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This paper aims to identify the essential skills required by Human Resource Development (HRD) professionals to effectively respond to the various modes of labour organisation implemented due to the mandatory lockdown imposed by the Portuguese government in March 2020 as well as implications for learning and development (L&D) issues.

Data is based on 34 semi-structured interviews with HRD professionals from companies in different activity sectors.

The results reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the development of socio-emotional skills among HRD professionals such as creativity, improvisation, self-exploration, innovation, collaboration, team spirit, resilience, flexibility, problem-solving, adaptability, priority management, emotional intelligence, social influence, social contact, interpersonal relationships, communication and online learning development.

It will be interesting for future research to explore “what” and “how” HRD managers are planning, organising and implementing training and development plans to improve the skills of remote workers, which tend to grow in a post-pandemic COVID-19 phase.

This research emphasises the importance of HRD managers’ role in better coordinating the work of employees who are physically distant from the company. It also highlights the need for different skills required for effective digital HRD, support and monitoring of remote employees. The results provide important inputs to design and implement effective L&D programs for professionals working remotely and to reinforce the HRD role in organisations.

The research is original for twofold reasons: 1) HRD professionals are usually not trained to manage remote workers, which also means that they probably lack the skills to take the most out of remote working models; and 2) HRD professionals and the HRD function need to address the skills required to successfully implement flexible forms of work organisation as well as to implement adequate L&D policies to answer remote work practices.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors facilitating and influencing the adoption of DevOps practices specifically tailored to mobile software development, with a focus on understanding the influence of mobile-specific requirements on DevOps integration.

The study employs a qualitative methodology, including a literature review, exploratory case research and partial quantitative assessments through DORA metrics and survey applications. This approach, guided by the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, prioritizes in-depth insights into the adoption of DevOps practices and explores strategies for integrating DevOps in mobile software development.

The research identifies several key themes specific to Mobile DevOps adoption, including tool integration issues, testing complexities, deployment challenges and security concerns. These findings underscore the necessity for tailored DevOps solutions that can effectively address the unique demands of mobile software development. The study also proposes actionable strategies to overcome these challenges, thereby enhancing the efficiency, quality and security of mobile applications.

The insights gained from this study provide valuable guidance for practitioners in the mobile software development sector. By understanding and addressing the specific challenges of Mobile DevOps, organizations can improve their DevOps practices and achieve better outcomes in terms of project delivery speed, quality and security. For example, implementing robust testing strategies, investing in compatible tools and developing well-defined rollback procedures can significantly enhance Mobile DevOps effectiveness. Furthermore, incorporating continuous security measures and improving cross-functional collaboration can lead to more secure and efficient mobile application deployments.

This study offers valuable starting points for researching Mobile DevOps in real-world settings, based on insights from practical DevOps implementations in a single-case organization. Organizations can use this information to compare their own DevOps approaches with those of the studied organization, and can facilitate self-assessment and improvement.

This study contributes to the limited literature on Mobile DevOps adoption and proposing actionable strategies. By incorporating the TOE framework, it provides a comprehensive guide that enhances understanding and management of DevOps practices throughout the mobile application development lifecycle and offers significant value to practitioners and researchers alike.

The dynamic of the business environment has escalated the competition and uncertainty, which is challenging business survivability, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs attract researchers due to their unique characteristics that have limited resources but great flexibility and adaptability. Furthermore, Collaborative Networks (CNs) have been proposed by business scholars as a critical strategy to gain resilience and antifragility. However, the concept of antifragility and its relation with CNs is still vague in the SME sector. Therefore, this study aims to develop a complete understanding regarding: (1) the emerging knowledge that is critical in explaining antifragility in the business sector based on co-citation and thematic analysis; (2) the relation between resilience and antifragility in emerging business research; (3) the relation between CNs and antifragility in emerging business research and (4) a framework of antifragility in the SME context.

