Country Context Research Articles

Assessing Cybersecurity Awareness Among Bank Employees: A Multi-Stage Analytical Approach Using PLS-SEM, ANN, and fsQCA in a Developing Country Context

The financial sector is a prime target for cybercriminals which increases the need for banks to enhance employee cybersecurity awareness. This study examines the critical factors that enhance cybersecurity awareness among bank employees in the context of developing countries, focusing on Bangladesh. By collecting 355 valid responses through purposive sampling from bank employees across major districts, the research employs a multi-stage analytical approach that integrates Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). Findings reveal a positive correlation between response cost, information security awareness, knowledge of cyber threats, and employees' perceived threat and vulnerability, indicating their significance in shaping cybersecurity awareness. The study's methodological novelty lies in its combined use of linear and non-linear analytical techniques which optimize prediction accuracy and contribute to the robustness of cybersecurity awareness research. Its implications are vital for developing nations where technological dependence for safeguarding IT resources is critical. The outcomes highlight the need for an informed approach to cyber threat management and the promotion of cybersecurity awareness among bank employees as a shield against social engineering and other cyberattacks.

Gender influence on business students’ expectations for sustainability transformations in higher education: a cross-national study

Purpose This study aims to examine how male and female students’ sustainability expectations of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) differ in various cultural contexts. Design/methodology/approach Based on a sample of 239 business students from the USA and Germany, a mixed qualitative-quantitative research design is employed combining content analysis and Kano analysis to examine gender- and country-different students’ sustainability expectations. Findings Female students across countries have higher sustainability expectations than males. Gender equality and inclusion are more important to female than male students. While male students considered most attributes as indifferent, female students in the US considered many sustainability attributes as one-dimensional, and those in Germany considered production and consumption and equity and inclusion as must-be attributes. Research limitations/implications A larger, more representative sample could provide deeper insights into students’ sustainability expectations. The Kano model may not fully capture the complexity of these expectations due to its reliance on predefined definitions. More comprehensive and dynamic approaches are needed to understand and predict students’ sustainability expectations. Practical implications Grouping HEIs’ sustainability transformation attributes based on students’ basic, performance and excitement needs supports quality and expectation management at HEIs by prioritizing measures and aligning sustainability communication. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to apply Kano analysis to examine and compare students’ future-oriented normative sustainability expectations of their HEIs across different gender groups and countries. It enables more profound and realistic insights into barriers and enablers of HEIs’ sustainability transformations and highlights how unmet expectations can impact stakeholder behavior across different country contexts.

Assessment of Four Essential Features of the Alive & Thrive Initiative to Improve Maternal, Infant, Young Child, and Adolescent Nutrition.

Alive & Thrive has been a major global nutrition initiative that aimed to learn how to improve maternal, infant, young child, and adolescent nutrition and health on a large scale. During 2009-2014, Alive & Thrive developed and implemented interventions to improve infant and young child feeding at scale in three countries. Subsequently, Alive & Thrive expanded its work to more than 15 geographies, including six country-specific and two regional programs, to additionally address maternal and adolescent nutrition while adding agriculture and social protection programs to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition. Reflecting on the big picture of what the Alive & Thrive initiative has accomplished in its 16 years and how it did so, four features warranted emphasis because additional learning was needed. These four features were: commitment to exemplary large-scale social and behaviour change communication, explicit focus on policy and advocacy to achieve and sustain change, promotion of country-led initiatives through technical assistance, and attention to quality assurance and improvement in programming. For each feature, an assessment across the Alive & Thrive portfolio was commissioned, each led by an external consultant or team. The assessments highlighted designing and implementing exemplary social and behaviour change programming and policy advocacy in each country, undertaking a large-scale effort through careful, in-depth, and evidence-based planning that is bolstered by strong engagement with relevant stakeholders at multiple levels. The assessments also highlighted technical assistance that is responsive to country contexts to support country-led initiatives and attention to assuring and improving the quality of programming to achieve effectiveness.

