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This paper discusses the applicability of different occupational health risk assessment (OHRA) methods in assessing noise hazards during the production phase of assembled precast concrete (PC) components and makes targeted recommendations based on the assessment results from multiple perspectives to reduce noise hazards in this phase.

In this paper, the noise levels of various plant operations are measured on-site and the actual working conditions of plant workers are investigated. Then, four distinct occupational health risk assessment (HRA) models are used to estimate the risk of noise hazards during the production of PC components. Finally, the results obtained from the various models are analyzed and discussed, and then the most appropriate method for assessing noise hazards at this stage is chosen accordingly.

The noise exposure levels of workers in the four processes of steel processing, concrete mixing, concrete vibrating and mold removal exceeded occupational exposure limits. Similarly, the risk associated with these four processes is relatively elevated. For risk assessment (RA) of noise hazards in the production phase of assembled PC components, both the Australian RA model and the occupational hazard risk index method can be used, with the latter being more applicable.

The assessment results acquired in this paper can serve as a reference for the government and other relevant agencies when determining inspection priorities. In addition, the measures and recommendations outlined in this paper serve as a guide for businesses and government agencies to strengthen the noise management in the production stage of PC components, thereby reducing the noise hazards in the production stage of assembled PC components.

The interactive relationships of farmers with institutions and other individuals create the context of succession intention – “farm embeddedness”. This context shapes in long-term self-efficacy of farmers. The main goal of this paper is to study the contextual drivers of the choice of succession paths in small-scale farms which dominate in Eastern European countries. The studied pathways, ordered by farmers’ self-efficacy are “no succession”, “conditional succession”, “unconditional internalised succession” and “unconditional externalised succession”.

We used a sample of 1,683 small farms from three Eastern European emerging markets: Romania, Moldova and Serbia. The likelihood of choosing a given succession path is analysed using a multinomial logit model; contextual drivers of succession are selected based on the theory of embeddedness.

We found that more-educated and more-efficient small-scale farmers are less likely to pass on their farms because of a kind of “glass ceiling”, so they do not want such a difficult future for their children. The most important determinant of unconditional/internalised succession is the successor formation through “training on the farm”. Some formal institutions operating in the agricultural sector hinder self-efficacy and thus unconditional succession.

Most of the papers lack a theoretical background while demonstrating that economic drivers are crucial to succession. The embeddedness theory argues that economic activities are always anchored in a social structure. We contribute to this theory by showing that the embeddedness in social networks is more important than economic factors when smallholders transfer their farms to successors in post-socialist countries. In addition, we attempt to identify which particular types of social networks are most relevant to the multi-stage process of farm transfer, and we outline several transfer scenarios using the concept of self-efficacy.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the restructuring of human resources development processes in Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) libraries in North India, emphasizing the essential information and communications technology (ICT) skills for both recruits and existing staff.

The study used a survey research design, with two different sets of structured questionnaires used to collect data. The first set, which was distributed to all heads of seven IIT libraries in North India, received a 100% response rate. Simultaneously, the second set was distributed to library users, yielding a 92% response rate (680 responses out of 700 distributed). The collected data were analyzed and tabulated, with suitable interpretations.

The findings of the study reveal that all examined libraries have implemented skill development programs. Moreover, advanced ICT skills are considered essential for staff appointments, and specific institutes (IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Jodhpur and IIT Ropar) took the initiative to provide ICT training to their employees. Trained employees exhibited enhanced performance, attributed to advanced ICT knowledge. The study suggests restructuring selection criteria and introducing structured ICT training programs for library staff, ensuring a more adept workforce for current demands.

The study can increase the impact globally on human resource development by incorporating soft skills, job satisfaction and leadership development while exploring research opportunities through cross-institutional comparisons and the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

This study collected primary data from IIT libraries in North India using self-designed questionnaires. The findings provide useful insights into how libraries might restructure human resource development in the digital age.

The occupational health risk associated with the production of prefabricated concrete components is often overlooked. This paper will use a damage assessment and cyclic mitigation (DACM) model to provide individualized exposure risk assessment and corresponding mitigation management measures for workers who are being exposed.

