Area Of Management Research Articles

Inclement Entrepreneurial Gaps in Community Wildlife Management Business Model: A Case of Mbarang’andu and Tunduru Wmas in Southern Tanzania

Purpose: This study examined entrepreneurial gaps in Mbarang’andu and Tunduru Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) since their establishment during the 5 years of business plan operations and implications thereafter. Design/Methodology/Approach: The population of this study was five WMAs that formed the cases for the study, and for the case of WMA leaders, the population was 40 leaders. The sample size for the WMAs selected as the cases for the study were two (2), Tunduru and Mbarang’andu purposefully selected. Further, the sample size for WMA leaders was 20 (50% of the population) purposefully selected. Descriptive analysis was used to summarise demographic and revenue data, and a Pearson Chi-square test was performed on the demographic data. A paired samples T-test was used to compare the required business start-up and available funds to reveal the equity gap in the two WMAs and compare the level of implementation of planned business activities in the two WMAs. Research Limitation: The research was limited to two WMAs and a small sample size since the client determined its size, given that this paper emanated from the consultancy project. Findings: Findings indicate that both WMAs have a high potential for carbon trading, photographic tourism, beekeeping, fish farming, and heritage tourism. The difference in the required funding and available funds for various expenditures in business start-ups was found to be statistically significant in both WMAs. The difference in the level of implementation of planned business activities was also found to be statistically significant in the two WMAs. Practical implications: To bridge the entrepreneurial gaps in the WMAs, proactive fundraising, diversification of income-generating activities, including carbon trading, human resource capacity building, and appropriate marketing of tourism and nature-based products are needed. Social Implications: The results of this research will form the basis for bridging entrepreneurial gaps in the WMAs, hence fueling optimal exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities in wildlife that benefit the community at large in return. Originality: This paper is original; only some extracts were used in the conference proceedings for the University of Dodoma (UDOM) 2019. Its novelty is inclined to expose entrepreneurial gaps and the framework for bridging such gaps in wildlife businesses.

Envisaging Participatory Management in Protected Areas: Local Response to Proposed Conservation Actions in Relation to Environmental Orientation

Involving local people in natural area management is very important to address the complexity of environmental management issues for the sustainable use of local resources. Participatory methods require the contribution of local stakeholders in decision-making. Mapping the environmental views of local communities allows for the detection of aspects that could facilitate management efforts. This research—in the frame of the Skyros LIFE project and the PAMNATURA project—measures the local acceptability of the conservation actions proposed by the LIFE project in Skyros island (Greece), in relation to recording local people’s environmental orientation using the 15-item revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. The research was carried out by means of questionnaires. The LIFE project proposed actions were grouped into three categories according to their theme, i.e., promoting (a) nature protection, (b) agro-pastoralism and (c) ecotourism. The sample seems to largely agree with the LIFE project proposals, while the results showed high scores for most of the NEP scale items, implying pro-environmental beliefs, though there appears to be disagreement or neutrality regarding a few items. The local acceptability of the proposed actions was found to correlate to local people’s environmental concern measured through the NEP scale. Drawing on the results, the implementation of actions related directly or indirectly to economic activities and the preservation of traditional activities, as well as environmental education and interactive informing and consultation, could enhance local participation. Skyros island seems to offer an appropriate social background for applying participatory and adaptive management and implementing conservation programs.

Optimizing the management of multiple water resources in irrigation area under uncertainty: A novel scenario-based multi-objective fuzzy-credibility constrained programming model

