- Vol. 11, Issue 1, 2026 - Management and Economics Review

Vol. 11, Issue 1, 2026

The Influence of Owner and Company Characteristics on Startup Financing in the Algerian Tourism Sector: Evidence from a National Survey

Page: 5
Authors: Karima BENBOUZID, Narimane BENABDERRAHMANE, Fella DJANI
Abstract: Access to external financing is a critical and structural challenge for young enterprises in developing economies, notably within Algeria’s strategic tourism sector. Startups face barriers such as high risk and information asymmetries, often forcing reliance on internal capital. This exploratory research utilises data from a 2023 national survey of 43 Algerian tourism startups to map funding patterns. It investigates the influence of owner (sex, age, education) and company (region, certification, international scope) characteristics on mobilising traditional, alternative, and public financing sources. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation show an overwhelming dominance of traditional financing, with 88.4% of firms relying primarily on personal financial resources. Critically, no respondent reported using bank credit (0%), and alternative instruments such as venture capital or crowdfunding remain marginal. Public subsidies were accessed by only 9.3%. However, greater diversification is observed among men, the most educated, young owners, certified companies, and those with an international scope, particularly those located in the North-Central region (Algiers). The study confirms that funding success is determined by an interaction of individual and organisational characteristics, highlighting the urgent need for adapted support structures to enhance external financing for tourism startups.
JEL Classification: H32, Z23, M13, L83
Keywords: Company Characteristics, Financing, Owner Characteristics, Startup, Tourism.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-01

Effectiveness of Risk Management in Healthcare Organisations During Health Crises: A Systematic Review

Page: 21
Authors: Alexandra PÎRCĂLĂBOIU, Carmen Nadia CIOCOIU, Camelia CAZONI, Irina GABOROI BĂLUȚ
Abstract: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems continue to face persistent risks, highlighting the need to implement effective risk management systems to ensure safe practice. By combining bibliometric analysis with a systematic literature review, the article identifies and classifies risk management approaches examined in the context of health crises, as well as the barriers and success factors influencing their implementation. The database used comprises 541 publications extracted from the Web of Science, and the analysis was conducted using the RStudio software through the Biblioshiny interface. The application of the PRISMA-P 2020 methodology enables the identification of major research trends, applied methodologies, and insufficiently explored areas in the existing literature. The study highlights the interconnection between risk management and the continuity of healthcare services, with particular emphasis on the role of strategic planning and digital tools in mitigating the impact of health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The conclusions provide relevant benchmarks for future research directions and for improving decision-making processes within healthcare organisations.
JEL Classification: I10, I18, D81
Keywords: risk management, effectiveness, healthcare, systematic review, barriers, success factors.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-02

Entrepreneurial Perspectives on Quick Commerce: Evidence from Bandung, Indonesia

Page: 44
Authors: Harmon CHANIAGO, Sri RAHARSO, Mohammad Rizal GAFFAR
Abstract: This study aims to explore the entrepreneurial perspectives of nanostore owners in Bandung, Indonesia, in responding to the phenomenon of quick commerce (Q-commerce). This study involved a purposive sampling of 30 nanostore entrepreneurs in the urban Bandung. Participants were selected based on three criteria: operating for more than three years, having some exposure to digital services, and being located in dense urban areas. In-depth interviews lasting 45–60 minutes were conducted using a structured interview guide, and thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 12. The results identify three main themes that characterise nanostores’ responses to Q-commerce: (1) suboptimal digital transformation, (2) adaptation to modern market pressures, and (3) aspirations for the future. The findings reveal that Q-commerce is perceived ambivalently: on the one hand, it offers opportunities for market expansion through simple applications such as WhatsApp; on the other hand, it presents challenges related to limited capital, logistics, and competition with modern retailers. This research enriches the literature on micro-entrepreneurship in emerging markets by emphasising that digital adoption among microenterprises (nanostores) is not linear but shaped by social networks, cultural values, and local capacity. The contribution of this research lies in offering a contextualised understanding of how nanostore entrepreneurs in emerging markets navigate Q-commerce. It also addresses a specific theoretical gap by exploring hybrid strategies at the intersection of digital adoption and community-based retail practices. Practically, the study provides insights for small business owners and policymakers on the importance of hybrid strategies – combining simple digital technologies with strong community relationships – to ensure the sustainability of nanostore businesses.
JEL Classification: L21, L26, L81, M30
Keywords: Quick commerce, nanostore, micro-entrepreneurship, digitalisation, emerging markets.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-03

Understanding Motivation and Satisfaction in Higher Education: Cultural Insights from Croatia and Poland

