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Product returns are a major challenge for e-businesses as they involve huge logistical and operational costs. Therefore, it becomes crucial to predict returns in advance. This study aims to evaluate different genres of classifiers for product return chance prediction, and further optimizes the best performing model.

An e-commerce data set having categorical type attributes has been used for this study. Feature selection based on chi-square provides a selective features-set which is used as inputs for model building. Predictive models are attempted using individual classifiers, ensemble models and deep neural networks. For performance evaluation, 75:25 train/test split and 10-fold cross-validation strategies are used. To improve the predictability of the best performing classifier, hyperparameter tuning is performed using different optimization methods such as, random search, grid search, Bayesian approach and evolutionary models (genetic algorithm, differential evolution and particle swarm optimization).

A comparison of F1-scores revealed that the Bayesian approach outperformed all other optimization approaches in terms of accuracy. The predictability of the Bayesian-optimized model is further compared with that of other classifiers using experimental analysis. The Bayesian-optimized XGBoost model possessed superior performance, with accuracies of 77.80% and 70.35% for holdout and 10-fold cross-validation methods, respectively.

Given the anonymized data, the effects of individual attributes on outcomes could not be investigated in detail. The Bayesian-optimized predictive model may be used in decision support systems, enabling real-time prediction of returns and the implementation of preventive measures.

There are very few reported studies on predicting the chance of order return in e-businesses. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to compare different optimization methods and classifiers, demonstrating the superiority of the Bayesian-optimized XGBoost classification model for returns prediction.

Social media marketing (SMM) denotes attaining website traffic or attention through social media platforms. The paper aims to focus on examining the viewpoint of library professionals from different universities along with the user respondents from different disciplines and universities on the role of social media tools to market university libraries.

It is a survey-based study that used the questionnaire as its chief data collection instrument designed to be administered to library professionals (n = 100) and users (n = 1,189) from eight universities. The study also adopted the general observation and interview methods to supplement the data. The data was analyzed using SPSS software, and Chi-square test and ANOVA were applied to ascertain the significant variations in viewpoints of the library professionals and the users.

The research study showed that library professionals (from different universities) and users (from different disciplines and universities) felt that social media could be an appropriate marketing tool for libraries in the future. Observations during data collection highlighted a lack of confidence and unwillingness among library professionals to implement any changes in the present time.

The present study provides some significant insights for improving the current situation of the libraries under study in terms of increasing awareness among the students and adopt social media tools for marketing of library facilities and services in future. It is important to note that a few issues that came into light during data collection were a marked lack of willingness and prevalence of less confidence among the library professionals to execute or implement the social media tools to market library resources and services among the users.

SMM programs focus on creating content that attracts attention and encourages readers to use it. This study attempts to fill the gap in of marketing in libraries through social media. The paper offers insights into the use of marketing tools for promoting library resources and services as per the needs of library users. The research work differs from other studies undertaken on library marketing related to social media as it has included both library professionals and users together to obtain a better picture in this regard.

Kerala is considered to be the must-see locations in a life time of a tourist. Tourism has become an important vital cog in the economy of the state of Kerala. The state boasts of an excellent road and rail networks, lakes and natural canals and the backwaters. The study was done in the back water destinations – Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam and Kuttanad. The study was carried out to learn about the relationship between the brand name of the backwater tour operator, the offers they give and the selection of backwater destination post-COVID-19. This descriptive study was conducted through a survey method. The study used qualitative approach by using a questionnaire and the total sample composed of 400 respondents. Analysis was done with the help of chi-square. The researcher found that there exists a significant relation between offers in tour package and backwater destination, but there is no significant relation existing between brand name and selection of a backwater destination.

This paper aims to explore the perception of successful entrepreneurs and resource providers regarding the minimum operational time necessary to legitimize an enterprise as an established company, as well as the tactics used by the entrepreneurs to minimize the distrust of society during this initial period of the life cycle of the organization.

