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This research introduces a service-oriented and decentralised application (Dapp), TrustyChain, which implements the innovations connected to blockchain technology (BT) and cryptocurrencies to facilitate the application of smart contracts throughout an entire supply chain. The application is designed to impact supply chain performances, optimising transaction costs and lead time while leveraging network economies to generate a competitive advantage.

In conducting our research, we developed a case study by adopting Yin’s methodological framework and offering an as-is/to-be scenario. Linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the impact on the target variables.

This study demonstrates how blockchain-based DApp innovations enhance information flow and optimise transaction costs by resolving the challenges associated with purchase and sale decisions. Specifically, the adoption of TrustyChain has underscored the strengthened structural alignment of exchange processes among supply chain participants, significantly improving transparency, traceability and operational efficiency.

This study provides valuable insights for managers and practitioners, facilitating the understanding of the DApp implementation process and increasing the likelihood of effective application, which is essential for establishing a sustainable supply chain network. Additionally, our research emphasises the critical role of innovations in advancing supply chain transparency and efficiency while also shedding light on their substantial influence on trust dynamics within supply chains. Finally, this work opens new avenues for exploration, underscoring the need to investigate the evolving paradigm of trust in the context of BT.

This study contributes to the existing literature on the DApp ecosystem by conducting an empirical investigation on a DApp’s impact on the transparency, traceability and efficiency of an entire supply chain. Currently, there is limited research available that measures the level of efficiency and effectiveness that can be attained through stakeholder participation in a DApp network.

The main purpose of this study is to enhance knowledge regarding the early stages of planning for and adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in governmental public procurement. While there are numerous studies on AI and procurement in private companies, there is limited information on AI and public procurement.

The empirical data consists of information obtained from 18 semi-structured interviews with procurement managers and individuals involved in the development of procurement at governmental agencies. Additionally, a workshop was conducted with the respondents to discuss and validate the study’s findings.

Findings indicate a generally low level of AI maturity in previous research and within the investigated governmental agencies. The perceived benefits of AI primarily revolve around improved operational capabilities, potential for certain process efficiencies and the ability to enhance monitoring through AI. Various challenges related to organizational, process, technological and data management were highlighted. Findings also indicate that perceived benefits and value created by AI can be viewed from a short-term perspective to a long-term perspective.

The study provides insights into societal values that can be achieved using AI in public procurement.

This study provides a new perspective on AI in public procurement by focusing on governmental agencies. It explores the perceived benefits, interests and challenges associated with AI implementation in public procurement. Furthermore, this study discusses the potential outcomes of incorporating AI in public procurement and the impact it may have on the values created by the public service, both short- and long term.

This study aims to investigate the integration of smart contracts into the legal framework of Saudi Arabia, spotlighting the pivotal role of blockchain technology in revolutionizing contractual processes. It evaluates the capacity of smart contracts to enhance the efficiency, security and transparency of legal transactions, while critically examining the legal challenges their adoption presents.

Through qualitative analysis, this research explores the operational dynamics of smart contracts, with a focus on their autonomous execution and the digital codification of contractual terms. It scrutinizes the alignment of smart contracts with the Saudi legal system, concentrating on pivotal issues such as the establishment of mutual consent, the verification of contracting parties’ capacity and adherence to conventional legal doctrines.

This study uncovers the transformative potential of smart contracts in redefining the execution of contracts, highlighting their advantages in streamlining transactions and enhancing contractual reliability. However, it also identifies significant obstacles in the path of their full integration into Saudi Arabia’s legal landscape, notably the challenge of reconciling smart contracts’ technology-driven operations with established legal norms and rectifying potential legal inconsistencies.

Offering fresh perspectives on the confluence of technology and law, this paper illuminates the complex task of implementing smart contracts within a legal framework that is in the process of adapting to digital innovation. It advocates for a sophisticated strategy of regulatory adjustment that promotes the legal system's evolution alongside technological progress, ensuring the effective and legally sound utilization of smart contracts.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of clients' trust, opportunism and adaptation on contractual (non)cooperation with a mediating role of coordination in the construction industry.

A questionnaire was used to collect data from employees of the Pakistani construction industry. Smart partial least square (SmartPLS) has been used for analyzing the data of 270 respondents from construction projects.

The results of the SmartPLS indicate that (1) Trust and contract coordination positively while opportunism negatively influence contractor's contractual cooperation. (2) Contract adaptation and contract coordination positively influence the noncontractual cooperation of the contractor. (3) Moreover, contract coordination positively mediates the relationship between trust and noncontractual cooperation, but negatively mediates the relationship between opportunism and contract adaptation and noncontractual cooperation.

The findings of this research suggest several policy implications for administrative authorities, project managers and policymakers. These authorities need to focus on clients' trust, opportunism and adaptation because these factors significantly influence contract coordination and cooperation in the construction industry. Emphasizing these factors will enable project managers to gain economies of scale and mitigate project failure.