The DACM model is proposed based on the concept of life cycle assessment (LCA). The model uses Monte-Carlo simulation for uncertainty risk assessment, followed by quantitative damage assessment using disability-adjusted life year (DALY). Lastly, sensitivity analysis is used to identify the parameters with the greatest impact on health risks.

The results show that the dust concentration is centered around the mean, and the fitting results are close to normal distribution, so the mean value can be used to carry out the calculation of risk. However, calculations using the DACM model revealed that there are still some work areas at risk. DALY damage is most severe in concrete production area. Meanwhile, the inhalation rate (IR), exposure duration (ED), exposure frequency (EF) and average exposure time (AT) showed greater impacts based on the sensitivity analysis.

Based on the comparison, the DACM model can determine that the potential occupational health risk of prefabricated concrete component (PC) factory and the risk is less than that of on-site construction. It synthesizes field research and simulation to form the entire assessment process into a case-base system with the depth of the cycle, which allows the model to be continuously adjusted to reduce the occupational health damage caused by production pollution exposure.

The purpose of this study is to critically analyze the key factors contributing to gender disparities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and propose creative solutions to mitigate these differences. Despite the significance of this issue, it has not received sufficient attention owing to the absence of clarity regarding the factors that exacerbate the gender gap.

This study used a qualitative methodology that combined the viewpoints of social psychology and educational research to pinpoint and evaluate essential elements. Using a grounded theory approach, semistructured interviews were analyzed, and the obtained data were coded and categorized using ATLAS.ti software.

This qualitative research identified three key areas: internal and external factors influencing the gender gap, as well as strategic actions within higher education to address these disparities. The innovative contribution of this study lies in its development of a comprehensive theoretical framework that enables the diagnosis, quantification and understanding of these factors and proposes practical measures to mitigate these gender disparities. By promoting greater gender diversity, the proposed model can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable development, which is consistent with the 2030 agenda.

This study highlights the need for a multidimensional approach to address the gender gap in higher education, fills a crucial knowledge gap and provides a theoretical model to guide effective university policies.

This article aims to elaborate on the current relevant policies, research literature and technical applications of administrative intelligent decision-making in major countries in the world, to summarize the current focus areas of international competition in administrative intelligent decision-making and to provide references and insights for other countries.

The knowledge graph tool CiteSpace was used to conduct a quantitative analysis of the field of administrative intelligent decision-making, using the two dimensions of research literature and technology patents to analyze the basic status and evolution process of artificial intelligence applied to administrative decision-making.

Over the past 30 years, theoretical research on administrative intelligent decision-making has primarily centered on countries like the United States of America, China and Japan. The main themes include leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enable digital government transformation, enhance administrative efficiency and promote public value through service-oriented initiatives. Countries like South Korea, China and the United States of America have demonstrated significant advantages in technology development and patent applications, focusing on e-government systems, intelligent government auditing, addressing policy mismatches between supply and demand and integrating online and offline administrative services. The international competitive landscape in this field is shaped by three key factors: foundational theories, technological advancements and practical scenario applications.

Despite the rapid advancements in AI technology and the acceleration of enterprise digital transformation, discussions on the intelligent transformation of administrative decision-making leveraging next-generation information technology remain limited. This study summarizes the development trajectory of administrative intelligent decision-making in major countries worldwide, analyzes the international competitive landscape of its theoretical and application research and highlights key focus areas. These findings offer valuable insights for advancing the construction of administrative intelligent decision-making systems in other nations.

The existing research on institutional distance implicitly posits the monotonic effect of contextual differences on the multinational enterprise (MNE) behaviors (e.g. entry mode, research and development (R&D) investment and subsidiary reverse knowledge transfer). Namely, MNEs from the same home to the same host countries are thought to have homogenous perceptions on the institutional influences and thus behave similarly. However, the authors argue that MNEs, due to their different performance aspirations in host countries, will have heterogenous perceptions on such contextual influences and thereafter behave differently.

