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Public–Private Partnerships have been implemented globally as a key procurement strategy for addressing the issue of funding gaps amidst the immense pressure to deliver new major infrastructure projects. However, in current practice, procurement selection is applied to the entire bundle of project activities. This often leads to unduly large bundles of externalized project activities that create unduly large PPP contracts and attempt to transfer too much risk. To address this gap, this paper presents the development and testing of an implementable model that embodies a range of microeconomic theories—namely, transaction cost and resource-based theories—and property rights theory. This paper presents the first empirical testing of this model based on two road and two health projects, using competition as an independent measure of the validity of the recommended procurement strategy. The results provide compelling evidence that a rigorous application of the model will enable a substantial improvement of existing procurement approaches, such as identifying the most suitable bundle to be procured using a PPP approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents a comprehensive approach for planning for teams of heterogeneous robots with different capabilities and the transportation of resources. We use Capability Temporal Logic (CaTL), a formal language that helps express tasks involving robots with multiple capabilities with spatial, temporal, and logical constraints. We extend CaTL to also capture resource constraints, where resources can be divisible and indivisible, for instance, sand and bricks, respectively. Robots transport resources using various storage types, such as uniform (shared storage among resources) and compartmental (individual storage per resource). Robots' resource transportation capacity is defined based on resource type and robot class. Robot and resource dynamics and the CaTL mission are jointly encoded in a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP), which maximizes disjoint robot and resource robustness while minimizing spurious movement of both. We propose a multi-robustness approach for Multi-Class Signal Temporal Logic (mcSTL), allowing for generalized quantitative semantics across multiple predicate classes. Thus, we compute availability robustness scores for robots and resources separately. Finally, we conduct multiple experiments demonstrating functionality and time performance by varying resources and storage types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a critical reflection and exploration of African development with reference to enhancing human flourishing in Amartya Sen's capability theory. However, we identify some core limitations to Sen's theory of development due to its reliance on neoliberal principles. These principles can be discouraging for African self-directed emancipatory development projects. We argue that the notion of communitarianism in Africa can provide alternative perspectives that can counter the influence of neoliberalism. We first delve into the philosophical understanding of development and the unique elements associated with the African context for human flourishing. From this understanding of development, we look into the work of Amartya Sen, whose capability approach is widely regarded as the optimal development project for human flourishing. However, the enhancement of capabilities has had some significant critique. We discuss three critiques of Sen's development project, namely, Martha Nussbaum's critique, which focuses on the vagueness of basic capabilities; Patrica Northover's critique, which argues that Western ideals of development compromise Sen's development project; and Richard Sandbrook's critique, which refers to Sen's approach as a "pragmatic neoliberalism". Finally, building on these three critiques, we propose elements that enhance the unique characteristics of the African context for human flourishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the future, smart cities will provide key services including seamless communication, intelligent transport systems, advanced healthcare platforms, urban and infrastructure management, and digital services for local and regional government. Therefore, a new service and networking paradigm, called the Intelligent Edge Environment, has been specified. As a key part of this system, a new secure service ecosystem must be developed to provide the secure real-time movement of services on different High-Performance Edge Cloud Systems. This paper explores these issues by introducing the following mechanisms: a Resource Allocation Algorithm, a Resource Allocation Secure Protocol and finally a Secure Service Protocol. These systems were integrated into the Basic Capability System Library and a multithreaded FUSE client connected to the Service Management Framework. Docker was used as the migration mechanism. A prototype was developed and implemented using a FUSE-Network Memory System in which the Network Memory Server was migrated as users moved around. The result shows that this approach was safe and could be used to develop new applications and services for smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital transformation, organizational resilience, and agility are now becoming key to meeting the competitive challenges of modern organizations. It is no surprise that digital transformation and digital technologies have also begun to significantly impact the energy industry, moving towards improving the sector's profitability and efficiency. However, to move the difficult process of digital transformation in today's dynamically changing environment, organizations, including those in the energy sector, need to build organizational resilience. Nevertheless, the relationship between digital transformation and organizational resilience has not yet been explained in a satisfactory and sufficient manner. Focusing on the level of digital transformation, and more precisely within the two dimensions of digital maturity, i.e., digital intensity and transformation management intensity, as well as based on the perspective of dynamic capabilities, this study developed a configurational framework and proposed a theoretical model to study the equifinal paths through which digital transformation and dynamic capabilities