In the domain of public management, the concept of agency refers to the capacity of individuals or groups to effectively utilise power and resources to achieve certain goals. The formation of agency is significantly influenced by the external institutional environment and how actors perceive social structures. Thus, the agency to win a game can be generated as players familiarise with the game’s operations and understand the story line. But beyond this, there are also players who make mods on a non-profit basis, modifying the game’s program to meet the needs of others. mods, as a form of patching, are different from other fan-created mediated texts. Therefore, studying the agency in gaming community management, where both players and developers interact, offers valuable insights for understanding how to promote public participation, innovation, and effective governance in the context of public management. This approach bridges the gap between the digital world and real-world public management practices.
This study aims to explore the factors influencing people’s intention to use home fitness mobile apps in the post-pandemic era. By incorporating the perspective of playfulness into the decomposed theory of planned behavior, it seeks to construct a behavioral model for the public's use of AR sports games for home exercise. The research focuses on Active Arcade users residing in Taiwan, employing the snowball sampling method to conduct an online questionnaire survey. A total of 340 valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed using linear structural equations. The study reveals three main findings: first, the behavioral model for Active Arcade users constructed based on the decomposed theory of planned behavior demonstrates a good fit; second, users’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control have a positive and significant impact on behavioral intention; third, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived playfulness all positively and significantly influence attitudes, with perceived playfulness having the highest impact coefficient; fourth, perceived benefits of exercise are the most crucial factor affecting subjective norms; and fifth, convenience technologies are the key factor influencing perceived behavioral control. This study provides valuable insights for theory and management practice, offering guidance on the use of home fitness apps in the post-pandemic era while addressing research limitations and suggesting future directions.
Local community members play a critical role in the success of conservation projects, which in turn have the potential to influence the perceptions of local people. Relationships matter when it comes to sustainable long-term conservation and community well-being. The study aims to establish the relationship between local communities and wildlife conservation organizations in the context of Phinda Private Game Reserve and the Mnqobokazi community, located in South Africa. Data was collected using the qualitative methods of interviews and focus group discussions. The findings show that a symbiotic relationship between conservation organizations and local community members is critical in conserving the environment. The research indicates that both participation and benefits result in improved perceptions towards the protected area and a strong positive relationship. The accrual of benefits also appears to result in pro-environmental consciousness amongst community members. Several existing studies examine participation or benefit-sharing in community-based tourism in developing nations. However, less is known about the relationships between local communities and conservation organizations and the effect of participation and beneficiation on these relationships. This research narrows this gap in the body of knowledge by qualitatively examining a single case study. The findings add value to global collaborative efforts aimed at achieving positive relationships between communities and conservation management.
This study investigates the awareness of environmentally friendly (green) dentistry practices among dental students and faculty at Ajman University in the United Arab Emirates. The primary objective is to assess their understanding and application of eco-friendly dental practices, including waste management, energy conservation, and sustainable material usage. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, an online survey was administered to 231 randomly selected participants. The results show that although awareness of green dentistry has increased, its practical implementation remains limited. Specialists displayed the highest levels of knowledge and practice, while general practitioners demonstrated the least. Male participants showed greater experience and expertise compared to females, and the age group of 30–39 exhibited the highest levels of knowledge and practice, although age was not found to significantly affect awareness or usage. The findings highlight the need for enhanced education and encouragement of green dentistry to protect the environment and promote sustainable dental practices.
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