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A defining characteristic of the Internet of Things (IoT) is pervasive collection and linkage of user data to provide personalised experiences. To enable this functionality, IoT devices and services must be connected and share data about users' interactions with multiple nodes in the network. Consistent identification of users and devices across the network is likewise necessary. These aspects of the IoT can pose risks to user privacy. Potentially invasive inferences can be drawn from linked datasets, including data generated through usage of connected devices and services. The forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) contains numerous provisions relevant to the risks posed by identification technologies. However, the strict legal requirements defined in the Articles of the GDPR may be insufficient to ensure a fair balance is struck between user's interests in privacy and the interests of IoT developers and data controllers. To address this gap, this paper proposes a three-step transparency model based on known privacy risks of the IoT, weaknesses in relevant legally binding provisions in the GDPR, and the GDPR's governing principles. Eleven guidelines aimed at IoT developers and data controllers are described addressing how information about the functionality of IoT devices and services should be shared with users. The guidelines describe ethically desirable standards to be adhered to in addition to the GDPR's legally binding requirements. To demonstrate how the guidelines could apply in practice and alter the design choices and practices of IoT developers and data controllers, connected cars are considered as a use case.

Coin mixing can be used to protect the identity privacy of Bitcoin owners, by engaging a set of middlepersons (i.e., ${Mix}$ ) to temporarily hold on to the transacting Bitcoins and remove the linkage between the transacting parties. However, existing schemes are generally not scalable due to limitations associated with the anonymity set, and self-credibility. In this paper, we propose an efficient coin mixing scheme (CoinLayering). To achieve strong anonymity, CoinLayering randomly selects two sets of middlepersons to respectively execute Bitcoin holding and Bitcoin trading. The seller can also select lower-loaded sets of middlepersons in the shortest time possible. We also design two coin mixing protocols (CoinLayering-PA and CoinLayering-PB) to mitigate the risk due to misbehaving middlepersons and ${Supervisor}$ . We then mathematically prove that CoinLayering achieves both strong anonymity and self-credibility, and evaluate its performance to demonstrate its scalability.

This study presents modular transformable wheels capable of overcoming obstacles. They can be used for indoor service robots or service platforms such as wheelchairs and baby carriages, which often move up and down on thresholds or on sidewalks. The structure of the wheel and transformation mechanism are introduced. The wheel has two built-in brushless DC (BLDC) motors. The BLDC motor is remodeled to add the gear box inside. These motors create a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) transformation of the wheel. The 2-DOF mechanism is achieved by a 7-bar linkage with six rotational joints and one prismatic joint. A platform using the presented modular transformable wheels was used to experimentally verify the ability to climb up and down a staircase.

Healthcare institutions have been working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service delivered. The literature has argued that their capabilities have a direct effect on service outcomes. Research has explained how their capabilities can be enhanced by implementing high-performance work practices (HPWP) bundles and how these bundles can impact performance through relational coordination. However, this previous research has focused primarily on single-specialty healthcare institutions in a developed country. Inherent characteristics of multispecialty healthcare institutions (e.g., inability to standardize) and emerging economy context (e.g., absence of case manager role) motivate further investigation in this setting. Therefore, in our research, we study the impact of HPWP on the overall performance, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare service delivered and how this linkage is moderated by relational coordination. We analyzed 605 valid responses from different healthcare institutions located in the southern Tamil Nadu state of India using structural equation modeling. In alignment with past research, our results show that HPWP improves the overall performance and effectiveness and this linkage is moderated by relational coordination. However, HPWP's impact on efficiency and its moderation by relational coordination is insignificant. We explain the results by anchoring them to the characteristics of the multispecialty and emerging economy context.

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a linear programming methodology for measuring the efficiency of Decision Making Units (DMUs) to improve organizational performance in the private and public sectors. However, if a new DMU needs to be known its efficiency score, the DEA analysis would have to be re-conducted, especially nowadays, datasets from many fields have been growing rapidly in the real world, which will need a huge amount of computation. Following the previous studies, this paper aims to establish a linkage between the DEA method and machine learning (ML) algorithms, and proposes an alternative way that combines DEA with ML (ML-DEA) algorithms to measure and predict the DEA efficiency of DMUs. Four ML-DEA algorithms are discussed, namely DEA-CCR model combined with back-propagation neural network (BPNN-DEA), with genetic algorithm (GA) integrated with back-propagation neural network (GANN-DEA), with support vector machines (SVM-DEA), and with improved support vector machines (ISVM-DEA), respectively. To illustrate the applicability of above models, the performance of Chinese manufacturing listed companies in 2016 is measured, predicted and compared with the DEA efficiency scores obtained by the DEA-CCR model. The empirical results show that the average accuracy of the predicted efficiency of DMUs is about 94%, and the comprehensive performance order of four ML-DEA algorithms ranked from good to poor is GANN-DEA, BPNN-DEA, ISVM-DEA, and SVM-DEA.

This paper is part of the research on the interlinkages between insurers and their contribution to systemic risk on the insurance market. Its main purpose is to present the results of the analysis of linkage dynamics and systemic risk in the European insurance sector which are obtained using correlation networks. These networks are based on dynamic dependence structures modelled using a copula. Then, we determine minimum spanning trees (MST). Finally, the linkage dynamics is described by means of selected topological network measures.

This study is focused on analyzing the linkage between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, renewable energy consumption (RE), foreign direct investment (FDI), national patents (NP), exports (X), imports (M), and gross domestic product (GDP) in Tunisia by using the time series data from 1980 to 2017. A unit root test and an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model were applied to avoid bias caused by data mismatch and autocorrelation of time series data. Elasticity long-run test shows that renewable energy consumption, exports, and gross domestic product have a positive impact on CO2 emissions, while foreign direct investment acts negatively on CO2 emissions. Depending on the error correction term test, there is a long-run causality: from CO2 emissions, renewable energy, foreign direct investment, exports, and gross domestic product to home patent. Findings of the short-run causality show that there is a unidirectional causality running from exports to CO2 emissions and from exports to gross domestic product. Our results also show that Tunisia should encourage foreign direct investment because it seems to be an important factor in the mitigation of CO2 emissions.

