Management Platform Research Articles

Blood Management System Using Java with GUI and Array List-based Database

This research paper presents the development of a Blood Management System (BMS) using Java with a graphical user interface (GUI), ArrayList as a data structure for managing records, and file handling for persistence. The system provides an efficient and user-friendly platform for blood donation management, focusing on functionalities accessible to an administrative user (admin) only. Key features include donor data management (adding, updating, searching, deleting), stock management of blood groups, and essential application controls like login/logout and exit functionalities. This system aims to streamline the management of blood banks by providing quick access to critical information such as donor location, blood group, and stock availability. The source code for the Blood Management System is accessible at https://github.com/BloodBankManagment.

Personality, loneliness and the metaverse: exploring their interaction for higher education in marketing

Purpose Given the scarce research on the intention to use the metaverse by higher education students in the marketing field and since the introduction of the metaverse brings a new dimension to consumer interaction, the purpose of this study aims to understand what psychological and contextual factors such as the feeling of loneliness or perceived social risk of young people affect the incorporation of immersive reality tools in the teaching-learning process. Design/methodology/approach Currently, the use of the metaverse in university education has captured the interest of teachers and researchers. The adoption of immersive virtual platforms where students experience different forms of interaction through customized avatars appears as a promising opportunity in the field of marketing, while concerns arise about the social and psychological risks that may affect its main adopters, youth. The proposed relationships were evaluated using PLS-SEM (symmetric) and QCA (asymmetric) approaches. Findings The results revealed that the feeling of loneliness, as well as personality traits of openness to experience and conscientiousness, in relation to hedonic motivations, are significant for the intention to use the metaverse. Research limitations/implications This research provides useful implications from an educational perspective, as well as applications in the commercial management of immersive platforms, taking into account their social impact, allowing for effective exploration and development of the metaverse’s potential in educational environments. Originality/value This research analyzes the relationship between the experience of feelings of loneliness and perceived social risk in the educational environment, along with the psychological and motivational factors affecting the intention to use the metaverse by higher education students which have not been investigated in the scientific literature so far.

EghiFit: Smartphone based Behaviour Monitoring and Health Recommendation in a Weight Loss Intervention Study

Background Current health recommender systems lack interactivity that relates to the current situation. Methods We designed and implemented an intervention study for obese patients that incorporates context information obtained from smartphone and smartwatch sensors, gamification, as well as joint goal management of patients and health coaches. We developed a health behaviour recommendation system comprising of a smartphone application, cloud platform for data management, and a data dashboard for coaches. Results We conducted a three months long study and analysed data from eight patients, focusing on system function, patient adherence, satisfaction and overall impact of the proposed system on changing health-related habits. Along with data analysis, we also provide patient feedback collected during interview round after the end of the study. Conclusion Patients could successfully implement the goals using the EghiFit app. Challenges regarding the data collection, recommendation synthesis, and patient engagement persist. Furthermore, reliable sensor data processing on current smartphone platforms is difficult due to system restrictions. Future research should further integrate sensor data, gaming, and health behaviour intervention design using smart devices.

The Impact of Digital Transformation on Educational Leadership: Assessing Digital Burnout and Mental Health in Virtual Teaching

This paper explores the role of digital transformation in altering the effects of educator burnout and mental wellbeing by affecting virtual teachers. The increased use of digital technologies in educational institutions has introduced educators with dual content management and technological platform duties that have led to levels of stress among educators. The research methods applied were quantitative, incorporating data that was sourced from 385 teachers. Various educational levels were included: the relationship between digital workload, digital literacy, support administration offered, and psychological indicators of mental health. The findings of this research revealed very highly positive correlations between digital workload and burnout (r = 0.62) and between burnout and mental health, notably anxiety and depression (r = 0.60 and r = 0.65 respectively). Indeed, the study found that increased digital literacy and administration support showed a positive relationship with reduced burnout. Results raise an enormous need for educational leaders to take strategic interventions through the enhancements of support systems, the development of digital literacy, and other resources related to mental health to counter some of the complexities of teaching related to the point of digital teaching. With such strength at its findings, there are indeed still limitations to this study, among which it relied on the self-reported data and the cross-sectional designs where it could not make way for causal inference. Future research should focus on long-term effects of digital transformation for educators' mental health as well as the potency of interventions to prevent burnout in digital educational settings. Findings from this study have implications for policymakers and education institutions looking to develop environments that promote educator wellbeing in the context of digital transformation.

