Practical Support Research Articles

Significance, gaps, and prospects of foresight – lessons from Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to explore some significance, gaps and prospects of foresight both for and as policy in planning and decision-making, as well as an instrument for enhancing the capacity of planners and decision makers in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach This study deploys a case study method deriving from the authors’ experience in conducting a series of foresight workshops and trainings in Indonesia. The workshops, which involved government officials from the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) and the Coordinating Ministry of Investment and Maritime Affairs (KemenkoMarves), were designed with two agendas. First, to apply foresight in the actual process of policy cascading for the formulation of the national long and mid-term development plan (Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Panjang Nasional (RPJPN) and Rencana embangunan Jangka Menengah Nasional (RPJMN)). Second, from the process itself, to improve the capacity of government officials in decision-making by using a more explorative method of planning. Findings The result shows that foresight proves to be a useful method that enables a more systematic exploration of events, trends and eventually drivers with which plausible future scenarios could be explored, thus leading to more adaptive policies. With regard to the prospect, foresight is seen as a more inclusive and participatory-based approach, which embraces a robust democratised process of policy construction. However, the practice is also challenging in its nature. Government officials have been prolongedly familiar with positivistic methods, hence considering the application of foresight as an endeavour of a new academic culture of planning, which requires them more time, resources and pondering. Research limitations/implications Considering the methodological prospect and the intrinsic uncertainty of the future, this paper argues the need to nurture planners and decision makers to have the capacity to design more adaptive policies as offered by explorative methods like foresight. Consequently, this is also a call for the Indonesian Government to recognise the significance of the method and to provide relevant institutional support for wider practice, or exploration at the least. However, as a note of limitation, the workshops were conducted only with government officials, thus the result should only represent the point of view of the public sector. Originality/value This paper contributes to the progress of foresight studies by presenting an original case study of the practice in Indonesia. The foresight workshops were facilitated by the authors, thus the insights brought in this paper derive from the first-hand experience of the authors. Moreover, as foresight is considered as a new endeavour in Indonesia, this paper helps provide a key novelty unfolding the reliability and prospect of foresight as an instrument for planning and decision-making.

Minimising cybersecurity risk exposures in industrial control system environments: a techno-human vulnerability analysis approach

ABSTRACT Organisations operating IoT-enabled industrial control systems (ICSs) are concerned about growing cybersecurity risks and impacts to their systems. Cyber-attacks on ICSs demonstrate that technology alone is neither a problem nor a solution to the growing cybersecurity issues affecting these systems. As socio-technical systems, ICSs encompass the functions and interactions of social and technological system elements to enable and/or sustain industrial processes. Thus, a more effective cybersecurity risk management process needs to consider human and technology factors, especially for high-value industrial process targets. Combining critical reviews and gap analysis of existing vulnerability assessment methods with conceptual modelling, a Vulnerability Analysis Critical Impact Point Process (VACIP) methodology is proposed which considers both human and technological vulnerabilities within a cyber-physical system environment to inform an improved insight about attack criticality and impacts. VACIP is validated using a simulated industrial mini testbed; showing that it can enable practicable support for security vulnerability discovery, impact criticality analysis, weak link identification, and prioritised controls. Its novelty is demonstrated in its combination of technology and human vulnerability evaluations in the minimisation of system security exposures. It provides a useful guide for adopting effective cybersecurity risk assessment and exposure reduction strategies.

The Role of Informal Social Networks in Supporting Parents With Learning Disabilities: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACTBackgroundParents with learning disabilities are often assessed as lacking the capacity to parent effectively; however, ecological models of parenting indicate that support from informal social networks (ISNs) can help them successfully maintain family life. This systematic review examined evidence regarding (1) parent and child outcomes associated with support from ISNs and (2) perceptions of the roles of ISNs for parents with learning disabilities.MethodsPeer‐reviewed quantitative and qualitative literature was identified through a search of six databases, and a narrative synthesis was subsequently conducted.ResultsTwenty‐six articles were included in the review. Findings of the quantitative synthesis provided preliminary evidence for a positive relationship between support from ISNs and parental mental health, positive parenting practices and child wellbeing. The qualitative synthesis indicated that parents benefited from ISNs through their provision of practical and emotional support and learning skills. Network characteristics that divided supportive from unsupportive members were also identified.ConclusionParents with learning disabilities receive the same positive outcomes from ISNs as other parents, although unique contextual and social challenges may affect their experiences. Future research should explore interventions to build ISNs of parents with learning disabilities that acknowledge their existing strengths as parents and community members.

