The prospects of digital infrastructure in promoting rural economic growth and development are by and large immense. The paper found that rural development is considerably important for economic development and for achievement of sustainable livelihoods that increases people’s ability to achieve good health and wellbeing that enable the achievement of sustainable development. The paper found that digital imbalance and digital illiteracy in the rural areas hinder implementation of digital infrastructure to lead to rural economic growth. Digital infrastructure is the source of economic opportunities that enables local people in the rural areas to be more creative in achieving development success. It enables them to have a unique sense of place and fashioning of vibrant economic and financial opportunities that ensure the achievement of sustainable rural economic development. However, the paper found that the application of digital infrastructure to South Africa’s rural areas in the bid to promote rural economic growth has been hindered by factors like the digital divide, financial constraints, digital illiteracy and the failure to own a smart phone. These factors hinder digital infrastructure from leading to sustainable rural economic development and growth. The paper used secondary data gathered from existing literature. The use of qualitative research methodology and document and content analysis techniques became vital in the process of collecting and analyzing collected data.

 The main goal of the article is to formalize the key business models of marketing of modern companies and substantiate the key stages, types and trends of development. The relevance and need to pay significant attention to the marketing digital business model when organizing a business is substantiated. Using structural and logical analysis and criticism of scientific research, the essence, advantages and disadvantages are determined, the main blocks, stages and key elements of the structure of business models of modern companies are argued. It has been proven that marketing digital business models serve as a logical and visual plan for organizing all business processes of companies from production, marketing, sales and logistics to building a hierarchy of profitability. The key development trends are substantiated and the most popular business models of business organization in modern conditions are structured on the basis of scientific generalization, structural and logical analysis and mathematical modeling. Practical significance is characterized by the fact that the marketing business models of world-class companies are generalized and structured, taking into account their specifics and characteristics. Practical recommendations and key stages of building a company’s business model and its implementation into reality have been formed to achieve strategic business goals.

This study investigates the intricate relationship between awareness advertising and buying intention among Iraqi grocery shoppers, exploring the mediating role of consumer attitude. Employing a quantitative approach, the authors surveyed 300 shoppers. Using a random sampling technique. To ensure rigor and validity, the authors rigorously analyzed the relationships using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) based on 288 valid responses. The findings reveal that awareness advertising significantly impacts buying intention, mediated by consumer attitude. These insights offer valuable management implications for product marketers. Sufficient brand awareness attracts consumer attention, shapes positive attitudes, and ultimately drives purchase decisions. This study further validates the theoretical model of consumer response by empirically establishing consumer attitude as a central intermediary between awareness advertising and buying intention within the Iraqi market context.

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.

The young Muslim generation’s embracing digital platforms for Zakat payments represents a dynamic fusion of enduring religious values with the modern digital landscape, heralding a new era in Islamic charitable practices. This trend illustrates a profound transformation within the Islamic world, where the pillars of faith are being reimagined and revitalized through the lens of technological advancement. The present study delved into the factors influencing the young Muslim generation’s preference for digital platforms in Zakat transactions across Indonesia and Malaysia. We examined variables such as Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Trust, Zakat Literacy, and Digital Infrastructure, aiming to discern their impact on the propensity for digital Zakat contributions with the extension of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. The research encompassed a diverse sample of 382 participants and utilized advanced methodologies, specifically Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and PLS Multi Group Analysis (PLS-MGA), for rigorous data analysis. The results indicated that Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Digital Infrastructure, and Zakat Literacy notably influenced the use of digital platforms for Zakat. Furthermore, PLS-MGA uncovered significant cross-country differences where Digital Infrastructure showed a more pronounced positive impact in Malaysian context, whereas Social Influence had a greater effect in Indonesia. These findings offer critical insights into the young Muslim community’s digital engagement for religious financial obligations, underscoring the need for tailored digital Zakat solutions that cater to the unique preferences of this demographic. This research not only enriches the understanding of digital adoption in religious practices but also challenges the notion of a universal approach, advocating for context-specific strategies in the realm of digital religious financial services. Future researchers are suggested to consider longitudinal investigations as well as examining cross-regional contexts in this realm of research.