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In construction, risk is inherent in each project, and success involves meeting defined objectives beyond budget and schedule. Factors vary for infrastructure projects, and their correlation with performance must be studied. In the case of public–private partnership (PPP) transportation, the level of complexity is higher due to more involved parties. Risks and success factors in PPP projects affect each other, which may lead to project failure. Recognizing the critical risk factors (CRFs) and critical success factors (CSFs) is indispensable to ensure the success of PPP infrastructure project implementation. However, the existing research on the PPP risk and success relationship has not gone into sufficient detail, and more support to address the existing gaps in the body of knowledge and literature is necessary. Therefore, in response to the missing area in the public–private partnership transportation industry, this paper analyzed the correlation between PPP risks and success factors. It identified, explored, and categorized various risk and success factors by combining a literature review, expert panel interviews, and a questionnaire survey among both the public and private sectors, a win–win principle. The data collected were analyzed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach and relative significance. Results show the relationship between risk and success factors, their influence on PPPs, and the most important factors, known as CRFs and CSFs, with high loading factors (LF > 0.5) and high relative importance (NMS > 0.5). The top five CRFs include "Contract quality (incomplete, conflicting)", "Staff expertise and experience", "Financial market risk", "Conflicting objectives and expectations", and "Inefficient feasibility study". The top five CSFs were found as "Appropriate risk allocation and risk-sharing", "Strong financial capacity and capability of the private sector", "Government providing guarantees", "Employment of professional advisors", and "Realistic assessment of the cost and benefits". This study advances the understanding of risk and success factors in PPPs and contributes to the theoretical foundations, which will benefit not only public management, policy consultants, and investors but also academics interested in studying PPP transportation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the critical factors (CFs) influencing project performance and analyze their relative importance across multidimensional criteria throughout the project life cycle. Based on a literature review, 179 individual factors were categorized into nine performance criteria. A questionnaire survey was conducted with client representatives, consultants, and contractors in Thailand. The statistical analysis of 93 subjects showed that the significance levels of the performance criteria and CFs changed depending on the considered phase in the project's life cycle. The analysis identified the three criteria (client satisfaction, quality, time) that were most frequently used to measure the success of a project. Furthermore, the findings revealed the top 10 CFs for each performance category throughout the life cycle. Notably, these findings provide compelling evidence of the following most important CFs across the performance measures: competence of project participants, adequate experience of project participants, the availability of competent staff, positive personal attitudes among project participants, participation in environmental initiatives by management, competent supervisors, effective project planning and control, the need for collaboration, and the professionalism of the project team's services. This research provides insights into the factors that influence project success and have managerial implications for project stakeholders, facilitating informed decision making throughout the life cycle. Through establishing novel perspectives, this study enhances the knowledge base in the construction management domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent Product Development of Industry 4.0, systematic and thorough study in Chinese circumstances is uncommon. It is a new idea that requires study progress for precise definitions and measures. This article is conceptual research that aims to analyze and prioritize essential elements for smart product developments as a research model connected to industry 4.0 in the Indian environment. An effective product development framework (EPDF) is proposed in this article that develops a decision-making model based on the consumer and risk assessment model. Technological advances, project management, collaborative development, lean processes and environmentalism are key elements mentioned. For the arrival of the Decision Structure, specific recommendations have been taken. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) technique has been used to understand priority variables considered by individuals and organizations. This paper contributes to stronger 4.0 SPD, followed by agile and sustainable development in the Chinese economy. Regarding its contributions, this research's results can help users make real-time judgments by making optimal use of resources, using highly personalized goods in a shorter lead time. Decision-makers can utilize the suggested decision-making framework, gain a thorough grasp of the conception of current policy in the light of Industry 4.0 and its associated smart products deployment aspects, specifically in the Chinese scenario.

AbstractFacility maintenance management (FMM) is essential for ensuring long-term values and to sustain project goals throughout the life cycle delivery process. However, in underdeveloped nations such as Ethiopia, facility maintenance management is an immature and underutilised process that requires a holistic intervention for practical improvement. The main aim of this study was to identify and prioritise critical factors that affect the effectiveness of FMM, with a focus on public universities in Ethiopia. Initially, a total of thirty-three (33) crucial variables were identified with a systematic literature review and desk study. To collect primary data, a survey research design approach was utilised using questionnaires and informant interviews. A total of seventy-five (75) data sets were obtained from 180 online surveys for conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The outcome of the study revealed thirteen (13) critical attributes grouped into four factors that affect the effectiveness of facility maintenance management practises. The final four-factor model includes F1, internal processes and organisation; F2, community culture, learning, and growth; F3, impacts of design and construction quality; and F4, facility maintenance approach and management. This study indicated that facility maintenance management practises in public universities in Ethiopia are immature and require extensive enhancement. The identified influencing factors highlight the need for a comprehensive intervention to promote improved facility maintenance management practises and applications in Ethiopia. Further research is needed to analyse a wider range of attributes and data using confirmatory factor analysis.

