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Techno-empowerment refers to giving intelligent technology a decision-making power. It is a growing trend, with algorithms being developed to handle tasks like ordering products or investing in stocks without human consent. Nevertheless, people may feel averse to transfer decision-making autonomy to technology. Unfortunately, little attention was paid in the literature regarding what tasks people exclude from being performed autonomously by non-human intelligent actors. Our chapter presents two qualitative studies: the first one examining what decisions people think autonomous technology (AT) should not make, and the another asking workers which tasks they would not transfer to AT. Results show people oppose AT making decisions when task is perceived as (a) requiring empathy, (b) human experience, (c) intuition, (d) complex, (e) potentially harming human life, (f) having long-term effects, (g) affecting personal space, or (h) leading to loss of control. Workers are not willing to delegate such tasks to AT they perceive as (1) time-consuming, (2) demanding social interaction, (3) providing pleasure, (4) difficult, (5) risky, and (6) responsible. Exclusions are driven by three types of perceived risks: material, contextual, and competitive.

This research aims to establish the applicability of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 18404 standard to the service sector, identify any required amendments and identify the critical success factors and barriers to deploying the standard within the service sector.

The study used a qualitative approach by interviewing operational excellence (OPEX) professionals who work in the service sector.

The findings indicate a significant lack of knowledge about the existence of the standard and a general scepticism regarding the applicability of the current ISO 18404 standard to the service sector.

Limited examples of the application of ISO 18404 in organisations exist, as only a few organisations have adopted the standard. Therefore, the research focussed on the challenges and obstacles that experienced OPEX professionals perceived could be an issue.

The study will aid service sector organisations in understanding the standard and, subsequently, determine whether to pursue it as part of an OPEX programme. This research is the first study on the application of ISO 18404 to the service sector.

The aim of this study reported in this paper was to explore the application of operational excellence methodologies in a global context.

A qualitative interview approach was used to understand the current state, benefits, challenges, success factors, tools and techniques of operational excellence methodology implementation with relevance to logistics companies worldwide. About 16 interviews were undertaken with practitioners working in leading companies and with leading academics in Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America and Australia.

The findings show that operational excellence methodologies including Lean, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma and Agile can apply in logistics firms to improve operations and productivity and save costs. Top management support and involvement play an important role in the success of operational excellence projects in the logistics service.

The findings will be of interest to top and middle managers and logistics practitioners, with a dual aim of improving logistics performance and saving costs.

The present study has been one of the first global study attempts to explore the implementation of operational excellence methodologies in the logistics sectors.

Paper-based records management systems remain dominant in Tanzanian Government organisations despite the increase in digital records management systems adoption across the globe. To create an understanding of this state, this study aims to investigate the use of records management systems in Tanzanian public sector organisations.

A descriptive research design was used in this study, alongside quantitative and qualitative approaches. A total of 81 respondents were drawn from three public sector organisations. To get a sample, non-probability (convenience and purposive) sampling techniques were used. A cross-sectional survey questionnaire and interview methods were used to gather quantitative and qualitative data. To analyse quantitative and qualitative data, the researchers used a mixed-methods analysis.

The study reveals different types of records management systems used in public sector organisations. Besides, the findings suggest that a large proportion of records are created through the digitisation of existing records. Aside from that, the study has revealed different types of records managed in the systems by government organisations. According to the study, there are various factors that determine the effective use of records management systems in public sector organisations.

The implications of the present study are diverse. Specifically, its findings expand the theoretical body of knowledge by adding new insights regarding records management systems usage in government offices. The findings also provide the government with a basis for formulating and improving legal and regulatory frameworks to enhance records management. Apart from this, the findings are likely to benefit records practitioners by orchestrating inclusive strategies that will promote, not only effectiveness, but also sustainability in records management.

In Tanzania, a few studies have been conducted to examine digital records management practices and systems. These studies have not extensively highlighted the systems used to manage the records. This makes little to be known on the systems used to manage records in government offices. The present study has ascertained records management systems used in public sector organisations.

