an innovative public administration, open to change and sensitive to the issue of organizational well-being, The Institute has transformed the way its employees work through high-level technological solutions and collaboration platforms. The paper contributes to research by highlighting the relationship between various technological trends, the evolution of organisational models and their social consequences.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marta Grasso (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Acquiring Values-based Firms: The Case of Non-Craft acquiring Craft
We advance a theoretical framework of coopetition under competing notions of value creation. Craft ventures embrace the craft ethos that is socially constructed by market actors’ beliefs, relationships, and shared norms. The entry of multinational enterprises (MNEs) presents particular challenges to and offers opportunities for the craft market, especially the management of human capital. Specifically, entering MNEs employ coopetition strategies, while incumbent craft ventures seek to preserve coopetitive relationships. We contextualize our theoretical framework in the craft beer industry due to its rich history collective action, sustainable practices and of coopetition. Finally, we illustrate the utility of the theoretical framework to a specific MNE acquisition into the craft brewing market.
Copyright (c) 2025 Prof. Dr. Peter Gianiodis (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Quantifying the Effects of Human Capital on Governance: Regression and Comparative Analysis of Four Fragile States
Fragile states face persistent governance challenges. This is often assessed quantitatively through CPIA (Country Policy and Institutional Assessment) scores. This study examines the impact of human capital investment—measured through education, healthcare, and social protection spending—on governance strength using multivariate regression analysis. Focusing on Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic from 2000–2022, an OLS model identifies education spending as the strongest predictor of CPIA scores, followed by healthcare and social protection. To complement the regression analysis, this paper presents comparative case studies which link higher investment to higher CPIA scores, and lower investment to worse governance scores. Rwanda and Ethiopia exhibited stronger governance outcomes than South Sudan and CAR. To understand how different investment pathways might influence future outcomes, the results from the regression analysis are used for three projected scenarios: a best-case scenario, modeled after Rwanda’s Vision 2050, estimated CPIA growth with 6% of GDP allocated to education, 5% to healthcare, and 40% to social protection coverage, while moderate and worst-case projections, based on Ethiopia and South Sudan investment data, predicted incremental or declining governance stability. To make this actionable, this study presents a step-by-step policy roadmap: in the short term, governments should expand teacher training and subsidize healthcare; in the medium term, healthcare workforce development and employment programs should be prioritized; in the long term, countries should increase in investment in healthcare and embed human capital investment expansively into national budgets. These steps will help build resilient, self-sustaining economies in the long run.
Copyright (c) 2025 Olivia Lu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of Online Visibility Strategies on Territorial Attractiveness:A Comparative Analysis Before and After Digital Activation
The aim of this research is to question the relevance of establishing a territorial brand and its ability to fulfill its promises in terms of optimizing territorial actions intended for residents, tourists, and investors, as well as its capacity to unite stakeholders and bring them together around a single mission: to make the territory shine at both national and international levels, thanks to digital tools. Indeed, digital marketing is now essential for the existence of Generation Z and Alpha. According to Amidou (2014), since the emergence of digital marketing, internet users who were already consumers have become journalists, videographers, photographers, and share their experiences until they develop expertise. Digital has today become the preferred means for marketers to establish a direct relationship with the target; in our case, this is the core target of territorial marketing, namely: the resident. We deemed the territory of Casablanca/Morocco suitable for research for three main reasons; the first is that we are close to the issue since we collaborate with the local development company "Casablanca Events & Animation," which is the leader of the territorial brand "WeCasablanca." The second is that the brand is the first territorial brand launched in Africa in 2016, and the third is that the brand has gained notoriety and reputation thanks to digital channels. We have chosen a multi-target system incorporating the three targets of territorial marketing (residents, tourists, and investors) and a methodological mix combining two approaches conducted simultaneously; a qualitative approach for an in-depth investigation, and a quantitative approach for a measured diagnosis. The main results highlight that Casablanca is a city appreciated by its residents and tourists but with a contrasting image, and that the Wecasablanca brand has evolved in terms of notoriety and brand image thanks to digital marketing, also showing great positive and unifying prospects for stakeholders that need to be continued to be built upon.
