Keerththanan Vickneswaran, Mariangel Garcia Andarcia, Hugo Retief
et al.
Sustainable water resource management in transboundary river basins is challenged by fragmented data, limited real-time access, and the complexity of integrating diverse information sources. This paper presents WaterCopilot-an AI-driven virtual assistant developed through collaboration between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Microsoft Research for the Limpopo River Basin (LRB) to bridge these gaps through a unified, interactive platform. Built on Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and tool-calling architectures, WaterCopilot integrates static policy documents and real-time hydrological data via two custom plugins: the iwmi-doc-plugin, which enables semantic search over indexed documents using Azure AI Search, and the iwmi-api-plugin, which queries live databases to deliver dynamic insights such as environmental-flow alerts, rainfall trends, reservoir levels, water accounting, and irrigation data. The system features guided multilingual interactions (English, Portuguese, French), transparent source referencing, automated calculations, and visualization capabilities. Evaluated using the RAGAS framework, WaterCopilot achieves an overall score of 0.8043, with high answer relevancy (0.8571) and context precision (0.8009). Key innovations include automated threshold-based alerts, integration with the LRB Digital Twin, and a scalable deployment pipeline hosted on AWS. While limitations in processing non-English technical documents and API latency remain, WaterCopilot establishes a replicable AI-augmented framework for enhancing water governance in data-scarce, transboundary contexts. The study demonstrates the potential of this AI assistant to support informed, timely decision-making and strengthen water security in complex river basins.
Aurel Mihail Titu, Alina Bianca Pop, Camelia Oprean-Stan
et al.
This paper addresses the issue of intellectual property management in the knowledge-based economy. The starting point in carrying out the study is the presentation of some concepts regarding in the first phase, the intellectual capital. Arguments are made that the knowledge-based economy is a challenge for the current century. The subject of intellectual property is approached through the prism of a topical concept operationalized in the current global economic context. The main institutions that are directly related to this concept are mentioned. The topic of patents related to WOS indexed scientific papers is also debated, along with a series of statistics and studies on the state of patent protection worldwide in the top fields. The last part of the paper contains the conclusions and own points of view on the debated topic.
With the deepening of digital transformation, business process optimisation has become the key to improve the competitiveness of enterprises. This study constructs a business process optimisation model integrating artificial intelligence and big data to achieve intelligent management of the whole life cycle of processes. The model adopts a three-layer architecture incorporating data processing, AI algorithms, and business logic to enable real-time process monitoring and optimization. Through distributed computing and deep learning techniques, the system can handle complex business scenarios while maintaining high performance and reliability. Experimental validation across multiple enterprise scenarios shows that the model shortens process processing time by 42%, improves resource utilisation by 28%, and reduces operating costs by 35%. The system maintained 99.9% availability under high concurrent loads. The research results have important theoretical and practical value for promoting the digital transformation of enterprises, and provide new ideas for improving the operational efficiency of enterprises.
With the escalating proliferation of artificial intelligence technologies, AI-generated content (AIGC) has progressively permeated across diverse domains. However, this explosive application has also sparked widespread public discussion about the copyright of AIGC. Existing copyright legal frameworks, originally designed around human creators, now face a paradigm shift. As human involvement in the generation of AIGC diminishes, where creative expression increasingly hinges on AI. This discrepancy has introduced multifaceted complexities and challenges in determining the copyright ownership of AIGC within established legal boundaries. Given this, meticulous recording and auditing of contributions from all parties in AIGC generation becomes imperative. Blockchain, with its decentralized storage, offers a robust technical foundation for AIGC copyright management. Yet existing blockchain-based solutions have clear limitations: most only focus on certifying final generated products, ignoring the management of critical intermediate data across the full lifecycle, thus failing to meet the needs of core scenarios like copyright confirmation and multi-party profit distribution. For this purpose, this paper introduces AIGC-Chain, a trustworthy AIGC copyright management system. It conducts a comprehensive recording of intermediate data generated across the full lifecycle of AIGC. Such data is deposited into a decentralized blockchain for secure multi-party auditing, thereby constructing a trustworthy management for AIGC copyright. In copyright dispute scenarios, auditors can retrieve critical proof from the blockchain, facilitating precise determination of the copyright ownership of AIGC products. Both theoretical and experimental analyses confirm that this scheme shows exceptional performance and security in AIGC copyright management.
