This study investigated the mediating and moderating effects of competitive advantage and access to working capital, respectively, on the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and informal microenterprise economic performance in Senegal from the lens of resource-based view theory (RBV). Data were randomly gathered using the cross-sectional research design from 356 informal micro-entrepreneurs operating in the informal sector. The study outcomes revealed that entrepreneurial competencies and competitive advantage emerged as significant predictors of economic performance for informal microenterprises in Senegal. On the contrary, access to working capital displayed an adverse moderating effect, while competitive advantage exhibited a partial and positive mediating effect on the relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and economic performance of informal microenterprises. The Important and Performance Matrix Analysis (IPMA) results signify that the most significant considerations for the economic performance of informal microenterprises in Senegal were competitive advantage, access to working capital, commitment competency, and relationship competency. Simultaneously, this study expanded the reach of RBV by enhancing our understanding pertaining to the mediating and moderating roles in the relationships among entrepreneurial competencies, competitive advantage, and access to working capital towards improving the economic performance of informal microenterprises across developing countries. Since many have lost their jobs due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Government of Senegal and its policymakers should place more emphasis on the importance of informal entrepreneurship, such as provision of low-interest credit facilities for their working capital, as well as thorough training in the strategic advantage and competencies domains. This is because informal entrepreneurs have the ability, via jobs creation and income generating activities, to contribute to the economic growth of the country.

Purpose: While it is perceived that adoption reflects acceptance, the purpose of this paper is to argue that individual usage is critical and cannot be guaranteed by mere adoption. This study, therefore, focuses on the factors (i.e. performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, facilitating condition, and perceived enjoyment) contributing to the adoption and ultimately usage of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia under the premise of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a cross-sectional design and quantitative data are collected from 300 selected respondents listed as student entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurship centers of all public universities within Peninsular Malaysia. Findings: Performance expectancy, perceived risk, perceived trust, and perceived enjoyment have a significant effect on the adoption of social media leading to its usage as a business platform. Findings also report a significant mediating effect of adoption of social media on the relationship between performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, and perceived enjoyment with the depth of social media usage. Research limitations/implications: In order to promote entrepreneurial activities among student entrepreneurs using social media as a business platform, programs and policies should focus on improving cyber security and value-added services. Originality/value: This study puts forward and tests the original UTAUT model to assess the adoption and depth of social media usage as a business platform among young student entrepreneurs in Peninsular Malaysia, which provides a foundation for the design and implementation of programs and policies that promote entrepreneurial activities using social media among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

The adoption of innovative technology has always been a complex issue. The agriculture sectors of developing countries are following unsustainable farming policies. The currently adopted intensive farming practices need to replace with conservative agriculture practices (CAPs). However, the adoption of CAPs has remained low since its emergence and reports have suggested that the use of CAPs is scant for sustainable farm performance. This article aims to study three scenarios: Firstly, the influence of personal and CAPs level factors on the intention to adopt CAPs; secondly, the influence intention to adopt CAPs, facilitating conditions and voluntariness of use on the actual use of CAPs; and thirdly, the impact of the actual use of CAPs on sustainable farm performance. This study is based on survey data collected by structured interviews of rice farmers in rural Pakistan, which consists of 336 samples. The final analysis is performed using two methods: (1) a well-established and conventional way of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS 3.0, and (2) a frontier technology of computing using an artificial neural network (ANN), which is generated through a deep learning algorithm to achieve maximum possible accuracy. The results reveal that profit orientation and environment attitude as behavioural inclination significantly predicts the intention to adopt CAPs. The perception of effort expectancy can significantly predict the intention to adopt CAPs. Low intention to adopt CAPs caused by the low-level trust on extension, low-performance expectancy, and low social influence for the CAPs. The adoption of CAPs is affected by facilitating conditions, voluntary use of CAPs, and the intention to adopt CAPs. Lastly, the use of CAPs can positively and significantly forecast the perception of sustainable farm performance. Thus, it is concluded that right policies are required to enhance the farmers’ trust on extension and promote social and performance expectation for CAPs. Besides, policy recommendations can be made for sustainable agriculture development in developing and developed countries.