Key Asset Research Articles

A matter of connection: the importance of habitat networks for endangered butterflies in anthropogenic landscapes

Cities are expanding at fast rates across the world, representing one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss due to habitat replacement. Nonetheless, urban and peri-urban areas often feature green spaces that may offer opportunities to wildlife and even represent safe havens for endangered species. Nonetheless, the key drivers that shape wildlife responses to urban landscapes, and in turn their ability to persist within cities, are far from being fully understood. Here we focus on an ecologically specialized butterfly, the endemic Italian festoon Zerynthia cassandra, as a model to assess how endangered species may survive in highly modified urban landscapes. The relatively low mobility and high host plant specialization make Z. cassandra an excellent target for studies in urban ecology, as they make the species able to exploit small suitable patches while at the same time potentially sensitive to habitat fragmentation and loss due to urbanization and land reclamation. We thus first document the relatively widespread occurrence of potentially suitable sites within two highly modified landscapes of central and southern Italy, with 25 and 35% of sites actually occupied by Z. cassandra. By modeling the probability of butterfly occurrence as a function of environmental characteristics, we found that Z. cassandra is strongly influenced by functional connectivity among suitable sites in urban landscapes, as well as by the abundance of Aristolochia host plants, and by the availability of profitable land cover classes in the immediate surroundings of potential oviposition sites. Our results indicate not only that networks of urban and peri-urban green spaces may host populations of protected and endangered species, but that management should also focus on the urban matrix in order to provide connecting corridors, as key assets to guarantee species persistence in cities.

Polarized signatures of orbiting hot spots: Special relativity impact and probe of spacetime curvature

Context. The Galactic Center supermassive black hole is well known to exhibit transient peaks of flux density on a daily basis across the spectrum. Recent infrared and millimeter observations have strengthened the case for the association between these flares and circular orbital motion in the vicinity of the event horizon. The strongly polarized synchrotron radiation associated with these events leads to specific observables called QU loops, that is, looping motion in the Stokes QU plane of linear polarization. These patterns have been observed by the Submillimeter Array, VLTI/GRAVITY, and ALMA. Aims. We want to deepen the understanding of the QU loops associated with orbiting hot spots. To this end, we computed such loops in Minkowski and Schwarzschild spacetimes in order to determine which aspects of the observed patterns are due to special- or general-relativistic phenomena. Methods. We considered a parcel of energized plasma in circular motion in Minkowski spacetime and in Keplerian orbit in the Schwarzschild spacetime. We computed, using the GYOTO ray-tracing code, the polarized radiative transfer associated with this orbiting hot spot and derived the evolution of the flux density, astrometry, and Stokes Q and U parameters. Results. We show that QU loops in Minkowski spacetime at low or moderate inclination i ≲ 45° (where i = 0° is a face-on view) share all the qualitative features of Schwarzschild QU loops. There exist QU loops for all setups considered (including for the face-on view and vertical magnetic field), there may be one or two QU loops per orbital period for a vertical magnetic field configuration, and there are always two QU loops in case of a toroidal magnetic field. The simplicity of Minkowski spacetime is a key asset for allowing us to provide analytical formulas that explain the details of this behavior. Moreover, we analyzed the flux variation of the hot spot and show that it is dictated either by the angular dependence of the radiative transfer coefficients or by relativistic beaming. In the former case, this can lead to extreme flux ratios, even at a moderate inclination. Finally, we highlight the increasing mirror asymmetry of the Schwarzschild QU track with increasing inclination and show that this behavior is a specific Schwarzschild feature caused by light bending. Conclusions. Although special-relativistic effects have not been extensively discussed in this context, they are a crucial part in generating the observed QU loops. However, general-relativistic light bending leads to a specific observable feature encoded in the asymmetry of the observed loops, and this feature might allow the spacetime curvature to be quantified.

