Inspection: Going Beyond Just Finding Defects

Networking Knowledge for Information Societies: Institutions and Intervention sounds like a textbook for students of the New Economy or another academic foray into unravelling the information revolution.It is, fortunately, neither of these.Rather it is a remarkable book about a remarkable man, Bill Melody.Described as a Festschrift, it celebrates Bill Melody's 'outstanding contribution to our understanding of the evolution of information and communication technology over the past half-century, and to the problems of regulating and controlling it during a period of revolutionary change in the technology'.It is also a snapshot of the state of debate on the global information society emerging from the rapid changes in information and communication technology (ICT) as reflected through the views of its fifty contributors.

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to attempt to answer some plausible questions like what do teenagers prefer to read at leisure, how do they read and why do they read? With the rapid changes in information technology, there is tremendous change in means of communication. Today, much more information is available from electronic and digital media as compared to traditional books. A paradigm shift in information delivery from just information to infotainment has also affected the preferences of the information seekers. Teenagers are a demographic group under transition and they are not untouched by these rapid changes in technology and their impact on their reading preferences. Design/methodology/approach – For this purpose, a survey among 223 school-going (public/convent and government-/aided) teenagers aged between 12 and 18 years was done using a semi-structured questionnaire. Findings – The findings revealed a decline in sports and outdoor recreational activities during leisure, and only 20.6 per cent teenagers preferred reading during leisure. However, self-perception as an avid reader was expressed by majority (53.8 per cent). Fictions were liked by > 75 per cent teenagers; however, non-fictions were also liked by majority (61.8 per cent). The reading preferences of the children were found to be affected by their age, their gender and the type of schools they attended. A significant inverse relationship of television watching and movie-going was observed with reading time. Research limitations/implications – The biggest limitation was inability to directly interact with the students and inability to gather data from more schools. Practical implications – By knowing the current reading trends, leisure time habits and exposure to different means of information technology, the choice of medium for knowledge dispersal could be done. The study would help in providing a basis for a strategic change in the ratio of conventional books and other information media in the library. Social implications – By identifying the media exposure time and popularity, proper steps may be taken in order to enrich the particular media and to ensure that quality of information available on the media can be directed for social benefit in large. Originality/value – The impact of demographic and environmental variables on reading habits of teenagers has not been evaluated in this part of the world, especially in view of the paradigm shift in information technology and the growing influence of electronic media and social networking. An understanding of this mutual relationship would help in modifying the reading behaviour of the teenagers.

The Digital Transformation phenomenon always tends to be complicated, ambiguous, challenging, and non-routine managerial tasks for organizations. The success rate of such digital transformation is very low due to rapid changes in technologies. Digital transformation through these technologies demands a fundamental change in organization processes, technology and behavior of the people. This broad change results in different socio-technical issues and challenges. The primary objective of the study is to discover issues, challenges and impact/benefits during digital transformation, investigated by various researchers. For this purpose, a systematic literature review (SLR) as prescribed by Levy and Ellis (2005) helped in identifying the challenges of digital transformation. The articles published from 2008 to 2018 were selected and analyzed. The findings of this research reflect the importance of developing an effective digital transformation strategy in organizations. The proactive strategy regarding people, process, technology, and most importantly their alignment in the organization is found critical in executing such transformation initiative in the organization. The planned efforts regarding knowledge management also played an important role in executing and sustaining such transformation initiatives in the organizations. Moreover, value creation, operational efficiency, competitive advantage, customer relationship, and new business model emerged as a vital motivational factor and outcome for digital transformation. Keywords: Digital transformation, digital transformation issues and challenges, systematic literature review, digital transformation benefits/impact.

Entrepreneurs within the SME sector using large format digital printing (LFDP) face specific decision-making problems, because of the changes in technology that influences the decision-making processes of the entrepreneur in the purchasing of a new LFDP. Rapid changes in technology are likely to continue and can cause current technologies to become obsolete overnight. The entrepreneurs within the LFDP industry are faced with rapid changes and are therefore faced with a dilemma. On the one hand, they need to make sure that the technology used produces consistent and quality products. The literature and the findings of this study, proposes an adaptation to an existing decision-making model, introducing consultant involvement in the purchase of high technology products, which is then adapted to integrate resource-forecasting areas together with timing, the type of information required, as well as external environment scanning. The existing model’s focus is on the entrepreneur’s ability to make decisions based on his/her own knowledge.