Navigating Collaboration: Understanding Civil-Military Interactions in Swedish Total Defence From a Security Network Perspective

This study aims to contribute to our knowledge of civil-military collaboration within the framework of contemporary Swedish total defence planning and organizing. The exploratory study focuses on perspectives on collaboration among civilian and military actors at the local and regional levels of the Swedish total defence network. Empirically, the study draws on official documents, policies, reports and interviews with civilian and military officials in Sweden. The analysis explores assumptions about, and understandings of, roles, relationships, shared goals, responsibilities and governance, pointing to several potential challenges to inter-organizational and inter-group collaboration. The study, showing how understandings and perspectives held by collaborators serve to shape the nature of their relations, identifies a potential need for collaborative actors, civil and military, capable of performing a “double grasp” – that is, of representing their organization while understanding and handling their counterpart’s perspective on (and often lack of knowledge about) their own organization and requirements. The article identifies several avenues for future research into civil-military collaboration in practice, and across country contexts.

A literature-based cost-effectiveness analysis of device-assisted suturing versus needle-driven suturing during laparotomy closure

PurposeSmall-bites suturing technique for laparotomy closure is now recommended as the standard of care. However, uptake of the practice remains slow. A medical technology called the SutureTOOL has been developed which can facilitate implementation of small-bites. The aim of the study was to compare the economic and clinical outcomes of laparotomy closure for patients using manual needle-driver suturing versus device-assisted suturing (SutureTOOL) following open abdominal surgery.MethodsThis cost-effectiveness analysis comparing device-assisted suturing to needle-driver suturing was performed from a healthcare perspective within Sweden, France, the UK, and the US. A decision tree model was developed to implement the analysis.ResultsThe SutureTOOL was found to be cost-effective, reducing costs between 22% and 40% across country contexts. Savings were associated with reduced post-operative complications and reductions in operating room time. Improvements in quality of life were minimal and not clinically significant, likely because of the short time horizon.ConclusionCost-effectiveness was largely due to cost savings. Prior to procurement, hospitals should test the device to ensure that small-bite rates and reductions in operation time are replicable within their clinical context. If so, the device will improve quality of care for laparotomy wound closure.

Waste harvesting: lessons learned from the development of waste-to-energy power plants in Indonesia

Purpose The purpose of this research is to analyse the development and implementation of waste-to-energy (WtE) power plants as a strategy to manage municipal solid waste (MSW) in Indonesia. It aims to identify key determinants for the successful adoption of WtE technology in developing countries, focusing on the Benowo WtE power plant, Indonesia’s first large-scale WtE project. Design/methodology/approach This study reviews the development of the Benowo WtE power plant, examining political, regulatory and financial factors influencing its implementation. It analyses the roles of national and local government institutions, highlighting critical elements for the successful deployment of WtE projects in a developing country context. Findings The review shows that the success of WtE projects in Indonesia is significantly influenced by strong local government commitment, supported by political, financial and regulatory backing from the national government. The Benowo WtE power plant’s development demonstrates that with adequate support, WtE can be a viable solution for managing MSW and generating energy in developing countries. The study also identifies barriers to broader WtE adoption in similar contexts. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to 12 WtE projects in Indonesia, with in-depth analysis focused on a single case, potentially overlooking challenges and opportunities in other regions. Furthermore, the study does not include an economic analysis, such as a feasibility assessment. Future research could expand to multiple WtE projects and incorporate primary data collection to provide more comprehensive findings, including feasibility studies of each project. Practical implications The findings provide practical guidance for policymakers and stakeholders in developing countries, identifying critical areas for successful WtE deployment and offering a blueprint based on the Benowo WtE power plant. Social implications Implementing WtE projects can improve waste management, reduce pollution, enhance public health, create jobs and stimulate local economies. The study underscores the importance of government and community collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and fostering shared responsibility. Originality/value This research offers novel insights into WtE technology development in a developing country, specifically focusing on Indonesia’s first large-scale WtE power plant. By analysing the Benowo WtE power plant, the study provides valuable lessons and strategies for other developing nations aiming to adopt WtE solutions for MSW management, emphasising the critical role of government support.

