Ethical Practice Research Articles

The Entrepreneurial Impact of the European Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

The European Commission’s Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, adopted in 2022 and approved in 2024, mandates that companies identify, prevent, and mitigate hostile human rights and environmental impacts across their operations and supply chains, integrating sustainability into corporate governance. This article examines the directive’s influence on European entrepreneurial activity, ecosystems, and innovation using a qualitative descriptive literature analysis, comparative frameworks, impact assessments, policy recommendations, and case studies. Findings suggest that while the directive imposes compliance challenges and costs, particularly for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, it offers significant long-term benefits, such as improved risk management, enhanced reputation, and market differentiation. The directive promotes accountability and ethical practices, harmonizing due diligence across the EU and fostering a culture of sustainability. It concludes that companies addressing these impacts can gain a competitive edge and attract sustainability-focused investors, necessitating support mechanisms for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises to mitigate burdens and encourage compliance.

Trust in Online Shopping Among Generation Z: An Analysis of Key Influencing Factors

The rise of digital platforms has fundamentally transformed consumer behavior, especially among Generation Z (Gen Z), a cohort deeply immersed in the digital age. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing Gen Z's trust in online shopping by examining the relationships between convenience, ease of comparison, product variety, pricing and discounts, security, and environmental concerns. A quantitative method was employed, gathering data from 250 Gen Z participants, with IBM SPSS used to test the proposed hypotheses. The results reveal that pricing and discounts, security, and environmental factors significantly impact Gen Z’s trust in online shopping, while convenience, ease of comparison, and product variety show no significant influence. This research contributes to the understanding of Gen Z's online behavior, highlighting the growing importance of sustainability and secure transactions in fostering trust. The findings offer practical insights for businesses aiming to build stronger relationships with Gen Z, emphasizing the need to focus on ethical practices, competitive pricing, and enhanced security. These insights have implications for both marketers and policymakers in the evolving e-commerce landscape

Epistemic silences, subversive politics: post-disaster economic assessments as technologies of persistent coloniality and route to an emancipatory climate justice agenda in the Caribbean

ABSTRACT Economic analyses of losses and damages or post-disaster needs assessments (PDNAs) are silent about the longstanding reparatory claims related to the legacies of African enslavement, colonial violence and indigenous dispossession that compound uneven racialized geographies in the Caribbean. This paper unpacks these so-called ‘objective’ valuations drawing attention to their (neo)liberal framings, technocratic underpinnings, and historical origins in the Caribbean plantation economy. Using case studies of catastrophic hurricanes Matthew (2016), Irma (2017) and Dorian (2019) in Haiti, Antigua and Barbuda, and The Bahamas respectively, the paper exposes critical tensions, knowledge hierarchies, and contradictions embedded within empirical assessments that justify and prioritize preferred policies of powerful international development, financial and governance institutions. PDNAs under-value and neglect important community and local knowledge, solidarity practices, cultural institutions, and relational ethics in the face of climate disasters in these Caribbean islands. Taking a Black geographies and political economy approach, the paper addresses the limitations and risks associated with PDNAs, deemed political tools or technologies of climate disaster that reinforce oppression. To advance an emancipatory climate justice agenda to enable more radical reparative measures and possibilities, the paper suggests that analyses and political strategy must be grounded in people's history, cultural, ethical, and communal governance practices.

Identifying constraints on Gen Z’s path toward ethical tourism consumption and practices

Gen Z’s interest in ethical consumption, including tourism, is growing in response to pressing global challenges. However, there is limited research on the constraints tied to the ethical travel decisions of this young cohort of travelers. This qualitative study, grounded in the theory of constraints and ethical consumerism literature, addresses this gap. The findings reveal multi-layered and interrelated constraints categorized as intrapersonal (cognitive dissonance, risk aversion, consumption inertia), interpersonal (green stigma, family dynamics, social comparison), and structural (limited accessibility, financial restrictions). This study extends the theory of constraints by showing that these constraints do not act in isolation but interact dynamically, with intrapersonal constraints often triggering interpersonal and structural ones, while certain barriers reinforce others. Unlike previous research that treats these constraints as independent, our findings reveal their sequential and context-dependent nature, offering new insights into how these constraints interrelate in shaping ethical travel decisions and practices. By highlighting the complexity of ethical decision-making—including conflicting principles, ambiguity, and social influences—this study offers a novel, theoretically-grounded perspective on the constraints faced by Gen Z, often labelled the “greenest” generation. Practically, these findings inform targeted interventions and policy initiatives to enable ethical tourism.

