Economics and Business Journal (ECBIS)

Beyond Cost Control: How AI-Powered Spend Orchestration Unlocks 7.3% Growth Premiums in 2025

2025-08-31T00:51:15+00:00

In an uncertain economic climate, a large global retailer used AI-powered spend intelligence to move $220 million from indirect operational costs toward high-impact R&D. In a difficult recession, this decisive step boosted revenue by 11%, demonstrating the transformative impact of effective capital management. This achievement contrasts with "spend blindness," where industry studies show most financial leaders struggle to link expenditure patterns to strategic growth outcomes and resort to reactive cost-cutting. This study addresses this crucial gap. A thorough mixed-methods approach including a global survey of 400 CFOs, longitudinal case studies of ten multinational organizations, and advanced predictive modeling substantiated a new paradigm. Research shows that companies that understand AI-driven spend orchestration develop 7.3% faster than competitors. This premium comes from a 37% improvement in the Growth Efficiency Ratio (GER), a critical statistic for translating savings into innovation, and 5.8 times more strategic investment opportunities than standard financial approaches allow. The Spend Intelligence Quotient (SIQ), a groundbreaking statistic that assesses financial agility through integrated spend monitoring, predictive analytics, and rapid capital reallocation, is key to this advantage. This paper introduces the empirically based Spend Orchestration Framework and the requirements for the 2025 AI Finance Stack to obtain SIQ >80, the empirically proven threshold for sustainable competitive advantage. The message is clear: finance chiefs must go beyond oversight. Today's CFO may use predictive contracting and algorithmic governance to turn spend data into strategic leverage, ensure resilience, and capture disproportionate value in.

The Effect of Profitability and Company Value on Stock Prices in Health Sector Companies Listed on The Indonesia Stock Exchange for The Period 2020-2024

2026-03-03T06:06:09+00:00

This study aims to examine the influence of profitability and firm value on stock prices in health sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the 2020–2024 period. A quantitative approach with a documentation method was employed in this research. The population consisted of all health sector companies within the specified period, while the sample was selected using a purposive sampling technique based on predetermined criteria, resulting in a total of 15 companies. Data were analyzed using panel data regression through the Economic Views (EViews) 12 software. The findings of this study indicate that, profitability (ROA) has a positive and significant effect on stock prices of health sector companies for the 2020–2024 period. Similarly, firm value (Tobin’s Q) also shows a positive and significant influence on stock prices within the same period

The Role of Strategy Agility as a Mediation Variable is Reviewed with Human Capital and Absorptive Capacity in Influencing the Performance of PT Bank Sumut Kampung Lalang Branch Office

2026-03-03T06:55:39+00:00

This study aims to analyze the role of strategy agility as a mediating variable in the relationship between human capital, absorptive capacity, and performance of PT Bank Sumut Kampung Lalang Branch Office. The method used was a quantitative approach with data collection through questionnaires distributed to 49 respondents. The results of the study show that human capital and absorptive capacity have a positive and significant effect on company performance. In addition, human capital and absorptive capacity also have a positive effect on strategic agility. Strategy agility has been proven to be able to mediate the relationship between human capital and absorptive capacity to company performance. These findings emphasize the importance of human resource management and the organization's ability to absorb new knowledge to improve performance in the competitive banking industry. This research is expected to provide insight for management in formulating more effective strategies to improve the Company's performance.

Fundamental Analysis and Stock Valuation for Investment Decisions

2026-02-26T06:11:29+00:00

This study aims to analyze the fundamental condition and assess the investment feasibility of eleven issuers that consistently appeared in the Sri Kehati Index during the 2020–2024 period. Fundamental analysis was conducted using the financial ratios TATO, ROE, EPS, CR, DER, and DPR. The results show that UNVR and KLBF demonstrated high efficiency in asset management, while BBCA and BMRI exhibited strong profitability. JSMR had an aggressive capital structure but was supported by adequate liquidity. Meanwhile, UNVR and BBRI stood out for their generous dividend distribution policies. Stock valuation was carried out using two approaches: PER and PBV. Based on PER, nine issuers were classified as undervalued because their intrinsic values exceeded market prices, while two issuers (DSNG and SMGR) were considered overvalued. In contrast, the PBV approach indicated that ten issuers were overvalued, with only DSNG being undervalued. These differing results suggest that PER focuses more on a company’s earnings performance, whereas PBV emphasizes its book value. Therefore, stock investment assessment should be carried out comprehensively by considering more than one valuation method.