Blockchain-enabled platform for the quality management of the ready-mixed concrete supply chain

Blockchain-enabled platform for the quality management of the ready-mixed concrete supply chain

The Introduction of Automation in Control of Virtualized Laboratory Complex Components at Higher Educational Institution

The intensity of the use of remote work and learning tools has increased significantly during the pandemic and has led to the emergence of new tools and a significant increase in the capabilities of previously developed technology platforms. The introduc­tion of modern technologies based on software control and complex visualization for the creation of virtual laboratory complexes in educational institutions provides virtually unlimited opportunities for organizing individual and distance forms of practical classes. Modern learning management platforms that able to integrate with the database of university students makes it possible to evaluate the quality of students' work with various types of course learning materials in real time. The article shows that the use of virtual communication infrastructures in connection to the Moodle learning management platform will provide end-to-end control of the theoretical and practical components of the educational process and will automate the processes of preparing and conducting practical classes, which will improve the quality of the educational process and the teacher efficiency.

EXPRESS: Racial Inequity in Donation-based Crowdfunding Platforms: the Role of Facial Emotional Expressiveness

Donation-based crowdfunding platforms often claim to pursue equitable outcomes for all beneficiaries, yet many face criticism for failing to do so across different demographic profiles. In response, platform managers are eager to understand how these inequities emerge and explore solutions to address them. In this research, we show that the degree of facial emotional expressiveness of beneficiaries in uploaded images can differentially impact donation amounts for White vs Black beneficiaries. Drawing on social vision theory, we propose that facial emotional expressiveness in images combined with the race of the faces activates racial stereotypes of emotion expression that result in differential donation amounts to Black and White individuals. Analyzing a sample of 4,153 campaigns from GoFundMe between June 2021 and September 2022, along with a follow-up experiment, we find that higher facial emotional expressiveness is associated with significantly lower donation amounts for Black compared to White beneficiaries. Further exploring our moderating constructs reveals that the use of call-to-action cues, affective messaging, and race-gender homophily cues can attenuate the activation of stereotypes and therefore reduce differences in donation amounts between racial groups. Based on these findings, we offer targeted recommendations for platform managers to help reduce racial inequities in crowdfunding outcomes.

Bridging IoT Protocols with the Web of Things: A Path to Enhanced Interoperability

Nowadays, the Internet of Things (IoT) is reshaping numerous application domains. Amidst the different communication protocols currently available (MQTT, CoAP, AMQP, DPWS, etc.) and the abundance of management platforms, the IoT domain has stumbled into vertical silos of proprietary systems hindering interoperability. Within this intricate and fragmented ecosystem, the need for an intelligent and scalable architecture promoting interoperability becomes imperative to maximize the potential of IoT. This paper introduces a system designed to enhance the convergence of IoT protocols (e.g., MQTT, CoAP, AMQP, etc.) with the Web of Things (WoT) paradigm. Our proposed gateway-based solution integrates two systems: Stack4Things (S4T) and Data eXchange Mediator Synthesizer (DeXMS). The role of the latter is to adapt, at the gateway level, the IoT protocols and expose the resources/functionalities of the IoT devices as RESTful APIs using HTTP. Meanwhile, the former (i.e., S4T), leveraging its Dynamic DNS system, ensures that these RESTful resources (exposed at the gateway) are accessible over the Web using publicly routable Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) even when the gateway is deployed behind networking middle boxes (e.g., NATs and firewalls).

