{"title":"Gender Budgeting: A Contextual Analysis of the Higher-Education Sector in Albania","authors":"Brunilda Llaftiu, Ingrid Shuli","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080180","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080180","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, we chose to conduct a gender-based contextual analysis of research-performing organizations (RPOs) in the higher-education sector in Albania as a first step toward the implementation of gender budgeting (GB). Our rationale for conducting such a contextual analysis is the overarching need to achieve the European Commission’s strategic objectives regarding gender equality in research and innovation. To carry out this analysis, we used reports from She Figures to calculate dominant gender indicators; these reports were produced in collaboration with the statistics published by the Institute of Statistics of Albania. Our methodology is based on a mixed-methods approach that aims to better our understanding of the situation in Albania. The quantitative findings provided by our contextual analysis within academia were synthesized with qualitative findings resulting from a comparative analysis of the content of gender equality plans (GEPs) currently being implemented by thirteen universities in Albania. The results of our contextual analysis study show that even though women account for more than half of the total population of researchers at the national level, playing a significant role in research and innovation, we recommend that the government develop its first national GEP to counteract the inequality that persists in the career trajectories of women and men. GB represents an effective strategy for reducing gender inequality in this context. The supporting results of the content analysis indicate that the phenomenon of vertical segregation has been identified in the great majority of RPOs that have carried out gender-based contextual analyses; moreover, we observed the interaction of GB with GEPs within three such organizations’ approach to the gender-based allocation of finances.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142202167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aihie Osarenkhoe, Daniella Fjellström, Tove Gioeli, Anna Backer-Meurke
{"title":"Conceptual Framework for Unlocking Customer Satisfaction Drivers in Digital Vendor-Managed Inventory Systems","authors":"Aihie Osarenkhoe, Daniella Fjellström, Tove Gioeli, Anna Backer-Meurke","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080179","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080179","url":null,"abstract":"There are calls in the extant literature for further exploration into the factors influencing customer satisfaction in industrial vending solutions (IVS), a distinct vendor-managed inventory method. This study delves into these factors, identifying primary drivers of satisfaction, perceptions of service quality, and indicators of trust and commitment in B2B IVS. It examines how IVS execution impacts perceived service quality through in-depth semi-structured interviews with B2B customers, focusing on efficiency, user-friendliness, and timeliness as key satisfaction drivers. Trust in the customer–supplier relationship positively affects commitment to the supplier. Successful IVS implementation enhances inventory control, customer service, and cost management. Supply chain managers can use these insights to evaluate vending solutions. Future research could explore supplier perceptions of vendor-managed inventory (VMI) success and conduct larger quantitative studies. This study distinguishes itself by focusing on the primary drivers of customer satisfaction and the perception of service quality in B2B IVS environments. It offers a conceptual framework for managing customer satisfaction, product development, and marketing strategies in IVS, addressing a gap in the literature on IVS within VMI contexts.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"46 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142202168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rosa Lutete Geremias, Miguel Pereira Lopes, Ana Maria Sotomayor
{"title":"Linking Psychological Capital to Organizational Commitment: The Moderating Role of Perceived Aversive Leadership of Employees in Angola","authors":"Rosa Lutete Geremias, Miguel Pereira Lopes, Ana Maria Sotomayor","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080177","url":null,"abstract":"Organizational commitment is an indicator of organizational performance, regarding the attainment of competitive advantages. Knowing the factors that promote or inhibit organizational commitment fills a gap in the literature in the area of aversive leadership in Angola and reinforces the role of managers in promoting employees’ organizational commitment. This study aimed to analyze the moderating role of perceived aversive leadership in the relationship between psychological capital and organizational commitment. Although recent studies have indicated the negative effects of aversive leadership on organizational outcomes, the role of perceived aversive leadership on employees’ organizational commitment has not been tested. To this end, we applied a self-report questionnaire from 335 employees from different sectors of activity in Angola to examine this relationship. To analyze the results of the study, we used structural equation modeling. The results showed that the relevance of psychological capital in organizational commitment is highlighted when perceived aversive leadership is low. On the other hand, when perceived aversive leadership is high, employees will exhibit lower levels of organizational commitment. This study may influence the adoption of more sophisticated leadership selection techniques, based on behavioral and situational interviews, to ensure that professionals with aversive behaviors cannot hold positions of responsibility.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142202170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ricardo Pacheco Coutinho, Bruno Barbosa Sousa, Vasco Ribeiro Santos
