In recent years, the environment in the manufacturing industry has become strongly competitive, which is why companies have found it necessary to constantly adjust their strategies and take actions aimed at improving their performance and competitiveness in a sustainable way to grow and remain in the market. Therefore, this paper aims to present an analysis to explain the current situation in the manufacturing industry in Aguascalientes, Mexico, by means of a survey in which product eco-innovation (PEI), process eco-innovation (PrEI) and organizational eco-innovation (OEI) and its effect on environmental performance (EP) and sustainable competitive performance (SCP) were measured. The results show that (EP) is positively and significantly influenced by (PEI) and (PrEI), while no significant influence is found for (OE). Furthermore, it is confirmed that environmental performance positively and significantly influences (SCP). The findings obtained from this study point to the relevance of promoting eco-innovation activities in the manufacturing sector, as this will ensure sustainable competitiveness.

This study investigates the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices on employee retention and job satisfaction within Malaysia’s IT industry. The research centered on middle-management executives from the top 10 IT companies in the Greater Klang Valley and Penang. Using a self-administered questionnaire, the study gathered data on demographic characteristics, HRM practices, and employee retention, with the questionnaire design drawing from established literature and validated measuring scales. The study employed the PLS 4.0 method for analyzing structural relationships and tested various hypotheses regarding HRM practices and employee retention. Key findings revealed that work-life balance did not significantly impact employee retention. Conversely, job security positively influenced employee retention. Notably, rewards, recognition, and training and development were found to be insignificant in predicting employee retention. Additionally, the study explored the mediating role of job satisfaction but found it did not mediate the relationship between work-life balance and employee retention nor between job security and employee retention. The research highlighted that HRM practices have diverse effects on employee retention in Malaysia’s IT sector. Acknowledging limitations like sample size and research design, the study suggests the need for further research to deepen understanding in this area.

The target date for achieving the 2030 UN Agenda [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)] is fast approaching. The construction sector is critical to achieving many SDGs, including Goal 5. Studies regarding achieving Goal 5 (Gender Equality) in the construction industry, especially women’s consultancy participation in developing countries, are scarce and complexly interrelated. Societal problems and divergence may have contributed to this. Therefore, this study explores issues hindering gender equality and suggests measures to promote more women construction consultants through policy to improve achieving Goal 5 in Nigeria. The research employed face-to-face data collection via a qualitative mechanism to achieve this. The study covered Abuja and Lagos. It accomplished saturation at the 20th participant. The research utilised a thematic method to analyse the collected data from knowledgeable participants. The perceived hindrances facing Nigerian construction consultants’ gender equality were clustered into culture/religion-related, profession-related, and government-related encumbrances. Achieving Goal 5 will be a mirage if these issues are not addressed. Thus, the study recommended measures to motivate women to study construction-related programmes and employment opportunities, including consultancy services slots through programmes and policy mechanisms to achieve Goal 5. As part of the implications, the study suggests that Nigerian construction consultants and other stakeholders need to make feasible improvements to achieve gender equality (Goal 5).

This study employs a mixed-methods approach to explore the financial ramifications and perceived hurdles of adopting international accounting guidelines on asset value reduction in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Barranquilla, Colombia, over a recent multi-year timeframe. Through scrutiny of fiscal data and thorough dialogues with SME leaders and finance professionals, the investigation unveils significant industry-specific variations in the monetary impact of embracing these global standards. Manufacturing SMEs are found to shoulder a weightier burden compared to their counterparts in the service sector. The research underscores the pivotal role of perceived standard intricacy in molding the financial outcomes for SMEs, even when accounting for factors such as acquaintance with the guidelines and professional tenure. These discoveries augment our comprehension of global accounting standard adoption in emerging economies and accentuate the necessity for bespoke support mechanisms to assist SMEs in traversing the complexities of implementing these international norms. The insights gleaned from this inquiry can guide policymakers and accounting authorities in crafting sector-specific directives and resources. Such targeted assistance can aid SMEs in harmonizing with worldwide accounting practices while curtailing potential adverse effects on their fiscal performance.

The study sheds light on how service quality aspects affect customer satisfaction in the Saudi banking sector’s particular socio-cultural setting. Thus, the study examines the role of service quality dimensions on customer satisfaction in the banking industry of Saudi Arabia. The study examined how reliability, assurance, empathy, tangibility, and responsiveness affect customer satisfaction in the Saudi Arabian banking market using 250 bank clients. 250 Saudi bank customers completed a standardised questionnaire. These were normal bank customers with proper bank accounts. IBM SPSS correlational and multiple regression analysis investigated variable connections. The study found a significant favourable influence of reliability on customer satisfaction. However, assurance was not significant. Empathy had a significant impact on customer satisfaction. Tangibility shown a significant impact on customer satisfaction. Responsiveness was not significant. The study emphasises on reliability, empathy, and physical service delivery to boost banking customer happiness. The study found 3 of 5 service quality factors to be significant predictors. Service empathy, tangibility, and reliability greatly impacted customer satisfaction. Managers in Saudi banking should prioritize reliability, empathy, and tangibility to boost customer satisfaction. To keep customers happy, managers should monitor these service quality dimensions and adjust strategies based on feedback. Technology can improve service quality by streamlining processes and personalizing experiences.

Credit policies for clean and renewable energy businesses play a crucial role in supporting carbon neutrality efforts to combat climate change. Clustering the credit capacity of these companies to prioritize lending is essential given the limited capital available. Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) are two robust machine learning algorithms for addressing complex clustering problems. Additionally, hyperparameter selection within these models is effectively enhanced through the support of a robust heuristic optimization algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). To leverage the strength of these advanced machine learning techniques, this paper aims to develop SVM and ANN models, optimized with the PSO, for the clustering problem of green credit capacity in the renewable energy industry. The results show low Mean Square Error (MSE) values for both models, indicating high clustering accuracy. The credit capabilities of wind energy, clean fuel, and biomass pellet companies are illustrated in quadrant charts, providing stakeholders with a clear view to adjust their credit strategies. This helps ensure the efficient operation of banking green credit policies.