Purpose A financial technology (FinTech) plays an important role in the micro and macro finance sectors. Massive investment is driving the development of the FinTech industry globally. However, this positive trend has yet to have a significant impact on the Indonesian economy. The level of financial inclusion in Indonesia is still one of the lowest compared to other countries in ASEAN. This study aims to investigate the driving factors of FinTech adoption in Indonesia and their implications in financial inclusion. Design/methodology/approach A structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS) method was used to statistically test 369 respondent data points. Findings This study reveals that the four latent variables (digital literacy, financial literacy, model acceptance and use of technology) positively and significantly influence the intention to use FinTech payments. Sustainable use has also been proven to positively encourage exploitative and explorative use behaviors by users. In the end, the use of FinTech payments with exploitative and explorative patterns has been proven statistically to increase financial inclusion in Indonesia. Practical implications This study offers important practical implications by emphasizing the need to enhance the functionality and user-centered design of FinTech payment systems to better align with users’ needs while explicitly fostering both exploitative use and explorative use beyond basic transactional functions. In this regard, collaborative initiatives between the Bank Indonesia and The Financial Services Authority (OJK) as well as higher education institutions are essential to strengthen financial literacy and advance financial inclusion. Such collaboration can be operationalized through university-led community engagement and student-driven outreach programs to promote adaptive and sustained use of digital financial services within the formal financial ecosystem. Originality/value This research uniquely investigates the driving factors of FinTech adoption in Indonesia by combining the constructs of technology acceptance and infusion to explain the relationship between FinTech usage and financial inclusion in Indonesia.

Purpose This study aims to examine how aligning development strategies with the specific characteristics of regional innovation ecosystems can foster inclusive and sustainable growth, using global innovation and entrepreneurship metrics in a policy-oriented, non-causal comparative perspective. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative, exploratory comparative analysis based on secondary data from GII and GEM, linked to the OECD Better Life Index across eight countries of varying income levels to support contextual interpretation rather than ranking or causal inference. Findings GII and GEM offer complementary perspectives, revealing that countries with different profiles can exhibit valuable practices when indicators are interpreted contextually and jointly, helping to identify distinct “ecosystem logics” and trade-offs between innovation capacity, entrepreneurial dynamics and well-being outcomes. Research limitations/implications This study provides insights into strategic alignment, although with limitations due to the reliance on secondary indicators and the absence of deeper historical, political and socio-cultural case evidence; moreover, the fast-evolving nature of ecosystems may affect the stability of observed patterns. Practical implications Policymakers should adapt global indicators to local contexts and use combined metric readings (GII–GEM–well-being) to design targeted interventions, improving innovation strategies and address societal challenges effectively. Social implications This study accentuates the need for evidence-based public policies, such as those supported by data from GII and GEM. This can assist policymakers in targeting resources more effectively in areas needing development, thereby enhancing public policies and social infrastructure. Originality/value Proposes an integrated conceptual framework connecting innovation, entrepreneurship and social impact, offering policy-relevant insights for ecosystem development by reframing how global indices are interpreted together to inform place-based strategy (rather than producing new rankings).

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of digital economy on fostering entrepreneurship and innovative systems. Through comprehensive analysis, the study identifies potential contributors shaping the digital economy’s involvement to entrepreneurship and innovation systems. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a modified total interpretive structural modeling approach which delves into the complex interrelations between digital economy, entrepreneurial activities, innovation ecosystems and sustainable development objectives. In addition, the authors explain the hierarchical structure and mutual influences among various contributors, highlighting critical pathways and feedback loops. Findings The findings from the study illustrate the contributors of digital economy on entrepreneurship and innovative systems such as “supporting regulatory framework”, “information democratization” and “outreach and awareness” at the bottom level. Furthermore, the study assesses the implications of these findings, including economic growth, job creation, enhanced competitiveness and societal well-being. Moreover, it explores the potential for addressing environmental challenges and fostering inclusive development through digital innovation. Originality/value By providing a nuanced understanding of the dynamics between digital economy, entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable development, this study offers actionable insights for policymakers, businesses and stakeholders seeking to leverage digital technologies for long-term socioeconomic progress.

