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The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the direct effect of extra-industry network (EIN) and organization–stakeholder relationships (OSR) on absorptive capacity (ACAP). In addition, this study explored indirect effects of EIN and OSR on performance through ACAP among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Oman by considering the moderating role of big data analytics (BDA) outsourcing.

This study utilized quantitative method through survey questionnaire. The hypotheses were tested with a sample size of 202 surveys completed by SME owners. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was administered to analyze data via the SmartPLS 4.0 software.

The analysis revealed that EIN and OSR had an indirect effect on performance through ACAP, while propensity to outsource BDA was found to have a positive moderating role between EIN and performance. Interestingly, propensity to outsource BDA was found to have a negative moderating influence on the relationship between ACAP and performance.

This research is beneficial for entrepreneurs who wish to learn about the specific intangible resources significant for venture growth, to devise effective strategies to expand their EIN and OSR and to consider the significance of the correlations established in this study through ACAP. The result also assists managers in a way that the propensity to outsource BDA strengthens the positive effect of EIN on performance and weakens the positive effect of ACAP on performance.

This research appears to be among the first empirical studies that attempt to provide insights into the importance of ACAP as the key mechanisms to transform the advantages of EIN and OSR to enhance performance by considering the moderating role of propensity to outsource BDA.

The current study aims to advance the research on the extra-industry network, innovativeness and performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by examining the mediation role of proactiveness. The study also aims to examine the mediating role innovativeness between extra-industry network and performance.

This study used the proportionate stratified random sampling method to select the study sample and the questionnaire survey approach to 580 SMEs. A total of 150 completed questionnaires were returned. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was administered to analyze data via Smart PLS 3.0 software.

The results reflect that proactiveness is mediated by the relationship between the extra-industry network and the performance of Iranian SMEs. In addition, the results illustrated that proactiveness is mediated by the relationship between innovativeness and the performance. The findings also address the limitation of previous studies on Iranian SMEs through the independent examination of the mediating role of innovativeness between firm extra-industry network and performance.

This article is one of few attempts that have addressed the significance of proactiveness as the key mechanism to transform the advantages of extra-industry network and innovativeness relationships to enhance performance.

This study investigates how employees' experience of resource-depleting workplace loneliness may steer them away from performance-enhancing work efforts as informed by their propensity to engage in negative work rumination. It also addresses whether and how religiosity might serve as a buffer of this harmful dynamic.

The hypotheses tests rely on three-round survey data collected among employees who work in various organizations in Pakistan – a relevant country context, considering the importance of people's religious faith for their professional functioning and its high-uncertainty avoidance and collectivism, which likely make workplace loneliness a particularly upsetting experience.

An important channel through which a sense of being abandoned at work compromises job performance is that employees cannot “switch off” and stop thinking about work, even after hours. The role of this explanatory mechanism is mitigated, however, when employees can draw from their religious beliefs.

For human resource (HR) managers, this study pinpoints a notable intrusion into the personal realm, namely, repetitive thinking about work-related issues, through which perceptions of work-related loneliness translate into a reluctance to contribute to organizational effectiveness with productive work activities. It also showcases how this translation can be subdued with personal resources that enable employees to contain the hardships they have experienced.

This study helps unpack the connection between workplace loneliness and job performance by detailing the unexplored roles of two important factors (negative work rumination and religiosity) in this connection.

This research examines the relationship between the green version of intellectual capital (IC) (measured through green versions of human, structural and relational capitals (GHC, GSC and GRC)), co-creational capital (CC), green innovation (GI), technological innovation (TI) (measured through artificial intelligence) and start-up competitive advantage (SCA).

An online questionnaire collected data from 275 participants. To test the hypotheses, the data were analyzed using SmartPLS.

The results confirmed the positive influence of GSC and CC on TI and GI, GRC with GI and that of GI and TI with SCA. The results also reveal that IC can influence innovation and describe how innovation can drive the competitive advantage (CA) of start-ups.

This self-report study examines the associations by collecting data at one point in time, which results in methodological limitations regarding the generalization of the results. The second limitation is that the findings are limited to start-ups.

