Service Suppliers Research Articles

IoT for analyzing and investigating digital forensics tools using cloud computing

One of these articles examines how cloud computing affects standard digital proof methodologies and offers some suggestions on how to improve digital proof reviews in the cloud. As Cloud-Computing gains traction as an IT business solution, it is attracting the attention of an increasing number of companies as a viable migrations path for their IT infrastructures and business strategy. The criminal's element among has made aware of the centralization of data stored in clouds. Then Data Centers and Clouds Service providers are becoming targeted for assault. Inside the coming years, implementing a Forensics-as-a-Service (FaaS) solution may be the only viable option, but until it is consented upon as a guideline and executed by service suppliers, participants are completely reliant on clients receiving a few assurances in their service level agreements to allow the retrieval of users and the systems logs on supply.

Product Briefs

Items listed here are new or improved products on the market. See the AWWA Sourcebook (http://sourcebook.awwa.org) for a full list of product and service suppliers. Send press releases about new products to opflow@awwa.org.

How will last-mile delivery be shaped in 2040? A Delphi-based scenario study

• Digitization and sustainability shift current industry standards. • The expert panel defines the scope of used technologies in 2040. • The last-mile delivery sector will become more segmented. • We provide managerial and policy guidance for key stakeholders. Last-mile delivery (LMD) has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, primarily driven by e-commerce. The LMD sector is characterized by strong competition, with new entrants addressing unexplored business segments, while digitization and more sustainable operations are shifting current industry standards. This paper explores upcoming trends in the LMD sector using a Delphi-based scenario study for 2040. We develop projections of future consumer behavior, delivery technologies, delivery services, and regulation to validate them by conducting a two-round Delphi study among 36 experts from the LMD industry, academia, and politics. Based on the results, three future scenarios are identified by fuzzy c-means clustering, set within the context of innovation diffusion theory and the technology acceptance model. There is expert consensus on the scope of technologies that will be used in 2040 and how consumers’ preferences may change, but the future design of delivery services is less certain. The identified scenarios provide managerial and policy guidance for logistics service providers, suppliers, municipalities, and e-commerce retailers to adapt their long-term strategies.

Optimal service quality and pricing for App service supply chain with network externality based on four different scenarios

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the optimal service quality and pricing for a mobile application (App) service supply chain (SSC) and analyze the impact of network externality on App SSC members' utilities. After that, the corresponding management inspirations and suggestions are put forward.Design/methodology/approachThe paper developed a SSC consisted of an App service supplier and an App service operator. Our models aim to maximize the SSC members' utilities. By utilizing the game theory, equilibrium solutions are obtained. Numerical examples are used to manifest the impact of parameters on decisions by Matlab. Some management enlightenment could be obtained by comparison analysis.FindingsCooperating with an App service operator that asks for a lower revenue sharing ratio will enable the App service supplier to have sufficient funds to provide high-quality update service. With the increase of network externality, adopting a high-quality service strategy can bring higher utility to the App service operator and users. Pouring attention into consumer welfare moderately will improve the App service supplier's utility. Scenario CRS can achieve a win–win goal for App SSC members and consumers.Originality/valueThe innovations of this paper are as follows: Firstly, the authors investigate the optimal service quality and pricing for the App SSC, which has been discussed little in previous literature. Secondly, the authors discuss how network externality and enterprises' attention to consumer welfare affect the optimal decisions and utilities of App service supply chain members. Thirdly, this paper considers four different circumstances and determines the optimal operation scenario for App SSC through comparative analysis.

Pengaruh Kualitas Pelayanan, Harga dan Brand Image Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Jasa Peralatan Pernikahan Muslim

Moslem Wedding Organizer is a form that personally helps brides and families to providing the supplies and implementation of wedding events in accordance with Islamic religious rules. The population of Surabaya city is majority moslem city that still adhering to diverse traditions and cultures, this is an opportunity for Ikrar Suci to become the choice of moslem wedding organizer for brides in Surabaya. Several factors that are considered by the brides in making decisions about choosing wedding organizer are service quality, price, and brand image, so this study aims to determine the effect of service quality, price and brand image on the decision to purchase moslem wedding equipment. This type of research is quantitative, with the population being all Muslim couples in Surabaya who married in 2019, at the age of 19, who used the services by a wedding organizer. The sampling technique used incidental sampling with a sample size of 100 respondents who were processed using multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that there is a positive and significant effect partially and simultaneously on service quality, price, and brand image on purchasing decisions for moslem wedding equipment services. Suggestions for the company are to improve service quality, re-analyze prices according to market, and improve brand image to be better known and trusted by the public. Keywords: service quality, price, brand image, Muslim wedding supplies services.

