Strategic Focus Research Articles

Astragaloside IV promotes neuronal axon regeneration by inhibiting the PTEN/AKT pathway.

Neuronal survival and regeneration are critical aspects of recovery from ischemic brain injuries. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a saponin extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus membranaceus, has shown promise in promoting neuronal health. This study investigates the effects of AS-IV on neuronal survival and apoptosis post-oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), focusing on the modulation of the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway. Rat primary neuronal cells were isolated and subjected to OGD to simulate ischemic conditions. Afterwards, cells were treated with low and high doses of AS-IV. Neuronal viability and apoptosis were assessed using MTT and flow cytometry (FCM) assays. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the expression of neuronal markers and proteins involved in the PTEN/AKT pathway. Post-OGD, neuronal cells exhibited decreased viability and increased apoptosis, which were significantly mitigated by AS-IV. Immunofluorescence showed enhanced Tuj1 expression, indicating increased neuronal purity and survival, enhanced NF200 expression, indicating increased axon lengths. FCM results revealed reduced apoptosis rates, particularly with higher doses of AS-IV. Western blot analysis confirmed inhibition of PTEN and activation of AKT, facilitating enhanced neuronal survival and axona regeneration. Additionally, overexpression of PTEN negated the anti-apoptotic effects of AS-IV, underscoring the critical role of the PTEN/AKT pathway in AS-IV mediated neuroprotection. AS-IV enhances neuronal survival and axona regeneration by modulating the PTEN/AKT pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for ischemic brain injuries. These findings suggest that targeting this pathway could be a strategic focus for developing effective neuroprotective therapies.

Reforming public sector supply chains in Limpopo: Unveiling governance challenges and strategic imperatives

Supply Chain Management (SCM) plays a vital role in any organization, facilitating trade both globally and locally. An organization with a robust SCM can easily meet demands, ensuring that goods or services are readily available and delivered promptly. However, poor structuring and management of SCM can lead to significant challenges, including service delivery failures. This study aims to analyze supply chain practices in the public sector in Limpopo Province, specifically focusing on public entities. The study seeks to identify weaknesses within the supply chain practices of public entities in Limpopo, highlighting issues such as lack of strategic alignment, inadequate policy implementation, and poor enforcement of SCM rules and regulations. A qualitative research approach was employed, collecting data through interviews with various experts from different public sectors to address the identified flaws in SCM practices. The findings reveal that there is a significant misalignment between supply chain and organizational strategies, which has led to service delivery backlogs, high levels of corruption, and continuous strikes across the province for better services. The study also finds that top-level management, including provincial leaders, do not perceive SCM as vital enough to warrant their attention, resulting in limited support for SCM practitioners. The lack of strategic focus and governance failures in SCM contribute to financial inefficiencies and poor service delivery, underscoring the need for provincial leaders to adopt a more strategic approach to SCM as a tool for improving public service delivery. This study provides insights into the critical role of SCM in the public sector, highlighting the urgent need for effective strategies, policy enforcement, and managerial support to mitigate governance and compliance failures. The research underscores the necessity for public entities in Limpopo to realign SCM strategies with organizational goals to enhance service delivery and combat corruption.

Improving Education Quality for Higher Education Institutions in Eastern Indonesia: Approaches for Internationalisation Activities

Internationalisation plays a substantial role in the development of higher education. In order to anticipate all the globalisation challenges, higher education becomes a main source in producing university graduates who not only possess academic and professional capacities but also must be equipped with multilingual competence and intercultural understanding. This paper aims to explore the approaches for Internationalisation for higher education in Eastern Indonesia to improve the education quality. The study describes the level and approaches of internationalisation that can be adapted to prepare the university to fulfil some indicators of world-class University which lead to education quality improvement. This qualitative study used data from interviews, literature and relevant documents to insert the internationalisation elements in university strategic planning, to design Strategic Internationalisation Plan in higher education and to create a model of internationalisation approaches. Internationalisation needs to be implemented in the strategic focus plan of the university. The internationalisation awareness and commitments in higher education should be supported not only from government but also from upper management level and must be conducted in holistic way from all the components in higher education institution. The study provides a model of internationalisation approaches that could be adapted in higher education in Eastern Indonesia.

