Advances In Digital Technology Research Articles

Digitalization and Decarbonization of Sri Lanka's Electric Power System: A Way Forward for Sustainability

The global energy landscape is undergoing a transformative shift driven by the dual imperatives of digitalization and decarbonization, essential for creating sustainable and resilient power systems (Lichtenthaler, 2021, [1]). This transformation is particularly critical for developing nations like Sri Lanka, where the integration of smart technologies and renewable energy sources can significantly enhance system efficiency and contribute to a robust response to climate change challenges (Lichtenthaler, 2021, [1]). This paper examines the potential of leveraging advanced digital technologies—such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things—to optimize energy management and facilitate a swift transition toward a low-emission economy in Sri Lanka, while addressing the socio-economic implications of this transition. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of fostering a circular economy through these technological advancements, emphasizing that innovative solutions can not only improve energy efficiency but also contribute to broader sustainability goals, ensuring equitable access to resources and combating the adverse effects of climate change. Through this lens, the investigation underscores the necessity of a holistic approach that integrates digital transformation with sustainable practices, enabling the decoupling of economic activity from resource depletion and environmental degradation, thereby fostering a resilient energy future for Sri Lanka.

The convergence of the fourth industrial revolution and mixed reality: Transforming agricultural economics in developing nations and retail experiences in the U.S.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and Mixed Reality (MR) are revolutionizing industries worldwide by merging advanced digital technologies with physical environments. This paper explores the convergence of 4IR technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and big data analytics, with MR, which includes Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). Specifically, this article examines the profound impact of these technologies on two distinct sectors: agricultural economics in developing nations and retail experiences in the United States. In developing nations, the agricultural sector faces numerous challenges, including resource constraints, climate change, and limited access to technology. The integration of 4IR technologies is transforming this sector by enabling precision farming, improving resource management, and optimizing supply chain processes. IoT devices and AI-powered algorithms are enhancing irrigation, fertilization, and pest control, while drones and robotics are automating labor-intensive tasks such as planting and harvesting. MR technologies, particularly AR and VR, are playing a vital role in providing virtual training for farmers, real-time monitoring of machinery, and on-site troubleshooting. These innovations significantly improve agricultural productivity and sustainability, leading to higher yields, more efficient resource use, and better livelihoods for farmers. In contrast, the retail industry in the United States is undergoing a digital transformation fueled by the rise of e-commerce and evolving consumer preferences. MR technologies are at the forefront of this transformation, offering personalized and immersive shopping experiences that enhance customer engagement. AR allows consumers to virtually try on clothing, accessories, and cosmetics, while VR creates immersive brand experiences and virtual stores. These innovations not only enhance the shopping experience but also streamline supply chain management and inventory control through AI and IoT applications. The article explores how these technologies enable retailers to deliver personalized recommendations, optimize inventory levels, and improve logistics operations. Through an in-depth analysis of case studies, this paper illustrates how the convergence of 4IR and MR technologies is driving economic growth and operational efficiency in agriculture and retail. It also highlights the challenges and barriers to technology adoption, such as financial constraints, resistance to change, and regulatory considerations. The article concludes with policy recommendations for governments, businesses, and international organizations to foster the broader implementation of 4IR and MR technologies. These recommendations include investing in digital infrastructure, promoting cross-sector collaborations, and providing incentives for technology adoption. By leveraging these advancements, developing nations can improve agricultural sustainability, and the U.S. retail industry can deliver more engaging, efficient, and personalized experiences, ultimately driving sustainable economic development.

The Integration of Advanced Mechatronic Systems into Industry 4.0 for Smart Manufacturing

In recent years, the rapid advancement of digital technologies has driven a profound transformation in both individual lives and business operations. The integration of Industry 4.0 with advanced mechatronic systems is at the forefront of this digital transformation, reshaping the landscape of smart manufacturing. This article explores the convergence of digital technologies and physical systems, with a focus on the critical role of mechatronics in enabling this transformation. Using technologies such as advanced robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics, industries are developing intelligent and interconnected systems capable of real-time data exchange, distributed decision making, and automation. The paper further explores two case studies: one on a smart plastic injection moulding machine and another on soft robots. These examples illustrate the synergies, benefits, challenges, and future potential of integrating mechatronics with Industry 4.0 technologies. Ultimately, this convergence fosters the development of smart factories and products, enhancing manufacturing efficiency, adaptability, and productivity, while also contributing to sustainability by reducing waste, optimising resource usage, and lowering the environmental impact of industrial production. This marks a significant shift in industrial production towards more sustainable practices.