Effective water resources management is vital for sustainable development, healthy ecosystems, stable socio-economic, and human well-being. However, managing water resources faces challenges due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders and uncertainties in various hydrologic fluxes. This complexity makes it rare for research to simultaneously address the hidden uncertainties in both objectives and constraints. Here, we developed a scenario-based multi-objective fuzzy-credibility constrained programming approach and applied it to the water resource management system (SMOFCP-WRMS) of the Zhaokou Yellow River Diversion Irrigation Area Phase II Project (ZKID-II). This method handles uncertainties represented by scenarios and fuzzy sets, while also resolving fuzzy uncertainty parameters within the multiple objectives and constraints of the model. We solve the SMOFCP-RWMS model by integrating the Nondominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA- III) and compromise programming (CP) method. The results show that: (1) An increase in constraints violation risks (credibility level from 0.5 to 1.0) results in a decrease in water resources allocation and pollutant discharge by 25.95 × 106 m3 and 207.63 tonne, respectively, accompanied by a decline in net economic income by 68.04 × 106 CNY; (2) From extraordinary dry year to normal year (design frequencies from 95 % to 50 %) leads to a reduction in water shortage by 167.07 × 106 m3. Incorporating ‘credibility levels’ and ‘design frequencies’ would be beneficial for addressing uncertainties, including fuzzy information and discrete possibilities for the future; (3) Regarding the multi-objective model solution, the combined NSGA- III and CP approach demonstrates an average increase of 1.71 % in net economic benefits and 4.03 % in total pollution discharge, along with a 5.91 % reduction in the water deficit ration compared to the traditional CP method. Although the ecological benefits decrease slightly in the compromise-optimal solutions using the combined NSGA- III and CP method, the economic and social benefits are improved compared to those from the combined NSGA- II and CP method. This study provides valuable decision-making guidance for water resources managers in irrigated areas, aiding them in balancing economic, social, and ecological benefits, and enabling the section of an optimal water resources management scheme based on acceptable risk levels under various uncertain conditions.

Soil quality and land capability evaluation for agriculture in Balat area, El Dakhla Oasis, western Desert, Egypt

This research aimed to evaluate the land capability and soil health of the Balat area, El-Dakhla Oasis, Egypt. To achieve this objective, thirty soil profiles were chosen to represent the study area and soil samples were collected from each layer of each soil profile. Soil samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical, and fertility properties. These soils were characterized and classified. The obtained results were mapped for spatial variability distribution using ArcGIS software. The land capability was evaluated using the modified Storie index and the Microcomputer Land Elevation Information system (MicroLEIS). The soil quality index (SQI) was also calculated based on soil physical, chemical, and fertility indices. The obtained results revealed that the studied soils were alkaline, slightly saline to moderately saline, light to heavy textured, non-calcareous to calcareous, and poor in organic matter and nutrients. These soils were classified into two orders (Entisols and Aridisols), whereas they were found in three subgroups (Typic Torripsamments, Typic Torriorthents, and Typic Haplosalids). The modified Storie index was found to be better than the MicroLEIS Cervatana model in evaluating land capability. Four land capability grades were obtained from the Storie index (Grade 2 = Good; Grade 3 = Fair; Grade 4 = Poor; and Grade 5 = Non-agricultural), while two grades were recorded in MicroLEIS (S3 and N). The main limitations of the study area were soil texture, salinity, organic matter, and ESP. Regarding the soil quality, two grades were obtained from the applied method (moderate = 0.35–0.59 and good = 0.60–0.79). Spatial variability maps were generated for land capability methods as well as the soil quality. Therefore, these results and maps can be utilized as a guide for better planning and land resource management in the Balat area.

Soil quality and land capability evaluation for agriculture in Balat area, El Dakhla Oasis, western Desert, Egypt