Shaping the Future of Turkish Polar Research Activities: Organizational Priorities

This study aims to identify the key organizational priorities for a Polar Research Institute in Türkiye, employing the Analytic Network Process (ANP) as a decision-support tool. Through a survey of experts, this study gathers insights on various relevant criteria to inform the institute's strategic focus. The analysis highlights that scientific research should be the central mission of the Polar Research Institute, supported by strong logistical infrastructure. Additionally, the findings emphasize the critical importance of postgraduate programs as a key human resource first degree sub-criteria for advancing polar research. Based on these results, the study proposes essential considerations for the future development of the Institute`s organizational design, ensuring that it effectively supports the strategic research goals of Türkiye`s Polar Program. Scientific research in the polar regions has much to say globally about the past, present, and future-especially climate change. While the first Turkish researcher conducted studies in Antarctica in 1967, it was not until 2017, during the Turkish Presidency, that the formal National Polar Research Program was established. While priority research areas are outlined in the program`s strategy document, the organizational structure of the Polar Research Institute has not yet been fully aligned with these priorities.

Assessing the Energy-Economy-Environment Nexus in Somalia: The Impact of Agricultural Value Added on CO2 Emissions

This study assesses the environmental impact of the agricultural sector’s contribution to Somalia’s economy within the energy-economy-environment nexus. While the agriculture sector is a central pillar of Somalia’s economy, its environmental costs remain underexplored. By addressing this gap, the research utilizes time series data spanning from 1990 to 2020, including variables such as CO2 emissions, real GDP, renewable energy use, agricultural value-added, and population growth. The data analysis employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, Canonical Cointegrating regression (CCR), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS). The results reveal a strong positive relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation in Somalia, supporting the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) viewpoint. While economic growth initially exacerbates environmental pollution, the effect diminishes as income levels rise. Renewable energy consumption significantly mitigates environmental degradation. However, agricultural value-added is found to increase environmental deterioration in the long-term. The findings suggest that Somalia’s path to sustainable development will require concerted efforts to reform agricultural practices and embrace renewable energy adoption. Despite Somalia’s considerable solar energy potential, owing to its abundant solar radiation, this resource remains underutilized. A strategic focus on expanding solar energy infrastructure could not only mitigate environmental harm but also enable the country to leapfrog traditional energy development, thereby driving economic growth and reducing pollution.

The Role of Digital Supply Chain Management Practices in the Relationship between Organizational Culture and Customer Development

Through Digital Supply Chain Management Practices (DSCMP), this study investigates the relationship between organizational culture (OC) and customer development (CD), taking into account both direct and indirect influences. Data from 214 respondents who have registered in Indonesia's Riau Islands Province were analysed statistically. The results showed that CD was positively impacted by OC and DSCMP. Additionally, the connection between OC and CD was found to be mediated by DSCMP. Two crucial facilitators for growing a company's clientele in digital supply chains (SC) are DSCMP and OC. Using the Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) as a basis. This study discovered that in order to increase the firm's efficiency, digitalization-related SCMP capabilities need to be developed internally. Organizational leaders (OL), organizational glue (OG), dominating characteristics (DC), and strategic focus (SE) should all be integral parts of DSCMP in organizations.

The Impact of Board Structure, IT Governance, and Fintech on Green Finance and Sustainability: An Integrated Model

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to investigate the association between board structure, IT governance strategies, innovation, Financial Technologies, green finance, and sustainability performance in Indian banks. The research utilizes a survey of 210 participants drawn from Indian banks. To estimate the results, the study used descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. The results reveal that a well‐board structure is associated with higher levels of innovation, while the link between board strategic focus and innovation was found to be weak. The findings also indicate that good IT governance leads to good FinTech practices. Further, the results indicate that IT governance and green finance projects are not well aligned. Moreover, the results show that sustainability performance does not appear to be significantly influenced by either green business activities or green investment projects, possibly because green initiatives often have long‐term effects and may not provide noticeable returns over the short run. Therefore, banks need to enhance the integration of innovation, IT governance, and FinTech into board strategies to include more focused green initiatives and projects. The research contributes to academia and practice by integrating various theoretical and practical perspectives, focusing on the intersection of board structures, IT governance strategies, innovation decisions, Fintech integration, green business project execution, and sustainability performance within corporate governance. The findings could shape regulatory frameworks and environmental and social policy debates, enhancing sustainable performance and providing empirical information from real‐world perspectives.