We introduce a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) approach for solving management problems including inventory management, dynamic pricing, and recommendation. This DRL approach has the potential to lead to a large management model based on certain transformer neural network structures, resulting in an artificial general intelligence paradigm for various management tasks. Traditional methods have limitations for solving complex real-world problems, and we demonstrate how DRL can surpass existing heuristic approaches for solving management tasks. We aim to solve the problems in a unified framework, considering the interconnections between different tasks. Central to our methodology is the development of a foundational decision model coordinating decisions across the different domains through generative decision-making. Our experimental results affirm the effectiveness of our DRL-based framework in complex and dynamic business environments. This work opens new pathways for the application of DRL in management problems, highlighting its potential to revolutionize traditional business management.
AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of blockchain technology on digital marketing. This study is applicable in terms of purpose, and of a quantitative research type, which is a survey-cross-sectional study in terms of data collection. The statistical population of this study consists of online marketing managers and activists. The entire statistical population was considered unlimited. Due to the unlimited nature of the statistical population, 384 people were considered as a sample, based on the Morgan table. The data collection tool is a questionnaire. The standard questionnaire was extracted based on the study by Wiratma et al., (2021). Confirmatory factor analysis and model fit test and structural equation model were used to examine the data to test the hypotheses expressed in the study. The data analysis method was also using smart.PLS software. The results of the study showed that blockchain has a positive and significant effect on mega-data, which in its turn, has a positive and significant effect on digital marketing. Blockchain has a positive and significant impact on digital marketing.Extended AbstractIntroductionWith the rapid growth of e-commerce, exchanges and transactions through information technology tools and methods have increased significantly. The adoption and use of various electronic payment services and its application are important topics considered in the use of new technologies (Li & Bai, 2010). Today, much of the attention on blockchain is focused on financial services; and very little has been discussed about non-financial services companies and how blockchain technology can impact organizations, their business models, and the way they create and deliver value (Morkunas et al, 2018).Blockchain technology has emerged as a promising innovation that can not only disrupt operational processes in the supply chain of products and services, but also facilitate risk management in the complex and interconnected global supply chain ecosystem through increased information and process flexibility (Tonnissen & Teuteberg, 2020; Esmaeili et al, 2020; Wamba & Queiroz, 2020; Gory, 2019). With the rapid growth of e-commerce, exchanges and transactions through information technology tools and methods have increased dramatically. The adoption and application of various electronic payment services and their applicability are important issues considered in the use of new technologies (Li & Bai, 2010). Much of the attention on blockchain today is focused on financial services, with very little discussion of non-financial services companies and how blockchain technology can impact organizations, their business models, and the way value is created and delivered (Morkunas et al, 2018). It monitors interactions between individuals, organizations, companies, communities, and people. They guide management and social actions. Blockchain technology at the heart of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, is a chain blockmarket of an open, distributed ledger that can efficiently record transactions between two parties in a verifiable, permanent, and secure manner. This technology is protected against deletion, tampering, and financial transactions (Rega et al, 2019).Blockchain technology is predicted to play a significant role in digital marketing in the future. According to a report in Semupdates.com (2019) of the 20 digital marketing trends that will go viral in 2020; one of them is blockchain technology in search engine advertising. The use of blockchain is a technology much broader than the financial world that can be applied to the world of digital marketing, as its functions are transparent and provide benefits to the branding process. The figure below shows the size of the blockchain technology market worldwide from 2018 to 2025, where it is predicted that the blockchain technology market will be worth $39.7 billion by 2025. This chart shows the blockchain market forecasts that also show the use of blockchain technology (Wiratama et al, 2021).For this