Technological Shifts Research Articles

Adoption and User Behaviour Towards Digital Payments by Millennial

The rapid adoption of digital payment systems has transformed the financial landscape, particularly among millennials, who are at the forefront of this technological shift. This study explores the adoption and user behaviour of digital payment methods among millennials in India. The research aims to identify the key factors influencing the decision to use digital payments, including convenience, security, trust, and government initiatives. Additionally, it examines how socio-cultural influences, mobile payment applications, and peer networks impact the payment choices of this demographic. Through a survey of 250 millennials, the study reveals that ease of use, trust in security features, and promotional incentives are the primary drivers of digital payment adoption. It also identifies challenges such as concerns over data privacy and digital literacy. The findings suggest that while millennials are increasingly adopting digital payment systems, their behaviour is shaped by a complex interplay of technological, economic, and social factors. The study provides insights into strategies for improving the digital payment ecosystem and encourages further research into the evolving behaviour of young consumers.

The Histrionics of Warrior Masculinity in <i>1 & 2 Tamburlaine</i> (1587)

This essay analyses the histrionics of warrior masculinity in 1 & 2 Tamburlaine in light of the social, political and technological shifts that transformed warfare in early modern England. It first looks at the contexts of these shifts and how they necessitated new models of masculinity in keeping with early modern civil society. The prospective elimination of the nobility’s warrior masculinity caused great anxieties about the foothold of masculinity in society more generally, which became a major subject of discussion in public discourse at the time. The early modern theatre, with its particular function in formulating topical issues and discussing questions about identities, staged the anxiety about effeminacy brought about by the demise of pre-modern warriorship. This essay, however, proposes that English Renaissance drama of war mediates the transition of the model manhood from that of martialism to that of civility. It argues that Christopher Marlowe’s 1 & 2 Tamburlaine, as a famous play centering on war and conquest, engages in such mediation through the hyperbolic characterisation of the pre-modern warrior. By doing so, it renders such a figure unhuman and thereby unviable in early modern society. The essay further analyses how the dramaturgy of the plays estranges the audience from the figure of pre-modern warrior and discredits its legitimacy.

Navigating the precarious path: Understanding the dualisation of the Italian labour market through the lens of involuntary part-time employment

This article investigates the surge in Involuntary Part-Time (IPT) employment in Italy from 2004 to 2019, exploring its impact on various socio-economic groups and adopting a spatial perspective. The study tests the hypothesis that technological shifts, specifically routine biased technological change (RBTC), and the expansion of household substitution services contribute to IPT growth. There is a widening negative gap in IPT prevalence among marginalized groups - women, young, and less skilled workers. After controlling for sector and occupation, the higher IPT propensity diminishes but remains significant, hinting at persistent discrimination. Additionally, segregation into more exposed occupations and sectors intensifies over time. Leveraging province-level indicators, and using a Partial Adjustment model, there is statistical support for RBTC’s correlation with IPT, especially among women. The impact of household substitution services is notably pronounced for women, highlighting sector segregation.

Exploring Virtual Reality in Arts Education

This paper examines the integration of virtual reality (VR) into arts education, focusing on how immersive technologies can transform learning environments across various artistic disciplines. With advancements in VR technology making it more accessible, the study investigates its potential to enhance creativity, accessibility, and engagement in both visual and performing arts. The theoretical frameworks of arts education, including constructivism and experiential learning, are analyzed in the context of VR applications. Through case studies of current VR implementations in K-12 and higher education, the paper highlights both the benefits and challenges of this technological shift, advocating for its strategic inclusion in art curricula. Future trends are also discussed, predicting collaborative innovations that may reshape arts pedagogy. Keywords: Virtual Reality (VR), Arts Education, Immersive Technologies, Constructivism, Experiential Learning.

Exploring and narrating futures in undergraduate climate change education: an innovative teaching approach

PurposeThis study aims to focus on an innovative undergraduate teaching intervention designed to guide students in exploring and narrating the potential futures of climate change. The intervention aimed to reduce the psychological distance associated with climate change by systematically investigating futures in real-world contexts. The study had two objectives: to examine students’ learning outcomes by analysing their visions of a carbon-neutral future towards the end of the intervention and to measure the intervention’s impact on students’ understanding of climate change and their perceived ability to contribute effectively.Design/methodology/approachThe intervention was implemented over two consecutive semesters. Data for analysis included student narratives from the final assignment (N = 140), where they envisioned life in a carbon-neutral city, and pre-/post-instruction surveys (N = 37) assessing content knowledge and action competence.FindingsContent analysis of student narratives revealed 12 distinct themes, encompassing infrastructural and technological advancements, lifestyle adaptations and shifts in societal attitudes towards sustainability. Statistical analysis of the survey data demonstrated significant improvements in both variables. These findings suggest that the teaching intervention effectively enhanced students’ scientific understanding of climate change, increased their self-perceived ability to take action and fostered a realistic sense of life in a sustainable future.Originality/valueThis research introduces a novel teaching intervention exploring and narrating climate change futures. Analysing personal narratives provides fresh insights into how young individuals envision sustainable living within the context of climate change, thereby contributing a unique perspective to climate change education and future studies.