Values in Narratives: Religious Education as an Exercise in Emotional Rationality

The domain of education deals with the issue of the possibility of a person’s development so that the person would learn to become more human through the educational process. An integral part of a person’s development is first and foremost the dimension of an individual’s integration into society. Education for values plays an indispensable role in education. The technical aspect of education—as John Macmurray described it—has its foundation in instrumental rationality, aiming at the realization of utilitarian values in order to achieve the necessary social cooperation for the purpose of an easier coexistence. That so-called instrumental conception of life has given birth to a special type of the contemporary human being, homo faber. If, however, we strive to achieve the complete development of a human being through education, which is more fully realized only in the communion of people in the forms of friendship, fellowship and love, this instrumental conception requires enrichment through a communitarian conception of life, aimed at the realization of intrinsic values. In that sense, this article explores the contemplative and relational aspects of education from the perspective of religious education, which, according to John Macmurray, are based on the emotional level of rationality which results in the acquisition and adoption of intrinsic individual and inter-individual values. The aim of this article is to show that when it comes to education, these values are best conveyed through narratives. The article also attempts to shed light on the way students internalize and personalize intrinsic values through their emotional familiarity with the narratives, and especially with the value of reciprocity, which is key to authentic religious practice, and thus also to ethical awareness, which is important for the formation of moral awareness and character of a human being. Furthermore, the article explores the extent to which narratives as a form of religious knowledge are important in religious education, and in which they contribute to the formation of students’ opinions, attitudes and identities as transmitters of religious truths. Narratives notably carry a strong potential for the spiritual transformation of one’s personal and social life in such a way that they can motivate students to accept and realize certain religious and moral practices through experiential touching of values. Examples of narratives used in religious education textbooks in secondary schools in Croatia reveal how much they actually contribute to the goals of religious education in terms of education for intrinsic individual and inter-individual values.

Medical silos, social identity, and duty of care: A call for health leaders to improve transitions of care.

This article explores the concept of medical silos, particularly within hospital systems, and examines their deeper roots in social identity and the fiduciary duty of care of healthcare providers. While traditional perspectives focus on informational and communication barriers, this analysis highlights how professional identity and moral obligations contribute to the persistence of silos. Social identity theory reveals that strong in-group affiliations, formed during medical training and specialization, fosters collaboration within groups but also create divisions between them. Similarly, the fiduciary duty of care, central to ethical medical practice, may inadvertently reinforce silo boundaries in resource-limited environments. By emphasizing the role of centralized leadership, the article proposes that health system managers and leaders, with the broadest possible duty of care, must take action to dismantle these barriers. Recommendations include re-evaluating policies for patient transitions and fostering integrated care pathways to improve overall system flow, rather than simply balancing the agendas of stakeholders within their silos.

Kuit: An Enterprise's Commitment to Sustainability through Technological Development

This article is a case study that aims to show how Kuit, a social enterprise, addresses the challenge of technological management while meeting its social, environmental and economic business objectives. The study examines innovation through technological development as part of a business strategy to promote ethical and sustainable business practices, which are focused on the health and well-being of people through the production and distribution of kombucha. The relevance of the case study lies in showing the technological management strategy implemented by the founders of Kuit, which has led them to a process innovation and a patent application. This innovation has been recognized by the Secretariat of Innovation, Science and Technology of the State of Jalisco, with Kuit being one of the five finalists for the 2021 Jalisco Innovation Award. Innovation has allowed Kuit to be a sustainable company both technically and financially, fulfilling its social and environmental mission.

Investigation of the ethical and legal issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are highly complex and ethically charged medical practices that challenge societal norms and legal frameworks worldwide. This research investigates the multifaceted ethical and legal dilemmas surrounding these end-of-life options. It examines the core ethical arguments for and against euthanasia and assisted suicide, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. The analysis explores different legal approaches to these practices globally, comparing permissive, restrictive, and prohibitive regimes. It delves into the legal complexities of informed consent, competency, vulnerability, and the potential for abuse. Furthermore, the research examines the role of palliative care and the impact of social, cultural, and religious factors on the debate. This investigation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ethical and legal landscape of euthanasia and assisted suicide, contributing to informed policy-making and ethical medical practice. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are topics that spark intense ethical, legal, and social debate. Both are related to the right to die, but there are fundamental differences between them.

