There is a growing trend among elderly people to live alone and this trend is expected to increase in the future. Social isolation and limited support can have a negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of older adults. The increasing life expectancy and expanding geriatric population necessitate the development of innovative solutions to support their health, independence, and autonomy. This article addresses the key challenges and issues confronting the elderly and analyzes various IoT technologies and solutions proposed to enhance their lives. Smart home technologies improve the quality of life and enable older adults to live independently in their own homes while their adult children are at work. This article presents a smart home model for the elderly in Kazakhstan, based on their needs, concerns, and financial capabilities. The proposed prototype will be developed using an accessible, open-source intelligent system that includes health monitoring, medication adherence monitoring, alerting family members in case of falls or deteriorating health indicators, and video surveillance. Another advantage of this system is the automation of processes such as automatic lighting control, voice command functionality, home security, and climate control. Preliminary testing of the hardware model shows promising results, with plans for continuous improvement and evaluation as it is deployed. Key criteria for its implementation include affordability, accessibility, and feasibility. Based on Kazakhstan’s unique socio-cultural and economic context, this paper proposes a sophisticated smart home model tailored to the specific needs and financial capabilities of elderly Kazakhs.

Weather and climate services are essential tools that help farmers make informed choices, such as choosing appropriate crop varieties. These services depend considerably on the availability of adequate investments in infrastructure related to weather forecasting, which are often provided by the State in most countries. Zimbabwean farmers generally have limited access to modern weather and climate services. While extensive attempts have been made to investigate farmers’ socioeconomic factors that influence access to and use of weather and climate services, comparative political economy analysis of weather and climate service production and use is limited. To address this knowledge gap, this study examines the production, dissemination, and usage of modern seasonal weather services through a political economy analysis perspective. The findings of this study highlight considerable discrepancies in access and use of seasonal weather forecasts between male and female farmers, those who practise African Traditional Religions versus Christians, and the minority group (Ndau tribe) and the majority group (Manyika tribe). This result suggested the presence of social marginalization. For example, minority Ndau members living in remote areas with limited radio signals and a weak mobile network have limited access to modern seasonal weather forecasts, forcing them to rely much more on indigenous weather forecasts. Further, due to unequal power relations, a greater proportion of male farmers participated in agricultural policy formation processes than their female counterparts. To promote inclusive development and implementation, deliberate efforts need to be made by State authorities to incorporate adherents of African traditional religions, members of minority tribes and female farmers in agricultural policymaking processes, including seasonal weather forecast delivery policies. Further, the study suggests the relaxation or elimination of international sanctions on Zimbabwe by the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States of America, given that they are considerably affecting marginalized groups of farmers in their climate change adaptation practices, including the use of modern weather and climate services. The vast majority of these marginalized farmers never benefitted from the land reform programme and were also not responsible for the design and implementation of this programme which triggered these sanctions.

The Public-Private Partnerships management model (PPP) in Portugal was initially applied to the highways sector. Recently, this model began to spread to the health sector for hospital management. The recent growth of patient’s knowledge and expectations regarding the quality of healthcare services is compelling service providers to pursue new ways of delivering this care to meet users’ expectations. One wonders if the increase in patient access to knowledge may indicate a growth in health literacy, particularly regarding PPP Hospitals. This study assesses the Portuguese population’s literacy level regarding the PPP Hospital model, using a quantitative research approach based on a survey of the Portuguese population served by PPP hospitals and a Public Hospital Management (PHM) model. It was found that the Portuguese population has a low literacy concerning the PPP model, which can cause feelings of injustice. It was found that PPP users tend to have a favourable opinion regarding private involvement since they are also more satisfied compared to PMH users. These results may impact political decision-making concerning the renewal of new contracts for private management of public services.

With the intensification of the aging population trend, China is facing an increasingly growing demand for older adult care services. As an important field that meets the needs of the older adult, the development of the older adult care service industry is of significant importance for social stability and the well-being of the older adult. This paper examines the trends and optimization paths of the older adult care service industry in China. It aims to analyze the current situation, problems, and causes of the industry, and propose corresponding policy adjustment recommendations. Through comparative analysis of scholars’ viewpoints, the paper redefines the connotation and scope of the older adult care service industry, emphasizing the characteristics of its compound industrial system. The analysis reveals that the current Chinese older adult care service industry is characterized by a small scale, single functionality, narrow coverage, short industrial chain, and a lack of policy support and rational resource allocation. Policy adjustment recommendations are proposed, including top-level institutional design, improvement of the social security system, and the formation of a comprehensive industrial system, in order to promote the development of the older adult care service industry. These recommendations not only promote the expansion of industry scale and the expansion of functionality, but also enhance the quality and effectiveness of older adult care services to meet the diverse needs of the older adult. The value of this paper lies in its in-depth analysis of the current situation of the older adult care service industry in China and the proposal of specific and feasible policy adjustment recommendations, providing important guidance for government departments and practitioners. The research findings can provide beneficial references for the sustainable development of the older adult care service industry, further promoting the progress of the social economy and the healthy development of an aging society.

Given its insular geographic location, Taiwan inherently benefits from a natural advantage in developing its shipping industry, positioning it as a critical sector for the nation’s economic advancement. The shipping industry operates within a highly competitive maritime market, wherein ocean freight forwarders provide services on a global scale, thus classifying them within the international transportation and logistics industry. The global competition from logistics peers renders the services highly substitutable. This study breaks new ground by integrating the SERVQUAL scale with advanced methodologies such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to assess and enhance service quality in the shipping industry. By segmenting the five dimensions of SERVQUAL, the study delineates 19 specific evaluation indicators. The expert questionnaires developed and analyzed through AHP and DEMATEL reveal a previously unidentified link between specific service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction. The findings from this analysis offer crucial insights into the critical success factors (CSFs) of service quality and their causal interrelationships, thereby establishing a model for service standards. By leveraging the identified CSFs and understanding the causal relationships among these key factors, ocean freight forwarders can enhance and optimize their value propositions and resources. This proactive approach is expected to significantly improve service quality, fortify core competitiveness, and elevate customer support and satisfaction levels, ultimately leading to an increased market share and ensuring sustainable business operations.

Food security presents a complex challenge that spans multiple sectors and levels, involving diverse stakeholders. Such a challenge necessitates collaborative efforts and the creation of shared value among participants. Through the lens of service-dominant logic (S-D logic), food security can be redefined to achieve a more comprehensive understanding and sheds light on the dynamic interplay among stakeholders, enabling the realization of potential value co-creation. As a theoretical contribution, this research addresses the gap in explaining stakeholder interactions. This aspect is crucial for fostering collaboration, and the study accomplishes this by leveraging Social Network Analysis to identify clusters and assign them roles as sub-orchestrators to support the National Food Agency as the main orchestrator who responsible to implement co-creation management strategy (involvement, curation, and empowerment). The study also proposes stakeholder roles in the context of food security: regulator, operator, dominator, niche player, and supporter. Moreover, the practical significance of this research is highly relevant to the early stages of the National Food Agency (NFA) since its establishment in 2021. As the NFA seeks optimal structure, networks, and resources to enhance Indonesia’s existing food system, the study offers valuable insights. This comprehensive study highlights key issues in developing food security in Indonesia and provides recommendations for overcoming future challenges.