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A perennial challenge for executives in established firms is deciding how and when to respond to emerging technologies. This article demonstrates that the way emerging technologies play out in established industries differs according to how the business system is affected. Some have primarily a supply-side effect (on how a firm in the industry creates its product), while others have a primarily demand-side effect (on how users consume the product). Supply-side effects play out over relatively long periods of time in a predictable way, with incumbent firms executing similar strategies though at different speeds. Demand-side effects are faster-acting and more volatile, with incumbents often experimenting with a range of different business models as they seek a viable way forward in a changing market. By understanding these important differences between supply-side and demand-side effects and being able to anticipate the typical patterns of responses from incumbents, executives can make better choices in how and when to invest in emerging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initially making its name as the backbone technology of Bitcoin, blockchain has been referred to as a distributed ledger, public database, Internet of value, digital infrastructure, network, and platform. Compared with fluctuating cryptocurrency and non-fungible token (NFT) markets, applications of blockchain technology in more diverse business scenarios have received less attention. By analyzing 16 international business use cases under eight categories of blockchain-based solutions, this article offers a contextualized understanding of the potential for blockchain to become a general-purpose technology (GPT). It discusses how the extensiveness, evolvability, and enabling (3Es) aspects of blockchain influence the value, vision, and viability (3Vs) required for successful real-world applications. The article discusses how firms can draw on lessons from failed cases and good practices of existing cases to enhance the 3Vs for blockchain adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study is to shape, design and present a model that can be used to develop the level of customer service through social networks in the banking system. For this purpose, a large part of the mentioned structures was extracted using the ultracomposite method. Therefore, in the first step, an extensive search was conducted among various sources (including books, book summaries, periodicals, case studies, doctoral dissertations, etc. based on keywords) and more than four hundred sources were collected. Then, by separating the categories, themes and coding, using qualitative data analysis software, the results will be extracted and finally, multiple structures will be extracted to compile the model. In the following, by using ”content validity indices and content validity ratio”, the validity of the desired measures was measured by the opinions of the experts and then with the limited use of questionnaire items, the reliability of the items that make up the functional structures, as well as the reliability of the questionnaire tool (alpha Cronbach’s) calculation and the result was 0.89. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology management (TM) aims to enhance technical competitiveness, providing organizations with a market advantage. The increasing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) within TM has sparked debate: supporters praise AI's decision-making capabilities, while critics stress the importance of human expertise. This study advocates for integrating AI into TM as a supportive tool for human decision-making rather than replacing domain experts. To achieve this, a comprehensive literature review examines the integration of AI in TM, exploring potential benefits and challenges. The research analyzes text mining works, existing data, and the suitability of AI models for various TM tasks. Additionally, it reviews AI applications in TM, identifying opportunities and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital transformation and emerging technologies create new business opportunities that differ from traditional requirements. Digital twins, referring to digital replicas of a physical entity, are rapidly developing and creating novel innovation opportunities. This study focuses on increasing the understanding of the implications of the use of digital twins for innovation, and case studies were used to gather evidence. The study offers an interesting contribution to the literature on digital twins, presenting a framework that demonstrates how digital twins are characterised, and how they contribute (impact) and are used (scope) in innovation processes in the context of innovation and technology management. In addition, the findings provide interesting implications for different practitioners interested in the utilisation of digital twins. Using the results of this study, managers can enhance their companies' digital transformation by acknowledging the multiple uses of digital twins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation sector is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by advancements like autonomous and electric vehicle technologies. In this research, we investigate employment, carbon emissions, and total cost of ownership of autonomy and electrification in the US trucking industry. We utilize life cycle assessment and multi‐regional input‐output modeling to develop a comprehensive life cycle sustainability assessment approach. According to the results, while enhanced fuel economy due to autonomous systems can lead up to a 18% and 41% reduction in emissions and costs, electrification of diesel trucks shows remarkable potential, achieving up to a 40% decline in emissions and a 12% saving in life cycle costs. Autonomy and electrification combined could lead to a 50% decrease in emissions and 46% savings in life cycle costs. On the other hand, autonomy, while enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing costs, causes job losses due to improved efficiency and the elimination of driver positions. Introducing autonomy to diesel trucks results in a 27% decrease in jobs within the US trucking sector, attributed to improved fuel efficiency and subsequent job losses. Transition to autonomy and electrification requires a deliberate balance between environmental, social, and economic aspects. Managerial strategies should consider the use of the proposed composite indicators when setting emission