International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management

Abstract Declining fish catch, conversion of mangroves into fish ponds and overexploitation of coastal resources were rampant among the coastal areas of Philippines. Hence, the national government initiated the implementation of Philippine National Aquasilviculture Program aimed to achieve food security, promote sustainable development of fisheries resources, and reduce poverty incidence among fisherfolk and other disadvantaged groups. To this, the Mindanao State University at Naawan served as the academic partner of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 10 in implementing three major projects namely, mangrove plantation, aquasilviculture and king crab hatchery in the community. Several people’s organizations in Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte served as the project beneficiaries and implementors, particularly on mangrove plantation and aquasilviculture projects. After a year of mangrove planting, 621,852 living propagules survived (48.47%) from 1,282,770 propagules planted. In terms of aquasilviculture project, bangus cultured had a harvest of 3,513 from 4,500 juveniles reared, while only 50 individuals matured crabs were harvested out of 8,700 crablets raised simultaneously with the bangus in the same aquasilviculture pens. Hatchery of king crab attained ~1% zoeas that turned to megalopa stage. Only few reached to crablet stage due to severe cannibalism and microbial contamination. Major challenges of the project included the lack of support from local governments, internal issues of the organizations and natural disturbances like storm occurrences. All issues and concerns were brought to the partners people’s organizations and Regional Steering Committee for further deliberations and appropriate actions should similar projects be undertaken in the future.

Abstract Annually more than 80% of the overall budget of the uran solid waste management system in Iran is allotted to collection and transportation of the solid wastes. The main objective of the current study is to evaluate the external costs associated with solid waste collection, transfer, and transportation in Tehran for the period of 2018 to 2032 based on the current situation. Waste guidance system as well as Energy and Environment software were applied to anticipate the external costs. Results of the present study indicated that more than 535 million US dollars would be required during the next 15 years in the solid waste collection, transfer, and transportation sector to supply necessary machinery, manpower, fuel, maintenance and other relevant expenses. The principal fraction of the required budget (i.e. 48.99%) should be allocated to provide collection and transportation equipment costs. Manpower, fuel, maintenance, and miscellaneous expenses require 30.34, 7.37, 12.78 and 0.5 percent, respectively of the overall expenses in the solid waste collection, transfer, and transportation sector. In the context of global warming impact, more than 970 million tons of carbon dioxide will be anticipated to be emitted by solid waste collection, transfer, and transportation sector in Tehran during the studied period imposing 23.1 million US dollars to compensate its external effects.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Over recent years the employment creation discussion was massively raised especially about university graduates and demands from Iran's government increased. The prediction of the youth unemployment rate during the period from 2015 to 2021 showed that with an annual growth rate of 5%, in the last year of the period, the unemployment rate for youth would be equal to 9.36%, and for university graduates will be 36%. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to provide an applied model for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development and university graduates’ employment in Iran.
METHODS: In this regard, an appropriate model was defined by studying the literature about small and medium enterprises development models and extracting effective factors according to Iran’s situation.  In the second stage, after selecting a sample of 60 small and medium enterprises in Iran, in order to quantitatively testing the model, the data were collected by a questionnaire and were analyzed with the help of PLS ​​software. In the third stage, the relative importance of factors were tested from the perspective of 10 experts in the field of entrepreneurship with more than 15 years of work experience with the help of ANP and PROMETHEE methods.
FINDING: The results shows the preference value (Φ) of these factors respectively include the parameters of: Technology, innovation, and competitiveness (Φ=0.72); Financial support programs (Φ=0.63); Education and consultancy services (Φ=-0.38); Cooperative relationships (Φ=-0.41); and Export development (Φ=-0.55).
CONCLUSION: Changing market conditions enable SMEs to respond more agile and faster to customer needs, improve the quality of their products, reduce the cost of their production, and their tendency to recruit university graduates.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Smart cities are technology-driven urban agglomerations. Sustainability, competitiveness, and quality of life are the three cardinal principles for smart cities. The available studies specific to smart cities are related to smart technologies, innovations, smart infrastructure, etc., and limited studies are conducted from citizens’ perspectives. The present study aims to assess the impact of governance, general well-being, also called ease of living of citizens, and citizens’ perception of smart cities on their quality of life in mid-sized smart cities of India. The innovation and novelty of present study is that it attempts to fill the research gap in studies on smart cities by adopting the citizen-centric approach rather than infrastructure and technology-centric approach in developing countries.  
METHODOLOGY: Three Indian mid-sized smart cities, Pune, Nagpur, and Indore were identified for the study. For the purpose of this study, a few hypotheses were developed and a structured questionnaire was prepared from the literature review. The data was collected from Pune, Nagpur, and Indore smart cities and it was analyzed by performing factorial analysis and Structural Equation Modelling using appropriate statistical package software.