To the best of the authors’ search and knowledge, they did not find any study examining the mediating role of coordination between trust, opportunism, adaptation and cooperation in the construction industry. Hence, the present study advances their understanding in the field of project management and construction business.

This study aims to address gaps in the integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) into procurement processes for construction works under the Portuguese Code of Public Contracts (CCP). The goal is to improve procurement procedures with practical recommendations benefiting both public and private sectors, and applicable in other countries, promoting efficient BIM use in construction projects.

The study involved a literature review and expert interviews to identify opportunities within the CCP related to construction procurement that impact BIM implementation during construction works. It critically analyzed these insights and proposed specific adjustments to the CCP to enhance BIM application in public construction works.

The study provides practical recommendations to address two main gaps identified in the literature: the neglect of non-specific digitalization factors influencing BIM implementation, and the lack of consideration for specific constraints in public procurement, particularly those dictated by legal frameworks like the CCP. These recommendations aim to optimize traditional procurement provisions for public construction, thereby improving BIM utilization on-site.

The study’s social implications include enhanced transparency and efficiency in construction processes, leading to reduced delays and costs for both stakeholders and the public. By optimizing BIM practices, public resources can be used more effectively in construction projects. The research may also accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies in the industry and improve urban development through better-planned and executed infrastructure projects. Additionally, the study’s recommendations could serve as a model for other countries, fostering the adoption of higher construction standards on a global scale.

The study’s original contribution lies in its comprehensive examination of public procurement procedures, particularly within the CCP context, to enhance the utilization of BIM during construction works. It uniquely identifies literature gaps and provides practical recommendations addressing non-specific digitalization factors and legal constraints in public procurement.

Under international human rights law, states can limit the exercise of most human rights if it is necessary to protect the rights of others or collective interests. The hazards of epidemics and diseases have raised many legal, economic and social issues in their link with global health security, which renew the discussion regarding the effects of the COVID-19 on some civil and commercial transactions and financial and tax obligations. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the effects of COVID-19 on contractual obligations.

In this research, we are going to follow the method of the analytical and applied approach at the same time by analyzing the cases in which contractual obligations are affected by the circumstances of the COVID-19 and its legal implications, as well as to apply the theories related to this aspect to different cases.

The result of the study funded that the legal adaptation of the COVID-19 pandemic is limited to the theory of emergency circumstances and the theory of the force majeure, and the matter remains in the hands of the trial judge to attribute the incident imposed on him to one of the two cases according to the circumstances of the case.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on contractual obligations should be applied on each contract separately according to the extent of its impact on the contractors because the spread of the virus may have an impact on the obligations of one of the contractors, leading to exhaustion of the debtor, or it may lead to the impossibility of implementing the obligation.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth analysis of the historical restrictions imposed by the UAE and Jordan on the arbitrability of agency disputes, driven by public policy considerations to protect local agents. It examines recent developments in UAE arbitration law and their alignment with global trends in international arbitration. The study evaluates how these reforms balance local agency interests with contractual autonomy. By offering comparative perspectives, the paper provides valuable lessons for Jordan and other restrictive nations in the Arab world to modernize their arbitration frameworks, reconcile domestic and international priorities, and enhance their appeal for international trade and investment.

This paper examines the legal framework for arbitrating commercial agency disputes in Jordan and the UAE, two civil law jurisdictions with a shared tradition but distinctly different approaches. While the UAE’s 2022 reforms have clarified questions regarding arbitrability and aligned its legal framework with internationally recognized standards, Jordan’s framework has retained a framework that tends to be constrained by uncertainties within its domestic laws and an excessive reliance on court jurisdiction. These uncertainties undermine the effectiveness of arbitration, limit access to justice and create problems, particularly for international businesses that value what the arbitration provides. The paper, through a comparative analysis, highlights the gaps in Jordan’s arbitration framework and identifies lessons from the UAE’s balanced reform. It provides actionable recommendations for Jordan, including clarifying arbitrability, reducing court interference and harmonizing domestic laws with international arbitration norms, such as the New York Convention. These steps could enhance Jordan’s dispute resolution system, promote legal certainty and create a business-friendly environment. Thus, it encourages economic growth and international investments.

This study compares Jordan’s restrictive arbitration framework for commercial agency disputes with the UAE’s proactive reforms. The UAE’s 2022 legislative changes align its laws with international standards, balancing public policy considerations with arbitration autonomy, positioning it as a regional leader in dispute resolution. Conversely, Jordan’s framework suffers from ambiguities, excessive court reliance and limited application of the Kompetenz-Kompetenz principle, undermining arbitration’s effectiveness and discouraging investment. Key recommendations for Jordan include clarifying arbitrability, reducing judicial intervention and narrowing public policy considerations. Aligning with international standards would foster legal certainty, attract investments and promote Jordan as a hub for international commerce.