purpose, the present study seeks to answer the following question: What is the impact of the application of blockchain technology on digital marketing?Theoretical FrameworkBlockchainBlockchain concepts have brought about widespread changes in the legal industry, simplifying and streamlining various processes. The same type of simplification can be seen in the accounting field. Another entity that can benefit from blockchain technology is the government. However, the benefits of this blockchain can go beyond the small projects they have implemented. Three benefits that governments can realize are increasing citizen trust in authorities, protecting crucial data, and reducing costs by increasing efficiency. While the cost savings in the financial industry can be extensive, the legal field can also implement this technology with great success. While there are many applications for which blockchain technology can be used, it can be seen that the main place where it is used is to better organize information, which raises questions about the potential untrustworthiness of the information itself. With the emergence of smart contracts in blockchain technology, the credit requirement required in many international sales transactions is becoming obsolete and useless (Benson, 2019).Digital MarketingThe term digital marketing has been referred to as a subset of marketing management and advertising management for two decades (Kamnan, 2017). Digital marketing includes all the tools and activities used to market products and services on a digital platform (web, internet, mobile or other (digital) tools) (Vaziri Gohar & Abdolhosani, 2020).Roshanak et al, (2024) investigated the effect of marketing mix on blockchain technology with the mediating role of perceived usefulness in customers of the National Bank of Iran in Tehran. The results of the study indicate that senior management support, supply chain integration, and innovation capability have a significant effect on blockchain technology. Also, supply chain risk did not affect blockchain technology. Finally, the role of marketing mix has been shown on perceived usefulness. Also, perceived usefulness affects blockchain technology.Moradi ziba et al, (2023) investigated the model of digital marketing strategies in successful Iranian startups. The results of the qualitative section indicated that 241 primary codes, 46 pivotal codes, and 14 selective codes were identified and extracted. The results of the study showed that the causal conditions with 4 variables of network capability, use of artificial intelligence, marketing capability and customer knowledge have an effect on digital marketing strategies; and the results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fit indices were approved.Research MethodologyThis study is applicable in terms of purpose, and of a quantitative research type, and a survey-cross-sectional study in terms of data collection. The statistical population of this study consists of online marketing managers and activists. The entire statistical population was considered unlimited. Due to the unlimitedness of the statistical population, 384 people were considered as a sample based on the Morgan table. The data collection tool is a questionnaire. The standard questionnaire was extracted based on the study of Wiratma et al. (2021). Confirmatory factor analysis and model fit test and structural equation model were used to examine the data to test the hypotheses expressed in the study.Research findingsThe data analysis method was carried out by smart.PLS software. The research results showed that blockchain has a positive and significant effect on megadata. The megadata has a positive and significant effect on digital marketing. Blockchain has a positive and significant effect on digital marketing.ConclusionThe present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of the application of blockchain technology on digital marketing. The results of this study are consistent with the results of Roshanak et al, (2024), Moradi ziba et al, (2023), Bagheri Anilu et al, (2023), Zhang et al, (2023), Dana et al, (2022) Gholipour Domyeh (2023), Ahmadi et al, (2022), Da Silva & Moro (2021), Clohessy et al, (2020), Grishikashvili et al, (2014), Rejeb et al, (2020), Brauer & Eriksson (2020), Ertemel (2018), and Kecskes (2018). Roshanak et al, (2024) showed that top management support, supply chain integration, and innovation capability have a significant impact on blockchain technology. Also, supply chain risk did not have an effect on blockchain technology. Finally, the role of the marketing mix on perceived usefulness has been shown. Also, perceived usefulness has an effect on blockchain technology.According to the results of the research, it is suggested that online marketing managers and activists strengthen the technical knowledge of employees in this field by holding meetings and training courses in the field of blockchain technology. On the other hand, by focusing on emerging technologies such as blockchain and their capabilities, they should align their marketing strategy with digital marketing based on these emerging technologies.