Bibliographic Analysis and Systematic Literature Review are performed to reach the research objectives. We use co-citation and thematic analysis to identify the map of emerging knowledge and the related concepts, which are the fundamentals of antifragility. Furthermore, we use a systematic literature review to determine the relation of antifragility, resilience and CNs in the SME context.

Antifragility is a higher level of survivability compared to resilience. Antifragile SMEs could gain an advantage from the uncertain business environment. However, both in resilience and antifragility, SMEs should become active learners. Furthermore, CNs are proposed as the gateway for SMEs to manage their resource limitations. The conceptual framework of Antifragile SMEs is presented as the theoretical contribution of this manuscript.

This article explains the knowledge structure of antifragility in the business sector, particularly among SMEs. Based on bibliometric data, we describe critical characteristics or mental states entrepreneurs should have when facing uncertainty. Furthermore, we propose a conceptual framework for antifragile SMEs where active learning and positive psychology are the pillars, and CNs are critical ingredients of antifragility in SMEs.

The digital direct-to-consumer (D2C) approach has seen widespread adoption across many industries, but its application to regional food products has been slower. This study aims to identify and rank the most significant challenges to the widespread use of digital D2C for regional food products.

A multi-criteria decision-making method called a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) was used to determine the order in which these obstacles were evaluated. Thirty-five barriers were identified and categorized into six categories named technological, operational, sociocultural, financial, market and institutional and regulatory barriers.

Market barriers ranked as the top barrier, and the technological barrier ranked the least significant amongst the main barrier categories for the adoption of digital D2C model for the regional food products. Lack of consumer awareness ranked number one globally, and lack of government subsidies ranked the least amongst the thirty-five identified barriers. Operational barriers came out to be second most significant barrier followed by institutional and regulatory barrier, sociocultural barrier, financial barrier and technological barrier.

The findings of this research were derived through a numerical examination of data gathered from the Indian setting. It follows that the technological, sociocultural, financial, market, operational and institutional constraints, among others, outlined here are all unique to India. Because of the unique nature of the Indian setting, the results of this study can only be used there and not elsewhere. It is possible that future research will broaden the aims of this one and refine its methodology. Digital D2C adoption for regional food products may be prioritized and ranked using quantitative and qualitative data sources like ANP and TOPSIS. It is possible that similar studies may be conducted in nations which have a different set of operational, technological, sociocultural market and financial and regulatory barriers. Conceptual framework can be formed by integrating TAM and TPB to understand the buying behavior of regional food products via digital D2C.

This research is the first to identify challenges to the widespread use of the digital D2C model for regional food products. Policymakers and other interested parties can use this information to better understand the difficulties of expanding the distribution of regional food products beyond their immediate regions.

The paper aims to develop a coherent understanding of literacy assessment, one that draws on current conceptualising of assessment generally while accounting for the complexity of literacy and literacy development. It responds to The Foundation for Learning Literacy Touchstone #8, offering a view of assessment as an “eco-system” comprising national, system, school and classroom sites and argues for recognition of the crucial place of teachers’ expertise and professional judgement.

The paper reports on action-oriented research in which upper primary teachers worked with an education academic to improve writing pedagogy in their classroom practice. Part of a larger project which took a genre-based, disciplinary literacy approach, the paper focuses on five year five teachers who collaboratively designed and implemented a literature study in each of their classrooms. Data collected included planning documents, exemplar texts, student work samples, teacher reflections and interviews and student interviews. Data were mapped against the teachers’ goals with respect to genre and literary concepts and analysed for key concepts related to current conceptualisations of assessment.

The paper offers insights into the interconnection between curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. It demonstrates how the teacher–participants planned for literacy and content and how they drew on formative assessment at different points of the teaching–learning cycle to support students to successfully complete a culminating writing task. In doing so, it demonstrates the expertise of the teachers in weaving together formative and summative assessment as well as the complexity of literacy assessment that cannot be captured entirely in one-shot assessments or diagnostic tests. Such complexity requires the richness possible when curriculum, pedagogy and assessment are aligned, as is evident in the case study.

