This study explores the impact of online assessments on students’ academic performance and learning outcomes at the University of Technology in South Africa. The research problem addresses the effectiveness and challenges of digital assessment platforms in higher education (HE), particularly their influence on student engagement, feedback quality, and academic integrity. A qualitative case study approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with ten undergraduate and postgraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds. The findings reveal that while online assessments provide flexibility and immediate feedback, they also pose challenges related to technical issues, feedback delays, and concerns about long-term knowledge retention. The study highlights the necessity of aligning assessment strategies with constructivist learning principles to enhance critical thinking and student-centered learning. Implications for theory include strengthening the application of constructivist learning in digital environments, while practical recommendations focus on improving assessment design, institutional support, and feedback mechanisms. Policy adjustments should consider inclusive and equitable access to online assessments. Future research should further investigate the long-term impact of digital assessments on professional readiness. This study contributes to ongoing discussions on online education by offering a nuanced understanding of digital assessment challenges and opportunities in higher education.

This study explores the critical role of the retail sector in the global economy and the importance of working capital management within retail businesses. Recognizing retail’s influence beyond just income generation, the research examines its impact on economic stability, job creation, and national GDP, and how it links industries such as manufacturing and logistics. Employing a blended-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative analysis using AMOS software with qualitative insights from interviews with financial managers and retail experts. Key focus areas include cash flow management, market demand, and supplier relationship management in the context of working capital management. Findings highlight the necessity of effective working capital management in maintaining financial stability, optimizing shareholder wealth, and ensuring long-term business viability in the retail sector. Strategies for enhancing profitability, such as improving supplier relationships and adapting to market demands, are identified. This research contributes to understanding the economic impact of the retail sector and the intricacies of working capital management. It offers insights for policymakers, retail managers, and academics, emphasizing the need for supportive retail industry measures and effective financial management practices. The study fills a gap in literature and sets a foundation for future research in this critical area of economic studies and retail management.

The paper assesses the threshold at which climate change impacts banking system stability in selected Sub-Saharan economies by applying the panel threshold regression on data spanning 1996 to 2017. The study found that temperature reported a threshold of −0.7316 ℃. Further, precipitation had a threshold of 7.1646 mm, while the greenhouse gas threshold was 3.6680 GtCO2eq. In addition, the climate change index recorded a threshold of −0.1751%. Overall, a non-linear relationship was established between climate change variables and banking system stability in selected Sub-Saharan economies. The study recommends that central banks and policymakers propagate the importance of climate change uncertainties and their threshold effects to banking sectors to ensure effective and stable banking system operations.

This study investigated the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Recruitment and Selection Process and its effect on the Efficiency of Human Resource Management (HRM) and on the Effectiveness of Organizational Development (OD) in Jordanian commercial banks. The research aimed to provide solutions to reduce the cost, time, and effort spent in the process of HRM and to increase OD Effectiveness. The research model was developed based on comprehensive review of existing literature on the subject. The population of this study comprised HR Managers and Employees across all commercial banks in Jordan, and a census method was employed to gather 177 responses. Data analysis was conducted using Amos and SPSS software packages. The findings show a statistically significant positive impact of AI adoption in the Recruitment and Selection Process on HR Efficiency, which in turn positively impacted OD Effectiveness. Additionally, the study indicated that the ease-of-use of AI technologies played a positive moderating role in the relationship between the Recruitment and Selection Process through AI and HR Efficiency. This study concludes that implementing AI tools in Recruitment is vital through improving HR Efficiency and Organization Effectiveness.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between transformational leadership variables and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) variables, investigate the relationship between job satisfaction variables and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and investigate the relationship between organizational commitment variables and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). This research method uses quantitative methods. In this study, the researchers used a simple random sampling technique with a sample size of 368 SMEs employee. The data collection method for this research is by distributing an online questionnaire designed using a Likert scale of 1 to 7. The data analysis technique uses Partial Least Square—Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and data analysis tools use SmartPLS software version 3.0. The stages of data analysis are validity testing, reliability testing and hypothesis testing. The independent variables in this research are transformational leadership, job satisfaction and organizational commitment, while the dependent variable is organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The results of this research are that transformational leadership has a positive influence on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), Job Satisfaction has a positive influence on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and organizational commitment has a positive influence on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The theoretical implications of this research support the results of previous research that transformational leadership, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment make a positive contribution to increasing organizational citizenship behavior in SME employees. The practical implication of this research is that SME owners apply transformational leadership, create work breadth and create organizational commitment within the SME organization to support increasing employee organizational citizenship behavior so that it can encourage increased performance and competitiveness of SMEs.

The increasing use of social media has played a prominent role in shaping opinions and forming attitudes, especially among university students. They use them increasingly to transfer information, exchange data, and disseminate topics among students and all members of society. Therefore, this study aims to examine these networks and their role in public life, especially in shaping public opinion among university students. The study adopted a descriptive survey approach to achieve its objectives. The study was conducted on a sample of undergraduate students from four Jordanian universities, totaling 832 participants selected through purposive sampling and using the equal distribution method according to variables (gender, university, specialization). The study relied on a questionnaire as a method of data collection and filling out the data from the respondents in the questionnaire. The study found that social media plays a significant role in shaping opinions, beliefs, and ideas, and that its role is unparalleled. Also, the study showed that social media had a significant impact on shaping public opinion in Jordan among university students who use social media extensively and exchange opinions, ideas, and information, contributing to shaping a series of opinions among young people and contributing to their adoption of new ideas or changing their old ones through the dialogue facilitated by these networks, as users exchange and adopt ideas, contributing to shaping a public opinion on an issue. These findings underscore the importance of understanding and leveraging social media and online platforms to effectively communicate with and engage students.