There has been a growing interest in studying dysfunctional personality traits in the workplace. In line with this trend, this study examines how the Dark Triad personalities (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) can predict innovative work behavior. Additionally, the study builds on Trait Activation Theory and proposes a moderating effect of training satisfaction on this relationship. The purpose of this study is to understand if the Dark Triad traits predict innovative behavior while simultaneously examining the role of training satisfaction in channeling these traits toward innovative behavior. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on the five largest telecommunication companies in Pakistan. The data gathered was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results established a positive relationship between each trait of the Dark Triad and innovative work behavior. Moreover, training satisfaction was found to moderate the relationship between the psychopathy trait and innovative work behavior. In light of these findings, the study contributes to personality-behavior research in organizations by demonstrating that the Dark Triad predicts innovative work behavior in managers and that the innovative behaviors associated with the psychopathy trait can be enhanced in the presence of training satisfaction.

The application of quality management methods and tools is an important prerequisite for the success and performance increase of manufacturing enterprises. The paper deals with the application of methods and tools of quality management (MTQM) in manufacturing enterprises. The paper aims to analyze whether there is a relationship between the application of MTQM and the size of enterprises, the use of MTQM, and the performance of enterprises measured through the achieved profit. It also analyzes the impact of MTQM on the agility of manufacturing enterprises measured through the decrease in sales expressed in revenues during the pandemic period. The paper presents the results of the research which was conducted between 2020–2022. Several statistical tools such as the Chi-square goodness-of-fit test, Pearson’s chi-square test, and contingency analysis were used to evaluate the different analyses as well as the representativeness of the sample. Based on the results, it can be concluded that there are differences in the use of MTQM and the size of the enterprise as well as the performance of the enterprises. At the same time, the hypothesis that enterprises using a wider range of quality management methods and tools have a higher potential to adapt to unexpected market changes was also confirmed.

This study addresses the crucial question of the macroeconomic impact of investing in railroad infrastructure in Portugal. The aim is to shed light on the immediate and long-term effects of such investments on economic output, employment, and private investment, specifically focusing on interindustry variations. We employ a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model and utilize industry-level data to estimate elasticities and marginal products on these three economic indicators. Our findings reveal a compelling positive long-term spillover effect of these investments. Specifically, every €1 million in capital spending results in a €20.84 million increase in GDP, a €17.78 million boost in private investment, and 72 new net permanent jobs. However, these gains are not immediate, as only 14.5% of the output increase and 38.8% of the investment surge occur in the first year. In contrast, job creation is nearly instantaneous, with 93% of new jobs materializing within the first year. A short-term negative impact on the trade balance is expected as new capital goods are imported. Upon industry-level analysis, the most pronounced output increases are witnessed in the real estate, construction, and wholesale and retail trade industries. The most substantial net job creation occurs in the construction, professional services, and hospitality industries. This study enriches the empirical literature by uncovering industry-specific impacts and temporal macroeconomic effects of railroad infrastructure investments. This underscores their dual advantage in bolstering long-term economic performance and counteracting job losses during downturns, thus offering valuable public policy implications. Notably, these benefits are not evenly distributed across all industries, necessitating strategic sectoral planning and awareness of employment agencies to optimize spending programs and adapt to industry shifts.

In this study, the author investigates the evolving role of women in corporate boardrooms historically dominated by men, aiming to discern whether their inclusion merely serves as symbolic representation or carries substantive impact. Using a narrative literature review methodology, the author meticulously examines the historical impediments women faced in leadership positions. The findings suggest that deep-seated societal biases, rather than a lack of capability, traditionally constrained women’s leadership trajectories. While some studies suggest that corporations with genuine gender diversity in leadership may outperform in financial outcomes and innovation, this advantage is not consistently observed across all contexts and industries, necessitating a cautious interpretation of these mixed and context-dependent findings. The study argues that women’s inclusion in boardrooms is a strategic imperative for modern corporations striving for resilience, adaptability, and sustained growth in an intricate global landscape, yet also recommends further research to fully understand the broader impacts of such diversity. Furthermore, the study offers practical strategies for enhancing gender diversity in corporate leadership.

Ticket revenues are crucial for the financial success of sports teams. To maximize these revenues, teams continuously explore effective ticket promotional strategies. One such strategy includes partial season plans, which mirror bundle offers common across various industries. Another widespread promotional strategy across industries is offering discounted credit (i.e., store credit purchased at a lower price than its face value). However, its application in sports (e.g., providing a $500 credit for tickets at $450) remains limited. Therefore, this study explores critical questions such as: “How effective is offering discounted credit compared to partial season plans?” and “What factors influence ticket promotion preferences?” Consequently, the study employed a 2 × 2 × 2 experimental designs, considering three independent variables: promotion type (discounted credit vs. partial season plans), promotion flexibility (predefined vs. customizable), and the consumer’s distance to the venue (near vs. distant). Results indicated that partial season plans generated significantly higher perceived value and purchase intentions  while presenting lower perceived risks than discounted credit . Promotion flexibility did not significantly influence the three dependent variables , but the distance to the venue did . Both practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Over 90% of cancer-related mortality worldwide is due to metastatic disease since the dynamic tumor microenvironment poses huge challenges in preventing the spread of metastatic cancer. Introducing the advent of advance biomaterials and their swift evolution, this review highlights the great potential of innovative biomaterials to proficiently tackle the metastatic tumor environment. Focusing on four distinct categories of biomaterials systems, action mechanism of biomaterials utilized in anti-tumor therapy is explained in detail: 1. Nanoplatforms sensitive to biochemical cues including pH, redox, and enzymes are known as stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms that react according their environment, 2. Smart nanoplatforms changing their morphology to penetrate impermeable physical barriers at tumor site, 3. Ingenious biomaterial participating in tumor normalization, and 4. Nanoplatforms with real-time theranostic capabilities due to innate feedback-loop mechanism. Ingeniously structured biomaterials with extensive evidence in preclinical efficacy encourage their inclusion in metastatic tumor therapy however, their utilization in medical settings is prevented due to various challenges; impractical manufacturing cost, regulatory and safety issues as well as large-scale production are major challenges restraining their widespread use. A concrete framework is proposed in this review to accelerate the biomaterial structure standardization process, following the GMP and other regulatory guidelines with the aim of implementing biomaterial-based tumor diagnostics and therapies. Since incorporating advancing technologies in tumor therapy such AI-driven, autonomous biomaterial structure or patient-specific tumor models would enable confront the proliferating metastatic tumor cases.