Workplace Change and Emerging Skills in Post-Pandemic Training Needs Assessment: Evidence from Bangladesh’s Public Sector

This study aims to figure out how workplace changes and new skills affect the training needs assessment of public sector officials in Bangladesh at the time of the post-pandemic era. A total of 408 valid responses were obtained from public officials in Bangladesh. Researchers measured the training needs of Bangladeshi public sector officials in the post-pandemic era by examining workplace changes and new knowledge and skills. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to assess their training needs and gain insight into the evolving workplace and emerging skills required for the post-COVID period, which is crucial for public-sector employees in Bangladesh. An SEM (Structural Equation Model) model was formulated for EFA (Exploratory Factor Analysis), where post pandemic training needs assessment is evaluated by using two independent variables that are workplace change and emerging skills to support the robustness of the findings by ensuring the validity and reliability of the research model. The research results indicate that workplace changes and new knowledge and skills have a significant impact on the training needs assessment of Bangladesh’s public sector. Furthermore, the research provides insight into the critical need to include training programs that focus on these essential competencies to ensure a successful transition to the post-pandemic era

Dynamic Skills for Achieving Profitability and Long-term Sustainability of Start-up MSMEs

In a digitally evolving and competitive business environment, start-up micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) encounter various dynamics that shape their profitability and sustainability. This research synthesises existing literature published between 2010 and 2023 to explore and identify the key dynamic skills that drive start-up MSMEs' profitability and long-term sustainability. A comprehensive search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Emerald databases. Selected articles were categorised, and the key themes related to dynamic skills were extracted and analysed. The review identifies nine key dynamic skills essential for start-up MSMEs' profitability and long-term sustainability. These include sales and marketing, customer service, networking and industrial relationships, negotiation, financial management, cross-cultural communication, leadership and problem-solving, digital fluency, and entrepreneurial skills. These skills enable MSMEs to navigate the challenges of the digital era, maintain a competitive advantage, and achieve long-term sustainability. The study findings provide valuable insights for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and support organisations. By focusing on developing dynamic skills, start-up MSMEs can enhance their resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing and competitive business environment. Policymakers and support organisations can also use these results to design programs that address the specific needs of MSMEs. Empirically, the study contributes to the existing literature by offering a comprehensive understanding of the skill sets required for sustainable growth and success of MSMEs. It also provides a foundation for future research and practice in this research domain

Waste Management Research in Sri Lanka: Exploring Trends, Identifying Gaps, and Gaining Key Insights Through Bibliometric Analysis

Waste generation has emerged as a critical global challenge, driven by rapid urbanization, industrialization, and evolving consumption patterns with insatiable needs and a shift away from minimalization. In 2023, cities worldwide generated 2.3 billion tonnes of solid waste annually, whereas Sri Lanka accounts for millions of tonnes annually. Continued waste generation is expected to increase from 2.3 billion to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. Despite the global emphasis on advanced waste management practices such as recycling, composting, and circular economy models, there is a notable lack of systematic understanding of the research landscape in developing nations like Sri Lanka. This absence creates a critical gap in identifying the evolution, key contributors, and dominant themes in the country's waste management area. To bridge this gap, bibliometric analyses offer a structured way to explore trends and identify key contributors in the field. This study aims to present a comprehensive bibliometric review of waste management research conducted in Sri Lanka, providing insights into its evolution, dominant themes, and emerging research directions. Using 235 research articles published between 1990 and 2023 and data extracted from the OpenAlex database, the analysis was conducted with Biblioshiny software to examine publication trends, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution. Key findings are summarized into five main points. First, research output has steadily increased since 2010, with a remarkable growth peak around 2020, reflecting growing scholarly interest. Second, the University of Moratuwa emerges as a dominant contributor, alongside international collaborations with institutions from countries like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Third, thematic analysis reveals that sustainability practices, waste-to-energy conversion, and recycling are dominant themes. At the same time, policy development, public participation, and electronic waste management are identified as emerging research areas. Fourth, bibliometric data emphasizes the role of influential journals like Waste Management and Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management in shaping the field. Finally, keyword analysis highlights interconnected themes such as environmental monitoring, public health concerns, and the socio-economic aspects of waste management. This bibliometric review, focused on Sri Lanka, provides a foundation for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to identify critical gaps and advocate for the integration of innovative technologies and cross-disciplinary strategies that advance sustainable waste management practices and policy development

Technological Innovations and Employees’ Employability Development Challenges in Mauritius. The Mediating Effect of Career Anchors

