Journal of Asia Entrepreneurship and Sustainability
The Journal of Asia Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (JAES) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal focused on advancing research at the intersection of entrepreneurship and sustainable development across Asia. The journal provides a scholarly platform for exploring how innovation, enterprise, and policy contribute to inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability in diverse regional contexts. Publisher: Asia Academic Press Language of edition: English. Founded: 2005 ISSN: e-1176- 8592, p-1177-4541 Publication Frequency: • Quarterly (2005–2025) • Monthly (from 2026 onward) DOI Prefix: 10.66635 (All articles published up to Vol. 22 No. 3 (2026) retain the original DOI prefix 10.5355, 10.69980 which remains valid and fully resolvable)
“Agri-Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Innovation: Bridging Food Security and Environmental Protection”
This study examines the role of sustainable agriculture as a pathway for simultaneously achieving food security, environmental protection, and entrepreneurial development. In the context of rising global food demand, climate change, and resource degradation, the study adopts an interdisciplinary approach integrating sustainability science and entrepreneurship to analyze how agri-entrepreneurs, startups, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute to transforming agricultural systems. Using a structured literature review and comparative case study analysis, the paper evaluates climate-smart, agroecological, and regenerative farming practices in terms of productivity, resource efficiency, and environmental outcomes. The findings indicate that these practices not only enhance yields and reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also create viable opportunities for innovation-driven and market-oriented business models. The study further highlights the importance of entrepreneurial ecosystems, including access to finance, technology, market linkages, and institutional support, in enabling the scaling of sustainable practices. Policy instruments such as carbon markets, certification systems, and ecosystem service payments are identified as key mechanisms that support entrepreneurial engagement and value creation. However, challenges related to scalability, access to capital, technological adoption, and policy coherence remain significant barriers. The study concludes that entrepreneurship is a critical enabler in advancing sustainable agriculture, particularly in developing and Asian contexts, and emphasizes the need for integrated policy frameworks and innovation-led approaches to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Motivational configurations driving electric vehicle adoption in urban India: evidence from Mumbai using empirical strategic analysis
The phenomenon of electric vehicle adoption in metropolitan settings is an important juncture for sustainable business strategies, consumer behaviour, and new forms of entrepreneurial development. Though government incentives and green consciousness have helped boost adoption, the pattern is inconsistent and warrants an in-depth analysis of the underlying motivational structures. This research aims to explore the hierarchical dominance of consumer motivations for electric vehicle adoption in the metropolitan city of Mumbai, particularly focusing on the role of infrastructure readiness. The research design is based on a cross-sectional quantitative method of data collection from primary data of 312 urban respondents and analysis of data through descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that economic motivation is the most dominant factor for electric vehicle adoption, followed by environmental concern. Technological perception and social influence are relatively less important factors for adoption. Most importantly, infrastructure readiness is a significant moderator of the relationship between key motivations and adoption behaviour. The research contributes to the sustainable business and entrepreneurship literature by providing a framework for understanding the underlying dynamics of electric vehicle adoption in an emerging economy. It also emphasises how consumer motivation patterns can be utilised to inform strategic decision-making, policy-making, and entrepreneurial opportunity recognition within the EV ecosystem. The findings of this research will be beneficial to firms and sustainable mobility ventures looking to drive EV growth within densely populated urban areas.
Technological Determinants of AI Adoption for Sustainable HRM and Organisational Innovation: Evidence from Private Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognised as a strategic enabler of innovation, sustainable entrepreneurship, and human resource management (HRM), particularly in resource-constrained service organisations in emerging economies. This study examines the technological determinants of AI adoption in HRM among private hospitals in Addis Ababa, conceptualised as entrepreneurial healthcare enterprises operating under resource constraints, with comparative relevance to Asian emerging markets. Using an explanatory research design, primary data were collected from 337 HR and administrative staff and analysed using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression techniques. The findings reveal that IT infrastructure is the strongest positive predictor of AI adoption, followed by digital literacy, perceived ease of use, and system compatibility, while data security concerns negatively influence adoption. The model explains 48% of the variance in AI adoption, indicating substantial explanatory power. Beyond technological factors, the results demonstrate that AI adoption enhances sustainable organisational performance by improving operational efficiency, optimising resource utilisation, and supporting data-driven decision-making. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating how AI-enabled HRM supports innovation capacity, human capital development, and inclusive organisational practices. The findings offer important implications for policymakers and practitioners in Asian and other emerging economies seeking to promote digital tran
Modeling Of Barriers To Adoption Of CSR In Indian Smes: An Interpretive Structural Modeling Approach
Purpose: Concept of CSR is gaining interest in recent trends but implementation of CSR practices is still a challenging task for SMEs in India. Different studies have highlighted these challenges and discussed about inability of SMEs to perform CSR for sustainability. However, inability in adoption of CSR in this sector has not been clearly attended by contemporary studies. This study is an attempt to identify the constraints that hinder SMEs from adopting sustainability and social responsibility practices. Design/Approach: This study was conducted by employed Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach. Literature review conducted to extract the list of barriers and opinions from experts helped to identify 11 critical barriers. Data for the study collected from top management of various sectors like manufacturing, service, supply and transportation and were analyzed by ISM approach to construct stratified and circumstantial association among barriers. Findings: The study shows that top management commitment and values is highly influential barrier that hinder CSR implementation in small and medium enterprises followed by ownership concentration and lack of time. Originality/Value: Based on relationship among barriers this study discussed about implications of theory and practice for managers and policymakers.