Exploring The Role of Transformational Leadership in Enhancing Employee Engagement: a Qualitative Study in Contemporary Work Environments

2026-03-05T04:20:11+00:00

The rapid transformation of contemporary work environments driven by digitalization, hybrid work systems, and evolving workforce expectations has intensified the need for effective leadership approaches that foster employee engagement. This study aims to explore the role of transformational leadership in enhancing employee engagement within contemporary organizational contexts using a qualitative research design. Guided by a phenomenological approach, data were collected through in depth semi structured interviews with employees who had direct supervisory relationships in digitally mediated or hybrid work settings. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: visionary inspiration and meaningful work, individualized support and psychological safety, intellectual stimulation and professional growth, and trust based relationships and organizational identification. The findings indicate that transformational leadership strengthens employee engagement by cultivating meaningfulness, empowerment, trust, and intrinsic motivation, which collectively enhance employees’ physical, cognitive, and emotional involvement in their work roles. The study extends existing leadership and engagement theories by providing contextualized insights into how transformational leadership is experienced in modern organizational environments. Practically, the findings highlight the importance of developing transformational competencies among leaders to sustain engagement and performance in increasingly complex and interconnected workplaces

Resource Based Business Resilience The Moderating Role Of Akhlakul Karimah In The Ar Rahman Human Being Model

2026-03-13T14:11:58+00:00

This study examines the Ar Rahman Human Being (ARHB) Model as an integrative framework of resource-based business resilience by incorporating akhlakul karimah as moral capital functioning as an internal governance mechanism. The study addresses the limitation of the resource-based view (RBV), which tends to emphasize resource capacity without adequately considering the normative dimension guiding its utilization. A contingency model is proposed that positions internal moral quality as a conditioning factor for the effectiveness of strategic resources in enhancing business resilience. Using an explanatory quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 250 micro and small enterprise (MSE) owners in Makassar City. Structural Equation Modeling based on Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) was employed to analyze the direct effects of expertise, education and training, physical capacity, and capital on business resilience, as well as the moderating role of akhlakul karimah in these relationships. The results indicate that expertise, education and training, physical capacity, and capital positively influence business resilience. Furthermore, akhlakul karimah strengthens the relationship between strategic resources and business resilience, suggesting that the effectiveness of transforming technical capacities into business resilience is contingent upon the entrepreneur’s internal moral quality. These findings extend resource-based business resilience discourse by integrating moral capital as an internal governance mechanism.

Perceptions and Experiences of Beginner Investors In Making Investment Decisions in The Digital Era: A Qualitative Study of Investment Application Users

2026-03-13T22:29:51+00:00

The rapid development of digital financial technology has significantly transformed investment activities by providing easier access to financial markets through digital investment applications. This study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of beginner investors in making investment decisions in the digital era. Using a qualitative research approach with a phenomenological perspective, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with beginner investors who actively use digital investment applications. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to investors’ experiences and decision-making processes. The findings reveal that investment decision-making among beginner investors is influenced by several interconnected factors, including the accessibility and usability of digital investment platforms, the influence of social media and online communities, the development of financial literacy, and psychological experiences related to investment gains and losses. Digital investment applications play a crucial role in lowering barriers to market participation by providing user-friendly interfaces and accessible financial information. However, reliance on social media as a source of investment information may also expose investors to misinformation and speculative investment behavior. In addition, emotional responses such as confidence, fear, and uncertainty often influence investment decisions among beginner investors. Overall, the study highlights that investment decision-making in the digital era is a multidimensional process shaped by technological accessibility, social influence, financial knowledge, and psychological factors. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of investor behavior in digital financial environments and emphasize the importance of financial education and responsible investment practices.

Exploring Consumer Psychology in Digital Product Purchase Decisions: A Qualitative Study of Social Media Users

2026-03-17T02:01:15+00:00

The rapid development of digital technology and social media platforms has significantly transformed consumer purchasing behavior, particularly in relation to digital products. Social media has evolved beyond its traditional role as a communication platform and now functions as an important environment where consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products. This study aims to explore the psychological factors that influence consumer decision-making in purchasing digital products through social media platforms. A qualitative research approach was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of consumers' experiences and perspectives. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with social media users who had purchased digital products based on information encountered on social media platforms. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to consumer psychology in digital purchasing behavior. The findings reveal that consumer decision-making in purchasing digital products is influenced by several interconnected psychological and social factors. Five major themes emerged from the analysis: social media as a discovery environment, cognitive evaluation of digital products, trust formation and credibility cues, psychological motivations for purchasing digital products, and social influence from peers, influencers, and online communities. The results indicate that social media plays a significant role not only in introducing digital products but also in shaping consumer perceptions, trust, and purchase intentions. Consumers actively interpret information obtained from social media, evaluate product credibility through reviews and recommendations, and rely on social interactions to reduce uncertainty before making purchase decisions. This study contributes to the understanding of consumer psychology in digital environments by highlighting how psychological motivations and social influences interact within social media platforms to shape digital purchasing decisions. The findings also provide practical insights for digital marketers and product creators to design more effective strategies that emphasize authenticity, trust-building, and community engagement in promoting digital products.