Financial technology in a South African banking institution to achieve strategic sustainability

Purpose: The aim of this article was to better understand the alignment of banking business models with disruptive technologies.Design/methodology/approach: An explorative study was used to uncover participants’ views of technology adoption in a particular banking institution in South Africa. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 12 participants. Employing a qualitative approach, interpretive techniques were used to decode, describe and translate themes and concepts of certain phenomena.Findings/results: Disruptive technologies offered by Fintechs are generally embraced, provided they are fit-for-purpose and deliver a value proposition to drive client-centric growth. Partnering with Fintechs plays a pivotal role in alignment between business and information technology, enabling banks to leverage technology to reach broader markets. This enables scalable growth, which is vital to sustainability.Practical implications: The study assists South African financial institutions in aligning business models to continuously evolve with disruptive shifts in technology, and leverage technologies offered by Fintechs to maintain market relevance and grow competitive advantage in a sustainable manner.Originality/value: It is especially pertinent to banks in South Africa and other developing nations, as it highlights important implications for partnering with Fintech companies. In addition to validating the Improved Technology Acceptance Model framework, it reveals more factors to consider when partnering with Fintechs. The results contribute to the literature on the adoption of disruptive technologies, as well as relations between banks and Fintechs, in order to improve partnerships between these entities.

Cinema in China: A Bibliometric Journey Through Three Decades of Movie Consumption (1997 - 2024)

The entertainment industry, particularly movie consumption, plays a crucial role in cultural diffusion and economic growth. However, with the rapid evolution of media platforms and the changing dynamics of consumer behaviour, understanding the trends, drivers, and impacts of movie consumption in China has become paramount. This study employs a bibliometric analysis of 68 publications from the years 1997 to 2024, utilizing VOSviewer to investigate research publication trends in movie consumption within China. We aim to identify dominant journals, prolific researchers, and leading research organizations in the field, highlight the most cited research publications and their societal impacts, and develop thematic research clusters around the prevalent terms associated with movie consumption behaviour. Using the Web of Science database, we extracted data to fulfill these objectives. Our findings reveal a significant uptick in research interest post-2011, correlating with China’s cinema boom and digital transformation in entertainment consumption. The analysis reveals that "Hollywood," "Media," and "Ecommerce" emerge as predominant themes, reflecting the nuanced relationship between movie consumption and societal changes in China. The study not only charts the academic landscape but also connects movie consumption trends with broader societal and technological shifts, providing a foundation for future research aimed at understanding and leveraging the dynamics of movie consumption in China.

A leadership and policy development model for driving operational success in tech companies

In the fast-evolving landscape of technology companies, leadership plays a critical role in shaping operational policies that align with long-term business goals. This review introduces a leadership and policy development model designed to drive operational success in technology-driven organizations. The model emphasizes the importance of visionary, collaborative, and data-driven leadership in developing and implementing operational policies that not only enhance day-to-day efficiency but also support sustainable growth and innovation. The framework is built around key leadership pillars, including visionary leadership that sets a clear operational direction, collaborative leadership that fosters cross-functional engagement, and data-driven leadership that leverages analytics to inform policy decisions. It highlights the process of policy creation and implementation, beginning with an assessment of existing operational challenges, followed by the development of scalable policies that align with business strategies. The model also incorporates agile leadership, which promotes adaptability in response to rapid technological advancements and market shifts, ensuring that policies remain relevant and effective. Moreover, the model focuses on promoting operational innovation by embedding policies that encourage research and development, cross-department collaboration, and continuous improvement. Leaders are encouraged to integrate Lean and Agile methodologies within policies to streamline processes, reduce inefficiencies, and improve overall operational performance. Through real-world case studies and applications, this review demonstrates how technology companies can benefit from leadership that actively shapes policies to foster operational excellence. The proposed model serves as a strategic tool for tech leaders, helping them align operational policies with long-term objectives, drive innovation, and maintain competitive advantage in the global market. By adopting this leadership-driven policy approach, tech companies can enhance their ability to scale effectively and sustain operational success in an ever-changing environment.

