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As the today's world is leading toward the digital dependency and after the world pandemic of COVID-19, the dependency of students and the university is completely through a digital medium, in context with that the higher education according to the demand of the generation is leading towards digital transformation. The digital transformation in the sector of education is the road map for the sustainable management and development of education. The digital transformation is the new pillar of education in which the students are mostly reliable. The digitalization in the field of education will lead to simple and clarified as well as multiple way for acquiring the knowledge. As the integration of the new model of education system is applied and implemented throughout the globe, the digital medium plays a significant role for the smooth and the systemic development of the model. In this chapter, the pathway for the development of the well-stable and well-developed strategies is considered in which the integration of the essential requirements, proper guidance, and advantages of the model is dependent for the transformation to digital medium of the higher education that will be leading to the development of the management and the education system. The foundation of that transformation model is detailed in the paper for the digitalization of higher education.

Based on resource-based and dynamic capabilities theorizing, this study explores how human resource analytics (HRA) can improve human resource management (HRM) performance and organizational performance, with creative problem-solving capability (CPSC) as an underlying mediator for creating value from HRA. It also explores how data quality and HRA personnel expertise act as moderators in this relationship.

Hypotheses are tested in an empirical study including 191 firms using partial least square structural equation modeling technique.

The findings confirm the direct and indirect effect of HRA use and maturity on HRM and organizational performance, as well as the mediating role of CPSC. HRA personnel expertise was found to moderate the relationship between HRA and CPSC, data quality being an important factor.

The findings contribute to the sparse evidence of value creation from HRA use/maturity on HRM and organizational outcomes, providing a theoretical logic of resource-based view and dynamic capabilities view based on the underlying causal mechanism through which HRA creates value. The study identified complementary capabilities which when combined with HRA use/maturity and CPSC result in value creation.

This paper aims to explore how a shared service centre (SSC) is mobilised in a power-dominant context of a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE). Specifically, it examines the mobilisation of SSC within this multi-divisional SOE, the role and dynamics of actors involved and the influence of changes in the integrated information system (IIS) during the mobilisation process.

The study follows a qualitative case study methodology. The authors draw on actor-network theory to examine the network and translation processes constructed in mobilising SSC in the chosen SOE. The data sources of this study were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations and documentary reviews.

The mobilisation of SSC is not a linear process but rather a “spiral” interplay through continuous interactions and compromises between human and non-human actors. Power gave the core actor as an orchestrator legitimacy and formality to reduce resistance and obstruction in translation for the mobilisation of SSC. The changes in IIS appear to facilitate the interaction between the heterogeneous actors.

This case study contributes towards understanding the mobilisation of SSC in a power-dominant context by highlighting the impact of changes in IIS and the details of the mobilisation of SSC in terms of the role played by both the individual actors and the technology.

This study provides a broader understanding of the interactions of the heterogeneous actors for mobilising SSC in a power-dominant context. More importantly, the study inspires future research into examining how SSC practices unfold and how the changes in IIS influence the mobilisation of SSC.

This study aims to find the characteristics of supercritical airfoil in helicopter rotor blades for hovering phase using numerical analysis and the validation using experimental results.

Using numerical analysis in the forward phase of the helicopter, supercritical airfoil is compared with the conventional airfoil for the aerodynamic performance. The multiple reference frame method is used to produce the results for rotational analysis. A grid independence test was carried out, and validation was obtained using benchmark values from NASA data.

From the analysis results, a supercritical airfoil in hovering flight analysis proved that the NASA SC rotor produces 25% at 5°, 26% at 12° and 32% better thrust at 8° of collective pitch than the HH02 rotor. Helicopter performance parameters are also calculated based on momentum theory. Theoretical calculations prove that the NASA SC rotor is better than the HH02 rotor. The results of helicopter performance prove that the NASA SC rotor provides better aerodynamic efficiency than the HH02 rotor.

The novelty of the paper is it proved the aerodynamic performance of supercritical airfoil is performing better than the HH02 airfoil. The results are validated with the experimental values and theoretical calculations from the momentum theory.

