Market Shifts Research Articles

Integrating machine learning in business analytics consulting for proactive decision-making and innovation

Integrating machine learning (ML) into business analytics consulting represents a paradigm shift in enabling organizations to adopt proactive decision-making and foster innovation. As businesses face increasing complexity and competition, the demand for data-driven strategies has grown exponentially. Machine learning, with its capacity to analyse vast datasets, uncover hidden patterns, and predict future trends, has become a cornerstone of modern business analytics. This integration empowers consultants to deliver actionable insights and predictive solutions, enhancing operational efficiency and competitive advantage. Applications of ML in business analytics include customer segmentation, churn prediction, demand forecasting, and anomaly detection, all of which contribute to optimizing resource allocation and improving decision-making processes. For example, predictive models can help businesses anticipate market shifts and customer behaviours, while recommendation systems drive personalized marketing strategies. Incorporating ML also facilitates innovation by identifying untapped opportunities, automating repetitive tasks, and enabling real-time analytics. However, successful implementation requires addressing challenges such as data silos, algorithm biases, and the need for skilled professionals. Establishing robust data governance, fostering a culture of analytics adoption, and leveraging scalable cloud-based ML platforms are crucial for overcoming these barriers. This paper explores the theoretical foundations and practical applications of machine learning in business analytics consulting. It provides a framework for integrating ML into consulting practices, highlighting best practices and potential pitfalls. By adopting ML-driven approaches, consultants can help organizations navigate uncertainty, enhance strategic agility, and accelerate innovation.

Toxicological evaluation, postmortem case descriptions, and pharmacological activity of N,N-dimethylpentylone and related analogues.

Identification of N,N-dimethylpentylone (DMP) in counterfeit "Ecstasy" and "Molly" tablets poses risk to public health due to its adverse effects. Little information is available regarding the pharmacological activity or relevant blood or tissue concentrations of DMP, and even less is known about other structurally related beta-keto methylenedioxyamphetamine analogues on recreational drug markets, such as N-propyl butylone. Here, a novel toxicological assay utilizing liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QQQ-MS) was developed and validated for the quantitation of DMP and five related synthetic cathinones (eutylone, pentylone, N-ethyl pentylone (NEP), N-propyl butylone, and N-cyclohexyl butylone), with chromatographic resolution from isomeric variants and quantitation performed by standard addition. A forensic series of 125 cases is presented for DMP and related analogs, along with pharmacological activity assessments using monoamine transporter and mouse behavioral assays. The blood concentration range for DMP in postmortem forensic cases was 3.3-4,600 ng/mL (mean: 320±570 ng/mL, median: 150 ng/mL), whereas pentylone, the primary N-desmethyl metabolite of DMP, was identified in 98% of cases with a concentration range 1.3-710 ng/mL (mean±SD: 105±120 ng/mL, median: 71 ng/mL). N-Propyl butylone, a newly identified synthetic cathinone, was quantitated in seven cases (mean±SD: 82±75 ng/mL, median: 50 ng/mL, range: 1.7-200 ng/mL). DMP displayed potent uptake inhibition at the dopamine transporter (IC50=49 nM), with 100-fold weaker potency at the serotonin transporter (IC50=4990 nM). DMP was a locomotor stimulant in mice (ED50=3.5 mg/kg) exhibiting potency relatively similar to eutylone, N-ethyl pentylone, and pentylone. Our results show that DMP is a psychomotor stimulant associated with adverse clinical outcomes leading to death. Forensic laboratories must continue to update testing methods to capture emerging drugs, with specific emphasis on resolution and identification of isomeric species. Following the scheduling of DMP in early-2024, there could be an anticipated market shift towards a new unregulated synthetic stimulant to replace DMP.

Potential interaction between clorsulon and ivermectin for malaria vector control.