Page: 61
Authors: Ivana TADIĆ, Ana MILJAK
Abstract: One of today’s organisational imperatives is to secure a high level of employee motivation and satisfaction. Those represent important organisational factors, focused on the organisational future, because motivated and satisfied employees, besides developing their own careers, contribute to successful organisational results and recognition. Consequently, organisations are striving to recruit and retain not only employees with an exceptional level of knowledge, work experience, or skills and abilities, but also employees who are motivated to work. High educational institutions are the most important resources of future satisfied and motivated employees, current students, who educate and prepare them according to contemporary and everyday increased market demands. Therefore, it is valuable to monitor, evaluate, and increase students’ motivation and satisfaction during their educational process, as they differ, considering their personal and cultural differences, as well as different type and level of their studies. The sample of this research consisted of two separate groups of students, such as a graduate group of Croatian and Polish students, considering students from the same field of studies. The first assumption of the research proposes the correlation between the motivation and satisfaction of Croatian and Polish students. The following assumption aims to reveal the cultural differences between these two groups of students, focussing on the most important satisfaction factors, such as curriculum, professors, administrative staff, and overall institutional satisfaction. Obtained results verifies the correlation between students’ motivation and satisfaction, but also support different levels of their satisfaction, characterised by their different cultural backgrounds.
JEL Classification: J24, M12, M54
Keywords: career development; Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism (FEBT); motivation; satisfaction; SGH Warsaw School of Economics.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-04

Study on Relationship between Purchase Intention, Product Aesthetics, Chromatic Harmony, and Centrality of Visual Product Aesthetics

Page: 77
Authors: Andrei DUMITRESCU
Abstract: An experiment was designed to study the relationship between purchase intention, product aesthetics, chromatic harmony, and the centrality of visual product aesthetics. Six research questions were formulated. The chromatic harmonies analysed were the uniform, monochromatic, analogous, and complementary. The products used as images were a cabinet and a heater. A questionnaire was designed to allow statistical analysis in the context of the research questions. The experiment was run with 236 participants, and the results were tested for reliability. The following conclusions were drawn from the statistical analysis of the results. Uniform and monochromatic harmonies ensure the highest levels of purchase intention and product beauty. A very strong direct correlation exists between the perception of product beauty and purchase intention. Centrality of Visual Product Aesthetics (CVPA) does not have a direct influence on purchase intention nor on product aesthetics. The CVPA only plays a significant role as a moderator in the positive relationship between product beauty and purchase intention.
JEL Classification: L60, L68, M31
Keywords: purchase intention, product aesthetics, centrality of visual product aesthetics.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-05

The Mediating Role of Work Motivation on Organisational Commitment and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour

Page: 88
Authors: Laith TASHTOUSH
Abstract: Employees’ perceptions of support from their organisation, identification with organisational commitment, and development of self-determined motivation at work all lead to the activation of organisational citizenship behaviours. By using work motivation as a mediator, this study seeks to understand the relationship between organisational commitment and organisational citizenship behaviour among administrative staff employed at Jordanian universities. The study’s population consisted of administrative staff employed by 29 universities. A total of 350 administrative staff members participated in this study. The findings suggested that work motivation, organisational citizenship behaviour, and organisational commitment were statistically significant. Additionally, it was discovered that work motivation and organisational commitment both enhance the impact of organisational citizenship behaviour. The conceptual model created in this study outlines linkages between organisational commitment and work motivation that university administrations can use as a reference to successfully impact the organisational citizenship behaviour of their staff.
JEL Classification: L2 / D23 / M12 / M10 / J24
Keywords: Work Motivation, Organisational Commitment, Organisational Citizenship Behaviour, Administrative Staff, Universities.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-06

Authentic Leadership as a Stabilising Mechanism in Complex Adaptive Systems: Strategic Insights from a High-Uncertainty Governance Case

Page: 103
Authors: Cosmin GHERASIE, Cristi-Daniel LĂȚEA, Horia Răzvan BOTIȘ, Corina Daniela CERTAN, Madlena NEN
Abstract: Over the last two decades, authentic leadership has emerged as a prominent framework for understanding leadership in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. Distinct from leadership models grounded in charisma or formal authority, authentic leadership emphasises coherence between personal values, actions, transparency, and trust-based relationships. This paper explores both the theoretical foundations and practical implications of authentic leadership, with a specific focus on its role as a stabilising mechanism within complex adaptive systems (CAS). Drawing on the works of Walumbwa, George, Goffee, and Jones, alongside recent critical perspectives, the study examines the tension between maintaining authenticity and enabling adaptability under sustained uncertainty. Key leadership practices such as situational awareness, calibrated vulnerability, and balanced communication are identified as central to systemic coherence. The empirical analysis is grounded in a qualitative case study of post-2001 Afghanistan, conceptualised as an extreme, high-stress governance environment marked by political instability and organisational fragmentation. The findings support two hypotheses: (H1) leadership style significantly shapes crisis planning, coordination, and control, and (H2) leader authenticity plays a critical role in mitigating crisis effects and fostering organisational resilience. By integrating a CAS perspective, the study reframes authentic leadership not merely as an ethical ideal, but as a systemic process that enables coherence, trust, and adaptive performance. The results offer relevant insights for public management and governance under uncertainty, highlighting authenticity as a strategic resource for organisational resilience.
JEL Classification: H12; D81
Keywords: authentic leadership; complex adaptive systems; resilience; VUCA environments; organisational performance.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-07

