The practice of ethical management has gained traction due to its role in enhancing stakeholder relations, which can have severe repercussions for organisations. By prioritising ethics, companies not only uphold moral principles but also gain a competitive advantage. This is particularly true in societies that value socially responsible business and give preference to companies that go beyond the requirements of the law. Understanding the significance of ethical management practices is therefore becoming key to creating a responsible and sustainable business environment that benefits both an organisation and its stakeholders, such as employees, consumers and society. The purpose of this article is to present a comprehensive exploration of the impact of selected aspects of ethical management in Slovak companies with foreign participation on the ethicality of their relationships with stakeholders. By examining a range of factors related to ethical management, the article seeks to identify statistically significant differences among companies with different approaches to managing business ethics. Employing this analysis, the article contributes to the understanding of ethical practices in Slovak companies and provides insights for academics and practitioners of business ethics. The data used for this analysis was collected through an online questionnaire survey, resulting in a sample size of 179 monitored subjects, all of whom are Slovak companies with foreign participation. The research design included two groups of factors: “general factors of business ethics” or “ethical management approaches” and “ethicality of company-stakeholder relationships.” The statistical analysis included the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, followed by the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test, and post hoc analysis using the Bonferroni adjustment for previously identified significances. The results of the research presented in the article indicate a predominantly positive ethical stance towards employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders among Slovak companies. Statistically significant differences were found in the levels of ethicality in relation to legal form, with limited liability and joint-stock companies showing different perceptions towards supplier ethics. The research also proves that an ethical organisational climate is a major determinant of the ethicality of Slovak companies and suggests that a robust integration of ethics into strategic planning significantly improves their stakeholder relations. It can also be concluded that the scope of a code of ethics is particularly significant for community relations, whereas the frequency with which it is updated has less impact. This research holds significant value because it explores the impact of ethical management practices on stakeholder relations and ethical issues in Slovak companies with foreign participation. By focusing on the specific context of Slovak companies, the research offers unique insights into the relationship between ethical management factors and stakeholder dynamics. This research aims to bridge a gap by shedding light on the intricate dynamics between ethical management and stakeholder relations. The findings provide valuable guidance to organisational leaders, policymakers and stakeholders in fostering ethical behaviour and mitigating ethical risks within companies.

As digital technologies continue to shape the economy, countries are faced with increasing scrutiny in the use of digital transformation to aid productivity and improve performance. In South Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Small and medium-sized businesses’ (SMEs’) uptake of digital technologies, as many businesses had to shift their operations online and adopt new digital tools and technologies to solve the challenges posed by the pandemic. This has led to an increased focus on digital transformation mechanisms among South African firms. Therefore, the study examines the effect of digital transformation on the productivity of firms using cross-sectional data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES) (2020). The survey was based on firms and is a representative sample of the private sector in the South African economy and covers a wide variety of business environment themes, such as infrastructure, competitiveness, access to finance, and performance indicators. We found that digital transformation improved productivity of South African firms. Furthermore, empirical findings are reassuring robust to the IV-2SLS and quantile regression model, size of business, sectoral and provincial analysis. Finally, we recommend that policy makers should develop and implement initiatives to improve digital infrastructure, including high-speed internet access and reliable connectivity, especially in rural and underserved areas.

In the agricultural sector of Huila, particularly among SMEs in coffee, cocoa, fish, and rice subsectors, the transition to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is paramount yet challenging. This research aims to offer management guidelines to support Huila’s agricultural SMEs in their IFRS transition, underpinning the region’s aspirations for financial standardization and economic advancement. Utilizing a mixed-methods managerial approach, data was gathered from 13 representative companies using validated questionnaires, interviews, and analyzed with SPSS and ATLAS.ti. Results indicate that while there is evident progress in IFRS adoption, 12 out of 13 firms adopted IFRS, with rice leading in terms of adoption duration. While 77% found IFRS useful for financial statements, half reported insufficient staff training. The transition highlighted challenges, including asset recognition and valuation, and emphasized enhancing institutional support and IFRS training. Interviews revealed managerial commitment and expertise as significant factors. Recommendations for successful implementation include leadership involvement, continuous professional development, anticipating costs, clear accounting policies, and meticulous record-keeping. The study concludes that adopting IFRS enhances financial reporting quality, urging entities to converge their reporting practices without hesitation for improved comparability, relevance, and reliability in their financial disclosures.