{"title":"The Importance of International Volunteering for the Tourist Destination Image: Case Study in Barcelos (Portugal)","authors":"Ricardo Pacheco Coutinho, Bruno Barbosa Sousa, Vasco Ribeiro Santos","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080178","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080178","url":null,"abstract":"This research investigates the significant role of international volunteering, particularly through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), in shaping the image of Barcelos as a tourist destination. The study specifically examines various volunteer programs in Barcelos, such as construction projects, teaching, and agricultural assistance. It focuses on the volunteers’ perceptions and motivations and on the impact of their experiences on the city’s touristic recognition. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research analyzes responses from electronic surveys with 92 former ESC volunteers and interviews with four local organizations that host these participants. The findings reveal that international volunteering through specific programs enhances Barcelos’ image as a welcoming, culturally rich, and civically engaged tourist destination. This research highlights the importance of integrating such initiatives into the city’s tourism management strategy, suggesting that such efforts can significantly enrich the tourist experience and the overall image of the destination. Furthermore, the study identifies areas for future research, including the need for a more in-depth analysis of the long-term impact of these volunteering activities on the local economy and cultural sustainability. The limitations of the study, such as the use of a convenience sample and the reliance on self-reported data, which may influence the results and their generalizability, are also discussed. In conclusion, this work provides valuable insights for tourism managers and policymakers, demonstrating how international volunteering can be a strategic component in enhancing the image of tourist destinations. Through careful and strategic management, Barcelos can continue to develop and promote its identity as a destination for solidarity tourism and cultural vibrancy.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142202178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Effect of Motivation on the Behavioral Intention to Protect Industrial Techniques of High-Tech Firms’ Employees","authors":"Sangwoo Lee, Boyoung Kim, Ureta Vaquero Ivan","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080176","url":null,"abstract":"This study defines the intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors that influence the prevention of industrial technology leakage by high-tech company employees. It also investigates how these factors affect the employees’ intention to prevent leakage. Based on the TPB (theory of planned behavior), this study analyzes the relationship between “attitude toward behavior”, “subjective norm”, and “perceived behavioral control”, which in turn influences the behavioral intention to prevent such leakage. Specifically, an online survey was conducted among office workers in South Korea’s high-tech industry. A total of 200 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. As the analysis results show, intrinsic motivation has a positive effect on attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Extrinsic motivation has a positive effect on subjective norms and perceived behavioral control but a negative effect on attitudes toward behavior. This study also proved, based on the TPB, that the three variables impact the behavioral intention to prevent technology leakage. These results confirm that, in the high-tech sector, where employees are highly specialized and autonomous, technical security behaviors are primarily influenced by individual professional ethics and judgment rather than by organizational regulation or extrinsic motivation.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142202171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sustainable Fashion Choices: Exploring European Consumer Motivations behind Second-Hand Clothing Purchases","authors":"Daniel Halicki, Piotr Zaborek, Grégoire Meylan","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080174","url":null,"abstract":"The second-hand clothing (SHC) market has seen dynamic expansion, driven by shifts in consumer attitudes. However, motivations underlying customer engagement in this market remain largely unexplored. Accordingly, this study investigates factors driving consumer sentiment towards buying used clothing. Data were collected in 2023 from a sample of 254 European consumers. The results show that positive attitudes towards SHC are associated with high levels of economic, hedonic (treasure hunting) and ethical motivations, while strong fashion interest and materialism seem to coincide with more negative evaluations of SHC. Interestingly, treasure hunting motivation emerged as the strongest driver of SHC attitudes, surpassing both economic and ethical motivations, which were similar in strength. However, mediation analysis revealed complex interaction patterns among the attitudinal variables, with the potential of reversing the direction of average regression weights for individuals as well as subgroups of customers. This study offers a more nuanced understanding of consumer behavior in the SHC market. It provides practical recommendations for the marketing strategies of SHC vendors, and lays the groundwork for future research in this area.