Search

IntroductionThe digitalisation of the German healthcare system enables a wide range of opportunities to utilize healthcare data. The implementation of the EHR in January 2021 was a significant step, but compared to other European countries, the implementation of the EHR in the German healthcare system is still at an early stage. The aim of this paper is to characterise the structural factors relating to the adoption of the EHR in more detail from the perspective of representatives of stakeholders working in the German healthcare system and to identify existing barriers to implementation and the need for change.MethodsQualitative expert interviews were conducted with one representative from each of the stakeholder groups health insurance, pharmacies, healthcare research, EHR development and panel doctors.ResultsThe interviews with the various stakeholders revealed that the implementation process of the EHR is being delayed by a lack of a viable basis for decision-making, existing conflicts of interest and insufficient consideration of the needs of patients and service providers, among other things.DiscussionThe current status of EHR implementation is due to deficiency in legal regulations as well as structural problems and the timing of the introduction. For instance, the access rights of various stakeholders to the EHR data and the procedure in the event of a technical failure of the telematics infrastructure are remain unclear. In addition, insufficient information and communication measures have not led to the desired acceptance of EHR use among patients and service providers.

The study methodologically employs, in a novel perspective, the panel threshold analysis, considering the time frame 2006–2020, to capture the relationship between new business density rate, as a proxy for entrepreneurship, and individuals’ digital inclusion, as a proxy for digitalisation in EU countries. Based on the human capital theory, the results indicated a strong single threshold effect between individuals’ digital inclusion and new business creation, confirming that entrepreneurship is influenced by the skills, knowledge, and experience of the entrepreneurs, including their education, training, and work history. For EU countries, individuals’ digital inclusion boosts business creation only after reaching a certain level. When separating the EU countries from the perspective of their Innovation Index performance, the threshold effect was statistically evidenced in all categories but with different values. The strongest positive influence from digitalisation towards entrepreneurship was visible in emerging countries, while the lowest was for countries classified as moderate innovators. The research provides an original framework for understanding the complex factors that drive entrepreneurship and can help researchers and practitioners develop strategies for promoting entrepreneurial activity. Digitalisation’s opportunities are significant, and entrepreneurial individuals and organisations able to adapt and innovate are more likely to be successful.

Occupational health (OH) service providers, together with their client organizations co-operate in promoting health and work ability. Alongside with the so-called traditional services, more and more digital services are offered by OH service providers. However, little is known how the employer customers experience and use digital OH services. This study evaluates the types of digital OH services employer customers use and how they assess the usefulness and ease of use of these digital services. Furthermore, the aim is to find out factors associated the usefulness and ease of use. To determine these features of usefulness and ease of use of digital services the Technology Acceptance Model was utilized. A cross-sectional, electronic survey was carried out to the members of human resources (HR) and entrepreneur associations between December 2022 and January 2023. The survey was in Finnish. The research material consisted of the employer customers’ answers to the multiple-choice questions of the use, usefulness and ease of use of digital OH services. The data was analyzed by quantitative statistical analysis. A total of 455 respondents took part in the study, comprising 198 representatives of HR professionals and 257 entrepreneurs. Most of the respondents were women (65%) and over 50 years old (61%). HR professionals rated their information and communications technology skills significantly more often good or really good compared to the entrepreneurs, being 92 % and 62 %, respectively. The most frequently utilized digital OH services were the ability to update personnel’s information in the OH patient registry (48.0%) and remote action plan negotiations (37.1%). Less than one-third of the respondents (29.9%) took part in remote work ability negotiations, while approximately one-fifth (20.8%) participated in remote workplace surveys. In general, the HR professionals used digital OH services more frequently and estimate the usefulness and the use of digital OH services more positively compared to the entrepreneurs (p

Health and welfare services are increasingly striving towards data-driven, digital and patient-centric approaches to service management and delivery. The growing digitalization and amount of eHealth services introduced are part of a sociotechnical change in health and social care, where different sectors collaborate in ecosystems. This study focuses on ecosystemic collaboration in health and welfare and its potential in value creation, with a particular interest in how multistakeholder co-creation can be enabled and orchestrated. The study draws on research on service ecosystem design, open innovation and co-creation. The aim of this study is to explore how service ecosystems are co-created by public, private and third-sector organizations in the health and welfare sector. To achieve this aim, our study has two research objectives. First, the study explores current ecosystemic practices in health and welfare. Second, the study identifies factors that affect these practices. This study presents the findings of a qualitative study conducted in Finland in spring 2023 with key informants from the health and welfare sector. The study context revolves around a HEI that provides university level teaching in social and health care and adopts a problem-based pedagogy that is firmly grounded in working-life collaboration with cross-sectoral actors and professional practice in the field. The findings reveal different factors that have an effect on ecosystem collaboration. The findings support the argument that working in ecosystems is beneficial and digitalization has been a key driver of innovation in the health care and welfare sector in Finland. Based on these findings, we discuss the potential of orchestrators, such as HEIs, to co-create service ecosystems that enable digitalization of health and welfare.

