Ecoforum Journal (University of Suceava, Romania)
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Who are the middle managers: A semi-structured literature review
No full textThis paper represents a semi-systematic literature review on middle managers. With more than 2 600 articles published since 1956, on a topic that was conceptualized from many angles and disciplines, this approach was the most suitable research considering the volume of papers having middle managers at the core of their research. The research question is broad: How has research on middle managers developed over time? As a result, we can observe that the interest in middle managers is growing, with the number of articles published in 2023 reaching the highest level ever: 330 papers. This is 4.4 times higher than all-time research done on this stream. The dominant theme is on the role of middle managers: what that role is, what the role should be, what is influencing it, and how it transforms under the impact of the constant systemic changes starting in the ‘80s. The seminal work is built around the strategic contribution of middle managers. Other themes such as processes, identity, and innovation are also present and give rich perspectives on this fragile, undervalued, and miscast resource. As per the current state of research, while the interest is obvious, the existing knowledge lacks coherence and cumulative impact. Future research has many opportunities to add knowledge because middle managers represent the structures in hierarchical organizations and their role continues to evolve along with the organizations
Optimizing Beach Tourism through Smart Solutions: A Comprehensive Review of Smart Technologies and Sustainable Strategies
No full textThe growth of beach tourism has introduced both opportunities and challenges for destination management, necessitating innovative approaches to sustain and enhance beach environments. This paper reviews the literature on smart beach management and sustainable practices, focusing on how real-time data and smart technologies can address common issues such as overcrowding, environmental degradation, and resource inefficiency. By examining the 6 A’s Framework—Attractions, Accessibilities, Amenities, Activities, Available Packages, and Ancillary Services—this study highlights the importance of a holistic approach to managing beach tourism. The review underscores the potential of smart technologies to improve visitor experiences, enhance safety, and optimize resource use. However, it also identifies significant research gaps, including the limited empirical evidence on the effectiveness of smart beach strategies and the need for integrated management models. Future research should aim to develop comprehensive smart beach management frameworks and empirically assess the impact of these technologies on tourist satisfaction and environmental outcomes. The findings emphasize the importance of adopting sustainable and smart practices to ensure the long-term viability of beach tourism and enhance the quality of tourist experiences.
EVALUATING THE ROLE OF SDG 9 IN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
No full textThe urgency of sustainable development resonates globally, promoting a balanced interaction between human advancement and environmental stewardship through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Of these goals, SDG 9 which emphasizes "Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure" is vital for catalyzing economic growth and enhancing social and environmental sustainability. This research centers on SDG 9 within the European Union, aiming to elucidate its impact on sustainable development through rigorous analysis of industry, innovation, and infrastructure developments. This study employs comprehensive quantitative methodologies to assess the implications of SDG 9. Utilizing data from reputable international organizations, we conducted detailed statistical analyses using IBM SPSS Statistics to explore correlations and regressions among key performance indicators of SDG 9. The findings reveal a positive correlation between innovative activities, particularly in R&D, and economic outputs in sectors aligned with environmental goods and services. Regression analyses demonstrated a significant positive trend in the global SDG Index Score, particularly within SDG 9, indicating substantial progress from 2000 to 2022. This growth highlights the effectiveness of targeted measures in industry and infrastructure that have outpaced broader SDG achievements, suggesting that focused innovations and infrastructural investments can accelerate sustainable development. The EU\u27s experience suggests that leveraging technology and innovation within these areas substantively contributes to broader sustainable development objectives, offering valuable insights for global policy strategies. This study underscores the necessity of integrating SDG 9 within a multifaceted approach to achieving comprehensive sustainability, enhancing policy implications that may guide future international efforts in sustainable development
THE IMPACT OF BEHAVIORAL BIASES ON INVESTMENT BIAS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON MSMES IN INDONESIA
No full textThis study aims to investigate the impact of behavioral biases, such as negative framing, illusion of control, overconfidence, and self-control, on investment bias. The data was collected through a field survey, with 200 respondents representing Troso ikat weaving micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Jepara, Indonesia. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) in SmartPLS. The results show that the illusion of control and overconfidence both have a positive impact on the investment bias; overconfidence mediates the impact of illusion of control on the investment bias; negative framing does not have a negative impact on the investment bias; and the self-control fails to moderate the significant impact of overconfidence on the investment bias
NEXUS BETWEEN PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTING AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING IN ZIMBABWE: PRIVATE SECTOR ACCOUNTABILITY EXPECTATIONS
No full textZimbabwe is currently re-invigorating its public infrastructure, by rehabilitating major trunk roads, expanding international airports, expanding the electrical power generation facilities during the last decade. However, the major handicap has been limited financial resources, which resulted in delays in completion of infrastructure development projects. Therefore, there remains a significant gap in the financing required to upgrade the national infrastructure stock. Zimbabwe’s public infrastructure financing requires annual investments of about US$2 billion until the year 2032, of which the public sector consistently contributes about 20 percent annually. The study assessed the status and role of public sector accounting in attracting private sector investments into public infrastructure financing to augment public resources. The descriptive study was an inductive qualitative research that collected data through interviews and documentary analysis. Interview data saturation was achieved after conducting 15 interviews. Documents analysed included financial reports, public investment management guidelines and the Public Finance Management Act (Chapter 22:19). Findings revealed that public sector accounting reforms instituted by the Government of Zimbabwe including gazetting of Statutory Instrument 41 of 2019 which marked commencement of compulsory adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) for all public sector entities in Zimbabwe. The expectation is to strengthen public sector accounting, disclosures, and accountability. This is expected to improve private sector confidence and investments into public private partnerships for public infrastructure development after closing the accountability expectation gap. The authors recommend skills development for efficient and smooth IPSAS adoption
