Changing the game: empowering marketers as agents of change for diversity

Adoption of innovations, including adoption of conservation practices, is a topic of extensive scholarly enterprise. The diffusion of innovations literature has often examined the characteristics of three sets of variables: the adopter, the change agent, and the innovation. This literature clearly establishes the crucial role of change agents in promoting an innovation. However, what we don’t know is what makes change agents want to promote a particular innovation. In this study, change agents’ perceptions of the attributes of two-stage drainage ditches, an innovative agricultural drainage ditch design, are examined in order to understand what affects their willingness to promote them. Diffusion of innovation theory provides the conceptual grounding as well as the theoretical motivation for this study. The data for this study come from semi-structured interviews with 17 change agents. Results suggest that change agents perceive the relative advantage associated with two-stage ditches to be low, and that two-stage ditches might be perceived by potential adopters to be incompatible with the prevalent sociocultural beliefs about drainage ditch management. Results also indicate that change agents’ perceptions of environmental benefits of adopting two-stage ditches affects their willingness to promote them. Results are more broadly informative about promoting conservation practices, and is relevant for both academicians and practitioners.

This study explores the principles and practices of business ethics in commercial organisations in Singapore. It also addresses the potential of the concept, restorative justice as a feature of ethical practice in commercial organisations. Two research questions guided the study which were i) what are the principles and practices of business ethics in commercial organisations based in Singapore and ii) what is the potential of restorative justice in commercial organisations based in Singapore? The principles and practices of business ethics have become increasingly important in a globalised business world where ethics in business has been seen as critical in preventing malpractice and in ensuring organisational viability (Lin-Hi & Blumberg, 2011). A review of relevant literature regarding business ethics canvassed theories and ethical frameworks that influence the ethical practices of the leaders in their organisations, in particular relation to egoism, virtue-based, duty-based, justice-based, utilitarian and Confucian ethics. In the review, I have addressed the role of ethical leadership, ethical decision making, codes of conduct, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility in strengthening ethical business practice. I also canvassed the concept and practices of restorative justice, with its heritage in criminal justice. Within the review, the ways in which restorative justice values and practices have been incorporated and applied in the business sector in areas such as responsive regulation, organisational justice, consumer protection and workplace conflict were identified (Ayers & Braithwaite, 1992; Goodstein & Butterfield, 2010; Kidder, 2007). Using a case study methodology, cases of five commercial organisations were generated. The organisations were based in different business sectors within Singapore. The case studies highlighted the leaders understanding of business ethics, their principles and practices. The cases also drew on the organisations’ annual reports, product brochures and other publicity materials. The questionnaire data collected from the employees were also included in the case studies. Analysis supports the view that leaders in commercial organisations based in Singapore perceive business ethics as important. They agreed that business ethics contributes to organisational profit and organisational sustainability. Leaders adopted principles and practices around ethics that aligned with a mixed range of ethical frameworks. Their understanding of business ethics, however, reflected a combination of leaders’ ethical values and regulatory practices. Business ethics in their organisations were implemented mainly in the form of codes, rules and regulations. Compliance with rules and engagement in corporate social responsibility activities were commonly described as ethical business practices. However, these practices appeared to be driven by economic motives related to organisational profit rather than by a stance oriented towards social improvement. The leaders played a significant role in ensuring successful compliance with regulatory frameworks. The leaders’ ethical principles and values contributed to the management of regulations, ensuring compliance by the employees in following rules. The leaders’ values also contributed to the ethical management of clients, services and products. The values of restorative justice and associated practices were found in the five commercial organisations and appeared more prevalent in the area of employee management. As such, restorative justice in commercial organisations offered some potential application to strengthen ethical business practices. This thesis outlines the scope of current understanding and practices of business ethics in these commercial organisations. This thesis also points to areas in which future research may expand on these initial findings around business ethics and restorative justice in commercial organisations.

PurposeResearch on organizational diversity initiatives generally focus on either numerical diversity or racial climate. Both facets of diversity are critical, however, research has rarely examined their impact simultaneously. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachIn the current study, the authors use the context of higher education, to examine how variations in the composite of numerical diversity and racial climate predict psychological disparities between faculty of color (FOC) and White faculty. The authors test how institutions that engage in authentic diversity (i.e. institutions that are both numerically diverse and have a positive racial climate) compare to other diversity composites.FindingsUsing a data set of n=37,406 faculty members in US colleges/universities, this study found that racial disparities between FOC and White faculty for various psychological outcomes are smaller in authentic diversity institutions compared to institutions with low numeric diversity/ poor racial climate. Further, the data demonstrate that authentic diversity institutions have reduced psychological disparities compared to institutions with high numeric diversity/poor racial climate, but have similar disparities to institutions with low numeric/positive racial climate.Originality/valueThese results suggest that diversity climate may be the primary driver of mitigating psychological disparities between FOC and White faculty. However, it is necessary for institutions to authentically engage in diversity – by promoting both entities – to become more effective in reducing disparities.

