Industry Association Research Articles

Influence of Strategic Customer Retention Practices on the Performance of Automotive Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Purpose: The main focus of the study was to establish how strategic customer retention practices influences performance of automotive firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study specifically focused on establishing the influence of customer support programs, technological advancements, and strategic communication practices and customer’s motivation programs on performance of automotive firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study was anchored on Expectancy Theory, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Communication Theory and Customer Service Theory. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive survey research design and targeted 18 franchised automotive firms registered by Kenya Motor Industry Association. The unit of observation comprised of employees in strategic, marketing and IT departments. A total of 80 respondents were involved in the study. Primary data was utilized in the study and was gathered through 5-point Likert scale structured questionnaires. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were adopted in analyzing the collected data. The statistics were generated by help of SPSS software and results presented in form of tables and figures. The study conducted a pilot test before the main study on two randomly selected automotive firms to assess the reliability and validity of questionnaires. Respondents involved in the pilot study was not be included in the main study. Findings: The study established that strategic customer retention practices accounts for 61.8% in variations of performance of automotive firms in Nairobi County. The study further established that strategic customer retention practices comprising of customer support programs, technological advancements, and strategic communication practices and customer’s motivation programs positively and significantly influences performance of the firm. This was depicted by beta values of 0.508, 0.324, 0.216, and 0.196 and significant values of 0.000, 0.000, 0.007, and 0.012. Unique Contribution to theory, Policy and Practice: The study concluded that enhancing the strategic customer retention practices leads to enhanced performance levels of the firms. The study provided recommendations to the management of the automotive firms to enhance aspects of customer support programs, technological advancements, and strategic communication practices and customer’s motivation programs since the practices leads to enhanced performance levels of the firms.

Embracing Culinary Tourism as a Strategy for Boosting Regional Development: Bangka Belitung Case Studies

Both regional and national growth are aided by culinary tourism. Every region needs to have an appropriate strategy in place to compete with the others in order to maximize development. Creating a supply-demand-driven culinary tourism strategy is the aim of this study. Hybrid technique was employed in this investigation. Participants in this study included chefs, tour operators, owners of agricultural tourism firms, local government representatives in the tourism sector, and operators of restaurants and hotels. SWOT analysis was conducted using the results of visitor surveys, aerial observations, focus group discussion, and secondary data. Suggested course of action: Priority plans are selected by government officials and executives of travel industry associations, and AHP is used to process them. Product, pricing, marketing communication, and collaboration are the recommended areas of concentration. To increase price competitiveness, culinary products from upstream to downstream must work together. Among the goods that must be created are facilities, culinary festivals and events, culinary-related activities, and organizations dedicated to culinary tourism. Collaborative marketing communications are needed to maximize culinary tourism-related media and messaging. There are restrictions on research involving horizontal stakeholders. Future research needs to look at the various ways that stakeholders collaborate.

Consensus Statement on the Outcome of the European Herbal Health Products Summit - Which Way Forward?

Herbal medicinal products are a vital part of the healthcare system in Europe and beyond. Being predominantly sold as non-prescription medicines in pharmacies, they are very popular with patients, physicians, and pharmacists and are therefore an important part of self-medication. Interest in this sector has recently gained momentum, reflecting the ongoing revision of the general pharmaceutical legislation and the recent discussion on nutrition and health claims on foods based on the implementation report of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 by the European Parliament 1. Therefore, on 20th February 2024, the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA), in collaboration with the German Pharmaceutical Industry Association (BPI) and the German Medicines Manufacturers' Association (BAH, now Pharma Deutschland), hosted an in-person summit in Brussels entitled 'European Herbal Health Products Summit - Which way forward?'. The summit featured a wide range of speakers, including policymakers, regulatory authorities, industry representatives, and academic experts. It was divided into several sessions covering topics such as the future and relevance of herbal medicinal products in the EU, the revision of the EU pharmaceutical legislation, and the resulting impact on herbal medicinal products. Furthermore, the discussions delved into the "Health Claims Regulation" - the European Parliament's implementation report and the related regulatory challenges of herbal medicinal products at an EU level. This consensus paper summarises the current status and provided recommendations to pave the way for future strategies to ascertain the continued use of herbal medicinal products as an important therapeutic option for patients.