reduction, cost cutting, and managing employment implications. Flexible re‐skilling and training programs should be developed to adapt to the changing skill requirements due to electrification and automation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overview: As novel technologies and organizational practices become available, innovation managers must identify and invest in those best suiting their needs. To ensure their firm's innovativeness, innovation managers must integrate these new technologies and organizational practices into their resource portfolio and deploy them in combination with existing resources. In this article, we demonstrate the orchestration of technologies and practices that set the most innovative firms apart from less innovative. Using the fsQCA method, we found that high-performing firms configure their technological resources and organizational capabilities in bundles, whereas their less innovative counterparts are preoccupied with investing in technologies alone. Resource orchestration management is therefore a novel innovation management capability, which may accelerate a firm's innovative capabilities. We offer practitioners managerial implications that emphasize the development of innovation managers' resource orchestration capabilities. Innovation managers should learn how to do resource orchestration effectively, which requires developing deep insights into emerging technologies and understanding the varieties and nuances in organizational practices. The most innovative firms not only invest in new technologies but also in organizational practices that promote employee creativity, engagement, and task-specific skills. Various combinations of technological and organizational innovations can lead a company to achieve product innovations with high degrees of novelty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a key tool in Lean Manufacturing (LM) that helps identify opportunities for process improvement. This research aims to propose an integrated method using LM tools (such as Kanban, VSM, Pareto chart, and Supplier Input Process Output Customer) and Arena simulation to improve the productivity of the production line through reducing lead time, inventory time, including Raw Material (RM) time and Work In Progress (WIP) time and enhancing Process Cycle Efficiency (PCE) ratio. To begin the process, a Pareto chart is employed to identify the main product of the organization. Subsequently, a current VSM is constructed to identify any waste in the production line. The Kanban tool is then used to propose appropriate remedies to improve the manufacturing process. To validate the efficiency of the production capacity in future VSM, Arena simulation is executed by determining Takt Time. Lastly, a future VSM is formulated based on the suggested improvements, and an appraisal is conducted to provide recommendations for prospective enhancements. A real case study of a furniture company in Vietnam is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results reveal impressive benefits, including a 92% reduction in lead time and a corresponding 92% increase in PCE. Additionally, there is a substantial reduction of around 90% in WIP time, while RM time is completely eliminated, resulting in a 100% reduction. These findings highlight the efficacy of the proposed approach and the importance of VSM and other Lean tools in achieving process optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After 1980, the telecom industry rapidly changed. Several new technologies were introduced, and telecom sectors in many countries opened for competition. The new technologies were available to all operators, but not all technologies assumed the same risks. Drawing upon rich archival sources from the Swedish telecom operator Televerket (after 1993, Telia), we examine the investment in and management of one new technology – ISDN. By exploring the choices and rationales for initiating and ending a technology project, we find that they may be pursued for political reasons – what we call 'investment as corporate political activity', and that many years of losses are sometimes not enough to abandon these projects. We also identify a monopolist logic in which projects can be maintained for use as bargaining chips in negotiations over deregulation or options to expand in markets after deregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are engaged in a harsh battle for market dominance. This article examines the emergence of a dominant design in terms of technology, service, and business model innovation. We conduct a theoretical synthesis of the literature on industrial organization, technology management, network economics, operations management, and strategic management—with the implications of each theory related to the dominant-design battle in AI. The findings indicate a dominant design for AI will be based on innovation concerning business models as much as on technology, and that the dominant business model will include AI as a service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the importance of technology is confirmed in most global phenomena and its impact on issues affecting countries, organizations, and even various aspects of daily life. This study aimed to identify factors affecting the quality of the technology management system to develop an interactive model with a structural-interpretive approach in the Ministry of Oil companies. This study was conducted on 450 managers, officials, and experts of the five oil companies, 210 of whom were selected based on the purposive judgment method. The data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire with 52 items based on the Likert scale technique and a standard ISM method questionnaire. The reliability of the first questionnaire was confirmed based on Cronbach’s alpha test and composite reliability. An exploratory factor analysis approach was used to identify the factors, and the data were analyzed in Smart PLS software. In total, 16 factors were identified as influential factors regarding the quality of the technology management system based on the varimax rotation method by explaining 60.8% of the variance of the variables and separated into ten levels of importance. Finally, the structures of the interactive research model were determined after implementing the standard steps of the structural-interpretive modeling approach, which can be used according to each organization’s priority levels and strategies to enforce improvement policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate makerspaces (CMSs) have gained attention from both academics and practitioners. The paper introduces the first empirically-tested CMS framework, describing elements and their impact on users and companies. A mixed-method approach triangulates data from (i) a semi-quantitative online survey among 22 CMS managers and users, (ii) in-depth, structured interviews with CMS managers from 11 manufacturing companies, and (iii) an observation study and desk research on CMSs of the interviewed companies. The study shows that CMSs typically include prototyping infrastructure, community infrastructure, and facilitation. CMSs impact users by supporting prototyping, creativity, experimentation, and knowledge sharing. CMSs have an additional effect on the company by increasing innovation culture, collaboration with external stakeholders, intrapreneurship, employee retention & attraction. Thus, this paper is beneficial for innovation and engineering management practitioners who have or plan to have a CMS and for academics who want to do further research on CMSs and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies have become omnipresent in our professional and personal lives. While they provide numerous opportunities, they also cause tensions, many of which are paradoxical. They confront us with conflicting yet synergetic and interdependent alternatives that persist over time—such as benefiting from the increasing availability and access to information at the risk of information overload and technostress. Thus far, we know little about the specific paradoxes caused by digital technologies in the workplace and how managers perceive and cope with them. This article offers a comprehensive perspective on the multiplicity and interrelatedness of paradoxes in the digital white-collar workplace and suggests how managers can develop effective coping mechanisms for convergent change and transforming work practices in paradoxical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the existence of two main perspectives on the concept of convergence. The first view assumes convergence as an epistemological, methodological and heuristic issue resulting from the confluence of scientific disciplines and technological fields. The second view emphasizes the importance of technology management and industrial application development as strategies for analyzing the technical challenges and risks associated with convergence processes in the firm. To differentiate between the two visions, 59 specialized bibliographic works selected from a theoretical sample are analyzed. The main finding of this review is the characterization of these two perspectives that, although contradictory, are part of a common conceptualization of convergence as an umbrella notion. These findings provide relevant insights for a field of knowledge under construction: policy agendas focused on fostering technological convergence should start from the differentiation of these two analytical and conceptual levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption and development of high technology situations such as additive manufacturing is complicated because the technology system characteristics used by manufacturers are different than the technology-performance characteristics evaluated by customers. This study explores the relationship between the desktop 3D printers' underlying technology characteristics, its performance, and its price. Data were collected for 107 Fused Deposition Modelling desktop 3D printers from 2014 to 2019. Twelve technology characteristics were included such as the build volume, the material of the build platform and whether it is heated, the number of extruders, type of movements and whether it uses open source software, hardware or filament. It was found that 8% of the technology characteristics only matter for performance, 33% only matter for price, 33% for neither and 25% of the characteristics matter for both performance and price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital transformation is taking place across all levels of governance, from small businesses to governments. If the seed of digital transformation is data, then reliable connectivity is the nourishing soil that data need to prosper. With digital transformation, billions of connections require more broadband. In response to this need, some countries are preparing national 5G strategies, as 5G technology has been identified as a significant driver of the digital economy. In this study, 16 national 5G strategies have been systematically and comprehensively analyzed, and a checklist has been developed to formulate national 5G strategies and policies. The checklist can be used by policymakers, especially in developing countries, to guide the preparation of national 5G strategies and policies. Of course, each country's national strategy will differ regarding resources, culture, etc. It is hoped that this checklist may speed up the preparation process by providing a baseline during the strategy formulation phase and make the process more efficient by incorporating lessons learned, especially for developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates growth inhibitors for smart services driven by condition‐based maintenance (CBM). Despite the fast rise of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as smart sensoring, internet of things, and machine learning (ML), smart services have failed to keep pace. Combined, these technologies enable CBM to achieve the lean goal of high reliability and low waste for industrial equipment. Equipment located at customers throughout the world can be monitored and maintained by manufacturers and service providers, but so far industry uptake has been slow. The contributions of this study are twofold. First, it uncovers industry settings that impede the use of equipment failure data needed to train ML algorithms to predict failures and use these predictions to trigger maintenance. These empirical settings, drawn from four global machine equipment manufacturers, include either under‐ or over‐maintenance (i.e., either too much or too little periodic maintenance). Second, formal analysis of a system dynamics model based on these empirical settings reveals a sweet spot of industry settings in which such inhibitors are absent. Companies that fall outside this sweet spot need to follow specific transition paths to reach it. This research discusses these paths, from both a research and practice perspective. Highlights: Condition‐based maintenance (CBM)‐driven smart services have become technically much more feasible