Purpose Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly transforming business strategy, innovation processes and governance practices. While prior research has focused primarily on technological implementation and performance outcomes, limited attention has been paid to how senior executives interpret, frame and adapt to GenAI as a strategic and ethical phenomenon. This study aims to explore executives’ sensemaking and adaptive responses to GenAI and to develop a conceptual model that captures this process. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a qualitative exploratory design based on semi-structured interviews with 15 senior executives from diverse industries in Greece. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in executives’ perceptions, decision rationales and ethical considerations related to GenAI adoption and integration. Findings The analysis reveals four interrelated dimensions shaping executive adaptation: strategic integration and decision-making, business value and innovation, human–AI collaboration and workforce transformation and ethics, governance and adoption barriers. Cross-thematic synthesis indicates that executives perceive GenAI as a decision-support and innovation amplifier rather than an autonomous decision-maker. These findings inform an Emergent Integrative Model of Executive Adaptation to GenAI, conceptualized as a dynamic cycle comprising strategic sensemaking (Curate), operational experimentation (Create) and ethical consolidation (Consolidate). Research limitations/implications Several executives cited technical and resource limitations as obstacles to effective GenAI implementation. Challenges include legacy systems, lack of skilled artificial intelligence (AI) engineers and limited integration between AI platforms and enterprise software. Practical implications This model advances understanding of executive cognition and adaptive intelligence in the AI era, positioning leadership as a process of continuous learning, sensemaking and ethical stewardship. Practically, the research offers a roadmap for organizations and policymakers for aligning GenAI-driven innovation with responsible governance and leadership development. Social implications By highlighting the role of executive stewardship, the study underscores how ethical leadership in GenAI adoption influences public trust, workforce well-being and organizational legitimacy. Originality/value Existing research on AI in business has predominantly focused on technological implementation, efficiency gains and economic outcomes. Studies emphasize measurable benefits such as productivity enhancement, improved decision-making speed and customer experience optimization. However, fewer studies explore how executive cognition and strategic reasoning shape the trajectory of AI adoption – particularly regarding GenAI technologies that introduce new forms of creative automation. The study advances leadership and sensemaking research by shifting the focus from GenAI adoption outcomes to executive cognition and ethical stewardship. It offers a novel integrative model that explains how strategy, innovation and governance co-evolve in the GenAI era.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the factor that influences the attitude and behavioral intention of rural women in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, India, for digital payment adoption. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a cross-sectional design, collecting data through the administration of 550 questionnaires to rural female participants. Total 468 valid responses were used in the analysis, which was conducted using the statistical software SmartPLS 4 and SPSS 26. Findings The findings of the study suggest that facilitating conditions (FC), social influence (SI), personal innovativeness (PI), lifestyle compatibility (LC) and perceived security (PS) have a significant impact on behavioral intention (BI) and also have significant impact on attitude (ATT) along with perceived security. Influence of attitude on actual usage indicates that attitude becomes more favorable when the actual usage of the system increases. Research limitations/implications The findings of the study offer insightful information about the factors that influence the attitude and behavioral intention of rural women in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh toward digital payment adoption. The results emphasized the critical need for development of facilitating condition to enhance the usage of digital payment in rural India. Originality/value This study offers novel insights about the factors influencing rural women’s adoption of digital payments in India. By emphasizing the role of infrastructure, social influence and security concerns, it provides actionable recommendations to promote financial inclusion, economic empowerment and socio-economic development in rural communities.

