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Metaverse architects face challenges akin to urban planners developing a new city: multiple stakeholders must coordinate on technical standards for interoperability and establish social consensus around specific choices. The article presents an analogy between the metaverse and the Las Vegas Strip in the unincorporated town of Paradise, NV, which arose in the mid-twentieth century as a focal destination for immersive entertainment delivered by eclectic interconnected resorts. It integrates this case study of the Las Vegas Strip with theories of technology management to derive practical insights for building the metaverse: focusing social momentum around a new destination and governing cooperation among de facto competitors. [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]

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]

Maturity models are valuable tools when assessing the readiness and progress of technology incorporation in organizations, providing information for decision-making, resource allocation, and competitive advantage. The Internet of Things is a technology paradigm of global importance, especially for organizations, as it supports productivity improvements, real-time analysis, and customer satisfaction. Therefore, adopting and implementing this technology in enterprises brings several challenges, such as technological, organizational, security, and maturity issues. However, secondary studies that systematically compile the existing literature on these specific mechanisms for the enterprise domain are still being determined. This article aims to address this knowledge gap by conducting a review to deepen and synthesize the existing knowledge. This research followed established methodologies and protocols to synthesize and analyze the state of the art in the area; 489 documents were retrieved from seven bibliographic databases, and, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 36 primary studies were selected. The results indicate that the typical structures of maturity models incorporate technological, organizational, human, performance, and security dimensions through graded levels that denote the sophistication of the Internet of Things. Measurement techniques and metrics vary from model to model. There are few empirical validations or standardized improvement frameworks. The main conclusion is that there is a diversity of models, dimensions, indicators, and methods and a need for more comprehensive, adaptable, and user-friendly tools to help companies assess their Internet of Things maturity and inform future development strategies. [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]

This article empirically examines the research on digital strategy, addressing its temporal evolution, sources of scientific production, countries and organizations generating knowledge, and the topics investigated. It highlights key authors and journals from 1991 to 2023, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9. Methodologically, traditional bibliometric laws and computational tools (VOSviewer software version 1.6.18) were applied for data processing. The results show an exponential increase in publications from 2005 to 2022 with a critical mass in digital strategy studies, concentrated in 11 journals and 83 authors with two or more publications. The main organizations leading scientific production in this field are in the USA. Finally, the primary Web of Science categories for the leading journals are Business, Management, and Psychology. The research examines the use and adoption of digital strategies in marketing, the impact of digital transformation on business models, and the challenges it poses for human resources. In addition, the challenges arising from the impact of COVID-19, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the integration of digital strategies in public administration should continue to be addressed. Finally, digital transformation is a topic of increasing interest in digital strategy studies. [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]

Problem definition: Despite their widespread use, promotional inventory displays' campaign execution is opaque. Brands (manufacturers) can only verify in-store display presence through manual, on-site audits, which are costly and limited in scope. This lack of visibility into execution makes it difficult for brands to quantify the sales impact of displays and properly evaluate campaign performance. Methodology/results: We use Internet-of-Things (IoT)-generated data on the real-time location of about 15,000 displays from 10 display campaigns in about 5,000 stores of a Fortune 500 retail chain, paired with the stores' point-of-sale (POS) data between September 2017 and March 2018, to measure the operational execution and effectiveness of display campaigns. First, we find that campaigns are poorly executed: 29% of displays never made it to a store's floor, and those that made it only spent 62% of the campaign there. Second, we find that poor execution deprives brands of substantial sales, especially during campaign weeks: placing a display on the floor during an arbitrary week increases the targeted products' sales by 7.3%, and placing it on the floor during a campaign week boosts sales by another 2.3%. Managerial implications: Our results enable brands to optimize investments in promotional display campaigns and execution. We project that brands would suffer a 3.1% dollar sales decrease during campaign weeks by discontinuing current campaigns. However, they could achieve up to a 6.9% dollar sales increase during campaign weeks through improved execution. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0291. [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]

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]

Endüstri 4.0'ın ortaya çıkışından bu yana on yılı aşkın bir süre geçmiş olmasına rağmen, hala bu devrimin getirileri, riskleri ve geçişi kolaylaştıran ya da zorlaştıran faktörlerin anlaşılmasına yönelik çalışmalara ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Bu çalışmada Endüstri 4.0 teknolojilerinin getirileri, zorlaştırıcı, kolaylaştırıcı etkenler ve riskler literatür taraması ve içerik analizi yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Bu amaçla 26 adet makale çalışmaya dâhil edilmiştir. Çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre; belirtilen birçok farklı faktörün yanı sıra bazı başlıklar getiriler ve engeller noktasında ön plana çıkmıştır. Endüstri 4.0’ ın mevcut getirilerinden başlıcası verimlilik artışı, kitlesel özelleştirme ve maliyetlerdeki azalıştır. Temel engeller ise; standartların ve referans mimarinin eksikliğidir. Tüm bu sonuçlardan yola çıkarak bu çalışmada Endüstri 4.0 teknolojilerinin getirileri, zorlaştırıcı ve kolaylaştırıcı etkenler ve riskler ekseninde kavramsal bir çerçeve önerilmiştir.

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]

Knowledge recombination (KR) and technology innovation quality (TIQ) has received much attention. However, the mechanisms by which KR affects TIQ still lack further exploration. This study aims to explore the mediating role of relation dynamics (RDS) between KR and TIQ, and whether knowledge network decomposability (KND) moderates these relationships. Based on a panel data from 437 Chinese listed high-tech firms during 2000–2017, the hypotheses are tested using negative binomial regression in STATA 16.0. The results show that, first, knowledge recombination creation (KRC) not only directly improves TIQ, but also indirectly improves TIQ by promoting relation expansion (RE). Second, the relationship between knowledge recombination reuse (KRR) and TIQ is inverted U -shaped, which is partially mediated by relation stability (RS). Third, KND strengthens the influence of KRC or KRR on TIQ and the inverted U -shaped relationship between KRR and RS. This study enriches the research on the relationship between KR and TIQ, and provides theoretical support for technology management decisions in high-tech firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitals are considered the backbone of healthcare systems, and their significance is particularly pronounced during emergencies. However, the rapid overpopulation and recent pandemics have caused tremendous shortages of hospital beds, raising major threats to public health. This developmental research study aims to help improve the management of hospital beds through the design, development, testing, and evaluation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring system implemented using Agile Scrum methodology. Based on the results of the hypothesis testing, the authors found that the optical sensors installed in 4 hospital rooms, with varying distance readings, are consistently accurate (F (3, 388) = 1.000, p=0.393), hence the authors accepted the proposed null hypothesis. Moreover, the beneficiaries, composed of the public, hospital staff, nurses, and a doctor evaluated the system to be overall very good, very efficient, very suitable, reliable, very usable, and very satisfactory. The outcome of this research aims to contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG) on good health and well-being (SDG 3). [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]

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]

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]

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.

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]