Machine Learning Approach for Intrusion Detection Systems as a Cyber Security Strategy for Small and Medium Enterprises

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are businesses that account for a large percentage of the economy in many countries, but they lack cyber security. The present study examines different supervised machine learning methods with a focus on intrusion detection systems (IDSs) that will help in improving SMEs’ security. The algorithms that are tested through a real dataset, are Naïve Bayes, Sequential minimal optimization (SMO), C4.5 decision tree, and Random Forest. The experiments are run using the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analyses (WEKA) 3.8.4 tools and the metrics used to evaluate the results were: accuracy, false-positive rate (FPR), and total time to train and build a classification model. The results obtained from the original dataset with 130 features show a high value of accuracy, but the computation time to build the classification model was notably high for the cases of C4.5 (1 hr. and 20 mins) and SMO algorithm (4 hrs. and 20 mins). the Information Gain (IG) method was used and the result was impressive. The time needed to train the model was reduced in the order of a few minutes and the accuracy was high (above 95%). In the end, challenges that SMEs can have for choosing an IDS such as lack of scalability and autonomic self-adaptation, can be solved by using a correct methodology with machine learning techniques.

Impact of Green Supply Chain on Supply Chain Performance

The purpose of this paper is empirically assessment of the impact of the green supply chain on supply chain performance in terms of social, operational, and environmental, for Jordanian chemical industries. In this paper, the proposed model was developed based on literature review and previous exploratory studies related to GSC and different kinds of SC performance. Tested on sample equal 150 managers of Jordanian detergent manufacturing factories and the returned ones that applicable for analysis were 120 questionnaires, which analyzed using AMOS 27. The results were as follows: there is no impact of green purchase, green production, and green distribution on supply chain performance. While there is an impact of green supply and green design on SC performance, taking into consideration the community and region of study.

Assessing the Impact of the Oil Price Shocks on Economic Growth in Oil-Exporting Arab Countries

The role of oil and gas in the modern economy is undeniable. That is why oil-exported countries have a good chance to wealth. But if the economy doesn't have diversification or there is no political stability this revenue cannot become welfare for the long run. As well as the changing of oil prices doe in the world market can impact the revenues of oil-exported countries. The purpose of the research – to assess the impact of the oil price shocks on economic growth in oil-exporting Arab countries. As a methodology, there were chosen VAR models and Granger causality tests. The practical importance of the research is to predict economic growth in other oil-exporting countries. The authors came to the conclusion that oil-price change has positive impacts on GDP growth in oil-rich Arab countries and there is the strong dependency from oil prices. The originality and scientific novelty of the research connected with this argue that oil revenues have impacts on economic growth only in economic and political stability.

Determinants of financial performance in Albanian economic entities, case of construction industry in Albania

Financial performance mainly reflects the overall financial health of the business sector over a period of time. It shows how well an entity is using its resources to maximize shareholder’s wealth. Although a thorough assessment of a firm's financial performance takes into account many other measures, the most common performance measurement used in the area of finance are financial ratios. This paper provides a comprehensive study of the financial performance measurement literature related to the construction sector in Albania. The literature covers studies from Albania, Iran, India and Pakistan, but some international evidence has also been presented. The construction sector is chosen because of its impact on economic growth in Albania, it represents the second main sector according to its share effect on Albanian GDP. The financial ratios used to measure the financial performance of the construction sector are the debt ratio, the liquidity ratio and the profitability ratio from the period 2018-2020 for 100 construction companies in Albania. Return on Assets (ROA) is taken as the predictor variable and three financial ratios are taken as the predictive variables. This research reveals that the financial ratios have positive correlation with the dependent variable whereas the leverage ratio has negative correlation. To overcome the limitations of the forthcoming studies, the considered number of years need to be increased and other models such as Market Value Added, Capital Asset Pricing Model and Economic Value Added can be used to be tested for research to analyze other factors that may affect financial performance.

Government Policies on Agro-Tourism in Indonesia

In developing countries, tourism positions the government not just as a policymaker, but also as a party that assists in the implementation of policies. Government initiatives towards the promotion of agro-tourism, for example, are implemented by agro-tourism-related legislation and policies. However, agro-tourism development has not been optimal due to a lack of communication and coordination between parties, as well as inadequate execution of legislation or regulations controlling agro-tourism. The purpose of this study was to assess and examine government agro-tourism legislation and policies in Indonesia. The study is qualitative in nature, evaluating and analysing ten government's agro-tourism legislation and policies, with data collected through document analysis and in-depth interviews and analysed descriptively. The findings demonstrate that the government's agro-tourism regulations include controlling cross-sectoral collaboration in agro-tourism development, certification for agro-tourism guides, the establishment of agro-tourism commissions, and agro-horticulture business arrangements, among other things. Regulations and policies are ineffectual because there is a lack of engagement, coordination, and synergy among the parties involved in agro-tourism. Collaboration is required not just in terms of bureaucracy, but also in terms of resources in order to establish, promote, and maintain agro-tourism sustainability. The suggestions and limitations of the current study are also discussed.

