Culture Transformation Research Articles

History Politics in Kosovo: Elites’ Memory and Victims’ Counter-Memory in Public Spaces of the De Facto State (Contradictions of Collective Memory and Memorial Culture)

The article examines the development of collective historical memory in Kosovo, a region with contested international political status. The study aims to analyze the memorial policies pursued by Kosovo’s regional political elites, which contribute to the consolidation of the region’s political identity. Additionally, the role and significance of history and perceptions of the past in the discourse shaped by the elites of modern Pristina are explored. Methodologically, the article draws on the interdisciplinary contributions of historiography, particularly the memorial turn, as well as studies that analyze nationalism as a factor in the evolution and transformation of memorial cultures. The novelty of the study lies in its examination of the current stage of historical policy development in Kosovo, a region that is striving for institutionalization and recognition as a nationstate. The article demonstrates that: 1) Kosovo's political elites actively leverage both the real and symbolic potential of collective memory, 2) the region’s historical policy and memorial culture are marked by a high degree of ideologization, and 3) nationalism plays a pivotal role in shaping the main vectors and trajectories of historical policy and memorial culture. The study suggests that the memory policies enacted by the elites tend to blend ethnic and civic Albanian nationalism, characterized by a high level of politicization and ideologization of history. This active use and instrumentalization of historical narratives in public and social spaces transforms collective memory into a tool for memorial confrontation and memory wars.

The development of an in vitro floral culture transformation system for quinoa

AbstractBecause of its high-quality seed protein and ability to thrive in marginal habitats, Chenopodium quinoa has been identified as an important emerging grain crop for global food security. However, the lack of an efficient and robust transformation system has been a barrier for conducting the advanced genetic studies needed to better understand and improve the species for agronomic traits. Here we present a novel transformation system based on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of in vitro floral culture. Quinoa floral cultures were established from inflorescences that naturally formed on plants grown in vitro. When placed on a cytokinin-containing medium, chopped inflorescences rapidly generated highly meristematic floral cultures, primarily composed of floral buds, flowers at various developmental stages, inflorescence shoots, and leafy structures. Transformation of these cultures with Agrobacterium carrying selectable and visual markers (NPTII and GUS) produced independent, stably transformed meristematic cultures resistant to paromomycin after an extended selection period (about 3 mo with sub-culture occurring every 15 d). Transformation frequency was about 20% and was calculated as the number of independent transformed events per initial number of floral culture explants used for transformation. In vitro flowers and inflorescences from putative transgenic events self-pollinated naturally and produced viable seeds that germinated without dormancy. We also demonstrated that flowering shoots could be successfully grafted onto wild rootstock to increase the number of seeds generated from T0 floral shoots. Molecular and phenotypic analysis of the progeny confirmed that the transgenes were stably integrated and inherited according to expected Mendelian ratios.

Improved Shipping Company Performance Created by Digital Business Transformation and Corporate Culture

The pace of digital business transformation is accelerating; digital transformation cannot be a one-time activity, so organizations must develop a continuous development mentality and culture of adapting services and systems faster and more frequently by incorporating new technologies and practices to meet customer expectations. The study aimed to analyze the effect of digital transformation on cultural transformation on the performance of shipping companies, with job satisfaction as a mediating factor. Data analysis in this study is SEM analysis with the analysis of moment structure (AMOS) program. Respondents in this study were all employees who handled ship arrival and departure permits at 39 shipping companies in South Kalimantan, totaling 367 people. Based on the Slovin formula, the number of samples used were 191. The results show that digital business transformation and corporate culture transformation can improve the quality, quantity, and reliability of shipping company performance with job satisfaction as a mediating factor. The results of the research on the performance of shipping companies that are influenced by digital business transformation and corporate culture transformation can broaden and deepen the development of the digital government readiness assessment theory of change applied in both developing and developed countries as a measuring tool for the economy of countries and companies. Keywords: shipping company performance, digital business transformation, corporate culture

The View of Christian Authors on the Practice of Devshirme in the 16th Century Ottoman Empire

