Volume 27, Number 2, 2024

EN:

While it is well established that leader characteristics influence employee outcomes, little is known about whether and how leader gender influences employee creativity. Traditionally, female leaders are considered a mismatch for prototypical leadership roles, resulting in less optimal employee outcomes than male leaders. In this paper, drawing on social role and leader-member exchange theories, we argue that female supervisors may have advantages over male supervisors and may serve as a catalyst to encourage employee creativity. In the empirical analyses, we test our hypotheses using data from German, Japanese, and South Korean foreignsubsidiaries in China. Results confirm our hypotheses and contribute to creativity and innovation literature by demonstrating that female supervisors positively influence employee creativity, challenging traditional gender role stereotypes in leadership. Additionally, it highlights the mediating role of supervisor-employee interaction frequency in enhancing creative outcomes, providing important insights for organizational practices and leadership development.

EN:

This study examines the moderating effect of intellectual capital (IC) on the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting and financial performance of 36 listed firms in Ghana from 2013 to 2022. We employed the system generalized method of moment and the dynamic panel threshold regression. We used data from BankScope, the Refinitiv database, and unconsolidated financial statements. We discovered a significant negative effect of CSR reporting on financial performance. Conversely, the IC components including value-added intellectual coefficient (VAIC), human capital efficiency (HCE), and structural capital efficiency (SCE) have a positive effect on financial performance. However, capital employed efficiency (CEE) negatively impacts financial performance of listed firms in Ghana. Our study further revealed that VAIC, HCE, and SCE exhibit positive and statistically significant moderating effects on the relationship between CSR reporting and financial performance. Our analysis also reported a negative and significant effect of CEE on the relationship between CSR reporting and financial performance. We also found that CSR reporting positively affects financial performance of listed firms in Ghana when IC (VAIC, HCE, and SCE) exceeds a certain threshold. Firms must carefully consider the interplay between CSR reporting, IC, and environmental engagement to optimize their financial performance. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding by demonstrating how IC components, particularly VAIC, HCE, and SCE, positively moderate the relationship between CSR reporting and financial performance, offering fresh perspectives on the role of IC in enhancing the financial outcomes of CSR activities among listed firms in Ghana.

EN:

This study examines the policies supporting entrepreneurship and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guinea, focusing on their adequacy in fostering economic and entrepreneurial activities in a developing country context. Using the Lundström and Stevenson framework, we differentiate entrepreneurship and SME policies based on their objectives, targets, and instruments through documentary analysis. We also assess their alignment with the developmental phase and specific entrepreneurial needs. The study identifies four categories of policy instruments. These are business financing, improving the business climate, support and networking, and entrepreneurship education. However, actions favoring SMEs are more widespread than those supporting entrepreneurship. The findings underscore the importance of a holistic policy approach that balances enhancing entrepreneurial motivations, skills, and opportunities, thus fostering an ecosystem conducive to sustainable entrepreneurial growth and innovation. Additionally, the study highlights the role of entrepreneurship education in developing the necessary skills for new ventures. It suggests integrating such education into university programs to foster an entrepreneurial culture. This action could enhance employability and economic resilience, particularly among youth. By shedding light on these aspects, the research extends the theoretical framework proposed by Lundström and Stevenson to the context of low-income countries. The practical implications suggest that policymakers should consider a balanced approach to supporting nascent and established enterprises, emphasizing the need for policies that foster an inclusive and supportive environment for all stages of business development.

EN:

This study investigates the impact of mandatory teleworking during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on organizational commitment (OC) among employees in Algeria. A sample of 408 respondents were utilized, consisting of employees from public sector companies in Algiers. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, and the methodology employed is quantitative, using statistical analysis to examine the relationship between teleworking conditions and levels of OC. The results highlight significant associations between commitment levels and factors such as teleworking duration, perceived employer support, perceived productivity, and employee status. This research adds to the existing literature by examining the unique challenges faced by employees during mandatory teleworking, particularly in Algeria, where teleworking practices are still emerging. The study provides practical recommendations for organizations to strengthen employee commitment as they navigate the evolving work environment.

EN:

The use of better protective packaging is often viewed as a low-cost alternative for short-run reduction of post-harvest losses in the fruit and vegetable supply chains of sub-Saharan Africa. We present the exploratory results of mapping the fruit and vegetable value chain actors in rural Uganda and analyzing their influence on the adoption of packaging. We propose a decision-aiding model based on multicriteria analysis to obtain a motivation score for assessing the degree of interest of the value chain actors toward packaging. Because it combines quantitative and qualitative information, our approach constitutes a valuable tool in the context of planning for an appropriate implementation of an appropriate packaging technology. The results suggest that distributors are the most favorable for adoption of packaging, followed by collectors, farmers, and customers, in that order. By demonstrating the use of a multicriteria decision approach for identifying the actors most likely to adopt packaging, this work suggests that the proposed approach could be used by potential regulators and manufacturers to focus their efforts on developing a well-targeted packaging deployment strategy.

EN:

The virtues of the humanities, including philosophy, history, and sociology, are more precious than ever. They serve as guiding lights, illuminating the dark regions of science, as the sociologist and philosopher Edgar Morin would assert. Their importance in the digital age cannot be overstated. With this paper, we intend to open a debate on ‘digital humanism’ – the humanistic imprint of the digital world. We want to bring humans back to the centre of attention as idea builders (so to speak, ideators or creators) who promote the well-being of all living things: people, animals and natural objects (seas, lakes, rivers, mountains, etc.). This article outlines a cultural framework that aims to foster the creation of technologies by ideators who prioritise social justice, environmental sustainability and ethical behaviour.