IntroductionTrainees and teachers at nursing schools as well as nursing professionals are increasingly facing new challenges as a result of the digital transformation. Opportunities for the entire care system exist in the improvement of care quality and communication between those involved. However, this change also harbours risks, such as the use of immature digital applications in the care sector, data theft and industrial espionage. In order to be able to exploit the potential of digitalisation despite these risks, it is necessary to integrate relevant aspects such as digital skills into nursing training. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which the sustainable integration of digitalisation in nursing education is discussed.MethodsThe methods of the systematic literature and database search were carried out in the form of a scoping review according to the PRISMA scheme. The PubMed and CINAHL databases were used for this purpose. The search period covered the years 2017–2023.FindingsAfter screening the titles and abstracts using inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in the synthesis of findings. The international literature focuses on content areas that highlight trends in digitalisation-related training in nursing. These focal points include concept development, considering the heterogeneity of demand constellations, as well as the reflexive reorientation of existing competences, whereby the technological competence of teachers is not disregarded. Other focal points relate to the initiation of digital skills in training and maintaining the employability of older nursing staff through professional development.DiscussionThe literature research shows that there is a rudimentary discussion about digitalisation and curricular developments in nursing training in an international context, while the discourse in the German-language literature is less advanced. Among the sustainability desiderata derived from the literature is the involvement of nursing professionals in the development, testing and implementation of digital technologies. Only through active cooperation between nursing professionals and nursing sciences can the topic of digitalisation be integrated into the education and training of professional nursing in a targeted and future-oriented manner, whereby the focus should always be on the ability to deal with digital technologies and the associated change.

In this article, we point to how the making visible of diverse linguistic, digital, and cultural competences can contribute to more sustainable and inclusive classroom contexts and future societies. Western notions of universal knowledge reproduces a western way of viewing the world and, as a result, this usually discounts alternative knowledge systems, which perpetuates inequality and may cause tensions in today’s diverse classrooms. Our 2022 pilot study, drawing on an online survey with more than 700 respondents and focus group interviews with 27 participants, indicates that for some multiethnic, multi-abled, and otherwise diverse upper secondary students underlying, often ethnocentric, norms of Swedish education create hurdles in educational contexts. Firstly, in the Swedish context, non-normative and often global experiences are not recognised at school. Secondly, topics addressed in the courses they take are primarily focused on aspects originating in a Swedish, Nordic, or Western tradition. Curricular policies and classroom practices must take lost opportunities, which we argue are not socially sustainable, into account as a more global and holistic approach when articulating what educational learning is supposed to be about, for, and for whom, and thus integrating learning, digitalisation, and social sustainability.

This paper is a comparative study of the advantages of the influence of implementing digital tools and the quality of human knowledge on the improvement of product quality. We substantiate the role of the human factor in the formation of competitive knowledge that is necessary for implementing ambitious goals of companies in the achievement of competitive advantages in the sphere of continuous improvement of product quality. We also prove the necessity for supporting the level of human knowledge competitiveness, which will facilitate the increase in product quality and social justice (employment level). To reach the goals of this research, we use the index method, comparative analysis and cause-effect relationships method. The novel aspect of this paper is connected with the determination of the specifics and advantages of using the quality of human knowledge and digital technologies for achieving the goals of the growth of product quality, which allows forming the current directions for the creation of efficient solutions for further industrial growth.

Purpose: The objective of the study is to highlight the relevant contexts and problems of the Hungarian tax administration from the aspects of digitalisation, communication and education between 2018 and 2022. Methodology/approach: The article is based on the statements from the professional literature and analysis of secondary data from national and international authorities and institutions. The article makes several comparisons. Findings: The article shows how Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is used in tax administration in Hungary, filling the research gap. Based on the comparison, the digital development of Hungary is similar to that of the EU average. However, there are some impediments, such as the complexity of tax regulations and the numerous communication channels that exist. They could be simplified, and our proposed modifications in terms of communication and education could improve the use of ICT in the Hungarian tax system. Research limitations: The research does not provide an in–depth examination of Hungarian tax legislation and lacks any primary research. Originality/value: The article deals with some aspects of tax administration in Hungary; it describes the current situation and gives proposals for its development.

