Organizational Tools Research Articles

Inter-municipal cooperation at the international level

Relevance. Local self-government as one of the forms of public power closestй to the population is in constant development. The peculiarity of municipal authorities is the use of various organizational tools, including mechanisms of inter-municipal cooperation. The broad participation of the Russian Federation in interstate associations actualizes the use of new forms of partnership between municipalities at the international level. The study identifies legal problems and barriers that do not allow effective cooperation, and presents ways to overcome them.The purpose of the study is to develop sound theoretical provisions that complement the science of constitutional law, as well as to identify пределthe limits of constitutional compliance when using new forms of inter-municipal cooperation.Objectives: to analyze the practice of applying municipal partnership mechanisms at the level of interstate associations; to identify inaccuracies and gaps in legal acts in the field of organizing cooperation between domestic and foreign municipalities; to provide scientifically based ways to overcome legal barriers that do not allow effective interaction between municipalities.Methodology. В работе использовались Methodsы of analysis, synthesis, as well as the formal legal method in combination with the method of comparative law, legal modeling and forecasting were used in the work.The results of the study are scientifically based theoretical provisions that characterize the features of municipal cooperation at the interstate level, as well as proposals on the need to fill in gaps and inaccuracies in legal regulation.Conclusion. A legal gap is identified at the level of international treaties on cross-border and inter-territorial cooperation of the CIS and BRICS, which is related to the lack of legal mechanisms for inter-municipal cooperation. The study suggests the use of a wide range of standard agreements in the framework of the organization of cooperation of municipalities. The article substantiates the possibility of establishing an inter-territorial management body that coordinates partner municipalities. The paper presents a forecast on the development of municipal administration and the formation of a new type of agglomerations – cross-border urban agglomerations with the participation of the Russian Federation.

Professional-Career Trajectories of Higher Education Personnel in the Preparation of Doctoral Dissertations If you need a specific translation or a more detailed exploration of this topic, please let me know

I'll answer as a world-famous higher education expert in academic research with the prestigious Academic Research Excellence Award. Introduction:The level of professional competence of university faculty has a direct impact on the quality of labor resource reproduction. The highest level of professional skill of a research professor is confirmed by the defense of a qualifying work—a doctoral dissertation. Decreasing rates of dissertation defenses necessitate the search for new organizational and managerial tools to activate faculty members' desire to pursue research trajectories at a high level of professionalism. To develop relevant tools that yield results, it is essential to consider the diversity of approaches to conducting scientific research and defending its results. The aim of the study is to identify the trajectories of preparing and defending a doctoral dissertation, as well as to reveal significant factors that contribute to or hinder achieving the desired outcomes. **Materials and Methods:** To identify typical approaches to organizing and conducting the process of preparing a doctoral dissertation, data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with candidates for the Doctor of Science degree. The interviews involved 42 doctoral candidates who defended dissertations for the Doctor of Economics degree in 2022-2023 from 30 cities across Russia. Qualitative methods were applied to process empirical data while analyzing informants' responses during the interviews, working with transcripts, and interpreting semantic conclusions. **Results:** Within the typological diversity of approaches based on three criteria (motivation, level of professional readiness, and perception of the organizational environment), several trajectory types were distinguished. For each type, the driving force that allowed the candidate to undergo a lengthy trajectory was identified. The dominant trajectory is the "Professional-Career Leap," achieved through willpower traits (52.4%). The "Professional-Career Ceiling" trajectory is based on the desire for competency growth and ensuring expert superiority (33.3%). Candidates moving along the "Emerging Opportunities and Perspectives" trajectory (14.2%) maintained a focus on the potential benefits of the future and utilized available organizational opportunities. **Conclusion:** The necessity to improve existing tools for assisting and simulating faculty members in defending their dissertations has been determined. The tools must contain the capability to influence the driving factor of each trajectory type: character, skill, and work capacity.