Mass ivermectin (IVM) treatment of livestock (MITL) is under consideration as a malaria control tool as IVM-treated livestock are lethal to blood-feeding Anopheles mosquitoes. MITL is routinely used as a prophylaxis in livestock to reduce the burden and transmission of helminth infections. Recently, there has been a shift in the veterinary IVM market in Southeast Asia wherein nearly all standard IVM formulations are now co-formulated with clorsulon (CLO). CLO is used to treat the trematode liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. Thus, the co-administration of IVM and CLO simultaneously targets multiple livestock infections. Additionally, F. hepatica frequently afflicts human populations in endemic areas, making control of F. hepatica in livestock beneficial for One Health. CLO interrupts glycolysis in F. hepatica, but its potential effect against Anopheles mosquitoes has never been evaluated. Anopheles dirus mosquitoes were blood-fed CLO across a range of concentrations (1-10,000 nM; 0.38-3807 ng/mL), and mosquito survival was monitored for 10 days. Co-feeding experiments were also performed with An. dirus blood-fed on IVM at two concentrations (4 and 6 ng/mL) without and with CLO corresponding to peak concentration in cattle (Cmax) (2700 ng/mL) and five times the Cmax (13,500 ng/mL), and mosquito survival was monitored for 10 days. CLO had no mosquito-lethal effect on An. dirus. The IVM and CLO co-feed experiment did not indicate any altered effect of IVM on mosquito survival when co-fed with CLO. IVM-CLO livestock co-formulations would not likely alter the Anopheles mosquito-lethal effect of MITL. The use of MITL-CLO for malaria control would have health benefits for livestock, treating helminth and liver fluke infections, and additional One Health benefits by reducing transmission risk of liver flukes to humans.

Evolution characteristics and invulnerability simulation analysis of global zirconium ore trade network

The burgeoning demand for zirconium, driven by the rapid development of smart devices, low-carbon energy technologies, and other emerging industries, underscores the importance of understanding the dynamics of its global trade network. However, the evolutionary patterns of the international zircon ore trade network and its resilience to disruptions remain unclear. This study constructs the international zircon ore trade network from 2013 to 2022, analyzes its structural evolution at both the network and node levels, and evaluates its robustness in 2022 using five attack strategies: random node removal, random edge removal, edge degradation, targeted removal based on node degree, and targeted removal based on node betweenness centrality. Our findings reveal that: (1) the international zircon ore trade network exhibits a shift in the import market towards Asia, with the export market dominated by Spain, the United States, and Brazil. China plays a crucial role as a bridge connecting various countries, while Japan exerts significant influence within the network; (2) the network is particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks based on node degree and betweenness centrality, highlighting the potential for significant disruption following the removal of key nodes. This study provides valuable insights for ensuring the stable and sustainable supply and consumption of zirconium resources, informing the development of targeted policies for countries and relevant industries.

The Sharing Economy: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda

ABSTRACTThe sharing economy has emerged as a transformative model in the digital age. However, existing reviews often focus on isolated aspects and provide limited insights into its complexity. This paper comprehensively reviews 92 studies through a dual‐framework approach, employing both the Antecedents–Decisions–Outcomes (ADO) and the Theories–Contexts–Methods (TCM) frameworks. The ADO framework reveals key factors influencing user decisions—including adoption, usage, booking, continued use, engagement, participation, purchase, and switching—that are shaped by economic, social, technological, trust‐related, environmental, and political antecedents. Meanwhile, the TCM framework structures an in‐depth examination of dominant theories (e.g., Technology Acceptance Model, Social Exchange Theory), diverse contexts (e.g., studies in China, the US), and methods (e.g., quantitative and qualitative) prevalent in the literature. Key findings emphasize the importance of regulatory dynamics and market shifts on user engagement and platform sustainability. Practical implications offer actionable guidance for platform managers to enhance user retention and to align strategies with evolving regulatory and market environments. The review also identifies future research directions to expand our understanding of global trends and challenges within the sharing economy.

