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This paper aims to explore the transformative influence of social media applications on the digital evolution of banks. Using a multiple case study approach, this study investigates how Italian banks have adopted social media in their digital transformation. The study seeks to uncover strategies used by banks to maximise the benefits of social media platforms and assess the outcomes and challenges faced during this process. The results provide valuable insights for banks navigating digital transformation, emphasising the importance of organisational culture, client engagement, financial innovation and proactive response to fintech disruptions.

This study uses a multiple case study approach to investigate the influence of social media applications on the digital transformation of banks. Six Italian banks that integrated social media into their digital transformation efforts are analysed. The research examines the strategies used by these banks to effectively leverage social media platforms. The outcomes and implications of these initiatives are scrutinised to discern both positive impacts and challenges faced by banks and customers. The research methodology involves in-depth analysis of case studies, incorporating insights from managerial interviews to underscore key aspects essential for successful digital adaptation in the banking sector.

This study reveals profound impacts of digital transformation on the banking sector, emphasising key implementation areas. Insights gleaned from case studies of six Italian banks underscore the transformative influence of social media applications. Results highlight positive impacts, including enhanced customer service, engagement, financial literacy and community building. Managerial interviews underscore five critical aspects: the imperative for a new organisational culture, a focus on millennial clients, understanding and offering new financial instruments and proactive responses to challenges posed by emerging fintech companies. Successful adaptation necessitates attention to organisational culture, client engagement, financial innovation and proactive response to fintech disruptions. The findings contribute to the evolving understanding of the transformative role of social media in reshaping the banking industry.

This paper fills a critical research gap by delving into the challenges specific to banking institutions during the implementation of social media strategies amid digital transformation. While existing literature predominantly highlights positive impacts, this study pioneers a comprehensive exploration of unique hurdles faced by banks. The multiple case study approach, focusing on six Italian banks, contributes original insights into the strategies used to maximise social media benefits. The research provides a nuanced understanding of both positive impacts and challenges encountered, offering valuable guidance for refining social media approaches in the ever-evolving digital landscape. This contributes to the existing body of knowledge and aids banks in navigating their digital transformation journey effectively.

This study aims to examine the combinations of internal and external knowledge flows between research and development (R&D) incumbents and start-ups in the context of open innovation. While there is a growing body of knowledge that has examined how, in a knowledge economy, a firm’s knowledge and innovation activities are closely linked, there is no systematic review available of the key antecedents, perspectives, phenomenon and outcomes of knowledge spillovers.

The authors have conducted dual-stage research. First, the authors conducted a systematic review of literature (97 research articles) by following the theories–contexts–methods framework and the antecedent-phenomenon-outcomes logic. The authors identified the key theories, contexts, methods, antecedents, phenomenon and outcomes of knowledge spillovers between R&D-driven incumbents and start-ups in the open innovation context. In the second stage, the findings of stage one were leveraged to advance a nomological network that depicts the strength of the relationship between the observable constructs that emerged from the review.

The findings demonstrate how knowledge spillovers can help incumbent organisations and start-ups to achieve improved innovation capabilities, R&D capacity, competitive advantage and the creation of knowledge ecosystems leading to improved firm performance. This study has important implications for practitioners and managers – it provides managers with important antecedents of knowledge spillover (knowledge capacities and knowledge types), which directly impact the R&D intensity and digitalisation driving open innovation. The emerging network showed that the antecedents of knowledge spillovers have a direct relationship with the creation of a knowledge ecosystem orchestrated by incumbents and that there is a very strong influence of knowledge capacities and knowledge types on the selection of external knowledge partners/sources.

This study has important implications for practitioners and managers. In particular, it provides managers with important antecedents of knowledge spillover (knowledge capacities and knowledge types), which directly impact the R&D intensity and digitalisation driving open innovation. This will enable managers to take important decisions about what knowledge capacities are required to achieve innovation outcomes. The findings suggest that managers of incumbent firms should be cautious when deciding to invest in knowledge sourcing from external partners. This choice may be driven by the absorptive capacity of the incumbent firm, market competition, protection of intellectual property and public policy supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.