mozhgan haji ghazi, mohamad mahdi mazaheri tehrani, freydoun rahnamay roodposhti
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to provide a comprehensive model for international entrepreneurship in ECO member countries. A mixed research method was used: in the qualitative part, data were collected and analyzed using systematic data-based theory and interviews with 15 academic and executive experts (until theoretical saturation). In the quantitative part, 323 managers were selected from 2035 managers of knowledge-based companies in the Export Development and Technology Exchange Corridor by random sampling. The data collection tool included semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire based on qualitative findings. The validity of the tools was confirmed by experts and reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha. Qualitative data were analyzed with MAXQDA software and three-stage coding, which resulted in the extraction of 356 primary codes, 79 open categories, 16 axial categories, and 5 selected categories. In the quantitative part, factor analysis and structural equations were conducted with AMOS. The findings showed that the international entrepreneurship model in ECO is based on multi-level convergence (macro, meso, and micro). Its main components include contextual factors (regional capacity building), causal factors (strategic context building), intervention factors (challenge management), strategies (operational framework), and consequences (sustainable development). This model can help policymakers, economic institutions, knowledge-based companies, and small, medium, and large companies enter global markets and pave the way for creating a sustainable competitive advantage and transforming ECO into an Asian innovation hub.
Introduction
International entrepreneurship, as the process of forming and expanding innovative economic activities across national borders and taking advantage of global opportunities, has become one of the main engines of economic growth in the world in recent decades (Chukwuka et al., 2024). The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), as a regional pact consisting of countries with common historical, cultural and geographical ties, has extensive capacities in the fields of trade, investment and knowledge transfer. With a population of over half a billion people and rich natural and human resources, these countries can provide an important platform for the expansion of international entrepreneurship. However, existing studies show that despite the existence of many opportunities, obstacles such as weak institutional coordination, limited access to capital, ineffective support policies, insufficient use of new technologies, and lack of regional entrepreneurial networks have prevented the full realization of the international entrepreneurial potential in the ECO region (khan, 2024). The ECO organization was initially founded in 1985 by Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan, and with the accession of seven other countries in 1992, it became a regional institution with the prospect of economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and facilitation of trade exchanges (abbas, 2024).
Despite such capabilities, the growth of international entrepreneurship in ECO has faced serious obstacles; Complex bureaucracy, financial constraints, difficulty in accessing global markets, and sanctions have prevented the full use of potential (Montiel, 2023). Past research also shows that factors such as a strong business environment, effective support policies, the use of new technologies, and the capabilities of entrepreneurs are essential conditions for success in this direction (Deakins et al., 2024). However, the role of local culture and values, the effect of national policies, and how to integrate new technologies in a regional framework have still received less attention (Nazari et al., 2024).
On the other hand, the geopolitical and economic conditions of these countries are such that entrepreneurial cooperation can not only improve the level of economic interactions in the region, but also play a role in increasing their economic resilience and socio-political convergence. Thus, providing a comprehensive and localized model for the development of international entrepreneurship in ECO member countries is an undeniable necessity; a model that can encompass both structural factors (such as policies, laws, and infrastructure) and behavioral factors (such as entrepreneurial culture, innovation, and risk-taking) and provide practical and efficient solutions by considering common characteristics and differences between member countries. Examining these obstacles and identifying key success factors can pave the way for providing a local and efficient model for the development of international entrepreneurship in the ECO region. Therefore, the research question is: What model can explain the key and effective dimensions of international entrepreneurship in ECO member countries and pave the way for the sustainable development of the region?
