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This study aims to explore how achieving a harmonious work–life balance (WLB) can enhance the business performance of women entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using border theory as a framework, it investigates the specific challenges and strategies these entrepreneurs use to manage their dual roles in professional and personal domains.

This qualitative study uses in-depth interviews with 50 women entrepreneurs across various ages, nationalities and business types in the UAE. Purposeful sampling was used to ensure a diverse range of viewpoints.

The study finds that maintaining a WLB is crucial for the success and growth of women entrepreneurs in the UAE. A balanced work-life leads to higher job satisfaction, improved work quality and increased customer satisfaction, which collectively drive business success. Conversely, a lack of WLB results in stress, burnout and reduced productivity, negatively impacting business outcomes. Thus, WLB is essential for the well-being, efficiency and overall success of women entrepreneurs.

This research extends border theory by examining how women entrepreneurs, a unique workforce segment, balance their professional and personal lives in the UAE’s distinct socio-cultural context. It offers new insights into the challenges and strategies of achieving WLB, highlighting the significant role of family support and technology in this process. The study also underscores the importance of WLB for women’s entrepreneurship, contributing to broader discussions on gender, work–life integration and entrepreneurial success.

This study aims to give a glimpse of the existing blockchain applications across industries and add to a complete knowledge of the blockchain’s properties.

Systematic literature review is used as the research strategy for this investigation and other aspects of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses framework have been incorporated to create a scholarly publications evaluation of the blockchain-based application in the financial arena and its future. The research looks at 86 studies published between 2018 and 2022.

There has been a steady but noticeable increase in the study of blockchain’s potential in many application domains over the past few of years. This rising tendency illustrates the newness and potential of blockchain technology, as well as the increasing attention from academics. According to the findings, blockchain is an appropriate solution for processing transactions using cryptocurrencies; nevertheless, it still has significant technical issues and limits that require to be exploring and solving before it can be considered a viable option. It is therefore, necessary to have a high level of reliability for payments and confidentiality, in addition to maintaining the anonymity of nodes, to stop assaults and efforts to disrupt transactions in the blockchain.

This study has several important theoretical and practical implications. First, it adds to the body of knowledge on blockchain and Fintech, focusing on the transaction side. While much blockchain research has focused on how the technology may affect strategic choices, this study has shed light on its potential from the perspective of financial reporting. Second, by highlighting the importance of the demand for the prompt identification of losses, this work adds to the body of knowledge on the factors that influence transaction frauds involving paper money. Additionally, by establishing the link between transparency and virtual transactions, the author backs up the asymmetric responses of investors to different investment possibilities. It looks at the evolution of financial technology (Fintech) and shows how it can be used to take the advantage of unique opportunities.

The study is different and novel from the previously published literature on this topic mainly because of its comprehensiveness, as it revolves around all industrial and commercial areas. The three main lines of research have been outlined, namely, classifying the many blockchain-based innovations that will alter the financial landscape in many industries; identifying whether these industries are a good fit for blockchain’s wealth creation potential; and directing researchers by outlining prospective study pathways.

Identity, positioning and possibilities intersect differently for South Asian women in white academia. Within a broader migrant community that defines Australian life, these identities and positioning imply great possibility, but pursuing such pathways within academia is a walk on the last strand of resilience. This paper explores this tension of possibilities and constraints, using hope theory to highlight the cognitive resistance evident in the narratives of three South Asian women in Australian academia.

The authors use collaborative autoethnography to share their narratives of working in Australian universities at three different stages of careers, utilising Snyder's model of hope theory to interrogate their own goal-setting behaviours, pathways and agentic thinking.

The authors propose that hope as a cognitive state informs resistance and enables aspirations to contribute within academia in meaningful ways whilst navigating the terrain of inequitable structures.

The authors' use of hope theory as a lens on the intersectional experiences of career making, building and progression is a new contribution to scholarship on marginalised women in white academe and the ways in which the pathways of resistance are identified.

