Document Management System Research Articles

Implementation of blockchain-based document management system for higher education organizations

Abstract Blockchain is revolutionizing various industries, from healthcare to real estate, by making existing systems and processes transparent, secure, and efficient. New application scenarios include adopting smart contracts and decentralized frameworks in education and healthcare, which are seen as promising answers to longstanding problems such as security, credibility, and operational inefficiency. Blockchain’s decentralized and transparent nature offers a significant improvement in the handling of educational documents. Traditional verification methods for academic qualifications or credentials are cumbersome, slow, and often fraud-prone. To ensure the authenticity of academic records, blockchain provides unalterable records that are recorded on ‘the chain’ once and cannot be amended. Therefore, each transaction or update of a student’s academic history can be found and verified, thereby providing transparency and dependability throughout all stages of the verification process. Several blockchain-based educational projects have already revealed their potential. Initiatives focused on building decentralized knowledge platforms and secure digital student identity cards or resume and credentials verification networks offer hope. These platforms prevent fraud and handiness for students: all grade details are kept permanently in their hands. With blockchain, students have a comprehensive and portable record of their education, job skills, and qualifications that can be downloaded this second to potential employers or hearings. The same documents provide students with independence and mobility since their certificates are not tied to a single institution or territory. Blockchain further promotes cooperation between all stakeholders in education, like teachers making decisions, policymakers, or executives who run businesses. Through a wholly transparent and open system to all parties, Blockchain reduces the dependence on intermediaries often found in traditional process management methods, with speed and cost savings benefits. Moreover, in handling crucial information such as that held on student grades and personal details, blockchain’s secure data management provides a very real protection against unauthorized access or breaches.

Regulatory framework for e-documentation and cyber protection amidst society's digital shift

Introduction: Ukraine's active integration into the European community emphasises the crucial role of digital technologies in ensuring the population's welfare and the country's economic growth. Studying the peculiarities of electronic document management in the EU countries will help avoid mistakes and develop an effective system that will meet European standards in many countries on the way to Europeanisation. Objectives: analyse the legal aspects of electronic document management, identify security issues in the information space in Ukraine, and assess Ukrainian e-justice compliance with European standards in the context of digital transformation. Methods: It was conducted using general scientific methods, including analysis of legal documents, generalisation, synthesis, system analysis, analytical diagnostics, and statistical data analysis.Results: It is proved that the legal support of the electronic document management system ensures centralised management of documents, their entire life cycle, collaboration, confidentiality, automatic routing and integration with other systems by the legal documents establishing the legal framework on which the relations between the participants to the process are built, defining their rights, duties and responsibilities. Conclusion: The article identifies the main areas of development and problematic aspects of implementing the e-justice system at the current stage of its formation, as well as the prospects for introducing new technologies in this area

Semantic Analysis of Natural Language Texts: Ontological Approach

The development of information (intelligent) learning systems, electronic document management systems, web-oriented systems working with text information in natural language has led to an increase in the volume of educational content and/or arrays of processed full-text documents. All this requires new means of organizing access to information, many of which should be classified as intelligent systems for knowledge processing. One of the effective approaches to identifying and processing the meaning of educational content (and/or text documents) is the use of ontologies. The purpose of the article is research, analysis of various approaches to determining the semantic content of texts in natural language, consideration of existing concepts of text analysis and prospects for using the proposed ontological approach to semantic analysis of texts in natural language. Research methods are methods of semantic analysis of the main concepts of the analyzed subject area (semantic analysis of texts in natural language). The article considers an approach to the linguistic analysis of texts based on ontological modeling. The novelty of the research is the application of the proposed ontological approach to the semantic analysis of texts in natural language to determine the meaning (semantics) of text information, which is used in intelligent systems of various classes. The conclusion of the research carried out in the article is as follows: an ontological approach to the semantic analysis of natural language text, its tasks and methods is proposed. The use of the proposed approach to text analysis leads to the understanding of semantic analysis as a single triad: <Ontology – Text – Meaning>. For effective and correct extraction of knowledge, it is suggested to use a multi-level ontology. The result of the interaction of a specific natural language text with an ontology is an ontological meaning – a set of interconnected subgraphs of the ontograph. The ontological content is extracted from the ontograph using a semantic analyzer. The dialogue processor examines the syntactic tree of sentence parsing (a connected element of the natural language text) and, based on the given question, finds a fragment in the text that is the answer to the question. Computer understanding (in information or intellectual systems) of natural language text is achieved, in particular, by: immersion of the text in a single environment of knowledge – ontology; formal presentation of meaning (semantics) in the knowledge base of the corresponding system; the possibility of operations on the ontological content. The proposed approach can be used to create intelligent information repositories that work in a single knowledge environment. The proposed approach to the semantic analysis of texts in natural language is focused on the automatic extraction of metadata from texts of various nature (for example, a text document, Internet content, educational content of relevant online courses, description of computer and board games). With further development of the proposed approach, it can be used in systems of automatic referencing of scientific publications, meaningful interpretation of multimedia content, training and testing (including elements of visual display of information and elements of gamification).

