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Software process tailoring (SPT) is a knowledge- and learning-intensive activity in which a software project team customizes its software development processes to accommodate project particularities. Because SPT critically influences how a project is conducted, SPT performance should be investigated, but the extant literature lacks investigations into how team knowledge mechanisms and team environments contribute to SPT performance. To fill this gap, this study looks into a team's absorptive capacity (AC) and combines a transactive memory system (TMS) and team climate inventory (TCI) to develop a theoretical research model to facilitate the understanding of SPT performance.

This paper is a conceptual study that uses the propositional methodology with a focused review of existing literature pertaining to SPT, AC, TMS and TCI to develop a theoretical model to foster SPT performance. Because this study is conceptually established, further empirical research and studies are also suggested.

The proposed model provides guidance for firms conducting SPT. It also contributes to future research aiming to empirically understand the mechanisms behind the identified team-based knowledge and environmental enablers in the dynamic team learning process that lead to superior SPT performance.

The proposed model provides a fresh look at the dynamic capabilities theory in SPT and innovatively identifies a team's dynamic learning process to show how a team can conduct effective SPT through AC and facilitated by TMS. Environmental climates characterized by vision, participative safety, task orientation and support for innovation act as positive moderators in promoting the team dynamic learning process.

Since the change to a democratic society and government in South Africa, lecturers and students in higher education have collaborated with community partners to establish sustainable initiatives to enhance students’ social responsibility and benefit communities. This chapter shares insights on a collaborative service-learning project where different arts-based literacies, including art, reading, poetry, human movement and writing were used to enhance reading and writing, culminating in an annual interactive Community Engagement Day on the campus of a higher education institution. The day was organized by a team of staff and students and attended by 50 learners and three teachers from three schools in the area. The chapter describes different stations and activities which included topics such as safety, human movement programs, reading and writing activities and writing of poems. The art lecturer and her team helped each learner to paint a “feather,” culminating in the theme of the day, which was to “spread your wings.” The learners and students completed evaluation forms after their experiences, followed by interviews with lecturers. Data show the value of the day for all participants, emphasizing collaboration across faculties. It shows that true, integrated effective community engagement is built on reciprocal partnerships and collaborative service-learning projects.

To study the early stages of damage by corrosion fatigue (CF) in an austenitic stainless steel using the electrochemical noise (EN) Technique.

Potential and current transients measured between two nominally identical electrodes during CF of an UNS S31603 SS were continuously monitored using a zero‐resistance‐ammeter at different periods of exposure to seawater. The tests were carried out under cyclic loading of constant amplitude, stress ratio R=0 and load frequency of ω=0.17 Hz. The analysis was focused on both, crack nucleation sites and short fatigue crack growth, and the correlation between corrosion‐fatigue cracking and characteristics of potential transients and the associated intensity current.

Measurements of EN, showed a good relationship between the potential transients and current fluctuations with the initiation and growth of inter‐granular corrosion‐fatigue cracks. The amplitude and frequency of potential transients and the intensity of current transients became more intense as the number of loading cycles increased. The initiation of crack events and small crack growth could be associated with the noise patterns with amplitudes of 20 and 70 mV and current density between 0.10 and 0.60 μA cm²; while large inter‐granular crack growth events, were due to coalescence of small cracks, and could be associated with patterns of 200 mV in amplitude and a cathodic current density of 8.0 μA cm². The crack nucleation sites generally were located at grain boundary triple points on the specimen surface.

The EN Technique can be a good alternative to evaluate the early stages of damage by CF.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the electrochemical behaviour of two carbon steels exposed to acidic geothermal solutions and their resistance to hydrogen induced cracking (HIC), in order to determine the effect of hydrogen damage on the failure process of the steels used for line pipe and casings at a geothermal plant.

Samples of two different steels: ASTM A‐53 Grade B (line pipe) and API L‐80 (casing) were immersed for a duration of 96 h in the electrolyte proposed by NACE to evaluate susceptibility to HIC. Samples of the two steels embedded in non‐conducting Bakelite were subjected to potentiodynamic polarisation scans at room temperature using as the electrolyte brines obtained from different wells at the Cerro Prieto geothermal plant. Hardness tests were performed on the samples before and after the HIC tests in order to determine hardness changes induced by hydrogen penetration as field results indicated embrittlement of the steels after four months of service.

The steels, ASTM A‐53 Grade B and API L‐80 did not exhibit crack sensitivity as no cracks are observed in the tests specimens, though they showed an increase in hardness. The steels exhibited high‐corrosion rates in the brine media at room temperature (3.3 mm/yr), which is expected to increase at higher temperatures.

The work revealed that carbon steels used for line pipes and casings at geothermal plants can exhibit high resistance to HIC, however they corrode at high rates and may show embrittlement. It is suggested that due to the high‐operation temperature, the damage induced by hydrogen resulted in hardness increase but was not sufficient to develop cracks.