The relevance of this study is due to the problems of migration of the population of the Kyrgyz Republic due to unfavourable labour market conditions. In accordance with this, the purpose of the study is to find out the features of the current environment in the training of qualified personnel. Methods of logical analysis, synthesis, comparative-legal, formal-legal, and legal hermeneutics are used in the study to fulfil the tasks set. In the course of the study conducted, statistical data on the state of the labour market in the Kyrgyz Republic as of September 2023, by regions and years, are examined. According to this analysis, it is noted that in the context of years, the unemployment rate decreased by 4.5%, which indicates the effectiveness of the measures taken. The risks that exist in the implementation of state programmes to reduce unemployment were examined. These included limited budgetary resources of state bodies and the potential of employees of state bodies and local self-government bodies, increased migration due to the lack of jobs in Kyrgyzstan that provide more favourable conditions. A comparative legal analysis of the experience of the USA and Japan was conducted. This allowed identifying a number of features, namely: the active development of communication between management and staff, the introduction of human resource management structures, productivity improvement, effective staff selection, management, productivity incentives and employee certification, loyalty programmes for employees etc. The practical value of the results obtained consists in providing recommendations that will allow government agencies to eliminate current problems, reduce unemployment and increase labour productivity in Kyrgyzstan

The relevance of this study is due to the introduction of technologies into the legal sphere, as well as their rapid development, which causes the inconsistency of conventional legislation with the emerging social relations. Thus, the purpose of this study was to research the impact of digital technologies on the modern legal society and their legislative regulation to formulate ways to improve and further develop this area. The methods used in this study were the following: historical, comparative legal, statistical, forecasting. The main results of this study are as follows: the concepts of technology, innovation, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence were investigated; the legal regulation of these concepts in both Ukrainian and foreign legislation was examined. The study also identified the main problems and risks associated with the use of digital technologies, including problems related to user security, personal data protection, copyright. Solutions and legislative changes regulating the field of technology were also covered using evidence from the United States of America, Switzerland, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada. The study analysed the impact of artificial intelligence on the ethical aspects of the work of a lawyer. The study also highlighted the future vision and consequences of the use of technology in various spheres of public life. It was found that digitalisation and the introduction of technology into public spheres of life require flexibility and readiness for change from the legal sphere, as well as the need to strike a balance between innovative changes and the guarantee of fundamental human rights. Considering the international standards that were investigated, it was found that the key area that requires additional protection in the digital age is data privacy and confidentiality. The findings of this study can be used as a basis for improving the legislative framework that governs relations in the field of technology use by lawyers, sociologists, and legislators

In the context of the accelerated globalization of digital commerce, Romania's integration into the international e-commerce ecosystem is a relevant case study. This paper explores the evolution, current state and future perspectives of Romania's e-commerce activities. We examine the main factors behind its success in this field, the challenges faced in the process and how technological innovations and strategic initiatives have been instrumental. We also analyze the wider implications of Romania's e-commerce growth on its economy and society. The research concludes by offering perspectives on future trends, highlighting the potential and opportunities ahead. This analysis serves as a basis for understanding how emerging economies can use e-commerce as a tool for global integration and economic advancement.

The purpose of this article is to improve the theoretical and methodological foundations for studying the essence and peculiarities of development of the institutional environment of the digital economy sector, to allocate the components of its architectonics as the basis for forming a platform for the conceptual development of the national economy based on digitalisation. Methodology. The methodological basis of the study is formed by modern economic and sociological institutional theories, the object of analysis of which is the institutional dynamics of the environment: institutional theory, new institutional theory, substantivist theory, the concept of institutional density, the concept of institutional matrices, the theory of societal psyche. The paper uses the historical-logical and dialectical methods to study the contradictions of the processes of formation and development of the institutional environment, as well as the methods of system analysis to study the components of the architectonics of the institutional environment of the digital economy. Results. From the standpoint of institutional theory, it is formulated and substantiated that the institutional environment of the digital economy sector is a synthesis of a set of formal/іnformal basic/complementary institutions of the traditional and digital economies of different levels and institutions that are in certain interconnections and relationships with each other, forming a hierarchical integrity. Institutions determine the creation and operation of relevant institutions, which, in turn, ensure the implementation and enforcement of established rules and regulations. At the same time, the resilience and flexibility of the environment is based on the natural accumulation or forced implementation of basic institutions capable of ensuring the emergence of new digital economy institutions or significant modernisation of existing ones, which protects and promotes the development of the digital economy. The task of managing the institutional environment is to balance the ratio of institutions. The architectonics of the institutional environment of the digital economy sector is a system that combines a functional set of institutions of the traditional economy (management, labour, property, market, non-market), specific institutions of the digital economy (information, participation, digital space), global institutions, and regional institutions. Institutions as systemic elements, through implementation/legitimation mechanisms, form a set of institutions of the digital economy that mediate the interaction of economic actors, provide contracting, and mechanisms of institutional change. The most important institutions include innovation labs, research centres, technology companies, start-ups, cryptocurrency exchanges, digital agencies, consultancies, educational institutions, learning platforms, government agencies, legislative bodies, banks, digital banks, financial institutions, digital platforms, and digital networks. Interaction and mutual influence of institutions and institutions of the digital economy form the guidelines for selecting effective elements of the institutional structure from alternative institutional forms. The digitalisation of Ukraine, which is focused on the norms of international, European and regional cooperation, will facilitate Ukraine's integration into the European and global market of e-commerce, goods and services based on information and communication technologies. A new global economic architecture is being designed, into which new economic agents are integrating. At the same time, regionalisation processes are taking place, new regional clusters are emerging, and the country is being integrated into the European cluster. Practical implications. The elements of the architectonics of the institutional environment of the digital economy sector are identified and summarised by criteria, which makes it possible to identify the most problematic areas of institutional transformations and to formulate and select instrumental solutions to overcome them. The development of the relevant elements of the institutional environment of the digital economy sector contributes to a rapid and profound digital transition, when the results of digital transformation will become the basis of Ukrainian society and a key factor on the path to Ukraine's prosperity and welfare. Value/оriginality. It is established that the use of institutional analysis tools will allow determining the optimal directions of institutional building/transformation of digital economy institutions and minimising the social costs of Ukraine's evolutionary development. A two-level approach to designing the institutional environment of the digital economy sector in the national space is proposed: at the institutional level – as designing the socio-political and economic conditions for the development of digital economy institutions based on the development of digital products and technologies; at the individual level – as designing the functional place of a digital product in the human life space.