and affordable through the fast rise of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as smart sensoring, internet of things, and machine learning (ML), and yet such smart services have failed to keep pace with this rise.A key CBM‐specific complication for service growth is that, in order to reach high‐quality performance of such smart services, the ML‐algorithms that drive them need significant numbers of equipment failures to learn from.Such failure data may be hard to obtain for OEMs, either because certain components fail to often (and hence are replaced, making the failure data obsolete) or too rarely (making the time needed to collect failure data very long).Also, customers may be very much reliability focused (leading to much preventive maintenance and so few failures) or not sufficiently reliability focused (leading to much unmonitored corrective maintenance and low interest in advanced services such as CBM).The sweet spot for CBM smart services therefore lies somewhere in the middle, with both a fair amount of component failures and fairly strongly reliability‐oriented customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Petroleum companies have various goals in light of high energy prices, uncertainty and potential fluctuations in demand in the current digital age, including making a profit while maintaining long-term sustainability and lowering their environmental impacts. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of technology management (TM) and its practices through process and maintenance technologies on sustainability performance (SP) for petroleum refineries and petrochemical companies in terms of economic, environmental and social sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: A new proposed framework has been developed for a clearer understanding in relation to these aspects. The study was conducted among Egyptian refineries and petrochemical companies. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 65 petroleum experts and professionals, which was then summarized using statistical analysis, hypothesis testing and regression analysis. Findings: The findings demonstrate that TM has a significant and direct impact on SP. Furthermore, the study shows that process technology (PT) has a positive influence on the three aspects of SP. Although maintenance technology has a positive impact on economic and environmental sustainability, it shows no direct effect on social sustainability. Research limitations/implications: The degree to which TM and sustainability principles are implemented across petroleum companies in various countries varies significantly because of managerial and cultural dimensions. Therefore, when conducting the research, it is important to consider the study's geographical area to comprehend how these practices are impacted by the distinctive managerial and cultural settings of each country. Also, respondents in developing countries do not participate in such surveys with much enthusiasm. Practical implications: The study shows that implementing TM practices generates more economic stability and ensures environmental and social sustainability. The research studied how PT and maintenance practices affected each aspect of sustainability. These findings can apply to all downstream oil companies, regardless of their size or type of operations. Further research can be conducted to examine the relationship between variables in other industries. Social implications: Decision-makers and managers may use the study's findings to improve their companies' performance and develop new plans and policies. The results demonstrate that companies will have a greater chance of achieving sustainable performance if they incorporate process and maintenance technologies into their activities. Besides economic and environmental sustainability, petroleum companies must strive for social sustainability. Originality/value: The study is regarded as a significant contribution to the management of petroleum refineries and petrochemical companies, as it combined TM practices with SP in a single research framework. Industry executives and researchers can use this research as a guide that can be applied to all petroleum companies in the same country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the influence of various factors on the customers' purchase intention of renewable energy in Jordan. The hypotheses and model of the study were adopted from previous studies. Design/methodology/approach: The present study was undertaken based on an online survey of 428 Jordanians who are nonusers of renewable energy. The sample was selected using a stratified random sampling method using a structured questionnaire method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Findings: The results indicated that attitudes, subjective norms (social influence), perceived price, knowledge and perceived behavioral control significantly affect the purchase intention of Jordanian customers to adopt renewable energy. Moreover, the study confirms that there are statistically significant differences between demographic variables such as age, income and education about renewable energy purchasing intentions, whereas gender was not significant. Research limitations/implications: Some limitations have been identified. First, the generalizability of the findings is one of the common limitations of scientific research, and this study is not an exception. In this regard, the current study has been carried out in the south of Jordan. Therefore, to expand the validity of the findings, future studies need to be attempted in other places in Jordan. Second, the existing study focused on solar panel systems as a form of renewable energy. Future studies could focus on other kinds of renewable energy, such as wind energy. Third, although the sample size of this study was appropriate and sufficient, future studies could use larger samples to enhance the robustness of the results. Practical implications: The findings of the current study could help practitioners in the renewable energy industry by identifying the key factors that motivate Jordanian customers to purchase and use such technology. They may use the findings of this study in the formulation of marketing policies and the development of marketing strategies to attract more customers to purchase and use renewable energy appliances like solar panels. Originality/value: This is one of the few studies in the energy industry of Jordan devoted to developing and testing a model of determinants of purchasing intentions for solar panel