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Purpose: Older employees are often thought to be vulnerable to negative effects of information and communication technology (ICT). Our study aims to examine associations between work-related ICT exposure (i.e. ICT use or digital work intensification), physical health, mental health and work ability (WA). We examine whether these associations are modified by socio-economic position (SEP)., Methods: We analysed cross-sectional data from 3180 participants (born in 1959 and 1965) in wave 3 of the representative German lidA cohort study. We performed hierarchical multiple regression to assess the distinct associations of ICT use and digital work intensification with mental and physical health and WA. We stratified analyses by SEP and controlled for age, sex, and digital affinity., Results: 92% of participants reported ICT use at work. Almost 20% reported high levels of digital work intensification, while a similar proportion did not experience digital work intensification. In bivariate analyses, ICT use by itself was not significantly associated with mental health or WA in the total sample or when stratified. Digital work intensification displayed negative associations with mental health and WA. In hierarchical multiple regressions, digital work intensification showed consistently negative associations with mental health and work ability of similar strength across SEP., Conclusion: Our results suggest that ICT use, per se, does not negatively impact older workers. Digital work intensification may be associated with worse mental health and work ability. Research on health and social implications of work-related ICT should differentiate patterns of ICT exposure and assess modifications by SEP to better gauge the ambiguous effects of ICT.

Companies from the mechanical engineering industry are eager to embrace new technologies in their pursuit of a competitive advantage. However, the complete digitalization of the sector encounters limitations, as certain aspects necessitate human supervision or manual labor. This is where the concepts of Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0, and digital transformation become relevant. The aim of the research presented in this paper was to gather and extract valuable insights and lessons from the experiences of German companies in the plastic extrusion machinery sector with digital transformation (DT). Qualitative interpretative research was used, using in-depth expert interviews with C-level executives. We organized the findings into three categories: (i) DT communication initiatives, including the elimination of paper, CRM solutions, messenger services, home office, and online procurement platforms; (ii) departments and areas most involved, including accounting and procurement, sales and production, and construction; and (iii) cost–benefit perception, including positive assessment, long-term impacts, and variation from company to company. The results provide valuable insights into the progress of DT initiatives in companies operating in the pipe extrusion sector in Germany. Additionally, several DT misconceptions were identified, thereby enriching the DT misconceptions framework that has been intensely discussed in the DT literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The digital age requires people of all ages to communicate and organise their lives through digital technologies. The project EQualCare investigates how the growing population of older people living alone is managing this transition, how it shapes their (non-)digital social networks and what changes on a local level need to be brought about. This paper aims to give insight into the process of participatory action research (PAR) with older people in the community across four countries and reflects on experiences made by academic and co-researchers. Design/methodology/approach: Following the emancipatory underpinnings of PAR, which aims to reduce inequalities through collaboration and co-design, EQualCare involved nine teams of co-researchers across Finland, Germany, Latvia and Sweden making older people the centre of policy development. Co-researchers were involved in formulating research aims, collecting data, reflecting on data, formulating and disseminating recommendations for local policy stakeholders. Findings: Co-researchers' motivation to invest considerable time and effort was driven by a desire to create a more equal future for older people living alone. Moreover, they were keen to involve marginalised older people and became frustrated when this proved difficult. Power dynamics played a role throughout the process but became productive as roles and responsibilities were renegotiated. Doing PAR with older people can be emotionally challenging for co-researchers when negative feelings around ageing are encountered. Originality/value: The paper advances understanding on the process of PAR in ageing research by reflecting on the social, cultural and political contexts of doing PAR with diverse sets of older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Management Studies is the property of Czestochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Management 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.)

