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The purpose of this review paper is to provide a review of the most recent advances in the field of manufacturing composite sandwich panels along with their advantages and limitations. The other purpose of this paper is to familiarize the researchers with the available developments in manufacturing sandwich structures.

The most recent research articles in the field of manufacturing various composite sandwich structures were reviewed. The review process started by categorizing the available sandwich manufacturing techniques into nine main categories according to the method of production and the equipment used. The review is followed by outlining some automatic production concepts toward composite sandwich automated manufacturing. A brief summary of the sandwich manufacturing techniques is given at the end of this article, with recommendations for future work.

It has been found that several composite sandwich manufacturing techniques were proposed in the literature. The diversity of the manufacturing techniques arises from the variety of the materials as well as the configurations of the final product. Additive manufacturing techniques represent the most recent trend in composite sandwich manufacturing.

This work is valuable for all researchers in the field of composite sandwich structures to keep up with the most recent advancements in this field. Furthermore, this review paper can be considered as a guideline for researchers who are intended to perform further research on composite sandwich structures.

The construction industry is one of the major contributors of greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP, 2022), but it provides numerous valuable opportunities to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (IPPC, 2023). Innovation within the industry and the adoption of sustainable practices are key to achieve this. This is possible with the contribution of highly knowledgeable professionals and skilled workers. However, different countries, including Malta are facing skill gaps and resource shortages. The purpose of this paper is to define the existing skill gaps and mismatches in climate change adaptation in the built environment in Malta. The research focuses on the positionality of the professionals working in the sector as they operate within a legal framework guided through various policies, and through their role and responsibility, they are in contact with the other stakeholders in the sector.

The data generation strategy used in this study involved a pragmatic approach through a mixed method research methodology, namely, interviews, a questionnaire and a focus group discussion. The three tier scaffolding approach in the data generation strategy allowed for a progressive validation of the data generated.

The research indicates that the professionals in the sector are aware of their roles and responsibilities to address climate change in their practices, and they have the disposition to acknowledge the need of continuous professional training. Moreover, this study points out that the professionals in the built environment sector are concerned about other gaps within the industry and not solely by skill gaps. Their responsibility to address climate change through greener solutions is often hindered by fragmentation in the system including bureaucratic procedures, clients’ demands, lack of enforcement and general education of the need to address and adapt climate change among the general public. The professionals appeal for an overhaul in the “culture” of the construction industry through a comprehensive rather than a piecemeal approach. This research puts in the limelight the need of a comprehensive strategy to address skill gaps and mismatches in accordance with the need for climate change adaptation as the ultimate challenge rather than addressing different issues separately within the sector.

The paper is to define the existing skill gaps and mismatches in climate change adaptation in the built environment in Malta. By identifying these skill gaps and mismatches, it would be possible to devise an action plan to iron-out such hindrances as part of a broader climate action adaptation strategy.

Flexibility in the workplace is increasingly considered an important aspect of human resource strategy aimed at attracting and retaining a high-quality workforce. The purpose of this study is to explore the direct relationships between both employee- and employer-centered flexible work arrangements and turnover intentions, specifically focusing on Generation Z employees. In addition, this study also examines the mediating role of supervisor support and total rewards in these relationships.

This study used a quantitative research design using a cross-sectional survey method to gather data from employees born from 1995 across three industries – logistics, retail sales, and manufacturing. Partial least-squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The survey was conducted online, ensuring a diverse geographical spread and adherence to the representativeness of Generation Z within these sectors.

Contrary to existing literature, the findings reveal no direct correlation between flexible working arrangements (FWAs) and turnover intentions in this demographic. Instead, the results highlight the significant mediating roles of perceived supervisor support and total rewards. Specifically, these factors were found to influence turnover intentions in relation to the availability of employee-centered FWAs. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications, suggesting an adaptation of human resource strategies to better align with the preferences and expectations of Generation Z in the workplace.

In contrast to existing literature, this study examines the relationship between the availability of two different types of flexible work arrangements (employee- and employer-centered) and turnover intentions, specifically among Generation Z employees. In addition, this research introduces mediation analysis to investigate the roles of perceived supervisor support and total rewards – constructs that have been rarely considered in the context of these relationships.

