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Information and communications technology (ICT) offers enormous opportunities for individuals, businesses and society. The application of ICT is equally important to economic and non-economic activities. Researchers have increasingly focused on the adoption and use of ICT by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the economic development of a country is largely dependent on them. Following the success of ICT utilisation in SMEs in developed countries, many developing countries are looking to utilise the potential of the technology to develop SMEs. Past studies have shown that the contribution of ICT to the performance of SMEs is not clear and certain. Thus, it is crucial to determine the effectiveness of ICT in generating firm performance since this has implications for SMEs’ expenditure on the technology. This research examines the diffusion of ICT among SMEs with respect to the typical stages from innovation adoption to post-adoption, by analysing the actual usage of ICT and value creation. The mediating effects of integration and utilisation on SME performance are also studied. Grounded in the innovation diffusion literature, institutional theory and resource-based theory, this study has developed a comprehensive integrated research model focused on the research objectives. Following a positivist research paradigm, this study employs a mixed-method research approach. A preliminary conceptual framework is developed through an extensive literature review and is refined by results from an in-depth field study. During the field study, a total of 11 SME owners or decision-makers were interviewed. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using NVivo 10 to refine the model to develop the research hypotheses. The final research model is composed of 30 first-order and five higher-order constructs which involve both reflective and formative measures. Partial least squares-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is employed to test the theoretical model with a cross-sectional data set of 282 SMEs in Bangladesh. Survey data were collected using a structured questionnaire issued to SMEs selected by applying a stratified random sampling technique. The structural equation modelling utilises a two-step procedure of data analysis. Prior to estimating the structural model, the measurement model is examined for construct validity of the study variables (i.e. convergent and discriminant validity).

The estimates show cognitive evaluation as an important antecedent for expectation which is shaped primarily by the entrepreneurs’ beliefs (perception) and also influenced by the owners’ innovativeness and culture. Culture further influences expectation. The study finds that facilitating condition, environmental pressure and country readiness are important antecedents of expectation and ICT use. The results also reveal that integration and the degree of ICT utilisation significantly affect SMEs’ performance. Surprisingly, the findings do not reveal any significant impact of ICT usage on performance which apparently suggests the possibility of the ICT productivity paradox. However, the analysis finally proves the non-existence of the paradox by demonstrating the mediating role of ICT integration and degree of utilisation explain the influence of information technology (IT) usage on firm performance which is consistent with the resource-based theory. The results suggest that the use of ICT can enhance SMEs’ performance if the technology is integrated and properly utilised. SME owners or managers, interested stakeholders and policy makers may follow the study’s outcomes and focus on ICT integration and degree of utilisation with a view to attaining superior organisational performance.

This study urges concerned business enterprises and government to look at the environmental and cultural factors with a view to achieving ICT usage success in terms of enhanced firm performance. In particular, improving organisational practices and procedures by eliminating the traditional power distance inside organisations and implementing necessary rules and regulations are important actions for managing environmental and cultural uncertainties. The application of a Bengali user interface may help to ensure the productivity of ICT use by SMEs in Bangladesh. Establishing a favourable national technology infrastructure and legal environment may contribute positively to improving the overall situation. This study also suggests some changes and modifications in the country’s existing policies and strategies. The government and policy makers should undertake mass promotional programs to disseminate information about the various uses of computers and their contribution in developing better organisational performance. Organising specialised training programs for SME capacity building may succeed in attaining the motivation for SMEs to use ICT. Ensuring easy access to the technology by providing loans, grants and subsidies is important. Various stakeholders, partners and related organisations should come forward to support government policies and priorities in order to ensure the productive use of ICT among SMEs which finally will help to foster Bangladesh’s economic development.

This study aims to examine how prisoners’ early release affects other citizens’ perceived insecurity and their attitudes towards those released prisoners, and how citizens’ political orientation influences these variables.

A total of 383 Portuguese participants were presented with a recommendation from the United Nations for the release of prisoners because of COVID-19 and then asked to fill in a questionnaire measuring their political orientation, support for the early release of prisoners, perceived insecurity regarding such measure and their attitudes towards the released prisoners.

Results showed that support for the release of prisoners during COVID-19 is associated with perceived insecurity and both, in turn, predicts inclusive attitudes regarding these prisoners, while only perceived insecurity is associated with an agreement with an intensification of social control measures. Right-wing participants were found to express the negative side. The more participants felt insecure, the more they believed released prisoners should not have the same rights as common citizens and the more they should be left out of the community.

The major limitation of this study concerns the sample: the authors collected answers from Portuguese participants exclusively, most of which held a university degree.

At least two major implications can be drawn from this study’s results. These implications deal with prisoners’ entrance in what can be considered a cycle of exclusion and the promotion of their social reintegration once they are released from prison.

