Strategic Industry Research Articles

The Smart Organization Movement: A Review and Research Agenda for Digital Competencies

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the digital era, organizations are grappling with the imperative to cultivate and harness digital competencies among their workforce to remain competitive. The 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review (12MP MTR), under one of the 17 Big Bold Measures calls for strengthening sectors and industries with high growth and high value (HGHV). The call to focus on Global Business Services (GBS), identified as one of the strategic industries on the digital competencies of its future work talent is deemed imperative in producing a future agile workforce. The advent of emerging technologies and the increasing interdependence of various industries on digital platforms necessitate a future workforce that embodies agility in adapting to change. This problem statement delves into the pressing issues surrounding digital competencies and the imperative for a future workforce model characterized by agility. Hence, the main objective of this study is to explore a Digital Competency Model for the Malaysian future agile workforce. Academics and practitioners could also refer to this study to enhance their knowledge of digital competencies and workforce agility using a smart organization perspective.

Microbial electrochemical snorkels: principle, structure, and applications in environmental amelioration

Microbial electrochemical technology (MET) represents a novel approach demonstrating promising application prospects in emerging strategic industries such as environment protection, energy saving, and sustainable energy production. Among different METs, microbial electrochemical snorkels (MES) are praised for the simple design, high flexibility, and low costs. Several pilot MESs have been employed to mitigate environmental issues in European and American countries. Despite the rapid development, only one review article on MES has been published so far. Here we review the latest achievements in this field and introduce the principles, structures, functions, and applications of MESs. Moreover, we summarize the key challenges and the future research areas in this field, aiming to give insights into the research on MESs and other METs and improve the applications of such technologies.

Strategic Investment and Industry Risk Dynamics

Abstract This paper characterizes how firms’ strategic interaction in product markets affects the industry dynamics of investment and expected returns. In imperfectly competitive industries, a firm’s exposure to systematic risk is affected by both its own investment strategy and the investment strategies of its peers, so that the dynamics of its expected returns depend on the intraindustry value spread. In the model and the data, firms’ betas and returns correlate more positively in industries with low value spread, low dispersion in operating markups, and low concentration. (JEL G12, G31)

Electric Vehicle Adoption: Implications for Employment in South Africa’s Automotive Component Industry

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) will require significant changes in the automotive industry, particularly concerning its labour force. This study evaluates the impact of EVs on employment within South Africa’s automotive component manufacturing sector. A system dynamics model was developed to assess the effect of EV market penetration on component manufacturing employment over time. Key drivers of employment in the conventional and the EV component industries were identified and incorporated into the model. The results indicate a negative impact of EV penetration on employment of 18.3% when considering 20.0% EV sales (EV20) in 2040. Scenario analyses highlighted the influence of individual components, battery localisation, and load shedding on labour. Tyre and wheel manufacturing was found to be the most labour impactful component in the conventional industry against electrical engines in the EV counterpart. Localising 25.0% of battery production could increase employment by 6.9% and 2.7% in the EV40 and EV20 Scenarios. Load shedding has a detrimental effect on the country’s economy, assumed to reduce employment by 30.0%. However, strategic industry and policy interventions can mitigate the adverse effects of this transition.

Is US trade policy reshaping global supply chains?

This paper examines the reshaping of supply chains using detailed US 10-digit import data between 2017 and 2022. The results show that while US-China decoupling in bilateral trade is real, supply chains remain intertwined with China. Over the period, China's share of US imports fell from 22 % to 16 % as a result of US tariffs. US imports from China are being replaced with imports from large, developing countries with revealed comparative advantage in a product. In strategic industries, countries replacing China tend to be deeply integrated in China's supply chains and are experiencing faster import growth from China. Put differently, to displace China on the export side, countries must embrace China's supply chains. There is no consistent evidence of reshoring but evidence of nearshoring to border nations. Despite the significant reshaping, China remained the top supplier of directly imported goods to the US in 2022.

