Digital payment technologies are reshaping access to financial services in developing economies, yet rural women continue to face constraints related to connectivity, affordability, digital skills, and access to formal financial institutions. This study investigates the relationship between digital payment technology and financial inclusion among rural women in Makueni County, Kenya, with particular attention to accessibility, convenience, and participation in financial activities. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was adopted. Quantitative data were collected from 372 rural women through questionnaires, while qualitative evidence was obtained from interviews with 30 digital financial service agents. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were used to analyze the quantitative data, and interview responses were examined thematically. The results showed a high level of acceptance and use of digital payment services, with a mean ($M$) of 4.17 and a standard deviation (SD) of 0.75, particularly in reducing the need to travel to banking institutions ($M$ = 4.31, SD = 0.65) and improving local access to financial services ($M$ = 4.28, SD = 0.71). Digital payment solutions were strongly associated with financial inclusion, with a Pearson correlation coefficient ($r$) of 0.731 and a probability value ($p$) of less than 0.01. In the regression model, which also included digital financing and digital advisory services, digital payment solutions showed the largest positive association with financial inclusion, with an unstandardized regression coefficient ($B$) of 0.382 ($p$ < 0.001), while the three predictors jointly explained 70.9%. The qualitative findings further identified network reliability, transaction costs, fraud concerns, and digital skills as practical conditions shaping the use of digital payment services. The findings indicate that digital payment technology is closely associated with rural women’s participation in formal financial systems, although the cross-sectional design does not permit causal inference. The study provides context-specific evidence on how accessible and usable digital financial technologies can support women’s financial participation and small-scale economic activity in rural communities, with implications for technology providers, financial institutions, and policymakers.
Workplace aggression poses persistent challenges to employee well-being and organizational functioning, particularly in industrial settings where employees face simultaneous task and emotional demands. However, limited evidence is available on whether emotional load changes the strength of the association between workload and different forms of workplace aggression. This study investigates the moderating role of emotional load in the relationships between workload and psychological and physical aggression. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 275 employees of an industrial firm in Iran. Workload, emotional load, and workplace aggression were measured using established scales. Self-reported and coworker-reported measures of workload and aggression were included. Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression were performed, with mean-centered interaction terms entered to test the proposed moderating relationships. The results showed that workload was positively correlated with psychological and physical aggression. Significant workload × emotional load interactions were found in the models predicting self-reported psychological and physical aggression (p < 0.01), whether workload was evaluated by employees or coworkers. These interaction terms explained an additional 1%–3% of the variance. However, the corresponding interactions were not consistently significant when aggression was rated by coworkers. The findings suggest that emotional load serves as a boundary condition in the relationship between workload and self-reported aggressive behavior, although this pattern is less consistent in coworker reports. The study clarifies how concurrent task and emotional demands are jointly associated with employee aggression and provides industrial managers with a basis for addressing emotional demands alongside workload when developing workplace aggression prevention measures.
Against the backdrop of upgrading consumption and digital technological iteration, demand for personalized and differentiated tourism has progressively become a dominant trend, rendering conventional homogeneous tourism models inadequate for contemporary tourists. Supported by digital innovation, customized tourism has emerged as a preferred option among Generation Z. This study, while focusing on online customized tourism, explored its impact on the tourism supply chain and the opportunities and challenges for industrial development. Backed by tourism recovery and policy support, digital-platform-based customized tourism reconstructs the tourism market by integrating resources across airlines, hotels, catering, and attractions. It delivers personalized travel plans, meets diversified consumer preferences, and drives structural optimization and service innovation in the tourism supply chain. Meanwhile, it reshapes the organization and operation of the related supply chain and greatly enhances market responsiveness. This paper identified existing bottlenecks and put forward targeted strategies, providing theoretical and practical references for the digital transformation and high-quality development of tourism supply chain.
The proliferation of Large Language Models (LLMs) presents systemic challenges, including the generation of misinformation, hallucinations, and amplification of societal biases, causing a broader “epistemic crisis”. This paper introduced the novel Synergistic Algorithmic Repair Framework designed to mitigate the algorithmic harm. The methodology integrated three components into a continuous feedback loop: (1) The proactive curation of a verifiable digital ecosystem to establish ground truth; (2) the systematic application of Verifiable Human Feedback to correct LLM output with evidence-based inputs; and (3) the strategic curation of verified data into datasets for long-term model refinement. The efficacy of the framework was assessed through a qualitative case study involving two distinct real-world applications. The results demonstrated that the intervention successfully suppressed the targeted disinformation campaign of search engines and transformed LLM-generated output from negative or non-existent to positive or factual, in order to align with the curated ground truth. The study concluded that the synergistic operation of these components provided a durable and resilient method for repairing algorithmic harm. This framework, as a practical tool, offered promising insights for organizations and individuals to achieve digital equity and served as an operational model for implementing principles of ethical AI governance, such as human oversight and accountability.
