Business Results Research Articles

Entrepreneurial Leadership Development in the Digital Age

During the second half of the 21st century, academia has presented different studies to conceptualize entrepreneurial leadership without academic consensus.Although leadership and entrepreneurship are distinct, the literature has come to understand their similarities (Harrison et al., 2020). Despite the large number of publications, the characteristics of a leader should be based on an entrepreneurial profile, mainly to gain competitive differentiation for companies through the productivity of their human capital (Addy et al., 2024). Over the last century, the business world has undergone several transformations intrinsically linked to innovations and developments in Information and Communication Technologies. Over the last few decades, the installed business park has changed in computerization and automation, making it necessary to equip human resources with ICT-related tools and knowledge. This and several generations cooperating in companies have brought new challenges to leadership (Figueiredo and Joaquim, 2023). However, in contemporary times, the business sector has to acknowledge the challenges inherent in meeting ESG indicators to respond to the SDGs, forcing leaders to equip themselves with entrepreneurial skills to involve, motivate, and create strategies for promoting innovation and retaining talent (Addy et al., 2024). According to Omeihe et al. (2023), “the role of entrepreneurial leadership in enhancing positive business outcomes” (2023, p. 1), but the authors also acknowledge that leaders should embrace several attributes and skills to implement this new leadership perspective. The entrepreneur concept has gained new topics to discuss and internalize, including ICT and the sustainable domains paradigms regarding the ESG indicators and the SDG goals. This article aims to understand the challenges and competencies needed to conceptualize entrepreneurial leadership by critically reviewing the existing literature and linking it to the inherent needs of ESG and SDG goals; it seems to be the only way to understand and internalize the processes and procedures involved in entrepreneurial leadership in the digital age.

Crisis response strategies: a digital reluctance perspective

AbstractThis research examines the convergence of digitalisation and managerial capabilities in shaping effective crisis response strategies, with a particular focus on understanding the factors that contribute to managers’ digital reluctance. In a two-wave study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) through a Dynamic Managerial Capability (DMC) lens, we incorporate the qualitative data from managers of four coworking spaces into a theoretical model that assesses digitalisation as a determinant of DMC in crisis management. Our findings show that digital sensing, digital seizing, and digital reconfiguration capabilities effectively coordinate the survival process. Additionally, we introduce the concept of ‘digital reluctance’ as a constraint on DMC in the context of digitalisation. This behaviour stems from a combination of social, human and cognitive factors, including an avoidance of costly digital tools due to limited resources, scepticism about the ability of digital tools to address core challenges, lack of a compelling competitive advantage, intrinsic confidence in digital maturity, challenges in managing employee learning, and reluctance to sustain digital initiatives that do not yield immediate results. With a theoretical contribution to the crisis management literature, our study provides a better understanding of digital coping mechanisms, highlighting the importance of managers’ social, human and cognitive capabilities. Practically, we analyse the managerial perspectives and pathways for adopting digital technologies to survive in crisis disruptions, against liquidity and solvency threats. Finally, we outline the relevant strategies for achieving business outcomes at four different levels of leveraging digitalisation and DMC exploitation.

How supermarket retailers value business outcomes of healthy food retail strategies: a discrete choice experiment

How supermarket retailers value business outcomes of healthy food retail strategies: a discrete choice experiment

Environmental management and its effect on innovation and export performance: Empirical research in Chinese manufacturing companies

This study investigates the role of Chinese manufacturing firms in implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to understand how these practices impact export performance and the mediating and moderating effects of innovation. Using structural equation modeling on data from 226 Chinese manufacturing businesses, our findings indicate that EMS indirectly enhances export performance through innovation. This research provides significant contributions to general management by integrating EMS and innovation within the strategic framework of manufacturing firms, offering insights for enhancing competitive advantage and sustainability in global markets. The findings also present practical implications for managers to leverage EMS and innovation for improved business outcomes and sustainable practices.