The paper examines how various 16th century Christian sources (the vitae of the Balkan martyrs and the notes of Western travelers) reflect one of the cruelest practices of the Ottoman Empire: It is the so-called devshirme or «blood tax» – a system of forced recruitment of Christian boys for their conversion to Islam, upbringing in Turkish culture and subsequent transformation into faithful servants of sultan – soldiers of the Janissary corps or civil servants. Author of the South Slavic vitae of St. George the New of Sophia warns his Christian readers against the dangers of devshirme, as the main character of the vitae even had to leave his native home in order not to become a janissary and to keep his faith. The South Slavic scribe is echoed by the author of the Russian vitae of St. George the New: he conveys a frightening description of devshirme as the most terrible atrocity of the «Hagaren tsars» – for the sake of the sultan’s «honors» Christian children forget their faith and turn into faithful servants of a foreign religion. More detailed descriptions of devshirme are found in the writings left by Western travelers and diplomats who visited the Ottoman empire in the 16th century. They also talk about the horrors of the «blood tax», but more focus on how the Christians of the Ottoman Empire tried to avoid this heavy levy, as well as on the fact that some Christians themselves were ready to give their children to the Ottoman sultans in order to provide them with better social standing in the future. Western authors do not ignore some of the abuses of the Ottoman authorities in collecting the «blood tax» in the second half of the 16th century, that can be explained by negative trends in the development of the Ottoman state in this period. Despite all of this, many European travelers and diplomats talk about the meritocratic approach of the Ottoman authorities to the formation of the state elite, which is partly expressed in devshirme. The Western authors find this approach as one of the main reasons for the success of the 16th-century Ottoman expansion.

Building a sustainable sanitation culture in indigenous people of Malaysia: A systematic literature study

The sanitation challenges faced by indigenous Malaysian communities are driving an urgent paradigm shift in sanitation approaches. This article highlights the journey toward the formation of a sustainable sanitation culture among indigenous Malaysians. Against the background of poor sanitation conditions in these communities, the main problems raised were a lack of access to adequate sanitation facilities and low awareness of hygiene practices. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze normative and empirical approaches that can be used to improve sanitation conditions. The research method uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and qualitative analysis to understand the traditional sanitation paradigm of indigenous societies. The process follows the PRISMA circuit, involving the identification, selection, and in-depth analysis of articles from a number of databases, such as Scopus and Google Scholar, focusing on the cultural values and sanitation practices that shape their sanitation paradigm. The results show that strong partnerships between governments, NGOs, and civil society are key to achieving significant changes in the sanitation culture. The recommendations of this article include the need for investment in better sanitation infrastructure, development of inclusive education and public awareness programs, and strengthening of public participation in the planning and implementation of sanitation programs. Thus, this article provides in-depth insights into concrete efforts to create a positive transformation in sanitation culture among Malaysian natives.

Inspiring nurses’ sustainability mindset: Exploring the Mediating Role of Organizational Culture on the relationship between Pro-social Leader behaviors and nurses’ sustainability consciousness

BackgroundSince nurses are at the frontline of healthcare delivery, their actions and understanding of the environment have a big impact on how long healthcare systems can last. It is essential to comprehend the elements that impact nurses’ sustainability consciousness to encourage ecologically conscious actions in the healthcare industry.AimThis study aimed to explore the relationship between pro-social leader behaviors and nurses’ sustainability consciousness and testify to the mediating role of organizational culture in this relationship.DesignA cross-sectional descriptive correlational design by STROBE criteria was used.Methods and toolsAn approach to a judgmental non-probability sampling technique was employed to obtain data from 350 nurses in an Egyptian hospital. Three measurement surveys were employed: Organizational Culture Survey, Prosociality Scale, and, Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ-S). Relationships were shown using structural equation modeling and descriptive and inferential statistics.Results53.4% of nurses have high perceptions of organizational culture, and the majority of nurses (85.7%) have high perceptions of prosocial leader behaviors. Furthermore, 60.9% of nurses have high perceptions of sustainability consciousness. Additionally, Prosocial leader behaviors positively correlated with organizational culture (r = 0.129) and nurses’ sustainability consciousness (r = 0.274). The indirect effect of prosocial leader behaviors on nurses’ sustainability consciousness through organizational culture is calculated by multiplying the coefficients of both direct effects (0.129 * 0.159 = 0.811). This means that for each unit increase in prosocial leader behaviors, we would expect a 0.811 unit increase in nurses’ sustainability consciousness through the mediating effect of organizational culture. The model appears to match the data well based on the model fit parameters (CFI = 1.000, IFI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.114).ConclusionsThe study highlights the impact of pro-social leader behaviors on nurses’ sustainability consciousness through the organizational culture as a mediating factor. Nursing Implications: Findings from this research can promote environmental stewardship and sustainable practices in the healthcare sector by illuminating the elements that can encourage and support a sustainability-oriented mindset among nurses. To promote a more sustainable future for the nursing profession, the findings can guide activities in nursing education, corporate culture transformation, and leadership development.

