Purpose This research aims to examine how team leaders’ servant leadership influences team members’ perceptions of a compassionate climate and, in turn, how these perceptions foster perceived shared vision. Specifically, leader grit and team size are proposed as moderators of the relationship between servant leadership and perceived compassionate climate. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 304 matched leader–member dyads across 116 teams in one of Thailand’s largest canned seafood manufacturing firms. Multisource data were obtained from team members and their team leaders within each team to minimize the potential risk of common method variance. The research model was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The results indicate that servant leadership did not have a significant direct effect on perceived shared vision; rather, its relationship with perceived shared vision operated indirectly through perceived compassionate climate. The findings further show that the positive association between servant leadership and perceived compassionate climate is stronger when team leaders exhibit higher levels of grit and when team size is relatively large. In contrast, the association becomes weaker and statistically non-significant when leader grit is low or when team size is small. Practical implications The findings suggest that organizations can enhance employee productivity by fostering a supportive working environment through servant leadership. Encouraging leaders to consistently demonstrate empathy and persistence can strengthen a compassionate climate, thereby improving alignment and cooperation in employment settings. Originality/value This study contributes to the servant leadership literature by identifying important boundary conditions and clarifying the perceptual mechanism through which servant leadership relates to shared vision. The findings suggest that the influence of servant leadership on employees’ perceptions of their team environment varies depending on leader persistence and team structure, thereby offering a more nuanced understanding of its contextual effectiveness.

Purpose This study aims to examine how follower trust violations influence authentic leadership and how leaders’ spiritual orientations shape this relationship. While most trust research focuses on leaders as violators of followers’ trust, this study shifts the analytical lens to explore how leaders’ authenticity is affected when followers violate expectations. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 588 managers and employees in Kenya’s tourism sector. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to estimate baseline relationships between trust violations, spirituality and authentic leadership. Polynomial regression was then used to examine potential nonlinear and interaction effects across four dimensions of trust violation and five dimensions of spirituality. Findings Integrity and dependability violations significantly undermined authentic leadership, whereas competence violations showed weaker effects and relational violations displayed no consistent linear pattern. Spiritual orientations generally reinforced authentic leadership, particularly purpose, transcendence and compassion. However, some dimensions – such as gratitude and inner peace – were associated with more ambivalent effects, occasionally coinciding with reduced openness. Polynomial analyses further revealed nonlinear dynamics, including accelerating declines in authenticity following repeated integrity violations and curvilinear patterns in relational violations. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported measures limit causal inference. In addition, the sectoral and cultural context may constrain generalizability. Future research using longitudinal and multi-source designs could examine how authentic leadership evolves over time following trust disruptions. Practical implications Leadership development programs should prepare leaders to manage follower trust violations constructively. Spiritual orientations can support authenticity when grounded in purpose and compassion, but excessive emphasis on harmony or gratitude may discourage necessary confrontation and accountability. Social implications The findings highlight the importance of trust and spiritual meaning systems in leadership relationships, particularly in collectivist and high power-distance contexts where relational disruptions can have broader organizational and social consequences. Originality/value This study advances authentic leadership theory by examining how authenticity is recalibrated under conditions of follower trust violations. It also extends trust research by shifting attention from leader violations to follower violations and contributes to spirituality research by demonstrating that spiritual orientations can have both enabling and constraining effects on leadership authenticity.

Purpose Digital transformation has unfolded across various industries and levels of analysis. Most prior research has predominantly focused on the positive aspects of digital transformation. However, its challenges impacts remain underexplored, especially in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Digital transformation strategies implemented by large corporations cannot be directly applied to smaller firms through simple scaling down. In light of these differences, this study aims to investigate the challenges of digital transformation through the lens of dynamic capabilities and uses paradox theory as a meta-theoretical framework to explain how organizations manage the inherent tensions emerging from digital transformation processes. Design/methodology/approach Case studies using a qualitative approach have been recognized as suitable for exploratory research, particularly on topics that have not been extensively studied. Based on grounded theory, data collected through interviews, field observations and focus group discussions were analyzed in three stages: open coding, selective coding and axial coding. The use of diverse informants and multiple data collection techniques enabled us to conduct triangulation, thereby ensuring the validity of the findings. Findings Drawing on multiple qualitative case studies, the study identifies a range of challenges of digital transformation associated with each high-order dynamic capability. This study identifies a series of challenges arising from digital transformation during the processes of sensing, seizing and transforming. The study identified twelve specific challenges and further elaborated on how SMEs respond to these challenges. However, these responses also generate further consequences, revealing a cyclical process inherent in digital transformation. Research limitations/implications While this study focuses on high-order capabilities, future research is encouraged to delve deeper into the micro-foundations of dynamic capabilities. Practical implications Managers must be able to identify the optimal level of digital transformation implementation. Maximizing digital transformation is not necessarily better; in fact, it may lead to inefficiencies. Originality/value This study offers a unique contribution by examining the contradictions inherent in digital transformation through the theoretical lenses of paradox theory and dynamic capabilities. The findings of this research can serve as a foundation for future studies or be tested through surveys, allowing the cycle of knowledge development to continue.

