Key Practices Research Articles

Mastering Salesforce Payments: Tackling Integration, Security, and Scalability

Salesforce Payments, when integrated with Sales Cloud, Service Cloud or Revenue Cloud, offers a comprehensive solution for managing transactions, including quoting, invoicing, and payment processing. Key best practices include thorough training for service agents, ongoing support, creating payment dashboards, and leveraging advanced analytics for insights. Challenges include integration complexity, security compliance, customization limitations, scalability, and managing failed payments. By following best practices and addressing these challenges, organizations can optimize their payment processing system within Salesforce for improved efficiency and customer satisfaction. Keywords—Payments, Payment Gateway, Billing, Subscription, Commerce, B2B, B2C, Payment Processors.

Barriers of adopting sustainable soil management practices for organic and conventional farming systems

There is a general consensus among stakeholders about the benefits of sustainable soil management practices for soil health, yet their implementation lags behind expectations. The aim of this paper is to analyse factors supporting or hindering the implementation of sustainable soil management practices in conventional and organic farming systems. This is achieved using a Logit model, based on penalized maximum likelihood estimation on survey data by 76 farmers from 10 federal states in Germany. Affected factors were categorized in two main groups: agricultural soil management practices, and barriers to their implementation. The measures for soil improving agricultural management included (I) structural landscape elements, (II) organic fertilization, (III) diversified crop rotation, (IV) permanent soil cover (V) conservation tillage, (VI) reduced weight pressure, and (VII) optimized timing of wheeling. Results show differences in preferences between conventional and organic farmers for key sustainable soil management practices, including conservation tillage, optimized wheeling timing, reduced weight pressure, and diversified crop rotation. Economic constraints decrease crop rotation diversification in conventional systems by 14%. Conservation tillage raises the chance of a farm being conventional by 16%, while optimizing wheeling timing reduces it by 60%, highlighting soil compaction concerns among organic farmers. Marginal effects confirm that economic factors, not knowledge, are the main barriers to sustainable soil management. Inconsistent policies, lack of support, and insufficient financial incentives from government institutions can hinder the willingness of farmers to adopt these practices, further exacerbating the barriers to adoption.

Philosophy within Data Science Ethics Courses

There is wide agreement that ethical considerations are a valuable aspect of a data science curriculum, and to that end, many data science programs offer courses in data science ethics. There are not always, however, explicit connections between data science ethics and the centuries-old work on ethics within the discipline of philosophy. Here, we present a framework for bringing together key data science practices with ethics topics. The ethics topics were collated from 16 data science ethics courses with public-facing syllabi and reading lists. We encourage individuals who are teaching data science ethics to engage with the philosophical literature and its connection to current data science practices, which are rife with potentially morally charged decision points.

What Cross-Silo Leadership Looks Like

This article discusses the concept of cross-silo leadership and key practices for breaking down organizational silos. It argues that as organizational structures have become more complex, traditional vertical leadership has given way to more collaborative cross-functional approaches. The abstract outlines key points from the article, including how cross-silo leaders cultivate collaboration through establishing shared goals, fostering interdependence, and facilitating social bonds. It also discusses how they enhance communication using multiple channels, promote transparency, and engage in active listening. Leaders must also develop a "networked mindset" through valuing relationships over silos, thinking systematically, and embracing ambiguity. The article presents strategies for cross-silo leadership such as redesigning structures, rotating staff, empowering failures at interfaces, and modeling collaboration. Overall, it positions cross-silo leadership as critical for driving effectiveness in networked environments by dissolving barriers between groups.

Comprehensive guidelines and best practices for implementing effective Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programs to mitigate global vision loss

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness globally. Effective screening programs are essential to mitigate this burden. This review outlines key principles and practices in implementing DR screening programs, emphasizing the roles of technology, patient education, and healthcare system integration. Our analysis highlights key principles for establishing successful screening initiatives, including the importance of regular screenings, optimal intervals, recommended technologies, and necessary infrastructure. We emphasize the roles of healthcare providers, patients, and policymakers in ensuring the effectiveness of these programs. Our recommendations aim to support the creation of robust policies that mitigate the impact of DR, ultimately improving public health outcomes and reducing the incidence of blindness due to diabetic retinopathy.

