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.

This study examines the factors influencing e-government adoption in the Tangerang city government from 2010 to 2022. We gathered statistics from multiple sources to reduce joint source prejudice, resulting in a preliminary illustration of 1670 annotations from 333 regions or cities. These regions included major urban centers such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, Makassar, and Denpasar, as well as other significant municipalities across Indonesia. After removing anomalous values, we retained a final illustration of 1656 annotations. Results indicate that higher-quality digital infrastructure significantly boosts e-government adoption, underscoring the necessity for resilient digital platforms. Contrary to expectations, increased budget allocation for digital initiatives negatively correlates with adoption levels, suggesting the need for efficient spending policies. IT training for staff showed mixed results, highlighting the importance of identifying optimal training environments. The study also finds that policy adaptability and organizational complexity moderate the relationships between digital infrastructure, budget, IT training, and e-government adoption. These findings emphasize the importance of a holistic approach integrating technological, organizational, and policy aspects to enhance e-government implementation. The insights provided are valuable for policymakers and practitioners aiming to improve digital governance and service delivery. This study reveals the unexpected negative correlation between budget allocation and e-government adoption and introduces policy adaptability and organizational complexity as critical moderating factors, offering new insights for optimizing digital governance.

African air transport is expected to take off after the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) launch in January 2018. Unfortunately, this seems not to be the case, particularly in West Africa, where adequate direct local flight is highly difficult to find. Hence, the fundamental question is: what levers should be activated for an effective revival of this sector? This paper aims to analyze West African air transport competitiveness factors by collecting data physically through surveys in various West African airports (Abidjan, Cotonou, Accra, Lome) also by interviewing professionals in the sector (Air traffic controllers, Air Navigation Service Providers, Air transports Managers, etc.) and among others, SAATM reports to appreciate its implementation. We were able to survey 435 actors (individuals and key informants) from January to July 2023 to evaluate quality of service, airline performance, safety, customer satisfaction etc. Airline operating costs were analyzed to understand the associated bottlenecks. The results show that SAATM is not yet well implemented in all contracting states, travelers are not satisfied with the air supply (airlines, infrastructure and fares) and taxation excessively increases ticket prices. The main factors for West African air transport take-off are liberalization, taxation and infrastructure investments.

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.

Border areas can play a crucial role in market integration and infrastructure development between Central Asian countries, thus creating favorable economic growth and regional cooperation conditions. This study aims to assess the economic impact of border areas between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, focusing on their role in enhancing market integration and infrastructure development to foster regional growth and cooperation.  Focusing on labor and capital as essential production drivers, this study employs a sophisticated panel data regression model to explore the Cobb-Douglas production function’s application in these border territories. The research findings indicate that regions’ elasticity towards capital and labor inputs vary, necessitating differentiated economic strategies. For capital-intensive areas, we recommend prioritizing investments in infrastructure and technology to boost production outputs. Conversely, in regions where labor significantly influences production, the emphasis should be on human capital development through education, training, and improved labor market conditions. The study’s insights into the evolving trade relations between the two countries underscore the need for flexible economic policies to enhance regional integration and cooperation. This research not only fills a crucial knowledge gap but also offers a blueprint for leveraging the diverse economic landscapes of Central Asia’s border areas in future policy-making and regional economic strategy.