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141947371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluating the Effectiveness of Investment in Boosting South Africa’s Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis across Different Administrations","authors":"Dikeledi Semenya, Kanayo Ogujiuba","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080173","url":null,"abstract":"South Africa’s economic growth has been slow since the 1980s due to inefficiencies in the manufacturing, mining and quarrying, ICT, electricity, gas, and water sectors. This article uses the theoretical framework and growth rates to identify key reasons for this slowdown. Key issues include inefficiencies within the gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) and inadequate infrastructure, primarily due to government behavior. This article used secondary data to perform the desktop analysis. To promote economic growth, the South African government and allied stakeholders should consider increasing investments in public infrastructure and financing research and development. This article argues that economic growth is driven by government expenditure, easy access to financing, and technological advancements. To promote economic growth, a comprehensive approach is needed, including tax breaks, loan guarantees, and pro-business legislation.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141947370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francisco Nunes, Edgar Alexandre, Pedro Dinis Gaspar
{"title":"Implementing Key Performance Indicators and Designing Dashboard Solutions in an Automotive Components Company: A Case Study","authors":"Francisco Nunes, Edgar Alexandre, Pedro Dinis Gaspar","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080175","url":null,"abstract":"In the context of highly competitive markets, organizations face dynamic challenges, requiring effective solutions to maintain and enhance their competitive standing. Performance measurement, supported by advanced information systems, is critical for organizational improvement. This study involves the implementation of key performance indicators (KPIs) within an automotive components company. Insights from employees across various departments were gathered for the development and deployment of 22 new KPIs across the Purchasing, Sales, Logistics, Quality, Human Resources, Occupational Health and Safety, Research and Development, and Finance departments of the company. The new indicators implemented were applied to all the group’s companies and standardized throughout the companies’ group. As a result, the implementation of new indicators and the consultation of graphs and visual elements present in the dashboards developed using Power BI enabled senior managers to make detailed and precise analyses, which led to faster and more considered decisions. It also enabled senior managers to make comparisons between the results of the group’s different companies by looking at dynamic, interactive graphs. The methodologies and tools discussed (KPIs and dashboards) have broader applications across different industries, highlighting the relevance and versatility of KPIs and dashboards in organizational performance management.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141947372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Soufiane Benhaida, Larbi Safaa, Dalia Perkumienė, Gintautas Labanauskas
{"title":"Creative Tourism: Two Decades of Conceptual Evolution and Characterization","authors":"Soufiane Benhaida, Larbi Safaa, Dalia Perkumienė, Gintautas Labanauskas","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080172","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080172","url":null,"abstract":"The concept of “creative tourism”, emerging at the century’s start, responds to the “creative turn” in tourist destinations, aligning with the evolving creative class, clusters, and cities. This study employs a bibliometric analysis to examine the evolution and academic focus on creative tourism over the past two decades. Using databases like Scopus and Web of Science, we analyzed key trends, thematic developments, and the impact of creative industries on tourism. Our study reveals significant growth in creative tourism research, emphasizing creativity’s role in enhancing tourism experiences and formulating sustainable, culturally rich models. It underscores the importance of integrating creative industries into tourism and the positive impact on local economies and community development. This analysis not only maps the academic trajectory of creative tourism but also highlights its practical implications for future tourism management and sustainable community development.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141947374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cristina O. Vlas, Bruno Barreto de Góes, Radu E. Vlas, Eugene See
{"title":"Competing in Innovation-Intensive Environments: The Role of Soft Power, Learning, and CEO Heuristics","authors":"Cristina O. Vlas, Bruno Barreto de Góes, Radu E. Vlas, Eugene See","doi":"10.3390/admsci14080169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14080169","url":null,"abstract":"We start by exploring how the interplay of soft power and learning levers helps firms address competitive uncertainty in innovation-intensive environments (IIEs). We then theorize that firms’ motivation to pursue a specific combination of soft power and learning tactics in IIEs is shaped by CEO regulatory focus. The analysis of a panel of IIE firms supports our theorizing and reveals that accounting for CEO regulatory focus is elemental to the understanding of firms’ performance heterogeneity in such environments. We conclude that a perspective focused on a combination of soft power and learning tactics is better fitted to explain firms’ performance in environments plagued by extreme uncertainty compared to traditional theoretical lenses. Our main contribution is to the study of performance in innovation-intensive environments.","PeriodicalId":30376,"journal":{"name":"Administrative Sciences","volume":"91 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141947538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}