Ride-Hailing Drivers’ Preference for Fairwork Principles of Trustworthy Labour-Platform Management and Greater Worker-Autonomy and Willingness to Form and Join Worker-Platform Co-Operatives in Kenya

Ride-hailing worker-platform co-operatives had emerged as part of and for at least fairwork principles. Moreover, studies on e-drivers have recommended the formation of worker-platform co-operatives in Kenya. The actual worker-platform co-operatives by e-drivers are yet to be established. It was against this backdrop that a study was conducted to determine the extent of ride-hailing drivers’ preference for fairwork principles of trustworthy labour-platform management, greater worker-autonomy and willingness to form and join worker-platform co-operatives. The study was grounded in the social exchange theory, affective theory of social exchange, and utility theory. The researcher applied critical-realism research philosophy and multimethod research designs of discrete choice experiments and sequential explanatory mixed method research designs. Using the Yamane sampling formula, the study used quantitative data from 497 respondents from sampled 600 of the 20,000 e-drivers in the Nairobi Metropolitan Region. The quantitative data was analysed using multinominal logistic regression. Moreover, the study used qualitative data from 11 participants, analysed using thematic analysis. Results indicated that the two fairwork principles were statistically significant to e-drivers’ willingness to form and join worker-platform co-operatives. The trustworthy platform management (TPM) principle, in particular, was a highly preferred fairwork principle in terms of e-drivers’ willingness to form and join worker-platform co-operative model (Coeff=2.62; SE = 0.400, Z = 6.54, p< .001), compared to the greater worker-autonomy contract (GAC) principle (Coeff=1.565, SE = 0.202, Z = 7.74, p< .001). This study brings practical and theoretical contributions to improve the e-drivers’ benefits from the ride-hailing sector. Policymakers, promoters, and platform workers like e-drivers could understand how best to promote worker-platform co-operatives to succeed in the country’s societal context.

Digitalization and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study of the Moroccan Auto Insurance Sector

The aim of this article is to explore the impact of digitalization on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the automobile insurance sector in Morocco. This article first explores the theoretical and conceptual foundations of digital transformation and CSR. A mixed methods approach is then used, combining qualitative interviews with a wider quantitative survey, to investigate how digital innovations influence CSR practices. Interview analysis provides the basis for the development of a conceptual framework and eight hypotheses, which are then tested using quantitative techniques to analyze survey data. The results reveal several links between the benefits of digitalization and CSR. Claims management platforms, digital roadside assistance tools, and digital vehicle assessment and inspection all positively impact policyholders’ well-being in terms of compensation and asset preservation, thereby enhancing the CSR profile of automobile insurers. Similarly, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) training and simulation, as well as repair assistance, have positive impacts on policyholders’ well-being and advance the CSR positioning of automobile insurers. This article has limitations as it is based on a narrow industrial sector in a single country, but it nonetheless highlights certain relevant interrelationships between digitalization and CSR, contributing to the development of theory and practice in these research areas.

Bim-based Digital Twin development for university Campus management. Case study ETSICCP

Innovation and digitalization are outstanding topics acquiring each day more importance for local governments, especially in Facility Management sector. Moreover, during the COVID-19 situation, new management needs emerged, especially in large public buildings. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is considered as one of the emerging technologies used to reach a total digitalization of the infrastructure. Nevertheless, BIM implementation carries important barriers with itself like, high software and hardware investments, initial BIM skills training or low data interoperability. The objective of this project is to overpass those implementation barriers. For this purpose, the paper shows the creation of a BIM-based intelligent platform for infrastructure management that leads to the development of a Digital Twin (DT). To show the potential of the software developed, a real implementation in the Civil Engineering School at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid was carried out, obtaining significant results thanks to the actual feedback of infrastructure users and managers. The novelty of this project relies on the final results achieved, obtaining a complete DT for management functionalities like space reservation, live sensors data or assets management. All of it, linking BIM models with own software and hardware development using Internet of Things and cloud computing. A multidisciplinary work is compiled in this paper, providing the reader with the most relevant challenges detected in a real digitalization process.

An empirical evidence on the impact of social customer relationship management on the small and medium enterprises performance

