Groupware Research Articles

Gender Pedagogy: Developing Champion Educational Leaders in East Africa

Purpose: This study explored the landscape of educational leadership development in East Africa. It investigated its ability to equip leaders with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to promote gender-responsive and inclusive practices. Methodology: Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study collected data through surveys, interviews, and document analysis across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The participants included educational leaders, local government authorities, and other stakeholders. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were performed. Findings: The findings are as follows: Effective sensitization meetings foster shared understanding and ownership of gender-responsive initiatives, and teacher colleges can play a vital role by offering targeted training. Some knowledge gaps exist, necessitating targeted training of educational leaders and Local Government Administrators on gender responsiveness and inclusion. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy, and Practice: The study recommends establishing multi-stakeholder collaboration and dialogue platforms and designing context-specific sensitization meetings tailored to local communities and leaders. Furthermore, strengthening college support through targeted training and programs focused on gender-responsive leadership and pedagogy is necessary. Additionally, investment in training to address knowledge gaps and equip leaders with the necessary skills and tools to facilitate collaborative action research and knowledge sharing for continuous learning and improvement. By implementing these recommendations, East Africa can cultivate a generation of educational leaders who champion gender equality and inclusivity, creating more equitable and transformative learning environments.

Multilateral analysis of stakeholder integration, project complexity and project performance on information technology (IT) projects

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the influence of stakeholder integration and project complexity on information technology (IT) projects in Kenya. The following research question guided our inquiry: what is the influence of project complexity and stakeholder integration on the performance of IT projects in Kenya?Design/methodology/approachTo advance the current understanding of the effect of stakeholder integration and project complexity on IT projects, multiple regressions were used to predict how project complexity and stakeholder integration influence project performance. Both government-funded and privately funded IT projects from a developing country were examined.FindingsThe study found that any project’s complexity and stakeholder integration levels offer a distinctive contribution to its success. Theoretically, the study contributes to linkages between stakeholder integration and project complexity concerning IT project performance. Through the adoption of actionable research and theoretical elaboration, we have shown that the successful execution of IT projects is driven by the successful integration of stakeholders and monitoring the level of complexity at each phase of the project.Originality/valueThe findings of this study add to the burgeoning literature on the performance of IT projects and come with several managerial implications as well. It brings to the fore the concept of stakeholder integration as an essential element of project success. The findings suggest that the inclusion of stakeholder integration into corporate decisions, strategies and policies can be an asset to the production of sustainable competitive advantages needed during the implementation of IT projects in government entities and organisations. As shown in this study, all the above require a collaborative platform allowing for data sharing among diverse stakeholders to ameliorate distrust or lack of information.

DIGITALIZATION AS A MEANS OF OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND THREATS OF CONSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS IN A MULTIPROJECT ENVIRONMENT

This article examines the potential of digitalization as a strategic solution to address the challenges and threats faced by construction actors in a multi-project environment.Construction activities are inherently complex, often characterized by the simultaneous management of several projects, each with its own characteristics and challenges. In a multi-project environment, participants such as designers, developers, and contractors face significant obstacles, including resource allocation conflicts, communication barriers, inefficiencies, and increased risk of delays and cost overruns. The advent of digital technology offers a transformative approach to these challenges, enabling more efficient management and coordination across multiple projects. The main objective of this paper is to explore how digital tools and technologies can mitigate the specific challenges faced by different actors during the construction of multiple projects. Analyzing key issues such as scheduling conflicts, miscommunication, data management complexity and risk management difficulties, the article highlights critical areas where digitization can have a significant impact.One of the most urgent problems in a multi-project environment is the effective allocation and planning of resources. Traditional management approaches often fail to cope with overlapping schedules and competing priorities, resulting in delays and inefficiencies. Digital tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) offer integrated platforms that facilitate seamless coordination and real-time updates. These systems provide centralized data stores and sophisticated scheduling algorithms that improve decision-making and reduce the likelihood of conflicts.Communication barriers are another major problem in multi-project environments that can lead to misunderstandings, errors, and delays that negatively impact project timelines and outcomes. Digital communication platforms, including instant messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration software, enhance real-time communication and ensure alignment among all stakeholders. These platforms enable the rapid exchange of critical information and facilitate the collaborative environment necessary to manage multiple projects simultaneously.Ensuring that all stakeholders have access to accurate and up-to-date information is critical to effective decision-making. Digitization solves this problem by providing advanced data management and analytics capabilities. Big data analytics and artificial intelligence can analyze large data sets to predict potential problems and optimize resource allocation. These technologies help identify trends, predict project outcomes, and facilitate informed decision-making, ultimately increasing project efficiency and effectiveness.Risk management is particularly challenging in a multi-project environment due to increased complexity and interdependence. Digital risk management tools offer a framework for identifying, assessing and mitigating risks across projects. These tools provide scenario analysis, risk tracking and automatic alerts, enabling proactive risk management and reducing the likelihood of project failure.