Optimal competition strategy analysis of China Railway Express based on evolutionary game theory.

In the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, China Railway Express achieved rapid development. Determining how to achieve effective marking and determining how to adopt the optimal competitive strategy are the main challenges for CR Express operators. By choosing long-distance transportation as the research object, this research established a competitive model between CR Express and maritime transportation based on game theory. First, we determined the participants of this competition. By dividing common goods into the categories of high-value and high-time-sensitiveness, high-value and low-time-sensitiveness, low-value and high-time-sensitiveness, and low-value and low-time-sensitiveness, the model was used to simulate four situations and to obtain optimal strategies for operators. For CR Express, it was always effective to adopt a service optimizing strategy to improve the service level and earn market share. For maritime transportation, this strategy was effective only for high-value and low-time-sensitiveness goods as well as low value and low-time-sensitiveness goods. Therefore, transportation service suppliers should make competitive strategies based on different good types, and it is effective to use differentiation strategies to earn market share and improve competitiveness only for suitable types of goods.

PERI-URBAN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: PERCEPTION OF THE VISITORS OF THE PARK OF FUNAAB ZOO, ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA

Zoo parks are mainly perceived as recreational areas. However, they could be suppliers of ecosystem services, which could enhance overall societal wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visitors’ perception of the ecosystem services provided by FUNAAB recreational zoo park Abeokuta in the State of Ogun in the Republic of Nigeria. Primary data were collected from the visitors of the Zoo and a Likert scale technique was used to evaluate the visitors’ perception of the ecosystem services by the Zoo park. The findings showed that most visitors were aware of numerous specific ecosystem services provided by the Zoo park. Accordingly, most visitors were aware of medicinal and cosmetic plants, education/interpretation, soil purification as ecosystem services provided by the zoo park. However, only few visitors were aware of the microclimate regulation role of zoo park Abeokuta. Consequently, the study ends with some recommendations for the managers of Zoo Park to increase the awareness of visitors about the key role of Zoo Park in supplying numerous ecosystem services for overall society wellbeing. This study provides an insight, which constitutes a baseline situation to enable sustainable decision making via the incorporation of urban zoological park into policy. This can facilitate more effective planning and management of the FUNAAB zoological park.

Product Briefs

Items listed here are new or improved products on the market. See the AWWA Sourcebook (http://sourcebook.awwa.org) for a full list of product and service suppliers. Send press releases about new products to opflow@awwa.org.

Analysis of the impact of the regional innovation system of protected agriculture in Hidalgo, Mexico

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of the research was to analyze the impact of the regional innovation system on the efficiency and productivity enterprises dedicated to protected agriculture in Hidalgo, Mexico. Methodology The regional innovation system was analyzed by identifying the innovation networks. Subsequently, a typology of enterprises was generated according to the networks in which they participate and an analysis of variance and comparison tests of Scheffé means between clusters. Findings In the regional innovation system, the networks were made up of government institutions, teaching and research institutions, and suppliers of inputs and services, where the latter have the highest degrees of articulation. Also, positive effects were identified in the efficiency indicators of the enterprises related to the networks made up of government institutions, teaching and research institutions, and the extension services. Practical implications The identification of these interactions is essential for the design of public policies for the promotion of innovation. For example, for the design of a smart extension program that articulates all the actors and that all benefit from their interactions. Theoretical implications The study reveals the positive influence of the regional innovation system on enterprises. In addition, it rekindles the discussion on the relevance of the State in the operation of innovation systems, the role of universities in the generation of knowledge and the extension service in the diffusion of new knowledge, information and practices. Originality/value The study generates important knowledge about the regional innovation system and about the design of an innovation management strategy.

