The paper at hand analyses the principal-agent relationship, where comparative perspective between principals’ (municipalities) and agents’ (public utility providers) in the field of water and wastewater management is scrutinized. The goal of the paper is twofold: firstly, to present empirical results validating principal-agent relationships that emerged due to the reorganization process of public enterprises; secondly, to highlight the similarities and differences between the perspectives of principals and agents regarding motives, advantages and disadvantages, and price-setting in relation to the reorganization process. The empirical research is based on the primary data collected through two self-prepared and structured online questionnaires—one for municipalities, and the other for public utility providers. The results reveal similarities between public enterprises and municipalities in motivating factors for full municipal ownership. However, differences are seen among the advantages of the reorganization process. Price-setting by public utilities is recognized as a motivating mechanism for agents.

Human resources are considered an important resource for companies today because the knowledge that a person has can be used to become an organisation’s competitive advantage. In addition, digital marketing has an important role in determining the performance of business entities because we have now entered the digital era, which certainly cannot be separated from the influence of technology on marketing through social media. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) in digital marketing on business entity performance, which is determined by digital marketing in a business entity. The data in this research was collected by distributing questionnaires to 455 Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia. Data analysis used the Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA) method. The research results show that strategic human resource management variables influence business performance, and the support of digital marketing capabilities and activities strengthens this influence. Based on the results of this research, existing business entities must strengthen organizational performance by strengthening human resources in basic soft skills and hard skills and skills in digital marketing and improving marketing activities using digitalization.

Analysing external factors with a design-thinking approach is crucial for adaptation, identifying opportunities, and mitigating risks in native digital enterprises. This research introduces a framework rooted in design principles and future scenarios for external analysis, with the aim of meeting current market needs. The study employs a mixed qualitative-quantitative research approach, incorporating methods such as literature review, workshops, and surveys. These methods enable the collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data, providing a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the research topic by using it in a DNVB case study. Developing a conceptual framework using a design-thinking approach which we call ASPECT contributes to a comprehensive interpretation of complexity, intertwining collective and individual factors. This reduces the risk of overlooking essential elements when making strategic decisions in ambiguous, uncertain, and volatile contexts. This method contrasts with traditional external analysis frameworks like CAME, Pestle, and SWOT. The document aims to contribute to the literature by exploring new models of external analysis based on the design process. This framework combines the conventional stages of a design thinking process with methodologies for future scenarios to identify relevant external factors for organizations. It provides an innovative conceptual framework for creating new business models and growth strategies for digital enterprises.

The Primary and secondary shadow education refers to a kind of unofficial education that exists outside the traditional mainstream primary and secondary education system in China, with both commercial and educational attributes. As the primary and secondary school stage is an important key stage for further education, existing research mainly focuses on the spatial distribution of primary and secondary school basic education facilities and non-subject training, with fewer studies targeting primary and secondary school subject tutoring shadow education. With the changes in China’s education industry and the introduction of the Double Reduction Policy, there is an urgent need to conduct in-depth research on the spatial aggregation characteristics and influencing factors of Shadow Education Enterprises for primary and secondary school students. This paper takes the main urban area of Zhengzhou City as the study area, and takes primary and secondary school Shadow Education Enterprises as the research object, and applies spatial analysis methods such as kernel density, nearest-neighbor index, and geographic detector to quantitatively analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of primary and secondary school shadow education tutoring enterprises in Zhengzhou City and the factors affecting them The results show that: 1) The overall spatial pattern of primary and secondary school tutoring Shadow Education Enterprises in the main urban area of Zhengzhou City has largely formed a core-edge structural feature that spreads from the urban center to the periphery, and presents the spatial agglomeration feature of “double nuclei many times” distributed along both sides of the Beijing-Guangzhou Line. 2) The distribution of mentoring Shadow Education Enterprises in the main urban area of Zhengzhou City in relation to provincial model primary and secondary schools is significant and there is a significant difference between the distribution around secondary schools and primary schools. 3) The spatial distribution of Shadow Education Enterprises in the main urban area of Zhengzhou City is mainly influenced by factors such as the size of the school-age population, the level of commercial development, the location of school buildings and the accessibility of transport.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of various factors on the corporate governance of state-owned enterprises with 100% capital ownership in Vietnam. Employing quantitative research methods, the article conducted an analysis of 250 survey samples taken from such enterprises and utilized regression analysis techniques. The findings revealed eight factors that significantly impact the corporate governance of these entities in Vietnam: enterprise awareness, ownership model, the state’s role as an owner, integration, board of members, legal framework, managerial experience, and activity objectives. Leveraging these research outcomes, several recommendations have been proposed to enhance the corporate governance practices within state-owned enterprises holding complete capital ownership in Vietnam.

This study delves into the nuanced impact of leadership styles on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) performance in Northeast China. It aims to discern how transformational, transactional, and authoritative leadership approaches influence organizational outcomes, framed within the context of sustainable leadership theory. Employing a quantitative methodology, the research analyzes survey data from employees across various SOEs to assess the relationship between leadership styles and company performance, including aspects such as job satisfaction, employee motivation, and operational efficiency. The findings reveal a clear dichotomy: transformational and transactional leadership styles positively correlate with improved performance metrics, fostering an environment of innovation, motivation, and job satisfaction. Conversely, authoritative leadership is shown to detrimentally affect these same metrics, potentially hindering organizational growth and employee morale. This research contributes to the broader discourse on leadership and organizational performance by highlighting the critical role of leadership style in enhancing the sustainable development of SOEs, particularly within China’s socio-political and economic fabric. Practical implications suggest a shift towards more adaptive, employee-centered leadership approaches to spur performance and sustainability in SOEs. The originality of this study lies in its specific focus on the Chinese context, offering insights into the leadership dynamics within SOEs and proposing actionable strategies for fostering leadership that align with sustainability and organizational excellence principles.