Search

Abstract In response to the situation of the African healthcare system, the African Medicines Agency (AMA) was established by the African Union (AU) to regulate access to medicines and support the local manufacture of medications. This study aimed to describe the factors that enabled the establishment of the African Medicines Agency and its successes, challenges, and perceived benefits. We reviewed data sources that explored the progress and challenges of the African Medicines Agency and Medicines Regulation in Africa. The SPIDER framework was used to organise the research focus and to extract the keywords for the literature search. The study data were obtained from PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Out of 249 studies screened, 19 were selected for this narrative review. Critical successes observed in the agency's establishment include the appointment of a Special Envoy, the selection of its headquarters, and the signing of its treaty by 37 member states. However, it is hindered by poor political commitment, differences in risk‐benefits interpretation and organizational structure, weak legal and regulatory frameworks, inadequate financial mechanisms, and inadequate political and policy leadership in some member states. The value of AMA in achieving optimal health outcomes and its other benefits must be considered despite the challenges being encountered. Therefore, all member states should adopt the best procedures in signing and ratifying the treaty and implementing associated commitments to improve efficiency and accountability in African medicine regulation.

This qualitative case study investigates social media and its effect on organizational learning within a technology manufacturing company. Seven participants, including a general manager and IT specialist, team leaders, frontline managers, and an HR coordinator, were interviewed through semi-structured interviews to get insights on the use of social media for organizational learning. The finding indicated that social media learning effectiveness is constrained by poor governance, lack of consistent leadership support, and technological enablers. There also are cultural challenges to overcome, such as generational differences and differing levels of digital literacy. By outlining the significant factors that need to be addressed for technology manufacturers to incorporate social media into their learning strategies fully, this study provides valuable practical advice on using social media for best organizational learning. For successful integration, the study indicates that strategic alignment and better digital literacy should exist. Future research should explore how these barriers might be overcome and test different social media approaches in various organizational contexts.

A company’s performance can be measured by the number and satisfaction of customers, which helps in maintaining customer relationships. Indicators such as customer satisfaction, perception of service, and loyalty can be derived from the Customer Perspective of the Balance Scorecard (BSC). Conducting an IT governance audit is essential to understand how customers perceive a service. The use of the COBIT 4.1 Framework for IT governance audits is recognized for its detailed process, both for business and governance purposes, to avoid vulnerabilities and threats, thereby increasing customer satisfaction. Effective IT governance plays a crucial role in enhancing customer satisfaction and achieving organizational success. This research aims to analyze IT governance audits from a customer perspective using the COBIT 4.1 framework, with a focus on aligning IT strategy with business goals to meet customer expectations. The research method involves key processes in PO8 (Manage Quality) and PO10 (Manage Project) to determine quality standards and influential budgets. Integration with computational techniques for data analysis and IT audit algorithms is carried out to build strong IT governance practices. The computational audit results show maturity levels of 2.59 for PO8 and 3.02 for PO10, indicating areas needing improvement in product quality management and project execution to better meet customer needs. These findings underscore the importance of integrating computational insights to optimize IT governance frameworks and improve organizational performance, especially in customer retention through enhanced project quality management.

Digital twin (DT) is recognized as a pillar in the transition from traditional to digital construction, yet the risks (opportunities and threats) associated with its implementation have not been thoroughly determined in the literature. In addition, there is a scarcity of research relating the risks of DT implementation to DT maturity levels, which has hindered the optimum consideration of such risks when DT is adopted at different maturity levels. To address these gaps, this study conducted a literature review of 1889 documents from Scopus and Web of Science databases. After rigorous filtration, 72 documents were selected and comprehensively reviewed. A total of 47 risk factors (RFs) were identified and categorized into opportunities (economic, technical, environmental and sustainability, monitoring and safety, and management) and threats (economic, technical, and policy and management). Subsequently, these RFs were mapped onto the five-level DT maturity model, providing users with insights into opportunities and threats on each level. The exhaustive list of RFs and proposed integration of a DT maturity model with corresponding RFs enables stakeholders to identify the risks in their specific use cases and facilitate the decision-making and success in transition across various levels of DT in real-life construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional bridge expansion joints have the disadvantages of easy damage and lengthy maintenance period. Polyurethane concrete, as a polymer material, is gradually being applied to the repair of expansion joints. However, polyurethane-based repair materials are susceptible to a variety of factors during the early strength-building phase. In this regard, a Polyurethane-Fly Ash Composite (PU-FAC) for rapid repair was proposed in this paper and the effects of different factors on early mechanical performance were investigated. The orthogonal test was first used to determine the optimal mixing ratio of PU-FAC. Then the effects of temperature, catalyst, and curing time on the performance of PU-FAC were investigated by temperature rise curve, maturity index, SEM, and response surface method. The results showed that temperature and catalyst at different curing times had both positive and negative effects on the failure pattern, curing rate, degree of foaming, and mechanical performance. Finally, the optimum values of temperature and catalyst were determined by gray correlation analysis as 15 °C and 0.6 %. By analyzing the effects of different factors on the performance of PU-FAC, it provides a basis for the rapid repair construction of bridge expansion joint anchorage area.

