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This study aims to explore the relationship between energy management practices – specifically energy consumption targets, energy efficiency improvement measures and energy consumption monitoring – and firm performance in the developing economies of Egypt and Tunisia. It seeks to determine how these practices impact total sales performance, providing insights for regional firms and policymakers.

This study uses data from the World Bank’s 2020 Enterprise Survey, focusing on firms in Egypt and Tunisia. This study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the impact of energy management practices on total sales performance.

The findings reveal that, while energy consumption targets do not directly affect total sales performance in Tunisia, they significantly enhance energy efficiency improvement measures and energy consumption monitoring, indirectly influencing total sales performance. This finding highlights the critical role of comprehensive energy management strategies in improving firm performance.

This study is limited to firms in Egypt and Tunisia, with cross-sectional data that do not capture the dynamic interactions of the variables over time. Future research should consider longitudinal data and expand this study to other developing economies. Using single-item measures for each variable suggests that more nuanced, multi-item measures could offer more profound insights.

For firms in Egypt and Tunisia, adopting comprehensive energy management practices, such as setting energy consumption targets, implementing energy efficiency measures and monitoring energy consumption, can lead to better sales performance by reducing energy costs, which can be reinvested in core business activities. Policymakers should support these practices through incentives and policies that promote energy efficiency and sustainability.

This study contributes to the literature by offering empirical evidence of the indirect impact of energy consumption targets on firm performance in developing economies. This underscores the importance of integrated energy management strategies to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mainly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), providing valuable insights for both policymakers and practitioners.

Predicting commodity futures trading volumes represents an important matter to policymakers and a wide spectrum of market participants. The purpose of this study is to concentrate on the energy sector and explore the trading volume prediction issue for the thermal coal futures traded in Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange in China with daily data spanning January 2016–December 2020.

The nonlinear autoregressive neural network is adopted for this purpose and prediction performance is examined based upon a variety of settings over algorithms for model estimations, numbers of hidden neurons and delays and ratios for splitting the trading volume series into training, validation and testing phases.

A relatively simple model setting is arrived at that leads to predictions of good accuracy and stabilities and maintains small prediction errors up to the 99.273th quantile of the observed trading volume.

The results could, on one hand, serve as standalone technical trading volume predictions. They could, on the other hand, be combined with different (fundamental) prediction results for forming perspectives of trading trends and carrying out policy analysis.

Illegitimate tasks are pervasive in organizations, presenting a challenge for employees to mitigate their impact. However, despite their significance, there has been limited research on when and how employees can adapt to these tasks successfully. To address this gap, this study aimed to discover the relationship between illegitimate tasks and adaptive performance, drawing upon the job demands-resources theory. Specifically, this study aimed to examine the moderating role of general self-efficacy and the mediating roles of employee problem-focused and emotion-focused coping.

To examine our hypotheses, we conducted a time-lagged survey, comprising 3 waves and involving 313 employees from twenty enterprises situated in Guangzhou and Sichuan, China. Ordinary least squares (OLS) was adopted to examine our hypotheses.

Our results suggested that general self-efficacy played a crucial role in determining how employees would cope with illegitimate tasks and their subsequent adaptive performance when confronted with illegitimate tasks. Notably, employees who possess high levels of general self-efficacy utilize problem-focused coping, improving adaptive performance in handling illegitimate tasks. Conversely, employees who possess low levels of general self-efficacy rely on emotion-focused coping, leading to lower levels of adaptive performance.

This research contributes to the literature on illegitimate tasks by uncovering when and how such tasks can either promote or hinder adaptive performance. These findings offer practical insights into ways to assist employees in managing illegitimate tasks effectively.

This paper aims to explain the factors shaping collective action within low-cost housing communities, focusing on parcel holders, through the utilisation of an expanded institutional analysis development (IAD) framework, which extends upon Ostrom’s foundational framework. Additionally, the paper explores four different property management approaches accessible to these communities.

The research employed a mixed-method approach comprising four sequential steps. Firstly, a quantitative inquiry entailed a questionnaire survey administered to 633 parcel holders across four low-cost housing schemes, aimed at discerning factors influencing collective action. Subsequently, a qualitative investigation involved face-to-face interviews with key stakeholders to elucidate the contributing factors of collective action, with a specific focus on Nursa Kurnia (a successful low-cost housing scheme comprising 200 units), accessible via Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road II. Thirdly, the study explored the social practice of “commoning the governance”. Lastly, the paper advocated for housing policy interventions, specifically proposing government subsidies for lower-income parcel holders.

Exemplified by the success of Nursa Kurnia, the research findings emphasised the importance of shifting local management’s mindset from a zero-sum approach to a win-win perspective. It highlighted the pivotal role of four factors (resource system, governance system, context and historical development) in shaping collective action and fostering improved property management practices. Moreover, the study highlighted the potential of “commoning the governance” as a new approach capable of addressing collective action challenges in low-cost housing management, presenting a promising avenue for future endeavours.