Drawing on the behavioral theory of the firm and employing a unique sample comprised of 140 Chinese MNEs' foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Taiwan in 2017, the authors developed and tested the hypotheses.

The authors found that the emerging-market MNEs' (EMNEs’) perceptions of higher local institutional difficulties will be strengthened when their local performances are below their aspiration levels, making them more risk-taking. Nevertheless, EMNEs' local experiences and local equity-based partnerships will mitigate such negative perceptions, mitigating their risk-taking orientation.

The empirical findings make contributes to the international business (IB) literature by extending knowledge on the determinants and conditions of the heterogeneity in EMNEs' behavioral orientations when in face of the same institutional distance. The authors also provide managerial implications by showing that EMNEs' firm-specific resources (i.e. local experience and local equity-based partnership) will alter their perceptions of local institutional difficulties, leading to different behavioral orientations.

This study empirically investigates the moderating effect of institutions (including formal institutions and informal institutions) on the relationship between FDI and regional technology-based entrepreneurship in China’s emerging economy.

By collecting data on technology-based entrepreneurship at the regional level in China, our final balanced panel comprises 81,926 technology start-ups in 29 provinces at the regional level from 2000 to 2014.

The results show that FDI is critical to encouraging technology-based start-ups. We also argue that the institutions positively moderate the relationship between FDI and regional technology-based entrepreneurship. This study supports the negative interaction effect of FDI and corruption on technology-based entrepreneurship in eastern regions, suggesting that corruption weakens FDI’s entrepreneurial enthusiasm.

This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the critical role of regional formal institutions in moderating the positive effects of FDI on technology-based entrepreneurship. This enriches the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship and the OLI paradigm, offering a fresh perspective on this complex relationship. Additionally, it provides nuanced insights into how corruption, as an informal institution, interacts with FDI in different regional contexts.

The recent progress of digital accounting has significantly affected businesses’ sustainable production process. Businesses generally use digital accounting applications to automate their operational procedures and increase their corporate efficiencies through improved output quality and sustainability. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to look into the antecedent factors that directly and indirectly influence blockchain technology adoption in the context of digital accounting systems.

The data of the current study were obtained from 346 accountants working in information technology companies. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test the research proposal model.

The empirical results confirmed that the adoption of blockchain technology is most considerably impacted by perceived usefulness, whereby it was also revealed that perceived ease of use has a direct and indirect effect on blockchain technology adoption.

According to the researchers’ knowledge, this study addresses a vital research gap in the literature by suggesting a comprehensive research model that can help garner enhanced usage of blockchain technology and its implications in digital accounting systems in the Jordanian context.

This paper examines students’ educational choices in vocational education and training (VET) to understand the low reputation of vocational education in China. By analysing the individualisation of these choices within structural and individual relationships, the study explores how the decline of state endorsement and the shift towards rational, individualistic actions influence students' decisions.

Multiple types of data were collected in this study, including administrative records, interviews and autobiographical stories, which were analysed using individualisation theory.

The research indicated three historical periods of the educational choice of Chinese VET students. Stage one (1978–1991) saw vocational education treated as “the first choice” for graduates. Stage two (1992–2000) was marked by the polarisation of educational choice during the social transition from a socialist planned economy to a market economy. During this period, more students started to choose academic high schools over vocational schools, even though the latter still had certain advantages for attracting the better-performing students. The third stage (2001-now) is a time in which vocational education is viewed as “the last choice” under the socialist market economy system. During this period, junior high school graduates prefer to enrol in academic high schools rather than in vocational schools. Aligned with the overall individualisation trend in Chinese society, vocational education decisions situated between societal structures and individuals are also experiencing a shift towards more micro-level individualized behaviours.

The paper provides a historical analysis of education and training provision in China and the complexity of students’ educational choices, revealing the influencing factors across different stages.

This paper draws a comprehensive analysis of the developmental trajectory of vocational education in China across different historical periods, notably under the socialist planned economy and the socialist market economy systems.