The action research approach offers opportunities to develop deep understandings of the site but cannot be generalised to other sites. However, the detail with which we describe the practices means aspects of the study may be recognisable as like those in other sites.

The paper brings together a range of disparate literacy assessment practices in a coherent and accessible way that policymakers, schools and teachers will find generative. It will be useful for preservice teachers who often witness a range of practices in schools and wonder how they fit together. It also offers a means of communicating with media and other commentators about literacy and literacy assessment in an educative way.

The paper fulfils an identified need for a coherent approach which brings together the many practices and tools that currently exist in systems, schools and classrooms.

Entrepreneurial orientation is critical to staying ahead in the current competitive hospitality industry. Drawing on the theories of social capital, socioemotional wealth and upper echelons, this study aims to highlight the mechanisms through which CEO servant leadership enhances entrepreneurial orientation. Moreover, this paper examines (1) the mediating role of internal social capital in the CEO servant leadership–entrepreneurial orientation relationship and (2) the moderating role of family and non-family firms.

Our hospitality industry sample frame was based on several databases (SABI, Camerdata, INE). Large and medium-sized hotels with more than 30 employees in the Canary and Balearic Islands (Spain) were targeted. After eliminating duplicate cases and entities no longer in business, 597 hotels remained. Complete information was obtained for 176 hotels. To test our hypotheses, structural equation modeling based on partial least squares (PLS) and Smart PLS 4 was used.

Our results revealed that CEO servant leadership was positive for entrepreneurial orientation, mediated by internal social capital through its three dimensions: structural, relational and cognitive. In addition, the results also showed that the relationships observed were generally stronger in family firms than in non-family firms.

Our study shows that CEOs of family and non-family firms can improve the practice of servant leadership through implementing appropriate management selection and training policies.

Our findings advance the servant leadership literature, currently dominated by individual- and group-level research, by providing empirical evidence that CEO servant leadership has a positive impact on firm-level variables (internal social capital and entrepreneurial orientation). In addition, using multigroup analysis, we are able to study the moderating role of family and non-family firms.

This study aims to capture children’s interpretation of holistic well-being within Irish primary schools and add to the development of a comprehensive systems-informed positive education model.

This study utilized visual participatory research methods, including PhotoVoice and one-on-one interviews, to assess children’s (n = 16) well-being, guided by Von Unger’s comprehensive seven-step framework. Data analysis was anchored within grounded theory, beginning with data collection, initial coding, focused coding and culminating in identifying themes and subthemes. Data were interpreted using the mosaic approach by integrating visual and verbal data.

This analysis uncovered three primary themes that affect student well-being: relationships, space and physical environment and learning and curriculum, each with detailed subthemes. For instance, student–teacher relationships, peer relationships, safety, learning spaces, the creative curriculum including arts and music and the experiential richness of outdoor learning are crucial to students' educational growth and well-being. These aspects are seen as interconnected, shaping a holistic educational experience beyond academic learning to encompass students’ comprehensive well-being. The students' narratives demonstrated that learning is not merely an academic exercise but a vital component of their well-being.

This study significantly departs from traditional educational research by advocating for a dynamic, action-oriented understanding of “well-being.” It challenges the static, possessive interpretations of well-being and introduces the concept of well-being as a fluid and ever-evolving process. This reconceptualization positions well-being as a complex construct, influenced by an intricate web of relationships, spanning human and non-human interactions, organizational and environmental structures, personal desires, behavioral practices and broader societal and cultural frameworks.

Over recent years, public health threats, economic losses and crises of confidence resulting from adverse events along the global food chains have pressured food traceability systems to operate more efficiently. Based on that, this paper aims to expand the body of knowledge on the connection between Industry 4.0 technologies and food chain traceability and how they have been integrated.