This study aimed to develop the optimal allometric body size/shape and a biological maturity model that predicted the change of direction (CoD) mean speed performance in youth male soccer players. One-hundred and fifteen youth soccer players (age: 12.4 [1.3] y) participated in this study. The 505 test was used to assess CoD mean speed performance. Anthropometric measurements comprised body height (cm), sitting height (cm), body mass (kg), fat mass (kg), lower limb length (cm), thigh length (cm), leg length (cm), foot length (cm), thigh girth (cm), and calf girth (cm). The maturity status was determined based on the maturity offset method. To identify size/shape and maturity characteristics associated with CoD speed performance, we computed a multiplicative allometric log-linear regression model. which was refined using backward elimination. The multiplicative allometric model exploring the association between 505 CoD mean speed performance and the different anthropometric characteristics in youth soccer players estimated that fat mass (P < .001), sitting height (P =.02), and maturity offset (P = .004) are the key predictors. More specifically, youths who are more mature and have a lower fat mass and a shorter trunk length, are likely to achieve a better CoD mean speed performance. These findings highlight the relevance of considering anthropometric and maturity characteristics in youth soccer players to support talent identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging hyperspectral technology is becoming popular in agriculture to provide detailed information on crop growth. In this work, we propose an estimation of rapeseed pod's water content model and identification of maturity levels (green, yellow, and full) model by using this technology. Four types of hyperspectral features are extracted—color, texture, spectral three-edge parameters, and spectral indices. By integrating these features, satisfactory results are achieved: the optimal feature combination is from spectral indices and three-edge parameters, with low RRMSE and RE for yellow maturity. Incorporating spectral indices significantly improved the pod's water content estimation, reducing RRMSE by up to 43.30% and 30.11% in the green and full maturity stages. Random forest and support vector machine with kernel method (SVM-KM) algorithms outperformed other statistical models, with SVM-KM achieving up to 96.90% accuracy in identifying maturity levels. These findings provide valuable insights for managing rapeseed production during the pod stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital twins aim to optimize practices implemented in various sectors by bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Focusing on open-field agriculture, livestock farming, and forestry and reviewing the current applications in these domains, this paper reveals the multifaceted roles of digital twins. Diverse key aspects are examined, including digital twin integration and maturity level, means of data acquisition, technological capabilities, and commonly used input and output features. Through the prism of four primary research questions, the state of the art of digital twins, the extent of their achieved integration, and an overview of the critical issues and potential advancements are provided in the landscape of the sectors under consideration. The paper concludes that in spite of the remarkable progress, there is a long way towards achieving full digital twin. Challenges still persist, while the key factor seems to be the integration of expert knowledge from different stakeholders. In light of the constraints identified in the review analysis, a new sector-specific definition for digital twins is also suggested to align with the distinctive characteristics of intricate biotic and abiotic systems. This research is anticipated to serve as a useful reference for stakeholders, enhancing awareness of the considerable benefits associated with digital twins and promoting a more systematic and comprehensive exploration of this transformative topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital twins (DTs) have become a widely discussed subject, believed to have the potential to solve various problems across different industries, including Engineering & Construction (E&C). However, there is still significant misconception concerning the definition of DTs and their purpose within E&C. This study dives deep into identifying DT applications within E&C and the other prominent industries, i.e., Aerospace & Aviation, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, Automotive, Healthcare, Smart Cities, Oil & Gas, and Retail. The main challenges to the evolution of DT practical applications are also analyzed. A combination of a literature review, multi-case study analysis, and comparative analysis compose the deployed methodology. Standardization and a maturity level classification are proposed to drive progress of the adoption of DTs. The distinct aspects of the different industries and their assets are evaluated to the conclusion that DTs are better employed for maintenance of structures within E&C. DTs have become a well-worn topic, but the abundance of complex theoretical frameworks is met with simple or inexistent practical applications. Therefore, the novelty of this study lays in its comprehensive analysis of DT applications and real-world implementations—a departure from the often-theoretical discussions surrounding DTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NMAT is a comprehensive and user-friendly tool NITAGs, and secretariat can use with little or no external support. • Most countries had either a basic or developing maturity level for all indicators. • Prevention and management policies for conflict of interest constitute the main weakness of NITAGs in the region. • Implementing post assessment NITAG improvement work plans constitute a pathway to NITAG institutional capacity building. National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are independent bodies that help improve national immunization programmes in decision making on immunization policy. The new NITAG Maturity Assessment Tool (NMAT) provided an opportunity to conduct a region-wide assessment to improve NITAG capacity and foster institutional growth. We share experience of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in using NMAT and the use of findings to develop improvement plans. NITAG chairs and secretariats from 22 EMR countries attended a virtual NMAT training in 2023. They self-assessed their NITAGs using the tool and developed improvement plans. An algorithm used the data to determine maturity levels for seven indicators. We consolidated results for the region by income groups. Of 22 countries (or NITAGs), 20 (91%) submitted NITAG assessment findings and 19 an improvement plan. The proportion of criteria met per indicator varied from 36% for independence and non-bias to 74% for establishment and composition. Maturity level varied by indicator. Of 20 NITAGs, less than half had an intermediate or higher-level maturity for the indicators of independence and non-bias 1 (5%), operations 3 (15%), making recommendations 4 (20%), stakeholder recognition 6 (30%), and resources and secretariat support 7 (35%). Meanwhile 11 (55%) NITAGs had an intermediate or higher maturity level for the indicators of establishment and composition and for integration into policy making process. Participants described NMAT as a concise, useful, user-friendly tool. NMAT is a practical tool that can be used by NITAGs to provide insights and strategic direction for individual countries and regionally. Prevention and management of conflict of interest is the domain that requires the most improvement in EMR. Planned activities should be implemented, monitored and a follow up assessment conducted in 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption on public service delivery efficiency in India. It addresses a significant gap in existing literature by investigating the impact of AI adoption on public service delivery efficiency in India, a context that has not been extensively explored. Through a comparative analysis approach, the study assesses the effectiveness of AI applications in enhancing public service delivery. The quantitative research design employed in the study draws on previous literature on AI integration in governance and focuses on Chief Information Officers (CIOs) as primary respondents. The findings reveal significant improvements in citizen-centric services and municipal processes due to AI adoption. However, the impact on human-centric aspects is found to be moderate. The study also underscores the importance of infrastructure readiness for successful AI implementation. Notably, only 25 % of organizations were found to be possessing advanced technological infrastructure. This research is original in its focus on Chief Information Officers (CIOs) as primary respondents and its comparative analysis approach to assess the effectiveness of AI applications in enhancing public service delivery. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners. Emphasizing the need for effective policies and infrastructure development, it highlights the potential of AI to eliminate corruption risks and enhance overall efficiency and transparency in public service delivery mechanisms.