FINDINGS: The findings from the statistical analysis validated the hypotheses. The results of the study indicate a strong positive impact of citizens’ perception of smart cities on quality of life (Standardized Estimates = 0.66) while governance (Standardized Estimates = 0.11) and ease of living (SE=0.46) presented low to medium impact relationship with citizens’ quality of life.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study concludes that citizens’ perception has highest influence on their quality of life. Considering these findings in the context of mid-sized smart cities, this study significantly contributes in existing research on tools and indicators of quality-of-life assessment in urban centers specifically in developing countries. This research article attempts to provide a substantial theoretical and practical contribution to urban studies.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Traffic congestion, a prevalent global issue, has entrenched itself as a persistent problem, posing substantial challenges for residents and commuters, especially in developing nations. This study addresses this concern by delving into the intensity, patterns, and traffic characteristics within selected road corridors in the Abeokuta metropolis, Nigeria.
METHODS: Data on road types and land use were systematically gathered through structured observations using a pre-designed checklist. Traffic counts were conducted to capture characteristics during the morning and evening peak periods. Traffic volume and capacity were measured in "vehicles per hour" (vph) and Passenger Car Units per hour (PCU/hr). To analyze the data, a chi-square test was used to examine differences in traffic volume between the peak hours, while Analysis of Variance  was applied to assess variations in traffic composition across the studied road corridors.
FINDINGS: The study's findings spotlight Sapo-Ijaye-Iyana Mortuary, recording the highest daily peak traffic volume at 2315 vph, with cars dominating at 4444 vph. Buses emerged as the most impactful vehicle class, influencing 4872 PCU/hr. The Chi-square test indicates no significant differences in vph between morning and evening peaks (x=0.822604; p=0.84405). Correspondingly, Analysis of Variance results (f=3.3106; p=1.0000) suggest that traffic composition did not significantly differ across the surveyed roads.
CONCLUSION:  Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended to enhance road capacities by upgrading infrastructure to accommodate both current and future transportation needs. Additionally, the development of alternative traffic routes, such as rail lines, is suggested to ease the movement of heavy-duty trucks and reduce road congestion. The adoption of intelligent transportation systems is also encouraged to improve traffic management and optimize transportation efficiency.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The reduction of tariffs in Public infrastructure sectors is believed to be one of the key factors in addressing the socio-economic challenges of high unemployment, income inequality, and poverty. The primary objective of this paper is to design a general equilibrium model for infrastructural sectors among Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, China, USA, Australia, Japan and Korea, and evaluate potential economic impact of tariff reduction.
METHODS: The research method of this paper was to construct a Computational General Equilibrium model to assess the economic effects. The global trade analysis project model was calibrated and discussed in this paper. The global trade analysis project database was used to validate the model.
FINDINGS: Simulation result showed that tariff removal in infrastructure has the most significant effects in China, Japan, and Korea’s economic growth and employment than other countries. Gross Domestic Product, output price, and social welfare increase significantly in China compared to other countries. Gross Domestic Product increases in China by 616%, decreases in Japan and Korea 77% and 7% after mutual tariff reduction on infrastructure sectors. Meanwhile, China’s export on infrastructural sector increases by 1.71%, Japan and Korea’s export increases by 0.75% and 0.05%. On the other hand, export decreases in Germany, France, Italy, UK, USA and Australia. Finally, social welfare increases in China by $2.26 billion and Japan by $239 million.
CONCLUSION: The presence of tariff reduction in infrastructure sectors will likely strengthen the market share of most of the simulated regions. These findings may provide policy-makers with crucial information for better understanding about new tariff policy. Computable General Equilibrium analysis in infrastructure sectors had paid little attention in past and this paper tries to fill the gaps and attempts to find the benefit of mutual tariff policy among countries based on global trade analysis project model.

Abstract The strategies to reduce the consumption of non-renewable energies in buildings are becoming increasingly important. In the meantime, nature-inspired approaches have emerged as a new strategy to achieve thermal comfort in the interiors. However, the use of these approaches in architecture and buildings requires a proper understanding regarding the features of ecosystems. Although acquiring this knowledge requires a high degree of familiarity with the fields such as biology and environmental science, review of achievements made by the use of these features could facilitate the understanding of ecomimicry processes and thereby contribute to environmental sustainability in buildings. In other words, this paper concerns the relationship between these features and the thermal comfort inside the building. Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies. The objective of this paper is to use such review to provide an approach to the use of natural features for achieving thermal comfort in the buildings of hot and dry climates. In this review, the successful examples are analyzed to identify and examine the principles that influence the thermal comfort in both building and urban levels. The results show that the three elements of water, wind, sun are the effective natural resources that must be utilized in the design in a way proportional and consistent with the natural features. In addition, functional features of ecosystem can be of value only in the presence of a processual  relationship between them.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As artificial intelligence increasingly transforms business potential, its adoption in small businesses has become a growing interest. This study explores college students’ perceptions of artificial intelligence in the context of small businesses, comparing insights from Kuwait and Malaysia. With small businesses playing a pivotal role in the economic growth of both countries, understanding how future employees perceive artificial intelligence can provide valuable guidance for educators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. The research aims to investigate key factors such as artificial intelligence awareness, perceived benefits and challenges, willingness to adopt artificial intelligence technologies, and the perceived effectiveness of artificial intelligence in improving business operations. In addition, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to compare the research trends and national emphasis on artificial intelligence in business within the two countries.