Poland in Blue: The Phenomenon of the Denim Clothing Industry in Polish Society During the Socialistic Period

In the People’s Republic of Poland 1 , blue jeans were much more than just an element of clothing. They have become a symbol of freedom, a generational rebellion, and an aspiration for the world on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Aid parcels sent by relatives, mainly from the USA and also from Great Britain, Canada, and Australia played a significant role in getting to know denim clothing in socialist Poland. In the second half of the 1960s, the domestic production of substitute denim-like materials 2 , including denim-like trousers, was started. They were a response to the demand, in particular, of groups of young people for products made of this type of material. The new improvements and material inventions were supervised by the association of clothing industries and research laboratories, which played an essential role in the creation of materials for domestic production (Kortan 1981). A group of active Polish textile and fashion designers contributed to promote comfortable denim clothing from the West. This article presents the role of the denim clothing industry in Poland during the socialist period (1952–1989), considering the cultural context and the impact of this clothing on discovering alternative forms, replacing the originals from capitalist countries. It should be noted that in the People’s Republic of Poland, new types of textile materials were developed and improved so that they corresponded, at least in part, to materials from the West and filled in product gaps. To this end, proprietary commercial versions of fabrics used to produce garments, including the jeans discussed in this publication, were made of a textile known as in Polish word “Teksas” a denim substitute. Researching archival materials and showing achievements in the field of textiles and fashion fills the gap in research on cultural significance of fashion, textile materials and the production of denim and clothing from domestic fabrics of the socialist era.

Enhancing Security and Traceability in Aerospace Supply Chains through Block Chain Technology

This study explores the impact of blockchain technology on aerospace supply chains, focusing on mitigating risks such as supply chain disruptions, counterfeit parts, and regulatory compliance challenges. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative analysis using data sourced from publicly available databases, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and reports from blockchain technology providers. Descriptive analysis identified supply chain disruptions (M = 3.74, SD = 1.17) as the most significant risk, followed by counterfeit parts (M = 3.34, SD = 1.20). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) demonstrated that part authentication and provenance tracking had the strongest impact on improving traceability (β = 0.40, p < 0.001) and transparency (β = 0.38, p < 0.001). A Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) revealed a positive return on investment, with cost-benefit ratios up to 2.31. Blockchain adoption was also found to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 25%, while improving operational efficiency through shorter procurement lead times and lower administrative costs. However, regulatory misalignment and interoperability challenges remain barriers to full adoption. The study concludes that blockchain is a transformative tool for enhancing traceability, security, and sustainability in aerospace supply chains.

Working Paper 53: Good governance and the just transition

There is broad agreement that ensuring a just energy transition is key for achieving the trust and support from citizens needed to succeed with the green transition and the COP28 goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. This paper discusses the concept of a just transition, with a particular focus on the importance of achieving a transition that benefits both local communities and society at large. It examines the governance and corruption challenges that could jeopardise this goal and discusses how industry associations and companies in the renewable energy sector could step up its efforts to address these challenges to realise the ambition of a just transition. The paper draws on lessons from the experience of tackling governance and corruption risks in the extractive sector and sets out proposals on how to accelerate collective action in the renewable energy sector. About this report This is a guest Working Paper of the Basel Institute on Governance, ISSN: 2624-9650. You may share or republish the report under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence. The contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Basel Institute on Governance, University of Basel or funding organisations. Suggested citation: de Vibe, Maja, and Mark Robinson. 2024. ‘Good governance and the just transition: Implications for renewable energy companies.’ Working Paper 53, Basel Institute on Governance. Available at: baselgovernance.org/publications/wp-53.