Can we manage alien invasive insects without altering native soil faunal communities? A field trial on Popillia japonica

Biological and integrated pest control are key assets to environmentally friendly management of cropland. Use of entomopathogens against target pests is common, yet the effects of such released organisms on native, non-target invertebrates are currently poorly known. This is particularly true for relatively inconspicuous components of agroecosystems such as soil biological biota. Popillia japonica, a polyphagous alien invasive scarab beetle native to Japan, is now present in Europe where huge efforts are being conducted to control the pest and slow its spread. In particular, entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi have been used for larval control. Here we test the effects of those agents on both P. japonica larvae and non-target soil biota by comparing soil arthropod assemblages before and after treatment of field plots in an irrigated perennial meadow.Application of an indigenous strain of the nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora resulted in significant reduction in numbers of P. japonica larvae. In contrast, an indigenous strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii failed to provide significant control. We found no evident effect on non-target edaphic arthropods under either treatment in comparison to untreated control plots. Some taxa, namely Collembola and Acarina, showed a disproportionate increase in treated plots, suggesting that some changes may occur in the long term, at least in particular arthropod groups. Our results suggest the selected strain of H. bacteriophora is an excellent candidate for managing P. japonica larvae with minimal adverse impact on non-target species and ecosystem functioning.

Addressing Digital Transformation in Universities

In facing digital transformation challenges, universities need to set up their data governance strategies. They include effective solutions to trace and value data about key assets (such as researchers, publications, courses, research projects) scattered across multiple legacy IT systems. As part of an overall solution to deal with the unavoidable data fragmentation and diversity, we provide the complete code of a simple and very efficient framework that can be employed by universities to develop their own knowledge graph, offering a comprehensive picture of the strategic data of the university, such that it can be consistently exploited by different digital services.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RESOURCES IN A MULTICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT: ANALYSIS, CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES

The contemporary business world is characterized by rapid changes, globalization, and digital transformation, demanding adaptability and an innovative approach to resource management from organizations. Among these, human resources stand out as a key asset that determines an organization’s ability to develop, compete, and achieve sustainable success. This academic paper profoundly analyzes the significance of human resources in the modern organizational context, emphasizing their strategic importance and impact on achieving organizational goals. The paper reveals the concept of human resources, encompassing not only recruitment and staff administration but also their development, motivation, performance evaluation, and well-being. It extends beyond traditional personnel management to include aspects of organizational culture, leadership, and change management. Significant attention is given to the role of multicultural human resources in a globalized world, their impact on innovation, creativity, and enhancing an organization’s global competitiveness.Analyzing various approaches and definitions, the author emphasizes the necessity of integrating strategic human resource planning with cultural awareness and effective communication strategies to achieve the company’s strategic goals. The influence of digital technologies on human resource management is discussed, including the challenges of remote work and the need to ensure productivity and engagement in the digital era.The work underscores the importance of a deep understanding of cultural differences, the ability to create an inclusive work environment, develop intercultural interaction skills, and adaptability. This approach enables companies to better understand and meet the requirements of a diverse clientele, fosters innovation, and opens new opportunities for growth. The conclusions of the study highlight that successful human resource management in today’s dynamic and complex business environment requires a comprehensive approach that considers both traditional aspects and contemporary challenges. A profound understanding and effective management of human resources are crucial for ensuring competitiveness, innovative development, and sustainable success of organizations.

The performance of renewable energy infrastructure

PurposeRenewable energy infrastructure is an important asset class in the context of reducing global carbon emissions going forward. This includes solar power, wind farms, hydro, battery storage and hydrogen. This paper examines the risk-adjusted performance and diversification benefits of listed renewable energy infrastructure globally over Q1:2009–Q4:2022 to examine the role of renewable energy infrastructure in a global infrastructure portfolio and in a global mixed-asset portfolio. The performance of renewable energy infrastructure is compared with the other major infrastructure sectors and other major asset classes. The strategic investment implications for institutional investors and renewable energy infrastructure in their portfolios going forward are also highlighted. This includes identifying effective pathways for renewable energy infrastructure exposure by institutional investors.Design/methodology/approachUsing quarterly total returns, the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of global listed renewable energy infrastructure over Q1:2009–Q4:2022 is assessed. Asset allocation diagrams are used to assess the role of renewable energy infrastructure in a global infrastructure portfolio and in a global mixed-asset portfolio.FindingsListed renewable energy infrastructure was seen to underperform the other infrastructure sectors and other major asset classes over 2009–2022. While delivering portfolio diversification benefits, no renewable energy infrastructure was seen in the optimal infrastructure portfolio or mixed-asset portfolio. More impressive performance characteristics were seen by nonlisted infrastructure funds over this period. Practical reasons for these results are provided as well as effective pathways going forward are identified for the fuller inclusion of renewable energy infrastructure in institutional investor portfolios.Practical implicationsInstitutional investors have an important role in supporting reduced global carbon emissions via their investment mandates and asset allocations. Renewable energy infrastructure will be a key asset to assist in the delivery of this important agenda for a greener economy and addressing global warming. Based on this performance analysis, effective pathways are identified for institutional investors of different size assets under management (AUM) to access renewable energy infrastructure. This will see institutional investors embracing critical investment issues as well as environmental and social issues in their investment strategies going forward.Originality/valueThis paper is the first published empirical research analysis on the performance of renewable energy infrastructure at a global level. This research enables empirically validated, more informed and practical decision-making by institutional investors in the renewable energy infrastructure space. The ultimate aim of this paper is to articulate the potential strategic role of renewable energy infrastructure as an important infrastructure sector in the institutional real asset investment space and to identify effective pathways to achieve this renewable energy infrastructure exposure, as institutional investors focus on the strategic issues in reducing global carbon emissions in the context of increased global warming.