A nexus between human capital management and lean supply chain in an organization

This study investigates the impact of key human resource management (HRM) practices—learning and development, recruitment and selection, and performance management—on the lean supply chain performance of organizations. A sample size of 100 participants was selected using a simple random sampling technique, targeting individuals with direct experience in both HR and supply chain management. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, applying regression analysis to examine the relationships between variables. The findings provide insights into how HCM contributes to optimizing supply chain performance, offering practical implications for organizations striving for lean supply chain success. The findings confirm the positive influence of these HRM practices on supply chain efficiency and effectiveness. Learning and development (L&D) emerged as critical for fostering continuous improvement and waste reduction in lean supply chains, equipping employees with the necessary skills to support operational excellence. Recruitment and selection were shown to play a fundamental role in hiring individuals aligned with lean principles such as waste minimization and process efficiency. Performance management further contributed by aligning employee performance with lean objectives, ensuring continuous progress in supply chain performance. The study emphasizes the need for strategic integration of HRM practices into lean supply chain initiatives for sustained organizational competitiveness. Limitations include a small sample size, highlighting the need for future research to expand the respondent pool and explore additional organizational development tools to better define the connection between human capital management and lean supply chains.

Поддержка дистанционной работы медицинской организации средствами портальных решений, интегрированных с МИС.

Purpose. The article substantiates the increase in the volume of remote interaction leads to an increase in the efficiency of the healthcare organization, improving the quality and accessibility of medical care. Materials and methods. A solution is proposed for information support of remote work using an architecture based on portal solutions related to the healthcare information system. Results. The main features of the solution are described, and data from the analysis of the economic efficiency of remote work are presented. Findings. In conclusion, the directions for further development of information support tools for a healthcare organization are proposed and listed.

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ORGANISATIONAL LEARNING OF EXERCISES WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE (DECEMBER 1991–FEBRUARY 2022)

The article examines the historical aspects of organisational learning of military exercises within the Ukrainian Armed Forces (from their creation in December 1991 until the largescale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022). It compares this activity with the relevant practice of the North Atlantic Alliance. The research paper highlights two key stages in the operational and combat training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: “Decline” (December 1991–April 2014), when the military learning was ineffective, which impacted the ability of Ukrainian troops to adapt and functionally counter Russian armed aggression, and ‘Modernization’ (April 2014–February 2022), during which the approaches to analyse and implement lessons were improved by the NATO standards. A comparative analysis of the organisational learning of military exercises within the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO during the above period (1991–2022) was carried out on the basis of studying five key elements of the lessons learned capability: organisational structure, process, tools, training, and information sharing.

Robust Optimization for Supply Chain with Routing Problem: A Learning-based Approach

Effective supply chain management is crucial for businesses to remain competitive in today's dynamic market. Despite extensive research, there is a lack of integrated approaches that simultaneously address resource allocation, routing, and delivery scheduling under uncertain conditions. This study develops a hybrid framework that combines robust optimization, simulated annealing, and reinforcement learning to enhance supply chain operations in complex networks involving fixed suppliers, distribution centers, and customers. Empirical results from rigorous testing demonstrate significant efficiency improvements and adaptability across diverse scenarios. A real-world case study from the logistics sector highlights the practical benefits, achieving notable cost savings and operational robustness. Sensitivity analysis further underscores the model’s capability to adapt to parameter variations. These findings emphasize the value of incorporating learning-based strategies into supply chain optimization, offering a powerful tool for organizations to address uncertainty and enhance decision-making efficiency.