Social media has swiftly established itself as a primary source of products’ information for customers. Nowadays, Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) can use social media to develop Customer Relationship Management platforms (social CRM). Firms, particularly SMEs in developing countries need to understand the factors affecting their performance by implementing social CRM. However, there is a dearth of awareness on the impact of social CRM on the performance of SMEs. This study proposes an integrated model that aims to investigate the effects of social CRM on SMEs’ performance. The model is constructed by incorporating three dominant theoretical frameworks: the Fit-Viability Model (FVM), Network Externalities, and the Resource-Based View (RBV). A cross-sectional survey was used to gather data from 149 SMEs managerial staff. Findings revealed that almost 50% of the variability in the performance of SMEs is explained by the fitness and viability of social CRM. In addition, network externalities of social media significantly impact the social CRM fitness in the context of SMEs with path coefficient 0.617. Furthermore, the internal financial resources factor makes sCRM viable for SMEs as the results show significant relationship between the internal financial resources and the sCRM viability with 0.536 path coefficient. Manager innovativeness, IT knowledge, top management support, and government assistance, on the other hand, do not contribute significantly to the viability of social CRM for SMEs. The model aids SMEs in making well-informed decisions regarding the adoption of social CRM by evaluating both the suitability of social media for CRM tasks and the enterprise preparedness to implement social CRM, leading to enhanced performance.

Evaluating the Importance of Practice-Level Factors on Adherence to Prostate Cancer Treatment Guidelines in Urology

ObjectiveTo evaluate adherence to treatment guideline recommendations across the continuum of prostate cancer care by US community urologists using several prostate cancer (PCa) specific performance indicators (PIs). Additionally, to determine which practice-related factors, such as having a designated PCa patient champion, active patient management in a patient portal, and in-office dispensing of medications, were associated with improved PI performance. MethodsElectronic medical record data was collected retrospectively from the PPS Analytics Patient Population Health Management Platform. The cohort consisted of adult patients with a PCa-related service visit during the period 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2022. Five PIs were reviewed: dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), systemic therapy in metastatic PCa, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) concurrent with ADT, image monitoring, and regular testosterone testing and monitoring. ResultsA total of 101,186 patients were identified from 95 urology practices. PI adherence rates ranged from a low of 13.6% for a DEXA scan within 6-months of ADT initiation to a high of 72.3% for EBRT concurrent with ADT in intermediate/high risk localized PCa. The results also demonstrated that several practice-related features were associated with better PI adherence. ConclusionsThe findings suggest there exists a wide range in PI adherence rates for urologists in the delivery of community urology care in the Unites States compared to clinical guideline recommendations. Future research should examine the factors associated with PI nonadherence and promote implementation of interventions that enhance guideline concordant care.

The iterative innovation of tourism digital platforms: a new framework

ABSTRACT With the development of the digital economy, numerous tourism digital platforms have emerged, connecting suppliers directly to end-users. While iterative innovation forms a key competitive advantage behind digital platforms, what triggers the iterative innovation is little understood. This study proposes a framework of the triggers, specific to tourism digital platforms that encompasses direct network externalities, indirect network externalities, sociotechnical coordination, openness and boundary resources, as well as the moderating effects of the development scale of digital platforms and technology investment. The framework helps platform managers better understand, predict and respond to iterative innovation, thereby securing economic benefits, user satisfaction and sustainable development of the tourism digital platforms.

Driving HR performance through digital transformation in educational directorates: A strategic imperative

The rapid advancement of digital technology has significantly affected various sectors, including education. Integrating digital tools and platforms in human resource management offers opportunities to enhance efficiency and organizational performance. This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on human resource performance in educational directorates in Egypt. A descriptive analytical methodology was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire distributed to 450 administrative officials across eight randomly selected directorates out of the 27 directorates in Egypt, constituting approximately 30% of the total. The study retrieved 413 questionnaires, with about a 91% response rate. Data analysis reveals a significant positive correlation between digital transformation and the quality of human resource performance. Strategic planning (R² = 0.901), leadership development (R² = 0.699), skills acquisition (R² = 0.899), and institutional infrastructure (R² = 0.907) are identified as key factors that significantly influence HR performance. The findings suggest that embracing digital transformation and investing in these dimensions can lead to enhanced human resource performance in educational institutions. The study concludes that digital transformation can significantly improve human resource performance in the education sector, emphasizing the need for strategic planning, leadership development, skills acquisition, and a supportive organizational culture to fully leverage the potential of digital technologies.