Ransomware HR: Human Resources Practices and Organizational Support in the Conti Ransomware Group

ABSTRACT Ransomware is widely regarded as one of the most economically damaging cybercrimes. Existing criminological research has focused largely on the structure, routines, and activities of ransomware groups, or traced financial transactions to advance understanding of their associated harms. This paper explores how the Conti ransomware group employed human resources (HR) practices and other organizational supports to recruit, retain, and motivate its employees. Data is drawn from a leaked dataset containing tens of thousands of messages between employees and affiliates of Conti. We analyze this dataset through the lens of organizational support theory (OST), one of the most influential theories in the field of organization and management psychology. Our analysis shows that Conti employed a variety of HR practices to improve worker satisfaction and commitment, many of which are supported by OST research. By better understanding these practices, we aim to provide a novel, theoretically informed perspective through which the operations of ransomware groups can be better understood. The paper concludes with a discussion of how this knowledge can be used to inform the development of law enforcement strategies intended to disrupt ransomware groups.

Studying Up Public Sector AI: How Networks of Power Relations Shape Agency Decisions Around AI Design and Use

As public sector agencies rapidly introduce new AI tools in high-stakes domains like social services, it becomes critical to understand how decisions to adopt these tools are made in practice. We borrow from the anthropological practice to "study up" those in positions of power, and reorient our study of public sector AI around those who have the power and responsibility to make decisions about the role that AI tools will play in their agency. Through semi-structured interviews and design activities with 16 agency decision-makers, we examine how decisions about AI design and adoption are influenced by their interactions with and assumptions about other actors within these agencies (e.g., frontline workers and agency leaders), as well as those above (legal systems and contracted companies), and below (impacted communities). By centering these networks of power relations, our findings shed light on how infrastructural, legal, and social factors create barriers and disincentives to the involvement of a broader range of stakeholders in decisions about AI design and adoption. Agency decision-makers desired more practical support for stakeholder involvement around public sector AI to help overcome the knowledge and power differentials they perceived between them and other stakeholders (e.g., frontline workers and impacted community members). Building on these findings, we discuss implications for future research and policy around actualizing participatory AI approaches in public sector contexts.

The Unconscious is Structured as a Language: Evidence from the Lab in Support of Clinical Practice

The Unconscious is Structured as a Language: Evidence from the Lab in Support of Clinical Practice

ShieldCXL: A Practical Obliviousness Support with Sealed CXL Memory

The CXL (Compute Express Link) technology is an emerging memory interface with high-level commands. Recent studies applied the CXL memory expanding technique to mitigate the capacity limitation of the conventional DDRx memory. Unlike the prior studies to use the CXL memory as the capacity expander, this study proposes to use the CXL-based memory as a secure main memory device, while removing the conventional memory. In the conventional DDRx memory, to provide confidentiality, integrity, replay protection, and obliviousness, costly mechanisms such as counter-based integrity trees and location shuffling by ORAM (Oblivious RAM) are used. Such mechanisms incur significant performance degradation in the current DDR-based memory systems, and their costs increase as the capacity of the memory increases. To mitigate the performance degradation, the prior work proposed an obfuscated channel for a secure memory module enclosing its controller in the package. Based on the approach, we propose a secure CXL-only memory architecture called ShieldCXL . It uses the channel encryption and integrity protection mechanism of the CXL interface to provide a practical ORAM while supporting confidentiality, integrity, and replay protection from physical attacks and rowhammers. To protect the PCIe-connected memory expanding board, this study proposes to use the standard physical sealing technique to detect physical intrusion. To mitigate the increased latency with the sealed CXL memory module, the study further optimizes performance by adopting an in-package DRAM cache. In addition, this study investigates destination obfuscation when a CXL switch is used to route among multiple hosts and memory devices. The evaluation shows that ShieldCXL provides 9.16x performance improvements over the prior ORAM technique.