This research aimed to evaluate the land capability and soil health of the Balat area, El-Dakhla Oasis, Egypt. To achieve this objective, thirty soil profiles were chosen to represent the study area and soil samples were collected from each layer of each soil profile. Soil samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical, and fertility properties. These soils were characterized and classified. The obtained results were mapped for spatial variability distribution using ArcGIS software. The land capability was evaluated using the modified Storie index and the Microcomputer Land Elevation Information system (MicroLEIS). The soil quality index (SQI) was also calculated based on soil physical, chemical, and fertility indices. The obtained results revealed that the studied soils were alkaline, slightly saline to moderately saline, light to heavy textured, non-calcareous to calcareous, and poor in organic matter and nutrients. These soils were classified into two orders (Entisols and Aridisols), whereas they were found in three subgroups (Typic Torripsamments, Typic Torriorthents, and Typic Haplosalids). The modified Storie index was found to be better than the MicroLEIS Cervatana model in evaluating land capability. Four land capability grades were obtained from the Storie index (Grade 2 = Good; Grade 3 = Fair; Grade 4 = Poor; and Grade 5 = Non-agricultural), while two grades were recorded in MicroLEIS (S3 and N). The main limitations of the study area were soil texture, salinity, organic matter, and ESP. Regarding the soil quality, two grades were obtained from the applied method (moderate = 0.35–0.59 and good = 0.60–0.79). Spatial variability maps were generated for land capability methods as well as the soil quality. Therefore, these results and maps can be utilized as a guide for better planning and land resource management in the Balat area.

Enhancing smoke management in underground parking areas using jet fan systems with a focus on dead-end areas

This study delves into the utilization of jet fans in underground parking structures for smoke management during fires, with a specific focus on enhancing smoke control near critical areas adjacent to dead-end sections through innovative jet fan designs. Through the analysis of airflow patterns and computational fluid dynamic simulations, the research aims to effectively contain smoke and prevent its dispersion to unaffected zones. Findings underscore the significance of parking layout designs in ventilation strategies and soot dispersion rates. Altering the downward orientation of the jet fan outlet results in a notable portion of smoke being confined within the parking facility. Additionally, widening the jet fan outlet, as proposed in the design, can enhance smoke evacuation in all directions. Two hazard detection scenarios were executed within the parking structure following the British standard (BS), with one scenario simulated as a fire ignition source. The chosen scenario considers all escape routes and evacuation procedures within the underground parking area based on architectural specifications. By employing OpenFOAM software with the buoyantBoussinesqPimpleFOAM solver, the study assesses the efficacy of this approach, achieving a reduction in airflow irregularities of over 30%. It also provides valuable insights for designers to refine their comprehension of jet fan design, recommending tailored designs for specific zones. This research offers practical guidance for designers to optimize jet fan configurations for effective smoke control in underground parking facilities.

A comprehensive study for probability prediction of domino effects considering synergistic effects

Domino effects are a complex phenomenon of accident escalation with high uncertainty, which could lead to catastrophic consequences. Predicting the probability of domino effects presents a great challenge in the field of process safety. In multi-level domino chains, synergistic effects of accidents would further raise the complexity of probability prediction since escalation vectors emitted from those accidents may be coupled. In this paper, four categories of synergistic effects are classified according to the type of accidents and their place on the domino accident sequence. Subsequently, specific models for estimating escalation probability under different synergistic accident scenarios are proposed based on the widely-used probit models, allowing the analysis of the coupling effects of escalation vectors. A probability prediction method for domino chains is further developed using Bayesian Network. The application of the developed method is demonstrated by a case study, and the domino probability is estimated accounting for the synergistic effects and all possible accident scenarios. The key units for promoting accident propagation are further identified through posterior probability analysis. The method would be helpful for domino risk assessment and management of any chemical industrial area.

Selected demographic determinants of CSR, financial & environmental management and business ethics in SMEs