Identification of the key antecedents, phenomenon and outcomes of knowledge spillovers between R&D-driven incumbents and start-ups in the open innovation context. The findings from Stage 1 helped us to advance a nomological network in Stage 2, which identifies the strength and influence of the various observable constructs (identified from the review) on each other. No prior study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, has advanced a nomological network in the context of knowledge spillovers between R&D-driven incumbents and start-ups in the open innovation context.

Digital sustainability involves the ability of industries and professionals to adapt to rapidly changing technological landscapes. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to radically change the maritime industry’s job landscape, especially with autonomous ships. International organisations currently do not formalise the education of maritime professionals and deck officers and need new formal modules. This study aims to contribute to this aspect by investigating learners’ experiences and knowledge gaps in the fundamentals of, as supported by the andragogy theory, topics such as computer programming, cybersecurity and statistics.

The research was carried out at Southampton Solent University, with samples of 105 students attending various MSc courses in maritime operations and deck cadet courses. The data was collected through an online survey. The two groups were compared and analysed using a chi-square test.

The results show that the percentage of MSc students with previous training in statistics, computer programming and cybersecurity courses was 37%, 13% and 16%, respectively. The deck officers’ training in the same areas was 06%, 09% and 09%. The results of this study were used to develop a new maritime digital module to focus on these topics.

The paper highlights digital sustainability’s significance in adapting education and training courses. Ship management companies and higher education institutions must urgently meet the demands of digitalisation and AI in the maritime industry. It highlights the necessity of addressing current knowledge gaps and implementing new educational modules to ensure the sustainable development of digital skills among maritime professionals and cadets.

Most studies on the association between the Big Five (BF) personality traits and religiosity have been conducted on western samples. This study aims to explore this association using Egyptian university students.

A sample of Alexandria University undergraduates (n = 1,579) responded to the Arabic Big Five Personality Inventory and a self-rating scale of religiosity.

Men obtained significantly higher mean total scores than did women for extraversion, openness and conscientiousness, whereas women had a significantly higher mean total score than did men for neuroticism. All the correlations between BF and religiosity in men were statistically significant and positive, except for neuroticism and religiosity (non-significant). Among women, all these correlations were statistically significant and positive, except with neuroticism (negative). Principal components analysis extracted two components, which were labeled “Positive personality traits and religiosity” and “Neuroticism versus extraversion” in both sexes. Regression analysis indicated that the predictors of religiosity were conscientiousness and agreeableness among men. For women, the predictors of religiosity were conscientiousness, agreeableness and low neuroticism.

The results in the present Egyptian sample reflect the general pattern observed in the international studies. A potential clinical implication may be to integrate Islamic beliefs and practices in psychotherapeutic procedures among university students.

The next step would be to conduct a longitudinal study using a general population sample with a large age range. Furthermore, the reasons for the importance of religiosity in the life of Muslim participants is a suggested topic for a deep study. On the basis of the importance of religion among Arab participants, a potential clinical implication may be to integrate Islamic beliefs and practices in psychotherapeutic procedures among university students.

The selection of this sample makes the cross-cultural comparison viable. Notwithstanding these sharp differences, the result’s similarities overshadow differences.

The studies on the present subject using Egyptian participants are few, notwithstanding the high mean score of religiosity among them.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on both competitive advantage (CA) and organizational performance (OP) in the manufacturing sector in Ethiopia.

Data for the study were collected from a sample of 221 manufacturing companies operating in the four manufacturing groups/sectors in Ethiopia. In addition, data analysis was performed using the partial least squares method, which is a variance-based Structural Equation Modeling approach in the Smart-PLS software version (SmartPLS 4.0).

Based on the statistical analysis of the collected data, it demonstrates that SSCM has a significant and positive impact on both competitive advantage and organizational performance. Furthermore, statistical findings offer proof of the clear connection between competitive advantage and organizational performance. Moreover, competitive advantage indirectly mediates the relationship between SSCM and OP.

The primary limitation of this research is its reliance on a cross-sectional design. The generalizability of the findings obtained from the present study may be hindered. The variable under investigation in this research assessed organizational performance, a concept that is widely acknowledged to be extremely dynamic.

The study provides managers and researchers with valuable information on Sustainable Supply Chain Management strategies and how they influence competitive advantage and organizational performance in commercial and industrial environments.

