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Factors that Influence Susceptibility to Pig Butchering Scams
(2026-07-30) Thanthriwatte Appuhamilage Tharani Dhananjani Thanthriwatte
This study explores the factors that predispose an individual to being a pig butchering scam victim using qualitative thematic analysis. The study develops a framework identifying two categories of constructs, namely victim vulnerabilities and scammer mechanisms. The literature review integrates concepts from social engineering and psychology, culminating in a theoretical conceptual map. The key victim related constructs such as loneliness, dispositional trust, gullibility, and financial literacy represent individual level vulnerabilities that influence susceptibility to pig butchering scams. Furthermore, the study has revealed scammer related mechanisms such as affective manipulation, fear of missing out, psychological coercion and support which represent the strategic techniques used by the scammer to influence and exploit victims. The research uniquely examines the contributing factors on the victim’s side and how these can expose the victim to the scammer's manipulative tactics and techniques. Research shows that by identifying individual vulnerable factors, will help prevent people from falling victim to these types of scams. The study identified recommendations to the respective authorities to prevent these types of sophisticated scams and protect individuals falling victim on these scams. Findings of the study contribute to understanding of pig butchering, as rapidly growing phenomenon with wide ranging socio-economic effects. The insights gained can provide a foundation for knowledge of preventive measures.
Thanthriwatt, Thanthriwatte
Gurung, Sumiksha
Leadership styles and their influence on employee engagement within the Australian NDIA providers
(2026-07-30) Sumiksha Gurung
The study investigates how employee engagement in Australian National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) service providers is influenced by different leadership styles. While leadership is a factor that has been widely acknowledged as a key force of organisational performance and employee motivation, and engagement; there has been little research on the issue of leadership within the disability services sector, especially in the context of NDIA. This study attempts to address this gap, as the research focusses on three major leadership styles, namely, transformational, transactional, and participative, and their influence on employee engagement. The qualitative research methodology has been adopted based on secondary data sources such as peer-reviewed literature and annual reports published by top ten NDIA providers (2022-2023, 2023-2024) and the reviews posted by employees on various websites like Glassdoor and Seek. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items to Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses) framework has been used to provide systematized selection and evaluation of the sources, and thematic analysis with the six-step model of Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six step model has been employed to find recurring patterns and insights. The results indicate that, transformational leadership positively influences employee engagement the most, mainly by inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualised support. The sustained impact on participative leadership through inclusion, open communication, and involvement of employees in decision-making also results in increased employee job satisfaction, creativity, and retention. However, in contrast, transactional leadership contributes to short-term engagement by providing structure, clear expectations, and performance-based rewards, but shows limited effectiveness in sustaining long-term motivation. Overall, this research shows that a balanced leadership style could be a beneficial to NDIA providers to improve engagement of employees and the quality of provided services. Nonetheless, the study has practical implications on the NDIA leaders and policymakers since it provides evidence-based suggestions on leadership development strategies to enhance workforce well-being, retention and organisational effectiveness in disability service provision.
Artificial Intelligence: Readiness in Adoption in the Australian Marketing Industry: A PRISMA-Based Study of Trust and Culture
(2026-07-24) Bimali, Akriti
The field of marketing is changing through Artificial Intelligence (AI) that is altering the way organisations interpret data, interact with customers, and make strategic choices. Although AI has great advantages, including enhanced efficiency, automation, and personalised marketing, it requires more than technology to be successfully adopted. This thesis analyses the willingness of Australian marketing sector to embrace AI with special reference to the organisational work culture and the trust of the AI systems. The proposed study fills in the gap in the literature by discussing the preparedness of Australian organisations and professionals in marketing towards AI disruption. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), it incorporates organisational culture and trust to learn more about AI adoption. It was based on a systematic literature review which was carried out with the PRISMA framework, with the assistance of secondary data in terms of ASX-listed media and marketing companies, industry reports, and academic literature. To determine major trends and understandings, the data was analysed using the thematic analysis. A flexible, innovative, and collaborative organisational culture is more likely to succeed with AI implementation and a strict hierarchy will delay technological change. The issue of trust must also be considered as the fear of algorithmic bias, transparency, and loss of jobs may require some resistance in marketing professionals. Effective leadership, continuous training, ethical governance, and effective communication are vital in gaining confidence and enhancing preparedness. The study has a contribution to theory by providing a continuation to the current models of technology adoption with the cultural and trust dimensions. In practice, it gives advice to marketing leaders, educators, and policymakers on how to build AI preparedness by developing organisations and improving skills. In general, the research concludes that the adoption of AI in marketing must be sustainable, which can be achieved by ensuring that the technology, culture, trust, and professional ability are aligned.