Research background: Small and medium-sized enterprises are at the heart of the business environment in every country. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the environmental aspect and, in many cases, corporate social responsibility. In this context, business ethics is also a widely discussed topic. At the same time, financial management is one of the critical areas of business management. These aspects can be influenced by various demographic factors related to the company, as well as by the business owners or managers. Purpose of the article: The objective of this paper is to examine the influence of selected demographic factors on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), financial management, environmental practices, and business ethics in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Methods: The empirical research was carried out as part of a broad-based research that aimed to ascertain the attitudes of small and medium-sized firms. It was conducted in June 2022 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic using the CAWI Research Method. The questionnaire could be completed by the owner or the top manager of the SME. The questionnaire was secured against automatic computer completion. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyse the characteristics of the variable, and regression (LRM) and correlation analysis methods were applied to find statistically significant differences in the influence of each independent factor. Findings & Value added: The analysis suggests interesting differences in how demographic factors influence ethics, CSR, environment and financial management in the Czech and Slovak Republics. In general, the impacts of these factors on these areas are very weak. The results showed that firm size influences SMEs' attitudes towards the environment, financial management and CSR in all countries combined. The other independent variables of the sector, such as length of business and age, do not affect attitudes towards ethics, environment, CSR, or financial management. We can generalise that in the conditions of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, among demographic criteria, only firm size plays a significant role in determining the attitudes of SME managers.

Optimization of rural environment through drainage system modernization: analysis of investment feasibility indicator in the modernization of drainage ditches on former agricultural lands

The benefits of installing pipes and drainage manholes, as well as covering open drainage ditches in built-up areas, have been listed in the report. A cost-effectiveness indicator for the investment, taking into account proprietary weighting coefficients, has been presented, which can be used as a formal argument determining the need for modernization of existing solutions in built-up areas. The indicator serves as an objective tool in the decision-making process at the municipal level. Modernization involving the installation of pipes and covering ditches, which previously served agricultural purposes, leads to an improvement in spatial order in a given area and also contributes to the protection of the natural environment through proper water management in former agricultural areas

Management of IT projects of public institutions

The organization and activity of public administration is subject to the standards established by law, according to which individual organizational units of ministries in the Slovak Republic are governed. The management of information and communication technologies is a specific area of management in the conditions of public administration, which requires high expertise, systematicity and a properly set legal environment. The aim of the contribution is to clearly identify the legislative framework for the management of IT projects of the public administration of the Slovak Republic during the implementation of selected operational programs in the department of government departments. In order to achieve the main goal of the presented professional article, we set sub-goals. The necessary partial tasks are to systematically define and explain concepts related to project management in public administration, to find out the requirements for its implementation and to find out to what extent the legislation affects the issue we are dealing with. The result of our area of research represents a logically complete framework of the legal environment of project management of public administration and takes on the nature of practical use in the creation of our dissertation.

Optimizing Sambar Deer Breeding Management: A Case Study at the Bpsilhk Aek Nauli Breeding

The sambar deer, an endemic animal to Indonesia, is protected by Government Regulation Number 7 of 1999 and is listed as "Vulnerable," according to the IUCN, indicating its vulnerability to extinction. The main objective of this research is to analyze the current management of sambar deer breeding, identify supporting and inhibiting factors, and plan strategies to improve management by ideal standards. Data for this research was collected through literature study, observation and interviews. The sample of respondents was selected from actors or stakeholders who have the most significant role in the management of this deer breeding area, including the head of the service (1 person), head of the planning section (1 person), team member (2 people), and guard (1 person). The form of captive management was analyzed using a Likert scale, supporting and inhibiting factors were analyzed using descriptive analysis, and the form of management strategy was analyzed using SWOT analysis. The results obtained were that the sambar deer breeding management had a score of 3.90, or the management was quite good. Supporting factors for management are the breeding area, which is still sufficient to accommodate many deer, complete equipment and cage equipment in the cages, and healthy deer. Moreover, the inhibiting factors for management are the unavailability of veterinarians and the fact that data on recording sick sambar deer needs to be well documented, making it challenging to monitor health. Recommendations for the management strategy for sambar deer breeding at BPSILHK Aek Nauli is an alternative SO (Strength-Opportunity) strategy obtained, namely: Caring for the cages together with the community, utilizing the area of the cage to add deer, utilizing breeding locations located in tourist locations and caring for the deer so that always healthy.

