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This study aims to explore consumers’ perspectives on how packaging plays a role in their consumption experience and how it contributes to the formation of brand images. By adopting a consumer’s perspective, the authors identify the criteria that consumers apply to evaluate packaging and reveal how packaging relates to consumers’ overall brand associations.

Through a sequential exploratory mixed methods design, the authors explore brand packaging of chocolate bars as emotionally laden, well-known fast-moving consumer goods. First, the authors conduct a qualitative focus group study to explore how consumers perceive package design, and how it relates to their brand impressions. Second, the authors test the constructs and attributes with an independent sample through a quantitative survey.

The qualitative findings reveal the different roles of packaging and highlight how packaging provides value for consumer experiences not only at the point-of-sale but also during later consumption. More specifically, the authors identify 12 main criteria that consumers use to evaluate packaging. The authors unwrap how packaging is embedded in consumers’ brand image networks by mapping out its connections to other brand associations pertaining to product attributes, the brand itself and personality impressions. The quantitative findings confirm the importance of practical and symbolic packaging criteria and the brand image comparisons.

Taking a consumer’s perspective, this study contributes to a more holistic understanding of how packaging supports brand building as we reveal the various ways in which packaging relates to consumers’ overall brand image associations. This study further directs attention to the roles that consumers themselves assign to packaging and how they evaluate packaging based on its practical, symbolic and social value.

The nature of policework is uniquely challenging to officers’ mental health, producing detrimental outcomes such as higher rates of suicide, substance abuse and divorce compared to other occupations. This is especially true in small and rural police departments, where officers often have broader responsibilities and cover a larger geographic area than their counterparts who work in large urban departments. Given the limited resources available to small and rural police, the purpose of this study is to explore the mental health services available to officers in small and rural police departments.

We used a mixed methods approach. First, we surveyed 349 small and rural Pennsylvania police chiefs about the mental health services in their department. Of these chiefs, 53 participated in subsequent in-depth qualitative interviews about officer awareness of the mental health services available to them, what resources they thought would be helpful to officers and what barriers exist to prevent officers from seeking help.

Quantitative results indicated that 22% of small and rural police departments had no mental health programs available to officers; Critical Incident Stress Management and Employee Assistance Programs were most commonly available. Budget size and the presence of a union influenced whether a department had mental health programs available to officers. Qualitative interviews found that although most departments provided some mental health services, officers were unlikely to use them. Chiefs expressed a need for improved services that officers might be more likely to use.

Given the lack of resources available in small and rural police departments and the lack of adoption of some resources, we recommend peer assistance, general wellness programs and telehealth as feasible options for officer mental health.

Small and rural police comprise the bulk of policing in the USA, yet remain understudied. This study focuses on small and rural police.

This study aims to examine the relationship between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure and the moderating role of board network centrality and political connections on the nexus between EPU and ESG.

Using a sample of the UK Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 350 firms during 2007 to 2018, this study examines the relationship between EPU and the ESG disclosure and the moderating effects of board centrality and board political connections using multivariate regression analysis.

The results show that firms tend to increase their ESG disclosure when EPU rises. The results also reveal that EPU is negatively associated with firms’ financial performance and ESG performance is less evident for firms with higher ESG disclosure scores and is observed only when board centrality is relatively low and the political connections are absent. The study finds further evidence to support the hypotheses during periods of heightened conflicts (i.e. global financial crisis and the Brexit referendum).

This study offers practical insights for corporate managers who attempt to preserve and enhance their firms’ competitive advantages via maintaining its stakeholders support through greater ESG disclosure during heightened EPU periods.

By integrating the resource-based view (RBV) and the signaling theory, this study extends the signaling theory and RBV by examining the relationship between EPU and ESG disclosure as a signal to its stakeholders and information advantages that board centrality and political connections bring to the company to reduce information asymmetry between the firms and its stakeholders during EPU.

This study examines whether a firm’s management earnings forecasts affect its technical innovation activities. Our study also examines whether the cost of debt plays a mediating role between the management earnings forecasts and the innovation nexus.

We obtained data from 1,032 Chinese non-financial firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets from 2005 to 2022 (i.e. 18,576 firm-year observations). We used various econometrics techniques, such as Heckman’s (1979) two-stage selection method and two-stage least square, to examine the relationship between management earnings forecasts and the firm’s technical innovation activities.