Does Your Sales Curriculum Need a Refresh? Insights on How to Align Sales Curriculum With the Modern Sales Environment

Sales education has experienced significant growth recently, both in the number of schools offering sales programs and in the amount of pedagogical attention dedicated to advancing the field. However, one area that has not been given adequate attention is the sales curriculum. To date, few scholarly articles have examined sales curricula from a broad perspective. More concerningly, the field of sales has changed significantly due to recent technological, generational, and pandemic-related shifts in the market. Accordingly, in the present article, we examine the current state of sales curricula by reviewing the existing curricula of the 70 member schools of the University Sales Center Alliance (USCA) in the United States. Furthermore, we conduct focus groups with former sales students now working in sales, as well as hiring personnel affiliated with USCA schools, to address how sales curricula should be evolved to reflect the modern sales role. In addition, we triangulate and validate these insights with data gathered from sales academics. Our findings suggest sales educators should rethink the composition of the standard sales curriculum.

Identifying and Managing Risks in High-Tech Supply Networks using Explainable Artificial Intelligence

Supply chains have become vital in enabling the smooth movement of material and information in the swiftly changing high-tech industries. By utilising technological innovations like automation and AI, supply chains may improve both safety and effectiveness at every level of the process, from manufacturing to sustainability. The necessity to adjust operations, give the adoption of technology top priority for resilience, and improve supply chain management efficiency. Transformation of the Supply Chain is becoming a choice of subject, when it comes to maintain the ideal inventory levels and Just in Time service deliveries. Both AI and ML are the utmost importance for the maintenance of the inventory or service through the technology. It not only helps in reducing the loss of opportunity costs, but also it resolves the issue of overstocks of any inventory and the enhanced level of service delivery. This ultimately results in the optimum utilization of the resources through the help of technology. Moreover, it is the win-win situation for the customer and provider. Even while technology has only recently begun to be incorporated into supply chains, the manufacturing and distribution sectors have adopted it more quickly, emphasising the need for effective risk identification and mitigation techniques. Notwithstanding the possible advantages of transforming the supply chain, there are obstacles and limitations that make an entire technological shift complex. The chapter also explores the concept explainable AI which can be understood as the set of techniques that makes the decision-making processes of AI systems comprehensible to humans. Acknowledging the inherent complexities and relationships within these chains, the goal of this chapter is to explore risk identification and management in high-tech supply networks. A competent and nimble stakeholder base can manage the complex landscape of the high-tech world through the incorporation of innovative technologies, proactive actions, and constructive alliances.

Empirical study on the psychological mechanism of consumers in the context of live streaming seafood sales: evidence from China

The advent of the 5G era signifies China’s official entry into the digital economy. This technological shift has attracted countless merchants to the market via e-commerce platforms, seeking to capitalize on new opportunities. Concurrently, it offers a novel avenue for expanding seafood sales channels in China. The interactive and intuitive nature of e-commerce live streaming has subtly but significantly influenced and shaped consumers’ purchasing behaviors. In light of this, this study, based on 330 valid survey responses and grounded in the theories of perceived value and consumer trust, explores the psychological mechanisms affecting consumers in the context of e-commerce live streaming for aquatic products. The findings reveal that: (1) Consumer trust positively impacts purchase intention in the context of live-streamed seafood e-commerce. (2) Perceived entertainment value positively influences consumer purchase intention. (3) Perceived utilitarian value also positively influences consumer purchase intention. This paper contributes theoretically by broadening the application of perceived value theory and enhancing the understanding of consumer behavior concerning seafood. Additionally, it may offer practical insights into the expansion of seafood sales channels and market scale in other countries and regions.

Digital Transformation in the Maritime Industry; Opportunities and Challenges for Indonesia

Digital transformation is reshaping industries worldwide, including the maritime sector, by integrating advanced technologies to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability. In the context of Indonesia, a country with a vast archipelago and significant maritime activities, digital transformation offers substantial opportunities but also presents distinct challenges. This paper explores the multifaceted impacts of digital transformation on Indonesia's maritime industry, examining both the opportunities and challenges that arise from this technological shift. Opportunities in the maritime sector include enhanced operational efficiency, improved safety, and better environmental management. Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain are pivotal in optimizing logistics, predictive maintenance, and real-time monitoring of vessels and cargo. These advancements can lead to reduced operational costs, minimized human errors, and lower environmental footprints. For Indonesia, leveraging these technologies could significantly boost its competitiveness in global shipping, enhance port operations, and support the sustainable management of its extensive marine resources. However, the journey towards digital transformation in Indonesia’s maritime industry is fraught with challenges. Key issues include inadequate digital infrastructure, limited technological expertise, and regulatory hurdles. The uneven distribution of digital infrastructure across Indonesia's archipelago hampers the consistent application of advanced technologies. Additionally, the maritime workforce requires upskilling to handle new digital tools effectively, necessitating substantial investment in education and training. Regulatory frameworks also need to evolve to address data security, privacy concerns, and the integration of international standards, ensuring a seamless transition to digital operations.