Evaluation of symmetries and asymmetries on barriers to sustainable housing in developing countries

For effective policy development and implementation for sustainable housing, the perspectives of professionals (i.e., suppliers of housing facilities and services) and households (i.e., consumers thereof) must be assessed concurrently. However, with sparse studies examining both the supply and demand-sides of sustainable housing development simultaneously, policymakers are plagued with unbalanced information. Consequently, eclectic and specific policies cannot be formulated for implementation. This study presents a concurrent evaluation of sustainability challenges from both perspectives towards identifying symmetries and asymmetries on sustainable housing barriers. Four categorizations of barriers were developed from extant literature, viz: ‘economic’, ‘social’, ‘environmental’ and ‘institutional’ barriers. Primary data was gathered using a structured questionnaire that was distributed via a non-probability purposive sampling technique to both professionals working in formal/regulated institutions of the Ghanaian housing market and household occupants. A test of significant difference on underlying barriers was conducted using Mann-Whitney U test. The fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) technique was also employed for dealing with subjectivity in responses attributed to differences in respondents' aim, motivation and experience for an objective evaluation of a multivariate factor (i.e., category of barriers). The study's findings revealed significant differences among some underlying barriers rated by the two respondent groups. Likewise, there were significant differences supported at p < 0.05 at a Z-value of −2.24 and p < 0.05 at a Z-value of −1.48 on the social and environmental categories of barriers, respectively. Practically, results on the test of significant difference are indicative of barriers that require all-inclusive and specific policies. Moreover, the FSE indices provide allocative purpose by directing resources from policymakers towards more critical barriers for sustainable housing.

Service supplier selection under fuzzy and stochastic uncertain environments

Owing to the heterogeneity and inherent uncertainty of services, the selection of service suppliers is a complicated multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problem in which fuzzy criteria and stochastic criteria coexist. During the past few decades, many real-world supplier selection problems have been resolved using MAGDM methods. Nevertheless, extant research on supplier selection considers either fuzzy criteria or stochastic criteria, and hence most of these methods cannot address the complex and unstructured nature of contemporary service supplier selection problems. In this study, a novel technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach, integrating both fuzzy criteria and stochastic criteria, is developed; in this approach, the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) cross-entropy for fuzzy criteria and the Euclidean distance for stochastic criteria are used to acquire the rankings of alternatives. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is conducted for a case study of hoisting service supplier selection, and a comparative analysis with other existing methods is performed to confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach.

Home Energy Forecast Performance Tool for Smart Living Services Suppliers under an Energy 4.0 and CPS Framework

Industry 4.0 is a paradigm consisting of cyber-physical systems based on the interconnection between all sorts of machines, sensors, and actuators, generally known as things. The combination of energy technology and information and technology communication (ICT) enables measurement, control, and automation to be performed across the distributed grid with high time resolution. Through digital revolution in the energy sector, the term Energy 4.0 emerges in the future electric sector. The growth outlook for appliance usage is increasing and the appearance of renewable energy sources on the electric grid requires strategies to control demand and peak loads. Potential feedback for energy performance is the use of smart meters in conjunction with smart energy management; well-designed applications will successfully inform, engage, empower, and motivate consumers. This paper presents several hands-on tools for load forecasting, comparing previous works and verifying which show the best energy forecasting performance in a smart monitoring system. Simulations were performed based on forecasting of the hours ahead of the load for several households. Special attention was given to the accuracy of the forecasting model for weekdays and weekends. The development of the proposed methods, based on artificial neural networks (ANN), provides more reliable forecasting for a few hours ahead and peak loads.

EFEKTIVITAS KEBIJAKAN SEKOLAH TERHADAP KINERJA GURU SMP PGRI 01 KARANGPLOSO MASA PANDEMI COVID-19

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of school policies in order to assess the level of teacher performance at SMP PGRI 01 Karangploso during the pandemic, where teachers are required to conduct effective learning activities even during the pandemic, which necessitates online learning activities. Additionally, there are assumptions that the use of online learning was considered ineffective because of a lack of school preparation and a lack of student readiness, as well as a lack of facilities to support online learning activities and a lack of effective regulations defining appropriate policies for the learning and pursuit process. The quantitative descriptive method was used in this study, and data were gathered through observations and in-depth interviews with various teachers and policymakers at schools. According to the findings of this study, the efficacy of school policies was classified as fairly effective, with an average score of 55,15. As a result, the policies established in schools must undergo revision by the parties involved. They must collaborate and assist one another. Among them are teachers as practitioners of learning, students as learning ob jects, school administration as suppliers of learning services, and parents as those responsible for providing online learning support facilities.