Balancing plant safety and efficiency through innovative engineering practices in oil and gas operations

In the oil and gas industry, balancing plant safety with operational efficiency is a critical challenge that requires innovative engineering practices. This paper explores how advanced engineering techniques can enhance both safety and efficiency in oil and gas operations. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, companies can achieve a harmonious balance between protecting personnel, equipment, and the environment, while also optimizing productivity and resource utilization. Key innovative engineering practices discussed include the implementation of real-time monitoring systems and predictive analytics to enhance safety and operational efficiency. Real-time monitoring, powered by Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, allows for continuous tracking of plant conditions, detecting anomalies before they escalate into significant issues. Predictive analytics, utilizing machine learning algorithms, further aids in forecasting potential failures and scheduling maintenance proactively, thereby minimizing downtime and operational disruptions. The paper also examines the role of risk-based approaches and safety management systems in improving plant safety. Techniques such as quantitative risk assessment (QRA) and safety integrity level (SIL) analysis are pivotal in identifying potential hazards and designing mitigation strategies. These practices ensure that safety measures are proportionate to the actual risk, avoiding over-engineering while addressing critical safety concerns. Moreover, the integration of automation and digital twin technology is discussed as a means to enhance both safety and efficiency. Automation reduces human error and improves precision in operations, while digital twins provide a virtual replica of physical assets, enabling simulation and optimization of plant operations in a risk-free environment. Case studies illustrate successful implementations of these practices, highlighting their impact on reducing incidents and improving operational performance. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for ongoing innovation and collaboration between engineers, safety experts, and operational managers to continuously advance safety standards and operational efficiency in oil and gas operations.

Good Practices in using Instructional Images to Enhance Young Children's Linguistic Skills from the Viewpoint of Language Education Experts

The increasing emphasis on improving early childhood language education necessitates a deeper exploration of effective pedagogical tools, particularly visual aids. This study aims to examine the perspectives of language education specialists regarding best practices for employing images to enhance language development in early childhood settings. A targeted sample of 33 experts in language teaching, all working in early childhood education institutions in northern Jordan, was selected for the study. Qualitative research methodology was adopted, utilizing semi-structured interviews and grounded theory for data analysis. The findings identified a series of best practices for the use of instructional images to foster language development in young learners. Key practices included avoiding overly explicit interpretations of images by teachers, cultivating teachers’ confidence in children’s ability to interpret and engage with images independently, providing immediate feedback after children view images, allowing ample opportunities for children to articulate their interpretations of image content, ensuring clear and visible image presentation, selecting images that resonate with children’s real-life experiences, and accommodating individual differences among children. Based on these results, the study put forth several recommendations aimed at enhancing language acquisition through the strategic use of visual aids. The research highlights the critical role of creating a learning environment that effectively integrates images as a tool for promoting language skills in early childhood, encouraging a more interactive and engaging approach to language education.

IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH STRATEGIC HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The article provides an overview of the literature on human capital management in the public sector with an emphasis on theoretical foundations, modern practices and problems. Human capital management is critical for the effectiveness of government organizations. The main theories are the resource-based approach and the theory of human capital, which emphasize the importance of staff development. Literature analysis identifies key practices such as technology adoption, training programs, and strategic alignment of reward systems, as well as problems in their implementation, including bureaucratic resistance and financial constraints. The article highlights the importance of strategic human capital management for the success of the public sector and suggests directions for future research.

Cultural Heritage in Urban-Rural Interaction: A Case Study of a Rural Community

This paper explores the specific mechanisms and effects of cultural heritage in the process of urban-rural interaction through a case study of a rural community. The study finds that urban-rural interaction not only promotes economic development and social progress in rural communities but also plays a significant role in preserving and innovating cultural heritage. Key practices identified include organizing traditional cultural activities, introducing educational resources, and developing cultural industries such as cultural tourism and traditional handicrafts. The active participation of community residents, supported by local governments and social organizations, is crucial. Governments provide policy and funding support, while social organizations offer resources through project cooperation. However, challenges such as cultural homogenization and unequal resource distribution need to be addressed. The paper recommends strengthening community cultural education, diversifying forms of urban-rural interaction, and fostering multiparty cooperation. These strategies can enhance the sustainability of cultural heritage and provide valuable insights for other rural communities seeking to leverage urban-rural interaction for cultural preservation and development.