International Economic Sanctions. Part 1. History and Theory

The relevance of this research lies in examining the evolution of approaches to the application of international economic sanctions at the level of nation-states and international organizations; the reasons for their increasing popularity after the end of the Cold War; and determining the conditions for their effectiveness. The study aims to analyze and synthesize information on the application of economic sanctions, compare approaches to understanding their content and purpose across different historical periods, assess their humanitarian consequences, and formulate conclusions and recommendations for both theoretical and practical purposes. The research employed a wide range of approaches and methods, including the formal-legal method, which allowed for the formulation of basic terms, concepts, features, constructs, and classifications; the historical method, which aided in analyzing the evolution of approaches to the application of economic sanctions; the systemic method, which clarified the mechanisms for imposing, modifying, and lifting economic sanctions; and the comparative legal method of scientific inquiry, which was used to evaluate approaches to the legal regulation of economic sanctions at various stages of historical development. The results of the study include determining the role of international universal organizations, particularly the League of Nations and the UN, in recognizing and enshrining economic sanctions in international law as legitimate means of inducing sanctioned states to engage in desired activities. It has been established that the consequences of applying economic sanctions are ambiguous; in addition to positive effects, they can in some cases hinder peace processes and post-conflict recovery, impede the activities of peacekeeping organizations, undermine negotiations, and exacerbate disagreements between conflicting parties. Despite the possibility of negative consequences, economic sanctions remain popular as a means of demonstrating power or the ability to influence the behavior of a sanctioned government without resorting to military conflict. To mitigate the negative impact of sanctions on peacekeeping efforts, it is recommended that initiators set clear objectives when introducing economic sanctions; conduct regular substantive reviews of their impact; and expand exceptions to sanctions for peacekeeping activities, among other measures. The consequences of economic sanctions for the sanctioned country are primarily manifested in their impact on trade conditions. It is noted that economic sanctions are not necessarily more effective in the case of multilateral sanctions than in unilateral actions. The research observes that economic sanctions affect supporters and opponents of the ruling regime in the sanctioned country differently and may, in some cases, contribute to the consolidation of society around the ruling regime. The study concludes that despite existing shortcomings, economic sanctions have become an important tool for national governments and international organizations in responding to foreign policy challenges.

Direct and Digital Democracy in the Ideology and Politics of the Five Star Movement

The article analyses the role of direct and e-democracy in the ideology and political practice of the Italian populist party Five Star Movement (M5S). Founded as a party in 2009, Movement stood out among European populists with its pronounced leftgreen agenda aimed at solving local problems of an urban nature. However, an even more remarkable feature of the Five Stars has become an equally clearly noticeable technoutopianism mixed with direct democracy, which argues for the need to expand democratic participation for ordinary citizens through the tools of direct democracy and digital technologies. Based on the study of primary sources (party documents, Beppe Grillo's blog and the official party blog), as well as text media materials, an attempt is made to trace how during two periods of activity of Five Star Movement in 2013–2022 the attitude of the party leaders to the role of direct and electronic democracy in the political activity of Five Stars gradually changed. The article analyses changes in Five Star Movement’s organisational structure and tools of the e-democracy in the course of the development of the party and its institutionalisation into the Italian party-political system. The article concludes that with the process of Five Stars’ incorporation into the political regime, the party has pushed technoutopianism out of its agenda and practice, strengthening party centralisation. Thus, innovative practices in the digitalisation of the political process did not lead to a real expansion of democratic participation, but were subordinated to a party discipline.

Testing the efficacy of exposure to environmentally themed video in fostering pro-environmental intentions

ABSTRACT In the contemporary context, the significance of environmental challenges arising from human-environment interaction cannot be overstated. Increasingly, research is dedicated to comprehending measures that can be taken to mitigate and rectify the impacts of environmental issues through individual actions. Intentions are an important predecessor of behavior, but there exists a notable absence of a cohesive synthesis regarding the determinants of pro-environmental intentions across diverse paradigms and strategies for inducing change in these intentions. However, research across diverse disciplines indicates that video and graphic exposure hold significant promise for catalyzing pro-environmental initiatives. Yet, there is a paucity of studies exploring the optimal strategies for leveraging these communication and organizational tools effectively. The purpose of this study is to add to the growing body of knowledge by examining the effectiveness of video exposure in promoting pro-social intentions. Consequently, the implementation of a video-based exposure resulted in inducing pro-environmental intentions within the sampled population.