Emotional Intelligence and the Knowledge Spiral: The Role of Emotions in the Externalisation Process

Page: 120
Authors: Mihaiela Eugenia DAVID
Abstract: The present study analyses the relationship between the SECI model and an element that has the potential to bring clarity to the processes of this model, namely emotional intelligence (EI). In this regard, a comparative analysis was conducted between the SECI model and the EI model, suggested by their similar geometric form, but as the investigation progressed, a series of content connections were identified that brought consistency to the research. The study focused on the process of externalisation in SECI, based on Nonaka’s assertion that this process has not been sufficiently investigated. In the discussion part, an emotional „awakening” pathway was proposed, which led to the suggestion of the concept of EI as a potential mediating element in the transition from the third wave (Toffler) to the fourth wave (Maynard & Mehrtens). The business world is a force that has the power to influence (initiate, maintain) the direction of a civilisation and, moreover, it also has the authority to support this transition. From this perspective, the present study reiterates the vision of the fourth wave, which recommends that organisations take responsibility for raising global awareness (EI is not a skill that is taught in school, but could be learned in the workplace), a process that can be achieved by developing consciousness (an element of EI) with benefits for both the individual (personal, professional) and society.
JEL Classification: M1
Keywords: emotional „awakening”, emotional intelligence, externalisation, SECI.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-08

The Mediating Role of Perceived Organisational Support in the Relationship between Stressors and Burnout

Page: 135
Authors: Miruna-Georgiana STAN, Cătălina RADU
Abstract: This study investigates organisational stress in the information technology sector, focusing on the relationships between workplace stressors, perceived stress, burnout, and perceived organisational support. Drawing on the transactional model of stress, the research adopts a quantitative, cross-sectional design to explore how work demands and organisational resources interact in shaping employees’ psychological well-being. Data were collected through an online questionnaire administered to 145 IT employees between March and June 2025. The findings revealed significant associations between the main study variables. Workplace stressors were positively correlated with perceived stress and burnout, while perceived organisational support was negatively associated with stressors, perceived stress, and burnout. These results indicate that employees exposed to higher levels of work-related demands tend to experience greater psychological strain and exhaustion, particularly when organisational support is perceived as limited. Furthermore, a mediation analysis demonstrated that perceived organisational support partially mediates the relationship between workplace stressors and burnout. This suggests that organisational support plays a key role in shaping how strongly stressors translate into emotional exhaustion. Employees who perceive higher levels of support are less likely to experience burnout, even when exposed to sustained work demands. These findings highlight the importance of organisational resources in high-pressure IT environments, where continuous change and performance demands are common. Strengthening organisational support practices and reducing excessive stressors may help protect employee well-being, limit burnout, and enhance long-term adaptability and performance.
JEL Classification: M12, I31, J28
Keywords: stress, perceived stress, burnout, stressors, workplace, employees, organisational support.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-09

The Influence of Brand Image on Customer Purchase Intention from the Perspective of Perceived Value: Evidence from the Fast Fashion Apparel Products

Page: 151
Authors: Hsiang-Hsi LIU, Shih-Harn HUANG
Abstract: This study examines how the brand image shapes the perceived value and, subsequently, the purchase intention in the fast fashion apparel sector. Addressing the scarcity of industry-specific empirical evidence, it proposes an integrated framework that incorporates the functional, experiential, and symbolic dimensions of brand image and evaluates their influence on consumers’ value perceptions. A structured questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale was administered to fast fashion shoppers, yielding 496 valid responses. Reliability tests, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) were employed to establish measurement validity and assess the hypothesised relationships. The results indicate that perceived value comprises social, quality, price, and emotional components and acts as a significant mediator between brand image and purchase intention. These findings contribute to the literature by identifying the brand image attributes most salient to fast fashion consumers and by empirically validating a model tailored to this industry context. Practical implications are also provided to guide marketers in enhancing purchase intention through brand image and value-driven strategies.
JEL Classification: L67, M31.
Keywords: Fast Fashion, Brand Image, Perceived Value, Purchase Intention.
DOI: 10.24818/mer/2026.01-10