Digital leadership and its impact on agility, innovation and resilience: a qualitative study of the UAE media industry

PurposeTo explore the role of digital leadership in fostering strategic agility, innovation adaptivity, organizational agility and resilience in the context of digital transformation.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an interpretive case study approach and using a thematic data analysis technique, we conducted 20 in-depth interviews with digital leaders from five different media firms across the UAE.FindingsThe findings reveal that digital leaders are central to developing and executing digital strategies that enhance organizational agility and competitive edge, particularly in firms’ digital transformation. Digital leaders catalyze innovation and adaptability, ensuring the organization’s readiness for technological and market shifts. Moreover, digital leaders are instrumental in fostering an environment that promotes continuous learning, technological integration and a culture of change, which drives organizational agility and resilience.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in its focused examination of digital leadership within the UAE’s media sector, offering new insights into how digital leadership drives strategic agility, innovation adaptivity, organizational agility and resilience in a regionally specific digital transformation context. Our findings contribute to the broader academic and practical understanding of digital transformation in the media industry.

Insect Decline-Evaluation of Potential Drivers of a Complex Phenomenon.

The decline of insects is a global concern, yet identifying the factors behind it remains challenging due to the complexity of potential drivers and underlying processes, and the lack of quantitative historical data on insect populations. This study assesses 92 potential drivers of insect decline in West Germany, where significant declines have been observed. Using data from federal statistical offices and market surveys, the study traces changes in landscape structure and agricultural practices over 33 years. Over the years, the region underwent major landscape changes, including reduced cropland and grassland and increased urbanization and forest areas. Potential detected drivers of insect decline include: (1) urban expansion, reducing insect habitats as urban areas increased by 25%; (2) intensified grassland management; (3) shifts in arable land use towards bioenergy and feed crop cultivation, particularly corn, driven by dairy farming intensification and renewable energy policies. While the toxic load of pesticide application has decreased, land-use changes, most likely driven by market demands and shifts in national and EU policies, have reduced habitat availability and suitability for insects. This study highlights how these landscape and land management changes over the past 33 years align with the observed decline in insect biomass in the region.

Unveiling sora open AI’s impact: a review of transformative shifts in marketing and advertising employment

Unveiling sora open AI’s impact: a review of transformative shifts in marketing and advertising employment

The Study of Netflix's Integrated Marketing Model Based on SWOT Theory

As a fundamental analytical tool, the SWOT analysis method is still widely applied in various areas of marketing, including strategic planning, competitive analysis, market entry strategies, brand management, product development, and innovation. It assists companies in making well-informed decisions within the intricate and constantly evolving market environment. Currently, the streaming market is experiencing rapid growth alongside intense competition. As the industry leader, Netflix continues to maintain its competitive edge through a robust library of original content, global expansion strategies, and user experience innovation. However, with increasing competition and market shifts, Netflix must continuously innovate and adjust its strategies to meet future challenges. This paper focuses on Netflix as the subject of study, using the SWOT analysis method to examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within its current integrated marketing model. This paper delves into Netflix's marketing model and its application in the global streaming market. It also proposes recommendations for optimizing Netflix's marketing strategies to help the company maintain its competitive edge in an ever-changing market environment. These studies not only provide new insights into understanding Netflix's success but also offer valuable references for other companies in their marketing innovation and practices.

Utilizing Data Analytics for Strategic Business Decision-Making and Market Insights