Models for assessing the level of digital maturity are widely used as a tool for justifying decisions on the development of organizations. Similar models exist in the field of assessing the maturity of ecosystems. However, there are much fewer of them, and in most cases, they do not take into account the characteristics of innovation ecosystems as an object of management. In addition, research in recent years has revealed many important aspects that determine the effectiveness of managing the creation of shared innovation value, which are not taken into account in existing models. Therefore, the goal of this work is to create a framework for assessing the level of maturity of the territory’s innovation ecosystem. The concepts of the ecosystem in general and the innovation ecosystem in particular, methodological approaches and models for organizing network interactions and role dynamics, and models for assessing the maturity of ecosystems were used as the methodological basis for the study. The article discusses the tasks and promising models of orchestration in terms of creating and distributing shared value as the core of the territory's innovation ecosystem. A canvas of the territory's innovation ecosystem is proposed. Groups of actors are identified, which, in addition to the components of the classical triple helix (science, business, government), are: entrepreneurship, integrated entities (consortia, clusters, platforms) and consumers as participants in the process of joint value creation. In the role landscape format, the relationship of actors with possible ecosystem roles is determined. A comparative analysis of approaches to constructing models for assessing the maturity of ecosystems was carried out. It is shown that the most common areas of assessment are: value proposition (target setting, products and services, monetization), actors, processes and formats of their interaction (network, platform, infrastructure), management (ecosystem orchestration). Taking into account the features of the innovation ecosystem (composition of actors, transfer gaps, models of coordination of interests, risks), an enlarged structure of the assessment model is proposed. The advantages of a modular approach to constructing a model for assessing the maturity level of a territory's innovation ecosystem in the format of a dynamic set of submodels are revealed. A composition of submodels is proposed for the enlarged blocks, and their brief description is given. The operationalization of submodels in terms of the formation of a system of evaluation indicators and corresponding scales is considered as directions for further research.

This study aims to evaluate PT Gramedia Asri Media to find out whether the company's IT services meet the best standards of the ITIL V3 Service Operations framework. Service Operations focus includes Problem Management, Incident Management, Access Management, Request Fulfillment, and Event Management. Evaluation is carried out in four stages: planning, field inspection, reporting, and follow-up. The results indicate the maturity level of IT service implementation. For data collection, questionnaires were distributed to five people who were surveyed and interviewed with the heads of engineering services and support staff. The results show that the company's IT service maturity level is at level one. In addition, this research produced seventy suggestions for companies to improve their IT services. The results show that almost all suggestions were well received by the company, and some of them have been implemented at PT Gramedia Asri Media. However, of course, with the problems discovered from this research, there will be a desire to improve service and performance.