Features of ensuring cyber resilience of national information resources, communication and technological systems that ensure the functioning of government authorities under the conditions of the martial law

Risks and threats of unauthorized access to state information resources, communication and technological systems are identified. The procedure and conditions for the administration of state information resources hosted on cloud resources and data processing centers located outside of Ukraine are detailed. The set of regulatory acts approved by the Government of Ukraine with the aim of strengthening the cyber resilience of national information resources was analyzed, the procedure for responding to cyber incidents and cyber attacks, the procedure for searching and identifying potential vulnerabilities of information (automated), electronic communication, information and communication systems, and electronic communication networks was regulated. The regulatory acts adopted during 2023 by the Administration of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection with the aim of strengthening the cyber resilience of state information resources, automated systems for managing technological processes, administration of the state register of critical information infrastructure objects are summarized. The content of methodological recommendations devoted to the issue of responding by cyber security entities to various types of events in cyberspace, increasing the level of cyber protection of electronic document management systems, and strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure objects has been revealed. It is concluded that the process of managing vulnerabilities is aimed at their constant detection, which can be corrected by implementing patches and configuring security parameters. Further directions of improving vulnerability management processes as an important component of the system of ensuring cyber resilience of national information resources, communication and technological systems that ensure the functioning of state authorities are outlined.

Peculiarities and Challenges in Organizing the Photographic Fond of Marjan Ciglič

The aim of the article is to provide a detailed presentation of the systematic organization and research on Marjan Ciglič’s photographic fond, with an emphasis on its peculiarities and a specific case—the Skopje earthquake of 1963. Marjan Ciglič is considered to be the pioneer of documenting and keeping original negatives, with his work method serving as the benchmark for systematic organizing and professional handling of photographic fonds, which essentially encompasses physical ordering, research, making and maintaining an inventory, documenting, digitization, as well as feeding photos and data into the document management system, and so on. Ciglič’s photographic opus is kept in Fototeka, the photo archives of the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia, as part of the largest national collection holding over three million photographs on different media.

Ethics and clinical research: How can the Ethics Committees (CPPs) and Committees for Research Ethics (CER) evolve?*

In line with the spirit of the Giens workshops, this article reports on the recommended evolution of the Ethics Committees (CPPs) and the Committees for Research Ethics (CER) in France. These committees play a crucial role in the ethical evaluation of clinical research projects, a process that has become more complex, particularly in view of recent legislative, regulatory and methodological developments. This reflection highlights the current challenges faced by the CPPs, including the increasing workload, the complexity of the issues to be addressed and the need for better use of their resources. To address this, several recommendations are proposed. These include improving support to sponsors prior to submission, simplifying administrative tasks for CPP members and improving IT tools. The article also highlights the need for continuous evaluation of the activities of the CPPs to contribute to the quality and consistency of their opinions, as well as the importance of making this activity more attractive to qualified professionals, by offering them adequate compensation and professional recognition. For the benefit of all involved in health research, there is a strong desire to develop a single document management system accessible to all and inclusive of relevant information and document templates. Regarding the CERs, which currently operate without a legal framework, the proposition is that their development should take place under conditions of compliance with essential principles of collegiality, transparency and appropriate management of conflict of interest. Finally, it appeared necessary that the National Commission for Research Involving the Human Person (CNRIPH) be given adequate resources to carry out its tasks effectively, including the coordination of the CPPs and the development of appropriate training programs for their members. These recommendations aim to improve the operating conditions of the CPPs and CERs, ensuring the ethics of the research undertaken, as well as the quality of their results.