Purpose. The article aims to explore emotional intelligence (EI) as an essential competency for contemporary leaders. It delves into how EI influences team management effectiveness and the creation of a positive psychological climate, especially within the context of rapid changes and the challenges of digital transformation. This research underscores the growing importance of EI in addressing the complexities of modern leadership, where the ability to manage emotions and foster a collaborative environment plays a pivotal role. Research Methodology. The study employs a combination of logical generalization, comparative analysis, systematic approaches, and scientific abstraction. These methods are utilized to thoroughly analyze the role of EI in leadership, highlighting both theoretical insights and practical implications. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of how emotional competencies can be developed and applied effectively in management practices. Results. The findings reveal that emotional intelligence significantly enhances leadership effectiveness through the development of critical personal and interpersonal skills. Key components of EI – such as self-awareness, emotional self-regulation, empathy, intrinsic motivation, and social skills – are analyzed in detail. The study highlights the challenges modern leaders face, including navigating emotional dynamics in complex scenarios, resolving interpersonal conflicts, and adjusting to rapid organizational and technological changes. Practical recommendations are proposed, emphasizing the integration of EI development programs into organizational training and leadership frameworks. These include tailored coaching sessions, the use of advanced technological tools to assess and enhance emotional competencies, and the creation of targeted development initiatives. The research demonstrates that leaders who prioritize EI are better equipped to improve team productivity, enhance decision-making processes, and foster a supportive organizational culture. Practical Significance. The practical implications of the study are relevant to leaders aiming to optimize their management capabilities in an environment increasingly influenced by digital transformation. By integrating emotional intelligence into their leadership approach, managers can address the multifaceted demands of the modern workplace more effectively. The proposed strategies for EI development contribute to strengthening leadership efficiency, boosting overall organizational performance, and fostering sustainable development. These insights are particularly significant for organizations seeking to adapt to the evolving demands of the digital economy while maintaining a resilient and motivated workforce.

This is the first to comprehensively review the issues such as contract parameters and research models/methods of Quantity Flexibility Contract (QFC) in a supply chain system. We are experiencing a low-frequency-high-impact (LFHI) event such as coronavirus (COVID-19), and rapid technological changes, bringing about a rapid change in customer demand now. Matching supply with demand is one of the biggest challenges in Supply Chain Management (SCM). That is because a sudden rise or drop in customer demand makes it difficult to coordinate objectives between a manufacturer and a retailer. Meanwhile, a QFC has been highlighted as an intensive method in response to this rapid change by gaining time for better observing the market demand before placing its final orders. The intention of this paper is twofold. First, we classify QFC’s articles into contract parameters, comparison and composition of QFC with other strategies and contract types, research models, and methods up to the present point. Second, we guide the future research directions and developments of QFC so that many researchers start easily approaching and studying it. We hope that our discovery from the review provides opportunities to spot gaps in the literature that could be accomplished and values for further future research directions.

Small and Medium scale Enterprises play an important role in the economy of a country. The environment of an organization is significantly undergoing continuous, rapid changes that have far reaching effects on organizations and their management strategies. The significance of the study is especially to business organization in small and medium sector businesses. This research focuses on two aspects: The organizational change option - Structure, Technology, Physical setting and the people in which the innovations in technology as the most powerful change agent that create a big challenge for SMEs and the importance of innovations in technology in small businesses that need more and more innovative techniques in order to expand Small and Medium scale Industry (SMI) sector. Mainly agricultural sector such as paddy production, crop production, livestock, milk and egg production meat production are found in this district and Fishing also is another source of income in the coastal area of Ampara districts. 11,156 commercial places such as retail shops, restaurants, textile and footwear, dispensary and Pharmacy, wood and iron furniture, building material and paints jewelry liquor shops In which 48.69 % were as retail shops. 4507 businesses found in manufacturing industry in which 43% Food, beverage and tobacco, 16.7 % wood production and furniture, 15.9% textile, wearing apparel and leather. Existence and growth in small and medium business sector is the most important thing in order to maintain their survival in the industry. So, this research aims to study the entrepreneurs’ perception towards technology change and the association of between coping with technology change and the business growth in the small and medium business sector among a sample of 180 small and medium sized entrepreneurs in Ampara District of Sri Lanka using a simple random sampling. According to the findings, it is proved that there is a significant strong positive relationship between the perception towards coping with technology change and business growth in small and medium business sector. Accordingly, 53.4% of the variance in business growth in small business sector after coping with technology change programs was significantly explained by coping with change in this study, still leaves 46.6% unexplained. So, further research might be necessary to explain more of the variance in business growth after coping with change. Thus, the findings might be immense value to Small & Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries, such as Sri Lanka, as much research has not been conducted in this regard. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jm.v8i1.7558 Journal of Management 2013 8(1): 51-58

