Submit to Businesses Review for Businesses Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Inclusive and Innovative Businesses and Sustainability: New Trends in Challenging Times and the Path to Performance and Excellence

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Businesses (ISSN 2673-7116).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 41883

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Cristina Raluca Gh. Popescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Department of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Business and Administration, University of Bucharest, 030018 Bucharest, Romania
2. Department of Economics and Economic Policy, Economy I Doctoral School, Faculty of Theoretical and Applied Economics, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: economics; management; finance; auditing; accounting; business counseling; financial analysis; control and evaluation; intellectual capital; corporate governance; sustainability; sustainable development; business environment; business process management; quality management; human resources management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the broad topic of “Inclusive and Innovative Businesses and Sustainability: New Trends in Challenging Times and the Path to Performance and Excellence” and includes novel research on the emerging challenges that are currently occurring, especially as a result of the pandemic context, in terms of inclusive and innovative businesses and sustainability, with a particular accent on new trends in challenging times and the path to performance and excellence. Theoretical and empirical articles on this topic are welcome.

Contributions focusing on, but not limited to, the implications of inclusive and innovative businesses, sustainability and sustainable economic development and growth, new trends in challenging times (today’s pandemic context) and the path to performance and excellence, entrepreneurship, small- and medium-sized enterprises, successful business process management, and quality management are encouraged.

We are interested in conceptual, theoretical, methodological, empirical, and systematic review studies.

Prof. Dr. Cristina Raluca Gh. Popescu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Businesses is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Artificial intelligence
Auditing
Accounting
Balance sheet data
Business counseling
Business environment
Business excellence
Business performance
Business process management
Business transfer
Climate change
Circular economy
Corporate reporting
Corporate responsibility
Control and evaluation
Corporate governance
Economics
Emerging markets
Human resources management
Inclusive businesses
Intangible assets
Intellectual capital
Intellectual property
Innovation
Finance
Financial analysis
Green finance
Growth potential
Quality management
Management
Pandemic context
Risk management
Small and medium-sized enterprises
Staff headcount
Sustainability
Sustainability assessment
Sustainable development
Sustainable finance
Sustainability risks
Tangible assets
Technology and innovation management
Tourism sector
Turnover

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Other

21 pages, 764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Influence of Total Quality Management on Customer Satisfaction in the Telecom Industry: A TQM–SERVQUAL Perspective

by Michael Owusu-Kyei, Yusheng Kong, Michael Owusu Akomeah and Stephen Owusu Afriyie

Businesses 2023, 3(2), 251-271; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/businesses3020017 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4267

Abstract

Total quality management (TQM) has become a reliable quality and customer satisfaction approach that can meet or exceed customer satisfaction. Previous studies have not really tied total quality management in the aspects of SERVQUAL as the major influence on customer satisfaction in the Ghanaian telecommunication sector, thus the need for this research. As customer satisfaction continues to rise, telecommunication customers expect service quality to improve to meet their satisfaction. The quality of service determines the customer satisfaction level in a service industry, such as telecom. Effective total quality management would result in better service quality. SERVQUAL is arguably the model to assess the effectiveness of customer satisfaction in the service industry. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of total quality management on customer satisfaction in the telecom industry from a TQM–SERVQUAL perspective. The study relied on questionnaires to gather data about the TQM services on customer satisfaction. A self-completion questionnaire was administered to customers and employees of MTN Ghana and Vodafone Ghana. Both companies operate with the same procedures and equipment, hence the need to use the same apparatus for all contacted customers and employees. There were 800 respondents from both companies’ employees and customers, although 850 questionnaires were administered. Descriptive statistical analysis was used through the questionnaire. The investigators also ran preliminary tests such as reliability, validity, and multicollinearity tests to ascertain if the received data were reasonable enough for the research and would fit the expected model. The data collected were analyzed and the inference was drawn in the study. The key finding states that total quality management had a significant impact on service quality and customer satisfaction. It is also concluded that service quality has a positive influence on customer satisfaction. Moreover, service quality has been detected as a major variable of TQM in achieving customer satisfaction in telecommunication companies in Ghana. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive and Innovative Businesses and Sustainability: New Trends in Challenging Times and the Path to Performance and Excellence)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Technology Innovation and Financial Services System: Evidence from China

by Nadia Mansour

Businesses 2023, 3(1), 98-113; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/businesses3010008 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2885

Abstract

Green technology is the new trend for combining technology, innovation, and sustainability. However, China faces several problems in this regard, given the high cost of green products and services. To accelerate the establishment of green technology, it is necessary to solve the financial system problems faced by the various companies and to build a system that promotes green technology innovation. Based on an analysis of articles published in top international journals and official documents from 2016 to 2022 about the relationship between green technology and financial services in China, this paper tries to present specific policy recommendations to create a market that supports green technology in China. Our results show that the financial system must include, first of all, a model for financing and risk management at the level of the stock market, investment, insurance, and guarantees to face the reluctance of banks to lend. In addition, government incentives, including incubation, guarantees, interest rate subsidies, etc., mitigate the environmental externalities of green projects and limit the costs of financing green technology enterprises. Then, long-term funding needs to be provided to address the cost-effectiveness of selected green technology projects; and finally, the use of digital technology is required to improve green valuation capabilities and establish a set of environmental benefit definitions and valuation criteria that is suitable for green technology and green venture capital funds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive and Innovative Businesses and Sustainability: New Trends in Challenging Times and the Path to Performance and Excellence)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1424 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Superhero Characters Shape Brand Alliances and Leverage the Local Brand: The Evidence from Indonesia

by Monika Monika and Ferdi Antonio

Businesses 2022, 2(1), 33-53; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/businesses2010003 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3118