The Impact of Voluntary Environmental Standards on Domestic and Foreign Sales Growth: Evidence From Pakistan

ABSTRACTIn the current business environment, voluntary environmental standards (VES), including environmental management standards (EMS) and eco‐labeling schemes, have become important organizational tools to increase firms' market competitiveness and sustainability. This study provides novel insights by empirically examining the effects of EMS (ISO 14001) and eco‐label certifications on domestic and foreign sales growth, specifically in the context of Pakistani firms. The study utilized data from 245 listed firms from 2009 to 2023 to accomplish this objective. The study applied panel econometric regression analysis to estimate the results empirically. The results showed a positive impact of VES on firms' domestic and foreign sales growth. In particular, manufacturing firms that comply with ISO 14001 standards and textile firms with eco‐label certification have exceptionally high domestic and foreign sales growth. The study's outcomes indicate that adopting VES can serve as a valuable strategy for enhancing firms' market competitiveness and expanding their sales in both domestic and international markets. The result suggests that VES enhances market competitiveness and offers a pathway for sustainable growth strategies, specifically in developing economies like Pakistan. Notably, by promoting VES, policymakers can support firms in improving their international market presence and contributing to broader sustainable development goals.

Spatial Assessment of Soil Erosion and Aridity in Somalia Using the CORINE Model

This study analyzed precipitation patterns, drought conditions, erosivity indices, and arid periods in Somalia using the CORINE model. Utilizing rainfall and temperature data from 50 meteorological stations collected between 2011 and 2019, the study calculated key indices: The Fournier Precipitation Index (35.70%), the Bagnouls-Gaussen Drought Index (61.36), and the erosivity index. The results revealed notable spatial variability in erosivity and aridity across Somalia. Northwestern regions, encompassing 204,978.65 km² (32.14% of the total area), exhibit low erosivity due to reduced rainfall intensity, while southern regions, spanning 252,341.11 km² (39.56%), face high erosivity driven by frequent and intense rainfall events. The study also identified significant arid conditions, with 61.36% of Somalia’s land classified as "dry" and 38.64% as "very dry," highlighting widespread water scarcity and vulnerability. These findings underscore Somalia's environmental challenges, including severe soil degradation, reduced agricultural productivity, and the exacerbation of droughts due to climate change. The integration of the Modified Fournier Index and the Bagnouls-Gaussen Index within the CORINE model provides a comprehensive assessment of the country's susceptibility to erosion and aridity. This research offers critical insights for prioritizing areas that require urgent soil conservation and improved land-use management. It also serves as a vital tool for policymakers and international organizations aiming to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, enhance agricultural sustainability, and promote ecological resilience in Somalia’s diverse landscapes.

Adoption of Advanced Cybersecurity Tools by Organizations: Motivations, Barriers, and Leader Responses

This study explores the adoption of advanced cybersecurity tools in organizations, focusing on the motivations, barriers, and leadership responses that shape adoption decisions. As cyber threats grow in sophistication, organizations must adopt increasingly complex tools to defend against attacks. However, despite the availability of cutting-edge technologies, adoption remains inconsistent. Through semi-structured interviews with 19 executive decision-makers and cybersecurity experts from high-threat industries, the study identifies key drivers for tool adoption, including an escalating threat environment and the need to enhance defense capabilities. It also highlights significant barriers, such as challenges of technical integration, organization readiness, and vendor management. Leadership plays a pivotal role in overcoming these obstacles by aligning organizational goals, securing resources, and fostering a culture of collaboration. The findings contribute to the literature on innovation adoption and cybersecurity management, offering insights into how organizations can better integrate advanced tools to enhance their security posture.