Purpose Online interactive tools (OITs) such as Nearpod, Kahoot and BookWidgets hold significant potential for transforming higher education. However, a persistent and compelling phenomenon is their inconsistent adoption by faculty, which hinders the widespread realization of their pedagogical benefits. While existing research identifies individual adoption factors, it often fails to adequately explain this observed heterogeneity or, critically, how faculty overcome significant adoption barriers such as perceived complexity (PC) or technophobia (TE) – a crucial research gap. This study aims to address this by investigating how diverse configurations of enabling and inhibiting conditions, particularly pathways where specific enablers neutralize inhibitors, lead to faculty OIT adoption within higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach Grounded in dual factor theory (DFT), this research develops a conceptual framework incorporating five enablers – perceived usefulness (PU), result demonstrability (RD), facilitating conditions (FC), personal innovativeness (PI) and continuous feedback (CF) – alongside two key inhibitors – PC and TE. The selection of these constructs was informed by a comprehensive review of extant literature on technology adoption in educational settings. A structured questionnaire was distributed to the entire faculty population across all campuses of the higher colleges of technology (HCT) in the UAE, yielding 117 valid responses. Psychometric validation of the constructs was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), followed by fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify causal configurations associated with high OIT adoption. Findings The fsQCA revealed five distinct pathways (equifinal configurations) that are sufficient for high OIT adoption. A key finding is that, even in the presence of inhibitors like PC or TE, specific combinations of strong enablers (e.g. high PU coupled with robust FC and RD) effectively overcome these barriers, leading to successful OIT use. This underscores that inhibitor mitigation can be achieved through strategic amplification of enabling factors, offering a granular understanding of the complex dynamics governing OIT integration. Research limitations/implications While this study provides valuable insights into OIT adoption and inhibitor mitigation among faculty within HCT, UAE, its findings may not fully generalize. Future research could explore these configurational dynamics, including the interplay of different inhibitors and enablers, in diverse institutional settings. The study focused on a limited set of factors, leaving room for future work to incorporate additional elements like organizational culture. Reliance on self-reported data and subjective calibration in fsQCA, alongside a cross-sectional design, presents opportunities for future studies to integrate objective usage metrics and longitudinal approaches. Practical implications The identified configurations offer HEIs and policymakers an evidence-based diagnostic framework to design context-specific interventions. Rather than uniformly reducing all barriers, efforts should prioritize the strategic amplification of key enablers capable of neutralizing specific inhibitors. This insight is particularly valuable for institutions seeking to enhance digital pedagogy through tailored, resource-efficient strategies. The findings of this research provide a roadmap for institutions to enhance digital pedagogy, ultimately contributing to a more skilled workforce and greater educational inclusivity. Originality/value This study challenges the assumptions of traditional linear adoption models by applying a configurational approach using fsQCA. It contributes to the literature by demonstrating that distinct combinations of enablers can mitigate the effects of adoption barriers, an area that remains underexplored with such empirical depth. From both academic and institutional standpoints, this research offers a richer understanding of faculty decision-making and practical pathways for fostering digital innovation in higher education.

Purpose Cashless payments gradually replace physical money in almost every financial transaction worldwide. Bank Indonesia has conducted a National Non-Cash Movement to create an effective and efficient payment system. This study aims to analyse the elements influencing young Indonesians to use Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) payments by extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model with word of mouth (WOM) as a critical factor. Design/methodology/approach Using the non-probability convenient sampling technique, data was collected from 351 young generation (Z and Y) respondents in Indonesia. The researcher analysed data using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Findings The results revealed a positive and significant influence of PE and SI on the BI of the younger generation of QRIS users, with PE having the most significant influence. In contrast, EE and FC did not significantly influence IB. Furthermore, BI significantly increases WOM and UB. On the other hand, WOM also shows a positive and significant relationship with UB. It confirms that WOM has a strong influence among Generation Z and Y QRIS users. Research limitations/implications This study emphasizes the need to improve QRIS performance and expand the social impact to increase QRIS usage. This study also points out the need for service providers to provide positive media reviews and strengthen WOM advertising strategies to reach new users, especially younger ones. The role of government and other stakeholders is to improve credibility, security and user convenience to achieve mass adoption of QRIS. Originality/value This study fills the limited research gap regarding QRIS, especially from the perspective of the younger generation in Indonesia. This research also develops UTAUT with the addition of WOM variables.

