PurposeAdvertising is a crucial avenue for raising awareness and often reflects society; hence, it is a desideratum for marketers to be cautious when advertising to socially conscious consumers, as they are increasingly becoming more socially conscious. Femvertising promotes gender equality and pro-female messages in its communication and has been popularized in Western nations. Therefore, it is crucial to understand consumers’ mindset toward underdeveloped nations. This study examines consumer mindsets by exploring their inherent duality – sensitivity and insensitivity toward women’s causes – and investigates whether this duality influences purchase intention.Design/methodology/approachAt the preliminary level, items from various levels were collected, and latent factors were identified. Then, partial least squares structural equation modeling and co-variance based structural equation modeling were conducted to determine whether duality affects buying intention. To fathom the effect of ad-induced buying, a few demographic variables were also utilized.FindingsConsumers sensitive to feminism and women’s empowerment show significantly higher purchase intentions after exposure to femvertising. However, both sensitivity and insensitivity explain purchase behavior, indicating that even skeptical consumers may buy from femvertising brands, possibly due to brand loyalty. Millennials and Gen Z are more sensitive to women’s issues, and this age group acts as a moderating factor on buying behavior.Research limitations/implicationsAs this study utilized convenience sampling, other studies may employ probabilistic sampling methods to achieve a more comprehensive understanding. In addition, consumers’ reaction to femvertizements can be studied through longitudinal research. The study may also be extended to other geographic locations (such as rural or urban areas) across India to understand its relevance.Practical implicationsMarketers must acknowledge the varied reactions of consumers and respond accordingly after implementing a femvertising campaign, as some consumers are socially conscious and feminist, while others may be unaware of feminism. Marketers and advertisers should also look beyond conventional demographic barriers and consider diverse consumer age groups.Social implicationsIn a patriarchal context such as India, femvertising challenges gender stereotypes and creates a social impact by creating awareness, which is much required in the Indian context, as crimes and injustice toward women are increasing day by day.Originality/valueBy linking consumerism with feminist ideology, this study demonstrates how sensitivity and insensitivity toward women’s issues influence buying decisions and contributes to the fields of advertising and gender studies. Additionally, brand managers can utilize it to curate effective strategies centered on femvertising.
PurposeThis study examines whether the recent expansion of corn-based ethanol production in Brazil has altered the local cross-correlation dynamics between corn and ethanol prices.Design/methodology/approachWeekly prices of hydrated ethanol and spot corn markets covering the 2015/16–2024/25 crop years were analyzed. The sample was divided into pre- and post-expansion periods to evaluate the changes associated with the growth of corn-based ethanol production. The analysis employs Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Cross-Correlation Analysis (MF-X-DFA) to capture persistence and multifractal properties across different fluctuation regimes.FindingsThe results indicate persistent long-term cross-correlations between corn and ethanol prices. However, the effects of the expansion of corn-based ethanol production are heterogeneous and vary by region. More pronounced integration was observed in Mato Grosso, where the cross-correlations became more homogeneous and persistent. At the state level, ethanol markets exhibited stronger multifractal dynamics in the post-expansion period, suggesting an increase in the complexity of domestic ethanol price formation.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis is limited by the availability of ethanol price data in some producing regions and a relatively short post-expansion period.Practical implicationsThese findings suggest that market participants may need to adapt risk management strategies to increasingly complex and region-specific price interactions, while policymakers should account for regional heterogeneity in designing biofuel and agricultural market policies.Originality/valueThis study provides the first multifractal cross-correlation analysis of regional corn and ethanol markets in Brazil, offering new evidence on how the expansion of corn-based ethanol production affects price dynamics in the emerging biofuel economy.
PurposeThis study examines the impact of adherence to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 on the financial performance of publicly traded Brazilian companies from 2014 to 2023.Design/methodology/approachPanel regressions were estimated using firm-year data and two IMS operationalizations: A binary measure of full integration and a continuous measure of partial integration. Financial performance was measured by operational ROA and net ROA. The models include financial, operational, and sector controls, use random effects supported by Hausman tests, and included one-period-lagged specifications.FindingsResults show a positive and statistically significant association between ISO integration and financial performance, with stronger coefficients for partial integration and partial persistence in lagged models.Practical implicationsPublicly traded companies may improve financial performance by consistently integrating ISO certifications, promoting efficiency, coordination, better resource utilization, reduced redundant costs, and lower regulatory and operational risks. The degree of integration matters, as integrated arrangements may generate stronger gains than fragmented adoption.Social implicationsISO integration is associated with organizational legitimacy, a socially and environmentally responsible image, safer and more sustainable work environments, and potential effects on employer branding, talent retention, and employee satisfaction.Originality/valueThis study shows that ISO certification–financial performance relationships vary by the degree of integration and remain consistent across alternative performance measures and lagged specifications.
