PURUSHARTHA - A journal of Management, Ethics and Spirituality

Psychological Drivers of Teachers’ Sustainable Behaviour and Inclusion in Higher Education

2026-06-27T03:49:40+00:00

This study examines how teachers’ attitudes, concerns, and spirituality relate to sustainable behaviours and intentions to foster inclusive education (IE) in Indian higher education, drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). We conducted a two-wave survey of 237 teachers from multiple institutions using closed-ended measures. Variance-based modeling (PLS-SEM) tested direct and mediated relationships, and fsQCA identified configurational pathways sufficient for high IE intention. PLS-SEM shows that attitudes and spirituality are positively associated with IE intention and that sustainable behaviours operate as a pivotal mediator, translating psychological factors (attitudes, concerns, spirituality) into stronger intentions to adopt IE practices. fsQCA reveals multiple equifinal combinations, including configurations where high attitudes and spirituality, with present sustainable behaviours, are sufficient for elevated IE intention, highlighting complementarities not visible in net-effect models. By integrating TPB with a focus on sustainable behaviours as a behavioural mediator and combining PLS-SEM with fsQCA, the study advances a comprehensive account of how psychological antecedents translate into intentions for inclusive practice in higher education in India.

Exploring the ESG Performance’s Influence on Sustainable Firm Value: What NSE 100 Listed Firms Indicate?

2026-06-27T03:49:40+00:00

The paper explores the impact of environmental, social and governance performance of NSE-listed top 100 corporations on value of the firm. The study has employed a longitudinal study with a timeframe from 2009 to 2022. To measure ESG performance, the combined ESG scores have been fetched from Bloomberg’s terminal. The study incorporates regression analysis on the panel data to measure the intensity of the relationship. The study has reported variation in the results for accounting (operating and financial performance) metrics and market-based measures. The financial and operational performance indicated a negative influence of ESG, whereas the market-based measure showed a positive impact of ESG. The study lays down the practical and social implications of the study, along with future research avenues, by addressing the shortcomings of the study.

Authentic Femvertising, Workplace Spirituality and Ethical Employer Branding: Understanding Generation Z Expectations from Value-Centric Organizations

2026-06-27T03:49:40+00:00

The modern organisational environment has changed considerably, with younger generations' views of their organisations shifting. Historically, the main emphasis of many organisations was centered on their employer brand image and how it relates to economics, career advancement, and reputation. Today, organisations are viewed through multiple lenses (ethical, social, and values-related), and new studies indicate the emergence of "Authentic Femvertising" (female-targeted marketing/advertising) as a means of signaling organizations' commitment to gender inclusiveness, dignity, diversity, and social responsibility. Additionally, Workplace Spirituality is becoming increasingly important to organisations looking to create work environments that foster emotional connection, compassion and ethical behaviour. This study examined the relationships among Authentic Femvertising, Workplace Spirituality, and Generation Z Value Orientation and Ethical Employer Brand Image within value-centric organisations. A total of 200 Gen Z and Young Millennial participants responded to a perception-based survey. Data interpretation included reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression modelling, all using an ethics- and spirituality-oriented approach. Results indicated Workplace Spirituality was positively affected (the most) by Ethical Employer Brand Image (and followed by Authentic Femvertising and Generation Z Value Orientation).

Additionally, the study demonstrated that female empowerment-oriented communications contribute positively to employer attraction when perceived as authentic and aligned with the organisation's values rather than as a form of superficial or promotional activism. Overall, the results demonstrate that sustainable employer branding will require an integrated approach that includes both ethical communication and a human-centred workplace culture, along with a spiritually grounded organisational identity. As such, the study advances the existing literature on management ethics and spirituality by providing a unified conceptual model for ethical branding, workplace spirituality, and value-based organisational communication.

