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This study aims to unfold the education–performance relationship, especially concerning the entrepreneurs from an emerging economy, India. A double-layered complex model was developed showing the moderation of knowledge management (KM) and experience in education and performance relationship mediated through human skills.

Data were collected using cluster sampling from 450 entrepreneurs from India. After checking the survey instrument’s measurement properties with LISREL, Hayes’s PROCESS macros were used to analyze the results.

The results indicate that education does not predict entrepreneur’s performance but predicts human skills, which in turn positively predicts performance. Result also shows that KM (first moderator) and experience (second moderator) significantly influenced the human skills, performance and education–performance relationship.

The multiple moderated-moderation effects of KM and experience are the unique work not contributed earlier. The originality of this research is based on the relationship study between human skills in influencing performance through the moderation of KM (first moderator) and experience (second moderator).

This study aims to examine the long-run relationship between macroeconomic and financial conditions and the aggregate number of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the USA, drawing on data spanning from 1928 to 2019.

The study estimated a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) encompassing four variables: the aggregate number of M&As, industrial production, the rates on three-month U.S. treasury bills and the closing price of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

There exists a long-run relationship among the four variables. An increase in industrial production is associated with a fall in M&A transactions, reflecting a tendency for M&A waves to start during economic downturns. Similarly, contractionary monetary policy, which often happens during good economic and financial times, leads to a decline in M&A activity. When the equilibrium among the four variables is disrupted, the aggregate number of M&As, along with financial conditions, works to restore the equilibrium.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the long-run relationship between macroeconomic and financial conditions using data spanning nearly a century.

The study investigates the factors influencing the continuance intention to use Mobile Fitness Applications (MFAs), focusing on the roles of switching costs, guilt, and neutralization techniques in addressing temporary discontinuance.

A total of 212 valid responses were collected via an online survey in Malaysia. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to understand the relationships between the constructs.

The study confirms the significant impact of the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) constructs on the continuance intention to use MFAs. It highlights how users employ neutralization techniques to mitigate guilt from temporary discontinuance. Additionally, the study reveals that switching costs moderate the relationship between cognitive satisfaction and continuance intention, as well as between guilt and continuance intention. However, the direct effect of switching costs on continuance intention is negligible.

This research extends continuance intention literature by integrating switching costs, guilt, and neutralization techniques into the ECM framework, providing novel insights into user behavior regarding MFA discontinuance.

This study aims to explore the environmental and easy-care benefits of diacetate fiber blended textiles, emphasizing their potential in enhancing sustainability and reducing carbon emissions in the textile industry. It addresses the pressing need for innovative materials that combine functional advantages with reduced environmental impacts.

A comprehensive series of experiments was conducted to assess the easy-care properties of fabrics blended with diacetate fibers. These properties include stain resistance, wash dimensional stability and antistatic performance, using standardized textile testing methods. The experimental setup involved a variety of fabric blends tested under simulated conditions that mimic real-world usage to evaluate the effectiveness of diacetate fibers in practical applications.

The inclusion of diacetate fibers significantly enhances several easy-care properties of the textiles. Fabrics containing these fibers showed improved stain resistance, particularly in blends with polyester and cotton, which also exhibited better dimensional stability after washing. Antistatic properties were notably better in diacetate-polyester blends compared to other fiber compositions. Furthermore, the research demonstrated that these fabrics require fewer wash cycles, effectively reducing water and energy consumption, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability.

This study is among the first to systematically quantify the multiple benefits of diacetate fiber blends in textiles, providing a dual focus on environmental impact and practical textile care. The findings offer new insights into the use of sustainable fiber technologies in reducing the ecological footprint of the textile industry while maintaining material performance, supporting the advancement toward a more sustainable fashion industry.

The study aims to empirically examine the effect of board industry expertise on environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, and the mediating role of environmental innovation.

Using an unbalanced sample of 341 publicly traded Italian non-financial firms and data collected from multiple sources over the period 2017–2021, this study applies single-mediator models via ordinary least squares regressions.

Results indicate that directors’ industry expertise improves the corporate orientation toward sustainability strategy that is reflected in ESG objectives. This effect is partly mediated by a greater level of environmental innovation.

The article suggests regulators to promote eco-innovation-friendly investment initiatives due to their value in advancing corporate sustainability strategies.

The research fills a gap in the literature that has never explored the effect of board industry expertise on sustainability-related outcomes. Moreover, it advances the debate on the implications of board human capital by assessing its influence on ESG strategy and environmental innovation.

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive literature review to examine the relationship between corporate governance characteristics and firms’ engagement in environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities. The review focuses specifically on academic papers published in ranked accounting and finance journals.

The analysis combines a structured literature review with citation analysis, topic modeling using a machine learning (ML) approach and a manual review of selected articles published between 2000 and 2021.

This paper contributes to corporate governance and ESG literature by conducting an in-depth review, offering a comprehensive analysis of the existing findings and identifying future research directions. From the reviewed literature, this paper proposes the following thematic areas: board characteristics, ownership structure and their impact on a company’s engagement in ESG activities; CEO characteristics and their influence on a company’s involvement in ESG activities; corporate governance and ESG as sources for transparency and legitimacy; internal and external assurance of a company’s involvement in ESG activities; and gender diversity and a company’s involvement in ESG activities.