The occurrence of defects in recently completed construction projects in many countries has aroused public attention worldwide. Defects in construction projects are caused by a multitude of factors. Numerous studies have identified and evaluated the critical factors affecting quality in construction projects; nonetheless, no consensus has been reached regarding the factors and their level of influence. Thus, to fill this gap, this research used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and prioritized the factors quantitatively. Following the systematic review and meta-analysis, 45 critical factors were identified from 22 relevant studies. Further, heterogeneity, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses were conducted. The findings show that the top seven factors leading to poor quality in construction projects include lack of communication, teamwork, and skilled workers; poor supervision; design errors; design complexity and low bid contracting. The study found very low heterogeneity confirming that ranking using the meta-analysis is reliable. This analysis revealed that project location and type, and publication types, contribute to the heterogeneity of the results. This research work contributes to the existing body of knowledge by identifying and ranking the most critical factors influencing the quality of construction projects across the globe. The stakeholders involved in the delivery of construction projects can prepare strategies for enhancing the quality of their projects based on the findings of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facility maintenance management (FMM) is essential for ensuring long-term values and to sustain project goals throughout the life cycle delivery process. However, in underdeveloped nations such as Ethiopia, facility maintenance management is an immature and underutilised process that requires a holistic intervention for practical improvement. The main aim of this study was to identify and prioritise critical factors that affect the effectiveness of FMM, with a focus on public universities in Ethiopia. Initially, a total of thirty-three (33) crucial variables were identified with a systematic literature review and desk study. To collect primary data, a survey research design approach was utilised using questionnaires and informant interviews. A total of seventy-five (75) data sets were obtained from 180 online surveys for conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The outcome of the study revealed thirteen (13) critical attributes grouped into four factors that affect the effectiveness of facility maintenance management practises. The final four-factor model includes F1, internal processes and organisation; F2, community culture, learning, and growth; F3, impacts of design and construction quality; and F4, facility maintenance approach and management. This study indicated that facility maintenance management practises in public universities in Ethiopia are immature and require extensive enhancement. The identified influencing factors highlight the need for a comprehensive intervention to promote improved facility maintenance management practises and applications in Ethiopia. Further research is needed to analyse a wider range of attributes and data using confirmatory factor analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time and cost play an important role in project completion for both developing and developed countries. This study aims to identify the critical factors that influence the time and cost of commercial projects in Malaysia. A detailed questionnaire survey was conducted with industry professionals, and the results were analyzed based on the survey responses. The average index method was used to determine critical factors based on responses from professionals. The critical factors that affect time are poor contract management, client fund shortages, late drawing submissions, land acquisition problems, and inadequate surveying before construction. The critical factors identified for cost are delayed client payments, shortage of skilled workers, design changes, errors in the construction process, and changes in top management. This study raises awareness by identifying critical factors to minimize their impact so that construction can be completed on time and according to the defined budget, and maximize the benefits of future projects.

A construction project's failure encompasses a spectrum of disappointments, which may manifest individually or in combination, spanning the domains of cost, time, quality, and effective project management. This study discerns the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that underpin the triumph or failure of construction projects, while also scrutinizing the interplay between various attributes that contribute to project success, through a comprehensive and thorough examination of prior research endeavors. This extensive review of the literature serves to guide the identification of CSFs that will serve as predictive indicators for assessing the likelihood of a project's success. This study endeavors to quantify the individual contributions of these Critical Success Factors to the ultimate outcome of a building project. The overarching aim of this current literature research is to offer a meticulous and exhaustive exploration of Critical Success Factors within the context of building projects. This focused and precise undertaking spans articles published in reputable journals over the past decade. From these, we shed new light on the dynamics of construction project success, enriching our understanding of the specific factors that shape the outcomes of these endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warehouse management is the key aspect for an uninterrupted flow of products within a supply chain. This paper deals with the critical factors that are responsible for creating an impactful influence on the working of warehouse management. The analysis involves the selection of critical factors then applying Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) methodology to them in order to get the level partition and final ISM model. This research also involves the MICMAC analysis on the factors which classifies all the selected factors into four groups namely, autonomous variables, dependent variables, linkage variables and driver variables. This research will help the supply chain architects to establish a better and reliable warehouse system. As this research involves analysis of multiple domains that is why a variety of users can refer to this work for their businesses, also the ISM approach gives a good accuracy of the hierarchy of the factors which helps in deciding the most effective chronology of the implementation of various warehousing operations. Researchers can also refer to this work to get insights of the significance of warehouse management in the supply chain and also the complete working of the ISM methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the various challenges causing the ineffective practice of project management in Nigeria and proffered possible and workable solutions to them. Data were sourced from construction professionals across Nigeria and 71 responses were obtained from the 109 questionnaires that were administered. After applying the Relative Importance Index and Severity Index methods, it was established that the rankings of the critical factors that hamper contract job completion were significantly different, thus underscoring their respective importance. The recommendations, therefore, emphasized training programs, standard regulation protocol, and effective government policy to ensure effective project delivery in the Nigerian construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delays in residential construction projects are common issues in both developing and developed countries. This research aims to identify the key reasons behind these delays in Pakistan. When the projects run behind schedule, this can lead to problems such as exceeding the budget, reduced productivity at the construction site, and potentially lower quality work. The study involved a detailed survey using questionnaires that were addressed to industry professionals. Their responses were used to rank the critical factors causing delays. The most significant factors were found to be fluctuating material prices, financial challenges for contractors, underestimating project duration, poor site management, inexperienced contractors, ineffective project management, communication gaps among project stakeholders, shortage of skilled workers, changes in project design, unqualified contractors, and inadequate project planning. Identifying these critical factors through the Relative Importance Index (RII) method can help in addressing and preventing delays in Pakistan's construction projects, ensuring timely completion and better project outcomes in the future.

