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Uncertainty in commodity pricing is a major cause of concern for farmers of developing countries like India. To observe the decision-making process of farmers of Burdwan district of West Bengal, India, the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) model is employed to measure the extent of volatility in spot prices of potato and also to observe the existence of seasonal effects; Agmarknet database provided by Government of India over the period of 2003–2019 has been used. The market price of potato decreased during its season of production and peaked during the off-season period. The result implies that the volatility of potato forecasting is tending towards the standard error correction in the long run and from 2003 to 2019; the trend of potato price was influenced by multiple events. The result indicates that the farmers must focus on short-run structural events in the potato market.

Two essential components, a robust information technology (IT) infrastructure and faculty training in student-centred pedagogies and technology usage, are necessary for effective blended learning designs. Many universities invest in IT infrastructure such as bandwidth, high-end subscriptions, servers, SMART boards, projectors, Wi-Fi enhancement, learning management systems, IT support, and other tools. Faculty training is crucial and includes instruction on using the new infrastructure and adopting pedagogical methods associated with blended learning. This study’s primary objective is to explore the challenges and pedagogical transformation towards blended learning designs in India. The research also investigates the impact of social context and emotional support on blended learning. It examines the mediating role of technostress among teachers between hybrid mode transformation and blended learning. The study’s results will provide critical insights for academic institutions’ higher management to encourage the adoption of learning designs and blended techniques by their employees during unforeseen events in the future, utilizing effective leadership and management skills. The study aims to assist academic institutions in meeting the demand for experiential learning in the classroom by incorporating blended learning. It acts as a bridge between industry expectations and academic outcomes. The study uniquely addresses the need for increased student engagement in the classroom.

This chapter explores the transformative potential of green innovation within the informal manufacturing sector of Bangladesh. It presents an empirical analysis aimed at uncovering the economic benefits derived from integrating green innovation practices into informal enterprises. Through a comprehensive field investigation, the study highlights how green initiatives can act as catalysts for enhancing economic performance, promoting sustainability, and improving competitiveness in a market increasingly conscious of environmental impact. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, engaging with a variety of stakeholders including small-scale manufacturers, local entrepreneurs, and policy-makers within the Comilla district of Bangladesh. It identifies key challenges and opportunities faced by informal enterprises in adopting green technologies and practices. The findings suggest that, despite existing barriers, there is a notable enthusiasm and potential for green innovation as a means to achieve economic growth and environmental sustainability simultaneously. Key insights reveal the importance of supportive policies, access to green finance, and the need for awareness and training programs for the needs of the informal sector. This chapter argues that fostering a conducive ecosystem for green innovation not only contributes to the economic enhancement of informal manufacturers but also aligns with broader national goals of sustainable development. This analysis contributes to the discourse on environmental sustainability and economic development by providing evidence-based recommendations for integrating green innovation into the informal manufacturing sector of Bangladesh, offering a scalable model for similar economies globally.

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the conditions and motivations that influence teachers to adopt innovations.

Using Diffusion of Innovation theory (Rogers, 2003) and Self-Determination theory (Ryan and Deci, 2017), data from two surveys (n = 568; n = 108) and qualitative follow-up interviews of Early Adopter teachers (n = 16) were triangulated to discern relationships among their identification as Early Adopters, satisfaction of their basic psychological needs (BPN) and their implementation of an educational innovation.

Early Adopters had a positive and statistically significant relationship with the implementation of the innovation. Satisfaction of teachers’ BPN had the largest impact on innovation.

The findings are preliminary and based on a small sample size of teachers. Reliability of the measure of BPN was not as high as the standard, but it did have the largest impact on implementation. Additional studies should explore the connections among Early Adopter teacher motivation, leadership and the satisfaction of their BPN.

School leaders should leverage the influence of Early Adopters to support innovation, and they should provide additional time, training and resources to supports teachers’ BPN.

This study examines how to identify and support Early Adopter teachers as enablers of change within schools. We know of no other studies that have used both Diffusion of Innovation theory and Self-Determination theory to understand the motivations of Early Adopter teachers.

Although a growing number of companies are using growth hacking (GH) to grow their businesses, scholars know little about its operationalization, namely through growth hacking capability (GHC), its antecedents and its effectiveness in improving their performance. Indeed, there are no studies that have examined the role of intellectual capital (IC) in this sense. The aim of this study is to fill these gaps and explore the effects of IC (composed of human, relational and structural capital) in influencing GHC and – in turn – whether GHC influences companies’ financial and market performance.

Empirical research was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the validity of the proposed hypotheses and research model. Quantitative data were collected from 38 SMEs in the Italian context through a specifically designed questionnaire.

The results of the analysis show that IC has a positive and significant impact on SMEs’ GHC, thus confirming its role as a relevant antecedent; at the same time, the empirical results underscore the positive effect GHC has on SMEs’ financial and market performance.