Okra, renowned for its abundance of essential nutrients, emerges as a promising solution in addressing malnutrition, advocating for sustainable agriculture, and showcasing versatile untapped potentials. Our objective is to enhance the quality, market attractiveness, and culinary adaptability of okra harvests by classifying them into over-matured and adequately matured groups through a non-invasive approach. This dataset is centered on thermal images capturing different maturity levels of okra, categorized into two distinct groups. The thermal imaging device is employed for image capture, and the okra samples are sourced from diverse vegetable vendors and farms. This dataset proves to be a valuable asset for the non-invasive examination and categorization of okras based on their maturity levels.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) has emerged as a response to globalization and regulatory pressure on firms to manage their risk comprehensively. CSR is related to corporate risk management, as by engaging in CSR activities firms can be more effective in managing stakeholder relationships. Extant studies rarely examine both issues to the level of digital transformation. In the coming years, the issue of digital transformation will have an even bigger impact on business models. The first step in the effective implementation of ERM is the ability of the organization to learn and understand the requirements of ERM implementation in its company. Thus, it is important to examine the effect of the maturity learn element in ERM and CSR as risk management on the level of digital transformation. In addition, this paper also examines the moderating role of CSR on the association between ERM and the level of digital transformation. Our samples consist of manufacturing companies of developed countries in the European Union (which consists of Italy, Spain, Belgium Switzerland, Germany, France, and UK). The paper found evidence that enterprise risk management has a positive significant effect on the level of digital transformation. The paper also found evidence that CSR has a direct effect on the level of digital transformation. However, the paper failed to provide supporting evidence on the moderating role of CSR on the association between ERM and the level of digital transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing digitalization of business and society has brought major changes for organizations to transform in an effort to maintain their sustainability. Adaptation to technological developments that impact various adjustments to strategies, business processes, and organizational structures has become an integral part of being able to transformation. This transformation effort is accompanied by monitoring and evaluation to ensure conformity of the transformation with digital transformation maturity level standards. This study proposes an independent digital maturity measurement model (DX-SAMM Digital Transformation Self-Assessment Maturity Model) that allows companies to classify their achievement of digital maturity. The expansion of existing digital maturity measurement models to include multidimensional engagement that dominates Digital Transformation is the focus of the research objectives. Overall, seven dimensions and twenty-one sub-dimensions were defined to measure the maturity level of digital transformation in organizations. This digital maturity measurement application considers various dimensions related to Digital Transformation, namely Strategy, Organizational Structure, Technology, Employees, Customers, Business Processes, and Culture. The Digital Transformation maturity level standard used adopts SPICE. It is part of the ISO/IEC 3300XX family of standards, which specifically serves as a maturity reference for established structures. Case studies as empirical tests of model implementation are presented in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been more than a decade since the introduction of the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Since then, many issues have been raised in the world: the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainable development goals, and recent dramatic changes in global politics. The global value chains were broken during the pandemic, and the importance of humans as the most important element of the production system was highlighted. It caused rethinking about current industrial paradigms, including the brand new paradigm of Industry 4.0. More focus has been put on human workers, sustainability, and the resilience of the value chain, so the Industry 4.0 update was presented as Industry 5.0. A specific methodology to evaluate the maturity level of the manufacturing industry with regard to Industry 4.0/5.0 is presented and tested in the Croatian manufacturing industry. The developed methodology is unique since it puts Industry 5.0 in the right context with Industry 4.0. Therefore, the Industry 4.0 index remains the main indicator; however, alignment with three Industry 5.0 aims (human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience) represents three additional indicators. The results of the current state analysis are presented as a case study with a discussion about the results and methodology itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Lean-Circular is a new approach to promote circular flows and create added-value. • The Lean-Circular Maturity Model (LCMM) is a self-assessment tool for companies. • The LCMM encourages conservation of material, water, energy, chemicals, and waste. • The LCMM was applied to nine companies of various sizes, sectors, and locations. • Maturity levels are tied to company-specific attributes (sector, size, and region) Rapidly diagnosing the status of resource efficiency and waste generation throughout the entire value chain is considered one of the key future advancements towards achieving more sustainable production. This study aimed to develop and implement a self-assessment tool to assist companies in decision-making processes for establishing circular flows based on the principles of Lean Manufacturing (LM) and Circular Economy (CE). The self-assessment tool employed a maturity model comprising several stages, which were designed through a combination of design science research and scenario planning. The Lean-Circular Maturity Model (LCMM) consisted of maturity levels ranging from 0 to 4, assessing strategies such as Resource Efficiency, Energy Management, Water and Wastewater Management, Materials and Solid Waste Management, and Chemicals and Emissions Management. The model was applied to nine companies varying in sector, size, region, and nationality. Their engagement in LM, and CE, differed, as did their strategy maturity metrics. Primary sector companies showed higher maturity in water-waste and chemical-emissions management. Larger enterprises focused on these strategies, with nuances based on region. The main findings indicated that 66% of the companies sought cleaner alternatives prior to mapping their production processes, which could lead to errors in planning and prioritizing improvement actions. Furthermore, 61% of the companies lacked sufficient training and employee awareness regarding the efficient utilization of resources. The absence of comprehensive actions to manage the life cycle of products throughout the value chain emerged as the primary barrier identified. To address these gaps, the LCMM offers a set of tailored recommendations for each company to enhance processes, products, and the value chain based on the final score obtained from utilizing the LCMM self-assessment tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Modified atmosphere storage (MAS) has been proven for decades able to decelerate the respirate rate of fruits. The sluggish respirate rate increases the shelf life of fruits. The after-effects of MAS treatment have been investigated from the installation design until gas composition in the storage, however the investigation about the correlation between the treatment level and the fruits characteristic is still limited on the flavor, color, and weight. Therefore, the research goal is to investigate the MAS treatment result based on skin thickness. A series of experiments with full factorial arrangement and three replications, is set in a storage installation. Skin thickness is classified in to three levels, which are thin, medium, and thick. Each level is represented respectively by orange, banana, and watermelon. Both fruits with and without MAS treatment are quantified by measuring glucose level, to make a comparation. The outcome of the research from measurement shows fruits which undergo MAS treatment have lower glucose levels than the ones without the treatment, but the weight remains the same. The mass transfer coefficient with the thickness became a baseline for sudden exchange in the storage.

