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Informed by the resource-based view of the firm, dynamic capabilities theory and contingency theory, this study examines the impact of Industry 4.0 (IR4.0) technologies adoption on firm performance (FP) while accounting for the mediating role of innovation ambidexterity (IA) and moderating roles of contextual and methodological factors that drive the performance gains of the phenomenon.

A random-effect model in comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) is used to synthesize 113 studies in 115 independent samples with 192,188 observations.

This analysis demonstrates that IR4.0 digital technologies are directly related to financial and non-financial performance, disclosing that the performance effect on non-financial is the largest. Moreover, there is a complementary partial mediation role of the impacts of IR4.0 on FP by IA. Furthermore, this focal relationship is moderated by boundary-spanning conditions: contextual factors – firm size, business type, economic development, industry sector and methodological factors – proxy of FP, sample size and study type.

The results imply that IR4.0 produces financial and non-financial benefits by enabling firms to develop dynamic capabilities like innovation ambidexterity, which informs managers and practitioners that unless IR4.0 technologies and IA strategies are combined together to generate superior FP, IR4.0, in and of itself, would produce a less positive impact on FP than the combined impact of IR4.0 and IA. Therefore, managers should focus on converting IR4.0 resources to dynamic capabilities like IA by leveraging open innovation strategies or building IR4.0-based coordination mechanisms by creating cross-unit business synergies.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, per the literature review, this is the first meta-analysis structural equation modeling study on the interplay between IR4.0, innovation ambidexterity and firm performance.

The present study aims to identify the practices employed to bring heirs into family businesses as successors.

We conducted an exploratory, qualitative investigation using a case study approach. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with external consultants and with incumbent leaders, next-generation heirs working in the firm (and likely to become successors) and employees from three family firms from different industries and under ownership and control of different generations of their respective families (first, second and third and fourth generations). In addition to surveying their general perceptions of the succession processes in their firms, each informant was asked to rate the degree of importance of 12 succession practices identified in the literature and the extent to which they exist in their respective firms.

Our results showed that heirs typically enter the family business after a development process outside of the family business, which we have termed as coming back to the nest. This process was enacted through practices that we allocated to the following categories: continued development of heirs, developing relationships in the succession process, separation of roles and attitude of the successor heirs. Overall, 8 of the 12 practices derived from the theoretical framework were endorsed as important by representatives of the family businesses and 9 were endorsed by the consultants, 7 of which coincided in both groups. However, only 5 of the practices were identified as present in the firms’ succession processes by the representatives of the family businesses, while the consultants did not identify any of the 12 practices as present.

We present additional important practices, the adoption of which would be beneficial for family business succession, such as adapting external learning to the family business, acquiring leadership skills and experience and developing emotional intelligence. Our study advances the prior literature since we do not merely discuss succession planning but analyze in an applied manner how succession actually takes place in family businesses.

Immigrant integration through entrepreneurship is hindered by the prevalent informality of their ventures. This study aims to examine the factors influencing the formalisation of immigrant entrepreneurship, with special focus on those who are under the impact of the host country.

The study is based on a series of focus groups conducted among a total of 59 Ukrainian immigrants in Poland. Based on coding into first-order categories, second-order themes and aggregate dimensions, the authors created a model of immigrant entrepreneurship formalisation.

The results of the research included in the model show the groups of factors influencing the formalisation of immigrant entrepreneurship. Immigrants bring both their personal attitudes and embeddedness in their country of origin during immigration. Then, factors of the host country’s institutions, interactions between local authorities and local communities and the need for a new place of belonging interact in the formalisation process. Formal entrepreneurs, as a new identity for immigrants, are the result of the formalisation process.

The results not only focus on social capital or the institutional failures of formal and informal institutions in transforming immigrants into formal entrepreneurs, but we also recognise the individual aspect of the new identity as formal entrepreneurs and a new place of belonging. In addition, the authors distinguish the importance and interactions between local communities and local authorities in this process. The paper contributes to the theory of entrepreneurship, migrant study and institutional theory.

The development of family-based microenterprises has attracted the attention of regulators, microfinance institutions and other stakeholders in either developing or least developed countries. In the finance literature, several studies have examined the determinants of the family-based microenterprises development; however, there are several venues that need to be examined. The study aims to explain the economic profit of microenterprises from resource-based theory and human capital perspectives.

Based on critical review and theoretical grounding, this study proposes a conceptual framework, which bridges intangible resources with economic growth of microenterprises.