The purpose of this article is to meet Professor Paul T.P. Wong, PhD, CPscyh, who is based at the Department of Psychology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Wong represents an interesting case of how a racial/cultural minority could achieve success in a hostile environment consisting of the systemic biases of injustice, discrimination and marginalization. His life also epitomizes how one can experience the paradoxical truth of healing and flourishing in an upside-down world through the positive suffering mindset (PSM).

This case study is presented in two sections: a positive autoethnography written by Wong, followed by his answers to ten questions. The core methodology of positive autoethnography allows people to understand how Wong’s life experience of being a war baby in China, a constant outsider and a lone voice in Western culture, has shaped a very different vision of meaning, positive mental health and global flourishing.

Wong reveals how to live a life of meaning and happiness for all the suffering people in a difficult world. He has researched the positive psychology of suffering for 60 years, from effective coping with stress and searching for meaning to successful aging and positive death. According to Wong’s suffering hypothesis and the emerging paradigm of existential positive psychology (Wong, 2021), cultivating a PSM is essential for healing and flourishing in all seasons of life.

An expanding literature has been developed to illustrate why the missing link in well-being research is how to transcend and transform suffering into triumph. Wong reveals how this emerging area of research is still not fully embraced by mainstream psychology dominated by the individualistic Euro-American culture, and thus why, in an adversarial milieu, existential positive psychology is limited by its inability to attract more researchers to test out Wong’s suffering hypothesis.

The wisdom and helpful tools presented here may enable people to achieve mature happiness and existential well-being even when they have a very painful past, a very difficult present and a bleak future.

This autoethnographic case study offers new grounds for hope for all those who are injured by life, marginalized by systemic biases or tormented by chronic illnesses and disorders. It also provides a road map for a better world with more decent human beings who dare to stand up for justice, integrity and compassion.

Meaning as reflected in suffering is according to Wong the most powerful force to bring out either the worst or the best in people. The new science of suffering shows us how the authors can achieve positive transformation through cultivating a PSM, no matter how harsh one’s fate may be.

The study investigates the predisposition of generational cohorts toward entrepreneurship in an emerging economy as entrepreneurship has arguably become a panacea for unemployment and sustainable economic development.

The study adopts descriptive and cross-sectional survey designs. The study also employs quantitative approach to collect the data from 1,000 workers in 20 selected private and public organizations in Ghana. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and hierarchical regression techniques.

The results reveal that baby boomers and Generation Z (Gen Z) have a higher predisposition toward entrepreneurship, while Generation X (Gen X) and Generation Y (Gen Y) have a lower predisposition toward entrepreneurship. However, the study found that baby boomers are more predisposed to entrepreneurship than all the generational cohorts. Furthermore, a generation may become entrepreneurs regardless of their gender. Finally, individuals with higher educational qualification (i.e. masters and doctorate) are more likely to become entrepreneurs in a given generation.

The findings imply that entrepreneurial opportunities (such as ease of doing business, favorable business regulations, access to credit facilities, low interest rate, ease of registering business, start-up capital, etc.) should be created by government and its stakeholders to serve as stimuli for members of these generations (particularly baby boomers and Gen Z) to participate fully in entrepreneurial activities. In addition, the culture of “go to college and graduate with the expectation of government employment” and “job for life” should be discouraged to allow members of Gen X and Gen Y build up entrepreneurial mindsets.

This study contributes to generational cohorts and entrepreneurship literature by providing a perspective from the cultural and socio-economic background of an emerging economy. Additionally, this study demonstrates that irrespective of gender, one may become an entrepreneur and highly educated individuals tend be entrepreneurs.

This study aims to explore the factors influencing the quality of project delivery in the Nigerian construction industry, addressing a critical gap in the existing literature and providing insights for improving construction practices in Nigeria.

A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis of survey data with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews. The survey gathered data on various factors affecting project quality, while interviews provided contextual understanding and nuanced perspectives from industry professionals.