METHODS: A quantitative research approach was employed using a structured survey distributed to a total of 834 university students from Kuwait and Malaysia. The survey collected data on various dimensions, including artificial intelligence awareness, perceived utility, anticipated challenges, and readiness to engage with artificial intelligence in small business settings. The data were statistically analyzed to determine significant differences and similarities across the two national contexts. Also, a bibliometric analysis was carried out to explore the scholarly output and collaboration trends related to artificial intelligence and business in both countries.
FINDINGS: Statistical analysis of the survey data from 834 students (433 from Malaysia and 401 from Kuwait) revealed high mean scores across all constructs, ranging from 3.90 to 4.08 on a 5-point Likert scale, indicating overall positive perceptions of AI’s role in small businesses. Independent-samples t-tests showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two countries regarding AI awareness, perceived benefits, anticipated challenges, willingness to adopt AI, and perceived impact on SMEs. Reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s α) for the constructs ranged from 0.73 to 0.86, confirming internal consistency. Additionally, bibliometric analysis showed that Malaysia produced 105 relevant publications from 2010–2024, with 1,872 total citations, while Kuwait produced 10 publications from 2018–2024, with 234 citations. Despite fewer publications, Kuwait demonstrated higher average citations per paper (23.4 vs. 17.83), indicating a high-impact research contribution.
CONCLUSION: This study underscores the universal recognition of artificial intelligence's value in small businesses among young professionals in Kuwait and Malaysia. The findings highlight the need for context-sensitive policies, focused artificial intelligence education, and hands-on support mechanisms for small enterprises. Cross-cultural collaboration and targeted research initiatives are recommended to responsibly harness artificial intelligence’s potential and drive sustainable innovation in the small business sector.

Abstract Environmental flow requirements, to maintain the functioning of freshwater-dependent ecosystems and restore rivers in ecologically acceptable conditions, depend upon the present water quality status of the river. Various stretches of Vishwamitri River vary in quality and quantity. Water quality index is a tool to converse information regarding water quality of various stretches of river and can be used for zoning them based on their present water quality status. Through such zoning, based on water quality index values as an integral component, Environmental flow requirements can be explored for Vishwamitri. In this paper, ‘Weighted Arithmetic Index’ method is used to find water quality index for both Vishwamitri and its tributaries using observed values of general physico-chemical parameters. The indices have been computed for pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons at sixteen sampling stations, i.e. S-1 to S-16 along the Vishwamitri and eight sampling stations on its various tributaries. Based on the analysis, Vishwamitri is zoned in two various zones. Sampling stations, S-1 to S-7 represent Zone 1 which contains WQI values from 50 to 75. Sampling stations S-8 to S-16 represent zone 2 which contain WQI values more than 75. Zone 1 is rich with DO whereas zone 2 contains high BOD and less DO. The WQI value of Surya River, a major tributary of Vishwamitri, indicates that river water is suitable for irrigation purpose. The WQI values of tributaries and drains, draining wastewater to stretch of Vishwamitri within Vadodara city, represents water quality as mostly unsuitable for drinking, irrigation or industrial purpose.

Abstract Present study was undertaken to examine the extent of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in neighbourhood lithospheric environment of landfill site situated in eastern outer edge of Kolkata metropolitan city in West Bengal, India, along with its sources identification, spatial distribution and probabilistic cancer risks to residents. The collection and analytical tests were performed for all prevailing seasons in local geographical condition. The concentration of sum of 16PAHs (Σ₁₆PAHs) in soil ranged from 8561μg/kg to 20268μg/kg and the average concentration is 14459μg/kg. On the basis of experimental information, the likelihood of cancer manifestation through contact to place-linked PAHs was quantitatively estimated. benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, dibenzo(a)anthracene, indeno (1,2,3-c,d) pyrene and chrysene, among 16PAHs are ascertained to provoke cancer in the residents. Carcinogenic risk due to oral intake and dermal contact is computed as 1.21E-05 and 4.02E-06 respectively. Progressive lifetime cancer risk to resident is set up as 1.61E-05. Source identification of PAHs indicates that it mainly originated from incomplete combustion of solid waste. Atmospheric diffusion and deposition led to PAHs input to soil all around waste disposal site, resulting in a consistent pyrogenic supply pattern in soil. This risk appraisal grants a realistic tool for resolution at corporation level to take up risk management policy at contaminated location.