Leading Trends in Innovative Development – Identification using Marketing Research

Access to information has become extremely easy these days. Hence the common belief that we have established an information society in which knowledge is treated as the greatest wealth and which at the same time constitutes the basis for innovative development of enterprises, countries, regions. The paper presents identification of the leading areas of innovative technological development using marketing research. This allows the main objective to be fulfilled, which is to help choose the directions of research. . The source of data was the international exhibition of inventions held annually in Geneva, treated here as a case study. The research covered exhibitions held in 2017 and 2019, for which over 500 presented new solutions were classified each time. The results were confronted with a national event gathering inventors – the Polish National Student-Inventor Competition. Every year, approximately 100 solutions are submitted to the competition and then evaluated.

Determinants of Knowledge Transfer in Egocentric Networks. Comparative Analysis of Professions

This paper investigates determinants of knowledge transfer in egocentric networks of knowledge recipient and knowledge provider, what is crucial to knowledge management in organisations. Knowledge transfer is assumed to depend on knowledge work, networking competence, and the subject’s profession: teacher, Information Technology (IT) professional, or physician. The paper reports result of a quantitative study among samples of mentioned professionalists. Regression models testing, including mediation and moderation, were performed. The findings indicate that knowledge transfer in the egocentric network of the knowledge recipient increases along with knowledge work, but only when it is mediated by networking competence. Analyses in each profession support a partial mediation in the case of IT professionals and teachers. Knowledge transfer in egocentric network of the knowledge provider increases along with knowledge work of the provider. In the case of physicians, knowledge transfer in the providers’ and recipients’ knowledge networks is affected neither by knowledge work nor by networking competence.

Digital Transformation and Its Impact on Strategic Supremacy Mediating Role of Digital HRM: an Evidence From Palestine

This study aims to identify the impact of digital transformation in achieving strategic sovereignty in a world that is intensely competitive and in a digitalized era. In the study, the human resource management variable serves as an intermediary variable in the relationship between digital transformation and strategic leadership. The study population consists of (420 top and middle) managers in two mobile telecommunications companies in Palestine, namely: Jawwal and Ooredoo. The study is based on the quantitative approach using a proportional stratified sample, as a 201- item questionnaire is developed using the Seven-Point Likert Scale to study the three variables. The independent variable is digital transformation and its dimensions (Business Model, Customer Experience, Digital Processes, and Impact on People), while the dependent variable is Strategic Supremacy including its three dimensions (Scope of Influence, Competitive Configuration, and Competitive Compression), while digital human resources management serves as an intermediate variable. The data contained herein is analyzed by the Smart PLS Program - structural equation modelling (Second Order). The study shows a positive and good impact of digital transformation on strategic supremacy. The same applies to the impact of digital human resources management thereon. The study concludes that even though digital transformation has a very good impact on human resource management, digital human resources management is a mediating variable in the relationship between digital transformation and strategic supremacy, or even a partial mediator.

The Determinants of Non-Performing Loans in the Polish Banking Sector – the Household Loans Portfolio

The study aims to identify changes in non-performing household loans (NPLs) and their main determinants in the Polish banking sector for the period 2009-2021. Specifically, we look at the main determinants of creditworthiness of households which determine the possibility of repayment of principal installments and interest within the prescribed period. The results of the VECM model confirm the considerable significance of GDP per capita, gross salaries and lending rates to NPL loans of households. The results of the response function show a positive impact of GDP per capita and lending rates on NPLs and a negative impact of real salaries on NPLs. The decomposition of variance in the forecast period confirms an increased level of explanation of NPL by GDP per capita, gross salaries, and the lending rates.

Price Bubbles in the Real Estate Markets - Analysis and Prediction

The article concerns the issue of price bubbles on the markets, with particular emphasis on the specificity of the real estate market. Up till now, more than a decade after the subprime crisis, there is no accurate enough method to predict price movements, their culmination and, eventually, the burst of price and speculative bubbles on the markets. Hence, the main goal of the article is to present the possibility of early detection of price bubbles and their consequences from the point of view of the surveyed managers. The following research hypothesis was verified: price bubbles on the real estate market cannot be excluded, therefore constant monitoring and predictive analytics of this market are needed. In addition to standard research methods (desk research or statistical analysis), the authors conducted their own survey on a group of randomly selected managers from Portugal and Poland in the context of their attitude to crises and price bubbles. The obtained results allowed us to conclude that managers in both analysed countries are different relating the effects of price bubbles to the activities of their own companies but are similar (about 40% of respondents) expecting quick detection and deactivation of emerging bubbles by the government or by central bank. Nearly 40% of Polish and Portuguese managers claimed that the consequences of crises must include an increased responsibility of managers for their decisions, especially those leading to failures.