Technological innovations for societal change : Arsenic mitigation technologies for safe drinking water in rural Bangladesh

Analyzing the implications of business law on business ethics practices in Indonesia using library research methods. Data was collected from various literature sources relevant to the research topic. The results show that business law has an important role in shaping business ethics in Indonesia. Business law regulates the rights and obligations that arise from agreements and agreements in business practices. Factors underlying business law such as developments in national development, business ethics, internal and external factors and legal awareness influence the implementation of business law in ethical and responsible business practices. Solutions that can be provided to improve the implementation of business law and ethical business practices in Indonesia are by strengthening regulations, effective law enforcement, education, government collaboration with business, accountability, and the formation of an independent supervisory body. In improving the implementation of business law, it is hoped that it can create a fair, transparent and integrity business environment and make a positive contribution to economic development and social welfare in Indonesia.

In today's business environment, corporate governance and strategy have come to focus heavily on the relationship of sustainability and business ethics. This paper examines the complex link between sustainable development and ethical business practices, making the case that moral concerns are essential to reaching long-term sustainability objectives. Integrity, justice, and responsibility are just a few of the values that make up business ethics. The first section of the paper outlines the introduction to importance of Ethical practices, fundamental ideas of sustainability and business ethics, emphasising how they have developed historically and how important they are becoming to corporate goals. It also talks about the importance of religious principles which have focussed on ethical practices in business. Also, some case studies as examples of companies which are concentrating on ethical practices, followed by some examples quoting unethical practices and scams happened in India. Next section is dedicated to the Research methodology and data analysis, the primary data has been collected from 61 respondents, whose perception about ethical and sustainable practices have been captured and analysed descriptive and inferentially it is found that in most of the cases various age group respondents are not significantly different in terms of ethical, sustainable practices but only in 2 instances like the long-term profitability and level of importance with respect to sustainability practices and profitability there are differences of perceptions.

This study aims to identify the need to develop an integrated model of the readiness of mathematics teachers as agents of change. Teachers' readiness is crucial for the effectiveness of the teaching process and the enhancement of pedagogical innovation. This study employs a qualitative methodology. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 14 study participants to ensure that the proposed model fits the demands of users. This includes education and teaching experts from Malaysia’s southern and central regions. The interview data were transcribed and analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti24 software. Results indicate a need to develop an integrated model of mathematics teachers' readiness as agents of change. All study participants emphasized the significance of addressing mathematics teacher readiness. Three main themes have been identified: (1) pedagogical needs, (2) strengthening mathematics teacher competence and (3) the configuration model as a guideline and checklist. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing mathematics teachers' readiness. An integrated model based on professional knowledge and pedagogical skills was proposed to support teachers in acting as agents of change. This study provides valuable insights for mathematics teachers and stakeholders. The findings indicate directions for future research particularly in the systematic development and design of the proposed integrated model which aims to enhance teacher readiness and pedagogical innovation.

The Indian textile industry has a rich history, a cornerstone of the nation's economic and cultural heritage. However, in the modern era, it faces challenges related to sustainability, including environmental concerns, ethical labour practices, and economic viability. The textile and clothing industry is one of the most polluting industries globally and needs to rethink its strategies. This paper explores various sustainable development strategies that can be implemented within the Indian textile industry to address these challenges. By adopting a holistic approach that encompasses environmental, social, and economic dimensions, the industry can not only thrive but also contribute positively to the global sustainability agenda. This paper discusses key strategies such as resource optimization, circular economy principles, ethical labour practices, and market diversification, providing insights into their benefits and potential implementation.

Change agents’ cognitive maps of circular supply chain transition – An investigation of barriers, actions, and outcomes

This study aims to address how change agents assist engineering instructors in adopting new curriculum. During a two-day workshop, 16 mechanics of materials instructors from community colleges and universities around the Pacific Northwest developed hands-on activities and models that they later implemented in their classrooms. Five additional instructors became interested in the materials developed at the workshop through their interactions with some of the instructors that attended the workshop. After the workshop and during the academic year, a change agent was assigned to each instructor. The change agents communicated with their instructors on a regular basis in order to identify any needs the instructor had for implementing their new materials. Interactions between the instructors and change agents were tracked through the change agents' personal notes on their interactions and two semi-structured phone interviews held during and after the term in which the course was taught. Instructors most often requested assistance from the change agents in how to manage and use some of the materials. These interactions indicate that a change agent working in a pull-model approach encouraged the instructors to be more engaged in the change process throughout their entire course and therefore benefited their teaching and course effectiveness.

