Service Developments Research Articles

Analysis of the Influence of Consumer Trust, Perceived Benefits, and Usage Risks on QRIS User Satisfaction with Ease of Use as a Mediating Variable: A Case Study of Jatinegara District, East Jakarta

This research aims to analyze the influence of consumer trust, benefits, and risks on user satisfaction with QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) through ease of use. In today’s era, payment or transaction systems are mostly conducted online using QR code scanning. Therefore, this research focuses on understanding the extent to which trust affects consumer satisfaction in using QRIS as a payment tool and explores the benefits of QRIS usage for the community. Additionally, the research assesses the impact of risks associated with using QRIS on user satisfaction. Ease of use serves as a mediating factor contributing to user satisfaction as the final outcome. The research employs stratified sampling as the sampling method. Data collection methods include interviews, observations, and distributing questionnaires. The analysis is conducted using SmartPLS 4 with Path Coefficient testing to measure the direct influence of independent variables on the dependent variable. The final results of this study are expected to provide insights specifically for QRIS service providers and developers.

Simulation modeling of passengers flow at airport terminals to reduce delay and enhance level of service

Passenger delays are considered as global issues that influence the overall efficiency of an airport and competitiveness as well as restricting terminal developments. This paper studied Kuwait International Airport Terminal 4 (T4); a new expansion of the old airport. This study mainly aims to analyze the influence of the design on passenger flow in T4 and how it affected the capacity in addition to obtain a path for the passenger movement from the terminal entrance until they reach the gate of the aircraft and vice versa through CAST simulation model. The effect of the T4 design on the overall efficiency was found, the current flow conditions were analyzed and compared with the required Level of Service (LOS) and several developments and expansions were suggested. Passengers flow was studied to improve passenger experience, increase operational efficiencies, maximize retail revenues and increase security effectiveness. It was indicated that customs and security facilities require expansion in areas during peak hours to maintain a high level of performance. However, the check in premium showed the minimum gap between queue capacity and the declared queuing size indicating the high level of service in this area. The results revealed that immigration queueing requires expansion. Moreover, queuing area provision indicates no capacity issues to cope with maximum queue size. The provision of immigration counters according showed no adequate queuing space to cope with MQS. It is recommended to increase the number of economy check-in counters.

Acceptance and use of mobile health technology in post-abortion care

BackgroundAbortion and its complications have always been associated with challenges such as the lack of awareness, high cost of receiving in-person services, lack of access to the skilled healthcare workers, distance from healthcare centers in remote areas, and cultural sensitivities. Therefore, the use of mobile health technology in post-abortion care has been suggested. This study aimed to investigate factors influencing the acceptance and use of mhealth technology in post-abortion care.MethodA mixed-methods study was completed in 2023. Initially, a literature review was conducted. Then, a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire was designed based on the results of the literature review. The research participants were gynecologists (n = 24), midwives (n = 38), and women who had experience of abortion (n = 183). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsThe findings revealed that the participants had different opinions about the importance of motivating and inhibiting factors which included individual, technical, economic, organizational, and ethico-legal aspects. It seems that the individual, organizational, economic, and ethico-legal motivating factors as well as the ethico-legal inhibiting factors were more important than other factors and had higher mean values. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean values of gynecologists and patients regarding the individual motivating (P = 0.014) and technical inhibiting factors (P = 0.016). The gynecologists’ opinions regarding the technical motivating factors were also significantly different from midwives (P = 0.044) and patients (P = 0.010).ConclusionMultiple factors may influence the acceptance and use of mhealth technology in post-abortion care. Therefore, mhealth service developers must consider these factors to improve the quality of services and increase technology adoption. This will lead to saving costs, improving health, reducing abortion complications, and ultimately improving quality of life for women. However, further research in patient engagement and health interventions tailored to diverse cultural contexts are recommended.