Creating codes of ethics for public health professionals and institutions.

The World Health Organization and the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region called for the professionalization of the public health workforce, including the creation of codes of ethics. In this article, the Public Health Ethics and Law Network provides guidance on creating such codes, based on values and principles commonly identified for public health. Our interest was in codes addressing public health broadly rather than disciplines within public health. Public Health codes of ethics are typically published on agency and organization websites rather than peer-reviewed literature. We searched several online databases, such as PubMed; United States government websites; Spanish language websites; and English language websites for public health organizations. We synthesized the principles found into 10 adjectives-such as caring, responsive, and trustworthy-with short elaborations. These terms are practical, for non-philosophers, and provide flexibility for adaptation to country contexts. The creation of a code of ethics should be followed by the identification and building of ethical competencies and capacity for public health professionals and institutions. There are plans to collaborate with pilot sites in the use and generation of further learning, and additional assistance for competencies and other resources to support a code of ethics and competencies.

Digital Financial Literacy and Life Satisfaction: Evidence from South Korea.

Digital financial literacy is an emerging concept that refers to the ability to effectively use digital tools, platforms, and services to manage personal finances. While previous studies have explored the behavioral effects of digital financial literacy, less is known about its broader well-being implications for financial consumers. In this study, we aim to examine the association between digital financial literacy and life satisfaction in a developed country context. Digital financial literacy was measured using a multidimensional scale that encompasses financial knowledge, digital literacy, digital financial service awareness, practical know-how of digital financial services, and self-protection against digital financial fraud. Using data of 1615 Korean adults who currently use digital financial services, this study estimated a series of regressions linking life satisfaction to digital financial literacy and covariates. The results showed a significant association between digital financial literacy and life satisfaction, with self-protection against fraud being the most influential subdimension. Notably, financial knowledge was not associated with life satisfaction when other dimensions of digital financial literacy were independently included in the regression models. These findings highlight the importance of digital skills and knowledge in navigating digital financial services. They also emphasize the need for targeted policies, financial education initiatives, and consumer protection measures to address the lack of digital financial literacy among marginalized populations.

Pemikiran Pendidikan Islam Perspektif KH. Hasyim Asy’ari

This research aims to explore thoughts on Islamic education from the perspective of KH. Hasyim Asy'ari, a major figure in the history of Islam in Indonesia and founder of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). His thoughts have had a great influence on the development of Islamic education in the country, both in theoretical and practical contexts. Through a qualitative approach with literature study, this research analyzes the works of KH. Hasyim Asy'ari and the educational insights he brought forward, such as the importance of balance between intellectual and spiritual aspects in education. KH. Hasyim Asy'ari emphasizes education that is oriented towards the formation of noble morals and mastery of in-depth religious knowledge, taking into account the needs of society in a social and cultural context. The findings of this research show that his thoughts are very relevant in developing a holistic Islamic education system, which not only prioritizes academic aspects, but also moral and spiritual aspects. Therefore, KH.'s educational thinking. Hasyim Asy'ari can be used as a reference in formulating Islamic education policies that are more inclusive and in line with the needs of the times.

Investigating the Constraints and Mitigation Strategies for the Adoption of Sustainable Land Management Practices in Erosion-prone Areas of Southeast Nigeria.

The adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) is crucial to improve soil health, and farm yield, and potentially limit the degradation of agricultural and ecological systems. However, farmers still encounter diverse challenges when trying to implement SLMPs. Research on the potential mitigation strategies to address the complex challenges to the adoption of SLMPs in the developing countries context is limited. Accordingly, this study investigates the constraints to adopting SLMPs using household survey data collected from 480 sampled farmers in erosion-prone areas of southeast Nigeria. Also, through focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders in the land sector, the study investigates the potential mitigation strategies to address the constraints. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the characteristics of the farmers, while Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to analyse the constraints to the adoption of SLMPs. The qualitative data collected were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The PCA result identified economic/financial factors as the principal constraint to the adoption of SLMPs. Other barriers to the adoption of SLMPs in the study area include constraints related to the characteristics of the SLMPs, institutional constraints and constraints related to land property rights. Based on the stakeholders' perspectives, financial and economic support, improved R&D, knowledge exchange and advisory system, policy and regulatory solutions, and multi-stakeholder engagement are important strategies to tackle the constraints to the adoption of SLMPs. Insights from this study could help practitioners, conservation planners and policymakers design more targeted and effective interventions to promote the widespread adoption of SLMPs.

Race Differences in the Loneliness of Older Adults: Evidence from South Africa

Abstract Although the correlates of loneliness among older adults are very well explored in developed countries, there has been far less quantitative research in developing country contexts. This study helps to redress this research lacuna by investigating the loneliness reports of older adults (> 59 years) in South Africa. The analysis focuses on the considerable variation by race in how adults grow old, including in their living arrangements and socio-economic status. Using national micro-data collected in five waves of the National Income Dynamics Study, the study shows that older white adults report significantly fewer episodes of loneliness than other older adults, although they are far more likely to live alone. The gap in loneliness is greatest between older white and older African adults (who are the most likely to live with others), and it persists in multivariate regressions that control for a range of other differences in their individual and household characteristics. One possible explanation for these persistent race differences, which requires further examination, is that they reflect the importance of cultural factors, which are not adequately modelled, and which influence expectations of social interaction.

Covert political campaigning: Mapping the scope, scale, and cost of cross-platform election influence operations

This study investigates gray areas of contemporary political campaigning from a political economy perspective. Using qualitative field and digital methods, computational methods, and economic modeling, it analyzes the scope, scale, and cost of commissioning social media influencers in the 2022 Philippine Elections across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. The researchers find that there is a high demand for influencers to campaign for candidates, characterized by premium and dynamic incentives under informal and obscure arrangements. We identified 1425 influencer accounts across the four social media platforms that engage in covert political campaigning and categorized them into seven types. The cost of these influencer-led campaigns is estimated to range from USD 27M following a pay-per-post compensation model, to USD 10.9M using a retainer model. This article serves as a model for both election research and election policy by providing a modular framework that addresses knowledge gaps in various country contexts.

Transformations of Production and Consumption Forces of News: Economic Implications for the Slovenian Newspaper Sector

This article addresses a dialectical relationship between the production and realisation of news content, linking demands for increased newspaper productivity with forces of consumption. The economic performance of newspapers is evaluated by exploring the correlation between alterations in their revenues/market expansion on one side, and changes in productivity and employment on the other. The research serves as an illustrative analysis within the context of a smaller EU country – Slovenia. The methodology employed could potentially be applied for cross-country or EU-wide comparative analyses. The examination of economic newspaper performance is juxtaposed with the entire media sector (the competitive sector) and the advertising sector (the realm of business partners). The results underscore that economically sustainable news production is achieved through decreasing employment and intensifying the exploitation of newspaper workers, an aspect that is increasing annually in Slovenia, and surpassing the decline in revenues and profit.

Good Practices for Health Technology Assessment Guideline Development: A Report of the Health Technology Assessment International, HTAsiaLink, and ISPOR Special Task Force.

