<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Human resource development is a relatively new area of professional practice and academic study. Over the past two decades, human resource development has become the fastest growing area of management development, due to the great interest of organizations in the face of intense competition and changes in the business environment. Despite this significance of HRD but, there is a lack of empirical researches or studies have specifically dealt with examining how HRD practices effect on organizational effectiveness practically, in universities and institute level. This study tries to address this gap. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between the practices of human resource development and organizational effectiveness in the Iraqi public universities context. This study adopted the survey method to collect primary data. The survey was created by the google-forms tool, which is commonly used by researchers for collecting data. The web-based questionnaires were distributed through E-mail designed to collect the relevant data from the public universities of Iraq including a number of deans, heads of departments, faculty members and principals of the execution units which seems to provide a corresponding sample for conducting data collecting and analyzing. An online questionnaire was distributed to around 342 employees, out of which 215 complete questionnaires were obtained. For analyzing the data, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling (SEM) were used. This study finds that HRD practices such as talent development, training and development, organizational development and career development have a positive and significant impact on organizational effectiveness. This study has confirmed the significance of HRD practices and how they are positively related to organizational effectiveness. The results of this study have the potential to help the decision makers of universities to develop effective HRD practices which will enable them to improve employees’ competencies in enhancing organizational effectiveness. Also, this study recommends universities’ managers to use effective HRD practices which are aimed at building excellent employees’ competencies and increase the integration between human resource development and organizational effectiveness.</abstract>

The Impact of Human Resource Development on Organizational Effectiveness: An Empirical Study

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Building a personal brand in this modern age, where technology and social platforms redefine the way individuals interact, has become a necessity, especially for the young generation Z which are increasingly involved in the online medium. A personal brand conveys an individual’s identity and distinctiveness and it has become an important tool for young individuals that enables them to achieve success regardless of their status: they can be young professionals in search for a job, public speakers, bloggers, managers or entrepreneurs. In this context, this paper focuses on Generation Z and the importance of building a personal brand in the age of social media. Taking into consideration the recent development of personal branding tools and social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, the aim of this paper is to investigate the degree in which young individuals, belonging to Gen Z, understand the benefits of social media personal branding in order to create a strong online identity to help them at the start of their career. It is specifically interesting to discover how Gen Z individuals appreciate the efficiency of personal branding through social media outlets, considering that they belong to a generation known for being digital and tech-savvy, more so than their predecessors.</abstract>

alexandra.vitelar@facultateademanagement.ro

Like Me: Generation Z and the Use of Social Media for Personal Branding

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Technology and its influence upon society have turned into a controversial topic in today’s fast-developing world, where advances in innovation are continuous, fast, and complex. The relationship between technology and society has become an increasing interest for many researchers, trying to explore and clarify this connection. This article focuses on the psychological impact of technology, expressed through activity tracking devices, upon user’s attitudes towards pursuing an active lifestyle. To conduct the analysis, users’ registered behavioral changes after engaging with technological devices are explored, by examining academic literature reports studies, supplemented by experimental material written by the users themselves on publicly available websites. The study proposes a deductive research design, by constructing its analysis on a relevant theoretical framework, that of Technological Determinism theory, which advocates that technology can influence society, however without being affected by humans. Nevertheless, the results of the research show that the relationship between technology and society is not that linear, as influences coming from the social environment usually interact and impact the way technology is used. This determines the consideration of an additional theoretical concept to the analysis, that of Social Shaping of Technology, and changes the dynamics of exploring the topic. Conclusions demonstrate that the relationship between user and technology can be characterized as a double-way approach, with complex and ambiguous attributes, where both forces interact and can lead to positive and constructive behavioral outcomes but also to critical and hard to control mental conditions.
</abstract>

Technological Determinism vs. Social Shaping of Technology. The Influence of Activity Trackers on User’s Attitudes