Barrier Dominance Hierarchy in Megacity Cleaner Production Transitions: An Empirical Regression-Based Urban Sustainability Analysis
Accelerating sustainable urban transitions requires moving beyond descriptive listings of barriers toward empirically grounded dominance frameworks that explain why cleaner production adoption remains constrained in megacities. Addressing this gap, the present study proposes and empirically validates a dominance-based barrier hierarchy model to identify the key determinants of sustainable technology diffusion in a megacity context. Drawing on a structured survey (N = 412) and multivariate regression analysis supported by robustness diagnostics, including reliability and factor validity tests, the study evaluates the relative impact of financial, infrastructural, technological, and behavioural barriers on adoption intention and implementation intensity. The findings reveal that infrastructural inadequacy and financial constraints exert the strongest explanatory effects, while regulatory ambiguity and behavioural inertia act as secondary yet statistically significant influences. The megacity context intensifies capital constraints and grid capacity limitations, thereby altering conventional patterns of barrier dominance observed in prior single-city and national-level studies. The proposed framework extends sustainability transition theory by incorporating dominance hierarchy logic to capture the interaction and relative strength of barriers within complex urban systems. It provides a scalable analytical tool for diagnosing constraints and prioritising interventions across diverse urban settings. From a practical perspective, the results offer actionable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and entrepreneurial actors to design infrastructure-first strategies and accelerate decarbonisation pathways in high-density urban environments.
Determinants of Consumer Purchase Behavior in Digital and Emerging Asian Markets
The rapid growth of digital commerce in emerging Asian markets has intensified concerns related to data privacy, security, and trust, which play a critical role in shaping consumer purchase behaviour. This study aims to examine the relationships among privacy information practice concerns, online trust, and consumer purchase intention in a digital and emerging Asian market context. The study adopts a quantitative, cross-sectional research design based on a secondary analysis of survey data collected from online consumers in Vietnam. Privacy information practice concerns are conceptualised as a multidimensional higher-order construct encompassing data collection, unauthorised secondary use, improper access, and errors. Covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) is employed to test the proposed relationships and to examine the mediating role of online trust. The results indicate that privacy information practice concerns have a significant positive effect on online trust and directly influence consumer purchase intention. While online trust does not exhibit a significant direct effect on purchase intention, mediation analysis reveals that it plays a significant indirect role in translating privacy perceptions into purchase intention. These findings highlight the complex mechanisms through which privacy practices shape consumer behaviour in digital environments. This study contributes to the digital consumer behaviour literature by extending the privacy-trust-behaviour framework to an emerging Asian market and by modelling privacy concerns as a multidimensional construct. The findings offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to understand and manage consumer behaviour in rapidly evolving digital commerce contexts.
Sustainable Tourism Development in Mizoram: Assessing the Responsible Tourism Policy 2020
This paper will discuss the tourism policy in Mizoram, its development, and prospects. Coming to terms with tourism as an important industry in 1993, Mizoram subsequently pursued its plan using the Responsible Tourism Policy 2020 that encourages responsible practices in line with national objectives. This study evaluates the effect of the state laws, such as the Mizoram Registration of Tourist Trade Act, on responsible tourism and tourist satisfaction by analysing secondary data. It underlines the economic importance of tourism; the necessity of adaptive policymaking to satisfy the new demands; the need to discuss the significance of branding, promotion, and timely distribution of credible tourist information to increase the popularity of Mizoram and tourism development.
Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Human Resource Management: Merging Ethics, Social Responsibility, and Advanced HR Analytics
Sustainable Human Resource Management (SHRM) has emerged as a strategic necessity for organizations operating in an era marked by digital transformation, social accountability, and heightened ethical scrutiny. The research designs a unified conceptual structure that integrates multiple dimensions into a coherent framework ethical governance, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and advanced human resource analytics to support long-term organizational sustainability. Ethical principles provide the foundation for fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in HR decisions, while CSR initiatives strengthen employee engagement, organizational commitment, and social legitimacy. Simultaneously, HR analytics enables evidence-based workforce planning, talent retention, and performance optimization through data-driven insights. By examining the interdependence of these dimensions, the paper proposes strategic pathways through which HRM can evolve from a transactional function to a sustainability-driven strategic partner. he research ultimately presents actionable guidance for organizations aiming to embed ethical practices firmly within their structures and day-to-day operations, socially responsible, and analytics-enabled HR practices that foster resilient and future-ready workplaces.