This study focused on three main entities involved in industry-education integration: Universities, enterprises, and the government. Based on the evolutionary game theory, a tripartite evolutionary game model was constructed to thoroughly evaluate the dynamics between interest evolutionary game relationships and strategic choices among these entities during the process of industry-education integration. By setting six strategies such as “active cooperation” and “passive cooperation” for universities, “deep participation” and “formal participation” for enterprises, and “regular supervision” and “passive supervision” for the government, the study systematically analyzed the stability conditions for each entity’s strategic choices through a payoff matrix and replication dynamic equations. It was found that the stability of strategic choices for universities, enterprises, and the government depended on the comparison of net benefits under different strategies. When the net benefits of active cooperation, deep participation, and regular supervision exceeded those of their respective passive strategies, each entity tended to choose the active strategy owing to its stability. Otherwise, they would lean towards passive strategies. This study revealed the inherent laws governing the strategic choices of the three entities in industry-education integration, thus providing a theoretical basis and policy recommendations for optimizing integration policies and promoting tripartite cooperation. It holds significant importance for driving high-quality development in the proposed industry-education integration.
Organizational outcomes are increasingly recognized as being shaped not only by formal governance structures and institutional arrangements, but also by the individual characteristics of those entrusted with managerial authority. Despite extensive research on leadership and decision-making, limited theoretical integration has been achieved regarding how multidimensional managerial attributes systematically influence organizational functioning within a governance context. To address this gap, a conceptual framework is developed in which managerial profiles are positioned as critical antecedents of organizational outcomes through the lens of behavioral governance. It is proposed that managerial profiles are constituted by four interrelated dimensions: sociological characteristics, professional competencies, psychological dispositions, and cultural orientations. Sociological attributes—including social background, age, gender, and value systems—are argued to shape cognitive schemas, interpersonal perceptions, and role expectations within organizational settings. Professional characteristics, such as educational attainment, occupational experience, domain expertise, and leadership capability, are considered essential in determining information processing capacity, strategic judgment, and adaptive managerial behavior. Psychological dimensions, including cognitive style, emotional regulation, risk perception, and motivational orientation, are further suggested to influence decision quality, conflict management, and behavioral consistency under conditions of uncertainty. In parallel, cultural orientations are expected to affect communication patterns, authority relationships, collective coordination, and the interpretation of organizational norms. Through the integration of these dimensions, managerial behavior is conceptualized as a central mechanism through which governance systems are enacted, interpreted, and transformed in practice. It is argued that a deeper understanding of managerial profiles can contribute to the design of more effective governance mechanisms, the mitigation of cognitive and behavioral biases, and the enhancement of organizational adaptability, strategic coherence, and long-term performance. A behavioral governance perspective is therefore advanced as a theoretically robust foundation for explaining the micro-level origins of macro-level organizational outcomes.
A bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess the trends and emerging themes in the research on motivation, job satisfaction, and employee performance from 2016 to 2025. Scopus data was utilized to retrieve an initial set of 2,531 publications, with 658 peer-reviewed articles selected after a rigorous screening process. The analysis employed co-citation, co-occurrence, and temporal techniques to delineate three key research dimensions: (1) psychological antecedents, including intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, (2) organizational mediators, such as leadership styles and human resource practices, and (3) performance outcomes, encompassing task performance and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). A significant Western bias (78% of the studies) was identified, with emerging topics including digital workplace motivation and the impact of hybrid work arrangements on employee wellbeing. The findings have practical implications for managers, highlighting the importance of integrated motivation strategies, improvements in service climate, and the need for adapting cross-cultural policies. Future research should broaden its scope to non-Western contexts, employ multilevel analytical frameworks, and address the implications of technological changes in the workplace. This study contributes a systematic framework for advancing both theoretical and practical understanding of the dynamics between motivation, job satisfaction, and employee performance.
