Marius Bogdan Petre

DT and AI integration is repositioning MC from a traditional late adopter into a hub of methodological innovation, yet comparative empirical evidence from CEE remains scarce. Prior research applying the TOE framework and sociology of professions has generally examined firm-level technological conditions, national institutional context, and relational dynamics separately, and their observable associations and differences between comparable transition economies remain insufficiently documented. This study examines how these three dimensions are associated with the adoption of AI and DT in CM firms in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. A mixed convergent–parallel design cross-validates the qualitative thematic coding of the interview text and questionnaire through quantitative statistical testing on the same integrated sample. The results showed that the country was significantly associated with the perception and level of digitalization of AI, with skeptical attitudes towards AI concentrated in the Romanian sub-sample and a more instrumental and pragmatic orientation towards AI in the Moldovan sub-sample. Technological conditions at the firm level showed no statistically significant association with AI-related organizational practice, and relational culture emerged as a recurring qualitative theme in consultants’ reports of client trust, especially in the Moldovan sub-sample. The country-level context showed the most consistent associations with the differences observed in this comparison, refining the extended TOE framework for professional services in emerging and transition economies and suggesting that policy interventions and professional associations should give weight to the institutional context alongside firm-level training.

Background. Digital transformation and artificial intelligence integration in management consulting drive industry restructuring, yet comparative empirical evidence from Central and Eastern Europe remains scarce. Methods. A mixed convergent-parallel design combined 73 semi-structured interviews and questionnaires (53 Romania, 20 Moldova). Qualitative analysis employed five complementary methods (TALL package): node distribution, normalized lexical frequencies, keyword-in-context analysis, Latent Dirichlet Allocation, and sentiment polarity analysis. Results were quantitatively triangulated in SPSS (N=64). Results. Country significantly associates with AI perception (χ²(3)=15.98, p=0.001, V=0.500), with skeptical attitudes appearing exclusively in Romania, and with digitalization level (χ²(2)=8.11, p=0.017). Digital maturity does not significantly correlate with internal innovation in the full sample (Kendall τ=0.12, p=0.429). Global affective polarity is symmetrical across countries (all p>0.4). Conclusions. AI adoption negotiation is moderated by institutional pressures: EU Structural Funds and regulations in Romania versus bilateral grants in Moldova. Results refine the extended TOE framework for emerging markets, generating evidence-based policy recommendations for professional associations and EU institutions.

The rapid penetration of digital in financial services has deeply transformed the banking business model, risk management approach and strategic decision-making. Although previous research provides a rich and extensive body of evidence on the technological capabilities of digital finance, it has paid relatively less attention to the institutional and governance processes through which these innovations can lead to sustainable business success in global banking. This study fills this gap by exploring how governance mechanisms moderate the linkage between innovation in digital finance and organizational performance in cross-border banking. Based on a conceptual and institutional research design, the study integrates findings from the digital finance, corporate governance, and innovation management literatures. The analysis is structured around two research questions that concentrate on the impact of governance alignment and regulatory coordination on translating digital capabilities into strategic and resilience enhancing outcomes. Instead of proposing a testable hypothesis, the paper provides an integrated theoretically grounded framework explaining causal links between innovation input variables, institutional intermediaries and performance outputs. The paper makes three contributions to the literature. On the first, it repositions governance from a limiting regulatory overlay to a strategic catalyst for digital finance. Second, it defines the context in which digital innovation sustains business exceptionalism without amplifying systemic exposure. Third, it provides a model based on theory that has immediate relevance for bank managers, regulators and policy makers who need to balance innovation against stability and competitiveness in uncertain financial environments.