Signals of Transition in Support Systems: A Study of the use of Social Media Analytics in Crisis Management

In crisis informatics, little attention is placed on how transitions occur between periods of crisis and non-crisis. The analysis of transition behaviors in public organizations could help in understanding the duality between the need for continuity of services provided to the community, and the cyclical nature of risk and crisis management. This study uniquely highlights the transitions occurring when organizations need to stop day-to-day activities to focus on responding to a crisis while continuing to provide services to their communities. We focus on the use of social media analytics as a support system to study transitions and, with the objective to gain an insight into how sociotechnical systems navigate through periods of crisis and non-crisis, we leverage individual experiences of use of social media as a source of information in public service organizations and developers of social media analytics support tools. In doing so, we employed a process study approach, conducted semi-structured interviews, and used thematic analysis to trace patterns of transitions between crisis and non-crisis states. Furthermore, we formulate five signals that public organizations exhibit to illustrate and guide organizational transition behaviors. The main contribution of this study is the explanation and conceptualization of how transitions happen by framing social media as a support information system. In addition, we highlight the return to a new steady state, an overlooked area of organizational transitions and continuity. Our study will help streamline processes of continuity in organizations and inspires the design and improvement of current and future support systems. Future research could apply and extend our propositions to other support systems such as geospatial technologies, robots, and even artificial intelligence.

Features of the structure and properties of stone mastic asphalt

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate the features and properties of stone mastic asphalt in the context of its potential for practical application in road repair works, aiming to create a high‐quality road surface and replace outdated structural materials with newer alternatives. The leading approach combines a systematic analysis of the issues submitted for consideration and an experimental study of the properties of stone mastic asphalt, which are important in the context of the practical use of this building material to ensure high quality parameters of the roadway and the timeliness of its repair, if necessary. Within the framework of this study, results were obtained that indicate a significant variety of approaches to determining the characteristics and properties of the material under consideration, clearly demonstrating current solutions to the problem of improving the performance of stone mastic asphalt by introducing special admixtures into its composition. The findings and conclusions of this research are valuable for road service employees and developers of modern construction materials, aiding in high‐quality road surface repair and creating durable asphalt for safe road use in the future.

A Framework for Joint Verification and Evaluation of Seasonal Climate Services across Socioeconomic Sectors

Abstract Assessing the information provided by coproduced climate services is a timely challenge, given the continuously evolving scientific knowledge and its increasing translation to address societal needs. Here, we propose a joint evaluation and verification framework to assess prototype services that provide seasonal forecast information based on the experience from the Horizon 2020 (H2020) Climate forecasts enabled knowledge services (CLARA) project. The quality and value of the forecasts generated by CLARA services were first assessed for five climate services utilizing the Copernicus Climate Change Service seasonal forecasts and responding to knowledge needs from the water resources management, agriculture, and energy production sectors. This joint forecast verification and service evaluation highlights various skills and values across physical variables, services, and sectors, as well as a need to bridge the gap between verification and user-oriented evaluation. We provide lessons learned based on the service developers’ and users’ experience and recommendations to consortia that may want to deploy such verification and evaluation exercises. Last, we formalize a framework for joint verification and evaluation in service development, following a transdisciplinary (from data purveyors to service users) and interdisciplinary chain (climate, hydrology, economics, and decision analysis).

Development of the Siak Library and Archives Service (2004-2022)

This research discusses the history and development of the Siak Regency Library and Archives Service as one of the libraries that is very active and accomplished in carrying out its role in Siak Regency. The purpose of this research is to find out the history of the formation of the Siak Library and Archives Service, examine the development of the Siak Library and Archives Service in 2004-2022, be able to provide an overview of how the Siak library and archives collection is managed, and be able to find out the use of the Siak Library and Archives Service in carrying out its duties. The method used is a historical method which includes heuristic, verification, interpretation and historiography stages. The results of the research show that the formation of the Siak Library and Archives Service was due to input from the community to make the library, which was originally a regional secretariat library which at that time could only be accessed by government employees, into a public library so that the general public in Siak could access the library. Since its initial formation in 2004-2022, the Siak Library and Archives Service has experienced developments in various aspects, including infrastructure, library collections, library services and library visitors, up to the use of the Siak Library and Archives Service as a learning resource and also a source of history.