influence organizational resilience in energy sector companies. Based on a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fs/QCA) conducted on selected companies in the energy sector, i.e., Polish CHP plants, the relationship among digital transformation, dynamic capabilities, and organizational resilience was investigated. The results show that a high level of organizational resilience is possible to achieve through two main paths based on the dominance of dynamic capabilities and the dominance of digital maturity. The results show that a high level of organizational resilience is possible to achieve through two main paths based on the dominance of dynamic capabilities and the dominance of digital maturity. The study found that digital maturity can significantly influence CHP resilience. Moreover, the transformation management intensity is strongly related to high organizational resilience. The paper concludes by describing theoretical and practical implications, as well as research limitations and prospects for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is international interest in approaches to social work focussing on human development and service users’ real freedoms to act. One such example, established in social work, is the capabilities approach. This paper introduces a related, but internationally less well-known concept from German-language philosophy of education discourses, Bildung. It argues that Bildung represents a valuable additional framework for understanding social work in terms of human growth and human flourishing. The concept of Bildung has taken many forms. The term’s changing notions are sketched, starting from its late enlightenment-period origins. Two particular variants are highlighted: the original 18th-century Bildung, which focussed on helping the individual reach a state of agency and Mündigkeit (maturity), a late 20th-century critical theory-influenced Bildung, which focussed on the relationship between the growth of the individual and the society of which they are part. A brief consideration of the capabilities approach provides a context for this discussion of Bildung, with parallels to the capabilities approach noted in the course of outlining Bildung theories. It is suggested that due to their shared tenets, both variants of Bildung can be seen a single concept, one with a strong conceptual closeness to the capabilities approach. When applied to social work, Bildung suggests a shift away from thinking about the person in terms of utilities and outcomes, towards instead an understanding of a person’s humanness in their freedom to choose their own path and become the author of their own life. To conclude, consequences for a Bildung-informed social work are considered. Four are highlighted: the role of the social worker stimulating the service user’s dispositions in the context of their social environment; shifting to a relationship-oriented practice, centring on direct work; utilizing community settings in practice and the importance of refraining from using guidance, persuasion and coercion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport management leadership research has predominantly focused on leadership behaviours, particularly transformative leadership, without fully acknowledging the complex, multifaceted nature of leadership within the sports context. This perspective overlooks the reality that sports leaders operate within complex organizations and varied contexts that significantly influence their behaviours. Leadership in sports demands core capabilities in decision-making, communication, and strategic thinking, and a mindset that influences perception, decision-making, and behaviour. Consequently, a singular focus on transformative leadership may undervalue the importance of other attributes. This paper thus argues for a comprehensive leadership framework that integrates behaviours, roles, capabilities, and mindset, and draws insights from business management. By proposing this framework organized across four domains—Context, Roles, Capabilities, and Mindset—this paper aims to foster a deeper understanding of sports leadership dynamics, highlighting the necessity of a holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of these elements.

The data revolution transforms operations, innovation, and society through artificial intelligence and advanced analytics. Data-driven innovations (DDI) have the most potential to tackle global challenges, including poverty, healthcare, climate actions, disaster management, gender inequality, peace and justice and others. This paper identifies the sources of DDI capabilities to address various global challenges. The findings show three major foundations of DDI capabilities: market orientation, infrastructure orientation, and talent orientation. Theoretically, these findings highlight the role of dynamic DDI capabilities to sense, seize and transform global challenges. Practically, we present guidelines for developing DDI in an agile and efficient manner that is fair and inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Araucaria is the property of Araucaria-Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofia, Politica y Humanidades and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Public–Private Partnerships have been implemented globally as a key procurement strategy for addressing the issue of funding gaps amidst the immense pressure to deliver new major infrastructure projects. However, in current practice, procurement selection is applied to the entire bundle of project activities. This often leads to unduly large bundles of externalized project activities that create unduly large PPP contracts and attempt to transfer too much risk. To address this gap, this paper presents the development and testing of an implementable model that embodies a range of microeconomic theories—namely, transaction cost and resource-based theories—and property rights theory. This paper presents the first empirical testing of this model based on two road and two health projects, using competition as an independent measure of the validity of the recommended procurement strategy. The results provide compelling evidence that a rigorous application of the model will enable a substantial improvement of existing procurement approaches, such as identifying the most suitable bundle to be procured using a PPP approach.