Theoretical foundations
Entrepreneurship and economic growth
Entrepreneurship is recognized in the economic development literature as one of the most important engines of growth and innovation. This phenomenon creates economic and social value by identifying new opportunities, organizing resources, and creating innovative businesses, and provides a platform for the dynamics of economic systems (Callegari, 2024). At the international level, entrepreneurship takes on more complex dimensions, because entrepreneurs are forced to face institutional, political, and cultural diversity in addition to economic factors. Accordingly, “international entrepreneurship” as an interdisciplinary field in management, economics, and social sciences, focuses on the process of identifying and exploiting cross-border business opportunities (Zahra & George, 2017). In other words, at the international level, this concept becomes important when entrepreneurs operate in diverse political, economic, and cultural environments and are forced to adapt to the institutional and structural differences of different markets (Zahra and George, 2017). Having its roots in internationalization discussions (Tolstoy, 2024), international entrepreneurship, is known as a tool for exploiting cross-border opportunities and creating competitive advantage. Doozandeh Ziabar et al., (2024) studied the presentation of a social entrepreneurship model in rural tourism development in a tourism target village in Guilan province. The statistical population of the study included 10 managers, experts, and university professors in the field of tourism, selected through purposive sampling. The results of the qualitative questionnaire and open interviews with sample members were analyzed after taking notes and transferring them to the system using the data-driven method and through coding and Max Quda software, and the output and final model were reported. The results showed that traditional tourism entrepreneurship follows a capitalist approach.
Shahzad et al. (2024) studied "International Entrepreneurship Antecedents and the Role of Emerging Technologies in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals". This research is applicable in terms of purpose, and quantitative in terms of approach; the data were analyzed using PLS-SEM techniques in SmartPLS 4 software. The findings showed that key antecedents of international entrepreneurship significantly affect sustainable development and emerging technologies play a mediating role between antecedents and sustainable development.
Research Methodology
This research was conducted with a mixed approach (modern hybrid) and in two qualitative and quantitative stages. In the qualitative part, systematic data-based theory was used and the statistical population included academic and non-academic experts in the field of international entrepreneurship. Purposive sampling continued until theoretical saturation was reached, and a total of 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and review of scientific documents, and then analyzed. In the quantitative part, the data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha test and its validity was confirmed through content validity and construct validity. Finally, structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses using Amos software.
Research findings
By presenting a local model of "entrepreneurship development based on multi-level convergence", the present study showed that institutional coordination, regional networking, and empowerment of entrepreneurs at three macro, intermediate, and micro levels connect regional capacities in an integrated manner. Contextual factors such as policies, entrepreneurial culture, technological infrastructure and international cooperation provide the foundation for entrepreneurial development, while administrative barriers, legal restrictions and cultural differences pose challenges. Research innovations include the “interactional model of natural resources”, the “dual role of family relationships”, and the “multi-layer model of administrative barriers”. Proposed strategies target the development of infrastructure, cross-border cooperation networks, and the promotion of individual capabilities. The consequences include increased innovation, economic growth and the creation of job opportunities, and social welfare.
Conclusion
The present study, with the aim of analyzing the development of international entrepreneurship in the ECO region, has presented an indigenous model called “Entrepreneurship Development Based on Multilevel Convergence”. The findings show that multilevel convergence, including institutional coordination, regional networking and empowerment of entrepreneurs, plays a central role in strengthening international entrepreneurship and connects regional capacities in an integrated manner at three levels: macro (regional policy-making and governance), meso (inter-organizational networks) and micro (individual skills and capabilities). These results are consistent with the findings of Morris (2024) and O’Connor (2023), who have emphasized the importance of institutional frameworks and cooperation networks in the growth of regional entrepreneurship.
The analysis of the research context showed that contextual factors including supportive policies and laws, entrepreneurial culture, technological infrastructure and international cooperation are the foundation for the formation of international entrepreneurship in the ECO region. Cultural and historical commonalities, shared natural resources and economic diversity of countries, especially in the completion of the value chain, play both facilitating and challenging roles. Innovative findings of the research include the “interactive pattern of natural resources” and the “dual role of family relationships” that simultaneously act as an advantage and a constraint in the entrepreneurial process. These results are in line with the studies of Khan et al. (2024) and Zocchla (2024) that have highlighted the importance of contextual capacities in regional entrepreneurship. On the other hand, intervening conditions including administrative and bureaucratic challenges, legal and policy constraints and cultural and social barriers were identified. Lengthy company registration processes, lack of legal transparency, sudden policy changes, language differences, and limited role of women are examples of the main barriers. By introducing the “multi-layered model of administrative barriers” and providing an integrated framework for managing these challenges, this study has provided practical solutions to reduce their negative effects, and is consistent with the findings of Esmaeilpour et al. (2020), Khosravi (2023), and Navi (2025).