La Balanza de Pagos y la Posición de Inversión Internacional de España en 2023

Rationale The balance of payments and international investment position provide insight into Spain’s economic relations with the rest of the world, which have important implications for the domestic economy. Analysis of these statistics takes on added significance against a backdrop of global uncertainty. Takeaways •In 2023 the Spanish economy’s net lending as a percentage of GDP reached its highest level since 1995, driven by the improvement in the trade balance and positive developments in services, with record high credits in both travel services and other services. •The negative net international investment position declined further in 2023 to stand at 52.8% of GDP (its lowest level in 19 years), as a result of GDP growth and the positive balance of financial transactions with the rest of the world. •Spain’s outward and inward foreign direct investment positions increased in 2023 due to the positive amount of financial transactions, although these were down slightly on the previous year, and the likewise positive amount of revaluations.

Financial Technology and Financial Inclusion in the Banking industry in Kenya

Financial technology (Fintech) marked by technological developments in financial services, has become a significant player in the world of finance. It has the potential to increase financial services’ availability and affordability, particularly for marginalized people. The main purpose of this study was to establish the effect of Fintech on financial inclusion in the banking sector in Kenya. The proposed objectives are: to determine the effect of mobile money on financial inclusion in the banking sector in Kenya and to evaluate the role of mobile banking on financial inclusion in the banking sector in Kenya. This study was grounded in financial intermediation theory and information asymmetry and adverse selection theory. This study employed desktop research methodology. This study adds to the debate on how technology and finance intersect, opening the door for additional investigation of creative solutions for financial inclusion while promoting the attainment of sustainable development goals and sustainable development. This study established that mobile money greatly improves financial inclusion by reducing gaps for disadvantaged groups and boosting accessibility, especially in rural areas with limited traditional banking infrastructure. This study also found that mobile money services greatly improve financial inclusion in Kenya's banking sector, particularly in rural areas, by democratizing access to financial services and closing gaps for underserved populations. Furthermore, by improving accessibility, security, and efficiency, mobile banking significantly advances financial inclusion. The study recommends that regulators, financial institutions, and mobile money service providers in Kenya should work together to promote innovation and competition in the mobile banking sector.

Potentials and opportunities for revitalisation of post-harbour areas based on the Port of Zeran inWarsaw case study

The revitalisation of post-harbour and waterfront areas is an issue that has been subject to intensive public discussion over the recent years. The topic is becoming increasingly popular due to the high value of post-harbour areas. They are distinguished by their aesthetic, environmental and recreational qualities. The possibilities for developing such areas are considerable: residential development, waterfront park areas, public spaces, a variety of service developments. So far, many successful projects of such transformation have been carried out. This article focuses on an analysis of the conditions and potential of the Port of Zeran in Warsaw and the possibilities for its transformation. The study was carried out by desk research using available spatial data and information provided in scientific publications. A survey was also carried out on a group of 146 Zeran residents. The results of the analyses showed that the local environment is under heavy anthropopressure and the social and technical infrastructure is in very poor condition, while the area also has many advantages and significant development potential. The most important of these include the convenient location, the favourable ownership situation, the multitude of areas not yet developed and the presence of elements related to former activities. The current condition of the harbour offers opportunities for development in both recreational and leisure and residential directions. It is also possible to create a mixed-use neighbourhood, and the potential development would have a positive impact on the entire neighbourhood.

Implementation and Evaluation of a National Multidisciplinary Kidney Genetics Clinic Network Over 10 Years

IntroductionDiagnostic genomic sequencing is the emerging standard of care in nephrology. There is a growing need to scale up the implementation of genomic diagnostics nationally to improve patient outcomes. MethodsThis pragmatic study provided genomic or genetic testing to patients with suspected monogenic kidney disease through a national network of kidney genetics clinics. We sought to evaluate the experiences of implementing genomic diagnostics across Australia and associated diagnostic outcomes between 2013 and 2022. ResultsWe successfully established and expanded a nationwide network of 20 clinics as of 2022, concurrently developing laboratory, research, and education programs to scale the clinical application of genomics in nephrology. We report on an Australian cohort of 1,506 kidney patients, of whom 1,322 received their test results. We assessed barriers to implementation in the nephrology context and, where possible, applied real-time solutions to improve clinical processes over ten years. ConclusionDeveloping a multidisciplinary kidney genetics model across multiple health services nationally was highly successful. This model supported optimal care of individuals with monogenic kidney disease in an economically responsible way. It has continued to evolve with technological and service developments and is now set to scale further as genomic testing for kidney patients transitions to healthcare system funding.