Union Budget’s Role in the Structural Transformation of India’s MSMEs and Startup Labour Markets
The Union Budget Plays a critical role in shaping India’s economic transformation, MSME growth, and the startup ecosystem. This study examines how recent Union Budget contribute structural transformation through fiscal priorities such as public capital expenditure, Production-Linked incentive (PLI) schemes, MSME support, startup promotion, and digital infrastructure development. The paper highlights the role of fiscal policy in fostering entrepreneurial activity, innovation, and employment generation across sectors. It further evaluates the impact on formalization, Particularly among women. Using primary data and statistical analysis, the study finds that fiscal interventions significantly influence enterprise creation, self-employment, and innovation-driven job opportunities. While capital-intensive growth strategies contribute to sectoral shifts, sustainable transformation requires stronger support for MSMEs, startups, and human capital development. The study concludes that the Union Budget is not only a fiscal instrument but also a strategic tool for promoting entrepreneurship-led, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.
Language Barriers and Communication Effectiveness in Entrepreneurial Organizations: Implications for Sustainable Business Performance in India
Communication is one important attribute that facilitates teamwork, creativity, and long-term organisational success in entrepreneurial settings. Entrepreneurial companies, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often work in multilingual workplaces in the emerging economies like India, where workers belong to very different linguistic and cultural groups. English is usually a common business language, but non-(native) English speakers can feel the language barrier problem that can affect their ability to convey the ideas, engage (engagement) in the professional communications, and play an active role in organisational performance. Such communication issues can impact on the confidence of employees, sharing of knowledge and collaborations that are critical in the sustainable development of an enterprise. The current research will look into the effectiveness of communication of non-native speakers of English in English-dominated working environments and explore how the level of language proficiency, comfort on(in) communication and use of hybrid language affect the perception of professional success by employees in organisational and entrepreneurial settings. The primary data was gathered by the means of a structured survey that was conducted to 50 employees who work in organisations and business enterprises situated in the Delhi-NCR area of India. The relationship between the variables of workplace communication and perceptions of professional success were compared using multiple regression analysis. The results show that trust in English communication has a great impact on how employees view professional development and trust. Alternatively, the fact that the forms based on hybridization of the English language with the native languages may improve the level of communication comfort and collaboration. The paper gives relevance to inclusive communication and language development programmes in enhancing successful collaborative efforts, knowledge exchange, and long-term organisational development in multilingual entrepreneurial settings.
Visual Greenwashing and Regulatory Adherence: A Content Analysis of Green Claims in the Indian Media and Policy Suggestions
The research paper carries out an empirical analysis to evaluate the intent and execution of green advertisements in India. This study content analyses green advertisements in the Indian media examining claim characteristics, message dimensions, copy and situational points using NVivo software. The multimodal analysis employs the Carlson matrix and Terra Choice framework, and expanded image-centric research to include audio-video content from the social media platforms. Based on Dual Coding theory, findings demonstrate strong interaction effects among textual claims, strategic capitalization employing green logos and traces of country of origin. Results confirm that image-based green claims, visual greenwashing, and shallow appeals that focus on eco-symbolism are the most prevalent. Cross-platform analysis shows that higher frequency on Earth Day especially on social media handles. The results make important theoretical contributions by applying the Green Halo Effect to emerging markets and showing how claim type and customer perception interact. An emerging nation where economic advancement precedes environmental harm, findings exhibit alarming lacunas in Indian green legislation. The meagre presence of third-party logos, mostly illegitimate, underscores the urgent need for more credible green advertising. The paper acts as a guide to the green advertisers on how to curb scepticism and provides policy recommendations in light of interventions like consumer literacy and carbon labelling. This study is a novel attempt to analyse the impact of 2024 Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing Environmental Claims in India; emphasising that regulation is in place, but enforcement and measurable outcomes are still developing.
“Balancing Tech and Touch: The Role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in Next-Gen HR Practices”
In the era of rapid digital transformation, Human Resource Management (HRM) is increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven systems that enhance efficiency, objectivity and decision-making capabilities. However, excessive reliance on technology risks diminishing the human-centric aspects of HR, such as empathy, trust and employee engagement, which are critical for sustainable organizational performance. This study examines the integrative role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in enhancing the effectiveness of Next-Generation HR practices within entrepreneurial and SME contexts, particularly in Asian economies. Adopting a quantitative research design, data were collected from 390 respondents across IT, healthcare, manufacturing and finance sectors using a structured questionnaire. Statistical techniques including reliability analysis, correlation, regression and moderation analysis were employed. The findings reveal that while AI-driven HR practices significantly improve organizational efficiency and performance, EI emerges as a stronger predictor of employee engagement, retention and leadership effectiveness. Moreover, EI moderates the relationship between technology-enabled HR systems and employee outcomes, strengthening their impact when EI levels are high. The study further proposes an AI-driven HR framework that integrates EI metrics into HR analytics to enable emotionally informed, data-driven decision-making. The research contributes to the literature by bridging the gap between technological and human-centric HR approaches and offers practical insights for developing sustainable, ethical and employee-centric HR systems in digitally evolving workplaces.
EI, AI in HR, Digital Transformation, Human-Centric HRM, HR Analytics, Next-Generation HR.