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that is currently causing challenges and opportunities in all sectors worldwide. The logistic industry plays an enormous role in keeping the countries functional, and it accounts for 13.4 % of the total GDP in Thailand. This article aims to identify and justify critical success factors for the Logistic Industries experiencing success and failure during the pandemic. The research was conducted using semi-structured interviews with top managers of three companies from March to September 2021, which is phase 4 of the pandemic. The findings we analysed using thematic analysis to understand the critical factors within the industry. Logistics companies of different sizes were selected for this purpose as case studies aimed to identify the resemblance of the effects and find the relationship with company resilience. Five key supporting factors were identified for the logistics firms to be resilient during the pandemic, including flexibility, Business Continuity Plan, market diversification, IT systems, and leadership.

Ecotourism has been widely promoted as a sustainable development pathway for rural and Indigenous communities, combining environmental conservation with socio-economic empowerment. This study examines the challenges and opportunities in ecotourism development among the Jakun Orang Asli community in Kampung Tanah Abang, Johor, through the analytical lens of Community-Based Tourism (CBT), empowerment theory, and postcolonial ecotourism critiques. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and document analysis, ensuring methodological triangulation and cultural sensitivity. The findings reveal a complex interplay between internal and external dynamics. Internally, the community demonstrates rich cultural heritage, ecological knowledge, and willingness to engage in tourism, but faces gaps in entrepreneurship skills, digital literacy, and intra-community cohesion. Externally, agencies and NGOs provide financial and technical support, yet imbalances in decision-making power and dependency risks limit long-term sustainability. Environmental threats, including deforestation, habitat degradation, and sedimentation in the Endau River, undermine tourism potential. Comparative insights from other Orang Asli CBT models, such as the Semai cooperative in Pahang, and international examples like Māori tourism in New Zealand, highlight strategies for governance, market diversification, and cultural safeguarding. Quantitative indicators, including seasonal visitor flows and average homestay earnings, complement the qualitative analysis, offering a fuller picture of tourism’s economic impact. The study underscores the need for co-designed interventions, inclusive governance, and targeted capacity building—particularly in digital marketing and environmental stewardship—to ensure that ecotourism development benefits the Jakun community while preserving cultural integrity and ecological sustainability.

This study addresses a research gap by introducing a pioneering theoretical framework for analyzing the projected image of Accessible Tourist Destinations (ATDs). Building on existing approaches to evaluating destination competitiveness and destination images, this framework was developed systematically codifying relevant literature, semi-structured interviews with people with disabilities, and expert panel consultations. The ATD model was tested by comparing analysis of official tourism websites from Spain and Portugal. The results show that ATDs combine functional attributes, such as technology, with key psychological characteristics, like an inclusive society and a tourism sector committed to accessibility. The findings suggest that a country’s tourism management structure may influence the competitive performance of local destinations. This study advances theories of competitiveness and destination image by incorporating the perspectives of tourists with disabilities. It provides practical insights for Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) to attract a more diverse market.

Vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier to community immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Health care workers are at risk both of infection and for nosocomial transmission, but have low rates of vaccine uptake due to hesitancy. This project sought to improve the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake among environmental services (EVS) workers at a large academic regional medical center using a community-based participatory approach (CBPA). The CBPA engaged environmental service workers from January 2021 to March 2021. Public health experts and environmental services department leaders developed a 1-hour training for peer lay health educators (N=29), referred to as agents of change (AOC). AOC were trained on COVID-19 infection, benefits of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and techniques to address vaccine misinformation among their peers. Following the program, we conducted semistructured interviews with the AOC to document their experiences. Analysis of the semistructured interviews shows that 89.6% of participants (N=26) felt the training was informative; 79.3% of participants (N=23) reported using personal testimony while engaging in discussions about vaccination with their peers, and the majority of participants (N=26, 89.6%) discussed vaccination outside of the workplace in other community settings. During the 2-month time span of the program, mRNA COVID-19 vaccination rates among the EVS staff increased by 21% (N=126 to N=189). Our CBPA program demonstrated an increase in mRNA COVID-19 vaccine uptake through using an AOC lay health educator model. As the need for COVID-19 vaccination continues, we must continue to investigate barriers and sources of hesitancy in order to address these through tailored interventions.

Diet transformations in families: unravelling the meat reduction process with parents as change agents.