As more studies utilising the expanded IAD framework become available in the future, there is potential for further refinement and enhancement of the framework.

This study offers valuable insights for policymakers, property developers, local management and local communities, shedding light on challenges associated with the self-organisation of shared resources. Moreover, it highlights the potential of “commoning the governance” as a new property management approach to mitigate the impact of collective action problems.

The well-being of society’s most vulnerable segment is indicative of the overall societal health. This underscores the significance of addressing the interests and needs of these lower-income groups within the broader social context.

Exploring collective action within the context of self-organising low-cost housing, the study delves into an area marked by persistent challenges like free-riding tendencies and vandalism. Despite significant attention given to collective action issues in the past, the novel approach of “commoning the governance” remains unexamined in the realm of low-cost housing maintenance and management.

Existing research on innovation has mainly focused on how to promote technological innovation in megaprojects and management innovation (MI) in megaprojects is still an unknown research field. The purposes of this study are to examine the effect of MI on megaproject performance and how the top management team (TMT) regulatory focus affects the use of MI in projects. At the same time, the moderating effects of project uncertainties are also tested.

On the basis of an explorative/exploitative ambidextrous analysis framework, this study divides MI into two dimensions: explorative and exploitative MI, and integrates the theoretical perspectives of the TMT regulatory focus and project uncertainties into a research model. Taking 314 responses from megaprojects’ TMTs in China as research data, this study empirically tests the above model.

Results show that exploratory MI has a U-shaped relationship with megaproject performance; whereas exploitative MI has an inverted U-shaped relationship with megaproject performance. The TMT promotion focus has a positive effect on exploratory and exploitative MI; and the TMT prevention focus has a negative effect on exploratory MI but has a positive effect on exploitative MI. Project uncertainties have a positive moderating effect on the positive relationship between TMT promotion focus and exploratory MI, whereas it has a negative moderating effect on the negative relationship between the TMT prevention focus and exploratory MI.

By empirically measuring the relationship between two types of MIs and megaproject performance, this study clarifies the differential mechanism of the effect of different MIs on megaproject performance. This study also examines the MI of megaprojects from the perspective of the TMT regulatory focus and expounds how changes in uncertainties affect the relationship between the TMT regulatory focus and MI.

Although virtual anchors have emerged as potent marketing tools, their acceptance by consumers is controversial. Specifically, the relative efficacy of selecting an all-human-like or animal-human-like virtual anchor is not well-defined. However, anthropomorphic visual cues are vital in enhancing live streaming. This study aims to analyze the disparate effects of an animal-human-like or all-human-like virtual anchor on purchase intention as well as evaluate the possible underlying influential mechanisms and boundary conditions.

In this research, three different studies were carried out to elucidate the impact of virtual anchors on purchase intention. Study 1 evaluated the core impact of an animal-human-like and all-human-like virtual anchor on purchase intention, as well as the mediating role of perceived warmth and competence. Studies 2 and 3 were then performed to investigate the moderating impacts of product type and certainty of consumer needs, respectively. Furthermore, research data for these studies was collected using the Credamo tool and analyzed via SPSS, using PROCESS for moderation and mediation analyses.

The research findings indicate that virtual anchors can trigger purchase intention, with perceived warmth and competence acting as mediating factors. Based on the utilitarian products and high certainty of consumer needs, the influence of perceived competence on purchase intention is augmented. Therefore, an all-human-like virtual anchor increases purchase intention. In contrast, the impact of perceived warmth on purchase intention is supplemented for hedonic products and low certainty of consumer needs. Thus, an animal-human-like virtual anchor increases purchase intention.

This research study evaluated consumer reactions to all-human-like and animal-human-like virtual anchors for different product types and the certainty of consumer needs to optimize the comprehension of a virtual anchor. Furthermore, the assessment of the mediating roles of perceived warmth and competence provided valuable insights into the influential mechanisms by which virtual anchors affect purchase intention. Moreover, this study provided managerial implications to guide retailers and brands on the strategic adoption of virtual anchors to enhance purchase intention based on the product type and the certainty of consumer needs.

The launch of ChatGPT has brought the large language model (LLM)-based generative artificial intelligence (GAI) into the spotlight, triggering the interests of various stakeholders to seize the possible opportunities implicated by it. Nevertheless, there are also challenges that the stakeholders should observe when they are considering the potential of GAI. Given this backdrop, this study presents the viewpoints gathered from various subject experts on six identified areas.

Through an expert-based approach, this paper gathers the viewpoints of various subject experts on the identified areas of tourism and hospitality, marketing, retailing, service operations, manufacturing and healthcare.