Data collection from two groups: (i) interviews with 62 entrepreneurs and founders of established companies; and (ii) a questionnaire completed by 77 sales managers of companies that provide businesses with resources (they practice business-to-business). Regarding analyses: (i) to analyze information, this study applied the content analysis technique; and (ii) for data, this study applied the one-sample t-test, mean comparison t-test, Pearson’s correlation test, chi-square test of association, Mann–Whitney U test and correspondence analysis technique.

In this study, a period of 42 months was identified for the legitimization of enterprises by society, in other words, the time necessary for enterprises to be recognized as an established company and a company of low risk by customers and resource providers. A set of managerial and behavioral actions practiced by successful entrepreneurs to face the difficulties they experience during the legitimization period was also identified.

In addition to establishing a period of 42 months for the legitimization of an enterprise in the eyes of society, a set of 15 strategies used by successful entrepreneurs was identified to combat the prejudice associated with the youthfulness of their companies. Of these, 12 are linked to managerial actions and 3 to the entrepreneur’s behavior. It should be highlighted that eight of these strategies are innovative and have yet to be addressed in the literature on mitigating risks associated with the liability of newness principle.

The authors discuss the legitimization of enterprises based on the perception of actors who play a fundamental role regarding entrepreneurial action: resource providers for companies, customers and successful entrepreneurs. This is a triangulation of sources, as well as a triangulation of collected data and qualitative and quantitative techniques, which sought to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information that resulted from this analytical process.

COVID-19 is one of people's glooming disasters that brought the entire world to a standstill. To reduce the effect, a countrywide lockout was announced. Stock and distribution chains were affected on a larger scale. Due to the pandemic, purchasing habits of people have changed. It is also evident that individuals are choosing to shop online. As per recent researches, consumer buying behaviour has transformed as a result of the contagion. Due to which, many businesses are revolutionizing to adjust to the new reality. This study was taken up to scrutinize the effect of Corona Virus Disease of 2019 on changes in customer buying behaviour towards E-commerce. This study has offered detailed information on new ways of buyer shopping. It suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have become more accepting of internet shopping, experts in webrooming and with time they are mastering the art of online shopping as well as tuned to online payment methods and are accepting to live with ease in an economy of cashless e-transactions.

This paper is dedicated to labor discrimination, the most challenging and acute problem of the modern higher education system, which is one of the primary global concerns of the 21st century in higher education. This study aims to analyze the causes of discrimination in the higher education system of Georgia, to determine the priority types and forms of discrimination in the process of career management of personnel employed in educational institutions and to develop specific recommendations based on the successful antidiscrimination experience of developed countries, which will contribute to the development of an effective mechanism for eliminating discrimination in the higher education system of Georgia.

The statistical software package was used to process the data obtained during the research process. Throughout the analysis, numerous statistical techniques were employed, such as conducting an interview, running Mann–Whitney test, hypothesis testing, ANOVA test and much more. It is important to emphasize that various important hypotheses were developed during the research process. Finally, we presented conclusions and recommendations.

The study found that personnel discrimination is a severe, urgent and pervasive problem in Georgia. As a result of research, hypotheses N1, N2, N4, N5 and N7 were confirmed. In particular, the respondents’ discrimination is influenced by their field of employment; employees with low- and medium-level job positions are the most frequently discriminated against in both the private and public sectors; discrimination in both sectors has an impact on a person's work performance, personal life and health; weakening oversight of discriminatory issues leads to increased discrimination in both sectors.

One of the disadvantages of the mentioned study is that it was only conducted in several Georgian universities. The results of the study can be generalized only to the employees of the universities participating in the study. In the future, research is planned in all universities in Georgia, which will give us a unified picture. In addition, it would be ideal to do international research with foreign colleagues to compare the described findings by country.

The authors anticipate that the mentioned study’s findings will have theoretical and practical implications. Universities must consider the recommendations presented, as doing so will significantly reduce discrimination and employee stress levels. As a result, their performance and sense of belonging inside the organization will improve.