PurposeThe objective of this study was to assess the challenges of adopting and using telemedicine from the perspective of healthcare management, in which the Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) was used as a reference complemented by the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology was structured into two steps: (1) a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA protocol and Mendeley software, and (2) a qualitative study (in-depth interviews) with healthcare managers responsible for telemedicine at ten large and medium-sized Brazilian hospitals.FindingsThe results showed some critical points, namely: social issues, such as delivering telemedicine to low-income and elderly segments; the challenge of promoting a unified patient data interoperability, but without breaking the many ethical and legal restrictions; and the limits of telemedicine vis-à-vis the work of medical professionals. IDT and TOE proved effective in connecting the individual and organizational aspects of the theory of adoption and use of innovation.Research limitations/implicationsAn important limitation of the study is the small number (i.e. ten) of healthcare managers who participated in the in-depth interviews.Practical implicationsTelemedicine can overcome geographical limitations by connecting state-of-the-art medicine practiced at leading hospitals to remote public healthcare units (UPA/UBS); public systems like the National Health Data Network (RNDS), which centralizes patient information, are providing important contribution to interoperability in healthcare; training can positively change the attitudes of medical professionals towards telemedicine; telemedicine is still perceived as a “cheaper” service than in-person care; and internet access is still a problem.Originality/valueThe study is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the difficulties in adopting telemedicine and what might improve the potential use of the technological infrastructure available in healthcare organizations, thus benefiting populations, especially those not assisted by regular healthcare services.
PurposeThis study aims to examine how the normative principles of critical dialogic accounting, according to Brown (2009), are incorporated into non-financial reports, fostering transparency and dialog with stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachThis study is a qualitative study based on documentary analysis and thematic content analysis of sustainability reports (2020–2024) from a multinational company in the aluminum industry.FindingsThe company employs a hybrid disclosure model, which shows significant progress in transparency and information diversity, but with structural limitations regarding participation, inclusion of critical voices and democratization of reporting, revealing a mostly formal, selective and non-substantive incorporation of the principles of dialogic accounting.Research limitations/implicationsAn exclusive documentary analysis limits the understanding of internal processes and the effective influence of stakeholders.Practical implicationsThe study suggests improving reports through more transparent, participatory and dialog-oriented practices.Social implicationsTransparency plays a key role in strengthening accountability, especially in contexts of socio-environmental conflict.Originality/valueThe study shows that dialogic accounting takes on hybrid forms in corporate contexts, with a selective incorporation of the principles and limitations associated with organizational control.
PurposeAssess how Cultural Intelligence (CI) supports sustainable internationalisation through a review of WoS and Scopus articles across international business, organisational behaviour and sustainability. For this purpose, we define Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) outcomes and theorize CI as a mediator between dynamic managerial capabilities and sustainable internationalisation.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a PRISMA-guided Systematic Literature Review (SLR) restricted to articles indexed in the WoS and Scopus databases, and conducts a guided screening with mapping of co-authorship, co-citation, and keywords; qualitative reading to framework linking CI, dynamic capabilities, and ESG performance.FindingsFrom our analysis, five clusters emerged: innovation/small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), dynamic capabilities, institutional adaptation, leadership/emotion, and cultural intelligence/global competence. CI sits at the hub, mediating dynamic managerial capabilities to sustainable outcomes, strongest in SMEs facing institutional voids, via knowledge transfer, legitimacy, and ESG alignment.Research limitations/implicationsDependence on indexed journals omits grey literature and some emerging-market views. Future empirical, longitudinal, and multilevel studies should test cultural intelligence mediation and explore circular-economy and crisis-resilience contexts.Practical implicationsEmbedding CI in leader selection, talent metrics, alliance governance, and cross-cultural training reduces psychic distance and speeds foreign learning.Originality/valueCombining bibliometric mapping and qualitative synthesis, this study presents CI as a multilevel dynamic capability driving responsible global growth agendas for scholars, managers, and policymakers. We propose a framework linking cultural intelligence to the ESG pillars via knowledge transfer, alliance governance, and ethical decision-making.
PurposeThis study investigates the relationship between the budgetary functions of planning and dialogue in the organizational capacities of resilience and learning in hotel companies' organizational performance (financial and non-financial).Design/methodology/approachThe survey collected data from 127 hotel managers with 100 or more housing units. The data were analyzed using structural equation modelling.FindingsAmong the main results, budgetary functions significantly influence resilience and learning capacities. However, we did not confirm the hypotheses of organizational capabilities regarding the relationship between budget functions and organizational performance.Practical implicationsThe results show new perspectives for budget use, which, in addition to serving as a control instrument, begins to foster a more structured reflection on the strategic development of organizational capabilities, such as resilience and learning, in the hotel sector.Originality/valueWe conclude that the usefulness of budgeting in hotels relates to the control and development of subjective capacities, and is not linked to formally recorded financial returns.