Building Scalable MLOps: Optimizing Machine Learning Deployment and Operations

As machine learning (ML) models become increasingly integrated into mission-critical applications and production systems, the need for robust and scalable MLOps (Machine Learning Operations) practices has grown significantly. This paper explores key strategies and best practices for building scalable MLOps pipelines to optimize the deployment and operation of machine learning models at an enterprise scale. It delves into the importance of automating the end-to-end lifecycle of ML models, from data ingestion and model training to testing, deployment, and monitoring. Approaches for implementing continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines tailored for ML workflows are discussed, enabling efficient and repeatable model updates and deployments. The paper emphasizes the criticality of implementing comprehensive monitoring and observability mechanisms to track model performance, detect drift, and ensure the reliability and trustworthiness of deployed models. The paper also addresses the challenges of managing model versioning and governance at scale, including techniques for maintaining a centralized model registry, enforcing access controls, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive guide for organizations seeking to establish scalable and robust MLOps practices, enabling them to unlock the full potential of machine learning while mitigating risks and ensuring responsible AI deployment. Keywords—Machine Learning Operations (MLOps), Scalable AI Deployment, Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) for ML, ML Monitoring and Observability, Model Reproducibility, Model Versioning and Governance, Centralized Model Registry, Responsible AI Deployment, Ethical AI Practices, Enterprise MLOps

Give Credit Where It’s Due: The Ethical Imperatives of Authorship Attribution in Collaborative Research

This article proposes practical steps for those new to collaborative research or those seeking to improve the nature of collaborative research partnerships. Questioning academia’s exaltation of publications and authorship as coveted assets, the authors critically analyze the often complex, contentious, and ambiguous environment of collaborative research and negotiating authorship. With respect to academic publishing and ethics of authorship, this article grapples with two critical questions: (1) What factors create ethical dilemmas in authorship in academia? (2) How can academics and researchers better navigate the complexities of collaborative research to sustain ethical authorship practices? A seven-phase process model is proposed to guide the collaborative research process to mitigate ambiguities that reside in the black box. The seven phases encompass problem settings and pre-negotiations, direction setting: action planning, social capital, re-negotiations, equity and inclusivity, implementation- the submission-revision cycle, and reflexivity. This theoretical analysis aims to offer a useful resource to promote enhanced collaborative practices, and the authors take an explicit advocacy and visionary perspective to promote transparency, accountability, and reciprocal trust, to shatter overarching issues such as oppressive, deceitful, and exploitative norms in academic authorship practices.

Navigating Ethical Tensions Through Critical Reflexivity: A Participatory Filmmaking Research Project With Children With Disabilities

This paper illustrates the importance of critical reflexivity in guiding socially and ethically responsible participatory research through an analysis of reflexive notes pertaining to the process of a participatory filmmaking research project with children with disabilities. Within this process, numerous ethical tensions emerged in the field regarding the participation of children with disabilities, authenticity of stories shared, navigating facilitator’s voice, issues of representation of child co-researchers, safety and risks associated with sharing everyday realities within the film, and limits to immediate action. The practice of individual and shared critical reflexivity among researchers, and inclusivity of child co-researchers, was central in navigating ethical tensions. This paper makes transparent the process of critical reflexivity within a participatory action research project by highlighting the ethical tensions faced, contextualizing them within cultural practices and power relations, and sharing strategies used to address ‘ethics in practice.’ We end by proposing practical strategies to enhance reflexive research practices in participatory work.

The Application of New Media Marketing in Luxury Brand Communication

In the evolving landscape of luxury brand communication, this paper explores the transformative role of new media marketing in the dissemination and perception of luxury brands. Drawing insights from recent studies on social media impact on luxury consumption, it delves into how platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WeChat have reshaped consumer behavior, particularly among the affluent and aspirational demographics. The paper also investigates the alignment of advertising strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on women's empowerment, showcasing how luxury brands can leverage social responsibility to enhance their image and appeal. Strategies adopted by luxury brands in the new media era are analyzed, emphasizing the effectiveness of content marketing, influencer partnerships, and digital storytelling. Case studies highlight the success of brands like Gucci and Chanel in engaging audiences through innovative campaigns that blend heritage with modernity. An understanding of the nuances in different cultural contexts is crucial, as demonstrated by the need for sensitivity towards post-feminist ideologies in crafting messages of empowerment. The paper concludes by offering recommendations for luxury brands looking to optimize their new media marketing efforts. It suggests a balanced approach that integrates online and offline experiences, fosters community engagement, and prioritizes ethical and sustainable practices. By doing so, luxury brands can not only increase their market penetration but also contribute positively to societal goals, thereby ensuring long-term brand loyalty and relevance in an increasingly digital and socially conscious world.