The Legal Implications of Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies: A Nigerian Perspective

Children have the right to life, survival and development but also a right to be protected from any form of abuse, particularly in schools. Therefore, the standards for child protection in schools should be guided by the principles that prioritize the safety, well-being and rights of children. These principles form the basis of child protection safeguarding policies in schools and are paramount in ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for children. Yet the spate of child protection issues in Nigeria raises questions regarding the existence, implementation and enforcement of the pieces of legislation and policies within schools. This work not only examined the legal framework for child protection in Nigeria but also the legal implications of child safeguarding policies in schools. It argues that in order for schools to create a secure and safe environment for learning, firstly, the establishment of child safeguarding policies and procedure are critical to achieving this. Secondly, schools need to abandon the old concept of punishment-based discipline that relies on fear and embrace a more modern correction-based approach to discipline and establish structures to leverage discipline to achieve a safe and secure environment for all. It concludes that safeguarding policies should be viewed as a school’s translation of child protection legislation for action and as such, its implementation manual. In drawing lessons from the UK, the study recommended that government needs to drive child protection issues through the education of stakeholders and the establishment of an enforcement mechanism or regulatory body. This body should coordinate child safeguarding issues by providing a platform for stakeholder collaboration in order to achieve more cohesion within the sector.

Harnessing Vernacular Knowledge for Contemporary Sustainable Design through a Collaborative Digital Platform

Vernacular architecture offers valuable technological and typological solutions rooted in knowledge systems that connect environmental, social, economic, and cultural contexts. This paper introduces the Heritage for People Platform, a collaborative digital tool developed under the VerSus+ project (Creative Europe Program), aimed at organising and disseminating vernacular architectural knowledge with a focus on sustainable practices that are both culturally and environmentally conscious. The platform builds upon lessons learned from similar projects, offering key improvements such as the adoption of a Case-Based Reasoning methodology, which organises examples by geographic location, materials, and intervention types. A structured classification system based on sustainability principles and strategies enables cross-disciplinary research and comparison. The design process was highly participatory, incorporating user feedback at every stage to ensure the platform is accessible to a wide range of users, including designers, scholars, craftspeople, and the general public. A cross-device, user-centered approach further broadens its accessibility. The platform provides a public, web-based geospatial repository where users can create, update, and explore a dynamic collection of artefacts, design models, people, and institutions from across the globe. This tool marks a significant advance in promoting and preserving both physical and intangible heritage, with strong educational and practical applications for sustainable architecture. The paper details the theoretical framework and real-world potential of the platform as a critical resource for promoting sustainability in the built environment.

Nuances and Challenges of Moderating a Code Collaboration Platform

Nuances and Challenges of Moderating a Code Collaboration Platform

A Modular XR Collaborative Platform for Occupational Safety and Health Training: A Case Study in Circular Logistics Facilities

Over the past few years, safety and health have become major concerns in the warehouse and logistics sectors. Each year, warehouse fatalities, injuries, and accidents cause unrecoverable losses and huge financial costs. In spite of all the advancements in methods, tools, equipment, and regulations, the number of accidents, especially fatal ones, has not subsided significantly. As a result, safety professionals and researchers have explored new and innovative ways to combat this problem. In the circular logistics facility (CLF) industry, located inside warehouses and providing human muscle-oriented services to maintain pallets, both short-term safety incidents and long-term health concerns are present. Long-term health training is rarely discussed in the literature compared to short-term safety training. This is because health issues are more complex than safety issues, since biological outcomes may take time to develop, are affected by multiple resources, and cumulative injuries may occur. This paper contributes to warehouse health and safety by designing and developing a modular XR collaborative training and testing platform (MXC-P). The co-design process is applied to design each module in the MXC-P. Three main modules related to health and safety training for CLF were considered, namely personal protection equipment, pallet handling, and pallet repairing. On this platform, a virtual interactive world provides a solid hands-on training environment and generates syntactic data for evaluating long-term health risks. On the other hand, collaborative and modular environments provide a solution to geographically distributed systems, allowing employees to connect and train remotely. The effectiveness of the MXC-P is compared with traditional safety training in a pilot study. Based on the results, we can establish that the MXC-P is effective in teaching and testing hazard identification situations, especially those relating to short-term health. The results also indicate that trainees’ recall of knowledge would improve with the MXC-P. In addition to this, the MXC-P can also be used to test and evaluate a new system and generate syntactic data for evaluating long-term health.