Copyright (c) 2025 Khatib Majda, Alaoui Yasmine (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Factors Influencing Investment Decisions in Mutual Funds for Tax Benefits in Thailand
There are 19 personal income tax allowances in Thailand. One of tax allowances that are interesting is investing in Mutual funds such as Retirement Mutual Fund (RMF), Super Saving Fund (SSF), Thai Environment Social and Governance Fund (Thai ESG) and National Saving Fund. This study aims to examine investment decisions in Mutual Funds for tax allowance and determine factors that influence investment decisions. 400 online questionnaires are distributed to individual taxpayers for data collection. Descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression analysis are used for analysis. Preliminary results indicate that Retirement Mutual Funds tend to be invested by taxpayers rather than other mutual funds because they receive both tax benefit and investment returns after retirement. Education level and income are significant factors influencing investment decisions. Taxpayers with higher income and education levels tend to engage in more tax planning than taxpayers with lower income and education levels. However, taxpayers with higher income and education levels are less likely to invest in mutual funds than those with lower income and education levels. Perhaps, lower income and lower education taxpayers seek more tax savings through mutual fund investments, whereas higher income and higher education taxpayers may have alternatives investment options.
Copyright (c) 2025 Supawadee Thanusorn, Thamrongsak Svetalekth, Kanjana Phonsumlissakul (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring Factors Affecting Employee Motivation in the Private Sector: A Preliminary Study on Jordanian Organizations
The purpose of this research is to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing employee motivation in private sector organizations in Jordan, with a particular focus on companies located in Amman. Employee motivation is a critical component of organizational success, and identifying the key drivers can provide valuable insights for improving workplace performance and satisfaction. The research design is grounded in existing theories and explores the relationship between employee motivation and various organizational and personal factors. These factors include leadership style, empowerment, opportunities for personal and professional development, compensation, job security, and the overall work environment. A conceptual model was developed to investigate these relationships systematically. The study employs a quantitative methodology, with data collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to employees working in private sector organizations in Amman. The findings aim to contribute to a better understanding of motivational drivers and provide practical recommendations for organizations seeking to enhance employee motivation and engagement. This research serves as a preliminary study and lays the groundwork for further in-depth investigations into motivation in the context of Jordan's private sector.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Alawamleh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analyzing the Effects of Profitability, Liquidity, Credit Risk and Efficiency on Commercial Bank Performance: Evidence from Jordan
This research aims to examine the various risk factors that affect Jordan's banking sector, such as credit risk, liquidity, profitability, and operational efficiency. The study involved thirteen commercial banks on the Amman Stock Exchange that were listed during the period 2010-2023. Capital adequacy, return on assets, net interest margin, and nonperforming loans were the independent variables. As a dependent variable, the loan-to-deposit ratio measures the bank’s institutional performance. The study used multiple linear regression, correlation, and analysis of variance. The results show that there is a positive correlation between the loan to debt ratio, capital adequacy ratio, net interest margin, and return on assets. Conversely, Loan-to-deposit ratios are lowered by nonperforming loans. This study offers a thorough examination of the relationship between operational effectiveness and liquidity and the long-term prosperity of the banking sector, which may further suggest successful policymaking. Also, this study adds to previous research by offering concrete data regarding how financial ratios affect commercial banks' performance. especially in less developed countries such as Jordan.