In the context of SDG 7 and SDG 13 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, a new performance indicator has started to gain momentum in scientific research: renewable energy productivity. Understanding the drivers and the challenges of green energy productivity could help add on to the classical focus of renewable energy research on infrastructure, technical and economic feasibility, and environmental and social impacts, by considering the performance indicators in this field more. Only very few studies have explored the influencing factors of renewable energy productivity. Thus, this research aims to reveal the impact of social, economic, energy, and environmental variables on green energy productivity. The methodological approach involves bibliometric analyses of the literature on green energy productivity (GEP) and panel data regression models involving 16 independent variables. The main findings indicate positive effects of green taxes, female participation in the workforce, and highly educated people on GEP, pointing out the importance of green taxation, education, and gender equality in sustainable development. On the other hand, negative relationships of green energy productivity with economic growth, traditional energy variables, and air pollution were found for the European Union’s member states over 2007 and 2023. The results suggest that the analyzed European countries based their economic growth on traditional resources, with less importance given to renewable resources and green technologies, as the share of renewable resources of GDP was also negatively correlated. While private financial resources increase green energy productivity, questions about research and development investments, urbanization, and diversity index are still debatable.

In the context of SDG 7 and SDG 13 of the 2030 sustainable development agenda, a new performance indicator started to gain momentum in scientific research: the renewable energy productivity. Understanding the drivers and the challenges of green energy productivity could help add on to the classical focus of renewable energy research on infrastructure, technical and economic feasibility, environmental and social impacts, by considering more the performance indicators in this field. Only very few studies explored the influencing factors of the renewable energy productivity. Thus, this research aims to reveal the impact of social, economic, energy, and environmental variables on the green energy productivity. The methodological approach involves bibliometric analyses of the literature on green energy productivity (GEP), and panel data regression models involving 16 independent variables. The main findings indicate positive effects of green taxes, female participation in the workforce, and highly educated people on GEP, pointing out the importance of green taxation, education, and gender equality in sustainable development. On the other side, negative relationships of green energy productivity with economic growth, traditional energy variables, and air pollution were found for the European Union’s member states over 2007 and 2023. The results suggest that the analyzed European countries based their economic growth on traditional resources, with less importance provided to the renewable resources and green technologies, as the share of renewable resources of GDP was also negatively correlated. While private financial resources increases the green energy productivity, questions about research and development investments, urbanization, and diversity index are still debatable.

Two soil tillage systems - conventional system (classical) and the conservative system (minimal tillage/no-tillage) - were evaluated at three locations in southern Romania: Mavrodin, Teleorman County; Sohatu, Călăraşi County and Afumaţi, Dolj County. The soils identified in the studied areas are Cernisoles, with the types cambic Chernozem and typical Faeozom and Luvisoles with the type reddish Preluvosol (WRB-SR 2014). Soil samples were collected at depths of 5-10; 25-30 and 45-50 cm depths and their chemical properties were determined in the laboratory according to standardized methodology. At Afumaţi, the minimum tillage system showed clear advantages over the conventional one, by maintaining an optimal pH (weakly acid-neutral), a more stable humus content and a more balanced distribution of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). In contrast, conventional tillage favors the alkalization of the soil, the loss of organic matter in depth and a reduced mobility of nutrients. Conservative technology contributes to the preservation of soil fertility and ensures long-term sustainable agriculture. Comparing the two systems of soil tillage in the Mavrodin area, the minimum tillage technology is distinguished by a more stable pH, a better accumulation of organic matter on the surface, as well as an increased concentration of nitrogen and potassium in the upper layers, favorable aspects for soil fertility. In contrast, conventional tillage leads to deep soil acidification, a more uniform but weaker distribution of humus and nutrients, and potential leaching losses. Overall, the conservative system better supports long-term soil health and balance. The no-till (conservative) technology applied at Sohatu, favors a gradual improvement of the soil reaction (pH), especially in the deep layers, as well as a better accumulation of organic matter at the surface. Although the total nitrogen content is lower than the conventional system, its distribution is more stable over depths. Mobile phosphorus is more concentrated in the superficial layer, and mobile potassium shows high values in 2024, with a slight decrease in 2025. The conventional system maintains higher values of nitrogen and phosphorus in 2024, however, these declined markedly in 2025, indicating a potential long-term nutrient imbalance. Overall, the conservative system provides a better nutrient balance and improved soil sustainability.