The study provides a comprehensive understanding of corporate governance and ESG literature. The innovative combination of methods, including ML and manual techniques, enhances the ability to identify key research topics and uncover research directions in the field. Moving forward, this paper suggests several promising directions for future research, including examining the influence of emerging technologies on ESG reporting and assessing the impact of regulatory changes and context on the link between corporate governance and firms’ involvement in ESG practices.

The demand for green personal care products (GPPs) has been growing globally due to increasing health-care concerns. However, the purchase rate of these products among consumers remains low. This study aims to identify and model the key barriers to the purchase of GPPs.

For this purpose, the study used innovation resistance theory (IRT) as a framework to identify key barriers to the purchasing of GPPs. The barriers were identified through a systematic literature review and validated by industry and academia experts. Furthermore, using interpretive structural modelling and Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée a un Classement, the study identifies the interrelationships among the barriers and categorizes them based on their driving and dependence power.

The findings reveal that limited availability, improper labelling standard and certification, poor performance of products and lack of government regulations are key barriers to the purchase of GPPs.

The study contributes to the existing literature on green purchase behaviour. Furthermore, it informs marketing strategies to overcome the identified barriers and increase the purchase of GPPs.

This study is the foremost empirical study that identifies and analyses the industry specific barriers to GPPs based on experts’ input and under the purview of IRT.

The present research focuses on improving the awareness related to soft total quality management (TQM) practices by looking from the viewpoint of strategic human resources (HR). In addition, it is intended to reflect on the resulting soft TQM-HR outcomes and determine the mediating effect between soft TQM-HR strategies and organizational effectiveness (OE).

An exploratory research methodology with an online survey technique was adopted for the study. Three hundred and three managerial-level personnel from nine large Indian manufacturing organizations participated in the research. A theoretical model is projected and verified using correlation and mediation analysis.

The results show that commitment, reduced turnover intentions and satisfaction levels of employees mediate the relationship between resources, development and retention strategies and OE. However, the retention strategy has the strongest association with the OE of the three strategies. Also, of the three HR outcomes, satisfaction was strongly associated with OE. The analysis proved that the proposed model is an acceptable fit.

Implementing HR-related TQM strategies will likely impact OE since it elicits positive HR outcomes such as commitment, reduced turnover intention and satisfaction. Recognizing human resources as a unique strategic asset will help HR managers devise adequate resourcing, development and retention strategies instrumental in executing TQM.

The present micro study is unique in scrutinizing the influence of soft TQM-HR practices on organizational effectiveness by analysing the mediating effects of commitment, reduced turnover intention and satisfaction in Indian large-scale manufacturing organizations. The study is unique since no literature deciphers the linkages between HR strategies and organizational effectiveness in the Indian manufacturing sector.

This study aims to investigate the relationship link between societal and governmental support factors, individuals’ self-efficacy, experience and outcome expectations in framing nascent social entrepreneurs' intentions to establish e-government service centres in rural areas by using the integrated model approach of Hockert’s (2017) social entrepreneurial intentions (SEI) theoretical model and social cognitive career theory (SCCT).

Using a convenient sampling strategy, 615 survey samples were obtained through a questionnaire from e-governance-based social entrepreneurs in Karnataka. The primary data and theorised model are analysed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

This research findings indicate that appointing agency support, perceived societal support (PSS), government support, social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SE-SE), public image, prior experience and outcome expectations substantially predicted SEI to establish an e-government service centre. Hence, prior experience and PSS were insignificant regarding direct influence outcome expectations towards establishing e-governance social ventures.

The present research study initially explored the social entrepreneur's intention to provide e-public services to people in rural and distant areas to fulfil social needs. Furthermore, this research revealed that new antecedents of government support, appointing agency support and public image influence the social entrepreneur's intention to establish e-governance service centres. These research findings evaluate the contribution of the government, appointing agencies, social entrepreneurs and citizens to make a framework for the inclination of e-government service centres to create a social impact in rural and remote areas.

This study examines the impact of crowdsourcing and open innovation (CSOI) in an emerging country like India. The study also investigates the moderating effects of technology support (TES) on improving firm performance and socio-economic conditions (SEC) in emerging countries.

A theoretical model has been developed with the help of stakeholder theory, dynamic capability view (DCV) and existing literature. Later, the theoretical model is validated using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique to analyse 303 respondents from India.

The results of this study demonstrate that CSOI has a significant and positive role in the SEC in emerging countries, showing the emergence of an economy close to stakeholder capitalism or the Francesco Pope one. The study also finds that TES significantly moderates successful crowdsourcing practices and open innovation activities, influencing sustainability-related factors.

This study shows that CSOI practices can influence the SECs in emerging countries by improving intermediate sustainability-related contextual issues like environmental, social and economic factors. This implies that CSOI are relevant in emerging countries to ensure the socio-economic growth of the society where so many constraints prevail.

This is a preliminary study on CSOI practices that firms in emerging countries follow. Using stakeholder theory and DCV to develop the unique conceptual model is essential to the body of knowledge. The inclusion of moderators like TES is a unique value proposition. Moreover, the proposed theoretical model has a high predictive power, making the model impactful and novel.