The subject experts first share an overview of the use of GAI, followed by the relevant opportunities and challenges in implementing GAI in each identified area. Afterwards, based on the opportunities and challenges, the subject experts propose several research agendas for the stakeholders to consider.

This paper serves as a frontier in exploring the opportunities and challenges implicated by the GAI in six identified areas that this emerging technology would considerably influence. It is believed that the viewpoints offered by the subject experts would enlighten the stakeholders in the identified areas.

This paper aims to investigate the effect of laser energy density on the fretting wear properties of TC4 alloys prepared by selective laser melting to enhance their service life.

The friction test used a ball-to-plane contact structure and simulated the actual working conditions by applying a linear reciprocating motion. In the experiments, the authors prepared TC4 alloys using different laser energy densities and performed fretting wear tests with D = 100 µm on a friction machine, as well as comparative analyses with conventional cast TC4 materials. 3D optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy and energy spectrum x-ray spectrometer were used to analyze the surface morphology and elemental content of the samples.

The results indicate that the friction coefficient and wear volume of selective laser melting (SLM)-TC4 are lower than those of cast TC4, demonstrating superior wear resistance. As the laser energy density increases, the grain size of the SLM-TC4 samples gradually coarsens, leading to an initial improvement followed by a decline in friction coefficient and wear resistance. Among the samples, ET3 (42 J/mm³) exhibits the lowest friction coefficient and wear volume, with the friction coefficient ranging from 0.67 to 0.7 and the wear volume being only 9.92% of that of cast TC4.

The main contribution of this work is to provide a new reference for improving the wear resistance of TC4 prepared by selective laser melting. By studying the effect of different laser energy densities on the wear resistance of TC4, it provides a theoretical basis for the preparation of SLM-TC4 alloys for industrial applications.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-11-2024-0414/

The purpose of this paper is to explore how emerging market firms (EMFs), in the face of intense international competition within global value chains (GVCs), continuously accumulate the knowledge and capabilities needed to support leapfrog upgrading. Based on this, this paper aims to construct a process model of the dynamic evolution of EMFs’ control over GVC core activities.

This paper conducts a longitudinal case study of Ninestar Corporation, a leading company in the Chinese printer industry, to investigate its leapfrog upgrading practices. From the perspective of dynamic capabilities theory, the study explores the dynamic processes and intrinsic mechanisms through which EMFs achieve the evolution of their control over GVC core activities.

It is revealed that the dual-dimensional expansion of controlling the core activities of GVC from vertical functional architecture to horizontal product architecture is the pathway for manufacturing enterprises in emerging economies to achieve leapfrogging upgrades. It is also found that the dynamic capabilities of EMFs undergo iterative evolution during the upgrading process. The self-reinforcing logic and the path-creation logic of dynamic capabilities are the internal mechanisms for controlling GVC core activities to achieve the breakthrough in both the vertical functional division chain and the horizontal product division chain.

This paper provides an insightful case for how EMFs can achieve leapfrog upgrading in the new normal of global trade patterns. It explores how these firms can gain control over GVC core activities through the evolution of dynamic capabilities. The research findings extend the boundaries of the theory of firm upgrading.

The purpose of this study is to examine how team identification influences employee work behaviors within organizational contexts. Specifically, we investigate the impact of team identification on two distinct behaviors: organizational citizenship behavior toward individuals (OCB-I) and counterproductive work behavior toward Individuals (CWB-I), with knowledge sharing as a mediating mechanism. By examining these relationships, this study provides insights into how team identification shapes both positive and negative employee behaviors and how knowledge sharing functions as a crucial mechanism in this process.

A two-wave, time-lagged survey design was employed. Data were collected from 269 full-time employees across various industries in South Korea, with participants providing follow-up responses one week after the initial survey.

The study’s findings revealed that team identification significantly influences employee work behaviors. A strong sense of team identification was positively associated with organizational citizenship behavior toward individuals (OCB-I). Although not statistically significant, team identification also showed a tendency to negatively impact Counterproductive Work Behavior toward Individuals (CWB-I). Importantly, knowledge sharing mediated both relationships. Specifically, knowledge sharing partially mediated the positive relationship between team identification and OCB-I while mediating the negative relationship between team identification and CWB-I. These results highlight the crucial role of knowledge sharing in translating team identification into observable workplace behaviors.

This study contributes original insights to the organizational behavior field by elucidating the mediating role of knowledge sharing in the relationship between team identification and employee work behaviors. While previous research has examined these elements separately, our study uniquely integrates them, demonstrating how knowledge sharing serves as a pivotal mechanism translating team identification into both positive (OCB-I) and negative (CWB-I) work behaviors. The findings provide a nuanced understanding of team dynamics within organizations and underscore the importance of fostering strong team identities and knowledge-sharing cultures. This research offers valuable implications for both theory and practice in organizational development and management.