systems that focuses on renewable energy purchasing behavior. Further, this study used demographic variables as control variables, which makes the study different from other studies by investigating the role of demographic characteristics in the context of the purchase intention for solar panel systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Avocado production is globally increasing, and wastes and by‐products are becoming an emergent problem for its sustainability. The research aims to valorise the avocado waste leaves, giving them new challenges and opportunities in the herbal tea sector. In this regard, leaves of different avocado varieties cultivated in the Mediterranean area and different drying technologies were considered for the preparation of herbal teas; chemical and sensory analyses have been carried out. The results demonstrated differences in the composition, antioxidant activity, aroma volatiles, sensory features, and thus on the consumers' acceptability of the avocado herbal teas in relation to the variety and the drying technology. Herbal teas prepared with microwave‐dried leaves of Fuerte and Bacon varieties were the most appreciated by consumers for their sweet taste and anise‐like odour. The data showed the possibility of using avocado leaf waste for new herbal teas, evidencing the influence of the drying technology and variety on the functional and sensory features of the developed product. In this context, the approach here applied resulted fundamental to orientate the development of new sustainable and healthy herbal tea that meets consumers' demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is a value assessment tool designed to help support complex decision-making by incorporating multiple factors and perspectives in a transparent, structured approach. We developed an MCDA rating tool, consisting of seven criteria evaluating the importance and feasibility of conducting potential real-world evidence (RWE) studies aimed at addressing uncertainties stemming from initial cancer drug funding recommendations. In collaboration with the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health's Provincial Advisory Group, a validation exercise was conducted to further evaluate the application of the rating tool using RWE proposals varying in complexity. Through this exercise, we aimed to gain insight into consensus building and deliberation processes and to identify efficiencies in the application of the rating tool. An experienced facilitator led a multidisciplinary committee, consisting of 11 Canadian experts, through consensus building, deliberation, and prioritization. A total of nine RWE proposals were evaluated and prioritized as low (n = 4), medium (n = 3), or high (n = 2) priority. Through an iterative process, efficiencies and recommendations to improve the rating tool and associated procedures were identified. The refined MCDA rating tool can help decision-makers prioritize important and feasible RWE studies for research and can enable the use of RWE for the life-cycle evaluation of cancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Component tests Oberesslingen – part 1 – conception of the client As part of the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute's research and development project Repair under Operation (IuB), component tests are being carried out together with the Heidelberg Waterways Engineering and Construction Office, the Institute for Technology and Management in Construction Operations at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Directorate‐General for Waterways and Shipping in order to identify suitable methods for the basic repair of a lock chamber under time‐ and space‐restricted boundary conditions with regard to working times and space conditions. The component tests are taking place at the Neckar lock Oberesslingen in the right‐hand chamber, which was previously used as a savings chamber for the left‐hand chamber. The scope ranges from partial demolition of the chamber wall for reprofiling by means of a facing concrete and partial drainage to a solution with a framework that could be used to carry out gate replacements within a short time in the future. The comprehensive design of the component tests includes the mandatory and technical requirements that must be considered. These include both generally valid requirements for the feasibility of the tested procedures on other locks as well as specific requirements that are decisive for the implementation in Oberesslingen. Characterizing for the component tests is the possible use of innovative processes and approaches and the resulting deviations from the regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer-oriented health care technologies are increasingly available and transforming global health delivery systems. However, there is a paucity of research that systematically investigates health care technology acceptance from the consumer's perspective. This study conducts a literature review and meta-analysis to examine consumers' adoption intentions toward health care technologies. The findings suggest that technology acceptance models are transferable to health care technology with modifications, and factors such as perceived risks, technology performance expectancy, consumer trust, and habit significantly correlate with consumers' adoption intentions. This study provides valuable insights into health care technology management and practical implications for health care service designers, providers, and regulatory authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 (i4.0) is central to advanced manufacturing. Building on novel digital technologies, it enables smart and flexible manufacturing with systems connected across company boundaries and product lifecycle phases. Despite its benefits, the adoption of i4.0 has been limited, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises. A key challenge is the technological complexity of i4.0. While advanced functionality requires technological complexity, it complicates an understanding of which enabling technologies are particularly useful and required. This article presents a framework to support successful i4.0 adoption across the entire product generation process through a systematic matrix-based dependency analysis of i4.0 solutions and underlying i4.0 technologies. Through increasing transparency around technological complexity of i4.0 solutions, this research contributes to a better understanding of which technologies are required for specific i4.0 solutions and which technologies