Before conducting a systematic literature review (SLR), we consulted academic experts in traceability and Industry 4.0 technologies to define the leading 4.0 technologies adopted. We then developed protocols and criteria for article selection. Based on the developed codebook, we performed a content analysis, refining it through discussions with experienced researchers.

This paper identified seven Industry 4.0 technologies applied in conjunction with support and device systems. These combinations hold promise for generating value for food chain traceability systems. Value for the food supply chain originates from five sources: trust, process improvement, data processing, security, sustainability and regulation. Besides, three barriers to implementing such traceability technologies were identified: resources, lack of structure, stakeholders and values.

While this study focused specifically on the food chain, the technology combinations, values, barriers and categories identified herein can inform analyses for other chains, e.g. the pharmaceutical chain. Moreover, due to the recent growth of this topic, some existing values and barriers may not have been fully explored and the technology combinations may vary slightly.

The results of this study provide food chain professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the values and corresponding barriers associated with employing Industry 4.0 traceability technologies. This knowledge can be leveraged to develop effective strategies and implement improvements in traceability, thereby benefiting society and addressing identified barriers.

This study expands the literature on using Industry 4.0 technologies for traceability in food chains, providing valuable directions to build safer, more efficient, transparent and potentially more sustainable food chains. Additionally, we provide promising avenues for future research.

This study aims to investigate the interplay between artificial intelligence (AI) integration, organizational digital culture, human resource management (HRM) practices and employee sustainable performance in luxury hotels in Malaysia. It seeks to elucidate how AI adoption influences organizational dynamics, shapes HRM practices and impacts employee sustainable performance over time.

Using a quantitative approach, survey questionnaires derived from prior research were utilized. Analysis using G*Power software determined an appropriate sample size, with psychometric evaluation validating scale development. Statistical analyses using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 28.0 and SmartPLS 4 confirmed data reliability and validity.

Out of the five hypotheses, three were supported. A positive relationship was found between AI adoption and employee sustainable performance, highlighting AI’s potential to enhance productivity and job satisfaction. However, the relationship between AI adoption and organizational digital culture was not supported. On the other hand, HRM practices positively influenced employee sustainable performance. In addition, organizational digital culture was positively associated with employee sustainable performance, underscoring the role of digital fluency in driving workforce productivity. Conversely, AI failed to moderate the relationship between HRM practices and employee sustainable performance.

The study’s focus on luxury hotels in Malaysia and its reliance on cross-sectional data, suggesting the need for longitudinal designs and diverse organizational contexts in future research. Comparative studies across sectors and countries could offer insights into variations in AI adoption practices and their impact on organizational performance.

This study contributes to theoretical frameworks by empirically examining complex relationships between AI integration, HRM practices, organizational digital culture and employee performance, emphasizing the importance of considering organizational context and cultural factors in understanding the implications of AI adoption for sustainable performance enhancement.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the primary determinants influencing the acceptance of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) adoption within Blockchain-enabled environments. Further research will examine the impact of GAI adoption on supply chain efficiency (SCE) through the enhancement of Blockchain.

Drawing on innovation diffusion theory (IDT), this study used partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to look into the hypotheses. The data were gathered via online questionnaires from employers of Chinese supply chain enterprises that have already integrated Blockchain.

The findings of this study demonstrate that relative advantages (RAs), compatibility, trialability and observability have a significant positive effect on GAI adoption, while complexity harms GAI adoption. Above all, the GAI adoption has significantly enhanced Blockchain, thus effectively improving SCE.

The outcomes from this study furnish enterprises and organizations with valuable insights to proficiently integrate GAI and Blockchain capability, optimize supply chain management and bolster market competitiveness. Also, this study will help accelerate the successful integration of business processes and attain Sustainability Development Goals 9, industrial growth and industrial diversification.

To the extent of the author’s knowledge, the current status of the GAI study remains largely exploratory, and there is limited empirical evidence on integrating Blockchain capability and GAI. This research bridges the knowledge gap by fully revealing the optimal integration of these two transformative technologies to leverage their potential advantages in supply chain management.