This study addresses the growing cyber risks of banks by proposing an innovative, end-to-end dual-layer blockchain-based cyber fraud (CF) response system that integrates Safeguard (SG) and Block guard (BG) mechanisms. The comprehensive solution offers an actionable framework for bank managers to mitigate CFs by prioritizing fraud detection, leveraging early warning signals (EWS), and implementing tailored, need-based control measures before, during, and after a fraud event.

The study uses a multi-method approach, beginning with an extensive literature review on fraud identification, assessment, and prevention strategies. A theoretical framework is constructed to support the proposed SG and BG measures. Machine learning-based data analysis, using Artificial Neural Networks, is employed to dynamically assess the severity of CFs in real time. A managerial action plan for each phase of the fraud lifecycle is presented.

The research underscores the necessity for an adaptable, dual-layered response system that transitions from reactive to proactive and predictive mitigation strategies. The study introduces a novel approach incorporating SG and BG mitigation measures, enabling managers to detect early warning signals and implement robust post-fraud interventions.

The dual-layer approach enhances the sector's resilience to CFs by providing a robust, adaptive framework for fraud prevention and mitigation. This approach helps maintain stability, SG the bank's reputation, and improve overall risk management practices.

This study is unique in its development of an integrated SG and BG response system, combining machine learning, blockchain technology, early warning signals, and a structured before-during-after fraud control model. The research also highlights the critical role of bank managers in implementing and overseeing this innovative response system.

This paper studies digitalization projects aiming to increase the share of regional food in the hospitality sector and communal catering. The focus is set on influencing factors and underlying feedback structures that arise through the digitalization of regional food supplies. The results can guide stakeholders to get a better understanding of key influencing factors and complexities from a holistic perspective.

A systems thinking approach is employed to model regional food networks. The influencing factors were found in the literature and in two model regions. Feedback loops and underlying structures were explained and validated through semi-structured interviews. Findings are visualized in causal loop diagrams (CLDs) and are used for theory development.

The presentation in CLDs helps understanding the influence of digital logistics platforms on the entire system of regional food supply and not just on isolated parts. Among others, cooperation, trust and digital solutions were identified as key success factors when aiming to increase the share of regional food in the hospitality sector and communal catering.

The work focused on the underlying feedback structures occurring in regional food supply in two, rural Bavarian regions in Germany with their unique geographical settings. Findings may, consequently, not be entirely transferable to other regions with varying characteristics. Further research needs to be done to see how much these regional parameters influence digital logistics platforms.

The paper contributes to the existing scientific literature by showing the impact coming from digital logistics platforms on regional food supply systems. Developing CLDs provides a basis for future work and facilitates discussion for researchers and practitioners to support future real-world implementations.

This study aims to present an innovative approach to detect and monitor ethylene gas during fruit ripening.

It uses a specialized composite membrane in conjunction with a solid-state electrochemical method. This unique electroactive membrane, composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan (CHT), lithium chloride (LiCl) and ammonium molybdate (AMO), exhibits synergistic behavior when applied to a microelectrode chip surface. This composite enhances the sensitivity of electrochemical ethylene detection. Empirical experiments were conducted to elucidate the ripening kinetics in various fruit specimens, including apples, pears and mangoes. These fruits released ethylene, which was analyzed using the molybdenum-permeated electroactive biopolymer composite membrane, a critical determinant of ethylene levels.

Characterization of the synthesized composite through techniques such as X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed reduced crystallinity and decreased hydrogen bond interactions upon activation with Mo ions. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images exhibited a distinctive porous surface morphology with spherical microgranules. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated a significant change in the mass or atomic composition of Mo in the composite membrane after Mo ion activation. Electrochemical measurements, including cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, validated the efficiency of the Mo-activated PVA-CHT-LiCl-AMO membrane, manifesting an impressive 87.79% increase in sensitivity compared to the nonactivated membrane.

This research work represents a significant advancement in the field of ethylene detection and fruit ripening monitoring. The Mo-activated PVA-CHT-LiCl-AMO membrane offers a reliable and effective solution for real-time ethylene detection, providing an invaluable tool for the horticultural industry to optimize fruit ripening processes, extend shelf life and ensure the delivery of high-quality produce to consumers.