Risk measurement from standard operating procedures implemented by an institution determines the level of maturity of a service system at that institution. The government's determination of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education consists of education and teaching, research, and community service. These activities must be implemented in the academic information system of every university in Indonesia. Appropriate and fast academic services depend on information technology and adequate and trained human resources (HR). Factors that influence information system security determine the stability of application services. The ISO/IEC 27001:2005 standard is an international benchmark for measuring the level of maturity and security risks of an application. Risk assessment in standard operating procedures in organizations can use the ISO/IEC 27001 standard. This research aims to determine the current level of Academic Information System (AIS) service by measuring maturity and security risks. Three clauses measure the maturity level of information security controls with the ISO 27001 System Security Engineering-Capability Maturity Model (SSE-CMM). These research respondents are educational work units at the Science and Technology Faculty in UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. This research method uses quantitative research methods. This research results show the maturity level of information security in the academic information system based on three clauses as the embodiment of the stability of the academic administration activities services at the Science and Technology Faculty. The measurement results reveal that the average score of information security controls on AIS is 3.51, which means good or average standard processing has been carried out following procedures.

Cabai (Capsicum annum L.) merupakan salah satu hasil produk pertanian yang mudah rusak dan mempunyai daya simpan singkat yang disebabkan oleh kerusakan mekanis, fisik, fisiologis dan pembusukan. Salah satu upaya untuk mempertahankan kualitas cabai yaitu edible coating dengan menambahkan lidah buaya karena memiliki kelebihan dapat memperbaiki penampilan, mengurangi tingkat kebusukan, memperbaiki flavor, tekstur, dan warna. Edible coating perlu ditambahkan plasticizer yang berfungsi untuk mengatasi sifat kerapuhan lapisan coating, salah satu plasticizer yang dapat digunakan yaitu gliserol. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh aplikasi edible coating gel lidah buaya dengan gliserol, tingkat kematangan, dan bagaimana kedua faktor tersebut saling berinteraksi terhadap kualitas cabai pascapanen. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) yang terdiri dari dua variabel, yaitu variasi gel lidah buaya dengan gliserol dan tingkat kematangan. Pengamatan dilakukan selama dua puluh satu hari. Parameter yang diamati adalah susut bobot, kadar air, kadar vitamin C, pengukuran kejernihan warna, warna merah a, warna biru b, kadar capsaicin, uji organoleptik terhadap warna luar, tekstur, bau dan penerimaan umum. Terdapat interaksi antara edible coating gel lidah buaya dengan gliserol dan tingkat kematangan terhadap kualitas cabai pasca panen yang berpengaruh nyata terhadap kadar air, kadar vitamin C, warna L (kecerahan), warna a (merah), warna b (kuning), kadar capsaicin dan organoleptik pada aroma pada cabai. Perlakuan terbaik terdapat pada perlakuan 445 ml gel lidah buaya dengan 55 ml gliserol dengan tingkat kematangan merah.

Bank XYZ, one of the digital banking in Indonesia, has a digital product ABC for customers to complete online banking transactions. Bank XYZ uses Scrum as the methodology to develop ABC. Several problems were found in the process related to the delay in the release process. The achievement of sprint goals from May to December 2021 is only 6%. This fact allegedly caused some frequent release delays. To resolve the root causes, mixed-method research was conducted to provide recommendations for improving the implementation of Scrum. The Scrum Maturity Model questionnaires were distributed to several Scrum teams, followed by interviews with several roles that were used to validate the results. The key process area rating formula of the Agile maturity model was used to decide the maturity level. After the maturity level result was obtained, recommendation practices were generated from the not well-implemented practice. This case-based research shows that Bank XYZ reached maturity level 2 for ABC development. Bank XYZ has implemented 78 out of 79 practices, however, 28 practices need improvement and one practice needs to be applied. Objectives of maturity levels group recommendation practices. The combination of Scrum best practices and empirical practices from previous research generated those practices. This research was intended to give general recommendations on how to improve Scrum implementation and on how to resolve release time problems by enhancing Scrum in Bank XYZ empirically.