Rare-Earth Metal-Based Materials for Hydrogen Storage: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

Rare-earth-metal-based materials have emerged as frontrunners in the quest for high-performance hydrogen storage solutions, offering a paradigm shift in clean energy technologies. This comprehensive review delves into the cutting-edge advancements, challenges, and future prospects of these materials, providing a roadmap for their development and implementation. By elucidating the fundamental principles, synthesis methods, characterization techniques, and performance enhancement strategies, we unveil the immense potential of rare-earth metals in revolutionizing hydrogen storage. The unique electronic structure and hydrogen affinity of these elements enable diverse storage mechanisms, including chemisorption, physisorption, and hydride formation. Through rational design, nanostructuring, surface modification, and catalytic doping, the hydrogen storage capacity, kinetics, and thermodynamics of rare-earth-metal-based materials can be significantly enhanced. However, challenges such as cost, scalability, and long-term stability need to be addressed for their widespread adoption. This review not only presents a critical analysis of the state-of-the-art but also highlights the opportunities for multidisciplinary research and innovation. By harnessing the synergies between materials science, nanotechnology, and computational modeling, rare-earth-metal-based hydrogen storage materials are poised to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable hydrogen economy, ushering in a new era of clean energy solutions.

Integrating artificial intelligence into team decision‐making: Toward a theory of AI–human team effectiveness

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI), a technological advancement radically affecting the workplace of the future, offers benefits for decision‐making processes. The most critical organizational decisions typically occur through teams. However, team theories are fundamentally psychosocial, and AI disrupts this context by introducing a non‐human actor. Therefore, negative implications of AI's role must also be understood. Toward theory on the effective integration of AI into team decision‐making, we synthesize the literatures on team effectiveness and team decision‐making with research from cognate disciplines on human–technology interaction and teaming. Based on this synthesis, we offer propositions highlighting key variable relationships and negative side effects that must be accounted for in AI–human team decision‐making and follow with practical suggestions for management's adaption to this new context. Overall, our analysis emphasizes critical themes, constructs, and relationships valuable for further research aimed at modernizing theory and practice in the face of this emerging technological shift.

Implementation of Labor Law in the Era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 - Challenges and Solutions

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 has drastically transformed global industries, introducing advanced technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and digitalization into the workplace. This rapid technological shift has presented significant challenges for labor laws, which are often designed for traditional work environments. This study explores the implementation of labor law in the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, analyzing the challenges faced by both employers and employees in adapting to these new technological advancements. Using a qualitative methodology, this research employs a juridical review of existing labor laws, supported by an in-depth case study examining how these laws are applied in technology-driven industries. The findings indicate that labor laws often lag behind the technological advances, leading to gaps in legal protections for workers and ambiguities in employer obligations. The case study highlights specific instances where current labor regulations fail to address issues related to remote work, job displacement due to automation, and workers' rights in the gig economy. Solutions are proposed to modernize labor laws, ensuring they are adaptable to future technological developments while safeguarding workers' rights. The study concludes that there is an urgent need for legal reforms to balance innovation with fair labor practices in the era of Industry 4.0.

Residential water choices: Assessing the willingness to adopt alternative water sources by examining risk perceptions and personal norms in Belgium

With escalating freshwater scarcity, transformative shifts in infrastructure, technology, and societal attitudes are essential. This study applies Protection Motivation Theory to explore how perceived water scarcity impacts individuals' willingness to reduce tap water consumption and increase the use of alternative sources in households. An online survey (n = 2623) in Belgium assessed acceptance of tap water, rainwater, and recycled greywater for various household activities. Sequential regression analysis examined the influence of threat appraisal, coping appraisal, personal norms, and socio-demographics on this willingness. The results indicate that willingness to conserve tap water is strongly driven by self-efficacy rather than risk appraisal. Conversely, willingness to use rainwater and recycled greywater depends on perceived future water scarcity, perceived self-efficacy, and personal norms. Perceptions of present water scarcity negatively influenced the willingness to use rainwater and recycled greywater, suggesting a boomerang effect. However, future water scarcity perceptions encourage the use of alternative water sources, providing a nuanced perspective. These findings provide valuable insights into the acceptance of alternative water sources and underline the importance of context-specific approaches, enhancing self-efficacy and personal norms to encourage the adoption of alternative water sources for household activities, ensuring effective freshwater conservation.

