Strategic Service Marketing: Competing on Exemplary Service Quality and Innovation for Customer Satisfaction

The purpose of the paper was to carryout a thorough and critical review and analysis of the empirical literature on strategic service marketing. Also analyzed is the unique characteristics of the service industry and the fast-changing competitive marketplace. Moreover, the role of innovation in service delivery and the need for customer participation in exemplary service delivery are analyzed. The article starts with a brief introduction and overview of the concept of service marketing and the presentation of the paper's objectives. The research methodology then follows. Next, the article outlines the associate theories that support service marketing strategies and models. A comprehensive and rigorous analysis and synthesis of the empirical literature on service marketing concepts is presented. An analysis of current trends and emerging issue is also presented. Finally, the paper discusses implications for marketing decision-makers and recommends action

A Practical Exploration of Work-Family Balance

This paper analyzes the dimensions of work and family interrole conflicts and modified a process developed by Yavas, Babakus, and Karatepe (2008). The effects of work-family conflict (WFC), family-work conflict (FWC), and stress on intent to stay (ITS) with an organization were analyzed and tested. The paper (a) presents and tests a revised version of the work-family and family-work conflict model and provides support for associated hypotheses; (b) investigates how constructs of FWC, WFC, stress, and ITS to stay with an organization are related in keeping with the model; and (c) presents and discusses the results. Four implications for human resource development practice emerged as well as implications for theory and future research

Leading Through Turbulence: A 40-Year Empirical Synthesis of Crisis Leadership

Over the past four decades, crises such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires have exposed the strengths and shortcomings of leadership during unprecedented challenges. This article presents a thematic analysis of empirical peer-reviewed literature from 1985 to 2025, synthesizing lessons learned across diverse crises. By focusing on five core dimensions—decision-making under uncertainty, emotional intelligence, communication strategies, resilience-building, and ethical leadership—this analysis provides actionable insights for leaders navigating volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. The findings emphasize adaptability, transparency, empathy, and ethical stewardship as key factors that distinguish successful crisis leaders. The article also proposes a "Crisis Leadership Framework" to guide future leaders in addressing the dynamic demands of a rapidly changing world. Through this synthesis of research and practice, this article bridges academic insights with pragmatic tools, equipping leaders to respond effectively to global disruptions while fostering long-term resilience

Case Study & Lessons Learned: Creation and Pilot of a Regional Small Business Accelerator and Cybersecurity Assessment Program

Startup companies and originated small businesses are an essential aspect of our nation’s economy, contributing to many organizations that aim, in some cases, to become larger enterprises. As a small business is in the mode of sustaining and growth, minimizing cybersecurity and business resilience threats may not be front and center on the minds of these entities. This paper will provide a case study background about a project and effort – the New Jersey Cybersecurity Regional Cluster (NJCRC) - that has contributed significant outreach to New Jersey small businesses to provide free cybersecurity risk assessments to help small businesses prepare their organizations against technical, operational, and cyber and information security resilience threats. In addition to the background of this outreach activity, the process and procedures followed, along with the selected cybersecurity risk assessment framework, a theoretical model followed, challenges, and learned lessons are demonstrated

Does the Establishment of Sustainability Committees Reduce Carbon Emissions? Evidence From Taiwan

This study explores the impact of sustainability committees and their composition on corporate carbon emissions and reductions. Analyzing data from 983 observations between 2015 and 2020, the research finds that the mere establishment of a sustainability committee does not significantly reduce carbon emissions. Interestingly, contrary to initial hypotheses, the number of female members and the proportion of experts on the committee are associated with higher carbon emissions. Firm size, R&D expenditure, financial leverage, and profitability significantly influence carbon emissions. Larger firms and those with higher R&D investments tend to emit more carbon, although R&D positively impacts emission reductions over time