National biodiversity data infrastructures: ten essential functions for science, policy, and practice

Abstract Today, at the international level, powerful data portals are available to biodiversity researchers and policymakers, offering increasingly robust computing and network capacities and capable data services for internationally agreed-on standards. These accelerate individual and complex workflows to map data-driven research processes or even to make them possible for the first time. At the national level, however, and alongside these international developments, national infrastructures are needed to take on tasks that cannot be easily funded or addressed internationally. To avoid gaps, as well as redundancies in the research landscape, national tasks and responsibilities must be clearly defined to align efforts with core priorities. In the present article, we outline 10 essential functions of national biodiversity data infrastructures. They serve as key providers, facilitators, mediators, and platforms for effective biodiversity data management, integration, and analysis that require national efforts to foster biodiversity science, policy, and practice.

Multimodal Operation Data Mining for Grid Operation Violation Risk Prediction

With the continuous expansion of the power grid, the issue of operational safety has attracted increasing attention. In power grid operation control, unauthorized operations are one of the primary causes of personal accidents. Therefore, preventing and monitoring unauthorized actions by power grid operators is of critical importance. First, multimodal violation data are integrated through information systems, such as the power grid management platform, to construct a historical case database. Next, word vectors for three types of operation-related factors are generated using natural language processing techniques, and key vectors are selected based on generalized correlation coefficients using mutual information, enabling effective dimensionality reduction. Independent component analysis is then employed for feature extraction and further dimensionality reduction, allowing for the effective characterization of operational scenarios. For each historical case, a risk score is derived from a violation risk prediction model constructed using the Random Forests (RF) algorithm. When a high-risk score is identified, the K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm is applied to locate similar scenarios in the historical case database where violations may have occurred. Real-time violation risk assessment is performed for each operation, providing early warnings to operators, thereby reducing the likelihood of violations, and enhancing the safety of power grid operations.

Optimizing contract negotiations in clinical research: Legal strategies for safeguarding sponsors, vendors, and institutions in complex trial environments

This paper examines the complexities of clinical trial contract negotiations, focusing on legal strategies and technological innovations that safeguard the interests of sponsors, vendors, and institutions. In an increasingly globalized and digital research environment, contract negotiations are pivotal to ensuring compliance, protecting intellectual property, and mitigating legal risks. The study’s purpose was to explore key components of clinical trial contracts, address the challenges involved, and assess future trends, particularly in light of evolving regulatory frameworks and technological advancements. Through a comprehensive review of legal literature and emerging technologies, the study identified crucial aspects of contract negotiations, including risk allocation, indemnification, intellectual property rights, and data privacy. Special attention was given to the role of technology—such as AI, blockchain, and contract management platforms—in streamlining the negotiation process. These tools have proven effective in reducing errors, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The main findings revealed that while traditional contract structures remain integral, the adoption of digital tools and a patient-centric approach are critical in addressing new challenges posed by decentralized trials and cross-border collaborations. The study concluded that stakeholders must embrace flexible contract frameworks, incorporate robust data protection measures, and leverage technology to optimize negotiations. Recommendations include the integration of advanced analytics for decision-making, the adoption of blockchain for contract security, and a heightened focus on patient rights in contract structures to ensure ethical conduct and compliance in clinical research.

Innovative Global Sales Solution in The SAP enterprise business application

This paper explores the development of an innovative global sales solution within the SAP enterprise business application framework. By leveraging SAP's capabilities, organizations can create a comprehensive sales management platform that integrates real-time data analytics, customer relationship management enhancements, and automated sales processes. Key components include a centralized dashboard for performance tracking, AI-driven insights for customer engagement, and mobile solutions for field sales efficiency. The solution emphasizes compliance with global regulations and localization for diverse markets, while also integrating advanced analytics for predictive sales forecasting. Furthermore, it fosters collaboration through enablement tools and social selling features, ensuring that sales teams are well-equipped to meet customer needs. With a focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility, this innovative approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also strengthens customer loyalty and brand reputation. Ultimately, this solution provides a scalable framework that positions organizations for success in a competitive global marketplace.

Research and Development on an Internet Q and A Platform for Corporate Innovation and Management

This paper analyses and develops an online platform for innovation and management cooperation that benefits small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through enhanced cooperation and support. Helping SMEs to adapt to market changes and promote internal improvements. With limited access to information and cutting-edge technologies, SMEs often struggle to solve identified problems. We use a web-based platform to help SMEs find problems and solutions. Through market analyses and BCG Matrix analyses we delved into the feasibility of the platform as well as developed innovative features.