This paper adds to the body of knowledge by providing new data and empirical insights into the relationship between SSCM practices and the performance of manufacturing companies in Ethiopia.

This study aims to investigate whether giving consumers choice over which ads they watch before accessing online content can enhance their attitude toward the advertised brand and the overall viewing experience.

All participants were shown a pre-roll ad before watching a focal piece of content, but some participants were randomized to receive an illusory (Study 1) or actual choice (Study 2–3) over which ad they would watch.

Pre-roll ad choice enhanced brand attitude and attitude toward the overall viewing experience (Study 1–3), but only when consumers could choose between ads from competing brands (Study 2). These advantageous effects arose through the mediating influence of empowerment (Study 1–2), but only among those with a negative attitude toward online advertising (brand attitude and attitude towards the viewing experience; Study 3) or who had limited interest in purchasing from the product category being advertised (brand attitude; Study 3).

Potential rebound effects, where consumers become more critical of any disliked ads that they selected for viewing, were not examined.

Pre-roll ad choice allows consumers to tailor their online viewing experience, benefitting not only the brands that leverage it (through enhanced brand attitude) but also the online platforms that implement it (through enhanced attitude toward the viewing experience).

Pre-roll ad choice acts as a salve to the disruption of goal pursuit that such ads normally engender by generating feelings of empowerment. By extension, consumers for whom pre-roll ads do not disrupt goal pursuit do not respond to ad choice.

Despite a growing awareness of the gap between professional expectations and competence, there has been no comprehensive appraisal of sustainable food systems (SFS) education within dietetics and nutrition programs to date. Dietitians and nutritionists play important roles in promoting sustainability yet many perceive themselves to be inadequately trained. The purpose of this study was to explore how, and to what degree, SFS education is incorporated into accredited nutrition and dietetics programs in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

A content analysis of course descriptions from program websites was conducted between 2021 and 2022. Courses were reviewed, analyzed and evaluated using a novel sustainability metric.

SFS is integrated into the education environment of some, but not all, dietetics and nutrition programs to varying degrees (no, partial and full). Partial and full integration was present in a small percentage of courses, with a larger percentage in nutrition programs. SFS education was offered more often through a single unit than a dedicated course. Twelve best practice examples of courses dedicated to SFS were identified. In the UK, their focus was nutrition and diet, contrasting food and food systems in Australia and Canada.

These findings provide insight into SFS education for professional societies, instructors and program directors. Through intentional curricular design considerations supported by this study, program leads can take small conscious reorganizational steps to integrate SFS. This study offers a sound methodology to initiate and benchmark further assessment and a novel approach for other professions looking to equip their future workforce through SFS education.

This study aims to investigate the interconnectedness of sustainability-linked and AI-based cryptocurrencies returns and volatility over five years (2018–2024). It aims to uncover the dynamic relationships between these two sectors under various market conditions, providing insights into their behavior and influence within the broader cryptocurrency market.

The research employs a Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregression (TVP-VAR) model to analyze key cryptocurrencies associated with AI and sustainability. This approach is complemented by a quantile-based perspective, allowing for an in-depth examination of return and volatility spillovers across different market conditions. Thus, facilitating an understanding of the intricate dynamics between sustainability-linked and AI-based cryptocurrencies.

The findings reveal distinct market dynamics with the Sustainable sector consistently acting as a net transmitter, while the AI sector predominantly as a net receiver, indicating its reactive nature. In bearish markets, both sectors display high interconnectedness, with the Sustainable sector shaping dynamics. In bullish markets, the Sustainable sector maintains influence, while the AI sector adopts a more proactive role, influencing the market more than in bearish conditions. Post-Chat GPT 3 the Sustainable sector decreases influence, becoming a net receiver in bullish markets. In contrast, the AI sector strengthens as a net transmitter, signaling growing investor confidence and prominence.

This study explores the interconnectedness of sustainability-linked and AI-based cryptocurrencies through a TVP-VAR model and a quantile-based analysis. It provides insights into how these sectors interact and influence each other across different market conditions, especially highlighting the significant shifts in dynamics following the advent of advanced technologies like Chat GPT 3. This contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of the cryptocurrency market in the context of sustainability and AI.