Digital twin (DT) is recognized as a pillar in the transition from traditional to digital construction, yet the risks (opportunities and threats) associated with its implementation have not been thoroughly determined in the literature. In addition, there is a scarcity of research relating the risks of DT implementation to DT maturity levels, which has hindered the optimum consideration of such risks when DT is adopted at different maturity levels. To address these gaps, this study conducted a literature review of 1889 documents from Scopus and Web of Science databases. After rigorous filtration, 72 documents were selected and comprehensively reviewed. A total of 47 risk factors (RFs) were identified and categorized into opportunities (economic, technical, environmental and sustainability, monitoring and safety, and management) and threats (economic, technical, and policy and management). Subsequently, these RFs were mapped onto the five-level DT maturity model, providing users with insights into opportunities and threats on each level. The exhaustive list of RFs and proposed integration of a DT maturity model with corresponding RFs enables stakeholders to identify the risks in their specific use cases and facilitate the decision-making and success in transition across various levels of DT in real-life construction projects.

This study aims to determine the maturity level of fraud risk management in the tax payer compliance supervision function at the head office level run by VW and the XYZ units. The Enterprise Anti-Fraud Maturity Assessment Model was implemented to provide a clear picture of conditions and effectiveness, as well as the existing gaps between the implementation and ideal conditions based on the principles of COSO Fraud Risk Management. The descriptive qualitative research uses a case study approach by collecting data from semi-structured interviews with 12 informants involved in risk management and fraud risks handling, then all documents are analyzed. As for the data analysis technique, content analysis is selected. The purpose of this study is to provide a tool for DGT (The Directorate General of Taxes) to determine the role and level of fraud risk management in the taxpayer compliance supervision function. The results which are at level 2 (initial) indicate that there is still a lot of room for improvement in order to achieve the desired maturity level target. DGT, especially the VW unit and XYZ unit, are suggested to immediately integrate fraud risk management with the existing anti-fraud programs and strengthen the role of the units involved in accordance with the COSO (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations) Fraud Risk Management principles.

Palembang Class 1 Immigration Office is a service provider agency in the immigration sector that has the authority to arrange passports or Travel Letters of the Republic of Indonesia (SPRI). In meeting the needs of the community in passport processing, Palembang Class 1 Immigration Office has implemented an Online Passport Queuing Service System. Until now, the system still experiences problems such as errors in the system, exhausted quotas, inappropriate applicant NIK, slow access to the system, and system handling that always involves the Immigration Head Office. Therefore, an evaluation of the online passport queue service information system is needed which can be used as a benchmark for the sustainability of the system. The framework used is the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) V3 framework with the domain of Service Operation and Continual Service Improvement. This research was conducted by distributing questionnaires, interviews and observations to obtain maturity level scores. The results of the maturity level calculation in the Service Operation (SO) domain show that the average value of maturity level in the SO domain is 3.49 or is at level 3 (Define Process) and for the Continual Service Improvement (CSI) domain is 3.47 or is at level 3 (Define Process). From the evaluation results of the Online Passport Queuing Service System based on the maturity level calculation, several recommendations for the Service Operation (SO) and Continual Service Improvement (CSI) domains can be taken into consideration in improving service operations and improving the Online Passport Queuing Service System on an ongoing basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information environment is rapidly growing due to increased data from business transactions and processes. This calls for records management to support decision-making and business functions. This is possible through what we refer to as information governance. This paper aims to bridge the gap between existing records management practices and the ideal state by undertaking a records management audit at the Department of Teacher Training and Technical Education (DTT&TE) using the ARMA Information Governance Maturity Model, ultimately improving information governance and records management processes. The study employed a qualitative case study approach. Data was collected through observations and interviews with three respondents, including the chief, principal, and senior records officers. The study's key finding reveals that DTT and TE are at level 3 (essential) of the maturity level. This finding implies that DTT&TE has well-defined regulatory requirements and processes. However, the study also revealed that the organisation does not meet the required maturity level (5). To this end, this poses risks such as poor performance due to a lack of accountability, poor execution of records management practices, low levels of compliance with requirements, and backlogs of records resulting from a lack of retention and disposition schedules in the organisation. Furthermore, the study reveals that the above risks result from challenges such as shortages of storage, security issues, and inadequate staffing, among others. To address these challenges, the paper recommends that DTT&TE review records management policies, adopt compliance frameworks, and provide staff training by DTT & TE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Information systems' security is more critical than ever before since security threats are rapidly growing. Before putting in place information systems' security measures, organizations are required to determine the maturity level of their information security governance. Literature review reveals that there is no recent study on information systems' security maturity level of banks in Ethiopia. This study thus seeks to measure the existing maturity level and examine the security gaps in order to propose possible changes in Ethiopian private banking industry's information system security maturity indicators. Design/methodology/approach – Four private banks are selected as a representative sample. The system security engineering capability maturity model (SSE-CMM) is used as the maturity measurement criteria, and the measurement was based on ISO/IEC 27001 information security control areas. The data for the study were gathered using a questionnaire. Findings – A total of 93 valid questionnaires were gathered from 110 participants in the study. Based on the SSE-CMM maturity model assessment criteria the private banking industry's current maturity level is level 2 (repeatable but intuitive). Institutions have a pattern that is repeated when completing information security operations but its existence was not thoroughly proven and institutional inconsistency still exists. Originality/value – This study seeks to measure the existing maturity level and examine the security gaps in order to propose possible changes in Ethiopian private banking industry's information system security maturity indicators. This topic has not been attempted previously in the context of Ethiopian financial sector.