Business intelligence is crucial for businesses, from start-ups to multinationals. Examining the role and efficacy of business intelligence (BI) technologies in gathering, processing, and evaluating data to assist responsible management practices and decision-making is crucial in the modern age, especially for educational institutions. This study investigates the impact of Business Intelligence (BI) tools on Knowledge Management (KM) stages and their subsequent influence on Responsible Business Practices Outcomes in the educational sector of the United Arab Emirates. Using a quantitative research design, the study collected data from 406 faculty and staff members across various UAE universities via a structured survey. It analyzed the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed a significant positive relationship between the use of BI Tools and the implementation of KM Stages, indicating that the utilization of BI tools is instrumental in enhancing knowledge management processes. However, the direct effect of BI Tools’ usage on responsible business practices’ outcomes was insignificant, suggesting the need for a mediating factor. KM Stages Implementation emerged as a significant mediator, indicating that the benefits of BI tools on responsible business practices are realized through their influence on KM processes. Moderation analyses showed that Institutional Culture, Training, and Expertise significantly moderated the relationship between BI Tools Usage and KM stage implementation, while Support from Management did not have a significant moderating effect. These findings highlight the importance of fostering an enabling institutional culture and investing in training and expertise to leverage the full potential of BI tools in promoting responsible business practices in educational settings. The study contributes to the literature on technology adoption in education and provides practical implications for educational administrators and policymakers seeking to integrate BI tools into their institutional practices.

Amid the unfolding Fourth Industrial Revolution, the integration of Logistics 4.0 with agribusiness has emerged as a pivotal nexus, harboring potential for transformational change while concurrently presenting multifaceted challenges. Through a meticulous content analysis, this systematic review delves deeply into the existing body of literature, elucidating the profound capacities of Logistics 4.0 in alleviating supply chain disruptions and underscoring its pivotal role in fostering value co-creation within agro-industrial services. The study sheds light on the transformative potential vested within nascent technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and their promise in shaping the future landscape of agribusiness. However, the path forward is not without impediments; the research identifies cardinal barriers, most notably the absence of robust governmental policies and a pervasive lack of awareness, which collectively stymie the seamless incorporation of Industry 4.0 technologies within the realm of agribusiness. Significantly, this inquiry also highlights advancements in sustainable supply chain management, drawing attention to pivotal domains including digitalization, evolving labor paradigms, supply chain financing innovations, and heightened commitments to social responsibility. As we stand on the cusp of technological evolution, the study offers a forward-looking perspective, anticipating a subsequent transition towards Industry 5.0, characterized by the advent of hyper-cognitive systems, synergistic robotics, and AI-centric supply chains. In its culmination, the review presents prospective avenues for future research, emphasizing the indispensable need for relentless exploration and pragmatic solutions. This comprehensive synthesis not only sets the stage for future research endeavors but also extends invaluable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and academicians navigating the intricate labyrinthstry of Logistics 4.0 in agribusiness.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the use of business intelligence applications in accounting, particularly in invoice handling, and the resultant disruption and technical challenges. Traditionally a manual process, accounting has fundamentally changed with the incorporation of BI technology that automates processes and allows for sophisticated data analysis. This study addresses the lack of understanding about the strategic implications and nuances of implementation. Data was collected from 467 accounting stakeholder surveys and analyzed quantitatively using correlational analysis. Multiple regression was utilized to investigate the effect of BI adoption, technical sophistication on operational and organizational performance enhancements. The results show a weak association between the use of BI tools and operational enhancements, indicating that the time for processing invoices has decreased. Challenges due to information privacy and bias were significant and negative on both operational and organizational performance. This study suggests that a successful implementation of a BI technology requires an integrated plan that focuses on strategic management, organizational learning, and sound policies This paper informs practitioners of how accounting is being transformed in the digital age, motivating accountants and policy makers to better understand accounting as it evolves with technology and for businesses to invest in concomitant advances.