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The purpose of this paper is to present an algorithm for determining the inner and outer loops of arbitrary parametric surfaces.

The algorithm considers two sub-algorithms: one for non-closed surfaces and another one for closed surfaces. The first sub-algorithm named by area positive and negative method (APNM), combines a curve discretization algorithm with the polygon direction judgment algorithm to judge the inner and outer loops of non-closed surfaces. The second sub-algorithm, called by cross-period number method (CPNM), combines a curve discretization algorithm with the periodicity of closed surfaces to judge the type of boundary loops.

The APNM can use less CPU time to determining the inner and outer loops of the non-closed parametric surfaces. The CPNM can also determine the inner and outer loops of closed parametric surfaces effectively. The judgment results of loops can ensure that the direction of meshes generated on these surfaces is right. And finally ensure the correctness of the numerical simulation results.

Several numerical examples presented have verified the robustness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm. Compared with the conventional algorithm, the more complex the model, the more time the APNM saves in the process of determining the inner and outer loops for non-closed surfaces. The CPNM is also a new method to determining the inner and outer loops for closed parametric surfaces. The single run-time of CPNM is very small and can reach the level of microseconds.

Within the chapter, we report on the scientifically controlled implementation of a new non-violent and highly inclusive secondary school in Tanzania in the region of Mwanza. To give a detailed picture of the school the founder of the school, one teacher, one social worker and 18 students aged 13–16 years of age of five different classes were interviewed. The school was set up as a best practice example to fight the high amount of corporal punishment and school violence in Tanzania. The school focusses on vulnerable students like children and youths of rural areas, from broken families and poor households as well as female students, orphaned children, youths and students with handicaps. A special focus is placed on the schooling of children with albinism who have often been exposed to discrimination, exclusion, mutilation or murder. The concept of the school is based on a study by Tangi (2019) as well as Stein et al. (2019a, 2019b) on harsh discipline and violence by teachers and bullying by students in secondary schools in the region of Mwanza in Tanzania. The newly established school is also based on the concept of child rights-focussed schools, on the concept of coaching and mentoring as well as on the ideas and ideals of inclusion. In 2021, Felista Tangi, founder of the school, was granted the Shalom Award of the Working Group Shalom of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany, for her work against corporal punishment and for a more peaceful society.

This study aims to investigate an individual’s boundary crossing with regard to bribery, gifts and favouritism in rewarding contracts. Samuel Pepys’s diary was written in the 17th century and through detailed accounts gives insight into his inherent professionalism and his negative opinions around bribery but also his acceptance of “gifts” and awarding of contracts to “friends”.

The research uses a narrative approach to study a detailed and reflective personal diary identifying the diarist’s self-exploration and attitudes around the receipt of gifts and the awarding of contracts. This microhistory is presented with a narrative account of a case study of the relationship between the diarist, Pepys and a supplier, Sir W. Warren.

The diary illustrates how Pepys crosses these boundaries and how the lack of accountability within his role enables him to do this. This detailed study enables answers to questions that with time, legislation and lack of acceptability, have become more difficult to ask and to answer, about the crossing of boundaries and ethical decisions around the acceptance of bribes and kickbacks.

A contribution of this paper is the use of a diary, at least a diary as self-reflective as Pepys’s written up as a narrative account. The use of a detailed diary in an accounting microhistory of this nature gives insight and assists in answering difficult to ask questions around personal motivations for bribery and corruption and contributes in this area. The research contributes in developing research around boundaries and the corruption equation using the insight gleaned from this narrative account.

Hospital structures serve to protect and improve public health; however, they are recognized as a major source of environmental degradation. Thus, an effective performance evaluation framework is required to improve hospital sustainability. In this context, this study presents a holistic methodology that integrates the sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC) with fuzzy Delphi method and fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approaches for evaluating the sustainability performance of hospitals.

Initially, a comprehensive list of relevant sustainability evaluation criteria was considered based on six SBSC-based dimensions, in line with triple-bottom-line sustainability dimensions, and derived from the literature review and experts’ opinions. Then, the weights of perspectives and their respective criteria are computed and ranked utilizing the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. Subsequently, the hospitals’ sustainable performance values are ranked based on these criteria using the Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution.

A numerical application was conducted in six public hospitals to exhibit the proposed model’s applicability. The results of this study revealed that “Patient satisfaction,” “Efficiency,” “Effectiveness,” “Access to care” and “Waste production,” respectively, are the five most important criteria of sustainable performance.

The new model will provide decision-makers with management tools that may help them identify the relevant factors for upgrading the level of sustainability in their hospitals and thus improve public health and community well-being.

This is the first study that proposes a new hybrid decision-making methodology for evaluating and comparing hospitals’ sustainability performance under a fuzzy environment.

In recent years, the concept of logistics clusters has attracted the attention of several researchers and practitioners. It is an agglomeration of different types of companies and operations, notably those providing logistics services, such as supply chain organization, storage and distribution. The paper focuses on this concept by examining the factors influencing LSPs to enter the logistics clusters.

An exploratory qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews was conducted. Regarding the sample size, the author interviewed 31 professionals belonging to logistics clusters located in the Moroccan economic metropolis of Casablanca.