Natural resources, socio-technical regimes, and the environmentally sustainable transition: Evidence from OECD countries

The availability of natural resources is critical for an environmentally sustainable transition: greater availability may lead to more exploitation and affect the underlying socio-technical regime, which determines policy strategies and decisions, with significant implications for the environment. By distinguishing countries based on their rate of natural resource depletion, we investigate the differences in supporting socio-technical factors. We use a Panel Vector Auto Regression in first differences on a panel of 36 OECD countries, divided into three sub-panels (‘low’, ‘middle’, and ‘high’) based on their depletion rate, from 1995 to 2021. Some levers, such as economic inequality and the ability to generate rents from resources, exhibit distinct characteristics, suggesting interesting policy implications. Additionally, different structural and technological shifts cause further divergence. The results reveal that in low depletion countries, environmental sustainability is path-dependent, there is no short-sighted interest in maximizing rents from natural resources, and economic inequality (via lobbying) does not hinder the transition. Meanwhile, in these countries, structural and technological changes do not seem to have the same impact on sustainability as they do in high depletion countries.

Economic and environmental impacts of the shifts to electromobility in Spain: A multiregional input–output framework

AbstractThe decarbonization of transport is a key goal facing climate change. The electrification of the powertrain for passenger cars is part of this goal to reduce carbon emissions. This involves a big change in the global supply chain, specifically in countries with a high weight of the traditional automotive sector, such as Spain, where above 10% of the GDP comes from this industry. There is a forecasted shift from the sector of traditional automotive parts to the electric sector, where batteries and electric components will be the major part of the powertrain. This work evaluates socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the changes in the car industry from the ramp‐up of the electric vehicles market in Spain, and also in the European Union and the rest of the world. To do it, we use an environmentally extended multiregional and multi‐sectoral input–output model. Our simulations include the technological change and demand shifts estimated to achieve the penetration of electric vehicles up to 2030 and 2050. The results show significant impacts on employment and economic indicators by 2050, when the share of electric vehicles is expected to increase up to a relevant level.

Exploring Chemical and Electrochemical Limitations in Sulfide Solid State Electrolytes: A Critical Review on Current Status and Manufacturing Scope.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gained recognition for their high energy density and cost-effectiveness. However, issues such as safety concerns, dendrite formation, and limited operational temperatures necessitate alternative solutions. A promising approach involves replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with non-flammable solid electrolytes (SEs). SEs represent a transformative shift in battery technology, offering stability, safety, and expanded temperature ranges. They effectively mitigate dendrite growth, enhancing battery reliability and lifespan. SEs also improve energy density, making them crucial for applications like portable gadgets, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage. However, challenges such as ionic conductivity, chemical and thermal stability, mechanical strength, and manufacturability must be addressed. This review paper briefly identifies SE types, discusses their advantages and disadvantages, and explores ion transport fundamentals and all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) production challenges. It comprehensively analyzes sulfide SEs (SSEs), focusing on recent advancements, chemical and electrochemical challenges, and potential future improvements. Electrochemical reactions, electrolyte materials, compositions, and cell designs are critically assessed for their impact on battery performance. The review also addresses challenges in ASSB production. The objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of SSEs, laying the groundwork for advancing sustainable and efficient energy storage systems.

Digital Methods: An STS Challenge to Methodological Digitization in Social Science Research

ABSTRACT The integration of digital technologies into social science has catalyzed the development of fields such as digital sociology, digital humanities, and digital social sciences more broadly. This technological shift has significant methodological implications for social science research, which are being increasingly discussed. This discussion raises critical questions about the potential and limitations of merging traditional social research methodologies with digital innovations. Digitized and digital methods have brought about promises of a new era in social science research. However, some scholars have highlighted the challenges and limitations associated with this methodological transition, including data-relevant considerations, skill and expertise issues, and ethical concerns. From the vantage point of advancements in science and technology studies (STS) – a discipline that has engaged with the methods and practices of knowledge production for some decades – I will explore five additional methodological challenges posed by the digitization of social science research that has been largely overlooked or neglected in the literature of digital methods. Our analysis concludes that while digital methods can serve as valuable complementary tools, they are not sufficient to fully engage with the core practices and phenomena of social science research. Thus, digital and traditional methods can coexist, albeit not in a symmetrical manner.