Anheuser-Busch (Ab) Competitive Marketing Strategies In The Global Beer Market

Through their astute and effective marketing strategies, Anheuser-Busch (AB) has established a commanding presence in the global beer market with over 27% share and dominates the U.S. market with a staggering 40% share (Aswani, 2021), and is now one of the most recognizable trademarks worldwide. AB remains steadfast in maximizing shareholder value through operational efficiencies and its strategic focus is outlined in the 2022 Annual Report and revolves around the following key objectives (AB-inbev. n.d.-a): Increase per barrel profitability while maintaining or improving market share growth to endure long-term earnings; Expanding its international beer operations by leveraging its key brand names and investing strategically in its growth worldwide; Support profit growth in packaging, which drives efficiency and quality that contributes to the company’s image and social responsibility endeavors. AB’s Commitment to these critical objectives benefits the company and its shareholders by promising continued value creation and sustainable growth. Utilizing a balanced approach, AB will continue its success as the market leader.

Business resilience in digital future: a short case study on Etisalat, UAE

Research methodology The idea for this case study evolved from the latest technological developments in the UAE and Etisalat’s role in digital facilities in particular. Being one of the Etisalat’s customer, an author wanted to develop a short case study on its resilience approach and strategic focus on digital future. The data for this short case study was collected through published sources, company website, personal visits to some branches of the company and author’s experience and priori knowledge on the topic. The one-on-one interviews with some employees helped to collect the authentic information on the history, nature of company’s business, company’s projects, IT setup and customer happiness centers. Case overview/synopsis Etisalat has set directions following the development of UAE. Etisalat did not have many challenges, as there are not many competitors in the telecom sector. The significant problems are on customer preferences, employees’ capability and governmental initiatives in technological reforms. Customer preferences refer to the demands in quick service, employees’ capability refers to the company’s response to technical issues, and governmental initiatives refer to connect all entities and different emirates at the federal level. UAE’s new initiatives in innovation, research, artificial intelligence and technological reforms in business are particularly focused on career welfare, organizational welfare and country welfare. The relevant literature on digital future and Etisalat’s approach as cited in the main case would benefit instructors and students. They can relate the major trends of business resilience and digital future with the modern technology management. The literature also connects the business resilience and digital future with the technological aspects as mentioned in the case study. Complexity academic level This case study is best suited for use in business management and technology management courses at undergraduate and graduate levels. The case study is also suitable for use in international business management focusing on business resilience, business intelligence and technology management aspects. The topics related to business resilience and digital transformation would be suitable for discussion. Following are the couple of resources than can be a good idea for some concepts on digital world.

Business environment optimization and corporate strategy “Entropy Change”-based on the perspective of corporate strategic focus

Business environment optimization and corporate strategy “Entropy Change”-based on the perspective of corporate strategic focus

The Impact of a Positive Work Environment on Employee Retention in the Wastewater Treatment Industry: A Qualitative Analysis Using NVivo

This study investigates the Positive Work Environment on Employee Retention in the Wastewater Treatment Industry. It measured the current arena in terms of value congruence, and explored qualitative data from a survey of employees in selected industries in India. Here interviews with employees from eight organizations, analysed using NVivo. Results highlight that leadership support, team cohesion, and recognition are crucial to fostering a supportive culture. Findings provide actionable recommendations for industry stakeholders to improve employee retention through a strategic focus on workplace culture. This qualitative analysis will be helpful to practitioners, government, policymakers and researchers working in the wastewater treatment industry.

Proposal for a Strategic Framework on Artificial Intelligence Governance in the Republic of Moldova

The article proposes the development for the Republic of Moldova of a framework for AI governance to align with EU standards, fostering digital transformation and economic growth. The strategic focus includes creating a robust digital ecosystem, enhancing human capacity, and promoting international cooperation. Key eff orts include Moldova’s participation in the EU’s Digital Europe Program and its signing of the Council of Europe’s AI Convention. The Digital Transformation Strategy (2023-2030) aims to develop a digital society and economy, supported by the National Council on Digital Transformation and the Sub-Council for AI and Data Governance (SCIA). Using a multidisciplinary and policy-oriented approach, the article draws on comparative analyses of international frameworks and Moldova’s contextual data to ensure a comprehensive strategy. The results emphasize the potential of responsible AI governance, the implementation of AI regulatory sandboxes, and alignment with EU standards to drive innovation, strengthen regulatory flexibility, and support Moldova’s EU accession aspirations.