AI AND MACHINE LEARNING IN BUSINESS PROCESS AUTOMATION: INNOVATING WAYS AI CAN ENHANCE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES OR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES IN U.S. ENTERPRISES

This study presents a comprehensive review of the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in enhancing business processes across various industries. By examining a total of 75 peer-reviewed articles, the review highlights key areas where AI and ML have demonstrated significant impact, including operational efficiency, customer engagement, and strategic decision-making. Findings indicate that AI-driven process optimizations, particularly through predictive maintenance and resource management, have led to substantial cost savings and improved productivity by minimizing downtime and enhancing workflow efficiencies. Additionally, AI’s ability to support personalized customer experiences—through recommendation systems, dynamic pricing, and chatbots—has proven instrumental in driving customer satisfaction, retention, and engagement, making it a critical tool in customer relationship management. Furthermore, the strategic adoption of AI and ML has enabled data-driven decision-making, allowing companies to respond more effectively to market changes and forecast business outcomes with greater accuracy. The study also explores the transition from Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to AI as a foundational step, illustrating how RPA provides a structured entry point for advanced AI applications, creating an automation-ready environment. However, challenges such as technical limitations, ethical concerns, and organizational resistance persist, underscoring the need for careful implementation strategies. Addressing these challenges will be vital for organizations aiming to maximize the benefits of AI-driven automation in an increasingly competitive digital landscape. This review underscores the significant potential of AI and ML in reshaping business models and emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and development in these fields to support sustainable and scalable innovations.

The Impact of Employee Engagement on Organizational Performance: An Analysis of Key Psychological Traits and Business Outcomes

This research investigates employee engagement across various organizations to identify key factors influencing it, methods of measurement, and its impact on organizational performance. Data was collected from 300 employees representing diverse industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and education in around Pondicherry. The study focuses on critical factors such as leadership, organizational culture, recognition, and work-life balance. A strong correlation was found between high engagement levels and positive organizational outcomes, such as increased productivity, reduced turnover, enhanced job satisfaction, and improved employee retention. Quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS and AMOS for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), employing descriptive and inferential statistics to assess relationships between variables. Additionally, the study highlights sector-specific challenges in maintaining employee engagement, especially in industries with high job demands or budget constraints. The findings suggest practical strategies for enhancing engagement, such as fostering supportive leadership, offering career development opportunities, and promoting flexible work arrangements. The paper concludes with recommendations for refining measurement approaches and suggests avenues for future research on sustaining long-term engagement in evolving work environments.

MLOps

Companies are moving from a cottage industry to a factory approach to analytics, especially in regard to machine learning (ML) models. This change is motivating companies to adopt ML operations (MLOps) as a methodology for the timely development, deployment, and maintenance of ML models in order to positively impact business outcomes. The adoption of MLOps requires changes in processes, technology, and people, and these changes are informed by previous work on decision support systems (DSS), development operations (DevOps), and data operations (DataOps). The processes, technologies, and people needed for MLOps are discussed and illustrated using a customer purchase recommendation example. Current and future directions for MLOps practice driven by artificial intelligence (AI) are explored. Suggestions for further academic research are provided.

Data-Driven Personalization : Revolutionizing User Experience

Data-driven personalization has emerged as a transformative approach in digital user experience design, leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning to tailor content and interfaces to individual users. This article explores five key aspects of data-driven personalization: user behavior analysis, segmentation and targeting, machine learning algorithms, real-time adaptation, and privacy and ethical considerations. It examines the significant impact of personalization on business outcomes, including increased revenue and customer engagement, while also addressing implementation challenges, such as technological complexity and privacy concerns. The article provides insights into the methodologies, processes, and best practices for effective personalization, supported by industry statistics and case studies, offering a comprehensive overview of how organizations can harness this powerful approach to create more engaging, relevant, and effective digital experiences.