The findings point out the necessity to firstly put an effort in deconstructing the insecurity perception that results from the prospective of having prisoners back into society – that is to understand why it happens and how it can be reduced – promoting efficacy in the inclusion of these prisoners and preventing the emergence of controlling or protective approaches directed to these individuals in their return to society by enhancing people’s awareness that the social reintegration of ex-prisoners will benefit the whole community.

The authors present a different perspective of the impact that managing COVID-19 in prisons has on society.

An interface finite element for three‐dimensional problems based on the penalty method is presented. The proposed element can model joints/interfaces between solid finite elements and also includes the propagation of damage in pure mode I, pure mode II and mixed mode considering a softening relationship between the stresses and relative displacements. Two different contact conditions are considered: point‐to‐point constraint for closed points (not satisfying the failure criterion) and point‐to‐surface constraint for opened points. The performance of the element is tested under mode I, mode II and mixed mode loading conditions.

Brazilian federalism was important in the political game of combating the pandemic for three reasons. First, Brazil's public health system depends heavily on intergovernmental relations between Union, states, and municipalities because there is a policy portfolio based on federative cooperation. Second, the subnational governments' autonomy to act against COVID-19 was constantly questioned by the Federal Government – the conflict between the President and governors was a key piece in all health policy. Finally, states and local governments were primarily responsible for policies to fight against pandemic, but the absence and/or wrong measures taken by the Federal Government (such as the delay in purchasing vaccines) generated intergovernmental incoordination, increased territorial inequality, and reduced the effectiveness of subnational public policies, especially those linked to social isolation. In this context, Brazilian federalism played a dual role in the pandemic. On the one hand, the federative structure partially succeeded in averting an even worse scenario, mitigating the impact of mistaken presidential decisions. The role of subnational governments, especially of the states, was critical as a counterweight to federal decisions. On the other hand, the President actively acted against governors and mayors and, above all, sought to weaken intergovernmental articulations within the Unified Health System (SUS), the federative model designed three decades ago. One could say that the federative actors, such as the Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal – STF) and subnational governments, were the main obstacles for the Bolsonarist antiscientific agenda. The success of this reaction to President Bolsonaro's negationist populism was partial, but the results of the fight against COVID-19 would have been much worse without these federalist barriers.

C'est un lieu commun que de réaffirmer ici l'importance croissante des mouvements touristiques dans le monde actuel sur les plans économique, social, culturel ou politique. Dans le domaine économique seulement, leur développement entraˆne des conséquences décisives tant sur les relations économiques internationales (le problème des balances des paiements se pose différemment maintenant que les échanges de personnes viennent compléter les échanges de marchandises) que sur l'orientation des activités économiques internes (citons, par exemple, les investissements touristiques — hôtellerie ou moyens de transport — les changements de la consommation par suite de la croissance dans les budgets familiaux du poste distractions et voyages — l'amélioration du niveau de vie — le développement du secteur tertiaire, commerce et services — l'urbanisation, dont le tourisme est, en tant qu'évasion hors des grandes agglomérations, une des conséquences, etc.). Et en face de ce fait: il n'est pas un secteur de l'activité économique qui ne soit transformé, plus ou moins profondément, par l'essor du tourisme — une constatation amère: ce phénomène décisif, économique, social, démographique, culturel n'occupe encore qu'une place tout à fait insignifiante, quand elle n'est pas nulle, dans l'enseignement supérieur de la plupart des pays. Il serait cependant très désirable qu'une meilleure connaissance de ces phénomènes, sans nul doute appelés à poursuivre encore leur développement, soit plus largement répandue parmi les jeunes destinés à former les cadres supérieurs, c'est‐à‐dire l'élite des nations. De ce point de vue, le bilan que l'on peut dresser aujourd'hui ne laisse pas d'être fort affligeant.

The purpose of the work is to develop a Russian model of decision-making in modern business systems.

The method of modeling of socioeconomic systems and the method of formalization for graphic presentation of results of modeling are used.

A Russian model of decision-making in modern business systems is developed; it reflects not only the structure of managerial tools and peculiarities of its communication with business entities, that is, internal hierarchy of the business system, but also the algorithm of decision-making in modern Russian business systems, which includes six consecutive mandatory stages. The presented model showed simplicity and clarity of hierarchy of managerial staff and the business system on the whole. Due to this, authorities and responsibilities are not doubled – each business entity under the management of functional manager performs strictly determined business processes. This allows dividing any problem into a lot of subproblems, which are effectively solved by the corresponding functional managers on the basis of the mechanism of labor division. Due to this, alternatives are selected over a short period of time.

It is determined that, despite multiple advantages, connected to logical succession of the process of making of managerial decisions in modern business systems, the Russian model of this process has drawbacks that are caused by stage-by-stage and fragmentary solution of problems and implementation of decisions, as well as by underdevelopment of feedback and marketing activities.

Purpose: The purpose of the chapter is to study the peculiarities of making of managerial decisions in modern business systems in countries of Asia and to compile an Asian model of this process, as well as to determine the possibilities and perspectives of making of optimal decisions according to this model.