The economic structure of countries can influence economic growth, energy demand, and environmental footprints. However, the literature on economic complexity and ecological footprint (EFP) nexus is scarce. Besides, democracy is an important factor that may affect environmental policies and environmental sustainability. Hence, this paper investigates the effect of democracy, economic complexity, and renewable energy technology budgets on the EFP in G7 countries controlling income and financial development from 1985 to 2017. The findings from Westerlund (J Appl Econ 23:193-233, 2008) and other cointegration methods depict cointegration among variables. The long-run estimates from the continuously updated fully modified method unfold that economic complexity contributes to reducing the EFP. However, greater democratic accountability boosts the EFP figures rather than reducing them. On the flipside, renewable energy technology budgets and financial development are evidenced to mitigate EFP. Moreover, the study unveils a U-shaped linkage between economic growth and EFP, which indicates that an increase in income level will boost EFP. Further, the study found causality from economic complexity, democracy, and renewable energy budgets to EFP. Based on these findings, it is pertinent for the G7 countries to increase the manufacturing of sophisticated and complex products. In addition, enhancing renewable energy technology budgets is essential to ensure environmental well-being.

PurposeWhen the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic seriously hit the USA, a lot of cities/states announced their lockdowns, in some cases forbidding employees to go to work. But workers in the so called “essential sectors” were exempt from the order, and on the contrary were required to remain on the job in order to maintain the services and functions considered vital to the community. If they have not been paid well in comparison to those in the other sectors, there would be a stronger case for granting them a special hazard pay during the pandemic. This paper aims to design a way to measure the “importance” or being “essential” of the different sectors in the economy, and then investigates whether the actual pay of the workers in these sectors is consistent with the measured importance.Design/methodology/approachAt least two policy issues emerged from such an arrangement: (1) How can one define the “essential sectors” objectively instead of the authorities preparing a list according to their administrative procedure? (2) How well have been the workers in the essential sectors paid before the pandemic strike? The concept of a revised Leontief forward linkage effect will be used in an input–output model to gauge the relative “importance” of the different sectors in the US economy. Then the measured importance will be compared with the average compensation of the employees in these sectors.FindingsIt is found that for some sectors such as agriculture, retail trade, and repair and installation of machinery and equipment the ratio of workers' compensation relative to the national average is substantially lower than the relative importance of the sectors employing them. That is, many of them have been substantially underpaid in spite of their importance.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of this study is limited to one country, the USA, but the methodology can be applied to other countries as well.Originality/valueThis study is an original research that contributes to an improved understanding of the importance of the workers engaged in different sectors in the USA during COVID-19.

Berbagai studi telah dilakukan untuk menganalisis dampak pengganda dari perekonomian Bali. Namun, studi-studi tersebut umumnya berfokus pada keterkaitan antar sektor menggunakan model Input-Output (IO). Padahal, perekonomian antar wilayah dapat saling bergantung melalui berbagai macam eksternalitas dan jaringan rantai suplai. Studi ini menganalisis perekonomian Bali tidak hanya berdasarkan hubungan antar sektor, namun juga mempertimbangkan hubungan ekonomi Bali dengan provinsi lainnya. Model yang digunakan adalah Inter Regional Input Output (IRIO). Tabel IRIO berukuran 17 industri x 34 provinsi diperoleh dari Badan Pusat Statistik. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa terdapat beberapa industri unggulan di Provinsi Bali, yaitu Listrik dan Gas, Transportasi dan Pergudangan, Informasi dan Komunikasi, dan Jasa Perusahaan. Industri Listrik dan Gas memiliki keterkaitan antar sektor dan dampak output yang paling besar diantara industri-industri di Provinsi Bali. Selanjutnya, analisis antar wilayah menunjukkan bahwa shock permintaan akhir di Provinsi Bali berdampak besar terhadap perekonomian provinsi-provinsi di Pulau Jawa, khususnya Jawa Timur. Di sisi lain, perekonomian Bali sangat dipengaruhi oleh shock permintaan akhir di Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat.

ZusammenfassungEinleitung In Deutschland wurde der Rettungsdienst im Jahr 2016/2017 bei insgesamt rund 7,3 Mio. Notfallereignissen aktiv 1. Informationen zu der dabei erfolgenden prähospitalen Versorgung von Patient*innen finden sich in unterschiedlichen Sekundärdatenquellen; jedoch ist die kombinierte Analyse dieser Daten auf Fall-/Einsatz- oder Patient*innen-Ebene selten der Fall. Um dies zu ändern, ist die Erforschung von Merkmalen und Methoden erforderlich, anhand derer Sekundärdaten, welche präklinische Inhalte umfassen, verknüpft werden können.Methode Es werden Rettungsdienst-Einsatzprotokolle aus 5 bayerischen Rettungsdienstbereichen mit Abrechnungsinformationen 10 gesetzlicher Krankenkassen zusammengeführt (Daten aus 2016). Demonstriert werden 2 Verknüpfungsansätze auf Ebene patient*innenindividueller Einsätze bzw. abgerechneter Leistungen. Zuerst erfolgt die Verknüpfung deterministisch anhand des Personenidentifikators Krankenversichertennummer (KVNR). Der zweite Verknüpfungsansatz beruht auf einem probabilistischen Verfahren, das neben der nur in einem Teil der Einsatzprotokolle verfügbaren KVNR indirekte Schlüsselvariablen berücksichtigt. Dabei handelt es sich um die Kassenzugehörigkeit der Patient*innen, ihr Geschlecht und Geburtsjahr sowie die zurückgelegte Wegstrecke des eingesetzten Rettungsmittels. Zur Prüfung sowohl der deterministischen als auch probabilistischen Verknüpfung werden Übereinstimmungsquoten verschiedener, in beiden Datenquellen vorhandener Variablen ermittelt.Ergebnisse Ausgangspunkt für die Datenverknüpfungen stellen 106 371 Rettungsdienst-Einsatzprotokolle (unabhängig von der Krankenkasse) sowie 432 693 bei Krankenkassen abgerechnete Leistungen (unabhängig vom Rettungsdienstanbieter) aus dem Bereich der Notfallrettung dar. Von 5921 Einsatzprotokollen, in denen eine an Inno_RD datenliefernde Krankenkasse dokumentiert ist, können 4327 Einsatzprotolle deterministisch unter Rückgriff auf die KVNR mit den Abrechnungsdaten zusammengeführt werden. Im Rahmen der probabilistischen Verknüpfung lässt sich diese Anzahl auf 5379 Einsatzprotolle steigern. Alle Prüfungen deuten sowohl für den deterministischen als auch den probabilistischen Ansatz auf eine hohe Verknüpfungsqualität hin.Schlussfolgerung Eine personen- und einsatzbezogene Verknüpfung von Einsatzprotokollen des Rettungsdienstes mit Abrechnungsdaten ist möglich. Als Alternative zur deterministischen Verknüpfung anhand der KVNR hat sich in Inno_RD ein probabilistischer Ansatz bewährt, auf dessen Grundlage Einsatzprotokolle auch dann sinnvoll verknüpft werden können, wenn KVNR nicht vorliegen sowie indirekte Schlüsselvariablen im geringen Umfang Nicht-Übereinstimmungen oder Missing-Values aufweisen.