Abstract Forest ecosystems are among the largest terrestrial carbon reservoirs on our planet earth thus playing a vital role in global carbon cycle. Presently, remote sensing techniques provide proper estimates of forest biomass and quantify carbon stocks. The present study has explored Landsat-8 sensor product and evaluated its application in biomass mapping and estimation. The specific objectives were estimation of above ground biomass and carbon stocks using field data, assessing relationships of Landsat-8 spectral indices and field data and  modeling of biomass and carbon stocks based on best linear regression model. Results showed that the highest aboveground biomass and below ground biomass was recorded as 246 t/ha and 64 t/ha whereas the lowest aboveground biomass and below ground biomass was 55 t/ha and 14 t/ha, respectively. Similarly, the highest above ground carbon and below ground carbon (t/ha) were 116 t/ha and 30 t/ha respectively while the lowest above ground carbon and below ground carbon (t/ha) were estimated as 26 t/ha and 6.7 t/ha respectively. Indices computed from Landsat-8 included normalized difference vegetation index, difference vegetation index, soil adjusted vegetation index, perpendicular vegetation index and atmospherically resistant vegetation index. Regarding relationship between aboveground biomass and vegetation indices, the coefficient of correlation (R²) were 0.67, 0.68, 0.65, 0.58 and 0.23 for normalized difference vegetation index, soil adjusted vegetation index, Perpendicular vegetation index, difference vegetation index and atmospherically resistant vegetation index respectively. The stepwise correlation between aboveground biomass (dependent variable) and five indices (Normalized difference vegetation index; soil adjusted vegetation index; Perpendicular vegetation index; difference vegetation index; atmospherically resistant vegetation index). Among five vegetation indices, only soil adjusted vegetation index was selected in stepwise method, satisfying the criteria and the overall model R² was 0.63 and its adjusted R² was 0.60. Simple linear regression model between aboveground biomass and single predictor index was better than stepwise regression model with (R²= 0.68) and (Root mean square error = 33.75 t/ha). Thus, soil adjusted vegetation index was considered best for biomass mapping. The study concluded that Landsat-8 product has considerable potential for biomass and carbon stocks estimation and can be expanded to national and regional forest inventories, modeling and future reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation+ implementation.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this paper is to propose a performance measurement framework for Iranian municipalities as a public institution.
METHODS: By selecting Karaj Municipality and referring to Balanced Score-Card Methodology, an attempt has been made to provide a framework that can be used in public institutions as an efficient tool for measuring performance. The research used analytical methods and stand-alone questionnaire survey techniques, a case study approach by cross-sectional method. The research environment was the central municipality of Karaj and the relevant deputies. Content validity was used to determine the validity of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined based on Cronbach's alpha. Also, the Balanced Score-Card framework is integrated with an Analytic Hierarchy Process.
FINDING: The results show that through the citizenship viewpoint, the satisfaction level of personal investors and makers is almost 7 times more important than citizens’ satisfaction. The Municipality of Karaj pays more attention to the interests of the private sector than the public interests which comes from the municipality money making target. The improved implemented projects index was, through the internal processes of business, about 3 times more important than the number of new projects index. It seems more logical to focus on the process improvement plan and project management improvement. Completion of the current projects can increase the added value to Karaj municipality. Also proper performance of Information Technology unit shows the growing importance of e-government to improve the performance of municipalities and process improvement plan.
CONCLUSION: Finally, it seems a continuous process of such framework has the ability to bring together all key internal and external shareholders and rulemakings can be shaped during time and this process can be accepted by Iran’s municipal management with methodologies that compare relative importance in performance criteria.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Given the tremendous progress of today's societies and the expectations of the people from public institutions that are increasing day by day, having complex organizations is inevitable. As a non-parametric border method, data envelopment analysis approach has been presented as a relative assessment tool to evaluate performance assessment of The Municipality of Tehran with 22 districts. This paper aims to assess all 22 districts of Tehran in terms of cash and sustainable income.
METHODS: In this paper, BCC output-oriented model has been opted to employ DEA for the performance assessment of Tehran Municipality in 2020. In order to formulate optimal programs, especially in the income programs of the regions, it is necessary to consider the specific conditions and characteristics of each region. Therefore, while cash and sustainable incomes have been selected as the model's output, number of building permits, number of inhabitants, number of housing deals, and the price of the residential unit have been considered as inputs of BCC-O model.
FINDINGS: BCC-O approach was implemented to classify 22 districts of the Municipality of Tehran. The findings revealed that 50 percent of districts namely 1, 6, 9, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 operated efficiently. Also, it was determined that there has not been a proportional analogy between cash and sustainable income in comparison with input indices. For such areas an alternative program is proposed using the method.