Analisis Strategi Pengembangan Infrastruktur Asuransi Syariah Terintegrasi Di Era Digital

This study aims to analyze the strategies required by Islamic insurance companies to enhance their infrastructure in the digital era. The primary issue identified is the inadequate development of infrastructure, which hinders the companies' ability to compete effectively in an increasingly competitive market. A qualitative approach employing the Multi-Factor Evaluation Process (MFEP) was used to evaluate and identify the most relevant strategies to address the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities presented by the digital era. The findings reveal that Islamic insurance companies require a set of integrated infrastructure development strategies. The recommended strategies include, (1) Developing differentiated products tailored to market needs, which can expand the customer base and enhance product appeal, (2) Enhancing human resource professionalism through continuous training and competency development to strengthen internal capabilities and respond to market dynamics, (3) Optimizing corporate governance by implementing advanced digital technologies to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service quality and (4) Intensifying product promotion efforts and increasing consumer literacy, including more aggressive education about the benefits of Islamic insurance to raise public awareness and understanding. In conclusion, the implementation of these strategies is crucial for supporting the long-term growth of Islamic insurance companies. An integrated infrastructure that is responsive to technological changes will strengthen the companies' competitive position, enabling them to be more adaptive to the evolving market needs and fully leverage the opportunities offered by the digital era. This approach will also enhance consumer trust and expand the market reach of Islamic insurance.

The Evolution of Paperless Education in Medical Universities: Enhancing Efficiency and Health Outcomes

The adoption of paperless education in medical universities has revolutionized various aspects of academic life, offering enhanced efficiency, cost savings, and improved health outcomes. Traditional paper-based systems in medical education have long been associated with inefficiencies and environmental concerns. The advent of digital technologies has provided opportunities to streamline educational processes, reduce waste, and improve accessibility. This mini review examines the transformative impact of paperless education on medical universities, focusing on its benefits in registration, teaching, education, and exams. The shift to online registration systems has simplified the enrollment process for both students and administrators, allowing for seamless registration, payment, and course selection. Online registration also enables real-time tracking of student progress and facilitates communication between students and faculty. In teaching, digital tools such as e-learning platforms and virtual classrooms offer students flexible learning opportunities, promoting active engagement and knowledge retention. Similarly, the adoption of electronic textbooks and digital libraries has significantly reduced the reliance on printed materials in medical education, fostering self-directed learning and research. Furthermore, digital assessment methods such as online quizzes and remote proctoring have streamlined the examination process, offering greater flexibility in scheduling exams and ensuring the integrity of the assessment process. Economically, the transition to paperless education has resulted in cost savings by eliminating the need for printed materials, storage, and distribution. Additionally, digital technologies enable universities to reach a broader audience, potentially increasing enrollment and revenue. Moreover, paperless education offers health benefits by reducing exposure to allergens and pathogens associated with paper-based materials, and promoting social distancing to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases. In conclusion, the adoption of paperless education in medical universities represents a transformative shift, offering numerous benefits including enhanced efficiency, cost savings, and improved health outcomes. As technology continues to evolve, medical universities need to embrace digital innovations to ensure a sustainable and effective learning environment.

Research on the Design Aesthetic Characteristics of Chinese Digital Virtual Products in the 21st Century

The advancement of digital technologies profoundly impacts design art, particularly in virtual product design, where new expressions and effects, unattainable through traditional methods, emerge. Digitalization supports designers by freeing their creativity and enabling the embodiment of artistic pursuits. This transformation affects all stages of artistic creation, from concepts to expression, facilitated by the integration of digital technologies. The interactivity of digital virtual design promotes personalized, humane aesthetics through user participation.In the context of China's development, the animation industry's growth necessitates a unique cultural approach. Successful films like "Storm Rider Clash of the Evils" integrate Chinese elements and philosophy, reflecting traditional culture and values. This film exemplifies the fusion of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, presenting the idea of fate and the unity of characters in accordance with destiny. Martial arts scenes, rivers, lakes, and dynamic fights showcase innovative audio-visual effects. Despite some design flaws, the film's innovations and desire for innovation mark a significant step in the evolution of Chinese animation art, providing new creative opportunities and inspiring future projects. The film's cultural depth, blending traditional elements with modern trends, appeals to a broad audience, solidifying China's position in the global animation industry and showcasing its potential for innovation and cultural contribution.