The idea of relating health, education and other social sector variables with growth and development, or trying to find any convergence among similar countries with respect to such macroeconomic indicators is the basic idea of this chapter, which explores the concept of enhancing welfare through a subjective route, specifically by way of expenditure in health care. By way of testing σ- and β-convergence of current healthcare expenditure per capita of the BRICS countries for the period 2006–2018, it has been found that these countries catch up with significant convergence. It has also been obtained through panel data analysis that such convergence is significantly explained by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, life expectancy at birth, elderly ratio, CO₂ emissions and prevalence of undernourishment, all of which are in accordance with conventional hypotheses. This chapter claims that, by way of convergence, the BRICS nations may emerge as a new economic power, and expenditure on health care is one of the major areas, among other social sector variables that will play an important role.

The study aimed to determine the correlations occurring between systemic support and environmental awareness. Additionally, the authors wished to establish which systemic factors (criteria of the ISO 14001) impact those dependencies.

Quantitative and qualitative research were carried out (survey findings were analysed against documentation research and self-observation records). The authors used literature review, analysis of system documentation, survey research and self-observation. The research was conducted in the period from April to May 2020. It focused on a chemical company operating within the structure of a large capital group and employing over 1,500 people. The system theory was used in the research. This theory recognises the existence of correlations and interactions among its subsystems and the elements that constitute them.

The conducted study points unequivocally to a considerable discrepancy between employees' opinions and records made in the documentation. Correlations between support and awareness level do exist, although for them to be positive, it is necessary to ensure an efficient process of communicating the effectiveness of the environmental management system. Reliance merely on audit findings, management reviews and environment monitoring process is insufficient. More focus is required on building employee commitment, as well as on counteracting excessive formalisation.

Environmental management systems have been gaining in popularity. There have been studies into the motives behind implementation of such systems, their benefits and their barriers for their application. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship between the individual criteria of the environmental management system.

The purpose of this paper is to develop protective coatings containing antifouling compound for steel rebars.

In the present study, corrosion and settlement of micro and macro‐fouling organisms on coated and uncoated rebars were investigated. Two different types of coatings were applied: only primer for prevention of corrosion; and rosin‐based antifouling paint after application of primer.

According to results, the surfaces of the rebars coated by antifouling paints were remarkably cleaner than were those of uncoated and primer‐coated steels. Micro and macro‐organisms that settled on the rebars were identified after 90 days of seawater immersion in Izmir, Turkey.

The paper contributes to scientific literature by providing a protection method based on the use of antifouling coatings for steel rebars used in marine environments (e.g. bridge piers). It was concluded that steel rebars can be coated with antifouling paints before they are used for concrete constructions.

The current environment is unhelpful to female entrepreneurs, and they need to overcome numerous barriers when starting their own businesses. In this study, the researchers investigated the significant barriers that Pakistani female entrepreneurs require to overcome in this respect.

In this study, the researchers used a quantitative study and they used a questionnaire to survey the respondents and collect cross-sectional data. The researchers targeted female students who were undertaking bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in different Pakistani public and private sector universities. Accordingly, the researchers based this study’s findings on the usable samples received from 498 Pakistani female students.

The researchers used a structural equation model (SEM) in this study and its findings highlight that aversion to risk (ATR) has an insignificant impact on entrepreneurial inclinations (EI). In addition, fear of failure (FoF), lack of resources (LoR), aversion to hard work and stress (ASH) and the lack of social networking (LSN) have negative and insignificant effects on EI. The ATR factor has an insignificant effect on entrepreneurial success (ES), whereas FoF, LoR, ASH and LSN are negative and insignificant predictors of Pakistani female students’ ES.

This study’s findings may help Pakistani women to overcome the barriers to ES. In this respect, the researchers recommend that the Pakistan Government and policymakers develop significant strategies to provide the conducive business environment and to financially support Pakistani women to start their own businesses. Furthermore, this study’s findings contribute greatly to the vast amount of current literature and help to overcome the entrepreneurial conditions and barriers that potential entrepreneurs from advanced and developing countries experience frequently.

This study’s findings provide empirical evidence of EI and ES in Pakistan.

Generative pretrained transformers (GPTs), soaring to one million users at lightning speed, outpaced social media giants (15 times faster) (Buchholz, 2023). Despite this, scant research explored GPT’s impact on the digital entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) of students and tech-savvy generations. This study aims to pioneer a fusion of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), bridging the gap in research.

In this bold quantitative quest, business administration students became fearless participants, engaging in a survey of profound significance. Guided by the mighty powers of G*Power and Stata’s structural equation modeling builder, the intricate relationships within a robust sample of (n = 400) were unraveled.

The mediating power of GPT usefulness and GPT ease of use part of the TAM emerges, paving the way for a future brimming with digital entrepreneurship (DE) boundless possibilities. Predictably, the study found that TPB constructs also affect the EI of students.

This groundbreaking study brings together the powerful combination of TAM and TPB, while pioneering the exploration of GPT models’ mediating role. Its findings offer invaluable contributions to the field of DE and policymakers.