Purpose This paper aims to study the changing roles of business and economic activities which are based on the wants and needs of sustainable development which dramatically try to change the fundamental conduct of sustainability studies. The need to have better business environment and supporting organisational and institutional structures has grown more alongside the requirements of being common and collective connected with the fundamentals of interdisciplinary epistemological approaches. Design/methodology/approach This paper tries in a conceptual and descriptive approach to outline and analyse some of the key conceptions of sustainability in value-based development providing solutions that have many direct benefits, finding the contour of epistemological reasoning in bringing together economic, environmental and social sustainability aspirations in the emergence of making a sustainable future. Findings This paper argues that along with the conditions in alleviating deficiency in the sustainability process, in the era of global and local challenges and opportunities in a sustainable just transition, it is important to deal with the reality of finite nature of resource availability for a seemingly infinite want of growth. With the raising of common good and collective interests in building sustainability values, the new global value chains have to be in the lines of nature and society in a supportive business environment. Practical implications From the point of view of interconnected systems and relationships, classical epistemology with its truth, belief and justification fills in the need of the phenomenal reality of assimilation and analysis. It is very apt in reasoning and influencing the philosophical research stand point of sustainable development and in particular sustainability. This study of epistemology stands with finding the origin, accumulation and expansion of knowledge concerned with the possibilities and what constitutes the boundary conditions. Social implications This study of epistemology stands with finding the origin, accumulation and expansion of knowledge concerned with the possibilities and what constitutes the boundary conditions. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of its kinds in attempting to ground firmly about nurturing and delivering value for sustainability at an ideation and integrated level. Connected in the qualifiers of reasoning and responsibility, as a shared competence between global and local levels, this paper extends the notions of being common and collective through epistemological systems and value theory.

Purpose Earlier researchers have used slack as a boundary condition to resolve conflicting perspectives in the speed–performance relationship. However, a challenge arises in finding the optimal level of operational slack, creating a “slack paradox”. Too little slack, and a firm loses the benefits; too much, and it wastes resources unnecessarily. This study introduces sustainability control systems as a resolution. This study aims to empirically investigate how sustainability control systems moderate the moderating role of supply chain slack on the relationship between supply chain speed and strategic supply chain performance. Design/methodology/approach The study develops a three-way contingency-based supply chain slack framework, which is then tested using time-lagged data from 355 managers across 5 industries in an emerging economy, leveraging the product indicator method of the PLS-SEM technique of Smart PLS 4.1.1.2. Findings The pressure associated with supply chain speed drives firms to improve strategic supply chain performance (β = 0.395, p = 0.000, t = 5.319). When supply chain slack is high, firms find the buffering capacity that enables simultaneous pursuit of speed and strategic performance and vice versa (β = 0.022, p = 0.010, t = 3.188). Sustainability control systems obtain a negative and significant three-way moderation effect (β = −0.036, p = 0.030, t = 2.309), implying that firms with effective sustainability controls are more capable of efficiently using supply chain slack – minimising waste and potential complacency – to produce strategic supply chain performance as supply chain speed pressures increase. Research limitations/implications Further research should explore how interactive versus diagnostic control systems may be configured to influence the moderating role of supply chain slack in the relationship between supply chain speed and strategic supply chain performance. Practical implications Operations and supply chain managers should avoid fixed slack allocation. Instead, they should develop dynamic slack management approaches based on sustainability control capabilities. For example, Amazon maintains higher inventory slack during peak seasons but only when supported by their sophisticated sustainability tracking systems that prevent waste. Supply chain partners and suppliers should develop collaborative control systems. Universities should teach operations and sustainability as a combined subject. Originality/value This study develops and tests a sophisticated three-way contingency-based framework that resolves the “slack paradox”, showing when and why slack becomes productive. It demonstrates how sustainability and efficiency can work together effectively using sustainability control systems, thereby making a methodological contribution to the operations and supply chain management fields.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the negative pathway by which supervisor ostracism affects employee silence and causes conflicts by using the psychological contract theory. The study develops and tests an integrated model consisting of supervisor ostracism, role conflict, relational conflict, task conflict, emotional fatigue and employee silence. This study also provides a comprehensive understanding of the framework considering the relationship between supervisor ostracism and employee silence. Design/methodology/approach A purposive sampling technique and self-administered questionnaires were used in this study of 303 public sector personnel. This study uses the Mplus software, the data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Findings According to the results, supervisor ostracism has a strong impact on employee silence. This effect is mediated progressively by role, task and relational conflict, as well as fatigue. According to the findings, organizations should prioritize addressing supervisor ostracism to build a healthy work environment that promotes employee well-being and encourages employee voice. Originality/value This study’s novelty comes from its analysis of the sequential mediation of role, task and relational conflict, as well as emotional fatigue, in the relationship between supervisor ostracism and employee silence. The study’s findings add to the body of literature concerning management development (supervisors), conflict handling and employees’ attitudes and behaviors by offering a thorough grasp of the detrimental effects of supervisor ostracism on employee silence as well as useful recommendations for businesses looking to promote productive workplaces.