Solar geoengineering may be able to significantly reduce climate-change risks, but raises sharp controversy, the leading cause of which is the concern that its research, development, or use might inappropriately displace efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions (“mitigation”). Although well-crafted policies could in principle manage such possible mitigation displacement, describing how they could do so effectively and feasibly has proven elusive. A possible response would be to strategically link the international policies of mitigation and solar geoengineering. Here we explore and expand on this idea, including by disaggregating states based on their relevant characteristics (including willingness to increase mitigation, willingness to implement solar geoengineering contrary to any international consensus, and their desired intensity of solar geoengineering), the incentives that various policy linkages could foster, and considering the processes of developing linkages. We explore potential linkage of mitigation with the research and development of solar geoengineering, with decision-making regarding whether to deploy; and with that regarding how to deploy. These potential linkages are assessed on whether they could effectively reduce mitigation displacement (if not increase mitigation), appear feasible, and would not be inconsistent with widely-held norms. In the linkage mechanism with the greatest apparent potential, one or more states would proclaim their right to deploy solar geoengineering if they meet their own mitigation targets and the rest of the world insufficiently mitigates. We identify possible challenges, including legitimacy, credibility, optimal size, relations among nonmembers, mitigation targets, and complexity, none of which seem insurmountable.

PurposeAccording to relational contract theory, relational governance has potential to improve public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure project sustainability. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the association between relational governance and the sustainability of PPP infrastructure projects. Further, this study examines the mediating effect of managerial innovation and the moderating role of public involvement.Design/methodology/approachResearch data were collected from 158 valid questionnaires completed by Chinese PPP professionals. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was then employed to test five hypotheses.FindingsResults indicate a positive correlation between relational governance and PPP infrastructure project sustainability. This linkage is regulated by public involvement. In addition, managerial innovation plays a mediating role between relational governance and the sustainability of PPP infrastructure projects.Originality/valueThis study verifies the relationship between relational governance and PPP infrastructure project sustainability, as well as intermediary and regulatory factors, providing a new approach to achieving sustainability in PPP infrastructure projects.

Sustainable procurement is developing among practitioners and academics, but not many have done this research with the object of higher education institutions. This study succeeded in obtaining twelve indicators of sustainable procurement in higher education in Indonesia. The interpretive structural modeling method is used to model these indicators so that a four-level model is obtained, where the first level consists of seven indicators, the second level is one indicator, the third level is two indicators, and the fourth level is two indicators. In addition, the twelve indicators were also grouped using MICMAC analysis into four quadrants. Eight indicators are included in the autonomous indicators quadrant, four indicators are included in the independent indicators quadrant. Nothing is included in the dependent indicators and linkage indicators quadrant. This study proposes to the management of higher education to improve the performance of sustainable procurement, starting from level four indicators, namely the existence of routine monitoring and sustainability criteria (P12) and there is awareness of sustainable procurement on campus internals (P2).

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG [Abstract] Deployable bar structures are especially useful for emergency buildings. These structures require simplicity and ease of assembly and their performance can be improve by using reciprocal linkage at their bars ends. This reciprocal configuration determines singular constructive conditions that allow all types of cylindrical vaults. This article develops this new system, from a previously theoretical analysis to a test campaign that allows verifying the validity of the proposal. Comparing these results with those resulting from construction systems with straight scissor-like elements or imposed curvature, shows the adequacy of this new proposal, verifying the advantages of the reciprocal joints in cylindrical vaults configurations. This study is part of the research project “Deployable and modular constructions for situations of humanitarian catastrophe”, funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Kingdom of Spain with reference BIA2016-79459-R. Funding for open access charge: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG

The paper examined the relationship between organizational ambidexterity on the attitude of employees and the financial performance of the banking sector in Ghana. This quantitative research employed a survey to sample the views of 195 employees of the various commercial banks. Data were analyzed through structural equation modeling using the Smart PLS 3.0 software. The study revealed that exploitation and exploration factors positively and significantly predicted the attitude of employees at the banks; the attitude of the employees also predicted the financial performance, while exploratory factors had a positive and insignificant effect on the financial performance of the banks. The study also revealed that ambidexterity was not automatic among large firms as opined in the extant literature. There is the need to advance the exploratory section of ambidexterity in the banking sector—especially in a developing economy to augment banks' financial performance. The study contributes to the ongoing research in examining the linkage between organizational ambidexterity and financial performance. The strategic implication of the result is discussed in the paper.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether and why the base of the pyramid (BOP) actors display passive innovation resistance because of which they reject service innovations without evaluation and forfeit potential to improve their well-being. The resourceness concept, referring to the outcome of how actors appraise and integrate resources in pursuit of a purpose at hand, is used as a theoretical lens to investigate the everyday consumption behaviour of BOP households and helps to investigate how and why passive innovation resistance occurs. The outcomes of the study help address important theoretical and practical considerations for the development of successful new service concepts at the BOP.Design/methodology/approachNarrative interviews with 29 households in Zambia provide data, from which patterns in how potential resources do or do not become real are identified and related to the concept of passive innovation.FindingsEconomic, social and other factors in the BOP context clearly influence non-random patterns of resource integration which are correlated with passive innovation resistance. This can lead to service innovations being ignored and/or misunderstood prior to evaluation for adoption. This is a risk to the potential positive impact of service innovation for poverty alleviation at the BOP.Practical implicationsService innovation at the BOP must begin with a deep understanding of “how” and “why” consumers typically appraise and integrate potential resources to achieve a beneficial outcome in their context. To overcome the barrier of passive innovation resistance, marketing education must stimulate an understanding of potential benefits and motivation towards the change associated with the adoption of service innovation.Social implicationsThe findings support more successful service innovation strategies for the BOP, which can provide vital infrastructure for the alleviation of poverty.Originality/valueThe application of a service-dominant logic perspective in the BOP context and the conceptual linkage between resourceness and passive innovation resistance is novel. Valuable insights are gained for service practitioners at the BOP and for further conceptual development of innovation resistance in the BOP context.

The present study aims to close this gap in the literature by exploring the effect of public-private partnerships in energy and financial development on Brazil’s ecological footprint by considering the impact of renewable energy and economic growth using data spanning from 1983 to 2017. The study utilized several techniques such as ARDL, FMOLS, DOLS, and CCR to examine the relationship between ecological footprint and the determinants, while the Gradual shift causality test was utilized to capture the causal linkage between the series in the presence of structural break. The outcome of the Maki Cointegration test revealed evidence of a long-run association among the variables of interest. Furthermore, the results of the ARDL, FMOLS, DOLS, and CCR tests revealed that economic growth and public and private investment in energy increase environmental degradation while both renewable energy and financial development mitigates it. Moreover, the Gradual shift causality test revealed a bidirectional causal linkage between ecological footprint and economic growth. The present study recommends establishing a forum that will foster public and private partnerships to enhance communication, which will create collaboration for new initiatives for green technological innovations. Additionally, the financial market can be assisted by the government by formulating a framework that would promote low carbon technology development.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of high performance work systems (HPWSs) on employee voice, employee innovation and organization performance in a service organization. The study examines the mediating roles of employee voice on HPWSs and organizational performance.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was distributed to 600 professional staff and a total number of 360 respondents returned the survey. The hypotheses are tested through the use of the variance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) technique.FindingsThese findings indicate that the HPWS has a significant impact on employee innovation and organization performance. The empirical evidence does not support the relationship between HPWS and employee voice and also employee voice does not mediate the relationship between HPWS and organization performance in a human resource (HR) service organization.Research limitations/implicationsEmployee voice does not empirically mediate the relationship between HPWS and organization performance; other factors can be further explored. Future research should employ other theories of strategic human resource management (SHRM) to further explore more factors that influence the HPWS on employee innovation, employee voice and organization performance.Practical implicationsThe organization should respond to employee voice through aforementioned rather than the use of traditional, strategic and operational methods or tools believed to be the best approach to employee issues.Originality/valueThis study builds a solid empirical investigation that contributes to the HPWS existing body of knowledge. It is also significant as it is one of the few studies that examine the link between HPWS and job outcomes, like employee voice, employee innovation and organizational performance, in an HR service organization and also employee voice as a mediator on HPWS and organizational performance.

This article analyzes the complexity of the linkages between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance in Morocco and to decompose this complexity through a bidirectional sense of causality. Using data surveyed from 74 Moroccan listed firms, we conduct an econometric modeling to measure this relationship bilaterally and to investigate the underlying factors behind this association. The empirical study proves the existence of a positive association between CSR and firm performance in both directions in the Moroccan context and suggests that the more social enterprises are, the more they achieve better financial results. The mutual linkage between social and financial aspects allows us to draw some managerial implications and set up further research directions. JEL classification: M14. Resumen El objetivo del artículo es analizar la complejidad de los vínculos entre la responsabilidad social empresarial (RSE) y el desempeño empresarial en Marruecos y descomponer dicha complejidad a través de un sentido bidireccional de la causalidad. Por medio de la recolección de datos de 74 empresas marroquíes que cotizan en la bolsa, se realiza una modelización econométrica para medir esta relación en un sentido bidireccional e investigar los factores que subyacen tras dicha asociación. El estudio empírico demuestra la existencia de una asociación positiva entre la RSE y el desempeño empresarial en ambos sentidos en el contexto marroquí y sugiere que cuanto más sociales son las empresas, estas obtienen mejores resultados financieros. El vínculo mutuo entre los aspectos sociales y financieros permite deducir algunas implicaciones para la gestión y establecer algunas vías de investigaciones futuras. Resumo O objetivo do artigo é analisar a complexidade das ligações entre responsabilidade social empresarial (RSE) e desempenho empresarial no Marrocos e decompor esta complexidade através de um sentido bidirecional de causalidade. Através da recolha de dados de 74 empresas marroquinas listadas, realizamos uma modelagem econométrica para medir esta relação em um sentido bidirecional e pesquisar os fatores subjacentes a esta associação. O estudo empírico mostra a existência de uma associação positiva entre a RSE e o desempenho empresarial em ambas as direções no contexto marroquino e sugere que quanto mais sociais as empresas forem, melhores serão seus resultados financeiros. A ligação mútua entre os aspectos sociais e financeiros permite deduzir algumas implicações para a gestão e estabelecer algumas vias de pesquisa futuras.

