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This study investigates how financial and non-financial incentives jointly influence employee motivation and performance within the corporate sector of Karnataka, India. Data were collected from 260 employees using a structured questionnaire and analysed through Two-Step Cluster Analysis and Independent Samples t-tests. Results reveal statistically significant differences between employees who receive only financial incentives and those who receive both financial and non-financial rewards, with the latter reporting higher motivation, satisfaction, and perceived organisational support. These findings support Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, and Self-Determination Theory, emphasising that sustainable motivation requires extrinsic and intrinsic reinforcements. The study concludes that a balanced incentive system enhances employee effectiveness and organisational success, offering managerial recommendations for the development of policies.

The article presents an analysis of strategic communications as a tool for enhancing the investment attractiveness of African countries in the global media space. The study is based on an interdisciplinary approach that combines political science, economics, and communication research. Particular attention is paid to the content analysis of academic and applied sources covering issues of nation branding, public diplomacy, and media positioning. Key practices were identified, including the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” initiative, Johannesburg’s branding, and digital promotion strategies, which demonstrated heterogeneous impacts on investor perceptions and the international image of countries. A comparative analysis of African campaigns and Qatar’s international experience revealed differences in institutional sustainability and systemic branding strategies that determine long-term effectiveness in attracting foreign direct investment. The necessity of overcoming barriers of political instability, weak institutionalization, and limited global media coverage is substantiated, as these factors hinder the formation of a sustainable investment image of the region. The article also examines the prospects for adapting global nation branding practices, digital media cooperation, and platform integration to strengthen Africa’s presence in the international information environment. The findings will be useful to researchers in strategic communications, specialists in global development, and practitioners in investment and public-private partnerships interested in building an effective image of Africa as an attractive and promising region for investment.

Smartphones are the most commonly used devices in universities, accounting for 66.74% of device usage, compared to 42.80% and 6.61% computer/laptop and tablets/iPads usage, respectively, but present a significant environmental challenge throughout their lifecycle. Sustainable smartphone design emerges as a critical approach to mitigate these environmental concerns; hence, this qualitative study sought to explore students’ awareness and perceived value of sustainable smartphone design at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Specifically, the study aimed to determine students’ understanding and awareness of sustainability in smartphone design at UCLan, and to explore UCLan students’ perceived value of sustainable smartphone features. This study adopted a qualitative exploratory research design, where data were collected using semi-structured interviews from twelve UCLan students who were sampled using a purposive sampling technique. The study revealed that while students possessed a general understanding of sustainability concepts such as recycling and reusing, their knowledge of how these principles apply to smartphone design is still limited. The study also found that students valued energy efficiency and end-of-life management practices, such as trade-in and recycling programs, viewing them as tangible and convenient sustainability features. This study concludes that sustainable transformation in smartphone consumption among students requires a dual approach, involving the strengthening of sustainability education within higher learning institutions and the promotion of industry practices that align environmental responsibility with functionality and affordability.

This study examines the effect of work environment and employee engagement on non-teaching staff turnover in public universities in Nairobi City County, highlighting the need for organizations to understand and manage staff mobility in the 21st century. A descriptive research design was adopted. The target population constituted 2134 employees, who are non-teaching staff, as at January 2023 in the public universities in Nairobi City County. A sample of 204 was selected using stratified and simple random sampling methods. Purposive sampling was used to select the heads of human resource department from each university. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires, while secondary data was collected from the human resource records and reports. The data was analyzed quantitatively, using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean frequency and percentages were used in descriptive analysis, while Pearson correlation and regression analysis was used in testing the relationship between the variables. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 26) was used to aid in the analysis. The null hypothesis was tested at a 5 % significance level. Descriptively, the results showed that most of the respondents agreed with the statements used to describe whether work environmental factors and employee engagement have an effect on non-teaching staff turnover in public Universities. The study further established that, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the predictor variables work environment; (r = 0.689; P < 0.05) and employee engagement; (r = 0.466; P < 0.05) and staff turnover. The overall analysis indicated that work environment and employee engagement have statistically significant effects on staff turnover (R = .735a, R2 = .540, F= 41.970, df = (4,143), T = 6.417 and the P value < .05). Work environment was seen to have the highest effect on staff turnover among the non-teaching staff in the universities. The study concluded that non-teaching staff turnover among the public universities was influenced by work environment and employee engagement. Based on the results, work environment and engagement were considered to have the highest positive influence on turnover. It was recommended that institutions of higher learning need to focus more on improving the work environment and employee engagement because they present significant influence on turnover rate of non-teaching staff.

The advent of social media has brought remarkable changes to both marketing and consumer behaviour. Consumers have tremendous opportunities to engage in social interactions on the internet. Hence, understanding consumer behaviour in the context of social media marketing has become vital for companies that aim to better influence consumers and harness the power of social media. This study underscores the significant impact of social media, revealing that a staggering number of consumers are swayed by its influence when making purchasing choices and researching products on these platforms before making a purchase. Influencer marketing has emerged as a pivotal player in this dynamic landscape, captivating most of the younger consumers. Moreover, the rise of social commerce is undeniable, as consumers seamlessly transitioning from social media browsing to making direct purchases. Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube have become synonymous with entertainment and lifestyle purchases, while Instagram reigns supreme in the fashion and beauty sectors. However, this burgeoning landscape presents ethical challenges. Transparency in influencer marketing remains a critical concern. This research unequivocally emphasizes the paramount importance of authenticity, transparency, and cultivating unwavering consumer trust for the long-term success of social media marketing strategies

This paper examines the impact of tariff policy on international trade relations, exploring how tariffs—as tools of protectionism—affect trade flows, economic growth, supply chains, and geopolitical trade dynamics. Through a review of theoretical foundations and empirical literature, we explore the effects of tariffs on developed and developing economies, including their role in trade wars and multilateral frameworks. We include a quantitative overview (with a table and graph) of recent tariff trends and trade volumes to illustrate the key dynamics. Our analysis shows that while tariffs may offer short‐term protection for domestic industries, the longer‐term consequences on trade relations—such as retaliatory measures, trade diversion, reduced foreign direct investment (FDI), and supply chain disruption—often outweigh the benefits. The paper concludes with policy implications for maintaining stable international trade relations in an era of rising protectionism