The multifaceted nature of the skills required by new-age professions, reflecting the dynamic evolution of the global workforce, is the focal point of this study. The objective was to synthesize the existing academic literature on these skills, employing a scientometric approach . This involved a comprehensive analysis of 367 articles from the merged Scopus and Web of Science databases. Science. We observed a significant increase in annual scientific output, with an increase of 87.01% over the last six years. The United States emerged as the most prolific contributor, responsible for 21.61% of total publications and receiving 34.31% of all citations. Using the Tree algorithm of Science (ToS), we identified fundamental contributions within this domain. The ToS outlined three main research streams: the convergence of gender, technology, and automation; defining elements of future work; and the dualistic impact of AI on work, seen as both a threat and an opportunity. Furthermore, our study explored the effects of automation on quality of life, the evolving meaning of work, and the emergence of new skills. A critical analysis was also conducted on how to balance technology with humanism, addressing challenges and strategies in workforce automation. This study offers a comprehensive scientometric view of new-age professions, highlighting the most important trends, challenges, and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.

The debate on the effect of work environment on job satisfaction is very inconclusive. Most of the existing literature has focused on either the developed economy or job satisfaction and other variables other than the dimensions of the work environment. To fill the contextual and conceptual gap this study examined the effect of dimensions of work environment on job satisfaction among public sector workers in a developing economy. The study used the quantitative method and positivist philosophical viewpoint but specifically, the explanatory design was used to guide the study. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and data analysis was done by partial least square modelling. The study found that the three dimensions of work environment such as physical, psychological and administrative work environment had a significant relationship with job satisfaction among public workers in a developing economy. It was recommended that the management of public sector organisations should improve upon the psychological, physical and administrative work environment to ensure job satisfaction among their workers. 

Open-source software (OSS) has emerged as a transformative tool whose implementation has the potential to modernise many libraries around the world in the digital age. OSS is a type of software which permits its users to inspect, share, modify, and enhance through its freely accessed source code. The accessibility and openness of the source code permits users to manipulate, change, and improve the way in which a piece of software, program, or application works. OSS solutions therefore provide cost-effective alternatives that enable libraries to enhance their technological infrastructure without being constrained by proprietary systems. Hence, many countries have initiated and formulated policies and legislative frameworks to support the implementation and use of OSS library solutions such as DSpace, Alfresco, and Greenstone. The purpose of the study reported on was to investigate the leveraging of OSS to modernise public libraries in South Africa. Content analysis was adopted as the research methodology for this qualitative study, which was based on a literature review integrating insights from the researchers’ experiences with the use of OSS in libraries The findings of the study reveal that the use of OSS has the potential to modernise public libraries, especially those located outside cities or urban areas. These libraries are often less well equipped with the necessary technology infrastructure to meet the demands of the digital age, such as online books and open access materials. The study culminated in an OSS framework that may be implemented to modernise public libraries. This framework may help public libraries to integrate OSS solutions and further allow users access to digital services.

The study has formulated the objective of synthesizing the extent to which technological barriers intervene in the transparency and effectiveness of public management (PM). Methodologically, the study was of a fundamental or basic nature, with a systematic review design, the databases of Scopus (369), SciELO (2), Web of Science (184) were explored, after the review process a set of 22 articles was available. The registration was made in an Excel table where the main data of the articles were included. 32% of the articles selected for the analysis of the evidence are from the period 2020, 27% were from 2022 and 18% from the year 2023; as far as origin is concerned, 14% of the articles come from Peru and 9% from Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Spain and Indonesia. In summary, the study points out that government institutions are making progress in digitizing and improving the citizen experience through electronic services, but they face challenges in areas such as resource management, the low adoption of advanced technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, as well as the lack of transparency in PM. Despite this, it is highlighted that e-government improves citizen satisfaction, and the need to invest in digital innovation, training and overcoming technological barriers to achieve an effective transformation in state administration and promote a more inclusive and advanced society is emphasized.

This article analyses the case of Dubai’s smart city from a public policy perspective and demonstrates how critical it is to rely on the use of the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Effective use of this model can guarantee the building of a smart city that could potentially fulfill the vision of the political leadership in Dubai and serve as a catalyst and blueprint for other Gulf states that wish to follow Dubai’s example. This article argues that Dubai’s smart city project enjoys significant political support and has ambitious plans for sustainable growth, and that the government has invested heavily in developing the necessary institutional, legal/regulatory, and supervisory frameworks that are essential foundations for the success of any PPP project. The article also points to some important insights that the Dubai government can learn from the international experience with the delivery of smart cities through PPPs.