Investigation of the Effects of Heavy Metals (Copper, Cobalt, Manganese, Selenium, and Zinc) on Fish Immune Systems – An Overview

Abstract Aquaculture, as a strategic and developmental industry, plays an important role in ensuring food security and economic stability within countries. This crucial sector faces various influences, including infectious and nutritional diseases. Certain minerals function as essential nutrients, playing a main role in processes across all aquatic animals when present in appropriate dietary proportions. Studies showed that some heavy metals serve as a catalyst for various biological functions, including the maintenance of colloidal systems, acid-base balance, bone formation, and the regulation of fundamental natural elements such as vitamins, hormones, and minerals. Fish acquire essential elements crucial for their well-being through both diet and water sources. Adequate levels of essential elements, such as iron, zinc, copper, cobalt, manganese, and selenium, in the diet contribute to enhanced growth, increased survival rates, improved disease resistance, and heightened specific immunity in fish. When incorporated in appropriate quantities, these elements play a pivotal role in disease prevention, fostering the production of high-quality fish, minimizing economic losses, and solidifying aquaculture as a robust and profitable industry. This article aims to delve into the immunological effects induced by metal elements, specifically copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se), in diverse fish species. The objective is to underscore the significance of this exploration, paving the way for the development of more potent immune supplements in the future. These supplements have the potential to improve growth, fortify immune responses, and enhance resilience against diseases in various fish species.

Сучасний стан банківського кредитування суб’єктів малого підприємництва сфери оборони в україні

The article examines the current state of bank lending to small businesses in the defense sector in Ukraine. An analysis of the component expenditures of the state budget in 2021–2024 has been carried out; in particular, the share of defense expenditures has been determined. It has been found that defense production requires working capital for the purchase of components, covering the gap between the advance and the need for funds, relocation of enterprises, and provision of uninterrupted/alternative power sources. An analysis of current lending programs for small and medium-sized enterprises managed by Ukrainian banks in 2023 (JSC CB “PrivatBank”, JSC “Oschadbank”, JSC “Sense Bank”, JSC “Ukrgasbank”, JSC OTP BANK, JSC “Taskombank”, JSC “KredoBank”) has been carried out. The structure and volumes of loans issued to entrepreneurs within the framework of the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9% state program during the period of martial law have been studied, and their sectoral structure indicates that the funds have been being directed chiefly to agriculture – 52%, wholesale trade – 17% and food industry – 8%. A range of problems faced by small businesses in the defense sector in the process of bank lending has been outlined, in particular: lack of contracts with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the need for weapon use approval, short-term nature, obtaining permission to export weapons, high interest rates, military risks, lack of collateral property, etc. The priority measures for expanding lending to the defense sector in Ukraine by the National Bank of Ukraine, the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine have been systematized. It has been proposed that preferential state programs for bank lending be introduced to small businesses in the defense sector. Keywords: bank lending, small business, defense sector, support program, state program.

Numerical investigations of seismic-resilient techniques for legged fluid storage tanks utilising magnetorheological dampers

Different energy-dissipating devices have been proposed in the literature to attenuate the destructive effects of base excitations over fluid storage tanks. These structures have numerous applications in strategic industries and their failure can result in environmental hazards and huge economic losses. Proposed techniques in the literature for seismic energy dissipation of fluid-contained tanks are mostly centred on passive and active control mechanisms. Semi-active control devices using materials with adjustable properties offer advantages of both active and passive systems while removing their drawbacks. In this paper, the performance of a Magnetorheological (MR) damper on the seismic response reduction of fluid storage tanks through the application of three different control strategies including H2/LQG, PID, FOPID, and two passive techniques, i.e. Passive On, and Passive Off has been investigated. Parameters of the semi-active controllers are optimally designed for each aspect ratio and the applied ground motion using the Hunger Game Search (HGS) technique and finally, the semi-active Clipping algorithm commands the voltage to the damper. The fluid-tank-MR damper system has been examined under three Far-Fault and three Near-Fault ground motions. Numerical simulations have demonstrated that depending on the aspect ratio, applied ground motion, and the control strategy, the MR damper can mitigate the peak relative displacements and absolute accelerations of the two major modes of the system, i.e the rigid and impulsive modes, up to 72% and 67%, respectively. This proves the efficacy of these dampers in reducing the maximum base shear and overturning moment, hence mitigating the damage risks in these structures.

Do early adopters raise barriers to the commercial take-up of strategic high-technology products?

ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to investigate whether the behaviors and preferences of early adopters can potentially hinder the widespread proliferation of strategic high-technology industrial products. Through an extensive analysis of data collected from 1285 communication satellites, our findings reveal a significant pattern: when early adopters demonstrate a high demand for product diversity and elevated levels of innovation, this tends to delay the diffusion of these technologies to the mainstream commercial adopters. Early adopters undeniably play a pivotal role in directing the development pathways of strategic industries; however, their insistence on high innovation and diversity creates technological barriers. These barriers, in turn, slow down the mass adoption by commercial entities, which rely on more stable and universally accepted technologies. Our research enriches the existing body of diffusion literature by offering a fresh perspective, focusing on the dynamics of adopter orientation as opposed to the traditional producer-centric view. The results from our study highlight the urgent need for the implementation of targeted policy interventions and strategies aimed at fostering more equitable and widespread diffusion processes. This would ensure that the benefits of innovation are more evenly distributed across a broader range of user segments. Moreover, our findings suggest that innovation policies need to address systemic failures within the innovation ecosystem, such as the lack of a dominant design which can further facilitate diffusion. This insight is particularly beneficial for policy-makers, providing them with critical information to determine the optimal timing for transitioning from mission-oriented policies that are aimed at establishing new markets, to product diffusion policies focused on rectifying market failures.

RESEARCH ON THE MECHANISM OF RESILIENT LEADERSHIP'S EFFECT ON THE RESILIENCE OF SMALL TOURISM ENTERPRISES

Tourism, as a strategic pillar industry in our country, is critical in promoting economic development and labor employment. During the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, China will fully enter the era of mass tourism. This study focuses specifically on small tourism enterprises. Based on a review of the resilience of domestic and foreign enterprises, guided by relevant theories such as dynamic capability theory and resource allocation theory, and on the basis of redefining the concept connotation and extension of small tourism enterprises' resilience, tenacious leadership, inter-organizational learning, resource restructuring and environmental complexity, This paper builds a theoretical model based on the influence mechanism of resilient leadership and resilience of small tourism enterprises, describes and statistically analyzes the basic characteristics, current situation and existing problems of resilience of small tourism enterprises, and uses case analysis and empirical analysis methods to explore the impact degree and impact path of resilient leadership on resilience of small tourism enterprises. Finally, the study proposes measures to boost the resilience of small tourism enterprises, drawing from the findings of case and empirical analysis.

The Influence of Artificial Intelligence on the Strategic Communication Industry

The Influence of Artificial Intelligence on the Strategic Communication Industry

Artificial Intelligence Impact on Academic Programs Management

Higher education institutions must recognize that jobs will change significantly as the world enters the Fourth Industrial Revolution and experiences new technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). Both workers and students will need to adapt, and higher education must be able to provide students with the skill set they need to enter and advance in the workforce of the future. Even though the vast majority of journalism academic programs today seem to focus more on the theoretical and practical aspects of journalism, such as news literacy, introduction to digital journalism, journalistic reporting and writing, and global issues in journalism, industry leaders already see artificial intelligence (AI) as playing a big role in journalism in the future. AI has a big potential to change how media is written and consumed. This article offers a proposal for an undergraduate journalism degree with an artificial intelligence (AI) concentration. It is based on projections of employment for the next five to ten years, the government of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) strategic orientation, higher education, and industry demands. The planned degree, the first of its type, is intended to give students the skills, technology know-how, and information necessary to succeed in the journalism field in the future. Received: 4 February 2024 / Accepted: 29 June 2024 / Published: 02 July 2024

BRIDGING THE GAP: INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA COLLABORATION IN ARCHITECTURE

This study delves into the ever-needed symbiotic relationship between industry and academia within the architecture domain, clarifying the benefits, and challenges of their collaboration. The multifaceted dimensions of industry-academia collaboration in architecture focuses on the interns' enhancing their understanding during training, fresh graduates' grasp of technical know-how at their first job, and the role of innovative industry partnerships in problem-solving and future building. Through a mixed-method research approach, the paper examines the perceptions of architectural interns and fresh graduates on the effectiveness of educational preparation, their technical know-how and their creative proficiencies encountered in their initial professional roles. Innovative partnerships between industry leaders and academic institutions are further evaluated to unveil the collaborative efforts in addressing contemporary architectural challenges and innovations. The findings suggest a significant discrepancy between academic training and industry requirements, indicating a need for curriculum reform and an enhanced framework for continuous collaboration. This study not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the transition from academic preparation to professional practice but also presents practical implications for curriculum development and strategic industry engagement.

