This study aims at analyzing the consumers’ perception towards online purchasing bakery goods on subjective norm (SN), computer self-efficacy (CSE), and technology acceptance model (TAM). Convenience sampling was used and the final sample of respondents was made of 344 participants, with an effective recovery rate of 96%, who bought bakery goods on the LINE social platform in Nantou County. Descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and SEM structural equation model were used to test the research hypothesis. The results show that after adding external variables to the technology acceptance model (TAM), the application of purchasing bakery goods online is significant; the consumers’ behavior of purchasing bakery goods online, subjective norm (SN), computer self-efficacy (CSE), and technology acceptance model (TAM) have cause-and-effect relationships. This research concludes that it is easy, helpful, and worthy to use the Internet to buy bakery goods.

According to official data, modern Russia has the lowest unemployment rate. However, there is still a huge contingent of hidden unemployment, many times higher than the official level. This situation is paradoxically combined with an acute and continuously growing shortage of qualified production personnel. Using a lot of factual material, the author reveals the causes of this phenomenon. The main one is the depopulation of the indigenous population, which is being replaced by people of other ethnic groups with the lowest qualification level. At the same time, due to the destruction (“optimization”) of the education system, the intellectual and qualification level of the indigenous population is continuously decreasing. The other is the various types and waves of growing emigration of “brains” and “golden hands.” As a result, for more than thirty years, the contingent of old engineering and technical personnel has exhausted itself, while new ones have not been trained in the required volume and quality. A huge personnel “hole” has formed. The author proposes to close this “hole” on the basis of a radical reorientation of the entire Russian education system, starting with kindergarten, school, etc. It is also necessary to reformat the public consciousness accordingly, especially the mass consciousness of young people.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces unique challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability into sovereign credit assessments. This research study examines environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors embedded in the lending policies of jurisdictional institutions in MENA. By analyzing existing literature and case studies, we identify key drivers and barriers to ESG integration in sovereign lending. Our findings suggest a growing recognition of sustainability’s importance in financial stability and credit, driven by global climate guarantees and local socio-economic development. However, challenges such as data availability, regulatory frameworks, and market acceptance persist. This paper provides an overview of current practices, highlights best practices, and offers recommendations to enhance ESG integration in sovereign debt reviews in the MENA region. The study concludes that a robust ESG framework is necessary to accurately reflect the long-term risks and opportunities associated with sovereign debt, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic growth regionally.

This article discusses one of the problems of using digital technologies, namely the complexity of assessing the effectiveness of their implementation. Since the use of digital twins at the enterprises of the fuel and energy complex (FEC) has recently become relevant, the authors have chosen the digital twins technology for consideration in this article. For the successful implementation of digital technologies, the authors propose a system of evaluation indicators that will measure the effectiveness of Digital Twins implementation and determine the benefits obtained. The advantages of digital twins include improved management and monitoring, optimization of production processes, prediction of equipment failures, as well as reduced maintenance costs and increased overall efficiency of FEC systems. As a methodological basis for the study, authors use the system of balanced indicators proposed by R. Kaplan and D. Norton, which served as the basis for the development of a set of performance indicators of the fuel and energy complex enterprise with the introduction of digital twins. As a result of the study, a list of indicators for monitoring the effectiveness of digital twins implementation was determined. The study identifies performance indicators for digital twin implementation, with future research aimed at quantitative assessments. The enterprise can implement a digital twin system with a WACC of 10.99%, payback period of 8.06 years, IRR exceeding the discount rate by 9.07%, a 3.5% reduction in harmful emissions, and a 2.5% efficiency increase.

Throughout the course of a project cycle, the many phases of project management—including planning, execution, control and monitoring, and ending—are integrated and executed. In modern firms, project management has become the dominant tool for managing change. Best practices have emerged due to global project management practices and company evolution. The primary goal was to investigate how project management approaches affected project performance of the Saudi Arabia Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This study investigated the impact of various project management practices including risk management, communication, leadership, and stakeholder management, on project performance in manufacturing SMEs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A quantitative research methodology was employed, with data collected from 250 employees (i.e., supply chain, finance and R&D managers/supervisors) across 8 SMEs. The results revealed that risk management, leadership practices, and stakeholder management significantly contribute to project performance. Surprisingly, no significant relationship was found between communication practices and project performance. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of effective risk management, strong leadership, and efficient stakeholder management in achieving successful project outcomes. Finance managers and R&D managers in Saudi manufacturing SMEs should lead and engage stakeholders to improve project performance. Supply chain managers must manage risk and maintain stakeholder relationships to avoid disruptions. Communication improvements, despite their small impact, are essential for departmental coordination. Global project management strategies tailored to local culture and business will improve project success.

This study explores the complex dynamics of handling augmented reality (AR) data in higher education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Although there is a growing interest in incorporating augmented reality (AR) to improve learning experiences, there are still issues in efficiently managing the data produced by these apps. This study attempts to understand the elements that affect AR data management by examining the relationship between the investigated variables: faculty readiness, technological limits, financial constraint, and student engagement on data management in higher education institutions in the UAE, building on earlier research that has identified these problems. The research analyzes financial constraints, technological infrastructure, and faculty preparation to understand their impact on AR data management. The study collected detailed empirical data on AR data management in UAE higher education environments using a quantitative research methods approach, surveys. The reasons for choosing this research method include cost-effectiveness, flexibility in questionnaire design, anonymity and confidentiality involved in the chosen methods. The results of this study are expected to enhance academic discourse by highlighting the obstacles and remedies to improving the efficiency of AR technology data management at higher education institutions. The findings are expected to enlighten decision-making in higher education institutions on maximizing AR technology’s benefits for improved learning outcomes.