The subject of the research is the study of digital transformation as one of the factors of ensuring the economic security of enterprises. Methodology. The study uses general scientific methods, in particular theoretical generalisation, analysis and synthesis, statistical analysis and graphical methods for the visual presentation of research results. The aim is to analyse the role of digital transformation in ensuring the economic security of companies. Conclusion. Summing up the results, it is determined that the security of enterprises is a crucial element for their successful functioning and stability in the market. The impact of digitalisation on the economic security of enterprise is manifested through the positive impact of advanced digital technologies. Taking advantage of the digital economy leads to numerous positive aspects in business and contributes to achieving strategic goals and strengthening economic security. A conceptual model of the economic security of enterprises has been developed, in which digital transformation is a key tool, covering various aspects, including the conceptual apparatus, objectives, problem vision, subjects and objects of management. The model is aimed at creating conditions for sustainable development and maintaining the economic security of the enterprise at various stages of its life cycle. The programme for ensuring economic security within the framework of this model includes the stages of defining tasks, developing a scenario, implementing and evaluating efficiency. The mechanism of economic security is considered as a system of resources and interactions, with digital transformation as a central tool. Summarising the model and approach, the key aspects of ensuring the economic security of enterprises are revealed, taking into account the challenges and opportunities of the modern business environment. Digital technologies make it possible to increase the level of economic security, which in turn contributes to increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of individual companies, the economy as a whole and the standard of living of the population.

an era of increased sustainable transport, the European inland navigation industry has received significant attention to attain sustainable transport. Tremendous opportunities to substantially move freight on waterways are present in the UK; however, several challenges have been appropriately addressed, including infrastructural gaps and various institutional support programs. The paper addresses the UK’s current situation of inland navigation and the key challenges affecting the sectors as a viable alternative transport solution. The article explores and summarises the geographic opportunities, commercial feasibility, and the current condition of the UK’S inland navigation sector. From the practical scenario of the UK’s experience, an attempt was made by the authors to find the critical challenges and issues faced by the industry. The emerging themes from the analysis of this paper indicated governance and leadership issues, cooperation, and coordination mechanism between establishments with various functions and responsibilities, merged with infrastructural investment, are strategic elements for expansion in the UK. Conclusively, the authors presented recommendations for improvement and sustainable development.

We are at a turning point in which non-formal learning, or “pedagogy 1.0”, is entering into a new relationship with today’s formal learning, or “pedagogy 2.0”, and tomorrow’s formal learning, or “pedagogy 3.0”, supported by new forms of digital learning. Technological advances, the digital revolution and the dramatic acceleration of processes at the technical, social and personal levels are going beyond the offer of “Pedagogy 2.0”, whose foundations were laid in 19th-century industrial society. The changing world of life, work and the challenges of globalisation in a postmodern society call for a “Pedagogy 3.0” or a new paradigm of learning and teaching that shifts the focus from today’s generic, “industrial” educational system to a personalised approach to teaching that links acquired knowledge with the successful application of 21st-century competencies. It is interdisciplinary, project-oriented, problem-based and collaborative learning, which calls for the modernisation of school spaces and the integration of both new learning locations and digital approaches.

This study starts with analysing previous literature to explain the impacts of digitalisation performance on economic development. The subjects of this study are the European Union member states, and their performances and development levels are considered. Member states' real GDP growth rate is collected to reveal the economic development levels. Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) is used to understand their digital performance better. As a result of the analysis, member states with high digital performance are expected to be better off in the market, and their economic growth is estimated to have faster speed. Technological activities are assumed to have crucial roles in economic activity, including SMEs in e-commerce, mobile banking, and IT infrastructures. As a result of this study, less developed member states with low digital performances have higher GDP growth since they have more space for improvement. Therefore, the decisive effect of digitalisation on the economic growth rate cannot be presented in the expected way.