Organizational Behavior and Workforce Adaptability in Asian Enterprises
Workforce adaptability has become a central organizational capability for Asian enterprises operating in environments marked by rapid digital transformation, institutional complexity, and sustained uncertainty. Despite its growing importance, adaptability has predominantly been examined as an individual-level attribute, with limited attention to the organizational and contextual conditions through which adaptive capacity is systematically developed. Addressing this limitation, the present study advances a narrative synthesis that integrates organizational behavior perspectives with contemporary adaptability scholarship to examine how leadership practices, organizational systems, and contextual forces collectively shape workforce adaptability in Asian enterprises. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature encompassing leadership, human resource management, organizational culture, and adaptive performance, the study reconceptualizes workforce adaptability as a multilevel organizational outcome rather than a discrete employee characteristic. The analysis highlights the role of leadership conduct in legitimizing adaptive action, the importance of organizational cultures that balance learning with continuity, and the influence of hierarchical structures and relational norms in shaping adaptive responses. Particular attention is given to how institutional embeddedness and culturally grounded work practices condition the forms through which adaptability is enacted in Asian organizational settings, including under digital and hybrid work arrangements. By moving beyond universalistic and Western-centric models of adaptability, this study demonstrates that effective adaptation in Asian enterprises often unfolds through incremental, contextually aligned processes rather than radical flexibility or disruption. Conceptually, the paper contributes by framing workforce adaptability as an emergent property of coherent organizational behavior across levels.
AI-Enabled Enterprise Management for Digital Entrepreneurship: Integrating HR Analytics, Financial Planning, and Marketing Strategy Towards Sustainable Business Performance
The current accelerated development of the artificial intelligence (AI) in all the organisational functions has opened new avenues of optimising the performance of the entire enterprise. In the present paper, a single theoretical and empirical framework will be provided to combine AI-based analytics in three key areas of management human resource (HR) analytics, financial planning, and marketing strategy. Based on the mixed methods research design, which includes a structured literature review, structured interviews of 47 top managers in 23 multinational organisations, and quantitative benchmarking of the performance of six commercial AI platforms, we can show that the holistic AI implementation shows statistically significant better performance along all three areas compared to siloed deployments. In particular, integrated AI solutions generate a 17.6 percentage-point rise in employee retention, a 22.5 percentage-point rise in the quality of revenue forecasts, and a 110.7% improvement in the likelihood of a successful marketing campaign (ROI). We also pinpoint six severe implementation problems such as biases in algorithms, regulatory compliance, and management of change in organisations, and suggest evidence-based mitigation measures in each. The paper makes a unique contribution of a Tri-Domain AI Integration (TDAI) model and offers practical recommendations to practitioners and policymakers who would like to operationalise AI adoption across an entire enterprise. Critically, the TDAI model advances sustainable organisational growth by embedding responsible AI governance, adaptive workforce management, and data-driven strategic innovation into a unified enterprise architecture. These capabilities position entrepreneurial firms and established enterprises alike to build long-term competitive advantage within digital entrepreneurship ecosystems, contributing to the growing body of knowledge on AI-enabled sustainable business transformation.
How Do University Students Navigate Entrepreneurial Intention? Insight and Trends from Bibliometric Analysis
This paper will offer a bibliometric review of the literature on entrepreneurial intention among university students. The study uses a dataset of 942 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2016 and 2025 to analyse trends in publications, leading authors, institutions, journals, and countries and important thematic changes in the area. VOSviewer and RStudio were used to carry out bibliometric methods like co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence, bibliographic coupling and thematic mapping. The results show that the volume of research has increased significantly, and the highest number is found in 2025. The International Journal of Management Education became the most popular source, and Duong c.d was the most fruitful author. The greatest country and institutional contributors were Spain and the National Economics University, respectively. The analysis points out the prevalent themes, namely the entrepreneurship education, self-efficacy, the theory of planned behaviour, and the emerging ones, including sustainable, social, and digital entrepreneurship. The findings also affirm some conformity to the Law of Bradford, and the Law of Lotka shows that a few authors make a lot of contributions to the discipline. The research offers great insights into the intellectual framework and development of the study of entrepreneurial intention, which can guide future research and policy formulation.
Entrepreneurial intention, University students, Bibliometric analysis, Entrepreneurship education, VOSviewer
Effect Of Past Behavioral Biases On Investment Decision Of Investors: An Extension Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior Model
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to identify the factors that influence Investors' decision-making process. Individual investor incentives have been investigated using the TPB model of the Theory of Planned Behavior. There are three factors that go into TPB: one's attitude, another's subjective norms, and one's sense of agency over their own behavior. In this study, TPB model have been extended by adding one more variable that is Past Behavior (PB). Design/Methodology: A total 105 respondents were given response to Structured Questionnaire. To analyze and evaluate the data set of respondents, both descriptive and inferential analysis was performed in study. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0, and inferential analysis using Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed in AMOS 20.0. Findings: According to the results of this research, AT, SN, and PB all had a considerable impact on individual investors' intents, but PBC had no effect. Overall, study suggest that Financial professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders should consider the importance of investors’ AT, SN and PB when designing interventions or strategies to influence investors’ intentions. While PBC may not have a direct impact intentions based on the current findings. Originality: This study contributes to the behavioral finance literature by extending the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) through the incorporation of Past Behavior (PB) as an additional explanatory variable in the context of individual investors’ decision-making. This extension of TPB enhances its predictive power and offers practical insights for financial professionals and policymakers seeking to design more behaviorally informed investment strategies.