The development of IoT techniques and the automation enabled by trigger-action platforms have brought great convenience to human life. However, with time the proliferating IoT devices will eventually overwhelm such platforms. Specifically, the ever-increasing huge amount of linkage rules significantly challenge the response rate as well as the efficiency of conflict rule detection, which will lead to terrible user experience and disastrous security issues. In this work, we develop a rule engine system for large-scale trigger-action applications. The key insight is that the linkage rules can be executed independent from the central cloud platform, which only require edge-side gateways and an efficient addressing strategy. The platform-side maintains an global image consisting of mappings between rules and gateway addresses, while edge-side rule engine is designed based on an open source tool, i.e., Drools. The implemented RETE algorithm helps to carry out large-scale linkage rules. In addition, we design a lightweight yet effective conflict detection algorithm that categorizes those rules into several types to downgrade the computation complexity. Experiments prove that the system can reduce the resource consumption of the platform-side and remarkably enhance the response speed. Moreover, our system also achieve a high efficacy when detecting conflicts.

Few decades ago, the Internet became a new home for academic research and a spot where teaching and learning materials could be found. A cursory look at previous studies on university instructors' use of online resources shows intermittent influence students' academic outcomes in Nigerian schools. Although, several efforts have been put in place to establish a cordial and steady relationship between university instructors' use of online resources and the students' academic attainment in Nigerian schools, it seems that there is paucity of studies on the linkage between university instructors' use of online resources and students' academic attainment in Social Studies. This research explored the relationship between Social Studies lecturers' use of online resources and students' performance in the course. This study adopted descriptive research using correlational design, and purposive sampling technique. 398 students at two Bachelor of Education degree-awarding institutions in Nigeria responded to the questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The outcomes of this discourse indicated no significant relationship between Social Studies lecturers' use of online resources and students' performance in the course. Additionally, it was evident from the results that the extent to which Social Studies students’ use of online resources in the selected tertiary institutions in Nigeria was high. This paper, therefore, concludes that the use of online resources has no significant relationship with students' performance in Social Studies. It was recommended that university instructors should grasp a new means in the use of online resources in the classroom in order to foster a good lecturer-students interaction that would eventually results in great academic attainment of students in the course.

A systematic review of studies providing evidence of the linkage between human factors (HF) in the design and management of operations to production quality performance was conducted. 71 peer reviewed research papers were found to provide evidence of the HF-Quality relationship. These studies identified 178 design factors relating to quality. These included 1) Product Design (54), 2) Production Process Design (75), and 3) Workstation Design aspects (49). In addition 26 Individual quality risk factors were identified. Of the studies identified, about half studied the effects on the human finding associations with the operator workload and fatigue indicators and quality performance. These intermediary variables may provide insight into the mechanism by which HF flaws in the design of production lead to quality deficits in running manufacturing. These results provide useful information for operations managers and production system design teams to secure higher quality performance in their systems by applying human factors.

Online teaching has both opportunities and challenges. The main issues that are emphasized in this study is on how to grasp and adapt to the situation, strengthen training and policy incentives, establish quality assurance supervision and inspection as well as linkage mechanism, and actively explore the reform mode. From the perspective of management, taking Baoshan University in Yunnan Province as an example, this article summarizes the practical experience of online teaching, analyzes the shortcomings of online teaching, explores the online and offline hybrid teaching, and promotes local colleges to reform their teaching mode.

This study examines traditional and social media news use in relation to political knowledge from the perspective of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Data from a two-wave panel survey show that social me...

— This paper proposes a Peripheral Silhouette Chasing Technique (PSCT) that lessens vigor feasting for stalking movable boards in wireless stratagem nets in footings of detecting and message vigor ingesting. PSCT preserves get-up-and-go by hire only a least quantity of feeler bulges contribute in announcement and accomplish detecting for objective pursuing. The trifling succeeding extent founded on the vehicular kinematics. The showing of objective’s kinematics agrees for clipping available share of the stalking part that cannot be instinctively visited by the movable objective within reserved time. So, sends the stalking expanse material to only the instrument bulges within negligible stalking expanse and wakes them up. Equated to the inheritance pattern which uses sphere-based pursuing expanse, our suggested structure uses not as much of integer of antennae for stalking in cooperation epistle and distinguishing deprived of objective gone. From side to side recreation, us show that PSCT leave behind the round-constructed arrangement with near 70% vitality exchangeable beneath convinced epitome circumstances. Index Term — Stratagem Linkage, Objective Stalking, Vigor, Stalking Expanse, Peripatetic Objective, Automobile, Kinematics, Round, Recognizing, Decree, Optimization.

Business ventures have experienced environments pertaining to rapid morphological changes that have led to the adoption of entrepreneurial teams as opposed to singular individuals. With such a high potential for failure, startups must revert into the foundation of their organization to ensure success and longevity through the formation of an entrepreneurial team. The formation of the entrepreneurial team leads itself to debate due to its diverse linkage with surrounding contexts and the endless combinations of team characteristics. This paper will start by exploring surrounding contexts that affect the performance of entrepreneurship, providing a landscape to the approach of “individual versus team entrepreneur”. The study will shift into venture capitalists and their startup selection criteria lending way to the assumption that entrepreneurial teams are more likely to receive investor funding due to possible parallels in expertise and personalities between the team and the venture capitalist. Afterwards, previous literature will be explored on the components of the entrepreneurial team, creating a structure for the ideal way of composing a team based on the heterogeneous skills and homogenous personalities. The John Holland (IESC Theory) and the Theory of Predicted Behavior will provide evidence towards the efficiency and applicability of the TEAM framework, establishing that a structure including 4 main individual types is required for synergy within a new venture; The Entrepreneur, The Manager, The Technical Expert, and the Assisting Functions. By implementing the TEAM framework, startup success rates can increase and provide substantial benefits for both the entrepreneur and the fund investor.