This article is aimed at expanding the applicability of meso-institutional concept in the markets of natural monopolies in the context of a new institutional economic theory. Within the framework of the considered concept the impact of the institutional environment level on evolutionary development of energy and housing and public utilities markets is evaluated alongside with modern approaches of digitalisation. In the first part of the current article the author describes theoretical foundations of the meso-institutional environment concept in respect to the energy and housing and public utilities markets. The definition of the concept and its usage domain are given. Besides, the goals difference of meso- and macro-institutions are analysed in detail. The theoretical part also covers approaches of A.E. Shastitko applied to the energy and housing and public utilities markets. Moreover, the hypothesis of conflict resolution between macro- and meso-institutions is described in framework of markets regulation mechanisms. Also, the regulation mechanisms of the two markets are analysed, including market power instruments of meso-institutions. In addition, the article covers the problem of maintaining a balance of market participants’ interests through these mechanisms. In conclusion, the author offers the concept of improving market mechanisms with the help of the meso-institutional development strategy. It is designed to solve the problem of maintaining a balance of market participants’ interests and predetermine the formation of a new improved institutional environment in the energy and housing and public utilities markets.

The article examines the problems on implementing the strategy of digital transformation of industries in the Russian economy based on the metallurgical industry that determines the economic growth opportunities of the three industrial sectors which form the largest part of gross domestic income. The subject of the study is the level of digital maturity of metallurgical companies under economic sanctions. The purpose of the study is to determine the current level of digitalisation of metallurgical companies and to form the directions for possible development of digital technologies in the context of anti-Russian sanctions. The methodology of the study is based on system, indicative, comparative and statistical methods of analysis. The first part of the study is devoted to a comprehensive assessment of the industry’s digital maturity and identification of key trends in business digitalisation to characterise its innovation potential as a major resource provider in the Russian industry. A system of indicators for assessing digital maturity based on variable methodologies is considered a criterion for assessing innovation potential of digital business transformation. The results of the analysis show that the metallurgy complex has sufficient growth potential for business digital maturity and refers to the drivers of digitalisation.

The relevance of this issue lied in the need to explore new methods of organizing the agro-industrial complex, both in the global market and in the specific context of Kazakhstan. This exploration contained analysis of the benefits and challenges of the agricultural industry in Kazakhstan by drawing lessons from leading countries. The aim of this research was to identify the most effective approaches to enhance agricultural operations, unveil upcoming trends in the agro-industrial complex, establish the organizational and economic foundations for innovative development, and determine the socio-economic factors driving agricultural production. To achieve the goal, a systematic analysis of innovative processes in the agro-industrial complex was employed as the primary research method. Additionally, various analytical techniques such as synthesis, systematization, generalization, and comparison were utilized, including structural-functional and historical-legal approaches. The research presents innovative development pathways observed in advanced countries, including Kazakhstan, focusing on areas such as horticulture, animal husbandry, agricultural product processing, market development, agricultural cooperation, infrastructure development, scientific and personnel support, land resource management, digitalization of the agro-industrial complex, and government support. The study also addresses the shortcomings in the implementation of innovations within Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial complex. Specifically, it provides detailed insights into methods for enhancing the efficiency of the agro-industrial sector, with particular emphasis on the digitalization of agricultural processes, precision farming systems, and smart farms. The research can be useful for professionals in various fields of the agro-industrial sector, policymakers involved in agricultural affairs, as well as businesspeople and investors interested in agricultural ventures

The study considers the innovative educational technology of micro-learning to demonstrate how micro-learning can be used as an effective strategy for teaching a foreign language to adults in the system of additional education, at language courses of various types, in view of modern conditions and realities. The scientific novelty of the study is an example of modelling an English lesson according to the basic principles of micro-learning technology: brevity, conciseness, repeatability. The study has shown that micro-education contributes to increasing student activity and their involvement in the educational process. The study concludes that thanks to micro-education, it is easier for students to see the productive result of their actions, which in turn increases their confidence in further success. Moreover, it facilitates reflection, which is an integral part of any skill development. ‘Difficult’ tasks, on the contrary, may be inadequate to the level of language competence and make learning goals unattainable, which can become a serious factor in demotivating adult learners. The implications of this study extend beyond the immediate context of language education, pointing to the broader potential of micro-learning as a pedagogical tool for enhancing engagement and confidence in adult learners. As educational institutions seek effective strategies in adapting to modern learning environments, the study suggests that integrating micro-learning principles could offer a beneficial approach for optimising adult language acquisition and fortifying a positive and reflective learning experience.