THE EFFECT OF DIGITALIZATION ON HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

This study examines the intersection of digitalization and human resource management (HRM) practices through a bibliometric analysis. Utilizing the VOS Viewer program for quantitative analysis and supplemented by qualitative content reading, the research explores key trends, themes, and authorship patterns within the existing literature. The primary data source is the Web of Science database, yielding 268 relevant studies published between 2005 and 2023. Findings indicate a growing interest in the topic, particularly within the management discipline, and highlight key HRM practices impacted by digitalization, including recruitment, training and development, performance management, and career management. The analysis reveals that digitalization enhances HR efficiency, reduces costs, and supports learning and development, while also presenting challenges such as data security risks, skill gaps, and potential resistance to change. Co-authorship and citation networks identify influential authors and emerging research clusters. The study underscores the interdisciplinary nature of digital HRM research and calls for broader database inclusion to enhance future bibliometric studies.

Integrating climate-smart agriculture for sustainable agriculture: Opportunities, challenges and future directions

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has emerged as a valuable strategy to address the challenges of food insecurity, climate change, and environmental degradation. This study assesses the impact of six key CSA practices: technologies including water smart, energy smart, nutrient smart, carbon smart, weather smart, and knowledge smart for farming regarding the increasing world population and decreased shift in arable land. This paper employs a literature review and case analysis to demonstrate how these practices improve resource utilization, worsen environmental impacts and strengthen agriculture production systems. Several studies carried out in agriculture have stipulated that water-smart practices can help achieve improvements in water use efficiency by at least 30 percent, nutrient-smart practices can help increase soil health by a range of 20 percent, and carbon-smart practices could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 15 percent. This brings us back to the question of the role that CSA can play in support of processes that are directed at realizing the Sustainable Development Goals SDG 2 (Ending Hunger) and SDG 13 (Taking Action on Climate Change) on development processes across the world. However, inefficient and insecure land rights, water deficits, and high initial investment hinder the widespread adoption of the technologies. The consequences are that policies concerning the matters, a well-developed institutional environment, and farmer’s knowledge should be introduced to eliminate these issues. As to further research, the continuous improvements of the models of CSA and the financing of the CSA also need future action research. Overall, CSA offers hope for establishing strong foundations for food security and climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Green human resource management in a family business setting: a fuzzy set approach

ABSTRACT Sustainability in family businesses as an entrepreneurial initiative is an emerging research field. The literature assumes that owners, managers, and employees in family businesses adopt homogeneous sustainability practices as a global construct mixing social and environmental issues. However, green human resource management (GHRM), considered as an innovative process, is focused on understanding how regular managers and employees become green-oriented and aim for business sustainability by applying green policies and practices. Based on previous green HRM research, this study proposes to apply a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to identify the combinations of key practices observed in 513 family businesses in Quebec. This perspective helps to explain some of the boundary conditions and combinations of green HRM practices in family businesses based on more realistic insights by avoiding a merely linear analysis. We highlight four different pathways connecting green HRM system to economic performance. This study is the first to explore green HRM practices in family businesses. The paper concludes by discussing how the findings advance knowledge on sustainability in family business research.

Quality of life: quantitative analysis in New Urbanism and LEED-ND certified neighbourhoods

Given the substantial rise in the urban population, it is imperative to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in residential communities. New Urbanism (NU) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) are globally recognised neighbourhood design initiatives that strive to improve QoL. Nevertheless, the degree to which these initiatives effectively enhance QoL remains questionable. This assessment seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of key design practices in these two initiatives by examining the satisfaction levels of residents. It focuses on five key attributes that contribute to enhancing the QoL in residential neighbourhoods: safety, comfort, connectivity, sense of place, and aesthetic appeal. Three neighbourhoods were selected for analysis in the USA. The residents’ questionnaire was utilised as the main tool for the quantitative analysis. The findings revealed a positive association between safety and comfort and overall QoL. NU neighbourhoods showed the highest satisfaction levels, while LEED-ND neighbourhoods had the lowest. Key determinants of QoL were identified as well. The main contribution of this study is to provide insights for enhancing the design parameters of NU and LEED-ND certification to improve QoL and bridge the gap between professionals’ perspectives and residents’ preferences.