Various Approaches and Future Prospective for Therapies for Diabetes: A Review

The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus disease marked by increased blood glucose levels, has reached epidemic proportions. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the current landscape of diabetes therapies and outlines future prospects for improving the management and treatment of this condition. The current scenario highlights a multifaceted approach to diabetes management, with a focus on lifestyle interventions, oral antidiabetic drugs, insulin therapy, and emerging technologies like continuous glucose monitoring and closed-loop systems. While these approaches have significantly improved the lives of people with diabetes, several challenges persist. These include medication adherence, hypoglycemia risk, and the financial burden of diabetes care. Innovative treatments that improve glucose regulation, improve cardiovascular health, and help patients lose weight—like SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists—have showed promise in treating these issues. The future prospects for diabetes therapies are exciting, with ongoing research into cell-based therapies, including pancreatic islet transplantation and stem cell-derived beta cells. Personalized medicine approaches, driven by genetics and artificial intelligence, hold the potential to optimize treatment regimens and predict individual responses to various therapies. Furthermore, advancements in telemedicine and digital health technologies will enhance patient self-management and remote monitoring.

On the kinetic temperature of a one-dimensional crystal on the long-time scale

We investigate the dynamics of the kinetic temperature of a finite one-dimensional harmonic chain, the evolution of which is initiated by a thermal shock. We demonstrate that the kinetic temperature returns arbitrarily close to its initial state (the one immediately following the thermal shock) infinitely many times, and we give an estimate for the time elapsed until the recurrence. This assertion is closely related to the Poincare recurrence theorem and we discuss their relation. To estimate the recurrence time we use its averaging along system’s trajectory and provide a rigorous mathematical definition of the mean recurrence time. It turns out that the mean recurrence time exponentially increases with the number of particles in the chain. A connection is established between this problem and the local theorems of large deviations theory.Previous studies have shown that in such a one-dimensional harmonic chain, at times of order N, a thermal echo phenomenon is observed — a sharp increase in the amplitude of kinetic temperature fluctuations. In the present work, we give a rigorous mathematical formulation to this phenomenon and estimate the amplitude of the fluctuations.The research is funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of the Research Center of World-Class Program: Advanced Digital Technologies (agreement №075-15-2020-311 dated 04.20.2022).

Evaluation of Digital Technology Management in Mathematics Learning

The rapid advancement of digital technology necessitates that teachers enhance their competencies in the teaching and learning process of mathematics. This study aims to evaluate the demographic factors affecting teachers' use of digital technology and their digital skills, explore the frequency of online learning platform usage in relation to teachers' digital skills, and identify challenges while providing recommendations for integrating technology into mathematics instruction through a Sequential Explanatory Design mixed-methods approach. The quantitative sample consisted of 104 mathematics teachers, with 14 teachers selected as respondents for the qualitative phase. Data collection instruments included questionnaires, structured interviews, and non-participant observations, with quantitative data analyzed using Jamovi 2.4.8.0 software, and qualitative data manually coded and thematically analyzed using an inductive-deductive approach. The findings indicate that employment status, teaching experience, and school level significantly influence the use of digital technology in teaching mathematics. Teachers who are government employees under contract, have over 10 years of teaching experience, and teach at the middle or high school level tend to integrate technology more effectively. Consequently, government policies and educational programs for technology development should prioritize teachers irrespective of their employment status, offering continuous training (both online and offline) focused on mathematics.

Exploring the Adoption of Reels and Short Videos in the Nigerian News Industry

The advancement in digital technologies has indeed changed the consumption and delivery of news. Through the nature and operations of the web ecosystem, short videos and reels can be regarded as a kind of news delivery due to the features they possess for news curation and dissemination. This paper focused on analyzing the potential of utilizing short videos and reels in reaching young audiences in the news media industry and the extent to which news media organizations have embraced the use of short videos and reels. Drawing from the Diffusion of Innovations theory, this study aimed at identifying the process through which news organizations adopt short videos and reels. Considering the research questions posed, an exploratory research design was adopted. For this study, the in-depth interview method was adopted with a purposive sample of ten (10) professionals drawn from different news organizations in Nigeria. The sample comprised two participants from strictly-online news organization, Legit NG Lagos; four participants from television stations, NTA Kaduna and Galaxy TV Kaduna; three participants from print news organization, Daily Trust, Abuja and The Nation, Lagos; and finally one participant from a radio station, Liberty Radio Kaduna. Data was collected through face-to-face and telephone interviews using a semi-structured interview guide that asked the participants questions on their understanding about the use of short videos and reels as a means of conveying news information. Data analysis involved manual coding of themes. The findings revealed that short videos, particularly reels, have the potential of attracting younger audiences. The comparative analysis showed that short videos and reels are being adopted to a varying degree by these news organizations; strictly-online media organizations are leading the adoption rate of this format. The study offered some recommendations on how to effectively address challenges regarding the adoption of reels and short videos for news curation and delivery in the mainstream news media organizations in Nigeria.