Mapping the Path of Digital Transformation: The Role of Leadership in Building Adaptive Organizational Culture

The development movement continues towards the digital transformation era, marked by rapid advances in information and computer technology (ICT) and the emergence of social media platforms that change the order of life to be more practical and accessible and deny the geographical distance between people. These changes require universities to adapt to the demands of rapid development. This study aims to explore the strategies carried out by university leaders in facing the challenges of the digital era and map the extent to which the transformation of university organizational culture is operated in the face of digital technology pressure. The research used a qualitative approach with a multi-site format in three private universities. Data analysis applies constant comparative analysis, which ends with a simultaneous analysis step. The results showed that university leaders are ready to implement an open strategy in facing the challenges of the digital era by utilizing these technological advances. However, there are differences in the utilization of network assets owned by institutions and the knowledge and experience of leaders. Organizational culture transformation is operated to the extent that institutions can master digital technology to optimize the performance of institutional services. Universities' engagement with digital technology does not disrupt the resilience of their organizational culture because it only leads to an adaptive surface layer.

The hospital leadership model of the future: How an organisation is using the triad/dyad model to drive performance excellence and culture transformation

Healthcare organisations have been facing increasing complexity since the pandemic, demanding improved outcomes with fewer resources. Collaboration and alignment are crucial amidst evolving market dynamics and changing patient expectations. Innovative leadership models like the triad/dyad approach offer a solution, fostering interprofessional teamwork to enhance patient care and drive cultural transformation. The model promotes collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, fostering a culture of shared accountability. Results demonstrate improvements in quality, culture and operational metrics, showcasing the model’s effectiveness in driving transformative change. While challenges exist, embracing triad/dyad leadership offers significant benefits for healthcare organisations. Prioritising collaboration and investing in leadership development are essential for sustained success and cultural transformation.

Challenges of Business Practices in Digital Culture Transformation in the Era of the Covid 19 Pandemic

This article aims to collaborate on the impact of COVID-19 on business practices in the transformation of digital culture in Indonesia. Although digital transformation has occurred so far, the Covid-19 pandemic has also strengthened changes in business practices at the level of Indonesian society which then creates a digital culture in this context, digital culture is the result of digital-based thinking, creation, and creation of human works. Nevertheless, the emergence of digital culture has had a positive impact such as the development of business practices and the strengthening of digital communication. Meanwhile, the negative impact can be seen from lifestyle changes due to high dependence on social media. Nevertheless, changes in digital culture at the public level must be immediately anticipated through digital literacy strengthening programs.