Co-evolutionary dynamics and heterogeneity in corporate social responsibility: A case study on multinational corporation subsidiaries

This study aims to understand the heterogeneity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) approaches across subsidiaries of the same multinational corporations (MNCs) and determine the co-evolutionary dynamics that enhance the global cohesiveness of MNCs' CSR strategies and performance. The study draws on co-evolutionary theory and adopts an explanatory research design based on embedded multiple case study methodology. Semi-structured interviews with top management and employees responsible for CSR or related areas were conducted, and secondary data collection was done for triangulation and validation. The findings suggest that MNCs experience heterogeneity in their CSR, particularly in the implementation approaches, philanthropic and environmental CSR dimensions, and that MNCs with significant heterogeneity at the strategic level have less cohesive strategic CSR practices. The study also found that MNCs that encourage and facilitate active collaboration between subsidiaries have more cohesive and strategic CSR, and each MNC's CSR is driven by different co-evolutionary dynamics. The study contributes to the expansion of co-evolutionary theory to the study of CSR and offers a dynamic CSR co-evolution model explaining MNC CSR heterogeneity in real-world situations, along with potential levers to achieve more globally cohesive strategic CSR.

Effective Storm Water Management in The Urban Area – A Case Study

Urbanization and climate change have negative effects on the changes of natural precipitation and runoff regime, which results with more frequent floods and landslides. Besides of the increased quantity of the stormwater that drainage channels have to collect, neg- ative consequences of urbanization are also evident through increased pollution of runoff stormwater. Stormwater has immense impacts on urban flooding and water quality, leaving the marginalized and the impoverished disproportionately impacted by and vulnerable to stormwater hazards. However, the environmental health concerns of socially and econom- ically marginalized individuals are largely underestimated. Therefore stormwater manage- ment should be adapted to these changes so that the negative effects of new hydrological conditions of precipitation and runoff and stormwater pollution in the urban areas are mitigated. By 2050 the world population will grow to about 9 billion contributing to deep changes in urban areas structure. This would increase the effect of water deficiency and along with projected climate changes the impact of urban flooding, urban heat islands or drought. Stormwater threats can be mitigated with the application of stormwater management meth- ods named differently such as ‘Sustainable (Urban) Drainage Systems’ (SUDS), ‘Low Impact Development’ (LID) or ‘Best Management Practices’ (BMPs). This method includes differ- ent techniques such as Green roof, Rain barrels and cisterns, Infiltration basin, Detention Ponds, Retention Ponds, Green walls, Porous pavements, Bioretention basins, Bioswales. The aim of the research includes a study of the effectiveness of urban stormwater manage- ment techniques for the case study area. The concept of urban stormwater management techniques refers to the ability to provide and manage this primary resource in quantitative and qualitative terms in order to satisfy the future needs of population. The storm wa- ter management techniques provides several benefits: mitigation of the urban heat island effects, reduction of air pollution, additionally, It induces important hydraulic advantages acting as an effective tool for reducing flood risk in urban area with runoff reduction, attenuation and delay of the peak flow. The results confirm that bioretention basin, Permeable pavement, Grassed swale, Infiltration basin are effective techniques for the reduction of total runoff volume of rainwater falling on their area.

GIS-BASED ESTIMATION OF SHORELINE CHANGE AT THE OLIE PIER HARBOR HERITAGE SITE, MANGGAR, EAST BELITUNG, INDONESIA

The coastal area is a dynamic region influenced by continuous interactions between land and the sea. Changes in coastal compositions are closely related to shoreline instability. This study analyzes coastline changes at the Olie Pier Heritage Site, Manggar, East Belitung, Indonesia, using statistical-based techniques EPR (End Point Rate) and NSM (Net Shoreline Movement) 2015 to 2023. The DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) was employed to calculate the shoreline alterations in every transect with a distance of about 100 m. The study area is generally predominated by a moderate abrasion. The EPR and NSM values indicate a potential for future shoreline changes, considering the present status and future estimations of oceanographic parameters (currents, wind, waves, tides). The highest erosion is identified in the Lalang Village with a shoreline retreat (NSM) of -65.38 m and a retreat rate (EPR) of 8.78 m/year. On the other hand, the highest accretion is observed in the Baru Village with a NSM of -56.68 m and EPR of 7.61 m/year. The implications of these shoreline changes on the heritage site and the coastal environment contribute to the management of coastal areas amidst global environmental challenges. This study provides valuable insights into conservation and sustainable development efforts in the coastal region of East Belitung.