This study aimed to identify the critical factors (CFs) influencing project performance and analyze their relative importance across multidimensional criteria throughout the project life cycle. Based on a literature review, 179 individual factors were categorized into nine performance criteria. A questionnaire survey was conducted with client representatives, consultants, and contractors in Thailand. The statistical analysis of 93 subjects showed that the significance levels of the performance criteria and CFs changed depending on the considered phase in the project’s life cycle. The analysis identified the three criteria (client satisfaction, quality, time) that were most frequently used to measure the success of a project. Furthermore, the findings revealed the top 10 CFs for each performance category throughout the life cycle. Notably, these findings provide compelling evidence of the following most important CFs across the performance measures: competence of project participants, adequate experience of project participants, the availability of competent staff, positive personal attitudes among project participants, participation in environmental initiatives by management, competent supervisors, effective project planning and control, the need for collaboration, and the professionalism of the project team’s services. This research provides insights into the factors that influence project success and have managerial implications for project stakeholders, facilitating informed decision making throughout the life cycle. Through establishing novel perspectives, this study enhances the knowledge base in the construction management domain.

Industrialized construction continues to emerge globally. Developing countries like Malaysia are still unable to increase industrialized building system (IBS) implementation significantly, demonstrated by the low IBS percentage of less than 3%. Therefore, this research aims to determine the factors blocking IBS implementation through a mixed-methodological approach in the Malaysian construction industry. Using the data collected from 219 valid questionnaire responses, several statistical analyses were performed. Factor analysis was used to categorize the 25 factors into six main groups namely: “financial concerns,” “ineffective policies,” “technical and management worries,” “traditional stakeholders’ concerns,” “design restrictions” and “negative perception”. The top three critical factors are high initial capital cost, high initial cost of customized design, and transportation cost. Hence, adopting an innovative standardized design concept and increasing IBS manufacturers nationwide are recommended. The findings provide a useful guide to critical blocking factors and, thus, develop feasible solutions to achieve successful implementation of industrialized buildings.

A focus on changing practices towards greater use of environmentally friendly practices in all activities related to the maintenance of the assets and buildings entrusted to the Road Administration and Maintenance logically entails increased financial requirements. As this is a relatively complex issue, road management must be understood in a holistic way, including risk assessment. The dynamics of the sector entails a considerable number of critical factors that have a direct or indirect impact on the achievement of the basic goals of infrastructure management and maintenance organization in the context of ensuring road management and mobility while respecting the basic concept of sustainability. The objective of this article is to define the critical factors of sustainable development in road management, especially in terms of ad hoc maintenance.

Total quality management (TQM) is a management philosophy that focuses on continuous quality improvement across all parts of a company. Its key goals are to satisfy customers and stay in business. As a result, it's critical to identify the elements that lead to successful TQM implementation. This study also proposed a framework that helps organizations in their success. To achieve this goal, various critical success factors (CSFs) that contribute to organizational growth success were identified. The major purpose of this research is to identify critical success factors for TQM implementation in the manufacturing industry. For this aim, the study was deployed from an extensive literature review, and the questionnaire was used as a research instrument to specify the essential CSFs in different manufacturing industries. Around 300 questionnaires were issued to top management of manufacturing enterprises in Sindh Pakistan (both public and commercial sectors). The structured survey received 82 valid responses, which were then analyzed by using factor analysis. Finally, the study's findings highlighted the five CSFs (customer satisfaction, employee involvement, training and education, continuous improvement, employee encouragement, and service quality) as the most important aspects in building an effective framework for successful TQM adoption in manufacturing industries. The findings of this study will assist senior management in the implementation of a TQM program and resource allocation that will produce the greatest results in terms of increased returns and stakeholder value.

This study explores the growing literature on research and development (R&D) collaboration in the context of less developed regions (LDRs) in the European Union (EU) and examines the opportunities for LDRs to successfully collaborate with developed regions. A systematic review of the literature shows that studies on R&D collaboration in LDRs are at the forefront of regional innovation research in the EU and that opportunities to explore this research topic are still wide open. A critical review and synthesis of the selected articles shows that LDRs have equal opportunities to collaborate and build successful relationships with developed regions by paying attention to at least five motivational drivers and critical factors to enhance the success of their R&D collaborations.

Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing companies involve customised production products based on specific customer requirements, and face a significant challenge. Some of those challenges are related with this type of company's activities in production scheduling, planning and control, efficiency improvement and lead time reduction. The present study was conducted with a systematic literature review and a survey from ETO firms to identify the most frequent and critical problems. Among the most critical issues identified is the difficulty in optimising production performance (P3), with a GCI value of 16, implying that both time and cost share the same critical level. An analysis using a proposed Criticality Matrix was then performed enabling companies to prioritise decision-making and resource allocation. The results highlight the importance of adopting mass customisation strategies, innovative approaches and workflow optimisation. Continuous monitoring and analysis of criticality levels can also help ETO companies identify emerging issues and improve informed decisions. Effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders were also identified as vital. Future research could be done expanding further the study sample and developing decision-support tools for ETO manufacturing companies. This study contributes to the field by providing a new criticality matrix for ETO companies to understand better and address their production challenges, aiding in decision-making and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of human disturbance on the breeding habitat selection of endangered species is critical to improving their conservation. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush Pterorhinus courtoisi (Ménégaux, 1923) syn. Garrulax courtoisi (Passeriformes: Leiotrichidae) is an endangered species in China. To explore the nesting habitat selection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush and its response to human disturbance during the breeding period, we conducted a field survey at its nesting sites in Wuyuan County and Dexing City, Jiangxi Province, from March to July 2021 and in June 2022. At the home range scale (200 m) the results of a principal component analysis (PCA) showed that this species had a clear preference for infrastructure construction, grassland, farmland and bare land. At the microhabitat scale (12.26 m), we compared the ecological parameters of a nest plot and control plot using a Kruskal–Wallis H test and found that there were significant differences in the vegetation coverage, crown breadth, shrub coverage, herb maximum height, herb average height and herb species number of the nesting area between the two groups. Ensemble species distribution models showed that the suitable habitat of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush covered an area of 108.67 km2. Distance to waterways, deciduous broadleaved forests and roads were the main factors impacting the habitat distribution of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush. Our study suggests that (1) it is highly important to improve the protection of breeding sites and suitable living areas close to the settlements and preserve a certain nesting habitat selection space for the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush during the breeding period; and (2) it is necessary to continue to monitor the potential suitable breeding habitat. This study provides a scientific basis for the protection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush by local forestry bureaus and conservation departments in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the critical factors behind women’s representation in upper-echelon II managerial positions in local government organizations in Indonesia, which contemporary studies rarely studied. This research interviewed 12 informants at the East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) Provincial Government in Indonesia using a qualitative approach and purposive sampling techniques. This article found eight factors that are critical in influencing women's representation in echelon II positions in local government organizations from three primary dimensions. First, a network of political proxies and representation of ethnicity and electoral areas are factors from the socio-political dimension. Second, the three factors related to the intra-organizational dimension are patriarchal culture, gender stereotypes, and masculine leadership. Lastly, academic respect, self-confidence, and domestic responsibility are three factors from the individual dimension. The practical implication of this study is that for women to be elected to echelon II positions, they need to expand their network or political connections with political party leaders affiliated with elected political officials or the family actors of elected political officials. Additionally, women must adopt masculine leadership models to be accepted by their male colleagues and adapt to a patriarchal organizational environment. Finally, women need to increase their confidence in a leadership capacity.

Street littering has known to be a global phenomenon over the years. The intensity of littering varies across societies and age groups. This study on street littering is centered around youth. The objectives cover two aspects: exploring factors affecting street littering behavior in Sri Lanka and suggesting policy implications. The study adopted quantitative methods based on deductive reasoning approach. Data was collected as survey research using the simple random sampling technique. 315 youth were selected out of the total youth population in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2022. Analysis of data was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Analytical tools such as Pearson correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent sample t-test, and chi-square test were used. The study found to have a strong association between street littering behavior and two critical factors; visibility of litter and group behavior which corresponded with social psychological theories namely theory of deindividuation and theory of social comparison. A significant association with age and education was also indicated against street littering behavior while a weak relationship was noticed between environmental factors. The study suggests policymakers to focus on urgent and long-term sustainable solutions. Short term recommendations include positive and negative reinforcement strategies. The long-term sustainable solutions are proposed to make self-transformations within youth via attitudinal changes. Among the social science researchers in Sri Lanka, ‘Street littering behavior’ is considered an under-researched area. Hence this study provides both academic and empirical implications. Future research can be extended both locally and globally by comparing different demographic variables and changing the research study contexts within the same theme.