Entrepreneurship development strategies in the ECO region focus on three main axes: strengthening legal frameworks and supportive policies, developing common technological and economic infrastructure, and expanding cross-border cooperation networks. Tools such as tax exemptions, joint technology parks, digital platforms, and holding regional conferences facilitate entry into entrepreneurial activities and increase the capacity for synergy among entrepreneurs in member countries. Research innovations include the design of a “regional entrepreneurship policy model at three levels”, a framework for measuring the effectiveness of shared technological infrastructures, and the development of a “smart networking model among regional entrepreneurs.”
The consequences of international entrepreneurship development in the ECO region include two dimensions: economic and social. From an economic perspective; increased innovation, GDP growth, and technological export promotion are observed, and from a social perspective; the creation of job opportunities for youth and women and the improvement of general welfare indicators are significant. These results are in line with the findings of OECD (2023) and Economic Development Bank (2022), which have emphasized that regional entrepreneurship can lead to sustainable economic and social growth.
We introduce a decision-making framework tailored for the management of systemic risk in networks. This framework is constructed upon three fundamental components: (1) a set of acceptable network configurations, (2) a set of interventions aimed at risk mitigation, and (3) a cost function quantifying the expenses associated with these interventions. While our discussion primarily revolves around the management of systemic cyber risks in digital networks, we concurrently draw parallels to risk management of other complex systems where analogous approaches may be adequate.
Being one of the most important assets in governmental organizations and private companies, intelligence became a subject of interest for both researchers and practitioners in the last decades. In the literature, the concept of “intelligence” has got many meanings and interpretations, like psychological intelligence, emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, social intelligence, organizational intelligence, business intelligence, competitive intelligence, and national security intelligence. The core meaning of all these different specialized concepts remains the same: the capacity of processing data, information, and knowledge. Their differences come from the context in which these processes operates and the mission of the organizational structures which perform these specific processes. Business intelligence and competitive intelligence are characteristics of private companies, while national security intelligence is characteristic for the state-owned institutions. This paper aims to present a comparative analysis between business intelligence and national security intelligence based on a critical literature review and adopting a knowledge management perspective. The value of the present paper comes from the semantic tool used in our comparative analysis and the perspective of knowledge management adopted.
Economics as a science, Business records management
Business process (BP) analysis represents a first key phase of information system development. It consists in the gathering of domain knowledge and its organization to be later used in the software development, and beyond (e.g., for Business Process Reengineering). The quality of the developed information system largely depends on how the BP analysis has been carried out and the quality of the produced requirement specification documents. Despite the fact that the issue is on the table for decades, business process analysis is still a critical phase of information systems development. One promising strategy is an early and more important involvement of business experts in the BP analysis. This paper presents a methodology that aims at an early involvement of business experts while providing a formal grounding that guarantees the quality of the produced specifications. To this end, we propose the Business Process Analysis Canvas, a knowledge framework organized in eight knowledge sections aimed at supporting the business expert in carrying out the analysis, eventually yielding a BP analysis Ontology.
В статті представлені результати PEST і SWOT- аналізу основних факторів зовнішнього і внутрішнього середовища ТОВ «РУШ». За результатами PEST-аналізу встановлено, що для ТОВ «РУШ» з боку зовнішнього оточення обґрунтована перевага сильних позицій над слабкими. Представлений вид аналітичного дослідження дозволив зробити висновки щодо впливу з боку політики, економіки, зміни у технологіях та соціальних нормах на систему продажу продукції базового підприємства. При проведенні SWOT-аналізу до уваги приймали показники чотирьох сфер роботи підприємства. В результаті аналізу за моделлю SWOT, що виконано для базового підприємства, розроблено певні стратегії подальших маркетингових дій та управління підприємством. Сформульовано чотири види стратегій, за результатами яких можливо пропонувати товариству конкретні заходи щодо вдосконалення процесів. Для оцінювання конкурентної спроможності ТОВ «РУШ» з її основним конкурентом «Prostor» проведена оцінка основних компонентів, які визначають рівень конкурентної спроможності кожного з підприємств.
