Applied Research in Business and Education

The International Conference on Business Innovation (ICOBI) marks its eighth successful edition this year, continuing its legacy as a premier academic platform that bridges the disciplines of Management and Education. Organised by the Faculty of Business at NSBM Green University, ICOBI 2025 stands out for its broad thematic coverage and global reach. This year's conference features an impressive array of thematic tracks including: Economic Advancements and Business Analytics; Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Innovations; Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management; Governance, Compliance and Legal Enforcements; Human Resource Management and Applications; Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Manufacturing and Service Operations; Marketing and Branding; Media and Communication; Strategic Business Transformation and Project Development; Accounting and Finance; Global and Sustainable Business Management; Adaptive Learning and Educational Practices; and Technology-Enhanced Language Learning. A distinct feature of ICOBI is its interdisciplinary focus, combining insights from both the management and education spheres to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration. The conference will host three distinguished keynote speakers, both local and international, who will address cutting-edge developments in both management and education. This year, ICOBI has attracted submissions from a diverse pool of scholars and practitioners, with around 90 papers already received, of which approximately 25% are authored by international contributors from countries such as Brazil, India, UK, Sweden, Australia, Indonesia and UAE. What sets ICOBI apart is not only its thematic richness but also the quality and rigour of its review process. Papers are reviewed by a panel of respected academics and professionals from both local and international universities, ensuring high scholarly standards. The conference is expected to draw a vibrant audience comprising academics, researchers, industry professionals, and postgraduate students, both from Sri Lanka and across the globe, making it a truly international forum for exchanging innovative ideas and practices in business and education.

Dr. W A Piyumi Udeshinee (Lead Editor) is a Senior Lecturer attached to the Faculty of Business at NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka. She is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies and Professional Advancement. She holds a PhD from Stockholm University, Sweden where her research focused on dynamic assessment as a feedback strategy in technology-enhanced language learning. Ms. Sashini Gayanika (Associate Editor) is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Business, NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka, with expertise in Economics and Business Administration. She has completed her mas-ter's in Economics at University of Colombo and reading for her PhD at University of Colombo. Her research interests lie in Economics and Behavioural Finance and has published in local and international journals. Ms. Thilini De Silva (Editor) is the Dean of the Faculty of Business at NSBM Green University and a pioneer academic of the faculty. A first-class graduate in Banking and Finance from Wayamba University and a dual gold medallist, she holds an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management and is currently pursuing a PhD at Stockholm University, Sweden on women empowerment, entrepreneurship, gender, and social media.

1 FreshSight: a convolutional neural network approach for real-time produce freshness and shelf-life assessment 2 Exploring how mobile learning impacts student motivation among university undergraduates in Sri Lanka 3 A comprehensive study: exploring the underlying causes of mental disorders in children 4 Exploring the impact of perceived digital infrastructure on the work satisfaction of digital nomads in Sri Lanka 5 The role of workplace ostracism and negative reciprocity beliefs in shaping knowledge hiding in Sri Lanka's information technology sector 6 Enhancing argumentative writing skills through structured asynchronous forum debates in English as a second language (ESL) context 7 Balancing innovation and public health: a critical analysis of Sri Lanka's patent law regime and its impact on medicine accessibility 8 Lean management in the apparel sector: a systematic literature review 9 Catalyzing SME digital capacity through private campus-led training: a qualitative study in Southern Sri Lanka 10 Green products purchase intention of generation Z; the mediating role of attitudes 11 The factors influencing educators' self-esteem in higher education, Sri Lanka: a concept paper 12 AI in higher education: implications for diversity of languages and inclusion of knowledges from the global South 13 Real-time automated barcode system for GRN and issuing in mechanical spare parts management 14 Beyond opposition: how hierarchical power enables collective leadership - insights from a Sri Lankan IT company 15 Women entrepreneurs and digital innovation: unlocking emerging research possibilities 16 Impact of user-generated content interaction quality, brand attitude, brand engagement, on purchase intention among generation Z restaurant goers in Sri Lanka 17 The power of peers: analyzing eWOM influence on online purchase behavior of Gen Z consumers in Indian skincare market 18 Cross-cultural perspectives on work-life integration: an empirical study from a South Asian organizational context 19 Gender inequity in logistics: unraveling systemic barriers to women's managerial roles in Sri Lanka 20 Factors affecting availability of essential medicine in selected government hospitals in regional directorate of health services Gampaha: a supply chain perspective 21 Future professionals' entrepreneurial intentions, sustainability and global competence: paving the way for a Sustainable Global Entrepreneurship 22 The impact of digital technologies on sustainability performance of the supply chains 23 Impact of sensory marketing initiatives on brand loyalty with the mediation of emotional engagement and cognitive perception on Gen Z coffee enthusiasts in Colombo district, Sri Lanka 24 The influence of short video characteristics on the continued viewing behavior of social media advertisements, with particular reference to generation Z consumers in Sri Lanka 25 The impact of store atmosphere on Gen Z consumers' purchase intention of fashion retail stores: an S-O-R study 26 Adopting circular economy principles in the Sri Lankan Aluminum manufacturing industry: a comprehensive qualitative case study27 Impact of occupational health and safety management practices on operational-level employee commitment in the Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing industry: Galle District-Koggala free trade zone 28 Enhancing personality-job fit in business analytics undergraduates: a big five model approach using mini-IPIP and text analytics 29 Generative AI and copyright law: a comparative study on copyright protection for AI generated audio-visual works in Sri Lanka, the US and India 30 Optimizing inflation forecasting for strategic economic planning in Sri Lanka: a changepoint detection and crisis-responsive structural break approach 31 Factors influencing the adoption intention of using mobile payment services in Sri Lanka 32 Assessing public awareness of the digital television transition in Sri Lanka: is television more than just pictures? 33 Understanding the factors that influence engagement with YouTube study vlogs 34 Understanding and advancing sustainable tourism: a case study of tourism stakeholders in western province, Sri Lanka 35 Fostering writing autonomy in ESL learners: self-directed learning with ChatGPT in large-class settings 36 The impact of gamification in enhancing user engagement and motivation for learning management platforms 37 Equipping arbitration to seize the future and not fall behind: a roadmap for Sri Lanka in the wake of the era of artificial intelligence 38 Tackling the abuse of the doctrine of Fair use training Gen-AI models; a study through an analysis of the US and Indian legal frameworks 39 The role of credit risk management strategies in achieving sustainable competitive advantage 40 Investigating operational drivers of the bullwhip effect in the upstream supply chain of the FMCG industry