could be strategic enablers for a broad variety of i4.0 applications. Knowing these technological dependencies supports both, the systematic adoption of existing i4.0 solutions and the development of new i4.0 solutions. This also sets the basis for a future socio-technical investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging population and increasing prevalence of diseases among younger individuals have heightened the pressing demand for wearable health monitoring devices among the general public. In comparison to self‐health monitoring at physical signal level, wearable biochemical monitoring can provide more comprehensive and insightful information regarding one's own health status. Wearable sweat‐sensing technologies hold great potential for non‐invasive and continuous biochemical monitoring, and have emerged as a focal point of wearable health monitoring research. The effective management of sweat, encompassing convenient induction, reliable collection, and efficient flow control and storage, is fundamental in wearable sweat sensing. To elucidate the research progression in these aspects, this review first summarizes sweat secretion mechanisms, induction method, and sampling mode. Additionally, detailed summaries and discussion on sweat sampling and transport modes are provided. Furthermore, within the context of epidermal microfluidics, the technologies on sweat flow control and storage management based on microvalves are discussed. Lastly, current commercialization and key challenges are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of lean management has been of interest to researchers and practitioners in the construction industry and is implemented in most countries. While achieving waste mitigation in developed countries, lean is still in its elementary stages in the Middle East. Moreover, the implementation in the Middle East poses more challenges than benefit when choosing the right lean tools and techniques for projects. This study will critically investigate the factors affecting the process of adopting lean tools and techniques, which are directed towards technology, artificial intelligence and IoT in the construction industry in the public sector in the four governates of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Thereafter, the investigation will determine the level of lean construction management implementation and consequently its effect on sustainability using a quantitative method. The result from the questionnaire is hoped to shed a light on the poorly researched topic in Bahrain and benefit academics and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature shows that the path toward Quality 4.0 is unclear and that there is no roadmap to assist organizations in preparing or navigating this transition. This article aims to understand such a path, design, and develop a roadmap to guide organizations. The "Quality 4.0 Roadmap" allows organizations to position themselves and smoothly transition to Quality 4.0. It consolidates fundamental Quality Management practices to promote sustained progress toward stages of advanced technological integration. In each stage, the "Quality 4.0 Roadmap" highlights the necessary capabilities organizations need to develop and alerts them of potential pitfalls. This roadmap offers an original tool to assist organizations in achieving and developing the required capabilities for pursuing the digital transition with an operational and human-centered perspective. It also defines vital stages in the Quality 4.0 transition, identifying the evolving requirements and marking boundaries and touchpoints between Technology and Quality management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As organizations emerge from the disruptions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is becoming evident that the sales function has shifted irrevocably toward increased reliance on technological resources to facilitate inherent processes and activities. Integrating research from the dynamic capabilities and sales capabilities literature, this study examines why some organizations are more adept than others at harnessing and leveraging emergent technological resources to enhance sales operations. Specifically, we develop and test a theoretical framework of the antecedents and consequences of technology-enabled sales capability, a firm-level operational capability that captures the embeddedness of technology in sales processes and activities. The framework proposes that three firm-level dynamic capabilities—technology-sensing capability, vigilant market learning capability, and adaptive sales capability—are positively related to technology-enabled sales capability, which in turn is positively related to financial performance and customer relationship performance. The framework also explores the moderating effects of top management technology advocacy and two environmental variables—technological and market turbulence—on the development and deployment of technology-enabled sales capability. Based on findings from data gathered from 224 business-to-business sales managers, we extend theoretical and managerial contributions and provide directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population ageing is a major challenge affecting the future of science and technology policy and governance in industrialised societies. In this context, a key element is ensuring adequate protection, safety and care for older people when needed. The solution to enable active and healthy ageing is innovative technologies called gerontechnologies, which support older people. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the systematic analysis and evaluation of gerontechnologies, which requires research in theoretical and empirical aspects. There is a need to focus on developing and supporting gerontechnologies to help older people reach their full potential in different spheres of life. Research should focus on analysing these technologies, their effectiveness and their impact on the quality of life of older people. This paper evaluates, analyses and builds a ranking of several selected technologies: (1) the wheelchair based on artificial intelligence Wheelie7, (2) the humanoid Rudy Robot, and (3) the wristband/watch VitalBand. The research was conducted in Poland. Based on a literature review, the authors identified relevant technologies to improve the quality of life of older people. These technologies were then assessed by people over 40 against various criteria. This age group was chosen because the issues of gerontechnology concern these people now in the context of their parents using the technology and being potential users of gerontechnology in 20–30 years. The study answered the following research questions: (1) What are the criteria for evaluating technologies that enhance the quality of life for older individuals? (2) How were the selected gerontechnologies evaluated? (3) How should the TOPSIS method be applied to build a ranking of gerontechnologies? (4) Which of the selected gerontechnologies was rated the highest by potential users?