This study provides actionable insights for improving Jordan’s arbitration framework, addressing legal ambiguities and excessive court intervention in commercial agency disputes. By aligning domestic laws with international standards like the UNCITRAL Model Law and the New York Convention, Jordan can enhance legal certainty and arbitration’s effectiveness. Limiting judicial interference and clearly defining public policy considerations will create a more business-friendly environment. These reforms not only strengthen access to justice but also cross-border commerce. Learning from the UAE’s balanced approach, Jordan can position itself as a regional hub for efficient and reliable dispute resolution.

This research provides a unique contribution by highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the non-arbitrability of commercial agency disputes in Jordan, an area of significant legal importance that has yet to be thoroughly explored. By comparing Jordan’s approach with the UAE’s legislative framework before and after its 2022 reforms, the study offers a legal analysis of two civil law jurisdictions with similar legal traditions but differing approaches to arbitration in distribution disputes. The research sheds light on these contrasts, providing valuable insights into the evolving interplay between arbitration and commercial agency regulation in the region.

This study delves into the influence of contractual frameworks on infrastructure project timelines and evaluates the role of long-term warranty agreements in maintenance efficacy. It underscores the correlation between construction contract structures and prevalent project delays, advocating for a revision in the allocation of responsibilities to mitigate such delays effectively.

While previous research has explored individual aspects of construction management, such as contractor incentives and risk allocation, our study uniquely integrates these elements to develop a comprehensive model that includes the effects of long-term warranty agreements and penalty clauses.

The findings advocate for contract revisions that entail clearly articulated responsibilities and thorough impact assessments, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of project execution and optimizing infrastructure investment returns. Concrete examples are provided from large-scale infrastructure and public works maintenance projects, illustrating the benefits of well-defined penalty clauses in curbing delays and ensuring sustained quality through long-term warranties. Our results demonstrate that optimized contractual structures can significantly reduce project delays and enhance maintenance effectiveness.

This study addresses significant gaps in understanding construction contract management dynamics, especially in transportation infrastructure. It rigorously analyzes how penalty clauses and long-term warranties impact contractor behavior and project outcomes. Key findings show that the benefits of long-term warranties, including social advantages, depend heavily on the strictness of penalty clauses. Innovatively, it employs a First-Price Sealed-Bid Auction framework with empirical data from various case studies, enhancing contract structure optimization for better stakeholder alignment and infrastructure integrity. These insights notably advance construction contract management methodologies.

This paper aims to contribute to the management control systems (MCS) changes in public-private partnerships (PPSs) by developing a conceptual archetype explaining the relationship between trust and MCSs in PPPs, and highlighting how this relationship may evolve over time.

The paper adopts a longitudinal case study methodology focusing on a hospital built and operated under a project finance deal. The methods adopted include semistructured interviews, direct observation and internal documentation analysis. We conducted 15 semistructured interviews from 2019 to 2021. In analyzing different documents and interviews, we triangulated data to ensure solid interpretation.

The case shows how trust can take different configurations depending on the type of MCS used. The results highlight how different patterns of MCSs, about trust, can be combined to govern PPPs. The case also shows the temporal dynamics of how MCS and trust evolve at different organizational levels and how bureaucratic control matched with contractual trust and trust-based control matched with competence trust can coexist at different times and organizational levels.

Managers involved in PPPs will be aware of the role of different types of trust in shaping and managing the relationship between partners at different organizational levels. Furthermore, the findings could help policymakers to adopt more informed decisions and to promote practice-based trust at various organizational levels of PPPs.

The paper proposes a management control archetype based on bureaucracy- and trust-based patterns concerning the level of programmability of tasks, as well as defined risks.

The smart contract provides an opportunity to improve existing contract management practices in the construction projects by replacing traditional contracts. However, translating the contracts into computer languages is considered a major challenge which has not been investigated. Thus, it is necessary to: (1) identify the obstructing clauses in real-world contracts; and (2) analyze the replacement's technical and economic feasibility. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objectives.

This study identified the flexibility clauses of traditional contracts and their corresponding functions through inductive content analysis with representative standard contracts as materials. Through a speculative analysis in accordance to design science paradigm and new institutional economics, the economic and technical feasibility of existing approaches, including enumeration method, fuzzy algorithm, rough sets theory, machine learning and artificial intelligence, to transform respective clauses (functions) into executable codes are analyzed.

The clauses of semantic flexibility and structural flexibility are identified from the contracts. The transformation of semantic flexibility is economically and/or technically infeasible with existing methods and materials. But with more data as materials and methods of rough sets or machine learning, the transformation can be feasible. The transformation of structural flexibility is technically possible however economically unacceptable.

Given smart contracts' inability to provide the required flexibility for construction projects, smart contracts will be more effective in less relational contracts. For construction contracts, the combination of smart contracts and traditional contracts is recommended. In the long run, with the sharing or trading of data in the industry level and the integration of machine learning or artificial intelligence reducing relevant costs, the automation of contract management can be achieved.

This study contributes to the understanding of the smart contract's limitations in industry scenarios and its role in construction project management.