This study investigates the impact of rapid technological innovations, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, on employees’ employability in Mauritius during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It addresses the critical research question of how these technological changes affect skill development, job security, and career perceptions within various sectors of the Mauritian economy. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected through a questionnaire survey from 217 respondents across multiple industries. The study applies correlation and regression analyses to examine the determinants of technological innovation, organizational strategies, and their effects on employability outcomes, including the mediating role of career anchors. Findings reveal a dual impact of technological advancements: while they threaten job security through automation and disruption, they simultaneously create opportunities for employees to upskill and enhance their competitiveness. Organizations that adopt proactive strategies, such as fostering continuous learning and promoting adaptability, significantly improve workforce employability and resilience amid digital transformation. The results highlight the importance of organizational support in mitigating risks associated with technological change and in facilitating career development. This paper contributes to the understanding of how technological innovation reshapes employment landscapes in Mauritius, emphasizing both favorable and unfavorable consequences for employees. It underscores the need for strategic interventions to balance technological progress with workforce sustainability. The study’s insights are valuable for policymakers, business leaders, and educational institutions aiming to navigate the challenges and leverage the opportunities presented by AI and digital transformation in Mauritius’s evolving labor market. This research thus offers a comprehensive view of the complex relationship between technology, employability, and career development in a small island developing economy undergoing rapid digital change

A Structural Model of the Effect of Decent Work, Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment on Employee Creativity

The primary objective of this research is to study the relationship between decent work, job satisfaction, organizational commitment and employee creativity. A sample size of 109 participants was conveniently sampled from major retailers in Bulawayo Urban. To achieve the purposes of this study and test the hypotheses, the structural equation model (SEM) was employed. Results revealed that decent work has a significant positive relationship with job satisfaction and organizational commitment. This means a decent work environment is responsible for highly satisfied workers who, in turn, become committed to the organization. A relatively strong association between organizational commitment and employee creativity was established. A committed workforce is bound to display creative work behaviors. However, an insignificant relationship between job satisfaction and employee creativity was found. If one is satisfied with their job, it does not translate to being creative at work. The study also established that a decent work environment does not predict employee creativity. These results have revealed the role and importance of securing decent work as a significant job resource in the retail sector. Employee creativity has also been shown to be a complex subject that requires further research on how it can be enhanced in the retail sector. The findings hope to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of decent work on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and employee creativity, and how all these relate to one another in contributing to a viable business economy in the retail sector

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Advertising Agencies: Opportunities and Challenges

This paper’s overall objective is to identify the opportunities, challenges, and effects of artificial intelligence in advertising agencies. The theoretical approach of the key concept of artificial intelligence - its definition, typologies and effects, is followed by a particularization of the term in the advertising sector, based on a synthetic review, through a secondary analysis of statistical data, of the main trends in the AI use in current Romanian and international advertising. Subsequently, the paper focuses on the applied approach, based on qualitative research carried out through interviews with both employees from advertising agencies without management positions and managers of departments and advertising agencies where the former work, in order to identify the advantages and disadvantages of working with AI,  but also positive and negative effects of using AI in advertising organizations, proposals for improving activities in which AI is used and, not least, ethical challenges related to working with AI. The integration of artificial intelligence in the advertising industry presents remarkable potential for innovation and efficiency, but also the need for a responsible approach to emerging challenges. The research provided a solid foundation for understanding the complexity and dynamism of the relationship between AI and advertising, highlighting that long-term success depends on the industry's ability to navigate this ever-evolving technology landscape with caution. By fostering a harmonious collaboration between technology and creativity, the advertising sector can maximize the benefits of AI while ethically addressing the associated challenges

Review of Dynamic Structural Equation Models for Real-Time Consumer Behaviour: Methodological Advances and Applications Insights

This study evaluated the transformative importance of dynamic SEM in offering a more thorough understanding of real-time consumer behaviours and thus transcending the limitations of traditional SEM approaches that typically rely on static data. The study analysed the recent advancements in the dynamic SEM and its capability to strengthen marketing strategies by accurately capturing evolving consumer interactions. The study evaluated the published peer-reviewed literature ranging from 2010 to 2024 to assess the advancement, comparisons, applications, accuracy and methodological complexities of both dynamic and traditional SEM approaches in the domain of consumer behaviours and interactions marketing analytics. The inclusion criteria were studies focusing on consumer behaviour, research articles published within 14 years, studies employing dynamic SEM methods and datasets that include time-series data. The findings for objective one show that dynamic SEM analyses complex, temporal and real-time data because it has been integrated with advanced modern methods and approaches such as Ecological Momentary Assessment and Experience Sampling Method, Bayesian methods for estimation, machine learning algorithms and cloud computing platforms. The findings for objective two indicate that dynamic SEM is practically and accurately capable of analysing temporal and real-time high-frequency, complex, and large-scale datasets from digital platforms like social media and e-commerce. The results obtained from the comparative analysis for objective three show that dynamic SEM provides significant improvements by offering a more accurate reflection of evolving consumer interactions and preferences than traditional SEM. Dynamic SEM integrates temporal elements and therefore allows for adeptly modelling consumer choices, moods, attitudes, and emotional states over time. Performance metrics such as MAE, RMS, and CFI confirm that dynamic SEM enhances fit and predictive precision. The findings show that dynamic SEM substantially and significantly outperforms traditional SEM since it has been integrated with advanced methods that enhance the understanding of real-time consumer behaviour and interactions by effectively capturing temporal variations in consumer behaviour and interactions. Thus, organisations should adopt and implement the dynamic SEM to optimise and improve their marketing strategies. The study contributes to knowledge that the dynamic SEM is superior in capturing real-time consumer behaviours, which results in enhancing marketing analytics and strategies