Copyright (c) 2025 Assistant Professor Mohammad Al-Dwiry (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Corporate Social Responsibility as a tool for soft skills enhancement: Stakeholder engagement approach
Soft skills are widely acknowledged as vital for achieving organisational objectives and success in the modern workplace. However, challenges such as reluctance to change and limited training resources have hindered their development, leading managers to underestimate their significance. Training in soft skills is essential for managers, leaders, researchers, and stakeholders aiming to build productive relationships and achieve goals efficiently. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes offer a valuable avenue for enhancing soft skills by providing practical learning opportunities where individuals can practice and refine these critical competencies. This study investigates the impact of CSR programmes on soft skills development among managers, employees, and stakeholders, highlighting their role in improving CSR outcomes. Through a systematic review of recent literature and case studies, the paper examines how skills such as communication, teamwork, and empathy can enhance policy development and community-focused programmes. It further identifies best practices and tools for integrating soft skills into organisational strategies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hlengiwe Nzama-Mqeke, Vangeli Gamede (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Solving The Puzzle of Entrepreneurship Education: Comprehending Pedagogy, Entrepreneurship Curriculum, And Lecturer Competency
By concentrating on lecturer competency, entrepreneurship curriculum, and pedagogy, this qualitative study investigates the intricate terrain of entrepreneurship education. The study used a qualitative inductive methodology and the Gioia methodology to gather data from 14 individuals who were actively involved in entrepreneurship education and development at different South African universities. By examining the following important topics, the study fills important gaps in the existing literature: the best ways to teach entrepreneurship, curriculum elements that are necessary, sources of entrepreneurial knowledge, and general tactics to promote entrepreneurship in higher education. The results demonstrate the variety of scholarly viewpoints and emphasize the value of interactive and collaborative teaching strategies in preparing students for the challenges of entrepreneurship. The study offers insightful information that may be used to improve entrepreneurship education in South African higher education through policy and practice.
Copyright (c) 2025 Prof. Dr.Chux Gervase Iwu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
From Numbers to Caring by the Numbers: Unlocking the BLEND for High-Performance Organizations. This presentation explores how to close the gap between data-driven business goals and people-focused leadership
In the contemporary business world, achieving success requires more than focusing solely on numbers; it involves integrating quantitative data with a human-centric approach to drive sustained high performance. "Modern Business: Leveraging the Synergy of Numbers and People" explores how combining data-driven insights with effective people management can create a powerful synergy that enhances organizational outcomes. This keynote will delve into the strategic alignment of numerical metrics—such as performance indicators, financial results, and operational efficiencies—with the dynamics of people management, including leadership, culture, and employee engagement. By blending these aspects, modern businesses can unlock new levels of productivity, innovation, and growth. Attendees will gain practical insights into three key pillars to effectively bridge the gap between data and people: Leveraging Personal Diversity as an Asset: Utilizing diverse perspectives to drive innovation and improve decision-making. Empowering Middle Managers as Integrators: equipping these leaders to align team efforts with strategic goals and facilitate communication between executives and employees. Fostering a Culture of Collaborative High Performance: Creating an environment where teamwork, open communication, and shared goals drive exceptional results and organizational cohesion. Through case studies and actionable strategies, I will illustrate how businesses can create a cohesive approach that maximizes both numerical performance and employee potential. Executives, business leaders, and HR professionals seeking to optimize their strategies by harnessing the full spectrum of business dynamics will benefit from this session. Discover how to leverage the synergy of numbers and people to drive sustainable success and gain a competitive edge.
Copyright (c) 2025 Natalie Runoff (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This study aims to investigate the relationship between board size and firm performance of non-financial institutions in Jordan. The study employs the panel data of 57 non-financial institutions of the industrial and services sector over the period 2012–2023. Firm performance is measured by return on assets ROA. While board composition was explained by board size, non-executive directors (NEDs), and a number of board meetings. Firm age, leverage and firm size were added to our model as control variables. Our results reveal that board size, non-executive directors (NEDs), firm age, and firm size have a positive significant impact on firm performance, whereas the number of board meetings and leverage have a negative significant impact on firm performance. This paper will contribute to the ongoing debate on the relationship between the board composition and firm performance. Therefore, the current study extends previous literature by providing empirical evidence about the relationship between board size and firm performance. Particularly in developing countries, there is relatively a little researched area. Jordanian firms are needed to consider the significance of the board size especially, for the non-financial institutions that can help them in designing the board strategies to enhance their performance. Therefore, Jordanian data will offer new empirical evidence in an emerging market, which will provide a better understanding of the relationship between board characteristics and firm performance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Associate Professor, Zyad Marashdeh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A New Approach Using the Lindley Distribution in Stochastic Frontier Analysis
Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) plays a crucial role in assessing technical efficiency and modeling production processes across various disciplines. Traditionally, SFA assumes specific error distributions, such as the normal distribution for random effects and the half-normal distribution for technical efficiency. However, the choice of error distributions can significantly impact model estimation and interpretation. This study proposes a novel approach by incorporating the Lindley distribution as a flexible error distribution in SFA, termed Lindley Stochastic Frontier Analysis (L-SFA). This extension offers a more detailed representation of the error structure, potentially enhancing the accuracy of efficiency estimates. The derivation and solution of maximum likelihood estimators for the theoretical foundations of L-SFA are provided. Furthermore, a simulation study demonstrates the advantages of L-SFA over traditional SFA. The findings underscore the importance of flexible error distributions in capturing the complexities of production processes with this new SFA extension.