TECNOLOGIA E GESTÃO PÚBLICA: IMPACTOS DA INSERÇÃO DO SISTEMA ELETRÔNICO DE INFORMAÇÕES (SEI) COMO FERRAMENTA ADMINISTRATIVA EM UMA ESCOLA PÚBLICA

This article analyzes the impacts of implementing the Electronic Information System (SEI), an electronic document management system, as an administrative tool in a state school located in the city of Cujubim/RO. Based on the knowledge acquired during the Higher Education Course in Public Management Technology, we will address the changes that have occurred in the processing of administrative documents, as well as the organizational changes caused by its implementation in the unit under study. We will present here the importance of technology for Public Administration by comparing the advances achieved in recent years and the improvements that technological innovations can provide to organizations, including efficiency and speed in the processing of administrative processes, avoiding frequent loss of documents and, consequently, delays in returns. On the other hand, we have observed resistance and exclusion from some groups that are unable to keep up with the accelerated pace of technological innovations experienced in recent decades. Thus, the main objective of this article is to present, in a succinct manner, the relationship between public administration, technology and innovation as a challenging and productive factor in the execution of administrative activities in the public sector, based on the literature available in academic communication vehicles, observations and opinions/testimonies of the agents involved, providing a brief analysis and reflection on the importance of this theme for today’s public administrator.

Legal directions for improving the activities of the State Agency for the Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine

In this article, the authors conducted a systematic research of the legal areas of improvement of the State Agency for Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine. The relevance of the research is due to the fact that at this stage of the State Agency’s activities there are a number of unresolved legal issues that require regulatory regulation, in particular, the establishment of a «legislative framework» for the reconstruction processes, distribution of powers between it, state and local authorities and other participants in the reconstruction process, introduction of an electronic document flow system from the contractor to the Treasury, unification of decision-making procedures in regional reconstruction services, etc. It is established that the competence of the State Agency was significantly changed after the full-scale invasion of the russian federation, in particular, in terms of ensuring the elimination of the consequences of armed aggression and reconstruction of infrastructure. That is why, given the short period of the State Agency’s functioning, the authors have analysed the key legal acts on the reconstruction and direct activities of this body, the involvement of international technical assistance in the reconstruction processes in Ukraine, and identified areas for improving its activities in accordance with the leading international practices and standards. On the basis of this analysis, the authors focus on the need to adopt a separate law to define the charter of the State Agency for the Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine. It is substantiated that it would be strategically prudent to adopt the Law of Ukraine «On the Basic Principles of Reconstruction of Ukraine» (working title), which would provide for a special status for the State Agency for Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine. It is concluded that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine should decide to increase the number of employees of the State Agency to 190 and to enshrine the plan for the State Agency’s capacity and transformation in the Government’s programme documents. The State Agency is recommended to develop a target operating model of the Agency’s IT strategy and automation of business processes of the Reconstruction Services (in particular, ERP systems), and document management systems.

QLTI-21. STREAMLINING THE STUDY INTAKE PROCESS AT THE CANCER CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH OFFICE (CCTRO)