Durability of the B Corp Certification: Implications for Research and Practice

This study analyzes the characteristics of 7,598 companies that achieved B Corp certification from the certification’s inception in 2007 through 2022, including 1,849 that later decertified. Results show increasing international adoption, particularly among smaller firms and service-sector companies, alongside a decline in decertification. Younger firms are more likely to decertify, though most remain in business. Despite lacking regulatory backing, B Corp is overcoming early adoption barriers and gaining legitimacy, suggesting it is on a trajectory similar to established certifications, such as LEED. These findings offer critical insight into the evolution and durability of values-driven certifications in today’s global business environment

Sustainability, Business Ethics, Environmental Justice and Place-brand Strategy: Interdisciplinary Reflections Between Anthropology and Economics

‘Sustainability’ has become a widespread buzzword (mantra) in almost all spheres of human activity, including business. In the business world, this term denotes corporate social responsibility and ethical practice. Business ethics refers not only to the fair treatment of directly involved human subjects (employees, suppliers, intermediaries, customers etc.) but also to the fair use/share of environment considering all contemporary human beings and forthcoming generations as well as other living beings and their offspring who are going to face degradation and scarcity that are being left behind after having relentlessly pursued material economic growth. This paper intends to share some reflections based on business ethics and environmental justice in different cultural contexts

The Relationship Between Organization Commitment and Job Embeddedness in Public Accounting Firms

The public accounting profession in the United States faces a significant talent shortage, highlighted by high turnover rates. This study investigates the relationship between job embeddedness and affective organizational commitment among full-time professional employees at public accounting firms in the U.S., based on a sample of 136 professionals. The research employs multiple regression models to investigate how job embeddedness, particularly its organizational aspects, predicts emotional attachment to the firm. Findings show that organizational links and sacrifices are key predictors of affective organizational commitment, one of the three commitment dimensions, while community-related aspects and organizational fit are not. Control variables, job satisfaction, and job engagement also exhibit strong positive relationships with commitment. These results suggest that internal workplace factors, like team cohesion and perceived professional sacrifices, are crucial for retaining talent in public accounting. This study offers practical insights for firm leaders to enhance employee retention and lays the groundwork for future research on embeddedness and commitment in professional services

Leading Creative Teams with the Brain in Mind: A Neuroscience Perspective on Team Safety and Innovation in Design Leadership

Leading creative teams effectively requires understanding the neurocognitive and psychological aspects of human behavior. This paper introduces a neuro-informed perspective on design leadership, focusing on psychological safety and creativity. Psychological safety, a belief in safe risk-taking, is linked to the brain ’s threat detection systems. When absent, it hinders prefrontal function, trust, and imaginative thinking. Conversely, safety fosters learning and innovation. Creativity is a neurobiological process involving brain networks like the DMN, ECN, and SN. Emotional regulation and cognitive diversity are key. The paper integrates these insights with leadership strategies, offering guidance on building trust, designing feedback, structuring team environments, and managing creative tension. It helps leaders harness cognitive diversity and establish conditions balancing stability with risk-taking. The goal is to move beyond intuition to a leadership model grounded in the brain’s needs, fostering creative cultures where safety and innovation work together

The Power Dynamics in Mainstream Schools in Guyana: Resistance and Oppositions to the Placement Children With SEND in the Two Primary Schools

This paper presents the power dynamics in two mainstream primary schools in Guyana. It highlights the resistance and opposition to the placement of children with SEND. The discourse extends the discussion on the sociocultural experiences of children with SEND in mainstream primary schools in postcolonial Guyana. Ethnography was the microscopic approach employed to situate me in the lived experiences of the participants. The qualitative data gathered through interviews and participant observation was mapped and analysed using a postmodern approach to grounded theory called situational analysis. Situational Analysis was employed due to its elasticity and thoroughness in qualitative data analysis, as posited by Adele Clarke. There is an intricate power relationship in the two mainstream schools. Children with SEND felt their autonomy in mainstream school was disrupted by the new placement of children with SEND. Teachers and parents were invested in the discourse that posited that mainstream schools were unsuitable for children with SEND. The discourse influenced the experiences of bullying and a collision of power expressions