Communities of Practice Support Implementation of Power to Kids in Residential Care: The EMBED Model

ABSTRACTChildren and young people in residential care continue to experience significant harmful sexual behaviour, dating violence and child sexual exploitation. Power to Kids is a programme developed in Australia to prevent and respond to these forms of abuse for this cohort. The aim of the study was to explore how a Communities of Practice initiative could further support the implementation of the Power to Kids programme in the residential care practice of a community service organisation. Qualitative data were collected through feedback loops (n = 12) with residential carers and senior staff and focus groups (n = 4). Quantitative data were collected through two surveys (n = 89) and (n = 46). The data revealed inductively the EMBED model: Executive commitment to Communities of Practice, Members of Communities of Practice engage with content, Becoming part of everyday practice, Enhanced knowledge of sexual health and safety and Decline in going missing and better relationships. Findings suggest that a Community of Practice approach to implementing Power to Kids is promising in embedding the sexual health and safety programme.

Continuity in public transport provision during the Covid-19 pandemic – responding to organisational and health challenges facing workers

PurposeThis paper explores and analyses the major challenges faced by both customer-facing and office-based public transport employees during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic and the responses of their employers to their concerns.Design/methodology/approachQualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups were carried out, involving 39 employees and directors representing a wide range of professionals working in the transport sector in three European countries, Poland, Ireland and the UK. Data were analysed through thematic analysis and the emerging issues explored.FindingsMajor employee challenges included: access to resources for safe working; worker mental health and well-being; and the effects of changing working practices, particularly flexible working, on their wider household circumstances and work–life balance (especially combining childcare responsibilities with work). First, physical health safety measures (such as PPE) were put in place for all workers, although sometimes with delays. Second, concerning practical support for mental health and well-being at work, the findings highlight that their employers’ practical support was considered limited by some customer-facing participants. In contrast, participants working from home were offered considerably greater employer support for their well-being, including increased and regular communication regarding work and non-work-related topics to tackle isolation and lack of social interactions. Third, work–life balance, and especially childcare were significant issues for those working from home. To improve organisational resilience, employer support for workers needs to better reflect employees’ job role, work setting and location, as well as their household demands such as childcare.Practical implicationsThe lessons learned from this study contribute to future employer responses and practices and their organisational resilience, both in times of major crises and also for improving mental-health and childcare support in normal times.Originality/valueThe study considers the role of employee perspectives on organisational resilience and service continuity in public transport during a crisis and in three countries. Importantly, the data were gathered contemporaneously during the early stages of the pandemic, and so are not influenced by retrospective rationalisation or uncertain recollections.

Change in vaping, smoking and dual-use identities predicts quit success and cigarette usage: A prospective study of people quitting smoking with electronic cigarette support.

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are an efficacious support for some but not all people wishing to stop using tobacco. While advice and practical support have been identified as increasing quit success, little research has explored the role of changes in smoking and EC-related social identities. A prospective study following 573 people attempting to quit smoking with EC support. Self-report measures of identification with being a smoker, non-smoker, vaper and dual user (people using ECs and tobacco products) were taken prior to the quit attempt and at a 12-week follow-up. Baseline identifications with being a smoker, non-smoker or dual user were not associated with smoking outcomes. Baseline vaper identity baseline was linked to more frequent tobacco abstinence at follow-up and lower levels of cigarette smoking. Levels of social identification at follow-up were consistently linked with outcomes, with vaper identity and non-smoking identities being protective and dual user identity being related to lower abstinence rates but decreased tobacco usage. Changes in identity over time were the most consistent predictor of outcomes. Findings have implications for smoking cessation practice, informing how and when identity-based interventions may be effective and our understanding of how identity transitions occur.