Lean Manufacturing Practices and Organizational Performance: A Literature Review

This literature review examines the relationship between Lean manufacturing practices and organizational performance across various industries. By analyzing recent research from 2020 to 2024, this study synthesizes findings on key Lean practices, their implementation challenges, and their impact on different aspects of organizational performance. The review highlights the evolving nature of Lean manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0 and sustainable manufacturing. It also identifies gaps in current research and suggests directions for future studies. The findings indicate that while Lean practices generally positively influence organizational performance, their effectiveness depends on various factors including organizational culture, technological turbulence, and integration with other management approaches.

A Bone Health Optimization Framework for Malaysia: a position paper by the Malaysian Bone Health Optimization Network (MyBONe).

Osteoporosis and osteopenia are highly prevalent among older patients scheduled for elective arthroplasties and spinal surgeries. This position paper aims to establish, promote, and standardise effective Bone Health Optimization (BHO) strategies for such patients within orthopaedic practices in Malaysia. It emphasises the need for bone health assessments to be undertaken at the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative stages, with tailored management strategies to meet individual patient needs. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on articles published from 2019 to 2024. Twelve broad themes were defined including definitions and importance of BHO, epidemiological data, assessment techniques, risk stratification, management strategies, and outcome metrics. Elective surgeries on patients with poor bone health are associated with adverse outcomes, such as periprosthetic fractures, aseptic loosening of implants, and complications after spinal surgeries. This position paper advocates for routine bone health assessments and monitoring during the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases. It provides summaries of imaging modalities, risk assessment tools, and techniques for each phase. By adapting the successful "5IQ" approach from secondary fracture prevention, we propose 5IQ-based Clinical Standards for BHO, including 18 Key Performance Indicators. A Malaysian BHO Registry is proposed to benchmark care in real-time and support a national quality improvement programme. Practical resources, such as a BHO algorithm and key practice points, are included. This position paper proposes a paradigm shift in the management of bone health for patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery in Malaysia, aiming to improve surgical outcomes and patient care through standardised BHO strategies.

RAF-AG: Report analysis framework for attack path generation

Information sharing is a key practice in cybersecurity for coping with the ever-changing cyberattacks that are targeting computer systems. Thus, when cyber incidents happen, cyber threat intelligence (CTI) reports are prepared and shared among cybersecurity practitioners to help them get up-to-date information about those incidents. However, reading and analyzing the report text to comprehend the included information is a cumbersome process. Although techniques based on deep learning were proposed to speed up report analysis in order to obtain the enclosed essential information, such as attack path, training data insufficiency makes these methods inefficient in practical circumstances.This paper presents RAF-AG, a report analysis framework for attack path generation. To analyze CTI reports, RAF-AG utilizes the sentence dependency tree for entity and relation extraction, and a weak supervision approach for entity labeling. This is followed by graph building and graph alignment for generating the attack paths. Our approach resolves the data insufficiency problem in the cybersecurity domain by lowering the need for expert involvement. We evaluated RAF-AG by comparing the generated attack paths with those produced by AttacKG, a state-of-the-art automatic report analysis framework. RAF-AG was able to identify cyberattack steps by matching their appearance order inside the report, and link them with techniques from the MITRE ATT&CK knowledge base with an improved F1 score compared to AttacKG (0.708 versus 0.393).

Reduced anthelmintic use on 13 New Zealand sheep farms: farmer motivations and practical implementation