ОЩАДЛИВЕ ВИРОБНИЦТВО: ІННОВАЦІЇ УПРАВЛІННЯ ПРОМИСЛОВИМ ПІДПРИЄМСТВОМ

The main problem is that the implementation of lean production requires not only technical changes, but also significant transformations in the organizational culture of the enterprise. Many Kazakhstani industrial enterprises face difficulties in the integration of lean principles due to the low level of awareness of management and personnel, insufficient training of personnel, as well as resistance to change, which is characteristic of many organizations. The purpose of the article is to research innovative approaches to the management of industrial enterprises by implementing the principles of lean production, as well as to develop a methodology that would facilitate the effective application of these principles in practice. The object of the study is the management processes of industrial enterprises in the context of the implementation of the principles of lean production. The methodological basis of the research was the logical methods of information processing, statistical analysis, comparison. The main hypothesis of the study is that innovations in the management of industrial enterprises, based on the principles of lean production, ensure the effective functioning of the enterprise in the long term due to the integration of the latest management practices that take into account the specifics of the domestic market and available resources. Presenting main material. The study covers the study of existing management practices, personnel training methods, and organizational culture transformation necessary for the successful implementation of lean manufacturing. Lean manufacturing is a modern concept of production process management aimed at reducing costs, improving product quality, and satisfying consumer needs. This approach, which was developed in Japan, in particular at the enterprises of the Toyota company, is now widely used all over the world, including Ukrainian industrial enterprises. Implementation of the principles of lean production requires not only technical changes, but also significant transformations in the organizational culture of enterprises, which is a complex and multi-stage process. Originality and practical significance of the research. In practice, the successful implementation of lean manufacturing requires a comprehensive approach that includes both technical and organizational measures. One of the key aspects is the adaptation of the best global practices to the specifics of a particular enterprise. For example, heavy industry may require longer staff training and a more thorough approach to change planning. Conclusions. The implementation of lean production is a strategic step that allows to increase the competitiveness of the enterprise, to ensure its sustainable development and successful functioning in the conditions of the modern economy.

Tissue culture and high-efficiency transformation in an apomictic initial variety of Paspalum notatum Flüggé

Tissue culture and high-efficiency transformation in an apomictic initial variety of Paspalum notatum Flüggé

The Symbolic of Female Body in the Anti-Japanese War Painting in China

From 1931 to 1945, Japan launched a 14-year war of aggression against China and it had a profound impact on China’s politics, economy, and culture. One of the reactions or responses from Chinese society to this tragic event is through art, especially in painting. However, most of the paintings in the Anti-Japanese War are dominated by male subjects and females only appear as a supporting role in the composition. The objectives of this study are to describe the female body through Chinese Anti-Japanese War paintings from the 1970’s and to interpret the meaning of signs and symbols through a conceptual framework that has been built from relevant concepts. This study adopts a qualitative research strategy that makes use of observation and documents as its main research methods. This study shows that these visual artworks reflected the social transformation and changing gender roles in culture at that time. The female body in these visual works conveys multiple meanings such as bravery, tenacity, and sacrifice.

THE STUDY OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION STRATEGIES: DRIVING BUSINESS AGILITY FOR COMPETITIVE EDGE

In technological banking (FinTech), there is a new player trying to drive innovation and the performance of the sector by disrupting the current practices and competitive environment on the world stage. The main aspect explored in this dissertation focuses on the strategies used by the leading FinTech firms to manage the dynamics of the space of digital transformation, with a special attention to the issue that aims to enhance business agility for long-term competitive advantage. This study, a detailed evaluation of either global or Indian FinTech ecosystem, observes the effects of digital transformation of organizational structures, processes and cultures and stresses the need of adaptability and resilience in present day dynamic business world. Employing both qualitative and quantitative analysis in carrying out case studies of known frontrunners, such as Stripe, Ant Group, PayPal, PhonePe, and Paytm, to determine their strategic responses to digital disruptions. The variance from past researches like academic literature and empirical research is also factored in to enhance this dissertation insights. A few major concepts, such as customer-centricity, compliance with regulations and technological innovation, are explored, which demonstrate how such different approaches to success are possible in the FinTech area. In addition, the study further analyses the struggles and barriers that limit the success of digital transformation initiatives in organizations, and the research provides some practical recommendations and frameworks that can leverage digital technologies effectively. The dissertation brings together theoretical frameworks with actual examples and empirical data to add to the literature and debate on digital transformation in the FinTech industry. It gives the principles and practice for professionals, decision-makers, and researchers to handle the challenges in digital economy more effectively; besides that, this contributes to the good innovation and sustainable development in global and Indian FinTech areas. Finally, this research reveals that there is an exponential power for digital transformation in reconstructing the financial services and leading to more inclusive future which is less prone to recession.

