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Purpose: While there was heightened awareness on the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution (IR 4.0) prior to COVID-19, studies have shown that the adoption of these advanced technologies (e.g. Big Data, robotics, Internet of Things, etc.) continues to remain low across global industries. This qualitative study sought to explore the reasons for the low rate of adoption of these technologies and appropriate measures to enhance their adoption at hotels, through the lens of hotel executives. Design/methodology/approach: Based on interpretivist's ideals, this study follows a case study design and adopts a qualitative method of enquiry. The heterogenous purposive sampling technique was employed to gather data for the study, using semi-structured interviews. Findings: Grounded on the technology-organisation-environment (TOE) framework, the thematic analysis revealed technology, organisation and environment-related reasons for the low rate of IR 4.0 technologies adoption at hotels in Malaysia. Also, the study uncovered some interesting measures that will enhance the adoption of these advanced technologies at hotels. Originality/value: This study unearths technology, organisation and environment-related reasons for low adoption, and measures to enhance the adoption of IR 4.0 technologies in hotels. This study also enlightens hotel owners and technology providers about practical issues that will ensure the successful adoption of such technologies to enhance hotel business. In line with SDG 9, this study also seeks to promote sustainable innovation in the hospitality industry. Practical and theoretical implications have also been discussed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain (BCn) revolution across the world leads the global transformation by altering the existing structure and introducing the accessible and decentralized paradigm. This technology facilitates access to resources and redefines conventional frameworks, empowering people and communities globally. Motivated by these attention‐seeking potentiality of BCn features, in this article, we examine the challenges, advancements, and emerging prospects of the BCn revolution in Bangladesh. With a specific focus on BCn implications for sustainability and smart development, this study addresses the urgent need to understand how BCn can facilitate sustainable development in rapidly evolving countries like Bangladesh. The goal of this research is to draw attention to the successful revolution of BCn in the world and use this knowledge to extract best practices and cutting‐edge strategies for sustainable transformation of Bangladesh. The contribution of this study covers the underlying concepts of the BCn technology, showing the revolutionary state of BCn across the world, applications of BCn for sustainability, assessment of its current usage, and highlighting the BCn implementation problems. Furthermore, this study serves as a gateway to a transparent, decentralized future that fosters inclusive national progress and aligns with sustainable development goals. This study also strives to inspire individuals to use this transformational technology for the collective benefit of society by highlighting BCn's potential to empower communities while driving positive change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the trend of digital transformation have created many changes, brought many values, and also posed many challenges in formulating and perfecting policies on culture in general and policies to develop reading culture in particular. Through the analysis of secondary data, especially current policies on the development of reading culture, analytical research assesses the compatibility between current policies and the requirements of cultural development, people orient creating a learning society in the context of the fourth industrial revolution and the trend of digital transformation; Research to identify and analyze 03 trends in developing policies to develop reading culture in Vietnam, assess the content and inadequacies in current policies, thereby, propose approaches and solutions to policy implications to promote a reading culture to develop towards creating a learning society in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the trend of digital transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School leadership development (SLP) in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0) is a crucial aspect of preparing basic school leaders to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid technological advancements and changes in the modern world. The 4.0 is characterized by the fusion of digital, physical, and biological technologies, which profoundly impact various aspects of society, including education. Thus, this study examined basic school leaders' development needs in 4.0 in Nigeria and South Africa. A comparative research approach of survey design was adopted with the aid of a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (mean score) and an independent t-test were used to analyze the collected data. Results indicated that basic school leaders in South Africa fared better than their counterparts from Nigeria regarding their 4.0 knowledge. However, no significant difference was found in 4.0 leadership skills. Leaders from both nations indicated the need for development programs in technological applications to enhance competency to perform their administrative tasks. In theory, the study addresses African schools' 4.0 leadership needs. To lead education into the future, each nation must also understand the specific 4.0 leadership skills its school leaders will need. In light of the study's findings, policymakers should consider what gaps need to be filled to equip their basic school leaders with Education 4.0 skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the transformative potential of fourth industrial revolution (called Industry 4.0) technologies in the context of poverty elimination, with a particular focus on Africa. Given the multidimensional nature of poverty, which spans economic, social, and environmental aspects, there is a critical need for innovative and sustainable solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review to identify how recent advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain, big data, and 5G can be harnessed to address various facets of poverty. Drawing on insights from existing research and expert opinions, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates these technologies with strategic policy interventions, infrastructure development, and capacity building. The paper proposes a framework that illustrates the prerequisite requirements before adopting Industry 4.0 technologies in poverty elimination efforts. This framework aims to ensure that the benefits of technological innovations are accessible to the most vulnerable populations, thereby contributing to the broader goals of socioeconomic development and poverty reduction. The work shows that while Industry 4.0 presents a critical opportunity for sustainable development and poverty elimination in Africa, it needs to have essential capacities to optimize the use of observations, visualizations, and mindset management before or when adopting the first stage of Industry 4.0 solutions for poverty elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article explores the potential of Moodle, a learning management system, to prepare students for success in business English within the dynamic workforce. While e-learning platforms are increasingly adopted, research specifically focusing on Moodle’s integration in business English remains limited. This study aims to bridge this gap through the investigation of the crucial role of lecturers to empower students through the effective use of Moodle. The research objectives include the exploration of lecturers’ perceptions of Moodle’s potential, the identification of strategies to enhance e-learning support for business English and the redefinition of pedagogy to benefit lecturers and prepare students for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This qualitative phenomenological study utilises email interviews, student feedback, and observations, and applies the community of inquiry theory to analyse the study’s findings. Findings reveal that Moodle holds significant promise in business English to enable lecturers to create engaging and personalised learning experiences. The platform enhances learner engagement and language acquisition to enhance adaptability for future work requirements. Based on the study, recommendations include providing comprehensive training and support for lecturers to optimise Moodle’s features effectively. Through the implementation of the recommendations, institutions can harness the full potential of Moodle and pave the way for a more competent and competitive workforce prepared for the challenges of the modern business world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) represents the ongoing fundamental transformation of the economy, based on disruptive technological change, and is not limited to the manufacturing sector but is expanding to the service sector. This study aims to establish transformation strategies for the service sector to embrace 4IR technology by investigating the firm-level determinants of its adoption and development. Our empirical analysis was performed by the integrated perspective of dissemination and acceptance of new knowledge, and we checked robustness of analysis result by verifying through various estimation methods. This study finds that, for service firms, the business family network and the external collaboration as well as the internal resources (patent rights and internal R&D) play a significant role in decision of adopting or developing 4IR technology. In the perspective of new knowledge acceptance, we found that increasing labour flexibility and labour productivity by performance incentives enhances an organisation's capability to swiftly adjust to technological change. This study contributes to a better understanding of 4IR in the service sector with the knowledge-based and innovation resistance view, and suggests novel strategic implications for technology diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article scrutinises popular convictions about Turkiye's 'bridge' status between Asia and Europe in the twenty-first century. Unlike during the Cold War, when Turkiye enjoyed geopolitical leverage due to its proximity to Europe and the Soviet Union, today's geopolitics is shaped by China's rise and the shift of commercial nodes away from the Atlantic and towards the Pacific. This renders Turkiye a peripheral actor in Asia-to-Europe commodity flows, as well as in the ongoing rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Other factors adversely affecting Turkiye's geopolitical significance include the decarbonisation process and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The European Union's declining demand for fossil fuels challenges Turkiye's ambition to become an energy corridor between Central Asia and Europe. Likewise, Turkiye's secondary role in the global supply chains for technology (semiconductors, cobalt, silicon) is undermining its bridge status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paradigm shift that has spurred the fourth industrial revolution, in what is termed Industry 4.0, has ushered in the need to adopt digital technologies throughout the worldwide industrial base to support system design efforts. The adoption of digital technologies with a digital enterprise and the creation of cyber–physical systems are central tenets of Industry 4.0 and directly support profitable business models, improvements in efficiency, and ensure durable quality for the modern industrial base. However, the techniques for engineering systems require new, improved, digital life cycle process models if Industry 4.0—and the goals for its integrated systems—are to be realized. The development of a technique that improves the life cycles for systems within the digital enterprise is required. The 15288-SysML Grid described herein supports the Industry 4.0 paradigm and its associated digital enterprise. This is accomplished through (1) the application of a modern life cycle process model (i.e., the adapted diamond); (2) the utilization of international standards for systems; and (3) the adoption of the four fundamental aspects of system design supported by model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and the systems modeling language (SysML). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a time when emerging technologies increasingly transform the workplace and society overall, management educators seem reluctant to fully embrace emerging transformative technologies in their teaching. In this conceptual essay, we argue that this reluctance stems from paradoxical tensions of identity of management educators and students. The case is made that, currently, management educators tend to display their expertise to meet students' reductionist curiosity. We recommend that management educators move beyond an initial reductionist curriculum to harness the opposing forces created by the paradoxical tensions of identity, which means embracing vulnerability at the same time as stimulating students' expansionist curiosity. Our pedagogic recommendations are based on our experience of integrating generative and non-generative artificial intelligence, as well as esports and virtual reality as a preparation for the metaverse, into our curriculum. The essay concludes by proposing a sequence of three steps that might guide management educators in their preparation to integrate emerging technologies in the classroom in a way that empowers students to envision shaping the unknown future in an innovative and responsible way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. Artificial intelligence can be both a blessing and a curse, and potentially a double-edged sword if not carefully wielded. While it holds massive potential benefits to humans—particularly in healthcare by assisting in treatment of diseases, surgeries, record keeping, and easing the lives of both patients and doctors, its misuse has potential for harm through impact of biases, unemployment, breaches of privacy, and lack of accountability to mention a few. In this article, we discuss the fourth industrial revolution, through a focus on the core of this phenomenon, artificial intelligence. We outline what the fourth industrial revolution is, its basis around AI, and how this infiltrates human lives and society, akin to a transcendence. We focus on the potential dangers of AI and the ethical concerns it brings about particularly in developing countries in general and conflict zones in particular, and we offer potential solutions to such dangers. While we acknowledge the importance and potential of AI, we also call for cautious reservations before plunging straight into the exciting world of the future, one which we long have heard of only in science fiction movies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As the world experiences a rapid rise in technological advances, the engineering profession will be required to become even more socially responsible and emotionally stable to be able to display higher levels of empathy towards the society they serve. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the key emotional competencies (ECs) that engineers need to possess to thrive in the construction industry after graduation. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach was conducted with close-ended questionnaires developed and administered to built environment professionals such as architects, construction managers, construction project managers, engineers and quantity surveyors. Findings: The results showed that the ability to display a positive outlook on life, understand one's emotional triggers, ability to display resilience in hard times, control one's emotions and ability to show compassion to others were the highest-ranked ECs. Further analysis revealed four clusters such as self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation and self-motivation. Practical implications: Practical guidance for higher education institutions is offered in terms of revamping and revisiting their engineering education curricula to develop these ECs to produce emotionally sound engineers for the ever-changing world of work. Originality/value: As the world of work becomes increasingly dynamic and diverse, engineers will be required to possess empathy, social skills and high levels of ECs to be able to seamlessly interact with fellow professionals as well as the society they serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

The article is devoted to the identification of topical problems and prospects for the development of distance learning in the context of post-war recovery and innovative growth of the national economy of Ukraine, taking into account the technological transformations caused by the introduction of digital technologies of the fourth industrial revolution. The identified problems are grouped according to the reasons for their manifestation: caused by the war, which limit or make it impossible for students/trainees to study in classrooms; caused by changes in the labor market under the influence of digital technologies of the fourth industrial revolution; caused by the need to adapt higher education institutions to changes in the conditions of the external macro- and micro-environment. The important role of distance learning in solving each of these groups of problems is outlined. A SWOT analysis of the prospects and problems of distance learning development in Ukraine in the conditions of wartime and post-war reconstruction is carried out. A quantitative assessment of the factors influencing the external and internal environment has been carried out, i. e.: respective market opportunities and threats, strengths and weaknesses of distance learning. The results of the carried out assessment can be used as information and analytical support to substantiate strategies for the development of distance learning in the system of higher education in Ukraine. Recommendations on ways to improve distance learning in post-war Ukraine in the context of its individual characteristics in the context of adaptation to the conditions of the fourth industrial revolution and the formation of a digital economy are presented. The results of the study deepen the fundamental aspects of higher education management, in particular from the standpoint of improving approaches to choosing priority trajectories for the development of distance learning on the basis of its digitalization to solve urgent problems of staffing post-war recovery and innovative development of the Ukrainian economy in the context of technological transformations caused by the fourth industrial revolution.