ABSTRACT Aims: To describe the personal drivers, sources of information and gastro-intestinal parasite control methods used by a group of New Zealand sheep farmers identified as low users of anthelmintic (AHC), and their perception of the efficacy and impacts of this approach. Methods: A convenience sample of 13 sheep farmers farming with a policy of reduced AHC use (no pre-determined routine treatments of ewes >19 months old and/or lambs not routinely treated at pre-determined intervals from weaning through to late autumn) were identified. Semi-structured interviews were conducted regarding their farming philosophy, motivations for reducing AHC use, perceptions of the impacts of farming with reduced AHC use, and parasite control practices. Semi-quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics for demographic data and categorising participants’ use of AHC and non-chemical control methods. Qualitative data regarding participants’ motivations, approaches and rationale were analysed by systematic analysis of the transcripts and distillation of key concepts. Results: Participants had been operating with reduced AHC use for 3 to ≥20 years. Key motivators for reducing AHC use were a diagnosis of anthelmintic resistance (AR) or concerns about AR developing. Parasite management information came from a wide range of sources. All respondents expressed overall positive views regarding the impacts of reduced AHC use but detailed information was not available. All identified that regular monitoring, based primarily on subjective animal and non-animal factors was important for their parasite control strategy. Most used faecal egg counts (FEC), often in an ad hoc manner. Five never treated adult ewes, two routinely treated ewes prior to lambing with short-acting AHC and the remainder occasionally treated a small number in low body condition. Four routinely treated some or all lambs at 28–30-day intervals from weaning to late autumn while the remainder based their treatment decisions for lambs on monitored information. All placed heavy emphasis on feeding sheep well, ensuring high post-grazing residuals, and cross-grazing. Conclusions: AR was a key motivator for participants to reduce AHC use, and a range of information sources and decision-making processes were used. Key parasite management practices were monitoring, primarily using subjective assessments, emphasis on feeding stock well and cross-grazing. Clinical relevance: The rising prevalence of AR will likely result in increasing the motivation for sheep farmers to reduce their AHC use. Veterinarians will play a key role in providing advice and assistance to facilitate changes in parasite management.

Sustainability and Capability Building in Organizations: A Focused Group Approach

This study investigates business sustainability and the development of comprehensive capabilities that are crucial for future-ready organizations. It delineates the sustainable business practices that are necessary to enhance the functional, operational, technological and strategic dimensions of an organization. Furthermore, we examine methods to augment a firm’s capacity to foster sustainable growth. The authors utilized a structured approach; four focused group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with experts from multinational firms to garner real-time industry insights in the context of the new normal. The discussions emphasized key practices such as change management, competency building, green business functions, regenerative strategies, empathetic leadership and the triple bottom line approach. This research underscores the real-time business practices implemented during and after the pandemic to address and mitigate the disruptions caused by the outbreak.

The ruble lever: Soviet development knowledge and the political economy of the UN

Abstract From the early 1950s, the USSR was the second largest contributor to the UN. Following UN rules, it gave much of its contribution in rubles, an infamously unconvertible currency that generally limited Soviet actions overseas. In the hands of UN officials, however, these ‘weak’ rubles became a powerful lever that made UN development projects more Soviet. Seeking to extract value from the ruble, officials increased the amount of UN development training held in the USSR, prioritized the purchase of Soviet equipment, and incentivized agencies to distribute Soviet manuals. Exploring the ruble lever contributes to our knowledge of the Soviet presence at the UN while foregrounding political economy as a key mechanism shaping UN practices more widely. Following the money in forms other than the dollar can reveal how economies of power at the UN intersect with global economic history, as well as the conceptual and contemporary challenges of international cooperation among wildly unequal economies.

Assessing the Impact of Project Management Practices on the Success of Construction Projects in Zambia: A Case Study of the Construction Projects in Lusaka between 2022 and 2023

This study investigated the influence of project management practices on the success of construction projects within Zambia, focusing on selected construction projects from 2022 to 2023. The research objectives aimed at assessing current project management practices and strategies, and identifying challenges for improvement. The study used theoretical frameworks such as Project Success Theory and Project Management Theory to analyse findings comprehensively. A qualitative approach was used for this study. Interviews were utilised to collect data from construction companies and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The research results identified key project management practices as being crucial for success, including comprehensive planning, effective risk management, clear communication, and robust performance monitoring. Challenges such as limited awareness, stakeholder engagement issues, and deficiencies in practical implementation were uncovered. The study recommends enhancing training, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and performance monitoring. Furthermore, gaps for research include exploring gender diversity, regional variations, sustainability integration, and longitudinal project performance studies. This study contributed valuable insights to the construction industry, aiming to optimise project management practices and foster sustainable development in Zambia.