Nudging manufacturing small and medium enterprises in developing communities to energy management: exploring the role of institutional pressure dimensions

Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether all the dimensions of institutional pressures matter for energy management (EM) of manufacturing small and medium enterprises using evidence from Uganda. Design/methodology/approach This study used a cross-sectional design using evidence from 195 manufacturing small and medium enterprises in Uganda. The study was conducted by administering a questionnaire to obtain quantitative data which were analyzed using Smart Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling. Findings The findings revealed that two dimensions of institutional pressures (coercive and mimetic) positively and significantly predict EM, unlike normative pressures. Notable is that coercive pressures contribute more to EM than mimetic pressures. Research limitations/implications This study uses a quantitative design; thus, future studies through interviews would offer more knowledge on EM. The government should reinforce regulations to achieve sustainable energy for all communities. Additionally, governments and industry associations should pay attention to the critical pressures (coercive and mimetic) to step up EM. Moreso, enterprise managers should comprehend government regulations and peers’ actions for effective EM. Originality/value This study contributes to EM literature by using institutional theory to examine the contribution of individual dimensions of institutional pressures to EM from the context.

A model for standardizing Nigerian SMEs: Enhancing competitiveness through quality control

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in Nigeria's economic development, contributing significantly to employment, innovation, and gross domestic product (GDP). However, Nigerian SMEs face persistent challenges that hinder their growth and global competitiveness, particularly a lack of standardisation and inadequate quality control. This review proposes a comprehensive model for standardizing Nigerian SMEs, focusing on enhancing competitiveness through robust quality control mechanisms. The model is built on four key components: the development of a sector-specific quality control framework, government and institutional support, technology integration, and collaboration within SME clusters. By implementing industry-specific standards and providing training programs, SMEs can align their products and services with global benchmarks, increasing their potential for international market penetration. The model emphasizes the need for government incentives and regulatory bodies to foster adoption while encouraging the use of digital tools to monitor quality in real-time. Additionally, public-private partnerships are recommended to drive technology transfer, making quality control more affordable and accessible. The proposed model also promotes collaboration among SMEs through networking and knowledge sharing, enabling small businesses to adopt best practices collectively. Pilot programs in sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing are suggested to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the model. This review argues that adopting this standardized quality control model will significantly enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian SMEs, reducing barriers to growth, and facilitating economic development. The success of this initiative relies on coordinated efforts from government, industry associations, and SMEs themselves. Keywords: Nigerian SMEs, Competitiveness, Quality control, Economic Development.

Conservation threats from tourism land grabs and greenwash

We report a new threat to conservation, namely land grabs by large tourism developers inside public protected areas. Locally, these tourism land grabs damage national parks through building footprints and access corridors, bringing habitat fragmentation, noise, light, roadkill, fire risk, and invasive plant and animal species and pathogens. They also create negative impacts on social equity and regional economies. The global tourism industry now perceives private development in public national parks as a mechanism to profit from land speculation, rather than merely monopoly provision of visitor services. Investment funds now use tourism, often with socialwashing components, as a political lever for land grabs. International “nature positive” marketing by tourism industry associations and multilateral tourism advocacy organisations is greenwash: it lacks substance, and aims to coopt conservation organisations.

452 Data-driven strategic sustainability initiatives of beef and dairy genetics consortiums: A comprehensive landscape analysis for USA, Brazil, and Europe