Economics as a science, Business records management
Adoption of any budget is perhaps the most important and time-consuming activity of any government. As a modern tool for linking strategic planning and budgeting, performance budgeting is conditio sine qua non for implementation of modern multi-annual budgeting system. Performance budgeting was first introduced in the United States and today different models are used in practice. The aim of this research is to investigate the state of implementation of performance budgeting reform(s) in the South East Europe (SEE) countries, namely Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Romania, Greece, Slovenia, and Turkey and their struggle to implement performance budgeting reform. The United States, Australia and the European Union are the examples of developed countries implementing performance-based budgeting and their experience can be helpful to SEE countries in their efforts to establish working performance budgeting system. In this research, the focus is on answering questions about presence and elements of national performance framework, UN Sustainable Development Goals, performance budgeting framework and characteristics, and authority for the design and implementation of performance budgeting system. Based on the research results, the authors provide recommendations for better implementation of performance budgeting in selected countries.
Economic theory. Demography, Business records management
Currently employees are under a great stress such as excess, role doubt, role conflict, lack of feedback, and rapid technological change. This article aimed to determine the predictors of psychological strain and identify multidimensional criteria for psychological strain. The present study includes review research articles collected from Scopus and Science Direct databases. A total of 60 articles from 2015 to 2021 have been reviewed. This study is classified into components of work stress and psychological strain and then its definitions and dimensions are classified. It was observed that work stress affects different dimensions of psychological strain. These findings also indicate work-related stressors that can be classified into two main themes, which are work characteristics and psychosocial work characteristics. This article also helps to understand the conceptual knowledge of work stress, psychological strain and its causes and consequences in the workplace. Stress management workshops can be held regularly in different organizations in different departments, which can educate employees about the sources of stress and its harmful effects on health and how to reduce stress effectively. A total of 60 research articles on work-related stress and psychological consequences were reviewed in this study. In addition, the article is classified based on the main work stressors and dimensions of psychological strain in heterogeneous occupations.
Business records management, Economics as a science
Background: The employment of IT in healthcare reflects a need to meet the increasing demands of patients and to upgrade the quality and productivity of the provided services. However, the literature demonstrates many failures in systems and IT technology implementation. One of the reasons behind these failures is users’ resistance. The ministry of health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia (SA) has prioritized the embracing of new technologies that could improve the healthcare services, such as electronic medical record (EMR) systems. On the other hand, studies that address the acceptance and use of hospital information systems (HIS) and EMRs in SA from patients’ standpoint are scarce. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ acceptance of an EMR system by proposing a model adapted from the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Methods: An online questionnaire was used where questions were based on the proposed model constructs (facilitating conditions (FC), perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU), attitude (ATT), and behavioral intention (BI)). 116 patients responded to the questionnaire. The model was then tested to identify the factors that affect patients’ intention to use the online services of the EMR. Results: The analysis of the research model suggested that (1) FCs influenced the degree of system’s PEOU. (2) PEOU affected the EMR’s PU. (3) PU affected patients’ ATT toward using the EMR. (4) A positive effect is found between ATT and BI to use EMR. Conclusion: The study has implications for healthcare IT acceptance research and efforts in SA, as to date patients’ perspectives have received little attention. The research also makes a theoretical contribution as it validated the proposed model.
Keradjaan, Herson, Tewal, Bernhard, Lengkong, Viktor
et al.
