The Emerald Handbook of Digital Transformation, Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Global South

Bridget Irene|Julius Irene|Kingsley Obi Omeihe|Joan Lockyer
Emerald
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Hardback
9781836620358
29 September 2026
$200.00
Available to order on 30 August 2026
eBook (PDF)
9781836620341
08 September 2026
$200.00
Available to order on 09 August 2026
eBook (ePub)
9781836620365
08 September 2026
$200.00
Available to order on 09 August 2026

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  • Description
  • Contents
  • About

There is a growing body of research suggesting that wellbeing and environmental sustainability have little or no interplay or relationship, with some viewing them as often conflicting goals. This book addresses this misconception by highlighting a range of social factors that influence wellbeing challenges. It uniquely advances the traditional emphasis on economic growth by shedding light on the need for the development of pro-social attitudes and behaviours that are essential for achieving more harmonious coexistence with nature. The nascent discoveries from this emerging discipline are already exerting influence on economics, psychology, healthcare, urban planning, and the methodologies employed by national statistical agencies that inform policy decisions.

The editors advance reader’s understanding of these complex issues by bringing together critical perspectives that explore best practices of utilising digital transformation as a catalyst, rather than an obstacle, for constructing an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable Global South in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the expertise of 30 leading scholars to provide an up-to-date coverage of sustainability and wellbeing issues confronting the Global South, providing potential solutions.

The International Studies in Small Business and Entrepreneurship Research series opens a new chapter, as it seeks to advance discussions that consolidate conventional knowledge. The purpose of this initiative is to invite new reflections on the nature of entrepreneurship and small business across contexts. The collections in this series aim to improve the theoretical rigour and practical relevance of the field. The emphasis is to advance contemporary contributions that matter for small business and entrepreneurship, directing us to underexplored and under-theorised contexts.

Foreword; Abiodun Egbetokun

  • Chapter 1. Framing the Discourse: Digital Transformation, Sustainability, and Wellbeing in the Global South; Bridget Irene, Julius Irene, Kingsley Obi Omeihe, and Joan Lockyer
  • Part 1. Digital Transformation and Economic Growth in the Global South
  • Chapter 2. The Impacts of Digital Transformation on Bank Performance: The Case of Nigeria; Temitayo Ajao
  • Chapter 3. Overcoming Challenges in Digital Transformation: Navigating Resistance, Integration, and Adaptation Strategies; Kavya R and Roohi Kursheed Khan
  • Chapter 4. Social Capital a Panacea for SMEs Digitalisation in Nigeria: The Mediating Role of Business Cluster; Simon Ayo Adekunle, Solomon Orada Agbuna, and Mirhiga Peter Okuwhere
  • Chapter 5. The Internet of Things, Electricity Fluctuations, and Economic Growth: Why is a Concern in a Developing Country like Tanzania?; Godfrey Joachim
  • Chapter 6. Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment: New Strategies and Approaches; Ayoub Katfi, Oumaima El Mnouer, Sabrina Ghallal, Thierry Côme, Naoufel Belhaj, and Jalila Ait Soudane
  • Chapter 7. Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Practices Adoption on Demand Forecasting and Procurement Efficiency of Health Commodity Supply Chains: A Deep Review of Literature; Asabi Anthony Oluyemi
  • Part 2. Digitalisation, Social Inclusion, and Wellbeing
  • Chapter 8. Micro Healthcare Entrepreneurship (MHE) for Enhancing SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing in the Global South; Forhad Hossain and Zeaul Huda Hemal
  • Chapter 9. Encouraging Gender Equality for Sustainable Food Security and Health in Indonesia; Tri Margono, Triyani Sumiati, and Rinieta Sausan Margono
  • Chapter 10. Social Transformation of Farmers in Rural Java: Anticipating Structural and Cultural Threats in Agricultural Livelihood System Changes; Adhis Tessa, Muhammad Alie Humaedi, Rahayu Nurlika, Aliena Anaqu Arung Pasisir, Fauzan Anyasfika, Arie Setiabudi Soesilo, and Iwan Gardono Sudjatmiko
  • Chapter 11. Poverty and Deprivation in India: Sociological Implications; K. Praveen Kumar and Naveen Kolloju
  • Chapter 12. Data-Driven Strategies for Achieving Sustainable Development Goal Targets in Poverty Reduction; Selvam L, Arun Kumar M, Alfred Daniel J, Boris Tomaš, and Senthil Kumar P
  • Part 3. Environmental Sustainability and Resource Utilisation
  • Chapter 13. Whose Transition? Navigating the Intricate Balance Between Digitalisation, Resource Extraction, and Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa; Julius Irene, Bridget Irene, Chux Daniels, Joan Lockyer, and Mary Kelly
  • Chapter 14. Environmental Sustainability and Digital Accountability in South African Mining: A Multi-Theoretical Perspective; Hammed Afolabi and Emre Parlakkaya
  • Chapter 15. Sustainable Practices in Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Its Impact on Community Wellbeing and Mental Health in Bayelsa State, Nigeria; Joy Eghonghon Akahome and Sidney Ogodo
  • Part 4. Digital Platforms and Social Innovation
  • Chapter 16. Equal Care and the Cooperative Turn: Building Inclusive and Sustainable Care Systems in the Global South; Maimoona Waseem and Sunita Dewitt

Bridget Irene is a Senior Lecturer in business management at the Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University. Her scholarly interests range widely, encompassing entrepreneurship and focusing on the culturally instantiated facets of the debate on gender entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial competencies, family businesses, entrepreneurship education, and the informal economy. Her PhD research contributes to the already established discourse on gendering entrepreneurship and provides explicit feminist perspectives highlighting the inadvertent reinforcement of women’s subordination to men in the context of entrepreneurship.

Julius Irene is a Senior Lecturer at the Elizabeth School of London. Before embarking on his PhD, Julius worked in the oil and gas sector as an upstream exploration operations geologist for over 20 years. He is passionate about developing and supporting research related to the institutional and sociocultural context of sustainability transition processes, science and technology studies (STS), foresight and strategic planning. His research provides enhanced understanding of environmental/ energy challenges and solutions from a place-based perspective to develop findings, tools and theories, which can be applied by local and national policymakers, communities and practitioners.

Kingsley Obi Omeihe is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of the West of Scotland. He holds the position of co-chair of African Studies at the British Academy of Management. His research interests include entrepreneurship, qualitative research methods and comparative issues in economic sociology. His research brings a qualitative informed perspective to a variety of topics, including social problems, African studies, small business marketing and enterprise education. He is currently researching, using phenomenological analysis, the meanings and consequences of trust-based networks.

Joan Lockyer is a Professor of Entrepreneurship. Her career spans industry, self-employment, and academia. Her research focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship, education, and leadership. She has led significant projects, developed educational programmes, and currently provides consultancy services to clients globally. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.