The primary objective of this research is to investigate how non-financial incentives impact employee motivation within the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in Saudi Arabia. Employing a positivist research approach, we employed a carefully crafted survey to collect data from 365 employees employed by SMEs situated in Jeddah. The study explores various aspects, including the most common non-monetary motivators, the interplay between non-monetary and monetary incentives, and the effects of non-financial incentives on employee engagement, job satisfaction, and commitment. The results of the study indicate that employees working in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia place a significant emphasis on a good work environment, recognition, possibilities for personal and professional development, and career growth as prevalent non-monetary motivators. Additionally, the research illustrates a notable difference in the perceived efficacy of non-financial and financial incentives, whereby non-financial incentives are seen to have an equal, if not greater, impact on both motivation and work satisfaction. Moreover, the study reveals robust positive correlations between non-financial incentives and employee outcomes, underscoring the significance of these incentives in augmenting work satisfaction, job engagement, and commitment. The consequences of employee motivation are influenced by control factors, which have diverse influences, highlighting the complex nature of this phenomenon.

This article presents the validation of a virtue-based leadership development questionnaire (LID). Leadership is defined as the human action of guiding others toward a common good, which requires the exercise of personal competencies and virtues. The theoretical and factorial structure of LID has three domains: intellectual, relational and performative. The LID was administered to a sample of 1759 university students from Mexico and Spain for factor analysis. Subsequently, it was applied to a sample of 1906 students from a Mexican university for confirmatory factor analysis and to 171 Mexican students for a convergent validity study with the Socially Responsible Leadership Scale (SRLS). Psychometric analyses indicate that the questionnaire is reliable and valid. Confirmatory factor analysis indicates that the questionnaire fits the theoretical model and has convergent validity with the SRLS. This questionnaire aims to contribute to the leadership education of university students.

Solar energy is a reliable and abundant resource for both heating and power generation. The current research examines how the novel class of nano-embedded Bees wax phase change materials (NEBPCMs) improves heat storage qualities. The synthetic NEBPCMs were subjected to experimental testing using, XRD, Bees wax and Al2O3 FESEM. A typical solar water heating system features a flat plate collector unit incorporating Bees Wax phase change material (NEBPCM) combined with varying concentrations of Al2O3 (0.01%, 0.015%, and 0.02%). The absorber plate surface is coated with a Nano-hybrid coating consisting of Black Paint, Al2O3, and additional Fe3O4 at a 2% concentration. Pure water is frequently used in these solar water heaters (SWH), with performance evaluations conducted using different Bees Wax and Al2O3 concentrations of NEBPCM (Bees Wax + Al2O3). The system’s efficiency is assessed across different flow rates (60, 90, and 120 kg/hr) and tilt angles (15, 30, and 45 degrees). This study aims to examine the feasibility of using PCMs to store solar energy for night time water heating, ensuring a continuous supply of hot water maximum efficiency achieved by using NEBPCM in solar water heater 52.26% at a flow rate of 120 Kg/hr, at angle of 45 degrees and Concentration 0.015%.

Biomass production (BIO) and its anomalies were modeled using MODIS satellite images and gridded weather data to test an environmental monitoring system in the biomes Atlantic Forest (AF) and Caatinga (CT) within SEALBA, an agricultural growing region bordered by the states of Sergipe (SE), Alagoas (AL), and Bahia (BA), Northeast Brazil. Spatial and temporal variations on BIO between these biomes were strongly identified, with the annual long-term averages (2007–2023) for AF and CT of 78 ± 22 and 58 ± 17 kg ha−1 d−1, respectively. BIO anomalies were detected through its standardized indexes—STD (BIOSTD), comparing the results for the years from 2020 to 2023 with the long-term rates from 2007 to each of these years. The highest negative BIOSTD values were in 2023, but concentrated in CT, indicating periods with the lowest vegetation growth, regarding the long-term conditions from 2007 to 2023. The largest positive BIOSTD values were for the AF biome in 2022, evidencing the highest vegetative vigor in comparison with the long-term period 2007–2022. The proposed BIO monitoring system is important for environmental policies as they picture suitable periods and places for agricultural and forestry explorations, allowing sustainable managements under climate and land-use changes conditions, with possibilities for replication of the methods in other environmental conditions.

This study aims to identify the causes of delays in public construction projects in Thailand, a developing country. Increasing construction durations lead to higher costs, making it essential to pinpoint the causes of these delays. The research analyzed 30 public construction projects that encountered delays. Delay causes were categorized into four groups: contractor-related, client-related, supervisor-related, and external factors. A questionnaire was used to survey these causes, and the Relative Importance Index (RII) method was employed to prioritize them. The findings revealed that the primary cause of delays was contractor-related financial issues, such as cash flow problems, with an RII of 0.777 and a weighted value of 84.44%. The second most significant cause was labor issues, such as a shortage of workers during the harvest season or festivals, with an RII of 0.773. Additionally, various algorithms were used to compare the Relative Importance Index (RII) and four machine learning methods: Decision Tree (DT), Deep Learning, Neural Network, and Naïve Bayes. The Deep Learning model proved to be the most effective baseline model, achieving a 90.79% accuracy rate in identifying contractor-related financial issues as a cause of construction delays. This was followed by the Neural Network model, which had an accuracy rate of 90.26%. The Decision Tree model had an accuracy rate of 85.26%. The RII values ranged from 68.68% for the Naïve Bayes model to 77.70% for the highest RII model. The research results indicate that contractor financial liquidity and costs significantly impact construction operations, which public agencies must consider. Additionally, the availability of contractor labor is crucial for the continuity of projects. The accuracy and reliability of the data obtained using advanced data mining techniques demonstrate the effectiveness of these results. This can be efficiently utilized by stakeholders involved in construction projects in Thailand to enhance construction project management.

The study of authoritarian leadership has undergone significant development, with researchers exploring its different dimensions and consequences. This leadership style, characterized by a top-down approach and centralized decision-making authority, has been extensively examined in psychology, organizational behavior, and management literature. Scholars have delved into the effects of authoritarian leadership on various aspects of organizations such as employee satisfaction, motivation levels, productivity rates, turnover rates, and team dynamics. The research landscape surrounding authoritarian leadership has witnessed a recent surge in interest as scholars strive to understand its intricate connections with different variables. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on authoritarian leadership, aiming to identify the key research areas, influential authors, prominent journals in the field, and citation patterns. To our knowledge, no bibliometric analysis on authoritarian leadership can be found in the Scopus database, highlighting the novelty of our research. Through a source-based examination of scholarly articles and their citations pertaining to authoritarian leadership, this analysis offers valuable insights into the current state of research in this domain. By focusing on publications from the past decade onwards, we aim to uncover trends and potential gaps within existing literature while also providing guidance for future research endeavors. Our research findings will provide valuable insights into the phenomenon of authoritarian leadership, contributing to a deeper understanding of its implications. By delving into this topic, we hope to pave the way for future studies and investigations in this field that can build upon our findings and expand knowledge even further.