The Impact of Employee Motivation on Business Performance and Growth

Employee motivation is a key determinant of business performance, influencing productivity, job satisfaction, and organizational success. This research paper explores the relationship between employee motivation and business outcomes using secondary data sources. A thorough literature review is conducted to analyse various motivational theories and their practical applications across small businesses and multinational corporations. The paper highlights leadership’s role in fostering motivation, the challenges in maintaining employee engagement, and how businesses can enhance their motivational strategies. Recommendations are provided based on findings from prior studies, emphasizing the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators in driving business growth

Cannabis Licensing and Municipal Revenues

Municipal license policy has shaped the early roll-out and business outcomes of Proposition 64. Several stakeholders identify license availability as a key constraint to future cannabis market growth in California. Recent studies explore local cannabis licensing policy; however, key questions remain around municipal revenues, business location, and the role of supporting cannabis business ownership. Our paper explores the impacts of cannabis licensing on business locations and municipal taxable revenues. We use publicly-available Department of Cannabis Control licensing data to examine business locations using GIS analysis, conduct a regression analysis of city-level licenses and Department of Tax and Fee Administration revenues across California, and forecast potential municipal taxable revenues in South Bay Los Angeles. We find that licensed cannabis businesses appear to develop in Los Angeles County and are located close to borders of cities not issuing licenses, in areas of favorable zoning, in densely populated locations, and areas with higher poverty and minority populations. Our regression analysis suggests that city population drives municipal taxable revenue, indicating that business follows demand.

Antecedents of Startup Company Performance in Indonesia: A Pathway Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Objective: This study examines CEO competency's impact on business performance in startup companies, particularly in Indonesia. It also explores the mediating role of business networks in this relationship. Theoretical Framework: The study builds on theories of leadership competency and network theory to investigate how the competencies of startup CEOs influence both business performance directly and indirectly through the development of business networks. Method: The study employs Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM PLS) to analyse data collected from 300 respondents drawn from a population of 2,419 startup companies in Indonesia. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal that CEO competency significantly positively affects both business performance and the establishment of business networks. Furthermore, business networks also positively influence business performance. The study confirms that business networks serve as a crucial mediating factor in the relationship between CEO competency and business performance, strengthening the overall performance of startup companies. Research Implications: These results offer practical insights for startup CEOs, suggesting that enhancing leadership competencies and fostering business networks can significantly improve business outcomes. The findings also contribute to the broader understanding of how leadership skills in startups can mitigate the high failure rates in this sector. Originality/Value: This research is the first to empirically investigate the role of CEO competency in startup business performance in Indonesia, specifically focusing on the mediating role of business networks. Its novelty lies in addressing startups' high failure rates through the lens of leadership and networking.

Large Language Model in Creative Work: The Role of Collaboration Modality and User Expertise

Since the launch of ChatGPT in December 2022, large language models (LLMs) have been rapidly adopted by businesses to assist users in a wide range of open-ended tasks, including creative work. Although the versatility of LLM has unlocked new ways of human-artificial intelligence collaboration, it remains uncertain how LLMs should be used to enhance business outcomes. To examine the effects of human-LLM collaboration on business outcomes, we conducted an experiment where we tasked expert and nonexpert users to write an ad copy with and without the assistance of LLMs. Here, we investigate and compare two ways of working with LLMs: (1) using LLMs as “ghostwriters,” which assume the main role of the content generation task, and (2) using LLMs as “sounding boards” to provide feedback on human-created content. We measure the quality of the ads using the number of clicks generated by the created ads on major social media platforms. Our results show that different collaboration modalities can result in very different outcomes for different user types. Using LLMs as sounding boards enhances the quality of the resultant ad copies for nonexperts. However, using LLMs as ghostwriters did not provide significant benefits and is, in fact, detrimental to expert users. We rely on textual analyses to understand the mechanisms, and we learned that using LLMs as ghostwriters produces an anchoring effect, which leads to lower-quality ads. On the other hand, using LLMs as sounding boards helped nonexperts achieve ad content with low semantic divergence to content produced by experts, thereby closing the gap between the two types of users. This paper was accepted by D. J. Wu, information systems. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.03014 .