Impact of Social Media Marketing on Consumer Behaviour

The behavior of consumers is intricate, sophisticated, hard to modify, and occasionally confusing. Learning about consumer behavior is an interesting but important field of research. because of its complexity, diversity, unpredictable nature, and ubiquity. One of the most significant facets of consumer behavior and a hot topic for consumer science research is consumer engagement and purchase intention. Scholars and marketers have been trying to understand how consumers behave in a range of social, cultural, and other contexts. Understanding the various mental and physical actions that the customer takes prior to, during, and following the purchase is the main focus. The virtual world has emerged as a result of the introduction, development, and use of information and communication technologies by the general public and corporate organizations. Using the web, a system that uses the internet to facilitate business communications and transactions, new forms of value creation have been created in this digital age, dismantling traditional business models (Kalakota and Robinson, 2000). The demand for social media has increased due to developments in digital services and infrastructure brought about by government regulatory frameworks and other initiatives, as well as the availability of low-cost, high-speed data, appropriate content, and mobile apps. Additionally, mobile devices have become more affordable and sophisticated (Duhan and Singh, 2013). In addition, social media has given users new and innovative virtual platforms to interact, communicate, socialize, discover new information, and stay up to date on concepts, ideas, and products that may be of interest to them when making decisions about what to buy. Consumer decision-making has changed in the social web era due to the introduction of new influences such as brand community discussions and online brand endorsements (Constantinides and Fountain, 2008; Edelman, 2010). Social networks assist consumers in making decisions and sharing information (Milovic, 2018). In recent times, there has been an unparalleled surge in consumer interactions due to the availability of various forms of user-generated content such as text, photographs, and videos, as well as the chance to interact with friends, make new ones, and discover emerging trends (Giannakos et al., 2013). Mostly, people use these kinds of media to browse through information available on online forums and stay up to date on the latest developments in companies and goods.

Predicting customer intention to adopt mobile commerce in Jordan

BACKGROUND: The progress made in wireless communications has led to a higher adoption of mobile devices among users and has spurred the development of mobile commerce technology. OBJECTIVE: This research examines the factors influencing the intention to adopt mobile commerce in Jordan. These factors include perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, social influence, personal innovation, and mobility. METHODS: The study relied on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), incorporating additional variables to suit the Jordanian context. The researchers gathered data from 540 users, and the research hypotheses were evaluated using smartPLS analysis. The study utilized a convenience sample due to the absence of a comprehensive list of names of mobile commerce users. RESULTS: The results reveal that perceived usefulness, trust, social influence, personal innovation, and mobility play a significant role in influencing adoption intentions of mobile commerce. Furthermore, the study finds that mobility significantly affects the perceived usefulness of mobile commerce. In contrast, perceived ease of use does not show a statistically significant relationship on the intention to adopt mobile commerce. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this research provide valuable insights for companies, service developers, and mobile marketers, enabling them to enhance the adoption rate of this service among individuals.