This research investigates the effect of business continuity management and technology acceptance models towards performance of lecturers moderated by servant leadership. The research respondents were 86 Halmahera University lecturers. The research method used was quantitative method by examining the effect of moderation and the direct effect by the method of interaction. The model was tested with structural equation modeling approach by using Smart PLS software. The results proved that servant leadership was able to influence lecturer performance. Servant leadership could also moderate the effect of business continuity management towards lecturer performance. However, business continuity management and technology acceptance models did not affect lecturer performance independently. Servant leadership also failed to moderate the effect of the technology acceptance model towards lecturer performance. This study recommends that servant leadership be applied at all levels of leadership because of the very important role in triggering lecturer performance. The application of servant leadership can also be combined with business continuity management since the interaction between of the two can improve lecturer performance.
Comorbid chronic conditions are common among people with type 2 diabetes. We developed an Artificial Intelligence algorithm, based on Reinforcement Learning (RL), for personalized diabetes and multi-morbidity management with strong potential to improve health outcomes relative to current clinical practice. In this paper, we modeled glycemia, blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk as health outcomes using a retrospective cohort of 16,665 patients with type 2 diabetes from New York University Langone Health ambulatory care electronic health records in 2009 to 2017. We trained a RL prescription algorithm that recommends a treatment regimen optimizing patients' cumulative health outcomes using their individual characteristics and medical history at each encounter. The RL recommendations were evaluated on an independent subset of patients. The results demonstrate that the proposed personalized reinforcement learning prescriptive framework for type 2 diabetes yielded high concordance with clinicians' prescriptions and substantial improvements in glycemia, blood pressure, cardiovascular disease risk outcomes.
Saeed Nosratabadi, Gergo Pinter, Amir Mosavi
et al.
Sustainable business models also offer banks competitive advantages such as increasing brand reputation and cost reduction. However, no framework is presented to evaluate the sustainability of banking business models. To bridge this theoretical gap, the current study using A Delphi-Analytic Hierarchy Process method, firstly, developed a sustainable business model to evaluate the sustainability of the business model of banks. In the second step, the sustainability performance of sixteen banks from eight European countries including Norway, the UK, Poland, Hungary, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, assessed. The proposed business model components of this study were ranked in terms of their impact on achieving sustainability goals. Consequently, the proposed model components of this study, based on their impact on sustainability, are respectively value proposition, core competencies, financial aspects, business processes, target customers, resources, technology, customer interface, and partner network. The results of the comparison of the banks studied by each country disclosed that the sustainability of the Norwegian and German banks business models is higher than in other counties. The studied banks of Hungary and Spain came in second, the banks of the UK, Poland, and France ranked third, and finally, the Italian banks ranked fourth in the sustainability of their business models.
Business cycles tend to comove across countries. However, standard models that attribute comovement to propagation of exogenous shocks struggle to generate a level of comovement that is as high as in the data. In this paper, we consider models that produce business cycles endogenously, through some form of non-linear dynamics -- limit cycles or chaos. These models generate stronger comovement, because they combine shock propagation with synchronization of endogenous dynamics. In particular, we study a demand-driven reduced-form model in which business cycles emerge from strategic complementarities within countries, synchronizing their oscillations through international trade linkages. We develop an eigendecomposition that explores the interplay between non-linear dynamics, shock propagation and network structure, and use this theory to understand the mechanisms of synchronization. Next, we calibrate the model to data on 24 countries and show that the empirical level of comovement can only be matched by combining endogenous business cycles with exogenous shocks. Despite the limitations of using a stylized model, our results support the hypothesis that business cycles are at least in part caused by underlying non-linear dynamics.
All people have to make risky decisions in everyday life. And we do not know how true they are. But is it possible to mathematically assess the correctness of our choice? This article discusses the model of decision making under risk on the example of project management. This is a game with two players, one of which is Investor, and the other is the Project Manager. Each player makes a risky decision for himself, based on his past experience. With the help of a mathematical model, the players form a level of confidence, depending on who the player accepts the strategy or does not accept. The project manager assesses the costs and compares them with the level of confidence. An investor evaluates past results. Also visit the case where the strategy of the player accepts the part.