This study identifies seven key factors influencing project delivery quality: contractor performance (β = 0.235, p < 0.001), design and materials management (β = 0.180, p < 0.001), documentation and procurement (β = 0.175, p < 0.001), workforce management and skills (β = 0.142, p < 0.001), project management practices (β = 0.153, p < 0.001), budget and financial management (β = 0.139, p < 0.001) and government regulations (β = 0.080, p < 0.001). Contractor performance and design/materials management have the most significant impact, underscoring the need for strong contractor supervision, material standards and efficient design processes. Additionally, effective documentation and procurement are crucial for success, with procurement inefficiencies leading to delays and reduced quality. Workforce competencies also play a major role, as inadequate training and a lack of skilled labour result in construction defects and compromised project outcomes.

Limitations of the study include its focus primarily on industry professionals' perspectives and its limited scope to the Nigerian context. Future research could explore additional stakeholder perspectives and extend the study to other geographical contexts.

The findings offer valuable insights for construction professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders, informing the development of a tailored approach to enhance quality project delivery in Nigeria. By addressing critical factors identified in the study, stakeholders can mitigate risks, improve project outcomes and contribute to the sustainable development of the construction industry.

This study contributes to the existing literature by comprehensively analysing the factors influencing quality project delivery in the Nigerian construction industry. Integrating quantitative and qualitative data provides a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in ensuring project quality, offering practical implications for industry practitioners and policymakers.

Companies seek to increase the percentage of acquisitions in different parts of the world by expanding operations. Many companies are adopting strategic mergers to expand their influence. However, most strategic change programs fail to achieve their objectives. This study aims to investigate employees’ reactions after strategic mergers through the mediating role of the employees’ psychological context. It was necessary to identify the most prominent postmerger employees’ behaviors. The study addressed this gap by investigating the outcomes of strategic mergers.

Data for this study were collected from 30 family businesses. Accordingly, 341 questionnaires were collected with an overall response rate of 64%. The structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach and the nonlinear relationships approach were adopted by implementing artificial neural network (ANN) analysis.

The results confirm that there is a clear impact of strategic mergers on employees’ postmerger behavior because of the change at the hierarchical level and the process of distributing roles. Employees’ psychological context (individual incentives, anxiety and individual mobbing) mediates the relationship between strategic mergers and postmerger employees’ behavior. In addition, individual incentives are considered the main contributor to retaining or not retaining employees in family businesses after strategic merger.

Policymakers in organizations must pay attention to employees’ possible reactions to the internal and external policies of the organization by increasing individual incentives and reducing individual mobbing toward strategic merger. This study has theoretical implications that are critical guidelines for academics in mitigating the negative consequences for employees’ postmerger behavior. This study captured linear and nonlinear relationships to discover the determinants and antecedents of a strategic merger in family businesses. However, future studies should focus on using more robust statistical methods by adopting decision-making methods to determine the best and worst companies in terms of adopting strategic mergers.

The scarcity of literature on the most important determinants of postmerger employees’ behavior is considered an encouragement to conduct the current study. To this end, this study enriches the ongoing and future literature by examining the most important factors influencing the strategic merger of family businesses. Family businesses have changed the economic landscape of many countries. The investigation of the strategic merger of these companies is considered a worthy matter of study to improve the nation’s economy.

This study aims to examine success factors for food truck businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), focusing on customer convenience, government support, cultural infrastructure and location decisions. Given the unique cultural and economic context of the UAE, this research aims to fill a notable gap in the existing literature.

Using SmartPLS and partial least squares structural equation modeling, data from 250 food truck owners are analyzed to identify significant relationships between success factors and business performance.

The findings reveal significant relationships (p < 0.05) between success factors and the performance of food truck businesses. Customer convenience indirectly affects success through location suitability. Additionally, cultural infrastructure, government support and strategic location decisions have a direct impact on business performance. However, some indirect effects, such as customer convenience through location selection, were found to be statistically insignificant (p = 0.061).

The study offers practical guidance for policymakers and entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of strategic location selection, cultural infrastructure and customer convenience for business success. Establishing designated food truck zones based on suitability will ensure optimal operational environments, particularly in high-traffic tourist areas.

This study contributes new insights into the food truck industry in the UAE, using advanced statistical techniques to identify specific success factors relevant to the region’s unique dynamics.