PurposeThis study aims to identify the factors that support the inclusion and retention of transgender individuals in the Brazilian labor market by analyzing companies listed on the IDIVERSA B3 diversity index.Design/methodology/approachWe employed a documentary analysis strategy, examining 2023 sustainability reports, official websites and Instagram profiles of the 75 companies listed on IDIVERSA B3. Data were analyzed through manual review and the ChatPDF software to identify corporate actions supporting access and retention of transgender talent.FindingsThe findings reveal a pattern of organizational selective diversity, in which companies include cisgender lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals while systematically excluding transgender people from diversity initiatives.Practical implicationsThe research provides a reference matrix of trans-inclusive human resource actions and contributes to the sustainable development goals by addressing gender diversity beyond the binary framework. The findings expose gaps between ESG diversity discourse and substantive transgender inclusion practices.Originality/valueWe introduce the concept of “organizational selective diversity” to theorize how organizations selectively include certain marginalized subgroups while excluding others within the same diversity category. This concept advances critical diversity management literature by revealing patterns of exclusion within ostensibly inclusive corporate policies, thereby distinguishing our framework from related concepts such as tokenism and diversity washing.
PurposeTo investigate how companies in various sectors are using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to capture business value and to propose a research agenda on the subject. Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review was conducted with publications from the Scopus and Web of Science platforms, taking into account studies from 2022, a milestone in the introduction of GenAI. After the selection of 19 articles with a journal impact factor greater than 4.0, patterns and insights into the use of GenAI were identified, including challenges and opportunities. FindingsThe reviewed studies highlight the transformative impact of GenAI in sectors such as finance and strategic areas. Challenges include limited transparency, organizational alignment difficulties and risks associated with sensitive data and regulatory compliance. Opportunities include optimization of operations, product customization, acceleration of innovation and sustainability-aligned solutions. Practical implicationsThe results reveal that GenAI is revolutionizing industries such as marketing, human resources, sustainability and innovation. However, organizations need to develop ethical frameworks and strategies to overcome trust, transparency and privacy barriers. Originality/valueThis study consolidates evidence on how GenAI transforms organizational value creation by proposing a research agenda to address gaps in relation to governance, ethics and human capital impact.
Purpose This study examines how governance mechanisms influence the capital structure of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the Local Apparel Productive Arrangement of the Hinterlands of Pernambuco. Design/methodology/approach By analyzing the governance in mitigating informational asymmetry, this study investigates its impact on credit access. A non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was employed to compare report production between companies that obtained bank loans and those that did not. Additionally, a structural equation model is applied to assess the relationship between governance adoption and credit accessibility. Findings The results indicate that firms with bank loans produce more reports, suggesting a positive link between transparency and financial credibility. Moreover, governance adoption reduces informational asymmetry and facilitates credit approval. Originality/value This study contributes to literature by providing empirical evidence on the effects of governance mechanisms on SMEs' capital structure of SMEs. The findings offer practical insights for entrepreneurs, enabling them to evaluate appropriate governance structures to enhance their financing decisions. Furthermore, the results support policymakers in designing strategies for improving SMEs' access to debt financing. By emphasizing the role of governance in SMEs, this study underscores its importance in strengthening management quality and financial decision-making. Increased transparency can enhance the trust between companies and financial institutions, ultimately fostering sustainable business growth.
PurposeThis study analyzes the sales behavior of a Brazilian fashion retailer before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to generate short-term forecasts using machine learning models. The pandemic’s impact on the retail sector created a need for accurate sales forecasting.Design/methodology/approachSales behavior was analyzed using Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) and Neural Network AutoRegressive (NNAR) models. Performance was tested during the Full-Price and Off-Price stages, considering eight clothing collections launched before and during the pandemic. Forecast accuracy was evaluated using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Symmetric Mean Absolute Percentage Error (SMAPE), and Total Absolute Percentage Error (TAPE).FindingsSales before and after COVID-19 showed low volume and variability during the full-price period and high income volatility during the off-price stage. Collection 4, launched in February 2020, displayed stable sales with reduced promotional impact. NNAR slightly outperformed SARIMA, highlighting the importance of nonlinear models in capturing retail sales volatility. Sales showed greater variability before and after restrictions, particularly during discounts, which resulted in higher prediction errors.Originality/valueThis study helps fashion retailers to choose suitable models for forecasting sales during the full- and off-price stages, considering specific environmental conditions. It also provides insights into retail dynamics during disruptions.