Data security has become an increasingly important concern for organizations and individuals in the digital age. To address this issue, there has been growing interest in using bio-commercial technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop innovative security solutions. This paper presents a research study on the development of a data processing secure new entrants in the market for medical devices in Germany can use the use of biometric data, such as fingerprints, iris scans, and voice recognition, in combination with AI algorithms to enhance the security of data processing. The paper provides an overview of the technical framework and architecture of the proposed system, and evaluates its effectiveness in comparison to traditional security measures. The study uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods, including surveys, interviews, and simulations, to collect and analyze data on the performance, accuracy, and usability of the proposed system. The results suggest that the data processing security system based on bio-commercial technology and AI is highly effective in preventing unauthorized access and enhancing data protection. The system provides a high level of accuracy, speed, and user-friendliness, making it a viable alternative to traditional security measures. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the study for the field of data security and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Contactless shopping concepts meet the needs of those consumers who want to minimise social interactions, especially due to COVID-19; they also offer added value by combining the advantages of traditional shopping with digital features that stem from online shopping. The development of digitalised retail concepts has been made possible through digitisation and the use of new technologies. To date, the concepts have been created with various formats through the application of the most advanced Industry 4.0 technologies. This paper aims to provide a deepened understanding of the latest trends and draws attention to the various classes, including shopping functionalities and features. Design/methodology/approach: This paper performs a review of current disruptive and new business retail concepts within the grocery retail industry in Germany. Therefore, a secondary research methodology and observations were performed to create an overview and a categorization. This categorization has been used to identify the related cases. Findings: The results add to the literature as follows. First, a matching of contactless shopping to innovative business models is made. Second, a status-quo analysis of contactless shopping solutions in Germany is carried out with defined set of criteria. This study created a list of all major available contactless shopping solutions. Third, this study examines two new business models, namely, automated vending machines and walk-in stores, which meet the changes in consumer behaviour and needs in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originality/value: This paper provides a deeper understanding of the latest trends within the retail industry and draws attention to disruptive business models as well as the functionalities and features of shopping solutions. New store concepts launched during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in unique selling propositions of 24-h everyday shopping and contactless shopping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducts Group Delphi-study and foresight approach within a five-year horizon in the field of digital education, with a specific focus on Continuing Education (CE) in a post-pandemic society. The study examines the impact of increasing digitalisation on the significant population of low-qualified individuals (approximately five million in Germany). The project identifies both opportunities and risks associated with digitalisation in CE for the low-qualified. The study focuses on 1) the impact of digitalisation on the participation of low-qualified people in CE, 2) the impact of accelerated digitalisation on the planning of programmes and services for this target group, 3) the transformation of programmes and services for low-qualified people due to digitalisation, and 4) methodological innovations for predicting the impact of digitalisation in the CE sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies are being introduced in all areas of the construction industry with the overarching goals of increasing productivity while simultaneously simplifying work and reducing errors. Nevertheless, their use and the associated implementation in construction companies is currently still inhibited. One reason for this is the lack of a holistic implementation process for digital technologies. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to deliver a concept for such a holistic digital-technology-implementation-process which addresses current barriers. For this purpose, a qualitative literature analysis was conducted first, which reveals the current focus of research on digital technologies. In a second step, current barriers regarding the implementation of digital technologies were identified by conducting interviews with experts from German construction companies. The interview concept combined and adapted the survey instruments Technology Commitment by Neyer et al. and Technophobia by Sinkovics. Based on the findings of the qualitative literature research and the expert interviews, a holistic implementation process for the introduction of digital technologies for construction companies was developed, which specifically addresses the currently prevailing barriers. Therefore, the barriers Acceptance, Control and Competence were classified in a temporal context within the implementation process and recommendations for action are presented for the individual process steps of implementing digital technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research in progress paper investigates the multifaceted factors shaping the work-related attitudes of top managers in organizations with a focus on Germany. Through in-depth interviews with seasoned experts, it reveals crucial work attitudes, examines the impact of interpersonal and procedural factors, and evaluates information's role in the principal-agent relationship at top management levels. The findings challenge conventional assumptions, providing different perspectives on leadership and highlighting the evolving nature of management practices in the digital age. The study also explores potential differences between top IT managers and other C-level roles, investigating their implications. The results of this research based on expert interviews are used in a broader context of research to triangulate literature analysis findings and quantitative surveys in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing top managers' work attitudes. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted to gain a comprehensive perspective on the influencing factors of work attitudes in top management functions. Six German experts participated, bringing diverse backgrounds and affiliations with professional associations. Despite varied perspectives, universal importance was identified in key work attitudes, challenging assumptions of significant differences between employer and employee representatives. A novel contrast between hierarchical and broader perspectives within owner and worker associations emerged, suggesting a need for a more comprehensive understanding of management approaches. Additionally, interpersonal factors in leadership, information flow, trust-building, were highlighted as contributions. Furthermore, distinctions and commonalities between IT management and other top managerial roles were identified. This study both confirms existing knowledge and introduces valuable insights to management science, potentially shaping future research and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, struggles over value capture have been taking place between different actors in the logistics sector, creating ever more pressure for workers in traditional activities of logistics. New actors, in the form of digital business-to-business (B2B) platforms, which are proliferating especially in the freight transport sector, are further challenging the already contested field. Based on the Global Production Networks (GPN) approach, this study addresses the question of how B2B platforms affect labour in production networks of logistics, and what labour agency practices are emerging in the face of advancing platformisation. The study draws on interviews with various actors operating in the road freight transport sector in Germany. The results show that digital B2B platforms, due to their intermediary function, have a direct impact on the inclusion and exclusion of actors involved in production networks of logistics, and induce not only a race to the bottom in terms of labour conditions, but also produce increasingly contingent geographies of logistics. This paper contributes to the literature on platforms by examining previously neglected B2B platforms and shedding light on the different ways that labour in global production networks can be affected by new agents, such as digital platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bodenkultur: Journal for Land Management, Food & Environment is the property of Sciendo 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 Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office 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.)