Artificial Intelligence As A Research Tool In Entrepreneurial Finance: Implications For SME Financing And Sustainable Development In Asian Financial Ecosystems
Artificial intelligence (AI) is dramatically changing financial research by changing the way knowledge is created, interpreted and utilized in decision-making situations. Drawing on a systematic qualitative synthesis of current academic literature, the research shows that artificial intelligence-based methodologies and specifically machine learning and deep learning methods consistently surpass traditional econometric methods in high-dimensional financial applications such as asset pricing, credit risk assessment, fraud detection and investment analytics. Beyond improvements in predictions, the use of AI transforms the epistemic foundations of the financial world in ways such as the ability to find complex nonlinear patterns or the incorporation of data-driven analytics at the level of institutional infrastructures. These advancements have important implications for entrepreneurial ecosystems, given the role that AI-based financial systems play in improving the credit assessment of SMEs, mitigating information asymmetries in the financial evaluation of start-ups, and improving fintech-enabled financial inclusion, particularly in fast digitalising Asian markets. AI-driven financial research will help in enhancing efficiency in allocating capital and underpinning sustainability-oriented investment practices to innovate-led growth and long-term economic resilience in emerging economies in Asia. Artificial intelligence is therefore a new research paradigm that shapes more inclusive, innovation-driven and sustainable financial systems.
Management Strategies For Sustainable Growth In Asian Entrepreneurial Firms
The role of strategic management practices in sound growth in Asian entrepreneurial firms. Based on cross-country data on the World Bank Enterprise Survey (2011-2020), the study analyses the relationship between innovation orientation, operational efficiency, export engagement, financial constraints, and the age of the firm and employment growth as a measure of sustainable performance. Following the cleaning and restructuring of the dataset into a panel form, regression analysis using robust standard errors was done to determine the associations between the strategic variables and growth results. The results have shown that innovation has a significant positive impact on sustainable growth, whereas financial constraint and the age of the firm harm employment growth. Once other strategic factors are held constant, export participation and capacity utilisation exhibit few direct effects. Such findings imply that innovation-based approaches and financial availability are the key factors influencing the achievement of sustainable growth of entrepreneurial companies as opposed to individual operational practices. The research also provides empirical data on various Asian economies, which adds to the sustainability and strategic management literature in the context of individual countries. The results have practical implications for policymakers and managers who need to develop a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem that can balance the goal of economic growth and sustainability.
Cybercrime Investigation: Modern Trends, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Evidence
The rapid digital transformation of business environments has created new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and global economic integration. However, the increasing reliance on digital infrastructures has also intensified exposure to cyber threats that affect organisations, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Cybercrime activities such as phishing, ransomware attacks, financial fraud, and data breaches have become major challenges for digital economies and entrepreneurial ecosystems. This review paper examines modern trends in cybercrime affecting digital businesses and explores the role of cybercrime investigation in addressing these emerging threats. The study synthesises existing literature on digital transformation, cybercrime patterns, investigative technologies, and digital evidence management. It highlights the importance of digital forensics, artificial intelligence, blockchain analysis, and open-source intelligence as critical tools in modern cybercrime investigations. The paper also discusses major challenges faced by investigators, including cross-border jurisdictional issues, technological anonymity, regulatory limitations, and resource constraints in developing economies. Furthermore, the review emphasises the implications of cybercrime for sustainable entrepreneurship and digital economic development. Strengthening cybersecurity governance, improving digital literacy, and promoting collaboration between public and private sectors are identified as key strategies for enhancing cyber resilience. The study concludes that integrating advanced investigative technologies with effective governance frameworks is essential for combating cybercrime and protecting digital ecosystems in the evolving digital economy.
Ethical Leadership In Workforce Downsizing: Implications For Sustainable Growth, Innovation, And Economic Development In An Asian Context
Purpose: Downsizing is a challenging strategic decision that affects organizational performance, employee wellbeing, and long-term sustainability. This study examines ethical leadership during workforce downsizing through an autoethnographic case study, highlighting its influence on employee experience, sustainable growth, CSR practices, and innovation. It further explores how ethical downsizing contributes to wider economic development, including SME engagement and entrepreneurial opportunities in the Asian context. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on Organizational Justice Theory and Stakeholder Theory, the study analyzes how fairness, transparency, empathy, and responsible communication shape employee responses. The research also incorporates perspectives from digital and sustainable leadership to understand how ethical decision-making can stimulate innovation, strengthen organizational resilience, and support community-level economic outcomes. Findings: The results demonstrate that ethical leadership characterized by honesty, care, and procedural fairness reduces emotional stress, maintains trust, and protects organizational reputation during downsizing. Beyond internal outcomes, ethically managed downsizing encourages knowledge-sharing, supports workforce transitions that benefit SMEs, and creates conditions that may foster entrepreneurial activity and adaptive business models. The first-hand case evidence highlights how ethical leadership choices can promote organizational sustainability and regional economic stability. Originality/value: This paper offers a rare autoethnographic perspective from an emerging Asian market, bridging theory and lived experience. By connecting ethical leadership to sustainable growth, innovation, CSR, and economic development, the study expands current downsizing literature. Practical implications: Findings offer actionable guidance for leaders seeking to manage downsizing ethically through transparent communication, fair processes, and empathetic support while also contributing to sustainable practices, SME ecosystems, and community well-being. Research limitations/implications: The study calls for further empirical research to examine how ethical downsizing influences entrepreneurship, SME development, and long-term economic outcomes across varied contexts.