Methodology: The chapter is devoted to studying the microeconomic aspect of economic development of countries of Asia; it is based on the methods of logical and systemic analysis, modeling of socioeconomic processes and systems, and formalization.

Conclusions: In the course of studying the practice of making of managerial decisions in modern business systems in countries of Asia, an Asian model of this process is compiled – it has the following features: independent making of tactical decisions by linear managers, foundation on model decisions, strong control, marketing only at the level of top management, and feedback with linear managers. The determined peculiarities are oriented at maximum acceleration of the process of making of managerial decisions in business systems. Another aspect of this advantage is insufficient consideration of internal (due to absence of involvement of employees into the process of discussion of decisions) and external (due to weak marketing support) possibilities of the business system.

Originality/value: It is substantiated that Asian model is most adapted and fitting for making of managerial decisions in the conditions of dynamic business environment, when the most important criterion of optimality is the speed of decision making.

Introduction: Historically, the corporate governance (CG) framework was designed primarily to safeguard the economic interests of shareholders, as a result of political and legal interventions, developing into an effective instrument for stakeholders and society in general.

Purpose: The core objectives of the study include: identifying journals/publications responsible for publishing CG studies in India, key CG issues covered by CG researchers, the amount of high-impact CG literature across different time periods, sectors/industries covered by CG researchers and different research instruments (quantitative or qualitative) used in CG studies in India.

Design/methodology: The chapter used a sample of 130 corporate governance studies that fulfil the selection criteria, drawn from the repository of over 100 reputed journals that are either recognised by the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) or indexed by SCOPUS. A systematic literature review has been carried out pertaining to CG issues in India, based on various statistical tools, data, industries, research outlets & citations, etc.

Findings: The results show an overwhelming number of studies have assessed the relationship between CG variables and firm performance, which could be measured through a variety of performance metrics such as ROA and ROI. Apart from empirical analysis, many conceptual studies use repetitive basic statistical tools like descriptive statistics or regression analysis. The chapter offers insights into current achievements and future development.

Originality/value: This bibliometric study is a useful guide for policymakers, corporate leaders, research organisations and management faculty to draw insights from work produced by eminent researchers in GC in India.

Purpose: The purpose of the work is to determine the possibilities and consequences of decision making in modern business systems by the principles of outsource.

Methodology: During studying the perspectives of decision making in modern business systems by the principles of outsource, the method of logical analysis (analysis of causal connections), the method of structural and functional analysis, and the method of formalization are used.

Conclusions: Perspective directions, advantages, and drawbacks of application of outsource for decision making in modern business systems at different stages of this process are determined. Possible variants of decision making in a modern business system by the principles of outsource and their consequences are determined: information and consultation decision support, business system's overcoming a crisis, optimization of certain business processes, and loss of independence of business system and path to its reorganization.

Originality/value: As a result, it is substantiated that outsource is a perspective tool of making of managerial decisions in modern business systems. Various directions of application of this tool are accessible at each stage of the process of making of managerial decisions in a modern business system. The advantages of decision making by the principles of outsource are attraction of additional resources, access to possibilities of automatization, and low expenses, and the drawbacks include the complexity of organization of this process and temporary character of obtained advantages. Too active usage of outsource and transfer of most managerial decisions to it may lead to loss of independence of the business system and increase of the risk of its reorganization. That's why the principles of outsource are recommended for making of certain managerial decisions by business systems in the period of crisis and by newly formed business systems and those that experience deficit of resources.

Purpose: The purpose of the work is to study the characteristics of leadership and to determine its value in the process of decision making in modern business systems, as well as to determine the possibilities of increasing the effectiveness of this process through changing the characteristics of leadership.

Methodology: Target study of the influence of leadership on the process of decision making in modern business systems on the basis of the methodology of the systemic approach is performed, and two additional characteristics of leadership are determined, apart from management style, in the aspect of making of managerial decisions: contradiction of leaders in business system and authority of a formal leader (business manager) in business system and his competence as to involvement of employees into the process of making of managerial decisions, which includes capabilities. Depending on combination of these characteristics, classification of leadership in modern business systems as to criterion of decision making is offered.

Conclusions: It is substantiated that the most preferable type of leadership in a modern business system as to criterion of decision making is highly effective involvement of employees in the process of making of managerial decisions. Capabilities of increasing the effectiveness of the process of making of managerial decisions in a modern system through changing the characteristics of leadership are connected to transition to this type of leadership through overcoming the contradiction of leaders in a business system and increase of competence of the formal leader (business manager) in a business system as to involvement of employees in the process of making of managerial decisions through his training.

Originality/value: It is substantiated that leadership in business system determines only certain characteristics of the process of making of managerial decisions, and no type of leadership can guarantee optimal decisions. With highly effective involvement of employees in the process of making of managerial decisions, the probability of optimal decisions is the highest, so this type of leadership is the most perspective for modern business systems.