Digitalization is a keyword in the discourse of educational science, but it is often linked to technological challenges, although digital changes occur throughout society. Therefore, STEM teachers are required to cope with technological changes in the subject, the increasing and diverse education and training technologies, and the ever-changing paths of information and communication of adolescents in their role as members of a changing society and culture. The TPACK-model focuses educators' professional knowledge based on teachers' expertise concerning technological knowledge per se and the pedagogy and content of their subjects. In contrast, knowledge relevant to daily life and social and cultural interaction beyond this is not clearly included in the TPACK-model at present. This article proposes supplementing the TPACK-model with the knowledge components of digital cultural transformations (digitality) and, therefore, extending the TPACK-model to a DPACK-model, where D stands for digitality. Therefore, digital transformation in STEM teaching requires additional professional knowledge considering the transformation of communication, mediatization and society. Through this expansion, the focus should also be directed on the necessity that children and young people in the digitally shaped world must also be able to critically reflect on the processes of change and shape them in an ethically responsible manner. For this reason, teachers require professional knowledge to reflect, analyze, use and shape the digital transformation, which is regularly demanded of them by national and international educational standards. As a foundation of STEM teachers' education and training, an integrated model combining these facets of knowledge and skills is provided for discussion, and, as a result, quickly found its way into the educational policy guidelines and educational science discourses in Germany. In order to integrate the sociocultural consequences of digitalization into TPACK, this paper proposes a new hemisphere, sociocultural knowledge, which extends the existing TPACK components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization and social innovation are often discussed separately and without any spatial reference or in relation to cities, although newer works show the importance of social innovation also for rural areas. Existing digitalization projects illustrate the potential of digital technologies for rural development. Current debates on smart villages refer to both digitalization and social innovation but still in a rather unsystematic way. The paper seeks to think together digitalization and social innovation in rural areas more systemically and proposes to conceptually connect them with the help of sensitizing concepts, which are developed out of debates on social and digital social innovation. Along these concepts, the paper explores rural digitalization projects in Germany. On the one hand, this highlights the spectrum of these initiatives and, on the other hand, provides a framework under which digitalization and social innovation can be analyzed and smart villages may be supported systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digitization of German hospitals is proceeding continuously, leading to the implementation of new digital technologies, such as electronic health records (EHRs) or other technologies, used for the purpose of medical documentation tasks. Even though the replacement of paper documentation through digitized documentation in general promises to come along with plenty of benefits, the daily utilization of technologies might also lead to stresses and strains among the medical staff, eventually possibly leading to the development of different negative work and health-related outcomes. This study, therefore, aims at identifying persisting digitization-associated stressors and resources among medical hospital staff, examining their influences on different work and health-related outcomes, and finally, identifying potential needs for preventive measures. A quantitative study in the form of an online questionnaire survey was conducted among physicians working in the medical field of neuro- and vascular surgery in German hospitals. The study was carried out between June and October 2022 utilizing an online questionnaire based on several standardized scales, such as the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the technostress model, as well as on several scales from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). The study found medium levels of technostress among the participating physicians (n = 114), as well as low to medium levels of persisting resources. The queried physicians, on average, reported low levels of burnout symptoms, generally described their health status as good, and were mostly satisfied with their job. Despite the prevalence of technostress and the low levels of resources among the surveyed physicians, there is little awareness of the problem of digital stress, and preventive measures have not been widely implemented yet in the clinics, indicating a needs gap and the necessity for the strategic and quality-guided implementation of measures to effectively prevent digital stress from developing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to better understand the paradigm shift towards ‘networked governance’ in digitalisation discourse. Little is known about the link between digitalisation reforms and the main reform paradigms in public management studies. By analysing French and German national digitalisation strategies over time, we find that neo-Weberian, new public management, and networked governance discourses co-exist within the digital era, although networked governance rhetoric is increasingly influential. However, a closer examination reveals that this shift in discourse is unrelated to the increased integration of nonstate actors in actual decision-making and service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisatorische Transformation und digitale Technologien verwandeln Überseehäfen in sogenannte Smart Ports. Diese optimieren Lieferketten, fördern Prosperität und stärken die Resilienz, ermöglichen aber auch tiefe Einblicke in Lieferbeziehungen und wirtschaftliche Abhängigkeiten. Kompetitive Kollaboration prägt die Smart Ports, denn diese sind nur erfolgreich, wenn sie unterschiedliche Akteure, die miteinander auch im Wettbewerb stehen, vernetzen und integrieren. Dies stellt im aktuellen geoökonomischen Umfeld eine besondere Herausforderung dar, wenn ordnungspolitische Wettbewerber eingebunden werden sollen. Deutschlands Wirtschaftskraft ist von maritimem Transport abhängig, doch Smart Ports beeinflussen Berlins internationale Politik bislang kaum. Der Beitrag entwickelt deshalb in einem 5-Punkte-Plan einen deutschen Smart-Ports-Ansatz, um dieses dynamische Handlungsfeld mitgestalten zu können. Organizational transformation and digital technologies turn today's ports into Smart Ports. Smart Ports are key to optimize supply chains, promote prosperity and enhance resilience. The concept, however, also creates new vulnerabilities as interconnectedness and deep integration into interregional supply chains shed light on supply patterns and critical dependencies. Successful Smart Ports create comprehensive ecosystems that incentivize direct competitors to cooperate. Competitive collaboration is the norm, but creates fundamental challenges if strategic competitors, that adhere to differing value sets, need to be integrated. That's why Smart Ports are at the heart of today's geo-economic competition. Although Germany's economic power very much depends on maritime