Pan-European University

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a core driver of organizational digital transformation, several studies emphasize the critical role of top managers. While prior research has examined the skills at the top levels in digital contexts, few studies differentiate the implications of diverse AI technologies for the strategic leadership skills of top managers. Drawing on upper echelons theory (UET), we conducted 23 interviews with senior executives across diverse industries. Our findings identify four interdependent leadership skills: 1) AI open mindset; 2) AI strategic co-thinker; 3) Multi-level connector; 4) Ethics risk management. We propose a multi-level framework that captures the interactive nature of these skills, operating across personal, organizational, and relational dimensions and shaped by top-down and bottom-up dynamics. The study, grounded in UET, contributes to the emerging debate on how AI reshapes top managers’ strategic leadership skills and introduces the enabling role of middle managers in AI transformation.

Research background: Digital transformation in the banking sector has become increasingly salient, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the adoption of digital technologies and reshaped organisational processes. Banks were required to rapidly expand remote work arrangements, strengthen digital service channels, and respond to changing customer expectations, making digitalization critical for maintaining efficiency and competitiveness. At the same time, research emphasises that digital transformation entails not only technological change but also organisational and managerial challenges, including employee adaptation and leadership support. Purpose of the article: This study aims to provide new insights into digital transformation in the banking sector during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of employees and management. Specifically, it examines internal organisational factors—employee adaptation, managerial support, and the implementation of digital processes—that shaped the trajectory and effectiveness of the transformation. Methods: The study uses a mixed-methods design that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative component consists of a questionnaire survey administered to banking sector employees; the data are analysed using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney U test to assess gender differences. The qualitative component comprises semi-structured interviews with bank managers to provide deeper insight into how digital transformation processes were implemented. Findings & Value added: The findings indicate that digital transformation in the banking sector during the COVID-19 pandemic was perceived predominantly positively, particularly with respect to efficiency and work processes. Gender differences were generally minimal; a statistically significant difference was identified only for satisfaction with digitalization and perceived managerial support. Nonetheless, challenges related to cybersecurity and employee adaptation persist. The paper’s contribution lies in its focus on internal organisational dynamics and its integration of employee and management perspectives. The results offer implications for economic policy aimed at supporting digitalization and workforce adaptation and align with the journal’s focus on digital transformation and its societal impacts.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common orofacial pain conditions with multifactorial etiologies. Somatization refers to the manifestation of psychological distress as physical symptoms in the absence of clear medical causes. A growing body of clinical research has recently shown a strong association between TMD and somatization. A substantial proportion of TMD patients exhibit moderate to high levels of somatic symptoms, leading to greater pain intensity, longer disease duration, and heightened psychological distress. The TMD-somatization relationship has been underpinned by complex pathophysiological interactions and the underlying mechanisms involved, including central sensitization (CS), potential biomarkers, nociplastic pain, neurobiological changes, and so on. Clinically, recognizing somatization in TMD patients is essential, as it can adversely affect treatment outcomes and necessitate a biopsychosocial management approach. In this narrative review, we summarize the clinical evidence of the TMD-somatization association, discuss the underlying mechanisms, explore management implications, and identify directions for future research.

Modern healthcare is built on the principle of informed consent which is the basis of patient autonomy and self-determination. However, this model has its very clear limits when applied to high-risk and vulnerable patients whose decision-making capacity is impaired. This study examines what lies behind consent in healthcare and asks how legal systems can protect high-risk patients without undermining their dignity, agency and human rights. The analysis adopts a comparative legal approach. It relies on international instruments and national examples from diverse legal traditions. The article argues that vulnerability should not serve as a justification for paternalism or uncontrolled coercion. Going beyond consent does not mean abandoning autonomy, it means reconceptualizing it in a way that ensures self-determination and protection for those most vulnerable in health care systems.

Purpose The conventional perception of entrepreneurial venturing is often associated with the energy and dynamism of young people. Nevertheless, the phenomenon of senior entrepreneurship is gaining academic attention as seniors embark on entrepreneurial endeavors, defying stereotypes by demonstrating their capacity to address challenges associated with age. This paper aims to identify, assess and synthesize research findings to elucidate the determinants of opportunity recognition in senior entrepreneurship and delineate their interrelationships. Design/methodology/approach Senior entrepreneurship dynamics are examined through a systematic literature review (SLR) that leverages bibliometric methods, analyzing 108 articles from a pool of 4,135 initially identified in Scopus and Web of Science. This SLR uncovers the distinct factors that influence opportunity recognition among senior entrepreneurs within the context of the expanding silver economy. Findings Academic literature suggests that older entrepreneurs, aged 50 and above, utilize resources differently than their younger counterparts. This study presents a novel conceptual framework for analyzing senior entrepreneurship and opportunity recognition, examining the internal and external determinants that influence silver entrepreneurs’ participation in new venture creation. Moreover, it reveals a shift in research patterns in the senior entrepreneurship literature, offering a deeper understanding of the conceptual framework of the field. Originality/value This study advances senior entrepreneurship literature by innovatively modeling age-related factors affecting opportunity recognition into five key dimensions. It integrates the theory of planned behavior and network theory to offer a comprehensive understanding of senior entrepreneurship and its contributions to economic and social well-being. It challenges ageist assumptions and encourages further exploration of entrepreneurial dynamics.