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IN THE DIGITAL AGE: THE CASE FOR REFORM TO KAZAKHSTAN’S COPYRIGHT LAWS

Background: The rapid digitalisation of copyrighted materials and the creation of new digital products pose significant challenges to copyright law in the era of globalisation. Digitisation has revolutionised access to information by converting it into a digital format, thus making it easier for anyone who surfs the internet to reproduce and share data. However, new technologies have also resulted in illegal activities such as online copyright infringement. That being the case, the development of digital technologies requires new relevant approaches and provisions from the national copyright law of Kazakhstan to handle copyright infringement on the internet. It could be argued that the current legislation cannot handle legal issues related to copyright, especially the responsibility of internet service providers (ISPs) for the violation of the copyright. This article aims to identify shortcomings in the legal regulation of ISPs in the Republic of Kazakhstan and to offer recommendations for improving legislation in this area. The novelty of the paper lies in Kazakhstan’s legislation, lacking regulation on the legal status of ISPs and their role in protecting copyright on the internet. By comparing Kazakh legislative developments with practices in the US, UK, and Ukraine, the paper provides insights into potential reforms for better handling digital copyright infringement. Methods: This paper applies several research methods, including systemic, comparative legal, and historical legal analysis. The primary focus is on examining the legislation and case law of the US, UK and Ukraine regarding copyright issues to enhance Kazakhstan’s existing legislative framework. Results and conclusions: This article argues that national acts of Kazakhstan on copyright were obsolete before the advancement of digital technologies and therefore, need to be updated to keep pace with modern technologies.

Prospects and challenges for parliamentarism in the conditions of the development of digital constitutionalism

The purpose of the article is to carry out a multi-faceted analysis of the dynamics of the development of parliamentarism and digital constitutionalism, to identify possible challenges and threats, as well as prospects for parliaments and parliamentary activity in the conditions of the spread of modern digital (electronic) technologies. Approaches to understanding and defining the phenomena of «parliamentarism», «constitutionalism», «digital constitutionalism», some of their modifications and features are highlighted, their multifaceted nature, transformation in the conditions of modern progressive digital development, electronic democracy is emphasized. Crisis and conflict events have largely become challenges for parliaments and parliamentary activity, as well as digitalization and digitization processes and tools. It is important that parliamentary institutions of various levels (national, supranational, inter-parliamentary associations, their auxiliary bodies and services) contribute to the development and regulation of these processes, using advanced and effective digital technologies tested in practice. The «Digital Compass» for the EU Digital Decade (2030), the concept of digital sovereignty, the adopted charters of digital rights (Catalan, Nice), the Law on Digital Markets, the Law on Digital Services, the Law on Artificial Intelligence, the Declaration on European Digital Rights and Principles should be singled out. (2022), «World e-Parliament Report» of the IPU, the concept of e-democracy of the European Parliament, the resolution on e-democracy of the PACE, recommendations on open government and electronic participation of citizens OECD. Thanks to this, new forms and tools for the implementation of existing human rights are introduced, as well as new digital rights are constituted (to access the Internet, to identity in the digital environment, to protection in the digital environment, non-discrimination, etc.). In the same way, the forms and methods of activity of parliaments are being modernized (expansion of platforms for online broadcasts of plenary and committee meetings, electronic (remote) voting, improvement of interactive websites with access to draft laws and other documents, and systems of electronic petitions and consultations with voters, electronic participation of citizens and public organizations in the legislative process). However, the development of digital parliamentarism and digital democracy is accompanied by numerous challenges (digital inequality, low digital literacy of members of parliaments and parliamentary services, cyber threats, material and financial costs etc.). This requires a thorough study of the issues raised, improvement of digital culture, improvement of parliamentary and non-parliamentary procedures, along with further development of technological infrastructure, cyber security protection of the components of digital parliamentarism.