Abstract The past two decades have witnessed beef and dairy genetic consortiums implementing data-driven germplasm propagation programs in global cattle systems. These programs optimize for multi-dimensional economic, environmental, and animal welfare related sustainability goals and are driven by consumer demands and shifts in supply chains. To summarize these programs and gain insights into the sustainability journey of industry, we did a comprehensive landscape analysis of the strategic initiatives of key global genetics companies, their germplasm offerings, and data platforms offered in three major cattle producing geographies, namely the USA, Brazil, and Europe. Within these locales, they followed selection index-based genomic and reproductive management strategies for both beef, dairy, and beef-on-dairy production, tailored to relevant market and climatic conditions (Figure 1). While individual traits in selection indices ranged between 40 to 90 traits, all traits could be broadly grouped into three: namely production, longevity, health and reproduction. In the USA, companies like ABS Global, Select Sires, Genex Cooperative, STGenetics, Zoetis, Vytelle offer genomic selection programs encompassing germplasm products, and genetic and production data tracking platforms across the beef, dairy, and beef-on-dairy value chains. These companies have implemented reproductive management programs such as in-vitro fertilized embryo transfer, sexed semen, along with genomic selection with a focus on future replacements based on multi-trait sustainability indices. These initiatives are customized for each of the cow-calf, backgrounding, and feedlot sector of beef production. In dairy, these companies have diversified data-driven production programs customizable to conventional and organic production systems. In Europe, companies like CRV, Viking Genetics, and Alta Genetics prioritize traits related to resource efficiency, animal welfare and environmental impact. Semen companies also offer data management tools tailored to European market requirements, alongside services for on-farm semen production and storage to reduce transportation-related emissions. In Brazil, companies such as ABS Pecplan, CRV Brazil, and Semex Brazil, developed herd management solutions focusing on traits like heat tolerance, tropical environmental adaptability, and disease resistance. The landscape analysis revealed a dynamic industry, evolving to meet sustainability goals and market demands. These enterprises collaborate with stakeholders across the value chain, including producers, policymakers, and industry associations, to scale data-driven production systems that balance profitability and environmental footprint of cattle production. As such, they have positioned themselves to capitalize on the growing interest in sustainable livestock production practices worldwide by aligning scientific and technical strategies with evolving regulatory requirements and consumer demands. The global cattle industry is positioned to venture forward by leveraging niche carbon markets and new marketing channels propelled by emerging principles of environmental, social, and corporate governance. Strategic germplasm and data-tracking platform initiatives by these groups thus become an integral part of the livestock sustainability solution palette and will contribute its share to a climate-neutral Earth by 2050.

The future of agricultural data-sharing policy in Europe: stakeholder insights on the EU Code of Conduct

In 2018, the EU Code of Conduct of Agricultural Data Sharing by Contractual Agreement (EUCC) was published. This voluntary initiative is considered a basis for rights and responsibilities for data sharing in the agri-food sector, with a specific farmer orientation. While the involved industry associations agreed on its content, there are limited insights into how and to what extent the EUCC has been received and implemented within the sector. In 2024, the Data Act was introduced, a horizontal legal framework that aims to enforce specific legal requirements for data sharing across sectors. Yet, it remains to be seen if it will be the ultimate solution for the agricultural sector, as some significant agricultural data access issues remain. It is thus essential to determine if the EUCC may still play a significant role to address sector-specific issues in line with the horizontal rules of the Data Act. During six workshops across Europe with 89 stakeholders, we identified how the EUCC has been (1) received by stakeholders, (2) implemented, and (3) its future use (particularly in response to the Data Act). Based on the workshop results and continued engagements with researchers and stakeholders, we conclude that the EUCC is still an important document for the agricultural sector but should be updated in response to the content of the Data Act. Hence we propose the following improvements to the EUCC: 1. Provide clear, practical examples for applying the EUCC combined with the Data Act; 2. Generate model contractual terms based on the EUCC provisions; 3. Clarify GDPR-centric concepts like anonymisation and pseudonymisation in the agricultural data-sharing setting; 4. Develop a functional enforcement and implementation framework; and 5. Play a role in increasing interoperability and trust among stakeholders.