Indian Knowledge Systems and the Ethical Foundations of Urban Sustainability

2026-06-27T03:49:40+00:00

We view urban development through quantitative parameters of growth such as boosting the economy and growth in infrastructure, housing, transport services, and land-use models, resulting in efficient cities that are functional to meet the demands of modern times. While achieving these results, the topic of ecological conservation or sustainability is overlooked. The view has dominated western urban planning for ages and is also adopted into Indian urban policies in the post-colonial period. This paper critically examines this phenomenon and argues that these models, grounded in exploitative rationalities, have resulted in ecological degradation, spatial and resource inequality, and a lack of moral responsibility among its people.

This paper then introduces the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and explains how it can address the normative deficits present in current urban policies. Drawing on the primacy of Vedic and post-Vedic concepts such as rta, dharma, and aparigraha, this paper builds a relational ecological urban model. By situating the IKS with dialogue with the current urban and ecological policies, we can propose a balanced urban development in India that is ethically grounded and culturally situated.

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Management: Leadership Insights from the Bhagavad Gita

2026-06-27T03:49:40+00:00

The Bhagavad Gita (BG) provides eternal insights into leadership that have far-reaching implications for human health and the health of organizations. The purpose of this study is to systematically review 43 articles published in peer-reviewed journals and indexed in Scopus from 1999 to 2025 that investigate BG-based leadership in contexts of religiosity, spirituality, organizational transformation, and health care. Five emergent themes from the analysis are (1) Visionary Leadership and Strategic Dharma, (2) Ethical Foundation for Sustainable and Healthy Organizations, (3) Inner Mastery and Self-Transcendent Leadership, (4) Transformative Pedagogies and Character Development, and (5) Resilient Leadership in Times of Disruption. Findings suggest that BG concepts, such as dharma (duty), viveka (discernment), and Nishkama Karma (selfless action), promote ethical responsibility, psychological resilience, spiritual wellness, and holistic health. Applications to Health Care, Medicine, and Education demonstrate BG’s relevance in reducing stress, providing empathic care, and creating human-centered leaders. The findings are grounded in the Antecedent–Decision–Outcome (ADO) framework to describe how antecedent factors (i.e., spiritual virtues) influence leadership and health outcomes through internal transformation, which is moderated by contextual factors. The review indicates that before 2017, the literature examined in this review reflected philosophical discourse, while thereafter, empirical research shows that BG’s global relevance continues to grow. Based on the findings, this research establishes BG as a universal model of ethical, resilient, and health-based leadership and identifies theoretical, managerial, spiritual, and future research implications.

Mindfulness, Sustainability, and Future Employability: A Triadic Conceptual Framework for Higher Education

2026-06-27T03:49:40+00:00

The contemporary higher education landscape faces an unprecedented imperative to equip graduates not merely with technical competencies but with the deeper inner capacities that sustainable, meaningful careers demand. This conceptual paper investigates the triadic relationship among mindfulness, sustainability orientation, and future employability within higher education. Drawing upon an integrative review of 126 Scopus-indexed articles and the philosophical wisdom embedded in Indian traditions, particularly the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Purushartha framework, the paper argues that mindfulness serves as a foundational inner capacity that cultivates sustainability consciousness, which in turn enhances the future employability of higher education graduates. Three hypotheses are posited: (H1) Mindfulness will be positively related to Sustainability Orientation; (H2) Sustainability Orientation will be positively related to Future Employability; and (H3) Mindfulness will be positively related to Future Employability. An original triadic conceptual framework illustrating these relationships is presented. The findings carry significant implications for curriculum design, pedagogical strategy, and institutional policy in higher education, particularly for Distance and Online Education in India where scalable, technology-mediated mindfulness-based learning holds transformative promise. The paper contributes to the growing interdisciplinary dialogue between contemplative science, education for sustainable development, and workforce preparedness.