Traditionally, systems thinking support has relied on an ever-increasing plethora of systems tools, methods, and approaches. Arguably though, such support requires something different from, and more accessible than, detailed instruction on somewhat abstract laws and detailed principles and/or constitutive rules associated with conventional systems approaches or systems 'tools of the trade'. For busy managers and decision makers working in often-stressful conditions, what is perhaps more valued are simple principles for enabling systems thinking in practice. Such principles should acknowledge and build on existing (multi)disciplinary skill sets and expertise, allowing for more meaningful interdisciplinary support amongst professions, as part of a nested transdisciplinary support for addressing wider social challenges. This monograph offers three principles of systems thinking in practice (STiP): relational STiP, perspective STiP, and adaptive STiP. They each have two sets of operational principles applicable to first-order and second-order practice, respectively. The three general principles are nested in an overriding principle of STiP as praxis (theory-informed action or thinking in practice) manifest in the need for being both systemic and systematic. The three principles represent a distilled expression of a systematic literacy of systems thinking, a literacy that speaks to the systemic sensibilities of Inter-relationships, Perspectives, and Boundaries (sometimes referred collectively as IPB), associated with any area of intervention. Drawing on metaphors of bricolage, conversation, and performance, and building on philosophical foundations of boundary critique, the three principles provide for a requisite systems literacy (as an emergent property of systemic sensibilities and systems thinking literacy) for enabling appropriate STiP capabilities to flourish when making a meaningful change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly disrupted B2B markets, impacting companies at the product, service, and organizational levels. A key focus is on how to leverage the power of AI to augment and automate activities to create value for customers. One specific form of value creation investigated in marketing is co-creation between parties. Introducing AI into the co-creation process is exciting due to its technological characteristics and the anticipated business value it can bring. This study explores the state of the art in co-creation with AI in B2B markets. It examines how buyers, suppliers, and technology providers interact, along with their motives and characteristics. Furthermore, it investigates the processes enabling these interactions, from the form of AI used and AI tool integration to the necessary capabilities of other actors involved. Finally, this study examines the content of co-creation described in the existing literature and the value created jointly. This review contributes to delineating the interaction between human and non-human actors in a B2B co-creation ecosystem. The implications of this research provide B2B companies with a discussion about the actors, motives, characteristics, processes, and content of co-creation with AI in B2B drivers and barriers of AI for co-creation, mapping the way for success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological reflexivity provides a key lever for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but is underexplored in one prominent context: collaborative governance particularly associated with SDG 17. Using an exploratory study and novel approach to Q methodology, we investigate capabilities needed for advancing collaborative governance and cross-sector partnering through an exploratory study. Rather than treating these capacities as universal standards or aims for collaboration between varied stakeholders, they were offered as options that actors may value and choose to advance (or not). Local sustainability-focused actors in North West England sorted capabilities as statements, which discursively reframe multi-stakeholder partnership (MSP) building blocks. The first analysis reveals three viewpoints that we name: The Convener, The Connector, and The Chair. The themes of communicative coordination, reflexivity, and power emerged in the three viewpoints, expressing distinct discourses. A separate, second analysis explores a viewpoint encompassing capabilities needed for ecological reflexivity. Our findings demonstrate possible barriers to some approaches valued in the MSP literature such as systems thinking. Finally, in our action research setting, it is possible that the methodology itself facilitated ecological reflexivity and offered entry points to enable agency in the context of SDG 17 and collaboration of diverse actors towards SDG implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Project management and project portfolio management (PPM) foster competitiveness by facilitating the implementation of organizational strategy. Although organizations often struggle to develop PPM capabilities, the academic community does not have an in-depth understanding of the conditions for successfully developing these capabilities. In response, we conducted a multiple-case study with 50 interviewees to develop a theoretical model of the PPM capability-building process. This model is built on the notion of organizational sensemaking and identifies aspects that comprehensively explain why it usually takes so long to develop PPM capabilities. We conceptualize the PPM capability-building process as one that is strongly influenced by (1) the effects of structural rearrangements, (2) the appropriate use of external resources during that process, (3) the role of executive support and legitimization, (4) episodes of regression, and (5) the need for internalization and habitualization. In addition, we provide starting points for explaining organizational capability building in more general terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is international interest in approaches to social work focussing on human development and service users’ real freedoms to act. One such example, established in social work, is the capabilities approach. This paper introduces a related, but internationally less well-known concept from German-language philosophy of education discourses, Bildung. It argues that Bildung represents a valuable additional framework for understanding social work in terms of human growth and human flourishing. The concept of Bildung has taken many forms. The term’s changing notions are sketched, starting from its late enlightenment-period origins. Two particular variants are highlighted: the original 18th-century Bildung, which focussed on helping the individual reach a state of agency and Mündigkeit (maturity), a late 20th-century critical theory-influenced Bildung, which focussed on the relationship between the growth of the individual and the society of which they are part. A brief consideration of the capabilities approach provides a context for this discussion of Bildung, with parallels to the capabilities approach noted in the course of outlining Bildung theories. It is suggested that due to their shared tenets, both variants of Bildung can be seen a single concept, one with a strong conceptual closeness to the capabilities approach. When applied to social work, Bildung suggests a shift away from thinking about the person in terms of utilities and outcomes, towards instead an understanding of a person’s humanness in their freedom to choose their own path and become the author of their own life. To conclude, consequences for a Bildung-informed social work are considered. Four are highlighted: the role of the social worker stimulating the service user’s dispositions in the context of their social environment; shifting to a relationship-oriented practice, centring on direct work; utilizing community settings in practice and the importance of refraining from using guidance, persuasion and coercion.