As the business environment continues to evolve, this skill of manipulating data analytics has turned into one of the most important strategic advantages. Big data enables organizations to mine actionable insights from huge volumes of information, leading to improved decision-making, optimized operations, and enhanced market positioning. This study examines the strategic connotations of data analytics. It proposes a framework for businesses to use analytics effectively, with a special interest in how business intelligence (BI), predictive analytics, and data visualizational lifesaving capture deep insights into market shifts, consumer preferences, and business performance. It also explores the potential impact of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), on improving data analytics capabilities. Through an examination of various industry case studies, the paper elucidates how data-driven decisions are more accurate and far more easily adjustable to help organizations remain agile in as fast-moving a market environment as ever. It also discusses a few challenges businesses encounter while implementing data analytics and how they can overcome such hurdles. In conclusion, this paper aims to highlight how data analytics drives business strategy transformation and presents a practical framework organizations can use to maximize the return on their data assets toward large-scale growth and profitability. The continued use of more advanced analytics techniques, such as predictive modeling and AI-driven insights, can reveal hidden opportunities in the business branch and improve decision-making processes. Data analytics can be considered another catalyst for sustainable growth embedded in organizational processes, providing companies with better adaptability to market dynamic changes, leading to improved overall business performance. Keywords Data Analytics, Business Decision-Making, Market Insights, Predictive Analytics, Business Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Visualization, Strategic Planning, Competitive Advantage.

The Magnet Effect of Price Limits: An Agent-Based Approach

ABSTRACT In this paper, we study the magnet effect within the context of circuit breaker events that transpired in global stock markets during March 2020. Our analysis encompasses nine such events across six countries. Employing a time-distanced quadratic function to model trading activities leading up to limit hits, we observe a substantial acceleration in return movement and the convergence of traders’ behavior preceding limit hits. Furthermore, most circuit breaker events manifest a distinct reduction in trading volume and amplified market stability during this crucial phase. To gain deeper insights into the magnet effect, we employ an agent-based model of the stock market that incorporates price limits. Our model replicates the stylized facts associated with limit hit events and the magnet effect. Importantly, our simulation results closely align with empirical observations. We also emphasize the importance of market environment changes and shifts in traders’ behavior in influencing limit hit events and the magnet effect.

Manufacturer’s agency channel encroachment on an online retail platform

Channel encroachment intensifies competition among channels and changes the relationships within the supply chain. This study examines the manufacturer’s agency channel encroachment decision and its impact when it has already operated a platform reselling channel and a retailer channel on the platform. Equilibrium results reveal that the manufacturer’s agency channel encroachment triggers a competition effect, leading to a reduction in market demand for both the platform’s reselling channel and the retailer’s channel, as a larger share of the market shifts toward the manufacturer’s agency channel. To compensate for the losses in sales experienced by the platform and retailer, the manufacturer lowers the wholesale price. The manufacturer consistently benefits from channel encroachment and a Pareto improvement region exists, allowing all supply chain participants to improve their profits. The model is extended to consider sequential decision-making and asymmetric substitution. In comparison, under sequential decision-making, the manufacturer tends to focus more on the competitive effects of channel encroachment, leading to a reduction in channel sales. However, this approach only enhances the manufacturer’s agency profit when the retailer’s substitution capability is relatively strong. The manufacturer faces greater competitive pressure from the retailer under asymmetric channel substitution. Although the manufacturer increases the wholesale price and adjusts sales across channels according to the competitive situation, its profits are always lower than in the symmetric substitution case. The presence of a Pareto improvement region in the extended model confirms the robustness of our findings.

Unpacking the heterogeneous relationship between economic freedom, corruption and income inequality: a cross-country comparison

ABSTRACT Rising globalization, tech breakthroughs, and market shifts increased income inequality. COVID-19 worsened it, emphasizing the issue’s global permanence. This study examines economic freedom’s impact and corruption’s moderating role on income inequality in BRICS and Next-11 countries from 1995 to 2021. Panel quantile regression and Panel ARDL were used to analyse data. Results show economic freedom’s positive impact on income inequality in the overall sample, as well as in BRICS and Next-11 countries. Control of corruption reduces inequality, but interaction with economic freedom worsens its impact. Economic freedom counteracts corruption control’s benefits on inequality.