CONCLUSION: Due to the continuous increase of Tehran's county population and consequently the increase of citizens' requests and the lack of resources and facilities in Tehran Municipality on the other hand, it is necessary to formulate and implement the annual plans of the regions with higher accuracy. Given that at present the annual plan of cash and stable income of regions are based on past years' performance ignoring specific conditions of each region, so it is possible to evaluate a more real and precise value of income plan through DEA model with considering the conditions of each district. Decision-makers of inefficient districts can modify the approved plans of cash income and sustainable income base on the optimal value of the proposed data envelopment analysis model. Based on BCC-O model, guidelines are provided for transferring inefficient districts from the current state to the efficient ones. These values can be the basis for compiling the revenue plan for next year in districts of the Municipality of Tehran.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sustainable development is a process that envisions a desirable future for human societies in which living conditions and resource use meet human needs without compromising the integrity, beauty, and stability of vital systems. Knowledge-based companies today are among those companies that act as factories for converting knowledge into goods and services. In this regard, organizational social responsibility can be the basis for the sustainable development of companies and organizations. Therefore, this research aims are to examine the role of the organization’s social responsibility for sustainable development in terms of mediating the participation of employees of knowledge-based companies.                                                                                                                                
METHODS: This research is applied in terms of purpose, descriptive survey and correlation in terms of method. Field and library methods, literature reviews, and standard questionnaires were used to collect information. The statistical population consisted of 578 senior and middle managers of knowledge-based companies in the Science and Technology Park of Sharif University of Technology, Tehran- Iran, and 231 people were sampled using Cochran's formula method and stratified random sampling. A standard questionnaire was also used to collect information. The validity of the questionnaire was checked and confirmed using convergent and divergent validity and confirmatory factor analysis and its reliability using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, joint and combined reliability. Finally, the collected data was analyzed using SPSS and smartPLS software’s.
FINDINGS: Based on the results of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the significance of this test was calculated for all indicators less than 0.05 and 0.000, and due to the lack of normal distribution of the data, the smart PLS software was used. The overall fitting criterion was calculated to be 0.551, which means that the model fits well. When testing the main hypothesis, a coefficient of 0.408 was calculated, showing that employee participation explains 40% of the impact of social responsibility on sustainable development. The path coefficient of the sub-hypotheses for these relationships is above 0.5 and the significance is above 1.96. It can be said that the sub-hypotheses of the research are confirmed.
CONCLUSION: According to the indicators obtained, the organization’s social responsibility positively and significantly impacts sustainable development and employee participation. The positive role of employee participation in sustainable development was also confirmed. Finally, the results showed that employee participation can mediate the impact of social responsibility on sustainable development.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Whereas management of waste in urban areas across the globe is essentially a public service, there is dearth of knowledge on waste management efforts at the household level in developing countries. The study aimed to avail crucial information on the largely informal management of agro-food waste that is practiced in low- and lower middle-income countries. Insights of safety measures adopted in the utilization of agro-food wasteamong urban agro-producers were explored empirically.
METHODOLOGY: An electronically-structured questionnaire was administered on a sample of 456 urban agro-producer households for data collection.Descriptive as well asMultivariate Probit models were employed for analysis.
FINDINGS: The results indicated significant disparities in management options and safety risk management practices between the participating and non-participating livestock and mixed producers. Waste reduction (86%), utilization (86%), segregation (63%) and composting (58%) were the most preferred waste management practices. Waste disposal (18%) and mixing with salt/dry feeds (24%) were lowly preferred methods. Whereas the regression models showed disparities in the contextual factors influencing management options and safety risk measures, the knowledge variables (waste sorting and urban agriculture knowledge) had greater influence across these agro-food waste aspects. This implies that implementation of education programs in agro-food waste management and safety risk management practices among urban agro-producer households by urban authorities would enhance sustainable food safety in urban food supply chains.
CONCLUSION: The findings could inform self-management efforts of agro-food waste in small-urban agribusinesses thus increasing economic benefits and improving environmental wellbeing.

Abstract Background and Objectives: The nation's urban sector has experienced significant changes since industrialization, both in terms of growth and improvement in terms of creating jobs and the depletion of natural resources. The development and destruction are commendable and need mention and attention. These days, issues such as environmental degradation, the wealth gap, and unequal access to opportunities and resources are increasing. These concerns have increased the need for urban management through sustainable and planned development. The development cannot be sustained unless the depletion is controlled and taken care of. The current study focused on how urban regions have changed and how sustainable development helps cope with the changes. Furthermore, the study focused on enhancing the well-being of urban communities and promoting inclusivity to develop sustainable businesses that are economically sustainable in the long run. The novelty of the study is that explores how sustainable development can mitigate the impacts of urban change and enhance community well-being and inclusivity.
Methods: Quantitative methodologies, such as surveys and statistical analyses, may have shed light on the broader impact of sustainable business practices on urban development. To complement these findings, qualitative case studies and interviews could have fostered deeper insights into specific initiatives and the perspectives of entrepreneurs navigating this landscape. A mixed-methods approach, weaving together quantitative trends with rich qualitative narratives, would have further enriched the understanding of motivations and challenges encountered. Ultimately, regardless of the specific methodologies employed, this research likely aimed to achieve a holistic understanding of the intricate connections between urban management, sustainable business practices, and the innovative spirit of entrepreneurs driving change in India. In this study, the researcher used regression analysis and factor analysis to achieve the research objectives.