Understanding rural pharmacists' perspectives: lived experiences and insights associated with rural recruitment and retention.

Pharmacists serve an important role in rural communities, and in some cases they may be the only health professional available. Their recruitment and retention is a major concern for rural communities and health services; however, a deeper understanding regarding the advantages and challenges of sustaining a rural pharmacy workforce is somewhat limited. The aim of this study was to develop a deeper understanding of pharmacists' perspectives about factors influencing pharmacist recruitment and retention to rural and remote communities. The exploratory study, carried out in rural Tasmania and rural Western Victoria, used a qualitative descriptive design. Structured interviews, lasting between 30-60 minutes, were conducted by a single researcher using the Pharmacist Community Apgar Questionnaire via face-to-face, telephone or videoconferencing technology. Data were analysed thematically using verbatim transcription, extraction of significant statements and identification of similarities in formulated meanings, grouping the similar meanings and significant statements that pertained to the phenomena of interest. Specifically, qualitative data were used to provide a deeper understanding of factors identified as key assets, capabilities, or those most challenging for pharmacist recruitment and retention. The advantages and disadvantages rural communities face in recruiting and retaining pharmacists are presented. These insights are linked to the advantages of financial income, incentives and moving allowance. Further advantages include the degree of practice autonomy, breadth of tasks, the perception of the community, loyalty to the pharmacy and its pharmacists, along with community recognition. Challenges associated with the recruitment and retention of pharmacists centred on the need for spousal or partner employment opportunities, having greater proximity to schools, access to social or cultural opportunities, along with good transport connections. Further challenges included housing, the cost of schooling for children, having adequate locum or peer coverage and opportunities to host interns. The study provides a deeper exploration of the meaning and experiences of factors that previous research has shown are considered advantageous or challenging to the recruitment and retention of pharmacists in rural areas. Through the voices of pharmacists living and working in a rural area, the findings further enlighten our understanding regarding how the multifaceted and complex nature of health workforce planning may be addressed. As such, greater pharmacist recruitment and retention is enabled through adequate financial compensation and incentives, along with additional tax incentives for business and health services. Further, innovation is required to enhance economic sustainability. Locum coverage and intern opportunities also require innovative approaches to address concerns among potential candidates. Lastly, efforts to enable and support social connections such as schooling and spousal employment, while building community connection and a sense of rural community belonging, remain essential to recruit and retain pharmacists. Rural pharmacist recruitment and retention is complex, requiring a multi-pronged approach to implement practical solutions. Given this complexity and the unique features of each rural community, solutions require whole-of-community ownership to create innovative solutions. Recognition of specific advantages and challenges can address key driving factors for pharmacist recruitment and retention in rural communities.

Trends of Antibacterial Interactions in Multidrug – Resistant Isolates: Exploring Resistance Phenotypes in the Ndé Division, West-Cameroon

Background: Reliable pieces of information concerning bacterial-antibiotic interactions are key assets for therapeutic management of bacterial diseases.
 Objective: The present study aimed at detecting phenotypic characteristics of bacterial resistance in multidrug-resistant isolates recovered from clinical specimens at the “Université des Montagnes” Teaching Hospital.
 Methods: The total of 226 isolates (142 Gram-negative rods and 84 Gram-positive cocci) were subjected to phenotypic screening of resistance mechanisms. All procedural steps were conducted according to standard protocols on bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics.
 Results: Primary pieces of information revealed high rates of resistant isolates, especially with beta-lactams and Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole while Nitrofurantoin and Imipenem were most effective. Amongst Gram-negative rods, 56% expressed one enzymatic resistance mechanism and 12% expressed two against beta-lactams. Also, with extended spectrum beta-lactamases, high level cephalosporinases and inducible cephalosporinases most commonly observed. About 62% and 14% of Gram-positive cocci expressed constitutive and Clindamycin-inducible resistance, respectively. Decreased susceptibility to Ceftriaxone and Penicillin G was also recorded in suspect mutant isolates selected by these antibiotics. Potential synergetic and other antagonistic interactions were evenly detected.
 Conclusion: Overall, the data could represent reliable clue for advocacy about personalized combination therapy, then capacity building for routine affordable susceptibility tests in caretaking.