Examining the influencing effect of EFL students’ digital literacy on their online learning power: the mediating role of perceived teacher support

ABSTRACT The advancement of digital technology has driven digitalization innovation in the field of education. Cultivating digital literacy of college students so as to enhance their online learning power is a new mission for higher education in the digital era. This study investigated the relationship between digital literacy and online learning power of EFL (English as a foreign language) undergraduates, and explored the role of perceived teacher support in it. The three scales concerning digital literacy, online learning power and perceived teacher support were used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 348 EFL undergraduates in a comprehensive university in Eastern China. The participants filled in the questionnaires and reported their survey responses. The results showed that digital literacy positively predicted online learning power, digital literacy was positively associated with perceived teacher support, and perceived teacher support was a positive predictor of online learning power. Perceived teacher support significantly mediated the relationship between digital literacy and online learning power. This study revealed that undergraduate digital literacy has an impact on online learning power through perceived teacher support, thus suggesting the importance of reinforcing teacher support, especially to enhance teachers’ technology acceptance and beliefs.

DAMPAK LAYANAN PERBANKAN DIGITAL TERHADAP KINERJA PERBANKAN DI INDONESIA

Advances in digital technology encourage the transition from conventional lifestyles to the digital era, one of which is digital banking services. The use of electronic media in financial products is expected to provide faster, easier, and more appropriate services to customer needs (customer experience), and ensure that customers can make transactions independently by paying attention to security aspects. Banking performance can of course also be influenced by the adoption of these digital banking services. This study aims to determine the effect of digital financial services such as electronic money, ATMs, credit cards, SMS banking and internet banking on banking performance in Indonesia in 2021-2023. Using simple linear regression analysis techniques, it can be seen that credit cards and internet banking can have a significant positive effect on banking performance. A positive relationship is also shown by the SMS banking variable but is not significant. Meanwhile, ATMs and e-money show a negative and insignificant effect on banking performance in Indonesia.

Girl industries as a sexuality-assemblage in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study conceptualizes the multiple and dynamic landscape of the Korean girl industries as a sexuality-assemblage. This assemblage comprises seemingly anachronistic elements: a long-standing patriarchal and misogynistic social structure; a youth-driven popular culture; a rapid global expansion of the entertainment and media industries; highly advanced digital media technology; and girls’ aspirations, desires, and frustrations. Through this lens, the analysis proposed three territories of girl industries: luminosity, precarity, and risk. These territories are all processual constructions of the interrelated forces of territorialization (neoliberal capitalism, digital media and financial technologies, cultural and entertainment industries, and patriarchy and misogyny) and deterritorialization (girls’ desires, aspirations, capabilities, and vulnerabilities). Considering Korea’s significant situation of gender inequality, the luminosity territory’s dazzling illusion stands in stark contrast to the muted reality of the middle precarity territory, while the risk territory exposes a brutal truth hidden from view. It is also crucial to acknowledge the potential for girls’ agency and solidarity built up across the multiple territories of the girl industries.

Innovative Integration of Poetry and Visual Arts in Metaverse for Sustainable Education

The rapid advancement of digital technology has necessitated a reevaluation of traditional educational methodologies, particularly in literature and visual arts. This study investigates the application of metaverse technology to integrate contemporary poetry and visual arts, aiming to enhance university-level education. The purpose is to develop a convergent teaching method that leverages the immersive and interactive capabilities of the metaverse. The research involves a joint exhibition project with students from Sangmyung University and international participants, incorporating a metaverse-based educational program. A sample of 85 students participated in the program, and their experiences were evaluated through surveys and focus group interviews (FGIs). The findings reveal significant correlations between content satisfaction and method satisfaction, underscoring the importance of engaging and interactive methods. The study also identifies technical challenges and provides insights for optimizing digital platforms for educational purposes. The implications suggest that integrating metaverse technology in arts education can significantly enhance creativity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary skills, offering a sustainable and innovative approach to modern education. Based on these implications, this paper proposes methods for incorporating the insights gained from case analyses and implications into the design of educational programs. It is anticipated that this approach will contribute to enhancing the quality of convergence education in higher education institutions. Furthermore, it is expected that this program will serve as a starting point for the systematic implementation of integrated education and the use of digital platforms, thereby helping to reduce disparities in integrated education between countries.