Exploring the Neurodiversity of Lithuanian College Students and Its link to Learning Difficulties and Supporting Measures

<p dir="ltr"><span>Enhancing the inclusion of neurodiverse students in higher education institutions represents a significant and evolving challenge for educators. Recognizing learning difficulties and equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively work with and communicate with neuro-diverse students are crucial steps toward achieving social inclusion. Aim – to explore the neurodiversity of Lithuanian college students and its link to learning difficulties and supporting measures. Two developmental adult disorders were presented to illustrate the expression of neurodiversity including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A cross-sectional survey included 512 students from Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution. The survey assessed 39 attributes related to students’ learning difficulties and supporting measures. The nine scales, consisting of 39 items, demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.76. Due to the unequal and smaller sample sizes of attention deficit hyperactivity and autism spectrum disorders having students, non-parametric statistics (Kruskal-Wallis) were used. Spearman's correlation coefficient (R²) was used for correlation analysis. Results. Nearly a quarter of the students associate their neurodiversity with ADHD, with 22.3 % suspecting they have the condition and 2 % noted that this is confirmed. 4.7% of students consider themselves to be on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with 0.6% having a confirmed diagnosis. Statistically significant differences were identified in the relationship between ADHD and attention difficulties at home, college, sensory sensitivity and specific learning difficulties (p ≤ 0.05). ADHD and ASS suspected of having students tend to have lower grade point average (GPAs). Students who suspect or confirm having ADHD express a higher preference for organizational tools compared to those without ADHD, with a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05). Preferences for explanations and illustrations are higher among those suspecting ADHD (p ≤ 0.05). The analysis of expectations from lecturers and organization concerning ASD shows minimal variation among groups (p≥0.05). Conclusions. Neurodiversity among students is a relevant phenomenon that is associated with learning difficulties that interfere with achieving good learning outcomes. However, the role of the teacher and organization is exclusively relevant for the ADHD student group. For ASD students and neurotypical students, universal approaches are appropriate.</span></p><div><span><br /></span></div>

A161: Development History, Content Characteristics and Optimization Strategies of China's Digital Sports Policy

Research Purpose: Digital sports policy guides and leads the development of digital sports. Scientific and reasonable policies are crucial to the high-quality development of digital sports in the new era. Research Methods: We used methods such as the literature data method, word frequency analysis method, and text analysis method to sort out the development process of digital sports policy and analyzed the content characteristics, policy objectives, and selection characteristics of policy tools. Research Results: (1) The development history of my country's digital sports policy includes three periods: (2005–2015) the initial exploration period; (2016–2020) the slow growth period; and after 2021, a period of rapid development. (2) In terms of policy content, the eastern region leads the development and focuses on application promotion; the central region is slightly more vigorous in development and attaches great importance to the construction of digital sports platforms; the western region is developing well and focuses on leveraging sports consumption. (3) In terms of policy objectives, the national-level and local government policies focus on building digital sports. However, the country focuses on leading local construction and creating a development environment for digital sports, while local governments focus on mass fitness and digital sports services. (4) In terms of policy tools, four policy tools are widely used: information tools (excessively used), authoritative tools (underused), fiscal and taxation tools (insufficiently used), and organizational tools (properly selected). The overall use of policy tools is unbalanced. Research Conclusions and Suggestions: (1) Conclusion: After more than 20 years of development, my country's digital sports policy has gone through an initial exploration period, experienced a slow growth period, and now has entered a period of rapid development. There are regional differences in the formulation of policy content and different implementation paths of policy goals. Policy tools are widely used, but the frequency of use varies greatly, and the use of policy tools is unbalanced. (2) Optimization Strategy: In the future, the use of information-based, authoritative, fiscal, and organizational policy tools should be optimized and balanced, and the internal structure of policy tools should be improved. To enhance the coordination of policy goals, attention should be paid to improving the efficiency of digital sports governance and coordinating the development of multiple entities, expanding policy content coverage, improving the distribution of digital sports governance elements, and providing full play to the overall effect of the policy.

