Nexus Between In-Store Design Cues and Impulse Purchasing Behavior at Supermarkets in Yaoundé, Cameroon: Do Gender and Age Matter?

Purpose: This study seeks to assess the relationship between in-store design cues (store layout, product placement, signage, and point of sales display) and impulse purchase behavior at supermarkets in Yaoundé, Cameroon. It also explores the moderating effects of age and gender on this relationship. Methods: The study adopted a quantitative design with the help of a model with four exogenous variables, two moderating variables, and one endogenous variable adapted from the stimulus organism response (S-O-R) model of Zajonc (1980). The questionnaires were administered both physically and online to 429 shoppers from four selected supermarkets. The multiple correspondence analysis was used to construct indexes for store layout, product placement, signage, and point of sales display. The ordinary least square estimation technique was used to test the hypotheses of the study. The moderating effects of gender and age were done by interacting the two moderating variables with the components of in-store design cues. Results: Results revealed that layout quality and point of sales display exerted significantly positive effects on shoppers' impulse purchasing behavior while signage and product placement had a positive but insignificant effect on customers' impulse purchasing behavior. The results also revealed a negative but insignificant moderating effect of gender while the moderating effect of age was positive and significant.  An overall significant effect of design cues implies that the in-store design cues were found to be attractive and stimulating by the customers. Implications: The study therefore concluded that an improvement in the store design features will act as a significant stimulus for customers' increased impulse purchases. This study has significant practical and theoretical implications in the area of consumer behavior in the context of developing countries, like Cameroon

Significance of Transformational Leadership on Project Portfolio Success within the Micro Financial Sector in Cameroon

Purpose: This research investigates the effect of transformational leadership on project portfolio success in the micro-financial sector in Cameroon. Method: A quantitative research approach was used for this study. Data were collected from 205 managers of Microfinance institutions in Cameroon and analyzed with the help of the SPSS, version 25. AMOS 23 was used to conduct Confirmatory Factor Analyses to examine convergent and discriminant validity. Results: The result showed that less than 60% of current microfinance institutions have adopted key aspects of transformational leadership (idealized influence; intellectual stimulation; inspirational motivation; and individualized consideration). It was observed that transformational leadership has a significant and positive effect on project portfolio success. The effect of such leadership is mediated by team building practices and teamwork quality. Implication: Transformational leadership is not well recognized in the micro-financial sector of Cameroon irrespective of its effect on project portfolio success. Microfinance institution managers should adopt and apply such leadership for higher performance of their project portfolios

Role of Sustainable Tourism in Preserving Cultural Heritage of Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review investigates the role of sustainable tourism in preserving Afghanistan's cultural heritage, given its rich tapestry of traditions, historical sites, and archaeological treasures. The purpose of the study is to assess the potential of sustainable tourism practices to mitigate the challenges faced by Afghanistan's cultural heritage due to decades of conflict and instability while promoting economic development and community engagement. The study employs a systematic analysis of existing literature, case studies, and best practices from around the world to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of sustainable tourism approaches in the Afghan context. It examines the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable tourism and their impact on the preservation of cultural heritage. The findings reveal that sustainable tourism offers significant economic benefits for Afghanistan, including job creation, income generation, and economic diversification. Additionally, it has the potential to foster social and cultural impacts through cultural exchange, community pride, and the revitalization of traditional crafts and practices. Furthermore, sustainable tourism can address environmental considerations by promoting the sustainable management and protection of natural landscapes, archaeological sites, and cultural monuments. The implications of this study highlight the importance of implementing sustainable tourism practices to preserve Afghanistan's cultural heritage. It provides valuable insights and practical examples from successful initiatives in other countries, offering recommendations for policymakers, tourism practitioners, and cultural heritage management stakeholders

Factors Affecting the Intention to Use Digital Banking: An Empirical Study from an Emerging Economy

Purpose: Banks are adopting digital banking to attract clients by providing more useful services, and creating safe, dependable, and easy-to-use online tools. The purpose of this research is to examine the factors influencing the overall adoption of digital banking by retail banking customers. Methods: An expanded technology acceptance model (TAM) serves as the basis for the theoretical framework of the study. A structured survey of 200 consumers is used to gather primary data, and multiple regression analysis is used to examine the correlations between six independent components. Results: The research indicates that web capabilities, perceived utility, and awareness all have a positive and significant impact on the adoption of digital banking. Implications: This study offers guidelines for creating service models and boosting the use of digital banking. The findings can help policymakers and financial organizations devise strategies for constructing the infrastructure and methods for offering digital banking services. Originality: It is a pioneering effort to explore the combined effects of Perceived usefulness, usability, Privacy, safety, trust Cost of transactions Awareness and Web features on Bangladeshi users’ intention to use digital banking.  Limitations: This study is based on quantitative data analysis with limited sample size and period. In future, qualitative research may be conducted for deeper understanding of the issue

Exploring Journalists’ Intentions Towards Digital Mobile Technologies: Extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in the Context of Ghana

In recent years, the use of digital mobile technologies for journalistic practice has gained much popularity among Ghanaian journalists. In this study, we explored three original Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) variables (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and social influence) and two additional variables, (the cost of smartphones, and the cost of mobile data) to predict the relationship between the five variables, and journalists’ intention to use Digital Mobile Technologies (DMTs). A structured questionnaire was used to solicit data from 281 Ghanaian frontline journalists through an online survey.  The respondents were selected by purposive sampling. Structural Equation Modelling analysis of the data showed that, as the cost of smartphones, and the cost of mobile data increases, journalists’ intention to use technology decreases in Ghana. Thus, mobile data and the cost of smartphones had a negative relationship with journalists’ intention to use DMTs. The testing of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and social influence, however, reported a positive relationship with the use intention. The findings from this study have implications for policy change on the reduction of the prices of both mobile data and smartphones to enhance the use of DMTs among journalists in Ghana. Also, the findings from this study could be considered a template for the proper regulation of the use of DMTs for enhanced practice of journalism in Ghana and other developing countries