Abstract

The success of superhero movies creates the superhero characters as the brand itself, which generates interest for other brands to collaborate by licensing businesses. However, the licensing business faces the challenge of convincing potential partners to use this character to grow the local brand. On another side, local brands keep looking for the advantage to leverage their business. This research aims to analyze the link the consumption value of the superhero characters to the memorable experience of superhero characters used on products and analyze how the conjunction of this experience with the host brand attitude could shape the brand alliance attitude in consumer perspectives. Furthermore, how this brand alliance could drive the willingness to pay more (WTPM) and the positive electronic word of mouth (eWOM) is assessed. This research was conducted using the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that the brand alliance shaped from superhero characters with local brands as host brands has a significant impact on consumer willingness to pay more (WTPM) and eWOM. This study provides managerial implications for both business licensor management and local brand owners, and suggestions for future studies as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive and Innovative Businesses and Sustainability: New Trends in Challenging Times and the Path to Performance and Excellence)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2034 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of COVID-19 on Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Restructurings

by Chokri Kooli and Melanie Lock Son

Businesses 2021, 1(2), 102-114; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/businesses1020008 - 16 Aug 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 18067

Abstract

Most economic downturns have stemmed from inefficiencies in the economic system. This research paper aims at investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic—an exogeneous health crisis—on global mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity. By gathering statistical data about global transaction volume, value, and type, the study aims at getting a pulse of how mergers, acquisitions, and other restructuring activities have been utilized to support corporate objectives amidst these unprecedented times. While the full-fledged impact of COVID-19 cannot be fully captured at the moment (early 2021), the study attempts to illustrate how this change to economic stability caused a Schumpeterian creative destruction of industries. As firms prepare for the growth that will follow this downturn, M&A will enable companies to look into a future infused with technology and structurally different business models. This research paper thus captures the deliberate transformation occurring in the deal world to discuss the possible outlook of the M&A deal market in the post-pandemic world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive and Innovative Businesses and Sustainability: New Trends in Challenging Times and the Path to Performance and Excellence)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Human Resource Practices for the Development of Operator 4.0 in Industry 4.0 Organisations: A Literature Review and a Research Agenda

by Emanuele Gabriel Margherita and Ilenia Bua

Businesses 2021, 1(1), 18-33; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/businesses1010002 - 19 Apr 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6863

Abstract

In this study, we summarised the human resources practices for the development of Operator 4.0. Operator 4.0 is the worker operating in an Industry 4.0 organisation. Such organisations introduce novel digital technologies—including Big Data, robotics, and the Internet of Things—along the assembly line. Operators 4.0 can manage Industry 4.0 technologies, and Industry 4.0 technologies also support their activities. Some studies illustrate the enabling Industry 4.0 technologies for this role and the various qualitative benefits for Operator 4.0. However, organisations encounter issues to prepare traditional manufacturing workers for this novel role, which implies a drastic change in training and designing jobs, particularly for the qualitative aspects of the work organisation and human-computer interaction. Moreover, traditional manufacturing workers do not possess the proper digital skills to manage complex Industry 4.0 technology. Thus, there is a lack of study that illustrates what organisational practices are used to develop an Operator 4.0. Human resources management is the organisational function devoted to these challenges, such as a lack of a skilled workforce in handling high-tech technologies and employee retention. It provides human resource practices to develop workers for their role. Therefore, we addressed this gap by conducting a systematic literature review to summarise the used human resource practices for the development of an Operator 4.0. The results show six human resource practices for developing an Operator 4.0: staffing, job design, training, performance appraisal system, knowledge management, and compensation. We concluded by proposing a research agenda to advance this research stream. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive and Innovative Businesses and Sustainability: New Trends in Challenging Times and the Path to Performance and Excellence)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 872 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Comparative Study of Key Supply Chain Management Elements in Sustainability Reports

by Veronika Lee, Durga Marasini, Wenye Dong, Hyun-Jung Lee and DonHee Lee

Businesses 2021, 1(3), 168-195; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/businesses1030013 - 01 Nov 2021

Viewed by 4953

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several issues have emerged as important in evaluating firm value and investment-oriented decision making. These issues include supply chain management, human rights, climate change, safety, and environmental risks. This study analyzed the sustainability reports of four business firms, each in four different countries, covering 2005/2006, 2013, and 2020. The analysis revealed similar factors and their dimensions that are critical for effective supply chain management: environmental and public sector issues, collaboration and cooperation with partner organizations, environmentally friendly production and development systems, human-centered operation plans, and risk management. While the study results delineated several key categories, there were variations among the four firms’ sustainability reports, indicating a need for global standards for comparative analysis. This study highlights the importance of sustainability, its effective measurement, and global standards for sustainability reports. As governments put pressure on businesses to demonstrate their commitments to environmental issues, many firms have embraced the concept of corporate social responsibility by practicing socially responsible codes of conduct throughout their supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive and Innovative Businesses and Sustainability: New Trends in Challenging Times and the Path to Performance and Excellence)

► Show Figures