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This study aims to explore how the three types of human resource (HR) practices, encapsulated in the ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) model, foster a learning organizational culture (LOC). In doing so, the authors evaluate the centrality of knowledge sharing (KS) in mediating this relationship.

A quantitative survey is undertaken to collect data from managers working in organizations operating in the UK. The authors use several statistical techniques to assess the psychometric properties of the measures and test the hypotheses using multiple regression executed with Preacher and Hayes’ Process macro.

The findings show that the AMO HR practices significantly facilitate the development of a LOC in the workplace, and KS among organizational members amplifies the effects of these HR practices in the process.

A LOC functions as an important source of organizational performance and effectiveness. It enhances the absorptive capacity of the organization to capture, share and transfer knowledge to optimize work. Hence, developing a culture that nurtures organizational learning could be a priority for managing HR. This study, therefore, extends the understanding of the role of AMO HR practices in fostering a learning culture – thus, providing managers with the essential knowledge to improve performance. The study also enriches the literature on HR practices, KS and LOC by integrating these three variables into a unifying framework.

The study aims to address the critical area of training and development within private educational small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. It seeks to develop and standardize training and development process in private sector educational SMEs and establish a structured approach to training with the purpose of unlocking the full potential of the workforce, advancing educators’ professional growth and propelling organizational progress.

This study employs a meticulous three-phase approach. It begins with insightful interviews with school principals to investigate existing training practices. The subsequent phase involves formulating a comprehensive training and development policy, outlining purpose, scope, responsibilities, procedures and budget allocation. This policy undergoes participatory refinement to cater to specific SME needs. In the third phase, experimental design was adopted. Two groups, the experiment group and the control group, were formulated to check the effectiveness of proposed processes.

Rigorous statistical analysis, employing paired sample t-tests, unequivocally demonstrates a significant elevation in mean scores post-implementation of standardized training and development process. These findings affirm the efficacy of the policy in enhancing the effectiveness of training and development activities in private sector educational SMEs.

The research highlights profound implications. By establishing a structured approach to training and development, educational SMEs can not only advance educators’ professional growth but also propel organizational progress and enhance education quality. It will provide a structured and step-by-step process to boost the work quality of staff. The study emphasizes the need for consistent implementation.

This research marks a substantial stride in revolutionizing how human capital is cultivated in private sector educational SMEs. It positions them to exert a transformative impact on Pakistan’s educational landscape, furthering the journey toward excellence. The study suggests avenues for future research, including the adaptation of this model to diverse educational contexts and an assessment of its scalability.

Building upon Social Exchange Theory, this study explores the relationship between perceived opportunities for competency development (POCD), subjective career success (SCS), and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). Given the importance of SCS in providing mutual benefits for both the employee and the organization, this study examines how SCS plays a mediating role in the relationship between POCD and OCBs.

Data was collected from 353 full-time working professionals in Malaysian organizations through a two-wave hardcopy questionnaire survey. The data was then analyzed using structural equation modeling and the bootstrapping method.

The study found no significant direct relationship between POCD and OCBs. However, the bootstrapping analysis uncovered that SCS mediated this relationship, indicating a significant full mediation effect.

To increase the external validity of findings, future studies should include samples from various industries in both the public and private sectors.

In contrast to the findings from previous studies, this study adds value to the career literature by demonstrating that without a sense of SCS, even with competency development opportunities, employees are less likely to engage in OCBs. It highlights the importance of SCS in fostering mutual benefits for both the employee and the organization.

This study aims to develop high-performance truck trailer supports using polyamide PA6, a thermoplastic material renowned for its mechanical strength, durability and adaptability to extreme conditions. By analysing the material’s properties and exploring manufacturing methods such as injection moulding and 3D printing, the research seeks to optimise the design and production of supports capable of withstanding heavy-duty mechanical stresses. The ultimate goal is to provide the transport industry with reliable, cost-effective and durable solutions that meet safety standards and performance demands, ensuring enhanced operational efficiency and resilience in challenging environments.

The study investigates the design and production of truck trailer supports using polyamide PA6, chosen for its high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and resistance to wear and chemical exposure. The research evaluates manufacturing techniques, including injection moulding and 3D printing, to optimise part performance and durability under heavy-duty mechanical stresses. Emphasis is placed on designing supports capable of enduring harsh environmental conditions while ensuring safety and cost-efficiency. By leveraging the superior properties of PA6, the study aims to develop reliable solutions that meet the transport industry’s stringent performance and economic requirements.