As businesses keep investing substantial resources in developing business analytics (BA) capabilities, it is unclear how the performance improvement transpires as BA affects performance in many different ways. This paper aims to analyze how BA capabilities affect firms’ agility through resources like information quality and innovative capacity considering industry dynamism and the resulting impact on firm performance.

This paper tested the research hypothesis using primary data collected from 192 companies operating in Bangladesh. The data were analyzed using partial least squares-based structural equation modeling.

The results indicate that BA capabilities improve business resources like information quality and innovative capacity, which, in turn, significantly impact a firm’s agility. This paper also found out that industry dynamism moderates the firms’ agility and, ultimately, firms’ performance.

The contribution of this work provides insight regarding the role of business analytics capabilities in increasing organizational agility and performance under the moderating effects of industry dynamism.

The present research is to the best of the authors’ knowledge among the first studies considering a firm’s agility to explore the impact of BA on a firm’s performance in a dynamic environment. While previous researchers discussed resources like information quality and innovative capability, current research theoretically argues that these items are a leveraging point in a BA context to increase firm agility.

This work concerns William Norman Illingworth [1902–1980]. Disillusioned with teaching in conventional schools and inspired by Rudolf Steiner [1861–1925] he founded Sangreal School, in 1947, and operated this until the early 1970s. Sangreal was what I describe as a “conservative alternative school”, employing methods and pursuing goals not found in most British schools of the period but, unlike avowedly progressive establishments, guided by socially conservative principles. The purposes of the work are both to rescue his/Sangreal’s story from obscurity and to encourage research to establish if other such schools have existed and, if so, to describe and analyse them in an effort to give the category conservative alternative school the recognition it properly deserves.

The method is a combination of life history/biography and case study of a specific school.

The story is interesting in its own terms and points to the existence of a hitherto unnoticed category in history of education.

This work may lead to the proper recognition of a neglected category.

This work deals with a school hitherto unknown to most people and may lead to the recognition of a new category.

This study aims to use Lean principles, including the traditional seven types of waste and four additional service-specific waste types, to identify and eliminate wasteful activities.

The study integrates existing literature to identify different types of waste and conducts a case study within the Malaysian Customs Administration. The application process flow for License Manufacturing Warehouse is examined, and waste is identified and eliminated using the principles of waste elimination in Lean.

The study identifies eight prevalent types of waste in service processes, with motion being the most common and duplication the least. The case study in the Malaysian Customs Administration reveals no instances of waste in communication and error categories, indicating commendable efficiency in these areas. These insights offer valuable benchmarks for organizations seeking to optimize processes and address specific types of waste.

This paper is crucial for showcasing the practical implementation of waste elimination theory in Lean across the service sector, focusing on the Malaysian Customs Administration. It offers targeted insights into tailoring these principles for real-world efficiency gains, contributing valuable strategies for waste reduction in a specific organizational context.

Construction professionals' literacy incapacity exacerbates their vulnerability to climate change hazards on construction projects. Therefore, this study sought to determine climate change literacy objectives for Zimbabwean construction professionals. Climate change-literate construction professionals can significantly strengthen resilience and adaptive capability within the built environment.

The positivist approach employed a cross-sectional questionnaire survey strategy to collect quantitative data from construction professionals (Architects, Civil/Structural engineers, Project managers and Quantity surveyors) working in 280 registered consultancy and construction firms in Zimbabwe. The data were analysed using mean scores, normalisation, Kruskall–Wallis tests and factor analysis.

The respondents’ perceptions of the most critical climate change literacy objectives included knowledge of sustainable material utility, designing for resilient structures and understanding how climate change affects workers' physical and mental well-being. Generally, consensus on the nature of climate literacy objectives was evident. The factor analysis determined three components: stakeholder and climate information-related interventions, carbon and environmental footprint-related literacy and climate systems and indigenous knowledge-related literacy. Construction professionals can interpret climate change information through the determined objectives, contribute to reducing carbon and environmental footprint and improve project outcomes.