Investigating Dark Patterns on Social Media: Implications for User Engagement and Impulse Buying Behavior

With the increasing use of social media and the proliferation of digital applications, dark patterns have become a significant concern due to their potential impact on user behavior. These patterns aim to influence user engagement and impulse buying in ways that are often subtle and undesired. Despite the importance of this issue, there is a lack of research examining the effects of dark patterns on engagement and impulse buying behavior, particularly in the Middle East. This study investigates key factors associated with dark patterns on social media that impact user engagement and influence impulse buying behavior. A Google Forms survey was conducted with 492 participants from PSUT in Jordan, and SEM was employed for hypothesis testing. The study found that time, effort, pleasure, and social acceptance significantly positively influence user engagement, while non-routine behavior exerts a negative influence. Furthermore, engagement demonstrated a significant positive effect on impulse buying behavior. Marketers should prioritize genuine connections and ethical practices to maintain trust and respect user autonomy. Dark patterns can erode trust and harm long-term relationships, emphasizing the need for transparency, social proof, and ethical data handling. This research addresses a significant gap in understanding the influence of dark patterns on consumer behavior.

Informed consent in the age of smart technologies

Technology is increasingly being brought into the home care of older people. Digitalization is seen as an enabler for efficient and resource-saving operations. In the use of technology, informed consent is considered an ethical practice and part of a responsible home care service system. The aim of this article is to describe the problem of informed consent in situations where emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and mass data, are used as part of welfare services and home care for older people. The article discusses principles and ways to better integrate informed consent as an ethical practice into a responsible home care service system. A qualitative study was carried out to gather the views of experts in the field of elderly care and ethics. A content analysis of a semi-structured focus group was used to explore perceptions of the changing nature of informed consent. According to our findings, the informed consent model requires updating. The key is to embrace the idea that consent is a living process designed to respect people's autonomous choices and protect them from risk. If the nature of the use of the data collected from individuals changes significantly in the future, the consent should also be updated to reflect this change. This aspect is important because new technologies will change the nature of the collection and use of the data. Mass data collection combines multiple databases so that the resulting data can be used even far from the original purpose or context in which it was collected. Therefore, consent should always be tailored to the context, allowing sufficient time for the person seeking and giving consent to clarify the content of the consent. This process highlights the importance of understanding the agency of the consent giver.

Updating a Code for Teaching Ethical Visualizations

The prevalent paradigm for understanding what constitutes a ‘good’ data visualization, and what we are likely teaching business students, relates to a conventional wisdom of efficiency, clarity, transparency, and faithful representation of truth. Teaching about the ethics of visualizations seems to be largely absent from business school curricula. This paper suggests that business students who make and use visualizations should be taught to use a code of ethics for visualizations based not only on conventional wisdom, but also on ideas from the Machine Learning/AI and ‘ethical visualizations’ communities. Elaborating on Sheppard’s code, the code suggested here incorporates ideas about bias, transparency, user agency, and privacy. Ethical awareness and practice become even more important as more data collection, processing, and visualization is shifted to Machine Learning and Generative AI. A threshold model is adapted to understand when visualization decisions require more scrutiny. Ideas from the code and the threshold model are used to analyze choices made by the CDC’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Team for an early pandemic visualization that circulated widely beyond the initial report in which it appeared. This and other examples underscore the need for business professionals to consider their visualizations from the perspective of the code.

A Study on Impact of CSR on Brand Reputation and Consumer Behaviour

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a key factor influencing brand reputation and consumer behaviour. Companies that actively engage in CSR initiatives demonstrate a commitment to social and environmental issues, which can enhance their reputation and foster consumer trust. When brands are perceived as socially responsible, consumers are more likely to develop positive attitudes, leading to increased loyalty and advocacy. CSR initiatives, such as sustainability efforts, ethical sourcing, and community engagement, often differentiate brands in competitive markets, giving them a favourable edge. Furthermore, consumers today are more socially conscious, and their purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by a brand’s CSR practices. Brands that prioritize CSR can attract this growing segment of consumers who value ethical and responsible business practices. However, insincere or poorly executed CSR efforts may have the opposite effect, causing reputational damage and eroding consumer trust. Therefore, for CSR to have a positive impact on brand reputation and consumer behaviour, it must be authentic, well-communicated, and integrated into the company’s core values and operations. In conclusion, CSR is a powerful tool for building brand equity, fostering consumer loyalty, and driving long-term business success.