The Linkage Between Digital Transformation and Organizational Culture: Novel Machine Learning Literature Review Based on Latent Dirichlet Allocation

AbstractOrganizational culture is a crucial component of innovation in company success, particularly in the setting of the information economy. The purpose of this research is to conduct a bibliometric analysis in order to identify dominant research topics, their potential shifts, and recent developments in the fields of organizational culture and digital transformation. It demonstrates a machine learning–supported method for identifying and segmenting the current state of this research field. The literature was identified from the Scopus database through a search query. The analyzed amount of papers (3065) was published in 1619 sources (journals, proceedings, books, etc.) with various research impacts. Identifying the dominant research topics resulted in eight topics: Social Media Connectivity; Digital Innovation Ecosystems; Socio-economic Sustainability; Digital Workforce Transformation; Digital Competence and Cultural Transformation; Knowledge, Culture, and Innovation; Data and Resource Management; and Digital Transformation Maturity. The results showed a shift in the research field on organizational culture related to digital transformation towards the subject area of business, management, and accounting, with increasing research interest and impact for the Digital Workforce Transformation as well as for the Knowledge, Culture, and Innovation topics.

Innovations in Risk Measurement and Management for Strategic Financing Decisions

This study aims to explore the integration of innovative quantitative models, behavioral finance insights, and advanced analytics techniques in contemporary risk management practices to bolster organizations' resilience and informed decision-making within dynamic financial landscapes. Through a systematic literature review spanning disciplines such as finance, psychology, and technology, this research synthesizes diverse insights to comprehensively understand the evolving nature of risk management strategies. The findings elucidate that incorporating advanced quantitative models like Value at Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) empowers organizations to meticulously assess and quantify financial risks, thereby enhancing risk management accuracy and granularity. Furthermore, the assimilation of behavioral finance insights illuminates the psychological determinants shaping risk perception and decision-making behaviors, leading to the development of more robust risk management frameworks that accommodate both rational and irrational factors. Moreover, leveraging advanced analytics techniques, notably natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, enables proactive risk management by analyzing textual data and market sentiments with heightened precision. This study underscores the imperative of perpetual innovation and adaptability in risk management practices to adeptly navigate the intricacies of modern financial landscapes. By harnessing emerging technologies, behavioral insights, and interdisciplinary methodologies, organizations can fortify their risk management capabilities, mitigate threats, and seize opportunities in today's globally interconnected economy. Addressing the challenges associated with implementing innovative risk management practices necessitates proactive leadership, resource allocation, and organizational culture transformation. Ultimately, this research contributes to advancing the understanding and application of innovative risk measurement and management approaches, fostering sustainable growth and success for organizations.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF MSMES: BIBLIOMETRIC AND SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE ANALYSIS

Digital transformation and organizational culture have an interesting relationship to research. The growing adaptation of technology depends on how good the culture in an organization is. Likewise, MSME players also need digital transformation in developing their business. Various studies have been conducted in understanding the relationship between organizational culture and digital transformation but have experienced inconsistencies. This article discusses how previous research explains the relationship. systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis have been used in this study to explore how far researchers get results from the relationship between culture and digital transformation

Tissue culture and Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of the oil crop sunflower

Sunflower is one of the four major oil crops in the world. ‘Zaoaidatou’ (ZADT), the main variety of oil sunflower in the northwest of China, has a short growth cycle, high yield, and high resistance to abiotic stress. However, the ability to tolerate adervesity is limited. Therefore, in this study, we used the retention line of backbone parent ZADT as material to establish its tissue culture and genetic transformation system for new variety cultivating to enhance resistance and yields by molecular breeding. The combination of 0.05 mg/L IAA and 2 mg/L KT in MS was more suitable for direct induction of adventitious buds with cotyledon nodes and the addition of 0.9 mg/L IBA to MS was for adventitious rooting. On this basis, an efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation system for ZADT was developed by the screening of kanamycin and optimization of transformation conditions. The rate of positive seedlings reached 8.0%, as determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), under the condition of 45 mg/L kanamycin, bacterial density of OD600 0.8, infection time of 30 min, and co-cultivation of three days. These efficient regeneration and genetic transformation platforms are very useful for accelerating the molecular breeding process on sunflower.