Women entrepreneurship has been growing significantly in several countries, wherein recent promoting initiatives include the creation of business networks formed exclusively by women entrepreneurs. In this sense, this study aims to analyze women entrepreneurs' expectations and reality regarding trust factors in a female business network. Besides, this study analyzes the effects of different characteristics related to female entrepreneurship (e.g., the formality of the company, experience of the women entrepreneur, motivation to start a new venture, and motherhood) on trust factors. To this end, a quantitative study was carried out with 34 women entrepreneurs who participate in a female business network, located in Southern Brazil. The model for evaluation of trust proposed by Campos et al. (J Intell Manuf, 1–16, 2017) was applied and the Mann–Whitney and the Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were employed in data analysis. One of the main results has implications for women entrepreneurship and the participation in business networks, as it shows that women entrepreneurs have higher expectations in comparison to the perceived reality concerning trust within the business network. The main results suggest that female business network initiatives may constitute an inclusive policy of women entrepreneurship because it does not distinguish between women with or without children, formal and informal companies, and the motivation to start a new venture(necessity or opportunity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senior housing with age-friendly design and elderly care services contributes to the health and well-being of older people. Previous research has evidenced that the immediate environment factors of senior housing, such as the design of housing features and facilities, have a direct bearing on the satisfaction and quality of life of older people. However, external environment factors, such as political, economic, and social ones that affect key stakeholders' behaviors in senior housing development, are relatively under-researched. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the external environmental factors influencing the development of senior housing. Taking Hong Kong as case study, this study first commenced with a systematic review to identify the factors in political, economic, and social domains from global evidence. Following this, we interviewed local experts from academia, industry, and government to solicit their opinions on the relative importance of these factors. We then determined the factor rankings using the analytical hierarchy process method. The results showed that local experts perceived economic factors as the most critical ones in influencing senior housing development in Hong Kong, including land costs, funding from financial institutions, and government incentives. If policymakers tend to promote senior housing in densely populated cities like Hong Kong, the policies should be attractive for housing developers, such as land premium concessions and innovative financial channels for supporting the long-term development of senior housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the growing literature on research and development (R&D) collaboration in the context of less developed regions (LDRs) in the European Union (EU) and examines the opportunities for LDRs to successfully collaborate with developed regions. A systematic review of the literature shows that studies on R&D collaboration in LDRs are at the forefront of regional innovation research in the EU and that opportunities to explore this research topic are still wide open. A critical review and synthesis of the selected articles shows that LDRs have equal opportunities to collaborate and build successful relationships with developed regions by paying attention to at least five motivational drivers and critical factors to enhance the success of their R&D collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal dumping behavior widely exists in the construction industry and is difficult to manage. What factors and how they influence the illegal dumping behavior of construction and demolition waste remains to be clarified. Specifically, this study employs an ISM-DEMATEL approach to investigate the critical factors that influence the illegal dumping behavior. It is found that the factors, ‘capital investment of enterprises’ and “stakeholders' willingness and attitude”, are vital to tackle the illegal dumping behavior of construction and demolition waste. Yet, compared with business-level factors, the macro-level factors such as ‘social norms and culture’ and ‘government incentive policies’ tend to be less influential. Moreover, enhancing the industry-wise administration system and practitioners' dedication to the issue can be an option to avoid illegal construction waste dumping. The results of this study serve to elucidate the influential factors and offer practical implications for addressing the issue of illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste.

A construction project’s failure encompasses a spectrum of disappointments, which may manifest individually or in combination, spanning the domains of cost, time, quality, and effective project management. This study discerns the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that underpin the triumph or failure of construction projects, while also scrutinizing the interplay between various attributes that contribute to project success, through a comprehensive and thorough examination of prior research endeavors. This extensive review of the literature serves to guide the identification of CSFs that will serve as predictive indicators for assessing the likelihood of a project’s success. This study endeavors to quantify the individual contributions of these Critical Success Factors to the ultimate outcome of a building project. The overarching aim of this current literature research is to offer a meticulous and exhaustive exploration of Critical Success Factors within the context of building projects. This focused and precise undertaking spans articles published in reputable journals over the past decade. From these, we shed new light on the dynamics of construction project success, enriching our understanding of the specific factors that shape the outcomes of these endeavors.

This paper explores critical factors related to the application of data science in the field of safety and discusses plausive causes to explain why the herewith called safety data science (SDS) is still a distant reality in most organizations. To do that, existing literature was screened and inductive reasoning was used to identify potential barriers for the massive use of SDS. As a result, basic foundations are introduced and three critical factors are discussed: (1) the lack of theoretical foundations in SDS to guide empirical applications; (2) unavailability or poor safety data at the organizational level, and (3) the lack of expertise related to data science from the perspective of safety professionals. The study has important implications. From the theoretical perspective, it offers an initial conceptual baseline for SDS and presents its critical factors. Also, directions are given for safety practitioners to explore SDS at the organizational level.