This research work examined a model that combined three components of green IC, customer capital, two forms of innovation and CA. These associations have not been previously examined yet can provide useful insight into what drives green and TIs and how they further influence competitiveness. This study provides unique inferences that improve the value of the literature on IC and innovation, using start-ups as context.

Given the distinct and unique climates in these countries, research conducted in other parts of the world may not be directly applicable. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct research tailored to the specific climatic conditions of Australia and New Zealand to ensure accuracy and relevance.

Given population growth, urban expansions and predicted climate change, researchers should provide a deeper understanding of microclimatic conditions and outdoor thermal comfort in Australia and New Zealand. The study’s objectives can be classified into three categories: (1) to analyze previous research works on urban microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort in Australia and New Zealand; (2) to highlight the gaps in urban microclimate studies and (3) to provide a summary of recommendations for the neglected but critical aspects of urban microclimate.

The findings of this study indicate that, despite the various climate challenges in these countries, there has been limited investigation. According to the selected papers, Melbourne has the highest number of microclimatic studies among various cities. It is a significant area for past researchers to examine people’s thermal perceptions in residential areas during the summer through field measurements and surveys. An obvious gap in previous research is investigating the impacts of various urban contexts on microclimatic conditions through software simulations over the course of a year and considering the predicted future climate changes in these countries.

This paper aims to review existing studies in these countries, provide a foundation for future research, identify research gaps and highlight areas requiring further investigation.

This study aimed to (1) identify supply chain risks faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in food businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) investigate the business continuity management (BCM) strategies employed by organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted, involving eight SMEs in the Malaysian food industry. Their responses were analysed using a thematic analysis.

The thematic analysis indicated that supply risks, demand risks, operational risks, logistics risks and financial risks were amongst the challenges that the respondents faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provided evidence which showed the importance of flexibility, redundancy and collaboration to avoid or reduce the impact of such risks.

This paper fills the void in the literature by exploring the BCM practices amongst SMEs in the food businesses of a developing country, during the COVID-19 disruptions. Previous studies in the area had mainly focused on large organisations.

By replacing traditional fossil fuels, renewable energy (RE) has the potential to become an outstanding sustainable energy supply. However, owing to technological, economic, social and legal constraints, RE is still in its early stages of development. Hence, this paper aims to analyze the sustainable development hindrances in the RE supply chain (RESC).

Twenty-three hindrances to the sustainable development of the RE industry were investigated in this research, which included a review of the expert opinion and literature. Then, a mutual relationship between the hindrances by integrating interpretive structural modeling and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory in fuzzy environment was established. Furthermore, using the cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to a classification analysis, these hindrances were grouped.

The findings show that the important hindrances are “lack of standards for the RESC (H19), lack of entrepreneurship support (H21), lack of incentives/subsidies to encourage RE producers to compete (H30) and lack of governmental support for sustainable supply chain solutions (H31).

This research provides unique insights into the area of sustainability in RESC. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to analyze the sustainability hindrances in the RESC.

Depression is one of the most overlooked psychiatric disorders among middle-aged and elderly men. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigmas are a favorite and common spice that is used as an antidepressant, an anti-inflammatory and a sexual stimulant. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive survey of the effects of saffron on depression in middle-aged and elderly men.

The authors searched Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, Cochrane, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar databases to gather any relevant studies published from 1980 to September 2022. This review included studies that examined the relationship between depression and testosterone concentration (four studies) or saffron’s effects on testosterone and depression (six studies).

Observational research showed an association between testosterone and depression in middle-aged and elderly men. Furthermore, animal studies have found that saffron increased testosterone levels and decreased depression in males. There is evidence that testosterone may contribute to the mood. Besides its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this study proposed scientific mechanisms that saffron may also play a protective role against depression through its influence on testosterone, in middle-aged and elderly men. The general use of saffron at high doses or for prolonged periods may cause side effects; therefore, it is important to consult a health-care professional before the recommended dosage and duration of saffron supplementation, especially if a person has any underlying health conditions or is taking medications.

This study provides researchers with an additional perspective for conducting clinical trials on the use of saffron to enhance the mood of elderly men with testosterone deficiency.