In the face of growing disruptions within the unconventional business environment, this study focuses on enhancing supply chain resilience through strategically reforming resources. It highlights the importance of understanding the dynamics and interactions of resources to tackle supply chain vulnerability (SCV) in the manufacturing sector. Employing the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology alongside an adapted Analytic Network Process (ANP), the research investigates supply chain vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing (LSM) public sector firms. The DANP method, through expert questionnaires, helps validate a theoretical framework by assessing the interconnectedness of supply chain readiness dimensions and criteria. Findings underscore Resource Reformation (RR) as a critical dimension, with the positive restructuring of resources identified as pivotal for public sector firms to align their operations with disruption magnitudes, advocating for a detailed analysis of resource utilization.
This study analyzes the role of innovation in the development of smart cities in Latin America. It focuses on how emerging technologies and sustainable strategies are being integrated into urban planning and urban development. In this sense, this study seeks to contribute to the smart city literature by answering the following research questions: (i) To what extent smart city innovative initiatives have been addressed in Latin America? and (ii) To what extent scholars have addressed sustainable innovation strategies in the smart city literature? To this end, this is the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of smart city research in Latin America, with a structured and systematized review of the available literature. This methodological approach allows cluster visualization and detailed analysis of inter-node relationships using the VOSViewer software. The research comprises 4 stages: (a) search criteria; (b) selection of documents; (c) software and data extraction; and (d) analysis of results and trends. Results indicate that studies on the Latin America region began to develop in 2012, with Brazil as a leader in this field and the tourism sector as the most relevant. Nevertheless, strong international collaboration was identified in co-authoring studies, underscoring a cooperative approach to solving common urban problems. The most active research area is technological innovation and sustainability, with focus on solutions for urban mobility, quality of life and smart governance. Finally, this work underlines the need to continue exploring the integration of technology in urban development, suggesting an agenda to guide future research to evaluate the sustainability and long-term impacts of smart city initiatives in Latin America. From the policy perspective, smart city initiatives need to be human-centered to boost smart solutions adoption and to guarantee long term local impacts.
This study investigates the intricate relationship between awareness advertising and buying intention among Iraqi grocery shoppers, exploring the mediating role of consumer attitude. Employing a quantitative approach, the authors surveyed 300 shoppers. Using a random sampling technique. To ensure rigor and validity, the authors rigorously analyzed the relationships using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) based on 288 valid responses. The findings reveal that awareness advertising significantly impacts buying intention, mediated by consumer attitude. These insights offer valuable management implications for product marketers. Sufficient brand awareness attracts consumer attention, shapes positive attitudes, and ultimately drives purchase decisions. This study further validates the theoretical model of consumer response by empirically establishing consumer attitude as a central intermediary between awareness advertising and buying intention within the Iraqi market context.
This study offers a new perspective on measuring the impact of village funds (DD) on rural development. Using a mixed-method approach, the qualitative analysis reveals that, like previous rural development programs, the DD program struggles to implement inclusive methods for capturing community aspirations and evaluating outcomes. Despite rural infrastructure improvement, many villagers feel they have not fully benefited and do not view it as offering economic opportunities. The econometric model confirms the qualitative findings, indicating no significant DD influence on the village development index (IPD). Instead, effective governance factors like Musdes, regulations, and leadership are essential for the IPD improvement. Thus, enhancing village governments’ institutional capacity is crucial for increasing the DD effectiveness. The paper recommends several measures: training village officials in financial management and project planning, providing guidelines for the DD allocation and usage, creating robust monitoring-evaluation systems, developing communication strategies, and fostering partnerships with local NGOs and universities.
With the rapid increase in electric bicycle (e-bikes) use, the rate of associated traffic accidents has also escalated. Prior studies have extensively examined e-bike riders’ injury risks, yet there is a limited understanding of how their behavior contributes to these accidents. This study aims to explore the relationship between e-bike riders’ risk-taking behaviors and the incidence of traffic accidents, and to propose targeted safety measures based on these insights. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this research integrates quantitative data from traffic accident reports and qualitative observations from naturalistic studies. The study employs a binary logistic regression model to analyze risk factors and uses observational data to substantiate the model findings. The analysis reveals that assertive driving behaviors among e-bike riders, such as running red lights and speeding, significantly contribute to the high rate of accidents. Moreover, the lack of protective gear and inadequate safety training are identified as critical factors increasing the risk of severe injuries. The study concludes that comprehensive policy interventions, including stricter enforcement of traffic laws and mandatory safety training for e-bike riders, are essential to mitigate the risks associated with e-bike use. The findings advocate for an integrated approach to urban traffic management that enhances the safety of all road users, particularly vulnerable e-bike riders.
This research examines the influence of virtual community platform attributes on luxury consumers’ purchase intentions, with a specific focus on the role of policy innovation in digital infrastructure. The study aims to 1) identify key factors affecting purchase intentions toward luxury products in virtual environments; 2) develop and validate a structural equation model to analyze these intentions; and 3) provide actionable insights for luxury goods marketers to refine their strategies within these platforms. Utilizing a structural equation model, the study investigates the interactions among various determinants of consumer behavior in virtual communities, highlighting the impact of policy innovation. Data was collected through purposive sampling from 1142 respondents in China’s top 10 high-spending cities on luxury goods, ensuring data relevance. The findings emphasize the significance of knowledge sharing, interactive communication, and leaders’ opinions in virtual communities in building consumer trust and shaping perceptions of online reviews. These elements influence purchase intentions directly and indirectly, with consumer trust serving as a crucial mediator. The study reveals the substantial impact of virtual community attributes on fostering consumer trust and shaping buying decisions for luxury items, underlining the contribution of social development processes. Moreover, the role of policy innovation is found to be significant in enhancing these virtual community dynamics, suggesting that regulatory changes can positively influence consumer engagement and trust. The conclusions offer valuable implications for marketers, proposing strategies to boost consumer engagement and drive sales in virtual settings. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of digital consumer behavior and provides practical strategies for innovation and growth within the luxury goods sector, emphasizing the critical role of policy innovation in shaping these dynamics.
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