Recent years have seen an increase in the role of social media in the communication of energy sector companies (ESCs) with consumers. Currently, consumers look for information, create it themselves, and share it with other Internet users. eWOM communication means that energy companies, firstly, must be present in social media so that consumers can get to know them better, and secondly, they must consciously shape their image according to the expectations of their customers. One-way communication, such as customer satisfaction measurements, is no longer enough to know their preferences. Market trends indicate that for current buyers—both consumer and non-consumer products—the image of a “green product” or a “green company” is expected. Only a few companies report that they are harmful for environment. All companies report that they are generally community friendly. The consumer would like to know, in particular, about the harmfulness to the environment. Thus, there is a knowledge gap that the companies are not filling. In addition to the advertised satisfaction indicators, you can also test customers’ perceptions of environmental responsibility. That is, the research and results in the area of social responsibility must also be accompanied by environmental responsibility. Therefore, the article aims to indicate whether the level of consumer engagement in social media affects the perception of the green energy business model and how the attitude and pro-environmental behavior of social media users affects this perception. The paper also identifies factors related to social media that influence the perception of ESCs.

Purpose: This paper has a twofold objective: (1) to examine how trust and distrust mediate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and irresponsibility (CSI) perceptions and word of mouth recommendations; and (2) to show that moral norms moderate this mediating relationship.Design/methodology/approach: Two experimental studies test the proposed model. Study 1 performs a single-factor experiment with three levels of corporate social responsibility (positive, neutral, negative) to test the mediation hypothesis (N = 180, 66% females, mean age = 22.3). Study 2 validates the mediation findings and examines the role of moral norms as moderators (N = 240, 50% females, mean age = 39.5).Findings: Study 1 reveals that trust in the company partially mediates the effects of CSR on word of mouth (WOM) recommendations. Study 2 shows that consumers who adhere to higher moral standards follow distinct paths to negative WOM. Specifically, these consumers tend to spread negative comments when they expect the firm to behave irresponsibly. When unsure about future corporate behaviour, they are less likely to spread negative WOM.Originality/value: This is the first study, to the authors' knowledge, to demonstrate how moral norms shape the effects of distrust in the corporate culprit on word of mouth recommendations. Accordingly, this research proves that conceptualising trust and distrust as separate constructs is useful in explaining consumer reactions to corporate social irresponsibility.

The development of the high-tech sector has so far been studied within the cities, leaving their functioning within the special economic zones in the context of metropolitan belonging unexplored. The main purpose of the article is to determine whether the economic zone has a positive impact on the economic development of cities, which in the context of this research, has been operationalized with the use of computer-aided systems. The authors purposefully choose a Metropolis GZM, Poland (GZM), and Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSEZ). The importance of the high-tech sector in the GZM depends on the development of business in the region. Innovative specializations of cities located in the KSEZ were examined from the point of view of their perception by users of these new technologies, i.e., city residents. The research was conducted among over 1000 inhabitants of 16 cities in the GZM Metropolis. The results show correlations between the existence of modern businesses in metropolitan cities and their development of useful technologies, perceived from the perspective of residents.

The study aimed to identify and explain perceived barriers to green consumption at different stages of behaviour change by integrating the Innovation Resistance Theory (IRT) and Stages of Behavioural Change (SOC) model. Through 20 in-depth interviews with consumers transitioning to green consumption at various stages, several barriers were identified. The knowledge barrier played a crucial role in shaping the adaptation process at every stage of change and was recognized as an independent construct within the IRT framework. Moreover, the research revealed that barriers such as tradition, value, usage, and risk exerted a stronger inhibitory effect in the early stages of green consumption, while knowledge and image barriers evolved and had a distinct impact as consumers progressed through the stages. The study also highlighted triggers that positively stimulated green consumption. These findings have implications for green marketing and can guide targeted interventions to promote sustainable consumption more effectively.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a very large increase in the proportion of time spent working remotely to total working time. To date, this form has been used primarily by enterprises with branches dispersed across one or multiple countries. This form of performing duties by employees brought a number of benefits in the form of acceleration of decision-making processes, and reduction of time and costs. In the past, teleworking time was regulated according to needs and supported by a significantly reduced number of face-to-face employee meetings. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become the main or only form of contact with colleagues and superiors in many situations related to the ban on movement, regardless of the place of business. At that time, employers were concerned that it would not result in a decrease in employee engagement and job satisfaction. The article was intended to identify and assess the relationship and cause-and-effect relationship between commitment and job satisfaction in the context of remote work. The results of the study helped to expand knowledge about relationships. It has been confirmed that there is a positive relationship between employee engagement and job satisfaction; In addition, employees distinguish between commitment to work and organization, and the impact of types of commitment on job satisfaction varies. It has also been shown that both remote work and employee involvement affect their job satisfaction.