No city for wetland species: habitat associations affect mammal persistence in urban areas.

The fast rate of replacement of natural areas by expanding cities is a key threat to wildlife worldwide. Many wild species occur in cities, yet little is known on the dynamics of urban wildlife assemblages due to species' extinction and colonization that may occur in response to the rapidly evolving conditions within urban areas. Namely, species' ability to spread within urban areas, besides habitat preferences, is likely to shape the fate of species once they occur in a city. Here we use a long-term dataset on mammals occurring in one of the largest and most ancient cities in Europe to assess whether and how spatial spread and association with specific habitats drive the probability of local extinction within cities. Our analysis included mammalian records dating between years 1832 and 2023, and revealed that local extinctions in urban areas are biased towards species associated with wetlands and that were naturally rare within the city. Besides highlighting the role of wetlands within urban areas for conserving wildlife, our work also highlights the importance of long-term biodiversity monitoring in highly dynamic habitats such as cities, as a key asset to better understand wildlife trends and thus foster more sustainable and biodiversity-friendly cities.

Significance of Proficiency in the English Language within the Realm of Education in Pakistan

This paper underscores the pivotal role of English language proficiency in the educational domain, shedding light on the challenges students face when expressing themselves in English within classroom settings. It emphasizes the profound impact that English proficiency exerts on students’ overall learning experiences and offers practical insights to enhance language skills. Recognizing effective communication as a cornerstone of success in contemporary society, the paper provides valuable tips for improving language skills, particularly in the context of spoken English. Mastering English is deemed essential for success in various professional fields, given its status as the global lingua franca. The article advocates for educational institutions to create conducive environments for developing students’ speaking abilities, crucial not only for career advancement but also for societal integration. In today’s interconnected world, English proficiency is a key asset for navigating the global landscape successfully. The ability to communicate effectively in English is not only a gateway to enhanced career opportunities but also facilitates integration into diverse societies. The paper concludes by reinforcing the fact that individuals with a strong command of the English language are warmly welcomed on a global scale, highlighting the enduring importance of English proficiency in our interconnected world.

Spirituality as a key asset in promoting positive youth development: Advances in research and practice

Spirituality is a universal human experience. Within the process of development, the role of spirituality as a developmental asset is understudied in general and especially within majority world contexts. In this article, we frame advances in spirituality research and practice with youth around three pillars: (a) theory, (b) measurement, and (c) research about and evaluations of positive youth development (PYD) programs in low- and middle-income countries. We place PYD programs as associated with dynamic, relational developmental systems (RDS)-based models of human development, describe spirituality and the “Big Three” features of effective PYD programs as aligning to promote thriving, and discuss spirituality as a strength, as a key asset, in the lives of youth. We discuss advances in developmental methods and measures for describing, explaining, and promoting spirituality and PYD and offer a case study that responds to a United States Agency for International Development call for action and evaluations of spirituality within the context of a PYD program in the majority world. Considerations for future research about spirituality and youth development are discussed.

Inverting the deficit model in global mental health: An examination of strengths and assets of community mental health care in Ghana, India, Occupied Palestinian territories, and South Africa.

Global mental health [GMH] scholarship and practice has typically focused on the unmet needs and barriers to mental health in communities, developing biomedical and psychosocial interventions for integration into formal health care platforms in response. In this article, we analyse four diverse settings to disrupt the emphasises on health system weaknesses, treatment gaps and barriers which can perpetuate harmful hierarchies and colonial and medical assumptions, or a 'deficit model'. We draw on the experiential knowledge of community mental health practitioners and researchers working in Ghana, India, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and South Africa to describe key assets existing in 'informal' community mental health care systems and how these are shaped by socio-political contexts. These qualitative case studies emerged from an online mutual learning process convened between 39 academic and community-based collaborators working in 24 countries who interrogated key tenets to inform a social paradigm for global mental health. Bringing together diverse expertise gained from professional practice and research, our sub-group explored the role of Community Mental Health Systems in GMH through comparative country case studies describing the features of community care beyond the health and social care system. We found that the socio-political health determinants of global economic structures in all four countries exert significant influence on local community health systems. We identified that key assets across sites included: family and community care, and support from non-profit organisations and religious and faith-based organisations. Strengthening community assets may promote reciprocal relationships between the formal and informal sectors, providing resources for support and training for communities while communities collaborate in the design and delivery of interventions rooted in localised expertise. This paper highlights the value of informal care, the unique social structures of each local context, and resources within local communities as key existing assets for mental health.