PurposeThis study proposes a theoretical model to evaluate the direct and mediating relationships between business intelligence resources and digital capabilities and between strategic capabilities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) innovation across five Latin American countries.Design/methodology/approachPartial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to evaluate a general model with an entire sample of 480 SMEs from five Latin American countries for 2022.FindingsThe main findings show that business intelligence resources and digital capabilities positively affect SMEs’ innovation and mediate the relationship between strategic capabilities and innovation in the entire sample of Latin American SMEs.Research limitations/implicationsBusiness intelligence resources and digital capabilities simultaneously promote innovation among SMEs in Latin American countries. Therefore, the development of public policies and organizational strategies should focus on enhancing the acquisition of business intelligence resources and developing digital capabilities. Institutional and market differences may explain the variations between countries.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the analysis of the relationship between resources and capabilities within the digital economy context of Latin American SMEs and in five specific countries. Specifically, it examines the direct and mediating effects of business intelligence resources and digital capabilities on the link between SMEs’ strategic capabilities and innovation.
PurposeWith the support of signaling theory the paper investigates the impact of quality cues related to environmental and social sustainability concerns on the purchase intention and willingness to pay for low-involvement products (fresh pirarucu) and high-involvement products (leather from this fish).Design/methodology/approachA survey with 483 potential consumers of pirarucu fish in Brazil. Discrete choice analysis to understand preferences and choices from alternatives attributes of pirarucu fish.FindingsSignaling and quality cues related to environmental and social concerns influence consumer decision differently for high- and low-involvement exotic food.Originality/valueThe link between signaling theory and quality cues explains the preference for different involvement exotic products.
Purpose This study seeks to identify whether entrepreneurs' personal conflicts of interest can affect the risk of business mortality in the first five years. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was applied to 408 entrepreneurs, analyzing demographic and behavioral aspects. A principal coordinate analysis was performed, reducing the dimensionality of the 53 questions to two orthogonal axes. To assess whether an entrepreneur's behavior can affect the risk of their company closing, a multivariate analysis of variance was applied using the first two axes of the behavioral gradient. The effect of demographic factors on the probability of company mortality was also assessed using a generalized linear model. Findings Age, education and initial investment affect the risk of mortality, as do entrepreneur behavior related to financial and microeconomic factors. Motivational and planning aspects were not relevant to the risk of closing. Research limitations/implications Given the sample size and the cultural diversity across the regions of Brazil, it is possible that different results may be found in other regions and sectors. Originality/value The results of this research help entrepreneurs look at their own behaviors and understand whether they are compatible with those of entrepreneurs who led their companies to mortality.
Purpose This study aims to assess the role of institutional pressure on innovation practices in the port sector. Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive approach using remote interviews and asynchronous messaging with professionals from the Brazilian port sector. Findings Coercive pressures are highlighted by regulatory agencies that standardize and supervise port activities. Mimetic pressures lead to the adoption of competitive practices such as benchmarking and technical visits. On the other hand, normative pressures are related to ethical codes and social responsibilities, which influence innovation practises. These pressures have both direct and indirect effects on innovation in this sector. Research limitations/implications This study provides evidence of the influence of institutional pressures on innovation-related strategic decisions in the port sector. Practical implications This study reveals the importance of adequate public policies, including inter-port cooperation and organizational culture, to favor innovation. Originality/value This study addresses the gap in professionals’ comprehension of the institutional pressures affecting innovation in the port sector, thus providing a pioneering approach to the factors involved in this process.
Purpose This study investigates the impact of fundamental factors (returns, liquidity, and volatility) and investor sentiment, captured through indirect (ARMS index) and direct (Google Trends search volumes of positive and negative terms) measures across the Expansion and Contraction phases and three time horizons, on the risk of stock market crashes in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach The analysis applies the CMAX (current index level relative to the historical maximum) method for crisis identification and the local bull-bear indicator to classify economic phases over short-, medium-, and long-term horizons. Probit models were then estimated to assess how these factors affect the likelihood of crisis occurrence. Findings The results reveal that declining returns, reduced liquidity, and heightened volatility increase the probability of crisis. Investor sentiment, marked by optimism during expansions and pessimism during contractions, significantly predicts crisis risk, particularly over shorter horizons, although its effect diminishes as market fundamentals regain their influence. Notably, Google Trends exhibited strong predictive power, outperforming the ARMS index. Practical implications These findings provide timely insights for investors, analysts, and policymakers. Real-time sentiment monitoring via Google Trends supports early detection of market instability, aiding portfolio management, stress testing, and policy actions. The study also informs macroprudential regulation by incorporating behavioral indicators into systemic risk frameworks. Originality/value This study is among the first to examine direct and indirect investor sentiment across economic cycles in an emerging market, offering a robust framework to anticipate crises while highlighting the societal benefits of early detection and the importance of financial literacy in curbing emotional market behavior.