Transformasi Hijau dan Implikasinya terhadap Daya Saing BerkelanjutanAbstractThis paper examines the linkage of green transformation and competitive advantage at the global level using constant market share and global value chain analysis. Constant market share analysis is used to measure a country’s trade contribution by comparing a country’s export growth with world export growth. Global value chain analysis is also employed to strengthen the constant market share analysis by looking at the role of green transformation in boosting the Indonesian competitiveness in the global supply chain. To achieve the objective of this study, data was collected from secondary sources such as the United Nations Comtrade Database and Asian Development Bank multi-regional input-output (ADB MRIO) for the period of 2000-2018. Constant market share analysis shows that dirty manufactured products from Indonesia can no longer be relied on to compete in the US and European markets due to the increasingly stringent environmental standards and regulations in those countries. Meanwhile, global value chain analysis finds that the clean manufacturing industry has higher competitiveness than the gross manufacturing industry at the global market level. For this reason, this study concludes that the future of Indonesia's manufacturing industry to compete at the global level is in the hand of the clean manufacturing industry.Keywords: green transformation; competitiveness; environmental regulation; constant market share analysis; global value chain analysisJEL Classification: F14, F18, Q56

Purpose Though prior studies have attempted to explore the various effects of managing information technology (IT) investment on firm performance, the mechanism through which management of IT impact on firm performance rests less clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of managing IT and business-IT alignment on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the resource-based theory and process theory, this study examines how managing IT impacts business-IT alignment and firm performance. The primary survey of 182 responses from IT and business managers from Sri Lanka was empirically examined. Findings The findings reveal that managing IT has a positive and strong impact on business-IT alignment and firm performance. Further, business-IT alignment partially mediates between managing IT investment and firm performance relationships. Research limitations/implications Today, businesses have invested a massive amount of money in IT investment, and the return on this investment is always a serious concern for managers and industry practitioners. This study finding proposes meaningful insights on managing IT, business-IT alignment and firm performance. Originality/value This study opens up the black box on the above nomological linkage and contributes to the literature by extending the theoretical lenses while suggesting insightful and practical implications.

This paper investigates the economic and financial fundamentals that determine the dynamic linkage between Qatar and a set of selected international stock markets. To this end, we used different dynamic copula constructions to extract the series of time-varying degrees of dependence. Then, by estimating a quantile regression, we identified several economic and financial variables that significantly contribute to explaining the dynamic patterns of dependence among the studied stock markets. These include the returns of the Qatar stock market, crude oil prices, gold prices, the volatility of the S&P 500 index, and the world economic policy uncertainty index. The results obtained show that the fluctuations in these variables significantly influence the structure of dependence between the studied stock markets. 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This work was supported by the Qatar University [QUUG-CBE-DMM- 17/18-5]. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. Scopus

PurposeThis study aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of the linkage between premium segments and product innovation. While previous literature confirms that product innovation triggers premium segment emergence, and vice versa, there is no satisfactory explanation regarding the underlying mechanisms that drive the mutual shaping of premium segments and product innovation. This paper attempts to address this gap in literature.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a cognitive model of technology trajectories and empirically examines the Japanese rice cooker market using a mixed-methods approach. The methods used consist of content analyses of newspaper articles and press releases and case analyses of manufacturers' new product development.FindingsContent analyses show the emergence of a premium segment within the Japanese rice cooker market as well as a simultaneous change in technology trajectories. Case analyses subsequently reveal the mechanisms that link the premium segment emergence and technology trajectory changes. The analyses also explore this linkage in detail; market actors' technological frames and interpretation processes mediate the mutual shaping of the premium segment and product innovations.Originality/valueThis study presents quantitative evidence indicating the emergence of a premium segment and changes in technology trajectories. It provides a qualitative explanation for the linkage between these two phenomena, which may serve as a viable foundation for future research in premium strategy.

The paper aimed to analyze the open innovation model from the Latin-American public university and the main factors that influence it. The interaction between the university with its ecosystem, its innovation and technology management, the profile of the academic community, and innovation policies were studied. The research methodology had a qualitative approach. And the process was integrated into three phases to identify the categories of open innovation, categorized the interaction between the university with the innovation ecosystem in four Mexican public universities, and triangulate the Latin-American behavior through semi-structured interviews to six academics. The main findings showed that open innovation is a feasible platform to link the Latin-American University with local enterprises despite the peculiar heterogeneous and unequal context of the ecosystem; furthermore, four collaborative flows between the university and the ecosystem were identified –inside, outside, mixed and hybrid-. In conclusion, the interdisciplinary approach, the techno-institutional networks, and the institutional policy influence open innovation from the university to the ecosystem, where the academic community is a mediator variable. Finally, it is highlighted that new re-institutionalization of innovation policies based on digital transformation and environmental sustainability are required; thus, Latin-American Schools of Innovation Taught are needed to encourage them. Keywords: open innovation; university open innovation; knowledge transfer from university; university-enterprise linkage; collaborative strategies.