DO PUBLIC ENTITIES NEED SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS? EVIDENCE IN UGANDA CASE: UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
No full textThis study investigates the link between supplier relationship management and contract performance in the public sector, focusing on the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). While supplier relationships are well-studied in general, their importance and dynamics within the public sector remain underexplored. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the research employed both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including surveys and semi-structured interviews with 104 respondents from UNBS. Findings reveal a significant positiverelationship between effective supplier relationship management and contract performance. Key elements suchas prompt payments, clear communication, well-defined roles and responsibilities, and trust-building emerged ascritical factors enhancing this relationship.The correlation analysis indicated a statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.525, p < 0.01) betweensupplier relationship management and contract performance, suggesting that improved communication, clearrole delineation, and trust can substantially boost organizational performance. However, challenges such ascommunication gaps and regulatory constraints were noted, which may hinder the full realization of thesebenefits. The study underscores the importance of fostering strong supplier relationships to enhance servicedelivery and organizational performance in the public sector.Recommendations include enhancing communication channels, trust and transparency, clearly defining roles andresponsibilities, building and maintaining trust through prompt payments and feedback mechanisms,performance measurement and evaluation, capacity building, and supplier relationship managementframework. By adopting these strategies, public entities like UNBS can significantly improve their contractperformance and service quality, thereby contributing to the effective regulation and development of qualitystandards in Uganda
ASSESSING THE ROLE OF BIOECONOMY IN ADVANCING EU’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS – A LITERATURE REVIEW
No full textAs the European Union (EU) countries strive to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a stronger focus needs to be placed on the effectiveness of current bioeconomy strategies and their corresponding initiatives. Drawing upon a systematic review of existing literature and official reports that have studied the alignment of bioeconomy with SDGs, this article pursues two main objectives: firstly, it analyses the main contributions that bioeconomy offers in advancing specific goals, notably SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), and secondly, it explores how countries have integrated bioeconomy principles into their sustainable development policies, determining different stages of transition to a bioeconomy-driven model of sustainability across all members of the EU. This paper highlights potential gaps, such as the lack of relevant indicators that can accurately measure the relationship between bioeconomy strategy implementation to compare the progress across all member countries towards EU’s sustainable development goals. Among these gaps are requirements for more reliable indicators that can fully represent the variety of bioeconomy activities, as well as their sectoral and regional variations, and their connection to larger socioeconomic environments. Moreover, there is an urgent need for integrated assessment models that can take into consideration dynamics and trade-offs within the economy. By summarizing and identifying the disparities in implementation, this review expands the existing knowledge of the role of the bioeconomy in pursuing the SDGs in the European Union, and present a current snapshot of progress made so far
ON IMPROVEMENT OF THE METHODOLOGY OF ANALYSIS OF MAJOR DEVIATIONS IN ACCA PAPER F5 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
No full textAll events and processes of economic activity of enterprises are in interrelation, interdependence and mutual conditioning. One group of them is directly dependent on each other, and the other group – indirectly. Each event can be considered as a cause or consequence. If in the process of analysis this or that indicator is seen as the result of one or more reasons and presented as an object of research, then when studying the relationship it is called resulting , and the indicators that determine the behavior of the properties of the resulting indicator are called factor indicators.
Each of the resulting indicators depends on many different factors. The more detailed the deviations of the main factors, their causes and their impact on the value of the resulting indicator are investigated, the more accurate the results of the analysis and evaluation of the company\u27s work will be. Without a thorough and in-deep study of factor deviations, it is impossible to draw reasonable conclusions about the results of activities, identify hidden reserves for improving production efficiency and make optimal management decisions
WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR GREEN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT: A CASE OF GEORGIA
No full textThe transition to green energy is considered a necessary condition for sustainable and inclusive development. In this regard, it is necessary to intensify the efforts of the entire society. Household decisions are particularly important as they are the end users of green transformation and have the power to facilitate or hinder the process. The purpose of the study is to identify the awareness and willingness of households to participate in green transformation in Georgia. A study of the willingness and amount of payment for the development of green electricity was chosen as a specific tool. The survey results show that out of 508 data collected, 67.7% of respondents are willing to pay an additional monthly fee along with their existing electricity bill and average WTP value was GEL 15.86 (approx. $6) per month. Based on the results of the research, policy recommendations for the development of green energy were developed, among which the activities of the media and the government implementation of mass propaganda activities are of particular importance
DOCTRINAL LANDMARKS OF THE INTERWAR PERIOD REGARDING THE SMALL AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS AND THE ROMANIAN RURAL AREAS
No full textThe 1921 agrarian reform had a strong social and national character, enforcing a certain degree of uniformity in the structure of the Kingdom of Romaniaʼs land fund, as well as a political one, yet not an economic one, given that although agricultural holdings under 5 hectares became numerically dominant, they did not prove to be economically viable over time. The agrarian reform enacted in 1921 attempted to address millions of peasant land ownership claims. As it intended to establish a consistent structure for the land fund of the interwar Kingdom of Romania, this extensive historical reform had far-reaching social and national ramifications. However, it did not have the envisaged significant economic implications, as the prevalence of smaller agricultural holdings (under 5 hectares) increased numerically to the point where they essentially became dominant but failed to demonstrate long-term economic sustainability or viability. Contemporary and recent authors who specialize in Romanian rural issues emphasize the fact that, despite the assertions of the National Liberal Party and the National Peasant Party that the 1921 reform successfully resolved the agrarian issue, representatives from other political parties during that period continued to argue that the agrarian question remained unsatisfactorily unresolved