Findings:The entrepreneurs examined in the study exhibited a proactive stance towards critical aspects of sustainable business, notably waste management, energy efficiency, and resource optimization. The study identifies significant associations between key variables and sustainable urban development. Urban management demonstrates a positive impact (B = 1.286, SE = 0.621, Beta = 0.116, T = 2.071, P = 0.0039), highlighting its crucial role in shaping sustainable practices. Sustainable practices, in turn, exhibit a strong positive correlation (B = 1.088, SE = 0.257, Beta = 0.238, T = 4.242, P = 0.0001), indicating their pivotal role in driving urban development towards sustainability. These findings underscore the importance of integrating effective urban management strategies and sustainable practices to foster inclusive and resilient urban communities.
Conclusion: The findings provide the government with all the criteria essential for a valid approach to the sustainable development of the urban regions of the country and provide the appropriate balance between growth and development. The researcher recommended that creating supportive policies and incentives, investing in green infrastructure, supporting local entrepreneurship ecosystems, collecting and sharing data, and promoting community engagement are requirements for urban management. In addition, recommended that focusing on triple bottom line impact, collaborating with other stakeholders, Innovating and adapting, communicating transparently, and advocating for change are required for Sustainable Businesses by Entrepreneurs.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Organizational sustainability has become a focal point for businesses worldwide, with growing interest in how dynamic capabilities contribute to sustainability from environmental, social, and economic perspectives. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dynamic capability on sustainability within small and medium-sized enterprises using the Triple Bottom Line and Natural Resource-Based View frameworks. Specifically, it explored how dynamic capabilities influence the adoption and implementation of sustainable business practices in Small and Medium Enterprises.
METHODS: Structural equation modeling based on partial least squares was employed to analyze the data using data from a survey of 448 Small and Medium Enterprise owners and managers in Bangladesh. This study used PLS-SEM with SmartPLS (version 3.2.9) and IBM SPSS Statistics (ver. 26). This methodology helped examine the relationships between dynamic capability, business model innovation, and organizational sustainability across the three TBL dimensions.
FINDINGS: The results showed that dynamic capability had a significant direct impact on organizational sustainability, with adaptability, innovation, and resource reconfiguration being key drivers. While business model innovation positively contributed to sustainability, its mediating effect in the relationship between dynamic capability and sustainability was found to be modest. This study also found that dynamic capability, which negatively affects business model innovation uptake, accounted for 13.3 % of the influence on organizational sustainability.
CONCLUSION: These findings provided policy-makers with crucial information for better e-waste management policy development, addressing the conflict between development and conservation. These insights may be applicable in Bangladesh and other countries as well.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Differences in the fundamental factors of production and technology are cited as the reason for the disparity in growth rates by primary research. Improving the quality of human capital through education, the quality of institutions such as the public policies and innovation play an important role in economic growth. Also, technological innovation creates circumstances for any region to extract more value from limited resources to support sustainable economic growth. In this study, the effect of human capital, institutional quality, and innovation are investigated on regional gross domestic product per capita in oil-exporting countries. Moreover, the effect of institutional quality has been investigated on the regional gross domestic product through government consumption expenditures.
METHODS: The panel data method is used to investigate the effect of human capital, institutional quality, and innovation on regional gross domestic product per capita from 2011 to 2021. The Levin-Lin-Chu test was employed to determine the reliability of the variables. The panel cointegration are used to ensure the existence of long-term relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables. In order to select the pooling and panel method, Flemer's test was used, and Hausman's test was used to select fixed and random effects methods. Also, statistical and econometric analysis is done with Stata17.0 software.
FINDINGS: The results of the random effects method in the first and the second models indicated that the human capital index has had a positive and significant effect on gross domestic product per capita at the level of 1% and its coefficient are 0.878 and 0.905, respectively. So, human capital improvement facilitating the absorption of technology, and boosting the productivity of production factors and increases economic growth. Also, the institutional quality has had a positive and significant effect on gross domestic product per capita at the 1% level in the first model and its coefficient is 0.182. Moreover, the coefficient of interaction effects of institutional quality and government consumption expenditure in second model is 0.073 and is statistically significant at the 1% level. According to this, Institutional quality shape the economic environment of countries and improves the economic performance. The Innovation index has had a positive and significant effect on gross domestic product per capita at the level of 1% and its coefficient in the first and the second models are 0.324 and 0.331, respectively. Therefore, strengthening the innovation system expanding the supply of new products and services.
CONCLUSION: The results indicate that, growth rate of gross domestic product per capita averaged at 2.12% over the sample period with standard deviation of 3.66 among the selected oil-exporting countries. Based on the results, improving the human capital through education and the acquisition of diverse skills have led to an increase in gross domestic product per capita at the level of 1%. In addition, the institutional quality limit government spending and direct financial resources towards healthy investments. According to this, institutional quality has increased regional gross domestic product through government consumption expenditures at the level of 1%. In addition, improving the system of innovation by maximizing the use of existing resources and boosting productivity has increased production.