Social innovation is one of the key drivers of the sustainable development agenda of the Republic of South Africa in the wake of the new global focus on sustainable development. Furthermore, it is within the agenda of sustainable development that community development, poverty alleviation and eradication and the improvement of the living standards of all South Africans can be realised in the current era of connectivity, advanced analytics, automation, and advanced-manufacturing technology that has been transforming global business for years. Through the extensive review of purposively selected written documents such as journal articles, books, book chapters and newspapers, the paper discusses the role that social innovation plays in pursuing and attaining sustainable development in and by South Africa within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Succinctly, the focus of this manuscript is to analyse the role that social innovation in a 4IR context can be the conduit for improving how the government intensifies social and community development. The article indicated that lack of critical skills, scarcity of resources, poor accountability, poor organisational culture, lack of integrity, and low equity and inclusion, among others, were identified as the challenges to social innovation in South Africa. To this effect, the paper showed that the Fourth Industrial Revolution in South Africa can be used to drive social innovation and address urgent socioeconomic issues. It can also promote inclusive growth and build a more sustainable and equitable future for all South Africans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic technological transformations that are taking place in the third decade of the twenty-first century, described as the Fourth and even Fifth Industrial Revolutions, pose significant challenges for community partners who act in labour relationships. Transparency and the related right to information are some of the factors that define a democratic state under the rule of law. This also applies to labour relationships as widely understood. The regulations of collective employment law grant various rights in this respect to entities that represent staff, who may, among other things, demand information on the use of artificial intelligence by the employer in the work environment. In the Polish labour law system, the widest scope of competences in this regard is granted to trade unions. This article focuses on the legal and functional aspects that are related to the transfer of this type of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain refers to a collection of digitally connected applications originated to enable secure financial transactions but soon has evolved as a reliable tool for secure data management as well as the foundation for smart and sustainable manufacturing. This article tracks the evolution of blockchain technology for smart manufacturing using data mining approaches and tracks the critical developments in the field. We show that blockchain technology in manufacturing is still in its infancy and is expected to lay foundations for the development of the next levels of industrial revolution. We track the inter and intra-disciplinarity of the technology and knowledge diffusion between its various domains by clustering the technology into fifty-five subdomains. The developments in each of these subdomains are discussed in addition to tracking the knowledge gaps and future research initiatives to further develop the technology. Based on the knowledge gained from these analyses, a roadmap for intelligent blockchain technology for sustainable manufacturing is proposed. The conceptual evolution model presented herewith could be the key for the ultimate symbiotic phase in which material sources to end-users are linked by the internet of everything enabled by intelligent blockchain and human-cobot cohabitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present wave of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technology and trends is drastically affecting nearly every economic sector and preparing for profound changes in people's lives. The benefits of the technology include higher safety, better decisionmaking, increased productivity, efficiency, and quality in processes, as well as increased competitiveness. Thus, every effort towards raising awareness of the 4IR should begin early in primary education. This study critically evaluated the literature on the issues and challenges of implementing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) preliminary courses in primary education in Malaysia towards raising awareness of the future 4IR. Using two databases, namely Scopus and Web of Science, the review was conducted in accordance with the ROSES (Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses) publishing standard. The findings showed that the role of primary education in facilitating skills development for socioeconomic and technological development for the students was significant. Based on the thematic analysis, two primary themes emerged: a lack of 21st-century skills and support, supplemented by six sub-themes. In addition, the issues and challenges of other countries' primary education in meeting the 4IR demand are also discussed. The paper offered solutions for the issues that arose to fulfil the objective of TVET preparatory courses: to increase pupil awareness of the present 4IR in elementary education in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Agro-investment in the fourth industrial revolution will be an imperative driving factor and a sacrosanct enabler for small farm business entrepreneurs to participate holistically in the agricultural economic value chain. Investing in advanced