Investigating Employee Green Behavior through Perceived Organizational Support for the Environment in the Hotel Industry: A Moderated-Mediation Analysis

Purpose - This study investigates the role of perceived organizational support for the environment (POS-E) on employee green behavior (EGB). It also examines the mediating role of employee environmental commitment (EEC) and green work climate (GWC), as well as the moderating role of employee green awareness. Method - Data were collected from 247 hotel employees located at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh applying convenient sampling. Data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique and SPSS. Results - Findings reveal that POS-E positively influences EGB while EEC and GWC fully mediate the association between POS-E and EGB. Findings also show that POS-E on EEC and GWC is more significant when employees have greater ecological awareness. Implications - The findings imply that the hospitality firms’ ecological POS can improve employee green behavior. Empayees’ ecological awareness also plays an important role in such behavior. Originality – The study contributes to the existing literature in the context of the hospitality industry by filling up the gap in exploring the mechanism through which POS influences employee behavior

Strategic Choices of Moroccan Agri-food SME Exporters

Purpose This study aims to ascertain whether or not there is an ultimate strategy for improving the export performance of Moroccan SMEs operating in the agri-food sector. Methods Performance is apprehended in this research by two variables (export performance and the evolution of export turnover). At the same time, strategic choices are split into six orientations: differentiation, cost leadership, focus, marketing diversification, innovation, and alliance. Data are collected from a sample of 25 SMEs. Chi-square (Chi) and FCA (Factorial correspondence analysis) determine the relationship between two variables in a population by plotting statistical maps of the contingency table. Results Based on the survey, the commercial performance of Moroccan SME exporters operating in the agri-food sector remains unaffected by the selection and implementation of a particular strategy. Implications The result implies that no single strategy can be deemed superior to another. Instead, hybrid strategies are adopted and integrated based on individual companies' unique requirements, objectives, and limitations

Positive Affectivity and Employee Engagement: Mediating Role of Social Support

Purpose: Previous studies have found that employees’ positive affectivity personality contributes to positive organizational outcomes. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which positive affectivity is related to social support and employee engagement. Therefore, drawing on the conservation of resources theory, this study examined the role of social support as a mediator that links positive affectivity and employee engagement. Method: The study was conducted using a quantitative approach. It used a survey method to collect data from 260 professional registered nurses in public hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria, who were selected as research participants using a stratified random sampling technique. Result: The structural model analysis revealed that positive affectivity significantly affects social support and employee engagement. Also, social support significantly correlates with employee engagement and partially mediates the relationship between positive affectivity and employee engagement. Implications: The findings of this study contributed to the limited literature on positive affectivity, social support, and employee engagement. Practically, this study has implications for clinical practice and management. To enhance employee engagement among nurses, hospital administrators should develop intervention programs that can enhance the nurses' ability to maintain positive emotions in stressful situations

Addressing Instability in Afghani (Afghan Currency): Exploring the Strategies for Achieving Stability

The study aims to explore the monetary policy of the Afghanistan Bank, the instability of the Afghan currency, and the causes and strategies for achieving stability for the Afghan currency. A qualitative approach was used to gain an in-depth knowledge of the issues. By using a semi-structured interview, the professional participants were selected through the snowball sampling technique. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed through a thematic analysis framework. The study addressed instability in the Afghani currency and its causes including trade imbalance in favor of imports, smuggling of the foreign reserve, lack of foreign aid, lack of control of the natural resources, lack of foreign investment, inefficiency in monetary and fiscal policy, fluctuation in the international market, the influence of mafia groups in the currency exchange market and their fraudulent propaganda. This study also observes the need for developing strategies, and policies for achieving currency stability, like increasing the balance of exports as compared to imports, preventing the smuggling of foreign reserves, efforts to obtain foreign aid, ensuring political stability, ensuring a congenial environment for internal and external investors, efficient and effective control on monetary and fiscal policy, and preventing mafia groups and their fraudulent propaganda in the currency exchange Markets. The study findings have significant implications for the policymakers to ensure the stability of the Afghan Currency.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Rights of Informal Workers in Bangladesh

COVID-19 is a devastating global crisis leading to unprecedented challenges in public health, food systems, the workforce, etc. The calamity has aggravated the situation for informal workers by putting them at risk of economic fallout. The informal workers remain exceptionally vulnerable as their livelihood depends on in-person daily labor. As the pandemic unfolds worldwide, informal workers face tremendous socio-economic challenges and health-related vulnerabilities. This research sheds light on this terrain to explore the impact of COVID-19 on informal workers in Bangladesh from a socio-economic perspective. At the same time, it also analyzes the legal aspects from a critical point of view. It employs a qualitative research methodology. Primary data were collected through 30 in-depth interviews with informal laborers such as taxi-driver, street vendors, domestic workers, hotel and restaurant stewards, and private tuition providers. Ten key informant interviews were conducted with trade union leaders, relevant practitioners, and researchers. It finds that informal workers face diverse challenges, such as the inability to manage family expenditure, drop-out of their children from education, lack of information on health protection, internal migration, etc. It also reveals a significant policy implementation gap in crisis management by analyzing fiscal and monetary policy, non-therapeutic measures, and social safety programs.