After reviewing previous studies and based on the underpinning theoretical framework, the study finds that human capital is one of the variables that has received a little attention and yet to be examined as a moderating role. Based on the human capital theorist, individual's competencies help enterprises to perform better in business, as enterprises that possess competencies and capabilities are more likely to have higher levels of growth and profitability.

This finding provides useful implications for the stakeholders and policymakers and contributes in the future literature.

Based on critical review and theoretical grounding, this study proposes a conceptual framework, which bridges intangible resources with economic growth of microenterprises.

Ensuring value for money is becoming more of a priority for UK university degrees. The aim of the action research project was to add value by improving skill acquisition and articulation amongst Chartered Management Degree Apprentices through a problem-based learning module called Self-Managed Learning.

Intentional weekly interventions to develop skill acquisition, development and articulation were implemented over 10 weeks. A focus group at the end of the 10 weeks to reflect upon the interventions would then reveal through a thematic analysis whether there was indeed added value.

The action research intervention to improve and enhance how apprentices construe and construct what they experience and then learn to articulate that accurately was well received. Key outcomes included increased awareness of and enhanced use of reflection, merging work and university and increased self-efficacy and skill development awareness.

This research underscores the significant impact of enhanced stakeholder engagement on educational delivery and skill development. The study illustrates how the involvement of all parties, from apprentices to educators and employers, within the learning process can aid the development of intentional skill and professional development when work-based learning is effectively integrated within the educational curriculum.

The action learning intervention was an educational improvement enhancing personal development, social mobility and an opportunity for individuals to pursue knowledge for their own sake.

Sharing project information is critical for the success of medical crowdfunding campaigns. However, few users share medical crowdfunding projects on their social networks, and the sharing behavior of medical crowdfunding projects on social networking sites has not been well studied. Therefore, this study explored the factors and potential mechanisms influencing users’ sharing behaviors on networking sites.

A research model was developed based on the attribution-affect model of helping and social capital theory. Data were collected using a longitudinal survey. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the collected data. We conducted post hoc analyses to validate the results of the quantitative analysis.

The analysis results verified the effects of perceived external attribution, perceived uncontrollable attributions, and perceived unstable attributions on sympathy and identified the effect of sympathy and social characteristics of medical crowdfunding users on sharing behavior.

This research provides a comprehensive theoretical understanding of users’ sharing behavior characteristics and provides implications for enhancing the efficiency of medical crowdfunding activities.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate mobile apps developed to prevent food waste from the perspective of responsible production and consumption.

The study employs qualitative methods, and the dataset consists of the 1,382 content and online reviews and comments for 11 mobile apps in addition to 30 in-depth interviews conducted with consumers and restaurant managers/owners using the apps.

Mobile apps are proving to be popular with people, inviting users to fight food waste in a sustainable and responsible way. While users' main motivations for becoming food waste fighters are responsibility, positive emotions and economic sensitivity, restaurants' motivations are different, such as social responsibility, innovative business models, attracting new customers and cost orientation.

Creating digital value and contributing significantly to sustainability in the food industry, mobile apps offer different opportunities to the market. By supporting and encouraging the use of these apps, businesses can reduce food waste, prevent financial losses and offer consumers more choice and variety.

The present study aims to address this lack of empirical research based on a holistic perspective by providing a multidimensional assessment. Such an approach should contribute to a thorough understanding of the motivations that drive users and restaurants to become food waste fighters.

The integrated reporting framework affords considerable discretion over the form and content of business model disclosures, but a diagrammatic representation is favoured. In practice, most firms choose to use an infographic. This study aims to determine whether an infographic is a more effective and efficient form of communication than narrative-only information. Additionally, the mediating role of psychophysiological arousal is examined.

Using an explorative experimental design, this study uses eye-tracking technology to examine how users interact with different presentation formats for business model disclosures and how this affects the effectiveness and efficiency of the disclosures. Using pupillometry, the impacts of presentation format on arousal are also examined, in addition to the mediating effect of arousal on recall and comprehension.

Infographic presentation led to a substantial decrease in reading time coupled with moderately lower recall relative to narrative-only presentation. However, no significant difference in comprehension was observed. Additionally, infographic presentation was associated with higher arousal, but arousal was not found to mediate the relationship between presentation format and communicative effectiveness.

The study assists reporters and standard-setters, such as the International Accounting Standards Board and International Sustainability Standards Board, by providing qualified support for the diagrammatic representations of business models as an efficient means of communicating complex financial and non-financial information and highlighting future research opportunities.