Artificial Intelligence in Fraud Detection and Financial Risk Mitigation: Future Directions and Business Applications

AI in fraud detection and financial risk management has taken this role of prevention and combating fraud closely related to organizations and the losses they incur a next level. This paper aims to discuss the use of artificial intelligence models in the process of detecting frauds and preventing and reducing financial risks in such markets as banking, insurance, and fintech. Today, through machine learning algorithms, deep learning techniques, and data analysis, the AI improves the speed, accuracy and effectiveness of fraud detection. This paper discusses the current AI models and business use incorporating the success story and the business outcomes which has encountered sometime to have the best result. Furthermore, the paper examines other important issues of AI application management such as data security and liberation, and complete fairness control. Using examples as well as statistical data in this AI for business article, we show how corporations have managed to minimize their risks while lowering their expenses with the use of artificial intelligence technology. This research outlines ideas on how organizations can implement AI into fraud detection systems and what can be done in future to enhance the solutions. This paper adds to the emerging body of knowledge on AI’s impact on finance and security, and demonstrates AI’s ability to influence the future of the industry.

Circular Economy Models in Renewable Energy: Technological Innovations and Business Viability

The transitions from fossil-based energy to renewable energy are deeply connected with circular economy solutions for business development and innovation. This paper aims to evaluate to what extent innovation in renewable energy can be used to advance circular economy strategies, with emphasis on the business aspect. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis, the research analyzes case contributions of a number of RES projects that apply CE principles. It also focuses on the main issues which specialists encounter while implementing these models and considers their economic feasibility. The results show that circular economy principles present renewable energy firms with tremendous potential for enhancing resource use efficiency and financial performance. This research provides practical recommendations aimed at the stakeholders in terms of constructing a more sustainable energy system. In doing so this research adds novelty by identifying the technological factors as advocates for implementing circular economy models to support business outcomes within the renewable energy industry.

The interplay between smart technologies, business sustainability, and environmental sustainability: An empirical analysis of SMEs

AbstractThis study examines the interplay between smart technologies, business sustainability, and environmental sustainability within the context of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). By employing structural equation modeling (SEM), the study evaluates the direct and indirect effects of smart technology integration on business and environmental sustainability outcomes. The results indicate that while smart technologies do not directly influence environmental sustainability, they significantly enhance business sustainability, which in turn positively affects environmental sustainability. This implies a mediated relationship, in which the strategic implementation of smart technologies is crucial for achieving environmental goals. The implications extend to the necessity of a strategic, holistic approach to sustainability in SMEs, emphasizing the intricate roles played by smart technologies in this sector.

Exploring corporate reputation and crisis communication

AbstractCorporate reputation, the collective perception of company attractiveness towards stakeholders, impacts business outcomes, while effective communication strategies play a critical role in shaping and maintaining the reputation. The role of communication is highlighted during crises, crisis communication being a strategic approach to managing and mitigating the impact of unexpected or adverse events on the reputation, operations, and stakeholders. These concepts are deeply interrelated with interactive marketing. This study explores the dynamics of corporate reputation and crisis communication during a recent global crisis by combining a literature review, opinion mining, and classification analysis. This is because stakeholders rely on various information sources and engage in online discussions, which can impact the reputation, and pose new challenges. The opinion mining analysis draws from the media communication of selected stock-listed companies during a crisis. The key findings shed light on the dynamics of corporate reputation and crisis communication and the impacts on interactive marketing. Critical components of crisis communication are identified to include monitoring, tactics of responding, and response management. Linkages between these, crisis communication theories, and corporate reputation are synthesised. Indications are provided on how the crisis can affect the corporate reputation and the significance of the speed of preventive communication measures.

Understanding philanthropic leadership: a bibliometric analysis of research trends over the 1991–2021 period

Purpose Philanthropy has developed into a trillion-dollar industry with substantial transnational funds. Scholarly research on philanthropic leadership has experienced substantial growth since the 1990s, but as an academic field, it remains ill-defined. The purpose of this study is to examine the current state of the literature on philanthropic leadership to determine the extent to which the field needs to be further specialized. Design/methodology/approach Relying on the VOSviewer software version 1.6.15, the authors conducted a bibliometric analysis of 470 identified articles published between 1991 and 2021 to uncover the most influential articles, academic outlets and scholars in the field. Findings There is a noticeable lack of literature that accurately reflects the overall practice of philanthropic leadership. Most specialized research concentrates on the influence of corporate leaders in using philanthropic activities as a means of achieving business objectives. However, it is essential to recognize that leadership plays a critical role in effective philanthropy, which benefits various stakeholders and produces favorable spillover effects. The findings indicate that existing literature tends to focus on the influence of corporate leaders on philanthropic activities and their correlation with business outcomes. Originality/value This study contributes to the field by offering insights into the intellectual structure of the field and assists with the identification of new research directions within the philanthropic leadership domain. Further scholarly consideration is needed to understand the practice of philanthropic leadership.