Principles, barriers and enablers to agroecological animal production systems: a qualitative approach based on five case studies

Agroecology is among the most promising options to alleviate the negative impacts of animal farming on the environment and build local food systems based on ethically-acceptable production methods. So far, most of the research on agroecological animal production systems was conducted at farm scale, and the potential of agroecological principles addressing social dimensions and food system level approaches has been underexplored. Here, we analyze how the whole set of agroecological principles was mobilized in five case studies on grassland-based, silvopastoral or integrated crop-livestock systems in Switzerland, Guadeloupe, French uplands, Bulgaria and Andalucía. Following a multilevel perspective, we propose a new eight-category framework to categorize barriers and enablers in these different socioecological contexts, and discuss the implications of these results for scaling out and scaling up agroecological niche innovations in animal production areas. Though we could observe activities related to each agroecological principle in each case study, the relative importance of each principle differed. For instance, in Switzerland the focus was on ecological processes operating in multi-species mixtures, and therefore on mobilizing principles of input reduction, synergy, soil health and biodiversity, while in Andalucía, a civil society organization, a regional agricultural office, researchers, and farmers mainly mobilized transformational principles at the food system level, e.g. social values, connectivity and participation. Such contrasts highlight how agroecology allows different equilibria among principles, adapting to the needs of farmers and local communities. Inadequate infrastructure and lack of technology were frequently reported as barriers to agroecological transitions. Policy needs to go beyond the mere support of agroecological practices on livestock farms and adopt a systems approach looking downstream and upstream if it is to enable a large-scale agroecological transition with EU public policies. Market as an enabler was linked to direct sales and short distribution circuits, generating added value to the benefit of local communities. Most agroecological systems benefited from a positive image among citizens and consumers, but cultural barriers resulted from change in product characteristics, e.g. veal meat color in dairy system that promote long-lasting cow-calf contact. All case studies were very advanced in the social dimensions of agroecology, and cooperation networks were always reported among the enablers for scaling out. The multi-actor network approach fostered knowledge exchange between farmers, researchers and citizens, and allowed participants to share values. Long-term commitment from local practitioners is required so that co-designed solutions are implemented, which can strengthen the economic and social viability of animal production areas.

Getting sincere and efficient support: A grounded theory study of older spousal caregivers of people with alzheimer's disease

Despite the importance of supporting older spousal caregivers (OSCs) of people with Alzheimer's Disease (PWAD), little evidence is available about the process of its occurrence in Middle Eastern countries, such as Iran. Understanding this process will help support more effectively. This study explored the support process for OSCs of PWAD using the grounded theory approach of Corbin and Strauss (2015). A total of 16 participants (10 caregivers, six formal and informal resources) were recruited using purposive and theoretical sampling methods, and in-depth interviews were conducted with them. Getting sincere and efficient support was the core category and was achieved through four strategies, which were thoughtful support-seeking, informal support-getting, formal seasonal support-getting, and informal support-devoting. Despite OSCs' vital need for multiple support, specific factors and conditions impair the support process. Healthcare providers and policymakers can use the results to make informed decisions and provide more practical support for these older caregivers.

Investigating climate change adaptation strategies among informal residents in Kumasi, Ghana, through the lenses of the social action and control theories

The urban poor in informal settlements in Ghana remain exposed and vulnerable to climate--induced hazards. Their exclusion from official adaptation interventions, undeniably calls for social mechanisms to enable them to adapt to climate change hazards such as heatwaves and floods. Individuals may contribute to exacerbating climate-induced hazards or employ adaptation measures as a common practice or due to their connectedness to a group, as hypothesised by the social action and social control theories, respectively. There is, however, no known study on the empirical and theoretical contributions of these theories to influencing climate change adaptation efforts in urban Africa. At best, studies have looked at the importance of individual and community skills, and assets to adapting to climate change hazards. Underpinned by the social action and social control theories, 367 household interviews, four focus group discussions and seven relevant agency interviews in two of Kumasi’s largest informal settlements – Aboabo and Asawase - were conducted to explore how elements of the theories shape hazard reduction and adaptation efforts, and discuss the barriers to building adaptation to climate impacts. We found that most households employed several adaptation measures because they saw other residents do the same which was confirmed by the Chi-square test statistic (χ2=4.968, p<0.000) and as hypothesised by the social action theory. Similarly, as hypothesised by the social control theory, we also found differences in the adaptation measures employed by households belonging to identified environment-related groups (χ2=21.465, p<0.001). This was, largely, because among other activities, the education and training exercises undertaken by the groups influenced the knowledge levels of members about climate change hazards and adaptation measures. The groups offer emotional, monetary, material, and practical support to cope within the short-term; first to the members, and the general residents, who are hit by disasters. Generally, adopted measures to reduce adverse impacts and build adaptation were unsustainable. This study is among few studies that demonstrate the contribution of social action and social control theories to managing and adapting climate change and its associated impacts in African cities.