Fostering students' inquiry aptitudes and collaborative reasoning in higher education science courses with social annotation tools and collaborative platforms

AbstractInteractive digital technologies are playing an increasingly important part in education for enhancing collaborative learning processes and improving engagement. Social annotation (SA) tools and collaborative platforms are an innovative way to involve students to give and take feedback, annotate, and brainstorm on complex topics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This article focuses on innovative practices that integrate inquiry‐based discussions using SA tools and collaborative platforms to promote undergraduate students' interest and curiosity about sciences. In this article, lectures were combined with inquiry‐based discussions using an open education SA tool and an open‐access collaborative platform to engage students in a meaningful dialog with peers on scientific topics. Students debated with peers on scientific content in an online environment. Findings show that the integration of inquiry‐based discussions using SA tools and collaborative platforms provides a practical way to effectively improve students interest in science. The information reported in this article can support STEM instructors in designing collaborative learning activities in online and hybrid settings that spark students' curiosity and inquiry attitude about natural sciences.

The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Tool for Collaboration in Transformative Teacher Education in Nigeria

This study explores the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool for collaboration in transformative teacher education in Nigeria. The integration of ICT in education is pivotal for modernizing teaching methodologies and enhancing the learning experience. This study investigates the current state of ICT adoption among Nigerian teachers, identifies the challenges faced in its implementation, and evaluates the potential benefits of ICT in teacher education. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys and interviews with teachers across various institutions. The findings reveal a moderate level of ICT adoption, with significant barriers including inadequate infrastructure and lack of training. Despite these challenges, the study underscores the transformative potential of ICT in fostering innovative teaching and learning which improves educational outcomes. Recommendations are provided to enhance ICT integration, including improved infrastructure, comprehensive training programs, and supportive policy frameworks.

Real-Time Document Collaboration—System Architecture and Design

This article explores the world of dependable systems, specifically focusing on system design, software solutions, and architectural decisions that facilitate collaborative work on shared text documents across multiple users in near real time. It aims to dive into the intricacies of designing robust and effective document collaboration software focusing on understanding the requirements of such a system, the working principle of collaborative text editing, software architecture, technology stack selection, and tooling that can sustain such a system. To examine the pros and cons of the proposed system, the paper will detail how collaborative text editing software can benefit from such an architecture regarding availability, elasticity, and scaling. The intricate nature of this system renders this paper a valuable resource for prospective investigations within the domain of dependable systems and distributed systems. This research first examines the requirements of a real-time collaboration system and the necessary core features. Then, it analyzes the design, the application structure, and the system organization while also considering key architectural requirements as the necessity of scaling, the usage of microservices, cross-service communications, and client–server communication. For the technology stack of the implementation, this research considers the alternatives at each layer, from client to server. Once these decisions are made, it follows system development while examining possible improvements for the issues previously encountered. To validate the architecture, a testing strategy is developed, to examine the key capabilities of the system, such as resource consumption and throughput. The conclusions review the combination of modern and conventional application development principles needed to address the challenges of conflict-free document replication, decoupled and stateless event-driven architecture, idempotency, and data consistency. This paper not only showcases the design and implementation process but also sets a foundation for future research and innovation in dependable systems, collaborative technologies, sustainable solutions, and distributed system architecture.

Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Prevention and Treatment of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a significant complication associated with bisphosphonates, impacting jaw osteoclasts, and causing altered bone remodelling. Prevention involves stabilizing systemic pathology, considering antiresorptive therapies, and exploring platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) for wound healing and tissue regeneration. The study aims to assess the efficacy of PRF in MRONJ treatment and highlight research gaps for more robust investigations. Following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines, this systematic review and meta-analysis included English publications from 2013 to 2023, employing a systematic search in databases such as MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Quality assessment used the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and the NOS, with the main meta-analysis concentrating on PRF-treated MRONJ cases, assessing resolution rates, and prioritizing healing outcomes and infection absence as primary endpoints. The study, encompassing 11 articles and 480 participants with MRONJ, demonstrated that in stage 1 procedures, PRF significantly outperformed conventional medical treatments (OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.54-5.59, P=0.001), particularly at the mandible site (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 0.86-3.17, P=0.13). PRF also exhibited significantly superior healing outcomes compared with conventional medical treatments (OR: 4.45, 95% CI: 1.58-12.53, P=0.005), supporting its consideration as a valuable alternative in specific MRONJ management scenarios. This study highlights PRF's effectiveness in early MRONJ interventions and specific anatomic sites, despite acknowledged limitations, emphasizing the need for further research, and supporting its consideration in MRONJ surgical management.

