This research examines whether government support (GS) affects how disruption recoverability (DR) and absorption (DA) relate to the financial performance (FP) and non-financial performance (NFP) of SMEs. The theories of dynamic capability and resource-based view were adopted to understand how firms maintain their performance in the face of operational disturbances. Data was gathered via a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 170 SMEs in Kano, Nigeria, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the model was tested using partial least square package. The result confirms that both DA and DR significantly influenced FP and NFP among SMEs. However, GS does not have a significant effect on any of the dimensions of performance and its moderating role on DA and DR relationships with performance dimensions are also not significant. The findings highlight the importance of understanding and nurturing both internal resources/capabilities against external resources/capabilities for SMEs to effectively navigate disruptions and boost overall performance. Implications are drawn for theory and practice.
This study examines the effectiveness of public research and development (R&D) investments in facilitating energy efficiency and the production of renewable and nuclear energies. Using panel data sets spanning from 02000 to 2022 for the top 10 energy technology R&D investing economies and employing the novel Bayesian quantile regression methodology, several new insights emerged. The estimated results of both the Bayesian quantile regression with and without Lasso variable selection confirmed the heterogeneous contributions of energy innovation investments to selected green transition metrics. Comparatively, these investments have had a greater impact on nuclear energy production and energy efficiency, while their impact on renewable energy production has been relatively modest. Notably, diminishing marginal returns were observed across all three green transition metrics, underscoring the need for policy consistency and impact monitoring. Furthermore, adequate funding that balances support for energy efficiency and renewable and nuclear energy is essential to achieving the 2050 net-zero emission targets.
PurposeGiven the critical role of public healthcare performance in safeguarding human lives, effective inventory management is essential for ensuring cost efficiency, product availability, and service quality rather than profit generation. Drawing on Control Theory and the Resource-Based View, this study examines how inventory management determinants influence organizational performance in public-sector healthcare facilities in a developing economy, thereby contributing to theory by clarifying the role of inventory management as a capability and control mechanism linking organizational practices to performance outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was employed to test the hypotheses using survey data collected from 200 inventory managers working in public healthcare facilities in Pakistan during 2022, with Structural Equation Modeling conducted using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS).FindingsThe results suggest that six direct and four mediation hypotheses are supported. Furthermore, the findings revealed that each disruptive factor has a significant positive effect on inventory management and organizational performance, with inventory management fully mediating these relationships. The study illustrated that implementing standard operating procedures, integrated management systems, employing competent employees, maintaining stock availability, and ensuring inventory accuracy can minimize costs and reduce the average patient bed occupancy rate.Research limitations/implicationsThis study advances theory by integrating study variables with inventory management (IM) and organizational performance (OP), highlighting IM's mediating role through SEM and extending Control Theory and the Resource-Based View. Organizationally, the model explains 63% of OP, emphasizing the importance of standardized procedures, Information and Communication Technology integration, and staff proficiency in improving inventory efficiency and service quality. The study also offers a benchmarking framework applicable across healthcare, service, and manufacturing sectors to guide performance improvement.Originality/valueThis study integrates Control Theory and the Resource-Based View within an explicit, evidence-based benchmarking design to examine inventory management and organizational performance in public healthcare. Using multidimensional comparative analysis, the study identifies performance gaps and best-practice configurations across facilities that differ in digital integration, staff proficiency, inventory management effectiveness, and facility type. By moving beyond single-sample analysis, the study provides transferable benchmarking insights and actionable guidance for enhancing performance in resource-constrained public-sector healthcare systems.
PurposeThis study aims to identify factors that influence customers' intention to accept drone-based dine-in services, benchmarking them against traditional waiter-based serving methods. The research framework of this study has integrated the theory of planned behaviour and the consumer motivational framework to investigate customers' attitude towards the acceptance of drone-based dine-in service. Additionally, the study benchmarks customer behaviour against traditional waiter-based service while testing the moderating effect of perceived innovativeness on the relationship between customer attitude and behavioural intention to adopt drone-enabled food serving.Design/methodology/approachThe research design of this study is grounded in a quantitative research approach. This study is cross sectional and collects data through structured questionnaires. The research model was empirically tested with 217 responses retrieved from restaurant customers. Common method bias issue was tested prior to inferential analysis. Data were tested with structural equation modelling approach.FindingsInferential analysis has revealed that collectively functional motivation, hedonic motivation, cognitive motivation, social motivation, behavioural control and subjective norm explained substantial variance in measuring customers attitude to accept drone-based dine-in services. Therefore, innovativeness and attitude have explained considerable variance in determining customer intention to accept drone-based dine-in services. Moreover, results have unveiled that among all exogenous factors functional motivation has unveiled a large impact on customers' attitude to accept drone-enabled food serving.Practical implicationsThis study has integrated consumer motivational framework with theory of planned behaviour and hence substantially contributes to literature. Similarly, this study has conceptualized that hedonic, social, cognitive and functional motivations are key factors which positively impact customers' attitude and intention to accept drone-based dine-in services thereby enriching behavioural literature in the drone technology context and providing an important benchmark for future research on technology enabled service innovations. Practically, this study has unveiled that functional motivation, cognitive motivation, perceived innovativeness, and subjective norms operate as strategic benchmarks for strengthening customer acceptance of drone-based dine-in services. These benchmarks guide policymakers in fostering customer acceptance of drone-based dine-in services, promoting a shift from traditional waiter service to innovative and hygienic methods.Originality/valueThis study is original as it has recognized factors which influence customer's intention to accept drone-enabled food serving restaurants. This study is unique because it benchmarks the drone-enabled serving method against traditional serving practices, emphasising its innovative and hygienic advantages.
Traditionally in Malaysia, the leaves of Abrus precatorius, a flowering plant that belongs to the legume family, Fabaceae, are used to treat various ailments such as coughs, diarrhoea, wound healing and even as anticancer and antivirus remedy. The study aimed to identify the phytocompounds present in A. precatorius leaves using (1) different solvents and (2) two different extraction methods for each solvent. Additionally, we have also intended to investigate the anti-proliferative activity of those maceration-based extracts on selected cancer and normal cell lines. In this study, two extraction methods were used (maceration and Soxhlet extraction), using sequential solvents according to their polarity, starting with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The phytocompounds were identified via the GC-MS technique. The findings reported that the ethyl acetate extract (obtained via Soxhlet extraction) contained the highest amount of terpenoids, while the methanol extract (obtained via maceration) contained the highest combination of terpenoids and phenolic compounds. The triple negative breast cancer cell line, MDAMB-231 showed high sensitivity towards all A. precatorius leaf extracts (maceration-based). The hexane extract of A. precatorius leaves (maceration-based) showed the lowest IC50 on MDA-MB-231 cells at 80.75 ± 64.0 μg/mL. In conclusion, potential anticancer phytocompounds were identified in the A. precatorius leaves extracts such as 1-octacosanol, neophytadiene and 4-vinylphenol. All maceration-based extracts exhibited non-cytotoxicity effect on both normal breast cell MCF-10a and fibroblast cell NIH (3T3). The MDA-MB-231 cell line was the most sensitive towards all maceration-based extracts, particularly hexane-maceration based.