Recent debates over the persistence of family farms have focused on the importance of “naturalistic” obstacles to the capitalist development of agriculture. According to these arguments, the existence of these barriers in some realms of agricultural production precludes the development of wage labor. I argue, however, that in many instances these obstacles are based primarily on political factors. To demonstrate this thesis I illustrate how the tobacco program until recently has proved to be an obstacle to consolidation and structural change in tobacco production. The tobacco program has conditioned the extent of technological development and structural change in tobacco production. From the 1940s to the 1970s, the tobacco program maintained a system of small-scale producers and discouraged technological change in the industry. Changes in the program in the 1970s and 1980s, however, have contributed to the rapid mechanization and structural change among tobacco producers. Many of the “obstacles” to consolidation were overcome not by technological change, but by weakened political support for the tobacco program. These results suggest that in addition to economic and technological considerations, we need to assess more carefully the political foundations of the capitalist development of agriculture.

A General Evaluation over the New Primary Curriculum in Turkey

In accordance with the development of the era, each Pencak Silat (kind of martial arts) school requires to rethink the objectives and strategy in marketing ofPencak Silat. This is based on rapid changes in technologY; economic, social and cultural rights so that they can follow in accordance with the development and the needs of the com munity. This rapidly changes can make the privilege principles in carry on business in the past that no longer apply. The challenge in the recent years, there are many Pencak Silat school face the new problem, they have to fight in a harder globalization competition, for example: the coaching qualities, neglected infrastructure improvement, achievement stagnation, and inability educator. Those are the problem but can be a business opportunity for Pencak Silat School in the marketing process. Sport activity which involved the facilities called goods and the activity of the coaches called service. Both of the goods products and services cannot be separate in the process of teachinglearning, so, the service quality of Pencak Silat must give many attentions so that it will improve the service quality. Keywords: marketing, service quality; pencak silat

The Staffing Challenges Older Nurses Face Now, and in the Future

During this century, rapid changes in the structure of agriculture have had a profound effect on agricultural production and rural areas dependent on agriculture. Unfortunately, however, holistic theoretical models to explain and understand the causes and consequences of these changes have yet to be adequately developed. In this article, a model derived from sociological human ecology is used to longitudinally examine the consequences of environmental and technological changes on farm structure and rural demographic trends in agriculturally dependent areas. This is done by exploring the consequences of irrigation development in the Great Plains. Human ecology theory maintains that environmental and/or technological change will result in changes in the organizational structure of agriculture and subsequently in population trends in affected areas. An analysis of data for a 40-year period (1940–1980) found support for these contentions.

Classical Liberalism and the Problem of Technological Change

The paper is devoted to the study of the impact of innovations on increasing the competitiveness of food industry enterprises in the context of increasing market turbulence, increasing resource costs and rapid changes in consumer priorities. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to ensure stable development of the industry and increase the efficiency of the functioning of enterprises, in particular in the confectionery segment, which demonstrates a high dependence on technological changes. The purpose of the paper is to identify areas of innovative renewal and assess their potential for strengthening the market positions of enterprises. The methodology is based on the application of structural and functional analysis, modeling of innovation processes, comparative assessment of technological solutions and logical and analytical interpretation of their impact on production efficiency. The paper established the systemic nature of the relationship between the introduction of innovations and the increase in the efficiency of enterprises; the impact of product renewal, automation, digitalized quality control procedures, resource-efficient technologies and innovative marketing solutions is characterized. A structural model of innovation and resource support is proposed, which describes the mechanisms for increasing the competitiveness of enterprises through the intensity of technological changes, flexibility of production and the ability to quickly adapt. The paper summarizes the factors of formation of innovative activity of enterprises, reveals the features of the impact of innovations on the cost structure, product quality and speed of response to market needs. Prospects for further research relate to deepening the empirical verification of the model and increasing the accuracy of indicators for assessing innovation performance.

Democracy and adaptation to economic and technological change: Is the British political system capable of adjusting?