We find a positive relationship between management earnings forecasts and the firms' technical innovation. We also find that the cost of debt mediates the relationship between management earnings forecast and technical innovation. Further analysis indicates that frequent earnings forecasts provide incremental information regarding a firm’s future value and cash flows, thus reducing the volatility and uncertainty in cash flow calculations. Our findings are robust to several tests.

Our study has implications for policymakers, practitioners and high-level management of Chinese firms, enabling them to understand the relationship between management earnings forecasts and firms' innovation activities.

In this chapter, I will outline the labels of giftedness and underachievement and present the theoretical debates surrounding these labels. A historicist examination of these labels follows, highlighting how the gifted underachievement (GUA) label emerges through the negation of “giftedness.” Subsequently, I explore the concept of GUA and its negative connotations, stemming from the positive valuation inherent in the term “giftedness” and its implications for what is considered “normal.” This chapter also reviews perspectives on shifting the focus away from the individual within the current paradigm of labeling giftedness and explores insights from systemic thinking and symbolic interactionism (SI). The conclusion underscores the necessity of a symbolic interactionist perspective to address the gaps in research on the labeling of giftedness and underachievement. Finally, I propose a generic definition that can be used in GUA research in the light of SI.

This study aims to analyze the effects of microentrepreneurs’ knowledge transfer (KT) on personal improvement (PI) and business improvement (BI).

The study was developed in two stages: a literature review based on KT and the learning process in microenterprises to have managerial competence and PI and BI to acquire the managerial competence that entrepreneurs need. The second stage was constructing a structural model based on 107 questionnaires and bootstrapping of 5,000 replications of microentrepreneurs who went through a training program (quantitative) and a focus group (qualitative). This study had a mixed approach, exploratory scope and experimental design.

The research showed real evidence about the performance level of microentrepreneurs when they passed through the process of KT and its impact on PI and BI. This research considers their managerial competencies, and the findings show a relationship between the theory of individual and organizational learning.

This study considered Peruvian microentrepreneurs who participated in a virtual training program that included several courses related to their current environments and topics of interest. The analyzed period covered the years affected by COVID-19.

The model reveals that KT is relevant to PI and BI. Performance was measured regarding growth, income, innovation, productivity and responsibility before and after the program.

This research analyzed the need for training microentrepreneurs for personal and private reasons under a COVID-19 scenario to foster their businesses and assume financial responsibilities. This study considered Peru’s reality, a country in which 94.9% of companies are microenterprises. The study revealed that microentrepreneurs improved their personal and professional lives and addressed relevant social problems that affect their environments because of the KT effects.

This study bridges the gap in the literature on how the theory of KT can be applied to entrepreneurs. This study revealed significant findings in terms of PI and BIs. The impact of KT indicates the relevance of managerial competencies related to the performance level obtained in terms of growth, income, innovation, productivity and responsibility.

This study aims to examine the determinants and consequences of integrated reporting (IR) disclosures of listed non-financial firms in an emerging economy.

This study uses data from 39 listed non-financial firms that had adopted IR disclosure framework in Sri Lanka for the period from 2011 to 2018. Firm size, growth opportunity, profitability and firm age are considered significant determinants of IR disclosure, while their consequences are measured in terms of share price, Tobin’s Q, return on assets and return on equity. The authors used the results of the correlation and panel regression analyses to draw this study’s conclusions.

This study finds that firm size and age are the significant determinants of IR disclosure, which is consistent with this study’s expectations. Considering the consequences of IR disclosure, only share price and Tobin’s Q show significant results as per the panel regression analyses.

The findings of this study would be useful in the decision-making processes of existing and prospective investors, regulators, policymakers and society at large. Further, the findings of this study communicate the benefits of this new reporting paradigm in shaping their disclosures in the annual corporate reporting process.

Although existing studies attempted to examine the determinants of IR disclosure and its consequences as isolated studies, this study provides new insights by merging these two aspects into a single study and consider several determinants and consequences as well.

The aim of this research is twofold: first, to get more insights on digital maturity to face the emerging 4.0 augmented scenario by identifying artificial intelligence (AI) competencies for becoming hybrid employees and leaders; and second, to investigate digital maturity, training and development support and HR satisfaction with the organization as valuable predictors of AI competency enhancement.

A survey was conducted on 123 participants coming from different industries and involved in functions dealing with the ramifications of Industry 4.0 technologies. The sample has included predominately small-to-medium organizations. A quantitative analysis based on both exploratory factor analysis and multiple linear regression was used to test the research hypotheses.