Digital–Green Capability Co-evolution in India’s Steel Industry: A Multi-Case Study
The steel industry of the world is facing digital as well as decarbonization pressures that are “analytically analyzed separately but operationally inseparable.” The process of steel production is still among the most carbon-intensive industrial processes and the digital technologies like artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, digital twins, and integrated operations centers are restructuring the process control of the capital-intensive manufacturing. This paper evaluates the question on whether digital maturity is merely a functional efficiency enhancer of whether or not it is an enabling infrastructure to environmental governance and low-carbon technological transition. The research examines the role of the digital technological affordances in the production of the operational stabilization and energy visibility along with how organizational governance converts the visibility to sustainability performance and how structural and institutional constraints moderate the rate at which digital-green capability is integrated with the goal of achieving sustainability through a qualitative multi-case study of four large Indian steel manufacturers and 45 semi-structured interviews triangulated with documentary evidence. The results show that there is a sequence of dynamics. The digital affordances reduce the production volatility and build granular energy transparency; the governance transforms the transparency to performance discipline; and structural constraints determine the time and scope of experiment. The stacking of capabilities comes up with the increase of digital maturity, which enhances the absorptive capacity of sustainability transition, thus able to model hydrogen-readiness and experiment on carbon.Digital and decarbonization trajectories do not evolve independently but form mutually reinforcing capability architecture shaping competitiveness in climate-constrained markets.
Digital maturity, Decarbonization, Steel industry, Dynamic capabilities, Industry 4.0,Sustainability transition
Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Renewable Energy Innovation in India: Evidence from Energy Emissions Nexus Studies
This study examines the methodological evolution in the empirical literature analyzing the association between carbon emissions, economic growth, and energy consumption in India. Understanding this relationship is critical for designing strategies that support sustainable economic development while addressing environmental challenges associated with increasing energy demand. The study aims to evaluate how different econometric methodologies influence the interpretation of the energy emissions nexus and to highlight their implications for sustainability, renewable energy innovation, and sustainable entrepreneurship in emerging Asian economies. A systematic methodological review approach was adopted to analyze empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025. Relevant articles were identified through major academic databases and screened using predefined inclusion criteria focusing on studies that employ advanced econometric models such as Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL), Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), and Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL). The findings reveal a clear transition in the literature from traditional linear models toward nonlinear and asymmetric econometric frameworks. While linear models provide useful insights into long-run equilibrium relationships, asymmetric models offer a deeper understanding of structural dynamics by capturing differential responses to positive and negative economic shocks. The results also highlight the growing importance of technological innovation, renewable energy adoption, green enterprises, and sustainable entrepreneurship in reducing environmental degradation. By integrating insights from environmental economics, sustainability research, and entrepreneurial innovation, the study contributes to a better understanding of how methodological advancements can inform policy and enterprise development aimed at supporting energy transition and sustainable development in emerging economies.
sustainable entrepreneurship; renewable energy innovation; green enterprises; energy transition; energy–emissions nexus; environmental sustainability; ARDL; NARDL
“Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Women’s Economic Mobility: A Data-Driven Study of Women Entrepreneurs in Bilaspur District”
Entrepreneurship is becoming more widely understood as a channel to increase the economic mobility of women in developing economies. This research study aims to explore the effects of entrepreneurial involvement on the level of income and socio-economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the Bilaspur district. It used purposive sampling and a structured questionnaire to collect primary data from 200 respondents. To measure income trends and indicators of empowerment, descriptive statistics were used. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to compare the changes in income before and after becoming an entrepreneur, and the Chi-square test was applied to determine the relationship between educational attainment and the post-entrepreneurial level of income. The outcomes reveal that the increase in income after engaging in entrepreneurship activity is statistically significant. Education has a positive relationship with outcome on higher income, which makes it critical to the success of entrepreneurs. In addition to the benefits in income, entrepreneurship has empowered women in the aspect of household decision-making, especially on expenditure, education, and health. Nevertheless, we still have the financial, social, and operational limitations. The paper brings out the need to offer policy-specific support, expanded access to education, and institutional support to continue women-led businesses. By providing district-level empirical evidence from a developing region, this study contributes to the literature on women’s economic empowerment through microenterprise development.
Women entrepreneurship; Income change; Educational attainment; Economic empowerment; Household decision-making; Microenterprise development
“Home Based Women Entrepreneurs and Social Media: Identifying Challenges and Opportunities Using Grounded Theory Analysis.”
