It is evident worldwide that women’s participation in entrepreneurship is lower than that of men. The study aims to identify the factors influencing the entrepreneurial intention of management undergraduate students and to compare whether there are differences in these factors and entrepreneurial intention of male and female undergraduates. The study involved male and female management undergraduates from Sri Lanka and examined entrepreneurial intentions and gender differences. Data from 509 respondents were collected via an online survey and analyzed using PLS-SEM and multi-group analysis s (MGA). Additionally, a two-hour focus group discussion with 12 participants was conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis to gain deeper insights into the phenomenon. All hypotheses were supported for both genders. The R-square value of 63.1% indicates that over 50% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention (EI) can be explained by the independent variables. Qualitative findings reveal that independence, family support, continuation of a family business, societal contribution, power, and personal branding positively influence EI in both men and women. Additionally, women’s entrepreneurial intentions are particularly motivated by success stories of other female entrepreneurs and support from female peers, highlighting the importance of role models and peer support in fostering women’s entrepreneurship. The study found that individuals’ perceptions of how others view them as entrepreneurs (subjective norms - SN) positively influence their attitudes toward entrepreneurship (AT), with differences observed between genders. Social group pressure on women can significantly influence their entrepreneurial intentions and attitudes toward entrepreneurship.
The growing prevalence of counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms poses increasing risks to onlineconsumers. This study examines how three types of risk (financial, functional, retailer-related) and consumertrust affect concern over the deal (COD) during the lead time and post-purchase phases, as well as how CODinfluences repurchase intentions. Data were collected through a web survey of 641 respondents across fiveEnglish-speaking countries (Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand). Twoconsumer groups were identified: those who unknowingly received counterfeit items and those who exclusivelypurchased genuine products.Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the results indicate that retailer-relatedand financial risks significantly increase COD at both transaction phases, while consumer trust significantlymitigates it. Functional risk had a weaker effect. Among consumers who unknowingly received counterfeits,financial risk was especially salient, underscoring the importance of addressing this issue. Across allrespondents, post-purchase COD had a significant negative effect on repurchase intentions, highlighting theenduring influence of doubts about product authenticity and retailer integrity.From a managerial perspective, online retailers should prioritize transparent communication, rigorous productverification, and responsive customer service to reduce perceived risks and strengthen consumer confidence.Proactive measures – such as enhanced quality checks, tighter third-party seller regulations, and clearer returnpolicies – can further help preserve trust. By elucidating how risk and trust affect COD across transaction stages,this study provides actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers aiming to safeguard consumers andensure fair competition in e-commerce.
Even though Industry 4.0 offers widespread automation across various technologies, the question remainswhether the industrial evolution is over. In recent years, the term Industry 5.0 has been used to representhuman-centric and sustainable industrial practices, which align with achieving the environmental, social, andgovernance (ESG) principles outlined by the United Nations (UN). These principles serve as a framework throughwhich companies can contribute to fulfilling the UN’s global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given thegrowing significance of Industry 5.0 in the context of sustainability, this study seeks to explore two key researchquestions: (1) „What is the current state of research on Industry 5.0 in relation to ESG and SDGs?“ and (2)„What thematic areas are most commonly explored in research linking Industry 5.0, ESG and SDGs?“. To answerthese questions, a systematic literature review was conducted, analysing a final selection of 22 papers. Threemain clusters were identified, categorizing the studies as follows: (1) Management and Sustainability, whichexamines sustainability management practices and the role of ESG factors in business; (2) Technology and theHuman Factor, highlighting the intersection of technological and social innovations; and (3) Digital Innovationand Future Technologies, encompassing emerging technological trends such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence(AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and the metaverse. This study highlights the importance of strategic planning,circular economy integration, and digital transformation in fostering sustainability. While the research onIndustry 5.0 is still evolving, this study provides insights into the intersection of automation, human-centricityand environmental responsibility.
Consumer online misbehaviour, such as policy abuse, is a serious and growing global problem that poses a challenge to both businesses and consumers. This study examines the role that consumer attitudes toward business marketing practices play in consumer online misbehaviour and the impact of such misbehaviour on consumer coping mechanisms. Business marketing practices include consumer attitudes toward business philosophy, product quality, and advertising. Consumer online misbehaviour was assessed by product return and promotion policies abuse, while consumer coping mechanisms included both problem-focused (instrumental and emotional support seeking) and emotion-focused (avoidance and denial) coping mechanisms.The data collection included data from 204 Croatian consumers who had violated retailers’ online policies at least once in the past year. The data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis. The results show that business philosophy and advertising stimulate consumer online misbehaviour, and that the abuse of product return and promotion policies influences various coping mechanisms. The misuse of product return policy is positively related to emotion-focused coping strategies such as denial, whereas the misuse of promotion policy influences both problem-focused (instrumental support) and emotion-focused (avoidance and denial) coping strategies.This study sheds new light on negative consumer behaviour. It enriches the sparse literature on the drivers and consequences of consumer online misbehaviour and contributes to consumer coping theory by offering new insights and a new research context.
In Slovenia’s boardrooms, governance is less a fixed blueprint than a living performance. Drawing on a decade of data from 24 public companies, we identify two distinct yet coexisting governance logics: identity-based, oriented toward symbolic compliance, and activity-based, linked to operational performance. Using factor analysis and hypothesis testing, we find that even moderate levels of state ownership are associated with stronger symbolic governance practices, while national elections prompt visible legitimacy signalling without substantive structural reform. Performance-oriented governance remains comparatively muted, suggesting that legitimacy concerns often outweigh efficiency in shaping board structures and practices. The Slovenian case illustrates how governance reforms—anchored in EU norms, sustainability frameworks, and market liberalisation—layer over, rather than replace, older institutional logics. The result is a hybrid governance form that is adaptive, performative, and politically attuned. These dynamics highlight how, in politicised markets, firms actively manage perceptions to maintain stability, often privileging visible conformity over operational change—an approach that deserves closer scrutiny from policymakers, investors, and scholars.