trade relations, the Smart Port concept does not yet influence Berlin's international policy. Therefore, this paper develops a 5-point Smart Port agenda for Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, digital transformation has taken on heightened importance. This paper aims to identify the key components of successful digital transformations. As the IT industry is at the forefront of digital transformation, the insights and outcomes of this study can be advantageous to other sectors. This can assist other organizations in expediting their transformation journey and reducing costs. Design/methodology/approach: The research was conducted through a quantitative survey, which underwent a rigorous development process. The questionnaire was designed with clear objectives, informed by a thorough review of existing literature and a qualitative survey. Initial questions were formulated and reviewed internally before being pretested with a small group. Based on feedback, the questions were refined, and clarifying hints were added. The final survey was conducted, and the resulting data were analyzed to identify essential components of digital transformations and relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) for measuring success. Findings: A digital transformation's leading and essential components are mindsets, communication, strategy, technology and people. This relates well to the meta-study. The result of the determined KPIs is also interesting. According to the survey, the degree of automation, efficiency gain, employer survey and financial numbers are identified as important factors. Moreover, the increasing number of companies embracing digital transformation is a promising trend, indicating the relevance of this study's content for the future and its potential to assist in successful transformation. Research limitations/implications: The respondents in Germany showed a distinct pattern, but the outcomes could vary if the questionnaire had a more equitable representation of regions and countries worldwide. A similar situation applies to company size, as many participants were from large enterprises. Analyzing medium and small businesses may alter the findings. It is debatable whether KPIs alone can effectively facilitate a successful digital transformation. Besides the components, tracking the transformation's outcome and progress thoroughly is crucial to ensure the process aligns from start to finish. Originality/value: Overall, these results provide very precise and valid points that are necessary for digital transformation. With the knowledge gained from the IT sector, companies from other industries can already take the first step and plan for a digital transformation. In summary, relevant building blocks for a digital transformation have been found with the help of the survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In hospital construction, additional challenges must be considered, such as an increased number of stakeholders and building trades, such as medical and laboratory technology. Due to the increasing requirements and challenges, associated construction processes are becoming more intricate. Especially for complex building types, the effects of this development are clearly noticeable and cause considerable disruptions to the construction process. A main difficulty constitutes the missing definition of the interfaces of building trades and participants. In the present study, interfaces in hospital construction were identified and analyzed by guided interviews with experts from the health sector. The qualitative content analysis, according to Mayring, was used for the evaluation to derive appropriate solution approaches. This paper presents the interfaces using the example of hospital construction in Germany and general approaches of optimization. Hereby, the digital method Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays a decisive role in the optimization of interfaces, especially in complex buildings. Furthermore, a task and building trade control matrix is required to better coordinate the interfaces. The identified approach intends to alleviate potential disputes and misunderstandings among stakeholders, as well as to improve time and financial predictability, which are particularly valuable during inflationary periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores activity tracking as a postdigital phenomenon and provides a detailed account of the embodied pedagogy of its practices. Drawing on a case-based, ethnographically inspired, participatory research project with German university students and following a praxeologic approach of transformative Bildung, an empirically grounded heuristic framework is presented that helps to understand how embodied entanglements of person and wearable develop over time and how dynamics of irritation and routinisation that characterise these developments open up processes of learning or Bildung. We discuss how this contributes to researching vital pedagogical questions about self-tracking, and more broadly about yet uncertain futures of postdigital physical culture and society, such as how we constitute ourselves as embodied subjects and continuously develop relations to ourselves and to the world through entangling with digital technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although many manufacturers depend on international sales, and product-related services continue to increase in importance, little is known about how manufacturers should deliver their product-related services across borders. This paper examines the international configuration decision of industrial service offerings across borders by investigating the impact of different service characteristics and the servitization strategy on this decision. Additionally, the paper sheds light on how digitalization and administrative heritage impact this decision. Design/methodology/approach: 116 industrial goods manufacturers from Switzerland and Germany were surveyed. Findings: Servitization leads companies to centralize their service resources in their home countries. However, most service characteristics do not impact decisions regarding centralization, except for knowledge intensity, which leads to more centralization of resources. This implies that the resource configuration does not depend on each service individually but on the overall service strategy. Furthermore, the digital readiness of the host country directly and positively impacts resource centralization. Notwithstanding other variables, larger companies tend to decentralize service resources more than smaller companies. Originality/value: This paper is among the first to study the international configuration impact of servitization and of individual service characteristics, thereby adding important knowledge regarding the provision of product-related services in the international context. Additionally, different aspects of digitalization are included to analyze its impact on companies and host countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As digitalization in the agricultural sector has intensified, the number of studies addressing adoption and use of digital technologies in crop production and livestock farming has also increased. However, digitalization trends in the context of small-scale farming have mainly been excluded from such studies. The focus of this paper is on investigating the sequential adoption of precision agriculture (PA) and other digital technologies, and the use of multiple technologies in a small-scale agricultural region in southern Germany. An online survey of farmers yielded a total of 2,390 