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Workplace absenteeism is a complex issue that can be caused by various factors which include job dissatisfaction, organizational environment, or personal problems. The study aims to create a brief profile of absenteeism in companies operating in Iasi in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. A quantitative study was conducted to shape the profile of absenteeism, using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Findings revealed that employees working in Iasi are prone to absent as a result of attitudinal factors, in particular, autonomy linked to decision making. Organizational factors did not have a significant contribution regarding absenteeism because managers offered support when employees faced difficulties. Working for a living was the personal factor that stood out; this thing being mainly influenced by the current pandemic period. The stress of being laid off or displaced led many employees to ignore professional development. COVID-19 influenced the employees’ decision to miss a workday, the fear of getting infected, or the stress related to the pandemic outlined a behavior known as presenteeism or digital absenteeism for those that worked from home. Implementing social distancing rules prevented physical absenteeism, employees perceived the workplace as a safe environment.</abstract>

Factors Contributing to Work-Related Absenteeism during the COVID-19 Pandemic

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>This study aims to analyze the relationship between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and trust in the attitudes and decisions of shopping for online fashion products. This study used purposive sampling in the survey method with a sample of 70 respondents from the city of Jakarta. The results of this study indicate that perceived ease of use has no effect on consumer purchasing decisions. While the factors of perceived usefulness and trust are factors that significantly influence consumers’ decisions to shop online. The results of this study are used as a reference for entrepreneurs who conduct online marketing to increase their attention to trust and usability factors because this is what concerns consumers in their purchasing decisions, especially fashion products.</abstract>

Consumer Decisions toward Fashion Product Shopping in Indonesia: The effects of Attitude, Perception of Ease of Use, Usefulness, and Trust

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>One of the sectors most influenced by digitalization is tourism and the use of the Internet for brand building is an increasingly common custom, especially by taking advantage of the benefits Social Media has to offer to related businesses. In the given context, the aim of this article is to analyze the role of Social Media and User-Generated-Content in Millennial consumers’ travel behavior, to investigate how these influence people’s decisions to visit specific tourist destination and how various tourism indicators fluctuated in the last two decades, in order to have a better understanding of the current tourism trends. The primary method used is an online questionnaire, along with documentary analysis, statistical analysis, and personal observation. The article starts with a comprehensive literature review that addresses key themes such as tourists decision-making behavior, motivation of travel, or user-generated content. The relationship between Social Media and the desire to travel, but also the manner in which Social Media is used throughout the whole holiday decision-making process are examined. Hence, the paper investigates the impact of Social Media on the travel choices of Romanian Millennial residents, also known as Generation Y, the largest cohort of Internet users, often called digital natives, as they are the first generation born in the Information Age and for whom travel is a way of life. The paper also draws attention to the ways in which travel and tourism businesses could reshape and customize their current marketing strategies in order to gain competitive advantage in the industry.</abstract>

The Role of Social Media and User-Generated-Content in Millennials’ Travel Behavior

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The primary objective of this study is to investigate how perceived social support influences workplace loneliness, with a focus on the mediating role of work alienation. Existing research on the relationship between workplace loneliness, perceived social support, and employee engagement is notably limited. Recognizing the significance of social connections in individuals' lives, it is crucial to acknowledge that a substantial portion of our time is spent in the workplace. Failing to cultivate such relationships may predispose individuals to experience feelings of loneliness. Employing a cross-sectional design, the study gathered data from a convenient sample comprising 178 participants (48 males, 130 females), aged between 21 and 53 years (M=30.88, SD=9.00). Structured questionnaires, namely the Loneliness at Work Scale, The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Work Alienation Scale, were utilized for data collection. The findings revealed a negative correlation between perceived social support and workplace loneliness (r=-.729, p&lt;.01). Similarly, perceived social support exhibited a negative association with work alienation (r=-.744, p&lt;.01). Additionally, work alienation emerged as a robust mediator in the relationship between perceived social support and workplace loneliness (z = -4.12, p = .000). To enhance the explanatory capacity of the proposed model, future studies could consider incorporating additional variables. These may include jobrelated affective well-being, organizational commitment, or organizational citizenship behavior, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate connections between perceived social support and workplace loneliness.
</abstract>

The Impact of Perceived Social Support on Workplace Loneliness. The Mediation Role of Work Alienation