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of digital technology adoption (DTA), market responsiveness (MR), business model dynamism (BMD) and corporate social responsibility initiatives (CSRI) on financial agility (FA) in Chinese startups. Particular attention is given to the mediating role of innovation initiatives (II) in converting strategic orientations into agile financial responses. The research addresses gaps in the Chinese entrepreneurship literature by repositioning innovation as a mediating capability, rather than merely an outcome, and contributes new insights into dynamic capability building under contextual constraints. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research design was used, using data collected from a structured survey administered to 404 startup executives across diverse regions in China. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed relationships and evaluate both direct and indirect effects. The study incorporated validated multi-item measures for six constructs and applied stratified random sampling across 20 industry-region strata to enhance generalisability. Findings DTA and BMD have a significant direct effect on FA. Conversely, MR and CSRI do not directly influence FA but demonstrate strong indirect effects through II. The results confirm that II serve as a critical mediating mechanism, enabling strategic inputs to translate into adaptive financial practices. This underscores the importance of innovation not only as an output of strategy but also as a conduit for financial adaptability, particularly in resource-constrained startup environments. The mediating effects were statistically significant across all tested pathways. Practical implications The study offers practical guidance for startup leaders to embed innovation capabilities within their digital, market and CSR strategies to enhance financial flexibility. It encourages managers to integrate innovation into strategic planning to improve resource adaptability in volatile markets. Policymakers are advised to incentivise innovation-led digital transformation and responsible entrepreneurship by offering targeted fiscal, regulatory and institutional support, especially for startups operating in high-uncertainty contexts. Social implications The findings promote innovation-led FA as a pathway to sustainable entrepreneurship, aligning with broader societal goals such as inclusive economic growth and digital equity. By enabling startups to better manage risk and adapt to change, the study supports the creation of employment, regional development and the diffusion of socially responsible practices. It encourages inclusive policy measures that foster long-term resilience in underserved or emerging innovation ecosystems. Originality/value This study contributes to entrepreneurship and strategic management literature by introducing a novel conceptualisation of II as a mediating construct that links external strategic orientations to FA. Differentiating itself from prior Chinese studies that treat innovation as an outcome, this research provides empirical evidence for a process-oriented model of resilience. It offers an integrated, context-sensitive framework for enhancing startup adaptability through innovation-led transformation in volatile environments.

Purpose This study aims to examine firmware vulnerabilities in medical Internet of Things (IoT) devices, focusing on their implications for healthcare policy, management and patient safety. The research aims to provide insights into developing effective mitigation strategies and enhancing regulatory frameworks to improve device security in the rapidly advancing field of medical IoT. This study underscores the critical need for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities to safeguard patient data and maintain the integrity of healthcare systems. Design/methodology/approach The research employs a qualitative multi-case analysis of firmware vulnerabilities in medical IoT devices, including insulin pumps, pacemakers and diagnostic equipment. Cases were selected based on criteria such as device diversity, severity of vulnerabilities and their impact on patient safety, as cross-referenced with the Common Vulnerabilities Exposure database. The analysis considers factors like device age, manufacturer practices, firmware update frequency, regulatory compliance and usage context to derive insights into policy and management challenges. Findings The study identifies key factors contributing to firmware vulnerabilities in medical IoT devices and examines their implications for healthcare management and policy. It provides recommendations for manufacturers and healthcare providers to enhance device security and outlines the need for robust regulatory measures. In addition, the research highlights gaps in the healthcare technology workforce and supply chain, advocating for stronger policies and management practices to mitigate risks. Originality/value This research contributes to the literature by linking technical vulnerabilities in medical IoT devices to broader policy and management concerns. The findings underscore the necessity for enhanced regulatory frameworks, proactive management strategies and industry-wide standards to ensure the security and reliability of medical IoT devices, ultimately protecting patient safety and data integrity.