Rights and Obligations of the Afghan Government and Citizens in Environmental Protection

This research examines the environmental rights and obligations of the Afghan government and citizens, emphasizing collaborative approaches. It investigates government rights, including legislative authority and regulatory oversight, with corresponding obligations such as enacting and enforcing environmental laws. Citizen rights encompass environmental participation and access to information, with obligations like responsible consumption and conservation support. The study highlights collaborative rights involving public-private partnerships and international cooperation, emphasizing joint decision-making and resource sharing. The findings stress collective action, utilizing case studies and examples, and recommend strategic focus areas for both government and citizens, including Monitoring and Evaluation, Public-Private Collaboration, Regulatory Oversight Improvement, and Legislative Framework Strengthening. The research contributes to environmental governance understanding in Afghanistan, guiding sustainable development and conservation strategies.

Governing for the green: How European board attributes are driving environmental innovation

AbstractThis study examines the impact of corporate board attributes, namely, gender diversity, independence, size, tenure, and CEO duality, on environmental innovation (EI). The study utilised a large dataset of 13,278 firm‐year observations belonging to companies from 24 European countries and covered the period 2010–2021. Drawing from the agency and stakeholder theories, we find that all attributes addressed in this study have a positive impact on EI. These findings enhance our understanding of how businesses manage EI in the real world. Strategic focus is essential for achieving environmental sustainability and fostering innovation in business processes. This study expands our understanding of the role of diverse, long‐term, and independent board structures in fostering EI. We can use the insightful results it provides to plan future corporate strategies and policies.

A value driven framework for cybersecurity innovation in transportation and infrastructure

AbstractThis paper introduces a value-driven cybersecurity innovation framework for the transportation and infrastructure sectors, as opposed to the traditional market-centric approaches that have dominated the field. Recontextualizing innovation categories into sustaining, incremental, disruptive, and transformative, we aim to foster a culture of self-innovation within organizations, enabling a strategic focus on cybersecurity measures that directly contribute to business value and strategic goals. This approach enhances operational effectiveness and efficiency of cyber defences primarily, while also aligns cybersecurity initiatives with mission-critical objectives. We detail a practical method for evaluating the business value of cybersecurity innovations and present a pragmatic approach for organizations to funnel innovative ideas in a structured and repeatable manner. Lastly, shifting the focus from general market appeal to sector-specific needs, our framework provides cybersecurity leaders with the strategic cyber-foresight necessary for prioritizing impactful initiatives, thereby making cybersecurity a core business enabler rather than a burden.

Incorporating creative problem-solving skills to foster sustainability among graduate students in education management

Sustainability is increasingly becoming a strategic focus in management education, highlighting the need for creative problem-solving skills to prepare students for environmental and social challenges. Although creative problem-solving is regarded as effective for addressing sustainability issues, empirical research on its impact in enhancing sustainability awareness and problem-solving skills among management students is limited. This study aimed to integrate the creative problem-solving instructional approach with the development of sustainability awareness among graduate students in education management. A mixed-method approach guided the research, utilizing a non-equivalent quasi-experimental design with questionnaires and interviews for data collection. Purposive sampling was used to select 75 master's students, with 39 in the experimental group and 36 in the control group. The intervention consisted of 15 lessons conducted over three months. Pre-tests and post-tests on creative problem-solving and sustainability were administered before and after the intervention, and in-depth interviews were conducted to assess learning effectiveness and gather feedback. The results showed that the thematic coding of the interviews was consistent with the statistical findings, demonstrating that creative problem-solving training not only improved specific skills but also fostered a broader commitment to sustainability. The study concludes that creative problem-solving training is essential for promoting sustainability and creativity among students in higher education.

Behind the mask: Attentional focus and coping strategies of elite level fencers

This study aimed to identify attentional foci and coping strategies of elite fencers during competitive matches, explore the co-occurrences between both, and examine their impact on performance. Twenty-two epeeists (11 males and 11 females) from a national team took part in self-confrontation interviews during two simulated tournaments. Data were analysed using inductive and deductive content analyses. Moreover, a quantitative analysis of qualitative data was conducted to examine the impact of attentional foci and coping strategies on objective performance. Three categories of attentional foci were identified: (a) cues, (b) strategies and tactics and (c) extraneous attention. To depict the coping processes of elite fencers, appraisals, coping strategies and emotions were coded. Coping strategies were mainly task-oriented, and often co-occurred with strategic foci. Analysis of the co-occurrences showed that athletes could combine information from their sensations and their environment during a point. They could also use several coping strategies within or between points. Chi-square tests revealed that focusing on environmental cues, particularly spatial-temporal characteristics, was associated with more touches won and fewer touches lost. Focusing on distance/timing of actions could be relevant cues in elite fencing. Focus on internal aspects did not impair performance in the present sample. This study furthered knowledge of attentional foci and coping strategies described by elite athletes in naturalistic settings. Following the present research results, practitioners should seek to develop pre- and post-point routines that pair task-oriented coping strategies with relevant attentional focus.