The findings of this study hold great promise for fostering sustainability and efficiency within the global fruit supply chain, ultimately benefiting both producers and consumers alike.

The implications of this research extend to the fabrication of a sensor based on a solid-state electroactive PVA-CHT-LiCl-AMO composite membrane, which upon Mo-activation exhibits robust electrochemical fruit ethylene detection when exposed to different fruits.

During the past decade, marketing literature has focused on investigating the dark side of consumer emotions and their behavior. This demands further research for a more in-depth understanding. Hence, drawing on affective events theory, this study aims to examine employee incivility (rude and poor behavior) and its consequences on brand hate. Furthermore, the authors also introduced perceived justice as a moderator to buffer the impact of brand hate.

A scenario-based survey was used to collect data from 212 consumers from the airline industry. Structural equation modeling was performed through SmartPLS.

Findings revealed that employee incivility instigates brand hate. Results further showed that attitudinal brand hate influences brand opposition and detachment, whereas behavioral brand hate only influences brand detachment. Additionally, perceived justice moderates the negative relationship between employee incivility and brand hate. Overall, the results showed that employee incivility can trigger brand hate, and service recovery can reduce the negative impact of employee behavior on brand hate in the aviation sector.

This study contributes to brand hate and service recovery literature.

This study provides deep insights into how employee behavior can cause brand hate and how recovery strategies can help buffer its impact.

In the existing literature, limited studies have focused on organizational factors instigating brand hate. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to associate employee incivility and brand hate.

Studies on the negative aspects of consumer–brand relationships have received increasing attention in academia, but most research on this phenomenon is not focused on services. On the other hand, the literature consistently demonstrates evidence that gender affects consumer behavior. In this context, this study aims to unprecedentedly identify the antecedents of brand hate and the effects of consumer gender across different service sectors.

This research compares the results of two studies with service companies. The first was accomplished with 307 consumers of mobile phone operators, and the second study was performed on 450 higher education students. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

In both studies, females showed greater importance for ideological incompatibility than males. This suggests that females are more sensitive to moral issues and ethical behavior than males. As for males, negative experience is the most relevant antecedent of brand hate in both samples. However, when age is checked, the results indicate that younger males develop more brand hate than older males. This does not happen with females.

This study demonstrates gender differences and compares two samples applied in different service sectors: low-technological and high-touch consumer interactions. The results show that the antecedents of brand hate for males and females in the service sector differ. This study also points out that older males present a different behavior when compared to younger males, which does not happen with females.

This study aims to employ the componential theory and interactionist perspective of creativity to explore how cognitive and affective transformations foster creativity. It investigates the influence of dispositional factors (cultural intelligence, ambiguity tolerance, social awareness) and contextual factors (international learning experiences) on students’ self-efficacy and subsequently on creative process engagement (CPE). Additionally, it examines the moderating role of cultural distance in the relationship between self-efficacy and CPE.

A survey was conducted with 1,829 Indonesian students involved in international student mobility (ISM). The hypotheses were tested using partial least square structural equation modeling.

The study found that dispositional factors (cultural intelligence, ambiguity tolerance, social awareness) and the contextual factor of international learning experience significantly enhance self-efficacy. In turn, self-efficacy significantly promotes creative process engagement. Specifically, self-efficacy fully mediates the relationships between cultural intelligence and CPE, as well as international learning experience and CPE. It also partially mediates the relationships between ambiguity tolerance and CPE, and social awareness and CPE, with both being complementary mediations. However, cultural distance did not moderate the relationship between self-efficacy and CPE.

This study addresses the research gap by focusing on creativity as a process in the context of ISM. By integrating a comprehensive perspective of creativity, this study provides new insights into how dispositional and contextual factors interact to shape self-efficacy and creative engagement, especially in the context of emerging economies such as Indonesia. The findings underscore the importance of self-efficacy in fostering creative engagement among university students who experience ISM and offer valuable implications for educational practices and policies aimed at enhancing creativity in higher education.