technology and entrepreneurship has the potential to promote business modernization and improve the productivity and profitability of farm businesses. This study assessed agro-investments in small farm business entrepreneurs in the era of the fourth industrial revolution in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The study objectives were precisely to determine the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs on agro-investment and examine the impact of agro-investment for small farm business entrepreneurs in the fourth industrial revolution. The questionnaire used in this study employed structured and semi-structured questions for data collection, and an aggregate of 235 participants were randomly selected. The results on perception indicate that small farm business entrepreneurs mostly perceive agro-investment in the fourth industrial revolution as not suitable for small farm business conditions; this may be attributed to modern agricultural implements being predominantly manufactured in accordance with commercial sector specifications. The results from the binary logistic regression analysis on the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs in the fourth industrial revolution revealed that gender (P-value = 0.031), level of education (P-value = 0.04), farm size (P-value = 0.048), farming skills and knowledge (P-value = 0.027), farm productivity (P-value = 0.059) and investment opportunities (P-value = 0.057) were significant and influence the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs. The mean and standard deviation were used to assess the degree of severity of impact. From the results, sources of investment, technology, market participation, economic benefits, and government interventions were discovered to be impactful on agro-investment for small farm business entrepreneurs. The key contributions of agro-investments among small farm business entrepreneurs in the technological era embody catalyzed rural development, a diversified inclusive rural economy, and competitive participation in the agricultural food value chain. Another crucial contribution of the study is unlocking and accentuating the potential and opportunities that investors, technology designers, and manufacturers can exploit in small farm business agro-investments. This paper identifies and recommends that the South African government ought to create enabling environments for agricultural investment activities to thrive, especially among small farm business entrepreneurs, thereby providing grant funding and training, and enabling public-private stakeholder linkages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) grapples with the challenge of achieving sustainable housing delivery amidst rapid urbanization and rising construction costs. Current housing strategies have failed to offer a lasting solution to the crisis. To address these issues, this study advocates the adoption of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies for sustainable housing. The previous literature highlights the versatility of 4IR technologies, prompting an examination of their suitability and benefits for housing delivery. Thus, this study was aimed at evaluating suitable 4IR technologies for housing delivery and the benefits of adopting the technologies for sustainable housing delivery. The data used were collected via random sampling from stakeholders in the housing sector and analyzed using SPSS V 24, including mean scores, frequencies, and principal component analysis (PCA). The KMO and Bartlett's test of sphericity confirmed that the data were appropriate for PCA and identified three key components of 4IR technology: Immersive technologies, smart connectivity, and automated construction sites suitable for sustainable housing delivery. These components enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and project management throughout the housing delivery process. The study emphasizes the potential of 4IR technologies to transform the housing sector in the KSA sustainably, offering insights for both practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) in education has generated mixed worries, particularly concerning the perceived challenges faced by students, lecturers, and institutions. In this article, we report the findings of a study investigating the lecturers’ concerns about adopting the 4IR in education and what institutions may undertake if it is to be successful. The study, designed as a qualitative descriptive survey, was framed from Fuller’s [(1969). Concerns of teachers: A developmental conceptualization. American Educational Research Journal, 6(2), 207–226. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312006002207] concerns-based adoption model to glean insights from 15 lecturers from universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Online questionnaires generated data that were thematically analysed. Findings show that lecturers were worried about the inadequacy of the digital infrastructures, increased social inequalities among students, reduced lecturer autonomy, and the threat to their jobs. This study implores governments of developing universities to initiate crowdfunding to set up digital infrastructures that are democratically used to mitigate the imminent exclusion of marginalized students from university education. Moreover, lecturers need to be re-skilled to remain relevant. The study provides emerging universities with policy and practice insights on capacity building in lecturers and a funding alternative for institutional support during technology adoption, drawing from the lecturers’ perspectives whose opinions are sometimes not sought during educational reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]