Bibliometric Analysis of Biotechnology Development

This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to explore the landscape of biotechnology research from a comprehensive perspective, focusing on thematic clusters, research trends, research opportunities, and author collaboration networks. Through a series of visualizations created using VOSviewer, we identify four major thematic clusters: industrial applications, agricultural biotechnology, biotechnological processes, and commercial development. Our temporal analysis traces the progression from foundational research towards advanced applications and industry integration, occurring over the last two decades. The research opportunities identified include expanding studies in underrepresented areas like microalgae, biodiversity, and innovative biotechnological tools. Additionally, our analysis of author collaborations reveals diverse patterns, ranging from tight-knit groups to independent researchers, indicating varied collaborative dynamics. The findings provide a nuanced understanding of the evolution, current state, and emerging trends within biotechnology, offering valuable insights for future research directions and strategic industry applications.

ОРГАНИ ДЕРЖАВНОЇ ВЛАДИ ЯК СУБ’ЄКТИ ВІЙСЬКОВО-ТЕХНІЧНОГО СПІВРОБІТНИЦТВА

The article analyzes the issues of competence of public authorities as subjects of legal relations in the field of military-technical cooperation. Based on the functional division of state power, the structure of state authorities in the field of military-technical cooperation is considered. It is stated that the only legislative body in Ukraine is the Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The relevant government bodies, primarily the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, represent the executive branch of government. Based on the functional approach, the author proposes a three-tier system of central executive bodies in the field of military-technical cooperation, which includes: Level I – the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; Level II – ministries of Ukraine (Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Strategic Industries, Ministry of Finance); Level III – state services, state inspections, state agencies, independent regulators and bodies with special status (State Export Control Service, State Space Agency). It was noted that an advisory body should be established with the competence to deal with military-technical cooperation, namely: The Interagency Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation and Export Control Policy, which is an advisory body to the President of Ukraine. Key words: military-technical cooperation, international cooperation, subjects of legal relations, public authorities, military-industrial complex.

Difference in regional logistics development level in China based on entropy weight TOPSIS and Dagum models

The high-quality development of the logistics industry, which is an essential and strategic industry supporting the national economic operation and a fundamental component of modern industrial system construction, is not only a key component of the high-quality development of the national economy but also the main driving force for the high-quality growth of the national economy. As the supporting industry of the national economy, the logistics industry will also face spatial disequilibrium during development. Therefore, to achieve the coordinated development of the logistics industry, the high-quality development and the spatial-temporal unbalanced development status of the logistics industry in each province must be figured out first. This research established a comprehensive evaluation system for the logistics industry development, which included 14 basic indexes based on the provincial-level panel data of 30 provinces in China during 2009–2020. Then, the regional logistics development level score in China was measured using the entropy weight TOPSIS method, and the differences in the regional logistics development level in China and the dynamic evolution law of their distribution were deeply explored through the Dagum Gini coefficient model. The research results revealed that the evaluation index system (14 basic indexes) for the regional logistics industry development level in China was relatively scientific and reasonable; the regional logistics industry development level in China was increasing year by year, showing a steady upward trend, and the imbalance in the eastern, central, and western regions regarding the regional logistics development was shrinking year by year; the average intergroup contribution rate was 36.33%, the intragroup contribution rate was 31.49%, and the contribution rate of intensity of trans variation was 32.19%, proving that the regional differences exerted a most extraordinary influence on the spatial differences in the regional logistics industry development level in China. The research results have important reference value for summarizing the meaning of high-quality logistics industry development, constructing the evaluation index system for logistics industry development, and exploring the reasons for the temporal and spatial differences in logistics industry development in China.