The results show that the cost reduction, the reputation of the cluster, the learning from other LSPs, the communal services, the geographical proximity and the role of public authorities are the main factors impacting the entry of logistics service providers into these clusters.

This theme has never been investigated. Therefore, this research expands the literature review and tries to examine this gap of literature by studying the factors that can affect the adhesion of logistics service providers to these clusters.

Despite the innovation and performance of venture capital (VC)-backed firms receiving extensive attention, how and under what conditions VC influences innovation and performance remains unclear. The present paper draws on organizational learning (OL) theory to examine the moderating effect of syndication on backed firms.

Drawing on a literature review that connects OL and innovation to the performance of VC-backed firms, this study examines the effects of OL on innovation and firm performance among these firms by questioning the moderating effect of VC syndication. A sample of 78 VC-backed firms was used to test the robustness of the proposed model and causal relationships through the use of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

The empirical evidence demonstrates that the intervention of venture capitalists can not only stimulate innovation, but also have a significantly positive effect on firm performance. Furthermore, the evidence reveals that syndication of VC investment supports backed firms in improving the firms' performance and generating innovation from acquired knowledge.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first in North Africa that focuses on the moderating effects of venture capital syndication on the relationships between OL, innovation and firm performance.

This study aims to examine the perception of public works experts on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to potentially increase the rationality and transparency of public works.

This paper is based on an exploratory quantitative design. It uses an original survey on the use of AI in public works, targeting public works experts from Peru. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings reveal public works experts’ interest in AI, highlighting its potential to improve transparency and efficiency, although labor changes are anticipated. AI monitoring could impact economic and quality control areas, vital in the fight against corruption. Infrastructure, government policies and financial resources emerge as fundamental enablers.

The advent of advanced AI systems has raised promises to help fight corruption through new monitoring capabilities that enhance transparency and rationality. However, few studies have assessed the impact of AI on public works. This paper contributes to this gap by testing a framework that explores how public works experts perceive the use of AI, considering their perceptions, expectations, perceived challenges and opportunities over public works’ rationality and transparency.

The authors analysed the operations of two synchronised channels by focusing on “buy online and return in store” (BORS) strategies in fast-fashion retail by investigating internal and external factors affecting this omnichannel strategy.

The authors apply a combination of techniques to identify the BORS factors. Firstly, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis was used to define the operational factors of BORS adoption. The authors then apply analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate the factors under four SWOT categories for kids, male and female consumer groups. The factors of BORS were then ranked using the fuzzy VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (fuzzy VIKOR) approach.

Combining the SWOT, AHP and fuzzy VIKOR techniques, the authors identified 21 factors in this study. The opportunity that BORS provides for trying in the fitting room for a better convenient shopping experience was ranked as the most important factor, followed by the opportunity to create a loyal customer profile with an easy and well-organised return process. Furthermore, the results reveal that the child consumer group is the most critical of the stated operations factors, followed by male and female consumers.

The authors described the operational factors and supported the decision-making system of BORS for each consumer group with a priority ranking to realise effective managerial management for fast-fashion retailers and practitioners.

The study contributes to the growing literature on the BORS omnichannel strategy, specifically for fast-fashion retail based on consumer needs.

The study aims to understand digital transformation as a socially constructed process with multiple stakeholders, influenced by internal and external forces. This perspective stresses the importance of context, human interaction and narratives in the digital transformation within public sector.

The author uses a case study at a Swedish university undergoing digital transformation. Through first and secondary data, the author thematically analyzes the interaction between change agents, organizational realities and the digital transformation process.

The study finds that conflicts in pace and scope in the digital transformation drive self-defense mechanisms and the formation of a feedback loop of pending action. Contrary to previous studies, technological and external forces do not make digital transformation inevitable.

Limitations stem from the empirical selection of a Swedish university, affecting the international and intersectoral transferability of the study. The impact of digital transformation differs from previous IT changes, which has implications for the design of the digital transformation process.

Stakeholders should, instead of considering structural and cultural barriers as facts, pay attention to the narratives within the organization as potential excuses to avoid action.

This research contributes to original insights into digital transformation. It uncovers how change agents, despite longing for change, can inadvertently foster inaction in digital transformation. This finding enriches the literature by highlighting the complex dynamics between the desire for change and the social constructs that contribute to stagnation, offering an understanding of barriers to digital transformation.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and risk-taking in Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2020. It seeks to understand the influence of CER on risk-taking behavior and explore potential moderating factors.

A quantitative approach is used, using data from Chinese A-share listed companies over the specified period. Regression analysis is used to examine the relationship between CER and risk-taking, while considering moderating variables such as performance aspiration, environmental enrichment and contextual factors.

The findings indicate that CER positively influences corporate risk-taking, with significant impacts on information asymmetry and corporate reputation. Moreover, positive performance aspiration strengthens the effect of CER on risk-taking, while negative performance aspiration and environmental enrichment weaken this effect. Cross-sectional analysis shows that the positive association between CER and risk-taking is more prominent for firms located in areas with strict environmental regulation, for nonstate-owned firms, and for firms with higher levels of internal control.

This research contributes to the literature by providing insights into the dynamics between CER and risk-taking in the Chinese market context. It expands existing knowledge by considering the influence of performance aspiration on this relationship, offering practical implications for firms seeking to enhance corporate performance through strategic management of environmental responsibilities.