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The construction industry is famous for gender imbalance and reluctance in initiating change. In recent years, construction is becoming an attractive career choice for women. However, this change has been gradual. The purpose of this research was to understand the challenges women are facing in construction sector after a decade of implementation of the Equality Act 2010 in the UK and how women in the sector feel the industry could be further improved. This research investigated real-life experiences to identify where the industry needs to make viable improvements.

A qualitative research methodology was adopted. In total, 31 semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, which was then analysed using content analysis for inference and conclusion.

This research revealed that women still experience adversity forcing them to work harder than usual to prove their belonging in construction sector. The “man’s world” culture is still widespread. However, women have seen improvements over recent years but believe more can be done from an intersectionality perspective. This is pertinent due to the Brexit and Covid-19 situation.

The study contributes to the field of equality and diversity in the construction sector. Women believe that factors such as bespoke initiatives, equal pay, flexible working hours (considering childcare and caring responsibilities), mental health and well-being support, and equality and diversity policies will enable the construction sector to create conducive environment for women now and in the future.

COVID-19 was officially declared as a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11th March 2020, before the UK was put into lockdown on the 23rd March 2020. Organisations had to reconsider their policies and procedures to allow their businesses to continue. This paper aims to focus on the effects of COVID-19 that the UK construction sector has had to undertake to enable businesses while employees had to adhere to COVID-19 lockdown rules. In addition, how the sector can positively continue once normality has returned within the industry. In doing so, this paper understands the historical issues within the construction sector and has had an effect during COVID-19.

A qualitative research methodology approach was taken to help obtain live information. In total, 19 semi-structured interviews from 15 organisations related to the construction sector were conducted to collect data. This information was evaluated using thematic analysis to arrive at the results, inferences and recommendations to the sector.

This research has revealed that companies have had to adopt a three-stage process to overcome a new dimensional challenge of COVID-19. These include: 1. Making quick decisions during the first stage of the pandemic. 2. Producing new policies and procedures to restart businesses enabling staff to return to the workplace safely. 3. Implementing methods to future-proof organisations against any potential pandemics. To help organisations future-proof their business five C’s are recommended.

This paper provides a rich insight into the understanding and awareness of the effects of COVID-19 and the changes that the construction sector has had to undertake to adhere to the lockdown rules while remaining productive. This research contributes towards informing policymakers on some of the lessons learned during the management of the COVID-19 pandemic from a construction sector perspective.

The study aims to address the critical area of training and development within private educational small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. It seeks to develop and standardize training and development process in private sector educational SMEs and establish a structured approach to training with the purpose of unlocking the full potential of the workforce, advancing educators’ professional growth and propelling organizational progress.

This study employs a meticulous three-phase approach. It begins with insightful interviews with school principals to investigate existing training practices. The subsequent phase involves formulating a comprehensive training and development policy, outlining purpose, scope, responsibilities, procedures and budget allocation. This policy undergoes participatory refinement to cater to specific SME needs. In the third phase, experimental design was adopted. Two groups, the experiment group and the control group, were formulated to check the effectiveness of proposed processes.

Rigorous statistical analysis, employing paired sample t-tests, unequivocally demonstrates a significant elevation in mean scores post-implementation of standardized training and development process. These findings affirm the efficacy of the policy in enhancing the effectiveness of training and development activities in private sector educational SMEs.

The research highlights profound implications. By establishing a structured approach to training and development, educational SMEs can not only advance educators’ professional growth but also propel organizational progress and enhance education quality. It will provide a structured and step-by-step process to boost the work quality of staff. The study emphasizes the need for consistent implementation.

This research marks a substantial stride in revolutionizing how human capital is cultivated in private sector educational SMEs. It positions them to exert a transformative impact on Pakistan’s educational landscape, furthering the journey toward excellence. The study suggests avenues for future research, including the adaptation of this model to diverse educational contexts and an assessment of its scalability.

This study aims to enhance the resilience of foamed concrete (FC) against carbonation and water absorption (WA) by integrating microorganisms, specifically Aspergillus iizukae EAN605.

The focus was on understanding how variables such as microorganism concentration, concrete density and water-to-cement (w/c) ratio affect these properties. Optimal results were observed under specific conditions—FC density set at 1800 kg/m³, a w/c ratio of 0.5 and an Aspergillus iizukae EAN605 concentration of 0.5 g/L—resulting in significant reductions in carbonation and WA compared to standard FC.

It is observed that fungi not only fill pores with calcium oxalate but also limit carbonation by consuming CO₂ and block water penetration through their mycelial network. A central composite design within response surface methodology was employed for the experimental design, resulting in mathematical models that align closely with the empirical data. The models identified the most effective parameters for minimizing carbonation depth: FC density at 1970 kg/m³, fungal concentration at 0.585 g/L and w/c ratio at 0.470. Further regression analysis showed a high correlation between the experimental data and the predicted outcomes, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 92.29 and a model F-value of 16.45.

Statistical analysis highlighted the significant roles of density and fungal concentration in these reductions. Besides, scanning electron microscopy provided visual evidence of fungal-mediated mineral formation in FC, supporting the empirical findings. Overall, the study demonstrated the effective use of Aspergillus iizukae EAN605 in enhancing the durability of FC, marking an innovative stride in sustainable construction materials.

This study bridges the gap in quality control strategies for high-volume production by balancing the cost and effectiveness of inspection strategies. Using the cost of quality (CoQ) to manage cost and external failures (EF) to gauge effectiveness, this research introduces an innovative inspection strategy chart that serves as a decision-making tool for optimizing inspection processes.