Driving factors behind mobile payment app users’ continuance intention: insights for service providers in Malaysia

PurposeAs the competition to retain current and attract new mobile payment app users intensifies, meeting users’ needs has become fundamental for mobile payment app service providers to stay competitive. This study aims to investigate the relationship between users’ needs, users’ attitude towards mobile payment apps and users’ continuance intention to use mobile payment apps.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an exploratory sequential mixed methods research design, this study first conducted three focus groups in the qualitative phase to investigate issues or concerns faced by current users of mobile payment apps. The study then conducted an online questionnaire survey in the quantitative phase to collect responses from users of mobile payment apps. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to analyse 110 valid responses.FindingsFindings show that usefulness (modelled as a second-order reflective construct consisting of three first-order reflective constructs, i.e. ease of use, acceptability and responsiveness), traceability and security had a statistically significant relationship with attitude towards mobile payment apps (which in turn had a statistically significant relationship with continuance intention to use mobile payment apps). It was also found that attitude towards mobile payment mediated the relationships between usefulness, traceability and security; and continuance intention to use mobile payment apps.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can help mobile payment app service providers and developers design apps that offer the functions and features that their users need.Originality/valueAlthough some recent studies have investigated the adoption of mobile payments in the Malaysian context, few of these studies examined current users’ continuance intention to use mobile payment apps.

Harnessing climate services to support community resilience planning: lessons learned from a community-engaged approach to assessing NOAA’s National Water Model

IntroductionInland and coastal flooding and other water-based natural disasters are projected to increase in severity, frequency, and intensity as global temperatures rise, placing a growing number of US communities at risk. Governments at the local, state, and federal levels have been embracing resilience planning to better predict, mitigate, and adapt to such shocks and hazards. A growing number of climate services have been developed to aid communities engaged in these efforts to access, interpret, and make decisions with climate-related data and information. An important tool for potentially supporting this planning is the National Water Model (NWM), created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Water Center (NWC). The NWM is a river and streamflow model that can forecast conditions for the continental United States.MethodsHowever, community end-users were not being effectively engaged in ways that result in widespread tool use and adoption. From 2021 to 2023, seven geographically diverse US communities agreed to participate in a study to understand how the NWM might be applied in resilience planning. Interviews and collaborative sessions were conducted with NWC/NOAA staff and community resilience stakeholders in Burlington, VT; Cincinnati, OH; Portland, OR; Charlotte, NC; Boulder, CO; Minneapolis; MN; and Houston, TXResults and DiscussionResults provide an improved understanding of potential applications of the National Water Model and have identified actions to overcome the barriers to its use among municipal and regional resilience planners. This research yielded a set of recommendations, co-developed between the seven communities and NWC/ NOAA staff, for how these barriers could be overcome to facilitate wider use of the NWM and its data and visualization services in resilience planning. This study highlights the NWM’s applicability at shorter timescales in resilience planning and points to a more general need for climate services to accommodate near-, medium-, and longterm time frames. The study also found many community stakeholders who use water science and information in resilience planning have diverse disciplinarily backgrounds. Importantly, the majority were not trained hydrologists or water scientists, pointing to the critical need for climate service developers, including the NWC, to embrace co-development efforts that involve a wider range of end-users, including community resilience planners.

Assessing the usability and value of a climate service in the wine sector

Climate change can significantly affect and influence, both positively and negatively, the wine sector. In this context, the adoption of timely, cost-effective adaptation strategies may contribute to reduce such risks, maximise opportunities, and enhancing the sector’s resilience to changing climatic conditions. Climate services involve the production and use of climate information to support decision-makers adapting to climate variability and change. Assessing the value and benefits of using climate services constitutes a critical area of research and can help climate service providers identify any barriers in their development, uptake, and use. The climate service developed in this research benefitted from a co-production approach with a Portuguese Wine company − SOGRAPE. In this paper, we aim to assess the usability and value of the climate service co-developed with SOGRAPE and identify possible barriers that limited the tool’s usability and value. Engagement with SOGRAPE users was pursued based on mixed methods approach throughout the various stages of co-development and testing of the tool. The results show that the data provided in the Dashboard was perceived as reliable and legitimate. However, the saliency of the Dashboard was questioned, and some recommendations proposed to increase its saliency and overall usability. More importantly, SOGRAPE users were not able to use the climate information provided in the tool due to a number of barriers which are also reported in this study. The findings and recommendations from this study will help inform the design, development and usability of other climate services within and beyond the wine sector.