As a new type of clean and renewable energy, tidal current energy has attracted more and more attention from scholars. The Zhoushan Guishan Channel area (GCA) is an important part of the East China Sea port area, with strong currents due to its special terrain. In order to more comprehensively evaluate the characteristics of tidal energy development near the GCA, this paper uses the MIKE21 FM hydrodynamic model to simulate the tidal hydrodynamic process in the Zhoushan sea area and verifies the reliability of the model through the measured data. Based on the results of numerical simulations, the energy flow density, frequency of flow rate occurrence, flow asymmetry, flow rotation, and effective flow time that can be exploited are considered as the key factors affecting the development of tidal current energy. The distribution characteristics of each influencing factor in the region and the different influences on tidal current energy development are analyzed. Numerical simulations show that the average high-tide velocity in the GCA is lower than the ebb-tide velocity, and the duration of the high tide is also shorter than that of the ebb tide, which has a higher flow velocity than the surrounding area. The annual average energy flow density in the GCA is the highest at 4520 W/m2, and the spatial distribution is uneven. The resource level in the central part is much higher than that at both ends of the waterway. Three sections, i.e., A-A′, B-B′, and C-C′, with different key influence factors are selected for specific analysis, and it is concluded that the tidal energy development conditions are relatively superior near the B-B' section in the middle of the GCA, and the exploitable power calculated using the Flux method is about 24.19 MW. The discussion of the results provides a certain reference for the development of local tidal current energy. These key factors affecting tidal current energy development can also be applied to assess the suitability of tidal current energy resource development in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify, analyse, and rank the critical factors affecting social media usage in Egyptian SMEs. This study proposed Technology-Organisation-Environment-Individual (TOEI) framework that integrates the individual dimension into the TOE framework to identify the key factors that drive SMEs in Egypt to use social media in their businesses. The identified factors were collected through a comprehensive review of literature, as well as participants’ opinions. The Best-Worst Method (BWM) was employed to evaluate and prioritise the factors according to their relative importance using data collected from twenty participants. The research findings indicate that relative advantage, cost-effectiveness, customer pressure, competitive pressure, complexity, owner attitude, owner support, owner innovativeness, interactivity, and observability are the highest ranked factors driving the usage of social media among SMEs in Egypt. This research has important implications for practitioners and researchers interested in investigating SMEs’ adoption of social media and how to promote the usage of social media among SMEs in developing countries. The findings of this study also help Egyptian SMEs’ owners recognise the major aspects that influence their decisions to use social media.

The Internet of Things (IoT) can play a key role in transforming traditional agricultural sector to smart agricultural domain. However, in developing economies the adoption is in the nascent stage. This paper aims to evaluate the critical factors that impact the adoption decision of IoT technology in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain (AFSC). Based on a comprehensive literature survey and experts’ opinion 24 critical factors were identified. The identified list of factors was categorized into technological, social, economic, and organizational categories. DEMATEL method was applied to determine the cause-effect relationship of these factors. The results underlined five significant causal factors namely lack of interoperability, environmental sustainability, trust, lack of security, and network challenges which influence the IoT adoption. The results provide unique insights in agro-food sector to improve performance by overcoming the identified key challenges. Also, this study provides a roadmap for the implementation of IoT in emerging economies. Further, this paper guides the agri-food managers, IoT service providers, and the Government to formulate new strategies/policies for the effective adoption of IoT in the agri-food sector

This study constructs a formation model of customer well-being (CWB) in customer experience with joy and customer satisfaction as mediating factors linking three critical factors—convenience, performance and relationship of customer experience with CWB. By collecting data from customers of retailing, the model was empirically tested. The results show that the three critical factors all have positive effects on CWB. Meanwhile, service performance has a direct effect on CWB. Joy plays a key role in the formation of CWB mediating the relationship between the three critical factors and CWB. This study is the first in the literature to explore CWB from the perspective of customer experience with joy as an antecedent of CWB. It provides important implications for managers to enhance customer experience and CWB in the service setting. It also helps managers to pay attention to the role of customer joy in customer experience and make full use of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective of the study: To analyze the influence of contingency factors (environment, structure, organizational size and organizational culture) on the 100 best-ranked Brazilian municipalities in the 2020 Connected Smart Cities Ranking. Methodology/approach: Data were collected from: Atlas of Human Development in Brazil (AtlasBR); Federal Administration Council (CFA); Brazilian Accounting and Tax Information System for the Public Sector (SICONFI); Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), and Superior Electoral Court (TSE). The data refer to the year 2019. The statistical methods used were normality and homogeneity tests, correlation and multiple linear regression, with the aid of the IBM SPSS Statistics Version 2.0 software. Originality/Relevance: It focuses on how contingency factors influence the implementation of smart cities, producing quantitative evidence from the dependent variable with the independent variables. Main results: Multiple linear regression showed that the selected variables explain 62.40% of what a smart city is. It evidences the positive and significant influence of the 'environment'; 'organizational structure' and 'size' contingency factors for cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The results contribute to the gap in empirical studies dealing with the contingency factors that affect municipalities in the sense of them becoming smart cities, and in the understanding of how these factors are related. Social/management contributions: The implications reach the definition of factors that affect public policies, development of public governance practices and citizen engagement for the implementation of smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies in the world today understand that keeping users in touch is essential to enhancing their trust. The primary objective of this study was to determine the intention-based critical determinants of E-commerce utilization in China from the end users’ perspective. We developed a framework that identifies the factors that influence E-commerce utilization in China. Besides, we introduced observational research (data analysis) conducted in a real-world E-commerce sense. Results are based on a sample of 400 respondents by employing a comprehensive questionnaire survey. The structural equation modeling (SEM) and the partial least squares (PLS) regression approach was used to analyze the data. Study results show that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, reputation, trust in vendors, and purchase frequency significantly influence consumers’ intention to use E-commerce systems. Research outcomes emphasize transforming social norms, raising consumers’ awareness, redesigning policy frameworks, and highlighting the paybacks that E-commerce offers through integrative and consistent efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advantages of a cloud computing service are cost advantages, availability, scalability, flexibility, reduced time to market, and dynamic access to computing resources. Enterprises can improve the successful adoption rate of cloud computing services if they understand the critical factors. To find critical factors, this study first reviewed the literature and established a three-layer hierarchical factor table for adopting a cloud computing service based on the Technology-Organization-Environment framework. Then, a hybrid method that combines two multi-criteria decision-making tools--called the Fuzzy Analytic Network Process method and the concept of VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje acceptable advantage--was used to objectively identify critical factors for the adoption of a cloud computing service, replacing the subjective decision of the authors. The results of this study determined five critical factors, namely data access security, information transmission security, senior management support, fallback cloud management, and employee acceptance. Finally, the paper presents the findings and implications of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's dynamic and competitive business world, small and medium-sized enterprises require strategic planning as a business tool. The purpose of this study was to determine requirements that a small business must meet to successfully implement a strategic business plan. The study employs a qualitative research approach for collecting and analysing data. A non-probability sampling method was used to select the 20 small business owners and managers who participated in the study. The data collection was done through the conduction of interviews and thematic analysis was carry out to analyse the data. The findings demonstrate that strategic business planning helps small businesses in analysing their existing contexts, examining how current trends could affect them, and determining best practices to overcome potential barriers to success. The study equally portrays those small businesses that implement strategic business planning into their operations have a higher chance of success than those that do not.