This study is a novelty in terms of Georgian reality, as the discrimination exploration has not been investigated in the higher education. Therefore, all the interested parties, such as policymakers, institutions, scholars and far more, will benefit from the findings.

Wage employees enter self-employment either directly or in a staged manner and may subsequently undertake multiple stints at self-employment. Extant research on the relationship between entry modes and the persistence and outcomes of self-employment is inconclusive. This study investigates the relationship between wage employees’ initial mode of entry into self-employment and the duration of the subsequent first two stints of self-employment.

This study used a matched longitudinal sample of 9,550 employees who became majority owners of incorporated firms from 2005 to 2016.

The findings demonstrate that the initial mode of entry into self-employment matters for the first two stints at self-employment. Staged entry into self-employment was associated with a shorter first stint and became insignificant for the second stint. Staged entry into self-employment was positively related to the odds of becoming self-employed for the second time in the same firm.

Using a comprehensive and reliable dataset, the paper shifts focus from the aggregated onward journey of novice entrepreneurs (survival as the outcome) to the duration of their self-employment stints. By doing so, the paper offers insights into the process of becoming self-employed and the patterns associated with success/failure in entrepreneurship associated with self-employment duration.

In this chapter, the authors critically examine the application of unmeasured latent method factors (ULMFs) in human resource and organizational behavior (HROB) research, focusing on addressing common method variance (CMV). The authors explore the development and usage of ULMF to mitigate CMV and highlight key debates concerning measurement error in the HROB literature. The authors also discuss the implications of biased effect sizes and how such bias can lead HR professionals to oversell interventions. The authors provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of ULMF when a specific assumption is held: a single latent method factor contributes to the data. However, the authors dispute this assumption, noting that CMV is likely multidimensional; that is, it is complex and difficult to fix with statistical methods alone. Importantly, the authors highlight the significance of maintaining a multidimensional view of CMV, challenging the simplification of a CMV as a single source. The authors close by offering recommendations for using ULMFs in practice as well as more research into more complex forms of CMV.

The aim of the study is to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of e-procurement by businesses in the specific context of Saudi Arabia.

This study uses the firm-level data of World Bank Enterprise Surveys 2022 of Saudi Arabia covering 1,573 enterprises. The association between firm characteristics and the adoption of e-procurement by enterprises has been examined through the chi-square test. Further, a logistic regression model has been fitted to estimate the factors affecting adoption of e-procurement.

About 10 % of the enterprises reported that they adopted e-procurement as the establishment’s main technology to manage procurement and supplier chain by enterprises. A statistically significant association has been found between e-procurement vis-a-vis firm characteristics. Moreover, logistic regression analysis indicated that large and innovative enterprises, with digital presence in terms of website, holding a bank account and access to credit are more likely to adopt e-procurement.

This study offers valuable insights into the factors that influence the adoption of e-procurement by businesses, which helps the supply chain manager to develop and operationalize the digital supply chain through e-procurement in the context of Saudi Arabia.

This paper can provide significant insights for promoters and supply chain managers in Saudi Arabia, who are now focusing on the digital transformation of businesses. By understanding the factors affecting e-procurement by firms, they can smooth the supply chain.

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the marketing and communication activities carried out by small management consulting firms and how they relate to customers.

After the framing of the literature on the subject, the study is based on the results of a survey carried out through an online questionnaire. The sample under investigation is represented by 914 small consulting firms located in central Italy.

Results show that half of the sample carried out marketing and communication activities, mainly through the website and social media, while others participating in events as speakers at conferences. It also emerges that management consulting firms carry out activities aimed at maintaining relationship with customers even if they do not invest time in market research in order to find potential and new clients.

The study suggests that management consulting firms should adopt a systematic and strategic approach to communication and should develop a complete and integrated digital communication strategy, as well as to rethink the consulting business model.

There are no previous studies that provide insight into the everyday practice of marketing and communication of small management consulting services in today's dynamic and changing economic environment.