Copyright (c) 2024 İsmail Yenilmez (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Novel Approach For Evaluating Service Effectiveness in Urban Passenger Transportation
The attractiveness of public transportation systems plays an important role in the sustainability of cities. Despite the social role of urban public transport operators, their survival depends on their economic performance. Transport operators use performance evaluation tools to identify inefficient units and make improvements. Since the production (provided) of services by public transport systems does not necessarily imply their consumption, the concept of service effectiveness comes to the fore. Ease of access for users to the stop is one of the most important variables in determining the population that has the potential to use the service. It is well known that an increase in the distance of the users from the public transport stop causes a significant decrease in the preference rate for the stop and therefore for the transport system. In this study, for the first time in the literature, the potential user population of tram stops is considered as produced service variable, while the number of passengers transported through the stops is considered as a consumed service variable. Therefore, the population of the stop area, which is considered as the system input, represents the service potential of the transport system, while the number of passengers carried by the stops represents the actual output of the system. The proposed methodology for evaluating the service efficiency of stops using Data Envelopment Analysis is applied to the stops of a tram line, and important findings are presented regarding the preferability of the stops by the urban residents.
Copyright (c) 2024 Fatma YAŞLI ŞEN (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Central Bank Independence, Inflation and Volatility Nexus: Does Independence Can Solve Inflation?
In this study, the relationship between central bank independence and both inflation rate and inflation uncertainty is examined with the help of panel data analysis for BRICS-T countries, using data for the period 1995-2017. The findings reveal several notable results. First, the study finds a statistically significant and negative relationship between the level of central bank independence and inflation in BRICS-T countries. Consequently, this means that a higher degree of independence is associated with lower inflation rates. Additionally, the study reveals a statistically significant and positive relationship between central bank independence and inflation uncertainty. This shows that inflation uncertainty tends to increase as the level of independence increases. These results shed light on the complex dynamics between central bank independence, inflation, and inflation uncertainty, providing valuable information for policymakers, central banks, and researchers interested in monetary policy effectiveness and macroeconomic stability. It is recommended that future studies investigate the underlying mechanisms driving these relationships and evaluate potential differences across countries and time periods.
Copyright (c) 2024 Durmuş Çağrı Yıldırım, İbrahim Güran Yumuşak, İzel Aksu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Relationship between Stock Market-Based Financial Development and Economic Growth: The Case of Turkey
This study aims to examine the effect of financial development on economic growth in the case of Turkiye. Financial development is considered the one of the basic elements of economic development. It provides an important reference to better understand the relationship between financial development and economic growth in Turkey and to predict the effects of economic policies. In the study, quarterly data for the period January 1999 - January 2023 are analyzed for the Turkish economy with the help of ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag-ARDL) cointegration methodology. According to the results, it has been seen that the stock market index, which is an indicator of financial development, consumption and net exports has a positive effect on growth. On the other hand, investment has no effect on growth rate and government expenditure has negative effect on growth rate.