The unpredictability of Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) remains an area of major challenge for operational forecasters. The distribution of active and break days in a monsoon season, though of utmost importance is very difficult to predict. In this regard, the geostationary satellite observations from Indian National Satellite System-3D (INSAT-3D) satellite over the Indian region provide significant insights into the propagation of ISM. In this manuscript, the correlation of satellite derived cloud microphysical parameters (CMP) to the strength and development of the ISM is studied objectively for the years 2017 and 2018. In particular, the association of the CMP to the active and break spell has also been investigated. It is found that the Cloud Particle Effective radius (CER) and the Cloud Optical Thickness (COT) bears a maximum correlation of 0.67 and 0.65 with the daily average rainfall at 1 day lag. The histogram analysis with active/break conditions show that CER exhibit a bimodal distribution (~27 µm and ~36 µm) during an active spell, while in case of break phase, smaller cloud droplets ranging in size between 15 and 25 µm is prevalent. The findings of the study will contribute towards better understanding and prediction of active and break spells of ISM.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaging in foreign operations have drawn significant research attention in recent years. One of the aspects linked to such operations is SMEs’ expansion to foreign markets, often relying on local intermediaries. These intermediaries provide the firms with valuable resources such as market knowledge and recognition and reduce foreign operations’ costs. Hence, they are often considered as strategic partners. The current study aims to expand the existing knowledge regarding the relationships between business to business SMEs and their intermediaries by exploring interaction orientation as an organizational cultural aspect and its linkage to the trust-conflicts balance. Based on a survey of 165 international venture managers, complemented by in-depth interviews with 16 senior export managers, we found that by incorporating interaction-orientation constructs into the relationship management, SMEs can enhance affective trust while mitigating conflicts. We also reveal that the impact of emotional and task conflicts on SMEs’ performance is mediated through calculative trust, indicating the benefits of balancing between relational and formal governance.

The implementation of agile frameworks, such as SAFe, in large companies causes conflicts between the overall product development process with a rigid linkage to the calendar cycles and the continuous agile project planning. To resolve these conflicts, adaptive processes can be used to support the creation of realistic target-processes, i.e. project plans, while stabilizing process quality and simplifying process management. This enables the usage of standardisation methods and module sets for design processes.The objective of this contribution is to support project managers to create realistic target-processes through the usage of target-process module sets. These target-process module sets also aim to stabilize process quality and to simplify process management. This contribution provides an approach for the development and application of target-process module sets, in accordance to previously gathered requirements and evaluates the approach within a case study with project managers at AUDI AG (N=21) and an interview study with process authors (N=4) from three different companies.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a model based on the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach for analysis of factors of additive manufacturing (AM) and industry 4.0 (I4.0) integration. Design/methodology/approach AM integration with I4.0 is attributed due to various reasons such as developing complex shapes with good quality, real-time data analysis, augmented reality and decentralized production. To enable the integration of AM and I4.0, a structural model is to be developed. TISM technique is used as a solution methodology. TISM approach supports establishing a contextual relationship-based structural model to recognize the influential factors. Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis has been used to validate the TISM model and to explore the driving and dependence power of each factor. Findings The derived structural model indicated the dominant factors to be focused on. Dominant factors include sensor integration (F9), resolution (F12), small build volumes (F19), internet of things and lead time (F14). MICMAC analysis showed the number of driving, dependent, linkage and autonomous factors as 3, 2, 12 and 3, respectively. Research limitations/implications In the present study, 20 factors are considered. In the future, additional factors could be considered based on advancements in I4.0 technologies. Practical implications The study has practical relevance as it had been conducted based on inputs from industry practitioners. The industry decision-makers and practitioners may use the developed TISM model to understand the inter-relationship among the factors to take appropriate measures before adoption. Originality/value The study on developing a structural model for analysis of factors influencing AM and I4.0 is the original contribution of the authors.

Since the last 20 years, discussions about Indonesia's position and role in the International cocoa trade have attracted the interest of experts and scientists, not only those in the field of agribusiness and economics, but also able to attract the interest of scientists in the institutional field. This study analyzes how the institutional role in the development of cocoa production through interpretative structural modeling (ISM) analysis approach, with the research location of North Luwu Regency of South Sulawesi. The results of the ISM analysis showed that out of the 13 institutions analyzed, there were nine institutions as priority actors in the development of cocoa production, namely: ((1) Joined Farmer group, (2) Local office for extension services (BP4K), and (3) Extension Officer (4) Private companies, (5) Center for Research/Universities, (6) Local Office for Agriculture and Plantation services, (7) Cocoa Development Center/CDC, (8) Local office for Trade, Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, and (9) Cocoa Marketing Institute. Furthermore, based on the results of the power-dependent driver matrix mapping, there are three institutions in independent positions, and six other institutions in the linkage position. The six institutions in this linkage position, must be coordinated through effective management, because in addition to affecting the success of the program, feedback can also hinder the development of cocoa production. One of the institutions in the linkage position, namely private companies occupies a key priority position in the development of cocoa production.

This research investigates the heterogeneous dynamic impacts of rural-urban migration and industrial agglomeration on the environmental degradation across regional development levels of Chinese provinces. An aggregated data set of 31 provinces, along with three provincial-scale panels, are used from 2005 through 2018. The long-run parameter estimates are obtained employing dynamic common correlated effects mean group technique (DCCEMGT), while the heterogeneous Granger non-causality Dumitrescu-Hurlin test is employed for causal directions. The core results are as follows. Firstly, a unidirectional positive linkage is revealed from industrial agglomeration and rural-urban migration to energy utilization. These linkages showed heterogeneity across the development levels—the most substantial impacts are discovered in highly developed regions (eastern provinces), while the least substantial are found in low developed regions (western provinces). Secondly, the combined impacts of linear and non-linear parameters of both industrial agglomeration and rural-urban migration confirmed environmental Kuznets curves (EKCs) in models with the tertiary sector. However, in the model with the secondary sector, only EKC based on rural-urban migration is verified. Finally, rural-urban migration mitigated the environmental degradation more substantially in the model with tertiary sector-based industrial agglomeration. It suggests that rural to urban migration contributes less to the environmental emissions through the economy's service sector.

Shared decision-making is a possible link between the best of patient-centered medicine and evidence-based medicine. This article seeks to describe the link between them. It discusses to what extent the integration of such perspectives is successful in assuring respect for the patient’s autonomy. From the evidence herein, we conclude that if the doctor–patient relationship and communication are strengthened to cover all issues relevant to the patient’s health and values, is it possible for him or her to achieve more autonomous decisions by this linkage of shared decision-making and patient-centered medicine? Summary: Shared decision-making is a possible link between the best of patient-centered medicine and evidence-based medicine. This article seeks to describe the link between them.