Barriers to Performing Essential Surgery at First-Level Hospitals in Pakistan: A Mixed Methods Study

IntroductionThere are numerous reasons for underutilization of the public health sector for surgery in Pakistan. This results in patients being diverted to private hospitals or tertiary care centers in urban areas. Diversions overburden the hospitals and significantly increase out-of-pocket costs for the patients. This study aims to determine the barriers to surgical care in first-level hospitals in Pakistan's Sindh province. MethodsWe conducted a concurrent nested mixed methods study from May to June 2021 in public sector first-level hospitals in the Sindh province. Fifteen hospitals in six districts were surveyed. A consolidated hospital assessment tool adapted from the World Health Organization's Tool for Situational Analysis to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care was used for quantitative data collection. Interview guides were developed for staff interviews. ResultsAvailability of trained staff was found to be the biggest barrier to the provision of safe surgery. Only eight hospitals had a general surgeon, anesthesiologist, and obstetrician/gynecologist, while the remaining had 1-2 of the three disciplines. Thirteen hospitals had a functioning x-ray machine, while 14 facilities had functioning ultrasound machines with trained personnel to operate them. Only three facilities always had blood available for transfusion. The qualitative component corroborated that the biggest barrier to providing surgical care was the lack of human resources. ConclusionsThe lack of human resources is difficult to overcome. We found evidence of task-shifting to medical officers and trainee anesthesiologists, but this is without discrete regulation and monitoring. Building surgical workforce capacity must be addressed in the interest of quality care.

Evaluating Strategies for Enhancing Medication Adherence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA): A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to assess medication adherence strategies among users in Saudi Arabia, explore the prevalence and effectiveness of behavioral, technical, and organizational tools, and identify key predictors of adherence related to demographic, health, and medication characteristics. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 Saudi residents aged ≥18 who regularly take prescription/non-prescription medications. The questionnaire was developed through a literature review, validated by academic pharmacists, and refined based on pilot testing feedback. A convenience sampling method, complemented by snowball sampling, was employed to recruit participants. Limitations like sampling bias and self-reported data emphasize the need for broader studies. Quantitative analysis was performed using IBM SPSS. Participants were predominantly young adults (84%) and females (84%), with 54% reporting being healthy and 46% managing chronic conditions. Behavioral strategies, such as time-based reminders, were the most commonly used (40%), followed by technical tools (33%), including mobile applications. Employment status significantly influenced adherence, with employed individuals (adjusted OR: 3.274, p = 0.028) and those working >8hours daily (adjusted OR: 9.838, p = 0.049) exhibiting higher adherence. Fieldwork negatively impacted adherence (adjusted OR: 0.052, p = 0.007). While other demographic and health factors showed no significant associations, trends suggested that complex medication regimens increased the likelihood of using adherence strategies. Behavioral strategies, such as time- and location-based reminders, and technical tools, like apps, effectively improved medication adherence. Healthcare providers should promote simple, cost-effective methods, such as pillboxes and mobile reminders, tailored to patient needs. Addressing adherence barriers for individuals with demanding/unexpected schedules or complex regimens through targeted interventions and awareness campaigns is essential. Future research should explore these strategies' scalability and long-term impact in diverse healthcare settings.

Assistive Technology Assessment and Barriers to Access It in Children with Disability

Objectives: Children with disabilities need assistive technology (AT) to explore their surroundings, participate in social activities, and gain developmental skills. This study aimed to assess AT needs and barriers to access it for these children. Methods: The study participants comprised 217 children with disabilities aged 6-12 years, randomly selected from the registration list of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Welfare Organization, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran, in 2022. After obtaining informed consent from their parents, study data were gathered by phone interview using the rapid assessment of AT (rATA) tool of the World Health Organization (WHO). Results: Among the 217 participants, 108(49.8%) used AT devices, and 102(47%) had unmet needs. Of the 55 AT devices named in the rATA, only 14 were used by the children. The most commonly used devices were hearing aids, glasses, and wheelchairs. Unmet needs of ‘chairs for bath/toilet,’ ‘wheelchairs,’ and ‘therapeutic footwear’ accounted for 50% of 132 unmet AT needs. The most common reasons for lacking AT were lack of financial resources (52%) and knowledge about AT devices (30.1%). Most clients were satisfied with AT-use training (92.3%), but only 20.2% were satisfied with AT device repair services. Discussion: This study highlights the need to improve AT device repair services, overcome financial challenges, and increase parental knowledge about AT devices as the most prevalent barriers to using AT devices. Developing a child-specific version of the rATA tool that includes questions about education and play engagement AT needs is suggested for better estimation of AT needs for children with disabilities in the future.