This research provides insight into the opportunities of doing business on social media and identifies the motivators encouraging women to consider this business option. It also identifies the hurdles and challenges that home-based women entrepreneur face. A series of interviews were conducted with women who engage in home-based social media ventures. The research was conducted in Pune City, Maharashtra, India. The qualitative data collected is analyzed using Grounded theory analysis. The opportunities identified from this research were easy access to social media, a substantial number of users connected on social media, social media facilitating a market beyond local boundaries, the opportunity to create unique products along with other motivators like ability to follow passion, low investment, ease of doing business, financial independence, ability to realize career goals and more. Several Challenges were identified related to technology, availability of finance, acquiring new customers, customer relationship management, supplier management, building customer trust, logistics management, etc. The data obtained from the interviews provides a deeper understanding of the strategies employed by these women in confronting their obstacles. Women entrepreneurs operating from home have achieved a milestone previously unattainable during the era before the prevalence of social media.
home based women entrepreneurs, #women entrepreneurs, #challenges and opportunities and #social media.
Transformational Leadership and Sustainable Entrepreneurial Growth in Asian SMEs: The Role of Intrinsic Motivation and Trust
Sustainable entrepreneurship in emerging Asian economies requires leadership approaches that promote innovation, employee engagement, and long-term organizational resilience. This study investigates the relationship between leadership style, intrinsic motivation, and interpersonal trust within small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and sustainable entrepreneurship perspectives, the research examines how leadership-driven psychological and relational mechanisms contribute to sustainable enterprise growth. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among employees working in Asian SMEs (N = 23). Data were collected using a 5-point Likert scale measuring leadership influence on intrinsic motivation and team trust. Descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, bootstrap resampling (1,000 samples), and correlation analyses (Pearson, Kendall, and Spearman) were applied to ensure analytical robustness. The findings reveal positive perceptions of leadership impact on intrinsic motivation (M = 3.65) and interpersonal trust (M = 3.91). A statistically significant moderate-to-strong positive relationship was identified between intrinsic motivation and trust (r = .562, p = .005). Bootstrap results confirmed the stability of these estimates. The results suggest that leadership behaviors fostering autonomy, engagement, and psychological safety strengthen relational trust and innovation capability, thereby supporting sustainable SME performance. This study contributes empirically to sustainable entrepreneurship literature by demonstrating that intrinsic motivation and trust function as reinforcing mechanisms linking leadership to long-term competitive advantage in Asian SMEs.
The Impact of Social Media Advertisements on Consumers
Social media has transformed the manner in which brands engage with consumers, and it has become an important marketing tool, especially among the youth. This research examines the influence of social media ads on consumer buying behavior, with a focus on aspects like ad interaction, brand recall, trust, and purchase intention. As more and more consumers turn to digital platforms for shopping, knowing the effectiveness of various advertising formats such as influencer marketing, sponsored content, and video advertising has become critical for companies that want to optimize their reach and engagement. The aim of this research is to analyze how different social media ad formats shape consumer behavior among different age groups. Furthermore, the study investigates the impact of platform algorithms, targeted advertising, and consumer belief in advertising credibility on purchase decisions.A quantitative research approach was utilized, utilizing a guided survey to gather primary data from 200 participants from four age groups: Below 18, 18-24, 25-30, and Above 30. A non-random sampling method, i.e., snowball sampling, was utilized to achieve a diverse group of participants. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics and correlation analysis to establish the relationship between ad exposure and consumer behavior.The most notable findings indicate that young consumers aged 18-30 are easily persuaded by advertisements on social media, especially through the use of influencer advertising and interactive video. Personalized ads and in-app engagement play an important part in influencing trust and purchase behaviors. The research further discovers that credibility of brand matters in predicting the success of social media adverts, as they tend to act upon adverts put out by trusted or familiar brands. The study concludes that social media advertising is a powerful tool for driving consumer choices, yet its efficacy relies on the variety, personalization, and credibility of the content. The marketers need to concentrate on interactive and engaging formats of ads, make use of influencer collaborations, and tailor ads to various social media sites so that they can have their maximum effect.
Human Resource Planning And Its Impact On The Performance Of Employees Of The Hospitality Industry In India
Human resource planning (HRP) is a critical strategic function in service-intensive industries where employee performance directly influences organizational efficiency and service quality. The hospitality industry in India, characterized by high labour intensity, seasonal demand fluctuations, and persistent employee turnover, faces significant challenges in maintaining a stable and competent workforce. This study empirically examines the impact of human resource planning practices on employee performance in the Indian hospitality sector. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was adopted, and primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 372 frontline employees working in organized hotels and hospitality establishments across major metropolitan cities in India. Given that many hospitality establishments in India operate as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or entrepreneur-led ventures within local tourism ecosystems, the findings have direct relevance for sustaining workforce capacity and service performance in these businesses. Human resource planning was measured using four key dimensions: workforce forecasting, recruitment planning, training and development planning, and succession planning, while employee performance was assessed through productivity, service quality, organizational commitment, and adaptability indicators. Data were analysed using SPSS 26 employing descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation, and multiple regression techniques. The results reveal a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between human resource planning and employee performance (r = 0.68, p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicates that HRP significantly predicts employee performance, explaining 54% of the variance (R² = 0.54). Among HRP dimensions, training and development planning emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by workforce forecasting and recruitment planning. The findings suggest that systematic and proactive HR planning enhances employee efficiency, reduces role ambiguity, improves service quality, and supports workforce stability in hospitality organizations. Beyond short-term efficiency, HRP also supports long-term business sustainability by strengthening workforce continuity, reducing replacement costs, and improving the resilience of service delivery under seasonal and demand shocks. In labour-intensive hospitality enterprises, these outcomes contribute to sustained competitiveness and the long-term survival of firms operating in dynamic market conditions. The study contributes to strategic HRM and sustainable enterprise research by positioning HRP as a determinant of sustainable growth in India’s hospitality sector and offers actionable insights for managers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to strengthen workforce planning systems for long-term competitiveness.
