Journal of Business and Retail Management Research

This study offers an innovative method for evaluating the effects of assortment changes on retail store revenue, employing the Synthetic Control Method (SCM) with Lasso regression. In response to the limitations of randomized control trials for large-scale interventions, we propose a unique approach using Lasso regression to build synthetic control groups from comparable stores in competitor retailers. This innovative technique overcomes the obstacle of absent control data within the same retailer. Our analysis reveals a remarkable 3.7% increase in retailer revenue after implementing the assortment changes. To confirm the validity of our findings, we conducted placebo studies, solidifying the positive impact of these adjustments. These results advocate embracing the SCM with Lasso regression as a reliable tool for measuring the effects of interventions in the business world, especially when controlled experiments are not feasible. This method empowers retailers to assess the effectiveness of assortment optimization strategies and make data-driven decisions about future changes.

The unprecedented nature of technological advancements, emphasis on the need for superior patient care, and evolving workplace dynamics lead to the need for revitalizing various factors that improve motivation for healthcare workers. The study aims to comprehend motivation for healthcare workers through the intricate lens of the Hackman and Oldham model by conducting a job diagnostic survey. Healthcare is a crucial industry where timely delivery of patient care is prioritized, workers often aim to exceed expectations and stay motivated. The conceptual framework of Hackman and Oldham provides insight into understanding the motivational factors of the job design, employee satisfaction in their role, and channel efforts into improving the same. A key application of the survey can be identifying areas of focus and improvement that can significantly improve motivation levels for employees thereby improving their performance and reshaping the healthcare workforce. A novel approach to research has been adopted, as previous studies have extensively focused on health care workers; however, most have overlooked the challenges healthcare office workers face to support the physicians and nurses at hospitals. The originality of the study stems from this finding as healthcare administrative workers face unique challenges that may be absent in other industries, and with the current nature of jobs post the pandemic, employers have found difficulty in retaining talent, keeping workers motivated, and empowering them to perform. This study will lead to both empirical and practical implications, aims to provide insight to future researchers as well as organizational leaders to acknowledge the newer dynamics of the workplace where healthcare office workers face many struggles in their workplace like long hours of working, stressful work environment, and constant pressure to perform as their performance is directly related to patient care and often involves saving lives, leading to lack of work-life balance; and how motivation resolves these issues. The study is performed on healthcare office workers in a North Texas Hospital and Healthcare organization, by surveying them with the Hackman and Oldham instrument to grasp their motivation levels and provide suggestions to the leadership to assist employees to stay motivated and focused.

Purpose: Sustainability plays a crucial part in consumer decision-making in a world that is changing quickly and where social and environmental issues are of utmost significance. With an emphasis on comprehending how sustainable activities affect consumer decisions, this research investigates the relationship between sustainable practices and consumer behaviour. 

Methodology: The study uses a positivist research philosophy with a deductive approach. A survey strategy is used, and quantitative research methods are employed. A sample of 50 subjects was selected randomly, and a survey was conducted online. The population is drawn from the UK automotive sector. The questionnaires are designed using Google Forms, and the link is shared using social media.

Findings: The research confirms a positive relationship between sustainable practices and consumer behaviour, indicating that customers are choosing more and more goods and services consistent with their sustainability beliefs. The results show a high positive correlation between sustainable practices and customer choice, suggesting that sustainable practices influence consumer choices. 

Study contributions and implications: By highlighting the importance of sustainable practices, this study adds to the expanding body of information on sustainability in the context of consumer behaviour. Moreover, the research offers a strong foundation for companies and decision-makers to create plans that suit customer tastes and enhance the sustainability of goods and services. Businesses hoping to prosper in a conscientious market must comprehend customers' behaviour and motives as they seek environmentally friendly solutions. In addition to illuminating the beneficial relationship between sustainable practices and customer behaviour, this study emphasises how urgent it is for companies and decision-makers to prioritise sustainability in their plans and choices.

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered changes in the social behavior of individuals and companies, affecting the operations of organizations operating in various economic sectors. Changes in operational processes promoted by retail companies were motivated by changes in consumer purchasing habits. From this perspective, digital technologies belonging to the concept of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) have shown themselves to be promising. Given this scenario, the objective was to identify which operational processes were remodeled, from the perspective of innovation, due to the adoption of new technologies, in particular, Industry 4.0 technologies, in a specific supermarket chain. The method used in the research was a single, exploratory, and qualitative case study. The research results indicated three main changes in operational processes promoted by the company because of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely: the incorporation of remote work for part of the workforce, the implementation of an online sales channel, and the adoption of payment systems via PIX and contactless payments. For such operational changes to be made possible, three types of technologies belonging to the industry 4.0 concept were crucial: cloud computing, big data, and the Internet of Things.