observations, of which 1,820 operate in field farming, and 1,376 were livestock farmers. A heuristic approach was deployed to identify adoption patterns. Probable multiple uses of 30 digital farming technologies and decision-support applications, as well as potential trends of sequential technology adoption were analyzed for four sequential points of adoption (entry technology, currently used technologies, and planned short-term and mid-term investments). Results show that Bavarian farmers cannot be described as exceedingly digitalized but show potential adoption rates of 15–20% within the next five years for technologies such as barn robotics, section control, variable-rate applications, and maps from satellite data. Established use of entry technologies (e.g., automatic milking systems, digital field records, automatic steering systems) increased the probability of adoption of additional technologies. Among the most used technologies, the current focus is on user-friendly automation solutions that reduce farmers' workload. Identifying current equipment and technology trends in small-scale agriculture is essential to strengthen policy efforts to promote digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate determinants of willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, core affect regarding using telerehabilitation, and digital competencies in rehabilitation professionals in Austria and Germany before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional paper-based and online survey was conducted before and during COVID-19, respectively, with three cohorts of rehabilitation professionals. Outcomes were the willingness to adopt telerehabilitation evaluated using the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology; willingness of technology use using the short scale for assessing the willingness of technology use; digital competencies and core affect using the Digital Competence Framework and semantic differential, respectively. Multivariate ordinal regression analysis was performed to determine predictors. Included were 603 rehabilitation professionals. Analysis revealed differences between Austria and Germany and before and during the pandemic for most outcomes. German residency, the pandemic, and a higher educational level were most important predictors of higher willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, digital competencies, and positive core affect. The pandemic increased most aspects of willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, digital competencies, and positive core affect. Results confirm that rehabilitation professionals with higher degrees are more prone to adopt innovations in healthcare.Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00021464) The willingness to adopt telerehabilitation is associated with external factors increasing the need for alternative rehabilitation delivery, such as COVID-19, and with financial facilitators, such as reimbursement. As the willingness to adopt telerehabilitation is higher among speech and language therapists and dietitians, efforts are necessary to enhance its use in physiotherapists and occupational therapists. As a higher willingness to adopt telerehabilitation was observed in younger rehabilitation professionals and those with higher education, increasing the importance of telerehabilitation in education curricula and further knowledge transfer into practice for those already working in the field seems necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triggered by the spread of the Coronavirus and the lockdown of universities in spring 2020, universities were required to provide infrastructure for digital teaching within a very short time. Further, all university members needed to develop knowledge and skills for teaching online. This paper presents data from the cross-cultural CRTS-Study (Coronavirus-Related Teaching Situation Study), which compares the experiences, attitudes and needs of university teachers in Germany and Argentina during the first lockdown in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic. The study has been carried out in spring 2020 as a cross-sectional online survey study with university teachers in Germany and Argentina (N = 728). The overall picture reveals a mostly successful implementation of online teaching for university teachers in both countries, with Argentinian university teachers reporting a slightly more positive perspective and slightly higher self-efficacy beliefs in online teaching when compared with the German colleagues. The results of regression analysis hint at the relevance of prior personal experience and institutional support for self-efficacy beliefs in online teaching for both samples. In conclusion, individual experience and training as well as supportive institutional conditions seem to be relevant for the development of digital teaching at universities in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of technology and digitalization on health care systems will transform the nursing profession worldwide. Nurses need digital competencies to integrate new technology in their professional activities. Nurse educators play a crucial role in promoting the acquisition of digital competences and therefore need to be digitally competent themselves. Research on digital competencies of nursing educators is scarce but suggests lack of digital knowledge and skills and support needs. Although digitalization is to be seen as a global process, regional contexts need to be taken into account, such as pre-existing competencies, local conditions, and individual needs. Thus, it remains unclear which competencies nurse educators possess and which support needs they have. Aim of this study was to assess nurse educators' and clinical mentors' digital competencies and explore their needs and requirements concerning the digital aspects of their pedagogy and teaching activities in Germany. Methods: A descriptive exploratory study with a cross-sectional design was conducted. Participants were identified using a convenience sampling approach. Data were collected during July and September 2020 using a standardized self-reported questionnaire that was developed specifically for this study. The questionnaire was provided in a paper and online format and participants could decide which format to use. It contained open- and closed-ended questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and content analysis. Additionally, explorative subgroup analyses based on job designation, age, and gender were performed. Reporting of this study adhered to the STROBE checklist. Results: A total of 169 educating nurses participated in the survey. The respondents considered themselves as digitally competent and showed a positive attitude towards the integration of digital technology in their teaching activities. Their perceived preparedness to integrate digital technology into teaching and training varied. Almost all respondents (98%) declared a need for further training and seemed motivated to participate in corresponding educational events. There were some indications for differences in competencies or needs between subgroups. Conclusions: Educating nurses appear to possess basic digital competencies but there is a need to support their professional development in terms of new technologies. Findings can be used as a basis for developing supportive interventions. Further qualitative investigations could inform the design and content of such interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Raumforschung und Raumordnung is the property of Oekom Verlag GmbH 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.)

