Search results

Grounded in upper echelon (UE) theory, this study aims to examine the role of managerial competencies (business experience, financial literacy and digital literacy) in sustainable development strategy, with resource management as a mediator.

The empirical data collection is conducted through a survey completed by 297 top management teams of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Pakistan. Structural equation modelling in Smart PLS is used to substantiate the hypotheses.

The findings reveal that financially and digitally literate managers significantly contribute to the sustainable development strategies of SMEs. However, experienced managers do not focus significantly on sustainable development strategies. Resource management partially mediates the nexus between financial literacy and sustainable development strategy, as well as between digital literacy and sustainable development strategy. In contrast, resource management does not mediate the nexus between business experience and sustainable development strategy.

This study recommends that SMEs should prioritize managers with digital and financial literacy over those with experience. SMEs led by a management team with digital and financial literacy are more effective in resource management for sustainable development practices, whereas experienced managers may not significantly prioritize managing resources for sustainability.

While research based on the UE theory significantly contributes to the body of knowledge on sustainable development, the role of managerial competencies, particularly business experience, financial literacy and digital literacy, in sustainable development strategy via resource management is neglected. This research fills this gap in the context of UE theory and thereby enriches the literature.

This chapter is an exploratory study of women’s football in Goa during two defining periods in its history: 1975–1991 and 2017–present. Anchoring the analysis within the intersection of sport, gender, and decolonisation, the chapter aims to address the peripheralisation of women’s sport in academic work on sport in India. Examining the evolution of women’s football in Goa and the multifarious factors that stilted its advancement, this research demonstrates how the systemic challenges that have historically plagued women’s sport continue to hamper its progress. The chapter argues that the professionalisation of women’s sport is indispensable to unlocking its potential and doing justice to the players and other stakeholders who continue to pursue it despite manifold challenges.

Given the potential for authorial fashion to lead the way in the field of sustainable fashion and digital platforms to be a powerful tool for spreading sustainable messages, this study seeks to explore the emphasis given to sustainability in the digital communication of Portuguese and Spanish’s authorial fashion.

A thematic analysis of all the posts published on the feeds of the 63 designers who presented their collections at the Madrid and Lisbon fashion weeks in September/October 2022 (Spring/Summer 2023) or February/March 2023 (Fall/Winter 2023/2024) editions was carried out. The information was collected over a six-month period between the two fashion weeks. This study is based on the categories identified in the reflexive thematic analysis developed by Testa et al. (2020). After adapting the categories to our analysis, 14 emerging themes were identified as observation criteria.

A total of 4,699 posts were examined. The analysis reveals a general lack of interest in mentioning sustainability – a subject evident in just around 6% of the content – as well as a high emphasis on the visual aspect of the fashion product. Several similarities between the Portuguese and Spanish markets were observed.

This study is important since there are few cross-cultural studies in the field of fashion between the two countries, particularly on sustainable fashion. Furthermore, it establishes a structure that is easily replicable in various markets and geographical areas.

Considering the historical evolution of innovation dynamics, and its paradoxical state, and answering Nelson (2008) and Winter (2014), this paper aims to analyze the dynamics of innovation within the context of the Evolutionary Economic Theory. Specifically, this study looks to unravel the moderating influence of university cooperation on the relationship between innovation expenditure and innovation results. This study aims to provide valuable insights and evidence that can inform strategic decision-making for policymakers and businesses striving to foster innovation-driven economic growth in an ever-evolving global landscape.

The quantitative methodology adopted in this study involved harvesting data from the Latin American Innovation Survey (LAIS) database and cleaning it up using Python to ensure data integrity. Subsequently, SPSS, coupled with the PROCESS macro, was employed to conduct moderation analysis. This methodological approach enabled the examination of the intricate interplay between innovation expenditure, university cooperation and innovation outcomes within a large sample of firms, thereby easing a robust exploration of the hypothesis.

The research highlights the moderating role of university cooperation, showing that collaborative partnerships amplify the impact of innovation spending on innovation results, advancing the understanding of the impact of university-business collaborations. Additionally, the results revealed a positive relationship between innovation expenditure and innovation results, underscoring the significance of R&D investments.

This study highlights the role of university-industry collaborations in enhancing innovation investment outcomes in Latin America. It suggests that managers should proactively engage with universities to access advanced research and foster a culture of innovation. These partnerships can significantly boost a firm's competitive edge and innovation success, marking them as crucial in the rapidly evolving economic environment.

The originality of the paper relies on bridging theoretical concepts from the Evolutionary Economic Theory framework with empirical insights of the moderating role of university cooperation. It addresses a theoretical gap, with a new methodology and offers insights into the complex relationship between universities, businesses and innovation in a constantly changing economic environment, making it clearer how these connections can help boost innovation in practical ways.