The article presents the evolution of the Digital Library of the Department of Classical Philology and Italian Studies of the University of Bologna (DL FICLIT) as a case study of the transition from a digital repository to a tool for research, teaching, and dissemination in the digital ecosystem. Designed to publish the department’s digital collections, initial requirements have progressively been expanded and the ability to integrate content with critical contributions emerged. Additionally, there has been a growing request to offer targeted reading perspectives for different user profiles. This prompted a reconsideration of the DL’s role beyond implementation, management, and maintenance methodologies, identifying its renewed role in the department’s activities in the coming years. This resulted in changes to the DL’s editorial process, new requirements for the software platform, and a multi-year development program. A program involving several players: lecturers and researchers, technicians and librarians, students, and the public. By reframing the path taken so far, and displaying the program for the future, the article aims to contribute to the debate on the role that the DLs of Italian university departments will be able to assume in the emerging Cultural Heritage ecosystem that the Ministry of Culture foresees with the National Digitisation Plan.

The contribution focuses on the several challenges posed to social partners by, on the one hand, the digitalisation of work and, on the other hand, the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, challenges that require national and European institutions to adopt instruments and policies to strengthen industrial relations and collective bargaining.

ABSTRACTIn line with internationally defined goals of sustainable development, European agricultural policies today have a far-sighted vision for rural areas. Using a case study approach, this paper explores how receptive rural farms in Sicily are to a long-term vision of development. The study focuses on three key factors of a long-term vision, that is, digitalisation, innovation and sustainability, to examine not only whether farms have invested in these areas but also how they perceive their role in the post-pandemic era. Empirical results provide insights into the concentration of farms in the central inland areas of Sicily without any real long-term vision of development. Nevertheless, the analysis also shows that some of them do have a positive attitude to change.

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2023 8(2), 579-582 | Article | (Abstract) This Special Section is devoted to assessing whether core areas and core values of European law are future-proof (and how they could or should be made future-proof) in light of developments in terms of digitalisation and technological innovation. It is the result of a joint project of researchers at the Utrecht Centre for Regulation and Enforcement in Europe (RENFORCE) at Utrecht University, focusing on the impact of digitalisation in different fields of EU law including EU internal market law, consumer protection law, data protection law, competition law, financial law, intellectual property law and criminal law. Digital technologies create various challenges, in many cases associated with the use of algorithms, the massive collection of personal data and the possibilities (and difficulties) of access to digital content. All these challenges require careful consideration, and regulation and enforcement arrangements which protect and balance the possibly conflicting values that we deem important in our societies, including innovation and technological development and protection of fundamental rights. Yet, it is exactly the continuous and fast-paced technological developments that make it difficult to regulate in these areas. In the EU, this response is predominantly shaped and guided within the multi-level legal order, whereby the EU legislature has gained a growing role in shaping our digital societies. The Special Section editors hope that the contributions provide food for thought, useful insights and inspiration for the process of making regulation and enforcement in the EU (more) future-proof for digitalisation – both within the specific fields of expertise and beyond.

D’un bout à l’autre de cette étude, nous procédons à l’explication du syntagme intelligence économique (IE) qui n’est autre que la maîtrise, la protection et l’exploitation de l’information, pour comprendre et surtout pour anticiper l’environnement extérieur que nous synthétisons grâce au triptyque veille/anticipation, sécurité économique, influence. Ainsi donc l’Intelligence économique dans une entreprise vivante a depuis été développée et bien comprise au niveau macroéconomique (politique et territorial) et au niveau microéconomique (les organisations). De ce point de vue, l’IE traite d’un objet, l’information qui aujourd’hui, se présente être l’élément nécessaire pour la survie d’une entreprise dans les aspects qui sont liés à l’économie de la connaissance.

With the development of digital technologies that are part of everyday life, new cultural norms and patterns are developing with which children play, learn, communicate, and socialise in the digital age. Technologies are also fundamentally changing teachers’ attitudes to education. This study aims to determine the motivation of teachers of generation Alpha for using technology and mobile applications, what technologies were preferred by generation Alpha after the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and for what reason. The research sample included one segment of the Alpha generation, pupils of primary schools (N = 53) and their primary school teachers (N = 83). A qualitative research design was used. The data processed by thematic content analysis identified the themes associated with using digital tools by generation Alpha, according to the teachers. The results showed the teachers’ motivation for using digital technology with generation Alpha, such as meeting their physiological, safety, social, cognitive, aesthetic, and self-actualisation needs. Generation Alpha’s media applications saturated four needs: entertainment, information, education, and games. They were covered by 12 applications. The findings show that the digital communication activities of generation Alpha refer to the audience’s intentionality, selectivity, and involvement with the media. The presented research opens other possible research topics, such as how new communication and mobile apps influence the behaviours of Alpha generation, value orientation, and well-being, and how effectively to use mobile apps in education praxis.