Against the background of digital transformation processes that are currently changing the world of work, this paper examines general digital competences of beginning trainees in commercial vocational education and training (VET) programs. We are particularly interested in factors influencing digital competence profiles. From survey data including N = 480 trainees in one federal state in Germany, we were able to identify three different competence profiles (based on the trainees' self-assessment of their general digital competence). Initial descriptive analysis reveals differences between competence profiles of different training professions (industrial clerks and retail salespersons reach higher competence levels than salespersons). However, regression results indicate that these differences can be explained by differences in school leaving certificates. Contrary to prior empirical evidence, we find no significant effect of trainees' gender. Finally, the frequency of certain private digital activities (e.g. using office programs, conducting internet searches) affects digital competence profiles. Implications for both VET programs and further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on everyone's life. Like many other professionals, social workers have been forced to adapt to these new working conditions and new challenges in order to support clients during the pandemic, as new needs have arisen. Together with professional associations from three nations (Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands), we used a coordinated approach to explore the consequences of the pandemic for social work professionals. This study was conducted during the most severe contact and hygiene restrictions of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the winter of 2020/2021. The data addresses the changes perceived by social work professionals in relation to their contact and communication with clients, the use of digital technology in the context of work, the professional response in terms of innovation, the working conditions and the psychosocial risks they face. Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from 7,241 social workers in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands through online surveys. Results: The results show an increase in the workload of professional social workers and compounding problems of clients, together with a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communication and contact with clients. All of this takes place within the framework of changing working conditions and contexts. Our data shows that the use of digital technologies does not cause bigger problems for most of the participating social workers. It should in fact be noted that professionals have many positive associations with the use of digital technology in general. Conclusions: There are both remarkable and alarming results concerning the mental health of social workers and their working conditions, as well as the position of the social work profession in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on place attachment in times of digitalisation in rural regions. Our qualitative study explores the extent to which and with which characteristics place attachment 'translates' into the digital format. The paper analyses 193 digital projects presented in the internet. These cases cover several European countries with a particular focus on Germany. The analysis is based on a three-dimensional framework involving attachment concepts, space/place and digitalisation. From a systematic categorisation of the case studies, six result patterns emerge: Some of them confirm place attachment patterns, which are well known from the debate on 'non-digital' place attachment (e.g., the importance of emotions). Other findings show that digitalisation does make a difference, in particular concerning abstract, non-localised spatial references to the rural area. Finally, we deduce some implications from our findings for practical implementation in regional development. • Facets of place attachment to rural regions are examined in digital tools. • Digital formats enable references to generic and abstract spatial contexts. • To attract new residents the focus is on locational information. • In digital tools, place-related emotions are uttered differently across scales. • Web 3.0 applications potentially secure rural services of general interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital assessment is becoming more and more popular within medical education. To analyse the dimensions of this digital trend, we investigated how exam questions (items) are created and designed for use in digital medical assessments in Germany. Thus, we want to explore whether different types of media are used for item creation and if a digital trend in medical assessment can be observed., Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive study, we examined data of 30 German medical faculties stored within a common assessment platform. More precise, 23,008 exams which contained 847,137 items were analysed concerning the exam type (paper-, computer- or tablet-based) and their respective media content (picture, video and/or audio). Out of these, 5252 electronic exams with 12,214 questions were evaluated. The media types per individual question were quantified., Results: The amount of computer- and tablet-based exams were rapidly increasing from 2012 until 2018. Computer- and tablet-based written exams showed with 45 and 66% a higher percentage of exams containing media in comparison to paper-based exams (33%). Analysis on the level of individual questions showed that 90.8% of questions had one single picture. The remaining questions contained either more than one picture (2.9%), video (2.7%), audio (0.2%) or 3.3% of questions had picture as well as video added. The main question types used for items with one picture are TypeA (54%) and Long_Menu (31%). In contrast, questions with video content contain only 11% TypeA questions, whereas Long_Menu is represented by 66%. Nearly all questions containing both picture and video are Long_Menu questions., Conclusions: It can be stated that digital assessment formats are indeed on the raise. Moreover, our data indicates that electronic assessments formats have easier options to embed media items and thus show a higher frequency of media addition. We even identified the usage of different media types in the same question and this innovative item design could be a useful feature for the creation of medical assessments. Moreover, the choice of media type seems to depend on the respective question type.