The study confirms that using PA6 polyamide for truck trailer supports is an innovative and cost-effective solution, offering superior mechanical performance and environmental resistance. A detailed analysis of PA6 properties and manufacturing methods reveals its suitability as a robust and durable alternative for trailer supports. This integration marks a significant advancement in improving trailer efficiency and performance while maintaining quality standards. The findings underscore the importance of leveraging technological advancements to address challenges in innovation and sustainability, supporting the growth of the transport and logistics sector.

This study introduces an innovative approach to designing truck trailer supports by utilising polyamide PA6, highlighting its superior mechanical properties and environmental resilience. By combining material analysis with advanced manufacturing techniques, such as injection moulding and 3D printing, the research provides a novel framework for producing durable, cost-effective components tailored to the transport industry’s demands. The originality lies in the integration of PA6 into heavy-duty applications, showcasing its potential to enhance performance, efficiency and sustainability. This work adds significant value by addressing critical industry challenges and offering practical solutions that align with modern safety and environmental standards.

The study aims to explore the career experiences of Malay Muslim women (MMW) managers in Malaysia. By applying an intersectionality lens to the role congruity theory of prejudice, we seek to uncover how the interaction of multiple identities influences the career experiences of MMW.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 MMW in managerial positions probing their career experiences and progress.

Our findings demonstrate how role incongruities are experienced from multiple intersecting identities, namely ethnicity (Malay), religion (Muslim), gender (woman) and work (manager), which results in unique experiences of prejudice. Most importantly, analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that MMW experience prejudice differently in Malay majority (in-group) and non-Malay majority (out-group) work contexts. Thus, our findings are presented based on these two work contexts. In sum, these findings shed light on the prevailing career blocks of women in management in a developing context.

Our work has theoretical and practical implications for scholars and practitioners on diversity management in understanding the myriads of challenges women experience in their careers. The paper provides a complex account of how intersecting identities, workplace contexts and macro contexts significantly contribute to a unique experience of prejudice hindering women’s progress.

Our findings evidence the value of intersectionality and contextual considerations when understanding the nature of role incongruities and prejudice as a socially constructed process. We also illustrate the value of considering workplace contexts to provide a more fine-grained understanding of Muslim women’s career experiences.

This study aims to elucidate the machining properties of low-cost expanded clay-reinforced syntactic foams by using different neural network models for the first time in the literature. The main goal of this endeavor is to create a casting machining-neural network modeling flow-line for real-time foam manufacturing in the industry.

Samples were manufactured via an industry-based die-casting technology. For the slot milling tests performed with different cutting speeds, depth of cut and lubrication conditions, a 3-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine was used and the force data were collected through a digital dynamometer. These signals were used as input parameters in neural network modelings.

Among the algorithms, the scaled-conjugated-gradient (SCG) methodology was the weakest average results, whereas the Levenberg–Marquard (LM) approach was highly successful in foreseeing the cutting forces. As for the input variables, an increase in the depth of cut entailed the cutting forces, and this circumstance was more obvious at the higher cutting speeds.

The effect of milling parameters on the cutting forces of low-cost clay-filled metallic syntactics was examined, and the correct detection of these impacts is considerably prominent in this paper. On the other side, tool life and wear analyses can be studied in future investigations.

It was indicated that the milling forces of the clay-added AA7075 syntactic foams, depending on the cutting parameters, can be anticipated through artificial neural network modeling.

It is hoped that analyzing the influence of the cutting parameters using neural network models on the slot milling forces of metallic syntactic foams (MSFs) will be notably useful for research and development (R&D) researchers and design engineers.

This work is the first investigation that focuses on the estimation of slot milling forces of the expanded clay-added AA7075 syntactic foams by using different artificial neural network modeling approaches.

This paper aims to explore sociocultural factors as determinants of entrepreneurial emergence and to examine their relative influence (i.e. the influence of each factor) on entrepreneurial emergence.

A survey design with a questionnaire instrument administered to 250 business owners selected randomly from a cross section of businesses was used. The data were analyzed using the descriptive method, pairwise comparison, Kendall’s W test and Mean Rank Statistics.