An Overview of Higher Education in Tourism and Hospitality in Portugal

Objective: This study evaluates the higher education provision in Portugal's tourism and hospitality sector, examining its evolution and alignment with labor market demands to address the growing skills gap in the industry. Theoretical Framework: The research is grounded in concepts of labor market demands, educational alignment, and workforce development amid digital, societal, and economic transformations. Theories on skills mismatch and human capital development help understand the dynamics between education and employment in this sector. Method: A comprehensive review of higher education offerings in tourism and hospitality in Portugal was conducted, assessing the number of courses and student vacancies while analyzing job market trends. Data were collected from national educational databases and industry reports to examine the evolving relationship between educational programs and labor needs. Results and Discussion: Results indicate a notable increase in tourism and hospitality courses and student vacancies in Portugal’s higher education system, reflecting efforts to cultivate a skilled workforce. However, gaps persist in regional job distribution and the need for specialized training in certain areas. Research Implications: The findings suggest that higher education institutions are progressing in closing the skills gap by offering programs aligned with industry needs, which may influence workforce development strategies and curriculum design. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by analyzing Portugal's educational response to labor market shifts, highlighting the growing alignment between education and industry needs, and providing actionable insights for improving human capital development in tourism and hospitality.

Impact of EV disruption on auto-ancillary sector: Exploring resilience enablers for long-term sustainability

The study explores the impact of EV disruption on Indian auto-ancillary firms and identifies the resilience enablers that can sustain the challenges and long-term survival. We use SAP-LAP analysis to examine the situation, key actors, and process affected; further, resilience enablers were identified based on key learnings from SAP parameters interaction. Using MTISM, we explored the resilience enablers hierarchy from the elementary level to the highest echelon. Further, to examine the practical validity of the framework, strategic initiatives implemented by auto-ancillary players listed on the Indian bourses were captured. We found three-level resilience enablers to withstand the disruptive market shift; internal transformation and strengthening legacy capabilities as the prime survival option, followed by radical innovation independently or by collaborating with the expertise firms for resources and technology. Disruptive innovations, mergers, and acquisitions are the highest turnaround strategies driving long-term sustainability and value enhancement.

Customer Satisfaction and Brand Loyalty in the Petrol Bike Market: A Study on Young Riders' Preferences and Expectations

Introduction: Satisfaction is a person's feelings of pleasure or disappointment resulting from a comparison of a product's perceived performance with expectations. As the definition indicates, satisfaction is a function of perceived performance and expectations. If the performance does not meet the customer's expectations, the customer is dissatisfied. If the performance exceeds expectations, the customer is very satisfied or happy. There has been a noticeable shift in the petrol bike market from a buyer's market to a seller's market, with plenty of choice. Players have to operate on various fronts such as pricing, technological product design, productivity, after-sales service, marketing and distribution. In the short term, the market shares of individual producers are sensitive to capacity, product acceptance, prices and competitive pressures from other producers. Methods: The research approach used is quantitative research approach in which each of the statements and questions have been provided with certain scores. The total of 123 respondents were taken to conduct the research. A structured questionnaire was designed based on five-point Likert scale. Findings: In terms of gender, the male population (89.4%) was greater than female population (10.6%). In accordance of age, the majority of people where from age group 18-25 (71.5%). According to the collected data (49.6%) of respondents ride their bike daily. Conclusion: According to the report, petrol bikes are most popular among young people, particularly from manufacturers such as Hero, Honda, Bajaj and KTM. Many users are satisfied with their bikes and would suggest them to others, but they believe they may be improved in terms of speed, fuel efficiency, noise, and lighting. Companies can increase customer satisfaction by enhancing these elements. Focusing on these improvements and marketing to young male riders may help these brands flourish.