Copyright (c) 2024 Durmuş Çağrı Yıldırım, İbrahim Güran Yumuşak, Dilan Gürçak (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The gap Between Higher Education and the Labor Market: Documentary Research
Integrating young graduates into the workforce and meeting the needs of the labor market has long been a major challenge for higher education institutions. However, the mismatch between higher education supply and labor market demand makes this quest difficult. Despite the efforts made in recent years, the Moroccan context is no exception to this reality. In our work, we examine the relationship between higher education and the labor market, which has been subject to a large body of literature over the past few years. Indeed, this question of the gap between the education system and the labor market in Morocco requires reliable sectoral and occupational information. To this end, we first searched for relevant scientific articles in available databases, books, and official websites to complete our study. Second, we conducted a comprehensive review of the relevant literature on our topic using a narrative approach. The first part of this paper describes the global context and presents the main structural, demographic and statistical data to approach the situation in Morocco. The second part summarizes the literature on the mismatch between training and employment in an attempt to explain the link between higher education and the labor market. This study attempts to bring us closer to the reality of this link by addressing the key issues underlying the transition from academia to the labor market.
Copyright (c) 2024 Boutaina El Khattab, Siham Ajdour (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Culture and Theater Versus Place Branding - Bibliometric Analysis of Literature
Place branding is an issue that has been constantly evolving over the past decades. It is becoming crucial to take into account geopolitics, or dynamic technological advances. On the other hand, it is equally important to constantly revisit the previously established theoretical framework and understand the unchanging factors that shape a city's brand. Among these factors, culture is an important element. The author attempts to investigate the role of cooperation between theaters and local governments in the city branding process. In order to set the direction for future research, this article conducts a review of the existing literature and attempts to identify the research gap regarding the role of theater in city branding. To achieve the goal, the method of bibliometric analysis was used. The literature review included two bibliographic databases: Web of Science and Scopus. Scientific studies published between 2000 and 2024 were analyzed. VOSviewer software was used to visualize various bibliographic networks. A complementary method was the content analysis of selected articles in the topics covered. In order to more fully visualize the subject area under study, the content of the 10 most cited articles from the two databases mentioned above were analyzed. Based on the results of the study, a significant role of culture in place branding was identified. In contrast, none of the surveyed articles address the impact of theater on city branding. This indicates that there is a research gap regarding studies on the role of theater in city/place branding.
Copyright (c) 2024 Piotr Szekowski (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Current Compliance Challenges and How to Address them from an Expert Perspective
Compliance departments face a variety of challenges in these days. Constantly new legal requirements and new regulations give an idea of the problems compliance managers in companies are confronted with. The aim of this paper is not only to analyze the various challenges in the area of compliance, but also how these can be met in practice. The author uses the qualitative research approach of expert interviews and underpins the research with the theoretical derivation using the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities approach. The results show that the experts' opinions on the challenges are largely in agreement, while the different ways in which the experts approach the problems suggest that there does not seem to be one right solution for tackling the issues in the future. It is particularly interesting that possible approaches such as "creativity”, “flexibility “and “agility" also correspond with the theoretical derivation of the topic, according to which dynamic capabilities seem to be decisive for companies' competitive advantage in an ever-changing environment. The paper contributes to a better understanding of the current compliance situation in practice and at the same time points out very interesting new research needs, e.g. how possible solutions to overcome compliance challenges could be implemented.