464 Awardee Talk: Gastrointestinal tract physiology in young pigs

Abstract It is indeed a great privilege to have been awarded the 2024 American Feed Industry Association Award in Nonruminant Nutrition Research. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of many great non-ruminant nutritionists in the industry. I commenced my career in the pork industry with a PhD in digestive nutritional physiology focusing on the newly weaned piglet that, some 35 yr later, is still the subject of significant interest amongst researchers, veterinarians and practitioners, and producers alike. My research was amongst the first to demonstrate direct relationships between voluntary feed intake after weaning and structure and function of the small intestine, corresponding to production consequences. To circumvent intestinal tract disturbances after weaning, antibiotic growth promotors (AGPs)/prophylactic levels of antibiotics and mineral compounds (e.g., ZnO) were routinely included in diets. With the withdrawal of AGPs and in some jurisdictions, in-feed medications and ZnO, the commercial importance of maximizing feed intake in the post-weaning period, with appropriate inclusion of fiber and selected feed additives, has become even more apparent. Some of the more recent work I have been involved in, still involving the gastrointestinal tract, has explored the interrelationships as to why progeny born to first-litter sows perform worse than progeny born to multiparous sows. This is a global issue for the pork industry, especially in view of increasing litter size, yet remains one that has been relatively underexplored. A series of Australian studies using primiparous and multiparous sows, and their progeny conducted on commercial farms confirmed these findings, and reported some significant physiological, immunological, and anatomical differences between piglets born to different parity mothers. Piglets born to first-litter sows are born and weaned lighter than their counterparts born to older sows, suggesting they suffer poorer acquisition of maternal immunity and delays in intestinal tract development and skeletal muscle both in utero and soon after birth, and around weaning. Piglets born to first-litter sows enter weaning with reduced intestinal tract integrity and show some signs of reduced immunocompetence, which taken together, may impede their ability to cope with the stressors of weaning. Weaned piglets are typically treated collectively and are not managed by parity, but lifelong consequences of being born to a first-litter sow suggests further work needs to be done in this field. Gastrointestinal tract structure and function in piglets, and indeed in all neonates, is intricately associated with ‘gut health’, which was a term not even in the lexicon of the pork industry when I began my career. It is pleasing to see that the study of the gastrointestinal tract continues today, stronger than ever, as advances in science and methodologies allow for greater introspection of this organ and its multi-directional influences on the biology of the pig.

A cross-country, macro-level investigation into earnings retention during the COVID-19 pandemic

Orientation: Many shareholders rely on dividends for income. During crisis periods, managers, however, tend to retain rather than distribute earnings. Most prior research during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic focussed on company-specific factors and industry association that favour earnings retention. As far as could be ascertained, no studies to date have investigated the role that macro-level factors could have played.Research purpose: The authors hence examined the extent to which government efficiency, business efficiency, infrastructure, economic performance, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation and indulgence influenced earnings retention at listed companies in 62 countries from 2019 to 2021.Motivation for the study: Additional insights were uncovered regarding the earnings retention decision during an economic crisis.Research approach/design and method: Earnings retention data were downloaded from Bloomberg database, and country-level data from the International Institute for Management Development, the World Bank, Hofstede Insights and the World Federation of Exchanges. Panel regressions were used to examine hypothesised relationships.Main findings: Contrary to expectation, earnings retention was negatively associated with the cultural dimension that measures uncertainty avoidance. The notion that less earnings would be retained in countries with high indulgence scores was, however, supported. Significant differences in earnings retention were observed across geographic regions and income groups. This descriptive study provides support for the dividend signalling theory in some countries.Practical/managerial implications: Shareholders who rely on dividends should be mindful of signalling behaviour during economic crises.Contribution/value-add: The findings enrich the extant literature on the earnings retention decision during an economic crisis by highlighting the importance of cultural dimensions, notably uncertainty avoidance and indulgence. Recommendations are offered to managers, shareholders and policymakers.