Impact of Inflation Stock Market Returns

This research paper examines the impact of inflation on stock market returns, focusing on the Indian stock market. Utilizing a comprehensive methodological approach, we analyse the relationship between inflation and stock market performance through various quantitative techniques including trend analysis, regression analysis, histograms, growth percentage models, and descriptive statistics. The trend analysis reveals patterns and shifts in stock market returns in response to changing inflation rates. Regression analysis is employed to quantify the strength and nature of the relationship between inflation and stock market returns, providing insights into the degree to which inflationary pressures affect market performance. The findings of this study indicate a multifaceted relationship between inflation and stock market returns. While high inflation periods generally correlate with increased market volatility and lower returns, the impact varies across different sectors and economic conditions. Our analysis also includes the significance of monetary and fiscal policies in moderating the effects of inflation on the stock market. This research contributes valuable insights for investors, policymakers, and financial analysts, by having a detailed analysis of Inflation-Stock market study. The study's results can inform investment strategies and policy decisions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of inflation on stock market performance and enhancing market resilience. The purpose of the study is to investigate he correlation, understand the investor behaviour and recommend the insights from the study.

The Effect of Recording Industry Lawsuits on the Market for Recorded Music

The origination and rapid growth in popularity of file sharing technology at the end of the twentieth century created the potential for a fundamental market shift for any private good that is reduced to information. Through a new exploration of this recent phenomenon within the context of peer-to-peer file sharing technology for music downloads, this article examines the relative importance of various economic factors in determining the national level of file sharing. After employing basic theoretical models and econometric methods, the author finds that file sharing behavior is most responsive to the number of lawsuits brought against consumers, the relative value and amount of leisure time for consumers, household disposable income, and the prevalence of computer virus threats among file-sharing program users. These new findings are discussed in the context of microeconomic expectations that predict a different set of empirical trends in file sharing technology.

Research on UK Unemployment Rate Forecast Based on ARIMA Model

The objective of this study is to predict the unemployment rate in the UK and the Eurozone for the years 2014 to 2024 using the time series analysis model known as ARIMA. It is essential to be informed of changes to employment rates in order to address them and changes in the economic environment including historical occurrences such as Brexit, COVID-19, and shifts in the labor market. The ARIMA model was used because it fits non-stationary time series, which is a feature present in the employment rates of both time series. The monthly unemployment rates for each state were seasonally adjusted and the ARIMA parameters were estimated by the automatic method. The study observed that while the interior portion of the trading cycle was effectively predicted by the ARIMA model, it failed to do so for the short-term UK unemployment in the post-2023 period because of exogenous shocks. However, the model was equally successful in predicting a marginal contraction in unemployment rates in the Euro zone after 2023. By performing the Ljung-Box test, it was established that the residuals of the models were random and therefore, the models were fit. Accordingly, the results suggest that the estimates derived from the ARIMA model are beneficial in economic predictions, which helps governments to design better social security programs and other economic plans to address the changing employment landscape.

A leadership and policy development model for driving operational success in tech companies

In the fast-evolving landscape of technology companies, leadership plays a critical role in shaping operational policies that align with long-term business goals. This review introduces a leadership and policy development model designed to drive operational success in technology-driven organizations. The model emphasizes the importance of visionary, collaborative, and data-driven leadership in developing and implementing operational policies that not only enhance day-to-day efficiency but also support sustainable growth and innovation. The framework is built around key leadership pillars, including visionary leadership that sets a clear operational direction, collaborative leadership that fosters cross-functional engagement, and data-driven leadership that leverages analytics to inform policy decisions. It highlights the process of policy creation and implementation, beginning with an assessment of existing operational challenges, followed by the development of scalable policies that align with business strategies. The model also incorporates agile leadership, which promotes adaptability in response to rapid technological advancements and market shifts, ensuring that policies remain relevant and effective. Moreover, the model focuses on promoting operational innovation by embedding policies that encourage research and development, cross-department collaboration, and continuous improvement. Leaders are encouraged to integrate Lean and Agile methodologies within policies to streamline processes, reduce inefficiencies, and improve overall operational performance. Through real-world case studies and applications, this review demonstrates how technology companies can benefit from leadership that actively shapes policies to foster operational excellence. The proposed model serves as a strategic tool for tech leaders, helping them align operational policies with long-term objectives, drive innovation, and maintain competitive advantage in the global market. By adopting this leadership-driven policy approach, tech companies can enhance their ability to scale effectively and sustain operational success in an ever-changing environment.