Smart cities have experienced significant improvements in service quality, resident satisfaction, sustainability, and economic development through the application of information and communication technology. With urban populations expected to grow, the adoption of smart city mobile applications (SCMA) can enhance the efficiency and impact of urban regions. This research explores the cognitive factors influencing user engagement and adoption of SCMA, by integrating identified factors with technological adaptation models. The decision of individual users to embrace such as SCMA has garnered attention from both information systems (IS) researchers and industry practitioners. Key factors affecting SCMA user acceptance include perceived enjoyment, innovation, trust, social influence, security, compliance, satisfaction, perceived benefit, ease of use, and intention to use. Data was analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM), with participants responding to questionnaire items on a five-point Likert scale. Out of an initial 1,142 responses, 1,062 valid samples were included in the final analysis after data filtering, achieving a response rate of 67 percent. Enhanced user satisfaction is crucial for the success of SCMA providers. The industry must allocate additional resources toward developing robust and reliable infrastructures and platforms that enhance mobility and service quality. To drive the future of Web 3.0, the industry must also address long-term challenges, such as creating new universal systems and environments. The conclusion of this study is discussed with respect to both theoretical and practical implications.

The price-perceived quality heuristic refers to an individual's predisposition to interpret price as an indicator of product quality and has been shown to be influenced by various personal factors. However, certain variables affecting this tendency has yet to be explored. This study aims to investigate whether two personal factors, namely personal growth and holistic thinking, impact this heuristic. Moreover, the study also examines the mediating roles of prestige sensitivity and risk aversion in these relationships. Data were collected using convenience sampling from 755 participants with diverse occupations across various cities and districts in Türkiye. Using structural equation modelling analyses with SPSS and AMOS software, the analyses revealed that personal growth positively influences the price-perceived quality heuristic, while holistic thinking has a negative effect. Additionally, the results confirmed the significant mediating roles of prestige sensitivity and risk aversion. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to better understand the dynamics that shape the relationship between price and quality perception.

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a powerful approach for establishing a strong relationship between a product or service and customer needs. It focuses on capturing the voice of the customer to enhance their satisfaction. In today’s competitive landscape, organizations must meet customer needs to thrive. This research focuses on utility-imparting organizations and aims to enhance customer satisfaction and service efficiency through the development of a correlation matrix. The study proposes an inductive framework and evaluates it using typical QFD techniques. Specifically, the research utilizes the House of Quality (HOQ) to improve organizational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The HOQ identifies key quality indicators by analyzing the relationship between customer needs (WHATs), and technical solutions (HOWs), as well as between different HOWs. The results of the HOQ analysis highlight the most crucial factors for improving service efficiency: effective customer service, a competitive and focused organization, accurate billing meters and methods, precise meter readings and billing, and prioritization of emergency response. The findings provide valuable guidelines for improving the efficiency of utility energy services.

The marketing of poultry products is a critical component of all production systems. Given the importance of the poultry industry in Iran and the marketing challenges it faces, this research aims to identify and prioritize the marketing problems within the industry. Using the Delphi technique, 15 experts from the poultry industry helped identify the main factors causing marketing issues in poultry units. These factors were then ranked according to their importance using the AHP method. The findings classified the main marketing problems into six categories: product, price, supply, promotion, resources, and structure. The "resources" category emerged as the highest priority, while "promotion" was deemed the lowest. Among the sub-indicators, the lack of government support and inadequate facilities from banks and related organizations ranked the highest priority, whereas insufficient advertising for chicken meat ranked the lowest. The most important innovation of this research lies in its comprehensive ranking and prioritization of marketing problems specific to the poultry industry in Iran, an area that previous research has not yet explored.

In healthcare services, where human health is the primary concern, the principle of ''doing it right the first time'' is paramount. Waste and constraints in service delivery processes can directly impact patient health outcomes. This study aim is to examine the hospitalization process of the internal medicine department of an education and research hospital using value stream mapping (VSM), theory of constraints (TOC) and simulation (using Arena software). Initially, current and future patient flows were mapped using VSM. Constraints affecting these flows were determined using TOC, while simulation was used to assess the impact of a lean model on the system proposed through the future state map (FSM). Two scenarios were developed for the future state. The findings show the presence of numerous non-value-added steps in the existing system. A leaner patient flow was achieved by minimizing these inefficiencies through the proposed future state models, addressing problematic areas that hinder the flow. Non-value-added time (NVAT) was reduced by 44 percent in the first proposed scenario and by 72 percent in the second proposed scenario. Patients' length of stay (LoS) improved by 1 percent with the first model and decreased by 12 percent with the second model. Additionally, transfer time (TT) was decreased by 88 percent in the first scenario and by 92 percent in the second scenario. This study offers valuable insights and can serve as a roadmap for researchers, managers and decision-makers in the healthcare sector seeking to implement lean practices.

