The impact of food delivery applications on Romanian consumers' behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact that food delivery mobile applications have on consumers' behaviour in the context of the changes generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we aimed to bridge the gap in the literature and practice by studying intrinsic and extrinsic variables that affect 18-50+ years old consumers' decision process. The data set was analysed using the Structural Equation Modelling Part Least Square model because this model has no limitations to integrating more variables into a path model. From a managerial perspective, our results show that food delivery companies should implement customer loyalty strategies, as the users' perceived risk of changing the online food supplier is high. The high degree of visibility of the food delivery applications is positively reflected in the consumers' empathy level and loyalty. Consumer loyalty is also based on the pricing strategy and time saving associated with using this type of applications. The safety value and accessibility represent both consumers' and organisations' priorities that underline the importance of the strategies of reducing the perceived risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research offers to researchers and practitioners a starting point for their future activities. It can help them make decisions considering both periods (during a crisis as generated by pandemic crisis and post-crisis as new normality).

The Behavioral Intention to Use Virtual Reality in Schools: A Technology Acceptance Model.

This paper presents the impact of using virtual reality (VR) in education and focuses on the main factors that affect the behavioral intention of using this new technology for the benefit of both professors and students. As part of our research methodology, we conducted a survey based on the Technology Acceptance Model and used partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results show that the intention to use VR technology in education is influenced by both usage satisfaction and the task-technology fit. The system quality of the VR technology proved to be important in influencing both the task-technology fit and perceived usefulness. The findings are useful for professors considering the adoption of new technologies that might improve the efficiency of learning for their students. Additionally, managers of educational institutions can use these insights to direct investments towards this type of innovation, which appeals to newer generations.

The Impact of Environmental Volunteering on Employees, Companies, and Local Communities: A Case Study on Romanian Companies.

This paper addresses the importance of organizational environmental volunteering as part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies of organizations. If more organizations support their employees' involvement in such projects, there can be hope for mitigating climate change and making the transition to a more sustainable world. We used partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the impact of management support on organizational environmental volunteering and of the latter on the employees' well-being and productivity. Making environmental volunteering part of an organization's CSR strategy can help the environment, the employees, and the organization itself. The results show a direct and positive relationship between management support and organizational environmental volunteering and between the latter and both the well-being and productivity of employees. The findings will help managers in both public and private organizations to better shape their strategies and encourage their employees to get involved in projects meant to reduce pollution and the carbon footprint.

Insights from the nexus between economic growth and green energy.

The research aims to provide a new approach and insights into the nexus between economic growth and green energy by analyzing their direct, indirect, and total linkages at the European Union level (EU-27). To this end, an advanced empirical analysis performed by network analysis, as Gaussian Graphical Models, is carried out for the period 2012-2022 The originality of network analysis lies in the fact that it allows the simultaneous visualization of all the links between variables in a complex system of dependencies. The novelty of the paper is twofold: first, it addresses the issue of renewable energy in an innovative way that captures three key stages of the EU policy (renewables' capacity; share of renewable energy; and final consumption); second, it advances the nexus analysis by considering technological investments. Empirical results have validated the vital role of increasing the share of renewable energy in achieving sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Also, the Research & Development and Gross Value added in environmental goods and services sector are found to positively influence sustainable development. The results are useful for policymakers and managers of organizations to understand the relationships between these variables better and thus, achieve climate neutrality.

Students' Well-Being and Academic Engagement: A Multivariate Analysis of the Influencing Factors.

This paper aims to identify the factors that are positively or negatively impacting students' well-being and their academic engagement. We used partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using the data collected through a questionnaire from four countries: Romania, Turkey, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. The model includes seven factors that influence the well-being of students and indirectly their academic engagement: stressors in the students' lives; professors' support; social support from family and friends; the students' perceived satisfaction in their lives; engaging in activities during their leisure time; self-exploration regarding their careers; and environmental exploration regarding their careers. The results show that all factors, except for stressors and environmental exploration regarding their careers, positively influence the students' well-being and thus their academic engagement. These findings are useful for university professors and managers in better organizing activities to increase academic performance.

A Behavioral Approach to the Tourism Consumer Decisions of Generation Z.

The main objective of our research is to identify the impact of recycling and waste reduction behavior on the sustainable tourism decisions of Romanian youngsters (18-25 years old). We used the PLS-SEM method and introduced four variables in the model: sustainable tourism decisions, the interest in recycling, the interest in waste reduction, and the interest in natural and less polluted touristic destinations. The main results emphasize the direct influence of recycling and waste reduction behaviors on the decisions made by Generation Z regarding sustainable tourism and on their preference for destinations that are better preserved and less touched by human intervention. The novelty of our research consists of the fact that we introduced variables such as waste reduction from the perspective of tourists because most studies address it as a management approach of the companies in the tourism sector. The findings are useful for managers in the tourism sector to create better strategies for attracting the younger generation who are preoccupied by environmental issues and sustainability in general.

Air Pollution Management: A Multivariate Analysis of Citizens' Perspectives and Their Willingness to Use Greener Forms of Transportation.

The present research aims to understand how air pollution can be managed by public authorities, both central and local, starting from citizens' perspectives on the issue. Air quality is a real problem, affecting people at multiple levels. Thus, we introduced the following variables to better understand the problem and to be able to formulate theoretical and practical implications for public management: the involvement of authorities in reducing air pollution; the involvement of citizens in reducing air pollution; financial incentives for citizens and companies for adopting behaviors that reduce air pollution; green investments in the city; the impact of air pollution on the community; and the need for independent bodies to monitor air pollution. The research methodology used is partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and the required data were gathered from issuing a survey to citizens from the most important cities in Romania where pollution poses important challenges for the community and for the authorities. The results are useful to public managers in local and central institutions for creating better strategies meant to reduce air pollution, increase air quality, and improve the quality of the citizens' lives.

A Multivariate Analysis of the Interest in Starting Family Businesses within a Developing Economy.

The main objective of the research is to analyze the factors which influence the intention to start an intergenerational family business in a developing economy, highlighting the measures that can be implemented by decision-makers to stimulate these initiatives. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the data issued from 200 valid questionnaires. The survey was applied to 950 individuals from Romania. We focused on four variables: the closeness to family members, the financial support expected from family, the independence of individuals regarding the intention to start their own business and the intention to form partnerships with family members. All the hypotheses were validated, according to the final results. Thus, closeness to family members has a direct and positive impact on both the financial support expected from the family and the intention to form intergenerational family businesses. There is also a direct correlation between the financial support received from family and the intention to have partnerships with family members. Individuals who are closer to their families are not interested in developing independent businesses. There are several studies on family businesses in Romania, but there is no research analyzing the impact of closeness to family on the intention to develop an intergenerational family business. The study is useful for the decision-makers who can create national strategies in order to stimulate families to develop their own businesses.