Purpose: Digital readiness is a tool for evaluating an organization’s up-to-date status based on its goals. It serves as a structural tool for business management and acts as a reference framework for digital transformation objectives. The first step to determining the model and measuring an organization’s digital readiness is to identify the criteria specific to the structure and culture governing that organization. Method: This research employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the qualitative part, a background review identified the primary criteria influencing digital readiness, which were then screened by experts using the fuzzy Delphi method. In the quantitative part, a survey of expert opinions and fuzzy hierarchical methods, fuzzy DIMATEL, and maturity level revealed existing relationships between the criteria and influential factors. The criteria’s weight, the degree of effectiveness of the criteria in presenting the model, and the digital readiness level of the university were assessed. The research population consisted of 12 managers and senior experts with experience and knowledge in the information technology department of Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin. Findings: The results revealed that 15 criteria, grouped into five main factors, impact the organization’s digital readiness at Imam Khomeini International University. These criteria were ranked using the fuzzy hierarchical analysis method, resulting in a digital readiness model for the university. The level of digital readiness was then determined. Conclusion: The criterion of top-management support for digitization projects carries the most significant weight. A comprehensive cause-and-effect model was drawn using Fuzzy DIMATEL. The managerial readiness standard at Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin is in good condition; however, the technical infrastructure readiness is not satisfactory.

Papaya California (Carica papaya L) is one of the agricultural commodities in the tropics and has a very big opportunity to develop in Indonesia as an agribusiness venture with quite promising prospects. So the quality of papaya fruit is determined by the level of maturity of the fruit, the hardness of the fruit, and its appearance. Papaya fruit undergoes a marked change in color during the ripening process, which indicates chemical changes in the fruit. The change in papaya color from green to yellow is due to the loss of chlorophyll. During storage, the papaya fruit is initially green, then turns slightly yellow. The longer the storage color, the changes to mature the yellow. The process of classifying papaya fruit's ripeness level is usually done manually by business actors, that is, by simply looking at the color of the papaya with the normal eye. Based on the problems that exist in classifying the ripeness level of papaya fruit, in this research, we create a system that can be used to classify papaya fruit skin color using a digital image processing approach. The method used to classify the maturity level of papaya fruit is the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) Architecture to classify the texture and color of the fruit. This study uses eight transfer learning architectures with 216 simulations with parameter constraints such as optimizer, learning rate, batch size, number of layers, epoch, and dense and can classify the ripeness level of the papaya fruit with a fairly high accuracy of 97%. Farmers use the results of the research in classifying papaya fruit to be harvested by differentiating the maturity level of the fruit more accurately and maintaining the quality of the papaya fruit.

Imaging hyperspectral technology is becoming popular in agriculture to provide detailed information on crop growth. In this work, we propose an estimation of rapeseed pod’s water content model and identification of maturity levels (green, yellow, and full) model by using this technology. Four types of hyperspectral features are extracted—color, texture, spectral three-edge parameters, and spectral indices. By integrating these features, satisfactory results are achieved: the optimal feature combination is from spectral indices and three-edge parameters, with low RRMSE and RE for yellow maturity. Incorporating spectral indices significantly improved the pod’s water content estimation, reducing RRMSE by up to 43.30% and 30.11% in the green and full maturity stages. Random forest and support vector machine with kernel method (SVM-KM) algorithms outperformed other statistical models, with SVM-KM achieving up to 96.90% accuracy in identifying maturity levels. These findings provide valuable insights for managing rapeseed production during the pod stage.

Digital twins (DTs) have become a widely discussed subject, believed to have the potential to solve various problems across different industries, including Engineering & Construction (E&C). However, there is still significant misconception concerning the definition of DTs and their purpose within E&C. This study dives deep into identifying DT applications within E&C and the other prominent industries, i.e., Aerospace & Aviation, Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, Automotive, Healthcare, Smart Cities, Oil & Gas, and Retail. The main challenges to the evolution of DT practical applications are also analyzed. A combination of a literature review, multi-case study analysis, and comparative analysis compose the deployed methodology. Standardization and a maturity level classification are proposed to drive progress of the adoption of DTs. The distinct aspects of the different industries and their assets are evaluated to the conclusion that DTs are better employed for maintenance of structures within E&C. DTs have become a well-worn topic, but the abundance of complex theoretical frameworks is met with simple or inexistent practical applications. Therefore, the novelty of this study lays in its comprehensive analysis of DT applications and real-world implementations—a departure from the often-theoretical discussions surrounding DTs.