Previous studies show that gig economy‐based work opens up new ways in which inequalities are (re)produced. In this context, it is particularly important to look at female cleaners in private households, where gender inequalities intersect with other axes of disadvantage such as class, migratory experience, or ascribed ethnicity. This spatially and linguistically fragmented group presents challenges for scientific research, which is reflected in insufficient data available to date. The aim of the project GigClean—from which research for this article is drawn—is to address this gap. The guiding research question is: How do domestic cleaners in the informal labour market experience working in the gig economy? The methodological design consists of 15 problem‐centred interviews with platform‐based cleaning labourers in private households in Vienna, who predominantly operate in the informal economy. Our results suggest that undeclared domestic work via online plat‐forms is associated with increased power gaps between workers and clients as well as changing working conditions to the detriment of cleaners. Specifically, three recurring themes could be identified: reserve army mechanisms; lookism, objectification, and sexual harassment; and information asymmetry and control.

Primary health services are subjected to intensified digitalisation to transform care provision. Various smart and assistive technologies are introduced to support the growing elderly population and enhance the opportunities for independent living among patients in need of continuous care. Research has shown how such digitalisation processes evolve at the intersection of different and often competing discourses, oriented towards service efficiency, cost containment, technological innovation, client‐centred care, and digital competence development. Often, increased technology use is presented as a solution to pressing problems. However, how discourses are negotiated in work contexts and their mechanisms of social inclusion/exclusion in evolving work practices have received less attention. This article examines how care workers in the primary health sector are discursively positioned when care technologies are introduced in the services. We employ a perspective on discourses and subject positions in analysing strategic documents and interviews with care workers in a large Norwegian city. We show how managerial discourses that focus narrowly on the implementation and mastery of single technologies provide limited spaces for workers to exert influence on their work situations, while discourses that emphasise professional knowledge or broader technological and organisational aspects provide a variety of resources for workers’ agency. The way care workers adopt and negotiate subject positions varies based on their tasks and responsibilities in the organisation. We discuss the need to move beyond “solutionism” in efforts to digitalise care work in order to provide inclusive spaces supporting the contributions of various worker groups.

Digitalisation has a wide range of impacts on the workplace, such as enabling new work models with flexible work schedules, changing work content, or increasing workplace control. These changes directly affect not only individuals’ work but also their private lives. Scholars theorise that digitalisation either enables or impedes workers’ ability to maximise their work–life balance, which in turn fosters or inhibits the social inclusion of some societal groups and reduces or reproduces social inequalities. Focusing on the German healthcare sector, I explore the impact of using networked digital technologies on work–life balance, and whether it influences gender and educational inequalities. Pressured by government, economic concerns, and medical innovation, this sector is undergoing a transformation process that is expediting the introduction of new networked digital technologies. Thus, it provides an ideal setting for empirical investigation, as one core assumption about digitalisation is that technological innovation at work has societal consequences that must be individually mastered. To assess the relationship between digitalisation and work–life balance, I use survey data from hospital employees on the use of networked digital technologies and individual outcomes. The research is designed as a natural experiment. The treatment group comprises employees at a university hospital equipped with cutting‐edge networked digital technologies (N = 1,117); the control group comprises employees at several church‐owned hospitals (N = 415) with a level of digitalisation corresponding to the average for the sector. I first discuss confounders and then employ quantitative methods to establish a link between digitalisation and work–life balance, assess its direction, and address gender and educational inequalities.

This article examines how digitalisation is used for organisational distinction in the field of Swiss universities for the period 2010–2020. It shows that digitalisation does not fundamentally challenge the order of the Swiss university field but triggers competitive dynamics that are accompanied by different forms of identity articulation. The article concludes that the interplay of competition and identity articulation of actors is complex and must be analyzed in the context of relative field positions.

The article demonstrates the doctrinal interpretations of digitalisation as a general legal phenomenon. The emphasis is placed on the fact that the analysis of the content of scientific publications in the field of digitalisation of social relations indicates that priority in this area is still given to highly specialised issues which are studied mainly within the framework of branch legal sciences, primarily constitutional, judicial, administrative and civil law. Therefore, the study of digitalisation usually lacks a comprehensive nature, since the relevant issues are analysed without clarifying the conceptual basis of digitalisation. The approaches proposed in the national legal science to improve certain legal regulators and reorient legislation to regulate social relations in the field of digitalisation often fall behind the rapid development of the relevant processes. It is indicated that along with traditional law which is rapidly being digitised (moving into the virtual space from paper carriers), the phenomenon of digital law is emerging which is an intersectoral formation mediating social relations which take place in the virtual space (from cryptocurrency circulation to the provision of administrative services). Furthermore, emphasis is placed on the fact that in practice, the formation of new legal models of digitalisation of public relations in general and public administration in particular takes place outside the doctrine of social relations legalisation which has been developed by theoretical and legal science. Such an approach fundamentally contradicts the existing social needs, leads to managerial and law-making chaos and the lack of distinction between the truly objective needs for legal regulation of new relations and opportunistic managerial decisions which only selectively stimulate the regulatory impact of law on digitalisation. It also fails to ensure timely and effective legal regulation of the relevant range of rapidly emerging social relations that significantly transform the conventional way of life of society, the political, legal and value “image” of the state, its institutional and functional foundations, as well as the lifestyle of each citizen, including the set of his or her personal rights exercised in the public life of the digital age.