Protection of Seafarers' Rights and Interests by International Treaties

In 2006, the ILO adopted the Maritime Labour Convention, which has had an important impact on the rights of seafarers worldwide and the promotion of the international maritime industry. In recent years, China's labor and social security legal system has been gradually improved, and legal norms such as the Regulations on Seafarers and the Maritime Traffic Safety Law have been promulgated and implemented successively, laying a certain foundation for the system of labor norms for seafarers. However, these special legislation has some limitations, such as not strong operability and not identical with the international treaty system. This paper mainly studies the framework structure and implementation mechanism of maritime labor conventions, finds out China's application method of international law, and puts forward the shortcomings of China's implementation process and corresponding countermeasures and suggestions suitable for the current situation of Chinese seafarers. By combining theory with practice, this paper uses literature analysis and analysis deduction to find out the strategies that can optimize the implementation mechanism in China. At present, China has made a lot of preparations for the implementation of maritime labor conventions, carried out a lot of legislative activities, and has already acquired relevant legislative experience and technology. Improving the labor supervision system and making full use of the tripartite mechanism platform and industry associations are the top priorities for China to better implement international conventions and protect the rights and interests of seafarers in the next stage.

How to Make My Bug Bounty Cost-Effective? A Game-Theoretical Model

A bug bounty program (BBP) is an innovative crowdsourcing security solution increasingly adopted by organizations. We use a game-theoretical model to analyze how key characteristics impact BBPs and offer practical insights into managing a BBP as part of an organization’s vulnerability management for better cost-effectiveness. Our findings indicate that organizations with high patching complexity should announce lower bounties, especially if they face limited security resources. BBPs should complement, not substitute, an organization’s security characteristics. Evaluating patching complexity and security posture is crucial when designing a BBP. Furthermore, security researchers drive BBP performance. Higher productivity in researchers doesn’t always require higher bounties even with high postdiscovery costs. Novice productivity can increase total costs if unit postdiscovery costs are high, whereas expert productivity consistently reduces costs. Organizations should disclose high-level product and information technology (IT) features to increase expert productivity. The number of security researchers in a BBP is important, but increasing their numbers doesn’t always necessitate higher bounties. A larger crowd may not always be cost-effective. Lastly, enhanced legal protection for security researchers might not increase organizational risks, especially in organizations with robust security or less sophisticated IT infrastructure. Industrial associations and policymakers should consider these factors in standards and legal frameworks.

Evasión tributaria y cumplimiento de obligaciones tributarias en el Parque Industrial de Huaycán de Ate Vitarte

The objective of the investigation was to determine the relationship between tax evasion and compliance with tax obligations in the Huaycán de Ate Vitarte Industrial Park. For this, a basic quantitative methodology was used, of a non-experimental and transversal type, using the survey technique through two questionnaires administered to 30 members of the industrial park association. The results revealed that the two-sided significance values were 0.000, below the threshold of 0.05. This indicates a significant and high relationship between tax evasion and compliance with tax obligations in the Huaycán Industrial Park, with a Rho correlation coefficient of 0.728. In conclusion, it was evident that there is a significant relationship between tax evasion and compliance with tax obligations in the Huaycán Industrial Park in Ate Vitarte. This suggests that partners who evade taxes have a tendency to be less compliant with their tax obligations, indicating a lack of tax ethics and a perception of impunity in compliance with tax laws.

Corporate Environmental Reporting: Do Firms Operating in Environmentally Sensitive Sectors Disclose Enough?

Corporate environmental disclosure has been increasing steadily as it is an essential factor for sustainable development. However, this factor seems to be insufficientl recognised within the Nigerian corporate world. The objective of this study is to assess the level of corporate sustainability disclosures in environmentally sensitive industries in Nigeria. This study is based on secondary data obtained from annual reports of firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). Data used were collected from 45 sampled companies listed under 6 environmentally sensitive sectors for the 2021 financial year. Content analysis was applied to measure the level of environmental disclosures. The Environmental Disclosure Index (EDI) was prepared based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. This research used independent sample t-test, analysis of variance, and the Kruskal-Wallis test as techniques of analysis. There were statistically significant differences in firms’ disclosure levels based on environmental certifications. The agriculture industry made the highest environmental disclosure, whereas the companies in the natural resources industry disclosed the least. It was found that companies revealed maximum information on their energy and environmental compliance initiatives, while there was inadequate information in other areas of environmental disclosure, such as supplier environmental assessment, effluents and wastes, and materials. The study provides implications for the strict adoption of a systematic reporting framework, especially for environmentally sensitive firms, while offering insights to guide policymakers, regulatory bodies, industry associations, and businesses in Nigeria to promote transparency and responsible environmental reporting.