Effects of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization/Vojta Therapy on Pain Intensity and Physical Function in Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent health issue that imposes heavy burdens on personal health status and social healthcare. Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)/Vojta therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in managing conditions related to musculoskeletal system. However, its effects on individuals with LBP remain incompletely understood. We aimed to evaluate the effects of DNS/Vojta therapy on pain intensity and physical function in individuals with LBP. A search of studies was conducted on several academic databases from inception through April 13, 2023. This study included clinical trials that evaluated the effects of DNS/Vojta therapy on the outcomes in individuals with LBP. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using PEDro scale, Cochrane Collaboration tool, and ROBINS-I scale. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software (RevMan version 5.4.1, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2020). This systematic review and meta-analysis identified twelve eligible studies, which demonstrated that DNS/Vojta therapy significantly alleviated pain intensity (SMD=-1.09; 95%Cl [-1.74, -0.44]; Z=3.28; P=0.001), reduced disability severity (SMD=-0.91; 95%Cl [-1.48, -0.34]; Z=3.12; P=0.002), and improved quality of life (SMD=1.05; 95%CI [0.14, 1.96]; Z=2.27; P=0.02) in individuals with LBP, while no significant improvements were observed in static and dynamic balance ability or spine flexibility. DNS/Vojta therapy is a promising approach for providing great benefits for individuals with LBP, particularly in terms of reducing pain intensity and disability severity, and improving quality of life, which is worth further in clinical application.

AI-Driven Innovations in Earthquake Risk Mitigation: A Future-Focused Perspective

This study explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in revolutionizing earthquake risk mitigation across six key areas. Unlike traditional approaches, this paper examines how AI-driven innovations can uniquely enhance early warning systems, enabling real-time structural health monitoring, and providing dynamic, multi-hazard risk assessments that seamlessly integrate seismic data with other natural hazards such as tsunamis and landslides. It introduces groundbreaking applications of AI in earthquake-resilient design, where generative design algorithms and predictive analytics create structures that optimally balance safety, cost, and sustainability. The study also presents a novel discussion on the ethical implications of AI in this domain, stressing the critical need for transparency, accountability, and bias mitigation. Looking forward, the manuscript envisions the development of advanced AI platforms capable of delivering real-time, personalized risk assessments, immersive public training programs, and collaborative design tools that adapt to evolving seismic data. These innovations promise not only to significantly enhance current earthquake preparedness but also to pave the way toward a future where the societal impact of earthquakes is drastically reduced. This work underscores the potential of AI’s role in shaping a safer, more resilient future, emphasizing the importance of continued innovation, ethical governance, and collaborative efforts.

Investigating Tertiary Education Students’ Self-Efficacy and Willingness towards Using Online Collaborative Tools for Learning in Kogi State Tertiary Institutions

Online Collaborative tools are computer software designed to help people involved in a common task achieve their goals. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The study is aimed at Investigating Tertiary Education Students Self-Efficacy and Willingness towards using Online Collaborative Tools for Learning in Kogi State Tertiary Institutions The population of this study comprises all tertiary students of the five (5) selected tertiary institutions in Kogi State. The target population for this study was tertiary education students of the Faculty of Education, Sciences and Arts in selected Federal and State Tertiary institutions in Kogi state. A sample size of four hundred and eighty (480) respondents were sampled using Researchers’ Advisors Model (2006). The findings revealed that there is no significant difference in the opinions of respondents (students) on the available online collaborative tools for learning among tertiary education student in Kogi State Tertiary Institutions. This is because the computed probability is 0.701 which is higher that the p-value of 0.05 level of significance. In conclusion, it was suggested that, among other things that there should be available online collaborative tools for learning among tertiary education student in Kogi State Tertiary Institutions. The study further recommended that tertiary education students should be trained to use online collaborative tools for learning purposes in Kogi State Tertiary Institutions.

Augmenting Online Teamwork Dynamics: Investigating the Effects of a Generative AI Chatbot on Perceived Assistance and the Assessment of Team Members

Advances in information and communication technology have enabled teamwork in the online environment, and now online teamwork is an everyday encounter. Students start working in teams by contacting one another through online collaboration tools or instant messengers. However, online teamwork has a problem in which it is difficult to build relationships among team members. We conducted an experiment to identify the effects of a chatbot in messenger during online teamwork. Considering communication methods and interfaces, we divided the teamwork conditions into three cases: AI Assistant in Chatroom, AI Assistant on Web Page, and Search Engine. As a result of the analysis, we found significant differences between groups in perceived assistance in team processes and the assessment of team member effectiveness depending on the types of team methods with assistance. Specifically, the prototype chatbot proposed in this study showed more positive effects than the other methods.