A limitation was that a quantitative method was only employed; a concurrent qualitative inquiry could have mined more diverse views. Professional bodies and tertiary institutions can design climate change programmes based on the determined climate change literacy objectives for construction professionals.

The study determined climate change literacy objectives for construction professionals in Zimbabwe to enable them to respond to climate change hazards.

Following a discussion of the case, students should be able to analyse competitive dynamics: provide an in-depth critical analysis of Ilco Farming’s microenvironment, using the structure–conduct–performance framework; evaluate strategic positioning: conduct a SWOT analysis of Ilco Farming’s medicinal cannabis business; and develop strategic approaches: propose actionable strategies that would provide effective solutions to the problem of constrained market conditions currently faced by Ilco Farming.

Coenie and Ilse Venter established Ilco Farming, a cannabis farm located in the Viljoenskroon district in the Free State province in South Africa, in 2021. From the beginning, they poured their hearts and souls into their new venture, which soon paid off. A few short months after Ilco Farming began operating, despite the presence of other large competitors, Ilco Farming supplied a large share of the domestic medicinal market with flower heads. But then an unexpected challenge presented itself. In March 2023, Ilco Farming was operating at only 23% (600 m²) of its production capacity of 2600 m² and had considerable room for growth, the local market – at least the local legal market – for cannabis began to show signs of saturation. Coenie and Ilsa found themselves at the proverbial crossroads, grappling with the crucial decision of how to secure their farm’s future in the face of a fast-saturating local (legal) cannabis market and a thriving (illegal) black market. Coenie and Ilse refused to entertain the idea of going the black market route, as they were unwilling to risk losing their operating licence. They calculated that the farm would reach breakeven point within the next two years, with profits unlikely during this period. Should they persist with their current strategy of producing high-quality products and delivering a superior service in the hopes of growing their market share? Or should they consider other strategic options? Coenie and Ilse were sitting at their boardroom table having a cup of coffee and looking out of the window at Ilco Farming’s impressive SAHPRA- and GAP-approved warehouse and tunnels. “What should we do?” they both wondered.

The case study can be used in postgraduate courses in microeconomics (PGDIP/MBA) and agricultural economics (PGDIP/MBA).

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 5: International business.

There is proliferation of regulatory frameworks and guidelines globally to implement social considerations in the procurement of construction projects. However, there are scanty empirical studies that have researched into the implementation of social consideration in the procurement of construction projects in Africa, particularly Ghana. Therefore, this study aims to examine the challenges that hinder the implementation of social value in the procurement of construction works in Ghana.

The study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design with an initial quantitative instrument phase, followed by a qualitative data collection phase. A critical comparative review of the related literature resulted in the identification of 29 challenges. A total of 100 questionnaire responses from professionals in the construction industry in Ghana based on the challenges on the implementation of social value were retrieved. The data obtained were coded with SPSS version 22, analysed descriptively (mean scores and standard deviation) and via inferential analysis (exploratory factor analysis). These data were then validated through semi-structured interviews with 10 professionals. The data obtained from the semi-structured validation interviews were analysed through the side-by-side comparison of the qualitative data with the quantitative data.

The results revealed that the critical challenges to the implementation of social value in the procurement of construction works can be clustered into three major components, i.e. weak processes and bureaucracy, the incongruence of social value with the traditional procurement process, and the misaligned social targets and erosion of public procurement principles. The interviewees agreed to and confirmed the criticality of these factors as challenges to the implementation of social value in the procurement of construction works.

A substantial number of studies have identified numerous challenges to the implementation of social value. This study presents a major cluster of challenges to the implementation of social value. Social value through construction procurement is a strategic tool globally and Ghana can leverage on its multiplier effects for social development.

The study extends the global discourse on social value in construction management literature by providing empirical evidence on the cluster of challenges that have the potential to hinder the implementation of social value in the procurement of construction works.