Research performance enhancement has become a greater issue in recent decades. However, studies analyzing the determinants of research performance and identifying human resource management (HRM) practices that improve research performance have been few and inconsistent. This paper overviews the factors affecting research performance and responds to calls for HRM practices that are customized for research and higher education institutions (HEIs). The paper is based on a theoretical HRM-performance linkage and aims to identify research performance measures, define scholars’ skills, abilities, research-oriented attitudes, and behaviors related to research performance, and generate bundles of abilities, motivation, and opportunities enhancing HRM practices associated with research performance. Finally, a theoretical framework for the HRM–research performance chain is developed.

PurposeThis research study examines the impact of social and governance initiatives on financial performance of global banks. The study is significant in the context of massive changes in regulations, government policy, social attitudes and market development attributed to banking sector.Design/methodology/approachThe source of data for this study was ESG database of Thomson Reuters. The study was based on 472 global banks. The research paper uses two-stage least square model and the study covered the five-year period 2015–2019.FindingsBanks with high intensity of social and governance-related activities have positive market-based valuation effects. Adequately capitalized banks tend to invest more in social initiatives. Banks' governance initiatives directed toward the use of anti-takeover defensive mechanisms are skeptically perceived by markets. Riskier banks tend to have less investments in social initiatives.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are relevant in the context of expectations from policymakers, consumers and investors with respect to the role which banks ought to play in funding the development of a sustainable economy. The research finding that strong governance and social initiatives by banks are value-enhancing measures is a clear evidence of the significance of ESG initiatives as value-creating mechanisms as perceived by markets.Originality/valueThis study addresses the gap in the research, which examines the role of governance and social initiatives on value creation in the banking sector firms. The study examines the impact of different elements of governance and social initiatives on financial performance of banks.

Building mainly upon the resource-based theory, social exchange theory, and relational theory, this paper integrates three research streams that propose how human capital, affective commitment, and...

Purpose: This research explores the causal linkage between TQM and financial performance or non-financial performance within the higher education sector of Pakistan. In this regard, the link between each element of total quality management, including tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy, was explored and empirically analyzed concerning financial and non-financial performance. Methodology: The regression and correlation statistical measures, using SPSS version 20.0, were used to study the linkage of TQM with financial and non-financial performance. The study utilized a quantitative research approach for data collection purposes, and data was gathered from 220 employees of well-established higher educational institutes of Islamabad and Rawalpindi with the help of a directly administered survey approach. Results: The results support the causal linkage between TQM and financial or non-financial performance. The findings indicate that TQM has a significant positive link with the financial and non-financial performance of service organizations within the higher education sector of Pakistan. Applications of this study: The higher education industry is the backbone of every nation, especially the developing countries. The higher education sector of developing countries, such as Pakistan, has been facing issues of quality, and hence the implementation of TQM practices can have a considerable effect on its improvement. This study provides valued insights for higher education practitioners to revise policies for the positive growth and development of this sector. The Novelty of this study: The contribution of this research is the investigation of TQM practices on financial and non-financial performance of higher educational institutes of a developing nation, i.e. Pakistan, where it is relatively a new concept. It was found that TQM practices have a significant impact on financial and non-financial performance.

Purpose Due to the rapid surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in India, the health-care supply chain (HCSC) disruptions and uncertainties have increased manifold posing severe challenges to health-care facilities and significantly hampering the functioning of the health industry. This study aims to propose a hierarchical structural model of enablers of HCSC in the COVID-19 outbreak and identifies inter-relationships among them in the health-care market. Design/methodology/approach Enablers of emergency HCSC have been identified through extensive literature review and experts’ opinions. Subsequently, total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) and cross-impact matrix-multiplication (MICMAC) analysis have been implemented to determine the hierarchical inter-relationships among enablers and classify them according to their contribution to the overall system. Findings The research has identified and validated 15 enablers of the emergency supply chain in health-care businesses. The study resulted in a seven-level hierarchical structural model based on enabler’s driving and dependence powers. Further, the application of MICMAC analysis resulted in the classification of enablers into four groups, namely, autonomous, dependent, linkage and independent group. Research limitations/implications This study would help health professionals, policymakers and academia to implement the theoretical model constructed to alleviate the effect of COVID-19 by improving the HCSC performances in pandemic situations. This study has social and economic implications in terms of cost-effective and efficient delivery of care services in health emergencies. Originality/value The proposed theoretical model constructed is a new effort addressing the issues of HCSC in the COVID-19 crisis. Procedural implementation of TISM and MICMAC analysis in this study would help researchers to grasp concepts in a very lucid manner. The present study is one of the very few studies analyzing enablers in pandemic situations by implementing the TISM approach.

This research formulates a theoretical framework to investigate the impacts of trade on consumption-based carbon emissions (CCO2) and also takes into account the influence of financial development and renewable energy use utilizing panel data for Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey (MINT) nations between 1990 and 2017. The study utilizes a series of second-generation techniques such as Westerlund cointegration, cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL), and augmented mean group (AMG) tests to capture the linkage between CCO2 emissions and the independent variables. The study aims to answer the following questions: (a) can exports and imports determine CCO2 emissions in the MINT nations? (b) Is there a long-run association among the variables under investigation? The results of the Westerlund cointegration reveal a long-run association among the variables. The CS-ARDL outcomes indicate that imports and economic growth increase CCO2 emissions, while renewable energy use and exports decrease CCO2 emissions. Moreover, the outcomes of the AMG test also give credence to the CS-ARDL results. Our key policy recommendations are that initiatives, rules, and regulatory mechanisms should be implemented that promote the transformation toward renewable energy.

This contribution illustrates how Freeman’s ideas, concepts and approach, helped me build my framework of thought for my paper on innovation in supply firms to the gold mining firms in Ghana. Freem...