This paper presents a scenario-based framework designed to support strategic decision-making in inspection processes by integrating empirical data analysis with inspection strategy charts. This approach allows for a dynamic assessment and visualization of the relationship between CoQ and EF, facilitating more informed decision-making in quality management. Notably, it contrasts the traditional models with a novel approach that more accurately captures the uncertainty and correlation among key quality indicators, showcasing its potential for more refined decision-making in quality management.

Application of the framework illustrates its effectiveness in offering a nuanced understanding of the cost implications and effectiveness of various quality control strategies. This facilitates enhanced strategic decision-making, optimizing inspection processes and reducing external failures in high-volume production settings.

The study focuses on a single industry case study, limiting the generalizability of findings across different high-volume production contexts. Future research could explore the framework’s applicability in other sectors and refine the model based on additional empirical data.

The research introduces a versatile framework that navigates the unique challenges of high-volume manufacturing environments. Diverging from models optimized for low-volume settings, this approach provides a valuable tool for adapting inspection strategies to complex production demands, marking a significant contribution to quality management and control literature.

Introduction: As Internet usage increases, so does widespread concern about surveillance and privacy. While most of the research primarily focuses on a particular digital setting, these problems cut beyond national boundaries and impact economies everywhere.

Purpose: This study critically analyses the Data Protection Bill 2019’s effectiveness within the context of surveillance and privacy in India’s digital economy. Investigating critical provisions of the bill, comparing it to international privacy laws and standards, and identifying potential gaps and weaknesses, this study provides insights into the bill’s ability to protect personal data and limit surveillance practices.

Methodology: The chapter is based on secondary sources of data, including academic articles, government reports, and news articles on the topics of surveillance, privacy, and the Data Protection Bill 2019 in India, involving content and critical discourse analyses.

Findings: The Data Protection Bill 2019 evaluation reveals a set of provisions with the overarching intent to safeguard citizens’ privacy worldwide and curtail undue surveillance practices exercised by both governmental bodies and private enterprises. Intricately delineates the entitlements of individuals concerning their data, encompassing vital aspects such as the right to access, rectify, and erase their data, the bill mandates stringent adherence to the principle of explicit consent when collecting and processing personal data.

Nevertheless, a comprehensive analysis also reveals several gaps and constraints inherent in the bill’s framework. One such area is the inclusion of exemptions for governmental entities, an aspect that raises international concerns regarding potential disparities in data protection practices.

This chapter adopts a historiographical methodology, meticulously retracing the lineage of Augmented Reality (AR) from the 16th century and scrutinizing the conceptual genesis of Virtual Reality (VR) in the mid-20th century. It rigorously scrutinizes the fundamental principles and applications of AR and VR, extending the discourse to encompass the foundational tenets and ramifications of the burgeoning Metaverse. Thoroughly examining ethical considerations and challenges, there is an emphasis on perpetuating research, judicious implementation, and establishing ethical frameworks. Elucidating the profound ramifications of AR on sundry industries, the transformative potential of VR in crafting immersive environments, and the emergent interconnected virtual realm of the Metaverse, key principles such as spatial mapping, interaction modalities, and cross-platform interoperability are accentuated. Ethical challenges inherent in Metaverse development, notably digital identity, and privacy are identified. The narrative steadfastly underscores the significance of perpetuated research and ethical considerations in steering the evolutionary trajectory of avant-garde technologies. The findings hold far-reaching implications for diverse sectors, encompassing navigation, marketing, healthcare, architecture, education, and entertainment. The Metaverse’s potential to reconfigure digital experiences ubiquitously and its consequential impact on privacy and content moderation accentuate the exigency for circumspect consideration in development and implementation. This chapter fervently advocates for responsible usage and the facilitation of equitable access. This chapter contributes to the scholarly corpus by synthesizing historical perspectives, core principles, and ethical considerations across the domains of AR, VR, and the Metaverse. The unique emphasis on sustained research endeavors and the establishment of ethical frameworks adds distinctive insights, thereby guiding the sagacious evolution of these paradigm-shifting technologies.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the macro-, meso- and micro-level approaches to building sustainability in Ghana's timber, cocoa and goldmining industries s Ghana works to align sustainability efforts with the sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations.

Using qualitative content analysis, a synthesis of contemporary literature on Ghana's timber, cocoa and gold mining industries was conducted to provide a descriptive evaluation of sustainability efforts in those industries.

At the macro-level, Ghana continues to invest in infrastructure, privatize industries and develop an urban development agenda to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI); improved forest management and green building policies and reduction of galamsey are also implemented. At the meso-level, the timber industry encourages land reclamation and green building technologies; the cocoa industry works to replenish lost trees, develop supply-chain partnerships, and encourage certifications; the goldmining industry works to regulate informal mining and reduce galamsey and the use of toxins in exploration. At the micro-level, alignment has developed between the micro- and meso-levels in the timber and cocoa industries, whereas micro-level players in the timber industry are less successful, given its large, unregulated informal sector.

Existing literature is missing discussion on the alignment of macro-, meso- and micro-level approaches to sustainability in Ghana's timber, cocoa and gold mining industries with attention to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals as the premise for the work.

A number of governments have already moved or intend to move from cash to accrual accounting. This has resulted in a growing body of comparative research in public sector accounting. Little work, however, has been devoted so far to investigating government accounting in developing and transitioning countries. This empirical paper seeks to contribute to this literature by conducting a seemingly unique two-country comparison of public sector accounting reforms in one developing nation and one in transition, namely Nepal and Russia. The study suggests that, although more or less the same rhetoric is used in the two settings, reforms have been framed rather differently due to the potency of various institutional pressures.