This study showed that the level of influence of sociocultural factors on the decision to own a business by an individual in Africa varies by factor. Family background is the factor that has the highest influence, whereas religious values has the least influence. Altogether, nine most significant factors influence the choice of business ownership in Nigeria and in Africa generally. These include family background, unemployment, family values, inadequate income, job displacement, stock of social capital, role models, social networks and lack of social security, in that order.

Although some scholars may have explored sociocultural factors as determinants of entrepreneurial emergence, there is no study on their relative influence on entrepreneurial emergence, at least not in the context of Africa or Nigeria in particular. This study extends previous studies by examining the relative influence of the factors, using Nigeria as a reference for Africa. A focus on their relative influence is a new perspective on the study of sociocultural factors as determinants of entrepreneurial emergence.

In this paper, the relationship of brand logo and purchase intention is investigated along with the mediating role of customer satisfaction, brand preference and brand attitude. The research is conducted on an online passenger transport company called Tapsi.

In this study, we examine the positive effect of brand logo on brand attitude, consumer satisfaction and strengthening the intention to buy and brand preference by customer satisfaction. The statistical population was randomly selected. We design a conceptual model and then prepare a standard online questionnaire and send it to the target groups. Among this, the participants, 59% are women and 41% are men. After collecting the data through the software Smart-PLS3, we start the analysis. According to Cronbach's alpha and AVE, the validity and reliability of the model are confirmed.

The study shows that the brand logo has a positive and direct influence on customer attitude and satisfaction, and customer satisfaction mediates the purchase intention and brand preference. Given that the brand logo describes the company, managers must be very sensitive to design of a proper logo and spend enough time and money on it.

Few studies have examined the effectiveness of the brand logo the present study and the results show that the brand logo and its structures are directly related to brand attitude as a result of consumer satisfaction in all services even transportation services. The first thing consumers see when they first use a company’s services is the company logo. The brand and its logo can change the attitude and decision of the customer. Past studies have also shown that the brand logo can have a direct impact on customer satisfaction and customer preference for the brand. Therefore a model was prepared and the mentioned variables were selected. Brand preference as a mediating variable has a positive role on buying intention. However all relationships and their predictive power have been confirmed.

Investigate distinctive skills, encompassing Building Information Modeling (BIM skills, project management (PM) skills (PMSs), as well as strategic and operational skills (OSs) in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.

The research design adopts a quantitative survey-based approach, utilizing a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

The findings underscore a significant relationship between OSs and both BIM and PMSs, while also illuminating the relationship of strategic skills with both BIM and PMSs. However, intriguingly, the study reveals that although BIM skills and PMSs are indispensable, they lack a statistically significant relationship. Despite this, we have identified a pathway from BIM skills to operational and strategic skills that traverses through PMSs, exhibiting significant indirect effects.

Our study employs cross-sectional data rather than longitudinal data, which hinders temporal interpretations of the associations between competence building for AEC professionals especially given that BIM skills are still in the early stages within AEC projects, particularly in Latin America. Therefore, a longitudinal study would offer deeper insights into potential causation, allowing for a more robust establishment of underlying associations. Additionally, future research endeavors should focus on capturing longitudinal data through case studies that explore perceptions and observations of the roles of BIM managers and project managers in project-based organizations.

Our model guides organizations to recognize the importance of BIM management skills as a pivotal role in the AEC industry, bridging operational and strategic levels. While project managers focus on tools that facilitate team and project integration, BIM managers enhance collaboration and communication across different disciplines within construction projects. This synthesis highlights the complementary roles of project managers and BIM managers in driving successful project outcomes, showcasing the synergy between their skill sets in achieving strategic objectives within the AEC industry. Furthermore, it underscores the critical role of indirect and cascading flows of influence among skill domains through multiple interconnected pathways.

Our study demonstrates that different types of skills are required to manage AEC projects. These skills are interconnected through direct and indirect pathways that warrant attention from academia. The theoretical contribution of the research model is clearly shown in the linking between PM and BIM in the AEC industry. Several scholars recognize BIM as innovative and that drives the success of civil construction projects; however, our study goes further in identifying the significant relationships among variables and the magnitude of their effects on strategic and OSs for BIM management and PM domain.