The projects of the IT industry are considered successful when they are completed within the timeline, budget, and client satisfaction on a specific project. Although client relationship is not given much importance in the delay of a project, through several studies it has been seen that the project is delayed in the IT industry due to a lack of awareness about the project to the client. The objective of this study is to inspect the impact of client relationships on project delay. Drawing on stakeholder theory and agency theory, this study investigates how client relationship influences project delay through project awareness and the role of project governance as moderator. A deductive approach of reasoning was used to test the hypotheses formulated under the current research work and proceed by using the quantitative method. This study employed a cross-sectional research design, where data was collected at a specific point in time through a survey strategy. Data was collected from the sample of 288 respondents from the IT companies of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The data was collected using a convenience sampling technique. The demographics of the respondents were analyzed through the IBM-SPSS software program. The assumptions and the reliability of the model were also tested in SPSS. In this study, it was discovered that effective management of client relationships significantly reduces project delays, with project awareness being a crucial factor in this mitigation process. The results revealed that client relationship was negatively associated with project delay and project awareness. Whereas this linkage was mediated by project awareness. This study concludes that adequate project awareness and fruitful project governance reduce project delays and lead to positive client relationships.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of training programs on entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and the Optimism of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The research was conducted at Babakan Madang MSMEs, Bogor Regency, assisted by Human Resources Education and Training Center (P2SDM) under the Community Service Institution (LPPM) at IPB University (IPB). The sample size was set at 100 SMEs with a purposive sampling method. Data was obtained by distributing questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of the study were as follows: 1) Reactions in the training program did not affect the ESE of MSME actors, 2) Learning in the training program affected the ESE of MSME actors, 3) Behavior in the training program did not affect the ESE of MSME actors, 4) Results in the training program does not affect the ESE of MSME actors, and 5) ESE affects the Optimism of MSME actors. The effect of ESE on the Optimism of MSME actors is greater than the effect of learning in training programs on the Optimism of MSME owners.

This study examined the factors influencing online purchases among consumers in Bangladesh, employing a modified version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Data from 353 individuals in Bangladesh revealed that perceived ease of use, social influence, security, convenience, trust, emotional experience, and functional experience significantly positively affect the intention to purchase online. Additionally, results show that the intention to purchase online significantly positively affects actual online purchases. Findings further highlighted that intention to make online purchases mediated the influence of perceived ease of use, social influence, security, convenience, trust, emotional experience, and functional experience over online purchases. The study provides significant practical recommendations to help businesses and consumers support online purchasing with diverse advantages.

In 1859, the French invasion of Gia Dinh marked the beginning of their acquisition of Cochinchina. Shortly after their arrival, France brought printers on their ships, along with firearms and artillery. The printers were intended to quickly disseminate the policies of the invading army to the inhabitants of the occupied territory. At the end of 1861, the inaugural official newspaper in Cochinchina, ‘Le Bulletin officiel de l’expédition française de la Cochinchine’, had been published. The Royal Printing House (l’Imprimerie Impériale), the first printing facility in Cochinchina, was also established at the end of 1861 to accommodate printing tasks, particularly the production of gazettes. In 1873, various private printing houses emerged in Saigon-Cho Lon. Printing and publishing efforts gradually assimilated into the social fabric of Cochinchina after serving as a tool of the invaders. They transformed into political and cultural institutions within colonial society, notably in Saigon-Cho Lon. The progression of these activities during the process was observable, at least for those granted permission to participate. The requirements of the colonial environment and the vitality of the private sector fuelled these new activities, although the colonial authorities deemed it necessary to exert control over them. This article offers additional information on the printing and publishing activities in Saigon-Cho Lon, Vietnam, highlighting the accomplishments of some distinguished printers.

Employee retention promotes positivity in an organization and improves employers’ brand value. As the human resource department operates with the objective of improving employees’ contribution towards the organization, meaningful work is an important topic in the core areas of human resource development (HRD), such as employee involvement, motivation, and personal development. Not only salary, benefits, working environment, and status but also the factors that determine whether you enjoy going to work every day are whether you believe that your work makes a meaningful contribution. In HRD, meaningful work comes to the forefront through a connection with a high level of commitment. Thus, this study aims to establish the relationship between meaningful and purposeful jobs affecting employee retention and the mediating factors of person organization fit (POF) and person job fit (PJF). A cross-sectional study involving a survey methodology was used to collect data from 150 white-collar employees working in the IT, banking, textile, and multinational companies in Bangladesh. The results indicate that job meaningfulness has a positive relationship with employee retention (p-value = 0.031) and both the mediating factors of PJF (p-value = 0.040) and POF (p-value = 0.028). The results also indicate that while POF positively influences employee retention (p-value = 0.019), PJF has no significant influence on employee retention (p-value = 0.164). Thus, promoting employee job meaningfulness and purpose in the workplace may represent an opportunity for organizations to improve employee engagement and retention.

This paper highlights the opportunities as well as challenges posed for Bangladesh by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China. BRI is being considered as the most expensive project ever initiated connecting more than half of the world population from Asia, Europe and Africa. For writing this paper, the authors utilized published sources such as journal articles, newspaper articles and web-based information published from 2013 to 2024. The article proposes that although the involvement of Bangladesh in the BRI is not absolutely free of challenges, it can serve the ultimate national interest through greater connectivity with other countries, increased volume of trade and economic activities and socio-cultural exchange. Although, as the originator and major contributor of the BRI, China will be the principal benefiter, other partner countries can also attain considerable benefits out of this historical mega scheme through the application of appropriate vision and strategic implementation. This paper has highlighted those benefits/opportunities and challenges for Bangladesh that can be beneficial for upcoming research projects particularity aimed at development studies, political economy and international relations. On the other hand, based on the arguments made on this paper, policymakers and businessmen can formulate their best policies as well as trading strategies with mutual benefits for all the stakeholders involved.