Research & Innovation Initiative Journals
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Forecasting for Survival: Empirical Evidence on Financial Planning and Early-Stage Startup Resilience in the USA
Get PDFPurpose: This study examines the role of financial forecasting in enhancing the survival of early-stage startups in the United States, where failure rates are exceedingly high due to financial mismanagement and capital planning issues.
Methodology: Using a dataset of 500 simulated startups designed to mirror real-world U.S. startup characteristics, we construct a proxy for forecasting behavior based on firm-level language and multi-round funding patterns. An Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model is used to estimate the impact of forecasting on firm longevity, controlling for factors such as total funding raised and team size.
Findings: The results indicate that startups engaging in financial forecasting survive, on average, 14 months longer than those that do not, even after controlling for key observable variables. This finding underscores the substantive effect of proactive financial planning on startup viability.
Implications: The study suggests that financial forecasting should be regarded as a critical component of economic infrastructure. It recommends integrating forecasting literacy into federal entrepreneurship initiatives, incubator programs, and innovation policy frameworks.
Originality: This paper represents one of the pioneering attempts to quantify the effect of financial forecasting on startup survival, utilizing a simulated dataset that captures real-world funding dynamics. It positions financial forecasting not only as a managerial tool but as a public good vital to national innovation and economic resilience.
Academic Stress and Students\u27 Mental Health: Insights from Private University Students in Bangladesh
Get PDFThe mental health of students is an issue of concern worldwide. At the tertiary level, students face several stresses, including academic stress. Frequent changes in curriculum and examination systems put pressure on students’ mental health. In this study, we aim to explore the relationship between mental health and academic stress. The study is conducted on the students of six private universities located in Dhaka and Chattogram. An adopted questionnaire is used to measure the academic stress and mental health of the students. A Google form questionnaire designed in a five-point Likert scale is sent to the students by using convenient sampling techniques. SPSS version 23 is used for statistical analysis. A total of 297 responses are considered for statistical analysis. Multiple Regression Models are used to analyze the data. The study finds a positive significant correlation between four dimensions of academic stress and the mental health of the respondents. The finding provides educational institutions with an insight into creating mechanisms through which actual and potential mental health issues among students can be addressed. The study includes a small sample size and is conducted only on business students of private universities. Further research may be conducted on the students of other disciplines of both public and private universities and a larger sample
Building Viksit Bharat: The Human Rights Agenda for 2047
Get PDFAs India approaches its centennial year of independence in 2047, the vision of Viksit Bharat—a developed, inclusive, and equitable nation—requires a paradigm shift in developmental priorities, with human rights as the cornerstone. This paper examines how a rights-based approach can effectively address systemic inequalities and foster sustainable growth, emphasizing the interplay between human rights and critical developmental domains such as education, healthcare, economic equity, and gender justice.
The paper’s primary objective is to analyze the current state of human rights in India while identifying actionable strategies to integrate these rights into policy frameworks and governance structures. By bridging the domains of human rights and development, the study provides a comprehensive blueprint for achieving Viksit Bharat 2047. Unlike existing works that address these aspects in isolation, this paper adopts a holistic perspective, linking constitutional principles, global frameworks, and scholarly insights to argue that human rights are both a means and an end to development.
The findings underscore the importance of participatory governance, institutional accountability, and inclusive policy-making in realizing a just and equitable society. This study contributes to academic and policy discourse by offering practical recommendations for aligning India’s developmental aspirations with its commitment to human rights. By placing human rights at the center of development, the paper envisions a future where equity, dignity, and justice become lived realities for all citizens of India
Enhancing Consumer Purchases through Store Design: Does Atmospheric Alchemy Matter?
Get PDFPurpose: This study explores the impact of store atmospherics—specifically music, aroma, lighting & color, and texture & feel—on consumer purchasing decisions in the shop setting. It aims to determine which sensory elements most significantly influence buying behavior, thereby guiding businesses in designing more effective in-store environments.
Methods: The study employed SmartPLS 3.2.3 and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to conduct a two-step analysis process. First, the measurement model was checked to ensure the reliability and validity of the constructs. Then, the structural model was evaluated to test the hypothesized relationships among the variables. To conduct the survey, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the customers. A total of 350 responses were obtained from participants selected using convenience sampling.
Results: All four atmospheric variables were found to have a statistically significant influence on purchasing decisions. Lighting and color emerged as the strongest predictors (β = 0.404, p < 0.001), followed by texture and feel (β = 0.341, p < 0.001), music (β = 0.140, p = 0.021), and aroma (β = 0.111, p = 0.037).
Implications: The findings highlight the strategic value of sensory design in retail environments. Retailers and marketers can leverage these insights to craft immersive in-store experiences that enhance customer engagement and drive sales.
Originality: This research contributes to the limited empirical literature on sensory marketing in developing countries, particularly by quantifying the comparative effects of different atmospheric cues in a single model.