Tensions In Eu-China Trade Relations: The Impact Of China's Competitive Advantage In Strategic Industries”

This article reviews trade tensions between the European Union (EU) and China triggered by China's dominance in strategic industries. In the face of an increasingly tense situation, careful policy analysis is needed to proactively manage the complex relationship with China. This research aims to highlight the root causes behind trade conflicts, as well as identify strategies for managing tensions wisely while encouraging mutually beneficial economic cooperation. With a cross-disciplinary approach, this research proposes a framework to reduce the risk of escalation of trade conflicts between the EU and China. Through emphasizing the importance of rigorous policy analysis and innovative solutions, this article highlights the urgency of appropriate policies to maintain domestic economic stability and balanced international relations in the face of challenges from China's economic dominance.

ТЕХНІКО-ЕКОНОМІЧНЕ ОБҐРУНТУВАННЯ ДОЦІЛЬНОСТІ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ АСФАЛЬТОБЕТОННИХ ШАРІВ ІЗ ЗОЛОЮ ВИНЕСЕННЯ

Introduction. The road construction industry is currently one of the strategic industries of Ukraine, and the issue of quality and availability of basic building materials for road construction is particularly topical, which is directly related to its high material intensity. The known reserves of high-quality raw materials that could be used as asphalt concrete components are constantly decreasing, so it is necessary to look for alternative sources of raw materials for construction materials and explore the possibility of their use. In this regard, the most efficient use of local raw materials is the use of industrial waste, which can be one of the solutions to the problem of shortage of raw materials of inorganic origin. Problem statement. In road construction, when repairing or arranging road pavement layers, in particular asphalt mixtures, the need for carbonate mineral fillers, which are scarce in some regions, is constantly growing. Industrial by-products can be an alternative. One of these materials is fly ash from thermal power plants, which can be used instead of mineral fillers in asphalt mixtures. Objective. To perform a feasibility study of the use of asphalt concrete layers with fly ash. Materials and Methods. Analysis of information sources and the materials market of Ukraine and calculation of the technical and economic efficiency of fly ash application in asphalt mixtures.

Productivity of the Korean Biopharmaceutical Industry: Exploring the Effect of Business Model and Open Innovation

The biopharmaceutical industry in Korea is considered a key strategic industry following the semiconductor industry. However, success in the biopharmaceutical industry depends on the outcome of research and development processes that require long periods and substantial investment, resulting in a success rate of only around 2.5%–4% for new drug development. Consequently, rational strategic choices, such as determining key capabilities to pursue business, deciding where to position within the value chain and identifying collaboration partners and strategies, are more crucial in the biopharmaceutical industry compared to other industries. In this study, we divided Korean biopharmaceutical companies into research and development groups and Integrated groups, which perform both research and production, and compared their productivity using the meta-frontier methodology to verify the significance of technology gap ratio (TGR) values between groups. We also investigated the influence of open innovation activities, including the type, partners and timing, on the TGR of each group with Tobit analysis. The investigation revealed that productivity and its influencing elements varied depending on the business model. This finding suggests that this information can be utilised to develop efficient industrial policies.

TOTAL QUALITY MANEGMENT

Title: Total Quality Management: A Test of the Effect of TQM on the Performance and Stakeholder Satisfaction Background and Problem Discussion: The performance of TQM Airlines and Non TQM airlines is measured comparing statistically three major performance indicator Customer satisfaction, Employee satisfaction and Operational effectiveness. To establish a link between TQM and performance and showing the need for the adoption of total quality culture in the local airline sector of the Nigeria aviation industry. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to highlight the benefit of TQM implementation in the Nigerian Airline industry by examining the basic principles of TQM in the airlines. The impact of TQM implementation of the three performance indicator will be assessed. Method: Quantitative and qualitative method. Primary data is collected from the airline companies by questionnaires and interview. Secondary data is gotten from articles, journals and online resources. Theory: The theory section looks at different concepts of quality as defined and viewed by various authors. Also the benefits and hindrances of TQM implementation were reviewed. Analysis: We have used a T-test hypothesis to measure the difference in means of TQM airline and Non-TQM airlines using the three performance indicator. Conclusion: The research findings confirmed the benefits that ensue from the implementation of TQM. It showed that TQM is a strategic tool industry can employ in the quest to remain competitive. It was also discovered that for the TQM to be properly implemented, everybody in the organization must be involved from the management to the employees and even the customers.