Abstract BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Quick advancement of technology, rising risks, globalization, and expectations for privatization are among the environmental characteristics that current organizations are facing. To be successful in this setting, lean human resources provide a competitive advantage, which its implementation results in the continuous removal of wastes (obstacles) and the high-quality and low-cost providing of services. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to Evaluation of lean human resource management model in the Islamic Council of Tehran. Tehran''s City Council as a service organization must reform the structure of Human Resource to increase the skills of employee, so this study aimed to changing the approach of Human Resource Management to Lean and increasing the productivity.
METHODS: The present study uses a quantitative approach. This article has a “descriptive-correlational” methodology of the type of “analysis of variance-covariance matrix”. In other words, the relationship between variables is analyzed based on the purpose of the research. The survey was carried out in the form of a desk and field research. The research model was extracted via analysis and interpretation of the interviews with the experts of the Islamic City Council of Tehran by employing the thematic analysis method and four rounds of the Delphi technique. Eventually, the measurement model and the structural model to assess the relationships between variables, as well as confirm the developed model, were examined utilizing the data gained from the Islamic City Council of Tehran.
FINDINGS: On the basis of the findings achieved from the structural equation modeling, the items "Performance Appraisal" with a factor loading of 0.89, "Employment" with a factor loading of 0.91, "Improvement" with a factor loading of 0.77, "Remuneration" with a factor loading of 0.87, "Supply" with a factor loading of 0.92, "Compensation System (Benefits and Rewards)" with a factor loading of 0.84, "Flow" with a factor loading of 0.76, "Relationships" with a factor loading of 0.79, and "Maintenance" with a factor loading of 0.86 explain the latent variable of the "lean human resource management model in the Islamic City Council of Tehran".
CONCLUSION: Results of this investigation have presented a comprehensive model for the evaluation of the lean human resources management in Tehran''s City Council that could be exploited by industrialists and scholars.
NOVELTY AND ORGINALITY:
The LHRM model has not been designed and localized for Tehran''s City Council up to now. Therefore, this research enhances the existing knowledge about LHRM.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the intricate connections that exist between place attachment, urban development meanings, and acceptance in urban peripheral settlements. The research aims to gain a better understanding of how people perceive and respond to urban development scenarios in the periphery using the tripartite frameworks of place attachment and the disruption-response model.
METHODS: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study examines people's perceptions and reactions to four hypothetical urban development scenarios by combining qualitative interviews with key participants and then quantitative surveys administered to 256 adult residents of selected peripheral settlements in the rapidly developing city of Malang, Indonesia.
FINDINGS: The findings from the qualitative phase, reveal diverse dimensions shaping the meaning of urban development, encompassing economic, social, cultural, livelihood, and environmental impacts. The survey results' exploratory factor analysis reveals latent factors that capture diverse perspectives on development scenarios, from societal and environmental harm to economic modernization and advancement. The structural equation model reveals that place attachment emerges as a significant predictor of urban development scenario meanings, although the relationship varies across different scenarios. Furthermore, the level of acceptance of urban development scenarios mediates the relationship between place attachment and interpretations, influencing perceptions of economic, social, and environmental impacts. Subsequently, the implications of these findings for existing literature were discussed.
CONCLUSION: This study fills a gap in the disruption-response model by illuminating the interpretation process and showcasing the interplay of place attachment, urban development meanings, and acceptance in peripheral city settlements. Limitations of the study were discussed, and future studies were proposed.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the era of globalization, businesses face the challenge of developing and maintaining an effective workforce. Human resource leaders should closely monitor employee discontent with career progression to prevent workplace productivity declines and employee attrition. The primary reason for job loss is often due to a lack of career progression. Career progression involves moving up the corporate ladder, accepting new responsibilities, transferring to better positions, and achieving long-term goals. It refers to the upward or downward movement of employees within an organization, from entry-level to management positions. This study aims to fill knowledge gaps on white-collar occupations, career progression, and how these factors impact salary, lifestyle, and job security.
METHODS: This study used quantitative analysis and hypothesis testing to determine the association between the variables. Data analysis was done using Statistical Software for Social Science (SPSS) software. A total of 250 questionnaires were sent out, of which 231 were returned with feedback, and 227 of those were usable, yielding a 90% response rate.
FINDINGS: Multi-collinear analysis data reveals a negative link between salary and career progression, with a beta coefficient of -0.148 and a p-value of 0.010, which is more than 0.001. Nonetheless, the p-value for job security is less than 0.001, with a beta coefficient of 0.462. The beta coefficient for lifestyle is 0.348, and its p-value is less than 0.001. Hence, the research indicates that lifestyle and job security positively correlate with career progression.
CONCLUSION: The National Solid Waste Management Policy aims to establish a sustainable, integrated waste management system, promote public awareness, and enhance infrastructure for efficient waste management. In line with the study's findings, the policy could be enhanced by incorporating measures that promote employees' lifestyles and career progression.