Product Briefs

Items listed here are new or improved products on the market. See the AWWA Sourcebook (http://sourcebook.awwa.org) for a full list of product and service suppliers. Send press releases about new products to opflow@awwa.org.

ЛОЯЛЬНОСТЬ ПЕРСОНАЛА СОВРЕМЕННОЙ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ: ОПЫТ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ EMPLOYEE NET PROMOTER SYSTEM (ENPS)

The purpose of this paper is to present and analyze the generalized results of a regular monitoring study of employee loyalty on the example of a large financial company using the loyalty assessment methodology (eNPS and NPS) of the company's employees as an employer and supplier of products and services. The relevance of the work is due to the contradiction between the widespread use of the NPS index under the influence of marketing in HR practice of applied research, which has become an indicator of the assessment of the employer brand and the effectiveness of HR policy, and the obvious lack of data on the real values of the index and generalization of the experience of applying the eNPS methodology in modern organizations. The subject of the study is the loyalty of the personnel of a modern financial organization as an employer. The author uses general scientific methods – analysis and synthesis of data from sociological studies of employee loyalty; empirical methods – a monitoring study implemented in a large financial company (N≈5000) during 2017-2020 (quarterly online staff surveys). The scientific novelty of the study lies in the generalization of the methodological experience of using the NPS index to study staff loyalty, presenting the possibilities and limitations of using the methodology. The following research results were obtained: methodological features of measuring loyalty using the eNPS method were identified, the difference between measuring the eNPS index and comprehensive analysis of the Employee Net Promoter Score system was revealed, features of eNPS calculations were identified, and internal loyalty (NPS) was described, the relationship between loyalty and key HR- metrics (engagement, satisfaction, motivation, etc.) was presented. The key conclusion is about the factors influencing loyalty, the assessment of the potential in the development of loyalty (the ratio of negative and positive segments of employees), and the relationship between HR metrics. The results of the study were used in the comprehensive description of the employee's journey map (EJM), adjustment of the personnel management policy, as well as in the implementation of initiatives and activities aimed at internal organizational changes, and the development of the employer's brand.

EXPLORING RELATIONSHIP POWER IN SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES: A CASE STUDY OF A SOUTH AFRICAN HOSPITAL GROUP

Buyers and suppliers of healthcare products and services are more dependent on each other than ever before for the provision of scarce and unique resources, which highlights the need to implement supply chain sustainability practices. Firms controlling these resources hold excessive power over others. This study adopted resource dependence theory as a theoretical lens to explore the role of relationship power in supply chain sustainability practices between a South African private healthcare provider and its suppliers. The study employed a generic qualitative single-case study design. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 12 participants at various levels of the case organisation’s hierarchy. The main findings revealed several types of environmental and social practice used in the supply chain of the private healthcare provider. Some of the environmental practices were effective waste management and recycling, while the social practices included supplier selection and periodic reviews. The healthcare provider exercised extensive power over its suppliers to implement these practices. By exploring the advantages and disadvantages of sustainability practices, the findings showed that relationship power acted as a driver of supply chain sustainability. Mutual commitment, continuous communication, and training support these practices. Healthcare managers must be aware of the importance of relationship power for supply chain sustainability practices implementation, and are advised to invest time and effort in building buyer—supplier relationships to aid sustainability. This study expands the literature on relationship power in supply chain sustainability practices in an underexplored developing country healthcare context. Keywords Sustainability; supply chain relationships; power; private hospital; single case-study

РИЗИКИ, ЩО ВПЛИВАЮТЬ НА ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ КОМЕРЦІЙНИХ ПІДРИЄМСТВ ПІД ЧАС ВІЙСЬКОВОГО СТАНУ В УКРАЇНІ, ТА СЦЕНАРІЇ ЇХ МІНІМІЗАЦІЇ