Development of a holistic framework for sustainability measurement: a case study of the tea sector

Managing organisational sustainability is complex, with multiple aspects including decarbonisation, sustainable finance, management of material flows and waste, to reduce harmful impacts and integrate sustainable approaches into business strategy. To improve sustainability, organisations must measure and manage the impacts of operations on the environment and society. This empirical study featuring case studies in the UK and Sri Lanka, examines the economic, environmental and social activities of company operations in the tea sector to evaluate and compare sustainability performance. The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach is expanded through a holistic sustainability framework proposed in this study, to support organisational sustainability measurement. We propose a ‘7E’ sustainability model that measures activities across seven operational areas of the organisation to create an overall sustainability score for benchmarking that aids sustainability improvements with an interconnected approach. The model supports organisations to identify savings, explore greener materials and energy choices through detailed insights and allows for ranking and comparison of companies using a sustainability index. A mixed methods approach is used to provide an analysis that offers granularity and comparability for sustainability strategy. Best practices from case studies, insights arising from the analysis of company surveys, interviews and employee surveys provide useful information on sustainability performance and decarbonisation progress. This research demonstrates the use of the 7E model as a practical tool for managers and organisations to improve sustainability management.

Blockchain for Secure and Interoperable Electronic Health Records (EHR): Challenges and Opportunities in Decentralized Healthcare Data Management

Electronic Health Records (HER) are one of the fundamental tools of present healthcare organization and management. Still, problems like data fragmentation, security issues, and compatibility issues have become the main challenges. The decentralized, immutable, and open architecture of blockchain provides a new perspective to addressing such issues. This work aims to discuss the implementation of the blockchain in EHR systems by capturing the benefits associated with the technology, such as security, compliance, and patients’ control over their records. To ground the study, this paper first discusses the shortcomings of conventional EHR systems and then describes blockchain’s core concepts. The next one looks into how blockchain can decentralize the handling of health data and share such data easily across the stakeholders, with particular emphasis on the legal requirements for data sharing, such as the HIPAA and GDPR. Use cases for patient-controlled health records, using Blockchain in clinical trials, and use of smart contracts in processing insurance claims are presented to explain different applications of this Inline technology. However, like with any novel technology, there are challenges, such as scalability, compliance with the current legislation, and compatibility with existing structures, which remain problems with the implementation of blockchain in healthcare. These challenges are discussed in this paper, and recommendations are made that would require the effort of technology developers, healthcare organizations/centers, and policymakers. Combining the existing research and practical application, this paper highlights how blockchain can become an enabler of change, bringing security, connectivity, and patient-centricity to the healthcare settings of the present day and the future. The discussion section provides recommendations on how developments in the subsequent research and policy can actually realize the value of blockchain in healthcare.

World Health Organization Tool for Benchmarking Ethics Oversight of Health-Related Research with Human Participants

Benchmarking ethics oversight is a process of aligning comparing and evaluating the strengths and room for improvement of ethical review and approval process across different institutions or the country. The World Health Organization tool for benchmarking ethics oversight is designed to help countries assess and improve their systems for ethically overseeing health-related research involving human participants. It identifies gaps in legal frameworks, committee structures, resources, accountability and transparency while promoting best practices and policy alignment. Nepal has made progress through the research regulations body like the Nepal Health Research Council , but challenges such as inconsistent implementation, oversight of the implementation and resource limitations remain. The tool offers an opportunity to strengthen Nepal’s health research governance and regulation but it must be adapted to fit local contexts, emphasizing accountability, transparency, capacity-building, and improved communication.