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In the context of technological change and the ongoing transformation of the labour market, this paper investigates firms' employer-provided continuing training provision for employees with different skill requirements. Following human capital theory, firms invest in training when expecting higher returns than costs. From a theoretical point of view, only investment in employees in high-skilled jobs is reasonable. Empirically, this is not always the case. Using firm-level data from the BIBB Establishment Panel on Training and Competence Development, a fractional logit model is applied to answer which role technology use and task profiles play in employees' training participation. The results suggest that firms with a higher proportion of digital technology users provide more training. On the contrary, more working time spent with digital technologies is associated with less training. A potential explanation could be that after initial training in using digital technologies, there are substantial learning effects and employees become more experienced. Additionally, employees who more frequently perform complex tasks receive more training independent of their jobs' general skill requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization and digital technologies have risen sharply in commerce in form of online offers and advice, even in formerly less technology-based sectors. By using the example of flower shops, the aim of this study is to find out whether customers perceive digital offers to be generally useful or necessary, or if local service is still sufficient. To answer this question, a quantitative survey was conducted in selected flower shops in Germany. 82 customers took part. Although most customers have not yet resorted to an online offering when buying flowers, over 66% of respondents are generally in favor of digital offers in the floristry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops a multi-level framework for the analysis of a bottom-up politics of technology at the workplace. It draws on a multi-case study on algorithmic management of manual labor in manufacturing and delivery platforms in Germany. In researching how workers influenced the use of algorithmic management systems, the concept of technopolitics is developed to refer to three different arenas of negotiation: (1) the arena of regulation, where institutional framings of technologies in production are negotiated, typically between state actors, employers' associations, and unions. (2) The arena of implementation, where strategies of technology deployment are negotiated—in the German production model typically between management and works council. (3) The arena of appropriation, in which different organizational technocultures offer contesting schemes for the actual use of technology at work. Whereas most recent research on digitalization of work conceptualizes workers as mere objects of digitalization processes, this paper focuses on worker agency as a "technopolitics from below." It thus demonstrates how workers influence the concrete outcome of digitalization projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incumbent firms' competitiveness largely depends on the ability to develop digital innovation as novel combination of digital and physical components. This paper provides a better understanding of value creation through digital innovation, focussing on market offerings from incumbent firms. Based on the insights of an exploratory multiple case study with seven cases from the automotive, machine engineering, and consumer goods industries in Germany, we explain the multi-sided changes required for the development and management of digital innovations. Afterwards, we contribute to the further theorization of digital innovation. According to our empirical findings, we decided to discuss the applicability of the resource-based and competence-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The intention of this paper is to identify the scope and purpose of the use of digital tools in voluntary sports clubs (VSCs) and to identify club-specific factors that influence their usage behavior. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was conducted among VSCs in Austria and in Germany (n = 787). To answer the key questions, patterns of digital use in VSCs were analyzed in relation to the overall organizational goals and organizational capacity. In addition to the description of the clubs' usage behavior patterns, a multiple linear regression model (blockwise) and quantile regression models were estimated. Findings: The descriptive results show that digital instruments are most used in the areas of "internal/external communication" (93.7%) and "to report membership data to federations" (82.1%). The OLS and quantile regression models indicate that user behavior is primarily influenced by the following factors: the goals of "commitment/success in competitive sports" and "cooperation with other institutions"; the organizational factors "digital processes do not fit with our club culture", "proportion of volunteers with administrative tasks", "we do not yet have a clear digitalization strategy for our club" and "lack of financial resources for necessary IT investments". Originality/value: Digital technologies appear to be promising for organizational development in VSCs. However, what the usage behavior of digital instruments in VSCs currently is, and by which factors this usage is influenced, has not been the focus of empirical analysis yet. The study provides initial insights into the understanding of digitalization in VSCs that can be used for consulting and ongoing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the search for solutions for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), decision-makers frequently face governance-related challenges such as the fragmentation of institutions, the interconnection with other essential services and overlapping competences. In many cases, solutions to these challenges involve strengthening coordination between different actors and sectors. Today different digital tools and resources are available to support related decision-making processes. These tools can (1) offer a context-specific assessment of the water governance system ("Diagnosis") and (2) provide, in some cases, context-specific recommendations to tackle identified deficits ("Therapy"). In this paper, we aim to advance the understanding of the potential of digital tools for water governance and management assessments. After reviewing relevant tools, we introduce the Diagnostic Water Governance Tool (DWGT) that builds on a clear diagnosis-therapy-logic. After presenting the empirical basis and functional logic of the DWGT, we test the DWGT in two case studies: the Guadalquivir river basin in Spain and the Emscher river basin in Germany. We find that the DWGT provides context-specific, evidence-based instrument recommendations that can enhance water governance and management, albeit accompanying suitability evaluations by governance experts remain critical. We conclude by discussing the limitations of digital tools for water governance and management assessments and sketch out fields of future research. • Most water governance online tools do not allow for case-specific assessments. • Diagnostic Water Governance Tool identifies context-specific coordination deficits. • The Tool gives case-sensitive recommendations for governance instruments. • Fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis provides sound methodological framework. • The Tool's analysis can supplement but not replace expert evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Germany, the introduction of interactive whiteboards in education has not been unproblematic. The use of such digital technology at school is often perceived critically among teachers. The reasons put forward for this