Understanding the impact of human disturbance on the breeding habitat selection of endangered species is critical to improving their conservation. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush Pterorhinus courtoisi (Ménégaux, 1923) syn. Garrulax courtoisi (Passeriformes: Leiotrichidae) is an endangered species in China. To explore the nesting habitat selection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush and its response to human disturbance during the breeding period, we conducted a field survey at its nesting sites in Wuyuan County and Dexing City, Jiangxi Province, from March to July 2021 and in June 2022. At the home range scale (200 m) the results of a principal component analysis (PCA) showed that this species had a clear preference for infrastructure construction, grassland, farmland and bare land. At the microhabitat scale (12.26 m), we compared the ecological parameters of a nest plot and control plot using a Kruskal–Wallis H test and found that there were significant differences in the vegetation coverage, crown breadth, shrub coverage, herb maximum height, herb average height and herb species number of the nesting area between the two groups. Ensemble species distribution models showed that the suitable habitat of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush covered an area of 108.67 km2. Distance to waterways, deciduous broadleaved forests and roads were the main factors impacting the habitat distribution of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush. Our study suggests that (1) it is highly important to improve the protection of breeding sites and suitable living areas close to the settlements and preserve a certain nesting habitat selection space for the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush during the breeding period; and (2) it is necessary to continue to monitor the potential suitable breeding habitat. This study provides a scientific basis for the protection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush by local forestry bureaus and conservation departments in the future.