Abstract Challenges in the Protocol Intake/Activation process at the Henry Ford Cancer Center, particularly during the budget negotiation and coverage analysis (CA) phases, hamper operational efficiency and financial prospects. This study aimed to improve budget time and process efficiency. Process flow mapping, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), and cause-effect analysis using a fishbone diagram were used to identify and analyze key bottlenecks, focusing on the budget negotiation and CA phases. Budget negotiation took an average of 121.5 days in 2023 due to multiple procedures and a lack of standardized practices. Delays ranged from 127.75 days in August to a low of 69.84 days in November of 2023. The budget build process averaged 13.31 days, with an additional 7.57 days for approval, totaling 20.89 days. The CA phase had an average cycle time of 10.82 days (range 2-10 days). To improve approval times, it was recommended to implement an Electronic Document Management System to automate routing, signing, and tracking of budget and CA-related documents, standardized budget templates to streamline negotiations, a detailed electronic checklist to streamline task lists for document collection and budget negotiation, automated reminders for internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely submission of necessary documents, and timely submission policies enforced by a dedicated finance member on committees. Newly developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as ‘time to collect documents,’ ‘time between committees,’ and ‘time for budget negotiation process,’ along with a dual tracking system in Excel, were proposed to monitor and improve these metrics. The recommendations are expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of the Protocol Intake/Activation process. By reducing the budget negotiation phase to less than 60 days and optimizing the CA process, faster study initiation, better resource utilization, and improved responsiveness to research opportunities will be achieved. This study underscores the critical need to address operational challenges in clinical trial management to enhance CCTRO’s capability to conduct timely and effective research.

Document Management System

A Document Management System (DMS) is a digital solution that enables the efficient organization, storage, retrieval, and management of documents in electronic format. It aims to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and ensure data security in businesses or organizations by digitizing document handling processes. With features like version control, secure access, metadata tagging, and automated workflows, DMS minimizes the dependency on physical paper, reduces the risk of document loss, and facilitates compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, a DMS enables remote access and collaboration, making it easier for team members to work together on documents in real time, regardless of location. By centralizing document management, a DMS enhances operational efficiency, optimizes resource utilization, and supports the digital transformation efforts of modern enterprises.

THE ROLE OF THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT IN THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION

The role of information and communication management in the strategic management of the organization is to ensure the effective collection, analysis and dissemination of information to achieve strategic goals. This area of management plays a critical role in the formulation and implementation of strategies because it allows the management of the organization to have access to important data to make informed decisions. Information and communication management contributes to the optimization of management processes by creating a data collection and processing system that helps in identifying and solving strategic problems. In addition, this type of management helps to increase the effectiveness of communication within the organization, which contributes to joint work and the achievement of set goals. In summary, information and communication management acts as a key element of strategic management, which helps the organization adapt to changes in the external environment, make informed decisions and ensure competitive advantages in the market. The aim of this research is to study and analyze the impact of the information and communication mechanism on the effectiveness of strategic management in modern organizations and are also aimed at revealing the role of the information and communication mechanism in the strategic management of the organization and providing recommendations for improving its use in order to achieve competitive advantage and success of the organization. Methodology. The author has conducted a systematic analysis of scientific sources, scientific and technical literature, articles, books and other sources related to the information and communication mechanism and strategic management. This analysis allowed to obtain a sound theoretical basis for the study, as well as to identify problems, challenges and opportunities in this area. The researcher also conducted a method of observing the processes of strategic management in organizations, analyzing the interaction between different functional groups to identify key aspects of the use of the information and communication mechanism and ways to optimize it. There are several research results: firstly, the study showed that the effective use of the information and communication mechanism allows for the rapid transfer and processing of information, which contributes to better and more informed strategic decisions. Secondly, it was proved that the information and communication mechanism is an important tool for introducing innovations in strategic management. This allows you toquickly transfer new ideas and knowledge, promotes cooperation between various structural divisions, and stimulates the creative potential of the organization. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the need for effective use of the information and communication mechanism in the strategic management of the organization. The practical implications of the research, which emphasizes the need for effective use of the information and communication mechanism in the strategic management of the organization, are as follows: 1) Organizations may find the need to improve their information and communication infrastructure. This may include the introduction of new software tools, electronic document management systems, web platforms for communication and collaboration between employees, as well as providing access to relevant information through internal networks. 2) The results of the study may prompt the organization to review and improve its strategic management processes. This may include changes in the processes of gathering and analyzing information, communication between different levels and functional units, and making decisions based on up-to-date data. The originality and value of the research lie in the following aspects: 1) Research can bring new knowledge, discoveries and insights that were not previously known or were not sufficiently developed. 2) Includes recommendations that can be used to improve practices, processes or decisions in a specific area of activity. 3) The originality of research is that it can contribute to the development of new ideas, approaches and technologies. It can stimulate innovation in the industry, contributing to the development of new products, services or processes that have a significant impact on the market or society at large.