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Empowering work teams is one of the most critical methods adopted in designing organizations to achieve the effectiveness of administrative decisions. The current study seeks a consistent theoretical framework for empowering work teams and speeding decision-making. It also aims to test the relationship between them in higher education institutions. The study sought to test the relationship applied based on an independent variable represented in empowering work teams with its dimensions: task design, leadership styles, organizational culture, information and communication, and a dependent variable represented in decision-making speed with its dimensions: response time, processing time, and execution time for a sample of university lecturers of the Faculty of Economic, Commercial, and Management Sciences at the at the University of Djelfa - Algeria. A questionnaire was designed to collect data from the study sample of 72 university lecturers, and the data was processed and analyzed statistically. The study reached a set of results. There was a significant effect of empowering leadership style, organizational culture, information and communication on the speed of decision-making among lecturers of the Faculty of Economic, Commercial, and Management Sciences at the University of Djelfa - Algeria. There were statistically significant differences in the sample responses concerning the axis speed of decision-making due to the job title variable. Also, the research study recommends working with the dimensions of the organization’s internal environment from the perspective of empowerment to make decisions that are compatible with time requirements.
</abstract>

Empowering Work Teams as a Mechanism to Increase the Speed of Administrative Decision-Making

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Management researchers often use structural equation modeling to analyze data from questionnaire-based instruments. Usually, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is applied to confirm the hypothesized or theorized factor structure of the instrument. Most authors adopt a single CFA model without comparing it against other potentially valid models (general factor, correlated factor model, second-order hierarchical model, and bifactor model). Hence, the dimensionality and reliability of constructs using bifactor modeling to validate latent scores are often ignored. Also, this gap is widened by no unanimous agreement on the use of post hoc modification of CFA models to support fit to the data in covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The objective of the study was to explore model fit, dimensionality, and reliability of the Employee Work Assessment Tool (EWAT) using competing CFA models. The study used a published dataset on the EWAT instrument to illustrate the assessment of the dimensionality and model-based reliability of the tool using CB-SEM. Results showed that CFA statistics of the bifactor model were most adequate for the instrument (χ2=70.053, df=19, RMSEA=0.082 [90% confidence interval; 0.062, 0.103], SRMR=0.036, CFI=0.963). The bifactor model ancillary measures supported the unidimensional structure of EWAT with justification for the use of total scores. The study concludes that the instrument is best described and applied as a unidimensional construct, and therefore, a single score can be used to rate employees’ perceptions of their work conditions. The study presents both practical implications for management researchers and simplified reporting for bifactor modelling.
</abstract>

Competing Confirmatory Factor Analysis Models in Management Research: Bifactor Modeling of the Employee Work Assessment Tool

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This research aims to identify job immersion and its impact on job compatibility by reducing organizational obesity in the Al-Wasat Refinery Company/Al-Doura Refinery Company. The research problem emerged from the possibility of a weakness in achieving employee satisfaction as a result of the impact of job immersion in the company and the increase in slackness and job laziness. The sample included 200 employees in the surveyed company, as the research aimed to test the hypotheses of the correlation and influence relationship between job immersion, organizational obesity, and job compatibility in the company, which was at the overall level and the sub-dimensions level, relying on the questionnaire to collect data and information related to the practical aspect, and using SPSS for data processing. One of the most important conclusions reached by the research is that applying a set of strategies to reduce organizational obesity in the investigated company would enhance the effect of job immersion on job compatibility, which indicates that the influential relationship between job immersion and job compatibility changes depending on the change in the level of organizational obesity in the company. The examined company led to enhancing the level of innovation among its employees in a way that contributes to increasing job compatibility by achieving satisfaction at work, reducing job laziness, providing academic qualifications for individuals working in the organization, and increasing the sense of responsibility, which leads to increasing its competitive position in the market.
</abstract>

Job Immersion and Its Role in Reducing Organizational Obesity Through Job Compatibility