Economic, social and psychological drivers of labor trafficking and its impacts: A case study on returned Bangladeshi survivors

Irregular maritime migration from Bangladesh to Malaysia presents serious risks for Bangladeshi laborers who seek work overseas to change their precarious living conditions. Survivors’ voices are often unheard and their motivation and experiences are largely undocumented. This study details the accounts of 25 survivors of labor trafficking, all men, from three major trafficking hubs in Bangladesh. Interviews with selected stakeholders provide insights into this industry and its business model. The study seeks to understand how and why decisions to undertake the journey were made. It details the multi-faceted consequences for survivors, including loss of key assets (e.g., land, livestock, cash and future work opportunities). Most of the survivors never reached their planned destination and only two persons secured work for more than six months. As a direct result of migration, most moved from living marginally below the poverty line at pre-departure to extreme poverty. Migration, precarity and motivation theories help explain the perspectives and migration decisions of the research participants. These insights can inform policymakers to develop more holistic prevention, prosecution and reintegration measures.

Mapping research on corporate misconduct in banking: Lessons from literature on preventive and punitive actions

AbstractAdvanced societies are increasingly concerned about corporate misconduct. Citizens are more willing to penalize it, and regulators are punishing companies more significantly than ever before. In particular, while reputation is a key asset for any business, corporate conduct has proven to be especially relevant in the banking industry. The present paper explores the main research efforts carried out on this topic, aiming to learn lessons from a comparison of studies focused on preventive and punitive actions. To accomplish this, we selected relevant corporate misconduct papers from the Web of Science, conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to understand the role of banking industry‐oriented research, and finally, performed a systematic review to distinguish between articles addressing impact measurement and those focusing on prevention. The results allowed us to respond to the unanswered questions regarding the particularities of the banking industry that make it require further and independent analysis and to the debate about whether the current regulation led to certain unwanted effects. Among those many lessons, one is strikingly important as most studies coincide in the conclusion that, instead of the current actions, more effort should be put into efficient prevention methods, such as education for more ethical corporate and individual behavior.

РОЗРОБКА ТА РЕАЛІЗАЦІЯ ПРОЕКТУ МОДЕРНІЗАЦІЇ КОМПАНІЇ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ КОМПАНІЇ «КERNEL»)

Crucial logistical and export challenges, faced by agricultural producers in Ukraine, are described. Drawing on data from the Kernel company, one of the leading players in the agribusiness sector, internal strategies to overcome export barriers are analyzed. Crucial sources of financial resources mobilized by the company are identified. Additionally, an analysis of the company’s transportation assets is conducted. Furthermore, an investment project for the modernization of key assets, specifically railway transportation, is outlined. This involves collaboration with European countries, whereby Ukrainian grain delivery costs to European ports are offset. The economic feasibility of the project is substantiated through the discounted cash flow method.

Analyzing a holding company (group of companies) during the transformation period: Methodology and algorithms (the PAO PhosAgro case)

Subject. The article addresses the assessment of holding company's activities, considered as an ecosystem, the analysis of which includes not only the analysis of the business as a whole, but also of its member companies, taking into account internal relations and interactions. Objectives. The purpose is to develop and test a methodology for holding company analysis, using a Russian company case. Methods. The study employs general scientific principles and research methods, like abstraction, generalization of domestic authors’ approaches to the analysis of large business entities. Results. The developed methodology includes five stages: (1) accumulating information about all enterprises of the holding group as a whole, forming subgroups, calculating indicators of consolidated financial statements; (2) determining the structure of holding group’s key indicators distribution among subgroups, estimating cash flows within the group; (3) analyzing the operating, investing, and financing activities of subgroups; (4) calculating specific indicators that reflect the specifics of activities of the holding's subgroups and effectiveness of their functions; (5) forecasting, based on the analysis of the company's capitalization, identifying the key drivers of business capitalization, the growth rate of the group's free cash flow expected by the market, prospects for business development based on market expectations. Conclusions. Testing the methodology on PAO PhosAgro data showed that the group includes subgroups of companies, like holding, manufacturing, sales, servicing, non-manufacturing. Due to redomicilation, control over the group was moved to Russian jurisdictions, and key assets and financial results were concentrated in the holding and manufacturing companies. The analysis of business capitalization demonstrated that its key driver is product prices, the expected growth rate of the free cash flow of the business is insignificant. The group successfully adapts to environmental challenges and has prospects for further development.