Three main competency clusters emerge as facilitators of AI–human interaction, i.e. leadership, technical and cognitive. The interplay among these clusters gives rise to plastic knowledge, a kind of moldable knowledge possessed by a particular human agent, here called hybrid. Moreover, organizational digital maturity, training and development support and satisfaction with the organization were significant predictors of AI competency enhancement.

The size of the sample, the convenience sampling method and the geographical context of analysis (i.e. California) required prudence in generalizing results.

Hybrids’ plastic knowledge conceptualized and operationalized in the overall quantitative analysis allows them to fill in the knowledge gaps that an AI agent-human interplay may imply, generating alternative solutions and foreseeing possible outcomes.

This study aims to explore the emerging trend of business-wide Sustainability Third-Party Labels (STPLs), exemplified by entities like B-Corp. These labels are awarded to organizations committed to a distinctive approach to business, typically embracing the triple-bottom-line (TBL) framework, prioritizing not only financial performance but also social and environmental impact. The research investigates whether these labels enhance trust and influence perceptions of sustainability information quality among young consumers in Spain.

A factorial experiment has been conducted among a convenience sample of individuals belonging to the Z-generation (n = 126). The experiment involved randomly exposing the participants to different versions of an informational brochure from a fictional company in the agricultural sector (with and without label). Following the experiment, a focus group with 15 participants was conducted to assist in interpreting the results.

The results of this study suggest that the use of a nonsector specific label across various sectors with distinct sustainability challenges can lead to confusion among Z-generation consumers. Especially within sectors grappling with environmental concerns, such labels may be susceptible to being perceived as manifestations of greenwashing. Additionally, the study adds supporting evidence to the existing body of literature asserting gender differences in the interpretation of sustainability signals, including labels.

As far as this research is concerned, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research that studies the perception of Z-generation members regarding business-wide STPLs. Focusing on studying, the attitudes toward sustainability of younger generations and how they respond to signals like business-wide STPLs are relevant, as they not only possess the longevity to drive substantial change but are also more susceptible to behavioral shifts, thereby holding significant potential in shaping a sustainable future. The study combines both qualitative and quantitative perspective and provides critical insights, relevant to stakeholders within business-wide STPL ecosystems, emphasizing the need for strategic coherence and transparency in label implementation.

This paper investigates Japan’s significant role as an Allied power during World War I, exploring its motivations, military contributions and postwar geopolitical ambitions.

Employing a meticulous analysis of primary sources such as historical documents and personal accounts, alongside secondary sources including scholarly articles and books, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Japan’s decision-making processes during the war. A comparative examination of Japan’s military contributions to the Allied Powers, particularly in securing sea lanes across the West Pacific and Indian Oceans, is conducted to assess their impact on the overall war outcome. Additionally, diplomatic records and negotiations are scrutinized to unravel Japan’s postwar geopolitical objectives, with a focus on its efforts to expand its influence in China.

The research reveals the multifaceted engagement of Japan in World War I, highlighting its motivations, military actions and postwar ambitions. Japan’s contributions to securing sea lanes and its postwar endeavors to enhance influence in China emerge as significant findings.

The study’s reliance on historical documents and secondary sources may entail limitations in accessing comprehensive data, potentially impacting the depth of analysis. Furthermore, interpretations of events and motivations may vary based on different scholarly perspectives.

This study has practical implications for understanding the political and geopolitical context of Japan’s involvement in World War I and its aftermath. By recognizing Japan’s motivations and actions during this period, policymakers and international relations scholars can gain insights into the complexities of imperial ambitions, nationalism and power dynamics in global politics. Understanding these historical implications can inform contemporary discussions about regional stability, alliances and nationalism’s impact on international relations. Furthermore, this research encourages critical analysis of historical narratives and promotes a nuanced understanding of the consequences of imperialistic pursuits in shaping present-day dynamics.

This study fosters a deeper understanding of the historical context and the impact of imperialism on society. By examining Japan's involvement in World War I and its subsequent imperialistic ambitions, the study sheds light on the complexities of nationalism, racial superiority and ideological justifications for expansion. This understanding can help societies reflect on the dangers of chauvinistic nationalism and its potential consequences. By critically analyzing historical events, societies can develop a more inclusive and empathetic perspective. This will promote dialogue, tolerance and the appreciation of diverse cultures in the pursuit of a more harmonious and equitable world.

By combining a thorough examination of primary materials with a comprehensive review of scholarly discourse, this paper offers a nuanced and well-rounded perspective on Japan’s involvement in World War I and its enduring geopolitical consequences. It contributes to the understanding of Japan’s role as an Allied power and its postwar ambitions.