Downward Intergenerational Support and Well-Being in Older Chinese Adults

Life satisfaction, as an important indicator of subjective well-being, is crucial for older adults. This study aims to examine the effects of downward intergenerational financial and practical support on life satisfaction among older adults in China, while exploring the mediating role of self-esteem and the potential differences across gender. Data were collected from 507 older adults aged 60 and above in China. The findings indicate that both financial and practical support provided by older adults positively predict their life satisfaction. Mediation analysis reveals that self-esteem partially mediates the relationship between downward intergenerational support and life satisfaction. This suggests that helping their children enhances older adults’ sense of self-worth, which in turn improves their overall well-being. Gender differences were also observed: financial support had a stronger impact on life satisfaction for men, while practical support was more significant for women. These results highlight the influence of traditional gender roles and cultural expectations on the dynamics of intergenerational support in contemporary Chinese families.

Investigating Teachers’ Use of an AI-Enabled System and Their Perceptions of AI Integration in Science Classrooms: A Case Study

Recent research indicates the significant potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing teachers’ instructional practices in areas such as lesson planning, personalized teacher intervention and feedback, and performance assessment. To fully realize the potential of AI in teaching, it is crucial to understand how teachers innovatively apply and critically evaluate AI applications in their teaching practices. However, there is a research gap in investigating how teachers use various features of an AI-enabled system and their perceptions of AI integration in teaching to promote teachers’ effective AI integration practices. Employing an exploratory case study design, we investigated how six science teachers utilized an AI-enabled inquiry intelligent tutoring system (Inq-ITS) within their teaching and examined their perceptions of AI integration. Classroom observations and teacher interview data were collected. When using Inq-ITS functionalities, two teachers with a pedagogical orientation of teacher-guided scientific inquiry mainly engaged with its virtual tutor and teacher report summary features. Conversely, four teachers, practicing the pedagogical orientation of AI-guided scientific inquiry, relied on the AI system to guide student learning, interacting intensively with its features, particularly real-time teacher alerts and teacher inquiry practice support. Regardless of the differences in using Inq-ITS features, all teachers recognized the potential benefits of pedagogical change and encountered various challenges. This analysis also revealed that teachers exhibited distinct perceptions regarding the role of Inq-ITS integration in their teaching. Teachers who adopted a teacher-guided pedagogical orientation perceived the Inq-ITS as a supporting tool that enhanced traditional teaching methods. In contrast, those with an AI-guided pedagogical orientation viewed the Inq-ITS as akin to a teaching assistant and a pedagogical collaborator. The findings underscored the importance of enhancing teachers’ realization of the pedagogical affordance of AI in teaching through their use of AI functionalities. It is essential to consider teachers’ diverse perceptions of AI integration when promoting their integration of AI into teaching practices.

Transforming Higher Education: The Power of Educational Breakouts

Introduction: This research investigates the design process of educational breakouts within higher education, focusing on the perspectives of a teacher training program at a Spanish University. Methodology: Utilizing a qualitative approach, data were collected through a comprehensive survey to evaluate the perception concerning the design of these educational breakouts. The study identifies key strengths, such as enhanced engagement and creativity, while also highlighting challenges like technical difficulties and content complexity. It also explores the opportunities these methods present for fostering innovative teaching practices and skill development, alongside potential threats including technical issues, student engagement variability, and time constraints. Results: Findings suggest that while designing educational breakouts can significantly boost motivation and active learning, their effectiveness is contingent on proper training and resource allocation. Discussions: The discussion provides insights into improving teacher training programs through gamification, emphasizing the need for support in digital literacy and collaborative practices. Conclusions: Recommendations for future research include refining breakout designs to overcome identified challenges and optimizing their educational impact.

