Ecoforum Journal (University of Suceava, Romania)
Not a member yet
2360 research outputs found
Sort by
A Qualitative Review and Analysis of the Causes of Small-Scale Business Failures in Nigeria
No full textSmall businesses play a crucial role in stimulating economic prosperity and nurturing socio-economic advancement in Nigeria. However, despite their potential contributions, many small-scale businesses face significant challenges that hinders their success and sustainability. These challenges lead to their early failure. This research utilizes a qualitative methodology to investigate the factors contributing to the failure of small-scale businesses in Nigeria. It specifically examines the viewpoints of SME entrepreneurs, government officials, and data analysts. Thematic analysis of interview data reveals that SME entrepreneurs identify government policies as major barriers to success, while government officials emphasize the importance of effective entrepreneurial strategies. Data analysts highlight the complex interaction between socio-economic factors and government policies in shaping business outcomes. The study recommends policy reforms towards reducing regulatory burdens, improving access to finance, enhancing entrepreneurship education and training programs, and providing support services relating to mentorship, networking opportunities, and technical assistance
EXPLORING RELIGIOUS CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR THROUGH CONFESSION, COGNITION, AND RITUAL PARTICIPATION: EVIDENCE FROM ROMANIAN HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS
No full textThis study examines how denominational affiliation, cognitive orientation, gender, and religious consumption behavior interact to shape adolescents’ religious engagement in a predominantly Orthodox Romanian town. Based on a paper-based survey administered to 383 high school students (grades 9–12) across five urban schools in Turda, the research employs a quantitative design with single-item ordinal measures of prayer frequency, church attendance, faith-versus-reason orientation, perceived cost–benefit balance, denomination, gender, and self-reported purchases or participation in religious products and events. Statistical analyses (Mann–Whitney U, χ²) conducted in SPSS 26 reveal notable denominational differences: Pentecostal students are thirty times more likely than Orthodox peers to attend church weekly, twice as likely to pray daily, and significantly more engaged in religious consumption—such as buying devotional items or attending faith-based gatherings. Cognitive orientation adds further variation, as those prioritizing faith over reason are nearly three times more inclined to pray daily and more likely to consume religious goods or media. Gender effects are modest, with girls reporting higher prayer and slightly greater participation in faith-related consumption. Perceptions of religion’s costs and rewards remain stable, with two-thirds viewing religion as beneficial or balanced. These findings suggest that pastoral, educational, and marketing strategies should integrate spiritual practice with patterns of religious consumption, framing it as a meaningful expression of belief and identity. Religion thus emerges as both a personal resource and a structured form of value-driven consumption among adolescents in majority-Orthodox societies
STRATEGIC SYNERGIES ON PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING
No full textThis study explores the strategic synergies between performance management and sustainability reporting (ESG), analyzing how they influence the overall financial, operational, and ESG performance of organizations.
The paper highlights an evolution in performance management, which is no longer limited to financial control but increasingly integrates sustainability, strategic foresight, and stakeholder engagement.Entities that adopt a balanced and integrated approach—measuring what matters economically, ethically, and environmentally—are better equipped to thrive in the long term, transforming performance from a business necessity into a strategic advantage and a social responsibility. Research shows that the field of performance management is integrating technological advances, with a red cluster of key terms such as informatics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) standing out.This study explores the strategic synergies between performance management and sustainability reporting (ESG), analyzing how they influence the overall financial, operational, and ESG performance of organizations.
The paper highlights an evolution in performance management, which is no longer limited to financial control but increasingly integrates sustainability, strategic foresight, and stakeholder engagement.Entities that adopt a balanced and integrated approach—measuring what matters economically, ethically, and environmentally—are better equipped to thrive in the long term, transforming performance from a business necessity into a strategic advantage and a social responsibility. Research shows that the field of performance management is integrating technological advances, with a red cluster of key terms such as informatics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) standing out
The effects of resource constraints on the performance of Anotipa Enterprises in Zimbabwe
No full textThe study examined the effects of resource constraints on the performance of Anotipa Enterprises, a distribution company in Zimbabwe. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research investigated how financial, human, and technological resource limitations affect the company\u27s operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance. The study used the Theory of Constraints by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt as a framework for directing the research, influencing methodology, and facilitating the development of new ideas. The data was collected from Anotipa Enterprises using questionnaires and interviews. The employees who participated were given informed consent to sign before they could provide the data. Thirty willing employees from three company departments were selected using the Voluntary, Stratified, and Random sampling designs to participate in the study. The data gathered were analysed using SPSS and MS Excel. The findings reveal that resource constraints significantly hinder Anotipa Enterprises\u27 ability to meet customer demands, maintain efficient operations, and achieve business objectives. The study identified specific challenges, including inadequate funding, insufficient staff training, and outdated machines and technology, and proposed strategic recommendations to mitigate these constraints and enhance the distribution company\u27s performance. The study contributes to understanding resource management in distribution companies and offers insights for policymakers, managers, and stakeholders seeking to improve business outcomes in resource-scarce environments
The Impact of Managerial Creativity on Job Performance in Yemeni Banks: A Field Study: أثر الإبداع الإداري على الأداء الوظيفي في البنوك اليمنية: دراسة ميدانية