The article is devoted to the topical issues of identifying key risks that affect the functioning of commercial enterprises during the martial law in Ukraine, and developing scenarios for their minimization. The key risks, which are the most dangerous, were considered: lack of client demand for finished products or services; personnel turnover and the impossibility of their timely replenishment and quality training; failure to fulfill and process large volumes of orders due to an unsatisfactory level of functioning of the CRM system; significant restrictions or the complete impossibility of receiving goods from raw material/service suppliers; possible consequences of hostilities in Ukraine (destruction of an enterprise); lack of mobility in the event of the destruction of the enterprise and a sufficient level of automated constructions of business processes. Experts were asked to rate their level of concern for each of the identified risks. Based on the results of the survey, the four most critical risks were determined, which, according to experts, have a significant impact on the activities of commercial enterprises in Ukraine, namely: lack of mobility in the event of the destruction of the enterprise and a sufficient level of automated constructions of business processes; destruction of the enterprise as a result of the hostilities in Ukraine; significant restrictions or complete impossibility of receiving goods from suppliers of raw materials or services; inability to fulfill and process large volumes of orders due to an unsatisfactory level of functioning of the CRM system. Based on the results of the conducted research, scenarios for minimizing the identified risks were developed and considered. The process of formation of evacuation mobile groups, which must resume the activity of a commercial enterprise in a short period of time, regardless of its new location, taking into account the condition of the availability of equipment or without it, was defined and visualized. The developed scenarios in the present research are as a visual plan of ways to preserve the functioning of a commercial enterprise under the conditions of the destructive consequences of military operations on the territory of Ukraine.

Clusters-innovative economyactive development mechanism

Great attention is paid to the implementation of the cluster system, the implementation of market relations and experience, tested in international practice in the Republic, which plays an important role in the development and stability of the economy. The main purpose of the implementation of cluster activities is to ensure high economic growth and diversify the economy by increasing the competitiveness of suppliers of enterprises, equipment, components, specialized production and service Services, Research and educational organizations that make up territorial production.

Auditors maximising their utility: Economic analysis of the supreme audit institution

Despite several studies on the supreme audit institutions (SAIs), the research question of what maximises SAI auditors' utility remains unanswered. Since SAIs are key public suppliers of audit services, it is essential to determine how they perform their duties and obligations to the stakeholders. This paper follows the grounded theory paradigm using qualitative and quantitative methods. This study is pioneering in many ways because the motivation of SAI's auditors is rarely the subject of research. We formulate the model of SAI's utility and determine the SAI auditor's motivators. The study results prove that SAIs seek to impose their system of preferences through audits and derive usefulness from this. From a long-term perspective, this may lead to a negative autonomy of SAI. Additionally, the study reveals that auditors strive to maximise monetary income and perceive employment stability as a motivational factor. However, job stability could lead to lower auditors' engagement during the audits. The study proposes a pay-for-performance system, which does not reduce the auditor's motivation linked with job stability and simultaneously encourages auditors to achieve better job results. This study contributes to a better understanding of the problems associated with interactions of public officials inside the state.

Adaptive and Dynamic Feedback Loops between Production System and Production Network based on the Asset Administration Shell

In production networks, production must run efficiently across company boundaries. Companies must be able to react quickly as a single unit. Two trends are influencing this situation: On the one hand, the progressing servitization leads to the increased offering of digital services in the field of manufacturing. From the literature, it is known that digital services let manufacturers, suppliers, and industrial customers interact more closely and frequently in a production network. On the other hand, the concept of the digital twin is trending. It promises the real-time prognosis and control of production systems. Although the concept of the digital twin itself can be vague there are some technologies trying to implement the digital twin of production. The asset administration shell (AAS) is an example of such a technology that draws growing attention. Picking up the initial situation these two trends could be used to create a feedback loop between the production system and network and thus improve the overall efficiency in production networks. Based on this idea, the paper first presents an approach to model systematically a possibility for a feedback loop orienting to the business model concept. Second, a reference architecture is derived from the RAMI 4.0 standard. The specified reference architecture is the basis for the specific implementation. Third, a procedure is developed to implement a specific architecture. For implementing an architecture, the usage of the asset administration shell is assumed. Finally, the approach is validated in a use case from the high precision weight industry.