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PurposeThis paper is one of the first studies to examine specificities, including limits of mindfulness at work in an African organisational context, whilst dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It specifically addresses the role of organisational and managerial support systems in restoring employee wellbeing, social connectedness and attachment to their organisations, in order to overcome the exclusion caused by the ongoing pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a qualitative research methodology that includes interviews as the main data source. The sample comprises of 20 entrepreneurs (organisational leaders) from Ghana and Nigeria.FindingsThe authors found that COVID-19-induced worries restricted the practice of mindfulness, and this was prevalent at the peak of the pandemic, particularly due to very tough economic conditions caused by reduction in salaries, and intensified by pre-existing general economic and social insecurities, and institutional voids in Africa. This aspect further resulted in lack of engagement and lack of commitment, which affected overall team performance and restricted employees' mindfulness at work. Hence, quietness by employees even though can be linked to mindfulness was linked to larger psychological stress that they were facing. The authors also found leaders/manager's emotional intelligence, social skills and organisational support systems to be helpful in such circumstances. However, their effectiveness varied among the cases.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first studies to establish a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and mindfulness limitations. Moreover, it is a pioneering study specifically highlighting the damaging impact of COVID-19-induced concerns on leader–member exchange (LMX) and team–member exchange (TMX) relationships, particularly in the African context. It further brings in a unique discussion on the mitigating mechanisms of such COVID-19-induced concerns in organisations and highlights the roles of manager's/leader's emotional intelligence, social skills and supportive intervention patterns. Finally, the authors offer an in-depth assessment of the effectiveness of organisational interventions and supportive relational systems in restoring social connectedness following a social exclusion caused by COVID-19-induced worries.

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the readiness of retail workers to use blockchain technology (BCT) to improve supply chain performance. The assessment was made via a quantitative approach taken using a theoretical framework based on Keller's motivation model and self-determination theory in the BCT context.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data from 567 retail workers from an emerging country through a structured survey questionnaire. The authors tested the hypotheses of the proposed model using Warp PLS 7.0 and controlled firm age, industry type and technological intensity.FindingsOur findings may help firms in making the process of digital transformation inclusive. The authors found that supplier-based attention and motivation through BCT lead to supply chain performance, and that supplier-based satisfaction and trust achieved through BCT positively impact supply chain performance. Further, supplier-based relevance on raw material selection with the higher trust and motivation levels achieved through BCT was found to have a positive impact on supply chain performance.Research limitations/implicationsIT supply chain applications are referred to as "lean" rather than "rich" because they still rely mainly on written and numerical means to present data. When the environment is less ambiguous, then less rich media can be used to facilitate communication. IT supply chain applications allow suppliers to spend time building relationships with other suppliers instead of focusing on administrative tasks, thus enhancing such relationships.Originality/valueThis study can be considered the first to assess retailer readiness to use BCT to improve supply chain performance through the theoretical lens of Keller's motivation model and self-determination theory.

PurposeThis paper examines the leading publication trends including the extent and impact of intellectual capital research in theJournal of Intellectual Capital(JIC) over a two-decade period (2000–2020). The bibliometric analysis offers the description of publications trends such as key authors, articles, cited references, institutions and countries— in other words the extent and impact in the field. This paper also presents the knowledge structure (including conceptual, intellectual and social structures) of JIC, that is prominent themes, co-citation and bibliographic networks.Design/methodology/approachIn order to achieve research objectives, we collected the bibliographic information of the articles published in JIC for the period 2000 to 2020 from the Scopus database on 11.04.2020. The bibliographic information of 737 documents were analysed using to open source analysis tool, that is bibliometrics package in r software and VOSviewer. These tools were used to create the graphical visualization of bibliographic data on basis of co-occurrence, co-citation and bibliographic coupling.FindingsThe results show that the journal is progressing in terms of publication quantity and reputation in the field. To date, 737 documents have been published in JIC, which includes 659 research articles, eight editorials, seven notes and 63 review papers. This paper also portrays the author impact list in terms of most impactful articles published in JIC. Country-wise Italy, Australia, and USA exert maximum influence on JIC scholarship.Originality/valueBibliographic analysis offers a comprehensive understanding of past trends and presents the future direction of a journal.