The role of management accounting in human capital management: Lessons from the services sector

Purpose: The article examines the role of management accounting in managing human capital, a key intangible asset for services sectors. Considering new expectations regarding the role of management accountants and human resource professionals, the article explores the ability of the disciplines to collaborate in becoming more strategic.Design/methodology/approach: The article considers literature on the evolution of the two disciplines, including archetype views on the role of management accountants, and presents case study analysis of a German information technology firm and a Dutch bank. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers from both the companies.Findings/results: From the interviews, it appeared that management accountants play the role of business partner but stop short of acting as comprehensive integrator of human capital information. While both companies have innovated in measuring and valuing human capital, human resources and finance analytics teams tend to work on their own and accountants remain ad hoc advisors.Practical implications: Efforts to refine the business case and value human capital fail to fully mainstream, as collaboration across departments remain loose. Innovations in soft management controls leave an impression of loose coupling between subsystems rather than comprehensively planned and integrated soft management control systems.Originality/value: The study defines complementarity between two disciplines, both seeking to account for and manage intangible assets more effectively. It concludes with lessons for researchers and practitioners on the development action-to-value pathways, improving non-financial metrics and purposefully shaping soft control systems.

Dobrostan młodzieży jako kluczowy zasób przyszłości – kontekst pedagogiczny

Well-being of youth as a key asset of the future – pedagogical context The aim of the above considerations was to demonstrate how crucial the well-being of the younger generation is as a social asset a form of capital. Drawing upon the relevant literature and available research, the role of educational environments in shaping the well-being of the younger generation was elucidated. The concept of well-being was explicated within the scope of various theoretical frame works and linked to pedagogical concepts, such as education and environment, which are integral components of a young individual’s functioning. It is within the environment that the most crucial life processes of an individual occur, particularly the establishment of peer and social relationships. This ability cannot fully develop without proper psychosocial functioning – without self-awareness and an understanding of the role of others in one’s life. Well-being is an indispensable resource for building relationships with oneself and other social connections. The foundation of this resource lies in the ability to name, differentiate, and express emotions as a neurobiological basis for the need to establish relationships. In this article, mental well-being has been presented as a crucial asset for the future, a competence that will enable the construction and strengthening of this social capital.

Employer Brand and Business Performance: The Role of Intellectual Capital

Intangible assets play a vital role in the hotel industry, in general, and can also ensure the sustainability of a business during a crisis. The aim of the paper is to identify the impact of employer brand on the business performance of hotel companies, including the mediating effect of intellectual capital as an element of intangible assets. The research was conducted among managers who are employed in 92 hotels, and who evaluated the dimensions of the employer brand, business performance (organisational performance and market performance), and intellectual capital. The research hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The research model has supported the full mediating effect of intellectual capital between most of the employer brand dimensions and business performance. Results confirm the contribution of the employer brand to the business performance, with the support of intellectual capital and indicate the necessity of mutual use of intellectual capital and employer brand as key assets in a crisis.

Prefigurative politics in action research for just cycling futures

ABSTRACT The paper proposes that action research, not as a predefined set of methods but rather as a mode of research, should be considered a key asset in creating transformative knowledge on just cycling futures. I explain, firstly, why action-oriented, experimental, and participatory research should deploy the concept of prefigurative politics – the performing of not-yet cycling futures here and now – as a theoretical, methodological and practical resource to counter hegemonic, oppressive, essentialist and authoritarian mobility rationalities. Second, I argue why prefigurative action research is most applicable when involving diverse actors across cycling governance networks into a democratic social learning process. These arguments are developed by synthesising literatures from social movement studies and mobility and transport justice, and by providing examples of four social cycling innovations among a population often marginalised from transport policy and planning – children and young people. In conclusion, the paper proposes a model for conducting prefigurative action research on cycling.