Purpose – The rate of project failure across the globe seems to reinforce poor performance as a norm. However, engagement with construction digitalisation (CD) represents a departure point for improving project performance. Amidst researchers' recent empirical engagement with CD, the knowledge of the relationship model between CD and project delivery (PD) is abysmal. As a result, developing a business case for CD in developing countries has been slow due to the dearth of empirical evidence. This paper aims to investigate the influence of digitalisation on project performance. Design/methodology/approach – Anchored on cross-sectional survey research design using a questionnaire survey in which a total of 183 copies of structured questionnaires were randomly distributed to medium- and large-sized construction firms operating in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital. A total of 126 valid responses were received giving an overall response rate of 68.8%. The responses were analysed using mean item score, principal component analysis and multiple linear regression. Findings – Findings from the regression analysis reveal that digitalisation has varying levels of impact on PP measured using quality, time and cost. The relationship model with time performance is weak (r = 0.526, r2 = 0.277); on cost performance, the significant model is also weak (r = 0.502, r2 = 0.252) and moderate on quality (r = 0.663, r2 = 0.439). CD influences project cost, time and quality performance despite the weak relationship model. The results indicate that the most effective benchmark of CD is quality performance. Originality/value – This study established the relationship between digitalisation and construction PD within the construction industry context, an area lacking research attention in emerging economies. This study is the first study in emerging economies that established the influence of digitalisation on construction PD statistically.

This article addresses the clash between Western and Indigenous understandings of how cultural heritage should be governed, protected and treated through law, especially in the digital environment. Specifically, the focus is on the ways in which the Western intellectual property rights (IPR) system often stands in contrast with Indigenous practices and ethics. This problem is approached through a single, intrinsic and descriptive case study related to the digital cultural heritage of the Sámi people: the Digital Access to Sámi Heritage Archives project. The article shows how the current IPR framework governing Indigenous cultural heritage is often misaligned with Indigenous worldviews. However, the study reveals that there is room to develop more sustainable, just and inclusive practices by complementing the existing legal rules with soft-law mechanisms, such as norms and customs, co-created with Indigenous communities.

The adoption of data science brings vast benefits to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) including business productivity, economic growth, innovation and job creation. Data science can support SMEs to optimise production processes, anticipate customers’ needs, predict machinery failures and deliver efficient smart services. Businesses can also harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, and the smart use of digital technologies to enhance productivity and performance, paving the way for innovation. However, integrating data science decisions into an SME requires both skills and IT investments. In most cases, such expenses are beyond the means of SMEs due to their limited resources and restricted access to financing. This paper presents trends and challenges towards effective data-driven decision making for organisations based on a 3-year long study which covered more than 85 UK SMEs, mostly from the West Midlands region of England. In particular, this study attempts to find answers to several key research questions around data science and AI adoption among UK SMEs, and the advantages of digitalisation and data-driven decision making, as well as the challenges hindering their effective utilisation of these technologies. We also present two case studies that demonstrate the potential of digitisation and data science, and use these as examples to unveil challenges and showcase the wealth of currently available opportunities for SMEs.

The beekeeping sector is increasingly focused on creating optimal and natural environments for honeybees to reduce dependence on external factors, especially given progressively hotter summers. Improving hive thermal conditions can enhance bee wellbeing and production. While pinewood hives are predominant, some have started using insulating materials like polystyrene. However, many synthetic materials, despite their excellent insulation properties, are incompatible with organic food production, requiring alternative solutions. This study compares the thermal insulation properties of various natural materials, including white and black agglomerated cork, wood fibres, and rock mineral wool. These materials are potentially compatible with organic food production. Additionally, the research evaluates cost-effective sensor networks to monitor bioclimatic variables in real time. Lab tests using a Langstroth-type hive with a controlled heat source were conducted, monitoring temperature and humidity inside and outside the hive. The results revealed that all selected materials provided similar thermal insulation, superior to a hive without insulation. This finding suggests that using natural materials can enhance hive thermal comfort (i.e., the material’s ability to maintain a stable internal temperature), thereby improving honeybee wellbeing and productivity in a manner compatible with organic food production.