Copyright (c) 2024 Corinna Elisabeth Frommelt (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Determinants of Sovereign Credit Rating in BRICS, G7 and NEXT11 Countries: A Comparative Analysis
This paper tries to investigate the determinants of sovereign credit ratings from 2016 to 2020. This has been conducted using S&P, Fitch and Moody’s ratings in 23 countries, including G7 (i.e. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United States), BRICS (i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and NEXT11 (i.e. Bangladesh, Egypt, Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan). Using panel analysis according to GMM technique, results reveal the importance of macroeconomic variables in explaining the sovereign credit rating, where GDP per Capita, GDP Growth, Economic Growth, External Debt, Unemployment Rate, Foreign Reserves and Inflation Rate seem to have significant effects on sovereign credit rating. In addition, robustness checks - using country types as control variables – have supported the significant effects of macroeconomic variables in explaining the sovereign credit rating. Country type seems to have different effects, where including in G7 may have a negative effect on S&P rating, while including in BRICS may have a negative effect on Fitch rating. In addition, including in NEXT11 may have a positive effect on Moody’s rating. This needs to be more elaborated.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nader Alber , Muhammad Massoud (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Navigating the Future of Healthcare in the Digital Health Landscape
The "Patient as an Organization" notion presents a revolutionary approach to healthcare in the era of digital health technologies. This innovative viewpoint underscores the need for companies and healthcare systems to adjust to swiftly changing settings and shift their emphasis towards a more comprehensive approach to meeting the individual patient's requirements. Acknowledging patients as intricate entities in their own right requires a transition towards healthcare that prioritizes the individual's needs and adapts to their distinct and changing health requirements. Ensuring this connection is especially crucial since healthcare providers are confronted with issues similar to those experienced by companies, including the need to navigate through political, economic, and social volatility. By using digital health technology, the healthcare industry improves its ability to handle patient data, promote cooperation among many parties, and encourage the development of innovative treatment options. Furthermore, this viewpoint emphasizes the need for healthcare organizations to rethink their strategies and operational models to effectively address the patient's position as an engaged participant in their treatment. Empirical research provides evidence for this change, emphasizing how adopting technology innovations may improve the delivery of services and the results for patients. This summary summarizes the results of many research, demonstrating the crucial importance of digital health in revolutionizing healthcare practices to become more adaptable, efficient, and focused on the needs of patients in a rapidly changing environment.
Copyright (c) 2024 Atantra Das Gupta (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Does Political Stability Affect the Stock Market Performance? A Worldwide Outlook
This study examines the impact of political stability on market price performance across countries from four continents: Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, using a quantitative research approach. The sample includes ten countries from each continent, selected based on World Bank classifications, for the period 20082022. The analysis involves independent variables such as political stability, GDP per capita, foreign direct investment (FDI), and inflation rate, measured according to World Bank standards. The research tests the hypothesis that political stability has no significant impact on stock market prices when controlling for these economic indicators. The results indicate that political stability alone has a minimal impact on market prices in Europe and Africa, but its significance increases when combined with GDP per capita and FDI. In the Americas and Asia, political stability shows a more obvious impact, especially when combined with other economic factors. Overall, the findings have highlighted that while political stability is important, economic indicators like GDP per capita and FDI play a crucial role in influencing market prices across all regions.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nader Alber , Mansour Abdelrhim, Mahmoud Farouh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of COVID 19 Spread on Banking Performance: Evidence from Middle East Countries
This paper tries to investigate the effects COVID 19 spread on the banking performance of MENA countries. COVID 19 spared has been measured by New Cases, Cumulative Cases, New Deaths and Cumulative Deaths. In addition, banking performance has been measured according to CAMELS approach that considers Capital adequacy, Asset quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity and Sensitivity to market risk. This has been conducted on Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates, using panel data analysis according to GMM technique, during the period from 2017 to 2022. Results indicate that each of Cumulative Cases, New Deaths and Cumulative Deaths may significantly affect banking performance of MENA countries.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nader Alber, Rehab Amin (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Linguistic Gender Marking and Earnings Management: International Evidence
In this paper, we explore the influence of linguistic gender marking on earnings management and the role that female representation on corporate boards plays in this relationship, across 30 countries. Our findings reveal that in countries with higher gender marking languages, there is a greater propensity for accruals and real earnings management. Notably, this positive correlation is less pronounced when there is higher representation of women on corporate boards, indicating that gender diversity may mitigate the impact of gender marking on earnings management practices. To ensure the validity of our findings, we perform rigorous robustness checks by controlling for various corporate governance factors, accounting for differences in language families, and employing mixed modeling techniques in our analysis. These additional tests consistently support our main results, highlighting the importance of considering the interplay between linguistic gender marking and female board representation in understanding the drivers of earnings management across different countries. Ultimately, our study underscores the potential benefits of promoting gender diversity in corporate leadership as a means of mitigating the adverse effects of cultural and linguistic factors on corporate financial reporting practices.