AI for Identity and Access Management (IAM) in the Cloud: Exploring the Potential of Artificial Intelligence to Improve User Authentication, Authorization, and Access Control within Cloud-Based Systems

This comprehensive study explores the integration and effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Identity and Access Management (IAM) within cloud environments. It primarily focuses on how AI can enhance user authentication, authorization, and access control, addressing the challenges and possibilities in cloud computing. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, employing both quantitative and qualitative analyses. A survey involving 582 cybersecurity experts provides insights into the current state and potential of AI in IAM, while multiple regression analysis examines the impact of various factors on system effectiveness. Four hypotheses are explored: the impact of hardware and software configurations on system accuracy (H1), the influence of computational environments on reliability (H2), the role of demographic factors in user acceptance (H3), and the effect of technological enhancements on system performance and acceptance (H4). Findings indicate significant correlations between these factors and the effectiveness of AI in IAM. Notably, hardware configurations and security concerns influence system accuracy; computational environment variations affect system reliability; demographic factors impact user acceptance; and enhancements such as user feedback, advancements in AI technology, continuous learning algorithms, and system transparency improve performance and acceptance. These insights underscore the need for advanced hardware, standardized software, user-centric design, and continuous improvement in AI technologies for effective IAM in cloud environments. The study provides actionable recommendations for cloud service providers and developers, emphasizing the importance of involving users in development processes, ensuring transparency, and adopting adaptive algorithms. Future research directions include longitudinal studies on the impact of technological advancements and exploring demographic-specific responses to AI-integrated IAM solutions.

Hardware-hardened Sandbox Enclaves for Trusted Serverless Computing

In cloud-based serverless computing, an application consists of multiple functions provided by mutually distrusting parties. For secure serverless computing, the hardware-based trusted execution environment (TEE) can provide strong isolation among functions. However, not only protecting each function from the host OS and other functions, but also protecting the host system from the functions, is critical for the security of the cloud servers. Such an emerging trusted serverless computing poses new challenges: Each TEE must be isolated from the host system bi-directionally, and the system calls from it must be validated. In addition, the resource utilization of each TEE must be accountable in a mutually trusted way. However, the current TEE model cannot efficiently represent such trusted serverless applications. To overcome the lack of such hardware support, this article proposes an extended TEE model called Cloister , designed for trusted serverless computing. Cloister proposes four new key techniques. First, it extends the hardware-based memory isolation in SGX to confine a deployed function only within its TEE (enclave). Second, it proposes a trusted monitor enclave that filters and validates system calls from enclaves. Third, it provides a trusted resource accounting mechanism for enclaves that is agreeable to both service developers and cloud providers. Finally, Cloister accelerates enclave loading by redesigning its memory verification for fast function deployment. Using an emulated Intel SGX platform with the proposed extensions, this article shows that trusted serverless applications can be effectively supported with small changes in the SGX hardware.

Platform acquisitions and Nash bargaining

A merger between a device-driven platform and a service developer engaged in bilateral negotiations with competing platforms can be welfare enhancing. The merger increases platform competition and can benefit consumers even when it increases the bargaining leverage of the service provider vis-à-vis rival platforms and generates opposing effects on the prices of devices and services on different platforms.

Changing Gears and Buying Time: A Study Exploring AMHP Practice Following Referral for a Mental Health Act Assessment in England and Wales

Abstract The role of the Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) under the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 in England and Wales is to respond to referrals for psychiatric detention and make an application for detention where they consider this necessary. This article reports the findings of my doctoral study into AMHP decision-making at the point of referral for an MHA assessment. The strengths-based methodology of Appreciative Inquiry was adopted, positioned in a social constructionist paradigm. Nine AMHPs working for one Local Authority participated in the study, including myself as an insider researcher. During four one-day workshops over five months participants defined their best practice, analysing emerging data together within the workshops using nominal group technique. Service developments included the creation of a triage role and a bespoke report to prioritise this decision within the service, opening avenues to change gears and buy time for a more thorough assessment at this point, and promoting greater collaboration with those referred. A multi-agency approach to searching for less restrictive options was advocated within an assessment pathway. The results of this study offer a research insight into this important area of practice, offering an evidence base to inform practice and policy developments.