Human Resource Planning, Employee Performance, Hospitality Industry, Workforce Forecasting, Training and Development Planning.
From Displacement ToSustainable Enterprise: Indigenous Memory-Mapping And Community-Based Entrepreneurship Among The Chakma Community In Tripura
This study examines how indigenous memory-mapping practices facilitate sustainable community-based entrepreneurship among the displaced Chakma community in Tripura. While displacement often disrupts livelihoods and ecological relationships, limited research has explored how indigenous memory functions as entrepreneurial capital in post-displacement contexts. Adopting a qualitative multi-site case study design, the research draws on 29 semi-structured interviews, five focus group discussions, and five participatory memory-mapping sessions conducted across three Chakma settlements. Thematic analysis and process tracing were employed to examine how displacement triggered memory reconstruction, opportunity recognition, collective mobilisation, and enterprise formation. The findings reveal that memory-mapping served as a foundational mechanism for reconstructing ecological knowledge, enabling the revival of agroforestry cooperatives, women-led weaving enterprises, and forest-produce collectives. Enterprises were characterised by collective governance, income diversification, social inclusion, and culturally embedded sustainability practices. However, land tenure insecurity, regulatory constraints, and limited market access moderated enterprise scalability. The study contributes to indigenous entrepreneurship and sustainable development scholarship by conceptualising ecological memory as a dynamic innovation mechanism rather than a static cultural resource. It demonstrates how culturally embedded knowledge systems can transform displacement into structured, community-driven economic resilience within complex institutional environments.
Indigenous Entrepreneurship, Memory-Mapping, Community-based Enterprise, Displacement and Resilience, Sustainable livelihoods
User Adoption And Satisfaction In Digital Payment Systems: Evidence From A Systematic Literature Review
Background: Digital payments have revolutionized financial transactions by offering convenience and speed, which are critical in the digital economy. User satisfaction with these services, however, is essential for continued growth and adoption. This review synthesizes existing studies to identify factors affecting satisfaction with digital payment platforms. Objective: This systematic literature review aims to investigate the key determinants of user satisfaction in digital payment systems (Harraf, A. 2024). By identifying and analyzing various influencing factors, this study seeks to offer insights into enhancing user experience and promoting broader acceptance of digital payment methods. Methodology: The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed to ensure a structured and rigorous review. After initial database searches, inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to filter studies relevant to digital payment user satisfaction, ultimately selecting studies based on quality and relevance. Findings: The review identified ease of use, security, transaction speed, cost, and accessibility as primary factors influencing user satisfaction Nawaser, K. (2022).. “Notably, demographics such as age, income, and digital literacy also played significant roles. Security and transaction fees emerged as the top concerns impacting user preferences. Conclusion: Improving user satisfaction with digital payments requires a focus on enhancing security, transparency in fees, and user-friendly interfaces. The findings underscore the importance of addressing these areas to promote the adoption of digital payment systems, particularly in regions with lower digital literacy.
AI-Driven Dispute Resolution As A Sustainable Institutional Innovation In India’s Construction Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
This study examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI)–driven alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms as an institutional innovation within India’s construction entrepreneurship ecosystem. The research investigates whether AI-enhanced negotiation systems improve dispute resolution efficiency, settlement outcomes, and stakeholder perceptions in construction dispute management. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining quantitative survey analysis with qualitative semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were collected from 247 professionals, including construction practitioners, legal experts, and ADR specialists across five major construction markets in India. Statistical techniques such as descriptive analysis, reliability testing, factor analysis, analysis of variance, and regression analysis were used to evaluate dispute resolution performance and stakeholder perceptions associated with AI usage. Additionally, 32 in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis to capture stakeholder perspectives and institutional dynamics related to AI adoption. The findings indicate that AI-enhanced ADR significantly improves dispute resolution outcomes. Resolution time decreased by 28.3%, while settlement rates increased by 16.3% compared with traditional negotiation methods. Perceptual indicators also improved substantially, with stakeholder satisfaction, cost efficiency, and process transparency increasing by more than 30%. Regression analysis further confirmed that AI usage is a strong predictor of dispute resolution efficiency. However, respondents identified algorithmic bias, data privacy concerns, and regulatory uncertainty as important barriers to large-scale adoption. Overall, the study demonstrates that AI-driven ADR represents a promising institutional innovation capable of strengthening dispute governance, improving operational efficiency, and supporting entrepreneurial resilience within the construction sector.