Copyright (c) 2024 Hussein Halabi, Ahmad Alshehabi, Amir Shoham, Zaheer Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring Financial Performance in Terms of Industry Effect: A Worldwide Evidence from 8 Sectors in 10 Stock Exchanges
This paper aims at exploring financial performance in terms of industry effect, as it tries to present worldwide evidence using profitability, liquidity, activity and leverage indicators of 735 listed companies from 8 sectors in 10 stock Exchanges during the period from 2015 to 2022. Using panel data analysis according to GMM technique, results indicate that each of Retail, Communication and Chemicals sectors seem to have no significant effects on financial performance of companies listed in the selected stock markets. Besides, Construction sector seems to have a positive significant effect on profitability, while Oil sector seems to have a positive significant effect on leverage and Finance sector seems to have a positive significant effect on liquidity. In addition, Transportation sector seems to have positive significant effects on profitability and liquidity and a negative significant effect on activity, while Food sector seems to have a positive significant effect on liquidity. Robustness checks have been conducted for each stock market and supported these results.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nader Alber, Adel Said (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effects of Supply Chain Visibility and Flexibility on Key Account Management Capability
Academics and practitioners have increasingly been paying attention to key account management (KAM) capability. Most research on KAM has focused on KAM conceptualization and sales teams’ service provision and performance. The purpose of this study was to fill the research gap regarding the enhancement of KAM capability by using supply chain strategies. From the perspective of contract manufacturers, we proposed that supply chain strategies influence KAM capability. The various strategies in a supply chain include supplier development and improving supply chain visibility and flexibility. Studies have also suggested that KAM capability has a positive influence on relationship performance. A questionnaire survey was employed to gather information from managers in the electronics manufacturing industry to test the research model and hypotheses. The findings indicate that supply chain visibility and flexibility positively affected KAM capability, which had a positive effect on relationship performance. However, the direct effect of supplier development on KAM capability was nonsignificant.
Copyright (c) 2024 Tun-Chih Kou (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The System of Financing Local Self-Governments in Portugal And Slovenia – A Comparative Approach
This paper will consist of a comparative study that explores the systems of financing local selfgovernments in Portugal and Slovenia, shedding light on the unique approaches employed by each country. We will examine the fiscal frameworks governing local governance structures, the research aims to identify similarities, differences, and best practices that contribute to the effective functioning of local administrations. In Portugal, the focus is on the decentralized fiscal architecture that empowers local governments, so the analysis will encompass revenue sources, intergovernmental transfers, and the degree of fiscal autonomy granted to municipalities. Slovenia's model is examined with a keen eye on its progressive strategies for fiscal decentralization, revenue diversification, and mechanisms for ensuring financial sustainability at the local level. Such a comparative approach seeks to draw insights into how these two European Member States address the financial challenges faced by local self-governments. By assessing the impact of fiscal policies on local development and service provision, the research contributes to a broader understanding of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the financing systems of Portugal and Slovenia. Ultimately, the findings aim to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners about potential avenues for enhancing the fiscal resilience and autonomy of local self-governments in diverse national contexts.
Copyright (c) 2024 Dr. Noémia Bessa-Vilela, Natasha Jesus Silva, Zan Jan Oplotnik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessment of Macroprudential Strategies
Macroprudential policy is still a relatively new policy area (“more art than science”). Unlike monetary policy, it still doesn’t have any tested and robust strategies to follow. Using a novel strategy index we explore and critically review 30 macroprudential strategies published in 2014-2023, with the overall results pointing to fairly high quality of strategies, with low level of heterogeneity in the total score. Most strategies were published by central banks responsible for macroprudential policy. The score for strategies in EU countries is higher and more homogenous than in non-EU countries. Elements least frequently included in the strategies include challenges for macroprudential policy (like cyber or climate risks) and its interactions with other policy areas. Most countries issued macroprudential strategies after the credit boom. The results provide relevant policy implications on future revisions of this kind of document.
Copyright (c) 2023 Paweł Smaga (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0