Strategic Digital City: Multiple Projects for Sustainable Urban Management

In the last two decades, sustainable urban environments have been predominant, meaning that knowledge production has accompanied this growth. The objective of this study is to present multiple projects for sustainable urban management applied in cities, based on the original Strategic Digital City (SDC) concept, model, and project. The research methodology included an SDC systematic literature review, highlighting the sustainability and respective action research of 11 doctoral theses and multiple projects. The obtained results highlight a set of published multiple projects that form a practical analytical cycle of sustainable and interconnected urban processes through the original SDC framework proposition, SDC, which can be applied in different cities in different countries. The innovations present in the SDC multiple projects propose a theoretical–empirical debate in the interdisciplinary areas of urban management, municipal administration, and sustainable public innovation, with a focus on local government and democracy studies, prioritizing sustainable strategies in cities and not just technologies. The conclusion reiterates that the original multiple projects, created and applied in different cities, present an interdisciplinary advance in sustainable urban management areas and public administration, focused on sustainable urban studies.

Joining forces to fight wildfires: Science and management in a protected area of Pantanal, Brazil

In 2020, the world’s largest continuous stretch of wetlands, the Pantanal in South America, recorded its most catastrophic fire season of the last two decades, resulting in severe economic, ecological and health consequences. Regional environmental institutions and communities are taking measures to protect their unique ecosystem, as is the case of the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Sesc Pantanal, a national protected area. The reserve was severely affected by the 2020 wildfires and is now en route to recover and intensify prevention strategies. Here, we employ a state-of-the-art satellite-derived burned area dataset and a global climate reanalysis product to map and assess the incidence and vulnerability of this reserve to its most concerning disturbance: wildfires. We validated the remote-sensed burned area product and found that the product successfully maps the years with higher fire activity. Then, we studied historical occurrences of burned areas within the reserve. The results show large burned areas are uncommon, and highlight the year 2020 as an outlier, when around 65 % of the reserve was burned. Climate trends over the last four decades show increasing temperatures and wind speed, and decreasing relative humidity and precipitation. Fire weather is thus steadily rising, bearing favourable conditions for fire activity over the most critical months of the year. This study provides useful information for fire management decisions within the largest privately held natural reserve in Brazil, and further allows the assessment of the applicability and limitations of large-scale and state-of-the-art products to inform decision-making within protected areas.

Evaluation of local compost methods for soil management in northwestern Nigeria: Advanced scientific theories and economic values

Compost technology is an advanced technology that involves the transformation of organic materials and organic waste/sludge into organic manures/fertilizers. This method was locally applied by many rural farmers in northwestern Nigeria long ago. It has been used by farmers as the best method for soil quality and soil fertility management in dryland and fadama areas of the region. This research paper was built to provide scientific advances in common compost methods in northwestern Nigeria. Approximately twelve (12) different methods were surveyed and explained based on cultural practices and scientific theories. These composting methods include dumping, hole-gathering, burning, container-packed, open-build, farm-tunnel, pond-manure, lake-fill-in, irrigated-bed-in, home-bin, farm-cattle and sheet-composting methods. These sets of methods were provided with specific instructions, fundamentals and theoretical justifications. There have been broad advances in how these methods can be used to generate revenues, create jobs, ensure safe and well-frained environments, improve food security and decrease or to some extent control the spread of malaria and other related human diseases in northwestern Nigeria. This study provides suggestions for better use of organic materials/sludge, development of bioorganic fertilizer industries, and continued revision of sustainable agricultural management with negative chemicals.