Limitations: The study is limited by its focus on only four sensory dimensions and a relatively small sample size, which may constrain the generalizability of the findings. Future research should consider broader sensory inputs and a more diverse consumer population
Firm-Level and Macroeconomic Influences on the Profitability of Textile Industries in Bangladesh: A Panel Data Approach
Get PDFPurpose: The objective of this research is to investigate the firm-specific and macroeconomic factors that influence the profitability of textile industries in Bangladesh.
Methods: In this study, the financial statements of thirty-eight textile firms from 2017 to 2023 were examined. The websites of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Bangladesh Bank were utilized to gather macroeconomic statistics. The panel data were analyzed using a random-effect regression model.
Results: The results show that firm-specific characteristics such as liquidity, managerial efficiency, capital intensity, and earnings after tax (EAT)as a ratio of total assets improve the ROA of textile industries in Bangladesh. However, firm-specific characteristics such as firm size have a detrimental influence on the profitability of Bangladesh\u27s textile industry. Additionally, macroeconomic variables such as real interest rates have a substantial impact on the ROA of Bangladesh\u27s textile sector. Additionally, the study found that firm age, board size, GDP growth rate, and exchange rate had no significant impact on the profitability of textile firms in Bangladesh.
Implications: The study makes a valuable contribution to understanding the issues affecting the profitability of textile industries in Bangladesh and offers insights into measures that can be taken to enhance their financial performance.
Originality: This study is novel in its integration of firm-level and macroeconomic factors to evaluate profitability in Bangladesh\u27s textile sector, utilizing recent panel data (2017–2023). It provides a comprehensive perspective through random-effects regression and emphasizes previously under-examined variables, such as the EAT ratio and real interest rates
How Do External Sector Dynamics Induce Domestic Inflation? : An Econometric Analysis for Bangladesh
Get PDFPurpose: The Bangladeshi economy has recently experienced elevated inflationary pressures, which have significant implications for economic stability and growth. The purpose of this study is to identify the dynamics of the spillover effects of the external sector on domestic inflation in Bangladesh.
Methods: The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach is deployed for the estimation process, utilizing monthly secondary data from January 2015 to October 2024, available from various sources such as the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Bangladesh Bank (BB), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Bank (WB). In this analysis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is treated as the dependent variable. In contrast, the key explanatory variables include the world oil price, the world food price, exports, imports, and inward remittances. Additionally, industrial production and broad money (M2) are included as control variables, and ‘crisis’ as a dummy variable.
Results: The empirical findings confirm that external factors, particularly global oil prices, food prices, and trade dynamics, have a significant influence on Bangladesh\u27s inflation. A 1 percent rise in past CPI leads to a 0.7 percent rise in the current CPI, revealing strong inflationary inertia. Additionally, global oil price fluctuations have a statistically significant effect on inflation, while the impact of world food prices is delayed, suggesting a lagged transmission into domestic inflation. Trade variables also play a crucial role—exports contribute to inflationary pressures over time mainly due to inequitable growth, whereas imports exert a deflationary effect by reducing supply-side constraints. Additionally, higher domestic industrial production helps mitigate inflation, supporting the supply-side argument, whereas the broad money supply (M2) influences inflation with a lag, reflecting the delayed transmission of monetary policy. Interestingly, remittances have an insignificant direct effect on CPI, implying that while they boost household purchasing power, their inflationary impact is minimal. Furthermore, economic crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, do not exert a statistically significant independent effect on inflation, reinforcing the dominance of structural economic conditions over short-term shocks.
Implications: Basically, the excessive dynamic forces of inflation need to be discounted to zero (thrust level), considering the static force. According to this empirical analysis, external economic factors have a significant impact on creating inflationary pressures in Bangladesh.
Originality: This paper provides a unique investigation into the impact of external sector dynamics, including world oil and food prices, exports, imports, and remittances, on domestic inflation in Bangladesh, utilizing the ARDL approach with monthly data from 2015 to 2024. Unlike prior studies, it incorporates both immediate and lagged effects of external variables and accounts for inflationary inertia in a comprehensive empirical framework.
Limitations: Although the study provides valuable insights into the external drivers of inflation, it is limited by the exclusion of key fiscal variables, such as the fiscal deficit, due to the unavailability of monthly data. Additionally, the model does not account for nonlinear or asymmetric effects, and structural breaks, such as significant policy shifts, are not explicitly considered in the analysis
Human Resource Management Practices and Employee Commitment:: A Study in Non-Governmental Organizations in Crises Regions in Cameroon
Get PDFPurpose: This study examined the relationship between Human Resource Management Practices (HRMP) and employee commitment in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in crisis-affected regions of Cameroon. The study aimed to investigate how HRMP dimensions, specifically effective communication, justice and fairness practices, employee involvement and participation, and job security, affect the commitment of employees working in fragile humanitarian settings, encompassing affective, normative, and continuance commitment.
Methods: A quantitative approach was employed, using a cross-sectional, correlational research design. Data were collected at a single point in time from staff across 110 NGOs in the South West, North West, and Far North Regions, selected purposively to ensure representation of organizations actively engaged in humanitarian response. Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) and multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) were used to estimate the effects of HRMP dimensions on employee commitment.