The Influence of Sustainable Tourism Certification, Local Community Awareness, and Product Innovation on the Reputation of Destinations in Yogyakarta

This study examines the influence of sustainable tourism certification, local community awareness, and product innovation on the destination reputation of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 270 respondents representing tourists, local residents, and tourism service providers, and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS 3). The results reveal that all three factors significantly and positively impact Yogyakarta’s destination reputation. Sustainable tourism certification enhances the image of the destination, while local community awareness fosters support for sustainable practices. Additionally, product innovation contributes to the competitiveness and attractiveness of Yogyakarta by offering unique and sustainable tourism experiences. These findings highlight the importance of integrating sustainability, community engagement, and innovation to build and maintain a strong destination reputation. Practical implications for tourism stakeholders and policymakers in Yogyakarta are discussed.

The Influential Mechanisms of Live-Streaming Hosts on Consumer Behavior

In recent years, with the rise of e-commerce live streaming, hosts promoting products have played a crucial role in connecting consumers with products and influencing consumer behavior intentions. This paper reviews the current state and trends in research on how these hosts affect consumer behavior intentions, exploring how their personal characteristics, interaction patterns, and discourse strategies impact consumer purchasing decisions. Through analysis from both quantitative and qualitative research perspectives, it reveals the influence mechanisms of these hosts in modern e-commerce environments. Additionally, it discusses the pivotal role of interactive information in e-commerce live streaming, including its ability to enhance purchase desire, enrich entertainment experiences, and improve consumer shopping experiences. While existing studies provide valuable insights, there are still research gaps, particularly in-depth studies on the influence of hosts in specific domains. The findings of this review are significant for understanding the central role of hosts in e-commerce live streaming and their impact on consumer behavior, providing a theoretical foundation and support for future research and practice.

Knowledge and attitudes on anemia and menstrual health among Malaysian female university students

Anemia is a significant public health concern, particularly among young female adults due to its potential impact on reproductive health. This study investigated the association between anemia-related knowledge, attitudes, menstrual health, and anemia status among Malaysian university students. This was a cross-sectional study named “SCARF” - Study to Combat Anemia - Research for Female Students, involving 674 university students in Malaysia. Anemia status was determined based on haemoglobin level, while knowledge, attitude and menstrual health were measured using validated questionnaires. The mean menarche age of students in this study was 12.1 ± 1.21 years. Students who were anemic had significantly longer menstrual cycle duration (P = 0.034) and more days with heavy flow (P = 0.038). Most students had poor knowledge (44.5%) and attitudes (84.1%) towards anemia. Students with good knowledge were 1.1 times more likely to have better anemia status compared to those with poor knowledge (95% CI: 1.0–1.2, P = 0.049). This study highlighted a lack of practical application of the knowledge to dietary habits. Collaborative efforts between educators and healthcare providers are crucial in developing a comprehensive strategy, such as interventions to prioritise educational initiatives and practical support to enhance overall menstrual health among female students.

Parenting, Cultural Capital, and COVID-19: The Role of Parental Support for Latiné First-generation College Students

Caregivers and families play a pivotal role in students’ college decision-making and ability to develop cultural capital (Carey, 2016). Although the deleterious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic required shifts and adjustments to parenting strategies, it is less clear how COVID-19 impacted parental support for emerging adults, particularly Latiné first-generation college students (FGCS). The current study used a qualitative, longitudinal method to examine how parental support informs cultural capital (Yosso, 2005) and whether it changed due to the pandemic for six (6) Latiné FGCS attending a medium-sized private university in the Midwest region of the United States. Interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed that Latiné FGCS caregivers fostered college-going familial capital, which facilitated the development of forms of cultural capital (aspirational and navigational capital) both before and after the transition to remote learning. Post pandemic, caregivers provided additional logistical and practical support related to students navigating physical space. Findings provide novel insight on the role caregivers provided Latiné FGCS at the onset of the pandemic. Strategies for how universities can engage caregivers and families in order to support Latiné FGCS is discussed.