Purpose This paper aims to expand the methodological toolkit by detailing an approach for conducting large-scale audio diary studies in business and management education research. The authors address two research questions: (1) How can large-scale, longitudinal audio diary studies be conducted in a way that balances rigour and practicality? (2) What methodological challenges arise when implementing a longitudinal audio diary study at scale, and how might these be addressed? Design/methodology/approach They draw on insights from a study with 128 international students in a UK business school who provided a combined 602 reflective audio diary contributions to inform a ten-step process for conducting large-scale audio diary studies. Findings They present a flexible ten-step process, discussing challenges and recommendations regarding participant engagement and retention, technology, data quality and resource demands. Originality/value They conclude with examples of four themes for future research applications of audio diary studies: employability perceptions, mental health and well-being, ethical decision-making and corporate social responsibility awareness and innovation and entrepreneurial mindset development. These research avenues represent opportunities to promote a sustainable career trajectory for individuals and offer societal benefits via a sustainable career ecosystem.

Purpose Information with corporate reports is increasingly conveyed by visuals, becoming highly topical with the potential and risks digital transformation brings for visual disclosure. Moved by this relevance, this study aims to explore the conceptual structure evolution of visual disclosure research in corporate reporting, aiming to enhance understanding of the current state of knowledge and propose a research agenda. Design/methodology/approach Conducting a longitudinal coword analysis on 210 articles published between 1989–2023, a comprehensive bibliographic dataset was compiled in Scopus, supplemented by backward and forward snowballing sampling techniques and a Web of Science search. Longitudinal thematic network maps were generated across three consecutive subperiods, with a supplemental full-text review of articles conducted to interpret the results further and identify the underlying theories. Findings The results highlight evolving thematic focus and theoretical perspectives in visual disclosure research in corporate reporting, reflecting the progressive rise of holistic corporate performance reporting. Impression management has become the central theme, while a narrow study stream arguing the potential for visuals in effectively communicating the value-creation process in integrated reporting is emerging. However, theoretical reliance increasingly embraced impression management and legitimacy theories, with sparse use of other lenses. Visual digital reporting and visual integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure – particularly concerning governance – also represent research gaps highlighting possibilities for future studies. Originality/value This study offers a novel contribution to the literature by tracing visual disclosure studies’ thematic and theoretical evolution in corporate reporting. It reveals changes in focus, current trends and significant gaps to assist future research.

Emerald Publishing is committed to the realization of a research and publishing environment built upon transparency, accessibility, and integrity.Accordingly, we have signed the Declaration to #DefendResearch, which aligns with our core values and long-standing mission to contribute to positive change in research and society more broadly. Support for academic freedomDuring this time of geopolitical instability, research and higher education face unprecedented challenges.In the United States, recent executive orders are disrupting research, education, and library programs, removing federally funded initiatives that support diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as green energy, climate, health, and other research domains.These measures have led to the termination of critical research grants and created uncertainty for researchers, faculty, librarians, and others who carry out and rely upon the benefits of research itself.#DefendResearch takes a stand against the defunding and censorship of academic research, advocating for the free exchange of ideas and the safeguarding of scholarly work from undue restrictions.This resonates deeply with our commitments to support authors in disseminating their work without fear of suppression.

PurposeThis study aims to identify the relationship between corporate governance (CG) and green innovation (GIN), along with its enablers, through a systematic literature review (SLR). The purpose is fulfilled using an SLR added with a few bibliometric analysis approaches for analyzing 48 peer-reviewed articles published in the English language between 1995 and 2023.Design/methodology/approachA total of 48 papers are shortlisted using online databases based on the Prisma method for keywords “Corporate governance” and “green innovation” or “sustainable innovation”. The authors propose the results with the help of a comparative analysis of the scope, methodologies used, results and context of the study. The methodology also uses initial bibliometric analysis using VOSViewer to establish the relevance of keywords and citations of the existing literature and their results.FindingsThis study demonstrates a positive correlation between CG and GIN and also finds 14 factors impacting the relationship. Innovation is driven by introducing transparency, accountability, environmental, social and governance initiatives, performance, organizational culture, research and development investments and digital technology interventions. This study also demonstrates the positive impact of external forces such as government policies, mergers and acquisitions that consider sustainable efforts.Practical implicationsThis study has provided pivotal insights for organizations interested in improving their sustainability. The industries can use their CG mechanism and GIN strategies to improve sustainability, whereas academia can leverage the results to explore cross-disciplinary studies, including sustainability among corporations.Originality/valueThis study is a unique effort combining CG, innovation and sustainable efforts. The authors could not find any extent of work done in the congestion of CG and GIN together considering the SLR, making this a unique and original study.