Digital transformation is a significant phenomenon that affects almost every business sector, particularly the telecommunications industry, which is closely intertwined with information technology. This study is grounded in McLuhan’s concept of technological determinism and Martin Heidegger’s philosophy of technology, which asserts that media and technology shape human thoughts and interactions, benefiting individuals, society, and culture alike. The primary objective of this research is to investigate the environmental factors that influence digital transformation and to assess its impact on the strategic renewal of a company. This research employs exploratory qualitative methods, collecting in-depth information through interviews with the respondents from Indonesia’s leading telecommunications operator who can provide comprehensive and contextual insights into digital transformation. The findings reveal specific environmental factors that drive digital transformation. The major identified components of strategic renewal include advancements in information technology, the role of human resources, and interactions with external parties, including customers and partners.

An important element in dealing with HIV/AIDS is to disclose of its status to others. One of the problems faced by HIV/AIDS sufferers in disclosing their status is finding people they can trust, who can keep information about their HIV/AIDS status and not divulge it to other parties without their permission. Not many people can accept them without prejudice and stigma. This article discusses the communication efforts carried out by female AIDS activists in the community as co-owners who receive information from people with HIV/AIDS and subsequently become confidants and assist them in medical and psychological and social aspects. This study used a qualitative method. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 9 Community AIDS activist women from 7 regions. The results of the study reveal the process of housewives transforming into community AIDS activists, how they get personal information about the status of HIV/AIDS and eventually become co-owners of information who eventually become confidants, have responsibilities and help people with HIV/AIDS in health, psychological and social aspects.

The objective of the research is twofold. The study examines the role of public finance in promoting sustainable development in SSA. Secondly, the study investigates the optimal level of public finance beyond which public finance crowds out investment and hinders sustainable development in SSA. The study adopts a battery of econometric techniques such as the traditional ordinary least square (OLS) estimation technique, Driscoll-Kraay covariance matrix estimator, and the dynamic panel threshold model. The study found that an increase in public debts lead to a decline in sustainable development. In contrast, the results show that increase in spending on health and education, and tax can engender sustainable development in SSA. Further, we uncover the optimal levels of public spending on health and education, and public debts that engenders sustainable development in SSA. One main implication of the findings is that governments across SSA needs to reduce public debts levels and increase public spending on health and education to within the threshold levels established in this study to aid sustainable development in SSA.

The research explores academia and industry experts’ viewpoints regarding the innovative progression of Virtual Reality (VR)-based safety tools customized for technical and vocational education training (TVET) within commercial kitchen contexts. Developing a VR-based safety tools holistic framework is crucial in identifying constructs to mitigate the risks prevalent in commercial kitchens, encompassing physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards workers encounter. Introducing VR-based safety training represents a proactive strategy to bolster education and training standards, especially given the historically limited attention directed toward workers’ physical and mental well-being in this sector. This study pursues a primary objective: validating a framework for VR-based kitchen safety within TVET’s hospitality programs. In addition to on-site observations, the research conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 participants, including safety training coordinators, food service coordinators, and IT experts. Participants supplemented qualitative insights by completing a 7-Likert scale survey. Utilizing the Fuzzy Delphi technique, seven constructs were delineated. The validation process underscored three pivotal constructs essential for the VR safety framework’s development: VR kitchen design, interactive applications, and hazard identification. These findings significantly affect the hospitality industry’s safety standards and training methodologies within commercial kitchen environments.

This study examines the impact of structured cultural educational activities on various dimensions of student well-being in primary education. Using a randomized controlled trial design, 120 third- and fourth-grade students from Arad County, Romania, were assigned to either an experimental group, which participated in cultural educational activities, or a control group, which received no intervention. Well-being and social behavior were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the EPOCH Measure of Adolescent Well-Being, administered before and after the intervention. The SDQ evaluated emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, conduct problems, peer relationship issues, and prosocial behavior, while the EPOCH scale measured engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness. Analysis revealed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) in the experimental group compared to the control group. Students in the experimental group exhibited reduced hyperactivity and peer relationship problems, alongside notable increases in engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness. These findings highlight the efficacy of integrating cultural educational activities into the primary school curriculum as a strategy for enhancing emotional and social development. The study underscores the importance of such interventions in fostering positive developmental outcomes and offers a foundation for further research into their long-term effects and adaptability across diverse educational contexts.

Purpose: This study aims to identify the primary determinants of consumer behavior influencing customer satisfaction in the context of online mobile application (App) purchases of perishable products. Utilizing the well-established SERVQUAL (Service Quality) model, which has been extensively studied in various service-oriented settings, the research seeks to determine the factors with the greatest impact on customer satisfaction during online transactions of perishable products. Design: The investigation focuses on analyzing the five core dimensions of the SERVQUAL model: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. The study employs a survey methodology administered through Google Forms, targeting the population residing in the Klang Valley of Malaysia. A total of 400 samples were successfully collected using a snowball sampling technique. Methodology: The study employs the SERVQUAL model as the theoretical framework to examine the dimensions of tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. The survey, conducted through Google Forms, targeted the population in the Klang Valley of Malaysia, with a sample size of 400 collected through snowball sampling. Findings: The study’s outcomes reveal the robust predictive capability of the overarching SERVQUAL model in the realm of online perishable product procurement. Notably, the assurance dimension emerges as the most influential factor, emphasizing its pivotal role in shaping and defining customer satisfaction for online retailers of perishable goods in the Malaysian market. Novelty: This research contributes to the understanding of consumer behavior in online perishable product purchases, by identifying determinants of consumer behavior; the study promotes sustainable production and responsible consumption within the perishable products category, offering insights beneficial for online retailers in the Malaysian market. This study aligns with United Nations sustainable development goals especially industry innovation, food security and responsible consumption.