This research explores the current green site management practices (GSMPs) commonly practiced by contractors. While the construction industry has contributed significantly to Malaysia’s development, it has also raised various environmental concerns. GSMPs are gaining attention as a solution to these issues. Nevertheless, their implementation faces various challenges, such as financial concerns and a lack of knowledge. A qualitative approach was adopted to focus on contractors’ experiences with green practices. Five contractors were randomly selected from the construction sites in Malaysia using the convenience sampling method. These respondents, all at the management level, were well-positioned to provide insights. Data collection continued until no new issues emerged from the interviews. The findings revealed that GSMPs are becoming a current trend within the industry. Contractors are beginning to integrate green practices in their construction activities, focusing on construction site waste management, workforce management, best regulatory practices, site establishment and administration, and site facilities. However, there is a notable lack of awareness and knowledge about these green practices among contractors. The study offers practical implications for the future of GSMPs, highlighting the need for increased understanding and adoption. By elaborating on available practices and their implications, this study aims to encourage broader implementation of GSMPs in construction sites.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Despite numerous setbacks, some SMEs demonstrated resilience by adopting innovative survival strategies, including investment in research and development (R&D). This study investigates the extent of R&D investment among selected SMEs in Taiwan and its role in their survival during the pandemic. Using a mixed methods approach, data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires, with participants representing various SME categories until saturation was achieved. SME proprietors provided insights on how R&D investments contributed to their resilience. The findings indicate that 73.3% of respondents invested directly in R&D and 54.3% reported that R&D investments positively impacted their business survival during the pandemic. The study recommends that SMEs enhance their R&D capabilities by developing staff skills and allocating specific funds for R&D in their budgets to better withstand future disruptions.

In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, customer requirements and expectations are continually increasing. Many service-oriented companies, including airlines, are struggling to accurately understand and meet the true needs and desires of their passengers. Often, they rely on outdated views of airline services. This study investigated how various dimensions of service quality impact customer satisfaction at Iraqi Airways. Using a convenience sampling technique, data were collected through questionnaires distributed at Baghdad International Airport and Erbil International Airport in Iraq. A total of 381 valid responses were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results indicate that five service quality dimensions—airline tangibles, terminal tangibles, security and safety, personnel services, and airline image—have a positive and significant effect on customer satisfaction. However, empathy does not significantly influence customer satisfaction. The findings suggest that Iraqi Airways should focus on differentiating its services to enhance customer satisfaction. Managers are encouraged to concentrate on factors that elevate service quality, thereby improving customer satisfaction. This study can assist Baghdad International Airport and Erbil International Airport in understanding the importance of service quality, which could lead to higher passenger satisfaction and foster long-term relationships with their customers.

Luxury brands are gaining popularity in both developed and emerging economies. Recent research has advocated wider use of self-determination theory (SDT) in marketing studies, suggesting that it has high predictive accuracy for understanding consumer motivations. Underpinned by this particular theory, this study aims to measure the impact of intrinsic motivations (brand commitment, hedonic motivation, and self-congruity) and extrinsic motivations (social motivation) on the purchasing intention of luxury fashion apparel brands in a developing country. Data was collected from 490 luxury apparel brand users, utilizing both offline and online modes via survey questionnaires. The proposed relationships were analyzed using PLS-SEM. Intrinsic motivations (brand commitment, hedonic motivation) and extrinsic motivation factor (social motivation) positively impacted purchase intention of luxury fashion apparel, while the impact of self-congruity (intrinsic motivator) was insignificant. This study adds to the body of knowledge about luxury branding by reassessing and expanding SDT with a new set of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in collectivist society. The present study is among very few studies in marketing science that explicitly applied SDT. The uniqueness of this study is that it empirically examines consumer behavioral differences towards luxury buying in the luxury fashion apparel segment, utilizing SDT. Therefore, it is a major addition to the body of literature in the area. The findings of the study provide marketers with practical insights into luxury customer behavior, enabling them to target consumers in a growing economy, making them a high-potential market.

Previous studies in sports marketing have shown that team love is a key factor influencing loyalty, satisfaction and positive word-of-mouth behaviours. Despite these positive findings, research on team love remains limited, and the concept’s theoretical framework is underdeveloped. The study aims to conceptualize football team love using a grounded theory approach and to develop a scale based on this conceptualization. Through a comprehensive literature review, as well as data obtained from focus group and in-depth interviews with football fans, the study delineated the unique conceptual dimensions of team love. Using data obtained from 452 Turkish football fans, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed a three-dimensional (self-team integration, infinity, and passion-driven behaviours), 12-item structure. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) further validated and refined, a three-dimensional, nine-item measurement model. This research provides an in-depth, theory-based understanding of the unique construct of football team love, offering valuable insights for both academic and practical applications. The findings lay a foundation for further research and provide strategic guidance for sports marketers to foster stronger connections between football teams and their fans.