This study seeks to provide insights into Botswana’s AI readiness landscape. It was achieved by analysing secondary data from the Oxford Insights 2022- Government AI Readiness Index (AIRI). According to the AIRI, Botswana is in position 98, out of 181 countries surveyed. The major drawbacks to successful AI adoption were; a lack of AI strategy, limited capacity to support change, an immature technology sector incapable of supporting innovation, inadequate skills to support AI development, insufficient technological infrastructure to support AI, insufficient data to train AI models, and there are few use cases identified in the public sector. Despite these hurdles, the country is putting in efforts to transform digitally, and there are opportunities for improvement. The country is faring similarly, or even better than, regional peers but is lagging behind global peers in the upper middle-income group. Consequently, it is recommended that the government should start by developing an AI strategy to set the vision for AI adoption.

This research aims to explore the potential use of fluorescence spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for predicting the maturity level of crystal guava fruits non-destructively. The physicochemical properties including total soluble solids (TSS), water content, firmness, and pH were obtained from laboratory tests and used as a reference in developing the predictive model. The fluorescence emission spectra under excitation of 365 nm UV LED were used as predictors. The fluorescence spectra were acquired and recorded using a miniaturized UV-Vis spectrophotometer with an effective 340 - 800 nm range. In total, 240 sets of data from crystal guava fruit samples with varying ages of 90-106 DAA (days after anthesis) were used for calibration and validation. A multivariate analysis using Partial Least Squared Regression (PLSR) was used to develop the predictive models. Several data preprocessing methods were applied to enhance the information contained in the spectral data to find the best predictive model. Analysis results showed that the developed model could accurately predict water content with rcal=0.94; SEC=0.08%, rval=0.84; SEP=0.08%; RPD=2.59, followed by TSS with rcal =0.91; SEC = 0.47%Brix, rval =0.79; SEP=0.48%Brix; RPD=2.13. Although with lower accuracy, it also could predict firmness with rcal =0.86; SEC=0.43 kgf, rval =0.74; SEP=0.43 kgf; RPD=1.82 and pH with rcal =0.81; SEC=0.10, rval =0.79; SEP=0.09; RPD=1.76. The results indicate that fluorescence spectroscopy could be used as an alternative method for non-destructive estimation of physicochemical properties as indicators of the maturity level of crystal guava fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure operational continuity, reduce risks to businesses, and optimize investment returns and business opportunities, information security is an essential element in ensuring the protection of information from different threats. Information protection may be facilitated by the implementation of international standard frameworks, given that a set of standards or provisions is needed to achieve and maintain an adequate level of safeguards for the use of assets. The Ministry of XYZ is handling various important, highly confidential, and sensitive data. Therefore, information protection is not only essential but also mandatory. The organization has implemented ISO 27001:2013 in Pusat Data dan Teknologi Informasi (Pusdatin) and called the security management standard Sistem Manajemen Keamanan Informasi (SMKI). However, according to the Cyber Security Maturity assessment result by a public institution in 2022, there is still a wide gap between the technical implementation and the governance itself. Therefore, to improve the good governance of information security, we need to specifically evaluate the maturity of SMKI itself. This study will use the ISO 27001:2013 Compliance Checklist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to determine the maturity level of risk management in IT projects. To achieve this goal, the most popular risk management maturity models were analyzed. This analysis allows the identification of methods and mechanisms for determining maturity levels, the identification of strengths and weaknesses for each model, and the study of findings obtained from their use. Based on the data obtained, the author's risk management maturity model in IT projects was developed and tested, considering the strengths and weaknesses of the analyzed models. Based on the analysis results and empirical data, it was found that the application of the created model allows the determination of the current maturity level of risk management in IT projects, the identification of these projects' management problems, and the development of recommendations for increasing the level of management. The results have shown that the transition to the Standardized maturity level eliminates 105 universal risks and significantly increases the chances of successfully achieving the designed goals. In addition, it was found that the evaluation of the risk elimination effectiveness and efficiency and the best risk management practices identification and standardization are the main processes that ensure the transition to higher maturity levels. The obtained results suggest that the created author's risk management maturity model in IT projects can become a tool for identifying the best contractor (performer, supplier), which guarantees the development of the desired IT product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to provide insights into Botswana's AI readiness landscape. It was achieved by analysing secondary data from the Oxford Insights 2022-Government AI Readiness Index (AIRI). According to the AIRI, Botswana is in position 98, out of 181 countries surveyed. The major drawbacks to successful AI adoption were; a lack of AI strategy, limited capacity to support change, an immature technology sector incapable of supporting innovation, inadequate skills to support AI development, insufficient technological infrastructure to support AI, insufficient data to train AI models, and there are few use cases identified in the public sector. Despite these hurdles, the country is putting in efforts to transform digitally and there are opportunities for improvement. The country is faring similarly, or even better than, regional peers but is lagging behind global peers in the upper middle-income group. Consequently, it is recommended that the government should start by developing an AI strategy to set the vision for AI adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]