Modern diagnostic aids: Exploring advanced tools

Orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning have evolved in recent years making it more reliable and easy clinical tool. Recent diagnostic tools are issue oriented. Orthodontic treatment is carried out in all three dimensions, but we were having diagnostic aids to examine patient in two dimensions. But, now the concept of orthodontic treatment have changed w.r.t aesthetics and function. The recent advancement of digital technologies is 3D imaging making it more dynamic. The 3 dimensional diagnostic tools include digital scanning, 3D models, digital radiographic records and analysis, CBCT, CAD/CAM technology and 3D printers. The accuracy has been increased. Diagnostic capabilities of the imaging tools have been improved with digital processes, making orthodontic treatment more efficient, accurate and comfortable as compared to past. This article aims to give an insight into recent technology in diagnostic tools.

Examining the Evolution of Digital Innovation and Its Impact on Organizational Growth

Organizational operations have been modified by using the rise of digital innovation, which has increased consumer interaction, accelerated efficiency, and stimulated overall growth. But obstacles like converting organizational adoption charges and a quickly evolving era would possibly make it more difficult to generalize effects across of different sectors and ancient intervals. To overcome these constraints, a thorough examination of the impact of digital innovation on organizational growth is carried out in this study. This study investigates the connection among Digital infrastructure (DI), Digital Innovation practices (DIP), Adoption of advanced digital technologies (ADT), Leadership support (LS), Organizational growth (OG), and Employee digital capabilities (EDS) utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and CFA test. SEM is used to evaluate the causal pathways between constructs and the connections between latent variables and their indicators. CFA is a method used to validate the dimension model by examining the relationships between observed indicators and their underlying constructs. A systematic questionnaire with a Likert scale rating was used to collect data from 600 populations. The measurement model assessed the validity and reliability of latent constructs, while the structural model analyzed the relationship between constructs based on the proposed hypotheses. The structural model revealed that DI, LS, and ADT are positively connected to the DTP, and OG, between digital innovations on organizational growth. (β = 0.58,0.54,0.60 and 0.62,p < 0.05), providing well support for hypotheses 1, 2, 4, and 5. The SEM and CFA confirm the robustness of these relationships. The findings underscore the critical role of digital infrastructure and leadership in driving effective digital practices and fostering growth.

“I Am Because We Are”: The Role of Sub‐Saharan Africa's Collectivist Culture in Achieving Traceability and Global Supply Chain Resilience

ABSTRACTPrior studies on traceability as an enabler of supply chain resilience (SCRes) have focused on large‐scale disruptions and developed country contexts. Few studies have focused on developing countries where chronic, small‐scale disruptions are common and resource scarcity means advanced digital technologies are rarely adopted. This research explores how traceability is achieved across upstream actors in two Ghanaian agri‐food supply chains and how this affects global SCRes. Social characteristics are shown to influence the risks inherent in supply chains, while traceability is both a direct and indirect SCRes enabler. Informed by the relational view, the roles of relation‐specific assets and governance mechanisms in maintaining traceability are explored. Supply chain‐wide relation‐specific assets are prioritized over dyadic relation‐specific assets. This original finding is explained by the importance of maintaining social ties over short‐term economic gains in a collectivist culture, leading to greater relational rents in the long term. A novel, informal third‐party governance mechanism that reduces formal contracting costs and provides flexibility and continuity to interfirm relationships is also identified, further facilitating the attainment of relational rents. The findings are explained in light of sub‐Saharan Africa's collectivist culture, encapsulated in the philosophy of ubuntu. Overall, the research theorizes on achieving supply chain traceability and thus enhancing global SCRes as a sociotechnical system incorporating technological and nontechnological systems that are socially embedded in the local context.

Peculiarities of law enforcement system functioning in the context of digitalization

The relevance of the topic under study in this article is due to the fact that for the purpose of balanced and sustainable development of society, the law enforcement system must also adapt to the conditions of digitalization. This should be done by maximizing the introduction of advanced digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, into the daily activities of law enforcement agencies. It is noted that the processes of digitalization have accelerated significantly in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to the introduction of a wide range of restrictions, in particular, quarantine, curfews, restrictions on business and public authorities in the provision of public services, the mechanisms for the implementation of which have emerged in the light of digital technologies. The authors analyzed the essence of the functioning of the law enforcement system in conditions of digitalization, such as: development of the family institution; aggravation of the problem of preventing and countering domestic violence in the conditions of martial law; rethinking the meaning of pretrial investigation and criminal intelligence (analysis) in the context of crime transformation. Peculiarities of digitization of modern anti-corruption tools, the fundamental importance of international partnership in the field of law enforcement in the conditions of digitalization are also considered.