are numerous - the missing introduction of appropriate pedagogical models, the lack of media skills and confidence of teachers to use such technologies as well as the time frame of school lessons organized in traditional classroom settings often being cited. Teachers stress the problems and constraints, rather than embracing the opportunities opening up using such technology in creative ways. However, the opportunity of creatively shaping the whiteboard technology by the teachers and learners themselves was not in the picture of the whiteboard producer's commercial strategies so far. The lack of motivation of educators using such tangible media was the starting point for the research undertaken in the field of whiteboard technology and its' implementation through teacher training. The paper scrutinizes the common trend of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) as a creative practice of contemporary media art and youth culture, which became widespread through the Internet, via hacker communities and the social networks. It discusses the integration of a more playful and experiential approach to media education at school level and in teacher training. The paper suggests the creative development of low cost DIY-whiteboards in education using the Wiimote, a motion sensitive controlling device consisting of a blue tooth interface and a powerful infrared camera, and the software available (Lee 2008) online. In conclusion it looks at the challenge to further explore the nature of the DIY concept as an educational model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a significant potential to improve the benefits from public procurement through a better understanding of drivers in company success at the micro-level, an area that has received little study to date. To increase these impacts on innovation and markets, policy makers have opened procurement to innovation, including the strategic incorporation of formal standards in calls for tenders. Consequently, companies offering innovative solutions should have higher chances to be successful in public tenders. In addition, companies who engage in standardization activities at standards development organizations may have a competitive advantage in submitting tenders. Examining the case of Germany, this paper empirically investigates the effects of German manufacturing companies' innovation activities and their engagement in national standardization on the receipt of contracts within domestic procurement competitions. The results of our empirical analyses based on German companies surveyed within the framework of the Community Innovation Survey show that being successful in product innovation and being engaged in standardization are significant positive predictors of companies' success in public procurement. With implications for policy-makers and practitioners, this shows that public procurement is indeed open for solutions from companies active in innovation and standardization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of buried soil horizons in agricultural landscapes helps to quantify sediment budgets and erosion‐related carbon dynamics. High‐resolution mapping of buried horizons using conventional soil surveys is destructive and time consuming. Geoelectrical sensors can offer a fast and non‐destructive alternative for determining horizon positions and properties. In this paper, we compare the suitability of several geoelectrical methods for measuring the depth to buried horizons (Apb, Ahb and Hab) in the hummocky ground moraine landscape of northeastern Germany. Soil profile descriptions were developed for 269 locations within a 6‐ha experimental field "CarboZALF‐D". A stepwise linear discriminant analysis (LDA) estimated the lateral position of the buried horizons using electromagnetic induction data and terrain attributes. To predict the depth of a buried horizon, multiple linear regression (MLR) was used for both a 120‐m transect and a 0.2‐ha pseudo‐three‐dimensional (3D) area. At these scales, apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), electrical resistivity (ER) and terrain attributes were used as independent variables. The LDA accurately predicted Apb‐ and Ahb‐horizons (a correct classification of 93%). The LDA of the Hab‐horizon had a misclassification of 24%, which was probably related to the smaller test set and the higher depth of this horizon. The MLR predicted the depth of the Apb‐, Ahb‐ and Hab‐horizons with relative root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 7, 3 and 13%, respectively, in the pseudo‐3D area. MLR had a lower accuracy for the 2D transect compared to the pseudo‐3D area. Overall, the use of LDA and MLR has been an efficient methodological approach for predicting buried horizon positions. Highlights: The suitability of geoelectrical measurements for digital modelling of diagnostic buried soil horizons was determined.LDA and MLR were used to detect multiple horizons with geoelectrical devices and terrain attributes.Geoelectrical variables were significant predictors of the position of the target soil horizons.The use of these tested digital technologies gives an opportunity to develop high‐resolution soil mapping procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-governance is essential for migrants to ease access to various administrative services in their home and destination countries. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed novel facets of inequality in the accessibility of these facilities, the lack of personnel during lockdowns being not the only impediment for foreigners. This paper aims to research the unequal access of the Romanian diaspora in Germany to digital solutions provided by authorities and the unprecedented circumstances that occurred during the medical emergency. The data analysis revealed how people built their e-governance networks on social media groups, providing alternative solutions to their issues and needs. Diaspora’s relationships with governmental bodies are often priorly mediated via online communication in diasporic groups, where people ask for advice or present their approaches. Data collection has been done mainly on Facebook groups of Romanian migrants in Germany between 2020 and 2022. Methodologically wise, this research used digital field research to understand how people interact in these groups and what consequences could arise from their digital behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural digitalisation is often approached from a structural research perspective, focusing on broadband infrastructure and socio-economic contextual conditions. Such perspectives tend to neglect the agency of individual and collective actors in these areas. Our comparative case study addresses this gap by focusing on Digital Pioneers in two structurally different rural regions in Germany. Our analysis of 40 semi-structured qualitative interviews with selected pioneers is based on the research question of how these key actors access resources to realise digital social innovation. A categorization of our data shows three general patterns: Access to motivational resources on an individual level, access to network-based resources through various types of social relationships, as well as access to region-based resources by analytically linking agency and socio-spatial contextual conditions. We conclude that Digital Pioneers can become intermediary key players in regional governance constellations. At the same time, additional policy support or reversion is needed to facilitate access to network- and region-based resources in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the German educational digitalization agenda. In autumn 2016, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) published the strategy paper "Educational Offensive for the Digital Knowledge Society" as a systematic framework for the dissemination of digital education in Germany.