The health sector is one of the most knowledge-intensive and complicated globally. It has been proven repeatedly that Business Intelligence (BI) systems in the healthcare industry can help hospitals make better decisions. Some studies have looked at the usage of BI in health, but there is still a lack of information on how to develop a BI system successfully. There is a significant research gap in the health sector because these studies do not concentrate on the organizational determinants that impact the development and acceptance of BI systems in different organizations; therefore, the aim of this article is to develop a framework for successful BI system development in the health sector taking into consideration the organizational determinants of BI systems' acceptance, implementation, and evaluation. The proposed framework classifies the determinants under organizational, process, and strategic aspects as different types to ensure the success of BI system deployment. Concerning practical implications, this paper gives a roadmap for a wide range of healthcare practitioners to ensure the success of BI system development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, interface management has been regarded as the key to the success of prefabricated building projects (PBPs) due to its capabilities to manage numerous interfaces caused by PBPs' inherent geographical and organizational fragmentation. However, the factors influencing the interface management of PBPs are largely unknown and poorly studied. To compensate for this gap, this study aimed to investigate the critical factors influencing interface management in PBPs with quantitative and qualitative methods. Twenty-seven critical factors influencing the interface management of PBPs were identified through a literature review, questionnaire survey, and face-to-face interviews with professionals in the construction industry. A questionnaire survey was sent out to developers, designers, manufacturers, contractors, and consultants in China, and 66 completed questionnaires were received. Results showed the top five critical factors influencing the interface management of PBPs were (1) accuracy of design, (2) timeliness of information communication, (3) timeliness of component production and supply, (4) standardization of design, and (5) definition of work content and scope. The 27 influencing factors of PBPs were further categorized into seven groups via exploratory factor analysis, namely: (1) information communication, (2) trust and cooperation, (3) technical and management capability, (4) organizational integration, (5) standardization, (6) technical environment, and (7) contractual management. Improving these issues will contribute to the successful implementation of PBPs. Finally, combined with relevant literature and expert interviews, the impact of these seven clusters on the interface management of PBPs was discussed. The findings may contribute to deepening the understanding of interface management, reducing unnecessary conflicts and difficulties, and promoting the sustainable development of prefabricated building (PB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to develop a measurement instrument for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) critical factors, practices and performance and validate it in the food industry. A literature review was conducted in order to identify pertinent variables and propose relevant measuring items. An email survey was carried out in 423 Greek companies in the food and beverage sector. The questionnaire was sent by e-mail in the Google Forms format and it was requested to be answered by a representative of the company. The collected data was processed using exploratory factor analysis in order to extract the latent constructs of the SSCM critical factors, practices and performance measures. The validity of the proposed instrument was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. The extracted SSCM critical factors are "firm-level sustainability critical factors" and "supply chain sustainability critical factors". The extracted SSCM practices are "supply chain collaboration" and "supply chain strategic orientation". The extracted SSCM performance factors are "economic performance", "social performance" and "environmental performance". The three developed constructs constitute a measurement instrument that can be used both by practitioners who desire to implement SSCM and by researchers who can apply the proposed scales in other research projects or use them as assessment tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to identify and prioritize the critical factors of success in managing the telecommunication supply chain of Mazandaran province with the help of the DEMATEL Analytical Network Process (DANP). Methodology: The present study is exploratory survey research and an applied case study. The statistical population is 15 experts of telecommunication of Mazandaran province. Their opinions are used to prioritize the criteria. Since the study population of this study is limited, it was decided to examine the whole society and to sampling should be avoided. In this research, using the DANP technique in MATLAB software, it has been proposed that the variables that have been collected from the articles have been prepared and tested in conjunction with the experts. Among the different criteria, four main dimensions of safety dimension, cost dimension, organizational dimension, and after repair and maintenance were determined. Findings: According to the experts' answers and the results of the analysis, repair and maintenance are described as the most important component in prioritizing the critical factors of success in managing the telecommunication supply chain of Mazandaran province. The results will shed light on better policymaking in the field. Originality/Value: The results showed that by identifying and prioritizing the critical factors of success in supply chain management, companies can gain a great competitive advantage.

—This paper provides a significant contribution to the knowledge by identifying the impact of ISO 9001 implementation on the most vital factors of project management within large scale (AAA) construction firms in Metro Manila, Philippines. Thus, the study was accomplished an extensive literature review for identifying the main factors of project management, ISO 9001 standard, and other concepts, for developing an appropriate survey instrument. Then the questionnaires were distributed randomly among selected ISO 9001:2008-certified projects of large-scale (AAA) construction firms. For data analysis, the study adopted the descriptive and inferential statistics analysis, in order to find the results and conclusions. Lastly, the findings indicated that ISO 9001 certification can statistically affect the two main factors of project management, except time length of projects in Metro Manila, Philippines.

External corrosion assessments of pipeline systems encompass two critical factors: time and space (location). Field measurement databases, laboratory testing, and theoretical prediction studies have been reported, based on continuous monitoring, survey and on-site characterization techniques, and controlled and simulated laboratory-scale environment studies. Theoretical models have identified several critical factors in assessing external corrosion for buried structures at different scales. This work presents a review of critical parameters for characterizing, modeling, and assessing the corrosion process in buried pipelines. A multiscale approach is used to integrate factors identified from field measurements, laboratory testing, and data-driven and computer-based models. Furthermore, we elucidate the importance of macro parameters and the influence of their spatial distribution on the initiation and propagation of local corrosion mechanisms with their corresponding local (micro scale) conditions. This work also reviews the critical parameters and approaches used for deterministic, semi-empirical, probabilistic, and data-driven modeling, defining the scope of global versus local factors for external corrosion at the soil/steel pipeline interface.

Senior housing with age-friendly design and elderly care services contributes to the health and well-being of older people. Previous research has evidenced that the immediate environment factors of senior housing, such as the design of housing features and facilities, have a direct bearing on the satisfaction and quality of life of older people. However, external environment factors, such as political, economic, and social ones that affect key stakeholders’ behaviors in senior housing development, are relatively under-researched. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the external environmental factors influencing the development of senior housing. Taking Hong Kong as case study, this study first commenced with a systematic review to identify the factors in political, economic, and social domains from global evidence. Following this, we interviewed local experts from academia, industry, and government to solicit their opinions on the relative importance of these factors. We then determined the factor rankings using the analytical hierarchy process method. The results showed that local experts perceived economic factors as the most critical ones in influencing senior housing development in Hong Kong, including land costs, funding from financial institutions, and government incentives. If policymakers tend to promote senior housing in densely populated cities like Hong Kong, the policies should be attractive for housing developers, such as land premium concessions and innovative financial channels for supporting the long-term development of senior housing.