Resilience and Sustainability of Muslim Entrepreneurs of Gen Z In Era 5.0: A Conceptual Approach

This study investigates how digital innovation and green marketing contribute to the resilience and sustainability of Muslim Generation Z entrepreneurship. Gen Z, known for its strong affinity for technology, utilizes digital platforms such as social media and e-commerce to develop businesses with relatively low capital, making it an ideal environment for entrepreneurial growth. For Muslim Gen Z entrepreneurs, integrating Islamic values like honesty, social responsibility, and business ethics into their ventures is essential for business practices. The study aims to explore the impact of digital entrepreneurship and green marketing on the resilience of Muslim Gen Z entrepreneurs and identify the factors influencing their sustainability. The research employs a conceptual approach, analyzing secondary data and existing literature on digital entrepreneurship, green marketing, and Islamic business ethics. Findings indicate that leveraging digital technology enhances the ability of Muslim Gen Z entrepreneurs to adapt to market changes, increase competitiveness, and operate sustainably. Green marketing, in particular, aligns with Islamic principles of environmental responsibility, attracting environmentally conscious consumers and building stronger brand loyalty. This study highlights how these entrepreneurs can integrate ethical practices with innovative strategies to build resilient and sustainable businesses in the digital era. The research underscores the need for further empirical studies to examine the practical application of Islamic values and digital innovation across various regions and how these factors interact with local entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Naděje jako most mezi etikou a filosofií náboženství v díle Immanuela Kanta

The paper focuses on the motif of hope, which plays an important role in Immanuel Kant’s practical philosophy. Hope builds a bridge between ethics and the philosophy of religion, and it does so as part of the highest good. I examine the notion of hope in Kant’s thought in three steps, based on three texts: Critique of Pure Reason (Canon of Pure Reason), Critique of Practical Reason (Postulates of Pure Practical Reason; Ethico-Theology), and Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason (Theory of Radical Evil in Human Nature). I provide arguments to show that, for Kant, hope is a necessary motive. Hope is understood as an attitude of reason, rather than as an emotion. I further demonstrate that in the concept of hope, the desire for happiness intersects with the desire to live well morally. The function of hope, in the context of a lifetime of moral practice, is to help remove obstacles to leading a moral life. Hope is not needed to know what to do. Hope is necessary as a component of the meaningfulness of the whole. The impossibility or loss of hope for the ultimate meaning, as including the achievement of one’s own bliss, would make the lifelong pursuit of morality impossible. Finally, hope turns out to be necessary as a response to the thesis of radical evil in human nature.

Harnessing artificial intelligence for sustainable development in emerging markets: Exploring opportunities and challenges in Thailand

The current study investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts sustainable development in emerging markets, with a focus on Thailand. Following a systematic review approach, research designs are configured for reviewing empirical evidence within peer-reviewed papers and reports. It also presents an overview of the adoption of AI in agriculture, health, and urban planning. The key findings lend credence to the potential use of AI in achieving resource optimality, reducing environmental damage, and urging social equity in its use. But these very initiatives are hampered by the digital divide, concerns about data privacy, and bias in algorithms. The way forward should be to establish solid, regulatory frameworks geared towards more investment in infrastructure with ethical AI practices that will lead to optimal gains. The huge potentials for AI to enable sustainability in Thailand are there; hence, it is very important to reduce the associated risks that require equitably distributed results in all sectors.

A Review Article On The Impact And Evolution Of Sustainable Brands

The growing emphasis on sustainability has prompted significant changes in the fashion industry, particularly among brands striving to align with eco-friendly and ethical practices. This study explores the impact of sustainable brands on consumer behavior and industry standards. It examines how these brands are integrating sustainable practices into their operations, from the use of recycled materials to adopting circular economy principles. Despite consumers' increasing awareness and positive attitudes towards sustainability, there remains a noticeable gap between these attitudes and actual purchasing behaviors. This research highlights the crucial role of sustainable brands in addressing this disconnect by fostering transparency and authenticity in their practices. The study also investigates the effectiveness of various communication strategies employed by sustainable brands to enhance consumer trust and engagement. By analyzing data from consumer surveys and brand case studies, the research identifies key factors influencing the success of sustainable brands, including brand identity, sourcing practices, and marketing strategies. The findings suggest that while sustainable brands are making strides, continued innovation and consumer education are essential for driving broader adoption and achieving meaningful environmental and social impact.