-- Part I – Introductory Matters. -- On Financial Inclusion and Global Development: Introductory Remarks. -- An Overview of SDGs 8.10.1 and 8.10.2. -- Forward and Backward Linkages of Financial Inclusion, Fintech, and Sustainable Development Goals: A Bibliometric Analysis and Concept Mapping. -- Part II – Conceptual Concerns. -- Financial Inclusion Reduces Inequality and Poverty: Myth or Reality?. -- Driving Financial Inclusion through Frugal Innovation to Achieve UN SDG Target 8.10. -- The Benefits and Costs of Fintech. -- Digital Finance, Agriculture and Inclusive Development. -- Financial Literacy, Economic Inequality, and Trust in Government. -- Financial literacy, access to microfinance, and Sustainable Development. -- Part III – Global and Regional Topics. -- Financial Inclusion of Rural Women in the Global South. -- Assessing the impact of financial inclusion on economic growth in island economies. -- Financial Inclusion: Initiatives and Challenges in the BRICS Countries. -- Assessing Financial Inclusion in 41 African Countries. -- Part IV – Country Studies. -- The Role of School Banking in Promoting Financial Inclusion: Evidence from Bangladesh. -- Microenterprises in the agricultural sector and (lack of) insurance: Exploratory case studies from fresh fruit farmers and retailers from Northern Pakistan. -- Financial inclusion for climate resilience in rural South Africa: a qualitative analysis of opportunities and barriers. -- Gendered Social Norms and Financial Inclusion in Turkey. -- Fintech and Financial Inclusion in the Kingdom of Morocco: Demographics and Socioeconomic Characteristics. -- Mobile Money Transactions for Financial Inclusion in Socio-Economic Development: An Interpretative Account of Two Ghanaian Rural Communities. -- Part V – Driving the Research Forward. -- Nexus between Financial Inclusion and Economic Activity: A Study about Traditional and Non-Traditional Financial Service Indicators Determining Financial Outreach. -- Micro- and Macro-Economic Factors of Mobile Money Adoption in the Middle East and North Africa. -- UN SDG Indicators 8.10 for Measuring Financial Inclusion: An Assessment.

PurposeAmid the growing global emphasis on sustainable agriculture, organizations and governments face a pressing need to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary for the adoption of sustainable farming practices, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, understanding the complex relationship between training programs and the adoption of sustainable practices among small-scale farmers remains a critical challenge. Taking a human resource approach, this paper attempts to understand the interrelationships between training effectiveness, farmers' psychological and demographic characteristics in explaining the adoption of sustainable farming practices.Design/methodology/approachWe employed a multi-stage random sampling method and administered a structured questionnaire to collect data from 331 small farmers who were part of a government-led, large-scale intervention aimed at training them in sustainable farming practices.FindingsOur research findings not only emphasize the critical role of HR approach through training but also underscore its importance in the broader mission of aligning with the SDGs. Specifically, we demonstrate that sustained exposure to training, intrinsic motivation to acquire knowledge, and the innovative capacity of farmers collectively enhance the effectiveness of training programs, thereby contributing significantly to the widespread adoption of sustainable farming practices in line with SDGs.Originality/valueDrawing from self-determination theory, training effectiveness literature, and the call for improved alignment with the SDGs, this study presents a model that explains how psychological characteristics, combined with the quality and quantity of training influence the adoption of sustainable farming practices among small-scale farmers.

PurposeSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) significantly contribute to economic growth, development, exports and employment of the nations. To maintain competitiveness in today's market, SMEs must explore and identify enablers to enhance their digital transformation process. This paper aims to shed light on some essential enablers SMEs can use to implement digital resilience successfully.Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative assessment and validation of the enablers have been done using powerful and novel techniques, namely, the Delphi method, "fuzzy interpretive structural modelling" (F-ISM) method and "cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC)" analysis. The F-ISM model is developed using the information drawn from digital transformation experts and practitioners involved in the digital transformation process for SMEs. Furthermore, the F-ISM model provides four paths to complete the pathway to digital resilience.FindingsThe F-ISM and MICMAC analysis revealed four ways to enhance the digital transformation process in SMEs. These enterprises can utilise these path assessments to become digitally resilient in the present dynamic scenario. To enhance digital resilience among SMEs, the study identified ten enablers. Among these, "management competencies" was the most crucial, followed by "knowledge management" and "monitoring and controlling".Research limitations/implicationsThe present study is limited in that the data used to develop the models were collected from a small group of industry experts whose opinions may not exhibit the comprehensive views of the population.Practical implicationsThe findings can help SMEs enhance the digital transformation process by taking up different pathways to integrate the various enablers of digital resilience depending on resource availability.Originality/valueThe results indicate the most critical and influential enablers for enhancing digital resilience among SMEs. This research can be valuable to academicians, industry practitioners and researchers for guiding their future work.

PurposeThe current market conditions are driving firms to plan, design and implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies that are true to the firms' real sense, i.e. authentic. Authenticity is an important aspect of micro-foundations of CSR in shaping the way social responsibility initiatives would impact the stakeholders including the customers, partners, current members of the organization and shareholders. This calls for a need to synthesize past research on CSR authenticity in order to propose directions for future research.Design/methodology/approachThe current study synthesizes relevant literature on CSR authenticity using systematic literature review (SLR) approach. In total, 34 research works were identified and examined to seek insights on CSR authenticity.FindingsFindings of the study identified various miro-, meso- and macro-level determinants of CSR authenticity and different set of outcomes having implications on business and society. The study also proposes a comprehensive definition of CSR authenticity which was somewhat missing in existing literature.Practical implicationsThe study provides strong theoretical and managerial implications. Particularly, the study provides directions for future research on the topic.Originality/valueIn this paper, a review of literature on CSR authenticity is currently missing.