Military operating concepts are the mandatory starting point for the defence forces design and development. The Consolidated National Defence and the Integrated Joint Force, two operating concepts presented in the Military Strategy of Romania - 2021, provide the necessary vision for the transformation and adaptation of the Romanian Armed Forces and the joint force to the current and future realities of the operating environment. In this article the author presents some considerations related to the place, role and importance of operating concepts used by the armed forces of other states, accompanied by some examples and points of view that might help to better understand the terms, to develop and implement these concepts and their subsequent concepts, doctrines, and capabilities through which they are operationalized in the Romanian Armed Forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to shed light on the nature of the contribution of digital learning orientation (DLO), as an intangible resource, to the development of the dynamic capability of supply chain data analytics powered by artificial intelligence (SCDA-AI) as well as to the moderation of its effects on the enhancement of the operational capabilities of supply chain flexibility (SCFL), supply chain resilience (SCRE) and supply chain responsiveness (SCRES) in order to stabilize and improve supply chain performance (SCPER) in times of uncertainties and disruptions. The study was based on survey data collected from 200 foreign companies based in Morocco. Respondents were mainly senior and middle managers with experience in general management and supply chain (SC). Validity and reliability analyses and hypothesis testing were carried out using structural equation modelling (SEM) with SPSS Amos. The results revealed that DLO acts as an antecedent to SCDA-AI without moderating its effects on the three operational capabilities of SCFL, SCRE and SCRES. In addition, this study provides further empirical evidence that dynamic capabilities can produce significant results in terms of stabilizing and improving performance through the generation and/or reconfiguration of operational capabilities in situations of uncertainties and disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the future, smart cities will provide key services including seamless communication, intelligent transport systems, advanced healthcare platforms, urban and infrastructure management, and digital services for local and regional government. Therefore, a new service and networking paradigm, called the Intelligent Edge Environment, has been specified. As a key part of this system, a new secure service ecosystem must be developed to provide the secure real-time movement of services on different High-Performance Edge Cloud Systems. This paper explores these issues by introducing the following mechanisms: a Resource Allocation Algorithm, a Resource Allocation Secure Protocol and finally a Secure Service Protocol. These systems were integrated into the Basic Capability System Library and a multithreaded FUSE client connected to the Service Management Framework. Docker was used as the migration mechanism. A prototype was developed and implemented using a FUSE-Network Memory System in which the Network Memory Server was migrated as users moved around. The result shows that this approach was safe and could be used to develop new applications and services for smart cities.

Does "shaming" work in NATO? More precisely, does publicly using negative language criticizing allies' defense spending improve burden-sharing, or is it counterproductive, leading to lower spending? We evaluate the effectiveness of public shaming language; specifically, whether it increases allies' defense spending or whether other considerations like external threat, domestic budgets, economic growth, or unemployment rates are better predictors of contributions. Using an original dataset of presidential statements and NATO defense spending data disaggregated across the four categories tracked by the alliance, we conclude that negative language toward allies' spending is at best ineffective and may even adversely affect burden-sharing in the long run. These findings have important implications for the political economy of alliances and both theories and policies on the use of rhetorical pressure to elicit compliance in asymmetric power relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a critical reflection and exploration of African development with reference to enhancing human flourishing in Amartya Sen’s capability theory. However, we identify some core limitations to Sen’s theory of development due to its reliance on neoliberal principles. These principles can be discouraging for African self-directed emancipatory development projects. We argue that the notion of communitarianism in Africa can provide alternative perspectives that can counter the influence of neoliberalism. We first delve into the philosophical understanding of development and the unique elements associated with the African context for human flourishing. From this understanding of development, we look into the work of Amartya Sen, whose capability approach is widely regarded as the optimal development project for human flourishing. However, the enhancement of capabilities has had some significant critique. We discuss three critiques of Sen’s development project, namely, Martha Nussbaum’s critique, which focuses on the vagueness of basic capabilities; Patrica Northover’s critique, which argues that Western ideals of development compromise Sen’s development project; and Richard Sandbrook’s critique, which refers to Sen’s approach as a “pragmatic neoliberalism”. Finally, building on these three critiques, we propose elements that enhance the unique characteristics of the African context for human flourishing.