International experience and standards of implementation of innovative technologies in document management in Ukraine

The article discusses international experience and standards of implementation of innovative technologies in the processes of document management, which significantly affects the efficiency of the organization and contributes to the rapid and effective development of information technology. One of the main goals of information technology implementation is to ensure efficient document management, which includes the creation, implementation, processing, storage and transfer of documents. Therefore, the implementation of electronic document management systems and document automation is an important element of using international standards to develop strategies that include effective recommendations adapted to local requirements. Such integration will help improve document management systems, increase efficiency and transparency.

Resource constraints in implementing electronic document management systems

Resource constraints in implementing electronic document management systems

Assembly and reassembly processes of documents in the document system

Abstract. This work is dedicated to analyzing and improving document processing methods in the electronic document management environment, particularly methods of preserving the integrity and authenticity of documents and their automated generation. The focus is on document assembly and reassembly processes. The research is based on extensive experience with electronic document management systems and utilizes publicly available information on the latest methods and practices of processing, protecting, and generating documents for general use. During the literature review, an analysis of modern document management systems was conducted and a consideration of the manual document processing approach. The review part of the work aimed to familiarize with existing implementations of electronic document management systems and to develop their comparative characteristics, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Specifically, such electronic document management systems as "DIA", "PandaDoc", and "GoogleDocs" were examined by the author. As a result of analyzing the current state of the issue in the field of automated and manual document processing, a technological chain of a specialized automated document management system was developed. Document assembly and reassembly mechanisms were designed and described, along with other processes accompanying this technological chain. The purpose of the technical part of this work is a detailed examination of the critical mechanisms of a specialized automated document management system and their overall interaction at the client-server level. In conclusion, the scientific novelty lies in improving the technological chain of a specialized automated document management system through software tools for document assembly and reassembly. During the research, an analytical description of software tools for document assembly and reassembly was proposed, considering the possibility of automated document generation.

APPLICATION OF MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF ACCURACY OF OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION RESULTS

One of the most pervasive processes of modernity is undoubtedly digitalization, which has encompassed all key spheres of human life. The development of information technology has contributed to large-scale changes not only in the everyday aspect of life, but also more globally, automating complex business processes in the field of entrepreneurship, economics, and healthcare. The transition to digital data and documentation has provided greater accessibility to necessary information and has also enhanced the efficiency of its analysis and processing. Due to this fact, optical character recognition (OCR) technology has gained significant importance, enabling the identification and extraction of textual data from images. OCR systems play a pivotal role in the digital transformation of society as they eliminate the need for manual handling of textual information in images and are applicable in automating the majority of business processes associated with paper-based data processing, such as gathering statistical data from paper forms, reflecting paper documents in electronic document management systems, converting textual information into audio files, and so on. This paper is dedicated to describing optical character recognition technology, as well as providing an overview of machine learning techniques that are actively used in the context of its modern implementation, in order to enhance the quality of the obtained results. In addition, the paper presents the principles of operation of the described approaches, their capabilities, as well as some limitations that may be encountered when using them in various scenarios.

Ontological analysis of business process modeling of higher education institutions based on the electronic document management system

Abstract Improving the quality of the educational process, bringing it to modern requirements is a complex task, the solution of which requires a systematic approach from higher education institutions and the development of a strategy to improve the quality of service and efficiency of the institution. Formalization and modeling of the management business process allows for effective management decisions. When analyzing large amounts of information to effectively solve the problem of data structuring, as well as the problem of forming new knowledge, it is proposed to use an ontological approach based on the use of associative rules. The ontological analysis of modeling business processes of higher education institutions and analysis of the structure, functions and information flows of organization and management of educational activities based on the structural approach is carried out. Improving the quality of the educational process, bringing it to modern requirements is a complex task, the solution of which requires a systematic approach from higher education institutions and the development of a strategy to improve the quality of service and efficiency of the institution. The use of an ontological model of interaction between subjects and objects of the system makes it possible to assess the level of system efficiency and build a simulation model of management, which will allow predicting the emergence of critical business processes that may lead to a decrease in the efficiency of decision-making and disruptions in the functioning of higher education institutions and their departments.