First, the present body of work operationalizes GH, thereby, following previous work on lean startup and explores for the first time in literature the effect of IC on it. Second, from a contextual standpoint, the article deepens scholars' understanding of GHC by focusing on SMEs. Lastly, the adopted method represents a novel approach to investigating GHC, as scholarly literature has primarily focused on qualitative and theoretical dimensions.

The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyse the potential of existing buildings in the UK to contribute to the net-zero emissions target. Specifically, it aims to address the significant emissions from building fabrics which pose a threat to achieving these targets if not properly addressed.

The study, based on a literature review and ten (10) case studies, explored five investigative approaches for evaluating building fabric: thermal imaging, in situ U-value testing, airtightness testing, energy assessment and condensation risk analysis. Cross-case analysis was used to evaluate both case studies using each approach. These methodologies were pivotal in assessing buildings’ existing condition and energy consumption and contributing to the UK’s net-zero ambitions.

Findings reveal that incorporating the earlier approaches into the building fabric showed great benefits. Significant temperature regulation issues were identified, energy consumption decreased by 15% after improvements, poor insulation and artistry quality affected the U-values of buildings. Implementing retrofits such as solar panels, air vents, insulation, heat recovery and air-sourced heat pumps significantly improved thermal performance while reducing energy consumption. Pulse technology proved effective in measuring airtightness, even in extremely airtight houses, and high airflow and moisture management were essential in preserving historic building fabric.

The research stresses the need to understand investigative approaches’ strengths, limitations and synergies for cost-effective energy performance strategies. It emphasizes the urgency of eliminating carbon dioxide (CO₂) and greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming and meet the 1.5° C threshold.

The purpose of this study is to investigate and understand the performance of countries in individual Olympic Games, specifically focusing on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Employing cluster analysis and decision trees, the research aims to categorize countries based on their representation, participation and success.

This research employs a data-driven approach to comprehensively analyze and enhance understanding of countries' performances in individual Olympic Games. The methodology involves a two-stage clustering method and decision tree analysis to categorize countries and identify influential factors shaping their Olympic profiles.

The study, analyzing countries' performances in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics through cluster analysis and decision trees, identified five clusters with consistent profiles. Notably, China, Great Britain, Japan, Russian Olympic Committee and the United States formed a high-performing group, showcasing superior success, representation and participation. The analysis revealed a correlation between higher representation/participation and success in individual Olympic Games. Decision tree insights underscored the significance of population size, GDP per Capita and HALE index, indicating that countries with larger populations, better economic standing and higher health indices tended to perform better.

The study has several limitations that should be considered. Firstly, the findings are based on data exclusively from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which may limit the generalizability of the results to other editions.

The research offers practical implications for policymakers, governments and sports organizations seeking to enhance their country's performance in individual Olympic Games.

The research holds significant social implications by contributing insights that extend beyond the realm of sports.

The originality and value of this research lie in its holistic approach to analyzing countries' performances in individual Olympic Games, particularly using a two-stage clustering method and decision tree analysis.

This paper presents the findings of assessing the strategies required for improved work-life balance (WLB) of construction workers in Eswatini. This was done to improve the work-life relationship of construction workers and, in turn, improve the service delivery of the construction industry in the country.

The study adopted a quantitative research approach using a questionnaire administered to construction professionals in the country. The data gathered were analysed using frequency, percentage, Mann–Whitney U test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

The findings revealed that the level of implementation of WLB initiatives in the Eswatini construction industry is still low. Following the attaining of several model fitness, the study found that the key strategies needed for effective WLB can be classified into four significant components, namely: (1) leave, (2) health and wellness, (3) work flexibility, and; (4) days off/shared work.

The findings offer valuable benefits to construction participants as the adoption of the identified critical strategies can lead to the fulfilment of WLB of the construction workforce and by extension, the construction industry can benefit from better job performance.

This study is the first to assess the strategies needed for improved WLB of construction workers in Eswatini. Furthermore, the study offers a theoretical platform for future discourse on WLB in Eswatini, a country that has not gained significant attention in past WLB literature.

This research investigates the challenges and benefits of working from home and the needs that organisations should understand when adopting working from home practices.

Self-determination theory was used to understand the drivers of motivation when working from home, to provide a deep understanding of how organisations may support employees working from home. A cross-sectional qualitative survey design was used to collect data from 511 office workers during May and June of 2020.

Employees' needs for competence were thwarted by a lack of direction and focus, unsuitable work environment, work extensification and negative work culture. Employees' experiences and needs for relatedness were more diverse, identifying that they enjoyed spending more time with family and having a greater connection to the outdoors, but felt more isolated and suffered from a lack of interaction. Employees' experiences of autonomy whilst working from home were also mixed, having less autonomy from blurred boundaries between home and work, as well as childcare responsibilities. Conversely, there was more freedom to be able to concentrate on physical health.

Employee’s needs for competence should be prioritised. Organisations must be conscious of this and provide the support that enables direction and focus when working at home.

Swathes of research were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, but overwhelmingly focused on quantitative methods. A qualitative survey design enabled participants to answer meaningful open-ended questions, better suited to explain the complexity of their experiences, which allowed for understanding and richness not gained through previous studies.