Exploring Risk Factors Associated With Intensive Care Unit Admission in a Retrospective Cohort of 631 Children With Bronchiolitis.

Examine the trends and epidemiological features of acute hospitalized bronchiolitis cases among children aged 28 days to 2 years, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, evaluate their need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and identify primary risk factors associated with severe bronchiolitis. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of paediatric patients admitted to Meyer Children's Hospital in Florence (Italy) from September 2019 to March 2023, with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis. Between 2019 and 2023, bronchiolitis hospitalizations grew by 76%, going from 131 to 230 cases, after the historical minimum of 14 cases in the 2020-2021 season. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection emerged as the predominant etiological agent, contributing to 76% of hospitalizations in both 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons. Coinfection cases increased fivefold from 2019 to 2023, accounting for 23% of hospitalizations in 2022-2023. In addition, the ICU admission rate increased from 13% in 2019-2020 to 31% of bronchiolitis hospitalizations in 2022-2023. Univariate and multivariate analysis data show that infants below 2 months of age, preterm births, comorbidities and RSV infections were correlated with a higher risk for ICU admission. The growing trend in ICU admissions for acute bronchiolitis in hospitalized children represents a substantial health challenge. Addressing the bronchiolitis epidemic necessitates a strategic focus on RSV prevention through interventions such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. Urgent implementation of preventive initiatives, together with continuous surveillance and the establishment of national databases, is imperative and cannot be further deferred.

China's Patient Capital in Africa: Navigating Long-term Investments and Economic Cooperation

Abstract: In this article, it will undertake a comprehensive examination of "patient capital" within the context of China's foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, introducing the concept and its distinctive characteristics. This analysis is framed against the backdrop of China's evolving economic and trade relationships with other nations. Firstly, it will provide a brief literature review outlining the essence of patient capital and its application in China's FDI strategies. Subsequently, this paper will delve into the historical trajectory of China's direct investment in Africa, examining shifts from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to private enterprises and their subsequent impacts on African economies. This section underscores the emergence of long-term oriented "patient capital" approaches, challenging perceptions of China's investments as purely altruistic. Furthermore, it will analyze the structural composition of China's investments in Africa, emphasizing the strategic focus on long-term gains and relationship-building. This analysis sheds light on the transformational nature of China's engagement in Africa, fostering sustainable development and enhancing African countries' autonomous production capacities. To contextualize China's approach, this paper will compare it with that of the United States, exploring differences in investment strategies, motivations, and their respective outcomes on African nations. Utilizing case studies, it will assess the multi-faceted impacts of these investments on African economies and their contributions to China's domestic economic advancement. This comparative analysis underscores the practical significance of China-Africa cooperation, highlighting a historical opportunity for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. By emphasizing sustainable development and capacity-building, China's FDI in Africa presents a compelling narrative of shared prosperity and growth.

The role of Ukrainian healthcare in the global market of medical services: growth factors in the context of globalization

Background. Post-war recovery in Ukraine necessitates rapid economic and social development, including in the healthcare sector. The quality of life and active participation in society are highly dependent on robust health, especially for citizens affected by physical and psychological trauma due to the russian aggression. Purpose – to explore the potential for exporting medical services from Ukraine and attracting international patients. Materials and Methods. Review of the literature on the development of global medical services and healthcare markets; analysis of statistical data on the state and capabilities of Ukraine’s healthcare sector; study of best practices from other countries in the field of medical tourism; assessment of economic indicators and their correlation with the growth of international medical services. Results. The study reveals that Ukraine has significant potential to develop its international medical services sector. This potential is driven by the high qualifications of Ukrainian doctors, the relatively low cost of medical services, and the availability of advanced medical technologies in some hospitals. Promoting international medical services can attract foreign investment, enhance the quality of healthcare, and generate substantial economic benefits. The influx of international patients would generate export revenues, contributing to the state budget and balancing the national payment system. However, challenges such as infrastructure improvements, international accreditation, and effective marketing need to be addressed to fully realize this potential. Conclusions. Developing international medical services in Ukraine can significantly enhance the national economy and healthcare system. Strategic focus on this sector can yield benefits like improved healthcare quality, increased foreign investment, and significant economic returns. Addressing challenges and leveraging the country’s strengths in healthcare are essential for success.