Health technology assessment (HTA) guidelines are intended to support the successful implementation of HTA by enhancing consistency and transparency in concepts, methods, processes, and use, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of the decision-making process. This report lays out good practices and practical recommendations for developing or updating HTA guidelines to ensure successful implementation. The task force was established in 2022 and comprised experts and academics from various geographical regions, each with substantial experience in developing HTA guidelines for national health policy making. Literature reviews and key informant interviews were conducted to inform these good practices. Stakeholder consultations, open peer reviews, and expert opinions validated the recommendations. A series of teleconferences among task force members was held to iteratively refine the report. The recommendations cover six key aspects throughout the guideline development cycle: (1) setting objectives, scope, and principles of the guideline, (2) building a team for a quality guideline, (3) defining a stakeholder engagement plan, (4) developing content and utilizing available resources, (5) putting in place appropriate institutional arrangements, and (6) monitoring and evaluating guideline success. This report presents a set of resources and context-appropriate practices for developing or updating HTA guidelines. Across all contexts, the recommendations emphasize transparency, building trust among stakeholders, and fostering a culture of ongoing learning and improvement. The report recommends timing development and revision of guidelines according to the HTA landscape and pace of HTA institutionalization. Because HTA is increasingly used to inform different kinds of decision making in a variety of country contexts, it will be important to continue to monitor lessons learned to ensure the recommendations remain relevant and effective.

Chronicles of Film Tourism: An Integrative Review and Future Research Directions

This study triangulates historiographical and scientometric reviews to provide a systems perspective on film tourism. The three phases of historiographical analysis (exploration, growth, and maturity) correspond to the three clusters of scientometric analysis: (i) initial research exploring film tourism development and management, (ii) growing the field through studies on film tourists’ perceptions and practices, and (iii) reaching maturity through extending research into different cultural contexts and meaning-making processes. Based on the analysis, we offer a set of directions for future research, including the need to integrate sustainability research and film tourism studies in developing country contexts, as well as intertextuality and its impact on film tourism. We further recommend research on developments in media consumption and its impact on film tourism, investigation of the relationship between digitalization and film tourism, and the need for interdisciplinary research. Finally, we suggest combining product life cycle analysis to complement historiographical analysis for robustness.

Design and implementation of a stakeholder consultation process for rapid health technology assessments in Argentina

IntroductionHealth technology assessment (HTA) is a standardized methodology that allows the assessment technologies’ value. By incorporating the perspective of stakeholders in a public consultation process, transparency and quality of decisions can be improved. ObjectiveTo describe the active stakeholder consultation process for rapid HTAs in an Argentinean, independent, academic, non-profit HTA agency, assessing its initial five years. MethodsSince 2017, we have been conducting an active public consultation process for rapid HTA documents, inviting producers, healthcare professionals, and patient organizations to provide comments, and their input may lead to changes in the HTA documents. Changes were classified as major (changes to the coverage recommendation), intermediate (changes in efficacy, net benefit, or cost-effectiveness that did not change coverage recommendations), and minor modifications (other changes). ResultsFrom May 2017–August 2022, 308 rapid HTA (rHTA) reports were published, and 3,438 invitations were sent. 140 rHTA (45.5%) received a total of 228 comments. Comments came from producers in 53% (n = 112) and healthcare professional organizations in 31.2% (n = 66). Technologies evaluated were drugs in 37% (n = 114), procedures in 35.5% (n = 109), diagnostic methods in 15.3% (n = 47), and devices in 12.2% (n = 38). Out of 308 rHTA documents, 120 (39%) were modified—mostly minor adjustments (n = 100; 80%), followed by major (n = 12; 10%) and intermediate modifications (n = 8; 6.4%). ConclusionImplementing an active stakeholder involvement process in HTA is feasible in a low- to middle-income country context and strengthens and improves the HTA process.