A parameter to featuring the cultural landscape genes of traditional settlements in China: a perspective of geographical information

Creative transformation and innovative development of traditional cultures is a pressing social need in China because of the deep reform and rapid socio-economic developments. It is crucial to understand the natural features of cultural landscapes of traditional settlements because they are indispensable components of these heritages. Although there are significant findings on the cultural features of traditional settlements, people still face substantial difficulties in using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to directly handle their cultural factors due to a lack of theoretical models or described methods. To address this issue, at first, this study analyzed the component elements and contents of Cultural Landscape Genes of Traditional Settlements (CLGTS) from the perspective of Geographical Information (GI). Then, the concept “Feature Parameter of Geographical Information of CLGTS (FPGI-CLGTS)” was proposed based on the above. Simultaneously, the connotations, identification rules, and mathematical meanings of FPGI-CLGTS were also explored deeply. Next, this study developed the identification methods of FPGI-CLGTS. Finally, this study examined FPGI-CLGTS through an experiment on the spatial layouts CLGTS of six samples in Hunan, China. Through this study, FPGI-CLGTS has enormous potential to reveal the critical cultural features and values of traditional settlements.

Between history and literature: Mediation in the Political Languages of Indigenism in Peru (1919-1928)

Objective/context: The decade of the 1920s witnessed a significant transformation in Peruvian political culture with the widespread recognition of the indigenous problem as a socioeconomic phenomenon, which paved the way for new political languages. This article aims to recover the role of myth in the Peruvian indigenista debate during this period. Specifically, it delves into the literary polemic of indigenismo in 1927, focusing on how intellectuals from Lima, Cusco, and Puno bestowed their arguments with legitimacy, effectively intertwining literature and history through the incorporation of mythical elements. Methodology: The study proposes an examination of the arguments put forth by indigenista intellectuals using the tools of conceptual history, drawing heavily from Hans Blumenberg’s work on myth. This theoretical framework helps uncover the semantic foundations of Peruvian indigenist’s language and sheds light on the historical temporalities of their political projects. Originality: This article advances a novel analysis of the intellectual field by reinterpreting primary sources related to the 1927 indigenismo polemic, reconstructing synchronic languages on national identity, and highlighting the role of myth as a significant rhetorical device. By exploring how supporters of indigenismo creatively employed myth to imagine the past and mobilize politically, this study uncovers previously overlooked conceptual shifts and their mythical underpinnings. Conclusions: The study argues that myth played a crucial role in shaping the political language of a new generation of Peruvian intellectuals. Indigenismo facilitated the emergence of novel conceptual frameworks that interrogated national identity, accelerated expectations of change, and incorporated mythical elements from indigenous experiences, including rebellions in the south and the activities of the Comité Pro-Derecho Indígena Tahuantinsuyo. Concepts such as nation and socialism were democratized and imbued with mythical significance, reflecting the diverse temporalities within the indigenista movement.

Improving transformation and regeneration efficiency in medicinal plants: Insights from other recalcitrant species.

Medicinal plants are integral to traditional medicine systems world-wide, being pivotal for human health. Harvesting plant material from natural environments, however, has led to species scarcity, prompting action to develop cultivation solutions that also aid conservation efforts. Biotechnological tools, specifically plant tissue culture and genetic transformation, offer solutions for sustainable, large-scale production and enhanced yield of valuable biomolecules. While these techniques are instrumental to the development of the medicinal plant industry, the challenge of inherent regeneration recalcitrance in some species to in vitro cultivation hampers these efforts. This review examines the strategies for overcoming recalcitrance in medicinal plants using a holistic approach, emphasising the meticulous choice of explants, e.g. embryonic/meristematic tissues; plant growth regulators, e.g. synthetic cytokinins; and use of novel regeneration-enabling methods to deliver morphogenic genes e.g. GRF/GIF chimeras and nanoparticles, which have been shown to contribute to overcoming recalcitrance barriers in agriculture crops. Furthermore, it highlights the benefit of cost-effective genomic technologies that enable precise genome editing and the value of integrating data-driven models to address genotype-specific challenges in medicinal plant research. These advances mark a progressive step towards a future where medicinal plant cultivation is not only more efficient and predictable but also inherently sustainable, ensuring the continued availability and exploitation of these important plants for current and future generations.