The purpose of the article is to determine the role of knowledge and technology management in improving the quality of business 4.0 products. Based on statistics for 63 countries in 2022, as well as knowledge and technology, an econometric model of product quality management in business 4.0 has been constructed.The model revealed, along with the contradictory influence of knowledge on the quality of business 4.0 products, a reliable and consistent pattern of systematic growth in the quality of business 4.0 products as industrial designs by origin, as well as the growth of production and export complexity increase.A scenario analysis of the prospects for improving product quality in business 4.0 depending on knowledge and technology management was conducted. The author's forecast for the "Decade of Action" (until 2030) showed that the most promising and preferred of the alternatives considered is the scenario of the development of technically complex products with advanced industrial design in business 4.0.The main conclusion is that the key factor of a new type of business - business 4.0, which was formed under the influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is technology, while human resources have receded into the background.The theoretical significance of the results is due to the fact that they revealed the prospects for improving the competitiveness of business 4.0, for which it is recommended to reduce the share of human-intensive economic processes and proportionally increase the share of automated processes.The originality of the research lies in reconsideration of the importance of such factors of production as human and technological resources in the conditions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, taking into account the little-studied experience of a new type of business - business 4.0.Management implications consist in the fact that the article offers an innovative approach to corporate social responsibility, whose efforts are proposed to focus on improving product quality in business 4.0. The author's recommendations contribute to unlocking the potential for improving product quality, as well as increasing the effectiveness of quality management in business 4.0.

This research aims to explore how technology, data analysis, regulations, and laws can work together in the context of Indonesian Civil Servant talent management. Thus, this research will not only provide in-depth insight into the application of technology in talent management, but also identify challenges and opportunities that must be addressed in the regulatory context relating to the use of Civil Servant personal data. Talent Management within the Indonesian State Civil Servant is a key element in improving the efficiency and quality of public services. The importance of talent management in the context of Civil Servant bureaucracy is increasingly understood, especially in handling increasingly complex societal demands. The quality and competence of Civil Servant has a direct impact on the effectiveness of implementing government tasks. The research method used is qualitative with a literature study approach. The insight of this research shows the potential to provide valuable guidance for stakeholders in government bureaucracy to develop an integrated and effective approach to Civil Servant talent management approach by SMART Civil Servant and BerAKHLAK core value, which can improve public services and maintain integrity in the bureaucratic environment toward a world-class bureaucracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), as an emerging contaminant, brings great risks to the ecological environment and human health due to its high toxicity, non-degradability, bioaccumulation and longdistance migration. The hazards of HCBD are briefly described, the sources and pollution status of HCBD in China are analyzed, and the status of environmental control and the progress of treatment technology of HCBD in China are summarized. In view of the existing problems, suggestions are put forward from environmental management, monitoring and analysis technology and emission reduction management technology to provide references for controlling source emission of HCBD, reducing environmental pollution level and strengthening environmental risk control. Future research should focus on the mechanism and toxicology of HCBD production, monitoring techniques for HCBD, and the development of efficient control of HCBD and remediation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batteries are one of the most crucial energy storage devices today, and battery-energy management technology has an extremely significant impact on the performance and lifespan of batteries. The traditional design approach for battery-energy management platforms often neglects considerations for charging and discharging scenarios. Additionally, functional modules are designed independently, leading to incompatibility issues between hardware and control units, thereby limiting the system's performance. To address these challenges and enhance system coordination, this paper proposes a systematic design and implementation method for a battery-energy comprehensive management platform applied in charging and swapping scenarios. The method consists of four parts: hardware design, a dynamic load charging-balance control strategy, a composite micro-source hierarchical coordination control strategy, and a system emergency-response and protection strategy. The proposed method has been successfully applied to a design and has been used to build a battery-energy comprehensive management platform. Finally, through experiments, it has been demonstrated that this system can achieve energy scheduling, battery-energy balance, mode switching, and fault protection in a stable and reliable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous growth of the global population and the increasing demand for crop yield, enhancing crop productivity has emerged as a crucial research objective on a global scale. Weeds, being one of the primary abiotic factors impacting crop yield, contribute to approximately 13.2% of annual food loss. In recent years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology has developed rapidly and its maturity has led to widespread utilization in improving crop productivity and reducing management costs. Concurrently, deep learning technology has become a prominent tool in image recognition. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) has achieved remarkable outcomes in various domains, including agriculture, such as weed detection, pest identification, plant/fruit counting, maturity grading, etc. This study provides an overview of the development of UAV platforms, the classification of UAV platforms and their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the types and characteristics of data collected by common vision sensors used in agriculture, and discusses the application of deep learning technology in weed detection. The manuscript presents current advancements in UAV technology and CNNs in weed management tasks while emphasizing the existing limitations and future trends in its development process to assist researchers working on applying deep learning techniques to weed management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses and critically reflects on how the concept of 'crisis' has tended to feature within prominent debates on 'Crisis of the Liberal International Order'. Within such scholarship, the article argues, the concept of crisis most often functions as a technology of crisis management in itself: rather than disrupting narratives and assumptions of liberal progress and order, invocations of crisis within Liberal International Order scholarship tend to recapitulate those same narratives and assumptions. To make this case, the article undertakes an immanent critique of how crisis has been understood within debates on the Liberal International Order, drawing on wider critical and social theoretic reflections on 'crisis talk' as the basis for a more critical engagement. Doing so, it seeks to highlight the ways in which Crisis of the Liberal International Order debates constitute a particular way of understanding the relationship between crisis, liberalism and modernity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental management systems (EMS) are essential in promoting sustainable practices and mitigating the adverse effects of human activities on the environment. As technology continues to advance, there is an increasing opportunity to utilize advanced technologies to improve environmental management systems. This article examines the potential of different advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT), within the context of environmental management systems. This article intends to offer valuable insights to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers by examining the potential uses of AI, blockchain, big data, and IoT in environmental management systems. The goal is to demonstrate how these advanced technologies can be leveraged to enhance sustainability, boost environmental performance, and yield favourable environmental results across different sectors and industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a software ecosystem, companies' stakeholders make various decisions and perform various tasks to ensure the strategic and architectural goals of the company. Analyzing vendor capabilities and making decisions to select software vendors requires expert professionals. To analyze vendors' capabilities and accessing them according to the company's strategic and architectural goals is presently an ad-hoc and manual process. Presently, there is no systematic process for 'vendor analysis and selection' specifically for the software industry. Therefore, this study introduces a novel framework which elaborates all the tasks required for vendor proposal evaluation. It also includes the automatic detection of inconsistencies and conflicts prevalent during this process. A new method called 'Inconsistency and Conflict Removal (ICR)' is proposed as part of this framework. ICR automates the process of spotting inconsistencies and conflicts by taking scores of vendor capabilities as input reported by different decision-makers. Further, to illustrate this framework, 'a case of Hospital' has been considered. This study provides valuable knowledge that would facilitate organizations in software vendor selection. It will lead to substantial savings in terms of economics, such as actual costs, time, and improved administrative processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis on knowledge management from journals in the Scopus database between 1988 and 2021. The paper covered the past three decades of publications and carried out performance analysis and science mapping analysis of articles. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses bibliometrics, performance analysis and science mapping analysis of 1,016 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The study examined the scientific productivity of articles, productive authors, citable documents, most relevant institutions, cited countries, co-occurrence of keywords, thematic mapping, co-citations and collaboration of authors and countries. The study used Biblioshiny as a tool to carry out the performance analysis and science mapping analysis. Findings: The results show that the number of publications has significantly increased in the past decade, 88.4% of authors contribute at least a single article, 8.3% of authors published two articles, 2% of the authors published three documents and 0.6% of the authors contribute four papers. The USA, China and Australia were the most productive countries in terms of the total number of citations and foreign collaborations. Journal of Knowledge Management, Knowledge Management Research and Practice, VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management and International Journal of Technology Management are the top outlets in the knowledge management literature. Originality/value: Over the past decade, the research on knowledge management construct has exploded because of the growing interest of researchers and practitioners in the field. Despite being a well-developed field, few studies have applied bibliometric analysis in the knowledge management literature. The study is more comprehensive in terms of the actors and methods involved in analyzing the scientific production of articles in the area of knowledge management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]