Results: The findings revealed that effective communication had a significant and positive influence on overall, affective, and normative commitment, while exhibiting a negative relationship with continuance commitment. Similarly, job security was positively and significantly associated with overall, affective, and normative commitment, but negatively associated with continuance commitment.
Implications: The study offers actionable insights for NGO managers, policymakers, and donors operating in fragile and conflict-affected contexts by promoting the institutionalization of transparent communication systems and ensuring job security.
Originality: This research contributes to the limited empirical literature on HRMP and employee commitment in crisis-affected environments, particularly within Cameroon’s NGO sector.
Limitations: The study relied on self-reported data collected at a single point in time, which may introduce response bias and limit causal inference. Additionally, the focus on NGOs in three regions of Cameroon limits the generalizability of the findings to other contexts or sectors
Remote Work and Organizational Culture: The Mediating Role of Employee Engagement and the Moderating Role of Communication Technology
Get PDFPurpose: This paper equates the notions of Remote Work (RW) and Organizational Culture (OC) to determine their effect on the performance outcome of employees in the post-pandemic period. It also examines the mediating role of Employee Engagement (EE) in this association and the moderating effect of Communication Technology (CT) on the OCEE relationship.
Method: A quantitative research method was used to collect data via a structured questionnaire administered to employees across different sectors and organizational types. Testing of the hypothesized relationships was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), which enabled the exploration of direct, indirect, and moderating effects across the integrated model constructs.
Results: The empirical results demonstrate that OC has a substantial positive impact on employee outcomes, with EE mediating this effect to a considerable degree. The moderation analysis also shows that the beneficial OC, the advanced CT, augments the EE relationship. This data, in turn, underscores the importance of an adequate communication infrastructure for maintaining cultural integrity and promoting involvement in remote work environments.
Implications: The study will provide strategic guidance on designing hybrid work modalities. To prevent engagement attrition and maximize the performance of remote workers, organizations should build a digital-first culture and invest in cohesive communication technologies.
Originality/Value: The study presents a new, holistic theoretical framework that integrates mediation and moderation processes, filling a significant gap in the remote-work literature regarding the systemic role of technology in sustaining organizational culture and supporting engagement
Integrated Reporting and Firm Value: Evidence from Listed Consumer Goods Firms in Nigeria
Get PDFPurpose: This study investigates the effect of integrated reporting on the firm value of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. It seeks to determine how financial and non-financial capital disclosures contribute to value creation and investor confidence.
Methods: A correlational research design was employed, using data from 15 listed consumer goods firms over 10 years (2014–2023). Firm value was measured using Tobin’s Q and market prices. Panel multiple regression analysis was applied, with firm size controlled to isolate the effect of integrated reporting practices.
Results: The findings indicate that integrated reporting has a significant positive effect on firm value. Specifically, disclosures related to financial capital, manufacturing capital, and social and relational capital were positively linked to firm value. However, reporting on human and intellectual capital showed no significant effects, contradicting theoretical expectations.
Implications: The results highlight the value-creating potential of comprehensive disclosure practices that integrate both financial and non-financial resources. Regulators such as the International Accounting Standards Board, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, and the Securities and Exchange Commission should strengthen guidance on non-financial capital reporting. Additionally, training and capacity-building for listed firms will enhance the adoption of integrated reporting and align with global best practices.
Originality: This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the role of integrated reporting in enhancing firm value within the Nigerian consumer goods sector, emphasizing the varying effects of different capitals.
Limitations: The study is limited to consumer goods firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange and covers 10 years. Future research could expand to other sectors, use longer timeframes, or adopt qualitative methods to yield more profound insights into integrated reporting practices
Moderating Effect of Environmental Quality on the Relationship Between Trade Openness and Health Expenditure in Sub-Saharan African Countries
Get PDFPurpose: The main objective of this study is to investigate the moderating effect of environmental quality on the relationship between trade openness and health expenditure in sub-Saharan African countries.
Methods: This research utilizes panel data from 41 member countries of sub-Saharan Africa, covering the period from 1996 to 2020. Data was sourced from the World Development Indicators (WDI). The econometric analysis employs the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique to address endogeneity issues in panel data.
Results: The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between trade openness and health expenditure in sub-Saharan African countries. Specifically, a 1% increase in trade openness corresponds to a 582.4-point increase in health expenditures. However, the study also indicates that trade openness negatively impacts environmental quality, as a unit increase in trade openness leads to a decline in environmental quality. This degradation has adverse health outcomes, contributing to increased health spending due to increased incidences of cardiovascular diseases, eye defects, and respiratory tract infections. The study finds that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita negatively affects health expenditure, with a 1% increase resulting in a 0.1843-point decrease. Conversely, population growth positively influences health expenditure, where a 1% increase leads to a 0.1099-point rise in health spending. Industrialization has also been found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on health expenditure at the 5% level, although it contributes to environmental degradation, further impacting human health.
Implications: This study\u27s theoretical implications enhance our understanding of the interconnections between trade, health expenditures, and environmental quality