 

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With sustained socio-economic development, problems such as resource constraints, ecological damage, and food safety have become increasingly prominent and have become important factors constraining sustainable development. To address these challenges, this study applies the stimulus–organism–response framework to examine key factors that shape consumers’ green purchase intention in the food industry in China. Green advertising, environmental attitude, product attributes, and social media influence are conceptualized as external stimuli, while customer perceived value represents the internal psychological mechanism driving behavioural intention.
METHODS: A total of 371 valid survey responses were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (version 27.0) and Analysis of Moment Structures (version 28.0) to conduct reliability testing, factor analysis, structural modelling, and mediation analysis.
FINDINGS: All four external variables significantly increase customer perceived value, which in turn strengthens green purchase intention. Mediation results show that customer perceived value partially mediates the effects of green advertising and product attributes, and fully mediates the effects of environmental attitude and social media influence.
CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that customer perceived value plays a central role in transforming external green marketing stimuli into purchase intention. These findings provide theoretical insight for stimulus–organism–response-based green marketing research and practical guidance for food enterprises seeking to promote sustainable consumer behaviour.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The roots of portfolio thinking can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where large-scale construction projects were coordinated at the empire level. During World War II, project control techniques were extensively applied to improve time management. While project control focuses mainly on schedule adherence, project management encompasses broader considerations, including cost, quality, and scope. With the increasing number of projects undertaken by organizations and the growing need for strategic alignment, resource prioritization, and cross-project integration, Project Portfolio Management has emerged as a critical discipline for achieving organizational coherence. Despite its importance, a comprehensive and practical conceptual model that guides managers in implementing Project Portfolio Management remains underdeveloped. This study therefore seeks to present an integrated conceptual framework for Project Portfolio Management.
METHODS: The proposed model was evaluated within the framework of the Balanced Scorecard to categorize projects across strategic dimensions. The Analytic Hierarchy Process was applied to determine the relative importance of evaluation criteria. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution was then employed to assign performance scores to the projects, while Data Envelopment Analysis was used to assess their efficiency. Finally, Linear Integer Programming was implemented to incorporate budgetary constraints and identify the optimal project portfolio. To illustrate the applicability of the model, a case study of a hypothetical municipality managing 114 projects was conducted.
FINDINGS: The Linear Integer Programming analysis revealed that Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution yielded superior results in the learning and growth and internal processes aspects, with objective function values of 0.22 and 0.164, respectively. By contrast, Data Envelopment Analysis was more effective in the customer and financial aspects, achieving values of 0.190 and 0.141. This divergence is largely attributable to budget allocation and methodological orientation: Data Envelopment Analysis emphasizes input–output efficiency, favoring projects with higher relative productivity, whereas Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution prioritizes projects with stronger weighted performance scores. Under budget constraints, however, portfolios composed of smaller, lower-scoring projects may collectively generate greater benefits than portfolios of fewer, high-scoring but resource-intensive projects. This highlights the inherent trade-off between single-project efficiency evaluation and portfolio-level optimization.
CONCLUSION: This study introduces an eight-step conceptual framework for Project Portfolio Management, integrating Balanced Scorecard, Analytic Hierarchy Process, Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution, Data Envelopment Analysis, and Linear Integer Programming to support portfolio creation and project selection. The findings suggest that while both Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution and Data Envelopment Analysis offer valuable insights, their relative effectiveness depends on organizational constraints. The proposed framework provides a structured, systematic approach to portfolio decision-making, thereby enhancing the alignment of projects with strategic objectives and improving overall organizational performance.

Abstract This paper investigates empirically the effect of volatility of the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar vis-à-vis the euro on U.S. stock market volatility while controlling for a number of drivers of stock return volatility. Using a GARCH(1, 1) model and using weekly data covering the period from the week of January 1, 1999 through the week of January 25, 2010, it is found that the 9/11 terrorist attack, bear markets, fluctuations in jobless claims, and negative equity market returns increase financial volatility. On the other hand, no conclusive results are found regarding the effect of fluctuations in M2, or incorrect expectations of changes in the federal funds target rate. Finally, it is found that when major drivers of financial volatility are controlled for, increased exchange rate volatility exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on the volatility of stock returns. Monetary policymakers need to take this effect into account when formulating exchange rate actions within the prevailing managed float.

Abstract The main objective of this study is to investigate the role of strategic human resource management in crisis management with regard to the role of mediating organizational culture and intellectual capital. This study is based on the purpose of the applied type and in terms of data collection is a descriptive research type. The statistical population includes all 257 staff of the Governorate of Thran. The sample size is set to 225 people using Cochran equation. Simple random sampling is used as the sampling method. The data was gathered through distribution and collection of the questionnaire and the analysis has been performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Lisrel software. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling have been used to investigate study hypotheses. The results of the study hypotheses indicate a positive and significant impact of strategic management of human resources with the value of 0.21, organizational culture with a value of 0.43 and intellectual capital with a value of 0.55 on crisis management. The mediating role of organizational culture and intellectual capital variables has also been confirmed in the model.