Investigate the distinctive link between a balanced scorecard and organizational performance in IT and non-IT sectors

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine how the implementation of a balanced scorecard (BSC) affects business outcomes in both information technology (IT) and non-IT sectors.Design/methodology/approachPartial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypothesis. A random sample was used to collect 170 responses from the IT companies and 166 from non-IT companies by using the questionnaire method. The questionnaire was distributed to the top- and middle-level managers in Bangalore city, and we used SmartPLS software to explore the relationship between our research constructs.FindingsThe results of this study indicate that a BSC has a significant and positive impact on organizational performance in IT and non-IT sectors. The main distinction in this study is that all BSC perspectives [learning and growth perspective, internal business process (IBP) perspective, customer perspective (CP) and financial perspective (FP)] have a significant, direct and indirect impact on IT companies. On the other hand, solely three BSC perspectives (IBP perspective, CP and FP) have a significant impact on non-IT companies, while learning and growth perspective has an insignificant impact on the FP.Originality/valueThis study provides a critical theoretical and practical contribution of a BSC on business performance in IT and non-IT industries.

The Impact of CRM Systems on Customer Satisfaction and Retention

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems have become essential tools for businesses aiming to enhance customer satisfaction and retention. This research investigates the impact of CRM systems on these critical business outcomes by analyzing data from various companies that have implemented CRM solutions. The study explores how CRM systems facilitate improved customer interactions, personalized services, and efficient problem resolution. Our findings indicate that businesses utilizing CRM systems experience significant improvements in customer satisfaction and retention rates. The research also highlights key factors that contribute to the successful implementation and utilization of CRM systems, including employee training, data quality, and technological integration. These insights provide valuable guidance for organizations seeking to leverage CRM systems to foster stronger customer relationships and achieve sustainable growth.

Closing the referral loop on health-related social needs.

184 Background: Additional clinical challenges arise by way of health-related social needs (HRSNs) presenting barriers outside of clinic walls. Taking a person-centered approach by assessing and addressing HRSNs to overcome barriers can be practiced through resource referrals to community-based organizations offering specialized social services. Using closed-loop referral (CLR) technology, HRSNs can be addressed resulting in higher treatment completion rates and on-time visits contributing to positive health outcomes, quality of life, and improved business outcomes. HRSNs are categorized in major groups such as transit, food, housing, money, health (i.e. mental health, dental care, nutrition counseling, etc.), and care (i.e. daycare, end-of-life care, physical safety, etc.). In this study, we seek to substantiate CLR technology to address common HRSNs impacting cancer patients through real-time data sharing and resource facilitation showing reportable evidence that the HRSNs have been addressed. Methods: On June 5 th , 2023, The US Oncology Network (The Network) launched Findhelp’s CLR platform onboarding users in over 600 clinical service sites nationwide. Implementation and change management began with a pilot group and deployment to remaining clinical sites in a sequence of three waves. Methods used to measure engagement came through onboarding analytics and click rates tracked through the Findhelp CLR platform. For training and support job aides, new user workflows, promo materials and weekly office hours were held to catalyze engagement. Results: Within an eleven-month measurement period, 75% of practices in The Network showed navigation activities within the referral platform. The top five resource searches by need included health (21.7%), transit (20.8%), food (19.9%), housing (18.9%), and care (6.5%). Over 2,000 referrals were made with 1,306 being CLRs for nearly 500 patients receiving help to meet identified HRSNs through the CLR technology. Conclusions: In this study, over 50% of patients referred to social care services were captured as successfully receiving help meeting identified HRSNs. This study opens doors to further research on what HRSNs were not met, and to identify distressed demographics by location and geographical resource deserts with unmet HRSNs.