Digital Marketing as an Enabler of SME Internationalisation: A Bibliometric Review and Future Research Agenda

2026-06-27T03:49:40+00:00

Digital marketing has evolved as a critical enabler for SMEs aiming for competitiveness, resilience and growth in the rapidly growing digital business sector. Despite an increasing body of literature, research on digital marketing in SMEs remains fragmented by themes, methodology and geographical contexts. Addressing this gap, the current study investigates the evolution, intellectual structure and research trends in SMEs-focused digital marketing research using a thorough bibliometric analysis. Performance analysis, co-word analysis, thematic mapping, factorial analysis and life cycle modeling were applied to a dataset of 301 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025. The data were extracted from the Scopus database. The results reveal a steady rise in scholarly output, with a significant increase in recent years, suggesting rising scholarly interest in the field. Thematic analysis reveals a shift from early adoption-focused research towards more strategic and capability-based perspectives that connect digital marketing with business growth, innovation, and entrepreneurial orientation, aligning it with Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9), which focuses on industry, innovation, and infrastructure. The results point out the limited integration of modern digital technology, sustainability concerns, and global business viewpoints. Collaboration analysis highlights uneven global knowledge contributions, implying that research activity is centered in a small number of developed and emerging nations. Overall, this study contributes by systematically mapping the evolving landscape of SME research on digital marketing, identifying prominent and emerging themes while offering future research directions.

The Role of Asset Quality and Macroeconomic Variables in Driving Financial Performance of Sharia Healthcare Firms Indonesia

2026-06-27T03:49:40+00:00

This study aims to analyse the influence of internal and external variables on the financial performance and stock prices of health sector companies listed in the Indonesian Sharia Stock Index (ISSI). The internal variables studied include company size (Size), asset quality (Asset Quality), and asset management (Asset Management), while external variables include inflation and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. Financial performance is measured using Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE). This study uses a quantitative approach with panel data analysis to evaluate the company's performance trends in a certain period of time. The results show that asset management and company size have a positive influence on ROA, while financial risk has a significant negative influence. However, external variables such as inflation and GDP do not have a significant influence on ROA, ROE, or stock prices. This research makes important contributions in various dimensions, both academically, practically, and policy. Academically, this study fills a literature gap related to the financial performance of sharia-based companies, especially in the health sector listed in the Indonesian Sharia Stock Index (ISSI). The focus on the relationship between internal variables such as firm size, asset quality, and asset management with external variables such as inflation and GDP provides a holistic perspective that has rarely been discussed in previous research. The study expands the discussion on how sharia principles affect financial decision-making, particularly in risk management and corporate profitability. Practically, the results of this study provide valuable insights for company management in improving financial performance. The emphasis on the importance of effective asset management and financial risk control offers strategies that can increase profitability while maintaining the financial stability of the company. For investors, this study provides guidance in evaluating sharia-based companies by highlighting factors such as asset quality and risk management, thus helping to make more informed investment decisions. In terms of policy, this study offers an empirical basis that can be used by regulators to design policies that support the stability of the sharia-based health sector. The results of this study can help steer regulations that strengthen financial risk management, increase transparency, and create incentives for companies that adhere to sharia principles. Thus, this research not only provides academic contributions but also high practical and policy relevance, especially in supporting the development of the sharia-based health sector in developing countries such as Indonesia. This implication underscores the importance of balancing profitability, adherence to Islamic ethics, and financial sustainability in creating added value for all stakeholders. The study is of significant novelty value because it combines in-depth analysis of financial performance with a sharia-based approach in the health sector, an area that has not been widely explored in the previous literature. The focus on companies listed on the Indonesian Sharia Stock Index (ISSI) offers a unique context, where companies are not only faced with conventional business challenges but also have to comply with sharia principles such as the prohibition against riba, gharar, and maysir. This aspect adds complexity and unique ethics in financial management that have not been widely researched. Another value of this study lies in its holistic approach, which integrates the company's internal variables (such as size, asset quality, and asset management) with macroeconomic external variables (inflation and GDP). This analysis allows for a deeper understanding of how internal and external factors interact in influencing financial performance and stock prices, particularly in the sharia-based healthcare sector.