In view of growing global trade complexities and increasing pressure on maritime infrastructure, the strategic implementation of Logistics Information Systems (LIS) has emerged to be a critical enabler of port efficiency and competitiveness. This study aims to evaluate and rank the alternatives to LIS for enhancing port operation in the Black Sea region of Türkiye by employing a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach, which integrates fuzzy Full Consistency Method (fuzzy FUCOM) and fuzzy Rough Analytical Weighted Evaluation Criteria (fuzzy RAWEC). Six key evaluation criteria including operational efficiency, cost effectiveness, technological competence, regulatory support, user compatibility, and sustainability impact were determined by expert consultation and literature synthesis. Based on these criteria, assessment were conducted on five LIS alternatives, involving Port Community Systems, Terminal Operating Systems, Blockchain-Based Platforms, IoT-Supported Smart Port Systems, and Cloud-Based Logistics Management Systems. Fuzzy FUCOM method was employed to derive consistent criterion weights under uncertainty, while fuzzy RAWEC facilitated the ranking of alternatives with enhanced sensitivity to expert evaluations. Validation of the results was processed via three methods: sensitivity analysis, benchmarking with five other fuzzy MCDM techniques, and rank reversal test. Terminal Operating Systems was consistently proved to be the most preferred alternative, demonstrating robustness across all validation procedures. The findings highlighted the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model in handling uncertainty and advocating strategic digital transformation in port management. This research offered both methodological contributions to fuzzy MCDM literature and practical insights, targeting port authorities and policymakers to modernize logistics infrastructure in the Black Sea region.
This study investigates the evolving role of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) within Maltese listed companies, with a focus on two key objectives: Examining CFOs’ involvement in business development and their collaboration with other senior managers, and evaluating the relative importance they assign to business development compared to their traditional financial responsibilities. Through a qualitative mixed-methods approach involving twenty-two semi-structured interviews with CFOs, the research provides nuanced insights into the expanding scope of their roles. Findings reveal a clear transformation: CFOs are no longer confined to financial oversight but are increasingly involved in shaping business development strategies. Their contribution to cross-functional initiatives demonstrates a growing need for collaboration with senior executives across departments, positioning CFOs as central figures in strategic decision-making. Many CFOs indicated that business development now commands more of their time than traditional financial duties, reflecting a shift in priorities that enhances their influence and status within the organisational hierarchy. This increased strategic engagement is not only reshaping the perception of the CFO role but also endowing CFOs with a more diverse skill set, extending beyond finance to include leadership, innovation, and cross-departmental communication. While prior literature has explored the broader evolution of the CFO position, this study makes a unique contribution by narrowing its lens specifically to CFOs' roles in business development within the Maltese context. It highlights how their expanding responsibilities in this domain are crucial for driving organisational growth and adaptability in a dynamic business environment. As a result, CFOs are emerging as integral members of executive teams, with their strategic input influencing core aspects of company direction. This redefined role underscores the importance of recognising CFOs not just as financial stewards, but as key architects of business strategy and development, equipped with the vision and capability to lead beyond traditional finance functions.
The efficient delivery of e-commerce parcels is heavily reliant on the performance of couriers, who represent a critical interface between businesses and end-users, thus influencing the competitive positioning of companies within the logistics sector. This study seeks to analyse the pivotal role of couriers in e-commerce delivery by evaluating various operational activities associated with the delivery process. Through an extensive literature review and analysis of company-provided data, nine key performance criteria were identified: daily delivery volume, average delivery time, delivery accuracy, monthly complaint rate, customer satisfaction ratings, route efficiency, professionalism, incidence of damaged shipments, and overtime rate. Subsequently, 20 courier alternatives were assessed based on these criteria, with the objective of ranking their relative performance in the delivery process. A novel methodological approach, integrating the CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) and Multi-Attributive Border Approximation Area Comparison (MABAC) techniques, was adopted to determine the criteria weights and rank the couriers, respectively. The CRITIC method was employed to compute the relative importance of each criterion, while the MABAC method was utilised to rank the couriers according to their performance. The results indicated that courier alternative A16 achieved the highest performance ranking, whereas alternative A15 was ranked lowest. The findings underscore the robustness of the proposed model and its potential applicability to similar decision-making challenges in related domains, such as supply chain management and logistics. This study highlights the importance of performance-based assessments in improving operational efficiency and enhancing the overall effectiveness of logistics networks.
Leadership within the healthcare sector plays a pivotal role in shaping institutional performance, employee engagement, and patient satisfaction. Over time, leadership paradigms have evolved from traditional to contemporary models, incorporating diverse styles such as transformational, transactional, authentic, democratic, and charismatic leadership. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of scholarly research on leadership styles in healthcare, employing VOSviewer for visualizing research networks and mapping key relationships. A total of 889 journal articles published between 1957 and 2024 were retrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed. A notable upward trend in publication volume has been observed, particularly post-2008, highlighting the growing academic interest in this domain. Citation analysis has identified the most frequently cited studies, prolific authors, and leading countries contributing to this field, alongside the academic disciplines exerting significant influence. Furthermore, bibliometric maps have been generated to elucidate co-citation relationships, source distributions, and national research productivity, as well as author collaboration networks and text-based thematic clusters. The findings provide a structured overview of scholarly discourse on leadership in healthcare, offering valuable insights into prevailing research trajectories and identifying potential directions for future investigations. By synthesizing the bibliometric landscape, this study aims to enhance the theoretical and empirical understanding of leadership within healthcare services.
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