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This study analyzes the pivotal role of the budget process in effective accounting management and advocates for tailored strategies to fortify Vietnamese enterprises amidst global competition, thereby charting a course towards sustainable development. It delves into the intricate relationship between budget process and accounting approaches within Vietnamese enterprises, highlighting their crucial role in achieving sustainable growth and prosperity. Effective management of this interplay, including elements such as the Budget Process, Planning, Implementation, and Control, is essential for optimizing Accounting Management for Vietnamese Enterprises. Tailored strategies are emphasized as vital tools for navigating the challenges posed by global competition, enabling enterprises to pursue sustainable development objectives. By integrating budget process with accounting practices, businesses can enhance strategic decision-making and position themselves for success amidst dynamic market conditions. Overall, the study underscores the necessity for Vietnamese enterprises to align these two domains to unlock their full potential for sustained success, driving long-term prosperity and growth in the contemporary business landscape. This research also provides theoretical groundwork for future researchers as well as businesses to apply for adjustments in budget management to enhance the effectiveness of administrative operations.
</abstract>

Toward Financial Optimization: Assessing the Influence of Budget Process on Effective Accounting Management

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The continuous level of consumption in the fast fashion industry has a concerning effect and needs to be addressed through a strategic approach, as it has a considerable environmental, social, and economic impact. The study contributes to a better understanding of the barriers hindering the transition toward a more sustainable future in the fast fashion industry through qualitative research. We conducted the qualitative research using the Grounded Theory, which allows an evaluation from different and multiple perspectives, resulting in a more exhaustive and justified result. Our approach was exploratory, and the results will be tested in future studies. The purpose of the paper was to map the road to sustainable fashion by understanding the obstacles/barriers, and solutions/drivers for sustainable development. The sustainability fast fashion organizational barriers were identified in the international literature through a structured literature review and further tested for the Romanian market through interviews. After the NVivo Analysis, the identified barriers referenced the most to least, from a Romanian organisational dimensions perspective were financial barriers, insufficient management engagement, lack of Romanian governmental support and infrastructure, eco-friendly packaging, and stakeholder and supplier barriers. The most mentioned driver dimension from an organisational point of view was the existence of a financial reward system for stakeholders, funding programs from the Government and EU, the implementation of mandatory regulations, and the possibility of creating an infrastructure.
</abstract>

The Road Toward Sustainability in the Romanian Fast Fashion Organisations

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Due to the accelerated pace with which developments in information and communications technology are taking place, digital society and the digital economy have become real and, in turn, are generating specific challenges. In this environment, digital skills and competencies are essential in order to achieve professional success and the personal development of any individual. Through this paper, we aim to bring to light the basic concepts in the field of digital technology and at the same time, the topical implications on the educational processes. The main objective of the paper is to reflect the impact of digitalization on the education sector both in the European context and in Romania. The importance of the topic under consideration can be justified with many arguments, but we will mainly appeal to the need to meet the objectives proposed by the 2020 Strategy in the field of education, research and development at European level and in Romania. Considering the previous premises, in the paper, we will present information about the concepts of digitalization and digitization and the implications in the field of education. The realization of this paper is based on the study of the specialized literature, of the official documents published by the European Commission offices and of the statistics issued by the specialized bodies.</abstract>

Impact of Digitalization on Education in the Knowledge Economy

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The purpose of this paper is to explore the knowledge entropy processes within organizations and how they are reflected in the knowledge management and organizational intellectual capital. Entropy is a very powerful concept, which can be found today in almost any branch of science and technology. It was introduced by Rudolf Clausius in 1865 in Thermodynamics, then used in the communication theory by Claude Shannon, and expanded by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen in economics. However, dues to its extensive use in so many different research domains, the concept of entropy became fuzzy and sometimes misleading in applications. Also, its statistical formulations based on the Boltzmann theory made the entropy understanding rather difficult and its interpretations on the edge of coherence. Knowledge entropy is an extension of information entropy and used within the framework of knowledge management. Our conceptual analysis aims to shed light on the appropriate use of knowledge entropy and its potential in knowledge management research and practice. Since knowledge entropy is associated to all transformational processes in knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, knowledge acquisition, and knowledge loss, we may say that knowledge management can be interpreted as the process of managing knowledge entropy within organizations.</abstract>

Exploring Knowledge Entropy in Organizations

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