No full textThis study explores the vital role of managerial creativity in enhancing job performance in Yemeni banks, given the challenges facing the sector in a volatile environment. It aims primarily to assess the extent to which innovative management practices contribute to improving employee efficiency and increasing their sense of belonging to their organizations. The methodology relied on a field study that included a sample of employees, during which data were collected and statistically analyzed. The results showed that managerial creativity contributes significantly to explaining 51.8% of the variance in job performance, with a strong positive correlation that is highly statistically significant. “Originality” topped the list of the most influential dimensions, followed by ‘fluency’ and then “flexibility.” These results confirm that adopting innovative management methodologies is not a luxury but a decisive factor in driving productivity and enhancing organizational loyalty. Based on this, the study offers a set of practical recommendations for decision-makers in banks, most notably: developing specialized training programs that focus on developing creative thinking among management leaders, giving employees greater authority, and launching incentive systems that support creative initiatives. The study also points to some methodological limitations, concluding with a call to broaden the scope of future research to explore the role of new variables such as digital transformation and its impact on the banking landscape
Dynamic modeling of household energy vulnerability: empirical evidence from Moldova’s compensation system
No full textAbstract
This study examines the dynamics of household energy vulnerability in the Republic of Moldova, a country characterized by near-total dependence on imported energy and high exposure to external price shocks. Building on the national framework for vulnerability classification (Law No. 241/2022 and Government Decision No. 816/2024), the analysis integrates administrative, household, and elasticity data to assess the effectiveness of monetary compensations introduced during the 2022-2025 heating seasons. Using a panel data-based simulation anchored in empirical energy-burden ratios (R), the model reconstructs household-level heterogeneity and evaluates how compensation policies affect energy poverty rates over time. Results confirm that while energy vulnerability remains widespread, particularly among high and very high categories, targeted compensations significantly alleviate gas-related burdens, whereas electricity poverty persists more rigidly
E-car sharing as a sustainable approach to reducing residential parking demand: a qualitative analysis based on a mobility company in Germany
No full textThis study examines the extent to which e-car sharing can contribute to reducing the demand for parking spaces in residential areas and what conditions enable successful integration. Using the example of a mobility company, it analyzes regulatory and user-related factors as well as economic and ecological effects from the perspective of municipal and housing industry stakeholders. Methodologically, the study is based on a qualitative analysis consisting of five semi-structured expert interviews and a structured content analysis following Mayring’s approach.
The results reveal substantial potential to reduce private car ownership and, consequently, the need for parking spaces, which can make neighborhoods more sustainable, livable, and cost-efficient. At the same time, key challenges become apparent. The expected effects only materialize with sufficient user acceptance and utilization and strongly depend on the willingness of municipalities to reduce parking spaces through mobility concepts. Success factors include supportive municipal regulations, the early integration of the car-sharing concept into neighborhood planning, and close cooperation between municipalities, mobility providers, and the housing sector. Overall, the study highlights the relevance of e-car sharing for sustainable neighborhoods and identifies a need for further research on quantitative usage data and residents’ perspectives
Motivational management and the teaching vocation: a theoretical approach
No full textThis paper examines how educational management can support and sustain the teaching vocation in contemporary schools. Building on established motivational theories, including those of Maslow, Herzberg, and Deci and Ryan, together with recent Romanian research, the study argues that vocation should be understood not only as a personal trait, but also as a valuable organizational resource. When teachers experience trust, recognition, and appropriate working conditions, their intrinsic motivation becomes more stable and more visible in daily practice. The paper proposes a simple theoretical model that links two central dimensions: the teacher’s internal motivation—expressed through autonomy, competence, and perceived meaning—and the external environment shaped by school leadership. Supportive, fair, and inspirational management strengthens these internal drivers, encouraging teachers to remain engaged, resilient, and professionally fulfilled. In contrast, a lack of managerial support can gradually weaken the sense of vocation, leading to lower motivation, reduced involvement, and declining educational quality. The paper concludes that leadership focused on collaboration, respect, and continuous development creates a climate in which teachers can grow and maintain their commitment to the profession. Future research should investigate how different managerial practices influence teacher motivation, vocational identity, and overall school performanc
The moderating-mediating role of corporate image on the nexus between brand authenticity and purchase intention in the Zimbabwean commercial banking sector
No full textIn an era marked by consumer skepticism and dwindling trust within the Zimbabwean banking sector, this study examines the dynamics between brand authenticity, corporate image, and purchase intention. The aim is to investigate how corporate image moderates the relationship between brand authenticity and purchase intentions among bank customers. Grounded in a positivist research paradigm with a deductive approach, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire distributed to 427 bank customers selected via multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were analysed employing Structural Equation Modelling to unravel the underlying relationships among the constructs. The study finds that enhanced brand authenticity significantly boosts corporate image, which, in turn, positively influences purchase intention. Corporate image emerges as a vital moderator within this nexus. It is recommended that banks should entrench authenticity into their branding strategies and actively manage their corporate image, offering actionable pathways to restore consumer trust and gain competitive advantage amid economic turbulence
Public procurements of non-polluting vehicules in Romania: from legislation to practice
No full textThe paper analyses how public institutions in Romania comply with the requirements imposed by legislation in public procurements of vehicles. The research question aims to determine the extent to which contracting authorities comply with these criteria within public procurement procedures. To answer this question, a document analysis of several procurement procedures carried out between 2022-2024 was conducted, using the information available in the Electronic Public Procurement System (SEAP). Both the technical aspects outlined in the specifications and the contract values, the types of vehicles targeted, and the evolution of ecological requirements over time were analyzed. The results show that most of the analyzed procedures comply with the provisions of legislation, but there are also cases of partial compliance, where CO2 emissions are not clearly specified or are vaguely expressed. Over the course of the three years, a positive trend of clarification and improvement of environmental requirements is observed, as well as a significant increase in interest in hybrid and electric vehicles, especially in 2024. The paper highlights the importance of rigorous monitoring of ecological compliance, as well as the need to develop public policies tailored to the value of contracts and the capacity of institutions