지역산업연관분석을 활용한 동남권 연구개발투자의 경제적 파급효과

Based on the regional industry association table published by the Bank of Korea (as of 2015, July 2022), this study analyzed the economic ripple effect of R&D investment in the southeastern region of Korea (Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam) on each region of the country and the economic ripple effect on individual industries in the southeast region. As a result of analyzing the economic effect of R&D investment in the southeast region on each region, it was found that the effect was the highest in the southeast region, which is its own region, in all sectors such as the production inducement coefficient, the value-added inducement coefficient, and the employment inducement coefficient, followed by the high economic ripple effect on the metropolitan area. In addition, as a result of analyzing the effect of R&D investment in the southeast region on each industry in the southeast region, it was found that the production inducement effect had a large ripple effect on the manufacturing sector, and the job creation effect had a large economic ripple effect on the service industry.

Quality Management In Ready-Mix Concrete Production In Zambia

The construction industry, a significant contributor to global economies, is projected to yield substantial economic output by 2030 of around $135 trillion. Central to construction is concrete, a widely used material. Ready-mix concrete (RMC), a specialised form of concrete, is gaining prominence due to its rapid setting and superior quality. In Zambia, the increasing demand for RMC highlights the need for stringent quality management to hedge potential structural risks. This study aimed to determine the quality management in ready-mix concrete production in Zambia. Employing a parallel convergent mixed-methods research design to achieve the objectives, qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and desk study and quantitative data was gathered through a structured questionnaire and an observation checklist. The findings of the study reveal that while guidelines exist, adherence varies. Regulatory bodies for standards, engineering and construction play pivotal roles in overseeing RMC quality. However, their execution faces inconsistencies and challenges due to limited resources and a lack of sense of responsibility. Quality control practices were investigated unveiling variations in forward, immediate, and retrospective control phases. Notable trends in proper storage and equipment calibration showed a commitment to precision. Immediate control practices, encompassing sampling and non-compliance management, demonstrated both positive aspects and areas for improvement. Retrospective control showed commitment to comprehensive strength testing and minimal towards split cylinder testing and on-site slump evaluation. In the realm of quality assurance (QA), RMC facilities show substantial adherence to documented QA standard operating procedures and thorough raw material inspections. However, deficiencies in batching and mixing practices and limited adoption of modern weighing systems require improvement. The study recommends creating an industry association for collaboration, enhancing standardised practices, introducing third-party quality audits, and proposing compulsory RMC standards to boost progress in the Zambian RMC industry. Key Words: Quality Management, Ready Mix Concrete, Observation, Desk Study, Zambia.

Implementation of link and match policy to enhance employment of graduates: A case study in vocational high schools

This study aims to explore the link and match policy through industrial classes and its impact on the competence and employability of Vocational High School (VHS) graduates. The importance of this research is to address the gap between education and industry by assessing the effectiveness of industrial classes in improving the skills and employability of VHS graduates. Horison Industrial Class (HIC) in 4 schools, namely: (1) SMKN 57 Jakarta, 2 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (2) SMKN 6 Yogyakarta, there are 3 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (3) SMKN 6 Semarang, there are 2 batches of Hospitality expertise programs; (4) SMKN 2 Semarang. This research emphasizes the important role of industry involvement and commitment in aligning the curriculum with industry needs. The field findings show that the implementation of the link and match policy through industrial classes significantly affects the quality of learning in VHS. The study also highlights the influence of government support and industry associations in ensuring the successful implementation of industrial classes. Student participation in industry classes directly enriches their learning experiences by allowing them to engage in direct practice in a real work environment. These findings can contribute to the implementation of policies and regulations in the field of education, especially in the context of vocational education. The findings of this study can also be applied to vocational students to improve the quality of graduates in order to meet the qualification standards of employees in companies or industries.