The aim of this study is to investigate technological and innovation orientation contribution to the development and sustainability of the industrial sector.

The authors gathered the perspectives of many experts who were aware enough of their company’s technical and innovation orientations to participate in this study to understand how technology and innovation orientations may affect sustainability and development. These people included the company managers, accounting department heads, IT department workers and employees in the innovation department. This was accomplished by distributing a thorough questionnaire intended to gather their perspectives.

The study’s results highlight the significant positive relationship between technological and innovation orientation. Moreover, the study demonstrates that both technological and innovation orientation were found to positively impact the sustainability and development of the industrial sector.

This study provides practical insights for policymakers, industrial managers and innovation supporters in Jordan. Managers can use these insights to reassess technology adoption and innovation strategies. Additionally, investing in staff skills and technology readiness can boost efficiency, competitiveness and long-term growth.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is pioneering research to shed light on the connection between technological orientation, innovation orientation and sustainability and development in the industrial sector, providing valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners alike.

The purpose of microcredit is to offer small loans to people who are not covered by traditional financial channels. It can facilitate entrepreneurship, boosting local socio-economic development and improving environmental and political factors.

This paper aims to analyse microcredit in Italy, focusing on a project based in Rione Sanità, Naples. Rione Sanità is one of the poorest areas of Southern Italy, displaying high rates of criminality and unemployment, especially among youth, women, migrants and the vulnerable. The district is renowned for its fine and ancient handicrafts, food, trade and historical heritage – potential drivers for boosting tourism in the area. Qualitative methodologies were used to collect primary data through field visits and interviews with project bankers, local businesses, artisans, associations and religious representatives, project volunteers, as well as participation at local meetings. These data were corroborated by budget analysis based on the project's accounting.

The study shows encouraging results for the project and policy prospects. Despite the tiny starting numbers, there emerges a significant potential for microcredit to spread in the district, as in Southern Italy, providing an effective strategy to combat unemployment, usury and criminality, yielding community development and favoring broad societal challenges.

With this evidence, the paper attempts to shed some light and verify the potential of microfinance projects as a driver of sustainable development and ethical finance in poor areas of developed countries.

This paper aims to investigate the extent to which nostalgic advertising can foster brand love. It examines the effects of two common forms of nostalgia in advertising – that is, personal and historical nostalgia – on consumers’ love towards a brand in both a developed (the UK) and a developing country (India).

A pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted with two representative samples of consumers (i.e. 277 British and 255 Indian). Respondents were randomly exposed to one ad evoking either personal or historical nostalgia, or a non-nostalgic ad.

The results indicate that the use of nostalgia in advertising increases brand love in both countries. However, the effectiveness of each type of nostalgia varies depending on the country considered. In the UK, personal nostalgia increases brand love more than historical nostalgia, whereas, in India, historical nostalgia was found to be more significantly related to brand love than personal nostalgia.

The primary implication for marketers is to consider nostalgic advertising as a critical lever to building longer-term value for a brand (i.e. brand love) whilst being mindful of the country-specific differences regarding how such a lever should be executed to achieve effectiveness be effective.

The paper contributes to the advancement of the brand love literature by clarifying whether, and under what circumstances, the use of specific types of nostalgia in advertising increases consumers’ love towards a brand.

Human and artificial intelligence has often been examined through competitive and oppositional lenses, which may no longer suffice in modern digital and knowledge-based societies. This paper advocates for a holistic perspective by integrating human and artificial intelligence within the conceptual framework of intellectual capital (IC).

Employing a deductive approach rooted in systems theory, this study reinterprets established dimensions of IC for the era of artificial intelligence.

Drawing inspiration from the Information Variety Model and the 4C Curve Model, both developed within the research framework of the Viable Systems Approach, a conceptual framework is proposed to transcend fragmented perspectives. It aims to provide researchers and practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of human–artificial intelligence relations within the realm of IC.

This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on the potential evolution of IC in the era of artificial intelligence by presenting a multidisciplinary framework that challenges reductionist perspectives. It underscores the importance of systems thinking in reframing, analyzing and discussing key dimensions of IC in the context of the artificial intelligence era.