Effects of Haptic Feedback Interventions in Post-Stroke Gait and Balance Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Haptic feedback is an established method to provide sensory information (tactile or kinesthetic) about the performance of an activity that an individual can not consciously detect. After a stroke, hemiparesis usually leads to gait and balance disorders, where haptic feedback can be a promising approach to promote recovery. The aim of the present study is to understand its potential effects on gait and balance impairments, both after interventions and in terms of immediate effects. Methods: This research was carried out using the following scientific databases: Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline/PubMed from inception to May 2024. The Checklist for Measuring quality, PEDro scale, and the Cochrane collaboration tool were used to assess the methodological quality and risk of bias of the studies. Results: Thirteen articles were chosen for qualitative analysis, with four providing data for the meta-analysis. The findings did not yield definitive evidence on the effectiveness of haptic feedback for treating balance and gait disorders following a stroke. Conclusions: Further research is necessary in order to determine the effectiveness of haptic feedback mechanisms, with larger sample sizes and more robust methodologies. Longer interventions and pre-post design in gait training with haptic feedback are necessary.

Central nervous system pediatric multi-disciplinary tumor board: a single center experience

BackgroundThe Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (MTB) is a collaborative platform involving specialists in oncology, surgery, radiology, pathology, and radiotherapy, and aims to optimize diagnostics and treatments. Despite MTB’s widespread benefits, limited literature addresses its application in pediatric neuro-oncology. After a literature revision on pediatric neuro-oncology MTB, our study describes our institute’s pediatric neuro-oncology MTB, focuses on evaluating its impact and the neuroradiologist’s role in patient-centric approaches, considering recent genetic insights into pediatric brain tumors.Materials and methodsLiterature Review concerning pediatric neuro-oncology MTB from January 2002 to June 2024. Clinical Data: retrospective study of all patient files presented in the pediatric neuro-oncology MTB (pnMTB) between 2019 and 2022. Statistical analysis was mainly carried out by directly comparing the absolute or relative values of the respective parameters examined; qualitative variables compared mainly with the chi-square test, quantitative variables mainly with the t-test.ResultsLiterature Review: 7 papers encompass a multidisciplinary approach for the pediatric CNS tumors.Clinical dataA total of 236 discussions were analyzed representing 107 patients. Median age was 14,3 years (range: 6 months – 17 years). The requests for case evaluations primarily came from the pediatric oncologists (83%) and neurosurgeons (14.8%), and they were mainly addressed to the neuroradiologists (70.3%). Proposals during pnMTB mainly involved imaging follow-up (47.8%) and management with chemotherapy (34.7%). Changes in patient treatment (CPT) occurred in 115 cases, and pediatric neuroradiologist intervention contributed to 72.4% of these changes.ConclusionThanks to their multidisciplinarity, high number of cases discussed, and usual respect for their proposals, the pnMTB has made it possible to improve the coordination among specialties involved in patient management, to apply the recent protocols, and to exchange knowledge among teams managing pediatric CNS tumors.

A Basecamp for Student Group Projects: Analysis of the Use of Project Management Software in the Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing Classroom

Integration of project management collaboration software has been suggested for group experiential project courses in advertising, public relations (PR), marketing, and strategic communications. But little research has been conducted on using these tools. This study sought to gauge student perceptions toward the use of project management collaboration software Basecamp on improved experience in group projects, team collaboration, and learning outcomes. A survey of 177 students in seven course sections across two semesters at two universities reveals that most students agree project management and collaboration software is a valuable learning tool. Suggestions for course and program implementation and the self-directed learning model are considered.

The idea marketplace: Diversity, social capital, and innovation

AbstractFirms increasingly leverage idea markets, where participants (such as employees) generate, improve, and evaluate ideas on a collaborative digital platform. Different participants contribute differently to the ideation process, some generating high quality ideas while others initiating discussion threads and commenting on the ideas to further enhance the ideas’ quality. Such diverse contributions may be importantly influenced by the participants’ diverse social capital—resource access and status—in their pre-existing network. We theorize this relationship and further test our hypotheses by conducting two idea market studies, one involving only a firm’s employees (Study 1: closed innovation) and the other further incorporating non-employees (Study 2: open innovation). We show that the higher quality ideas are generated by the participants with greater resource access, whereas continued engagement, including contributing larger quantities of ideas, discussion threads, and comments, stems from those with higher status. These findings have important implications for ideator recruitment and idea market design.

Arterial stiffness after 6 weeks postdelivery in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases following HDP is high. Arterial stiffness is a...