The COVID-19 pandemic has remarkably affected the business processes and performance of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the world. MSMEs have had to adopt and implement numerous strategies to sustain their businesses, and their financial and sustainability performance has been impacted by their choice of e-commerce (EC) platforms and digital marketing (DM) strategies. The objective of this research was to explore the effects of EC and DM platforms and strategies on facilitating MSMEs’ financial and sustainability performance amid the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. This study gathered data from 212 MSMEs from three districts of Bangladesh. A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was undertaken, to test the hypothesized model. The findings revealed that e-commerce had a significant association with MSMEs’ financial performance and sustainability amid the pandemic. It was also observed that digital marketing strategies had a substantial impact on MSMEs’ financial performance. However, the linkage between DM strategies and MSMEs’ sustainability was found to be insignificant. Furthermore, it was found that the financial performance of MSMEs mediated the relationship between e-commerce adoption and their sustainability performance. These findings contribute to the extant technology adoption literature, by exploring the role of e-commerce and digital marketing on firms’ financial outcomes amid a global pandemic. Managers and policymakers of small businesses can learn several things from this study, and understand how crucial digital commerce and digital marketing are to their success and long-term survival.

Despite the increasing popularity of green finance and sustainable investment in the field of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), very few studies have investigated the effect of green finance dimensions on the sustainable performance of banks. Therefore, this study attempts to examine the dimensions of green finance and their effects on the sustainability performance of financial institutions in developing economies such as Bangladesh. The study also depicts the level of green financing adoption among the banks and non-bank financial institutions in the country between 2015 and 2020. Considering the nature of the dataset, the structural equation modeling technique was employed in this study to fulfil the research objectives. Amongst banks and non-bank financial institutions, the study highlighted private commercial banks as being the highest contributor to green financing, accounting for 78.12% of the total green financing in Bangladesh. In addition, the empirical findings revealed that the dimensions of green finance are related to the economic, social, and environmental aspects of the SDGs. Furthermore, empirical findings indicated that the dimensions of green finance—social, economic, and environmental—have a strong positive effect on the sustainability performance of banks. The study also discovered that approximately 95% of bankers identify green financing as an essential element in the short- and long-term development of banking strategies in Bangladesh. Consequently, this study adds to the body of knowledge on green finance development and the sustainability performance of banks and financial institutions in emerging economies such as Bangladesh. Therefore, major managerial policy implications are discussed.

Every sector of the global economy is faced with environmental problems and their resulting consequences to their day-to-day operations. Due to the rising threat of global climate change, the green banking (GB) concept has been given significant attention in recent green finance literature. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to identify the impact of GB practices on banks’ environmental performance and sources of green financing of private commercial banks (PCBs) in Bangladesh. Using a survey method, the primary data were obtained from a cross-sectional sample of 322 banking employees of PCBs in Bangladesh. In order to identify the key relationships existing between the study variables, structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was employed. The empirical findings indicated that banks’ employees, daily-operations, and policy-related GB practices have significant positive effects on green financing, contrary to banks’ customer-related GB practice, which was not statistically significant. Additionally, banks’ green project financing exhibited a strong and positive influence on banks’ environmental performance. Moreover, banks’ daily operation and policy-related practices of GB were observed to have significant impacts on banks’ environmental performances, in contrast to banks’ employee and customer-related GB practices. Therefore, major policy implications and directions for future research in the concerned area are discussed.

Green finance (GF) has been gaining significant attention in recent literature, owing to the rise in global actions against the climate change. It is conceptually ambiguous, with no conclusive agreement among researchers on its meaning. Therefore, the main purpose of the study is to identify the bankers’ perception of various dimensions of GF, and identify the major challenges affecting its implementation in Bangladesh. Besides, this study also reveals the status of GF in Bangladesh’s banks and non-bank financial institutions from 2014 to 2019. In order to define the key aspects of GF through the data obtained from 296 banking staffs of private commercial banks (PCBs) in Bangladesh, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used. The study also used descriptive statistics to identify the major challenges hindering the development of GF in Bangladesh. The findings of this study show that, in comparison with other banks and non-bank financial institutions, the PCBs are the largest contributors to direct GF, accounting for 74.2% of the total GF in Bangladesh. The outcomes of the study also identify the “economic dimension” as the most significant dimension affecting the level of bankers’ perceptions of GF. Moreover, the bankers perceived the “social and environmental dimensions” as being the second and third most crucial factors influencing GF, followed by sources of green financing. The empirical findings indicate that bankers of PCBs deemed the level of awareness, beliefs and understanding of the major dimensions of GF and sources of green financing to be satisfactory for the implementation of GF in Bangladesh. In addition, the study also shows that high transaction costs, heavy default culture, operational self-insufficiency, improper appraisal of loan applications, and the absence of adequate accountability and transparency are the major barriers to the development of GF in Bangladesh. Therefore, major policy implications are further discussed.

The unsustainable operations of producers account for significant carbon emission and subsequent adverse impacts on nature. This study aims to identify the factors that influence consumers’ green buying behavior. The research focuses on the exploratory testing of theories using standardized questionnaires and interviews. Using a convenience selection approach, questionnaire surveys were used to gather primary data from a sample size of 305. The sample demographic reflects people who often make purchases; data were also obtained from shopping centers and elsewhere. The hypothesis testing of variables measured via five-point Likert scale questions was performed using structural equation modeling. We applied closed-ended questions relating to green buying behavior for the convenience of respondents. The empirical result established the effects of attitude, perceived severity of environmental problems, environmental concern, and subjective norms on Bangladeshi consumers’ green buying behavior. Additionally, it was discovered that attitude mediates the association between the perceived environmental responsibility and green buying behavior. Therefore, the government should play a constructive role in educating the public and promoting green business initiatives through improved coordination and legislative intervention.

Augmented reality (AR) technology is a computer-generated object that allows users to enrich the experience of products virtually with graphics, images, etc. Due to a lack of studies in developing countries like Malaysia, more studies are necessary to understand the pressing factors of diffusing AR technology for the flourishing retail industry. This research aimed to explore the factors affecting the adoption of AR technology in the retail sector through an extension of the technology acceptance model (TAM). The conceptual model was developed based on additional open-innovation-related constructs to the existing TAM constructs. To test the model, data were collected from 233 retail stores in Malaysia using a structured questionnaire survey. The PLS-based structural equation modeling technique was used to analyze the data. The empirical results confirmed that, except for external support and trading partner pressure, other factors, including perceived usefulness, attitude, competitive pressure, customer pressure, perceived cost, and technological knowledge have significant influences on the intention to use AR technology in retail stores. The attitude mediates the relationship between perceived usefulness and behavioral intention and the relationship between self-efficacy and behavioral intention. As operating cost was a critical factor, managers are advised to deliver various packages of after-sales services and free installation charges to curb expenses. This study improved TAM by offering a comprehensive model with cognitive and open innovation factors and provided suggestions for retail stores when they attempt to adopt AR technology to develop an open business model.