Electronic document management systems implementation across industries: systematic analysis

Electronic document management systems implementation across industries: systematic analysis

The main ways to improve the effectiveness of electronic document management protection

Information resources and information systems are among the main protected elements in all spheres of life of modern enterprises [11-15]. Today, the means of negative information impact on these elements are actively developing, the counteraction of which requires extensive diverse research and development of relevant concepts, programs for organizing specific work in the field of creating tools, methods and techniques for ensuring information security. Illegal distribution of digital documents by authorized but unscrupulous users is a growing threat to the confidentiality of organizations, which a document management system using only encryption methods cannot fully cope with. This problem occurs together with access to a digital document by unauthorized users. In this article, as a countermeasure to protect digital documents from these two threats, a new approach is proposed that carefully combines encryption and fingerprinting methods at certain stages of the digital document lifecycle. Within this scenario, a full analysis was carried out, in which the main constituent elements, their interaction, data flow and the provision of security services were identified. This protection system guarantees a sufficient level of security, since it uses standard cryptographic algorithms and recommended key sizes. The purpose of this approach is to provide information security services such as confidentiality, integrity, authentication, non-repudiation and user tracking, thereby protecting digital documents throughout their entire life cycle.

INTEGRATION OF DIGITAL TOOLS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCEINTO HR MANAGEMENT PROCESSES

Nowadays, companies are forced to quickly adapt to market changes and effectively use digital innovations to optimize operations and rationally use human resources. Given that human capital is the main asset of modern companies, they must apply the latest methods of personnel management to increase efficiency and adaptability in a changing business environment. DMS (document management system) acts as a single platform for storing, accessing and managing all company documents. DMS is easily integrated with HR systems, which simplifies the management of personnel processes and document flow in the company. Automation of onboarding (one of the key processes) allows you to minimize time spent on administrative tasks, providing a structured and standardized approach. In addition to onboarding, it is especially important to optimize the process of adaptation and training of personnel. Automated training systems allow corporate networks to quickly update employees' skills, providing them with access to up-to-date training materials, courses and certifications. Automation of work processes helps save time and reduce human errors. ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a software for automating and optimizing the recruitment process. HRMS (Human Resource Management System) is a comprehensive centralized system for managing all aspects of HR. LMS (Learning Management System) is a software or web platform that allows organizations to create, manage, deliver and track training materials and programs. Therefore, AI-powered software solutions can significantly facilitate and accelerate the candidate selection process. However, it is worth remembering that the human factor is key. People can detect subtle details that AI can miss.

Role of document management system for business processes optimization

The automation of work processes and seamless integration with various business services highlight the essential role of digital document management systems (DMS) in enhancing organizational flexibility, productivity, and adaptability. DMS serve as centralized repositories that streamline, automate, and interconnect business processes, thereby facilitating effective document management. The integration of DMS with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems provides a comprehensive solution for optimizing business workflows, addressing the needs for both operational efficiency and strategic management. The research paper delineates a business model for the life cycle management of electronic documents and records, focusing on the integration of processes such as document creation, management, approval, and secure distribution. This integrated approach enhances organizational structure, optimizes processes, and bolsters security, leading to significant cost reductions and increased work efficiency. The model emphasizes the importance of streamlined and automated document workflows in reducing manual errors and operational bottlenecks. Key features of DMS include advanced mechanisms for digitizing physical documents, ensuring that all data is captured accurately and efficiently. Centralized storage with version control allows for easy retrieval and management of documents, ensuring that the latest versions are always accessible. Additionally, advanced search and accessibility features enable quick and efficient document retrieval, which is crucial for maintaining high productivity levels. The study underscores the pivotal role of DMS in modern enterprises, advocating their implementation as a strategic move to drive operational excellence and competitive advantage. By integrating DMS with ERP systems, businesses can achieve a cohesive and efficient operational environment that supports both day-to-day activities and long-term strategic goals. This comprehensive approach to document management not only optimizes efficiency and reduces errors but also enhances the overall agility and responsiveness of the organization in a rapidly changing economic environment.