Demographic Differences in the Marital Satisfaction of Older Christian Couples in Kiambu County, Kenya

Demographic predictors of marital satisfaction have been the subject of ongoing research interest albeit with mixed results. The purpose of this study was to provide insights into the unique demographic patterns affecting marital satisfaction in later life, particularly within a resource-constrained and Christian-dominated context. This study employed a quantitative research design and was conducted in Kiambu-County, Kenya. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 297 participants. Data on marital satisfaction were collected using a 16-item Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI), with responses scored and aggregated to reflect overall satisfaction. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between demographic variables and marital satisfaction. Predictor variables included gender, home ownership, age at marriage (categorized), and continuous measures such as income level, years married, and education level. The regression model was statistically significant, χ2 (6) =14.36, p<.05 explaining 10.5% of the variance in marital satisfaction (Nagelkerke R2). Of the predictors, only home ownership was significant (B=0.898, p<.05, OR = 2.455, indicating that owning a home increased the odds of high marital satisfaction by nearly two and a half times compared to not owning a home. Other demographic factors, including gender, education, age at marriage, years married, and income, were not statistically significant (p>.05). The model correctly classified 75.6% of cases, with 99.3% of high marital satisfaction cases correctly predicted. The results highlight the critical role of home ownership in marital satisfaction among older Christian couples in a developing country context, emphasizing the importance of housing stability over traditional demographic predictors. Thus, the study has contributed to the broader field of marital satisfaction research by focusing specifically on older Christian couples in a resource-constrained context.

Analysis of e-banking use by commercial bank customers in Bukavu, DRC

Purpose: This study aims to identify the determinants of the adoption and use of e-banking by the customers of commercial banks in Bukavu, DRC. Method: A conceptual framework based on the UTAUT model was developed, followed by flat sorting and econometric analyses of data from a survey based on a sample of 215 customers. Logistic regression and ordered Logit enabled us to address our research question Results: Perceived usefulness and social influence, modulated by profession and level of education, favour the likelihood of adopting e-banking. The cost perceived, on the other hand, has a negative impact. Trust decreases the likelihood of using a wide range of e-banking services, while gender, profession and app rating have positive effects on use. Originality / relevance: In addition to a methodology combining the logit and ordered logit models, the originality of this work lies in the analytical aspect focused on the number of e-banking services used by customers in a developing country context.

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN RESOURCE PRACTICES AND TOURIST SATISFACTION: EVIDENCE FROM LEBANON'S TOURISM SECTOR

The study aims to highlight the critical role of HR practice in shaping tourist experience and satisfaction, ultimately contributing to the success and reputation of tourism enterprises. Additionally, it aims to understand how eff ective HR management influences the overall experience and satisfaction of tourists. Using a mixed-methods approach, data was collected from 112 employees and tourists in Lebanese resorts. Structural Equation Modelling revealed significant relationships between HRP and employee satisfaction and performance. Employee satisfaction strongly correlated with tourist satisfaction, while employee performance showed a weaker correlation. Notably, tourists prioritized employee friendliness over professional expertise. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of employee attitude in shaping tourist experience in a developing country context. The findings have implications for HR strategies in the tourism industry, emphasizing the need to focus on fostering positive employee attitudes alongside professional skills.

Employing Renewable Energy to Promote Sustainable Economic Growth: An Analysis of the Effects of Investment on Developing Countries

This study examines the influence that investments in renewable energy have on the long-term economic development of emerging nations via a comparative data analysis. In this work, a mix of quantitative econometric analysis and qualitative case studies is used to investigate the intricate processes that determine the link between the adoption of renewable energy and the outcomes of economic growth. The quantitative research reveals that positive associations are statistically significant between investments in renewable energy and several critical economic indicators. These indicators include GDP growth rates, employment levels, and average income levels per capita. Qualitative case studies, on the other hand, provide insights into the contextual elements that influence the performance of investments in renewable energy in specific developing country contexts. The findings of this study highlight the significant impact that strategic investments in renewable energy infrastructure have as a driver of sustainable economic growth. To get the greatest possible socioeconomic benefit from the implementation of renewable energy systems in various developing nation contexts, the research highlights the need to implement specific policy interventions and investment methods.