Insufficient numbers and poor working conditions for rangers protecting tigers

AbstractProtected area rangers are planetary health care workers and are at the frontline of the protection of wildlife and wild places. Ensuring that there are sufficient rangers in protected areas, and that these rangers are equipped and provided with decent working conditions, is critical to protecting iconic species such as tiger Panthera tigris. Using data from a global survey of public‐sector ranger numbers, we estimate the shortfall in the number of rangers required to safeguard protected areas in Tiger Conservation Landscapes (TCLs) across the 10 Asian countries with breeding tigers. We calculate the cost required to address this shortfall in ranger numbers. We also estimate the costs for meeting a subset of the welfare needs of rangers aligned to the Chitwan Declaration of the World Ranger Congress. We estimate that a minimum of 12,500 more rangers are required across ~320,000 km2 of tiger‐bearing protected areas. We estimate this would cost US$ 45.8 million annually. The majority (63%) of these rangers are required in three Southeast Asian countries, which have declining tiger numbers. To meet a subset of the basic welfare needs of rangers, we estimate that an additional US$ 7.8 million is required annually across the 10 countries. While the funding gap that we estimate excludes many aspects of effective protected area management, we provide further evidence that protected areas in the biodiverse tropics remain underfunded. Increasing funding for rangers is a critical component of what is required to protect the tiger and tiger landscapes. We urge tiger range country governments, and the global conservation community, to secure this funding. Increasing the numbers of rangers, and effectively supporting their welfare, will increase our ability to protect the tiger and the ecologically significant landscapes in which it occurs.

What constitutes an employer of choice? A qualitative triangulation investigation

Employer of choice (EOC) is a relatively new phenomenon, particularly in Human Resources Management. Existing employees and prospective talent have reasons and expectations to designate an employer as an EOC. While EOC has received extensive attention from both academics and practitioners over the past few years, the work has mostly focused on managerial and marketing perspectives, and thus far lacks a strong theoretical foundation. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory (SET), based on Human Resources and employees’ perceptions and experiences, this research aims to explore and investigate the factors that constitute/designate an employer as an Employer of Choice EOC. Two qualitative triangulated data sets were collected from existing full-time employees at a Saudi multinational corporation: open interviews and document analysis (cross-sectional and longitudinal). Thematic analysis (TA) was employed to analyze both methods. The findings reveal that company image, training, and development, satisfaction, involvement and commitment, fairness, work culture, reward, opportunities for growth, teamwork, motivation, and corporate social responsibility are the factors that lead employees to designate an employer as an EOC. This research contributes to knowledge conceptually, theoretically, and empirically, mainly in the area of Human Resources Management. This research represents one of the first studies to empirically identify and investigate employee-related factors and evaluate them all together in a multinational Saudi organization. Recognizing the findings of this empirical-based research assists HR managers in designating their organizations as an EOC for current employees and prospective talents.

A web-based scoping review assessing the influence of smoking and smoking cessation on antidiabetic drug meabolism: implications for medication efficacy.

Currently 1.3 billion individuals globally engage in smoking, leading to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among diabetic patients. There is urgent need for a better understanding of how smoking influences antidiabetic treatment efficacy. The review underscores the role of cigarette smoke, particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in modulating the metabolic pathways of antidiabetic drugs, primarily through the induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), thus impacting drug pharmacokinetics and therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, the review addresses the relatively uncharted territory of how smoking cessation influences diabetes treatment, noting that cessation can lead to significant changes in drug metabolism, necessitating dosage adjustments. Special attention is given to the interaction between smoking cessation aids and antidiabetic medications, a critical area for patient safety and effective diabetes management. This scoping review aims to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge to better support diabetic patients who smoke or are attempting to quit, ensuring tailored and effective treatment strategies. It also identifies gaps in current research, advocating for more studies to fill these voids, thereby enhancing patient care and treatment outcomes for this at-risk population.