Aligning Halal Supply Chain Management Improvements with Global Sustainability Standards: A DEMATEL-Based Analysis

Halal Supply Chain Management (HSCM) significantly contributes to global sustainability by ensuring ethical sourcing, transparency, and responsible environmental practices, closely aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite its potential, several challenges—including regulatory inconsistencies, traceability issues, and environmental impacts—hinder optimal sustainability integration. Addressing this gap, this research uniquely applies the DEMATEL method to systematically analyse causal relationships among critical sustainability factors within HSCM based on expert insights from 25 diverse industry specialists. Results reveal Sustainable Procurement (SP) as the primary driving factor influencing Green Logistics (GL), Halal Certification (HC), Supply Chain Transparency (SCT), and Waste Management (WM). The study highlights HC and SCT as significantly dependent on procurement and logistical strategies, while emphasising early integration of waste reduction practices into supply chain decisions. This novel integration of HSCM, SDGs, and DEMATEL offers actionable insights for policymakers, businesses, and scholars aiming to enhance sustainable procurement, logistical efficiency, and regulatory standardisation. Future research is recommended to explore AI-driven optimisation, blockchain-based Halal verification, and circular economy approaches for further sustainability improvements

The Influence of Intrapreneurial Behavior on Task and Contextual Performance of Employees in Healthcare Marketing Organizations: A LISREL Multigroup Modelling Study

Existing literature on the impact of intrapreneurial behavior on performance has been largely focused on individual and organizational-level performance. As a matter of conjecture, managers are assumed to display higher competence than their subordinates (operational staff) in marketing organisations. Empirical evidence is scanty on the comparison/s between managers and operational staff, on the influence of intrapreneurial behaviors on task and contextual performance in pharmaceutical marketing organisations. This paper builds on role theory to examine employee-level differences (managers vs operational staff) by testing the influence of intrapreneurial behaviors on task and contextual performance in a pharmaceutical marketing context. Covariance-based multigroup structural equation modelling in LISREL was used to develop the model and address this gap. Data was collected using a self-reported online questionnaire from 220 participants composed of managers (n=58) and operational staff (n=162) in the pharmaceutical marketing industry in Nigeria. Confirmatory factor analysis established the validity of constructs. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis established configural invariance among the groups, justifying a multigroup analysis. Intrapreneurial behavior positively influenced task and contextual performance in the general path model. Risk-taking behavior had no impact on task and contextual performance. Managers showed stronger proactive behavior on task and contextual performance compared to operational staff, while the latter group had stronger innovative behavior impact on task performance only. The study identified the low risk-taking propensity of employees as a gap in intrapreneurial behavior. Therefore, it proposes risk management training for both managers and operational staff. The study concludes that intrapreneurial behavior aligns more with proactivity for managers, while operational staff tend to be more innovative toward their core responsibilities

Investigation of the Factors that Influence Team Performance in Project Management: The Case of Habib Bank Limited

The financial industry is facing increasing competition and the need for information construction, with Project management being a key factor in success. Challenges include increasing team conflicts, lack of communication, and weak team cohesion, leading to internal turmoil and decreased project performance. To improve Project team performance, domestic commercial banks, examples such as Habib Bank Limited, are highly valuable. This paper proposes a research model based on previous theories and results on team conflict management, focusing on how conflict management methods affect team communication and cohesion, ultimately affecting team performance. The study collected data through electronic questionnaires and used SmartPLS software to evaluate the model's reliability, validity, common method bias, and multicollinearity. The results showed that Cooperative Conflict Management can improve Project team performance, while competitive conflict management weakens it. Team cohesion mediates between cooperative conflict management and performance, and team communication mediates between cooperative conflict management and performance. The study concludes that improving the bank's Project team performance in project management is necessary